Public Service Company of Oklahoma files appeal with Oklahoma

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Feb 4, 2009 by Janice Francis-Smith

Public Service Company of Oklahoma filed an appeal Tuesday with the Oklahoma Supreme Court to review the decision in the utility's most recent rate case.

PSO asked the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for a rate increase of more than $126 million. But the commission awarded the Tulsa- based electric utility company an $81.4 million increase, which included a $59.2 million boost in base rates, $14.4 million to purchase power from other producers and $7.7 million to place more power lines underground.

The Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers asked the commission to reconsider its decision, which OIEC officials claimed gave PSO too large of an increase at the expense of local businesses. OIEC asked the commission to slash the rate hike by $27 million. PSO had filed a similar request for rehearing at the commission to ensure the company would be able to defend its rate request if the OIEC's request for rehearing was granted.

"That means Monday's hearing is off," said Matt Skinner, spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. "It's in the Supreme Court's jurisdiction now."