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Tell ICC: Lower Ameren’s customer charge

We’ve sent out an action alert to Ameren Illinois customers, warning them about the company’s proposal to raise their electric customer charge by about 9 percent.

takeactionnowThis is a change in rate design, NOT a rate hike. That means the company isn’t going to make more money—it just wants to change the way it allocates certain delivery costs on your bill. So certain delivery charges on your bill will go down, while the customer charge goes up.

But here’s why the change is an attack on energy efficiency: Utility companies love to jack up fixed charges—because there’s nothing we can do about it. You can live in the world’s most energy efficient home and you’ll still fork over the same customer charge each month—EVEN if you don’t use any power.

CUB argues that the ICC should lower the customer charge instead, and give customers more control over their electric bills.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is scheduled to make a final decision early next year. Please, urge the ICC to reject Ameren’s proposal.