The Mississippi Link
JACKSON, Miss. (October 16, 2009)—Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) said it expects that most of its natural gas utility customers will pay lower heating bills this coming winter compared to last winter.
“We forecast that the annual cost of the natural gas we buy for our customers across the 12 states where we operate will be 10 percent to 12 percent less, on average, compared to our gas costs for the past year,” said David Gates, president of Atmos Energy’s Mississippi Division.
Gates said that Atmos Energy does not make any profit on the natural gas it distributes to its utility customers. “When the costs we pay for natural gas go down, we pass on those fuel savings to our customers in their bills,” he said.
“Customers tell us that paying lower natural gas bills this winter is welcome news, considering the current economy and the pressures they feel on their household budgets,” Gates said. He said Atmos Energy is working closely with state energy officials and local energy assistance agencies to help its customers who are struggling because of the economy.
“The needs of some of our customers remain severe,” he said. “For instance, we referred about 50 percent more customers (some 20,000 people) last winter to energy assistance agencies to seek help paying their gas bills. Many of these customers this year may be able to take advantage of the additional federal energy-assistance dollars now available by calling us at 1-888-286-6700 to learn how to apply for energy assistance.”
Gates said the company’s own Sharing the Warmth program will donate more than $1 million to energy assistance agencies to aid low-income, elderly and disabled customers pay their natural gas bills. “During the worst part of the recession last year,” he said, “40,000 more Atmos Energy customers and employees signed up to contribute to our Sharing the Warmth program. We have many caring customers who are concerned about helping members of their community who need assistance.”
Atmos Energy customers unable to pay their natural gas bills should call the company before becoming delinquent, Gates emphasized. “By calling us to discuss a payment plan, we can work with them to help prevent a service disconnection and can help them find energy assistance that might be available,” he said.
“One of the easiest ways for any customer to manage winter gas bills is to sign up for our budget billing plan,” he said. Atmos Energy’s budget billing plan levels out a customer’s monthly bill payments over a rolling 12-month period.
“Our customer pays the same total amount he or she otherwise would. But, budget billing lowers the heating season’s highest bills, which average from $125 to $175 a month for most customers, down to about $80 a month. That can ease the pressure on a household’s budget.”
Gates said Atmos Energy’s Web site at www.atmosenergy.comenergytips offers many easy-to-use online tools and energy-savings tips to help homeowners conserve on energy use, evaluate choices for new appliances and understand the many factors that affect their monthly natural gas bills.
“Every fall, we also encourage our customers to call a licensed plumbing or heating contractor for a winter tuneup of their natural gas furnace and appliances. It’s a matter of safety, of course. But, servicing your appliances can also keep them operating efficiently to save costs,” he said.
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural-gas-only distributor, serving over 3 million natural gas distribution customers in more than 1,600 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast and manages 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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