Metro East Sun

As Ameren is pushing for higher rates, many customers are asking why electric rates have risen so much in recent years.

Metro East resident Eric Martin directed his dissatisfaction to Ameren Illinois' Facebook page. He said that the "Kilowatt charge goes from roughly .05 to .10 per kw," noting that the billing personnel said it was due to inflation. Martin wasn't convinced, saying the inflation "wasn't that high." 

“75% electric bill increase over same time last year with less usage, seriously!!!” Martin said. “Please explain to us, your customers, why there is such a high rate increase and don’t tell us it is because of inflation?”

Ameren has hiked rates 116% higher than last year, translating to an increase of $626 per customer. The utility provider has filed paperwork to push power bills even higher, which saw immediate pushback from the CUB. 

“In one month, Ameren Illinois has filed for a $160.4 million gas rate hike and a four-year $435.6 million electric increase, and they couldn’t have come at a worse time,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said in a press release. "This is awful news for Ameren customers who already were suffering under some of the highest electric and gas supply prices in Illinois history as well as earlier Ameren rate hikes. CUB will do a thorough review of these rate cases, and we will challenge every penny Ameren can't justify." 

Downstate legislators have vowed action on Ameren’s increased rates. State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is one of several Republican lawmakers seeking rate relief for downstate Ameren customers. 

“They've got to heat, they've got to eat or they've got to buy their medicine, and that's really what it boils down to,” Bryant said in a press conference, South West Illinois News reported. “The rate increases are because of many factors. But to put it simply, prices are going up because of some global market pressures and capacity shortage in the region." 

State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) said some utility customers are being impacted more than others. “I got a phone call from West Frankfort ... and they said that their electric bill for some of the services that they offer for senior citizens in West Frankfort went from $4,000 to $12,000,” Severin said at the press conference, according to SE Illinois News  “I got a call just last week from a new part of my district that there's a grocery store that is closing that serves that county. They do not have a grocery store in that county anymore (because) of these costs. It's serious and we've got to find answers.”