PEORIA, Ill., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Ameren Illinois Utilities now offer customers two bright ways to bring warmth to this holiday season -- by purchasing gift certificates and contributing to the Dollar More program. "Ameren Illinois Utilities gift certificates offer customers a great way to help their favorite charity, such as their church, a senior center, food bank or a veterans' organization," said Stan Ogden, vice president of Customer Service & Public Relations for the Ameren Illinois Utilities. "In addition, the certificates may be purchased as a gift for a child who is away at school or relative or friend who lives on a fixed income. Also, a gift certificate can make a nice addition to that electrical gadget you are giving to someone this year." Ameren Illinois Utilities gift certificates may be used for both electricity and natural gas service bills. The certificates may be purchased for any Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP) customer in $10, $25, $50, $75 and $100 denominations. AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP gift certificates may be purchased by calling 1-877-770-4438 or by visiting the Ameren Web site (http://www.ameren.com/), selecting "My Home," then "Special Programs & Services," then your Ameren Illinois Utility. Anyone may purchase a gift certificate, but the recipient must be an AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS or AmerenIP customer to redeem it. There are no shipping and handling charges during this holiday season. Ameren Illinois Utility customers also may bring brightness and warmth this holiday season by contributing to the Dollar More program, which helps low-income Illinois families stay warm through the winter. Dollar More funds may be used to pay electricity, natural gas, heating oil and propane energy expenses as long as the recipients are Ameren Illinois Utilities customers. All Dollar More contributions go to those in need of assistance through a network of human services agencies. Contributions are never used to pay the administrative costs of the program. Dollar More contributions made by AmerenIP customers are used to fund the Warm Neighbors energy assistance program. Every dollar contributed to Warm Neighbors goes directly to help pay heating bills and weatherizing homes, not for administrative expenses. Customers may contribute a dollar or more per month through their utility bills or make a one-time contribution. Additional information is available on the Ameren Web site (http://www.ameren.com/) or by calling AmerenCILCO at 1-888-672-5252, AmerenCIPS at 1-800-789-2477 or AmerenIP at 1-800-755-5000. The Ameren Illinois utilities serve 1.2 million electric and more than 840,000 natural gas customers in a 43,700-square-mile area of Illinois. DATASOURCE: Ameren Illinois Utilities CONTACT: Leigh Morris, +1-217-535-5228, or Neal Johnson, +1-309-677-5284, or Victoria Busch, +1-618-346-1286, all of Ameren Illinois Utilities Web site: http://www.ameren.com/

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