Aquila Seeks Rate Increase

Electricity and natural gas service provider Aquila(ILA Quote) said Monday it filed a request with Missouri Public Services Commission to increase electrical rate at its Missouri Public Service and St. Joseph Light & Power units.

The company requested a $94.5 million, or 22%, increase at its Missouri Public Service region, which it said would increase the monthly bills, for typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month, by $21.19.

For the company's St. Joseph Light & Power unit, it requested an increase of $24.4 million, or 22.1%, which would result in an increase of $16.09 a month for typical residential customers.

The Kansas City, Mo.-based company said that the reason for the request include increasing prices in the natural gas and coal markets, increased customer usage and continued customer growth.