Attorney General to investigate propane gas prices

Prompted by 40 consumer complaints about skyrocketing propane gas prices, Attorney General Chris Koster announced his office is investigating the cause of the recent spike and will issue a report when the inquiry is complete.

Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, issued a request for the investigation Friday after buyers indicated the price charged for propane leaped from approximately $1.94 in December to almost $5.29 in some areas recently.

"Missourians are justifiably concerned about the dramatic increase in propane prices, affecting their ability to heat their homes and care for Missouri-based livestock," Koster said. "We are currently investigating all complaints, and working with businesses and agencies in nine other states across the Midwest to determine the cause of these price increases."

Last week, the attorney general's investigators participated in a multi-state conference call with representatives of the propane gas industry. Distributors and analysts have pointed to a sharp increase in the export of propane and substantially higher consumption this winter which may have created a corresponding shortfall in the supply of domestic propane.

Parson said the high prices are causing "thousands of Missourians misery and financial distress, with several weeks of winter weather still ahead."

"We don't want to end up like Alabama, a state that is experiencing a major threat to its agriculture industry because of supply and demand," he added.

Last week, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency in order to protect the state's poultry industry, and other propane-dependent industries.

Gov. Jay Nixon has issued similar state-of-emergency declarations, making it easier to ship and haul the fuel.