BIRMINGHAM (AP) — The Laclede Group has completed its purchase of Alabama’s largest natural gas utility, Birmingham-based Alabama Gas Corp.

Laclede announced the completion of the deal with Energen on Tuesday and said it involved about $1.35 billion in cash and the assumption of $250 million in long-term debt.

Laclede, based in St. Louis, Missouri, announced in April that it would buy Alabama Gas from Energen and expand its service area beyond Missouri. Prior to the acquisition, the company had about 1.1 million customers in Missouri and now has more than 1.5 million in the two states.

Alabama Gas, also known as Alagasco, supplies natural gas to customers in more than 200 Alabama towns, including Birmingham and Montgomery.