reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-502. Definitions.

As used in this act:
1. "Commission" shall mean the Corporation Commission of Oklahoma;
2. "Person" shall include any individual, partnership, corporation or association of whatever character;
3. "Common source of supply" shall include that area which is underlain, or which from geological or other scientific data, or from drilling operations, or other evidence, appears to be underlain by a common accumulation of brine; provided, that, if any such area is underlain or appears from geologic or other scientific data, or from drilling operations, or from other evidence to be underlain by more than one common accumulation of brine separated from each other by a strata of earth and not connected with each other, then such area, as to each said common accumulation of brine, shall be deemed a separate common source of supply;
4. "Brine" shall mean subterranean saltwater and all of its constituent parts and chemical substances therein contained, including, but not limited to bromine, magnesium, potassium, lithium, boron, chlorine, iodine, calcium, strontium, sodium, sulphur, barium or other chemical substances produced with or separated from such saltwater. Brine produced as an incident to the production of oil or gas, unless such brine is saved or sold for the purposes of removing chemical substances therefrom, shall not be considered brine for the purposes of this act. Gas, whether found in solution or otherwise, shall not be included within the meaning of the term "brine";
5. "Brine owner" shall mean any person entitled to share in the proceeds from the sale of brine production;
6. "Solution gas" shall mean all gas produced from brine wells from the brine common source of supply within the unit area;
7. "Solution gas owner" shall mean any person entitled to share in the proceeds from the sale of solution gas;
8. "Owner" or "owners", unless a more specific term is used, shall mean any person or entity who qualifies as either a brine owner or a solution gas owner;
9. "Operator" shall mean a person who has the right to drill into and produce from any brine common source of supply and to appropriate that production, either for himself, or for himself and others, and is authorized by the Commission to drill;
10. "Effluent" shall mean the liquid remaining after extraction of the chemical substances from brine;
11. "Brine production unit" or "unit" shall mean each separate specific area of land so designated by order of the Commission for production of brine and associated solution gas and the injection of effluent;
12. "Injection well" shall mean a well authorized by the Commission for the injection of effluent or other solutions; and
13. "Manufacture" shall mean the complete process of drilling, completing, equipping and operating production and injection wells and of extracting and packaging brine.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-503. Corporation Commission - Jurisdiction - Rules and regulations - Exceptions.

A. The Corporation Commission is hereby vested with jurisdiction over:
1. The drilling for and production of brine for commercial purposes;
2. Class V injection wells used for the injection or disposal of mineral brines as defined in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and 40 CFR Part 146; and
3. Class V wells used to inject spent brine into the same formation from which it was withdrawn after extraction of halogens or their salts as defined in 40 CFR Part 146.
B. The Commission may promulgate such rules:
1. As are reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, including rules governing the drilling of production, injection or disposal wells and the injection of effluent into underground formations; and
2. To ensure that the drilling, casing and plugging of wells is done in such a manner as to prevent the escape of brine and effluent from one formation to another and to prevent the pollution of fresh water supplies throughout the state.
C. The Oklahoma Brine Development Act shall not apply to nor shall the Corporation Commission have jurisdiction over Class I, III, IV or V wells regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality pursuant to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and 40 CFR Parts 144 through 148, inclusive, and the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 364, § 3, emerg. eff. June 6, 2000.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-504. Utilization of brine rights - Application - Solution gas owners as respondents.

A. A party desiring to unitize brine rights shall file with the Corporation Commission an application setting forth a description of the proposed unit area with a map or plat thereof attached. The application shall allege the existence of the facts required to be found by the Commission as provided in Section 7 of this act. The application shall set forth the name and address of each brine owner within the area affected by the application. Each such person shall be a respondent to the application. In an application to enlarge the unit area, brine owners within the existing unit and brine owners in the area to be added to the unit shall be respondents to the application.
B. In the event the brine sought to be unitized is found in association with solution gas, the application shall set forth the name and address of each solution gas owner within the area affected by the application. Each such person shall be a respondent to the application. In an application to enlarge the unit area, solution gas owners within the existing unit and solution gas owners in the area to be added to the unit shall be respondents to the application.
C. Every application to establish a brine unit shall have attached thereto a recommended plan of unitization applicable to the proposed unit area.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-505. Unitization of brine rights - Notice of application.

