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…...
Casework Roundup: Enough! Gas utility pushes for record rate hike
The ink was barely dry on rate hikes granted electric and water utilities in 2024 when Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois proposed new gas increases for 2025—including one that would be the largest gas increase in Illinois history. Also, Peoples Gas has filed papers with state regulators indicating it might…...
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…...
CUB reports on April Gas prices
April gas prices are generally down, with some reminders of the expensive volatility of the market, including a 59 percent increase in one utility’s price 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…...
March gas prices reflect an unstable market’s roller coaster ride for consumers
Reflecting the roller coaster nature of the gas market, the March supply rates charged by Illinois’ major gas utilities are marked by a few shocking price swings, including a 92 percent increase for one company compared to a year ago, a CUB review found. Gas utilities file supply prices–called the…...
Up and down: February gas prices down from last year, but up from last month
Gas utilities are charging prices in the new year that are an average of 24 percent lower than last February, but month-to-month instability is still rampant. Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Compared with last month, the prices are…...
November gas prices way down from last year (with hints of market volatility)
November gas prices continue the trend of being significantly lower than last winter–by a range of 25 to 66 percent. But once again there are some examples of the roller-coaster volatility of the gas market. Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the Illinois Commerce…...
October gas prices way down from last year–hoping for no prices spikes in the near future
As Illinois enters the first month of the winter heating season, October gas prices continue the trend of being significantly lower than the last two years, with some glaring examples of the volatility that makes consumers so uneasy. Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with…...
