Have you ever thought about how utility companies get the right to run pipes and cables over or under your back fence or under city streets? When a subdivision is laid out (platted), easements are dedicated by the developer to the city. Some of these are for streets and are owned by the city, while the easements along your back fence (typically five feet from the fence) remain in your ownership, but the City has limited rights to run sewer lines and other utilities through the easement and to grant franchises to utility companies to run their own overhead lines and underground cables and pipes. These franchises are long-term but not permanent and must be renewed when they expire, which opens up an opportunity for city and utility to renegotiate terms. Under Article VIII, Section 4, of the Tulsa City Charter, each franchise must be approved by a vote of the people. On August 25, 2026, all Tulsans, whether or not there is a City Council race on the ballot, can vote on whether to renew the franchise for Oklahoma Natural Gas for the next 20 years. The last vote on ONG's franchise was on August 9, 2011, and codified as Title 15, Chapter 3. That 15-year franchise replaced a 25-year franchise approved in 1986. There are several major differences between the existing franchise and the new franchise the voters are asked to approve:
- The new franchise is longer, 20 years instead of 15. (Section 301)
- ONG will be required to build temporary sidewalks when the sidewalk needs to be reopened before the permanent sidewalk repair can be completed. (Section 307 C.4.)
- The new franchise fee increases from 3.10% to 4.00% of gross receipts, but the additional 0.90% will be deposited in a "special revenue fund for the maintenance, repair, and improvement of Public Ways, including but not limited to right-of-way and median maintenance and enhancement; streetscaping; landscaping; street and highway lighting maintenance, repair, and replacement; sidewalks; and corridor enhancement and beautification." (Section 312)
- ONG will not be charged "any permit fees, lane closure fees and similar fees or charges for construction, installation, maintenance or restoration work on the Distribution System within the rights-of-way." (Section 312)
- The process and timing of changes to ONG's lines due to city requirements to accommodate other utilities in the right-of-way is set out in greater detail. (Section 308)
- August 4, 2026 at 01:43AMCity of Tulsa ONG franchise renewal
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