Your Wallet, Your Choice.
Missouri used to have some of the lowest electric rates in the United States, but in recent years, electric bills have increased at one of the fastest rates in the country. In 2023, Missouri ranked 4th in the country for the most significant jump in electrical rate increases! 

In fact, Missouri utility companies have averaged a four percent increase in the cost of the electricity they supply. The Consumers’ Council of Missouri reported that electric rates increased 20% from 2020 to 2023. That’s an annual cost increase of $327 for the average household.

Investor-owned utilities like Ameren, Evergy, and Liberty are planning to build a lot of new power plants and are getting approvals for big increases to electric rates to pay for it. Ameren projects it will need $13 billion just to replace retiring power plants, and that doesn’t include transmission and distribution costs. Evergy is already short 77% of the in-state power generation it needs, resulting in the purchase of expensive power from the regional market. Because Missouri does not allow competition, these monopolies can set prices, and ratepayers are forced to pay the cost to build plus the guaranteed profit the utility makes every time they build.

There is another way.
In 24 states, some type of competition with the utility is allowed, keeping costs low and giving ratepayers options. In 14 of those states, the legislature broke up the utility monopoly on building and selling electricity. Now, private companies compete to build the most reliable, efficient, and in-demand energy resources, with the costs and risks falling on private investors, not ratepayers.

Sen. Nick Schroer, Rep. Don Mayhew, and Rep. Tricia Byrnes have introduced legislation (SB 1411/HB 2207 /HB 2233) that would break up the utility monopoly and make them compete against other companies to build and sell power.

The 2026 legislative session is well underway. Don’t wait to get involved!