Public hearing scheduled on Empire's plan to close Asbury coal plant

Following are two differing descriptions of a public hearing on Empire District Electric Company's latest plan.

(From the City of Joplin)

On October 31, 2017, Empire District Electric Company requested approval from the Public Service Commission to operate various wind projects and close the Asbury coal plant. Empire seeks approval to build wind generation projects at a cost to Empire of about $1.5 billion using federal tax incentives in conjunction with tax equity partners to possibly reduce the cost to $700 million. As part of this plan, Empire proposes to close the coal-fired Asbury plant by April of 2019, which currently employs 55 people in the Joplin area.

Ultimately, costs for capital projects, like those proposed here, are passed on to consumers. While electric rates will not be decided in this case, the pre-approval of the plan by the Commission will have a significant impact on the next rate case and could have a significant impact on the rates Empire customers in Joplin pay. While Empire claims “savings” over a twenty-year period, Empire itself says customers’ bills during 2020 and 2021 will increase as a result of the plan. There is no commitment by Empire to lower rates in the future.

You are encouraged to ask additional questions and provide comments at the local public hearing which will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 8 at Missouri Southern State University, Cornell Auditorium, Plaster Hall, 3950 E. Newman Road.
(From the Missouri Public Service Commission)

The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold a local public hearing in Joplin, Missouri on February 8, 2018, in The Empire District Electric Company’s (Empire) proposed Customer Savings Plan. The local public hearing schedule appears below.

February 8—Joplin. Missouri Southern State University, Cornell Auditorium, Plaster Hall, 3950 E. Newman Road. A PSC staff public information/question and answer session starts at 6:00 p.m. followed by the taking of public comments. Witness testimony at the local public hearing will be limited to five minutes per person.

If you are unable to attend the local public hearing and wish to make written comments or secure additional information, you may contact the Office of the Public Counsel, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone (866) 922-2959 email opcservice@ded.mo.gov or the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 1-800-392-4211, email pscinfo@psc.mo.gov .

The Empire District Electric Company seeks approval of a regulatory plan which Empire estimates will result in up to $325 million of cost savings on customer bills over 20 years. To achieve this plan Empire seeks approval to build 800 MW (nameplate) of wind generation in or near the Empire service territory at a cost of about $1.5 billion using federal tax incentives in conjunction with tax equity partners to reduce the cost to $700 million. As part of this plan, Empire proposes to retire its 218 MW (nameplate) coal-fired Asbury generating plant located near Asbury and Joplin, Missouri by April of 2019 rather than current estimates of 2035. All customer rate change requests associated with this plan would be handled in subsequent filings as the Customer Savings Plan is implemented.

The Empire District Electric Company serves approximately 151,700 electric customers in the Missouri counties of Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, St. Clair, Stone and Taney.