Consumer Groups Urge Illinois Commerce Commission To Cut Peoples Gas Rate Hike Request 

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Public Interest Research Group and the Citizens Utility Board say the Illinois Commerce Commission should slash $137 million from a proposed $200 million rate hike by Peoples Gas. The consumer groups cited bonuses for corporate executives, inflated profit margins and wasteful spending on a pipe retirement program. PIRG and CUB held a news conference on Wednesday and said the Illinois Attorney General’s Office called for eliminating the rate hike entirely and giving customers a $4 million rate cut.