Rates to change for Spire natural gas customers

Tariffs reflecting the Missouri Public Service Commission’s November 12, 2021 decision in a Spire Missouri, Inc. d/b/a Spire natural gas rate case will take effect on December 23, 2021. Those tariffs reflect a net increase in Spire’s annual natural gas operating revenues of approximately $24.9 million. When Spire filed its rate request on December 11, 2020, it sought a net increase in its annual distribution rates of approximately $65 million.

According to the PSC Staff, a residential customer using 100 Ccf’s (10,000 cubic feet) of natural gas in a winter month will see an increase in the monthly natural gas bill of approximately $1.52 a month in the Spire East service area and an increase of approximately $8.12 a month in the Spire West service area.

This rate case generally reflected “non-gas” costs. “Non-gas” costs are operating and maintenance expenses in providing natural gas to customers in a safe and useful form. It also includes a return on investment in plant (such as meters, mains and service lines that deliver natural gas to your home or business). The actual cost of the natural gas is NOT a part of this rate case. The wholesale cost of natural gas is unregulated. The Public Service Commission reviews the natural gas purchasing practices of Spire to ensure prudent decisions are made in securing natural gas supplies for its customers.

In this case, the Commission approved agreements reached by several parties which resolved a number of issues. Under the agreements:

* Spire East and Spire West will remain as separate rate districts. When Spire filed its rate case, it sought, to the extent possible, to consolidate the rate structures of its two service areas.

* There will be no change to the residential monthly customer charge. It will remain at $22 a month for residential customers of Spire East and $20 a month for residential customers of Spire West.

* Spire will target income-eligible energy efficiency programs in part toward multifamily homes with high energy burdens and/or high arrearages.

* Spire’s Low-Income Energy Affordability Program will change its name to Payment Partner Program. The agreement provides for automatic customer referrals to energy efficiency programs and expansion of program eligibility from 185% of Federal Poverty Level to 200%. Annual funding for the Payment Partner Program will remain at $1.65 million, plus an additional $650,000 annual contribution from Spire for a total level of funding of $2.3 million.

* Spire will also conduct a three year pilot program to serve customers with critical medical needs based on the framework originally designed by Baltimore Gas and Energy known as the Maryland Critical Needs Program.

Spire Missouri East provides natural gas service to approximately 654,600 customers in the City of St. Louis as well as the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Butler, Iron, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Crawford, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve. Spire Missouri West provides natural gas service to approximately 522,000 customers in Andrew, Barry, Barton, Bates, Buchanan, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Dade, DeKalb, Greene, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, McDonald, Moniteau, Pettis, Platte, Ray, Saline, Stone and Vernon counties.