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The campaign follows a $300 million rate hike that Peoples Gas
won last year, which was the largest in state history. The hike
was fueled mainly by the company's Safety Modernization Program
to replace nearly 2,000 miles of old, deteriorating natural gas
pipes.
A protest over Peoples Gas pipe replacement program took place
in front of the utility’s Chicago office Thursday.
“Many Chicago residents have a simple question,” said Jim
Chilsen, communications director with the Citizens Utility
Board. “What the heck is wrong with my Peoples Gas bill, and
there is a simple answer, the problem is the mismanaged, over
budget pipeline replacement program.”
Cost estimates for the pipe replacement program have grown from
$1 billion to up to $11 billion. In November, utility regulators
at the ICC paused the pipe replacement program and launched a
formal investigation.
Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) is dispatching
teams of canvassers into neighborhoods to have one-on-one,
face-to-face conversations with over 3,000 Peoples Gas
customers.
“Chicagoans have been forced to pay for the failing Peoples Gas
pipe replacement program for too long,” said Natale Plevinsky,
citizen outreach director for Illinois PIRG. “It's time to give
Peoples Gas customers a voice, and that is what we will be doing
through our grassroots campaign for safer, cleaner energy.”
A Peoples Gas spokesman said the company is open to revisions to
the program.
"We also have recently provided state regulars with potential
changes to consider in terms of how we approach this work going
forward," said Peoples Gas spokesman David Schwartz.
The investigation into the costly program should wrap up early
next year.
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