Soaring summer power bills spark protests — and even disconnections
asserted
bills → soar → protests
Economics can help.
asserted
Economics → help → ?
Raelynn McMurchy was shocked when she opened her most recent electric bill.
asserted
she → shock → bill
After some late payments in the past, the utility had tacked on a deposit of nearly $600, pushing the total to $1,373.
asserted
utility → tack → 1,373
"Our electric bill is literally more than our rent this month," McMurchy said in a TikTok video that quickly racked up more than 100,000 views.
asserted
that → say → views
"I make decent money and that's not sustainable for my family.
asserted
that → make → family
McMurchy, who works nights at a Tulsa hospital, launched a petition on Change.org, calling on Oklahoma regulators to crack down on soaring power bills.
asserted
who → work → bills
Around the country, electricity prices have been climbing faster than the overall cost of living, according to the Labor Department.
uncertain
prices → climb → Department
That's especially expensive in the hot summer months, when fans and air conditioners are running around the clock.
asserted
fans → run → clock
Electric rates outpace inflation
asserted
rates → outpace → inflation
Tulsa's main power company, Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), wanted to raise residential electric rates by about 15% this year.
asserted
company → want → %
It agreed with the state attorney general to lower that to 1% in a settlement that still has to be approved by regulators.
asserted
that → agree → regulators
Even with no rate increase, though, Tulsa electric bills would be spiking this year because of searing summer heat, with more than twice the average number of triple-digit days.
asserted
bills → spike → days
Summer heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense around the country as a result of climate change, largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
asserted
waves → become → fuels
Pulling the plug over unpaid bills
asserted
Pulling → pull → bills
People who fall behind on their bills in Oklahoma face an unusually high risk of having their power shut off.
asserted
power → fall → risk
PSO cuts power to customers at more than five times the average national rate, according to a first-of-its-kind tally by the U.S. Energy Department.
uncertain
PSO → cut → Department
(The report is based on shutoffs in 2024.)
asserted
report → base → 2024
While some states prohibit shutoffs throughout the hot summer months, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates utilities in the state, allows them, so long as the heat index is under 101 degrees.
asserted
index → prohibit → degrees
Efforts by consumer advocates to lower that threshold have been unsuccessful.
asserted
Efforts → lower → threshold
"I wish every corporation commissioner had to sit in a house that that had no electricity when it's 95," says Joanne Pearson, who runs the Helping Hand Ministry in downtown Tulsa.
asserted
who → wish → Tulsa
Every Monday and Tuesday morning, cash-strapped customers line up at the Helping Hand office holding letters warning that their power is about to be disconnected.
asserted
power → strap → letters
Sitting at a duct-taped desk, volunteer John Johnson telephones PSO's parent company and offers to pay $350 towards Ashley Fonseca Mejia's past-due balance.
asserted
Johnson → sit → balance
It's enough to keep the lights on, at least for now.
asserted
It → keep → lights
"It is a relief," says Fonseca Mejia, who works in retail.
asserted
who → say → retail
"These bills have been skyrocketing."
asserted
bills → skyrocket → ?
Eric Widger also gets a helping hand.
asserted
Widger → get → hand
He works at the Kimberly-Clark toilet paper factory near Tulsa, and says his power bill has doubled to around $500 a month.
asserted
bill → work → 500
"Payday for me is Friday and they were going to cut it off Thursday," Widger says.
asserted
Widger → go → it
"I have had it cut off before.
asserted
it → have → ?
It's really heartbreaking because you may have to pay $700 or $800 just to turn it back on."
uncertain
you → have → it
Helping Hand spends up to $14,000 a week, assisting people with their overdue bills.
asserted
Hand → spend → bills
The money comes from foundations and from Tulsa's First Presbyterian Church, located across the street.
asserted
money → come → street
A sign near the non-profit's reception desk reads, "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.
asserted
sign → read → words
Others work full time, but struggle to make ends meet.
asserted
ends → work → ?
"I make a good living wage but it's hard with these high bills to even come close," Widger says.
asserted
Widger → make → bills
Pearson, the ministry president, is sympathetic to the people lining up for help.
asserted
Pearson → line → help
"It's like they're jugglers and they've got all these balls in the air," she says.
asserted
she → get → air
"Do I pay rent, do I pay the electric bill.
asserted
I → pay → bill
Do I feed my family?
asserted
I → feed → family
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
