Peoples Gas Pipe Retirement Program construction gets underway

Peoples Gas Pipe Retirement Program construction gets underway

Illinois Commerce Commission directed Peoples Gas to retire more than1,000 miles of pipe to ensure ongoing safety and reliability

CHICAGO — Work crews began active construction to retire old energy pipes from Chicago’s heating system. The iron pipes in the current system are approaching the end of their useful lives. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) directed Peoples Gas to do the work to ensure ongoing safety and reliability in the city’s heating system.

For the five weeks, construction is scheduled to begin on a rolling basis in parts of 10 neighborhoods:

Budlong Woods

Chatham

Cragin

Garfield Ridge

Irving Woods

Marquette Park

Old Irving Park

Rosemoor

Schorsch Village

West Englewood

The construction will include excavation to access old energy pipes beneath streets, sidewalks and parkways — and install new pipes where necessary. Digging on customers’ lawns will be more limited, as crews connect each building to the modernized system.

Pre-construction crews have been out in these neighborhoods over the past few months, preparing for the work ahead and talking with residents and businesses about it. Peoples Gas has also debriefed local alderpeople on the work plans, so the elected officials know what to expect and can help keep their constituents informed.

The ICC has directed Peoples Gas to retire more than 1,000 miles of old pipes by the end of 2034.

Ensuring safe, reliable, environmentally sustainable heat

Modernizing Chicago’s heating system brings significant safety, performance and environmental benefits, including:

Stronger material: New high-tech plastic pipes better withstand Chicago’s freeze-and-thaw cycles, and resist corrosion.

Emergency shut-off access: Valves are immediately accessible to first responders in case of an emergency.

Stopping leaks: Modern pipes reduce methane emissions and improve air quality.

Decarbonized energy: Modern pipes position Chicago to continue using renewable natural gas, and carbon-free hydrogen in the future.

Similar critical work will occur in more Chicago neighborhoods later this year and in coming years, as old pipes nearing the end of their useful lives exist across the city. Peoples Gas will use a thorough risk assessment of all pipes in the system to ensure the ones most at risk are removed from use as quickly as possible.

For more information and to ask questions about the work, Chicagoans can go to the Pipe Retirement Program page on the Peoples Gas website.

Peoples Gas, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), is a regulated natural gas delivery company that serves more than 894,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the city of Chicago. Find more information about natural gas safety, energy efficiency and other energy-related topics at peoplesgasdelivery.com. Follow us on X and Facebook @peoplegaschi.

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