ST. LOUIS - Ameren Missouri has submitted its updated Smart Energy Plan to the Missouri Public Service Commission, outlining progress made in strengthening grid reliability and detailing a new five-year strategy to enhance resilience across the state.
A subsidiary of Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE), the utility reported that in 2025 alone, system upgrades helped automatically prevent 160,000 customer outages during a historic storm season.
"Our strategic grid upgrades through the Smart Energy Plan are focused on delivering enhanced reliability and value for customers," said Michael Moehn, group president, Ameren Utilities of Ameren Corporation. "We're committed to making investments that bolster the grid and protect families and businesses from outages."
Major Storm Resilience Gains
The Smart Energy Plan focuses on modernizing aging infrastructure, including poles, substations and distribution lines. These enhancements proved critical during extreme weather events in 2025.
"The benefits of these upgrades can be immediate and impactful, as we saw during major storm events in 2025," said Tim Lafser, senior vice president, energy delivery and operations technical services at Ameren Missouri. "For example, when a dozen tornados touched down in our region on March 14, our investments automatically prevented 59,000 outages while our crews worked tirelessly to restore all affected customers."
During the 2025 storm season:
- 2,000+ smart switches monitored the grid 24/7, automatically isolating faults and rerouting electricity. Over five years, these devices have prevented more than 330,000 outages.
- 850 composite poles were installed in 2025, providing stronger alternatives to traditional wooden poles and reducing cascading line damage.
- 300+ miles of lines have been storm-hardened since the plan’s launch.
- Nearly 150 substations have been upgraded to improve reliability and expand system capacity.
These grid automation and storm-hardening measures significantly shortened restoration times and reduced disruption for homes, hospitals, schools and businesses.
Balanced Energy Investments
In addition to grid upgrades, Ameren Missouri is expanding and modernizing its generation portfolio to ensure consistent, affordable service.
"Developing a diverse portfolio of dependable, on-demand power along with lowest-cost renewables and battery storage is critical to meeting our customers' needs," said Ajay Arora, senior vice president and chief development officer for Ameren Missouri. "This approach provides excellent value for our customers and ensures reliability, regardless of weather conditions or time of day."
Key 2025 and ongoing projects include:
- Construction at the Castle Bluff Energy Center, an 800-megawatt natural gas facility designed for quick-start operations during peak demand.
- Commissioning of the Vandalia Renewable Energy Center, adding 50 MW to the grid, with an additional 350 MW expected in 2026.
- Replacement of two 90-year-old turbines at the Osage Energy Center at Bagnell Dam to enhance hydroelectric efficiency.
Together, these investments are designed to balance dispatchable generation with renewable energy and storage, ensuring stability during extreme heat, cold snaps and periods of low renewable output.
Supporting Missouri’s Economic Growth
Reliable infrastructure is increasingly critical for companies evaluating expansion or relocation. Ameren Missouri’s grid modernization efforts are playing a direct role in attracting new investment to the state.
In 2025, 35 businesses announced plans to expand or relocate within the company’s service territory, representing more than $1.5 billion in capital investment and more than 2,200 new jobs.
Among them:
- Amazon opened a $15 million last-mile delivery station in Scott City, creating 70 jobs and benefiting from local reliability upgrades serving 4,500 area customers.
- WEG Transformers USA announced a $77 million expansion in Washington, Missouri, adding 50 jobs while supplying key equipment for Smart Energy Plan projects.
- IKO committed more than $120 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Bismarck, creating more than 50 positions.
Maintaining Competitive Rates
Despite significant infrastructure investment, Ameren Missouri reports that its electric rates remain approximately 27% below Midwest and national averages, according to analysis from the Edison Electric Institute.
By pairing grid modernization with disciplined cost management, the company aims to maintain affordability while improving service reliability for its 1.3 million electric and 135,000 natural gas customers across 60 Missouri counties.
Looking Ahead
With severe weather events increasing in frequency and intensity, Ameren Missouri’s updated Smart Energy Plan positions the utility to further automate the grid, expand renewable and dispatchable generation, and continue strengthening foundational infrastructure.
The company says the next five years will focus on expanding smart grid technologies, accelerating storm-hardening projects and ensuring that Missouri communities remain economically competitive through dependable, resilient energy service.
Originally reported by Ameren Missouri in PR News Wire.
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