Pure Power – FAQs
	Program Basics
	About Renewable Energy
	Pure Power Certification and Verification
Program Basics
1.	Q.	How does the program work?
	A.	Pure Power―AmerenUE's voluntary renewable energy program―empowers AmerenUE electric customers to support wind farms and other renewable energy facilities in the Midwest.
		By choosing to enroll in Pure Power, you agree to pay just a penny and a half more per kilowatthour to support clean energy. AmerenUE then purchases Green-e Certified® renewable energy certificates (RECs) from new regional wind and other renewable energy facilities equal to your electric demand. Green-e certification guarantees that electricity from these renewable resources is delivered to the Midwest power pool. Electricity produced by renewables helps offset the generation of electricity from other, non-renewable sources.
		For residential and small business customers enrolled in Pure Power, AmerenUE purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) equal to 100 percent of their monthly electricity usage.
		For medium and large business customers enrolled in Pure Power, AmerenUE purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) equal to the number of 1,000 kilowatthour “blocks” they have elected to purchase.
2.	Q.	How much does the program cost?
	A.	For residential and small commercial customers, participating in Pure Power costs an extra 1.5 cents per kilowatthour (kWh).    The average AmerenUE residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatthours (kWh) per month would see an additional charge of $15.00 added to his or her monthly bill. The amount will fluctuate monthly based on the amount of electricity consumed at the customer’s home or business.    Large and medium commercial customers can purchase 1,000 kWh “blocks” for $15.00 per block. They can purchase as many blocks as they want.
3.	Q.	How do I enroll?
	A.	You can enroll online now. AmerenUE customers can also sign up for Pure Power by checking the Pure Power box on their bill, or by calling customer service at 866.665.PURE (7873). Pure Power charges will appear on your bill with the first meter reading of your next full billing cycle.
4.	Q.	How will I be billed?
	A.	Your purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) will appear on your regular utility bill.    Residential and small commercial customers will see “Pure Power” on their bill as a separate line―an extra 1.5 cents per kilowatthour. Medium and large commercial customers will see “Pure Power” as a separate line item on their bill for $15.00 per purchased 1,000 kWh block.
5.	Q.	Why is there a usage option of residential and small commercial customers and a block option of medium and large commercial customers?
	A.	One hundred percent usage-based programs create more demand for renewable energy, which is the ultimate goal of Pure Power. Residential and small business customers appreciate the ability to be 100 percent renewable, so long as the price is affordable.    Pure Power’s renewable energy premium of 1.5 cents per kilowatthour (kWh) is among the lowest green premium of all similar utility programs currently offered in Missouri and Illinois.    The block system is more common for medium and large commercial customers, which are less likely to participate at the 100 percent level. Larger commercial customers appreciate the flexibility of choosing their participation level.
6.	Q.	Why is AmerenUE offering a voluntary renewable energy program?
	A.	AmerenUE is responding to the desires of its customers, the importance of developing the regional economy and AmerenUE’s commitment to expanding the use of renewable resources in the Midwest. Plus, we think it is the right thing to do.
7.	Q.	Will RECs sold in the Voluntary Green Tariff count towards an RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard)?
	A.	No. RECs subscribed by this program will not count towards current or future mandates.
8.	Q.	Does AmerenUE profit from this program?
	A.	No. AmerenUE only collects $0.001 (a tenth of one cent) per kWh sold to help offset program administrative costs.
9.	Q.	Who is AmerenUE’s renewable energy provider?
	A.	3Degrees Group, Inc. After running a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation, Ameren contracted with the renewable energy marketing and development firm 3Degrees to develop and manage the program over the next five years. 3Degrees is formerly the Renewable Energy Certificates and Utility Partnerships Division of 3 Phases Energy. 3Degrees currently runs three of the top performing voluntary utility renewable energy programs.
