Missouri Tenant Rights for Utility Shutoff Protections

Utilities, Services & Billing Missouri published: June 21, 2025 Flag of Missouri

If you rent a home or apartment in Missouri, keeping your water, electricity, and gas services turned on is essential. Sometimes, renters face disconnection of these vital services—whether from billing disputes, landlord nonpayment, or hardship. Understanding your rights regarding utility shutoff protections in Missouri can help you stay safe and housed. This guide will walk you through your key protections, crucial steps, and official resources based on current state law and public utility rules.

What Protections Do Missouri Tenants Have Against Utility Shutoff?

In Missouri, both state law and utility company regulations put some safeguards in place to prevent renters from losing essential utility services without proper notice. These protections vary based on who pays for the utility—whether it’s you, the tenant, or your landlord—and the type of service involved.

  • Advance Notice: Utility companies must provide at least 10 days’ written notice before disconnecting electric or gas service for nonpayment.[1]
  • Special Shutoff Restrictions: No disconnects are allowed when the National Weather Service predicts temperatures below 32°F for the next 24 hours.
  • Payment Arrangements: Utilities regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) offer payment plan options for customers unable to pay their bills in full.
  • Medical Emergencies: You can submit a Medical Certificate form to delay shutoff if you or a household member has a serious medical condition made worse by loss of service.
  • Landlord Nonpayment Situations: If your landlord is responsible for paying a utility but does not, the utility company must attempt to inform tenants before disconnecting service.

What to Do If You Get a Utility Shutoff Notice in Missouri

If you receive a notice that your electric or gas service will be disconnected, act quickly. Missouri’s protections give you important rights, but strict deadlines apply.

  • Check the notice date and reason for shutoff—ensure you are the utility account holder, or, if not, ask your landlord immediately for clarification.
  • Contact your utility provider to ask about payment arrangements or available energy assistance options, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
  • If your household is facing a medical emergency, request the utility's Medical Certificate form (see below) to delay the shutoff.
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  • For landlord nonpayment, ask the utility what steps you can take to put the account in your name, or to receive continued service during the dispute. Under PSC rules, the utility must inform you of these rights.
If your health or safety would be at risk due to shutoff, always notify your utility provider immediately and request all available protections.

Official Missouri Utility Forms Tenants Should Know

  • Medical Certificate Form: Used to delay a utility shutoff for a documented medical emergency. Your doctor completes this form and submits it to the utility providing your service.
    When to use: For example, if your child relies on a nebulizer and you cannot pay your bill, your doctor can fill out this form to temporarily postpone disconnection.
    Download the official Medical Certificate Form (PSC)

If your landlord withholds your utilities to force you to move out, this is a violation of Missouri’s landlord-tenant law and you may have the right to take legal action. You can learn more about your rights in these situations from the Missouri Attorney General's guide on landlord-tenant law.

Who Regulates Tenant Utility Rights?

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) handles complaints about shutoff practices and utility billing questions. For landlord-tenant disputes around utilities, you may also consult local courts under Missouri’s landlord-tenant statutes.

What If My Service Was Shut Off After Proper Notice?

If you were disconnected after proper legal notice, work with the utility or apply for aid programs right away. If you believe you were disconnected without notice or in violation of state law, you can file a complaint with the PSC’s Customer Experience Center. Document all communications and keep copies of bills or forms submitted.

FAQ: Missouri Tenant Utility Shutoff Protections

  1. Can my landlord legally shut off my utilities to make me move out?
    No. Under Missouri landlord-tenant law, landlords may not cut off utilities to force a tenant to leave. Tenants have the right to pursue legal remedies if a landlord does this unlawfully.
  2. What if I can't pay my electric or gas bill in full?
    Contact your utility provider. Missouri law requires the utility to offer payment arrangements and give you details about aid like LIHEAP.
  3. Does the weather affect when my utilities can be shut off?
    Yes. Utilities cannot disconnect service if it will drop below 32°F in the next 24 hours, per PSC rules.
  4. How can I file a complaint about an illegal utility shutoff?
    Submit a complaint through the Missouri Public Service Commission's Customer Experience Center, or contact your local court if it's a landlord issue.
  5. What forms are available for renters facing utility shutoff?
    The Medical Certificate Form (PSC) can delay disconnection for qualifying medical emergencies. Additional financial aid forms may be available through your provider or state services.

Key Takeaways for Missouri Renters

  • Missouri tenants have rights to advance notice, payment arrangements, and weather-related shutoff restrictions.
  • Medical emergencies may qualify for a shutoff delay if certified by a doctor.
  • Landlords cannot lawfully disconnect utilities to prompt a move-out—seek help if this happens.

Stay informed by communicating with your utility provider and consulting official state resources if you are at risk.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

  1. Missouri Public Service Commission: Disconnect and Reconnect Regulations
  2. Missouri Revised Statutes Section 441.650 - Landlord Prohibited from Utility Disconnect

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Bob Jones
Bob Jones

Editor & Researcher, Tenant Rights USA

Bob writes and reviews tenant law content for various regions. They’re passionate about housing justice and simplifying legal protections for renters everywhere.

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