The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program receives prestigious industry honor

Rhea-AI Summary

The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program's Community Connection Center (C3) has been honored with the 2024 E Source Achievement in Residential Customer Experience Award. Launched in 2022, C3 is a unique offering that connects income-eligible customers with energy efficiency and bill payment assistance options, as well as basic needs support.

Since its inception, C3 has helped Nicor Gas customers access over $18.5 million in energy assistance grants. The program has provided free energy efficiency services to over 4,500 customers and free groceries to more than 5,000 families. C3 serves as a one-stop shop for connecting customers with local grants, community partners, and free resources that extend beyond energy bills.

This initiative addresses a critical need in Illinois, where nearly 1.5 million people live at or below the poverty level, representing more than 12% of the state's population. Many of these families struggle to maintain basic essentials, including heat, food, housing, and medical assistance.

Community Connection Center (C3) wins 2024 E Source Achievement in Residential Customer Experience Award

NAPERVILLE, Ill., Oct. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program's Community Connection Center (C3) has received an E Source 2024 Achievement in Residential Customer Experience Award. Launched in 2022, C3 is a unique offering that is focused on providing customers with energy efficiency and bill payment assistance options, as well as basic needs support. E Source, a utilities-focused consulting, research and data science company, announced the national recognition during its 2024 Utility Awards ceremony.

C3 is a one-stop shop for connecting income-eligible customers with local grants, community partners and free resources that can assist beyond their energy bills. Since 2022, the C3 team has helped Nicor Gas customers tap into more than $18.5 million in energy assistance grants. Over 4,500 customers have received free energy efficiency services through the program and more than 5,000 families have been provided free groceries.

"We designed C3 as a unique customer experience to help navigate available resources like energy efficiency and energy assistance options," said Meena Beyers, vice president of Business and Community Development for Nicor Gas. "The offering has now evolved to provide personalized access to programs that help customers manage their energy usage, bills and critical services including housing, food and other basic needs."

In Illinois, nearly 1.5 million people live at or below the poverty level – that is more than 12% of the state's population. Many of these families struggle to receive and maintain the most basic of essentials, including heat in their homes in the winter, food, housing and medical assistance.

For more information about Nicor Gas' award-winning C3 offering, visit nicorgas.com/C3.

About Nicor Gas
Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.3 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com.

About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.4 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

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SOURCE Nicor Gas

FAQ

What award did Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program's C3 win in 2024?

The Community Connection Center (C3) of Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program won the 2024 E Source Achievement in Residential Customer Experience Award.

How much in energy assistance grants has C3 helped Nicor Gas customers access since 2022?

Since 2022, the C3 team has helped Nicor Gas customers tap into more than $18.5 million in energy assistance grants.

How many customers have received free energy efficiency services through C3?

Over 4,500 customers have received free energy efficiency services through the C3 program.

What percentage of Illinois' population lives at or below the poverty level?

More than 12% of Illinois' population, or nearly 1.5 million people, live at or below the poverty level.

When was the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program's Community Connection Center (C3) launched?

The Community Connection Center (C3) was launched in 2022.