Progress continues in critical upgrade of Chicago’s natural gas delivery system.


Progress continues in critical upgrade of Chicago’s natural gas delivery system.

Peoples Gas reports second-quarter construction data to State of Illinois.

CHICAGO — The Peoples Gas program to modernize Chicago’s antiquated natural gas delivery system continued steady progress in the second quarter of 2022. Data from the
quarter has been reported to the Illinois Commerce Commission as part of the commission’s extensive oversight of the Safety Modernization Program.

Under the Safety Modernization Program, Peoples Gas is replacing corroding iron pipes
— that date back as far as the 1800s — with modern pipeline. The Program is on budget, as it has been since 2015 when the current owners of Peoples Gas started managing the company. And the progress of work in the 30-year program spanning every Chicago neighborhood is on schedule.

Highlights from 2022’s second quarter include:

 Grand Avenue — At request of the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), crews accelerated the installation of natural gas main along Grand Avenue between Chicago and Damen avenues to make way for a roadresurfacing project. Peoples Gas finished work well ahead of schedule, allowing CDOT to begin its road upgrades in early summer instead of September.

 Cragin — Peoples Gas moved up one of the phases of its construction in Cragin to coordinate work with sewer upgrades planned by the Chicago Department of
Water Management. The coordination of scheduling will reduce inconvenience to residents and businesses, and costs.

Key second quarter metrics include:
 More than 30 miles of new gas main installed.
 Cost per mile of gas main installed across 15 city neighborhoods is on budget.
 More than 3,900 gas meters moved from inside homes to outside.
 Cost per meter move is under budget.

Safety Modernization Program
An independent engineering study ordered by the State of Illinois found more than 80% of the iron natural gas pipes beneath Chicago’s streets have an average remaining life
of less than 15 years. Many of the pipes are from the 1800s.

The Safety Modernization Program is a mandatory safety initiative. It also is crucial for the reliable delivery of energy to keep Chicagoans warm, to replace pipes that harm the
environment by leaking methane, and to position Chicago for a clean energy future in which renewable natural gas and hydrogen may someday heat our homes and fuel the
economy.

Peoples Gas plans to modernize the natural gas delivery system in every Chicago neighborhood. In 2022, work is planned for 15 neighborhoods and 75 individual work
sites. Projects will begin in two new neighborhoods: Rosemoor and Irving Woods.

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