Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as Amended (“Act”), 47860-47871 [E5-4404]
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47860
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 156 / Monday, August 15, 2005 / Notices
Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement
Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago,
Illinois, 60611–2092 or
Ronald.Hodapp@RRB.GOV and to the
OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, at the
Office of Management and Budget,
Room 10230, New Executive Office
Building, Washington, DC 20503.
Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05–16124 Filed 8–12–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 35–28014]
Filings Under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as Amended
(‘‘Act’’)
August 9, 2005.
Notice is hereby given that the
following filing(s) has/have been made
with the Commission under provisions
of the Act and rules promulgated under
the Act. All interested persons are
referred to the application(s) and/or
declaration(s) for complete statements of
the proposed transaction(s) summarized
below. The application(s) and/or
declaration(s) and any amendment(s) is/
are available for public inspection
through the Commission’s Branch of
Public Reference. Interested persons
wishing to comment or request a
hearing on the application(s) and/or
declaration(s) should submit their views
in writing by September 5, 2005, to the
Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–9303, and serve
a copy on the relevant applicant(s) and/
or declarant(s) at the address(es)
specified below. Proof of service (by
affidavit or, in the case of an attorney at
law, by certificate) should be filed with
the request. Any request for hearing
should identify specifically the issues of
facts or law that are disputed. A person
who so requests will be notified of any
hearing, if ordered, and will receive a
copy of any notice or order issued in the
matter. After September 5, 2005, the
application(s) and/or declaration(s), as
filed or as amended, may be granted
and/or permitted to become effective.
Energy East Corporation, et al. (70–
10298)
Energy East Corporation (‘‘Energy
East’’), P.O. Box 12904, Albany, New
York, 12212, a registered holding
company under the Act and its direct
and indirect subsidiaries listed below
(collectively, ‘‘Applicants’’), have filed
with the Securities and Exchange
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Commission (‘‘Commission’’) an
application (‘‘Application’’) under
sections 6(a), 7, 9(a), 10, 12(b), 12(c),
13(b), 32 and 33 of the Act and rules 45,
46, 54, and 80–92 under the Act. The
other Applicants are: (1) Energy East
Enterprises, Inc. (‘‘Energy East
Enterprises’’), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Energy East and a public
utility holding company exempt from
registration by order of the Commission
under section 3(a)(1) of the Act and
Energy East Enterprises’ subsidiaries
Maine Natural Gas Corporation (‘‘Maine
Natural Gas’’) and Energy East Capital
Trust 1, each at P.O. Box 12904, Albany,
New York, 12212; (2) RGS Energy
Group, Inc., (‘‘RGS’’) a wholly owned
subsidiary of Energy East and a public
utility holding company exempt from
registration by order of the Commission
under section 3(a)(1) of the Act and RGS
Energy’s gas and electric utility
subsidiaries New York State Electric &
Gas Corporation (‘‘NYSEG’’) and
Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation
(‘‘RG&E), each of 89 East Avenue,
Rochester, New York, 14649; (3) CMP
Group, Inc. (’’CMP Group’’), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Energy East and a
public utility holding company exempt
from registration by order of the
Commission under section 3(a)(1) of the
Act and CMP’s subsidiaries Central
Maine Power Company (‘‘Central
Maine’’), a public utility holding
company exempt from registration by
order of the Commission under section
3(a)(1) of the Act and Maine Electric
Power Company, Inc. (‘‘MEPCo’’), a
majority owned electric utility
subsidiary, each of 83 Edison Drive,
Augusta Maine 04336; (4) NORVARCO,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Central
Maine Power Company of 83 Edison
Drive, Augusta, Maine, 04336; (5)
Connecticut Energy Corporation
(‘‘Connecticut Energy’’), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Energy East and a
public utility holding company exempt
from registration by order of the
Commission under section 3(a)(1) of the
Act and Connecticut Energy’s subsidiary
The Southern Connecticut Gas
Company (‘‘Southern Connecticut
Gas’’), each of 855 Main Street,
Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604; (6) CTG
Resources, Inc. (‘‘CTG’’), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Energy East and a
public utility holding company exempt
from registration by order of the
Commission under section 3(a)(1) of the
Act and CTG’s subsidiary Connecticut
Natural Gas Corporation (‘‘Connecticut
Natural Gas’’), each of 10 State House
Square, Hartford, Connecticut, 06144;
and (7) Berkshire Energy Resources
(‘‘Berkshire Energy’’), a wholly owned
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subsidiary of Energy East and a public
utility holding company exempt from
registration by order of the Commission
under section 3(a)(1) of the Act; and
Berkshire Energy’s subsidiary The
Berkshire Gas Company (‘‘Berkshire
Gas’’), each of 115 Cheshire Road,
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 01201.
I. Introduction
A. Authorization Period
Applicants seek authorization under
the Act to engage in various financing
transactions discussed below through
September 30, 2008 (‘‘Authorization
Period’’) and to retain certain
Intermediate Holding Companies, as
defined below.1 However, Applicants
request that any Commission order
granting the requests made in the
Application not impose any obligation
or requirement on the Applicants that
survives the effective date of repeal of
the Act.
B. Description of Energy East and Its
Subsidiaries
1. Energy East
Energy East is currently a registered
public utility holding company, and
directly neither owns nor operates any
physical properties.2 Through its
subsidiaries (which includes all of
Energy East’s Utility Subsidiaries, the
Intermediate Holding Companies and
the Non-utility Subsidiaries, as defined
below), Energy East is an energy
services and delivery company with
operations in New York, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Maine and New
Hampshire serving approximately 1.8
million electricity customers and
900,000 natural gas customers.
2. Public Utility Operations
Energy East holds direct or indirect
interests in nine public utility
companies (collectively, ‘‘Utility
Subsidiaries’’), each of which is wholly
owned by companies within the Energy
East system unless otherwise noted:
1 Energy East currently has authority to engage in
various financing transactions through September
30, 2005. See Holding Company Act Release No.
27228 (Sept. 12, 2000); Holding Company Act
Release No. 27643 (Jan. 28, 2003); and Holding
Company Act Release No. 27794.
2 Pursuant to Commission order dated March 4,
1998 (HCAR No. 25–26834), Energy East became the
parent of New York State Electric & Gas
Corporation. Pursuant to Commission order dated
February 2, 2000 (HCAR No. 35–27128), Energy
East became the parent of Connecticut Energy
Corporation. Pursuant to Commission order dated
August 31, 2000 (HCAR 35–27224), Energy East
became the parent of CMP Group, Inc., CTG
Resources, Inc. and Berkshire Energy Resources.
Pursuant to Commission order dated June 27, 2002
(HCAR No. 35–27546), Energy East became the
parent of RGS Energy Group, Inc.
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(a) NYSEG, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of RGS, which purchases,
transmits and distributes electricity and
natural gas in parts of New York;
(b) RG&E a wholly-owned subsidiary
of RGS, which generates, purchases,
transmits and distributes electricity and
purchases, transports and distributes
natural gas in parts of New York;
(c) Southern Connecticut Gas a
wholly-owned subsidiary of
Connecticut Energy, which is primarily
engaged in the retail distribution and
transportation of natural gas in parts of
Connecticut;
(d) Connecticut Natural Gas a whollyowned subsidiary of CTG Resources,
which is primarily engaged in the retail
distribution and transportation of
natural gas to parts of Connecticut;
(e) Berkshire Gas a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Berkshire Energy, which is
primarily engaged in the retail
distribution and transportation of
natural gas to parts of Massachusetts;
(f) Central Maine a wholly-owned by
CMP Group and which is primarily
engaged in purchasing, transmitting and
distributing electricity in Maine;
(g) Maine Natural Gas Corporation a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy East
Enterprises;
(h) MEPCo which owns and operates
a 345kV transmission interconnection
between the Maine/New Brunswick,
Canada international border at Orient,
Maine. Central Maine presently owns a
78.3% voting interest in MEPCo with
the remaining interests owned by two
other Maine utilities; and
(i) NORVARCO, which holds a 50%
general partnership interest in Chester
SVC Partnership (‘‘Chester’’), a general
partnership which owns a static var
compensator located in Chester, Maine,
adjacent to MEPCo’s transmission
interconnection. NORVARCO is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Central
Maine.
3. Non-Utility Subsidiaries
Energy East also has a number of
direct and indirect subsidiaries that are
not ‘‘public utility companies’’ under
the Act (the ‘‘Non-utility Subsidiaries’’):
(a) RGS, the parent of NYSEG and
RG&E;
(b) Berkshire Energy, the parent of
Berkshire Gas;
(c) CMP Group, the parent of Central
Maine, MEPCo, and NORVARCO;
(d) Connecticut Energy, the parent of
Southern Connecticut Gas;
(e) CTG Resources, the parent of
Connecticut Natural Gas;
(f) The Energy Network, Inc., whose
subsidiaries focus on peaking generation
and the retail marketing of electricity
and natural gas;
(g) Energy East Enterprises, the parent
of Maine Natural Gas and New
Hampshire Gas, and is developing gas
storage in upstate New York through a
wholly-owned subsidiary, Seneca Lake
Storage Inc.;
(h) Energy East Management
Corporation and Utility Shared Services
Corporation, each of which are
Commission authorized service
companies for the Energy East holding
company system which own no public
utility assets;
(i) Energy East Capital Trust I, a
statutory business trust formed for the
purpose of issuing trust preferred
securities;
(j) TEN Companies, Inc. (‘‘TEN
Companies’’), which owns and manages
a district heating and cooling network in
Hartford, Connecticut and owns an
interest in the Iroquois Gas
Transmission System;
(k) CNE Energy Services Group,
which has an interest in two small
natural gas pipelines that serve power
plants in Connecticut and also leases a
liquefied natural gas plant that provides
peaking gas in the Northeast and has an
equity interest in an energy technology
venture partnership;
(l) The Union Water-Power Company,
which provides energy services
throughout New England and New York
State;
(m) Energy East Telecommunications,
which owns fiber optic lines in central
New York that it leases to retail
communications companies;
(n) MaineCom Services, which owns
fiber optic lines and provides
telecommunications services in Maine;
and
(o) Energetix, Inc. and NYSEG
Solutions, Inc., which market electricity
and natural gas services throughout
upstate and central New York.
RGS, Berkshire Energy, CMP Group,
Central Maine, Connecticut Energy, CTG
Resources and Energy East Enterprises
are all public utility holding companies
exempt from all provisions of the Act
except Section 9(a)(2). These companies
are also referred to collectively as the
‘‘Intermediate Holding Companies.’’
4. Capital Structure of Energy East
Energy East is authorized under its
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, to issue 300,000,000 shares of
common stock, par value $.01 per share
and 10,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share. At
December 31, 2004, Energy East had
issued and outstanding 147,118,329
shares of common stock. Energy East’s
shares are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.
Energy East’s consolidated
capitalization (including short-term
debt) at March 31, 2005 was as follows:
Book value
(millions)
Percentage of
total
(percent)
Common Stock Equity * ...........................................................................................................................................
Preferred Stock ........................................................................................................................................................
Long-Term Debt .......................................................................................................................................................
Short-Term Debt ** ...................................................................................................................................................
2,832
47
3,771
182
41
1
55
3
Total ..................................................................................................................................................................
6,832
100.0
* Including minority interests.
** Including current portion of long-term debt.
Energy East’s senior unsecured debt is
currently rated BBB by Standard &
Poor’s Inc. (‘‘S&P’’), Baa2 by Moody’s
Investor Service (‘‘Moody’s’’) and BBB
by Fitch IBCA Inc. (‘‘Fitch’’). To the
extent it is rated, the senior unsecured
debt of the Utility Subsidiaries is rated
as follows:
S&P
Central Maine ...........................................................................................................................................................
NYSEG .....................................................................................................................................................................
RG&E ........................................................................................................................................................................
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S&P
Connecticut Natural Gas ..........................................................................................................................................
Southern Connecticut Natural Gas ..........................................................................................................................
The Intermediate Holding Companies
do not currently have external debt.
II. Request for Financing Authority
A. Energy East External Financing
1. General
Energy East requests authorization to
issue and sell common stock, preferred
stock, preferred securities, equity-linked
securities, options, warrants, purchase
contracts, units (consisting of one or
more purchase contracts, warrants, debt
securities, shares of preferred stock,
shares of common stock or any
combination of these securities), longterm debt, subordinated debt, bank
borrowings, securities with call or put
options, and securities convertible into
any of these securities.3 The aggregate
amount of new financing obtained by
Energy East during the Authorization
Period (exclusive of short-term debt),
through the issuance of securities, in
each case valued at the time of issuance,
shall not exceed $3.9 billion
outstanding at any one time (‘‘Energy
East External Limit’’),4 provided that
securities issued for purposes of
refunding or replacing other outstanding
securities where Energy East’s
capitalization is not increased from that
in place on December 31, 2004 shall not
be counted against this limitation.5
In addition, Energy East requests
authority to issue and sell from time to
time, directly or indirectly through one
or more financing subsidiaries, shortterm debt, including commercial paper
and bank borrowings, in an aggregate
principal amount at any time
outstanding during the Authorization
Period not to exceed $750 million
(‘‘Energy East Short-term Limit’’),
provided that securities issued for
purposes of refunding or replacing other
outstanding short-term debt securities
3 Any convertible or equity-linked securities
would be convertible into or linked only to
common stock, preferred securities or unsecured
debt securities that Energy East is otherwise
authorized to issue directly or indirectly through a
financing entity on behalf of Energy East.
4 Because the limit applies only to securities
issued and outstanding during the Authorization
Period, when a security is issued during the
Authorization Period and later redeemed or retired
during the Authorization Period, the aggregate
amount issued and outstanding under the limit is
reduced and additional financing capacity under
the limit is made available.
5 Any refunding or replacement of securities
where capitalization is not increased will be
through the issuance of securities of the type
authorized by the Commission.
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where Energy East’s capitalization is not
increased shall not be counted against
this limitation.
All securities issued by Energy East in
accordance with the authorization
requested, including, without
limitation, securities issued for the
purpose of refunding or retiring
outstanding securities, will comply with
the applicable financing parameters set
forth below. Further, the aggregate
principal amount of all indebtedness of
Energy East issued and outstanding
during the Authorization Period shall
not exceed $2.3 billion (the ‘‘Energy
East Debt Limitation’’).
Energy East contemplates that
securities will be issued and sold
directly to one or more purchasers in
privately-negotiated transactions or to
one or more investment banking or
underwriting firms or other entities who
will resell the securities without
registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (‘‘1933 Act’’) in
reliance upon one or more applicable
exemptions from registration, or to the
public either (a) through underwriters
selected by negotiation or competitive
bidding or (b) through selling agents
acting either as agent or as principal for
resale to the public either directly or
through dealers. If underwriters are
used, the securities will be acquired by
the underwriters for their own account
and may be resold from time to time in
one or more transactions, including
negotiated transactions, at a fixed public
offering price or at varying prices
determined at the time of sale.
Securities may be offered to the public
either through underwriting syndicates
(which may be represented by a
managing underwriter or underwriters
designated by Energy East) or directly
by one or more underwriters acting
alone, or may be sold directly by Energy
East or through agents designated by
Energy East from time to time. If dealers
are utilized, Energy East will sell the
securities to the dealers, as principals.
