Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a United States energy-services holding company and natural-gas utility business headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The business was formerly known as AGL Resources and became Southern Company Gas after The Southern Company completed its acquisition of AGL Resources in 2016. Its principal activity is the distribution of natural gas through regulated utility subsidiaries, supported by wholesale gas services, retail energy offerings, storage, liquefied natural gas infrastructure, and other midstream capabilities. The regulated distribution segment has historically been the largest part of the business. Its principal utilities include Atlanta Gas Light in Georgia, Nicor Gas in Illinois, Virginia Natural Gas in Virginia, and Chattanooga Gas in Tennessee. Together, these businesses serve approximately 4.5 million utility customers across four states. Their activities include operating and maintaining local natural-gas pipeline networks, reading meters, managing customer service and billing where applicable, responding to leaks and other service requests, and delivering or arranging natural-gas supplies for residential, commercial, and industrial users. The structure of retail supply varies by state: in some deregulated markets, customers may select an independent gas marketer while the utility continues to operate the distribution network. Atlanta Gas Light is the group's largest distribution utility and traces its origins to the installation of gas streetlights in Atlanta in the nineteenth century. It now distributes gas across Georgia. Nicor Gas serves northern Illinois through an extensive distribution system connected to interstate pipeline infrastructure. Virginia Natural Gas supplies southeastern Virginia and operates associated high-pressure pipeline, propane, and liquefied natural gas facilities. Chattanooga Gas provides retail sales and transportation services in parts of southeastern Tennessee. The company's wholesale operations have included gas storage, pipeline and supply optimization, asset management, logistics, and commercial and industrial procurement services. Sequent Energy Management was a major wholesale and energy-marketing subsidiary until its sale to Williams in 2021. Southern Company Gas has also operated or contracted for peak-shaving LNG facilities and related storage capacity, allowing gas to be injected into distribution systems during periods of high demand. The portfolio has included facilities in Georgia and Tennessee, as well as contracted capacity in Virginia. Retail and customer-service activities have included alternative gas supply, billing support, energy plans, appliance leasing, and home-repair or maintenance services. Businesses associated with these activities included Nicor Advanced Energy, Nicor Solutions, and SouthStar Energy Services. Several other operations that had been acquired under the AGL Resources portfolio were later divested, including Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, Florida City Gas, and Pivotal Home Solutions. The AGL Resources name was associated with a broad expansion strategy that combined regulated distribution utilities with wholesale, retail, storage, and related energy services. The 2016 acquisition by The Southern Company placed the gas platform within a larger U.S. energy holding company whose portfolio also includes electric utilities and other energy businesses. In the years following the acquisition, asset sales and portfolio changes reduced some of the former AGL Resources businesses, while the core regulated natural-gas distribution operations remained central to Southern Company Gas. The company presents its community and social-responsibility work around energy assistance, education, environmental stewardship, and community enrichment. Southern Company Gas is the natural-gas utility and energy-services business of Southern Company. It was formerly known as AGL Resources, an American energy-services holding company whose operating businesses included regulated gas distribution, wholesale energy services, retail supply, storage, liquefied natural gas infrastructure, and related customer