Missouri

MOModerate

Days notice (electric)

Days notice (gas)

✓

Winter moratorium

✓

Medical exemption

What to do today

If you have a shutoff notice, the date on it is the one that matters. These steps work best in this order.

Call your utility before the date on your notice
Ask for a payment plan or a deferred payment arrangement. Most states require your utility to offer one, and asking before the date is what keeps your service on. The number is on your bill.
Apply for energy assistance
LIHEAP helps with utility bills and does not have to be paid back. Call the national referral line on 1-866-674-6327 weekdays 9am to 7pm Eastern, or visit energyhelp.us.
Dial 211 for local help
211 is free and connects you to local funds for utilities, rent and food. Some local agencies can pay a utility directly to stop a shutoff.
Ask about medical certification
Missouri recognises medical protections. If anyone in your home has a serious illness or relies on powered medical equipment, a note from a doctor can delay a shutoff. Ask your utility for the form today, because it usually has to be back within days.
Contact the regulator if your utility will not work with you
psc.mo.gov handles complaints against regulated utilities in Missouri. Filing one can pause a disconnection while it is looked at.

Electric Gas Water Medical Low Income Regulator

Electric Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required10 days

Reconnection feeVaries by utility

Winter moratorium: November 1–March 31 (Cold Weather Rule): on any day when NWS forecasts temperature will drop below 32°F during the following 24 hours, utilities cannot disconnect residential service necessary to the operation of heating equipment. 2025 state law expanded and codified the PSC Cold Weather Rule for all electric and gas utilities. Before disconnecting during this period, utilities must notify customers of available financial assistance. Does not cover municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, or propane delivered by truck.

Major Utilities

Evergy Missouri M…Evergy Missouri W…City Utilities of…Ameren Missouri

Evergy Missouri Metro

Kansas City metro and western Missouri; subsidiary of Evergy Inc (formerly Kansas City Power & Light / KCP&L)

10-day notice

Cold Weather Rule (Nov 1–Mar 31): no disconnection of residential heating-related service when NWS forecasts temps below 32°F within 72 hours (expanded by 2025 law)

Medical certification available under PSC rules

MO PSC 4 CSR 240-13 requires 10-day written notice before disconnection for nonpayment

Reconnection fees deferred during CWR

CWR reconnect requires 1/12 overdue + 1/12 current bill + fees, with balance over 11 months

Utility must leave physical notice on day of shutoff

Separate tariff from Evergy Missouri West (P.S.C

No. 2)

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP/Missouri ECIP (federally funded, Nov 1–May 31); Economic Relief Pilot Program (ERPP) via Salvation Army — up to $65/month for 12 months for households ≤200% FPL (call 816-756-5392 option 1); Evergy Connect resource center (Kansas City); payment plans and arrangements

"Cold Weather Rule — Evergy." evergy.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Evergy Missouri West

Southwestern Missouri (Joplin area and surrounding region); subsidiary of Evergy Inc (formerly Empire District Electric)

10-day notice

Same Cold Weather Rule framework applies as Evergy Missouri Metro (Nov 1–Mar 31

Medical certification available under PSC rules

MO PSC 4 CSR 240-13 requires 10-day written notice before disconnection for nonpayment

72-hour temperature look-ahead as of 2025 expansion)

Operates under separate tariff from Evergy Missouri Metro (P.S.C

No. 1)

New rates effective January 1, 2025 following rate case

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP/Missouri ECIP (federally funded; same programs as Evergy Missouri Metro); Economic Relief Pilot Program (ERPP) via Salvation Army (≤200% FPL); payment arrangements

"EVERGY MISSOURI WEST, INC. d/b/a EVERGY MISSOURI WEST P.S.C. MO. No. 1 2nd — MO PSC EFIS." efis.psc.mo.gov. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

City Utilities of Springfield

Springfield metro area (Greene County and adjacent areas); municipal utility — not subject to MO PSC regulation

9-day notice

It is also not subject to the Missouri PSC Cold Weather Rule, which explicitly excludes municipal utilities

