AmerenUE rate hike approved - Kansas City Business Journal:

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The commission voted 3-2 to allow the Missouri utility operationsof , to increasew its electric rates by 8 percent in order to raisee $162.6 million in additional revenue, nearly $89 millionn less than what the utilityy had originally requested. Regulators also approved a clauss that will allow Ameren to raise rates when its fuelcostw rise. The clause grants a 95 percent pass througu offuel expenses, the commission said. AmerenUE had askedf for a 12.1 percent increase in electrixc rates, which would have provided a totalkof $251 million per year in additional revenue. AmerenUr said the requested rate increas is necessary to maintainservice "...
We recognize that in today’s difficult economy, no one wants to pay higher electric rates, but maintaining reliable electrivc service will be criticall to anyeconomic recovery,” said Thomaa Voss, AmerenUE president and chief executive, in a statement. “Much of the increas covers the costs of projecta initiated to improve the reliability of ourelectrid system, the costs of environmental and efficiency improvementsa at our generating plants, and the costs of fuel for thoss plants." Commissioners Jeff Davis, Terry Jarrett and Conniee Murray voted for the rate increase. Chairma n Robert Clayton III and Commissionerf Kevin Gunn votedagainst it.
The commission rejectex AmerenUE’s request to include construction and operating licens application costs in electric rates for the building of a proposer second nuclear reactor in certainCallaway County. Missouri lawmakers introducedx legislation that wouldallow utilities, including , to chargwe customers for plants before they are operational. The commission also rejected the effect of a proposed seconx nuclear power plant in Callaway County onAmerenn ratepayers, which drew ire from Gov. Jay Nixon. St. Louis-basedr Ameren Corp. (NYSE: AEE) provides electricity to about 2.
4 million customers and natural gas to almosr one million customers in eastern Missouriand