For a residential customer using approximately 60ccfs a month (6,000 cubic feet of gas) in Chillicothe, Marceline, Trenton, Clinton, Lexington, Marshall, and Sedalia (southern and northern districts), natural gas bills will increase by approximately $3 a month.
For residential customers using approximately the same amount of gas in Rock Port, Maryville, and Tarkio (northwest district), natural gas bills will increase by approximately $6 a month. The increase in the northwest district area is higher because the monthly customer charges and energy usage rates were equalized among districts.
The rate change is expected to allow Empire to recover expenses associated with operating and maintaining its 1,200 mile gas distribution system.
Ron Gatz, vice president and chief operating officer (gas) of Empire, said: “With this case, we have agreed to invest a minimum of $231,000 per year in energy efficiency programs including low income weatherization, high efficiency water and space heating, Energy Star high performance, and large commercial audit and rebate.
“We encourage our customers to take advantage of these programs to improve the efficiency of their homes and businesses and hold down their natural gas bills.”
Based in Joplin, Missouri, Empire is an investor-owned regulated utility providing electricity, natural gas and water service, with approximately 215,000 customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