Customers with heating-related hardship should contact CU directly at (417) 863-9000

no guaranteed state winter moratorium applies to this municipal utility

City Utilities of Springfield is a municipal utility and is not bound by the Missouri Public Service Commission's 10-day rule (4 CSR 240-13), so its notice period is 9 business days, not 10

The 9-business-day figure is confirmed directly by CU President-CEO Dwayne Fulk's public letter explaining the policy: “If no payment is made by the due date of the second bill — typically 51 days after the original bill was issued — a disconnection notice is mailed which informs the customer that their account is eligible for disconnection in nine business days.” A phone call follows the business day before the scheduled disconnection

CU's own Service Rules (CU Policy 5.47) separately define a 'Credit Reconnect Fee' assessed whenever service is disconnected for nonpayment, with the dollar amount set by the Board rather than stated in the rules themselves, which is why reconnection_fee is null

those rules also state that unpaid balances after 17 calendar days can be billed at the gross (undiscounted) rate, and nonpayment of that add-on allows disconnection

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP administered by OACAC (Ozark Area Community Action Corporation; (417) 862-4314); Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) via OACAC; Project SHARE (Springfieldians Helping Area Residents with Energy — customer donation fund, administered by OACAC; January–May); Level Pay (budget billing); payment arrangements (by phone or online)

"Letter: City Utilities CEO explains disconnect policy — Dwayne Fulk, City Utilities President-CEO, published by Springfield Daily Citizen." sgfcitizen.org. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Ameren Missouri

Eastern and central Missouri including St. Louis metro; subsidiary of Ameren Corporation (formerly Union Electric / AmerenUE)

10-day notice

20 CSR 4240-13.055 (Missouri's Cold Weather Rule) requires at least 10 days' written notice before disconnection for nonpayment from November 1 through March 31, plus a second contact attempt (mailed notice, door hanger, or two phone calls) within 96 hours of disconnection

The codified rule text still states a 24-hour, 32F forecast threshold for the day-of-disconnection moratorium

Medical certification postpones disconnection

Ameren must notify customers of available financial assistance before disconnecting during the Cold Weather Rule period

multiple 2025 news reports describe SB 4 extending that window to 72 hours starting with the November 2025 to March 2026 season, but this pass could not locate a primary regulatory document (an updated CSR or a PSC order) that states 72 hours directly, so both figures are noted here rather than asserting one as confirmed

This 2020 PSC-approved stipulation (File No. EE-2019-0382) sets Ameren Missouri's reconnection fee at $5 for AMI (smart meter) customers and keeps the existing $30 fee for customers who do not use AMI or who have opted out, matching the figures already on file

Reconnection fee:$5 for AMI smart-meter customers; $30 for non-AMI or AMI opt-out customers (per 2020 PSC Partial Stipulation and Agreement)

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP (federally funded; Winter ECIP Nov 1–May 31 for elderly/disabled, Dec 1–May 31 all others; Summer ECIP Jun 1–Sep 30); Dollar More (United Way and community agencies, up to $600/year, income up to 300% FPL, dial 211); Budget Billing; Payment arrangements

"Partial Stipulation and Agreement, Missouri PSC File No. EE-2019-0382 (Ameren Missouri AMI variance case)." efis.psc.mo.gov. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Gas Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required10 days

Reconnection feeVaries by utility

Major Utilities

Spire Missouri Ea…Spire Missouri We…

Spire Missouri East

St. Louis metro and eastern Missouri; subsidiary of Spire Inc (formerly Laclede Gas, P.S.C. MO. No. 8)

10-day notice

Cold Weather Rule (Nov 1–Mar 31): no disconnection of residential natural gas (heating) service when NWS forecasts temperature below 32°F within 72 hours (expanded by 2025 state law from 24-hour look-ahead)

Medical certification postpones disconnection under PSC rules

MO PSC 4 CSR 240-13 requires 10-day written notice before disconnection for nonpayment

