EX-99 9 ex99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 - INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT EXHIBIT 99.1 - INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

 

Independent Auditors' Report

 

The Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related statements of income and retained earnings, capitalization and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Burlington, Vermont
January 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 1 of 18

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)

 

Years ended December 31,

 

2005

2004

2003

Operating revenues

Operating expenses:
   Purchased Power
   Nuclear fuel expense (NOTE 3)
   Other operating expense (NOTE 2f)
   Taxes on income (NOTE 9)
   Other taxes
   Total operating expenses

Operating income (loss)

Other income (expense):
   Spent fuel disposal trust income (NOTES 4 and 7)
   Interest income on income tax refunds
   Taxes on other income (NOTE 9)
   Other, net
   Total other income, net

Income before interest expense

Interest expense:
   Interest on spent fuel disposal fee obligation (NOTE 7)
   Other interest
   Total interest expense

Net income

$160,613 


162,805 
1,383 
(70)
(3,202)
         18 
160,934 

       (321
)


3,676 
2,996 
(2,260)
       338 
    4,750 

    4,429 


    3,769 
           - 
   3,769 

     $660 

$167,399 


166,029 
1,344 
643 
(743)
         39 
167,312 

         87 


2,766 

(838)
        60 
   1,988 

    2,075 


    1,537 
           - 
   1,537 

      $538 

$187,123 


187,742 
1,314 
(2,655)
34 
         20 
186,455 

         668 


3,695 

(1,014)
        473 
   3,154 

    3,822 


    1,283 
         3 
1,286 

      $2,536 

Basic earnings per share of common stock

Average shares outstanding

$3.17 

208.4 

$2.58 

208.4 

$7.35 

345.4 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 2 of 18

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)

 

December 31,

 

2005

2004

ASSETS
Long-term investments, at fair value:
   Spent fuel disposal trust (NOTES 2b, 4, 6 and 7)
   Other investments (NOTES 2b, 4 and 6)
   Total long-term investments



$120,639 
      1,341 
    121,980 



$118,864 
      1,053 
   119,917 

Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents (NOTE 2d)
   Accounts receivable from sponsors (NOTE 1)
   Tax refunds and other receivables
   Total current assets


11,358 
15,387 
        22 
  26,767 


7,384 
16,618 
        598 
   24,600 

Deferred charges:
   Deferred DOE enrichment site decontamination and
      decommissioning fee (NOTE 3)
   Accumulated deferred income taxes (NOTE 9)
   Other deferred charges (NOTES 3, 4 and 11)
   Total deferred charges



2,485 
   164 
 1,736 
 4,385 



3,768 
2,628 
    629 
 7,025 

TOTAL ASSETS

$153,132 

$151,542 



CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
   Common stock ($100 par; authorized 400,100 shares; issued
      208,422 shares)
   Additional paid-in capital
   Retained earnings
   Total capitalization


Commitments and contingencies (NOTES 5, 8 and 12)

Spent fuel disposal fee and accrued interest (NOTES 6 and 7)

Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable
   Current portion of DOE enrichment site decontamination and
      decommissioning fee (NOTE 3)
   Accrued taxes
   Other current liabilities (NOTE 2e)
   Total current liabilities






$20,842 
(16,114)
         33 
    4,761 




128,725 


15,209 

1,420 
31 
       130 
  16,790 






$20,842 
(16,068)
          21 
     4,795 




124,956 


16,370 

1,370 
213 
      337 
  18,290 

Deferred credits and other liabilities:
   Accrued DOE enrichment site decontamination
      and decommissioning fee (NOTE 3)
   Accrued employee benefits (NOTE 11)
   Accumulated deferred income taxes and investment credit (NOTE 9)
   Other deferred credits (NOTES 3, 4 and 9)
   Total deferred credits and other liabilities




1,812 
1,044 
        - 
2,856 



1,370 
1,415 
271 
    445 
3,501 


TOTAL CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES


$153,132 


$151,542 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

Page 3 of 18

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
(In thousands, except share data)

             
 



Shares


Amount at
Par Value


Treasury
Stock

Additional Paid In
Capital


Retained
Earnings



Total


Balance - December 31, 2002

   Net Income
   Regular Cash Dividends Declared on       Common Stock
   Liquidating dividend payments
   Treasury Stock

Balance - December 31, 2003


400,014





             - 

400,014 


$40,001 





           - 

40,001 


$(4,350)





(3,730)

(8,080)


$14,226 




(41,373)
           - 

(27,147)


$1,325 

2,536 

(3,861)

           - 


$51,202 

2,536 

(3,861)
(41,373)
(3,730)

4,774 


   Net Income
   Regular Cash Dividends Declared on
      Common Stock
   Retire Treasury Stock

Balance - December 31, 2004





(191,592)

208,422 





(19,159)

20,842





8,080 





11,079 

(16,068)


538 

(517)
         - 

21


538 

(517)
         - 

4,795


   Net Income
   Regular Cash Dividends Declared on
      Common Stock
   Liquidating Cash Dividend Declared on
      Common Stock

