Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes
þ
No
o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of
registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.
o
Indicate by check whether the recipient is an accelerated filer
(as defined in Exchange Act
Rule 12b-2). Yes
þ
No
o
Indicate by check whether the recipient is a shell company (as
defined in Exchange Act
Rule 12b-2). Yes
o
No
þ
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant as of the last business day of
the registrants most recently completed second fiscal
quarter, March 31, 2005, was $2,085,825,303.
As of November 11, 2005, the registrant had
80,613,517 shares of common stock outstanding.
Portions of the registrants Definitive Proxy Statement to
be filed for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on
February 8, 2006 are incorporated by reference into
Part III of this report.
PART I
The terms we, our, us,
Atmos and Atmos Energy refer to Atmos
Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless the context
suggests otherwise.
Overview
Atmos Energy Corporation, (AEC), headquartered in Dallas, Texas,
is engaged primarily in the natural gas utility business as well
as other natural gas nonutility businesses. We are one of the
countrys largest natural-gas-only distributors based on
number of customers and one of the largest intrastate pipeline
operators in Texas based upon miles of pipe. As of
September 30, 2005 we distributed natural gas through sales
and transportation arrangements to approximately
3.2 million residential, commercial, public authority and
industrial customers through our seven regulated utility
divisions, which covered service areas in 12 states. Our
primary service areas are located in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. We have more
limited service areas in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and
Virginia. In addition, we transport natural gas for others
through our distribution system.
Through our nonutility businesses, we primarily provide natural
gas management and marketing services to municipalities, other
local gas distribution companies and industrial customers in
22 states and natural gas transportation and storage
services to certain of our utility divisions and to third
parties.
Operating Segments
Our operations are divided into four segments:
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the utility segment, which includes our regulated natural gas
distribution and related sales operations,
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the natural gas marketing segment, which includes a variety of
nonregulated natural gas management services,
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the pipeline and storage segment, which includes our regulated
and nonregulated natural gas transmission and storage
services and
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the other nonutility segment, which includes all of our other
nonregulated nonutility operations.
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Strategy
Our overall strategy is to:
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deliver superior shareholder value
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improve the quality and consistency of earnings growth, while
operating our natural gas utility and nonutility businesses
exceptionally well and
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enhance and strengthen a culture built on our core values.
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Over the last five years, we have grown through several
acquisitions, including our acquisition in April 2001 of the
remaining 55 percent interest in Woodward Marketing, L.L.C.
that we did not already own, our acquisition in July 2001 of the
assets of Louisiana Gas Service Company, our acquisition in
December 2002 of Mississippi Valley Gas Company (MVG) and
our acquisition on October 1, 2004 of the natural gas
distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas Company (TXU
Gas).
The TXU Gas operations we acquired are regulated businesses
engaged in the purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of
natural gas in the north-central, eastern and western parts of
Texas. Through these newly acquired operations, we provide gas
distribution services to approximately 1.5 million
residential and business customers in Texas, including the
Dallas/ Fort Worth metropolitan area. We also now own and
operate a system consisting of 6,162 miles of gas
transmission and gathering lines and five underground storage
reservoirs, all within Texas.
4
The purchase price for the TXU Gas acquisition was approximately
$1.9 billion (after closing adjustments and before
transaction costs and expenses), which we paid in cash. We
acquired approximately $112 million of working capital and
did not assume any indebtedness of TXU Gas in connection with
the acquisition. TXU Gas retained certain assets, provided for
the repayment of all of its indebtedness and redeemed all of its
preferred stock prior to closing and retained and agreed to pay
certain other liabilities under the terms of the acquisition
agreement.
We funded the purchase price for the TXU Gas acquisition with
approximately $235.7 million in net proceeds from our
offering of approximately 9.9 million shares of common
stock, which we completed on July 19, 2004, and
approximately $1.7 billion in net proceeds from our
issuance on October 1, 2004 of commercial paper backstopped
by a senior unsecured revolving credit agreement, which we
entered into on September 24, 2004 for bridge financing for
the TXU Gas acquisition. In October 2004, we repaid the
commercial paper used to fund the acquisition through the
issuance of senior unsecured notes on October 22, 2004
which generated net proceeds of approximately $1.39 billion
and the sale of 16.1 million shares of common stock on
October 27, 2004, which generated net proceeds of
approximately $382.5 million before other offering costs.
We have experienced over 20 consecutive years of increasing
dividends and earnings growth after giving effect to our
acquisitions. We have achieved this record of growth while
operating our utility operations efficiently by managing our
operating and maintenance expenses, leveraging our technology,
such as our 24-hour call centers, to achieve more efficient
operations, focusing on regulatory rate proceedings to increase
revenue as our costs increase and mitigating weather-related
risks through weather-normalized rates in many of our service
areas. Additionally, we have strengthened our nonutility
business by increasing gross profit margins, actively pursuing
opportunities to increase the amount of storage available to us
and expanding commercial opportunities on our intrastate Texas
pipeline.
Our core values include focusing on our employees and customers
while conducting our business with honesty and integrity. We
continue to strengthen our culture through ongoing
communications with our employees and enhanced employee training.
Utility Segment Overview
We operate our utility segment through the following seven
regulated natural gas utility divisions:
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Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division,
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Atmos Energy Kentucky Division,
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Atmos Energy Louisiana Division,
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Atmos Energy Mid-States Division,
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Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division (acquired October 2004),
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Atmos Energy Mississippi Division (formerly known as the
Mississippi Valley Gas Company Division) and
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Atmos Energy West Texas Division.
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Our natural gas utility distribution business is seasonal and
dependent on weather conditions in our service areas. Gas sales
to residential and commercial customers are greater during the
winter months than during the remainder of the year. The volumes
of gas sales during the winter months will vary with the
temperatures during these months. The seasonal nature of our
sales to residential and commercial customers is partially
offset by our sales in the spring and summer months to our
agricultural customers in Texas, Colorado and Kansas who use
natural gas to operate irrigation equipment.
In addition to weather, our financial results are affected by
the cost of natural gas and economic conditions in the areas
that we serve. Higher gas costs, which we are generally able to
pass through to our customers under purchased gas adjustment
clauses, may cause customers to conserve, or, in the case of
5
industrial customers, to use alternative energy sources. Higher
gas costs may also adversely impact our accounts receivable
collections, resulting in higher bad debt expense and may
require us to increase borrowings under our credit facilities
resulting in higher interest expense.
The effect of weather that is above or below normal is partially
offset through weather normalization adjustments, or WNA, as
approved by the regulators in certain of our service areas. WNA
allows us to increase customers bills to offset lower gas
usage when weather is warmer than normal and decrease
customers bills to offset higher gas usage when weather is
colder than normal. As of September 30, 2005 we had WNA in
the following service areas for the following periods, which
covered approximately 1.0 million of our meters in service:
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Tennessee
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November April
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Georgia
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October May
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Mississippi
(1)
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November May
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Kentucky
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November April
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Kansas
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October May
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Amarillo, Texas
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October May
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West Texas
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October May
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Lubbock, Texas
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October May
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Virginia
(2)
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January December
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(1)
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Beginning in October 2005, the WNA period for Mississippi will
be November April.
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(2)
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Effective beginning in July 2005.
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Our Mid-Tex Division does not have WNA. However, their
operations benefit from a rate structure that combines a monthly
customer charge with a declining block rate schedule to
partially mitigate the impact of warmer-than-normal weather on
revenue. The combination of the monthly customer charge and the
customer billing under the first block of the declining block
rate schedule provides for the recovery of most of our fixed
costs for such operations under most weather conditions.
However, this rate structure is not as beneficial during periods
where weather is significantly warmer than normal.
Our natural gas supply comes from a variety of third party
providers and from gas held in storage. We anticipate that the
natural gas supply for the upcoming winter heating season will
be provided by a variety of suppliers, including independent
producers, marketers and pipeline companies, in addition to
withdrawals of gas from storage. Additionally, the natural gas
supply for our Mid-Tex Division includes peaking and spot
purchase agreements. We also contract for storage service in
underground storage facilities on many of the interstate
pipelines serving us. We estimate the peak-day availability of
natural gas supply from long-term contracts, short-term
contracts and withdrawals from underground storage to be
approximately 4.2 Bcf. The peak-day demand for our utility
operations in fiscal 2005 was on December 23, 2004, when
sales to customers reached approximately 3.5 Bcf.
Supply arrangements are contracted from our suppliers on a firm
basis with various terms at market prices. The firm supply
consists of both base load and swing supply quantities. Base
load quantities are those that flow at a constant level
throughout the month and swing supply quantities provide the
flexibility to change daily quantities to match increases or
decreases in requirements related to weather conditions. Except
for local production purchases, we select suppliers through a
competitive bidding process by requesting proposals from
suppliers that have demonstrated that they can provide reliable
service. We select these suppliers based on their ability to
deliver gas supply to our designated firm pipeline receipt
points at the lowest cost. Major suppliers during fiscal 2005
were Anadarko Energy Services, BP Energy Company, Chevron
Corporation, ConocoPhillips Company, Cross Timbers Energy
Services, Inc., Devon Gas Services, L.P., Enbridge Marketing
(US) L.P., Oneok Energy Services Company, L.P., Tenaska
Marketing and Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC, our natural gas
marketing subsidiary.
6
The combination of base load, peaking and spot purchase
agreements, coupled with the withdrawal of gas held in storage,
allows us the flexibility to adjust to changes in weather, which
minimizes our need to enter into firm commitments.
Also, to maintain our deliveries to high priority customers, we
have the ability, and have exercised our right, to curtail
deliveries to certain customers under the terms of interruptible
contracts, applicable state statutes or regulations. Our
customers demand on our system is not necessarily
indicative of our ability to meet current or anticipated market
demands or immediate delivery requirements because of factors
such as the physical limitations of gathering, storage and
transmission systems, the duration and severity of cold weather,
the availability of gas reserves from our suppliers, the ability
to purchase additional supplies on a short-term basis and
actions by federal and state regulatory authorities. Curtailment
rights provide us the flexibility to meet the human-needs
requirements of our customers on a firm basis. Priority
allocations imposed by federal and state regulatory agencies, as
well as other factors beyond our control, may affect our ability
to meet the demands of our customers. We anticipate no problems
with obtaining additional gas supply as needed for our customers.
We receive gas deliveries for all of our utility divisions,
except for our Mid-Tex Division, through 37 pipeline
transportation companies, both interstate and intrastate, to
satisfy our natural gas needs. The pipeline transportation
agreements are firm and many of them have pipeline
no-notice storage service which provides for daily
balancing between system requirements and nominated flowing
supplies. These agreements have been negotiated with the
shortest term necessary while still maintaining our right of
first refusal. The natural gas supply for our Mid-Tex Division
is delivered by our Atmos Pipeline Texas Division,
which was formed from the natural gas transmission and storage
operations that we acquired in the TXU Gas acquisition.
The following is a brief description of our seven natural gas
utility divisions. Additional information for our natural gas
utility divisions is presented under the caption Operating
Statistics.
Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division.
Our
Colorado-Kansas Division operates in Colorado, Kansas and the
southwestern corner of Missouri and is regulated by each
respective states public service commission with respect
to accounting, rates and charges, operating matters and the
issuance of securities. We operate under terms of non-exclusive
franchises granted by the various cities. Rates in our Kansas
service area are subject to WNA. The principal transporters of
the Colorado-Kansas Divisions gas supply requirements are
Colorado Interstate Gas Company, Northwest Pipeline, Public
Service Company of Colorado and Southern Star Central Pipeline.
Additionally, the Colorado-Kansas Division purchases substantial
volumes from producers that are connected directly to its
distribution system.
Atmos Energy Kentucky Division.
Our Kentucky Division
operates in Kentucky and is regulated by the Kentucky Public
Service Commission, which regulates utility services, rates,
issuance of securities and other matters. We operate in various
incorporated cities pursuant to non-exclusive franchises granted
by these cities. The sale of natural gas for use as vehicle fuel
in Kentucky is unregulated. We will operate under a
performance-based rate program through March 2006. Under the
performance-based program, we and our customers jointly share in
any actual gas cost savings achieved when compared to
pre-determined benchmarks. Our rates are also subject to WNA.
The Kentucky Divisions gas supply is delivered primarily
by Midwestern Pipeline, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, Texas
Gas Transmission LLC and Trunkline Gas Company.
Atmos Energy Louisiana Division.
Our Louisiana Division
operates in Louisiana and includes the operations of the
Louisiana Gas Service Company assets acquired in July 2001,
which serves the metropolitan area of Monroe and the suburban
areas of New Orleans, and our previously existing Trans
La Division, which serves western Louisiana. Our Louisiana
Division is regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission
(LPSC), which regulates utility services, rates and other
matters. We operate most of our service areas pursuant to a
non-exclusive franchise granted by the governing authority of
each area. Direct sales of natural gas to industrial customers
in Louisiana, who use gas for fuel or in manufacturing
processes, and sales of natural gas for vehicle fuel are exempt
from regulation and are recognized in our natural gas marketing
segment. The principal transporters of the Louisiana
Divisions gas supply requirements are Acadian Pipeline,
7
Gulf South, Louisiana Intrastate Gas Company, Texas Gas
Transmission LLC and Trans Louisiana Gas Pipeline, Inc., a
subsidiary of Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC.
