TULSA — On April 22, when Earth Day 2023 was observed, Public Service Co. of Oklahoma reminded its customers about its environmentally friendly energy that’s proposed to come onto the grid and steps the utility has taken to brighten streets.
• PSO recently concluded conversion of almost 70,000 streetlights to light-emitting diode technology that produces better, brighter light while saving energy and reducing carbon monoxide emissions.
Streetlights are being replaced “in all of the cities where we have streetlights,” Region Communications Manager Wayne Greene said. Those communities include Lawton, Chickasha, Clinton, Tuttle, Cache, Gotebo, Carnegie, Hobart, Elgin, Burns Flat, Weatherford, Apache, Rush Springs, Mountain View and Mountain Park. “Work is complete in all those cities and is wrapping up in Elk City, Sayre and a few smaller towns,” Greene told Southwest Ledger on April 21.
• PSO’s proposed Fuel-Free Power Plan – the $2.47 billion purchase of six planned fuel-free wind and solar energy facilities: three in Texas and three in Kansas – will reduce customers’ bills and more than double PSO’s renewable energy portfolio.
PSO and five other parties reached an unopposed settlement recently in the Fuel-Free Power Plan case.
Under the proposed settlement, which requires approval from the state Corporation Commission, 995.5 megawatts of new renewable energy will be added to PSO’s generation mix in 2025 and will result in a decrease in monthly bills for the average residential customer beginning in early 2026.
For the average residential customer who uses 1,100 kilowatt-hours per month, the Fuel-Free Power Plan would add $1.95 a month to customer bills beginning in mid-2025, but by early 2026 the residential bill will be reduced by the $1.95 and an additional 64 cents as federal tax incentives and lower fuel costs offset the cost of the facilities.
• Since 2010, PSO consumer programs have helped customers conserve energy at home and in their businesses, saving the equivalent of more than 94,000 homes’ annual electricity use, 306,000 swimming pools of water and 2.1 million vehicle emissions.
PSO is “proving that we can serve our customers with safe, dependable, affordable energy and do it in an environmentally smart way,” President and Chief Operating Officer Leigh Anne Strahler said. “Adding clean generation assets, reducing our carbon footprint with LED lights and helping customers save energy and money are just a few of the ways we serve our customers in a way that’s sustainable for future generations.”
For PSO customers who want to save on their energy bills and promote energy efficiency, an easy way to start is to take a look at your energy usage, available in 15-minute increments, and discover custom-tailored tips on how to increase your energy efficiency and savings while reducing energy waste.
Additionally, PSO offers rebates for customers who make energy-efficient choices when replacing or purchasing lighting, electronics, heating and cooling systems, appliances and other home and business equipment.
Also, PSO’s Power Hours voluntary program rewards customers for shifting their usage during times of high demand on the power grid.