Tulsa voters to decide Aug. 25 on 20-year Oklahoma Natural Gas franchise
Tulsa voters are scheduled to decide Aug. 25 whether to approve a proposed 20-year franchise for Oklahoma Natural Gas to use public rights-of-way in the city.
The Tulsa City Council called the nonpartisan special election on the franchise measure, identified as Ordinance No. 25782. Voter approval is required before the proposed franchise can take effect.
The measure concerns the terms under which Oklahoma Natural Gas could transport, distribute and sell natural gas while using Tulsa’s public rights-of-way. The proposal is not an already-approved franchise; its future depends on the Aug. 25 vote.
Terms before voters
Under the proposed ordinance, the franchise would run for 20 years. It would establish a franchise rate of 4% of gross receipts.
The ballot question concerns Oklahoma Natural Gas, the utility associated with One Gas Inc., and the company’s requested municipal authorization to operate using city rights-of-way. Those rights-of-way are public areas that can be used for utility infrastructure under the terms set by the city and, in this case, the electorate.
The ordinance lays out the proposed term and rate, but it does not become operative merely because it has been placed before voters. The ordinance specifically requires approval at the Aug. 25, 2026, special election.
Election timing
The City of Tulsa’s 2026 elections page lists Aug. 25 as the city’s general election date. The council’s action places the ONG franchise question before voters on that date as a special election measure.
The Tulsa County Election Board is directed to conduct the special election. The available city election schedule also lists Nov. 3, 2026, for runoff elections, if needed.
No vote result is available because the election has not yet occurred. The provided city materials also do not establish whether the 4% franchise rate would raise or lower customers’ gas bills.
What the vote will determine
The Aug. 25 decision will determine whether Oklahoma Natural Gas receives the proposed new long-term municipal franchise and whether the ordinance’s terms governing use of Tulsa public rights-of-way take effect.
For voters, the question is limited to the proposed franchise ordinance: a 20-year authorization, the utility’s use of city rights-of-way for natural-gas service, and a franchise rate set at 4% of gross receipts. It is not a determination of a future election runoff, which the city has separately scheduled for Nov. 3 if one is needed.
Sources
- Proposed Oklahoma Natural Gas franchise ordinance, Tulsa City Council
- City of Tulsa 2026 elections, City of Tulsa