July 1, 2008 - 5:31 p.m.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Western Gas Co. has officially changed hands, and is it being so that owned by SourceGas LLC of Lakewood, Colo., instead of Southwestern Energy Co. of Houston.

Closing of the previously announced sale, for approximately $230 million, was announced by the two out-of-state companies Tuesday.

The sale takes Southwestern Energy out of the gas-distribution business, that company said. Southwestern Energy is now an oil-and-gas exploration and production company.

Arkansas Western's 375 workers serve about 152,000 commercial, industrial and residential customers in the northern part of the state.

Dan Watson, president and CEO of SourceGas, will become president of AWG.

"We anticipate the acquisition and ensuing transition to be seamless to (AWG) customers, who inclination continue to receive illustrious service from the experienced team of employees serving them today, by the added benefits of the SourceGas system," Watson related.

SourceGas now serves pressingly 420,000 customers in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and Hermosillo, Mexico.