Missouri House advances utility rate bill to Senate

Lawmakers in the Missouri House have given final approval to a measure that could lower utility rates to certain companies in the state.

On Wednesday afternoon, state representatives passed House Bill 1 with a 120-17 vote.

The bill will allow the Public Service Commission (PSC) to consider lower utility rates than what’s allowed under state law for steel works facilities or aluminum smelters. Lawmakers also expanded the bill to allow any new facility using more than 50 megawatts of electricity to negotiate lower rates.

If passed by Senate lawmakers, the bill would allow two companies to open plants in southeast Missouri. One says it will reopen the Noranda aluminum smelter near Marston. The other company plans to build a new steel mill in New Madrid.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Don Rone (R-Portageville) said the proposal could bring hundreds of jobs to Missouri.

“We’ve got a chance to go back to what we had when Noranda was here.”

Meanwhile, critics of the bill argue utility customers would have to take on the impact of lower electricity rates for companies who receive lower rates.

Rep. Gail McCann Beatty (D-Kansas City) said, “You know, we have to be concerned with our constituents all over the state and what we do to our constituents matters.”

HB1 will now move to the Senate, where it stalled during the regular session.

State lawmakers returned to the Capitol in Jefferson City on Monday after Gov. Eric Greitens called for a special legislative session on May 18.