High Power Bills in Tulsa Spark Outcry and Action

Raelynn McMurchy, her husband Tucker, and their daughter Ella have raised concerns over escalating power bills by initiating an online petition. Their latest electric bill reached $1,373, highlighted by a $598 deposit due to previous late payments. McMurchy expressed her frustration in a TikTok video, stating that the bill exceeded their rent for the month. Her video quickly accumulated over 100,000 views.

McMurchy works nights at a Tulsa hospital and has called on regulators in Oklahoma to address the increasing power costs through Change.org. Data from the Labor Department shows that electricity prices are rising more rapidly than the average living costs in the United States. This becomes especially burdensome during the hot summer months when fans and air conditioners are in constant use.

Electric Rates Surpass Inflation

The Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), Tulsa’s main power provider, proposed increasing residential electric rates by about 15% this year. However, a settlement with the state attorney general lowered this to 1%, pending regulatory approval. Despite no increase in rates, electric bills in Tulsa are still expected to surge. This is due to an unusually intense summer heat with temperatures reaching triple digits more frequently than average.

Climate change, driven largely by fossil fuel combustion, contributes to more frequent and severe heat waves nationwide.

Shutoffs for Overdue Bills

Oklahoma residents who fall behind on their power bills are more prone to having their electricity shut off compared to other states. PSO disconnects power more than five times the national average, according to a U.S. Energy Department report based on data from 2024. Unlike some states that prohibit shutoffs during summer, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission permits them as long as the heat index is below 101 degrees. Attempts to lower this threshold by consumer advocates have not succeeded.

“I wish every corporation commissioner had to sit in a house that had no electricity when it’s 95,” said Joanne Pearson, who manages the Helping Hand Ministry in Tulsa.

At the ministry, people at risk of a power cutoff line up for help every Monday and Tuesday. Volunteer John Johnson contacts PSO’s parent company to negotiate payments on behalf of customers. Recently, he arranged a $350 payment to keep Ashley Fonseca Mejia’s lights on.

Eric Widger received similar aid. His electric bill has doubled to around $500 monthly, and in the past, he has faced costly reconnection fees due to shutoffs.

The Helping Hand Ministry spends up to $14,000 weekly on utility bill assistance, funded by local foundations and the First Presbyterian Church. This non-profit helps a small percentage of customers, whereas at least 19,000 face monthly disconnections in the Tulsa area.

Future Demand and Costs

PSO’s CEO, Leigh Anne Strahler, acknowledged the high costs in a message to customers while emphasizing investments in additional power generation and grid fortification to meet demand and withstand severe weather.

Nationwide, high electricity bills remain a pressing issue. The Energy Department reports over 13 million people have their power shut off annually, including around a million in August.

“Nobody wants their power shut off. It’s not like if the price of beef goes up, you switch to chicken. You have to keep using electricity,” Mark Wolfe of a group of state energy assistance directors explained.

Wolfe noted the dilemma will likely intensify with rising electricity prices and hotter summers.