However, almost all gas used in the Sterling area comes from Natural Gas Pipeline of America. Electricity Commonwealth Edison supplies electricity to Sterling. Commonwealth Edison is one of the largest electric utilities in the country. Company owned generating capacity is in excess of 22 gigawatts. Water Water in Sterling is supplied by the Illinois American Water Company , a private utility.
Sterling has excess water capacity in amounts suitable for industrial users.
Water is sourced from five wells, with combined capacity of 5.2 million gallons per day. Present usage is 3.2 million gallons. Storage capacity is 1.7 million gallons. The waste water system in Sterling is municipally owned. The original design of the wastewater treatment facility allows for expansion to 9 million gallons per day.