Energy Archives | Citizens Utility Board

Hourly Pricing program sets record for savings in 2023

Jim Chilsen — Sat, 04 May 2024 21:13:51 +0000

A voluntary ComEd program that charges participants an electricity rate that can change hourly set a record for savings in 2023, according to a report filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The Hourly Pricing program saved participants a total of $12.4 million in 2023, which was more than the previous five years combined (2018-2022). “Participants set records across all measurable savings metrics in 2023,” the report said. “The high rate of savings underscores the value proposition of Hourly Pricing and can largely be attributed to stability in the energy market.” Other statistics: 99.3 percent of nearly 40,000 participants saved. Participants averaged savings of $313 (44 percent). Overall, the program has saved consumers $41.4 million. The program, which was launched in 2007 after the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation requiring utilities to offer it, gives ComEd customers the option of choosing a different way to pay for electricity. It charges participants a supply rate that can change on an hourly basis, instead of the standard price that stays the same 24/7. The program also helps reduce demand for expensive and pollution-causing power plants, and it can help prevent power outages by reducing stress on the electricity system during “peak” times, when power usage and prices are at their highest. “This is great news about the Hourly Pricing program,” said CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz, who herself has saved hundreds of dollars over her time on the Hourly Pricing program. “It’s further proof that programs good for the planet are also good for our utility bills.” Moskowitz encouraged people to read CUB’s fact sheet on Hourly Pricing and see if they are a good fit for the program. Illinois has been a trailblazer–it was first in the country to launch a statewide residential hourly pricing program. Ameren Illinois offers a similar program, called Power Smart Pricing, but this report deals with ComEd’s Hourly Pricing program only. The charts below display the 2023 results for Hourly Pricing:

The post Hourly Pricing program sets record for savings in 2023 appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition unveils 2024 legislative platform

Jim Chilsen — Sat, 04 May 2024 20:37:23 +0000

The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC), of which CUB is a member, has introduced its 2024 platform—a slate of legislation outlining critical solutions in the power, buildings, and transportation sectors that accelerate Illinois’ climate, equity, and energy goals. (Read the ICJC’s full release and watch the Springfield news conference.) In the ICJC Platform, the Clean and Reliable Grid Act (SB3637), Clean and Healthy Buildings Act, and Clean and Equitable Transportation Act work together to tackle issues that impact Illinoisans in every facet of daily life. The Clean and Reliable Grid Act expedites our path to 100 percent clean renewable energy and strengthens the capacity and reliability of our electric grid. “Illinois is already a leader on climate justice and workforce transition, but we still have work to do to secure a resilient, affordable power grid operating on 100 percent clean energy. We know that power grids in Illinois and across the country are outdated, inefficient, and increasingly vulnerable in extreme weather events, which are all the more common due to the effects of climate change,” said Representative Ann Williams, Chairwoman of the Energy and Environment Committee. “With the implementation of the Clean and Reliable Grid Act, we will reduce barriers to building necessary transmission lines, maximize energy efficiency policies, and offer customers options to save money on electricity. These sensible policies will support Illinois’ carbon reduction goals in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and enable us to rapidly modernize and electrify the buildings and transportation sectors. The Clean and Reliable Grid Act will ensure our electric grid is strong, reliable, and affordable so that we can tackle these new horizons in our clean energy economy.” By improving Illinois’ electric grid and speeding up the approval and connection of clean energy projects, Illinois will be ready to capitalize on the benefits of transitioning the heating systems and appliances that power homes and buildings to clean energy. The Clean and Healthy Buildings Act will require gas utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, require the Illinois Commerce Commission to embed affordability into ratemaking and decision-making, and help people lower their gas bills through gas energy efficiency standards. “Just last year, following record-setting profits, all major Illinois gas utility companies sought historic rate hikes that resulted in a $813 million increase in utility customers’ annual bills. These rate hikes are particularly egregious when you consider dirty gas’s impact on our health and climate,” said State Sen. Celina Villanueva. “Not only are fossil fuels expensive, but burning them in our homes produces benzene, a known cancer-causing chemical, and has been linked to childhood asthma, which is more prevalent in communities of color. Decarbonizing our heavily polluting buildings sector is the next urgent opportunity in climate action, and Illinois can once again lead the nation in equitable climate policy by passing the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act.” While buildings contribute significantly to Illinois’ climate pollution, transportation is the state’s largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions source. The Clean and Equitable Transportation Act addresses vehicle pollution, going beyond electrifying vehicles to include comprehensive solutions. “Sustainable transportation must be made a priority — it supports livable, walkable communities; enables equitable and […]

