We've been telling you that Ameren's rate relief is on its way for weeks.  Monday, it's official. 

Ameren officials began writing out relief checks to nearly a million residential electric customers. KHQA nailed down the details for you in this Fact Finder report.

Remember, you'll be getting a rebate check to help make up for the higher utility rates you've been paying since the rate freeze expired back in January.  And if you're 60 days or more past due, you'll start seeing credits on your electric bills.

Rebate checks will be going out in the mail this week, and will continue to be mailed out throughout the next month.  During that time, Ameren Illinois customers will get initial credits or checks of at least $85. The rest of your rate relief will come in the form of smaller credits on your bill.

Those credits will show up until the end of 2009, totaling a minimum of $100 this year alone.  And remember, the credits are based on usage, so if you used a lot of electricity this year, you could see rebates of a $1,000 or more.

And you can find out just how much you'll be getting in total rate relief by logging on to www.ameren.com or by calling the phone number on your bill.

KHQA asked, "What's the benefit of this rate relief plan from the Ameren stand point?"

"It's a means of transitioning into the higher rates. The higher rates are with us and they're inevitable. But this is a means of bringing it in a little at a time so people can be accustomed to the higher rates," Bill Prebil, regional vice president of Ameren operations said.

As part of the rate relief package, Ameren will also be offering up millions of dollars in bill payment assistance for the elderly and low income.  For information on any of those programs, log onto www.ameren.com.