What happened? The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) announced in July that Peoples Gas has agreed to give about $7.2 million back to its customers. Why is Peoples Gas giving money back to consumers? It’s connected to a review of 2015 costs of the utility’s troubled pipeline-replacement program, called the System…...
Live in Chicago? Last winter you paid 67% more to heat your home than your friends in the burbs
There’s more evidence of an impending heating-affordability crisis for Chicago residents: This week, Crain’s Chicago Business reported that for the second consecutive year, city residents paid hundreds of dollars more for gas than suburbanites–about $324 more. In the winter of 2017-2018, Peoples Gas customers paid about 80 percent more on…...
CUB’s Bryan McDaniel speaks at news conference before Peoples Gas hearing
Just before a City Council committee passed a resolution asking the Illinois General Assembly to rein in reckless spending by Peoples Gas, CUB’s Bryan McDaniel stood with consumer advocates to talk about problems with the utility’s pipeline-replacement program. Peoples Gas is legally obligated to replace hazardous pipes, and the company…...
Breaking: City Council hearing on Peoples Gas
CUB wants to alert you to an important event for Peoples Gas customers on Wednesday. We hope you can be there! Ald. George Cardenas’ Health & Environmental Protection Committee is holding a hearing on a growing problem in Chicago: soaring Peoples Gas bills due to the utility’s mismanaged pipeline replacement…...
Today in Springfield
Here’s why we need your help fighting Peoples Gas: Check out the latest numbers on your gas utility’s spending spree. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that capital spending at Peoples (and its smaller sister company) is “set to explode” to $3 billion over the next five years. In one year, Peoples Gas…...
Working hard for consumers in Springfield
Legislative update by Bryan McDaniel, CUB Director of Governmental Affairs A cold, snowy winter isn’t going to stop CUB from advocating on your behalf at the state Capitol. During the summer months I attend CUB outreach events in order to experience firsthand the best part of working at CUB, helping…...
Peoples Gas sets lowest rate in almost 3 years (plus, see your March gas prices)
Amid a pipeline-replacement program that could lead to a Chicago heating-affordability crisis, Peoples Gas customers have a little relief: Its March rate dropped to its lowest in three years, at 26.53 cents per therm. That’s the lowest price Peoples Gas customers have seen since June of 2016, when the price…...
A Chicago heating-affordability crisis?
Mismanaged pipeline program Last winter, Peoples customers paid about 80 percent more for service than Nicor Gas customers—and a big reason is the pipe program, which aims to replace 2,000 miles of aging gas mains. A state-ordered 2015 audit uncovered rampant mismanagement. Since then, the projected price tag for the program has quadrupled to up to $11…...
It could be an expensive winter
Midwestern homes that heat with natural gas on average could see a 14.5 percent increase in bills this winter, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). But gas customers in Central and Southern Illinois are seeing their costs go down. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) says consumers will see higher heating bills due…...
