OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma took a significant step towards securing its affordable energy future today with the passage of House Bill 2747 out of the House Utilities Committee.

The legislation promotes affordable and reliable energy generation by championing Oklahoma’s abundant natural gas resources while also restoring state control over high-voltage transmission infrastructure to ensure ratepayer and landowner protections.

"HB 2747 is a crucial step towards ensuring that Oklahoma's energy future is secure, reliable, and affordable for all Oklahomans," said House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon. "Oklahoma ratepayers and landowners have been disadvantaged by policies of previous federal administrations for way too long. HB 2747 creates a level playing field for reliable natural gas generation to outshine federally subsidized renewable resources and support economic growth. This will help us protect ratepayers and landowners from unregulated transmission developers who have no accountability to Oklahomans while ensuring free market competition on the construction of these projects.”

HB 2747 protects Oklahomans and encourages economic growth by:

• Modernizing state regulations to increase new natural gas generation. HB2747 gives natural gas a fair chance to compete against federally-subsidized renewables by reducing the cost of building natural gas plants and enabling them to be built faster.
• Enhancing existing natural gas power plants and other key critical infrastructure, such as distribution lines and equipment, to boost efficiency and provide more reliable power now and in the future.
• Keeping rates affordable by requiring any changes to critical infrastructure to be reviewed through the traditional rate review process at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
• Preventing ratepayers from funding subsidies used to switch from one fuel source appliance to another in furtherance of liberal energy policies.
• Requiring a state-administered competitive bidding process for high-voltage transmission lines constructed in Oklahoma and reinstating the OCC’s right to oversee the costs before a single cent can be passed on to Oklahoma ratepayers.
• Ensuring landowners are protected from out-of-state developers placing high-voltage transmission on their property for 50 years or more with no oversight by or accountability to the State.

“At the end of the day, this bill will increase fair competition in the generation and transmission sector, while promoting economic development and faster market entry for much-needed critical infrastructure. As leaders, we have a duty to protect Oklahomans and establish policies that ensure safe, reliable, and affordable energy," said Caldwell.

The bill passed out of the House Utilities Committee with a vote of 8-2 and will next be considered by the full House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee.