Commission sets hearings in Empire rate case

The formal hearings will be May 12–16 and May 19–23 at the Governor Office Building in Jefferson City. The commission also will hold public hearings in Empire’s service area to hear from customers on the rate request; details of those hearings have not been finalized.

The Joplin utility Oct. 1 asked the commission to allow it to increase annual revenues by $34.7 million, or 10.11 percent. That would result in a monthly increase of about $9.75 for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.

Empire cites costs related to January’s ice storm, capital improvements and the utility’s participation in the construction and ownership of the Iatan II and Plum Point coal-fired plants as reasons for the rate adjustment. Empire also is asking the commission to allow implementation of a fuel adjustment clause.

Applications to intervene in the case must be filed by Oct. 23

Shares of Empire (NYSE: EDE) closed Friday at $23.69, compared to a 52-week range of $21.09 to $26.13.