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Atos

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FY2011 Annual Report · Atos
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Atmos Energy Corporation

P.O. Box 650205

Dallas, Texas 75265-0205

atmosenergy.com

Atmos Energy Corporation 2011 Summary Annual Report

Ensuring Safety 

and Reliability

Voices for 
      Safety

Atmos Energy vehicles display the national Call 811 
logo to remind the public to always call 811 before 
digging to have natural gas pipelines and other 
buried utility lines marked at no charge. 

Graham Landell Perry 

Senior Engineer

Dallas, TX

“I’m involved in the design of natural gas pipelines, measurement stations and regulator  

stations,” explains Senior Engineer Landell Perry. “Our design of new state-of-the-art 

instrumentation and controls allows Atmos Energy to know immediately if there’s a pressure 

spike and shut a line down remotely. Our goal as engineers is to find effective and efficient  

solutions to help protect our customers and deliver highly reliable natural gas transmission 

and distribution service.”

A s engineers, it’s our duty  

to design the most effective 
solutions for our customers 
and communities.

Cover: Mid-Tex Division Senior Engineer Landell Perry (right), Field Construction Coordinator Robert Parker 
and Crew Leader Royce Sharp inspect the installation of an actuator on an existing remote control valve 
for an Atmos Pipeline–Texas transmission line. 

Above: The work involves close cooperation among teams from engineering and pipeline operations. 

N

atural gas pipelines span 2.4 million miles across the 

United States—an extensive network that delivers the 

efficient, clean and abundant fuel we all rely on for 

economic strength and national security. In the Atmos Energy system alone, our 
employees are responsible for about 77,000 miles of natural gas pipe-

lines, serving more than 1,600 communities of all sizes in 12 states. 

        Ensuring safety and reliability of our gas transmission and distribution 

infrastructure stands as our highest goal.

        Our team understands the requirements of pipeline safety, and they 

diligently carry out our policies and programs to maintain and modernize our 

pipeline network. They work to protect our customers, our employees, the 

public and our underground pipeline assets at all times.

        In this report, 11 of our employees share how their attitudes and actions 

contribute to a culture of safety. These are our voices for safety—and they 
speak for the nearly 5,000 Atmos Energy team members who serve our 
customers and communities every day.

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T        1

Danny Waguespack 

Compliance Manager

Metairie, LA

“All states have pipeline safety requirements that go beyond the federal regulations,”  

says Compliance Manager Danny Waguespack. “Compliance is responsible for making 

sure we meet or exceed the highest standard in each state we serve. Those codes include 

Operator Qualification, Pipeline Integrity Management, Public Awareness, Damage  

Prevention, Distribution Integrity Management, Control Room Management and more. 

The compliance world is always evolving and ever changing.”

W e don’t just follow the letter of the law;

we follow the spirit of the law. 
We’re constantly reviewing every aspect  
of our operations. If we see a better way  
of doing things, we pursue it.

Louisiana Division Compli-
ance Manager Danny 
Waguespack (left) and 
Survey Specialist Billy Bentel 
check the placement of re-
quired warning signs along 
one of the company’s 
rights of way to alert the 
public to a buried pipeline 
and help prevent damage 
to it from excavation.

Regan Hampton 

Lead Controller

Dallas, TX

“My team and I keep a constant watch on approximately 6,000 miles of pipeline,” explains 

Regan Hampton, lead controller at Atmos Pipeline–Texas’ control center. “Ours is one of 

the largest natural gas pipelines in Texas, and on a peak day more than 3.5 billion cubic 

feet of gas flows through the system. Our team is here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 

monitoring pipeline pressures and flow rates and working with the engineering and integrity 

groups to schedule maintenance outages, so that our pipeline is as safe as we can make it.”

O ur goal is zero incidents

— and it has to be. In this type of 
business, there’s no room for error, so  
that our pipeline is safe and provides  
reliable service.

Regan Hampton, lead controller for Atmos Pipeline–Texas, heads a 
team of highly experienced pipeline controllers who monitor the system 
around the clock at the division’s Dallas control center.

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    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T       5

Kenny Compton 

Senior Service Technician

Radford, VA

“We’re the proactive guys,” explains Senior Service Technician Kenny Compton. “We’re out 

there clearly marking our buried gas lines, so that they don’t get cut by homeowners or com-

mercial excavators laying electric, water or sewer lines. Field employees are required to be 

qualified to meet federal Operator Qualification rules. We can’t perform any task—marking 

a gas line, setting a gas meter, turning a customer’s service on or off, responding to a gas  

or carbon monoxide leak, nothing—unless our training and OQ are up to date.”

W e’re out there to protect life 

and property. When we meet 
customers or go into their homes, 
safety is our No. 1 concern.

6         AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T       7

Senior Service Technician Kenny Compton in the 
Kentucky/Mid-States Division uses instruments to 
locate and mark a buried natural gas line to help 
prevent damage from excavation.

James Sparks 

Corrosion Control Technician

Madisonville, KY

Age is only one factor that affects the integrity of a buried gas pipeline. Even more telling is 

how the pipe has been inspected and maintained. “There are thousands of miles of pipeline 

in the Atmos Energy network, and we are checking them constantly,” says Corrosion Control 

Technician James Sparks. “We put better corrosion-detection processes in place almost 20 

years before the government required it. Because of our cathodic protection procedures, 50 

years from now when we dig out a piece of pipe, it should look very similar to the way it did 

the day we put it in the ground.”

I have been at this more than 40  

years—long enough to see that   
our safety measures 
really work.

Corrosion Control Technician James 
Sparks of the Kentucky/Mid-States 
Division, who is a recognized expert 
on cathodic protection, inspects our 
natural gas system in Kentucky.

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    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T        9

Annie Stewart 

Senior Financial Analyst

Flowood, MS

“Over the past years, we have spent more money, both operating expense and capital dollars, 

to improve the safety of our employees, customers and the general public,” says Senior  

Financial Analyst Annie Stewart. Atmos Energy has invested more than $1.7 billion since 2007 

to improve its pipeline and distribution system. “We’ve increased our allocations for pipeline 

replacements, technology upgrades, employee training, and safety advertising and bill inserts. 

