Have you ever noticed the large Spire metal covers embedded in the streets around your neighborhood? These markers often signal ongoing upgrades to underground gas infrastructure.
Under Missouri law, gas and electric utilities are allowed to recover the costs of infrastructure improvements, primarily pipeline replacements, outside of traditional rate cases. This process accelerates system upgrades, but results in extra surcharges that hike gas and water rates higher than necessary. Consumers Council believes that these accelerated surcharges can lead to uneconomic practices, and threaten the affordability of our utility bills. ISRS and WSIRA surcharges are approved without the same level of detailed review and public scrutiny that are required in normal rate cases at the Public Service Commission.
Over time, these costs can add up significantly for consumers.
Explore Consumers Council of Missouri’s latest report to better understand how gas and water infrastructure investments are impacting utility bills across the state.
