| GLOSSARY OF TERMS |
Term | Definition |
2006 Supply Agreement | A supply agreement between Conectiv Energy and DPL covering the period June 1, 2006, though May 31, 2007, pursuant to which DPL currently obtains all of the energy and capacity needed to fulfill its Default Service obligations in Virginia |
ABO | Accumulated benefit obligation |
Accounting Hedges | Derivatives designated as cash flow and fair value hedges |
ACE | Atlantic City Electric Company |
ACE Funding | Atlantic City Electric Transition Funding LLC |
ACO | Administrative Consent Order |
ADFIT | Accumulated deferred federal income taxes |
ADITC | Accumulated deferred investment tax credits |
AFUDC | Allowance for Funds Used During Construction |
Ancillary services | Generally, electricity generation reserves and reliability services |
APB | Accounting Principles Board |
APCA | Air Pollution Control Act |
Appellate Division | Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey |
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement | Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of June 7, 2000 and subsequently amended, between Pepco and Mirant (formerly Southern Energy, Inc.) relating to the sale of Pepco's generation assets |
Bankruptcy Court | Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas |
Bankruptcy Funds | $13.25 million in funds from the Bankruptcy Settlement |
Bankruptcy Settlement | The bankruptcy settlement among the parties concerning the environmental proceedings at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site |
Bcf | Billion cubic feet |
BGS | Basic Generation Service (the supply of electricity by ACE to retail customers in New Jersey who have not elected to purchase electricity from a competitive supplier) |
BGS-FP | BGS-Fixed Price service |
BGS-CIEP | BGS-Commercial and Industrial Energy Price service |
Bondable Transition Property | Right to collect a non-bypassable transition bond charge from ACE customers pursuant to bondable stranded costs rate orders issued by the NJBPU |
BSA | Bill Stabilization Adjustment |
CAA | Federal Clean Air Act |
CAIR | EPA's Clean Air Interstate rule |
CAMR | EPA's Clean Air Mercury rule |
CERCLA | Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 |
CO2 | Carbon dioxide |
Conectiv | A wholly owned subsidiary of PHI which is a holding company under PUHCA 2005 and the parent of DPL and ACE |
Conectiv Energy | Conectiv Energy Holding Company and its subsidiaries |
Conectiv Group | Conectiv and certain of its subsidiaries that were involved in a like-kind exchange transaction under examination by the IRS |
Cooling Degree Days | Daily difference in degrees by which the mean (high and low divided by 2) dry bulb temperature is above a base of 65 degrees Fahrenheit |
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Term | Definition |
CRMC | PHI's Corporate Risk Management Committee |
CWA | Federal Clean Water Act |
DCPSC | District of Columbia Public Service Commission |
Default Electricity Supply | The supply of electricity by PHI's electric utility subsidiaries at regulated rates to retail customers who do not elect to purchase electricity from a competitive supplier, and which, depending on the jurisdiction, is also known as Default Service, SOS, BGS, or POLR service |
Default Service | The supply of electricity by DPL in Virginia to retail customers who have not elected to purchase electricity from a competitive supplier |
Default Supply Revenue | Revenue received for Default Electricity Supply |
Delaware District Court | United States District Court for the District of Delaware |
Directors Compensation Plan | PHI Non-Management Directors Compensation Plan |
District Court | United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas |
DNREC | Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control |
DPL | Delmarva Power & Light Company |
DPSC | Delaware Public Service Commission |
DRP | PHI's Shareholder Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
EDECA | New Jersey Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act |
EDIT | Excess Deferred Income Taxes |
EITF | Emerging Issues Task Force |
EPA | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
ERISA | Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 |
Exchange Act | Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
FAS | Financial Accounting Standards |
FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board |
FERC | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
Fifth Circuit | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit |
FIN | FASB Interpretation Number |
Financing Order | Financing Order of the SEC under PUHCA 1935 dated June 30, 2005, with respect to PHI and its subsidiaries |
FSP | FASB Staff Position |
FSP AUG AIR-1 | FSP American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Industry Audit Guide, Audits of Airlines--"Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities" |
FTB | FASB Technical Bulletin |
Full Requirements Load Service | The supply of energy by Conectiv Energy to utilities to fulfill their Default Electricity Supply obligations |
GAAP | Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America |
GCR | Gas Cost Recovery |
GPC | Generation Procurement Credit |
Gwh | Gigawatt hour |
Heating Degree Days | Daily difference in degrees by which the mean (high and low divided by 2) dry bulb temperature is below a base of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Term | Definition |
HPS | Hourly Priced Service DPL is obligated to provide to its largest customers |
IRC | Internal Revenue Code |
IRS | Internal Revenue Service |
ITC | Investment Tax Credit |
LEAC Liability | ACE's $59.3 million deferred energy cost liability existing as of July 31, 1999 related to ACE's Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause and ACE's Demand Side Management Programs |
LTIP | Pepco Holdings' Long-Term Incentive Plan |
Mcf | One thousand cubic feet |
MDE | Maryland Department of the Environment |
Medicare Act | Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 |
MGP | Manufactured gas plant |
Mirant | Mirant Corporation, its predecessors and its subsidiaries, and the Mirant business that emerged from bankruptcy on January 3, 2006 pursuant to the Reorganization Plan, as a new corporation of the same name |
MOA | Memorandum of agreement entered into by DPL, the staff of the VSCC and the Virginia Attorney General's office in the docket approving DPL's generating asset divestiture in 2000 |
MPSC | Maryland Public Service Commission |
NFA | No Further Action letter issued by the NJDEP |
NJBPU | New Jersey Board of Public Utilities |
NJDEP | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection |
NJPDES | New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System |
NOPR | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
Normalization provisions | Sections of the IRC and related regulations that dictate how excess deferred income taxes resulting from the corporate income tax rate reduction enacted by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and accumulated deferred investment tax credits should be treated for ratemaking purposes |
Notice | Notice 2005-13 issued by the Treasury Department and IRS on February 11, 2005 |
NOx | Nitrogen oxide |
NPDES | National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System |
NSR | New Source Review |
NUGs | Non-utility generators |
OCI | Other Comprehensive Income |
Panda | Panda-Brandywine, L.P. |
Panda PPA | PPA between Pepco and Panda |
PARS | Performance Accelerated Restricted Stock |
PBO | Projected benefit obligation |
PCI | Potomac Capital Investment Corporation and its subsidiaries |
Pepco | Potomac Electric Power Company |
Pepco Distribution | The total aggregate distribution to Pepco pursuant to the Settlement Agreement |
Pepco Energy Services | Pepco Energy Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries |
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Term | Definition |
Pepco Holdings or PHI | Pepco Holdings, Inc. |
Pepco TPA Claim | Pepco's $105 million allowed, pre-petition general unsecured claim against Mirant |
PHI Parties | The PHI Retirement Plan, PHI and Conectiv, parties to cash balance plan litigation brought by three management employees of PHI Service Company |
PHI Retirement Plan | PHI's noncontributory retirement plan |
PJM | PJM Interconnection, LLC |
PLR | Private letter ruling from the IRS |
POLR | Provider of Last Resort service (the supply of electricity by DPL before May 1, 2006 to retail customers in Delaware who did not elect to purchase electricity from a competitive supplier) |
POM | Pepco Holdings' NYSE trading symbol |
Power Delivery | PHI's Power Delivery Business |
PPA | Power Purchase Agreement |
PPA-Related Obligations | Mirant's obligations to purchase from Pepco the capacity and energy that Pepco is obligated to purchase under the Panda PPA |
PRP | Potentially responsible party |
PSD | Prevention of Significant Deterioration |
PUHCA 1935 | Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, which was repealed effective February 8, 2006 |
PUHCA 2005 | Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which became effective February 8, 2006 |
RAR | IRS revenue agent's report |
RARM | Reasonable Allowance for Retail Margin |
RC Cape May | RC Cape May Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Rockland Capital Energy Investments, LLC, and the purchaser of the B.L. England generating facility |
Recoverable stranded costs | The portion of stranded costs that is recoverable from ratepayers as approved by regulatory authorities |
Regulated T&D Electric Revenue | Revenue from the transmission and the delivery of electricity to PHI's customers within its service territories at regulated rates |
Reorganization Plan | Mirant's Plan of Reorganization |
RGGI | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative |
RI/FS | Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study |
ROE | Return on equity |
SAB | SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin |
SEC | Securities and Exchange Commission |
Second Circuit | United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit |
Settlement Agreement | Settlement Agreement and Release, dated as of May 30, 2006 between Pepco and Mirant |
SFAS | Statement of Financial Accounting Standards |
SMECO | Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, Inc. |
SMECO Agreement | Capacity purchase agreement between Pepco and SMECO |
SMECO Settlement Agreement | Settlement Agreement and Release entered into between Mirant and SMECO |
SO2 | Sulfur dioxide |
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_____________________________________________________________________________________ |
Term | Definition |
SOS | Standard Offer Service (the supply of electricity by Pepco in the District of Columbia, by Pepco and DPL in Maryland and by DPL in Delaware on and after May 1, 2006, to retail customers who have not elected to purchase electricity from a competitive supplier) |
Standard Offer Service revenue or SOS revenue | Revenue Pepco and DPL, respectively, receive for the procurement of energy for its SOS customers |
Starpower | Starpower Communications, LLC |
Stranded costs | Costs incurred by a utility in connection with providing service which would be unrecoverable in a competitive or restructured market. Such costs may include costs for generation assets, purchased power costs, and regulatory assets and liabilities, such as accumulated deferred income taxes. |
Third Circuit | United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit |
Tolling agreement | A physical or financial contract where one party delivers fuel to a specific generating station in exchange for the power output |
TPA | Transition Power Agreements for Maryland and the District of Columbia between Pepco and Mirant |
Transition Bonds | Transition bonds issued by ACE Funding |
Treasury lock | A hedging transaction that allows a company to "lock-in" a specific interest rate corresponding to the rate of a designated Treasury bond for a determined period of time |
Utility PRPs | A group of utility PRPs including Pepco that are parties to a settlement involving the environmental proceedings at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site |
VaR | Value at Risk |
Virginia Restructuring Act | Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act |
VSCC | Virginia State Corporation Commission |
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In this Form 10-K, these supply service obligations are referred to generally as Default Electricity Supply. |
In the aggregate, the Power Delivery business delivers electricity to more than 1.8 million customers in the mid-Atlantic region and distributes natural gas to approximately 121,000 customers in Delaware. |
Transmission of Electricity and Relationship with PJM |
The transmission facilities owned by Pepco, DPL and ACE are interconnected with the transmission facilities of contiguous utilities and as such are part of an interstate power transmission grid over which electricity is transmitted throughout the eastern United States. FERC has designated a number of regional transmission organizations to coordinate the operation and planning of portions of the interstate transmission grid. Pepco, DPL and ACE are members of the PJM Regional Transmission Organization. PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) provides transmission planning functions and acts as the independent system operator for the PJM Regional Transmission Organization. In this capacity, PJM coordinates the movement of electricity in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. FERC has designated PJM as the sole provider of transmission s ervice in the PJM region. Any entity that wishes to have electricity delivered at any point in the PJM region must obtain transmission services from PJM at rates approved by FERC. In accordance with FERC rules, Pepco, DPL, ACE and the other transmission-owning utilities in the region make their transmission facilities available to PJM and PJM directs and controls the operation of these transmission facilities. In return for the use of their transmission facilities, PJM pays the transmission owners fees approved by FERC. |
Distribution of Electricity and Deregulation |
Historically, electric utilities, including Pepco, DPL and ACE, were vertically integrated businesses that generated all or a substantial portion of the electric power supply that they delivered to customers in their service territories over their own distribution facilities. Customers were charged a bundled rate approved by the applicable regulatory authority that covered both the supply and delivery components of the retail electric service. However, legislative and regulatory actions in each of the service territories in which Pepco, DPL and ACE operate have resulted in the "unbundling" of the supply and delivery components of retail electric service and in the opening of the supply component to competition from non-regulated providers. Accordingly, while Pepco, DPL and ACE continue to be responsible for the distribution of electricity in their respective service territories, as the result of deregulation, customers in those service territories now are permitted to choo se their electricity supplier from among a number of non-regulated, competitive suppliers. Customers who do not choose a competitive supplier receive Default Electricity Supply on terms that vary depending on the service territory, as described more fully below. |
In connection with the deregulation of electric power supply, Pepco, DPL and ACE have divested substantially all of their generation assets, either by selling them to third parties or 3
____________________________________________________________________________________ transferring them to the non-regulated affiliates of PHI that comprise PHI's Competitive Energy businesses. Accordingly, Pepco, DPL and ACE are no longer engaged in generation operations, except for the limited generation activities of ACE described below. |
Seasonality |
The Power Delivery business is seasonal and weather patterns can have a material impact on operating performance. In the region served by PHI, demand for electricity is generally higher in the summer months associated with cooling and demand for electricity and natural gas is generally higher in the winter months associated with heating, as compared to other times of the year. Historically, the Power Delivery operations of each of PHI's utility subsidiaries have generated less revenues and income when weather conditions are milder in the winter and cooler in the summer. |
Regulation |
The retail operations of PHI's utility subsidiaries, including the rates they are permitted to charge customers for the delivery of electricity and natural gas, are subject to regulation by governmental agencies in the jurisdictions in which they provide utility service. Pepco's electricity delivery operations are regulated in Maryland by the Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) and in Washington, D.C. by the District of Columbia Public Service Commission (DCPSC). DPL's electricity delivery operations are regulated in Maryland by the MPSC, in Virginia by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (VSCC) and in Delaware by the Delaware Public Service Commission (DPSC). DPL's natural gas distribution operations in Delaware are regulated by the DPSC. ACE's electric delivery operations are regulated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). The wholesale and transmission operations for both electricity and natural gas of each of PHI's utility subsidiaries are regulated by FERC. |
Pepco |
Pepco is engaged in the transmission and distribution of electricity in Washington, D.C. and major portions of Prince George's and Montgomery Counties in suburban Maryland. Pepco was incorporated in Washington, D.C. in 1896 and became a domestic Virginia corporation in 1949. Pepco's service territory covers 640 square miles and has a population of 2.1 million. As of December 31, 2006, Pepco delivered electricity to 753,000 customers (of which 240,960 were located in the District of Columbia and 512,040 were located in Maryland), as compared to 747,000 customers as of December 31, 2005 (of which 239,040 were located in the District of Columbia and 507,960 were located in Maryland). |
In 2006, Pepco delivered a total of 26,488,000 megawatt hours of electricity, of which 29% was delivered to residential customers, 51% to commercial customers, and 20% to United States and District of Columbia government customers. In 2005, Pepco delivered 27,594,000 megawatt hours of electricity, of which 30% was delivered to residential customers, 51% to commercial customers, and 19% to United States and District of Columbia government customers. |
Pepco has been providing SOS in Maryland since July 2004. Pursuant to an order issued by the MPSC in November 2006, Pepco will continue to be obligated to provide SOS to residential and small commercial customers indefinitely, until further action of the Maryland General Assembly, and to medium-sized commercial customers through May 2009. Pepco also has an ongoing obligation to provide SOS service at hourly priced rates to the largest customers. Pepco 4
____________________________________________________________________________________ purchases the power supply required to satisfy its SOS obligation from wholesale suppliers under contracts entered into pursuant to competitive bid procedures approved and supervised by the MPSC. Pepco is entitled to recover from its SOS customers the cost of the SOS supply plus an average margin of $.002 per kilowatt hour (calculated at the time of the announcement of the contracts, based on total sales to residential and small and large commercial Maryland SOS customers over the twelve months ended December 31, 2003). Because margins vary by customer class, the actual average margin over any given time period depends on the number of Maryland SOS customers from each customer class and the load taken by such customers over the time period. Pepco is paid tariff delivery rates for the delivery of electricity over its transmission and distribution facilities to both SOS customers and customers in Maryland who have selected another energy supplier. These delivery rates are capped through December 31, 2006 pursuant to the MPSC order issued in connection with the Pepco acquisition of Conectiv, but are subject to adjustment if FERC transmission rates increase by more than 10%. |
Pepco has been providing SOS in the District of Columbia since February 2005. Pursuant to orders issued by the DCPSC, Pepco will continue to be obligated to provide SOS for small commercial and residential customers through May 2011 and for large commercial customers through May 2009. Pepco purchases the power supply required to satisfy its SOS obligation from wholesale suppliers under contracts entered into pursuant to a competitive bid procedure approved by the DCPSC. Pepco is entitled to recover from its SOS customers the costs associated with the acquisition of the SOS supply plus administrative charges that are intended to allow Pepco to recover the administrative costs incurred to provide the SOS. These administrative charges include an average margin for Pepco of $.00248 per kilowatt hour (calculated at the time of the announcement of the contracts, based on total sales to residential and small and large commercial District of Columbia SOS customers over the twelve months ended December 31, 2003). Because margins vary by customer class, the actual average margin over any given time period depends on the number of District of Columbia SOS customers from each customer class and the load taken by such customers over the time period. Pepco is paid tariff delivery rates for the delivery of electricity over its transmission and distribution facilities to both SOS customers and customers in the District of Columbia who have selected another energy supplier. Delivery rates in the District of Columbia generally are capped through July 2007, but are subject to adjustment if FERC transmission rates increase by more than 10%, except that for residential low-income customers, rates generally are capped through July 2009. |
For the year ended December 31, 2006, 60% of Pepco's Maryland sales (measured by megawatt hours) were to SOS customers, as compared to 62% in 2005 and in 2006 57% of its District of Columbia sales were to SOS customers, as compared to 41% in 2005. |
DPL |
DPL is engaged in the transmission and distribution of electricity in Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia and provides natural gas distribution service in northern Delaware. In Delaware, service is provided in three counties, Kent, New Castle, and Sussex; in Maryland, service is provided in ten counties, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worchester; and in Virginia, service is provided to two counties, Accomack and Northampton. DPL was incorporated in Delaware in 1909 and became a domestic Virginia corporation in 1979. DPL's electricity distribution service territory covers 6,000 square miles and has a population of 1.3 million. DPL's natural gas distribution service territory covers 275 square miles and has a population of 523,000. As of December 31, 2006, DPL delivered electricity to 513,000 customers (of which 295,000 were located in Delaware, 196,000 were located in Maryland, and 22,000 were located i n Virginia) and delivered natural 5
____________________________________________________________________________________ gas to 121,000 customers (all of which were located in Delaware), as compared to 510,000 electricity customers as of December 31, 2005 (of which 292,000 were located in Delaware, 196,000 were located in Maryland, and 22,000 were located in Virginia) and 120,000 natural gas customers. |
In 2006, DPL delivered a total of 13,477,000 megawatt hours of electricity to its customers, of which 38% was delivered to residential customers, 40% to commercial customers and 22% to industrial customers. In 2005, DPL delivered a total of 14,101,000 megawatt hours of electricity, of which 40% was delivered to residential customers, 38% to commercial customers and 22% to industrial customers. |
In 2006, DPL delivered 18,300,000 Mcf (one thousand cubic feet) of natural gas to retail customers in its Delaware service territory, of which 36% of DPL's retail gas deliveries were sales to residential customers, 25% to commercial customers, 4% to industrial customers, and 35% to customers receiving a transportation-only service. In 2005, DPL delivered 20,700,000 Mcf of natural gas, of which 41% of DPL's retail gas deliveries were sales to residential customers, 27% were sales to commercial customers, 5% were to industrial customers, and 27% were sales to customers receiving a transportation-only service. |
DPL has been providing Default Electricity Supply in Delaware since May 2006. Pursuant to orders issued by the DPSC, DPL will continue to be obligated to provide fixed-price SOS to residential, small commercial and industrial customers through May 2009 and to medium, large and general service customers through May 2008. DPL purchases the power supply required to satisfy its fixed-price SOS obligation from wholesale suppliers under contracts entered into pursuant to competitive bid procedures approved by the DPSC. DPL also has an obligation to provide Hourly Priced Service (HPS) for the largest customers. Power to supply the HPS customers is acquired on next-day and other short-term PJM markets. DPL's rates for supplying fixed-price SOS and HPS reflect the associated capacity, energy, transmission, and ancillary services costs and a Reasonable Allowance for Retail Margin (RARM). Components of the RARM include a fixed annual margin of $2.75 million, plus estimated increme ntal expenses, a cash working capital allowance, and recovery with a return over five years of the capitalized costs of the billing system used for billing HPS customers. DPL is paid tariff delivery rates for the delivery of electricity over its transmission and distribution facilities to both SOS customers and customers in Delaware who have selected another energy supplier. |
In Delaware, DPL sales to Default Electricity Supply customers represented 69% of total sales (measured by megawatt hours) for the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to 90% in 2005. |
DPL has been providing SOS in Maryland since June 2004. Pursuant to an order issued bythe MPSC in November 2006, DPL will continue to be obligated to provide SOS to residential and small commercial customers indefinitely, until further action of the Maryland General Assembly, and to medium-sized commercial customers through May 2009. DPLpurchases the power supply required to satisfy its market rateSOS obligation from wholesale suppliers under contracts entered into pursuant to competitive bid procedures approved and supervised by the MPSC. DPL is entitled to recover from itsSOS customers the costsof theSOS supplyplus an average margin of $.002 per ki lowatt hour (calculated at the time of the announcement of the contracts, based on total sales to residential and small and large commercial Maryland SOS customers over the twelve months ended December 31, 2003). Because margins vary by customer class, the actual average margin over any given time period depends on the number of Maryland SOS customers from each customer class and the load taken by such customers over 6
____________________________________________________________________________________ the time period. DPL is paid tariff delivery rates for the delivery of electricity over its transmission and distribution facilities to both SOS customers and customers in Maryland who have selected another energy supplier. |
In Maryland, DPL sales to SOS customers represented 75% of total sales (measured by megawatt hours) for the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to 78% in 2005. |
DPL has been providing Default Service in Virginia since March 2004, and under the terms of the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act (the Virginia Restructuring Act), DPL is obligated to continue to offer Default Service to customers in Virginia until relieved of that obligation by the VSCC; however, amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act that alter this obligation have been passed, as described below. DPL currently obtains all of the energy and capacity needed to fulfill its Default Service obligations in Virginia under a supply agreement with Conectiv Energy covering the period June 1, 2006, though May 31, 2007 (the 2006 Supply Agreement). The 2006 Supply Agreement was awarded to Conectiv Energy through a competitive bid procedure supervised by the VSCC in which Conectiv Energy was the low bidder. DPL's approved rates for Default Service allow it to recover costs related to the purchase of power in accordance with a proxy rate calculation, which is an a pproximation of what the cost of power would have been if DPL had not divested its generating units. The proxy rate calculation, which has the effect of operating as a cap on recoverable purchased power costs, is a component of a memorandum of agreement entered into by DPL, the staff of the VSCC and the Virginia Attorney General's office in the docket approving DPL's generating asset divestiture in 2000 (the MOA), and was a condition of that divestiture. |
On March 10, 2006, DPL filed for a rate increase with the VSCC for its Virginia Default Service customers to take effect on June 1, 2006, which was intended to allow DPL to recover its higher cost for energy established by the competitive bid procedure. On June 19, 2006, the VSCC issued an order that granted a rate increase for DPL of $11.5 million ($8.5 million less than requested by DPL in its March 2006 filing), to go into effect July 1, 2006. In determining the amount of the approved increase, the VSCC applied the proxy rate calculation to DPL's fuel factor, rather than allowing full recovery of the costs DPL incurred in procuring the supply necessary for its Default Service obligation. The estimated after-tax earnings and cash flow impacts of the decision are reductions of approximately $3.6 million in 2006 (including the loss of revenue in June 2006 associated with the Default Service rate increase being deferred from June 1 until July 1) and $2.0 million i n 2007. The order also mandated that DPL file an application by March 1, 2007 (which has been delayed until April 2, 2007 by subsequent VSCC order) for Default Service rates to become effective June 1, 2007, which should include a calculation of the fuel factor that is consistent with the procedures set forth in the order. |
In February 2007, the Virginia General Assembly passed amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act that modified the method by which investor-owned electric utilities in Virginia will be regulated by the VSCC. These amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act, subject to further amendment or veto by the Virginia governor and subsequent action by the General Assembly, will be effective on July 1, 2007. The amendments provide that, as of December 31, 2008, the following will come to an end: (i) capped rates (the previous expiration date was December 31, 2010); (ii) DPL's Default Service obligation; and (iii) customer choice, except that customers with loads of 5 megawatts or greater will continue to be able to buy from competitive suppliers, as will smaller non-residential customers that aggregate their loads to reach the 5 megawatt threshold and obtain VSCC approval. Additionally, if an ex-customer of Default Service wants to return to DPL as its energy supplier, it must give 5 years notice or obtain approval of the VSCC that the return is in the public interest. In this event, the ex- 7
____________________________________________________________________________________ customer must take DPL's service at market based rates. DPL also believes that the amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act will terminate, as of December 31, 2008, the ratemaking provisions within the MOA, including the application of the proxy rate calculation to DPL's fuel factor as discussed above; however, the VSCC's interpretation of these provisions is not known. It should be noted that in DPL's view, in the absence these amendments, the MOA and all of its provisions (including the proxy rate calculation) expire on July 1, 2007; the VSCC staff and the Virginia Attorney General disagree with DPL's position. Assuming the ratemaking provisions of the MOA end on December 31, 2008 pursuant to the amended Virginia Restructuring Act, the amendments provide that DPL shall file a rate case in 2009 and every 2 years thereafter. The ROE to be allowed by the VSCC will be set within a range, the lower of which is essentially the average of vertically integrated investor-owned electric utilities in the s outheast with an upper point that is 300 basis points above that average. The VSCC has authority to set rates higher or lower to allow DPL to maintain the opportunity to earn the determined ROE and to credit back to customers, in whole or in part, earnings that were 50 basis points or more in excess of the determined ROE. The amended Virginia Restructuring Act includes various incentive ROEs for the construction of new generation and would allow the VSCC to penalize or reward DPL for efficient operations or, if DPL were to add new generation, for generating unit performance. There are also enhanced ratemaking features if DPL pursues conservation, demand management and energy efficiency programs or pursues renewable energy portfolios. |
DPL is paid tariff delivery rates for the delivery of electricity over its transmission and distribution facilities to both Default Service customers and customers in Virginia who have selected another energy supplier. These delivery rates generally are frozen until December 31, 2010, except that DPL can apply for two changes in delivery rates (one prior to July 1, 2007 and another between July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2010). |
In Virginia, DPL sales to Default Service customers represented 94% of total sales (measured by megawatt hours) in 2006 and 100% of total sales in 2005. |
DPL also provides regulated natural gas supply and distribution service to customers in its Delaware natural gas service territory. Large and medium volume commercial and industrial natural gas customers may purchase natural gas either from DPL or from other suppliers. DPL uses its natural gas distribution facilities to transport natural gas for customers that choose to purchase natural gas from other suppliers. These customers pay DPL distribution service rates approved by the DPSC. DPL purchases natural gas supplies for resale to its sales service customers from marketers and producers through a combination of long-term agreements and next-day delivery arrangements. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2006, DPL supplied 66% of the natural gas that it delivered, compared to 73% in 2005. |
ACE |
ACE is primarily engaged in the transmission and distribution of electricity in a service territory consisting of Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties in southern New Jersey. ACE was incorporated in New Jersey in 1924. ACE's service territory covers 2,700 square miles and has a population of 1 million. As of December 31, 2006, ACE delivered electricity to 539,000 customers in its service territory, as compared to 532,000 customers as of December 31, 2005. In 2006, ACE delivered a total of9,931,000 megawatt hours of electricity to its customers, of which 43% was delivered to residential customers, 44% to commercial customers and 13% to industrial customers. In 2005, ACE delivered10,080,000 megawatt hours of electricity to its customers, of which44% was 8 ____________________________________________________________________________________ delivered to residential customers,43% to commercial customers, and13% to industrial customers.
