Consumers Council request for moratorium denied

The Missouri Public Service Commission has denied a request filed by the Consumers Council of Missouri (Consumers Council) for an emergency order and motion for expedited treatment which sought a statewide moratorium on the involuntary disconnection or discontinuance of residential service by Commission-regulated electric, natural gas, and water corporations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The motion sought a moratorium through at least March 31, 2021. In its decision, the Commission disagreed with the Consumers Council’s interpretation of Missouri statutes. In its ruling, the Commission determined it does not have the authority to grant Consumers Council’s motion.

Full release information from Jefferson City..The Missouri Public Service Commission has denied a request filed by
the Consumers Council of Missouri (Consumers Council) for an emergency order and motion for
expedited treatment which sought a statewide moratorium on the involuntary disconnection or
discontinuance of residential service by Commission-regulated electric, natural gas, and water
corporations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The motion sought a moratorium through at least
March 31, 2021.
In its decision, the Commission disagreed with Consumers Council’s interpretation of Section
386.310 RSMo of the Missouri statutes. The Commission determined it does not have the authority
to grant Consumers Council’s motion.
“The Commission has carefully reviewed Consumer Council’s motion and shares its concern
for the well-being of utility customers and all Missouri citizens during the pandemic,” said the
Commission. “However, the Commission can only take the actions it is has been authorized by the
state legislature to take. Consumers Council provides no legal authority for the requested
Commission action, other than its interpretation of Section 386.310 RSMo. The Commission
disagrees with Consumers Council’s interpretation and determines that it does not have authority to
grant the motion.”
“Furthermore, based on the motion and the responses of Staff and parties in support of and in
opposition to the motion, the Consumers Council has not provided sufficient evidence that its
proposed moratorium is necessary to protect the public from an immediate danger that such an
emergency action would be best calculated to assure fairness to all interested parties, or that the scope
of the requested action is appropriately limited so that it does not cause additional harm. The
Commission denies Consumer Council’s motion,” said the Commission.