TULSA, Okla. (February 8, 2022) – Tulsa voters approved a 15-year renewal of the city’s franchise with Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) on Tuesday.
With 100% of the vote counted, unofficial results show 75.82% of voters approved the franchise renewal.
The franchise gives PSO the right to use city streets, alleys and rights of way to provide critical electric services, perform maintenance and improvements, quickly restore power following severe weather, and support the city’s growth by serving new customers. As part of the franchise agreement, PSO collects important revenue for the city to fund essential services and right of way enhancement.
“I want to thank Tulsa voters for passing this historic franchise agreement to help us fund improvements for our highway lighting system and implement an aggressive power line burial program,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “When I came into office, only 7% of our highway lights were on citywide and since I’ve been in office, Tulsa has had multiple weather events remind us of the need to better protect our power lines. I am thankful PSO has worked with us to improve service in our community with this 15-year franchise extension, just as they have worked with us for the last 100 years.”
PSO, the local operating company of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), is headquartered in Tulsa, with more than 1,100 employees in the Tulsa area.
“We thank our fellow Tulsans for this vote of confidence,” said PSO President and Chief Operating Officer Peggy Simmons. “PSO and Tulsa have been partners for more than 100 years. Franchise renewal means that successful relationship will continue for years to come.”
Media Contacts:
Wayne Greene
PSO Corporate Communications
(918) 521-1474
lwgreene@aep.com
Michelle Brooks
City of Tulsa
(918) 637-8228
mbrooks@cityoftulsa.org