April gas prices are generally down, with some reminders of the expensive volatility of the market, including a 59 percent increase in one utility’s price from last year, according to CUB’s review of Illinois’ gas market.
Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Here’s what we uncovered in our review of April prices:
- Compared with last month, seven of 9 major utilities are charging prices that are lower, ranging from 5 percent (Consumers Gas) to 64 percent (Mt. Carmel). The two remaining utilities, Illinois Gas and Consumers Gas, are charging prices that are 8 percent and 24 percent higher, respectively.
- Compared with April 2023, prices for three of the utilities this month are higher than a year ago, with Illinois Gas customers hit hardest, with a 59 percent increase. Six utilities are charging lower prices than last year, ranging from down 1 percent (Ameren) to down 24 percent (Nicor).
Below are the PGAs for April and how they compare with a year ago:
April Gas Prices
Ameren Illinois– 44.82 cents per therm (down about 1 percent from April 2023)
Consumers Gas– 34.43 cents per therm (down about 17 percent from April 2023)
Illinois Gas– 38.33 cents per therm (up about 59 percent from April 2023)
Liberty Utilities– 63.71 cents per therm (down about 3 percent from April 2023)
MidAmerican Energy– 36.92 cents per therm (down about 6 percent from April 2023)
Mt. Carmel– 28.49 cents per therm (up about 9 percent from April 2023)
Nicor Gas– 34 cents per therm (down about 24 percent from April 2023)
North Shore Gas– 35.37 cents per therm (up about 9 percent from April 2023)
Peoples Gas– 25.93 cents per therm (down about 23 percent from April 2023)
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 onto customers with no markup. State regulators annually review the utilities’ gas-management procedures to ensure the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible.
A few tips about your gas bill:
- See if you qualify for energy assistance. The application process for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is open. To apply or learn more, visit www.helpillinoisfamilies.com or call the Help Illinois Families Assistance Line at 1-833-711-0374.
- 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 payment plan to give you a longer time to pay off your bills; and inquire about no or low-cost energy efficiency programs the company offers.
- Beware of alternative supplier rip-offs. If a deal seems too good to be true, there’s a good chance it is. Read our tips. (Note: Only consumers in Northern Illinois have gas choice.)
- Practice energy efficiency at home. For tips and information about helpful energy efficiency programs offered by your utility, visit CUB’s Clean Energy page.
Visit CUB’s Gas page for more information.
