1.0Citizens Utility Boardhttps://www.citizensutilityboard.orgrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="09nHfmC7KQ"><a href="https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2025/10/01/cubs-report-on-gas-market-volatility-october/">CUB’s report on gas market volatility: October</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2025/10/01/cubs-report-on-gas-market-volatility-october/embed/#?secret=09nHfmC7KQ" width="600" height="338" title="“CUB’s report on gas market volatility: October” — Citizens Utility Board" data-secret="09nHfmC7KQ" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> Gas prices for six of Illinois’ 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’s review of October gas prices.  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 “relatively flat” 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–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Here’s 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),  Nicor Gas (13 percent) and Consumers Gas (about 15 percent). Compared with October 2024, this month’s 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– 47.28 cents per therm (DOWN about 4 percent from October 2024) Consumers Gas– 45.40 cents per therm (UP about 19.5 percent from October 2024) Illinois Gas– 45.88 cents per therm (DOWN about 0.3 percent from October 2024) Liberty Utilities– 48.04 cents per therm (UP about 153 percent from October 2024) MidAmerican Energy– 60.86 cents per therm (UP about 32 percent from October 2024) Mt. Carmel– 65.87 cents per therm (DOWN about 21 percent from October 2024) Nicor Gas– 39.00 cents per therm (UP about 39 percent from October 2024) North Shore Gas– 36.48 cents per therm (UP about 11 percent from October 2024) Peoples Gas– 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—they pass those costs from gas producers and marketers onto customers with no markup. State regulators annually review the utilities’ 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.  A few tips from CUB:   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. […]https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/CUB_IL_LogoBadgeRGBAdminLogo.png254254