Month: January 2026

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ameren has canceled its alert asking customers to conserve energy as extreme cold drives up electricity demand across the region.

The cancellation comes after the Midcontinent Independent System Operator– which oversees the Midwest power grid– urged energy companies to reduce usage. Ameren said it is still monitoring conditions and warned customers may be asked to conserve again in the coming days.

Some Ameren customers said they are frustrated by the requests to cut back, especially as energy bills continue to rise.

On Friday, Ameren told ABC 17 News that hundreds of crews are ready to respond if outages happen. The company also said trailers with restoration equipment have already been moved to strategic locations to speed up recovery.

At the same time, Ameren activated demand response programs–agreements some customers previously signed up for that require them to reduce energy use during periods of extremely high demand.

But for some customers, those requests hit a nerve.

Belinda Kitchen has been an Ameren customer for 11 years and is enrolled in the company’s budget billing program, which is intended to spread energy costs evenly throughout the year based on past usage.

She said being asked to cut back during a five-hour window doesn’t add up, especially when she’s already paying a steady monthly bill.

“I think it’s kind of crazy because, one, they have got the rates up, and why should we have to do that? Because, one, we’re trying to keep warm and we’re trying to do the best that we can,” Kitchen said.

During the five-hour energy-saving period, Ameren asked customers to lower their thermostats, wear extra layers, unplug or turn off nonessential appliances, cover windows, and reduce water heater temperatures.

Kitchen said her family has been cutting back for months, but their bills haven’t gone down, leaving her wondering where the money is going.

“In November we had Thanksgiving dinner and the thermostat was set on 69 so we cut it,” Kitchen said. “We had it back on 68 for December, and we didn’t use the stove, and our bill doubled for December.”

Kitchen lives in a three-person household and said her most recent bill was $180 on budget billing, only slightly lower than when she first moved in eleven years ago, when it was around $200.

She said rising rates make it especially difficult for families.

“They need to keep the rates down for low-income people, honestly, and think about all the other people and not think about the almighty dollar,” Kitchen said.

Ameren was not the only utility company that asked customers to conserve. Columbia Water and Light also posted on social media Saturday afternoon urging residents to cut back where they can.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Watch live online newscasts with winter storm updates here.

The first one airs at 3 p.m.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia reminded drivers to move their vehicles that are parked along heavily trafficked roads as snow continued to build up on the ground Saturday evening.

Columbia Public Works wrote in a social media post that a 26-person snow-removal crew reported to work at 7 p.m. and will work overnight on priority routes. The city reminded drivers that vehicles must be removed from first- and second-priority routes or be towed once snow accumulation reaches 2 inches.

The Columbia Regional Airport measured 1.2 inches of snowfall at 6 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service reported. Snow continued to fall and was expected to keep falling into Sunday.

Most of Mid-Missouri remained under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. Sunday.

Roads south of Interstate 70 remained mostly covered in snow after sunset Saturday, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map. The map showed I-70 itself was partially covered.

Interstate 44 reopened after tractor-trailers jackknife

Interstate 44 eastbound reopened in the St. Robert area in Pulaski County at about 4:30 p.m.

The highway closed several hours earlier, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol saying “multiple” tractor-trailers had jackknifed on the snow-covered road.

State highways south of Interstate 70 were listed as covered in snow on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map. Most of Mid-Missouri remained under a winter weather warning Saturday afternoon as snow continued to fall. Temperatures were in the single digits around the area, with negative wind chills.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team forecasts several more inches of snow to fall before the storm exits the area on Sunday.

Interstate 44 closed in Pulaski County as snowfall continues

The highway patrol closed one side of Interstate 44 in Pulaski County on Saturday afternoon after a pileup involving multiple tractor-trailers.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I posted on social media that eastbound I-44 was closed at mile marker 163 in the St. Robert area after “multiple tractor-trailers jackknifed.” The patrol did not provide other details.

The Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map showed the closure would likely last several hours.

The map lists I-44 in the area of the crash as snow-covered. The map also showed Highway 63 covered from the Lake of the Ozarks area to the northern border of Boone County. Most smaller state highways were also listed as covered.

Interstate 70 was partially covered throughout the state.

A public observer in Rolla reported about an inch of snowfall just before 1 p.m.

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