Gas News Release

February 2, 2000

CNG Transmission Announces New Service Link in New York

CLARKSBURG, WV – CNG Transmission announces the commencement of service at a new interconnect with the Empire State Pipeline at Lysander, New York.

Located within the town of Lysander in Onondaga County, New York, the $2.2 million interconnect consists of a 12-inch diameter pipeline plus associated metering facilities, which Empire built and owns. The New York Public Service Commission approved construction of Empire’s new facilities in the fall of 1999; it was placed in-service on February 1, 2000. The interconnect with CNG’s facilities has a designed capacity of 100 million cubic feet per day

“This new interconnection will benefit Empire shippers by providing additional gas supply and delivery alternatives through economical access to the strategically located Leidy, Pa., market hub as well as mid-Atlantic markets and other points on the CNG system,” said Richard Lietz, Chairman of Empire’s Management Committee and Executive Vice President of ANR Pipeline Company.

The Lysander interconnect will provide value-added advantages including, storage refill opportunities on CNG and the availability of FT and IT service, rates are negotiable and dependent upon the services requested.

“We are pleased to be working with Empire on this new interconnect,” said Paul Koonce, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations of CNG Regulated Businesses. “This project is consistent with our efforts to expand choices for our customers and maximize the use of existing Northeast infrastructure.”

Shippers interested in capacity form the new interconnect at Lysander with Empire to markets on CNG should call CNG’s Marketing Manager in the New York area, Dennis Sugumele at 716-223-5606.