There are a few examples of the gas market volatility in August, including one company seeing a 153 percent increase in its supply price and another seeing a 76 percent decrease 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 August prices:
- Compared with last month, five of 9 major utilities are charging prices that are lower, ranging from 0.3 percent (Illinois Gas) to 39 percent (Liberty Utilities). Ameren Gas and Peoples Gas, are charging prices that are 2 percent and 3 percent higher, respectively. The state’s largest utility, Nicor Gas, is charging the same rate as it did in July.
- Compared with August 2023, five out of 9 major Illinois utilities are charging prices that are higher, ranging from 16 percent (Ameren Illinois) to 153 percent (Illinois Gas). Peoples Gas is charging a price that is 25 percent higher, while Nicor Gas’ price is down about 10 percent from a year ago. Liberty Utilities’ price is down about 76 percent from a year ago.
Below are the PGAs for August and how they compare with a year ago:
August Gas Prices
Ameren Illinois– 49.04 cents per therm (up about 16 percent from August 2023)
Consumers Gas– 67.2 cents per therm (up about 45 percent from August 2023)
Illinois Gas– 47.9 cents per therm (up about 153 percent from August 2023)
Liberty Utilities– 21.71 cents per therm (down about 76 percent from August 2023)
MidAmerican Energy– 39.31 cents per therm (down about 19 percent from August 2023)
Mt. Carmel– 35.05 cents per therm (up about 33 percent from August 2023)
Nicor Gas– 36 cents per therm (down about 10 percent from August 2023)
North Shore Gas– 31.42 cents per therm (down about 7 percent from August 2023)
Peoples Gas– 37.1 cents per therm (up about 25 percent from August 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.
