Energy

SB 1003 requires Oklahoma's Corporation Commission to create rules ensuring electricity grid affordability and reliability. It mandates that the grid maintain 115% guaranteed power capacity (sufficient backup power) to prevent outages, requires new wind/solar projects to include backup power costs in their total expense calculations, and directs the Commission to select new power sources based on the lowest total cost to ratepayers. These rules directly affect electric utilities and the Corporation Commission, with specific requirements including preventing premature retirement of existing power plants unless cost-effective and ensuring power sources meet continuous operating needs during extreme weather. The bill aims to prevent power shortages through measurable reliability standards, effective November 1, 2025.

SB 131 requires Oklahoma electric utilities planning to retire coal-fired power plants to prioritize replacing them with advanced nuclear reactors (including small modular reactors). Utilities must submit a cost study and written justification to the Corporation Commission if they choose alternatives to nuclear, and the Commission must approve or disapprove replacement plans. The bill also mandates that any entity building a nuclear plant must construct a secondary facility within the same zip code to store spent nuclear fuel and submit detailed applications to the Department of Environmental Quality. These provisions aim to guide the transition from coal to nuclear energy while establishing regulatory requirements for new nuclear construction. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025.