reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-160.32. Definitions.

As used in this act:
1. “Commission” means the Corporation Commission;
2. “Direct current fast charging station” means an electric vehicle charging system capable of delivering electricity at a minimum of fifty (50) kilowatts direct current to an electric vehicle’s rechargeable battery at a minimum voltage of two hundred (200) volts;
3. “Electric cooperative” means an electric cooperative corporation organized under Section 437.1 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes that provides electric service to the public;
4. “Electric vehicle” means a 100%-electric or plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle with the following characteristics:
a.
a 100%-electric motor vehicle originally equipped so that the vehicle:
(1)
draws propulsion energy solely from a battery with at least twenty (20) kilowatt hours of capacity, which can be recharged from any external source of electricity,
(2)
is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways, but does not include a vehicle operated exclusively on a rail or rails, and
(3)
which has at least four wheels,
b.
a plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle which is originally equipped so that the vehicle:
(1)
draws propulsion energy from:
(a)
an internal combustion engine, and
(b)
a battery with at least five (5) kilowatt hours of capacity, which can be recharged from an external source of electricity,
(2)
is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads and highways, but does not include a vehicle operated exclusively on a rail or rails, and
(3)
which has at least four wheels, and
c.
for purposes of this paragraph, the term “electric vehicle” does not include a vehicle that is manufactured primarily for off-road use and that has a maximum speed of thirty (30) miles per hour or less;
5. “Electric vehicle charging provider” means the owner of an electric vehicle charging station operating in a retail electric supplier’s designated service area;
6. “Make-ready infrastructure” means the electrical infrastructure required to service an electrical load, but shall not include an electric vehicle charging station;
7. “Retail electric supplier” means any person, firm, corporation, association, electric cooperative, or beneficial trusts thereof engaged in the furnishing of retail electric service not to include municipal corporations; and
8. “Retail electric service” means electric service furnished to a consumer for ultimate consumption.
Added by Laws 2023, c. 330, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2023.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-160.33. Retailer electric suppliers — Required entity — Subsidies.

A. A retail electric supplier or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof that provides, owns, operates, or maintains a direct current fast charging station directly to the public shall do so only through a separate, unregulated entity and must do so on the same fees, terms, charges, and conditions offered to private providers of electric vehicle charging stations.
B. After December 31, 2023, any electric vehicle charging station that is provided by, owned, operated, or maintained by a retail electric supplier, or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, shall not, directly or indirectly, be subsidized by any fee or charge associated with the retail electric service provider’s regulated service offerings.
C. An electric vehicle charging provider shall not be considered to be a public utility pursuant to the provisions of Section 151 of Title 17 of the Oklahoma Statutes or a retail electric supplier pursuant to the provisions of this act or Section 158.22 of Title 17 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict a retail electric supplier from subsidizing the costs of make-ready infrastructure through fees or charges for services provided by its regulated services so long as such subsidy is offered to electric vehicle charging providers on a nondiscriminatory basis between such providers.
Added by Laws 2023, c. 330, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2023.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-160.34. Suppliers not to discriminate among charging providers.

A retail electric supplier shall not discriminate among electric vehicle charging providers, and the same fees, terms, and conditions shall apply to every electric vehicle charging provider, including the retail electric supplier’s separate, unregulated entity, subsidiary, or affiliate.
Added by Laws 2023, c. 330, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2023.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-160.35. Restriction on use of municipal revenues for charging stations.

A municipality that owns or operates an electric charging station that begins operations after the effective date of this act shall not use revenues derived by the municipality from the sale of electric power delivered through a municipally owned electric distribution system in order to construct or maintain such electric charging station and the municipality shall keep such accounts, books, and records as may be required in order for an audit of the municipal expenditures to be performed at any time in order for the municipality to prove compliance with the provisions of this section.
Added by Laws 2023, c. 330, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2023.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-160.36. Enforcement — Penalties.

