The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved new rates for Ameren's gas customers, adding around 12 percent, or $13, to the average Missouri customers' monthly bills.
John Coffman is a lawyer for the Consumers Council of Missouri. He said rate increases are outpacing both inflation and wage growth.
"We believe that these increases are fueling inflation generally in the state because almost every other sector of the economy and virtually every household you know relies on… has to pay these utility bills," Coffman said.
However, Ameren Missouri Director of Regulatory Affairs Steven Wills said the rate hike is vital for Ameren to recover lost profits.
"So in order to have a financially sound utility that's gonna be there to provide service to our customers and be able to make the investments to keep that system reliable for customers, we have to, you know, be able to kinda recover some of those higher costs," Wills said.
Ameren officials argued the new rates will help maintain system reliability, but advocates such as the Consumers Council, AARP, and Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers warn added costs could be a strain on households. Missouri residents should expect to see the price hike starting September 1. Information on financial relief can be found at Ameren's website.
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