GAS METER: An Ameren Illinois meter. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jennifer Fuller)
November 19, 2025 – Today, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) cut $55.8 million from Ameren Illinois’ rate request for its natural gas delivery services. The decision reduces Ameren’s $128.8 million request by about 43 percent and approves a 9.60 percent return on equity (ROE), a reduction from the company’s requested 10.70 percent ROE.
“The ICC’s responsibility is to balance the interests of Illinois’ utilities and their consumers. We recognize that any decision impacting Illinoisans’ bills is not a small one, and after careful review of Ameren’s proposed investments, the Commission opted to strike excess charges and approve necessary and justified projects,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott.
The ICC issued its decision after closely scrutinizing Ameren’s filings, along with additional materials submitted by the utility, consumer advocates, Commission staff, and various interveners over an 11-month legal proceeding. The rate case process is designed to ensure utilities receive the necessary funds to provide safe and reliable service at a reasonable cost to ratepayers. Under the Illinois Public Utilities Act, these costs are only recoverable if the utility demonstrates they are reasonable and prudent.
Today’s decision provides important oversight to constrain spending and protect ratepayers from energy infrastructure costs they might otherwise fund for decades. Specifically, the ICC reduced Ameren’s proposed transmission investments, finding that the program was both overly accelerated and overly focused on replacement.
The final order also directs Ameren to maintain a 3 percent energy burden for all customers by adjusting the utility’s low-income discount (LID). The 3 percent figure is a nationally recognized measure of affordability.
“Both Ameren and Nicor’s gas orders appropriately defer several important investment, infrastructure, and policy planning questions to collaborative forums like the ongoing Future of Gas series and upcoming Low-Income Discount workshops. These stakeholder discussions are important to analyze potential pilot programs, review broader decarbonization strategies, and consider implications of the state’s low-income discount programs. The ICC confirmed today that Illinois’ LID programs must maintain a 3 percent energy burden for our most vulnerable natural gas and electric customers,” said ICC Commissioner Stacey Paradis.
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) stated that any increase it too much, but said they are thankful for state regulartors decision.
