I’ve been sheltered here in Barry County.

Until the recent purchase of the Neosho public water and wastewater systems by Missouri American Water (MAW), I didn’t realize that many public water systems in the state are owned and operated by shareholders in publicly-traded stock.

“What a windfall for stockholders if they’re providing water to data centers!” I thought.

The same could be said for shareholders in electric companies.

Liberty Utilities, which serves electricity to northern Barry County, provides water, wastewater and electricity, so the corporation is uniquely positioned to profit from data centers, it seems to me.

As much as I would like to believe otherwise, I doubt that any squawking we average citizens participate in will stop the laying of the golden eggs that data centers represent for private utility companies. When there’s money to be had, nests have a way of getting feathered.

A little nudge from Governor Mike Kehoe is likely to help the goose along. Last year, the governor put his pen to Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), a law that allows utility companies under the regulation of the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) — which Liberty is — to charge customers in advance for construction projects.

Liberty didn’t wait around. Earlier this year, they announced a $750 million project to upgrade the capacity of their transmission lines from Branson to Joplin, and on to the Kansas state line, then got approval from the PSC to raise customers’ rate.

Let me clarify. Liberty’s request for a rate hike isn’t to cover the cost of their expensive transmission-line project. That would be against the law. Electricity projects seem to be an exception to the charge-in-advance gratuities offered to other utilities by SB 4. Missouri law says that it’s “unjust, unreasonable, and is prohibited” for an electrical corporation to charge in advance for new construction, before a project is fully operational. (RSMo. 393.135)

How virtuous! I’ve not yet seen a law offer such an opinion on an action, so take note. That phrase could disappear altogether after the next session of the General Assembly convenes.

However, in keeping with the virtuous spirit of the current law, I won’t say that the purpose of Liberty’s electric rate hikes is to compensate in advance for their new transmission line project. I’ll just call them a reward for good behavior, as the PSC, in essence, does — because Liberty met “customer service and billing metrics with over 99% compliance.” 

It’s kind of like buying a kid a lollipop at the cash register because he didn’t wreak havoc in the grocery store.

Liberty’s rate hike was scheduled to go into effect the first week in August. Last month. During the hottest summer on record.

Of course, Liberty couldn’t help the weather. I’m not suggesting a conspiracy of that magnitude.

I am pointing out that their phased, three-year rate increase coincides almost perfectly with the 2030 projected date of completion for their transmission-line project.

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE), always savvy to the significance of legislative changes that could impact the environment, states that allowing utilities to charge in advance for construction projects “applies specifically to water and gas companies, like Spire and Missouri American Water, not electric companies.” (https://tinyurl.com/bddmpnba).

Wait! That second name grabs me: Missouri American Water — the company who just purchased the Neosho public water system.

MAW also petitioned the US Army Corp of Engineers (Corp) for authorization to create the 828-acre Baynham Branch Reservoir in Newton County, to provide drinking water to Joplin and the surrounding areas. If the project moves forward, Shoal Creek will be impounded southwest of Granby, and water will be pumped from the creek into the reservoir, from whence it can be piped to Joplin and Neosho (https://tinyurl.com/ddya9dhs). 

The Corp placed federal permit SWL-2019-00034, for the reservoir, on public notice, on April 3, 2025.

The DNR states that they’ve “received significant public inquiry” about the reservoir project, but have not yet received the necessary request for Clean Water Act Section 401 certification.

I expect they’ll receive that request soon.

I also expect that Missouri American Water will be petitioning the PSC to raise customers’ water rates in advance of Baynham Branch Reservoir’s construction.

I’d say there’s also a good chance the project will be approved — and possibly even completed — around the time that Liberty has their new and improved transmission lines running: just in time for the goose to drop a golden egg in Joplin.

Sheila Harris is a long-time Barry County resident and a sales executive and investigative reporter for the Cassville Democrat with a particular interest in environmental topics. She may be reached at [email protected].