Analysts like me help account for these projects correctly, to help keep them on budget and to 

assist others in making good decisions that support our commitment to safety.”

S ome safety activities are mandated,

but Atmos Energy invests to the 
highest standards  
of safety and compliance.

Mississippi Division Senior Financial Analyst Annie 
Stewart (standing) reviews safety expenditures with 
Safety Manager Ed Johnson, Financial Analyst II  
Carolyn Knight and Revenue Systems Analyst Earl Lee.

Francisco Javier Aguirre 

Welder 1

Odessa, TX

“After I leave the house for work each morning, the first thing that comes to my mind is 

safety,” says Class I Welder Javier Aguirre. “The most important thing for me on a daily 

basis is to prevent any pipeline events that would endanger my life, the lives of my crew-

mates or the community where we’re working. We check the system pressure maps and 

work closely with the engineering team and our supervisors to make sure we follow the 

safest procedures. We take great pride in our work.”

B esides welding safely, we clear  

the area of any flammable brush  
or debris that could catch fire.  
Checking the conditions 
around a work site protects everyone.

Welder Javier Aguirre of the West Texas Division 
measures a pipe joint on one of the division’s 
natural gas pipelines near Odessa, Texas, before 
making a repair.

12        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      13

Annie Estrada 

Customer Support Associate

Waco, TX

“We’re trained in many areas of customer assistance but especially customer safety,” says 

Annie Estrada, a customer support associate at Atmos Energy’s Waco Customer Contact 

Center. “Emergency calls are definitely our top priority. When customers suspect a gas leak, 

we help them stay calm and ask questions to gather information for our responding techni-

cians. Inside or outside? Backyard or front yard? Is it near the gas meter? We direct our 

customers where to go to be safe and dispatch crews immediately, using the information to 

help our technicians investigate the leak and make the area safe.”

W hen it comes to safety, we are highly 

trained to keep our customers safe, 
identify where a leak might be and send 
trained technicians quickly to investigate.

Annie Estrada, customer support associate 
at Atmos Energy’s Waco Customer Support
Center, and Melissa Hutyra, senior adminis-
trative assistant, review the company’s online 
information about safety. 

14        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      15

Senior Instructor Brian Crowder discusses natural gas fundamentals with a team of firefighters from 
the Richardson, Texas, Fire Department at the company’s Charles K. Vaughan Center. Although most 
of the center’s trainees are company employees, the staff works closely with emergency responders 
and public officials as part of a close alliance that protects our communities.

Brian Crowder 
Senior Instructor, Charles K. Vaughan Center   

Plano, TX

Technical knowledge is critical to safety because the nation’s natural gas network must 

meet hundreds of safety regulations and technical standards. “Atmos Energy actively 

develops its employees, and to do so it has built this advanced facility,” comments Senior 

Instructor Brian Crowder at the Charles K. Vaughan Center. “It’s not just a training facil-

ity; it’s also a service center and a dispatch center. Its classrooms, equipment, technolo-

gies and simulation training tools are truly impressive. All of our instructors have come up 

through the ranks; so, they bring a wealth of field experience to the classroom.” 

W e train employees from our entire   

service area and emergency 
responder teams. We make sure our  
training meets or exceeds the federal  
Department of Transportation regulations.

16        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      17

Brian Martens, Colorado manager of public affairs in the Colorado-Kansas Division, talks with 
enthusiastic sixth-graders at Mountain View Core Knowledge Charter School in Cañon City, 
Colorado. The students recently were recognized by Atmos Energy for their presentation about 
energy efficiency and natural gas safety.

Brian Martens 

Manager of Public Affairs

Greeley, CO

“Besides working with public officials and the media, we visit schools to help students learn 

what this invisible thing, natural gas, is all about,” says Manager of Public Affairs Brian Martens. 

“On the Internet, we have lesson plans for teachers, fun experiments and a challenge to 

create a project about energy efficiency and safety. The sixth-graders at Mountain View Core 

Knowledge Charter School in Cañon City, Colorado, wrote and filmed a skit showing energy 

traveling through a pipe, into a home and heating the house, water and food. It was terrific.”

W e help kids at school understand 

how natural gas works, what it 
smells like and what to do if 
they smell it.

18        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      19

Kim Cocklin, president and CEO of Atmos Energy Corporation, and Marvin Sweetin, senior vice president, utility operations, 
are joined by Virginia employees after one of the company’s quarterly employee broadcasts. The broadcasts, transmitted by 
satellite to company locations, provide an effective way to communicate with virtually every employee about Atmos Energy’s 
commitment to safety.

Kim R. Cocklin 

President and CEO

Dallas, TX

“Staying incident-free every day is critically important to all of our employees, our customers 

and the communities we serve,” says Atmos Energy President and CEO Kim Cocklin. “The 

media generally define safety as “pipeline integrity,” but it’s so much more than that. It 

entails customers’ safety in their homes, consumer education, employee training, best-in-

class engineering and the most reliable technologies. We expect our employees not only 

to work safely, but also to help their team members do so, as well.”

W e train employees to “coach in the 

moment” both to point out when  
something could be done in a better way  
and to praise work done safely.

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    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      21

To Our Shareholders

Atmos Energy Corporation achieved substantial results in fiscal 2011.  
Our track record of creating shareholder value continued through consistent 
earnings-per-share growth. We also marked 28 years of consecutive  
annual dividend increases, after including all mergers and acquisitions.

Our strategy is focused on maximizing the value of our  
regulated assets. It seeks to 

•	 maximize our regulated earnings capability from our utility  

and pipeline operations,

•	 complement our regulated operations with energy services  

provided by our nonregulated business unit, and

•	 enhance shareholder value through prudent acquisitions and  

growing the rate base of our regulated companies.

In fiscal 2011, we achieved the following highlights.

•	 We	enhanced	the	safety	and	reliability	of	our	distribution	 
system by replacing or adding more than 450 miles of  
natural gas pipelines.

•	 With	our	customers,	we	successfully	resolved	19 rate  

filings, which are expected to increase annual operating  
income by more than $72 million.

•	 We	strengthened	our	balance	sheet	going	forward	by	 
impairing two natural gas gathering systems and a  
proposed natural gas storage project.

