XML 46 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Rate Matters and Regulation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Rate Matters and Regulation
Rate Matters and Regulation

Except as set forth below, the circumstances set forth in Note 16 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's 2013 Form 10-K appropriately represent, in all material respects, the current status of the Company's regulatory matters.

Completed Regulatory Matters

Market-Based Rate Authority

On June 29, 2012, OG&E filed its triennial market power update with the FERC to retain its market-based rate authorization in the SPP's energy imbalance service market but to surrender its market-based rate authorization for any market-based rates sales outside of the SPP's energy imbalance service market. On May 2, 2013, the FERC issued an order accepting OG&E's June 2012 triennial market power update.

On December 30, 2013, OG&E submitted to the FERC a market-based rate change in status filing and a revised market-based rate tariff.  The revised tariff will authorize OG&E to (i) sell electric energy and capacity at market-based rates without geographic restriction, and (ii) sell ancillary services in the SPP and Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. markets.  The primary goal of this filing was to implement the market-based rate authority OG&E needs to fully participate in SPP’s Integrated Marketplace. On February 28, 2014, FERC issued a letter order accepting OG&E’s market-based rate filing and tariff effective March 1, 2014. FERC found that OG&E passed the market power screens and satisfied requirements related to horizontal market power and vertical market power.

Section 206 Complaint

On November 26, 2013, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation filed a complaint at the FERC against OG&E, arguing that the wholesale formula rate contract between OG&E and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (formerly between OG&E and Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative) is unjust and unreasonable with respect to several items.  OG&E and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation agreed to terms of a settlement and filed the offer of settlement with FERC on February 24, 2014. On April 17, 2014, OG&E received a FERC order accepting the settlement agreement and terminating the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation complaint docket. OG&E believes the reduction in revenue will be approximately $1.0 million per year for the term of the agreement, which ends June 30, 2015.

Pending Regulatory Matters

Fuel Adjustment Clause Review for Calendar Year 2012

The OCC routinely reviews the costs recovered from customers through OG&E's fuel adjustment clause. On July 31, 2013, the OCC Staff filed an application to review OG&E's fuel adjustment clause for calendar year 2012, including the prudence of OG&E's electric generation, purchased power and fuel procurement costs. OG&E filed the necessary information and documents needed to satisfy the OCC's minimum filing requirement rules on October 9, 2013. On April 24, 2014, the OCC administrative law judge at the hearing, on the merits, recommended that the OCC find for the calendar year 2012 OG&E's electric generation, purchased power and fuel procurement processes and costs were prudent.

Energy Efficiency Program Filing

On February 14, 2014, OG&E filed an application with the APSC requesting approval of interim modifications to approved Energy Efficiency Programs, new tariff revisions and the waiver of certain provisions of the Commission’s Rules for Conservation and Energy Efficiency Programs.