Vector Pipeline L.P. · Open Season Tracker · Updated 2026-04-19

2028 Westbound Expansion

~400 MMcf/d westbound reversal · 15-year minimum term · ISD Q4 2028
Final Investment Decision
PENDING
Owner-sanction deadline: April 30, 2026
11 days remaining as of 2026-04-19
Enbridge + DT Midstream must sanction construction by this date or the expansion lapses. No announcement as of publication.
~400 MMcf/d capacity
15 yr minimum term
60/40 Enbridge / DTM
Q4 '28 target ISD
Q3 '26 expected §7 filing
Timeline
Milestone Date Status Notes
Open Season opens Q3 2025 Done gasnom.com notice board [1]
Open Season closes January 2026 Done “Successful binding open season closed in January 2026” — DTM 8-K EX-99.2, Feb 19 2026 [2]
Final Investment Decision April 30, 2026 Pending Enbridge + DTM must sanction. No public announcement yet. [1]
FERC §7(c) certificate application Q3 2026 (expected) Not filed Typically 3–9 months post-FID. Transco SSE analog: ~4 months. [5][9]
Shipper identities disclosed (Exhibit I) ~2 weeks after §7 filing Not public 18 CFR § 157.14 Exhibit I published with Notice of Application. [6]
FERC certificate order ~9 months post-filing Not filed Transco SSE analog: filing → order ~9 months. [9]
In-service date (ISD) Q4 2028 expected Not yet “Q4 2028 expected in-service” — DTM 8-K EX-99.2 [2]. OS notice specifies window Nov 2028–Nov 2029 [1].
Pipeline Path — Westbound Reversal
Receipt (East)
Milford Junction
Washington 10 interconnect
Ontario–Michigan border area. Existing eastbound flow currently moves gas this direction toward Dawn Hub. [1]
→
Delivery (West)
Joliet / Chicago
Chicago citygates
MISO–PJM West demand center. Data center buildout + coal retirement load growth. [1][8]

Vector currently flows eastbound (Canada → US). This expansion reverses the corridor westbound — gas from eastern Canada or Appalachia moves toward Chicago rather than Dawn. [1]

System Capacity & Utilization

Why 400 MMcf/d doesn't equal 400 MMcf/d free capacity

Vector's nameplate is 1.745 Bcf/d in the eastbound direction — but that figure is almost entirely committed under long-term contracts. The pipeline was certificated and compressed for eastbound flow (Dawn → Michigan → Chicago). Running gas westbound requires compressors to operate in reverse or new westward-facing compression to be built — hence the expansion project. Eastbound and westbound capacity are not additive or interchangeable. The 400 MMcf/d of new westbound capacity is built on top of the existing eastbound infrastructure; you cannot simply "free up" eastbound MQDs to run westbound. Receipt and delivery point metering limits compound this: Milford Junction and Washington 10 are sized for their current eastbound interconnects, and each delivery tie-in at Joliet (Alliance, Northern Border, Guardian, etc.) has its own interconnect ceiling.

Shipper / Segment Direction MDQ Term Source
System nameplate Eastbound primary 1,745 MMcf/d Certificated Vector / CER
Rover Pipeline (Energy Transfer) Eastbound — Handy MI → St. Clair 950 MMcf/d 20 yr from 2018 FERC Tariff Sheet 198C
NEXUS lease — Belle River segment Eastbound — DTE Gas tie → St. Clair 325 MMcf/d 15 yr from 2018 + 6×5-yr options FERC Order CP16-22, ¶22
NEXUS lease — Milford segment Eastbound — Milford Jct → St. Clair 130 MMcf/d 15 yr from 2018 + 6×5-yr options FERC Order CP16-22, ¶22
Other eastbound shippers (EGD, Union, others) Eastbound ~200–340 MMcf/d Various FERC Tariff Sheets 198F, 199G
Westbound (pre-2028, residual) Westbound ~50–150 MMcf/d est. Various small contracts FERC Tariff (Guardian, WPS contracts)
2028 expansion — new westbound Westbound — Milford Jct / W10 → Joliet +400 MMcf/d 20 yr anchor; 15 yr non-anchor Gasnom notice #1721 [1]
Delivery point constraints at the west end — each Joliet-area tie-in is size-limited: NIPSCO Crown Point ≈ 600 MMcf/d, ANR St. John ≈ 200 MMcfd, Alliance and Northern Border have their own metering limits. The 400 MMcf/d expansion needs all of these interconnects collectively to clear the gas — no single receiving pipe can absorb the full increment. [11]
What is not public yet · why · when
Information CFR basis for disclosure When public
Shipper identities 18 CFR § 157.14 Exhibit I — shipper names + 3-yr volume estimates filed with §7 application; public per 1999 FERC Certificate Policy Statement even if confidential treatment sought. [6][7] ~2 wks after §7 filing. Est. Q3 2026.
Per-shipper MDQs 18 CFR § 157.6(b)(8) — precedent agreements filed with §7 app; shipper name, MDQ, term, points, service type remain on public record even if § 388.112 redaction is sought. [7] Same — with Exhibit I. Est. Q3 2026.
Negotiated rate dollars 18 CFR § 154.112(b) — negotiated rates filed separately from certificate application, typically near in-service. [10] Near ISD (late 2028). Likely partially redacted.
Capex estimate No mandatory FERC disclosure pre-FID. Typically disclosed in Enbridge / DTM earnings call or press release at FID announcement. At FID (on or before April 30, 2026).
EPC / construction contractor No disclosure requirement. Typically appears in FERC environmental filings or company press releases post-§7. Post-§7 filing (Q4 2026 or later).
No speculative bidder names on this page. Open season subscriptions are confidential between shipper and pipeline until FERC §7 filing. Any source claiming to name shippers before that filing is either a leak or conjecture.
FERC Docket Watch