Any dealer may then resell the
securities to the public at varying prices
to be determined by the dealer at the
time of resale. If common stock is being
sold in an underwritten offering, Energy
East may grant the underwriters a
‘‘green shoe’’ option permitting the
purchase from Energy East at the same
price additional shares then being
offered solely for the purpose of
covering over-allotments.
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2. Common Stock
Energy East may issue and sell
common stock, or options, warrants or
other stock purchase rights exercisable
for common stock, pursuant to
underwriting agreements of a type
generally standard in the industry.
Public distributions may be pursuant to
private negotiation with underwriters,
dealers or agents, or effected through
competitive bidding among
underwriters. In addition, sales may be
made through private placements or
other non-public offerings to one or
more persons. All common stock sales
will be at rates or prices and under
conditions negotiated or based upon, or
otherwise determined by, competitive
capital markets. Energy East may also
issue common stock or options,
warrants or other stock purchase rights
exercisable for common stock in public
or privately-negotiated transactions as
consideration for the equity securities or
assets of other companies, provided that
the acquisition of any equity securities
or assets has been authorized in a
separate proceeding or is exempt under
the Act or the rules under the Act (e.g.,
rule 58).6
Energy East also proposes to issue
common stock and/or purchase shares
of its common stock (either currently or
under forward contracts) in the open
market for purposes of (a) reissuing the
shares at a later date pursuant to stockbased plans which are maintained for
stockholders, employees and
nonemployee directors or (b) managing
its capital structure. Energy East may
make open-market purchases of
common stock in accordance with the
terms of, or in connection with, the
operation of the plans, or as part of a
program to repurchase its securities
generally. Stock repurchases would be
conducted through open market
transactions and could include the
acquisition at arm’s-length of Energy
East common stock from institutional
investors that may have an affiliate
interest in Energy East.
Energy East currently has in effect
certain stock based plans which
authorize grants of its common stock,
stock options and other stock-based
awards to eligible employees and
directors. Energy East may issue shares
of its common stock under the
6 Energy East will value the equity issued in those
circumstances in accordance with the agreement
negotiated between the purchaser and the seller.
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authorization and within the limitations
set forth herein in order to satisfy any
of its obligations under all the plans and
under plans which replace any plans
currently in effect. Energy East requests
authorization to issue and/or sell shares
of common stock pursuant to these
existing and future stock plans and
employee or director plans without any
additional prior Commission order. The
market value at the time of issuance of
stock under stock-based compensation
programs would count against the
Energy East External Limit. Energy East
common stock issued pursuant to an
option would count against the Energy
East External Limit at the time, if any,
that the option is exercised.
Energy East also has a dividend
reinvestment plan under which shares
of its common stock may be issued to
shareholders reinvesting cash dividends
and/or making optional cash
investments to purchase additional
shares of common stock. Energy East
seeks authority for the issuance and sale
of its shares in accordance with its
dividend reinvestment plan under the
authorization and within the limitations
set forth in the Application.
Energy East proposes to issue shares
of its common stock under the
authorization and within the limitations
set forth in the Application in order to
satisfy its obligations under each of
these existing stock-based plans, as they
may be amended or extended, and
similar future plan funding
arrangements adopted without any
additional Commission order. Shares of
common stock issued under these plans
may either be newly issued shares,
treasury shares or shares purchased in
the open market. The market value of
newly issued shares will be counted
against the Energy East External Limit.
3. Preferred Stock, Preferred Securities
and Equity-Linked Securities
Energy East also proposes to issue and
sell preferred stock directly and/or
issue, indirectly through one or more
financing subsidiaries, other forms of
preferred securities (including, without
limitation, trust preferred securities or
monthly income preferred securities).
Preferred stock and other forms of
preferred securities may be issued in
one or more series with the rights,
preferences, and priorities as may be
designated in the instrument creating
each the series, as determined by Energy
East’s board of directors, and may be
convertible or exchangeable into shares
of Energy East common stock or
unsecured indebtedness. Dividends or
distributions on the securities will be
made periodically and to the extent
funds are legally available for the
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purpose, but may be made subject to
terms which allow the issuer to defer
dividend payments for specified
periods. Energy East may also issue and
sell equity-linked securities in the form
of stock purchase units, which combine
a security with a fixed obligation (e.g.,
preferred stock or debt) with a stock
purchase contract that is exercisable
(either mandatorily or at the option of
the holder).7 The dividend or
distribution rates, interest rates,
redemption and sinking fund
provisions, conversion features, if any,
and maturity dates with respect to the
preferred stock or other types of
preferred securities and equity-linked
securities of a particular series, as well
as any associated placement,
underwriting or selling agent fees,
commissions and discounts, if any, will
be established by Energy East’s board of
directors, negotiation or competitive
bidding.
Energy East contemplates that the
preferred stock would be issued and
sold directly to one or more purchasers
in privately-negotiated transactions or to
one or more investment banking or
underwriting firms or other entities who
would resell the preferred stock either
without registration under the 1933 Act
in reliance upon one or more applicable
exemptions from registration, or to the
public either (a) through underwriters
selected by negotiation or competitive
bidding or (b) through selling agents
acting either as agent or as principal for
resale to the public either directly or
through dealers.
4. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt would be unsecured
and may be issued directly through a
public or private placement or
indirectly through one or more
financing subsidiaries, in the form of
notes, convertible notes, medium-term
notes or debentures under one or more
indentures, or long-term indebtedness
under agreements with banks or other
institutional lenders. The maturity
dates, interest rates, redemption and
sinking fund provisions and conversion
features, if any, with respect to the longterm debt of a particular series, as well
as any associated placement,
underwriting or selling agent fees,
commissions and discounts, if any, will
be established by negotiation or
7 Any convertible or equity-linked securities
would be convertible into or linked only to
common stock, preferred securities or unsecured
debt securities that Energy East is otherwise
authorized to issue directly or indirectly through a
financing entity on behalf of Energy East.
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competitive bidding at the time of
issuance.8
Energy East also requests
authorization to issue and sell from time
to time during the Authorization Period
debentures in one or more series,
subject to the Energy East Debt
Limitation. The debentures (a) may be
convertible into any other securities of
Energy East, (b) will have maturities
ranging from one to 50 years, (c) may be
subject to optional and/or mandatory
redemption, in whole or in part, at par
or at various premiums above the
principal amount thereof, (d) may be
entitled to mandatory or optional
sinking fund provisions, (e) may
provide for reset of the coupon pursuant
to a remarketing arrangement, and (f)
may be called from existing investors by
a third party. The debentures will be
issued under an indenture to be entered
into between Energy East and a national
bank, as trustee.
Energy East contemplates that the
debentures would be issued and sold
directly to one or more purchasers in
privately-negotiated transactions or to
one or more investment banking or
underwriting firms or other entities
which would resell the debentures
either without registration under the
1933 Act in reliance upon one or more
applicable exemptions from registration
or to the public either (a) through
underwriters selected by negotiation or
competitive bidding or (b) through
selling agents acting either as agent or
as principal for resale to the public
either directly or through dealers.
The maturity dates, interest rates,
redemption and sinking fund provisions
and conversion features, if any, with
respect to the debentures of a particular
series, as well as any associated
placement, underwriting or selling agent
fees, commissions and discounts, if any,
will be established by negotiation or
competitive bidding and reflected in a
purchase agreement or underwriting
agreement setting forth the terms;
provided, however, that debentures
issued by Energy East shall be subject to
the financing parameters set forth
below.
5. Short-Term Debt
Energy East proposes to issue and sell
from time to time, directly or indirectly
through one or more financing
subsidiaries, unsecured short-term debt,
in the form of commercial paper, notes
issued to banks and other institutional
8 Any convertible debt issued by Energy East
would be convertible only into common stock,
preferred securities or unsecured debt securities
that Energy East is otherwise authorized to issue
directly or indirectly through a financing entity on
behalf of Energy East.
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lenders, and other forms of short-term
indebtedness, in an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding during
the Authorization Period not to exceed
the Energy East Short-term Limit.
Unused borrowing capacity under a
credit facility would not count towards
the Energy East Short-term Limit. Shortterm borrowings under credit lines will
have maturities of a year or less from the
date of each borrowing.
Commercial paper issued under any
commercial paper facility would be
sold, directly or indirectly through one
or more financing subsidiaries, in
established U.S. or European
commercial paper markets. Commercial
paper would typically be sold to dealers
at the discount rate per annum
prevailing at the date of issuance for
commercial paper of comparable quality
and maturities sold to commercial paper
dealers generally. It is expected that the
dealers acquiring commercial paper
would re-offer it at a discount to
corporate, institutional and, with
respect to European commercial paper,
individual investors. It is anticipated
that the commercial paper would be
reoffered to investors such as
commercial banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment
trusts, foundations, colleges and
universities, finance companies and
non-financial corporations.
Energy East also may establish bank
lines in an aggregate principal amount
not to exceed the aforementioned
Energy East Short-term Limit. While the
agreements may be for periods of three
to five years or more, loans under these
bank credit lines are expected to have
maturities not more than one year from
the date of each borrowing. Energy East
may engage in other types of short-term
debt financing generally available to
borrowers with comparable credit
ratings as it may deem appropriate in
light of its needs and market conditions
at the time of issuance.
6. Utility Subsidiary Financing
Applicants state that the issue and
sale of most securities by the Utility
Subsidiaries will be exempt from the
pre-approval requirements of sections
6(a) and 7 of the Act pursuant to rule
52(a), as most securities offerings by a
Utility Subsidiary must be approved by
the state utility commission with
jurisdiction over the utility. However,
certain financings by the Utility
Subsidiaries for which authorization is
requested in the Application may be
outside the scope of the rule 52
exemption because they will not be
subject to state commission approval.
Accordingly, the Utility Subsidiaries
request authorization to issue and sell
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from time to time during the
Authorization Period, directly or
indirectly through one or more
financing subsidiaries, short-term debt,
in the form of commercial paper, notes
issued to banks and other institutional
lenders, and other forms of short-term
indebtedness 9 to the extent they are not
otherwise exempt pursuant to rule 52(a),
with maturities of one year or less, up
to the following aggregate principal
amounts:
Aggregate principal amount
Utility subsidiaries
NYSEG .............................
Maine Natural Gas ...........
Central Maine ...................
MEPCo .............................
NORVARCO .....................
Southern Connecticut Gas
Connecticut Natural Gas ..
Berkshire Gas ...................
RG&E ................................
$275,000,000
50,000,000
150,000,000
30,000,000
30,000,000
125,000,000
125,000,000
50,000,000
200,000,000
7. Short-Term Debt of Intermediate
Holding Companies
Two of the Intermediate Holding
Companies, Connecticut Energy and
Berkshire Energy, historically have had
short-term debt outstanding under bank
credit facilities, although Applicants
state that no debt securities issued to
non-system companies are currently
outstanding. Connecticut Energy and
Berkshire Energy request authority to
issue, sell and have outstanding at any
one time during the Authorization
Period unsecured short-term debt to
Energy East or to third party lenders
under credit facilities in amounts at any
one time outstanding not to exceed $25
million and $10 million, respectively.
In addition, RGS requests authority to
issue, sell and have outstanding at any
one time during the Authorization
Period unsecured short-term debt
securities with maturities of one year or
less in the aggregate principal amount of
$100 million. Subject to those
limitations and pursuant to the terms
and conditions set forth in the
application, RGS may engage in shortterm financing as it may deem
appropriate in light of its needs and
market conditions at the time of
issuance. The short-term financing
could include, without limitation,
commercial paper sold in established
commercial paper markets in a manner
similar to Energy East, bank lines, debt
securities issued under indentures, or
note programs. In addition, RGS will not
9 For example, Central Maine’s borrowings are
secured by an unperfected lien on receivables. The
Utility Subsidiaries request the flexibility to issue
short-term debt secured by their accounts
receivable.
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issue any indebtedness in contravention
of any pre-existing orders of any state
utility commission.
The Intermediate Holding Companies
also request authorization to issue and
sell their securities to Energy East and
to acquire the securities of their direct
or indirect subsidiaries for the purpose
of financing the current or future
authorized or permitted businesses of
the subsidiaries.
8. Non-Utility Subsidiary Financing
Energy East, through its Non-utility
Subsidiaries, is engaged in and expects
to continue to engage in energy-related,
telecommunications or otherwise
functionally related, non-utility
businesses, which include, principally,
fuel transportation and storage, energy
marketing, energy management and
demand side services, district heating
and cooling, and investments in exempt
wholesale generators as defined in
section 32 of the Act (‘‘EWGs’’), exempt
telecommunications companies
(‘‘ETCs’’) and ‘‘qualifying facilities’’
(‘‘QFs’’) within the meaning of the
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of
1978, as amended (‘‘PURPA’’). To
finance investments in these
competitive businesses, it will be
necessary for the Non-utility
Subsidiaries to have the ability to
engage in financing transactions which
are commonly accepted for these types
of investments. Applicants believe that,
in almost all cases, the financings will
be exempt from prior Commission
authorization pursuant to rule 52(b).
To be exempt under rule 52(b), any
loans by Energy East to a Non-utility
Subsidiary or by one Non-utility
Subsidiary to another must have interest
rates and maturities that are designed to
parallel the lending company’s effective
cost of capital. However, in the limited
circumstances where the borrowing
Non-utility Subsidiary is not whollyowned by Energy East directly or
indirectly, Applicants request authority
for Energy East or a Non-utility
Subsidiary, as the case may be, to make
loans to the subsidiaries at interest rates
and maturities designed to provide a
return to the lending company of not
less than its effective cost of capital. If
the loans are made to a Non-utility
Subsidiary, the company will not sell
any services to any associate Non-utility
Subsidiary unless the associated
purchaser falls within one of the
categories of companies to which goods
and services may be sold on a basis
other than ‘‘at cost.’’
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9. Guaranties
a. Energy East Guaranties
Energy East requests authorization to
enter into guaranties, obtain letters of
credit, enter into expense agreements or
otherwise provide credit support to or
on behalf of Subsidiaries (collectively,
‘‘Energy East Guaranties’’) as may be
appropriate to enable the Subsidiaries to
operate in the ordinary course of
business, in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $1 billion issued
and outstanding at any one time during
the Authorization Period, provided
however, that the amount of any Energy
East Guaranties in respect of obligations
of any EWG, foreign utility company as
defined in section 33 of the Act
(‘‘FUCO’’), or a company engaged or
formed to engage in activities permitted
by rule 58 (‘‘Rule 58 Subsidiary’’) shall
also be subject to the limitations of rule
53(a)(1) or rule 58(a)(1), as applicable.
