-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: keymaster@town.hall.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFkwCgYEVQgBAQICAgADSwAwSAJBALeWW4xDV4i7+b6+UyPn5RtObb1cJ7VkACDq pKb9/DClgTKIm08lCfoilvi9Wl4SODbR1+1waHhiGmeZO8OdgLUCAwEAAQ== MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, MxhppD4KhhpSXax8c0kZSPxNDSevm61Pb1DDWXEQWk6gMmypjt+cuKX7nXFauynV CGqN4KKHmgej70cU1esfLA== 0000023426-94-000062.txt : 19941212 0000023426-94-000062.hdr.sgml : 19941212 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000023426-94-000062 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: POS AMC PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 19941209 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CONNECTICUT LIGHT & POWER CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000023426 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 060303850 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CT FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: POS AMC SEC ACT: 1935 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 070-07543 FILM NUMBER: 94564197 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 707 SELDEN ST CITY: BERLIN STATE: CT ZIP: 06037-1616 BUSINESS PHONE: 2036655000 POS AMC 1 CL&P POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT #2 File No. 70-7543 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO FORM U-1 APPLICATION/DECLARATION WITH RESPECT TO CREDIT FACILITY SUBSTITUTION under THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1935 THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY SELDON STREET BERLIN, CONNECTICUT 06037 . (Name of companies filing this statement and address of principal executive office) NORTHEAST UTILITIES (Name of top registered holding company parent of declarant) Robert P. Wax, Esq. Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel Northeast Utilities Service Company P.O. Box 270 Hartford, CT 06141-0270 (Name and address of agent for service) The Commission is requested to mail signed copies of all orders, notices, and communication to David R. McHale Jeffrey C. Miller Manager-Project and Short-Term Finance Assistant General Northeast Utilities Counsel Service Company Northeast Utilities P.O. Box 270 Service Company Hartford, CT 06141-0270 P.O. Box 270 Hartford, CT 06141-0270 Item 1. Description of Proposed Transaction Paragraph 9 of Item 1 of Post-effective Amendment No. 1 in this file is amended by adding to the end of subparagraph (i) of the second paragraph thereof the following: "At September 30, 1994 the ratio of such investment ($5,647,000) to such consolidated retained earnings ($937,198,000) was 0.6%." Item 6. Exhibits and Financial Statements (a) Exhibits D.2 DPUC Order SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the undersigned company has duly caused this statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY By: /s/Jeffrey C. Miller Title: Assistant General Counsel Dated: December 9, 1994 EX-99 2 EXHIBIT D.2 TO CL&P POST-EFF AMEND NO. 2 EXHIBIT D.2 STATE OF CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITY CONTROL ONE CENTRAL PARK PLAZA NEW BRITAIN, CT 06051 DOCKET NO. 88-09-01: APPLICATION OF THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL TO FINANCE POLLUTION CONTROL AND/OR SEWAGE OR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES AT SEABROOK STATION UNIT NO. 1 - REOPENED November 23, 1994 By the following Commissioners: Thomas M. Benedict Reginald J. Smith Heather F. Hunt DECISION I. INTRODUCTION A. APPLICANTS PROPOSAL By application filed with the Department of Public Utility Control (Department) on October 18, 1994, The Connecticut Light and Power Company (Company or CL&P), a public service company as defined in Section 16-1 of the General Statutes of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat.), seeks pursuant to Section 16-43 of the Conn. Gen. Stat., a modification of the Decision in Docket No. 88- 09-01, "Application of The Connecticut Light and Power Company for Approval to Finance Pollution Control and/or Sewage or Solid Waste Disposal Facilities at Seabrook Station Unit No. 1", dated October 19, 1988. Specifically, the Company seeks authority (i) to change the expiration date of the letter of credit (LOC) issued to support the pollution control revenue bonds (Bonds) from perpetual to a three-year term ending November 1, 1997, extendible for successive one-year terms thereafter indefinitely with the consent of the Company and the bank, (ii) to reduce the reimbursement fee payable to the bank and (iii) to obtain approval for any further changes in the present LOC and replacement of the present and future letters of credit during the term of the bonds supported thereby. B. CONDUCT OF THE PROCEEDING A hearing was noticed for November 14, 1994, but cancelled when all Parties to this docket notified the Department that they did not need a hearing. II. APPLICANT'S EVIDENCE The Connecticut Light and Power Company requests approval of a modification of the Department's Decision in Docket No. 88-09-01, Above. In the Decision, the Department approved CL&P's proposed financing of pollution control and/or sewage or solid waste disposal facilities at the Seabrook Station No. 1 nuclear electric generating plant (Facilities). The cost of acquiring, constructing and installing