Offer of Settlement and Petition for Approval of Settlement of Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC under RP12-1021.

5151 San Felipe, Suite 2500 Houston, TX 77056 Direct: 713.267.4751 cpena@nisource.com Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC Carlos Pea, Assistant General Counsel NiSource Corporate Services Company September 4, 2012 Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20426 Re: Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, Docket No. RP12-____-000 Offer of Settlement and Petition for Approval of Settlement Dear Secretary Bose: Pursuant to Rules 207(a)(5) and 602 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) Rules of Practice and Procedure, 1 Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) hereby submits for filing with, and approval by, the Commission the enclosed Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement (Stipulation) and related materials (collectively, the Settlement). Columbia petitions for Commission approval of the Settlement as filed without modification or condition as expeditiously as possible, and preferably no later than December 1, 2012, to allow the Settling Parties to begin receiving the benefits of the Settlement without delay. Columbia respectfully requests that the Commission, consistent with Rule 602(f), establish a procedural schedule requiring comments to be submitted within 20 days from the date of this filing, and reply comments, if needed, to be submitted within 30 days from the date of this filing. The Settlement represents a collaborative resolution between Columbia and the vast majority of its shippers representing a diversity of interests and addresses numerous complex issues arising out of recent and anticipated changes in pipeline safety requirements, Columbias dedication to pipeline safety and reliability of service, and the aging nature of Columbias system. The Settlement provides for a base rate reduction applicable to specified transportation Rate Schedules that initially reflects a $35 million, and ultimately a $60 million reduction in Columbias cost of service, in addition to a $50 million refund 1 18 C.F.R. 385.207(a)(5), 385.602 (2012). settlement payment that will be provided in two equal installments. The Settlement also provides that Columbia will implement a tariff mechanism, referred to as the Capital Cost Recovery Mechanism (CCRM), which will allow Columbia to recover, through an additive capital demand rate, its revenue requirement for capital investments made under Columbias long-term plan to modernize its interstate transmission system. The Settlement also establishes: (1) revised transmission depreciation and negative salvage rates effective January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2024; (2) a revenue sharing mechanism pursuant to which Columbia will share 75% of specified revenues earned in excess of an annual threshold; (3) a moratorium through January 31, 2018 on changes to Columbias reduced transportation base rates pursuant to the Stipulation (Settlement Base Rates); (4) a commitment from Columbia that it ...