SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 21, 1997
Northern States Power Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-3034 41-0448030
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
414 Nicollet Mall, Mpls, MN 55401
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 612-330-5500
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events
Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation (NSP), announced a
non-binding letter of intent with TransCanada Pipelines, Limited a Canadian
corporation, regarding a proposed expansion and transaction involving Viking
Gas Transmission Company, a Delaware corporation and wholly owned interstate
natural gas pipeline subsidiary of NSP.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No. Description
99.01 January 21, 1997 Information Release from NSP
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Northern States Power Company
(a Minnesota Corporation)
By /s/
Gary R. Johnson
Vice President and
General Counsel
Dated: January 21, 1997
EXHIBIT INDEX
Method of Exhibit
Filing No. Description
DT 99.01 January 21, 1997 Information
Release from NSP
DT = Filed electronically with this direct transmission.
Exhibit 99.01
January 21, 1997
NSP Considering Joint Project with TransCanada
MINNEAPOLIS - Northern States Power Company (NSP) today announced it has
entered into a non-binding letter of intent with TransCanada Pipelines
Limited (TransCanada) regarding a potential natural gas pipeline expansion
and extension project to serve the upper midwest U.S. gas market, and the
potential purchase by TransCanada of a 50 percent interest in Viking Gas
Transmission Co., an interstate natural gas pipeline subsidiary of NSP.
Viking presently operates a 500-mile, 24-inch diameter gas pipeline from an
interconnection with TransCanada at the U.S./Canadian border near Noyes,
Minn., to near Marshfield, Wis. Viking is regulated by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC). NSP purchased Viking in June 1993.
The proposed project would involve installing a new pipeline parallel to the
existing Viking pipeline, and extending the new pipeline to the Chicago area.
If constructed, the new pipeline could transport approximately 1.0 to 1.2
billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to markets in Minnesota, Wisconsin,
North Dakota and Illinois. The anticipated project cost is approximately $800
- - $900 million (U.S. currency), and the new pipeline would be placed in
service approximately Nov. 1, 2000.
The project would be constructed only if sufficient market demand exists, and
would be subject to extensive pre-construction regulatory and environmental
reviews by the FERC and other appropriate government agencies. If the project
proceeds, the memorandum of understanding provides that NSP and TransCanada
would jointly own and operate the expanded pipeline entity.
No definitive agreements exist between NSP, Viking and TransCanada at this
time. Any agreements would be subject to approval by the boards of directors
of the respective companies.
