Greenbrier Pipeline is First to Use FERC'S Pre-Filing Process.

Business Editors

RICHMOND, Va. & CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2002

Greenbrier Pipeline Company, LLC, has filed the first in a series of environmental reports with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under its pre-filing docket, even though its formal certificate application is not scheduled for filing until later this year. Greenbrier is the first company to use the FERC's new pre-filing process for environmental review of a planned pipeline construction.

At the FERC's March 27, 2002 Open Meeting, Chairman Patrick H. Wood III endorsed the same pre-filing mechanism that Dominion is pioneering with the Greenbrier Project. Describing the public benefits of the "PF docket" concept, the Chairman concluded: "I strongly encourage the pipeline industry to use this process that allows landowner issues to be identified, alternatives examined and problems resolved before the application is filed."

Thos. E. Capps, Dominion's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said: "As a growing energy service provider, Dominion is pleased to participate at the forefront of the FERC's initiative -- improving the process of siting natural gas infrastructure by involving all affected parties at early stages. We look forward to working with the FERC to refine and improve this innovative pre-filing mechanism, using the Greenbrier Project experience as a model."

The Greenbrier Pipeline is a proposed 271-mile interstate pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina. The FERC's environmental staff has been reviewing the Greenbrier project since November 2001 through the pre-filing mechanism -- by conducting site visits, attending public and agency meetings, and meeting with landowner groups.

Working through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process in this pre-filing forum should help Greenbrier improve the involvement of all interested parties in the planning process. The pre-filing approach includes establishing a new docket prefix (PF) for reference of documents filed by interested parties, and the appointment of ENTRIX, Inc. as a third-party contractor to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement under the direct supervision and control of the FERC staff.

The Greenbrier Pipeline is a partnership of a Dominion (NYSE:D) subsidiary and a Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE:PNY) subsidiary. The Greenbrier Pipeline originates in Kanawha County, West Virginia, with gas supplies from connections with Dominion Transmission and Tennessee Gas Pipeline accessing multiple gas basins such as Appalachia, Canada, Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent as well as Dominion's vast gas storage network. The Greenbrier Pipeline extends through southwest Virginia and north central North Carolina to meet the growing natural gas demand of local distribution companies and new power generation. The $497 million pipeline will be designed, constructed and operated by Dominion Transmission.

The initial capacity of the Greenbrier pipeline will be 600,000 dekatherms of natural gas per day. A segment of the Greenbrier Pipeline is expected to be ready for service by the second quarter of 2005 to meet power generation market requirements, with the remainder completed by the fourth quarter of 2005 to satisfy the market requirements of local natural gas utilities.

For information regarding this project, contact Joe Kienle at [phone]. Dominion's electronic bulletin board and its Web site at www.dom.com (keyword: Greenbrier) also will contain general information about this project as it becomes available.

Dominion, headquartered in Richmond, Va., is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a production capability of more than 3 trillion British thermal units of energy per day. Dominion owns and operates 7,600 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline with a delivery capacity of 6.3 billion cubic feet per day. Dominion serves nearly 4 million retail natural gas and electric customers in five states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com .

Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy and services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to 710,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The Charlotte-based company is the second-largest natural gas utility in the Southeast. Piedmont is also invested in a number of non-utility, energy-related businesses including companies involved in unregulated retail natural gas and propane marketing, and interstate and intrastate natural gas storage and transportation. More information about Piedmont Natural Gas is available on the Internet at www.piedmontng.com .