JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Public Service Commission (PSC) has given the green light for an investigation into Assurance Wireless, particularly regarding alleged mishandling of the Lifeline program.
Commissioners agreed to open the “fact-finding investigation” into the status of Virgin Mobile USA, doing business as Assurance Wireless Brought to You by Virgin Mobile, at its weekly agenda meeting Wednesday.
“Staff intends to investigate whether Assurance Wireless has violated any laws applicable to its provision of Lifeline service in Missouri,” the order said.
The Lifeline program under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) makes communications services more affordable for lower-income individuals. The order stipulated staff must file a progress report about the investigation by April 9, 2020.
Additionally, the PSC approved an order granting a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) for Carl Mills for water systems in Carriage Oaks Estates. Commissioners noted Mills “may need some assistance” but approved of the conditions set with the order.
Commissioners denied a request to dismiss Midwest Energy Consumers Group (MECG) as a party in a Kansas City Power and Light Company’s (KCP&L) case regarding its application for a special rate for a facility near Sedalia. The PSC further denied a motion to quash MECG’s objection to a stipulation and agreement among staff, KCP&L, and Nucor Steel Sedalia.
Commissioners noted the requests were not “timely filed.”
Commissioners unanimously approved the true-up and continuing tariff order from KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations (GMO) Company for the period covering June through November 2017. The order also acknowledged GMO would not seek $185,857 in recovery from a Sibley fuel transfer through its fuel adjustment rate.
Kaitlyn Schallhorn was the editor in chief of The Missouri Times from 2020-2022. She joined the newspaper in early 2019 after working as a reporter for Fox News in New York City.
Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has covered political campaigns across the U.S., including the 2016 presidential election, and humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and the Middle East.
She is a native of Missouri who studied journalism at Winthrop University in South Carolina. She is also an alumna of the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
Contact Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@themissouritimes.com.
