Continuing a trend of elevated heating gas prices, March supply rates for six out of 9 major Illinois utilities were higher than a year ago, including Consumers Gas (86 percent), Mt. Carmel (60 percent) and Nicor Gas (29 percent).
Roughly eight out of 10 Illinois homes use methane gas for heat. Each month, the utilities file their supply price, called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA), with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).
For about a year, gas prices have been elevated because of a number of factors that have increased demand and tightened supply, including cold weather and increased liquified gas exports (meaning profit-hungry gas producers and marketers are sending the heating fuel outside the United States). Winter storms and cold weather that hit the nation in late January and early February pushed wholesale prices even higher. Frigid temperatures can cause supply constraints when gas freezes at the wellhead. It also increases demand for heating fuel, forcing utilities to draw down their reserves more quickly and buy gas on a volatile market. CUB is concerned that the war in Iran will lead to even higher prices in months to come.
Here’s where the supply rates charged by Illinois’ major utilities stand now:
- In a bit of good news, March prices were down from February for five utilities. Illinois Gas (about 6 percent lower), Liberty Utilities (about 21 percent lower), Mid American (about 16 percent lower), Nicor Gas (about 9 percent lower), and North Shore gas (about 5 percent lower). Four charged higher prices than last month: Ameren Illinois (about 8 percent higher), Consumers Gas (about 99 percent higher), Mt. Carmel (about 56 percent higher), and Peoples Gas (about 5 percent higher).
- Compared with March 2025, this month’s prices were higher for six of the utilities, ranging from about 3 percent higher for MidAmerican to about 86 percent higher for Consumers Gas. Three utilities charged prices that were lower than last March, ranging from about 0.07 percent lower for Peoples Gas to about 21 percent lower for North Shore Gas. Check out this month’s prices:
March 2026 Gas Prices
Ameren Illinois– 50.799 cents per therm (UP about 9 percent from March 2025)
Consumers Gas– 80.534 cents per therm (UP about 86 percent from March 2025)
Illinois Gas– 60.09 cents per therm (UP about 15 percent from March 2025)
Liberty Utilities– 40.9 cents per therm (DOWN about 6 percent from March 2025)
MidAmerican Energy– 63.27 cents per therm (UP about 3 percent from March 2025)
Mt. Carmel– 89.93 cents per therm (UP about 60 percent from March 2025)
Nicor Gas– 49.00 cents per therm (UP about 29 percent from March 2025)
North Shore Gas– 44.55 cents per therm (DOWN about 21 percent from March 2025)
Peoples Gas– 40.67 cents per therm (DOWN about 0.07 percent from March 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 onto customers with no markup. State regulators annually review the utilities’ gas-management procedures 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 can set up a plan that gives you more time to pay off your bills, and inquire about no or low-cost energy efficiency programs the company offers.
- Ask if your utility offers a discount program for qualifying customers. Ameren, Nicor, North Shore and Peoples Gas do.
- See if you qualify for energy assistance. To apply or learn more 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.)
- Practice energy efficiency. For tips and information about helpful energy efficiency programs, 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’s gas price increases, remember that it’s due to market factors that also will increase alternative supplier prices. As volatile as gas utility prices are, your best bet for gas supply is likely with your utility and not with an alternative supplier. Read our tips. (Note: Only consumers in Northern Illinois have gas choice.)
- More helpful resources:
- CUB’s Gas page
- CUB’s chart of historical gas prices. Plus, CUB’s gas-price reports from 2026: January, February and 2025: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.
- If you want to 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, such as electric heat pumps and induction stove tops.
