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Nicor Inc. has added a
news release to its Investor Relations website.
Title: Nicor Gas Encourages Customers to
Give the Gift of ''Sharing''
Date: 12/3/2007 5:00:00
AM
For a complete listing
of our news releases, please click here
Sharing Program Provides
Grants to Customers Having a Difficult Time
Paying Natural Gas Bills
NAPERVILLE,
Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2007--Nicor Gas
encourages customers to consider
giving the gift of Sharing this
holiday season. The Sharing
Program, established by Nicor Gas in 1983,
is an assistance program where
customers, employees, and the general
public donate money which is
matched by Nicor Gas, up to $175,000
annually. The program, which is
administered by the Salvation Army,
provides one-time annual grants
of up to $450 to help customers in
need, who are not eligible for
government assistance, with paying
their
natural gas bills.
Nicor Gas customers can
make a contribution to the Sharing Program
by
writing in any amount of donation on the, "Indicate Amount for
Sharing,"
line located on the bill stub and adding it to the payment.
If
your natural gas bill is electronically transferred, you can call
1-888-Nicor4U
(642-6748) or log on to your account at www.nicorgas.com
to
pledge a Sharing contribution. If you are not a Nicor Gas customer,
please
send your check directly to: Sharing, c/o The Salvation Army,
P.O.
Box 30049, Chicago, IL 60630-0049.
"The Nicor Gas
Sharing program is here to help customers who may
not
qualify for government aid, but due to their income level or
recent
misfortune, such as a job loss or change in family status, will
need
financial assistance to pay their heating bills this winter,"
said
Julian Brown, Manager of Corporate Contributions for Nicor Gas.
"Over
the past 24 years, Nicor Gas' Sharing Program has provided more
than
$12 million to help over 70,000 of its customers."
How to Qualify - Sharing
Program
To qualify, household
monthly income cannot exceed 200 percent of
the
federally established poverty level. Individuals who receive
government
assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program
(LIHEAP) are not eligible. Nicor Gas' Sharing program is
administered
by the Salvation Army and applicants must apply in-person
at
one of their offices. For a list of Salvation Army offices, call
1-888-Nicor4U
(642-6748) or visit www.nicorgas.com and click on
"Financial
Assistance."
Government Assistance
The Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists
eligible
low-income households pay their energy bills. The program is
funded
by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the
State
of Illinois and is administered by the Illinois Department of
Healthcare
and Family Services. Assistance is presented to qualifying
applicants
in a one annual payment. Income, household size, fuel type,
and
geographic location determine the amount of assistance. To
qualify,
household monthly income cannot exceed 150 percent of the
federally
established poverty level. For more information or to apply
for assistance, call LIHEAP
directly at 1-877-411-9276 (WARM) or visit
www.nicorgas.com and click on
"Financial Assistance."
Bill Management
Assistance
The Nicor Gas Budget
Plan is intended to help customers plan ahead
while minimizing the impact of
natural gas price increases that
usually take place during the
colder months of the winter heating
season. Payments are spread out
over a 12-month period and
periodically adjusted to correct
for future gas prices and expected
usage. Customers interested in
signing up for the Budget Plan can call
1-888-Nicor4U (642-6748) or
visit www.nicorgas.com and click on
"Managing
Your Gas Costs."
Nicor Gas is one of the
nation's largest gas distribution
companies.
Owned by Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) a holding company, Nicor
Gas
has provided safe and reliable natural gas services for over 50
years.
The Company serves two million customers in a service territory
that
encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the
city
of Chicago.
CONTACT: Nicor Gas Richard Caragol 630-388-2686 SOURCE: Nicor Gas |