Atmos Energy Mid-States Division.
Our Mid-States Division
operates in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee and
Virginia. In each of these states, our rates, services and
operations as a natural gas distribution company are subject to
general regulation by each states public service
commission. We operate in each community, where necessary, under
a franchise granted by the municipality for a fixed term of
years. In Tennessee and Georgia, we have WNA and a
performance-based rate program, which provides incentives for us
to find ways to lower costs and share the cost savings with our
customers. Beginning in July 2005, we have WNA in Virginia that
will cover the entire year. Our Mid-States Division is served by
13 interstate pipelines; however, the majority of the volumes
are transported through Columbia Gulf, East Tennessee Pipeline,
Southern Natural Gas and Tennessee Gas Pipeline.
Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division.
Our Mid-Tex Division,
which represents the distribution assets and operations that we
acquired from TXU Gas on October 1, 2004, includes natural
gas distribution operations that operate in the north-central,
eastern and western parts of Texas. The Mid-Tex Division
purchases, distributes and sells natural gas to approximately
1.5 million residential and business customers in
approximately 550 cities and towns, including the 11-county
Dallas/ Fort Worth metropolitan area. Under a May 2004 rate
filing, this division operates under a system-wide rate
structure along with the pipeline operations we acquired in the
acquisition. The governing body of each municipality we serve
has original jurisdiction over all utility rates, operations and
services within its city limits, except with respect to sales of
natural gas for vehicle fuel and agricultural use. We operate
pursuant to non-exclusive franchises granted by the
municipalities we serve, which are subject to renewal from time
to time. The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has
exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all rate and regulatory
orders and ordinances of the municipalities and exclusive
original jurisdiction over rates and services to customers not
located within the limits of a municipality. This division does
not have WNA. However, our operations benefit from a declining
block rate structure that partially mitigates the impact of
warmer-than-normal weather on revenue. This rate structure is
not as beneficial during periods where weather is significantly
warmer than normal. The majority of this divisions
residential and business customers use natural gas for heating,
and their needs are directly affected by the mildness or
severity of the heating season.
At closing of the acquisition, TXU Gas and some of its
affiliates entered into transitional services agreements with us
to provide call center, meter reading, customer billing,
collections, information reporting, software, accounting,
treasury, administrative and other services to the Mid-Tex
Division. Some of these services were outsourced by TXU Gas to
Capgemini Energy L.P. However, on November 4, 2004, we
entered into an agreement with Capgemini Energy L.P. whereby we
took over the operations of the Waco, Texas call center on
April 1, 2005 and purchased from Capgemini Energy L.P. all
of the related call center assets on October 1, 2005. The
remaining transitional services agreements expired on
September 30, 2005 and were not renewed as we have
in-sourced all of these functions, effective October 1,
2005.
Atmos Energy Mississippi Division.
Our Atmos Energy
Mississippi Division (formerly known as Mississippi Valley Gas
Company Division), which was acquired in December 2002, operates
in Mississippi and is regulated by the Mississippi Public
Service Commission (MPSC) with respect to rates, services
and operations. We operate under non-exclusive franchises
granted by the municipalities we serve. Since the acquisition,
we have been operating under a rate structure that allows us,
over a five-year period, to recover a portion of our integration
costs associated with the acquisition and operations and
maintenance costs in excess of an agreed-upon benchmark. In
addition, we were required to file for rate adjustments based on
our expenses every six months. Effective October 1, 2005,
our rate design was modified to substitute the original
agreed-upon benchmark with a sharing mechanism to allow the
sharing of cost savings above an allowed return on equity level.
Further, we will move from a semi-annual filing process to an
annual filing process. We also have WNA in Mississippi. This
divisions gas supply is delivered by Gulf South Pipeline
Company, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, Southern Natural Gas
Company, Texas Eastern Transmission, Texas Gas
Transmission LLC, Trunkline Gas Co. LLC and Enbridge
Marketing LP.
8
Atmos Energy West Texas Division.
Our West Texas Division
operates in Texas in three primary service areas: the Amarillo
service area, the Lubbock service area and the West Texas
service area. Similar to our Mid-Tex Division, the governing
body of each municipality we serve has original jurisdiction
over all utility rates, operations and services within its city
limits, except with respect to sales of natural gas for vehicle
fuel and agricultural use. We operate pursuant to non-exclusive
franchises granted by the municipalities we serve, which are
subject to renewal from time to time. The RRC has exclusive
appellate jurisdiction over all rate and regulatory orders and
ordinances of the municipalities and exclusive original
jurisdiction over rates and services to customers not located
within the limits of a municipality. During 2004, the West Texas
Division received approval from the City of Lubbock, Texas and
the 66 cities in our West Texas system, for WNA in these
service areas, which is effective October through May of each
year, beginning with the 2004-2005 winter heating season. We
also have WNA in our Amarillo service area. Our West Texas
Division receives transportation service from ONEOK Pipeline. In
addition, the West Texas Division purchases a significant
portion of its natural gas supply from Pioneer Natural
Resources, which is connected directly to our Amarillo, Texas,
distribution system.
Natural Gas Marketing Segment Overview
Our natural gas marketing and other nonutility segments, which
are organized under Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEH), have
operations in 22 states. Through September 30, 2003,
Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC, together with its wholly-owned
subsidiaries Woodward Marketing, L.L.C. and Trans Louisiana
Industrial Gas Company, Inc., comprised our natural gas
marketing segment. Effective October 1, 2003, our natural
gas marketing segment was reorganized. The operations of Atmos
Energy Marketing, L.L.C. and Trans Louisiana Industrial Gas
Company, Inc. were merged into Woodward Marketing, L.L.C., which
was renamed Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (AEM).
We acquired a 45 percent interest in Woodward Marketing,
L.L.C. in July 1997 as a result of the merger of Atmos and
United Cities Gas Company, which had acquired that interest in
May 1995. In April 2001, we acquired the remaining
55 percent interest that we did not own for 1,423,193
restricted shares of our common stock.
AEM provides a variety of natural gas management services to
municipalities, natural gas utility systems and industrial
natural gas consumers primarily in the southeastern and
midwestern states and to our Kentucky, Louisiana and Mid-States
divisions. These services primarily consist of furnishing
natural gas supplies at fixed and market-based prices, contract
negotiation and administration, load forecasting, gas storage
acquisition and management services, transportation services,
peaking sales and balancing services, capacity utilization
strategies and gas price management through the use of
derivative products. We use proprietary and customer-owned
transportation and storage assets to provide the various
services our customers request. As a result, our revenues arise
from the types of commercial transactions we have structured
with our customers and include the value we extract by
optimizing the storage and transportation capacity we own or
control as well as revenues for services we deliver.
We participate in transactions in which we combine the natural
gas commodity and transportation costs to minimize our costs
incurred to serve our customers. Additionally, we participate in
natural gas storage transactions in which we seek to capture the
pricing differences that occur over time. We purchase or sell
physical natural gas and then sell or purchase financial
contracts at a price sufficient to cover our carrying costs and
provide a gross profit margin. Through the use of transportation
and storage services and derivatives, we are able to capture
gross profit margin through the arbitrage of pricing differences
in various locations and by recognizing pricing differences that
occur over time.
AEMs management of natural gas requirements involves the
sale of natural gas and the management of storage and
transportation supplies under contracts with customers generally
having one to two year terms. AEM also sells natural gas to some
of its industrial customers on a delivered burner tip basis
under contract terms from 30 days to two years. At
September 30, 2005, AEM had a total of 558 industrial, 69
municipal and 210 other customers.
9
Pipeline and Storage Segment Overview
Our pipeline and storage segment consists of the regulated
pipeline and storage operations of the Atmos
Pipeline Texas Division and the nonregulated
pipeline and storage operations of Atmos Pipeline and Storage,
LLC. The natural gas transmission and storage operations that we
acquired in the TXU Gas acquisition, which are operated in the
Atmos Pipeline Texas Division, represent one of the
largest intrastate pipeline operations in Texas. The Atmos
Pipeline Texas Division transports natural gas to
our Mid-Tex Division and for third parties. These operations
include interconnected natural gas transmission lines, five
underground storage reservoirs (including a salt dome facility)
and 24 compressor stations and related properties, all within
Texas. These operations may create additional gas marketing and
other opportunities for our non-regulated subsidiaries.
The gas distribution and transmission lines we acquired have
been constructed over lands of others pursuant to easements or
along public highways, streets and rights-of-way as permitted by
law. In addition to being heavily concentrated in the
established natural gas-producing areas of central, northern and
eastern Texas, the intrastate pipeline system we acquired also
extends into or near the major producing areas of the Texas Gulf
Coast and the Delaware and Val Verde Basins of West Texas. Nine
basins located in Texas are estimated to contain a substantial
portion of the nations remaining onshore natural gas
reserves. This pipeline system provides access to all of these
basins. We believe that we are well situated to receive large
volumes into this pipeline system at the major hubs, such as
Katy, Waha and Carthage as well as from storage facilities where
we maintain high delivery capabilities.
APS owns or has an interest in underground storage fields in
Kentucky and Louisiana. We also use these storage facilities to
reduce the need to contract for additional pipeline capacity to
meet customer demand during peak periods.
Other Nonutility Segment Overview
Our other nonutility segment consists primarily of the
operations of Atmos Energy Services, LLC (AES), and Atmos Power
Systems, Inc. which are wholly-owned by our subsidiary, Atmos
Energy Holdings, Inc. Through AES, we provide natural gas
management services to our utility operations, other than the
Mid-Tex Division. These services, which began on April 1,
2004, include aggregating and purchasing gas supply, arranging
transportation and storage logistics and ultimately delivering
the gas to our utility service areas at competitive prices in
exchange for revenues that are equal to the costs incurred to
provide those services. Through Atmos Power Systems, Inc., we
construct gas-fired electric peaking power-generating plants and
associated facilities and may enter into agreements to either
lease or sell these plants.
Through January 20, 2004, United Cities Propane Gas, Inc.,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc., owned
an approximate 19 percent membership interest in
U.S. Propane L.P. (USP), a joint venture formed in February
2000 with other utility companies to own a limited partnership
interest in Heritage Propane Partners, L.P. (Heritage), a
publicly-traded marketer of propane through a nationwide retail
distribution network. During fiscal 2004, we sold our interest
in USP and Heritage. As a result of these transactions, we no
longer have an interest in the propane business.
10
Operating Statistics
The following tables present certain operating statistics for
our utility, natural gas marketing, pipeline and storage and
other nonutility segments for each of the five fiscal years from
2001 through 2005.
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Utility Sales and Statistical Data
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Year Ended September 30
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2005
(1)
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2004
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2003
(1)
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2002
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2001
(1)
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METERS IN SERVICE, end of year
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Residential
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2,862,822
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1,506,777
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1,498,586
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1,247,247
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1,243,625
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Commercial
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274,536
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151,381
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151,008
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122,156
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122,274
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Industrial
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2,715
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2,436
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3,799
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2,118
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1,838
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Agricultural
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9,639
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8,397
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9,514
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10,576
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11,182
|
|
|
|
Public authority and other
|
|
|
8,128
|
|
|
|
10,145
|
|
|
|
9,891
|
|
|
|
7,244
|
|
|
|
7,404
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total meters
|
|
|
3,157,840
|
|
|
|
1,679,136
|
|
|
|
1,672,798
|
|
|
|
1,389,341
|
|
|
|
1,386,323
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HEATING DEGREE
DAYS
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual (weighted average)
|
|
|
2,587
|
|
|
|
3,271
|
|
|
|
3,473
|
|
|
|
3,368
|
|
|
|
4,124
|
|
|
|
Percent of normal
|
|
|
89%
|
|
|
|
96%
|
|
|
|
101%
|
|
|
|
94%
|
|
|
|
115%
|
|
|
|
|
UTILITY SALES VOLUMES
MMcf
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas Sales Volumes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
|
|
|
162,016
|
|
|
|
92,208
|
|
|
|
97,953
|
|
|
|
77,386
|
|
|
|
79,000
|
|
|
|
Commercial
|
|
|
92,401
|
|
|
|
44,226
|
|
|
|
45,611
|
|
|
|
35,796
|
|
|
|
36,922
|
|
|
|
Industrial
|
|
|
29,434
|
|
|
|
22,330
|
|
|
|
23,738
|
|
|
|
14,499
|
|
|
|
19,243
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
|
|
|
3,348
|
|
|
|
4,642
|
|
|
|
7,884
|
|
|
|
10,988
|
|
|
|
7,070
|
|
|
|
Public authority and other
|
|
|
9,084
|
|
|
|
9,813
|
|
|
|
9,326
|
|
|
|
5,875
|
|
|
|
6,892
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total gas sales volumes
|
|
|
296,283
|
|
|
|
173,219
|
|
|
|
184,512
|
|
|
|
144,544
|
|
|
|
149,127
|
|
|
Utility transportation volumes
|
|
|
122,098
|
|
|
|
87,746
|
|
|
|
70,159
|
|
|
|
69,589
|
|
|
|
69,492
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total utility throughput
|
|
|
418,381
|
|
|
|
260,965
|
|
|
|
254,671
|
|
|
|
214,133
|
|
|
|
218,619
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UTILITY OPERATING REVENUES
(000s)
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas Sales Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
|
|
$
|
1,791,172
|
|
|
$
|
923,773
|
|
|
$
|
873,375
|
|
|
$
|
535,981
|
|
|
$
|
788,902
|
|
|
|
Commercial
|
|
|
869,722
|
|
|
|
400,704
|
|
|
|
367,961
|
|
|
|
221,728
|
|
|
|
342,945
|
|
|
|
Industrial
|
|
|
229,649
|
|
|
|
155,336
|
|
|
|
151,969
|
|
|
|
70,164
|
|
|
|
120,770
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
|
|
|
27,889
|
|
|
|
31,851
|
|
|
|
48,625
|
|
|
|
37,951
|
|
|
|
28,753
|
|
|
|
Public authority and other
|
|
|
86,853
|
|
|
|
77,178
|
|
|
|
65,921
|
|
|
|
31,731
|
|
|
|
58,539
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total utility gas sales revenues
|
|
|
3,005,285
|
|
|
|
1,588,842
|
|
|
|
1,507,851
|
|
|
|
897,555
|
|
|
|
1,339,909
|
|
|
Transportation revenues
|
|
|
59,996
|
|
|
|
31,714
|
|
|
|
30,461
|
|
|
|
28,786
|
|
|
|
28,750
|
|
|
Other gas revenues
|
|
|
37,859
|
|
|
|
17,172
|
|
|
|
15,770
|
|
|
|
11,185
|
|
|
|
11,489
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total utility operating revenues
|
|
$
|
3,103,140
|
|
|
$
|
1,637,728
|
|
|
$
|
1,554,082
|
|
|
$
|
937,526
|
|
|
$
|
1,380,148
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility average transportation revenue per Mcf
|
|
$
|
0.49
|
|
|
$
|
0.36
|
|
|
$
|
0.43
|
|
|
$
|
0.41
|
|
|
$
|
0.41
|
|
|
Utility average cost of gas per Mcf sold
|
|
$
|
7.41
|
|
|
$
|
6.55
|
|
|
$
|
5.76
|
|
|
$
|
3.87
|
|
|
$
|
6.82
|
|
|
|
|
Employees
(5)
|
|
|
4,327
|
|
|
|
2,742
|
|
|
|
2,817
|
|
|
|
2,255
|
|
|
|
2,299
|
|
See footnotes following these tables.
