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This Week in the Missouri PSC: Aug. 3, 2017

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Five orders passed through the Missouri Public Service Commission this week, as the commissioners took some time to step away from a hearing concerning the Grain Belt Express on Thursday.

In less than a half hour, the PSC signed off on five orders ranging from dismissals, audits, penalties, and motions for hearings.

The first item concerned an order granting a default determination. That matter was in regard to Rex Deffenderfer Enterprises, Inc.’s failing or neglect to file an annual report, and with the PSC’s approval, authorizes the General Counsel’s Office to bring a penalty action against the company in the circuit court. It was approved 5-0.

The next two items concern the staff’s MEEIA Prudence Audit as it deals with KCP&L and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations. The audit analyzed the program cycle through the period of January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015,  and the costs for the carry-over time period of January 1, 2016, through June 30, 2016.  Staff did not locate any instances of imprudence but did recommend that the commission order an adjustment with KCP&L to “flow back to ratepayers” $4,723 in the next DSIM rate adjustment to correct errors in Cycle 1.

Those items were approved 5-0.

The fourth item concerned a group of complainants seeking the return of operations of a water and sewer system to their homeowner’s association, as the current operators do not have PSC authority to operate it. The other party argued that the case should be dismissed, saying that the system is owned by a not-for-profit organization, Caring Americans Trust Foundation, Inc., and the PSC lacked jurisdiction.

According to the Respondents, in an effort to avoid litigation, the Trust Foundation further transferred the water and sewer assets to Carriage Oaks Not-For-Profit Water and Sewer Corporation.

The commission says there are significant questions to be answered, and denied their motion to dismiss and is directing both parties to submit a proposed procedural schedule no later than Aug. 15. That order was approved 5-0.

The final order of the day dealt with Indian Hills Utility Operating Company and a motion for a local public hearing. The company requested a rate increase in April of 2017, saying that it provides water services to about 725 customers in Crawford County and has invested more than $2 million to improve their system. They asked for a revenue increase of $750,280, a 779 percent increase, more than $86 per month.

The PSC approved the motion for a local public hearing but will defer that hearing until after the time has passed for the filing of a disposition agreement, which is Sept. 1.