It appears that my electricity generator has changed from Ameren to Ameren, and now I’m saving money. Somehow.
As you may know, getting electricity to your home involves two companies (theoretically, at least): the company that generates (or supplies) electricity and the company that delivers electricity. In Peoria, Ameren Illinois delivers your electricity, and their rates are regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Ameren Illinois also supplies electricity, and up until recently has been the default supplier in Peoria, but you can choose a different supplier if you wish. [I was mistaken. Ameren Illinois does not supply electricity — they procure electricity under regulations established by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA). Residents can, however, choose a different supplier.]
In the last election, citizens of Peoria and many other communities passed referenda allowing municipalities to negotiate better electricity rates for their residents with electricity suppliers. Peoria got a great deal with a company called Homefield Energy, which is the City’s new default energy supplier, learn how to make money and how to become a fitness influencer. Here’s part of the City’s press release from earlier this month:
Homefield Energy (www.homefieldenergy.com) was selected as the winning supplier. Homefield offered the lowest price with a two-year contract price of $0.0408 per kilowatt hour (kWh). This price is more than two cents lower than the current Ameren tariff rate of $0.0620 per kWh. The price is also based on the electricity being sourced from 100% renewable electric production.
And just who is Homefield Energy? On the legal page of their website we find out that Homefield Energy is really “Ameren Energy Marketing Company d/b/a Homefield Energy….” Ameren Illinois and Ameren Energy Marketing Company are all part of Ameren Corporation.
So we’ve switched from Ameren [undisclosed suppliers with rates established according to IPA regulations] to Ameren [rates established through competitive bidding directly with municipalities] and saved two cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) — and provided the City of Peoria with a “modest income source” of $0.001/kWh. Apparently there are savings in Ameren’s left pocket that we’ve been missing out on because we’ve been getting our energy from their right pocket all these years. I wonder if there are more savings to be had in their other pockets that we don’t yet know about. [This makes a lot more sense now; my thanks to the City of Peoria and “Cassie” from Ameren for helping to explain it.]
The “modest source of income was not disclosed at the time of the referrendum. Lie number 1, lie number 2–“we will use that money the help neighborhoods”. BS, if they wanted to help neighborhoods there would not have been drastic cuts in code enforcement and reductions in police services. The citizens have been sold off for some campaign donations and projects we don’t need to be funded by taxpayers.
deregulation was a scam from the get go, and this is just another phase.
OMG! You mean the City of Peoria figured out yet another scam to rip off it’s citizens? Say it isn’t so! Now really, folks, is it any wonder they feel comfortable doing such a thing when so few of the citizens show up to vote? The end result is we are paying a little less for our electricity, so I guess we serfs should show some fealty to our betters.
So wait, increasing competition and allowing the City to negotiate better rates somehow lowered utility rates, even though the utility company didn’t change? I’m starting to think there’s something behind this “capitalism”/”free market” thing after all.
As to wondering about money in pockets, that’s what they call “profit”, and businesses usually do the best when the customers don’t realize just how much of it there actually is.
Interesting that no news or blogs about Mr. Scott A. Cisel leaving Ameren Illinois ,Last “CILCO” person in upper mgmt. “left the company to pursue other interests”.Is that a code for fired?
Now a person from St.Louis to run Ameren Illinois. Wonder if the new person will even live in Illinois.
AS for electic suppliers, a big shell game and the city gets some $$ but acording to Peoria County they did not tack on a fee so I should get more of a savings in the county.
My power was out for about 4 hours this weekend (not storm related). This Homefield company sucks, I want to switch back to Ameren 😉
My power was also out for several hours this weekend, the Company does not know why.
Power outages are a delivery problem, which would be Ameren. Don’t expect to get better service now that Ameren is not your ‘supplier’ too.
We opted for another supplier maybe 6 mos to a year ago… My newly arrived bill shows I paid $.05180 per kwh supply for last month. I wonder if I will keep my other supplier (not Homefield or Ameren) or if since I live in the city I too will be bumped over to Homefield eventually. Hasn’t electric supply costs till recently fluxuated a little throughout the year, but now it sounds like they have locked in a fixed rate for 2 yrs of time? Sounds like a little more consistency of cost that people might appreciate.
I smell rat, hoping there is only one!
My power has gone out in the mornings for no known reason. Only out for a few minutes but a pain in the ass none the less. Ameren knows nothing.
I live in Pittsfield and we recently recieved information from the city on the same thing you have been discussing. My question is what happens after 2 years? Are we still going to be protected by the state utility board or are we going to have to sighn a new contract and as new customers be charged an exhorberant rate? I find it hard to belive Ameren is doing this out of the goodness of their hesrt there has to be an underliying motive; I am sure we will pay in the end
Homefield has been sold to dynery. Google dynegy scandal to see who your new parent is. If this upsets you give me a call and I will help you change suppliers
Mike Grimes
877-212-1400
http://www.trycec.com
Homefield is Dynegy. Dynegy is Ameren. There Charging You twice for the same energy. Do you really thihk $.04 per kW is sustainable? Nor is it duplicatble. Some people in your communities are telling you what you can and cant have. Most people don’t even know what they are paying. More taxes and fees are on the back end of that price. You have been dooped once again. My energy supplier is number 1 in the country and 14 world-wide!! I also received an 2 night stay in a 4 star resort just for singing up for the service. I also receive free energy every month on my bill. What does your energy company do for you??
Amazing insight into the world of politics awaits any reader at pibgorn …
from a Demon’s Nest of Sentiments written every Sunday …
Feb. 15, 2014 entry
“Politicians, in word and deed, are indistinguishable from a brood of maggot, except in the sense that the maggots will not pander for campaign contributions.
This demonstrates not so much verbal superiority on the part of the politicians as pride on the part of the maggots.”
http://www.gocomics.com/pibgorn/2013/08/10#.UwNHwNiYbIU