Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 4 into law, promoting it as a measure to strengthen Missouri’s energy infrastructure and reduce reliance on other states for power production. The bill includes controversial provisions such as overturning the Construction Work in Progress statute and allowing companies to use “future test year” rates. Supporters argue that these changes will help businesses recover costs faster and plan for the future, while opponents, like the Consumers Council of Missouri, believe the bill will lead to increased utility bills that may disproportionately affect low-income families.
Despite the criticisms, some aspects of the bill have received support, such as increasing funding for the Office of the Public Counsel and extending the time frame before utilities can shut off service for customers in extreme weather conditions. Owners of older solar power systems will also benefit from a tax cut under the new law. However, critics argue that the bill’s focus on incentivizing natural gas production over renewable energy is short-sighted and will ultimately harm consumers.
Bill sponsor Mike Cierpiot claims that SB 4 strikes a good balance between protecting consumers and benefiting energy producers. The Consumers Council of Missouri and other opponents are planning to use initiative petitions to challenge sections of the law in the future.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
