Spire

Thousands of miles of oil and natural gas pipelines already crisscross the country. Now, many more are being proposed to carry things like hydrogen and carbon dioxide as ways to combat climate change.

In its petition, Illinois said Spire broke state law by failing to comply with a consent order from 2021 requiring that it place proper measures against erosion.

“The productivity will never be what it was,” said one landowner whose farmland has been significantly damaged by the construction project.

St. Louis-based gas utility Spire is expanding programs that help customers with past due bills and those with medical emergencies pay their bills. The company’s additional efforts to help some customers come as it raises rates about $3 a month for the average customer.

Spire officials say another rate hike is needed to cover the cost of employee salaries, after state regulators revised long-standing policies last year.

Spire Missouri has faced sharp criticism from some elected officials after the St. Louis-based utility stoked fears of widespread gas shortages if a pipeline is shuttered.

The pipeline is operating under a temporary certificate that expires Dec. 13.

The Missouri Public Service Commission wants to see all of Spire’s communications about the pipeline with customers since this summer.

Spire Missouri warns customers that there could be gas service outages in the St. Louis area this winter.

The company said in a court filing that it would appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.