AARP IN YOUR STATE

Missouri Bulletin State News

September 2007

Power play – Consumers in St. Louis are facing an electric rate increase but, thanks in part to AARP Missouri, not as steep a hike as AmerenUE wanted. In the first general electric rate increase for the state's largest electric company in 20 years, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved an increase of about $43 million — 88 percent less than the $361 million the utility requested. AARP Missouri testified against the request. The approved increase translates to about $2.33 a month for the average customer using 1,000 kilowatts a month  Also significant for consumers, the PSC ruled that AmerenUE could not adopt a fuel adjustment clause, a variable surcharge that would have allowed the utility to hike rates every time prices for coal, natural gas or other energy sources used in their power plants increase.