Atmos Energy Expects Lower Natural Gas Costs This Winter, Based on Current Supplies and Weather Forecasts.DALLAS -- Residential customers of Atmos Energy Atmos Energy (NYSE: ATO), headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the largest distributor of natural gas in the United States, serving 3.1 million customers nationwide. Atmos acquired TXU's natural gas and pipeline holdings in 2004. Corp. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : ATO ATO Australian Taxation Office ATO Ambito Territoriale Ottimale (Italy) ATO Alpha Tau Omega ATO Air Traffic Organization (FAA) ATO Arab Towns Organization ATO Air Tasking Order ATO Assemble To Order ) can expect this winter's heating bills to be lower if current projections for natural gas supplies and winter weather do not change. In looking ahead to winter, Atmos Energy also expects to have sufficient natural gas supplies to meet the needs of customers across its 12-state service territory. "We expect to start the winter season with lower prices than last year, thanks to the mild hurricane season Hurricane season refers to a period in a year when hurricanes usually form. For more information see: Tropical cyclone#Times of formation. For a lists of past seasons, see:
The federal government's Energy Information Administration (EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance, Arlington, VA, www.eia.org) A membership organization founded in 1924 as the Radio Manufacturing Association. It sets standards for consumer products and electronic components. ) has issued a similar forecast for the upcoming winter. The EIA short term energy forecast predicts natural gas expenditures could be approximately 13 percent lower than last year for the average U.S. household. Some regions will experience more or less savings, depending on the weather and natural gas usage. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA NOAA abbr. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Noun 1. NOAA - an agency in the Department of Commerce that maps the oceans and conserves their living resources; predicts changes to the earth's environment; ) predicts this winter will be six percent colder than last winter but still slightly warmer than normal. New Tools To help customers manage their utility bills, Atmos Energy has created a new Internet See Web 2.0 and Internet2. site, www.ManageYourEnergyBills.com, which consolidates information about natural gas, how to use it wisely, and how to get energy assistance if needed. Atmos Energy also has added a new collection of energy management tools featuring an Energy Profile, Energy Calculator, Energy Library and an Energy Advisor. Customers can reach it at the above Web site or by going to www.AtmosEnergy.com and clicking on "Manage Energy Use" under the Home Service section. "The new tools and new Web site are designed to help customers understand their natural gas usage and how to use energy wisely throughout the year," added Cocklin. "Even though we're expecting lower prices this winter, we always want to assist our customers in conserving energy and not only be good energy stewards but also realize lower energy costs." Safety Customers are encouraged to have their natural gas furnace Gas furnace An enclosure in which a gaseous fuel is burned. Domestic heating systems may have gas furnaces. Some industrial power plants are fired with gases that remain as a by-product of other plant processes. and appliances inspected annually to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operations. Instead of waiting until winter to reinstate natural gas service, customers are urged to resume service now to avoid the rush of calls when the first cold weather arrives. "Atmos Energy has been delivering natural gas for more than 100 years, and natural gas continues to be the safest, most reliable energy source," added Cocklin. "In fact, the natural gas delivery system has the best safety record of any energy delivery system." Made in America Natural gas is the most efficient energy source for heating homes, providing hot showers, and drying clothes. The world's best chefs also prefer natural gas for cooking. Moreover, in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , nearly all of the natural gas used here is produced here. In fact, 97 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S. is produced in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , making us less dependent on foreign energy sources. Billing Convenience Atmos Energy offers several payment options for customers: 1. Budget Billing is an easy way to even out gas bills on a year-round basis. 2. Electronic Billing Electronic billing is the electronic delivery and presentation of financial statements, bills, invoices, and related information sent by a company to its customers. Electronic billing is also referred to as the following:
3. Automatic Payment is convenient and simple, automatically deducting payments from the customer's checking, savings or credit union account each month. 4. Customers also can pay: A. Online at www.AtmosEnergy.com, B. By phone with a credit card or a check, C. In person at a payment center, or D. By mail. No Mark Up "Customers pay the same price that Atmos Energy has already paid - and not a penny more - for natural gas," said Cocklin. "We buy natural gas at wholesale prices on behalf of customers, and we recover the actual cost of gas from our customers with no mark up. Atmos Energy makes no profit on the cost of gas charged to customers; our earnings are generated from the rates regulated by state agencies and local governments." Forward-Looking Statements The matters discussed in this news release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements made in good faith by the company and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. When used in this news release or in any of the company's other documents or oral presentations, the words "anticipate," "believes," "estimate," "expects," "forecast," "goal," "intends," "objective," "plans," "projection," "seek," "strategy" or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this news release, including the risks relating to the acquisition of the operations of TXU TXU Texas Utilities (Electric and Gas Company) TXU Transmitter Unit Gas, the company's ability to continue to access the capital markets and the other factors discussed in the company's SEC filings. These factors include the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005, and the company's Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2006. Although the company believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Atmos Energy Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country's largest natural gas-only distributor, serving about 3.2 million gas utility customers. Atmos Energy's utility operations serve more than 1,500 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge also Blue Ridge Mountains A range of the Appalachian Mountains extending from southern Pennsylvania to northern Georgia. It rises to 2,038.6 m (6,684 ft) at Mount Mitchell in the Black Mountains of western North Carolina. in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy's nonutility operations, organized under Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc., operate in 22 states. They provide natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers and manage company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Atmos Energy is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com. |
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