A local lawmaker and the citizen’s utility board are making a final push to convince the ICC to reject a rate increase request by Ameren. Ameren originally requested a $130 million dollar rate-hike, but a state regulatory judge recently recommended that Ameren’s increase be cut to $56 million. State Rep. Bob Flider, along with CUB, say the rate hike should be slashed even more. Flider says even if the ICC grants the lesser increase, it would still be an over 10% return on equity, the profit rate for Ameren Shareholders. Flider and CUB are encouraging consumers to sign their online petition at Stop Ameren dot com. Ameren says the hike is needed to continue to provide safe and sufficient power to its customers.
