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This Week in the PSC: January 23, 2019

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Public Service Commission worked through four agenda items on Wednesday that included two new orders, a complaint dismissal, and case scheduling.

Per statutory requirements that mandate the PSC review the Deaf Relay Service and Equipment Distribution Fund Surcharge no less frequently than every two years, the commission completed its evaluation of the surcharge.

The surcharge is used to fund a statewide dual-party telephone relay service for qualifying Missourians who are unable to use traditional telecommunications equipment due to disability. The surcharge is imposed on Missouri landline basic access lines and telecommunications companies are allowed to deduct and retain a percentage of the surcharge collected to recover billing and collection-related costs.

Based on the PSC’s review, they determined that the surcharge shall remain at $0.04.

The commission also dismissed a complaint filed against Missouri-American Water Company by William C. Fox, Sr.

The parties were ordered to attend a pre-hearing conference either in person or via telephone. All except for Fox appeared. Fox also failed to respond to an order asking why his complaint should not be dismissed for failure to appear at a pre-hearing conference.

As a result of the failures, the commission dismissed Fox’s complaint without prejudice.

Air Link Rural Broadband, LLC was granted designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier by the commission.

The PSC also set a hearing schedule in a natural gas rate case filed by Ameren Missouri. Formal evidentiary hearings will be held July 25-26, 2019 and July 29-August 2, 2019.

On December 3, 2018, Ameren Missouri filed a natural gas rate case with the PSC seeking to increase annual natural gas revenues by approximately $4.26 million. According to Ameren Missouri’s filing, the average annual change in natural gas rates for residential customers will be approximately $26 a year.

The next PSC meeting is scheduled for January 30, 2019.