Consumer advocates warn Missouri lacks data center cost safeguards, but regulators disagree
News ClipABC17NEWS·MO·10/27/2026
Consumer advocates in Missouri say state regulators lack adequate safeguards to prevent data center electricity costs from being shifted to ordinary ratepayers. Regulators disagree, creating an ongoing debate over how data center power expenses should be allocated.
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Gov: Missouri state regulators
The Consumers Council of Missouri believes state regulators do not have strong enough safeguards in place to ensure data center power costs are not falling back on the average Missouri ratepayer. "The decision makers in Missouri have tended to err on the side of promoting data centers rather than protecting the public," CCM Executive Director John Coffman said. "It's an ongoing regulatory battle."