Consumer advocates warn against electric deregulation

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A national consumer advocate is warning state lawmakers that electric deregulation has little chance of success in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma consumer groups hoping to delay deregulation sponsored yesterday's symposium for the state House of Representatives.

Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America says deregulation has failed in many states. He says Oklahoma has little chance of matching the success that deregulation has had in Pennsylvania.

Cooper says Pennsylvania had some of the highest electric rates in the country, which gave competitors room to offer lower rates.

He says Oklahoma already has some of the cheapest rates in the nation.