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January 4, 2002
Nicor Gas' Customer Select® program, which lets customers choose their natural gas supplier, received final approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to move from the pilot stage to a permanent program. Approval was granted at a hearing held on January 3. Customer Select becomes available to all of Nicor Gas' two million customers in March 2002.
"The ICC's ruling is a meaningful milestone for our customers and us because it signifies the graduation of Customer Select from a pilot program to a part of our everyday business," said Phil Cali, Executive Vice President, Nicor. "Nicor believes in giving customers the freedom to choose their natural gas supplier. Through Customer Select, competing energy suppliers will give consumers more choices in services and pricing plans."
Beginning in February, Nicor Gas customers will see more information about Customer Select, how it works and how they can determine if the program is right for them. Direct mail will be sent to all residential and business customers over several weeks starting in mid-February. In addition, there will be special bill inserts; radio, print and outdoor ads; and information posted at www.nicor.com.
The official launch of Customer Select follows a successful four-year pilot program. The pilot was designed to give customers and suppliers experience with how natural gas supply would function in a deregulated retail environment.
Participation in the program is voluntary. Customers who choose not to switch suppliers simply do nothing, and Nicor Gas will continue to serve them. And, while Customer Select allows consumers to choose an alternate natural gas supplier, Nicor Gas will continue to respond to service and emergency calls, and to provide gas delivery, meter reading, pipeline maintenance and related services.
"A survey of pilot participants shows that customers strongly support the Customer Select program," said John Madziarczyk, director of rate projects for Nicor Gas. "Approximately 85 percent of pilot participants said the enrollment process was easy and almost two-thirds of participants believe they are better off for having the ability to choose between suppliers."
By the end of the fourth year of the pilot, there were more than 130,000 customers participating in Customer Select. This represents more than 24 percent of eligible residential customers and 36 percent of business customers, making the Customer Select program one of the largest and most successful in the Midwest.
Launched in 1998, the Customer Select pilot allowed all small to mid-size businesses customers and more than 270,000 residential customers in 16 communities (Addison, Bloomingdale, Bloomington, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Downers Grove, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Joliet, Lockport, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Normal, Rockford, Roscoe and Wheaton) the opportunity to choose an alternate natural gas supplier. Large industrial customers have been able to choose their supplier since 1985.
Nicor Gas serves two million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. The company has provided safe, reliable and cost-effective natural gas services for more than 45 years. Nicor Gas is one of the nation's largest gas distribution companies. For more information, visit the Nicor Web site at www.nicor.com. |