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Electric customers in New Jersey who do not choose another supplier receive BGS from their electric distribution company. New Jersey's electric distribution companies, including ACE, jointly procure the supply to meet their BGS obligations from competitive suppliers selected through auctions authorized by the NJBPU for New Jersey's total BGS requirements. The winning bidders in the auction are required to supply a specified portion of the BGS customer load with full requirements service, consisting of power supply and transmission service. |
ACE provides two types of BGS: |
As of December 31, 2006, Conectiv Energy supplied one 100 megawatt block of ACE's BGS-FP load. |
ACE is paid tariff rates established by the NJBPU that compensate it for the cost of obtaining the BGS from competitive suppliers. ACE does not make any profit or incur any loss on the supply component of the BGS it provides to customers. |
ACE is paid tariff delivery rates for the delivery of electricity over its transmission and distribution facilities to both BGS customers and customers in its service territory who have selected another energy supplier. |
ACE sales to New Jersey BGS customers represented 78% of total sales (measured by megawatt hours) for the year ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. |
In addition to its electricity transmission and distribution operations, as of December 31, 2005, ACE owned a 2.47% undivided interest in the Keystone electric generating facility and a 3.83% undivided interest in the Conemaugh electric generating facility (with a combined generating capacity of 108 megawatts) and the B.L. England electric generating facility (with a generating capacity of 447 megawatts). |
On September 1, 2006, ACE sold its 2.4% undivided interest in the Keystone generating facility and its 3.83% undivided interest in the Conemaugh generating facility to Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. for approximately $177.0 million, which was subsequently decreased by $1.6 million based on a post-closing 60-day true-up for applicable items not known at the time of the closing. Approximately $81.3 million of the net gain from the sale has been used to offset the remaining regulatory asset balance, which ACE has been recovering in rates, and approximately $49.8 million of the net gain is being returned to ratepayers over a 33-month period as a credit 9 ____________________________________________________________________________________ on their bills, which began during the October 2006 billing period. The balance to be repaid to customers is $48.4 million as of December 31, 2006.
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On February 8, 2007, ACE sold the B.L. England generating facility (with a generating capacity of 447 megawatts) to RC Cape May Holdings, LLC (RC Cape May), an affiliate of Rockland Capital Energy Investments, LLC, for a price of $9.0 million, after adjustment for, among other things, variances in the value of fuel and material inventories at the time of closing, certain capital expenditures, plant operating capacity, the value of certain benefits for transferred employees and the actual closing date. The purchase price will be further adjusted based on a post-closing 60-day true-up for applicable items not known at the time of the closing. In addition, RC Cape May and ACE have agreed to arbitration concerning whether RC Cape May must pay to ACE, as part of the purchase price, an additional $3.1 million remaining in dispute. The sale of B.L. England will not affect the stranded costs associated with the plant that already have been securitized. ACE anticipates that approx imately $9 million to $10 million of additional assets related to B.L. England may, subject to NJBPU approval, be eligible for recovery as stranded costs. For the year ended December 31, 2006, B.L. England's operating revenue was $86.9 million. |
ACE also has several contracts with non-utility generators (NUGs) under which ACE purchased 3.8 million megawatt hours of power in 2006. ACE sells the electricity purchased under the contracts with NUGs into the wholesale market administered by PJM. |
During 2006, ACE's generation and wholesale electricity sales operations produced approximately 26% of ACE's operating revenue, of which approximately 32% was produced by the B.L. England, Keystone and Conemaugh facilities. |
In 2001, ACE established Atlantic City Electric Transition Funding LLC (ACE Funding) solely for the purpose of securitizing authorized portions of ACE's recoverable stranded costs through the issuance and sale of bonds (Transition Bonds). The proceeds of the sale of each series of Transition Bonds have been transferred to ACE in exchange for the transfer by ACE to ACE Funding of the right to collect a non-bypassable transition bond charge from ACE customers pursuant to bondable stranded costs rate orders issued by the NJBPU in an amount sufficient to fund the principal and interest payments on the Transition Bonds and related taxes, expenses and fees (Bondable Transition Property). The assets of ACE Funding, including the Bondable Transition Property, and the Transition Bond charges collected from ACE's customers, are not available to creditors of ACE. The holders of Transition Bonds have recourse only to the assets of ACE Funding. |
Competitive Energy |
PHI's Competitive Energy business is engaged in the generation of electricity and the non-regulated marketing and supply of electricity andnaturalgas, and related energy management services, primarily in the mid-Atlantic region. In2006, 2005 and 2004 PHI's Competitive Energy operations produced 46%, 51%and 50%, respectively, of PHI's consolidated operating revenues. In 2006, 2005 and 2004 PHI's Competitive Energy operations produced 20%, 16% and 19%, respectively, of PHI's consolidated operating income.PHI's Competitive Energy operations are conducted by Conectiv Energy and Pepco Energy Services. For financial reporting purposes Conectiv Energy and Pepco Energy Services each is treated as a separate segment. 10
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Conectiv Energy |
Conectiv Energy provides wholesale electric power, capacity, and ancillary services in the wholesale markets administered by PJM and also supplies electricity to other wholesale market participants under long and short-term bilateral contracts. Conectiv Energy also supplies electric power to satisfy a portion of ACE's New Jersey, DPL's Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia and Pepco's Maryland Default Electricity Supply load, as well as default electricity supply load shares of other utilities. PHI refers to these activities as Merchant Generation & Load Service. Other than itsdefault electricity supply sales, Conectiv Energy does not participate in the retail competitive power supply market. Conectiv Energy obtains the electricity required to meet its power supply obligations from its owngenerating plants, under bilateralcontracts entered into with other wholesale market participantsand from purchases in the wholesale market administered by PJM. |
Conectiv Energy's generation capacity is concentrated in mid-merit plants, which due to their operating flexibility and multi-fuel capability can quickly change their output level on an economic basis. Like "peak-load" plants, mid-merit plants generally operate during times when demand for electricity rises and prices are higher. However, mid-merit plants usually operate more frequently and for longer periods of time than peak-load plants because of better heat rates. As of December 31, 2006, Conectiv Energy owned and operated mid-merit plants with a combined 2,713 megawatts of capacity, peak-load plants with a combined 639 megawatts of capacity and base-load generating plants with a combined 340 megawatts of capacity. See Item 2 "Properties." Conectiv Energy also owns three uninstalled combustion turbines with a book value of $57.0 million. Conectiv Energy will determine whether to install these turbines as part of an existing or new generating facility or sell the tur bines to a third party based upon market demand. |
Conectiv Energy also sells natural gas and fuel oil to very large end-users and to wholesale market participants under bilateral agreements and operates a real-time power desk, which generates margin by identifying and capturing price differences between power pools and locational and timing differences within a power pool. Conectiv Energy obtains the natural gas and fuel oil required to meet its supply obligations through market purchases for next day delivery and under long- and short-term bilateral contracts with other market participants. |
Conectiv Energy actively engages in commodity risk management activities to reduce its financial exposure to changes in the value of its assets and obligations due to commodity price fluctuations. A portion of these risk management activities is conducted using instruments classified as derivatives, such as forward contracts, futures, swaps, and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options. Conectiv Energy also manages commodity risk with contracts that are not classified as derivatives. Conectiv Energy has two primary risk management objectives: (1) to manage the spread between the cost of fuel used to operate its electric generation plants and the revenue received from the sale of the power produced by those plants; and (2) to manage the cost of fulfilling its contracts to supply load in order to ensure stable and known minimum cash flows and lock-in favorable prices and margins when they become available. To a lesser extent, Conectiv Energy also operates a r eal-time power desk, which generates margin by capturing price differences between power pools, and locational and timing differences within a power pool. |
Conectiv Energy's goal is to manage the risk associated with the expected power output of its generation facilities and their fuel requirements. The risk management goals are approved by PHI's Corporate Risk Management Committee and may change from time to time based on 11
____________________________________________________________________________________ market conditions. The actual level of coverage may vary depending on the extent to which Conectiv Energy is successful in implementing its risk management strategies. For additional discussion of Conectiv Energy's risk management activities, see Item 7A "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk." |
Pepco Energy Services |
Pepco Energy Services provides retail energy supply and energy services primarily to commercial, industrial, and government customers. Pepco Energy Services sells electricity, including electricity from renewable resources, to customers located in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions of the U.S. and the Chicago, Illinois area. As of December 31, 2006, Pepco Energy Services' estimated retail electricity backlog is 31.3 million MWH for delivery through 2011, an increase of 105% since December 31, 2005. Pepco Energy Services also sells natural gas to customers primarily located in the mid-Atlantic region. |
Pepco Energy Services owns and operates district energy systems in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware and sells steam and chilled water to customers in those cities. Pepco Energy Services also provides energy savings performance contracting services principally to federal, state and local government customers, and designs, constructs, and operates combined heat and power plants and central energy plants. |
Pepco Energy Services provides high voltage construction and maintenance services to utilities throughout the United States and low voltage electric and telecommunication construction and maintenance services in the Washington, D.C. area. |
During 2006, Pepco Energy Services sold five businesses that served primarily commercial and industrial customers by providing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical testing and maintenance, and building automation services. Net assets sold were approximately $20.7 million. |
Pepco Energy Services also owns and operates two oil-fired power plants. The power plants are located in Washington, D.C. and have a generating capacity rating of approximately 806 MW. Pepco Energy Services sells the output of these plants into the wholesale market administered by PJM. Pepco Energy Services intends to provide notice to PJM of its intention to deactivate these plants. It is expected that the plants would be deactivated no later than May 31, 2012. Deactivation is subject to approval by PJM and will not have a material impact on PHI's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. See Item 2 "Properties." |
Competition |
The unregulated energy generation, supply and marketing businesses primarily in the mid-Atlantic region are characterized by intense competition at both the wholesale and retail levels. At the wholesale level, Conectiv Energy and Pepco Energy Services compete with numerous non-utility generators, independent power producers, wholesale power marketers and brokers, and traditional utilities that continue to operate generation assets. In the retail energy supply market and in providing energy management services, Pepco Energy Services competes with numerous competitive energy marketers and other service providers. Competition in both the wholesale and retail markets for energy and energy management services is based primarily on price and, to a lesser extent, the range of services offered to customers and quality of service. 12
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Seasonality |
Like the Power Delivery business, the power generation, supply and marketing businesses are seasonal and weather patterns can have a material impact on operating performance. Demand for electricity generally is higher in the summer months associated with cooling and demand for electricity and natural gas generally is higher in the winter months associated with heating, as compared to other times of the year. Historically, the competitive energy operations of Conectiv Energy and Pepco Energy Services have produced less revenue when weather conditions are milder than normal. Milder weather can also negatively impact income from these operations. Energy management services generally are not seasonal. |
Other Business Operations |
Over the last several years, PHI has discontinued its investments in non-energy related businesses, including the sale of its aircraft investments and the sale of its 50% interest in Starpower Communications LLC (Starpower). Through its subsidiary, Potomac Capital Investment Corporation (PCI), PHI continues to maintain a portfolio of cross-border energy sale-leaseback transactions, with a book value at December 31, 2006 of approximately $1.3 billion. For additional information concerning these cross-border lease transactions, see Note (12) "Commitments and Contingencies" to the consolidated financial statements of PHI included in Item 8 and Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Risk Factors." This activity constitutes a separate operating segment for financial reporting purposes, which is designated "Other Non-Regulated." |
EMPLOYEES |
At December 31, 2006, PHI had 5,156 employees, including 1,413 employed by Pepco, 907 employed by DPL, 588 employed by ACE and 1,756 employed by PHI Service Company. The balance was employed by PHI's competitive energy and other non-regulated businesses. Approximately 2,760 employees (including 1,084 employed by Pepco, 741 employed by DPL, 431 employed by ACE, 340 employed by PHI Service Company, and the balance employed by PHI's Competitive Energy businesses) are covered by collective bargaining agreements with various locals of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. |
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS |
PHI, through its subsidiaries, is subject to regulation by various federal, regional, state, and local authorities with respect to the environmental effects of its operations, including air and water quality control, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and limitations on land use. In addition, federal and state statutes authorize governmental agencies to compel responsible parties to clean up certain abandoned or unremediated hazardous waste sites. PHI's subsidiaries may incur costs to clean up currently or formerly owned facilities or sites found to be contaminated, as well as other facilities or sites that may have been contaminated due to past disposal practices. |
PHI's current capital expenditures plan for the replacement of existing or installation of new environmental control facilities by its subsidiaries is $16.9 million in 2007 and $21.8 million in 2008; however, this plan includes only a portion of the expenditures that may be needed to comply with air quality regulations recently adopted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), as described below, if such regulations ultimately are upheld. The actual costs of environmental compliance may be materially different from this capital expenditures plan depending on the outcome of the matters addressed below or 13
____________________________________________________________________________________ as a result of the imposition of additional environmental requirements or new or different interpretations of existing environmental laws and regulations. |
Air Quality Regulation |
The generating facilities and operations of PHI's subsidiaries are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations, including the federal Clean Air Act (CAA), that limit emissions of air pollutants, require permits for operation of facilities and impose recordkeeping and reporting requirements. |
Among other things, the CAA regulates total sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from affected generating units and allocates "allowances." The generating facilities of PHI's subsidiaries that require SO2 allowances use allocated allowances or allowances acquired, as necessary, in the open market to satisfy applicable regulatory requirements. Also under current regulations implementing CAA standards, 22 eastern and mid-western states and the District of Columbia regulate nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from generating units and allocate NOx allowances. Most of the generating units operated by PHI subsidiaries are subject to NOx emission limits and are required to hold, either through allocations or purchases, NOx allowances as necessary to achieve compliance. |
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) administers CAA programs in New Jersey as well as air quality requirements imposed by New Jersey laws and regulations. In February 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NJDEP requested information regarding ACE's B.L. England facility and Conectiv Energy's (formerly ACE's) Deepwater facility to determine whether they were in compliance with the New Source Review (NSR), Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and non-attainment NSR requirements of the CAA. Generally, these regulations require that operators of major sources of certain air pollutants obtain permits, install pollution control technology and obtain offsets in some circumstances when those sources undergo a "major modification," as defined in the regulations. |
On January 24, 2006, PHI, Conectiv and ACE entered into an administrative consent order (ACO) with NJDEP and the Attorney General of New Jersey resolving New Jersey's claim for alleged violations of the CAA and the NJDEP's concerns regarding ACE's compliance with NSR requirements and the New Jersey Air Pollution Control Act (APCA) with respect to the B.L. England generating facility and various other environmental issues relating to ACE and Conectiv Energy facilities in New Jersey. Among other things, the ACO provides that: |
As more fully described under "ACE Sale of Generating Assets," on February 8, 2007, ACE completed the sale of the B.L. England generating facility to RC Cape May. In anticipation of the sale, on October 31, 2006, ACE and NJDEP, along with RC Cape May, entered into an amendment to the ACO, pursuant to which RC Cape May, upon closing of the sale, assumed responsibility under the ACO for (i) compliance with the emission limits for B.L. England Units 1 and 2 that take effect December 15, 2012 and May 1, 2010, respectively, and for the payment of any civil penalties for the failure to do so and (ii) the remediation of the groundwater contamination and other resources at the B.L. England facility. In addition, in accordance with the purchase agreement, ACE transferred to RC Cape May NOx and SO2 allowances sufficient to cover the pre-closing date operational needs of B.L. England to enable RC Cape May to satisfy compliance obligations applicable to pre-closing NOx and S O2 emissions. On December 6, 2006, the NJBPU approved the sale of the B.L. England generating facility to RC Cape May, along with a stipulation as filed by NJBPU staff, the Ratepayer Advocate, ACE and RC Cape May that the balance of the NOx and SO2 allowances allocated to B.L. England Units 1 and 2 need not be surrendered to NJDEP and EPA, respectively, but instead should be monetized for the benefit of ACE's ratepayers. The appropriate mechanism for monetizing the value of the NOx and SO2 allowances for the benefit of ratepayers has been deferred to a Phase II proceeding. Refer to PHI Note (2) "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" for a discussion of PHI's accounting treatment for emission allowances. |
The ACO does not resolve any federal claims for alleged environmental law violations at the B.L. England generating facility or any federal or state claims regarding alleged environmental law violations at Conectiv Energy's Deepwater generating facility or any other facilities. In accordance with the terms of the purchase and sale agreement with RC Cape May, RC Cape May is responsible for the costs of correcting any alleged environmental law violations at B.L. England and ACE is responsible for any penalties arising out of any alleged environmental law violations. PHI does not believe that any of its subsidiaries has any liability with respect thereto, but cannot predict the consequences of the federal inquiry regarding B.L. England and federal and state inquiries regarding Deepwater. |
EPA finalized its Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) on May 18, 2005. CAMR establishes mercury emissions standards for new or modified sources and caps state-wide emissions of mercury beginning in 2010. States may implement CAMR by adopting EPA's trading program for coal-fired utility boilers or through regulations that at a minimum achieve the reductions that will be achieved through EPA's program. These regulations may require installation of pollution control devices and/or fuel modifications for generating units owned by Conectiv Energy. |
Closely related to CAMR is EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), released on March 10, 2005, which imposes additional reductions of SO2 and NOx emissions from electric generating units in 28 Eastern states and the District of Columbia with implementation commencing in 15
____________________________________________________________________________________ 2009. CAIR caps state-wide emissions of SO2 and NOx in two stages beginning in 2009 for NOx and 2010 for SO2. As with CAMR, states may implement CAIR by adopting EPA's trading program or through regulations that at a minimum achieve the reductions through implementation of EPA's program. These regulations may require installation of pollution control devices and/or fuel modifications for generating units owned by Conectiv Energy and Pepco Energy Services. |
In a March 14, 2005 rulemaking, EPA removed coal- and oil-fired units from the list of source categories requiring Maximum Achievable Control Technology for hazardous air pollutants under CAA Section 112, thus, for the time being, eliminating the possibility that control devices would be required under this section of the CAA to reduce nickel emissions from one of the units at Conectiv Energy's Edge Moor generating facility. |
In December 2004, NJDEP published final rules regulating mercury emissions from power plants and industrial facilities in New Jersey that impose standards that are significantly stricter than EPA's federal CAMR for coal-fired plants. In lieu of meeting these standards for all New Jersey coal-fired units by December 15, 2007, NJDEP's final mercury rules allow an owner or operator of an affected unit to comply with the mercury limits by December 2012 if the owner or operator complies with the mercury limits for 50% of the company's total coal-fired capacity by the December 15, 2007 deadline and enters into an enforceable agreement to comply with the mercury standards, as well as with stringent standards regulating emissions of NOx, SO2 and particulate matter by December 2012. Alternatively, if an owner or operator enters into an enforceable agreement with NJDEP by December 15, 2007 to shut down coal unit(s) by December 15, 2012, then the mercury limitations would n ot be applicable to that particular unit. Conectiv Energy is investigating what, if any, capital or operational improvements are needed at the Deepwater generating facilityin order to comply with NJDEP's final mercury regulations and CAMR and at the Edge Moor generating facility to comply with the mercury provisions of Delaware's final multipollutant regulations, discussed below. |
In November 2005, NJDEP finalized regulations that classify carbon dioxide (CO2) as an air contaminant and enable NJDEP potentially to regulate CO2 emissions from power plants and other sources. Through its rulemaking and other public announcements, NJDEP has indicated that it will take action to limit or reduce emissions of CO2 from electric utilities in New Jersey in the near future. New Jersey is one of seven states, including Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York, that has agreed to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which is expected to cap and eventually reduce emissions of CO2 from power plants within the participating states. In accordance with the terms of the April 2006 Maryland Healthy Air Act, Maryland is required to join RGGI and become a full participant no later than June 30, 2007. |
As RGGI signatories, it is anticipated that both New Jersey and Delaware (and eventually Maryland) will adopt implementing CO2 regulations in 2007. These regulations are expected to require New Jersey and Delaware fossil fuel-fired electric generating units to hold CO2 allowances equivalent to its historic baseline CO2 emissions commencing in 2009 and to incrementally reduce CO2 emissions beginning in 2015 to achieve an overall 10% reduction from baseline by 2019. Because each state has freedom to adopt its own regulations and can develop its own allowance allocation mechanisms, PHI cannot predict, at this time, if any allowance allocations by these states will fall below the level of CO2 emissions predicted for the generating facilities operated by PHI's subsidiaries in the affected jurisdictions, or what the potential financial impact of the regulations may be on PHI and its subsidiaries. 16
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In addition, on February 13, 2007, the New Jersey Governor signed Executive Order 54, which requires New Jersey to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050. The Executive Order requires NJDEP to coordinate with NJBPU, New Jersey's Department of Transportation and Department of Community Affairs and stakeholders to evaluate policies and measures that will enable New Jersey to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reduction levels set forth in the Executive Order. PHI cannot predict, at this time, the impact of the Executive Order on PHI and its subsidiaries. |
On November 15, 2006, DNREC adopted regulations to require control strategies to assure attainment of ambient air quality standards for ozone and fine particulate matter, address local scale fine particulate emission problems attributable to coal and residual oil fired electric generating facilities, address mercury emissions from coal fired electric generating facilities, satisfy the federal CAMR rule, improve visibility and help satisfy Delaware's regional haze obligations. For Conectiv Energy's Edge Moor coal fired units, these multipollutant regulations establish stringent short-term emission limits for emissions of NOx, SO2 and mercury, and for Edge Moor's residual oil fired generating unit, impose more stringent sulfur in fuel limits and establish stringent short-term emission limits for NOx emissions. The regulations also cap annual emissions of NOx and SO2 from Edge Moor's coal fired and residual oil fired units, and mercury from Edge Moor's co al fired units. Compliance with the regulations will require the installation of new pollution control equipment and/or the enhancement of existing equipment, and may require the imposition of restrictions on the operation of those units. Conectiv Energy is required to submit a compliance plan for its facilities to DNREC on or before July 1, 2007. If the regulations are ultimately upheld, Conectiv Energy estimates that it may cost up to $250 million (of which a total of $50 million is contemplated in PHI's 5-year capital expenditures plan, $31 million of which is included in the capital expenditures plan for 2007 and 2008) to install the control equipment necessary to comply with the regulations. These estimated costs do not include increased costs associated with operating control equipment. The costs associated with installing and operating the equipment necessary to comply with these regulations may impair the economic viability of the Edge Moor units. On December 5, 2006, Conectiv Energy filed an appeal of the final regulation with the Delaware Environmental Appeals Board and on December 8, 2006, filed a complaint seeking review of DNREC's adoption of the regulations in Delaware Superior Court. |
Water Quality Regulation |
Section 402(a) of the federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), establishes the basic legal structure for regulating the discharge of pollutants from point sources to surface waters of the United States. Among other things, CWA Section 402(a) requires that any person wishing to discharge pollutants from a point source (generally a confined, discrete conveyance such as a pipe) obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the EPA or by a state agency under a federally authorized state program. All of the steam generating facilities operated by PHI's subsidiaries have NPDES permits authorizing their pollutant discharges, which are subject to periodic renewal. |
In July 2004, the EPA issued final regulations under Section 316(b) of the CWA that are intended to minimize potential adverse environmental impacts from power plant cooling water intake structures on aquatic resources by establishing performance-based standards for the operation of these structures at large existing electric generating plants. These regulations may require changes to cooling water intake structures as part of the NPDES permit renewal process. However, on January 25, 2007, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the Second Circuit) issued a decision inRiverkeeper, Inc. v. United States Environmental 17
____________________________________________________________________________________ Protection Agency and other consolidated dockets (commonly known as theRiverkeeper II decision), that remanded substantial portions of EPA's Section 316(b) regulations. EPA has not yet responded to the Second Circuit's remand of the agency's Section 316(b) regulations or indicated whether it will seek to appeal theRiverkeeper II decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The capital expenditures required at each facility, if any, likely will not be known until the requirements of the regulations are clarified by EPA on remand, or by the Supreme Court on further appeal ofRiverkeeper II and until each facility completes the studies required by the regulations and related permit requirements. |
The EPA has delegated authority to administer the NPDES program to a number of state agencies including DNREC. The NPDES permit for Conectiv Energy's Edge Moor generating facility expired on October 30, 2003, but has been administratively extended until DNREC issues a renewal permit. Conectiv Energy submitted a renewal application to the DNREC in April 2003. Studies required under the existing permit to determine the impact on aquatic organisms of the plant's cooling water intake structures were completed in 2002. Site-specific alternative technologies and operational measures have been evaluated and discussed with DNREC. DNREC, however, has not announced how it intends to address Section 316(b) requirements in NPDES permits in light ofRiverkeeper II and the remand of substantial portions of the Federal regulations. Expenditures to comply with EPA's CWA Section 316(b) performance-based standards are dependent upon DNREC's approval. PHI cannot predict the extent of these expenditures until DNREC and Conectiv Energy agree on a proposed strategy. |
Under the New Jersey Water Pollution Control Act, NJDEP implements regulations, administers the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) program with EPA oversight, and issues and enforces NJPDES permits. The current NJPDES permit for Conectiv Energy's Deepwater generating facility is effective through September 30, 2007, and Conectiv Energy will file an application to renew the permit on or before June 30, 2007. The current NJPDES permit for Deepwater required several studies to determine whether or not Deepwater's cooling water intake structures satisfy applicable requirements for protection of the environment. While those study requirements were consistent with requirements under EPA's regulations implementing CWA Section 316(b), the result of theRiverkeeper II decision and remand may involve reevaluation of the design and operational measures that Conectiv Energy anticipated using for future compliance with Section 316(b) at Deepwater. Althou gh EPA (like NJDEP) is expected to announce plans for responding toRiverkeeper II, the timing of revised regulations and the level of expenditures required to meet future requirements for Section 316(b) compliance are unknown at this point. In addition, in view of the uncertainty associated withRiverkeeper II, Conectiv Energy expects to ask NJDEP to modify a cooling water intake structure design upgrade requirement in Deepwater's current NJPDES permit. |
