A government gas ban in Illinois could saddle homeowners with tens of thousands of dollars in added costs, according to a new analysis by the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA). Legislation introduced by state Sen. Celina Villanueva and backed by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson aims to prohibit natural gas hookups in new buildings, but critics warn it could devastate household budgets and the state economy.
Marc Brown, CEA’s vice president of state affairs, estimates the average homeowner would pay around $55,000 to retrofit a house for full electrification. That includes new panels, appliances, heat pumps, and the removal of natural gas furnaces. In total, Illinois households could see $7.6 billion in added utility costs statewide—roughly $2,631 per home.
Brown argues the ban is being pushed by extreme ideological interests, not by consumer demand. “They don’t want to be told what to do,” he said. “It just comes from the fringe when it comes to these draconian mandates.”
The manufacturing and agricultural sectors would also be hit hard. Manufacturers in Illinois use over 25% of the state’s natural gas, while farmers rely on it for essential processes like crop drying. Banning natural gas in these industries would drive costs even higher and threaten productivity.
The state’s power grid, already under strain, could face new reliability issues. PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, warns energy demand is rising as supply falls—driven by data center growth, AI development, and green energy mandates. PJM cited declining supply from decarbonization policies and economic shifts.
Despite natural gas being a major contributor to falling U.S. emissions, environmental groups backing the ban argue electrification is essential. However, the CEA warns that eliminating gas would deepen energy poverty and worsen grid reliability.
