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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
     
(Mark One)
   
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
    For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005
 
or
 
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
    For the transition period from           to
Commission File Number 1-10042
Atmos Energy Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Texas and Virginia   75-1743247
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS employer
identification no.)
 
Three Lincoln Centre, Suite 1800
5430 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, Texas
(Address of principal executive offices)
  75240
(Zip code)
(972) 934-9227
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes þ          No o
          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)     Yes þ          No o
          Number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of April 25, 2005.
     
Class   Shares Outstanding
     
No Par Value
  79,939,319



TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) March 31, 2005
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 6. Exhibits
SIGNATURES
EXHIBITS INDEX Item 6(a)
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Letter Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
Section 1350 Certifications


Table of Contents

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                     
    March 31,   September 30,
    2005   2004
         
    (Unaudited)    
    (In thousands, except
    share data)
ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment
  $ 4,606,713     $ 2,633,651  
 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    1,355,118       911,130  
             
   
Net property, plant and equipment
    3,251,595       1,722,521  
Current assets
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
    247,126       201,932  
 
Cash held on deposit in margin account
    16,990        
 
Accounts receivable, net
    527,411       211,810  
 
Gas stored underground
    273,811       200,134  
 
Other current assets
    112,428       63,236  
             
   
Total current assets
    1,177,766       677,112  
Goodwill and intangible assets
    722,044       238,272  
Deferred charges and other assets
    261,039       231,978  
             
    $ 5,412,444     $ 2,869,883  
             
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Shareholders’ equity
               
 
Common stock, no par value (stated at $.005 per share); 200,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding:
               
   
March 31, 2005 — 79,877,473 shares;
               
   
September 30, 2004 — 62,799,710 shares
  $ 399     $ 314  
 
Additional paid-in capital
    1,408,721       1,005,644  
 
Retained earnings
    240,920       142,030  
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (17,770 )     (14,529 )
             
   
Shareholders’ equity
    1,632,270       1,133,459  
Long-term debt
    2,254,817       861,311  
             
   
Total capitalization
    3,887,087       1,994,770  
Current liabilities
               
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    533,232       185,295  
 
Other current liabilities
    298,802       223,265  
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
    5,887       5,908  
             
   
Total current liabilities
    837,921       414,468  
Deferred income taxes
    245,836       213,930  
Regulatory cost of removal obligation
    246,285       103,579  
Deferred credits and other liabilities
    195,315       143,136  
             
    $ 5,412,444     $ 2,869,883  
             
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                     
    Three Months Ended
    March 31
     
    2005   2004
         
    (Unaudited)
    (In thousands, except per
    share data)
Operating revenues
               
 
Utility segment
  $ 1,235,377     $ 708,282  
 
Natural gas marketing segment
    512,891       517,218  
 
Pipeline and storage segment
    45,546       9,967  
 
Other nonutility segment
    1,278       687  
 
Intersegment eliminations
    (110,007 )     (118,669 )
             
      1,685,085       1,117,485  
Purchased gas cost
               
 
Utility segment
    912,309       518,820  
 
Natural gas marketing segment
    501,731       505,356  
 
Pipeline and storage segment
    1,718       5,681  
 
Other nonutility segment
           
 
Intersegment eliminations
    (109,256 )     (118,498 )
             
      1,306,502       911,359  
             
 
Gross profit
    378,583       206,126  
Operating expenses
               
 
Operation and maintenance
    106,109       59,093  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    45,326       23,138  
 
Taxes, other than income
    54,967       18,481  
             
   
Total operating expenses
    206,402       100,712  
             
Operating income
    172,181       105,414  
Miscellaneous income
    958       4,456  
Interest charges
    33,073       16,160  
             
Income before income taxes
    140,066       93,710  
Income tax expense
    51,564       35,405  
             
   
Net income
  $ 88,502     $ 58,305  
             
Basic net income per share
  $ 1.12     $ 1.12  
             
Diluted net income per share
  $ 1.11     $ 1.12  
             
Cash dividends per share
  $ 0.310     $ 0.305  
             
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
 
Basic
    79,270       51,850  
             
 
Diluted
    79,760       52,240  
             
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                     
    Six Months Ended
    March 31
     
    2005   2004
         
    (Unaudited)
    (In thousands, except per
    share data)
Operating revenues
               
 
Utility segment
  $ 2,149,058     $ 1,168,770  
 
Natural gas marketing segment
    1,006,692       891,047  
 
Pipeline and storage segment
    89,236       12,886  
 
Other nonutility segment
    2,637       1,396  
 
Intersegment eliminations
    (193,914 )     (192,998 )
             
      3,053,709       1,881,101  
Purchased gas cost
               
 
Utility segment
    1,568,679       840,884  
 
Natural gas marketing segment
    968,688       861,687  
 
Pipeline and storage segment
    5,590       6,008  
 
Other nonutility segment
           
 
Intersegment eliminations
    (192,283 )     (192,657 )
             
      2,350,674       1,515,922  
             
 
Gross profit
    703,035       365,179  
Operating expenses
               
 
Operation and maintenance
    219,235       116,009  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    89,323       46,611  
 
Taxes, other than income
    93,622       33,604  
             
   
Total operating expenses
    402,180       196,224  
             
Operating income
    300,855       168,955  
Miscellaneous income
    1,343       5,663  
Interest charges
    65,615       33,495  
             
Income before income taxes
    236,583       141,123  
Income tax expense
    88,482       53,277  
             
   
Net income
  $ 148,101     $ 87,846  
             
Basic net income per share
  $ 1.92     $ 1.70  
             
Diluted net income per share
  $ 1.90     $ 1.69  
             
Cash dividends per share
  $ 0.62     $ 0.61  
             
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
 
Basic
    77,290       51,666  
             
 
Diluted
    77,769       52,057  
             
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                       
    Six Months Ended
    March 31
     
    2005   2004
         
    (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
               
 
Net income
  $ 148,101     $ 87,846  
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
   
Gain on the sale of assets
          (4,898 )
   
Depreciation and amortization:
               
     
Charged to depreciation and amortization
    89,323       46,611  
     
Charged to other accounts
    477       601  
   
Deferred income taxes
    42,605       10,081  
   
Other
    3,315       (944 )
   
Net assets/ liabilities from risk management activities
    20,247       924  
   
Net change in operating assets and liabilities
    96,025       150,382  
             
     
Net cash provided by operating activities
    400,093       290,603  
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
               
 
Capital expenditures
    (137,466 )     (83,729 )
 
Acquisitions
    (1,912,532 )     (1,950 )
 
Proceeds from the sale of assets
          24,661  
 
Other
    (1,957 )     2,878  
             
     
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2,051,955 )     (58,140 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
               
 
Net decrease in short-term debt
          (118,595 )
 
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    1,385,847       5,000  
 
Repayment of long-term debt
    (3,849 )     (5,546 )
 
Settlement of Treasury lock agreements
    (43,770 )      
 
Cash dividends paid
    (49,211 )     (31,616 )
 
Issuance of common stock
    26,025       17,594  
 
Net proceeds from equity offering
    382,014        
             
     
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    1,697,056       (133,163 )
             
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    45,194       99,300  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    201,932       15,683  
             
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 247,126     $ 114,983  
             
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2005
1. Nature of Business
      Atmos Energy Corporation (“Atmos” or “the Company”) and its subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the natural gas utility business as well as certain nonutility businesses. Through our natural gas utility business, we distribute natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to approximately 3.2 million residential, commercial, public-authority and industrial customers through our seven regulated natural gas utility divisions, in the service areas described below:
     
Division   Service Area
     
Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division
  Colorado, Kansas, Missouri(3)
Atmos Energy Kentucky Division
  Kentucky
Atmos Energy Louisiana Division
  Louisiana
Atmos Energy Mid-States Division
  Georgia(3), Illinois(3), Iowa(3) , Missouri(3) Tennessee, Virginia(3)
Atmos Energy Mississippi Division (1)
  Mississippi
Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division(2)
  Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area
Atmos Energy West Texas Division
  West Texas
 
(1)  The name of this division was changed from the Mississippi Valley Gas Company Division in April 2005.
 
(2)  Acquired in October 2004.
 
(3)  Denotes locations where we have more limited service areas.
      As further described in Note 3, on October 1, 2004, we completed our acquisition of the natural gas distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas Company (TXU Gas). The TXU Gas operations we acquired are regulated businesses engaged in the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution and sale of natural gas in the north-central, eastern and western parts of Texas. We also acquired a system consisting of 6,162 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines and five underground storage reservoirs, all within Texas. On October 1, 2004, we created the Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division, which provides gas distribution services to the approximately 1.5 million residential and business customers in Texas, including the Dallas/ Fort Worth metropolitan area as a result of the TXU Gas acquisition. We also created the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division to manage the TXU Gas pipeline and storage operations we acquired.
      In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system. Our utility business is subject to federal and state regulation and/or regulation by local authorities in each of the states in which the utility divisions operate. Our shared-services division is located in Dallas, Texas, and our customer support centers are located in Amarillo, Texas, and Metairie, Louisiana. In addition, on April 1, 2005, we assumed the operations of a Waco, Texas call center, and all call center services provided by TXU Gas under a transitional services agreement were terminated. We intend to close the purchase of the related assets on October 1, 2005.
      Our nonutility businesses include our natural gas marketing operations, our pipeline and storage operations and our other nonutility operations which are provided in 18 states. These operations are either organized under or managed by Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEH), which is wholly-owned by Atmos Energy Corporation.
      Our natural gas marketing operations are managed by Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (AEM), which is wholly-owned by AEH. AEM provides a variety of natural gas management services to municipalities, natural gas utility systems and industrial natural gas customers, primarily in the southeastern and midwestern states and to our Colorado-Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mid-States divisions. These services consist primarily

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
of furnishing natural gas supplies at fixed and market-based prices, contract negotiation and administration, load forecasting, gas storage acquisition and management services, transportation services, peaking sales and balancing services, capacity utilization strategies and gas price hedging through the use of derivative instruments.
      Our pipeline and storage operations consist of the operations of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division, a division of Atmos Energy Corporation, and of Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC (APS), which is wholly-owned by AEH. The Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division was purchased from TXU Gas and supplies natural gas to the Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division, transports natural gas to third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. Through APS, we own or have an interest in underground storage fields in Kentucky and Louisiana. We also use these storage facilities to reduce the need to contract for additional pipeline capacity to meet customer demand during peak periods.
      Our other nonutility businesses consist primarily of the operations of Atmos Energy Services, LLC (AES) and Atmos Power Systems, Inc., which are wholly-owned by AEH. Through AES, we provide natural gas management services to our utility operations. These services, which began April 1, 2004, include aggregating and purchasing gas supply, arranging transportation and storage logistics and ultimately delivering the gas to our utility service areas at competitive prices. Through Atmos Power Systems, Inc., we construct electric peaking power-generating plants and associated facilities and may enter into agreements to either lease or sell these plants.
2. Unaudited Interim Financial Information
      In the opinion of management, all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation have been made to the unaudited consolidated interim-period financial statements. These consolidated interim-period financial statements and notes are condensed as permitted by the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of Atmos Energy Corporation (“Atmos” or “the Company”) in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005 are not indicative of expected results of operations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. Further, the impact of the TXU Gas acquisition on the statement of cash flows is reflected in the acquisitions line item; therefore, the net changes in operating assets and liabilities will not reflect balance sheet changes attributable to the acquisition.
Significant accounting policies
      Our accounting policies are described in Note 2 to our Annual Report on Form  10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004. There were no significant changes to our accounting policies during the six months ended March 31, 2005.
Stock-based compensation plans
      We have two stock-based compensation plans that provide for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, bonus stock, restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units to officers and key employees: the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the Long-Term Stock Plan for the Mid-States Division. Nonemployee directors are also eligible to receive such stock-based compensation under the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The objectives of these plans include attracting and retaining the best personnel, providing for additional performance incentives and promoting our success by providing employees with the opportunity to acquire common stock.
      As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, we account for these plans under the intrinsic-value method described in Accounting

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Principles Board (APB) Opinion 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Under this method, no compensation cost for stock options is recognized for stock-option awards granted at or above fair-market value. Awards of restricted stock are valued at the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The unearned compensation is amortized to operation and maintenance expense over the vesting period of the restricted stock. As discussed below, beginning October 1, 2005 we will account for our stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS 123 (revised), Share-Based Payment.
      Had compensation expense for our stock options issued under the Long-Term Incentive Plan been recognized based on the fair value on the grant date under the methodology prescribed by SFAS 123, our net income and earnings per share for the three and six-months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 would have been impacted as shown in the following table:
                                   
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    March 31   March 31
         
    2005   2004   2005   2004
                 
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income — as reported
  $ 88,502     $ 58,305     $ 148,101     $ 87,846  
Restricted stock compensation expense included in income, net of tax
    469       98       962       196  
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair-value-based method for all awards, net of taxes
    (684 )     (385 )     (1,427 )     (778 )
                         
Net income — pro forma
  $ 88,287     $ 58,018     $ 147,636     $ 87,264  
                         
Earnings per share:
                               
 
Basic earnings per share — as reported
  $ 1.12     $ 1.12     $ 1.92     $ 1.70  
                         
 
Basic earnings per share — pro forma
  $ 1.11     $ 1.12     $ 1.91     $ 1.69  
                         
 
Diluted earnings per share — as reported
  $ 1.11     $ 1.12     $ 1.90     $ 1.69  
                         
 
Diluted earnings per share — pro forma
  $ 1.11     $ 1.11     $ 1.90     $ 1.67  
                         
      At March 31, 2005, there were 300 options outstanding under the Long-Term Stock Plan for the Mid-States Division, all of which were fully vested. Because of the limited activities of this plan, the pro forma effects of applying SFAS 123 would have less than a $0.01 per diluted share effect on earnings per share.
Regulatory assets and liabilities
      We record certain costs as regulatory assets in accordance with SFAS 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation, when future recovery through customer rates is considered probable. Regulatory liabilities are recorded when it is probable that revenues will be reduced for amounts that will be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Substantially all of our regulatory assets are recorded as a component of deferred charges and substantially all of our regulatory liabilities are recorded as a component of deferred credits and other liabilities. Deferred gas costs are recorded either in other current assets or liabilities

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
and the regulatory cost of removal obligation is separately reported. Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004 included the following:
                   
    March 31,   September 30,
    2005   2004
         
    (In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
               
 
Deferred gas costs
  $ 31,688     $  
 
UCG merger and integration costs, net(1)
          1,992  
 
Other merger and integration costs, net
    13,966       14,644  
 
Deferred MVG operating expenses
          751  
 
Environmental costs
    2,924       4,057  
 
Rate case costs
    20,990        
 
Other
    6,545       3,289  
             
    $ 76,113     $ 24,733  
             
Regulatory liabilities:
               
 
Deferred gas costs
  $     $ 39,097  
 
Regulatory cost of removal obligation
    257,850       111,232  
 
Deferred income taxes, net
    1,962       1,962  
 
Other
    3,796        
             
    $ 263,608     $ 152,291  
             
 
(1)  Fully amortized as of December 2004.
      Currently authorized rates do not include a return on our merger and integration costs; however, we recover the amortization of these costs through our rates. Merger and integration costs, net, are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging up to 20 years. Certain environmental costs have been deferred to future rate filings in accordance with rulings received from various regulatory commissions.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Comprehensive income
      The following table presents the components of comprehensive income, net of related tax, for the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    March 31   March 31
         
