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Bill

HB 1626

Allows electrical corporations to charge for services based on the costs of certain construction work in progress

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Willard Haley

HB 1626 permits Missouri electrical utilities to charge customers for ongoing construction costs before projects are complete, accelerating cost recovery but increasing consumer rate exposure to project delays and overruns.

Public Hearing Completed (H)
#energy #utilities
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Bill Summary · HB 1626

Legislative bill overview

HB 1626 would allow electrical corporations in Missouri to charge customers for costs associated with construction work in progress (CWIP), rather than waiting until infrastructure projects are completed. This enables utility companies to recover investments in major capital projects incrementally during construction rather than absorbing costs until the asset becomes operational.

Why is this important

This directly affects residential and business electricity rates. CWIP cost recovery can accelerate utility infrastructure improvements like grid modernization and renewable energy projects, but shifts financial risk from corporations to ratepayers who pay for incomplete projects. The timing and methodology of how these costs are calculated significantly impacts household and business energy bills.

Potential points of contention

  • Rate impact uncertainty – Customers would begin paying for unfinished projects immediately, potentially increasing bills before infrastructure delivers tangible benefits or is even completed
  • Regulatory oversight – The bill's language around which projects qualify, cost caps, and Public Service Commission authority to review/deny requests needs clarity to prevent cost-padding
  • Risk allocation – Transfers project completion risk from utilities (who benefit from efficiency) to ratepayers, who have no control over construction timelines or final costs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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