• Bills will decrease by more than $2 per month for the typical residential customer
• Your ISRS (infrastructure system replacement surcharge) is reset to $0. Previously this was $3.94
• Enhanced funding and eligibility for low-income assistance programs
• New program to help customers catch up on bills
• New program to help customers stay connected to gas year round
• No credit card fees to pay online
• We're introducing seasonal rates. Now, your rate for May through October will be lower for the first 50 therms, which helps lower your bill during the summer when you're using less gas
• New rate adjustment that helps level out the amount customers pay during the year for their natural gas service, based on normal – instead of actual – temperatures. If it’s a colder or warmer than normal winter, you’ll see a rate adjustment on future bills

We've simplified our old commercial rate classes and implemented a single volumetric rate year-round. This change unifies all commercial customers across Missouri.

• Customers who use less than 10,000 therms per year will be in the Small General Service class
• Customers who use more than 10,000 therms per year will be in the Large General Service class

For larger volume customers:

• The rate design for our larger volume customers isn't changing. 

Other benefits for commercial customers: 

• If you’re a current customer looking to grow your business or a potential customer looking to move into our service territory and use a large amount of gas each year, please reach out to a Spire account representative for information on our new Economic Development Rider and Negotiated Gas Service Rider.

All new rates and programs are planned to begin April 19, 2018.

Our new rates allow customers to have more control over their bill. With lower fixed and volumetric charges, customers who use less gas, will see lower bills thanks to our new rate design. In eastern Missouri, the customer charge will be $22.

These savings are due primarily to the recent growth of Spire and federal tax reform. In the last five years, Spire has grown through acquisitions of natural gas utilities in Missouri, Alabama and Mississippi. Spire’s growth into the nation’s fifth-largest publicly traded gas utility has resulted in more than $70 million in annual savings for Missouri natural gas customers. These savings have been passed along to customers as a part of this rate case. Since their last rate case in 2013, Spire has upgraded nearly 400 miles of natural gas pipeline, strengthening their system for generations to come.

Spire is also the first Missouri utility to share the savings of federal tax cuts with customers. Spire asked the Missouri Public Service Commission to include the federal tax cut in the rate case to expedite savings to customers, even though the impact of tax reform fell outside the review period of the rate case.

We now offer the same low-income energy assistance program to all Missouri customers

• Qualified customers may receive a bill credit to help stay connected to gas service throughout the year through our new Fixed Charge Assistance Program
• The Red Tag Repair Program has increased funding available for repairs or replacement of natural gas appliances and/or piping that's been disconnected for safety reasons 

Program to help customers catch up on bills

• Qualified customers can sign up from April to June and October to January each year. Spire will match payments made on past-due balances when the current bill is paid in full and 10% is paid toward a past-due balance through our new Arrearage Repayment Program

The Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS) is a small portion of your bill that helps to pay for pipeline replacement projects around our area. ISRS charges were incorporated into general rates in this rate case and the charge was reset to $0.  This rate may increase twice per year as we continue to upgrade pipeline to keep our communities safe.

Thanks to this case, we're also expanding our energy efficiency program by offering rebates for energy-efficient appliances to more customers. Learn more about Spire's natural gas appliance rebates.

At Spire, we're always expanding and upgrading our natural gas system to meet the needs of growing communities. And we're committed to opening up access to natural gas in communities in our service territory where it's currently not available. With this rate case, we now have a Facilities Extension Rider to help expand our system.

Since each new Spire gas customer is eligible for a 175 feet of main extension and 75 feet of service line at no cost, we combine potential new customers living in the same area to help lower any additional cost.  All new customers along that extension will have the extension costs over the free allowance financed for up to 15 years, with the cost added to monthly bills. Then, these communities will be able to enjoy the benefits of safe, reliable and affordable energy for years to come. 

For more information, please reach out to our organic growth team here.