Historic Laredo
An illustrated history of the city of Laredo and the Webb County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of the city of Laredo and the Webb County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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RELIANT<br />
ENERGY<br />
ENTEX<br />
✧<br />
Top: Reliant Energy Entex had been<br />
headquartered at 903 Hidalgo since<br />
its beginning.<br />
Below: Reliant Energy Entex relocated<br />
to its new facility at 1901 Market<br />
Street in July, 1999.<br />
For nearly a century, Reliant Energy Entex<br />
and its predecessor companies have supplied<br />
the City of <strong>Laredo</strong> with dependable natural<br />
gas service.<br />
Natural gas development began in 1910, in<br />
the old Randado field, some 22 miles from<br />
<strong>Laredo</strong>. The Reiser brothers struck gas sand<br />
while attempting to drill a deep artesian water<br />
well. The well was completed as a gas well.<br />
Dr. M. P. Cullinan organized the Border Gas<br />
Company, later acquired by a predecessor of<br />
United Gas. Gas was piped for distribution into<br />
the City of <strong>Laredo</strong>, then a town of 14,000 in<br />
population. <strong>Laredo</strong> was one of the first four or<br />
five towns in the state of Texas to enjoy the<br />
advantages of natural gas.<br />
In 1946, the <strong>Laredo</strong> District was set<br />
up in United Gas’ Southwest Texas Division, serving<br />
seven Texas towns and Nuevo <strong>Laredo</strong>, Mexico.<br />
United Gas merged with Pennzoil in 1968.<br />
Two years later, the distribution unit was spun<br />
off as United Gas, Inc. In 1974, the name was<br />
changed to Entex, Inc. In 1976, Entex acquired<br />
the distribution properties of Houston Natural<br />
Gas Corporation. Then, in 1988, Entex divested<br />
its remaining non-distribution assets and<br />
merged with NorAm and, in 1997, merged<br />
with Reliant Energy, formerly known as<br />
Houston Industries, becoming one of the top<br />
five combination gas and electric companies in<br />
the nation.<br />
Today, the <strong>Laredo</strong> office serves as headquarters<br />
for the <strong>Laredo</strong> District and is home to 35<br />
employees. Reliant Energy Entex has kept up as<br />
<strong>Laredo</strong> has grown. With approximately 371-<br />
miles of main lines and 167-miles of service<br />
lines, Reliant Energy Entex continually extends<br />
lines to serve new residential, commercial, and<br />
industrial customers.<br />
Reliant Energy Entex is also keeping up with<br />
new technology and is providing natural gas<br />
service to the City of <strong>Laredo</strong>’s El Metro municipal<br />
transit system for the compressed natural<br />
gas refueling station that opened in July, 1995.<br />
Texas A&M International University has also<br />
enjoyed the efficient economical advantages of<br />
natural gas since 1995.<br />
100 ✦ HISTORIC LAREDO
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