Ameren Illinois announced last week that customers in Central and Southern Illinois are expected to save about $8-per month of their utility bills in 2019, after state regulators approved the company’s rate request. The new rates for the company’s gas and electric services, which were both approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission, will officially take into effect in November and in January. A statement from Ameren said that investments that the energy company continues to make in their electric and gas delivery systems, though their multi-year modernization plan, has led to reductions in service interruptions and stronger distribution efforts throughout their coverage areas. Ongoing upgrades has allowed Ameren to recover the costs of their investments in Central and Southern Illinois, which as a result, led to supply costs being decreased for electric and gas services. According to the statement, electric delivery rates for typical customers will increase an average of $4.50 per month next year, but the rate will be offset by an 18-percent decrease in supply costs. Ameren estimates that electric supply costs will decrease by about $5.47. The electric supply cost make up a large portion of the electric bill, and are passed directly to customers without a markup. As for gas rates, Ameren estimates that delivery costs for the service will decrease by about 94-cents a month next year. Supply costs are expected to go down by 10-percent, with residents expected to pay about $2.41 less for natural gas each month.