and Margaret B. Kelly

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri families need affordable, reliable energy for our homes and places of work. The ability to generate adequate electricity within Missouri has become crucial to assuring that it remains affordable and reliable. Congested power lines, price spikes and shortages have become familiar stories in states where demand outpaces power supply.

Constitutional Amendment 4 on the November ballot presents an important opportunity to help secure the state's energy future. The Missouri legislature was virtually unanimous in approving the amendment so that municipal utilities can join with each other and with other utilities to develop vital power facilities most economically.

Missouri's 88 city-owned electric utilities want to do their part in maintaining the state's energy self-reliance, but most are too small to economically build individual plants to meet their needs. By addressing this issue through partnerships, Amendment 4 helps the customers of the state's smallest utilities and contributes to Missouri's overall energy security.

We have agreed to co-chair the Yes on 4 Committee because affordable energy is important to all Missourians, no matter what utility provides their service. As a Democrat and a Republican, we are pleased that such a diverse array of business, labor, community and consumer leaders have come together on the committee. We are united by the goal of keeping Missouri the kind of place where families, neighbors and communities can look forward to a secure and stable future.

Amendment 4 is not a total solution for the state's energy future, but it is a sound and positive step. It will not in any way affect the regulation of the state's investor-owned utilities and will ensure that municipal activities remain regulated at the local level rather than by the Missouri Public Service Commission. It could save state revenue and imposes no new costs.

On the November ballot, the text describing Amendment 4 will read as follows:

Shall joint boards or commissions, established by contract between political subdivisions, be authorized to own joint projects, to issue bonds in compliance with then applicable requirements of law, the bonds not being indebtedness of the state or political subdivisions, and such activities not to be regulated by the Public Service Commission?

This measure provides potential savings of state revenue and imposes no new costs.

Although we are not aware of any opposition to Amendment 4, the complicated terminology of the ballot language makes it important that voters inform themselves before going to the polls.

Rebecca M. Cook of Jackson is the former Missouri secretary of state. Margaret B. Kelly of Jefferson City, Mo., is the former Missouri state auditor. They co-chair the Yes on 4 Leadership Council.