Attorney General Lisa Madigan 500 S. Second Street Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Attorney General Madigan:
Recently, Governor Quinn declared that an emergency exists in Illinois due to a nationwide shortage of propane for heating homes. The unusually cold weather this winter has stretched supplies to the breaking point and has made it necessary for unconventional actions to be taken in order to protect the health and safety of Illinois residents enduring these weather conditions. These actions have included waiving certain licensing requirements for drivers transporting propane into the state, and lifting some safety restrictions on the time and distance these drivers can travel.
As news of the shortage has spread, and the anxiety of local residents who depend on propane for heat has grown, so has the possibility of improper actions by sellers of propane during this time of urgent need. Some members of the General Assembly have heard anecdotal reports of price-gouging toward farmers and other consumers, as well as stories of companies seeking to use the crisis to break contracts or otherwise engage in outrageous business practices to take advantage of this shortage for financial gain.
We urge you and your office to act in the best interests of the citizens of Illinois and do all within your power to protect consumers from these tactics for the duration of the emergency. We appreciate the efforts your office has made in the field of consumer protection in the past, and hope to see continued vigilance against these unscrupulous business practices should they occur now.
Sincerely,
State Representative David Reis State Representative John Cavaletto
State Representative Norine Hammond State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer
State Representative Bill Mitchell State Repesentative Dwight Kay
State Representative Chad Hays State Representative Mike Bost
State Representative Joe Sosnowski State Representative Mike Unes
State Representative Dan Brady State Representative Keith Sommer
State Representative Bob Pritchard State Representative Michael McAuliffe
State Representative David Leitch State Representative Brad Halbrook
State Representative Adam Brown State Representative Wayne Rosenthal
State Representative Raymond Poe State Representative Don Moffitt
State Representative Charlie Meier State Representative John Anthony
State Representative Josh Harms