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Ballot Initiative Being Pursued In Missouri To Offer Customers Retail Electric Choice

October 22, 2015

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Copyright 2010-15 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander announced that an initiative petition relating to the purchase of electricity by retail customers has met state standards for circulation.

The official ballot title for initiative petition 2016-088 reads:

Shall Missouri law be amended to allow retail customers of an electrical corporation to purchase electricity from any electric supplier that sells such services to retail customers in the state?

"The fiscal impact to state government is unknown but would likely include implementation costs and could include litigation costs. The fiscal impact to local governments is unknown but could include a loss in tax revenues from electric utility suppliers and potential litigation costs," the Secretary of State said

The petition, which would amend Chapter 393 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, was submitted by Mike Grimes, 8019 Gannon Ave., University City, MO 63130.

Petitioners are seeking to introduce amendments to the code reading as follows:

-- The purpose of this section is to ensure that all retail customers of electric power in this state have the choice of electric suppliers, and to encourage competition in this state in the provision of electric supply.

-- No later than January 1, 2018, all retail customers of an electrical corporation as defined in § 386.020. RSMo., shall have the right to choose an alternative electric supplier. An "alternative electric supplier" means a company selling electric generation service to retail customers in this state.

-- The public service commission shall issue orders establishing a licensing procedure for all alternative electric suppliers. No alternative electric supplier shall engage in any business in this state unless it obtains and maintains a license issued by the public service commission.

Before any statutory changes can be brought before Missouri voters in the November 2016 election, signatures must be obtained from registered voters equal to five (5) percent of the total votes cast in the 2012 governor's election from six of the state's eight congressional districts.

Signatures on behalf of all initiative petitions for the 2016 ballot are due to the secretary of state’s office by no later than 5 p.m. on May 8, 2016.

Before circulating petitions, state law requires that groups must first have the form of their petition approved by the secretary of state and attorney general. The secretary of state then prepares a summary statement of no more than 100 words, and the state auditor prepares a fiscal impact statement, both of which are subject to the approval of the attorney general. When both statements are approved, they become the official ballot title.

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