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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.


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






                                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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.


                                                    BRUCE P. BICKNER            
                                                    Bruce P. Bickner
                                                    




                               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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.


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






                               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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.


                                                    THOMAS A. DONAHOE           
                                                    Thomas A. Donahoe





                               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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.


                                                    JOHN E. JONES              
                                                    John E. Jones






                              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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.



                                                    DENNIS J. KELLER            
                                                    Dennis J. Keller






                              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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.



                                                    CHARLES S. LOCKE           
                                                    Charles S. Locke





                                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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.


                                                     SIDNEY R. PETERSEN        
                                                     Sidney R. Petersen






                               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
D. L. CYRANOSKI, G. M. BEHRENS 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 others) to execute in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned as such Director, Officer, or Director and
Officer, the 1998 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 26th day of January, 1999.


                                                    PATRICIA A. WIER            
                                                    Patricia A. Wier