Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan aims to harden area's electric grid, supporting reliability and resiliency

Through its Smart Energy Plan, Ameren Missouri is storm-hardening more than two miles of distribution lines in Spanish Lake, supporting increased reliability for over 1,400 customers, including critical facilities such as Christian Hospital. As part of the project, the company has strategically installed composite power poles. These hardened fiberglass poles are stronger than traditional wooden poles and work to anchor the system during periods of severe weather or an outage— preventing cascading damage and often speeding restoration times.

Please click on the above picture to view a video on Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan project in Spanish Lake.

In addition to the storm-hardening upgrades in the community, Ameren Missouri installed smart switch technology throughout the area, providing rapid outage detection and automatic restoration, reducing both the size and duration of potential outages. The project also included the removal of overhead powerlines across Highway 367 and burying them underground.

Additionally, Ameren Missouri has made several other improvements throughout Spanish Lake. In 2023, crews replaced aging substation equipment serving the community. In 2025, the company upgraded more than a mile of overhead power lines along Riverview Drive. These two projects will serve as critical service backups for the new St. Louis Zoo Wildcare Park under development in Spanish Lake.

To learn more about Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/plan.

Ameren Missouri assists the school district through energy efficiency program

The Rockwood School District projects to save more than $9,700 annually after earning $90,764 in incentives through Ameren Missouri’s BizSavers program. The incentives are part of the work done by the school district to upgrade the HVAC systems at the Ellisville, Kehrs Mill and Uthoff Valley elementary schools.

These projects, provided by funds made available through the community's voter-approved Proposition 3 in November 2023, involved replacing the previous four-pipe systems at the three schools with new, more efficient rooftop units that are integrated into Rockwood’s districtwide building automation systems.

As a part of its efforts, the school district installed new rooftop HVAC units at Kehrs Mill Elementary School.

“One of the highest priority uses of our Proposition 3 funds is the replacement of our HVAC systems throughout the district,” said Cyndee Byous, chief financial officer for the Rockwood School District. “We are replacing our HVAC systems in partnership with Ameren, with systems designed to be more energy efficient for years to come." 

Through these HVAC upgrades at the three Rockwood schools, the district anticipates saving 91,533 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – the equivalent of nine homes. 

“We’re thrilled that BizSavers was able to provide Rockwood with long‑term value moving forward, including lower electric bills, more comfortable classrooms and resources redirected to their students,” said Kenny Blair, program supervisor of energy efficiency at Ameren Missouri.

Launched in 2013, Ameren Missouri's BizSavers program offers energy efficiency programs to help commercial customers manage their energy use and reduce costs. To learn more about the program, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/BizSavers.

Ameren Missouri's Dollar More program strives to help those in need

With winter in full swing, Ameren Missouri reminds customers of an important program to help those struggling with their monthly energy bills. Funded entirely by voluntary customer and company donations, the Dollar More program provides up to $600 in assistance, per calendar year, for eligible households. In 2025, the program distributed more than $637,000 in assistance to over 2,400 families to help with their home energy costs.

Donations made to Ameren Missouri's Dollar More program are tax deductible.

“Dollar More is about neighbors helping neighbors," said Page Selby, manager of Customer Advocacy for Ameren Missouri. "Whether you’re able to contribute a dollar, or more, a month, 100% of donations go directly to families in need of assistance in all of the communities we serve." 

For those seeking help with their energy bill, Ameren Missouri partners with community agencies and the United Way of Greater St. Louis to guide customers through Dollar More's application process. Eligible households must be at or below 300% of the federal poverty level to qualify for assistance through the program. Additionally, the program provides an opportunity for customers to help those in need. Customers can add as little as a $1 a month to their energy bill or make a one-time donation to the program. Every dollar donated goes directly to families in need within Ameren Missouri's service territory. 

To learn more about Ameren Missouri's Dollar More program, please visit ameren.com/bill/assistance/dollar-more or call 1.800.552.7583. 

Rob Dixon currently serves as Ameren Missouri's vice president of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs.

Rob Dixon’s work at Ameren Missouri is shaped by his deep roots in both the state and the company. Raised in the St. Louis area, he grew up around the kind of work that quietly keeps communities running. His father spent nearly 40 years at Ameren Missouri as a lineman and in management, and some of Dixon’s earliest memories involve watching that work up close. 

“I feel like I grew up around Ameren,” Dixon said, adding that his brother has worked at Ameren for nearly 20 years and his wife’s grandfather retired from the company in the 1970s.

Today, he serves as the company's vice president of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, acting as Ameren Missouri's chief advocate before the Missouri General Assembly, statewide officeholders and the state's public service commission. His journey from humble beginnings in St. Louis to senior leadership at one of the state's largest companies included numerous stops throughout the state and the world.

After graduating high school, Dixon joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and he served in Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks before returning to Missouri to finish college.

“Two things really stand out to me from my time in the Marine Corps,” Dixon said. “The first is the sense of teamwork, what we called esprit de corps. The second is adaptability. You learn to improvise, adapt and overcome – both ideals are critical to our ability to be successful as a company.”

Throughout Dixon's career, he has remained rooted in these principles. Whether it was during his time as president and CEO of the Missouri Community College Association, executive vice president of the Springfield Missouri Chamber of Commerce or when he served as the director of the state's Department of Economic Development under Gov. Mike Parson, his background and experiences in working with teams to support growth across the state continue to influence him today. 

“Missouri and its communities are an incredible place to live and do business," said Dixon. "Our customers depend on us to provide the reliable and affordable energy that powers the quality of life here in our state. As a company, we must work together with lawmakers, regulators and stakeholders to ensure we are doing everything we can to responsibly move our state forward." 

In 2021, Dixon left his role as the director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development to join Ameren Missouri as the company's director of Community and Economic Development. While in this role, Dixon and his team played an important part in attracting new businesses to the Show-Me State, including several advanced manufacturers and data centers. Dixon held this role until he was promoted to his current position in December 2025. 

"From working with lawmakers on legislation expanding the GM plant in Wentzville to creating the Missouri One Start workforce training program, my career has given me a unique perspective on what makes our community a special place," said Dixon. "We cannot lose sight on what matters most – our customers. As a company, we must continue to do everything we can to provide reliable and affordable energy for Missourians."

That responsibility shapes how Dixon approaches his work. He sees it as stewardship, balancing long-term planning with day-to-day accountability and recognizing that decisions made today shape what customers and communities experience years from now.

"Our customers' needs are at the forefront of everything we do as a company," said Dixon. 

As Missouri heads into the 2026 legislative session, Dixon said his focus will be on educating lawmakers on how the company is implementing the policies included in 2025's Senate Bill 4. While this legislation included countless consumer protections and measures designed to promote responsible growth, it also included a measure establishing the framework for the company's large load tariff, commonly known as the Powering Missouri Growth Plan. Additionally, he plans to spend time advocating against proposals designed to undermine the state's regulated utility framework, which balances long-term planning, reliability and customer protections while keeping electric service reliable and affordable for customers.

"Missouri's utility regulatory framework provides certainty and has protected Missouri from the problems seen in other parts of the country – all while working to keep costs fair and reasonable here," said Dixon. "When compared to our peers, Ameren Missouri's residential electric rates are well below the Midwest and national averages."

Outside of work, Dixon’s life centers on family and time outdoors. He and his wife, Melanie, have been married since 2007, and their son, Eddie, is a high school sophomore. When schedules allow, the family spends weekends fishing, boating and enjoying time on the water.