HOUSTON, TEXAS, April 26, 2001— Southern Natural Gas Company, a subsidiary of El Paso Corporation (NYSE:EPG), announced today that it has filed a certificate application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking authorization to construct and operate the Cypress Pipeline system in Southeastern Georgia and Florida for an estimated cost of $240 million. Cypress Natural Gas Company, a subsidiary of Southern Natural Gas, will provide this region with additional pipeline capacity and access to an important new natural gas supply source.

The 166-mile pipeline will be capable of transporting 310 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from El Paso's liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal at Elba Island in Savannah, Georgia to interconnections with Southern Natural's South Georgia Lateral; Florida Gas Transmission Company (a jointly owned subsidiary of El Paso and Enron Corporation); Atlanta Gas Light near Brunswick, Georgia; and Jacksonville Electric Authority's new Brandy Branch generating plant near Jacksonville, Florida. Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2002, and the pipeline's projected in-service date is June 1, 2003.

"Cypress provides needed infrastructure for continued economic development and growth in Southern Georgia and Northern Florida," said Jim Yardley, president of Southern Natural Gas Company. "Demand is increasing for natural gas-fired power generation in this region, and the proximity of the Elba Island LNG facility enables us to serve this demand cost effectively."

El Paso Corporation, the largest and most broadly based natural gas company in the world, spans the energy value chain from wellhead to electron. With an enterprise value in excess of $50 billion, El Paso is a leader in every phase of the natural gas industry. The company owns and operates a significant portion of the North American natural gas delivery grid, operates the fastest growing, most sophisticated energy merchant group, and is the nation's third largest natural gas producer. El Paso, a leader in risk management techniques, is focused on maximizing shareholder value, transforming existing markets, and speeding the development of new markets. Visit El Paso at www.elpaso.com.

This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release. While the company makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither the company nor its management can guarantee that the anticipated future results will be achieved. Reference should be made to the company's (and its affiliates') Securities and Exchange Commission filings for additional important factors that may affect actual results.