Consumer protections groups rally against new energy law at Missouri Capitol
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Pointing at the state capitol, the group shouted “shame, shame, shame” at lawmakers that voted in favor of a bill signed into law Wednesday morning.
Some consumer protection groups are warning that Missourians’ utility bills are about to increase. This comes after the governor signed a new law today. Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 4 into law this morning, which is an expansive law on energy and utilities. The law goes into effect on August 28.
The catalyst behind this bill is the ever-increasing demand for energy. As technology advances and things like AI become more widespread, Missouri and the rest of the world are using more energy than ever, and production has to keep up.
Utilities are something we can’t live without, but they’re often one of the most difficult bills for people to pay. A survey from GoBankingRates shows Americans ages 25 to 34 struggle more with their utility bills than any other expense, and over 40% of respondents have struggled to pay their bills in the past year.
The Consumer Council of Missouri was ed by lawmakers and other activist groups at the state capitol Wednesday where they rallied against this new law. They say it will increase utility rates as companies charge customers for projects they may never see the final results of.
“Senate bill four is just a total disregard for just and reasonable prices. Senate Bill four contains all kinds of language that will only benefit the shareholders and executives of these companies. It does nothing to help everyday Missourians,” said St. Sen. Tracy McCreery, a democrat from St. Louis County.
ers say this new law will be great for the economy. One group that has long ed the bill is the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In a statement, the Chamber said, “Reliable, resilient and affordable energy is essential to retaining and attracting business to the state. This legislation will help Missouri meet the growing demand for energy.”
Another part of this legislation extends the time utilities cannot be disconnected in cases of extreme weather. Before, utility companies could not disconnect someone’s electric or gas for 24 hours after the National Weather Service predicted extreme heat or freezing temperatures. This new law extends that to 72 hours.
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