Winter storms in Texas are driving up utility costs in Illinois and other Midwest states. | Stock Photo
Winter storms in Texas are driving up utility costs in Illinois and other Midwest states. | Stock Photo
Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Champaign) said that help is coming for communities grappling with natural gas bills that are massive and unexpected.
The Illinois Finance Authority was scheduled to meet on Feb. 24 to discuss a $15 million loan program pushed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and how impacted communities could obtain financial assistance.
Much media coverage has been dedicated to Texas' struggles from the recent winter storms that devastated the state and resulted in massive utility bill spikes.
However, the storm's impact on natural gas producers has resulted in utility bill spikes in Midwest states, including Illinois.
The Panhandle Pipeline for natural gas originates in Texas and serves other states.
Some bills are 100 times their regular costs in Illinois. In some communities, these costs could mean monthly natural gas bills that are substantially higher than what they would typically pay for a year.
While the loan program is a start, it is not intended to be a complete fix.
The Platt County Journal-Republican reported that federal lawmakers are looking to the federal government to help impacted Midwest communities.
Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) has called for an investigation into the spikes of natural gas prices.
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