Notice of the filing of an application to create a unit or to increase or decrease the size of the unit area, along with a copy of the application, shall be mailed to each respondent to the application whose address is known, or whose address can be found with reasonable diligence, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date set for hearing. In addition, notice shall be given at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of said hearing by one publication in some newspaper of general circulation printed in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, and by one publication at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the hearing in some newspaper of general circulation printed in each county in which the lands embraced within the application are situated. In addition, such additional notice shall be given as is required by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-506. Commission's findings - Evidence required - Orders.

A. If, after proper application and notice, the Commission in its hearing shall find by substantial evidence that:
1. There exists a common source of supply or prospective common source of supply for brine;
2. Unitized management, operation and further development of the common source of supply for brine is reasonably necessary in order to effectively develop the brine common source of supply;
3. Unitized operation as applied to such common source of supply is feasible and will prevent waste and, with reasonable probability, will result in greater ultimate recovery of brine and its constituent parts;
4. Such unitization is for the common good and will result in the general advantage of the owners of the brine rights within the common source of supply; and
5. The creation of a unit will accomplish one or more of the following:
a.
avoid the drilling of unnecessary wells,
b.
prevent waste,
c.
protect correlative rights, or
d.
increase the ultimate recovery from the common source of supply and unit covered by the application,
the Commission shall make a finding to that effect and enter an order creating the unit, and requiring unitized operation of the prospective common source of supply or portion thereof described in the order.
B. If the Commission in its hearing shall find by substantial evidence that:
1. Solution gas exists within the common source of supply or prospective common source of supply;
2. The production of brine is impossible or impractical without also producing the solution gas; and
3. The unitization of the brine common source of supply is impractical or impossible without also unitizing the associated solution gas,
the Commission shall make a finding to that effect and shall further provide in its order for the unitization of the solution gas within the unit area.
C. Orders of the Commission entered pursuant to Section 87.1 of Title 52 of the Oklahoma Statutes establishing drilling and spacing units for the production of oil, gas or oil and gas shall not be applicable to the drilling of wells and production of solution gas from a unit established by an order issued pursuant to this act.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-507. Delineation of unit area - Allocation of production.

The order of the Commission shall define the area of the common source of supply or portion thereof to be included within the unit area. Each unit and unit area shall be limited to all or a portion of a single common source of supply.
Brine owners within the unit shall share in the production of brine in the proportion that their acreage bears to total acreage within the unit, unless the Commission, after notice and hearing, shall provide for another method in the unit plan. Solution gas owners within the unit shall share in production of solution gas in the proportion that their acreage bears to total acreage in the unit, unless the Commission, after notice and hearing, shall provide for another method in the unit plan.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-509. Amendment and modification of property rights and obligations - Distribution of production.

Property rights, leases, contracts and all other obligations shall be regarded as amended and modified to the extent necessary to conform to the provisions and requirements of this act and to any valid and applicable plan of unitization of the Commission made and adopted pursuant hereto, but not otherwise.
Nothing contained in this act shall be construed to require a transfer to, or to cause a vesting in, the unit of title to the separately owned tracts or leases within the unit area other than the right to use and operate the same to the extent set out in the plan of unitization. All property, whether real or personal, which the unit may in any way acquire or possess shall be held or possessed by the operator for the account and as agent of the several owners of the right to drill for and produce brine and shall be the property of such owners, subject, however, to the right of the operator to the possession, management, use or disposal of the same in the proper conduct of its affairs, and subject to any lien the operator may have thereon to secure the payment of unit expenses.
The production allocated to each separately owned tract within the unit, and only that amount, regardless of the well or wells in the unit area from which it may be produced and regardless of whether it be more or less than the amount of production from the well or wells, if any, on any such separately owned tract, shall for all intents, uses and purposes be regarded and considered as production from such separately owned tract.
Except as may be otherwise authorized in this act, or in the plan of unitization approved by the Commission, such production shall be distributed among or the proceeds thereof paid to the several persons entitled to share in production from such separately owned tract in the same manner that they would have participated in the production or proceeds thereof from such separately owned tract had not said unit been organized.
Operations carried on under the plan of unitization shall be regarded as a fulfillment of and compliance with all of the provisions of the brine or solution gas leases or other contracts upon lands included within the unit area insofar as said leases or contracts may relate to the common source of supply or portion thereof included within the unit. Wells drilled on or operated on any part of the unit area, no matter where located, shall be regarded as wells drilled on each separately owned tract within the unit area.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-510. Increase or decrease of unit area size.

