FAYETTEVILLE -- SourceGas is now Black Hills Energy, as Black Hills announced its successful acquisition of SourceGas, the natural gas utility serving 429,000 customers in Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.
In Arkansas, there are 160,000 customers in 104 communities, which includes Pea Ridge.
"On employee changes, Black Hills Energy's first priority is to ensure the ongoing safe and reliable service to our customers across the state. We will be evaluating our future staffing needs to ensure this outcome but do anticipate eliminating positions across the company identified as redundant or unneeded," officials said.
"Black Hills Energy is excited to provide our new customers with safe, reliable energy and to maintain strong local ties that benefit the communities where we live and work," said Todd Jacobs, the new vice president of operations for Black Hills Energy in Arkansas, based in Fayetteville.
"We look forward to putting our company's 130-year history of utility expertise and exceptional performance levels to good use for our 160,000 natural gas customers in 104 Arkansas communities," said Jacobs, who since 2014 was Black Hills Energy's general manager of Kansas gas operations and earlier served in executive roles with another Midwestern utility.
The former SourceGas will immediately begin operating under the Black Hills Energy name. Customers should continue to use SourceGas contacts and locations for bill payment, service questions and emergencies. The customer service and emergencies number remains 800-563-0012.
Beginning in March, SourceGas customers will start to see the Black Hills Energy logo alongside the SourceGas logo on their bills and the new customer website, www.SourceGasIsBlackHills.com while the companies integrate employees and customer service systems. The Black Hills Energy logo will replace the SourceGas logo on buildings, company vehicles, employee uniforms and more.
Black Hills Energy will use television, radio, print, electronic media, bill inserts, newsletters, advertisements and more to keep customers informed. For more information, customers can visit www.SourceGasIsBlackHills.com.
"We look forward to delivering efficient energy services that meet the region's current and future energy needs," Jacobs said. "We're committed to living our mission of improving life with energy. Our strong local partnerships benefit the communities we serve through economic development initiatives, charitable contributions, sponsorships and employee participation."
Black Hills Energy now serves more than 1.2 million natural gas and electric utility customers in nearly 800 communities in eight Rocky Mountain and Midcontinent states, including its newest market, Arkansas. The company announced in July 2015 that it was the successful bidder to purchase SourceGas from investment funds managed by Alinda Capital Partners and GE Unit (NYSE:GE) GE Energy Financial Services. The purchase was approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the utility commissions in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. "Their approval allows us to make this transition as smooth as possible for our new customers and employees," Jacobs said.
Business on 02/17/2016