Public invited to offer input on power rate increases
CHAMPAIGN – Local residents can express their views tonight about Ameren’s request for electric and natural gas rate increases at a public hearing.
The hearing begins at 7 p.m. in council chambers at the Champaign City Building, 102 N. Neil St. Public comments will be transcribed by a stenographer and provided to the Illinois Commerce Commission. The hearing will last for as long as the public has something to say, according to Beth Bosch, a spokeswoman for the commerce commission.
Before the public comment period begins, an Ameren official will explain what they are asking for and why the utility believes the rate increases are necessary.
AmerenIP, which serves Champaign-Urbana, is asking for a 13.6 percent overall increase in electric rates, and a 11.2 percent increase for natural gas. However, for the first year, the electric rate increase would be capped at 8.5 percent overall.
Ameren filed its rate cases with the commerce commission on Nov. 2 for its three Illinois companies, AmerenIP, which serves Champaign-Urbana, AmerenCIPS, which has some Champaign County customers, and AmerenCILCO.
The increases would provide an additional $247 million for Ameren. They would likely not take effect before October.
The electric and natural gas delivery service comprises about 25 to 30 percent of the overall electric and natural gas bill. It pays for the cost of the delivering electricity and natural gas to customers.
If the increases are granted in full, a typical AmerenIP customer who uses 10,000 kilowatt-hours per year of electricity would see their monthly bill increase by 8 percent or $7.75 per month. For an AmerenCIPS customer, the increase would be 4.4 percent or $4.17 per month.
For an all-electric customer using 18,000 kilowatt hours per year, the increase would be 8.7 percent or $11.33 per month for an AmerenIP customer. For an AmerenCIPS customer, the increase would be 3.9 percent or $5.25 per month.
For a typical natural gas customers who uses 785 therms per year, the proposed increase would be 11.6 percent or $8.67 per month for an AmerenIP customer, and 7.1 percent or $5.42 per month for an AmerenCIPS customer.