Peoria Standard

Peoria resident Richard Barker shared his disappointment about the cost of living in the state.

“Since 2020, living in the state of Illinois has done nothing but cost me more for the basic necessities,” Barker said on Facebook. “Our state government has done absolutely nothing to better my standard of living in any way shape or form. Since the governor mandated that all of the coal-fired electric generating facilities close down, the price we have to pay for one kilowatt (kWh) of electric power has increased from $0.475 kWh to $0.11833 kWh due to the shortage of generation plants in the state. That is a 250% increase in the cost. One therm of natural gas has increased from $0.39 per therm to $0.71 per therm. That is a 182% in the cost.”

Barker urged the public to read their “most recent Ameren bill closely." 

"The motor fuel tax was $0.19 per gallon," he added. "On 1 July, 2023 it will increase from the present $0.424 per gallon to $0.443 per gallon. That is a 233% increase in the motor fuel tax costing me about $260 more per year in gasoline tax cost alone. What is really discriminatory is that the motor fuel tax for an electric vehicle is a flat $100 per year no matter how many miles they drive. I guess electric vehicles don't damage the road as much as gasoline powered vehicles. The cost for your license plate renewal has increased from $100.00 to $151.00 for regular plates, not to mention the $3.40 credit card fee they tack on even though the require you to use the credit card. Vanity plates are even more.” 

“Our Illinois American water bills are now increasing anywhere from 5.6% to 28.9% depending on your water usage and location," Barker said. "My 8.7% percent in my Social Security check will just barely cover (if I'm lucky) the additional monies I have to pay for these particular issues. I guess I will just have to cut back on my spending for food, medical, clothing, etc. those other necessities in life. I can't afford to live in the State of 'The Middle of Everything' anymore. I now realized why so many residents are fleeing the state. Prickster and all of his hoodlums should be really proud of what they are doing to this state! I think the new tourism motto should read ‘Illinois....we'll suck every cent out of you!’” 

Ameren has hiked rates 116% higher than last year, translating to an increase of $626 per customer. The utility provider has filed paperwork to push power bills even higher, which saw immediate pushback from the CUB. “In one month, Ameren Illinois has filed for a $160.4 million gas rate hike and a four-year $435.6 million electric increase, and they couldn’t have come at a worse time,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said in a press release. "This is awful news for Ameren customers who already were suffering under some of the highest electric and gas supply prices in Illinois history as well as earlier Ameren rate hikes. CUB will do a thorough review of these rate cases, and we will challenge every penny Ameren can't justify." 

Downstate legislators have vowed action on Ameren’s increased rates. State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is one of several Republican lawmakers seeking rate relief for downstate Ameren customers. “They've got to heat, they've got to eat or they've got to buy their medicine, and that's really what it boils down to,” Bryant said in a press conference, South West Illinois News reported. “The rate increases are because of many factors. But to put it simply, prices are going up because of some global market pressures and capacity shortage in the region.“ 

State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) said some utility customers are being impacted more than others. “I got a phone call from West Frankfort ... and they said that their electric bill for some of the services that they offer for senior citizens in West Frankfort went from $4,000 to $12,000,” Severin said at a press conference, according to SE Illinois News  “I got a call just last week from a new part of my district that there's a grocery store that is closing that serves that county. They do not have a grocery store in that county anymore (because) of these costs. It's serious and we've got to find answers.”