ST. LOUIS, MO. (Jan. 23, 2025) – Ameren Missouri’s plan to raise electric rates by 15% has caused a lot of anger among customers. Many residents gathered at a public meeting at St. Louis Community College to voice their concerns and ask why this increase is needed. The decision will be made by the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC), which will decide whether to approve or deny the rate hike.
Julia Allen, a local resident, said, “15 percent is ridiculous. It makes no sense whatsoever,” showing how upset people are.
Ameren Missouri wants to increase electric bills by about $15-20 per month. The company says the extra money will be used to improve service and make the electric system more reliable. They claim this increase will help reduce the number of power outages and speed up the restoration of power when outages happen.
Warren Wood, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Ameren Missouri, explained that the money will help invest in things like poles, wires, and transformers, which are important parts of the electric grid. He also mentioned that the company is working on solar projects that will add 500 megawatts of power, which will be used by customers.
However, not everyone agrees with the rate hike. Many customers feel that this increase will hurt them more than others. Julia Allen mentioned that the middle class is feeling the impact the most. “The 1% don’t worry about it, but the people in the middle class are the ones who are paying. We’re the ones who are paying for the low-income families,” she said.
The Missouri NAACP also criticized the company. They pointed out that Ameren disconnected 90,000 households from March to November of 2024 due to unpaid bills. This has led to more people asking for help with their electric bills.
Despite these concerns, Ameren says it is providing financial assistance to those who need it. The company encourages customers who are struggling to pay their bills to seek help. They have programs to assist people with payment plans and other forms of financial support.
Ameren Missouri’s price increase proposal is still under review. The PSC is expected to make its decision by spring 2025.
(Source : ky3.com)
