Prohibits public utilities from charging for costs for construction in progress

HJR 196 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit Missouri public utilities from charging customers for costs related to construction in progress (before a facility is fully operational and providing service). If adopted, this would prevent utilities from including these pre-operational costs in customer rates. The amendment directly affects public utilities (like electric or gas companies) and their ratepayers by eliminating a specific cost category from billing. It is currently in early legislative stages, having been introduced in February 2026.