Moberly sees utility costs rise while Columbia assistance funds run low
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Utility costs are rising in a city in Mid-Missouri, while some communities are also facing a shortage of funds for utility assistance programs as demand continues through the summer months.
In Moberly, residents will soon see higher utility bills as city officials said they are working to keep up with rising water and sewer operational costs.
Starting July 1, water and sewer rates will increase by 3%, adding about $3.67 to the average monthly household bill.
Some residents said the increases are frustrating and add to already growing financial pressure. James Smith, who has lived in Moberly for more than a decade, said he first learned about the change through a notice in the mail.
“At first I'm like okay the city's at it again. Smith said. "Then prior to getting this card, they just opened up unnecessary road out behind the banking plant that it's been 3.14 million or whatever on that road. I'm like okay, you're making us pay for a road and all this infrastructure here in town.”
The city recently completed a $3.14 million infrastructure project at the Moberly Area Industrial Park, extending Robertson Road to McKeown Parkway.
In addition to the rate increase, customers who pay with a credit or debit card will now be charged processing fees associated with those transactions. City officials said customers can avoid those extra charges by using direct bank payments through ACH.
Another change will take effect Sept. 1, when residents who still receive paper utility bills in the mail will be charged an additional $2 per month to help cover printing and postage costs. Customers who switch to paperless billing will not be charged the fee.
City officials said the changes are intended to help maintain reliable utility services while covering increasing operational and maintenance expenses.
Heat Preparedness and Assistance Rules in Moberly
As hotter temperatures approach, Moberly also has guidelines in place for declaring extreme heat conditions and applying for state assistance to support residents.
According to the city's code, a heat warning is issued when temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher for three consecutive days. A heat emergency is declared when temperatures remain at 80 degrees or higher for a full 24 hours over a three-day period.
All determinations are based on the National Weather Service.
If either threshold is reached, the city manager is able to apply for state funding to help support residents during extreme heat conditions. Eligibility for assistance would be determined with recommendations from the state Department of Social Services and Division of Aging.
Columbia Utility Assistance Funds Exhausted
Meanwhile in Columbia, Sara Humm at Public Health and Human Services said the city’s utility assistance program has already run out of funding after distributing about $800,000 in aid.
According to the city, no additional assistance funding will be available until the fall, when the new fiscal year begins.
“All of the originally budgeted $600,00 and the additional $200,000 of assistance funding has been allocated to households that qualified for the utility assistance program. That program ran out of money in March. We don’t have any additional funding for that program until the new fiscal year starts in October." Humm said.
The timing comes as Missouri Hot Weather Law is now in effect, limiting utility shutoffs during periods of extreme heat. The law prohibits disconnections when forecasts call for temperatures above 95 degrees or a heat index above 105 degrees.
Columbia does have rules in place that limit utility shutoffs during extreme weather conditions. June 1 to Sept. 30, utilities cannot be disconnected if National Weather Service forecasts predict temperatures above 95 degrees or a heat index above 105 degrees within a 72-hour period.
Similar protections apply during the winter months, from November 1 to March 31, when forecasts predict temperatures below 32 degrees within a 72-hour period.
