2.2.0.25falsefalse006020 - Disclosure - ACCOUNTING POLICIEStruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$c00032http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000072020duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00u000Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170u001Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0u002Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0gas_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstractgasfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><table style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" align="center" border="0"><tr style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="top"><td style="WIDTH: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2.</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">ACCOUNTING POLICIES</font></div></td></tr></table></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">Consolidation.</font>  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nicor and all majority-owned subsidiaries.  Nicor’s key subsidiaries are described in Note 14 – Business Segment and Geographic Information.  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.</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">Use of estimates.</font>  The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates that affect reported amounts.  Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material.  Accounting estimates requiring significant management judgment involve accrued unbilled revenues, derivative instruments, regulatory assets and liabilities, pension and other postretirement benefits, potential asset impairments, asset retirement obligations, loss contingencies including environmental contingencies, credit risk and income taxes.</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">Subsequent events.  </font>The company’s management evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"> </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">Cash and cash equivalents.</font>  Cash equivalents are comprised of highly liquid investments of domestic subsidiaries with an initial maturity of three months or less.  The carrying value of these investments approximates fair value.</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">Regulatory assets and liabilities.</font>  Nicor Gas is regulated by the ICC, which establishes the rules and regulations governing utility rates and services in Illinois.  As a rate-regulated company, Nicor Gas is required to recognize the economic effects of rate regulation and, accordingly, has recorded regulatory assets and liabilities.  Regulatory assets represent probable future revenue associated with certain costs that are expected to be recovered from customers through rate riders or base rates, upon approval by the ICC.  Regulatory liabilities represent probable future reductions in revenues collected from ratepayers through a rate rider or base rates, or probable future expenditures.  If Nicor Gas’ operations become no longer subject to rate regulation, a write-off of net regulatory liabilities would be required.</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 had regulatory assets and liabilities at December 31 as follows (in millions):</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="center"><table style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tr style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="32%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2010</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2009</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><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">Regulatory assets - current</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="7%" colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">    Regulatory postretirement asset</font></font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> $</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">21.1 </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> $</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">20.6</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Deferred gas costs</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.65pt"></font>6.5</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 7.5pt"></font>24.9</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Other</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.65pt"></font>7.4</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 14.15pt"></font>5.4</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><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">Regulatory assets - noncurrent</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Regulatory postretirement asset</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 5.35pt"></font>193.3</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.85pt"></font>195.4</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Deferred gas costs</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.65pt"></font>1.4</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 14.15pt"></font>4.4</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Deferred environmental costs</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font>25.0</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 7.5pt"></font>18.1</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Unamortized losses on reacquired debt</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font>13.1</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 7.5pt"></font>14.2</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Other</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.65pt"></font>9.6</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 14.15pt"></font>8.9</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="32%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">277.4</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">291.9</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="32%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><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">Regulatory liabilities - current</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Regulatory asset retirement liability</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">17.2</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">14.5</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Bad debt rider</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font>16.4</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Other</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.65pt"></font>7.7</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 13.85pt"></font>2.7</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><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">Regulatory liabilities - noncurrent</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Regulatory asset retirement liability</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 5.35pt"></font>843.9</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 2.7pt"></font>796.8</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Regulatory income tax liability</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font>18.2</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 9.2pt"></font>39.1</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Bad debt rider</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 12pt"></font>11.7</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="white"><td style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="32%"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Other</font></div></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 25.3pt"></font>.9</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 20.8pt"></font>.8</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#e2eef5"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" width="32%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">  </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">916.0</font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="bottom" align="left" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right" valign="bottom" width="6%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">853.9</font></td></tr></table></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">All items listed above are classified in Other on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with the exception of the noncurrent portion of the Regulatory asset retirement liability, which is stated separately.</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 ICC does not presently allow Nicor Gas the opportunity to earn a return on its regulatory postretirement asset.  