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LONG-TERM DEBT
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Long-term Debt [Text Block]

8.       LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Details of long-term debt outstanding are as follows:

CL&PAs of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)2015 2014
First Mortgage Bonds:     
 7.875% 1994 Series D due 2024$ 139.8 $ 139.8
 5.750% 2004 Series B due 2034  130.0   130.0
 5.000% 2005 Series A due 2015   -   100.0
 5.625% 2005 Series B due 2035  100.0   100.0
 6.350% 2006 Series A due 2036  250.0   250.0
 5.375% 2007 Series A due 2017  150.0   150.0
 5.750% 2007 Series B due 2037  150.0   150.0
 5.750% 2007 Series C due 2017  100.0   100.0
 6.375% 2007 Series D due 2037  100.0   100.0
 5.650% 2008 Series A due 2018  300.0   300.0
 5.500% 2009 Series A due 2019  250.0   250.0
 2.500% 2013 Series A due 2023  400.0   400.0
 4.300% 2014 Series A due 2044   250.0   250.0
 4.150% 2015 Series A due 2045  350.0   -
Total First Mortgage Bonds  2,669.8   2,419.8
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds:     
 4.375% Fixed Rate Tax Exempt due 2028  120.5   120.5
 1.550% Fixed Rate Tax Exempt due 2031   -   62.0
Total Pollution Control Revenue Bonds  120.5   182.5
Pre-1983 Spent Nuclear Fuel Obligation  -   244.5
Less Amounts due Within One Year  -   (162.0)
Unamortized Premiums and Discounts, Net  (10.7)   (4.8)
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs(1)  (15.9)   (15.8)
CL&P Long-Term Debt(1)$ 2,763.7 $ 2,664.2
       
NSTAR ElectricAs of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)2015 2014
Debentures:     
 5.750% due 2036$ 200.0 $ 200.0
 5.625% due 2017  400.0   400.0
 5.500% due 2040  300.0   300.0
 2.375% due 2022  400.0   400.0
 Variable Rate due 2016 (0.6036% and 0.4721% as of December 31, 2015 and 2014)  200.0   200.0
 4.400% due 2044   300.0   300.0
 3.250% due 2025  250.0   -
Total Debentures  2,050.0   1,800.0
Bonds:     
 7.375% Tax Exempt Sewage Facility Revenue Bonds, due 2015  -   4.7
Less Amounts due Within One Year  (200.0)   (4.7)
Unamortized Premiums and Discounts, Net  (8.5)   (7.3)
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs(1)  (11.7)   (11.2)
NSTAR Electric Long-Term Debt(1)$ 1,829.8 $ 1,781.5
       
PSNHAs of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)2015 2014
First Mortgage Bonds:     
 5.60% Series M due 2035$ 50.0 $ 50.0
 6.15% Series N due 2017  70.0   70.0
 6.00% Series O due 2018  110.0   110.0
 4.50% Series P due 2019  150.0   150.0
 4.05% Series Q due 2021  122.0   122.0
 3.20% Series R due 2021  160.0   160.0
 3.50% Series S due 2023   325.0   325.0
Total First Mortgage Bonds  987.0   987.0
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds:     
 Adjustable Rate Tax Exempt Series A due 2021 (0.193% and 0.175% as of December 31, 2015 and 2014)  89.3   89.3
Unamortized Premiums and Discounts, Net  0.1   -
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs(1)  (5.4)   (6.3)
PSNH Long-Term Debt(1)$ 1,071.0 $ 1,070.0

WMECOAs of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)2015 2014
Notes:     
 5.90% Senior Notes Series B, due 2034$ 50.0 $ 50.0
 5.24% Senior Notes Series C, due 2015  -   50.0
 6.70% Senior Notes Series D, due 2037  40.0   40.0
 5.10% Senior Notes Series E, due 2020  95.0   95.0
 3.50% Senior Notes Series F, due 2021  250.0   250.0
 3.88% Senior Notes Series G, due 2023  80.0   80.0
Total Notes  515.0   565.0
Pre-1983 Spent Nuclear Fuel Obligation  -   57.4
Less Amounts due Within One Year  -   (50.0)
Unamortized Premiums and Discounts, Net   5.2   6.1
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs (1)  (2.9)   (3.3)
WMECO Long-Term Debt (1)$ 517.3 $ 575.2
       
