A Tulsa, Oklahoma resident experienced a shock when her electric bill, including a deposit from previous late payments, totaled $1,373 for a single month. The incident prompted her to launch an online petition and draw attention to the growing affordability crisis surrounding electricity costs in her region and across the nation.
Electricity prices have been rising faster than the overall cost of living according to the Labor Department, with particularly sharp increases during summer months when cooling demands peak. In the Tulsa area, extreme heat this summer has contributed to higher bills, with the region experiencing more than twice the average number of days with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. The local utility, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, had sought a 15% rate increase before agreeing to limit it to 1% following intervention by the state attorney general, though that settlement still requires regulatory approval.
Oklahoma has become a focal point for utility shutoff practices. The state’s utility regulator permits power disconnections when the heat index remains below 101 degrees, a threshold that differs from policies in other states that prohibit summer shutoffs entirely. According to the U.S. Energy Department, PSO cuts power to customers at more than five times the national average rate, with approximately 19,000 customers in the Tulsa area experiencing shutoffs monthly. Consumer advocates’ attempts to lower the disconnection threshold have not succeeded.
Nonprofit organizations have stepped in to address the crisis. The Helping Hand Ministry in downtown Tulsa assists dozens of customers weekly in avoiding shutoffs, spending up to $14,000 per week with funding from foundations and local churches. Many clients seeking assistance are employed full-time but struggle with competing household expenses, including rent and food costs.
The broader issue extends nationwide, with the Energy Department reporting that over 13 million people experience power shutoffs annually due to unpaid bills. Experts warn that the situation will likely worsen as electricity costs continue climbing and summer temperatures grow more extreme due to climate change patterns. The utility industry argues it is investing in additional generation capacity and grid resilience to meet demand and withstand severe weather events.
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