ST. LOUIS, May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AmerenUE's 1.2 million residential customers now have the option to participate in Pure Power -- the company's voluntary renewable energy program -- by purchasing 1,000 kilowatthour (kWh) "blocks" of Pure Power for $15 per block, rather than paying an additional 1.5 cents per kWh for 100 percent of the electricity used each month.
Pure Power funds go toward the purchase of renewable energy certificates, or "RECs," from recently constructed regional wind and other renewable generators. One REC equals the generation of 1,000 kWh of "green power" by a regional wind farm or other renewable energy source.
Previously, the thousands of residential customers now enrolled in Pure Power could only participate by paying on a per-kWh basis. A tariff recently approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) makes it possible to buy in $15 blocks-an option originally reserved only for large industrial users of electricity. The tariff went into effect May 16.
"We filed this tariff as a request to the PSC to give our residential customers more flexibility in controlling how much they pay for Pure Power each month," says AmerenUE Senior Vice President, Missouri Energy Delivery Richard Mark.
According to the terms of the tariff, any customer already signed up with the program can switch to the block option, and new customers to the program can choose either the original pricing method or the block option.
"However, whichever option the customer chooses, he or she is still supporting the development of wind power and other forms of renewable energy in Missouri and the Midwest," Mark said.
At least half of the Pure Power demand is being met by new renewable generators located within Missouri and Illinois. Seventy-five percent or more of customer demand will support wind farms, with the balance supporting other forms of renewable generation.
AmerenUE does not profit from the program, and there are no contracts to sign. Customers can stop participating at any time with no penalty. Customers who want to sign up for Pure Power or switch to the block option can do so by going to http://www.ameren.com/purepower or by calling 1-866-665-PURE (7873).
AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation. Ameren companies serve 2.4 million electric customers and one million natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.
About 3Degrees Group, Inc.
3Degrees, which currently runs four of the top 10 performing voluntary utility renewable energy programs in the nation, is located at 1641 Washington Avenue in St. Louis' historic Loft District. 3Degrees delivers customized, global climate change solutions to U.S. businesses, utilities and institutions. The company engages customers to develop, execute, and communicate sustainability strategies that add value to their brand. Its expertise in sourcing verified carbon offsets and certified renewable energy certificates enables customers to reduce their carbon footprint.
SOURCE: AmerenUE
CONTACT: Tim Fox of AmerenUE, +1-314-554-3120; or Cindy Bambini of
3Degrees Group, Inc., +1-314-606-5328
Web site: http://www.ameren.com/