The regulatory postretirement asset is expected to be recovered from ratepayers over a period of approximately 9 to 12 years.  The regulatory assets related to debt are not included in rate base, but are recovered over the term of the debt through the rate of return authorized by the ICC.  Nicor Gas is allowed to recover and is required to pay, using short-term interest rates, the carrying costs related to temporary under or overcollections of natural gas costs, certain environmental costs and energy efficiency costs charged to its customers.  However, there is no interest associated with the under or overcollections of bad debt expense.</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">Investments.  </font>The company’s investments in marketable securities are categorized at the date of acquisition as trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale.  Trading securities, which include money market funds, are carried at fair value and are classified as current assets unless held to satisfy a long-term </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">obligation.  The company classifies money market funds held by its non-U.S. subsidiaries as short-term investments and all others are classified as cash equivalents.  Debt securities are categorized as held-to-maturity when the company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity.  Held-to-maturity securities are included in either short-term or long-term investments based upon their contractual maturity date.  The company carries held-to-maturity securities at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.  Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported in common equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.  Available-for-sale securities are classified as noncurrent assets unless the intent is to sell the security within 12 months.  The specific identification method is used to determine realized gains or losses on the sale of marketable securities.</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">Investments in equity securities that do not have a readily determinable fair value and do not qualify for the equity method are carried at cost.</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">Equity method investments.</font>  The company invests in partnerships and limited liability companies that are accounted for under the equity method.  Related investment balances classified as long-term investments at December 31, 2010 and 2009 were $93.8 million and $99.6 million, respectively, and include $76.0 million and $84.8 million, respectively, related to Triton.</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">Goodwill and other intangible assets.</font>  Goodwill is the excess cost of an acquired business over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.  Tropical Shipping had goodwill of $22.5 million and $20.9 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The increase in goodwill from 2009 to 2010 is due primarily to the acquisition of the assets of V.I. Cargo Services, Inc., a provider of less-than-container load and full container load consolidation services from the United States to the island of St. Croix (in the U.S. Virgin Islands).  Nicor Services had goodwill of $4.0 million at both December 31, 2010 and 2009.  Goodwill is tested for impairment annually.  Intangible assets other than goodwill with definite lives are amortized over their useful lives and totaled $5.1 million and $2.6 million, net of accumulated amortization, at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  These intangible assets consisted primarily of customer and agency relationships at Tropical Shipping.  At December 31, 2010, intangible assets also included rights that were obtained by Central Valley related to the storage facility development.  Goodwill and other intangible assets are classified in noncurrent other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.</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">Asset retirement obligations.</font>  The company records legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets in the period in which the obligation is incurred, if sufficient information exists to reasonably estimate the fair value of the obligation.  When an asset retirement obligation is recorded as a liability, a corresponding amount is recorded as an asset retirement cost (an additional cost of the long-lived asset).  Subsequently, the asset retirement obligation is accreted to the expected settlement amount and the asset retirement cost is depreciated over the life of the asset on a straight-line basis.</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">Subject to rate regulation, Nicor Gas continues to accrue all future asset retirement costs through depreciation over the lives of its assets even when a legal retirement obligation does not exist or insufficient information exists to determine the fair value of the obligation.  Amounts charged to depreciation by Nicor Gas for future retirement costs, in excess of the normal depreciation and accretion described above, are classified as a regulatory asset retirement liability.</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; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Derivative instruments.</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">  </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Cash flows from derivative instruments are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and gains and losses are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income, in the same categories as the underlying transactions.</font></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">Cash flow hedge accounting may be elected only for highly effective hedges, based upon an assessment, performed at least quarterly, of the historical and probable future correlation of cash flows from the derivative instrument to changes in the expected future cash flows of the hedged item.  To the extent cash flow hedge accounting is applied, the effective portion of any changes in the fair value of the derivative </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">instruments is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.  Ineffectiveness, if any, is immediately recognized in operating income.  The amount in accumulated other comprehensive income is reclassified to earnings when the forecasted transaction is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income, even if the derivative instrument is sold, extinguished or terminated prior to the transaction occurring.  If the forecasted transaction is no longer expected to occur, the amount in accumulated other comprehensive income is immediately reclassified to operating income.</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-STYLE: italic">Nicor Gas</font>.  Derivative instruments, such as futures contracts, options and swap agreements, are utilized primarily in the purchase of natural gas for customers.  These derivative instruments are reflected at fair value and are not designated as hedges.  Realized gains or losses on such instruments are included in the cost of gas delivered and are passed directly through to customers, subject to ICC review, and therefore have no direct impact on earnings.  Unrealized changes in the fair value of these derivative instruments are deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities.</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">Nicor Gas enters into swap agreements to reduce the earnings volatility of certain forecasted operating costs arising from fluctuations in natural gas prices, such as the purchase of natural gas for use in company operations.  These derivative instruments are carried at fair value.  To the extent hedge accounting is not elected, changes in such fair values are immediately recorded in the current period as operating and maintenance expense.</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-STYLE: italic">Nicor Enerchange</font>.  Derivative instruments, such as futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swap agreements and other energy-related contracts are held by Nicor’s wholesale natural gas marketing business, Nicor Enerchange, for trading purposes.  Certain of these derivative instruments are used to economically hedge price risk associated with inventories of natural gas, fixed-price purchase and sale agreements and other future natural gas commitments.  Nicor Enerchange records such derivative instruments at fair value and generally cannot elect hedge accounting.  As a result, changes in derivative fair values may have a material impact on Nicor’s financial statements.