Ameren Missouri’s Plan Prevented 160,000 Outages and Builds 800 MW Gas Plant
Ameren Missouri’s updated five-year Smart Energy Plan filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission highlights investments that prevented 160,000 customer outages during 2025 storms and deployed over 2,000 smart switches. The plan funds 850 composite poles, 150 substation modernizations, an 800 MW gas plant start and 400 MW of new renewable capacity.
1. Smart Energy Plan Filing
Ameren Missouri filed its updated five-year Smart Energy Plan with the Missouri Public Service Commission, outlining a strategy to strengthen grid reliability and deliver customer value. The filing details targeted investments in foundational infrastructure, generation assets and technology deployments through 2030.
2. Grid Infrastructure Upgrades
In 2025 the company’s upgrades automatically averted 160,000 outages during severe weather, leveraging more than 2,000 smart switches that have prevented over 330,000 outages in five years. The plan also adds 850 composite poles, storm-hardens 300 miles of lines and modernizes 150 substations to accelerate restoration times.
3. Generation Expansion
Ameren Missouri has begun construction of the 800 MW Castle Bluff Energy Center and commissioned 50 MW at the Vandalia Renewable Energy Center, with another 350 MW scheduled for 2026. It also replaced two 90-year-old hydroelectric turbines at Osage Energy Center to boost efficiency and on-demand capacity.
4. Economic Growth Benefits
Grid resilience is attracting investment: 35 businesses announced $1.5 billion in capital projects and 2,200 new jobs in the service territory last year. Major investments from Amazon ($15 million), WEG ($77 million) and IKO ($120 million) are supported by Ameren’s infrastructure improvements and rates about 27% below regional averages.