Southern Missouri Natural Gas merges with Missouri Gas Utility

Mountain Grove-based Southern Missouri Natural Gas Co. LP has merged with Missouri Gas Utility Inc., which does business in five Missouri counties outside of the local service area. The Missouri Public Service Commission authorized the transaction.

The merged company will operate as Missouri Gas Utility, which previously served 1,500 natural gas customers in Harrison, Daviess, Caldwell, Pettis and Benton counties.

The merger gives Missouri Gas Utility access to Southern Missouri Gas Co.'s service area, 13 communities and surrounding rural areas along U.S. Highway 60 and U.S. Highway 63. Southern Missouri Gas serves approximately 8,000 natural gas customers in Greene, Stone, Taney, Howell, Douglas, Wright, Texas, Laclede and Webster counties, according to a Sept. 28 news release from the Missouri Public Service Commission.

The merger was proposed by the two companies, the staff of the Missouri Public Service Commission and the Office of the Public Counsel - a separate state agency representing the general public before the Missouri Public Service Commission.

The commission determined the merger would not be detrimental to the public interest as it would not result in a reduced level of service or reliability and would not result in rate changes, the release said.

Missouri Natural Gas is owned by Littleton, Colo.-based Summit Utilities Inc. Its Missouri field office is located in Gallatin, northeast of Kansas City.[[In-content Ad]]