NEW YORK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - TransCanada Corp's TRP.TO Marketlink pipeline filed with U.S. energy regulators to cut certain spot rates to haul crude from Cushing, Oklahoma to Port Arthur and Houston, Texas, in a move expected to draw down inventories at the storage hub:
* The pipeline plans to reduce the temporary discounted spot rate to $3.60 per barrel from $3.875/bbl to ship light crude from Cushing to Port Arthur - U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Friday filing
* Temporary discounted spot rate to ship heavy crude from Cushing to Port Arthur would be cut to $4.32/bbl from $4.655
* Light crude from Cushing to Houston would cost $3.60/bbl compared with current $3.875/bbl; heavy crude would cost $4.32/bbl vs $4.655/bbl currently - filing
* The drop in rates is effective Feb. 1. It is expected to boost flows out of the Midwest and keep the U.S. crude export window open, dealers said.
* Inventories at Cushing, the delivery point for U.S. crude futures, fell by 267,000 barrels in week to Jan. 4, traders said, citing market intelligence firm Genscape