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Local Public Hearings – Why Your Testimony Matters

Missouri American Water and Ameren have proposed significant rate increases.

• Missouri-American Water Company has requested a +25.7% increase in revenues.
• Ameren Missouri has requested an +11.64% increase spread evenly across all customer classes. This includes a proposed increase from $8.00 to $13.00 in the monthly fixed residential customer charge.

You can influence the outcome of the proposed rate hikes. Local public hearings, which will occur in January and February 2023, provide an opportunity to let the Missouri Public Service Commission know how higher water and Ameren rates would affect you. Consumers Council has found customer testimony to be invaluable in demonstrating the difficulties that many Missourians have not only paying their utility bills, but also balancing those bills with the pressure of housing, groceries, and medication expenses.

Attend the hearings and urge your friends and acquaintances to get involved. The number of people who show up for the public testimony makes a statement about how strongly utility consumers feel.

Click below for hearing details.

Want more information about the rate cases and hearings?

Wednesday, January 18 @ 6:00 pm Hybrid Meeting at Deaconess Center, 1000 North Vandeventer Ave, St. Louis, MO 63113

Join Consumers Council of Missouri, Homes for All St. Louis, Metropolitan Congregations United, River City Climate Collective, and the Sierra Club for a Community Action Meeting in preparation for the Ameren Rate Case. Register and get more information here

Monday, January 23rd at 6:30 pm (virtual meeting)

Join Consumers Council’s Director of Advocacy, Jackie Hutchinson, for an interactive workshop on how your testimony at a local public hearing can make a difference. Register and get more information here

Other News: Ameren Evening/Morning Rate

“Ideally, no one should be put on a utility rate without their affirmative consent,” John Coffman, Utility Counsel

Consumers Council recently learned that Ameren customers did not realize that they were placed on the Evening/Morning Rate when they failed to “Opt Out” of that rate. The Evening/Morning Rate is a billing arrangement in which the price of electricity changes based on the time of day. Electricity is more expensive during “peak hours,” when there is high demand, and less expensive during hours of low demand. The peak (more expensive) hours are from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm. As indicated on Ameren’s website, “To save on this rate, you need to change when you use energy.”

Currently, the cost difference between the Evening/Morning Rate and Anytime rate may be very small. However, Consumers Council believes that requiring customers to “Opt Out” to avoid being placed in this program fails to give customers, who may have overlooked the notice regarding this change, an informed choice.

We recommend that Ameren customers carefully review their account. If you have been placed on the Evening/Morning Rate without your knowledge and wish to switch to a different rate, go to Ameren’s Customer Service Center

If you want to voice a complaint regarding Ameren’s process, call the Missouri Public Service Commission’s toll-free hotline (1-800-392-4211).

Consumers Council is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Our work is not possible without the support of donors. Please consider making a contribution today. Even the smallest little bit helps a lot!