Lawmakers and advocates rally at Missouri Capitol for energy choice legislation, testify at a Senate hearing as consumers grapple with costly electric bills
JEFFERSON CITY (March 31, 2026) –– As electric rates continue to rise for Missourians, momentum continues to build in Jefferson City for a solution that will give consumers the power to hold electric utility companies accountable. At a press conference Tuesday, competitive energy market advocates and the sponsors of three legislative bills to break up the utility monopoly model addressed the growing support to establish an energy market that gives consumers the ability to shop for their electric supply –– forcing utilities and other suppliers to compete for the business of consumers.
Three Missouri lawmakers have introduced legislation to restructure the state’s utility energy structure, establishing a competitive market for consumers to benefit from. Those bills are:
● Senate Bill 1411 – Sponsored by Sen. Nick Schrorer (St. Charles County)
● House Bill 2207 – Sponsored by Rep. Don Mayhew (Miller and Pulaski Counties)
● House Bill 2233 – Sponsored by Rep. Tricia Byrnes (St. Charles County)
“Utilities are the only service in Missouri where we have legalized monopolies,” said Sen. Nick Schroer, sponsor of Senate Bill 1411. “Missourians deserve the right to hold utility companies accountable and the freedom to choose which company they want to buy electricity from. As state leaders, we must put the power in the hands of the people by giving them options and forcing utilities to compete for the business of consumers.”
“This is a peace of mind solution that puts consumers first,” said Angela Viviano of O’Fallon. Viviano lives in Sen. Schroer’s district and is grateful for his leadership, as well as the House bill sponsors, in addressing energy affordability in Missouri. “Missouri families like mine make so many sacrifices, and I’m advocating for them and other families to have the chance to seek better rates and hold utilities accountable.”
Organizations participating in the press conference included: My Energy Choice, Americans for Prosperity-Missouri, MO Tax Relief Now, and Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers. Leaders of these advocacy groups served as a voice for Missourians who want free-markets, lower costs, and economic growth. They shared consumer cost concerns under the current utility structure,
and applauded lawmakers for standing up for their constituents by advocating for a competitive energy market.
“Missourians are seeing their electric bills rise year after year, with no ability to shop for better options. Meanwhile, utilities are asking for more projects and more spending — all backed by guaranteed returns paid by ratepayers,” said Camellia Peterson, legislative director for Americans for Prosperity-Missouri. “This legislation is a step toward energy freedom, giving families and businesses real choices and helping bring long-overdue cost discipline to the system.”
“Two dozen states in the country offer some form of competition, and more are considering restructuring their energy market because of the unstable energy market monopolized by electric utilities,” said Chris Ercoli, president and CEO of the Retail Energy Advancement League. “All consumers, large and small, deserve the right to have energy options and be able to choose an energy product and price that works best for them and their budgets.”
Following Tuesday’s press conference, consumer groups, large energy users, policy institutes, energy companies and others testified in favor of Senate Bill 1411 during a hearing before the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & the Environment Committee as the bill continues to move through the legislative process.
“Utilities can now bill for billion-dollar power plants before a shovel ever hits the ground — printing themselves sky-high guaranteed profits — while families are left wondering if they can even afford to keep the lights on,” said Rep. Don Mayhew, sponsor of House Bill 2207. “That’s not a free market. That’s a government-protected monopoly, and it’s costing families and businesses more every month.”
“My constituents are fed up with high electricity costs and no choices,” said Rep. Tricia Byrnes, sponsor of House Bill 2233. “Families are opening their electric bills and wondering how they’re going to afford them. Small businesses are trying to stay afloat while their costs keep climbing. And right now, they have no other option.”
House Bills 2207 and 2233 have been referred to the House General Laws Committee. A hearing for the House bills is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon where advocates are slated to testify in favor of the bills.
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