{"id":43809,"date":"2025-10-01T16:31:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T21:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/?p=43809"},"modified":"2025-10-06T18:06:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T23:06:32","slug":"cubs-report-on-gas-market-volatility-october","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/10\/01\/cubs-report-on-gas-market-volatility-october\/","title":{"rendered":"CUB\u2019s report on gas market volatility: October"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gas prices for six of Illinois&#8217; 9 major utilities are elevated, compared with a year ago, led by Liberty Utilities, which is charging a supply price that is about 153 percent higher; Nicor Gas, with a price about 39 percent higher, and MidAmerican Energy, which is charging a price that is about 32 percent higher; according to CUB\u2019s review of October gas prices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gas prices have been on the rise, with colder-than-normal weather last winter and <\/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 United States) increasing demand and tightening supply earlier this year. The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/outlooks\/steo\/report\/natgas.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Energy Information Administration<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the statistical arm of the Department of Energy, says it expects wholesale prices to continue to rise into next year, amid <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201crelatively flat\u201d gas production and an increase in U.S. liquefied gas exports.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those market conditions impact the prices individual consumers pay to heat their homes. 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.<\/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\/08\/30\/cubs-sept-report-on-gas-market-volatility\/\">September<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, six utilities have higher rates: Ameren Illinois (about 2 percent), Illinois Gas (about 10 percent), Mt. Carmel (about 96 percent), MidAmerican (3 percent), North Shore Gas (7 percent), and Peoples Gas (1 percent). Three charged prices that were lower: Liberty Utilities (about 3 percent),\u00a0 Nicor Gas (13 percent) and Consumers Gas (about 15 percent).<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\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\/2024\/10\/01\/report-on-gas-market-volatility-oct\/\">October 2024<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this month\u2019s prices were higher for six utilities, ranging from about 1 percent higher for Peoples Gas to about 154 percent higher for Liberty Utilities. Three utilities were less than last October: Ameren Gas (about 4 percent), Illinois Gas (about 1 percent), and Mt. Carmel (21 percent).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>October Gas Prices<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Ameren Illinois<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 47.28 cents per therm (DOWN about 4 percent from October 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Consumers Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 45.40 cents per therm (UP about 19.5 percent from October 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Illinois Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 45.88 cents per therm (DOWN about 0.3 percent from October 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Liberty Utilities<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 48.04 cents per therm (UP about 153 percent from October 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>MidAmerican Energy<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 60.86 cents per therm (UP about 32 percent from October 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Mt. Carmel<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 65.87 cents per therm (DOWN about 21 percent from October 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Nicor Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 39.00 cents per therm (UP about 39 percent from October 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>North Shore Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 36.48 cents per therm (UP about 11 percent from October 2024)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>Peoples Gas<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 30.25 cents per therm (UP about 1 percent from October 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 at home.<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For tips and information about helpful energy efficiency programs offered by your utility, visit CUB\u2019s <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/clean-energy\/\">Clean Energy page<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/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\"><strong>See if you qualify for energy assistance.<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Certain income-qualified consumers can apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) beginning Oct. 1. To apply or learn more about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dceo.illinois.gov\/communityservices\/utilitybillassistance\/howtoapply.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">visit this state of Illinois webpage.<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Also, check out our <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2024\/09\/05\/a-step-by-step-guide-to-applying-for-liheap\/\">Step by step guide to applying for LIHEAP<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.)<\/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\u00a0<\/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>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/06\/02\/elevated-prices-cubs-june-report-on-gas-market-volatility\/\">June<\/a>,\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/06\/27\/cubs-july-report-on-gas-market-volatility\/\">July<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/08\/01\/cubs-aug-report-on-gas-market-volatility\/\">August<\/a><\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/08\/30\/cubs-sept-report-on-gas-market-volatility\/\">September<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><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><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gas prices for six of Illinois&#8217; 9 major utilities are elevated, compared with a year ago, led by Liberty Utilities, which is charging a supply price that is about 153 percent higher; Nicor Gas, with a price about 39 percent higher, and MidAmerican Energy, which is charging a price that is about 32 percent higher; according to CUB\u2019s review of October gas prices.\u00a0 Gas prices have been on the rise, with colder-than-normal weather last winter and record gas exports (meaning profit-hungry companies sending gas outside the United States) increasing demand and tightening supply earlier this year. The Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the Department of Energy, says it expects wholesale prices to continue to rise into next year, amid \u201crelatively flat\u201d gas production and an increase in U.S. liquefied gas exports. Those market conditions impact the prices individual consumers pay to heat their homes. 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. Compared with September, six utilities have higher rates: Ameren Illinois (about 2 percent), Illinois Gas (about 10 percent), Mt. Carmel (about 96 percent), MidAmerican (3 percent), North Shore Gas (7 percent), and Peoples Gas (1 percent). Three charged prices that were lower: Liberty Utilities (about 3 percent),\u00a0 Nicor Gas (13 percent) and Consumers Gas (about 15 percent). Compared with October 2024, this month\u2019s prices were higher for six utilities, ranging from about 1 percent higher for Peoples Gas to about 154 percent higher for Liberty Utilities. Three utilities were less than last October: Ameren Gas (about 4 percent), Illinois Gas (about 1 percent), and Mt. Carmel (21 percent). October Gas Prices Ameren Illinois\u2013 47.28 cents per therm (DOWN about 4 percent from October 2024) Consumers Gas\u2013 45.40 cents per therm (UP about 19.5 percent from October 2024) Illinois Gas\u2013 45.88 cents per therm (DOWN about 0.3 percent from October 2024) Liberty Utilities\u2013 48.04 cents per therm (UP about 153 percent from October 2024) MidAmerican Energy\u2013 60.86 cents per therm (UP about 32 percent from October 2024) Mt. Carmel\u2013 65.87 cents per therm (DOWN about 21 percent from October 2024) Nicor Gas\u2013 39.00 cents per therm (UP about 39 percent from October 2024) North Shore Gas\u2013 36.48 cents per therm (UP about 11 percent from October 2024) Peoples Gas\u2013 30.25 cents per therm (UP about 1 percent from October 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. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"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":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_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":[1052,1095],"tags":[1032,1541,1540,1542,1428,1543,488,137,138],"class_list":["post-43809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gas-utilities","category-purchased-gas-adjustment","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"],"_threads_share_type":["default"],"_google_business_share_type":["default"],"_wpsp_custom_templates":["a:7:{s:8:\"facebook\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:7:\"twitter\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:8:\"linkedin\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:9:\"pinterest\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:9:\"instagram\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:6:\"medium\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:7:\"threads\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}}"],"classic-editor-remember":["classic-editor"],"_edit_lock":["1759792147:5"],"_edit_last":["5"],"_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"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43809","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\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43809"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43826,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43809\/revisions\/43826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templa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