    2005   2004   2005   2004
                 
    (In thousands)
Net income
  $ 88,502     $ 58,305     $ 148,101     $ 87,846  
Unrealized holding gains on investments, net of tax expense of $80 and $542 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 and of $729 and $924 for the six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    132       883       1,189       1,508  
Net unrealized gains on commodity hedging transactions, net of tax expense of $7,915 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and $3 for the six months ended March 31, 2005
    12,913             5        
Net unrealized gains (losses) and reclassification of unrealized losses into earnings on interest rate hedging transactions, net of tax expense (benefit) of $527 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and $(2,718) for the six months ended March 31, 2005
    861             (4,435 )      
                         
Comprehensive income
  $ 102,408     $ 59,188     $ 144,860     $ 89,354  
                         
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, as of March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004 consisted of the following unrealized gains (losses):
                   
    March 31,   September 30,
    2005   2004
         
    (In thousands)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
               
 
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments
  $ 345     $ (844 )
 
Treasury lock agreements
    (25,703 )     (21,268 )
 
Cash flow hedges
    7,588       7,583  
             
    $ (17,770 )   $ (14,529 )
             
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
      In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS 123 (revised), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123(R)). This standard revises SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation and supersedes APB Opinion 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Under SFAS 123(R), public companies will be required to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for stock options and similar awards based on the grant-date fair value of the award and recognize this cost in the income statement over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. In April 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) deferred the required effective date of SFAS 123(R) until the beginning of a registrant’s next fiscal year. Accordingly, SFAS 123(R) will become effective for the Company for fiscal 2006 beginning on October 1, 2005.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
      We will adopt SFAS 123(R) as of October 1, 2005 using the modified prospective method. Under this method, we will recognize compensation cost, on a prospective basis, for the portion of outstanding awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered as of October 1, 2005, based upon the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated under SFAS 123 for pro forma disclosure purposes. We expect that the adoption of SFAS 123(R) will reduce our fiscal 2006 net income by approximately $0.5 million.
3. TXU Gas Acquisition
      On October 1, 2004, we completed our acquisition of the natural gas distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas Company (TXU Gas). The purchase was accounted for as an asset purchase. The TXU Gas operations we acquired are regulated businesses engaged in the purchase, transmission, storage, distribution and sale of natural gas in the north-central, eastern and western parts of Texas. Through these newly acquired operations, we provide gas distribution services to approximately 1.5 million residential and business customers in Texas, including the Dallas/ Fort Worth metropolitan area. We also now own and operate a system consisting of 6,162 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines and five underground storage reservoirs in Texas.
      The purchase price for the TXU Gas acquisition was approximately $1.9 billion (after preliminary closing adjustments and before transaction costs and expenses), which we paid in cash. We acquired approximately $121 million of working capital of TXU Gas and did not assume any indebtedness of TXU Gas in connection with the acquisition. TXU Gas retained certain assets, provided for the repayment of all of its indebtedness and redeemed all of its preferred stock prior to closing and retained and agreed to pay certain other liabilities under the terms of the acquisition agreement. The purchase price is subject to adjustment for the actual amount of working capital we acquired and other specified matters. We anticipate that the working capital settlement will be finalized during the third quarter of fiscal 2005.
      We funded the purchase price for the TXU Gas acquisition with approximately $235.7 million in net proceeds from our offering of approximately 9.9 million shares of common stock, which we completed on July 19, 2004, and approximately $1.7 billion in net proceeds from our issuance on October 1, 2004 of commercial paper backstopped by a senior unsecured revolving credit agreement, which we entered into on September 24, 2004 for bridge financing for the TXU Gas acquisition. In October 2004, we paid off the outstanding commercial paper used to fund the acquisition through the issuance of senior unsecured notes on October 22, 2004, which generated net proceeds of approximately $1.39 billion, and the sale of 16.1 million shares of common stock on October 27, 2004, which generated net proceeds of $382.0 million.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
      The following table summarizes the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed on October 1, 2004, in thousands:
             
Cash purchase price
  $ 1,904,877  
Transaction costs and expenses
    7,655  
       
 
Total purchase price
  $ 1,912,532  
       
Net property, plant and equipment
  $ 1,472,295  
Accounts receivable
    61,519  
Gas stored underground
    141,664  
Other current assets
    20,293  
Goodwill
    484,133  
Deferred charges and other assets
    41,634  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (43,216 )
Other current liabilities
    (88,060 )
Regulatory cost of removal obligation
    (138,991 )
Deferred income taxes
    8,713  
Deferred credits and other liabilities
    (47,452 )
       
   
Total
  $ 1,912,532  
       
      The sale of TXU Gas’s assets was held through a competitive bid process. We believe the resulting goodwill is recoverable given the expected synergies we can achieve as a result of the TXU Gas acquisition. To that end, the TXU Gas acquisition significantly expands our existing utility operations in Texas. The North Texas operations of TXU Gas bridge our geographic operations between our existing utility operations in West Texas and Louisiana. TXU Gas’s headquarters and service area are centered in Dallas, Texas, which is also the location of our corporate headquarters. Further, the addition of the regulated pipelines and storage operations in North Texas may create additional gas marketing and other opportunities for our non-regulated subsidiaries, which include gas marketing and storage operations. The goodwill generated in the acquisition is deductible for tax purposes.
      Our allocation of the purchase price is preliminary and is subject to change due to the pending completion of the working capital settlement and our continuing review of the acquired assets and liabilities. The amount currently allocated to property, plant and equipment represents our estimate of the fair value of the assets acquired. We have based that estimate on the amount we believe will ultimately be approved as rate base for rate setting purposes.
      The table below reflects the unaudited pro forma results of the Company and TXU Gas for the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2004 as if the acquisition and related financing had taken place at the beginning of fiscal 2004 (in thousands, except per share data):
                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    March 31, 2004   March 31, 2004
         
Operating revenue
  $ 1,623,068     $ 2,734,578  
Net income
    91,765       135,149  
Net income per diluted share
  $ 1.17     $ 1.73  

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
4. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
      Goodwill and intangible assets are comprised of the following as of March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004.
                 
    March 31,   September 30,
    2005   2004
         
    (In thousands)
Goodwill
  $ 718,245     $ 234,112  
Intangible assets
    3,799       4,160  
             
Total
  $ 722,044     $ 238,272  
             
      The following presents our goodwill balance allocated by segment and changes in our balance for the six months ended March 31, 2005:
                                         
        Natural Gas   Pipeline and   Other    
    Utility   Marketing   Storage   Nonutility    
    Segment   Segment   Segment   Segment   Total
                     
    (In thousands)
Balance as of September 30, 2004
  $ 199,400     $ 24,282     $     $ 10,430     $ 234,112  
Intersegment transfer of assets(1)
                10,430       (10,430 )      
TXU Gas acquisition (Note 3)
    346,102             138,031             484,133  
                               
Balance as of March 31, 2005
  $ 545,502     $ 24,282     $ 148,461     $     $ 718,245  
                               
 
(1)  Effective October 1, 2004, we created the pipeline and storage segment which includes the regulated pipeline and storage operations of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division as well as the nonregulated pipeline and storage operations of Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC, previously included in our other nonutility segment. Accordingly, goodwill allocable to Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC was transferred to the pipeline and storage segment.
      During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we completed our annual goodwill impairment assessment. Based upon the assessment performed, our goodwill was considered to be not impaired.
5. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
      We conduct risk management activities through both our utility and natural gas marketing segments. We record our derivatives as a component of risk management assets and liabilities, which are classified as current or noncurrent other assets or liabilities based upon the anticipated settlement date of the underlying derivative. Our determination of the fair value of these derivative financial instruments reflects the estimated amounts that we would receive or pay to terminate or close the contracts at the reporting date, taking into account the current unrealized gains and losses on open contracts. In our determination of fair value, we consider various factors, including closing exchange and over-the-counter quotations, time value and volatility factors underlying the contracts.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
      The following table shows the fair values of our risk management assets and liabilities by segment at March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004:
                         
        Natural Gas    
    Utility   Marketing   Total
             
    (In thousands)
March 31, 2005:
                       
Assets from risk management activities, current
  $ 24,367     $ 5,408     $ 29,775  
Assets from risk management activities, noncurrent
          267       267  
Liabilities from risk management activities, current
          (10,475 )     (10,475 )
Liabilities from risk management activities, noncurrent
          (1,096 )     (1,096 )
                   
Net assets (liabilities)
  $ 24,367     $ (5,896 )   $ 18,471  
                   
September 30, 2004:
                       
Assets from risk management activities, current
  $ 25,692     $ 18,748     $ 44,440  
Assets from risk management activities, noncurrent
          562       562  
Liabilities from risk management activities, current
    (34,304 )     (5,154 )     (39,458 )
Liabilities from risk management activities, noncurrent
          (1,138 )     (1,138 )
                   
Net assets (liabilities)
  $ (8,612 )   $ 13,018     $ 4,406  
                   
Utility Hedging Activities
      We use a combination of storage, fixed physical contracts and fixed financial contracts to partially insulate us and our customers against gas price volatility during the winter heating season. Because the gains or losses of financial derivatives used in our utility segment ultimately will be recovered through our rates, current period changes in the assets and liabilities from these risk management activities are recorded as a component of deferred gas costs in accordance with SFAS 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation. Accordingly, there is no earnings impact to our utility segment as a result of the use of financial derivatives. For the 2004-2005 heating season, we hedged approximately 59 percent of our anticipated winter flowing gas requirements at a weighted average cost of approximately $6.23 per Mcf. Our utility hedging activities also include the cost of our Treasury lock agreements which are described in further detail below.
Nonutility Hedging Activities
      AEM manages its exposure to the risk of natural gas price changes through a combination of storage and financial derivatives, including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties. Our financial derivative activities include fair value hedges to offset changes in the fair value of our natural gas inventory and cash flow hedges to offset anticipated purchases and sales of gas in the future.
      Effective April 1, 2004, we elected to treat our fixed-price forward contracts as normal purchases and sales and ceased marking these contracts to market. As a result, unrealized gains and losses on open derivative contracts which are used to hedge price risk associated with these fixed-price forward contracts, are now recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and are recognized in earnings as a component of revenue when the hedged volumes are sold.
      For the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005, the change in the deferred hedging position in accumulated other comprehensive income was attributable to decreases in future commodity prices relative to the commodity prices stipulated in the derivative contracts, and the recognition for the six months ended March 31, 2005 of $4.2 million in net deferred hedging gains ($8.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2005) in net income when the derivative contracts matured according to their terms. The net

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
deferred hedging gain associated with open cash flow hedges remains subject to market price fluctuations until the positions are either settled under the terms of the hedge contracts or terminated prior to settlement. Substantially all of the deferred hedging balance as of March 31, 2005 is expected to be recognized in net income during fiscal 2005.
      Under our risk management policies, we seek to match our financial derivative positions to our physical storage positions as well as our expected current and future sales and purchase obligations to maintain no open positions at the end of each trading day. The determination of our net open position as of any day, however, requires us to make assumptions as to future circumstances, including the use of gas by our customers in relation to our anticipated storage and market positions. Because the price risk associated with any net open position at the end of each day may increase if the assumptions are not realized, we review these assumptions as part of our daily monitoring activities. We can also be affected by intraday fluctuations of gas prices, since the price of natural gas purchased or sold for future delivery earlier in the day may not be hedged until later in the day. At times, limited net open positions related to our existing and anticipated commitments may occur. On March 31, 2005, AEH had no net open positions (including existing storage).
Treasury Activities
      During fiscal 2004, we entered into four Treasury lock agreements to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost of financing associated with the anticipated issuance of $875 million of long-term debt subsequent to September 30, 2004. This long-term debt was issued on October 22, 2004 and was used to repay a portion of the commercial paper used to fund the TXU Gas acquisition, as described in Note 3. We designated these Treasury lock agreements as cash flow hedges of an anticipated transaction. These Treasury lock agreements were settled in October 2004 with a net $43.8 million payment to the counterparties. This amount will remain in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be recognized as a component of interest expense over the next ten years. During the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005, we recognized approximately $1.4 million and $2.3 million of this obligation as a component of interest expense.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
6. Debt
Long-Term Debt
      Long-term debt at March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004 consisted of the following:
                     
    March 31,   September 30,
    2005   2004
         
    (In thousands)
Unsecured floating rate Senior Notes, due 2007
  $ 300,000     $  
Unsecured 4.00% Senior Notes, due 2009
    400,000        
Unsecured 7.375% Senior Notes, due 2011
    350,000       350,000  
Unsecured 10% Notes, due 2011
    2,303       2,303  
Unsecured 5.125% Senior Notes, due 2013
    250,000       250,000  
Unsecured 4.95% Senior Notes, due 2014
    500,000        
Unsecured 5.95% Senior Notes, due 2034
    200,000        
Medium term notes
               
 
Series A, 1995-2, 6.27%, due 2010
    10,000       10,000  
 
Series A, 1995-1, 6.67%, due 2025
    10,000       10,000  
Unsecured 6.75% Debentures, due 2028
    150,000       150,000  
First Mortgage Bonds
               
 
Series J, 9.40% due 2021
    17,000       17,000  
 
Series P, 10.43% due 2013
    10,000       11,250  
 
Series Q, 9.75% due 2020
    16,000       16,000  
 
Series T, 9.32% due 2021
    18,000       18,000  
 
Series U, 8.77% due 2022
    20,000       20,000  
 
Series V, 7.50% due 2007
    2,500       4,167  
Other term notes due in installments through 2013
    8,898       9,830  
             
   
Total long-term debt
    2,264,701       868,550  
Less:
               
 
Original issue discount on unsecured senior notes and debentures
    (3,997 )     (1,331 )
 
Current maturities
    (5,887 )     (5,908 )
             
    $ 2,254,817     $ 861,311  
             
      Our unsecured floating rate debt bears interest at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 0.375 percent per year. At March 31, 2005, the interest rate on our floating rate debt was 3.035 percent.
Short-Term Debt
      At March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004, there were no short-term amounts outstanding under our commercial paper program or bank credit facilities.
Credit Facilities
      We maintain both committed and uncommitted credit facilities. Borrowings under our uncommitted credit facilities are made on a when-and-as-needed basis at the discretion of the bank. Our credit capacity and the amount of unused borrowing capacity are affected by the seasonal nature of the natural gas business and our short-term borrowing requirements, which are typically highest during colder winter months. Our working

