Reading your bill

Important phone numbers: Important contact information to connect with Customer Service, make payments and report a natural gas emergency. Spanish and telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) options also are available.

Bill date: Date your bill was generated.

Account number: Your unique customer identification number. You will need this number when you contact Customer Service and to sign up for My Account and/or our app.

Next meter read date: Date in the future when your meter will be read to generate the following month’s bill.

Amount due: Amount due to Peoples Gas for service provided during the billing period.

Payment due date: Date your payment is due.

Customer name: Primary account holder.

Service address: Location where natural gas service is provided.

Previous Balance: Remaining amount owed or balance carried over from the previous billing period.

Payment: Amount paid last billing period.

Balance: Difference between Previous Balance and Payment.

Total Current Charges: Total amount charged for current billing period.

Total Current Balance: If your balance was not $0.00, that credit or charge will be applied to the Total Current Charges to determine the Total Current Balance on your account.

Service Classification: The rate under which you receive service. Find information about natural gas rates on our Rates webpage.

Unique meter identification number associated with the property or premises.

Meter reading can be actual, estimated or customer supplied.

Actual:

• Use data from the meter reading provided by Peoples Gas.
• Registered users can submit a meter reading online if they receive an estimated read each month. It will appear on the bill as Actual.

Estimated:

• Estimated read based on the customer’s historical use pattern.

To calculate the amount of gas you used this billing period, the previous reading is subtracted from the current reading. That difference is the amount of “centum cubic feet” (CCF) of natural gas you used. It is the number you have the most control over on your bill. The lower you can keep this number, the lower your bill will be.

Your gas meter records the volume of gas you use in cubic feet (CCF). Since the heat energy contained in natural gas can vary slightly, CCF is converted to therms by applying the heat factor (BTU). A therm is a measurement of the heat energy in natural gas that is used to calculate your charges located in the next section of your bill.

Fixed charge: Includes the customer charge that pays for the costs associated with making service available to customers and additional surcharges/adjustments under the Public Utilities Act.

Customer charge: The customer charge covers many of the fixed costs to deliver safe and reliable natural gas. These costs exist regardless of how much gas a customer uses. Fixed costs include expenses related, but not limited to:

• Natural gas mains and other infrastructure that is required to deliver natural gas (i.e., pipes in the ground)
• Labor required to maintain the natural gas main
• Labor and supplies to read the meter
• Qualified people to respond to natural gas emergencies

Distribution charge: The volumetric distribution charge varies each month based on how many therms of gas you use.

Storage service charge: The storage charge covers some of the costs associated with storing natural gas. We buy natural gas when the prices are low and store it for use during high-demand times such as winter months to avoid paying higher market prices.

Gas charge: The gas charge is for the purchase, transportation and storage of gas, as well as the management of gas supplies for our customers. This charge includes the actual price we pay to purchase natural gas from suppliers, including the costs of interstate pipeline transportation and storage services. These charges may vary each month, depending on the market price of natural gas. Because this charge is based on the amount of gas used (therms), you have more control over reducing this amount. Note: Peoples Gas does not profit from the price of gas. We pass our cost on to you without a markup. This charge reflects our actual cost for gas.

Energy Efficiency Program: A charge to fund the energy efficiency and on-bill financing program mandated by law. The programs offer incentive for customers to make energy-saving improvements to their homes or businesses and finance certain energy-efficient appliances. Explore ways to take advantage of this program by visiting our Ways to Save page.

Environmental charge: A charge that pays for the remediation of past manufactured gas plant operations. This charge changes periodically.

UEA – Gas Cost Adjustment: This adjustment pays for uncollectible natural gas supply-related expenses.

Volume balancing adjustment: An adjustment made to natural gas bills April through December to balance actual delivery service revenues with approved annual revenue levels based on predicted normal weather. This adjustment separates the amount we charge to deliver natural gas from customers’ energy use and taxes. Generally, when weather is colder than normal, customers will receive a credit. When it’s warmer than normal, customers will receive a charge. The adjustment relates only to the cost for delivering gas to you. It does not affect charges for the natural gas you use.

Tax cost adjustment: A charge or credit that is passed along to customers for the Variable Income Tax Adjustment and Invested Capital Tax Adjustment riders.

Low Income Discount Adjustment: The Low Income Discount Adjustment pays for the Low Income Discount credit, which pays for a percentage of a qualified customer’s bill. This program was implemented in 2024 as required by the Illinois Commerce Commission. This monthly charge appears on all bills, whether you are on the Low Incomer Discount program or not.

Chicago Municipal Tax: The tax imposed by the City of Chicago.

State Tax: Illinois gross revenue tax is mandated by the State of Illinois to fund the Illinois Commerce Commission.

State Gas Revenue Tax: Either 5% of current charges before taxes or $0.024 per therm, whichever is lower.

Account summary with natural gas use and cost-comparison graphs: Information about your natural gas use during the bill period noted and monthly comparisons. This section contains information that can be used to understand why your bill may be different from the previous month or year.

Bill period: Dates of natural gas service reflected in this month’s bill.

Billing days: Number of days of service in the billing period.

Average temperature: Average temperature during the billing period.

Heating and cooling degree days: Measurement that reflects the effects of weather on your heating and cooling needs. Daily degree days are calculated by comparing the average daily temperature to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. More degree days mean more energy is used to heat or cool your home.

Therms used: Amount of natural gas in therms you used during the defined billing period.

Utility gas cost: Price Peoples Gas pays per therm for natural gas.

Important messages and highlights about service and programs. Additional information can be found in bill inserts, on our website and in customer emails.

To pay your bill by mail, remove the payment stub at the dotted line and return with a check or money order in the included envelope.

Write the amount you are paying in the Amount Enclosed box. To automatically contribute monthly to the Share the Warmth program, mark the checkbox provided and add $1 to your payment.

The payment mailing address is provided for your convenience. It should display in the envelope’s window.

Other convenient payment options are available. Learn more.