TULSA, Okla., Nov 14, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) announced today that its energy services segment ranked as the top "major" natural gas marketer for 2006 in the latest MASTIOGALE, or "Mastio," Natural Gas Marketer Customer Value Study. Rankings are based on interviews with approximately 750 natural gas buyers, which include industrial customers, local gas distribution customers, electric generation companies, independent power producers, producers and marketers.
Each survey respondent rated 180 natural gas marketers on 26 attributes important to customer satisfaction, loyalty and value. These attributes measured performance across five categories -- customer service, operations, products and services, company reputation and image, and pricing.
"Quality customer service has been and will continue to be a core value in our business practices," said Billy Maxwell, president of ONEOK Energy Services. "We are honored to be recognized by the customers we serve with the top ranking."
The survey, the tenth since 1995, is divided into two categories: "major" marketers and "regional" marketers. This is the second time in ten years that ONEOK has been ranked the top major gas marketer. Other major marketers whose satisfaction ratings exceeded MASTIOGALE's industry benchmark were BP, ConocoPhillips and Nexen, Inc.
The MASTIOGALE survey stated that, according to buyers of natural gas, the most important issue is reliability of gas supply. Second in importance is integrity of the supplier, and the third most important item is the historical dependability in meeting commitments.
ONEOK, Inc. is a diversified energy company. We are the general partner and own 45.7 percent of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS), one of the largest publicly traded limited partnerships, which is a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the U.S. and owns one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting much of the natural gas and NGL supply in the Mid-Continent with key market centers. ONEOK is among the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, serving more than 2 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Our energy services operation focuses primarily on marketing natural gas and related services throughout the U.S. ONEOK is a Fortune 500 company.
For information about ONEOK, Inc. visit the Web site:
http://www.oneok.com .
Analyst Contact: Dan Harrison
918-588-7950
Media Contact: Megan Washbourne
918-588-7572
OKE-G
SOURCE ONEOK, Inc.
analysts, Dan Harrison, +1-918-588-7950, or media, Megan Washbourne, +1-918-588-7572,
both of ONEOK, Inc.
http://www.oneok.com