State will revisit high utility charge

Oklahoma’s top law enforcement official and the state's utility regulating agency are revisiting the circumstances that led to high natural gas prices during a 2021 winter storm, putting Oklahomans on the hook for billions in higher gas and electric bills.

Kansas, like Oklahoma, experienced freezing temperatures during winter storm Uri and saw natural gas prices spike as demand rapidly increased. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach said this week he is suing a national energy company for market manipulation after it sold natural gas at an inflated rate to local utility companies.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office said it was aware of the Kansas lawsuit and the situation in Oklahoma is being investigated.

“We are reviewing the matter in Oklahoma to see if there were similar circumstances here,” said Phil Bacharach, a spokesperson for Drummond's office.

More:Oklahoma utility companies will collect millions in fees from 2021 winter storm recovery

Following the 2021 winter storm, the state agreed to let Oklahoma utility companies use state bonds to pay off the nearly $3 billion in costs and recoup that money from customers over the next two decades.

Jennifer Seaton, Josh Moore and David Minihan traveled to Phoenix last weekend to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) annual meeting & conference to accept the “Facility of the Year” award for Edmond Center Court. Nominated facilities must be under the jurisdiction of a park and recreation department, an educational institution, a nonprofit corporation or be a private or commerciallyowned-and-operated facility that offers both USTA and public programming designed to help grow tennis. Facilities were judged on overall layout and adaptation to site; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; accommodations for players, spectators and press/officials; aesthetics; graphics (including the use of signs and landscaping); amenities such as casual seating for spectators, food services and social areas; and the facilities’ participation in USTA programs. I will share a video and photos soon!