8-K 1 a2090570z8-k.htm 8-K
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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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 1, 2002

EDISON MISSION ENERGY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE
(State or Principal Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)		   000-24890
(Commission File
Number)		   95-4031807
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

18101 Von Karman Avenue
Irvine, California 92612
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

949-752-5588
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 
 
 
 
 

Items 1 through 4 and 6 through 9 are not included because they are not applicable.

        This current report includes forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events based upon knowledge of facts as of the date of this current report and our assumptions about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may be outside our control. We have no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


Item 5. Other Events

Moody's Downgrade

        On October 1, 2002, Moody's Investors Service downgraded our senior unsecured credit rating to Ba3 (below investment grade) from Baa3 (investment grade). Moody's also lowered its credit rating on our parent, Mission Energy Holding Company (senior debt to B3 from Ba2), and our wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Edison Mission Midwest Holdings Co. (syndicated loan facility to Ba2 from Baa2). The ratings remain under review for possible further downgrade. In addition, Moody's placed under review for possible downgrade the ratings of our subsidiary Edison Mission Holdings Company (senior secured debt rated Baa3) and Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Partners, L.P. (senior secured debt rated Baa3), a partnership in which one of our subsidiaries owns a 50% interest.

        These ratings actions do not trigger any defaults or prepayment obligations under our credit facilities or those of the other affected entities; however, the changed ratings will increase the borrowing costs under certain of those facilities. Additionally, as a result of the ratings action affecting Edison Mission Midwest Holdings, distributions to us will no longer be permitted from Edison Mission Midwest Holdings and excess cash flow at Edison Mission Midwest Holdings will be deposited in a security account for the benefit of its creditors.

        Moreover, as a result of these ratings actions, we could be required by market practice and contract to provide collateral for our domestic and United Kingdom trading activities. It is anticipated that in the aggregate this will initially require less than $20 million. Further, we may be required to accelerate or provide credit support for our equity contribution obligation in connection with our acquisition of a 50% interest in the CBK Power Co. Ltd. project in the Philippines. The total amount of the equity obligation is $48.5 million and otherwise would have been contributed ratably over a period of approximately nine months.

        We also anticipate that sales of power from our First Hydro, Homer City and Midwest Generation projects may require additional credit support over the next twelve months, depending upon market conditions and the strategies adopted for the sale of this power. We currently project the potential working capital support for this to be between $100 million and $200 million from time to time over the next twelve months.

        As of September 30, 2002, we had approximately $500 million of cash on hand and undrawn lines of credit. We have revolving credit agreements totaling $487 million, under which $70 million in letters of credit are outstanding. Last month we extended a $275 million, 364-day tranche of this facility on an unsecured basis. The remaining $212 million of the facility expires in September 2004.

Exelon Notification

        On October 2, 2002, Exelon Generation notified our subsidiary, Midwest Generation, of its exercise of its option to terminate the existing power purchase agreements during 2003 with respect to (a) 1,614 megawatts, or MW, of capacity and energy (out of a possible total of 2,698 MW subject to the option to terminate) from the Collins Station, a natural gas and oil-fired electric generating station located in Grundy County, near Morris, Illinois, and (b) 113 MW of capacity and energy (out of a possible total of 807 MW subject to the option to terminate) from the natural gas and oil-fired peaking units located in Illinois, in accordance with the terms of the applicable power purchase agreements related to these generating units. As a result, 1,614 MW of the capacity of the Collins Station, and 113 MW of the capacity of the peaking units, will no longer be subject to a power purchase agreement with Exelon Generation after January 1, 2003. This is in addition to 137 MW of the capacity of the peaking

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units for which Exelon Generation had previously exercised its option to terminate, effective as of January 1, 2002.

        In light of today's decision by Exelon, we are reviewing the competitiveness of the released units and will determine over the balance of this year whether any further changes in operations are appropriate for next year. The notification received from Exelon Generation has no effect on its commitments to purchase capacity from these generating units for the balance of 2002.