OTHERAs of December 31,
(Millions of Dollars)2015  2014
Yankee Gas - First Mortgage Bonds:     
 8.48% Series B due 2022$ 20.0 $ 20.0
 5.26% Series H due 2019  50.0   50.0
 5.35% Series I due 2035  50.0   50.0
 6.90% Series J due 2018  100.0   100.0
 4.87% Series K due 2020  50.0   50.0
 4.82% Series L due 2044   100.0   100.0
 3.35% Series M due 2025  75.0   -
Total First Mortgage Bonds  445.0   370.0
Unamortized Premium  0.4   0.6
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs (1)  (1.7)   (1.5)
Yankee Gas Long-Term Debt (1)  443.7   369.1
       
NSTAR Gas - First Mortgage Bonds:     
 9.95% Series J due 2020  25.0   25.0
 7.11% Series K due 2033  35.0   35.0
 7.04% Series M due 2017  25.0   25.0
 4.46% Series N due 2020  125.0   125.0
 4.35% Series O due 2045  100.0   -
Total First Mortgage Bonds  310.0   210.0
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs (1)  (0.8)   (0.6)
NSTAR Gas Long-Term Debt (1)  309.2   209.4
       
Eversource Parent - Notes and Debentures:     
 4.50% Debentures due 2019  350.0   350.0
 1.45% Senior Notes Series E due 2018  300.0   300.0
 2.80% Senior Notes Series F due 2023  450.0   450.0
 1.60% Senior Notes Series G due 2018  150.0   -
 3.15% Senior Notes Series H due 2025  300.0   -
 Eversource Parent Commercial Paper Borrowings  -   446.3
Total Eversource Parent Notes and Debentures  1,550.0   1,546.3
Pre-1983 Spent Nuclear Fuel Obligation (CYAPC)  179.5   179.4
Fair Value Adjustment (2)  173.5   202.3
Less Fair Value Adjustment - Current Portion (2)  (28.9)   (28.9)
Unamortized Premiums and Discounts, Net   (1.3)   (1.2)
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs (1)  (1.9)   1.1
Total Other Long-Term Debt (1)$ 2,623.8 $ 2,477.5
       
Total Eversource Long-Term Debt (1)$ 8,805.6 $ 8,568.4

(1)        Effective December 31, 2015, the carrying amount of Long-Term Debt includes unamortized debt issuance costs presented as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, in accordance with new accounting guidance. The December 31, 2014 carrying amount of Long-Term Debt was retrospectively adjusted to conform to the current year presentation. See Note 1C, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Accounting Standards," for further information.

 

(2)        The fair value adjustment amount is the purchase price adjustment, net of amortization, required to record the NSTAR long-term debt at fair value on the date of the merger.

 

Long-Term Debt Issuances: On January 15, 2015, Eversource parent issued $150 million of 1.60 percent Series G Senior Notes, due to mature in 2018, and $300 million of 3.15 percent Series H Senior Notes, due to mature in 2025. As the debt proceeds, net of issuance costs, refinanced short-term debt, the short-term debt was classified as Long-Term Debt as of December 31, 2014. On May 20, 2015 and December 1, 2015, CL&P issued $300 million and $50 million, respectively, of 4.15 percent 2015 Series A First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds due to mature in 2045. On September 10, 2015, Yankee Gas issued $75 million of 3.35 percent 2015 Series M First Mortgage Bonds due to mature in 2025. On November 18, 2015, NSTAR Electric issued $250 million of 3.25 percent debentures, due to mature in 2025. On December 8, 2015, NSTAR Gas issued $100 million of 4.35 percent Series O First Mortgage Bonds due to mature in 2045. The proceeds of all debt issuances, net of issuance costs, were used to repay short-term borrowings and fund capital expenditures and working capital.

 

Long-Term Debt Repayments: On April 1, 2015, CL&P repaid at maturity the $100 million 5.00 percent 2005 Series A First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds and also redeemed the $62 million 1996A Series 1.55 percent PCRBs that were subject to mandatory tender using short-term borrowings. On August 3, 2015, WMECO repaid at maturity the $50 million 5.24 percent Series C Senior Notes, using short-term borrowings.

 

Long-Term Debt Issuance Authorizations: On November 25, 2015, PURA approved Yankee Gas' request to extend the authorization period for issuance of up to $125 million in long-term debt from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016. On December 4, 2015, the DPU authorized WMECO to issue up to $100 million in long-term debt for the period through December 31, 2016. On December 4, 2015, the DPU approved NSTAR Electric's request to extend the authorization period for issuance of up to $250 million in long-term debt from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016.

