When fueled by motivation, innovation and technology have always been successful “partners” in solving the world’s most critical problems. Today, with the latest advancements in connectivity, artificial intelligence and the “Internet of Things,” our world is continuing to tackle great human challenges including global warming and climate change. Increasing focus on the integration of renewables and building more connected and automated utility infrastructure are just two of the ways the energy industry is contributing to that effort.
But, as conversations around all-electric possibilities become louder in local government and advocacy groups, it is more important than ever to understand the facts about energy systems.
In January 2024, Winter Storm Gerri brought Northern Illinois a week of cold temperatures with wind chills dropping below -30F. During the three coldest days of the week (January 13-15), Nicor Gas delivered 12.41 billion cubic feet of natural gas to our 2.3 million customers with no major outages. That day, from 8-9am, Nicor Gas delivered the equivalent of 57,300 megawatt hours of energy to our customers – more than three times the highest quantity of electricity ever delivered by the electric grid during any hour for consumption in Northern Illinois.
With that unprecedented demand, there was not a single major outage on that day across our territory, from the Chicago suburbs to the Iowa and Wisconsin borders, all the way south to Interstate 80. From cities to small villages to rural townships, Nicor Gas was there when customers needed us most.
As for cost, on that day, the natural gas Nicor Gas purchased for immediate delivery to customers was half the price of electricity purchased the same day. Half. Our customers were further cushioned because nearly 40% of the natural gas we delivered on January 15 was bought and reserved in our underground storage facilities for days just like this.
That type of safety, reliability and sustainability is accomplished through years of investment, commitment and focus on our civic responsibility to maintain and operate a public utility that truly serves the public.
This is not pride of ownership talking. We take pride in our stewardship and our duty to our neighbors, families and businesses. Nicor Gas takes its responsibility seriously to customers to run the most effective business possible, and in our industry that means efficiently providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable natural gas.
Winter Storm Gerri was just one of many winter storms that serve as a reminder of the critical role of natural gas and its infrastructure for Illinois communities. And, by providing opportunities to improve efficiency and collaborate with smart and renewable solutions, an affordable, resilient and sustainable energy future is possible.
Debunking the Myths with Smart Neighborhoods™
At Nicor Gas, we have been a focused leader in helping to build a cleaner energy future for some time and are committed to doing even more.
We are decisively reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from operations—more than 50% over a decade. We are working with partners like the electric industry to develop low-carbon fuel alternatives such as hydrogen that can be delivered safely and reliably.
Innovation and our broad approach to decarbonization are not the only reasons that Nicor Gas is a leader on the journey to Illinois’ clean energy future.
We also are leveraging dual fuel solutions that include the integration of a smart and renewable infrastructure.
Our showcase example of this ‘road to affordable sustainable solutions for customers’ can be found in two new Smart Neighborhoods planned in Aurora and the Northern Fox Valley. Together with Habitat for Humanity, we are building these neighborhoods, which are designed to be net zero, that leverage natural gas, renewable and electric energy sources in conjunction with smart energy technologies and efficient building strategies. The homes have solar panels as well as battery storage.
To verify our vision for this build and demonstrate to the industry and our stakeholders that dual fuel solutions can offer the highest-grade sustainable solutions, we conducted a comprehensive study with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that compares all-electric homes of the same size and footprint in the region to those of dual fuel. When analyzing both sets of homes with solar and batteries, the report found that the dual fuel homes are estimated to be four times more carbon efficient than similarly equipped all-electric homes.
While these tests validate the effectiveness of dual fuel solutions in meeting net zero goals, the cost analysis is more important to look at: Dual fuel homes with solar panels and a battery are estimated to save an average of $136 annually on their utility bills compared to similar all-electric homes.
Habitat for Humanity has been a fantastic partner in helping us demonstrate the benefits of these technologies working together. Homeowners in these new communities will be purchasing their first homes, with their own mortgages. They are responsible for paying their energy bills. To them, the financial savings matter, and these new homes offer them a path toward living a more sustainable lifestyle.
Getting the Word Out
Nicor Gas’ Smart Neighborhoods demonstrate the importance of dual fuels in affordable net zero solutions. They demonstrate all the elements of motivation fueled by innovation and technology.
As a sister gas utility to many electric operating companies in the Southern Company family, we are proud to help tell the story of how critical it is that electric and natural gas work together as part of an overall energy portfolio to meet the needs and expectations of our communities.
Learn more about the Nicor Gas Smart Neighborhoods™ at ngsmartneighborhoods.com.