Consumer advocates warn Missouri lacks data center cost safeguards, but regulators disagree
Consumer advocates in Missouri say existing safeguards may not fully protect residential customers from higher electric bills as large data centers increase demand on the power grid. Ameren and state regulators argue that a rate increase and new large-load rules, including long-term contracts and minimum payment requirements, are designed to prevent data centers from shifting costs to other ratepayers.
Consumer advocates, including John Coffman of the Consumers Council of Missouri, are warning that the expansion of roughly a dozen large-scale data centers could increase electricity costs for households. Coffman said utilities are planning new power plants and grid investments before many of the facilities are online, potentially raising costs that could be borne by the public.
Ameren said its proposed 10% rate increase is intended for general grid upgrades and reliability improvements rather than data center expansion. Missouri regulators pointed to Senate Bill 4, signed in April 2025, which requires customers using at least 75 megawatts to sign 12-year contracts, pay for grid connections and infrastructure upfront, cover at least 80% of committed power costs, and provide collateral equal to two years of minimum bills. The Consumers Council argues the minimum payment should be increased to 95% or 100% and that contracts should be longer.