Latest news with #MissouriPublicServiceCommission
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ameren proposes 800MW natural gas energy centre in Missouri
Ameren Missouri has submitted a proposal to the Missouri Public Service Commission to build an 800MW simple-cycle natural gas energy centre alongside its inaugural large-scale battery storage system (BESS). The project, called the Big Hollow Energy Center, will be built in Jefferson County. It is designed to boost energy supply and ensure grid resilience. Subject to regulatory consent, the facility aims to be operational by 2028, offering dependable backup power during extreme weather conditions or when renewable sources are insufficient. Ameren Missouri chairman and president Mark Birk stated: "This is the next step to deliver on our strategy to invest in energy infrastructure for our customers' benefit and provide a balanced generation portfolio. "As we transition our generation for the future, we'll continue to serve our customers with the reliable energy they expect while also preparing for anticipated increases in demand." Modelled after the Castle Bluff Energy Center, the Big Hollow project will cater to peak demand periods with its natural gas capabilities. The 400MW battery installation can swiftly respond to fluctuating energy requirements while enhancing overall network stability. Ameren Missouri recently accelerated its battery storage expansion strategy. By 2030, the company anticipates reaching a milestone of 1GW capacity and extending this to 1.8GW by 2042. The selected location benefits from pre-existing infrastructure and transmission lines, streamlining the development process for these facilities that will operate independently yet synergistically within the current framework. Ameren Missouri senior vice-president and chief development officer Ajay Arora stated: "It is crucial to have a balanced mix of generation technologies and equally important to strategically locate them across the region. This approach maximises the energy output from these resources." Ameren Missouri's service area covers 60 counties and 500 communities, including the greater St Louis area. "Ameren proposes 800MW natural gas energy centre in Missouri" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Water bill increase now in effect for St. Joseph customers
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Customers in St. Joseph and surrounding communities will now see increased water rates reflected on their monthly bills following approval by state regulators in May. Effective May 28, a customer in St. Joe using 4,600 gallons a month will now pay $62.53 a month on average, an increase of approximately $9 a month, or $108 annually. This amount will vary based on how much a customer uses. The increase comes after the Missouri Public Service Commission approved an agreement with Missouri American Water on May 7 to increase annual water and sewer revenues by $143 million. The company initially requested a 34% increase that would have raised rates by roughly $18 a month. Customers will receive information about the new rates on their Missouri American Water bill. Information will also be available on the company's website under Customer Service Billing, Water and Wastewater Rates. Missouri American Water offers customers bill payment assistance programs including a payment installment plan and budget billing options available on the customer MyWater portal at Income-eligible customers may also apply for assistance through the company's Help to Others (H2O) Program. The increase was made to help cover part of $1.5 billion in completed or planned system improvements across the state from January 2023 to May 2026. Overall investments include the replacement or installation of approximately 250 miles of aging water and wastewater pipes to help reduce main breaks and sewer overflows. Additional projects include upgrading of treatment plants, fire hydrants, storage tanks, wells, pumping and lift stations across the state. In March, the company began the process of replacing nearly 41,000 feet of aging water pipe, or roughly 7.5 miles, in St. Joseph. St. Joseph's infrastructure project also includes enhancements to the Faraon and Randolph Water Boosters, a critical component of the water system that impacts water pressure and service reliability for residents and the effectiveness of 3,500 fire hydrants across St. Joseph. Missouri American Water serves nearly 1.6 million Missourians and supplies drinking water to more than 31,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in St. Joseph.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'We all deserve some money back': Liberty Utilities hears from upset customers at Town Hall meeting
AURORA, Mo. – On June 5, starting at 6 p.m., the Missouri Public Service Commission held a town hall to investigate the customer service and billing practices of Liberty Utilities. According to Forrest Gosset, Communications Director at Missouri PSC, the investigation was launched due to a significant number of Liberty customers expressing frustration over increased billing prices and a lack of communication from them. 'What the commission told our staff to do is go out, invest and report back to us what's going on, what you find. So, there's no preconceived notions about what we're going to find,' says Gosset, 'We just want to hear people talking tonight. It's really about the consumers being able to ask questions. The (Liberty) Utilities are going to be at the table.' Customers were able to stand at the podium for 2 minutes each, asking questions and speaking directly to Liberty representatives. 'We all deserve some money back, a lot of money!' one woman stated before leaving the podium, which was met with applause from other customers. City council approves funding for rental inspection pilot program 'I'm going to be honest here; you're billing process sucks,' said another man, which caused the room to erupt in laughter. Heather Nickum said she and her family's bills had inaccurate amounts due to their billing, which has made them skyrocket in cost. 'There's been bills that have been tripled, quadrupled, and I call them to get help on that,' said Nickum. 'I get passed along. I get told, 'Oh, check your appliances, check this, check that.' No, it's not from our appliances.' Charity Tweed is the City Manager for the City of Miller, who states that she and others are being taxed, even though the city is tax-exempt. When she tried to get answers about it, she claims there was little to no communication from Liberty. 