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November 7, 2005
Naperville, Ill. – Nicor Gas announced today that it has filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission its gas supply charge (GSC) of $1.19 per therm for the month of November. This compares to the October GSC of $1.17, and .74 cents per therm last November.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) natural gas prices remain high, as a large volume of production continued to be shut in from the recent major hurricanes. "For the last five years, the natural gas market has been extremely tight. Any significant change in supply or demand, such as a storm that disrupts production, affects the market price of natural gas," said Gary Bartlett, vice president supply operations. Nicor Gas does not profit from high gas costs. The cost that Nicor pays for natural gas is passed on to customers with no mark up.
What Can Customers Expect this Winter?
The EIA projects that the average natural gas customer in the Midwest region can expect to pay nearly 61 percent more in natural gas expenditures relative to last winter. The company continues to strongly recommend that all customers consider joining its Budget Plan to spread the high natural gas costs expected this winter over a 12-month period. Nearly 500,000 customers are currently on the Budget Plan. "It's one thing that everyone should at least consider doing if they want to minimize the impact of higher bills this winter," said Chris Suppes, vice president of sales and customer care.
Nicor Joins With Government and Advocacy Groups in Consumer Outreach
The company is participating in more than 30 community energy assistance fairs to reach low-income customers with important messages about conservation, financial and other assistance programs that are available. At a majority of these events, agencies like the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services which administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will be present to help people apply for assistance. LIHEAP is a state and federally-funded program that assists households with incomes of up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level pay their energy bills. Open enrollment for LIHEAP began Tuesday, November 1, 2005. For additional information about the grant program, go to www.liheapillinois.com, or call the toll-free LIHEAP information line at 1-800-252-8643.
Nicor's Own Sharing Program Has Funds Available Now
Nicor has its own financial assistance program, which provides one-time annual grants to customers who currently earn up to two-hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level who has experienced a financial emergency such as a job loss. "The Nicor Sharing program can help customers who have difficulty paying their bills and may not be eligible for other financial assistance programs," said Suppes. The Sharing Program has more than $500,000 available. Customers who are interested in applying for Nicor Sharing assistance should call or visit their local Salvation Army office, which administers the program and is listed on the Web site at www.nicorgas.com.
Nicorgas.com Web site has Wealth of Material to Help Customers Manage Higher Bills
In an effort to share information on gas costs as Nicor Gas receives it, the company has updated its Web site to help our customer stay informed on how to manage bills through the winter heating season. New to the Web site is a winter planning guide, which helps customers assess what their bills could be for the heating season; a gas cost Q & A to answer customer questions and a section on why your bill may vary, to provide customers with information on billing. "The Web gives our customers access to us twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Our goal is to keep our customers informed, and the Nicor Gas Web site provides a wealth of information at the touch of a few buttons," said Suppes.
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. | 