Balance - December 31, 2005






         - 

208,422 






         - 

$20,842 






         - 

$- 






        (46)

$(16,114)


660 

(648)

         - 

$33 


660 

(648)

        (46)

$4,761 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 4 of 18

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

 

Years ended December 31,

 

2005

2004

2003

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
     operating activities:
   Deferred tax expense
   Amortization of deferred investment tax credits
   Nuclear fuel disposal fee interest accrual
   Spent fuel disposal trust earnings
   Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
   Decrease in tax refunds and other receivables
   Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   Decrease in accrued taxes
   Net change in other assets and liabilities
      Total adjustments
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities


$660 


3,251 
(40)
3,769 
(3,676)
1,231 
576  
(1,177)
(182)
227 
3,979 
4,639 


$538 


(423)

1,537 
(2,766)
(3,395)

(92)
(44)
360 
(4,823)
(4,285)


$2,536 


(255)

1,283 
(3,695)
4,266 
10,084 
(4,218)
(79)
240 
7,626 
10,162 

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Withdrawal from spent fuel disposal trust for income tax payments
   Investment in Rabbi Trust
   Investment in company owned life insurance
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities


292 
(90)
   (173)
     29 


5,948 
(107)
(131)
5,710 



(152)
(110)
(262)

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Dividend payments out of retained earnings
   Liquidating dividend payments
   Repurchase common stock
Net cash used for financing activities


(648)
(46)
        
(694)


(517)

       - 
(517)


(3,861)
(41,373)
(3,729)
(48,963)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

3,974 
7,384 
$11,358 

908 
6,476 
$7,384 

(39,063)
45,539 
$6,476 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 5 of 18

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. Nature of Business

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation ("the Company") was incorporated under the laws of the State of Vermont on August 4, 1966. The Company was formed by a group of New England utilities for the purpose of constructing and operating a nuclear-powered electric generating plant ("the Plant"). The names of the sponsoring utilities (collectively "the Sponsors") and their respective entitlement percentages of the capacity and output of the Plant are as follows: Central Vermont Public Service Corporation with 35.0%, New England Power Company with 22.5%, Green Mountain Power Corporation with 20.0%, The Connecticut Light and Power Company with 9.5%, Central Maine Power Company with 4.0%, Public Service Company of New Hampshire with 4.0%, Cambridge Electric Light Company with 2.5%, and Western Massachusetts Electric Company with 2.5%. The Company repurchased the shares of its common stock held by five of the eight Sponsors in 2003 and retired the shares in 2004. Custom Investment Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Vermont Public Service Corporation), Green Mountain Power Investment Company (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Mountain Power Corporation) and Central Maine Power Company are the remaining stockholders of the Company.

The Company sold the Plant to Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC ("ENVY") on July 31, 2002 after having signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement (as amended, the "PSA") on August 15, 2001. Under the PSA, in addition to paying the purchase price, ENVY assumed the Company's obligation to operate and decommission the Plant in exchange for the transfer of ownership of the Plant and related assets (including but not limited to, the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station and site; corporate offices and training facility; nuclear fuel inventories; switchyards and transformers; materials and supplies inventories; decommissioning trust funds; assets funding employee benefit plans assumed by Entergy; insurance policies; licenses and permits) and liabilities (including but not limited to, decommissioning liabilities and associated costs; pre-sale spent nuclear fuel; employee benefit liabilities; environmental liabilities; and nuclear liabilities) to ENVY. Assets specifically excluded from the sale included the Vermont Yankee Spent Fuel Disposal Trust and any short or long term financial instruments. Liabilities specifically excluded were the pre-1983 spent fuel disposal cost liability; outstanding debt, including bonds and bank facilities; and any potential liabilities associated with pre-closing off-site disposal of hazardous materials. Sale proceeds were sufficient to retire all of the Company's then current debt including its First Mortgage Bonds and borrowings under its Secured Credit Agreement.

The PSA requires the Company to purchase from ENVY essentially all of the current capacity of the Plant through March 21, 2012 pursuant to a Power Purchase Agreement (as amended, the "PPA") with prices that generally range from 3.9 cents to 4.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. The PPA prices are subject to a "low market adjuster" beginning in 2005 that provides for lower power purchase prices if the market price of power is significantly less than the PPA price.

The Company has entered into Power Contracts, Additional Power Contracts and 2001 Amendatory Agreements (collectively, as amended, the "Power Contracts") with each of the Sponsors that have been accepted for filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). Under the terms of the Power Contracts each of the Sponsors is entitled and obligated to pay the Company an amount equal to its entitlement percentage of the Company's total operating expenses, an allowed return on equity, its respective proportion of PSA and PPA costs, and to repurchase from the Company the output of the Plant in the stated entitlement percentages.