the Facilities was financed by CL&P through its use of the net proceeds from the sale of the Industrial Development Authority of the State of New Hampshire (IDA) of its Bonds in the principal amount of $10,000,000. The Bonds were issued pursuant to an indenture of Trust between the IDA and Baybank Middlesex, as trustee (Trustee), and the proceeds of the issuance of the Bonds were loaned to CL&P pursuant to a Financing Agreement (Loan Agreement) between CL&P and IDA. As stated in the Decision, in order to obtain the benefits of a high quality rating for the Bonds, CL&P's obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by an irrevocable LOC in the amount of $10,833,334 issued by Union Bank of Switzerland, New York Branch (Bank) in favor of the Trustee. The purpose of this application for modification of the Decision is to seek authority for CL&P (a) to participate in an amendment to the Reimbursement and Security Agreement dated as of October 1, 1988, between the Company and the Bank (Agreement) in order (i) to change the expiration date of the LOC from perpetual to a three- year term ending November 1, 1997, extendible for successive one-year terms thereafter indefinitely with the consent by the Company and the Bank, and (ii) to reduce the annual LOC fee payable to the Bank and (b) to replace the LOC provided by the Bank, as permitted by Section 3.13 of the Loan Agreement, by delivery of a substitute credit facility, consisting of a new LOC, and related agreements, to be provided by a substitute bank to be chosen by CL&P (Substitute Bank). For corporate, accounting and regulatory reasons, the Bank has approached the Company seeking to eliminate its perpetual obligation to provide the LOC. The Company is agreeable to revising this obligation to a three-year commitment coupled with an "evergreen" feature whereby, at the request of the Company and with the consent of the Bank, the LOC can be extended indefinitely for successive one-year terms. The Company believes that were the Bank not to consent to an extension in the future, the Company could obtain a replacement LOC on comparable terms without difficulty. In conjunction with the changes mentioned above, the Bank is agreeable to revising the annual LOC fee the Company must pay, from 0.45% of the LOC amount to the following percentage, depending on the lower of the Company's bond ratings from time to time as determined by Moody's and Standard and Poor's. Applicable Per Moody's S&P Annum LOC Fee Rate A3 or higher A-or higher 0.35% Baa 1 and Baa 2 BBB+ and BBB 0.40% Baa 3 BBB- 0.55% Baa 1 or below BB+ or below 0.70% or no rating from or no rating from either agency either agency At the Company's present bond rating, Moody's Baa1 and S&P BBB+, respectively, the annual LOC fee would change from 0.45% to 0.40%, representing a reduction of $5,417 per annum. If, as has happened with several banks providing letters of credit to CL&P, the Bank's credit rating were to deteriorate, the marketability of the Bonds and their effective interest cost to CL&P could be affected negatively. In addition, the Bank itself may choose not to renew its commitment or CL&P may, for a variety of reasons, seek alternative banks. Accordingly, CL&P seeks authority to replace the Bank's LOC with a new LOC (Substitute LOC) to be issued by a new bank (Substitute Bank). The Substitute LOC would be issued under a new letter of credit and reimbursement agreement (New LOC Agreement) substantially identical to the Letter of Credit and Reimbursement Agreement dated as of September 1, 1993 among CL&P, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, Issuing Bank and Agent, various co-agents and participating banks, as approved by the Department in Docket No. 93-06-23, "Application of CL&P Regarding Refinancing of Indebtedness Relating to Pollution Control Facilities." Furthermore, CL&P seeks authority to obtain from time to time new letters of credit from the same or different banks and further extensions or modifications of and replacements for the New LOC Agreement with such banks from time to time during the term of the Bonds supported thereby, in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement and provided that (A) the total amount available to be drawn under any such extended, modified, or replacement LOC does not exceed $10,833,334, (B) the annual LOC costs applicable to any such extension, modification, or replacement do not exceed 1.00% per annum of the total amount available to be drawn under the extended, modified or replacement LOC, (C) the New LOC Agreement applicable to any such extension, modification or replacement shall provide (or shall afford CL&P the option to elect) that tender advances bear interest until paid at a rate not to exceed the higher of (1) the prime rate plus 2.00% or (2) the federal funds rate plus $2.00%, (D) such extension, modification, or replacement is otherwise on terms that are substantially similar in all material respects to those applicable to the New LOC Agreement (or previous extensions or modifications thereof or replacements thereto) proposed to be entered into in connection with the replacement of the Bank (Exhibit 2), and the Pledge Agreement between CL&P and the bank to be named (Exhibit B to Exhibit 2), and (E) CL&P shall have obtained all necessary