Public Service Commission

This weekend in the Star: "Fueled by information from utility lobbyists, Missouri legislators this week tried to kill a voter-approved effort to promote renewable energy in the state. The lawmakers passed a resolution throwing out a pair of regulations that the Missouri Public Service Commission put in place last year to carry out the will of voters. In 2008, voters passed a standard requiring utilities to use renewable energy to create at least 2 percent of electricity by 2011 and at least 15 percent in 2021. Renewable energy supporters say the lawmakers’ move essentially guts the law. Utilities disagree. This decision is not in line with what Missouri voters approved in 2008. Gov. Jay Nixon should veto the resolution and tell the PSC to try again in writing new regulations that would promote renewable energy."

The Missourian had a really interesting story yesterday about the Missouri NAACP's calls for AmerenUE's wealthy industrial customers to pay the same rates as residential customers.  And despite the current disparity, the company is asking the state Public Service Commission for approval to raise residential rates and lower industrial rates further. 

According to Harold Crumpton, an NAACP board member, residential customers currently pay about 7.7 cents per kilowatt hour, and industrial, large transmission customers pay roughly 3.3 cents.

I bet most folks bundled up in their homes don't know they are paying more than double the rates of AmerenUE's wealthiest customers. I know I didn't.