Nicor, AGL Say Combination Won't Adversely Impact Illinois Retail Gas Choice

The purchase of Nicor Inc. by AGL Resources, "should have no significant adverse impact on the competitive retail gas markets in Illinois," the joint applicants said in testimony before the Illinois Commerce Commission (Docket 11-0046).

"Nicor Gas and AGL Resources both support customer choice and believe that competition brings new and innovative products to the marketplace. This is evident by the variety of commodity products offered since the [Illinois choice] program's inception," joint applicants said.

Applicants reported that the Nicor Gas Customer Select small volume choice program includes 240,000 migrated customers, or more than 10 percent of the total customer base. Sixteen suppliers are currently active in the program, Nicor Gas said.

"The number of customers served by each gas supplier is quite diverse in that no single gas supplier has a market share of more than 25 percent. In fact, five gas suppliers have more than a 10 percent market share, which is an indication of a robust and competitive market," Nicor Gas said.

The figures relate to the Customer Select choice program, and not transportation service.