Oklahoma
State Scorecard Rank
37
Oklahoma
11.5Scored out of 50Updated 12/2020
State Government
Score: 2.5 out of 6
State Government Summary List All
Oklahoma offers incentives for consumer investments in energy efficiency. The state government leads by example by requiring energy-efficient public buildings, benchmarking energy use, and encouraging energy savings performance contracting. There are no major research centers focused on energy efficiency.
Financial Incentives List All
Oklahoma has enabled commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing and has one active program. For additional information on PACE, visit PACENation. Further financial incentive information can be found in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE Oklahoma).
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Equity Metrics and Workforce DevelopmentList All
At this time, the state does not conduct a state energy, sustainability, or climate action plan, and has not adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track or evaluate how any energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives being taken are affecting local marginalized groups.
Workforce Development
The Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agency offers workforce training and educational programs in energy efficiency through their Interstate Renewable Energy Council Accreditation to provide training for Building Performance Institute Home Performance Certified Professionals. Other training programs, like Certified Energy Manager, while not offered by the State, are available in Oklahoma through private third-party organizations.
Last Reviewed: July 2021
Carbon Pricing PoliciesList All
The State of Oklahoma does not yet have carbon pricing policies in place.
At this time, the state does not have a statewide emissions reduction goal in place.
Last Reviewed: September 2022
Building Energy Disclosure List All
There is no disclosure policy in place.
Last Reviewed: July 2018
Public Building Requirements List All
In 2008, the Governor approved House Bill (HB) 3394, the “Conserving Oklahoma Act.” HB 3394 requires all new state-owned buildings or major renovations of state-owned buildings to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED standards. LEED includes a minimum energy performance level as a component but does not necessarily require buildings to optimize energy performance.
In 2011, the Governor adopted the Oklahoma First Energy Plan, which calls for a range of energy efficiency initiatives, most notably in state government facilities. The Plan calls for the state to establish savings targets between 0.5 to 2% per year.
In 2012, the state established the State Facilities Energy Conservation Program through SB 1096, directing all state agencies and higher education institutions to benchmark energy use in all state facilities using the ENERGYSTAR Portfolio Manager tool; achieve an energy efficiency and conservation improvement target of at least 20 percent by the year 2020 (20% x 2020); and seek to obtain an ENERGY STAR rating for all eligible facilities. The 20 x 2020 program is managed by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
The Oklahoma State Fire Marshal enforces State minimum builiding codes that are implemented by the OUBCC. Whether, for example, a state, county, or munipality has more stringent energy codes, the Fire Marshal enforces the state minumum codes and only those.
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Fleets List All
No policy in place or proposed.
Note: For state efficient fleet initiatives, policies listed must make a specific, mandatory requirement for increasing state fleet efficiency. State alternative-fuel vehicle procurement requirements that give a voluntary option to count efficient vehicles are thus not included.
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Energy Savings Performance Contracting List All
ESPCs in Oklahoma are managed by the Division of Capital Assets Management within the Office of Management and Enterprise Services as part of the state's Performance-Based Efficiency Program. In 2016 Oklahoma underwent a bid process and prequalified two service companies. ESPCs are also included in the State Energy Facilities Program.
Last Reviewed: July 2020
Research & Development List All
No public research centers have a focus on energy efficiency.
Last Reviewed: July 2018
Important Links List All
Buildings
Score: 1.5 out of 9
Buildings Summary List All
Residential buildings must comply with the 2015 IRC; however, the energy chapter references the 2009 IRC. Similarly, commercial buildings must comply with the 2915 ICC/IBC standards, but the energy chapter references the 2006 IECC. Oklahoma does not currently require all jurisdictions to adopt a statewide energy code. The state allows its local jurisdictions to adopt building codes other than the state standards, but none have adopted any standards more stringent than the statewide base code. The state has completed a gap analysis and offers training and outreach. State Minimum Building Energy Codes are amended by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC) and adopted by the Legislature.
Residential Codes List All
Oklahoma has in place mandatory statewide building codes for residential and commercial buildings. The Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC) reviews and recommends building codes for residential and commercial construction. Residential buildings must comply with the 2015 IRC; however, the energy chapter references the 2009 IRC. The 2018 International Residential Energy Code has been reviewed by an energy technical committee and will be sent to the Oklahoma Legislature in 2023 to be considered for adoption as modified by the OUBCC energy technical committee.
While Oklahoma does not currently require all jurisdiction to adopt a statewide energy code, counties are allowed to participate in PACE programs for energy efficiency through the Oklahoma Energy Indepence Act. In fact, on May 20th, 2020, Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law SB 1592 expanding the scope of the current Oklahoma Energy Indepence Act to allow all properties but single family residences to be eligible for the program.
The jurisdictions listed here have adopted their own building codes. They represent approximately 40% of the population of Oklahoma, or 1,507,066 people (based on the 2010 Census).
Last Reviewed: May 2022
Commercial Code List All
Oklahoma has in place mandatory statewide building codes for residential and commercial buildings. The Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC) reviews and recommends building codes for residential and commercial construction. Commercial buildings must comply with the 2915 ICC/IBC standards; however, the energy chapter references the 2006 IECC.
