PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE--(Marketwire - April 1, 2013) - Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) is seeking market support for a plan to increase capacity on its pipeline. This expansion will bring additional, diverse natural gas supply options to markets in New England and Atlantic Canada.

A 45-day binding open season begins today (April 1) for firm transportation on the Continent to Coast (C2C) Expansion Project.

C2C will access natural gas supplies from key North American natural gas basins via TransCanada Pipeline. Atlantic Canada markets can then transport on PNGTS to an interconnection with Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline at Westbrook, Maine. Shippers interested in moving natural gas further south into New England can transport on PNGTS to interconnects with other New England natural gas pipelines at Dracut, Haverhill and Methuen, Mass.

Preliminary inquiries indicate that firm capacity requests may raise PNGTS' current capacity of 168,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) to a total range of 300,000-350,000 Dth/d. The expected in-service date of C2C would be November 2016. For the C2C Project to go forward, an upstream expansion on the TransCanada pipeline will be necessary.

"C2C will provide shippers with very cost-effective and expeditious access to prolific natural gas basins across North America," said PNGTS President Keith Nelson.

Nelson noted that declining Sable Island production and LNG deliveries, along with uncertainty about Deep Panuke supply, have contributed to the demand for the C2C Expansion.

"We're here, we have pipe in the ground, and we're ready to serve," Nelson added.

For more information about the open season that ends on May 15, contact Cynthia Armstrong, Director of Marketing and Business Development, PNGTS, at 603.559.5527 or via email at cynthia_armstrong@transcanada.com.

About Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS)

PNGTS is a high-capacity, high-pressure interstate natural gas pipeline that began serving New England's growing energy needs in 1999. PNGTS connects to the TransQuebec and Maritimes Pipeline (owned by TransCanada and Gaz Metro) at the Canadian border and with the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline (owned by Spectra Energy, Exxon Mobil and NS Power Holdings) at Westbrook, Maine and Methuen, Massachusetts, and with the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (owned by Kinder Morgan) at Dracut and Haverhill, Massachusetts, just North of Boston.

Contact Information:

Portland Natural Gas Transmission System
Cynthia Armstrong
Director of Marketing and Business Development
603.559.5527
cynthia_armstrong@transcanada.com