Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP said it is holding a second open season for the remaining capacity in its proposed $1.1 billion Gulf Crossing pipeline. During the previous open season, customers signed binding precedent agreements for 1 Bcf/d of the proposed 1.65 Bcf/d of total capacity. Last week Crosstex Energy said it would take 150,000 Dth/d of firm capacity on Gulf Crossing. Enterprise Products Partners and Devon Energy, the largest Barnett Shale producer, recently also agreed to be foundation shippers on Gulf Crossing with 850 MMcf/d of the proposed capacity under 10-year contracts and options for an additional 350 MMcf/d. The Gulf Crossing project would be a new 355 mile, 42-inch diameter interstate pipeline from the Barnett Shale plan in northeastern Texas to the Perryville Hub in North Louisiana, where it would interconnect with multiple downstream pipelines. Upstream of the project, both Crosstex and Enterprise will expand their intrastate pipelines systems. Plans also call for Gulf Crossing to lease capacity on Boardwalk subsidiary Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP to make deliveries from Perryville to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. at Station 85 in Choctaw County, AL. Subject to regulatory approvals, the Gulf Crossing project will be in service during the fourth quarter of 2008. The open season runs through Dec. 15. For more information, contact Brian Cody at (713) 544-7365 or Brian.Cody@gulfsouthpl.com and David Lytle at (713) 544-6081 or David.Lytle@gulfsouthpl.com.

AGL Resources subsidiary Chattanooga Gas Co., which serves about 61,000 customers in southeastern Tennessee, filed a settlement with the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) that addresses Phase I of utility’s rate case. The settlement was filed with the Consumer Advocate and Protection Division of the Tennessee Attorney General’s office and the Chattanooga Manufacturers Association. If it’s accepted by the TRA, the revised base rates would go into effect on Jan. 1. The average residential customer using 60 therms of natural gas each month would have a bill increase of $1.92, or 2.5% in the nongas portion of the bill. Officials with the company attribute the need for this rate increase to the higher cost of financing its operations and lower consumption of natural gas. Next year, the TRA will consider Phase II of the rate case, under which customers may benefit from a 21-point home energy check-up and a weatherization kit to help them make their homes more energy efficient. Under the efficiency plan, Chattanooga Gas estimates customers may save up to $170 annually in energy costs. The program also includes rebates for more energy efficient appliances. In October, Chattanooga Gas announced its customers would see a 34% reduction in the natural gas portion of their bills compared with one year ago because of falling gas prices. The utility estimated average residential customers using 60 therms of natural gas should save approximately $29.50 in November. In December, the average residential customer who uses around 115 therms of natural gas should save $56.60 versus one year ago. Chattanooga Gas is also refunding customers $4.7 million this year as part of its asset management agreement with Sequent Energy Management.

©Copyright 2006Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.