Rate And Regulatory Matters	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Abstract]
RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS	RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS Below is a summary of updates to significant regulatory proceedings and related lawsuits. See also Note 2 - Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of the Form 10-K. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the timing of the final decisions of the various agencies and courts, or the impact on our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. Missouri FAC Prudence Reviews In April 2011, the MoPSC issued an order with respect to its review of Ameren Missouri's FAC for the period from March 1, 2009, to September 30, 2009. In this order, the MoPSC ruled that Ameren Missouri should have included in the FAC calculation all revenues and costs associated with certain long-term partial requirements sales that were made by Ameren Missouri because of the loss of Noranda's load caused by a severe ice storm in January 2009. In May 2012, upon appeal by Ameren Missouri, the Cole County Circuit Court reversed the MoPSC's April 2011 order. In June 2012, the MoPSC and a group of large industrial customers filed an appeal of the Cole County Circuit Court's ruling to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. In May 2013, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the MoPSC’s April 2011 order and reversed the Cole County Circuit Court’s May 2012 decision. Ameren Missouri determined that it would not appeal the Missouri Court of Appeals’ decision. Ameren Missouri’s FAC calculation for the period from October 1, 2009, to May 31, 2011, excluded all revenues and costs associated with certain long-term partial requirements sales that were made by Ameren Missouri because of the loss of Noranda’s load caused by a severe ice storm in January 2009, similar to the FAC calculation for the period from March 1, 2009, to September 30, 2009. As a result of the Missouri Court of Appeal’s May 2013 decision on the MoPSC’s April 2011 order, Ameren Missouri recorded a pretax charge to earnings of $23 million, including $1 million for interest, in the second quarter of 2013 for its estimated obligation to refund to Ameren Missouri’s electric customers the earnings associated with these sales previously recognized by Ameren Missouri for the period from October 1, 2009, to May 31, 2011. Ameren Missouri recorded the charge to “Operating Revenues - Electric” and the related interest to “Interest Charges” with a corresponding offset to “Current regulatory liabilities.” On July 31, 2013, the MoPSC issued an order calculating the refund of these earnings to be $26 million, including $1 million of interest. As a result, during third quarter of 2013, Ameren Missouri recorded an additional pretax charge to earnings of $3 million. Ameren Missouri expects to begin making customer refunds in the first quarter of 2014. No similar revenues were excluded from FAC calculations after May 2011. Separately, in July 2011, Ameren Missouri filed a request with the MoPSC for an accounting authority order that would allow Ameren Missouri to defer, as a regulatory asset, fixed costs totaling $36 million that were not recovered from Noranda as a result of the loss of load caused by the severe 2009 ice storm for potential recovery in a future electric rate case. Ameren Missouri expects the MoPSC to issue an order related to this request in the fourth quarter of 2013. 2012 Electric Rate Order In December 2012, the MoPSC issued an order approving an increase for Ameren Missouri in annual revenues for electric service of $260 million. In January 2013, Ameren Missouri appealed the order with respect to the amount of property taxes included in the order to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. In February 2013, the MoOPC, MIEC, and other parties filed separate appeals to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, relating to the 2012 electric rate order’s treatment of transmission costs in the FAC. In July 2013, Ameren Missouri withdrew its appeal related to the 2012 electric rate order. In October 2013, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, issued its opinion affirming the MoPSC’s December 2012 rate order. In October 2013, the MoOPC, MIEC, and other parties filed a rehearing request with the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. Illinois IEIMA Under the provisions of the IEIMA, Ameren Illinois’ electric delivery service rates effective in 2013 are subject to an annual revenue requirement reconciliation to its actual 2013 costs. The 2013 revenue requirement reconciliation will be filed with the ICC in 2014. The approved annual revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment will be reflected in customer rates beginning in January 2015. Throughout the year, Ameren Illinois records a regulatory asset or a regulatory liability and a corresponding increase or decrease to operating revenues for any differences between the revenue requirement in effect for that year and its estimate of the