DETROIT, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural gas started flowing Saturday after the completion of a nearly 15-mile pipeline that interconnects with the Panhandle Eastern Pipeline. The 24-inch diameter pipeline runs from the Scofield Meter Station in Sumpter Township, Mich. to a new 4,700-horsepower compressor station adjacent to the Willow Station in Ypsilanti, Mich. Other ancillary facilities were part of the $61 million project, which was completed in nine months. Panhandle is one of the largest gas storage customers of DTE Energy's Michigan storage facilities. The project creates a new interconnection with Panhandle that will provide the company with access to MichCon gas storage, as well as storage at DTE Gas Storage's Washington 10 field. It also will allow delivery of approximately 214 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of gas from MichCon's transmission system to Panhandle. In addition, by connecting Panhandle's facilities directly into MichCon's high pressure transmission system, MichCon will have the opportunity to buy natural gas supplies that are connected to the Panhandle system on a year-round basis for the benefit of its residential and business customers, and its large distribution customers. "Customers also will benefit from this increased access to natural gas supplies because Panhandle connects directly to the Mid-Continent Supply Basin, historically one of the lower priced sources of natural gas in the country," said Jerry Norcia, MichCon president. "This new interconnect gives MichCon the ability to make gas deliveries to Panhandle, thereby creating another path for DTE Energy's storage services." MichCon is a subsidiary of DTE Energy, a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. MichCon serves 1.2 million customers with natural gas service in 550 Michigan communities. Information about DTE Energy is available at http://www.dteenergy.com/. DATASOURCE: MichCon CONTACT: Scott Simons, +1-313-235-8808, Lorie N. Kessler, +1-313-235-8807, both of MichCon Web Site: http://www.dteenergy.com/

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