AmerenUE is experiencing a significant increase in costs for the resources needed to provide electricity. These costs include dramatic increases for fuel, construction materials, and equipment.      Coal alone, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of our costs, has increased by 33 percent over the past two years. The costs of transformers and construction supplies—steel, copper, aluminum and cement—are rising due to international competition. For example, since 2004 the cost of pole transformers is up approximately 70 percent. Modern utility poles cost about 40 percent more. Underground aluminum wire is up about 30 percent, and the cost of copper has risen by 100 percent.    UE has proposed this price increase to continue to improve reliability through system investments and provide for a growing power demand.