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PSC approves new orders, discusses solar power rebates

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Public Service Commission met Wednesday and passed four new orders and tariffs.

Chairman Robert Kenney began the meeting with an announcement regarding a new web document that assists plaintiffs with voicing complaints to the PSC,

“It’s a big deal. It’s not a terribly heavy lift to get something like that done, but it makes things easier on consumers ability to access the regulatory process from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.”

He also announced the PSC would again have a booth at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia in the Matthewson Exhibition Center.

Discussion around new orders largely centered on the decision to order the Kansas City Power and Light Company to declassify certain expenditures on outside attorneys and other consultants.

“The amount some utilities are paying some lawyers and some consultants is I think is excessive,” Commissioner Daniel Hall said. “I think shining a light on it could drive down the costs paid to such people to the benefit of ratepayers.”

The PSC also overturned the North American Numbering Plan Administrator’s decision to withhold certain numbering resources from AT&T Missouri.

“In the Staff’s opinion, AT&T Missouri has demonstrated a verifiable need for the additional telephone numbers,” the staff recommendation said. “The Staff recommends the Commission approve AT&T Missouri’s request and order a reversal of the NANPA decision to deny the additional numbers.”

The PSC finished up new orders by approving measures to direct Ameren to adjust its actual cost adjustment (ACA) balances and incorporate those balances into its next ACA filing and by also dismissing complaints against the Missouri-American Water Company after the company worked to correct billing errors made in the Stonebridge area.

The PSC further discussed Renew Missouri renewable energy standard requirements, especially regarding rebates for solar power users connected to the grid.

The commission mainly focused on finding an answer as to whether the rebate should be applicable for solar power users based on a stipulation that the solar panel or network be situated in a location where at least 85 percent of the solar resource is available to the system. Some wondered if the 85 percent stipulation was arbitrary, and the panel agreed to revisit the issue when they had more concrete understanding of that number.

The next meeting will be held Aug. 5th, and it will be Chairman Kenney’s last.