Columbia Gas Transmission Moving Forward With East Side Expansion Project

HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage (NGT&S), a unit of NiSource Inc., today announced plans to move forward with its East Side Expansion project. The project involves the construction of additional capacity on NGT&S' Columbia Gas Transmission (Columbia) system to help meet increasing demand and transport Marcellus Shale gas produced in northern Pennsylvania to markets along the East Coast and in the mid-Atlantic region.

"Our East Side Expansion is a great example of Columbia's unparalleled ability to deliver new, affordable supplies of natural gas to growing Northeast and mid-Atlantic markets," Jimmy D. Staton, executive vice president and group chief executive officer of NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage, said. "We continue to work with our customers to develop innovative ways to enhance our pipeline system and effectively meet our customers' natural gas transportation needs."

"Columbia is committed to identifying and executing on a wide range of growth opportunities across our entire pipeline system," Joseph Shields, chief operating officer, NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage, noted. "With contracts in place and funding approved for this project, we shift our efforts to working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other federal, state and local agencies to facilitate the construction process."

The East Side Expansion project, which is supported by binding precedent agreements, will provide up to 310,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of additional system capacity. The project calls for constructing additional pipeline capacity along an existing pipeline system, adding compression to an existing compressor station, and enhancing interconnects with Millennium Pipeline at Columbia's Wagoner metering station and with Tennessee Gas Pipeline at Milford compressor station.

Construction on the expansion is expected to begin in early 2015 to meet a targeted in-service date in late 2015. Columbia has begun working with federal, state and local agencies and will continue to engage key stakeholders, landowners and customers throughout the planning and construction process. For more information about the East Side Expansion project, visit [ http://www.ngts.com/en/current-projects/eastside.aspx ].

About NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage

As units of NiSource Inc., the NGT&S companies include Columbia Gas Transmission, Columbia Gulf Transmission, Crossroads Pipeline, Hardy Storage, Millennium Pipeline and NiSource Energy Ventures. Combined, the companies operate about 15,000 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline and 37 storage fields, delivering over 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas per year. For more information about NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage, please visit [ www.ngts.com ].

About NiSource

NiSource Inc. (NYSE: [ NI ]), 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 [ www.nisource.com ].

Caution Regarding 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. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of NiSource and NGT&S, and their respective management. Although NiSource and NGT&S believe that their expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, they can give no assurance that their goals will be achieved. Readers are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and that actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: weather; fluctuations in supply and demand for energy commodities; growth opportunities for NiSource's and NGT&S' businesses; the success of regulatory and commercial initiatives; dealings with third parties over whom NiSource and NGT&S have no control; actual operating experience of NiSource's and NGT&S' assets; the regulatory process; regulatory and legislative changes; the impact of potential new environmental laws or regulations; the results of material litigation; changes in general economic, capital and commodity market conditions; and counterparty credit risk and the matters set forth in the "Risk Factors" Section in NiSource Inc.'s 2011 Form 10-K and 2012 Forms 10-Q, many of which are risks beyond the control of NiSource or NGT&S. Both NiSource and NGT&S expressly disclaim a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release.

SOURCE Columbia Gas Transmission

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Columbia Gas Transmission Moving Forward With East Side Expansion Project