Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) | May 1, 2017 |
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Commission File Number | | Registrant, State of Incorporation, Address and Telephone Number | | I.R.S. Employer Identification No. |
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1-3526 | | The Southern Company (A Delaware Corporation) 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (404) 506-5000 | | 58-0690070 |
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001-11229 | | Mississippi Power Company (A Mississippi Corporation) 2992 West Beach Boulevard Gulfport, Mississippi 39501 (228) 864-1211 | | 64-0205820 |
The names and addresses of the registrants have not changed since the last report.
This combined Form 8-K is filed separately by two registrants: The Southern Company and Mississippi Power Company. Information contained herein relating to each registrant is filed by each registrant solely on its own behalf. Each registrant makes no representation as to information relating to the other registrant.
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrants under any of the following provisions:
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[ ] | | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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[ ] | | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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[ ] | | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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[ ] | | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
The Southern Company (“Southern Company”) and Mississippi Power Company (“Mississippi Power”) are filing this Current Report on Form 8-K to provide information regarding the schedule and cost estimate for Mississippi Power’s integrated coal gasification combined cycle project in Kemper County, Mississippi (the “Kemper IGCC”).
The information in Items 2.02 and 7.01 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibit attached hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section. Furthermore, such information, including the exhibit attached hereto, shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
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Item 2.02. | Results of Operations and Financial Condition. |
The information set forth below in Item 8.01 related to the updated cost estimate for completing the Kemper IGCC and the related recognition of charges to income is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.02.
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Item 7.01. | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On May 1, 2017, Mississippi Power submitted its Kemper County Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle Project Monthly Status Report through March 2017 (the “March PSC Report”) to the Mississippi Public Service Commission (the “Mississippi PSC”) pursuant to Docket No. 2009-UA-14. A copy of the March PSC Report is furnished as Exhibit 99.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY - “Capital Requirements and Contractual Obligations” of
Southern Company, MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - “Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle” and - FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY - “Capital Requirements and Contractual Obligations” of Mississippi Power, and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under “Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle” in each company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Form 10-K”) for additional information regarding the construction of the Kemper IGCC, including: (1) the cost cap set by the Mississippi PSC of $2.88 billion, net of $245 million of grants awarded to the project by the U.S. Department of Energy under the Clean Coal Power Initiative Round 2 (the “Initial DOE Grants”) and excluding the cost of the lignite mine and equipment, the cost of the carbon dioxide pipeline facilities, allowance for funds used during construction (“AFUDC”), and certain general exceptions, including change of law, force majeure, and beneficial capital (which exists when Mississippi Power demonstrates that the purpose and effect of the construction cost increase is to produce efficiencies that will result in a neutral or favorable effect on customers relative to the original proposal for the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity) (the “Cost Cap Exceptions”) and (2) the expected in-service date and related cost estimate.
Southern Company’s and Mississippi Power’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 3, 2017 disclosed an expected in-service date by the end of April 2017 for the remainder of the Kemper IGCC. Mississippi Power achieved integrated operation of both gasifiers on January 29, 2017, including the production of electricity from syngas in both combustion turbines. Mississippi Power continues to work toward achieving sustained operation sufficient to place the remainder of the plant in service. The plant has, however,
produced and captured CO2 and has produced sulfuric acid and ammonia, all of acceptable quality under the related off-take agreements. As a result of ongoing challenges associated with the ash removal and gas cleanup sour water systems, efforts to improve reliability and reach sustained operation of both gasifiers and production of electricity from syngas in both combustion turbines remain in process. Mississippi Power now expects the remainder of the Kemper IGCC, including both gasifiers, will be placed in service by the end of May 2017. The schedule reflects the expected time needed to repair a leak in one of the particulate control devices for gasifier “A”, make other minor modifications to each gasifier’s ash removal systems, repair the sour water system, and establish sustained operation of both gasifiers for the production of electricity from syngas.
