JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An order was filed last week directing Missouri Public Commission (PSC) Staff to file a recommendation regarding Ameren’s new rate case to revise its Energy Efficiency Investment Charge (EEIC).
The EEIC, according to Ameren, “reflects costs to cover energy efficiency programs enabled by the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act.”
In the case filing by Ameren, executives wrote that they are filing “to adjust customer rates for changes in Ameren Missouri’s energy efficiency costs.”
Ameren filed testimony of Bill Davis, an economic analysis and pricing manager for the company, making the case for the adjusted tariff.
“The terms of Rider EEIC require a filing at least once per calendar year to be effective with the subsequent calendar year’s February billing month,” Davis testified. “In addition, the Missouri Public Service Commission’s rules require this filing to be made at least 60 days in advance of when rates would become effective.
“Overall this Rider EEIC filing seeks an annual decrease of nearly $123 4 million compared to the current level of such costs in the Company’s rates. This decrease consists of historical reconciliation amounts and forecasted costs for 2016.”
The requested revision would lower the surcharge on Ameren consumers on the heels of Ameren’s last energy efficiency plan being rejected.
“The new EEIR will result in a credit of approximately $1.10 per month for a typical residential customer,” Davis said. “This is a decrease from the current EEIR charge of $6 per month for a total reduction of just over $7 per month.
“The current Rider was specifically designed to recover the costs associated with Ameren Missouri’s Cycle 1 Plan. The Cycle 1 energy efficiency programs are set to expire on December 31, 2015. Ameren Missouri does not currently have a Commission approved Cycle 2 Plan. As a result, there are nearly zero forecasted costs for 2016 which means the rates are primarily true-up amounts from the 2015 effective period.”
Ameren hopes to see the fee adjusted for the February 2016 billing month.
Staff has been directed to file a recommendation before Christmas, which will be effective immediately.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
