By Irl Scissors, Executive Director of Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future
Missouri’s energy future is at a tipping point. Our electric infrastructure, much of which was built 40 to 50 years ago, will soon need replacement. The American Society of Civil Engineers graded Missouri’s energy grid in the “D” range, worse than our bridges and roads. Cyber attacks threaten the privacy of consumers and damage the electric grid. Consumers feel the strain of unpredictable rates – an unfortunate byproduct of an outdated regulatory system scrambling to accommodate 21st century energy needs.
In the coming days, the Missouri Senate will address these critical challenges to our energy future. The 21st Century Grid Modernization and Security Act provides a roadmap to reinvest in our electric infrastructure, implementing the latest cybersecurity technology and practices, while enacting policies that result in unprecedented consumer protections and regulatory oversight. The challenges facing Missouri cannot wait, and this legislation provides comprehensive solutions that modernize the electric grid while holding utilities accountable for their performance.
Under this legislation, electric utilities remain accountable for providing safe and reliable power at affordable rates in ways that we have never seen before in Missouri. The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC), responsible for regulating utilities, will be empowered to do a complete review of electric utilities annually. If a utility earns too much profit, the PSC will have the power to return excessive earnings to the utility’s customers. Of
If passed, this legislation will CAP electric rates for the first time ever, preventing rate spikes that burden Missouri residents and business owners.
Missouri utilities will be able to replace an aging electric grid and expand the use of clean energy sources. The legislation will accelerate the deployment of smart meters that provide customers with real time feedback and control of their energy usage. Solar rebates will be reinstated, with over $100 million dollars available for consumers and small businesses willing to invest in their own sustainable energy generation.
As the Missouri Senate prepares to debate the 21st Century Grid Modernization and Security Act, the choice is between status quo, defined by rapidly aging infrastructure, more frequent outages, and rate spikes, or a more efficient, reliable grid that brings opportunities for investment in improved technologies and a regulatory structure responsive to modern energy needs, ensuring Missourians have access to safe and dependable energy for years to come. The choice is clear.
