The Missouri Electric Alliance (MEA), a collaboration of our state's investor-owned electric companies, is united in support of Senate Bill 207. The proposal by Senator Mike Kehoe of Jefferson City has gained bipartisan, urban and rural co-sponsors who want modernized utility regulations, good jobs and reliable energy infrastructure.
MEA's principal members are Kansas City Power & Light Co., The Empire District Electric Co. and Ameren Missouri. Together, the companies that keep the lights on across Missouri are urging lawmakers to update our 100-year-old utility regulations. This will enable more timely investment and re-investment in safe, efficient, reliable electric infrastructure as gas and water utilities have been able to do for a decade.
"Senate Bill 207, the Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining (ISRS) bill, provides the first substantial modernization of Missouri's electric utility regulations in support of investments in infrastructure in 100 years. It will allow new reinvestment faster, creating jobs now and boosting reliability of Missouri's power grid. Similar updated regulations and consumer protections have been in place for a decade for Missouri's gas and water utilities. SB207 has bipartisan support from rural and urban lawmakers because it is good for Missouri's economic and high-technology future," said Scott Charton, spokesman for MEA.
Charton noted that the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives recently told Governor Jay Nixon by letter why it supports modernizing Missouri's aging power infrastructure: "Having a modern, safe and reliable transmission grid better positions Missouri to capture exciting new economic development opportunities and helps ensure stability in disaster situations."
To learn more about the powerful boost SB207 provides for economic development and electric grid reliability, visit Missouri Electric Alliance's website at http://www.moelectricalliance.org
Showing posts with label electric utilities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electric utilities. Show all posts
Friday, February 8, 2013
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Storm Outages Low So Far
Missouri's electric cooperatives are not currently experiencing any significant outages as a major winter storm moves through the state. However, electric cooperative crews remain on high alert as strong winds are expected later in the day.
The National Weather Service has downgraded its original ice accumulation predictions across much of Missouri below the Interstate 44 corridor. While some areas still may receive as much as a 3/4-inch accumulation, most cooperative members will see a 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch of ice in the area ranging from Branson to north of Sikeston to south of St. Louis. In the path of this storm are White River Valley Electric, Se-Ma-No Electric, Webster Electric, Howell-Oregon Electric, Intercounty Electric, Black River Electric, Ozark Border Electric, SEMO Electric, Citizens Electric and Crawford Electric cooperatives.
Freezing rain will collect on power lines and trees, and can cause outages if the accumulation is heavy enough. The combination of heavy ice and strong winds are a recipe for extended outages for any electric utility.
"The reduced ice accumulation is encouraging," said Ron Klein, vice president of operations at Ste. Genevieve-based Citizens Electric, during a conference call between electric cooperative employees and the National Weather Service's Steve Reynolds. "I would say winds of 30-40 mph are our biggest concern. We are still telling members to be prepared for a multi-day outage. We are not going to back off of that."
In the early hours of Feb. 1, Intercounty Electric in Licking reported 341 members without power near Cabool in south-central Missouri.
Besides the strong winds and blizzard conditions expected Tuesday afternoon and evening, electric cooperatives are preparing for difficult travel conditions statewide as the National Weather Service is calling for as much as 2 feet of snow in some areas. While snow does not damage power lines, it does lead to accidents that can cause outages and will lengthen the response time for any outage.
Electric cooperatives are closely monitoring this situation and are prepared for the worst. Despite this preparedness, it is important that cooperative members have a plan in place in the event power is interrupted for an extended period. Information on emergency shelters can be found by calling 211 (or 1-800-427-4626). For the latest information on how the storm is affecting Missouri's electric cooperatives visit http://www.amec.coop/IceStormInfoCenter.html
The National Weather Service has downgraded its original ice accumulation predictions across much of Missouri below the Interstate 44 corridor. While some areas still may receive as much as a 3/4-inch accumulation, most cooperative members will see a 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch of ice in the area ranging from Branson to north of Sikeston to south of St. Louis. In the path of this storm are White River Valley Electric, Se-Ma-No Electric, Webster Electric, Howell-Oregon Electric, Intercounty Electric, Black River Electric, Ozark Border Electric, SEMO Electric, Citizens Electric and Crawford Electric cooperatives.
Freezing rain will collect on power lines and trees, and can cause outages if the accumulation is heavy enough. The combination of heavy ice and strong winds are a recipe for extended outages for any electric utility.