Pepco and a subsidiary of Pepco Energy Services discharge water from a steam generating plant and service center located in the District of Columbia under a NPDES permit issued by EPA in November 2000. Pepco filed a petition with the EPA Environmental Appeals Board seeking review and reconsideration of certain provisions of EPA's permit determination. In May 2001, Pepco and EPA reached a settlement on Pepco's petition, under which EPA withdrew certain contested provisions and agreed to issue a revised draft permit for public comment. The EPA has not yet issued the revised draft permit. A timely renewal application was filed in May 2005 and the companies are operating under the November 2000 permit, excluding the withdrawn conditions, in accordance with the settlement agreement. |
In late October 2006, NJDEP proposed amendments to its regulations under the Flood Hazard Area Control Act that would impose a new and highly complex regulatory program on 18
____________________________________________________________________________________ electric utility functions that otherwise are comprehensively regulated under a number of other state and federal programs. ACE filed comments on the proposed amendments, urging NJDEP to continue to exempt utility lines, poles, and other utility property from the flood hazard regulations. ACE cannot predict the costs of complying with NJDEP's flood hazard regulations if the amendments are promulgated as proposed. |
Hazardous Substance Regulation |
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), authorizes the EPA, and comparable state laws authorize state environmental authorities, to issue orders and bring enforcement actions to compel responsible parties to investigate and take remedial actions at any site that is determined to present an actual or potential threat to human health or the environment because of an actual or threatened release of one or more hazardous substances. Parties that generated or transported hazardous substances to such sites, as well as the owners and operators of such sites, may be deemed liable under CERCLA or comparable state laws. Pepco, DPL and ACE each has been named by the EPA or a state environmental agency as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at certain contaminated sites. See Item 3 "Legal Proceedings -- Environmental Litigation." In addition, DPL and ACE have undertaken efforts to remediate currently or formerly owned facilities f ound to be contaminated, including two former manufactured gas plant sites and other owned property. See Item 3 "Legal Proceedings -- Environmental Litigation" and Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Capital Resources and Liquidity -- Capital Requirements -- Environmental Remediation Obligations." |
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS |
The businesses of PHI, Pepco, DPL and ACE are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the events or conditions identified below. The occurrence of one or more of these events or conditions could have an adverse effect on the business of any one or more of the companies, including, depending on the circumstances, its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Unless otherwise noted, each risk factor set forth below applies to each of PHI, Pepco, DPL and ACE. |
PHI and its subsidiaries are subject to substantial governmental regulation, and unfavorable regulatory treatment, could have a negative effect. |
PHI's Power Delivery businesses are subject to regulation by various federal, state and local regulatory agencies that significantly affects their operations. Each of Pepco, DPL and ACE is regulated by state public service commissions in its service territories, with respect to, among other things, the rates it can charge retail customers for the supply and distribution of electricity (and additionally for DPL the supply and distribution of natural gas). In addition, the rates that the companies can charge for electricity transmission are regulated by FERC, and DPL's natural gas transmission is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The companies cannot change supply, distribution, or transmission rates without approval by the applicable regulatory authority. While the approved distribution and transmission rates are intended to permit the companies to recover their costs of service and earn a reasonable rate of return, the profitability of the compani es is affected by the rates they are able to charge. In addition, if the costs incurred by any of the companies in operating its transmission and distribution facilities exceed the allowed amounts for costs included in the approved rates, the financial results of that company, and correspondingly, PHI, will be adversely affected. 19
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PHI's subsidiaries also are required to have numerous permits, approvals and certificates from governmental agencies that regulate their businesses. PHI believes that each of its subsidiaries has, and each of Pepco, DPL and ACE believes it has, obtained or sought renewal of the material permits, approvals and certificates necessary for its existing operations and that its business is conducted in accordance with applicable laws; however, none of the companies is able to predict the impact of future regulatory activities of any of these agencies on its business. Changes in or reinterpretations of existing laws or regulations, or the imposition of new laws or regulations, may require any one or more of PHI's subsidiaries to incur additional expenses or to change the way it conducts its operations. |
PHI and Pepco could be adversely affected by the Mirant bankruptcy. (PHI and Pepco only) |
In 2000, Pepco sold substantially all of its electricity generation assets to Mirant Corporation and its subsidiaries (together with its predecessors, Mirant). As part of the sale, Pepco entered into several ongoing contractual arrangements with Mirant. On July 14, 2003, Mirant filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas (the Bankruptcy Court). On May 30, 2006, Pepco, PHI and certain affiliated companies entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release with Mirant (the Settlement Agreement), which, subject to court approval, settles all outstanding issues among the parties arising from or related to the Mirant bankruptcy. On August 9, 2006, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Settlement Agreement, and on August 18, 2006, certain holders of Mirant bankruptcy claims, who had objected to approval of the Settlement Agreement before the Bankruptcy Court appealed the approval order to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (the District Court). On December 26, 2006, the District Court issued an order affirming the Bankruptcy Court's order approving the Settlement Agreement. On January 25, 2007, the parties that had appealed the Bankruptcy Court's order filed a notice of appeal of the District Court's order with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the Fifth Circuit). On February 12, 2007, the Fifth Circuit issued a briefing schedule. The brief of the appealing creditors is due on March 26, 2007, while Mirant's and Pepco's briefs are due on April 30, 2007. Depending on the outcome of these proceedings, the Mirant bankruptcy could have an adverse effect on PHI and Pepco. See Item 7 "PHI -- Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Regulatory and Other Matters -- Relationship with Mirant Corporation" for additional information. |
Pepco may be required to make additional divestiture proceeds gain-sharing payments to customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland. (PHI and Pepco only) |
Pepco currently is involved in regulatory proceedings in Maryland and the District of Columbia related to the sharing of the net proceeds from the sale of its generation-related assets. The principal issue in the proceedings is whether Pepco should be required to share with customers the excess deferred income taxes and accumulated deferred investment tax credits associated with the sold assets and, if so, whether such sharing would violate the normalization provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and its implementing regulations. Depending on the outcome of the proceedings, Pepco could be required to make additional gain-sharing payments to customers and payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the amount of the associated accumulated deferred investment tax credits, and Pepco might be unable to use accelerated depreciation on District of Columbia and Maryland allocated or assigned property. 20 ___________________________________________________________________________________ See Item 7 "PHI -- Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Regulatory and Other Matters -- Divestiture Cases" for additional information.
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The operating results of the Power Delivery business and the Competitive Energy businesses fluctuate on a seasonal basis and can be adversely affected by changes in weather. |
The Power Delivery business is seasonal and weather patterns can have a material impact on their operating performance. Demand for electricity is generally higher in the summer months associated with cooling and demand for electricity and natural gas is generally higher in the winter months associated with heating as compared to other times of the year. Accordingly, each of PHI, Pepco, DPL and ACE has generated less revenue and income when weather conditions are milder in the winter and cooler in the summer. Historically, the competitive energy operations of Conectiv Energy and Pepco Energy Services also have produced less revenue when weather conditions are milder than normal, which can negatively impact PHI's income from these operations. The Competitive Energy businesses' energy management services generally are not seasonal. |
Facilities may not operate as planned or may require significant maintenance expenditures, which could decrease revenues or increase expenses. |
Operation of the Pepco, DPL and ACE transmission and distribution facilities and the Competitive Energy businesses' generation facilities involves many risks, including the breakdown or failure of equipment, accidents, labor disputes and performance below expected levels. Older facilities and equipment, even if maintained in accordance with sound engineering practices, may require significant capital expenditures for additions or upgrades to keep them operating at peak efficiency, to comply with changing environmental requirements, or to provide reliable operations. Natural disasters and weather-related incidents, including tornadoes, hurricanes and snow and ice storms, also can disrupt generation, transmission and distribution delivery systems. Operation of generation, transmission and distribution facilities below expected capacity levels can reduce revenues and result in the incurrence of additional expenses that may not be recoverable from customers or through i nsurance. Furthermore, if the company owning the facilities is unable to perform its contractual obligations for any of these reasons, that company, and correspondingly PHI, may incur penalties or damages. |
The transmission facilities of the Power Delivery business are interconnected with the facilities of other transmission facility owners whose actions could have a negative impact on operations. |
The electricity transmission facilities of Pepco, DPL and ACE are directly interconnected with the transmission facilities of contiguous utilities and, as such, are part of an interstate power transmission grid. FERC has designated a number of regional transmission operators to coordinate the operation of portions of the interstate transmission grid. Each of Pepco, DPL and ACE is a member of PJM, which is the regional transmission operator that coordinates the movement of electricity in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Pepco, DPL and ACE operate their transmission facilities under the direction and control of PJM. PJM and the other regional transmission operators have established sophisticated systems that are designed to ensure the reliability of the operation of transmission facilities and prevent the operation s of one utility from having an adverse impact on the operations of the other utilities. However, the systems put in place by PJM and the other 21
___________________________________________________________________________________ regional transmission operators may not always be adequate to prevent problems at other utilities from causing service interruptions in the transmission facilities of Pepco, DPL or ACE. If any of Pepco, DPL or ACE were to suffer such a service interruption, it could have a negative impact on it and on PHI. |
The cost of compliance with environmental laws is significant and new environmental laws may increase expenses. |
The operations of PHI's subsidiaries, including Pepco, DPL and ACE, are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental statutes, rules and regulations relating to air quality, water quality, spill prevention, waste management, natural resources, site remediation, and health and safety. These laws and regulations can require significant capital and other expenditures to, among other things, meet emissions standards, conduct site remediation and perform environmental monitoring. If a company fails to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, even if caused by factors beyond its control, such failure could result in the assessment of civil or criminal penalties and liabilities and the need to expend significant sums to come into compliance. |
In addition, PHI's subsidiaries are required to obtain and comply with a variety of environmental permits, licenses, inspections and other approvals. If there is a delay in obtaining any required environmental regulatory approval, or if there is a failure to obtain, maintain or comply with any such approval, operations at affected facilities could be halted or subjected to additional costs. |
There is growing concern at the federal and state levels about CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, it is possible that state and federal regulations will be developed that will impose more stringent limitations on emissions than are currently in effect. Any of these factors could result in increased capital expenditures and/or operating costs for one or more generating plants operated by PHI's Conectiv Energy and Pepco Energy Services businesses. Until specific regulations are promulgated, PHI is unable to predict the ultimate effect of any new environmental regulations, voluntary compliance guidelines, enforcement initiatives, or legislation on PHI's results of operations, financial position, or liquidity. |
PHI, Pepco, DPL and ACE each continues to monitor federal and state activity related to environmental matters in order to analyze their potential operational and cost implications. |
New environmental laws and regulations, or new interpretations of existing laws and regulations, could impose more stringent limitations on the operations of PHI's subsidiaries or require them to incur significant additional costs. Current compliance strategies may not successfully address the relevant standards and interpretations of the future. |
Failure to retain and attract key skilled professional and technical employees could have an adverse effect on the operations. |
The ability of each of PHI, Pepco, DPL and ACE to implement its business strategy is dependent on its ability to recruit, retain and motivate employees. Competition for skilled employees in some areas is high and the inability to retain and attract these employees could adversely affect the company's business, operations, and financial condition. 22
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PHI's Competitive Energy businesses are highly competitive. (PHI only) |
The unregulated energy generation, supply and marketing businesses primarily in the mid-Atlantic region are characterized by intense competition at both the wholesale and retail levels. PHI's Competitive Energy businesses compete with numerous non-utility generators, independent power producers, wholesale and retail energy marketers, and traditional utilities. This competition generally has the effect of reducing margins and requires a continual focus on controlling costs. |
PHI's Competitive Energy businesses rely on some transmission, storage, and distribution assets that they do not own or control to deliver wholesale and retail electricity and natural gas and to obtain fuel for their generation facilities. (PHI only) |
PHI's Competitive Energy businesses depend upon electric transmission facilities, natural gas pipelines, and natural gas storage facilities owned and operated by others. The operation of their generation facilities also depends upon coal, natural gas or diesel fuel supplied by others. If electric transmission, natural gas pipelines, or natural gas storage are disrupted or capacity is inadequate or unavailable, the Competitive Energy businesses' ability to buy and receive and/or sell and deliver wholesale and retail power and natural gas, and therefore to fulfill their contractual obligations, could be adversely affected. Similarly, if the fuel supply to one or more of their generation plants is disrupted and storage or other alternative sources of supply are not available, the Competitive Energy businesses' ability to operate their generating facilities could be adversely affected. |
Changes in technology may adversely affect the Power Delivery business and PHI's Competitive Energy businesses. |
Research and development activities are ongoing to improve alternative technologies to produce electricity, including fuel cells, micro turbines and photovoltaic (solar) cells. It is possible that advances in these or other alternative technologies will reduce the costs of electricity production from these technologies, thereby making the generating facilities of PHI's Competitive Energy businesses less competitive. In addition, increased conservation efforts and advances in technology could reduce demand for electricity supply and distribution, which could adversely affect the Power Delivery businesses of Pepco, DPL and ACE and PHI's Competitive Energy businesses. Changes in technology also could alter the channels through which retail electric customers buy electricity, which could adversely affect the Power Delivery businesses of Pepco, DPL and ACE. |
PHI's risk management procedures may not prevent losses in the operation of its Competitive Energy businesses. (PHI only) |
The operations of PHI's Competitive Energy businesses are conducted in accordance with sophisticated risk management systems that are designed to quantify risk. However, actual results sometimes deviate from modeled expectations. In particular, risks in PHI's energy activities are measured and monitored utilizing value-at-risk models to determine the effects of potential one-day favorable or unfavorable price movements. These estimates are based on historical price volatility and assume a normal distribution of price changes and a 95% probability of occurrence. Consequently, if prices significantly deviate from historical prices, PHI's risk management systems, including assumptions supporting risk limits, may not protect PHI from significant losses. In addition, adverse changes in energy prices may result in 23 ___________________________________________________________________________________ economic losses in PHI's earnings and cash flows and reductions in the value of assets on its balance sheet under applicable accounting rules.
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The commodity hedging procedures used by PHI's Competitive Energy businesses may not protect them from significant losses caused by volatile commodity prices. (PHI only) |
To lower the financial exposure related to commodity price fluctuations, PHI's Competitive Energy businesses routinely enter into contracts to hedge the value of their assets and operations. As part of this strategy, PHI's Competitive Energy businesses utilize fixed-price, forward, physical purchase and sales contracts, tolling agreements, futures, financial swaps and option contracts traded in the over-the-counter markets or on exchanges. Each of these various hedge instruments can carry a unique set of risks in their application to PHI's energy assets. PHI must apply judgment in determining the application and effectiveness of each hedge instrument. Changes in accounting rules, or revised interpretations to existing rules, may cause hedges to be deemed ineffective as an accounting matter. This could have material earnings implications for the period or periods in question. Conectiv Energy's objective is to hedge a portion of the expected power output of its gene ration facilities and the costs of fuel used to operate those facilities so it is not completely exposed to spot energy price movements. Hedge targets are approved by PHI's Corporate Risk Management Committee and may change from time to time based on market conditions. Conectiv Energy generally establishes hedge targets annually for the next three succeeding 12-month periods. Within a given 12 month horizon, the actual hedged positioning in any month may be outside of the targeted range, even if the average for a 12 month period falls within the stated range. Management exercises judgment in determining which months present the most significant risk, or opportunity, and hedge levels are adjusted accordingly. Since energy markets can move significantly in a short period of time, hedge levels may also be adjusted to reflect revised assumptions. Such factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in projected plant output, revisions to fuel requirements, transmission constraints, prices of alternate fuels, and improving or deteriorating supply and demand conditions. In addition, short-term occurrences, such as abnormal weather, operational events, or intra-month commodity price volatility may also cause the actual level of hedging coverage to vary from the established hedge targets. These events can cause fluctuations in PHI's earnings from period to period. Due to the high heat rate of the Pepco Energy Services generating facilities, Pepco Energy Services generally does not enter into wholesale contracts to lock in the forward value of its plants. To the extent that PHI's Competitive Energy businesses have unhedged positions or their hedging procedures do not work as planned, fluctuating commodity prices could result in significant losses. Conversely, by engaging in hedging activities, PHI may not realize gains that otherwise could result from fluctuating commodity prices. |
Business operations could be adversely affected by terrorism. |
The threat of, or actual acts of, terrorism may affect the operations of PHI or any of its subsidiaries in unpredictable ways and may cause changes in the insurance markets, force an increase in security measures and cause disruptions of fuel supplies and markets. If any of its infrastructure facilities, such as its electric generation, fuel storage, transmission or distribution facilities, were to be a direct target, or an indirect casualty, of an act of terrorism, the operations of PHI, Pepco, DPL or ACE could be adversely affected. Corresponding instability in the financial markets as a result of terrorism also could adversely affect the ability to raise needed capital. 24
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Insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all casualty losses that the companies might incur. |
PHI. Pepco, DPL and ACE currently have insurance coverage for their facilities and operations in amounts and with deductibles that they consider appropriate. However, there is no assurance that such insurance coverage will be available in the future on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, some risks, such as weather related casualties, may not be insurable. In the case of loss or damage to property, plant or equipment, there is no assurance that the insurance proceeds, if any, received will be sufficient to cover the entire cost of replacement or repair. |
Revenues, profits and cash flows may be adversely affected by economic conditions. |
Periods of slowed economic activity generally result in decreased demand for power, particularly by industrial and large commercial customers. As a consequence, recessions or other downturns in the economy may result in decreased revenues and cash flows for the Power Delivery businesses of Pepco, DPL and ACE and PHI's Competitive Energy businesses. |
The IRS challenge to cross-border energy sale and lease-back transactions entered into by a PHI subsidiary could result in loss of prior and future tax benefits. (PHI only) |
PCI maintains a portfolio of cross-border energy sale-leaseback transactions, which as of December 31, 2006, had a book value of approximately $1.3 billion and from which PHI currently derives approximately $57 million per year in tax benefits in the form of interest and depreciation deductions. On February 11, 2005, the Treasury Department and IRS issued a notice informing taxpayers that the IRS intends to challenge the tax benefits claimed by taxpayers with respect to certain of these transactions. |
As part of the normal PHI tax audit for 2001 and 2002, the IRS disallowed the tax benefits claimed by PHI with respect to these leases for those years. The tax benefits claimed by PHI with respect to these leases from 2001 through December 31, 2006 were approximately $287 million. PHI has filed a protest against the IRS adjustments and the unresolved audit has been forwarded to the IRS Appeals Office. If the IRS prevails, PHI would be subject to additional taxes, along with interest and possibly penalties on the additional taxes, which could have a material adverse effect on PHI's results of operations and cash flows. See Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Regulatory and Other Matters -- Federal Tax Treatment of Cross-Border Leases" for additional information. |
Pending tax legislation could result in a loss of future tax benefits from cross-border energy sale and lease-back transactions entered into by a PHI subsidiary. (PHI only) |
On February 1, 2007 the U.S. Senate passed the Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of 2007. Included in this legislation is a provision which would apply passive loss limitation rules to leases with foreign tax indifferent parties effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006. On February 16, 2007 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Small Business Relief Act of 2007. This bill does not include any provision that would modify the current treatment of leases with tax indifferent parties. Enactment into law of a bill that is similar to that passed by the U.S. Senate in its current form could result in a material delay of the income tax benefits that PCI would receive in connection with its cross-border energy leases. Furthermore, under Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position on Financial 25
___________________________________________________________________________________ Accounting Standards 13-2, PHI would be required to adjust the book values of its leases and record a charge to earnings equal to the repricing impact of the disallowed deductions which could result in a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are expected to hold a conference in the near future to reconcile the differences in the two bills to determine the final legislation. See Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Regulatory and Other Matters -- Federal Tax Treatment of Cross-Border Leases" for additional information. |
IRS Revenue Ruling 2005-53 on Mixed Service Costs could require PHI to incur additional tax and interest payments in connection with the IRS audit of this issue for the tax years 2001 through 2004 (IRS Revenue Ruling 2005-53). |
During 2001, Pepco, DPL, and ACE changed their methods of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes. The change allowed the companies to accelerate the deduction of certain expenses that were previously capitalized and depreciated. Through December 31, 2005, these accelerated deductions generated incremental tax cash flow benefits of approximately $205 million (consisting of $94 million for Pepco, $62 million for DPL, and $49 million for ACE) for the companies, primarily attributable to their 2001 tax returns. |
On August 2, 2005, the Treasury Department released regulations that, if adopted in their current form, would require Pepco, DPL, and ACE to change their method of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes for future tax periods beginning in 2005. Based on those regulations, PHI in its 2005 federal tax return adopted an alternative method of accounting for capitalizable construction costs that management believes will be acceptable to the IRS. |
On the same day that the new regulations were released, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2005-53, which is intended to limit the ability of certain taxpayers to utilize the method of accounting for income tax purposes they utilized on their tax returns for 2004 and prior years with respect to capitalizable construction costs. In line with this Revenue Ruling, the IRS revenue agent's report for the 2001 and 2002 tax returns disallowed substantially all of the incremental tax benefits that Pepco, DPL and ACE had claimed on those returns by requiring the companies to capitalize and depreciate certain expenses rather than treat such expenses as current deductions. PHI has filed a protest against the IRS adjustments and the issue is among the unresolved audit matters relating to the 2001 and 2002 audits pending before the Appeals Office. |
In February 2006, PHI paid approximately $121 million of taxes to cover the amount of taxes that management estimated to be payable based on the method of tax accounting that PHI, pursuant to the proposed regulations, has adopted on its 2005 tax return. However, if the IRS is successful in requiring Pepco, DPL and ACE to capitalize and depreciate construction costs that result in a tax and interest assessment greater than management's estimate of $121 million, PHI will be required to pay additional taxes and interest only to the extent these adjustments exceed the $121 million payment made in February 2006. 26
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PHI and its subsidiaries are dependent on their ability to successfully access capital markets. An inability to access capital may adversely affect their business. |
PHI, Pepco, DPL and ACE each rely on access to both short-term money markets and longer-term capital markets as a source of liquidity and to satisfy their capital requirements not satisfied by the cash flow from their operations. Capital market disruptions, or a downgrade in credit ratings would increase the cost of borrowing or could adversely affect the ability to access one or more financial markets. In addition, a reduction in PHI's credit ratings could require PHI or its subsidiaries to post additional collateral in connection with some of the Competitive Energy businesses' wholesale marketing and financing activities. Disruptions to the capital markets could include, but are not limited to: |
The preceding table sets forth the summer electric generating capacity of the electric generating plants owned by Pepco Holdings' subsidiaries. Although, due to thermoelectric factors, the generating capacity of these facilities may be higher during the winter months, the plants operated by PHI's subsidiaries are used to meet summer peak loads that are generally 30
___________________________________________________________________________________ higher than winter peak loads. Accordingly, the summer generating capacity more accurately reflects the operational capability of the plants. |
ACE's generation facilities are subject to the lien of the mortgage under which its First Mortgage Bonds are issued. |
Transmission and Distribution Systems |
On a combined basis, the electric transmission and distribution systems owned by Pepco, DPL and ACE at December 31, 2006 consisted of approximately 3,600 transmission circuit miles of overhead lines, 160 transmission circuit miles of underground cables, 22,740 distribution circuit miles of overhead lines, and 19,030 distribution circuit miles of underground cables, primarily in their respective service territories. DPL and ACE own and operate distribution system control centers in New Castle, Delaware and Mays Landing, New Jersey, respectively. Pepco also operates a distribution system control center in Maryland. The computer equipment and systems contained in Pepco's control center are financed through a sale and leaseback transaction. |
DPL has a liquefied natural gas plant located in Wilmington, Delaware, with a storage capacity of 3.045 million gallons and an emergency sendout capability of 45,000 Mcf per day. DPL owns eight natural gas city gate stations at various locations in New Castle County, Delaware. These stations have a total sendout capacity of 225,000 Mcf per day. DPL also owns approximately 111 pipeline miles of natural gas transmission mains, 1,755 pipeline miles of natural gas distribution mains, and 1,281 natural gas pipeline miles of service lines. The natural gas transmission mains include 7.2 miles of pipeline of which DPL owns 10%, which is used for natural gas operations, and of which Conectiv Energy owns 90%, which is used for delivery of natural gas to electric generation facilities. |
Substantially all of the transmission and distribution property, plant and equipment owned by each of Pepco, DPL and ACE is subject to the liens of the respective mortgages under which the companies issue First Mortgage Bonds. See Note (7) "Debt" to the consolidated financial statements of PHI included in Item 8. |
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
Pepco Holdings |
The legal proceedings for Pepco Holdings consist solely of those of its subsidiaries, as described below. |
LITIGATION WITH MIRANT |
In 2000, Pepco sold substantially all of its electricity generation assets to Mirant (formerly Southern Energy, Inc.). In July 2003, Mirant filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. On December 9, 2005, the Bankruptcy Court approved Mirant's Plan of Reorganization, and the Mirant business emerged from bankruptcy on January 3, 2006, as a new corporation of the same name. On May 30, 2006, Pepco, PHI and certain affiliated companies entered into the Settlement Agreement, which, subject to court approval, settles all outstanding issues among the parties arising from or related to the Mirant bankruptcy. On August 9, 2006, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Settlement Agreement, and on August 18, 2006, certain holders of Mirant bankruptcy claims, who had 31
