ATO Atmos Energy Corp

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) today announced its fiscal 2009 guidance in the range of $2.05 to $2.15 per fully diluted share, consistent with its goal of growing earnings, on average, between 4 percent to 6 percent each year. For fiscal 2008, the range remains unchanged at $1.95 to $2.05 per fully diluted share. Guidance for both periods excludes any material mark-to-market impact at the end of each fiscal year. Capital expenditures for fiscal 2009 are expected to range from $510 million to $525 million. Operating and maintenance expense is expected to range from $480 million to $490 million in fiscal 2009. The average number of shares outstanding in fiscal 2009 is expected to be between 91 million and 92 million. The Company will webcast its analyst meeting today from 12:00 to 1:15 p.m. ET in New York City, at which the company�s leadership will discuss the company�s financial and operating performance, including projected performance and earnings guidance for fiscal 2009. Interested parties may listen to the webcast live, as well as view the accompanying slide presentation, via the Analyst Meeting webcast link on Atmos Energy�s Web site at www.atmosenergy.com. For those unable to access the live webcast, the presentation will be archived on the Company�s Web site until November 12, 2008. Forward-Looking Statements The statements in this news release concerning earnings guidance and projected financial and operating performance are �forward-looking statements� within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release 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 news release or in any of the company�s other documents or oral presentations, the words �anticipate,� �believe,� �estimate,� �expect,� �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 discussed in this news release, including the risks and uncertainties relating to regulatory trends and decisions, the company�s ability to continue to access the capital markets and the other factors discussed in the company�s SEC filings. These factors include the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company�s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, and in the company�s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2008. Although 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. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Atmos Energy Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country�s largest natural-gas-only distributor, serving about 3.2 million natural gas distribution customers in more than 1,600 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast and manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Atmos Energy is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com.