ICC PUBLIC FORUM IN JOLIET MONDAY NIGHT TO ALLOW FRUSTRATED NICOR GAS CUSTOMERS, CONSUMER ADVOCATES TO PROTEST UTILITY'S ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE HIGHEST GAS RATE HIKE IN ILLINOIS HISTORY
CHICAGO, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As Illinois regulators prepare to hold a public forum on Nicor Gas' attempt to win its fifth rate hike in less than a decade–a $308.6 million request that would be the highest gas increase in Illinois history–consumer advocates say the customers of Illinois' largest gas utility are frustrated and exhausted by the serial rate hikes.
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is holding a public forum on Nicor Gas' rate-hike request 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 filed for a $308.6 million increase (Docket No. 25-0055)–what would be a record gas rate hike hitting Illinois consumers this winter. This is Nicor's fifth rate-hike request since 2017. Since then, the utility has raised delivery rates by 114 percent, totaling $747 million, and its parent, Southern Co., has raked in $25.2 billion in profits.
Heading into the public forum, advocates pointed to growing customer dissatisfaction, including hundreds of petition signatures and ICC public comments people have filed against Nicor's rate-hike request.
'Northern Illinoisans have told us that they oppose the proposed increase from Nicor,' said Al Hollenbeck, Volunteer State President of AARP Illinois. 'This hike, on top of several other utility hikes in recent years, disproportionately affects older adults on fixed incomes, who are already struggling to keep up with the ever-growing cost of living in the state. They simply cannot afford higher gas bills and AARP is committed to advocating on their behalf against this proposed rate hike.'
'Nicor Gas customers have endured serial rate hikes from the state's largest gas utility–and they are fed up,' said Mardi Klevs, a Nicor customer and volunteer board member for the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). 'In the latest money-grab–the company's fifth rate-hike request in less than a decade–customers can see Nicor is trying to make them pay for an excessive profit rate for shareholders as well as extravagant executive bonuses, and they're saying 'Enough is enough!''
The Illinois Attorney General's Office and consumer advocates such as AARP Illinois, Illinois PIRG and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) have argued that Nicor's rate-hike request is unjust and unreasonable. Together, consumer advocates say the request is more than double what the company can justify under the law. They have uncovered more than $150 million in overcharges, including excessive executive bonuses and an exorbitant profit rate for their shareholders.
The ICC will issue a final ruling on Nicor's rate-hike request in November. If approved, Nicor's rate hike would increase average gas bills by about 9 percent, or about $7.50 a month/$90 a year, and push the utility's total increases to more than $1 billion in less than a decade.
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. To learn about AARP's work in Illinois, visit www.aarp.org/IL or @AARPIllinois.
Illinois PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. We speak out for the public and stand up to special interests on problems that affect the public's health, safety and wellbeing.
For more than 40 years the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) has been Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog group. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has helped save consumers more than $20 billion by blocking rate hikes and securing refunds. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit CUB's website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysian Reserve
12 hours ago
- Malaysian Reserve
SIR JIMMY ANDERSON UNVEILS DP WORLD'S SUPPORT FOR GRASSROOTS AT HOME OF CRICKET
LONDON, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DP World, the international logistics business, today brought its Beyond Boundaries Initiative to Lord's cricket ground with the help of England legend Sir James Anderson. Rashid Abdulla, CEO & MD, Europe at DP World said, 'Bringing the Beyond Boundaries Initiative to Europe for the first time is a proud milestone for DP World. In partnership with the ICC and MCC Foundation, and enabled by our supply chain solutions capability, we are helping to expand access to the game by supporting grassroots facilities across the region.' The delivery of 250 cricket kits in a repurposed shipping container comes ahead of this week's ICC World Test Championship Final, of which DP World is the Global Logistics Partner. The kits – each including a bat, pads, gloves, and helmet – will be distributed to schools across Britain in partnership with the MCC Foundation. 'It's great to see the support of an ICC partner extending to the grassroots game around the world and now arriving in the UK ahead of this week's final,' commented Sir James Anderson. 'Opportunity and access are everything in growing cricket here, so DP World's provision of kits to the school system is a huge moment.' The initiative will continue to be bolstered by a kits-for-runs scheme during the test match between South Africa and Australia, just as has been active at all ICC pinnacle tournaments since the initiative's launch. Anurag Dahiya, Chief Commercial Officer of the ICC, added 'Partnerships don't take a more authentic form than the staunch grassroots support DP World has shown. The Beyond Boundaries Initiative has already impacted lives in New York, Namibia and beyond – and now it's making a difference at the heart of cricket tradition.' Angus Berry, Director of Operations for the MCC Foundation, said: 'We feel a responsibility to the grassroots game in this country and beyond. This collaboration with DP World, arriving at Lord's ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final, underlines our shared commitment to creating access and opportunity for all young cricketers.' To date, the Beyond Boundaries Initiative has delivered 12 repurposed shipping containers, distributed 3,000 cricket kits, activated programs in 8 countries across 4 continents, and empowered over 15,000 young people to play cricket. Photo – – View original content:
