Nicor Gas Joins With Government and Advocacy Groups in Consumer Outreach

Energy Fairs provide customers with access to financial assistance and conservation information

November 9, 2005
NAPERVILLE – Nicor Gas announced it will participate in more than 30 energy fairs throughout its service territory, this winter heating season. The energy fairs serve as a venue where customers can check financial assistance eligibility, as well as sign-up onsite for payment-assistance programs and receive energy-saving tips they can implement in their home. Nicor Gas also announced its participation in other initiatives, such as the Good Samaritan Program and special assistance for customers currently without service.

At the energy fairs Nicor Gas will display a tabletop exhibit of a family home with key energy savings tips customers can implement in their homes. To engage the younger audience, Nicor Gas will hand out coloring pages of the display to children while their parents seek information from Nicor representatives. These energy fairs offer local residents a convenient location where they can go and get one on one attention and receive the information they need to help manage energy costs this winter," said Chris Suppes, vice president of sales and customer care.

Nicor representatives will be on hand to discuss the company's payment-assistance programs, including:

• Budget Plan –spreads payments over a 12-month period and may be adjusted up or down every four months to correct for future gas prices and expected usage. This helps customers by allowing them to pay less during the winter when gas prices are usually higher.
• Nicor Sharing – provides one-time annual grants to qualified residential customers.  The program is administered by the Salvation Army and is funded by direct contributions from customers, employees and Nicor Gas. Customers can make donations via their monthly gas bill.
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – Customers will be able to determine if they are eligible and can complete an application and sign-up for payment programs. Other federal, state and local government entities that provide assistance to low-income customers will also be on hand to discuss their programs.

To apply for LIHEAP applicants must bring the following documents with them:

• Most recent Nicor bills. Date of issue must be within the previous 30 days. Bill must be in the name of the applicant.
• Social Security Cards for all household members. (Official Printout from Social Security Office is acceptable.)
• Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members: i.e., employment check stubs, current 2005 SSA/SSI or pension award letter, unemployment compensation check stubs, TANF (code 04, 06) card, self-employment ledger, etc.
• If utilities are included in the rent, you need your current lease.

Deferred Payment Arrangements (DPA) program – Customers who have fallen behind on their bills have the ability to catch up over time with the DPA program, which spreads the cost of past-due payments across future bills.

Natural gas costs, which Nicor passes on to customers without any markup, have been driven up by stronger demand combined with natural disasters that have disrupted supply. As a result, gas costs are the highest they have ever been and the U.S. Energy Information Administration 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.

"With natural gas prices on the rise, Nicor Gas is doing everything it can to assist its customers before the onset of winter," said Suppes. "By signing up for the programs available at the energy fairs eligible customers can save hundreds of dollars on their gas bills. To all our customers, no matter their income, they can get on the Budget Plan to spread out payments and help manage higher gas costs this winter."

Nicor has also introduced a variety of new programs this winter to help assist its customers with high natural gas prices. New programs include:

• Moratorium – Nicor has placed a moratorium on disconnecting gas for certain residential customers from December 1, 2005 to March 30, 2006, a policy more liberal than required by ICC regulations.
• Customer outreach - Nicor is reaching out by phone to customers who have fallen behind on their bills. Instead of proceeding with disconnection of service, the company is providing these customers with information on where to apply for a LIHEAP grant and how to sign up for a payment program.

Because gas costs have been higher for the past several winters, many customers have unfortunately had their service cancelled or are behind in their bills. Nicor is doing everything it can to assist these customers with a variety of programs, including:

• Disconnection assistance – Customers who are currently disconnected for non-payment have been offered the opportunity to have service restored if they pay one-third of the total balance owed and make arrangements to pay the balance over time.
• Good Samaritan Initiative – For the third year in a row, Nicor is participating in the Illinois Lieutenant Governor's initiative, enabling customers (who are eligible for LIHEAP) to have their gas service restored for two-hundred fifty dollars ($250) or twenty percent (20%) of their outstanding balance, whichever is less.
• State Program – For LIHEAP-eligible customers who are currently disconnected, Nicor is working with the State of Illinois, to help customers get connected and apply LIHEAP dollars only to arrearages. Nicor is assisting by waiving all reconnection fees and deposits through June 1, 2006 so that all LIHEAP dollars can go to paying for the natural gas customers use.

Customers interested in signing up for the Budget Plans or determining eligibility for one of Nicor's payment assistance plans can visit Nicor at www.nicor.com  or call the company's customer support line at 1-888-Nicor4u (642-6748) Please see schedule for dates and times of upcoming energy fairs.

Nicor Gas is one of the largest gas distribution companies in the nation and has provided safe, reliable, and cost-effective natural gas service for nearly 50 years.  Nicor serves more than two million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of Northern Illinois, excluding the City of Chicago.  For more information on Nicor Gas, visit http://www.nicorgas.com/.

2005 Energy Awareness Fairs/Presentations