Statement from Executive Director Jeff Cloud

Statement from Executive Director Jeff Cloud November 5, 2026

Former Corporation Commissioner and current Executive Director of the Alliance for Secure Energy Jeff Cloud said today’s non-unanimous decision in Public Service Company’s (PSO’s) rate case (PUD 2025-000075) is quite disappointing.

By way of background, the Corporation Commission encouraged the parties to conduct settlement discussions which ultimately led to a hard-fought stipulated agreement between PSO, the Attorney General (the appointed consumer advocate), OCC Public Utility Division staff and AARP. The settlement would have limited the residential rate increase to approximately 1% while supporting continued economic growth in Oklahoma.

The Commission chose to ignore that agreement, however, to adopt an order that will probably increase residential customers’ rates by three times over what was agreed to in the settlement.

There is no question that the Corporation Commissioners have a tough job. They are charged with achieving a balance of protecting Oklahoma’s electric consumers in every category (especially those of the residential class) while allowing the regulated electric companies to make a reasonable return so that the company can continue to invest in our state to make sure that electric service is reliable at the most affordable cost. Unfortunately, the decision in the PSO rate case did neither.