On Nov. 16, 2021, Spire also responded to the EDF in writing. Read more >

Spire Missouri, as a responsible public utility, has an obligation to provide its customers with safe and reliable natural gas service and stand up as a champion for the people of Missouri. When we become aware of a potential threat to that service, we believe it’s important to keep our customers informed so that everyone can be prepared. 

Since the June 22, 2021 ruling in EDF v. FERC by the DC Circuit vacating the Spire STL Pipeline’s approval to operate, Spire Missouri has been focused on keeping customers and other stakeholders up to date on the facts about the critical importance of the Spire STL Pipeline to delivering reliable, affordable energy to the St. Louis region, and how Spire is advocating on their behalf. This includes substantial documentation submitted to the FERC about potential service disruptions if the Pipeline is taken out of service, backed by more than 100 supportive letters and interventions representing a cross-section of stakeholders from Missouri business owners and first responders to advocacy groups and concerned customers. 

While we appreciate EDF’s recent acknowledgment on Oct. 5 that the Spire STL Pipeline is necessary “during the 2021-2022 winter season…to prevent disruption to natural gas service to St. Louis residents,” it cannot be ignored that EDF brought this lawsuit in the first place, and that it could result in a potential shutdown of this critical energy infrastructure for the region.  In fact, despite having numerous opportunities to join Spire Missouri’s efforts to ensure the continued operation of the Spire STL Pipeline through the winter heating season, EDF instead consistently chose the opposite path to place the Pipeline in further threat of a shutdown. Not only did EDF intervene on Aug. 5 in opposition to Spire STL Pipeline’s temporary emergency certificate application currently before the FERC, EDF has opposed every legal attempt by Spire STL Pipeline and Spire Missouri to keep the Pipeline in service. Most recently, on Oct. 11 EDF opposed the Pipeline’s emergency stay application at the Supreme Court. 

And while EDF has acknowledged that the Pipeline should be kept in service to prevent potential service disruptions, it continues to accuse Spire Missouri of creating unnecessary alarm by informing customers about these very real risks.  The Spire STL Pipeline temporary emergency certificate expires on Dec. 13, 2021. Despite EDF’s repeated public statements that FERC will grant an additional certificate, Spire STL Pipeline has no assurances regarding if or when the Commission will act. Given that intervening parties are not allowed to communicate with FERC during this process, if EDF knows about any action the FERC intends to take, we strongly encourage EDF to tell us, and the public, what the FERC intends to do and when.

Since the permanent certificate issued by the FERC in 2018 was vacated by the DC courts, and because we don’t know when, or even whether, the FERC will act to extend the temporary emergency certificate, Spire Missouri has an obligation and responsibility to its customers to be transparent and keep them up to date about the potential risks facing the St. Louis region during the winter heating season. We will continue to fully cooperate with the FERC to provide a complete and transparent record so that FERC can make a determination on these issues. As always, we remain committed to taking good care of our community and ensuring that the St. Louis region maintains access to reliable, affordable natural gas.