Peoples Gas, this month, filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to establish new rates for our energy-delivery service. The adjusted rates, if approved, would take effect in 2027. For the typical residential customer, the estimated impact would be $10 to $11 per month.

As part of our commitment to transparency in every aspect of our work, we want to make sure the people who live and work in Chicago know why we filed the rate request, and what they each stand to gain from it.

What’s behind the request

The filing reflects a mandate made last year by the ICC, ordering Peoples Gas to retire more than 1,000 miles of old, corroding iron pipes from Chicago’s heating system. The ICC set an accelerated deadline for completing the large-scale, complicated construction.

The work is critical to ensuring ongoing safety and reliability in the system. A strong, resilient heating system is an absolute must, especially during Chicago winters.

The rate filing also reflects the impact of inflation on all aspects of infrastructure work. Similar to other sectors of the economy, costs in general have gone up.

Affordability

Peoples Gas works every day to keep bills as low as possible for customers, while ensuring we deliver the reliable energy Chicagoans need. Chicago home heating bills are significantly lower than those in other major U.S. cities, and that is expected to continue after the new rates would take effect. Still, we know there are people struggling to pay their bills.

For families having a tough time making ends meet, there is more assistance available than ever. Multiple financial assistance programs exist. These include heating grants and even permanent bill reductions. There are programs for budget billing and, when needed, extended payment plans. To anyone looking for assistance, please go on our energy assistance webpage or reach out to us directly. There are a lot of ways we can help.

How customers benefit

Peoples Gas is committed to using every dollar approved by state regulators on heating homes and businesses, and making safety and reliability an ongoing certainty across every Chicago neighborhood. For the comfort and health of families, for local businesses creating jobs, for now and future generations — our energy system must be safe and reliable. The investments we’re making will ensure that happens.

The work of Peoples Gas construction crews, under close watch by the ICC, also will greatly enhance the environmental sustainability of Chicago’s heating system. It will help prevent leaks, and will set the stage for use of cleaner energy sources such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen. That means cleaner air and a brighter future.

Ongoing transparency

As we ramp up the major task of retiring old energy pipes, we’re being extremely transparent about everything we do, why we do it, how we do it, and exactly what it means for customers.

When our crews began pre-construction fieldwork in neighborhoods throughout the city, for example, we laid out the details of what that would look like for residents and businesses in areas our team members would focus on.

We also held two events for customers, the public and key stakeholders. We shared the approach and processes we plan to deploy as we fulfill the ICC’s directive to retire aging pipes from the system. We took feedback and continue to have dialogue with the people who took part.

This transparency will continue through every stage of our work going forward.

We know you’re watching

We know all our work will be closely examined, including the ICC’s scrutiny of our rate request during the next 11 months. We know we need to show every dollar we’ll spend is truly necessary. And we know our work will need to provide immediate and long-term value to customers.

For all of Chicago, we plan to deliver.

This Opinion piece from Peoples Gas President Maria Bocanegra was published in Crain’s Chicago Business on January 14, 2026