Ameren Missouri disconnected 17,347 households in October, according to documents filed with Missouri’s Public Service Commission.
The electric utility shuts off power when customers are behind on their bills. The latest data shows more than 219,000 customers have at least one delinquent charge, and on average, owe $218.40.
The October disconnections were Ameren’s highest since state regulators started requiring that utilities begin reporting monthly disconnections in March 2024, according to an Energy and Policy Institute analysis of the data.
In the wake of the May 16 tornado, there have been public calls for Ameren to do more for its customers. In September, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed a resolution seeking a disconnection pause through the end of the year and debt forgiveness for tornado victims.
An Ameren spokesperson said customers should reach out to the company to connect to assistance programs.
“Service disruptions for nonpayment remain a last resort and Ameren Missouri makes multiple attempts to reach out to our customers prior to disconnection,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Missouri’s cold weather rule is now in effect for the winter, meaning utilities are not allowed to disconnect customers if temperatures are forecast to be below freezing within three days.
This article was updated to include a statement from Ameren.