The Plant commenced commercial operation on November 30, 1972, and except during maintenance and refueling outages, has been in full operation since that time. The Plant currently has a gross maximum dependable capacity of approximately 535 megawatts although ENVY is involved in regulatory proceedings attempting to increase the output by approximately twenty percent. Under the Company's agreements with ENVY, the Company was allowed a thirty day period to exclusively negotiate for the purchase of some or all of the additional power. The Company's right to these exclusive negotiations expired during 2004 without reaching agreement, and the Company has no further right or obligation to purchase the additional output.

The Plant is currently licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate until March 21, 2012, although ENVY has announced its intention to seek a 20 year license extension. Other nuclear plants have successfully extended their

Page 6 of 18

operating licenses. In the event that ENVY extends the operating license of the Plant, the Company's agreements with ENVY allow the Company a thirty day period to exclusively negotiate for the purchase of some or all of the additional output though there is no obligation to do so. There are other nuclear plants, including some in the Northeast, that have shut down prior to the end of their license lives for economic reasons. As a result of the sale of the Plant, shutting down and decommissioning the Plant is no longer a responsibility of the Company, and in the event of a plant shutdown, the Company is under no obligation to supply power to the Sponsors.

NOTE 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Regulations and Operations - The Company is subject to regulations prescribed by the FERC, and the Public Service Board of the State of Vermont with respect to accounting and other matters. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation, the Company records certain assets and liabilities in accordance with the economic effects of the rate making process. The Company recognizes revenue pursuant to the terms of the Power Contracts, Additional Power Contracts and Amendatory Agreements filed with the FERC. The Sponsors, a group of eight New England utilities, are severally obligated to pay the Company each month their entitlement percentage of amounts equal to the Company's total operating expenses, an allowed return on equity (7.5% since July 31, 2002) and any PPA costs incurred on a unit contingent basis. All Sponsors are committed to such payments regardless of the Plant's operating level or whether the Plant is out of service during the period.

(b) Long-Term Investments - The Company accounts for its investments in long-term funds at fair value as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115. See NOTE 4 for further discussion of this accounting method. The cash surrender values of Company owned life insurance policies are presumed to represent their fair values. Increases and decreases in cash surrender values other than those resulting from premium payments or withdrawals are recorded to income or expense as appropriate.

(c) Taxes on Income - Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

(d) Cash and Cash Equivalents - The Company considers all highly liquid short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

(e) Other Current Liabilities - Other current liabilities include the Company's estimate of costs incurred for which no invoice has been received by the balance sheet date and accrued payroll and benefit costs.

(f) Other Operating Expense - Other operating expense consists of costs incurred by the Company during the period for various items including employee salaries, employee benefits, attorneys, accountants, contractors, insurance, telephone and office supplies. The credit amount reported for Other Operating Expense in 2005 is a result of insurance return premiums totaling more than $1.5 million that were received during the year. Insurance return premiums of $1.3 million were received in 2004. The credit amount reported for Other Operating Expense in 2003 resulted from refunds of prior year expenses totaling more than $4.6 million that were received during the year, including insurance return premiums and an amount paid to the Company relating to expenses incurred to cure fuel defects that were discovered in 2001 and 2002.

g) Earnings Per Common Share - Basic earnings per common share have been computed by dividing earnings available to common stock by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per common share have not been disclosed as they do not differ from basic earnings per share.

(h) Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Page 7 of 18

NOTE 3. Deferred Charges and Deferred Credits

DOE Enrichment Site Decontamination and Decommissioning Fee

In October 1992, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The Act requires, among other things, that certain utilities help pay for the cleanup of the United States Department of Energy ("DOE") enrichment facilities over a fifteen year period. The Company's annual fee is based on its historical share of enrichment services provided by DOE and is indexed to inflation. The fees are not adjusted for subsequent business as DOE's cost of sales has since included a decontamination and decommissioning component. The Act stipulates that the annual fee shall be fully recoverable in rates in the same manner as other fuel costs. The Company amortizes the annual fee payments over twelve months beginning in the month of payment and recorded $1.4 million in nuclear fuel expense related to this fee in 2005, $1.3 million in 2004 and $1.3 million in 2003.

In 2005, the Company paid the fourteenth of the fifteen annual charges. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had recognized a current accrued liability of $1.4 million for the remaining fee payment expected to be made in 2006, and a corresponding regulatory asset of $2.5 million which represents the total amount to be included in future billings to the Sponsors under the Power Contracts including the unrecovered portion of the 2005 fee payment of $1.1 million. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had recognized a current accrued liability of $1.4 million for the fee payment expected to be made in 2005, a non-current liability of $1.4 million for the expected final annual fee payment due in 2006, and a corresponding regulatory asset of $3.8 million including the unrecovered portion of the 2004 fee payment of $1.0 million. Under the terms of the sale of Plant assets to ENVY, the Company retained this liability and will make the remaining payment as required by the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

Other Deferred Charges and Other Deferred Credits

In 2001, FERC approved a settlement agreement between the Company and intervening parties that included, among other things, a settlement on the regulatory treatment of costs incurred in conjunction with initiatives to sell the Plant and related assets and liabilities. The agreement provided for the refund of a portion of the costs incurred in pursuit of the then terminated sale transaction, and the authorization for the Company and the affected Sponsors to recover this refund through amortization, with a return. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of the $0.8 million refund remained to be recovered through March 2012. See also NOTE 11 as both the regulatory asset resulting from the difference between the amount authorized by the FERC for postretirement benefits expense and the actual amount of the expense for both 2005 and 2004, and offsets to the additional minimum pension liabilities as of both December 31, 2005 and 2004 are also included in Other Deferred Charges.

