NiSource Subsidiary Columbia Gas Transmission Files Project Application With FERC
HOUSTON, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. (TCO), a unit of NiSource Inc. , today filed its formal application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to help meet increased market demand for natural gas in the eastern United States.
The Eastern Market Expansion project will expand pipeline, compression and storage networks to provide an incremental 97,050 dekatherms per day of storage deliverability and associated firm pipeline transportation capacity to local gas distribution company customers in Virginia and Pennsylvania. This project represents investment in infrastructure of $175 million.
The Eastern Market Expansion Project will expand TCO’s ability to serve growing Eastern and Mid-Atlantic markets. The project’s proposed in-service date is April 1, 2009.
Four local gas utilities have executed 15-year agreements for the combined storage and transportation services. The total storage contract quantity associated with this expansion exceeds 5.8 million dekatherms. TCO plans to expand existing storage fields in West Virginia and Ohio, install additional compression at existing facilities in West Virginia, and construct pipeline loops in West Virginia and northeastern Virginia.
“Incremental firm storage capacity in the Eastern and Mid-Atlantic markets is needed to meet the robust growth demands of the region,” said Christopher A. Helms, president of NiSource’s Pipeline Group. “The Eastern Market Expansion Project demonstrates our on-going commitment to provide vital gas transmission and storage services to the market and to be a key player in the development of energy infrastructure in North America.”
Columbia Transmission operates 12,750 miles of interstate natural gas transmission pipeline in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southern states, including 36 natural gas storage fields.
About Columbia Transmission and NiSource
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. is an interstate pipeline company, operating a 12,750-mile network of natural gas pipelines in 10 Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern and Southern states, transporting approximately 1 trillion cubic feet of gas per year to 72 local gas distribution companies.
NiSource Inc. , based in Merrillville, Ind., is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to more than 3.8 million customers located within the high-demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at http://www.nisource.com/. NI-F
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on our current expectations and information currently available and are believed to be reasonable and are made in good faith. However, the forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statements. Factors that may make the actual results differ from anticipated results include, but are not limited to, regulatory approvals, economic conditions; competition from other providers of similar products, and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and some of which are beyond our control. The words “expect,”"believe,”"project,”"anticipate,”"intend,”"should,”"could,”"will” and variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information about the risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements may be found in Piedmont’s and NiSource’s filings with the SEC on Forms 10-K and Forms 10-Q, which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov/.
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp.
CONTACT: Media, Jennifer Goddard, Manager, Communications,+1-304-357-2149, or jgoddard@nisource.com, or Investors, Randy Hulen,Director, Investor Relations, +1-219-647-5688, or rghulen@nisource.com, bothof NiSource Inc.
Web site: http://www.nisource.com/