Three Oklahoma lawmakers have filed a new appeal asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to overturn regulatory approval of roughly $1.5 billion in utility fuel and power costs already collected from customers.
Oklahoma Representative Tom Gann, along with Oklahoma Representative Kevin West and Oklahoma Representative Rick West, argue the Oklahoma Corporation Commission improperly approved 2023 charges for Oklahoma Natural Gas, Public Service Company of Oklahoma and OG&E without adequate oversight.
“Fuel adjustment clause charges are passed through directly onto customers’ bills, so the utilities have already collected this money from us,” Gann said. He argued state law requires annual audits and verification that those costs are “fair, just, reasonable and prudent” before approval.
The appeal claims the Corporation Commission failed to follow audit requirements and violated ratepayers’ due process rights, including allegations that customers were not properly notified of proceedings. It also raises concerns about Commissioner Todd Hiett’s participation in the cases, citing past misconduct allegations and potential conflicts of interest.
Charges were never filed against Hiett, and the Oklahoma Ethics Commission dismissed a related complaint in 2025. The lawmakers are now asking the Supreme Court to review those findings as part of the broader appeal.
The filing also criticizes the qualifications of a Public Utility Division staff member who conducted audits on more than $1 billion in utility costs. Lawmakers say the employee lacked the credentials necessary for such work and still testified that the charges were appropriate.
“State employees being paid with taxpayer dollars have to be qualified for the jobs they’re hired for,” Rick West said. “This situation is not only an assault on the household budgets of utility customers; it is an insult to thousands of qualified public servants.”
In addition to overturning the approvals, the lawmakers are asking the court to require new independent audits of the fuel charges.
The appeal marks the latest in a series of challenges by the group, who say they have already contested billions of dollars in utility-related costs, including rate increases and bonds tied to the 2021 winter storm.
A decision from the Oklahoma Supreme Court could come at any time, with additional appeals expected that could challenge another $6.5 billion in utility charges.
