Public, PSC don't agree on Ameren rate request

Despite utility customers' protests about rates, agency says it's hamstrung by law

Is there a "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" disconnect between the Missouri Public Service Commission and the public?

At a recent public hearing to help the PSC decide on Ameren Missouri's current request for an 11 percent rate hike, the PSC and public seemed to be on two different wavelengths.

The PSC outlined its role, which is generally to form just and reasonable rates, while allowing utilities such as Ameren to recover prudently incurred costs.

One by one, Ameren customers bombarded the PSC with an almost unified theme: The economy's bad. Don't raise rates.

PSC Chairman Kevin Gunn said that if the PSC simply shot down a utility rate request because of the poor economy, that utility would have grounds to sue.