Atmos Energy Advises Customers to Sign Up for Other Utilities' Budget Billing Plans...

Atmos Energy Advises Customers to Sign Up for Other Utilities' Budget Billing Plans to Combat Overall Higher Energy Prices

Company Says Customers Can Take Control of Their Energy Bills and
Avoid Surprises
DALLAS--(Business Wire)--
Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) reminds customers that now is
the time to take control of rising energy bills by signing up for
budget billing plans offered by a variety of utility companies. Budget
billing plans help make energy bills more affordable year-round.

"The costs for all forms of energy have risen this past year,"
said Robert W. Best, chairman, president and chief executive officer
of Atmos Energy Corporation. "Although wholesale prices for oil and
natural gas have come down dramatically in recent weeks, their costs
set new records earlier this summer."

Volatility in energy costs makes it difficult for many consumers
to stay within their household budgets, Best said. "So, one of the
best ways to control energy bills is by signing up for budget billing
with all energy utilities that offer this option," he said.

Most electric and natural gas utilities offer some type of budget
billing plan, including Atmos Energy.

"The budget billing payment amount may vary from month to month
due to changes in gas cost and usage, but the plan gives customers
more consistent bills and helps them reduce their highest bills," said
Jeff Hardgrave, Atmos Energy vice president of customer service. "This
tool should give customers more control over their bills and help them
avoid winter 'sticker shock.'"

How Budget Billing Works

Each month, the Budget Billing plan recalculates the average using
the previous 12 bills to arrive at the current amount to pay. The
monthly payment will change slightly depending upon the most current
12-month average, but stays within a manageable, predictable range.
With the Atmos Energy Budget Billing plan, there is no "settle up"
month as with some utilities.

"The plan works year-round to smooth out monthly bills with only
slight fluctuations. But the real benefit for natural gas customers
comes in the winter when changes in weather, consumption and volatile
gas prices produce higher natural gas bills," said Hardgrave.

The Atmos Energy Budget Billing plan is free to qualified
customers who are encouraged to sign up now to prepare for lower
winter bills. Qualified customers can enroll online at
www.atmosenergy.com or, for more information, call the company's
toll-free number, 1-888-ATMOS-00 (1-888-286-6700).

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.

Atmos Energy Corporation
Media:
Ray Granado, 972-855-3057
or
Analysts:
Susan Giles, 972-855-3729

Copyright Business Wire 2008