|
"Transparency is and will continue to be of the utmost
importance when it comes to understanding the investments and
activities needed to proactively modernize Illinois’ utility
system,” said ICC Commissioner Stacey Paradis.
Peoples Gas criticized the ruling, saying it jeopardized the
"safety and reliability" of Chicago's energy system.
The ICC issued its decision after closely scrutinizing Peoples’
rehearing filing, along with materials submitted by the utility,
cmmission staff, and others over a five-month legal proceeding.
“Not only did Peoples Gas fail to justify yet another rate hike,
this proceeding provided further evidence that the Peoples Gas
pipe replacement program is profoundly troubled, reinforcing why
the commission’s investigation is critically important,” said
Abe Scarr, Illinois director of the Public Interest Research
Group.
Scarr said the program is mismanaged and failing to
cost-effectively address the risks posed by aging iron pipes in
the Peoples Gas system.
In February, the commission began a separate investigation into
Peoples’ pipe replacement program, which will continue through
early 2025 and inform how the ICC directs the utility to
cost-effectively remove cast iron and ductile iron pipe from its
natural gas system.
Last December, the ICC lowered Ameren and ComEd’s rate increase
requests by hundreds of millions of dollars. Scarr said he sees
a trend with the commission.
“I think it is a good one and I think for too many years the ICC
was not skeptical enough and wasn’t fulfilling its mission to
really look out for consumers and the public,” said Scarr.
Peoples Gas has indicated it will appeal the ICC’s decision in
court.
|
|
