"The results of the open season confirm that our project of approximately 688,000 dekatherms per day is the right size for the market," said Phil Wright, president of Williams' natural gas pipeline business. "With the significant interest shown in the open season, our next step is to finalize definitive precedent agreements with bidding parties -- a process we are targeting to complete by the end of this year. Meanwhile we continue to make great strides on the ongoing technical effort supporting a project in-service date of November 2010."

The proposed Rockies Connector Pipeline would connect natural gas supplies originating from the Rockies to the growing major markets in the Northeast. The pipeline would extend approximately 250 miles, connecting Williams' Transco Station 195 in southeastern Pennsylvania to the eastern terminus of the Rockies Express, a pipeline in development by a consortium of third parties.

"Rockies Connector provides an excellent supply opportunity for existing northeast customers via Williams' recently announced Northeast Connector expansion of Transco," Wright said. "Together, these projects bring supply diversity and access to the northeastern market, connecting it with the prolific Rockies basin at the right time to serve customer needs."

The company has not finalized the capacity, scope or cost of the project.

Williams' Transco pipeline system delivers about half of the natural gas consumed in New York City; it also serves other East Coast markets. Natural gas delivered via the Rockies Connector Pipeline would be available to Transco shippers and other interstate pipelines serving the Northeast.

The proposed Rockies Connector Pipeline will be subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other agencies. For customer inquiries, contact Gary Duvall at (713) 215-2589.

Williams, through its subsidiaries, primarily finds, produces, gathers, processes and transports natural gas. The company also manages a wholesale power business. Williams' operations are concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Gulf Coast, southern California and Eastern Seaboard.