•	 We	moved	to	become	more	geographically	efficient	by	 

agreeing to sell our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa distribution  
assets for approximately $124 million.

•	 We benefited financially from unwinding two interest-rate  
agreements called Treasury locks, which we no longer    
needed, and from upgrades by two of the three major credit  
rating agencies.

Financial Results
Earnings per diluted share increased by 7 cents over the $2.20 
earned in fiscal 2010 to $2.27, marking our ninth consecutive 
year of higher annual earnings.

Consolidated net income rose from $205.8 million in fiscal 
2010 to $207.6 million in fiscal 2011. Operating revenues for 
the fiscal year were $4.3 billion.
  We paid cash dividends of $1.36 per share, and in Novem-
ber 2011 the board of directors raised the dividend by 2 cents  
a share for an annual indicated rate in fiscal 2012 of $1.38 per  
share. Our dividend payout ratio is 60 percent currently, as 
compared to 67 percent five years ago.
  Our capital expenditures increased by $80.4 million, year 

22        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

Net Income per Diluted Share

1
9
1
$

.

9
9
1
$

.

7
0
2
$

.

0
2
2
$

.

7
2
2
$

.

$2.40

$1.80

$1.20

$0.60

$0.00

‘07 

‘08 

‘09 

‘10 

‘11

Earnings per diluted share have increased steadily during the pastἀfive 

years due to our commitment to invest in system modernization, which has 

added to our utility rate base.

over year, to $623.0 million. Approximately 70 percent of that 
spending was invested to modernize our gas distribution infrastruc-
ture and to enhance the safety and reliability of our pipeline system.
  We continued to improve our rate designs and to seek rate 
settlements to avoid costly litigation.

Regulatory authorities approved approximately $72 million 

in annual operating income increases from rate filings. In one 
of the settlements, the Railroad Commission of Texas decided 
a base rate case filed in 2010 by our Atmos Pipeline–Texas 
Division, resulting in an increase in annual operating income of 
about $20 million.

In our nonregulated operations, we recorded noncash 
charges of $30.3 million for operations that no longer offered 
reasonable prospects to meet our investment objectives. The 
cumulative adjustments lowered fiscal 2011 diluted earnings per 
share by about 21 cents.
  Offsetting these impairment charges was a one-time $27.8 
million pre-tax cash gain from unwinding two Treasury lock 
agreements with a cumulative notional value of $250 million. 
The Treasury locks, which are financial agreements for locking 
in interest rates for future debt issuances, were no longer needed 
after we cancelled an anticipated debt offering. In addition, we 
recorded a $5 million one-time benefit from an administrative 
settlement of various income tax positions. These gains improved 
earnings per diluted share by about 24 cents.

Shareholder value was further enhanced through our repur-

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
chase in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 
of more than 3.3 million shares of 
Atmos Energy common stock at an 
effective price of $29.99. The repur-
chased stock improved fiscal 2011 
earnings per diluted share by about 
8 cents a share. In addition, we plan 
to retire up to 5 million more shares 
over the next five years through our 
new share repurchase program.

During fiscal 2011, we strength-
ened our credit profile by reducing 
the company’s number of credit 
facilities, interest costs and weighted 
average cost of debt. We received 
credit rating upgrades by Moody’s 
Investors Service to Baa1 and by 
Fitch to A–, and Standard & Poor’s 
reaffirmed its rating of BBB+.

In September, we opened Atmos Energy’s new Amarillo Customer Contact Center to help ensure excellence 

in serving our customers.

Operational Developments
Our focus on modernizing our distribution system to ensure contin-
ued safety and reliability included many projects in all divisions  
to replace cast iron, steel mains and vintage distribution pipelines.
The largest of these projects is a steel service line replace-
ment program in the Mid-Tex Division. The division made steady 
progress on its plan to make 100,000 line replacements by Sep-
tember 2012. Steel service lines installed from the 1940s through 
the 1960s are being converted to ½-inch-to-2-inch polyethylene 
pipe in more than 40 cities throughout the division.

Along with safety, we invested in major projects to provide 

excellent customer service. Development advanced from the 
design phase to the build phase on a new customer service 
software system that will improve the handling of our customer 
relationships, billing and communication. About 250 employees 
are involved in the project, with conversion to the new system 
expected in May 2013.
  We also dedicated an $18.5 million customer contact center 
in Amarillo, Texas. The 52,500-square-foot facility replaced the 
company’s original Amarillo call center, which opened in 1998. 
The new center features advanced telecommunications and 
information technologies to help handle a peak of approximately 
1,900 calls an hour, ergonomic workstations for the center’s 150 
agents, a new dispatch arena and design features to increase 
energy performance and reduce waste. Atmos Energy is seeking 
LEED® silver certification* for the facility.

In May 2011, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell 

all of our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa gas distribution assets for 
a cash price of approximately $124 million. These operations, 
which serve some 84,000 meters in 189 communities, are being 
purchased by Liberty Energy (Midstates) Corp., an affiliate of 
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. The sale is expected to close 
in 2012 after regulatory approvals are granted. Selling these 
assets will allow us to better focus our distribution operations in 

our remaining nine states. Today about three-fourths of our utility 
operations are located in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

In January and February 2011, hundreds of company em-

ployees dealt with frigid cold and record snowfall. Many spent 
days away from home keeping regulator stations operating and 
assisting customers. We appreciate our employees’ dedication 
and concern for ensuring the safety and comfort of our customers.
As a testament to its operations, engineering and foresighted 

improvements, Atmos Pipeline–Texas successfully handled one of 
the largest peak-day demands in its history. Transmission volumes 
on February 2 exceeded 3.6 billion cubic feet (Bcf), which 
equaled the previous historical high in 1996, as temperatures 
remained below freezing for nearly 10 days across North Texas.
The pipeline, which is a primary transporter of natural gas to 
our Mid-Tex Division, met all its firm service obligations to human-
needs gas customers during the cold wave. That same day, it 
also set a record of 2.5 Bcf in gas deliveries to our Mid-Tex 
Division and other North Texas local distribution companies.

During 2011, our nonregulated operations experienced  

declines in margins caused by weak natural gas market funda-
mentals, which provided fewer opportunities for favorable  
trading and asset optimization.