A. The Commission shall have authority to enforce violations of this act for retail electric suppliers that are rate-regulated by the Corporation Commission. A complaint may be brought to the Commission at any time. If the Commission determines, after investigation and an evidentiary hearing, that the retail electric supplier has violated this act, the Commission may assess a fine against the utility for contempt as set forth in Section 1 et seq. of Title 17 of the Oklahoma Statutes and may order such further action as may be fair, just, and reasonable under the circumstances of the proceeding.
B. The district court shall have authority to enforce violations of this act for retail electric suppliers not rate-regulated by the Commission and municipal corporations. A petition may be filed with the district court at any time by an aggrieved party. If the district court determines, after hearing the matter, that the retail electric supplier or municipal corporation is in violation of this act, the district court may order the violation cease and levy civil charges or penalties against the retail electric supplier or municipal corporation consistent with the civil enforcement provisions for contempt as set forth in Section 1 et seq. of Title 17 of the Oklahoma Statutes and may order such further action as may be fair, just, and reasonable under the circumstances of the proceeding.
Added by Laws 2023, c. 330, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2023.
NOTE: Editorially renumbered from § 130.36 of this title to provide consistency in numbering.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-161.1. Restrictions on charges for reselling electric current or natural gas.

A. Except for any person, public utility, or public service corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the Corporation Commission, or a municipal utility, or a public trust which has as its beneficiary the municipality, no owner of any interest in real property in this state who purchases electric current or natural gas from a municipality and who resells such electric current or natural gas to any residential lessee of any interest in such real property for the purpose of heat, light or power shall charge such lessee any amount in excess of ten percent (10%) of the cost to such reseller for each billing cycle of the electricity or natural gas purchased by the reseller from the supplier. Provided the provisions of this section shall not apply to the resell of electric current or natural gas pursuant to a commercial lease.
B. The reseller shall separately disclose in its electric or gas bills to the lessee the per unit cost of its purchased power and the actual amount of each fee or charge in dollars and cents to be paid by the lessee to the reseller.
C. Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this act, upon conviction by a district court, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition to the punishment prescribed by this subsection, said reseller is liable in treble damages to the lessee injured, said damages to be recovered in a civil action by the consumer so injured. Treble damages shall be based on the total amount to be paid to the reseller by the lessee for each bill which exceeds the authorized percentage pursuant to this section.
D. The Office of the Attorney General of this state shall have the power and duty to investigate and prosecute any violations of the provisions of this section.
Added by Laws 1987, c. 163, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1987.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-162. Administrative law judges - Powers - No additional compensation.

The Corporation Commission is authorized and empowered to assign persons in its regular employ as administrative law judges who shall have power to administer oaths, examine witnesses, and receive evidence and report the same to the Corporation Commission, under such rules as the Commission may adopt. A person or persons so assigned shall not be entitled to any compensation other than the regular salary for the position for which they may be regularly employed for performing the services of administrative law judge.
Added by Laws 1931, p. 21, § 1. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 180, § 3, eff. July 1, 1998.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-163.1. Wage rates, benefits, working conditions or other terms or conditions of employment subject to collective bargaining agreements - Disallowance or change.

In establishing rates, unless there is evidence that wage rates, benefits, working conditions or other terms or conditions of employment are not comparable to other collective bargaining agreements for comparable regulated and nonregulated entities in comparable economic and geographical environments, the Corporation Commission shall not disallow or otherwise change any wage rate, benefit, working condition, or other term or condition of employment that is the subject of a collective bargaining agreement between the public utility or public service corporation and a labor organization. Nothing herein shall affect the authority of the Commission to make adjustments where necessary to match wages and benefits with a test year examined by the Commission and to allocate a benefit to the period during which rates will be expected to remain in effect.
It is the intention of the Legislature that any provision of this section is an amendment to, and alteration of Sections 18 through 34 inclusive of Article IX of the Oklahoma Constitution as authorized by Section 35 of Article IX of the Oklahoma Constitution.
Added by Laws 1993, c. 132, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-164. Fees for rebates or refunds.

