PSC Chief Expresses Concerns Over Power in Western MO

Western Missouri faces a potential energy crisis in the next few years, as that half of the state is projected by Public Service Commission staff to be one thousand megawatts short of demand by 2009. That’s the equivilant of the power used by the entire city of Springfield for an entire year. Plus, even if that area had the power, the electrical lines are inadequate to handle the load needed. While not referring to any case in front of the PSC, the group’s Chairman, Jeff Davis, says the power companies don’t have the capitol to expand operations or build another plant. And charging customers more seems to be out of the question. Davis believes the solution might be in a combination of conservation practices and tax breaks that allow power companies to produce more power and build infrastructure without raising rates.