Energy East may charge each Subsidiary
a fee for each guaranty provided on its
behalf that is not greater than the cost,
if any, of obtaining the liquidity
necessary to perform the guaranty (for
example, bank line commitment fees or
letter of credit fees, plus other
transactional expenses).
b. Non-Utility Subsidiary Guaranties
In addition to the guaranties that may
be provided by Energy East, as
described above, the Non-utility
Subsidiaries 10 request authorization to
enter into guaranties, obtain letters of
credit, enter into expense agreements or
otherwise provide credit support to or
on behalf of other Non-utility
Subsidiaries (collectively, ‘‘Non-utility
Subsidiary Guaranties’’) in an aggregate
principal amount not to exceed $750
million issued and outstanding at any
one time during the Authorization
Period, exclusive of any guaranties and
other forms of credit support that are
exempt pursuant to rule 45(b) and rule
52, provided that the amount of any
Non-utility Subsidiary Guaranties in
respect of obligations of any Rule 58
Subsidiary shall also be subject to the
limitations of rule 58(a)(1). The Nonutility Subsidiary providing this credit
support proposes to charge each
Subsidiary a fee for each guarantee
provided on its behalf that is not greater
than the cost, if any, of obtaining the
liquidity necessary to perform the
guaranty.
c. Intermediate Holding Company
Guaranties
CTG Resources, an Intermediate
Holding Company, has provided
10 Excluding
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13:17 Aug 12, 2005
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guaranties and other forms of credit
support on behalf of its subsidiaries.
Specifically, CTG Resources has
guaranteed $40 million of promissory
notes issued by a non-utility subsidiary,
TEN Companies, that will mature in
2009 ($25 million) and 2010 ($15
million). CTG Resources has also
provided guaranties totaling
approximately $40.7 million for other
financial and contractual obligations of
TEN Companies. These include letters
of credit totaling $25.7 million backing
development authority bonds and other
similar contractual obligations of TEN
Companies that expire at various times
not later than 2025. CTG Resources
requests authorization to maintain and
replace as necessary these guaranties
and other forms of credit support (‘‘CTG
Resources Guaranties’’) during the
Authorization Period and thereafter for
so long as the underlying obligations of
any subsidiary shall remain outstanding
in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$100 million.
In addition, RGS requests
authorization to enter into guaranties,
obtain letters of credit, enter into
expense agreements or otherwise
provide credit support to or on behalf of
its subsidiary companies (‘‘RGS
Guaranties’’) as may be appropriate to
enable the companies to operate in the
ordinary course of business, in an
aggregate principal amount not to
exceed $100 million at any one time
outstanding during the Authorization
Period.
The amount of CTG Resources
Guaranties and RGS Guaranties would
not count against the limit applied to
Non-utility Subsidiary Guaranties. The
amount of any guaranties in respect of
obligations of any Rule 58 subsidiary
shall also be subject to the limitations of
rule 58(a)(1). Each guarantor may charge
its subsidiaries a fee for each guaranty
or other form of credit support provided
on its behalf that is not greater than the
cost, if any, of obtaining the liquidity
necessary to perform under the
obligation (for example, bank line
commitment fees or letter of credit fees,
plus other transactional expenses).
10. Hedging Transactions
Energy East proposes to enter into,
perform, purchase and sell financial
instruments intended to manage the
volatility of currencies and interest
rates, including but not limited to
currency and interest rate swaps, caps,
floors, collars and forward agreements
or any other similar agreements
(‘‘Hedging Instruments’’). Energy East
would employ Hedging Instruments as a
means of prudently managing the risk
associated with any of its outstanding or
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anticipated debt by, for example,
synthetically (a) converting variable rate
debt to fixed rate debt, (b) converting
fixed rate debt to variable rate debt, (c)
limiting the impact of changes in
interest rates resulting from variable rate
debt, and (d) providing an option to
enter into interest rate swap transactions
in future periods for planned issuances
of debt securities.
Energy East proposes to enter into
Hedging Instruments with respect to
anticipated debt offerings
(‘‘Anticipatory Hedges’’) in order to fix
and/or limit the interest rate or currency
exchange rate risk associated with any
new issuance. In addition to the use of
Hedging Instruments, Anticipatory
Hedges may include (a) a forward sale
of exchange-traded government
securities 11 futures contracts,
government securities and/or a forward
swap (each a ‘‘Forward Sale’’), (b) the
purchase of put options on government
securities (‘‘Put Options Purchase’’), (c)
a Put Options Purchase in combination
with the sale of call options on
government securities (‘‘Zero Cost
Collar’’), (d) transactions involving the
purchase or sale, including short sales,
of government securities, or (e) some
combination of a Forward Sale, Put
Options Purchase, Zero Cost Collar and/
or other derivative or cash transactions,
including, but not limited to structured
notes, caps and collars, appropriate for
the Anticipatory Hedges. Energy East
may seek to hedge its exposure to
currency fluctuations through currency
swaps or options and forward exchange
or similar transactions.
Hedging Instruments and instruments
used to affect Anticipatory Hedges will
be executed on-exchange (‘‘OnExchange Trades’’) with brokers through
the opening of futures and/or options
positions, the opening of over-thecounter positions with one or more
counterparties (‘‘Off-Exchange Trades’’),
or a combination of On-Exchange
Trades and Off-Exchange Trades. Energy
East will determine the optimal
structure of each transaction at the time
of execution. Off-Exchange Trades
would be entered into only with
Intermediate Companies or with
counterparties whose senior debt ratings
are investment grade as determined by
S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (‘‘Approved
Counterparties’’).
The Utility Subsidiaries, to the extent
the securities are not exempt under rule
52(a), also propose to enter into Hedging
Instruments with third-party Approved
11 Government Securities would include U.S.
Treasury obligations or the appropriate government
benchmark security for the currency involved in the
hedge.
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Counterparties, but not other Energy
East System companies, on the same
terms generally applicable to Energy
East. The Utility Subsidiaries expect to
use the authority principally to hedge
external debt. Energy East maintains a
central treasury department whose
activities are governed by policies and
guidelines approved by the Board of
Directors, with regular reviews and
monitoring by a standing committee of
the Board. The treasury department
operates as a service center rather than
as a profit center and is subject to
internal and external audit. Treasury
activities are managed in a nonspeculative manner and all transactions
in Hedging Instruments would be
matched to an underlying business
purpose. Consequently, Energy East and
the Utility Subsidiaries would not enter
into transactions in Hedging
Instruments for speculative purposes or
to finance businesses that are not
permitted, authorized or exempt under
the Act. Energy East will qualify
transactions in Hedging Instruments for
hedge-accounting treatment under
generally accepted accounting
principles in the U.S. No gain or loss on
a Hedging Instrument entered into by
Energy East or associated tax effects,
will be allocated to the Utility
Subsidiaries, regardless of the
accounting treatment accorded to the
transaction. Consequently, the Utility
Subsidiaries would not be adversely
affected by these transactions.12
11. Changes in Capital Stock of
Subsidiaries
Applicants state that the portion of an
individual Subsidiary’s aggregate
financing to be effected through the sale
of stock to Energy East or other
intermediate parent company during the
Authorization Period pursuant to rule
52 and/or pursuant to an order issued in
regard to the Application cannot be
ascertained at this time. It may happen
that the proposed sale of capital
securities may in some cases exceed the
then authorized capital stock of the
Subsidiary. In addition, the Subsidiary
may choose to use capital stock with no
par value. Also, a wholly-owned
Subsidiary may wish to engage in a
reverse stock split to reduce franchise
taxes. As needed to accommodate the
proposed transactions and to provide for
12 The terms applicable to Hedging Instruments
entered into by the Utility Subsidiaries differ from
those applicable to Energy East because to the
extent a Utility Subsidiary incurs a gain or loss on
a Hedging Instrument that it has entered into to
hedge a currency or interest rate risk associated
with a security that the Utility Subsidiary has
issued, the gain or loss would be attributed to the
Utility Subsidiary.
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future issues, Applicants request
authority to change any wholly-owned
Subsidiary’s authorized capital stock
capitalization by an amount deemed
appropriate by Energy East or other
intermediate parent company. A
Subsidiary would be able to change the
par value, or change between par value
and no-par stock, without additional
Commission approval. Any action by a
Utility Subsidiary would be subject to
and would only be taken upon the
receipt of any necessary approvals by
the state commission in the state or
states where the Utility Subsidiary is
incorporated and doing business.
12. Financing Subsidiaries
Energy East and the Subsidiaries
(other than Intermediate Holding
Companies) request authority to acquire,
directly or indirectly, the equity
securities of one or more corporations,
trusts, partnerships or other entities
(‘‘Financing Subsidiaries’’) created
specifically for the purpose of
facilitating the financing of the
authorized and exempt activities
(including exempt and authorized
acquisitions) of companies through the
issuance of long-term debt or equity
securities, including but not limited to
monthly income preferred securities, to
third parties. Any Financing Subsidiary
may loan, dividend or otherwise
transfer the proceeds of the financings
to its parent or to other Subsidiaries,
provided, however, that a Financing
Subsidiary of a Utility Subsidiary will
dividend, loan or transfer proceeds of
financing only to the Utility Subsidiary.
Energy East may, if required, guaranty
or enter into expense agreements in
respect of the obligations of any
Financing Subsidiary that it organizes.
The Subsidiaries may also provide
guaranties and enter into expense
agreements, if required, on behalf of any
Financing Subsidiaries which they
organize pursuant to rules 45(b)(7) and
52, as applicable. The amount of
securities issued by a Financing
Subsidiary would count against the
limitation applicable to its parent for the
securities, as if the parent company had
issued the securities directly. In that
case, however, the guaranty by the
parent of the security issued by its
Financing Subsidiary would not be
counted against the limitations on
Energy East Guaranties, CTG Resources
or RGS Guaranties, or Non-utility
Subsidiary Guaranties, as the case may
be.
13. Intermediate Subsidiaries
Energy East requests authorization to
acquire, directly or indirectly, the
securities of one or more Intermediate
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Subsidiaries, which would be organized
exclusively for the purpose of acquiring,
holding and/or financing the acquisition
of the securities of or other interest in
one or more EWG, FUCO, Rule 58
Subsidiary, ETC or other Non-utility
Subsidiary (as authorized by the
Commission or permitted under the
Act), provided that Intermediate
Subsidiaries may also engage in
development activities (‘‘Development
Activities’’) and administrative
activities (‘‘Administrative Activities’’),
as described below, relating to the
subsidiaries. To the extent the
transactions are not exempt from the
Act or otherwise authorized or
permitted by rule, regulation or order of
the Commission, Energy East requests
authority for Intermediate Subsidiaries
to provide management, administrative,
project development and operating
services to the entities. The services
may be rendered at fair market prices to
the extent they qualify for any of the
exceptions from the ‘‘at cost’’ standard
requested below.
Development Activities will be
limited to due diligence and design
review; market studies; preliminary
engineering; site inspection; preparation
of bid proposals, including, in
connection therewith, posting of bid
bonds; application for required permits
and/or regulatory approvals; acquisition
of site options and options on other
necessary rights; negotiation and
execution of contractual commitments
with owners of existing facilities,
equipment vendors, construction firms,
power purchasers, thermal ‘‘hosts,’’ fuel
suppliers and other project contractors;
negotiation of financing commitments
with lenders and other third-party
investors; and other preliminary
activities as may be required in
connection with the purchase,
acquisition, financing or construction of
facilities or the acquisition of securities
of or interests in new businesses.
Intermediate Subsidiaries request
authority to expend up to $100 million
during the Authorization Period on all
Development Activities.
Administrative Activities will include
ongoing personnel, accounting,
engineering, legal, financial, and other
support activities necessary to manage
Energy East’s investments in Non-utility
Subsidiaries.
Applicants state that there are several
legal and business reasons for the use of
special-purpose intermediate companies
in connection with making investments
in EWGs and FUCOs, Rule 58
Subsidiaries, ETCs and other Non-utility
Subsidiaries. For example, the
formation and acquisition of specialpurpose subsidiaries is often necessary
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or desirable to facilitate financing the
acquisition and ownership of a FUCO,
an EWG or another non-utility
enterprise. Furthermore, the laws of
some foreign countries may require that
the bidder in a privatization program be
organized in that country. In such cases,
it may be necessary to form a foreign
subsidiary as the entity (or participant
in the entity) that submits the bid or
other proposal.
An Intermediate Subsidiary may be
organized, among other things, (a) to
facilitate the making of bids or
proposals to develop or acquire an
interest in any EWG or FUCO, Rule 58
Subsidiary, ETC or other Non-utility
Subsidiary; (b) after the award of a bid
proposal, in order to facilitate closing on
the purchase or financing of the
acquired company; (c) at any time
subsequent to the consummation of an
acquisition of an interest in any
company in order, among other things,
to effect an adjustment in the respective
ownership interests in the business held
by Energy East and non-affiliated
investors; (d) to facilitate the sale of
ownership interests in one or more
acquired non-utility companies; (e) to
comply with applicable laws of foreign
jurisdictions limiting or otherwise
relating to the ownership of domestic
companies by foreign nationals; (f) as a
part of tax planning in order to limit
Energy East’s exposure to state, U.S. and
foreign taxes; (g) to further insulate
Energy East and the Utility Subsidiaries
from operational or other business risks
that may be associated with investments
in non-utility companies; or (h) for other
lawful business purposes.
Investments in Intermediate
Subsidiaries may take the form of any
combination of the following: (a)
Purchases of capital shares, partnership
interests, member interests in limited
liability companies, trust certificates or
other forms of equity interests; (b)
capital contributions; (c) open account
advances with or without interest; (d)
loans; and (e) guaranties issued,
provided or arranged in respect of the
securities or other obligations of any
Intermediate Subsidiaries or new
Subsidiaries. Funds for any direct or
indirect investment in any Intermediate
Subsidiaries or new Subsidiaries will be
derived from (x) financings authorized
in this proceeding; (y) any appropriate
future debt or equity securities issuance
authorization obtained by Energy East
from the Commission; and (z) other
available cash resources, including
proceeds of securities sales by a Nonutility Subsidiary pursuant to rule 52.
To the extent that Energy East provides
funds or guaranties directly or indirectly
to an Intermediate Subsidiary which are
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used for the purpose of making an
investment in any EWG, FUCO or a Rule
58 Subsidiary, the amount of funds or
guaranties will be included in Energy
East’s ‘‘aggregate investment,’’ as
calculated in accordance with rule 53 or
rule 58, as applicable.
Energy East may determine from time
to time to consolidate or otherwise
reorganize all or any part of its direct
and indirect ownership interests in
Non-utility Subsidiaries, and the
activities and functions related to the
investments, under a company,
including one or more Intermediate
Subsidiaries. To effect any
consolidation or other reorganization,
Energy East may wish to either
contribute the equity securities of one
Non-utility Subsidiary to another
company or sell (or cause a Non-utility
Subsidiary to sell) the equity securities
of one Non-utility Subsidiary to another
company. To the extent that these
transactions are not otherwise exempt
under the Act or its rules, Energy East
is requesting authorization to
consolidate or otherwise reorganize
under one or more direct or indirect
subsidiaries its ownership interests in
existing and future Non-utility
Subsidiaries. Transactions may take the
form of a sale, contribution or transfer
of the securities of a Non-utility
Subsidiary as a dividend to a company
and the acquisition by a company of
securities either by purchase or by
receipt of a dividend. The purchasing
company in any transaction structured
as an intra-system sale of equity
securities may execute and deliver its
promissory note evidencing all or a
portion of the consideration given. Each
transaction would be carried out in
compliance with all applicable U.S. or
foreign laws and accounting
requirements, and any transaction
structured as a sale would be carried out
for a consideration equal to the book
value of the equity securities being sold.
