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Quincy officials urge residents to compare energy costs following Ameren rate change - WGEM

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Quincy officials urge residents to compare energy costs following Ameren rate change

QUINCY (WGEM) - City officials are urging Quincy residents to compare energy costs following a rate change by Ameren Illinois.

According to city officials, Ameren announced an adjustment in its residential electric supply costs that will extend from October 2023 through May 2024.

Ameren’s base rate for usage of up to 800 kilowatthours will be 8.104 cents per kilowatthour and 7.904 cents for each additional kilowatthour. The comparable rate for Quincy’s Municipal Electric Aggregation program is 12.065 cents per kilowatthour.

Officials stated, at a time when electricity prices were soaring, Constellation New Energy had the lowest competitive bid to supply the city’s electric aggregation program. The Constellation rate is fixed through October 2024, but participants may opt-out at any time to take advantage of the Ameren rate. Ameren’s typical electric customer uses approximately 10,000 kilowatthours per year.

Ameren adjusts its rates in June and October, as summer and non-summer periods begin. The electric aggregation rate is fixed for the length of the city’s 18-month contract, which began in April.

Quincy officials and the energy consultants for the city pointed out that the Ameren rate provides additional savings for homes with electric heat and encouraged participants to compare costs.

“It’s really a win-win for everybody. The customer, the resident of Quincy has the opportunity to choose the lower rate, and Ameren is the lower rate, at no cost,” President of Simec Energy, Reg Ankrom said, “The city has a contract with Constellation, until next October, but there is no cost for people leaving. The contract does provide the opportunity for people to opt-out if they wish to do so.”

To opt-out or to obtain additional information about electric aggregation, residents can call Constellation New Energy’s customer care center toll-free at 800-990-2004.

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