The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) today approved a settlement agreement that allows PSO to move forward with a plan to add 675 megawatts (MW) of wind energy to serve customers. The plan calls for PSO to own a share of three Oklahoma wind farms known collectively as the North Central Energy Facilities.
The settlement was reached in December 2019 between PSO, the Public Utility Division Staff of the OCC, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, customer groups and other parties.
“Approval of this agreement will allow our customers to have their energy needs met with affordable, Oklahoma wind energy and will add significant investment in our state,” said Peggy Simmons, PSO president and chief operating officer. “We are grateful to all the parties whose willingness to collaborate led to the settlement and to the Commission for their approval of the agreement.”
The proposed North Central Energy Facilities are to be located in portions of seven counties in north central Oklahoma – Alfalfa, Blaine, Custer, Garfield, Kingfisher, Major and Woods. The three wind farms represent a nearly $2 billion investment in Oklahoma. PSO’s 45.5% ownership share of the 1,485 MW project is projected to save PSO customers more than $1 billion, net of cost, during the time the wind farms are in service.
PSO’s partner in the proposal is sister company Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). Regulatory approval is pending for SWEPCO.
About PSO
Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), is an electric utility company serving more than 554,000 customer accounts across 30,000 square miles in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma. Based in Tulsa, PSO has nearly 3,800 megawatts of primarily gas-fired generating capacity, 22-thousand miles of distribution lines, 37-hundred miles of transmission lines, and is one of the largest distributors of wind energy in the state. Find news releases and other information about PSO at www.PSOklahoma.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PSOklahoma.