There has been a major development in the case against Ameren Illinois' attempt to secure a $128.8 million gas rate hike this winter.
In a filing, two regulatory judges identified $44 million in overcharges in the rate-hike request. But consumer advocates say regulators should cut even more fat and double the reductions.
Jim Chilsen with the Citizens Utility Board says he and other consumer advocates are calling for more cuts in the rate-hike request because of the rates paid by the utility's customers during the extended heat wave this past summer.
Chilsen says the maximum the law permits would be at least roughly $82 million dollars. He says the decision now goes to the Illinois Commerce Commission.
The ICC will rule on the rate hike by Dec. 1, at the latest, with new rates taking effect shortly after.
He says gas affordability has become such a concern that weeks before the I-C-C’s final ruling in the rate case, several advocacy groups plan to hold a forum to discuss a decade of chronic gas rate hikes from Ameren and the future of gas utilities in Illinois.
The Future Energy Forum is from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 1 at Southern Mission Missionary Baptist Church in East St. Louis. The organizers say the forum will provide information on reducing utility bills, including how to apply for energy assistance.
Ameren serves 816,000 gas customers in central and southern Illinois.
