Ameren Illinois Natural Gas Storage System Delivers During Winter Storm Fern

System protects customers from escalated wholesale market prices.

Brian Bretsch

Feb 9, 2026 10:30 AM

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COLLINSVILLE – During Winter Storm Fern, Ameren Illinois’ natural gas storage system served as an important buffer between customers and extraordinary wholesale market price spikes – shielding families and businesses from the extreme cost increases that hit other regions.

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“Natural gas plays a critical role in keeping homes warm, factories running, and communities safe during severe winter weather,” said Patrick Smith Sr., chairman and president for Ameren Illinois. “Customers are benefitting from our storage capabilities and the improvements we have made to strengthen the underground fields.”

As natural gas prices on the national market surged to as high as $70 per MMBtu (million British thermal unit is the purchasing unit) during the storm, Ameren Illinois delivered natural gas it purchased in the summer months at $3 to $4 per MMBtu, protecting customers from the price volatility that gripped the energy sector from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2, 2026. Through optimized storage field operations, leased storage, and strategic hedging, the company and its customers avoided $78.2 million in market exposure during the severe weather event.

“The performance of our gas system during this recent stretch of extreme cold is exactly why we commit valuable resources to maintain our storage fields,” said Brad Kloeppel, senior director of natural gas operations and technical services for Ameren Illinois. “When national prices surged during the storm, our customers were insulated from those spikes because we planned ahead, bought gas at lower summer prices, and stored it safely for winter use.”

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Exceptional Performance Under Extreme Conditions

From Jan. 23 through Jan. 29, the Ameren Illinois natural gas storage system operated at peak efficiency with no outages or performance issues, despite sustained subzero temperatures and heavy demand.

Key operational highlights include:

23 was the 14th highest natural gas usage day on record for Ameren Illinois customers.
The 2.46 billion cubic feet of gas withdrawn from storage over the six-day period is more than 10% of the total gas inventory available for the winter heating season.

“Winter Storm Fern put extraordinary pressure on regional natural gas markets and infrastructure, and our system met the challenge,” Kloeppel said. “Underground gas storage and price hedging are designed for moments like this.”

About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers throughout central and southern Illinois. Our service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles and our mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us at @AmerenIllinois or Facebook.com/AmerenIllinois.

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