Cover and table of contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒			Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2021

OR

☐			Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from to

Commission File Number			Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter; State of Incorporation; Address and Telephone Number			IRS Employer Identification No.
1-14756			Ameren Corporation			43-1723446

(Missouri Corporation)

1901 Chouteau Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri 63103

(314) 621-3222

1-2967			Union Electric Company			43-0559760

(Missouri Corporation)

1901 Chouteau Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri 63103

(314) 621-3222

1-3672			Ameren Illinois Company			37-0211380

(Illinois Corporation)

10 Executive Drive

Collinsville, Illinois 62234

(618) 343-8150

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class			Trading Symbol(s)			Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share			AEE			New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants: (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Ameren Corporation						Yes						☒						No						☐
Union Electric Company						Yes						☒						No						☐
Ameren Illinois Company						Yes						☒						No						☐

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Ameren Corporation						Yes						☒						No						☐
Union Electric Company						Yes						☒						No						☐
Ameren Illinois Company						Yes						☒						No						☐

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Ameren Corporation			Large accelerated filer			☒			Accelerated filer			☐			Non-accelerated filer			☐
									Smaller reporting company			☐			Emerging growth company			☐
Union Electric Company			Large accelerated filer			☐			Accelerated filer			☐			Non-accelerated filer			☒
									Smaller reporting company			☐			Emerging growth company			☐
Ameren Illinois Company			Large accelerated filer			☐			Accelerated filer			☐			Non-accelerated filer			☒
									Smaller reporting company			☐			Emerging growth company			☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Ameren Corporation			☐
Union Electric Company			☐
Ameren Illinois Company			☐

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Ameren Corporation						Yes						☐						No						☒
Union Electric Company						Yes						☐						No						☒
Ameren Illinois Company						Yes						☐						No						☒

The number of shares outstanding of each registrant’s classes of common stock as of October 29, 2021, was as follows:

Registrant						Title of each class of common stock			Shares outstanding
Ameren Corporation						Common stock, $0.01 par value per share			257,606,191
Union Electric Company						Common stock, $5 par value per share, held by Ameren Corporation			102,123,834
Ameren Illinois Company						Common stock, no par value, held by Ameren Corporation			25,452,373

This combined Form 10-Q is separately filed by Ameren Corporation, Union Electric Company, and Ameren Illinois Company. Each registrant hereto is filing on its own behalf all of the information contained in this quarterly report that relates to such registrant. Each registrant hereto is not filing any information that does not relate to such registrant, and therefore makes no representation as to any such information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

						Page
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations						1
Forward-looking Statements						1
PART I. Financial Information
Item 1.			Financial Statements (Unaudited)			4
			Ameren Corporation			4
			Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income			4
			Consolidated Balance Sheet			5
			Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows			6
			Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity			7
			Union Electric Company (d/b/a Ameren Missouri)			8
			Statement of Income			8
			Balance Sheet			9
			Statement of Cash Flows			10
			Statement of Shareholders’ Equity			11
			Ameren Illinois Company (d/b/a Ameren Illinois)			12
			Statement of Income			12
			Balance Sheet			13
			Statement of Cash Flows			14
			Statement of Shareholders’ Equity			15
			Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies			16
			Note 2. Rate and Regulatory Matters			17
			Note 3. Short-term Debt and Liquidity			22
			Note 4. Long-term Debt and Equity Financings			23
			Note 5. Other Income, Net			24
			Note 6. Derivative Financial Instruments			25
			Note 7. Fair Value Measurements			27
			Note 8. Related-party Transactions			30
			Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies			31
			Note 10. Callaway Energy Center			34
			Note 11. Retirement Benefits			35
			Note 12. Income Taxes			36
			Note 13. Supplemental Information			36
			Note 14. Segment Information			39
Item 2.			Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			42
Item 3.			Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			74
Item 4.			Controls and Procedures			74
PART II. Other Information
Item 1.			Legal Proceedings			74
Item 1A.			Risk Factors			74
Item 2.			Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			74
Item 6.			Exhibits			76
Signatures						77

GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

We use the words “our,” “we” or “us” with respect to certain information that relates to Ameren, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois, collectively. When appropriate, subsidiaries of Ameren Corporation are named specifically as their various business activities are discussed. Refer to the Form 10-K for a complete listing of glossary terms and abbreviations. Only new or significantly changed terms and abbreviations are included below.

ATM program – At-the-market equity distribution program.

CEJA – Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, an Illinois law that, among other things, gives Ameren Illinois the option to establish new electric distribution rates through either a traditional regulatory rate review, which may be based on a future test year, or an MYRP for a four-year period.

Form 10-K – The combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed by the Ameren Companies with the SEC.

MIEC – Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers, an association of industrial companies.