services. Southern Company acquired AGL Resources in 2016 and subsequently adopted the Southern Company Gas name, integrating the business into Southern’s broader regulated-utility portfolio. The company’s principal activity is the distribution of natural gas through regulated utilities. Its distribution operations have historically included Atlanta Gas Light in Georgia, Nicor Gas in Illinois, Virginia Natural Gas in southeastern Virginia, and Chattanooga Gas in Tennessee. Together, these utilities serve approximately 4.5 million customers, making the business one of the largest natural-gas distributors in the United States. Their infrastructure includes intrastate pipelines, local distribution networks, storage facilities, meters, and customer-service systems. The utilities also maintain their systems, respond to reported leaks, repair infrastructure, read meters, and provide information about natural-gas use and appliances. The operating model differs by state. In some markets, the utility sells gas directly to customers; in deregulated portions of Illinois and throughout Georgia, customers may select a third-party retail marketer while the utility continues to operate the distribution network. Atlanta Gas Light is primarily a distributor and infrastructure operator rather than a conventional retail gas seller. It traces its origins to the installation of gas streetlights in Atlanta in the nineteenth century and has grown into the largest natural-gas distributor in the southeastern United States. Beyond distribution, Southern Company Gas has maintained wholesale and midstream capabilities. These activities have included natural-gas storage, transportation, asset management, logistical services, pipeline arbitrage, and energy marketing for affiliated utilities and outside customers. Sequent Energy Management was the group’s Houston-based energy-marketing and asset-optimization business until its sale to Williams in 2021. The company has also operated or contracted for underground storage and liquefied natural gas facilities used to supplement supplies during periods of unusually high demand. Its historical assets included Jefferson Island Storage & Hub in Louisiana and peak-shaving LNG facilities in Georgia and Tennessee, as well as contracted capacity associated with Virginia Natural Gas. The former AGL Resources portfolio also included retail and customer-service businesses. These included SouthStar Energy Services, Nicor Advanced Energy, and Nicor Solutions, which provided gas supply, procurement, billing, and related services in several American markets. Some businesses that were once part of the portfolio have since been divested, including Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, and Florida City Gas, sold in 2018, and Pivotal Home Solutions, also sold in 2018. Southern Company Gas has emphasized energy assistance, education, environmental stewardship, and community enrichment as areas of corporate responsibility. Its employee volunteer program, known as V-Force, has supported activities involving organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, and the March of Dimes. The company’s strategic identity is therefore centered on operating essential gas infrastructure, maintaining reliability during peak demand, and providing regulated and unregulated energy services within the United States rather than on consumer-facing packaged products. The company's wholesale operations have included natural-gas storage, pipeline and supply optimization, asset management, logistics, and commercial and industrial procurement services. Sequent Energy Management, established in 2001 and based in Houston, was the principal branded wholesale and energy-marketing subsidiary until it was sold to Williams in 2021. Southern Company Gas has also operated or contracted LNG peak-shaving facilities and related storage capacity to inject gas into distribution systems during periods of high demand. The portfolio has included plants in Riverdale, Cherokee, and Macon, Georgia, and a Chattanooga facility in Tennessee, together with contracted capacity connected to Virginia Natural Gas, as well as the Jefferson Island Storage & Hub in Louisiana.

