Assistance Available through Oct. 7, 2009 PEORIA, Ill., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) today announced that an electric rate relief program now is providing assistance up to $5,000 to individual non-profit and other qualified organizations that have experienced financial hardships due to the higher cost of electricity. "In addition to the rate relief assistance provided to residential electric customers, we want to make certain assistance is available non-profit organizations, senior centers, schools, churches and other religious institutions," said Stan Ogden, vice president of Customer Service and Public Relations for the Ameren Illinois Utilities. "We have designed this assistance program to meet the needs of those organizations that have the greatest need. We urge all qualifying non-profit organizations to submit applications," Ogden said. To qualify, a non-profit organization, school, senior center, church or other religious institution must be an Ameren Illinois Utilities customer who has continuously purchased electricity through the Ameren Illinois Utilities since Jan. 1, 2008. Also, an organization must demonstrate the higher rates for electricity have caused a financial hardship. In addition, assistance is available to small independently owned and operated businesses that have 50 or fewer employees and have their principal office in Illinois. A small business also must be an Ameren Illinois Utilities customer who has continuously purchased electricity through the Ameren Illinois Utilities since Jan. 1, 2008. In addition, a small business must demonstrate the higher rates for electricity have caused a financial hardship. Applications to the Non-Residential Hardship Fund, which is being administered by the Energy Assistance Foundation, must be submitted between Aug. 26 and Oct. 7, 2009. Applications may be completed online by visiting the Ameren Web site (http://www.ameren.com/) and selecting "IL Rate Relief Programs." It also will be available on the ActOnEnergy.com Web site. Applications also may be obtained by calling the Ameren Illinois Utilities: AmerenCILCO and AmerenCIPS - 1-866-629-2318 and AmerenIP - 1-800-287-8349. Funding for the Non-Residential Hardship Fund was established as part of the comprehensive legislative rate relief settlement. The Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) have been providing safe, reliable energy delivery service for more than a century. The Ameren Illinois Utilities deliver energy to 1.2 million electric and 840,000 natural gas customers in more than 1,200 communities within a 43,700-square-mile service territory. DATASOURCE: Ameren Illinois Utilities CONTACT: Victoria Busch, +1-618-614-3032, or Neal Johnson, +1-309-677-5284, both of Ameren Illinois Utilities Web Site: http://www.ameren.com/

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