CHICAGO, June 9, 2025/ PRNewswire/– As Illinois regulators prepare to hold a public online forum on Nicor Gas’ effort to win its 5th rate trek in less than a years– a $ 308.6 million demand that would be the greatest gas boost in Illinois history– customer supporters state the consumers of Illinois’ biggest gas energy are disappointed and tired by the serial rate walkings.
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is holding a public online forum on Nicor Gas’ rate-hike demand from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday, June 9, at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park & & Theater, 201 W. Jefferson at Bluff St, Joliet, IL 60432
In January 2025, Nicor declared a $ 308.6 million boost ( Docket No. 25-0055)– what would be a record gas rate trek striking Illinois customers this winter season. This is Nicor’s 5th rate-hike demand because 2017. Ever since, the energy has actually raised shipment rates by 114 percent, amounting to $ 747 million, and its moms and dad, Southern Co., has actually generated $ 25.2 billion in earnings.
Heading into the general public online forum, supporters indicated growing consumer discontentment, consisting of numerous petition signatures and ICC public remarks individuals have actually submitted versus Nicor’s rate-hike demand.
” Northern Illinoisans have actually informed us that they oppose the suggested boost from Nicor,” stated Al Hollenbeck, Volunteer State President of AARP Illinois. “This walking, on top of numerous other energy walkings recently, disproportionately impacts older grownups on repaired earnings, who are currently having a hard time to stay up to date with the ever-growing expense of living in the state. They merely can not manage greater gas costs and AARP is dedicated to promoting on their behalf versus this proposed rate walking.”
” Nicor Gas consumers have actually withstood serial rate walkings from the state’s biggest gas energy– and they are fed up,” stated Mardi Klevs, a Nicor consumer and volunteer board member for the People Energy Board (CUB). “In the current money-grab– the business’s 5th rate-hike demand in less than a years– consumers can see Nicor is attempting to make them spend for an extreme revenue rate for investors along with lavish executive rewards, and they’re stating ‘Enough suffices!'”
The Illinois Attorney general of the United States’s Workplace and customer supporters such as AARP Illinois, Illinois PIRG and the People Energy Board (CUB) have actually argued that Nicor’s rate-hike demand is unjustified and unreasonable. Together, customer supporters state the demand is more than double what the business can validate under the law. They have actually discovered more than $ 150 million in overcharges, consisting of extreme executive rewards and an outrageous revenue rate for their investors.
The ICC will release a last judgment on Nicor’s rate-hike demand in November. If authorized, Nicor’s rate walking would increase typical gas costs by about 9 percent, or about $ 7.50 a month/$ 90 a year, and press the energy’s overall boosts to more than $ 1 billion in less than a years.
AARP is the country’s biggest not-for-profit, nonpartisan company committed to empowering individuals 50 and older to select how they live as they age. With an across the country existence and almost 38 million members, AARP reinforces neighborhoods and supporters for what matters most to households: health security, monetary stability and individual satisfaction. To find out about AARP’s operate in Illinois, see www.aarp.org/IL or @AARPIllinois.
Illinois PIRG is a supporter for the general public interest. We speak up for the general public and withstand unique interests on issues that impact the general public’s health, security and health and wellbeing.
For more than 40 years the People Energy Board (CUB) has actually been Illinois’ leading not-for-profit energy guard dog group. Developed by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of property and small-business energy consumers. Ever since, CUB has actually conserved customers more than $ 20 billion by obstructing rate walkings and protecting refunds. For more details, call CUB’s Customer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or check out CUB’s site, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org
SOURCE People Energy Board