Scott’s Blog Experience

When Ameren Cilco was ordered by our State Legislators to refund State of Illinois Citizens a portion of thier electric and gas bill, a few policy changes took place in Ameren’s policy on how they deal with mulitiple billing. What I mean by mulitiple billing is: If you have more than one bill in your name. i.e you own your house, and you own a second investment property, such as a duplex, apartment building and so on.

I had an instance yesterday where a boiler system that heats a 5 unit apartment building, was tied into (electrically) one of the single apartments electric meter. In this paticular instance, the Landlord pays for the heat in this builing, and the boiler should have been electrically wired into the “Landlord” meter on the Apartment building. It wasn’t, it was tied into one of the Apartments meter. The Tenant moved out and subsequently had their electric turned off, which turned off the electricity to the boilter, thus no Heat in the building.

I called Cilco to get the electricity turned back on under my name, and thus resetting the boiler, and restoring heat to the building. Cilco asked me if I had paid my current home bill at my home address. It’s not due until November 8, 2007. (I am looking at it as I write this). They mentioned I would have to pay my home bill now, in order to “turn on” service at the apartment. I said, “At this time, I am trying to restore the heating source, so my tenants can have heat”. I then went on to explain the situation. Their responce was “I am sorry, their is nothing we are can to do”, “You have to pay you home bill today”.

I called State Representive Dave Koehlers Office and they couldn’t help at all.

When did this policy change? I have been doing this for a long time. Never has Ameren Cilco tied my residential bill, with a commercial account. My residential bill is not due until November 8th. So what the hec! So, my tenants went without heat last night. Fortunatley, I was able to get the electricity turned on today, bolier is working, heat is on. HOI News called and wanted to run the story. Not sure if they will or not, but thank you Megan Fisher and Laura Michels for caring.

Oh, on a side note to Cilco: Dear Cilco, you gonna mail out those commercial refund checks anytime soon, still waiting for mine. Can you say “double standard”. By the way, Ameren is asking for a rate hike

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