Ameren given permission to raise natural gas rates in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois regulators have given Ameren Corp. permission to raise natural gas rates by about $32 million but a watchdog group plans to appeal the decision.

The Illinois Commerce Commission said Wednesday it will allow Missouri-based Ameren to make the increase in a service delivery charge.

The increase would raise customers' bills from 1.2 percent to 5.4 percent, depending on where they live, Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris said. The increase is expected to take effect this month.

The Citizens Utility Board said it will appeal the decision, complaining that the increase is $2 million more than an administrative law judge recommended last fall. The group also believes the timing is bad.

"This increase hits customers in the heart of the winter heating season and threatens to wipe out potential savings thanks to a mild winter," CUB executive director David Kolata said in a statement.

Ameren initially sought a $50.7 million rate increase.

Ameren has 813,000 natural gas customers in central and Southern Illinois.