Gas Natural Inc. Receives Positive Outcome with Montana PSC Ruling

Gas Natural Inc. (NYSE MKT:

) (the "Company"), a holding company operating local natural gas utilities serving approximately 68,000 customers in six states, announced that it has received approval from the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) on its application related to dividend payments from its subsidiary Energy West, Incorporated (EWI), which operates a Montana-regulated public utility. The MPSC has approved the Company's request for EWI to reinstate its regular monthly dividends to the Company. The MPSC also approved payment from EWI to the Company of a special dividend of $2.2 million from the proceeds from the sale of EWI subsidiary Energy West Wyoming and the assets of Energy West Development, which were completed on July 1, 2015. The payment of the special dividend from EWI to the Company has been completed and a portion of the proceeds were used to repay the remaining $2.0 million balance on its $5 million bridge loan. Gregory J. Osborne, Gas Natural's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "EWI's Montana operations consistently deliver excellent results and generate significant cash flows. The cash position of EWI is at a level well above its current needs, making it prudent to reinstate the regular dividend to the holding company to redeploy for other corporate needs, including investments in growth opportunities. Additionally, the favorable ruling is an important step toward refinancing our long-term debt and further strengthening our balance sheet."