Senate approves wide-ranging utilities bill; emergency clause fails

The Missouri Senate on Thursday passed Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill 4, an omnibus utilities measure that alters how utilities recover costs for new generation, extends plant-in-service accounting provisions and creates a new "future test year" rate-setting method. The bill passed on a recorded vote of 22 ayes to 11 noes; a separate motion to adopt an emergency clause failed, 20 ayes to 13 noes.

Proponents said the bill addresses pipeline safety and enables utilities to plan and be reimbursed for certain construction costs; opponents said it shifts substantial risk and near-term cost increases to ratepayers. The emergency clause would have made key sections effective when the governor signed the bill rather than on a later statutory date; supporters argued that was necessary to preserve state control over certain safety oversight.

Sponsor and floor manager "Senator from the Eighth," identified in debate as the bill's sponsor, said the measure includes gas pipeline safety language and that the emergency clause would ensure state authority continues rather than allowing federal takeover: "A part of this bill is about gas pipeline safety, and we're not giving that to the federal government." He told colleagues the emergency clause would make the change effective immediately upon…