AARP Illinois Applauds Illinois Commerce Commission’s Decision in Peoples Gas Rate Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Monika Wnuk, Associate State Director of Communications
312-458-3611
mwnuk@aarp.org
 
*Please note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more details of the decision are released.*

AARP Illinois Applauds Illinois Commerce Commission’s Decision in Peoples Gas Rate Case

Chicago, Nov. 16 - AARP Illinois State Director Philippe Largent issued the following statement in response to the Illinois Commerce Commission’s decision in the Peoples Gas rate case:

“On behalf of our 1.7 million members and all older adults across the state, AARP Illinois applauds the ICC’s decision in the Peoples Gas rate case, a major win for natural gas customers in Chicago.

As a formal intervenor on behalf of Illinois residents 50-plus, AARP Illinois opposed the rate increases that benefited Peoples Gas’ bottom line on the backs of its customers. We are pleased to see that the Commission:

• Adopted AARP Illinois’ recommendation to keep the customer charge at $30.45 per month, rather than increase it to the proposed $45, a decision which will impact countless older adults – and especially those on fixed incomes;
  
• Disallowed $265 million of spending and ordered the utility to focus on replacing high risk pipe;
  
• And lowered the profit rate for the company, which reduces the gas rate increase.
  

We also want to thank our volunteer advocates and members who raised their voices and fought against this rate increase. This win would not have been possible without the thousands of AARP advocates who stood with us and spoke up on behalf of their communities.

Over the past year, AARP Illinois heard from thousands of older adults across the state about how this increase would harm them, forcing them to make impossible choices between heating their homes, buying groceries or paying for prescriptions. Last week, AARP Illinois advocates and members delivered 15,000 petitions to the ICC offices in Chicago and Springfield. We commend the ICC for answering their pleas to lower this rate increase.

As this decision goes into effect, we know that older adults may still struggle to pay their gas bills. AARP Illinois will continue – as it has always done – to fight on behalf of ratepayers who deserve to have their voices prioritized in a rate case decision that will affect their cost of living.”