Letter to the St. Louis Post Dispatch: With deadly heat rising, Ameren must end disconnect policies
"St. Ann woman dies in apartment with no power, closed windows, police say" (June 24) was devastating news to see. Heat deaths are not only avoidable, but a casualty of greed.
Ameren has disconnected more than 31,000 households so far this year. Last year, Ameren Missouri’s earnings were nearly $600 million. Ameren can afford to help people who are in danger. No profit is worth the lives of our neighbors.
Some people refrain from using their air conditioning during heat waves to afford their bills. That strategy is deadly, as heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the United States. And we know that one of the impacts of catastrophic climate change in Missouri will be longer, more frequent heat waves and heat bubbles.
The problem is worsening as bills steadily increase and our social safety net is rapidly deteriorating. Cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP — along with threats to many other programs that help seniors, people on a fixed income, and other vulnerable groups — will have deadly consequences for our neighbors.
It’s time for Ameren to end its ruthless disconnection strategy and prioritize the well-being of its captive customer base.
Jenn DeRose
St. Louis
Senior Campaign Organizer
Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign