East Central Reporter

Ameren Illinois is being called out. Critics and lawmakers are lining up to seek relief from steadily increasing electric utility bills.

Many are questioning why utility bills have been skyrocketing.

“Public notice, I demand that the Illinois Energy Department immediately investigate Ameren Illinois and Homefield Energy for double charging for electricity. One is charging for delivery the other for supply. It is the same electricity. Copy and paste and demand representation,” Effingham resident Keith Vandelist posted on Facebook. 

In downstate areas, Ameren has hiked rates 116% higher than last year, translating to an increase of $626 per customer. The utility provider has filed paperwork to push power bills even higher, which saw immediate pushback from the Citizen’s Utility Board.

“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." 

Downstate legislators gathered earlier this week to address the issue of Ameren rates hikes. State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) said some utilities customers are being impacted more than others. “I got a phone call from West Frankfort ... and they said that their electric bill for some of the services that they offer for senior citizens in West Frankfort went from $4,000 to $12,000,” Severin said at a press conference, according to SE Illinois News. “I got a call just last week from a new part of my district that there's a grocery store that is closing that serves that county. They do not have a grocery store in that county anymore (because) of these costs. It's serious and we've got to find answers."

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is pushing a legislative fix. She is sponsoring two bills meant to resolve the crisis. Senate Bill 1548 would cut regulations barring new power plants from coming online. Senate Bill 1547 would create the Power Grid Task Force which would set up a team of lawmakers to inspect the state’s energy policy and the effects it is having on ratepayers, according to WICS ABC Newschannel 20.