Reconnection fees deferred during CWR

First CWR reconnect: lesser of 50% of arrears or $500

remainder paid in installments

Second disconnect in same CWR period: 80% of past-due balance required for restoration

Separate tariff entity from Spire Missouri West (P.S.C

No. 8 vs

No. 9)

late fee structures differ between East and West territories

Reconnection fee exists per PSC tariff

specific dollar amount not confirmed

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP/Missouri ECIP (federally funded; administered through Missouri DSS; Nov 1–May 31 for elderly/disabled, Dec 1–May 31 for all other households); DollarHelp (community fund for low-income, elderly, and disabled in eastern Missouri counties, St. Louis; contact 816-561-2727); Budget Billing; Payment arrangements; Appliance repair program; Weatherization assistance

"Spire Offers Cold Weather Rule Payment Plans Starting Today | Spire." spireenergy.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Spire Missouri West

Kansas City metro and western Missouri; subsidiary of Spire Inc (formerly Missouri Gas Energy, P.S.C. MO. No. 9)

10-day notice

Medical certification postpones disconnection under PSC rules

MO PSC 4 CSR 240-13 requires 10-day written notice before disconnection for nonpayment

Reconnection fees deferred during CWR

First CWR reconnect: lesser of 50% of arrears or $500

remainder paid in installments

Second disconnect in same CWR period: 80% of past-due balance required for restoration

Separate tariff entity from Spire Missouri East (P.S.C

No. 9 vs

No. 8)

West-specific late fee structure confirmed on spireenergy.com/late-fee-information-western-missouri (1.5% applied to total past-due balance)

Reconnection fee exists per PSC tariff

specific dollar amount not confirmed

Assistance Programs

LIHEAP/Missouri ECIP (federally funded; administered through Missouri DSS; Nov 1–May 31 for elderly/disabled, Dec 1–May 31 for all other households); DollarHelp (community fund for low-income, elderly, and disabled in western Missouri counties, Joplin, St. Joseph, Kansas City; contact 816-561-2727); Budget Billing; Payment arrangements; Appliance repair program; Weatherization assistance

"Late Fee Information for Western Missouri | Spire." spireenergy.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Water Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice requiredNot regulated / varies

Major Utilities

Missouri American Water

Multiple communities statewide; largest investor-owned water utility in Missouri; subsidiary of American Water Works Company (AWIA)

10-day notice

No Cold Weather Rule moratorium applies to water utilities

PSC-regulated

At least 10 days' written notice before discontinuing water service for nonpayment

at least 30 days' notice for wastewater-only accounts

The notice must explain the reason and amount owed

A customer may file an informal complaint with the MO PSC (800-392-4211 or psc.mo.gov) within 5 days of the disconnect notice to avoid shutoff, and must then pay the undisputed portion within 4 days (or 50% of a disputed bill)

Missouri American Water's own Rights and Responsibilities page confirms 'There is a reconnection fee' but states no dollar amount, and no other reachable source confirms the previously stated $188 figure (said to be effective March 1, 2024), so reconnection_fee is left null rather than repeating an unconfirmed number

Assistance Programs

H2O Help to Others Program (emergency assistance via county Community Action Agencies for customers facing disconnection who meet basic needs criteria); LIHWAP — Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (state-federal; up to $750 one-time payment; apply at mydss.mo.gov/utility-assistance or call 855-373-4636); Installment Plan (25% upfront + balance over up to 6 months); Budget Billing

"Customer Rights And Responsibilities — Missouri American Water." amwater.com. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Medical & Vulnerable Household Exemptions

Medical certification postpones disconnection. Missouri PSC rules protect households where disconnection would endanger health or life.

Low-Income Protections

LIHEAP administered by Missouri Department of Social Services. Missouri's Weather Assistance Termination (WAT) Rule provides some income-based protections alongside the Cold Weather Rule. Utilities must offer deferred payment agreements.

Your State Regulator

File a complaint or get help from Missouri's utility regulator →

Data last verified: 2026-09-21. Rules may change — verify with your state regulator.