Although nonregulated gas sales volumes increased in fiscal 
2011 by 9 percent to 384.8 Bcf over fiscal 2010 volumes, unit 
margins trended lower due to increased competition, lower basis 
spreads and continued depressed conditions of the economy.
Atmos Energy Marketing remains a strong, regional leader in 
gas marketing and large-user services, and its results typically 
supplement earnings from our regulated distribution operations. 
AEM markets gas through physical delivery and maintains a 
conservative trading portfolio.

Employees in these operations worked diligently during the 

year to grow their customer base and sales volumes. We believe 

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
that Atmos Energy Marketing is stronger today than most of its 
competitors because it has successfully retained customers and 
won new business even under difficult conditions.

Board and Management Changes
  We express our deep appreciation to Richard W. Cardin 
and Phillip E. Nichol who both retired from the board of direc-
tors in February 2011. Mr. Cardin, with 14 years of service as a 
director, also retired as chairman of the board’s Audit Committee, 
and Mr. Nichol, with nearly 26 years of service, also retired as 
chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Commit-
tee. These two directors contributed significantly to the company’s 
growth and success, and we thank them for their dedication and 
service to our shareholders, customers and employees.

In November 2011, Marvin L. Sweetin was promoted to se-
nior vice president, utility operations. Marvin joined Atmos Energy 
in 2000 after working for 13 years in the oil and gas industry. He 
has led our procurement, technical training and customer-service 
organizations as well as our enterprisewide Utility Operations 
Council. He has demonstrated a proven ability to control costs, 
improve operations and serve our customers well. In his new posi-
tion, he serves on the company’s Management Committee.

Favorable Future Outlook
The predictable and stable contributions from our regulated 
operations remain the cornerstone of our earnings framework. 
Although our nonregulated operations suffered because of 
tight market conditions this past year, Atmos Energy Marketing 
retained virtually all of its major gas marketing customers and 
added new ones. Its future prospects continue to complement the 
company’s base earnings.
  We intend to continue to invest—and our regulators have 
long approved of this goal—large amounts of capital needed to 
continually modernize our gas delivery system and safeguard  
our communities. We expect our capital expenditures in fiscal 
2012 will range between $630 million and $650 million.
  Our regulated utility rate base at the end of fiscal 2011 
totaled about $4 billion. We expect the rate base will grow at 
a compound annual rate between 6.0 percent and 6.5 percent 
during the next five years. On average, this could add $50  
million to $60 million annually in operating income.

Investing in our Texas intrastate transmission and storage 
operations promises not only to benefit our regulated distribu-
tion customers, but also to aid the state’s natural gas producers 
in bringing more gas to market in Texas and elsewhere. Atmos 
Pipeline –Texas’ approximately 6,000-mile system crosses the 
state from far West Texas to near the Louisiana border and from 
the Oklahoma border south to near Houston. It is strategically 
located to transport Barnett shale gas as well as more production 
from other shale gas basins now under development in the state.
The competitive price of natural gas and its many other 

benefits—it’s clean, abundant, efficient and domestic—make 
our product the most likely fuel to meet the United States’ energy 
needs for decades to come. As the economy improves, we be-

24        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

Investments for Safety and Reliability ($ in millions)

$700

$600

$500

$400

$300

$200

$100

$0

‘07 

‘08 

‘09 

‘10 

‘11

Total Capital Expenditures        Total Safety & Reliability

On average during the past five years, 68 percent of Atmos Energy’s total 

capital expenditures have been dedicated to system modernization and 

expansion to provide safe and reliable distribution operations.

lieve natural gas will become the fuel of choice for new housing, 
factories, power plants and alternative transportation.
  Growing through acquisitions will continue to be part of our 
future strategy. We have an enviable record of acquiring utility 
properties with little dilution and integrating them successfully. 
For example, during the past decade, most natural gas distribu-
tion merger or acquisition transactions cost their acquirers about 
10 times EBITDA†, but ours averaged 7 to 8.5 times EBITDA.
  We are a patient acquirer; we have made 10 major acquisi-
tions since 1986. We also are one of the most efficient utility 
operators in the country, compared to our peers. We plan to 
pursue the acquisition of operations that we can run successfully 
and that make sense financially.
  Our balance sheet is strong, with 48 percent equity at Sep-
tember 30, 2011. At fiscal year-end, we had $1.1 billion of total 
borrowing capacity, giving us ample liquidity for future needs 
and growth.

Taken altogether, we believe these strong, positive factors  

signify a favorable future outlook for Atmos Energy. For fiscal 
2012, we expect our earnings will increase to between $2.30 
and $2.40 per diluted share, excluding unrealized margins.
  We appreciate the confidence shown by you, our investors, 
as well as by our 5,000 employees and our more than 3 million 
natural gas distribution customers. As Executive Chairman Robert 
W. Best has noted in previous annual reports, our purpose in 
business is to serve all our stakeholders—and to serve you well. 
That always stands as our No. 1 “blue chip” goal.

Kim R. Cocklin
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 22, 2011

* LEED® stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a
registered trademark of the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council.
† EBITDA, a common financial measure, stands for earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization.

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
Financial Highlights

Year Ended September 30

Dollars in thousands, except per share data  

Operating revenues  
Gross profit  

Natural gas distribution net income — continuing operations 
Natural gas distribution net income — discontinued operations  
Regulated transmission and storage net income  
Nonregulated net income (loss) 
  Total  

Total assets  
Total capitalization*  
Net income per share from continuing operations — diluted  
Net income per share from discontinued operations — diluted  
Net income per share — diluted  
Cash dividends per share  
Book value per share at end of year  

Natural gas distribution throughput — continuing operations (MMcf)  
Natural gas distribution throughput — discontinued operations (MMcf)  
Consolidated natural gas distribution throughput (MMcf)  
Consolidated regulated transmission and storage transportation volumes (MMcf)  
Consolidated nonregulated delivered gas sales volumes (MMcf)  
Heating degree days †  
Degree days as a percentage of normal † 
Meters in service at end of year  
Return on average shareholders’ equity  
Shareholders’ equity as a percentage of total capitalization

(including short-term debt) at end of year 

Shareholders of record  
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted (000s)  

* Total capitalization represents the sum of shareholders’ equity and long-term debt, excluding current maturities.
 † Heating degree days are adjusted for service areas with weather-normalized operations.

Summary Annual Report

The financial information presented in this report about Atmos Energy Corporation is 
condensed. Our complete financial statements, including notes as well as management’s 
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, are presented 
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Atmos Energy’s chief executive officer and its chief 
financial officer have executed all certifications with respect to the financial statements 
contained therein and have completed management’s report on internal control over 
financial reporting, which are required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 
all related rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors 
may request, without charge, our Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the fiscal year ended 
September 30, 2011, by calling Investor Relations at 972-855-3729 between 8 a.m. 
and 5 p.m. Central time. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K also is available on Atmos 
Energy’s website at www.atmosenergy.com. Additional investor information is presented 
on pages 35 and 36 of this report.

2011 

2010 

Change

$  4,347,634    $  4,719,835 
$  1,327,241    $  1,337,505 

$ 

154,001    $   118,383 

8,717   
52,415   
(7,532)   

7,566 

41,486 

38,404 

$ 

207,601    $   205,839    

$  7,282,871    $  6,763,791 
$  4,461,538    $  3,987,899 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2.17    $  
0.10    $  
2.27    $  
1.36    $  
24.98    $  

2.12 

0.08 

2.20 

1.34 

24.16 

438,535 

15,640 

454,175 

428,599 

353,853 

2,780 

409,369   
14,651   
424,020   
435,012   
384,799   
2,733   
99% 
  3,213,191   
9.1% 

(7.9)%

(0.8)%

30.1%

15.2%

26.3%

(119.6)%

0.9%

7.7%

11.9%

2.4%

25.0%

3.2%

1.5%

3.4%

(6.7)%

(6.3)%

(6.6)%

1.5%

8.7%

(1.7)%

102% 

           (2.9)%

  3,186,040 

0.9%

               9.1% 

              — 

48.3% 
18,680   
90,652   

             48.7% 

           (0.8)%

19,738 

92,422 

(5.4)%

(1.9)%

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Atmos Energy at a Glance

Year Ended September 30

Meters in service

  Residential    
  Commercial   
   Industrial  
  Public authority and other  
     Total meters  

Heating degree days*

  Actual (weighted average)  
  Percent of normal                

Natural gas distribution sales volumes — continuing operations (MMcf)

  Residential    
  Commercial   
Industrial  

  Public authority and other  

  Total  

Natural gas distribution transportation volumes — continuing operations (MMcf)  
Total natural gas distribution throughput — continuing operations (MMcf)  
Natural gas distribution sales volumes — discontinued operations (MMcf)  
Natural gas distribution transportation volumes — discontinued operations (MMcf)  
Intersegment activity (MMcf)  
Consolidated natural gas distribution throughput (MMcf)  
Consolidated regulated transmission and storage transportation volumes (MMcf)  
Consolidated nonregulated delivered gas sales volumes (MMcf)  

Operating revenues (000s)

  Natural gas distribution sales revenues

  Residential  
  Commercial  
Industrial    

  Public authority and other  

  Total gas distribution sales revenues  

  Transportation revenues  
  Other gas revenues  

  Total natural gas distribution revenues  
  Regulated transmission and storage revenues  
  Nonregulated revenues  
Total operating revenues (000s)  

Other statistics

  Gross plant (000s)  
  Net plant (000s)    
  Miles of pipe  
  Employees    

* Heating degree days are adjusted for service areas with weather-normalized operations.

26        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

2011 

2010 

  2,929,814 
270,774 
2,069 
10,534 
  3,213,191 

  2,910,672  

262,778

2,090  

10,500

  3,186,040  

2,733 

  99% 

2,780

 102%

161,012 
91,215 
18,757 
10,482 
281,466 

132,357 
413,823 
8,461 
6,190 
         (4,454) 
424,020 
435,012 
384,799 

185,143

99,924

18,714

10,107

313,888

128,965

442,853 

8,740 

6,900 

(4,318)

454,175

428,599

353,853

$  1,570,723 
698,366 
106,569 
69,176 
  2,444,834 
59,547 
26,599 
  2,530,980 
87,141 

$  1,784,051  

787,433

110,280

70,402

  2,752,166

58,511

31,091

  2,841,768

97,023

  1,729,513 

  1,781,044

$  4,347,634 

$  4,719,835

$  6,816,794 
$  5,147,918 

$  6,542,318

$  4,793,075

76,835 

4,949 

77,157

4,913

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

Year Ended September 30

Dollars in thousands, except share data  

Assets

Property, plant and equipment  
Construction in progress  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization  
  Net property, plant and equipment  

Current assets

  Cash and cash equivalents  
  Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of 

  $7,440 in 2011 and $12,701 in 2010  

  Gas stored underground  
  Other current assets  

  Total current assets  

Goodwill and intangible assets  
Deferred charges and other assets  

Capitalization and Liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

  Common stock, no par value (stated at $.005 per share);

  200,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding:
  2011 – 90,296,482 shares, 2010 – 90,164,103 shares  

  Additional paid-in capital  
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss  
   Retained earnings   

  Shareholders’ equity  

Long-term debt  
  Total capitalization  

Current liabilities

  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  
  Other current liabilities  
  Short-term debt  
  Current maturities of long-term debt  

  Total current liabilities  

Deferred income taxes  
Regulatory cost of removal obligation  
Deferred credits and other liabilities  

2011 

2010 

$  6,607,552 
209,242 
  6,816,794 
  1,668,876 
  5,147,918 

$  6,384,396   

157,922 

  6,542,318 

  1,749,243 

  4,793,075

131,419 

131,952 

273,303 
289,760 
316,471 
  1,010,953 
740,207 
383,793 
$  7,282,871 

273,207 
319,038  
150,995  
875,192  
740,148  
355,376 
$  6,763,791  

$ 

451 
  1,732,935 
(48,460) 
570,495 
  2,255,421 
  2,206,117 
  4,461,538 

291,205 
367,563 
206,396 
2,434 
867,598 
960,093 
428,947 
564,695 
$  7,282,871 