A. The Commission shall have jurisdiction to increase the size of an existing unit area where it is shown, upon proper application, notice and hearing that:
1. Land adjacent to the existing unit is underlain by the same common source of supply as that found within the unit area; and
2. Inclusion of the additional land will either:
a.
increase unit efficiency, or
b.
result in greater ultimate recovery of brine, or
c.
prevent waste; and
3. Inclusion of the additional land is fair, just and reasonable, both to parties owning brine interests in the additional land and to parties owning interests in the existing unit; and
4. The requirements of Section 9 of this act have been met.
B. The Commission shall have jurisdiction to decrease the size of an existing unit where it is shown, upon proper application, notice and hearing, that the land to be excluded is of no value to the unit because:
1. It is not underlain by the common source of supply; and
2. Its presence does not contribute to more efficient unit operations, by providing the site for an injection well or wells, or by assisting in the conduct of waterflood operations, or by otherwise increasing unit efficiency; and
3. Exclusion of the land is fair, just and reasonable.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-511. Liability of owner or lessee - Liens.

The obligation or liability of the lessee or other owners of rights in the several separately owned tracts for payment of unit expense shall at all times be several and not joint. At no time shall a lessee or other owner of rights in a separately owned tract be chargeable with, directly or indirectly, more than the amount apportioned to its interest in such separately owned tract pursuant to the plan of unitization.
Subject to such reasonable limitations as may be set out in the plan of unitization, the operator shall have a first and prior lien upon the leasehold estate in and to each separately owned tract and the interest of the owners therein in and to the unit production and equipment in possession of the unit, to secure the payment of unit expense charged to such separately owned tract.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-512. Appeal from orders.

Any person aggrieved by any order of the Commission may appeal therefrom to the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma upon the same conditions, within the same time, and in the same manner as is provided in Sections 84-135, inclusive, of Title 52 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or any amendments thereto, for the taking of appeals from orders of the Commission.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-513. Participation in plans by state and local land management boards.

The Commissioners of the Land Office, or other proper board or officers of the state having control and management of state lands, and the proper board or officer of any political, municipal or other subdivision or agency of the state, are hereby authorized on behalf of the state or of such political, municipal or other subdivision or agency hereof, to act with respect to land or brine rights subject to the control and management of such respective body, board or officer, to participate in any plan or program of unitization approved pursuant to this act.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 14, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-514. Taxation of unit production or sale proceeds.

Neither the unit production nor proceeds from the sale thereof shall be treated, regarded or taxed as income or profits to the unit. Instead, such receipts shall be the income of the several persons to whom same are payable under the plan of unitization. To the extent the unit may receive or disburse any receipts it shall only do so as a common administrative agent of the persons to whom the same are payable.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-515. Purchasing priority of solution gas.

If at any time the Commission has designated priorities for the purchasing of gas from oil and gas wells pursuant to its regulatory power, the solution gas associated with the production of brine from any brine well, whether or not within a unit created pursuant to this act, shall be deemed to have a classification equal to the highest priority designated by the Commission.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 16, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-516. Pre-existing brine, solution gas or brine and solution gas units - Effect of Act.

Sections 2 through 16 of this act shall not have any effect on any existing brine, solution gas or brine and solution gas units which have been created voluntarily or by a judicial decree to the extent such unit was established as of the date of this act. Any existing brine or brine and solution gas unit may be expanded using the provisions of this act.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 17, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-519. Notice to surface owner of intent to drill - Exceptions - Duty to negotiate surface damages.