For all rebates or refunds made through the intervention or agency of the Corporation Commission, a fee of ten per cent on such rebates or refund shall be charged and deducted from such amount rebated or refunded through such intervention or agency of the Corporation Commission, and same shall be converted into the State Treasury as provided by law.
Laws 1915, c. 161, § 2.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-166.1. Fees - Rules and regulations.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission may promulgate rules and regulations prescribing reasonable fees for:
1. The filing and duplication of documents by the Commission, and such fees shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Corporation Commission Revolving Fund;
2. The filing, cancellation, reinstatement and duplication of documents processed by the Transportation Division including, but not limited to, documents for insurance, reinstatement of insurance, annual reports, rates and tariffs, name changes, "Doing Business As" (DBA) designations and address changes, and such fees shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Corporation Commission Revolving Fund.
Added by Laws 1982, c. 354, § 1, operative July 1, 1982. Amended by Laws 1984, c. 284, § 12, operative July 1, 1984; Laws 1985, c. 325, § 5, emerg. eff. July 29, 1985.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-166.1a. Fee schedule for permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations - Service fee schedule - Disposition of fees collected.

A. The Corporation Commission may establish a schedule of fees to be charged for applications for, or the issuance of, new, modified or renewed permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations and for such other services as are involved in the regulation of activities, functions and programs within the jurisdiction of the Commission. Such fees shall be subject to the following limitations:
1. The Commission shall follow the procedures required by the Administrative Procedures Act for promulgation of rules in establishing or amending any such schedule of fees;
2. The Commission shall base its schedule of fees for each service, function or program upon the reasonable costs, both direct and indirect, of operating or providing such services, functions or programs, including, but not limited to, the costs of administration, personnel, office space, equipment, training, travel, inspection and review rendered in connection with each such service, function or program;
3. The Commission shall expend monies from fees levied pursuant to this section, including, but not limited to, application, review, inspection, monitoring and operating fees, only on the direct or indirect costs of the specific functions or programs from which such monies originate.
B. The Commission may establish a schedule of fees to be charged for services, including, but not limited to, searches, compilations, certifications or reproductions of maps and publications, transcripts, blueprints, computer data, electronic recordings or documents. Such fees shall be based on the actual cost to the Commission for the provision of such services.
C. Fees collected by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Corporation Commission Revolving Fund.
Added by Laws 1993, c. 278, § 42, operative Sept. 1, 1993.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-166.2. Purchase of transcripts - Utilization of Oil and Gas Revolving Fund.

In addition to other purposes now authorized by law, the Corporation Commission is authorized to utilize the Oil and Gas Revolving Fund for the purpose of purchasing transcripts of proceedings before the Commission, or before any other court, agency or board.
Added by Laws 1982, c. 354, § 2, operative July 1, 1982. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 275, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-166.3. Conferences.

A. The Corporation Commission is hereby authorized to sponsor and implement conferences to promote the dissemination of knowledge regarding the Commission's regulatory activities. The Commission is hereby authorized to charge registration and other fees necessary to cover the costs of these conferences and shall deposit the fees, plus any other conference proceeds, including donated funds, into an agency special account to be created by the Special Agency Account Board. Expenditure of monies from this agency special account shall be exempt from the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act and shall be for purposes incidental to the conferences sponsored by the Commission.
B. From any monies remaining in the fund following a conference after all bills have been paid, the Commission shall retain ten percent (10%) of the total conference cost to be used to cover start up costs for the next conference and may transfer any remaining monies to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission Revolving Fund to be used for general operating expenses of the Commission.
Added by Laws 1996, c. 331, § 4, emerg. eff. June 12, 1996. Amended byLaws 2008, c. 181, § 1, emerg. eff. May 15, 2008.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-167. Certificate of record showing as to oil and gas leases - Filing.

Any person, firm or corporation desiring to ascertain such facts may make application in writing to the Corporation Commission of the State of Oklahoma for a certificate setting forth what the records of the Corporation Commission, returned and compiled under its lawfully issued rules and regulations, disclose with reference to notices to drill, plug and abandon oil and gas well or wells and the production therefrom, if any, on the tract or tracts of land or lands covered by such application. Such application must be accompanied by a fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) to be paid to the Oil and Gas Conservation Division to be deposited in the Oil and Gas Revolving Fund. It shall be the duty of the Commission to mail to the address given in the application a certificate setting forth the information and date requested in such application, which certificate shall be signed by the chairman or vice-chairman of the Commission and attested to by its secretary. Any such certificates may be filed for record in the county in which the tract or tracts of land is located, and the county clerk shall properly endorse such instruments under the lands affected as certificates of the Corporation Commission.
Added by Laws 1945, p. 41, § 1, emerg. eff. April 25, 1945. Amended by Laws 1951, p. 34, § 1; Laws 1975, c. 202, § 1, operative July 1, 1975; Laws 1982, c. 354, § 3, operative July 1, 1982; Laws 1997, c. 275, § 2, eff. July 1, 1997.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-168. Certificate as prima facie evidence - Burden of proof.