Southern Company Gas combines a number of natural-gas utilities and energy businesses with origins reaching back to nineteenth-century gas distribution. Atlanta Gas Light was established in 1856 to install gas streetlights in Atlanta, while Virginia Natural Gas traces its history to 1850 and Chattanooga Gas to 1890. These predecessor companies developed from local gas suppliers into regulated distribution utilities serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The modern corporate platform was associated with AGL Resources, which assembled regulated gas utilities and complementary energy businesses. AGL Resources acquired Chattanooga Gas in 1988. Virginia Natural Gas entered the portfolio after a sequence of ownership changes involving Dominion Virginia Power and Consolidated Natural Gas. In 2004, AGL Resources acquired Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, and Florida City Gas, expanding its geographic footprint beyond its core southeastern and Midwestern markets. Nicor Gas became a major part of the company through AGL Resources' merger with Nicor Inc., completed in December 2011. The transaction added the largest natural-gas distributor in northern Illinois and broadened the platform's customer base and infrastructure. Nicor-related businesses also contributed retail supply, billing, and energy-services capabilities. During this period, AGL Resources operated beyond regulated distribution through wholesale gas storage, asset optimization, logistics, commercial procurement, retail supply, and LNG peak-shaving facilities. The company became prominent enough to appear in major U.S. corporate rankings, including the Fortune 500 in 2015 and the Forbes Global 2000 in 2006, and it was included in the S&P 500 before its acquisition. In 2016, The Southern Company acquired AGL Resources. The transaction created a large gas platform within the Southern Company family and the acquired business was renamed Southern Company Gas. After the acquisition, Southern Company Gas continued operating four core regulated distribution utilities: Atlanta Gas Light, Nicor Gas, Virginia Natural Gas, and Chattanooga Gas. It also maintained wholesale, retail, storage, LNG, and related service activities. Its LNG infrastructure included peak-shaving facilities in Georgia and Tennessee and contracted storage and vaporization capacity supporting Virginia Natural Gas. The portfolio was subsequently streamlined. Pivotal Home Solutions was sold in 2018, Florida City Gas was sold to NextEra Energy in 2018, and Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas were sold to South Jersey Industries in the same year. Sequent Energy Management was sold to Williams in 2021. The resulting organization is primarily identified with regulated natural-gas distribution, supported by transportation, storage, supply management, and customer energy services. Its utilities construct and maintain local pipeline systems, manage service reliability and leak response, and provide gas delivery and related customer functions. The business also describes community programs focused on energy assistance, education, environmental stewardship, and community enrichment. Employee volunteering has been organized through the V-Force program, with activities involving community charities, housing, health-related fundraising, and financial education. Southern Company Gas developed from the businesses assembled under AGL Resources, an American energy-services holding company with roots in long-established local gas utilities. Several of the utilities that later formed the portfolio originated in the nineteenth century. Virginia Natural Gas traces its history to 1850, Atlanta Gas Light to 1856, Chattanooga Gas to 1890, and Elkton Gas to 1863. Nicor Gas was established in 1955 and became the largest gas distributor in northern Illinois. AGL Resources expanded through acquisitions and a combination of regulated distribution companies with wholesale, retail, storage, and customer-service operations. In 1988, Atlanta Gas Light acquired Chattanooga Gas. AGL Resources purchased Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, and Florida City Gas in 2004. It completed the acquisition of Nicor Inc. in December 2011, adding Nicor Gas and related Illinois businesses. The company also developed or acquired businesses in natural-gas marketing, procurement, billing, storage, LNG, and home services. The AGL Resources portfolio became part of Southern Company in 2016, when Southern Company completed its acquisition of AGL Resources. The business was renamed Southern Company Gas, while its principal utility subsidiaries retained their established local names. The transaction created a major regulated gas-distribution platform inside Southern Company and broadened Southern’s presence beyond its traditional electric-utility operations. After the acquisition, the company continued to operate four principal distribution utilities: Atlanta Gas Light, Nicor Gas, Virginia Natural Gas, and Chattanooga Gas. Their combined customer base has been described as approximately 4.5 million utility customers across four states. The utilities operate local pipelines, storage and peak-supply infrastructure, metering systems, and customer-service functions. In Georgia and parts of Illinois, regulatory structures allow customers to purchase gas from alternative marketers while the local utility continues to deliver the commodity. Southern Company Gas has also operated energy infrastructure supporting peak demand. Its historical portfolio included LNG peak-shaving facilities in Georgia and Tennessee, contracted LNG capacity serving Virginia Natural Gas, and Jefferson Island Storage & Hub in Louisiana. Wholesale activities included storage, transportation, asset management, logistics, and market-related optimization. Sequent Energy Management served as the group’s principal wholesale marketing and trading business until its sale to Williams in 2021. The company subsequently streamlined portions of its portfolio. In 2018 it sold Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas to South Jersey Industries, Florida City Gas to NextEra Energy, and Pivotal Home Solutions to American Water. These transactions reduced exposure to selected non-core utility and home-services businesses while leaving the central regulated distribution platform in place. Southern Company Gas has promoted community programs involving energy assistance, education, environmental stewardship, and community enrichment. Its V-Force employee-volunteer program has supported charitable and educational initiatives. The company’s history is consequently characterized by consolidation of regional gas utilities, expansion into energy-services activities, integration into Southern Company, and subsequent portfolio rationalization.

