Gas Natural Inc. is a natural gas company, primarily operating local distribution companies in six states and serving approximately 70,000 customers. The Company operates in five business segments: natural gas operations, marketing and production, pipeline operations, propane operations, and corporate and other. As of December 31, 2011, it had operations in seven states located in the West, Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the country. Its annually distributes approximately 32 billion cubic feet of natural gas to approximately 70,000 customers through regulated utilities. Its natural gas utility subsidiaries include Bangor Gas Company (Maine), Cut Bank Gas (Montana), NEO (Ohio) and Orwell (Ohio and Pennsylvania). In August 1, 2011, it acquired Independence Oil & LP Gas, Inc. On September 25, 2012, the Company acquired a leasehold interest in a 189-mile pipeline corridor easement running from Searsport to Limestone, Maine (Loring Pipeline) and various parcels of land.