If, and when a certificate, as provided in Section 1 hereof, has been filed and recorded in the land records of the county in which the tract of land described in said certificate is located, and such certificate disclosed that no notice of intention to drill an oil well or gas well on said described land has been filed with the Commission, or discloses that as to all wells, for which notices to drill on said lands have been filed, and there has been filed a notice to plug, or discloses that no production has been reported from said tract for six (6) months or more prior to the date of said certificate, said certificate shall constitute prima facie evidence of the actual status of production from, development of, or abandonment of operations on said tract, and any person, firm or corporation, who asserts the existence and validity of any oil and gas lease, or conveyance, the primary term of which has expired, and the existence and validity of which lease or conveyance is dependent upon such development, production, or operations, as defeating the merchantability of title to the tract covered by said certificate, or any part thereof, shall have the burden of proving that such lease or conveyance is in fact valid and subsisting.
Laws 1945, p. 42, § 2; Laws 1951, p. 34, § 2.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-179. Acts in conflict of interest by Commission members prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any member of the Corporation Commission to own any interest in or to assist in the financing of any firm, corporation or business or to associate himself with any firm, corporation or business which is subject to regulation by the Corporation Commission or in which the influence of the Corporation Commission is used to benefit such business.
Laws 1968, c. 397, § 1, emerg. eff. May 17, 1968.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-180. Penalties.

After the effective date of this act, any person who with wrongful intent acquires an interest in or assists in financing any firm, corporation or business of the type specified in Section 1, or who actually uses such influence to benefit such firm, corporation or business, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not exceeding one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Laws 1968, c. 397, § 2, emerg. eff. May 17, 1968.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-180.2. Public utilities - Promotional payments.

A. No public utility which has for one of its purposes the sale or distribution of energy may include promotional payments in its operating expenses for ratemaking purposes.
B. For purposes of subsection A of this section:
1. "Promotional payment" means any payment, gift or other remuneration made directly or indirectly by a public utility to or for the account of any builder or other person to encourage or induce such builder or other person to install appliances including, but not limited to, space heaters, heat pumps, clothes dryers, water heaters and stoves and equipment which will consume any energy sold or marketed by such public utility;
2. "Promotional payment" shall not mean payments, gifts or other remuneration made for conservation or load management programs or energy-efficient appliances and equipment introduction programs approved by the Corporation Commission;
3. "Public utility" means any individual, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or any combination thereof, other than a municipal corporation, or their lessees, trustees and receivers, owning or operating for compensation in this state equipment or facilities for:
a. producing, generating, transmitting, distributing, selling or furnishing electricity, or
b. transmitting directly or indirectly or distributing combustible hydrocarbon natural or synthetic natural gas for sale to the public; and
4. "Appliances" and "equipment" mean those individual appliances and space-conditioning equipment introduced by manufacturers after November 9, 1978, which operate at a level of efficiency at least twenty percent (20%) greater than appliances and space-conditioning equipment of the same energy type manufactured prior to that date.
Laws 1977, c. 227, § 1; Laws 1981, c. 294, § 2.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-180.4. Political activities prohibited - Exception.

No employee of the Corporation Commission in the unclassified service, shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, receive, or in any manner be concerned in soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political organization, candidacy or other political purpose; and no employee of the Commission in the unclassified service shall solicit or receive any such assessment, subscription or contribution from an employee in the classified service. No employee of the Corporation Commission in the unclassified service shall be a candidate for nomination or election to any paid public office, or take part in the management or affairs of any political campaign, except to exercise his right as a citizen privately to express his opinion and to cast his vote.
Laws 1979, c. 253, § 8, emerg. eff. June 5, 1979.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-180.5. File of applications for motor carrier operating authority - Carriers of commodities - Certificates or permits - Rate-making procedure - Divisions combined.

A. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission shall maintain a separate file, listing by commodity group all applications for motor carrier operating authority or transfer thereof, for which proof of public convenience and necessity is required. The list shall name the applicant and the protestant(s), if any, and shall indicate the disposition of each application. Said file shall be maintained on an annual basis and shall be open to public inspection.
B. It shall not be necessary for any motor carrier in intrastate commerce of sand, gravel, rock, crushed stone, asphaltic mix or other similar road building materials when transported in three-axle or less open-top dump trucks, or an intrastate motor carrier of livestock or unprocessed agricultural commodities, to prove public convenience and necessity for the transportation of said commodities, or to give any notice in order to obtain a certificate or permit. The Commission shall issue such certificates or permits to carriers of said commodities in an intrastate commerce without public hearing.
C. In order to insure nondiscriminatory rates for all shippers, the Commission shall establish a collective rate-making procedure for all commodities for which it has heretofore prescribed rates. Said procedure shall assure that respective revenues and costs of carriers engaged in the transportation of the particular commodities for which rates are prescribed are ascertained. Failure on the part of any carrier to comply with this paragraph or the rules and regulations thereof may result in suspension or cancellation of said carrier's operating authority by the Commission.
D. The Corporation Commission is hereby authorized to combine the Common Carrier Rate Division and the Motor Carrier Division. All duties, functions, authority and contractual obligations that relate to these Divisions are hereby transferred to and vested in the combined Division.
Laws 1979, c. 253, § 16, emerg. eff. June 5, 1979.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-180.6. Intrastate transmission of telephone communication or message.

Any telephone communication or message which is transmitted and received within the boundaries of the State of Oklahoma shall be an intrastate transmission, regardless of whether such transmission crosses state boundaries prior to reaching its receiving point.
Added by Laws 1984, c. 33, § 1, emerg. eff. March 27, 1984.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-180.7. Corporation Commission Revolving Fund.

There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Corporation Commission, to be designated the "Corporation Commission Revolving Fund". The revolving fund shall consist of all fees and monies received by the Corporation Commission as required by law to be deposited to the credit of said fund and any other monies, excluding appropriated funds, that are not directed by law to be deposited to the credit of any other Corporation Commission Fund. Said revolving fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations and shall not be subject to legislative appropriation. Expenditures from said revolving fund shall be made pursuant to the laws of this state and the statutes relating to the Corporation Commission and shall be for general operating expenses of the Corporation Commission. In addition, expenditures from said revolving fund may be made pursuant to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act for the purpose of immediately responding to emergency situations, within the Commission's jurisdiction, having potentially critical environmental or public safety impact. Warrants for expenditures from said fund shall be drawn by the State Treasurer, based on claims signed by an authorized employee or employees of the Corporation Commission and approved for payment by the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
Added by Laws 1984, c. 284, § 11, operative July 1, 1984. Amended by Laws 1985, c. 201, § 1.; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 58.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-181. Definitions.

In this act unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Public utility" means and embraces every corporation organized or doing business in this state, (except a municipal corporation or other political subdivision of this state), that now owns or hereafter may own, operate or manage any plant or equipment for the manufacture, production, transmission, delivery or of furnishing electric current for light, heat or power for public use in this state.
(2) "Commission" means the Corporation Commission of the State of Oklahoma.
(3) "Securities" means capital stock and evidences of indebtedness having the standing of negotiable instruments of a public utility, not including, however, any such obligation falling due twelve (12) months or less after its issuance.
Laws 1947, p. 82, § 1.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-182. Issuance of securities and creation of liens declared a privilege - Power of supervision and regulation.

The power of public utilities to issue securities, in case of public utilities organized under the laws of this state, and to create liens on property in this state to secure the payment of evidences of indebtedness in case of public utilities organized under the laws of any other state or foreign country, is a privilege, the right of supervision, regulation, restriction and control of which is, and shall continue to be, vested in the state, and such power shall be exercised as provided by law and under such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe pursuant to law.
Laws 1947, p. 82, § 2.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-183. Certificate to be obtained from Commission.

