More than a million Missourians' electric bills will go up by 15% next year, if Ameren Missouri receives its most recently requested rate increase.
The utilities company, which serves around 1.2 million Missourians and is subject to Missouri's Public Service Commission (PSC), has filed a rate increase request with the PSC. The requested increase would total approximately $446 million for the company in 2025: an approximate increase of 15.49%.
For the average residential customer, the proposed increase would be approximately 15.77%. That's $17.45 per month or $209.40 per year.
This fall, the PSC announced a public-hearing schedule, where Ameren customers can attend and give their feedback about the proposed increases.
That announcement came — ironically — the same day Ameren shuttered its Rush Island Energy Center, a coal-fired plant that has powered the Midwest with its 1,178 MW electricity capacity since it was opened in 1976. The plant was closed as a result of the federal government's war on coal-fired plants: The Sierra Club had battered Ameren with lawsuits alleging the company had tried to dodge federal regulations.
From Ameren's fact sheet about the coal plant: "Rush Island is one of the most efficient energy centers in the Midwest and the country. Over the past five years, it has ranked in the top 10% among peers when ranked by cost per megawatt-hour of generated energy and has won numerous awards as a top energy producer."
And: "In 2020, Rush Island produced enough energy to power more than 638,000 homes for the year."
Dim the lights: another reliable power plant is being laid to rest this month in Missouri.
On December 22, 2022 temperatures plunged to a near-record -7 degrees across much of Missour…
The schedule of PSC public hearings is below. Click here for more info.
Jan. 21—Cape Girardeau. Osage Centre, Room 1AB, 1625 N. Kingshighway.
The hearing starts at 6:00 p.m., beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.
Jan. 22—St. Charles. St. Charles County Administration Building, Room 116, 201 N. 2nd Street.
The hearing starts at Noon, beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.
Jan. 22—St. Louis. St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Ave., Student Center Cafeteria.
The hearing starts at 6:00 p.m., beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.
Jan. 23—Jefferson City. Governor Office Building, Room 310, 200 Madison Street.
The hearing starts at Noon, beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.
Jan. 23—Virtual Local Public Hearing starts at 6:00 p.m. See further details below**
Jan. 24—Virtual Local Public Hearing starts at Noon. See further details below**
Jan. 27—Sunset Hills. Sunset Hills Council Chambers, 3939 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
The hearing starts at Noon, beginning with a public information/question-and-answer session followed by the Commission receiving testimony from the public.
