By Greg Bishop - Illinois Radio Network The extreme winter weather and sub-zero temperatures are causing power outages in some areas and natural gas price spikes in others. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has declared a disaster after the recent winter storm. Some central Illinois natural gas customers this weekend were told by local officials a unit of natural gas costing $3 could increase to $600. In one statement from Utility Gas Management, a management service for municipally-owned natural gas systems, a representative said “this has never happened before.” “We need everyone to lower their natural gas usage to prevent even further potential penalties from occurring,” said Ron Ragan of Utility Gas Management. “Failure to reduce your usage could have an even further negative impact on your gas costs. Everyone can play a part in keeping costs in check. This has never happened before.”