Missouri’s cold weather rule in effect for investor-owned utilities

Missouri’s “cold weather rule” is now in effect for the state’s investor-owned power companies. It forbids those utilities from disconnecting electricity or gas heating for non-payment if the temperature is forecast to drop below 32 degrees within 72 hours from now through March 31st of next year. Forrest Gossett with the Missouri Public Service Commission says, though:

“It does not absolve you from your bill. It just says you can’t be shut off for nonpayment when the temperature goes below 32°.”

The rule originally had a 24-hour period, but state lawmakers expanded it to 72 hours this year.

Gossett says, “It was part of Senate Bill 4 that passed during this last session of the General Assembly, and was signed into law by Governor Kehoe.

Missouri’s Cold Weather Rule will remain in effect through March 31st of next year.

Gossett says the rule does NOT apply to every utility in Missouri:

“This only applies to investor-owned utilities and it’s across the board. Municipal utilities and co-ops are not covered by the cold weather rule because we at the Public Service Commission do not regulate those utilities. However, it’s also important to note that many of those utilities do follow similar rules.”