Ameren Missouri is seeking a rate increase of about $343 million, which is expected to increase the average residential customer’s bill by $13 per month, according to the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC).
Ameren filed its request June 26, and the PSC has set a deadline of July 15 to intervene and participate in a rate case. Applications to intervene should be filed with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission at P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102 or through the Commission’s Electronic Filing and Information System (EFIS).
The commission typically has 11 months from the date a rate case is filed to make a decision on a rate proposal, the PSC said in a statement.
Robert Dixon, vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs for Ameren Missouri, in testimony to the PSC said the rate increase is necessary to maintain a safe, reliable electric system that will be capable of meeting growing demand, balanced against the need to keep rates as affordable as possible.
In his testimony to the PSC, Dixon said data centers are not driving the request to increase rates.
“They are not increasing rates for other customers,” Dixon told the PSC. “In fact, they are decreasing rates in this case as compared to what those rates would have been without it. While there are limited system investments associated with expected large load customers, the large load customer revenues included in this request – which lower the revenue requirement in this case by more than $10 million annually as compared to what it would have been without those revenues – more than covers the cost of those limited investments.”
Ameren Missouri’s request comes about 14 months after the company concluded its last rate case, which increased electric bills by about 12 percent, or $14 per month.
Dixon told the PSC that Ameren Missouri has added new generation resources and upgraded existing resources to maintain reliable service to meet growing energy demand and to prepare for the eventual retirement of older resources since the last rate increase.
“This includes 400 megawatts of new generation, as well as improvements to existing energy centers to support long-term, efficient operations and ensure sufficient capacity during periods of peak demand,” he said.
Dixon also told the PSC that Ameren Missouri continues to invest in the electric grid to improve reliability and resilience.
“These investments are focused on replacing aging infrastructure, strengthening the system against severe weather and increasing the capacity needed to serve customers’ growing energy needs,” he said.
In its statement announcing the rate increase request, PSC said local public hearings will be scheduled.
The statement said customers will be notified by Ameren Missouri and the PSC when the hearings are scheduled.
Ameren Missouri customers may provide comments to the PSC by calling 1-800-392-4211, emailing pscinfo@psc.mo.gov, online at efis.psc.mo.gov or by mail P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
Customers may also contact the Office of the Public Counsel by calling 1-866-922-2959, emailing mopco@opc.mo.gov or by mail Governor Office Building, 200 Madison St., Suite 650, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
For more information about the rate case process, go to psc.mo.gov.