Millennium Sees First Delivery from 182-Mile US Pipeline

Millennium Pipeline Company, L.L.C. announced that its recently constructed 182-mile natural gas pipeline was placed into complete service today and deliveries of natural gas supplies to its anchor shippers have commenced.

"This is an historic day for New York State and the Northeast," said Millennium President Dick Leehr. "Many years of hard work and planning, permitting and eventual construction have finally come to fruition, enabling Millennium to deliver much-needed natural gas supplies as we enter the peak of the 2008-09 winter heating season. But the real winners are the energy users of today and tomorrow, who now have a reliable new natural gas pipeline system that will meet their growing need for clean-burning natural gas for years to come."

"It is gratifying to see that a major collaborative effort involving skilled union workers from local communities and around the country, government officials at all levels, customers, partners, contractors, vendors and many other organizations came together to achieve this common important goal of meeting the region's growing energy needs," Leehr added.

Millennium Pipeline began construction activities in 2007; however, the majority of the 30-inch-diameter mainline pipeline installation work across New York's Southern Tier and lower Hudson Valley was completed this year. Some land restoration and environmental monitoring work will extend into 2009 and beyond. More than 2,000 workers -- many hired from local communities -- were involved in construction of the pipeline.

More than 90 percent of the Millennium pipeline was installed within or adjacent to existing pipeline rights-of-way. Millennium is the centerpiece of a $1 billion investment in new energy infrastructure that includes new facilities by Empire Pipeline, Algonquin Gas Transmission and the Iroquois Gas Transmission systems.

Millennium Pipeline is anchored by its customers National Grid, Consolidated Edison of New York, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation and Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation. Millennium will serve markets along its route in the Southern Tier and lower Hudson Valley as well as providing essential service to the New York City markets through its pipeline interconnections. Millennium's design will allow it to transport up to 525,400 dekatherms per day, based on market needs. Millennium is jointly owned by affiliates of NiSource Inc., National Grid and DTE Energy.