Nicor Review Prepares for Deregulation

By Trevor Jensen





CHICAGO–Having gone more than a year without an agency of record, Nicor, parent company of utility Northern Illinois Gas, has been hearing presentations from agencies for its account, the company confirmed last week.





Northern Illinois Gas is headquartered in Naperville, Ill., and provides natural gas service for much of the region outside of Chicago. The company’s last agency of record was D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles in Chicago, which closed its doors in January 1996.





The utility’s account is estimated in the low seven figures but is expected to grow as increased competition results from deregulation of the natural gas industry.





‘The search is in progress, and we expect to have a selection within a couple of weeks,’ said Jane Wiedmeyer, an official with Northern Illinois Gas.





Wiedmeyer declined to say how many agencies are involved, but did say all are based in the Midwest.





Northern Illinois Gas already is being challenged by...