2.2.0.7 false SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT 006050 - Disclosure - SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT 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 SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT 1 us-gaap_DebtDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false 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">4.         SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT</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">In February 2009, the $50 million 5.37 percent First Mortgage Bond series matured and was retired.  In July 2009, Nicor Gas issued $50 million First Mortgage Bonds at 4.70 percent, due in 2019 through a private placement.  In determining that these bonds qualified for exemption from registration under </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, Nicor Gas relied on the facts that the bonds were offered only to a limited number of large institutional investors and each institutional investor that purchased the bonds represented that it was purchasing the bonds for its own account and not with a view to distribute them. </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">In April 2010, Nicor Gas established a $400 million, 364-day revolver, expiring April 2011 to replace the $550 million, 364-day revolver, which was set to expire in May 2010 and Nicor and Nicor Gas established a $600 million, three-year revolver, expiring April 2013 to replace the $600 million, five-year revolver, which was set to expire in September 2010.  These facilities were established with major domestic and foreign banks and serve as backup for the issuance of commercial paper.  The company had $373.3 million, $494.0 million and $365.0 million of commercial paper borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2010, December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2009, respectively.</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">In 2010, Nicor entered into $90 million notional of forward-starting interest rate swaps. The swaps hedge the risk associated with the interest payments attributable to the probable issuance of long-term fixed-rate debt in 2012 intended to finance the development of a natural gas storage facility.  Under the terms of the swaps, Nicor agrees to pay a fixed swap rate and receive a floating rate based on LIBOR.</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">The company believes it is in compliance with all debt covenants.</font></div> 4.         SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBTIn February 2009, the $50 million 5.37 percent First Mortgage Bond series false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true