11
|
|
|
|
|
Utility Sales and Statistical Data By Division
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended September 30, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colorado-
|
|
|
|
|
Mid-
|
|
|
West
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas
|
|
|
Kentucky
|
|
|
Louisiana
|
|
|
States
|
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
|
Mid-Tex
|
|
|
Other
(4)
|
|
|
Utility
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
METERS IN SERVICE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
|
|
|
209,321
|
|
|
|
159,216
|
|
|
|
348,576
|
|
|
|
276,667
|
|
|
|
267,278
|
|
|
|
244,136
|
|
|
|
1,357,628
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,862,822
|
|
|
|
Commercial
|
|
|
20,914
|
|
|
|
18,350
|
|
|
|
23,850
|
|
|
|
36,519
|
|
|
|
25,410
|
|
|
|
28,350
|
|
|
|
121,143
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
274,536
|
|
|
|
Industrial
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
239
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
684
|
|
|
|
816
|
|
|
|
664
|
|
|
|
231
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,715
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
|
|
|
279
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,360
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,639
|
|
|
|
Public authority and other
|
|
|
476
|
|
|
|
1,650
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,066
|
|
|
|
2,139
|
|
|
|
2,797
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,128
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
231,071
|
|
|
|
179,455
|
|
|
|
372,426
|
|
|
|
314,936
|
|
|
|
305,003
|
|
|
|
275,947
|
|
|
|
1,479,002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,157,840
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HEATING DEGREE
DAYS
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
5,437
|
|
|
|
4,241
|
|
|
|
1,301
|
|
|
|
3,510
|
|
|
|
3,536
|
|
|
|
2,583
|
|
|
|
1,904
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,587
|
|
|
|
Percent of normal
|
|
|
99%
|
|
|
|
98%
|
|
|
|
78%
|
|
|
|
93%
|
|
|
|
99%
|
|
|
|
96%
|
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
89%
|
|
|
SALES VOLUMES
MMcf
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas Sales Volumes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
|
|
|
16,404
|
|
|
|
10,741
|
|
|
|
13,134
|
|
|
|
16,222
|
|
|
|
19,292
|
|
|
|
12,985
|
|
|
|
73,238
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
162,016
|
|
|
|
Commercial
|
|
|
5,929
|
|
|
|
4,891
|
|
|
|
6,811
|
|
|
|
11,806
|
|
|
|
7,493
|
|
|
|
6,711
|
|
|
|
48,760
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
92,401
|
|
|
|
Industrial
|
|
|
338
|
|
|
|
1,858
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,205
|
|
|
|
4,477
|
|
|
|
9,057
|
|
|
|
5,499
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,434
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
|
|
|
246
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,102
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,348
|
|
|
|
Public authority and other
|
|
|
1,355
|
|
|
|
1,396
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
241
|
|
|
|
2,296
|
|
|
|
3,796
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,084
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
24,272
|
|
|
|
18,886
|
|
|
|
19,945
|
|
|
|
36,474
|
|
|
|
36,660
|
|
|
|
32,549
|
|
|
|
127,497
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
296,283
|
|
|
Transportation Volumes
|
|
|
8,388
|
|
|
|
26,066
|
|
|
|
7,046
|
|
|
|
20,142
|
|
|
|
12,390
|
|
|
|
1,309
|
|
|
|
46,757
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
122,098
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Throughput
|
|
|
32,660
|
|
|
|
44,952
|
|
|
|
26,991
|
|
|
|
56,616
|
|
|
|
49,050
|
|
|
|
33,858
|
|
|
|
174,254
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
418,381
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING MARGIN
(000s)
(3)
|
|
$
|
70,542
|
|
|
$
|
52,302
|
|
|
$
|
94,350
|
|
|
$
|
110,012
|
|
|
$
|
90,316
|
|
|
$
|
91,610
|
|
|
$
|
398,234
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
907,366
|
|
|
OPERATING EXPENSES
(000s)
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operation and maintenance
|
|
$
|
26,679
|
|
|
$
|
18,618
|
|
|
$
|
37,994
|
|
|
$
|
38,427
|
|
|
$
|
29,701
|
|
|
$
|
49,241
|
|
|
$
|
146,449
|
|
|
$
|
(515
|
)
|
|
$
|
346,594
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
$
|
13,693
|
|
|
$
|
11,739
|
|
|
$
|
21,911
|
|
|
$
|
23,615
|
|
|
$
|
13,249
|
|
|
$
|
10,830
|
|
|
$
|
64,460
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
159,497
|
|
|
|
Taxes, other than income
|
|
$
|
5,013
|
|
|
$
|
3,288
|
|
|
$
|
9,626
|
|
|
$
|
12,283
|
|
|
$
|
19,846
|
|
|
$
|
12,494
|
|
|
$
|
102,360
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
164,910
|
|
|
OPERATING INCOME
(000s)
(3)
|
|
$
|
25,157
|
|
|
$
|
18,657
|
|
|
$
|
24,819
|
|
|
$
|
35,687
|
|
|
$
|
27,520
|
|
|
$
|
19,045
|
|
|
$
|
84,965
|
|
|
$
|
515
|
|
|
$
|
236,365
|
|
|
|
|
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (000s)
|
|
$
|
20,690
|
|
|
$
|
17,525
|
|
|
$
|
31,198
|
|
|
$
|
34,176
|
|
|
$
|
29,066
|
|
|
$
|
15,925
|
|
|
$
|
115,024
|
|
|
$
|
36,970
|
|
|
$
|
300,574
|
|
|
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET (000s)
|
|
$
|
244,250
|
|
|
$
|
183,931
|
|
|
$
|
318,869
|
|
|
$
|
416,825
|
|
|
$
|
263,285
|
|
|
$
|
206,511
|
|
|
$
|
1,167,425
|
|
|
$
|
125,000
|
|
|
$
|
2,926,096
|
|
|
OTHER STATISTICS, at year end
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miles of pipe
|
|
|
6,530
|
|
|
|
3,908
|
|
|
|
8,151
|
|
|
|
7,958
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
6,356
|
|
|
|
33,701
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
81,604
|
|
|
|
Employees
(5)
|
|
|
267
|
|
|
|
236
|
|
|
|
421
|
|
|
|
412
|
|
|
|
346
|
|
|
|
467
|
|
|
|
1,398
|
|
|
|
780
|
|
|
|
4,327
|
|
See footnotes following these tables.
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended September 30, 2004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colorado-
|
|
|
|
|
Mid-
|
|
|
West
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas
|
|
|
Kentucky
|
|
|
Louisiana
|
|
|
States
|
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
|
Other
(4)
|
|
|
Total Utility
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
METERS IN SERVICE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
|
|
|
205,028
|
|
|
|
159,214
|
|
|
|
348,390
|
|
|
|
274,662
|
|
|
|
270,854
|
|
|
|
248,629
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,506,777
|
|
|
|
Commercial
|
|
|
19,190
|
|
|
|
18,077
|
|
|
|
22,754
|
|
|
|
36,187
|
|
|
|
25,818
|
|
|
|
29,355
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
151,381
|
|
|
|
Industrial
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
712
|
|
|
|
548
|
|
|
|
682
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,436
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
|
|
|
295
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,102
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,397
|
|
|
|
Public authority and other
|
|
|
1,757
|
|
|
|
1,655
|
|
|
|
931
|
|
|
|
880
|
|
|
|
2,158
|
|
|
|
2,764
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,145
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
226,355
|
|
|
|
179,355
|
|
|
|
372,075
|
|
|
|
312,441
|
|
|
|
307,480
|
|
|
|
281,430
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,679,136
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HEATING DEGREE
DAYS
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
5,490
|
|
|
|
4,283
|
|
|
|
1,515
|
|
|
|
3,631
|
|
|
|
3,252
|
|
|
|
2,734
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,271
|
|
|
|
Percent of normal
|
|
|
99%
|
|
|
|
98%
|
|
|
|
93%
|
|
|
|
95%
|
|
|
|
101%
|
|
|
|
90%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96%
|
|
|
SALES VOLUMES
MMcf
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas Sales Volumes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
|
|
|
16,271
|
|
|
|
10,980
|
|
|
|
14,997
|
|
|
|
17,257
|
|
|
|
18,402
|
|
|
|
14,301
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
92,208
|
|
|
|
Commercial
|
|
|
6,093
|
|
|
|
4,865
|
|
|
|
6,699
|
|
|
|
12,502
|
|
|
|
6,953
|
|
|
|
7,114
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44,226
|
|
|
|
Industrial
|
|
|
304
|
|
|
|
1,713
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,852
|
|
|
|
3,393
|
|
|
|
9,068
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,330
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
|
|
|
526
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,116
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,642
|
|
|
|
Public authority and other
|
|
|
1,491
|
|
|
|
1,451
|
|
|
|
814
|
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
|
2,157
|
|
|
|
3,651
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,813
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
24,685
|
|
|
|
19,009
|
|
|
|
22,510
|
|
|
|
37,860
|
|
|
|
35,021
|
|
|
|
34,134
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
173,219
|
|
|
Transportation Volumes
|
|
|
8,879
|
|
|
|
27,059
|
|
|
|
7,073
|
|
|
|
22,001
|
|
|
|
20,579
|
|
|
|
2,155
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
87,746
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Throughput
|
|
|
33,564
|
|
|
|
46,068
|
|
|
|
29,583
|
|
|
|
59,861
|
|
|
|
55,600
|
|
|
|
36,289
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
260,965
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING MARGIN
(000s)
(3)
|
|
$
|
65,539
|
|
|
$
|
52,567
|
|
|
$
|
106,184
|
|
|
$
|
112,904
|
|
|
$
|
85,805
|
|
|
$
|
80,135
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
503,134
|
|
|
OPERATING EXPENSES
(000s)
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operation and maintenance
|
|
$
|
25,934
|
|
|
$
|
16,077
|
|
|
$
|
35,084
|
|
|
$
|
40,806
|
|
|
$
|
47,134
|
|
|
$
|
29,128
|
|
|
$
|
1,308
|
|
|
$
|
195,471
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
$
|
13,178
|
|
|
$
|
11,025
|
|
|
$
|
21,214
|
|
|
$
|
23,069
|
|
|
$
|
8,993
|
|
|
$
|
12,720
|
|
|
$
|
2,755
|
|
|
$
|
92,954
|
|
|
|
Taxes, other than income
|
|
$
|
5,551
|
|
|
$
|
2,727
|
|
|
$
|
9,124
|
|
|
$
|
10,251
|
|
|
$
|
10,969
|
|
|
$
|
16,197
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
54,819
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING INCOME
(000s)
(3)
|
|
$
|
20,876
|
|
|
$
|
22,738
|
|
|
$
|
40,762
|
|
|
$
|
38,778
|
|
|
$
|
18,709
|
|
|
$
|
22,090
|
|
|
$
|
(4,063
|
)
|
|
$
|
159,890
|
|
|
|
|
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (000s)
|
|
$
|
22,226
|
|
|
$
|
20,902
|
|
|
$
|
36,865
|
|
|
$
|
36,863
|
|
|
$
|
36,196
|
|
|
$
|
21,503
|
|
|
$
|
14,736
|
|
|
$
|
189,291
|
|
|
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET (000s)
|
|
$
|
235,386
|
|
|
$
|
174,473
|
|
|
$
|
309,267
|
|
|
$
|
400,302
|
|
|
$
|
246,381
|
|
|
$
|
199,443
|
|
|
$
|
104,052
|
|
|
$
|
1,669,304
|
|
|
OTHER STATISTICS, at year end
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miles of pipe
|
|
|
6,405
|
|
|
|
3,851
|
|
|
|
8,063
|
|
|
|
7,878
|
|
|
|
15,125
|
|
|
|
6,294
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,616
|
|
|
|
Employees
(5)
|
|
|
278
|
|
|
|
239
|
|
|
|
431
|
|
|
|
427
|
|
|
|
349
|
|
|
|
519
|
|
|
|
499
|
|
|
|
2,742
|
|
See footnotes following these tables.
