Chicago — Over the coming weeks, Peoples Gas work crews will begin pre-construction fieldwork as they ramp up the major task of removing old, rapidly corroding energy pipes from Chicago’s heating system. The iron pipes in the current system date back as far as the 1800s. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) directed Peoples Gas to do the work in order to ensure ongoing safety and reliability in the city’s heating system.
Pre-construction fieldwork will initially include 11 neighborhoods:
- Budlong Woods
- Chatham
- Cragin
- Garfield Ridge
- Irving Woods
- Marquette Park
- Old Irving Park
- Rosemoor
- Schorsch Village
- West Elsdon
- West Englewood
Customers in the parts of these neighborhoods where work occurs will receive letters and emails from Peoples Gas with information about the work plans. Peoples Gas crews also will be canvassing the areas in person — talking with residents and businesses about what to expect, and making appointments to go over work details specific to each property. This includes the precise location an energy line will enter each building, and where on the property key safety equipment is placed.
Peoples Gas also is debriefing local alderpeople in areas where work is starting so the elected officials know what to expect and can help keep their constituents informed.
Following the pre-construction phase of work, digging and installation of pipes and equipment is expected to begin in the first half of next year. Similar to the pre-construction work, Peoples Gas will send letters and emails to residents and businesses before active construction gets underway on their properties.
Earlier this year, the ICC directed Peoples Gas to retire more than 1,000 miles of old pipes by 2035.
Ensuring safe, reliable, environmentally sustainable heat
Modernizing Chicago’s heating system brings significant safety, performance, and environmental benefits, including:
- Stronger material: New high-tech plastic pipes better withstand Chicago’s freeze-and-thaw cycles, and resist corrosion.
- Emergency shut-off access: Valves are immediately accessible to first responders in case of an emergency.
- Stopping leaks: Modern pipes reduce methane emissions and improve air quality.
- Decarbonized energy: Modern pipes position Chicago to continue using renewable natural gas, and carbon-free hydrogen in the future.
Similar critical work will occur in more Chicago neighborhoods in the coming years, as old pipes nearing the end of their useful lives exist across the city. Peoples Gas will use a thorough risk assessment of all pipes in the system to ensure the ones most at risk are removed from use as quickly as possible.
Peoples Gas will continue keeping its customers informed every step of the way in this important work. This will ensure everyone knows what’s happening, where, and why.
For more information about the work, Chicagoans can go to this page on the Peoples Gas website.