As temperatures plummet across Oklahoma, residents are preparing for a week of extreme cold. Attorney General Gentner Drummond has issued a public statement, detailing his office's intent to closely monitor the state's natural gas supply and marketing strategies throughout the storm. The commitment stems from a determination to protect Oklahomans from potential exploitation, reminiscent of the hardships faced during the 2021 winter storm which left many struggling with surging energy prices, according to the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office.

Gentner Drummond underscored the importance of market fairness, noting through a statement obtained by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, "It is important that ratepayers be protected from price manipulation to ensure fair costs that reflect market conditions." Wrapped up in the crisis, the Attorney General insists that while energy prices might naturally fluctuate during severe weather, this does not green-light exploitation.

In his office's vigilant approach, Drummond asked that public utilities report to his office if any natural gas marketers were to fall short of their contractual obligations. "While I understand the natural volatility of energy prices during inclement weather, such fluctuations do not justify predatory behavior," said Drummond, emphasizing the line between market dynamics and unscrupulous practices, as stated by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office.

The effort by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office to clamp down on any potential price manipulation speaks to a broader concern for the well-being of Oklahoma residents during trying times. Having been through the wringer with the 2021 winter storm, Oklahomans are wary, and the state officials appear poised to ensure that while the weather might be bitter, the burden on its people will not be exacerbated by the cold hand of exploitation.