Before entering upon a site for brine well drilling, except in instances where there are non-state resident surface owners, non-state resident surface tenants, unknown heirs, imperfect titles, surface owners, or surface tenants whose whereabouts cannot be ascertained with reasonable diligence, the operator shall give to the surface owner a written notice of his intent to drill containing a designation of the proposed location and the approximate date that the operator proposes to commence drilling.
Such notice shall be given in writing by certified mail to the surface owner. If the operator makes an affidavit that he has conducted a search with reasonable diligence and the whereabouts of the surface owner cannot be ascertained or such notice cannot be delivered, then constructive notice of the intent to drill may be given in the same manner as provided for the notice of proceedings to appoint appraisers set forth in Section 22 of this act.
Within five (5) days of the date of delivery or service of the notice of intent to drill, it shall be the duty of the operator and the surface owner to enter into good faith negotiations to determine the surface damages.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 20, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-520. Security for location damages - Filing - Entry upon property - Increase in security.

A. Every operator doing business in this state shall file a corporate surety bond, letter of credit from a banking institution, cash, or a certificate of deposit with the Secretary of State in the sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) conditioned upon compliance with Sections 20 through 26 of this act for payment of any location damages due which the operator cannot otherwise pay. The Secretary of State shall hold such corporate surety bond, letter of credit from a banking institution, cash or certificate of deposit for the benefit of the surface owners of this state and shall ensure that such security is in a form readily payable to a surface owner awarded damages in an action brought pursuant to Sections 20 through 26 of this act. Each corporate surety bond, letter of credit, cash, or certificate of deposit filed with the Secretary of State shall be accompanied by a filing fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00).
B. The bonding company or banking institution shall file, for such fee as is provided for by law, a certificate that said bond or letter of credit is in effect or has been canceled, or that a claim has been made against it in the office of the court clerk in each county in which the operator is drilling or planning to drill. Said bond or letter of credit must remain in full force and effect as long as the operator continues drilling operations in this state. Each such filing shall be accompanied by a filing fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00).
C. Upon deposit of the bond, letter of credit, cash or certificate of deposit, the operator shall be permitted entry upon the property and shall be permitted to commence drilling of a well in accordance with the terms and conditions of any lease or other existing contractual or lawful right.
D. If the damages agreed to by the parties or awarded by the court are greater than the bond, letter of credit, cash or certificate of deposit posted, the operator shall pay the damages immediately or post an additional bond, letter of credit, cash or certificate of deposit sufficient to cover the damages. Said increase in bond, letter of credit, cash or certificate of deposit shall comply with the requirements of this section.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 21, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-522. Appeal from court review or jury verdict of appraiser's report - Probate - Authority to execute instruments of conveyance.

Any aggrieved party may appeal from the decision of the court on exceptions to the report of the appraisers or the verdict rendered upon jury trial. Such appeal shall not serve to delay the prosecution of the work on the premises in question if the award of the appraisers or jury has been deposited with the clerk for the use and benefit of the surface owner. In case of review or appeal, a certified copy of the final order or judgment shall be transmitted by the clerk to the appropriate county clerk to be filed and recorded.
When an estate is being probated, or when a minor or incompetent person has a legal guardian or conservator, the administrator or executor of the estate or guardian of the minor or incompetent person or the conservator, shall have the authority to execute all instruments of conveyance provided for in this act on behalf of the estate or minor or incompetent person with no other proceedings than approval by the judge of the court of jurisdiction being endorsed on the instrument of conveyance.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-523. Impairment of existing contract rights or contracting for correlative rights - Indian property rights.

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to impair existing contractual rights nor shall it prohibit parties from contracting to establish correlative rights on the subject matter contained in this act.
This act shall not be applicable to nor affect in any way property held by an Indian whose interest is restricted against voluntary or involuntary alienation under the laws of the United States or property held by an Indian tribe or by the United States for any Indian tribe.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 24, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-525. Willful and knowing entry upon premises, failure to post bond, failure to request appraisers, etc. - Treble damages - Trial de novo.

Upon presentation of clear, cogent and convincing evidence that the operator willfully and knowingly entered upon the premises for the purpose of commencing the drilling of a well before giving notice of such entry or without the agreement of the surface owner, the court may, in a separate action, award treble damages. The issue of noncompliance shall be a fact question, determinable without jury, and a de novo issue in the event of appeal.
Any operator who willfully and knowingly fails to keep posted the required bond or who fails to notify the surface owner, prior to entering, or fails to come to an agreement and does not ask the court for appraisers, shall pay, at the direction of the court, treble damages to the surface owner.
Damages collected pursuant to this act shall not preclude the surface owner from collecting any additional damages caused by the operator at a subsequent date.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 255, § 26, eff. Sept. 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-608. Corporation Commission - Jurisdiction over sales of compressed natural gas - Notice of price increases - Hearing.

