Tulsa-area PSO customers will keep paying an extra $11 a month on their electric bills until at least mid-October after an Oklahoma Corporation Commission judge recommended rejecting the utility's most expensive proposed billing change.

Administrative law judge Kenneth Behrens issued a formal recommendation in Public Service Company of Oklahoma's pending rate case, the Tulsa Flyer reported Monday, Aug. 24. Behrens recommended against PSO's request to restructure how it charges customers for transmitting electricity, a change that would have added $9.64 to $12.09 per month to the average residential bill.

The recommendation is not final. Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett said all parties can file exceptions, followed by hearings on those exceptions. He estimated commissioners will receive the case in late September and issue a final ruling around mid-October.

"Commissioners will likely get the case late September and make a final ruling mid-October," Hiett said. "This is my best guess, but timing can vary widely."

A potential scheduling wrinkle: the commission begins hearings Wednesday, Sept. 9, on Oklahoma Gas & Electric's special contract with Google, which Hiett said could create delays.

Behrens approved two significant items. He recommended extending and expanding riders, the extra charges on bills beyond monthly electricity usage, with a review in PSO's next general rate case. He also recommended a new large-load tariff creating a separate rate class for customers drawing more than 75 megawatts, the equivalent of powering more than 30,000 homes. Data centers are among the facilities that would fall into this category. PSO did not sign onto the large-load proposal.

Hiett said he agrees with most of Behrens' findings but plans to review recorded testimony before developing his final position, particularly on PSO's request for $72 million in revenue.

What this means for your bill

The $11 monthly interim surcharge that took effect July 1 remains in place until commissioners issue a final ruling. If that ruling awards PSO less than the interim amount, customers could receive a refund for the difference.

Fairo Mitchell, director of the OCC's Public Utility Division, explained the refund mechanism at a Tulsa town hall on Aug. 14, as reported by Public Radio Tulsa. "The increase is subject to refund if the commission ultimately determines PSO was entitled to less," Mitchell said at the time.

Meanwhile, a proposed settlement negotiated by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office in late June would slash the permanent residential rate increase from roughly 15%, or about $25 per month, down to about 1%, or $2.45 per month. Not all parties in the rate case have agreed to that deal.

Tommy Campbell, a Tulsa cybersecurity firm owner and PSO customer, told 2 News Oklahoma on Aug. 24 that his family's bill has risen about 33% over the last two years.

Parties in the case can file exceptions to Behrens' recommendation in the coming weeks before commissioners take up the case.