___________________________________________________________________________________ objected to approval of the Settlement Agreement before the Bankruptcy Court appealed the approval order to the District Court. On December 26, 2006, the District Court issued an order affirming the Bankruptcy Court's order approving the Settlement Agreement. On January 25, 2007, the parties that previously appealed the Bankruptcy Court's order filed a notice of appeal of the District Court's order with the Fifth Circuit. On February 12, 2007, the Fifth Circuit issued a briefing schedule. The brief of the appealing creditors is due on March 26, 2007, while Mirant's and Pepco's briefs are due on April 30, 2007. |
For further information concerning the litigation with Mirant and other litigation matters in addition to those described below, please refer to Note (12), "Commitments and Contingencies," to the Financial Statements of PHI included in Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" herein and to the section headed "Regulatory and Other Matters -- Relationship with Mirant Corporation" included in Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" herein. |
GENERAL LITIGATION |
During 1993, Pepco was served with Amended Complaints filed in the state Circuit Courts of Prince George's County, Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland in separate ongoing, consolidated proceedings known as "In re: Personal Injury Asbestos Case." Pepco and other corporate entities were brought into these cases on a theory of premises liability. Under this theory, the plaintiffs argued that Pepco was negligent in not providing a safe work environment for employees or its contractors, who allegedly were exposed to asbestos while working on Pepco's property. Initially, a total of approximately 448 individual plaintiffs added Pepco to their complaints. While the pleadings are not entirely clear, it appears that each plaintiff sought $2 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages from each defendant. |
Since the initial filings in 1993, additional individual suits have been filed against Pepco, and significant numbers of cases have been dismissed. As a result of two motions to dismiss, numerous hearings and meetings and one motion for summary judgment, Pepco has had approximately 400 of these cases successfully dismissed with prejudice, either voluntarily by the plaintiff or by the court. As of January 31, 2007, there are approximately 180 cases still pending against Pepco in the State Courts of Maryland; of which approximately 85 cases were filed after December 19, 2000, and have been tendered to Mirant for defense and indemnification pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement between Pepco and Mirant relating to the sale of Pepco's generation assets. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Mirant has agreed to assume this contractual obligation. For a description of the Settlement Agreement, see the discussion of the relationship with Mir ant in Note (12), "Commitments and Contingencies," to the Financial Statements of PHI included in Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" herein and to the section headed "Regulatory and Other Matters -- Relationship with Mirant Corporation" included in Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" herein. |
While the aggregate amount of monetary damages sought in the remaining suits (excluding those tendered to Mirant) exceeds $360 million, PHI and Pepco believe the amounts claimed by current plaintiffs are greatly exaggerated. The amount of total liability, if any, and any related insurance recovery cannot be determined at this time; however, based on information and relevant circumstances known at this time, neither PHI nor Pepco believes these suits will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, if an 32
___________________________________________________________________________________ unfavorable decision were rendered against Pepco, it could have a material adverse effect on Pepco's and PHI's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
CASH BALANCE PLAN LITIGATION |
In 1999, Conectiv established a cash balance retirement plan to replace defined benefit retirement plans then maintained by ACE and DPL. Following the acquisition by Pepco of Conectiv, this plan became the Conectiv Cash Balance Sub-Plan within the PHI Retirement Plan. On September 26, 2005, three management employees of PHI Service Company filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the Delaware District Court) against the PHI Retirement Plan, PHI and Conectiv (the PHI Parties), alleging violations of ERISA, on behalf of a class of management employees who did not have enough age and service when the Cash Balance Sub-Plan was implemented in 1999 to assure that their accrued benefits would be calculated pursuant to the terms of the predecessor plans sponsored by ACE and DPL. A fourth plaintiff was added to the case to represent DPL-heritage "grandfathered" employees who will not be eligible for early retirement at the end of the grandfathere d period. |
The plaintiffs have challenged the design of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan and are seeking a declaratory judgment that the Cash Balance Sub-Plan is invalid and that the accrued benefits of each member of the class should be calculated pursuant to the terms of the predecessor plans. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the use of a variable rate to compute the plaintiffs' accrued benefit under the Cash Balance Sub-Plan results in reductions in the accrued benefits that violate ERISA. The complaint also alleges that the benefit accrual rates and the minimal accrual requirements of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan violate ERISA as did the notice that was given to plan participants upon implementation of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan. |
The PHI Parties filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which was denied by the court on July 11, 2006. The Delaware District Court stayed one count of the complaint regarding alleged age discrimination pending a decision in another case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (the Third Circuit). On January 30, 2007, the Third Circuit issued a ruling in the other case that PHI's counsel believes should result in the favorable disposition of all of the claims (other than the claim of inadequate notice) against the PHI Parties in the Delaware District Court. The PHI Parties filed pleadings apprising the Delaware District Court of the Third Circuit's decision on February 16, 2007, at the same time they filed their opposition to plaintiffs' motion. |
While PHI believes it has an increasingly strong legal position in the case and that it is therefore unlikely that the plaintiffs will prevail, PHI estimates that, if the plaintiffs were to prevail, the ABO and projected benefit obligation (PBO), calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 87, each would increase by approximately $12 million, assuming no change in benefits for persons who have already retired or whose employment has been terminated and using actuarial valuation data as of the time the suit was filed. The ABO represents the present value that participants have earned as of the date of calculation. This means that only service already worked and compensation already earned and paid is considered. The PBO is similar to the ABO, except that the PBO includes recognition of the effect that estimated future pay increases would have on the pension plan obligation. 33
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ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION |
PHI, through its subsidiaries, is subject to regulation by various federal, regional, state, and local authorities with respect to the environmental effects of its operations, including air and water quality control, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and limitations on land use. In addition, federal and state statutes authorize governmental agencies to compel responsible parties to clean up certain abandoned or unremediated hazardous waste sites. PHI's subsidiaries may incur costs to clean up currently or formerly owned facilities or sites found to be contaminated, as well as other facilities or sites that may have been contaminated due to past disposal practices. Although penalties assessed for violations of environmental laws and regulations are not recoverable from customers of the operating utilities, environmental clean-up costs incurred by Pepco, DPL and ACE would be included by each company in its respective cost of service for ratemaking purposes. |
In July 2004, DPL entered into an ACO with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) to further identify the extent of soil, sediment and ground and surface water contamination related to former manufactured gas plant (MGP) operations at a Cambridge, Maryland site on DPL-owned property and to investigate the extent of MGP contamination on adjacent property. The MDE has approved the RI and DPL submitted a final FS to MDE on February 15, 2007. The costs of cleanup (as determined by the RI/FS and subsequent negotiations with MDE) are anticipated to be approximately $2.7 million. The remedial action will include dredging activities within Cambridge Creek, which are expected to take place as early as October 2007, and soil excavation on DPL's and adjacent property as early as January 2008. |
In the early 1970s, both Pepco and DPL sold scrap transformers, some of which may have contained some level of PCBs, to a metal reclaimer operating at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, owned by a nonaffiliated company. In December 1987, Pepco and DPL were notified by the EPA that they, along with a number of other utilities and non-utilities, were PRPs in connection with the PCB contamination at the site. |
In 1994, an RI/FS including a number of possible remedies was submitted to the EPA. In 1997, the EPA issued a Record of Decision that set forth a selected remedial action plan with estimated implementation costs of approximately $17 million. In 1998, the EPA issued a unilateral administrative order to Pepco and 12 other PRPs directing them to conduct the design and actions called for in its decision. In May 2003, two of the potentially liable owner/operator entities filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In October 2003, the bankruptcy court confirmed a reorganization plan that incorporates the terms of a settlement among the two debtor owner/operator entities, the United States and a group of utility PRPs including Pepco (the Utility PRPs). Under the bankruptcy settlement, the reorganized entity/site owner will pay a total of $13.25 million to remediate the site (the Bankruptcy Settlement). |
In March 2006, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania approved global consent decrees for the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site, entered into on August 23, 2005, involving the Utility PRPs, the U.S. Department of Justice, EPA, The City of Philadelphia and two owner/operators of the site. Under the terms of the settlement, the two owner/operators will make payments totaling $5.55 million to the U.S. Department of Justice and totaling $4.05 million to the Utility PRPs. The Utility PRPs will perform the remedy at the site and will be able to draw on the $13.25 million from the Bankruptcy Settlement to accomplish the remediation (the Bankruptcy Funds). The Utility PRPs will contribute funds to the extent remediation costs exceed the Bankruptcy Funds available. The Utility PRPs also will be liable 34
___________________________________________________________________________________ for EPA costs associated with overseeing the monitoring and operation of the site remedy after the remedy construction is certified to be complete and also the cost of performing the "5 year" review of site conditions required by CERCLA. Any Bankruptcy Funds not spent on the remedy may be used to cover the Utility PRPs' liabilities for future costs. No parties are released from potential liability for damages to natural resources. |
As of December 31, 2006, Pepco had accrued $1.7 million to meet its liability for a remedy at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site. While final costs to Pepco of the settlement have not been determined, Pepco believes that its liability at this site will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
In 1999, DPL entered into a de minimis settlement with EPA and paid approximately $107,000 to resolve its liability for cleanup costs at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site. The de minimis settlement did not resolve DPL's responsibility for natural resource damages, if any, at the site. DPL believes that any liability for natural resource damages at this site will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
In November 1991, the NJDEP identified ACE as a PRP at the Delilah Road Landfill site in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. In 1993, ACE, along with other PRPs, signed an ACO with NJDEP to remediate the site. The soil cap remedy for the site has been completed and the NJDEP conditionally approved the report submitted by the parties on the implementation of the remedy in January 2003. In March 2004, NJDEP approved a Ground Water Sampling and Analysis Plan. Positive results of groundwater monitoring events have resulted in a reduced level of groundwater monitoring. In August 2006, NJDEP issued a No Further Action Letter (NFA) and Covenant Not to Sue for the site. Among other things, the NFA requires the PRPs to monitor the effectiveness of institutional (deed restriction) and engineering (cap) controls at the site every two years and to continue groundwater monitoring.In March 2003, EPA demanded from the PRP group reimbursement for EPA's past costs at the site, totaling $168,789. The PRP group objected to the demand for certain costs, but agreed to reimburse EPA approximately $19,000. Based on information currently available, ACE anticipates that its share of additional cost associated with this site will be approximately $555,000 to $600,000. ACE believes that its liability for post-remedy operation and maintenance costs will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
On January 24, 2006, PHI, Conectiv and ACE entered into an ACO with NJDEP and the Attorney General of New Jersey resolving (i) New Jersey's claim for alleged violations of the CAA and (ii) the NJDEP's concerns regarding ACE's compliance with NSR requirements of the CAA and APCA requirements with respect to the B.L. England generating facility and various other environmental issues relating to ACE and Conectiv Energy facilities in New Jersey. See Item 1 "Business -- Environmental Matters -- Air Quality Regulation." |
OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
For further information concerning other legal proceedings, please refer to Note (12), "Commitments and Contingencies," to the financial statements of PHI included herein. 35
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Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS |
Pepco Holdings |
None. |
INFORMATION FOR THIS ITEM IS NOT REQUIRED FOR PEPCO, DPL, AND ACE AS THEY MEET THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS I(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-K AND THEREFORE ARE FILING THIS FORM WITH THE REDUCED FILING FORMAT. |
Part II |
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
The New York Stock Exchange is the principal market on which Pepco Holdings common stock is traded. The following table presents the dividends declared per share on the Pepco Holdings common stock and the high and low sales prices for common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange during each quarter in the last two fiscal years. |
Separately, Mirant and SMECO have entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release (the SMECO Settlement Agreement). The SMECO Settlement Agreement provides that Mirant will assume, rather than reject, the SMECO Agreement. This assumption ensures that Pepco will not incur liability to SMECO as the guarantor of the SMECO Agreement due to the rejection of the SMECO Agreement, although Pepco will continue to guarantee to SMECO the future performance of Mirant under the SMECO Agreement. |
According to their terms, the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement will become effective when the Bankruptcy Court or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (the District Court), as applicable, has entered a final order, not subject to appeal or rehearing, approving both the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement. |
On August 9, 2006, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order approving the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement. On August 18, 2006, certain holders of Mirant bankruptcy claims, who had objected to approval of the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement before the Bankruptcy Court, appealed the approval order to the District Court. On December 26, 2006, the District Court issued an order affirming the Bankruptcy Court's order approving the Settlement Agreement. On January 25, 2007, the parties that previously appealed the Bankruptcy Court's order filed a notice of appeal of the District Court's order with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the Fifth Circuit). On February 12, 2007, the Fifth Circuit issued a briefing schedule. The brief of the appealing creditors is due on March 26, 2007, while Mirant's and Pepco's briefs are due on April 30, 2007. |
In August 2006, Mirant made a cash payment to Pepco of $70 million, which became due in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement as a result of the approval of the Settlement Agreement by the Bankruptcy Court. If the Bankruptcy Court order approving the Settlement Agreement becomes a final order after the exhaustion of all appeals, the payment will be taken into account as if it were proceeds from the resale by Pepco of shares of the Mirant common stock, as described above, and treated as a portion of the $520 million payment due Pepco. If the Bankruptcy Court approval of the Settlement Agreement is not upheld on appeal, 83
___________________________________________________________________________________ Pepco must repay this cash payment to Mirant. Therefore, no income statement impact has been recognized in relation to the $70 million payment. |
Until the approval of the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement becomes final, Mirant is required to continue to perform all of its contractual obligations to Pepco and SMECO. Pepco intends to use the $450 million portion of the Pepco Distribution related to the rejection of the PPA-Related Obligations to pay for future capacity and energy purchases under the Panda PPA. |
In litigation prior to the entry into the Settlement Agreement, the District Court had entered orders denying Mirant's attempt to reject the PPA-Related Obligations and directing Mirant to resume making payments to Pepco pursuant to the PPA-Related Obligations, which Mirant had suspended. Mirant is making the payments as required by the District Court order. On July 19, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an opinion affirming the District Court's orders. On September 4, 2006, Mirant filed a petition for rehearing and motion to stay the appeals pending completion of the settlement between the parties. On September 12, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order denying Mirant's motion for stay. On September 21, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order summarily denying Mirant's petition for rehearing. The appeal period has expired and that order is now final and nonappealable. |
Rate Proceedings |
PHI's regulated utility subsidiaries currently have four active distribution base rate cases underway. Pepco has filed electric distribution base rate cases in the District of Columbia and Maryland; DPL has filed a gas distribution base rate case in Delaware (which is the subject of a settlement agreement as discussed below) and an electric base rate case in Maryland. In each of these cases, the utility has proposed the adoption of a bill stabilization adjustment mechanism (BSA) for retail customers. The BSA will increase rates if revenues from distribution deliveries fall below the level approved by the applicable regulatory commission and will decrease rates if revenues from distribution deliveries are above the commission-approved level. The end result will be that the utility will collect its authorized revenues for distribution deliveries. As a consequence, a BSA "decouples" revenue from unit sales consumption and ties the growth in revenues to the growth in the num ber of customers. Some advantages of the BSA are that it (i) eliminates revenue fluctuations due to weather and changes in customer usage patterns and, therefore, provides for more predictable utility distribution revenues that are better aligned with costs, (ii) provides for more reliable fixed-cost recovery, (iii) tends to stabilize customers' delivery bills, and (iv) removes any disincentives for the regulated utilities to promote energy efficiency programs for their customers, because it breaks the link between overall sales volumes and delivery revenues. DPL has proposed a monthly BSA in the gas base rate case and, in each of the electric base rate cases, the companies have proposed a quarterly BSA. |
Delaware |
On August 31, 2006, DPL submitted its 2006 Gas Cost Rate (GCR) filing to the Delaware Public Service Commission (DPSC), which permits DPL to recover gas procurement costs through customer rates. The proposed decrease of approximately 9.6% is in anticipation of decreasing natural gas commodity costs. On October 3, 2006, the DPSC issued its initial order approving the proposed rates, which became effective November 1, 2006, subject to refund pending final DPSC approval after evidentiary hearings. Any amounts subject to refund would be deferred, resulting in no earnings impact. 84
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On February 23, 2007, DPL submitted an additional filing to the DPSC that proposed a 4.3% decrease in the GCR effective April 1, 2007, in compliance with its gas service tariff and to ensure collections are more aligned with expenses. DPL expects DPSC approval of the rate decrease in late March 2007, subject to refund pending final DPSC approval after evidentiary hearings. |
On August 31, 2006, DPL submitted an application to the DPSC for an increase in gas distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The application requested an annual increase of approximately $15 million or an overall increase of 6.6%, including certain miscellaneous tariff fees, reflecting a proposed return on equity (ROE) of 11.00%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase would be $15.5 million or an overall increase of 6.8%, reflecting an ROE of 11.25%. On October 17, 2006, the DPSC authorized DPL to place into effect beginning November 1, 2006, subject to refund, gas base rates designed to produce an annual interim increase in revenue of approximately $2.5 million. On February 16, 2007, all of the parties in this proceeding (DPL, DPSC staff and the Delaware Division of Public Advocate) filed a settlement agreement with the DPSC. The settlement provisions include a $9.0 million increase in distribution rates, including certain miscellaneous tarif f fees (of which $2.5 million was put into effect on November 1, 2006, as noted above), an ROE of 10.25%, and a change in depreciation rates that result in a $2.1 million reduction in pre-tax annual depreciation expense. Although the settlement agreement does not include a BSA, it provides for all of the parties to the case to participate in any generic statewide proceeding for the purpose of investigating BSA mechanisms for electric and gas distribution utilities. In a separate proceeding, DPL has requested that a docket be opened for this purpose. Under the settlement agreement, rates will become effective on April 1, 2007. A DPSC decision is expected by the end of March 2007. |
District of Columbia |
In February 2006, Pepco filed an update to the District of Columbia Generation Procurement Credit (GPC) for the periods February 8, 2002 through February 7, 2004 and February 8, 2004 through February 7, 2005. The GPC provides for sharing of the profit from SOS sales. The update to the GPC in the District of Columbia takes into account the $112.4 million in proceeds received by Pepco from the December 2005 sale of an allowed bankruptcy claim against Mirant arising from a settlement agreement entered into with Mirant relating to Mirant's obligation to supply energy and capacity to fulfill Pepco's SOS obligations in the District of Columbia. The filing also incorporates true-ups to previous disbursements in the GPC for the District of Columbia. In the filing, Pepco requested that $24.3 million be credited to District of Columbia customers during the twelve-month period beginning April 2006. On June 15, 2006, the District of Columbia Public Service Commission (DCPSC) granted conditional approval of the GPC update as filed, effective July 1, 2006. Final approval by the DCPSC is pending. |
On December 12, 2006, Pepco submitted an application to the DCPSC to increase electric distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The application requested an annual increase of approximately $46.2 million or an overall increase of 13.5%, reflecting a proposed ROE of 10.75%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase would be $50.5 million or an overall increase of 14.8%, reflecting an ROE of 11.00%. The application also proposed a Pension/OPEB Expense Surcharge that will allow Pepco to reflect in its distribution rates the increases and decreases that occur in the level of its pension and other post-employment benefits expense. A DCPSC decision is expected in mid-September 2007. 85
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Maryland |
On November 17, 2006, DPL and Pepco each submitted an application to the Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) to increase electric distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The applications requested an annual increase for DPL of approximately $18.4 million or an overall increase of 3.2%, including certain miscellaneous tariff fees, and an annual increase for Pepco of approximately $47.4 million or an overall increase of 10.9%, reflecting a proposed ROE for each of 11.00%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase for DPL would be $20.3 million or an overall increase of 3.6%, and for Pepco would be $55.7 million or an overall increase of 12.9%, reflecting a proposed ROE for each of 11.25%. Each of the applications also proposed a Pension/OPEB Expense Surcharge that would allow the utility to reflect in its distribution rates the increases and decreases that occur in the level of its pension and other post-employment benefits expense. The appli cations requested that rates go into effect on December 17, 2006. In an order dated December 11, 2006, the MPSC suspended the proposed rates pending MPSC approval. MPSC decisions are expected in June 2007. |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
On May 15, 2006, Pepco, ACE and DPL updated their FERC-approved formula transmission rates based on the FERC Form 1 data for 2005 for each of the utilities. These rates became effective on June 1, 2006, as follows: for Pepco, $12,009 per megawatt per year; for ACE, $14,155 per megawatt per year; and for DPL, $10,034 per megawatt per year. By operation of the formula rate process, the new rates incorporate true-ups from the 2005 formula rates that were effective June 1, 2005 and the new 2005 customer demand or peak load. Also, beginning in January 2007, the new rates will be applied to 2006 customer demand data, replacing the 2005 demand data that is currently used. This demand component is driven by the prior year peak loads experienced in each respective zone. Further, the rate changes will be positively impacted by changes to distribution rates for Pepco and DPL based on the merger settlements in Maryland and the District of Columbia. The net earnings impact expected from the network transmission rate changes is estimated to be a reduction of approximately $5 million year over year (2005 to 2006). |
ACE Restructuring Deferral Proceeding |
Pursuant to orders issued by the NJBPU under the New Jersey Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), beginning August 1, 1999, ACE was obligated to provide BGS to retail electricity customers in its service territory who did not choose a competitive energy supplier. For the period August 1, 1999 through July 31, 2003, ACE's aggregate costs that it was allowed to recover from customers exceeded its aggregate revenues from supplying BGS. These under-recovered costs were partially offset by a $59.3 million deferred energy cost liability existing as of July 31, 1999 (LEAC Liability) related to ACE's Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause and ACE's Demand Side Management Programs. ACE established a regulatory asset in an amount equal to the balance of under-recovered costs. |
In August 2002, ACE filed a petition with the NJBPU for the recovery of approximately $176.4 million in actual and projected deferred costs relating to the provision of BGS and other restructuring related costs incurred by ACE over the four-year period August 1, 1999 through July 31, 2003, net of the $59.3 million offset for the LEAC Liability. The petition also requested that ACE's rates be reset as of August 1, 2003 so that there would be no under-recovery of costs 86
___________________________________________________________________________________ embedded in the rates on or after that date. The increase sought represented an overall 8.4% annual increase in electric rates. |
In July 2004, the NJBPU issued a final order in the restructuring deferral proceeding confirming a July 2003 summary order, which (i) permitted ACE to begin collecting a portion of the deferred costs and reset rates to recover on-going costs incurred as a result of EDECA, (ii) approved the recovery of $125 million of the deferred balance over a ten-year amortization period beginning August 1, 2003, (iii) transferred to ACE's then pending base rate case for further consideration approximately $25.4 million of the deferred balance (the base rate case ended in a settlement approved by the NJBPU in May 2005, the result of which is that any net rate impact from the deferral account recoveries and credits in future years will depend in part on whether rates associated with other deferred accounts considered in the case continue to generate over-collections relative to costs), and (iv) estimated the overall deferral balance as of July 31, 2003 at $195 million, of which $44.6 million was disallowed recovery by ACE. Although ACE believes the record does not justify the level of disallowance imposed by the NJBPU in the final order, the $44.6 million of disallowed incurred costs were reserved during the years 1999 through 2003 (primarily 2003) through charges to earnings, primarily in the operating expense line item "deferred electric service costs," with a corresponding reduction in the regulatory asset balance sheet account. In August 2004, ACE filed a notice of appeal with respect to the July 2004 final order with the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey (the Appellate Division), which hears appeals of the decisions of New Jersey administrative agencies, including the NJBPU. Briefs in the appeal were also filed by the Division of the New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate and by Cogentrix Energy Inc., the co-owner of two cogeneration power plants with contracts to sell ACE approximately 397 megawatts of electricity, as cross-appellants between August 2005 and January 2006. The Appellate Division has not yet set the schedule for oral argument. |
Divestiture Cases |
District of Columbia |
Final briefs on Pepco's District of Columbia divestiture proceeds sharing application were filed with the DCPSC in July 2002 following an evidentiary hearing in June 2002. That application was filed to implement a provision of Pepco's DCPSC-approved divestiture settlement that provided for a sharing of any net proceeds from the sale of Pepco's generation-related assets. One of the principal issues in the case is whether Pepco should be required to share with customers the excess deferred income taxes (EDIT) and accumulated deferred investment tax credits (ADITC) associated with the sold assets and, if so, whether such sharing would violate the normalization provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and its implementing regulations. As of December 31, 2006, the District of Columbia allocated portions of EDIT and ADITC associated with the divested generating assets were approximately $6.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively. |
Pepco believes that a sharing of EDIT and ADITC would violate the IRS normalization rules. Under these rules, Pepco could not transfer the EDIT and the ADITC benefit to customers more quickly than on a straight line basis over the book life of the related assets. Since the assets are no longer owned there is no book life over which the EDIT and ADITC can be returned. If Pepco were required to share EDIT and ADITC and, as a result, the normalization rules were violated, Pepco would be unable to use accelerated depreciation on District of Columbia allocated or assigned property. In addition to sharing with customers the generation-related 87
___________________________________________________________________________________ EDIT and ADITC balances, Pepco would have to pay to the IRS an amount equal to Pepco's District of Columbia jurisdictional generation-related ADITC balance ($5.8 million as of December 31, 2006), as well as its District of Columbia jurisdictional transmission and distribution-related ADITC balance ($4.7 million as of December 31, 2006) in each case as those balances exist as of the later of the date a DCPSC order is issued and all rights to appeal have been exhausted or lapsed, or the date the DCPSC order becomes operative. |
In March 2003, the IRS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), which would allow for the sharing of EDIT and ADITC related to divested assets with utility customers on a prospective basis and at the election of the taxpayer on a retroactive basis. In December 2005 a revised NOPR was issued which, among other things, withdrew the March 2003 NOPR and eliminated the taxpayer's ability to elect to apply the regulation retroactively. Comments on the revised NOPR were filed in March 2006, and a public hearing was held in April 2006. Pepco filed a letter with the DCPSC in January 2006, in which it has reiterated that the DCPSC should continue to defer any decision on the ADITC and EDIT issues until the IRS issues final regulations or states that its regulations project related to this issue will be terminated without the issuance of any regulations. Other issues in the divestiture proceeding deal with the treatment of internal costs and cost allocations as deductions from the gross proceeds of the divestiture. |