The post Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition unveils 2024 legislative platform appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Check out July gas prices–more head-scratching at CUB

Jim Chilsen — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:29:36 +0000

Illinois utilities have filed their July gas prices with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and they’re fairly consistent with what we saw in June. One big exception: Consumers Gas has its prices rising 185 percent in just one month. As we reported in June, the volatility of the gas market often leaves us scratching our heads–and this month raises its own questions: Why did Consumers Gas spike, from a statewide low of 13.3 cents per therm in June to 37.91 cents per therm in July? Why did Mt. Carmel’s price increase by 65 percent, from 13.56 cents per therm to 22.37 cents per therm? Why is Liberty Utilities still charging more than 90 cents per therm–about 45 cents to 73 cents higher than any other utility? Other major utilities reported a relatively modest increase or decrease from last month. And we’re happy to see that the supply rates for all utilities are significantly lower than they were during the price spike a year ago. But the consumer advocates at CUB wonder: When will the next spike hit? Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the ICC. Below are the preliminary supply prices for July 2023 and how they compare with last July’s prices. July Gas Prices Ameren Illinois–41 cents per therm (down about 52 percent from July 2022) Consumers Gas–37.91 cents per therm (down about 68 percent from July 2022) Illinois Gas–19.23 cents per therm (down about 80 percent from July 2022) Liberty Utilities–92.14 cents per therm (down about 25 percent from July 2022) MidAmerican Energy–47.51 cents per therm (down about 49 percent from July 2022) Mt. Carmel–22.37 cents per therm (down about 73 percent from July 2022) Nicor Gas–39 cents per therm (down about 69 percent from July 2022) North Shore Gas–29.68 cents per therm (down about 71 percent from July 2022) Peoples Gas–24.81 cents per therm (down about 80 percent from July 2022) Note: Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another. Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices—they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators annually review the utilities’ gas-management procedures to ensure the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. For more information, tips and advice, visit CUB’s Help Center.

The post Check out July gas prices–more head-scratching at CUB appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

February continues trend of lower gas prices–but they’re still higher than 2021

Elizabeth — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 16:09:44 +0000

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 percent to 16 percent. (16 percent is still high, so we hope this number continues to fall.) Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Gas prices are down anywhere from 3 percent to 25 percent from the prices in January. The largest gas utility in the state, Nicor Gas, is charging a price that is 15 percent lower than in January and 31 percent lower than in December. Ameren Illinois’ price was down about 7 percent from last month. But the prices are still higher than February of 2021, by a range of 17 percent to 160 percent. Below are the supply prices for February 2023, and how they compare with the prices from last year. February Gas Prices Ameren Illinois–61.377 cents per therm (down about 12 percent from February 2022)Consumers Gas–57.419 cents per therm (up about 17 percent from February 2022)Illinois Gas–44.40 cents per therm (down about 32 percent from February 2022)Liberty Utilities–63.05 cents per therm (down about 37 percent from February 2022)MidAmerican Energy–73.12 cents per therm (down about 28 percent from February 2022)Mt. Carmel–73.44 cents per therm (up about 69 percent from February 2022)Nicor Gas–59.00 cents per therm (up about 7 percent from February 2022)North Shore Gas–45.01 cents per therm (down about 24 percent from February 2022)Peoples Gas–42.27 cents per therm (down about 29 percent from February 2022) Note: Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another. Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices—they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators annually review the utilities’ gas-management procedures to ensure the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. A review of important info about gas prices Gas supply price spikes are a recurring theme in the fossil fuel industry–there was a jump in prices in the winter of 2008-09, and in 2014. The latest spike was first caused by extreme weather in February of 2021. Record cold in the southern United States for a time froze gas in wellheads and pipelines, limiting supply just as demand went up. Since then, the high prices have been propped up by other developments, including Hurricane Ida in the summer of 2021 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, which have combined to cause ongoing pain for Illinois consumers. The elevated gas prices have also caused electricity prices to skyrocket–because gas is often used to generate electricity. (Read our Q&A on high natural gas bills.) But the gas utilities hide behind supply and demand excuses. There’s more to this story in Illinois: Aggressive spending and big rate hikes by Peoples Gas, Nicor Gas and […]

