AMERENUE SPORTS NEW NAME, LOGO

A new name, new logo and wider service area were among topics discussed by AmerenUE executives Thursday.

"We do have a new name, but we're the same company offering the same services -- low rates and quality services," said William J. Carr, AmerenUE vice president. Carr was in Cape Girardeau to discuss the recent merger between Union Electric and CIPSCO, parent company of Central Illinois Public Service Co. (CIPS).

AmerenUE came into being Jan. 1.

The day before, Dec. 31, the $1.2 billion merger plan, which had been announced more than two years ago, received final merger approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"The new merger created a new registered public utility holding company, Ameren Corporation, headquartered in St. Louis," said Carr, speaking to a group of business people at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office. "As a result, UE customers are now served by AmerenUE, while CIPS customers are served by AmerenCIPS."

Doug Groesbeck, manager of AmerenUE's southeast district, served as emcee during the meeting. Also on hand were Michael B. Cleary, supervisor of media relations for Ameren, Glen "Skip" Smallwood Jr., Ameren area development executive; chamber and economic development representatives; and investment brokers.

What does this all mean to Ameren Corp. customers?

"Lower rates," said Carr. "We haven't had a rate increase since 1987, and we're not looking at any increases into the new century."

And the AmerenUE focus is increasing in the economic development area, said Carr.

"At one time in the history of UE, we became a non-player in econmomic development," said Carr. "That started to change in the early 1990s (1992-1993), and now we have a number of economic executives."

Smallwood is the immediate area community development executive of the Ameren economic development department.

Procter & Gamble recently realized some of the benefits of the AmerenUE economic development program. A 161-kilowatt line was on the site of an expansion program for P&G. AmerenUE -- actually Union Electric at that time -- applied for and received Missouri Public Service Commission permission to reroute and replace the line, installing a double-circuit 161-kilovolt transmission line, which will also boost electricity available for the new plant.

"This played well with P&G," said Carr. "And, we're also playing with a 'discounted economic rider,' which will give five-year discounts for businesses who may come into the area."

Carr said he didn't see any deregulation in Missouri for this year.

"It could be 1999, or even 2000, before we see it," he said. The deregulation move would be of more benefit to large industry at first, then dwindle down to smaller businesses and residential customers," said Carr.

The Ameren name, said Carr, reflects the company's geographic roots and core business, American energy. Through its operating subsidiary, Ameren has 8,000 employees, serves 1.5 million electric customers and 300,000 natural gas lines in a 44,500-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.

Other Ameren subsidiaries include Ameren Energy, an energy marketing and trading affiliate; CIPSCO Investment Co., which manages non-utility investments, including leveraged leases, marketable securities and energy projects; and Ameren Service, which provides support services to the corporation and its subsidiaries.

AmerenUE employs 135 workers in the Southeast Missouri District, 74 of them at Cape Girardeau. The district serves 60,000 electric customers and 21,000 natural gas customers in Southeast Missouri.

Carr also announced two major community programs at the Thursday meeting -- a $1 million Ameren scholarship program and a $700,000 community lighting program.

"The scholarship program, said Carr, would be for students whose households are customers of AmerenUE or AmerenCIPS. Students must be enrolled in full-time undergraduate studies of college or universities in Missouri and Illinois. Students should apply to the scholarship program before April 15 and will be selected on the basis of financial need, academic progress and character references. Applications are available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelop to Scholarship Foundation, 8215 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63117.

The light programs are in two parts -- Ameren Smart Lights and Ameren Safe Lights.

Smart Lights grants of up to $20,000 will go to non-profit community organizations to light ball fields, playgrounds and other community areas.

Safe Lights grants will be spent to supply 17,000 bulbs for front porches in neighborhoods where law enforcement agencies, community groups and neighbors join together to fight crime.

Neighborhoods must be served by Ameren companies.