Alliance Pipeline Ltd. filed an application with Canada’s National Energy Board to construct compression and ancillary facilities at its existing Taylor Junction valve site, approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) northeast of Taylor, BC, within the Peace River Regional District. The proposed expansion would enhance capacity for gas receipts originating in northeastern BC. Construction of the facilities would enable an increase in gas receipt capacity on Alliance’s BC lateral system. Alliance will not increase the mainline capacity of its system with this project, only the ability for existing shippers to increase gas nominations at receipt points in BC. The additional capacity was made available to existing Alliance shippers through a binding open season in October (see Daily GPI, Oct. 6, 2006), and Alliance has entered into contracts with the interested shippers. Subject to regulatory approval, site foundations will be poured in Fall 2007 and the major construction activities would occur during 2008. Start-up is scheduled for November 2008.

Houston, TX-based CenterPoint Energy announced Thursday that the March natural gas price for residential customers in Minnesota is $1.07 per therm. Assuming normal weather, a typical residential customer can expect to use 130 therms during March, resulting in a bill of approximately $148. Actual bills will depend on how much natural gas individual customers use and how much weather deviates from what is considered normal. CenterPoint Energy is a domestic energy delivery company that serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. In Minnesota, CenterPoint Energy is the state’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving nearly 790,000 customers in 259 communities.

TEPPCO Partners LP has completed the sale of its 50% interest in Mont Belvieu Storage Partners LP and associated assets to Louis Dreyfus Energy Services LP (see Daily GPI, Nov. 29, 2006). TEPPCO said it received $168 million for the transaction, which includes proceeds from the sale and about $10 million of cash distributions related to prior earnings. TEPPCO said it plans to use the proceeds from the transaction to fund its portion of the Jonah Gas Gathering System expansion and other organic growth projects.

Citing strong supplies and expected stable prices, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said its March natural gas retail bills will be down about 18%, compared to February (on average $76.74, compared with $93.94 in February). That’s 10% less than March 2006 bills. However, the utility’s cost of gas is expected to be higher by about 5.6% in March, compared to February. The cost of gas is 0.6% lower than in March 2006.

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