Energy East will report each transaction
in the next quarterly certificate filed
pursuant to rule 24 in this proceeding,
as described below.
14. Investments in Energy-Related
Assets
Non-utility Subsidiaries request
authority to acquire or construct in one
or more transactions from time to time
during the Authorization Period, nonutility energy assets in the United
States, including, without limitation,
natural gas production, gathering,
processing, storage and transportation
facilities and equipment, liquid oil
reserves and storage facilities, and
associated facilities (collectively,
‘‘Energy-Related Assets’’), that would be
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incidental to the energy marketing,
brokering and trading operations of
Energy East’s Subsidiaries. Non-utility
Subsidiaries request authorization to
invest up to $500 million (‘‘Investment
Limitation’’) during the Authorization
Period in Energy-Related Assets or in
the equity securities of existing or new
companies substantially all of whose
physical properties consist or will
consist of Energy-Related Assets.
Energy-Related Assets (or equity
securities of companies owning EnergyRelated Assets) may be acquired for
cash or in exchange for Common Stock
or other securities of Energy East or a
Non-utility Subsidiary of Energy East, or
any combination of the foregoing. If
Common Stock of Energy East is used as
consideration in connection with any
acquisition, the market value on the
date of issuance will be counted against
the requested Investment Limitation.
The stated amount or principal amount
of any other securities issued as
consideration in any transaction will
also be counted against the Investment
Limitation. Under no circumstances will
any Non-utility Subsidiary acquire,
directly or indirectly, any assets or
properties the ownership or operation of
which would cause the company to be
considered an ‘‘electric utility
company’’ or ‘‘gas utility company’’ as
defined under the Act. Energy East may
add to the existing base of non-utility,
marketing-related assets held by its
subsidiaries as and when market
conditions warrant, whether through
acquisitions of specific assets or groups
of assets that are offered for sale, or by
acquiring existing companies (for
example, other gas marketing companies
which own significant physical assets in
the areas of gas production, processing,
storage, and transportation).
15. Sales of Services and Goods Among
Non-Utility Subsidiaries
Energy East’s Non-utility Subsidiaries
request authorization to provide
services and sell goods to each other at
fair market prices determined without
regard to cost, and request an exemption
(to the extent that rule 90(d) does not
apply) pursuant to section 13(b) from
the cost standards of rules 90 and 91
applicable to the transactions, in any
case in which the Non-utility Subsidiary
purchasing the goods or services is:
• A FUCO or foreign EWG which
derives no part of its income, directly or
indirectly, from the generation,
transmission, or distribution of electric
energy for sale within the United States;
• An EWG which sells electricity at
market-based rates which have been
approved by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (‘‘FERC’’),
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provided that the purchaser is not one
of the Utility Subsidiaries;
• A QF that sells electricity
exclusively (a) at rates negotiated at
arms’-length to one or more industrial or
commercial customers purchasing
electricity for their own use and not for
resale, and/or (b) to an electric utility
company (other than a Utility
Subsidiary) at the purchaser’s ≥avoided
cost≥ as determined in accordance with
the regulations under PURPA;
• A domestic EWG or QF that sells
electricity at rates based upon its cost of
service, as approved by FERC or any
state public utility commission having
jurisdiction, provided that the purchaser
thereof is not one of the Utility
Subsidiaries; or
• A Rule 58 Subsidiary or any other
Non-utility Subsidiary that (a) is
partially-owned by Energy East,
provided that the ultimate purchaser of
the goods or services is not a Utility
Subsidiary service company (or any
other entity that Energy East may form
whose activities and operations are
primarily related to the provision of
goods and services to the Utility
Subsidiaries), (b) is engaged solely in
the business of developing, owning,
operating and/or providing the services
or goods to Non-utility Subsidiaries
described above, or (c) does not derive,
directly or indirectly, any material part
of its income from sources within the
United States and is not a public-utility
company operating within the United
States.
16. Activities of Rule 58 Subsidiaries
Within and Outside the United States
Energy East, on behalf of any current
or future Rule 58 Subsidiaries, requests
authority to engage in business activities
permitted by rule 58 both within and
outside the United States, including:
• The brokering and marketing of
electricity, natural gas and other energy
commodities (‘‘Energy Marketing’’);
• Energy management services
(‘‘Energy Management Services’’),
including the marketing, sale,
installation, operation and maintenance
of various products and services related
to energy management and demand-side
management, including energy and
efficiency audits; facility design and
process control and enhancements;
construction, installation, testing, sales
and maintenance of (and training client
personnel to operate) energy
conservation equipment; design,
implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of energy conservation
programs; development and review of
architectural, structural and engineering
drawings for energy efficiencies, design
and specification of energy consuming
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13:17 Aug 12, 2005
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equipment; and general advice on
programs; the design, construction,
installation, testing, sales and
maintenance of new and retrofit heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning,
electrical and power systems, alarm and
warning systems, motors, pumps,
lighting, water, water-purification and
plumbing systems, and related
structures, in connection with energyrelated needs; and the provision of
services and products designed to
prevent, control, or mitigate adverse
effects of power disturbances on a
customer’s electrical systems; and
• Engineering, consulting and other
technical support services (‘‘Consulting
Services’’) with respect to energy-related
businesses, as well as for individuals.
Consulting Services would include
technology assessments, power factor
correction and harmonics mitigation
analysis, meter reading and repair, rate
schedule design and analysis,
environmental services, engineering
services, billing services (including
consolidation billing and bill
disaggregation tools), risk management
services, communications systems,
information systems/data processing,
system planning, strategic planning,
finance, feasibility studies, and other
similar services.
Applicants state that these
investments would count against the
rule 58 limit.
In regard to: (a) Energy Marketing
activities outside the United States and
Canada, (b) the provision of Energy
Management Services and Consulting
Services anywhere outside the United
States, and (c) other activities of Rule 58
Subsidiaries outside the United States,
Energy East requests that the
Commission continue to reserve
jurisdiction over these activities
pending completion of the record.
B. Payment of Dividends
1. Payment of Dividends by Energy East,
the Intermediate Holding Companies
and the Utility Subsidiaries
Energy East, the Intermediate Holding
Companies (other than Energy East
Enterprises), and Central Maine,
Southern Connecticut Gas, Connecticut
Natural Gas and Berkshire Gas propose
during the Authorization Period: (a) To
pay dividends out of capital and
unearned surplus in an amount equal to
retained earnings prior to their
respective mergers with Energy East,
and (b) to pay dividends out of earnings
before any amortization of intangibles
recognized as a result of their respective
mergers, and any impairment of either
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
goodwill or other intangibles recognized
as a result of the merger.13
Applicants state that the requested
dividend relief is an important tool for
managing capital structures and it helps
to prevent excessive equity levels.
Applicants cite the example of a state
commission deciding to reduce a Utility
Subsidiary’s amount of equity that will
earn an equity return. In that case, it
would be contrary to the interests of
investors to maintain a higher level of
equity and appropriate to reduce equity
levels through dividends to the level on
which earnings may accrue. In another
example, a company’s sale of assets may
give rise to surplus capital and the need
to pay dividends out of capital to rebalance the capital structure of the
company. Finally, Applicant’s note that
periodic goodwill impairment tests may
result in a goodwill impairment charge
that would reduce retained earnings.
This type of non-cash charge does not
affect operating cash flows and
Applicants state that it still may be
appropriate to pay a dividend out of
capital.
Applicants state that because the
Utility Subsidiaries would not pay
dividends out of capital if the payments
would reduce equity levels below 30%,
or any higher levels required by state
utility commission regulation, that the
requested dividend authority is not
adverse to the interests of investors or
consumers. In addition, Energy East, the
Intermediate Holding Companies and
the Utility Subsidiaries represent that
they will not declare or pay any
dividend out of capital or unearned
surplus in contravention of any law
restricting the payment of dividends. In
this regard, Applicants note that all U.S.
jurisdictions limit to some extent the
authority of corporations to make
dividend distributions to shareholders.
Most state corporation statutes contain
either or both an equity insolvency test
or some type of balance sheet test.
Energy East, the Intermediate Holding
Companies and the Utility Subsidiaries
also will comply with the terms of any
credit agreements and indentures that
restrict the amount and timing of
distributions to shareholders.
2. Payment of Dividends by Certain
Non-Utility Subsidiaries
Energy East requests authorization, on
behalf of its current and future Non13 Applicants are asking for an extension of the
authority that the Commission has previously
granted them. See HCAR No. 35–27228 (September
12, 2000) and HCAR No. 35–27643 (January 28,
2003). Applicants state that, although not a frequent
occurrence, companies in the Energy East group
have found it appropriate to pay dividends out of
capital from time to time since the receipt of this
authority.
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utility Subsidiaries, permitting the
companies to pay dividends or to
redeem securities (collectively, a
‘‘Dividend’’), from time to time through
the Authorization Period, out of capital
and unearned surplus.
Energy East anticipates that there may
be situations in which one or more Nonutility Subsidiaries will have
unrestricted cash available for
distribution in excess of the company’s
current and retained earnings. In that
situation, the declaration and payment
of a Dividend would have to be charged,
in whole or in part, to capital or
unearned surplus. As an example, if an
Intermediate Subsidiary of Energy East
were to purchase all of the stock of an
EWG or FUCO and, following the
acquisition, the EWG or FUCO incurs
non-recourse borrowings, some or all of
the proceeds of which are distributed to
the Intermediate Subsidiary as a
reduction in the amount invested in the
EWG or FUCO (i.e., return of capital),
the Intermediate Subsidiary (assuming it
has no earnings) could not, without the
Commission’s approval, in turn
distribute the cash to Energy East or its
immediate parent.14
Similarly, Applicants state that using
the same example, if an Intermediate
Subsidiary, following its acquisition of
all of the stock of an EWG or FUCO,
were to sell part of that stock to a third
party for cash, the Intermediate
Subsidiary would again have substantial
unrestricted cash available for
distribution, but (assuming no profit on
the sale of the stock) would not have
current earnings and therefore could
not, without the Commission’s
approval, declare and pay a Dividend to
its parent out of the cash proceeds.
Further, Applicants state that there
may be periods during which
unrestricted cash available for
distribution by a Non-utility Subsidiary
exceeds current and retained earnings
due to the difference between
accelerated depreciation allowed for tax
purposes, which may generate
significant amounts of distributable
cash, and depreciation methods
required to be used in determining book
income.
Finally, Applicants state that even
under circumstances in which a Nonutility Subsidiary has sufficient
earnings, and therefore may declare and
pay a Dividend to its immediate parent,
the immediate parent may have negative
retained earnings, even after receipt of
14 The same problem would arise where an
Intermediate Subsidiary is over-capitalized in
anticipation of a bid which is ultimately
unsuccessful. In such a case, Energy East would
normally desire a return of some or all of the funds
invested.
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the Dividend, due to losses from other
operations. In this instance, cash would
be trapped at a subsidiary level where
there is no current need for it.
Energy East, on behalf of its Nonutility Subsidiaries, represents that
these companies will not declare or pay
any Dividend out of capital and
unearned surplus, except as permitted
under the corporate law and state or
national law applicable in the
jurisdiction where each company is
organized and the terms of any credit
agreements and indentures that restrict
the amount and timing of distributions
to shareholders. In addition, none of the
companies will declare or pay any
Dividend out of capital or unearned
surplus unless it: (a) Has received
excess cash as a result of the sale of
some or all of its assets; (b) has engaged
in a restructuring or reorganization;
and/or (c) is returning capital to an
associate company.
III. Financing Parameters
A. General Terms and Conditions of
Financing
Applicants request authorization to
engage in financing transactions during
the Authorization Period for which the
specific terms and conditions are not at
this time known, and which may not be
exempt under rule 52, without further
prior approval by the Commission. The
following general terms will be
applicable to the proposed external
financing activities (including, without
limitation, securities issued for the
purpose of refinancing or refunding
outstanding securities of the issuer):
1. Effective Cost of Capital
The effective cost of capital for longterm debt, preferred stock, preferred
securities, and equity-linked securities
issued by Energy East, the Utility
Subsidiaries and the Non-utility
Subsidiaries will not exceed
competitive market rates available at the
time of issuance for securities having
the same or reasonably similar terms
and conditions issued by similar
companies of reasonably comparable
credit quality; provided that in no event
will the effective cost of capital on (a)
any long-term debt securities exceed at
the time of issuance 500 basis points
over comparable term U.S. Treasury
securities or other government
benchmark for the currency concerned
(‘‘Treasury Securities’’); or (b) any shortterm debt securities exceed at the time
of issuance 300 basis points over the
London Interbank Offered Rate. The
dividend and distribution rate on any
series of preferred stock, preferred
securities or equity-linked securities
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
47869
will not exceed at the time of issuance
700 basis points over Treasury
Securities. Applicants request that the
Commission reserve jurisdiction over
issuances of long-term debt, short-term
debt, preferred stock, preferred
securities and equity-linked securities
by Energy East, the Utility Subsidiaries
and the Non-utility Subsidiaries, other
than transactions exempt under the Act
or any rule thereunder, where the cost
of capital is in excess of the limits stated
above but is not more than competitive
market rates available at the time of
issuance for securities having the same
or reasonably similar terms and
conditions issued by similar companies
of reasonably comparable credit quality,
until the record is complete with regard
to such issuances.
2. Maturity
The maturity of long-term debt will be
more than one year but not longer than
50 years after the issuance thereof.
Preferred securities and equity-linked
securities will be redeemed no later
than 50 years after the issuance thereof,
unless converted into common stock;
however, preferred stock issued directly
by Energy East may be perpetual in
duration. Short-term debt will have a
maturity of up to one year.
3. Commissions
The underwriting fees, commissions
or other similar remuneration paid in
connection with the non-competitive
issue, sale or distribution of securities
pursuant to the Application (not
including any original issue discount)
will not exceed 5% of the principal or
total amount of the securities being
issued.
4. Common Equity
Energy East will maintain common
stock equity 15 as a percentage of total
consolidated capitalization,16 as shown
in its most recent quarterly balance
sheet of at least 30%.17 Each Utility
Subsidiary and Intermediate Holding
Company on an individual basis (except
15 Common stock equity includes common stock
(i.e., amounts received equal to the par or stated
value of the common stock), additional paid-in
capital, retained earnings and minority interests.
16 Applicant will calculate the common stock
equity to total capitalization ratio as follows:
Common stock equity/common stock equity +
preferred stock + gross debt. Gross debt is the sum
of the long-term debt, short-term debt and current
maturities.
17 Energy East will be able to issue common stock
(including pursuant to stock-based plans
maintained for shareholders, employees and
management) to the extent authorized in a
Commission order issued pursuant to the
Application.
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NORVARCO),18 will maintain common
stock equity of at least 30% of total
capitalization as shown in each
company’s most recent quarterly
balance sheet.
