Illinois PIRG

02/20/2026

ICYMI: On January 31st, we hosted a Clean Energy Home Tour in Champaign, IL with partners Prairie Rivers Network, Illinois Green Alliance, Faith in Place, Environment Illinois and Build Equinox. It was a great time talking with Champaign residents about home electrification. You can read the recap and find out about future clean energy home tours on our website.

On January 31, 2026 homeowner Alex Long gave Champaign residents walk-through of his electrified home and cost savings

02/14/2026

Love clean energy? This Valentine's Day tell us how much you love clean energy homes.

From heat pumps to solar panels, energy efficiency and clean energy technologies are giving many of us more reasons to love our homes!

01/22/2026

Join Illinois PIRG, Prairie Rivers Network, Illinois Green Alliance, Faith in Place, Environment Illinois and Build Equinox for a home electrification tour. Free snacks, drinks, and lots of information on energy efficient home heating!

01/19/2026

If its most recent rate hike proposal is approved, Nicor rates will have risen 170% in under a decade. As gas heating bills continue to rise, we are bringing Nicor customers together for a community discussion.

We’ll discuss the future of gas for home heating in Illinois and how to move towards safer, cleaner, energy to heat our homes.

The Future of Gas in Illinois: A discussion for a cleaner, healthier future
Date: Saturday, January 31st
Time: 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Location: Nordlof Center, 118 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61101
RSVP: https://pirg.org/illinois/edfund/events/the-future-of-gas-in-illinois-a-discussion-for-a-cleaner-healthier-future/

Free and open to all. Families are welcome. Food and resources provided.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us on January 31st, 2026 to unpack how gas bills are becoming increasingly unaffordable, the ways gas utilities impact our communities, and what accountability really looks like.

10/17/2025

Nicor Gas is pushing for a $314 million rate hike—what would be the largest gas utility rate hike in Illinois history. Illinois PIRG and our allies have identified more than $150 million that could be cut by eliminating wasteful spending and excessive profits. Tell regulators to slash the Nicor rate hike:

Nicor Gas is pushing a $317 million rate hike -- what would be the largest gas utility rate hike in Illinois history.

08/18/2025

Illinois home and auto insurance rates are spiking. Now more than ever, it's time for Illinois to adopt commonsense consumer protections.

Now more than ever, it's time for Illinois to adopt commonsense consumer protections.

08/15/2025

State Farm's $523 million homeowners insurance rate hike goes into effect today for existing customers. If you are one of the almost 1.5 million Illinoisan's whose home is insured by State Farm, you could see an increase in your renewal of up to 40%. Contact your state legislators today to let them know you support insurance reform now.

Home and auto insurance rates are out of control. We need insurance reform now.

05/19/2025

It’s time to remove unnecessary barriers so more Illinoisans can access the benefits of solar power. That’s why Illinois PIRG and Environment Illinois are calling on state lawmakers to stand up for consumers and cut red tape by passing the Residential Automated Solar Permitting Act sponsored by state Senator Bill Cunningham and State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr..

A new Illinois bill would implement instant solar permitting and end cumbersome permitting procedures that add delays and costs.

04/15/2025

We've got a new report out today - Red Tape and Rooftop Solar: How instant permitting can help more Illinois families go solar faster.

Among the results: The state is viewed as ‘a very good market because of all the incentives, but an absolute nightmare to operate in.’

10/16/2024

Gas-powered lawn equipment such as leaf blowers are noisy and highly polluting. Check out the new interactive map highlighting some Illinois communities that are beginning the transition towards cleaner, quieter, all-electric lawn equipment. https://pirg.org/illinois/edfund/resources/interactive-map-of-lawn-mower-and-leaf-blower-policies/

08/27/2024

A typical household in Illinois stands to save an average of $82 annually on utility bills over the next two decades, thanks to newly updated national appliance efficiency standards, according to analysis released by Illinois PIRG and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP).

National appliance efficiency standards save money for consumers and businesses, cut water waste and reduce pollution

07/31/2024

Check out the new map of plastic production facilities here in Illinois.

New map reveals that pre-production microplastics are produced in over half of U.S. states. This map can help identify potential plastic pellet pollution spots near you.