With Chicago-area consumers facing the possibility of hundreds of dollars in higher heating bills this winter due to skyrocketing natural gas prices and out-of-control utility spending, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Monday launched an online help center to advise gas customers on how to soften the blow of these…...
Brace yourself: October gas prices more than double 2020 supply rates
Most Illinois natural gas utilities in October are charging more than double their 2020 prices, according to preliminary tariff filings. Natural gas prices have been on the rise since early this year, causing growing concern as winter weather draws near. These appear to be the highest winter heating season prices…...
High gas prices cause concern as cold temps near
Nearly every natural gas utility again raised their prices in September, causing more concern for consumers’ gas bills with winter just around the corner. These supply rates, some double or triple the utilities’ 2020 prices, are the result of the extreme cold that hit the nation back in February. As…...
June natural gas prices signal three months of increases
Most major Illinois gas utilities are again increasing their prices, the aftershock of the extreme cold that hit the nation back in February. Even though temperatures are now warming up and consumers are using less natural gas, it is still important to factor these high prices into your usage. A…...
Natural gas prices continue their rise into May
Most major Illinois gas utilities are again increasing their prices, the lingering effects of extreme cold that hit the nation for a brief period over the winter and caused prices in Illinois to skyrocket. A few utilities lowered prices, but most natural gas customers will see their rates go up.…...
Consumer Alert: Natural gas prices to soar in April
Several major Illinois utilities are increasing their natural gas prices by about 40 percent to 69 percent on April 1, a lingering effect of February’s volatile winter weather that crippled the nation’s gas supply and caused massive blackouts in Texas. Last month, dangerously low temperatures and up to a foot of snow prompted Illinois Gov.…...
It’s time to rethink heat in Chicago
By Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly and David Kolata, CUB Executive Director If ever there was an absolute certainty, it’s that the controversial Peoples Gas pipeline-replacement program is setting up Chicago residents for an economic disaster, unless we act now. The company’s decades-long plan to replace gas mains throughout the city…...
October gas prices up from last month, down from 2019
The winter heating season is upon us, but while natural gas prices are up from last month, many utilities are charging less than they did last October. Still, there’s bad news from one of the state’s biggest utilities: Crain’s Chicago Business reports that winter bills for Peoples Gas, which serves…...