Oklahoma’s top attorney has launched a new legal challenge alleging soaring natural gas costs in the state during Winter Storm Uri in 2021 were the result of energy companies engaging in deceptive and anticompetitive business practices.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a Republican, filed suit in state court earlier this month against roughly a dozen energy companies, including BP Energy and Chevron U.S.A.
“As a result of market manipulation by Defendants, during Winter Storm Uri Oklahoma’s natural gas prices ballooned exponentially compared to states similarly impacted by the weather,” said Drummond in a Jan. 9 court filing in Osage County District Court.
The winter storm spread frigid temperatures, snow and ice for days around Valentine’s Day 2021 that froze energy infrastructure as demand for gas soared.