The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is the

public utilities commission In the United States, it is a governing body of a utility. In Canada, it is a utility, not a regulatory body. Canada In Canada, a public utilities commission (PUC) is a public utility owned and operated by a municipal or local government under ...

of the U.S state of

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

run by three statewide elected commissioners. Authorized to employ more than 400 employees, it regulates oil and gas drilling, utilities and telephone companies.

History

The commission was established in 1907 and the First

Oklahoma Legislature The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate are the two houses that make up the bicameral state legislature. There are 1 ...

gave the commission authority to regulate public service corporations.Annual Report - History and Responsibilities
(accessed May 22, 2013) Railroad, telephone and telegraph companies were the companies first regulated by the commission, which also collected records of the stockholders, officers and directors of corporations chartered or licensed to do business in Oklahoma. Record collection duties were later split; the commission keeping records only for public service companies. The commission added pipelines, water, heat, light and power in early years. The commission began regulating oil and gas in 1914 and was given additional regulatory power over the industry the following year.

Terms and qualifications

Candidates for the commission must be a citizen of Oklahoma for over two years before their election, at least 30 years of age and have no interest in any entity regulated by the commission.Oklahoma Constitution Online
(accessed May 22, 2013) Commissioners serve a six-year term.Oklahoma Constitution Online
(accessed May 22, 2013) The terms are staggered so that one commissioner is up for re-election every two years, in even-numbered years. The chair of the commission is determined by the three commissioners. In case of vacancy the

Governor of Oklahoma The governor of Oklahoma is the head of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor serves as the head of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma. The governor is the '' ex o ...

appoints a replacement, to stand until the next general election. The commissioner elected at that election will serve the remaining unexpired term, so as to maintain the staggered term system.

Duties

The Commission regulates and enforces the laws and supervised the actives associated with: * The exploration and production of oil and gas * The storage and dispensing of petroleum based fuels * The establishment of rates and services of public utilities * The operation of intrastate transportation * The administration of the Oklahoma Universal Service Fund for internet to schools, libraries, and qualified health centers. Early emphasis for the commission was on regulation of railroad routes and rates. Through changes by the Legislature, and the change in services considered essential to the public welfare, the commission presently regulates public utilities, oil and gas industry (exploration, drilling, production and waste disposal), motor carrier transport, and petroleum products industry (transportation, storage, quality and dispensing). The commission also monitors a number of federal programs for compliance in Oklahoma. The commission also oversees the conservation of natural resources, avoiding waste production, abate pollution of the environment, and balancing the rights and needs of the people of Oklahoma with those of the regulated entities. The Public Utility Division acts as the Administrator for the states $30 million Universal Services Fund. This fund supports rural telecommunications as well as internet to Oklahoma public schools, libraries, and health centers.

Membership

As of April 2019, the following are the members of the commission:

Notable former members

J. J. McAlester James Jackson McAlester (October 1, 1842 – September 21, 1920) was an American Confederate Army soldier and merchant. McAlester was the founder of McAlester, Oklahoma as well as a primary developer of the coal mining industry in eastern Oklaho ...

(member 1907-1911) * Jack C. Walton (member 1933-1939) *

J.C. Watts Julius Caesar Watts Jr. (born November 18, 1957) is an American politician, clergyman, and athlete. Watts was a college football quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners and later played professionally in the Canadian Football League. He served in t ...

(member 1990-1995, chairman 1993-1995), resigned to successfully run for Congress * Jim Roth (member 2007-2009), first ever openly

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...

person to hold a statewide elected office in Oklahoma * Jeff Cloud (member 2003-2011, chairman 2005-?) * Patrice Douglas (member, 2011-2015)

Organization

*Corporation Commission **Judicial and Legislative Services- The former Administration, Judicial, and General Counsel Divisions were merged in 2017 to increase efficiency and reduce costs. ***Administration Office- Responsible for providing central services to the Commission's division as well as direct support staff to the Commission members ****Public Information Office ****Finance Office ****Human Resources Office ****Administrative Programs Office ****Office of the Secretary to the Commission ***Administrative Hearings Office - responsible for overseeing all hearings and appeals of the Commission's regulations ***Office of the General Counsel - responsible for providing legal advice to the Commission ****Agency Counsel Section ****Consumer Services Section ****Deliberations Section ****Petroleum Storage Tank/Transportation Section ****Oil and Gas Section ****Public Utilities Section **Transportation Division - responsible for licensing and regulating commercial motor carriers, natural gas pipelines, and

railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a prep ...

companies, and administers the International Fuel Tax Agreement and International Registration Plan ***Administrative and Regulatory Operations Unit ****Administrative Support Department ****Requirements Department ****Enforcement Support Department ****Safety Support Department ***Field Operations Unit ****Motor Carrier and Motor Vehicle Enforcement Department ****Pipeline Safety Department ****Railroad Department ***IFTA/IRP Unit ****IFTA/IRP Registration and Licensing Services Department ****Audit Department ***Technical Services Department **Oil and Gas Conservation Division - responsible for enforcing Commission rules that prevent pollution caused by oil and gas ***Field Operations Department ****District 1 Office - Bristow ****District 2 Office - Kingfisher ****District 3 Office - Duncan ****District 4 Office - Ada ***Pollution Abatement Underground Injection Control Department **Consumer Services Division - responsible for hearing complaints against regulated utilities and for overseeing appeals to the Commission members ***Oil and Gas Complaints Department ***Public Utility Complaints Department ***Mineral Owners Escrow Account Department ***Administrative Proceedings Office **Public Utilities Division - responsible for regulating electric power utilities, natural gas utilities, drinking water utilities, and telecommunications companies. ***Energy Group- Handles all gas, electric, water, and cotton gin matters. ***Telecommunications Group ***Oklahoma Universal Services Group-Administers $30 million dollar OUSF. ***Consumer Services Group ***Enforcement Group- Field safety throughout Oklahoma ***Administrative Group **Petroleum Storage Tank Division - responsible for enforcing state and federal regulations and administers certain assistance programs applicable to the storage, quality, and delivery of refined petroleum products ***Accounting Department ***Administration Department ***Compliance and Inspection Department ***Technical Department **Information Technology Division - Consolidation with statewide OMES is in process.

Staffing

The commission, with an annual budget of over $60 million, is one of the larger employers of Oklahoma state government. For fiscal year 2012, the commission was authorized 430 full-time employees, but experience numerous vacancies.Fiscal Year 2012 Annual Report
Oklahoma Corporation Commission (accessed May 22, 2013)

References

External links

* http://www.occeweb.com/pu/PUD%20Reports%20Page/pudreports.html * http://www.occeweb.com/pu/OUSF/OUSF.htm {{authority control *

Government agencies established in 1907 1907 establishments in Oklahoma