Vector 2028 Expansion — No §7 docket as of 2026-04-19

No CP-docket (§7 certificate application) has been filed for the Vector 2028 westbound expansion. Monitor FERC eLibrary for a new docket after FID is announced. [5]

→ FERC eLibrary: all Vector Pipeline, L.P. filings

→ FERC eLibrary search: “Vector Pipeline 2028”

RP24-971-000 is an unrelated NGA §5 rate case — a periodic tariff review, not a construction certificate. Do not confuse with the 2028 expansion. [5]
Competing Pipelines — Dawn ↔ Chicago Corridor
Pipeline Capacity Direction Status Source
NEXUS Gas Transmission 1.5 Bcf/d OH → MI → Chicago In-service 2018 FERC CP16-22
Rover Pipeline 3.25 Bcf/d WV/PA → OH → Michigan hub In-service 2017–2018 FERC CP15-93
Great Lakes Gas Transmission 2.6 Bcf/d Minnesota ↔ Ontario (bidirectional) Existing — TC Energy operated FERC Pipeline Map
ANR Pipeline (SE Main) ~1 Bcf/d Louisiana → Chicago (south-to-north) Existing — TC Energy operated FERC Pipeline Map
Panhandle Eastern 4.5 Bcf/d TX panhandle → Great Lakes Existing — Southern Co. Gas FERC Pipeline Map
Demand Driver

Why westbound capacity now

Chicago-metro data center buildout and accelerating MISO–PJM West coal retirements are driving winter peaking demand at Midwest citygates that the existing eastbound-dominant pipeline grid cannot efficiently serve. EIA STEO (January 2026) projects Midwest residential + commercial gas consumption growth through 2028, amplified by incremental electric generation demand as coal retires. [8] A Vector westbound reversal allows Appalachian and eastern Canadian supply to clear into Chicago rather than routing east to Dawn or Niagara.

Regulatory Analog

Transco Southeastern Expansion — CP24-493

OS close → §7 filing: ~4 months [9] §7 filing → public Exhibit I (shippers): ~2 weeks (Notice of Application) [9] §7 filing → certificate order: ~9 months [9] Applied to Vector (FID April 30, 2026): §7 filing ≈ Aug–Sep 2026 · shippers public ≈ Sep 2026 · cert order ≈ mid-2027

Sources

  1. Vector Pipeline 2028 Westbound Expansion — Open Season Notice, gasnom.com notice board. Reported terms: path Milford Jct/Washington 10 → Joliet/Chicago; 15-year minimum term; ISD window Nov 2028–Nov 2029; owner-sanction deadline April 30, 2026. https://www.gasnom.com/notices/ (site is behind Imperva WAF; automated access blocked as of 2026-04-19; terms unverified from primary source). Capacity figure (~400 MMcf/d) sourced from DTM 8-K [2] only — gasnom notice not independently accessed.
  2. DT Midstream, Inc. — Form 8-K EX-99.2 (investor presentation), February 19, 2026. EDGAR CIK 0001842022. Verbatim: “Vector Pipeline Expansion ~400 MMcf/d westbound capacity increase into Chicago. Successful binding open season closed in January 2026. Q4 2028 expected in-service.” Status at filing: “Precedent agreement” (pre-FID). SEC EDGAR direct link — EX-99.2
  3. DT Midstream, Inc. — Annual Report (Form 10-K), FY 2025. EDGAR CIK 0001842022. Verbatim: “Vector Pipeline LP, a joint venture…in which DT Midstream owns a 40% interest.” SEC EDGAR — DTM 10-K 2025
  4. Enbridge Inc. — Annual Report (Form 10-K), FY 2025. EDGAR CIK 0000895728. Verbatim (equity method investments table): “Vector Pipeline 60.0%”. SEC EDGAR — Enbridge 10-K 2025
  5. FERC eLibrary — docket search for “Vector Pipeline, L.P.” No CP-docket for 2028 westbound expansion found as of 2026-04-19. RP24-971-000 confirmed as NGA §5 rate case (unrelated). https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search
  6. 18 CFR § 157.14 — Exhibit I requirements for NGA §7(c) certificate applications. Shipper names + location + 3-year volume estimates. Public document filed with application. eCFR § 157.14
  7. 18 CFR § 157.6(b)(8) — Precedent agreements filed with §7 application. Per FERC’s 1999 Certificate Policy Statement, shipper name, MDQ, term, points, and service type remain on the public record even when confidential treatment under § 388.112 is sought. eCFR § 157.6
  8. U.S. Energy Information Administration — Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), January 2026. Midwest natural gas consumption projections 2026–2028. https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/
  9. FERC Docket CP24-493 — Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) Southeastern Expansion. OS close → §7 filing ~4 months; filing → public Exhibit I ~2 weeks; filing → certificate order ~9 months. Used as regulatory timing analog. https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/docket-search?docket=CP24-493
  10. 18 CFR § 154.112(b) — Negotiated rate agreements. Filed separately from §7 certificate application, typically near in-service date. eCFR § 154.112
  11. Vector Pipeline west-end delivery points and interconnect capacities: NIPSCO Crown Point ≈ 600 MMcf/d; ANR St. John ≈ 200 MMcfd. NEXUS Belle River + Milford segment lease totalling 455 MMcf/d eastbound confirmed in FERC Order CP16-22-000, ¶22 (August 2017). Rover 950 MMcf/d eastbound from FERC Tariff Sheet 198C. Westbound pre-expansion figure (~50–150 MMcf/d) inferred from Guardian and Wisconsin Gas negotiated rate sheets in current tariff — no primary source states the westbound limit explicitly. Vector About page (1.745 Bcf/d nameplate + NEXUS 455 MMcf/d)
← etc.