Gas prices for four of Illinois’ 9 major utilities are higher than a year ago, including Liberty Utilities, which is charging a supply price that is about 23 percent higher; Illinois Gas, with a price about 5 percent higher; and Peoples Gas, which is charging a price that is about 2 percent higher, according to CUB’s review of November gas prices.
Heading into the heart of the heating season, wholesale gas markets looked relatively stable. The Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the Department of Energy, expected U.S. gas storage to start the heating season in November about 2 percent above the five-year average. But gas exports are climbing, as companies send more U.S. gas overseas. A cold snap could push prices up.
Those market conditions affect the prices individual consumers pay to heat their homes. Gas utilities file supply prices, called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA), each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Here’s what CUB uncovered in our review of prices in November.
- Compared with October, six utilities have higher rates: Consumers Gas (about 26 percent higher), Illinois Gas (about 92 percent), MidAmerican Energy (about 10 percent), Mt. Carmel (about 7 percent), North Shore Gas (about 4 percent) and Peoples Gas (about 7 percent). Three charged prices that were lower: Ameren Illinois (about 7 percent), Liberty Utilities (about 5 percent) and Nicor Gas (about 6 percent).
- Compared with last November, this month’s prices were higher for four utilities, ranging from less than 1 percent higher for Mt. Carmel to about 23 percent higher for Liberty Utilities. Five utilities were less than last November, ranging from roughly 10 percent lower for Ameren Illinois to about 35 percent lower for Consumers Gas. See the November prices below.
November Gas Prices
Ameren Illinois – 42.10 cents per therm (DOWN about 10 percent from November 2025)
Consumers Gas – 26.61 cents per therm (DOWN about 35 percent from November 2025)
Illinois Gas – 51.03 cents per therm (UP about 5 percent from November 2025)
Liberty Utilities – 50.90 cents per therm (UP about 23 percent from November 2025)
MidAmerican Energy – 46.27 cents per therm (DOWN about 22 percent from November 2025)
Mt. Carmel – 76.39 cents per therm (UP about 0.3 percent from November 2025)
Nicor Gas – 31.00 cents per therm (DOWN about 21 percent from November 2025)
North Shore Gas – 39.23 cents per therm (DOWN about 11 percent from November 2025)
Peoples Gas – 35.18 cents per therm (UP about 2 percent from November 2025)
Note: Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another. Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices. They pass those costs from gas producers and marketers on to customers with no markup. State regulators review the utilities’ gas-management procedures every year to evaluate whether the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. Regulators can order refunds, although that is rare.
A few tips from CUB:
- Keep the lines of communication open with your utility. If you are having trouble affording your gas bills, it is vital that you contact your utility. Ask if you qualify for any energy assistance programs, see if you can set up a plan that gives you more time to pay off your bills, and ask about no- or low-cost energy efficiency programs the company offers.
- Practice energy efficiency at home. For tips and information about helpful energy efficiency programs offered by your utility, visit CUB’s Clean Energy page.
- Beware of alternative supplier rip-offs. If a deal seems too good to be true, there’s a good chance it is. If the utility supply price increases, remember that it’s due to market factors that will also increase alternative supplier prices. As volatile as gas utility prices are, your best bet for gas supply is likely your utility, not an alternative supplier. Read our tips. (Note: Only consumers in Northern Illinois have gas choice.)
- See if you qualify for energy assistance. To apply or learn about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), visit this state of Illinois webpage. (Also, check out our step-by-step guide to applying for LIHEAP.)
- More helpful resources:
If you can, consider moving away from gas: Visit our electrification page and order CUB’s free Better Heat Guide to learn how to make the transition to more efficient appliances, like electric heat pumps and induction stove tops.
