POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                        ROBERT M. BEAVERS, JR.
                                        Robert M. Beavers, Jr.



<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                           BRUCE P. BICKNER
                                           Bruce P. Bickner



<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                         JOHN H. BIRDSALL, III
                                         John H. Birdsall, III



<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                           THOMAS A. DONAHOE
                                           Thomas A. Donahoe



<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                           JOHN E. JONES
                                           John E. Jones



<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                             DENNIS J. KELLER
                                             Dennis J. Keller



<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                           WILLIAM A. OSBORN
                                           William A. Osborn


<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                          SIDNEY R. PETERSEN
                                          Sidney R. Petersen



<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                               JOHN RAU
                                               John Rau



<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned, a Director, Officer, or Director and Officer of
Nicor Inc., an Illinois corporation, does hereby constitute and appoint J. L.
METZ and M. T. LORENZ, and each of them, the undersigned's true and lawful
attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority (acting alone and
without the other) to execute in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
such Director, Officer, or Director and Officer, the 2000 Annual Report on
Form 10-K (and such amendment or amendments thereto as may be necessary) to
be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full
power of substitution and revocation in the premises; and hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or
cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto  signed this Power of Attorney this
18th day of January, 2001.





                                           PATRICIA A. WIER
                                           Patricia A. Wier