While Oklahoma does not currently require all jurisdiction to adopt a statewide energy code, counties are allowed to participate in PACE programs for energy efficiency through the Oklahoma Energy Indepence Act. In fact, on May 20th, 2020, Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law SB 1592 expanding the scope of the current Oklahoma Energy Indepence Act to allow all properties but single family residences to be eligible for the program.
The jurisdictions listed here have adopted their own building codes. They represent approximately 40% of the population of Oklahoma, or 1,507,066 people (based on the 2010 Census).
Last Reviewed: May 2022
Compliance List All
- Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: BCAP worked with Oklahoma stakeholders in 2012 to develop its Gap Analysis and Strategic Compliance Plan.
- Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: There have been no studies or evaluations of energy code compliance in Oklahoma.
- Utility Involvement: NA
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
- Training/Outreach: Beginning in 2015, OUBCC provides free training to licensed building inspectors. These are one- or two-day training classes that utilize nationally recognized code certified trainers to teach the classes.
Last Reviewed: May 2022
CHP
CHP Summary List All
The state has limited policies to encourage the deployment of CHP systems. One new CHP system was installed in Oklahoma in 2018.
Interconnection StandardsList All
There is currently no interconnection standard in place that applies to CHP.
For more information on interconnection standards, click here.
Last Updated: July 2018
Encouraging CHP as a ResourceList All
There are currently no state policies designed to acquire energy savings from CHP (like other efficiency resources) or energy generation from CHP (in terms of kWh production) that apply to all forms of CHP.
Last Updated: July 2018
Deployment IncentivesList All
Net Metering: Oklahoma has been offering net metering to CHP systems since 1988 under OCC Order 326195. Utilities are not required to purchase net excess generation (NEG) from customers, but customers may request the utility to purchase their NEG. If the utility agrees, the NEG will be purchased at the utility's avoided-cost rate.
Last Updated: July 2018
Additional Supportive PoliciesList All
There are currently no additional supportive policies to encourage CHP.
Last Updated: July 2018
Utilities
Score: 4 out of 20
Utilities Summary List All
Oklahoma utilities offer a growing portfolio of energy efficiency programs, but their levels of investment and performance remain below the national average. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) established rules for electric and natural gas efficiency programs following a series of stakeholder collaborative meetings in 2008, and utilities subsequently filed three-year program plans. Rules were again updated in 2018. The state’s major gas utilities, Oklahoma Natural Gas and CenterPoint, also administer energy efficiency programs. The state’s IOUs may recover lost revenues and earn an incentive for implementing successful energy efficiency programs.
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
Customer Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Oklahoma utilities offer a growing portfolio of energy efficiency programs. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) established rules for electric and natural gas efficiency programs following a series of stakeholder collaborative meetings in 2008 (Cause #200700007) and updated those rules in July 2018. All utilities are required to file a portfolio of programs using a three year program cycle. AEP Public Service Oklahoma (PSO) and Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OGE) received approval for their new program cycles (2019-2021) in 2018. The state’s major gas utilities, Oklahoma Natural Gas and CenterPoint, also received approval of new demand program portfolios for years 2020-2022 in 2019. Per rules, the state’s IOUs may recover lost revenues and earn an incentive for implementing successful energy efficiency programs.
Last reviewed: July 2020
Energy Efficiency as a Resource List All
There is currently no policy in place that treats energy efficiency as a resource.
Last reviewed: July 2020
Energy Efficiency Resource Standards List All
There is currently no EERS in place.
For more information on Energy Efficiency Resource Standards, click here.
Last reviewed: July 2020
Utility Business Model List All
Both Public Service Oklahoma (PSO) and Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E) currently have lost revenue recovery mechanisms. Additional revenue recovery mechanisms will be determined on a case-by-case basis (Cause No. PUD 200700449, ID No. 3710105. April 8, 2008).
The Oklahoma gas utilities use a performance-based ratemaking (PBR) mechanism to review earnings annually. The PBR includes a bandwidth around allowed return, and revenues can be adjusted if return is outside of the bandwidth.
Both Public Service Oklahoma (PSO) and Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E) have shared benefit incentive plans. The Demand Program rules for electric utilities base the incentive on the performance of utility programs. Utilities must achieve at least 80% of goals to gain an incentive; the incentive is adjusted based on performance to goal. Incentives are capped at 15% of total program costs.
Oklahoma Natural Gas and CenterPoint Oklahoma previously were allowed a shared benefit incentive plan for programs that pass the Total Resource Cost (TRC) Test. The companies could potentially collect 15% of the net benefits of such programs and 15% of the program costs for those programs that did not pass the TRC Test (See Cause No. PUD 201000143; Order 585366 and Cause No. PUD 201000148; Order 683869).
Last reviewed: September 2020
Evaluation, Measurement, & Verification List All
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Primary cost-effectiveness test(s) used: total resource cost test
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Secondary cost-effectiveness test(s) used: utility cost test, participant cost test, societal cost test, ratepayer impact measure
The evaluation of ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs in Oklahoma relies on regulatory orders and Commission rules (Title 165 CC Chapter 35 Electric Utility Rules Subchapter 41; Demand Programs 165:35-41-7). The administering utilities are primarily responsible for timely evaluation, measurement, and verification of their energy efficiency programs. Oklahoma uses all of the five benefit-cost tests identified in the California Standard Practice Manual to evaluate energy efficiency programming. These are the Total Resource Cost (TRC), Utility/Program Administrator (UCT), Participant (PCT), Social Cost (SCT), and Ratepayer Impact Measure (RIM). The benefit-cost tests are required for overall portfolio, total program, customer project, and individual measure level screening. The rules for benefit-cost tests are stated in Title 165 CC Chapter 35 Electric Utility Rules. Gas utilities are subject to the same rules (See OAC k165:45-23-7).
According to the Database of State Efficiency Screening Practices (DSESP), Oklahoma specifies the TRC as its primary test for decision making. Oklahoma’s TRC accounts for the non-energy impact of net participant measure costs. Oklahoma’s low-income program, the weatherization residential assistance program (WRAP), may have a lower threshold for TRC test results. Additionally, non-resource benefits can be included in the TRC, but they are not in practice.
Further information on cost-effectiveness screening practices for Oklahoma is available in the Database of State Efficiency Screening Practices (DSESP), a resource of the National Efficiency Screening Project (NESP).
Last Updated: August 2019
Guidelines for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Requirements for State and Utility Support of Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
Under OAC 165:35-41-4, all electric utilities under rate regulation of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) must propose, at least once every three years, and be responsible for the administration and implementation of, a demand portfolio of energy efficiency and demand-response programs within their service territories. The regulations specify that demand portfolios address programs for low-income customers and hard-to-reach customers “to assure proportionate Demand Programs are deployed in these customer groups despite higher barriers to energy efficiency investments.”
Cost-Effectiveness Rules for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
OAC 165:35-41-4 directs that demand programs targeted to low-income or hard-to-reach customers may have lower threshold cost-effectiveness results than other efficiency programs.
Coordination of Ratepayer-Funded Low-Income Programs with WAP Services
Beginning in 2017 ONG combined the delivery of low income programs with both PSO and OGE. Combining the gas and electric low income programs has enhance both the success and reach of these programs across the state.
Last reviewed: July 2019
Self Direct and Opt-Out Programs List All
All transportation-only gas customers are eligible to opt-out, however for program years 2020-2022 commercial customers are allowed to participate (Cause PUD 201900021 and PUD 201900060) . For electric utilities, any customer with consumption greater than 15 million kWhs annually may opt out. Combined meters may meet the threshold. Approximately 90% of eligible customers opt-out, representing about 30% of total load.
Last Updated: September 2020
Data AccessList All
Guidelines for Third Party Access
The Electric Usage Data Protection Act authorizes all utilities to provide third parties under contract with customer energy use data. The party shall agree in writing that it will maintain the security and confidentiality of all customer information.
Requirements for Provision of Energy Data
Oklahoma does not have any policies in place that require the provision of energy data.
Energy Use Data Availability
Under the electric usage data protection act, utilities may provide customers with aggregated energy usage data at their request for purposes such as promoting energy assistance, conservation, environmental advocacy, research, or measuring performance.
Last Updated: July 2018
Transportation
Score: 3.5 out of 12
Transportation Summary List All
The state allowed its high-efficiency vehicle incentives expire in 2014 and has pursued relatively few additional policies to encourage efficient transportation systems.
Transportation System Efficiency List All
Transportation and Land Use Integration: Smart growth strategies in Oklahoma have been adopted on a local basis (Link).
VMT Targets: No policy in place or proposed.
Complete Streets: No policy in place or proposed.
FAST Freight Plans and Goals: Oklahoma has a state freight plan in accordance with FAST requirements. Oklahoma has adopted Freight Goals in line with National Freight Goals, including improving the efficiency of freight movement and promoting clean fuel use by freight providers. The OFTP also includes a performance measure related to access of clean fuel basing it on number of CNG and EV stations within 5 miles. The plan adopts Multimodal freight strategies by 6 goal areas. The proximity to multimodal facilities measure includes a calculation of number of multimodal facilities within 75 miles. Link.
Last Reviewed: May 2020
Transit Funding List All
HB 1365 adopted in 2019 created the Office of Mobility and Public Transit within the Department of Transportation. This new office works to ensure that Oklahoma has a network of public transit systems that receive adequate funding to ensure the mobility needs of all Oklahomans are met in a safe, affordable, reliable, consistent and coordinated fashion (Link).
Last Reviewed: May 2020
Incentives for High-Efficiency Vehicles List All
No policy in place or proposed, however a tax credit is available for up to 45% of the cost of installing commercial alternative fueling infrastructure (eligible fuels include natural gas, propane, and electricity). Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center.
Last Reviewed: August 2021
Equitable Access to TransportationList All
Oklahoma does not have any state programs in place to incentivize the creation of low-income housing near transit facilities, nor does it consider the proximity of transit facilities when distributing federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to qualifying property owners. Last Reviewed: May 2020