A new Missouri law will protect people from electric or gas utility shutoffs for longer periods of time during extreme heat and cold weather.

Missouri utility companies are now prohibited from shutting off service for longer periods during extreme weather.

The legislature changed the state's hot and cold weather rules in a massive utility bill called SB4, which takes effect Thursday.

Before, utilities had to pause disconnections for 24 hours when extreme hot or cold weather was in the forecast. Now, they'll be prevented from shutting off service for 72 hours if temperatures are predicted to be extreme. The rule applies to natural gas or electric utilities.

In the summer, defined as June 1 to Sept. 30, the temperature cutoff is 95 degrees or a 105 heat index. In the winter, Nov. 1 to Ma

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