A. The Corporation Commission shall have jurisdiction over all sales in this state of compressed natural gas to the state or any county, municipality or public trust authority located within this state, the State Department of Education or any school district within this state, if the compressed natural gas is utilized in a government vehicle or a school vehicle as defined in Section 2 of this act.
B. Any entity engaged in the sale of compressed natural gas, in the manner specified in subsection A of this section, and not otherwise determined to be a public utility pursuant to Section 151 of this title, shall be required to give notice to the Commission prior to increasing the price of compressed natural gas more than five percent (5%). The Commission shall either approve the increase within five (5) business days of the notification or notify the entity of the suspension of the price increase pending further investigation of such increase. The Commission shall give notice and conduct hearings concerning such price increases as the Commission deems appropriate and the Commission shall notify the Attorney General of the time and place any such hearings are to be held. In determining whether the increase should be granted, the Commission shall consider:
1. the costs of the entity to provide the compressed natural gas;
2. the availability of alternate fuel supplies to consumers; and
3. the potential impact of the proposed increase on the availability of compressed natural gas.
Any public utility engaged in the sale of compressed natural gas in the manner specified in subsection A of this section shall not sell such compressed natural gas at a price greater than the applicable tariff rate for commercial customers of such public utility plus the costs of compressing such gas.
C. Notice to the Commission shall be given by filing a verified statement with the Director of the Public Utility Division which sets forth:
1. the name and address of the entity;
2. the current price and the proposed price;
3. documentation which supports the need for the increase; and
4. the proposed date of the increased price.
D. The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary concerning the regulation of compressed natural gas prices pursuant to the provisions of this section.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 336, § 8, operative July 1, 1990.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-701. Background information of employees or potential employees - NCIC searches for stolen vehicles - Transfer of authority.

A. 1. The Corporation Commission may promulgate rules to require employees and potential employees in sensitive or law enforcement positions to supply photographs, descriptions, fingerprints, measurements and other pertinent information necessary for a criminal history search by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The Commission may designate national criminal history searches as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes if it deems such information necessary.
2. The Commission shall be authorized to require enforcement officers to be fingerprinted for submission of the fingerprints through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history check. The Commission shall be the recipient of the results of the record check.
B. The Commission shall request searches of the online and off-line files of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), or any successor federal agency which supplies such information, to identify apportioned motor vehicles or apportioned motor vehicle license plates which have been reported stolen.
C. The Commission is authorized to promulgate rules or issue orders to prohibit any person or company from conducting business or participating in any manner of business with the Commission as the Commission deems necessary. Any orders or rules pertaining to the provisions of the Trucking One-Stop Shop Act which were issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, on or after January 1, 2002, shall be deemed to be in effect and transferred to the authority of the Corporation Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Trucking One-Stop Shop Act.
D. The Commission is authorized to promulgate any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
Added by Laws 2005, c. 418, § 1, emerg. eff. June 6, 2005. Amended by Laws 2006, c. 238, § 1, emerg. eff. June 6, 2006.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-710.2. Legislative findings.

The Legislature finds that smart grid and smart meter technologies have the potential to provide substantial benefits to consumers and the environment, including reduced energy costs, increased energy efficiency, and increased reliability of the electric grid. The Legislature recognizes, however, that the use of advanced metering technology may give electric utilities and consumers access to more detailed usage data than that collected by conventional electric utility services. The purpose of the Electric Usage Data Protection Act is to establish standards to govern the access to and use of usage data, as defined in Section 3 of this act by electric utilities, customers of electric utilities, and third parties.
Added by Laws 2011, c. 291, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-710.3. Definitions.

As used in the Electric Usage Data Protection Act:
1. “Aggregate usage data” means any usage data from which all identifying information has been removed such that the individual usage data of a customer cannot without extraordinary effort and expertise be associated with the identifying information of that customer;
2. “Commission” means the Corporation Commission;
3. “Customer” means an individual or a business partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or other legal entity receiving service from an electric utility in the name of the individual or the entity. A customer may be residential, commercial or industrial;
4. “Customer-identifiable usage data” means usage data that is stored or presented in a format that associates the usage data with identifying information of a customer or could be manipulated to identify a customer without extraordinary effort;
5. “Customer information” means both identifying information and customer-identifiable electric usage data. Aggregate usage data shall not be considered customer information;
6. “Electric utility” means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or cooperative corporation furnishing retail electric service to the public in Oklahoma. Electric utility shall not mean a municipal corporation or beneficial trust of a municipal corporation;
7. “Identifying information” means any information that directly or indirectly identifies or is uniquely associated with a customer or an authorized representative of a customer, including but not limited to the name, social security or taxpayer identification number, street address, telephone number, electric utility account number, meter number, or financial account information of the customer or authorized representative of the customer;
8. “Nonstandard usage data” means any usage data that is not standard usage data or aggregate data;
9. “Standard usage data” means usage data, as defined in paragraph 11 of this section, that is used internally and is generally made available by the electric utility to customers in each of its customer classes on a regular basis, delivered by the electric utility in a standard format and with standard frequency, including without limitation the usage data collected by the meter or obtainable on an as-available basis by the customer;
10. “Self-regulated cooperative” means an Oklahoma rural electric cooperative whose members have elected to exempt the cooperative from certain regulation by the Commission as described in Section 158.27 of Title 17 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
11. “Usage data” means information, on an as-available basis, relating to both:
a.
the amount of electricity consumed at a residence or premises of a customer, and
b.
the characteristics of that consumption, as generated, recorded, stored or transmitted by the electric utility infrastructure or supporting technology.
Added by Laws 2011, c. 291, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-710.4. Electric utilities – Customer information.

A. An electric utility shall provide customers with reasonable access to and shall maintain the confidentiality of customer information as provided for in Sections 5 through 8 of this act.
B. Electric utilities may utilize customer-identifiable usage data for their internal regulated business purposes which may include, but are not limited to, the:
1. Provision of services in an effective and efficient manner;
2. Collection of charges and other fees from customers for services provided;
3. Planning, operation, maintenance, repair or optimization of the electric utility infrastructure; and
4. Subject to approval by the Commission, or in the case of a self-regulated cooperative subject to approval of its board of trustees, development, enhancement, marketing, provision of energy-related products and services or promotion of public policy objectives.
C. The use of customer-identifiable usage data under the provisions of subsection B of this section shall not require customer consent.
Added by Laws 2011, c. 291, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-710.5. Electric utilities – Usage data.

A. Upon request, electric utilities shall provide the customer with a copy of or access to the standard usage data for that customer. The provision of standard usage data to a customer shall be provided as a component of basic service provided by an electric utility.
B. Upon written request, electric utilities shall, to the extent feasible, provide the nonstandard usage data of the customer to the customer. Electric utilities may charge a reasonable fee for the provision of nonstandard usage data to cover the actual costs incurred in providing the data.
Added by Laws 2011, c. 291, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-710.6. Customer information - Affiliates.

A. An electric utility may provide customer information without customer consent to affiliates and third parties who, under contract, assist the electric utility in providing regulated services or otherwise carrying out its business objectives as outlined in subsection B of Section 4 of this act, provided however that the disclosure is limited to the specific information necessary for the third party to carry out its responsibilities to the electric utility. Prior to the disclosure of any customer information to a third party under this subsection, a responsible representative of the third party shall agree in writing that it will maintain the security and confidentiality of all customer information to which it has access and limit the use of customer information to the provision of such services to the electric utility.
B. In addition to providing customer information to affiliates and third parties as described in subsection A of this section, electric utilities may disclose customer information to third parties in the following circumstances:
1. As required by law;
2. Pursuant to a warrant, subpoena duces tecum, or other court order;
3. In the event of a business transaction such as a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar transaction involving the electric utility;
4. In the event of an emergency situation; or
5. When the customer provides written consent to the disclosure.
Added by Laws 2011, c. 291, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-710.7. Aggregate customer usage information.

