Ameren customers in the Twin Cities could soon see an increase in their electricity bills.
Bloomington and Normal have renewed their contract with Constellation NewEnergy, Inc. for the next year, essentially a group plan for electricity to residential customers and small businesses.
The new rate starting in June will be close to 40% higher than what energy customers are currently paying — with rates rising from $.07 to nearly $.11 per kilowatt hour.
Residents should receive letters by mail this week explaining the change. They will be automatically enrolled unless they chose to opt out.
In a statement, city and town officials said the rate increase is due to nationwide market corrections in energy prices. They chose Constellation through a competitive bidding process and say the city and town receive no incentives for selecting the Maryland-based company that also owns the nuclear power plant in Clinton.
Bloomington and Normal agreed to a 12-month contract, giving them the ability to renegotiate prices next year.
A spokesperson for the Town of Normal told WGLT the town wanted the ability to respond more quickly to inflation and instability in the markets by agreeing to a shorter contract.
Corn Belt Energy customers are unaffected by the change.
