Rate Hikes Hitting Other States, Not Just Oklahoma Ratepayers
What feels like never-ending rate hikes for Oklahoma utilities is also spreading across the nation, frustrating ratepayers far beyond state lines.
Oklahoma residents continue to face proposed utility increases from companies like OG&E and PSO. Now, Illinois consumers are confronting similar challenges as regulators consider huge rate hikes from Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois that could drive up household costs.
Illinois Regulators Face Public Pushback
The Illinois Commerce Commission, similar to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, will decide in November whether to approve the increases. The five-member board, appointed by Gov. JB Pritzker, oversees 3.1 million gas customers statewide.
Administrative law judges have already recommended cuts to the utilities’ original proposals. However, both companies continue to pursue large increases, citing infrastructure investments and system reliability.
Nicor Gas Requests $314 Million Rate Hike
Nicor Gas wants permission for a $314 million rate hike effective in January. The proposal represents a more than 9% jump for residential customers, or roughly $91 more each year. If approved, it will affect 2.3 million customers across Illinois.
Nicor officials say the increase would fund critical maintenance and safety upgrades. Consumer advocates argue that customers have already faced enough hikes and question whether executive bonuses and shareholder returns are driving the requests.
Ameren Seeks 13% Residential Increase
Ameren Illinois, which serves about 800,000 customers, has proposed a $129 million rate increase. That would raise residential bills by approximately $100 a year—about a 13% jump.
Opponents have urged the Illinois Commerce Commission to reject the plan, claiming the company should absorb more operational costs instead of shifting them to consumers.
Oklahoma Watching Closely
Oklahoma regulators and residents are watching Illinois closely. Both states face mounting criticism over laws that allow utilities to recover infrastructure costs before projects are complete. The approach, while designed to encourage modernization, continues to spark public anger.
As Oklahoma prepares for more rate hearings this winter, the debate over who pays for progress is growing louder. Ratepayers nationwide are demanding more transparency—and more fairness—from the utilities that power their homes.
SOURCE: Capitol News Illinois–Rewritten by Oklahoma Energy Today for clarity
