Ameren checks expected in Sept.; ComEd in Oct.

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SPRINGFIELD - Power bill refund checks for Ameren customers will be mailed in two weeks, but refunds for ComEd customers won't come until October, utility officials said Tuesday. Customers can expect to feel the effects soon of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's final approval Tuesday of a $1 billion settlement negotiated this year. ComEd spokeswoman Arlana Johnson said average customers for the northern Illinois utility will get a $57 credit to their October bill, and $7 each month after that. ComEd had originally planned to credit September bills, but Blagojevich's lengthy review of the final settlement pushed the schedule back. Ameren spokesman Shelley Epstein said almost all Ameren customers will get checks for a minimum of $85 in September. Most customers who heat their houses with electricity can expect more than $300. The checks will be mailed separately from regular September bills in two weeks, Epstein said, but customers who are behind on their bills will get the money credited to their accounts. For both utilities, the refunds will effectively reduce the amount of the Jan. 1 electric rate increases by about one-half. Most Ameren customers will receive bigger refunds because they generally saw larger increases than those served by ComEd. And both utilities warn against using average estimates to determine how big of a refund will come in the mail. The $1 billion in payouts were negotiated behind closed doors after public outcry forced lawmakers, utility officials and others to address concerns over high power bills. &#8220We're glad to get this behind us,” Epstein said. Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.