Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Commerical Flex Plan program work?

Nicor Advanced Energy's Flex Plan is a variable-rate billing program that allows you to purchase your natural gas based on the prevailing daily market prices.

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What are the benefits of Commercial Flex Plan?

Commercial Flex Plan provides gas price flexibility: Your company's price per therm varies up and down with the daily market price of natural gas.

Commercial Flex Plan may provide some potential savings compared to a Fixed Price product should prices fall.  If gas prices rise, the price you pay per therm will too, since Flex price is based on the prevailing market prices of natural gas. You may also save from milder weather and any conservation measures that result in lower usage.

Once you have enrolled your company in Commercial Flex Plan, you may switch to one of our other price protection plans, if eligible, to give you more control over your gas bill or to take advantage of favorable market conditions.

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How are my company's Flex Plan charges determined?

Your Flex Plan charge is based on your company's estimated daily usage times the daily market price of gas, from Gas Daily Daily, plus a fixed cents-per-therm charge.

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How do you determine the estimated daily usage for my company?

Your company's monthly therm usage, as determined by the natural gas utility, is allocated by day based on a typical usage profile of commercial customers in your area and actual weather during the billing period.

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What is the daily market price that Nicor Advanced Energy uses?

Nicor Advanced Energy uses the daily market index price called the Gas Daily Daily or "GDD," plus a set cost per therm. This index is commonly used in the natural gas industry to establish daily pricing.  It is published online at Platts.com as the "Gas Daily, Daily Price Survey, Chicago-Local Distribution Company's midpoint." 

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When will my company's Flex Plan begin?

After you enroll, you will receive at least one more regular gas bill, which you will be responsible for paying. Your company will become active in Flex Plan at the first meter reading after the utility accepts you into the utility's Choice program.

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How long does my company's contract last?

Flex Plan is a month-to-month agreement.  Once you've enrolled your company in Flex Plan, you may switch to one of our other price protection programs, if eligible, to give you more control over your gas bill or to take advantage of favorable market conditions.  The Flex Plan can be cancelled at any time without cancellation fees.

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Will my company save money on the Flex Plan versus what it would have paid on traditional utility service?

Depending on several factors, including the daily versus monthly index prices for natural gas, you may or may not save money on the Flex Plan compared to traditional utility service.   

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Are there any additional fees to enroll in the Flex Plan?

No. There are no enrollment fees or extra charges to enroll in the Flex Plan.

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Is there a fee if I decide to cancel?

Flex Plan is a month-to-month agreement. You may cancel without penalty. However, you are responsible for any remaining unpaid balances for the period you were on Flex Plan. To discontinue the program, simply call us or write to us, and we will change your service to one of our other price protection plans, if eligible, or return you to utility service at the beginning of your next billing cycle.

To cancel your contract in the Nicor Gas territory, call our customer care number at 866-799-2674. To cancel in the Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas territory, call 888-282-9459.

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What is rescission and how is it different from cancellation?

The rescission of a contract returns the parties to the positions they would have occupied if the contract had not been made. If you decide to rescind your contract, you will not receive service from NAE. You have 10 days from the postmark date of the gas utility letter to request rescission of your contract with NAE. Once a contract is rescinded, you will remain with the energy supplier you had contracted with prior to enrolling in the NAE contract. To rescind your contract in the Nicor territory, call Nicor Gas at 1-888-NICOR4U; in the Peoples Gas or North Shore Gas territory, call 1-866-556-6001.

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Can my company be with another supplier and request to go on Flex Plan?

If you decide to enroll your company in Flex Plan, your contract with your current supplier will be cancelled. Prior to enrolling in Flex Plan, you should review your current supplier contract or contact your current supplier to determine if there are any cancellation fees.

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When will my company receive its first bill from Nicor Advanced Energy with its Flex Plan amount?

After you enroll your company, you will receive at least one more regular gas bill, which you will be responsible for paying. Your company will become active in Flex Plan upon the first meter reading after the utility accepts it into the utility's Choice program. You will receive your first bill approximately 30 days after your company becomes active in the Flex Plan.

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What happens if I don't pay off my company's entire utility balance before I receive my first Flex Plan?

You are still responsible for any balances and/or additional late-payment fees from the utility that remain outstanding until that balance is paid off, while you are on Flex Plan.

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I currently have my gas bill deducted from my checking account (Electronic Funds Transfer-EFT). Will I still be able to pay my bill that way if I'm on the Flex Plan?

You can sign your company up for credit card payments or Electronic Funds Transfer at our website at Nicor Payment Solutions or call us at 866-799-2674. Utilities frequently charge you for these services, but Nicor Advanced Energy does not.

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Who do I contact if I have a gas leak or need the gas company to come out to my premise?

You are still a gas utility customer. The toll-free number to call in the Nicor Gas territory in case of emergencies or if you smell natural gas is 1-888-Nicor4U. (1-888-642-6748). The toll-free number to call in the Peoples Gas territory is 1-866-556-6002. The toll-free number to call in the North Shore Gas territory is 1-866-556-6005.

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Is the gas supply purchased through my Flex Plan secure and reliable?

Yes. You will be purchasing your natural gas from Nicor Advanced Energy, a part of the Nicor Inc. family of companies that have been serving customers in Illinois for more than 50 years. The gas utility will continue to deliver your company's gas, read its meter and provide emergency service.

Nicor Advanced Energy has been approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission to supply gas to residential and small commercial customers within the Nicor and Peoples Gas/North Shore gas territories. Additionally, Nicor Advanced Energy has been approved to participate in the Nicor Gas Customer Select and Choices for You programs.  As an approved supplier, we will sell your company its gas and deliver it to the natural gas utility system. The utility is still responsible for delivering this gas to your premise and maintaining their distribution system.

If gas supplies from Nicor Advanced Energy are interrupted, the utility will provide back-up supplies so long as their supplies have not been interrupted.

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