(CHICAGO) — The Illinois Commerce Commission Thursday approved a settlement striking $139.2 million from Nicor’s rate request for natural gas delivery services. The decision accepts the settlement agreement reached by all parties to reduce Nicor’s initial $221 million requested increase by roughly 63 percent. That amounts to a $82 million hike which equated to about a $2 increase on residential bills beginning in November.
“The ICC’s responsibility is to balance the interests of Illinois’ utilities and their consumers. We recognize that any decision impacting Illinoisans’ bills is not a small one, and after careful review of Nicor’s proposed investments, the Commission is pleased that all parties came to the table and opted to strike excess charges,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott.
The overall impact on individual customers will vary based on service class and energy usage, although the decision notably reduces residential customers’ monthly fixed charge from $21.30 to $15.00.
The decision reinforces the ICC’s 2025 directive that Nicor adjust its low-income discount to maintain a 3 percent energy burden for all customers, the nationally recognized measure of affordability. As a part of the approved settlement, Nicor also agreed to dismiss its pending appeal of the ICC’s 2025 rate case decision.
It is expected that Nicor will go before the ICC with another rate hike request in January.
