Ameren Illinois is this week's Carterville Chamber Business Spotlight of the Week! 

Ameren Illinois, the state's second largest regulated energy company, is the only utility in the state that delivers both natural gas and electricity. Headquartered in Collinsville, Ameren Illinois serves 1.2 million electric customers and 816,000 natural customers in central and southern Illinois. As a delivery-only company, Ameren Illinois owns and maintains the wires, poles, substations, distribution and transmission natural gas pipelines and enabling technology that distributes energy to homes and businesses. 

More than 3,300 employees are working to strengthen the company's electric and natural gas infrastructure for the future, while providing reliable energy and excellent service across 43,700 square miles. 

Locally, Carterville and Williamson County natural gas and electric customers are served by our Marion Operating Center. Over the last several years, Ameren Illinois employees have made numerous enhancements to the energy grid, including installing smart meters at customer homes and businesses. Smart meters share data with the company and allow customers to manage and control their energy usage and costs. Electric crews have installed smart switches and sensors, which work in tandem to sense the condition of the electric system and determine appropriate switching actions to reduce the number of customers affected by an outage. On the natural gas side of the business, Ameren Illinois workers have upgraded hundreds of miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and service connections. 

Ameren Illinois also believes in the importance of building stronger local communities where our employees work and live. Annually, more than $3 million is donated to charitable organizations and employees volunteer their time and talents for local causes.