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<oembed><version>1.0</version><provider_name>Citizens Utility Board</provider_name><provider_url>https://www.citizensutilityboard.org</provider_url><title>Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata Alerting Ameren Illinois Customers to Proposed Gas Rate Hike | Citizens Utility Board</title><type>rich</type><width>600</width><height>338</height><html>&lt;blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="JM0SGOqfwZ"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/amerenratehikemarch2020/"&gt;Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata Alerting Ameren Illinois Customers to Proposed Gas Rate Hike&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/amerenratehikemarch2020/embed/#?secret=JM0SGOqfwZ" width="600" height="338" title="&#x201C;Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata Alerting Ameren Illinois Customers to Proposed Gas Rate Hike&#x201D; &#x2014; Citizens Utility Board" data-secret="JM0SGOqfwZ" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;script type="text/javascript"&gt;
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</html><description>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#x201D;5/6&#x2033;][vc_custom_heading text=&#x201D;Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata Alerting Ameren Illinois Customers to Proposed Gas Rate Hike&#x201D; font_container=&#x201D;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#x201D; use_theme_fonts=&#x201D;yes&#x201D;][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#x201D;1/6&#x2033;][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#x201D;5/6&#x2033;][vc_column_text]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2020 CONTACT: Jim Chilsen (o) 312-263-4282, (c) 312-513-1784 STATEMENT BY CUB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID KOLATA ALERTING AMEREN ILLINOIS CUSTOMERS TO PROPOSED GAS RATE HIKE Ameren Illinois has filed a $102 million natural gas rate increase before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is still reviewing the utility&#x2019;s request, but Ameren&#x2019;s high 10.5 percent profit rate for its shareholders is of immediate concern. A rate hike is always bad news for consumers&#x2014;especially one that would hit in the middle of next winter. CUB&#x2019;s legal team will fight every penny the company can&#x2019;t justify. Background: *On Feb. 21, Ameren requested a $102.031 million natural gas rate hike. *The company is requesting a 10.5 percent Return on Equity (ROE), or profit rate for shareholders.&#xA0;Ameren&#x2019;s current ROE is 9.87 percent. *This increase would impact delivery rates, which take up about a third to a half of gas bills. Delivery charges cover the costs of delivering gas to homes&#x2014;plus a profit. *The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) will consider this rate-hike proposal over an 11-month case. Any rate hike would take effect in early 2021. CUB is Illinois&#x2019; leading nonprofit utility watchdog. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, it has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping block rate hikes, secure refunds, and fight for clean, low-cost energy. For more information, call CUB&#x2019;s Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556, or visit its award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org. ### [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#x201D;1/6&#x2033;][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#x201D;5/6&#x2033;][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#x201D;1/6&#x2033;][/vc_column][/vc_row]</description><thumbnail_url>https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/CUB_IL_LogoBadgeRGBAdminLogo.png</thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width>254</thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height>254</thumbnail_height></oembed>