Ameren Illinois

As many Peoria residents cope with skyrocketing electricity bills, city leaders are seeking an explanation for the summer’s surging energy prices.

Plenty of sunlight cascaded over an open field just west of Pottstown on Thursday morning, perhaps a bright sign for Ameren Illinois as the utility company begins construction on a renewable energy facility for Greater Peoria.

The report identifies 94 possible improvements, ranging from low-cost changes like optimizing pool pumps to high-cost changes like switching schools to solar. It was done for free through the State of Illinois’ public schools carbon-free assessment program.

Ameren Illinois says power is expected to be restored for all customers by Thursday at 6 p.m.

Approximately 11,500 Ameren Illinois customers remain without power as of Wednesday morning.

The report submitted last month concluded the state would face an additional $3.4 billion in costs from 2025 through 2034 if a switch was made.

Ameren Illinois is updating its incident response practices as part of a penalty settlement related to a fatal 2016 gas line explosion in Canton.

The Utility Assistance Program provides assistance with gas and electric bills with funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Residents and businesses who opted into the aggregation program and had Homefield Energy as their supplier will now remain on the Ameren Illinois supply through next May.

Several community organizations and clean energy advocates want to see Ameren Illinois take more steps toward offsetting rising energy costs.