-----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, WDfTN+HKy5h8Zi3fNxEjcMN4JxpBHpG7LtZsBqC6Z3uvW5KWlOXdFM8Jp3wNkOn/ JDNcKCF2NizsyzYm2AsHgA== 0000893220-98-001503.txt : 19980921 0000893220-98-001503.hdr.sgml : 19980921 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000893220-98-001503 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19980918 ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19980918 SROS: NONE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000008192 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 210398280 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NJ FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-03559 FILM NUMBER: 98711549 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6801 BLACK HORSE PIKE CITY: EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP STATE: NJ ZIP: 08232 BUSINESS PHONE: 6096454100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 1264 CITY: PLEASANTVILLE STATE: NJ ZIP: 08232 8-K 1 ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC CO. FORM 8-K 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 -------- FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 18, 1998 ------------------ ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY -------------------------------------------------- (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER) New Jersey 1-3559 21-0398280 - ---------------------------- ----------- ------------------ (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (COMMISSION (IRS EMPLOYER OF INCORPORATION) FILE NUMBER) IDENTIFICATION NO.) 800 King Street, P.O. Box 231, Wilmington, Delaware 19899 - --------------------------------------------------- ---------- (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE) Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code 302-429-3114 -------------- None ------------------------------------------------------------- (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT) 1 2 ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On August 19, 1998, an Administrative Law Judge (the "ALJ") from the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law issued an initial decision on the Company's stranded costs and unbundled rate filing. The ALJ, in reviewing the Company's filing, recognized that the Company's stranded costs were $812 million for non utility generation contracts and $397 million for generation. The ALJ made no specific recommendations on rate issues. Legal briefs on exceptions to the ALJ decision are required to be filed with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities ("BPU") by October 2, 1998 and reply briefs must be filed by October 31, 1998. A final BPU decision is expected in mid-December, unless an extension is permitted and only after the necessary legislation is approved by the New Jersey legislature and signed by the Governor. * * * The "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" was introduced into the New Jersey legislature as Bill A-10 (the "Bill") on September 14, 1998. Among other things, the Bill would require the BPU to provide for retail choice of electric power suppliers; deregulation of electric power rates and other competitive services, such as metering and billing; separation of competitive and regulated services; unbundling of rates for electric power service; and licensing of electric and gas suppliers. The Bill provides June 1, 1999 as the starting date for each utility to provide retail choice of electric power suppliers to its customers. Full implementation of retail choice is expected within 4 months of the start date of retail competition. In connection with the deregulation of electric power rates, the Bill would authorize the BPU to permit electric public utilities to recover a portion of their stranded costs through a non-bypassable market transition charge of limited duration. In addition, the Bill would provide for the issuance of transition bonds to finance portions of a given utility's stranded costs, as determined by the BPU. The Bill contains provisions which mandate reductions in rates by a minimum of five to ten percent, relative to the aggregate level of bundled rates in effect as of April 30, 1997. Under certain circumstances, the minimum rate reductions may be implemented according to specified time frames. Rate reductions in addition to the minimums prescribed may be ordered by the BPU, if it determines that such reductions are necessary in order to achieve just and reasonable rates. The Company believes that any rate reductions, including the minimums required by the proposed legislation, should be made by giving consideration to a utility's financial integrity, and should be made to result in just and reasonable rates. The Bill provides for immediate effectiveness of the Act. The Bill also grants authority to the BPU, retroactive to April 1, 1997, with respect to such matters as the holding of hearings, the issuance of orders and the establishment of various standards in connection with deregulation. As directed by the BPU, the Company has participated in unbundling and stranded cost proceedings before the Office of Administrative Law, and in separate proceedings before the BPU with respect to various restructuring issues, beginning with the Company's deregulation filings submitted in July, 1997. If enacted in its present form, rate reductions, as mandated in the Bill, could have a material adverse effect upon the financial condition of the Company and its parent, Conectiv. It is not possible to predict the form in which industry deregulation legislation may be enacted. As a result, the Company cannot predict the timing or the ultimate effects on the Company and Conectiv of deregulation as it may be implemented in the State of New Jersey. 2 3 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. Atlantic City Electric Company ------------------------------ (Registrant) Date: September 18, 1998 /s/ L.M. Walters ------------------------------ Treasurer 3 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----