Illinois regulators mandate Peoples Gas to replace 1,000 miles of old pipes by 2035

Illinois regulators have ordered Peoples Gas to replace 1,000 miles of old, leak-prone pipes in Chicago by 2035. This decision follows a yearlong review and aims to enhance safety and accountability in the utility's pipeline replacement program. The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a more focused plan, rejecting a broader $7.2 billion proposal for system upgrades. A safety monitor will oversee the project, with annual reports starting in 2027 and potential penalties for non-compliance. Peoples Gas has faced delays and budget overruns in its ongoing replacement program, which began in 2011. The utility's previous plan was projected to cost $2.6 billion and take 20 years, but it has already exceeded $3.3 billion and is only 38% complete.