Electric Utility

About Electric

Electricity is generated at a power station or power plant from fossil fuels or renewable resources. Approximately 90% of Columbia’s energy comes from sources outside the city. Once the power is generated, it has to be moved to where it is going to be used. Large amounts of power are transferred with electric transmission lines which feed into substations where transformers step down the power to lower voltages. From there, power is delivered to individual electric customers by distribution system. 

Columbia Water & Light is responsible for construction and maintenance of transmission lines, substations and distribution lines. Our crews are available around the clock to repair unexpected problems as quickly as possible.

Distribution & outages

The electric transmission network delivers electricity to Columbia’s grid from outside suppliers. Columbia Water & Light is in the control area of the Midcontinent System Operator (MISO).  MISO is an independent system operator that controls the flow of electricity in northern part of the Midwest.

Power outages and restoration of service

Columbia Water & Light’s top priority is to provide reliable electric service. Unfortunately, there are times when high winds, ice, squirrels, birds, etc., can cause interruptions with our electric system. When problems occur, Columbia Water & Light makes every effort to restore your power as soon as possible. For more questions related to power outages and restoration, see the FAQ.

Outage map

View the City’s outage map.

Back-up generator installation

If you have electrical equipment in your home that you feel you cannot be without during power outages and you’re considering purchasing a generator, take a few moments to think about safety. For more information, please visit the generator installation page

Meter reading

Meters are highly accurate instruments that are similar to an odometer on your car. One way to monitor your consumption is to read your meter and check it daily or weekly. If you read your meter at the same time each day, subtract the present reading from the previous day’s reading to determine the number of kilowatt-hours used in one day. Reading your meter often, along with careful observation of the weather and appliances being used, can help you manage energy consumption and evaluate the effectiveness of appliances. For more information, visit the meter reading page

Electric rates

View electric rates on the Utility Rates page.

Billing periods

Your meter is read once a month by a Columbia Water & Light employee. Due to weekends, holidays or the length of the month, the total days between each meter reading may vary. It’s possible for your monthly usage to increase or decrease from the previous billing period even though your average daily use remains the same. If there is a billing error, it will be handled in the normal procedure, with a credit adjustment on your next bill. E-mail a Customer Service Representative at UCS@CoMo.gov or call 573.874.7380opens phone dialer. If there is a question about electric or water usage, the meter will be re-read. If you would like to lower your electric usage, request a free energy audit online or call 573.874.2489opens phone dialer.

Estimated bills

On occasion, events beyond the utility’s control may force your home’s electric usage for a month’s billing cycle to be estimated. Locked gates, threatening dogs, covered or blocked meters and dangerous weather conditions can make it impossible for meter readers to reach your electric meter. Bills are estimated in mass when weather conditions cause a safety hazard for meter readers. As you build or landscape your home, think about how a Columbia Water & Light Meter Reader is going to access your meter. If you are fencing in your yard, is your meter inside or outside a locked gate? Does the landscaping next to your house allow room for someone to get to your meter to read it?

Calculating your energy consumption

Meters are highly accurate instruments that are similar to an odometer on your car. One way to monitor your consumption is to read your meter and check it daily or weekly. If you read your meter at the same time each day, subtract the present reading from the previous day’s reading to determine the number of kilowatt-hours used in one day. By reading your meter at the same time each day, you will get an exact total of the electricity you have used. By noting high consumption activities, such as air conditioning in the summer, you will know where you are spending your energy dollars. Reading your meter often, along with careful observation of the weather and appliances being used, can help you manage energy consumption and evaluate the effectiveness of appliances.

Requesting a mechanical meter

A residential customer can request to have a mechanical analog meter installed but they are costly to read and maintain. Since mechanical meters are no longer domestically manufactured, there is a $75 fee to cover the costs of purchasing and refurbishing an old analog meter. A monthly fee of $5 will be charged to manually read the meter. A customer can switch back to a standard meter at any time and the $5 monthly charge will be discontinued. To request a non-standard mechanical meter, contact the City of Columbia Utility Customer Service by calling 573.874.2489opens phone dialer or drop by their office at 701 E. Broadway. You will need to sign an agreement for this service.