'The problem was all the customer service representatives I talked to, including management, said they had no direct line to billing, no emails, no phone numbers,' said Tweed, 'They didn't even know who worked in those departments. Every single one of them I talked to.' FEMA teams in the Ozarks survey Memorial Day storm damage Kelli Price, the Communications Director for Liberty Utilities, says that they have been listening to their customers' concerns. 'We did implement some new systems and that did include a new billing system. And for some of our customers, it has been less than an ideal billing experience for that,' says Kelli, 'We do want to start first by just apologizing. Our customers do expect and quite frankly, deserve to have timely and accurate billing.' Kelli states that 'all customers deserve a good billing experience,' and they are currently addressing the problems and are working to fix them for most people. 'We have been making steady progress. About 99% of our customers are being billed as they should, but we still do have some areas where we are still continuing to work, particularly for our customers who maybe have more complex billing,' Kelli says. 'But we are seeing improvements. So fewer calls to our call center, for example.' According to Gosset, there are more town halls scheduled in the next few days, with one happening at Branson City Hall on June 11 starting at 12 p.m., as well as one in Ozark that same day and then in Joplin on June 12. Missouri PSC also is holding Liberty's currently pending electric rate case during the week of July 21-25. If you would like to make a comment regarding Liberty's customer service or billing issues, please visit the Missouri Public Service Commission Press Release and click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public hearing held over potential Spire rate increase
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Public Service Commission hosted a public forum on Wednesday evening, discussing the rate increase . The 11-month process includes five public forums all over the state, after Spire asked the commission to raise their rates by 15%, or around $14 per household per month. In total, the company would receive nearly $290 million from customers in Missouri. Jackson Co. Legislator Abarca charged in Missouri, Kansas 'We recognize that seems like a big number,' said David Yonce, the managing director of regulatory affairs for Spire Missouri. 'When these rates do become effective, the last increase that we had was three years ago.' The energy company filed the increase on November 25, 2024. Ten days earlier, Spire enacted a rate decrease, thanks to a change in the price of natural gas. For Western Missouri the rate decrease amounted to roughly $18.70 per month. Eighty percent of the proposed increase will be used to recoup investment made improving Spire's infrastructure, like pipelines and meters. The Spire team at the meeting said they were replacing pipes made of bare steel and cast iron. 'This is important to be able to reduce the possibility of leaks in the future,' Yonce said. 'We have to be able to provide our customers with service even on those peak conditions when it's really cold, and our customers depend on us to heat their homes.' Outside the meeting, opponents of the rate increase rallied in front of the community center. They say any price increase is unfair. 'This is brazen corporate price gouging,' said Cashmere Ketterman with Sunrise Movement KC. 'In my opinion, frankly, they don't need an additional $200 million for a quote unquote, system improvements.' Ketterman said the focus should be on renewable energy and supporting the working class. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV 'Even like a $14, $15 or $20 rate increase, that could be devastating for most Missouri families,' he said. 'If I had a recommendation, the recommendation to them [Spire] would to be get out of our communities and to city council, fund clean energy! We deserve affordable utility prices. That's the very least they can do for us if they're not going to provide clean and renewable energy.' The Missouri Public Service Commission will make a decision on the rate increase in October 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public hearings set in Southwest Missouri over Liberty Utilities rate hike
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Beginning in July, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) will host in-person and virtual public hearings for Liberty Utilities customers in Southwest Missouri regarding Liberty's request for an electric rate increase. Liberty is looking for an increase of $152.8 million per year from rate revenues and to raise the monthly fixed residential customer charge from $13 to $16, PSC says. The hearings will consist of a public information and Q&A session, followed by the Commission taking public comments. Those interested in attending are encouraged to go to the meeting location closest to their service area. Missouri Public Service Commission investigating Liberty Utilities billing The in-person public hearing schedule is as follows: July 21 at 6 p.m.: Joplin, Missouri Southern State University, Corley Hall, 3950 Newman Road July 22 at noon: Nixa, City Council Chambers, 715 West Mount Vernon Street July 22 at 6 p.m.: Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University, McClelland Joe Roberts Room, 1600 University Avenue July 23 at noon: Branson, City Council Chambers, 110 West Maddux Street July 24 at noon: Aurora, Recreation Center, 126 West Hadley Street There will also be two virtual local public hearings on July 23 at 6 p.m. and July 25 at noon. To attend the hearing by telephone, you can call toll-free at 1-855-718-6621 and enter the access code 2861 936 9973 when prompted for the July 23 meeting and access code 2866 586 9948 when prompted for the July 25 hearing, then press #. If prompted for a password, enter 0261. To attend a virtual hearing online, visit or download the Cisco WebEx application on your mobile device, computer or tablet and join the meeting by the hearing time and entering the access code and password above. Individuals who cannot make the hearings can also submit a written comment through the methods on the PSC website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
