'The Optics Are Incredibly Bad': OG&E Customers Criticize SmartHours Program For Not Including Discount On Juneteenth

Some OG&E customers are frustrated about the company's decision to not include Juneteenth in its SmartHours discount program.

Tuesday, June 21st 2022, 6:49 am

By: News 9


Some OG&E customers are frustrated about the company's decision to not include Juneteenth in its SmartHours discount program.

Related Story: Customers Critical Of OG&E Not Using Discounted Rate For SmartHours Program On Juneteenth

Everyone is looking for ways to save money, so a lot of people were disappointed when they didn't receive a discounted rate on Juneteenth which is now a federal holiday.

The SmartHours program charges customers more during peak hours during the weeks of the summer, but it gets cheaper on weekends and holidays.

Last year, the company discounted the rate of kilowatts per hour for customers enrolled in the program.

An email to customers said the following, “As a SmartHours customer, you pay the low rate of 5 cents for electricity on nationally recognized holidays, which now includes Juneteenth.”

This year, customers paid 24 cents per kilowatt hour.

“The optics are incredibly bad for one of the largest power utility providers in the state to not recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday for their SmartHours program,” said Bob Compton, a Norman OG&E customer.

OG&E said its terms with the state includes off-peak pricing for only two holidays, including Independence Day and Labor Day.

OG&E is regulated by the State Corporation Commission.

A spokesperson for the commission said the terms for the SmartHours program were approved in 2018 before Juneteenth was a federal holiday.

But if OG&E wanted to offer lower rates on that day, they could.

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