The post February continues trend of lower gas prices–but they’re still higher than 2021 appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

January gas prices still way up–will we see some relief in 2023?

Jim Chilsen — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:26:33 +0000

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 market is volatile,” said Jim Chilsen, CUB director of communications. “For now, your best weapon against these high prices is energy efficiency. It’s our second consecutive winter of painfully high prices, and it’s just another indicator that we urgently need to transition away from natural gas as an energy source.” Last winter was the most expensive cold season since 2008-09 for the 80 percent of Illinois households that heat with natural gas– many homes paid hundreds of dollars more for gas. The Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Energy Department, predicts Midwest natural gas customers could pay on average about 29 percent more this winter. Gas utilities file new supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). There is some hopeful news: The largest gas utility in the state, Nicor Gas, continued a downward trend, with a price that is 19 percent lower than in December and 40 percent lower than in November. Ameren Illinois’ price was down about 10 percent from last month, and three other utilities are also charging lower prices than a month ago. But Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, MidAmerican and Consumers Gas all saw increases from December by a range of about 3 percent to 44 percent. Plus, unfortunately, seven out of nine major utilities are charging higher prices than last January, and all are charging prices that are higher by a whopping range of about 68 percent to 205 percent from just two years ago. Below are the supply prices for January 2023, and how they compare with the prices from last year. January Gas Prices Ameren Illinois–66.171 cents per therm (down about 6 percent from January 2022)Consumers Gas–71.3405 cents per therm (up about 52 percent from January 2022)Illinois Gas–59.44 cents per therm (up about 33 percent from January 2022)Liberty Utilities–70.36 cents per therm (up about 19 percent from January 2022)MidAmerican Energy–75.03 cents per therm (down about 23 percent from January 2022)Mt. Carmel–89.13 cents per therm (up about 45 percent from January 2022)Nicor Gas–69.00 cents per therm (up about 13 percent from January 2022)North Shore Gas–66.01 cents per therm (down about 18 percent from January 2022)Peoples Gas–57 cents per therm (up about 3 percent from January 2022) Note: Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another. Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices—they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators (and CUB) annually review the utilities’ gas-management procedures to ensure the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. A Review of Important Info about Gas Prices Gas supply price spikes are a recurring theme in the fossil fuel industry–there was a jump in prices in the […]

The post January gas prices still way up–will we see some relief in 2023? appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Solar group buy program helps 76 properties go solar ($71,000 in potential first-year savings)

Jim Chilsen — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 03:36:50 +0000

