Pure Power – FAQs
	Program Basics
	About Renewable Energy
	Pure Power Certification and Verification
Program Basics
1.	Q.	How does the program work?
	A.	100% P.U.R.E. option: When residential or small business customers enroll in the Pure Power 100% usage option, AmerenUE monitors their monthly energy usage and buys an equivalent amount of local, Green-e Energy certified, renewable energy certificates (RECs) and retires them on behalf of the customers. Green-e Energy certification guarantees that your Pure Power premium supports renewable sources and keeps the economic and environmental benefits local.    P.U.R.E. Blocks: When business or residential customers sign up for the Pure Power block option, they choose how many 1,000 kilowatthour (kWh) blocks to buy each month. Each block costs $15, and customers can purchase as many blocks as they want.
2.	Q.	How much does the program cost?
	A.	Pure Power participants pay an extra 1.5 cents per kWh of electricity or purchase blocks of power to support renewable energy.    100% P.U.R.E. option: Residential and small business customers can offset 100 percent of their energy with clean power. AmerenUE will monitor your monthly energy usage and buy an equivalent amount of Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates and retire them on your behalf. The average residential customer, who uses about 1,000 kWh per month, will pay a Pure Power premium of $15 each month.    P.U.R.E. Blocks: Residential and business customers can sign up for a fixed-cost option by choosing to purchase blocks of Pure Power. Each block represents 1,000 kWh of renewable energy generation and costs $15. Customers can choose to buy as many blocks as they want each month.
3.	Q.	How do I enroll?
	A.	You can enroll online now. AmerenUE customers can also sign up for Pure Power by checking the Pure Power box on their bill, or by calling customer service at 866.665.PURE (7873). Pure Power charges will appear on your bill with the first meter reading of your next full billing cycle.
4.	Q.	How will I be billed?
	A.	Your purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) will appear on your regular utility bill.    100% P.U.R.E. usage-based customers will see the “Pure Power” premium on their bill as a separate line item—an extra 1.5 cents per kWh. P.U.R.E. Block customers will see “Pure Power” as a separate line item on their bill for $15 for every Pure Power block (1,000 kWh) purchased.
5.	Q.	Why is AmerenUE offering a voluntary renewable energy program?
	A.	AmerenUE is responding to the desires of its customers, the importance of developing the regional economy and AmerenUE’s commitment to expanding the use of renewable resources in the Midwest. Plus, we think it is the right thing to do.
6.	Q.	Will RECs sold in the Voluntary Green Tariff count towards an RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard)?
	A.	No. Renewable Portfolio Standards are part of the regulatory market and are mandated by the government. Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) subscribed by this program will not count towards current or future mandates. Pure Power is a voluntary program that gives customers the option to be leaders in growth of local renewable energy above and beyond government regulations.
7.	Q.	Does AmerenUE profit from this program?
	A.	No. AmerenUE only collects $1 for each 1,000 kWh “block” of Pure Power sold to help offset program administrative costs.
8.	Q.	Who is AmerenUE’s renewable energy provider?
	A.	3Degrees Group, Inc. After running a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation, AmerenUE contracted with the renewable energy marketing and development firm 3Degrees to develop and manage the program over the next five years. 3Degrees was selected as the 2007 Department of Energy’s Renewable Marketer of the year and currently runs three of the top national performing voluntary utility renewable energy programs.
9.	Q.	What is the track record of 3Degrees?
	A.	3Degrees has enrolled more than 30,000 residential customers through partnerships with electric utilities and has accounts with 9 of the 15 largest corporate renewable energy buyers of Green-e Certified® renewable energy certificates. Several utilities have award winning programs since partnering with 3Degrees. Specific performance of the utility partnerships includes:
			PacifiCorp “BlueSky” (5.5% enrolled), #3 in renewable energy sold, #2 in customers enrolled
			City of Palo Alto Utilities “PaloAltoGreen” (20% enrolled), #1 in participation rate
			Silicon Valley Power “Green Power” (8.5% enrolled), #6 in participation rate
			National average green pricing participation rate: 1.8%
About Renewable Energy
10.	Q.	What is renewable energy?
	A.	Renewable energy is electricity produced from sources that replenish themselves naturally, never run out and are cleaner for the environment, including:
			Wind
			Solar
			Landfill and agricultural waste (biomass)
			Heat of the earth (geothermal)
			Water (some low-impact hydroelectric facilities)
11.	Q.	What kind of renewable energy is supported by Pure Power, and where are the renewable energy facilities located?
	A.	A minimum of 75 percent of Pure Power’s renewable energy certificates come from wind power and up to 25 percent from a blend of other renewable sources. All of the renewable energy facilities supplying Pure Power are regional sources installed in 2002 or later, or sources that will be developed in response to demand created through the program. At least half of the supply will be generated in Missouri and Illinois, and the rest will come from the Midwest power pool.
12.	Q.	What are the environmental benefits of participating in Pure Power?
	A.	Pure Power makes it possible for customers to have a positive environmental impact in the region. The average residential customer who enrolls for a year will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 22,000 pounds―the same carbon reduction provided by two acres of forest every year or taking two cars off the road each year.    Other environmental benefits:
			Less impact on the environment than burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas
			Lower levels of air pollutants and wastewater
			Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
			Reduced reliance on imported and domestic fossil fuels
13.	Q.	Will the power to my home depend on the wind blowing?
	A.	No. AmerenUE will deliver reliable power to you over the regional electricity system. The power that travels through the network of lines and wires that bring electricity to your home or business comes from a variety of generating sources. Your support of Pure Power helps add more renewable energy sources to the regional electricity system and has no effect on the reliability of your power.
14.	Q.	What are renewable energy certificates (RECs) or “green tags”?
	A.	Renewable energy certificates (RECs), also known as “green tags,” are proof that 1 megawatt (MW) of renewable energy was generated and delivered to the regional power pool, and they represent the environmental attributes of the power produced from renewable energy projects. RECs are sold separately from the electricity commodity.    For every unit of renewable energy generated and delivered to the regional power pool, an equivalent amount of renewable energy certificates (RECs) are created representing a tracking mechanism to insure that no two customers pay for the same unit of renewable energy generation. When you sign up for Pure Power, AmerenUE contracts for RECs to match the equivalent of your ongoing electrical needs or the number of Pure Power blocks you elect to purchase. Thus, the more RECs that are sold, the more demand is created for renewable power. As renewable facilities sell out their RECs, demand shifts to bring more renewable energy sources online.    New renewable energy sources are being constructed across the United States to meet the demand created for renewable energy. Your purchase of RECs benefits the environment by encouraging greater renewable energy generation and displacing non-renewable generation from the electricity system.
15.	Q.	Do other utilities offer renewable energy?
	A.	Over 750 utilities offer a renewable energy option similar to Pure Power. Nationwide 390,000 customers subscribe to utility green pricing programs, and 580,000 customers subscribe to green energy when competitive markets are included.    The voluntary market as a whole has resulted in 3,000 megawatts (MW) of new renewable capacity in 2006. According to the EIA (Energy Information Administration), about 9,000 MW of new renewable energy capacity was installed in the United States between 1997 and the end of 2005; thus, voluntary green power markets provide support for 22 percent of new renewable energy capacity additions, nationally.
Pure Power Certification and Verification
16.	Q.	How can I be sure my purchase is making a difference and supporting renewable energy? Is the program certified?
	A.	Pure Power is a Green-e Energy Certified® program.    Green-e Energy was established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions to provide information and an objective standard for consumers to compare renewable energy options and to verify that consumers get what they pay for.    When you see the Green-e Energy logo, it means:
		The renewable energy option contains only new renewable resources;
		The renewable sources of energy supplying the Pure Power program are independently verified by Green-e Energy, operated by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions;
		The purchaser of a Green-e Energy Certified renewable energy certificate is the sole "owner" of the environmental attributes of a specific megawatt hour (MWh) of energy added to the grid. Independent verification ensures that no MWh are double-counted, and
		The company offering the certified renewable energy option agrees to abide by the Green-e Energy Code of Conduct and Customer Disclosure Requirements governing its ethical treatment of customers.
	For more information on Green-e Energy certification requirements, call 888.63.GREEN or log on to www.green-e.org.