Nicor Gas Company
                                                        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 Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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 Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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 Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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 Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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 Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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 Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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 Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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 Northern Illinois Gas Company (doing business as Nicor Gas Company), 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