Nicor Gas’ push for a sixth rate hike in less than a decade — and its second in as many years — threatens customers with massive overcharges to cover wasteful spending, lucrative executive bonuses and an exorbitant profit rate, according to expert testimony from consumer advocates. Combining findings from other…...
Op-Ed: Frustrated–even ‘heartbroken’–Nicor customers wonder when enough is enough
By Sarah Moskowitz, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board Nicor Gas usually delivers the heat, but at a recent Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public forum in Joliet the utility was the one on the hot seat–over escalating bills. One Nicor customer walked to the microphone and directly addressed the utility bigwigs who…...
Consumer Advocates Urge Regulators To Cut Nicor’s Record Rate Hike By More Than Half; Decry Excessive Profits, Wasteful Executive Bonuses
Nicor Gas’ bid for a record-breaking $308.6 million rate hike is rife with excesses and should be slashed by more than half, according to testimony submitted to state regulators by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Illinois PIRG, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and other consumer advocates. (Update: Since the testimony was…...
February continues trend of lower gas prices–but they’re still higher than 2021
Some good news: Gas prices for February continue the downward trend we’ve been seeing the last few months. Plus, recently the Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Energy Department, eased its prediction on how much more Midwest natural gas customers could pay on average this winter–from 29…...
January gas prices still way up–will we see some relief in 2023?
Natural gas supply prices dropped for about half of Illinois’ major gas utilities from December to January, but the prices are still at significantly high levels for the second consecutive winter. “We’re hoping that sometime in the new year we’ll see these price spikes ease for all customers, but the…...
Natural gas prices ease in November, but they’re still REALLY high
Good news: For the first time in months, we’re seeing a decrease in natural gas prices. Bad news: November’s supply prices–while lower than October–are higher than they were for most utilities in 2021, and they’re about about double to quadruple what they were two years ago, according to filings with…...
