DUNCAN – Duncan voters will go to the polls in June to decide whether to renew Public Service Co. of Oklahoma’s franchise agreement with the city.
The Duncan City Council voted 5-0 March 26 to grant PSO a 25-year nonexclusive franchise and put the issue on the ballot. The franchise agreement, which must be approved by voters, allows PSO to continue providing electricity to Duncan residents.
Duncan has three electricity providers, including PSO. The other two are the City of Duncan and Cotton Electric Cooperative.
The PSO franchise is nonexclusive, meaning other power companies may seek a similar agreement with the city.
PSO’s current franchise agreement with the city is set to ex pire June 1, said Tim Hushbeck, external affairs manager for the utility company. He said the new agreement includes many of the same terms as the current agreement, including a provision requiring PSO to pay a 2% franchise fee.
“What’s really kind of unique for the city of Duncan is the fact that every citizen will be able to vote on this franchise, whether they’re served by PSO or not,” Hushbeck said. “They will not be affected by voting for this. PSO will not switch to be their electric provider, whoever their current provider is.”
The franchise agreement will appear on the June 18 ballot, along with a proposition to renew Duncan’s sales tax for economic development projects for another five years.