Realized gains (losses) on investments in debt and equity securities in the Spent Fuel Disposal Trust and the Rabbi Trust (see NOTE 4) have the effect of reducing (increasing) billings to customers. Accordingly, the Company includes any net unrealized gain or loss (i.e. the difference between their cost and market values) as an increase to Other Deferred Charges or Other Deferred Credits as appropriate. Net unrealized losses of $1.1 million as of December 31, 2005 are included in Other Deferred Charges and net unrealized gains of $0.4 million as of December 31, 2004 are included in Other Deferred Credits.

NOTE 4. Long-Term Investments

The Company accounts for its investments in certain debt and equity securities by classifying each such security as either trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. Both trading and available-for-sale securities must be reflected on the balance sheets at their aggregate fair values. Held-to-maturity securities are reflected on the balance sheets at amortized cost.

The Company has long-term investments in two trust funds. The securities included in the Spent Fuel Disposal Trust represent funds invested by the Company for which the earnings and principal will be used to pay the DOE fee for spent fuel discharged prior to April 7, 1983. Under the terms of the Plant sale to ENVY, the Company retained the Spent Fuel Disposal Trust and the related obligation to the DOE. See NOTE 7 for further details. Although the Company collected this fee from its Sponsors in rates, it has elected to defer payment as permitted by the contract with DOE. The Company also has investment securities in a Rabbi Trust intended to fund nonqualified pension benefits for its executives under the terms of their respective employment contracts.

 

Page 8 of 18

The Company classifies securities held in the Spent Fuel Disposal Trust and the Rabbi Trust as available-for-sale. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, the reported Trust balances include net unrealized losses of $1.1 million, and net unrealized gains of $0.4, respectively. The Company has recorded corresponding adjustments in Deferred Charges or Deferred Credits since any realized gains (losses) have the effect of reducing (increasing) billings to customers. The cost and estimated market values of long-term investments in the Spent Fuel Disposal Trust and the Rabbi Trust at December 31 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004


Spent Fuel Disposal Trust:
   US Treasury obligations
   Municipal obligations
   Corporate and other bonds
   Accrued interest and money market funds


Rabbi Trust:
   Fixed income mutual funds
   Equity mutual funds
   Accrued interest and money market funds

Cost

$67,938
33,701
17,287
2,859
$121,785


$147
198
      - 
$345

Market

$67,251
33,455
17,074
2,859
$120,639


$145
222
      - 
$367

Cost

$48,481
50,992
14,065
4,938
$118,476


$96
106
      47
$249

Market

$48,487
51,384
14,055
4,938
$118,864


$95
123
      47
$265

At December 31, gross unrealized gains (losses) pertaining to long-term investment securities in the Spent Fuel Disposal Trust and the Rabbi Trust were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

Unrealized gains on US Treasury obligations
Unrealized losses on US Treasury obligations
Unrealized gains on municipal obligations
Unrealized losses on municipal obligations
Unrealized gains on corporate and other bonds
Unrealized losses on corporate and other bonds
Unrealized losses on fixed income mutual funds
Unrealized gains on equity mutual funds

$15 
(702)
102 
(348)
15 
(228)
(2)
        24 
$(1,124)

$280 
(274)
466 
(74)
70 
(80)
(1)
     17 
$404 

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of investments with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 


< 12 months


>
12 months

Total Investments
With Unrealized Losses

 

Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

US Treasury obligations
Municipal obligations
Corporate and other bonds
Fixed income mutual funds

$45,823
$16,977
$8,491
$- 

$(423)
$(156)
$(131)
$- 

$15,972
$7,032
$3,808
$145

$(279)
$(192)
$(97)
$(2)

$61,795
$24,009
$12,299
$144

$(702)
$(348)
$(228)
$(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 9 of 18

For the years ended December 31, gross realized gains (losses) pertaining to long-term investment securities were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

          2005          

          2004          

          2003          

 

Total Sale

Gross Realized

Total Sale

Gross Realized

Total Sale

Gross Realized

 

Proceeds

Gain

Loss

Proceeds

Gain

Loss

Proceeds

Gain

Loss

Spent Fuel Disposal Trust
Rabbi Trust

$189,411
$194

$418
$6

$(687)
$- 

$197,663
$27

$251
$5

$(624)
$- 

$121,242
$9

$505
$1

$(248)
$- 

The average duration of the underlying investments in the fixed income mutual funds in the Rabbi Trust at December 31, 2005 and 2004, were 3.5 and 2.9 years, respectively. Maturities of fixed income securities in the Spent Fuel Disposal Trust at December 31, shown at face values are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

Within one year
One to five years
Five to ten years
Over ten years

$19,995
61,658
10,367
   24,740
$116,760

$25,180
57,486
8,939
   18,875
$110,480

In addition to the long-term investments in marketable securities above, the Company has also invested in company owned life insurance policies on the lives of its executives. The cash surrender values of these policies are presumed to represent their fair values. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, the fair values of these policies were $974 thousand and $788 thousand, respectively, which together with the fair value of investment securities in the Rabbi Trust total the $1,341 thousand and $1,053 thousand, respectively, reported as the fair values of Other Investments in the Balance Sheets.