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
capital needs can vary significantly due to changes in the price of natural gas charged by suppliers and the increased gas supplies required to meet customers’ needs during periods of cold weather.
Committed Credit Facilities
      As of March 31, 2005, we had two short-term committed credit facilities totaling $618.0 million, one of which is an unsecured facility for $600.0 million that bears interest at the Eurodollar rate plus 0.625 percent and serves as a backup liquidity facility for our $600.0 million commercial paper program. At March 31, 2005, no commercial paper was outstanding. We entered into this facility on October 22, 2004 to replace our $350.0 million credit facility that served as the backup liquidity facility for our $350.0 million commercial paper program.
      We have a second unsecured working capital facility in place for $18.0 million that bears interest at the Federal Funds rate plus 0.5 percent. This facility expired on March 31, 2005 and was renewed effective April 1, 2005 with no material changes to its terms and pricing.
      The availability of funds under our credit facilities is subject to conditions specified in the respective credit agreements, all of which we currently meet. These conditions include our compliance with financial covenants and the continued accuracy of representations and warranties contained in these agreements. We are required by the financial covenants in our $600.0 million credit facility to maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of total debt to total capitalization of no greater than 70 percent. At March 31, 2005, our total-debt-to-total-capitalization ratio, as defined, was 60 percent. In addition, both the interest margin over the Eurodollar rate and the fee that we pay on unused amounts under our $600.0 million credit facility are subject to adjustment depending upon our credit ratings.
Uncommitted Credit Facilities
      AEM had a $250.0 million uncommitted demand working capital credit facility that bore interest at the Eurodollar rate plus 2.5 percent that was scheduled to expire on March 31, 2005. On March 30, 2005, the facility was amended and extended to March 31, 2006. This facility is guaranteed by AEH.
      Borrowings under the amended facility can be made either as revolving loans or offshore rate loans. Revolving loan borrowings will bear interest at a floating rate equal to a base rate (defined as the higher of 0.50% per annum above the Federal Funds rate or the lender’s prime rate) plus 0.50%. Offshore rate loan borrowings will bear interest at a floating rate equal to a base rate based upon LIBOR plus an applicable margin, ranging from 1.375% to 1.75% per annum, depending on the excess tangible net worth of AEM, as defined in the credit facility. Borrowings drawn down under letters of credit issued by the banks will bear interest at a floating rate equal to the base rate, as defined above plus an applicable margin, which will range from 1.125% to 2.00% per annum, depending on the excess tangible net worth of AEM and whether the letters of credit are swap-related standby letters of credit.
      AEM is required by the financial covenants in the credit facility to maintain a maximum ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of 5 to 1, along with minimum levels of net working capital ranging from $20 million to $50 million. Additionally, AEM must maintain a minimum tangible net worth ranging from $21 million to $51 million, and a maximum cumulative loss from March 30, 2005 ranging from $4 million to $10 million, depending on the total amount of borrowing elected from time to time by AEM. At March 31, 2005, AEM’s ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth, as defined, was 1.95.
      At March 31, 2005, no amounts were outstanding under this credit facility. However, at March 31, 2005, AEM letters of credit totaling $103.1 million had been issued under the facility and reduce the amount available. The amount available under this credit facility is also limited by various covenants, including covenants based on working capital. Under the most restrictive covenant, the amount available to AEM under this credit facility was $46.9 million at March 31, 2005. Finally, this line of credit is collateralized by a blocked

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
account maintained at AEM whereby collections from customers are deposited into the account, and AEM withdraws funds from the account through an established approval process.
      Atmos Energy Corporation also has an unsecured short-term uncommitted credit line for $25.0 million that is used for working-capital and letter-of-credit purposes. There were no borrowings under this uncommitted credit facility at March 31, 2005, but Atmos Energy Corporation (AEC) letters of credit reduced the amount available by $4.3 million. This uncommitted line is renewed or renegotiated at least annually with varying terms, and we pay no fee for the availability of the line. Borrowings under this line are made on a when- and as-available basis at the discretion of the bank.
      In addition, AEM has a $100.0 million intercompany credit facility with AEC through AEH for its nonutility business which bears interest at the LIBOR rate plus 2.75 percent. Any outstanding amounts under this facility are subordinated to AEM’s $250.0 million uncommitted demand credit facility described above. This facility is used to supplement AEM’s $250.0 million credit facility and has been approved by our state regulators through December 31, 2005. At March 31, 2005, $15.0 million was outstanding under this facility and is eliminated in consolidation.
Debt Covenants
      We have other covenants in addition to those described above. Most of our First Mortgage Bonds contain provisions that allow us to prepay the outstanding balance in whole at any time, subject to a prepayment premium. The First Mortgage Bonds provide for certain cash flow requirements and restrictions on additional indebtedness, sale of assets and payment of dividends. Under the most restrictive of such covenants, cumulative cash dividends paid after December 31, 1988 may not exceed the sum of accumulated net income for periods after December 31, 1988 plus $15.0 million. At March 31, 2005 approximately $202.4 million of retained earnings was unrestricted with respect to the payment of dividends.
      We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants as of March 31, 2005. If we do not comply with our debt covenants, we may be required to repay our outstanding balances on demand, provide additional collateral or take other corrective actions. Our two public debt indentures relating to our senior notes and debentures, as well as our $600.0 million revolving credit agreement, each contain a default provision that is triggered if outstanding indebtedness arising out of any other credit agreements in amounts ranging from in excess of $15 million to in excess of $100 million becomes due by acceleration or is not paid at maturity. In addition, AEM’s credit agreement contains a cross-default provision whereby AEM would be in default if it defaults on other indebtedness, as defined, by at least $250 thousand in the aggregate. Additionally, this agreement contains a provision that would limit the amount of credit available if Atmos is downgraded below an S&P rating of BBB and a Moody’s rating of Baa2.
      Except as described above, we have no triggering events in our debt instruments that are tied to changes in specified credit ratings or stock price, nor have we entered into any transactions that would require us to issue equity based on our credit rating or other triggering events.
7. Equity
      On February 9, 2005, shareholders approved an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares from 100 million to 200 million.
      On October 27, 2004, we completed the public offering of 16.1 million shares of our common stock including the underwriters’ exercise of their overallotment option of 2.1 million shares. The offering was priced at $24.75 and generated net proceeds of approximately $382.0 million. We used the net proceeds from this offering, together with net proceeds of $235.7 million from a public offering we conducted in July 2004 and $1.39 billion received from the issuance of senior unsecured notes to pay off the $1.7 billion in outstanding

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
commercial paper described in Note 3 and fund the remainder of the purchase price for the TXU Gas acquisition.
8. Earnings Per Share
      Basic and diluted earnings per share at March 31 are calculated as follows:
                                   
    For the Three Months   For the Six Months
    Ended March 31   Ended March 31
         
    2005   2004   2005   2004
                 
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income
  $ 88,502     $ 58,305     $ 148,101     $ 87,846  
                         
Denominator for basic income per share — weighted average common shares
    79,270       51,850       77,290       51,666  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
 
Restricted and other shares
    335       132       330       132  
 
Stock options
    155       258       149       259  
                         
Denominator for diluted income per share — weighted average common shares
    79,760       52,240       77,769       52,057  
                         
Income per share — basic
  $ 1.12     $ 1.12     $ 1.92     $ 1.70  
                         
Income per share — diluted
  $ 1.11     $ 1.12     $ 1.90     $ 1.69  
                         
      There were no out-of-the-money options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2005. There were 3,000 out-of-the-money options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as their exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common stock during that period.
      There were no out-of-the-money options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2005. There were 3,000 out-of-the-money options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the six months ended March 31, 2004 as their exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common stock during that period.
9. Interim Pension and Other Post Retirement Benefit Plan Information
      The components of our net periodic pension cost for our pension and other post-retirement benefit plans for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 are presented below. All of these costs are recoverable

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
through our gas utility rates; however, a portion of these costs is capitalized into our utility rate base. The remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense.
                                     
    Three Months Ended March 31
     
    Pension Benefits   Other Benefits
         
    2005   2004   2005   2004
                 
    (In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
                               
 
Service cost
  $ 3,136     $ 2,433     $ 2,478     $ 1,405  
 
Interest cost
    6,017       6,004       2,366       1,751  
 
Expected return on assets
    (6,885 )     (7,524 )     (518 )     (396 )
 
Amortization of transition asset
    1       24       378       378  
 
Amortization of prior service cost
    (2 )     (2 )     96       96  
 
Amortization of actuarial loss
    1,891       2,018       151        
                         
   
Net periodic pension cost
  $ 4,158     $ 2,953     $ 4,951     $ 3,234  
                         
      The components of our net periodic pension cost for our pension and other post-retirement benefit plans for the six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:
                                     
    Six Months Ended March 31
     
    Pension Benefits   Other Benefits
         
    2005   2004   2005   2004
                 
    (In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
                               
 
Service cost
  $ 6,272     $ 4,866     $ 4,956     $ 3,130  
 
Interest cost
    12,034       12,008       4,732       3,854  
 
Expected return on assets
    (13,770 )     (15,048 )     (1,036 )     (731 )
 
Amortization of transition asset
    2       48       756       756  
 
Amortization of prior service cost
    (4 )     (4 )     192       192  
 
Amortization of actuarial loss
    3,782       4,036       302       635  
                         
   
Net periodic pension cost
  $ 8,316     $ 5,906     $ 9,902     $ 7,836  
                         
      The assumptions used to develop our net periodic pension cost for the three and six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:
                                 
    Pension Benefits   Other Benefits
         
    2005   2004   2005   2004
                 
Discount rate
    6.25 %     6.00 %     6.25 %     6.00 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4.00 %     4.00 %     4.00 %     4.00 %
Expected return on plan assets
    8.75 %     9.00 %     5.30 %     5.30 %
      We did not contribute to our pension plans during the six months ended March 31, 2005. We are not required to make a minimum funding contribution during fiscal 2005 nor do we anticipate making any voluntary contributions during the remainder of fiscal 2005. During the six months ended March 31, 2005, we contributed $4.5 million to our other post-retirement plans and we expect to contribute a total of $11.7 million to these plans during fiscal 2005.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
10. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation and Environmental Matters
      We are involved in litigation and environmental matters and claims that arise out of our ordinary course of business. While the ultimate results of such litigation and response actions to such environmental matters and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the final outcome of such litigation and response actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or net cash flows.
      As discussed in our Form 10-Q for the three months ended December 31, 2004, we were the plaintiff in a case styled Energas Company, a Division of Atmos Energy Corporation v. ONEOK Energy Marketing and Trading Company, L.P., ONEOK Westex Transmission, Inc., and ONEOK Energy Marketing and Trading Company II, filed in December 2001, in the 72nd Judicial District in the District Court of Lubbock County, Texas. This case was filed to recover damages resulting from various claims involving the sale, measurement, transportation and balancing of natural gas. This case and all related claims have been settled. The settlement did not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or net cash flows.
      During the six months ended March 31, 2005, there were no other material changes in the status of the litigation and environmental matters that were disclosed in Note 13 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004. However, with the acquisition of the natural gas distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas Company on October 1, 2004, we assumed responsibility for certain litigation and claims that arose in the ordinary course of the business of TXU Gas Company. We believe the final outcome of such litigation and claims will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or net cash flows.
Purchase Commitments
      AEM has commitments to purchase physical quantities of natural gas under contracts indexed to the forward NYMEX strip or fixed price contracts. At March 31, 2005, AEM is committed to purchase 61.3 Bcf within one year, 6.6 Bcf within one to three years and 1.5 Bcf after three years under indexed contracts. AEM is committed to purchase 0.4 Bcf within one year and 0.1 Bcf within one to three years under fixed price contracts with prices ranging from $5.24 to $7.77. Purchases under these contracts totaled $345.3 million and $401.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 and $705.4 million and $698.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.
      Our historical utility operations maintain supply contracts with several vendors that generally cover a period of up to one year. Commitments for estimated base gas volumes are established under these contracts on a monthly basis at contractually negotiated prices. Commitments for incremental daily purchases are made as necessary during the month in accordance with the terms of the individual contract.
      Our Mid-Tex Division maintains long-term supply contracts to ensure a reliable source of gas for our customers in this service area which obligate it to purchase specified volumes at market prices. The estimated commitments under these contracts as of March 31, 2005 are as follows (in thousands):
         
2005
  $ 206,029  
2006
    135,701  
2007
    22,931  
2008
    12,114  
2009
    9,596  
Thereafter
    36,094  
       
    $ 422,465  
       

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Other
      In January 2005, we signed a letter of intent with a third party to jointly construct, own and operate a 45-mile large diameter natural gas pipeline in the northern portion of the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex. Under terms of the letter of intent, the third party will provide the initial capital to build the pipeline and we will contribute up to $42.5 million within two years of signing of a definitive agreement. The pipeline is currently expected to be placed into service in fiscal 2006.
11. Concentration of Credit Risk
      Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to us if a customer fails to perform its contractual obligations. We engage in transactions for the purchase and sale of products and services with major companies in the energy industry and with industrial, commercial, residential and municipal energy consumers. These transactions principally occur in the southern and midwestern regions of the United States. We believe that this geographic concentration does not contribute significantly to our overall exposure to credit risk. Credit risk associated with trade accounts receivable for the utility segment is mitigated by the large number of individual customers and diversity in customer base.
      This diversification in AEM’s customers helps mitigate its credit exposure. AEM maintains credit policies with respect to its counterparties that it believes minimizes overall credit risk. Where appropriate, such policies include the evaluation of a prospective counterparty’s financial condition, collateral requirements and the use of standardized agreements that facilitate the netting of cash flows associated with a single counterparty. AEM also monitors the financial condition of existing counterparties on an ongoing basis. Customers not meeting minimum standards are required to provide adequate assurance of financial performance.
      AEM maintains a provision for credit losses based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of customers, historical trends and other information. We believe, based on our credit policies and our provisions for credit losses, that our financial position, results of operations and cash flows will not be materially affected as a result of nonperformance by any counterparty.
      AEM’s estimated credit exposure is monitored in terms of the percentage of its customers that are rated as investment grade versus non-investment grade. Credit exposure is defined as the total of (1) accounts receivable, (2) delivered, but unbilled physical sales and (3) mark-to-market exposure for sales and purchases. Investment grade determinations are set internally by the credit department, but are primarily based on external ratings provided by Moody’s Investor Service Inc. and/or Standard & Poor’s. For non-rated entities, the default rating for municipalities is investment grade, while the default rating for non-guaranteed industrial and commercial customers is non-investment grade. The table below shows the percentages related to the investment ratings as of March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004.
                   
    March 31,   September 30,
    2005   2004
         
Investment grade
    50 %     55 %
Non-investment grade
    50 %     45 %
             
 
Total
    100 %     100 %
             
      The following table presents our derivative counterparty credit exposure by operating segment based upon the unrealized fair value of our derivative contracts that represent assets as of March 31, 2005. Investment grade counterparties have minimum credit ratings of BBB-, assigned by Standard & Poor’s; or Baa3, assigned by Moody’s Investor Service. Non-investment grade counterparties are composed of counterparties that are below investment grade or that have not been assigned an internal investment grade rating due to the short-

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
term nature of the contracts associated with that counterparty. This category is composed of numerous smaller counterparties, none of which is individually significant.
                         
