MARION - Area Ameren customers can expect to learn details behind the utility company's promised rate relief on Monday.

That's when Ameren is hosting a 2 p.m. news conference expected to explain the recently signed rate relief legislation at the Marion Operating Center-Training Facility, Ameren officials announced Friday.

The Marion meeting is one of six Monday press conferences scheduled across the state in response to a $1 billion electric rate relief plan the governor signed last month. Ameren officials said three of the company's vice presidents will talk about when and which customers can expect to receive credits.

The announcement comes about a week after Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved the relief legislation at an Aug. 28 ceremony at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. It was then that Ameren officials said the plan guarantees that Ameren would start sending customers refund checks in about two weeks. The day after the press conference, Sept. 11, will be the two-week mark.

The legislation, which lawmakers sent to the governor more than a month ago, came after Ameren and Commonwealth Edison customers saw hefty hikes on their bills at the beginning of the year. Residents in central and southern Illinois were hit especially hard.

At the Aug. 28 signing ceremony, Blagojevich said the 210-page piece of legislation was not perfect, explaining that $1 billion in rate relief is not as good as $2 billion. He said the legislation, which guarantees some Ameren customers refund checks, is a step, but does not go far enough.

According to Ameren, half of the $1 billion will go to Ameren Illinois customers over the next four years. Details about which customers qualify, when customers will receive their checks, how much they can expect and where to get more information is expected to be outlined by Ron Pate, the vice president of regional operations for Ameren Illinois utilities, at Monday's news conference.

Besides Marion, officials plan to stop in Peoria, Decatur, East St. Louis, LaSalle and Quincy.

bethany.krajelis@thesouthern.com

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