How to Pay Your Nicor Gas Bill Online

What Nicor Bill Pay is and how to use it

Nicor Bill Pay is the online payment system run by Nicor Gas, the natural gas utility that serves northern Illinois. You can use it to pay your gas bill from your computer or phone without writing a check or calling a phone number. Payments go directly to Nicor and show up in your account within one to two business days.

You do not need any special software or app — you log into your Nicor account on their website, enter your payment amount, and choose a payment date. Nicor accepts payments from a bank account (checking or savings) or a debit card. There is no fee to pay from a bank account, but Nicor charges a fee if you use a debit or credit card.

The system works whether you pay the full bill or a partial amount. You can also set up a recurring payment so the same amount comes out on the same day each month, which is useful if your bill stays roughly the same year-round.

Key Takeaways

• Nicor Bill Pay lets you pay your gas bill online from a bank account or debit card without leaving your house.
• Payments from a bank account are free, but Nicor charges a fee for debit or credit card payments.
• You need to set up an online account with Nicor first, using your account number and service address.
• Payments typically post to your account within one to two business days, though you can schedule them for a future date.
• You can pay the full bill, a partial amount, or set up automatic monthly payments.

Setting up your Nicor online account

Before you can use Nicor Bill Pay, you need an online account on Nicor's website. Go to nicorgas.com and look for the login or account creation link. You will need your Nicor account number (on your bill), your service address, and your zip code.

Nicor will send you a temporary password by email or text, depending on what you choose during setup. Use that password to log in, then create your own password. Once you are logged in, you can see your current bill, your payment history, and your usage information.

If you have trouble creating an account or do not have your account number handy, you can call Nicor customer service at 1-888-642-6748. They can help you set up an online account or reset a password over the phone.

How to make a one-time payment

Log into your Nicor account and look for a link that says "Pay Now" or "Make a Payment." Click it, and you will see your current bill amount. You can change this to any amount you want to pay — the full bill, a partial payment, or more than you owe (the extra will be a credit on your next bill).

Next, choose your payment method. If you select a bank account, enter your routing number and account number. If you use a debit card, enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV. Nicor will ask you to confirm the payment date — you can pay right away or schedule it for a future date up to several days out.

Review the details one more time, then submit the payment. Nicor will show you a confirmation number on the screen and send you a confirmation email. Keep that confirmation number in case you need to track the payment later.

Understanding payment timing and when money leaves your account

When you submit a payment through Nicor Bill Pay, the money does not leave your bank account when ready. If you pay from a bank account, the funds are withdrawn one to two business days after you submit the payment. If you use a debit card, the charge may appear within 24 hours.

Nicor posts the payment to your gas bill within one to two business days of receiving it. This means there can be a gap between when the money leaves your bank and when Nicor shows the payment on your account. If you schedule a payment for a future date, the money will not leave your account until that date arrives.

If you are worried about a payment not going through, log back into your account a few days after you submit it. Your payment history will show whether Nicor received it and when it posted to your bill.

Bank account payments versus debit card payments

Nicor charges no fee when you pay from a bank account (checking or savings). This is the cheapest way to pay online. The payment takes the same one to two business days to process, so there is no speed advantage to using a card.

If you pay with a debit card or credit card, Nicor charges a fee. The fee amount varies and is shown to you before you confirm the payment, so you will know the exact cost before you decide to proceed. Some people use a card when they need to pay quickly or when they want to earn rewards points on the card, but the fee makes it more expensive than a bank account payment.

You cannot pay with a credit card directly through Nicor Bill Pay on their website, but some credit card companies let you set up Nicor as a payee in their own bill pay system. That way, the credit card company sends a check to Nicor on your behalf, and you avoid the debit card fee.

Setting up automatic monthly payments

If you want the same amount to come out of your account every month, you can set up an automatic payment through Nicor Bill Pay. Log into your account, find the automatic payment or recurring payment option, and enter the amount you want to pay each month and the day you want it to come out.

Automatic payments only work from a bank account, not from a debit card. Nicor will withdraw the money on the date you choose every month until you cancel the automatic payment. You can change or cancel it anytime by logging back into your account.

Automatic payments are useful if your bill is roughly the same every month, but remember that your bill can change with the seasons. In winter, your heating bill will be higher, so you may need to adjust your automatic payment amount or pay the difference manually.

What to do if a payment fails or does not go through

If Nicor Bill Pay rejects your payment, the most common reason is that your bank account or card information is wrong. Check that you entered the routing number and account number correctly, or that your card number and expiration date are current. If the information is correct, contact your bank to make sure they are not blocking the payment.

If you scheduled a payment for a future date and want to cancel it before it processes, log into your account and look for a way to delete or cancel the pending payment. Once the money has left your bank account, you cannot cancel it through Nicor Bill Pay — you would need to contact Nicor or your bank directly.

If a payment goes through but does not show up on your Nicor bill after two business days, call Nicor customer service at 1-888-642-6748. Have your confirmation number ready. They can look up the payment and tell you whether it is still processing or if there was a problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my Nicor bill without creating an online account?

Yes. You can pay by phone at 1-888-642-6748, by mail with a check, or in person at a payment location. You can also set up automatic payments through your bank's bill pay system without logging into Nicor's website. However, the online account gives you the most control and lets you see your bill and payment history anytime.

Is Nicor Bill Pay safe?

Nicor uses encryption to protect your bank account and card information, the same technology that banks use. Your information is not stored on Nicor's website after the payment is processed. That said, always log in through nicorgas.com directly rather than clicking a link in an email, and never share your password with anyone.

What happens if I pay more than I owe?

The extra amount becomes a credit on your account. Nicor will explore it to your next bill. If you move or close your account, Nicor can refund the credit to you, though you may need to request it.

Can I pay someone else's Nicor bill?

You can pay a bill if you have the account number and service address, but you cannot log into someone else's online account without their password. If you want to pay a family member's bill, ask them to add you as an authorized user on their account, or have them make the payment themselves and you can reimburse them.

What if I want to dispute a charge on my bill?

Contact Nicor customer service at 1-888-642-6748 to report a problem with your bill. They can review your account and usage. Do not refuse to pay the bill, but you can ask Nicor to investigate before you pay the disputed amount.