POWER OF ATTORNEY




KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the  undersigned,  a Director,  Officer,  or Director  and Officer of
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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
Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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