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Capitalization
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Capitalization, Long-term Debt and Equity [Abstract]  
Capitalization Disclosure [Text Block]
CAPITALIZATION
COMMON STOCK
Retained Earnings and Dividends
As of December 31, 2011, FirstEnergy’s unrestricted retained earnings were $3.0 billion. Dividends declared in 2011 were $2.20 per share, which includes dividends of $0.55 per share paid in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2011 and dividends of $0.55 per share payable in the first quarter of 2012. Dividends declared in 2010 were $2.20 per share, which includes dividends of $0.55 per share paid in the second, third and fourth quarter of 2010 and dividends of $0.55 per share paid in the first quarter of 2011. The amount and timing of all dividend declarations are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and its consideration of business conditions, results of operations, financial condition and other factors.
In addition to paying dividends from retained earnings, OE, CEI, TE, Penn, JCP&L, Met-Ed and Penelec have authorization from the FERC to pay cash dividends to FirstEnergy from paid-in capital accounts, as long as their equity to total capitalization ratio (without consideration of retained earnings) remains above 35%. In addition, TrAIL and AGC have authorization from the FERC to pay cash dividends to FE from paid-in capital accounts, as long as their equity to total capitalization ratio (without consideration of retained earnings) remains above 50% and 45%, respectively. The articles of incorporation, indentures, regulatory limitations and various other agreements relating to the long-term debt of certain FirstEnergy subsidiaries contain provisions that could further restrict the payment of dividends on their common stock. None of these provisions materially restricted FirstEnergy’s subsidiaries’ abilities to pay cash dividends to FirstEnergy as of December 31, 2011.
As described in Note 1, Organization Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies, FirstEnergy elected to change its method of recognizing actuarial gains and losses for its defined benefit pension plans and other postemployment benefit plans and applied this change retrospectively to all periods presented. The retrospective application of this change caused accumulated deficits for certain of the Utility Registrants during those prior periods, including periods when dividends were paid from retained earnings. Previous to this accounting change, retained earnings were sufficient for those dividends that were declared and paid.
PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE STOCK
FirstEnergy and the Utilities were authorized to issue preferred stock and preference stock as of December 31, 2011, as follows:
 
 
Preferred Stock
 
Preference Stock
 
 
Shares Authorized
 
Par Value
 
Shares Authorized
 
Par Value
FirstEnergy
 
5,000,000
 
$100
 
 
 
 
OE
 
6,000,000
 
$100
 
8,000,000
 
no par
OE
 
8,000,000
 
$25
 
 
 
 
Penn
 
1,200,000
 
$100
 
 
 
 
CEI
 
4,000,000
 
no par
 
3,000,000
 
no par
TE
 
3,000,000
 
$100
 
5,000,000
 
$25
TE
 
12,000,000
 
$25
 
 
 
 
JCP&L
 
15,600,000
 
no par
 
 
 
 
Met-Ed
 
10,000,000
 
no par
 
 
 
 
Penelec
 
11,435,000
 
no par
 
 
 
 
MP
 
940,000
 
$100
 
 
 
 
PE
 
10,000,000
 
$0.01
 
 
 
 
WP
 
32,000,000
 
no par
 
 
 
 

As of December 31, 2011, and 2010, there were no preferred shares or preference shares outstanding.
LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

The following tables present outstanding long-term debt and capital lease obligations for FirstEnergy, FES and the Utility Registrants as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
As of December 31, 
(Dollar amounts in millions)
Maturity Date
 
Interest Rate
 
2011
 
2010
FirstEnergy:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FMBs
2012 - 2038
 
5.125% - 9.740%
 
$
2,487

 
$
1,023

Secured notes - fixed rate
2012 - 2037
 
3.000% - 7.880%
 
2,725

 
2,727

Secured notes - variable rate
2012
 
0.090%
 
50

 
57

Total secured notes
 
 
 
 
2,775

 
2,784

Unsecured notes - fixed rate
2012 - 2039
 
2.225% - 8.250%
 
10,961

 
9,351

Unsecured notes - variable rate
2012 - 2013
 
0.030% - 2.918%
 
782

 
770

Total unsecured notes
 
 
 
