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July 3, 2001
Naperville, Ill. – Nicor Gas has joined hands with LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) in creating the Hand-in-Hand Program, a unique way for qualifying customers to exchange community service to reduce their outstanding gas bills. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) is funding the Hand-in-Hand pilot program through LIHEAP with a $460,000 grant.
The Hand-in-Hand program includes the Adopt-a-Family component, which allows senior citizens and disabled individuals to take advantage of the program through volunteer hours that are donated by individuals in the community. The program is designed to bring participants' natural gas account balances to zero before the next heating season begins. As a pilot program, Hand-in-Hand is being conducted in selected service areas, and will run from July 2 through September 30, 2001.
"Last winter's high heating costs ran up bills beyond the financial means of many low-income people," said Governor George H. Ryan in his recent announcement of the Hand-in-Hand program. "Although we continue to seek additional federal dollars to help these Illinois families pay their delinquent heating bills, we also are looking for alternative ways to help them erase the debt. This program offers a way to pay the bills and retain dignity."
Eligible customers will pay their outstanding natural gas bills by exchanging each hour they volunteer their services at a not-for-profit organization, and/or participate in approved work experience or job training skills development activities, and/or attend a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) training program, for a $10 per hour reduction of their Nicor Gas account balance.
To obtain the Hand-in-Hand benefit, participants must complete all hours necessary to bring their account balance to zero. The maximum benefit participants may earn is $750. If a participant owes more than $750, then their account balance must be paid down to $750 before participation is accepted. Understanding the daily time constraints on many individuals, the program allows for any family member in the household over the age of 18 to complete the hours necessary to obtain the Hand-in-Hand benefit.
The Adopt-a-Family component of the Hand-in-Hand program allows senior citizens and disabled customers to have access to these benefits. Volunteers in the various communities are donating their current community service time to reduce the account balances of Adopt-a-Family participants, at the rate of $10 for each volunteer hour.
"We understand the financial struggle that many of our customers have faced since last winter's unprecedented high gas costs," said Tom Fisher, chairman, president and CEO of Nicor Gas. "Even with LIHEAP and other programs, some low-income customers still need additional help to pay off their account balances. We created the Hand-in-Hand program to provide this additional assistance so these customers can reach a zero balance before the next heating season."
The Hand-in-Hand pilot program is being conducted in certain zip codes within the following selected areas of the Nicor service territory: Aurora, Kankakee, Joliet, Rockford, Proviso Township (and Cicero, Berwyn) and portions of South Cook County. Qualified customers in these areas have been pre-screened and notified of their participation opportunity. "We hope the Hand-in-Hand pilot program is successful this year, and we will be able to expand it into additional service areas next year," says Margi Schiemann, community relations director at Nicor Gas.
The Hand-In-Hand program has partnered with several not-for-profit organizations that will serve as community service locations. "We welcome these organizations as beneficiaries of volunteer hours," states Schiemann. "Without their participation, there would be no Hand-in-Hand program or means by which customers can exchange hours for dollars." These organizations include: United Way of Aurora; United Way of Kankakee County; United Way of South Cook County; United Way of Will County; The Salvation Army serving Aurora, Cicero, Joliet, Kankakee, Norridge, Rockford, and Chicago Heights; Kankakee County Community Services; City of Rockford Human Services Department; City of Chicago Heights; CEDA (Center for Community Action) in Harvey and Robbins; and Sertoma Center, Inc.
Nicor Gas serves nearly 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 reliable natural gas services for more than 45 years. Nicor (NYSE: GAS) is a holding company. Its principal businesses are Nicor Gas, one of the nation's largest gas distribution companies, and Tropical Shipping, a containerized shipping business that operates between Florida and the Caribbean. Nicor also owns several energy-related subsidiaries and is a partner in Nicor Energy, a provider of unregulated energy products and services. For more information, visit the Nicor Web site at www.nicor.com. | 