• 2021

  Sequent Energy Management divested

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  Williams acquired Sequent Energy Management from Southern Company Gas.

• 2018

  Multiple portfolio divestitures

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  Southern Company Gas sold Pivotal Home Solutions to American Water, Florida City Gas to NextEra Energy, and Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas to South Jersey Industries.

• 2016

  Acquisition by The Southern Company

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  The Southern Company acquired AGL Resources, which was subsequently renamed Southern Company Gas.

• 2011

  Nicor merger completed

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  AGL Resources completed its merger with Nicor Inc. in December, adding Nicor Gas and related energy businesses.

• 2004

  Expansion through multiple utility acquisitions

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  AGL Resources added Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, and Florida City Gas to its portfolio.

• 2004

  AGL Resources expands its utility portfolio

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  AGL Resources acquired Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, and Florida City Gas.

• 2001

  Sequent Energy Management established

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  Sequent Energy Management was established as a wholesale gas, energy-marketing, and asset-optimization business.

• 1988

  Chattanooga Gas acquired by Atlanta Gas Light

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  Atlanta Gas Light acquired Chattanooga Gas Company, expanding its regulated gas operations into Tennessee.

• 1955

  Nicor Gas established

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  Nicor Gas was established and grew into the largest natural-gas distributor in northern Illinois.

• 1890

  Chattanooga Gas founded

  [1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  Chattanooga Gas was established in Tennessee and later became part of the Atlanta Gas Light and AGL Resources family.

Showing the 10 most recent.

A large U.S. natural-gas distribution and energy-services platform, combining regulated utility operations with wholesale, storage, LNG, and retail capabilities under The Southern Company.

• Regulated natural-gas distribution · 1856

  Atlanta Gas Light

  Atlanta Gas Light is the largest natural-gas distributor in the Southeast and serves more than 1.6 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across roughly 200 Georgia communities. Its responsibilities include operating and maintaining gas infrastructure, responding to leaks, and reading meters. In Georgia's deregulated retail structure, customers may purchase gas from independent marketers while Atlanta Gas Light continues to provide distribution service. Atlanta Gas Light is Southern Company Gas’s Georgia distribution utility and one of the largest gas distributors in the southeastern United States. It serves residential, commercial, and industrial users across many Georgia communities. Its principal responsibilities include operating and maintaining the gas network, reading meters, responding to leaks, and supporting customer connections. In Georgia’s deregulated retail structure, the utility generally transports gas while customers may purchase the commodity from licensed marketers.

• Regulated natural-gas distribution · 1955

  Nicor Gas

  Nicor Gas is Southern Company Gas's northern Illinois distribution utility. It serves approximately 2.2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in more than 650 communities. Its network extends for approximately 34,000 miles and connects with multiple interstate pipeline systems. The utility manages distribution infrastructure, customer service, billing, leak response, and gas delivery, while some customers may select alternative retail suppliers. It became part of the portfolio through AGL Resources' merger with Nicor Inc., completed in 2011. Nicor Gas is the principal Southern Company Gas utility in northern Illinois. It serves approximately 2.2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in more than 650 communities through a distribution system described as extending roughly 34,000 miles. The business manages local delivery infrastructure, customer service, metering, leak response, and gas-supply arrangements. It became part of the portfolio through AGL Resources’ merger with Nicor Inc., completed in 2011.

