Nicor Gas

What Nicor Gas does

Nicor Gas is a regulated natural gas distribution utility headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, serving approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across more than 650 communities in northern Illinois, excluding the City of Chicago. The company operates a 34,000-mile distribution pipeline network connected to eight interstate pipelines and maintains eight underground natural gas storage facilities with roughly 150 billion cubic feet of annual capacity, including the Troy Grove facility that accounts for approximately one-third of that capacity. These storage assets allow the company to procure gas during lower-priced summer months and deliver it during winter peak demand, providing both supply reliability and rate smoothing for customers.

Name

Nicor Gas

Legal name

Nicor Gas

Website

https://nicorgas.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Nicor Gas is a regulated natural gas distribution utility serving 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across northern Illinois through a 34,000-mile pipeline network and eight underground storage facilities, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Gas Distribution Utilities

NAICS

Natural Gas Distribution (221210), Natural Gas Distribution (2212), Natural Gas Distribution (22121)

SIC

Natural Gas Distribution (4924), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923)

akta.pro primary industry

Gas Mains (Distribution Pipelines) (EUAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

CNG/LNG Refueling for Industrial Fleets (Private Stations, Yard Fueling) (EUALALAK)

Keywords

• Natural gas distribution
• Regulated utility services
• Underground gas storage
• Gas transportation services
• Natural gas vehicle fueling

Headquarters

HQ city

Naperville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Natural Gas Distribution Services: Regulated utility providing natural gas distribution to 2.3 million customers in northern Illinois. Revenue generated through regulated rates approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Includes residential, commercial, and industrial customer segments.
2. Customer Select Program: Customer choice program allowing customers to select their natural gas supplier. The company maintains the distribution infrastructure while certified marketers provide the gas commodity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nicor Gas operates and maintains a 34,000-mile natural gas distribution pipeline network across northern Illinois, distributing natural gas to approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in more than 650 communities. Core services include regulated natural gas delivery, the Customer Select supplier-choice program, transportation and Gas Exchange services for commercial entities, natural gas vehicle fueling for fleets, energy efficiency rebates and programs, and bill payment assistance for income-eligible households. The company is backed by eight underground storage facilities totaling approximately 150 billion cubic feet of annual capacity, enabling seasonal procurement strategies that stabilize winter pricing for customers.

Product overview

Nicor Gas operates as a natural gas distribution utility serving 2.3 million customers across northern Illinois. The company provides a unified portfolio of core gas distribution services supplemented by customer-facing digital tools (account management, billing, payments) and energy efficiency programs. Key product components include: Natural Gas Distribution (core service via 34,000-mile pipeline network and 8 underground storage facilities), Customer Select (supplier choice program), Energy Efficiency Programs (residential and business rebates/loans), Natural Gas Vehicles (fleet fueling), MobileX Connect (mobile customer outreach), Gas Exchange (commercial transportation services), Technical Training Center and Career Academy (workforce development), and various bill payment assistance programs including Shield of Caring, SARP, LIHEAP, and PIPP.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MobileX Connect: A mobile unit outreach channel that brings energy assistance and resources directly to customers where they live.

