COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 4924

Natural Gas Distribution

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

16companies1856–1998founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedAtlanta Gas Light CompanyFoundedAtlanta Gas Light Company
1856
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedSouthwest Gas CorporationFoundedSouthwest Gas Corporation
1931
FoundedSouthern Union CompanyFoundedSouthern Union Company
1932
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedIndiana Energy, Inc.FoundedIndiana Energy, Inc.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPiedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.FoundedPiedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
1950
FoundedCascade Natural Gas CorporationFoundedCascade Natural Gas Corporation
1953
FoundedWashington Natural Gas CompanyFoundedWashington Natural Gas Company
1955
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedSempra EnergyFoundedSempra Energy
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Atlanta Gas Light Company →
Active · founded 1856
Atlanta Gas Light Company is the southeastern United States' largest natural gas distribution company.
Atlanta Gas Light Company →
Active · founded 1856
Atlanta Gas Light Company is the southeastern United States' largest natural gas distribution company.
Southwest Gas Corporation →
Active · founded 1931
Southwest Gas Corporation is a natural gas utility serving one of the fastest growing regions of the United States.
Southwest Gas Corporation →
Active · founded 1931
Southwest Gas Corporation is a natural gas utility serving one of the fastest growing regions of the United States.
Southern Union Company →
Active · founded 1932
Southern Union Company is a publicly owned international holding company for public utilities and other energy-related…
Southern Union Company →
Active · founded 1932
Southern Union Company is a publicly owned international holding company for public utilities and other energy-related…
Indiana Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1945
Indiana Energy, Inc.
Indiana Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1945
Indiana Energy, Inc.
Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Since its formation in 1950, Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., has provided natural gas and propane to customers…
Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Since its formation in 1950, Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., has provided natural gas and propane to customers…
Cascade Natural Gas Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
Cascade Natural Gas Corporation is a gas distribution company that serves more than 100,000 customers in nearly 90…
Cascade Natural Gas Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
Cascade Natural Gas Corporation is a gas distribution company that serves more than 100,000 customers in nearly 90…
Washington Natural Gas Company →
Active · founded 1955
Washington Natural Gas Company, the largest natural gas utility in the State of Washington, is one of the fastest…
Washington Natural Gas Company →
Active · founded 1955
Washington Natural Gas Company, the largest natural gas utility in the State of Washington, is one of the fastest…
Sempra Energy →
Active · founded 1998
Sempra Energy is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company which was formed by the 1998 merger of Pacific…
Sempra Energy →
Active · founded 1998
Sempra Energy is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company which was formed by the 1998 merger of Pacific…
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