South Central Reporter

Radio host Corey Hall is calling out Ameren for its latest attempt to hike electric and gas energy prices in Illinois.

Hall is a radio host with Positive Hits 90.9/105.5 The Vine. 

“Apparently having working lights and heat in Illinois is unacceptable and we should all be sitting in the dark and cold,” Hall, a resident of Saint Elmo, said on Facebook. “Rates are the highest they’ve ever been, with a massive recent increase, and now they want me to pay more??!!” 

The radio host believes the hike is not reasonable.

“Here’s my theory: C-19 taught us something: when demand is up, and people feel like they don’t have a choice, they will pay the higher prices and deal with it," he said. "2020 propelled capitalism forward in a sinister way: it showed companies that buyer be damned, profits can be increased on our backs. No longer is anything about supply and demand with adequate profits, now it’s about money grabbing at every turn and sticking it to the people. Oh, and fyi, the top 5 executives in 2021, raked in about $21.4 million in compensation. (That’s just over $4 million each on average.). This rate increase is intended to increase delivery rates, the part of the bill that generates profits. This is nothing more than a money grab and it’s time someone, somewhere did something about this. But who? But what? The people of Illinois are going broke so a few can get rich. I’m tired of packing pockets of rich people.” 

WLDS / WEAI News broke down what the rate hike would mean for the average Illinoisan. 

“Ameren-Illinois has filed paperwork with the Illinois Commerce Commission seeking a rate adjustment that would cause the average household to see an increase in their utility bills. WBGZ reports that the average household would see an increase by about $6 a month on the electric side and see a slight increase in natural gas,” the news station said on Facebook.

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is also decrying the effort by Ameren to substantially hike rates on gas energy and electric power. “In one month, Ameren Illinois has filed for a $160.4 million gas rate hike and a four-year $435.6 million electric increase, and they couldn’t have come at a worse time,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said in a press release. "This is awful news for Ameren customers who already were suffering under some of the highest electric and gas supply prices in Illinois history as well as earlier Ameren rate hikes. CUB will do a thorough review of these rate cases, and we will challenge every penny Ameren can't justify." 

These requests begin separate 11-month rate cases before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). "Ameren has received more than $118 million ($57.6 million in January 2022 and $61 million in January 2023) over the last two Januarys, and now it’s back at the table asking the ICC for more. We will review Ameren's proposal carefully, but at first glance it is clear that the company is asking for an excessive 10.5 percent profit rate for its shareholders,” Kolata said. “Nobody disagrees that the power grid should be properly maintained, but that doesn't mean Ameren deserves a blank check.” He also noted that Ameren received a $76 million gas rate hike in Jan. 2021, "and now it wants another big increase." “This is too much for customers,” Kolata added. “Natural gas is expensive, it hurts our health and it makes climate change worse. We need to begin to plan for the move away from natural gas to heating alternatives that are cheaper, cleaner, safer and more reliable.”

CUB has created a petition against Ameren’s electric rate hike. “As an Illinois consumer concerned about my electric bills, I urge you to reject Ameren Illinois' four-year, $435.6 million rate-hike request,” the petition reads. “The punishing increase, which includes an excessive profit rate for shareholders of 10.5 percent, comes at the same time that Ameren is asking for a $160.4 million gas increase.” It noted further that “Making strategically smart, consumer-friendly grid improvements can help save customers money in the long-run, but that shouldn't mean Ameren gets a blank check.”