Investigate PSO

I urge you to open a legislative investigation into the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), which continues approving rate increases that many Oklahoma families simply cannot afford. Since 2023, the cost of living has risen dramatically, with higher prices for groceries, housing, insurance, and other essentials. At the same time, repeated PSO rate increases have added hundreds of dollars to many families’ electric bills. During Oklahoma’s dangerously hot summers, electricity is not optional. Families should never have to choose between keeping the lights on and buying food. Oklahoma also has one of the highest electric disconnection rates in the nation. Many customers enrolled in PSO’s prepaid “Power Pay” program report paying hundreds of dollars in a single week just to maintain service. This raises serious questions about whether current billing practices are serving the public or placing vulnerable Oklahomans at greater risk. I also ask you to investigate PSO’s repeated recovery of storm restoration costs from customers. Severe weather is a predictable part of operating a utility in Oklahoma. Why does PSO not maintain a dedicated reserve fund for these expenses instead of repeatedly shifting the cost to ratepayers through additional riders and rate increases? The OCC should also be examined to determine whether it is fulfilling its responsibility to protect consumers by providing meaningful oversight of monopoly utilities. According to American Electric Power’s public financial reports, PSO reported approximately $209 million in net income in 2023, $249 million in 2024, and $252 million in 2025, while AEP has continued paying shareholder dividends and maintaining a strong stock price. These rising profits stand in stark contrast to the growing financial hardship experienced by many Oklahoma families. Please investigate PSO’s rate increases, storm cost recovery, prepaid billing practices, disconnection policies, and the OCC’s oversight process. Oklahoma families deserve transparency, accountability, and affordable access to an essential service. I respectfully ask you to act before even more Oklahomans are forced to choose between electricity and other basic necessities