NOTE 5. Debt Obligations and Lines of Credit

The Company had no long-term debt obligations at December 31, 2005 or 2004. The Company had an available line of credit of $3.5 million as of both December 31, 2005 and 2004. The Company's current line of credit expires on May 31, 2006. The line of credit is to help fund a substantial financial assurance requirement with ISO New England (the independent system operator of New England's electricity supply and wholesale electricity marketplace) if required. There were no borrowings under this line of credit during either 2005 or 2004.

NOTE 6. Disclosures About the Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts for cash and temporary investments, accounts receivable from Sponsors, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values because of their short maturities. Long-term funds are carried at fair market values which are estimated based on quoted market prices for these or similar investments.

The estimated fair value of the Company's financial instruments as of December 31, are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004



Spent Fuel Disposal Trust
Spent fuel disposal fee and accrued interest
Rabbi Trust
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies

Cost
Amount
$121,785
$128,725
$345
$974

Estimated
Fair Value
$120,639
$128,725
$367
$974

Cost
Amount
$118,476
$124,956
$249
$788

Estimated
Fair Value
$118,864
$124,956
$265
$788

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

 

 

Page 10 of 18

NOTE 7. Spent Fuel Disposal

Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, DOE is responsible for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The Company, as required by that Act, signed a contract with DOE to provide for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from its nuclear generation station beginning no later than January 31, 1998. The contract obligated the Company to pay a one-time fee of approximately $39.3 million for disposal costs for all spent fuel discharged through April 6, 1983, and a fee payable quarterly equal to one mill per kilowatt-hour of nuclear generated and sold electricity after April 6, 1983. With the exception of the pre-1983 disposal cost responsibility, this contract was assigned to ENVY effective with the sale.

Although the $39.3 million for the one-time fee has been collected from the Sponsors in rates, the Company elected to defer payment to DOE as permitted by the DOE contract. The fee plus accrued interest must be paid no later than the first delivery of spent fuel to DOE currently not expected before 2010. Interest accrues on the unpaid obligation based on the thirteen-week Treasury Bill rate and is compounded quarterly. Through 2005, the Company has accumulated $120.6 million in an irrevocable trust to be used exclusively for meeting this obligation ($128.7 million including accrued interest) at some future date, provided the DOE complies with the terms of the aforementioned contract. Under the terms of the sale agreement, the Company retained the spent fuel trust fund assets and the related obligation to make this payment to the DOE when it becomes due.

The DOE's delivery schedule has not been met and is expected to be delayed significantly. It is not certain when DOE will accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from civilian nuclear power plants, although DOE has stated that the earliest would be 2010. Various legal proceedings have been brought against DOE and the federal government to enforce the DOE's obligation to dispose of spent nuclear fuel and seeking damages resulting from DOE's breach of those obligations. In July 1996, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that DOE had an unconditional obligation to begin disposing of the utilities' spent nuclear fuel by January 31, 1998, and that the absence of a DOE interim storage facility did not excuse DOE from that obligation. In November 1997, the same Court declined to order DOE to accept spent nuclear fuel, saying that the utilities had another potentially adequate remedy under their DOE contracts.

Beginning in February 1998, a series of lawsuits were filed with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims seeking damages from the Government for DOE's breach of its obligation to begin disposing of the utilities' spent fuel by the 1998 deadline. On August 31, 2000, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided appeals from rulings in four of these cases, ruling that the utilities were entitled to sue in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for breach of contract damages and need not first submit equitable adjustment claims to the DOE Contracting Officer.

In accordance with the terms of the PSA, the Company retained certain rights to pursue claims related to DOE's defaults under the DOE spent fuel disposal contract. The Company filed its lawsuit against the Government for DOE's breach in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on July 30, 2002.

In most of the pending cases (including the Company's), the Government has filed motions for partial summary judgment regarding the rate of spent nuclear fuel acceptance and on the issue of whether the contracts with DOE cover the disposal of Greater Than Class C Radioactive Waste. The Company and some of the other suing utilities have filed cross-motions for summary judgment on the acceptance rate issue. The Government has also filed motions to dismiss takings claims in those cases (including the Company's) which include such claims as well as motions to dismiss illegal exaction claims in cases which include such claims.