Malaysian Reserve
a day ago
- Malaysian Reserve
ICC PUBLIC FORUM IN JOLIET MONDAY NIGHT TO ALLOW FRUSTRATED NICOR GAS CUSTOMERS, CONSUMER ADVOCATES TO PROTEST UTILITY'S ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE HIGHEST GAS RATE HIKE IN ILLINOIS HISTORY
CHICAGO, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As Illinois regulators prepare to hold a public forum on Nicor Gas' attempt to win its fifth rate hike in less than a decade–a $308.6 million request that would be the highest gas increase in Illinois history–consumer advocates say the customers of Illinois' largest gas utility are frustrated and exhausted by the serial rate hikes. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is holding a public forum on Nicor Gas' rate-hike request 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 filed for a $308.6 million increase (Docket No. 25-0055)–what would be a record gas rate hike hitting Illinois consumers this winter. This is Nicor's fifth rate-hike request since 2017. Since then, the utility has raised delivery rates by 114 percent, totaling $747 million, and its parent, Southern Co., has raked in $25.2 billion in profits. Heading into the public forum, advocates pointed to growing customer dissatisfaction, including hundreds of petition signatures and ICC public comments people have filed against Nicor's rate-hike request. 'Northern Illinoisans have told us that they oppose the proposed increase from Nicor,' said Al Hollenbeck, Volunteer State President of AARP Illinois. 'This hike, on top of several other utility hikes in recent years, disproportionately affects older adults on fixed incomes, who are already struggling to keep up with the ever-growing cost of living in the state. They simply cannot afford higher gas bills and AARP is committed to advocating on their behalf against this proposed rate hike.' 'Nicor Gas customers have endured serial rate hikes from the state's largest gas utility–and they are fed up,' said Mardi Klevs, a Nicor customer and volunteer board member for the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). 'In the latest money-grab–the company's fifth rate-hike request in less than a decade–customers can see Nicor is trying to make them pay for an excessive profit rate for shareholders as well as extravagant executive bonuses, and they're saying 'Enough is enough!'' The Illinois Attorney General's Office and consumer advocates such as AARP Illinois, Illinois PIRG and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) have argued that Nicor's rate-hike request is unjust and unreasonable. Together, consumer advocates say the request is more than double what the company can justify under the law. They have uncovered more than $150 million in overcharges, including excessive executive bonuses and an exorbitant profit rate for their shareholders. The ICC will issue a final ruling on Nicor's rate-hike request in November. If approved, Nicor's rate hike would increase average gas bills by about 9 percent, or about $7.50 a month/$90 a year, and push the utility's total increases to more than $1 billion in less than a decade. AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. To learn about AARP's work in Illinois, visit or @AARPIllinois. Illinois PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. We speak out for the public and stand up to special interests on problems that affect the public's health, safety and wellbeing. For more than 40 years the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) has been Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog group. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has helped save consumers more than $20 billion by blocking rate hikes and securing refunds. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit CUB's website,
The Sun
03-06-2025
- The Sun
MCA appoints ex-World Cup winning coach Whatmore as cricket director
THE Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) today appointed former World Cup-winning coach Dav Whatmore as its director of cricket. MCA described the 71-year-old Australian's appointment as part of its revamped coaching structure, aimed at redefining the country's presence in international cricket. 'Dav Whatmore is a highly accomplished and successful gentleman who has played many roles in various full members. As head coach of Sri Lanka, the country won the ICC (International Cricket Council) World Cup in 1996 and has since produced many positive results. 'It is expected that the appointment will result in Malaysia building a total cricket structure that will connect the dots from lateral development to being a high-performing country,' it said in a statement. As part of the strategic shift, the MCA also announced that former Pakistan international Bilal Asad would lead the national men's team as head coach. It said that Bilal will oversee his charges for several crucial tournaments over the next 18 months, including the ICC Men's T20 World Cup qualifier for the Asia and East Asia Pacific region in Oman from Oct 1-17. The tournament will feature nine teams, with the top three qualifying for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka next February. Meanwhile, MCA president Mahinda Vallipuram, in the same statement, described the refreshed coaching structure as representing their determination to transform Malaysia into a competitive force internationally.