13
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas Marketing, Pipeline and Storage and Other
Nonutility Operations Sales and Statistical Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended September 30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005
(1)
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CUSTOMERS, end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrial
(6)
|
|
|
624
|
|
|
|
638
|
|
|
|
644
|
|
|
|
641
|
|
|
|
531
|
|
|
|
Municipal
(6)
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
94
|
|
|
|
101
|
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
Other
(6)
|
|
|
401
|
|
|
|
237
|
|
|
|
202
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,094
|
|
|
|
955
|
|
|
|
940
|
|
|
|
859
|
|
|
|
724
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NATURAL GAS MARKETING SALES VOLUMES
MMcf
(3)(6)
|
|
|
273,201
|
|
|
|
265,090
|
|
|
|
294,785
|
|
|
|
273,692
|
|
|
|
98,869
|
|
|
PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION VOLUMES MMcf
(3)
|
|
|
563,949
|
|
|
|
9,395
|
|
|
|
11,648
|
|
|
|
12,788
|
|
|
|
10,947
|
|
|
OPERATING REVENUES
(000s)
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas marketing
|
|
$
|
2,106,278
|
|
|
$
|
1,618,602
|
|
|
$
|
1,668,493
|
|
|
$
|
1,031,874
|
|
|
$
|
447,096
|
|
|
|
Pipeline and storage
|
|
|
164,742
|
|
|
|
19,758
|
|
|
|
20,298
|
|
|
|
18,720
|
|
|
|
29,996
|
|
|
|
Other nonutility
|
|
|
5,302
|
|
|
|
3,393
|
|
|
|
2,853
|
|
|
|
5,985
|
|
|
|
29,440
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating revenues
|
|
$
|
2,276,322
|
|
|
$
|
1,641,753
|
|
|
$
|
1,691,644
|
|
|
$
|
1,056,579
|
|
|
$
|
506,532
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in earnings of Woodward
Marketing
L.L.C.
(6)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
8,062
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employees, at year end
|
|
|
216
|
|
|
|
122
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
83
|
|
|
|
62
|
|
Notes to preceding tables:
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
The operational and statistical information includes the
operations of LGS since the July 1, 2001 acquisition date,
the operations of the Mississippi Division since the
December 3, 2002 acquisition date and the Mid-Tex and Atmos
Pipeline Texas Divisions since the October 1,
2004 acquisition date.
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
A heating degree day is equivalent to each degree that the
average of the high and the low temperatures for a day is below
65 degrees. The colder the climate, the greater the number of
heating degree days. Heating degree days are used in the natural
gas industry to measure the relative coldness of weather and to
compare relative temperatures between one geographic area and
another. Normal degree days are based on 30-year average
National Weather Service data for selected locations. Degree-day
information is adjusted for service areas that have weather
normalized operations.
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Sales volumes, revenues, operating margins, operating expense
and operating income reflect segment operations, including
intercompany sales and transportation amounts.
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
The Other column represents our utility shared services unit,
which provides administrative and other support to our seven
regulated utility divisions. Certain costs incurred by this unit
are not allocated to our other utility divisions.
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
The number of utility employees excludes 216, 122, 88, 83 and 62
other segment employees in 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001.
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
Through March 31, 2001, substantially all of our natural
gas marketing revenues and expenses were shown on the equity
basis. Since April 1, 2001 natural gas marketing revenues
and expenses have been consolidated.
|
14
Ratemaking Activity
The method of determining regulated rates varies among the
states in which our natural gas utility divisions operate. The
regulators have the responsibility of ensuring that utilities
under their jurisdictions operate in the best interests of
customers while providing utility companies the opportunity to
earn a reasonable return on investment. Generally, each
regulatory authority reviews our rate request and establishes a
rate structure intended to generate revenue sufficient to cover
our costs of doing business and provide a reasonable return on
invested capital.
Rates established by regulatory authorities are adjusted for
increases and decreases in our purchased gas cost through
purchased gas adjustment mechanisms. Purchased gas adjustment
mechanisms provide gas utility companies a method of recovering
purchased gas costs on an ongoing basis without filing a rate
case to address all of the utilitys non-gas costs. These
mechanisms are commonly utilized when regulatory authorities
recognize a particular type of expense, such as purchased gas
costs, that (i) is subject to significant price
fluctuations compared to the utilitys other costs,
(ii) represents a large component of the utilitys
cost of service and (iii) is generally outside the control
of the gas utility. There is no gross profit generated through
purchased gas adjustments, but they do provide a
dollar-for-dollar offset to increases or decreases in utility
gas costs. Although substantially all of our utility sales to
our customers fluctuate with the cost of gas that we purchase,
utility gross profit (which is defined as operating revenues
less purchased gas cost) is generally not affected by
fluctuations in the cost of gas due to the purchased gas
adjustment mechanism. Additionally, certain jurisdictions have
introduced performance-based ratemaking adjustments to provide
incentives to natural gas utilities to minimize purchased gas
costs through improved storage management and use of financial
hedges to lock in gas costs. Under the performance-based
ratemaking adjustment, purchased gas costs savings are shared
between the utility and its customers.
The following table summarizes certain information regarding our
ratemaking jurisdictions.
|
|
|
|
|
Jurisdictional Rate Summary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date of Last
|
|
Rate Base
|
|
|
Authorized Rate of
|
|
|
Authorized Return
|
|
|
Division
|
|
Jurisdiction
|
|
Rate Action
|
|
(thousands)
(1)
|
|
|
Return
(1)
|
|
|
on Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atmos Pipeline Texas
|
|
Texas
|
|
5/24/04
|
|
$
|
417,111
|
|
|
|
8.258%
|
|
|
|
10.00%
|
|
|
Colorado-Kansas
|
|
Colorado
|
|
7/1/05
|
|
|
84,711
|
|
|
|
8.95%
|
|
|
|
11.25%
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas
|
|
3/1/04
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
Kentucky
|
|
Kentucky
|
|
12/21/99
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
Louisiana
|
|
Trans LA
|
|
10/1/04
|
|
|
81,645
|
|
|
|
9.14%
|
|
|
|
10.50% - 11.50%
|
|
|
|
|
LGS
|
|
10/1/04
|
|
|
170,358
|
|
|
|
9.23%
|
|
|
|
10.88% - 11.50%
|
|
|
Mid-States
|
|
Georgia
|
|
11/25/96
|
|
|
38,451
|
|
|
|
10.10%
|
|
|
|
11.50%
|
|
|
|
|
Illinois
|
|
11/1/00
|
|
|
24,564
|
|
|
|
9.18%
|
|
|
|
11.56%
|
|
|
|
|
Iowa
|
|
3/1/01
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
11.00%
|
|
|
|
|
Missouri
|
|
10/14/95
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
10.58%
|
|
|
|
12.15%
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee
|
|
11/15/95
|
|
|
111,970
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia
|
|
8/1/04
|
|
|
30,672
|
|
|
|
8.46% - 8.96%
|
|
|
|
9.50% - 10.50%
|
|
|
Mid-Tex
|
|
Texas
|
|
5/24/04
|
|
|
769,721
|
|
|
|
8.258%
|
|
|
|
10.00%
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
1/1/05
|
|
|
196,801
|
|
|
|
8.23%
|
|
|
|
9.80%
|
|
|
West Texas
|
|
Amarillo
|
|
9/1/03
|
|
|
36,844
|
|
|
|
9.88%
|
|
|
|
12.00%
|
|
|
|
|
Lubbock
|
|
3/1/04
|
|
|
43,300
|
|
|
|
9.15%
|
|
|
|
11.25%
|
|
|
|
|
West Texas
|
|
5/1/04
|
|
|
87,500
|
|
|
|
8.77%
|
|
|
|
10.50%
|
|
See footnotes on the following page.
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective
|
|
|
Authorized
|
|
|
Bad
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date of Last
|
|
|
Debt/
|
|
|
Debt
|
|
|
|
|
Performance-Based
|
|
|
Division
|
|
Jurisdiction
|
|
|
Rate Action
|
|
|
Equity Ratio
|
|
|
Rider
|
|
|
WNA
|
|
|
Rate Program
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atmos Pipeline Texas
|
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
|
5/24/04
|
|
|
|
50/50
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
Colorado-Kansas
|
|
|
Colorado
|
|
|
|
7/1/05
|
|
|
|
52/48
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas
|
|
|
|
3/1/04
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
Kentucky
|
|
|
Kentucky
|
|
|
|
12/21/99
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
Louisiana
|
|
|
Trans LA
|
|
|
|
10/1/04
|
|
|
|
50/50
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
LGS
|
|
|
|
10/1/04
|
|
|
|
53/47
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
Mid-States
|
|
|
Georgia
|
|
|
|
11/25/96
|
|
|
|
55/45
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
|
Illinois
|
|
|
|
11/1/00
|
|
|
|
67/33
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
Iowa
|
|
|
|
3/1/01
|
|
|
|
57/43
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
Missouri
|
|
|
|
10/14/95
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee
|
|
|
|
11/15/95
|
|
|
|
56/44
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia
|
|
|
|
8/1/04
|
|
|
|
52/48
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
Mid-Tex
|
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
|
5/24/04
|
|
|
|
50/50
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
|
|
1/1/05
|
|
|
|
47/53
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
West Texas
|
|
|
Amarillo
|
|
|
|
9/1/03
|
|
|
|
50/50
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lubbock
|
|
|
|
3/1/04
|
|
|
|
50/50
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
West Texas
|
|
|
|
5/1/04
|
|
|
|
50/50
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
The rate base and authorized rate of return presented in this
table are the rate base and rate of return from the last base
rate case for each jurisdiction. These rate bases and rates of
return are not necessarily indicative of current or future rate
bases or rates of return.
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
A rate base, rate of return, return on equity or debt/equity
ratio was not included in the respective state commissions
final decision.
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
The performance-based rate program provides incentives to
natural gas utilities to minimize purchased gas costs by
allowing the utility and its customers to share the purchased
gas cost savings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent Ratemaking Activity
|
Our current rate strategy focuses on addressing rate design and
regulatory lag issues. We are seeking rate designs that decouple
the recovery of our approved margins from customer usage
patterns due to weather related variability, declining use per
customer and energy conservation. Additionally, we are seeking
to stratify rates for low income households and to recover the
gas cost portion of our bad debt expense.
We are attempting to address regulatory lag issues by directing
discretionary capital spending to jurisdictions that permit us
to recover our investment in a more timely manner, working with
our regulators to eliminate regulatory lag in our jurisdictions
and filing rate cases on a more frequent basis to minimize the
regulatory lag to keep our actual returns more closely aligned
with our allowed returns.
Approximately 97 percent of our utility revenues in the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were
derived from sales at rates set by or subject to approval by
local or state authorities. Net annual
16
revenue increases resulting from ratemaking activity totaling
$6.3 million, $16.2 million and $18.6 million
became effective in fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003 as summarized
below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase (Decrease) to Revenue for
|
|
|
|
|
Most Recent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the Year Ended September 30
|
|
|
|
|
Effective
|
|
|
Most Recent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division
|
|
Date
|
|
|
Rate Action
|
|
Jurisdiction
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Atmos Pipeline Texas
|
|
|
4/1/05
|
|
|
GRIP
(1)
|
|
Texas
|
|
$
|
1,802
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
Colorado-Kansas
|
|
|
4/1/04
|
|
|
Show Cause
|
|
Colorado
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,900
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/1/04
|
|
|
Rate Case
|
|
Kansas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louisiana
|
|
|
11/1/02
|
|
|
Stable Rate Filing
|
|
Trans La
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
452
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
11/1/02
|
|
|
Stable Rate Filing
|
|
LGS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,300
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
10/1/04
|
|
|
Stable Rate Filing
|
|
LGS
|
|
|
225
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mid-States
|
|
|
8/1/04
|
|
|
Rate Case
|
|
Virginia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
372
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
|
(3)
|
|
|
Stable Rate Filing
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
|
4,300
|
|
|
|
10,545
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
West Texas
|
|
|
9/1/03
|
|
|
Rate Case
|
|
Amarillo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,825
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/1/04
|
|
|
Rate Case
|
|
Lubbock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,525
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/1/04
|
|
|
Rate Case
|
|
West Texas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,327
|
|
|
$
|
16,242
|
|
|
$
|
18,577
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
In 2003, the Texas Legislature approved the Gas Reliability
Infrastructure Program (GRIP) which allows natural gas
utilities the opportunity to include in their rate base annually
approved capital costs incurred in the prior calendar year.
