Missouri American Water, Ameren Missouri request St. Louis-area rate hikes

ST. LOUIS – Your utility bills could look a little higher come next year. Two St. Louis-area utility providers, Missouri American Water and Ameren Missouri, have formally filed requests to increase their base rates.

The requests come as both companies aim to fund infrastructure upgrades and enhance long-term services.

If approved, the rate hikes would increase average bills for both providers by nearly $20 each month, according to news releases from Missouri American Water and Ameren Missouri .

Both requests were filed through the Missouri Public Service Commission, which has 11 months from the date the requests were submitted to make a decision. This process usually involves extensive reviews, public hearings, and stakeholder consultations.

Missouri American Water

According to Missouri American Water, if the proposed rates are approved as filed, the water bill for the average residential customer using 5,475 gallons per month would increase around $18 per month.

The proposed rate hikes come in an effort to support ongoing water and wastewater system investments, particularly projects that are expected to total $1.5 billion through May 2026.

Missouri American Water projects in the works include the replacement of the intake pump station at the South Water Treatment Plant in St. Louis County and the construction of a new transmission main to add a second source of water supply in St. Charles County.

“These prudent, ongoing investments show our commitment to protecting public health and safety in the communities we serve,” said Rich Svindland, president of Missouri American Water. The company looks to replace 250 miles of aging water and wastewater pipe.

For customers in need of help with their bills, with or without the proposed rate hikes, Missouri American Water offers assistance through its H2O Help to Others program , payment plans and budget billing.

Ameren Missouri

According to Ameren Missouri, if the proposed rate hikes are approved as filed, the electric bill for the average residential customer with 1,011 kilowatt-hours of usage would increase around $17 a month.

Ameren says the proposed rate hikes are necessary to ensure cleaner electricity, strengthen grids and recover costs of major electric system upgrades.

Some key components of the rate adjustments include power line upgrades, new substations with smart technology, and improvements to utility poles to better withstand severe weather.

“We are committed to ensuring the system is reliable for all our customers while keeping costs as low as possible. As a result of the investments we have made, our customers are seeing fewer outages with shorter durations, delivering up to a 40% improvement in reliability on circuits with innovative technology and associated grid upgrades,” said Warren Wood, vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs at Ameren Missouri.

For customers in need of help with their bills, with or without the proposed rate hikes, Ameren offers assistance through flexible payment options and connections to LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

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