Ameren Illinois residential customers will pay less next year for electricity delivery services under a plan approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission, announced today. The ICC approved a $7.05 million decrease in electricity delivery that will help residential customers see an approximately $1.13 decrease per month on their bill for delivery services beginning in January, according to a press release from Ameren.
Coupled with a recently announced 5 percent reduction in the cost of electricity for customers who choose Ameren Illinois as their supplier, overall monthly electric bills are expected to be about 20-percent below the national average, according to Ameren-Illinois. Delivery rates are determined based on the utility’s current-year costs and actual costs compared to the forecast from the previous year.
The directive from the ICC marks the 6th overall delivery rate decrease since the Smart Grid Bill was passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2011. Ameren says the cost reduction can be attributed to projects reducing power outages, supporting community solar energy projects and investments, as well as investments in new “smart” technology that helps with microgrids, battery storage, and voltage optimization.