Natural gas utilities who enter the program will be required to
file a complete rate case at least once every five years.
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
In 2002, we submitted our 2001 rate stabilization filing and
received tariff revisions which resulted in an increase in
annual revenues of $0.5 million for our Trans
La System and $15.3 million in our LGS System
during the first 24-month period beginning in November 2002.
Subsequent to the first 24-month period, adjusted rates have
provided an increase in annual revenues of $0.4 million for
our Trans La System and $11.9 million for our LGS
System.
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
The MPSC required that we file for rate adjustments every six
months. Through May 2005, rate filings were made in May and
November of each year and the rate adjustments typically became
effective in June and December. See further discussion under the
recent ratemaking activity for our Atmos Energy Mississippi
Division below.
|
Additionally, the following ratemaking efforts were initiated
during fiscal 2005 but had not been completed as of
September 30, 2005:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
Division
|
|
Rate Action
|
|
Jurisdiction
|
|
Requested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Atmos Pipeline Texas
|
|
GRIP
|
|
Texas
|
|
$
|
1,919
|
|
|
Louisiana
|
|
Stable Rate Filing
|
|
LGS
(1)
|
|
|
3,326
|
|
|
Mid-States
|
|
Rate Case
|
|
Georgia
|
|
|
4,023
|
|
|
Mid-Tex
|
|
2003 GRIP
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
6,691
|
|
|
|
|
2004 GRIP
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
6,731
|
|
|
West Texas
|
|
GRIP
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
3,803
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
26,493
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
This rate increase was implemented during fiscal 2005 but has
not been recognized in our results of operations as it is
subject to refund pending the final resolution of that filing.
|
17
Our recent ratemaking activity is discussed in greater detail
below.
Atmos Pipeline-Texas.
In December 2004, Atmos
Pipeline Texas made a GRIP filing to include in rate
base approximately $12.0 million of pipeline capital
expenditures made by TXU Gas during calendar year 2003, which
should result in additional revenues of approximately
$1.8 million. The RRC approved this filing in March 2005.
These capital costs are being recovered through a monthly
customer charge that began in April 2005. The allowed rate of
return is 8.258 percent.
In September, 2005, Atmos Pipeline Texas made a GRIP
filing to include in rate base approximately $10.6 million
of pipeline capital expenditures incurred during calendar year
2004. It is anticipated that $1.9 million in additional
annual revenue will be authorized through this filing. A
decision on this filing must be made by the RRC before
January 4, 2006.
Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division.
In July 2004, the
Colorado Public Utility Commission ordered us to issue a
one-time credit to our Colorado customers of $1.9 million.
The agreement was a result of an inquiry by the Colorado Office
of Consumer Counsel related to our earnings in Colorado. The
staff of the Colorado Public Utility Commission was also a party
to the agreement.
In May 2003, the Colorado-Kansas Division filed a rate case with
the Kansas Corporation Commission for approximately
$7.4 million in additional annual revenues. In January
2004, the Kansas Corporation Commission approved an agreement
that allowed a $2.5 million increase in our rates effective
March 1, 2004. Additionally, the agreement allowed us to
increase our monthly customer charges from $5 to $8, provided
that we would not file another full rate application prior to
September 1, 2005. WNA became effective in Kansas in
October 2003 in accordance with the Kansas Corporation
Commissions ruling in May 2003.
Atmos Energy Louisiana Division.
During the second
quarter of 2005, the Louisiana Division implemented a rate
increase of $3.3 million in its LGS service area. This
increase resulted from our Rate Stabilization Clause filing in
2004 and is subject to refund, pending the final resolution of
that filing. As the rate increase is subject to refund, we have
not recognized the effects of this increase in our results of
operations during fiscal 2005.
During fiscal 2004, the Louisiana Public Service Commission
approved tariff revisions for our LGS System totaling
$0.2 million that became effective in October 2004.
In October 2002, Atmos received written notification from the
Executive Secretary of the LPSC asserting that a monthly
facilities fee of approximately $0.6 million charged since
July 2001 to Atmos by Trans Louisiana Gas Pipeline, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos, pursuant to a contract between
the parties, was excessive. The Executive Secretary asserted
that all monthly facilities fees in excess of approximately
$0.1 million from July 2001 should be refunded to
ratepayers with interest. On October 8, 2003, the LPSC
unanimously voted to approve an agreement to allow us to charge
a facilities fee of approximately $0.5 million per month
(subject to future escalation) beginning November 1, 2003
for a period of 14 years. No retroactive adjustments were
required under this agreement.
In January and February 2002, our Louisiana Division submitted
its 2001 Rate Stabilization filings to the LPSC for the two gas
systems we operate in Louisiana. The LPSC audited the filings
and found our earnings to be deficient and that rate adjustments
were appropriate. Approved tariff revisions, which became
effective November 1, 2002, resulted in $15.3 million
in additional revenues per year for our LGS System and
$0.5 million for our Trans La System during the first
24-month period beginning in November 2002. Subsequent to the
first 24-month period, adjusted rates provided total annual
revenue increases of $11.9 million for our LGS System and
$0.4 million for our Trans La System. As a result of
the actions taken by the LPSC, we have decreased the overall
weather impact on our revenues in Louisiana, primarily through
increases in the fixed portion of customers monthly bills.
In 2001, in connection with its review of our acquisition of
Louisiana Gas Service, the LPSC approved a rate structure that
requires us to share with the customers of Louisiana Gas Service
cost savings that result from the acquisition. The shared cost
savings are the difference between operation and maintenance
expense in any future year and the 1998 normalized expense for
Louisiana Gas Service, indexed for inflation, annual
18
changes in labor costs and customer growth. Since
January 1, 2002, customers have been assured they will
receive annual savings, which will be indexed for inflation,
annual changes in labor costs and customer growth. The sharing
mechanism will remain in place for 20 years, subject to
established modification procedures.
Atmos Energy Mid-States Division.
During the third
quarter of 2005, the Mid-States Division filed a rate case in
its Georgia service area seeking a rate increase of
$4.0 million. We anticipate that the rate case will be
finalized in November 2005.
In February 2004, the Mid-States Division filed a rate case with
the Virginia Corporation Commission (VCC) to request a
$1.0 million increase in our base rates, WNA and recovery
of the gas cost component of bad-debt expense. The VCC granted a
rate increase in November 2004 of $0.4 million that was
retroactively effective to July 27, 2004. Additionally, the
VCC authorized WNA beginning in July 2005 and the ability to
recover the gas cost component of bad debt expense.
In November 2005, we received a notice from the Tennessee
Regulatory Authority that it was opening an investigation into
allegations that we are overcharging customers in parts of
Tennessee by approximately $10.0 million per year. We do
not believe that we are overcharging our customers and we intend
to participate fully in the investigation.
Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division.
In December 2004, the
Mid-Tex Division made a GRIP filing to include in rate base
approximately $32.0 million of distribution capital
expenditures made by TXU Gas during calendar year 2003, which
should result in additional revenues of approximately
$6.7 million. These capital costs will be recovered through
a monthly customer charge that began in October 2005.
In September 2005, the Mid-Tex Division made a GRIP filing to
include in rate base approximately $29.4 million of
distribution capital costs incurred during calendar year 2004.
It is anticipated that $6.7 million in additional annual
revenue will be authorized through this filing. The cities in
this divisions service area and the RRC must rule on this
filing before January 4, 2006. If necessary, the RRC will
rule on an appeal of any cities actions in the first quarter of
calendar year 2006.
On September 1, 2005, the Mid-Tex Division filed its annual
gas cost reconciliation with the RRC. The filing involves
approximately $14.0 million in refunds of amounts
overcollected from customers between July 1, 2004 and
June 30, 2005. The Mid-Tex Division has proposed to the RRC
the accelerating of refunds to December through March rather
than during the usual refund period of October through June to
help offset higher gas costs for residential, commercial and
industrial customers during the 2005 2006 heating
season, which proposal is still under consideration.
In August 2005, we received a show cause order from
the City of Dallas, which requires us to provide information
that demonstrates good cause for showing that our existing
distribution rates charged to customers in the city of Dallas
should not be reduced. We are currently preparing our response
to this order and anticipate filing it by the November 22,
2005 due date.
In September 2004, the Mid-Tex Division filed its 36-Month Gas
Contract Review with the RRC. This proceeding involves a
prudency review of gas purchases totaling $2.2 billion made
by the Mid-Tex Division from November 1, 2000 through
October 31, 2003. A hearing on this matter was held before
the RRC in late June. No decision is expected from the RRC until
the end of December 2005 or January 2006.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2005, the Mid-Tex Division
pursued a filing initiated by TXU Gas seeking authorization of a
surcharge to recover the rate case expenses incurred by the
Mid-Tex Division, Atmos Pipeline Texas Division and
the intervening cities in connection with their last systemwide
rate case completed in May 2004. The filing also covered the
estimated expenses to prosecute the aforementioned recovery
docket and the severed dockets from the systemwide rate case. On
January 25, 2005, the RRC issued an order authorizing the
recovery of the $10.2 million of expenses over a 3-year
period with interest.
The Mid-Tex Division is also pursuing an appeal to the Travis
County District Court of the Final Order in its last systemwide
rate case completed in May 2004 to obtain a return of and on its
investment associated with the Poly I replacement pipe that was
originally disallowed in its most recent rate case completed in
May 2004. Additionally, the Mid-Tex Division is seeking the
right to surcharge for gas cost underrecoveries. The
19
case has been assigned to a judge, but the briefing schedule has
been postponed indefinitely to allow the parties to pursue
settlement discussions.
Atmos Energy Mississippi Division.
Through the first
quarter of fiscal 2005, the MPSC required that we file for rate
adjustments every six months. Rate filings were made in May and
November of each year and the rate adjustments typically became
effective in the following July and January.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we agreed with the
MPSC to suspend our May 2005 semi-annual filing to allow
sufficient time for us and the MPSC to undertake a comprehensive
review in an effort to improve our rate design and the
ratemaking process. Effective October 1, 2005, our rate
design was modified to substitute the original agreed-upon
benchmark with a sharing mechanism to allow the sharing of cost
savings above an allowed return on equity level. Further, we
will move from a semi-annual filing process to an annual filing
process. Additionally, our WNA period will begin on
November 1 instead of November 15, and will end on
April 30 instead of May 15. Also, we now have a fixed
monthly customer base charge which makes a portion of our
earnings less susceptible to usage. We will make our first
annual filing under this new structure in September 2006.
In October 2003, the MPSC issued a final order that denied our
May 2003 request for a rate increase of $5.8 million. In
January 2004, the MPSC authorized additional annual revenue of
$5.9 million on our November 2003 filing, which became
effective on December 1, 2003. In September 2004, the MPSC
authorized additional annualized revenue of $4.7 million on
our May 2004 filing, which became effective on June 1,
2004. However, the MPSC originally disallowed certain deferred
costs totaling $2.8 million. In connection with the
modification of our rate design described above, the MPSC
reversed its decision regarding these costs, and we included
these costs into our rates in October 2005.
We filed our second semiannual filing for 2004 on
November 5, 2004, requesting rate adjustments of
$6.0 million in annualized revenue. The MPSC allowed us to
include $3.0 million in annualized revenue in our rates
effective January 1, 2005. In February 2005, we entered
into an agreement with the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff
that provides for an additional $1.3 million in annualized
revenue that was retroactive to January 2005, which was approved
by the MPSC during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.
Atmos Energy West Texas Division.
In September 2005, the
West Texas Division made a GRIP filing to include in rate base
approximately $22.6 million of distribution capital costs
incurred during calendar year 2004 which should result in
additional annual revenues of approximately $3.8 million.
We expect these capital costs will be recovered through a
monthly customer charge beginning in December 2005.
In October 2003, our West Texas Division filed a rate case in
Lubbock requesting a $3.0 million increase in annual
revenues and WNA for our residential, commercial and
public-authority customers. The City of Lubbock approved a
$1.5 million increase effective March 1, 2004, as well
as the proposed WNA.
In September 2003, our West Texas Division filed a rate case in
its West Texas System to request a $7.7 million increase in
annual revenues and WNA for its residential, commercial and
public-authority customers. In May 2004, the 66 cities in
its West Texas System approved an increase of $3.2 million
in our annual utility revenues. The cities also approved a WNA
rider for residential, commercial, public-authority and
state-institution customers. This rider became effective in
October 2004.
In June 2003, the West Texas Division filed a rate case in
Amarillo, Texas, requesting a $5.1 million increase in
annual revenues. In August 2003, the City of Amarillo, Texas
approved an annual increase of approximately $2.8 million,
which was effective for bills rendered on or after
September 1, 2003. The increase was primarily comprised of
an increase in monthly customer charges. The agreement with
Amarillo also provided for changes in the rate structure to
recover the cost of uncollectible accounts, adjustments to base
rates to compensate for declining gas usage per customer and
provided WNA for the period October through May of each year,
which became effective in October 2003.
