Ameren Illinois Customers Offered Incentives to Save Energy

In accord with a new Illinois law, Ameren Thursday filed an energy efficiency plan with the Illinois Commerce Commission intended to reduce electricity usage. Rebates and incentives for the installation of efficient lights and appliances form the core of the plan.

"The plan's goal is to help lower customers' monthly electric and natural gas bills, while benefiting the environment. By using less energy at home, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and help protect our environment," said Stan Ogden, vice president for customer service and public relations for the three Ameren Illinois utilities - AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP.

Under the terms of Illinois legislation enacted in August, the Ameren Illinois utilities are committed to reduce electricity usage by specific targeted amounts. The plan announced Thursday is designed to achieve those targets.

The energy efficiency program is expected to cost the typical residential customer 30 cents per month during the first year of the program. If approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission, this rate increase will be applied to all residential customers.

Ameren says customers who take advantage of the energy efficiency initiatives should realize savings on their electricity bills that will exceed the cost of the program.

By the end of the program's first year in May 2009, the Ameren Illinois utilities estimate their energy efficiency efforts will reduce electricity usage by an amount sufficient to power nearly 7,700 single family homes for a year.

In the second year ending May 2010, the goal is to reduce usage by an amount equal to the electricity needed to supply about 23,200 single family homes for a year.

By the end of the third year, the target is to reduce usage by an amount equal to the electricity needed to meet the annual electricity needs of about 46,700 homes.

"Through this comprehensive energy efficiency plan, we will help customers save money by using less electricity without sacrificing personal comfort or safety," said Ogden.

During the first year of the Ameren plan, scheduled to begin in June 2008, the utilities will offer rebates and incentives to help offset the cost of installing more efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems and reduce the unnecessary loss of energy.

Residential customers will be eligible for incentives to install high-efficiency compact fluorescent lights, Energy Star qualified appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators and to properly dispose of old inefficient refrigerators rather than to continue to use them as second refrigerators.

The plan also provides incentives to homeowners and renters to encourage the proper maintenance of air conditioning units and the installation of high-efficiency central air conditioners.

There will be incentives for business customers to make lighting, heating and cooling systems more efficient, as well as incentives to improve industrial processes. Energy efficiency training will be offered to heating, ventilation and air conditioning professionals.

As programs are fully developed, the Ameren Illinois utilities will present the details online at: http://www.ameren.com.

The new law directs $1 billion in credits to electricity consumers across the state to help ease some of the burden of higher costs that came when utility and power companies began buying power through an auction process after a 10 year rate freeze expired at the beginning of 2007.

The law eliminates the auction process and establishes a new state agency, the Illinois Power Agency, to plan for Illinois' energy future and stabilize electric rates.

The law sets a Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires Illinois utilities to meet 25 percent of their customers' electricity needs from renewable energy sources like wind power by 2025.

Utilities are required to boost their investments in energy saving programs and technologies that will help reduce rates for consumers, generate billions in economic activity and create thousands of jobs, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming.

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