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Missouri regulators to investigate solar rebate payments

Missouri regulators will look into complaints that the state’s investor-owned utilities have taken longer than the maximum 30 days to pay solar rebates to customers.

The Missouri Public Service Commission staff proposed investigating the payment practices of Kansas City Power & Light and Ameren Missouri two months ago. The PSC announced the investigation Tuesday.

The solar rebate program was part of the voter-approved renewable energy law passed in 2008 that was supposed to kick-start solar energy in Missouri. It required the utilities to pay rebates to customers who install solar panels but was not allowed to raise rates more than 1 percent.

Ameren and KCP&L have invoked the 1 percent clause to effectively cap the programs. Ameren customers had spoken for all the program funds by late last year, and projects were supposed to be finished by the end of June to receive the full rebate. It’s unclear whether solar rebates will continue in the state without new legislation.

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