Columbia Pipeline Group Advances Two Additional Appalachian Expansion Projects

HOUSTON, Jan. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. ("CPG") (NYSE: CPGX) and Columbia Pipeline Partners LP (NYSE: CPPL) (together, "Columbia") announced today that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") has issued a certificate authorizing Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC ("Columbia Gas") to construct and operate the Utica Access Project in West Virginia.

"We are pleased that the FERC has approved our application to construct the Utica Access Project," said Columbia President Glen Kettering.  "This is another Columbia growth project that connects abundant, but constrained, Appalachian supplies to higher value domestic markets."

The Utica Access Project will be placed in service in the fourth quarter of 2016 and deliver up to 205 million cubic feet per day of Utica supply to the highly liquid Columbia Gas, Appalachia Pool.

Columbia also announced that Columbia Gas has formally filed a certificate application with the FERC for its WB XPress Project in West Virginia and Virginia.

The approximately $850 million WB XPress Project will deliver up to 1.3 billion cubic feet per day of Appalachian supply to expanding Mid-Atlantic markets, as well as Gulf Coast markets via a downstream, third-party interstate pipeline expansion from an existing interconnect in West Virginia.

"The CPG team is sharply focused on the execution of our extensive growth and modernization investment inventory," said Kettering. "Hitting these key project milestones keeps us squarely on track to deliver these projects on time and on budget."

Prior to filing its WB XPress certificate application, Columbia worked with a number of communities, landowners and agencies at the federal, state and local level for well over a year. Columbia will continue to work closely with all stakeholders throughout each phase of the project.

Pending FERC authorization, Columbia expects to commence WB XPress construction in 2017 and place the project in service in the second half of 2018.

About Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc.

Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. operates approximately 15,000 miles of strategically located interstate pipeline, gathering and processing assets extending from New York to the Gulf of Mexico, including an extensive footprint in the Marcellus and Utica shale production areas.  Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. also operates one of the nation's largest underground natural gas storage systems. Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol CPGX.

About Columbia Pipeline Partners LP

Columbia Pipeline Partners LP, based in Houston, Texas, is a fee-based, growth-oriented master limited partnership formed to own, operate and develop a growing portfolio of natural gas pipelines, storage and related midstream assets.

Columbia Pipeline Partners' business and operations are conducted through CPG OpCo LP and its subsidiaries, which own and operate substantially all of the natural gas transmission, storage and midstream assets of Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. Columbia Pipeline Group operates approximately 15,000 miles of strategically located interstate pipelines extending from New York to the Gulf of Mexico, one of the nation's largest underground natural gas storage systems, and a growing portfolio of related gathering and processing assets. The majority of its assets overlay the Marcellus and Utica Shale production areas. Additional information can be found at www.columbiapipelinepartners.com or www.cpg.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Columbia and its management. Although Columbia believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its goals will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including required approvals by regulatory agencies, the possibility that the anticipated benefits from such activities, events, developments or transactions cannot be fully realized, the possibility that costs or difficulties related thereto will be greater than expected, the impact of competition, and other risk factors included in Columbia's reports filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Columbia expressly disclaims any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

SOURCE Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.cpg.com