Nicor Inc.
                                                        Form 10-K
                                                        Exhibit 24.01

                                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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                               /s/  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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                                  /s/  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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                               /s/  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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                                 /s/  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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                                   /s/  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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                                  /s/  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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                                 /s/  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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                                      /s/  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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                                  /s/  JOHN F. RIORDAN
                               --------------------------
                                       John F. Riordan



<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 2001 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
17th day of January, 2002.





                                  /s/  PATRICIA A. WIER
                               --------------------------
                                       Patricia A. Wier