 
11,743

 
10,121

Capital lease obligations
 
 
 
 
108

 
54

Unamortized debt premiums
 
 
 
 
64

 
83

Unamortized merger fair value adjustments
 
 
 
 
160

 

Currently payable long-term debt
 
 
 
 
(1,621
)
 
(1,486
)
Total long-term debt and other long-term obligations
 
 
 
 
$
15,716

 
$
12,579

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured notes - fixed rate
2012 - 2018
 
3.000% - 7.250%
 
$
899

 
$
838

Secured notes - variable rate
2012
 
0.090%
 
50

 
434

Total secured notes
 
 
 
 
949

 
1,272

Unsecured notes - fixed rate
2012 - 2039
 
2.250% - 6.800%
 
2,218

 
2,562

Unsecured notes - variable rate
2012
 
0.040% - 0.090%
 
508

 
445

Total unsecured notes
 
 
 
 
2,726

 
3,007

Capital lease obligations
 
 
 
 
31

 
36

Unamortized debt discounts
 
 
 
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Currently payable long-term debt
 
 
 
 
(905
)
 
(1,132
)
Total long-term debt and other long-term obligations
 
 
 
 
$
2,799

 
$
3,181

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OE:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FMBs
2012 - 2038
 
8.250%
 
$
407

 
$
408

Unsecured notes - fixed rate
2015 - 2038
 
5.450% - 6.875%
 
750

 
750

Capital lease obligations
 
 
 
 
11

 
7

Unamortized debt discounts
 
 
 
 
(11
)
 
(12
)
Currently payable long-term debt
 
 
 
 
(2
)
 
(1
)
Total long-term debt and other long-term obligations
 
 
 
 
$
1,155

 
$
1,152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CEI:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FMBs
2018 - 2024
 
5.500% - 8.875%
 
$
600

 
$
600

Secured notes - fixed rate
2017
 
7.880%
 
300

 
300

Unsecured notes - fixed rate
2013 - 2036
 
5.650% - 5.950%
 
850

 
850

Unsecured notes due to affiliates
2012 - 2016
 
7.663%
 
81

 
103

Capital lease obligations
 
 
 
 
8

 
3

Unamortized debt discounts
 
 
 
 
(3
)
 
(3
)
Currently payable long-term debt
 
 
 
 
(1
)
 

Total long-term debt and other long-term obligations
 
 
 
 
$
1,835

 
$
1,853

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
As of December 31, 
(Dollar amounts in millions)
Maturity Date
 
Interest Rate
 
2011
 
2010
TE:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured notes - fixed rate
2020 - 2037
 
6.150% - 7.250%
 
$
600

 
$
600

Capital lease obligations
 
 
 
 
1

 
3

Unamortized debt discounts
 
 
 
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
Total long-term debt and other long-term obligations
 
 
 
 
$
599

 
$
600

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
JCP&L:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured notes - fixed rate
2012 - 2021
 
5.250% - 6.160%
 
$
277

 
$
310

Unsecured notes - fixed rate
2016 - 2037
 
4.800% - 7.350%
 
1,500

 
1,500

Unamortized debt discounts
 
 
 
 
(7
)
 
(8
)
Currently payable long-term debt
 
 
 
 
(34
)
 
(32
)
Total long-term debt
 
 
 
 
$
1,736

 
$
1,770

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Met-Ed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FMBs

 

 
$

 
$
14

Unsecured notes - fixed rate
2013 - 2019
 
4.875% - 7.700%
 
700

 
700

Unsecured notes - variable rate
2012
 
0.090%
 
29

 
29

Total unsecured notes
 
 
 
 
729

 
729

Capital lease obligations
 
 
 
 
4

 
5

Currently payable long-term debt
 
 
 
 
(29
)
 
(29
)
Total long-term debt and other long-term obligations
 
 
 
 
$
704

 
$
719

 
 
 
 
Penelec:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured notes - fixed rate
2014 - 2038
 
