A coalition of consumer and environmental groups is calling for an overhaul of a pipe replacement program in Illinois.
On Monday, the group submitted more than 5,000 public comments to the Illinois Commerce Commission calling for reform.
Abe Scarr, Illinois director of the Public Interest Research Group, said cost estimates for Peoples Gas's program have risen from $1 billion to nearly $13 billion.
“That means the bills are going up significantly, they have already gone up significantly and they could go up even more in the future,” Scarr said.
As part of a 2023 tariff decision, the ICC paused the pipeline program and launched an investigation into its management.
“At a time when seniors are already struggling to pay skyrocketing gas bills and having to make difficult decisions about whether to heat their homes or go without prescriptions and basic needs, Peoples Gas is asking them to donate more to a program , which is already huge. “It is over budget, behind schedule and has not yet shown measurable improvement in the security of the system,” said Al Hollenbeck, Illinois, president of AARP Illinois.
The Citizens Utility Board said if the program is not overhauled, there will be 15 years of record rate increases, a claim People's Gas disputes.
“Natural gas heating remains by far the most cost-effective way to stay safe and warm. “At the same time, CUB maintains that it cares about affordability and fully supports measures that would force Chicagoans to switch entirely to electricity – a move that would double or triple heating costs,” the company said in a statement corporate.
The hearing is scheduled for January 29 and a final decision from the ICC is expected in February.
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