Natural Gas Outages in Illinois by City
75.3% of Illinois homes heat with utility gas, one of the highest shares in the country, so a gas outage in winter is a heating emergency for most households.
Natural gas in Illinois
Source: Census ACS 2020–2024, table B25040.
- Home heating: 75.3% of 5,036,449 occupied homes heat mainly with utility gas (US 46.5%), 2nd highest of 50 states. Electricity heats 18.6%, propane 4.2%, fuel oil 0.1%. Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 (table B25040)
- Residential gas customers, 2024: 4,002,563 (US 73,719,064). Source: EIA, natural gas residential consumers by state
- Residential price, 2024: $11.11 per thousand cubic feet, against $14.50 nationally; 37th of 50 states (1 = most expensive). Source: EIA, residential natural gas prices by state
- Cities we track: gas heat is most common in Elgin (86.2% of homes) and least common in Champaign (51%). Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 (table B25040)
- Winter weather record: 3,712 NOAA reports of winter storms, ice, heavy snow or extreme cold in Illinois from 2015 through 2025, most in 2022 (599); January is the peak month.
- Storm damage to gas lines: NOAA narratives mention natural gas lines, leaks or service in 2 storm episodes in Illinois since 2015. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
- July 24, 2025, Cook (thunderstorm wind): “Power lines were blown down next to a gas station on Ogden Avenue, causing two main gas lines to ignite.” Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
- Housing age: half of Illinois homes were built before 1971 (US 1980), so many neighborhoods still sit on older cast iron or bare steel gas mains. Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 (table B25035)
Illinois is 3rd most expensive of 6. Source: EIA.
Elgin: 86.2%. Source: Census ACS 2020–2024, table B25040.
Busiest year: 2022 (599). Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Checked September 2026.
Who to call in Illinois, city by city
Listed for Illinois: Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas. Call the one on your bill; our natural gas outage guide covers the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a natural gas outage in Illinois right now?
Not on this site: no reports from Illinois in the last 24 hours.
How many homes in Illinois heat with natural gas?
Census ACS 2020–2024 estimates show 75.3% of Illinois occupied homes heat mainly with utility gas, against 46.5% nationally. EIA counts 4,002,563 residential gas customers (2024).
How much does natural gas cost in Illinois?
The average residential price in 2024 was $11.11 per thousand cubic feet, against $14.50 nationally (EIA).
When are gas outages most likely in Illinois?
During cold snaps. NOAA logged 3,712 winter storm, ice and extreme cold reports in Illinois from 2015 through 2025, most of them in January.
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works