SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — An Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public forum in Springfield Wednesday night gave Ameren customers an opportunity to speak out against their utility’s $131.1 million gas rate-hike request, which would be the fourth rate hike the company has received in less than a decade.

Ameren filed for its gas rate hike in January, sparking an 11-month rate case before the ICC. The proposal would raise average monthly residential customer bills by roughly 12 to 13%, or $8 to $10 per month, according to Ameren’s original public notice.

Senior Director of Natural Gas Operations and Technical Services for Ameren Illinois, Brad Kloeppel, said the increase would allow them to make necessary fixes to their infrastructure to ensure safety and compliance with federal regul

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