JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Public Service Commission has issued an order approving a Stipulation and Agreement in a natural gas complaint filed by the Staff of the Commission against Spire Missouri Inc., d/b/a Spire Missouri.
The Commission Staff filed the Formal Complaint as a follow-up to its investigation of a natural gas pipeline incident in Independence, Missouri on August 28, 2024.
The incident occurred when an excavator struck a Spire Missouri main and, upon smelling gas, notified the Company. At the location, Spire Missouri contract employees marked on each side of the highest gas concentration location. One mark was at least six feet from the damaged main and another was at least three feet from the damaged main. The tolerance zone for location markings is two feet on either side of the main. Gas migrated to a nearby residence causing an explosion and fire. There were no injuries resulting from this incident.
Key points of the agreement are as follows:
• Spire Missouri agrees to amend certain identified Standard Operating Procedures around using an electronic marker system device when warranted and submit to the Staff of the Commission for review prior to the release date of the amendment.
• Spire Missouri agrees that it will provide annual summaries of the results of audits the Company performs on each of its contract locators, with the first annual summary to Staff provided following the close of 2026.
• Spire Missouri confirms that it has completed its transition to its new contract locater in both its eastern and western Missouri service territories as of March 30, 2026.
• Spire Missouri agrees to hold internal meetings to evaluate Standard Operating Procedures relating to trouble locates. A summary of the meeting, as well as reporting a locate “quality ratio” to Commission Staff, will occur at the Company’s 2026 safety and compliance quarterly update with Staff.
• Spire Missouri agrees to pay the sum of $50,000 to the public school fund of the State of Missouri within 30 days of the effective date of the order. Missouri law mandates that PSC fines, penalties and forfeitures go the public school fund under Revised Statutes § 271.370 and § 389.998.
Spire Missouri agrees that it will not seek or recover the above sum in rates in any future rate case.
Spire Missouri provides natural gas service to approximately 1.2 million customers in Missouri in around St. Louis, Kansas City, Joplin, Poplar Bluff, St. Joseph, and other communities.