"The reduced ice accumulation is encouraging," said Ron Klein, vice president of operations at Ste. Genevieve-based Citizens Electric, during a conference call between electric cooperative employees and the National Weather Service's Steve Reynolds. "I would say winds of 30-40 mph are our biggest concern. We are still telling members to be prepared for a multi-day outage. We are not going to back off of that."
In the early hours of Feb. 1, Intercounty Electric in Licking reported 341 members without power near Cabool in south-central Missouri.
Besides the strong winds and blizzard conditions expected Tuesday afternoon and evening, electric cooperatives are preparing for difficult travel conditions statewide as the National Weather Service is calling for as much as 2 feet of snow in some areas. While snow does not damage power lines, it does lead to accidents that can cause outages and will lengthen the response time for any outage.
Electric cooperatives are closely monitoring this situation and are prepared for the worst. Despite this preparedness, it is important that cooperative members have a plan in place in the event power is interrupted for an extended period. Information on emergency shelters can be found by calling 211 (or 1-800-427-4626). For the latest information on how the storm is affecting Missouri's electric cooperatives visit http://www.amec.coop/IceStormInfoCenter.html
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Capitol Report for April 8th, 2009
State Senator Brad Lager
Becoming Energy Efficient
Last week, the Senate Committee for Commerce, Energy, and the Environment, passed out legislation aimed at addressing Missouri’s future energy needs. The legislative package works to balance future energy demands, fluctuating costs, the availability of energy, and the environmental impacts of energy generation. Although there is no silver bullet that will fully address these complex challenges, we must keep working to head off this potential crisis. Regardless of the final energy generation solution, one agreed upon fact is that energy efficiency programs are a vital component of any future energy policy.
There is little doubt that without an increase in energy production we will not be able to meet the energy demands of the future. However, it takes time to design, develop, and build new energy production facilities. As a result, we must be smarter, more efficient and more effective in how we utilize the energy we currently generate. We must cultivate, facilitate and encourage energy efficiency programs. If done correctly, these programs will build partnerships between a utility company and its consumers so that they can work together to better utilized current energy supplies.
If passed, Senate Bill 376 will allow Missouri utility companies to make financial contributions in energy efficiency programs and then recover them in their rate base. The Missouri Public Service Commission will oversee this process by evaluating these programs to ensure that these investments are resulting in significant energy savings that are in the best interest of the ratepayers.
I believe this is a reasonable and responsible approach to becoming more efficient in our energy consumption. This legislation has received broad-based support from consumer groups, energy companies, industrial energy users, economic development groups, and environmentalist. By working together, these groups have helped us craft a legislative package that will encourage energy companies to work with their customers to better utilize the energy we currently generate. Until a low cost, long term energy solution is found, we as consumers must manage our energy use so that we utilize these precious resources in the smartest manner possible.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 429, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Becoming Energy Efficient
Last week, the Senate Committee for Commerce, Energy, and the Environment, passed out legislation aimed at addressing Missouri’s future energy needs. The legislative package works to balance future energy demands, fluctuating costs, the availability of energy, and the environmental impacts of energy generation. Although there is no silver bullet that will fully address these complex challenges, we must keep working to head off this potential crisis. Regardless of the final energy generation solution, one agreed upon fact is that energy efficiency programs are a vital component of any future energy policy.
There is little doubt that without an increase in energy production we will not be able to meet the energy demands of the future. However, it takes time to design, develop, and build new energy production facilities. As a result, we must be smarter, more efficient and more effective in how we utilize the energy we currently generate. We must cultivate, facilitate and encourage energy efficiency programs. If done correctly, these programs will build partnerships between a utility company and its consumers so that they can work together to better utilized current energy supplies.
If passed, Senate Bill 376 will allow Missouri utility companies to make financial contributions in energy efficiency programs and then recover them in their rate base. The Missouri Public Service Commission will oversee this process by evaluating these programs to ensure that these investments are resulting in significant energy savings that are in the best interest of the ratepayers.
I believe this is a reasonable and responsible approach to becoming more efficient in our energy consumption. This legislation has received broad-based support from consumer groups, energy companies, industrial energy users, economic development groups, and environmentalist. By working together, these groups have helped us craft a legislative package that will encourage energy companies to work with their customers to better utilize the energy we currently generate. Until a low cost, long term energy solution is found, we as consumers must manage our energy use so that we utilize these precious resources in the smartest manner possible.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 429, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
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