Evergy West Seeks New $104.5 Million Rate Hike

The Missouri Public Service Commission is scheduled to hold formal evidentiary hearings September 30-October 4 and October 7-October 11, 2024, in an electric rate case filed by Evergy Missouri West, Inc. d/b/a Evergy Missouri West. These hearings will be held in Room 310 of the Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, in Jefferson City. This building meets accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need additional accommodations to participate in these hearings, please call the Public Service Commission’s hotline at 1-800-392-4211 (voice) or Relay Missouri at 711 before the hearings. The hearings will also be streamed live on the Commission’s website (www.psc.mo.gov). 

On February 2, 2024, Evergy Missouri West filed an electric rate case with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking a net increase in its base rates of approximately $104.5 million. 

Evergy to Hike Minimum Usage Rate by $4.28 Effective March 1st

On February 26th, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved a filing by Evergy West, which serves Worth, Nodaway, Gentry, and Harrison Counties, which will hike the Fuel Adjustment Clause by $4.28 per month for minimum usage customers. This change will be effective March 1st. 

Evergy West had made two filings with the Missouri Public Service Commission proposing the hike to reflect changes in its fuel and purchased power cost for the six month period of June through November 2023. 

Evergy West Seeks Base Rate Increase of $104.5 Million

The Missouri Public Service Commission has established the deadline for those wishing to intervene and participate in an electric rate case filed by Evergy Missouri West, Inc. d/b/a Evergy Missouri West.

Applications to intervene and participate in the electric rate case must be filed no later than 

February 20, 2024, with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, or by using the Commission’s Electronic Filing and Information System (EFIS) at www.psc.mo.gov .

Individual citizens wishing to comment should contact either the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Suite 650, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2230, telephone (866) 922-2959, email opcservice@opc.mo.gov or the Public Service Commission Staff (P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 1-800-392-4211, email pscinfo@psc.mo.gov). The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission. 

On February 2, 2024, Evergy Missouri West filed an electric rate case with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking a net increase in its base rates of approximately $104.5 million.

Evergy Missouri West provides electric service to approximately 340,300 customers in the 

Missouri counties of Andrew, Atchison, Barton, Bates, Benton, Buchanan, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Clay, Clinton, Dade, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Ray, St. Clair, Vernon and Worth.

Evergy Electric Rates to Go Up February 1st

The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request filed by Evergy Missouri West, Inc. d/b/a Evergy Missouri West to adjust the Demand Side Programs Investment Mechanism (DSIM) charge on customer bills. The DSIM charge, which appears as a separate line-item on customer bills, allows Evergy Missouri West to recover demand-side management program costs and incentives under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA). 

A residential customer using 1,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity a month will see the charge increase by approximately $1.35 a month effective February 1, 2024.

Evergy Electric Rate to Decrease by 69 Cents

On Wednesday, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved a request by Evergy West, which serves Nodaway, Worth, Gentry, and Harrison Counties, to lower their Demand Side Programs Investment Mechanism charge (DSIM) on customer bills. The DSIM charge, which appears as a separate line item on customer bills, allows Evergy West to recover demand-side management program costs and incentives under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act. A residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month will see the charge decrease by approximately 69 cents a month effective August 1st.

Evergy West Files Two Rate Cases

Evergy Missouri West, Inc. d/b/a Evergy Missouri West (Evergy West) has filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to adjust the fuel adjustment charge (FAC) on the bills of its electric customers.

Evergy West made two filings. In its first filing (Case No. ER-2023-0444), Evergy West proposes to adjust the FAC to reflect fuel and purchased power costs for the six month period of December 2022 through May 2023. The second case is Evergy West’s true-up filing (Case No. EO2023-0445). 

According to the filings, a residential customer using 1,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) a month will see the monthly FAC charge drop by approximately $0.29 a month. The proposed change would take effect on September 1, 2023. 

Applications to intervene and participate in these cases must be filed no later than July 18, 2023, with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0360, or by using the Commission’s Electronic Filing and Information System (EFIS) at www.psc.mo.gov .

Individual citizens wishing to comment should contact either the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Suite 650, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2230, telephone (866) 922-2959, email opcservice@opc.mo.gov) or the Public Service Commission Staff (P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 1-800-392-4211, email pscinfo@psc.mo.gov). The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission. 

PSC Sets Intervention Deadline for Evergy Rate Decrease Proposal

On Tuesday, Evergy West, which serves Worth, Nodaway, Gentry, and Harrison counties, filed an application to adjust the Demand Side Investment Mechanism charge (DSIM) on customer bills. The DSIM charge, which appears as a separate line item on customer bills, allows Evergy West to recover demand side management program costs and incentives under the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act.

According to the application, a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month will see the charge decrease by approximately $1.06 per month, effective February 1st, 2023.

Applications to intervene and participate in this case must be filed no later than December 22nd, 2022 with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, PO Box 360, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or by visiting the website www.psc.mo.gov.

Individual citizens wishing to comment may contact the Public Service Commission at PO Box 360, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or call (800) 392-4211 or email pscinfo@psc.mo.gov.

PSC Denies Request to Stop Disconnections

On Friday, the Missouri Public Service Commission denied a request filed by the Consumers Council of Missouri, which sought Commission issuance of an emergency rule that would have temporarily prevented electric, natural gas, and water disconnections through March 31st because of the pandemic.

The Commission found that the rulemaking requested does not meet the criteria for the issuance of an emergency rule. Their ruling read, in part, “At the beginning of the pandemic in this state, the large commission-regulated utilities each voluntarily placed a moratorium on residential disconnections. This action allowed the utilities to take the necessary legal and organizational steps to revise their payment plans, collections processes, customer financial assistance programs, and other operations to better serve their customers. These utilities reported to the Commission that most of their repayment and financial assistance programs were still available and were funded. Additionally, stopping the regular disconnection processes may unintentionally harm customers by making them ineligible to receive financial assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program because no disconnection was imminent. The utilities stated the customers often did not seek help with payment plans and financial assistance until prompted to do so by receiving a disconnection notice. Further, placing a moratorium on disconnections may leave customers with insurmountable arrearages when the moratorium expires.”

660 Area Code to Move to Ten Digit Dialing

The Missouri Public Service Commission has opened a case at the request of the Public Service Commission Staff (Staff) to assist Staff regarding an order from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requiring ten-digit local dialing in four of Missouri’s six area codes by July 15, 2022.

The change to ten-digit local dialing is necessary to allow for the establishment of “988” as a three-digit code to reach a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.

To avoid conflict with the new 988 code, all United States area codes that use a 988 NPA prefix (for example 314-988-xxxx) must move to ten-digit local dialing. In Missouri, the affected area codes are 314, 417, 660 and 816. Area codes 573 and 636 do not use a 988 NPA prefix and can continue to use seven-digit local dialing.

Staff intends to use this case to communicate with Missouri’s telecommunications providers about their plans to implement ten-digit dialing and to gather company-specific information about the timing of implementing ten-digit local dialing as well as general plans for notifying customers and other entities.

Staff plans to periodically report on its findings to the Commission.

PSC Approves Middlefork Water Company Sale

On Wednesday, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved the sale of the Middlefork Water Company, which serves Grant City and Stanberry, to Public Water District Number One of Nodaway County, determining that the proposed transfer of assets is not detrimental to the public interest. Middlefork provides wholesale water services to its two customers, the cities of Grant City and Stanberry. They do not provide services directly to individuals. Nodaway County Public Water District Number 1 serves approximately 2,700 customers and serves as the permanent water supplier to all of Nodaway County and parts of Gentry and Worth Counties, including several smaller towns on a wholesale basis.

Missouri PSC Analysis: NO Additional Cost to Electric Customers Under Power Infrastructure Legislation

A new Missouri Public Service Commission analysis says legislation to modernize power infrastructure won’t carry any extra costs for electric customers compared to current law.

“The Missouri PSC, which has final say on any utility case, is the recognized authority when it comes to electric rates. The independent Missouri PSC has ultimate credibility on this matter, especially versus opponents of the legislation who have a long history of misrepresenting facts and falling far short of the truth,” said Irl Scissors, Executive Director of Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future.

The bipartisan PSC and its professional staff made the conclusion in a report requested by Senator Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, sponsor of Senate Bill 207. The legislation would enable Missouri’s investor-owned electric companies to be reimbursed on a more timely basis for dollars already spent on power infrastructure. Five times in its report to Senator Kehoe about the potential cost of Senate Bill 207 for electric customers, the Public Service Commission said there is NO more impact on the costs than there would be after a larger, longer general rate case.

Scissors noted that SB207 will extend to electric utilities the same opportunity as water and gas utilities to recover costs from infrastructure investments. “For nearly a decade, our state’s gas and water utilities have used the procedure in the legislation to directly benefit consumers, stabilize rates and improve their infrastructure. It will modernize the current regulatory barrier for electric utilities across the state and allow for necessary upgrades to power generation facilities, substations and distribution systems. This legislation is a positive step in bringing the cost savings and benefits consumers deserve,” Scissors said.  

Missouri Public Service Commission looks to cut utility rates for low-income Missourians

The Missouri Public Service Commission, the agency that determines utility rates in Missouri, is looking to cut rates for low-income Missourians.

Currently, customers pay a different price depending on whether they are a home or business owner. This process is called a "rate class." Prompted by public hearings across the state, the commission is looking to create a separate residential rate class with a lower rate specifically for low-income residents.

If the commission were to create this new rate class, people like Kathleen Chitwood could see a change in monthly utility bills.

"If they want to lower it? Yes, it would benefit me," Chitwood said.

Chitwood represents other low-income residents in Missouri as an alternative board member for the Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation. She said the bad economy has put her and many others in a bind to pay for necessities such as groceries and utilities.

"Well there's so many people out there. There's elderly out there, there's single moms out there that don't have a job or were laid off and they're struggling," Chitwood said.

Chairman of the House Utilities Committee, Rep. Darrel Pollock, R-Lebanon, said he does not see the new rate class as something the commission should be looking to adopt.

"My personal opinion is that I know that utility bills are expensive, they're expensive for everyone," Pollock said. "All hard-working people have to pay them."

Pollock also said there are existing programs and laws to help low-income residents, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program offered by the Missouri Department of Social Services. The program provides financial assistance to help pay heating bills for Missourians during the winter months based on income, household size and available resources. Community action agencies in Missouri also help low-income citizens with bills.

"Look at ways to lower the cost of energy for all taxpayers and citizens of the state, rather than set up another governmental program of assistance and then that takes our eyes off what I think our goal should be is to drop those energy rates for everyone or make them more affordable for everyone," Pollock said.