A special program that CUB works on ended 2022 with 76 properties contracted to install solar panels in the coming months–a potential total savings of more than $71,000 for participants in the first year alone. After a year of elevated global energy costs, these Chicago-area residents are moving toward renewable energy and securing affordable electricity for years to come. Grow Solar Chicagoland, an initiative of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and CUB, helps make navigating the solar market easier and more affordable. The program uses the power of bulk purchasing to secure a lower base price for solar panels, and includes a rebate that gets larger as more participants are added. This means that by sharing the program with family and friends, participants can turn grassroots interest into savings on their new solar arrays. This year the program surpassed two benchmarks, providing a discount of over $600 in addition to federal and state rebates.The program is expected to save all participants $71,297 in the first year alone, or an average of $950 per household (depending on usage and system size). Returning to Chicagoland after a hiatus in 2021, this year’s program kicked off in May and provided free, one-hour long educational sessions for members of the public. The program hosted 48 in-person and virtual presentations called “Solar Power Hours” and educated over 1,150 community members about solar energy. “We’re trying to simplify the process of going solar,” said Marta Monti, MREA Solar Program Director. “It can seem complicated, so we present clear information and answer folks’ questions at our Solar Power Hours, and then they can determine for themselves whether solar is right for them.” Program participant Abigail Austin and her husband began thinking about solar energy after a friend installed panels, so they attended a Grow Solar info session. “When we learned more about solar and about the incentives, including the solar group buy program, [we decided] adding solar panels to our home was affordable and money well spent,” Austin said. “Sitting through the initial webinar with Grow Solar Chicagoland was great because it was a no-pressure, easy-to-understand look at adding solar panels to our home.” Rising energy prices and the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August may have increased interest in solar energy and the group buy program. The IRA extended the existing solar federal tax credit for 10 more years and raised the credit amount to 30% of the array’s cost. “In an uncertain world, solar power provides a level of stability, since you’re essentially buying decades of your energy up-front,” said Jeff Schneider, program coordinator for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. “Unlike utilities, solar panels will never raise their rates. So by purchasing solar now, community members can protect themselves from future price hikes, which feels especially satisfying amid global inflation.” Since 2019, Grow Solar Chicagoland has helped 282 properties go solar and has taught more than 2,000 Solar Power Hour attendees about the science and benefits of solar. In addition to the money saved on energy bills, the solar arrays installed through the program offset a significant amount of CO2 pollution […]

The post Solar group buy program helps 76 properties go solar ($71,000 in potential first-year savings) appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

December natural gas prices fall for many utilities–although they’re still painfully high

Elizabeth — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 20:21:15 +0000

For the second straight month, natural gas prices have dropped for all or most of Illinois’ utilities. But most gas customers are still paying about double or worse than they did just two years ago for the volatile fossil fuel. “Nobody has a crystal ball, but we’re thankful for this small drop in prices,” CUB Communications Director Jim Chilsen said. “Still, despite these recent declines, the natural gas market is volatile, and it’s likely to be an expensive winter. Consumers should concentrate on making their homes as energy efficient as possible.” “And as consumer advocates, we need to keep working for reforms, including beginning the process to move away from an expensive fuel like natural gas.” About 80 percent of Illinois homes heat with natural gas, and last winter was their most expensive since the cold season of 2008-09, with many customers paying hundreds of dollars more to heat their homes. This winter could be worse. The Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Energy Department, predicts Midwest consumers who heat their homes with natural gas will pay on average about 30 percent more this winter. Gas utilities file new supply prices– called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)– each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Below are the supply prices for December, and how they compare with the prices from last year. December Gas Prices Ameren Illinois 73.14 cents per therm (up about 5 percent from December 2021) Consumers Gas 67.81 cents per therm (down about 0.5 percent from last December) Illinois Gas 70.14 cents per therm (up about 43 percent from last December) Liberty Utilities 76.57 cents per therm (up about 27 percent from last December) MidAmerican Energy 61.77 cents per therm (down about 26 percent from last December) Mt. Carmel 89.94 cents per therm (up about 13 percent from last December) Nicor Gas 85.00 cents per therm (up about 25 percent from last December) North Shore Gas 45.80 cents per therm (down about 25 percent from last December) Peoples Gas 55.27 cents per therm (down about 19 percent from last December) Note: Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another. From October to November, all major utility customers saw a drop in the price they pay for natural gas. In December, seven out of the 9 major utilities saw decreases from the previous month. That included North Shore Gas (37 percent), Nicor (25 percent), Peoples Gas (22 percent) and Ameren (9 percent). Only Consumers Gas (8 percent) and Liberty (0.9 percent) saw increases in their prices from November. The average price charged by all 9 major Illinois utilities has gone from about $1 a therm in October to about 69.5 cents a therm this month–still more than double the average price from December 2020. But the natural gas market is a roller coaster ride. Peoples Gas said its 55.27 cents per therm supply rate isn’t likely to last. “Based on current information, we expect gas charges for January and February to be similar to what we saw in November, in the 70s in cents per therm,” a Peoples Gas spokesman told Crain’s Chicago […]

