[LOGO] COLONIAL GAS COMPANY January 12, 1999 UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OVERNIGHT DELIVERY Robert G. Riga, Director East Coast Marketing Algonquin Gas Transmission Company 1284 Soldiers Field Road Boston, MA 02135 RE: (1) Letter Agreement sent December 11, 1998; and (2) Service Agreement - Rate Schedule AFT-1 Dear Bob: First, pursuant to your letter dated December 11, 1998, enclosed are two partially executed originals of the Letter Agreement between Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation and Colonial Gas Company. Please fully execute both copies and return one for our files. Second, please find enclosed a fully executed Algonquin Gas Transmission Company Service Agreement - Rate Schedule AFT-1 (Contract No. 97036) for your files. If you have any questions concerning the enclosed documents, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at (978) 322-3202. Sincerely, /s/ Bruce B. Glendening Bruce B. Glendening Regulatory Counsel BBG/gad Enclosures cc: John P. Harrington-Colonial Gas Company EXHIBIT 10.47 [LOGO] Duke Energy(SM) Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation Algonquin Gas Transmission Company Duke Energy Companies 1284 Soldiers Field Road Boston, MA 02135 Thomas C. O'Connor Vice President January 6, 1999 617/560-1386 OFFICE East Coast Marketing 617/560-1392 FAX via Overnight Delivery Mr. John P. Harrington Senior Vice President Colonial Gas Company 40 Market Street P.O. Box 3064 Lowell, MA 01853 RE: Firm Transportation Service Agreements between Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation and Colonial Gas Company Dear John: Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation ("Pipeline") and Colonial Gas Company ("Customer") are parties to certain firm transportation service agreements entered into pursuant to rate schedules on file as part of Pipeline's FERC Gas Tariff (Pipeline Contract Nos. 330869, 800288, 800289, 800313, 800400, 800419, 800420, 800469, and 800470, referred to herein individually and collectively as the ("Service Agreements")). Pursuant to Customer's request as a result of its increasingly competitive market environment and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, Pipeline and Customer hereby agree as follows: 1. Beginning August 1, 2001, and continuing through July 31, 2003, ("Discount Term"), Pipeline agrees to discount the reservation charge rates applicable to the Service Agreements by an amount calculated to achieve a $13,639.17 per month reduction in reservation charges during the Discount Term. The discount agreed to herein shall not be applicable to any time period during which the rate reduction set forth in Article IV of the Offer of Settlement filed with and approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Docket Nos. RP98-198-000 and RP85-177-126 is in effect. Notwithstanding, however, in no event will Pipeline charge a rate greater than or less than the respective maximum or minimum rates on file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("Commission") for service under the Service Agreements. At the expiration of the Discount Term, the rates for service under the Service Mr. John P. Harrington Colonial Gas Company January 6, 1999 Page 2 Agreements will be the maximum filed tariff rates under Pipeline's applicable rate schedules pursuant to which service under the Service Agreements is provided, plus all applicable surcharges and Applicable Shrinkage, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties. 2. Pipeline and Customer recognize that Pipeline's rates, including current or future surcharges, for service under the Service Agreements may be subject to modification from time to time. With regard to the rates for service under the Service Agreements, Pipeline and Customer expressly agree that Customer shall be entitled to refunds of payments paid by Customer pursuant to the Service Agreements only in the event the total final, non-appealable maximum rates as determined by the Commission for a given time period ("Final Maximum Rate") is lower than the total rate actually paid by Customer during such period ("Actual Rate"). Subject to the condition precedent set forth in the foregoing sentence, Customer's principal refund shall be equal to the product of (i) the difference between the Actual Rate and the Final Maximum Rate and (ii) Customer's MDQ specified in the Service Agreements during the refund period. Customer expressly agrees not to initiate, instigate, or otherwise participate in any action or proceeding for the purpose of obtaining refunds in excess of the foregoing amount. 3. Customer acknowledges and agrees that all terms and conditions of Pipeline's FERC Gas Tariff, as effective from time to time, and applicable form of service agreement, including provisions for filing of changes in Pipeline's FERC Gas Tariff and in rates, which changes may affect this Agreement, are applicable to the Service Agreements. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and Pipeline's FERC Gas Tariff and/or form of service agreement, Pipeline's FERC Gas Tariff and/or the form of service agreement shall control. 4. This Agreement shall be interpreted and performed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without recourse to the law governing conflict of laws. 5. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be effective only during the period beginning August 1, 2001 and continuing through July 31, 2003 and shall apply only to the Service Agreements. Mr. John P. Harrington Colonial Gas Company January 6, 1999 Page 3 If the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement are in accordance with our understanding and agreement, please execute this Agreement in the space provided below and return all originals to Pipeline. A fully executed original will be returned to you for your records. Very truly yours, Thomas C. O'Connor Vice President Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation Algonquin Gas Transmission Company ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO THIS 11th DAY OF JANUARY, 1999 COLONIAL GAS COMPANY By: /s/ John P. Harrington ----------------------------- Title: Senior V.P. - Gas Supply --------------------------