8-K 1 gulf8-ktestletterfiling8x16.htm 8-K Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)    August 12, 2016    

Commission
File Number
Registrant, State of Incorporation,
Address and Telephone Number
I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.
 
 
 
001-31737
Gulf Power Company
(A Florida Corporation)
One Energy Place
Pensacola, Florida 32520
(850) 444-6111
59-0276810

The name and address of the registrant have not changed since the last report.

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ]
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))







Item 8.01.    Other Matters.

On August 12, 2016, in accordance with the Florida Administrative Code Rules, Gulf Power Company (“Gulf Power”) notified the Florida Public Service Commission (“PSC”) of Gulf Power’s intent to file for an increase in Gulf Power’s base rates, not sooner than October 11, 2016 (60 days after the notification) and not later than October 28, 2016. Gulf Power is proposing that the projected 12 months ending December 31, 2017 serve as the test year for the anticipated filing. Gulf Power currently estimates that it will request an increase in annual revenues of approximately $115 million to $125 million effective in July 2017. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time.


Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements regarding Gulf Power’s anticipated filing with the Florida PSC to increase retail base rates. Gulf Power cautions that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Gulf Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Gulf Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, including legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding deregulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry, environmental laws regulating emissions, discharges, and disposal to air, water, and land, and also changes in tax and other laws and regulations to which Gulf Power is subject, as well as changes in application of existing laws and regulations; current and future litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries, including, without limitation, the Internal Revenue Service and state tax audits; the effects, extent, and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets in which Gulf Power operates; variations in demand for electricity, including those relating to weather, the general economy and recovery from the last recession, population and business growth (and declines), the effects of energy conservation and efficiency measures, including from the development and deployment of alternative energy sources such as self-generation and distributed generation technologies; available sources and costs of fuels; effects of inflation; investment performance of Gulf Power's employee and retiree benefit plans; advances in technology; state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms; the ability to successfully operate Gulf Power’s generating, transmission, and distribution facilities and the successful performance of necessary corporate functions; internal restructuring or other restructuring options that may be pursued; potential business strategies, including acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses, which cannot be assured to be completed or beneficial to




Gulf Power; the ability of counterparties of Gulf Power to make payments as and when due and to perform as required; the ability to obtain new short- and long-term contracts with wholesale customers; the direct or indirect effect on Gulf Power’s business resulting from cyber intrusion or terrorist incidents and the threat of terrorist incidents; interest rate fluctuations and financial market conditions and the results of financing efforts; changes in Gulf Power’s credit ratings, including impacts on interest rates, access to capital markets, and collateral requirements; the impacts of any sovereign financial issues, including impacts on interest rates, access to capital markets, impacts on currency exchange rates, counterparty performance, and the economy in general; the ability of Gulf Power to obtain additional generating capacity (or sell excess generating capacity) at competitive prices; catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other similar occurrences; the direct or indirect effects on Gulf Power’s business resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid or operation of generating resources; and the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard-setting bodies. Gulf Power expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.

SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date:   August 12, 2016
GULF POWER COMPANY



 
By
/s/Melissa K. Caen
 
 
Melissa K. Caen
Assistant Secretary and
Assistant Treasurer