    At March 31, 2005
     
        Natural Gas    
    Utility   Marketing    
    Segment(1)   Segment   Consolidated
             
    (In thousands)
Investment grade counterparties
  $ 24,367     $ 5,299     $ 29,666  
Non-investment grade counterparties
          376       376  
                   
    $ 24,367     $ 5,675     $ 30,042  
                   
 
(1)  Counterparty risk for our utility segment is minimized because hedging gains and losses are passed through to our customers.
12. Segment Information
      Atmos Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the natural gas utility business as well as certain nonutility businesses. We distribute natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to approximately 3.2 million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers through our seven regulated utility divisions, which cover service areas located in 12 states. In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system.
      Through our nonutility businesses we provide natural gas management and marketing services to industrial customers, municipalities and other local distribution companies located in 18 states. Additionally, we provide natural gas transportation and storage services to certain of our utility operations and to third parties.
      Our operations are divided into four segments:
  •  the utility segment, which includes our regulated natural gas distribution and sales operations,
 
  •  the natural gas marketing segment, which includes a variety of natural gas management services,
 
  •  the pipeline and storage segment, which includes our regulated and nonregulated natural gas transmission and storage services and
 
  •  the other nonutility segment, which includes all of our other nonutility operations.
      Effective October 1, 2004, we created the pipeline and storage segment which includes the regulated pipeline and storage operations of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division and the nonregulated pipeline and storage operations of Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC, which was previously included in our other nonutility segment. Segment information for all prior year periods has been restated to reflect our new organizational structure.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
      Our determination of reportable segments considers the strategic operating units under which we manage sales of various products and services to customers in differing regulatory environments. Although our utility segment operations are geographically dispersed, they are reported as a single segment as each utility division has similar economic characteristics. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies found in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. We evaluate performance based on net income or loss of the respective operating units. Summarized income statements by segment are shown in the following tables.
                                                     
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005
     
        Natural Gas   Pipeline   Other    
    Utility   Marketing   and Storage   Nonutility   Eliminations   Consolidated
                         
    (In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties
  $ 1,235,092     $ 429,598     $ 19,827     $ 568     $     $ 1,685,085  
Intersegment revenues
    285       83,293       25,719       710       (110,007 )      
                                     
      1,235,377       512,891       45,546       1,278       (110,007 )     1,685,085  
Purchased gas cost
    912,309       501,731       1,718             (109,256 )     1,306,502  
                                     
 
Gross profit
    323,068       11,160       43,828       1,278       (751 )     378,583  
Operating expenses
                                               
 
Operation and maintenance
    86,469       4,016       15,532       893       (801 )     106,109  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    41,181       474       3,642       29             45,326  
 
Taxes, other than income
    52,220       261       2,398       88             54,967  
                                     
Total operating expenses
    179,870       4,751       21,572       1,010       (801 )     206,402  
                                     
Operating income
    143,198       6,409       22,256       268       50       172,181  
Miscellaneous income
    1,974       201       292       616       (2,125 )     958  
Interest charges
    28,062       679       6,228       179       (2,075 )     33,073  
                                     
Income before income taxes
    117,110       5,931       16,320       705             140,066  
Income tax expense
    43,459       2,140       5,682       283             51,564  
                                     
   
Net income
  $ 73,651     $ 3,791     $ 10,638     $ 422     $     $ 88,502  
                                     

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
                                                     
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004
     
        Natural Gas   Pipeline   Other    
    Utility   Marketing   and Storage   Nonutility   Eliminations   Consolidated
                         
    (In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties
  $ 707,985     $ 406,112     $ 2,788     $ 600     $     $ 1,117,485  
Intersegment revenues
    297       111,106       7,179       87       (118,669 )      
                                     
      708,282       517,218       9,967       687       (118,669 )     1,117,485  
Purchased gas cost
    518,820       505,356       5,681             (118,498 )     911,359  
                                     
 
Gross profit
    189,462       11,862       4,286       687       (171 )     206,126  
Operating expenses
                                               
 
Operation and maintenance
    54,001       4,357       626       280       (171 )     59,093  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    22,145       536       429       28             23,138  
Taxes, other than income
    17,845       297       243       96             18,481  
                                     
Total operating expenses
    93,991       5,190       1,298       404       (171 )     100,712  
                                     
Operating income
    95,471       6,672       2,988       283             105,414  
Miscellaneous income
    1,266       229       17       4,922       (1,978 )     4,456  
Interest charges
    16,106       1,081       340       611       (1,978 )     16,160  
                                     
Income before income taxes
    80,631       5,820       2,665       4,594             93,710  
Income tax expense
    30,073       2,398       1,078       1,856             35,405  
                                     
   
Net income
  $ 50,558     $ 3,422     $ 1,587     $ 2,738     $     $ 58,305  
                                     

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
                                                     
    For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2005
     
        Natural Gas   Pipeline   Other    
    Utility   Marketing   and Storage   Nonutility   Eliminations   Consolidated
                         
    (In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties
  $ 2,148,498     $ 862,508     $ 41,579     $ 1,124     $     $ 3,053,709  
Intersegment revenues
    560       144,184       47,657       1,513       (193,914 )      
                                     
      2,149,058       1,006,692       89,236       2,637       (193,914 )     3,053,709  
Purchased gas cost
    1,568,679       968,688       5,590             (192,283 )     2,350,674  
                                     
 
Gross profit
    580,379       38,004       83,646       2,637       (1,631 )     703,035  
Operating expenses
                                               
 
Operation and maintenance
    183,022       7,462       28,542       1,940       (1,731 )     219,235  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    80,232       978       8,055       58             89,323  
 
Taxes, other than income
    88,840       170       4,446       166             93,622  
                                     
Total operating expenses
    352,094       8,610       41,043       2,164       (1,731 )     402,180  
                                     
Operating income
    228,285       29,394       42,603       473       100       300,855  
Miscellaneous income
    2,946       447       607       1,209       (3,866 )     1,343  
Interest charges
    55,321       1,080       12,399       581       (3,766 )     65,615  
                                     
Income before income taxes
    175,910       28,761       30,811       1,101             236,583  
Income tax expense
    65,236       11,708       11,089       449             88,482  
                                     
   
Net income
  $ 110,674     $ 17,053     $ 19,722     $ 652     $     $ 148,101  
                                     

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
                                                     
    For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2004
     
        Natural Gas   Pipeline   Other    
    Utility   Marketing   and Storage   Nonutility   Eliminations   Consolidated
                         
    (In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties
  $ 1,168,194     $ 707,536     $ 4,157     $ 1,214     $     $ 1,881,101  
Intersegment revenues
    576       183,511       8,729       182       (192,998 )      
                                     
      1,168,770       891,047       12,886       1,396       (192,998 )     1,881,101  
Purchased gas cost
    840,884       861,687       6,008             (192,657 )     1,515,922  
                                     
 
Gross profit
    327,886       29,360       6,878       1,396       (341 )     365,179  
Operating expenses
                                               
 
Operation and maintenance
    106,115       7,984       1,276       975       (341 )     116,009  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    44,637       1,066       848       60             46,611  
 
Taxes, other than income
    32,285       428       704       187             33,604  
                                     
Total operating expenses
    183,037       9,478       2,828       1,222       (341 )     196,224  
                                     
Operating income
    144,849       19,882       4,050       174             168,955  
Miscellaneous income
    2,333       352       23       6,111       (3,156 )     5,663  
Interest charges
    33,166       1,873       551       1,061       (3,156 )     33,495  
                                     
Income before income taxes
    114,016       18,361       3,522       5,224             141,123  
Income tax expense
    42,347       7,403       1,420       2,107             53,277  
                                     
   
Net income
  $ 71,669     $ 10,958     $ 2,102     $ 3,117     $     $ 87,846  
                                     

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
      Balance sheet information at March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004 by segment is presented in the following tables:
                                                     
    At March 31, 2005
     
        Natural   Pipeline    
        Gas   and   Other    
    Utility   Marketing   Storage   Nonutility   Eliminations   Consolidated
                         
    (In thousands)
ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 2,817,614     $ 7,558     $ 425,004     $ 1,419     $     $ 3,251,595  
Investment in subsidiaries
    201,732       (1,741 )                 (199,991 )      
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
    224,231       22,749       7       139             247,126  
 
Cash held on deposit in margin account
          16,990                         16,990  
 
Assets from risk management activities
    24,367       7,980                   (2,572 )     29,775  
 
Other current assets
    608,617       272,297       41,458       18,811       (57,308 )     883,875  
 
Intercompany receivables
    482,978                   31,662       (514,640 )      
                                     
   
Total current assets
    1,340,193       320,016       41,465       50,612       (574,520 )     1,177,766  
Intangible assets
          3,799                         3,799  
Goodwill
    545,502       24,282       148,461                   718,245  
Noncurrent assets from risk management activities
          613                   (346 )     267  
Deferred charges and other assets
    231,951       1,379       6,037       21,405             260,772  
                                     
    $ 5,136,992     $ 355,906     $ 620,967     $ 73,436     $ (774,857 )   $ 5,412,444  
                                     
 
CAPITALIZATION AND
LIABILITIES
Shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,632,270     $ 116,862     $ 51,792     $ 33,078     $ (201,732 )   $ 1,632,270  
Long-term debt
    2,247,890                   6,927             2,254,817  
                                     
   
Total capitalization
    3,880,160       116,862       51,792       40,005       (201,732 )     3,887,087  
Current liabilities
                                               
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
    3,917                   1,970             5,887  
 
Short-term debt
                      15,000       (15,000 )      
 
Liabilities from risk management activities
          17,609                   (7,134 )     10,475  
 
Other current liabilities
    583,861       179,089       87,121       7,520       (36,032 )     821,559  
 
Intercompany payables
          44,238       470,402             (514,640 )      
                                     
   
Total current liabilities
    587,778       240,936       557,523       24,490       (572,806 )     837,921  
Deferred income taxes
    240,348       (3,356 )     6,840       1,977       27       245,836  
Noncurrent liabilities from risk management activities
          1,442                   (346 )     1,096  
Regulatory cost of removal obligation
    246,285                               246,285  
Deferred credits and other liabilities
    182,421       22       4,812       6,964             194,219  
                                     
    $ 5,136,992     $ 355,906     $ 620,967     $ 73,436     $ (774,857 )   $ 5,412,444  
                                     

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
                                                     
    At September 30, 2004
     
        Natural   Pipeline    
        Gas   and   Other    
    Utility   Marketing   Storage   Nonutility   Eliminations   Consolidated
                         
    (In thousands)
ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 1,669,304     $ 7,875     $ 43,784     $ 1,558     $     $ 1,722,521  
Investment in subsidiaries
    164,300       (1,484 )                 (162,816 )      
Current assets
                                               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
    182,846       18,734             352             201,932  
 
Assets from risk management activities
    25,692       24,412                   (5,664 )     44,440  
 
Other current assets
    253,829       170,363       13,473       18,815       (25,740 )     430,740  
 
Intercompany receivables
    1,995                   16,079       (18,074 )      
                                     
   
Total current assets
    464,362       213,509       13,473       35,246       (49,478 )     677,112  
Intangible assets
          4,160                         4,160  
Goodwill
    199,400       24,282       10,430                   234,112  
Noncurrent assets from risk management activities
          734                   (172 )     562  
Deferred charges and other assets
    207,019       1,661       25       22,711             231,416  
                                     
    $ 2,704,385     $ 250,737     $ 67,712     $ 59,515     $ (212,466 )   $ 2,869,883  
                                     
 
CAPITALIZATION AND
LIABILITIES
Shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,133,459     $ 103,376     $ 28,499     $ 32,425     $ (164,300 )   $ 1,133,459  
Long-term debt
    853,472                   7,839             861,311  
                                     
   
Total capitalization
    1,986,931       103,376       28,499       40,264       (164,300 )     1,994,770  
Current liabilities
                                               
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
    3,917                   1,991             5,908  
 
Short-term debt
                                   
 
Liabilities from risk management activities
    34,304       11,407                   (6,253 )     39,458  
 
Other current liabilities
    236,257       124,577       24,014       7,558       (23,304 )     369,102  
 
Intercompany payables
          9,906       8,168             (18,074 )      
                                     
   
Total current liabilities
    274,478       145,890       32,182       9,549       (47,631 )     414,468  
Deferred income taxes
    208,325       (3,360 )     6,961       1,977       27       213,930  
Noncurrent liabilities from risk management activities
          1,700                   (562 )     1,138  
Regulatory cost of removal obligation
    103,579                               103,579  
Deferred credits and other liabilities
    131,072       3,131       70       7,725             141,998  
                                     
    $ 2,704,385     $ 250,737     $ 67,712     $ 59,515     $ (212,466 )   $ 2,869,883  
                                     

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors
Atmos Energy Corporation
      We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Atmos Energy Corporation as of March 31, 2005, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income for the three-month and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
      We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
      Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
      We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Atmos Energy Corporation as of September 30, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, not presented herein, and in our report dated November 9, 2004, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
  Ernst & Young LLP
Dallas, Texas
May 6, 2005

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Introduction
      The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Management’s Discussion and Analysis in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.
Cautionary Statement for the Purposes of the Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
      The statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report are forward-looking statements made in good faith by the Company and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this Report, or any other of the Company’s documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “goal”, “intend”, “objective”, “plan”, “projection”, “seek”, “strategy” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements relating to the Company’s strategy, operations, markets, services, rates, recovery of costs, availability of gas supply and other factors. These risks and uncertainties include the following: adverse weather conditions, such as warmer than normal weather in the Company’s utility service territories or colder than normal weather that could adversely affect our natural gas marketing activities; regulatory trends and decisions, including deregulation initiatives and the impact of rate proceedings before various state regulatory commissions; market risks beyond our control affecting our risk management activities including market liquidity, commodity price volatility and counterparty creditworthiness; national, regional and local economic conditions; the Company’s ability to continue to access the capital markets; the effects of inflation and changes in the availability and prices of natural gas, including the volatility of natural gas prices; increased competition from energy suppliers and alternative forms of energy; risks relating to the acquisition of the TXU Gas operations, including without limitation, the Company’s increased indebtedness resulting from the acquisition and the successful integration of the TXU Gas operations; and other uncertainties, which may be discussed herein, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. A more detailed discussion of these risks and uncertainties may be found in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004. Accordingly, while the Company believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. Further, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
      Atmos Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the natural gas utility business as well as certain other natural gas nonutility businesses. We distribute natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to approximately 3.2 million residential, commercial, public-authority and industrial customers through our seven regulated utility divisions, which cover service areas located in 12 states. In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system.
      Through our nonutility businesses we provide natural gas management, transportation, storage and marketing services to industrial customers, municipalities and other local distribution companies located in 18 states. Additionally, we provide natural gas transportation and storage services to certain of our utility operations and to third parties.

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      Our operations are divided into four segments:
  •  the utility segment, which includes our regulated natural gas distribution and sales operations,
 
  •  the natural gas marketing segment, which includes a variety of natural gas management services,
 
  •  the pipeline and storage segment, which includes our regulated and nonregulated natural gas transmission and storage services and
 
  •  the other nonutility segment, which includes all of our other nonutility operations.
      Fiscal 2005 has been highlighted by our acquisition of the natural gas distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas Company (TXU Gas). The TXU Gas operations we acquired are regulated businesses engaged in the purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of natural gas in the north-central, eastern and western parts of Texas. Through these newly acquired operations, we provide gas distribution services to approximately 1.5 million residential and business customers in Texas, including the Dallas/ Fort Worth metropolitan area. We also now own and operate a system consisting of 6,162 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines and five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. On April 1, 2005, we assumed the operations of a Waco, Texas call center and all call center services provided by TXU Gas under a transitional services agreement were terminated. We intend to close the purchase of the related assets on October 1, 2005.
      The purchase price for the TXU Gas acquisition was approximately $1.9 billion, before transaction costs and expenses, which we paid in cash. We funded the purchase price for the TXU Gas acquisition with approximately $235.7 million in net proceeds from our offering of approximately 9.9 million shares of common stock, which we completed on July 19, 2004, and approximately $1.7 billion in net proceeds from our issuance on October 1, 2004 of commercial paper backstopped by a senior unsecured revolving credit agreement, which we entered into on September 24, 2004 for bridge financing for the TXU Gas acquisition. In October 2004, we paid off the outstanding commercial paper used to fund the acquisition through the issuance of senior unsecured notes on October 22, 2004, which generated net proceeds of approximately $1.4 billion and the sale of 16.1 million shares of common stock on October 27, 2004, which generated net proceeds of approximately $382.0 million.
      As a result of the acquisition, effective October 1, 2004, we created the pipeline and storage segment which includes the regulated pipeline and storage operations of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division and the nonregulated pipeline and storage operations of Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC, which was previously included in our other nonutility segment.

