Williams’ Transco pipeline has received approval for itsSouthCoast Expansion, a project to deliver up to 204 MMcf/d ofadditional supplies starting in November, primarily in Georgia andSouth Carolina. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued acertificate for the project last Monday, accepting Transco’salternate incremental rate scheme, requiring signed 15-yearcontracts for 100% of capacity, and dismissing protests (see FERCDocket CP99-392)

The 44 miles of expanded pipe primarily will serve Atlanta GasLight (AGL) (61 MMcf/d), Georgia Power (40 MMcf/d) and a new powergeneration plant to be built by the South Carolina Public ServiceAuthority (Santee Cooper) (80 MMcf/d), as well as various smalltowns and cities. The facilities will increase mainline capacitybetween Station 85 in Butler, AL, to delivery points in Zone 4.

The $108,354,725 project includes approximately 44 miles of 24-and 48-inch looping in Alabama and Georgia and two compressorstotaling 31,500 hp (see Daily GPI, April 30, 1999). FERC alsoapproved a certificate for Santee Cooper to build 2.1 miles of16-inch pipe from its plant construction site in South Carolina toa connection with Transco in Georgia. The agency said it would costmore to connect to the Transco system in Georgia, which is in adifferent rate zone because the fuel retention percentage would behigher. Crossing the state line puts the power authority’sconnector under FERC jurisdiction, but the Commission grantedSantee Cooper’s requested waiver of onerous interstate reportingrequirements.

The Commission approved an incremental rate for firm transportation on the expanded facilities on Transco’s mainline of $7.6214/Dth and $5.4518/Dth for its North Georgia Extension. Transco and the Commission by-passed protests to the pipeline’s initial plan for rolled-in rates, settling on incremental rates so that existing customers would not bear the burden of the expansion costs (see NGI, Nov. 29, 1999). The SouthCoast Expansion is expected to have minimal impact on the environment and surrounding landowners since construction will occur on or near Transco’s existing right-of-way.

Ellen Beswick

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