KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 18, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request from Aquila to pass along to its customers the higher fuel costs needed to provide electricity to its 300,000 customers. The request was made under rules established by the commission and made part of the company's rate case approved by the commission last summer.
For customers using 1,000 kilowatts of power a month in the company's Missouri Public Service territory (principally southwest Missouri), the higher fuel costs will add about $2 to monthly bills. For customers in the company's St. Joseph Light & Power territory (principally northwest Missouri), the higher fuel costs will add approximately $1.50 to monthly bills.
The company will begin to pass along these higher fuel costs to its customers after March 1. This cost will appear on customers' bill labeled "FAC" for the Fuel Adjustment Clause. This designation already appears on customers' bills, but currently itemizes a zero cost.
The company requested the increase to recover higher fuel costs paid and accumulated last year for a six-month period running from June through November. These costs reflect the company's increased costs for purchased power, natural gas, and coal and coal freight needed to provide reliable electric service to its customers.
By requiring Aquila to file its fuel costs with the commission every six months, customers can benefit immediately from lower market prices, or be asked to pay higher than anticipated fuel costs. In the past, such costs were included in a rate case that normally took 11 months to complete.
Based in Kansas City, MO., Aquila owns electric power generation and operates electric and natural gas transmission and distribution networks serving approximately 900,000 customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Additional information is available at http://www.aquila.com.
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