HOUSTON, March 29, 2001 — CMS Energy Corporation's CMS Trunkline Gas Company today announced the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) yesterday approved the abandonment of one of Trunkline's three parallel natural gas pipelines, paving the way for its conversion to refined petroleum products service.

CMS Trunkline, along with Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC and TEPPCO Partners, L.P., have agreed to convert the 26-inch diameter pipeline to carry much-needed refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel from Gulf Coast refineries to the growing Midwest market. The new petroleum products pipeline is called Centennial Pipeline.

"FERC's action allowing us to take this underutilized line out of natural gas service is a significant milestone in successfully completing the Centennial Pipeline," said Christopher A. Helms, president of CMS Trunkline. "FERC's approval will allow us to meet Centennial's in-service target date of January 2002, which would be in time for next summer's prime driving season."

As part of the project, the partners will extend Centennial by building a 74-mile, 24-inch diameter pipeline connecting TEPPCO's facility near Beaumont, Texas, with the start of the existing 720-mile pipeline extending from Longville, La., to Bourbon, Ill. Centennial Pipeline will intersect TEPPCO's existing mainline in southern Illinois, where a new petroleum products storage facility also is under construction. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2001.

CMS Energy Corporation has annual sales of $9 billion and assets of about $16 billion throughout the U.S. and around the world with businesses in electric and natural gas utility operations; independent power production; natural gas pipelines, gathering, processing and storage; oil and gas exploration and production; and energy marketing, services and trading.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at: www.cmsenergy.com/

SOURCE: CMS Energy Corporation