Ameren Illinois customers can expect sharply higher costs for electricity this summer even though Ameren does not profit from the increase and it is out of the utility’s control.
Ameren Illinois said a typical residential customer using 10,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year will see an increase of 18% to 22%, costing about $45 per month from June through September. Prices are expected to head back to near current levels starting Oct. 1, according to the utility.
Ameren Illinois makes money from delivering electricity, but the increase taking effect June 1 is based on supplies from energy companies that sell electricity to utilities.
“These results highlight the ongoing energy challenge in downstate Illinois and the need for a more robust resource planning process on the state level,” an Ameren Illinois spokesperson said in a statement. “Balanced solutions, including transmission, energy storage, renewables, natural gas, nuclear, energy efficiency, and demand response, are needed to provide residents and businesses with affordable and reliable energy,” the company said….read more.