Illinois Media, Consumers React To Ameren's Rate-Hike Rejection
CHICAGO, April 30, 2010—State regulators voted 3-2 to slash Ameren's rate-hike request by 97 percent, resulting in an increase of less than $5 million. Here's a sampling of newspaper headlines, quotes, and consumer comments regarding the Illinois Commerce Commission's (ICC) decision from across the Land of Lincoln:


Ameren utilities handed defeat in rate case
Decatur Herald & Review

"State utility regulators Thursday awarded Ameren a delivery rate increase that amounts to just $5 million, far short of the ($162) million the company asked for."



Panel rejects $162 million rate hike for Ameren's Illinois customers
Belleville News-Democrat

"What this means for you: The rates that Ameren's 1.1 million Illinois customers pay for the delivery of electricity and gas will remain unchanged at least for another year. "



Ameren rate proposal rejected
Jacksonville Journal-Courier

"Consumer groups praised a state panel’s decision Thursday to grant Ameren utilities only a tiny fraction of the original $226 million rate increase the company sought some 11 months earlier."



Divided ICC approves $4.75 million rate hike for Ameren
The State Journal-Register

"Deep cuts ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission, in a series of occasionally testy 3-2 votes, mean a small increase in electric rates and lower rates for natural gas, according to the commission."



Smaller Than Usual Rate Increase for Ameren
WSIL-TV

"It means the approximately $120 dollar per average household annual increase the company proposed will be just a few dollars, if not cents, instead."



Online Consumer Comments

"YES! VICTORY!! Ameren, you have been rated one of the most profitable AND most poorly run electric companies in the US. Please fix that, then maybe you can get a bigger rate increase."


"This is great for the consumer. Glad someone is watching over the little people."


"Thank you, thank you, thank you."


"We needed everyone's help in stopping Ameren's request for a rate hike. Just remember that they will constantly keep asking for new rate hikes in the foreseeable future and this is not the end of it. Thank you, Chairman Flores, and Commissioners Elliott and Colgan."