Williams Partners L.P. Announces Contracts to Serve Growth in Southeast

TULSA, Okla., May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) announced today the execution of precedent agreements for a proposed expansion of its Transco pipeline to provide 225,000 dekatherms of incremental firm natural gas transportation capacity to serve growing markets in the Southeast region in 2012 and 2013.

The Mid-South Expansion project is designed to provide service on the Transco natural gas pipeline to the city of LaGrange, Ga., Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc., and Southern Company Services, Inc.

"This project will transport clean-burning natural gas from Transco's Station 85 pool to new and existing power generation and municipal facilities in the Southeast," said Phil Wright, president of Williams' natural gas pipeline business.  "We are excited to provide additional firm transportation service to Progress Energy Carolinas and Southern Company Services, two of our fastest growing customers, as well as to welcome LaGrange to our customer community."

The company anticipates filing an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this fall seeking approval to construct the Mid-South Expansion project. Subject to approval by the FERC and other agencies, the proposed expansion would consist of approximately 23 miles of new pipeline, a new compressor facility in Dallas County, Ala., and upgrades to existing compressor facilities in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The capital cost of the project is estimated to be $214 million.

The project is currently being developed to be constructed in two phases, 95,000 dekatherms would be placed into service in the fall of 2012 and 130,000 dekatherms would be placed into service in the summer of 2013.

Williams (NYSE: WMB) owns 84 percent of Williams Partners, including the general-partner interest.  Most of Williams' interstate gas pipeline and midstream assets are held through its ownership interest in Williams Partners.

The Transco pipeline is a 10,000-mile pipeline system which transports natural gas to markets throughout the northeastern and southeastern United States. The current system capacity is approximately 8.6 billion cubic feet per day.

About Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ)

Williams Partners L.P. is a leading diversified master limited partnership focused on natural gas transportation; gathering, treating, and processing; storage; natural gas liquid (NGL) fractionation; and oil transportation.  The partnership owns interests in three major interstate natural gas pipelines that, combined, deliver 12 percent of the natural gas consumed in the United States. The partnership's gathering and processing assets include large-scale operations in the U.S. Rocky Mountains and both onshore and offshore along the Gulf of Mexico.  Williams (NYSE: WMB) owns approximately 84 percent of Williams Partners, including the general-partner interest.  More information is available at www.williamslp.com. Go to http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1296&to=ea&s=0 or http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=630&to=ea&s=0 to join our e-mail list.

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" as defined by federal law.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Partnership, which may cause our actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements.  Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the Partnership's annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Williams Partners L.P.