MoOPC – Missouri Office of Public Counsel, a state agency.

MYRP – Multi-year rate plan, a four-year electric distribution service rate plan allowed to be filed with the ICC under the CEJA. Under a multi-year rate plan, the ICC would approve base rates for electric distribution service charged to customers for each calendar year of a four-year period. Ameren Illinois would be allowed to reconcile each year's base rates to its actual revenue requirement, subject to a reconciliation cap with exclusions for certain costs and riders, and adjustments to the approved ROE for performance incentives and penalties.

QTD – Three months ended September 30.

YTD – Nine months ended September 30.

YoY – Compared with the year-ago period.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this report not based on historical facts are considered “forward-looking” and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. These statements include (without limitation) statements as to future expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, strategies, targets, estimates, objectives, events, conditions, and financial performance. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The following factors, in addition to those discussed within Risk Factors in the Form 10-K and in this report, and elsewhere in this report and in our other filings with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations suggested in such forward-looking statements:

*•*regulatory, judicial, or legislative actions, and any changes in regulatory policies and ratemaking determinations, that may change regulatory recovery mechanisms, such as those that may result from Ameren Missouri’s electric service and natural gas delivery service regulatory rate reviews filed with the MoPSC in March 2021, the July 2020 appeal filed by Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI challenging the refund period related to the FERC’s May 2020 order determining the allowed base ROE under the MISO tariff, the July 2020 appeal filed by Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and ATXI challenging the FERC’s rehearing denials in the transmission formula rate revision cases, Ameren Illinois’ electric distribution service rate reconciliation request filed with the ICC in April 2021, and Ameren Illinois’ annual electric energy-efficiency formula rate update filed with the ICC in May 2021;

*•*the length and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our business continuity plans and our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity, including but not limited to changes in customer demand resulting in changes to sales volumes; customers’ payment for our services and their use of deferred payment arrangements; future regulatory or legislative actions that could require suspension of customer disconnections and/or late fees, among other things, for an extended period of time; the health, welfare, and availability of our workforce and contractors; the impact of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates on our workforce, our contractors, and our suppliers, including any associated prolonged labor shortages; supplier disruptions; delays in the completion of construction projects, which could impact our expected capital expenditures and rate base growth; Ameren Missouri’s ability to recover any forgone customer late fee revenues or incremental costs; our ability to meet customer energy-efficiency program goals and earn performance incentives related to those programs; changes in how we operate our business and increased data security risks as a result of remote working arrangements for a significant portion of our workforce; and our ability to access the capital markets on reasonable terms and when needed;

• the effect of Ameren Illinois’ use of the performance-based formula ratemaking framework for its electric distribution service, which will establish and allow for a reconciliation of electric distribution service rates through 2023, its participation in electric energy-efficiency programs, and the related impact of the direct relationship between Ameren Illinois’ ROE and the 30-year United States Treasury bond yields;

• the effect and duration of Ameren Illinois’ election to either utilize traditional regulatory rate reviews or MYRPs for electric distribution service ratemaking effective for rates beginning in 2024;

• the effect on Ameren Missouri’s investment plan and earnings if an extension to use PISA is not sought by Ameren Missouri or approved by the MoPSC;

• the effect on Ameren Missouri of any customer rate caps pursuant to Ameren Missouri’s election to use the PISA, including an extension of use beyond 2023, if requested by Ameren Missouri and approved by the MoPSC;

• the effects of changes in federal, state, or local laws and other governmental actions, including monetary, fiscal, and energy policies;

• the effects of changes in federal, state, or local tax laws, regulations, interpretations, or rates, and challenges to the tax positions taken by the Ameren Companies, if any, as well as resulting effects on customer rates;

• the effects on energy prices and demand for our services resulting from technological advances, including advances in customer energy efficiency, electric vehicles, electrification of various industries, energy storage, and private generation sources, which generate electricity at the site of consumption and are becoming more cost-competitive;

• the effectiveness of Ameren Missouri’s customer energy-efficiency programs and the related revenues and performance incentives earned under its MEEIA programs;

• Ameren Illinois’ ability to achieve the performance standards applicable to its electric distribution business and the FEJA electric customer energy-efficiency goals and the resulting impact on its allowed ROE;

• our ability to control costs and make substantial investments in our businesses, including our ability to recover costs and investments, and to earn our allowed ROEs, within frameworks established by our regulators, while maintaining affordability of our services for our customers;

• the cost and availability of fuel, such as low-sulfur coal, natural gas, and enriched uranium used to produce electricity; the cost and availability of purchased power, zero emission credits, renewable energy credits, emission allowances, and natural gas for distribution; and the level and volatility of future market prices for such commodities and credits;

