Aurora, Illinois Commercial Energy

Aurora Commercial Energy: The City of Lights

Aurora—Illinois's second-largest city and the "City of Lights"—presents significant electricity and natural energy procurement opportunities for businesses. Spanning Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will counties, Aurora's diverse commercial base from manufacturing to retail benefits from Illinois's deregulated electricity and natural energy market.

With a strategic location along the I-88 technology corridor and strong manufacturing heritage, Aurora businesses can optimize energy costs through smart supplier selection and procurement strategies.

Electricity & Natural Gas: Dual Energy Opportunities

Aurora businesses benefit from deregulated markets for both electricity and natural gas. Strategic procurement of both commodities creates comprehensive cost savings:

Electricity Deregulation

• Competitive retail energy providers
• Fixed and variable rate options
• Demand charge management
• Renewable energy options

Natural Gas Deregulation

• Multiple licensed suppliers
• Commodity cost competition
• Contract flexibility
• Volume-based pricing

By coordinating procurement of both electricity and natural gas, businesses can reduce overall energy costs by 15-30% through competitive supplier selection and strategic contract timing.

How Commercial Energy Works in Aurora

Nicor Gas Service

Nicor Gas provides electricity and natural gas delivery throughout Aurora:

• Delivery infrastructure: Owns and maintains local pipelines
• Meter reading: Records your usage
• Emergency response: Gas leak hotline (888-Nicor4U)
• Billing: Provides consolidated bills regardless of supplier

Key point: Nicor Gas delivers gas, but you can choose who supplies the commodity.

Competitive Energy Suppliers

The Illinois Commerce Commission licenses alternative gas suppliers (Retail Energy Providers) to sell electricity and natural gas. In Aurora:

• Multiple suppliers compete for commercial business
• You choose based on price, terms, and service
• Nicor Gas continues delivery
• One bill with both delivery and supply charges

Plug In Illinois

Use pluginillinois.org to compare licensed suppliers and verify credentials.

Cost Reduction Strategies for Aurora

1. Compare Suppliers

Aurora's competitive market rewards shopping. Compare:

Factor	What to Evaluate
Per-therm rate	Base commodity price
Rate type	Fixed, variable, or index
Contract term	Length of commitment
Monthly fees	Additional charges
Exit penalties	Early termination costs

Get quotes from 4-6 suppliers before deciding.

2. Leverage Manufacturing Volume

Aurora's strong manufacturing sector often qualifies for volume discounts:

• Under 10,000 therms: Standard commercial rates
• 10,000-50,000 therms: Custom quote territory
• Over 50,000 therms: Negotiate directly
• Large industrial: Transportation-only options

Manufacturing operations should always request custom pricing.

3. Time Your Procurement

Commercial energy prices fluctuate seasonally. EIA data helps track trends:

Generally favorable periods:

• Late spring and summer months
• After mild winters
• When storage levels are high

Higher cost periods:

• Peak heating season (December-February)
• Extreme cold events
• Supply disruptions

Aurora's cold winters make timing particularly important for heating-intensive businesses.

4. Aggregate Facilities

Multi-location Aurora businesses gain leverage through aggregation:

• All Aurora locations combined
• Facilities across the Fox Valley region
• Illinois statewide operations
• Multi-state for national companies

Combined volume improves negotiating position.

Industries We Serve in Aurora

Manufacturing

Aurora's manufacturing heritage includes precision manufacturing, food processing, and industrial production:

• Process heating optimization
• Industrial-scale procurement
• Volume-based negotiations
• Equipment efficiency consulting

Manufacturing typically sees the largest savings from strategic procurement.

Healthcare

Rush Copley Medical Center and regional healthcare facilities have substantial electricity and natural energy needs:

• Hospital operations
• Clinic heating
• Medical office buildings
• Multi-facility coordination

Restaurants & Food Service

Aurora's diverse restaurant scene, from downtown establishments to suburban chains:

• Commercial kitchen operations
• Restaurant group procurement
• Multi-location deals
• Efficiency optimization

Explore: Restaurant Commercial Energy Solutions

Retail & Commercial

Shopping centers, strip malls, and commercial properties throughout Aurora:

• Multi-tenant buildings
• Retail chain locations
• Commercial property management
• Portfolio-wide strategies

Distribution & Logistics

Warehousing and distribution facilities along the I-88 corridor:

• Warehouse heating
• Distribution center operations
• Large-volume commercial rates
• Regional facility coordination

Professional Services

Office buildings and professional campuses:

• Office heating and hot water
• Multi-story building management
• Professional services firms
• Corporate campus procurement

Aurora Regional Considerations

Fox Valley Economy

Aurora anchors the Fox Valley economy, including:

• North Aurora
• Montgomery
• Oswego
• Yorkville

Multi-city businesses should consider regional aggregation.

I-88 Research & Technology Corridor

Aurora's position along the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor creates unique energy needs:

• Data centers
• Research facilities
• Technology companies
• Corporate headquarters

Compare Illinois Cities

Businesses with Illinois-wide operations should coordinate:

• Chicago - Peoples Gas territory
• Naperville - Nicor Gas
• Joliet - Nicor Gas
• Rockford - Nicor Gas
• Illinois statewide

Understanding Your Aurora Gas Bill

Bill Structure

Your Nicor Gas bill includes:

1. Delivery Charges (Nicor Gas)

• Customer charge (fixed monthly)
• Distribution charge (per therm)
• Environmental and infrastructure charges
• Taxes and fees

2. Supply Charges

• Gas cost (per therm)
• From Nicor Gas or your chosen supplier
• This is where shopping creates savings

Rate Schedules

Nicor Gas commercial rate schedules:

Schedule	Description
Rate 4	Small Commercial (under 10,000 therms)
Rate 5	Large Commercial
Rate 7	Industrial/Large Volume

Delivery charges apply regardless of supplier.

Contract Options for Aurora Businesses

Fixed Rate Contracts

Benefits:

• Price locked for term (12-36 months typical)
• Budget predictability
• Protection from winter spikes

Considerations:

• Miss savings if prices fall
• Early termination fees
• Longer commitment

Variable/Index Rates

Benefits:

• Month-to-month flexibility
• Benefit when prices drop
• No long-term commitment

Considerations:

• Exposure to price spikes
• Budget uncertainty
• More monitoring required

Blended Strategies

Combine approaches for balance:

• Portion on fixed contracts
• Portion on variable/index
• Balances security and opportunity

Learn more: Understanding Commercial Energy Deregulation

Aurora Energy Efficiency

Nicor Gas Programs

Nicor Gas offers commercial efficiency incentives:

• Equipment rebates
• Custom project incentives
• Energy assessments
• Prescriptive measures

Visit Nicor Gas Business for current programs.

Local Considerations

Aurora's climate means efficiency matters:

• Winter heating optimization
• Building envelope improvements
• HVAC upgrades
• Process heating efficiency

Efficiency reduces usage; procurement optimizes what you use.

Get Your Free Aurora Analysis

Commercial Energy Advisors helps Aurora and Fox Valley businesses optimize electricity and natural energy costs:

1. Bill Analysis: Review your current Nicor Gas bills
2. Supplier Comparison: Compare licensed alternatives
3. Contract Review: Evaluate terms and opportunities
4. Negotiation Support: Secure competitive rates
5. Ongoing Management: Monitor renewals and market

No cost to businesses—suppliers compensate us directly.

Whether you're a manufacturer, a healthcare facility, a restaurant group, or any Aurora business, Illinois's deregulated market offers significant savings opportunities.

Aurora was the first city in America to illuminate its streets electrically. Bring that same forward-thinking approach to your electricity and natural energy procurement. Contact Commercial Energy Advisors today for your complimentary Fox Valley energy analysis.