Public Service Commission Approves 10% Electric Rate Increase
The Missouri Public Service Commission voted 3-1 Wednesday to approve a 10-percent, $260.2 million rate increase for the St. Louis-based utility, making it that more expensive for consumers to run their air conditioners, watch television and wash clothes.
The increase is expected to take effect Jan. 2. On average, electric bills for the typical Ameren residential customer will rise by about $10 a month. The calculation is based on average usage of 1,100 kilowatt-hours a month. Amounts will vary by customer according to actual usage.
Ameren filed for a $376 million, 15-percent increase in February, arguing the increase was necessary to cover higher fuel costs, pay for improvements to the local electric grid and to implement energy efficiency programs.
Wednesday's decision marks the fifth electric rate increase for Ameren Missouri since May 2007. Those increases total more than $800 million, not including interim rate adjustments for changes in prices of fuel and purchased power.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/your-ameren-bill-is-about-to-go-up-by-a/article_6797e018-cbd6-540e-9773-5ea3c401f5aa.html
Great because we all got a 10% raise in wages or salaries this year.... 
Oh, wait.... we didn't.
