OKMULGEE, Okla. –
Several members of East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative say their monthly power bills have climbed to unexpectedly high levels, making it harder to budget and cover basic expenses.
Where are customers reporting problems?
Residents in Beggs, Mounds, Okmulgee and Henryetta say they are seeing similar spikes. Many have joined a Facebook group to compare bills and look for answers about why costs are rising.
How high are the bills?
Some customers report owing hundreds of dollars more than usual. One resident said they owed $765 last month, another reported a $540 bill this month, and Beggs resident Karen Noland said her December bill was nearly $600.
What are customers saying?
Noland says the unpredictability is the most stressful part.
“We don’t know what to expect or how to budget for our electric,” she said.
She added that when she compares rates with usage, it is often the kilowatt-hour totals that stand out.
“If you really look at the rates and then start comparing your kilowatt usage to the rate usage, you can figure out what your bills should be, but it’s the kilowatt hour usage that sometimes floors me,” Noland said.
Why are residents worried?
Noland says even when rates fall, they tend to rise again, creating long-term uncertainty, especially for families on fixed incomes.
“We have no mortgage, so we’re able to make that payment. But when I retire here soon, I don’t know how I’m going to make those payments,” she said.
What are customers asking for?
Some residents say they want more transparency, including audits of electronic meters, to better understand how usage is being calculated.
What explanation is East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative giving?
Over the past few months, some members have experienced higher-than-usual electric bills, which we know has created real hardship. This increase was driven by larger-than-normal, routine monthly adjustments to the Power Cost Adjustment and Consumer Cost Adjustment, which peaked in November.
As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative, our rates reflect the actual cost of providing power. The Power Cost Adjustment is a direct pass-through of fuel costs paid to our generation and transmission partners, while the Consumer Cost Adjustment helps avoid frequent base rate increases by collecting revenue when needed and returning it to members when costs stabilize. Over the past five years, the CCA has largely remained at zero, including returning more than $2 million to members in 2023.
We are committed to transparency and accessibility, and in 2026 we will be hosting a series of member engagement forums focused on education and open discussion. Members will be receiving a letter later this week inviting them to attend a forum in their area. We encourage our members to reach out to us directly so we can assist them with their needs.
