Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Data Access Guide
Nicor Gas is the largest natural gas distribution company in Illinois, serving ~2.6M customers across northern Illinois. For C&I and transportation customers, Nicor provides billing/usage access through MyAccount, the Open Access third-party portal, and Gas Exchange DBS flat-file subscriptions backed by a fully deployed AMI (2.2M meters) with daily reads.
How to Get Your Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Data: All Access Methods
| Method | 1st Party | 3rd Party | Customer Types | Data Types | Latency | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyAccount Portal | ✓ | — | Residential & business | Billing, monthly usage | Real-time | Web, PDF |
| Open Access Portal | — | ✓ | Suppliers/consultants | Transcripts, statements, billing info | Real-time (live) / batch | Web portal, print |
| Gas Exchange DBS Files | — | ✓ | Transportation customers/suppliers | Daily reads, nominations, storage | 3x weekly | Flat file (CSV-like) |
| Nomination System / EGMS | — | ✓ | Suppliers/transporters | Nominations, status | Real-time | Web + CSV bulk upload |
| EDI | — | ✓ | Suppliers/transporters | Nominations | Real-time | ANSI X12 |
Billing Data Access
Nicor Gas provides billing data to customers via the MyAccount portal and to authorized third parties via the Open Access portal. Billing data includes detailed statements, usage histories, and historical charges by bill period.
What Data Is on Your Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Bill
- Current and previous billing statements (PDF)
- Bill and payment history
- Natural gas usage history and comparison
- Past meter readings
- 13-month Monthly Energy Profile
- Open Access transcripts (usage + charges by bill period)
- Open Access statements (bill amounts, payments, balances)
How to Download Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Bills (Business & Commercial)
- 01Register MyAccount for the business account (Rates 4-7, 74-77 supported)
- 02Use multi-account management to view linked accounts
- 03For third-party access, register as a supplier and request Open Access permissions (gasexch@nicorgas.com / 630.983.4040 opt 1)
- 04Obtain signed customer authorization (agency agreement/LOA)
- 05Query Open Access with supplier ID + customer account number + last billed usage (PIN), live (up to 3 simultaneous) or batch mode
How to Download Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Bills (Residential)
- 01Go to https://customerportal.southerncompany.com/user/login?LDC=7 and register with account number/service address + zip
- 02Log in and open Billing / Account Information
- 03View current bill, payment status, and select date range for history
- 04Download statements as PDF
- 05Open Usage / Energy Profile to view 13 months of monthly usage
Third-Party Access to Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Billing Data
Open Access Portal
- 01Register as supplier/agent with Nicor Gas to obtain supplier ID + password
- 02Obtain documented customer authorization
- 03Log in to Open Access and select Transcripts/Statements/Billing Info
- 04Enter account number + last billed usage (PIN)
- 05Run Live (up to 3 simultaneous) or Batch query and download results
Residential & Small Commercial Data License
- 01Contact Michelle Paoletti (630-388-2162, mpaolett@southernco.com)
- 02Download and review license agreement; prepare Appendix E program list
- 03Execute agreement
- 04Receive data feed / portal credentials and test connection
Want to understand the charges on your bill?
See the Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Rate Schedules & Tariff Guide →Interval Data & Smart Meters
Nicor Gas completed a Meter Modernization program deploying 2.2M AMI meters (2018-2025) capable of automatic daily reads. Customer-facing interval granularity below monthly is not publicly exposed; transcripts (bill-period) and DBS daily-read files are the most granular third-party options.
How to Download Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Interval Data via Green Button
- 01Green Button / ESPI is not documented for Nicor Gas
- 02Contact Nicor (888.642.6748 or contact form) to inquire about ESPI/Green Button availability
Interval data is essential for rate comparison and TOU analysis.
See which Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company rate schedule is best for your usage pattern →Third-Party API Access
Nicor Gas does not publish a public REST API or developer portal. Programmatic third-party access is via the Open Access portal, Gas Exchange DBS flat-file subscriptions, the Nomination System/EGMS, and EDI. EGMS (Q2 2025) may add future API capability.
