Ameren Illinois files amendment to its energy efficiency plan

Ameren Illinois recently filed an amendment to its energy efficiency plan under the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), which commits the company to an additional average annual savings of 12,043 megawatt-hours (MWhs) over four years.

The amendment seeks to expand Ameren’s efficiency programs to more moderate- and low-income customers and create local, sustainable jobs.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved Ameren Illinois’ energy efficiency plan in September but directed the company to change and amend the plan in accordance with the final order in the case.

“Ameren Illinois’ compliance filing demonstrates our commitment to deliver the energy savings agreed to under FEJA, as well as make the investments in communities in the Ameren Illinois service territory that were envisioned when negotiating this law,” Richard J. Mark, chairman and president of Ameren Illinois, said. “We look forward to working collaboratively with the Commission to ensure that the benefits of the new law will reach customers throughout the state.”

Ameren’s energy efficient plan includes $114 million in annual investments for the next four years in electric and gas efficiency programs. It aims to achieve nearly 9 percent, or 2,502,368 MWhs, in cumulative persisting energy savings by the end of 2021 and includes a goal of 16 percent cumulative persisting savings achieved by 2030.

“Our primary goal is to ensure all of our customers, regardless of income, have an opportunity to receive real and meaningful savings from the programs they are paying for,” Mark said. “It’s time to change the paradigm in Illinois and stop looking at efficiency programs for seniors, those of lesser means and the disadvantaged as something that can just be swept away to achieve some arbitrary environmental target.”

The plan will go into effect at the start of 2018.