No securities shall be issued by a public utility organized under the laws of this state, nor shall any liens on property in this state be created by a public utility organized under the laws of another state or foreign country, to secure the payment of evidences of indebtedness until such public utility shall first have obtained from the Commission a certificate authorizing such issue or creation.
Laws 1947, p. 82, § 3.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-184. Purposes for which securities may be issued - Issuance of short term securities - Foreign public utilities.

(1) A public utility organized under laws of this state may, when authorized by order of the Commission, and not otherwise, issue securities when necessary for the acquisition of property, the construction, extension or improvement of its facilities, or the improvement of its service, or for the discharge or lawful refunding of its obligations, or reimbursement of moneys actually expended from income from any source, or for any other corporate purpose authorized by the Commission. Such public utility may issue securities for proper corporation purposes payable at periods of not more than twelve (12) months, without the consent of the Commission; but no such note, in whole or in part, shall be refunded by any issue of securities, with maturity date later than twelve (12) months from date of issue, without the consent of the Commission.
(2) A public utility organized under the laws of another state or foreign country may, when authorized by order of the Commission and not otherwise, create liens on property in this state to secure evidences of indebtedness when the issuance of such evidences of indebtedness is necessary for the acquisition of property, the construction, extension or improvement of its facilities, or improving of its service, or for the discharge or lawful refunding of its obligations or reimbursement of moneys actually expended from income from any source or for any other corporate purpose authorized by the Commission. The order of the Commission shall fix the amount of evidences of indebtedness secured by such lien or liens and the purposes for which such evidences of indebtedness or their proceeds are to be applied. No such public utility shall, without the consent of the Commission, apply such evidences of indebtedness or their proceeds to any purpose not specified in the order.
Laws 1947, p. 83, § 4.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-185. Application - Filing - Examination - Issuance of certificate.

(1) Any public utility desiring to issue securities, or to create liens to secure evidences of indebtedness, shall file with the Commission an application verified by its president or vice-president, (or by the signers of its articles of organization if it has not yet elected officers), setting forth: (1) The amount and character of the proposed securities or liens; (2) the general purposes for which they are to be issued or created, including a description and statement of the value of any property or services that are to be received in full or partial payment for the securities or in a proper case the evidences of indebtedness to be secured by the lien or liens, and of any property or services already received by the public utility, the cost of which is to be reimbursed to the public utility by the proceeds of such securities or evidences of indebtedness; and (4) a balance sheet of the public utility as of the most recent available date.
(2) The Commission shall examine all applications filed with it pursuant to this act, and if the proposed issue of securities or creation of lien or liens complies with the provisions of this act, it shall issue to the public utility a certificate of authority permitting such issue or creation.
Laws 1947, p. 83, § 5.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-186. Validation of securities or liens when certificate not obtained.

Securities issued or liens created by any public utility, for the issuance or creation of which a certificate should have been, but through excusable neglect or mistake was not, applied for, may be validated by the Commission upon application of such public utility, signed and verified by the president or vice-president and setting forth the information required by Section 5, and in addition thereto a concise statement of the reasons why such application was not made at the time such securities were issued or lien created. If the Commission shall find and determine that such failure to make application was due to excusable neglect or mistake, and was not occasioned by any design to evade compliance with the law, and that such issue or creation was otherwise in accordance with law, the Commission shall issue to the corporation a validating certificate.
Laws 1947, p. 83, § 6.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-188. Securities title not applicable.

Securities issued by public utilities, as defined in this act, shall not be subject to any of the provisions of Title 71 of the Oklahoma Statutes relating to the Oklahoma Securities Commission.
Added by Laws 1947, p. 84, § 8, emerg. eff. May 21, 1947. Amended by Laws 2022, c. 77, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2022.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-190. Addition of optical fiber to electric towers - Additional easement or license.

The addition of optical fiber as part of the static wire attached to electricity towers and appurtenant structures together with all associated equipment for the transmission of communications and information services by optical fiber shall be considered a part of the transmission system and shall not constitute an additional burden on the land or require an additional easement or license; provided, however, no additional poles or other structures are installed on the property; and provided further, no additional poles, structures, wires, cables, or other facilities may be placed except as provided by the existing easement; and provided further, no damage shall be permitted either within or outside of the existing easement during the installation, repair, replacement, or maintenance of the optical fiber line.
Communication services or information services provided over such facilities shall be solely for the internal use of the company or cooperative. Such services shall not be offered to any other entity on a wholesale, retail or any other basis.
Added by Laws 2003, c. 459, § 11.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-190.2. Purpose of act - Goals of restructured electric utility industry.

