Atmos buying Louisiana gas distributor, pipeline

April 19, 2001
Atmos Energy Corp. said Wednesday the Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved its $365 million acquisition of Louisiana Gas Service Co. and LGS Natural Gas Co., both subsidiaries of Citizens Communications Co. Atmos expects to complete the purchase by June 30.


By the OGJ Online Staff

HOUSTON, Apr. 19 -- Atmos Energy Corp. said Wednesday the Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved its $365 million acquisition of Louisiana Gas Service Co. and LGS Natural Gas Co., both subsidiaries of Citizens Communications Co.

Louisiana Gas Service (LGS), of Harvey, La., serves 279,000 gas customers. LGS Natural Gas (LGSN) is an intrastate pipeline serving industrial customers in portions of Louisiana. Atmos expects to complete the purchase by June 30.

Atmos said that after the acquisition, it would be the largest gas distributor in Louisiana and the fifth largest pure gas utility in the US. It will serve 1.4 million customers in 11 states, including 359,000 in Louisiana.

LGS serves 190 communities in southeastern and northern Louisiana, including the suburban areas of New Orleans, the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, and the Monroe/West Monroe metropolitan area.

The operating divisions of Atmos, of Dallas, Tex., are Energas Co., Greeley Gas Co., Trans Louisiana Gas Co., United Cities Gas Co., and Western Kentucky Gas Co. It also owns Woodward Marketing LLC, a gas services company in Houston, and gas storage fields.