November has arrived, meaning that many of Missouri’s utilities cannot disconnect service for non-payment whenever temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing. It’s known as the Cold Weather Rule.
Forrest Gossett, Communications Director and Chief Public Information Officer with the Public Service Commission, told Missourinet the rule does not apply to every utility in Missouri.
“This only applies to investor-owned utilities and it’s across the board,” he said. “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.”
It forbids utilities such as Ameren Missouri and Evergy from disconnecting electricity or gas heating for non-payment, but:
“It does not absolve you from your bill,” Gossett said. “It just says you can’t be shut off for nonpayment when (the temperature) goes below 32 degrees.”
The time window within the Cold Weather Rule was also updated by state lawmakers this year.
“It was part of SB 4 that passed during this last session of the General Assembly, was signed into law by Governor Kehoe,” Gossett said. “Previously, under the Missouri Public Service Commission rule, it was 24 hours, so that’s an enhancement for consumers to go to 72 hours.”
Missouri’s Cold Weather Rule will remain in effect through March 31st of next year.
The state also has a Hot Weather Rule during the summer months, in which utilities cannot disconnect service for nonpayment whenever the temperature is forecast to rise above 95 degrees or the heat index is forecast to rise above 105 degrees between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
The time window for the Hot Weather Rule was also expanded from 24 to 72 hours this year.
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