The Missouri Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned electric, steam, natural gas, water and sewer and telephone companies. Its mission is to ensure Missouri consumers have access to safe, reliable and reasonably priced utility service while allowing those utility companies under our jurisdiction an opportunity to earn a reasonable return on their investment. The PSC also regulates manufacturers and retail dealers who sell new and used manufactured homes and modular units. The commission was established in 1913. The PSC is comprised of five commissioners, who are appointed by the governor.
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PR-08-45 -- PSC Sets Intervention Deadline In Embarq Competitive Classification Case
Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- OCTOBER 3, 2007
JEFFERSON CITY—The Staff of the Missouri Public Service Commission has, as required by state law, conducted a review and filed a report regarding the competitive classification of those Embarg Missouri, Inc. d/b/a Embarq (Embarq) exchanges that have been previously granted competitive status by the PSC.
Currently Embarq has 13 exchanges with competitive classification for residential services and nine exchanges with competitive classification for business services. State law requires the Commission to review within certain time frames if competitive conditions continue to exist in these exchanges. Embarq provides telecommunications services in 78 exchanges in Missouri.
In the PSC Staff’s report, it states the conditions for competitive classification continue to exist in Embarq’s competitively classified exchanges. Staff notes that there are at least two nonaffiliated entities providing local voice service within the exchange with one of those carriers providing local voice service within the exchange on either a full or partial facility basis. In addition Staff states Embarq has not increased basic local telecommunications service rates in competitively classified exchanges during the past two years.
Under state law, the Commission is to review whether the competitive conditions continue to exist in a company’s competitively classified exchanges. Such a review is to occur at least every two years or where the company increases rates for basic local telecommunications services. If the Commission determines competitive conditions do not exist within an exchange, the Commission is to remove the exchange’s competitive classification.
Applications to intervene and participate in this case must be filed on or before October 22, 2007, with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102. Copies of the application should be sent to: Linda Gardner, Embarq Missouri, Inc., 5454 West 110th Street, KSOPKJ0401, Overland Park, Kansas 66211; and the Office of the Public Counsel, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2230.
The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission. Individual citizens wishing to comment should contact either the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Suite 650, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2230, telephone 573-751-4857, e-mail opcservice@ded.mo.gov) or the Public Service Commission Staff (P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 1-800-392-4211, e-mail pscinfo@psc.mo.gov).
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Case No. IO-2008-0092