Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Taxes and health care
Next Post: The kid’s alright
Posted in:
This could end up being a very big story.
As I’ve told you before, the attorney general is investigating whether Ameren improperly pushed its substantial discount for all-electric homes and businesses on consumers long after it knew that the break was being eliminated. The company denies it…
Leigh Morris, a spokesman for Ameren, said the electric utility had quit more than a decade ago promoting its all-electric discount, although it remained in existence until Jan. 2, when new higher rates took effect.
But some customers say otherwise…
But other AmerenIP customers interviewed by the News-Democrat contend that as recently as last year the utility had tried to encourage them to buy houses with all-electric heat, while keeping quiet about the discount’s impending termination. […]
“We met with Ameren and we said, ‘What is the most economical way to go?” Nuelle said. “And they said, ‘We have a special discounted rate for all-electric buildings. It’s going to save you this much money per kilowatt hour.’ Well, we went with it.”
But since the new electric rates went into effect in January, along with the end of the all-electric discounted rate, the building’s power bill jumped to $6,900 in February from $2,800 the previous February, Nuelle said.
Read the whole thing.
There’s lots more Ameren coverage from late yesterday - Moody’s downgrading its credit rating and Ameren getting approval for and then yanking a rate relief plan - down below. Just click here if you don’t feel like scrolling.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 13, 07 @ 6:52 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Taxes and health care
Next Post: The kid’s alright
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
The Illinois Green Party plans to launch a statewide campaign aimed at educating people about, and encouraging the formation of, publicly-owned regional energy cooperatives. Rich Whitney will be personally involved in that campaign.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Mar 13, 07 @ 10:00 am
Co-Ops? Far out, man! I’ll break out my tie-dye.
Can I been in charge of stirring the compost pile? The mulch we make from that will help us all out.
Comment by Killroy D. Tuesday, Mar 13, 07 @ 12:07 pm
What a surprise…the legislature and power companies put on a dog and pony show about offering some comfort for the afflicted, then quietly pull the plug after the firestorm wanes.
You’d think all they wanted was the money and tax revenues. Of course, Exelon never even offered ANY relief, but just blamed Ameren for doing the same thing.
Why not at least offer some tax credits or discounts on energy efficiency expenditures? Replacing electric heating systems is EXPENSIVE, especially if the electric equipment was new! Or would such token matching funds for a few thousand customers affect the tax revenue and profit streams too much?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 13, 07 @ 7:04 pm