Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, has filed an updated Smart Energy Plan with the Missouri Public Service Commission, outlining the progress made so far and the company’s five-year strategy for delivering a stronger, more resilient electric grid. The filing emphasizes that ongoing investments are already benefiting customers, noting that upgrades installed through the Smart Energy Plan automatically prevented 160,000 customer outages during major storms in 2025. According to Michael Moehn, group president of Ameren Utilities, these strategic upgrades are focused on improving reliability and ensuring customers receive greater value, reinforcing Ameren Missouri’s commitment to protecting families and businesses from disruptions.

A major component of the Smart Energy Plan involves replacing and modernizing aging grid infrastructure, including poles, wires, and substations. These upgrades are designed to strengthen the system against severe weather, reduce the likelihood of extended outages, and support faster restoration efforts when interruptions occur. Tim Lafser, senior vice president of energy delivery and operations technical services, explained that the impact of these improvements has already been seen during extreme weather events. For instance, when multiple tornadoes struck the region on March 14, 2025, the company’s automated systems prevented 59,000 outages while crews worked to restore service to those affected.

Ameren Missouri has continued expanding and improving the electric system through a range of initiatives, including the addition of more than 2,000 smart switches that can isolate faults and reroute power automatically. These devices have helped prevent more than 330,000 outages over the last five years. Grid hardening efforts have also progressed, with the installation of 850 composite poles in 2025 and more than 300 miles of strengthened power lines across Missouri since the start of the program. Nearly 150 substations have also been modernized, replacing some of the company’s oldest equipment to improve reliability and boost grid capacity.

Alongside these infrastructure upgrades, Ameren Missouri is investing in a balanced mix of energy resources to ensure dependable and affordable power for customers today and into the future. This strategy includes building new generation facilities, enhancing existing units, and integrating renewables and battery storage where they provide the greatest value. Ajay Arora, senior vice president and chief development officer, noted that maintaining a diverse energy portfolio pairing reliable, on-demand power with cost-effective renewables is essential for meeting customer needs under all conditions. In 2025, more than 100 projects were carried out to support generation fleet upgrades.

These included the start of construction at the Castle Bluff Energy Center, an 800-megawatt natural gas facility that will help stabilize the grid during peak demand or when renewable output is low. The company also added 50 megawatts of new capacity with the commissioning of the Vandalia Renewable Energy Center and expects another 350 megawatts to come online in 2026. Additionally, Ameren Missouri replaced two 90-year-old turbines at the Osage Energy Center, improving hydroelectric efficiency at Bagnell Dam.

The Smart Energy Plan is also helping drive economic development across Missouri by ensuring that businesses have access to reliable and resilient infrastructure. In 2025, 35 companies announced plans to move to or expand within Ameren Missouri’s service territory, representing more than $1.5 billion in planned capital investment and creating over 2,200 new jobs. Recent projects include a new Amazon last-mile delivery station in Scott City, a $15 million investment that will bring 70 jobs to the area.

WEG Transformers USA’s expansion in Washington, which includes a $77 million investment and 50 new jobs; and IKO’s new manufacturing facility in Bismarck, valued at more than $120 million and expected to create more than 50 jobs. Despite these significant investments, Ameren Missouri continues working to keep customer costs manageable. The company’s electricity rates remain among the lowest in the nation and roughly 27 percent below both Midwest and national averages, according to the latest analysis from the Edison Electric Institute.