20
Other Regulation
Each of our utility divisions is regulated by various state or
local public utility authorities. We are also subject to
regulation by the United States Department of Transportation
with respect to safety requirements in the operation and
maintenance of our gas distribution facilities. Our distribution
operations are also subject to various state and federal laws
regulating environmental matters. From time to time we receive
inquiries regarding various environmental matters. We believe
that our properties and operations substantially comply with and
are operated in substantial conformity with applicable safety
and environmental statutes and regulations. There are no
administrative or judicial proceedings arising under
environmental quality statutes pending or known to be
contemplated by governmental agencies which would have a
material adverse effect on us or our operations. Our
environmental claims have arisen primarily from manufactured gas
plant sites in Tennessee, Iowa and Missouri and mercury
contamination sites in Kansas. These claims are more fully
described in Note 13 to the consolidated financial
statements.
Our Mid-Tex and Atmos Pipeline Texas operations are
wholly intrastate in character and are subject to regulation by
municipalities in Texas and the Railroad Commission of Texas.
These acquired operations do not include any certificated
interstate transmission facilities subject to the jurisdiction
of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under
the Natural Gas Act, any sales for resale under the rate
jurisdiction of the FERC or any transportation service that is
subject to FERC jurisdiction under the Natural Gas Act. Since
1988, the FERC has allowed, pursuant to Section 311 of the
Natural Gas Policy Act, gas transportation services through the
intrastate transmission facilities we acquired on behalf
of interstate pipelines or local distribution companies
served by interstate pipelines, without subjecting the acquired
operations to the jurisdiction of the FERC. We did not acquire
any manufactured gas plant sites in the TXU Gas acquisition. Our
acquisition agreement with TXU Gas addresses other environmental
matters, which we expect to have no material adverse effect on
us or our operations.
Competition
Although our utility operations are not currently in significant
direct competition with any other distributors of natural gas to
residential and commercial customers within our service areas,
we do compete with other natural gas suppliers and suppliers of
alternative fuels for sales to industrial and agricultural
customers. We compete in all aspects of our business with
alternative energy sources, including, in particular,
electricity. Electric utilities offer electricity as a rival
energy source and compete for the space heating, water heating
and cooking markets. Promotional incentives, improved equipment
efficiencies and promotional rates all contribute to the
acceptability of electrical equipment. The principal means to
compete against alternative fuels is lower prices, and natural
gas historically has maintained its price advantage in the
residential, commercial and industrial markets. However, higher
gas prices, coupled with the electric utilities marketing
efforts, have increased competition for residential and
commercial customers. In addition, our Natural Gas Marketing
segment competes with other natural gas brokers in obtaining
natural gas supplies for our customers.
Employees
At September 30, 2005, we had 4,543 employees, consisting
of 4,327 employees in our utility segment and 216 employees in
our other segments. See Operating Statistics
Utility Sales and Statistical Data by Division for the
number of employees by division.
Available Information
Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other
reports, and amendments to those reports, that we file with or
furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are
available free of charge at our website,
www.atmosenergy.com
, as soon as reasonably practicable,
after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish such
reports to, the SEC. We will also
21
furnish copies of such reports free of charge upon written
request to Shareholder Relations at the address appearing below:
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Shareholder Relations
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Atmos Energy Corporation
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P.O. Box 650205
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Dallas, Texas 75265-0205
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972-855-3729
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Corporate Governance
In accordance with and pursuant to relevant provisions of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, related rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission as well as corporate
governance listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, the
Board of Directors of the Company has adopted the Companys
Corporate Governance Guidelines and revised the Companys
Code of Conduct, which is applicable to all directors, officers
and employees of the Company. In addition, the Board of
Directors has amended the charters for each of its Audit, Human
Resources and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.
All of the foregoing documents are posted on the Corporate
Governance page of the Companys website. We will also
furnish copies of such information free of charge upon written
request to Shareholder Relations at the address listed above.
Distribution, transmission and related assets
At September 30, 2005 our utility segment owned an
aggregate of 81,604 miles of underground distribution and
transmission mains throughout our gas distribution systems.
These mains are located on easements or rights-of-way which
generally provide for perpetual use. We maintain our mains
through a program of continuous inspection and repair and
believe that our system of mains is in good condition. At
September 30, 2005, our pipeline and storage segment owned
6,369 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines.
Our utility segment also holds franchises granted by the
incorporated cities and towns that we serve. At
September 30, 2005, we held 1,098 franchises having terms
generally ranging from five to 35 years. A significant
number of our franchises expire each year, which require renewal
prior to the end of their terms. We believe that we will be able
to renew our franchises as they expire.
22
Storage Assets
Our utility and pipeline and storage segments own underground
gas storage facilities in several states to supplement the
supply of natural gas in periods of peak demand. The following
table summarizes key information regarding our underground gas
storage facilities:
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Maximum
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Daily
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Usable
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Total
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Delivery
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Capacity
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Cushion Gas
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Capacity
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Capability
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Facility
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Location
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(Mcf)
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(Mcf)
(1)
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(Mcf)
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(Mcf)
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Utility Segment
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Liberty North
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Montgomery County, KS
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2,800,000
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2,000,000
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4,800,000
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40,000
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St. Charles
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Hopkins County, KY
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2,685,196
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3,422,283
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6,107,479
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44,600
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Amory
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Monroe County, MS
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800,635
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788,457
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1,589,092
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30,000
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Bon Harbor
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Daviess County, KY
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778,600
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1,300,000
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2,078,600
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24,000
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Goodwin
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Monroe County, MS
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743,998
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1,393,280
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2,137,278
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18,000
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Hickory
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Daviess County, KY
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451,600
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850,000
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1,301,600
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24,000
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Columbus LNG Plant
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Muscogee County, GA
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450,000
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50,000
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500,000
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30,000
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Liberty South
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Montgomery County, KS
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439,000
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300,000
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739,000
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5,000
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Grandview
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Daviess County, KY
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305,400
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350,000
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655,400
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4,500
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Kirkwood
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Hopkins County, KY
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221,900
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400,000
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621,900
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12,000
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Buffalo
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Wilson County, KS
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200,000
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180,000
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380,000
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5,000
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Fredonia
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Wilson County, KS
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200,000
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160,000
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360,000
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5,000
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Total Utility Segment
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10,076,329
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11,194,020
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21,270,349
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242,100
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Pipeline and Storage Segment
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Tri-Cities
(2)
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Malakoff, TX
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19,993,475
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5,660,000
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25,653,475
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275,000
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Bethel
(2)
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Howard, TX
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7,100,000
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3,000,000
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10,100,000
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600,000
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New York
City
(2)
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Bellvue, TX
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5,650,000
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2,083,025
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7,733,025
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120,000
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Lapan
(2)
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Bellvue, TX
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3,425,000
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1,070,000
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4,495,000
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120,000
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Lake
Dallas
(2)
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Denton, TX
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2,960,000
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1,315,000
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4,275,000
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120,000
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East Diamond
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Hopkins County, KY
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2,160,000
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1,640,000
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3,800,000
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40,000
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Barnsley
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Hopkins County, KY
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1,278,900
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1,600,000
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2,878,900
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30,000
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Napoleonville
(3)
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Assumption Parish, LA
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438,583
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300,973
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739,556
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56,000
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Crofton
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Christian County, KY
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54,000
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55,000
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109,000
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1,000
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Total Pipeline and Storage Segment
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43,059,958
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16,723,998
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59,783,956
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1,362,000
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Total
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53,136,287
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27,918,018
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81,054,305
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1,604,100
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(1)
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Cushion gas represents the volume of gas that must be retained
in a facility to maintain reservoir pressure.
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(2)
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Acquired on October 1, 2004 in connection with the TXU Gas
acquisition.
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(3)
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We own 25 percent of this facility and Acadian Gas Pipeline
System owns the remaining 75 percent of this facility.
Acadian Gas Pipeline System operates this facility.
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23
Additionally, we contract for storage service in underground
storage facilities on many of the interstate pipelines serving
us to supplement our proprietary storage capacity. The following
table summarizes our contracted storage capacity:
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Maximum
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Maximum
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Daily
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Storage
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Withdrawal
|
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|
|
|
|
Quantity
|
|
|
Quantity
|
|
|
Division/ Company
|
|
Contractor
|
|
(MMBtu)
|
|
|
(MMBtu)
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility Segment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colorado-Kansas Division
|
|
Southern Star Central Pipeline
|
|
|
2,719,101
|
|
|
|
82,397
|
|
|
|
|
Tenaska Marketing Ventures
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
10,400
|
|
|
|
|
Colorado Interstate Gas Company
|
|
|
422,142
|
|
|
|
12,985
|
|
|
|
|
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
|
|
|
67,500
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
|
|
|
Centerpoint Energy Gas Transmission
|
|
|
28,500
|
|
|
|
950
|
|
|
|
|
Kentucky Division
|
|
Texas Gas Transmission
|
|
|
3,841,150
|
|
|
|
41,060
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
|
|
|
1,313,538
|
|
|
|
22,698
|
|
|
|
|
Louisiana Division
|
|
Gulf South
|
|
|
1,941,280
|
|
|
|
97,064
|
|
|
|
|
Louisiana Intrastate Gas Company
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
|
Texas Gas Transmission
|
|
|
11,372
|
|
|
|
1,194
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Natural Gas Company
|
|
|
4,771
|
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
|
|
|
4,466
|
|
|
|
91
|
|
|
|
|
Mid-States Division
|
|
Atmos Energy Marketing
|
|
|
1,993,543
|
|
|
|
16,634
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Natural Gas Company
|
|
|
1,453,265
|
|
|
|
29,345
|
|
|
|
|
Panhandle Eastern Pipeline
|
|
|
972,462
|
|
|
|
15,241
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
|
|
|
835,674
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
|
Texas Eastern Transmission Company
|
|
|
753,969
|
|
|
|
11,303
|
|
|
|
|
Gallagher Drilling
Company
(2)
|
|
|
640,000
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
|
ANR Pipeline Company
|
|
|
630,500
|
|
|
|
11,218
|
|
|
|
|
Dominion
|
|
|
609,008
|
|
|
|
8,136
|
|
|
|
|
Transco
|
|
|
568,674
|
|
|
|
12,710
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia Gas Pipeline Company
|
|
|
380,000
|
|
|
|
23,000
|
|
|
|
|
East Tennessee
|
|
|
339,900
|
|
|
|
52,633
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas Pipeline Company
|
|
|
312,750
|
|
|
|
5,580
|
|
|
|
|
Texas Gas Transmission
|
|
|
239,576
|
|
|
|
5,108
|
|
|
|
|
CMS Trunkline Gas Company
|
|
|
220,455
|
|
|
|
2,940
|
|
|
|
|
MRT Energy Marketing
|
|
|
137,493
|
|
|
|
2,395
|
|
|
|
|
Mississippi Division
|
|
Gulf South
|
|
|
1,237,500
|
|
|
|
61,875
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Natural Gas Company
|
|
|
1,049,436
|
|
|
|
21,191
|
|
|
|
|
Texas Gas Transmission
|
|
|
826,390
|
|
|
|
36,420
|
|
|
|
|
Texas Eastern
|
|
|
518,220
|
|
|
|
8,637
|
|
|
|
|
Egan Storage
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
|
Trunkline Gas Company
|
|
|
24,840
|
|
|
|
331
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
|
|
|
3,394
|
|
|
|
113
|
|
|
|
|
West Texas Division
|
|
ONEOK Texas Gas Storage LLP
|
|
|
1,125,000
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Utility Segment
|
|
|
27,225,869
|
|
|
|
770,251
|
|
See footnotes on the following page.
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
Daily
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Storage
|
|
|
Withdrawal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quantity
|
|
|
Quantity
|
|
|
Division/ Company
|
|
Contractor
|
|
(MMBtu)
|
|
|
(MMBtu)
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas Marketing Segment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gulf South
|
|
|
5,992,015
|
|
|
|
85,686
|
|
|
|
|
Egan
|
|
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
|
|
Atmos Pipeline Texas
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
24,000
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia Gas Pipeline Company
|
|
|
170,000
|
|
|
|
17,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Natural Gas Marketing Segment
|
|
|
8,662,015
|
|
|
|
216,686
|
|
|
|
|
Pipeline and Storage Segment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trans Louisiana Gas Pipeline, Inc.
|
|
Gulf South Pipeline Company
|
|
|
750,000
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
|
Bridgeline Gas Distribution LLC
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pipeline and Storage Segment
|
|
|
1,050,000
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Contracted Storage Capacity
|
|
|
36,937,884
|
|
|
|
1,036,937
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Maximum daily withdrawal quantity (MDWQ) amounts will
fluctuate depending upon the season and the month. Unless
otherwise noted, MDWQ amounts represent the MDWQ amounts as of
November 1, which is the beginning of the winter heating
season.
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
We contract for storage service in two underground storage
facilities, Wiseman and Ellis, from this company.
|
Other facilities
Our utility segment owns and operates one propane peak shaving
plant with a total capacity of approximately 180,000 gallons
that can produce an equivalent of approximately 3,300 Mcf
daily.
Offices
Our administrative offices are consolidated in a leased facility
in Dallas, Texas. We also maintain field offices throughout our
distribution system, the majority of which are located in leased
facilities. Our nonutility operations are headquartered in
Houston, Texas, with offices in Houston and other locations,
primarily in leased facilities.
|
|
|
|
ITEM 3.
|
Legal Proceedings
|
See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.
|
|
|
|
ITEM 4.
|
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during
the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.
