the company was originally the direct provider of natural gas, becoming a regulated monopoly under the georgia public service commission (psc). under governor zell miller, the georgia general assembly forced it to divide into retail and wholesale divisions and compete with other retailers, starting in 1998. the move was generally regarded as a failure, as it was not shown to have reduced prices for consumers, only making it more complicated for them to choose among 19 different marketers selling the same gas going through the same pipes as before. agl's retail division is georgia natural gas (gng), and is one of around a dozen remaining resellers. the wholesale division was known as atlanta gas light services (agls) for some time.