North Shore Gas Commercial Natural Gas Service
North Shore Gas is the natural gas delivery utility for a set of Lake County and far-north-suburban communities. Its territory is narrower and more often misidentified than the others, so confirming it matters. For the statewide picture, see commercial natural gas in Illinois.
Territory
North Shore Gas serves communities from roughly Winnetka north to the Illinois-Wisconsin border, centered on Lake County and the far north suburbs. Waukegan is a North Shore Gas community. Importantly, many northern suburbs that people assume are "North Shore" are in fact Nicor Gas — Evanston, Skokie, Des Plaines, Northbrook, and Glenview among them, per those communities' own utility information. Some towns, such as Buffalo Grove, are split between the two. For any specific address, the bill is the source of truth.
Supply vs. delivery
As with the other Illinois gas utilities, the supply (commodity) on utility service is passed through as a purchased-gas cost that adjusts over time, and delivery covers the utility's pipes, metering, riders, and taxes. A supplier contract prices the supply portion; delivery stays with North Shore Gas under its tariff.
Commercial supplier choice
Through the Choices for You program, eligible commercial customers in North Shore Gas territory can buy gas supply from a licensed alternative gas supplier while North Shore Gas continues delivery and emergency service. Apply the same procurement and contract review discipline used elsewhere — verify the serving utility first, then compare offers on matched terms.
What a North Shore Gas commercial quote requires
- A recent North Shore Gas bill and account number (which also confirms the territory).
- The service address and rate class.
- 12 months of therm usage to capture seasonality.
- The current supply contract's end date, if applicable.
Sources
- North Shore Gas — Service Area
- City of Evanston — Utilities (Nicor, not North Shore)
- Village of Buffalo Grove — Utilities (Nicor and North Shore split)
- Illinois Commerce Commission — Natural Gas Utility authority
Time-sensitive rate and program details should be confirmed against North Shore Gas's current pages and a recent bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhich communities does North Shore Gas serve?
North Shore Gas serves a set of communities from roughly Winnetka north to the Illinois-Wisconsin border, concentrated in Lake County and the far north suburbs — including Waukegan. It is a narrower territory than Nicor Gas, and many northern suburbs south or west of that line (Evanston, Skokie, Des Plaines, Northbrook, Glenview) are actually Nicor. Confirm from a recent bill.
QIs my business North Shore Gas or Nicor Gas?
It depends on the exact location, and some communities are split. Buffalo Grove, for example, has both North Shore Gas and Nicor areas. The utility name printed on a recent gas bill is the reliable answer for a specific address.
QCan a business on North Shore Gas choose a supplier?
Yes. Eligible commercial customers in North Shore Gas territory can buy gas supply from a licensed alternative gas supplier through the utility's Choices for You program, while North Shore Gas continues delivery, metering, and emergency response.