The post December natural gas prices fall for many utilities–although they’re still painfully high appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Natural gas prices ease in November, but they’re still REALLY high

Elizabeth — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 11:38:29 +0000

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 the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). About 80 percent of Illinois homes heat with natural gas, and last winter was their most expensive since the cold season of 2008-09, with many customers paying hundreds of dollars more to heat their homes. And this winter could be worse. The Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Energy Department, predicts Midwest consumers who heat their homes with natural gas will pay about 30 percent more this winter, and we’ve seen some predictions as high as 59 percent. Gas utilities file new supply prices– called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)– each month with the ICC. Below are the supply prices for November, and how they compare with the prices from last year. November Gas Prices Ameren Illinois 80.75 cents per therm (up about 19 percent from November 2021) Consumers Gas 62.72 cents per therm (up about 15 percent from last November) Illinois Gas 74.66 cents per therm (up about 57 percent from last November) Liberty Utilities 75.88 cents per therm (up about 19 percent from last November) MidAmerican Energy 73.08 cents per therm (down about 19 percent from last November) Mt. Carmel $1.27 per therm (up about 35 percent from last November) Nicor Gas $1.14 per therm (up about 68 percent from last November) North Shore Gas 72.48 cents per therm (up about 6 percent from last November) Peoples Gas 71.16 cents per therm (down about 4 percent from last November) Note: Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another. Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices—they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators (and CUB) annually review the utilities’ gas-management procedures to ensure the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. Gas supply price spikes are a recurring theme in the fossil fuel industry–there was a jump in prices in the winter of 2008-09, and for a period in 2014. The latest spike was first caused by extreme weather in February of 2021. Record cold in the southern United States for a time froze gas in wellheads and pipelines, limiting supply just as demand went up. Since then, the high prices have been propped up by other developments, including Hurricane Ida in the summer of 2021 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine this year, that have combined to cause ongoing pain for Illinois consumers. The elevated gas prices have also caused electricity prices to skyrocket–because gas is often used to generate electricity. But the gas utilities hide behind supply and demand excuses. There’s more to this story in Illinois: Aggressive spending and/or rampant rate hikes by Peoples Gas, Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois also have contributed to skyrocketing gas bills. While […]

The post Natural gas prices ease in November, but they’re still REALLY high appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Winter heating season is here, and so are painfully high October gas prices

