Key takeaway: Chicago winter costs are predictable if you plan: Peoples Gas supply is 32.83 cents a therm in October 2026, federal forecasters expect Midwest gas heating bills to average $613 this winter (down 10%), and the overnight parking ban starts December 1.
Winter changes a Chicago budget in a few specific places: heat, getting around, and the car. Here’s what each one costs this season and the programs that help.
Heating with Peoples Gas
| Charge (residential heating, Rate 1) | October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Gas supply | $0.3283 per therm |
| Distribution | $0.46583 per therm |
| Storage | $0.08257 per therm |
| Customer charge | $25.81 a month |
Source: Peoples Gas natural gas rates, October 2026. The supply price changes every month and is about 8.5% higher than October 2025, per the Citizens Utility Board. Supply peaked last winter at 41.81 cents a therm in January 2026 (CUB), so expect it to climb as temperatures drop.
The good news: the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects Midwest households heating with natural gas to spend an average of $613 this winter, 10% less than last winter, with prices down 8% (EIA Winter Fuels Outlook).
The Peoples Gas rate case
Peoples Gas has asked state regulators for a delivery rate increase. It cut its request to $144 million in July 2026, which CUB estimated at about $6 to $8 a month, and an Illinois Commerce Commission Proposed Order recommends $66.2 million. The final decision is expected in November, with new rates around December (CUB). We’ll update this page when the ICC rules.
Help with heating bills
- Budget billing: Peoples Gas splits your estimated yearly cost into 12 equal payments for free, so January doesn’t hit as hard (Peoples Gas).
- Winter shutoff protection: from December 1 to March 31, Illinois limits disconnections for gas- and electric-heated homes when temperatures are forecast at or below 32 degrees, and utilities must offer a payment plan first (Shaw Local, citing the ICC).
- LIHEAP: Illinois’ energy assistance opened October 1 for priority groups (60 and older, people with disabilities, households with a child 5 or under, and households facing shutoff) and November 1 for everyone else. Apply by August 13, 2027 or until funds run out; call 1-833-711-0374 (Illinois DCEO).
| Household size | LIHEAP income limit (yearly) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $47,880 |
| 2 | $64,920 |
| 3 | $81,960 |
| 4 | $99,000 |
Source: Illinois DCEO, 2027 program year (300% of federal poverty guidelines, based on the 30 days before you apply); also reported by NBC Chicago.
Electricity in winter
ComEd’s price to compare is 10.103 cents per kWh from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027: 8.413 cents for supply and 1.69 cents for transmission. The transmission part changes again in January (Plug In Illinois). That’s a little lower than the summer price of 10.399 cents.
Winterize for less
| Program | What you get |
|---|---|
| Peoples Gas equipment rebates (2026) | $25 smart thermostat; $200 to $225 high-efficiency furnace; $300 to $500 boilers; $150 tankless water heater |
| Peoples Gas weatherization rebates | Air sealing up to $400 and attic insulation up to $500, $1,200 max per project, with an approved contractor |
| Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program | Free air sealing, insulation and furnace repair or replacement for households at or below 200% of poverty ($31,920 for one person) |
| Chicago Bungalow Association Home Energy Savings | Free home energy assessment and discounted products for households at or below 80% of area median income |
Source: Peoples Gas residential rebates; Peoples Gas weatherization rebates; Illinois DCEO weatherization; Chicago Bungalow Association.
Parking and snow bans
| Rule | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Winter overnight parking ban | December 1 to April 1, 3 a.m. to 7 a.m., snow or not | 107 miles of main streets |
| 2-inch snow parking ban | Any time 2 inches of snow is on the street | 500 miles of main streets |
Getting caught costs at least a $150 tow, $25 a day in storage and a $60 ticket (City of Chicago). Check the signs on your block before you park for the night.
Getting around in the cold
- CTA: a 30-day pass is still $75 (CTA), and outdoor L platforms have overhead heaters the CTA turns on in November (CTA).
- Rideshare: every Chicago ride carries a city surcharge, $1.13 citywide according to Uber, plus $1.50 in the downtown congestion zone from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (NBC Chicago) and $5 more to the airports, Navy Pier or McCormick Place.
- The math: at 10 rideshare trips a month, city surcharges alone add $11 to $26 before the fare itself. The CTA pass covers unlimited rides for $75.
Car costs in winter
- Winter tires: a set of four runs $400 to $1,200 before installation, according to AAA.
- Garage parking: SpotHero lists an average of about $190 a month in Chicago, with downtown garages from $135 to $320 (SpotHero). A garage spot also keeps you clear of the parking bans.
- For the full yearly picture, see what it costs to own a car in Chicago.
Sources
- Peoples Gas: natural gas rates
- CUB: gas market report, October 2026
- CUB: 2026 gas bill guide
- CUB: Peoples Gas rate case, October 2026
- EIA: Winter Fuels Outlook 2026-27
- Peoples Gas: budget billing
- Shaw Local: Illinois winter disconnection rule
- Illinois DCEO: LIHEAP
- Plug In Illinois: ComEd price to compare
- City of Chicago: winter parking restrictions
- CTA fares
- Uber: Chicago surcharges
- NBC Chicago: rideshare surcharge
- AAA: snow tire costs
- SpotHero: monthly parking
- Illinois DCEO: weatherization