Ameren Illinois

Two years ago, Ameren finished the first solar farm in East St. Louis. Company leaders hope the second facility’s completion will spark similar investments.

State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year.

The drop in gas rates and rise in electrical rates follow separate decisions from the Illinois Commerce Commission in late 2023. Ameren Illinois customers will notice the changes in the first billing cycle of the new year.

In rejecting the plans, regulators limited the companies’ proposed rate increases, meaning that next year’s impending increases will be significantly smaller than the utilities’ requests.

With company profits cut, low-income customers in Illinois are set to receive new discounts on the utilities.

Illinois Rep. Larry Walsh Jr., D-Elwood — the chair of the House Public Utilities Committee and sponsor of the vetoed bill — said he would propose broader policy in the spring legislative session.

It was Jason Novak's 22nd time competing in the International Lineman’s Rodeo.

The final decision on rate increases for Illinois customers is expected before the end of the year.

This would have given Ameren, the electric utility that serves much of downstate Illinois, authority to build new transmission lines without going through a competitive bidding process under federal regulations for any projects approved by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.

Starting this month, the utility company said the bill for the typical Metro East customer will rise $52 a month ($626 a year) because the cost of generating it is much higher.