On April 16, 2003, the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims issued an order designating six of the spent fuel damages cases (but not the Company's case) as "lead" or "accelerated" cases and ordered that the remaining cases (including the Company's case) be stayed unless affirmatively ordered to proceed by the presiding judge in any individual case. On January 15, 2004, the judge presiding over the case issued an order lifting the stay. Subsequent to the stay being lifted, the Company on January 30, 2004, filed an amended complaint. On September 17, 2004, the Company and the Government requested, and on October 6, 2004, the court agreed to stay the case until the end of 2004. On January 18, 2005, the Company and the Government jointly requested the court to stay the case until the

 

Page 11 of 18

earlier of July 1, 2005 or a ruling by the Federal Circuit in Indiana Michigan Power Co. v. United States. On July 1, 2005, the Company and the Government again jointly requested, and on July 5, 2005, the court agreed to stay the case until the later of the end of 2005 or a ruling by the Federal Circuit in Indiana Michigan Power Co. v. United States.  On September 9, 2005, the Federal Circuit issued its ruling in Indiana Michigan, which concluded that utilities could recover mitigation damages as they are incurred, but not future damages.  On December 6, 2005, the trial judge presiding over the Company's case transferred the case to a newly appointed judge of the same court.

The Company cannot predict the outcome of this matter at this time.

NOTE 8. Other Legal Matters

In April 2004, in response to a Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspection conducted during the Plant's scheduled refueling outage, ENVY (the purchaser of the Plant from the Company on July 31, 2002) reported that two short spent fuel rod segments were not in what ENVY believed to be their documented location in the spent fuel storage pool.  According to ENVY, in 1979 the fuel rod segments were placed in a special stainless steel container in the spent fuel pool.  After initial document review and visual inspection of the spent fuel storage pool, ENVY did not locate the fuel rod segments.

By letter dated May 5, 2004, ENVY notified the Company that based on the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated August 21, 2001, and facts available at the time, it was ENVY's view that costs associated with the spent fuel rod segment inspection effort were the responsibility of the Company.  The letter also stated that if it was determined that the segments were incorrectly shipped to an off-site location, all liabilities with respect to those actions are that of the Company as well. By letter dated May 20, 2004, the Company responded that based on the information at the time, there was no basis for ENVY's claim.  Subsequently ENVY's continuing documentation review led to the discovery of the fuel rod segments in a specially designed container in the spent fuel storage pool.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") issued an inspection report dated December 2, 2004, which confirmed that ENVY successfully located the two fuel rod segments and that no additional problem with accounting for special nuclear material exists at the Plant.  On June 22, 2005, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation on this matter deciding not to impose a civil monetary penalty because of the extensive corrective actions taken by the licensee.

The Company cannot predict the outcome of this matter at this time.

NOTE 9. Taxes on Income

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. This method accounts for deferred income taxes by applying enacted statutory rates in effect at the balance sheet date to differences between the book basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities ("temporary differences"). The components of income tax (benefit) expense for the years ended December 31, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

2003

Taxes on operating income:
Current federal income tax
Deferred federal income tax
Current state income tax
Deferred state income tax
Investment tax credit adjustment

Taxes on other income:
Current federal income tax
Current state income tax


Total income taxes


$(5,058)
2,467 
(1,355)
784 
      (40)
(3,202)

1,785 
    475 
2,260 

$(942)


$(250)
(311)
(70)
(112)
      - 
(743)

648 
    190 
838 

$95 


$335 
(213)
(46)
(42)
      - 
34 

742 
    272 
1,014 

$1,048 

 

Page 12 of 18

The principal items comprising the difference between the total income tax (benefit) expense and the amount calculated by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before tax for the years ended December 31, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

2003


Income before income tax
Federal statutory rate
Federal statutory tax expense
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
Earnings exempt from federal income tax
Tax settlement
Valuation allowance (federal only)
Investment credit
Other
Total income tax (benefit) expense provided


$(282)
34%
(96)
(63)
(480)
(354)
97 
(40)
(6)
$(942)


$633 
34%
215 

(544)

385 

34 
$95 


$3,584 
35%
1,255 
120 
(595)

365 

(97)
$1,048 

The significant components of deferred tax (benefit) expense for the years ended December 31, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

2003


DOE Decommissioning & Decontamination deduction
   over (under) financial statement expense
Capital loss and minimum tax credit carry-forward
Pension expense deduction under financial statement expense
Employee benefits deduction under financial statement expense
Valuation allowance
Other, net



$3,302 

(44)
(69)
88 
(30)
$3,251 



$(404)
(285)
(99)
(78)
432 
11 
$(423)



$(415)

(117)
(47)
432 
(108)
$(255)

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, are presented below (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

Deferred tax assets:
   DOE Decommissioning & Decontamination
   Pension, retiree and other employee benefit liabilities
   Capital loss and minimum tax credit carry-forward
   Other
      Total deferred tax assets
      Less valuation allowance
      Net deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:
   DOE Decommissioning & Decontamination
   Deferred prior sale costs
      Total deferred tax liabilities
      Net deferred tax asset (liability)


