Continuing to Press for Lower Rates

AARP is asking the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to reduce electric and gas rates by requiring utilities to pass recent tax savings on to consumers.

Federal income tax reform enacted in December 2017 lowered the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. In January, the commission ordered utility companies to keep track of tax savings and submit a plan to reduce their customers’ rates accordingly.

Instead of lowering customers’ bills as expected, Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) has asked the commission to let the utility use the tax savings to recoup the cost of a recently built power plant. The commission previously denied an OG&E request to start billing customers for the cost before the plant was finished.

AARP is urging consumers to call 844-248-8224 toll-free to insist that OG&E pass its tax savings directly on to its customers by lowering their bills.