Ameren Missouri has $270 million available for utility bill assistance

Working in concert with local community action agencies, Ameren Missouri sought to get the word out this week that more than $270 million remains immediately available for utility bill assistance during the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Much of the funding put up for help has thus far gone unused, however. In fact, Ameren noted that less than 20 percent of the $324 million Missouri earned in rental and utility assistance from the State Assistance for Housing Relief program has been distributed, with just $51.2 million approved and awarded to applicants by the Missouri Housing and Development Commission. That said, this money has gone on to help more than 10,000 applicants, many of them in need of rental assistance.

“We know many Missourians are doing their best to manage the challenges COVID-19 continues to present, and we want our customers to know help is out there,” Tara Oglesby, vice president of customer experience for Ameren Missouri, said. “We are partnering with state and local agencies to get these funds to the families who need them, in addition to the grants and flexible payment options we continue to offer customers.”

While encouraging use of federal and state resources, Ameren has also dispersed $1 million in grants among 18 local agencies to help low-income customers impacted by the pandemic. Some of the largest of these donations have gone to the Community Action Agency St. Louis County Inc., East Missouri Action Agency Inc., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Inc., Jefferson-Franklin Community Action Corporation, the North East Community Action Corporation and the Missouri Ozarks Community Action agency.