Latest news with #Spire
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
$14 more for gas a month in Missouri? What to know about Spire's planned rate hike
Your gas bill might soon rise $14 per month in Missouri. But there's something you can do about it. Spire is asking the Missouri Public Service Commission to approve an increase to gas rates. This month, you can participate in public hearings to share your thoughts about the plan. The natural gas company was most recently approved for a rate increase in 2022, after two in 2021. Missouri residential natural gas prices have been consistently higher than both Kansas and the national average for at least a decade, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Spire doesn't charge a mark up on natural gas usage, which makes up almost 50% of an energy bill. More than 40% of your Spire payment goes to delivery charges, which is how the energy company can make a profit and what Spire is hoping to increase. The rate increase was filed in November 2024, months before Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a major energy bill. In the future, utility companies will be able to charge customers for new power plants while they are being constructed, as opposed to after they're finished. Critics say this could lead to higher utility costs, as St. Louis Public Radio reported. Spire reported earnings of $195.2 million from their gas utilities in the first three months of 2025, up from $188 million during the same period a year earlier, according to the company's quarterly report. Under Spire's proposed plan, the average residential customer would pay $14 more per month, a 15% increase of the total bill. This would raise the delivery charge portion of the gas bill, where gas companies make their profits. The Public Service Commission could approve some, all or none of the proposed increase. If approved, Missourians would have higher gas bills by Oct. 24, 2025. Spire says the extra money would go toward offsetting the costs of higher inflation and interest rates, streamlining operations and to 'manage the impacts of weather and the effects of conservation on customer usage.' Spire says the rate increase would increase revenues by $236 million per year. According to Spire, this rate increase just offsets the decrease in natural gas prices which took effect in November 2024. The Spire website states, 'Overall customer bills will continue to be slightly lower or unchanged compared to what customers paid in 2024 when new rates take effect Fall 2025.' The higher costs are necessary to improve Spire's infrastructure, said David Yonce, managing director of regulatory affairs. 'Affordability is always top of mind for Spire, and we think about our customers, and the impacts that they're experiencing in their lives more generally, any time that we're incurring costs and we're spending money,' Yonce said. He said that the company needs to profit so it can get loans to build and make repairs. 'It's important for Spire … to be healthy, and to be healthy means that you have to earn a reasonable return so that you can attract capital to invest in your system,' Yonce said. Higher energy costs would tighten budgets for Missourians already struggling with rising housing and food costs, said Garrett Griffin, spokesperson for Kansas City advocacy organization Communities Creating Opportunities. As a large, publicly traded company, Griffin said that 'they can absorb some price increases in a way that ordinary people cannot.' Griffin pointed out that Missourians don't have a choice whether to buy gas from Spire, as the company has a monopoly on both the Kansas City and St. Louis metros, along with other counties throughout the state. 'We are all at Spire's mercy. Because, whether you're rich or poor or somewhere in the middle, we all have to pay heating bills in the winter,' he said. There will be a public hearing in Kansas City on Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at the Gregg/Klice Community Center in the 18th and Vine District. In addition, there will be two virtual public hearings on Tuesday, June 3, at noon and 6 p.m. Residents can join using Cisco Webex. You can also send your comments to the Public Service Commission directly. Their email address is pscinfo@ and their mailing address is: Missouri Public Service Commission PO Box 360 Jefferson City, Missouri 65102 Missourians can get help from Spire, the government and nonprofits to keep their gas running. Residents can apply for payment plans through Spire or energy assistance through the Missouri state government, among other programs. Have more questions about utilities in Missouri? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Politics not a factor Canadian athletes chasing their varsity dreams in the U.S.
