Skip to main content

Missouri (US-MO)

Market Type: Deregulated (Retail Choice)
SSS Relevance: ⭐⭐⭐ High
Grid Carbon Intensity: ~683 gCO₂/kWh

SSS Factors: significant nuclear capacity, hydroelectric resources, regulated market structure

1. Overview​

Missouri operates a vertically integrated electricity market where investor-owned utilities (IOUs) own generation, transmission, and distribution within designated service territories. The state has not restructured its market, meaning residential and commercial consumers generally cannot choose their electricity provider 1. The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates rates and infrastructure for the state's major IOUs, while utilities participate in large regional transmission organizations 2.

The state's electricity grid is among the most carbon-intensive in the United States, ranking 4th nationally for carbon intensity. As of 2024–2025, the grid emits approximately 1,456 lbs of CO₂ per megawatt-hour (MWh), which is 68% "dirtier" than the national average 3. This high footprint is driven by a historical reliance on coal, which accounted for roughly 78% of generation as of late 2025 2. However, coal's share has declined from previous years, with 2024 data showing coal generated 57.2% of electricity, while renewables reached approximately 12% to 13% of total net generation 2. Wind is the primary renewable source (contributing ~10% of total generation), followed by hydroelectric (~1.5%) and solar (~0.3%) 2.

Regarding costs, Missouri's residential electricity rates were approximately 13.01¢/kWh as of March 2026, reflecting a 2.5% increase over the previous year. While historically below the national average, prices are facing upward pressure, with wholesale prices projected to rise up to 74% by 2035 4. The state has a Renewable Energy Standard requiring IOUs to meet 15% of sales with renewables by 2021, a target met by major providers like Ameren Missouri. Looking forward, 97% of planned new capacity seeking grid connection consists of renewable energy projects 2. Additionally, the EPA has set a 2030 emissions goal of 1,272 lbs of CO₂/MWh for the state 5.

2. Market Structure​

Missouri operates under a fully regulated electricity market structure, characterized by vertically integrated utilities that control generation, transmission, and distribution within designated service territories. The state's utility landscape is divided into three primary ownership models:

  • Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs): Private, for-profit corporations (e.g., Ameren Missouri, Evergy) regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC). Profits are derived from a state-approved rate of return on capital investments 6.
  • Municipal Utilities: Nonprofit entities owned by local city governments. Rates are governed locally by city councils or appointed boards, rather than the PSC. Many participate in the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) 7.
  • Electric Cooperatives (Co-ops): Nonprofit businesses owned by their members in rural and suburban areas (e.g., Cuivre River Electric Cooperative). They are self-governed by member-elected boards and are not rate-regulated by the PSC 7.

Market Regulation and Deregulation As of March 2026, Missouri does not offer full retail choice. Most residents and businesses must purchase power from the monopoly utility serving their territory 8. However, a 2024 PSC ruling allows large customers with a demand over 100 kilowatts to use aggregators of retail customers (ARCs) for regional demand response markets 1. Legislative efforts to introduce broader competition, such as HB 417, HB 2233, and SB 1411 (2025–2026), have faced significant opposition and failed in committee as of early March 2026.

Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) Missouri's high-voltage transmission grid and wholesale power markets are managed by two primary organizations:

  • Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO): Serves much of the state, including Ameren Missouri territories, across 15 states and one Canadian province.
  • Southwest Power Pool (SPP): Serves portions of Missouri, operating wholesale energy markets and managing transmission planning 9.

These RTOs ensure grid reliability and coordinate the integration of new energy sources, though some municipal utilities and co-ops may operate outside these structures via bilateral sales 10.

3. Clean Energy Policy​

Missouri's primary clean energy mandate is the Renewable Energy Standard (RES), established by voter-approved Proposition C in 2008. This standard requires investor-owned utilities (IOUs) such as Ameren Missouri, Evergy, and Liberty to generate or purchase at least 15% of their annual retail sales from renewable energy sources 11. Within this portfolio, a specific solar carve-out mandates that at least 2% of the renewable energy requirement (effectively 0.3% of total retail sales) must come from solar energy 1112. Compliance is tracked using Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), and generation located in-state receives a 1.25 multiplier 11. Utilities are exempt from the mandate if compliance costs raise retail electricity rates by more than 1% in a given year 11.

While the state does not have a government-mandated net-zero goal, major utilities have set voluntary targets. Ameren Missouri and Evergy are aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, while Empire District and City Utilities of Springfield have set targets for 2050 1314. Currently, the state relies heavily on coal, which accounted for approximately 66% to 75% of power generation as of late 2023 14.

Recent legislative activity includes proposals to alter the clean energy landscape. In early 2026, Senate Bill 838 was introduced to lower the renewable mandate from 15% to 7.5% and broaden the definition of "renewable" to include nuclear energy 12. Additionally, the Nuclear Clean Power Act, signed in 2025, allows utilities to charge customers for the costs of "clean baseload" plants (including nuclear) during construction 12.

