HOPE GAS CONTINUES TO INVEST IN WEST VIRGINIA WITH AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE CONSUMERS GAS UTILITY COMPANY
2024年5月8日 - 4:45AM
Hope Gas (Hope) today announces an agreement to purchase Consumers
Gas Utility Company in West Virginia. This transaction is subject
to review and approval by the Public Service Commission of West
Virginia.
This agreement marks the sixth acquisition transaction by Hope
Gas in West Virginia in just over one year. The company has
previously acquired Equitrans Gathering, Hometown Gas, Peoples Gas
WV and Southern Public Gas Company. An acquisition of Standard Gas
Company and Bazzle Gas Company is expected to close in
mid-2024.
The acquisition of Consumers Gas will add approximately 8500 new
customers across Cabell, Jackson, Putnam, Ritchie, Roane and Wayne
counties in West Virginia. With this acquisition, Hope expands its
service territory to 38 West Virginia counties and will provide
service in Wayne County, WV for the first time.
“Hope Gas has proudly served West Virginia homes and businesses
for 125 years,” said Morgan O’Brien, CEO of Hope Gas. “We are
excited to expand our service area in southwest West Virginia. We
believe in West Virginia’s bright future. The natural resources
beneath our feet provide reliable and affordable energy which is a
key piece in attracting other businesses to this beautiful state.
Hope Gas will leverage West Virginia’s rich energy supply and our
distribution system as a benefit to economic development. Our
belief in the future of the Mountain State is so strong that our
investors at Ullico have committed over a billion dollars in
investment in West Virginia in just about a year’s time.”
Hope Gas was acquired from Dominion Energy in September 2022.
Since then, Hope has directly added hundreds of family-sustaining
jobs in West Virginia and invested in improving the state’s
pipeline infrastructure. In addition, Hope has partnered with
contractors to employ more than 400 West Virginians in
family-sustaining jobs through ongoing pipeline replacement
efforts. Hope also has enhanced its partnership with local
gas producers to further support their growing businesses across
the state. In June 2023, Hope unveiled its new headquarters office
in Morgantown, West Virginia. New state-of-the-art customer contact
and gas control centers were opened in the company’s Morgantown
office in January 2024.
“As the only utility company with its corporate headquarters in
West Virginia, we dedicate ourselves to providing the highest
quality service to our neighbors,” continued O’Brien. “We will
continue to invest in West Virginia and will continue to help
create family-sustaining jobs throughout the Mountain State.”
Founded in 1898, Hope Gas is already one of the largest local
natural gas distribution companies in West Virginia. The Hope Gas
vision is to be a leader in the energy industry in the Mountain
State and to empower and improve communities through the safe
delivery of local, abundant, and reliable energy. Upon closing of
this deal, Hope Gas will serve over 140,000 homes and businesses
throughout 38 West Virginia counties.
The sale is subject to customary closing conditions, including
approval from the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
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About Hope Gas: Hope Gas is a Local Distribution
Company (LDC) that proudly provides gas service to more than
131,000 residential, industrial, and commercial customers in
thirty-seven West Virginia counties. We monitor and maintain over
7000 miles of pipelines that safely deliver West Virginia natural
gas to many homes and commercial and industrial sites. We currently
employ over 450 employees working right here in our beautiful
Mountain State with the sole purpose of staying true to our
company’s mission and vision in West Virginia. Learn more at
HopeGas.com.
About Hope Utilities: Hope Utilities owns natural gas and
water distribution utilities across nine states. We provide service
to more than 233,000 residential, commercial, and industrial
customers in the communities we serve. We currently operate natural
gas utilities in Indiana, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, and
West Virginia; and water and wastewater utilities in Arizona,
Michigan, and Texas. Hope’s growth strategy is built on being a
trusted member of the communities we serve, providing our customers
with safe, reliable, and cost-effective utility service. Learn more
about Hope at HopeUtilities.com.
Christine Mitchell
Hope Gas
(304) 812-2394
Christine.Mitchell@hopegas.com