April 14, 2005
Naperville, Ill. -- Nicor Gas announced today it filed a gas supply charge (GSC) of 76 cents per therm with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for April 2005, up from March GSC of 64 cents per therm. The GSC is the cost Nicor Gas pays for the gas, which is passed through to customers with no mark up.
In typical weather, the average residential customer bill in April is $83, compared with $125 in March. And with the recent warm weather, April bills could be lower by comparison. Still, Nicor Gas wants customers to recognize that the higher price environment of the past several years continues, and is likely to for at least the next several years. One factor impacting April's increase is the high cost of oil, which drives demand for natural gas.
Customers Have A Choice
Customers are also reminded that they have a choice in selecting their natural gas supplier. Currently, there are 10 residential and 13 commercial suppliers providing alternatives to buying from Nicor Gas.
In 2002, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved Nicor Gas' Customer Select program, allowing customers to select their own natural gas supplier. Customer Select is a completely voluntary program.
Depending on the supplier, customers will find some offers that "lock in" their gas cost for a period of time, and other offers where gas costs vary from month-to-month (like the Nicor Gas' GSC). By comparing offers, customers may or may not be able to save money on the cost of natural gas. Supplier costs may depend on several factors including the amount of gas used, the terms of the agreement with the supplier and the natural gas market.
Occasionally, suppliers participating in the Customer Select program may call or visit customer homes to market their current offers, particularly at this time of year. Nicor Gas reminds customers to be aware that these suppliers are not Nicor Gas employees and customers are not obligated to purchase anything from them. Nicor Gas recommends customers ask to see company identification of any person coming to their door.
Customers who participate in the Customer Select program will still have Nicor Gas as their service provider, which includes service calls, emergency response, natural gas delivery, meter reading and related services. For more information on Customer Select and a list of current suppliers, visit http://www.nicorgas.com/ and click on Choosing Your Supplier.
Financial Help Available to Customers
In this era of higher natural gas costs, customers should know that there are a variety of financial assistance programs available, including government and social service assistance programs for lower-income customers as well as payment programs that all customers can access. People having difficulties can learn more about these programs at http://www.nicorgas.com/ or by calling Nicor Gas' toll-free number at 1 888 Nicor4u (642-6748).
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 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. For more information, visit the Nicor Web site at http://www.nicorgas.com/. | 