Pepco believes that its calculation of the District of Columbia customers' share of divestiture proceeds is correct. However, depending on the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, Pepco could be required to make additional gain-sharing payments to District of Columbia customers, including the payments described above related to EDIT and ADITC. Such additional payments (which, other than the EDIT and ADITC related payments, cannot be estimated) would be charged to expense in the quarter and year in which a final decision is rendered and could have a material adverse effect on Pepco's and PHI's results of operations for those periods. However, neither PHI nor Pepco believes that additional gain-sharing payments, if any, or the ADITC-related payments to the IRS, if required, would have a material adverse impact on its financial position or cash flows. |
Maryland |
Pepco filed its divestiture proceeds plan application with the MPSC in April 2001. The principal issue in the Maryland case is the same EDIT and ADITC sharing issue that has been raised in the District of Columbia case. See the discussion above under "Divestiture Cases -- District of Columbia." As of December 31, 2006, the Maryland allocated portions of EDIT and ADITC associated with the divested generating assets were approximately $9.1 million and $10.4 million, respectively. Other issues deal with the treatment of certain costs as deductions from the gross proceeds of the divestiture. In November 2003, the Hearing Examiner in the Maryland proceeding issued a proposed order with respect to the application that concluded that Pepco's Maryland divestiture settlement agreement provided for a sharing between Pepco and customers of the EDIT and ADITC associated with the sold assets. Pepco believes that such a sharing would violate the normalization rules (discussed abo ve) and would result in Pepco's inability to use accelerated depreciation on Maryland allocated or assigned property. If the proposed order is affirmed, Pepco would have to share with its Maryland customers, on an approximately 50/50 basis, the Maryland allocated portion of the generation-related EDIT ($9.1 million as of December 31, 2006), and the Maryland-allocated portion of generation-related ADITC. Furthermore, Pepco would have to pay to the IRS an amount equal to Pepco's Maryland jurisdictional generation-related 88
___________________________________________________________________________________ ADITC balance ($10.4 million as of December 31, 2006), as well as its Maryland retail jurisdictional ADITC transmission and distribution-related balance ($8.4 million as of December 31, 2006), in each case as those balances exist as of the later of the date a MPSC order is issued and all rights to appeal have been exhausted or lapsed, or the date the MPSC order becomes operative. The Hearing Examiner decided all other issues in favor of Pepco, except for the determination that only one-half of the severance payments that Pepco included in its calculation of corporate reorganization costs should be deducted from the sales proceeds before sharing of the net gain between Pepco and customers. Pepco filed a letter with the MPSC in January 2006, in which it has reiterated that the MPSC should continue to defer any decision on the ADITC and EDIT issues until the IRS issues final regulations or states that its regulations project related to this issue will be terminated without the issuance of any reg ulations. |
In December 2003, Pepco appealed the Hearing Examiner's decision to the MPSC as it relates to the treatment of EDIT and ADITC and corporate reorganization costs. The MPSC has not issued any ruling on the appeal and Pepco does not believe that it will do so until action is taken by the IRS as described above. However, depending on the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, Pepco could be required to share with its customers approximately 50 percent of the EDIT and ADITC balances described above in addition to the additional gain-sharing payments relating to the disallowed severance payments, which Pepco is not contesting. Such additional payments would be charged to expense in the quarter and year in which a final decision is rendered and could have a material adverse effect on results of operations for those periods. However, neither PHI nor Pepco believes that additional gain-sharing payments, if any, or the ADITC-related payments to the IRS, if required, would have a mate rial adverse impact on its financial position or cash flows. |
New Jersey |
In connection with the divestiture by ACE of its nuclear generating assets, the NJBPU in July 2000 preliminarily determined that the amount of stranded costs associated with the divested assets that ACE could recover from ratepayers should be reduced by approximately $94.5 million, representing the amount of the accumulated deferred federal income taxes (ADFIT) associated with the divested nuclear assets. However, due to uncertainty under federal tax law regarding whether the sharing of federal income tax benefits associated with the divested assets, including ADFIT, with ACE's customers would violate the normalization rules, ACE submitted a request to the IRS for a Private Letter Ruling (PLR) to clarify the applicable law. The NJBPU has delayed its final determination of the amount of recoverable stranded costs until after the receipt of the PLR. |
On May 25, 2006, the IRS issued a PLR in which it stated that returning to ratepayers any of the unamortized ADFIT attributable to accelerated depreciation on the divested assets after the sale of the assets by means of a reduction of the amount of recoverable stranded costs would violate the normalization rules. |
On June 9, 2006, ACE submitted a letter to the NJBPU to request that the NJBPU conduct proceedings to finalize the determination of the stranded costs associated with the sale of ACE's nuclear assets in accordance with the PLR. ACE's request remains pending. 89
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Default Electricity Supply Proceedings |
Delaware |
Effective May 1, 2006, SOS replaced fixed-rate POLR service for customers who do not choose an alternative electricity supplier. In October 2005, the DPSC approved DPL as the SOS provider to its Delaware delivery customers. DPL obtains the electricity to fulfill its SOS supply obligation under contracts entered pursuant to a competitive bid procedure approved by the DPSC. The bids received for the May 1, 2006, through May 31, 2007, period have had the effect of increasing rates significantly for all customer classes, including an average residential customer increase of 59%, as compared to the fixed rates previously in effect. |
To address this increase in rates, Delaware in April 2006 enacted legislation that provides for a deferral of the financial impact on customers of the increases through a three-step phase-in of the rate increases, with 15% of the increase taking effect on May 1, 2006, 25% of the increase taking effect on January 1, 2007, and any remaining balance taking effect on June 1, 2007, subject to the right of customers to elect not to participate in the deferral program. Customers who do not "opt-out" of the rate deferral program are required to pay the amounts deferred, without any interest charge, over a 17-month period beginning January 1, 2008. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 53% of the eligible Delaware customers have opted not to participate in the deferral of the SOS rates offered by DPL. With approximately 47% of the eligible customers participating in the phase-in program, DPL anticipates a maximum deferral balance of $51.4 million. |
Maryland |
Pursuant to orders issued by the MPSC in November 2006, Pepco and DPL each is the SOS provider to its delivery customers who do not choose an alternative electricity supplier. Each company purchases the power supply required to satisfy its SOS obligations from wholesale suppliers under contracts entered into pursuant to a competitive bid procedure approved and supervised by the MPSC. In March 2006, Pepco and DPL each announced the results of competitive bids to supply electricity to its Maryland SOS customers for one year beginning June 1, 2006. Due to significant increases in the cost of fuels used to generate electricity, the auction results had the effect of increasing the average monthly electric bill by about 38.5% and 35% for Pepco's and DPL's Maryland residential customers, respectively. |
On April 21, 2006, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement among Pepco, DPL, the staff of the MPSC and the Office of Peoples Counsel of Maryland, which provides for a rate mitigation plan for the residential customers of each company. Under the plan, the full increase for each company's residential customers who affirmatively elect to participate are being phased-in in increments of 15% on June 1, 2006, 15.7% on March 1, 2007 and the remainder on June 1, 2007. Customers electing to participate in the rate deferral plan will be required to pay the deferred amounts over an 18-month period beginning June 1, 2007. Both Pepco and DPL will accrue the interest cost to fund the deferral program. The interest cost will be absorbed by Pepco and DPL during the period that the deferred balance is accumulated and collected from customers, to the extent of and offset against the margins that the companies otherwise would earn for providing SOS to residential customers. As of Dec ember 31, 2006, approximately 2% of Pepco's residential customers and approximately 1% of DPL's residential customers had elected to participate in the phase-in program. 90
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On June 23, 2006, Maryland enacted legislation that extended the period for customers to elect to participate in the phase-in of higher rates and revised the obligation to provide SOS to residential and small commercial customers until further action of the General Assembly. The legislation also provides for a customer refund reflecting the difference between the interest expense on an initially projected deferred balance at a 25% customer participation level and the interest expense on a deferred balance based on actual participation levels referred to above. The total amount of the refund is approximately $1.1 million for Pepco customers and approximately $.3 million for DPL customers. At Pepco's 2% level of participation, Pepco estimates that the deferral balance, net of taxes, will be approximately $1.4 million. At DPL's 1% level of participation, DPL estimates that the deferral balance, net of taxes, will be approximately $.2 million. In July 200 6, the MPSC approved revised tariff riders filed in June 2006 by Pepco and DPL to implement the legislation. |
Virginia |
On March 10, 2006, DPL filed for a rate increase with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (VSCC) for its Virginia Default Service customers to take effect on June 1, 2006, which was intended to allow DPL to recover its higher cost for energy established by the competitive bid procedure. On June 19, 2006, the VSCC issued an order that granted a rate increase for DPL of $11.5 million ($8.5 million less than requested by DPL in its March 2006 filing), to go into effect July 1, 2006. In determining the amount of the approved increase, the VSCC applied the proxy rate calculation to DPL's fuel factor, rather than allowing full recovery of the costs DPL incurred in procuring the supply necessary for its Default Service obligation. The estimated after-tax earnings and cash flow impacts of the decision are reductions of approximately $3.6 million in 2006 (including the loss of revenue in June 2006 associated with the Default Service rate increase being deferred from June 1 un til July 1) and $2.0 million in 2007. The order also mandated that DPL file an application by March 1, 2007 (which has been delayed until April 2, 2007 by subsequent VSCC order) for Default Service rates to become effective June 1, 2007, which should include a calculation of the fuel factor that is consistent with the procedures set forth in the order. |
In February 2007, the Virginia General Assembly passed amendments to the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act (the Virginia Restructuring Act) that modified the method by which investor-owned electric utilities in Virginia will be regulated by the VSCC. These amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act, subject to further amendment or veto by the Virginia governor and subsequent action by the General Assembly, will be effective on July 1, 2007. The amendments provide that, as of December 31, 2008, the following will come to an end: (i) capped rates (the previous expiration date was December 31, 2010); (ii) DPL's Default Service obligation (previously, DPL was obligated to continue to offer Default Service until relieved of that obligation by the VSCC); and (iii) customer choice, except that customers with loads of 5 megawatts or greater will continue to be able to buy from competitive suppliers, as will smaller non-residential customers tha t aggregate their loads to reach the 5 megawatt threshold and obtain VSCC approval. Additionally, if an ex-customer of Default Service wants to return to DPL as its energy supplier, it must give 5 years notice or obtain approval of the VSCC that the return is in the public interest. In this event, the ex-customer must take DPL's service at market based rates. DPL also believes that the amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act will terminate, as of December 31, 2008, the ratemaking provisions within the memorandum of agreement entered into by DPL, the staff of the VSCC and the Virginia Attorney General's office in the docket approving DPL's generating asset divestiture in 2000 (the 91
___________________________________________________________________________________ MOA), including the application of the proxy rate calculation to DPL's fuel factor as discussed above; however, the VSCC's interpretation of these provisions is not known. It should be noted that in DPL's view, in the absence these amendments, the MOA and all of its provisions (including the proxy rate calculation) expire on July 1, 2007; the VSCC staff and the Virginia Attorney General disagree with DPL's position. Assuming the ratemaking provisions of the MOA end on December 31, 2008 pursuant to the amended Virginia Restructuring Act, the amendments provide that DPL shall file a rate case in 2009 and every 2 years thereafter. The ROE to be allowed by the VSCC will be set within a range, the lower of which is essentially the average of vertically integrated investor-owned electric utilities in the southeast with an upper point that is 300 basis points above that average. The VSCC has authority to set rates higher or lower to allow DPL to maintain the opportunity to earn the determined ROE and to cred it back to customers, in whole or in part, earnings that were 50 basis points or more in excess of the determined ROE. The amended Virginia Restructuring Act includes various incentive ROEs for the construction of new generation and would allow the VSCC to penalize or reward DPL for efficient operations or, if DPL were to add new generation, for generating unit performance. There are also enhanced ratemaking features if DPL pursues conservation, demand management and energy efficiency programs or pursues renewable energy portfolios. |
ACE Sale of Generating Assets |
On September 1, 2006, ACE completed the sale of its interests in the Keystone and Conemaugh generating facilities to Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. for approximately $177.0 million, which was subsequently decreased by $1.6 million based on a post-closing 60-day true-up for applicable items not known at the time of the closing. Approximately $81.3 million of the net gain from the sale has been used to offset the remaining regulatory asset balance, which ACE has been recovering in rates, and approximately $49.8 million of the net gain is being returned to ratepayers over a 33-month period as a credit on their bills, which began with the October 2006 billing month. The balance to be repaid to customers is $48.4 million as of December 31, 2006. |
On February 8, 2007, ACE completed the sale of the B.L. England generating facility to RC Cape May for a price of $9.0 million, after adjustment for, among other things, variances in the value of fuel and material inventories at the time of closing, plant operating capacity, the value of certain benefits for transferred employees and the actual closing date. The purchase price will be further adjusted based on a post-closing 60-day true-up for applicable items not known at the time of the closing. In addition, RC Cape May and ACE have agreed to arbitration concerning whether RC Cape May must pay to ACE, as part of the purchase price, an additional $3.1 million remaining in dispute. RC Cape May also assumed certain liabilities associated with the B.L. England generating station, including substantially all environmental liabilities. This transaction is further described below under the heading "Environmental Litigation." |
The sale of B.L. England will not affect the stranded costs associated with the plant that already have been securitized. ACE anticipates that approximately $9 to $10 million of additional regulatory assets related to B.L. England may, subject to NJBPU approval, be eligible for recovery as stranded costs. The emission allowance credits associated with B. L. England will be monetized for the benefit of ACE's ratepayers pursuant to the NJBPU order approving the sale. Net proceeds from the sale of the plant and monetization of the emission allowance credits, which will be determined after the sale upon resolution of certain adjustments, will be credited to ACE's ratepayers in accordance with the requirements of EDECA and NJBPU orders. 92
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General Litigation |
During 1993, Pepco was served with Amended Complaints filed in the state Circuit Courts of Prince George's County, Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland in separate ongoing, consolidated proceedings known as "In re: Personal Injury Asbestos Case." Pepco and other corporate entities were brought into these cases on a theory of premises liability. Under this theory, the plaintiffs argued that Pepco was negligent in not providing a safe work environment for employees or its contractors, who allegedly were exposed to asbestos while working on Pepco's property. Initially, a total of approximately 448 individual plaintiffs added Pepco to their complaints. While the pleadings are not entirely clear, it appears that each plaintiff sought $2 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages from each defendant. |
Since the initial filings in 1993, additional individual suits have been filed against Pepco, and significant numbers of cases have been dismissed. As a result of two motions to dismiss, numerous hearings and meetings and one motion for summary judgment, Pepco has had approximately 400 of these cases successfully dismissed with prejudice, either voluntarily by the plaintiff or by the court. As of January 31, 2007, there are approximately 180 cases still pending against Pepco in the State Courts of Maryland; of which approximately 85 cases were filed after December 19, 2000, and have been tendered to Mirant for defense and indemnification pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Mirant has agreed to assume this contractual obligation. For a description of the Settlement Agreement, see the discussion of the relationship with Mirant above. |
While the aggregate amount of monetary damages sought in the remaining suits (excluding those tendered to Mirant) exceeds $360 million, PHI and Pepco believe the amounts claimed by current plaintiffs are greatly exaggerated. The amount of total liability, if any, and any related insurance recovery cannot be determined at this time; however, based on information and relevant circumstances known at this time, neither PHI nor Pepco believes these suits will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, if an unfavorable decision were rendered against Pepco, it could have a material adverse effect on Pepco's and PHI's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
Cash Balance Plan Litigation |
In 1999, Conectiv established a cash balance retirement plan to replace defined benefit retirement plans then maintained by ACE and DPL. Following the acquisition by Pepco of Conectiv, this plan became the Conectiv Cash Balance Sub-Plan within the PHI Retirement Plan. On September 26, 2005, three management employees of PHI Service Company filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the Delaware District Court) against the PHI Retirement Plan, PHI and Conectiv (the PHI Parties), alleging violations of ERISA, on behalf of a class of management employees who did not have enough age and service when the Cash Balance Sub-Plan was implemented in 1999 to assure that their accrued benefits would be calculated pursuant to the terms of the predecessor plans sponsored by ACE and DPL. A fourth plaintiff was added to the case to represent DPL-heritage "grandfathered" employees who will not be eligible for early retirement at the end of the grandfathere d period. |
The plaintiffs have challenged the design of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan and are seeking a declaratory judgment that the Cash Balance Sub-Plan is invalid and that the accrued benefits of each member of the class should be calculated pursuant to the terms of the predecessor plans. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the use of a variable rate to compute the plaintiffs' 93
___________________________________________________________________________________ accrued benefit under the Cash Balance Sub-Plan results in reductions in the accrued benefits that violate ERISA. The complaint also alleges that the benefit accrual rates and the minimal accrual requirements of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan violate ERISA as did the notice that was given to plan participants upon implementation of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan. |
The PHI Parties filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which was denied by the court on July 11, 2006. The Delaware District Court stayed one count of the complaint regarding alleged age discrimination pending a decision in another case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (the Third Circuit). On January 30, 2007, the Third Circuit issued a ruling in the other case that PHI's counsel believes should result in the favorable disposition of all of the claims (other than the claim of inadequate notice) against the PHI Parties in the Delaware District Court. The PHI Parties filed pleadings apprising the Delaware District Court of the Third Circuit's decision on February 16, 2007, at the same time they filed their opposition to plaintiffs' motion. |
While PHI believes it has an increasingly strong legal position in the case and that it is therefore unlikely that the plaintiffs will prevail, PHI estimates that, if the plaintiffs were to prevail, the ABO and projected benefit obligation (PBO), calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 87, each would increase by approximately $12 million, assuming no change in benefits for persons who have already retired or whose employment has been terminated and using actuarial valuation data as of the time the suit was filed. The ABO represents the present value that participants have earned as of the date of calculation. This means that only service already worked and compensation already earned and paid is considered. The PBO is similar to the ABO, except that the PBO includes recognition of the effect that estimated future pay increases would have on the pension plan obligation. |
Environmental Litigation |
PHI, through its subsidiaries, is subject to regulation by various federal, regional, state, and local authorities with respect to the environmental effects of its operations, including air and water quality control, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and limitations on land use. In addition, federal and state statutes authorize governmental agencies to compel responsible parties to clean up certain abandoned or unremediated hazardous waste sites. PHI's subsidiaries may incur costs to clean up currently or formerly owned facilities or sites found to be contaminated, as well as other facilities or sites that may have been contaminated due to past disposal practices. Although penalties assessed for violations of environmental laws and regulations are not recoverable from customers of the operating utilities, environmental clean-up costs incurred by Pepco, DPL and ACE would be included by each company in its respective cost of service for ratemaking purposes. |
In July 2004, DPL entered into an administrative consent order (ACO) with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) to further identify the extent of soil, sediment and ground and surface water contamination related to former manufactured gas plant (MGP) operations at a Cambridge, Maryland site on DPL-owned property and to investigate the extent of MGP contamination on adjacent property. The MDE has approved the RI and DPL submitted a final FS to MDE on February 15, 2007. The costs of cleanup (as determined by the RI/FS and subsequent negotiations with MDE) are anticipated to be approximately $2.7 million. The remedial action will include dredging activities within Cambridge Creek, which are expected to take place as 94
___________________________________________________________________________________ early as October 2007, and soil excavation on DPL's and adjacent property as early as January 2008. |
In the early 1970s, both Pepco and DPL sold scrap transformers, some of which may have contained some level of PCBs, to a metal reclaimer operating at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, owned by a nonaffiliated company. In December 1987, Pepco and DPL were notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they, along with a number of other utilities and non-utilities, were PRPs in connection with the PCB contamination at the site. |
In 1994, an RI/FS including a number of possible remedies was submitted to the EPA. In 1997, the EPA issued a Record of Decision that set forth a selected remedial action plan with estimated implementation costs of approximately $17 million. In 1998, the EPA issued a unilateral administrative order to Pepco and 12 other PRPs directing them to conduct the design and actions called for in its decision. In May 2003, two of the potentially liable owner/operator entities filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In October 2003, the bankruptcy court confirmed a reorganization plan that incorporates the terms of a settlement among the two debtor owner/operator entities, the United States and a group of utility PRPs including Pepco (the Utility PRPs). Under the bankruptcy settlement, the reorganized entity/site owner will pay a total of $13.25 million to remediate the site (the Bankruptcy Settlement). |
In March 2006, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania approved global consent decrees for the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site, entered into on August 23, 2005, involving the Utility PRPs, the U.S. Department of Justice, EPA, The City of Philadelphia and two owner/operators of the site. Under the terms of the settlement, the two owner/operators will make payments totaling $5.55 million to the U.S. Department of Justice and totaling $4.05 million to the Utility PRPs. The Utility PRPs will perform the remedy at the site and will be able to draw on the $13.25 million from the Bankruptcy Settlement to accomplish the remediation (the Bankruptcy Funds). The Utility PRPs will contribute funds to the extent remediation costs exceed the Bankruptcy Funds available. The Utility PRPs also will be liable for EPA costs associated with overseeing the monitoring and operation of the site remedy after the remedy construction is certified to be complete and also the cost of performing the "5 year" review of site conditions required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. Any Bankruptcy Funds not spent on the remedy may be used to cover the Utility PRPs' liabilities for future costs. No parties are released from potential liability for damages to natural resources. |
As of December 31, 2006, Pepco had accrued $1.7 million to meet its liability for a remedy at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site. While final costs to Pepco of the settlement have not been determined, Pepco believes that its liability at this site will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
In 1999, DPL entered into a de minimis settlement with EPA and paid approximately $107,000 to resolve its liability for cleanup costs at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site. The de minimis settlement did not resolve DPL's responsibility for natural resource damages, if any, at the site. DPL believes that any liability for natural resource damages at this site will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 95
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In November 1991, the NJDEP identified ACE as a PRP at the Delilah Road Landfill site in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. In 1993, ACE, along with other PRPs, signed an ACO with NJDEP to remediate the site. The soil cap remedy for the site has been completed and the NJDEP conditionally approved the report submitted by the parties on the implementation of the remedy in January 2003. In March 2004, NJDEP approved a Ground Water Sampling and Analysis Plan. Positive results of groundwater monitoring events have resulted in a reduced level of groundwater monitoring. In August 2006, NJDEP issued a No Further Action Letter (NFA) and Covenant Not to Sue for the site. Among other things, the NFA requires the PRPs to monitor the effectiveness of institutional (deed restriction) and engineering (cap) controls at the site every two years and to continue groundwater monitoring.In March 2003, EPA demanded from the PRP group reimbursement for EPA's past costs at the site, totaling $168,789. The PRP group objected to the demand for certain costs, but agreed to reimburse EPA approximately $19,000. Based on information currently available, ACE anticipates that its share of additional cost associated with this site will be approximately $555,000 to $600,000. ACE believes that its liability for post-remedy operation and maintenance costs will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
On January 24, 2006, PHI, Conectiv and ACE entered into an ACO with NJDEP and the Attorney General of New Jersey resolving (i) New Jersey's claim for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and (ii) the NJDEP's concerns regarding ACE's compliance with New Source Review requirements of the CAA and Air Pollution Control Act requirements with respect to the B.L. England generating facility and various other environmental issues relating to ACE and Conectiv Energy facilities in New Jersey. See Item 1 "Business -- Environmental Matters -- Air Quality Regulation." |
Federal Tax Treatment of Cross-Border Leases |
PCI maintains a portfolio of cross-border energy sale-leaseback transactions, which, as of December 31, 2006, had a book value of approximately $1.3 billion, and from which PHI currently derives approximately $57 million per year in tax benefits in the form of interest and depreciation deductions. |
On February 11, 2005, the Treasury Department and IRS issued Notice 2005-13 informing taxpayers that the IRS intends to challenge on various grounds the purported tax benefits claimed by taxpayers entering into certain sale-leaseback transactions with tax-indifferent parties (i.e., municipalities, tax-exempt and governmental entities), including those entered into on or prior to March 12, 2004 (the Notice). All of PCI's cross-border energy leases are with tax indifferent parties and were entered into prior to 2004. In addition, on June 29, 2005 the IRS published a Coordinated Issue Paper concerning the resolution of audit issues related to such transactions. PCI's cross-border energy leases are similar to those sale-leaseback transactions described in the Notice and the Coordinated Issue Paper. |
PCI's leases have been under examination by the IRS as part of the normal PHI tax audit. On June 9, 2006, the IRS issued its final revenue agent's report (RAR) for its audit of PHI's 2001 and 2002 income tax returns. In the RAR, the IRS disallowed the tax benefits claimed by PHI with respect to these leases for those years. The tax benefits claimed by PHI with respect to these leases from 2001 through December 31, 2006 were approximately $287 million. PHI has filed a protest against the IRS adjustments and the unresolved audit has been forwarded to the Appeals Office. The ultimate outcome of this issue is uncertain; however, if the IRS prevails, PHI would be subject to additional taxes, along with interest and possibly penalties on the 96
___________________________________________________________________________________ additional taxes, which could have a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. PHI believes that its tax position related to these transactions was appropriate based on applicable statutes, regulations and case law, and intends to contest the adjustments proposed by the IRS; however, there is no assurance that PHI's position will prevail. |
On July 13, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) on Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) 13-2, which amends SFAS No. 13 effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. This amendment requires a lease to be repriced and the book value adjusted when there is a change or probable change in the timing of tax benefits of the lease regardless of whether the change results in a deferral or permanent loss of tax benefits. Accordingly, a material change in the timing of cash flows under PHI's cross-border leases as the result of a settlement with the IRS would require an adjustment to the book value of the leases and a charge to earnings equal to the repricing impact of the disallowed deductions which could result in a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. PHI believes its tax position was appropriate and at this time does not believe there is a probable change in the timing of its tax benefits that would require repricing the leases and a charge to earnings. |
