Thousands of Missourians to see natural gas rate increases

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- More than 180,000 Missourians served by two utilities will see their total average natural gas bills increase over the next few months, under filings approved Friday by state regulators.

The Missouri Public Service Commission on Friday said more than 86,000 AmerenUE customers will see their average bills increase $25 between April and October -- the typical summer rate filing period.

Those customers are located in Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Lincoln, Moniteau, Miller, Morgan, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Saline, St. Charles and Warren counties.

About 19,000 AmerenUE customers in three Southeast Missouri counties will see their average bills increase by $44 between April and October. Those counties are Cape Girardeau, Stoddard and Scott.

In the AmerenUE Kirksville District, 5,900 customers will see their average bills increase by $67 between April and October. The utility serves customers in Macon, Adair and Schuyler counties.

Another 2,000 customers of AmerenUE in Butler, Bollinger and Stoddard counties will see their average bills jump by $31 from April to October.

Meanwhile, Atmos Energy Corporation customers will also see increases.

More than 37,000 Southeast Missouri customers will see their bills increase by $67. Those affected by the increase are in New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Scott, Iron, Wayne, Stoddard and Mississippi counties.

More than 12,000 Atmos customers in Clark, Lewis, Knox, Marion, Ralls and Scotland counties will see their bills from April through October increase by a total of $70.

Atmos customers in Bates, Cass, Henry and St. Claire counties will see increases of $67. About 3,900 customers affected by the change are part of the utility's Butler District.

More than 1,400 Atmos customers in Palmyra and the surrounding areas in Marion County will see their bills jump a total of about $70, while 1,420 Atmos customers in Pike County will see an identical increase between April and October.

In Ripley and Butler counties, about 600 Atmos customers will see their bills jump by $87, while 560 utility customers of the former Greeley Gas company in Bates county will see increases of $79.

The PSC does not regulate the wholesale price that utilities pay for natural gas. Rather, the PSC reviews the purchase practices of local natural gas companies to ensure they are reasonable.

The PSC typically approves retail rate increases for natural gas that are based on rising wholesale prices.