The purpose of this act is provide for the orderly restructuring of the electric utility industry in the State of Oklahoma in order to allow direct access by retail consumers to the competitive market for the generation of electricity while maintaining the safety and reliability of the electric system in this state.
A competitive and diverse retail electric market should result in lower electricity prices for consumers, create business opportunities, and encourage the development of increased and enhanced services.
Monopoly utility regulation has been used as a substitute for competition in the supply of electricity, but recent changes in the energy marketplace and technology as well as the passage of the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 and implementation of Order No. 888 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have resulted in increased competition in the electric generation industry. The introduction of consumer choice in retail electric energy suppliers will result in market forces rather than regulation determining the cost and quality of electricity for all consumers.
Restructuring of the electric utility industry to provide greater competition and more efficient regulation is a national trend and the State of Oklahoma must aggressively pursue restructuring and increased consumer choice in order to provide electric generation service at the lowest and most competitive rates.
The primary goals of a restructured electric utility industry are as follows:
1. To reduce the cost of electricity for as many consumers as possible, helping industry to be more competitive, to create more jobs in this state and help lower the cost of government by reducing the amount and type of regulation now paid for by taxpayers;
2. To encourage the development of a competitive electricity industry through the unbundling of prices and services and separation of generation services from transmission and distribution services;
3. To enable retail electric energy suppliers to engage in fair and equitable competition through open, equal and comparable access to transmission and distribution systems and to avoid wasteful duplication of facilities;
4. To ensure that direct access by retail consumers to the competitive market for generation be implemented in the State of Oklahoma by July 1, 2002; and
5. To ensure that proper standards of safety, reliability and service are maintained in a restructured electric service industry.
It is in the best interest of the citizens of this state to efficiently and expeditiously move forward to increased competition in the generation and sale of electric energy. To ensure a successful transition to a competitive marketplace, a thorough assessment of issues and consequences associated with restructuring shall be undertaken as provided by this act.
Added by Laws 1997, c. 162, § 2, emerg. eff. April 25, 1997.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-190.3. Definitions.

As used in the Electric Restructuring Act of 1997:
1. "Commission" means the Corporation Commission;
2. "Consumer" means a person or entity purchasing or seeking to purchase electric energy for other than resale;
3. "Direct access consumer" means a consumer who chooses to procure retail electric energy supply and related services directly from the competitive market rather than through a retail electric service distributor;
4. "Electric consuming facility" means everything that utilizes electric energy from a central station source;
5. "Electric distribution system" means the physical system of wires, poles, and other equipment designed to deliver electricity to the ultimate consumer for consumption, excluding generation and transmission facilities;
6. "Independent system operator" means an independent entity, not owned or controlled by an entity which owns generation, transmission, or distribution facilities, which coordinates the physical security and stability of the Oklahoma bulk power system;
7. "Public benefit programs" means all social, economic and environmental programs currently funded through rates charged to consumers receiving electric service in the State of Oklahoma;
8. "Retail electric energy supplier" means any entity which sells retail electric energy to consumers;
9. "Retail electric service distributor" means any firm, corporation, company, individual or their trustees, lessees or receivers, or cooperative corporation or agency, engaged in the furnishing of retail electric services in this state, exclusive of municipal corporations, or beneficial trusts thereof and the Grand River Dam Authority. Any municipal corporation or beneficial trust thereof or the Grand River Dam Authority may, through its own nonrevocable election, voluntarily opt to become subject to the provisions of this act to participate in electric restructuring and retail consumer choice by adopting a resolution stating that all service provided via facilities owned by such entities will be rendered on an open access nondiscriminatory basis in a manner consistent with the provisions of such service by retail electric service distributors subject to this act; and
10. "Transmission line" or "transmission system" means the poles, wires and other equipment, including any fiber optic cable which is a part of such poles, wires and other equipment, designed and constructed to transport bulk electricity between generators and electric distribution systems.
Added by Laws 1997, c. 162, § 3, emerg. eff. April 25, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 391, § 3, emerg. eff. June 10, 1998.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-190.5. Study of impact of restructuring on tax revenues.

