Mo. regulators review how to help poor consumers

Friday, August 10, 2012

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri utility regulators are examining ways to help low-income consumers cope with higher electric rates.

The Public Service Commission will look into creating a new rate class for low-income consumers. Regulators also plan to examine how other states help the poor.

The commission has approved opening a formal docket on the issue. That allows briefs to be filed by industrial energy users, utilities, advocacy groups and the state official who represents utility customers.

Public Service Commissioner Robert Kenney says regulators have been hearing about the effect of rising rates on the poor. He says the review allows officials to explore ways to help ease the burden.

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spelchek 9 months, 1 week ago

How much does it cost to heat/cool a double wide?

JCLifer 9 months, 1 week ago

Maybe they will have to get a single-wide if they cannot afford a double-wide. Folks cannot live beyond their means, something the government at all levels fails to understand. If you don't have it, you don't have it.

RobHunterJohnson 9 months, 1 week ago

SPELCK If you ratio a double wide and a 4 car Garage with house attached it will hit about the same in the weekly check! Rob

Littleinvestor 9 months, 1 week ago

Usually more than a conventional home of comparable size. Newer models are more energy efficient. Don't think we should have rate classes based on income though. We've been doing energy conservation work on our 1970s era house for years. It has paid off. The AC and water well bill for July was less than $160 even though the AC ran nearly all the time and we probably pumped 1,000 gallons a night onto the gardens. Maybe low or no interest loans could be made to the poor to pay for energy saving measures that volunteers could help install. It would be good projects for some church groups or could even be used as a job training program.

spelchek 9 months, 1 week ago

I surely do jest. Do you really think low income (poor, 99%, undeserved, victims, etc...) will pay back loans? If they could pay back loans they wouldn't be poor. A/C is a major reason for our obesity epidemic but since skinny people enjoy it too it's not going to be ridiculed. Perhaps in some cases poor people don't need A/C. Many in previous generations didn't have such luxuries and they lived to lead productive lives. I can see the elderly being helped, but poor is so subjective these days.

asb 9 months, 1 week ago

Yep, the poor have it great, like prisoners with their TV and excersize rooms, like veal calves with all their worries and needs taken care of. Let them eat cake. Let them die. It's their fault. You poor schlep, having to struggle along with your salary and possessions. The poor got it made.

muleman 9 months, 1 week ago

Many of the elderly and disabled fall into the "poor" catagory

eileen10 9 months, 1 week ago

I feel the poor people in our great country are better off than the people in third world countries and what comes to mind are the children who eat dirt and stones because their so hungry. But Muleman is right. Many of the poor are the elderly and disabled and I'm glad the PSC is going to do something to help them. No one should have to suffer, and I mean those who truely need help because how many people have died from the heat because they couldn't afford to pay the electric bill. I applaud the PSC because they aren't turning their backs on those who need help.

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