5.125% - 6.625%
 
$
1,075

 
$
1,100

Unsecured notes - variable rate
2012
 
0.030% - 0.090%
 
45

 
20

Total unsecured notes
 
 
 
 
1,120

 
1,120

Capital lease obligations
 
 
 
 
4

 

Unamortized debt discounts
 
 
 
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
Currently payable long-term debt
 
 
 
 
(46
)
 
(45
)
Total long-term debt and other long-term obligations
 
 
 
 
$
1,076

 
$
1,072

See Note 6, Leases for additional information related to capital leases.
Securitized Bonds
Environmental Control Bonds
The consolidated financial statements of FirstEnergy include environmental control bonds issued by two bankruptcy remote, special purpose limited liability companies that are indirect subsidiaries of MP and PE. Proceeds from the bonds were used to construct environmental control facilities. The special purpose limited liability companies own the irrevocable right to collect non-bypassable environmental control charges from all customers who receive electric delivery service in MP's and PE's West Virginia service territories. Principal and interest owed on the environmental control bonds is secured by, and payable solely from, the proceeds of the environmental control charges. The right to collect environmental control charges is not included on FirstEnergy's consolidated balance sheets. Creditors of FirstEnergy, other than the special purpose limited liability companies, have no recourse to any assets or revenues of the special purpose limited liability companies. As of December 31, 2011, $513 million of environmental control bonds were outstanding.
Transition Bonds
The consolidated financial statements of FirstEnergy and JCP&L include the accounts of JCP&L Transition Funding and JCP&L Transition Funding II, wholly owned limited liability companies of JCP&L. In June 2002, JCP&L Transition Funding sold transition bonds to securitize the recovery of JCP&L’s bondable stranded costs associated with the previously divested Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. In August 2006, JCP&L Transition Funding II sold transition bonds to securitize the recovery of deferred costs associated with JCP&L’s supply of BGS. JCP&L did not purchase and does not own any of the transition bonds, which are included as long-term debt on FirstEnergy’s and JCP&L’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the transition bonds are the sole obligations of JCP&L Transition Funding and JCP&L Transition Funding II and are collateralized by each company’s equity and assets, which consist primarily of bondable transition property. As of December 31, 2011, $287 million of the transition bonds were outstanding.
Bondable transition property represents the irrevocable right under New Jersey law of a utility company to charge, collect and receive from its customers, through a non-bypassable TBC, the principal amount and interest on transition bonds and other fees and expenses associated with their issuance. JCP&L sold its bondable transition property to JCP&L Transition Funding and JCP&L Transition Funding II and, as servicer, manages and administers the bondable transition property, including the billing, collection and remittance of the TBC, pursuant to separate servicing agreements with JCP&L Transition Funding and JCP&L Transition Funding II. For the two series of transition bonds, JCP&L is entitled to aggregate annual servicing fees of up to $628 thousand that are payable from TBC collections.
Other Long-term Debt
The Ohio Companies, Penn, FGCO and NGC each have a first mortgage indenture under which they can issue FMBs secured by a direct first mortgage lien on substantially all of their property and franchises, other than specifically excepted property.
Based on the amount of FMBs authenticated by the respective mortgage bond trustees as of December 31, 2011, the sinking fund requirement for all FMBs issued under the various mortgage indentures amounted to payments, all of which relate to Penn, was $6 million in 2011. Penn expects to meet its 2011 annual sinking fund requirement with a replacement credit under its mortgage indenture.
As of December 31, 2011, FirstEnergy’s currently payable long-term debt includes approximately $632 million (FES — $558 million, Penelec — $45 million and Met-Ed — $29 million) of variable interest rate PCRBs, the bondholders of which are entitled to the benefit of irrevocable direct pay bank LOCs. The interest rates on the PCRBs are reset daily or weekly. Bondholders can tender their PCRBs for mandatory purchase prior to maturity with the purchase price payable from remarketing proceeds, or if the PCRBs are not successfully remarketed, by drawings on the irrevocable direct pay LOCs. The subsidiary obligor is required to reimburse the applicable LOC bank for any such drawings or, if the LOC bank fails to honor its LOC for any reason, must itself pay the purchase price.
The following table presents scheduled debt repayments for outstanding long-term debt, excluding capital leases, fair value purchase accounting adjustments and unamortized debt discounts and premiums, for the next five years as of December 31, 2011. TE does not have any long-term debt payments due during the next five years. PCRBs that can be tendered for mandatory purchase prior to maturity are reflected in 2012.
Year
 
