(Springfield)--Ameren Illinois has filed a plan with the Illinois Commerce Commission seeking a rate hike to help pay for an upgrade of its distribution grid. Vice President Craig Nelson says Tuesday's filing is the beginning of an effort by the utility to modernize the power grid over the next ten years to meet service expectations of Ameren's over one million customers.

Illinois lawmakers in November passed legislation allowing Ameren and Commonwealth Edison to boost rates with less regulatory oversight in exchange for an upgrade of the electrical grid.

Randy Nehrt from the Commerce Commission says regulators still have a responsibility to conduct a thorough investigation of the proposal. If approved, the rate hikes will go into effect in October.