Accent Energy Group LLC (Accent Energy) has purchased the remaining 1,700 commercial and industrial gas customer accounts from Nicor Energy, a retail energy marketer owned equally by Nicor, Inc. and Dynegy. The customers are Nicor’s last since its decision to exit the retail marketing business.

The company also recently sold 8,000 retail gas and power customer accounts in Illinois, Michigan and Indiana to Constellation Energy, and in February, it sold 132,000 commercial and residential customer accounts in northern Illinois to Dominion Retail Inc.

“This transaction with Accent Energy completes our efforts to assign all our customers to a qualified energy supplier,” said Nicor Energy President Kevin Kirby. “Our focus will now turn to an orderly and expeditious closing of Nicor Energy.”

The retail marketing company struggled last year, and Nicor decided to write down its investment in the joint venture to zero. The company also disclosed earlier this year that the retail marketing operation could face civil charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission for questionable accounting practices. The SEC also has been investigating the alleged improper activities of affiliate Nicor Gas relating to its performance-based rate (PBR) program.

Nicor Energy’s customers will give Accent Energy a foot in the door of the Midwest retail market. Accent currently serves natural gas customers throughout California.

However the company’s chairman, Lance W. Schneier, has a history in Chicago as a pioneer in natural gas marketing through Access Energy, the company he previously founded. Accent said customers do not have to take any action at this time and will be notified of the deal by letter in the coming days. Customers with questions can contact Accent Energy at (800) 928-7775 or visit their website at accentenergy.com.

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