SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — An Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public forum in Springfield Wednesday night gave Ameren customers an opportunity to speak out against their utility’s $131.1 million gas rate-hike request, which would be the fourth rate hike the company has received in less than a decade.
Ameren filed for its gas rate hike in January, sparking an 11-month rate case before the ICC. The proposal would raise average monthly residential customer bills by roughly 12 to 13%, or $8 to $10 per month, according to Ameren’s original public notice.
Senior Director of Natural Gas Operations and Technical Services for Ameren Illinois, Brad Kloeppel, said the increase would allow them to make necessary fixes to their infrastructure to ensure safety and compliance with federal regulations.
"We have an aging infrastructure on our system," Kloeppel said. "To provide that level of service to our customers so that that gas is available on the coldest hour on the coldest day, we need to make these investments."
Ameren customers have expressed frustration with the company’s escalating bills. This would be Ameren’s fourth rate hike since 2018. In that time, the gas utility has raised delivery rates by $202 million, or 50%. In that same time period (2018-2024), the Illinois utility’s parent company, Ameren, has increased profits by 45% for a total of $6.9 billion, and Ameren Illinois’ gas segment has seen its profits more than double.
“This gas rate hike will be a hardship for Ameren customers,” said Scott Allen, CUB’s energy policy specialist. “Ameren has been treating its customers like an ATM, hitting them with $200 million in rate hikes in less than a decade, and now the utility wants a fourth increase and the highest shareholder profit rate of any major gas utility in Illinois. When is enough, enough? We urge the ICC to slash Ameren’s rate-hike request.”
Consumer watchdogs, including PIRG and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), have warned that Ameren’s rate-hike plan would raid consumers for nearly triple the amount the utility can possibly justify under state law.
Those who could not make the forum can voice their opinion on the rate hike by signing a petition or filing a public comment with the ICC on eDocket.
The ICC is also holding a forum from 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at New Life Community Church, in East St. Louis.
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