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      The TXU Gas acquisition essentially doubled the size of the Company. The following table presents selected financial information for the Mid-Tex Division and Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division operations for the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005:
                                   
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    March 31, 2005   March 31, 2005
         
    Mid-Tex   Atmos Pipeline —   Mid-Tex   Atmos Pipeline —
    Division   Texas Division   Division   Texas Division
                 
    (In thousands, unless otherwise noted)
Operating revenues
  $ 522,410     $ 41,862     $ 924,658     $ 80,376  
Gross profit
    131,155       41,358       245,114       76,225  
Operation and maintenance
    39,368       14,931       79,439       27,449  
Depreciation and amortization
    17,349       3,317       33,082       7,404  
Taxes, other than income
    33,416       2,223       53,023       4,095  
Operating income
    41,022       20,887       79,570       37,277  
Miscellaneous income (expense)
    586       (105 )     996       9  
Interest charges
    12,001       5,979       23,441       11,746  
Income tax expense
    9,964       5,109       20,049       8,943  
Net income
  $ 19,643     $ 9,694     $ 37,076     $ 16,597  
 
Utility sales volumes — MMcf
    56,484       NA       96,634       NA  
Utility transportation volumes — MMcf
    13,669       NA       25,468       NA  
                         
 
Total utility throughput — MMcf
    70,153       NA       122,102       NA  
                         
Pipeline transportation volumes — MMcf
    NA       84,208       NA       156,961  
                         
Heating Degree Days — Percent of Normal
    82 %     NA       80 %     NA  
      The impact of the TXU Gas acquisition, combined with continued strong performance in our natural gas marketing segment contributed to the following financial results during the six-months ended March 31, 2005:
  •  Our utility segment net income increased $39.0 million. The increase reflects the impact of the acquisition of the Mid-Tex operations ($37.1 million) and the effect of rate increases in our West Texas and Mississippi jurisdictions that were not in effect during the first six months of fiscal 2004, partially offset by weather (adjusted for WNA) in our historical operations that was five percent warmer than normal and two percent warmer than the prior year.
 
  •  Our natural gas marketing segment net income increased $6.1 million during the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared with the six months ended March 31, 2004. The increase in natural gas marketing net income primarily reflects favorable results from the management of our storage portfolio partially offset with an unfavorable movement in the forward indices used to value our storage financial instruments.
 
  •  Our pipeline and storage segment contributed $19.7 million in net income for the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared with $2.1 million for the six-month period ended March 31, 2004, primarily reflecting the acquisition of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division ($16.6 million).
 
  •  Our total debt to capitalization ratio at March 31, 2005 was 58.1 percent compared with 43.3 percent at September 30, 2004 reflecting the impact of the financing for the TXU Gas acquisition.

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  •  Operating cash flow provided $400.1 million compared with $290.6 million, reflecting increased net income, more effective net working capital management partially offset by lower than expected utility sales volumes due to the effect of warmer weather and seasonably unfavorable purchased gas cost recoveries.
 
  •  Capital expenditures increased to $137.5 million from $83.7 million primarily reflecting spending for the Mid-Tex Division ($45.8 million) and the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division ($7.9 million).
Critical Accounting Estimates
      Our condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We based our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to risk management and trading activities, allowance for doubtful accounts, legal and environmental accruals, insurance accruals, pension and postretirement obligations, deferred income taxes and the valuation of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets. Our critical accounting estimates are reviewed by the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis. Actual results may differ from estimates.
      Our critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004 and includes the following:
  •  Regulation
 
  •  Revenue Recognition
 
  •  Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 
  •  Derivatives and Hedging Activities
 
  •  Impairment Assessments
 
  •  Pension and Other Postretirement Plans
      There have been no significant changes to these critical accounting policies during the six months ended March 31, 2005.

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Results of Operations
      The following table presents our financial highlights for the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
                                   
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    March 31   March 31
         
    2005   2004   2005   2004
                 
    (In thousands, unless otherwise noted)
Operating revenues
  $ 1,685,085     $ 1,117,485     $ 3,053,709     $ 1,881,101  
Gross profit
    378,583       206,126       703,035       365,179  
Operating expenses
    206,402       100,712       402,180       196,224  
Operating income
    172,181       105,414       300,855       168,955  
Miscellaneous income
    958       4,456       1,343       5,663  
Interest charges
    33,073       16,160       65,615       33,495  
Income before income taxes
    140,066       93,710       236,583       141,123  
Income tax expense
    51,564       35,405       88,482       53,277  
Net income
  $ 88,502     $ 58,305     $ 148,101     $ 87,846  
 
Utility sales volumes — MMcf
    128,195       77,184       219,152       127,865  
Utility transportation volumes — MMcf
    31,904       20,647       59,882       38,145  
                         
 
Total utility throughput — MMcf
    160,099       97,831       279,034       166,010  
                         
Natural gas marketing sales volumes — MMcf
    66,644       67,172       126,940       126,089  
                         
Pipeline transportation volumes — MMcf
    84,208             156,961        
                         
Heating degree days(1)
                               
 
Actual (weighted average)
    1,422       1,772       2,415       3,012  
 
Percent of normal
    90 %     97 %     89 %     96 %
Consolidated utility average transportation revenue per Mcf
  $ 0.53     $ 0.42     $ 0.55     $ 0.43  
Consolidated utility average cost of gas per Mcf sold
  $ 7.12     $ 6.72     $ 7.16     $ 6.58  
 
(1)  Adjusted for service areas that have weather normalized operations.

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      The following tables show our operating income by segment for the three-month and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. The presentation of our utility operating income is included for financial reporting purposes and may not be appropriate for ratemaking purposes.
                                   
    For the Three Months Ended March 31
     
    2005   2004
         
    Operating   Heating Degree Days   Operating   Heating Degree Days
    Income   Percent of Normal(4)   Income   Percent of Normal(4)
                 
    (In thousands, except degree day information)
Colorado-Kansas
  $ 16,248       97 %   $ 11,119       100 %
Kentucky
    10,758       100 %     11,242       100 %
Louisiana
    16,250       74 %     21,445       93 %
Mid-States
    24,705       95 %     23,513       98 %
Mid-Tex(1)
    41,022       82 %            
Mississippi(2)
    18,509       100 %     17,131       100 %
West Texas
    15,302       99 %     9,501       94 %
Other
    404             1,520        
                         
Utility segment
    143,198       90 %     95,471       97 %
Natural gas marketing segment
    6,409             6,672        
Pipeline and storage segment(3)
    22,256             2,988        
Other nonutility segment
    318             283        
                         
 
Consolidated operating income
  $ 172,181       90 %   $ 105,414       97 %
                         
                                   
    For the Six Months Ended March 31
     
    2005   2004
         
    Operating   Heating Degree Days   Operating   Heating Degree Days
    Income   Percent of Normal(4)   Income   Percent of Normal(4)
                 
    (In thousands, except degree day information)
Colorado-Kansas
  $ 24,483       98 %   $ 19,357       100 %
Kentucky
    16,603       98 %     17,806       99 %
Louisiana
    22,583       78 %     29,701       92 %
Mid-States
    35,843       93 %     37,384       96 %
Mid-Tex(1)
    79,570       80 %            
Mississippi(2)
    27,116       95 %     25,364       100 %
West Texas
    21,088       100 %     14,167       91 %
Other
    999             1,070        
                         
Utility segment
    228,285       89 %     144,849       96 %
Natural gas marketing segment
    29,394             19,882        
Pipeline and storage segment(3)
    42,603             4,050        
Other nonutility segment
    573             174        
                         
 
Consolidated operating income
  $ 300,855       89 %   $ 168,955       96 %
                         
Notes to preceding tables:
 
(1)  Operating income for the Mid-Tex Division reflects operating income since October 1, 2004.
 
(2)  The name of this division was changed from the Mississippi Valley Gas Company Division in April 2005.
 
(3)  Operating income for the pipeline and storage segment reflects operating income for the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division since October 1, 2004.
 
(4)  Adjusted for service areas that have weather normalized operations.

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                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2004
Utility segment
      Our utility segment has historically contributed 70 to 85 percent of our consolidated net income. The primary factors that impact the results of our utility operations are seasonal weather patterns, competitive factors in the energy industry and economic conditions in our service areas. Natural gas sales to residential, commercial and public-authority customers are affected by winter heating season requirements. This generally results in higher operating revenues and net income during the period from October through March of each year and lower operating revenues and either lower net income or net losses during the period from April through September of each year. Accordingly, our second fiscal quarter has historically been our most critical earnings quarter with an average of approximately 68 percent of our consolidated net income having been earned in the second quarter during the three most recently completed fiscal years. Additionally, we typically experience higher levels of accounts receivable, accounts payable, gas stored underground and short-term debt balances during the winter heating season due to the seasonal nature of our revenues and the need to purchase and store gas to support these operations. Utility sales to industrial customers are much less weather sensitive. Utility sales to agricultural customers, which typically use natural gas to power irrigation pumps during the period from March through September, are primarily affected by rainfall amounts and the price of natural gas.
      Changes in the cost of gas impact revenue but do not directly affect our gross profit from utility operations because the fluctuations in gas prices are passed through to our customers. Accordingly, we believe gross profit margin is a better indicator of our financial performance than revenues. However, higher gas costs may cause customers to conserve, or, in the case of industrial customers, to use alternative energy sources. Higher gas costs may also adversely impact our accounts receivable collections, resulting in higher bad debt expense.
      The effects of weather that is above or below normal are partially offset through weather normalization adjustments, or WNA, in certain of our service areas. WNA allows us to increase the base rate portion of customers’ bills when weather is warmer than normal and decrease the base rate when weather is colder than normal. As of March 31, 2005, we had, or received regulatory approvals for, WNA in the following service areas for the following periods, which covered approximately 1.1 million meters:
     
Georgia
  October – May
Kansas
  October – May
Kentucky
  November – April
Mississippi
  November – May
Tennessee
  November – April
Amarillo, Texas
  October – May
West Texas
  October – May
Lubbock, Texas
  October – May
Virginia(1)
  January – December
 
(1)  Effective beginning in July 2005.
      The Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division does not have WNA. However, its operations benefit from a rate structure that combines a monthly customer charge with a declining block rate schedule to mitigate the impact of warmer-than-normal weather on revenue. The combination of the monthly customer charge and the customer billing under the first block of the declining block rate schedule provides for the recovery of most of our fixed costs for such operations under most weather conditions. However, this rate structure is not as beneficial during periods where weather is significantly warmer than normal.
Operating Income
      Utility gross profit increased to $323.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from $189.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Total throughput for our utility business was 160.1 billion cubic feet (Bcf) during the current year compared to 97.8 Bcf in the prior year.

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      The increase in utility gross profit margin primarily reflects the impact of the acquisition of the Mid-Tex Division resulting in an increase in utility gross profit margin and total throughput of $131.2 million and 70.2 Bcf. Gross profit margin in our historical operations increased by $2.4 million compared with the prior year quarter. Increases in gross profit attributable to rate increases in our Mississippi and West Texas jurisdictions and the recognition of a $1.9 million refund to our customers in our Colorado service area in the prior year quarter were partially offset by lower gross profit margins, primarily in our Louisiana service area, due to weather (as adjusted for jurisdictions with weather-normalized operations) that was three percent warmer than the prior year quarter. Additionally, gross profit margin was adversely impacted by the lack of cold weather in patterns sufficient to encourage customers to increase their heat load consumption.
      Operating expenses, which include operation and maintenance expense, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization expense and taxes other than income taxes, increased to $179.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from $94.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Operation and maintenance expense increased by $32.5 million primarily due to the addition of $39.4 million in operation and maintenance expenses associated with the Mid-Tex Division, partially offset by the impact of cost control efforts in our historical utility operations and a lower provision for doubtful accounts due to exceptional customer accounts receivable collection efforts. Taxes other than income taxes increased $34.4 million, primarily due to additional franchise, payroll and property taxes associated with the Mid-Tex assets acquired in October 2004. Franchise and state gross receipts taxes are paid by our customers as a component of their monthly bills. Although these amounts are offset in revenues through customer billings, timing differences between when the expense is incurred and is recovered may impact our net income on a temporary basis. However, there is no permanent effect on net income. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $19.0 million, which primarily reflects the inclusion of depreciation associated with the Mid-Tex assets ($17.3 million).
      As a result of the aforementioned factors, our utility segment operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased to $143.2 million from $95.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
Interest Charges
      Interest charges allocated to the utility segment for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased to $28.1 million from $16.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The increase was attributable to the interest expense associated with the issuance of long-term debt to finance the acquisition of the Mid-Tex Division in October 2004.
Natural Gas Marketing Segment
      Our natural gas marketing segment aggregates and purchases gas supply, arranges transportation and/or storage logistics and ultimately delivers the gas to our customers at competitive prices. To facilitate this process, we utilize proprietary and customer-owned transportation and storage assets to provide the various services our customers request, including furnishing natural gas supplies at fixed and market-based prices, contract negotiation and administration, load forecasting, gas storage acquisition and management services, transportation services, peaking sales and balancing services, capacity utilization strategies and gas price hedging through the use of derivative products. As a result, our revenues arise from the types of commercial transactions we have structured with our customers and include the value we extract by optimizing the storage and transportation capacity we own or control as well as revenues for services we deliver.
      To optimize the storage and transportation capacity we own or control, we participate in transactions in which we combine the natural gas commodity and transportation costs to minimize our costs incurred to serve our customers by identifying the lowest cost alternative within the natural gas supplies, transportation and markets to which we have access. Additionally, we engage in natural gas storage transactions in which we seek to find and profit from the pricing differences that occur over time. We purchase physical natural gas and then sell financial contracts at the most advantageous price to lock in a gross profit margin. Through the use of transportation and storage services and derivative contracts, we are able to capture gross profit margin through

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the arbitrage of pricing differences in various locations and by recognizing pricing differences that occur over time.
Operating Income
      Gross profit margin for our natural gas marketing segment consists primarily of marketing activities, which represent the utilization of proprietary and customer-owned transportation and storage assets to provide the various services our customers request, and storage activities, which are derived from the optimization of our managed proprietary and third party storage and transportation assets.
      Our natural gas marketing segment’s gross profit margin was comprised of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
                   
    March 31
     
    2005   2004
         
    (In thousands, except
    storage balances)
Storage Activities
               
 
Realized margin
  $ 14,669     $ 2,358  
 
Unrealized margin
    (20,545 )     (6,678 )
             
Total Storage Activities
    (5,876 )     (4,320 )
Marketing Activities
               
 
Realized margin
    17,236       16,662  
 
Unrealized margin
    (200 )     (480 )
             
Total Marketing Activities
    17,036       16,182  
             
Gross profit
  $ 11,160     $ 11,862  
             
Ending storage balance (Bcf)
    11.0       5.8  
             
      Our natural gas marketing segment’s gross profit margin was $11.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to gross profit of $11.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Natural gas marketing sales volumes were 74.8 Bcf during the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared with 81.2 Bcf for the prior year period. Excluding intersegment sales volumes, natural gas marketing sales volumes were 66.6 Bcf during the current year period compared with 67.2 Bcf in the prior year period. The decrease in consolidated natural gas marketing sales volumes primarily was due to warmer-than-normal weather across our market areas partially offset by focusing our marketing efforts on higher margin customers. Gross profit margin from our natural gas marketing segment for the three months ended March 31, 2005 included an unrealized loss of $20.7 million compared with an unrealized loss of $7.2 million in the prior-year period.
      The contribution to gross profit from our storage activities was a loss of $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to a loss of $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The $1.6 million decrease primarily was attributable to a $13.9 million decrease in the unrealized storage contribution as a result of an unfavorable movement during the three months ended March 31, 2005 in the forward indices used to value the storage financial instruments combined with greater physical natural gas storage quantities at March 31, 2005 compared to the prior year period. This decrease was partially offset by a $12.3 million improvement in the realized storage contribution for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to the prior year period due to higher physical storage volumes and more favorable arbitrage spreads from increased market volatility.
      In April 2005, we contracted for an additional 8.5 Bcf of storage capacity and may further increase the amount of our storage capacity during the remainder of fiscal 2005; therefore, the impact of price volatility on our unrealized storage contribution could become more significant in future periods.
      Our marketing activities contributed $17.0 million to our gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to $16.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The increase in the

