Carthage residents informed of opt-out option for Ameren

Ameren Illinois' adjusted electric supply rate for residential customers, posted Tuesday, was set at 8.04 cents per kilowatthour, or 3.88 cents less than the City of Carthage's electric aggregation rate of 11.924 cents per kilowatthour.

The utility's new tariff rate, which is the price consumers can use to compare to the City's electric aggregation rate, will be effective Friday, June 2. The City's rate became effective with electric meter readings in April. Although the municipality's rate was lower than Ameren's supply cost when bids were taken, recent auctions for energy supply produced significantly lower charges for electric generating capacity and fuel, the major components of electric aggregation rates in Illinois.

The City designed its electric aggregation program to assure that participants have access to the lowest price available on the market by permitting them to opt out at any time and at no cost. Carthage participants can opt out by calling Constellation toll-free or by going online. Residents should have their 10-digit Ameren account number available to opt out.

To opt out by phone, residents can call Constellation's toll-free number, 800-316-8216.

Calls are taken in the order received, and callers can avoid lengthy wait times by leaving a request for a return call. There is no waiting for those who use Constellation's online opt-out service at www.constellation.comlil- carthage and following these steps:

Click Opt-Out Online in gray area at bottom of page.

Click blue Find My Code button.

Enter your 10-digit Ameren account number.

1. Review account information.

2. Enter email if you'd like opt out confirmation.

3. Check the box.

4. Click the blue button, Do Not Participate.

Carthage voters at a referendum authorized the City's electric aggregation initiative. The City paused its program in early 2022 when competitive prices exceeded Ameren's.

Electricity prices have been volatile in the regulated as well as the competitive market over the past year. Ameren's regulated supply rate more than doubled-from 5.478 cents per kilowatthour in May 2022 to 11.833 cents currently. The utility is also permitted to recover and refund differences in its costs of energy when those costs vary by five percent from the approved rate. Such cost differences, known as purchased energy adjustments, are passed along on consumers' monthly bills. Electric aggregation customers are not charged purchased energy adjustments.

Ameren will continue to deliver electricity to residents and small businesses, answer calls about power quality and outages, and bill for all electric supply and distribution services. Answers to questions about delivery service and bills are available by calling Ameren's toll-free number at 800-755-5000.