Nicor Gas serves northern Illinois suburbs of Chicago — approximately 2.3 million customers across a large suburban service territory including DuPage, Lake, Will, and other counties.
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How Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) and Retail Suppliers Work Together
Nicor Gas serves the Chicago suburbs — one of the largest commercial gas markets in the Midwest.
Nicor Gas handles natural gas distribution. Alternative Gas Suppliers (AGS) compete for commercial supply. The supply portion of your bill — typically the largest single line item for commercial accounts — is where retail competition applies. That's the piece a broker targets.
Nicor Gas distribution rates are ICC-regulated. Illinois gas retail choice is available for commercial accounts.
What "Switching Suppliers" Means for Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) Customers
AGS switching in Nicor territory follows standard Illinois process.
Illinois natural gas retail competition has been available since 2002.
The process: you authorize a supplier to serve your account, they notify Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas), and the change takes effect at your next billing cycle. No technician visit. No service interruption. Same reliability, different supply rate.
How We Source Rates in the Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) Territory
We submit your load profile to all active retail suppliers licensed in the Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) territory simultaneously. They compete. You get multiple offers — typically within 24–48 hours — with our plain-English explanation of each.
We don't represent any single supplier. Our fee comes from the supplier you choose, built into every quote at a rate that doesn't change whether you use a broker or not. You pay nothing out of pocket.
Get competing quotes for your Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) commercial account
We shop 30+ suppliers at no cost to you.
Understanding Your Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) Commercial Bill
A typical commercial Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) bill has several distinct charges:
- Supply charge: Cost of electricity generation. This is negotiable — it's what retail suppliers compete on.
- Distribution/delivery charge: Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas)'s fee for owning and maintaining the wires. Regulated, fixed.
- Transmission charge: High-voltage grid cost, managed by N/A (natural gas). Regulated, fixed.
- Demand charge: Based on your peak 15-minute interval each month. Can represent 30–50% of your total bill.
- Capacity charges: N/A (natural gas) capacity market costs. Pass-through, not negotiable with suppliers.
A broker focuses on the supply charge — the one component where you have leverage. We make sure you understand all other charges so there are no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does switching suppliers affect my Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) service?
No. Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) handles physical delivery of electricity regardless of which supplier you choose. AGS switching in Nicor territory follows standard Illinois process. Your Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) account number stays the same; you'll simply see a different supplier name on the supply portion of your bill.
Why is my Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) bill so high?
Commercial Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) bills have several components: supply charges (electricity generation), delivery charges (wires and poles), transmission, capacity charges, and taxes. Only the supply charge is negotiable through a retail supplier. Nicor Gas handles natural gas distribution. Alternative Gas Suppliers (AGS) compete for commercial supply.
What is Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas)'s default service rate?
Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas)'s default service (or 'provider of last resort' service) is the rate applied to accounts that haven't chosen a retail supplier. Nicor Gas distribution rates are ICC-regulated. Illinois gas retail choice is available for commercial accounts. Competitive suppliers often offer better rates than default service for commercial accounts.
How do I get competing quotes for my Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) account?
We pull your 12-month usage history from Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) (with your authorization), build your load profile, and submit to 30+ active retail suppliers in the Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) territory. You receive competing offers within 24–48 hours at no cost.
What's the difference between Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) and a retail energy supplier?
Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) owns the wires that deliver electricity to your building. A retail energy supplier (REP) generates or purchases the electricity itself. You pay Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) for delivery and your chosen supplier for supply — two separate charges on one or two bills depending on the market structure.
CommercialEnergyPlan.com is an independent energy broker and is not affiliated with Nicor Gas (Southern Company Gas) or any utility.