Electric rates

An electric rate-increase request filed earlier this month by AmerenUE, which provides electricity to much of eastern Missouri and natural gas to customers in some areas, has generated the usual reaction from some customers: We don't want an increase, a 12.1 percent increase is too much and with all the recent power interruptions, the company doesn't deserve an increase. And so forth.

In Missouri, these customers have an opportunity to make their concerns official through the lengthy and sometimes complicated process the Public Service Commission uses for evaluating such requests. Large users and groups of users, called intervenors, have until April 28 to file information with the PSC they think is pertinent to the proposed rate adjustment. Members of the public can comment directly to the PSC staff, to consumer advocates in the Office of Public Counsel or at public hearings that will be scheduled later this year.

Customers should keep in mind that Ameren's request is just for electricity, not for natural gas. The gas rates are adjusted separately under PSC guidelines. Anyone who wants to get a sense of the impact of a 12.1 percent electric-rate increase should consider only the electric-rate portion of their Ameren bills.

Ameren says the rate increase is needed to cover the rising costs of producing electricity and to upgrade the power grid so there are fewer outages. The company also said it needs a higher profit margin to attract capital investment.

The process of making any adjustment like the one Ameren is seeking is likely to take at least 11 months. During that process, the proposed increase, its effect on Ameren's bottom line and the concerns of customers will be considered at length.