Today starts the second week of this year's partnership between Nicor Gas and Jewel-Osco's Shop & Share program to help raise funds for heating assistance. Through the program, when customers at any Jewel-Osco in Illinois make a purchase and present a Shop & Share Coupon to the cashier on the dates listed below, five percent of their total bill will go to the Sharing Program, which is administered by the Salvation Army and provides financial assistance to people who need help with their heating bills.

"Together we can help families in need by simply conducting our regular shopping activity and presenting a coupon on any of the designated Shop and Share days," said Claudia Colalillo Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Philanthropy for Nicor Gas & Nicor Inc. "With many families in need of help with energy costs this winter, the Sharing Program is one more option for them to turn to for help."

Coupons are available on the company's Web site at www.nicorgas.com and also in the October Energy Spotlight Newsletter which was mailed to Nicor Gas customers in their latest billing statement. Customers who would like to help can simply cut out the coupons and present them to a Jewel-Osco cashier on any of the following dates:

The Sharing Program is made up of contributions from Nicor Gas customers and employees that are matched up to $175,000 annually by Nicor Gas. The program provides households one-time annual grants of up to $450 to help pay their natural gas bills. To qualify, household monthly income may not exceed 200 percent of the federally established poverty level.

"Over the past 26 years, Sharing Program has provided nearly $14 million to help over 78,000 customers," continued Colalillo. We encourage our customers who need help paying their heating bills to look into all of the financial assistance options available to them. If they do not qualify for government programs, the Sharing Program is another venue customers in need can turn to for help this winter heating season.

Sharing Program applicants must apply in-person at Salvation Army offices. For a list of Salvation Army offices, call 1-888-Nicor4U (1-888-642-6748) or visit the Nicor Gas website at www.nicorgas.com and click on "financial assistance."

Nicor Gas is one of the nation's largest gas distribution companies. Owned by Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS) a holding company, Nicor Gas has provided safe and reliable natural gas services for over 50 years. The Company serves two million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago.

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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