5. Investment Grade Criteria
Applicants represent that with respect
to the securities issuance authority
proposed in this application: (a) Within
four days after the occurrence of a
Ratings Event,19 Applicants will notify
the Commission of its occurrence (by
means of a letter, via fax, email or
overnight mail to the Office of Public
Utility Regulation); and (b) within 30
days after the occurrence of a Ratings
Event, Applicants will submit a posteffective amendment to the Application
explaining the material facts and
circumstances relating to that Ratings
Event (including the basis on which,
taking into account the interests of
investors, consumers and the public as
well as other applicable criteria under
the Act, it remains appropriate for
Applicant(s) to issue the securities for
which authorization has been requested
in this Application, so long as
Applicant(s) continue to comply with
the other applicable terms and
conditions specified in the
Commission’s order authorizing the
transactions requested in the
Application). Furthermore, no securities
authorized as a result of this
Application other than common stock or
short-term debt to fund the Utility
Subsidiaries, will be issued following
the 60th day after a Ratings Event if the
downgraded rating(s) has or have not
been upgraded to investment grade.
Applicants request that the Commission
reserve jurisdiction over the issuance of
any securities (other than common stock
or short-term debt to fund the Utility
Subsidiaries) that Applicants are
prohibited from issuing following the
60th day after a Ratings Event until the
record is complete with regard to the
issuance.
No security will be issued pursuant to
the authorization sought herein after the
last day of the Authorization Period,
18 NORVARCO owns a 50% interest in a
partnership that owns a transmission line and is
wholly capitalized with debt to minimize the cost
of the transmission facility.
19 ‘‘Ratings Event’’ will occur if, during the
Authorization Period (a) any security issued by
Applicants upon original issuance, is rated, is rated
below investment grade; and (b) any outstanding
security of Applicants that is rated is downgraded
below investment grade. For purposes of this
provision, a security will be deemed to be rated
‘‘investment grade’’ if it is rated investment grade
by at least one nationally recognized statistical
rating organization as that term is used in
paragraphs (c)(2)(vi)(E), (F) and (H) of Rule 15c3–
1 under the Security Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (‘‘the Act’’).
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provided that securities issuable or
deliverable upon exercise or conversion
of, or in exchange for, securities which
were issued during the Authorization
Period, may be issued or delivered
subsequent to the end of the
Authorization Period.
B. Use of Proceeds
The financing proceeds will be used
for general corporate purposes,
including: (a) Financing investments by
and capital expenditures of Energy East
and its Subsidiaries, including, the
funding of future investments in EWGs,
FUCOs, Rule 58 Subsidiaries, and ETCs,
(b) the repayment, redemption,
refunding or purchase by Energy East or
any Subsidiary of any of its own
securities; and (c) financing working
capital requirements of Energy East and
its Subsidiaries. Energy East represents
that no financing proceeds will be used
to acquire the securities of, or other
interests in, any company unless the
acquisition has been approved by the
Commission in this proceeding or in a
separate proceeding or in accordance
with an available exemption under the
Act or its rules, including sections 32
and 33 and rule 58.
Energy East states that the aggregate
amount of the proceeds of any financing
and Energy East guaranties approved by
the Commission in this proceeding that
are used to fund investments in EWGs
and FUCOs will not, when added to
Energy East’s ‘‘aggregate investment’’ (as
defined in rule 53) in all such entities
at any point in time, exceed 50% of
Energy East’s ‘‘consolidated retained
earnings’’ (also as defined in rule 53).
Furthermore, Energy East represents
that the proceeds of any financing and
Energy East Guaranties and Non-utility
Subsidiary Guaranties utilized to fund
investments in Rule 58 Subsidiaries will
be subject to the limitations of that rule.
IV. Retention of Intermediate Holding
Companies
Energy East requests that the
Commission extend the authorization to
maintain its Intermediate Holding
Companies within the Energy East
system on a permanent basis.
Applicants state that section 11(b)(2) of
the Act is intended to eliminate the
pyramiding of holding company
groups—the interposition of one or
more holding companies between the
uppermost holding company and the
operating companies—and the issuance,
at each level of the structure, of different
classes of debt or stock with unequal
voting rights. The only Intermediate
Holding Company which itself has a
subsidiary company which is a holding
company is CMP Group. Therefore,
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Applicants assert that the provisions of
section 11(b)(2) are not triggered by
Energy East’s ownership of CTG
Resources, Berkshire Energy,
Connecticut Energy and Energy East
Enterprises.
Applicants state that although CMP
Group does have a subsidiary which
itself is a holding company the retention
of CMP Group also does not implicate
the abuses that section 11(b)(2) was
designed to address. CMP Group is the
parent of Central Maine, which is itself
a public utility. As a public utility,
Central Maine is regulated by the Maine
Public Utilities Commission and the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Central Maine is a holding company
with respect to two partially-owned
special purpose subsidiaries: MEPCo,
and, indirectly, Chester, a subsidiary of
NORVARCO. These utility subsidiaries
were organized to own specific
transmission facilities in Maine jointly
with unaffiliated public utilities. Central
Maine and its utility subsidiaries were
not established and are not currently
maintained by Energy East a device to
further the unfair distribution of voting
control or an unnecessarily complicated
capital structure. Given Central Maine’s
primary role as a public utility company
Applicants assert that it is appropriate
to view CMP Group in the same light as
CTG Resources, Berkshire Energy,
Connecticut Energy and Energy East
Enterprises.20 These companies do not
serve as a means to diffuse control, but
rather are being maintained for the
purpose of helping Energy East capture
economic efficiencies that might
otherwise be lost. For example, the
continued existence of each company
will contribute to shareholder value by
allowing efficiencies to be captured and
to the effective local regulation of the
operating utility subsidiaries by
preserving local name recognition,
operations and supervision. It also
provides maximum separation of utility
and non-utility ventures, insulating
each utility from any potential
economic impact associated with
Energy East’s other businesses. Further,
the costs associated with maintaining
these companies continue to be
minimal.
The Intermediate Holding Companies
do not have operational functions and
simply serve as conduits between
Energy East and Energy East’s public
utility subsidiaries with respect to
financing and dividends. With the
exception of short-term debt and
20 Under 35–A M.R.S.A. § 708, Energy East would
need the authorization of the Maine Public Utilities
Commission to effect a restructuring that would
result in the elimination of CMP Group.
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guarantees on behalf of their
subsidiaries, the Intermediate Holding
Companies are not used for external
financing purposes, to make
acquisitions, or to perform service, sales
or construction contracts.21
The continued existence of these
holding companies also will help to
preserve favorable tax attributes that
would be lost if they were eliminated.
In particular, the Intermediate Holding
Companies provide flexibility with
respect to the filing of state tax
returns.22
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, pursuant to
delegated authority.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–4404 Filed 8–12–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 35–28011]
Filings Under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as Amended
(‘‘Act’’)
August 2, 2005.
Notice is hereby given that the
following filing(s) has/have been made
with the Commission pursuant to
provisions of the Act and rules
promulgated under the Act. All
interested persons are referred to the
application(s) and/or declaration(s) for
complete statements of the proposed
transaction(s) summarized below. The
application(s) and/or declaration(s) and
any amendment(s) is/are available for
public inspection through the
Commission’s Branch of Public
Reference.
Interested persons wishing to
comment or request a hearing on the
application(s) and/or declaration(s)
should submit their views in writing by
August 26, 2005, to the Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–9303 and serve a copy on the
21 CMP Group does not issue securities to parties
outside of the Energy East group to finance its
subsidiaries.
22 In addition to these structural and regulatory
benefits, the continued existence of CTG Resources
will also preserve the benefits associated with
certain existing financing arrangements.
Specifically, Ten Companies currently has
approximately $40 million of private placement
bonds outstanding that are supported by CTG
Resources under the terms of a Forward Equity
Purchase Agreement. The elimination of CTG
Resources would constitute an event of default
under the notes and the holders would have the
right to ‘‘put’’ the bonds to the issuer at a large
(approximately $5 million) make-whole premium.
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13:17 Aug 12, 2005
Jkt 205001
relevant applicant(s) and/or declarant(s)
at the address(es) specified below. Proof
of service (by affidavit or, in the case of
an attorney at law, by certificate) should
be filed with the request. Any request
for hearing should identify specifically
the issues of facts or law that are
disputed. A person who so requests will
be notified of any hearing, if ordered,
and will receive a copy of any notice or
order issued in the matter. After August
26, 2005, the application(s) and/or
declaration(s), as filed or as amended,
may be granted and/or permitted to
become effective.
PNM Resources, Inc., et al. (70–10320)
PNM Resources, Inc., (‘‘PNM
Resources’’), a registered holding
company; Texas New Mexico Power
Company, a Texas corporation and
electric public utility company,
(‘‘TNMP’’); and TNP Enterprises, Inc. a
Texas corporation and wholly-owned
holding company subsidiary of PNM
Resources (‘‘TNP Enterprises’’), all of
4100 International Plaza, P.O. Box 2943,
Fort Worth, Texas 76113, have filed a
declaration, as amended (‘‘Declaration’’)
under sections 6(a), 7, and 12(c), of the
Act and rules 42 and 46, under the Act.
PNM Resources, TNMP and TNP
Enterprise are collectively referred to as
‘‘Applicants.’’
PNM Resources and its subsidiary
TNP Enterprises are registered public
utility holding companies. PNM
Resources acquired TNP Enterprises on
June 6, 2005, and as a result of the
acquisition, TNP Enterprises has no
employees or active operations, and
serves as a financial conduit.
TNP Enterprises has two subsidiaries,
TNMP and FCP Enterprises, Inc., a
Delaware corporation formed as an
intermediate subsidiary to hold
businesses that qualify under Rule 58,
including First Choice Power, L.P. and
First Choice Power Special Purpose,
L.P. (‘‘First Choice’’).1 First Choice was
organized to act as TNMP’s affiliated
retail electric provider in accordance
with Texas Senate Bill 7, which
established retail competition in the
Texas electricity market. TNMP is a
1 First Choice Power Special Purpose, L.P. is a
bankruptcy remote special purpose entity
certificated retail electric provider (‘‘REP’’) in Texas
to which the original REP certificate of First Choice
Power, Inc. and its price to beat customers were
transferred pursuant to order of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas. A new certificate was granted
to First Choice Power, Inc., which is now First
Choice Power, L.P., also a direct subsidiary of TNP
Enterprises. These entities are collectively referred
to as ‘‘First Choice.’’ First Choice does not derive
material revenue from the public-utility company
affiliates.
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47871
regulated utility operating in Texas and
New Mexico.
Prior to January 1, 2002 when retail
competition in the Texas electricity
market was established, TNMP operated
as an integrated electric utility in Texas,
generating, transmitting and distributing
electricity to customers in its Texas
service territory. As required by Senate
Bill 7, and in accordance with a plan
approved by the Public Utility
Commission of Texas (‘‘PUCT’’), TNMP
separated its Texas utility operations
into three components:
• Retail Sales Activities. As
mentioned above, First Choice assumed
the activities related to the sale of
electricity to retail customers in Texas,
and, on January 1, 2002, TNMP’s
customers became customers of First
Choice, unless they chose a different
retail electric provider.
• Power Transmission and
Distribution. TNMP continues to operate
its regulated transmission and
distribution business in Texas.
• Power Generation. Texas
Generating Company (‘‘TGC’’) became
the unregulated entity performing
TNMP’s generation activities in Texas.
However, in October 2002, TNMP and
TGC sold TNP One (TGC’s sole
generating asset) to Sempra Energy
Resources. As a result of the sale, TGC
and TGC II neither own property nor
engage in any operating activities, and
neither TNMP nor any of its affiliates
are currently in the power generation
business.
TNMP initially sought recovery of
$307.6 million of stranded costs
pertaining to the generation assets
rendered uneconomic by Texas
restructuring from its customers, an
amount which was later revised to
$266.5 million. On July 22, 2004, the
PUCT authorized TNMP to recover from
its customers $87.3 million instead of
the $266.5 million requested. The
decision resulted in a loss of $155.2
million before an income tax benefit of
$57.3 million ($97.8 million after tax).
As a result, TNMP reported on August
9, 2004 a loss applicable to common
stock of $97.0 million for the quarter
ended June 30, 2004. TNMP recorded
the $97.8 million after tax loss as an
extraordinary item in accordance with
the requirements of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards
(‘‘SFAS’’) 101—Regulated Enterprises—
accounting for the discontinuance of the
application of FASB Statement No. 71.
TNP Enterprises reported a net loss for
calendar 2004 of $75,603,000 and
negative shareholder equity of
$29,680,000.
On the day of its acquisition by PNM
Resources, TNP Enterprises refunded
E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47860-47871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-4404]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 35-28014]
Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
Amended (``Act'')
August 9, 2005.
Notice is hereby given that the following filing(s) has/have been
made with the Commission under provisions of the Act and rules
promulgated under the Act. All interested persons are referred to the
application(s) and/or declaration(s) for complete statements of the
proposed transaction(s) summarized below. The application(s) and/or
declaration(s) and any amendment(s) is/are available for public
inspection through the Commission's Branch of Public Reference.
Interested persons wishing to comment or request a hearing on the
application(s) and/or declaration(s) should submit their views in
writing by September 5, 2005, to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-9303, and serve a
copy on the relevant applicant(s) and/or declarant(s) at the
address(es) specified below. Proof of service (by affidavit or, in the
case of an attorney at law, by certificate) should be filed with the
request. Any request for hearing should identify specifically the
issues of facts or law that are disputed. A person who so requests will
be notified of any hearing, if ordered, and will receive a copy of any
notice or order issued in the matter. After September 5, 2005, the
application(s) and/or declaration(s), as filed or as amended, may be
granted and/or permitted to become effective.
Energy East Corporation, et al. (70-10298)
Energy East Corporation (``Energy East''), P.O. Box 12904, Albany,
New York, 12212, a registered holding company under the Act and its
direct and indirect subsidiaries listed below (collectively,
``Applicants''), have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') an application (``Application'') under sections 6(a),
7, 9(a), 10, 12(b), 12(c), 13(b), 32 and 33 of the Act and rules 45,
46, 54, and 80-92 under the Act. The other Applicants are: (1) Energy
East Enterprises, Inc. (``Energy East Enterprises''), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Energy East and a public utility holding company exempt
from registration by order of the Commission under section 3(a)(1) of
the Act and Energy East Enterprises' subsidiaries Maine Natural Gas
Corporation (``Maine Natural Gas'') and Energy East Capital Trust 1,
each at P.O. Box 12904, Albany, New York, 12212; (2) RGS Energy Group,
Inc., (``RGS'') a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy East and a public
utility holding company exempt from registration by order of the
Commission under section 3(a)(1) of the Act and RGS Energy's gas and
electric utility subsidiaries New York State Electric & Gas Corporation
(``NYSEG'') and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (``RG&E), each
of 89 East Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14649; (3) CMP Group, Inc.
(''CMP Group''), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy East and a public
utility holding company exempt from registration by order of the
Commission under section 3(a)(1) of the Act and CMP's subsidiaries
Central Maine Power Company (``Central Maine''), a public utility
holding company exempt from registration by order of the Commission
under section 3(a)(1) of the Act and Maine Electric Power Company, Inc.