$ 

451

  1,714,364

(23,372)

486,905 
  2,178,348  
  1,809,551  

  3,987,899

266,208  
413,640 
126,100 
360,131 
  1,166,079 
829,128  
350,521 
430,164 

$  6,763,791

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      27

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

Year Ended September 30

Dollars in thousands, except per share data  

Operating revenues

  Natural gas distribution segment  
  Regulated transmission and storage segment  
  Nonregulated segment  
   Intersegment eliminations  

Purchased gas cost

  Natural gas distribution segment  
  Regulated transmission and storage segment  
  Nonregulated segment  
   Intersegment eliminations 

Gross profit  

Operating expenses

  Operation and maintenance  
  Depreciation and amortization  
  Taxes, other than income  
  Asset impairments          

  Total operating expenses  

Operating income  
Miscellaneous income (expense), net 
Interest charges  
Income from continuing operations before income taxes  
Income tax expense          
Income from continuing operations  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax ($5,502, $4,425 and $2,929)  

  Net income  

Basic earnings per share  

Income per share from continuing operations  
Income per share from discontinued operations  

  Net income per share — basic  

Diluted earnings per share  

Income per share from continuing operations  
Income per share from discontinued operations  

  Net income per share — diluted  

Weighted average shares outstanding:

  Basic     
  Diluted   

2011 

2010 

2009

$  2,531,863 
219,373 
  2,024,893 
(428,495) 
  4,347,634 

  1,487,499 
— 
  1,959,893 
(426,999) 
  3,020,393 
  1,327,241 

$  2,842,638 

$  2,884,796

203,013 

209,658     

  2,146,658 

  2,283,988

      (472,474) 

      (509,331)

  4,719,835 

  4,869,111

  1,820,627 

  1,887,192

—  

—

  2,032,567 

  2,169,880 

      (470,864) 

      (507,639)

  3,382,330  

  3,549,433

  1,337,505 

  1,319,678

449,290 
227,099 
178,683 
30,270 
885,342 
441,899 

460,513 

211,589 

188,252 

—  

       860,354  

477,151 

485,704

211,984

180,242

5,382

883,312

436,366

21,499   

(156) 

       (3,067)

150,825 
312,573 
113,689 
198,884 
8,717 
207,601 

154,360 

322,635 

124,362 

198,273 

7,566 

152,638

280,661

97,362

183,299

7,679

$   205,839 

$   190,978

2.18 
0.10 
2.28 

2.17 
0.10 
2.27 

$  

$ 

$  

$ 

2.14 

0.08 

2.22 

2.12 

0.08 

2.20 

$  

$ 

$  

$ 

1.99

0.09

2.08

1.98

0.09

2.07

90,201 
90,652 

91,852 
92,422 

91,117 
91,620

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

28        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Year Ended September 30

Dollars in thousands 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

  Net income    
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
  provided by operating activities:

  Asset impairments  
  Depreciation and amortization:

  Charged to depreciation and amortization  
  Charged to other accounts  

  Deferred income taxes  
  Stock-based compensation 
  Debt financing costs 
  Other  

   Changes in assets and liabilities  
     Net cash provided by operating activities  

Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities

  Capital expenditures  
   Other, net  

  Net cash used in investing activities  

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

  Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt  
   Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt  
  Settlement of Treasury lock agreements  
  Unwinding of Treasury lock agreements  
  Repayment of long-term debt  
   Cash dividends paid  
  Repurchase of common stock  
  Repurchase of equity awards 
Issuance of common stock  

     Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year  

2011 

2010 

2009

$ 

207,601 

$ 

205,839 

$   190,978

30,270 

— 

5,382

233,155 
228 
117,353 
11,586 
9,438 
(961) 
(25,826) 
582,844 

216,960 

173 

196,731 

12,655 

11,908 

(1,245) 

83,455 

726,476 

217,208    
94    

129,759  

14,494

10,364 

(1,177)

352,131

919,233  

(622,965) 
(4,421) 
(627,386) 

(542,636) 

      (509,494)

(66) 

          (7,707) 

(542,702) 

      (517,201)

83,306 

394,466 
20,079 
27,803 
(360,131) 
(124,011) 
— 
(5,299) 
7,796 
44,009 
(533) 
131,952 
131,419 

$ 

54,268 

— 

— 

— 

(131) 

(124,287) 

(100,450) 

(1,191) 

8,766 

(283,981)

445,623

1,938

—

(407,353)

(121,460)

—

—

27,687

(163,025) 

(337,546)

20,749 

111,203 

64,486

46,717

$   131,952 

$   111,203

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 
on Condensed Financial Statements

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Atmos Energy Corporation

We have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Account-
ing Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Atmos Energy 
Corporation at September 30, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements 
of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period 
ended September 30, 2011 (not presented separately herein); and in our report dated 
November 22, 2011, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated finan-
cial statements. 

In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated 
financial statements is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated 
financial statements from which it has been derived.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Account-
ing Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Atmos Energy Corporation’s 
internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2011, based on criteria 
established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Spon-
soring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 22, 
2011 (not presented separately herein) expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Dallas, Texas
November 22, 2011

30        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

 
Consolidated Financial and Statistical Summary 2007–2011

Year Ended September 30

2011 

2010 

2009 

2008 

2007

Balance Sheet Data at September 30 (000s)

Capital expenditures  
Net property, plant and equipment  
Working capital  
Total assets  
Shareholders’ equity  
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities  
Total capitalization  

Income Statement Data

Operating revenues (000s)  
Gross profit (000s)  
Income from continuing operations (000s)  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (000s)  
Net income (000s)  
Income per share from continuing operations—diluted  
Income per share from discontinued operations—diluted  
Net income per diluted share  

Common Stock Data

Shares outstanding (000s)
  End of year  
   Weighted average  
Cash dividends per share  
Shareholders of record  
Market price— High  
                  Low  
                  End of year  

Book value per share at end of year  
Price/Earnings ratio at end of year  
Market/Book ratio at end of year  
Annualized dividend yield at end of year  

Customers and Volumes (as metered)

