May 8 (Reuters) - Atmos Energy raised its full-year profit forecast on Wednesday after reporting an increase in quarterly profit, as the natural gas utility benefited from a rise in demand for the heating fuel.

The firm said its consolidated net income rose to $432 million, or $2.85 per share, in the three months ended March 31, from $357.7 million, or $2.48 per share, a year earlier.

Natural gas utility companies see a rise in demand when service regions experience extreme weather conditions that help pump up demand for electricity in these regions.

The company also saw added benefits from rising residential customer growth in its biggest service region, in terms of operating income, of Central Texas and benefits from rate adjustments.

Additionally, the cost of purchased gas, one of the main expenses for the company, mirrored the decline in natural gas prices, falling to $963.2 million, compared with $1.4 billion in the year-ago quarter.

The Dallas-based company now sees annual profit between $6.70 per share and $6.80 per share, up from previously forecast range of $6.45 to $6.65 apiece.

(Reporting by Saikeerthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)