10.	Q.	What is the track record of 3Degrees?
	A.	3Degrees has enrolled more than 30,000 residential customers through partnerships with electric utilities and has accounts with 9 of the 15 largest corporate renewable energy buyers of Green-e Certified® renewable energy certificates. Several utilities have award winning programs since partnering with 3Degrees. Specific performance of the utility partnerships includes:
			PacifiCorp “BlueSky” (5.5% enrolled), #3 in renewable energy sold, #2 in customers enrolled
			City of Palo Alto Utilities “PaloAltoGreen” (20% enrolled), #1 in participation rate
			Silicon Valley Power “Green Power” (8.5% enrolled), #6 in participation rate
			National average green pricing participation rate: 1.8%
About Renewable Energy
11.	Q.	What is renewable energy?
	A.	Renewable energy is electricity produced from sources that replenish themselves naturally, never run out and are cleaner for the environment, including:
			Wind
			Sunlight (solar energy)
			Landfill and agricultural waste (biomass)
			Heat of the earth (geothermal)
			Water (some low-impact hydroelectric facilities)
12.	Q.	What kind of renewable energy is supported by Pure Power, and where are the renewable energy facilities located?
	A.	A minimum of 75 percent of Pure Power’s renewable energy certificates come from wind power and up to 25 percent from a blend of other renewable sources. All of the renewable energy facilities supplying Pure Power are regional sources installed in 2002 or later, or sources that will be developed in response to demand created through the program. At least half of the supply will be generated in Missouri and Illinois, and the rest will come from the Midwest power pool.
13.	Q.	What are the environmental benefits of participating in Pure Power?
	A.	Pure Power makes it possible for customers to have a positive environmental impact in the region. The average residential customer who enrolls for a year will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 22,000 pounds―the same carbon reduction provided by two acres of forest every year or taking two cars off the road each year.    Other environmental benefits:
			Less impact on the environment than burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas
			Lower levels of air pollutants and wastewater
			Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
			Reduced reliance on imported and domestic fossil fuels
14.	Q.	Will the power to my home depend on the wind blowing?
	A.	No. AmerenUE will deliver reliable power to you over the regional electricity system. The power that travels through the network of lines and wires that bring electricity to your home or business comes from a variety of generating sources. Your support of Pure Power helps add more renewable energy sources to the regional electricity system and has no affect on the reliability of your power.
15.	Q.	What are renewable energy certificates (RECs) or “green tags”?
	A.	Renewable energy certificates (RECs), also known as “green tags,” are proof that 1 megawatt (MW) of renewable energy was generated and delivered to the regional power pool, and they represent the environmental attributes of the power produced from renewable energy projects. RECs are sold separately from the electricity commodity.    For every unit of renewable energy generated and delivered to the regional power pool, an equivalent amount of renewable energy certificates (RECs) are created representing a tracking mechanism to insure that no two customers pay for the same unit of renewable energy generation. When you sign up for Pure Power, AmerenUE contracts for RECs to match the equivalent of your ongoing electrical needs or the number of Pure Power blocks your business purchased. Thus, the more RECs that are sold, the more demand is created for renewable power. As renewable facilities sell out their RECs, demand shifts to bring more renewable energy sources online.    New renewable energy sources are being constructed across the United States to meet the demand created for renewable energy. Your purchase of RECs benefits the environment by increasing renewable energy generation, facilitating the construction of new renewable facilities and displacing non-renewable generation from the electricity system.
16.	Q.	Do other utilities offer renewable energy?
	A.	Over 600 utilities offer a renewable energy option similar to Pure Power. Nationwide 390,000 customers subscribe to utility green pricing programs, and 580,000 customers subscribe to green energy when competitive markets are included.    The voluntary market as a whole has resulted in 2,000 megawatts (MW) of new renewable capacity since 1997. According to the EIA (Energy Information Administration), about 9,000 MW of new renewable energy capacity was installed in the United States between 1997 and the end of 2005; thus, voluntary green power markets provide support for 22 percent of new renewable energy capacity additions, nationally.
Pure Power Certification and Verification
17.	Q.	How can I be sure my purchase is making a difference and supporting renewable energy? Is the program certified?
	A.	Pure Power is a Green-e Certified® program.    Green-e Energy was established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions to provide information and an objective standard for consumers to compare renewable energy options and to verify that consumers get what they pay for.    When you see the Green-e logo, it means:
		The renewable energy option contains only new renewable resources;
		The sources of energy supplying the renewable energy option are independently verified by Green-e Energy, operated by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions;
		The purchaser of a Green-e Energy Certified renewable energy option is the sole "owner" of the environmental attributes of a specific megawatt hour (MWh) of energy added to the grid. Independent verification ensures that no MWh are double-counted, and
		The company offering the certified renewable energy option agrees to abide by the Green-e Energy Code of Conduct and Customer Disclosure Requirements governing its ethical treatment of customers.
	For more information on Green-e Energy certification requirements, call 888.63.GREEN or log on to www.green-e.org.