Senator Says Oklahoma ‘Behind the Meter’ Law Should Be National Model
The state senator who authored Oklahoma’s year old Behind the Meter law says it should be a “practical model for moving forward” across the nation.
Writing in the Sunday Oklahoman’s Viewpoint section, Sen. Grant Green proclaimed Oklahoma offers President Trump an “example on how to protect ratepayers.”
“I applaud the president’s push for a nationwide ratepayer protection plan because this idea is already working in Oklahoma. It’s shielding families from soaring energy bills while positioning our state as a leader in business development and growth.”
Law Designed to Protect Electric Ratepayers
The Republican Senator from Wellston said the ‘Behind the Meter’ legislation he authored last year reflects the same kind of pro-consumer energy policies championed by President Trump.
“Data centers are already here, and more are likely coming, whether we like it or not,” added Green who said the new law shields Oklahomans from higher electricity costs as the developments could put a “significant strain on our electric grid.”
Green contends that without the law, data center companies would develop in the state and draw massive amounts of electricity from the grid.
The legislation allows certain industrial and commercial projects to generate and manage their own electricity behind the meter rather than relying entirely on public utilities, a move supporters say protects other customers from bearing the costs of large energy users.
Law Credited in Mecad USA Investment
The Senator also credited the new law with the recent decision of the engineering and technology firm Mecad USA in announcing plans to build its more than $13 million U.S. headquarters at the Port of Catoosa.
“Here’s the kicker. This international company chose Oklahoma because ‘Behind the Meter’ gives them the flexibility to meet their own power needs.”
When Mecad made its announcement last month, Candido Romero, CEO of Mecad USA and Mecad del Valles SL stated, “The flexibility provided by Oklahoma’s new behind-the-meter law significantly de-risks our energy strategy. Coupled with the Port’s infrastructure and the state’s transportation network, the site is ideally suited for our next phase of innovation.”
Commerce Department Highlights Energy Policy
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce, in announcing the Mecad decision stated the Behind the Meter law was also a key factor influencing the firm.
“A key factor influencing Mecad USA’s decision is Oklahoma’s recent passage of Senate Bill 480, signed into law in 2025. This statute allows industrial and commercial entities to develop their own on-site power generation and storage systems—so-called behind-the-meter facilities—without being regulated as public utilities.
For Mecad USA, this new policy means the company can plan energy systems tailored to its needs—improving resilience, optimizing costs, and enhancing sustainability—while reducing lead times typically associated with utility interconnection. The ability to integrate behind-the-meter generation was cited as one of the deciding competitive advantages for locating in Oklahoma, according to the Commerce Department.”