(``MEPCo''), a majority owned electric utility subsidiary, each of 83
Edison Drive, Augusta Maine 04336; (4) NORVARCO, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Central Maine Power Company of 83 Edison Drive, Augusta,
Maine, 04336; (5) Connecticut Energy Corporation (``Connecticut
Energy''), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy East and a public
utility holding company exempt from registration by order of the
Commission under section 3(a)(1) of the Act and Connecticut Energy's
subsidiary The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (``Southern Connecticut
Gas''), each of 855 Main Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604; (6)
CTG Resources, Inc. (``CTG''), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy East
and a public utility holding company exempt from registration by order
of the Commission under section 3(a)(1) of the Act and CTG's subsidiary
Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (``Connecticut Natural Gas''), each
of 10 State House Square, Hartford, Connecticut, 06144; and (7)
Berkshire Energy Resources (``Berkshire Energy''), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Energy East and a public utility holding company exempt
from registration by order of the Commission under section 3(a)(1) of
the Act; and Berkshire Energy's subsidiary The Berkshire Gas Company
(``Berkshire Gas''), each of 115 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield,
Massachusetts, 01201.
I. Introduction
A. Authorization Period
Applicants seek authorization under the Act to engage in various
financing transactions discussed below through September 30, 2008
(``Authorization Period'') and to retain certain Intermediate Holding
Companies, as defined below.\1\ However, Applicants request that any
Commission order granting the requests made in the Application not
impose any obligation or requirement on the Applicants that survives
the effective date of repeal of the Act.
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\1\ Energy East currently has authority to engage in various
financing transactions through September 30, 2005. See Holding
Company Act Release No. 27228 (Sept. 12, 2000); Holding Company Act
Release No. 27643 (Jan. 28, 2003); and Holding Company Act Release
No. 27794.
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B. Description of Energy East and Its Subsidiaries
1. Energy East
Energy East is currently a registered public utility holding
company, and directly neither owns nor operates any physical
properties.\2\ Through its subsidiaries (which includes all of Energy
East's Utility Subsidiaries, the Intermediate Holding Companies and the
Non-utility Subsidiaries, as defined below), Energy East is an energy
services and delivery company with operations in New York, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire serving approximately 1.8
million electricity customers and 900,000 natural gas customers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Pursuant to Commission order dated March 4, 1998 (HCAR No.
25-26834), Energy East became the parent of New York State Electric
& Gas Corporation. Pursuant to Commission order dated February 2,
2000 (HCAR No. 35-27128), Energy East became the parent of
Connecticut Energy Corporation. Pursuant to Commission order dated
August 31, 2000 (HCAR 35-27224), Energy East became the parent of
CMP Group, Inc., CTG Resources, Inc. and Berkshire Energy Resources.
Pursuant to Commission order dated June 27, 2002 (HCAR No. 35-
27546), Energy East became the parent of RGS Energy Group, Inc.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Public Utility Operations
Energy East holds direct or indirect interests in nine public
utility companies (collectively, ``Utility Subsidiaries''), each of
which is wholly owned by companies within the Energy East system unless
otherwise noted:
[[Page 47861]]
(a) NYSEG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RGS, which purchases,
transmits and distributes electricity and natural gas in parts of New
York;
(b) RG&E a wholly-owned subsidiary of RGS, which generates,
purchases, transmits and distributes electricity and purchases,
transports and distributes natural gas in parts of New York;
(c) Southern Connecticut Gas a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Connecticut Energy, which is primarily engaged in the retail
distribution and transportation of natural gas in parts of Connecticut;
(d) Connecticut Natural Gas a wholly-owned subsidiary of CTG
Resources, which is primarily engaged in the retail distribution and
transportation of natural gas to parts of Connecticut;
(e) Berkshire Gas a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Energy,
which is primarily engaged in the retail distribution and
transportation of natural gas to parts of Massachusetts;
(f) Central Maine a wholly-owned by CMP Group and which is
primarily engaged in purchasing, transmitting and distributing
electricity in Maine;
(g) Maine Natural Gas Corporation a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Energy East Enterprises;
(h) MEPCo which owns and operates a 345kV transmission
interconnection between the Maine/New Brunswick, Canada international
border at Orient, Maine. Central Maine presently owns a 78.3% voting
interest in MEPCo with the remaining interests owned by two other Maine
utilities; and
(i) NORVARCO, which holds a 50% general partnership interest in
Chester SVC Partnership (``Chester''), a general partnership which owns
a static var compensator located in Chester, Maine, adjacent to MEPCo's
transmission interconnection. NORVARCO is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Central Maine.
3. Non-Utility Subsidiaries
Energy East also has a number of direct and indirect subsidiaries
that are not ``public utility companies'' under the Act (the ``Non-
utility Subsidiaries''):
(a) RGS, the parent of NYSEG and RG&E;
(b) Berkshire Energy, the parent of Berkshire Gas;
(c) CMP Group, the parent of Central Maine, MEPCo, and NORVARCO;
(d) Connecticut Energy, the parent of Southern Connecticut Gas;
(e) CTG Resources, the parent of Connecticut Natural Gas;
(f) The Energy Network, Inc., whose subsidiaries focus on peaking
generation and the retail marketing of electricity and natural gas;
(g) Energy East Enterprises, the parent of Maine Natural Gas and
New Hampshire Gas, and is developing gas storage in upstate New York
through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Seneca Lake Storage Inc.;
(h) Energy East Management Corporation and Utility Shared Services
Corporation, each of which are Commission authorized service companies
for the Energy East holding company system which own no public utility
assets;
(i) Energy East Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust formed
for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities;
(j) TEN Companies, Inc. (``TEN Companies''), which owns and manages
a district heating and cooling network in Hartford, Connecticut and
owns an interest in the Iroquois Gas Transmission System;
(k) CNE Energy Services Group, which has an interest in two small
natural gas pipelines that serve power plants in Connecticut and also
leases a liquefied natural gas plant that provides peaking gas in the
Northeast and has an equity interest in an energy technology venture
partnership;
(l) The Union Water-Power Company, which provides energy services
throughout New England and New York State;
(m) Energy East Telecommunications, which owns fiber optic lines in
central New York that it leases to retail communications companies;
(n) MaineCom Services, which owns fiber optic lines and provides
telecommunications services in Maine; and
(o) Energetix, Inc. and NYSEG Solutions, Inc., which market
electricity and natural gas services throughout upstate and central New
York.
RGS, Berkshire Energy, CMP Group, Central Maine, Connecticut
Energy, CTG Resources and Energy East Enterprises are all public
utility holding companies exempt from all provisions of the Act except
Section 9(a)(2). These companies are also referred to collectively as
the ``Intermediate Holding Companies.''
4. Capital Structure of Energy East
Energy East is authorized under its Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, to issue 300,000,000 shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $.01 per share. At December 31, 2004, Energy East had issued and
outstanding 147,118,329 shares of common stock. Energy East's shares
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Energy East's consolidated capitalization (including short-term
debt) at March 31, 2005 was as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage of
Book value total
(millions) (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock Equity *................... 2,832 41
Preferred Stock......................... 47 1
Long-Term Debt.......................... 3,771 55
Short-Term Debt **...................... 182 3
-----------------
Total............................... 6,832 100.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Including minority interests.
** Including current portion of long-term debt.
Energy East's senior unsecured debt is currently rated BBB by
Standard & Poor's Inc. (``S&P''), Baa2 by Moody's Investor Service
(``Moody's'') and BBB by Fitch IBCA Inc. (``Fitch''). To the extent it
is rated, the senior unsecured debt of the Utility Subsidiaries is
rated as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P Moody's Fitch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Maine................. BBB+........ A3.......... A-
NYSEG......................... BBB+........ Baa1........ BBB+
RG&E.......................... BBB......... Baa1........ BBB
[[Page 47862]]
Connecticut Natural Gas....... BBB+........ A3.......... A-
Southern Connecticut Natural n/a......... n/a......... A-
Gas.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Intermediate Holding Companies do not currently have external
debt.
II. Request for Financing Authority
A. Energy East External Financing
1. General
Energy East requests authorization to issue and sell common stock,
preferred stock, preferred securities, equity-linked securities,
options, warrants, purchase contracts, units (consisting of one or more
purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, shares of preferred
stock, shares of common stock or any combination of these securities),
long-term debt, subordinated debt, bank borrowings, securities with
call or put options, and securities convertible into any of these
securities.\3\ The aggregate amount of new financing obtained by Energy
East during the Authorization Period (exclusive of short-term debt),
through the issuance of securities, in each case valued at the time of
issuance, shall not exceed $3.9 billion outstanding at any one time
(``Energy East External Limit''),\4\ provided that securities issued
for purposes of refunding or replacing other outstanding securities
where Energy East's capitalization is not increased from that in place
on December 31, 2004 shall not be counted against this limitation.\5\
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\3\ Any convertible or equity-linked securities would be
convertible into or linked only to common stock, preferred
securities or unsecured debt securities that Energy East is
otherwise authorized to issue directly or indirectly through a
financing entity on behalf of Energy East.
\4\ Because the limit applies only to securities issued and
outstanding during the Authorization Period, when a security is
issued during the Authorization Period and later redeemed or retired
during the Authorization Period, the aggregate amount issued and
outstanding under the limit is reduced and additional financing
capacity under the limit is made available.
\5\ Any refunding or replacement of securities where
capitalization is not increased will be through the issuance of
securities of the type authorized by the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, Energy East requests authority to issue and sell from
time to time, directly or indirectly through one or more financing
subsidiaries, short-term debt, including commercial paper and bank
borrowings, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding
during the Authorization Period not to exceed $750 million (``Energy
East Short-term Limit''), provided that securities issued for purposes
of refunding or replacing other outstanding short-term debt securities
where Energy East's capitalization is not increased shall not be
counted against this limitation.
All securities issued by Energy East in accordance with the
authorization requested, including, without limitation, securities
issued for the purpose of refunding or retiring outstanding securities,
will comply with the applicable financing parameters set forth below.
Further, the aggregate principal amount of all indebtedness of Energy
East issued and outstanding during the Authorization Period shall not
exceed $2.3 billion (the ``Energy East Debt Limitation'').
Energy East contemplates that securities will be issued and sold
directly to one or more purchasers in privately-negotiated transactions
or to one or more investment banking or underwriting firms or other
entities who will resell the securities without registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (``1933 Act'') in reliance upon one
or more applicable exemptions from registration, or to the public
either (a) through underwriters selected by negotiation or competitive
bidding or (b) through selling agents acting either as agent or as
principal for resale to the public either directly or through dealers.
If underwriters are used, the securities will be acquired by the
underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time
in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a
fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time
of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through
underwriting syndicates (which may be represented by a managing
underwriter or underwriters designated by Energy East) or directly by
one or more underwriters acting alone, or may be sold directly by
Energy East or through agents designated by Energy East from time to
time. If dealers are utilized, Energy East will sell the securities to
the dealers, as principals. Any dealer may then resell the securities
to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the
time of resale. If common stock is being sold in an underwritten
offering, Energy East may grant the underwriters a ``green shoe''
option permitting the purchase from Energy East at the same price
additional shares then being offered solely for the purpose of covering
over-allotments.
2. Common Stock
Energy East may issue and sell common stock, or options, warrants
or other stock purchase rights exercisable for common stock, pursuant
to underwriting agreements of a type generally standard in the
industry. Public distributions may be pursuant to private negotiation
with underwriters, dealers or agents, or effected through competitive
bidding among underwriters. In addition, sales may be made through
private placements or other non-public offerings to one or more
persons. All common stock sales will be at rates or prices and under
conditions negotiated or based upon, or otherwise determined by,
competitive capital markets. Energy East may also issue common stock or
options, warrants or other stock purchase rights exercisable for common
stock in public or privately-negotiated transactions as consideration
for the equity securities or assets of other companies, provided that
the acquisition of any equity securities or assets has been authorized
in a separate proceeding or is exempt under the Act or the rules under
the Act (e.g., rule 58).\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Energy East will value the equity issued in those
circumstances in accordance with the agreement negotiated between
the purchaser and the seller.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy East also proposes to issue common stock and/or purchase
shares of its common stock (either currently or under forward
contracts) in the open market for purposes of (a) reissuing the shares
at a later date pursuant to stock-based plans which are maintained for
stockholders, employees and nonemployee directors or (b) managing its
capital structure. Energy East may make open-market purchases of common
stock in accordance with the terms of, or in connection with, the
operation of the plans, or as part of a program to repurchase its
securities generally. Stock repurchases would be conducted through open
market transactions and could include the acquisition at arm's-length
of Energy East common stock from institutional investors that may have
an affiliate interest in Energy East.
Energy East currently has in effect certain stock based plans which
authorize grants of its common stock, stock options and other stock-
based awards to eligible employees and directors. Energy East may issue
shares of its common stock under the
[[Page 47863]]
authorization and within the limitations set forth herein in order to
satisfy any of its obligations under all the plans and under plans
which replace any plans currently in effect. Energy East requests
authorization to issue and/or sell shares of common stock pursuant to
these existing and future stock plans and employee or director plans
without any additional prior Commission order. The market value at the
time of issuance of stock under stock-based compensation programs would
count against the Energy East External Limit. Energy East common stock
issued pursuant to an option would count against the Energy East
External Limit at the time, if any, that the option is exercised.
Energy East also has a dividend reinvestment plan under which
shares of its common stock may be issued to shareholders reinvesting
cash dividends and/or making optional cash investments to purchase
additional shares of common stock. Energy East seeks authority for the
issuance and sale of its shares in accordance with its dividend
reinvestment plan under the authorization and within the limitations
set forth in the Application.
Energy East proposes to issue shares of its common stock under the
authorization and within the limitations set forth in the Application
in order to satisfy its obligations under each of these existing stock-
based plans, as they may be amended or extended, and similar future
plan funding arrangements adopted without any additional Commission
order. Shares of common stock issued under these plans may either be
newly issued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased in the open
market. The market value of newly issued shares will be counted against
the Energy East External Limit.
3. Preferred Stock, Preferred Securities and Equity-Linked Securities
Energy East also proposes to issue and sell preferred stock
directly and/or issue, indirectly through one or more financing
subsidiaries, other forms of preferred securities (including, without
limitation, trust preferred securities or monthly income preferred
securities). Preferred stock and other forms of preferred securities
may be issued in one or more series with the rights, preferences, and
priorities as may be designated in the instrument creating each the
series, as determined by Energy East's board of directors, and may be
convertible or exchangeable into shares of Energy East common stock or
unsecured indebtedness. Dividends or distributions on the securities
will be made periodically and to the extent funds are legally available
for the purpose, but may be made subject to terms which allow the
issuer to defer dividend payments for specified periods. Energy East
may also issue and sell equity-linked securities in the form of stock
purchase units, which combine a security with a fixed obligation (e.g.,
preferred stock or debt) with a stock purchase contract that is
exercisable (either mandatorily or at the option of the holder).\7\ The
dividend or distribution rates, interest rates, redemption and sinking
fund provisions, conversion features, if any, and maturity dates with
respect to the preferred stock or other types of preferred securities
and equity-linked securities of a particular series, as well as any
associated placement, underwriting or selling agent fees, commissions
and discounts, if any, will be established by Energy East's board of
directors, negotiation or competitive bidding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Any convertible or equity-linked securities would be
convertible into or linked only to common stock, preferred
securities or unsecured debt securities that Energy East is
otherwise authorized to issue directly or indirectly through a
financing entity on behalf of Energy East.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy East contemplates that the preferred stock would be issued
and sold directly to one or more purchasers in privately-negotiated
transactions or to one or more investment banking or underwriting firms
or other entities who would resell the preferred stock either without
registration under the 1933 Act in reliance upon one or more applicable
exemptions from registration, or to the public either (a) through
underwriters selected by negotiation or competitive bidding or (b)
through selling agents acting either as agent or as principal for
resale to the public either directly or through dealers.
4. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt would be unsecured and may be issued directly
through a public or private placement or indirectly through one or more
financing subsidiaries, in the form of notes, convertible notes,
medium-term notes or debentures under one or more indentures, or long-
term indebtedness under agreements with banks or other institutional
lenders. The maturity dates, interest rates, redemption and sinking
fund provisions and conversion features, if any, with respect to the
long-term debt of a particular series, as well as any associated
placement, underwriting or selling agent fees, commissions and
discounts, if any, will be established by negotiation or competitive
bidding at the time of issuance.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Any convertible debt issued by Energy East would be
convertible only into common stock, preferred securities or
unsecured debt securities that Energy East is otherwise authorized
to issue directly or indirectly through a financing entity on behalf
of Energy East.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy East also requests authorization to issue and sell from time
to time during the Authorization Period debentures in one or more
series, subject to the Energy East Debt Limitation. The debentures (a)
may be convertible into any other securities of Energy East, (b) will
have maturities ranging from one to 50 years, (c) may be subject to
optional and/or mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, at par or at
various premiums above the principal amount thereof, (d) may be
entitled to mandatory or optional sinking fund provisions, (e) may
provide for reset of the coupon pursuant to a remarketing arrangement,
and (f) may be called from existing investors by a third party. The
debentures will be issued under an indenture to be entered into between
Energy East and a national bank, as trustee.
Energy East contemplates that the debentures would be issued and
sold directly to one or more purchasers in privately-negotiated
transactions or to one or more investment banking or underwriting firms
or other entities which would resell the debentures either without
registration under the 1933 Act in reliance upon one or more applicable
exemptions from registration or to the public either (a) through
underwriters selected by negotiation or competitive bidding or (b)
through selling agents acting either as agent or as principal for
resale to the public either directly or through dealers.
The maturity dates, interest rates, redemption and sinking fund
provisions and conversion features, if any, with respect to the
debentures of a particular series, as well as any associated placement,
underwriting or selling agent fees, commissions and discounts, if any,
will be established by negotiation or competitive bidding and reflected
in a purchase agreement or underwriting agreement setting forth the
terms; provided, however, that debentures issued by Energy East shall
be subject to the financing parameters set forth below.
5. Short-Term Debt
Energy East proposes to issue and sell from time to time, directly
or indirectly through one or more financing subsidiaries, unsecured
short-term debt, in the form of commercial paper, notes issued to banks
and other institutional
[[Page 47864]]
lenders, and other forms of short-term indebtedness, in an aggregate
principal amount at any time outstanding during the Authorization
Period not to exceed the Energy East Short-term Limit. Unused borrowing
capacity under a credit facility would not count towards the Energy
East Short-term Limit. Short-term borrowings under credit lines will
have maturities of a year or less from the date of each borrowing.
Commercial paper issued under any commercial paper facility would
be sold, directly or indirectly through one or more financing
subsidiaries, in established U.S. or European commercial paper markets.
Commercial paper would typically be sold to dealers at the discount
rate per annum prevailing at the date of issuance for commercial paper
of comparable quality and maturities sold to commercial paper dealers
generally. It is expected that the dealers acquiring commercial paper
would re-offer it at a discount to corporate, institutional and, with
respect to European commercial paper, individual investors. It is
anticipated that the commercial paper would be reoffered to investors
such as commercial banks, insurance companies, pension funds,
investment trusts, foundations, colleges and universities, finance
companies and non-financial corporations.
Energy East also may establish bank lines in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed the aforementioned Energy East Short-term Limit.
While the agreements may be for periods of three to five years or more,
loans under these bank credit lines are expected to have maturities not
more than one year from the date of each borrowing. Energy East may
engage in other types of short-term debt financing generally available
to borrowers with comparable credit ratings as it may deem appropriate
in light of its needs and market conditions at the time of issuance.
6. Utility Subsidiary Financing
Applicants state that the issue and sale of most securities by the
Utility Subsidiaries will be exempt from the pre-approval requirements
of sections 6(a) and 7 of the Act pursuant to rule 52(a), as most
securities offerings by a Utility Subsidiary must be approved by the
state utility commission with jurisdiction over the utility. However,
certain financings by the Utility Subsidiaries for which authorization
is requested in the Application may be outside the scope of the rule 52
exemption because they will not be subject to state commission
approval.
Accordingly, the Utility Subsidiaries request authorization to
issue and sell from time to time during the Authorization Period,
directly or indirectly through one or more financing subsidiaries,
short-term debt, in the form of commercial paper, notes issued to banks
and other institutional lenders, and other forms of short-term
indebtedness \9\ to the extent they are not otherwise exempt pursuant
to rule 52(a), with maturities of one year or less, up to the following
aggregate principal amounts:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ For example, Central Maine's borrowings are secured by an
unperfected lien on receivables. The Utility Subsidiaries request
the flexibility to issue short-term debt secured by their accounts
receivable.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregate
Utility subsidiaries principal amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NYSEG................................................. $275,000,000
Maine Natural Gas..................................... 50,000,000
Central Maine......................................... 150,000,000
MEPCo................................................. 30,000,000
NORVARCO.............................................. 30,000,000
Southern Connecticut Gas.............................. 125,000,000
Connecticut Natural Gas............................... 125,000,000
Berkshire Gas......................................... 50,000,000
RG&E.................................................. 200,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Short-Term Debt of Intermediate Holding Companies
Two of the Intermediate Holding Companies, Connecticut Energy and
Berkshire Energy, historically have had short-term debt outstanding
under bank credit facilities, although Applicants state that no debt
securities issued to non-system companies are currently outstanding.
Connecticut Energy and Berkshire Energy request authority to issue,
sell and have outstanding at any one time during the Authorization
Period unsecured short-term debt to Energy East or to third party
lenders under credit facilities in amounts at any one time outstanding
not to exceed $25 million and $10 million, respectively.
In addition, RGS requests authority to issue, sell and have
outstanding at any one time during the Authorization Period unsecured
short-term debt securities with maturities of one year or less in the
aggregate principal amount of $100 million. Subject to those
limitations and pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the
application, RGS may engage in short-term financing as it may deem
appropriate in light of its needs and market conditions at the time of
issuance. The short-term financing could include, without limitation,
commercial paper sold in established commercial paper markets in a
manner similar to Energy East, bank lines, debt securities issued under
indentures, or note programs. In addition, RGS will not issue any
indebtedness in contravention of any pre-existing orders of any state
utility commission.
The Intermediate Holding Companies also request authorization to
issue and sell their securities to Energy East and to acquire the
securities of their direct or indirect subsidiaries for the purpose of
financing the current or future authorized or permitted businesses of
the subsidiaries.
8. Non-Utility Subsidiary Financing
Energy East, through its Non-utility Subsidiaries, is engaged in
and expects to continue to engage in energy-related, telecommunications
or otherwise functionally related, non-utility businesses, which
include, principally, fuel transportation and storage, energy
marketing, energy management and demand side services, district heating
and cooling, and investments in exempt wholesale generators as defined
in section 32 of the Act (``EWGs''), exempt telecommunications
companies (``ETCs'') and ``qualifying facilities'' (``QFs'') within the
meaning of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, as
amended (``PURPA''). To finance investments in these competitive
businesses, it will be necessary for the Non-utility Subsidiaries to
have the ability to engage in financing transactions which are commonly
accepted for these types of investments. Applicants believe that, in
almost all cases, the financings will be exempt from prior Commission
authorization pursuant to rule 52(b).
To be exempt under rule 52(b), any loans by Energy East to a Non-
utility Subsidiary or by one Non-utility Subsidiary to another must
have interest rates and maturities that are designed to parallel the
lending company's effective cost of capital. However, in the limited
circumstances where the borrowing Non-utility Subsidiary is not wholly-
owned by Energy East directly or indirectly, Applicants request
authority for Energy East or a Non-utility Subsidiary, as the case may
be, to make loans to the subsidiaries at interest rates and maturities
designed to provide a return to the lending company of not less than
its effective cost of capital. If the loans are made to a Non-utility
Subsidiary, the company will not sell any services to any associate
Non-utility Subsidiary unless the associated purchaser falls within one
of the categories of companies to which goods and services may be sold
on a basis other than ``at cost.''
[[Page 47865]]
9. Guaranties
a. Energy East Guaranties
Energy East requests authorization to enter into guaranties, obtain
letters of credit, enter into expense agreements or otherwise provide
credit support to or on behalf of Subsidiaries (collectively, ``Energy
East Guaranties'') as may be appropriate to enable the Subsidiaries to
operate in the ordinary course of business, in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $1 billion issued and outstanding at any one time
during the Authorization Period, provided however, that the amount of
any Energy East Guaranties in respect of obligations of any EWG,
foreign utility company as defined in section 33 of the Act (``FUCO''),
or a company engaged or formed to engage in activities permitted by
rule 58 (``Rule 58 Subsidiary'') shall also be subject to the
limitations of rule 53(a)(1) or rule 58(a)(1), as applicable. Energy
East may charge each Subsidiary a fee for each guaranty provided on its
behalf that is not greater than the cost, if any, of obtaining the
liquidity necessary to perform the guaranty (for example, bank line
commitment fees or letter of credit fees, plus other transactional
expenses).
b. Non-Utility Subsidiary Guaranties
In addition to the guaranties that may be provided by Energy East,
as described above, the Non-utility Subsidiaries \10\ request
authorization to enter into guaranties, obtain letters of credit, enter
into expense agreements or otherwise provide credit support to or on
behalf of other Non-utility Subsidiaries (collectively, ``Non-utility
Subsidiary Guaranties'') in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
$750 million issued and outstanding at any one time during the
Authorization Period, exclusive of any guaranties and other forms of
credit support that are exempt pursuant to rule 45(b) and rule 52,
provided that the amount of any Non-utility Subsidiary Guaranties in
respect of obligations of any Rule 58 Subsidiary shall also be subject
to the limitations of rule 58(a)(1). The Non-utility Subsidiary
providing this credit support proposes to charge each Subsidiary a fee
for each guarantee provided on its behalf that is not greater than the
cost, if any, of obtaining the liquidity necessary to perform the
guaranty.
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\10\ Excluding CTG Resources and RGS.
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c. Intermediate Holding Company Guaranties
CTG Resources, an Intermediate Holding Company, has provided
guaranties and other forms of credit support on behalf of its
subsidiaries. Specifically, CTG Resources has guaranteed $40 million of
promissory notes issued by a non-utility subsidiary, TEN Companies,
that will mature in 2009 ($25 million) and 2010 ($15 million). CTG
Resources has also provided guaranties totaling approximately $40.7
million for other financial and contractual obligations of TEN
Companies. These include letters of credit totaling $25.7 million
backing development authority bonds and other similar contractual
obligations of TEN Companies that expire at various times not later
than 2025. CTG Resources requests authorization to maintain and replace
as necessary these guaranties and other forms of credit support (``CTG
Resources Guaranties'') during the Authorization Period and thereafter
for so long as the underlying obligations of any subsidiary shall
remain outstanding in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100 million.
In addition, RGS requests authorization to enter into guaranties,
obtain letters of credit, enter into expense agreements or otherwise
provide credit support to or on behalf of its subsidiary companies
(``RGS Guaranties'') as may be appropriate to enable the companies to
operate in the ordinary course of business, in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $100 million at any one time outstanding during
the Authorization Period.
The amount of CTG Resources Guaranties and RGS Guaranties would not
count against the limit applied to Non-utility Subsidiary Guaranties.
The amount of any guaranties in respect of obligations of any Rule 58
subsidiary shall also be subject to the limitations of rule 58(a)(1).
Each guarantor may charge its subsidiaries a fee for each guaranty or
other form of credit support provided on its behalf that is not greater
than the cost, if any, of obtaining the liquidity necessary to perform
under the obligation (for example, bank line commitment fees or letter
of credit fees, plus other transactional expenses).
10. Hedging Transactions
Energy East proposes to enter into, perform, purchase and sell
financial instruments intended to manage the volatility of currencies
and interest rates, including but not limited to currency and interest
rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and forward agreements or any other
similar agreements (``Hedging Instruments''). Energy East would employ
Hedging Instruments as a means of prudently managing the risk
associated with any of its outstanding or anticipated debt by, for
example, synthetically (a) converting variable rate debt to fixed rate
debt, (b) converting fixed rate debt to variable rate debt, (c)
limiting the impact of changes in interest rates resulting from
variable rate debt, and (d) providing an option to enter into interest
rate swap transactions in future periods for planned issuances of debt
securities.
Energy East proposes to enter into Hedging Instruments with respect
to anticipated debt offerings (``Anticipatory Hedges'') in order to fix
and/or limit the interest rate or currency exchange rate risk
associated with any new issuance. In addition to the use of Hedging
Instruments, Anticipatory Hedges may include (a) a forward sale of
exchange-traded government securities \11\ futures contracts,
government securities and/or a forward swap (each a ``Forward Sale''),
(b) the purchase of put options on government securities (``Put Options
Purchase''), (c) a Put Options Purchase in combination with the sale of
call options on government securities (``Zero Cost Collar''), (d)
transactions involving the purchase or sale, including short sales, of
government securities, or (e) some combination of a Forward Sale, Put
Options Purchase, Zero Cost Collar and/or other derivative or cash
transactions, including, but not limited to structured notes, caps and
collars, appropriate for the Anticipatory Hedges. Energy East may seek
to hedge its exposure to currency fluctuations through currency swaps
or options and forward exchange or similar transactions.
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\11\ Government Securities would include U.S. Treasury
obligations or the appropriate government benchmark security for the
currency involved in the hedge.
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Hedging Instruments and instruments used to affect Anticipatory
Hedges will be executed on-exchange (``On-Exchange Trades'') with
brokers through the opening of futures and/or options positions, the
opening of over-the-counter positions with one or more counterparties
(``Off-Exchange Trades''), or a combination of On-Exchange Trades and
Off-Exchange Trades. Energy East will determine the optimal structure
of each transaction at the time of execution. Off-Exchange Trades would
be entered into only with Intermediate Companies or with counterparties
whose senior debt ratings are investment grade as determined by S&P,
Moody's or Fitch (``Approved Counterparties'').