• Regulated natural-gas distribution · 1850

  Virginia Natural Gas

  Virginia Natural Gas serves more than 275,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Virginia, including communities around Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg. Its supporting infrastructure includes a high-pressure intrastate pipeline, propane storage and vaporization facilities, and LNG-related supply capacity used to supplement the system during periods of elevated demand. Its ownership history includes transfers involving Dominion Virginia Power, Consolidated Natural Gas, Dominion, and AGL Resources. Virginia Natural Gas serves southeastern Virginia, including the Hampton Roads region and surrounding communities. Its infrastructure includes local distribution networks, a high-pressure intrastate pipeline, propane facilities, and LNG-related supply infrastructure used to supplement deliveries. The utility serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers and is responsible for system maintenance, service response, and gas distribution. Its ownership history includes transfers involving Dominion Virginia Power, Consolidated Natural Gas, Dominion, and AGL Resources.

• Regulated natural-gas distribution · 1890

  Chattanooga Gas

  Chattanooga Gas provides retail natural-gas sales and transportation services in Hamilton and Bradley counties in Tennessee. It serves approximately 62,000 customers and operates gas distribution facilities and peak-supply arrangements for the Chattanooga market. The company became part of the Atlanta Gas Light organization in 1988. Chattanooga Gas provides natural-gas sales and transportation services in Hamilton and Bradley counties in Tennessee. It serves approximately 62,000 customers and operates as part of Southern Company Gas’s regulated distribution group. The utility’s responsibilities include gas delivery, infrastructure upkeep, leak response, and customer support. Founded in the nineteenth century, it became part of the Atlanta Gas Light portfolio in 1988.

• Wholesale energy services

  Wholesale gas and asset-management services

  The wholesale business has provided natural-gas storage, transportation, supply management, pipeline arbitrage, logistics, and asset-optimization services for affiliated utilities and external customers. Sequent Energy Management was the principal branded wholesale and energy-marketing operation until it was sold to Williams in 2021.

• Natural-gas storage and supply infrastructure

  LNG peak-shaving facilities

  Southern Company Gas has operated or held interests in LNG facilities used to store and vaporize natural gas during peak demand. The portfolio has included plants in Riverdale, Cherokee, and Macon, Georgia, and a Chattanooga facility in Tennessee, together with contracted capacity connected to Virginia Natural Gas, as well as the Jefferson Island Storage & Hub in Louisiana. These assets support supply reliability when pipeline deliveries alone may be insufficient. Southern Company Gas has historically owned or operated LNG facilities in Georgia and Tennessee and held contracted LNG capacity serving Virginia Natural Gas. These facilities store natural gas in liquefied form and vaporize it when demand is unusually high. Peak-shaving capability helps support local distribution systems during cold-weather events or other periods when ordinary pipeline supplies are insufficient.

• Retail energy services

  SouthStar Energy Services

  SouthStar Energy Services provided natural-gas supply, transportation, and related services to residential, small-business, commercial, and industrial customers in multiple states. It operated within the broader retail and wholesale structure associated with Southern Company Gas, particularly in markets where customers could choose their commodity supplier. SouthStar Energy Services was a retail energy business providing natural-gas supply, transportation, and related services to residential, small-business, commercial, and industrial customers in several states. It operated alongside the regulated distribution utilities, particularly in markets where customers could choose their commodity supplier. The business formed part of Southern Company Gas’s broader retail and unregulated energy-services platform.

• Wholesale energy services · 2001

  Sequent Energy Management

  Sequent Energy Management was Southern Company Gas's Houston-based wholesale energy-services business. It provided natural-gas marketing, asset optimization, storage and transportation management, logistics, and related services for affiliated utilities and external customers. The business was established in 2001 and was sold to Williams in 2021, so it is no longer part of Southern Company Gas.

• V-Force employee volunteer program

  United States

  The V-Force, short for Volunteer Force, program organized employee participation in community activities including housing construction, charitable fundraising, and financial-education initiatives. Reported examples include Habitat for Humanity housing projects, March of Dimes events, and Junior Achievement financial-literacy education. Southern Company Gas’s V-Force, short for Volunteer Force, provides employees with opportunities to participate in community activities. Reported examples include Habitat for Humanity housing projects, March of Dimes events, and Junior Achievement financial-literacy education.

