Utilities

On November 9, 2023, the MSD Board of Trustees will determine how high they will increase their rates over the next four years. The MSD Staff has proposed a 4-year wastewater rate increase which would increase consumers costs by 32.30%. Alternatively, in a minority report, four rate commissioners have recommended a 24.18% rate increase. They stated, “There is a cost to being overly conservative, and in this case, the cost is being borne by those who are least able to afford it in our...

On September 27, 2023, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved Evergy’s request to revise its Time-of-Use (“TOU”) program. The default TOU rate for Evergy customers will now be the low differential Peak Adjustment, instead of the high differential default TOU previously mandated. Consumers Council has expressed concerns about TOU default rates, especially when customers are not provided with enough education and sufficient time to enable them to change their...

For more information, see Missouri Utility Assistance Guide.

The state authorized Ameren last month to raise rates enough to boost revenue by nearly 9% or about $220 million a year. The parties discussed at a hearing on Thursday how to divide the costs between residential and industrial customers. “It’s just a matter of how do you split the pie,” said John Coffman, a lawyer who advocates on utility issues for the Consumers Council of Missouri, describing the case ahead of the hearing. “That’s the one main issue that has not been resolved.” The...

The PSC’s motion Thursday said that Spire’s recent messaging to its regional customers — including emails and letters sent with bills — “appear to reflect an attempt by Spire to mobilize public opinion, through fear, in order to potentially pressure federal authorities” “We have heard a lot of fearmongering lately, much of it coming from Spire, itself, that residents of St. Louis are going to lose their natural gas service this winter,” FERC Chairman Richard Glick said at the...

Nearly 650,000 homes and businesses in eastern Missouri rely on reliable, affordable natural gas from Spire STL Pipeline to fuel their lives. Learn more about the potential impact to the St. Louis community without the STL Pipeline. On September 14, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an  emergency certificate to allow the STL Pipeline to keep operating for 90-days. That certificate will expire December 13, 2021. Sign up below to stay up to date with the latest news on...

Low-income households, particularly in communities of color, spend a greater share of their income on utilities, according to several research studies. A report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, for instance, found Black households spend 43% more on energy costs than white households. “Why does the bottom line have to affect people of low income the most? The cost is rolling directly down to consumers from low-income, predominantly Black and brown communities.”...

According to Ameren Missouri: The adjustment in base rates would mean electric rates for an average residential electric customer (based on approximately 1,029 kilowatt-hours of usage per month) would increase by approximately $12 a month. The adjustment in base rates would mean natural gas rates would increase for an average residential customer by approximately $4 a month.   To attend the local public hearing by telephone, at the time of the hearing, call toll-free 1-855-718-6621,...