MISSOURI, USA — Heaters have started to turn on around the St. Louis region as colder temperatures become more common. A newly approved price adjustment, however, means Missourians will get more heat for their buck this winter.
The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) on Tuesday approved an effective gas rate decrease for Spire customers statewide.
The ruling will decrease average Western Missouri residential gas bills by $18.70, while average Eastern Missouri gas bills will decrease by $15.86, according to the ruling. The lower costs are set to kick in starting Friday.
Spire told the PSC that the decrease was due to "lower gas prices and recovering the majority of the deferred costs of Winter Storm Uri," commission documents said.
The national methane supply chain was massively affected by the 2021 winter storm, leading to methane power plants becoming unstable and widespread power outages for nearly 10 million people in the U.S. and Mexico. Each winter storm after Uri, including Elliott in 2022 and Heather in 2024, also resulted in significant disruptions to natural gas production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
"Such bill impacts may be less or more depending on a customer’s actual usage, which is primarily affected by weather," Spire said in a letter to the PSC.
As heater use becomes more frequent as temperatures drop throughout Missouri, firefighters warn residents to be fire aware. The St. Charles Fire Department previously shared tips with 5 On Your Side for people to stay fire-safe and prepare for the low temperatures, including:
- Use space heaters with automatic shut-offs, and don't plug them into extension cords or power strips.
- Keep anything that can catch fire at least 3 feet away from alternative heating sources.
- Clean your fireplace and chimney before use and use a glass door or sturdy screen to stop stray embers.
- Move outdoor firepits at least 15 feet away from anything that can catch fire before use.
- Always have a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Test and replace smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