A. Electric utilities may use aggregate usage data for their internal business purposes. The use of aggregate usage data by electric utilities shall not require customer consent.
B. 1. Subject to the restrictions in paragraph 2 of this subsection and without customer consent, electric utilities may disclose aggregate usage data to third parties and may make aggregate usage data generally available to the public for purposes such as promoting energy assistance, conservation, environmental advocacy, research, or measuring company performance.
2. Any aggregate usage data disclosed as authorized in paragraph 1 of this subsection shall contain a sufficient number of similarly situated customers within a particular geographic area so that the daily usage routines or habits of an individual customer could not reasonably be deduced from the data.
Added by Laws 2011, c. 291, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-710.8. Promulgation of rules.

In the case of an electric utility, other than a self-regulated cooperative, the Commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of the Electric Usage Data Protection Act. In the case of a self-regulated cooperative, the board of trustees shall have the authority to promulgate rules or procedures to implement the provisions of the act.
Added by Laws 2011, c. 291, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-801. Legislative intent - Use of cedar trees and residue as renewable energy source.

A. The Legislature declares that it is in the interest of Oklahoma to promote the use of cedar tree wood products and residue as an energy source in the state in order to take advantage of the abundance of cedar trees growing in the state and its natural compatibility with other renewable energy sources.
B. It is hereby declared the intent of the State of Oklahoma to promote use of cedar tree wood products and residue as a renewable energy fuel.
Added by Laws 2010, c. 454, § 14, eff. July 1, 2010.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-801.2. Legislative intent.

It is the goal of the State of Oklahoma to reduce the dependence of Oklahoma and the United States on foreign oil, to improve the security of the United States in the world and to improve the economic well-being of the citizens of Oklahoma. The Legislature hereby expresses its intent to take steps to increase the energy independence of the United States by increasing the use of domestic energy and renewable energy sources in Oklahoma, expand development of domestic energy and renewable energy production and increase the ability to export Oklahoma’s domestic energy and renewable energy resources to the rest of the United States.
Added by Laws 2010, c. 283, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2010.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-801.3. Definitions.

As used in the Oklahoma Energy Security Act:
1. "Commission" means the Corporation Commission;
2. "Demand side management" means the management of customer consumption of electricity, or the demand for electricity, through the implementation of:
a.
load management or demand resource technologies, management practices or other strategies in residential, commercial, industrial, institutional or government customers that shift electric loads from periods of higher demand to periods of lower demand, or
b.
industrial by-product technologies consisting of the use of a by-product from an industrial process, including the reuse of energy from exhaust gases or other manufacturing by-products that are used in the direct production of electricity at the facility of a customer; and
3. "Energy efficiency" means technologies, management practices or other strategies in residential, commercial, institutional, or government customers that reduce electricity use by those consumers.
Added by Laws 2010, c. 283, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2010.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-801.4. Renewable energy standard.

A. The Legislature declares that it is in the public interest to promote renewable energy development in order to best utilize the abundant natural resources found in this state.
B. It is hereby declared the intent of the State of Oklahoma to increase the use of renewable energy in the state by setting a renewable energy standard that will serve as a goal to be reached by the year 2015.
C. There is hereby established a renewable energy standard for the state that will serve as a goal for the year 2015. The renewable energy standard shall be a goal that fifteen percent (15%) of all installed capacity of electricity generation within the state by the year 2015 be generated from renewable energy sources.
D. For purposes of this section, qualifying renewable energy resources shall include:
1. Wind;
2. Solar;
3. Photovoltaic;
4. Hydropower;
5. Hydrogen;
6. Geothermal;
7. Biomass, which projects may include agricultural crops, wastes, and residues, wood, animal and other degradable organic wastes, municipal solid waste, and landfill gas;
8. Distributed generation from an eligible renewable energy resource where the generating facility or any integrated cluster of such facilities has an installed generating capacity of not more than five (5) megawatts;
9. Other renewable sources approved by the Commission; and
10. Demand side management and energy efficiency as provided in Section 6 of this act.
E. Steam export capacity at a qualified renewable energy resource shall count toward the goal established in subsection C of this section.
F. The annual renewable energy percentage shall be determined by dividing all installed capacity of renewable electricity generation in Oklahoma by the total installed capacity of all electricity generation in Oklahoma. Every electricity generating entity or company operating electricity generation facilities in Oklahoma shall report to the Commission by March 1 each year the installed capacity of each of its generating facilities, the number of kilowatt hours generated by each facility in Oklahoma and from which source of energy the electricity was produced.
Added by Laws 2010, c. 283, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2010. Amended by Laws 2015, c. 101, § 1, emerg. eff. April 20, 2015.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-801.5. Natural gas energy standard.