Despite its challenges, the dream of going to a Division 1 school on the United States was too great for Liam Miller. The pole vaulter from Milton, Ont., who turns 19 on Saturday, is committed to Wichita State University for the 2025-26 year. Miller wrapped up his post-graduate year of high school at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio, recently having had 21 D1 offers. Although he was teased about Canada becoming the 51st state of the U.S. by some in his time at Spire, Miller said it didn't faze him or factor into his decision. 'Politics never really came into place,' he said. 'Being on a university campus, you're already in sort of a more progressive-leaning place. You're kind of in this academic bubble with a lot of kind-hearted people, and it really never came into play with me.' 'It has always been my dream to go to an NCAA Division 1 school,' he added. 'My parents knew that and they've been very supportive throughout the whole way. … Getting a full scholarship is really hard. And I was so fortunate to have received an amazing scholarship from Wichita State.' Brett Montrose, founder and co-CEO of Streamline Athletes, a company that helps high school track and field athletes get recruited, said it's too early to tell if strained Canada-U.S. relations will play a part at all for the 2025 graduating class. 'From a Canadian student-athlete and family perspective, we are not at a point yet where we're seeing many or any repercussions of the political tensions between Canada and the States on their decision making about where to go to school,' he said. 'That's because anybody committing or signing with American or Canadian universities in 2025 likely began their recruitment process before the tensions were at anything close to the height that they are now between the two countries.' For fellow Canadian track and field athletes, Brooklyn Taylor (Connecticut) and Shadae Thompson (Purdue), politics didn't play a factor. The landscape of NCAA sports has changed drastically over the last few years, especially due to the transfer portal. But in Miller's case, challenges came from the change to roster limits and the increased cost in international student tuition fees schools have to consider. Track and field teams could only have 45 members on full scholarship with no walk-ons allowed, meaning more schools were looking to shed athletes rather than bring more on, according to Miller. In addition, his parents will need to help out financially. 'I will be having to pay for a few things,' Miller said. 'They're helping me a lot and I'm very fortunate for that.' Taylor, a hurdler and long jumper from Alliston, Ont., also attended Spire this past year for Grade 12. But she had a different experience with her recruiting and scholarship experience. She was once a competitive dancer who 'really started training' for track and field in Grade 11, with dance taking top priority before then. Already having been recruited in Grade 11, she gained interest from bigger D1 schools once she cracked the top 15 in the U.S., in the long jump and 60-metre hurdles. But scholarship amounts played a similar role to Miller in her decision. 'A lot of the times, … the international athletes did still have to pay a decent amount just because of exchange rates,' said Taylor, who mentioned she got 'closer to 30' offers across different levels. 'But I mean, I was lucky. My coaches were really good to work with. I also work really hard on my academics. 'I've maintained a high 90 (per cent) average throughout the entirety of my high school career. So a lot of the times these coaches aren't even pulling from their sports scholarship money to send me on a full ride sort of thing. They're able to kind of use more academic side of things and keep the sports scholarship amounts for the more academically challenged athletes on their rosters.' Thompson, a sprinter from Whitby, Ont., stayed in Canada for high school at All Saints Catholic Secondary School in her hometown. Thompson got three D1 offers — Marshall University, the University of New Mexico and Purdue. While she will have everything covered at Purdue, she noted the school's use of two-year plans instead of four. 'After two years, if you're performing well, they'll keep you for another two years,' Thompson said. 'So then that would be like your quote, unquote four year plan. 'But if you're underperforming after those two years then they have the right to kick you out. And from then on, you've got to figure it out on your own. So I'm kind of on a partial scholarship, you could say, but it's basically a full.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Public hearing planned for Spire rate case
Public hearings will be held around the state, including one in Joplin, for a rate increase filed last year by Spire, which provides natural gas to homes and businesses in Missouri. In November, Spire filed a rate increase request with the Missouri Public Service Commission that would raise company revenue by approximately $236 million annually, or about 14%. The utility said in a statement that for the average residential customer, the proposed increase would be approximately 15%, or $14 per month. Spire said its total request is to increase revenues by approximately $290 million, but about $54 million of the proposed increase is already being collected as part of the Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge program line item that appears separately on customer bills. 'We're committed to safely delivering reliable and efficient natural gas service to more than 1.2 million homes and businesses in Missouri and doing so in the most affordable way for our customers,' Steve Mills, Spire Missouri president, said in a statement. 