Ameren Electrical Rate Increase by Jerry Braswell I can not impress enough, my concern over the rate increase that Ameren has imposed on those with electric heat in their homes. Our power bill went from $135.00 to $421.00 in one month.  And NO, it isn't that we used more electric to heat our home.  It is because those that we have elected to protect us against Monopolies such as Ameren from charging EXCESSIVE rates when they feel they can get by with it, and they have. What do we do, where do we go from here ?  We can't afford to pay power bills like this, each month.  People are having to make a decision between eating or heating.  Small business places are going to have to close their doors, they can't afford to stay in business because of their power bills.   I'm asking you to PLEASE, write to the Governor, write to the Senator and write to your State Representative.  Let them know that you are highly UPSET and want them to take action against this horrible injustice that we are now experiencing.   I really don't know how much more the working class people in this state can take.  Our water rates have increased, our sewer rates have increased, our property taxes Increase every year and now we are being unjustly penalized by our Electric Company because we have an all electric home. Let's not forget that just in the year past, Ameren was going to charge us for power NOT used.  Do you remember that ?  It has to come to an end.  What are our children and grandchildren going to do ? It is our generation that has to put a STOP to these Monopolies and their Greater Then Thou attitudes. Jerry Braswell jwbraz2@aol.com Granite City, IL