Lower gas bills coming with Spire’s third consecutive rate drop

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - With colder weather coming soon, there’s a piece of good news about your gas bill. Starting Friday, Spire gas rates in Western Missouri are dropping.

It’s the third decrease in the past year and the biggest one yet. Spire estimates it will lower bills for the average household by $18.70 per month, though it would be less than that if you start using more gas as colder temperatures kick in.

“Most customers are going to notice their bill more during the winter months as they’re heating their homes, so the timing of this is great,” said David Yonce, Spire’s managing director of regulatory affairs.

There are two different kinds of charges on your bill. The delivery charges are not impacted. The change is with the natural gas charge, which is the cost of the gas itself.

Part of the decrease is just a matter of the energy market, which Yonce said looks good for the chances of keeping that low.

“As we look at natural gas prices out into the future, it’s a very affordable energy source and what we’re seeing in the markets right now is that it would stay that way for some period of time,” said Yonce.

Another reason for the lower rate is Winter Storm URI, which hammered the Texas power grid in 2021 and led to rolling power outages across the Midwest. Energy prices increased significantly as a result. Spire spread that increase out over several years and has finally worked off the balance of that.

Spire West’s region encomes Andrew, Barry, Barton, Bates, Buchanan, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Dade, DeKalb, Greene, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, McDonald, Moniteau, Pettis, Platte, Ray, Saline, Stone and Vernon counties.

Rates will also decrease for customers on the eastern part of Missouri but not by as much. Spire estimates the typical Spire East household will see bills go down by about $15.86 per month.

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