Atmos Energy 2000 Annual Report Download - page 11

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7
........
Our 2000 fiscal
year accomplishments
would not have been
possible without the
contributions of many
important people. First, I
would like to express my
thanks to our employees
for their dedication and
commitment and for
managing company operating expenses at 1998
levels.Their many accomplishments during fiscal
2000 are even more impressive when you consider
the challenges they faced as the result of one of
the warmest winters on record. I also want our
customers to know how much we appreciate
them and their loyalty and support of our business.
They are the reason we are in business and we
know that we must continue to earn their trust
and respect every day. I also want to thank our
Board of Directors for their unwavering commit-
ment to Atmos’ long-term growth and for their
guidance and support. Finally, and most importantly,
I would like to offer my special thanks to our
shareholders for their investment and for their
continued confidence in our long-term strategy.
In closing, I want to emphasize that although
the past year was extremely challenging, we have
accomplished a great deal. We have continued
Atmos’ tradition of growth by acquiring both utility
and non-utility operations. We have stabilized our
utility earnings by redesigning rates, achieving rate
increases and purchasing weather hedges. We
moved our propane operation into a structure in
which it can grow and prosper, and we are enhanc-
ing Woodward’s profitability and growth potential
by purchasing the remaining equity interest in the
Company. We remain one of the most efficient
natural gas distribution companies in the nation
by virtue of our ability to leverage technology to
aggressively manage our operating costs, accom-
modate future growth and provide exceptional
customer service.
With these accomplishments, we have gained
strong momentum and have put the infrastructure
in place to deliver solid earnings growth in 2001
and beyond. Our vision and strategy for continuing
our tradition of growth are clear, and we have a
passion for achieving them.We intend to deliver
results that fulfill the great promise of our company.
Sincerely,
Robert W. Best
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
November 8, 2000
Operating and
Maintenance Expense
Per Customer
$200
$150
$100
$ 50
$ 0
2000199919981997
1996