NAPERVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2006--Today Nicor announced the winners of the Energy by Design: A visual arts contest for students. Nicor, in partnership with the National Energy Foundation (NEF), developed this innovative contest and launched it last fall. The contest was designed to bring students, teachers and families together to become more aware of how to use energy efficiently and the effects of conservation on the environment.

Nicor has been providing energy-related teaching materials to schools for the past 12 years. Energy by Design was developed by Nicor and the National Energy Foundation to enhance our existing program in a new, exciting way. This contest also aligns with Nicor's other educational initiatives including Dollars for Scholars, ScholarShop and grants, sponsorships and Matching Gifts for higher education.

"Energy by Design rounds out our initiatives by focusing on early education. The contest was a fun opportunity to connect our commitment to education with raising awareness about energy conservation," said Margi Schiemann, director of community relations for Nicor Gas.

To enter the contest, young students were challenged to create a poster that would teach others how to be energy efficient. Contest materials encouraged students to think about how they use energy and what they can do to promote energy efficiency.

Nicor received 183 entries from schools in 39 communities. Entries were divided into three age-appropriate categories, grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. In each grade category there are four winners - Grand Prize, First Place Finalist, Second Place Finalist and Third Place Finalist.
There is also an award category for teachers whose students participated in the contest. Prizes will distributed at the winners' schools on different dates (see below). All the contest participants and their teachers will receive a certificate of recognition.

"We are tremendously pleased with the results of the contest. All the entries were wonderful. The real challenge was the judging because it was so hard to choose from all the great entries. We are so proud of all the students and teachers who participated and we look forward to next year's entries," said Schiemann.

All the winning entries are posted on Nicor's Web site at nicorgas.com (In the Community) and on the contest Web site at EnergybyDesign.org (http://www.energybydesign.org/2006_winners.htm).
The prizes will be awarded to students and teachers at individual award ceremonies (see schedule below).

Grand prize winners in each category won a:

-- Home Energy Makeover conducted by Nicor Services, an affiliate
of Nicor Inc. (up to a $3,000 value)

-- $500 U.S. savings bond

-- Pizza party for their classroom

-- Prize pack filled with fun, age-appropriate prizes

-- Congratulatory plaque (to be displayed at the winners'
schools)

The top three finalists in each category won a:

-- $250 U.S. savings bond

-- Prize pack filled with fun, age-appropriate prizes.

-- Congratulatory plaque (to be displayed at the winners'
schools)

Three teachers have won a $1,000 classroom grant. The winners were determined based on the quantity and quality of their students'
entries.

The winners are as follows:

Nicor Gas is one of the largest gas distribution companies in the nation, and has provided safe, reliable and cost-effective natural gas service for nearly 50 years. Nicor serves more than two million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of Northern Illinois, excluding the City of Chicago. For more information on Nicor Gas, visit www.nicorgas.com.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

NICOR Inc.

NICOR Inc.

Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) is a holding company and is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Its primary business is Nicor Gas, one of the nation's largest natural gas distribution companies. Nicor owns Tropical Shipping, a containerized shipping business serving the Caribbean region and the Bahamas. In addition, the company owns and has an equity interest in several energy-related businesses.

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