Springfield, state electric rates among lowest in nation

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City Utilities of Springfield has the third lowest cost of utilities in the country, according to a study by the Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association, an independent economic development group. It published quarterly comparisons for 295 urban areas.|ret||ret||tab|

According to the report, Springfield's utility costs are 74 percent of the national average. Only Wenatchee, Wash., and Minot, N.D., reported a lower combination of electric, gas and telephone rates than Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

Another national study shows Missouri has an abundant supply of electricity and is among the states with the lowest electricity prices in the nation, according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development. |ret||ret||tab|

According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration, Missouri's combined cost for electricity per kilowatt-hour across all sectors in 2002 was 5.5 cents, ranking the state 10th lowest in the nation for electricity prices for all sectors residential, commercial and industrial. The U.S. average rate per kilowatt-hour was 6.97 cents. |ret||ret||tab|

Of Missouri's surrounding states, electricity prices for all sectors in Nebraska (5.19 cents), Kentucky (4.02 cents) and Oklahoma (4.94 cents) were lower than in Missouri, while prices in Arkansas (5.64 cents), Illinois (6.92 cents), Iowa (5.71 cents), Kansas (5.98 cents) and Tennessee (5.68 cents) outpaced Missouri. |ret||ret||tab|

Missouri ranked seventh, tied with Tennessee, for the lowest price for residential electricity. Missouri households paid 6.4 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to an average of 8.2 cents across the nation. |ret||ret||tab|

Missouri's commercial electricity was priced at 5.3 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2002, the fourth lowest price in the nation. The U.S. average was more than 2 cents higher at 7.6 cents per kilowatt-hour. Industrial customers in Missouri paid 4.0 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity in 2002, and that rate ranked 14th lowest in the nation. In the industrial category the U.S. average price was 4.8 cents. |ret||ret||tab|

Missouri Public Service Commission Chairman Kelvin Simmon said: "Missouri's electricity generation and transmission system has a good, solid history of remaining operational. It is designed to account for numerous failures yet remain operational, Because of its central location, Missouri is surrounded by electric transmission interconnections in all directions, rather than being limited like states on either coast. This makes it less likely, but not impossible, that a massive power outage may occur here." |ret||ret||tab|

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