{"id":41413,"date":"2024-10-01T08:56:08","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T13:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/?p=41413"},"modified":"2024-10-01T09:59:18","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T14:59:18","slug":"report-on-gas-market-volatility-oct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/10\/01\/report-on-gas-market-volatility-oct\/","title":{"rendered":"CUB&#8217;s monthly report on gas market volatility: October"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-38363\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Gas-Blog-Photo-300x225.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Gas-Blog-Photo-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Gas-Blog-Photo.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Gas utilities file supply prices\u2013called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)\u2013each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Here\u2019s what CUB uncovered in our review of prices in October, the first month of the winter heating season. <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Compared with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/09\/02\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-market-volatility-september\/\"><strong>last month<\/strong><\/a>, five of 9 major utilities are charging prices that are higher, ranging from about 4 percent (Illinois Gas) to 68 percent (Mt. Carmel). MidAmerican&#8217;s price jumped about 18 percent from last month. Four other utilities saw decreases from last month ranging from about 2 percent (Liberty Utilities) to about 13 percent (Nicor Gas, the state&#8217;s largest gas utility). Of other big utilities in Illinois, Ameren saw a 6 percent decrease, while Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas saw increases of 5 percent and 10 percent, respectively.<\/li>\n<li>Compared with October 2023, six out of 9 major Illinois utilities are charging prices that are lower, ranging from a 5 percent (Consumers Gas) to about 62 percent (Liberty Utilities) decrease. Nicor Gas is charging a supply rate that\u2019s about 33 percent lower than last year. Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas are charging supply prices that are about 11 percent and about 17 percent lower, respectively. The three utilities charging higher prices saw increases of about 18 percent (Ameren), 49 percent (Illinois Gas) and about 57 percent (Mt. Carmel).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below are the PGAs for October and how they compare with a year ago:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>October Gas Prices\u00a0<\/strong><b><br \/>\n<\/b><strong>Ameren Illinois<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 49.31 cents per therm (up about 18 percent from October 2023)<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Consumers Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 38.30 cents per therm (down about 5 percent from October 2023)<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Illinois Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 46.19 cents per therm (up about 49 percent from October 2023)<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Liberty Utilities<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 18.88 cents per therm (down about 62 percent from October 2023)<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>MidAmerican Energy<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 46.01 cents per therm (down about 4 percent from October 2023)<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Mt. Carmel<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 83.31 cents per therm (up about 57 percent from October 2023)<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Nicor Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 28 cents per therm (down about 33 percent from October 2023)<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>North Shore Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 32.60 cents per therm (down about 17 percent from October 2023)<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Peoples Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 30.06 cents per therm (down about 11 percent from October 2023)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices\u2014they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators annually review the utilities\u2019 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few tips from CUB:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>See if you qualify for energy assistance.<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The application process for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) opens again in October. To apply or learn more, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dceo.illinois.gov\/communityservices\/utilitybillassistance\/howtoapply.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>visit this state of Illinois webpage.<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Also, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/09\/05\/a-step-by-step-guide-to-applying-for-liheap\/\"><strong>Step by step guide to applying for LIHEAP<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep the lines of communication open with your utility.<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you are having trouble affording your gas bills, it is vital that you contact your utility. Ask if you qualify for any energy assistance programs; see if you can set up a plan to give you a longer time to pay off your bills; and inquire about no or low-cost energy efficiency programs the company offers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Practice energy efficiency at home.<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2021\/09\/17\/your-winter-to-do-list-save-money-keep-the-chill-out\/\">Your Winter To-Do List: Save Money, Keep the Chill Out<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2023\/01\/06\/how-to-stay-safe-warm-and-energy-efficient-in-illinois-winters\/\">Tips for staying safe, warm and energy-efficient during Illinois winters<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2022\/12\/31\/winter-energy-efficiency-tips\/\">Save energy and money with these winter efficiency tips<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Beware of alternative supplier rip-offs.<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If a deal seems too good to be true, there\u2019s a good chance it is. If the utility price increases, remember that it\u2019s due to market factors that also will increase alternative supplier prices. As volatile as gas utility prices are, your best bet for gas supply is likely with your utility and not with an alternative supplier. <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/01\/16\/cub-speaks-out-beware-of-bad-deals-from-energy-suppliers\/\">Read our tips.<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><b>Note:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Only consumers in Northern Illinois have gas choice.