PR-11-38 -- PSC Approves Agreement Reached In AmerenUE Request To Sell Certain Assets

Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

JEFFERSON CITY---The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an agreement reached between Union Electric Company d/b/a AmerenUE, Rolla Municipal Utilities (Rolla), St. James Municipal Utilities (St. James) and the PSC staff which authorizes AmerenUE to sell and transfer portions of its electric distribution system to St. James and Rolla.  St. James and Rolla are wholesale customers of AmerenUE.

According to the application, AmerenUE proposed to sell a substation (Phelps Substation) with associated distribution facilities and equipment to Rolla and St. James.   AmerenUE stated the sale was being made at the request of the two wholesale customers that currently take wholesale service from the substation at issue. 

 “The signatories agree that the sale would not be detrimental to the public interest,” said the PSC order.  “To cite but one example, the sale would allow Rolla and St. James to improve its service reliability and reduce outage durations by having equipment, material and personnel available locally, rather than waiting on AmerenUE personnel, stationed over an hour away.  Further, such sale will not result in any reduced level of service or reliability to any AmerenUE customer, nor impact AmerenUE’s rates.”

In a filing on September 7, 2010, the Office of the Public Counsel stated that it did not oppose the agreement.  The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency which represents the general public before the PSC.

The Commission has reviewed the application and the agreement.  “The Commission independently finds and concludes that the proposed transaction is not detrimental to the public interest and should be approved,” said the PSC order.

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Case No. EO-2010-0263