Soaring summer power bills spark protests -- and even disconnections

The price of electricity is soaring in the summer heat, when fans and air conditioners are working nonstop. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, people are having their power cut when they can't pay their bills.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/805x622+0+0/resize/805x622!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2Fe5%2F4bc072954cdfaefbc3e143a9e14a%2Fraelyn.jpg' alt='Raelynn McMurchy, left, with her husband Tucker and daughter Ella, launched an online petition over high power bills. Her last bill topped $1,370, including a $598 deposit following previous late payments.'/><p>The price of electricity is soaring in the summer heat, when fans and air conditioners are working nonstop. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, people are having their power cut when they can't pay their bills. </p><p>(Image credit: Raelynn McMurchy)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5943289' />