JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — After the Missouri Supreme Court remanded part of Spire Missouri’s previous rate increase, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is moving forward with the issue as part of the company’s latest request. read more ...
Author Archives: Cara Spencer
Spire has requested a rate increase! Register today for a virtual public hearing to make public comments on how it would impact you
The Spire natural gas utility is requesting an annual rate increase of over $100 million for the delivery of gas to its customers. Consumers Council believes that this request is too high, and doesn't take into account the economic impact suffered by most consumers due to the recent pandemic. Spire is asking that consumers pay a fixed fee of $20.00 each month for its Eastern Missouri territory, and $22.00 more for Western Missouri consumers. This fee would be unavoidable by c ...
Missouri panel rejects moratorium on utility shutoffs during pandemic
EFFERSON CITY — The state Public Service Commission has rejected an effort to prevent utility companies from disconnecting residential services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission said in a statement Wednesday. The Consumers Council of Missouri, which advocates on behalf of consumer interests, had requested an emergency order for a moratorium on disconnections through at least March 31. But the commission determined it didn't have the authority to grant the council's ...
As temperature drops and virus cases climb, groups file for new Missouri utility disconnection moratorium
JEFFERSON CITY — Since testing positive for COVID-19 last week, Mary Boyd has been quarantining at home, unable to take any shifts at the Nature’s Bakery plant where she works near her home in Hazelwood. And that’s left her with a several-hundred dollar electric bill and a looming utility disconnection. read more ...
PSC Sets Local Public Hearing Schedule in Missouri-American Water Company Rate Cases
The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold virtual local public hearings in January to receive customer comment in water and sewer rate cases filed by the Missouri-American Water Company (MAWC). Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these local public hearings will be conducted virtually by WebEx and telephone conference. They will be streamed live on the Commission’s website (psc.mo.gov). read more ...
Missouri has some of the laxest laws in the country regarding predatory lending
Missouri has some of the laxest laws in the country regarding predatory lending. As the power of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is continually threatened, our state refuses every year to adopt modest regulations. Cities have no choice but to take matters into their own hands to protect citizens from spiraling and crushing debt. Our executive director joins faith leaders in weighing in on municipal reforms this week in the Springfield News Leader. ...
2019 Moleg Consumer Report
#Moleg2019: Utility Consumers Unscathed The 2019 Missouri legislative session has come to an end and while many bills made it past the finish line, utility consumer bills were successfully blocked. Consumers Council of Missouri, all said and done, had a successful 2019 session with two major victories. We helped stop an attempt in the Missouri House to raise water rates by 15%! And in the last week, we helped prevent a measure to block lower cost environmentally friendly el ...
Grain Belt – Action Needed!
In the final days of the Missouri legislative session, a measure that will help bring lower cost electricity to energy markets in our state is as risk of being railroaded. After 5 years of facing legal roadblocks, the high voltage Grain Belt transmission line is about to become a reality, facilitating the flow of primarily-renewable power from Kansas through to Illinois and beyond. But legislation that would stop it the transmission line project (HB 1062) passed the House of Rep ...
Knowledge is Power
Consumers Council of Missouri 2018 event – Knowledge is Power will showcase our work over the last year, including successful negotiation of a $1M bill pay program for low-income Spire consumers to help families keep their heat on through challenging winters. The event will feature New York Times best selling author, Wendell Potter who will discuss the rising costs of health care from the perspective of a former insurance executive. We will also be presenting our annual Alberta ...
Ameren settles with ratepayer advocates and announces energy efficiency plan
Consumer advocates rejected the initial plan citing overspending and inadequate benefits Ameren, Missouri’s largest utility company, has reached an agreement with consumer advocates and environmental groups to launch an energy efficiency plan. The utility proposed a $550 million conservation program over six year, but consumer advocates fought to scale back the program duration and overall spending. The modified plan calls for $227 million in spending and creates a “check in” ...
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