News Releases

Ameren Missouri officials are pleased that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved provisions in its shoreline boundary plan for Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. Ameren Missouri filed the proposal in January – months ahead of FERC’s deadline of June 2012. Today’s decision resolves the issue of dwelling encroachments within the project boundary at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Under the new plan, the boundary has been lowered to an elevation of 662’ plus carving out below 662’ for existing dwellings and commercial structures.

Ameren Missouri will now move forward with filing Estoppel Certificates in the Recorder of Deeds Office(s) of Camden, Miller, Benton and Morgan counties. The document clarifies ownership and confirms that structures now outside the boundary are not in jeopardy.

“By working and collaborating with property owners, agencies and other key stakeholders, we developed and presented a viable solution to FERC,” said Jeff Green, supervisor of Shoreline Management. “We are very happy with the decision to allow us to lower the boundary. Today’s decision provides closure to the matter.”

In addition to filing Estoppel Certificates, Ameren Missouri will now focus on helping property owners understand the new plan.

Green said that Ameren Missouri has been and will continue being a good steward of the Lake, and throughout the process, the company’s primary goal was to redraw the boundary so that all identified encroachments would no longer be encroachments. The challenge was balancing the requirements of FERC license with the needs and concerns of the community and submitting a very comprehensive plan to FERC ahead of their deadline, he said.

Background: FERC has regulatory authority over specific hydroelectric projects including Ameren Missouri's Osage Project in central Missouri. By law, FERC is charged with balancing power generation and non-power generation values when issuing hydropower licenses. FERC accomplishes this balancing by giving “equal consideration” to the wide range of public benefits provided by hydroelectric projects.

•  On July 26, 2011, FERC issued an order to Ameren Missouri approving and modifying our proposed Shoreline Management Plan for Lake of the Ozarks. In that order, FERC raised concerns about encroachments to the project boundary.
  
• Ameren Missouri reviewed the order and on Aug. 26, 2011 filed a rehearing request on certain provisions related to nonconforming structures and encroachments.
  
• FERC responded on Nov. 10, 2011 with a second order. It clarified FERC’s previous position and clearly provided a framework for Ameren Missouri to propose a project boundary change to be submitted for FERC approval.
  
• Ameren Missouri hosted two public workshops in January 2012 to seek input from resource agencies and the public regarding proposed boundary changes to help resolve the project boundary.
  
• On Jan. 31, 2012, Ameren Missouri filed a plan with FERC to resolve the issue of encroachments within the project boundary. That plan proposed lowering of the boundary to 662’ plus carving out below 662’ for existing dwellings.

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Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than a century, and our electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. We serve 1.2 million electric and 127,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. Our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers 63 counties and more than 500 towns, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit AmerenMissouri.com.

CONTACT: Missouri Communications, 314.554.2182, missouricommunications@ameren.com