 

Long-Term Debt Provisions: The utility plant of CL&P, PSNH, Yankee Gas and NSTAR Gas is subject to the lien of each company's respective first mortgage bond indenture. The Eversource parent, NSTAR Electric and WMECO debt is unsecured. Additionally, the long-term debt agreements provide that Eversource and certain of its subsidiaries must comply with certain covenants as are customarily included in such agreements, including a minimum equity requirement for NSTAR Gas. Under the minimum equity requirement, the outstanding long-term debt of NSTAR Gas must not exceed equity.

 

CL&P's obligation to repay the PCRBs is secured by first mortgage bonds. The first mortgage bonds contain similar terms and provisions as the applicable series of PCRBs. If CL&P fails to meet its obligations under the first mortgage bonds, then the holder of the first mortgage bonds (the issuer of the PCRBs) would have rights under the first mortgage bonds. CL&P's $120.5 million tax-exempt PCRBs will be subject to redemption at par on or after September 1, 2021. All other long-term debt securities are subject to make-whole provisions.

 

PSNH's obligation to repay the PCRBs is secured by first mortgage bonds and bond insurance. The first mortgage bonds contain similar terms and provisions as the PCRBs. If PSNH fails to meet its obligations under the first mortgage bonds, then the holder of the first mortgage bonds (the issuer of the PCRBs) would have rights under the first mortgage bonds. The PSNH Series A tax-exempt PCRBs are currently callable at 100 percent of par. The PCRBs bear interest at a rate that is periodically set pursuant to auctions. PSNH is not obligated to purchase these PCRBs, which mature in 2021, from the remarketing agent.

 

Yankee Gas has certain long-term debt agreements that contain cross-default provisions. No other debt issuances contain cross-default provisions as of December 31, 2015.

 

Pre-1983 Spent Nuclear Fuel Obligation: Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, CL&P and WMECO were obligated to pay the DOE for the costs of disposal of pre-1983 spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste for the period prior to the sale of their ownership shares in the Millstone nuclear power stations, which were sold in March 2001. The DOE is responsible for the selection and development of repositories for, and the disposal of, spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. After the sale of the Millstone nuclear power stations in March 2001, CL&P and WMECO remained responsible for their share of the disposal costs for nuclear fuel used to generate electricity prior to April 7, 1983 (pre-1983 Spent Nuclear Fuel) and recorded an accrual for the full liability thereof to the DOE. This liability accrued interest costs at the 3-month Treasury bill yield rate. As of December 31, 2014, CL&P and WMECO's pre-1983 Spent Nuclear Fuel obligation was $244.5 million and $57.4 million, respectively, which included accumulated interest costs of $178 million for CL&P and $41.8 million for WMECO.

 

In late 2015, CL&P and WMECO made payments of $244.6 million and $57.4 million, respectively, to fully satisfy their pre-1983 Spent Nuclear Fuel obligations to the DOE, which included accumulated interest of $178 million and $41.8 million, respectively. CL&P issued debt to fund its payment while WMECO liquidated its spent nuclear fuel trust.

 

In addition, as a result of consolidating CYAPC, Eversource has consolidated $179.5 million and $179.4 million, respectively, in additional pre-1983 spent nuclear fuel obligations to the DOE, which include accumulated interest costs of $130.7 million and $130.6 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. CYAPC maintains a trust to fund amounts due to the DOE for the disposal of pre-1983 spent nuclear fuel. For further information, see Note 5, "Marketable Securities," to the financial statements.

 

Long-Term Debt Maturities: Long-term debt maturities on debt outstanding for the years 2016 through 2020 and thereafter are shown below. These amounts exclude the CYAPC pre-1983 spent nuclear fuel obligation, net unamortized premiums, discounts and debt issuance costs, and other fair value adjustments as of December 31, 2015:

(Millions of Dollars)Eversource CL&P NSTAR Electric PSNH WMECO
2016$ 200.0 $ - $ 200.0 $ - $ -
2017  745.0   250.0   400.0   70.0   -
2018  960.0   300.0   -   110.0   -
2019  800.0   250.0   -   150.0   -
2020  295.0   -   -   -   95.0
Thereafter  5,736.6   1,990.3   1,450.0   746.3   420.0
Total$ 8,736.6 $ 2,790.3 $ 2,050.0 $ 1,076.3 $ 515.0