{"id":43212,"date":"2025-06-27T09:55:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T14:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/?p=43212"},"modified":"2025-07-01T11:12:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T16:12:16","slug":"cubs-july-report-on-gas-market-volatility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/06\/27\/cubs-july-report-on-gas-market-volatility\/","title":{"rendered":"CUB\u2019s report on gas-market volatility: July"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Gas-Blog-Photo.png\"><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\" \/><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gas prices for eight of Illinois&#8217; 9 major utilities remained elevated compared with a year ago, led by Nicor Gas, with a supply price that is about 50 percent higher; Liberty Utilities, with a price about 45 percent higher; and Peoples Gas, with a price about 38 percent higher. Only Ameren Illinois\u2019 gas price is lower, by 5.6 percent, compared with last July, according to CUB\u2019s review of gas prices set to take effect on July 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/outlooks\/steo\/report\/natgas.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Energy Information Administration\u2019s Short-term Energy Outlook<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has forecasted that prices could be elevated into 2026. Colder-than-normal winter weather in the early part of the year as well as<\/span> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/rrapier\/2025\/03\/02\/why-natural-gas-prices-are-surging-weather-supply-and-global-demand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">record gas exports <\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(meaning profit-hungry companies sending gas outside the U.S.) have helped increase demand.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The impact of elevated prices is less now, in the summer, but consumers could be in for a more expensive winter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 July.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared with <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/06\/02\/elevated-prices-cubs-june-report-on-gas-market-volatility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">last month<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, five utilities charged lower rates: Ameren Illinois (about 1 percent lower),\u00a0 MidAmerican (4.2 percent), Liberty Utilities (9.06 percent), Peoples Gas (10.9 percent) and North Shore Gas (19.8 percent) . Three charged prices that were higher: Illinois Gas (about 1.5 percent higher), Consumers Gas (about 23.8 percent) and Mt. Carmel (about 26.1 percent). Nicor saw no change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared with July 2024, this month\u2019s prices were higher for eight utilities, ranging from about 7.6 percent higher for Consumers Gas to about 50 percent higher for Nicor Gas. Only Ameren Gas was less than last July, by 5.6 percent.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>July Gas Prices<\/strong> \u00a0<b><br \/>\n<\/b><strong>Ameren Illinois<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 45.15 cents per therm (DOWN about 5.6 percent from July 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Consumers Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 69.21 cents per therm (UP about 7.6 percent from July 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Illinois Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 56.77 cents per therm (UP about 18.2 percent from July 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Liberty Utilities<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 51.28 cents per therm (UP about 45.2 percent from July 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>MidAmerican Energy<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 58.90 cents per therm (UP about 28.2 percent from July 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Mt. Carmel<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 39.35 cents per therm (UP about 10.3 percent from July 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Nicor Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 54.00 cents per therm (UP about 50 percent from July 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>North Shore Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 42.49 cents per therm (UP about 16.8 percent from July 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Peoples Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013<\/strong> 49.51 cents per therm (UP about 38 percent from July 2024)<\/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. 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 evaluate whether the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. Regulators can order refunds, although that is rare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few tips from CUB:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><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 that gives you more time to pay off your bills; and inquire about no or low-cost energy efficiency programs the company offers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Practice energy efficiency. <\/strong>For tips and information about helpful energy efficiency programs offered by your utility, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/clean-energy\/\"><strong>CUB\u2019s Clean Energy page.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><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 supply 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><strong>Note:<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Only consumers in Northern Illinois have gas choice.