Budgeting tools, bill assistance and energy-saving solutions help families manage household expenses this school year
Key Takeaways:
ST. LOUIS (Aug. 13, 2026) – As parents continue their search for back-to-school discounts to stretch their budgets, Ameren encourages families to review their energy costs as well.
"Many families are balancing school supplies, extracurricular activities and other seasonal expenses this time of year. Whether a customer is looking for financial assistance, more predictable monthly bills or tools to better understand their energy use, Ameren resources are available to help them find options that fit their needs," said Joe Solari, vice president of customer experience for Ameren.
Billing options make managing monthly energy costs easier
Customers can choose from several billing and payment options to gain more control over their monthly bill. For families with college-age kids living on their own, Budget Billing can be a great program to help students learn how to budget by offering greater consistency in energy costs from month to month. Pick A Due Date lets customers choose the best time of the month to pay their energy bill, such as aligning it with a paycheck or monthly Social Security payment.
Assistance tailored to customers' unique needs
For customers who might need a little extra help this time of year, Ameren has a wide range of helpful programs to get their energy bill back on track. "Our customers have different billing challenges, so we offer a range of programs designed to provide solutions based on their unique circumstances," Solari said. "At Ameren.com/Assistance, customers can find all the programs Ameren offers.”
Customers can also reach out directly to any of the hundreds of community action agencies Ameren partners with to distribute energy assistance funds. A list of agencies that offer LIHEAP and other Community Assistance programs is available at Ameren.com/account/agency-finder.
Combine billing and assistance options with energy-saving tips for even greater control
Log in or create an online account at Ameren.com to access personalized details on energy usage in your home. Customers can then make simple changes, such as raising the thermostat a few degrees or installing a smart thermostat that allows them to program the settings when they are at work or away from home. Closing blinds, placing a rolled towel on a windowsill or against the bottom of a door, or installing weatherstripping around doors and windows are low-cost, effective ways to eliminate leaks where energy loss takes place. Additional energy efficiency tips can be found at Ameren.com/efficiency.
About Ameren Corporation
St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.5 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 67,700-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution services, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops, owns and operates rate-regulated regional electric transmission projects in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us at @AmerenCorp, Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn.com/company/Ameren.