REGULATORY	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
REGULATORY
REGULATORY	NOTE 16 REGULATORY North Baja —On January 6, 2017, North Baja notified FERC that current market conditions do not support the replacement of the compression that was temporarily abandoned in 2013 and requested authorization to permanently abandon two compressor units and a nominal volume of unsubscribed firm capacity. FERC approved the permanent abandonment request on February 16, 2017. The abandonments will not have any impact on existing firm transportation service. Great Lakes - On April 24, 2017, Great Lakes reached an agreement on the terms of a new long-term transportation capacity contract with its affiliate, TransCanada. The contract, which was subject to Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) approval, is for a term of 10 years and allows TransCanada the ability to transport up to 0.711 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day on the Great Lakes system from the Manitoba/U.S. border to the U.S. border near Dawn Ontario. On September 21, 2017, TransCanada received approval from the NEB and as a result, this contract commenced on November 1, 2017. This contract contains volume reduction options up to full contract quantity beginning in year three. On October 30, 2017, Great Lakes filed a rate settlement with FERC to satisfy its obligations from its 2013 rate settlement for new rates to be in effect by January 1, 2018 (2017 Great Lakes Settlement). The 2017 Great Lakes Settlement, if approved by FERC, will decrease Great Lakes’ maximum transportation rates by 27 percent beginning October 1, 2017. Great Lakes expects that the impact from other changes, including: the recent long-term transportation contract with TransCanada as described above, other revenue opportunities on the system and the elimination of the revenue sharing mechanism with its customers, will more than offset the full year impact of the reduction in Great Lakes’ rates beginning in 2018. The 2017 Great Lakes Settlement does not contain any moratorium and Great Lakes will be required to file for new rates no later than March 31, 2022, with new rates to be effective October 1, 2022. Northern Border- Northern Border and its shippers have been engaged in settlement discussions, and have recently agreed to a settlement-in-principle addressing all rate and service related issues raised during the settlement discussions. Northern Border plans to file a settlement agreement with FERC before the end of the year, reflecting the settlement-in-principle, precluding the need to file a general rate case as contemplated by its 2012 Settlement. Northern Border anticipates that the Commission will accept the settlement agreement and that it will be unopposed. This will provide Northern Border with rate stability over the longer term. At this time, we do not believe that the final outcome of the settlement will have a material impact to the Partnership’s results. Northern Border remains a key competitive pipeline and continues to operate at full capacity connecting major supply basins with communities in Midwestern U.S.

NOTE 16 REGULATORY

North Baja —On January 6, 2017, North Baja notified FERC that current market conditions do not support the replacement of the compression that was temporarily abandoned in 2013 and requested authorization to permanently abandon two compressor units and a nominal volume of unsubscribed firm capacity. FERC approved the permanent abandonment request on February 16, 2017. The abandonments will not have any impact on existing firm transportation service.

Great Lakes - On April 24, 2017, Great Lakes reached an agreement on the terms of a new long-term transportation capacity contract with its affiliate, TransCanada. The contract, which was subject to Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) approval, is for a term of 10 years and allows TransCanada the ability to transport up to 0.711 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day on the Great Lakes system from the Manitoba/U.S. border to the U.S. border near Dawn Ontario. On September 21, 2017, TransCanada received approval from the NEB and as a result, this contract commenced on November 1, 2017. This contract contains volume reduction options up to full contract quantity beginning in year three.

On October 30, 2017, Great Lakes filed a rate settlement with FERC to satisfy its obligations from its 2013 rate settlement for new rates to be in effect by January 1, 2018 (2017 Great Lakes Settlement). The 2017 Great Lakes Settlement, if approved by FERC, will decrease Great Lakes’ maximum transportation rates by 27 percent beginning October 1, 2017. Great Lakes expects that the impact from other changes, including: the recent long-term transportation contract with TransCanada as described above, other revenue opportunities on the system and the elimination of the revenue sharing mechanism with its customers, will more than offset the full year impact of the reduction in Great Lakes’ rates beginning in 2018. The 2017 Great Lakes Settlement does not contain any moratorium and Great Lakes will be required to file for new rates no later than March 31, 2022, with new rates to be effective October 1, 2022.

Northern Border- Northern Border and its shippers have been engaged in settlement discussions, and have recently agreed to a settlement-in-principle addressing all rate and service related issues raised during the settlement discussions. Northern Border plans to file a settlement agreement with FERC before the end of the year, reflecting the settlement-in-principle, precluding the need to file a general rate case as contemplated by its 2012 Settlement. Northern Border anticipates that the Commission will accept the settlement agreement and that it will be unopposed. This will provide Northern Border with rate stability over the longer term. At this time, we do not believe that the final outcome of the settlement will have a material impact to the Partnership’s results. Northern Border remains a key competitive pipeline and continues to operate at full capacity connecting major supply basins with communities in Midwestern U.S.