Centerpoint Energy - Mississippi River

Third Revised Volume No. 1

Effective Date: 12/01/2002, Docket: RP03- 51-000, Status: Effective

Fourth Revised Sheet No. 322 Fourth Revised Sheet No. 322 : Effective

Superseding: Third Revised Sheet No. 322

FORM OF

OPERATIONAL BALANCING AGREEMENT

(Continued)

ARTICLE 3

SUSPENSION OF OBLIGATIONS

Section 3.1 - Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this

Agreement, the practice of accepting Customers' confirmed nominations at the

Interconnection Point as actual flow and accounting for the differences as

Operational Imbalances may be temporarily suspended in the event either Party

discovers or anticipates, in such Party's sole discretion, that the actual

flow at the Interconnection Point is varying or will vary significantly from

the confirmed nominations due to extraordinary circumstances including, but

not limited to, severe cold weather, hurricane or any other event that

significantly affects the gas supplies which are available for delivery at the

Interconnection Point or any other weather related event that significantly

affects the Party's ability to handle variances at the Interconnection Point.

Such suspension will be effective on the date verbal notice is provided by the

suspending Party's Gas Control personnel to the other Party's Gas Control

personnel. Such verbal notice shall be confirmed in writing no later than the

second business day following the date of desired suspension. For this

purpose, each business day shall begin at 9:00 a.m. CT and unless otherwise

agreed, each event of suspension or resumption of activity hereunder shall

become effective at the start of a business day. The use of Operational

Imbalances will resume on the date mutually agreed to in writing by the

Parties. For purposes of notification under this section the Parties agree to

use Facsimile Transmission, as follows:

MRT Telecopy No.: (318) 429-3298

Attention: Transportation Services

_______ Telecopy No.: _______________________________

Attention: _______________________________

Section 3.2 - The Parties will cooperate in promptly determining the

allocation of the deliveries and receipts during any suspension period in

accordance with the provisions of Section 1.