AmerenUE Files for Electric Rate Increase AmerenUE to Become

Fall Issue 2010
Welcome to the Fall Issue of In Your
Community — a quarterly publication
created by AmerenUE’s Business and
Community Relations Department.
It’s often said that the only thing
constant is change. That’s certainly true
for AmerenUE—soon to become Ameren
Missouri!
As the article in this issue of In Your Community states, the main
reason for this name change is to provide clearer communications with
our customers. I can assure you that one thing that will never change is
AmerenUE Files for Electric Rate Increase
O
n Sept. 3, AmerenUE filed an electric rate increase request with the
Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC). UE is committed to
providing customers with safe, reliable, affordable and environmentally
responsible energy. To achieve these objectives, UE is investing more
than $1 billion in its energy infrastructure and is seeking to recover
those costs in rates. Customers are already benefiting from these
reliability improvements.
UE is asking for a $263 million rate increase. If approved, that would
be an increase of about 11 percent for customers across all rate classes.
Average residential electric bills would increase by about 31 cents a day
(based on approximately 1,100 kilowatthours of usage per month).
A significant portion of this request is to recover infrastructure
investments UE is making to meet stricter environmental regulations
and our customers’ number one priority – reliability.
For example, UE has spent $600 million on a scrubber for its Sioux
Plant in St. Charles County. When operational later this year, it will
remove nearly 100 percent of the plant’s sulfur dioxide emissions.
While UE must recover these costs and make a reasonable return
on its investments, the company recognizes this creates a hardship
for some customers. The company is taking proactive steps to help
customers manage their rising energy costs and usage now and in
the future.
For example, AmerenUE plans to spend nearly $25 million on energy
efficiency programs in 2010. In addition, on Aug. 30, UE announced
$5 million in energy assistance programs for our customers who are
most in need (see article, “UE Commits $5 Million to Energy Assistance
Programs”). Funding for the $5 million in energy assistance programs will
come from shareholders and will not be reflected in customers’ rates.
UE’s request will be carefully reviewed by the MPSC commissioners,
staff, and many other parties. The process, which will take up to 11
months, will also include public hearings. The MPSC will announce the
hearing schedule once it has been established.
our commitment to providing safe, reliable power and natural gas to the
communities we serve.
However, our commitment to our customers goes beyond that. This
issue also describes several of our volunteer, charitable and community
service initiatives. The 4,400 employees of AmerenUE are ready to serve.
As always, if you have questions or comments about any of our
programs, e-mail [email protected], or call
314.554.6441.
Richard J. Mark, AmerenUE Senior Vice President –– Customer Operations
AmerenUE to Become Ameren Missouri
B
eginning Oct. 1, 2010, AmerenUE
will become known as Ameren Missouri.
Ameren operates utility companies in both
Missouri and Illinois.
To more clearly communicate to our many
customers across both states, the utilities will
now be identified with the state in which they
do business, as Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois.
UE Commits $5 Million to Energy Assistance Programs
U
E has committed $5 million in corporate contributions to energy
assistance programs that will benefit its Missouri customers.
(Corporate contributions come from shareholder profits, not electric or
natural gas rates.)
The commitment will start with a $1 million matching program for Dollar
More, UE’s voluntary customer assistance fund. The company will match
— dollar-for-dollar — all contributions to Dollar More through 2011.
Other components of the $5 million commitment will be announced in
the coming months.
AmerenUE President and Chief Executive Officer Warner Baxter, far right, with
(from left) John Gamache, Mid-East Area Agency on Aging; Zip Rzeppa, Society
of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Louis; Major Lonneal Richardson, The Salvation
Army Midland Division; and Gary Dollar, United Way of Greater St. Louis.
October Is Energy Awareness Month!
Celebrate by Saving Money and Energy with
Uefficiency.com, Energy Savings Toolkit
AmerenUE representatives share energy efficiency information at a
community event.
M
any AmerenUE customers may not realize it, but every electrical
device they buy actually has two price tags—the price paid for the
initial purchase, plus the price paid each month to power the appliance.
Ameren UE’s energy efficiency website, Uefficiency.com, can help
customers understand both price tags while showing them how to
implement specific energy efficient measures at home.