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marketing contribution primarily was attributable to focusing our marketing efforts on higher margin customers.
      Operating expenses, which include operation and maintenance expense, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization expense and taxes other than income taxes, decreased to $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The decrease in operating expense was attributable primarily to a decrease in contract labor costs due to systems and process improvements in the natural gas marketing segment.
      The decrease in gross profit margin, partially offset by lower operating expenses resulted in a decrease in our natural gas marketing segment operating income to $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared with operating income of $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
Pipeline and Storage Segment
      Our pipeline and storage segment consists of the regulated pipeline and storage operations of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division and the nonregulated pipeline and storage operations of Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC, which were previously included in our other nonutility segment. The Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division supplies natural gas to the Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division and transports natural gas for third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. We also provide ancillary services customary in the pipeline industry including parking arrangements, blending and sales of inventory on hand. These operations represent one of the largest intrastate pipeline operations in Texas with a heavy concentration in the established natural gas-producing areas of central, northern and eastern Texas, extending into or near the major producing areas of the Texas Gulf Coast and the Delaware and Val Verde Basins of West Texas. Nine basins located in Texas are estimated to contain a substantial portion of the nation’s remaining onshore natural gas reserves. This pipeline system provides access to all of these basins.
      Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC, owns or has an interest in underground storage fields in Kentucky and Louisiana. We also use these storage facilities to reduce the need to contract for additional pipeline capacity to meet customer demand during peak periods.
      Similar to our utility segment, our pipeline and storage segment is impacted by seasonal weather patterns, competitive factors in the energy industry and economic conditions in our service areas. Natural gas transportation requirements are affected by the winter heating season requirements of our customers. This generally results in higher operating revenues and net income during the period from October through March of each year and lower operating revenues and either lower net income or net losses during the period from April through September of each year. Further, as the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division operations provide all of the natural gas for our Mid-Tex Division, the results of this segment are highly dependent upon the natural gas requirements of this division.
      As a regulated pipeline, the operations of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division may be impacted by the timing of when costs and expenses are incurred and when these costs and expenses are recovered through its tariffs.
Operating Income
      Pipeline and storage gross profit increased to $43.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Total pipeline transportation volumes were 158.9 Bcf during the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared with 2.8 Bcf for the prior year period. Excluding intersegment transportation volumes, total pipeline transportation volumes were 84.2 Bcf during the current year period.
      The increase in pipeline and storage gross profit margin primarily reflects the impact of the acquisition of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division resulting in an increase in pipeline and storage gross profit margin and total transportation volumes of $41.4 million and 84.2 Bcf. The $1.9 million decrease in the gross profit generated by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC primarily reflects an unrealized loss of $1.5 million compared with an unrealized gain in the prior year quarter of $0.4 million.

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      Operating expenses increased to $21.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 due to the addition of $20.5 million in operating expenses associated with the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division. As the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division is a regulated entity, franchise and state gross receipts taxes are paid by our customers; thus, these amounts are offset in revenues through customer billings and have no effect on net income. Included in operating expense was $2.4 million associated with taxes other than income taxes, of which $2.2 million was associated with our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division.
      As a result of the aforementioned factors, our pipeline and storage segment operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased to $22.3 million from $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
Interest Charges
      Interest charges allocated to this segment for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased to $6.2 million from $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The increase was attributable to the interest expense associated with the issuance of long-term debt to finance the acquisition of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division in October 2004.
Other Nonutility Segment
      Our other nonutility businesses consist primarily of the operations of Atmos Energy Services, LLC (AES), and Atmos Power Systems, Inc. Through AES, we provide natural gas management services to our utility operations. These services, which began April 1, 2004, include aggregating and purchasing gas supply, arranging transportation and storage logistics and ultimately delivering the gas to our utility service areas at competitive prices. AES’ revenues represent charges to our utility divisions equal to the costs incurred to provide those services. Through Atmos Power Systems, Inc., we construct electric peaking power-generating plants and associated facilities and may enter into agreements to either lease or sell these plants.
      Operating income for this segment primarily reflects the leasing income associated with two sales-type lease transactions completed in 2001 and 2002. Operating income during the three months ended March 31, 2005 was flat compared with the prior year quarter.
      Miscellaneous income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $0.6 million compared with $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The $4.3 million decrease was primarily attributable to the recognition of a $4.9 million pretax gain associated with the sale by U.S. Propane L.P. (USP) of its general and limited partnership interests in Heritage Propane Partners, L.P. during the second quarter of fiscal 2004.
Six Months Ended March 31, 2005 Compared with Six Months Ended March 31, 2004
Utility Segment
Operating Income
      Utility gross profit increased to $580.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 from $327.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Total throughput for our utility business was 279.0 billion cubic feet (Bcf) during the current year compared to 166.0 Bcf in the prior year.
      The increase in utility gross profit margin primarily reflects the impact of the acquisition of the Mid-Tex Division resulting in an increase in utility gross profit margin and total throughput of $245.1 million and 122.1 Bcf. The $7.4 million increase in the gross profit generated from our historical operations primarily reflects rate increases in our Mississippi and West Texas jurisdictions that were absent in the prior year period coupled with the recognition of a $1.9 million refund to our customers in our Colorado service area in the prior year period. These increases were partially offset by lower gross profit margins, primarily in our Louisiana service area, due to weather (as adjusted for jurisdictions with weather-normalized operations) that was five percent warmer than normal and two percent warmer than the prior year period. Additionally, gross profit

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margin was adversely impacted by the lack of cold weather in patterns sufficient to encourage customers to increase their heat load consumption.
      Operating expenses increased to $352.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 from $183.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Operation and maintenance expense increased by $76.9 million primarily due to the addition of $79.4 million in operation and maintenance expenses associated with the Mid-Tex Division offset by cost control efforts in our historical utility operations and a lower provision for doubtful accounts due to exceptional customer accounts receivable collection efforts. Taxes other than income taxes increased $56.6 million, primarily due to additional franchise, payroll and property taxes associated with the Mid-Tex assets acquired in October 2004. Franchise and state gross receipts taxes are paid by our customers as a component of their monthly bills. Although these amounts are offset in revenues through customer billings, timing differences between when the expense is incurred and is recovered may impact our net income on a temporary basis. However, there is no permanent effect on net income. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $35.6 million, which primarily reflects the inclusion of depreciation associated with the Mid-Tex assets ($33.1 million).
      As a result of the aforementioned factors, our utility segment operating income for the six months ended March 31, 2005 increased to $228.3 million from $144.8 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004.
Interest Charges
      Interest charges allocated to the utility segment for the six months ended March 31, 2005 increased to $55.3 million from $33.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The increase was attributable to the interest expense associated with the issuance of long-term debt to finance the acquisition of the Mid-Tex Division in October 2004.
Natural Gas Marketing Segment
Operating Income
      Our natural gas marketing segment’s gross profit margin was comprised of the following for the six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
                   
    March 31
     
    2005   2004
         
    (In thousands, except
    storage balances)
Storage Activities
               
 
Realized margin
  $ 17,259     $ 4,145  
 
Unrealized margin
    (8,027 )     (2,606 )
             
Total Storage Activities
    9,232       1,539  
Marketing Activities
               
 
Realized margin
    30,835       27,269  
 
Unrealized margin
    (2,063 )     552  
             
Total Marketing Activities
    28,772       27,821  
             
Gross profit
  $ 38,004     $ 29,360  
             
Ending storage balance (Bcf)
    11.0       5.8  
             
      Our natural gas marketing segment’s gross profit margin was $38.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared to gross profit of $29.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Natural gas marketing sales volumes were 141.0 Bcf during the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared with 151.4 Bcf for the prior year period. Excluding intersegment sales volumes, natural gas marketing sales volumes were 126.9 Bcf during the current year period compared with 126.1 Bcf in the prior year period. The slight increase in consolidated natural gas marketing sales volumes was primarily due to focusing our marketing

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efforts on higher margin opportunities partially offset by warmer-than-normal weather across our market areas. Gross profit margin from our natural gas marketing segment for the six months ended March 31, 2005 included an unrealized loss of $10.1 million compared with an unrealized loss of $2.1 million in the prior-year period.
      The contribution to gross profit from our storage activities was a gain of $9.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared to a gain of $1.5 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The $7.7 million improvement primarily was attributable to a $13.1 million improvement in the realized storage contribution, partially offset by a $5.4 million decrease in the unrealized storage contribution for the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared to the prior year period. The improvement in the realized storage contribution for the six months ended March 31, 2005 primarily was due to higher physical storage volumes and more favorable arbitrage spreads from increased market activity. The decrease in unrealized income in the current period was primarily attributable to an unfavorable movement during the six months ended March 31, 2005 in the forward indices used to value the storage financial instruments combined with greater physical natural gas storage quantities at March 31, 2005 compared to the prior year period.
      Our marketing activities contributed $28.8 million to our gross profit for the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared to $27.8 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The increase in the marketing contribution primarily was attributable to improved realized margins resulting from focusing our marketing efforts on higher margin customers, partially offset by the recognition of previously unrealized losses related to the open fixed-price forward contracts that were designated as cash flow hedges on April 1, 2004.
      Operating expenses decreased to $8.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 from $9.5 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The decrease in operating expense was attributable primarily to a decrease in contract labor costs due to systems and process improvements in the natural gas marketing segment.
      The improved gross profit margin and lower operating expenses resulted in an increase in our natural gas marketing segment operating income to $29.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared with operating income of $19.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004.
Pipeline and Storage Segment
Operating Income
      Pipeline and storage gross profit increased to $83.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 from $6.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Total pipeline transportation volumes were 288.9 Bcf during the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared with 5.2 Bcf for the prior year period. Excluding intersegment transportation volumes, total pipeline transportation volumes were 157.0 Bcf during the current year period.
      The increase in pipeline and storage gross profit margin primarily reflects the impact of the acquisition of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division resulting in an increase in pipeline and storage gross profit margin and total transportation volumes of $76.2 million and 157.0 Bcf. The $0.5 million increase in the gross profit generated by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC primarily reflects an unrealized gain of $0.2 million compared with and unrealized loss in the prior year period of $0.4 million.
      Operating expenses increased to $41.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2005 from $2.8 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004 due to the addition of $38.9 million in operating expenses associated with the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division. As the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division is a regulated entity, franchise and state gross receipts taxes are paid by our customers; thus, these amounts are offset in revenues through customer billings and have no effect on net income. Included in operating expense was $4.4 million associated with taxes other than income taxes, of which $4.1 million was associated with our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division.

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      As a result of the aforementioned factors, our pipeline and storage segment operating income for the six months ended March 31, 2005 increased to $42.6 million from $4.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004.
Interest charges
      Interest charges allocated to this segment for the six months ended March 31, 2005 increased to $12.4 million from $0.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The increase was attributable to the interest expense associated with the issuance of long-term debt to finance the acquisition of the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division in October 2004.
Other Nonutility Segment
      Operating income during the six months ended March 31, 2005 was flat compared with the prior year quarter and reflects the absence of a one time charge of $0.4 million associated with the wind-down of a noncore business.
      Miscellaneous income for the six months ended March 31, 2005 was $1.2 million, compared with income of $6.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The $4.9 million decrease was attributable primarily to the recognition of a $4.9 million pretax gain associated with the sale by USP of its general and limited partnership interests in Heritage Propane Partners, L.P. during the second quarter of fiscal 2004.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
      Our working capital and liquidity for capital expenditures and other cash needs are provided from internally generated funds, borrowings under our credit facilities and commercial paper program and funds raised from the public debt and equity capital markets. We believe that these sources of funds will provide the necessary working capital and liquidity for capital expenditures and other cash needs for the remainder of fiscal 2005.
Capitalization
      The following presents our capitalization as of March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2004:
                             
    March 31, 2005   September 30, 2004
         
    (In thousands, except percentages)
Short-term debt
  $       $        
Long-term debt
    2,260,704     58.1%     867,219       43.3 %
Shareholders’ equity
    1,632,270     41.9%     1,133,459       56.7 %
                       
Total capitalization, including short-term debt
  $ 3,892,974     100.0%   $ 2,000,678       100.0 %
                       
      Total debt as a percentage of total capitalization, including short-term debt, was 58.1 percent at March 31, 2005, and 43.3 percent at September 30, 2004. The increase in the debt to capitalization ratio was attributable to the issuance of $1.39 billion in senior unsecured long-term debt, partially offset by the issuance of 16.1 million shares of our common stock in October 2004 to partially finance the TXU Gas acquisition. Our ratio of total debt to capitalization is typically greater during the winter heating season as we make additional short-term borrowings to fund natural gas purchases and meet our working capital requirements. Within three to five years from the closing of the acquisition, we intend to reduce our capitalization ratio to a target range of 53 to 55 percent through cash flow generated from operations, continued issuance of new common stock under our Direct Stock Purchase Plan and Retirement Savings Plan, access to the equity capital markets and reduced annual maintenance and capital expenditures.
Cash Flows
      Our internally generated funds may change in the future due to a number of factors, some of which we cannot control. These include regulatory changes, the price for our products and services, the demand for such

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products and services, margin requirements resulting from significant changes in commodity prices, operational risks, the successful integration of the natural gas distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas we acquired and other factors.
Cash flows from operating activities
      Year-over-year changes in our operating cash flows are attributable primarily to changes in net income, working capital changes within our utility segment resulting from the impact of weather, the price of natural gas and the timing of customer collections, payments for natural gas purchases and deferred gas cost recoveries.
      For the six months ended March 31, 2005, we generated operating cash flow of $400.1 million compared with $290.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Our cash flow from operating activities was affected by the following:
  •  Favorable movements during the six months ended March 31, 2005 in the market indices used to value our risk management assets and liabilities favorably impacted operating cash flow by $19.3 million. However, unfavorable movements in the market indices used to value our natural gas marketing segment risk management assets and liabilities resulted in a net liability for that segment. Accordingly, under the terms of the associated derivative contracts, we were required to deposit $17.0 million into a margin account, which resulted in a $34.9 million unfavorable impact to operating cash flow compared with the prior year period.
 
  •  The timing of cash collections from our customers unfavorably impacted operating cash flow by $72.0 million.
 
  •  The timing of payments for accounts payable and other accrued liabilities favorably affected operating cash flow by $147.0 million.
 
  •  Increases in our natural gas inventories attributable to lower utility sales volumes, a 9 percent higher utility average cost of gas and increased natural gas marketing natural gas inventory levels compared with the prior year period resulted in a $26.5 million decrease in operating cash flows.
 
  •  The lag between the time period when we purchase our natural gas and the period in which we can include this cost in our gas rates resulted in a decrease in operating cash flows of $62.4 million.
 
