By Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak
Republicans should be proud that for the first time in decades, major federal tax relief legislation has been signed into law. These fights are never easy, because the forces that protect the status quo, including many in the media, don’t go down without a fight. The next sacred cow that conservatives should take on is energy legislation right here in Missouri.
For years inaction has caused Missouri families and businesses to pay way too much for electricity. While Missouri legislators have not passed energy policy legislation, our state’s regulated utilities have not been able to make all of the needed improvements to modernize and protect our energy grid against prolonged outages and cyber-attacks. As a result, the 100-year-old regulations that govern our utilities have driven electricity rates up four times faster than the national average over the past decade; more than all but three other states.
Thankfully, conservative relief is on the way. Republicans in the Missouri Senate and House have proposed legislation that would cap the average annual rate hike at 3%, and would fine utility companies millions if they raised rates above this cap. This would cut the average rate increase that we’ve experienced over the last ten years nearly in half.
At the same time, the legislation would allow for regulated utilities to make crucial investments to modernize our electricity grid, under the strict supervision of the Missouri Public Service Commission. Just last month, the Atlanta airport was paralyzed by a power outage, causing disruption and delays to travel across the country. Whether outages are caused by aging infrastructure or foreign or domestic enemies eyeing our grid, we must strengthen and modernize our grid. This includes being vigilant against physical and cyber-attacks that threaten public safety.
If 2018 energy policy legislation is passed into law, Missouri energy customers could get better service, and cut rate increases roughly in half of what they’ve been over the past decade. This is the exact type of innovative, conservative thinking that we need to see more of. I appreciate that business groups like the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Grocers Association and Missouri Retailers Association have endorsed capping rates.
Every year we wait to pass this legislation in Missouri, we lose what has historically been an economic advantage in our state — low energy costs. And that threatens our businesses and hurts our families.
With our taxes now cut, next let’s bring energy rate relief to Missourians and protect our community.
