In a letter to the editor of Crain's Business Chicago, United's Samarth Medakkar advocates that the Illinois Commerce Commission's decision to suspend the Peoples Gas' pipe replacement program was in the best interest of Illinois consumers, responding to an op-ed published in support of the program.
Late last month, the Illinois Commerce Commission suspended Peoples Gas' pipe replacement and ordered an investigation into this program, which is responsible for an increase in rates since work began in 2011. The call to restart the program in the op-ed "The ICC needs to restart Peoples Gas' pipeline replacement immediately" (Nov. 29) is shortsighted, and doesn't factor in the surge in market trends toward home electrification technologies, driven by consumer choice.