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* Background from ABC 7…
Residents and consumer advocates urged state regulators to reject a proposed $402 million rate hike sought by Peoples Gas.
The meeting Tuesday at UIC’s Dorin Forum, was organized by the Illinois Commerce Commission - the state panel that has until the end of the year to rule on the utility’s rate increase request. […]
Peoples Gas made $208 million in profit in 2022, breaking its earnings record for the sixth year in a row, according to a year-end financial report issued in March.
The company filed an increase request in January. Company officials said this was its first request for a hike in nine years. They said it was “meant to ensure ongoing safety, reliability and environmental sustainability in Chicago.”
The nonprofit watchdog Citizens Utility Board has argued the hike would fuel “an excessive profit rate” and should be slashed by at least $63 million.
* The Natural Resources Defense Council is spending about $100,000 on cable TV to run this spot through September 5th…
* Script…
The gas company just proposed the largest rate hike in history. They also just announced record profits.
Let’s face it, Chicago. Gas stinks. When buildings burn gas, we all pay the price, because burning gas in our homes costs us more, pollutes our city and increases the risk of asthma, especially for kids.
That’s why it’s time for Chicago to take action and shift to newer, cheaper all-electric technologies to make our homes and buildings clean and healthy and affordable.
Because gas stinks.
More info here.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 3:08 pm
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Terrible. Awful. Are they fighting the rate increase or are they fighting gas? Seems like they are trying to do both. And while they’re at it, they want everyone to turn up their thermostats (:22). Ask Jimmy Carter how that went over with the American people. If they do want everyone to switch to gas, good luck with that. People like their gas furnaces and gas stoves, even liberals. And finally, if they really are trying to convince people to switch, it’s going to cost a heck of a lot more than $100,000 on cable.
It’s a bad use of donor $$$. Pretty much just lighting 100,000 on fire.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 3:26 pm
- they want everyone to turn up their thermostats (:22) -
You’re not very bright, are you? Turning up the thermostat in the summer wouldn’t impact gas usage, turning it up in the winter would use more.
Environmental concerns aside, PGL is a train wreck that seems comically incapable of completing their antiquated main replacement program in a reasonable timeframe no matter how much money we throw at them.
I’d like them to demonstrate some competence before giving them another half billion dollars.
Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 3:44 pm
How much of our electricity is produced using gas?
Comment by Dean Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 3:54 pm
“People like their gas furnaces and gas stoves, even liberals.”
You sure about that? I think people who aren’t hooked up to the right wing outrage funnel don’t really care. I cannot imagine feeling any kind of way about my furnace. I’d probably feel better if I didn’t have a potential gas bomb in my house.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:06 pm
===People like their gas furnaces and gas stoves===
I don’t really care one way or the other about the fuel used by my furnace. I used to insist on a gas stove, but then I bought a place with a modern electric stove and it heats up faster and hotter and is more precise. So now, not so much.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:13 pm
–People like their gas furnaces and gas stoves, even liberals.–
Nope.
I got rid of my gas stove within a few weeks of seeing what happened to my 2.5um particulate sensor I have in my house. I didn’t even buy the sensor for that reason, just to monitor general pollution levels. When I saw the *massive spike* when I was using the stove, it was an easy choice to get rid of the old ways and embrace the new. This was even before republicans tried making natural gas a part of their personality.
Having now used the induction stovetop and elect oven for awhile now, I’m regretting not doing it sooner. It’s just so much better in every aspect of using it.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:27 pm
“You sure about that?”
Yea, I’m sure. I’m a Dem with a ton of Dem friends. We’ve discussed it. Other than passionate progressive enviro types, I have yet to find someone with a different opinion.
“You’re not very bright, are you? Turning up the thermostat in the summer wouldn’t impact gas usage, turning it up in the winter would use more.”
Thanks for the civility. Apparently you’re unaware of the history here. This is an oldie but a goodie from the crowd that wants people to change their lifestyles by turning up their thermostat in the summer and lower it in the winter. In the energy world we used to talk about it as the sweater crowd. But forcing people to change their behavior is a strategy that usually doesn’t work and tends to create political backlash.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:28 pm
== How much of our electricity is produced using gas? ==
“In 2022, Illinois had a net generation of 192,443 GWh.[3] That year, the corresponding electrical energy generation mix was (approximately) 51.4% nuclear, 21.2% coal, 12.6% natural gas, 12% wind, and 1.5% solar”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_Illinois#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20Illinois%20had%20a,wind%2C%20and%201.5%25%20solar.
Comment by Res Melius Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:30 pm
===I have yet to find someone with a different opinion===
That’s not data and don’t treat it as such. Go find a poll or something, but “I heard” isn’t that.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:31 pm
InvisibleMan,
You are a sample size of one. According to the Harvard/Harris poll, 69% of Americans oppose a ban on gas stoves including 45% of Democrats. See page 48 below.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://harvardharrispoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/HHP_June2023_KeyResults.pdf
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:33 pm
“shift to newer, cheaper all-electric technologies”
Kiplingers: Electric Heat vs Gas Heat: Which is Cheaper?
https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/how-to-save-money/electric-heat-vs-gas-heat-which-is-cheaper
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:35 pm
Sorry, 4:35 post was me.
Comment by Res Melius Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:35 pm
“That’s not data and don’t treat it as such. Go find a poll or something, but “I heard” isn’t that.”
Already put one up. 69% don’t want gas stoves banned.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:36 pm
What’s the point of the ad? The state should outlaw all gas stoves? Sounds like it could be a regulatory taking under the 5th Amendment.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:37 pm
Half-truths at best. One day, someday, electricity may become cheaper than gas. At this point in time gas is much cheaper than electricity, not to mention the large cost of upgrading the wiring on every house that wants to become all-electric. Add to that the cost of a new electric furnace, electric hot water heater, electric dryer, and the new electric stove.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:37 pm
“including 45% of Democrats”
What’s the trend. That is after all, just a sample year of one. You also quoted it incorrectly. It says 45% of Democrats would *Favor* a ban on gas stoves, and 62% of people in total support a ban.
Now that such sensors are becoming more common in smart homes, more people will be seeing for themselves the same thing I saw a few years back.
Going forward, it’s going to be hard to convince people to have the equivalent of a bonfire inside their house.
Don’t worry. My grandparents also had a hard time imagining a world where the coal delivery truck didn’t feed coal down a chute on the side of the house into the basement.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 4:59 pm
===Pretty much just lighting 100,000 on fire. ===
Yeah, they need to run a blog ad. lol
Seriously, though, there is no real “ask” here, as you noted. I suppose it’s just part of the overall effort to push electricity over gas. But 100K ain’t going to change many minds.
One step in a long walk is probably the best way to describe it. But they should probably start calling it methane gas if they want to do some actual damage.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 5:34 pm
Gas is the most efficient heating and cooking fuel there is.
Comment by Paul Tuesday, Aug 8, 23 @ 8:21 pm