Court Denies Southwest Gas/ONEOK Request for Gag Order Against Southern Union Company.

Business Editors & Energy/Legal Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2000

Southern Union Company (NYSE:SUG) reported that in its Arizona federal action against Southwest Gas Corp. (NYSE:SWX), ONEOK (NYSE:OKE) and others, the court yesterday denied Southwest Gas' and ONEOK's request for a gag order.

The request would have prevented Southern Union from publicly informing its shareholders about its attempted acquisition of Southwest Gas last year and its ongoing litigation against Southwest Gas, ONEOK and others.

"We're pleased that this decision will allow us to keep our shareholders fully informed," said Peter H. Kelley, Southern Union president and chief operating officer.

Southern Union is an international energy distribution company serving nearly 1.6 million customers in Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Florida, and Mexico. Its natural gas operating divisions include Southern Union Gas, Missouri Gas Energy, PG Energy, Atlantic Utilities, and its New England division. In Texas, Southern Union Gas serves approximately 523,000 customers, including the cities of Austin, El Paso, Brownsville, Galveston, and Port Arthur. Missouri Gas Energy serves approximately 491,000 customers in western Missouri, including the cities of Kansas City, St. Joseph, Joplin, and Monett. And, in Pennsylvania, PG Energy serves approximately 154,000 customers, including the cities of Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Williamsport. The New England division serves 237,000 customers throughout Rhode Island and 52,000 customers in southeastern Massachusetts including Fall River and North Attleboro. Atlantic Utilities operates in Florida.

This release and other Company reports and statements issued or made from time to time contain certain "forward-looking statements" concerning projected future financial performance, expected plans or future operations. Southern Union Company cautions that actual results and developments may differ materially from such projections or expectations.

Investors should be aware of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking projections or expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to: weather conditions in the Company's service territories; cost of gas; regulatory and court decisions; the receipt of timely and adequate rate relief; the achievement of operating efficiencies and the purchase and implementation of new technologies for attaining such efficiencies; impact of relations with labor unions of bargaining-unit employees; and the effect of strategic initiatives (including any recent, pending or potential acquisition or merger, and any related financing arrangements) on earnings and cash flow. Most of these factors are difficult to accurately predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company.