Delivering Energy When You Need It
Keeping natural gas safe, affordable and reliable is our focus at Nicor Gas every day. We purchase natural gas for storage in the summer months when prices are less volatile and store it for use throughout the year, providing our customers with more consistent and stable pricing. This helps keep winter heating costs down and our year-round supply up. These purchasing strategies, coupled with our underground storage facilities, ensure that our 2.3 million customers receive competitively priced service and dependable energy and heat.
Underground Storage Supports Reliability and Affordability
As the owner and operator of one of the largest natural gas reservoir storage systems in North America, Nicor Gas is able to purchase natural gas at consistent volumes throughout the year, store excess supply during lower‑demand periods and deliver energy reliably and affordably when usage peaks. This balanced approach helps protect customers from supply disruptions and seasonal price volatility while maintaining a steady and secure energy supply.
During extreme winter events such as polar vortexes and arctic blasts, natural gas delivered from Nicor Gas’ storage fields accounted for approximately 50% of the energy distributed. These incredible engineering feats are only possible through the use of storage facilities. Without these critical reserves, it would be impossible to continue providing safe and reliable natural gas service to those who depend on it year-round.
Natural Gas Delivers During Winter Storm Fern
Natural Gas Delivers During Winter Storm Fern
Underground storage plays a critical role in ensuring customers have access to dependable energy – especially when they need it most. Nicor Gas began to develop its storage capabilities in the 1950s and today operates eight storage fields that have the capacity to store 135 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas. Underground storage facilities are a safe and widespread practice. The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that throughout the U.S. there are currently more than 400 such facilities ready to meet demand.
Natural Gas Storage Ensures Future Reliability
Natural Gas Storage Ensures Future Reliability
Frequently Asked Questions
How much natural gas in stored in facilities across Illinois each year?
Nicor Gas has a total combined 150 billion cubic feet of annual storage capacity across eight underground storage facilities: Troy Grove, Ancona, Pontiac-Mt. Simon, Pontiac-Galesville, Lake Bloomington, Hudson, Lexington and Pecatonica.
How much does storage support your winter delivery?
Storage supplies one-third of our normal winter deliveries. During the 2019 Polar Vortex, we safely delivered a record-setting 4.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas to customers in a single day, ensuring reliable access to heat through sub-zero temperatures. Without natural gas storage, more than 825,000 customers would have been without heat during this dangerous and extreme weather.
Are underground storage facilities safe?
Yes. Nicor Gas is committed to ensuring the safety of our communities through continuous monitoring and improvement, infrastructure upgrades and the installation of new technologies. Our teams of dedicated storage engineers work with regulatory agencies to oversee the safety and maintenance of our natural gas facilities.
Does Nicor Gas operate the underground storage fields to profit from lower natural gas prices?
No. Our natural gas storage systems are a critical safety net to protect against price fluctuations in supply and demand for gas. We’re able to buy gas for customers when prices are low, store it for later use and pass those savings directly to our customers.