$- 
825 
281 
      - 
1,106 
(942)
164 


(845)
(199)
(1,044)
$(880)


$2,457 
712 
285 
      28 
3,482 
(854)
2,628 



(231)
(231)
$2,397 

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the expected availability of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. In order to fully realize the deferred tax asset, the Company will need to generate future taxable income prior to the expiration of the deferred tax assets governed by the Internal Revenue Code. The valuation allowances are

Page 13 of 18

largely the result of liabilities that will more likely than not, not be deductible until after the expiration of the Plant operating license, and the Company considers it more likely than not that taxable income at that time will not be sufficient to realize the full value of the deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance has also been made because of the Company's expectation that it will more likely than not, not be able to benefit by its minimum tax credit carry-forward since it results from the Spent Fuel Trust investments in tax exempt securities and the Spent Fuel Trust is expected to continue to be invested in a similar manner. In addition, the Company's otherwise taxable income is expected to be even more limited in the future.

NOTE 10. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following information supplements the cash flow information provided in the Statements of Cash Flows (dollars in thousands):


Cash paid during the year for:
   Interest
   Income taxes

2005

$- 
$327 

2004

$- 
$436 

2003

$3 
$900 

NOTE 11. Pension and Post Retirement Welfare Benefit Plans

The Company has a qualified defined benefit pension plan and a nonqualified excess defined benefit pension plan which cover all of its current employees. The benefits provided under the plans are based on years of service and final average earnings, integrated with Social Security benefits. The Company also has a supplemental unfunded nonqualified pension plan for one of its former employees providing benefits based on final earnings. Additional minimum pension plan liabilities of $36 thousand and $33 thousand were recorded by the Company as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company has recorded offsetting deferred charges as these amounts are expected to be included in future year billings. Therefore no related intangible asset or other comprehensive income has been recorded.

The Company has a postretirement welfare benefit plan providing medical, dental and life insurance benefits to retired employees and their covered dependents funded through a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association Trust. Company billing and funding for the postretirement welfare benefit plan are as filed and approved by FERC. The accrued benefit costs recognized on the balance sheets at December 31, 2005 and 2004 have offsetting deferred charges, as they are expected to be included in future year billings. The Company currently has one retiree.

The measurement date used to determine pension and other postretirement benefit measures for the pension plan and the postretirement benefit plan is December 31.

Reconciliation of the beginning and ending benefit obligation balances for the plans (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

Pension plan benefits (aggregated)
Beginning of year projected benefit obligation
   Service cost
   Interest cost
   Actuarial loss
   Benefits paid
      End of year projected benefit obligation
Accumulated Benefit Obligation (aggregated)


$1,397 
28 
79 
27 
(78)
$1,453 
$1,088 


$1,246 
57 
74 
35 
(15)
$1,397 
$1,099 


Postretirement welfare plan benefits
Beginning of year projected benefit obligation
   Service cost
   Interest cost
   Actuarial (gain) loss
   Benefits paid
      End of year benefit obligation



$674 
18 
36 
(167)
(11)
$550 



$545 
17 
34 
80 
(2)
$674 

 

Page 14 of 18

Reconciliation of the beginning and ending fair value of assets for the plans (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

Pension plan assets (aggregated)
Beginning of year fair value of assets
Actual return on assets
Company contributions
Benefits paid
End of year fair value of assets


$169 

76 
(78)
$173 


$116 
10 
58 
(15)
$169 


Postretirement welfare benefits
Beginning of year fair value of assets
Actual return on assets
Company contributions
Benefits paid
End of year fair value of assets



$390 
18 
84 
(11)
$481 



$285 
23 
84 
(2)
$390 

Reconciliation of the funded status of the plans as of December 31 (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

Pension plans (aggregated)
Projected benefit obligation (PBO)
Fair value of assets (FVA)
PBO in excess of FVA
   Unrecognized prior service cost
   Unrecognized actuarial loss
      Net amount recognized


$(1,453)
     173 
(1,280)
199 
77 
$(1,004)


$(1,397)
     169 
(1,228)
276 
46 
$(906)

Amounts recognized in the balance sheets:
   Accrued benefit liability
   Additional minimum liability
   Other deferred charges
      Net amount recognized


(1,004)
(36)
36 
$(1,004)


(906)
(33)
33 
$(906)

Postretirement welfare plans
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO)
Fair value of assets (FVA)
APBO in excess of FVA
   Unrecognized prior service cost
   Unrecognized actuarial loss
      Net amount recognized


$(550)
481 
(69)
44 
     
$(23)


$(674)
390 
(284)
66 
     193 
$(25)

Amounts recognized in the balance sheets:
   Accrued benefit cost
      Net amount recognized


$(23)
$(23)


$(25)
$(25)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 15 of 18

Net periodic benefit costs recognized for the periods ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):

 

2005

2004

2003

Pension benefits (aggregated)
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on assets
Net amortization:
   Prior service cost
   Net actuarial loss (gain)
      Total amortization
      Net expense recognized


$28 
79 
(10)