Supportive policies include the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Act, which allows property owners to finance energy upgrades through property tax assessments 12, and the Net Metering & Easy Connection Act. Under net metering rules, customers with systems under 100 kW receive full retail credits for self-consumption, while excess energy exported to the grid is credited at the utility's avoided fuel cost (wholesale rate) 12. ⚠️ Note: Information regarding early 2026 legislative proposals (e.g., Senate Bill 838, solar project pauses) reflects active bills and may not represent enacted law.

4. Utility Landscape​

Missouri's electric utility landscape is dominated by a few large investor-owned utilities (IOUs) alongside an extensive network of member-owned cooperatives and municipal systems. The state's utilities are regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC).

Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) IOUs are private, for-profit companies regulated by the PSC and serve the majority of the state's population, particularly in metropolitan areas.

  • Ameren Missouri (Union Electric Co.): The largest electric power provider in the state, serving approximately 1.2 million customers across central and eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis area 15.
  • Evergy: Formed from the merger of Great Plains Energy and Westar Energy, Evergy operates in Missouri through two main entities: Evergy Missouri Metro (formerly Kansas City Power & Light) serving the Kansas City metropolitan area, and Evergy Missouri West (serving western and northwestern Missouri) 7.
  • Liberty Utilities: Operates as The Empire District Electric Company, primarily serving southwest Missouri, including Joplin 15.

Electric Cooperatives Missouri's cooperative network utilizes a three-tier system to serve nearly 80% of the state's landmass and over two million people 16.

  • Generation & Transmission: Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI) acts as the massive wholesale power supplier for the system.
  • Regional and Distribution: Six regional transmission cooperatives transmit power from AECI to 40 local distribution cooperatives 15.
  • Cuivre River Electric Cooperative: The largest consumer-owned distribution cooperative in the state, serving over 70,000 members in counties such as St. Charles and Lincoln 15.

Municipal Utilities Municipal utilities (Munis) are city-owned, not-for-profit entities. The Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) represents more than 120 of these hometown utilities 17.

  • City Utilities of Springfield (CU): One of the largest municipal utilities in the state, providing power to the Springfield metropolitan area.
  • Columbia Water & Light: Provides electric service to the City of Columbia.
  • Independence Power & Light: Serves the City of Independence and is ranked among the 100 largest public power utilities in the U.S. 18.

5. SSS-Eligible Resources​

ResourceTypeCapacity (MW)SSS EligibleNotes
ConventionalNuclear550✅ YesOperating nuclear

6. EAC/REC Registry Infrastructure​

The North American Renewables Registry (NAR) is the designated compliance system for tracking and trading Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) under the Missouri Renewable Energy Standard (RES) 1920. The registry is operated by APX and facilitates the issuance, tracking, and retirement of RECs for investor-owned utilities to demonstrate compliance with state mandates 2121. One REC is issued for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of qualifying renewable energy delivered to the grid 21.

While NAR serves as the primary compliance registry, the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) also functions as a tracking mechanism for Missouri, issuing unique serial numbers for renewable generation 20. NAR offers flexibility for transfers across North American systems, whereas M-RETS primarily serves the broader Midwest region 1922.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Energy oversees facility eligibility by certifying that renewable energy facilities meet state fuel and technology criteria 2021. Owners must submit a Renewable Energy Standard Eligibility Certification Application to the DNR to generate certificates 21. The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) manages general compliance aspects of the RES through a contracted tracking entity 2021.

7. Grid Emissions​

Generation Mix​

Scope 2 Reporting​

  • SB 253 requires Scope 2 reporting for companies >$1B revenue

Source: EPA eGRID, EIA, state regulatory filings

References​

Sources & Last Updated​

Research Date: 2026-03-10
Data Sources: EIA, EPA eGRID, state regulatory filings, SerpAPI research aggregation

This page was generated using automated research and may contain inaccuracies. Verify critical data with primary sources.

Footnotes​

  1. R Street Institute ↩ ↩2

  2. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  3. Low-Carbon Power ↩

  4. MU Extension ↩

  5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (.gov) ↩

  6. Missouri Office of Public Counsel (.gov) ↩

  7. Missouri Energy Workforce Consortium ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. MOST Policy Initiative ↩

  9. Missouri Public Utility Alliance ↩

  10. Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance ↩

  11. Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  12. Missouri clean energy mandate law ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  13. NRDC ↩

  14. Resources for the Future ↩ ↩2

  15. Missouri Public Service Commission (.gov) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  16. www.moelectriccoops.com ↩

  17. American Cities Climate Challenge ↩

  18. City of Columbia Missouri (.gov) ↩

  19. Green-E ↩ ↩2

  20. resource-solutions.org ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  21. Missouri Department of Natural Resources (.gov) ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  22. National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) (.gov) ↩