  •  Other working capital and other changes positively affected operating cash flow by $139.0 million, primarily related to improved net income ($60.3 million) and increases in the amounts added back to net income for depreciation and amortization ($42.7 million) and deferred income taxes ($32.5 million).
Cash flows from investing activities
      During the last three years, a substantial portion of our cash resources was used to fund acquisitions, our ongoing construction program to provide natural gas services to our customer base, enhance the integrity of our pipelines and improvements to information systems. Capital expenditures for fiscal 2005 are expected to range from $340 million to $350 million. Of this amount, approximately $185 — $195 million is expected to be incurred by the Mid-Tex Division and Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division.
      For the six months ended March 31, 2005, we incurred $137.5 million for capital expenditures compared with $83.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Capital expenditures for the six months ended March 31, 2005 include approximately $45.8 million for the Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division and $7.9 million for the Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division.
      Our cash used for investing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2005 reflects the $1.9 billion cash paid for the TXU Gas acquisition including related transaction costs and expenses. The final purchase price is subject to adjustment for the actual amount of working capital we acquired and other specified matters. We anticipate that the purchase price will be finalized during the third quarter of fiscal 2005. Cash

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flow from investing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2004 reflect the receipt of $24.7 million from the sale of our limited and general partnership interests in USP in January 2004.
Cash flows from financing activities
      For the six months ended March 31, 2005, our financing activities provided $1.7 billion in cash compared with a use of cash of $133.2 million for the prior year period. Our significant financing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 are summarized as follows:
  •  In October 2004, we sold 16.1 million common shares, including the underwriters’ exercise of their overallotment option of 2.1 million shares, under a new shelf registration statement declared effective in September 2004, generating net proceeds of $382.0 million. Additionally, we issued senior unsecured debt under the shelf registration statement consisting of $400 million of 4.00% senior notes due 2009, $500 million of 4.95% senior notes due 2014, $200 million of 5.95% senior notes due 2034 and $300 million of floating rate senior notes due 2007. The floating rate notes will bear interest at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 0.375 percent per year. The net proceeds received from the sale of these senior notes were $1.39 billion. The net proceeds from these issuances, combined with the net proceeds from our July 2004 offering were used to pay off the approximately $1.7 billion in outstanding commercial paper backstopped by a senior unsecured revolving credit agreement, which we entered into on September 24, 2004 for bridge financing for the TXU Gas acquisition.
 
  •  During the six months ended March 31, 2005 we borrowed and repaid all amounts borrowed under our commercial paper program. During the six months ended March 31, 2004, we repaid $118.6 million under our commercial paper program. Strong operating cash flow in each quarter provided sufficient funds to enable us to repay all outstanding amounts under our commercial paper program as of March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2004.
 
  •  We repaid $3.8 million of long-term debt during the six months ended March 31, 2005 compared with $5.5 million during the six months ended March 31, 2004. The decreased payments during the current quarter reflected the timing of the maturities of our various debt obligations.
 
  •  During the six months ended March 31, 2005 we paid $49.2 million in cash dividends compared with dividend payments of $31.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004. The increase in dividends paid over the prior year period reflects the 27.6 million increase in the number of common shares outstanding and an increase in the dividend rate from $0.61 per share during the six months ended March 31, 2004 to $0.62 per share during the six months ended March 31, 2005.
 
  •  During the six months ended March 31, 2005 we issued 1.0 million shares of common stock, in addition to the 16.1 million common shares issued in our October 2004 public offering, which generated net proceeds of $26.0 million. The following table summarizes the issuances for the six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
                     
    Six Months Ended
    March 31
     
    2005   2004
         
Shares issued:
               
 
Retirement Savings Plan
    242,810       164,059  
 
Direct Stock Purchase Plan
    240,910       296,833  
 
Outside Directors Stock-for-Fee Plan
    1,242       1,627  
 
Long-Term Incentive Plan
    492,801       297,676  
 
Public Offering
    16,100,000        
             
   
Total shares issued
    17,077,763       760,195  
             

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Shelf Registration
      In August 2004, we filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue, from time to time, up to $2.2 billion in new common stock and/or debt, which became effective on September 15, 2004. In October 2004, we sold 16.1 million common shares and issued $1.4 billion in unsecured senior notes to partially finance the TXU Gas acquisition. After these issuances, we have approximately $401.5 million of availability remaining under the shelf registration statement.
Credit Facilities
      We maintain both committed and uncommitted credit facilities. Borrowings under our uncommitted credit facilities are made on a when-and-as-needed basis at the discretion of the bank. Our credit capacity and the amount of unused borrowing capacity are affected by the seasonal nature of the natural gas business and our short-term borrowing requirements, which are typically highest during colder winter months. Our working capital needs can vary significantly due to changes in the price of natural gas charged by suppliers and the increased gas supplies required to meet customers’ needs during periods of cold weather. Our cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures have increased substantially as a result of the acquisition of the natural gas distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas. On October 22, 2004, we replaced our $350.0 million credit facility with a new $600.0 million committed credit facility that serves as a backup liquidity facility for our commercial paper program. We believe this facility, combined with our operating cash flow will be sufficient to fund these increased working capital needs. On March 30, 2005, AEM amended and extended its uncommitted demand working capital credit facility to March 31, 2006. These facilities are described in further detail in Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Credit Rating
      Our credit ratings directly affect our ability to obtain short-term and long-term financing, in addition to the cost of such financing. In determining our credit ratings, the rating agencies consider a number of quantitative factors, including debt to total capitalization, operating cash flow relative to outstanding debt, operating cash flow coverage of interest and pension liabilities and funding status. In addition, the rating agencies consider qualitative factors such as consistency of our earnings over time, the quality of our management and business strategy, the risk associated with our utility and nonutility businesses and the regulatory structures that govern our rates in the states where we operate.
      Our debt is rated by three rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P), Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch). Our current debt ratings are all considered investment grade and are as follows:
                         
    S&P   Moody’s   Fitch
             
Long-term debt
    BBB       Baa3       BBB+  
Commercial paper
    A-2       P-3       F-2  
      Currently, S&P and Moody’s maintain a stable outlook and Fitch maintains a negative outlook. None of our ratings are currently under review.
      A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. All of our current ratings for long-term debt are categorized as investment grade. The highest investment grade credit rating for S&P is AAA, Moody’s is Aaa and Fitch is AAA. The lowest investment grade credit rating for S&P is BBB-, Moody’s is Baa3 and Fitch is BBB-. Our credit ratings may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the rating agencies, and each rating should be evaluated independent of any other rating. There can be no assurance that a rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered, or withdrawn entirely, by a rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant.

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Debt Covenants
      We are required by the financial covenants in our $600.0 million credit facility to maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of total debt to total capitalization of no greater than 70 percent. At March 31, 2005, our total-debt-to-total-capitalization ratio, as defined, was 60 percent.
      AEM is required by the financial covenants in its uncommitted demand working capital facility to maintain a maximum ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of 5 to 1, along with minimum levels of net working capital ranging from $20 million to $50 million. Additionally, AEM must maintain a minimum tangible net worth ranging from $21 million to $51 million, and its maximum cumulative loss from March 30, 2005 cannot exceed $4 million to $10 million, depending on the total amount of borrowing elected from time to time by AEM. At March 31, 2005, AEM’s ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth, as defined, was 1.95.
      Our First Mortgage Bonds provide for certain cash flow requirements and restrictions on additional indebtedness, sale of assets and payment of dividends. Under the most restrictive of such covenants, cumulative cash dividends paid after December 31, 1988, may not exceed the sum of our accumulated net income for periods after December 31, 1988, plus $15.0 million. At March 31, 2005, approximately $202.4 million of retained earnings was unrestricted with respect to the payment of dividends.
      We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants as of March 31, 2005. If we do not comply with our debt covenants, we may be required to repay our outstanding balances on demand, provide additional collateral or take other corrective actions. Our two public debt indentures relating to our senior notes and debentures, as well as our $600.0 million revolving credit agreement, each contain a default provision that is triggered if outstanding indebtedness arising out of any other credit agreements in amounts ranging from in excess of $15 million to in excess of $100 million becomes due by acceleration or is not paid at maturity. In addition, AEM’s credit agreement contains a cross-default provision whereby AEM would be in default if it defaults on other indebtedness, as defined, by at least $250 thousand in the aggregate. Additionally, this agreement contains a provision that would limit the amount of credit available if Atmos is downgraded below an S&P rating of BBB and a Moody’s rating of Baa2.
      Except as described above, we have no triggering events in our debt instruments that are tied to changes in specified credit ratings or stock price, nor have we entered into any transactions that would require us to issue equity based on our credit rating or other triggering events.
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
      As a result of the issuance of our unsecured senior notes in October 2004 our contractual obligations associated with our long-term debt and interest expense increased since September 30, 2004.
      The following table reflects the significant changes in our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2005. There were no other significant changes in our contractual obligations and commercial commitments during the six months ended March 31, 2005.
                                         
    Payments Due by Period
     
        Less than       After
    Total   1 year   1-3 years   3-5 years   5 years
                     
    (In thousands)
Contractual Obligations
                                       
Long-term debt(1)
  $ 2,264,701     $ 5,887     $ 312,874     $ 411,678     $ 1,534,262  
Interest charges
    1,268,716       118,242       234,249       210,648       705,577  
Gas purchase commitments(2)
    422,465       206,029       158,632       21,710       36,094  
 
(1)  See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
(2)  Gas purchase commitments were determined based upon contractually determined volumes at prices estimated based upon the index specified in the contract, adjusted for estimated basis differentials and contractual discounts as of March 31, 2005.

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      Additionally, in January 2005, we signed a letter of intent with a third party to jointly construct, own and operate a 45-mile large diameter natural gas pipeline in the northern portion of the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex. Under terms of the letter of intent, the third party will provide the initial capital to build the pipeline and we will contribute up to $42.5 million within two years of signing a definitive agreement.
Risk Management Activities
      We conduct risk management activities through both our utility and natural gas marketing segments. In our utility segment, we use a combination of storage, fixed physical contracts and fixed financial contracts to protect us and our customers against unusually large winter-period gas price increases. In our natural gas marketing segment, we manage our exposure to the risk of natural gas price changes and lock-in our gross profit margin through a combination of storage and financial derivatives, including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties. To the extent our inventory cost and actual sales and actual purchases do not correlate with the changes in the market indices we use in our hedges, we could recognize significant ineffectiveness or the hedges may no longer meet the accounting requirements for hedge accounting resulting in the derivatives being treated as mark to market instruments through earnings.
      We record our derivatives as a component of risk management assets and liabilities, which are classified as current or noncurrent based upon the anticipated settlement date of the underlying derivative. Substantially all of our derivative financial instruments are valued using external market quotes and indices. The following tables show the components of the change in the fair value of our utility and natural gas marketing commodity derivative contracts for the three and six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
                                   
    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
    March 31, 2005   March 31, 2004
         
        Natural Gas       Natural Gas
    Utility   Marketing   Utility   Marketing
                 
    (In thousands)
Fair value of contracts at beginning of period
  $ (9,412 )   $ 5,214     $ 5,699     $ 1,270  
 
Contracts realized/settled
    (6,276 )     (4,907 )     (842 )     (529 )
 
Fair value of new contracts
    (173 )           20       26  
 
Other changes in value
    40,228       (6,203 )     (4,583 )     420  
                         
Fair value of contracts at end of period
  $ 24,367     $ (5,896 )   $ 294     $ 1,187  
                         
                                   
    Six Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    March 31, 2005   March 31, 2004
         
        Natural Gas       Natural Gas
    Utility   Marketing   Utility   Marketing
                 
    (In thousands)
Fair value of contracts at beginning of period
  $ (8,612 )   $ 13,018     $ (7,739 )   $ 10,144  
 
Contracts realized/settled
    (45,397 )     (16,534 )     (4,145 )     (5,194 )
 
Fair value of new contracts
    (2,854 )           322       (797 )
 
Other changes in value
    81,230       (2,380 )     11,856       (2,966 )
                         
Fair value of contracts at end of period
  $ 24,367     $ (5,896 )   $ 294     $ 1,187  
                         

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      The fair value of our utility and natural gas marketing derivative contracts at March 31, 2005, is segregated below by time period and fair value source:
                                         
    Fair Value of Contracts at March 31, 2005
     
    Maturity in Years    
         
        Greater   Total Fair
Source of Fair Value   Less than 1   1-3   4-5   Than 5   Value
                     
    (In thousands)
Prices actively quoted
  $ 19,214     $ (279 )   $     $     $ 18,935  
Prices provided by other external sources
    100       8                   108  
Prices based on models and other valuation methods
    (14 )     (558 )                 (572 )
                               
Total Fair Value
  $ 19,300     $ (829 )   $     $     $ 18,471  
                               
Storage and Hedging Outlook
      AEM participates in transactions in which it seeks to find and profit from pricing differences that occur over time. AEM purchases physical natural gas and then sells financial contracts at the most advantageous price to lock in a gross profit margin. AEM is able to capture gross profit margin through the arbitrage of pricing differences in various locations and by recognizing pricing differences that occur over time.
      Natural gas inventory is marked to market monthly using the Inside FERC (iFERC) price at the end of each month with changes in fair value recognized as unrealized gains and losses in the period of change. Derivatives associated with our natural gas inventory, which are designated as fair value hedges, are marked to market each month based upon the NYMEX price with changes in fair value recognized as unrealized gains and losses in the period of change. The difference in the indices used to mark to market our physical inventory (iFERC) and the related fair-value hedge (NYMEX) is reported as a component of revenue and can result in volatility in our reported net income. Over time, gains and losses on the sale of storage gas inventory will be offset by gains and losses on the fair-value hedges; therefore, the economic gross profit AEM captured in the original transaction remains essentially unchanged.
      AEM continually manages its positions to enhance the future economic profit it captured in the original transaction. Therefore, AEM may change its scheduled injection and withdrawal plans from one time period to another based on market conditions or adjust the amount of storage capacity it holds on a discretionary basis in an effort to achieve this objective. AEM monitors the impacts of these profit optimization efforts by estimating the forecasted gross profit margin that it captured through the purchase and sale of physical natural gas and the associated financial derivatives. The forecasted gross profit margin, less the effect of unrealized gains or losses recognized in the financial statements, provides a measure of the net increase or decrease in the gross profit margin that could occur in future periods if the optimization efforts are fully successful.
      As of March 31, 2005, based upon AEM’s derivatives position and inventory withdrawal schedule, the forecasted gross profit margin was approximately $8.0 million. Approximately $9.0 million of net unrealized losses were recorded in the financial statements as of March 31, 2005. Therefore, the projected increase in future gross profit margin is approximately $17.0 million.
      The forecasted gross profit margin calculation is based upon planned injection and withdrawal schedules, and the realization of the forecasted gross profit margin is contingent upon the execution of this plan, weather and other execution factors. Since AEM actively manages and optimizes its portfolio to enhance the future profitability of its storage position, it may change its scheduled injection and withdrawal plans from one time period to another based on market conditions. Therefore, we cannot assure that the forecasted gross profit margin or the projected increase in future gross profit margin calculated as of March 31, 2005 will be fully realized in the future or in what time period. Further, if we experience operational or other issues which limit our ability to optimally manage our stored gas positions, permanent impacts on earnings may result.

