Some cities and counties are seeking to assist households that are struggling to pay utility bills during the COVID-19 crisis, and the Missouri group tasked with recommending how to spend federal aid is looking into having the state do the same.
Missouri's working group on how to spend Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding the state has received met Wednesday, and discussion included how utility customers who have fallen behind on their bills because of the pandemic might be further assisted.
Many utility companies voluntarily opted to suspend shut-offs during the pandemic, but that will not last forever.
Ameren Missouri documents shared with the CARES Act group state: "While the total number of delinquent accounts has decreased, the delinquent balances are continuing to increase. Although we are not seeing additional delinquent customers, we are seeing our larger delinquent balances continue to grow for both residential and commercial customers."
Average delinquent balances for Ameren Missouri residential customers increased 31 percent in May 2020 compared to May 2019.
Average delinquent balances for small commercial customers increased 74 percent, and there was a 64 percent increase for large commercial customers' average delinquent balances.
Total averages for the year-to-date through May increased by more than $14 million over last year.
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In addition to payment options utility companies are offering, there is also help through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. More information on LIHEAP is available at mydss.mo.gov/energy-assistance.
Cities and counties are pursuing other assistance during the pandemic - such as Callaway County, which has partnered with Central Missouri Community Action to provide $500,000 in utility assistance to households.
Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, who leads the CARES Act working group, said the state could consider doing something jointly with counties to assist utility customers.
Fitzpatrick said guidance from the federal government states there would need to an application for assistance to determine if a customer's delinquency on payment is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also said he likes the idea of having an account holder pay at least something; Ameren Missouri has a COVID-19 program that has qualified customers pay 25 percent towards their past-due balance, while they do not have to pay off the other 75 percent.
More information on that Ameren Missouri program, "Clean Slate," is available at ameren.com/missouri/residential/energy-assistance/clean-slate.
Stacy Neal, director of accounting at the Missouri Office of Administration, said the state had spent $610 million of CARES Act funding, as of Tuesday, leaving $1.473 billion to work with.
Fitzpatrick told the News Tribune the group would likely make recommendations on the topics discussed Wednesday to Gov. Mike Parson later this month, though the group operates informally and does not issue written reports.
Other topics discussed Wednesday included how rural hospitals, tourism marketing and meat processors could be supported.
More information on Missouri's CARES Act group is available at treasurer.mo.gov/COVID.
Along with meeting dates, agendas, documents and livestream links, the site also tracks the state's CARES Act spending and has more information for local authorities who may have questions on how to spend funds they receive.