Nicor Gas Commercial Natural Gas Service
Nicor Gas is the natural gas delivery utility for most of northern Illinois outside Chicago. This guide explains how commercial gas service works in Nicor territory, where supplier choice applies, and what a business needs to price gas accurately. For the statewide picture, start with commercial natural gas in Illinois.
Territory
Nicor Gas serves more than 600 communities across the northern third of Illinois, excluding the City of Chicago (served by Peoples Gas) and the North Shore Gas communities in Lake County and the far north suburbs. Suburbs such as Schaumburg, Naperville, Elk Grove Village, Aurora, Joliet, and Rockford are in Nicor territory. A handful of communities straddle a boundary — Buffalo Grove, for example, has both Nicor and North Shore Gas areas — so verify from the bill for any specific address.
Supply vs. delivery
On Nicor utility service, the gas supply (commodity) is passed through as a purchased-gas cost that adjusts over time, with no utility markup on the gas itself. Nicor's delivery charges cover its distribution system, metering, and applicable riders and taxes. A supplier contract prices the supply portion; delivery stays with Nicor under its tariff. As always, do not apply a supply-price difference to the entire bill.
Commercial supplier choice
Through Nicor's Choices for You program, eligible commercial customers can buy gas supply from a licensed alternative gas supplier while Nicor continues delivery, metering, billing of delivery charges, and emergency response. Choosing a supplier is a supply-economics and contract-terms decision — the same procurement and contract review discipline that applies to electricity applies here.
What a Nicor commercial quote requires
- A recent Nicor bill and account number.
- The service address (to confirm territory) and rate class.
- At least 12 months of therm usage — gas load is seasonal, so a full year matters.
- The current supply contract's end date, if on a supplier.
Sources
- Nicor Gas — Our Service Area (Where We Are)
- Nicor Gas — Choices for You (supplier choice)
- Illinois Commerce Commission — Natural Gas Utility authority
Time-sensitive rate and program details should be confirmed against Nicor's current pages and a recent bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
QDoes Nicor Gas set the price of the gas itself?
On utility service, Nicor passes through the cost of gas it buys (a periodically adjusted purchased-gas cost) with no markup on the commodity, plus its regulated delivery charges. Eligible commercial customers can instead contract the supply portion with a licensed alternative gas supplier through Nicor's Choices for You program, while Nicor continues delivery.
QWhat does Nicor Gas still handle if a business chooses a supplier?
Nicor continues to own and maintain the pipes and meter, deliver the gas, read the meter, bill delivery charges, and respond to leaks and emergencies. A supplier contract affects only the gas supply portion of the bill.
QWhich communities does Nicor Gas serve?
Nicor Gas serves much of the northern third of Illinois outside the City of Chicago — more than 600 communities. It does not serve Chicago (Peoples Gas) or the North Shore Gas communities in Lake County and the far north suburbs. Because some towns sit on a boundary, confirm the serving utility from a recent bill.