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New Madrid, Mo. - Officials who represent the region's largest employer today announced layoffs that will affect 125 to 200 area workers. Noranda President and Chief Executive Officer Layle K. "Kip" Smith said job cuts are related directly to a decision by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) to deny competitive power rates to the New Madrid smelter. Layoffs are expected to come in phases during the next six months, Smith told a crowd of employees, dignitaries and press. Those cuts will reach across all sectors of the company's staff, including both administrative and plant personnel, he said. In addition to eliminating jobs, Smith said the company will suspend a $30 million capacity expansion project at the plant. "Unfortunately, this

Jefferson City — State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, voiced his concern over the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) vote to dismiss a case filed by Noranda Aluminum, Inc., and others against Ameren Missouri. “I am very disappointed in this decision by the PSC,” Sen. Libla said. “Noranda Aluminum has been paying what many people consider to be an overly high electric rate. Rates for many businesses and households would be significantly higher if it weren’t for Noranda, and without them those rates would increase even more. Ameren has raised the electricity cost at the Noranda New Madrid plant by $44 million since 2009. These rate hikes have made Noranda significantly less competitive. They currently pay the second highest electricity

New Madrid, Mo. – Today, the Public Service Commission delivered what is expected to be a fatal blow to the area’s largest employer, Noranda Aluminum, by denying a compromise rate adjustment that would have kept the plant in business. The commission, made up entirely of members along the I-70 corridor, sided with Ameren UE in stating that the loss of 1,000 jobs in the poorest part of the state was not worthy to take action on. “This is a very, very difficult public policy decision and the impact would be felt statewide. Noranda failed to show that their current rate is causing a crisis of liquidity. I hope the parties can continue to work together to solve this issue,” said

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Noranda, an aluminum smelter based in New Madrid, is the largest employer in Southeast Missouri with over 888 employees. Located in the St. Jude Industrial Park, the plant covers over 3000 acres with more than 40 acres under roof. Electricity is one-third of all operational expenses for Noranda; last year they paid Ameren $160,000,000 for electricity. Ameren’s rate to Noranda has increased by 40% since 2007, and more than $44M since 2009. Noranda requested the Public Service Commission to reduce their electric rate from Ameren stating that without a reduction it would be difficult for them to keep the factory open. There’s been an epidemic of aluminum smelter shutdowns over the recent years as 32 smelters

Caruthersville, MO - Thirty-four individuals signed the request to testify list to address the Public Service Commission at the first of three Public Hearings scheduled for June 9, 10 and 11 in Caruthersville, St Louis and Jefferson City, respectively. The Public Hearings are to determine an issue between Noranda, an aluminum smelter in New Madrid who is Southeast Missouri's largest employer, and Ameren, the power company. Noranda is asking for their power rates to be fixed at $30/Megawatt hour. Ameren claims this rate would be below their cost and all other Ameren customers would see an increase of 1.8%. Noranda is Ameren's biggest customer buying 10% of all of Ameren's power each month. Noranda pays over $160 Million to Ameren