Ameren Corp. has formed a new subsidiary dedicated to electric transmission infrastructure investment, expanding Ameren's already robust transmission system of more than 7400 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines in Missouri and Illinois.

The new company---Ameren Transmission Co. (ATX)---will build greenfield transmission projects initially within Illinois and Missouri, with the potential for expanding to other areas in the future. The company has identified more than $3 billion of transmission investment opportunities that could be completed in the two states over the next 10 to 15 years.

Ameren also announced today that it is filing a petition with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for pre-approval of certain rate treatments for its proposed initial portfolio of transmission projects, the Grand Rivers projects, a collection of high voltage transmission projects in Missouri and Illinois representing a combined investment opportunity of over $1.3 billion. The rate treatments from the FERC are expected to provide a financial structure required for ATX to move forward with strengthening the transmission system on which our region and nation depend. Similar treatments have already been granted by the FERC for similar transmission investments.

"ATX will invest in transmission that will improve reliability, improve access to renewable energy resources, enhance the efficiency of regional energy markets, help pave the way to a smarter grid, and bring significant jobs and other economic benefits to the region," said Thomas R. Voss, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren Corp.

"We expect the investments of this new company to make our region even more attractive to commerce and industry," he added. "Ameren has long been recognized as having a strategic strength in transmission infrastructure, due, in part, to the geographic position and scope of the existing transmission assets owned by its utility companies. The creation of a separately chartered transmission company highlights our strategic focus on transmission development."

While Ameren's regulated local electric utilities will continue to own existing transmission facilities and related new assets, ATX will invest in, and own, new major transmission projects.

This new structure continues to support Ameren's integrated transmission system, providing coordinated management of all transmission facilities across Ameren companies' 64,000-square-mile service territory.

"Customers can expect to benefit from improved reliability and more efficient energy markets as new lines are built," said newly named ATX President and Chief Executive Officer Maureen Borkowski, who has led Ameren's transmission function since 2005 and has more than 25 years experience in the utility industry. "New transmission development will also help Ameren pursue its environmental goals by supporting the integration of renewable resources to meet renewable portfolio standards both in Illinois and Missouri."

Voss added, "This focus on transmission development is all about our vision of leading the way to a secure energy future and about our commitment to providing safe, reliable, environmentally responsible electricity at a reasonable cost."

Today's petition for rate treatments with the FERC is being filed on behalf of the newly formed transmission company, Ameren Services, and Ameren utility operating companies—AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS, AmerenIP and AmerenUE. Borkowski noted, "The rate treatment and cost recovery mechanisms requested from the FERC are necessary to fund these transmission investments. In the long run, this leads to a stronger electric infrastructure and lower rates for customers."

Ameren is requesting approval for the following rate mechanisms for its initial portfolio of Grand Rivers projects:

• Full recovery of financing costs associated with construction work in progress and of prudently incurred costs in developing project facilities that might later be abandoned due to issues outside the company's control.
• Use of a hypothetical capital structure reflecting the capital structure of the Ameren Illinois utilities (AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP), as of Dec. 31, 2009, which would afford ATX a capital structure that resembles that of a utility company.
• Permission to allow ATX to recover operating and maintenance costs incurred in the early development stages of projects.