FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 19, 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Nicor National: Hank Possley
630-444-2360

Media Contact: Richard Caragol
630-388-2686

Nicor National’s Call Center Recognized for Providing “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience” For Fourth Consecutive Year

Naperville, IL — Nicor National’s Call Center has been recognized for excellence in customer satisfaction for a fourth consecutive year under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center ProgramSM . The Certified Call Center Program distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by Nicor National’s call center operations to provide “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience.”

Nicor National is a provider of home warranty, energy efficiency, and energy management plans under its Home SolutionsSM program. The company offers these plans to both homeowners and customers of its utility and business partners who work with Nicor National to build stronger customer relationships and improve mutual business results.

“In achieving certification for a fourth consecutive year, Nicor National has demonstrated its commitment to delivering high-quality service to its call center customers,” according to J.D. Power and Associates. “Call center customers are particularly pleased with the concern and knowledge displayed by customer service representatives.”

Nicor National annually handles more than 1 million telephone, e-mail, and fax inquiries from customers. To become certified, the call center successfully passed a detailed audit of its recruiting, training, employee incentives, quality assurance capabilities, and management roles and responsibilities. As part of its evaluation, J.D. Power and Associates conducted a random survey of Nicor National customers who recently contacted its call center, which is located in Naperville, IL.

For certification status, a call center must also perform within the top 20 percent of customer service scores, which are based on benchmarks established in J.D. Power and Associates’ cross-industry customer satisfaction research. The evaluation criteria include courtesy, knowledge, concern for the customer, usefulness of the information provided, convenience of operating hours, ease of reaching a representative, and timely resolution.

“We are pleased to be recognized as a provider of outstanding customer service,” said Barbara Porter, Vice President of Business Development & Customer Service at Nicor National. “Our fourth consecutive certification reinforces our commitment to both employees and customers. We firmly believe that employee engagement and customer satisfaction are intrinsically linked. The environment we create for our employees is the same one our customers experience.”

In addition to recertification by J.D. Power and Associates, Nicor National’s HVAC companies are Carrier Distinguished Dealers and have earned Carrier’s President’s Award for customer service excellence, as well as the Better Business Bureau’s highest rating.

Nicor National has previously been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as Nicor Services. For additional information about Nicor National, visit www.nicornational.com.

Nicor National is a non-regulated subsidiary of Nicor Inc. (NYSE: GAS), and affiliate of Nicor Gas, one of the nation’s largest natural gas distribution companies. Nicor National markets “Home Solutions,” a proprietary line of customizable home warranty and energy efficiency plans that can be co-branded with utility and energy companies to maximize financial performance and build and sustain customer satisfaction. *For J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Call Center Certification ProgramSM information, visit www.jdpower.com.