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Sustainable Cost Reductions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Sustainable Cost Reductions

13. SUSTAINABLE COST REDUCTIONS

 

In April 2012, we initiated a process to identify strategic repositioning opportunities and efficiencies that will result in sustainable cost savings. We selected a consulting firm to facilitate an organizational and process evaluation and a second firm to evaluate our current employee benefit programs. The process resulted in involuntary severances and was completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013. The severance program provides two weeks of base pay for every year of service along with other severance benefits.

 

We recorded a charge of $47 million to Other Operation expense in 2012 primarily related to severance benefits as a result of the sustainable cost reductions initiative. In addition, the sustainable cost reduction activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is described in the following table:

   Sustainable Cost 
   Reduction Activity 
   (in millions) 
 Balance as of December 31, 2012 $ 25 
 Incurred   16 
 Settled   (30) 
 Adjustments   (9) 
 Balance as of September 30, 2013 $ 2 

These expenses, net of adjustments, relate primarily to severance benefits and are included primarily in Other Operation expense on the condensed statements of income. Approximately 95% of the expense was within the Utility Operations segment. The remaining liability is included in Other Current Liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. We do not expect additional costs to be incurred related to this initiative.

Appalachian Power Co [Member]
 
Sustainable Cost Reductions

13. SUSTAINABLE COST REDUCTIONS

 

In April 2012, management initiated a process to identify strategic repositioning opportunities and efficiencies that will result in sustainable cost savings. Management selected a consulting firm to facilitate an organizational and process evaluation and a second firm to evaluate current employee benefit programs. The process resulted in involuntary severances and was completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013. The severance program provides two weeks of base pay for every year of service along with other severance benefits.

 

The Registrant Subsidiaries recorded charges to Other Operation expense in 2012 primarily related to severance benefits as a result of the sustainable cost reductions initiative. The total amount incurred in 2012 by Registrant Subsidiary was as follows:

 Company Total Cost Incurred
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 8,472
 I&M   5,678
 OPCo   13,498
 PSO   3,675
 SWEPCo   5,709

The Registrant Subsidiaries' sustainable cost reduction activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is described in the following table:

      Expense Incurred for       Remaining
   Balance as of Allocation from Registrant      Balance as of
 Company  December 31, 2012  AEPSC Subsidiaries Settled Adjustments September 30, 2013
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 1,321 $ 1,017 $ - $ (1,575) $ (730) $ 33
 I&M   1,357   736   -   (1,681)   (373)   39
 OPCo   3,450   1,354   6,114   (8,837)   (1,630)   451
 PSO   652   325   -   (483)   (471)   23
 SWEPCo   627   622   -   (1,620)   405   34

These expenses, net of adjustments, relate primarily to severance benefits and are included primarily in Other Operation expense on the condensed statements of income. The remaining liability is included in Other Current Liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. Management does not expect additional costs to be incurred related to this initiative.

Indiana Michigan Power Co [Member]
 
Sustainable Cost Reductions

13. SUSTAINABLE COST REDUCTIONS

 

In April 2012, management initiated a process to identify strategic repositioning opportunities and efficiencies that will result in sustainable cost savings. Management selected a consulting firm to facilitate an organizational and process evaluation and a second firm to evaluate current employee benefit programs. The process resulted in involuntary severances and was completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013. The severance program provides two weeks of base pay for every year of service along with other severance benefits.

 

The Registrant Subsidiaries recorded charges to Other Operation expense in 2012 primarily related to severance benefits as a result of the sustainable cost reductions initiative. The total amount incurred in 2012 by Registrant Subsidiary was as follows:

 Company Total Cost Incurred
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 8,472
 I&M   5,678
 OPCo   13,498
 PSO   3,675
 SWEPCo   5,709

The Registrant Subsidiaries' sustainable cost reduction activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is described in the following table:

      Expense Incurred for       Remaining
   Balance as of Allocation from Registrant      Balance as of
 Company  December 31, 2012  AEPSC Subsidiaries Settled Adjustments September 30, 2013
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 1,321 $ 1,017 $ - $ (1,575) $ (730) $ 33
 I&M   1,357   736   -   (1,681)   (373)   39
 OPCo   3,450   1,354   6,114   (8,837)   (1,630)   451
 PSO   652   325   -   (483)   (471)   23
 SWEPCo   627   622   -   (1,620)   405   34

These expenses, net of adjustments, relate primarily to severance benefits and are included primarily in Other Operation expense on the condensed statements of income. The remaining liability is included in Other Current Liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. Management does not expect additional costs to be incurred related to this initiative.

Ohio Power Co [Member]
 
Sustainable Cost Reductions

13. SUSTAINABLE COST REDUCTIONS

 

In April 2012, management initiated a process to identify strategic repositioning opportunities and efficiencies that will result in sustainable cost savings. Management selected a consulting firm to facilitate an organizational and process evaluation and a second firm to evaluate current employee benefit programs. The process resulted in involuntary severances and was completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013. The severance program provides two weeks of base pay for every year of service along with other severance benefits.

 

The Registrant Subsidiaries recorded charges to Other Operation expense in 2012 primarily related to severance benefits as a result of the sustainable cost reductions initiative. The total amount incurred in 2012 by Registrant Subsidiary was as follows:

 Company Total Cost Incurred
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 8,472
 I&M   5,678
 OPCo   13,498
 PSO   3,675
 SWEPCo   5,709

The Registrant Subsidiaries' sustainable cost reduction activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is described in the following table:

      Expense Incurred for       Remaining
   Balance as of Allocation from Registrant      Balance as of
 Company  December 31, 2012  AEPSC Subsidiaries Settled Adjustments September 30, 2013
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 1,321 $ 1,017 $ - $ (1,575) $ (730) $ 33
 I&M   1,357   736   -   (1,681)   (373)   39
 OPCo   3,450   1,354   6,114   (8,837)   (1,630)   451
 PSO   652   325   -   (483)   (471)   23
 SWEPCo   627   622   -   (1,620)   405   34

These expenses, net of adjustments, relate primarily to severance benefits and are included primarily in Other Operation expense on the condensed statements of income. The remaining liability is included in Other Current Liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. Management does not expect additional costs to be incurred related to this initiative.

Public Service Co Of Oklahoma [Member]
 
Sustainable Cost Reductions

13. SUSTAINABLE COST REDUCTIONS

 

In April 2012, management initiated a process to identify strategic repositioning opportunities and efficiencies that will result in sustainable cost savings. Management selected a consulting firm to facilitate an organizational and process evaluation and a second firm to evaluate current employee benefit programs. The process resulted in involuntary severances and was completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013. The severance program provides two weeks of base pay for every year of service along with other severance benefits.

 

The Registrant Subsidiaries recorded charges to Other Operation expense in 2012 primarily related to severance benefits as a result of the sustainable cost reductions initiative. The total amount incurred in 2012 by Registrant Subsidiary was as follows:

 Company Total Cost Incurred
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 8,472
 I&M   5,678
 OPCo   13,498
 PSO   3,675
 SWEPCo   5,709

The Registrant Subsidiaries' sustainable cost reduction activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is described in the following table:

      Expense Incurred for       Remaining
   Balance as of Allocation from Registrant      Balance as of
 Company  December 31, 2012  AEPSC Subsidiaries Settled Adjustments September 30, 2013
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 1,321 $ 1,017 $ - $ (1,575) $ (730) $ 33
 I&M   1,357   736   -   (1,681)   (373)   39
 OPCo   3,450   1,354   6,114   (8,837)   (1,630)   451
 PSO   652   325   -   (483)   (471)   23
 SWEPCo   627   622   -   (1,620)   405   34

These expenses, net of adjustments, relate primarily to severance benefits and are included primarily in Other Operation expense on the condensed statements of income. The remaining liability is included in Other Current Liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. Management does not expect additional costs to be incurred related to this initiative.

Southwestern Electric Power Co [Member]
 
Sustainable Cost Reductions

13. SUSTAINABLE COST REDUCTIONS

 

In April 2012, management initiated a process to identify strategic repositioning opportunities and efficiencies that will result in sustainable cost savings. Management selected a consulting firm to facilitate an organizational and process evaluation and a second firm to evaluate current employee benefit programs. The process resulted in involuntary severances and was completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013. The severance program provides two weeks of base pay for every year of service along with other severance benefits.

 

The Registrant Subsidiaries recorded charges to Other Operation expense in 2012 primarily related to severance benefits as a result of the sustainable cost reductions initiative. The total amount incurred in 2012 by Registrant Subsidiary was as follows:

 Company Total Cost Incurred
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 8,472
 I&M   5,678
 OPCo   13,498
 PSO   3,675
 SWEPCo   5,709

The Registrant Subsidiaries' sustainable cost reduction activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is described in the following table:

      Expense Incurred for       Remaining
   Balance as of Allocation from Registrant      Balance as of
 Company  December 31, 2012  AEPSC Subsidiaries Settled Adjustments September 30, 2013
   (in thousands)
 APCo $ 1,321 $ 1,017 $ - $ (1,575) $ (730) $ 33
 I&M   1,357   736   -   (1,681)   (373)   39
 OPCo   3,450   1,354   6,114   (8,837)   (1,630)   451
 PSO   652   325   -   (483)   (471)   23
 SWEPCo   627   622   -   (1,620)   405   34

These expenses, net of adjustments, relate primarily to severance benefits and are included primarily in Other Operation expense on the condensed statements of income. The remaining liability is included in Other Current Liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. Management does not expect additional costs to be incurred related to this initiative.