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Pension and Postretirement Benefits Obligations
      For the six months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 our total net periodic pension and other benefits cost was $18.2 million and $13.7 million. All of these costs are recoverable through our gas utility rates; however, a portion of these costs is capitalized into our utility rate base. The remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense.
      The increase in total net periodic pension and other benefits cost during the current year period compared with the prior year period primarily reflects an increase in our service cost associated with an increase in the number of employees due to the TXU Gas acquisition, which increased our service cost. Additionally, we increased our discount rate and reduced our assumed rate of return on our pension plan assets for fiscal 2005, which increased our service and interest cost and reduced our expected return on plan assets, which partially offsets our net periodic pension and other benefits cost.
      We did not contribute to our pension plans during the six months ended March 31, 2005. We are not required to make a minimum funding contribution nor do we anticipate making any voluntary contributions during fiscal 2005. During the six months ended March 31, 2005, we contributed $4.5 million to our other post-retirement plans and we expect to contribute a total of $11.7 million to these plans during fiscal 2005.
      Although we did not assume the existing employee benefit liabilities or plans of TXU Gas, we agreed to give certain transitioned employees credit for years of TXU Gas service under our pension plan. For purposes of our post-retirement medical plan, we received a credit of $18.9 million against the purchase price to permit us to provide partial past service credits for retiree medical benefits under our retiree medical plan. The $18.9 million credit approximates the actuarially determined present value of the accumulated benefits related to the past service of the transferred employees.

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Operating Statistics and Other Information
      The following tables present certain operating statistics for our utility, natural gas marketing, pipeline and storage and other nonutility segments for the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.
Utility Sales and Statistical Data
                                     
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    March 31   March 31
         
    2005(1)   2004   2005(1)   2004
                 
METERS IN SERVICE, end of period
                               
 
Residential
    2,884,807       1,507,992       2,884,807       1,507,992  
 
Commercial
    279,194       152,763       279,194       152,763  
 
Industrial
    2,789       2,482       2,789       2,482  
 
Agricultural
    10,070       8,987       10,070       8,987  
 
Public-authority and other
    8,752       10,177       8,752       10,177  
                         
   
Total meters
    3,185,612       1,682,401       3,185,612       1,682,401  
                         
HEATING DEGREE DAYS(2)
                               
 
Actual (weighted average)
    1,422       1,772       2,415       3,012  
 
Percent of normal
    90 %     97 %     89 %     96 %
UTILITY SALES VOLUMES — MMcf(3)
                               
Gas sales volumes
                               
 
Residential
    78,477       46,874       129,246       74,381  
 
Commercial
    37,048       19,112       64,911       32,468  
 
Industrial
    9,648       6,543       17,891       12,792  
 
Agricultural
    60       310       126       805  
 
Public authority and other
    2,962       4,345       6,978       7,419  
                         
   
Total gas sales volumes
    128,195       77,184       219,152       127,865  
Utility transportation volumes
    33,845       26,112       63,586       46,792  
                         
Total utility throughput
    162,040       103,296       282,738       174,657  
                         
UTILITY OPERATING REVENUES (000’s)(3)
                               
Gas sales revenues
                               
 
Residential
  $ 780,890     $ 437,719     $ 1,304,033     $ 701,268  
 
Commercial
    325,305       172,407       590,297       287,971  
 
Industrial
    69,422       45,806       135,922       90,352  
 
Agricultural
    587       2,097       1,262       5,131  
 
Public-authority and other
    29,742       35,037       62,172       56,946  
                         
   
Total utility gas sales revenues
    1,205,946       693,066       2,093,686       1,141,668  
Transportation revenues
    17,312       8,970       33,744       17,071  
Other gas revenues
    12,119       6,246       21,628       10,031  
                         
   
Total utility operating revenues
  $ 1,235,377     $ 708,282     $ 2,149,058     $ 1,168,770  
                         
Utility average transportation revenue per Mcf
  $ 0.51     $ 0.34     $ 0.53     $ 0.36  
Utility average cost of gas per Mcf sold
  $ 7.12     $ 6.72     $ 7.16     $ 6.58  
See footnotes following these tables.

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Natural Gas Marketing, Pipeline and Storage and Other Nonutility Operations Sales and Statistical Data
                                     
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    March 31   March 31
         
    2005   2004   2005   2004
                 
CUSTOMERS, end of period
                               
 
Industrial
    632       620       632       620  
 
Municipal
    78       77       78       77  
 
Other
    474       210       474       210  
                         
   
Total
    1,184       907       1,184       907  
                         
NATURAL GAS MARKETING SALES VOLUMES — MMcf(3)
    74,834       81,152       140,972       151,356  
PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION VOLUMES  — MMcf(3)
    158,923       2,801       288,917       5,231  
OPERATING REVENUES (000’s)(3)
                               
 
Natural gas marketing
  $ 512,891     $ 517,218     $ 1,006,692     $ 891,047  
 
Pipeline and storage
    45,546       9,967       89,236       12,886  
 
Other nonutility
    1,278       687       2,637       1,396  
                         
   
Total operating revenues
  $ 559,715     $ 527,872     $ 1,098,565     $ 905,329  
                         
Notes to preceding tables:
 
(1)  The operational and statistical information includes the operations of the Mid-Tex Division and Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division since the October 1, 2004 acquisition date.
 
(2)  A heating degree day is equivalent to each degree that the average of the high and the low temperatures for a day is below 65 degrees. The colder the climate, the greater the number of heating degree days. Heating degree days are used in the natural gas industry to measure the relative coldness of weather and to compare relative temperatures between one geographic area and another. Normal degree days are based on 30-year average National Weather Service data for selected locations. Degree day information for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 is adjusted for the Kentucky Division, the Mississippi Division and certain service areas included within the Colorado-Kansas Division, the Mid-States Division and the West Texas Division, which have weather normalized operations.
 
(3)  Sales volumes and revenues reflect segment operations, including intercompany sales and transportation amounts.

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Recent Ratemaking Activity
      The following discusses our recent ratemaking activities during fiscal 2005. The amounts described below represent the gross revenues that were requested or received in the rate filing, which may not necessarily reflect the increase in operating income obtained, as certain operating costs may have increased as a result of a commission’s final ruling.
      Mississippi. The Mississippi Public Service Commission (MPSC) typically requires that we file for rate adjustments every six months. Beginning with the November 2004 filing, rate filings have been made in May and November of each year and the rate adjustments typically become effective in the following July and January. During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we agreed with the MPSC to suspend our May 2005 semi-annual filing to allow sufficient time for us and the MPSC to undertake a comprehensive review in an effort improve our rate design and the ratemaking process.
      In September 2004, the MPSC authorized additional annualized revenue of $4.7 million on our May 2004 filing, which became effective on June 1, 2004. However, the MPSC also disallowed certain deferred costs totaling $2.8 million. We withdrew our appeal regarding the MPSC’s decision regarding this disallowance.
      We filed our second semiannual filing for 2004 on November 5, 2004, requesting rate adjustments of $6.0 million in annualized revenue. The MPSC allowed us to include $3.0 million in annualized revenue into our rates effective January 1, 2005. In February 2005, we entered into a stipulation agreement with the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff that provides for an additional $1.3 million in annualized revenue that is retroactive to January 2005, which was approved by the MPSC during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.
      Mid-Tex. In December 2004, we made a filing under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP) to include approximately $32.0 million of distribution and pipeline capital expenditures made by TXU Gas during calendar year 2003, which will result in additional revenues of approximately $6.8 million. In March 2005, the Railroad Commission of Texas (the Commission) approved the environs (outside of the city limits) portion of the filing. The Mid-Tex Division is continuing to work to obtain approval for the filing from the cities in its service area. We expect these capital costs will be recovered through a monthly customer charge beginning in the second half of fiscal 2005. The allowed rate of return is 8.258 percent.
      In September 2004, the Mid-Tex Division filed its 36-Month Gas Contract Review with the Railroad Commission of Texas (the Commission). This proceeding involves a prudency review of gas purchases totaling $2.2 billion made by the Mid-Tex Division from November 1, 2000 through October 31, 2003. The proceeding has involved informal discussions in preparation for potential settlement discussions. A formal procedural schedule has been adopted providing for formal discovery and a formal hearing has been established for June 2005 in the event that settlement can not be reached.
      The Mid-Tex Division is also pursuing an appeal to the Travis County District Court of the Final Order in its last systemwide rate case completed in May 2004 to obtain a return of and on its investment associated with the Poly I replacement pipe that was originally disallowed in the last rate case. Additionally, the Mid-Tex Division is seeking the right to surcharge for gas cost underrecoveries. The case has been assigned to a judge and a briefing schedule has been established.
      During the first quarter of fiscal 2005, the Mid-Tex Division pursued a filing initiated by TXU Gas seeking authorization of a surcharge to recover the rate case expenses incurred by the Mid-Tex Division, Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division, and the intervening cities in connection with their last systemwide rate case completed in May 2004. The filing also covered the estimated expenses to prosecute the aforementioned recovery docket and the severed dockets from the systemwide rate case. On January 25, 2005, the Commission issued an order authorizing the recovery of the $10.2 million of expenses over a 3-year period with interest.
      Atmos Pipeline-Texas. Concurrent with our Mid-Tex Division GRIP filing in December 2004, we also made a GRIP filing for our regulated pipeline to include approximately $12.0 million of distribution and pipeline capital expenditures made by TXU Gas during calendar year 2003, which will result in additional revenues of approximately $1.8 million. The Commission approved this filing in March 2005. These capital

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costs will be recovered through a monthly customer charge beginning in April 2005. The allowed rate of return is 8.258 percent.
      Louisiana. During the second quarter of 2005, the Louisiana Division implemented a rate increase of $3.3 million in its LGS service area. This increase resulted from our Rate Stabilization Clause filing in 2004 and is subject to refund pending the final resolution of that filing. As the rate increase is subject to refund, we have not recognized the effects of this increase in our results of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2005.
      Recent Accounting Developments
      Recent accounting developments and their impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are described in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
      We are exposed to risks associated with commodity prices and interest rates. Commodity price risk is the potential loss that we may incur as a result of changes in the fair value of a particular instrument or commodity. Interest-rate risk results from our portfolio of debt and equity instruments that we issue to provide financing and liquidity for our business.
      We conduct risk management activities through both our utility and natural gas marketing segments. In our utility segment, we use a combination of storage, fixed physical contracts and fixed financial contracts to protect us and our customers against unusually large winter period gas price increases. In our natural gas marketing segment, we manage our exposure to the risk of natural gas price changes and lock-in our gross profit margin through a combination of storage and financial derivatives including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties. Our risk management activities and related accounting treatment are described in further detail in Note 5 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, our earnings are affected by changes in short-term interest rates as a result of our issuance of short-term commercial paper, the issuance of floating rate debt in October 2004 and our other short-term borrowings.
Commodity Price Risk
Utility segment
      We purchase natural gas for our utility operations. Substantially all of the cost of gas purchased for utility operations is recovered from our customers through purchased gas adjustment mechanisms. However, our utility operations have commodity price risk exposure to fluctuations in spot natural gas prices related to purchases for sales to our non-regulated energy services customers at fixed prices.
      For our utility segment, we use a sensitivity analysis to estimate commodity price risk. For purposes of this analysis, we estimate commodity price risk by applying a hypothetical 10 percent increase in the portion of our gas cost related to fixed-price non-regulated sales. Based on projected non-regulated gas sales for the remainder of fiscal 2005, a hypothetical 10 percent increase in fixed prices, based upon the March 31, 2005 three month market strip, would increase our purchased gas cost by approximately $5.1 million for the remainder of fiscal 2005.
Natural gas marketing segment
      Our natural gas marketing segment is also exposed to risks associated with changes in the market price of natural gas. For our natural gas marketing segment, we use a sensitivity analysis to estimate commodity price risk. For purposes of this analysis, we estimate commodity price risk by applying a $0.50 change in the forward NYMEX price to our net open position (including existing storage) at the end of each period. Because AEH had no net open positions (including existing storage) at March 31, 2005 there would be no impact on our consolidated net income due to fluctuations in the forward NYMEX price.

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Interest Rate Risk
      Our earnings are exposed to changes in short-term interest rates associated with our short-term commercial paper program and other short-term borrowings. We use a sensitivity analysis to estimate our short-term interest rate risk. For purposes of this analysis, we estimate our short-term interest rate risk as the difference between our actual interest expense for the period and estimated interest expense for the period assuming a hypothetical average one percent increase in the interest rates associated with our short term borrowings. Had interest rates associated with our short term borrowings increased by an average of one percent, our interest expense would have increased by approximately $0.4 million during the six months ended March 31, 2005.
      We also assess market risk for our fixed-rate, long-term obligations. We estimate market risk for our fixed-rate, long-term obligations as the potential increase in fair value resulting from a hypothetical one percent decrease in interest rates associated with these debt instruments. Fair value is estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis. Assuming this one percent hypothetical decrease, the fair value of our fixed-rate, long-term obligations would have increased by approximately $171.4 million.
      As of March 31, 2005 we were not engaged in other activities that would cause exposure to the risk of material earnings or cash flow loss due to changes in interest rates or market commodity prices.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
      As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b). Based upon that evaluation, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures continue to be effective. Such disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures designed to ensure that all information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods set forth in applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.
      In addition, our management, including the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d). Based upon that evaluation, management has concluded that there has been no change in such internal control during the second quarter of fiscal 2005 that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
      During the six months ended March 31, 2005 there were no material changes in the status of the litigation and environmental matters that were disclosed in Note 13 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004 except as disclosed in Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2005. With the acquisition of the natural gas distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas Company on October 1, 2004, we assumed responsibility for certain litigation and claims that arose in the ordinary course of the business of TXU Gas Company. We believe the final outcome of such litigation and claims will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or net cash flows.

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
      At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Atmos Energy Corporation on February 9, 2005, 69,682,922 votes were cast as follows:
                                 
        Votes   Votes   Non
    Votes FOR   Withheld   Abstaining   Votes
                 
Class I Directors:
                               
Travis W. Bain II
    68,784,090       898,832              
Dan Busbee
    67,527,549       2,155,373              
Richard K. Gordon
    67,311,614       2,371,308              
Gene C. Koonce
    69,001,916       681,006              
 
Class II Director:
                               
Nancy K. Quinn
    68,787,916       895,006              
 
Approval of amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares from 100,000,000 to 200,000,000:
    64,288,928       5,016,823       377,162       9  
      The other directors will continue to serve until the expiration of their terms. The term of the Class I directors, Travis W. Bain II, Dan Busbee, Richard K. Gordon and Gene C. Koonce, will expire in 2008. The term of the Class II directors, Richard W. Cardin, Thomas C. Meredith, Nancy K. Quinn and Richard Ware II will expire in 2006. The term of the Class III directors, Robert W. Best, Thomas J. Garland, Phillip E. Nichol and Charles K. Vaughan, will expire in 2007.
Item 6. Exhibits
      A list of exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and filed as part of this report is set forth in the Exhibits Index, which immediately precedes such exhibits.

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SIGNATURES
      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
  Atmos Energy Corporation
  (Registrant)
  By:  /s/ John P. Reddy
 
 
  John P. Reddy
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  (Duly authorized signatory)
Date: May 10, 2005

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EXHIBITS INDEX
Item 6(a)
                 
Exhibit       Page
Number   Description   Number
         
  3(I)     Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Atmos Energy Corporation (as of February 9, 2005)        
  12     Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges        
  15     Letter regarding unaudited interim financial information        
  31     Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications        
  32     Section 1350 Certifications*        
 
These certifications, which were made pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, furnished as Exhibit 32 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, will not be deemed to be filed with the Commission or incorporated by reference into any filing by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such certifications by reference.