Ameren Missouri requests mid-2027 rate increase, would raise average Missourian’s bill by $13
Ameren Missouri has requested a mid-2027 rate increase of $343 million, which would raise the average customer's electricity bill by $13, citing investments in infrastructure and growing demand from "large-load customers" like data centers. Consumer protection groups are scrutinizing the proposal, arguing that data centers should bear more of the costs for new generation needed to meet their significant energy demands. The Missouri Public Service Commission will review the request over the next 11 months.
Ameren Missouri has submitted a request to the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) for a rate increase that would take effect in mid-2027, projecting a $343 million rise in annual electric base rate revenues and an average $13 increase for residential customers. This request, filed on June 26, is intended to recover investments in the company's Smart Energy Plan, which involves upgrading aging infrastructure and adding storm-hardened improvements, particularly in St. Louis and Southeast Missouri. Ameren also plans to construct three new energy centers, adding 400 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity by the end of 2026, and seeks to add 400 MW of solar generation in Audrain and Stoddard counties.
A significant driver for the proposed rate hike is the anticipated surge in demand from "large-load customers," specifically data centers, which Ameren projects will increase electric sales by over 60% within the next five years. Steven Willis, Ameren Missouri's director of regulatory affairs, testified that by the end of 2029, these new users are expected to consume more than half the electricity of all other customers in the company's Eastern Missouri service territory. Ameren asserts that its proposed "Large Load Tariff," developed under Missouri Senate Bill 4, will actually save average customers $21.2 million by requiring large-load users to sign long-term contracts, pay for out-of-state energy imports, and cover new infrastructure costs directly related to their service.
However, consumer protection advocates, including the Consumers Council of Missouri and the Missouri Office of Public Counsel (OPC), are raising concerns. The OPC's Chief Economist, Geoff Marke, argued that "socialized transmission costs" and the shared burden of building new generation facilities to meet data center demand would unfairly raise bills for existing customers. While the OPC did not oppose a solar facility in Callaway County earlier this year, it questioned the fairness of ordinary consumers subsidizing additional generation capacity primarily for data centers. The PSC staff will conduct an 11-month review of Ameren's request, with interested parties having until July 15 to intervene in the case.