Obama shuts down two Okla. power plants, forces 11% rate increase

"AEP-PSO will spend $350 million to satisfy federal air quality rules in a plan that includes shutting down two coal-fired generation units and upgrading emission controls on three natural gas-fired plants in the next 14 years," The Tulsa World reports.

"...company officials estimated that base utility rates may eventually need to rise about 11 percent to recover the compliance costs."

Other Oklahoma utilities have been forced to sue Obama to try and stay afloat.

"Oklahoma Gas and Electric, the state's largest utility, is continuing its legal battle against the EPA over the rules.  In April, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed suit against the new EPA rules on behalf of OG&E. Utilities argued that the EPA was too aggressive in its timeline to enforce the regional haze rules."