SPRINGFIELD - Two Central Illinois officials spoke Wednesday against Ameren Corp.'s bid to raise its charges for the delivery of electricity and natural gas.

A final decision won't come for weeks, but state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, and Moweaqua Mayor Evelyn Lowe asked the Illinois Commerce Commission to reject the utility's request.

Flider said the lengthy hearings before the agency don't appropriately factor in the impact of the rate hikes on regular people, and Lowe said the residents of her small town would be especially hurt.

"I feel that the seniors are basically at risk here," she said.

Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris said Ameren's requests are fair, and the utility needs the money to improve its low credit rating.

"I think we've made our case very clearly," Morris said.

A new law authored by Flider and AARP requires the commission to accept public comments before making any decisions regarding utility rate changes. In addition to hearings, the commission will take comments through a form at www.icc.illinois.gov or by calling 1-800-524-0795.

Ameren has asked for delivery charge increases for electricity and natural gas totaling $247 million.

The commission eventually will decide how much of the request Ameren can have. At that point, the impact on customers will become clear.

An administrative law judge has recommended Northern Illinois utility Commonwealth Edison be able to raise customer bills about 3 percent. The recommendation that ComEd can collect $218 million more from customers is just 60 percent of the utility's original request.

The commission still gets a final say in that case, and the conditions of ComEd's case won't necessarily affect Ameren's.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865.