HOUSTON – Southeast Supply Header, LLC (SESH) today received authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to construct, operate and maintain 270 miles of interstate pipeline that will bring alternative supplies of natural gas to the Southeast U.S. market.

FERC issued its approval following a thorough review of the project and an extensive public outreach effort by SESH and the FERC staff. Following review of the order, SESH expects to mobilize to begin construction.

SESH, a joint venture between subsidiaries of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp, will transport up to 1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from the onshore supply basins of east Texas and northern Louisiana to Southeast markets. The new supplies will offer greater energy reliability and security to markets currently served predominantly by offshore natural gas supplies from the Gulf of Mexico.

"We appreciate FERC's comprehensive review and timely approval of this important infrastructure project," the companies said. "FERC recognizes the significant need for natural gas that exists in the Southeast and has authorized us to deliver new supplies to the region. SESH is committed to constructing, operating and maintaining this project safely, and ensuring that impacts to landowners, communities and the environment are kept to a minimum."

The pipeline will extend from CenterPoint Energy's Perryville Hub in northeast Louisiana to the Gulfstream Natural Gas System, which is 50 percent owned by an affiliate of Spectra Energy.  Along the route, SESH will access several major pipelines serving the eastern United States and will have access to several storage facilities.

In addition to the 36-inch and 42-inch diameter pipeline, facilities approved by the FERC include three mainline compressor stations and two booster compressor stations.  Construction on the estimated $840 million project will begin later this year and is expected to be placed into service in the summer of 2008. 

SESH is seeking remaining permits from other federal and state agencies.

About the Companies

Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE) is one of North America's premier natural gas infrastructure companies serving three key links in the natural gas value chain:  gathering and processing, transmission and storage and distribution. For close to a century, Spectra Energy and its predecessor companies have developed critically important pipelines and related energy infrastructure connecting natural gas supply sources to premium markets. Based in Houston, Texas, the company operates in the United States and Canada approximately 17,500 miles of transmission pipeline, 265 billion cubic feet of storage, natural gas gathering and processing, natural gas liquids operations and local distribution assets. Spectra Energy Corp also has a 50 percent ownership in DCP Midstream, one of the largest natural gas gatherers and processors in the United States. Visit www.spectraenergy.com for more information.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., (NYSE: CNP) headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipeline and field services operations.  The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Assets total over $17 billion.  With about 8,600 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years.  For more information, visit the Web site at www.CenterPointEnergy.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The statements in this news release regarding future events and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Although CenterPoint Energy and Spectra Energy believe that their respective expectations of future events as set forth in this release are based on reasonable assumptions, neither CenterPoint Energy nor Spectra Energy can give assurance that anticipated results will be achieved or that anticipated events will occur. Actual events and results may differ materially from those projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements of CenterPoint Energy herein are discussed in CenterPoint Energy's and Spectra Energy's respective Form 10-Ks for the year ended Dec. 31, 2006, and the two companies’ reports on Form 10–Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2007, and other filings made by each of them with the Securities and Exchange Commission.