Welcome to the Missouri Office of Public Counsel

The Office of Public Counsel represents the interests of the public and utility customers in proceedings before the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) and in appeals in the courts. The PSC regulates the rates and services of investor-owned electric, natural gas, telephone, water, sewer and steam heat utilities. The Office of the Public Counsel is independent from the PSC and has a separate budget and staff.

Need help to understand your utility bills?
(Push button "Understanding Your Bill"

Consumer Guides available: "More Consumer Topics"

Who do I contact to resolve my utility problem or make a complaint?
FCC: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html
PSC: http://www.psc.mo.gov/file-a-complaint

Hot Topics:
2008 Telephone Legislation
PUBLIC COUNSEL RECOMMENDATIONS TO AMEND HB 1779
(AS PERFECTED BY THE HOUSE)

PUBLIC COUNSEL ASKS COURTS TO ENFORCE CONSUMERS' RIGHTS

Public Counsel returned to the MO Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus to compel the PSC to vacate its order that approved Empire Electric District Company's tariff that increased rates. On October 30, 2007, the Court directed the PSC to "vacate" its order and give Public Counsel a reasonable opportunity to file for rehearing as a prerequisite to court review. The PSC issued an order that gave OPC 10 days to file for rehearing. But instead of setting aside the order and entering a new order approving the tariff, it said that it considered its first order valid authority for Empire to collect the increased rates and reaffirmed that order. Public Counsel asked the Court for expedited consideration because ratepayers were still paying under the authority of the unlawful order and tariff State ex rel. Office of Public Counsel v. PSC, MO SC 89176

MO Supreme Court agreed with OPC's claim that PSC was unreasonable and denied OPC's right to ask for rehearing, the prerequisite for court review, when it only allowed Public Counsel 1 hour and 20 minutes to file rehearing motion before the Empire Electric Company's new rates became effective under PSC rules and law.  MO Supreme Court Case No. SC 88390 (October 30, 2007)

OPC filed a writ of prohibition asking MO Court of Appeals to order Commissioner Appling to recuse from KCPL rate case to avoid "the appearance of impropriety" as a result of ex parte communications.  OPC dismissed the case without prejudice to refile after Commissioner Appling advised the Court he will recuse.

OPC has appealed the PSC decisions in these rate cases because the decisions fixing the rates were unlawful and unreasonable and the rates were not just and reasonable:  
Aquila, Inc. (ER-2007-0004)
Ameren UE (ER-2007-0002)
Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) (GR-2006-0422)
Kansas City Power & Light (KCPL) (ER-2006-0314)
Atmos Energy Corporation (GR-2006-0387)
Empire District Electric Company (ER-2006-0315)

PROPERTY RIGHTS ADVOCATE FOR EMINENT DOMAIN PROBLEMS
(Push button "Eminent Domain")

Watch live hearings on the internet at: http://www.psc.mo.gov/webcasts

TAUM SAUK DAM DISASTER (Case No. ER-2008-0015)
Public Counsel has asked the PSC to open case now to investigate whether ratepayers are being held harmless from the Taum Sauk disaster and to focus on rate-making issues and concerns.  On May 22, 2007, the PSC issued a decision in the AmerenUE rate case and directed its Staff to investigate to see if ratepayers are not bearing the costs of the dam collapse and related costs.  Public Counsel wants the case opened now to timely address this important matter and to give interested parties an opportunity to participate and comment on the investigation. 
See also, the PSC report in the Taum Sauk safety investigation (ES-2007-0474).

HELP AVOID POWER OUTAGES: TREE PLANTING GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE. (CLICK HERE) 

public hearings: local public hearings

press releases: view press releases