MO PSC Approves Evergy’s Amended Application Seeking Tariff Revisions to TOU Program

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 behavior and adjust to different rates applied to energy consumption at different times of the day.

In the most recent Ameren rate case, we argued against mandating time-based rates, saying that making them the default choice for consumers “has the potential to cause increased cost to those who can least afford it.”

“At particular risk are seniors, families with children under five, and those with medical need for air conditioning,” Jacqueline Hutchinson, Director of Advocacy, said in written testimony. “Shifting these customers to a potentially higher rate without their knowledge, with suggestions that they should not be using their air conditioning during the hottest part of the day, could lead to increased health risks.”