Miller Energy Resources Receives $1.5 Million Tariff Settlement Payment

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Feb 18, 2011, 08:00 ET

HUNTSVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Miller Petroleum, Inc. dba Miller Energy Resources ("Miller") (Nasdaq: MILL) a high growth oil and natural gas exploration, production and drilling company announced today that it has received approximately $1.5 million from the Cook Inlet Pipe Line Company ("CIPL") as its 2010 true-up payment. Last November, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska ("RCA") approved a pipeline tariff settlement between Miller's Alaskan subsidiary, Cook Inlet Energy, LLC ("CIE"), and CIPL that included this true-up provision. CIPL, a subsidiary of Chevron Pipeline Co., operates the 42-mile pipeline on the west side of Cook Inlet that CIE uses to export its oil production.

The settlement reduced the per barrel tariff required to be paid to CIPL by CIE on each shipment of CIE's oil for 2010, and established a methodology for calculating the per barrel rate for years following 2010. According to the 2010 true-up, the total overpayment by CIE for 2010 was approximately $1.75 million. The terms of the settlement provide that any overpayments by CIE up to $250,000 will be credited against future shipments, so in addition to the $1.5 million received in cash by Miller this week, another $250,000 remains in CIE's account at CIPL and will be credited against the next shipments made by CIE.

"This tariff payment represents the significant cost savings we have realized as a result of last November's settlement. Those savings will be even more significant as we continue to ramp up our production in Alaska," said Scott M. Boruff, Miller CEO. "This payment, as well as our recent $2 million tax credit payment, are the result of the great work being done by the Miller team in Alaska. With our reduced transportation costs and the continued opportunity for additional development tax credit payments, the outlook for Miller in Alaska in the coming year and beyond continues to be very bright."

About Miller

Miller Energy Resources is a high growth oil and natural gas exploration, production and drilling company operating in multiple exploration and production basins in North America. Miller's focus is in Cook Inlet, Alaska and in the heart of Tennessee's prolific and hydrocarbon-rich Appalachian Basin including the Chattanooga Shale. Miller is headquartered in Huntsville, Tennessee with offices in Anchorage, Alaska and Knoxville, Tennessee. The company's common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol MILL.

Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this press release and elsewhere by Miller Energy Resources are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve the implied assessment that the resources described can be profitably produced in the future, based on certain estimates and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by Miller Energy Resources and described in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, adverse general economic conditions, operating hazards, drilling risks, inherent uncertainties in interpreting engineering and geologic data, competition, reduced availability of drilling and other well services, fluctuations in oil and gas prices and prices for drilling and other well services, fluctuations in the US dollar and other currencies, the availability of sufficient capital to fund its anticipated growth, fluctuations in the prices of oil and gas, the competitive nature of its business environment, its dependence on a limited number of customers, its ability to comply with environmental regulations, changes in government regulations which could adversely impact its businesses well as other risks commonly associated with the exploration and development of oil and gas properties. Additional information on these and other factors, which could affect Miller's operations or financial results, are included in Miller Energy Resources' reports on file with United States Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2010. Miller Energy Resources' actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward- looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in its periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its Web site (www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to Miller Energy Resources or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change unless otherwise required under securities law.

Web Site: http://www.millerenergyresources.com

SOURCE Miller Petroleum, Inc.