'We want our customers to know that even with this request, they will see bills that are slightly lower or unchanged compared to 2024.' In its statement, Spire said it proposes recovery of 'infrastructure investments, inflationary costs since its last case, increased costs of service, and weather and conservation impacts.' The company said it has invested nearly $1 billion to maintain and modernize service infrastructure, in turn reducing emissions and improving the safety of its distribution system. If approved, the rate increase would take effect this fall. As part of the rate case, the PSC is holding public hearings around the state, allowing customers to ask questions and offer testimony about the rate request. The hearings are attended by both the PSC and the Missouri Office of the Public Counsel, which represents ratepayers before the commission. Virtual public hearings will be held at noon and 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 3. To attend a virtual local public hearing by telephone, at the time of the hearing call toll-free 855-718-6621, listen to the prompt and enter the corresponding meeting number listed. For the noon call, the access code is 2866 775 5885; for the 6 p.m. call, the access code is 2867 463 1122. The password for both calls is 0107. To attend a virtual local public hearing by WebEx video, visit the website Participants also can download the Cisco WebEx meetings application on their mobile device, laptop, desktop or tablet prior to the hearing and join the meeting at the hearing time by entering the corresponding meeting number and password. Anyone wishing to participate in the WebEx question-and-answer session or make comment to the PSC during a WebEx hearing should register by calling 800-392-4211 by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing. In-person hearings will be held next week around the state, including St. Louis, St. Joseph, Kansas City and Joplin. The Joplin meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday in Corley Auditorium on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New averages mean changed line-up for Spires
OXFORD Spires will boast a changed line-up tomorrow, with new averages coming into force, when they take on the Sheffield Tigers, tapes up at 7:30pm, writes Leon Foster-Hill. Craig Cook will ride at number two, partnering Maciej Janowski, whilst Peter Kildemand moves to the reserve position. Kildemand put in his best performance of the season against Belle Vue last week and could be a real trump card in the reserve berth where he can replace any rider. Mr Consistent, Charles Wright, moves to the tough number five berth with Erik Riss partnering Rohan Tungate at three and four. READ ALSO: The latest Aunt Sally results from Oxford league The Spires will need to be at their absolute best with the Sheffield Tigers putting in some impressive performances this year and being the first team to defeat Ipswich Witches this season, last Thursday at Owlerton. Jack Holder is in a rich vein of form having just won the Polish Grand Prix and the team also boasts previous Cheetah and Spire Lewis Kerr. Oxford remain in fifth place, one point ahead of King's Lynn Stars, so a win is vital to keep their push for the play-offs on course. Oxford Spires: Maciej Janowski, Craig Cook, Erik Riss, Rohan Tungate, Charles Wright, Peter Kildemand, Luke Killeen. Sheffield Tigers: Jack Holder, Anders Rowe, Josh Pickering, Justin Sedgmen, Chris Holder, Lewis Kerr, Leon Flint. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE OXFORD MAIL ONLINE (Image: Newsquest) The Oxford Cheetahs look to make their second semi-final of the year when they travel to Scunthorpe on Friday night in the second leg of the Knockout Cup. Oxford have a healthy 20-point advantage from their home leg and the Scorpions have only managed one win so far this season, making the Cheetahs favourite to progress. They go into the meeting with a slightly new look as Dan Gilkes has been sidelined with a nasty knee injury, which has allowed the Oxford management to give Latvian Francis Gusts another outing, albeit in the Championship rather than the Premiership. Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: 'We are gutted for Dan and our fans who took him to their hearts with his 100 per cent commitment on track and we wish him a speedy recovery. This does give Francis a further opportunity to establish himself in British Speedway.' Gusts will ride at number four, partnering Cameron Heeps, whilst Jordan Jenkins will take the number five position. The Oxford Chargers have their second home meeting on Sunday when they face the Edinburgh Academy, tapes up at 3pm. Edinburgh top the National League with two wins out of two. Oxford Chargers: Jody Scott, Jacob Clouting, Arran Butcher, Ashton Vale, Darryl Ritchings, Max Broadhurst, Senna Summers. Edinburgh Academy: Connor Coles, Kyran Lyden, Matt Marson, Sam McGurk, Dayle Wood, Mark Parker, Lee Harrison.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Multiple buildings evacuated due to gas leak on Southwest Boulevard
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Spire is on scene and working to contain a gas leak Thursday afternoon in Kansas City's Westside neighborhood. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported natural gas line rupture near W. 24th Street and Southwest Boulevard just after 1:20 p.m. 16-year-old identified as victim of deadly KC shooting near gas station When crews arrived on scene they found a four-inch line had been struck during digging operations. Spire said that a third-party contractor for a separate utility caused the damage. KCFD said multiple companies were called to the scene to block and redirect traffic in the area. Spire says that crews have made the area gas safe around 3:30 p.m. and that roads are likely to reopen shortly. However, traffic was unimpacted as the area was already marked off for construction, according to Spire. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Crews, along with Hazmat, have checked and evacuated several buildings in the area as a precaution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
