By Charles Jaco FOX2now.com

October 5, 2009
COLLINSVILLE, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
Emotions were running high at a public hearing Monday on whether Ameren's Illinois operation should be able to get a $226 million rate hike. This public hearing is the first of several on Ameren's request for rate increases for both electricity and the natural gas it delivers here in the Metro East. Ameren claims without the Illinois rate hike, the reliability of its service could be in jeopardy.

Opponents say Ameren is a badly run utility whose top executives are being paid a lot more than they're worth. In the middle, the Illinois Commerce Commission which will have to decide the fate of the rate hike request by next May. If the rate hike is requested, Ameren is guessing that Illinois customers of Ameren IP would pay $152 a year more for electricity and natural gas, while Illinois customers of Illinois CIPS would pay $119 a year more.

Two more public hearings will be held October 27 in Pekin and November 2 in Decatur.
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