Consolidated distribution gas sales volumes (MMcf)  
Consolidated distribution gas transportation
  volumes (MMcf)  
  Consolidated distribution throughput (MMcf)  
Consolidated transmission and storage 

transportation volumes (MMcf)  

Consolidated nonregulated delivered gas 

sales volumes (MMcf)  

Meters in service at end of year  
Heating degree days*  
Degree days as a percentage of normal*  
Gas distribution average cost of gas per Mcf sold  
Gas distribution average transportation fee per Mcf  

Statistics

Return on average shareholders’ equity  
Number of employees  
Net gas distribution plant per meter  
Gas distribution operation and maintenance
  expense per meter  
Meters per employee—gas distribution  
Times interest earned before income taxes  

622,965 
$ 
  5,147,918 
143,355 
  7,282,871 
  2,255,421 
  2,206,117 
  4,461,538 

$  4,347,634 
  1,327,241 
198,884 
8,717 
207,601 
2.17 
0.10 
2.27 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

90,296 
90,652 
1.36 
18,680 
34.98 
28.87 
32.45 
24.98 
14.30 
1.30 

$ 

542,636 

$   509,494 

$   472,273 

$   392,435 

  4,793,075 

  4,439,103 

  4,136,859 

  3,836,836

 (290,887) 

91,519 

78,017 

149,217

  6,763,791 

  6,367,083 

  6,386,699 

  5,895,197

  2,178,348 

  2,176,761 

  2,052,492 

  1,965,754

  1,809,551 

  2,169,400 

  2,119,792 

  2,126,315

  3,987,899 

  4,346,161 

  4,172,284 

  4,092,069

$  4,719,835 

$  4,869,111 

$  7,117,837  

$  5,803,177

  1,337,505 

  1,319,678 

  1,293,922 

  1,221,078

198,273 

7,566 

205,839 

2.12 

0.08 
2.20 

183,299 

7,679 

190,978 

1.98 

0.09 
2.07 

173,485 

6,846 

180,331 

1.91 

0.08 
1.99 

160,828

7,664

168,492

1.82

0.09
1.91 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

90,164 

92,422 

92,552 

91,620 

90,815 

89,941 

89,327 

87,486

1.34 

$  

1.32 

$  

1.30 

$  

1.28

19,738 

20,790 

21,756 

$  

$  

$  

$  

30.06 

26.41 

29.25 

24.16 

13.30 

1.21 

$  

$  

$  

$  

28.80 

20.20 

28.18 

23.52 

13.61 

1.20 

29.46 

25.09 

26.62 

22.60 

13.38 

1.18 

$  

$  

$  

$  

22,829

33.11  

26.47  

28.32

22.01

14.83

1.29

4.2% 

4.6% 

4.7%  

4.9% 

4.5%  

289,927 

322,628 

282,117 

292,676 

297,327

134,093 
424,020 

131,547 

454,175 

126,768 

408,885 

136,678 

429,354 

130,542  

427,869

435,012 

428,599 

528,689 

595,542 

505,493

384,799 
  3,213,191 
2,733 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

99% 

5.30 
.46 

9.1% 

4,949 
1,362 

111 
676 
3.13 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

353,853 

370,569 

389,392 

370,668

  3,186,040 

  3,178,844 

  3,191,779 

  3,187,127

2,780 

102% 

2,713 

100% 

2,820 

100% 

5.77 

.46 

$  

$  

6.95 

.46 

$  

$  

9.05 

.43 

$  

$  

9.1% 

4,913 

1,243 

114 

676 

3.09 

$  

$  

8.9% 

4,891 

1,165 

116 

678 

2.82 

$  

$  

8.8% 

4,750 

1,091 

122 

700 

3.06 

$  

$  

2,879

100%

8.09

.44

8.8%

4,653

1,020

119

713

2.75  

* Heating degree days are adjusted for service areas with weather-normalized operations.

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Atmos Energy Officers

Senior Management Team 

Regulated Divisions

Robert W. Best
Executive Chairman
of the Board

Kim R. Cocklin
President and 
Chief Executive Officer

Fred E. Meisenheimer
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

Louis P. Gregory
Senior Vice President and
General Counsel

Michael E. Haefner
Senior Vice President,
Human Resources

Marvin L. Sweetin
Senior Vice President,
Utility Operations

32        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

J. Kevin Akers
President,
Kentucky/Mid-States Division

Richard A. Erskine
President,
Atmos Pipeline–Texas Division

David E. Gates
President,
Mississippi Division

Gary W. Gregory
President,
West Texas Division

Tom S. Hawkins, Jr.
President,
Louisiana Division

John A. Paris
President,
Mid-Tex Division

Gary L. Schlessman
President,
Colorado-Kansas Division

J. Kevin Akers

President,

Kentucky/Mid-States Division

Richard A. Erskine

President,

Atmos Pipeline–Texas Division

David E. Gates

President,

Mississippi Division

Gary W. Gregory

President,

West Texas Division

Tom S. Hawkins, Jr.

President,

Louisiana Division

John A. Paris

President,

Mid-Tex Division

Gary L. Schlessman

President,

Colorado-Kansas Division

Atmos Energy Officers

Nonregulated Operations 

Shared Services (continued)

Mark S. Bergeron
President,
Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.

Shared Services

Verlon R. Aston, Jr.
Vice President,
Governmental and
Public Affairs

Conrad E. Gruber
Vice President,
Strategic Planning

Dwala J. Kuhn
Corporate Secretary

Kenneth M. Malter
Vice President,
Gas Supply and Services

Christopher T. Forsythe
Vice President and Controller

Edward Pace McDonald IV
Vice President, Tax

Daniel M. Meziere
Vice President and Treasurer

Susan K. Giles
Vice President,
Investor Relations

Richard J. Gius
Vice President and
Chief Information Officer

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      33

Board of Directors

Robert W. Best

Executive Chairman 

of the Board,

Kim R. Cocklin

President and 

Richard W. Douglas

Ruben E. Esquivel

Executive Vice President, 

Vice President for 

Chief Executive Officer,

Jones Lang LaSalle LLC

Community and Corporate  

Atmos Energy Corporation

Atmos Energy Corporation

Dallas, Texas

Relations, The University 

Dallas, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Board member since 2007

