Oklahoma woman's $1,373 power bill tops rent, sparks petition over soaring costs

When Raelynn McMurchy received her electricity bill this month, it was more than double the amount of her family's monthly rent. The bill totaled $1,373, including a $598 security deposit that her power company required after she had fallen behind on previous payments. Struggling to choose between keeping the electricity on or paying for basic necessities, McMurchy started a petition calling for changes to Oklahoma's rising energy costs.

McMurchy is one of many customers facing the challenge of paying their electricity bills amid prolonged periods of extreme summer heat driving up power usage and monthly charges throughout the region. Electricity prices have been rising faster than general inflation, leaving households burdened with growing debt and the threat of having their power disconnected.

Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) is the primary electricity provider in the area and earlier this year sought permission from state regulators to raise residential electricity rates by 15 percent. Although a recent agreement with the Oklahoma Attorney General reduced this increase to around 1 percent, household bills continue to climb due to extreme weather.

Tulsa experienced more than double the usual number of days with temperatures soaring to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) during the season. This prolonged heat has forced air conditioners and fans to run for extended periods, significantly increasing electricity consumption. The US Department of Energy's review of utility shutoffs in 2024 revealed that PSO disconnected customers for non-payment at more than five times the national average rate.

In the Tulsa service area alone, at least 19,000 customers have had their electricity shut off each month due to unpaid bills. While several states prohibit utility companies from disconnecting electricity during extreme summer heat to protect public health, Oklahoma does not have such safeguards. Rules overseen by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission permit power companies to disconnect customers as long as the heat index remains below 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius).

Consumer groups have repeatedly urged state regulators to lower this threshold, arguing that indoor conditions can become dangerously hot well before the outdoor heat index reaches 101 degrees.

The financial strain has also imposed a significant burden on community organizations that help residents avoid losing power. At the Helping Hand Ministry office in downtown Tulsa, residents line up every Monday and Tuesday morning to notify them of impending disconnections. The charity spends up to $14,000 a week on emergency assistance, primarily sourced from local foundations and church donations, used to aid residents in delaying or preventing power shutoffs.

Volunteer John Johnson frequently contacts PSO's parent company, American Electric Power, to negotiate partial payments for individuals facing imminent disconnections. One success story involves Ashley Fonseca Mejia, a retail worker, who received a $350 emergency payment that enabled her to retain her electricity service. "It is a relief," Fonseca Mejia stated.

"These bills have been skyrocketing." The issue extends beyond low-income households; even full-time workers like Eric Widger, who works at a local Kimberly-Clark manufacturing plant, are grappling with the sudden increases in their bills. Widger saw his monthly electricity bill double to approximately $500, forcing him to make difficult decisions between paying rent, utilities, and feeding his family.

With the persistent rise in temperatures driving up electricity demand across the central United States, residents and consumer advocacy groups are advocating for changes to security deposit rules and stronger protections against summer shutoffs. They urge regulators to take action before the upcoming heatwaves put even more households at risk of power outages.

For many families, the challenge extends beyond just the cost of electricity; it revolves around the ability to remain safely powered during increasingly challenging summers.