To ensure full evaluation and consideration of the impact of restructuring of the electric utility industry on municipal and state tax revenues the Legislature hereby directs the Joint Electric Utility Task Force to study and fully assess the impact of restructuring on state tax revenues and all other facets of the current utility tax structure both on the state and all other political subdivisions of the state. The task force shall direct the Oklahoma Tax Commission to assist the task force in completion of this study. The Oklahoma Tax Commission is hereby authorized to retain such consultants and experts as may be necessary to complete this study. The study shall include the feasibility of establishing a uniform consumption tax or other method of taxation which may be applied in a restructured industry and shall also assess means of ensuring that tax revenues derived by municipalities will not be adversely impacted as a result of restructuring. A final report shall be completed by the task force no later than October 1, 1999. During the transition period prior to full consumer choice, the Oklahoma Tax Commission is expressly prohibited from promulgating any rule or issuing any order relating to methods of taxation to be applied to a restructured electric industry without prior express authorization by the Oklahoma State Legislature or the Joint Electric Utility Task Force.
Notwithstanding any other provisions contained in this act, a uniform tax policy which allows all competitors to be taxed on a fair and equal basis shall be established on or before July 1, 2002.
Added by Laws 1997, c. 162, § 5, emerg. eff. April 25, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 391, § 5, emerg. eff. June 10, 1998.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-190.7. Furnishing of retail electric service to facilities currently being served - Extension of distribution service by municipalities - Prohibitions.

A. Electric distribution providers governed by the Retail Electric Supplier Certified Territory Act, Section 158.21 et seq. of this title or municipal corporations or beneficial trusts thereof owning or operating a retail electric distribution system or the Grand River Dam Authority shall not furnish retail electric service to an electric consuming facility which is currently being served, or which was being served and the permanent electric facilities are in place to render such service, by a municipal corporation or beneficial trust thereof, a rural electric cooperative or an investor-owned electric utility or the Grand River Dam Authority until enactment of electric restructuring enabling legislation and the implementation of consumer choice of retail electric energy suppliers unless the entities involved have agreed by mutual consent, in writing, to such transaction. For the purpose of this section, "electric distribution providers" shall mean the same as "retail electric service distributors" as defined by Section 190.3 of this title.
B. Any municipal corporation or beneficial trust thereof offering retail electric distribution service from a municipally or trust-owned electric distribution system that decides not to participate in the provisions of this act as outlined in Section 190.3 of this title shall be prohibited from extending a retail electric distribution primary feeder system beyond its corporate limits with the exception that it may continue to offer retail electric distribution service through the addition of secondary service drops from the primary feeder system it owned outside the corporate limits of such municipality on April 25, 1997. Provided, however, nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit system maintenance, repairs or upgrades to such primary distribution feeder system outside the corporate limits except that secondary service drops shall not be upgraded to primary distribution lines.
Added by Laws 1997, c. 162, § 7, emerg. eff. April 25, 1997. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 391, § 7, emerg. eff. June 10, 1998; Laws 2001, c. 397, § 3, emerg. eff. June 4, 2001.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-190.8. Nondiscriminatory equivalent access to transmission and distribution facilities.

Any person, firm, association, government agency, authority, cooperative, corporation or any affiliate thereof seeking to use electric transmission and distribution facilities of any retail electric service distributor for the purpose of supplying retail electric power shall be required to provide equivalent access to its own electric transmission and distribution facilities on a nondiscriminatory basis as a condition to the continuing use of the electric transmission and distribution facilities of any other retail electric service distributor.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 391, § 8, emerg. eff. June 10, 1998.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-190.9. Collection of municipal taxes by retail service distributors.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all retail electric service distributors shall, within the boundaries of a municipal corporation, on or after the effective date of full implementation of retail consumer choice, on a nondiscriminatory basis, collect and remit all applicable municipal taxes assessed against the end consumers on the sale of electricity within such municipality.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 391, § 9, emerg. eff. June 10, 1998.