CUB issued the following statement Wednesday in response to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC)’s ruling on Ameren Illinois’ gas rate-hike request:
Any heating bill increase is too much for Ameren’s more than 800,000 gas customers, who have already been hit by four rate hikes in the last seven years – a period when profits for the utility’s gas operations have ballooned by a whopping 112 percent. At a time when Ameren is experiencing such unbridled prosperity, it shouldn’t be forcing its customers into more economic hardship.
Against this backdrop, we’re thankful that state regulators responded by derailing Ameren’s bid to raid consumers for costs that were blatantly inflated and unwarranted. In shrinking Ameren’s requested $129 million increase by more than 40 percent, the ICC’s ruling today exceeds the reduction recommended by two administrative law judges last month by an ample margin and reaffirms the Commission’s commitment to holding utilities accountable for justifying every expense they attempt to charge consumers.
With winter heating season in full force, and prices for groceries and health care putting a squeeze on household budgets, conditions for consumers are extremely fragile. We urge state regulators to continue to crack down on profit-mongering by Illinois’ gas utilities so no one is forced to choose between paying for fuel to heat or food to eat.
Background:
- On Nov. 19, 2025, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) issued a final order in Ameren Illinois’ proposal (Docket #25-0084) for a $128.8 million rate hike. The order reduced Ameren’s rate hike by 43 percent, or $55.8 million, making the final increase about $73 million.
- Among the proposals in Nicor’s rate-hike request, CUB challenged the utility’s attempt to capture an outrageous 10.7 percent Return on Equity (ROE), or profit rate for shareholders. The ICC’s final order reduced the ROE to 9.6 percent.
- This is Ameren’s fourth rate hike since 2018. In that time, the gas utility has raised delivery rates by $202 million, or 50 percent. Plus, the utility’s parent company, Ameren, has increased profits by 45 percent for a total of $6.9 billion, and Ameren Illinois’ gas segment has seen its profits more than double. Today’s increase adds to the total rate hikes since 2018.
- This increase, which will take effect before the end of the year, impacts delivery rates. Delivery rates, which take up about a third to a half of gas bills, are what the utilities charge customers to cover the costs of delivering gas to homes—plus a profit. The original rate hike was expected to hit customers with an average bill increase of roughly $8-$10 per month. The ICC order means bills will still go up, but not as much as Ameren wanted.
- Customers having trouble paying their bills should contact their utility to find out about assistance available. They also can call the Help Illinois Families call center, at 1-833-711-0374, to learn more about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
- Ameren Illinois delivers gas to more than 800,000 customers in Illinois. The electric and gas utility covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles in Illinois.