approvals applicable to such extension, modification or replacement. III. AUTHORITY ANALYSIS The Company is requesting to modify its LOC in order to change the terms of the LOC renewal and to reduce the annual LOC fee payable to the Bank. The Company is also requesting authority to replace the LOC provided by the Bank with a substitute credit facility without prior approval by the Department. The Company stated that it had no desire to change banks at this time since the Bank has offered the Company a meaningful fee reduction subject to the Bank's terms of renewal on the LOC. The Bank's credit rating remains very high, AAA, which enables the Company to maintain low interest rates on its variable rate Bonds. Application, p. 7. The Company indicated that, aside from the terms of LOC renewal, the new LOC agreement would be substantially similar to the documents originally entered into between CL&P and the Bank as approved in Docket No. 88-09-01, Decision dated October 19, 1988. The terms of the LOC renewal - from a perpetual to a three-year term ending November 1, 1997, extendible for successive one-year terms with the consent of the Company and the Bank - are substantially similar to those recently entered into by CL&P in Docket No. 93-06-23, above, and Docket No. 86-11-10, "Application of The Connecticut Light and Power Company for Approval of Financing for Pollution Control and/or Sewage or Solid Waste Disposal Facilities." Response to Interrogatory WA-1. The Company has indicated that because there would be administrative costs associated with an annual renewal of the LOC, the Bank agreed to reduce the LOC fee from 0.45% to 0.40% per annum (at the Company's current bond rating). This represents a fee reduction of $5,417 per year. Response to Interrogatory WA-1. While this represents a negligible ratepayer effect, the Department supports this cost- saving effort. Finally, the Company is also seeking authority to obtain, extend or modify the existing LOC under this docket without prior Department approval, provided that the new, modified or extended LOC is in accordance with the terms described in Section II, paragraph 8. The Department approves, provided that CL&P notifies the Department and can demonstrate that the transaction will result in a lower overall cost to the Company. IV. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The terms of the LOC renewal are substantially similar to those recently entered into by CL&P. 2. Annual savings from the new LOC are estimated at $5,417, minus administrative costs. V. CONCLUSION AND ORDER A. CONCLUSION Approval of the proposed LOC substitution is in the public interest. The Company may obtain, modify or extend its LOC, provided that (A) the total amount available to be drawn under any such extended, modified, or replacement LOC does not exceed $10,833,334, (B) the annual LOC costs applicable to any such extension, modification, or replacement do not exceed 1.00% per annum of the total amount available to be drawn under the extended, modified or replacement LOC, (C) the New LOC Agreement applicable to any such extension, modification or replacement shall provide (or shall afford CL&P the option to elect) that tender advances bear interest until paid at a rate not to exceed the higher of (1) the prime rate plus 2.00% or (2) the federal funds rate plus $2.00%, (D) such extension, modification, or replacement is otherwise on terms that are substantially similar in all material respects to those applicable to the New LOC Agreement (or previous extensions or modifications thereof or replacements therefore) proposed to be entered into in connection with the replacement of the Bank and the Pledge Agreement between CL&P and the bank to be named, (E) CL&P shall have obtained all necessary approvals applicable to such extension, modification or replacement, and (F) provided that it meets the conditions stated in Order No. 1 below. B. ORDER For the following order, please submit an original and ten (10) copies of any requested material to the Executive Secretary, identified by Docket Number, Title and Order Number. 1. Upon obtaining, modifying or extending its LOC during the term of the Bonds, in accordance with the terms set forth in Section II, paragraph 8 of this Decision, the Company shall file no later than 10 days after the transaction (1) evidence that it has made use of competitive bidding in obtaining the lowest fees from a financial institution, (2) itemization of estimated transactions costs, and (3) estimated ratepayer benefits, including all transactions costs. DOCKET NO. 88-09-01: APPLICATION OF THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL TO FINANCE POLLUTION CONTROL AND/OR SEWAGE OR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES AT SEABROOK STATION UNIT NO. 1 - REOPENED This Decision is adopted by the following Commissioners: Thomas M. Benedict Reginald J. Smith Heather F. Hunt CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Decision issued by the Department of Public Utility Control, State of Connecticut, and was forwarded by Certified Mail to all parties of record in this proceeding on the date indicated. /s/Robert J. Murphy Date: November 28, 1994 Executive Secretary Department of Public Utility Control -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----