Products and services

• Natural Gas Distribution Core regulated service that operates and maintains natural gas pipes, reads meters, and distributes natural gas to certified marketers across northern Illinois. Delivered to approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in more than 650 communities via a 34,000-mile pipeline network supported by eight underground storage facilities.
• Customer Select Program Program that allows residential and business customers to choose their natural gas supplier from a list of certified marketers while Nicor Gas continues to provide the regulated distribution service and billing infrastructure.
• Gas Exchange / Transportation Services Online platform and services for transportation customers including the Gas Exchange Bulletin Board, Nomination System, Chicago Hub services, Open Access information, and TCIDB/DBS Gas Exchange for commercial and industrial shippers to manage gas flows and pipeline capacity.
• Natural Gas Vehicle Fueling Fueling services and infrastructure for natural gas-powered vehicles serving both individual customers and commercial fleet operators in northern Illinois.
• Energy Efficiency Programs Rebates, loans, and free products for residential and business customers to improve energy efficiency and reduce natural gas consumption, offered across customer segments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Troy Grove facility has enough natural gas to manage heating needs of Mendota customers for approximately 148 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Better Business Bureau (BBB)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 November 2025Partnership on Utility Scam Awareness Day promoting 'Slow Down, Verify, Stop the Scam' approach to help consumers recognize and avoid fraudulent tactics by scammers impersonating utility employees.
• ComEdcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 November 2025Joint partnership with ComEd, Peoples Gas, and North Shore Gas on Utility Scam Awareness Day and consumer protection initiatives.
• Peoples GascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 November 2025Joint partnership with ComEd, Nicor Gas, and North Shore Gas on Utility Scam Awareness Day.
• North Shore GascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 November 2025Joint partnership with ComEd, Nicor Gas, and Peoples Gas on Utility Scam Awareness Day.
• Southland Development Authority (SDA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025$100,000 Impact Grant to support Monarch Fund for small business development and 260 acres of land development in Southland region of Illinois.
• Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2024Expanded partnership to create second Smart Neighborhood community with 13 single-family homes. Homes designed with high-efficiency building envelopes, solar panels, energy storage, and energy-efficient appliances.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of ElgincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023$40,000 investment to support workforce development programming. Students visit Nicor Gas Technical Training Center for hands-on experience in welding, meter reading, pipe fitting, and utility industry careers.
• ShiptminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to deliver food and essential goods care packages to Nicor Gas customers during pandemic.
• Quad County Urban LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022$500,000 commitment over five years to support Nicor Gas Career Academy - a free six-week job-readiness program.
• The Morton Arboretum / Chicago Region Trees InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2021$10,000 grant as part of 10,000-acre conservation initiative. Supports increasing Chicago region's tree canopy and environmental stewardship.
• The Get Growing FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2021Grant partner for environmental initiative. Partnering with Joliet Park District to provide native starter plants at community event.
• Northern Illinois Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2021Strategic partner for basic needs initiative to help 250,000 families. Partnership addresses food insecurity in northern Illinois service territory.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2021Strategic partner for basic needs initiative addressing food insecurity in Chicago metro area service territory.
• Southern Company GascoreOthersParent company - Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas.
• Operation WarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing winter coats to children in need. Partnership part of basic needs support initiative.
• People's Resource CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for basic needs programs including food pantry and clothing assistance.
• PADS OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for housing and shelter programs addressing homelessness.
• Salvation Army (Shield of Caring)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$10M commitment to Salvation Army's Shield of Caring program providing energy and emergency assistance to residential customers facing financial hardship.
• American Red Cross of Greater ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$225,000 commitment over five years to support Illinois Home Fire Campaign and mobilization of resources for disaster response.
• Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic GardensminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$30,000 commitment over two years for woodland restoration and programming for seniors and underserved students.
• Brookfield Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental stewardship partner. energySMART sponsors Motor Safari ride and energy-saving educational initiatives.
• Illinois Fire Services InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for Troy Grove Fire School providing free natural gas fire training to firefighters throughout northern Illinois service territory.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Peoples Gas: Sister natural gas distribution utility under Southern Company Gas, serving Chicago and surrounding areas. Direct peer sharing the same parent, regulatory jurisdiction (ICC), and recently filed joint rate cases totaling over $420M with Nicor.
• North Shore Gas: Sister natural gas distribution utility under Southern Company Gas, serving northeastern Illinois suburbs. Direct peer sharing parent, regulator, and joint Utility Scam Awareness partnership with Nicor; one of the four Southern Company Gas LDCs alongside Nicor.
• ONE Gas Inc. Pure-play natural gas distribution utility serving Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Closest public-market comparable to Nicor in business model: regulated LDC with multi-state footprint, focused exclusively on gas distribution with no commodity exposure.
• Spire Inc. Natural gas distribution utility serving Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi with approximately 1.7M customers. Direct peer in business model, customer mix (residential/commercial/industrial), and exposure to weather-driven demand volatility.
• Atmos Energy: Largest pure-play natural gas distributor in the U.S., serving over 3M customers across the South and Midwest. Direct peer with comparable customer scale to Nicor and similar regulated rate-base growth strategy.
• Northwest Natural Gas Company: Natural gas LDC serving Oregon and southwest Washington with approximately 2.5M population in service area. Direct peer with similar regulated gas distribution business model and exposure to state-level energy transition policy debates.
• Southwest Gas Holdings: Natural gas distribution utility serving Arizona, Nevada, and California with approximately 2M customers. Direct peer in regulated LDC business model, weather-driven demand, and exposure to state-level decarbonization mandates.
• New Jersey Resources: Natural gas distribution utility serving New Jersey through subsidiary New Jersey Natural Gas. Direct peer in regulated distribution model with comparable mid-Atlantic/Midwest customer mix and storage infrastructure strategy.

Broad incumbents

• NiSource Inc. Diversified natural gas and electric utility holding company with Columbia Gas distribution subsidiaries across multiple states. Broad incumbent serving similar end-use customers with overlapping gas distribution operations; broader portfolio than Nicor's pure-distribution focus.
• Consumers Energy: Michigan-based combined gas and electric utility serving approximately 1.8M natural gas customers. Broad incumbent with overlapping Midwest regulated gas distribution operations and customer programs comparable to Nicor's energy efficiency offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nicor_gas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiZzK88UTEZzzJCWAgM-Kyw
• Facebookfacebook.com/nicorgas
• Instagraminstagram.com/nicorgas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nicor Gas