While at Uefficiency.com, customers should be sure to explore
Ameren Missouri’s exciting rebate programs, including:
• Refrigerator & Freezer Recycling — A $35 rebate and free pickup for UE customers who recycle working secondary refrigerators
and/or freezers manufactured in 2001 or earlier.
• Lighting and Appliance — Discounts and other incentives to
build awareness of ENERGY STAR®-qualified lighting and appliance
products, like compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), dehumidifiers,
freezers and window air conditioners.
• Multifamily Income Qualified — Works with building managers
to provide federally funded low-income tenant units with new
ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances and direct installation of certain
energy efficiency measures at no cost. These measures can result
in savings per customer of as much as $125 annually. (See article
“‘Multifamily Income Qualified’ Program Brings Energy Efficiencies
to Rural Areas”).
• HVAC – New & Tune Up — Comprehensive program for air
conditioners and heat pumps that helps customers in both single
family and multifamily homes repair existing units and retire
inefficient units. Customers who have their units repaired or
replaced by certified contractors may be eligible for up to $850 in
instant savings.
Uefficiency.com also includes low-cost or no-cost actions customers
can take today that will start saving energy immediately.
And be sure to visit Ameren Missouri’s Energy Savings Toolkit. Now
featuring daily readings of electrical usage, the Toolkit is an even more
powerful tool for understanding, controlling and reducing energy costs.
2010 United Way Campaign Begins
A
meren is pleased
to again be a part of
the annual United Way
campaign.
Co-chaired this year
by Ameren Senior Vice
President and Controller
Marty Lyons and Assistant
Business Manager of Local
Ameren 2010 United Way Campaign
648 IBEW Charlie Yancey,
Co-Chairs Marty Lyons and Charlie Yancey.
the Ameren campaign’s
overall goal is $1.9 million. Last year’s campaign brought in $1.894
million from Ameren employees.
“We had great success last year, despite the recovering economy that
continues to affect both union and management employees,” says Yancey.
“I know Ameren employees will step up to the plate again this year.”
In 2009, employees of AmerenUE alone gave $860,185 —111 percent
over the company’s $778,000 goal. This year’s goal for AmerenUE is
$851,600.
Lyons says he expects the percentage of employees participating
will increase, partly because of a new electronic pledge system for the
company’s management employees. Next year, it will be available to all
employees.
“Electronic pledging will make it easier for employees to make a
difference,” he says.
Tips for a Safer Fall
A
t AmerenUE, our customers’ safety is our first priority. As the
weather cools down and Missourians start heading outdoors to
enjoy the colors of the season, UE would like to offer some safety tips:
• Never touch or approach a downed power line. Assume any downed
line is an electric line and that it is live. Call AmerenUE or “911”
whenever a downed line is spotted. UE’s number is 1.800.552.7583.
• When working from ladders or climbing in and around trees, check
to make sure there are no power lines nearby.
• Remember: Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place! Don’t plant trees
below power lines or near electrical equipment.
• Before planting trees or doing any digging, first call the utility location service to have underground lines marked. In Missouri, call Missouri One Call, at 1.800.344.7483 (800-DIGRITE) or 8.1.1. It’s not just a good idea — it’s the law!
• Finally, keep all of your indoor and outdoor appliances clean, and check them periodically for frayed wires or other problems.
‘Multifamily Income Qualified’ Program Brings Energy Efficiency to Rural Areas
T
hough it may sound complicated, UE’s Multifamily Income
Qualified Program has a simple goal: save low-income customers
money on their utility bills.
How? By giving them the most energy efficient appliances, light bulbs
and other energy-saving tools on the market.
To date, the program has given more than 49,000 compact fluorescent
lights (CFLs), nearly 600 ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators and over
700 programmable thermostats to residents of about 3,700 federally
funded dwelling units.
Combined with other energy efficient
equipment, like low-flow shower heads,
aerators, and hot water heater insulation kits,
the improvements represent more than 4,000
megawatthours of electricity saved per year.
The program to date has focused mainly on
United States Department of Agriculture-funded
low-income housing units in rural Missouri.
UE’s Energy Efficiency Team Reaches Out to ‘Angels’ Arms’
T
he 15 employees of AmerenUE’s Energy Efficiency team are used to
helping customers save energy and money. But recently, they had an
opportunity to literally make life brighter for a Ferguson, Mo., foster family.
As a team-building exercise, the Energy Efficiency employees
challenged themselves to find a community improvement project that
would have a lasting impact on the lives of others.
