DALLAS, Texas -- September 3, 2008 -- Atmos Energy crews made swift progress assisting customers in the initial days following Hurricane Gustav.  

“Fortunately, few customers were affected, and we are working to respond as soon as possible to those customers who contact us,” said Tom Hawkins, president of Atmos Energy’s Louisiana division.  “Our priorities remain safety and helping our customers through the storm with reliable service.”

Louisiana Division update:
Pineville – Emergency orders and leak orders are caught up.  The Natchitoches Atmos Energy office sent extra people and resources to help today, along with water and supplies.  The area was again hit with more high winds and heavy rains causing road closures and flooding near downtown Pineville.  Power is out at the Atmos Energy office in Pineville and for most of the parish.   

Lafayette – The area is returning to normal.  Emergency natural gas orders are being handled as they come in.  Some isolated flooding in the southern Lafayette area.  Meter reading and routine service work has resumed.

Monroe and Richland – Heavy rains last night and again this morning have caused more flooding.  Crews are responding to customer calls as they come in. 

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Although most natural gas facilities are underground, some have been damaged by trees that were uprooted from the strong winds.  Some equipment could have been damaged by flying debris.

If anyone smells natural gas or suspects a leak:

• LEAVE the area IMMEDIATELY and tell others to do so too.
• CALL ATMOS ENERGY from a safe distance at our toll-free emergency number 866-EC-ATMOS (1-866-322-8667) or call 9-1-1.
• DO NOT turn any lights on or off, smoke, use a phone, or operate any vehicle or equipment that could cause sparks.
• DO NOT attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off.

Atmos Energy will send a trained service technician immediately to investigate any emergency leak call.

Atmos Energy has more than 350,000 customers in Louisiana and crews are out in force to make repairs.  Atmos Energy will continue to communicate with customers in the areas hit by Hurricane Gustav and provide updates as service is restored to normal. 

Customers may also call our 24-hour Customer Contact Center at 888-ATMOS-00 or
888-286-6700.

About Atmos Energy
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 primarily in the Midwest and Southeast and manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Atmos Energy is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com.

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