  Outcome. Ongoing community-engagement program; quantified outcome not specified. The program supports the company’s community-enrichment and employee-engagement objectives.

  Source

• 2021

  Sale of Sequent Energy ManagementM&A

  Background

  Sequent represented Southern Company Gas’s wholesale energy marketing and asset-optimization activities.

  Action taken

  Williams acquired Sequent Energy Management from Southern Company Gas.

  Aftermath

  The sale reduced Southern Company Gas’s exposure to wholesale energy marketing while Williams gained the associated business.

  Source

• 2018

  Divestiture of selected noncore businessesStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2016 acquisition, Southern Company Gas adjusted the composition of its portfolio.

  Action taken

  The company sold Pivotal Home Solutions, Florida City Gas, Elizabethtown Gas, and Elkton Gas during 2018.

  Aftermath

  The portfolio became more concentrated on core regulated gas distribution and related infrastructure.

  Source

• 2018

  Divestiture of selected utility and home-services businessesStrategy

  Background

  Southern Company Gas reviewed parts of the inherited AGL Resources portfolio after the 2016 acquisition.

  Action taken

  The company sold Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas to South Jersey Industries, Florida City Gas to NextEra Energy, and Pivotal Home Solutions to American Water.

  Aftermath

  The transactions narrowed the portfolio while leaving the principal four-state regulated gas-distribution platform in place.

  Source

• 2016

  Acquisition by The Southern CompanyM&A

  Background

  AGL Resources operated a large portfolio of regulated gas utilities and complementary energy businesses that fit The Southern Company's broader utility strategy.

  Action taken

  The Southern Company acquired AGL Resources and renamed the acquired gas platform Southern Company Gas.

  Aftermath

  The gas operations became part of The Southern Company's corporate group, followed by later portfolio rationalization and asset sales.

  Source

• 2016

  Acquisition of AGL ResourcesM&A

  Background

  Southern Company sought to expand its regulated utility portfolio into natural-gas distribution and related energy services.

  Action taken

  Southern Company completed the acquisition of AGL Resources and renamed the acquired business Southern Company Gas.

  Aftermath

  The transaction created Southern Company’s principal natural-gas operating platform, retaining major local utility brands such as Nicor Gas, Atlanta Gas Light, Virginia Natural Gas, and Chattanooga Gas.

  Source

• 2011

  Merge with Nicor Inc.M&A

  Background

  AGL Resources sought to expand its regulated natural-gas distribution base and add related retail and energy-service activities.

  Action taken

  The merger with Nicor Inc. was completed in December 2011, bringing Nicor Gas and associated businesses into AGL Resources.

  Aftermath

  The transaction made Nicor Gas a central part of the company's northern Illinois distribution platform.

  Source

• 2021

  Sequent Energy Management sold to Williams[1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Southern Company Gas sold its wholesale energy-marketing and asset-optimization subsidiary Sequent Energy Management to Williams.

• 2018

  Southern Company Gas sold Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas[1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The two gas utilities were sold to South Jersey Industries as part of portfolio changes after the AGL Resources acquisition.

• 2018

  Florida City Gas was sold to NextEra Energy[1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Southern Company Gas divested Florida City Gas to NextEra Energy.

• 2018

  Pivotal Home Solutions sold to American Water[1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The home-repair, maintenance, and appliance-leasing business Pivotal Home Solutions was sold to American Water Works.

• 2018

  Southern Company Gas divests New Jersey and Maryland gas utilities[1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas were sold to South Jersey Industries as part of portfolio divestitures.

• 2016

  The Southern Company acquired AGL Resources and renamed the business Southern Company Gas[1]Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  The Southern Company completed its acquisition of AGL Resources, bringing the natural-gas utility and energy-services platform into the Southern Company group and adopting the Southern Company Gas name.

1. 1Southern Company Gasen.wikipedia.org