25
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The following table sets forth certain information as of
September 30, 2005, regarding the executive officers of the
Company. It is followed by a brief description of the business
experience of each executive officer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years of
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
Office Currently Held
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert W. Best
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
John P. Reddy
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
R. Earl Fischer
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
Senior Vice President, Utility Operations and President, Mid-Tex
Division
|
|
JD Woodward III
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
Senior Vice President, Nonutility Operations
|
|
Louis P. Gregory
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
|
|
Wynn D. McGregor
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
Vice President, Human Resources
|
Robert W. Best was named Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer in March 1997. He previously served as
Senior Vice President Regulated Businesses of
Consolidated Natural Gas Company (January 1996-March 1997) and
was responsible for its transmission and distribution companies.
John P. Reddy was named Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer in September 2000. From April 2000 to
September 2000, he was Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Reddy previously served the
Company as Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer
from December 1998 to March 2000. He joined the Company in
August 1998 from Pacific Enterprises, a Los Angeles,
California-based utility holding company whose principal
subsidiary was Southern California Gas Co.
R. Earl Fischer was named Senior Vice President, Utility
Operations in May 2000 and President of the Mid-Tex Division in
October 2004. Effective October 1, 2005, Mr. Fischer
relinquished his duties as President of the Mid-Tex Division.
Mr. Fischer previously served the Company as President of
the Texas Division from January 1999 to April 2000 and as
President of the Kentucky Division from February 1989 to
December 1998.
JD Woodward III was named Senior Vice President, Nonutility
Operations in April 2001. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr. Woodward was President of Woodward Marketing, L.L.C.
from January 1995 to March 2001. Effective April 1, 2006,
Mr. Woodward will retire from the Company and be succeeded
by Mark H. Johnson, Vice President, Nonutility Operations.
Louis P. Gregory was named Senior Vice President and General
Counsel in September 2000. Prior to joining the Company, he
practiced law from April 1999 to August 2000 with the law firm
of McManemin & Smith.
Wynn D. McGregor was named Vice President, Human Resources in
January 1994. He previously served the Company as Director of
Human Resources from February 1991 to December 1993 and as
Manager, Compensation and Employment from December 1987 to
January 1991. Effective October 1, 2005, Mr. McGregor
was named Senior Vice President, Human Resources.
26
|
|
|
|
ITEM 5.
|
Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related
Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
|
Our stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
trading symbol ATO. The high and low sale prices and
dividends paid per share of our common stock for fiscal 2005 and
2004 are listed below. The high and low prices listed are the
closing NYSE quotes for shares of our common stock:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Paid
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Paid
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter ended:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31
|
|
$
|
27.43
|
|
|
$
|
24.85
|
|
|
$
|
.310
|
|
|
$
|
24.99
|
|
|
$
|
24.15
|
|
|
$
|
.305
|
|
|
|
March 31
|
|
|
29.09
|
|
|
|
26.19
|
|
|
|
.310
|
|
|
|
26.86
|
|
|
|
24.32
|
|
|
|
.305
|
|
|
|
June 30
|
|
|
28.87
|
|
|
|
25.94
|
|
|
|
.310
|
|
|
|
26.05
|
|
|
|
23.68
|
|
|
|
.305
|
|
|
|
September 30
|
|
|
29.76
|
|
|
|
28.23
|
|
|
|
.310
|
|
|
|
25.86
|
|
|
|
24.61
|
|
|
|
.305
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividend payments are payable at the discretion of our Board of
Directors out of legally available funds and are also subject to
restriction under the terms of our First Mortgage Bond
agreements. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial
statements. The Board of Directors typically declares dividends
in the same fiscal quarter in which they are paid. The number of
record holders of our common stock on October 31, 2005 was
26,170. Future payments of dividends, and the amounts of these
dividends, will depend on our financial condition, results of
operations, capital requirements and other factors. We sold no
securities during fiscal 2005 that were not registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The following table sets forth the number of securities
authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans at
September 30, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Weighted-
|
|
|
Number of Securities
|
|
|
|
|
Securities to be
|
|
|
Average Exercise
|
|
|
Remaining Available for
|
|
|
|
|
Issued Upon
|
|
|
Price of
|
|
|
Future Issuance Under
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Equity Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Options,
|
|
|
Plans (Excluding
|
|
|
|
|
Options, Warrants
|
|
|
Warrants and
|
|
|
Securities Reflected in
|
|
|
|
|
and Rights
|
|
|
Rights
|
|
|
Column(a))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Incentive Plan
|
|
|
964,704
|
|
|
$
|
22.20
|
|
|
|
1,290,292
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Stock Plan for the Mid-States Division
|
|
|
300
|
|
|
|
15.50
|
|
|
|
168,550
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity compensation plans approved by security
holders
|
|
|
965,004
|
|
|
|
22.20
|
|
|
|
1,458,842
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans not
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
approved by security holders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
965,004
|
|
|
$
|
22.20
|
|
|
|
1,458,842
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
ITEM 6.
|
Selected Financial Data
|
The following table sets forth selected financial data of the
Company and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements included herein.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended September 30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005
(1)
|
|
|
2004
(2)
|
|
|
2003
(3)
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2001
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data and ratios)
|
|
|
Results of Operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating revenues
|
|
$
|
4,973,326
|
|
|
$
|
2,920,037
|
|
|
$
|
2,799,916
|
|
|
$
|
1,650,964
|
|
|
$
|
1,725,481
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
1,129,090
|
|
|
|
562,191
|
|
|
|
534,976
|
|
|
|
431,140
|
|
|
|
375,208
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
780,435
|
|
|
|
368,496
|
|
|
|
347,136
|
|
|
|
275,809
|
|
|
|
244,927
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
348,655
|
|
|
|
193,695
|
|
|
|
187,840
|
|
|
|
155,331
|
|
|
|
130,281
|
|
|
Miscellaneous income
(expense)
(2)
|
|
|
2,021
|
|
|
|
9,507
|
|
|
|
2,191
|
|
|
|
(1,321
|
)
|
|
|
6,188
|
|
|
Interest charges
|
|
|
132,658
|
|
|
|
65,437
|
|
|
|
63,660
|
|
|
|
59,174
|
|
|
|
47,011
|
|
|
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting
change
|
|
|
218,018
|
|
|
|
137,765
|
|
|
|
126,371
|
|
|
|
94,836
|
|
|
|
89,458
|
|
|
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net income tax benefit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,773
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
82,233
|
|
|
|
51,538
|
|
|
|
46,910
|
|
|
|
35,180
|
|
|
|
33,368
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
135,785
|
|
|
$
|
86,227
|
|
|
$
|
71,688
|
|
|
$
|
59,656
|
|
|
$
|
56,090
|
|
|
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
|
|
|
79,012
|
|
|
|
54,416
|
|
|
|
46,496
|
|
|
|
41,250
|
|
|
|
38,247
|
|
|
Diluted net income per share
|
|
$
|
1.72
|
|
|
$
|
1.58
|
|
|
$
|
1.54
|
|
|
$
|
1.45
|
|
|
$
|
1.47
|
|
|
Cash flows from operations
|
|
|
386,944
|
|
|
|
270,734
|
|
|
|
49,541
|
|
|
|
297,395
|
|
|
|
82,995
|
|
|
Cash dividends paid per share
|
|
$
|
1.24
|
|
|
$
|
1.22
|
|
|
$
|
1.20
|
|
|
$
|
1.18
|
|
|
$
|
1.16
|
|
|
Total utility throughput (MMcf)
|
|
|
411,134
|
|
|
|
246,033
|
|
|
|
247,965
|
|
|
|
208,541
|
|
|
|
217,774
|
|
|
Total natural gas marketing sales volumes (MMcf)
|
|
|
238,097
|
|
|
|
222,572
|
|
|
|
225,961
|
|
|
|
204,027
|
|
|
|
55,469
|
|
|
Total pipeline transportation volumes (MMcf)
|
|
|
375,604
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Condition
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net property, plant and
equipment
(5)
|
|
$
|
3,374,367
|
|
|
$
|
1,722,521
|
|
|
$
|
1,624,394
|
|
|
$
|
1,380,070
|
|
|
$
|
1,409,432
|
|
|
Working
capital
(5)
|
|
|
151,675
|
|
|
|
283,310
|
|
|
|
16,248
|
|
|
|
(139,150
|
)
|
|
|
(90,968
|
)
|
|
Total
assets
(5)(6)
|
|
|
5,653,527
|
|
|
|
2,912,627
|
|
|
|
2,625,495
|
|
|
|
2,059,631
|
|
|
|
2,108,841
|
|
|
Short-term debt, inclusive of current maturities of long-term
debt
|
|
|
148,073
|
|
|
|
5,908
|
|
|
|
127,940
|
|
|
|
167,771
|
|
|
|
221,942
|
|
|
Capitalization:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders equity
|
|
|
1,602,422
|
|
|
|
1,133,459
|
|
|
|
857,517
|
|
|
|
573,235
|
|
|
|
583,864
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt (excluding current maturities)
|
|
|
2,183,104
|
|
|
|
861,311
|
|
|
|
862,500
|
|
|
|
668,959
|
|
|
|
691,026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
|
3,785,526
|
|
|
|
1,994,770
|
|
|
|
1,720,017
|
|
|
|
1,242,194
|
|
|
|
1,274,890
|
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
333,183
|
|
|
|
190,285
|
|
|
|
159,439
|
|
|
|
132,252
|
|
|
|
113,109
|
|
|
Financial Ratios
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalization
ratio
(6)
|
|
|
40.7%
|
|
|
|
56.7%
|
|
|
|
46.4%
|
|
|
|
40.7%
|
|
|
|
39.0%
|
|
|
Return on average shareholders equity
(7)
|
|
|
9.0%
|
|
|
|
9.1%
|
|
|
|
9.9%
|
|
|
|
9.9%
|
|
|
|
10.4%
|
|
See footnotes on the following page.
28
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Financial results for 2005 include the results of the Mid-Tex
Division and Atmos Pipeline Texas Division from
October 1, 2004, the date of acquisition.
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Financial results for 2004 include a $5.9 million pre-tax
gain on the sale of our interest in U.S. Propane, L.P. and
Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Financial results for fiscal 2003 include the results of MVG
from December 3, 2002, the date of acquisition.
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Financial results for fiscal 2001 include the results of
Louisiana Gas Service Company from July 1, 2001 and
Woodward Marketing L.L.C. from April 1, 2001, the date of
each acquisition, and the equity earnings from our
45 percent investment in Woodward Marketing L.L.C. for the
period October 1, 2001 through March 31, 2002.
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
Beginning in 2004, we reclassified our regulatory cost of
removal obligation from accumulated depreciation to a liability.
The amounts presented above for property, plant and equipment,
working capital and total assets reflect this reclassification
for all periods presented. These reclassifications did not
impact our financial position, results of operations or cash
flows as of and for the years ended September 30, 2003,
2002 and 2001.
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
The capitalization ratio is calculated by dividing
shareholders equity by the sum of total capitalization and
short-term debt, inclusive of current maturities of long-term
debt. Beginning in 2004 we reclassified our original issue
discount costs from deferred charges and other assets to
long-term debt. This reclassification did not materially impact
our capitalization or our capitalization ratio as of
September 30, 2003, 2002 and 2001.
|
|
|
|
(7)
|
The return on average shareholders equity is calculated by
dividing current year net income by the average of
shareholders equity for the previous five quarters.
|
The following table presents a condensed income statement by
segment for the year ended September 30, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended September 30, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas
|
|
|
Pipeline
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility
|
|
|
Marketing
|
|
|
and Storage
|
|
|
Nonutility
|
|
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Operating revenues from external parties
|
|
$
|
3,102,041
|
|
|
$
|
1,783,926
|
|
|
$
|
85,333
|
|
|
$
|
2,026
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,973,326
|
|
|
Intersegment revenues
|
|
|
1,099
|
|
|
|
322,352
|
|
|
|
79,409
|
|
|
|
3,276
|
|
|
|
(406,136
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,103,140
|
|
|
|
2,106,278
|
|
|
|
164,742
|
|
|
|
5,302
|
|
|
|
(406,136
|
)
|
|
|
4,973,326
|
|
|
Purchased gas cost
|
|
|
2,195,774
|
|
|
|
2,044,305
|
|
|
|
6,811
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(402,654
|
)
|
|
|
3,844,236
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
907,366
|
|
|
|
61,973
|
|
|
|
157,931
|
|
|
|
5,302
|
|
|
|
(3,482
|
)
|
|
|
1,129,090
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
671,001
|
|
|
|
20,988
|
|
|
|
87,645
|
|
|
|
4,484
|
|
|
|
(3,683
|
)
|
|
|
780,435
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
236,365
|
|
|
|
40,985
|
|
|
|
70,286
|
|
|
|
818
|
|
|
|
201
|
|
|
|
348,655
|
|
|
Miscellaneous income
|
|
|
6,776
|
|
|
|
771
|
|
|
|
2,030
|
|
|
|
2,575
|
|
|
|
(10,131
|
)
|
|
|
2,021
|
|
|
Interest charges
|
|
|
112,382
|
|
|
|
3,405
|
|
|
|
24,579
|
|
|
|
2,222
|
|
|
|
(9,930
|
)
|
|
|
132,658
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
130,759
|
|
|
|
38,351
|
|
|
|
47,737
|
|
|
|
1,171
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
218,018
|
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
49,642
|
|
|
|
14,947
|
|
|
|
17,138
|
|
|
|
506
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
82,233
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
81,117
|
|
|
$
|
23,404
|
|
|
$
|
30,599
|
|
|
$
|
665
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
135,785
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
$
|
300,574
|
|
|
$
|
649
|
|
|
$
|
31,960
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
333,183
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
ITEM 7.