Access to utility data

Columbia Water & Light does not know what customers are doing with the electricity supplied; only the amount used. Employees transfer usage data once a month directly from the handheld reader device through the City of Columbia’s secured computer network to the billing system. Columbia Water & Light does not sell utility usage data. According to the Missouri Sunshine laws, usage data could be requested and a fee assessed in order to facilitate the request. In order for this situation to change, the State of Missouri would have to change the Sunshine Laws to exempt utility data.

Electric production

Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy. For electric utilities, it is the first process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. The other processes as transmission, distribution, energy storage and recovery using pumped-storage methods are normally carried out by the electric power industry. Electricity is most often generated at a power station by electromechanical generators, primarily driven by heat engines fueled by combustion or nuclear fission but also by other means such as the kinetic energy of flowing water and wind.

Outside energy suppliers:

Location Fuel Type Capacity (MW)
Sikeston Coal 66.0
Iatan II Coal 20.0
Prairie State Coal 50.0
Crystal Lake Wind 37.5
Bluegrass Ridge Wind 6.3
Jefferson City Landfill Landfill Gas 3.2
Truman Solar Solar 10.0

Local energy suppliers:

Location Fuel type Capacity (MW)
Municipal Power Plant Natural Gas 47.5
Columbia Energy Center Natural Gas 144.0
Landfill Gas Plant Landfill Gas 3.2
Bernadette Solar Solar 0.3
Net Metering Solar 4.0

Total energy supply: 392.0

Coal combustion

For more information on coal combustion and the plant closure, see the Coal Combustion page.

Renewable energy

In November 2004, Columbians approved a renewable energy ordinance for the city’s power supply portfolio. The ordinance mandates Columbia Water & Light purchase increasing levels of energy from renewable resources. Each year, the utility is required to submit a plan outlining compliance with the ordinance. The Water & Light Advisory Board and the Environment and Energy Commission review the 2024 Renewable Energy Plan Draftopens PDF file before it goes to the Columbia City Council for a public hearing.

Future electric supply and energy efficiency program plans can be found in the Integrated Resource Planopens PDF file .
 
In 2022, Water & Light staff started the process of evaluating options toward meeting a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030. This study from The Energy Authority, a consultant for the City, will help inform the City on future expansions of renewable energy supply.

Renewable energy portfolio

Columbia city ordinance requires Water & Light to generate or purchase electricity generated from eligible renewable energy sources at the following levels:

  • 5% of electric retail sales by December 31, 2012
  • 15% of electric retail sales by December 31, 2017
  • 25% of electric retail sales by December 31, 2022
  • 30% of electric retail sales by December 31, 2028

The cost of the renewable energy mandated in the ordinance must not increase electric rates more than 3% higher than the electric rates attributed to the cost of electricity generated from 100% non-renewable sources. See the opens in a new windowCity of Columbia Code of Ordinances for the full text of the mandate.

NOTE: The renewable energy ordinance was revised by the Columbia City Council on January 6, 2014. The percentage of required renewable energy increased from 10% to 15% by 2018, from 15% to 25% by 2023 and set a new goal of 30% by 2029.

References

Engineering

Integrated Electric Resource and Master Plan

The Integrated Electric Resource and Master Plan Task Force was established in 2018 to assist the City of Columbia in the Electric Utility’s planning process in conjunction with the preparation of a study conducted by Siemens, a consultant for the City. 

The purposes of the Integrated Electric Resource and Master Plan include a review of service and usage forecasts and a determination of the costs of expanding Water & Light’s transmission and distribution system.

The Integrated Electric Resource and Master Plan Task Force, a citizen-led committee, hosted a public meeting to discuss the Integrated Electric Resource and Master Plan reports and the task force’s recommendations to the City Council.

Construction Service Manual

Rules, Regulations and Policy relating to Installation and Extension of Water and Electric Facilities

Facilities Connection Requirements

This document outlines the requirements for generation, transmission, and end-use facilities of customers to be connected to the Columbia Water & Light Department (CWLD) electric system.  Its purpose is to promote safety of people and equipment, compatibility between customer facilities and CWLD facilities, and maintenance of reliability of the regional electric system when a customer requests an interconnection with CWLD.  It complies with the requirements of the NERC Standard FAC-001 and FAC-002.

Water Main Construction Specification

This document is provided for developers constructing water mains within the City of Columbia’s water territory. The official, signed copy is on file with the Columbia Water & Light Engineering Division and might include updates that have not been posted on the web site yet. The web document is only meant as a reference.