COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 4923

Gas Transmission and Distribution

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1906–1987founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedONEOK Inc.FoundedONEOK Inc.
1906
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThe Columbia Gas System, Inc.FoundedThe Columbia Gas System, Inc.
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedTexas Utilities CompanyFoundedTexas Utilities Company
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedTenneco Inc.FoundedTenneco Inc.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedSeagull Energy CorporationFoundedSeagull Energy Corporation
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedEnergen CorporationFoundedEnergen Corporation
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAssociated Natural Gas CorporationFoundedAssociated Natural Gas Corporation
1983
FoundedQuestar CorporationFoundedQuestar Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCMS Energy CorporationFoundedCMS Energy Corporation
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1989
EnvironmentThe Exxon Valdez spill reshapes energy and shipping rules.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
EnvironmentThe Deepwater Horizon spill triggers sweeping energy rules.
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

ONEOK Inc. →
Active · founded 1906
ONEOK Inc.
ONEOK Inc. →
Active · founded 1906
ONEOK Inc.
The Columbia Gas System, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
The Columbia Gas System, Inc., is one of the largest integrated natural gas systems in the United States.
The Columbia Gas System, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
The Columbia Gas System, Inc., is one of the largest integrated natural gas systems in the United States.
Texas Utilities Company →
Active · founded 1945
Texas Utilities Company is a holding company with six wholly owned subsidiaries, the largest of which is Texas…
Texas Utilities Company →
Active · founded 1945
Texas Utilities Company is a holding company with six wholly owned subsidiaries, the largest of which is Texas…
Tenneco Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Tenneco Inc.
Tenneco Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Tenneco Inc.
Seagull Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1973
Seagull Energy Corporation is an energy company with operations in the southwestern United States, Alaska, and Canada.
Seagull Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1973
Seagull Energy Corporation is an energy company with operations in the southwestern United States, Alaska, and Canada.
Energen Corporation →
Active · founded 1979
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Energen Corporation is a diversified holding company in natural gas distribution,…
Energen Corporation →
Active · founded 1979
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Energen Corporation is a diversified holding company in natural gas distribution,…
Associated Natural Gas Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Associated Natural Gas Corporation (ANG) is one of the largest independent natural gas companies in the United States.
Associated Natural Gas Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Associated Natural Gas Corporation (ANG) is one of the largest independent natural gas companies in the United States.
Questar Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Questar Corporation is an integrated natural gas company whose major subsidiaries search for, produce, and market oil…
Questar Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Questar Corporation is an integrated natural gas company whose major subsidiaries search for, produce, and market oil…
CMS Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
CMS Energy Corporation is a diversified energy company with businesses engaged in electric and gas utility operations.
CMS Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
CMS Energy Corporation is a diversified energy company with businesses engaged in electric and gas utility operations.
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