Oklahoma Electricity Rates Rise; Data Centers Account For Some Demand
Oklahomans are experiencing rising electricity bills, which state lawmakers and regulators attribute to various factors including regional transmission costs, summer energy use, and grid investments, rather than solely data centers. A new state law, House Bill 2992, now requires data center companies to cover infrastructure costs associated with their high power demands to protect residential and small-business ratepayers.
Oklahoma residents are facing higher electricity bills this summer, prompting concerns from constituents and state lawmakers. While the significant power demands of artificial intelligence and data centers are part of the public discourse, state officials clarify that rising costs are also driven by increased regional transmission expenses, high summer air-conditioning usage, and necessary investments in an aging power grid.
State Rep. Meloyde Blancett (D-Tulsa) hosted a town hall in Tulsa to address constituent questions about electricity rates. For Tulsa-area customers, an interim rate adjustment took effect July 1 for Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), while the Oklahoma Corporation Commission considers a permanent rate hike. A proposed settlement by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office aims to reduce the residential rate increase significantly, though not all parties, including AARP, are in agreement. Additionally, rising costs from the Southwest Power Pool, which manages the regional electricity grid, contribute to higher bills due to investments in extreme-weather resilience and grid upgrades.
In response to public concerns over data centers' power needs, State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) championed House Bill 2992, the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, which took effect July 1. This legislation mandates that companies building new, large power-consuming facilities, such as data centers and cryptocurrency mines, must cover associated infrastructure costs. The bill received unanimous legislative support, reflecting a bipartisan effort to ensure that residential and small-business customers are not burdened by the costs of new industrial power demands.
Both PSO and Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E) are developing special tariffs for exceptionally large electricity users, separate from traditional residential and industrial rate classes. Lawmakers emphasized the importance of good energy policies and ensuring data center companies act as responsible community partners by internalizing their infrastructure costs.