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2008 News Releases

Atmos Energy Employees Give 20,000 Hours

Employees Volunteer to Strengthen Communities

DALLAS, Texas -- March 6, 2008 -- When coach Derek Rowell is sweltering on a sunny, August day in North Texas – sweat burning his eyes and his whistle too hot to touch – he’s thinking football, not volunteering. When Randy Smith takes out the trash during a fundraiser for the heartbroken family of a fallen firefighter, he’s trying to ease personal pain, not volunteer.

Both men were part of nearly 20,000 hours of volunteer time contributed during fiscal 2007 by employees of Atmos Energy Corporation.

“Volunteering to strengthen local communities is a tradition at Atmos Energy and we believe it’s important for employees to be part of the communities we serve,” said Robert W. Best, chairman, president and chief executive of Atmos Energy. “We are proud of our many volunteers for demonstrating the Atmos Energy spirit of helping others.”

Most volunteer hours

A senior construction and maintenance technician, Derek Rowell donated 400 hours last year. Rowell, who lives in Weatherford, Texas and works for Atmos Energy’s Mid-Tex Division, is a youth football coach and baseball manager.

“I had no idea the volunteer hours were that much,” said Rowell, 33. “A co-worker said I was spending so much time with the kids I should add my hours to the new volunteer database.”

“My Dad is one of my heroes, and he always had time to coach me; so I’m trying to help my sons and other boys,” added Rowell, an 11 year employee with Atmos Energy. “Coaching is something I enjoy. The football team got to the league Super Bowl last year and the baseball team went undefeated.”

Statistics

Out of the total of 19,998 employee hours spent on volunteer activities, Mississippi employees recorded the highest average, approximately six hours per volunteer. Through the first quarter of fiscal 2008, Louisiana employees are in the lead, averaging 6.7 hours per volunteer. The Mid-Tex Division logged the most hours, contributing over 8,400 hours to local communities. The most popular month for volunteering was June, when the average increased to 5.8 hours per volunteer.

Right thing to do

Randy Smith, a safety specialist in Lubbock, Texas for Atmos Energy’s West Texas Division, ranked second in volunteer hours, logging 254 hours for the Diabetes Association, the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and fundraisers in the Lubbock area.

“I’m not doing anything special because whenever I volunteer there are many familiar faces of other employees who are helping out,” said Smith, a 12 year Atmos Energy employee. “I don’t do it for the recognition; it’s the right thing to do.”

Giving back

Neither Rowell nor Smith has talked to his children about volunteering, but actions speak volumes.

“I have never told my kids they have to give back to the community, but subconsciously I hope they feel that way,” said the 42-year old Smith. “They should do it because it’s the right thing for them.”

“I love coaching kids and seeing the expression on their face when they achieve a goal,” said Rowell. “If my sons ever volunteer they should do it for the right reasons.”

Since the beginning of Atmos Energy’s fiscal year, in October 2007, more than 5,700 volunteer hours have already been recorded. Some Atmos Energy officials believe employees actually contribute much more because volunteer hours at political and religious organizations are excluded from the database.

The Mid-Tex Division serves the north-central region of Texas, from Longview to near Midland and from the Red River to Round Rock, including the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The West Texas Division of Atmos Energy is a different division, providing service to the Panhandle, Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa and surrounding areas.

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural-gas-only distributor, serving about 3.2 million natural gas distribution customers in more than 1,600 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers in 22 states and manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Atmos Energy is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com.

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