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Energizing Our Communities
Energy is the lifeline that powers our communities, strengthens our economy and drives innovation. Maintaining and sustaining Oklahoma couldn’t be more important. Read how it affects our nation and state.
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President Reagan famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Texas is living proof, and the most recent evidence is that Texans are shocked to learn they have been overcharged by $12 billion for electricity. No new power plants were built. That $12 billion is pure profit for generators and will be reflected in the bonuses and share buybacks at yearend — and ongoing campaign contributions for many incumbent lawmakers in Austin, the state capital.
President Reagan famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Texas is living proof, and the most recent evidence is that Texans are shocked to learn they have been overcharged by $12 billion for electricity. No new power plants were built. That $12 billion is pure profit for generators and will be reflected in the bonuses and share buybacks at yearend — and ongoing campaign contributions for many incumbent lawmakers in Austin, the state capital.
The Oklahoma News Report, hosted by Rich Lenz, is a weekly in-depth exploration of news and issues affecting all Oklahomans, featuring topical information and meaningful stories that provide context and meaning to educate and engage every citizen across the state. For more information about The Oklahoma News Report, visit https://www.OETA.tv/onr.
President Reagan famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Texas is living proof, and the most recent evidence is that Texans are shocked to learn they have been overcharged by $12 billion for electricity. No new power plants were built. That $12 billion is pure profit for generators and will be reflected in the bonuses and share buybacks at yearend — and ongoing campaign contributions for many incumbent lawmakers in Austin, the state capital.
President Reagan famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Texas is living proof, and the most recent evidence is that Texans are shocked to learn they have been overcharged by $12 billion for electricity. No new power plants were built. That $12 billion is pure profit for generators and will be reflected in the bonuses and share buybacks at yearend — and ongoing campaign contributions for many incumbent lawmakers in Austin, the state capital.
We commend Oklahoma Attorney General Drummond's decisive actions in issuing a subpoena to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. This investigation is a vital step towards ensuring that the retail gas marketers who exploited the unprecedented fuel demand during Winter Storm Uri are held accountable for their actions. It is imperative that these individuals and companies, who unfairly profited at the expense of families and businesses, face appropriate consequences. Utilities do not set fuel prices and, by law, must generate electricity. During the historic storm, utilities mobilized national resources to maintain and restore power.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS ago, Beacon Hill lawmakers dramatically changed the way electricity is bought and sold in Massachusetts. The old way was devoid of competition, with utilities producing and distributing electricity under the supervision of state regulators. The new approach opened the production of electricity to competition while leaving distribution under the purview of regulated utilities.
Consumers also saw their role change in 1998. Instead of merely taking whatever price regulators set for electricity, they were given a choice. They could buy electricity from retail sellers, they could buy from municipal aggregators, or they could do nothing and let their utility purchase electricity on their behalf. Most consumers took the lazy way out and did nothing.
Even as the current legislative session winds down, a small interest group continues to misinform Oklahomans, lobbying for deregulating the retail energy market. As a former chair of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, I was charged with regulating utility providers, and I implore our state leaders to critically review such misleading proposals for “choice and competition,” which inherently threaten the state’s low-cost energy relied upon by Oklahoma families and businesses alike.
Electricity is a basic resource; it sustains life and must be consistently, affordably accessed. If Oklahoma moved to restructure electricity, everyone would feel its effects — but seniors and those on limited incomes would feel it most. The regulated electricity sector has controlled price increases, imposed limits on rates and fuel costs, and created opportunities for all customers to engage in the process or be represented by customer advocacy groups. This isn’t guaranteed in a deregulated market.
Like most people, Noemy Rodriguez never gave much thought to various charges on her electric bill. All she knew was that the $80 a month she was paying Eversource felt like too much.
So when some salespeople knocked on the door of her East Boston apartment a few years ago and said they could sign her up for “a state plan” that would lower her bill, she was intrigued. The two men — one of whom spoke Spanish — also said they were working with the city, so she felt like she could trust them.
“I thought this was going to benefit me,” she said through an interpreter. “I was so ignorant.”
Massachusetts is one of about a dozen states where residents can choose to buy electricity from a supplier other than their default utility. When lawmakers set up this system in the late 1990s, the assumption was that a competitive marketplace would result in lower power prices for customers. But for the most part, the opposite has happened.
While it is disappointing that SB 1103, the Ratepayer Protection Act of 2023, did not receive a floor vote before the deadline, I am encouraged by the conversation to protect Oklahomans from price shocks, mandate cost-saving programs and increase resiliency during future weather events through increased fuel storage. Significant policy changes like SB 1103 are difficult to achieve. They take time. I appreciate our legislative leaders' work to improve our state's energy policy. The Alliance for Secure Energy looks forward to continuing our advocacy to support practical and forward-looking solutions that will protect and fortify the affordable, reliable power Oklahomans expect and deserve.