Williams has announced an open season running now through Aug.24 to sign up firm shippers for expansion of its Transco pipelinesystem running northeast from Station 85 across Alabama and Georgiato mainline delivery points in Zone 4 and ending just north ofAtlanta, GA.

Response to the open season will determine the capacity of theSouthCoast project, which is expected to be in service by the2000-2001 heating season. Besides the traditional heating market,the Transco expansion also will serve the growing gas-firedgeneration behind the summer A/C market. The added capacity alsocould feed shippers on the proposed Cumberland Gas Pipeline systemconnecting at Transco’s station 125 and traveling north to aconnection with an AGL Resources system near Chattanooga, TN. TheCumberland line is a partnership between subsidiaries of Williamsand Atlanta Gas Light parent, AGL Resources.

The exact length of the expansion project will be decided bysign-ups. Williams intends to seek rolled-in rate treatment forthe cost of the project and is expecting to file at FERC by yearend. The current 100% load factor reservation rate is about18/cents/dth/d.

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