Earlier this month, OG&E – the corporate electric utility monopoly that's regulated by an impotent commission that’s firmly in their pockets – unveiled a new and improved bill design that’s allegedly "easier to understand” and, not surprisingly, glosses over the company’s infamous “winter event securitization” fee.
You know, that controversial monthly charge that Oklahomans will pay over the next 29 years or so to help the utility cover all the price-gouged natural gas they bought from their Oklahoma energy industry buddies during the February 2021 cold spell.
Here's an example of what the old “not easy to understand bill” looked like:
As you can see, the “winter event securitization” – along with a line time list of other fees and charges – was clearly presented on the front of the bill, serving as a gentle reminder to Oklahomans that they’re going to be ripped off for the next 29 years due to OG&E's lack of preparation for a winter weather event.
The “new and improved” bill design, though, takes those confusing itemized charges – including the one that will be bad PR for the next 29 years – and happily combines them into one less offensive “taxes and fees” charged.