Working with Angels’ Arms — a nonprofit agency providing nurturing
temporary group homes for difficult to place foster children — they
found a home on North Maple Avenue in Ferguson that was in need of
some TLC and energy efficiency improvements.
The UE Energy Efficiency Team secured donations for paint and
energy efficiency measures. The team met at the foster home after a
department meeting to paint, install compact fluorescent lights (CFLs),
low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators throughout the home and
wrap about 100 feet of hot water pipes with insulation.
“The foster parents were very pleased that the home is not only
brighter, but saving energy as well,” says UE Manager of Energy
Efficiency and Demand Response Dan Laurent. “The painting looks beautiful and makes a world of difference to
the home,” says Angels’ Arms Founder and Executive Director Bess
Wilfong. “The family has told us how pleased they are with the
outcome, and they were thrilled to have new and improved updates to
their home. We truly appreciate you spending the time and effort you
did to support our family and our mission.”
The AmerenUE Energy Efficiency team at the foster home they helped to fix up
and make more energy efficient.
The St. Louis Rams Join AmerenUE’s Pure Power® Program
‘Green Game’ Set for Oct. 17
T
he St. Louis Rams have agreed to support the development of new
renewable energy sources via the purchase of Renewable Energy
Certificates (RECs) through UE’s voluntary Pure Power program.
The Rams’ commitment to purchase of 216 blocks per year of Pure
Power at their Earth City Offices and Training Facility will help prevent the
annual release of approximately 341,998 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2),
a leading greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere. This is equal to
the CO2 reduction provided by taking 30 cars off the road for a year.
As part of the St. Louis Rams’ Green Platform, the Oct. 17
game against the San Diego Chargers will be designated as their
“Green Game.” This will culminate a week of festivities promoting
sustainability.
“The St. Louis Rams are excited to
announce our participation in the
AmerenUE Pure Power program,”
says St. Louis Rams Vice President
of Marketing Adam Jacobs.
“Since our involvement in the NFL’s first carbon
neutral game in 2005, the St. Louis Rams have been committed to
establishing and growing our green platform with the intention of
identifying authentic opportunities with local partners to reduce our
carbon footprint.
“Thanks to the AmerenUE Pure Power program, we have the
opportunity to join other like-minded local companies who are taking
steps in support of environmentally sustainable business practices.”
UE Volunteer Hours Add Up
UE Helps Bring Choral Festival to St. Louis
I
F
or the first time, UE has asked its employees to voluntarily record the
hours they donate as volunteers in the community.
Through the end of August, employees had logged 16,662 volunteer
hours. In terms of economic value, assuming a value of $20/hour, that
adds up to more than $33,000.
So what qualifies as “volunteer time”?
“If employees spent time and effort on behalf of a non-profit
organization or for an Ameren community event, and they did not
receive compensation for their time or effort, that’s volunteer time,”
says AmerenUE Senior Vice President — Customer Operations
Richard Mark.
“Our employees volunteer thousands of hours a year to charitable
causes, from the Komen Race for the Cure to Habitat for Humanity,”
Mark adds. “Our company and our employees contribute a lot. It is
important that our customers understand the value we bring to our
communities.”
n November, St. Louis will
become “the city of international
choral music,” thanks to UE’s
sponsorship of the American
International Choral Festival.
The festival will include
approximately 50 choirs and 2,000
singers from nearly 20 countries
competing in multiple categories,
in addition to festival concerts. All
choirs are welcome—including
church choirs, school choirs,
university or college choirs, community choruses, children’s choirs,
barbershop and jazz choirs. Choirs may also participate without being
part of the competition.
A joint venture between the St. Louis Convention & Visitors
Commission and the Regional Arts Commission, the festival is
presented by INTERKULTUR, which has produced more than 90
international competitions and festivals since 1988, including the
renowned World Choir Games featuring 250,000 participants from
around the world.
UE will also be visible in the St. Louis community this fall and winter
as sponsor of Dance St. Louis’ The Joffrey Ballet in Nutcracker at the
Fox and, of course, the Annual AmerenUE Thanksgiving Day Parade.
CONTACT US! We welcome your questions and ideas! If you have any questions regarding
any AmerenUE activities, please email [email protected]
or call 314-554-6441.
We Listen. We Respond. We Deliver.