On February 1, 2007 the U.S. Senate passed the Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of 2007. Included in this legislation is a provision which would apply passive loss limitation rules to leases with foreign tax indifferent parties effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, even if the leases were entered into on or prior to March 12, 2004. On February 16, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Small Business Relief Act of 2007. This bill does not include any provision that would modify the current treatment of leases with tax indifferent parties. Enactment into law of a bill that is similar to that passed by the U.S. Senate in its current form could result in a material delay of the income tax benefits that PCI would receive in connection with its cross-border energy leases. Furthermore, under FSP FAS 13-2, PHI would be required to adjust the book values of its leases and record a charge to earnings equal to the repricing impact of th e disallowed deductions which could result in a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are expected to hold a conference in the near future to reconcile the differences in the two bills to determine the final legislation. |
IRS Mixed Service Cost Issue |
During 2001, Pepco, DPL, and ACE changed their methods of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes. The change allowed the companies to accelerate the deduction of certain expenses that were previously capitalized and depreciated. Through December 31, 2005, these accelerated deductions generated incremental tax cash flow benefits of approximately $205 million (consisting of $94 million for Pepco, $62 million for DPL, and $49 million for ACE) for the companies, primarily attributable to their 2001 tax returns. |
On August 2, 2005, the Treasury Department released regulations that, if adopted in their current form, would require Pepco, DPL, and ACE to change their method of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes for tax periods beginning in 2005. Based on those regulations, PHI in its 2005 federal tax return adopted an alternative method of accounting for capitalizable construction costs that management believes will be acceptable to the IRS. 97
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On the same day that the new regulations were released, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2005-53, which is intended to limit the ability of certain taxpayers to utilize the method of accounting for income tax purposes they utilized on their tax returns for 2004 and prior years with respect to capitalizable construction costs. In line with this Revenue Ruling, the IRS RAR for the 2001 and 2002 tax returns disallowed substantially all of the incremental tax benefits that Pepco, DPL and ACE had claimed on those returns by requiring the companies to capitalize and depreciate certain expenses rather than treat such expenses as current deductions. PHI's protest of the IRS adjustments is among the unresolved audit matters relating to the 2001 and 2002 audits pending before the Appeals Office. |
In February 2006, PHI paid approximately $121 million of taxes to cover the amount of taxes that management estimated to be payable based on the method of tax accounting that PHI, pursuant to the proposed regulations, has adopted on its 2005 tax return. However, if the IRS is successful in requiring Pepco, DPL and ACE to capitalize and depreciate construction costs that result in a tax and interest assessment greater than management's estimate of $121 million, PHI will be required to pay additional taxes and interest only to the extent these adjustments exceed the $121 million payment made in February 2006. |
IRS Examination of Like-Kind Exchange Transaction |
In 2001, Conectiv and certain of its subsidiaries (the Conectiv Group) were divesting nonstrategic electric generating facilities and replacing these facilities with mid-merit electric generating capacity. As part of this strategy, the Conectiv Group exchanged its interests in two older coal-fired plants for the more efficient gas-fired Hay Road II generating facility, which was owned by an unaffiliated third party. For tax purposes, Conectiv treated the transaction as a "like-kind exchange" under IRC Section 1031. As a result, approximately $88 million of taxable gain was deferred for federal income tax purposes. |
The transaction was examined by the IRS as part of the normal Conectiv tax audit. In May 2006, the IRS issued its RAR for the audit of Conectiv's 2000, 2001 and 2002 income tax returns. In the RAR, the IRS exam team disallowed the qualification of the exchange under IRC Section 1031. In July 2006, Conectiv filed a protest of this disallowance to the IRS Office of Appeals. |
PHI believes that its tax position related to this transaction is proper based on applicable statutes, regulations and case law and intends to vigorously contest the disallowance. However, there is no absolute assurance that Conectiv's position will prevail. If the IRS prevails, Conectiv would be subject to additional income taxes, interest and possible penalties. However, a portion of the denied benefit would be offset by additional tax depreciation. |
As of December 31, 2006, if the IRS fully prevails, the potential cash impact on PHI would be current income tax and interest payments of approximately $29 million and the earnings impact would be approximately $7 million in after-tax interest. |
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
General |
The SEC has defined a company's most critical accounting policies as the ones that are most important to the portrayal of its financial condition and results of operations, and which require the company to make its most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to 98
___________________________________________________________________________________ make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Critical estimates represent those estimates and assumptions that may be material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to change, and that have a material impact on financial condition or operating performance. |
Use of Estimates |
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, such as Statement of Position 94-6, "Disclosure of Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties," requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. |
Examples of significant estimates used by Pepco Holdings include the assessment of contingencies and the need/amount for reserves of future receipts from Mirant (see "Relationship with Mirant Corporation"), the calculation of future cash flows and fair value amounts for use in goodwill and asset impairment evaluations, fair value calculations (based on estimated market pricing) associated with derivative instruments, pension and other postretirement benefits assumptions, unbilled revenue calculations, and the judgment involved with assessing the probability of recovery of regulatory assets. Additionally, PHI is subject to legal, regulatory, and other proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Pepco Holdings records an estimated liability for these proceedings and claims based upon the probable and reasonably estimable criteria contained in SFAS No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies." Although Pepco Holdings believes that its estimates and assu mptions are reasonable, they are based upon information available to management at the time the estimates are made. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates. |
Goodwill Impairment Evaluation |
Pepco Holdings believes that the estimates involved in its goodwill impairment evaluation process represent "Critical Accounting Estimates" because (i) they may be susceptible to change from period to period because management is required to make assumptions and judgments about the discounting of future cash flows, which are inherently uncertain, (ii) actual results could vary from those used in Pepco Holdings' estimates and the impact of such variations could be material, and (iii) the impact that recognizing an impairment would have on Pepco Holdings' assets and the net loss related to an impairment charge could be material. |
The provisions of SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," require the evaluation of goodwill for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. SFAS No. 142 indicates that if the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, including goodwill, an impairment charge may be necessary. The goodwill generated in the transaction by which Pepco acquired Conectiv in 2002 was allocated to Pepco Holdings' Power Delivery segment. In order to estimate the fair value of its Power Delivery segment, Pepco Holdings discounts the estimated future cash flows associated with the segment using a discounted cash flow model with a single interest rate that is commensurate with the risk involved with such an investment. The estimation of fair value is dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to interest rates, future growth assumptions, operating and capital expenditu re requirements and other factors, changes in which could materially impact the results of impairment testing. Pepco Holdings tested its goodwill for 99
___________________________________________________________________________________ impairment as of July 1, 2006. This testing concluded that Pepco Holdings' goodwill balance was not impaired. A hypothetical decrease in the Power Delivery segment's forecasted cash flows of 10 percent would not have resulted in an impairment charge. |
Long-Lived Assets Impairment Evaluation |
Pepco Holdings believes that the estimates involved in its long-lived asset impairment evaluation process represent "Critical Accounting Estimates" because (i) they are highly susceptible to change from period to period because management is required to make assumptions and judgments about undiscounted and discounted future cash flows and fair values, which are inherently uncertain, (ii) actual results could vary from those used in Pepco Holdings' estimates and the impact of such variations could be material, and (iii) the impact that recognizing an impairment would have on Pepco Holdings' assets as well as the net loss related to an impairment charge could be material. |
SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," requires that certain long-lived assets must be tested for recoverability whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss may only be recognized if the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable and the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. The asset is deemed not to be recoverable when its carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. In order to estimate an asset's future cash flows, Pepco Holdings considers historical cash flows. Pepco Holdings uses its best estimates in making these evaluations and considers various factors, including forward price curves for energy, fuel costs, legislative initiatives, and operating costs. The process of determining fair value is done consistent with the process described in assessing the fair val ue of goodwill, which is discussed above. |
For a discussion of PHI's impairment losses during 2006, refer to the "Impairment Losses" section in the accompanying Consolidated Results of Operations discussion. |
Derivative Instruments |
Pepco Holdings believes that the estimates involved in accounting for its derivative instruments represent "Critical Accounting Estimates" because (i) the fair value of the instruments are highly susceptible to changes in market value and/or interest rate fluctuations, (ii) there are significant uncertainties in modeling techniques used to measure fair value in certain circumstances, (iii) actual results could vary from those used in Pepco Holdings' estimates and the impact of such variations could be material, and (iv) changes in fair values and market prices could result in material impacts to Pepco Holdings' assets, liabilities, other comprehensive income (loss), and results of operations. See Note (2), "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Accounting for Derivatives" to the consolidated financial statements of PHI included in Item 8 for information on PHI's accounting for derivatives. |
Pepco Holdings and its subsidiaries use derivative instruments primarily to manage risk associated with commodity prices and interest rates. SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," as amended,governs the accounting treatment for derivatives and requires that derivative instruments be measured at fair value. The fair value of derivatives is determined using quoted exchange prices where available. For instruments that are not traded on an exchange, external broker quotes are used to determine fair value. For some 100
___________________________________________________________________________________ custom and complex instruments, an internal model is used to interpolate broker quality price information. The same valuation methods are used to determine the value of non-derivative, commodity exposure for risk management purposes. |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans |
Pepco Holdings believes that the estimates involved in reporting the costs of providing pension and other postretirement benefits represent "Critical Accounting Estimates" because (i) they are based on an actuarial calculation that includes a number of assumptions which are subjective in nature, (ii) they are dependent on numerous factors resulting from actual plan experience and assumptions of future experience, and (iii) changes in assumptions could impact Pepco Holdings' expected future cash funding requirements for the plans and would have an impact on the projected benefit obligations, the reported pension and other postretirement benefit liability on the balance sheet, and the reported annual net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit cost on the income statement. In terms of quantifying the anticipated impact of a change in assumptions, Pepco Holdings estimates that a .25% change in the discount rate used to value the benefit obligations could result in a $ 5 million impact on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of earnings. Additionally, Pepco Holdings estimates that a .25% change in the expected return on plan assets could result in a $4 million impact on the consolidated balance sheets and statements of earnings and a .25% change in the assumed healthcare cost trend rate could result in a $.5 million impact on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of earnings. Pepco Holdings' management consults with its actuaries and investment consultants when selecting its plan assumptions. |
Pepco Holdings follows the guidance of SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," SFAS No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions," and SFAS No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)" (SFAS No. 158), when accounting for these benefits. Under these accounting standards, assumptions are made regarding the valuation of benefit obligations and the performance of plan assets. In accordance with these standards, the impact of changes in these assumptions and the difference between actual and expected or estimated results on pension and postretirement obligations is generally recognized over the working lives of the employees who benefit under the plans rather than immediately recognized in the statements of earnings. Plan assets are stated at their market value as of the measurement date, which is December 31. |
Regulation of Power Delivery Operations |
The requirements of SFAS No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation," apply to the Power Delivery businesses of Pepco, DPL, and ACE. Pepco Holdings believes that the judgment involved in accounting for its regulated activities represent "Critical Accounting Estimates" because (i) a significant amount of judgment is required (including but not limited to the interpretation of laws and regulatory commission orders) to assess the probability of the recovery of regulatory assets, (ii) actual results and interpretations could vary from those used in Pepco Holdings' estimates and the impact of such variations could be material, and (iii) the impact that writing off a regulatory asset would have on Pepco Holdings' assets and the net loss related to the charge could be material. 101
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Unbilled Revenue |
Unbilled revenue represents an estimate of revenue earned from services rendered by Pepco Holdings' utility operations that have not yet been billed. Pepco Holdings' utility operations calculate unbilled revenue using an output based methodology. This methodology is based on the supply of electricity or gas distributed to customers. Pepco Holdings believes that the estimates involved in its unbilled revenue process represent "Critical Accounting Estimates" because management is required to make assumptions and judgments about input factors such as customer sales mix and estimated power line losses (estimates of electricity expected to be lost in the process of its transmission and distribution to customers), all of which are inherently uncertain and susceptible to change from period to period, the impact of which could be material. |
New Accounting Standards |
FSP FTB 85-4-1, "Accounting for Life Settlement Contracts by Third-Party Investors" |
In March 2006, the FASB issued FSP FASB Technical Bulletin (FTB) 85-4-1, "Accounting for Life Settlement Contracts by Third-Party Investors" (FSP FTB 85-4-1). This FSP provides initial and subsequent measurement guidance and financial statement presentation and disclosure guidance for investments by third-party investors in life settlement contracts. FSP FTB 85-4-1 also amends certain provisions of FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance," and SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." The guidance in FSP FTB 85-4-1 applies prospectively for all new life settlement contracts and is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2006 (the year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). Pepco Holdings has evaluated the impact of FSP FTB 85-4-1 and does not anticipate its adoption will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
EITF 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" |
In September 2005, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" (EITF 04-13), which addresses circumstances under which two or more exchange transactions involving inventory with the same counterparty should be viewed as a single exchange transaction for the purposes of evaluating the effect of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion 29, "Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions." EITF 04-13 is effective for new arrangements entered into, or modifications or renewals of existing arrangements, beginning in the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after March 15, 2006. |
Pepco Holdings implemented EITF 04-13 on April 1, 2006. The implementation did not have a material impact on Pepco Holdings' overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for the second quarter of 2006. |
SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140" |
In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140" (SFAS No. 155). SFAS No. 155 amends FASB Statements No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," and No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities." SFAS No. 155 resolves issues addressed in Statement 133 102
___________________________________________________________________________________ Implementation Issue No. D1, "Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets." SFAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). Pepco Holdings has evaluated the impact of SFAS No. 155 and does not anticipate that its implementation will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
SFAS No. 156, "Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140" |
In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, "Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets" (SFAS No. 156), an amendment of SFAS No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities," with respect to the accounting for separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. SFAS No. 156 requires an entity to recognize a servicing asset or servicing liability upon undertaking an obligation to service a financial asset via certain servicing contracts, and for all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities to be initially measured at fair value, if practicable. Subsequent measurement is permitted using either the amortization method or the fair value measurement method for each class of separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. |
SFAS No. 156 is effective as of the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). Application is to be applied prospectively to all transactions following adoption of SFAS No. 156. Pepco Holdings has evaluated the impact of SFAS No. 156 and does not anticipate its adoption will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
FSP FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)" |
In April 2006, the FASB issued FSP FASB Interpretation Number (FIN) 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)" (FSP FIN 46(R)-6), which provides guidance on how to determine the variability to be considered in applying FIN 46(R), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." |
The guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 is applicable prospectively beginning the first day of the first reporting period beginning after June 15, 2006. |
Pepco Holdings started applying the guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 to new and modified arrangements effective July 1, 2006. |
EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" |
On June 28, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" (EITF 06-3). EITF 06-3 provides guidance on an entity's disclosure of its accounting policy regarding the gross or net presentation of certain taxes and provides that if taxes included in gross revenues are significant, a company should disclose the amount of such taxes for each period for which an income statement is presented (i.e., both interim and annual periods). Taxes within the scope of EITF 06-3 are those that are imposed on and concurrent with a specific 103
___________________________________________________________________________________ revenue-producing transaction. Taxes assessed on an entity's activities over a period of time are not within the scope of EITF 06-3. EITF 06-3 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006 (March 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings) although earlier application is permitted. |
Pepco Holdings does not anticipate that the adoption of EITF 06-3 will materially impact its disclosure requirements. |
FSP FAS 13-2, "Accounting for a Change or Projected Change in the Timing of Cash Flows Relating to Income Taxes Generated by a Leveraged Lease Transaction" |
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FSP FAS 13-2, "Accounting for a Change or Projected Change in the Timing of Cash Flows Relating to Income Taxes Generated by a Leveraged Lease Transaction" (FSP FAS 13-2). FSP FAS 13-2, which amends SFAS No. 13, "Accounting for Leases," addresses how a change or projected change in the timing of cash flows relating to income taxes generated by a leveraged lease transaction affects the accounting by a lessor for that lease. |
FSP FAS 13-2 will not be effective until the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). A material change in the timing of cash flows under PHI's cross-border leases as the result of a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service or a change in tax law would require an adjustment to the book value of the leases and a charge to earnings equal to the repricing impact of the disallowed deductions which could result in a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. |
FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" |
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the criteria for recognition of tax benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," and prescribes a financial statement recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Specifically, it clarifies that an entity's tax benefits must be "more likely than not" of being sustained prior to recording the related tax benefit in the financial statements. If the position drops below the "more likely than not" standard, the benefit can no longer be recognized. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. |
FIN 48 is effective the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). Pepco Holdings has completed its evaluation of FIN 48, which resulted in an immaterial impact to its retained earnings at January 1, 2007, and no impact on its results of operations and cash flows. |
SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" |
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of this Statement 104
___________________________________________________________________________________ will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years (year ending December 31, 2008 for Pepco Holdings). |
Pepco Holdings is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 157 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
FSP AUG AIR-1, "Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities" |
On September 8, 2006, the FASB issued FSP AUG AIR-1, which prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities in annual and interim financial reporting periods. FSP AUG AIR-1 is effective the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). |
Pepco Holdings does not believe that the implementation of FSP AUG AIR-1 will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
"Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108" |
On September 13, 2006, the SEC issued SAB No. 108 (SAB 108) which expresses the SEC staff's views on the process of quantifying financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify the impact of correcting all misstatements, including both the carryover and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements by quantifying an error using both the rollover and iron curtain approaches and by evaluating the error measured under each approach. Under SAB 108, a registrant's financial statements would require adjustment when either approach results in a material misstatement, after considering all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors. Further, the SEC believes that a registrant's materiality assessment of an identified unadjusted error should quantify the effects of the identified unadjusted error on each financial statement and related financial statement disclosure. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years endi ng on or after November 15, 2006. |
Pepco Holdings implemented the guidance provided in SAB 108 during the year ended December 31, 2006. |
EITF Issue No. 06-5, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance -- Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance" |
On September 20, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-5, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance -- Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance" (EITF 06-5) which provides guidance on whether an entity should consider the contractual ability to surrender all of the individual-life policies (or certificates under a group life policy) together when determining the amount that could be realized in accordance with FTB 85-4, and whether a guarantee of the additional value associated with the group life policy affects that determination. EITF 06-5 provides that a policyholder should (i) determine the amount that could be realized under the insurance contract assuming the surrender of an individual-life by individual-life policy (or certificate by certificate in a group policy) and (ii) not discount the cash surrender value component of the amount that could be realized when c ontractual restrictions on the ability to 105
___________________________________________________________________________________ surrender a policy exist unless contractual limitations prescribe that the cash surrender value component of the amount that could be realized is a fixed amount, in which case the amount that could be realized should be discounted in accordance with Opinion 21. EITF 06-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). |
Pepco Holdings does not anticipate that the adoption of EITF 06-5 will materially impact its disclosure requirements. |
FASB Staff Position No. EITF 00-19-2, "Accounting for Registration Payment Arrangements" |
On December 21, 2006, the FASB issued FSP No. EITF 00-19-2, "Accounting for Registration Payment Arrangements"(FSP EITF 00-19-2), which addresses an issuer's accounting for registration payment arrangements and specifies that the contingent obligation to make future payments or otherwise transfer consideration under a registration payment arrangement, whether issued as a separate agreement or included as a provision of a financial instrument or other agreement, should be separately recognized and measured in accordance with FASB SFAS No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies." FSP EITF 00-19-2 is effective immediately for registration payment arrangements and the financial instruments subject to those arrangements that are entered into or modified subsequent to the date of its issuance. For registration payment arrangements and financial instruments subject to those arrangements that were entered into prior to the issuance of FSP EITF 00-19-2, this guidance shall be effe ctive for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, and interim periods within those fiscal years (December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). |
Pepco Holdings is evaluating the impact, if any, of FSP EITF 00-19-2 and does not anticipate its adoption will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" |
On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No.159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" (SFAS No. 159) which permits entities to choose to elect to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS No. 159 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of SFAS No. 159 will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No.159 establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provide additional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of the company's choice to use fair value on its earnings. It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair 106
___________________________________________________________________________________ value on the face of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 does not eliminate disclosure requirements included in other accounting standards. |
SFAS No. 159 applies to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (year ending December 31, 2008 for Pepco Holdings), with early adoption permitted for an entity that has also elected to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements.An entity is prohibited from retrospectively applying SFAS No. 159, unless it chooses early adoption. SFAS No. 159 also applies to eligible items existing at November 15, 2007 (or early adoption date). Pepco Holdings is in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 159 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
Some of the statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include declarations regarding Pepco Holdings' intents, beliefs and current expectations. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause PHI's or PHI's industry's a ctual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. |
The forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following important factors, which are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties, are beyond Pepco Holdings' control and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements: |
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____________________________________________________________________________________ A description for each category of regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities follows: |
Securitized Stranded Costs: Represents stranded costs associated with a non-utility generator (NUG) contract termination payment and the discontinuation of the application of SFAS No. 71 for ACE's electricity generation business. The recovery of these stranded costs has been securitized through the issuance of transition bonds by Atlantic City Electric Transition Funding LLC (ACE Funding) (Transition Bonds). A customer surcharge is collected by ACE to fund principal and interest payments on the Transition Bonds. The stranded costs are amortized over the life of the Transition Bonds, which mature between 2010 and 2023. |
Recoverable Pension and OPEB Costs: Represents the funded status of Pepco Holdings' defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans that is probable of recovery in rates under SFAS No. 71 by Pepco, DPL and ACE. |
Deferred Energy Supply Costs: The regulatory liability balances of $164.9 million and $40.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, primarily represent deferred costs related to a net over-recovery by ACE connected with the provision of BGS and other restructuring related costs incurred by ACE. This deferral received a return and is being recovered over 8 years beginning in 2007. The regulatory asset balances of $6.9 million and $18.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, represent deferred fuel costs for DPL's gas business, which are recovered annually. |
Deferred Recoverable Income Taxes:Represents a receivable from our customers for tax benefits applicable to utility operations of Pepco, DPL, and ACE previously flowed through before the companies were ordered to provide deferred income taxes. As the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets reverse, the deferred recoverable balances are reversed. There is no return on these deferrals. |
Deferred Debt Extinguishment Costs:Represents the costs of debt extinguishment for which recovery through regulated utility rates is considered probable and, if approved, will be amortized to interest expense during the authorized rate recovery period. A return is received on these deferrals. |
Unrecovered Purchased Power Contract Costs: Represents deferred costs related to purchase power contracts at ACE and DPL. The ACE amortization period began in July 1994 and will end in May 2014. The DPL amortization period began in February 1996 and will end in October 2007. Both earn a return. |
Deferred Other Postretirement Benefit Costs:Represents the non-cash portion of other postretirement benefit costs deferred by ACE during 1993 through 1997. This cost is being recovered over a 15-year period that began on January 1, 1998. There is no return on this deferral. |
Phase In Credits: Represents a phase-in credit for participating Maryland and Delaware customers to mitigate the immediate impact of significant rate increases in 2006. The deferral period for Delaware is May 1, 2006 to January 1, 2008, with recovery to occur over a 17-month period beginning January 1, 2008. This deferral will be amortized on a straight-line basis. The deferral period for Maryland is June 1, 2006 to June 1, 2007, with recovery to occur over an 18-month period beginning June 2007. Recovery is rate per kilowatt-hour based on usage during the recovery period. 153
