Columbia Energy Group history

In 1930 the acquisition of a 50 percent interest in Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company allowed Columbia to connect its eastern lines with natural gas fields in Texas.

In 1935 the Public Utility Holding Company Act brought Columbia Gas & Electric under federal regulation.

The connection helped Columbia reach new heights in sales and earnings for 1936.

In 1938 the Justice Department filed an antitrust suit against Columbia Gas & Electric, citing restraint of trade in the natural gas industry, and antitrust suits plagued Columbia for the next few years.

1948 – Company is renamed Columbia Gas System Inc.

In 1956 the company began a corporate simplification process aimed at reducing the number of subsidiaries subject to both federal and state regulation.

Columbia's gas sales reached a new peak in 1972.

Legislation was passed in 1978 that effectively deregulated the prices gas producers could charge at the wellhead.

1981 – Columbia acquires Commonwealth Gas Services (now known as Columbia Gas of Virginia)

In 1982 Columbia's largest single industrial customer, the Sohio Chemical anhydrous-ammonia plant in Lima, Ohio, quit Columbia altogether.

In 1985 Columbia faced possible bankruptcy.

Columbia Transmission agreed to pay about $1.2 billion to gas producers to settle its contracts, and $2.2 billion to its parent to settle a debt from 1991.

The previous chairman, John H. Croom, had said in 1992 that he would retire as soon as Columbia emerged from Chapter 11.

In 1993 Columbia Transmission got out of the onerous business of selling Columbia's gas, and became principally a storer and transporter.

Columbia continued to write off millions of dollars each year, and expected to continue to do so through 1995.