The Illinois Commerce Commission has rejected $36.34 million of Ameren Illinois’ rate request for its natural gas delivery services. The decision is approximately 50.8 percent lower than Ameren’s initial request for a $71.57 million increase.
The ICC has issued its decision after scrutinizing Ameren’s rate case filings over an 11-month legal proceeding.
The process aims to ensure the utility receives the necessary funds to provide safe and reliable service to customers and to maintain and replace aging infrastructure at a reasonable cost to ratepayers.
The decision also establishes a new low-income discount rate for eligible customers whose incomes are up to 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Customers already enrolled in the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will automatically qualify for the newly-established low-income discount rate. The impact of the rate case decision on individual customers will vary based on customers’ service class and energy usage.
Ameren Illinois delivers natural gas to 800,000 residential, public sector, and business customers in more than 1,200 communities throughout central and southern Illinois.
