The report was issued this week by Utility Data Institute, a McGraw-Hill organization in Washington, D.C. Each year UDI rates the nation's power plants using several different criteria. OG&E's Sooner and Muskogee power plants were recognized for their ability to produce power with low operation, maintenance and fuel costs.

“We are pleased to be recognized by UDI for the aggressive cost reduction efforts we have undertaken in recent years,” said OG&E Vice President of Power Supply Jack Coffman. “OG&E has among the lowest electric rates in the nation and the efficiency of our power plant operations contributes a great deal to the company's ability to offer those low rates.”

UDI listed the 1995 weighted average production cost of the 800 plants surveyed at $19.91 per megawatt hour. The Sooner plant's 1995 cost was $9.73 while the Muskogee plant's costs were listed as $10.76. Sooner plant is a coal-fired plant with approximately 1100 megawatts of generating capacity. The Muskogee plant has three coal units and one gas-fired unit and has approximately 1700 megawatts of capacity.

“Muskogee's ranking as number six is a remarkable achievement since it also includes a gas unit,” said Coffman.