Elizabeth — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 12:51:31 +0000

We’re officially at the start of the heating season and Illinois faces a painful winter. One report estimates a 17 percent jump in heating costs this winter, and another says 1 in 6 Americans are already struggling to keep up with their utility bills. “All indications are that gas bills will, for the second consecutive winter, be elevated,” CUB told one reporter. “It looks like this will be another painful winter for Illinois consumers.” About 80 percent of Illinois homes heat with natural gas, and last winter was their most expensive since the cold season of 2008-09, with many customers paying hundreds of dollars more to heat their homes. This winter could be worse. This month’s supply prices are anywhere from 98 percent to 433 percent higher than they were just two years ago. Gas utilities file new supply prices– called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)– each month. Below are the supply prices for October, and how they compare with the prices from last year. October Gas Prices Ameren Illinois 89.08 cents per therm (up about 33 percent from October 2021) Consumers Gas 98.88 cents per therm (up about 23 percent from last October) Illinois Gas 90.84 cents per therm (up about 120 percent from last October) Liberty Utilities $1.05 per therm (up about 89 percent from last October) MidAmerican Energy 95.68 cents per therm (down about 0.6 percent from last October) Mt. Carmel $1.30 per therm (up about 29 percent from last October) Nicor Gas $1.24 per therm (up about 97 percent from last October) North Shore Gas 86.18 cents per therm (up about 28 percent from last October) Peoples Gas $1.07 per therm (up about 48 percent from last October) Note: Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another. Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices—they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators (and CUB) annually review the utilities’ gas-management procedures to ensure the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. Gas supply price spikes are a recurring theme in the fossil fuel industry–there was a jump in prices in the winter of 2008-09, and for a period in 2014. The latest spike was first caused by extreme weather in February of 2021. Record cold in the South froze gas in the wellhead and pipelines, limiting supply just as demand went up. Since then, the high prices have been propped up by other developments, including Hurricane Ida in the summer of 2021 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine this year, that have combined to cause ongoing pain for Illinois consumers. Now, the elevated gas prices are causing electricity prices to skyrocket also–because gas is often used to generate electricity. But the gas utilities hide behind supply and demand excuses. There’s more to this story in Illinois: Aggressive spending and/or rampant rate hikes by Peoples Gas, Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois also have contributed to skyrocketing gas bills. While utilities cannot profit off gas supply, they have increased and profited off […]

The post Winter heating season is here, and so are painfully high October gas prices appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

September gas prices are out, prepare for winter heating season now

Elizabeth — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 18:20:20 +0000

We’re officially one month from winter heating season. Based on future prices, we’re looking at a painful winter, especially as 1 in 6 Americans are struggling to keep up with their utility bills. About 80 percent of Illinois homes heat with natural gas, and the past winter was their most expensive winter since the cold season of 2008-09, with many customers paying hundreds of dollars more to heat their homes. This month’s supply prices are up anywhere from 147 percent to 377 percent higher than they were in September 2020. Gas utilities file new supply prices– called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)– each month. Below are the prices for September. September Gas Prices Ameren Illinois 86.23 cents per therm (up about 30 percent from September 2021) Consumers Gas $1.06 per therm (up about 46 percent from last September) Illinois Gas 87.36 cents per therm (up about 118 percent from last September) Liberty Utilities $1.15 per therm (up about 149 percent from last September) MidAmerican Energy $1.08 per therm (up about 31 percent from last September) Mt. Carmel 88.77 cents per therm (up about 49 percent from last September) Nicor Gas $1.24 per therm (up about 134 percent from last September) North Shore Gas 92.65 cents per therm (up about 60 percent from last September) Peoples Gas $1.05 per therm (up about 58 percent from last September) Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another. Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices—they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators (and CUB) annually review the utilities’ gas-management procedures to ensure the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. Gas supply price spikes are a recurring theme in the fossil fuel industry, and this one was first sparked by extreme weather in February of 2021 and then propped up by other developments, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that have combined to cause ongoing pain for Illinois consumers. (Now, the elevated gas prices are causing electricity prices to skyrocket also–because gas is often used to generate electricity.) But the gas utilities hide behind supply and demand excuses. There’s more to this story in Illinois: Aggressive spending and rampant rate hikes by Peoples Gas, Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois also have contributed to skyrocketing gas bills. While utilities cannot profit off gas supply, they have increased and profited off another part of the bill: Delivery, what they charge to deliver gas to homes. CUB is working to eliminate the “Qualified Infrastructure Plant” surcharge from Ameren, Nicor and Peoples Gas bills (Take Action!) The charge, which was created by a law the General Assembly passed in 2013, allows gas utilities to sidestep the traditional regulatory process and rake in revenue more quickly, leading to rapidly rising heating bills. NOTE: Please visit CUBHelpCenter.com for information on high energy prices, efficiency tips, consumer rights against disconnection, and information about financial assistance programs. If you are having difficulty affording your energy bills, watch CUB’s video on three actions you can […]

The post September gas prices are out, prepare for winter heating season now appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.