Missouri expands utility disconnection rule for customers faced with freezing temps

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- With winter fast approaching, customers of investor-owned utilities in Missouri will now be afforded a longer window to avoid utility disconnections when facing frigid temperatures.

The Missouri Public Service Commission recently announced that an expanded version of the Missouri Cold Weather Rule would take effect beginning Nov. 1, 2025 and last until March 31, 2026.

The rule prohibits investor-owned utilities like Evergy or Spire from disconnecting heat-related service for failed payment when temperatures are predicted to drop below 32 degrees, a safety net for many residents.

New rules now prohibit the disconnection of heat-based utilities anytime temperatures are predicted to fall below 32 degrees within a 72-hour period, tripling the previous requirement of 24 hours. The changes are a result of Senate Bill No. 4, which was signed by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe in April.

"The longer period (of time) had been discussed by those in the community for some number of years," said Forrest Gossett, communications director with the Missouri Public Service Commission. "The cold weather rule itself was a rule that passed by the full service commission in 1977. It's not just a rule, it's apart of the law that's being extended."

Given the nature of weather forecasting, the odds of temperatures changing in that period of time are more likely. Depending on certain factors, temperatures could change from 5 or 10 degrees.

"Having a longer time frame to make a forecast will make the confidence in it go down," KQ2 Meteorologist Jared Shelton said. "From 24 hours to 48 hours and all the way out to 72 hours, the longer timeframe is, more difficult to forecast that, but it also depends on the situation. We have some situations where it's going to be below freezing from the next several days out and we might be super confident."

Gossett also detailed that the main criteria for prohibiting disconnections is if the temperatures will be below 32 degrees within the time period, not if it changes.

"It's based on the (72-hour) forecast, not the change in the forecast," Gossett said. "I know that sometimes the forecast can go up or down a little bit. But it's determined on what is forecasted for the area you live in."

Expanded rules also allow for the reconnection of service for less than the full amount owed in certain situations. The rule does not allow customers to bypass non-payment of utility payments entirely.

Additional revisions include:

• More lenient payment terms, permitting reconnection of service for natural gas and electric customers.
• Customers must be notified by mail 10 days before the date the utility intends to shut off service, with an attempt to contact needing to be within 96 hours before the shut off, right before the shut off and a physical notice of the service being shut off.

Anyone with questions can contact the utility consumer hotline at 800-392-4211.