Aurora, Missouri, residents say Liberty Utilities electric charges have jumped from several hundred dollars to more than $1,000, leaving households across town fearful about paying for a basic necessity.
Here's what to know
Sara Hooker, one of several Aurora customers who told KY3 that Liberty Utilities charges had surged without a clear explanation, said she had not received bills and now faces a balance she says is close to $8,000.
"$4,097 from $2,800 in a month? That's still $1,200 that they're charging me," Aurora resident Cailey Tucker said, describing a monthly bill that rose by more than $1,000. She cited the change as an example of how quickly the costs had climbed.
Looking at her household budget, Aurora senior Cindy Lightfoot said the electric bill is starting to approach what she pays for housing.
"I can pay $100 or $150," she said. "But I have never, ever got a $400 bill. Especially when I moved into a house that had several less rooms than the one I moved from."
Without noticing a change in usage, Aurora resident Patrick McCloud said his balance kept rising from month to month. "I understand a price increase. But when you go from $200 to $300. The very next month it's $365. The next month it's $490. The next month is $622. Then, $1,075, and that's not behind," McCloud said.
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More background
KY3 reported that the Missouri Public Service Commission investigated Liberty Utilities after complaints about billing and customer service increased.
Sarah Fontaine of the Missouri Public Service Commission said Liberty is still being monitored and must provide quarterly billing-metric reports. She added that the company's reports alone cannot account for what customers say they are experiencing.
"Even though we're gathering these metrics from the company, which we will continue to do, it's still no replacement for hearing from the customer themselves," she said.
According to McCloud, higher bills are pressuring housing decisions in Aurora.
What's being done?
That investigation did not end the commission's oversight. The Missouri Public Service Commission continues to monitor Liberty and requires quarterly reports on billing metrics.
Fontaine said the commission still needs customers to share their own experiences directly.
Liberty Utilities declined an on-camera interview, but told KY3 in a statement that it was reviewing the issues. It said customers with billing or meter concerns should call so the customer service team can review the account, compare past usage, and have the meter checked for accuracy.
The company also said it could not discuss private account information and that its initial investigation "does not indicate a system issue." It added, "If there is an error, we will correct it."
McCloud put it this way: "You know how many people in this town have decided they're looking for another place to live because of the electric bill?"
Where can I learn more?
These stories add context to the pressure Aurora residents described.
• In Missouri, cities that challenged a coal plant later saw power bills soar 191%.
• Ameren Missouri wants a rate hike that could add $13 to bills in 2027.
• Across the U.S., 80 million Americans are struggling to keep up with power bills.
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