For communities across Illinois, reliable energy is directly tied to economic opportunity. Farmers, manufacturers, and small business owners all depend on reliable power to be competitive and operate efficiently. Illinois must maintain a strong energy infrastructure to attract investment, support local jobs, and keep communities growing. Natural gas continues to play a major role in that reliability by providing affordable energy for homes, businesses, and industries across our state.

Families and businesses are already facing increasing electric bills while trying to carefully balance budgets and manage continually rising living costs. In Chicago alone, electricity is significantly more expensive than natural gas on a per-unit basis. As of May 2026, a kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity costs approximately 17.1 cents, whereas the equivalent energy from natural gas (1 kWh) costs about 1.57 cents. We, as leaders, owe it to our constituents to look out for their best interests while also ensuring we continue to build a strong, reliable grid for future generations. That means recognizing the importance of maintaining affordable, reliable energy sources like natural gas, as part of Illinois’ broader energy strategy.