Raelynn McMurchy, a hospital worker from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was shocked to receive an electric bill of $1,373, which is more than her rent this month. Electricity prices have been rising faster than inflation nationwide, with some areas experiencing even steeper hikes due to severe summer heat waves caused by climate change. In Oklahoma, the main power company PSO wanted to raise residential rates by 15% but agreed to a 1% increase in settlement, and utility disconnections are allowed when the heat index is below 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Over 100,000 people have viewed McMurchy's TikTok video calling for regulators to crack down on high power bills.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Soaring summer power bills spark protests — and even disconnections
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bills → soar → protests
Economics can help.
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Economics → help → ?
Raelynn McMurchy was shocked when she opened her most recent electric bill.
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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.
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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.
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that → say → views
"I make decent money and that's not sustainable for my family.
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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.
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who → work → bills
Around the country, electricity prices have been climbing faster than the overall cost of living, according to the Labor Department.
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prices → climb → Department
That's especially expensive in the hot summer months, when fans and air conditioners are running around the clock.
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fans → run → clock
Electric rates outpace inflation
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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waves → become → fuels
Pulling the plug over unpaid bills
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Pulling → pull → bills
People who fall behind on their bills in Oklahoma face an unusually high risk of having their power shut off.
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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.
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PSO → cut → Department
(The report is based on shutoffs in 2024.)
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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.
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index → prohibit → degrees
Efforts by consumer advocates to lower that threshold have been unsuccessful.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Johnson → sit → balance
It's enough to keep the lights on, at least for now.
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It → keep → lights
"It is a relief," says Fonseca Mejia, who works in retail.
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who → say → retail
"These bills have been skyrocketing."
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bills → skyrocket → ?
Eric Widger also gets a helping hand.
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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.
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bill → work → 500
"Payday for me is Friday and they were going to cut it off Thursday," Widger says.
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Widger → go → it
"I have had it cut off before.
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it → have → ?
It's really heartbreaking because you may have to pay $700 or $800 just to turn it back on."
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you → have → it
Helping Hand spends up to $14,000 a week, assisting people with their overdue bills.
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Hand → spend → bills
The money comes from foundations and from Tulsa's First Presbyterian Church, located across the street.
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money → come → street
A sign near the non-profit's reception desk reads, "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.
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sign → read → words
Others work full time, but struggle to make ends meet.
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ends → work → ?
"I make a good living wage but it's hard with these high bills to even come close," Widger says.
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Widger → make → bills
Pearson, the ministry president, is sympathetic to the people lining up for help.
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Pearson → line → help
"It's like they're jugglers and they've got all these balls in the air," she says.
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she → get → air
"Do I pay rent, do I pay the electric bill.
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I → pay → bill
Do I feed my family?
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I → feed → family
…and 13 more, not listed.
