Electric Power Generation Deliveries (Bcf)
Notes:
Starting with the traditional utility, we serve nearly 2 million customers and are the largest independent gas distributor in the United States. We have an outstanding service territory that includes most of the suburban Chicago area and the northern third of Illinois. We also have a diverse customer base and a very credible reputation with both customers and regulators. That reputation has been built on low costs and reliable service.
We expect to continue seeing modest customer growth at Nicor Gas -- about 1.5% to 2.0% per year. Last year we added 34,000 customers, the most in 10 years.
Aside from customer growth, we also see good load growth potential from gas-fired power generation in our area. More than 20 new power generation projects have been announced in our service territory. Not all of these projects will be built, but we expect that we will serve many of those that are constructed. In 1999 alone, two new plants and one plant converted from fuel oil to natural gas came on line with load potential for Nicor Gas of 13 Bcf.
Nicor has done very well over the years in a regulated utility environment, as evidenced by our consistently high returns. The principal risk we face is warm weather, and this year we have purchased weather insurance to mitigate that risk.