Only three people testified Wednesday night before members of the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) in Jefferson City about a proposed electric rate increase by Ameren Missouri.
Although all three said they were pleased with the service the company was providing, they asked the commissioners to deny the request.
Ameren filed the request in July. If approved, it would lead to an increase in revenue of $206 million, which company officials said would equate to a 7.8 percent average increase in rates for consumers. That translates to about $8.27 a month more in the average customer's bill.
At the hearing at the PSC Offices, company officials said they're asking for the increase because they've made $1.4 billion in investments since their last rate review two years ago. That includes maintenance on the company's electric grid, clean energy development projects and enhancing security to the electric grid. They also had to pay $34 million for upgrades to regional energy transmission systems, and they're dealing with the loss of their largest energy consumer.
The state Office of Public Counsel said it will carefully review Ameren's proposal. The statement indicated some of Ameren's numbers are already being challenged. The OPC response also indicated the office will look closely at a proposed "system access charge," which it alleges would effectively raise the fixed customer service fee from $8 per month to $12.89 - a 61 percent increase.