2.2.0.25falsefalse006140 - Disclosure - PREFERRED STOCKtruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 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_ScheduleOfRedeemablePreferredStockTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1falsefalsefalse00<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">13.</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">PREFERRED STOCK</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">Voting.</font>  Each share of preferred stock, regardless of class, entitles the holder to one vote as to matters considered at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders.</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">Preferred stock.  </font>Nicor had 1,600,000 cumulative, $50 par value, preferred shares and 20,000,000 cumulative, no par value, preference shares authorized at December 31, 2010.  In 2010 and 2009, Nicor redeemed 1,431 shares and 10,150 shares, respectively, of the 4.48 percent Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Stock, $50 par value, at an average redemption price of $51.06 and $46.43 per share, respectively, plus accrued unpaid dividends.  As a result, there were no shares of the 4.48 percent Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Stock outstanding at December 31, 2010.</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 January 2011, Nicor redeemed 247 shares of the 5.00 percent Convertible Preferred Stock, $50 par value, at an average redemption price of $50.13 per share.  Nicor had no shares of preferred stock outstanding following such redemption.</font></div>13.PREFERRED STOCKVoting.  Each share of preferred stock, regardless of class, entitles the holder to one vote as to matters considered at thefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDisclosure of capital stock of an entity that has priority and preferential rights over common stock in the distribution of dividends and in the event of liquidation of the entity, in addition to other types of preferences. This schedule describes redeemable preferred stock and applies to preferred stock and convertible preferred stock. Does not include preferred stock that are mandatorily redeemable for assets of the entity or represent an unconditional obligation that will be settled in a variable number of shares constituting a monetary value predominantly indexed to (a) a fixed monetary amount known at inception, (b) an amount inversely correlated with the residual value of the entity, or (c) an amount determined by reference to something other than the fair value of the issuer's stock. Includes stock that has the following features: (1) redeemable at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date or dates; (2) redeemable at the option of the holder; or (3) has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. This disclosure may include a description by series, value, shares authorized, issued and outstanding, carrying and redemption amounts, redemption price per share, dollar amount of shares subscribed but unissued, and subscriptions receivable.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12PREFERRED STOCKUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue