JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Public Service Commission passed 7 motions at this morning’s agenda meeting, including two stipulation and agreements – one for Brandco Investments and another for Continental Casting. An eighth motion on the agenda was postponed until next week.
Brandco Investments, LLC (Brandco) and Hillcrest Utility Operating Company, Inc. (Hillcrest) filed a joint application with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking Commission approval of the sale of the Brandco water and sewer systems to Hillcrest. Brandco Investments, LLC serves approximately 225 water and sewer customers in Cape Girardeau County near Gordonville, Missouri. This morning’s approval permitted the sale.
Continental Casting filed with the PSC a complaint against Liberty Utilities in the spring. Since then, there have been mediation attempts in order to reach a rate agreement. Gov. Jay Nixon has previously commented publicly on the value of Continental Casting to the economy.
“Homegrown, Missouri companies like Continental Casting are creating jobs and growing our economy,” Nixon said at a press conference regarding the company’s expansion in 2012. “Missouri job creators know they can count on our low taxes, skilled workforce and great communities to help their business succeed. That’s why we will continue to fight for every job, every day, to keep our economy moving forward.”
Continental Casting produces aluminum, magnesium and zinc die casting for the automotive, communications and electronics industries, as well as for consumer products. The company began in 1998, and today employs about 215 workers at its two manufacturing plants in Monroe City and Palmyra. The stipulation and agreement allows a negotiated rate to be paid by the company to Liberty Utilities.
An order “Granting Waiver Regarding Ameren Missouri’s 2015 Annual Update Report And Special Contemporary Resource Planning Issues” was also passed. Utility companies are required to file an annual update report that Ameren is now exempt from filing in 2015. The motion was discussed in-depth at last week’s agenda meeting among other contemporary issues.
After new orders were closed, Chairman Robert Kenney led a discussion regarding the refiling of a motion by Noranda against Ameren regarding the previous rate cases.
Kenney shared his initial thoughts as the refiling not being what he had in mind when he led the commission through the recent rehearing denial regarding Noranda’s rate case.
“Deny the motion,” Stoll said simply when Kenney asked for additional thoughts. Other commissioners agreed.
“When we said we were intrigued by OPC’s proposal, we were interested by OPC’s effort to find a middle ground,” Commissioner Daniel Hall said, calling the case a “discreet matter.” “Simply refiling its position in this case and asking for an expedited hearing – I do not see as productive.”
Upon closing of the agenda, Chairman Kenney lauded the success of the Public Utility Law Symposium at UMSL last Friday and acknowledged those who were responsible for the event.
| Item No. | Case/Tracking No. | Company Name/Brief Description | Lead Staff/Additional Staff Contact(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | SR-2014-0068 | P.C.B., Inc. — Order Approving Disposition Agreement And Tariff | Pridgin | |
| 2. | SR-2014-0067 | M.P.B., Inc. — Order Approving Disposition Agreement And Tariff | Pridgin | |
| 3. | EO-2015-0040 | Kansas City Power & Light Company — Order Establishing Special Contemporary Resource Planning Issues | Woodruff | |
| 4. | EO-2015-0041 | KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company — Order Establishing Special Contemporary Resource Planning Issues | Woodruff | |
| 5. | EO-2015-0042 | Empire District Electric Company, The — Order Establishing Special Contemporary Resource Planning Issues | Woodruff | |
| 6. | EO-2015-0039 | Ameren Missouri — Order Granting Waiver Regarding Ameren Missouri’s 2015 Annual Update Report And Special Contemporary Resource Planning Issues | Woodruff | |
| 7. | WO-2014-0340 | Brandco Investments, LLC — Order Approving Stipulation And Agreement and Granting A Certificate Of Convenience And Necessity | Woodruff | |
| 8. | GC-2014-0275 | Continental Casting, LLC — Order Approving Stipulation And Agreement | Burton |
| Case Discussion | ||||
| Item No. | Case No. | Company Name/Brief Description | Lead Staff/Additional Staff Contact(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | GR-2014-0086 | Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Inc. — Case Discussion — Post-Reply Briefing Positions Memo | Jordan | |
| 2. | ER-2014-0258 | Ameren Missouri — Memo: Discussion of Motion to Establish a Procedural Schedule to Consider Lower Rates for Noranda | Woodruff | |
| Other Discussion | |||
| Other Description | Brief Description | Lead Staff/Additional Staff Contact(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission Scheduling Matters | – | Kenney (Robert) | |
| Legislation | – | Kenney (Robert) | |
| Budget | – | Kenney (Robert) | |
| Closed Session | – | Kenney (Robert) | |
| Litigation | – | Kenney (Robert) | |
| Personnel | – | Kenney (Robert) | |
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
