Spire seeks 15% rate increase with local hearing now scheduled for June
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Spire customers in St. Joseph and surrounding areas could see their gas bills increase by as much as $14 a month starting this October, the latest utility cost adjustment for many households.
Residents will get the chance to ask questions and speak at one of five statewide public hearings on the proposal at noon on June 4 at St. Joseph City Hall, part of extensive public scrutiny before a ruling is made by the Missouri Public Service Commission.
If the request if approved by MoPSC, the average customer will see their bill increase by $13 to $14 a month, or $168 a year, beginning no later than Oct. 24, 2025.
Spire is filing the request to recover costs for infrastructure investments and adjust with rising inflation, as well as weather and conservation impacts.
The increase in base rates would largely nullify a reduction that many Spire customers saw last November, when the commission announced a decrease of around 16% a month due to lower costs for natural gas.
The proposal also comes on the heels of higher electricity costs for Evergy customers that went into effect this year, a 7% increase that equated to roughly $8 a month, or $96 per year.
Water bills are also expected to increase for St. Joseph residents by as much as $18 a month by mid-2025 following a request from Missouri American Water late last year. The request was filed to pay for the cost of $1.5 billion in planned investments statewide, including upgrades to the water treatment plant and Randolph booster stations in St. Joseph.
"These projects are important to continue providing quality water, increasing fire protection and improving service reliability for customers and include replacement of over 250 miles of aging water and wastewater pipe to help reduce main breaks and sewer overflows," Missouri American Water said previously.
The impact of Spire's request will vary by customer type, as projections are based upon an average monthly gas usage of 59 ccfs per month. All in all, Spire's request would generate $290 million for company investments.
The upcoming hearing at City Hall on June 4 is divided into two parts: a standard question portion -- in which questions and answers are not part of evidence -- and a portion where residents testify as part of the official record for the case.
