Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Supports Office of Public Counsel Amendment to Cold Weather Rule
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt sent a letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC) supporting the Office of Public Counsel’s request to amend the Cold Weather Rule.
"I encourage the Public Service Commission to amend Missouri’s Cold Weather Rule," Blunt said. "It is vital that our state pursue all necessary actions to ensure that low-income Missourians will not be adversely affected by high utility bills this winter."
Blunt supports changes to the rule that will provide customers with more lenient reconnection terms, prohibit late fees on deferred balances, provide information about budget billing and require that existing deposits be applied to account balances to avoid disruption of service.
Earlier this year, Blunt secured an agreement with Missouri utility companies waiving all reconnection fees and suspended deposit requirements for Missouri customers eligible to receive Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Utilicare assistance to pay their winter heating bills. The governor has also said he will work with the state legislature in the upcoming session to fund Utilicare from revenues that will result from higher natural gas prices to ensure funding is available to help low-income Missourians with their winter heating bills.
In November Blunt sent a letter to Red Cavaney, president of the American Petroleum Institute, asking the association to develop a strategy for using part of the profits big oil companies gained in the last quarter of 2005 to help fund Utilicare.
Missouri’s Cold Weather rule is in effect from Nov. 1 through March 31 and prohibits utilities from disconnecting service when temperatures fall below 32 degrees. Utilities are required to notify their customers at least 10 days before disconnecting their service and provide them with information to help them pay their bills.
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