The Kansas City Chapter for the Green Party recently put out the following statement to the Missouri Public Safety Council regarding Spire’s recent rate increase request and their continued use of fossil fuels.
“The Kansas City Chapter of the Green Party strongly opposes Spire Missouri’s rate increase proposal. As a for-profit driven company, Spire prioritizes its wealthy shareholders over its customers’ ability to afford basic needs. We urge the Public Safety Commission to prioritize the well-being of Missouri residents over corporate profits and reject this proposal and instead work with stakeholders to develop a plan for transitioning to renewable energy sources, prioritizing energy efficiency and conservation, and supporting community-led renewable energy projects.
As a monopoly, Spire leaves customers with little choice but to absorb the costs of rate
increases, further burdening low-income and marginalized communities and exacerbating
existing disparities in access to affordable and sustainable energy. This lack of competition
allows Spire to capitalize on rate increases, while residents are forced to sacrifice other
essential needs to keep the heat on.
Moreover, even if Spire claims an average increase of $14 per household may seem modest, we cannot ignore that every additional dollar funneled to fossil fuel industries and their executives only perpetuates a system that prioritizes profits over people. If Spire wants to maintain its monopoly on providing a public service, infrastructure maintenance should be considered a fundamental business cost, not a burden passed on to customers who have no alternative. The PSC should not authorize another cent to enrich corporate interests at theexpense of working-class families.
The PSC has the power to tell Spire “no” and should exercise it to protect the public from further financial burden due to the cost of public services. We need a more just and sustainable energy system that prioritizes the needs of communities. By rejecting this proposal and promoting a transition to renewable energy, the PSC can lead the way in putting people over profit and promoting environmental justice in Missouri. We urge all Missouri leaders to prioritize residents and the health of our environment, rather than corporate profiteers.”
LEARN ABOUT SPIRE’S PROPOSAL HERE
