EXHIBIT 99.1

[NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY LOGO]         NEWS       13710 FNB Parkway
                                                RELEASE    Omaha, NE 68154-5200

                                                For Further Information
                                                Contact:

                                                Media Contact:
                                                Beth Jensen
                                                (402) 492-3400

                                                Investor Contacts:
                                                Ellen Konsdorf
                                                Lisa Couillard
                                                (877) 208-7318


NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY ANNOUNCES
EXPANSION PROJECT AND CAPACITY SALES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2004

         OMAHA -- (NYSE: NBP; NASDAQ: TCLP) - Northern Border Pipeline Company
announced today that during a recently concluded open season, it received
commitments from shippers sufficient to support a proposed expansion of its
pipeline system into the Chicago market area. The "Chicago Expansion III
Project" would expand capacity of the Northern Border Pipeline from Harper, Iowa
to Chicago by approximately 130 million cubic feet per day or approximately 15
percent to meet additional demand on this segment of the pipeline system. The
project would add a 16,000 horsepower compressor in Iowa and make minor
modifications to existing facilities. Capital costs are estimated to be
approximately $20 million and the target in service date is spring 2006.
Construction is subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

         The pipeline also announced that it has recontracted additional
capacity on its upstream segments from Port of Morgan, Montana to Harper that is
available November 1, 2004. Following a posting that concluded September 16,
2004, less than 1 percent of the long-haul firm capacity on the pipeline system
remains available beginning in






November. The capacity commitments are at the maximum transportation rates with
terms of five to six months.

         "We are very pleased to announce another expansion of the Northern
Border Pipeline into the vibrant and growing Chicago market hub. This project is
another example of our efforts to create opportunities for our customers by
expanding into market centers that offer attractive value," said Bill Cordes,
chairman of the Northern Border Pipeline Management Committee. "Additionally,
while we have made progress with our recontracting efforts and have now
essentially sold out our base firm capacity through the winter months, we will
continue to aggressively address recontracting firm capacity throughout 2005 as
contracts expire."

         Northern Border Pipeline Company is a general partnership that owns and
operates a 1,249-mile interstate pipeline that transported approximately 22
percent of all Canadian gas imported into the United States in 2003. Northern
Border Partners, L.P. (NYSE:NBP) owns a 70 percent general partner interest in
Northern Border Pipeline Company. The remaining 30 percent general partner
interest is owned by TC PipeLines, LP (Nasdaq: TCLP).


This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Although Northern Border Pipeline Company believes that
its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions it can give no assurance
that such expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements
include receipt of approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and
required regulatory clearances; natural gas development in the Western Canadian
Sedimentary Basin; competitive conditions in the overall natural gas markets;
performance of contractual obligations by the shippers; our ability to market
pipeline capacity on favorable terms; and the price of natural gas.