The Corporation Commission voted on Tuesday in favor of Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter’s recommendation requiring five state utilities to account for savings from Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, according to a report published in The Oklahoman. Passed by a vote of 2-1, the order was supported by Commissioner Todd Hiett and Commission …
West Virginia Seeking Input From Utilities on Impact of New Federal Tax Law
Oklahoma isn’t the only state monitoring the impact of tax changes on public utilities. In West Virginia, the Public Service Commission has directed all privately-owned electric, gas, water, sewer and solid waste facilities to track the tax savings on a monthly basis beginning in January. The law went into effect after President Trump signed the …
Kingfisher County Struck by 3.1 Earthquake on Sunday Afternoon
A 3.1 magnitude earthquake rattled north central Oklahoma early Sunday afternoon. The earthquake happened around 1:37 p.m. in Kingfisher County, registering at two miles deep. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter was about 10 miles east of Hennessey and 28 miles west/northwest of Stillwater. There are no reports of damage or injuries.
OGE Trucks Begin 1,900 Mile Ocean Trip to Puerto Rico
OGE trucks are finally making their long slow ocean voyage to Puerto Rico where crews will begin working to restore electric power to the island ravaged by a fall hurricane. The utility tweeted over the weekend that 50 of its trucks were loaded on a barge. It would take an estimated 12 days to make …
Gross Production Tax Changes Credited with New State Revenue
Some state economic leaders are already celebrating legislative changes they credit for more than $24 million in new revenue in December. State Treasurer Ken Miller said the additional revenue came primarily from changes in sales tax exemptions and gross production incentive tax rates. At the same time, gross production taxes on oil and natural gas …
Bribed Rate Case Headed to U.S. Supreme Court
Those six consumers who believe a bribed 1989 Corporation Commission vote should not be allowed to stand are headed to the U.S. Supreme Court in their fight against the state. In a story followed for years by OK Energy Today, the consumers include a retired FBI agent, a retired Air Force General, a former City …
Rig Counts Slip in Oklahoma and U.S.
Oil and gas rig counts in Oklahoma and across the U.S. fell in the past week. Oklahoma’s count dropped by two to reach 118 while the national count slipped by 5 to reach 924. Counts provided by Baker Hughes and the Independent Oil and Gas Service showed the number of oil rigs dropped by 5 …
Arkansas Mapping Project Finished
A Colorado Springs, Colorado firm has completed a high-resolution imagery mapping of the entire state of Arkansas. The Sanborn Map Company Inc. collected more than 50,000 aerial images at 12-inch and 6-inch resolutions covering more than 60,000 square miles. The initial collection was completed within a total of four weeks. The Statewide Orthoimagery Program fulfills …
Regulators Asked to Approve Rebates for Utility Customers
Acting on the initial recommendation of Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony followed by Attorney General Mike Hunter, OCC Administrative law judges have recommended that Oklahoma utilities use savings they receive from new federal corporate tax rates to issue rebates to their customers. The recommendations came Thursday after the Commission held hearings on the formal motion …
Tallgrass Energy Expands Interests in Northern Oklahoma and Colorado
A Kansas City area pipeline firm, Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP announced two strategic acquisitions totalling nearly $50 million by its Tallgrass terminals that will eventually mean more oil flowing into one of its northern Oklahoma refineries. Tallgrass Terminals LLC is buying 51 percent membership interest in the Pawnee, Colorado crude oil terminal from Zenith …