02/27/2026
Attached is the letter that will be included in upcoming utility bills to ensure our residents and business owners have advance notice regarding the expected increase in January utility bills due to Winter Storm Fern.
Due to Winter Storm Fern, which impacted our region from January 23-26, wholesale electric and natural gas prices spiked during those extremely cold days. As a result, utility bills issued at the end of February, reflecting January usage, are expected to be higher than normal.
Here are the key things to know:
• This was not a permanent rate increase.
• There has been no change to the City’s base utility rates.
• The price spike was limited to the duration of the storm.
• Wholesale prices have already returned to normal levels.
• The amount you see will depend on your individual usage during those cold days.
We are sharing this information now to give residents and business owners approximately three to four weeks to plan and budget accordingly before bills are due.
Available reserve funds were utilized at the wholesale level to help offset a portion of the increase, but customers should still expect higher-than-average January bills due to the severity of the market spike.
If you anticipate difficulty paying your bill after receiving it, please contact our Utility Billing Office promptly:
📞 573-451-3343
📧 [email protected]
Please take a moment to read the full letter attached for additional details.
Transparency matters, and our goal is simple: informed residents, no surprises.
~Mayor Breck
