CUB's Natural Gas Price Checker
Latest PGA Charges for Illinois' Largest Gas Utilities
Latest PGA Charges for Illinois' Largest Gas Utilities
| Utility Company | Jun. 2009 (cents/therm) | May 2009 (cents/therm) | Change (cents/therm) | Percent |
| Ameren CILCO |  54.34 | 55.86 | (1.52) | (2.72)% |
| Ameren CIPS | 57.21 | 57.86 | (0.65) | (1.12)% |
| Ameren IP |  57.14 | 55.35 | 1.79 | 3.23% |
| AmerenCIPS-Metro East Area | 57.21 | 57.86 | (0.65) | (1.12)% |
| Atmos Energy | 49.42 | 54.89 | (5.47) | (9.97)% |
| MidAmerican Energy | TBP | 36.86 | ||
| NICOR |  45.00 | 45.00 | 0.00 | 0.00% |
| North Shore Gas | 50.17 | 43.23 | 6.94 | 16.05% |
| Peoples Gas | 49.96 | 42.43 | 7.53 | 17.75% |
| Utility Company | Jun. 2009 (cents/therm) | Jun. 2008 (cents/therm) | Change (cents/therm) | Percent |
| Ameren CILCO | 54.34 | 109.81 | (55.47) | (50.51)% |
| Ameren CIPS | 57.21 | 102.34 | (45.13) | (44.10)% |
| Ameren IP | 57.14 | 116.39 | (59.25) | (50.91)% |
| AmerenCIPS-Metro East Area | 57.21 | 111.52 | (54.31) | (48.70)% |
| Atmos Energy | 49.42 | 123.59 | (74.17) | (60.01)% |
| MidAmerican Energy | TBP | 125.73 | ||
| NICOR | 45.00 | 123.00 | (78.00) | (63.41)% |
| North Shore Gas | 50.17 | 111.15 | (60.98) | (54.86)% |
| Peoples Gas | 49.96 | 122.19 | (72.23) | (59.11)% |
| Utility Company | Jun. 2009 (cents/therm) | Jun. 2004 (cents/therm) | Change (cents/therm) | Percent |
| Ameren CILCO | 54.34 | 62.11 | (7.77) | (12.51)% |
| Ameren CIPS | 57.21 | 79.78 | (22.57) | (28.29)% |
| Ameren IP | 57.14 | 72.23 | (15.09) | (20.89)% |
| AmerenCIPS-Metro East Area | 57.21 | 70.06 | (12.85) | (18.34)% |
| Atmos Energy | 49.42 | 61.73 | (12.31) | (19.94)% |
| MidAmerican Energy | TBP | 75.56 | ||
| NICOR | 45.00 | 72.00 | (27.00) | (37.50)% |
| North Shore Gas | 50.17 | 69.18 | (19.01) | (27.48)% |
| Peoples Gas | 49.96 | 67.01 | (17.05) | (25.44)% |
Annual comparison | January through June
In addition to comparing the cost per therm, the following chart includes average usage. | Month January February March April May June July August September October November December | Average Therms 250 250 150 100 25 25 25 25 25 100 150 200 |
The following chart compares the usage from the beginning of the year to the end of the current month. It does not include additional fees or taxes.
| Utility Company | In 2009 | In 2008 | Difference 2009-2008 | Pct (%) Change | |
| Ameren CILCO | $584.51 | $621.58 | $(37.06) | (5.96)% | |
| Ameren CIPS | $625.55 | $703.86 | $(78.30) | (11.12)% | |
| Ameren IP | $592.33 | $681.50 | $(89.16) | (13.08)% | |
| AmerenCIPS-Metro East Area | $618.94 | $676.44 | $(57.51) | (8.50)% | |
| Atmos Energy | $643.32 | $672.68 | $(29.36) | (4.37)% | |
| MidAmerican Energy | $495.98 | $763.47 | $(267.49) | (35.04)% | |
| NICOR | $435.00 | $716.25 | $(281.25) | (39.27)% | |
| North Shore Gas | $591.39 | $725.15 | $(133.76) | (18.45)% | |
| Peoples Gas | $538.65 | $690.23 | $(151.58) | (21.96)% | |
| Average Cost | $569.52 | $694.57 | $(125.05) | (18)% | |
What is the PGA?
The Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) charge is based on the price that a utility pays for natural gas. Under the law, gas utilities are supposed to pass on this cost to customers, without a markup. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) doesn’t approve this per-therm charge in advance, but it reviews the charge annually and can order a refund for customers if it finds the utilities weren’t using sound business practices to buy gas at a reasonable cost. Depending on the utility, this charge also is called the "cost of gas charge," the "natural gas cost," the "gas charge adjustment," or the "gas supply charge."
What is a therm?
A gas meter measures usage in cubic feet, but your utility converts that figure to a unit of measurement called a "therm" on your gas bill. An average home furnace uses about one therm per hour of heat production.
For more information read Making Sense of Your Gas Bill.