A. The Legislature declares that it is in the public interest to promote natural gas energy development in order to take advantage of our state’s vast natural gas resources and its compatibility with wind energy.
B. It is further declared the intent of the Legislature to promote natural gas energy development in this state by establishing a natural gas energy standard to increase the use of natural gas as an electricity generation fuel.
C. There is hereby established a natural gas energy standard to supplement the increased volume of renewable energy and to capitalize on the state's abundant natural gas resources. The natural gas energy standard shall be achieved by declaring natural gas as the preferred choice of electric generation for new fossil fuel generating facilities in this state after the effective date of this act through January 1, 2020.
D. Beginning January 1, 2011, through January 1, 2020, it is the intent of the state that new fossil fuel generating facilities and added capacity to existing fossil fuel generating facilities built in this state be powered by natural gas. Any electricity generating entity in the state choosing a fossil fuel source other than natural gas may provide evidence to the Corporation Commission, or other appropriate regulatory body of those entities not regulated by the Commission, that the fossil fuel source chosen by such entity is in the best interest of this state’s electric consumers.
Added by Laws 2010, c. 283, § 5 eff. Nov. 1, 2010.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-801.6. Utilization of energy efficiency and demand side management measures to meet renewable energy standard.

Energy efficiency and demand side management are important components to maximizing the energy resources of our state. Therefore, every electricity generating entity in Oklahoma may use energy efficiency and demand side management measures to assist the state in meeting its renewable energy standard. Provided, however, that demand side management may not be used to meet more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the overall fifteen percent (15%) renewable energy standard for the state. Energy conservation measures shall be described and quantified to the Corporation Commission on March 1 annually. The Commission shall make the final determination of the amount of generation capacity the electricity generating entity conserved and determine to what degree that will count toward meeting the renewable energy standard for the state.
Added by Laws 2010, c. 283, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2010.
2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-801.8. Legislative declaration on natural gas – Corporation Commission report and recommendations.

A. The Legislature declares that renewable natural gas is a complement to our state's vast natural gas and renewable energy resources that can be carbon neutral or carbon negative.
B. It is further declared the intent of the Legislature to ensure renewable natural gas is allowable in the portfolio of natural gas utilities on behalf of Oklahoma energy consumers for their fueling, heating and power needs, and that natural gas utilities play a unique and necessary role in procuring, transporting and delivering gas, including renewable natural gas, to Oklahoma energy consumers.
C. For purposes of this section:
1. "Biogas" means a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons, primarily methane gas, released from the biological decomposition of waste, including, but not limited to, animal manure, wastewater, municipal solid waste, landfilled waste, fats, oils and greases and food waste; and
2. "Renewable natural gas" means:
a.
biogas-derived methane gas that is interchangeable with geologic natural gas,
b.
hydrogen gas or carbon oxides derived from renewable energy sources, or
c.
methane gas derived from any combination of hydrogen gas or carbon oxides derived from renewable energy sources, biogas and waste carbon dioxide.
D. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission shall, no later than December 1, 2021, issue a report and recommendations to the Legislature regarding the ability and appropriateness of natural gas utilities to procure, transport and deliver renewable natural gas to customers. The report shall address a recommendation for the state's renewable fuel standard or goal to more proactively promote biogas, renewable natural gas and hydrogen as solutions for reducing methane emissions and other environmental problems. The report shall also discuss the methods for recovery of associated costs from ratepayers, such as transport infrastructure and commodity costs. The report shall also address the production of educational materials to provide Oklahoma residents with information regarding renewable natural gas and its positive environmental impacts and benefits. The report shall also discuss future reporting requirements for all producers so the Commission can report progress annually to the Legislature. The report shall be due to the Legislature no later than December 1, 2021.
Added by Laws 2021, c. 150, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021.