Bill > HB386

This bill requires investor-owned electric utilities in Missouri to reimburse customers for damages caused by power interruptions or power surges that affect more than 4/5 of 1% of their customers. If a continuous power interruption lasts four or more hours and results in power transmission at less than 50% of standard voltage or total power loss, the utility must compensate affected customers for actual damages like food spoilage (excluding consequential damages) and reimburse local governments for emergency expenses. The utility can request a waiver from the public service commission if the interruption was caused by unpreventable weather events, customer tampering, civil unrest, animal damage, or equipment damage by a third party. Similarly, for power surges, utilities must pay the replacement value of damaged goods unless they can prove one of the specified exempting causes. The bill stipulates that utilities cannot recover these costs from ratepayers, and all damage claims must be pursued exclusively through the public service commission. Damage awards are limited to actual damages and litigation costs, and the bill preserves customers' rights to seek other civil or administrative remedies. The public service commission is authorized to create rules for implementing this section, with provisions ensuring legislative oversight of any new regulations.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB386&year=2025&code=R