2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 17. Corporation Commission › §17-253. Rules for considering adjustment applications.

A. No proposed monthly fuel adjustment, purchased power adjustment or purchased gas adjustment shall become effective until after the Corporation Commission has had an opportunity to determine that the adjustment is calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable fuel adjustment clause.
B. The Commission shall promulgate rules requiring each company as a necessary part of the monthly filing with the Commission and condition to consideration of any adjustment application to submit the following information:
1. A statement by each company subject to a fuel adjustment clause of the items and costs making up the average cost of fuel per million BTU and associated costs in dollars and cents or fraction thereof;
2. A summary of its fuel and gas purchase invoices and its computations of the proposed monthly fuel adjustment or purchased gas adjustment charges;
3. A summary of inventory records of fuel and gas going into and taken out of stockpile or storage;
4. A report containing the average unit price, the change in the average unit price, the volume purchased and a brief explanation of such unit cost increase; and
5. Any other records deemed necessary by the Commission including, but not limited to, the heat rate efficiency and delivery efficiency for affected electric public utilities and the actual capacity factor for each generating facility utilized to produce electric power.
The records and computations filed shall be open to public inspection at the office of the Commission.
C. The Commission shall have five (5) business days after the records and computations prescribed in subsection B of this section have been filed to determine the necessity of an administrative proceeding thereon. If the Commission does not determine that a hearing is required, the proposed adjustment charge shall become effective as filed. In the event the Commission decides to hold a hearing on the information filed, it shall notify the public utility within such five-day period, set the matter for a public hearing to commence within thirty (30) business days thereafter, and give notice thereof at least three (3) days prior to the commencement of such hearing by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area served by such company. The issue to be determined at such hearing shall be either or both of the following determinations:
1. Whether charges or credits made under the fuel adjustment clauses are based upon the actual prices paid for fuel, purchased gas or purchased power and are properly computed in accordance with the applicable adjustment clause; or
2. Whether the fuel adjustment clauses should be discontinued, amended or suspended. In the event that the Commission determines that it is necessary to set any proposed adjustment charge for hearing, the proposed charge shall nevertheless become effective at the option of the utility following the expiration of the five-day period after its records and computations have been filed, pending the Commission's finding with respect to such charges. However, in the discretion of the Commission, the effectiveness of the proposed charge may be conditioned upon the filing by the utility with the Commission of an assurance satisfactory to the Commission, which may include a bond with surety, of the utility's ability and willingness to refund to its customers any such amounts as the utility may collect from them in excess of the charge approved by the Commission in its finding. If the Commission has not approved, in whole or in part, or denied the proposed charge within a seven-day period subsequent to the commencement of such hearing, the Commission shall promptly submit a written explanation of the Commission's failure to do so to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the office of the Governor.
Added by Laws 1977, c. 252, § 4, emerg. eff. June 15, 1977. Amended by Laws 1981, c. 272, § 5, eff. July 1, 1981; Laws 1991, c. 332, § 3, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 1998, c. 364, § 9, emerg. eff. June 8, 1998.