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Illinois Commerce Commission

CUB Statement on Nicor Gas’ Proposed $309 Million Rate Hike

Nicor Gas’ campaign for a state-record rate hike of about $308.6 million–which is closer to $325 million when including taxes–is unjustified, and CUB will fight it. Illinois’ largest gas utility has now asked for five brutal rate hikes in less than a decade, causing hardship for customers by increasing gas…...

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Statement from CUB, AARP Illinois: Illinois Commerce Commission OKs $110 Million Illinois American Water Rate Hike

The following are statements from the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and AARP Illinois regarding the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approving a $110 million rate hike for Illinois American Water on Thursday, Dec. 5. (Read a pdf of the statements here.)  “While we are relieved Illinois American Water did not get…...

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Illinois Future of Gas: Electrification Meeting Pt. 2 – November 18, 2024

By: Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist  On Monday, November 18, the Future of Gas workshop wrapped up its exploration of building electrification as a decarbonization pathway. The previous workshop (November 4) focused on residential and industrial opportunities, while this time the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) discussed commercial appliance switching…...

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BREAKING: ICC grants Aqua Illinois $11.6 million rate-hike

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) on Thursday cut Aqua Illinois’ rate-hike request by about 40 percent, granting the water utility an $11.6 million increase. CUB called the ICC’s Final Order a step toward reining in a utility that was the subject of intense criticism for high rates and poor water quality from customers who…...

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Illinois Future of Gas: Electrification Meeting Pt. I – November 4, 2024

By: Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist  Today’s Future of Gas workshop began with an announcement: between now and Dec. 6, 2024, the ICC will be accepting decarbonization pilot project ideas from interested stakeholders. It wasn’t immediately clear how these pilots could be put into effect–or indeed if they ever would…...

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Illinois Future of Gas: The Energy Efficiency Meeting

By Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist  The purpose of this workshop (10/21/24) was to discuss the role and importance of energy efficiency in decarbonizing the gas system. In a word, I’d describe this workshop as “dizzying.”   During these workshops I’ve become accustomed to the gas industry making fantastical claims that…...

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What are the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Future of Gas Proceedings?

In 2023, four gas utilities–Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas–pushed for rate hikes before  the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Environmental and consumer advocates who challenged the rate increases also requested that the ICC order a process to study how Illinois will manage its shift away from…...

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