WASHINGTON – Consumers welcomed the defeat of SB 498 in the Oklahoma State Senate yesterday in a victory for consumers over the interests of incumbent monopoly utilities. Yesterday, Senate Energy Chairman Lonnie Paxton announced that he would not hear SB 498 because is it anti-competitive. So-called “Right of First Refusal” laws have been introduced in a number of states across the United States and each would lead to higher electricity rates for consumers.

In a statement, Paul Cicio, Chair of the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition hailed the failure of the bill as a victory for consumers. “Transmission competition has been proven to lower costs, and anti-competitive bills such as SB 498 would penalize Oklahomans in order to pad the profits of incumbent electricity utilities. The decision by Senator Paxton should be celebrated by all those who support lower electricity costs for consumers.”

“Other states considering these anti-competitive and unconstitutional ‘Right of First Refusal’ bills such as Indiana, Mississippi, Kansas, Missouri and Montana should follow Oklahoma’s example and reject them. With record investment into America’s electrical grid expected in the next few decades, it is vital that States find cost effective ways to build transmission infrastructure while promoting innovation. Competition is the only way to achieve those goals. The interests of the consumer will win out.”

Electricity transmission competition leads to more affordable and reliable electricity services for consumers and has been shown to save consumers as much as 40%.[1]

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About the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition

The Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition (ETCC) is a broad-based, nation-wide coalition committed to increasing competition in America’s electricity transmission infrastructure. We advocate for common-sense policies and solutions that result in competitively priced transmission projects, which reduce energy costs for all ratepayers – from large manufacturers to residential consumers. The ETCC represents a diverse group of more than 86 companies and organizations from all 50 states, including manufacturing groups, retail electric consumers, state consumer advocates, public power representatives, think tanks, and non-incumbent transmission developers.

For more information, visit: www.electricitytransmissioncompetitioncoalition.org.

Press Contact:
Julian Graham
jgraham@signaldc.com

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[1] Brattle Group: Cost Savings Offered by Competition in Electric Transmission, https://www.brattle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/16726_cost_savings_offered_by_competition_in_electric_transmission.pdf