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February 6, 2006
Naperville, Ill. – Nicor Gas today announced that it has filed a Gas Supply Charge (GSC) for the month of February of 94 cents per therm. The GSC reflects the cost Nicor Gas pays for gas, which is passed through to sales customers with no mark-up. The GSC has decreased from January's $1.09 per therm, but is higher than the February 2005 GSC of 67 cents per therm.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), over the past month, natural gas prices have decreased due to ongoing unseasonably mild temperatures in most regions of the United States.
"The price for natural gas goes up and down based on the balance between supply and demand and weather is one of the biggest influencers on demand. The recent warmer than normal temperatures have resulted in a decrease in demand, therefore natural gas prices have come down as well," said Gary Bartlett, vice president supply operations.
What Can Customers Expect?
A colder than normal December and warmer than normal January demonstrate how unpredictable weather can be. "We can't predict the weather, but we do know that the winter heating is generally over by the end of March. Historically, prices tend to drop somewhat after January, under normal weather conditions," said Bartlett.
"Although natural gas prices have decreased, customers should continue to practice energy efficiency habits in their homes," said Rocco D'Alessandro, senior vice president Operations. There are available programs to help customers manage the remainder of this winter heating season bills. For example, the Budget Plan is a payment option that can assist in managing higher winter gas bills and customers can easily sign-up for the program right on their bills. The Budget Plan helps customers plan ahead by spreading payments over a 12 month period. (Budget Plans are evaluated every four months to update gas prices and usage.)
Financial Assistance
Lower-income customers who earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level may be eligible for a matching grant from the Nicor Gas Sharing Program. The Sharing Program is administered by the Salvation Army and funded by direct contributions from customers, employees and Nicor Gas. "This program is intended to help those customers who need financial assistance but may not be eligible to receive aid from other programs," said D'Alessandro.
New to the Web Site
Throughout this winter heating season, Nicor Gas has continued to add new facets to its Web site to help customers stay informed about gas costs and provide them with tools that can help them make informed decisions about their home energy usage. New to the Web site this month is Energy Depot, a suite of online software that includes the following:
- Personal Energy Profile (Home Energy Audit) – Customers can plug in their gas and electric billing history and fill out an energy-use questionnaire to receive their Personal Energy Profile online. The profile will include a month-to-month energy usage in both dollars and energy units, a pie chart showing the annual energy cost for all home energy systems and appliances, a table showing cost and percentage of total energy cost by fuel type and specific recommendations for using energy more efficiently including an estimate of the annual estimated cost savings.
- The Energy Calculator – This allows customers to quickly determine the cost and annual energy use for operating a wide range of home appliances. The calculator includes natural gas and electricity comparison options. This is a great tool to use when purchasing new appliances.
- The Energy Library – The Library is an organized set of fact sheets on home energy topics, and includes the top 100 frequently asked questions and answers regarding home energy use.
To try out Energy Depot or get more information on gas costs, financial assistance programs or conservation methods please visit www.nicorgas.com.
Nicor Gas is one of the nation's largest gas distribution companies. Owned by Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) a holding company, Nicor Gas has provided safe and reliable natural gas services for over 50 years. The Company serves two million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. | 
