Press Release

NORTHERN BORDER PARTNERS, L.P. COMPLETES ACQUISITION, INCREASES DISTRIBUTION TO UNITHOLDERS

OMAHA, Neb. -- Northern Border Partners, L.P. (NYSE: NBP) declared today an increase in the Partnership’s quarterly cash distribution to $0.70 from $0.65 per unit. The indicated annual rate is now $2.80 per unit. The increase becomes effective with the third quarter distribution payable on Nov. 14, 2000 to unitholders of record as of Oct. 31, 2000. This is the Partnership’s fourth increase in the last three years.

“The distribution increase reflects the continued strong performance of our core business, recent acquisitions and confidence in our growth strategy,” said Larry DeRoin, chief executive officer of Northern Border Partners, L.P.

Additionally, the Partnership announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of gas gathering facilities in the Powder River and Wind River Basins in Wyoming for approximately $200 million from Enron North America Corp., (ENA) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enron Corp. (NYSE: ENE). The purchase includes ownership positions in Bighorn Gas Gathering and Fort Union Gas Gathering in the Powder River Basin and Lost Creek Gathering in the Wind River Basin.

In conjunction with the acquisition, NBP and ENA have agreed to provide complementary services in the Basins. NBP will own and operate physical assets and will provide gathering and transportation services. ENA will continue to provide gas purchase and sales, finance, risk management and producer outsourcing services.

A new wholly-owned subsidiary of NBP will manage and develop the assets in this active region as well as pursue other investment opportunities. Brian Bierbach will head the new entity and will continue to be based in Denver. Key commercial personnel and others who have been responsible in developing the assets to date will join Bierbach in his new responsibilities.

Northern Border Partners, L.P. owns a 70 percent general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline Company, which owns a 1,214-mile interstate pipeline system that transports approximately 23 percent of all Canadian natural gas imports into the United States. It also owns the Black Mesa Pipeline, a 273-mile, coal-water slurry pipeline from Kayenta, Arizona to the Mohave Power Station in Laughlin, Nevada and an equity investment in Bighorn Gas Gathering, L.L.C., a gathering system located in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. Northern Border Partners, L.P. information may be found at http://www.northernborderpartners.com/.

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although Northern Border Partners, L.P. 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 competitive conditions in the supply, gathering and transportation of natural gas and regulatory actions.

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For additional information please contact:

Public Relations Contact:

Beth Jensen

(402) 398-7806

Investor Relations Contact:

Ellen Konsdorf

(402) 398-7840