The Missouri Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned electric, steam, natural gas, water and sewer and telephone companies. Its mission is to ensure Missouri consumers have access to safe, reliable and reasonably priced utility service while allowing those utility companies under our jurisdiction an opportunity to earn a reasonable return on their investment. The PSC also regulates manufacturers and retail dealers who sell new and used manufactured homes and modular units. The commission was established in 1913. The PSC is comprised of five commissioners, who are appointed by the governor.
Document Actions
PR-08-182 -- PSC Approves AmerenUE/Pemiscot –Dunklin Electric Cooperative, Inc. Request To Transfer Certain Dunklin County Customers
Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- JUNE 25, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY—The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an agreement which authorizes the transfer of approximately 2,700 Union Electric Company d/b/a AmerenUE (AmerenUE) customers in Dunklin County to Pemiscot-Dunklin Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PDEC). Affected customers live in the communities of Cardwell, Arbyrd, Senath, Hornersville and Hollywood.
The commission also approved the sale of certain AmerenUE assets to PDEC as well as a territorial agreement between the two electric companies.
The commission reviewed the evidence in the case determining that it would be in the public interest for a reason other than a difference in electric rates to allow a change of suppliers. The portion of AmerenUE’s service territory being transferred to PDEC is an “island” as it is not directly connected to AmerenUE’s system. “This ‘island,’ however, is completely encircled by PDEC’s territory,” the commission said. “Also, while AmerenUE does not have a local workforce to respond to power outages, PDEC does, and is therefore more capable of timely responding to power outages. Further, the overwhelming majority of participants at a local public hearing testified that they would prefer to be served by PDEC instead of AmerenUE.”
PDEC plans to construct a new substation to allow it to tap a 69 kV transmission network in the region. PDEC will also construct additional feeder circuits from the substation which will improve the reliability of electric service to those customers. “This evidence shows that PDEC would be able to provide better customer service for these Dunklin County structures than AmerenUE would, and is a reason other than a rate differential that the transfer is in the public interest,” the commission said.
The commission also approved a territorial agreement between the joint applicants stating the agreement will allow AmerenUE and PDEC to avoid wasteful duplication of electric services within the affected service area. The territorial agreement will also allow customers to know with certainty the supplier of their electric service.
The agreement approved by the commission was filed by AmerenUE, PDEC, the PSC staff and the Office of the Public Counsel.
-30-