Our Story
About our Charitable Foundation
Southern Company Gas began its story more than 160 years ago with a commitment to provide clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the communities we serve and to protect our environment. As part of our legacy, we strive to uplift our hometowns and empower our neighbors through charitable giving and volunteer experiences that fuel possibilities, improve communities and grant access to sustainable resources.
To date, Southern Company Gas - its charitable foundation - and its subsidiaries have gifted millions of dollars in grants to support more than 500 charities across four states including Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee and Virginia.
We are intentionally focused on initiatives that inspire new ways of connecting and transforming the places we live, work and serve.
Our Foundation Focus Areas
Social Justice
We collaborate with community leaders committed to protecting human rights and equal access to opportunities for all. We are dedicated to advancing social justice and supporting direct pathways of inclusion through criminal justice reform, equity in education, energy justice and other initiatives dismantling systemic barriers to equity.
Economic Mobility
We support organizations and initiatives that propel people and communities forward. We aspire to provide equitable access to the education, resources, and personal and professional development tools they need to achieve economic success and maintain financial stability.
We Deliver: The Facts
Nicor Gas is dedicated to sharing how natural gas is safe and beneficial, backed by solid facts, for our customers, communities and Illinois.
More than
of Illinois households depend on natural gas to keep them warm.*
In Illinois, natural gas is
the cost of electricity.**
Nicor Gas creates job opportunities for over
people who construct, maintain and inspect our natural gas infrastructure.
The natural gas that Nicor Gas delivers can be
more affordable
than other energy sources.***
*U.S. Census Bureau | **American Gas Association | ***U.S. Department of Energy
We Care: Neighbors and Customers
It's a Fact
Nicor Gas is there when you need us most.
We’re helping our customers and communities get the energy they need for warmth, economic growth, and a cleaner future.
Customers and Communities
Warmth
Economic Growth
Cleaner Future
Learn the facts from our team in the field.
“Let’s take for instance days like this when it’s cold, it’s freezing, temperatures are starting to plummet, we’re here for our customers.”
Tyesha Scordato, Superintendent, Field Operations
“We work until it’s done. It doesn’t matter if it’s midnight, 8 am, 2 pm, we get that gas going for the customer.”
Fred Wright, Distribution Technician, Field Operations
We Inform: Nicor Gas News
Nicor Gas supports customers during, after winter storms
During the three coldest days of winter storm Gerri, when wind chills dipped below -30°F, Nicor Gas employees worked around the clock to ensure there were no major service outages during the weather event. During this time, Nicor Gas delivered 12.41 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas to its 2.3 million customers in Northern Illinois.
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Nicor Gas announces $100,000 in funding for career readiness, educational programs
Expanding on its commitment to enhance opportunities and engage a qualified and diverse workforce in the communities it is proud to serve, Nicor Gas is announcing $100,000 in grants awarded to organizations supporting educational and career readiness programs.
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City of Aurora, Nicor Gas Unveil New Exhibit on Smart Cities at City Hall
The City of Aurora and Nicor Gas announced today the unveiling of a new educational exhibit on Smart Cities on the first floor of the Development Services Building at City Hall. The ribbon cutting for the new exhibit will take place Wednesday, Feb. 14.
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Sustainable Future
We are decisively reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from operations—more than 50 percent in the last decade. Our infrastructure, our people and our capacity for safe and affordable energy are integral.
Affordability
In Illinois, natural gas is often just half the cost of electricity. Nearly 70 percent of Illinois households depend on natural gas for their heating needs and to keep them warm.
Safety, Reliability and Resilience
On the coldest day this year, nearly 2,000 people were available and ready to make sure Nicor Gas’ system delivered for our customers. Hundreds of workers dedicated to ensuring our infrastructure is reliable, worked around the clock that day ready to keep families safe and warm.
Customer Choice and Energy Equity
We take pride in our stewardship and our duty to our neighbors, families and businesses. Nicor Gas has a legal responsibility to customers to run the most effective business possible, and in our industry that means efficiently providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable natural gas.
Community Growth and Impact
Our commitment to communities runs through everything we do. In 2022, Nicor Gas provided $1.55 billion in economic effect and supplied more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in engineering, field operations and customer service.