</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">Other derivative instruments are used by Nicor Enerchange to hedge price risks related to the activities of affiliates.  Derivatives are held related to certain utility-bill management products sold to retail customers.  These derivative instruments are carried at fair value and cash flow hedge accounting may or may not be elected.  Other derivative instruments are held for the purpose of hedging the commodity price risk associated with the forecasted purchase of base gas that will be injected as part of the development of the natural gas storage facility by Central Valley.  Such derivative instruments are carried at fair value and cash flow hedge accounting has been elected on a consolidated basis.  The base gas is a component of the storage facility’s construction costs.  Therefore, amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income related to these derivative instruments will not be reclassified to earnings until the storage facility is retired and the base gas is sold.</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-STYLE: italic">Nicor.</font> Forward-starting interest rate swaps are utilized to hedge the interest payments associated with long-term debt.  These derivative instruments are carried at fair value and cash flow hedge accounting is elected.  The effective portion of any changes in the fair value of the derivatives is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income.  Upon settlement, the deferred amount is amortized to interest expense over the life of the 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"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Credit risk and concentrations.</font>  Nicor’s major subsidiaries have diversified customer bases and the company believes that it maintains prudent credit policies which mitigate customer receivable, supplier performance and derivative counterparty credit risk<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">.  </font>The company is exposed to credit risk in the event a customer or supplier defaults on a contract to pay for or deliver product at agreed-upon terms and conditions, or a counterparty to a derivative instrument defaults on a settlement or otherwise fails to perform under contractual terms.  To manage this risk, the company has established procedures to determine and monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties, to seek guarantees or collateral back-up in the form of cash or letters of credit, to acquire credit insurance in certain instances, and to limit its exposure to any one counterparty.  Nicor also, in some instances, enters into netting arrangements to </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">mitigate counterparty credit risk.  Fair value measurements consider credit risk.  For assets and liabilities not carried at fair value, credit losses are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable.</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">On February 2, 2010, the ICC approved a bad debt rider that was filed for in 2009 by Nicor Gas.  The bad debt rider provides for the recovery from (or refund to) customers of the difference between Nicor Gas’ actual bad debt experience on an annual basis and the benchmark bad debt expense included in its rates for the respective year.</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">Revenue recognition.</font>  Gas distribution revenues are recognized when natural gas is delivered to customers.  In accordance with ICC regulations and subject to its review, the cost of gas delivered is charged to customers without markup, although the timing of cost recovery can vary.  Temporary under and overcollections of gas costs are deferred or accrued as a regulatory asset or liability with a corresponding decrease or increase to cost of gas, 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">Nicor Gas accrues revenues for estimated deliveries to customers from the date of their last bill until the balance sheet date.  Receivables include accrued unbilled revenues of $144.8 million and $141.0 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related primarily to gas distribution operations.</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">Nicor Gas classifies revenue taxes billed to customers as operating revenues and related taxes incurred as operating expenses.  Revenue taxes included in operating expense for 2010, 2009 and 2008 were $145.9 million, $148.1 million and $171.1 million, 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 the shipping business, revenues and related delivery costs are recognized at the time vessels depart from port.  While alternative methods of recognizing shipping revenue and related costs exist, the difference between those methods and the company’s policy does not have a material impact on operating results.</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">Nicor Enerchange presents revenue from natural gas sales, cost of sales, and related derivative instruments, which are entered into for trading purposes, on a net basis.  For Nicor Solutions and Nicor Advanced Energy, revenue is recognized on their 12-month utility-bill management contracts as the lesser of cumulative earned or cumulative billed amounts.  Nicor Services recognizes revenue for warranty and repair contracts on a straight-line basis over the contract term.  Revenue for maintenance services is recognized at the time such services are performed.</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">Repair and maintenance expense.</font>  Nicor records expense for repair and maintenance costs as incurred.  The shipping business uses the direct expensing method for planned major maintenance related to dry-docking and major repairs of its owned vessels.</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">Legal defense costs.</font>  The company accrues estimated legal defense costs associated with loss contingencies in the period in which it determines that such costs are probable of being incurred and are reasonably estimable.</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">Depreciation.</font>  Property, plant and equipment are depreciated over estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis.  The gas distribution business composite depreciation rate is 4.1 percent, which includes all estimated future retirement costs.  Upon the retirement of these assets, no gain or loss is recognized.  In the shipping business, the estimated useful lives of vessels range from 20 to 25 years.</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">Income taxes.  </font>Deferred income taxes are provided at the current statutory income tax rate for temporary differences between the tax basis (adjusted for related unrecognized tax benefits, if any) of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the financial statements.  In the gas distribution business, investment tax credits and regulatory income tax liabilities for deferred taxes in excess of the current statutory rate are amortized to income as the temporary difference reverses.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"> </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">A deferred income tax liability is not recorded on undistributed foreign earnings that are expected in management’s judgment to be indefinitely reinvested offshore.  Management considers, among other factors, actual cash investments offshore as well as projected cash requirements in making this determination.  Changes in management’s investment or repatriation plans or circumstances could result in a different deferred income tax liability.</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 records unrecognized tax benefits based on a recognition threshold and valuation method to recognize and measure an income tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return.  The evaluation is based on a two-step approach.  The first step requires the company to evaluate whether the tax position would “more likely than not,” based upon its technical merits, be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority.  The second step requires the tax position to be measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement.  The company recognizes accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and interest income.  Penalties, if any, are recorded in operating expense.</font></div>2.ACCOUNTING POLICIESConsolidation.  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nicor and all majority-ownedfalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringThis element may be used to describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 22
-Paragraph 8
falsefalse12ACCOUNTING POLICIESUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue