As Oklahoma prepares for an intense cold spell, Attorney General Gentner Drummond has announced that his office will be closely monitoring the natural gas supply and marketing activities. This measure aims to prevent a repeat of the issues experienced during the severe winter storm in 2021.
Drummond emphasized the importance of protecting consumers from unfair pricing tactics. "It is important that ratepayers be protected from price manipulation to ensure fair costs that reflect market conditions," he stated. He acknowledged the inherent volatility in energy prices during harsh weather but asserted that this should not lead to exploitative practices. "While I understand the natural volatility of energy prices during inclement weather, such fluctuations do not justify predatory behavior."
In addition to monitoring, Drummond has requested public utilities to report any failure by natural gas marketers to fulfill their contractual obligations. This step is part of broader efforts by his office, which includes ongoing litigation against various entities related to exorbitant natural gas prices during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.