Signed by Governor Mike Kehoe

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends various state utility regulations in Missouri.

Highlights:

• Authorizes utility companies to charge customers for power plants while they are being constructed (Sec. A).

• Authorizes water and gas utilities to base their customers’ rates on projected costs rather than actual costs that have already happened (Sec. A).

• Amends the process to submit plans to Missouri’s utility regulators (Sec. A).

• Authorizes companies to charge customers for power plants as they’re being built if those plants are approved in this process (Sec. A).

• Requires electric utilities that are closing a power plant to replace it with a similar-size “dispatchable” energy plant, effectively coal, nuclear, or natural gas power plants (Sec. ).

• Increases funding for the office by having utility companies pay for the work the public counsel expects to do in a year related to their companies (Sec. A).

• Authorizes utility companies to give discounted rates to customers who are paying a disproportionately high percentage of their income on utilities.

• Amends the process for how customers can opt out of smart meters, limiting the monthly fee to opt-out to no more than $15 and a one-time fee to no more than $125 (Sec. A).

• Authorizes customers to opt out of time-of-use rate changes (Sec. A).

• Extends the time customers have before companies can discontinue their services during extreme weather from 24 to 72 hours (Sec. A).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. B).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends various state utility regulations in Missouri.

Highlights:

• Authorizes utility companies to charge customers for power plants while they are being constructed (Sec. A).

• Authorizes water and gas utilities to base their customers’ rates on projected costs rather than actual costs that have already happened (Sec. A).

• Amends the process to submit plans to Missouri’s utility regulators (Sec. A).

• Authorizes companies to charge customers for power plants as they’re being built if those plants are approved in this process (Sec. A).

• Requires electric utilities that are closing a power plant to replace it with a similar-size “dispatchable” energy plant, effectively coal, nuclear, or natural gas power plants (Sec. ).

• Increases funding for the office by having utility companies pay for the work the public counsel expects to do in a year related to their companies (Sec. A).

• Authorizes utility companies to give discounted rates to customers who are paying a disproportionately high percentage of their income on utilities.

• Amends the process for how customers can opt out of smart meters, limiting the monthly fee to opt-out to no more than $15 and a one-time fee to no more than $125 (Sec. A).

• Authorizes customers to opt out of time-of-use rate changes (Sec. A).

• Extends the time customers have before companies can discontinue their services during extreme weather from 24 to 72 hours (Sec. A).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. B).

Full Bill Text