Frequently Asked Questions

How does the TruBalance plan work?

Nicor Advanced Energy's TruBalance is a combination of a variable priced product and a fixed price product. This means that half of your monthly gas usage is billed at a fixed price per therm for one year, and the other half of your monthly usage is billed at the daily market price plus a set cost per therm.

Half of your usage is insulated from fluctuating natural gas prices because your price per therm remains unchanged. Half of your usage is billed based on daily market prices.

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What are the benefits of TruBalance?

By blending fixed and variable prices into a single plan, you're not putting all your eggs in one basket: TruBalance may provide potential savings compared to a fixed price product should prices fall, and may provide protection compared to a straight variable product should prices rise.

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How is the TruBalance amount determined?

Half of your company's estimated daily usage is locked in at a fixed price per therm. That fixed price is based on market prices on your date of enrollment and remains unchanged for a year.  The other half of your company's estimated daily usage is calculated from a daily, variable market-based price plus a set cost per therm. 

Here's how we estimate your daily use:

The utility determines your monthly usage. We allocate that actual usage to the individual days to get your estimated daily usage, then we add up those daily charges for the month. We allocate your monthly usage to daily usage based on typical residential usage patterns in the utility's territory. That allocation includes both factors for base use regardless of weather and changes in gas consumption related to temperature. On days when it's colder many people use more gas than on days when it's warmer. So, more of your monthly usage will be allocated over those colder days.

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What index do you use for your variable price?

For the variable portion, Nicor Advanced Energy uses the daily market index price called the Gas Daily Daily or "GDD."  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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How long is the TruBalance quote good for?

Once you have been given a TruBalance quote for half of your usage, you have until the end of that business day to enroll your company and lock-in the quoted price. If you choose not to sign up until a later date, your company's TruBalance quote may change.

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What happens at the end of my TruBalance contract?

Prior to the end of your 12-month TruBalance agreement, Nicor Advanced Energy will send your company its fixed price per therm — half of your usage — for the next 12 months, along with the set cost per therm on the variable price and a written notice if there are changes to the terms and conditions of the TruBalance agreement. We will renew your enrollment automatically at that new rate and terms unless you notify us within 30 days of the postmark date of your renewal notice.

The terms of your cancellation for a renewal are the same as for your new agreement.

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Are there any fees associated with the program?

There are no enrollment fees or extra charges to enroll in this plan.

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Is there a fee if decide to cancel?

There is no cancellation fee if you cancel your agreement within 10 business days of the issue date of your first company bill. If you terminate this agreement or otherwise cause the termination of this agreement after the 10-business-day period, a termination fee of $50 will apply. You will be responsible for the period of time you are on the plan.

To cancel your TruBalance Plan agreement 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. Cancellation fees may apply.

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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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Will my company save money on the TruBalance program vs. what it would have paid on traditional gas utility service?

You may or may not save money on the TruBalance program.

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If my company is already with another supplier, how can I get on the TruBalance program?

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

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What if my company is already enrolled in the gas utility budget plan and I now want to enroll in the TruBalance program?

If you decide to enroll in the TruBalance program, your company will automatically be removed from your current budget plan. You will remain responsible for any true-up amount you may owe, and it will be presented on your final utility bill. 

If you have built a credit balance in the Nicor Gas utility budget plan, those credits will be directly transferred to your Nicor Advanced Energy account. If you have built a credit balance in the Peoples Gas or North Shore Gas budget plan, Nicor Advanced Energy will have a refund check issued to you so you can apply those funds to future Nicor Advanced Energy bills.

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When will my company receive its first bill from Nicor Advanced Energy with the TruBalance amount?

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

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

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, even if you're on the TruBalance Program.

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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 TruBalance program?

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 TruBalance 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 utility will continue to deliver your gas, read your 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 Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas territories. Additionally, Nicor Advanced Energy has been approved to participate in the Customer Select and Choices for You programs.

As an approved supplier, we will sell you your gas and deliver it to the gas utility system. The gas utility is still responsible for delivering this gas to your home and maintaining their distribution system.

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

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