How to Register as a Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company API Vendor
- 01Register as supplier/agent with Nicor Gas Gas Exchange
- 02Request Open Access and/or DBS subscriptions
- 03Submit Gas Exchange Subscription form for DBS files
- 04Receive flat files 3x/week via secure portal/FTP
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
Supported Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company EDI Transaction Sets
| Code | Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | Gas Nominations | Submit/modify/cancel gas supply nominations (ANSI X12 / NAESB). Web alternative via Nomination System/EGMS. |
How to Enroll in Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company EDI
- 01Obtain ICC certification (sales/Customer Select suppliers)
- 02Execute Master Nomination / Supplier Aggregation Agreements with Nicor
- 03Register with the Transportation Department (GTQA@southernco.com / 630.983.4040 opt 1)
- 04Request EDI specifications and VAN connection requirements
- 05Implement and test EDI nominations in test environment
- 06Go live submitting production nominations
Sources
Rate Schedules & Tariff Analysis
Nicor Gas C&I rate selection turns on two factors: annual therm volume and load factor (how uniform usage is across the year). Smaller users (<800,000 therms) take Rate 4/74; mid-large users take Rate 6/76; the very largest, load-factor-sensitive users take demand-based Rate 7/77. Each bundled sales rate has an unbundled transportation twin (74/76/77) for customers that procure gas from a marketer and use Nicor only for delivery and storage. Gas commodity is a pass-through via the monthly PGA; distribution/delivery charges are where Nicor's margin and the customer's controllable cost sit.
Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Rate Schedule List
| Schedule | Applicability |
|---|---|
| Rate 4 / 74 | C&I under 800,000 therms/yr |
| Rate 6 / 76 | Large C&I 800k–10M therms/yr |
| Rate 7 / 77 | Largest C&I ≥10M therms/yr (demand-based) |
| Rate 5 / 75 | Seasonal use ≤700,000 therms/yr |
Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Rate Features & TOU Details
- Rate class set by annual load and load factor, not by SIC/industry
- Bundled sales rates (4/5/6/7) vs unbundled transportation rates (74/75/76/77) for marketer-supplied gas
- Customer Select program: marketer supply + Nicor delivery, with a Transportation Service Credit of −$0.0048/therm and a Customer Select Charge
- Minimum monthly bills rise with size: $7,000 (Rate 6/76), $25,000 (Rate 7), $30,100 (Rate 77), excluding gas commodity
- Rate 7/77 is demand-based — a demand charge on the highest daily use in the month
- Critical Day / balancing obligations for transportation customers; unauthorized use billed at $6.00/therm
- Gas commodity recovered separately via the ICC Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)
For a deeper analysis including cost optimization strategies and historical rate trends:
Read the full Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Rate Optimization Guide →Sources
Other Data Access Programs
Residential & Small Commercial Data License
Formal data licensing program providing historical usage data for residential/small commercial customers for efficiency and supplier programs.
- 01Contact Michelle Paoletti (630-388-2162)
- 02Review and execute license agreement (Appendix E program list)
- 03Receive data feed or portal credentials
Customer Select Program
Alternative gas suppliers serve residential/small commercial customers; suppliers access eligibility/usage data.
- 01Obtain ICC certification
- 02Execute Master Supplier / Aggregation Agreements
- 03Access eligibility and usage data via Open Access or Data License
Limitations & Considerations
- ⚠No public Green Button / ESPI implementation documented despite AMI deployment.
- ⚠No public REST API or developer portal.
- ⚠Customer-facing interval granularity is monthly; daily reads only via DBS for transportation accounts.
- ⚠Open Access limited to 3 simultaneous live queries; PIN (last billed usage) required.
- ⚠EGMS deployment (Q2 2025) may change/replace legacy nomination systems and access methods.
Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas Company Data Access FAQ
How do C&I customers access Nicor Gas usage data?▾
Business customers use the MyAccount portal for billing and 13 months of monthly usage. Authorized third parties (suppliers, consultants) use the Open Access portal with a supplier ID and the account's last billed usage as a PIN, in live or batch mode.
Does Nicor Gas support Green Button or a public API?▾
No. Despite a fully deployed AMI (2.2M meters with daily reads), Nicor Gas does not publicly document Green Button Connect My Data, ESPI, or a public REST API. Programmatic access is via Open Access, Gas Exchange DBS flat files, the Nomination System/EGMS, and EDI.
What is the most granular usage data available?▾
Daily meter reads are captured by AMI. For transportation accounts, Gas Exchange DBS files deliver daily reads three times per week (Tue/Thu/Fri). MyAccount and Open Access transcripts show monthly/bill-period aggregation.
Can large C&I users buy gas from another supplier?▾
Yes. Large users can take transportation service (Rates 74-77) and procure their own gas supply, while small commercial customers can use the Customer Select program to choose an alternative gas supplier. Nicor continues to provide delivery.
How does third-party authorization work?▾
Third parties must register as a Nicor supplier/agent and hold documented customer authorization (agency agreement or LOA). Nicor conducts random audits and revokes access for violations.
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