Supporting economic development through the Powering Missouri Growth Plan
Ameren Missouri plan aims to reliably serve new, large businesses while maintaining just and reasonable rates for all customers
As advanced manufacturing and data centers consider locating throughout eastern Missouri, Ameren Missouri reminds its customers it is uniquely positioned to meet the large energy requirements of these new projects and has plans to reliably serve them while protecting other customers from unjust or unreasonable charges. Back in May, Ameren Missouri filed its plan to support these potential large, energy-intensive customers with the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC). Commonly known as the Powering Missouri Growth Plan, this approach aims to ensure the company can reliably serve these potential new large electric load customers while maintaining just and reasonable rates for their current customer base.
The plan aims to accomplish three specific goals: job creation, community betterment and fair cost allocation. Additionally, the plan aims to incorporate several of the consumer protection measures included in Senate Bill 4, legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor. The new law includes language preventing unfair costs from being passed on to residential and small business customers by ensuring large energy users pay their fair share of energy infrastructure expenses.
"Companies who use a lot of energy evaluate many factors when they are looking to locate their business in a community," said Rob Dixon, senior director of economic and community development for Ameren Missouri. "At Ameren Missouri, we offer a balanced energy mix, a reliable energy delivery system and some of the lowest electric rates in the country. We want those companies to know Missouri is open for business, and we are ready to serve them."
During a previous presentation to the PSC, the Missouri Department of Economic Development reported several large-scale, business-related projects in its planning pipeline requiring more than a gigawatt of power each. According to the department, these projects represent the potential of thousands of new jobs and several billions of dollars of investment in the Show-Me State.
"Large manufacturers and data centers have the potential to bring tremendous benefits to communities throughout the state," said Dixon. "In addition to the permanent and construction jobs associated with these projects, they also drive new tax revenues to support everything from education to public safety services, all without the need to increase the existing tax burden on individuals and businesses."
If approved by the PSC, the plan would offer a competitive, yet structured approach to ensure these new, energy-intensive customers pay their fair share of the costs associated with providing electric service to them. The plan is currently under consideration by the PSC. To learn more about the Powering Missouri Growth Plan, please visit Ameren.com/PoweringMissouriGrowth.