Ameren expands energy assistance program for military families

Missouri Air National Guard Col. David Newman, Jefferson Barracks base commander, thanks Ameren Missouri officials for the company's pledge of $1 million in energy credits for Missouri military families. Newman is flanked by Richard J. Mark, Ameren Senior Vice President of Customer Operations (standing), the company president and CEO, Warner Baxter, and by Army Guard Maj. Gregory Sampson, director of the Missouri National Guard Family Program. (Photo by Bill Phelan)

By Bill Phelan
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

ST. LOUIS. Mo - More military families who are utility customers of St. Louis-based Ameren Missouri Corporation can now qualify for an energy assistance program unveiled last December.

The program offers military families a grant in the form of a $1,000 credit to their Ameren utility bill, provided they meet eligibility requirements, which recently changed.

A stipulation that the applying family be that of deployed military personnel has been removed, meaning the program is now open to all military families, from all branches of the service, active or reserves, who meet the existing requirements.

"Given the gravity of our tough economic times, some of our Guard and Reserve forces have come under economic strain and find themselves in need of assistance," said Maj. Gregory Sampson, director of the Missouri National Guard Family Program Office. "So this is a critical assistance program that could not have come at a better time."

Program applicants must be the head of a household and a currently-serving service member or the spouse thereof. Other requirements include:

 A copy of your Ameren electric or natural gas bill.
 Your contact phone number.
 Your physical address (bill must be in the name of the service member or spouse)
 Copy of your marriage license (if the bill is in your spouse's name)
 A statement of how the grant will benefit your family.
 A statement from the service member's commander that he or she is in good standing with the unit.

The deadline for applying for the program is November 30, 2011 or until the $1 million allotted for it has been depleted. Application information should be submitted to Jeanne Smith at the National Guard Family Program Office via e-mail at, Jeanne.smith2@us.army.mil or via fax at, 573-638-9548. For more information about the program call 573-638-9500, ext. 7096.

Ameren Missouri provides electricity to more than 1.2 million customers in central and eastern Missouri.

Nearly 800 of the company's employees are military veterans.

This program has ended as of October 27th, 2011.