Nicor Gas Reminds Customers of Safety Tips to Help Keep Warm During Extreme Winter Weather

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Jan. 29, 2019

Nicor Gas is committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable, affordable natural gas for our customers, our neighbors and our communities. We prepare for this weather and are ready for when temperatures drop and natural gas use goes up, or what we call peak demand days.

Ensuring the safety of every family we serve is our highest priority. During this extreme cold weather, we will be working around-the-clock to monitor our pipelines to ensure the safe performance and reliability of our infrastructure. We strongly advise customers to adhere to the following guidelines associated with natural gas meter and appliance venting safety:

Heavy snow and ice may weigh down power lines and tree limbs, causing them to fall. If a natural gas meter is damaged or underground gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call 911 or Nicor Gas’ 24-hour emergency response line 888.Nicor4U (642.6748) from a safe location.

Exercise caution removing snow or ice from your natural gas meter assembly. Use your hands or a broom, not a shovel, to brush away snow or ice from your meter and regulator. Never kick or hit your gas meter or its piping with a hammer or any hard object to break away built-up snow or ice.

Detecting Gas Leaks

If you smell the rotten egg odor that is often associated with natural gas or suspect carbon monoxide is present, immediately leave the affected area and call 9-1-1 or the 24-hour emergency response line 888.Nicor4U (642.6748) from a safe location.

Never try to identify the source of a leak yourself.

If the odor of natural gas is present, do not use a telephone or cellphone in the area of the odor. Do not turn light switches on or off. Do not operate any appliance or do anything that might cause a spark, such as lighting a match.

Appliance Safety

Never use natural gas appliances, such as ovens or the burners on a stove, to heat your homes or businesses.

Make sure your heating system, water heater and any other natural gas appliances are serviced and inspected annually by a qualified licensed professional.

Do not use any defective natural gas appliance until it has been inspected, serviced and determined to be safe by a qualified plumber or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professional.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

To ensure the safe, proper operation of natural gas appliances, such as a furnace or water heater, and to prevent the potentially hazardous buildup of carbon monoxide within your home or business, ensure that outdoor vent openings and air intakes are not obstructed by snow or ice.

Seek medical attention immediately if anyone in your home or business experiences possible symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

During this record-breaking cold weather, Nicor Gas broke its own record in output and delivered 4.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas safely and reliably to its 2.2 million customers throughout northern Illinois. In volume, that same amount of natural gas is equivalent to:

About Nicor Gas

Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.2 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit www.nicorgas.com.

About Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company.  Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with 774,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas and related home services. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit Southern Company Gas at southerncompanygas.com.

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Media Contact:

Jennifer Golz

o: 630.388.3737  |  c: 331.222.8716 |  jgolz@southernco.com[Press Release text goes here]