Illinois Choice

Business Customer Handbook

Introduction

The Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law became effective in late 1997. This law allows a customer the option to choose who supplies their electricity. The combined services traditionally provided by the local electric utility have been divided into parts: The regulated electric utility continues to deliver electric power over the wires using their transmission and distribution facilities. However, the power running through those wires is sold to a customer by the company of that customer’s choice: the customer’s utility or an Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (a.k.a. “Supplier”). A customer can choose to continue to purchase power from Ameren, or can buy power from a Supplier.

Regardless of whether a customer chooses a Supplier, Ameren will continue to deliver the electricity and to offer quality service. A Customer should always call Ameren to report power quality problems, power outages, or downed power lines. Ameren customer service representatives can also answer questions concerning electric choice issues. The toll-free numbers to call are:

AmerenCILCO:	877.677.5740
AmerenCIPS:	800.232.2477
AmerenIP:	800.363.6805

Electric Supply Options
In the Ameren Illinois Utilities’ service territories, customers have several electric supply options from which to choose. These options are described immediately below:

	Basic Generation Service (BGS)
		-	Electricity is provided to the customer at a fixed price by an Ameren Illinois Utility (i.e. AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS, or AmerenIP).
		-	The BGS price represents the electric supply price obtained by the state-run Illinois Power Agency.
		-	Default supply option for commercial service points under 400 kW (i.e. DS1, DS2, and DS3A service points).
		-	Service points between 400 kW and 1000 kW (i.e. DS3B service points) may not switch back to BGS after leaving BGS. In addition, the BGS option will end for this class of service points effective May 31, 2010, at which time such service points must either be enrolled to Hourly Supply Service (HSS) or to a Supplier.
		-	Not available for service points over 1000 kW (i.e. DS4 service points).
	Real Time Pricing (RTP) and Hourly Supply Service (HSS)
		-	Allows a customer to pay fluctuating hourly market prices for electricity.
		-	Electricity is priced at actual hourly MISO Locational Marginal Prices (LMP) and provided by an Ameren Illinois Utility.
		-	RTP applies to service points with annual peak demands under 400 kW (DS1, DS2. and DS3A service points). HSS applies to service points with annual peak demands greater than 400 kW (DS3B and DS4 service points).
		-	Interval metering must be installed before the switch to RTP or HSS can be effectuated.
		-	RTP and HSS are not available for DS5 (lighting) service points.
	Supplier
		-	An Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (a.k.a. “Supplier”) supplies electricity to customers in the Ameren Illinois Utilities’ service territories who have chosen to enroll to that Supplier. The electricity from the Supplier is delivered to the customer via Ameren’s distribution lines.
		-	When a customer elects to enroll to a Supplier, that customer will still be billed for Ameren’s delivery services charges (e.g. charges for maintaining the distribution lines that deliver the electricity). However, since the Supplier is selling the electricity flowing through Ameren’s lines to the customer’s business, the Supplier determines the rate (i.e. price per kilowatt-Hour) for the electricity supply charges.
		-	There are many Suppliers from which to choose. A current listing of Suppliers that are registered with Ameren is posted to the Suppliers Registered with Ameren page.
		-	Different Suppliers offer different billing options. Some Suppliers directly bill their customers for electric supply charges, leaving Ameren to separately bill the same customer for Ameren’s delivery services charges. Other Suppliers package both their own electric supply charges with Ameren’s delivery services charges into one single bill. Still other Suppliers send their electric supply charges to Ameren so that Ameren can bill both the Supplier’s electric supply charges and Ameren’s delivery services charges in a single bill.
		-	When a Supplier submits an enrollment to Ameren for a Mass Market account (i.e. an account with one or more of only the following types of service points: DS1, DS2, and DS5), all electric service points associated with that account must enroll to that Supplier. However, when a Supplier submits an enrollment to Ameren for a non-Mass Market account (i.e. an account that contains at least one DS3A, DS3B, or DS4 service point), individual service points may be enrolled. For example, if an account is composed of a DS3A service point and a DS4 service point, one or both service points may be enrolled to a Supplier.
		-	A customer may choose to purchase power from both Ameren (via the RTP or HSS option) and a Supplier. When this happens, the customer must designate the portion of the load being purchased from Ameren. Ameren allows load to be split by percentages, by first-through-the-meter, and by separate metering.

Switching to a Supplier
A Supplier may contact a prospective customer by phone, by mail, or in-person. If a customer wishes to contact a Supplier, a list of Suppliers registered with Ameren and certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission to supply commercial and industrial accounts can be found on the Suppliers Registered with Ameren page.

When a customer is considering switching to a Supplier, the Supplier will ask the customer for certain pieces of information (e.g. name, billing address, service address, Ameren account number, meter number). It is okay for a customer to provide this information to a Supplier if the customer is interested in switching to the Supplier’s service. The switch to a Supplier cannot be completed until all terms and conditions have been explained, and the customer has provided authorization for the switch. The valid forms of authorization are a written signature, electronic signature, or a recorded third party verification performed over the phone. Once a customer has agreed to switch to a Supplier, the Supplier will submit an electronic enrollment transaction to Ameren. If the enrollment transaction is accepted (i.e. it contains a valid account number), Ameren is authorized to release a range of customer data to that Supplier, including the customer’s historic and ongoing electricity usage data.

