2.2.0.7 false REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS 006140 - Disclosure - REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS true false false false 1 USD false false u000 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 u002 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 u001 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] 0 gas_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract gas false na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 3 REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS 1 gas_RegulatoryProceedingsTextBlock gas false na duration Describes all of the specific events that have or may impact rates and amortization of regulatory assets and liabilities (for... false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">12.       REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Rate proceeding.  </font>On March 25, 2009, the ICC issued an order approving an increase in base revenues of approximately $69 million, a rate of return on rate base of 7.58 percent and a rate of return on equity of 10.17 percent.  The order also approved an energy efficiency rider.  Nicor Gas placed the rates approved in the March 25, 2009 order into effect on April 3, 2009.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: -9pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On April 24, 2009, Nicor Gas filed a request for rehearing with the ICC concerning the capital structure contained in the ICC's rate order contending the company's return on rate base should be higher.  On October 7, 2009, the ICC issued its decision on rehearing in which it increased the annual base revenues approved for Nicor Gas in the March 25, 2009 order by approximately $11 million, increasing the rate of return on rate base to 8.09 percent.  Nicor Gas placed the rates approved in the rehearing decision into effect on a prospective basis on October 15, 2009.  Therefore, the total annual base revenue increase authorized in the rate case originally filed by the company in April 2008 is approximately $80 million.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Bad debt rider.</font>  In September 2009, Nicor Gas filed for approval of a bad debt rider with the ICC under an Illinois state law which took effect in July 2009.  On February 2, 2010, the ICC issued an order approving the company's proposed bad debt rider.  This rider provides for recovery from customers of the amount over the benchmark for bad debt expense established in the company's rate cases.  It also provides for refunds to customers if bad debt expense is below such benchmarks.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As a result of the February 2010 order, Nicor Gas recorded in the first quarter of 2010 a net recovery related to 2008 and 2009 of $31.7 million; substantially all of this amount is expected to be collected in 2010.  The benchmark, against which 2010 actual bad debt expense will be compared, is approximately $63 million.</font></div> 12.       REGULATORY PROCEEDINGSRate proceeding.  On March 25, 2009, the ICC issued an order approving an increase false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Describes all of the specific events that have or may impact rates and amortization of regulatory assets and liabilities (for example, pending or recently concluded regulatory proceedings, environmental requirements). Specifics may include quantifications related to rates, costs, and earnings. Events may relate to rate moratoriums or price caps. No authoritative reference available. false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true