‘Literally more than our rent’: Oklahoma woman must pay $1,373 electric bill — or join half a million disconnections

As NPR reported, the bill included a nearly $600 deposit imposed after McMurchy made previous payments late, adding another financial burden just as she was trying to catch up.

“I make decent money and that’s not sustainable for my family; that’s crazy,” said McMurchy, who works the night shift at a Tulsa hospital.

On August 14, she launched a Change.org petition calling on Oklahoma regulators to stop what she describes as unfair rate hikes by her utility, Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). The petition has since attracted nearly 25,000 verified signatures.

McMurchy’s experience points to a broader problem for households struggling to keep up with their utility bills. Falling behind can carry consequences that make it even harder to get back on track.

In Oklahoma, one of those consequences is especially common: having the power shut off.

A uniquely Oklahoma problem

Oklahoma had the highest rate of residential electricity disconnections for nonpayment in 2024, according to newly released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The state’s monthly disconnection rate ranged from 2.10% to 3.34%, compared with 0.95% to 2.67% in Texas, its closest rival. The EIA calculates the rate by dividing the number of disconnections by the number of residential electricity customers.

All told, Oklahoma utilities recorded 572,480 residential electricity disconnections in 2024 while serving more than 1.8 million customers.

PSO, McMurchy’s utility, accounted for 290,739 of those disconnections in 2024, while Oklahoma Gas & Electric recorded 167,254, according to data reported by The Oklahoman.

The Washington Post found several factors behind Oklahoma’s unusually high shutoff rate, including low incomes, limited consumer protections and poor energy efficiency. Together, those factors can leave households more vulnerable when they fall behind.

That vulnerability comes as Americans are paying more to keep the lights on.

Electricity costs are outpacing inflation

Electricity price increases have been especially pronounced in recent years, widening the gap between electricity costs and overall inflation.

As NPR reported, PSO sought to raise residential electric rates by 15% this year. The utility later reached a settlement with Oklahoma’s attorney general that would reduce the proposed increase to 1%, though the deal is still awaiting approval from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

The broader trend extends well beyond Oklahoma. Electricity prices began pulling away from overall inflation around the start of the pandemic. By early 2026, nationwide electricity prices had climbed roughly 42% from 2019 levels, compared with about 29% for consumer prices overall, according to a Brookings analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.