The Utility Subsidiaries, to the extent the securities are not
exempt under rule 52(a), also propose to enter into Hedging Instruments
with third-party Approved
[[Page 47866]]
Counterparties, but not other Energy East System companies, on the same
terms generally applicable to Energy East. The Utility Subsidiaries
expect to use the authority principally to hedge external debt. Energy
East maintains a central treasury department whose activities are
governed by policies and guidelines approved by the Board of Directors,
with regular reviews and monitoring by a standing committee of the
Board. The treasury department operates as a service center rather than
as a profit center and is subject to internal and external audit.
Treasury activities are managed in a non-speculative manner and all
transactions in Hedging Instruments would be matched to an underlying
business purpose. Consequently, Energy East and the Utility
Subsidiaries would not enter into transactions in Hedging Instruments
for speculative purposes or to finance businesses that are not
permitted, authorized or exempt under the Act. Energy East will qualify
transactions in Hedging Instruments for hedge-accounting treatment
under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. No gain or
loss on a Hedging Instrument entered into by Energy East or associated
tax effects, will be allocated to the Utility Subsidiaries, regardless
of the accounting treatment accorded to the transaction. Consequently,
the Utility Subsidiaries would not be adversely affected by these
transactions.\12\
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\12\ The terms applicable to Hedging Instruments entered into by
the Utility Subsidiaries differ from those applicable to Energy East
because to the extent a Utility Subsidiary incurs a gain or loss on
a Hedging Instrument that it has entered into to hedge a currency or
interest rate risk associated with a security that the Utility
Subsidiary has issued, the gain or loss would be attributed to the
Utility Subsidiary.
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11. Changes in Capital Stock of Subsidiaries
Applicants state that the portion of an individual Subsidiary's
aggregate financing to be effected through the sale of stock to Energy
East or other intermediate parent company during the Authorization
Period pursuant to rule 52 and/or pursuant to an order issued in regard
to the Application cannot be ascertained at this time. It may happen
that the proposed sale of capital securities may in some cases exceed
the then authorized capital stock of the Subsidiary. In addition, the
Subsidiary may choose to use capital stock with no par value. Also, a
wholly-owned Subsidiary may wish to engage in a reverse stock split to
reduce franchise taxes. As needed to accommodate the proposed
transactions and to provide for future issues, Applicants request
authority to change any wholly-owned Subsidiary's authorized capital
stock capitalization by an amount deemed appropriate by Energy East or
other intermediate parent company. A Subsidiary would be able to change
the par value, or change between par value and no-par stock, without
additional Commission approval. Any action by a Utility Subsidiary
would be subject to and would only be taken upon the receipt of any
necessary approvals by the state commission in the state or states
where the Utility Subsidiary is incorporated and doing business.
12. Financing Subsidiaries
Energy East and the Subsidiaries (other than Intermediate Holding
Companies) request authority to acquire, directly or indirectly, the
equity securities of one or more corporations, trusts, partnerships or
other entities (``Financing Subsidiaries'') created specifically for
the purpose of facilitating the financing of the authorized and exempt
activities (including exempt and authorized acquisitions) of companies
through the issuance of long-term debt or equity securities, including
but not limited to monthly income preferred securities, to third
parties. Any Financing Subsidiary may loan, dividend or otherwise
transfer the proceeds of the financings to its parent or to other
Subsidiaries, provided, however, that a Financing Subsidiary of a
Utility Subsidiary will dividend, loan or transfer proceeds of
financing only to the Utility Subsidiary. Energy East may, if required,
guaranty or enter into expense agreements in respect of the obligations
of any Financing Subsidiary that it organizes. The Subsidiaries may
also provide guaranties and enter into expense agreements, if required,
on behalf of any Financing Subsidiaries which they organize pursuant to
rules 45(b)(7) and 52, as applicable. The amount of securities issued
by a Financing Subsidiary would count against the limitation applicable
to its parent for the securities, as if the parent company had issued
the securities directly. In that case, however, the guaranty by the
parent of the security issued by its Financing Subsidiary would not be
counted against the limitations on Energy East Guaranties, CTG
Resources or RGS Guaranties, or Non-utility Subsidiary Guaranties, as
the case may be.
13. Intermediate Subsidiaries
Energy East requests authorization to acquire, directly or
indirectly, the securities of one or more Intermediate Subsidiaries,
which would be organized exclusively for the purpose of acquiring,
holding and/or financing the acquisition of the securities of or other
interest in one or more EWG, FUCO, Rule 58 Subsidiary, ETC or other
Non-utility Subsidiary (as authorized by the Commission or permitted
under the Act), provided that Intermediate Subsidiaries may also engage
in development activities (``Development Activities'') and
administrative activities (``Administrative Activities''), as described
below, relating to the subsidiaries. To the extent the transactions are
not exempt from the Act or otherwise authorized or permitted by rule,
regulation or order of the Commission, Energy East requests authority
for Intermediate Subsidiaries to provide management, administrative,
project development and operating services to the entities. The
services may be rendered at fair market prices to the extent they
qualify for any of the exceptions from the ``at cost'' standard
requested below.
Development Activities will be limited to due diligence and design
review; market studies; preliminary engineering; site inspection;
preparation of bid proposals, including, in connection therewith,
posting of bid bonds; application for required permits and/or
regulatory approvals; acquisition of site options and options on other
necessary rights; negotiation and execution of contractual commitments
with owners of existing facilities, equipment vendors, construction
firms, power purchasers, thermal ``hosts,'' fuel suppliers and other
project contractors; negotiation of financing commitments with lenders
and other third-party investors; and other preliminary activities as
may be required in connection with the purchase, acquisition, financing
or construction of facilities or the acquisition of securities of or
interests in new businesses. Intermediate Subsidiaries request
authority to expend up to $100 million during the Authorization Period
on all Development Activities.
Administrative Activities will include ongoing personnel,
accounting, engineering, legal, financial, and other support activities
necessary to manage Energy East's investments in Non-utility
Subsidiaries.
Applicants state that there are several legal and business reasons
for the use of special-purpose intermediate companies in connection
with making investments in EWGs and FUCOs, Rule 58 Subsidiaries, ETCs
and other Non-utility Subsidiaries. For example, the formation and
acquisition of special-purpose subsidiaries is often necessary
[[Page 47867]]
or desirable to facilitate financing the acquisition and ownership of a
FUCO, an EWG or another non-utility enterprise. Furthermore, the laws
of some foreign countries may require that the bidder in a
privatization program be organized in that country. In such cases, it
may be necessary to form a foreign subsidiary as the entity (or
participant in the entity) that submits the bid or other proposal.
An Intermediate Subsidiary may be organized, among other things,
(a) to facilitate the making of bids or proposals to develop or acquire
an interest in any EWG or FUCO, Rule 58 Subsidiary, ETC or other Non-
utility Subsidiary; (b) after the award of a bid proposal, in order to
facilitate closing on the purchase or financing of the acquired
company; (c) at any time subsequent to the consummation of an
acquisition of an interest in any company in order, among other things,
to effect an adjustment in the respective ownership interests in the
business held by Energy East and non-affiliated investors; (d) to
facilitate the sale of ownership interests in one or more acquired non-
utility companies; (e) to comply with applicable laws of foreign
jurisdictions limiting or otherwise relating to the ownership of
domestic companies by foreign nationals; (f) as a part of tax planning
in order to limit Energy East's exposure to state, U.S. and foreign
taxes; (g) to further insulate Energy East and the Utility Subsidiaries
from operational or other business risks that may be associated with
investments in non-utility companies; or (h) for other lawful business
purposes.
Investments in Intermediate Subsidiaries may take the form of any
combination of the following: (a) Purchases of capital shares,
partnership interests, member interests in limited liability companies,
trust certificates or other forms of equity interests; (b) capital
contributions; (c) open account advances with or without interest; (d)
loans; and (e) guaranties issued, provided or arranged in respect of
the securities or other obligations of any Intermediate Subsidiaries or
new Subsidiaries. Funds for any direct or indirect investment in any
Intermediate Subsidiaries or new Subsidiaries will be derived from (x)
financings authorized in this proceeding; (y) any appropriate future
debt or equity securities issuance authorization obtained by Energy
East from the Commission; and (z) other available cash resources,
including proceeds of securities sales by a Non-utility Subsidiary
pursuant to rule 52. To the extent that Energy East provides funds or
guaranties directly or indirectly to an Intermediate Subsidiary which
are used for the purpose of making an investment in any EWG, FUCO or a
Rule 58 Subsidiary, the amount of funds or guaranties will be included
in Energy East's ``aggregate investment,'' as calculated in accordance
with rule 53 or rule 58, as applicable.
Energy East may determine from time to time to consolidate or
otherwise reorganize all or any part of its direct and indirect
ownership interests in Non-utility Subsidiaries, and the activities and
functions related to the investments, under a company, including one or
more Intermediate Subsidiaries. To effect any consolidation or other
reorganization, Energy East may wish to either contribute the equity
securities of one Non-utility Subsidiary to another company or sell (or
cause a Non-utility Subsidiary to sell) the equity securities of one
Non-utility Subsidiary to another company. To the extent that these
transactions are not otherwise exempt under the Act or its rules,
Energy East is requesting authorization to consolidate or otherwise
reorganize under one or more direct or indirect subsidiaries its
ownership interests in existing and future Non-utility Subsidiaries.
Transactions may take the form of a sale, contribution or transfer of
the securities of a Non-utility Subsidiary as a dividend to a company
and the acquisition by a company of securities either by purchase or by
receipt of a dividend. The purchasing company in any transaction
structured as an intra-system sale of equity securities may execute and
deliver its promissory note evidencing all or a portion of the
consideration given. Each transaction would be carried out in
compliance with all applicable U.S. or foreign laws and accounting
requirements, and any transaction structured as a sale would be carried
out for a consideration equal to the book value of the equity
securities being sold. Energy East will report each transaction in the
next quarterly certificate filed pursuant to rule 24 in this
proceeding, as described below.
14. Investments in Energy-Related Assets
Non-utility Subsidiaries request authority to acquire or construct
in one or more transactions from time to time during the Authorization
Period, non-utility energy assets in the United States, including,
without limitation, natural gas production, gathering, processing,
storage and transportation facilities and equipment, liquid oil
reserves and storage facilities, and associated facilities
(collectively, ``Energy-Related Assets''), that would be incidental to
the energy marketing, brokering and trading operations of Energy East's
Subsidiaries. Non-utility Subsidiaries request authorization to invest
up to $500 million (``Investment Limitation'') during the Authorization
Period in Energy-Related Assets or in the equity securities of existing
or new companies substantially all of whose physical properties consist
or will consist of Energy-Related Assets. Energy-Related Assets (or
equity securities of companies owning Energy-Related Assets) may be
acquired for cash or in exchange for Common Stock or other securities
of Energy East or a Non-utility Subsidiary of Energy East, or any
combination of the foregoing. If Common Stock of Energy East is used as
consideration in connection with any acquisition, the market value on
the date of issuance will be counted against the requested Investment
Limitation. The stated amount or principal amount of any other
securities issued as consideration in any transaction will also be
counted against the Investment Limitation. Under no circumstances will
any Non-utility Subsidiary acquire, directly or indirectly, any assets
or properties the ownership or operation of which would cause the
company to be considered an ``electric utility company'' or ``gas
utility company'' as defined under the Act. Energy East may add to the
existing base of non-utility, marketing-related assets held by its
subsidiaries as and when market conditions warrant, whether through
acquisitions of specific assets or groups of assets that are offered
for sale, or by acquiring existing companies (for example, other gas
marketing companies which own significant physical assets in the areas
of gas production, processing, storage, and transportation).
15. Sales of Services and Goods Among Non-Utility Subsidiaries
Energy East's Non-utility Subsidiaries request authorization to
provide services and sell goods to each other at fair market prices
determined without regard to cost, and request an exemption (to the
extent that rule 90(d) does not apply) pursuant to section 13(b) from
the cost standards of rules 90 and 91 applicable to the transactions,
in any case in which the Non-utility Subsidiary purchasing the goods or
services is:
A FUCO or foreign EWG which derives no part of its income,
directly or indirectly, from the generation, transmission, or
distribution of electric energy for sale within the United States;
An EWG which sells electricity at market-based rates which
have been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(``FERC''),
[[Page 47868]]
provided that the purchaser is not one of the Utility Subsidiaries;
A QF that sells electricity exclusively (a) at rates
negotiated at arms'-length to one or more industrial or commercial
customers purchasing electricity for their own use and not for resale,
and/or (b) to an electric utility company (other than a Utility
Subsidiary) at the purchaser's avoided cost as
determined in accordance with the regulations under PURPA;
A domestic EWG or QF that sells electricity at rates based
upon its cost of service, as approved by FERC or any state public
utility commission having jurisdiction, provided that the purchaser
thereof is not one of the Utility Subsidiaries; or
A Rule 58 Subsidiary or any other Non-utility Subsidiary
that (a) is partially-owned by Energy East, provided that the ultimate
purchaser of the goods or services is not a Utility Subsidiary service
company (or any other entity that Energy East may form whose activities
and operations are primarily related to the provision of goods and
services to the Utility Subsidiaries), (b) is engaged solely in the
business of developing, owning, operating and/or providing the services
or goods to Non-utility Subsidiaries described above, or (c) does not
derive, directly or indirectly, any material part of its income from
sources within the United States and is not a public-utility company
operating within the United States.
16. Activities of Rule 58 Subsidiaries Within and Outside the United
States
Energy East, on behalf of any current or future Rule 58
Subsidiaries, requests authority to engage in business activities
permitted by rule 58 both within and outside the United States,
including:
The brokering and marketing of electricity, natural gas
and other energy commodities (``Energy Marketing'');
Energy management services (``Energy Management
Services''), including the marketing, sale, installation, operation and
maintenance of various products and services related to energy
management and demand-side management, including energy and efficiency
audits; facility design and process control and enhancements;
construction, installation, testing, sales and maintenance of (and
training client personnel to operate) energy conservation equipment;
design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of energy
conservation programs; development and review of architectural,
structural and engineering drawings for energy efficiencies, design and
specification of energy consuming equipment; and general advice on
programs; the design, construction, installation, testing, sales and
maintenance of new and retrofit heating, ventilating, and air
conditioning, electrical and power systems, alarm and warning systems,
motors, pumps, lighting, water, water-purification and plumbing
systems, and related structures, in connection with energy-related
needs; and the provision of services and products designed to prevent,
control, or mitigate adverse effects of power disturbances on a
customer's electrical systems; and
Engineering, consulting and other technical support
services (``Consulting Services'') with respect to energy-related
businesses, as well as for individuals. Consulting Services would
include technology assessments, power factor correction and harmonics
mitigation analysis, meter reading and repair, rate schedule design and
analysis, environmental services, engineering services, billing
services (including consolidation billing and bill disaggregation
tools), risk management services, communications systems, information
systems/data processing, system planning, strategic planning, finance,
feasibility studies, and other similar services.
Applicants state that these investments would count against the
rule 58 limit.
In regard to: (a) Energy Marketing activities outside the United
States and Canada, (b) the provision of Energy Management Services and
Consulting Services anywhere outside the United States, and (c) other
activities of Rule 58 Subsidiaries outside the United States, Energy
East requests that the Comm
