Ameren Seeks Higher Gas Delivery Rates

Ameren Illinois has filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission to raise its delivery rates on natural gas. The company says it seeks an additional $50 million in cost recovery for delivering natural gas to customers.

If approved, the rate hike would affect about 813,000 homes and businesses in downstate Illinois that buy gas from Ameren.

A news release from Ameren says the rate increases they seek would result in typical Ameren Illinois residential customers paying an additional $2.52 a month in Rate Zone 1, $4.00 for Rate Zone 2 and $2.87 for Rate Zone 3.

Ameren says if approved, the new gas delivery rates would not take effect before late December, 2013. The rates were last increased in January 2012.

The Citizens Utility Board is reviewing the Ameren rate increase request. The consumer watchdog group says on its website that it will “fight every penny the company can’t justify” in its request before the ICC.