Ameren Illinois and the rest of Illinois is waiting on an Illinois Commerce Commission ruling on a proposed rate hike for natural gas delivery. 

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The utility had asked for a $131.1 million rate-hike but recently revised it downward to $128.8 million. A utility watchdog is calling for an even bigger reduction. An opinion, known as a “Proposed Order,” that was submitted to the ICC late last week by administrative law judges advises the ICC to trim $43.7 million from Ameren’s rate hike request. Citizen’s Utility Board Jim Chilsen says this would be the fourth rate increase in the last seven years.

The ICC is required to issue a ruling by December 1. Chilsen predicts it will come sometime in late November.