Company History

Founded in 1856 as the Adrian Gas Light Company, Citizens Gas Fuel Company has proudly provided safe and reliable natural gas service to the Adrian, Michigan area for more than 170 years. Today, we serves 18,000+ customers with a dedicated team of over 37 employees.

Founding era · 1856 – 1912
1856

Adrian Gas Light Company founded by E.F. Lloyd, serving 98 gas light customers.

Lenawee County pop. 23,000 · Adrian pop. 3,000

1885

Ownership changes; rebranded as Adrian Gas Company.

1903

Renamed Citizens Light and Power. Electrical power delivered to southern Michigan from a coal-fired steam plant on the Raisin River.

President: J.H. Fee

1912

Renamed Lenawee County Gas & Electric Company.

Consolidation era · 1923 – 1942
1923

Cities Service Power and Light acquires the properties. Gas operations renamed Citizens Gas Fuel Company.

1929

Stock market crash reshapes the national utility landscape.

1938

Electric properties sold to Consumers Power and Detroit Edison. R.E. Burger acquires the gas business and appoints Elmer Gmeiner president. Office established at 127 N. Main St.

Customer base: 2,800

1942

Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line runs lateral lines into Adrian. Citizens Gas fuels local factories producing parts for the war effort.

Growth era · 1948 – 1973
1948

37 employees serving 2,700 customers across 33 miles of distribution mains.

1951

Citizens Gas purchased by Toledo businessman Robert S. Mikesell.

1954

Industry milestone: the Thermoplastic Pipe Division recommends the first three thermoplastic materials approved for natural gas distribution.

1960

64 employees serving 5,448 customers across 78.92 miles of mains.

1961

John K. Tolford succeeds Elmer Gmeiner as president following Gmeiner’s 23-year tenure.

1968

Robert I. Nystrom appointed president, succeeding Tolford.

1970

First plastic main and service projects installed. 73 employees serving 7,547 customers.

1973

Propane air plant constructed on Academy Road at a total cost of $885,000.

Corporate era · 1990 – 2024
1990

MCN Energy Group acquires Citizens Gas Fuel. Devere Elgas named president following Robert Nystrom’s retirement.

55 employees

1996

Original office building at 127 N. Main St. found structurally unsafe and demolished.

1997

Grand opening of the new office building at 127 N. Main St.

1998

Devere Elgas retires. Scott Klemm named Chief Operating Officer.

2000

DTE Energy acquires MCN Energy Group, bringing Citizens Gas into the DTE family.

15,125 customers · 48 employees · 424 miles of main

2006

Operating under Bert Fruchey with over 17,000 customers and 37 employees.

2026
170 years

Citizens Gas celebrates 170 years serving Adrian Michigan area communities.