Choice Terms

We want to help you make an informed choice. If you are considering changing your natural gas supplier, we've created a list of terms you should know.

A third party who is authorized to purchase, manage and/or bill for natural gas service. For example, when you sign a contract with a supplier, they become your account agent and are authorized to buy natural gas on your behalf and may also be authorized to receive bills from the utility and other information that would otherwise be sent directly to you.
The amount of time covered by one bill, usually one month.
A payment option that spreads a customer's estimated utility costs evenly over the year.
Suppliers may offer packages that include both gas and electric offers.
The natural gas you use, not including any services provided by the supplier or utility.
A program offered by North Shore Gas that allows residential and small business customers to choose their natural gas supplier.
A fixed monthly charge that recovers the costs associated with making service available to customers. This charge also funds Illinois state weatherization, energy assistance and renewable energy grants.
Allowing other suppliers the opportunity to sell natural gas to customers, the service of purchasing gas has been separated from the distribution function of the utility.
A per-therm charge assessed by North Shore Gas based primarily on the volume of gas delivered to the customer.
The customer pays the same amount every month for a set period of time. Changes in the customer's use or the market price of natural gas should not affect the amount the customer pays.
A charge that recovers the cost of North Shore Gas' gas supply. The gas charge is determined monthly and filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).
A written agreement that a residential customer switching gas suppliers must sign, unless the customer is enrolling by Internet or telephone, to authorize the new supplier to purchase gas on the customer's behalf.
Based or index price: Under these plans, you can expect the price for natural gas to change each month. The supplier sets the monthly price per therm based on natural gas market indicators, meaning your gas price will fall and rise with market prices.
An acronym for the New York Mercantile Exchange where contracts for commodities, including natural gas, are traded. At the NYMEX, natural gas futures and options contracts are traded and future pricing directions are established. Suppliers may establish their prices using the NYMEX.
Customers can enroll in the program and are eligible to choose their own natural gas supplier. There is no deadline for signing up, and customers may switch between suppliers at any time — subject to any supplier contract provisions. There are annual enrollment limitations for residential customers.
A customer who buys gas supply service from the utility and who does not receive supply service from a gas supplier.
A service provided by either North Shore Gas or a supplier that offers one bill containing charges from both North Shore Gas and the supplier.
A type of service offered by pipelines and other owners of storage facilities whereby the gas may be placed in the facility, usually during the summer, and kept until a later date when the owner of the gas may withdraw the stored gas, usually in winter.
A company other than the local utility that supplies natural gas to customers.
The basic unit for measuring natural gas use.
A supplier/marketer that is owned all or in part by the same corporation that owns the local utility.
The price for natural gas may go up or down with market trends. But the price per therm may not necessarily be tied to a market index. For example, it may be based on the supplier's average cost to purchase natural gas.
The average cost of gas based on your gas use. If you use more gas in a given billing period, that month's gas price carries more weight in the calculation. If you use less gas in a billing period, that month's gas price carries less weight. Since gas costs change throughout the year, this is an accurate way to figure out a customer's average yearly price per therm.