OK SB599

All electric service providers operating generation and transmission facilities in Oklahoma must install and operate electromagnetic shield protection technology on critical infrastructure by January 1, 2017, as identified by the Southwest Power Pool Regional Transmission Organization.

Technology must meet minimum engineering design guidelines for protecting critical communications and data centers outlined in Department of Defense MIL-STD-188-125-1 or a successor standard adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Electric utility providers are authorized to implement rate increases to recover installation costs, with public utilities regulated by the Corporation Commission granted customer rate increases to recoup costs within five years and municipalities and electric cooperatives authorized to implement customer charges as deemed necessary.

The bill constitutes a legislative referendum to be submitted to voters at the next general election with a ballot title asking whether to approve the electromagnetic shield protection requirement and associated rate increases.

The President Pro Tempore of the Senate must file copies of the referendum order with the Secretary of State and Attorney General immediately after passage.