Background

        In December 1999, Midwest Generation completed a transaction with Commonwealth Edison, now a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, to acquire from Commonwealth Edison its fossil-fuel generating plants located in Illinois. In connection with the transaction, Midwest Generation entered into three power purchase agreements with terms of up to five years expiring on December 31, 2004, pursuant to which Exelon Generation (another subsidiary of Exelon Corporation and successor to Commonwealth Edison under these contracts) has the obligation to pay for and the right to purchase the capacity of and power generated by these plants. One of these agreements relates to the Collins Station and one of these agreements relates to the peaking units. Under each of these agreements, Exelon Generation has the option to terminate, exercisable not later than 90 days prior to January 1, 2003, the power purchase agreement for 2003 with respect to any of the generating units at the Collins Station and any of the peaking units, with any such generating unit for which the power purchase agreement is terminated being released after January 1, 2003 from the terms of the applicable power purchase agreement. Exelon Generation has a similar option to terminate, exercisable not later than 90 days prior to January 1, 2004, the power purchase agreements for 2004 with respect to all or a portion of the generating units not previously terminated for 2003 (1,084 MW from the Collins Station and 694 MW from the peaking units).

        The following table lists the generating units at the Collins Station and the peaking units as to which Exelon Generation has not exercised its option to terminate for 2003, the generating units and peaking units which, as of January 1, 2003, will, as a result of the exercise by Exelon Generation of its option to terminate, be released from the terms of the power purchase agreement, and the peaking units as to which Exelon Generation exercised its option to terminate effective as of January 1, 2002, along with related pricing information set forth in the power purchase agreement.

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GENERATING UNITS AT THE COLLINS STATION AND THE PEAKING UNITS

 
    
   Summer(1)
Capacity Charge
($ per MW Month)
   Non-Summer(1)
Capacity Charge
($ per MW Month)
   Energy Prices
($/MWhr)
  
Generating Unit
    
  
  Size
   2003
   2002
   2003
   2002
   2003
   2002
  
Collins Unit 1   554   8,333   6,666   2,083   1,667   33   32  
Collins Unit 2   554     (2) 6,666     (2) 1,667     (2) 32  
Collins Unit 3   530   8,333   6,666   2,083   1,667   33   32  
Collins Unit 4   530     (2) 6,666     (2) 1,667     (2) 32  
Collins Unit 5   530     (2) 6,666     (2) 1,667     (2) 32  
   
                         
Total Collins   2,698 MW                          
   
                         
Bloom   44.7     (3)   (3)   (3)   (3)   (3)   (3)
Fisk   163   9,500   7,600   1,500   1,200   90   85  
Waukegan   92     (3)   (3)   (3)   (3)   (3)   (3)
Lombard 32   31.5   9,500   7,600   1,500   1,200   55   50  
Lombard 33   32.4     (2) 7,600     (2) 1,200     (2) 50  
Calumet 31   48.5   9,500   7,600   1,500   1,200   55   50  
Calumet 33   37.7     (2) 7,600     (2) 1,200     (2) 50  
Calumet 34   42.9     (2) 7,600     (2) 1,200     (2) 50  
Crawford   120.9   9,500   7,600   1,500   1,200   55   50  
Electric Junction   158.6   9,500   7,600   1,500   1,200   55   50  
Joliet   101.1   9,500   7,600   1,500   1,200   55   50  
Sabrooke   70.3   9,500   7,600   1,500   1,200   55   50  
   
                         
Total Peaking Units   943.6 MW                          
   
                         
(1)
"Summer" months are June, July August and September, and "Non-Summer" months are the remaining months in the year.

(2)
Generating and peaking units for which Exelon Generation has exercised its right to terminate the power purchase agreement with respect thereto, and which are thus released from the terms of the power purchase agreement. After January 1, 2003, the price for energy and capacity from these units will be based upon either the terms of new bilateral contracts or prices received from forward and spot market sales.

(3)
Peaking units for which Exelon Generation exercised its right to terminate the power purchase agreement effective as of January 1, 2002. The price for energy and capacity from these units has since that date been based on the terms of bilateral contracts or prices received from forward and spot market sales.

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

Edison Mission Energy
(Registrant)

Date:   October 2, 2002   /s/ Kevin M. Smith
   
 
KEVIN M. SMITH
 Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

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GENERATING UNITS AT THE COLLINS STATION AND THE PEAKING UNITS
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