Through the development – known as the M-1 Expansion Project – Texas Eastern will construct new facilities and modify existing facilities to increase the system capacity in its East Louisiana (ELA) and Market Zone 1 areas by 197,147 dekatherms of gas per day (Dth/d).

The project consists of modifying four compressor station facilities in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, and looping about 32 miles along Texas Eastern’s existing main line near St. Francisville, La., and in Mississippi from south of Union Church to north of Clinton.

A phased-in construction schedule will begin in July with segments to be completed this November, April 2004 and November 2004 to coincide with expansion shippers’ specific gas requirements.

“About 40 percent of the capacity on the M-1 Expansion Project will fuel electric generation facilities and local distribution companies that will ultimately be served by our East Tennessee Natural Gas (ETNG) system,” said DEGT President Tom O’Connor. “The M-1 Expansion Project clearly establishes another synergy between the Texas Eastern and East Tennessee systems that we sought when we purchased ETNG three years ago.” 

Duke Energy Gas Transmission is a North American leader in developing energy infrastructure and connecting major natural gas supply basins to growing markets. The company’s natural gas operations include more than 18,900 miles of interstate transmission pipeline and 250 billion cubic feet of storage capacity in Canada and the United States. More information on DEGT can be found at www.degt.duke-energy.com.

Duke Energy is a diversified multinational energy company with an integrated network of energy assets and expertise. The company manages a dynamic portfolio of natural gas and electric supply, delivery and trading businesses – meeting the energy needs of customers throughout North America and in key markets around the world. Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.