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More helpful resources:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/gas\/\">CUB\u2019s Gas page<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/gassupplycharges\/\">Historical gas prices<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CUB\u2019s gas-price reports from 2024: <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/01\/04\/what-you-need-to-know-about-january-2024-gas-prices-in-illinois\/\">January<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/02\/01\/february-gas-prices-up-showing-month-to-month-instability\/\">February<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/03\/01\/march-gas-prices\/\">March<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/04\/01\/cub-reports-on-april-gas-prices\/\">April<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/05\/01\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-volatility-may-2024\/\">May<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/05\/28\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-volatility-june-2024\/\">June<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/06\/29\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-volatility-july-2024\/\">July<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/08\/01\/cub-reports-on-august-gas-prices\/\">August,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/09\/02\/cubs-monthly-report-on-gas-market-volatility-september\/\">September<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/10\/01\/report-on-gas-market-volatility-oct\/\">October<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/11\/01\/november-gas-supply-prices\/\">November<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/12\/02\/december-2024-gas-prices\/\">December<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. And 2025: <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/01\/03\/january-2025-gas-prices\/\">January<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/02\/01\/february-2025-gas-prices\/\">February<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/03\/03\/march-2025-gas-prices\/\">March<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/04\/01\/april-2025-gas-prices\/\">April<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/05\/01\/cub-reports-on-may-gas-prices\/\">May <\/a><\/strong>and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/06\/02\/elevated-prices-cubs-june-report-on-gas-market-volatility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">June.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can, consider moving away from gas: <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/electrification\/\">Visit our electrification page<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and order <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.everyaction.com\/bjsyKuiwPE2yopD_Bv-EiQ2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CUB\u2019s free Better Heat Guide<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn how to make the transition to more efficient appliances, like electric heat pumps and induction stove tops.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gas prices for eight of Illinois&#8217; 9 major utilities remained elevated compared with a year ago, led by Nicor Gas, with a supply price that is about 50 percent higher; Liberty Utilities, with a price about 45 percent higher; and Peoples Gas, with a price about 38 percent higher. Only Ameren Illinois\u2019 gas price is lower, by 5.6 percent, compared with last July, according to CUB\u2019s review of gas prices set to take effect on July 1.\u00a0 The Energy Information Administration\u2019s Short-term Energy Outlook has forecasted that prices could be elevated into 2026. Colder-than-normal winter weather in the early part of the year as well as record gas exports (meaning profit-hungry companies sending gas outside the U.S.) have helped increase demand.\u00a0\u00a0The impact of elevated prices is less now, in the summer, but consumers could be in for a more expensive winter. 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 July. Compared with last month, five utilities charged lower rates: Ameren Illinois (about 1 percent lower),\u00a0 MidAmerican (4.2 percent), Liberty Utilities (9.06 percent), Peoples Gas (10.9 percent) and North Shore Gas (19.8 percent) . Three charged prices that were higher: Illinois Gas (about 1.5 percent higher), Consumers Gas (about 23.8 percent) and Mt. Carmel (about 26.1 percent). Nicor saw no change.\u00a0\u00a0 Compared with July 2024, this month\u2019s prices were higher for eight utilities, ranging from about 7.6 percent higher for Consumers Gas to about 50 percent higher for Nicor Gas. Only Ameren Gas was less than last July, by 5.6 percent. July Gas Prices \u00a0 Ameren Illinois\u2013 45.15 cents per therm (DOWN about 5.6 percent from July 2024) Consumers Gas\u2013 69.21 cents per therm (UP about 7.6 percent from July 2024) Illinois Gas\u2013 56.77 cents per therm (UP about 18.2 percent from July 2024) Liberty Utilities\u2013 51.28 cents per therm (UP about 45.2 percent from July 2024) MidAmerican Energy\u2013 58.90 cents per therm (UP about 28.2 percent from July 2024) Mt. Carmel\u2013 39.35 cents per therm (UP about 10.3 percent from July 2024) Nicor Gas\u2013 54.00 cents per therm (UP about 50 percent from July 2024) North Shore Gas\u2013 42.49 cents per therm (UP about 16.8 percent from July 2024) Peoples Gas\u2013 49.51 cents per therm (UP about 38 percent from July 2024) 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\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 evaluate whether the companies did a reasonable job with their gas purchases, given market conditions, to hold down costs for consumers as much as possible. Regulators can order refunds, although that is rare.\u00a0 A few tips from CUB:\u00a0\u00a0 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 [&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":"default","_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":[1052,1096],"tags":[1032,1541,1540,1542,1428,1543,488,137,138],"class_list":["post-43212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gas-utilities","category-pgas","tag-ameren-illinois","tag-consumers-gas","tag-illinois-gas","tag-liberty-utilities","tag-midamerican-energy","tag-mt-carmel","tag-nicor-gas","tag-north-shore-gas","tag-peoples-gas"],"cp_meta_data":{"_facebook_share_type":["default"],"_twitter_share_type":["default"],"_linkedin_share_type":["default"],"_pinterest_share_type":["default"],"_instagram_share_type":["default"],"_medium_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":["1052"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["30"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["4"],"_wpb_post_custom_layout":["default"],"_dp_original":["43039"],"_edit_lock":["1751386205:25"],"_edit_last":["25"],"_wp_old_slug":["elevated-prices-cubs-june-report-on-gas-market-volatility","elevated-prices-cubs-june-report-on-gas-market-volatility-2","elevated-prices-cubs-july-report-on-gas-market-volatility"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43212","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=43212"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43246,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43212\/revisions\/43246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}