Flo-Gas Corporation history

In 1926 Palm Beach Gas became part of Consolidated Electric and Gas Company, a public utility holding company.

1927: Name is changed to Florida Public Utilities Company.

FPU made another purchase in 1929, picking up Pensacola Gas Company and another gas-making facility.

In 1931 it shut down the Pensacola plant and three years later sold the Pensacola Gas business to Gulf Power Co.

In 1935 it acquired Southern States Power Company, operating in Marianna and Fernandina Beach, Florida.

In April 1945 FPU underwent a change of ownership when Jesse L. Terry bought the company from Consolidated Electric and Gas Company.

In July 1946 he took FPU public.

1959: Company moves from manufactured gas to natural gas.

In 1965 it acquired Sanford Gas Company and inherited some cleanup problems that would only come to the surface years later.

In 1967 it added Deland-based Florida Home Gas Company and its natural gas system.

He worked his way up through the company and in 1985 was named president and chief operating officer.

FPU also benefited from having consistent management, with only four presidents heading the company from its founding until 1998.

While management was developing its new strategy in 2000, FPU played an unwitting role in a hostile corporate takeover attempt.

2002: Nature Coast Gas, Inc. is acquired.

In addition, FPU took a number of steps in 2003 to cut costs.