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Debt
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Debt 
Debt

5.      DEBT

 

Lines of Credit

 

Chugach maintains a $50 million line of credit with National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (NRUCFC). Chugach did not utilize this line of credit in the first nine months of 2011, and therefore had no outstanding balance at September 30, 2011. In addition, Chugach did not utilize this line of credit during 2010 and had no outstanding balance at December 31, 2010. The borrowing rate is calculated using the total rate per annum and may be fixed by NRUCFC and will not exceed the Prevailing Prime Rate, plus one percent per annum. At September 30, 2011, and December 31, 2010, the borrowing rate was 3.20% and 4.95%, respectively.

 

The NRUCFC Revolving Line Of Credit Agreement requires that Chugach, for each 12-month period, for a period of at least five consecutive days, pay down the entire outstanding principal balance. The NRUCFC line of credit expires October 14, 2012.

 

This line of credit is immediately available for unconditional borrowing.

 

Commercial Paper

 

Over the next two years, Chugach anticipates financing increased capital expenditures due to the construction of a gas-fired generation plant and on-going capital needs. Commercial paper is being issued and will act as a bridge until Chugach converts commercial paper balances to long term debt. On November 17, 2010, Chugach entered into a $300 million Unsecured Credit Agreement between NRUCFC, Bank of America, N.A., KeyBank National Association, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of Montreal, CoBank, ACB, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Bank of Taiwan, Los Angeles Branch and Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd., Los Angeles Branch intended to back the commercial paper program. The 2010 Credit Agreement was priced with an all-in drawn spread of one month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 150 basis points, along with a 25 basis points facility fee (based on an A-/A3 unsecured debt rating). The 2010 Credit Agreement expires on November 17, 2013. Chugach had $161.0 million and $98.5 million of commercial paper outstanding at September 30, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively. Our commercial paper can be repriced between one day and two hundred seventy days.

 

The following table provides information regarding average commercial paper balances outstanding for the quarter ended September 30 (dollars in millions), as well as corresponding weighted average interest rates:

                               

2011

 

2010

Average Balance

Weighted Average Interest Rate

 

Average Balance

Weighted Average Interest Rate

$139.9

0.28%

 

$62.3

0.33%

 

Financing

 

On March 15, 2011, Chugach retired its 2001 Series A Bonds with proceeds from $90 million of First Mortgage Bonds, 2011 Series A, due March 15, 2031, and $185 million of First Mortgage Bonds, 2011 Series A, due March 15, 2041, issued on January 21, 2011. The First Mortgage Bonds, 2011 Series A, due March 15, 2031, bear interest at 4.20% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year commencing on September 15, 2011. Principal on the 2011 Series A Bonds due March 15, 2031 will be paid in equal annual installments beginning on March 15, 2012, resulting in an average life of approximately 10 years. The First Mortgage Bonds, 2011 Series A, due March 15, 2041, bear interest at 4.75% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year commencing on September 15, 2011. Principal on the 2011 Series A Bonds due March 15, 2041 will be paid in equal annual installments beginning on March 15, 2012, resulting in an average life of approximately 15.5 years. The bonds and all other long-term debt obligations are secured by a lien on substantially all of Chugach's assets pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Indenture of Trust, which became effective on January 20, 2011. At this time, Chugach plans to use the balance of the proceeds, currently being held by its trustee and categorized as Restricted Cash Equivalents on Chugach's Balance Sheet, to retire $120 million of 2002 Series A Bonds due February 1, 2012, after satisfying the conditions to authenticate and deliver additional obligations under the Second Amended and Restated Indenture of Trust, which became effective January 20, 2011.

 

On October 28, 2011, Chugach received commitments from investors to sell $75,000,000 of First Mortgage Bonds, 2012 Series A, due March 15, 2032 (Tranche A), $125,000,000 of First Mortgage Bonds, 2012 Series A, due March 15, 2042 (Tranche B) and $50,000,000 of First Mortgage Bonds, 2012 Series A, due March 15, 2042 (Tranche C), for the purpose of repaying outstanding commercial paper used to finance Southcentral Power Project (SPP) construction and for general corporate purposes.  The 2012 Series A Bonds (Tranche A) will mature on March 15, 2032, and will bear interest at 4.01% per annum.  The 2012 Series A Bonds (Tranche B) will mature on March 15, 2042, and will bear interest at 4.41% per annum.  The 2012 Series A Bonds (Tranche C) will mature on March 15, 2042, and will bear interest at 4.78% per annum.  Interest will be paid each March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 2012.  The 2012 Series A Bonds (Tranche A) will pay principal in equal installments on an annual basis beginning March 15, 2013, resulting in an average life of approximately 10.7 years.  The 2012 Series A Bonds (Tranche B) will pay principal between March 15, 2013 and March 15, 2020 and between March 15, 2032 and March 15, 2042, resulting in an average life of approximately 15.7 years.  The 2012 Series A Bonds (Tranche C) will pay principal in equal installments on an annual basis beginning March 15, 2023, resulting in an average life of approximately 20.7 years.  When issued, the bonds will be secured, ranking equally with all other long-term obligations, by a first lien on substantially all of Chugach assets, pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Indenture of Trust, which became effective on January 20, 2011.   The bonds will be callable by Chugach and are expected to be issued on January 11, 2012, subject to normal closing conditions.

 

Chugach has a term loan facility with CoBank.  Since January 22, 2003, loans made under that facility were evidenced by promissory notes governed by the Master Loan Agreement.  On January 19, 2011, Chugach and CoBank amended and restated the existing Master Loan Agreement.  The existing obligations under the existing loan are evidenced by the 2011 CoBank Note, which is governed by the Amended and Restated Master Loan Agreement dated January 19, 2011 and secured by the Second Amended and Restated Indenture.