Mississippi Power has revised its previous cost estimate, which included projected costs through April 30, 2017, to include projected additional schedule costs through May 31, 2017 and to include additional costs associated with the current repair outage. Since the filing of the Form 10-K, Mississippi Power has previously reported additional estimated costs subject to the cost cap in the aggregate amount of approximately $70 million. The March PSC Report contains a further increase in the cost estimate subject to the cost cap for the Kemper IGCC of approximately $38 million, including approximately $22 million related to extending the projected schedule through May 2017, $8 million related to start-up fuel, and $8 million primarily related to the current repair outage. The total estimated Kemper IGCC cost subject to the $2.88 billion cost cap as of March 31, 2017 was approximately $5.75 billion, net of the Initial DOE Grants and excluding the Cost Cap Exceptions. Mississippi Power does not intend to seek rate recovery for any costs related to the construction of the Kemper IGCC that exceed the $2.88 billion cost cap, net of the Initial
DOE Grants and excluding the Cost Cap Exceptions. As a result of this revised cost estimate, Southern Company and Mississippi Power recorded total pre-tax charges to income for the estimated probable losses on the Kemper IGCC of approximately $108 million ($67 million after-tax) during the first quarter 2017.
Further cost increases and/or extensions of the expected in-service date may result from factors including, but not limited to, difficulties integrating the systems required for sustained operations, sustaining nitrogen supply, continued issues with ash removal systems, major equipment failure, unforeseen engineering or design problems including any repairs and/or modifications to systems, and/or operational performance (including additional costs to satisfy any operational parameters ultimately adopted by the Mississippi PSC). Furthermore, additional improvement projects to enhance plant performance, safety, and/or operations ultimately may be completed after the remainder of the Kemper IGCC is placed in service. These projects have yet to be full evaluated, have not been included in the current cost estimate, and may be subject to the $2.88 billion cost cap. Any further changes in the estimated costs of the Kemper IGCC subject to the $2.88 billion cost cap, net of the Initial DOE Grants and excluding the Cost Cap Exceptions, will be reflected in Southern Company’s and Mississippi Power’s statements of income and these changes could be material.
Any extension of the in-service date beyond May 31, 2017 is currently estimated to result in additional base costs of approximately $25 million to $35 million per month, which includes maintaining necessary levels of start-up labor, materials, and fuel, as well as operational resources required to execute start-up activities. However, additional costs may be required for remediation of any further equipment and/or design issues identified. Any
extension of the in-service date would also increase costs for the Cost Cap Exceptions, which are not subject to the $2.88 billion cost cap established by the Mississippi PSC. These costs include AFUDC, which is currently estimated to total approximately $16 million per month, as well as carrying costs and operating expenses on Kemper IGCC assets placed in service and consulting and legal fees of approximately $3 million per month.
The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time.
Exhibit
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Exhibit 99.01 | Kemper County Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle Project Monthly Status Report through March 2017 to the Mississippi Public Service Commission submitted by Mississippi Power Company pursuant to Docket No. 2009-UA-14. |
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the March PSC Report is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning the projected cost and schedule for the completion of construction and start-up of the Kemper IGCC. Southern Company and Mississippi Power caution that there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Southern Company and Mississippi Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in the Form 10-K and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: changes in tax and other laws and regulations to which Mississippi Power is subject, including potential tax reform legislation, as well as changes in application of existing laws and regulations; the ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development, construction and operation of facilities, which include the development and construction of generating facilities with designs that have not been finalized or previously constructed, including changes in labor costs and productivity, adverse weather conditions, shortages and inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, sustaining nitrogen supply, continued issues with ash removal systems, contractor or supplier delay, non-performance under operating or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs, unforeseen engineering or
design problems, start-up activities (including major equipment failure and system integration), and/or operational performance (including additional costs to satisfy any operational parameters ultimately adopted by the Mississippi PSC); the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses, to satisfy any environmental performance standards and the requirements of incentives, and to integrate facilities into the Southern Company system upon completion of construction; advances in technology; actions related to cost recovery for the Kemper IGCC, including the ultimate impact of the 2015 decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court and related legal or regulatory proceedings, Mississippi PSC review of the prudence of Kemper IGCC costs and approval of further permanent rate recovery plans, actions relating to proposed securitization, satisfaction of requirements to utilize grants, and the ultimate impact of the termination of the proposed sale of an interest in the Kemper IGCC to South Mississippi Electric Power Association (now known as Cooperative Energy); and the ability of counterparties of Mississippi Power to make payments as and when due and to perform as required. Southern Company and Mississippi Power expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking information.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of the registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Date: May 1, 2017 | THE SOUTHERN COMPANY |
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| By | /s/Melissa K. Caen |
| | Melissa K. Caen Assistant Secretary |
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| MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY |
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| By | /s/Melissa K. Caen |
| | Melissa K. Caen Assistant Secretary |
