Consumers Council held a celebratory fundraiser, panel discussion, and award ceremony on November 13, 2022 at the Ethical Society of St Louis.

The Alberta Slavin Award was presented to two individuals who have shown a distinctive commitment to protecting the interests of consumers: Jay Hardenbrook, Missouri AARP Advocacy Director and Chaplain Will Jordan, J.D., Executive Director of the Metropolitan St Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council (“EHOC”).

The Community Engagement Award was presented to the St Louis Equal Housing and Community Reinvestment Alliance. Susan Glassman accepted the Director’s Award, given posthumously to the late Consumers Council Board member Betty “Renee” Marver. The Volunteer Award was presented to Brenda Haalboom.

The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Sarah Fenske Executive Editor at Euclid Media Group and Former Host of St. Louis Public Radio’s “St Louis On the Air.” Dr. Ed Weisbart, John Coffman, and Jackie Hutchinson gave updates on consumer issues regarding healthcare, utilities, and personal finance.

Jay Hardenbrook Accepting the Alberta Slavin Award

Will Jordan, Alberta Slavin Awardee, with Sandy Padgett and Jackie Hutchinson

Panel Discussion, John Coffman, Jackie Hutchinson, and Dr. Ed Weisbart, hosted by Sarah Fenske

Consumers Council thanks the following contributors for their generous gifts in sponsoring this event.

Consumer Champions

Justine Petersen

Saint Louis Bank

Commerce Bank

Simmons Bank

Consumer Protection Leaders

Enterprise Bank & Trust

FCB Banks

Khalilah and Sam Charrington

Energy Care

Dr. Ed Weisbart

For more information, see Missouri Utility Assistance Guide.

For immediate release                                                  Contact: Andrew Linhares, Renew Missouri

March 15, 2022                                                             andrew@renewmo.org, (314) 471-9973

ADVOCATES PUSHED BACK AGAINST AMEREN MISSOURI’S RATE INCREASE TO SECURE EXPANSIONS OF LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS, OTHER PRIORITIES

St. Louis, MO – Two recent orders from the Missouri Public Service Commission helped mitigate the impact of Ameren Missouri’s recent rate increase for struggling families. Ameren Missouri, the state’s largest electric utility, filed for a $299 million rate increase that would have added $12 per month to the average electric bill. A coalition of consumer groups and energy efficiency advocates pushed back against the rate increase, lowering it to $220 million and securing a collective set of priorities that will help the most vulnerable families who have experienced severe utility debt and disconnections as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of a settlement, Ameren Missouri must expand its “Keeping Current” program, which helps lower-income families reduce their utility debt and maintain service, doubling its budget from $2 million to $4 million per year, with Ameren’s shareholders contributing half. Ameren must also add May and September and expand program eligibility to 300% of the Federal Poverty level to reflect greater demand for utility assistance. Additionally, despite large commercial/industrial customers’ stance that residential customers should pay a larger share, the PSC determined that the rate increase will be apportioned equally.

Jackie Hutchinson with the Consumers Council of Missouri was one of the advocates pushing for expansions to the Keeping Current program, along with other priorities. Hutchinson stated: “This increase in Keeping Current/Keeping Cool Funding helps us protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable residents, those over 65 living on limited fixed incomes and low-income families with children 5 and under. It also expands our ability to serve families with higher income who struggle to pay due to high energy burdens.”

The settlement also commits Ameren to: 1) launching a new “Critical Needs” pilot program to deliver focused assistance to individuals living with certain medical conditions; 2) launching a rehousing pilot program which will use existing bill assistance resources in order to rehouse individuals and families and return their utility service; 3) reducing late fees to 1% per month; 4) maintaining the monthly residential customer charge at $9, rather than a proposed increase; and 5) collecting and sharing aggregated customer usage data with stakeholders for use in a study on energy burdens across Ameren’s territory.

This settlement and the community support it now includes are the direct result of the collaboration of Missouri community advocates, which included: the Missouri Energy Efficiency for All coalition, Consumers Council of Missouri, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Homes for All St. Louis, and others. The group’s demands were voiced at local public hearings and in written public comments submitted by renters and advocates who insisted that their pandemic hardships be met with equitable solutions. For more information about how customers can seek assistance through the Keeping Current program and other opportunities, please refer to the Utility Resource Guide below.

(see “Missouri Utility Assistance Guide”)

Illinois-based First Mid Bank & Trust has agreed to operational improvements, including making small business loan subsidies and establishing branches in underserved areas, in response to criticism that threatened to derail its proposed merger with Jefferson Bank and Trust. Advocacy groups, including St. Louis Equal Housing and Community Reinvestment Alliance (SLEHCRA) and Woodstock Institute, last year complained to the Federal Reserve Bank of redlining and low levels of service to Black borrowers by First Mid.  The advocates asked the Fed to block the proposed bank merger and alleged the bank was failing to comply with fair lending laws and the Community Reinvestment Act. Those groups now have entered into a Community Benefits Agreement with the bank which they say will “clear the way” for the merger  with Jefferson Bank and Trust – known to many St. Louis residents as the focus of civil-rights era protests over discrimination in hiring.

READ MORE