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Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners approve orders on proposed transmission lines vital to wind-power, ratepayers to see benefits quickly

Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E) customers will soon begin seeing renewable energy credits on their bills, the result of a wind-power related order approved
today by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC).

Calling it a critical step forward toward making Oklahoma a leader in wind power, the OCC today gave unanimous approval to an order that will allow recovery of costs of a
wind-power transmission line planned by Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E), and an order that clears the way for ITC Great Plains to build transmission lines in Oklahoma.
Chairman Jeff Cloud said today's action will pay benefits to the state many times over.

''In the case of OG&E customers, they will actually receive some of the benefits of the planned Woodward-to-Oklahoma City wind-power transmission line before construction is completed.'' Cloud noted. ''The project allows the use of renewable energy credits. As a
result, in about 60 days credits will appear on OG&E customers' bills, even though construction on the line will not be completed until 2010. Meanwhile, the ITC order will result in badly-needed transmission lines needed if Oklahoma is to take its rightful place as a leading exporter of electricity to other states.''

Vice-chair Bob Anthony explained the two orders will work in tandem, providing power developers the means of moving electricity to market.

''Taken together these two orders represent an important step in creating infrastructure needed to make wind power, and possibly other renewable energy sources, available for the future electric needs of Oklahoma,'' Anthony said.

Commissioner Jim Roth said the state's economy will benefit by such infrastructure development.

''I am proud to move Oklahoma into a new era of competitive energy development, where our state's wind power becomes a huge source of cleaner, cheaper energy for our future and where we take the steps forward to create thousand of new jobs for our citizens,'' said
Roth. ''The idea that our power can be 'cleaner and cheaper' is not far-fetched.''