CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission holds open season for firm capacity on a proposed expansion in eastern Arkansas

HOUSTON .– CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company (CEGT), an indirect, wholly-owned interstate natural gas pipeline subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP), announced today the start of a non-binding open season to gauge market interest in an additional expansion of its core pipeline system in eastern Arkansas. CEGT is soliciting interest in an expansion in response to growing production surrounding the company’s pipeline system.

“Gas production from the Fayetteville Shale remains robust, and an additional expansion of CEGT’s core pipeline system would provide these incremental supplies access to the interstate pipelines serving the Midwest and Northeast,” said Cy Zebot, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for CEGT. “We are well positioned to expeditiously get these supplies to the marketplace and will continue to identify transportation solutions to support this production growth. Assuming adequate expressions of interest are received, we’re prepared to execute binding precedent agreements and seek necessary governmental authorizations to place this project into service as soon as possible.”

CEGT anticipates that such incremental capacity would be provided with additional compression and line looping of Lines J and JM-1. The specific facilities required will be a function of the location and volume level commitment of potential supply sources. Final pricing determinations will be based on the facility costs, the level of firm commitments and the amount of interest indicated in accessing interstate pipelines connected to CEGT’s pipeline system. CEGT will consider proposals of any term, but estimates that long-term commitments will be necessary to complete this project.