-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, C3RDV1yFuoDQfn7z3p3rwefejMaAhZqyT2kRG+4QfGTOtzvNXxYbpmbqz+ztFfQB f/lZoJT7J1+Q3eV1N3lQxQ== 0000000000-05-045680.txt : 20060828 0000000000-05-045680.hdr.sgml : 20060828 20050902093310 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000000000-05-045680 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: UPLOAD PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050902 FILED FOR: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000007286 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931] IRS NUMBER: 860011170 STATE OF INCORPORATION: AZ FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: UPLOAD BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 400 N FIFTH ST STREET 2: P O BOX 53999 CITY: PHOENIX STATE: AZ ZIP: 85004 BUSINESS PHONE: 6022501000 PUBLIC REFERENCE ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950153-05-000539 LETTER 1 filename1.txt Mail Stop 3561 September 1, 2005 Mr. Donald E. Brandt Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Arizona Public Service Company 400 North Fifth Street P.O. Box 53999, M.S. 9042 Phoenix, AZ 85072-3999 Re: Arizona Public Service Company Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004 Filed March 16, 2005 Forms 10-Q for Fiscal Quarters Ended March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2005 File No. 1-4473 Dear Mr. Brandt: We have reviewed your filings and have the following comments. Where indicated, we think you should revise your disclosures in future filings in response to these comments. If you disagree, we will consider your explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is unnecessary. Please be as detailed as necessary in your explanation. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better understand your disclosure. After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise additional comments. Please understand that the purpose of our review process is to assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing. We look forward to working with you in these respects. We welcome any questions you may have about our comments or on any other aspect of our review. Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed at the end of this letter. Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004 Note 3. Regulatory Matters, page 81 1. We note that the transfer of PWEC Dedicated Assets from Pinnacle West Energy to APS will result in a mandatory rate base disallowance of $150 million, which will be recognized as a one-time after-tax net plant write-off of approximately $90 million in the period of transfer. Please tell us the governing accounting literature you relied upon in calculating the amount and timing of the charge. If you utilized SFAS 71, explain why SFAS 90 was not applicable. We further note that the "Bridge PPA," which would be in effect for 30 years should the transfer not be approved, allows for cost-based recovery of plant based on a rate base value of $700 million. As the book value of such assets is $850 and prices under the PPA reflect cost-of-service, please tell us what consideration you gave to applying regulatory accounting to the plant prior to actual transfer since the "Bridge PPA" effectively converted the plant into a regulated asset irrespective of FERC approval. On a related point, tell us whether you tested these assets for impairment prior to transfer, the results of such test, and the governing accounting literature used to test for impairment. Finally, tell us whether you will be earning a return on plant and whether such return is consistent with similar productive assets. Note 8. Retirement Plans and Other Benefits, page 96 2. Please explain to us how you calculate the market related value of plan assets as that term is defined in SFAS 87. Since there is an alternative to how you can calculate this item, and it has a direct effect on pension expense, we believe you should disclose how you determine this amount in accordance with paragraph 12 of APB 22. Statements of Income, page 130 3. Note 17 discloses that Pinnacle West has three principal business segments, including the regulated electricity segment, the marketing and trading segment, and the real estate segment. Although APS also has regulated electricity and marketing and trading businesses, we note APS has no segment disclosures for marketing and trading. Please explain this disparity. In doing so, please describe in greater detail the nature of the APS marketing and trading activities, including whether they include bulk power sales to other electric utilities, and how such activities differ from those included in the Pinnacle West marketing and trading segment. In this regard a comparison of marketing and trading for Pinnacle West relative to APS, including whether the latter is a subset of the former, may be helpful to our understanding. If you consider APS` marketing and trading and regulated electricity businesses to be separate operating segments under paragraph 10 of SFAS 131, please explain how you determined it was appropriate to aggregate them for reporting purposes based on paragraphs 17-24 of SFAS 131. If you consider regulated electricity and marketing and trading businesses to be one operating segment, please explain your rationale under SFAS 131 for APS. We may have further comment. * * * * As appropriate, please respond to these comments within 10 business days or tell us when you will provide us with a response. Please furnish a cover letter that keys your responses to our comments and provides any requested information. Detailed cover letters greatly facilitate our review. Please understand that we may have additional comments after reviewing your responses to our comments. We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the filing to be certain that the filing includes all information required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that they have provided all information investors require for an informed investment decision. Since the company and its management are in possession of all facts relating to a company`s disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures they have made. In connection with responding to our comments, please provide, in writing, a statement from the company acknowledging that: * the company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; * staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and * the company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement has access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance in our review of your filing or in response to our comments on your filing. You may contact Staff Accountant Sarah Goldberg at (202) 551- 3340 if you have questions regarding comments on the financial statements and related matters. Please contact me at (202) 551- 3849 with any other questions. Sincerely, Jim Allegretto Senior Assistant Chief Accountant ?? ?? ?? ?? Mr. Brandt Arizona Public Service Company September 1, 2005 Page 1 of 3 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----