Payment Assistance
Assistance available to commercial customers as part of Nicor Gas’ COVID-19 Bill Payment Assistance Program
Income-eligible residential customers who earn up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, or about a monthly gross income of $6,438 for a family of four, are eligible to automatically receive a one-time grant of up to $300, while funding is available, to help pay their past-due account balance.
Funds available in the current COVID-19 Bill Payment Assistance Program provide grants up to $300 to customers who received LIHEAP or Nicor Gas Sharing Program assistance during the 2020-2021 heating season. Customers with account balances do not need to wait for a shut-off notice to apply. Once customers are qualified for either one of the programs and funds are applied to their account, a grant from the current COVID-19 Bill Payment Assistance Program grant will be automatically applied to a customer’s outstanding balance.
If eligible customers received a partial grant last year for arrearages (that may have been below the $300 limit) and if they are in need again, Nicor Gas is automatically applying an additional grant up to the $300 limit to their accounts. Eligible customers who have past-due balances now and didn’t receive a grant last year, will be credited the full $300.
To receive this Nicor Gas grant, eligible customers must first apply and be approved for a federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- LIHEAP: Contact your nearest Community Action Agency to enroll in LIHEAP to obtain the one-time grant. Click here for more details.
- The Nicor Gas Sharing Program: Contact your local Salvation Army office to enroll in the Sharing Program to obtain the one-time grant. Click here for more details.
Budget Plan
The Budget Plan provides a convenient way to pay your natural gas bill every month. It's also a great payment option for customers who like to plan ahead.
How it Works
We calculate your monthly payment by estimating your natural gas use and gas prices for the next 12 months. We also take into account your current account balance. This total is then divided by 12 to arrive at your monthly Budget Plan payment amount. During the summer months, your Budget Plan payment amount will typically be higher than your actual bill. Paying this higher amount allows you to build up a credit balance, which is then used to offset higher winter bills. On the other hand, there may be months when the amount billed to your account is higher than the payments you've made.
Reevaluating Your Budget Plan Payment
Periodically, we will reevaluate your Budget Plan payment amount. We do this to determine if your payment amount is in line with your actual usage and future gas costs. If an adjustment is needed (either up or down), it is automatically made and will appear on your next bill statement. At the time of reevaluation, any debit or credit will be taken into account when we calculate your new monthly Budget Plan payment.
If you miss a Budget Plan installment and your account has an overall budget deficit, a late payment charge will be assessed. The late payment charge is computed on the late installment only, not on the accumulated deficit amount. If you fall two payments behind, you will be removed from the Budget Plan. You may be reinstated by paying any unpaid installments.
Budget Plan Terms & Conditions
The Budget Plan is a convenient way to keep your Nicor Gas account current. Nicor Gas calculates your monthly Budget Plan payment (which is shown on your bill stub) by estimating your gas use and gas prices for the next year and adjusting for any current balance on your account. We then divide this amount by 12 to arrive at your monthly Budget Plan payment amount.
Approximately every four (4) months, we will reevaluate your Budget Plan payment amount to determine if it is in line with your actual usage and future gas costs. If an adjustment is needed (either up or down), it is automatically made and will appear on your next bill statement. You may pay more than your Budget Plan payment amount at any time.
If you miss a Budget Plan installment and your account has an overall budget deficit, a late payment charge will be assessed. The late payment charge shall be computed on the late installment only, not on the accumulated deficit amount. If you fall two Budget Plan payments behind, you will be removed from the Budget Plan. You may be reinstated in the plan once during the 12-month period by paying any unpaid Budget Plan installments.
