Excelsior Springs saw some relief when the Excelsior Springs City Council voted to lower sewer rates by 8% just a few weeks ago. It felt like nothing, though, when Spire announced a week later that they would be raising rates by 9%. Now those living in the Wood Heights area who are getting their water utilities through American Water are looking at a possible +25.7% increase. Ameren Missouri has also requested an +11.64% increase, spread evenly across all customer classes. This includes a proposed increase from $8.00 to $13.00 in the monthly fixed residential customer charge.
The Missouri Public Service Commission has announced public hearings for both utilities so consumers can let their voices be heard. With the closest hearing taking place in St. Joseph, know that citizens can also participate in Virtual Local Public Hearings taking place this week and are linked below.
American Water Rate Case
On July 1, 2022, Missouri American Water Company filed water and sewer rate cases with the Missouri Public Service Commission, seeking to increase current annual water and sewer revenues by approximately $99.6 million (25.7%). In reporting done by The Joplin Globe, Mo., Debby Woodin quoted Jeffrey Kaiser, vice president of operations of Missouri American, at a public hearing in Joplin as having stated that the request was based on the company’s expense of about $770 million overall across Missouri spent on operations and maintenance expenses and capital costs to replace and repair components of its water and wastewater systems. The article also references to Kaiser saying that if the entire rate request were granted, it would mean an increase of about $12 monthly for the average customer who uses about 4,200 gallons of water. Missouri American Water company serves approximately 474,000 water customers and approximately 16,500 sewer customers in Missouri.
Click here to see the legal actions of the case
Missouri American Water Public Hearings:
- January 26 (6:00 pm) – Virtual Hearings – Registration Required
- January 24 at 6:00 pm (St Joseph – Missouri Western State University)
- January 25 at 6:00 pm (St Louis – St Louis Community College – Florissant Valley)
Ameren Missouri Electric Rate Case
On August 1, 2022, Ameren Missouri filed an electric rate case with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking a net increase in its electric base rates of approximately $316 million. An average residential electric customer (using approximately 1,017 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month) would see a rate increase of approximately $12.00 a month according to the filing.
Click here to see the legal actions of the case
Ameren Missouri Electric Public Hearings:
- January 31 at 6:00 pm (Cape Girardeau – Osage Community Centre)
- February 1 at 6:00 pm (Jefferson City – Governor Office Building)
- February 2 (6:00 pm) and February 3 (noon) – Virtual Hearings – Registration Required
- February 9 at noon (St Charles – St Charles County Hall)
- February 9 at 6:00 pm (St Louis – St Louis Community College – Florissant Valley)
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