Members of the City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy hear from Peoples Gas President Torrence Hinton (bottom right) Monday. [Livestream]

Representatives from Peoples Gas Company and labor groups associated with the utility company defended a $402 million rate increase request as necessary for modernizing pipeline infrastructure to ensure the safety of the gas delivery system during a hearing before the City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy Monday. 

During the same subject matter hearing, watchdog groups argued that Peoples Gas was not responsibly managing its pipeline modernization program, criticizing the program for its cost estimates shifting from $2 billion to $11 billion while not demonstrating expected safety improvements.