Nicor: Hike increases bills 29 cents

NAPERVILLE - Nicor Gas said Thursday that the Illinois Commerce Commission approved an annual base rate revenue increase of about $11 million, which reflects a rate of return of 8.09 percent, beginning in October. The increase will add about 29 cents to an average monthly residential customer bill, the company said. The ICC had granted a request by Nicor Gas for a rehearing concerning the capital structure contained in its March 25 rate order. This ICC decision on rehearing was the culmination of a five-month regulatory review process and represents an increase to the base rates established in the March rate order. Commercial and industrial customers in varying rate classes also will see modest increases depending on their gas use and service options, the natural gas utility said.