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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Utilities |
| Founded | 1856; 170 years ago (1856) |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Parent | Southern Company |
| Website | atlantagaslight |
Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC), commonly still known asAtlanta Gas Light (AGL), is the largest natural gas wholesaler in theSoutheast U.S., and is the leading subsidiary ofparent companySouthern Company Gas. It was founded in 1856 and is headquartered inAtlanta, as is Southern Company Gas. It providesdistribution andmetering to more than 1.6 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in 243 communities throughout the state ofGeorgia.
The company was originally the direct provider of natural gas, becoming aregulated monopoly under theGeorgia Public Service Commission (PSC). UnderGovernorZell Miller, theGeorgia General Assembly forced it to divide into retail and wholesale divisions and compete with other retailers, starting in 1998.[1] The move was generally regarded as a failure, as it was not shown to have reduced prices for consumers, only making it more complicated for them to choose among 19 different marketers selling the same gas going through the same pipes as before. AGL's retail division isGeorgia Natural Gas (GNG), and is one of around a dozen remaining resellers.[2] The wholesale division was known as Atlanta Gas Light Services (AGLS) for some time.
In late September 2007, the Georgia Public Service Commission voted to allow AGL to construct apipeline from theshipping terminal atElba Island to connect with other pipelines across the state, via a pipeline that already runs across the mid-state. This allowsliquid natural gas (LNG) to be pumped into the system, providing a backup source in casehurricanes or other problems interrupt service fromLouisiana.
In August 2015, it was announced that theSouthern Company would purchase AGL Resources,[3] creating anenergy supply monopoly in the state since that company also ownsGeorgia Power, theelectricity company for most of the state.
Atlanta Gas Light is a wholesaler for many natural gas marketers throughout the Atlanta metro area, including: