EDF Supports Rate Cuts in Illinois, Calls for Affordable, Climate-Smart Utility Plans

(October 7, 2025) Yesterday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Administrative Law Judges issued a proposed order cutting Northern Illinois Gas Company’s (Nicor) requested rate increase by over $100 million. The proposed order disallowed approximately one-third of Nicor’s requested $308.6 million rate increase—the largest in Illinois history. Nicor’s request would have raised the average customer's bill by about $90 per year. Environmental and consumer advocates, including Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), called the hike unjust and excessive, noting that Nicor’s plan fails to cost-effectively decarbonize its system. Parties will now recommend changes, with the ICC issuing its final decision later this year. 

“The proposed order is a strong first step, holding utilities more accountable for reducing carbon emissions and spending customer dollars responsibly,” said Curt Stokes, Director and Senior Attorney at Environmental Defense Fund. “We will ask the Commission in its final order to require utilities to pursue the most affordable, climate-smart options before repeating old, costly investments that drive rates higher than customers can afford.”

EDF supports many of the cuts in the proposed order, especially the recognition that affordability cannot be sidelined as Illinois transitions to cleaner, more reliable energy. We will also push for further reductions based on testimony filed with Illinois Public Interest Research Group, ensuring the utility takes meaningful steps to protect both the environment and consumers by eliminating unnecessary spending and upholding key safeguards for affordability and accountability. 

EDF specifically supports cutting Nicor’s pilot programs, such as TotalGreen, which would not be effective in reducing emissions and would result in significant costs  for ratepayers. We will continue to ask for a final commission order that promotes more effective, affordable, and broadly available decarbonization efforts, including high-efficiency heat pump programs and other non-pipeline solutions. EDF looks forward to advancing regulatory decisions that prioritize environmental protection, consumer interests, system efficiency, and a fair, equitable energy transition.