77 
    - 
77 
$174 


$57 
74 
(8)

146 
    - 
146 
$269 


$71 
81 


159 
   45 
204 
$356 


Postretirement welfare benefits
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on assets
Net amortization:
   Net actuarial loss
   Prior service cost
      Total amortization
      Net expense recognized



$18 
36 
(15)

21 
22 
43 
$82 



$17 
34 
(11)

47 
22 
69 
$109 



$14 
30 
(8)

25 
22 
47 
$83 

Weighted average assumptions used as of December 31:


Discount rate
Compensation scale
Expected return on assets (postretirement welfare benefit plan)
Expected return on assets (defined benefit pension plan)

2005
5.75%
4.00%
4.00%
6.50%

2004
5.75%
4.00%
4.00%
6.50%

2003
6.00%
4.00%
4.00%
6.50%

The Company's overall expected long-term rate of return on assets is 4.00% for the postretirement welfare benefit plan and 6.50% for the defined benefit pension plan. The expected long-term rate of return is based on the portfolio as a whole and not on the sum of the returns on individual asset categories. The return is based exclusively on historical returns, without adjustments.

For measurement purposes, a 10% percent annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered medical benefits was assumed for 2006. The rate was assumed to decrease by 1% per year until an ultimate rate of 6% is reached in 2010. A 7% percent annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered dental benefits was assumed for 2006. The rate was assumed to decrease to the ultimate rate of 6% in 2007. A one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on the information for the postretirement welfare plans:


Effect on total service and interest cost components
Effect on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

1% Increase
$6
$67

1% Decrease
$(5)
$(56)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 16 of 18

The weighted-average asset allocations for the Company's pension and postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2005 and 2004, by asset category are as follows:

 

2005

2004

Pension plan:
   Equity securities
   Debt securities
   Cash and equivalents


60%
39%
    1%
100%


55%
43%
    2%
100%

Postretirement benefit plan:
   Equity securities
   Debt securities
   Cash and equivalents


60%
39%
    1%
100%


55%
43%
    2%
100%

The current asset allocation targets for both the plans is 60% equity, 39% fixed income and 1% cash, reflecting the mid to long-term nature of the liabilities associated with the plans. The primary goals in the management of plan assets are to maintain the funds purchasing power and to maximize the mid to long-term total returns within a moderate risk environment by seeking both current income and the potential for long-term growth.

The Company expects to contribute approximately $77 thousand to the pension plans and $84 thousand to the postretirement welfare benefit plan in 2006. Estimated future benefit payments are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 


Pension

Postretirement
Welfare

2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011 - 2015

$78
$78
$96
$122
$122
$577

$12
$13
$21
$35
$37
$184

NOTE 12. Commitments and Contingencies

(a) Insurance - With the sale of the Plant to ENVY in 2002, ENVY assumed all liabilities for past and future events which could result in retrospective premiums being assessed against the Company for policies the Company maintained up to the date of the sale under the Price-Anderson Act and by Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited ("NEIL"). The Company no longer purchases any policy which has, as a condition of coverage, any Price-Anderson retrospective premium obligation.

While the Company has canceled its Primary and Excess nuclear property policies with NEIL, it has purchased a NEIL Business Interruption/Extra Expense policy to cover costs associated with an extended shutdown of the Plant attributable to an insurable peril. As this is a NEIL policy with full membership rights and obligations, the policy has a maximum retrospective premium obligation of $138 thousand.

(b) Industry Restructuring and Other Regulatory Developments - The electric utility industry has been in a period of transition which, to some extent, has resulted in a shift away from cost of service based rates to market based rates. Most states in which the Company's Sponsors operate have explored or, in some cases, have implemented plans to bring greater competition, customer choice, and market influence to the industry while retaining the benefits associated with the current regulatory system.

 

 

 

Page 17 of 18

The Company cannot predict what effect these restructuring plans will have on the Company or its Sponsors. It is possible, however, that these restructuring orders or other regulatory actions could have a material adverse effect on one or more of the Sponsors, which could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on the Company.

In June 2005, Standard & Poor's Rating Services ("S&P") downgraded the corporate credit rating of Central Vermont Public Service Corporation ("CVPS") from an investment grade of BBB- to a rating of BB+, which is below investment grade. The downgrade was in response to an April 2005 Vermont Public Service Board rate order requiring CVPS to provide customers with a rate refund of approximately $6 million in June 2005 and to reduce rates by 2.75% percent effective April 1, 2005. CVPS has an entitlement percentage under the Power Contracts of 35%, the largest of any of the Company's eight Sponsors, and through its wholly owned subsidiary, Custom Investment Corporation, owns 58.9% of the Company's outstanding common stock.

In December 2005, the Company responded to a letter from ENVY related to the downgraded credit rating of CVPS. The letter requested that the Company provide adequate assurances that CVPS will timely perform its payment obligations with respect to its 35% sub-entitlement under the PPA. There has been no follow up to the Company's response and the Company cannot predict the final outcome of this matter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 18 of 18