|
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
INTRODUCTION
This section provides managements discussion of the
financial condition, changes in financial condition and results
of operations of Atmos Energy Corporation with specific
information on results of operations and liquidity and capital
resources. It includes managements interpretation of our
financial results, the factors affecting these results, the
major factors expected to affect future operating results and
future investment and financing plans. This discussion should be
read in conjunction with the Companys consolidated
financial statements and notes thereto.
|
|
|
|
|
Cautionary Statement for the Purposes of the Safe Harbor
under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995
|
The statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
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 Report are forward-looking statements made in good faith by
the Company and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from
liability established by the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. When used in this Report, or any other of
the Companys documents or oral presentations, the words
anticipate, believe, expect,
estimate, forecast, goal,
intend, objective, plan,
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 expressed or implied in the statements
relating to the Companys strategy, operations, markets,
services, rates, recovery of costs, availability of gas supply
and other factors. These risks and uncertainties include the
following: adverse weather conditions, such as warmer than
normal weather in the Companys utility service territories
or colder than normal weather that could adversely affect our
natural gas marketing activities; regulatory trends and
decisions, including deregulation initiatives and the impact of
rate proceedings before various state regulatory commissions;
market risks beyond our control affecting our risk management
activities including market liquidity, commodity price
volatility and counterparty creditworthiness; national, regional
and local economic conditions; the Companys ability to
continue to access the capital markets; the effects of inflation
and changes in the availability and prices of natural gas,
including the volatility of natural gas prices; increased
competition from energy suppliers and alternative forms of
energy; risks relating to the acquisition of the TXU Gas
operations, including without limitation, the Companys
increased indebtedness resulting from the acquisition of the TXU
Gas operations; the impact of recent natural disasters on our
operations, especially Hurricane Katrina, and other
uncertainties discussed herein, all of which are difficult to
predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company.
Accordingly, while 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. Further, the Company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of its
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT OUR FUTURE PERFORMANCE
Our performance in the future will primarily depend on the
results of our utility and nonutility operations. Several
factors exist that could influence our future financial
performance, some of which are described below. They should be
considered in connection with evaluating forward-looking
statements contained in this report or otherwise made by or on
behalf of us since these factors could cause actual results and
conditions to differ materially from those set out in these
forward-looking statements.
|
|
|
|
|
Our operations are weather sensitive.
|
Weather is one of the most significant factors influencing our
performance. Our natural gas utility sales volumes and related
revenues are correlated with heating requirements that result
from cold winter weather. Our agricultural sales volumes are
associated with the rainfall levels during the growing season in
our
30
West Texas and Kansas irrigation markets. Although weather
normalized rates in effect in several of our jurisdictions
should mitigate the adverse effects of warmer than normal
weather on our utility operating results, approximately fifteen
to twenty percent of our utility gross profit margin is
sensitive to weather, particularly our Louisiana and Mid-Tex
divisions. This means we will not be able to increase
customers bills to offset lower gas usage when the weather
is warmer than normal.
Our Mid-Tex Division operations benefit from a rate structure
that combines a monthly customer charge with a declining block
rate schedule to partially mitigate the impact of warmer than
normal weather on revenue. The combination of the monthly
customer charge and the customer billing under the first block
of the declining block rate schedule provides for the recovery
of most of our fixed costs for such operations under most
weather conditions. However, this rate structure is not as
beneficial during periods where weather is significantly warmer
than normal.
Finally, sustained cold weather could adversely affect our
natural gas marketing operations as we may be required to
purchase gas at spot rates in a rising market to obtain
sufficient volumes to fulfill some customer contracts.
|
|
|
|
|
We are subject to regulation which can directly impact our
operations.
|
Our natural gas utility business is subject to various regulated
returns on its rate base in each of the 12 states in which
we operate. We monitor the allowed rates of return, our
effectiveness in earning such rates and initiate rate
proceedings or operating changes as needed. In addition, in the
normal course of the regulatory environment, assets are placed
in service and historical test periods are established before
rate cases can be filed. Once rate cases are filed, regulatory
bodies have the authority to suspend implementation of the new
rates while studying the cases. Because of this process, we must
temporarily suffer the negative financial effects of having
placed assets in service without the benefit of rate relief,
which is commonly referred to as regulatory lag. In
addition, once our rates have been approved, they are still
subject to challenge for their reasonableness by appropriate
regulatory authorities. Also, our debt and equity financings are
also subject to approval by regulatory bodies in certain states,
which could limit our ability to take advantage of favorable
short-term market conditions.
Our business could also be affected by deregulation initiatives,
including the development of unbundling initiatives in the
natural gas industry. Unbundling is the separation of the
provision and pricing of local distribution gas services into
discrete components. It typically focuses on the separation of
the distribution and gas supply components and the resulting
opening of the regulated components of sales services to
alternative unregulated suppliers of those services. Because of
our enhanced technology and distribution system infrastructures,
we believe that we are now positively positioned should
unbundling evolve. Consequently, we expect there would be no
significant adverse effect on our business should unbundling or
further deregulation of the natural gas distribution service
business occur.
Finally, contractual limitations could adversely affect our
ability to withdraw gas from storage, which could cause us to
purchase gas at spot prices in a rising market to obtain
sufficient volumes to fulfill customer contracts. We seek to
minimize this risk by increasing our storage capacity and
enhancing the flexibility of our natural gas marketing contracts.
|
|
|
|
|
Our operations are exposed to market risks that are beyond
our control, which could result in financial losses.
|
Our risk management operations in our natural gas marketing
segment are subject to market risks beyond our control including
market liquidity, commodity price volatility and counterparty
creditworthiness. Market liquidity is affected by the number of
trading partners in the market.
Although we maintain a risk management policy, we may not be
able to completely offset the price risk associated with
volatile gas prices or the risk in our gas trading activities
which could lead to financial losses. Physical trading also
introduces price risk on any net open positions at the end of
each trading day, as well as a risk of loss resulting from
intra-day fluctuations of gas prices and the potential for daily
price movements
31
between the time natural gas is purchased or sold for future
delivery and the time the related purchase or sale is hedged.
Although we manage our business to maintain no open positions,
at times, limited net open positions related to our physical
storage may occur on a short-term basis. The determination of
our net open position as of any day requires us to make
assumptions as to future circumstances, including the use of gas
by our customers in relation to our anticipated storage and
market positions. Because the price risk associated with any net
open position at the end of each day may increase if the
assumptions are not realized, we review these assumptions as
part of our daily monitoring activities. Net open positions may
result in an adverse impact on our financial condition or
results of operations if market prices move in an unfavorable
manner.
Our utility segment uses a combination of storage and financial
hedges to partially insulate us against volatility in gas prices
and to help moderate the effects of higher customer accounts
receivable caused by higher gas prices. Our natural gas
marketing segment manages margins and limits risk exposure on
the sale of natural gas inventory or the offsetting fixed-price
purchase or sale commitments for physical quantities of natural
gas through the use of a variety of financial derivatives.
We could realize financial losses on these activities as a
result of volatility in the market value of the underlying
commodities or if a counterparty fails to perform under a
contract.
Further, the use of financial instruments to conduct our hedging
and market risk activities subjects us to counterparty risk.
Adverse changes in the creditworthiness of our counterparties
could limit the level of trading activities with these parties
and increase the risk that these parties may not perform under a
contract. We believe this risk is mitigated due to the large
number of counterparties used in our risk management activities.
Our net periodic pension and other postretirement costs are
subject to market risk as the fluctuation in the fair value of
the assets used to fund our various benefit plans could lead to
significant fluctuations in these costs.
Finally, we are subject to interest rate risk on our commercial
paper borrowings and floating rate debt. We could experience
higher interest expense if interest rates increase or increased
volatility if short-term interest rates become volatile.
|
|
|
|
|
National, regional and local economic conditions have a
direct impact on our operations.
|
Our operations are affected by the conditions and overall
strength of the national, regional and local economies,
including interest rates, changes in the capital markets and
increases in the costs of our primary commodity, natural gas.
These factors impact the amount of residential, industrial and
commercial growth in our service territories. Additionally,
these factors could adversely impact our customer collections.
Further, AEMs operations are concentrated in the natural
gas industry, and its customers and suppliers may be subject to
economic risks affecting that industry.
|
|
|
|
|
The execution of our business plan could be affected by an
inability to access financial markets.
|
We rely upon access to both short-term and long-term capital
markets as a source of liquidity to satisfy our liquidity
requirements. Although we believe we will maintain sufficient
access to these financial markets, adverse changes in the
economy, the overall health of the industries in which we
operate and changes to our credit ratings could limit access to
these markets and restrict the execution of our business plan.
Our long-term debt is currently rated as investment
grade by Standard & Poors Corporation
(S&P), Moodys Investors Service (Moodys) and
Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch), the three credit rating agencies
that rate our long-term debt securities. There can be no
assurance that these rating agencies will maintain investment
grade ratings for our long-term debt. If we were to lose our
investment-grade rating, the commercial paper markets and the
commodity derivatives markets could become unavailable to us.
This would increase our borrowing costs for working capital and
reduce the borrowing capacity of our gas marketing affiliate. In
addition, if our commercial paper ratings were lowered, it would
increase the cost of commercial paper financing and could reduce
or eliminate our ability to access the commercial paper markets.
If we are
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unable to issue commercial paper, we intend to borrow under our
bank credit facilities to meet our working capital needs. This
would increase the cost of our working capital financing.
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Inflation and increased gas costs could adversely impact
our customer base and customer collections and increase our
level of indebtedness.
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Inflation has caused increases in certain operating expenses and
has required assets to be replaced at higher costs. We have a
process in place to continually review the adequacy of our
utility gas rates in relation to the increasing cost of
providing service and the inherent regulatory lag in adjusting
those gas rates. Historically, we have been able to budget and
control operating expenses and investments within the amounts
authorized to be collected in rates and intend to continue to do
so. The ability to control expenses is an important factor that
will influence future results.
Rapid increases in the price of purchased gas, which has
occurred recently and in some prior years, causes us to
experience a significant increase in short-term debt because we
must pay suppliers for gas when it is purchased, which can be
significantly in advance of when these costs may be recovered
through the collection of monthly customer bills for gas
delivered. Increases in purchased gas costs also slow our
utility collection efforts as customers are more likely to delay
the payment of their gas bills, leading to higher than normal
accounts receivable. This situation could result in higher
short-term debt levels and increased bad debt expense. Due to
the significant increase in natural gas prices resulting
primarily from the impact of recent natural disasters, we are
anticipating increases in our short-term debt, accounts
receivable and bad debt expense during fiscal 2006.
Finally, higher costs of natural gas in recent years have
already caused many of our utility customers to conserve in the
use of our gas services and could lead to even more customers
utilizing such conservation methods.
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Our operations are subject to increased
competition.
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We are facing increased competition from other energy suppliers
as well as electric companies and from energy marketing and
trading companies. In the case of industrial customers, such as
manufacturing plants, and agricultural customers, adverse
economic conditions, including higher gas costs, could cause
these customers to use alternative sources of energy, such as
electricity, or bypass our systems in favor of special
competitive contracts with lower per-unit costs. Our pipeline
and storage operations currently face limited competition from
other existing intrastate pipelines and gas marketers seeking to
provide or arrange transportation, storage and other services
for customers. However, competition may increase if new
intrastate pipelines are constructed near our existing
facilities.
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We have only limited recourse under the acquisition
agreement for losses relating to the TXU Gas acquisition.
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The diligence conducted in connection with the TXU Gas
acquisition and the indemnification provided in the acquisition
agreement may not be sufficient to protect us from, or
compensate us for, all losses resulting from the acquisition or
TXU Gass prior operations. For example, under the terms of
the acquisition agreement, the first $15 million of many
indemnifiable losses are to be borne by us, and the agreement
provides for sharing of losses with respect to unknown
environmental matters that may affect the assets we acquired
after we have borne $10 million in costs relating to such
matters. In addition, under the terms of the acquisition
agreement, the maximum aggregate amount of such losses for which
TXU Gas will indemnify us is approximately $192.5 million.
A material loss associated with the TXU Gas acquisition for
which there is not adequate indemnification could negatively
affect our results of operations, our financial condition and
our reputation in the industry, thereby reducing the anticipated
benefits of the acquisition.
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Recent natural disasters, especially Hurricane Katrina,
have adversely impacted our operations.
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On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf
Coast, inflicting significant damage in our eastern Louisiana
operations. The hardest hit areas in our service area were in
Jefferson, St. Tammany,
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St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. In total,
approximately 230,000 of our natural gas customers were affected
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