ONG Seeks Rate Hike Approval To Cover Costs From Winter Storm

Oklahoma Natural Gas is asking a judge to approve a hike on customers' gas bills to help cover the billion-dollar price tag from last February's historic winter storm and energy crisis. 

Oklahoma Natural Gas says to keep up with supply and demand during last winter's record cold, the company spent 1.3 billion dollars in February. To cover those costs, ONG customers could see a rate hike if it's approved. 

That would result in an average monthly increase of $7.73 for residential customers or $5.71 for low-income customers for the first year. ONG says the cost would be lower in following years. 

In the application filed by ONG they said gas lines, wells and even power plants failed to deliver natural gas in sufficient quantities during the February storm causing ONG to quote" incur other extraordinary costs to maintain gas supply." 

So far this year, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has temporarily deferred the cost at ONG's request to allow time for a solution to be approved and implemented. 

Monday's hearing before Administrative Law Judge will being at 8:30 in the morning and will start with public comment. 

People can join the meeting both in person and through Zoom.