probable increase or decrease in the revenue requirement expected to ultimately be approved by the ICC based on that year's actual costs incurred. As of September 30, 2013, Ameren Illinois recorded a $59 million regulatory asset to reflect the year-to-date portion of its expected 2013 revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Ameren Illinois recorded a regulatory liability of $59 million and $55 million, respectively, to reflect its expected 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment, with interest, which will be refunded to customers in 2014, pending ICC approval as discussed below. In May 2013, Illinois enacted into law certain amendments to the IEIMA that modify its implementation. The law clarified that the IEIMA requires that the year-end rate base be used to calculate the revenue requirement reconciliation and that the interest applied to the revenue requirement reconciliation and return on equity collar adjustments be equal to a company’s weighted-average return calculated under the formula rate. In September 2012, the ICC issued an order in Ameren Illinois’ initial filing under the IEIMA’s performance-based formula rate framework, which Ameren Illinois appealed to the Appellate Court of the Fourth District of Illinois. A decision by the appellate court is expected in 2014. In December 2012, the ICC issued an order in Ameren Illinois’ update filing approving an Ameren Illinois electric delivery service revenue requirement of $765 million, based on 2011 recoverable costs and expected net plant additions for 2012. The delivery service rates became effective on January 1, 2013, and will remain effective through the end of 2013. These rates are subject to a reconciliation to actual 2013 costs, which will be filed with the ICC in 2014. In January 2013, Ameren Illinois filed an appeal of the ICC's update filing order to the Appellate Court of the Fourth District of Illinois. A decision by the appellate court is expected in 2014. Many of the issues that were the subject of Ameren Illinois’ appeals of the September 2012 order and the December 2012 order were resolved with the enactment of the May 2013 amendments to the IEIMA referred to above; however, disputes regarding the treatment of deferred taxes and vacation obligations as well as the calculation of Ameren Illinois’ capital structure remain. If the appellate court rules in favor of Ameren Illinois’ positions on these disputed items, the electric delivery service revenue requirement included in the December 2012 order would have increased by $11 million. Ameren Illinois anticipates that any change resulting from the appellate court decision would be incorporated into the IEIMA formula rate process, including the revenue requirement reconciliation, in the year the decision is issued. In April 2013, Ameren Illinois filed its annual electric delivery service formula rate update with the ICC based on 2012 recoverable costs and expected net plant additions for 2013. In July 2013, the update filing was revised based on the enactment of the May 2013 amendments to the IEIMA referred to above. Pending ICC approval, Ameren Illinois’ revised update filing would result in an aggregate $22 million decrease in Ameren Illinois’ electric delivery service revenue requirement beginning in January 2014. The revised update filing includes a proposed refund to customers of the 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation of $55 million, which includes an estimate for interest through the end of 2014. Ameren Illinois’ balance sheet as of September 30, 2013, includes a $59 million regulatory liability relating to this 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation, which will continue to accrue interest through 2014 and is expected to increase to $63 million with interest accrued through 2014. In the revised update filing, the proposed refund is partially offset by an annual revenue requirement increase of $33 million primarily due to increased recoverable costs over 2011 levels. Ameren Illinois’ filing reflects an electric delivery service revenue requirement of $798 million, before consideration of the 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation refund. In October 2013, the ICC staff submitted its calculation of the revenue requirement included in Ameren Illinois’ revised update filing. The ICC staff recommended an aggregate $42 million decrease in Ameren Illinois’ electric delivery service revenue requirement. The calculation includes a refund to customers of the 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation of $66 million, which includes an estimate for interest through the end of 2014. However, this refund is partially offset by an annual revenue requirement increase of $24 million primarily due to increased recoverable costs over 2011 levels. The ICC staff’s filing reflects an electric delivery service revenue requirement of $789 million, before consideration of the 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation refund. An ICC decision with respect to the update filing is required in December 2013 and will establish rates for all of 2014. In December 2013, Ameren Illinois will record an adjustment to its regulatory liability for its 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation refund based on the ICC’s order. 