Citizens Utility Board Urges Illinois Regulators to Further Reduce Peoples Gas Rate Hike
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is advocating for the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to significantly lower a proposed $66.2 million rate hike by Peoples Gas. This recommendation follows a proposed ruling by administrative law judges that would cut Peoples Gas' initial $144 million rate hike request by 54 percent, or $77.8 million. CUB argues that even with this reduction, the proposed increase would still burden over 800,000 residential customers in Chicago with higher heating bills. The ICC is expected to make a final decision on the rate hike in November. CUB General Counsel Eric DeBellis highlighted that many Peoples Gas customers are already struggling, with over 160,000 families more than 30 days behind on their bills, and repeated rate hikes have left consumers over $90 million in debt to the company. Peoples Gas' parent company, WEC Energy Group, reported $1.6 billion in profits in 2025, and Peoples Gas itself is on track for a record profit year in 2026.
