By Samantha Vercellino In 2013, Peoples Gas notified G. Droba of its plans to move his gas meter from the basement to the outside of his house. The Mount Greenwood resident didn’t mind—until his basement suffered severe water damage. During the switch, he said a pipe was jarred loose from…...
Peoples Gas in the hot seat
It looks like we’re going to get some answers on Peoples Gas’ disastrous and costly pipeline replacement program— just as new estimates reveal projected costs for the program have ballooned to more than $8 billion (nearly four times the original estimate!). Chicago’s 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly introduced a resolution in today’s…...
ICC approves Wisconsin Energy merger
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted 4-1 to approve a $5.7 billion merger between Wisconsin Energy and Integrys Energy Group, Peoples Gas’ parent company. CUB had hoped to see the ICC attach stronger pro-consumer conditions to the merger—especially in light of a Peoples Gas pipeline replacement program that is costing consumers…...
Let’s not foot the bill for a gas utility’s mistakes!
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is investigating a Peoples Gas pipe-replacement program after an audit found that it has been plagued by mismanagement. The ICC’s audit reveals projected costs for the program have ballooned to $4.6 billion—and that could cause consumer rates to double over the next decade. If that’s not…...
“A complete disaster”: The Peoples’ pipeline replacement program
A new report shows that a Peoples Gas pipeline replacement program has so far been full of hot air— and not much else! A recently released audit reveals Peoples’ multi-billion-dollar project to replace the City’s aging pipeline infrastructure has been plagued by mismanagement, inadequate quality controls, and faulty reporting and analysis. Consider this damning fact:…...
Cold winter = refund on gas bills
Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas customer will receive a $33.5 million refund this year due to the unusually cold winter. Customers should expect to see a monthly credit on their bill, starting this month and ending in December. Total average refunds will reach $29.50 for Peoples customers and $23 for North Shore customers,…...
Attorney General: Pump the brakes on Peoples pipeline project
In light of ballooning costs and allegations of mismanagement, Attorney General Madigan is asking Peoples Gas to back down from a pledge to complete its massive pipeline replacement project by 2030. In a brief filed March 27 with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Madigan said that Peoples’ project has fallen seriously behind schedule…...
IL energy, cable & phone companies made $17.7 billion in 2014
The parent companies of Illinois’ major electric, cable, natural gas and phone companies made a total of $17.7 billion in profits last year, according to a CUB review of recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Comcast: The cable, phone and Internet giant saw its 2014 profits top $8.4 billion…...
ICC to launch Peoples investigation
Today, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) announced plans to investigate an expensive Peoples Gas’ pipe replacement program. Projected costs for the program have reportedly ballooned to $4.6 billion over the past five years and could cause YOUR rates to double in the next decade. CUB wants to thank the ICC for taking a stand…...
Peoples disaster = Higher gas rates?
The Peoples Gas pipe replacement program is shaping up to be the biggest train wreck of 2015. Projected costs have reportedly doubled—to $4.6 billion—in five years. That could cause our gas rates to double over the next decade! Peoples had previously accelerated its schedule to replace 1,700 miles of aging pipes under the…...