2013 Natural Gas Delivery Service Rate Case In January 2013, Ameren Illinois filed a request with the ICC to increase its annual revenues for natural gas delivery service. The current request, as revised in August 2013, seeks to increase annual revenues for natural gas delivery service by $47 million. The revised natural gas rate increase request was based on a 10.4% return on equity, a capital structure composed of 51.8% common equity, and a rate base of $1.1 billion. In an attempt to reduce regulatory lag, Ameren Illinois is using a future test year of 2014 in this proceeding. Also in its filing, Ameren Illinois is seeking recovery of capital costs to enable residential customers the option to choose their natural gas commodity supplier, although that option currently does not exist for these customers. In September 2013, the ICC staff responded to Ameren Illinois' revised request and recommended an increase in revenues for natural gas delivery service of $28 million, based on an 8.8% return on equity, a capital structure composed of 50.4% common equity, and a rate base of $1.1 billion. A decision by the ICC in this proceeding is required in December 2013. Ameren Illinois cannot predict the level of any natural gas delivery service rate changes the ICC may approve or whether any rate changes that may eventually be approved will be sufficient to enable Ameren Illinois to recover its costs and earn a reasonable return on its investments when the rate changes go into effect. Natural Gas Consumer, Safety and Reliability Act In July 2013, Illinois enacted a law called the Natural Gas Consumer, Safety and Reliability Act that enables Illinois natural gas utilities to accelerate modernization of the state’s natural gas infrastructure and provide additional ICC oversight of natural gas utility performance. Utilities that participate may implement rate surcharges for certain infrastructure investments made between rate cases. The legislation allows natural gas utilities the option to file, and requires the ICC to approve, a rate rider mechanism to provide for recovery of costs associated with certain categories of investment to improve the safety and reliability of the state’s natural gas infrastructure. The legislation also requires natural gas utilities that choose to participate in this regulatory framework to file annual plans with the ICC and report on progress in achieving performance improvements. Ameren Illinois expects to begin participation in this regulatory framework in 2014. ATXI Transmission Project ATXI’s Illinois Rivers project is a MISO-approved project to build a 345-kilovolt line from western Indiana across the state of Illinois to eastern Missouri at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. In 2012, ATXI made a filing with the ICC requesting a certificate of public convenience and necessity, and project approval. In August 2013, the ICC granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity and approved seven of a total of nine sections of the route and three of the proposed nine substations for the Illinois Rivers project. The ICC order indicated the project is necessary to address transmission and reliability needs in an efficient and equitable manner and that the project will benefit the development of a competitive electricity market. The order also indicated that ATXI is capable of constructing and managing the project and capable of financing it. In October 2013, the ICC granted ATXI’s request for rehearing to consider additional evidence regarding the two segments of the route and six substations that were not approved, as well as the requests for rehearing of certain other parties regarding two of the approved segments of the route. An order on rehearing is expected in March 2014. Federal 2011 Wholesale Distribution Rate Case In January 2011, Ameren Illinois filed a request with FERC to increase its annual revenues for electric delivery service for its wholesale customers. These wholesale distribution revenues are treated as a deduction from Ameren Illinois’ revenue requirement in retail rate filings with the ICC. In March 2011, FERC issued an order authorizing the proposed rates to take effect, subject to refund when the final rates are determined. Ameren Illinois has reached an agreement with four of its nine wholesale customers. The impasse with the remaining five wholesale customers has resulted in FERC litigation. In November 2012, a FERC administrative law judge issued an initial decision, which is now pending before FERC. The timing of a FERC decision is uncertain. Based on the administrative law judge's initial decision, Ameren and Ameren Illinois each has included on its balance sheet in “Current regulatory liabilities” an estimate of $12 million and $8 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively, for the refund due to wholesale customers relating