of Texas Southwestern 

Board member since 1997

Board member since 2009

Committees: Human 

Medical Center at Dallas 

Resources, Work Session/

Dallas, Texas

Annual Meeting

Board member since 2008

Committees: Audit, 

Human Resources

Richard K. Gordon

Robert C. Grable

General Partner, Juniper 

Partner, Kelly Hart &  

Energy LP, Juniper Capital LP 

Hallman LLP

Dr. Thomas C.  
Meredith

Retired, formerly 

Nancy K. Quinn

Principal, Hanover 

Capital, LLC 

and Juniper Advisory LP

Fort Worth, Texas

Commissioner of Mississippi 

East Hampton, New York

Houston, Texas

Board member since 2009

Institutions of Higher Learning

Board member since 2004

Board member since 2001  

Committees: Audit,  

Jackson, Mississippi

Committees: Audit (Chair), 

Committees: Human 

Human Resources

Board member since 1995

Executive, Nominating and 

Resources (Chairman), 

Executive, Nominating and 

Corporate Governance

Committees: Work Session/ 

Corporate Governance

Annual Meeting (Chairman), 

Audit, Executive, Nominating 

and Corporate Governance

Stephen R. Springer

Charles K. Vaughan

Richard Ware II

Retired Senior Vice President  

Retired Chairman 

President, Amarillo 

and General Manager, 

of the Board, 

Midstream Division,  

Atmos Energy Corporation

National Bank

Amarillo, Texas

The Williams Companies, Inc.  

Dallas, Texas

Board member since 1994

Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Board member since 1983

Committees: Nominating and 

Lee E. Schlessman

Honorary Director

President, Dolo 

Investment Company 

Denver, Colorado

Board member since 2005

Lead Director since 2003

Corporate Governance 

Retired from Board in 1998

Committee: Work Session/  

Committee: Executive 

(Chairman), Audit, 

Annual Meeting

(Chairman)

Executive, Work Session/

Annual Meeting

34        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

Corporate Information

Common Stock Listing 

New York Stock Exchange. Trading symbol: ATO

Stock Transfer Agent and Registrar

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
Operations Center
620115th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11219
800-543-3038

  To inquire about your Atmos Energy common stock, please call 
AST at the telephone number above. You may use the agent’s 
interactive voice response system 24 hours a day to learn about 
transferring stock or to check your recent account activity, all without 
the assistance of a customer service representative. Please have 
available your Atmos Energy shareholder account number and your 
Social Security or federal taxpayer ID number.
  To speak to an AST customer service representative, please call 
the same number between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern time, Monday 
through Thursday, or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time on Friday.
  You also may send an email message on our agent’s website  
at www.amstock.com. Please refer to Atmos Energy in your email 
message and include your Atmos Energy shareholder account number.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP
One Victory Park
Suite 2000
2323 Victory Avenue 
Dallas, Texas 75219
214-969-8000

Form 10-K
Atmos Energy Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K is avail-
able at no charge from Investor Relations, Atmos Energy Corpora-
tion, P.O. Box 650205, Dallas, Texas 75265-0205 or by calling 
972-855-3729 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central time. Atmos 
Energy’s Form 10-K also may be viewed on Atmos Energy’s website 
at www.atmosenergy.com.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders 

The 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held in the  
Lincoln Ballroom at the Hilton Hotel Lincoln Centre, 5410 LBJ  
Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75240 on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 
at 9:30 a.m. Central time.

Direct Stock Purchase Plan 

Atmos Energy Corporation has a Direct Stock Purchase Plan that is 
available to all investors. For an Enrollment Application Form and a 
Plan Prospectus, please call AST at 800-543-3038. The Prospectus 
is also available at www.atmosenergy.com. You may also obtain 
information by writing to Investor Relations, Atmos Energy Corpora-
tion, P.O. Box 650205, Dallas, Texas 75265-0205.
  This is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation to buy, any securities of 
Atmos Energy Corporation. Shares of Atmos Energy common stock 
purchased through the Direct Stock Purchase Plan will be offered 
only by Prospectus.

Atmos Energy on the Internet

Information about Atmos Energy is available on the Internet at www.
atmosenergy.com. Our website includes news releases, current and 
historical financial reports, other investor data, corporate gover-
nance documents, management biographies, customer information 
and facts about Atmos Energy’s operations. 

Atmos Energy Corporation Contacts 

To contact Atmos Energy’s Investor Relations, call 972-855-3729 
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central time or send an email message 
to InvestorRelations@atmosenergy.com.

Securities analysts and investment managers, please contact:

Susan K. Giles

Vice President, Investor Relations
972-855-3729 (voice)  972-855-3040 (fax)
InvestorRelations@atmosenergy.com

    AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T      35

Forward-looking Statements
The matters discussed or incorporated by reference in this Summary Annual Report 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 Company’s 
documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “projec-
tion,” “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 discussed in this report. These risks and uncertainties are discussed 
in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011. Although 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.

Other Information
You can view this Summary Annual Report, our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other financial documents for fiscal 2011 and previous years  
at www.atmosenergy.com.

If you are a shareholder who would like to receive our Summary Annual Report and other company documents electronically in the future, please 
sign up for electronic distribution. It’s convenient and easy, and it saves the costs to produce and distribute these materials.

To receive these documents over the Internet next year, please visit www.amstock.com and access your account to give your consent. Please  
remember that accessing our Summary Annual Report and other company documents over the Internet may result in charges to you from your  
Internet service provider or telephone company.

© 2011 Atmos Energy Corporation. All rights reserved. 
Atmos Energy® is a registered trademark of Atmos Energy Corporation.
LEED® is a registered trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council.

36        AT M O S   E N E R GY   2 011   S U M M A RY   A N N UA L   R E P O R T     

Atmos Energy vehicles display the national Call 811 
logo to remind the public to always call 811 before 
digging to have natural gas pipelines and other 
buried utility lines marked at no charge. 

Atmos Energy Corporation

P.O. Box 650205

Dallas, Texas 75265-0205

atmosenergy.com

Atmos Energy Corporation 2011 Summary Annual Report

Ensuring Safety 

and Reliability

Voices for 
      Safety