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 conservation must be paid each month before any natural gas is used in your home.

Consumers Council believes that higher fixed rate charges hurt those most energy burdened, and low use customers, including many elderly customers.

A higher fixed rate also reduces consumer’s ability to control their utility bills by using less.

Consumers Council and Legal Aid of Eastern Missouri have requested that Spire implement more effective assistance programs for vulnerable customers and a more user-friendly registry for customers with medical issues. Their current registry system only registers a fraction of those with medical needs.

Media Reminder: PSC Local Public Hearings in Spire Rate Case Start on June 21

Public Hearing Schedule

 Join from a computer or phone using this link: https://psc.mo.gov/ or dial the toll-free 1-855-718-6621 to join the hearing on the day and enter the information below for the hearing you attend. Registration is encouraged. Email pscinfo@psc.mo.gov or call 1-800-392-4211 by 5:00 pm CST on the day before the hearing.

June 21

• City of St. Louis
• 6:00 pm CST
• Access Code: 133 190 7597
• Password: 0108

June 22

• St. Louis County
• 6:00 pm CST
• Access Code: 133 974 3371
• Password: 0108

June 23

• All
• 12:00 pm CST
• Access Code: 133 223 2486
• Password: 0108

June 23

• Kansas City
• 6:00 pm CST
• Access Code: 133 211 3732
• Password: 0108

June 24

• St. Joseph
• 6:00 pm CST
• Access Code: 133 238 8420
• Password: 0108

June 25

• Joplin
• 6:00 pm CST
• Access Code: 133 956 1939
• Password: 0108

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