Nicor Offers Bill Payment Assistance For Customers Amid Pandemic

NAPERVILLE, IL — Nicor Gas announced Thursday that it has more than $4.5 million in bill payment assistance remaining for customers amid the ongoing new coronavirus pandemic. The gas company said in a news release that some 20,000 customers have already received payment help of up to $300 via its COVID-19 Bill Payment Assistance Program.

According to Nicor, there are still around 152,000 residential customers who have been past due on payments for 60 days or longer. Nicor President and CEO John O. Hudson III said in a statement, "Every family deserves reliable energy they can afford. With so much information available, we want our customers to know we’re here to help. As the uncertainties of the pandemic continue to evolve, one thing that remains certain is our commitment to ensuring customers receive the safe, clean, reliable and affordable natural gas they deserve.”

To qualify for the COVID-19 Bill Payment Assistance Program, customers must first enroll in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or the Nicor Gas Sharing Program.

LIHEAP registration is available for:

• Families of four or more that earn income of up to 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or about $52,400 annually
• Single households that earn as much as $2,127 monthly

The Nicor Gas Sharing Program is available for:

• Families of four or more than earn income of up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or about $78,600 annually

Customers can apply for the programs in person and can click the link to find a site to apply for energy assistance. Once a customer is approved for LIHEAP or the gas sharing program and funds are applied to their account, the up to $300 COVID assistance grant will be automatically applied to their balance, according to Nicor.