AEE: 10-K Risk Factor Changes

The Ameren Companies have historically experienced minimal growth in energy demand for the past two decades. However, current industry projections reflect the potential for significant growth in energy demand over the next decade, primarily arising from data centers and further augmented by onshoring and electrification of manufacturing and an increase in transportation electrification. In addition, in February 2026, Ameren Missouri executed electric service agreements with large load customers under its large load customer rate plan, representing 2.2 gigawatts of demand. The Ameren Companies may or may not experience the energy demand growth currently being forecasted depending on the decisions of potential new customers about whether to locate their operations within our service territories or whether customers that have signed electric service agreements begin operations within the expected timeframes. Also, demand growth may not be realized at the rate, or in the amount, expected if construction of customer facilities is not completed within expected timeframes, which is dependent on the ability of suppliers, contractors, and developers to meet contractual commitments and timely complete projects. In addition, expected demand growth may not be realized if emerging technologies are not broadly adopted at the rate expected, increased efficiencies in computing or other advances in these technologies reduce energy demand for data centers, or large load customers, such as data centers, 27 27 27 Table of Contents Table of Contents are not supported by local communities or do not receive necessary approvals by local municipalities. Although customers subject to the large load customer rate plan in Ameren Missouri’s service territory are required to sign agreements for specific term lengths to reasonably ensure rates they are charged reflect a representative share of the costs incurred to serve them, these customers could terminate their agreements early or reduce minimum capacity levels. These agreements include exit fees for early termination and fees for capacity reductions, but these fees may not fully mitigate this risk. Although assets constructed or acquired to serve these customers will also be used to serve other Ameren Missouri customers, early termination or capacity reductions could impact Ameren Missouri’s ability to fully recover its investment in, and return on, those assets. Also, the Ameren Companies may not be able to provide the necessary electric service, including both energy and capacity, within the time periods required by large load customers. The Ameren Companies may need to accelerate the addition of generation resources within current plans, obtain new generation resources, expand transmission or distribution facilities that are not currently within their plans, or purchase additional energy and capacity to meet the increase in demand. In addition, demand for construction services within the utility industry has increased significantly due to growing energy demand and energy transition, creating limited availability of suppliers, contractors, and developers, which could impact the Ameren Companies' ability to timely construct or acquire assets needed to meet forecasted demand. If the Ameren Companies are required to purchase energy and capacity to meet demand, their risk management and liquidity levels may not be effective at mitigating price impacts of such purchases, or there may not be sufficient energy and capacity available, either of which could negatively impact the Ameren Companies’ ability to realize forecasted or other potential demand. The Ameren Companies may not be able to plan, receive regulatory approvals, and execute those plans in a timely manner, which could result in the Ameren Companies not realizing forecasted or other potential demand.