Stephens has opposed the electric rate relief package proposed by the General Assembly as not giving customers enough money back from Ameren. Stephens said, "This supposed 'rate relief' package will only give back seven or eight dollars a month to Ameren customers who have seen their electric bills go up by hundreds of dollars a month. Who are they kidding? This legislation is disgraceful." Ameren maintains that they must raise prices due to a nine-year price freeze, and that if they do not raise prices on customers, their credit will suffer so much they will not be able to purchase electricity on the market and will go into junk bond status.