Customer Information Once an enrollment to a Supplier is effective, the Supplier will begin receiving ongoing monthly usage data. A customer may also request, or the Supplier may request per a separate written authorization from the customer, billing data including revenues and payment history. An Ameren account number is the validation criteria needed for a Supplier to enroll a customer’s account or service point. This means that the Supplier must have this number correct in order to successfully submit the enrollment to Ameren. A customer should not give an account number to a Supplier unless the customer is considering switching to the Supplier. Ameren will not accept personal information changes to a customer’s account from a Supplier unless the customer has signed an Agency Agreement designating the Supplier as the customer’s agent. Effective Date of Enrollment to a Supplier An on-cycle enrollment will take place on a customer’s account’s next scheduled meter reading date and in accordance with the terms of the contract with the Supplier. If a customer desires to enroll to a Supplier on a date other than a scheduled meter reading date, then the customer must request an off-cycle enrollment. The fee for an off-cycle enrollment is $50 per meter switched. This fee is billed along with the Ameren delivery services charges. Note that off cycle enrollments are only allowed on non-Mass Market accounts. Ameren will honor the first enrollment request received from a Supplier. If Ameren receives a second enrollment request from another Supplier before the first enrollment is activated, then the second enrollment request will be rejected. For a Mass Market account, the enrollment transaction from the Supplier must be processed by Ameren at least ten calendar days plus two business days (but no more than 45 calendar days) prior to the account’s next scheduled meter reading date. For a non-Mass Market account, the Supplier to submit the enrollment request at least seven calendar days before but no more than 45 calendar days before the effective date of the enrollment. Rescissions When a Supplier submits a valid enrollment request to Ameren, Ameren will send out a letter notifying the customer of the impending enrollment. If the enrollment information on the notification letter is incorrect, or if the customer has changed his/her mind regarding the enrollment, then the customer must notify Ameren as soon as possible. For a Mass Market account, the customer has ten calendar days from the date that Ameren processed the Supplier’s enrollment to contact Ameren and request a rescission of the pending enrollment. The last day of the ten calendar day rescission window is stated in the customer enrollment letter. For a non-Mass Market account, the customer may request a rescission by contacting Ameren anytime up through two business days prior to the account’s scheduled enrollment effective date. Note that for both Mass Market accounts and non-Mass Market accounts, a Supplier may assess a fee to the customer for rescinding the Supplier’s enrollment. Loss of Service Ameren has no responsibility for claims, damages or losses resulting from a customer’s relationship with a Supplier regarding delivery or non-delivery of energy or energy services. If the Illinois Commerce Commission revokes a Supplier’s certificate or the supplier materially defaults in its service agreement, then Ameren will notify that Supplier’s customers as quickly as possible regarding the change and the available supply options. If a Supplier stops doing business, then the service point(s) that comprise a customer’s account will be placed on Ameren supply. A DS2 (less than 150 kW) service point or DS3A (greater than 150 kW but less than 400 kW) service point will be placed on BGS (Basic Generation Service) supply. A DS3B (greater than 400 kW but less than 1000 kW) service point or DS4 (greater than 1000 kW) service point will be placed on HSS (Hourly Supply Service) supply.

Payment Provisions for Accounts/Service Points Enrolled to a Supplier

Delivery Services Charges Each customer with an account or service point enrolled to a Supplier pays a fee for delivery services based on Ameren’s costs for providing service and the customer’s own usage. The prices are stated in tariffs approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Billing Delivery services bills from Ameren include detailed information such as itemized listings for delivery services charges as well as energy and public purpose program charges. Charges for public purpose programs have been part of Ameren bills since Jan. 1, 1998. Public purpose programs help low-income customers and support development of renewable energy. A Supplier may offer a prospective customer one or more of the following billing options from which to choose: Dual Billing – The customer receives two bills: One bill from Ameren for its delivery services charges, and a separate bill from the Supplier for the its electric supply charges. Single Bill Option - The Supplier consolidates its electric supply charges and Ameren’s delivery services charges so that the customer receives one bill. Utility Consolidated Billing – Ameren consolidates its delivery services charges and the Supplier’s electric supply charges so that the customer receives one bill. Regardless of the billing option, Ameren’s bill due dates, late pay charges, and collection activities will not change. Payment When a customer’s account or service point is enrolled to a Supplier and is placed on Dual Billing, the customer will have the same payment options available to pay for the Ameren delivery services portion of the bill as were available prior to the enrollment. Payments can be made via CheckFree, DirectPay, SpeedPay, or by “traditional” mail-in check. When a customer’s account or service point is enrolled to a Supplier and is placed on the Single Bill Option, the Supplier expects payment from the customer for the Ameren delivery services charges. The Supplier, upon receipt of a customer payment, forwards any amount due to Ameren on to Ameren. Note that the law states that partial payments from the customer to a Supplier must first be applied to Ameren’s delivery services charges. When a customer’s account or service point is enrolled to a Supplier and is placed on Utility Consolidated Billing, the customer will have the same payment options available to pay for the Ameren delivery services charges and the Supplier’s charges as were available prior to the enrollment. Payments can be made via CheckFree, DirectPay, SpeedPay, or by “traditional” mail-in check. When a customer switches to a Supplier, the rules for payment due dates for Ameren’s charges do not change. However, payment due dates for Supplier charges (billed via dual billing or the Single Bill Option) will be dictated by the contract terms of the agreement that the customer signed with the Supplier. If a customer has a question concerning delivery services fees or is having difficulty paying Ameren delivery services charges in full, then the customer should contact Ameren to request a deferred payment agreement. The customer will receive, in writing, a copy of any settlement agreement extending beyond 60 days. If a customer has a payment issue with the Supplier’s charges, then the customer must work that problem out with the Supplier.

Disputes/Complaints:
For problems that a customer is unable to resolve with Ameren or its Supplier, the customer may contact the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) or the Illinois Attorney General. The ICC may be contacted by phone at 800.524.0795 or via the internet at http://www.icc.illinois.gov/consumer/complaint/. When contacting the ICC, a customer can also request additional electric choice information. The Illinois Attorney General may be contacted by phone at 312.814.3000 (northern Illinois) and 217.782.1090 (central and southern Illinois).