A Bad Day to Be an Ameren Customer

Well, it’s been coming for months, but KWMU reports that Ameren has officially begun hearings in front of the Public Service Commission to raise rates by 12 percent. Ameren probably won’t hear a decision about this until sometime early next year. Hopefully, by then this whole economic catastrophe will blow over and a utility price hike won’t feel as bad.

Ameren claims the increased funds will go toward employee wages, construction materials, power plant fuels, and capital expenditures. Many people are raising an eyebrow or two because of this proposal’s timing. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that Ameren wants to raise rates at the same time it wants to build a new nuclear plant. But, of course, raising customers’ rates in order to fund plant construction is illegal, but I’m sure that Ameren officials know that. Also, it has that new renewable energy mandate to manufacture and pay for. But, hey, that’s supposed to save us all money in the long run. … I just wish those savings would get here sooner.