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Other: Represents miscellaneous regulatory assets that generally are being amortized over 1 to 20 years and generally do not receive a return. |
Deferred Income Taxes Due to Customers: Represents the portion of deferred income tax liabilities applicable to utility operations of Pepco, DPL, and ACE that has not been reflected in current customer rates for which future payment to customers is probable. As temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets reverse, deferred recoverable income taxes are amortized. |
Regulatory Liability for Federal and New Jersey Tax Benefit:Securitized stranded costs include a portion of stranded costs attributable to the future tax benefit expected to be realized when the higher tax basis of generating plants divested by ACE is deducted for New Jersey state income tax purposes as well as the future benefit to be realized through the reversal of federal excess deferred taxes. To account for the possibility that these tax benefits may be given to ACE's regulated electricity delivery customers through lower rates in the future, ACE established a regulatory liability. The regulatory liability related to federal excess deferred taxes will remain until such time as the Internal Revenue Service issues its final regulations with respect to normalization of these federal excess deferred taxes. |
Generation Procurement Credit (GPC), Customer Sharing Commitment, and Other: Pepco's settlement agreements related to its December 2000 generation asset divestiture, approved by both the DCPSC and MPSC, required the sharing between customers and shareholders of any profits earned during the four-year transition period from February 8, 2001 through February 7, 2005 in each jurisdiction. The GPC represents the customers' share of profits that Pepco has realized on the procurement and resale of SOS electricity supply to customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia that has not yet been distributed to customers. Pepco is currently distributing the customers' share of profits monthly to customers in a billing credit. The GPC increased by $42.3 million in December 2005 due to the settlement of Pepco's $105 million allowed, pre-petition general unsecured claim against Mirant Corporation and its predecessors and its subsidiaries (Mirant) (the Pepco TPA Clai m). |
Accrued Asset Removal Costs: Represents Pepco's and DPL's asset retirement obligations associated with removal costs accrued using public service commission-approved depreciation rates for transmission, distribution, and general utility property. In accordance with the SEC interpretation of SFAS No. 143, accruals for removal costs were classified as a regulatory liability. |
Excess Depreciation Reserve: The excess depreciation reserve was recorded as part of a New Jersey rate case settlement. This excess reserve is the result of a change in depreciable lives and a change in depreciation technique from remaining life to whole life. The excess is being amortized over an 8.25 year period, which began in June 2005. |
Asset Retirement Obligation: During the first quarter of 2006, ACE recorded an asset retirement obligation of $60 million for B.L. England plant demolition and environmental remediation costs. Amortization of the liability is over a two-year period amortized quarterly. The cumulative amortization of $33.0 million at December 31, 2006, is recorded as a regulatory asset -- "Asset Retirement Cost." As discussed in Note (12) Commitments and Contingencies -- "ACE Sale of Generating Assets," on February 8, 2007, ACE completed the sale of the B.L. England generating facility. 154
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Gain from Sale of Keystone and Conemaugh: On September 1, 2006, ACE completed the sale of its interests in the Keystone and Conemaugh generating facilities to Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. for approximately $177.0 million, which was subsequently decreased by $1.6 million based on a post-closing 60-day true-up for applicable items not known at the time of the closing. Approximately $81.3 million of the net gain from the sale has been used to offset a remaining regulatory asset balance, which ACE has been recovering in rates, and approximately $49.8 million of the net gain is being returned to ratepayers over a 33-month period as a credit on their bills, which began during the October 2006 billing period. The balance to be repaid to customers is $48.4 million as of December 31, 2006. |
Accounting For Derivatives |
Pepco Holdings and its subsidiaries use derivative instruments primarily to manage risk associated with commodity prices and interest rates. Risk management policies are determined by PHI's Corporate Risk Management Committee (CRMC), the members of which are PHI's Chief Risk Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Chief Information Officer and other senior executives. The CRMC monitors interest rate fluctuation, commodity price fluctuation, and credit risk exposure, and sets risk management policies that establish limits on unhedged risk and determine risk reporting requirements. |
PHI accounts for its derivative activities in accordance with SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," as amended by subsequent pronouncements. SFAS No. 133 requires derivative instruments to be measured at fair value. Derivatives are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as other assets or other liabilities with offsetting gains and losses flowing through earnings unless they are designated as cash flow hedges. Derivatives can be accounted for in four ways under SFAS No. 133: (i) marked-to-market through current earnings, (ii) cash flow hedge accounting, (iii) fair value hedge accounting, and (iv) normal purchase and sales accounting. |
Mark-to-market gains and losses on derivatives that are not designated as hedges are presented on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings as operating revenue. PHI uses mark-to-market accounting through earnings for derivatives that either do not qualify for hedge accounting or that management does not designate as hedges. |
The gain or loss on a derivative that hedges exposure to variable cash flow of a forecasted transaction is initially recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (a separate component of common stockholders' equity) and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same category as the item being hedged when the forecasted transaction occurs. If a forecasted transaction is no longer probable, the deferred gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income is immediately reclassified to earnings. Gains or losses related to any ineffective portion of cash flow hedges are also recognized in earnings immediately. |
Changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as fair value hedges result in a change in the value of the asset, liability, or firm commitment being hedged. Changes in fair value of the asset, liability, or firm commitment, and the hedging instrument, are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. |
Certain commodity forwards are not required to be recorded on a mark-to-market basis of accounting under SFAS No. 133. These contracts are designated as "normal purchases and sales" as permitted by SFAS No. 133. This type of contract is used in normal operations, settles 155
____________________________________________________________________________________ physically, and follows standard accrual accounting. Unrealized gains and losses on these contracts do not appear on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Examples of these transactions include purchases of fuel to be consumed in power plants and actual receipts and deliveries of electric power. Normal purchases and sales transactions are presented on a gross basis, normal sales as operating revenue, and normal purchases as fuel and purchased energy expenses. |
PHI uses option contracts to mitigate certain risks. These options are normally marked-to-market through current earnings because of the difficulty in qualifying options for hedge accounting treatment. Market prices, when available, are used to value options. If market prices are not available, the market value of the options is estimated using Black-Scholes closed form models. Option contracts typically make up only a small portion of PHI's total derivatives portfolio. |
The fair value of derivatives is determined using quoted exchange prices where available. For instruments that are not traded on an exchange, external broker quotes are used to determine fair value. For some custom and complex instruments, internal models are used to interpolate broker quality price information. Models are also used to estimate volumes for certain transactions. The same valuation methods are used to determine the value of non-derivative commodity exposure for risk management purposes. |
The impact of derivatives that are marked-to-market through current earnings, the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges, and the portion of fair value hedges that flows to current earnings are presented on a net basis in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. When a hedging gain or loss is realized, it is presented on a net basis in the same category as the underlying item being hedged. Normal purchase and sale transactions are presented gross on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings as they are realized. The unrealized assets and liabilities that offset unrealized derivative gains and losses are presented gross on the Consolidated Balance Sheets except where contractual netting agreements are in place. |
Conectiv Energy engages in commodity hedging activities to minimize the risk of market fluctuations associated with the purchase and sale of energy commodities (natural gas, petroleum, coal and electricity). The majority of these hedges relate to the procurement of fuel for its power plants, fixing the cash flows from the plant output, and securing power for its load supply obligations. Conectiv Energy's hedging activities are conducted using derivative instruments, including forward contracts, swaps and futures, designated as cash flow hedges which are designed to reduce the variability in future cash flows. Conectiv Energy's commodity hedging objectives, in accordance with its risk management policy, are primarily the assurance of stable and known cash flows and the fixing of favorable prices and margins when they become available. |
Conectiv Energy assesses risk on a total portfolio basis and by component (e.g. generation output, generation fuel, load supply, etc.). Portfolio risk combines the generation fleet, load obligations, miscellaneous commodity sales and hedges. Derivatives designated as cash flow and fair value hedges (Accounting Hedges) are matched against each component using the product or products that most closely represent the underlying hedged item. The total portfolio is risk managed based on its megawatt position by month. If the total portfolio becomes too long or too short for a period as determined in accordance with Conectiv Energy's policies, steps are taken to reduce or increase hedges. Portfolio-level hedging includes the use of Accounting Hedges, derivatives that are being marked-to-market through earnings, and other physical commodity purchases and sales. 156
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DPL uses derivative instruments (forward contracts, futures, swaps, and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options) primarily to reduce gas commodity price volatility while limiting its firm customers' exposure to increases in the market price of gas. DPL also manages commodity risk with capacity contracts that do not meet the definition of derivatives. The primary goal of these activities is to reduce the exposure of its regulated retail gas customers to natural gas price spikes. All premiums paid and other transaction costs incurred as part of DPL's natural gas hedging activity, in addition to all gains and losses on the natural gas hedging activity, are fully recoverable through the gas cost rate clause included in DPL's gas tariff rates approved by the DPSC and are deferred under SFAS No. 71 until recovered. At December 31, 2006, DPL had a net deferred derivative payable of $27.3 million, offset by a $28.5 million regulatory asset. At December 31, 2005, DPL ha d a deferred derivative receivable on DPL's balance sheet of $21.6 million, offset by a $21.6 million regulatory liability. |
Pepco Energy Services purchases electric and natural gas futures, swaps, options and forward contracts to hedge price risk in connection with the purchase of physical natural gas and electricity for delivery to customers. Pepco Energy Services accounts for its futures and swap contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions. Its options contracts are marked-to-market through current earnings. Its forward contracts are accounted for under standard accrual accounting as these contracts meet the requirements for normal purchase and sale accounting under SFAS No. 133. |
PCI has entered into interest rate swap agreements for the purpose of managing its overall borrowing rate and managing its interest rate exposure associated with debt it has issued. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 72.9% of PCI's fixed rate debt for its Medium-Term Note program has been swapped into variable rate debt in a transaction entered into in December 2001, which matures in December 2008. All of PCI's hedges on variable rate debt expired when the variable rate debt incurred under its Medium-Term Note program matured during 2005. |
Emission Allowances |
Emission allowances for sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide are allocated to generation owners by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on Federal programs designed to regulate the emissions from power plants. The EPA allotments have no cost basis to the generation owners. Depending on the run-time of a generating unit in a given year, and other pollution controls it may have, the unit may need additional allowances above its allocation or it may have excess allowances. Allowances are traded among companies in an over-the-counter market, which allows companies to purchase additional allowances to avoid incurring penalties for noncompliance with applicable emissions standards or to sell excess allowances. |
Pepco Holdings accounts for emission allowances as inventory in the balance sheet line item "Fuel, materials and supplies - at average cost." Allowances from EPA allocations are added to current inventory each year at a zero basis. Additional purchased allowances are recorded at cost. Allowances sold or consumed at the power plants are expensed at a weighted-average cost. This cost tends to be relatively low due to the zero-basis allowances. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the book value of emission allowances was $11.7 million and $9.8 million, respectively. Pepco Holdings has established a committee to monitor compliance with emissions regulations and whether its power plants have the required number of allowances. 157
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Accounting for Goodwill |
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired. The accounting for goodwill is governed by SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." Pepco Holdings' goodwill balance that was generated from Pepco's acquisition of Conectiv has been allocated to the Power Delivery business. SFAS No. 141 requires business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and broadens the criteria for recording intangible assets apart from goodwill. SFAS No. 142 requires that purchased goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangibles no longer be amortized, but instead be tested for impairment at least annually. Substantially all of Pepco Holdings' goodwill was generated by the acquisition of Conectiv by Pepco. |
A roll forward of PHI's goodwill balance follows (millions of dollars): |
Financial Investment Liquidation |
In October 2005, PCI received $13.3 million in cash related to the liquidation of a preferred stock investment that was written-off in 2001 and recorded an after-tax gain of $8.9 million. |
Income Taxes |
PHI and the majority of its subsidiaries file a consolidated Federal income tax return. Federal income taxes are allocated among PHI and the subsidiaries included in its consolidated group pursuant to a written tax sharing agreement which was approved by the SEC in connection with the establishment of PHI as a holding company as part of Pepco's acquisition of Conectiv on August 1, 2002. Under this tax sharing agreement, PHI's consolidated Federal income tax liability is allocated based upon PHI's and its subsidiaries' separate taxable income or loss amounts. 165
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The consolidated financial statements include current and deferred income taxes. Current income taxes represent the amounts of tax expected to be reported on PHI's and its subsidiaries' Federal and state income tax returns. |
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities represent the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities and are measured using presently enacted tax rates. The portion of Pepco's, DPL's, and ACE's deferred tax liability applicable to its utility operations that has not been recovered from utility customers represents income taxes recoverable in the future and is included in "regulatory assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For additional information, see the preceding discussion under "Regulation of Power Delivery Operations." |
Deferred income tax expense generally represents the net change during the reporting period in the net deferred tax liability and deferred recoverable income taxes. |
Investment tax credits from utility plants purchased in prior years are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Investment tax credits." These investment tax credits are being amortized to income over the useful lives of the related utility plant. |
FIN 46R, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" |
Subsidiaries of Pepco Holdings have power purchase agreements (PPAs) with a number of entities, including three contracts between unaffiliated non-utility generators (NUGs) and ACE and an agreement of Pepco with Panda-Brandywine, L.P. (Panda), entered into in 1991, pursuant to which Pepco is obligated to purchase from Panda 230 megawatts of capacity and energy annually through 2021 (Panda PPA). Due to a variable element in the pricing structure of the NUGs and the Panda PPA, the Pepco Holdings' subsidiaries potentially assume the variability in the operations of the plants related to these PPAs and therefore have a variable interest in the counterparties to these PPAs. In accordance with the provisions of FIN 46R, Pepco Holdings continued, during 2006, to conduct exhaustive efforts to obtain information from these four entities, but was unable to obtain sufficient information to conduct the analysis required under FIN 46R to determine whether these four entities were variab le interest entities or if Pepco Holdings' subsidiaries were the primary beneficiary. As a result, Pepco Holdings has applied the scope exemption from the application of FIN 46R for enterprises that have conducted exhaustive efforts to obtain the necessary information, but have not been able to obtain such information. |
Net purchase activities with the counterparties to the NUGs and the Panda PPA for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, were approximately $403 million, $419 million, and $341 million, respectively, of which approximately $367 million, $381 million, and $312 million, respectively, related to power purchases under the NUGs and the Panda PPA. Pepco Holdings' exposure to loss under the Panda PPA is discussed in Note (12), Commitments and Contingencies, under "Relationship with Mirant Corporation." Pepco Holdings does not have loss exposure under the NUGs because cost recovery will be achieved from ACE's customers through regulated rates. |
Impairment Losses |
During 2006, Pepco Holdings recorded pre-tax impairment losses of $18.9 million ($13.7 million after-tax) related to certain energy services business assets owned by Pepco Energy Services. The impairments were recorded as a result of the execution of contracts to sell certain assets and due to the lower than expected production and related estimated cash flows from other 166
____________________________________________________________________________________ assets. The fair value of the assets under contracts for sale was determined based on the sales contract price, while the fair value of the other assets was determined by estimating future expected production and cash flows. |
Sale of Interest in Cogeneration Joint Venture |
During the first quarter of 2006, Conectiv Energy recognized a $12.3 million pre-tax gain ($7.9 million after-tax) on the sale of its equity interest in a joint venture which owns a wood burning cogeneration facility in California. |
Other Non-Current Assets |
The other assets balance principally consists of real estate under development, equity and other investments, unrealized derivative assets, and deferred compensation trust assets. |
Other Current Liabilities |
The other current liability balance principally consists of customer deposits, accrued vacation liability, current unrealized derivative liabilities, and other miscellaneous liabilities. The $70 million paid pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and Release with Mirant Corporation, its predecessors, its subsidiaries and successors (Mirant) (the Settlement Agreement) was included in the 2006 balance. |
Other Deferred Credits |
The other deferred credits balance principally consists of non-current unrealized derivative liabilities and miscellaneous deferred liabilities. |
Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities |
In accordance with FSP American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Industry Audit Guide, Audits of Airlines--"Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities" (FSP AUG AIR-1), costs associated with planned major maintenance activities related to generation facilities are accounted for on an as incurred basis. |
Reclassifications |
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in order to conform to current year presentation. |
New Accounting Standards |
FSP FTB 85-4-1, "Accounting for Life Settlement Contracts by Third-Party Investors" |
In March 2006, the FASB issued FSP FASB Technical Bulletin (FTB) 85-4-1, "Accounting for Life Settlement Contracts by Third-Party Investors" (FSP FTB 85-4-1). This FSP provides initial and subsequent measurement guidance and financial statement presentation and disclosure guidance for investments by third-party investors in life settlement contracts. FSP FTB 85-4-1 also amends certain provisions of FASBTechnical Bulletin No. 85-4, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance," andSFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." The guidance in FSP FTB 85-4-1 applies prospectively for all new life settlement contracts and is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2006 (the year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). Pepco Holdings has evaluated the impact of FSP FTB 167
____________________________________________________________________________________ 85-4-1 and does not anticipate its adoption will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
EITF 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" |
In September 2005, the FASB ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" (EITF 04-13), which addresses circumstances under which two or more exchange transactions involving inventory with the same counterparty should be viewed as a single exchange transaction for the purposes of evaluating the effect of APB Opinion 29, "Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions." EITF 04-13 is effective for new arrangements entered into, or modifications or renewals of existing arrangements, beginning in the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after March 15, 2006. |
Pepco Holdings implemented EITF 04-13 on April 1, 2006. The implementation did not have a material impact on Pepco Holdings' overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for the second quarter of 2006. |
SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140" |
In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140" (SFAS No. 155). SFAS No. 155 amends FASB Statements No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," and No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities." SFAS No. 155 resolves issues addressed in Statement 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, "Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets." SFAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). Pepco Holdings has evaluated the impact of SFAS No. 155 and does not anticipate that its implementation will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
SFAS No. 156, "Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140" |
In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, "Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets" (SFAS No. 156), an amendment of SFAS No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities," with respect to the accounting for separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. SFAS No. 156 requires an entity to recognize a servicing asset or servicing liability upon undertaking an obligation to service a financial asset via certain servicing contracts, and for all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities to be initially measured at fair value, if practicable. Subsequent measurement is permitted using either the amortization method or the fair value measurement method for each class of separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. |
SFAS No. 156 is effective as of the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). Application is to be applied prospectively to all transactions following adoption of SFAS No. 156. Pepco Holdings 168
____________________________________________________________________________________ has evaluated the impact of SFAS No. 156 and does not anticipate its adoption will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
FSP FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)" |
In April 2006, the FASB issued FSP FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)" (FSP FIN 46(R)-6), which provides guidance on how to determine the variability to be considered in applying FIN 46(R), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." |
The guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 is applicable prospectively beginning the first day of the first reporting period beginning after June 15, 2006. |
Pepco Holdings started applying the guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 to new and modified arrangements effective July 1, 2006. |
EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" |
On June 28, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" (EITF 06-3). EITF 06-3 provides guidance on an entity's disclosure of its accounting policy regarding the gross or net presentation of certain taxes and provides that if taxes included in gross revenues are significant, a company should disclose the amount of such taxes for each period for which an income statement is presented (i.e., both interim and annual periods). Taxes within the scope of EITF 06-3 are those that are imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction. Taxes assessed on an entity's activities over a period of time are not within the scope of EITF 06-3. EITF 06-3 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006 (March 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings) although earlier application is permitted. |
Pepco Holdings does not anticipate that the adoption of EITF 06-3 will materially impact its disclosure requirements. |
FSP FAS 13-2, "Accounting for a Change or Projected Change in the Timing of Cash Flows Relating to Income Taxes Generated by a Leveraged Lease Transaction" |
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FSP FAS 13-2, "Accounting for a Change or Projected Change in the Timing of Cash Flows Relating to Income Taxes Generated by a Leveraged Lease Transaction" (FSP FAS 13-2). FSP FAS 13-2, which amends SFAS No. 13, "Accounting for Leases," addresses how a change or projected change in the timing of cash flows relating to income taxes generated by a leveraged lease transaction affects the accounting by a lessor for that lease. |
FSP FAS 13-2 will not be effective until the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). A material change in the timing of cash flows under PHI's cross-border leases as the result of a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or a change in tax law would require an adjustment to the book value of the leases and a charge to earnings equal to the repricing impact of the disallowed deductions 169
____________________________________________________________________________________ which could result in a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. |
FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" |
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the criteria for recognition of tax benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," and prescribes a financial statement recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Specifically, it clarifies that an entity's tax benefits must be "more likely than not" of being sustained prior to recording the related tax benefit in the financial statements. If the position drops below the "more likely than not" standard, the benefit can no longer be recognized. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. |
FIN 48 is effective the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). Pepco Holdings has completed its evaluation of FIN 48, which resulted in an immaterial impact to its retained earnings at January 1, 2007, and no impact on its results of operations and cash flows. |
SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" |
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of this Statement will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years (year ending December 31, 2008 for Pepco Holdings). |
Pepco Holdings is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 157 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
FSP AUG AIR-1, "Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities" |
On September 8, 2006, the FASB issued FSP AUG AIR-1, which prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities in annual and interim financial reporting periods. FSP AUG AIR-1 is effective the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). |
Pepco Holdings does not believe that the implementation of FSP AUG AIR-1 will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
"Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108" |
On September 13, 2006, the SEC issued SAB No. 108 (SAB 108) which expresses the SEC staff's views on the process of quantifying financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify the impact of correcting all misstatements, including both the carryover 170
____________________________________________________________________________________ and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements by quantifying an error using both the rollover and iron curtain approaches and by evaluating the error measured under each approach. Under SAB 108, a registrant's financial statements would require adjustment when either approach results in a material misstatement, after considering all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors. Further, the SEC believes that a registrant's materiality assessment of an identified unadjusted error should quantify the effects of the identified unadjusted error on each financial statement and related financial statement disclosure. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending on or after November 15, 2006. |
Pepco Holdings implemented the guidance provided in SAB 108 during the year ended December 31, 2006. |
EITF Issue No. 06-5, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance -- Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance" |
On September 20, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-5, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance -- Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance" (EITF 06-5) which provides guidance on whether an entity should consider the contractual ability to surrender all of the individual-life policies (or certificates under a group life policy) together when determining the amount that could be realized in accordance with FTB 85-4, and whether a guarantee of the additional value associated with the group life policy affects that determination. EITF 06-5 provides that a policyholder should (i) determine the amount that could be realized under the insurance contract assuming the surrender of an individual-life by individual-life policy (or certificate by certificate in a group policy) and (ii) not discount the cash surrender value component of the amount that could be realized when c ontractual restrictions on the ability to surrender a policy exist unless contractual limitations prescribe that the cash surrender value component of the amount that could be realized is a fixed amount, in which case the amount that could be realized should be discounted in accordance with Opinion 21. EITF 06-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). |
Pepco Holdings does not anticipate that the adoption of EITF 06-5 will materially impact its disclosure requirements. |
FASB Staff Position No. EITF 00-19-2, "Accounting for Registration Payment Arrangements" |
On December 21, 2006, the FASB issued FSP No. EITF 00-19-2, "Accounting for Registration Payment Arrangements"(FSP EITF 00-19-2), which addresses an issuer's accounting for registration payment arrangements and specifies that the contingent obligation to make future payments or otherwise transfer consideration under a registration payment arrangement, whether issued as a separate agreement or included as a provision of a financial instrument or other agreement, should be separately recognized and measured in accordance with FASB SFAS No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies." FSP EITF 00-19-2 is effective immediately for registration payment arrangements and the financial instruments subject to those arrangements that are entered into or modified subsequent to the date of its issuance. For registration payment arrangements and financial instruments subject to those arrangements that were entered into prior to the issuance of FSP EITF 00-19-2, this guidance shall be effe ctive for 171
