"A proposed rate hike on gas in Chicago highlights a troubling nationwide trend."
"CHICAGO — Donna Carpenter, co-president of the community-led coalition POWER PAC-IL, has lived in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood for more than 10 years.
She spends much of her time attending rallies and advocating on behalf of low-income families in her community, where she raised six children and three grandchildren.
Since 2017, Carpenter said her natural gas service has been shut off twice by her utility provider, Peoples Gas, because she’s been unable to pay bills. Like her, many residents of Englewood, a predominantly Black and low-income neighborhood, are struggling to keep up with the city’s natural gas bills rising prices. In fact, nearly 49% of residents are behind on bills in the neighborhood, according to data filed by Peoples Gas with the Illinois Commerce Commission.
Yet as rates continue to rise, Carpenter said utilities aren’t looking out for marginalized communities."
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