• disruptions in the delivery of fuel, failure of our fuel suppliers to provide adequate quantities or quality of fuel, or lack of adequate inventories of fuel, including nuclear fuel assemblies from the one NRC-licensed supplier of Ameren Missouri’s Callaway Energy Center assemblies;

• the cost and availability of transmission capacity for the energy generated by Ameren Missouri’s energy centers or required to satisfy Ameren Missouri’s energy sales;

• the effectiveness of our risk management strategies and our use of financial and derivative instruments;

• the ability to obtain sufficient insurance, or in the absence of insurance, the ability to timely recover uninsured losses from our customers;

• the impact of cyberattacks on us or our suppliers, which could, among other things, result in the loss of operational control of energy centers and electric and natural gas transmission and distribution systems and/or the loss of data, such as customer, employee, financial, and operating system information;

• business and economic conditions, which have been affected by, and will be affected by the length and severity of, the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact of such conditions on interest rates and inflation;

• disruptions of the capital markets, deterioration in credit metrics of the Ameren Companies, or other events that may have an adverse effect on the cost or availability of capital, including short-term credit and liquidity;

• the actions of credit rating agencies and the effects of such actions, including any impacts on our credit ratings that may result from the economic conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic;

• the inability of our counterparties to meet their obligations with respect to contracts, credit agreements, and financial instruments, including as it relates to the construction and acquisition of electric and natural gas utility infrastructure and the ability of counterparties to complete projects which is dependent upon the availability of necessary materials and equipment, including those that are affected by disruptions in the global supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;

• the impact of weather conditions and other natural phenomena on us and our customers, including the impact of system outages and the level of wind and solar resources;

• the construction, installation, performance, and cost recovery of generation, transmission, and distribution assets;

• the effects of failures of electric generation, electric and natural gas transmission or distribution, or natural gas storage facilities systems and equipment, which could result in unanticipated liabilities or unplanned outages;

• the operation of Ameren Missouri’s Callaway Energy Center, including planned and unplanned outages, as well as the ability to recover costs associated with such outages and the impact of such outages on off-system sales and purchased power, among other things;

• Ameren Missouri’s ability to recover the remaining investment and decommissioning costs associated with the retirement of an energy center, as well as the ability to earn a return on that remaining investment and those decommissioning costs;

• the impact of current environmental laws and new, more stringent, or changing requirements, including those related to NSR and CO2, other emissions and discharges, cooling water intake structures, CCR, energy efficiency, and wildlife protection, that could limit or terminate the operation of certain of Ameren Missouri’s energy centers, increase our operating costs or investment requirements, result in an impairment of our assets, cause us to sell our assets, reduce our customers’ demand for electricity or natural gas, or otherwise have a negative financial effect;

• the impact of a final judgment to be issued by the United States Court for the Eastern District of Missouri regarding its September 2019 remedy order that could require Ameren Missouri to install a flue gas desulfurization system, which would increase capital expenditures and annual operating costs, or could limit the useful life of Ameren Missouri’s Rush Island Energy Center;

• the impact of complying with renewable energy standards in Missouri and Illinois and with the zero emission standard in Illinois;

• Ameren Missouri’s ability to construct and/or acquire wind, solar, and other renewable energy generation facilities, retire energy centers, and implement new or existing customer energy-efficiency programs, including any such construction, acquisition, retirement, or implementation in connection with its Smart Energy Plan, the 2020 IRP, or our emissions reduction goals, and to recover its cost of investment, related return, and, in the case of customer energy-efficiency programs, any lost margins in a timely manner, which is affected by the ability to obtain all necessary regulatory and project approvals, including certificates of convenience and necessity from the MoPSC or any other required approvals for the addition of renewable resources;

• the availability of federal production and investment tax credits related to renewable energy and Ameren Missouri’s ability to use such credits; the cost of wind, solar, and other renewable generation and storage technologies; and our ability to obtain timely interconnection agreements with the MISO or other RTOs at an acceptable cost for each facility;

• advancements in carbon-free generation and storage technologies, and the impact of constructive federal and state energy and economic policies with respect to those technologies;

• labor disputes, work force reductions, changes in future wage and employee benefits costs, including those resulting from changes in discount rates, mortality tables, returns on benefit plan assets, and other assumptions;

• the impact of negative opinions of us or our utility services that our customers, investors, legislators, or regulators may have or develop, which could result from a variety of factors, including failures in system reliability, failure to implement our investment plans or to protect sensitive customer information, increases in rates, negative media coverage, or concerns about environmental, social, and/or governance practices;

• the impact of adopting new accounting guidance;

• the effects of strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures;

• legal and administrative proceedings; and

• acts of sabotage, war, terrorism, or other intentionally disruptive acts.

New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in any forward-looking statement. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION