Inflation and other rising costs have continued to cause financial strain on Lake County residents in recent months, and utility costs to run a household are no different.
Under that umbrella, the average resident in central Lake County has seen their gas bill triple since October, causing several residents to cut back their usage and reconsider their finances. While the time of year is a factor, natural gas prices are markedly higher when compared to last year’s winter.
According to data from North Shore Gas, one of the primary providers in the area, residents in Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills paid a little less than $76 in October on their gas bill, with that cost nearly doubling in November to almost $145. By January 2022, residents were paying almost $227 for gas on average.
Other data from North Shore Gas shows that based on the average residential gas bills for its entire pool of customers, January 2022 will be the most expensive month since January 2014, which at that time was due to the polar vortex — bringing the average bill to more than $255, officials said.
Officials with Nicor Gas, another major provider for central Lake County, show that for a typical customer who uses 825 therms during this winter heating season (defined as November through March), natural gas costs $770. This compares to last year, when the cost came in at about $455.
Another way to show the increase is the proportion of customers’ gas bills dedicated to the cost of natural gas. For Nicor specifically, between half to 60% of a customer’s bill will be to pay for the natural gas delivered to them. As it stands, that has grown to 70% given the recent supply and demand changes.
David Schwartz, spokesperson for North Shore Gas, said the elevated cost of gas, which some estimates showed was expected to triple in the winter, has been driving up bills.
Both Schwartz and Jennifer Golz, spokesperson for Nicor, said the companies do not profit from the increased cost of natural gas. Instead, it is a cost the companies pass on to customers.
“We’ve been proactive since early autumn about making our customers aware of elevated natural gas costs that would impact their bills,” Schwartz told Pioneer Press.
The increase in gas prices comes from a variety of global factors, including more demand on the stuff for other purposes, along with supply disruption and the winter weather that gripped the United States in early 2021, causing higher-than-normal usage. People staying home during the pandemic has also led to higher demand.
Golz said residents will begin to see a reduction on their bill as we move into February, with gas prices dropping down 20% when compared to December 2021. According to North Shore’s data, this decline from January to February would keep with the same trend for the previous decade.
That reduction is partially reflected in central Lake County residents’ bills, with the average household projected to pay a little less than $213 in February, which is about a 6% decrease from January, according to North Shore.
Mark Maurice of Mundelein has seen his gas bill quintuple since October, up to $156 in January from $30 in October. He said mixed with rising costs of other items, he and his wife have had to reevaluate their monthly budget. And with a 1-year-old, “every penny counts,” he said.
To pair with that, Maurice said his home’s ventilation isn’t the greatest, which makes temperature control more difficult. This has led the family to drop the temperature in their house by a few degrees, “just to try and save some money,” he said. His bill, which he gets through Nicor, has previously topped out at more than $90 once in the three years he’s lived in his house, he said.
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“I haven’t changed much in terms of how much we use (since we’ve been here),” he told Pioneer Press. “And this has been the only time the rates have gone up astronomically.”
Liz Pfiffner of Libertyville saw a similar trajectory, with her household’s bill going from about $41 in October to more than $158 in January. Living in an 1,800-square-foot home with three young kids, they keep the heat at 68 degrees, she said.
The bill alone has not affected her family’s financial position, she said. But the increase had led her to track her monthly bill instead of paying it automatically.
“If it doesn’t go down when the weather changes, that will be an issue,” she said.
State Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, said he’s heard concerns not just about rising gas prices, but inflation in general, which he said is affecting “virtually everyone.” As a result, he said he expects dealing with rising costs to be a primary focus of this year’s legislative session, which goes until April 8.
“Gas bills are part of that (increase), but it is a widespread reality of today’s economy,” Didech told Pioneer Press.
Crystal Scott, of Mundelein, said her bill went from about $53 to $110, which came to her as a “total shock.”
“I feel so bad for families who may not be able to afford such a huge and sudden increase,” Scott said. “I fear people will be forced to make hard decisions or take drastic measures if they can’t pay these unexpected utility bills.”
Michael Perlman of Libertyville saw his gas bill in January climb 30% higher when compared to the previous year, despite his usage being 10% lower. His bill, through North Shore Gas, also shows the average temperature at this time of year has stayed flat compared to last.
Perlman said the cost has not affected him materially because of his lifestyle, but he is now more mindful than ever of his discretionary spending.
“I’m also grateful I have the ability to reallocate my expenses and my heart goes out to those who can’t,” he said.
For those struggling to pay, both North Shore and Nicor have been actively promoting various programs that provide financial assistance. Golz said last year, Nicor directed $50 million in energy assistance.
” (Nicor customers) have options and resources to help them manage their bills,” Golz said. “This is something the company takes seriously.”
For more information on relief programs, visit Nicor or North Shore’s websites.