Transco, MVP clash over competing pipeline projects in North Carolina
(UI) — Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) and Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) are locked in a high-stakes contest for market share in North Carolina, according to a Sept. 11 report from East Daley Analytics.
The dispute centers on MVP’s proposed Southgate project and Transco’s Southeast Supply Enhancement (SESE) expansion. Both projects follow nearly identical routes, often sharing easements and crossing paths, raising questions about redundancy and competition.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sparked the showdown in February by requesting documentation from Transco on overlaps with Southgate. MVP had amended its Southgate application just days earlier, arguing that SESE “would not meet the purpose and need” of providing supply diversity and risk mitigation for the region.
Transco countered in March, accusing MVP of “mischaracterization” in its filings. By May, Transco escalated by suggesting SESE could absorb Southgate’s volumes, preserving Transco’s dominant role in serving the state.
MVP fired back with support from key shippers Duke Utilities and Public Service Company of North Carolina (PSNC). PSNC criticized Transco for issuing operational flow orders “more than 200 days each year,” limiting flexibility and forcing emergency actions. Duke also emphasized the value of supply diversification through a second pipeline source.
FERC continues to weigh both projects, with an environmental assessment for Southgate expected in October and a final decision anticipated by Jan. 1, 2026. The outcome could reshape North Carolina’s gas market, either reinforcing Transco’s monopoly or opening the door to competition from MVP.
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