Evergy Missouri

Opinions split on Senate Bill 4: Consumer protections versus consumer skepticism

Missouri Senate Bill 4, passed in 2025, restructured utility regulation in the state to address concerns about power bills and data center energy consumption. The bill mandates "large-load tariffs" for investor-owned utilities serving data centers, requiring long-term contracts and payments for grid strain. While proponents laud it as a strict consumer protection measure, critics argue it may not go far enough and could still burden existing customers with costs related to new power generation for data centers.