Energy
Court rejects gas co. tax bill appeal
Written by Dick Pryor Tuesday, 02 March 2010 23:01
ALVA, Okla. (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Missouri Gas Energy of a tax bill it received for stored natural gas in Oklahoma.The Kansas City, Mo.-based company had appealed the decision by Woods County Assessor Monica Schmidt to tax the gas stored in natural caverns in Woods County. The court on Monday declined to hear the company's appeal. Schmidt says the high court's decision means about $1.2 million held in escrow will go to local schools. Schmidt learned in 2000 that the company was storing the gas in the caverns and determined it was subject to property taxes for 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Missouri Gas Energy attorney Bill Elias calls the court's decision disappointing.
Change in routes leads to extra ONG charge
Written by Dick Pryor Tuesday, 22 December 2009 19:46
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Natural Gas officials say a change in the routes of meter-readers led to an additional service charge for some customers.
The extra charge was noticed by bookkeeper Sherry Alexander who says she paid 13 service charges this year - including two in November. Alexander says ONG agreed to a $27 credit after she filed a complaint with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
ONG spokesman Don Sherry says meter-reading schedules were changed to make some routes more efficient and that the changes can affect billing. The service charge ranges from $11.20 for low-use home customers to $26.75 for higher-use home customers. The charges also are different for businesses and are used to pay for infrastructure and investments.
Companies comment on Exxon Mobil purchase
Written by Dick Pryor Tuesday, 15 December 2009 15:13
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Officials with two Oklahoma energy companies say Exxon Mobil's decision to purchase a natural gas company validates natural gas as a significant player in the nation's energy future. Exxon Mobil said Monday it will buy XTO Energy in a $31 billion all-stock deal. The move may signal a new desire by major producers to own natural gas assets like Chesapeake Energy and Devon Energy, both based in Oklahoma.
In separate statements, Chesapeake Chief Executive Officer Aubrey McClendon and Larry Nichols, chief executive officer of Devon Energy, declined to comment on whether their companies were targets for acquisition. McClendon called it the pending sale the "highest-profile validation" of the future potential of natural gas as a
clean-burning fuel. Nichols said Exxon Mobil's interest shows that natural gas companies have great value.
Commission expected to OK gas rate hike
Written by Dick Pryor Monday, 14 December 2009 22:02
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A state panel has approved a rate hike for customers of Oklahoma Natural Gas. The three-member Oklahoma Corporation Commission unanimously approved the increase on Monday. The new rate will cost the average residential consumer about $4 a month and will take effectimmediately. The increase was part of a settlement agreement involving the utility, a group that includes large industrial consumers and the attorney general's office, which represents residential users. ONG says the hike is not connected to the price of gas and is needed to help pay for delivery and infrastructure costs. The
utility's last rate increase was in 2005.
Regulators to take up wind farm plan
Written by Dick Pryor Wednesday, 25 November 2009 14:21
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is considering final approval of the University of Oklahoma's plan to power its Norman campus entirely by wind. The plan has been agreed to by officials at OU, Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co., the attorney general's office and other groups. The
three-member commission is scheduled to consider a final order on Wednesday.
OU announced last year it would purchase wind-generated power from OG&E, which plans to build a commercial-scale wind farm near Woodward in northwestern Oklahoma. Officials say OG&E will provide increasing amounts of wind power to the campus, particularly after what will be named the "OU Spirit" wind farm begins production in 2010. Currently, about 10 percent of OU's power is generated by wind.