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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">August 13, 2025</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Matt Nestor
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />City of Columbia Utilities
<br />573.874.7307
<br />Matthew.Nestor@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Opportunity for public input on proposed electric rate increases</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As part of the City of Columbia Fiscal Year 2026 budget, City of Columbia Utilities is proposing an electric rate increase that will impact all customers. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Residents will have the opportunity to provide input on the budget and the prospective electric rate changes during the Aug. 18 City Council meeting. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 701 East Broadway.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Electric Utility is proposing a 2% increase in the customer charge and usage rates. The residential customer charge will go from $22 per month to $22.44 per month. Usage rates are dependent on the customer’s rate class. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The proposed 2% increase is based on the Consumer Price Index percentage change for the 12-month period ending July 2025. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">City staff and the Water & Light Advisory Board designed the proposed rates to implement a revenue increase to cover increased operation and maintenance expenses, including employee compensation, maintain cash reserve levels and ensure adequate debt coverage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If approved by the City Council, the electric rate increases would go into effect beginning with the first billing cycle in October 2025. </span></p>
<table style="width: 470px;">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="width: 444px; background-color: 0075c9;" colspan="3">
<h2><span style="color: ffffff;"><strong>Proposed residential rates</strong></span></h2>
</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><strong>Summer Usage</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><strong>Current</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><strong>Proposed</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First 300 kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">8.89 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">9.07 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next 450 kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">10.89 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">11.11 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next 1,250 kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">12.89 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">13.15 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All remaining kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">14.89 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">15.19 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><strong>Non-Summer Usage</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><strong>Current</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><strong>Proposed</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First 300 kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">8.89 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">9.07 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next 450 kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">10.89 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">11.11 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 149px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All remaining kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 152.25px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">12.00 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 142.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">12.24 cents per kWh</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A more detailed breakdown of the residential charges can be found at </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="http://beheard.como.gov/proposed-electric-rates-fy26"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BeHeard.CoMo.gov</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For a full breakdown of residential and commercial electric rates, please refer to the </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/utilities/utility-rates/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Utility Rates web page</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Customers can monitor their usage by signing up at </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="http://myutilitybill.como.gov"><span style="font-weight: 400;">MyUtilityBill.CoMo.gov</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to disability, please call 573.874.CITY (2489) or email </span></em><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="mailto:City@CoMo.gov"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">City@CoMo.gov</span></em></a><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. In order to assist staff in making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in advance of the posted meeting date as possible.</span></em></div>
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<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
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