PR-11-18 -- Pilot Program To Help AmerenUE Low-Income Customers With Electric Bills

Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- AUGUST 9, 2010

JEFFERSON CITY---A two year pilot program designed to assist certain Union Electric Company d/b/a AmerenUE low-income customers pay their electric bills takes effect in August. 

The “Keeping Current Low-Income Pilot Program” was part of an agreement reached by several parties in the last AmerenUE electric rate case before the Public Service Commission (PSC).  The Commission approved the agreement on April 14, 2010. 

“The Commission received testimony at several local public hearings on how difficult any rate increase would be on low-income residential customers already faced with great economic challenges,” said PSC Chairman Robert M. Clayton III.  “The Commission appreciates the efforts of those who worked to put together this pilot program which is designed to help those most in need with their electric bills.”

The pilot program provides for tiered bill credits, arrearage forgiveness and a requirement for eligible customers to apply for available Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and weatherization assistance.

The program will be funded by AmerenUE shareholders and its customers.  For an AmerenUE residential customer, the program will cost $0.03 a month.

To participate in the program, an electric customer must be registered with a designated Keeping Current Agency which includes Community Action Agencies (CAA) in AmerenUE’s electric service area and additional social service agencies that also administer AmerenUE Dollar More energy assistance funds.

Program eligibility will be income-based and all customers whose income is at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will be eligible to participate.  In addition, customers who are LIHEAP eligible at 135 percent of the FPL, who use electricity for cooling and who are 1) elderly, 2) disabled or with a chronic medical condition, or 3) live in households with children five years of age or younger will also be eligible to participate.

 The agreement approved by the Commission was submitted by the Public Service Commission staff, the Office of the Public Counsel, AmerenUE, the Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers, the Missouri Retailers Association and AARP/Consumers Council.

The agreement was reached after discussions among the parties following a February 10, 2010, order from the Public Service Commission.  That order directed the parties to address concerns raised by AmerenUE’s low-income residential customers at a number of local public hearings held by the Commission on the company’s electric rate request.   

AmerenUE serves approximately 1.2 million electric customers in Missouri.

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Case No. ER-2010-0036