2.2.0.25falsefalse006190 - Disclosure - REGULATORY PROCEEDINGStruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 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.falsefalse3false0gas_RegulatoryProceedingsTextBlockgasfalsenadurationDescribes all of the specific events that have or may impact rates and amortization of regulatory assets and liabilities (for...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<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">18.</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">REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS</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">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 income a net recovery related to 2008 and 2009 of $31.7 million in the first quarter of 2010, all of which has been collected.  The benchmark, against which 2010 actual bad debt experience is compared, is approximately $63 million.  The company’s actual 2010 bad debt experience was $35.7 million, resulting in a refund to customers of $27.3 million which will be refunded over a 12-month period beginning June 2011.</font></div>18.REGULATORY PROCEEDINGSRate proceeding.  On March 25, 2009, the ICC issued an order approving an increase in base revenues of approximately $69falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescribes 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.falsefalse12REGULATORY PROCEEDINGSUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue