Sangamon Sun

Critics and lawmakers are lining up to seek relief from steadily increasing electric utility bills. 

“Found this that was sent out around May of last year. I guess it would be great if it went up about $52 dollars average.... instead of about $200 or more! Forget investigating eggs.... someone look into these rates we are all getting charged now!” Springfield resident Dawn Frost said in a Facebook post sharing a May 2022 announcement from Ameren.

"The average residential customer is expected to see an increase of approximately $52 per month on the supply portion of their energy bill," the announcement reads. 

Ameran said that “inflation, the conflict in eastern Europe and the closure of coal-fired electric generation facilities have caused an energy shortage.”

Downstate legislators have vowed action on Ameren’s increased rates. State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is one of several Republican lawmakers seeking rate relief for downstate Ameren customers. “They've got to heat, they've got to eat or they've got to buy their medicine, and that's really what it boils down to,” Bryant said in a press conference, according to South West Illinois News. “The rate increases are because of many factors. But to put it simply, prices are going up because of some global market pressures and capacity shortage in the region.“ 

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is pushing a legislative fix. She is sponsoring two bills meant to resolve the crisis. Senate Bill 1548 would cut regulations barring new power plants from coming online. Senate Bill 1547 creates the Power Grid Task Force which would set up a team of lawmakers to inspect the state’s energy policy and the effects it is having on ratepayers, WICS ABC Newschannel 20 reported.

In downstate areas, Ameren has hiked rates 116% higher than last year, translating to an increase of $626 per customer. The utility provider has filed paperwork to push power bills even higher, which saw immediate pushback from the Citizens Utility Board. “In one month, Ameren Illinois has filed for a $160.4 million gas rate hike and a four-year $435.6 million electric increase, and they couldn’t have come at a worse time,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said in a press release. "This is awful news for Ameren customers who already were suffering under some of the highest electric and gas supply prices in Illinois history as well as earlier Ameren rate hikes. CUB will do a thorough review of these rate cases, and we will challenge every penny Ameren can't justify."