Federal rules impact local utility rates, cause concern

Congressman visits BMU power plant to discuss issues with local utility officials

jillb@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- It isn't the regulations that bother Rick Landers. It's the regulations that follow the regulations.

According to Landers, utility manager for the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities, Sikeston is currently spending $4 million to bring its wastewater emissions in compliance with federal regulations. However, he said, officials are aware there is another regulation coming through that will ratchet down those regulations even more and require more money to be spent.

He fears even more stringent regulations after that.

"We can handle regulation," said Landers. "We are dealing with over-regulation, plain and simple."

Landers expressed his concerns Tuesday to Missouri Eighth District Representative Jason Smith. Smith was in Sikeston to tour the Board of Municipal Utilities Power Plant, which has made a $5 million update to its turbines for major efficiency improvements to meet recent government regulations.

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