FirstEnergy
 
FES
 
OE
 
CEI
 
JCP&L
 
Met-Ed
 
Penelec
 
 
(In millions)
2012
 
$
1,605

 
$
896

 
$

 
$

 
$
34

 
$
29

 
$
45

2013
 
1,314

 
310

 

 
300

 
36

 
150

 

2014
 
878

 
125

 

 

 
38

 
250

 
150

2015
 
1,638

 
762

 
150

 

 
41

 

 

2016
 
1,050

 
191

 
250

 

 
343

 

 


The following table classifies the outstanding variable rate put bond PCRBs and variable rate PCRBs by year, excluding unamortized debt discounts and premiums, for the next five years based on the next date on which the debt holders may exercise their right to tender their PCRBs. The Ohio Companies and JCP&L did not have any outstanding PCRBs as of December 31, 2011.
Year
 
FirstEnergy
 
FES
 
Met-Ed
 
Penelec
 
 
(In millions)
2012
 
$
901

 
$
828

 
$
28

 
$
45

2013
 
235

 
235

 

 

2014
 
26

 
26

 

 

2015
 
313

 
313

 

 

2016
 
170

 
170

 

 


Obligations to repay certain PCRBs are secured by several series of FMBs. Certain PCRBs are entitled to the benefit of irrevocable bank LOCs , to pay principal of, or interest on, the applicable PCRBs. To the extent that drawings are made under the LOCs, FGCO, NGC and the applicable Utilities are entitled to a credit against their obligation to repay those bonds. FGCO, NGC and the applicable Utilities pay annual fees based on the amounts of the LOCs to the issuing banks and are obligated to reimburse the banks or insurers, as the case may be, for any drawings thereunder. The insurers hold FMBs as security for such reimbursement obligations. In addition, OE has LOCs of $116 million and $37 million in connection with the sale and leaseback of Beaver Valley Unit 2 and Perry Unit 1, respectively.
The amounts and annual fees for PCRB-related LOCs for FirstEnergy, FGCO, NGC, Met-Ed and Penelec as of December 31, 2011, are as follows:
 
 
Aggregate LOC Amount
 
Annual Fees
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
 
 
FGCO
 
$
365

 
1.71% to 3.30%
 
NGC
 
200

 
1.71%
 
Met-Ed
 
29

 
1.75%
 
Penelec
 
45

 
1.71% to 1.75%
 
 
 
$
639

 
 
 

Debt Covenant Default Provisions
FirstEnergy has various debt covenants under certain financing arrangements, including its revolving credit facilities. The most restrictive of the debt covenants relate to the nonpayment of interest and/or principal on such debt and the maintenance of certain financial ratios. The failure by FirstEnergy to comply with the covenants contained in its financing arrangements could result in an event of default, which may have an adverse effect on its financial condition.
Additionally, there are cross-default provisions in a number of the financing arrangements. These provisions generally trigger a default in the applicable financing arrangement of an entity if it or any of its significant subsidiaries default under another financing arrangement in excess of a certain principal amount, typically $100 million. Although such defaults by any of the Utilities, ATSI or TrAIL would generally cross-default FirstEnergy financing arrangements containing these provisions, defaults by any of AE Supply, FES, FGCO or NGC would generally not cross-default to applicable financing arrangements of FirstEnergy. Also, defaults by FirstEnergy would generally not cross-default applicable financing arrangements of any of FirstEnergy’s subsidiaries. Cross-default provisions are not typically found in any of the senior notes or FMBs of FirstEnergy, FGCO, NGC or the Utilities.