Okla. Stat. tit. 17, § 151
Public Utility Defined - Exemptions - Requirements
Effective Jul 1, 2025Laws 1913, HB 156, c. 93, p. 150, § 1, emerg. eff. March 25, 1913; Amended by Laws 1929, HB 76, c. 353, p. 487, § 1, emerg. eff. June 26, 1929; Amended by Laws 1971, HB 1080, c. 26, § 1, emerg. eff. March 22, 1971; Amended by Laws 1971, HB 1257, c. 322, § 1, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971; Amended by Laws 2024, HB 4065, c. 67, § 1, emerg. eff. April 22, 2024 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2025, SB 480, c. 160, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2025 (superseded document available).
A.
1. The term “public utility” as used in Sections 151 through 155 of this title shall be taken to mean and include every corporation, association, company, individuals, their trustees, lessees, or receivers, successors or assigns, except as hereinafter provided, and except cities, towns, or other bodies politic, that now or hereafter may own, operate, or manage any plant or equipment, or any part thereof, directly or indirectly, for public use, or may supply any commodity to be furnished to the public:
- a. for the conveyance of gas by pipeline,
- b. for the production, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of heat or light with gas,
- c. for the production, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of electric current for light, heat, or power, or
- d. for the transportation, delivery, or furnishing of water for domestic purposes or for power. Provided further, that a corporation organized and existing not for profit pursuant to Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, Sections 851-863, but for the purpose of developing and providing rural water supply and sewage disposal facilities to serve rural residents shall not be declared a public utility under this section, and shall be exempt in any and all respects from the jurisdiction and control of the Corporation Commission of this state.
- 2. The term “Commission” shall be taken to mean the Corporation Commission.
- B. Provided, that the term public utility shall not include or be taken to mean a corporation, association, company, individuals, their trustees, lessees, receivers, successors, or assignees engaged in the production of electricity, provided that such entity furnishes an electric service or commodity on the premises directly to itself, an affiliate, or tenants or indirectly by contracting with a public utility, rural electric cooperative, or municipality for the purpose of furnishing electric service to a specific customer or is an exempt wholesale generator, so long as that service or commodity is not resold as retail electric service or supplied indirectly or directly for public use. Nothing herein shall relieve such an entity of its obligation to comply with state and federal grid interconnection and registration requirements and associated costs from the applicable regional transmission organization or public utility in the state. There shall not be a requirement or an obligation for a public utility to serve any customer receiving electric service from an entity described herein. Further, it shall not limit any party from asserting a right they may otherwise be entitled to under Oklahoma law including filings with the Commission. Additionally, any project pursuant to this act shall be required to utilize a natural gas component in their power generation capacity.
Laws 1913, HB 156, c. 93, p. 150, § 1, emerg. eff. March 25, 1913; Amended by Laws 1929, HB 76, c. 353, p. 487, § 1, emerg. eff. June 26, 1929; Amended by Laws 1971, HB 1080, c. 26, § 1, emerg. eff. March 22, 1971; Amended by Laws 1971, HB 1257, c. 322, § 1, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971; Amended by Laws 2024, HB 4065, c. 67, § 1, emerg. eff. April 22, 2024 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2025, SB 480, c. 160, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2025 (superseded document available).