Ameren Missouri files plan to increase utility rebates

Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corp., filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) a three-year plan that includes a portfolio of energy efficiency programs that it says will make it the largest such plan in the state of Missouri. The expenditures for the new programs will be approximately twice the size of the utility company's previous energy efficiency programs.

The programs include energy-efficiency investments of approximately $145 million over three years, beginning early Jan. 2013. These investments are expected to result in approximately $500 million in total customer benefits over the next 20 years. Annual energy savings are expected to be nearly 800 million kilowatt-hours, which is equal to the energy consumption of more than 60,000 average Missouri homes annually.

The utility's current Business Energy Efficiency Incentive Program is effective Jan. 3-May 31, and provides incentives for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient equipment such as compact fluorescent lamps, LED exit signs, occupancy sensors and T8 lamps. The program has a limited energy savings goal and once the goal has been met, the program will stop taking applications.

Steve Barker, vice president of sales, Villa Lighting Supply Inc., said in a press release about the new program that his company has had success working with Ameren's previous energy programs. ""Villa Lighting had great success in utilizing Ameren Missouri's program,” he said. “Through the program, we were able to work with many customers to install hundreds of thousands of dollars of lighting upgrades, many of which enabled customers to reduce their lighting-related energy consumption by as much as 40 percent."