Eye on Local Government

Council Votes 4-2 to Raise Kirkwood Electric Rate

The new rate for Kirkwood Electric is lower than Ameren's. Customers' bills will increase $76 a year on average.

Customers of Kirkwood Electric will pay more this year due to a rate increase approved by the Kirkwood City Council.  Councilors voted 4-2 in favor of a bill that sets the electric rate to 9.86¢ per kilowatt-hour for a typical customer. The rate will increase the average customer's utility bills $10 each month from October through May but will decrease utility bills $4 each month from June through September for an annual increase of $76. Under the new rate, customers will pay $9 a year less than those with Ameren. The increase is the first for the public utility in three years.  "We're doing this at a level that is still making rates competitive and our rates are lower than Ameren at all our rate classes," Kirkwood Electric Director Mark …

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CITY: Watering During Drought Could Up Bills and Hurt Firefighters

If you water your lawn constantly, expect lower pressure, higher bills and knowing that you could be draining firefighters of essential supplies.

The following article was submitted by the City of Kirkwood. The City of Kirkwood, which operates its own water utility company providing water service to its residents, asks residents to take care and to use restraint in watering outdoor lawns and gardens during the current heat wave. There is no way to know how long the region’s current drought-like conditions will continue.  It is critical for public safety that water storage tanks remain full for firefighting needs. Typically, grass watering drops significantly when customers realize the futility of trying to maintain a green lawn in the middle of a heat spell. Additionally, many residents may begin to see lower water pressure and higher-than-normal water bills if outdoor watering …

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Ron G.

2:42 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Great questions. I recv'd a 'robocall' today from the city, asking we stop watering LAWNS...but nothing about flowers or shrubs....I certainly don't want to lose them either and a slow drip for a tree or shrub uses little water and is recommended in this drought...   more ›