Frequently Asked Questions

How does the PriceCap Plan program work?

Nicor Advanced Energy's PriceCap Plan is a variable-rate billing program that features a cap amount. The plan allows you to purchase your natural gas based on the prevailing daily market prices, while providing a contracted cap amount, determined at the time of enrollment, guaranteeing that your daily gas price will not exceed a set amount per therm during your 12-month contract term.

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What are the benefits of PriceCap Plan?

PriceCap Plan provides gas price flexibility with the guarantee of a price cap amount: Your price per therm varies up and down with the daily market price of natural gas, but will not exceed your set cap amount per therm for 12 months.

PriceCap 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 go up since the PriceCap Plan is based on the prevailing market prices of natural gas. But because you have locked in a cap for your PriceCap Plan, your daily gas price will never exceed the set amount per therm, determined at the time of enrollment, during your 12-month contract term. You may also save from milder weather and any conservation measures that result in lower usage.

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How are my PriceCap Plan charges determined?

Your PriceCap Plan variable charge is based on your estimated daily usage times your variable rate, which changes daily. Your price cap limit, or maximum charge per therm, is set by Nicor Advanced Energy and is based on several factors, including forward market gas prices. The plan includes a monthly administrative fee for your cap protection.

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How do you determine my estimated daily usage?

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

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 is the daily market price 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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If I obtain a quote for the Nicor Advanced PriceCap program, how long is the quote good for?

Once you have been given a Nicor Advanced Energy PriceCap quote, you have until the end of that day to enroll and lock-in at that price. If you choose not to sign up until a later date, your PriceCap quote will likely change. This is because gas prices change on a daily basis, similar to interest rates, so your PriceCap amount may change.

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How long will my PriceCap Plan agreement last?

PriceCap Plan is a yearly agreement. Your agreement lasts for 12 months.

Prior to the end of your 12-month agreement, Nicor Advanced Energy will send you your new amount for the next 12-month period, and a written notice if there are changes to the terms and conditions of the agreement. Your renewal will show your new variable rate and new cap amount for the next 12 months. 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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When will my PriceCap Plan begin?

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 PriceCap Plan at the first meter reading after you are accepted into the utility's Choice program.

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What are the other advantages of enrolling with Nicor Advanced Energy?

You can trust a Nicor company to deliver on its contracted pricing commitments. But you probably didn't know that through our affiliate company, Nicor Services, you get special discounts on a wide variety of home warranty plans. As an industry leader, we are committed to customer satisfaction with easy-to-read bills, convenient ways to pay, and a team of customer service professionals ready to help you find the right natural gas plan for you.

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

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

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Is there a fee if I 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 PriceCap 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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Can I be with another supplier and request to go on PriceCap Plan?

If you decide to enroll in PriceCap Plan, your contract with your current supplier will be cancelled. Prior to enrolling in PriceCap 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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If I move to a new address, will my PriceCap Plan contract automatically carry over?

No. Prior to moving, you should call the utility and request that the gas be turned off at your old house and turned on at your new house.  Both requests should be made during the same phone call.   Be sure to contact us (Nicor Advanced Energy) as well, before you move, so we can change your billing address.

When we are notified by the utility that you have moved, Nicor Advanced Energy will enroll you in the PriceCap plan and notify you of your new pricing, terms and conditions. You may be responsible for one last PriceCap charge at your old residence. If you choose to cancel your new agreement at your new location, you may do so without penalty for a period of 30 days after the postmark date of the new offer.  You will be responsible for any period of time you may be on the program.

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When will I receive my first bill from Nicor Advanced Energy with my PriceCap Plan 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 PriceCap Plan upon the first meter reading after acceptance in the utility's Choice Program. You will receive your first bill approximately 30 days after you become active in the PriceCap Plan.

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What happens if I don't pay off my entire utility balance before I receive my first PriceCap 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.

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How can I pay for my PriceCap Plan through a credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for no charge?

You can sign up for credit card payments or Electronic Funds Transfer 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 home?

You are still a gas utility customer. The toll-free number to call in case of emergencies or if you smell natural gas in the Nicor Gas territory 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 PriceCap 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 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 natural gas utility system. The 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 utility will provide back-up supplies so long as their supplies have not been interrupted.

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