Area Development
Ameren Energy Resources announced that it will lay off 75 full-time employees across several power plants and service facilities in Illinois and Missouri, the St. Louis Business Journal reported. Both management and union employees will be affected by the cuts. The layoffs, along with other spending cuts, will save the company $20 million in net expenses this year.

"While it is always difficult to reduce staffing, we believe these reductions are critical to meet the realities of today's depressed power markets," said Chuck Naslund, Ameren president and CEO. "Prices for the power we sell today are far below the levels of earlier years."

The company may also temporarily stop operating its least efficient plants and reduce benefits soon to save additional money. Last year, the company laid off 135 employees.

Ameren serves 2.4 million electric customers and 1 million natural gas customers in Illinois and Missouri.