to billings for the period from March 2011 through September 2013. Ameren Illinois Electric Transmission Rate Refund In July 2012, FERC issued an order with respect to Ameren Illinois' accounting for the Ameren Illinois Merger. As part of this order, FERC concluded that Ameren Illinois improperly included acquisition premiums, particularly goodwill, in determining its common equity used in its electric transmission formula rate, thereby inappropriately recovering a higher return on rate base from its electric transmission customers. The order required Ameren Illinois to make refunds to customers for such improperly included amounts. In August 2012, Ameren Illinois filed a request for rehearing of this order. It is unknown when FERC will rule on Ameren's rehearing request, as it is under no deadline to do so. Ameren Illinois submitted a refund report in November 2012 and concluded that no refund was warranted. Several wholesale customers filed a protest with FERC regarding Ameren's conclusion that no refund is warranted. In June 2013, FERC issued an order that rejected Ameren Illinois’ November 2012 refund report and provided guidance as to the filing of a new refund report. In July 2013, Ameren Illinois filed a revised refund report based on the guidance provided in the June 2013 order, and also filed a request for rehearing of that order. Ameren Illinois’ July 2013 refund report again concluded that no refund was warranted. Ameren Illinois estimates the maximum pretax charge to earnings for this contingency would be between $10 million and $15 million, before interest charges. If Ameren Illinois were to determine that a refund to its electric transmission customers is probable, a charge to earnings would be recorded for the refund in the period in which that determination was made. Combined Construction and Operating License In 2008, Ameren Missouri filed an application with the NRC for a COL for a new nuclear unit at Ameren Missouri's existing Callaway County, Missouri, energy center site. In 2009, Ameren Missouri suspended its efforts to build a new nuclear unit at its existing Missouri nuclear energy center site, and the NRC suspended review of the COL application. In March 2012, the DOE announced the availability of investment funds for the design, engineering, manufacturing, and sale of American-made small modular nuclear reactors. In April 2012, Ameren Missouri entered into an agreement with Westinghouse to exclusively support Westinghouse's application for the first installment of DOE's small modular nuclear reactor investment funds. The DOE investment funding is intended to support engineering and design certifications and a COL for up to two small modular reactor designs over five years. In November 2012, the DOE awarded the first installment of investment funds for only one small modular reactor design, which was not the Westinghouse design, but also stated that a second installment of investment funds would be awarded during 2013. Westinghouse continues to seek funds from the DOE’s first installment of investment funds. Westinghouse submitted an application to the DOE in June 2013 for the second installment of investment funds. If Westinghouse is awarded DOE's small modular reactor investment funds in this second installment round of funding, Ameren Missouri may pursue a COL from the NRC for a Westinghouse small modular reactor or multiple reactors at its Callaway energy center site. A COL is issued by the NRC to permit construction and operation of a nuclear energy center at a specific site in accordance with established laws and regulations. Obtaining a COL from the NRC would not obligate Ameren Missouri to build a small modular reactor at the Callaway site; however, it would preserve the option to move forward in a timely fashion should conditions be right to build a small modular reactor in the future. A COL is valid for at least 40 years. Ameren Missouri estimates the total cost to obtain the small modular reactor COL will be in the range of $80 million to $100 million. As of September 30, 2013, Ameren Missouri has capitalized investments for the development of a new nuclear energy center of $69 million. Ameren Missouri expects its incremental investment to obtain the small modular reactor COL to be minimal. As discussed above, the DOE investment funds could help support the completion of a COL application. If the DOE does not select Westinghouse's applications for small modular reactor investment funds, Ameren Missouri is not obligated to pursue a COL for the Westinghouse small modular reactor design and may terminate its agreement with Westinghouse regarding the first installment of DOE investment funds. All of Ameren Missouri's costs incurred to license additional nuclear generation at the Callaway site will remain capitalized while management pursues options to maximize the value of its investment. If efforts are permanently abandoned or management concludes it is probable the costs incurred will be disallowed in rates, a charge to earnings would be recognized in the period in which that determination is made.

RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS

Below is a summary of updates to significant regulatory proceedings and related lawsuits. See also Note 2 - Rate and Regulatory Matters under Part II, Item 8, of the Form 10-K. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters, the timing of the final decisions of the various agencies and courts, or the impact on our results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.

Missouri

FAC Prudence Reviews

In April 2011, the MoPSC issued an order with respect to its review of Ameren Missouri's FAC for the period from March 1, 2009, to September 30, 2009. In this order, the MoPSC ruled that Ameren Missouri should have included in the FAC calculation all revenues and costs associated with certain long-term partial requirements sales that were made by Ameren Missouri because of the loss of Noranda's load caused by a severe ice storm in January 2009. In May 2012, upon appeal by Ameren Missouri, the Cole County Circuit Court reversed the MoPSC's April 2011 order. In June 2012, the MoPSC and a group of large industrial customers filed an appeal of the Cole County Circuit Court's ruling to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. In May 2013, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the MoPSC’s April 2011 order and reversed the Cole County Circuit Court’s May 2012 decision. Ameren Missouri determined that it would not appeal the Missouri Court of Appeals’ decision.

Ameren Missouri’s FAC calculation for the period from October 1, 2009, to May 31, 2011, excluded all revenues and costs associated with certain long-term partial requirements sales that were made by Ameren Missouri because of the loss of Noranda’s load caused by a severe ice storm in January 2009, similar to the FAC calculation for the period from March 1, 2009, to September 30, 2009. As a result of the Missouri Court of Appeal’s May 2013 decision on the MoPSC’s April 2011 order, Ameren Missouri recorded a pretax charge to earnings of $23 million, including $1 million for interest, in the second quarter of 2013 for its estimated obligation to refund to Ameren Missouri’s electric customers the earnings associated with these sales previously recognized by Ameren Missouri for the period from October 1, 2009, to May 31, 2011. Ameren Missouri recorded the charge to “Operating Revenues - Electric” and the related interest to “Interest Charges” with a corresponding offset to “Current regulatory liabilities.” On July 31, 2013, the MoPSC issued an order calculating the refund of these earnings to be $26 million, including $1 million of interest. As a result, during third quarter of 2013, Ameren Missouri recorded an additional pretax charge to earnings of $3 million. Ameren Missouri expects to begin making customer refunds in the first quarter of 2014. No similar revenues were excluded from FAC calculations after May 2011.

Separately, in July 2011, Ameren Missouri filed a request with the MoPSC for an accounting authority order that would allow Ameren Missouri to defer, as a regulatory asset, fixed costs totaling $36 million that were not recovered from Noranda as a result of the loss of load caused by the severe 2009 ice storm for potential recovery in a future electric rate case. Ameren Missouri expects the MoPSC to issue an order related to this request in the fourth quarter of 2013.

2012 Electric Rate Order

In December 2012, the MoPSC issued an order approving an increase for Ameren Missouri in annual revenues for electric service of $260 million. In January 2013, Ameren Missouri appealed the order with respect to the amount of property taxes included in the order to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. In February 2013, the MoOPC, MIEC, and other parties filed separate appeals to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, relating to the 2012 electric rate order’s treatment of transmission costs in the FAC. In July 2013, Ameren Missouri withdrew its appeal related to the 2012 electric rate order. In October 2013, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, issued its opinion affirming the MoPSC’s December 2012 rate order. In October 2013, the MoOPC, MIEC, and other parties filed a rehearing request with the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.

Illinois

IEIMA

Under the provisions of the IEIMA, Ameren Illinois’ electric delivery service rates effective in 2013 are subject to an annual revenue requirement reconciliation to its actual 2013 costs. The 2013 revenue requirement reconciliation will be filed with the ICC in 2014. The approved annual revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment will be reflected in customer rates beginning in January 2015. Throughout the year, Ameren Illinois records a regulatory asset or a regulatory liability and a corresponding increase or decrease to operating revenues for any differences between the revenue requirement in effect for that year and its estimate of the probable increase or decrease in the revenue requirement expected to ultimately be approved by the ICC based on that year's actual costs incurred. As of September 30, 2013, Ameren Illinois recorded a $59 million regulatory asset to reflect the year-to-date portion of its expected 2013 revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, Ameren Illinois recorded a regulatory liability of $59 million and $55 million, respectively, to reflect its expected 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment, with interest, which will be refunded to customers in 2014, pending ICC approval as discussed below.

In May 2013, Illinois enacted into law certain amendments to the IEIMA that modify its implementation. The law clarified that the IEIMA requires that the year-end rate base be used to calculate the revenue requirement reconciliation and that the interest applied to the revenue requirement reconciliation and return on equity collar adjustments be equal to a company’s weighted-average return calculated under the formula rate.

In September 2012, the ICC issued an order in Ameren Illinois’ initial filing under the IEIMA’s performance-based formula rate framework, which Ameren Illinois appealed to the Appellate Court of the Fourth District of Illinois. A decision by the appellate court is expected in 2014. In December 2012, the ICC issued an order in Ameren Illinois’ update filing approving an Ameren Illinois electric delivery service revenue requirement of $765 million, based on 2011 recoverable costs and expected net plant additions for 2012. The delivery service rates became effective on January 1, 2013, and will remain effective through the end of 2013. These rates are subject to a reconciliation to actual 2013 costs, which will be filed with the ICC in 2014. In January 2013, Ameren Illinois filed an appeal of the ICC's update filing order to the Appellate Court of the Fourth District of Illinois. A decision by the appellate court is expected in 2014. Many of the issues that were the subject of Ameren Illinois’ appeals of the September 2012 order and the December 2012 order were resolved with the enactment of the May 2013 amendments to the IEIMA referred to above; however, disputes regarding the treatment of deferred taxes and vacation obligations as well as the calculation of Ameren Illinois’ capital structure remain. If the appellate court rules in favor of Ameren Illinois’ positions on these disputed items, the electric delivery service revenue requirement included in the December 2012 order would have increased by $11 million. Ameren Illinois anticipates that any change resulting from the appellate court decision would be incorporated into the IEIMA formula rate process, including the revenue requirement reconciliation, in the year the decision is issued.

In April 2013, Ameren Illinois filed its annual electric delivery service formula rate update with the ICC based on 2012 recoverable costs and expected net plant additions for 2013. In July 2013, the update filing was revised based on the enactment of the May 2013 amendments to the IEIMA referred to above. Pending ICC approval, Ameren Illinois’ revised update filing would result in an aggregate $22 million decrease in Ameren Illinois’ electric delivery service revenue requirement beginning in January 2014. The revised update filing includes a proposed refund to customers of the 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation of $55 million, which includes an estimate for interest through the end of 2014. Ameren Illinois’ balance sheet as of September 30, 2013, includes a $59 million regulatory liability relating to this 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation, which will continue to accrue interest through 2014 and is expected to increase to $63 million with interest accrued through 2014. In the revised update filing, the proposed refund is partially offset by an annual revenue requirement increase of $33 million primarily due to increased recoverable costs over 2011 levels. Ameren Illinois’ filing reflects an electric delivery service revenue requirement of $798 million, before consideration of the 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation refund. In October 2013, the ICC staff submitted its calculation of the revenue requirement included in Ameren Illinois’ revised update filing. The ICC staff recommended an aggregate $42 million decrease in Ameren Illinois’ electric delivery service revenue requirement. The calculation includes a refund to customers of the 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation of $66 million, which includes an estimate for interest through the end of 2014. However, this refund is partially offset by an annual revenue requirement increase of $24 million primarily due to increased recoverable costs over 2011 levels. The ICC staff’s filing reflects an electric delivery service revenue requirement of $789 million, before consideration of the 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation refund. An ICC decision with respect to the update filing is required in December 2013 and will establish rates for all of 2014. In December 2013, Ameren Illinois will record an adjustment to its regulatory liability for its 2012 revenue requirement reconciliation refund based on the ICC’s order.

2013 Natural Gas Delivery Service Rate Case

In January 2013, Ameren Illinois filed a request with the ICC to increase its annual revenues for natural gas delivery service. The current request, as revised in August 2013, seeks to increase annual revenues for natural gas delivery service by $47 million. The revised natural gas rate increase request was based on a 10.4% return on equity, a capital structure composed of 51.8% common equity, and a rate base of $1.1 billion. In an attempt to reduce regulatory lag, Ameren Illinois is using a future test year of 2014 in this proceeding.

Also in its filing, Ameren Illinois is seeking recovery of capital costs to enable residential customers the option to choose their natural gas commodity supplier, although that option currently does not exist for these customers.

In September 2013, the ICC staff responded to Ameren Illinois' revised request and recommended an increase in revenues for natural gas delivery service of $28 million, based on an 8.8% return on equity, a capital structure composed of 50.4% common equity, and a rate base of $1.1 billion.

A decision by the ICC in this proceeding is required in December 2013. Ameren Illinois cannot predict the level of any natural gas delivery service rate changes the ICC may approve or whether any rate changes that may eventually be approved will be sufficient to enable Ameren Illinois to recover its costs and earn a reasonable return on its investments when the rate changes go into effect.

Natural Gas Consumer, Safety and Reliability Act

In July 2013, Illinois enacted a law called the Natural Gas Consumer, Safety and Reliability Act that enables Illinois natural gas utilities to accelerate modernization of the state’s natural gas infrastructure and provide additional ICC oversight of natural gas utility performance. Utilities that participate may implement rate surcharges for certain infrastructure investments made between rate cases. The legislation allows natural gas utilities the option to file, and requires the ICC to approve, a rate rider mechanism to provide for recovery of costs associated with certain categories of investment to improve the safety and reliability of the state’s natural gas infrastructure. The legislation also requires natural gas utilities that choose to participate in this regulatory framework to file annual plans with the ICC and report on progress in achieving performance improvements. Ameren Illinois expects to begin participation in this regulatory framework in 2014.

ATXI Transmission Project

ATXI’s Illinois Rivers project is a MISO-approved project to build a 345-kilovolt line from western Indiana across the state of Illinois to eastern Missouri at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. In 2012, ATXI made a filing with the ICC requesting a certificate of public convenience and necessity, and project approval. In August 2013, the ICC granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity and approved seven of a total of nine sections of the route and three of the proposed nine substations for the Illinois Rivers project. The ICC order indicated the project is necessary to address transmission and reliability needs in an efficient and equitable manner and that the project will benefit the development of a competitive electricity market. The order also indicated that ATXI is capable of constructing and managing the project and capable of financing it. In October 2013, the ICC granted ATXI’s request for rehearing to consider additional evidence regarding the two segments of the route and six substations that were not approved, as well as the requests for rehearing of certain other parties regarding two of the approved segments of the route. An order on rehearing is expected in March 2014.

Federal

2011 Wholesale Distribution Rate Case

In January 2011, Ameren Illinois filed a request with FERC to increase its annual revenues for electric delivery service for its wholesale customers. These wholesale distribution revenues are treated as a deduction from Ameren Illinois’ revenue requirement in retail rate filings with the ICC. In March 2011, FERC issued an order authorizing the proposed rates to take effect, subject to refund when the final rates are determined. Ameren Illinois has reached an agreement with four of its nine wholesale customers. The impasse with the remaining five wholesale customers has resulted in FERC litigation. In November 2012, a FERC administrative law judge issued an initial decision, which is now pending before FERC. The timing of a FERC decision is uncertain. Based on the administrative law judge's initial decision, Ameren and Ameren Illinois each has included on its balance sheet in “Current regulatory liabilities” an estimate of $12 million and $8 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively, for the refund due to wholesale customers relating to billings for the period from March 2011 through September 2013.

Ameren Illinois Electric Transmission Rate Refund

In July 2012, FERC issued an order with respect to Ameren Illinois' accounting for the Ameren Illinois Merger. As part of this order, FERC concluded that Ameren Illinois improperly included acquisition premiums, particularly goodwill, in determining its common equity used in its electric transmission formula rate, thereby inappropriately recovering a higher return on rate base from its electric transmission customers. The order required Ameren Illinois to make refunds to customers for such improperly included amounts. In August 2012, Ameren Illinois filed a request for rehearing of this order. It is unknown when FERC will rule on Ameren's rehearing request, as it is under no deadline to do so. Ameren Illinois submitted a refund report in November 2012 and concluded that no refund was warranted. Several wholesale customers filed a protest with FERC regarding Ameren's conclusion that no refund is warranted.

In June 2013, FERC issued an order that rejected Ameren Illinois’ November 2012 refund report and provided guidance as to the filing of a new refund report. In July 2013, Ameren Illinois filed a revised refund report based on the guidance provided in the June 2013 order, and also filed a request for rehearing of that order. Ameren Illinois’ July 2013 refund report again concluded that no refund was warranted. Ameren Illinois estimates the maximum pretax charge to earnings for this contingency would be between $10 million and $15 million, before interest charges. If Ameren Illinois were to determine that a refund to its electric transmission customers is probable, a charge to earnings would be recorded for the refund in the period in which that determination was made.

Combined Construction and Operating License

In 2008, Ameren Missouri filed an application with the NRC for a COL for a new nuclear unit at Ameren Missouri's existing Callaway County, Missouri, energy center site. In 2009, Ameren Missouri suspended its efforts to build a new nuclear unit at its existing Missouri nuclear energy center site, and the NRC suspended review of the COL application.

In March 2012, the DOE announced the availability of investment funds for the design, engineering, manufacturing, and sale of American-made small modular nuclear reactors. In April 2012, Ameren Missouri entered into an agreement with Westinghouse to exclusively support Westinghouse's application for the first installment of DOE's small modular nuclear reactor investment funds. The DOE investment funding is intended to support engineering and design certifications and a COL for up to two small modular reactor designs over five years. In November 2012, the DOE awarded the first installment of investment funds for only one small modular reactor design, which was not the Westinghouse design, but also stated that a second installment of investment funds would be awarded during 2013. Westinghouse continues to seek funds from the DOE’s first installment of investment funds.

Westinghouse submitted an application to the DOE in June 2013 for the second installment of investment funds. If Westinghouse is awarded DOE's small modular reactor investment funds in this second installment round of funding, Ameren Missouri may pursue a COL from the NRC for a Westinghouse small modular reactor or multiple reactors at its Callaway energy center site. A COL is issued by the NRC to permit construction and operation of a nuclear energy center at a specific site in accordance with established laws and regulations. Obtaining a COL from the NRC would not obligate Ameren Missouri to build a small modular reactor at the Callaway site; however, it would preserve the option to move forward in a timely fashion should conditions be right to build a small modular reactor in the future. A COL is valid for at least 40 years.

Ameren Missouri estimates the total cost to obtain the small modular reactor COL will be in the range of $80 million to $100 million. As of September 30, 2013, Ameren Missouri has capitalized investments for the development of a new nuclear energy center of $69 million. Ameren Missouri expects its incremental investment to obtain the small modular reactor COL to be minimal. As discussed above, the DOE investment funds could help support the completion of a COL application. If the DOE does not select Westinghouse's applications for small modular reactor investment funds, Ameren Missouri is not obligated to pursue a COL for the Westinghouse small modular reactor design and may terminate its agreement with Westinghouse regarding the first installment of DOE investment funds.

All of Ameren Missouri's costs incurred to license additional nuclear generation at the Callaway site will remain capitalized while management pursues options to maximize the value of its investment. If efforts are permanently abandoned or management concludes it is probable the costs incurred will be disallowed in rates, a charge to earnings would be recognized in the period in which that determination is made.