Ameren shares 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

ST. LOUIS, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report for Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) is now available at AmerenCSR.com. The voluntary report details Ameren's commitment to energy sustainability and the company's responsibilities to its many stakeholders.

The report addresses a range of topics, including environmental performance, community betterment and financial strength.

"Operating in a sustainable way requires us to balance multiple priorities," said Warner L. Baxter, Ameren's chairman, president and chief executive officer.  "First, we have a responsibility to our customers and the communities we serve. We also have a responsibility to shareholders, who are Ameren's owners. We have a responsibility to our employees, with safety at the core of everything we do. And of course we have a responsibility to the environment and our shared world."

Key report highlights include:

• Workforce safety: Ameren had 22 lost workday away cases in 2015, matching the lowest number in company history.
• Cleaner air: Ameren has achieved dramatic decreases in SO2 and NOx emissions during the past two and a half decades, including in recent years:
  • Since 2011, NOx emissions have dropped by 31 percent and SO2 emissions were reduced by 42 percent.
  • CO2 emissions were reduced by 24 percent during the same timeframe.
• Economic Impact: Serving as an economic engine in Illinois and Missouri, Ameren:
  • Made nearly $2 billion of capital expenditures in 2015.
  • Helped to foster about $349 million in new investment in 2015 by companies within the two-state service territory, resulting in the creation of an estimated 800 new jobs and retention of 509 jobs.
  • Had a direct economic impact of nearly $9.8 billion a year, supported approximately 47,700 direct and indirect jobs, and contributed about $2.6 billion in household earnings in its two-state service territory.
• Customer Value: Ameren Missouri's and Ameren Illinois' electric rates remain below the Midwest and national averages. Even though Ameren's prices are comparatively low, some customers need extra help. Ameren partners with social agencies to administer bill assistance programs funded by company and customer contributions.
• Reliability: Ameren's electric distribution reliability performance has improved, as measured by the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI). This important industry measure shows how Ameren has reduced the total number of interruptions per customer served per year.
• Charitable giving: Ameren contributed nearly $8 million in 2015 to 1,100 nonprofit organizations throughout the two-state region.
• Financial performance: Ameren shareholders have seen a total shareholder return of nearly 60 percent over the three-year period from Dec. 31, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2015.

"It can be challenging to balance the needs of all of our stakeholders, yet we are always focused on the fact that our customers count on us, 24/7," Baxter said. "Meeting and exceeding their expectations will continue to be key to our overall success."

St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric delivery and transmission service as well as natural gas delivery service. Ameren Missouri provides vertically integrated electric service, with generating capacity of over 10,200 megawatts, and natural gas delivery service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops regional electric transmission projects. Follow the company on Twitter @AmerenCorp. For more information, visit Ameren.com. 

Download - Ameren's two-page summary PDF

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SOURCE Ameren Corporation