TULSA, Okla. — Several 2 News viewers have reached out to the Problem Solvers line with concerns about their PSO electric bills, and a Tulsa resident's social media video about the issue has reached nearly 100,000people.
People expect higher bills during Oklahoma's hot summers, but many are seeing increases of hundred sof dollars.
PSO announced a rate hike in January, initially set at $25 per month per 1,200 kilowatts of energy. The hike was implemented in July and was reduced to $11 a month after the attorney general worked closely with PSO to reduce the impact on customers. Even so, customers say the rates are still too high.
"I'm in Tulsa and our electric bill is literally more than our rent this month. I make decent money and that's not sustainable for my family. That is crazy," Raelynn McMurchy said.
After hearing from multiple Tulsans about their concerns, I took those questions directly to PSO headquarters.
"If you take a look at your usage, and you compare it to maybe last July, some of those numbers, you might be surprised to find are not that much different. That summer heat really does make a big impact on your electric bill. And of course if you are comparing your bill from this month to maybe May orJune, it's going to be a lot different. It's been a lot hotter," PSO spokesperson Matt Rahn said.
PSO says the company takes affordability very seriously, knows that people are struggling to pay their bills, and wants to help. PSO also wants to remind customers that the rate increase is per 1,200kilowatts.
PSO knows summer electric bills can be a challenge, and we’re here to help. Our customer service team is available 24/7 to answer questions, explain your bill, and connect you with payment arrangements, extensions, and programs that can help lower energy costs, including home weatherization assistance and rebates.
We’re also working to make sure growth doesn’t increase costs for existing customers. Through the Ratepayer Protection Pledge and our proposed large-load tariff, new large energy users, including data centers, would be responsible for paying the costs of the power and infrastructure needed to serve them, helping protect other customers from those expenses.
Helpful links for customers:
Payment Assistance [psoklahoma.com]
Understanding Your Bill [psoklahoma.com]
Energy-Saving Programs for Home and Business | Power Forward With PSO [powerforwardwithpso.com]
https://www.psoklahoma.com/account/usage [psoklahoma.com]
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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