NiSource Salutes Launch of Millennium Natural Gas Pipeline

MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Dec 22, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) President and Chief Executive Officer Robert C. Skaggs, Jr. commended Millennium Pipeline Company, L.L.C. as it today began providing natural gas transportation service to customers of its new, 182- mile natural gas pipeline. "The successful launch of the Millennium Pipeline marks the beginning of a new era of energy supply diversity and reliability for New York and the Northeast," Skaggs said. "Millennium obviously provides immediate benefits by delivering much-needed new supplies of clean-burning natural gas to customers in the region. But this important new pipeline also provides long-term economic development and energy sustainability advantages by expanding the options available for bringing existing and future New York natural gas production and storage supplies to market." Millennium is jointly owned by units of NiSource Inc., National Grid, and DTE Energy. Construction on the pipeline began in June 2007 along a path spanning New York's Southern Tier region and the lower Hudson Valley. Millennium's completed design allows it to transport up to 525,400 dekatherms of natural gas per day to markets along its route, as well as to the New York City metropolitan area and the Northeast via pipeline interconnections. Initial anchor shippers on the pipeline include National Grid, Consolidated Edison of New York, Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. and Columbia Gas Transmission LLC. "As the primary sponsor of the Millennium Pipeline, NiSource salutes the many workers, community representatives, governmental leaders and energy partners who helped make this important new energy asset a reality," added Christopher A. Helms, executive vice president and group CEO of NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage. "This project is a great representation of NiSource's commitment to be a part of a collaborative, infrastructure-driven growth project that meets the long-term energy needs of the many markets we serve." About NiSource NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), based in Merrillville, Ind., is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to 3.8 million customers located within the high- demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at www.nisource.com. NI-F Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of NiSource and its management. Although NiSource believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its goals will be achieved. Readers are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this presentation are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and that actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. NiSource expressly disclaims a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release. SOURCE NiSource Inc. http://www.nisource.com Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved News Provided by COMTEX

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