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>More helpful resources:\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/gas\/\">CUB\u2019s Gas page\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/gassupplycharges\/\">Historical gas prices<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>CUB\u2019s gas-price reports from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/01\/04\/what-you-need-to-know-about-january-2024-gas-prices-in-illinois\/\"><strong>January<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/02\/01\/february-gas-prices-up-showing-month-to-month-instability\/\"><strong>February<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/03\/01\/march-gas-prices\/\"><strong>March<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/04\/01\/cub-reports-on-april-gas-prices\/\"><strong>April<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/05\/01\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-volatility-may-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>May<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/05\/28\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-volatility-june-2024\/\"><strong>June<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/06\/29\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-volatility-july-2024\/\"><strong>July<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/08\/01\/cub-reports-on-august-gas-prices\/\"><strong>August,<\/strong><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/09\/02\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-market-volatility-september\/\"><strong>September<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li>If you can, consider moving away from gas: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2023\/04\/28\/what-is-electrification-a-cub-explainer\/\">Read our electrification explainer<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0order<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.everyaction.com\/bjsyKuiwPE2yopD_Bv-EiQ2\"> CUB&#8217;s free Better Heat Guide<\/a> <\/strong>to learn how to make the transition to more efficient appliances, like electric heat pumps and induction stove tops.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gas utilities file supply prices\u2013called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)\u2013each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Here\u2019s what CUB uncovered in our review of prices in October, the first month of the winter heating season. Compared with last month, five of 9 major utilities are charging prices that are higher, ranging from about 4 percent (Illinois Gas) to 68 percent (Mt. Carmel). MidAmerican&#8217;s price jumped about 18 percent from last month. Four other utilities saw decreases from last month ranging from about 2 percent (Liberty Utilities) to about 13 percent (Nicor Gas, the state&#8217;s largest gas utility). Of other big utilities in Illinois, Ameren saw a 6 percent decrease, while Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas saw increases of 5 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Compared with October 2023, six out of 9 major Illinois utilities are charging prices that are lower, ranging from a 5 percent (Consumers Gas) to about 62 percent (Liberty Utilities) decrease. Nicor Gas is charging a supply rate that\u2019s about 33 percent lower than last year. Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas are charging supply prices that are about 11 percent and about 17 percent lower, respectively. The three utilities charging higher prices saw increases of about 18 percent (Ameren), 49 percent (Illinois Gas) and about 57 percent (Mt. Carmel). Below are the PGAs for October and how they compare with a year ago:\u00a0\u00a0 October Gas Prices\u00a0 Ameren Illinois\u2013 49.31 cents per therm (up about 18 percent from October 2023) Consumers Gas\u2013 38.30 cents per therm (down about 5 percent from October 2023) Illinois Gas\u2013 46.19 cents per therm (up about 49 percent from October 2023) Liberty Utilities\u2013 18.88 cents per therm (down about 62 percent from October 2023) MidAmerican Energy\u2013 46.01 cents per therm (down about 4 percent from October 2023) Mt. Carmel\u2013 83.31 cents per therm (up about 57 percent from October 2023) Nicor Gas\u2013 28 cents per therm (down about 33 percent from October 2023) North Shore Gas\u2013 32.60 cents per therm (down about 17 percent from October 2023) Peoples Gas\u2013 30.06 cents per therm (down about 11 percent from October 2023)\u00a0 Note: Your utility is determined by where you live, so you cannot switch from one utility to another.\u00a0Under Illinois law, gas utilities are not allowed to profit off supply prices\u2014they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators annually review the utilities\u2019 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 few tips from CUB:\u00a0\u00a0 See if you qualify for energy assistance. The application process for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) opens again in October. To apply or learn more, visit this state of Illinois webpage.\u00a0(Also, check out our Step by step guide to applying for LIHEAP.) Keep the lines of communication open with your utility. If you are having trouble affording your gas bills, it is vital that you contact your utility. Ask if you qualify for any energy assistance programs; see if you can set up a plan [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[448],"tags":[1740,830,844],"class_list":["post-41413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gas-bills","tag-gas-market","tag-gas-prices","tag-supply"],"cp_meta_data":{"_facebook_share_type":["default"],"_twitter_share_type":["default"],"_linkedin_share_type":["default"],"_pinterest_share_type":["default"],"_instagram_share_type":["default"],"classic-editor-remember":["classic-editor"],"_wp_page_template":["default"],"borntogive_page_header_show_hide":["2"],"borntogive_pages_title_show":["1"],"borntogive_pages_Choose_slider_display":["2"],"borntogive_pages_select_revolution_from_list":["3"],"borntogive_pages_slider_pagination":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_auto_slide":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_direction_arrows":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_effects":["fade"],"borntogive_pages_body_bg_wide":["0"],"borntogive_pages_body_bg_repeat":["repeat"],"borntogive_pages_content_bg_wide":["0"],"borntogive_pages_content_bg_repeat":["repeat"],"borntogive_pages_social_show":["1"],"borntogive_strict_no_sidebar":["0"],"borntogive_sidebar_columns_layout":["3"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_pagination":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_auto_slide":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_direction_arrows":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_effects":["fade"],"_wpb_vc_js_status":["false"],"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":[""],"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":["off"],"_wpsp_is_facebook_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_twitter_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_linkedin_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_pinterest_share":["off"],"_selected_social_profile":["a:0:{}"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["448"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["60"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["4"],"_wpb_post_custom_layout":["default"],"_wp_old_date":["2024-09-01"],"_dp_original":["41193"],"_edit_lock":["1727794626:5"],"_edit_last":["5"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41413"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41439,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41413\/revisions\/41439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}