Nicor Gas earlier this week submitted a proposal to the IllinoisCommerce Commission (ICC) that, if approved, would provide customerchoice for the first time to single-family residential natural gascustomers in the northern part of the state.

With the proposed plan, the LDC seeks to expand its three-yearpilot – which was limited in the first year to 20,000 industrialand small commercial gas customers – to include up to 80,000 singlehomeowners in northern Illinois and an additional 40,000industrial/commercial customers during the second year of itsCustomer Select program, which starts in January 1999. Nicor hasasked the ICC to act on its proposal by late September.

Nicor’s Customer Select pilot is the largest of its kind in thestate, according to the LDC. It had a successful response fromindustrial/commercial customers in the first year, filling tocapacity six weeks after enrollment began. “The rapid sign-up toldus people in Illinois want choice,” said Senior Vice PresidentKathy Halloran.

The new proposal targets Nicor’s residential customers in thenorthern Illinois communities of Addison, Bloomingdale, CarolStream, Downers Grove, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn and Wheaton forthe customer-choice pilot, the LDC noted. In January 1999, eligiblecustomers would receive sign-up information, and suppliers wouldbegin soliciting customers. Delivery of gas to residentialcustomers participating in the Customer Select program would beginnext spring.

“At this point, it’s really difficult to [estimate the savingscustomers can expect] because the savings will really depend on thesuppliers, what kinds of terms they come up with, with thecustomer, [and] how much gas they use. It [also] depends on how theweather shakes out for northern Illinois,” said Nicor spokeswomanJane Wiedmeyer.

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