____________________________________________________________________________________ financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, and interim periods within those fiscal years (December 31, 2007 for Pepco Holdings). |
Pepco Holdings is evaluating the impact, if any, of FSP EITF 00-19-2 and does not anticipate its adoption will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" |
On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No.159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" (SFAS No. 159) which permits entities to choose to elect to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS No. 159 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of SFAS No. 159 will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No.159 establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provide additional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of the company's choice to use fair value on its earnings. It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair value on the face of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 does not eliminate disclosure requirements included in other accounting standards. |
SFAS No. 159 applies to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (year ending December 31, 2008 for Pepco Holdings), with early adoption permitted for an entity that has also elected to apply the provisions ofSFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements.An entity is prohibited from retrospectively applying SFAS No. 159, unless it chooses early adoption. SFAS No. 159 also applies to eligible items existing at November 15, 2007 (or early adoption date). Pepco Holdings is in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 159 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
(3) SEGMENT INFORMATION |
Based on the provisions of SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," Pepco Holdings' management has identified its operating segments at December 31, 2006 as Power Delivery, Conectiv Energy, Pepco Energy Services, and Other Non-Regulated. Intercompany (intersegment) revenues and expenses are not eliminated at the segment level for purposes of presenting segment financial results. Elimination of these intercompany amounts is accomplished for PHI's consolidated results through the "Corp. & Other" column. Segment financial information for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, is as follows. |
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Separately, Mirant and SMECO have entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release (the SMECO Settlement Agreement). The SMECO Settlement Agreement provides that Mirant will assume, rather than reject, the SMECO Agreement. This assumption ensures that Pepco will not 202
____________________________________________________________________________________ incur liability to SMECO as the guarantor of the SMECO Agreement due to the rejection of the SMECO Agreement, although Pepco will continue to guarantee to SMECO the future performance of Mirant under the SMECO Agreement. |
According to their terms, the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement will become effective when the Bankruptcy Court or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (the District Court), as applicable, has entered a final order, not subject to appeal or rehearing, approving both the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement. |
On August 9, 2006, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order approving the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement. On August 18, 2006, certain holders of Mirant bankruptcy claims, who had objected to approval of the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement before the Bankruptcy Court, appealed the approval order to the District Court. On December 26, 2006, the District Court issued an order affirming the Bankruptcy Court's order approving the Settlement Agreement. On January 25, 2007, the parties that previously appealed the Bankruptcy Court's order filed a notice of appeal of the District Court's order with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the Fifth Circuit). On February 12, 2007, the Fifth Circuit issued a briefing schedule. The brief of the appealing creditors is due on March 26, 2007, while Mirant's and Pepco's briefs are due on April 30, 2007. |
In August 2006, Mirant made a cash payment to Pepco of $70 million, which became due in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement as a result of the approval of the Settlement Agreement by the Bankruptcy Court. If the Bankruptcy Court order approving the Settlement Agreement becomes a final order after the exhaustion of all appeals, the payment will be taken into account as if it were proceeds from the resale by Pepco of shares of the Mirant common stock, as described above, and treated as a portion of the $520 million payment due Pepco. If the Bankruptcy Court approval of the Settlement Agreement is not upheld on appeal, Pepco must repay this cash payment to Mirant. Therefore, no income statement impact has been recognized in relation to the $70 million payment. |
Until the approval of the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement becomes final, Mirant is required to continue to perform all of its contractual obligations to Pepco and SMECO. Pepco intends to use the $450 million portion of the Pepco Distribution related to the rejection of the PPA-Related Obligations to pay for future capacity and energy purchases under the Panda PPA. |
In litigation prior to the entry into the Settlement Agreement, the District Court had entered orders denying Mirant's attempt to reject the PPA-Related Obligations and directing Mirant to resume making payments to Pepco pursuant to the PPA-Related Obligations, which Mirant had suspended. Mirant is making the payments as required by the District Court order. On July 19, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an opinion affirming the District Court's orders. On September 4, 2006, Mirant filed a petition for rehearing and motion to stay the appeals pending completion of the settlement between the parties. On September 12, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order denying Mirant's motion for stay. On September 21, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order summarily denying Mirant's petition for rehearing. The appeal period has expired and that order is now final and nonappealable. 203
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Rate Proceedings |
PHI's regulated utility subsidiaries currently have four active distribution base rate cases underway. Pepco has filed electric distribution base rate cases in the District of Columbia and Maryland; DPL has filed a gas distribution base rate case in Delaware (which is the subject of a settlement agreement as discussed below) and an electric base rate case in Maryland. In each of these cases, the utility has proposed the adoption of a bill stabilization adjustment mechanism (BSA) for retail customers. The BSA will increase rates if revenues from distribution deliveries fall below the level approved by the applicable regulatory commission and will decrease rates if revenues from distribution deliveries are above the commission-approved level. The end result will be that the utility will collect its authorized revenues for distribution deliveries. As a consequence, a BSA "decouples" revenue from unit sales consumption and ties the growth in revenues to the growth in the num ber of customers. Some advantages of the BSA are that it (i) eliminates revenue fluctuations due to weather and changes in customer usage patterns and, therefore, provides for more predictable utility distribution revenues that are better aligned with costs, (ii) provides for more reliable fixed-cost recovery, (iii) tends to stabilize customers' delivery bills, and (iv) removes any disincentives for the regulated utilities to promote energy efficiency programs for their customers, because it breaks the link between overall sales volumes and delivery revenues. DPL has proposed a monthly BSA in the gas base rate case and, in each of the electric base rate cases, the companies have proposed a quarterly BSA. |
Delaware |
On August 31, 2006, DPL submitted its 2006 Gas Cost Rate (GCR) filing to the DPSC, which permits DPL to recover gas procurement costs through customer rates. The proposed decrease of approximately 9.6% is in anticipation of decreasing natural gas commodity costs. On October 3, 2006, the DPSC issued its initial order approving the proposed rates, which became effective November 1, 2006, subject to refund pending final DPSC approval after evidentiary hearings. Any amounts subject to refund would be deferred, resulting in no earnings impact. |
On February 23, 2007, DPL submitted an additional filing to the DPSC that proposed a 4.3% decrease in the GCR effective April 1, 2007, in compliance with its gas service tariff and to ensure collections are more aligned with expenses. DPL expects DPSC approval of the rate decrease in late March 2007, subject to refund pending final DPSC approval after evidentiary hearings. |
On August 31, 2006, DPL submitted an application to the DPSC for an increase in gas distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The application requested an annual increase of approximately $15 million or an overall increase of 6.6%, including certain miscellaneous tariff fees, reflecting a proposed return on equity (ROE) of 11.00%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase would be $15.5 million or an overall increase of 6.8%, reflecting an ROE of 11.25%. On October 17, 2006, the DPSC authorized DPL to place into effect beginning November 1, 2006, subject to refund, gas base rates designed to produce an annual interim increase in revenue of approximately $2.5 million. On February 16, 2007, all of the parties in this proceeding (DPL, DPSC staff and the Delaware Division of Public Advocate) filed a settlement agreement with the DPSC. The settlement provisions include a $9.0 million increase in distribution rates, including certain miscellaneous tarif f fees (of which $2.5 million was put into effect on November 1, 2006, as noted above), an ROE of 10.25%, and a change in depreciation rates that result in a $2.1 million reduction in pre-tax annual depreciation expense. Although the settlement agreement does not include a BSA, it provides for all of the parties to 204
____________________________________________________________________________________ the case to participate in any generic statewide proceeding for the purpose of investigating BSA mechanisms for electric and gas distribution utilities. In a separate proceeding, DPL has requested that a docket be opened for this purpose. Under the settlement agreement, rates will become effective on April 1, 2007. A DPSC decision is expected by the end of March 2007. |
District of Columbia |
In February 2006, Pepco filed an update to the District of Columbia GPC for the periods February 8, 2002 through February 7, 2004 and February 8, 2004 through February 7, 2005. The GPC provides for sharing of the profit from SOS sales. The update to the GPC in the District of Columbia takes into account the $112.4 million in proceeds received by Pepco from the December 2005 sale of an allowed bankruptcy claim against Mirant arising from a settlement agreement entered into with Mirant relating to Mirant's obligation to supply energy and capacity to fulfill Pepco's SOS obligations in the District of Columbia. The filing also incorporates true-ups to previous disbursements in the GPC for the District of Columbia. In the filing, Pepco requested that $24.3 million be credited to District of Columbia customers during the twelve-month period beginning April 2006. On June 15, 2006, the DCPSC granted conditional approval of the GPC update as filed, effective July 1, 2006. Final approval by the DCPSC is pending. |
On December 12, 2006, Pepco submitted an application to the DCPSC to increase electric distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The application requested an annual increase of approximately $46.2 million or an overall increase of 13.5%, reflecting a proposed ROE of 10.75%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase would be $50.5 million or an overall increase of 14.8%, reflecting an ROE of 11.00%. The application also proposed a Pension/OPEB Expense Surcharge that will allow Pepco to reflect in its distribution rates the increases and decreases that occur in the level of its pension and other post-employment benefits expense. A DCPSC decision is expected in mid-September 2007. |
Maryland |
On November 17, 2006, DPL and Pepco each submitted an application to the MPSC to increase electric distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The applications requested an annual increase for DPL of approximately $18.4 million or an overall increase of 3.2%, including certain miscellaneous tariff fees, and an annual increase for Pepco of approximately $47.4 million or an overall increase of 10.9%, reflecting a proposed ROE for each of 11.00%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase for DPL would be $20.3 million or an overall increase of 3.6%, and for Pepco would be $55.7 million or an overall increase of 12.9%, reflecting a proposed ROE for each of 11.25%. Each of the applications also proposed a Pension/OPEB Expense Surcharge that would allow the utility to reflect in its distribution rates the increases and decreases that occur in the level of its pension and other post-employment benefits expense. The applications requested that rates go into effect on December 17, 2006. In an order dated December 11, 2006, the MPSC suspended the proposed rates pending MPSC approval. MPSC decisions are expected in June 2007. |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
On May 15, 2006, Pepco, ACE and DPL updated their FERC-approved formula transmission rates based on the FERC Form 1 data for 2005 for each of the utilities. These rates became effective on June 1, 2006, as follows: for Pepco, $12,009 per megawatt per year; for ACE, $14,155 per megawatt per year; and for DPL, $10,034 per megawatt per year. By operation of 205
____________________________________________________________________________________ the formula rate process, the new rates incorporate true-ups from the 2005 formula rates that were effective June 1, 2005 and the new 2005 customer demand or peak load. Also, beginning in January 2007, the new rates will be applied to 2006 customer demand data, replacing the 2005 demand data that is currently used. This demand component is driven by the prior year peak loads experienced in each respective zone. Further, the rate changes will be positively impacted by changes to distribution rates for Pepco and DPL based on the merger settlements in Maryland and the District of Columbia. The net earnings impact expected from the network transmission rate changes is estimated to be a reduction of approximately $5 million year over year (2005 to 2006). |
ACE Restructuring Deferral Proceeding |
Pursuant to orders issued by the NJBPU under the New Jersey Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), beginning August 1, 1999, ACE was obligated to provide BGS to retail electricity customers in its service territory who did not choose a competitive energy supplier. For the period August 1, 1999 through July 31, 2003, ACE's aggregate costs that it was allowed to recover from customers exceeded its aggregate revenues from supplying BGS. These under-recovered costs were partially offset by a $59.3 million deferred energy cost liability existing as of July 31, 1999 (LEAC Liability) related to ACE's Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause and ACE's Demand Side Management Programs. ACE established a regulatory asset in an amount equal to the balance of under-recovered costs. |
In August 2002, ACE filed a petition with the NJBPU for the recovery of approximately $176.4 million in actual and projected deferred costs relating to the provision of BGS and other restructuring related costs incurred by ACE over the four-year period August 1, 1999 through July 31, 2003, net of the $59.3 million offset for the LEAC Liability. The petition also requested that ACE's rates be reset as of August 1, 2003 so that there would be no under-recovery of costs embedded in the rates on or after that date. The increase sought represented an overall 8.4% annual increase in electric rates. |
In July 2004, the NJBPU issued a final order in the restructuring deferral proceeding confirming a July 2003 summary order, which (i) permitted ACE to begin collecting a portion of the deferred costs and reset rates to recover on-going costs incurred as a result of EDECA, (ii) approved the recovery of $125 million of the deferred balance over a ten-year amortization period beginning August 1, 2003, (iii) transferred to ACE's then pending base rate case for further consideration approximately $25.4 million of the deferred balance (the base rate case ended in a settlement approved by the NJBPU in May 2005, the result of which is that any net rate impact from the deferral account recoveries and credits in future years will depend in part on whether rates associated with other deferred accounts considered in the case continue to generate over-collections relative to costs), and (iv) estimated the overall deferral balance as of July 31, 2003 at $195 million, of which $44.6 million was disallowed recovery by ACE. Although ACE believes the record does not justify the level of disallowance imposed by the NJBPU in the final order, the $44.6 million of disallowed incurred costs were reserved during the years 1999 through 2003 (primarily 2003) through charges to earnings, primarily in the operating expense line item "deferred electric service costs," with a corresponding reduction in the regulatory asset balance sheet account. In August 2004, ACE filed a notice of appeal with respect to the July 2004 final order with the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey (the Appellate Division), which hears appeals of the decisions of New Jersey administrative agencies, including the NJBPU. Briefs in the appeal were also filed by the Division of the New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate and by Cogentrix Energy Inc., the co-owner of 206
____________________________________________________________________________________ two cogeneration power plants with contracts to sell ACE approximately 397 megawatts of electricity, as cross-appellants between August 2005 and January 2006. The Appellate Division has not yet set the schedule for oral argument. |
Divestiture Cases |
District of Columbia |
Final briefs on Pepco's District of Columbia divestiture proceeds sharing application were filed with the DCPSC in July 2002 following an evidentiary hearing in June 2002. That application was filed to implement a provision of Pepco's DCPSC-approved divestiture settlement that provided for a sharing of any net proceeds from the sale of Pepco's generation-related assets. One of the principal issues in the case is whether Pepco should be required to share with customers the excess deferred income taxes (EDIT) and accumulated deferred investment tax credits (ADITC) associated with the sold assets and, if so, whether such sharing would violate the normalization provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and its implementing regulations. As of December 31, 2006, the District of Columbia allocated portions of EDIT and ADITC associated with the divested generating assets were approximately $6.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively. |
Pepco believes that a sharing of EDIT and ADITC would violate the IRS normalization rules. Under these rules, Pepco could not transfer the EDIT and the ADITC benefit to customers more quickly than on a straight line basis over the book life of the related assets. Since the assets are no longer owned there is no book life over which the EDIT and ADITC can be returned. If Pepco were required to share EDIT and ADITC and, as a result, the normalization rules were violated, Pepco would be unable to use accelerated depreciation on District of Columbia allocated or assigned property. In addition to sharing with customers the generation-related EDIT and ADITC balances, Pepco would have to pay to the IRS an amount equal to Pepco's District of Columbia jurisdictional generation-related ADITC balance ($5.8 million as of December 31, 2006), as well as its District of Columbia jurisdictional transmission and distribution-related ADITC balance ($4.7 million as of December 31, 2006) in ea ch case as those balances exist as of the later of the date a DCPSC order is issued and all rights to appeal have been exhausted or lapsed, or the date the DCPSC order becomes operative. |
In March 2003, the IRS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), which would allow for the sharing of EDIT and ADITC related to divested assets with utility customers on a prospective basis and at the election of the taxpayer on a retroactive basis. In December 2005 a revised NOPR was issued which, among other things, withdrew the March 2003 NOPR and eliminated the taxpayer's ability to elect to apply the regulation retroactively. Comments on the revised NOPR were filed in March 2006, and a public hearing was held in April 2006. Pepco filed a letter with the DCPSC in January 2006, in which it has reiterated that the DCPSC should continue to defer any decision on the ADITC and EDIT issues until the IRS issues final regulations or states that its regulations project related to this issue will be terminated without the issuance of any regulations. Other issues in the divestiture proceeding deal with the treatment of internal costs and cost allocations as deductions from the gross proceeds of the divestiture. |
Pepco believes that its calculation of the District of Columbia customers' share of divestiture proceeds is correct. However, depending on the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, Pepco could be required to make additional gain-sharing payments to District of Columbia customers, 207
____________________________________________________________________________________ including the payments described above related to EDIT and ADITC. Such additional payments (which, other than the EDIT and ADITC related payments, cannot be estimated) would be charged to expense in the quarter and year in which a final decision is rendered and could have a material adverse effect on Pepco's and PHI's results of operations for those periods. However, neither PHI nor Pepco believes that additional gain-sharing payments, if any, or the ADITC-related payments to the IRS, if required, would have a material adverse impact on its financial position or cash flows. |
Maryland |
Pepco filed its divestiture proceeds plan application with the MPSC in April 2001. The principal issue in the Maryland case is the same EDIT and ADITC sharing issue that has been raised in the District of Columbia case. See the discussion above under "Divestiture Cases -- District of Columbia." As of December 31, 2006, the Maryland allocated portions of EDIT and ADITC associated with the divested generating assets were approximately $9.1 million and $10.4 million, respectively. Other issues deal with the treatment of certain costs as deductions from the gross proceeds of the divestiture. In November 2003, the Hearing Examiner in the Maryland proceeding issued a proposed order with respect to the application that concluded that Pepco's Maryland divestiture settlement agreement provided for a sharing between Pepco and customers of the EDIT and ADITC associated with the sold assets. Pepco believes that such a sharing would violate the normalization rules (discussed abo ve) and would result in Pepco's inability to use accelerated depreciation on Maryland allocated or assigned property. If the proposed order is affirmed, Pepco would have to share with its Maryland customers, on an approximately 50/50 basis, the Maryland allocated portion of the generation-related EDIT ($9.1 million as of December 31, 2006), and the Maryland-allocated portion of generation-related ADITC. Furthermore, Pepco would have to pay to the IRS an amount equal to Pepco's Maryland jurisdictional generation-related ADITC balance ($10.4 million as of December 31, 2006), as well as its Maryland retail jurisdictional ADITC transmission and distribution-related balance ($8.4 million as of December 31, 2006), in each case as those balances exist as of the later of the date a MPSC order is issued and all rights to appeal have been exhausted or lapsed, or the date the MPSC order becomes operative. The Hearing Examiner decided all other issues in favor of Pepco, except for the determination tha t only one-half of the severance payments that Pepco included in its calculation of corporate reorganization costs should be deducted from the sales proceeds before sharing of the net gain between Pepco and customers. Pepco filed a letter with the MPSC in January 2006, in which it has reiterated that the MPSC should continue to defer any decision on the ADITC and EDIT issues until the IRS issues final regulations or states that its regulations project related to this issue will be terminated without the issuance of any regulations. |
In December 2003, Pepco appealed the Hearing Examiner's decision to the MPSC as it relates to the treatment of EDIT and ADITC and corporate reorganization costs. The MPSC has not issued any ruling on the appeal and Pepco does not believe that it will do so until action is taken by the IRS as described above. However, depending on the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, Pepco could be required to share with its customers approximately 50 percent of the EDIT and ADITC balances described above in addition to the additional gain-sharing payments relating to the disallowed severance payments, which Pepco is not contesting. Such additional payments would be charged to expense in the quarter and year in which a final decision is rendered and could have a material adverse effect on results of operations for those periods. However, neither PHI nor Pepco believes that additional gain-sharing payments, if any, or the ADITC-related 208
____________________________________________________________________________________ payments to the IRS, if required, would have a material adverse impact on its financial position or cash flows. |
New Jersey |
In connection with the divestiture by ACE of its nuclear generating assets, the NJBPU in July 2000 preliminarily determined that the amount of stranded costs associated with the divested assets that ACE could recover from ratepayers should be reduced by approximately $94.5 million, representing the amount of the accumulated deferred federal income taxes (ADFIT) associated with the divested nuclear assets. However, due to uncertainty under federal tax law regarding whether the sharing of federal income tax benefits associated with the divested assets, including ADFIT, with ACE's customers would violate the normalization rules, ACE submitted a request to the IRS for a Private Letter Ruling (PLR) to clarify the applicable law. The NJBPU has delayed its final determination of the amount of recoverable stranded costs until after the receipt of the PLR. |
On May 25, 2006, the IRS issued a PLR in which it stated that returning to ratepayers any of the unamortized ADFIT attributable to accelerated depreciation on the divested assets after the sale of the assets by means of a reduction of the amount of recoverable stranded costs would violate the normalization rules. |
On June 9, 2006, ACE submitted a letter to the NJBPU to request that the NJBPU conduct proceedings to finalize the determination of the stranded costs associated with the sale of ACE's nuclear assets in accordance with the PLR. ACE's request remains pending. |
Default Electricity Supply Proceedings |
Delaware |
Effective May 1, 2006, SOS replaced fixed-rate POLR service for customers who do not choose an alternative electricity supplier. In October 2005, the DPSC approved DPL as the SOS provider to its Delaware delivery customers. DPL obtains the electricity to fulfill its SOS supply obligation under contracts entered pursuant to a competitive bid procedure approved by the DPSC. The bids received for the May 1, 2006, through May 31, 2007, period have had the effect of increasing rates significantly for all customer classes, including an average residential customer increase of 59%, as compared to the fixed rates previously in effect. |
To address this increase in rates, Delaware in April 2006 enacted legislation that provides for a deferral of the financial impact on customers of the increases through a three-step phase-in of the rate increases, with 15% of the increase taking effect on May 1, 2006, 25% of the increase taking effect on January 1, 2007, and any remaining balance taking effect on June 1, 2007, subject to the right of customers to elect not to participate in the deferral program. Customers who do not "opt-out" of the rate deferral program are required to pay the amounts deferred, without any interest charge, over a 17-month period beginning January 1, 2008. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 53% of the eligible Delaware customers have opted not to participate in the deferral of the SOS rates offered by DPL. With approximately 47% of the eligible customers participating in the phase-in program, DPL anticipates a maximum deferral balance of $51.4 million. 209
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Maryland |
Pursuant to orders issued by the MPSC in November 2006, Pepco and DPL each is the SOS provider to its delivery customers who do not choose an alternative electricity supplier. Each companypurchases the power supply required to satisfy its SOS obligations from wholesale suppliers under contracts entered into pursuant to a competitive bid procedure approved and supervised by the MPSC. In March 2006, Pepco and DPL each announced the results of competitive bids to supply electricity to its Maryland SOS customers for one year beginning June 1, 2006. Due to significant increases in the cost of fuels used to generate electricity, the auction results had the effect of increasing the average monthly electric bill by about 38.5% and 35% for Pepco's and DPL's Maryland residential customers, respectively. |
On April 21, 2006, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement among Pepco, DPL, the staff of the MPSC and the Office of Peoples Counsel of Maryland, which provides for a rate mitigation plan for the residential customers of each company. Under the plan, the full increase for each company's residential customers who affirmatively elect to participate are being phased-in in increments of 15% on June 1, 2006, 15.7% on March 1, 2007 and the remainder on June 1, 2007. Customers electing to participate in the rate deferral plan will be required to pay the deferred amounts over an 18-month period beginning June 1, 2007. Both Pepco and DPL will accrue the interest cost to fund the deferral program. The interest cost will be absorbed by Pepco and DPL during the period that the deferred balance is accumulated and collected from customers, to the extent of and offset against the margins that the companies otherwise would earn for providing SOS to residential customers. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 2% of Pepco's residential customers and approximately 1% of DPL's residential customers had elected to participate in the phase-in program. |
On June 23, 2006, Maryland enacted legislation that extended the period for customers to elect to participate in the phase-in of higher rates and revised the obligation to provide SOS to residential and small commercial customers until further action of the General Assembly. The legislation also provides for a customer refund reflecting the difference between the interest expense on an initially projected deferred balance at a 25% customer participation level and the interest expense on a deferred balance based on actual participation levels referred to above. The total amount of the refund is approximately $1.1 million for Pepco customers and approximately $.3 million for DPL customers. At Pepco's 2% level of participation, Pepco estimates that the deferral balance, net of taxes, will be approximately $1.4 million. At DPL's 1% level of participation, DPL estimates that the deferral balance, net of taxes, will be approximately $.2 million. In July 200 6, the MPSC approved revised tariff riders filed in June 2006 by Pepco and DPL to implement the legislation. |
Virginia |
On March 10, 2006, DPL filed for a rate increase with the VSCC for its Virginia Default Service customers to take effect on June 1, 2006, which was intended to allow DPL to recover its higher cost for energy established by the competitive bid procedure. On June 19, 2006, the VSCC issued an order that granted a rate increase for DPL of $11.5 million ($8.5 million less than requested by DPL in its March 2006 filing), to go into effect July 1, 2006. In determining the amount of the approved increase, the VSCC applied the proxy rate calculation to DPL's fuel factor, rather than allowing full recovery of the costs DPL incurred in procuring the supply necessary for its Default Service obligation. The estimated after-tax earnings and cash flow impacts of the decision are reductions of approximately $3.6 million in 2006 (including the loss 210
____________________________________________________________________________________ of revenue in June 2006 associated with the Default Service rate increase being deferred from June 1 until July 1) and $2.0 million in 2007. The order also mandated that DPL file an application by March 1, 2007 (which has been delayed until April 2, 2007 by subsequent VSCC order) for Default Service rates to become effective June 1, 2007, which should include a calculation of the fuel factor that is consistent with the procedures set forth in the order. |
In February 2007, the Virginia General Assembly passed amendments to the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act (the Virginia Restructuring Act) that modified the method by which investor-owned electric utilities in Virginia will be regulated by the VSCC. These amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act, subject to further amendment or veto by the Virginia governor and subsequent action by the General Assembly, will be effective on July 1, 2007. The amendments provide that, as of December 31, 2008, the following will come to an end: (i) capped rates (the previous expiration date was December 31, 2010); (ii) DPL's Default Service obligation (previously, DPL was obligated to continue to offer Default Service until relieved of that obligation by the VSCC); and (iii) customer choice, except that customers with loads of 5 megawatts or greater will continue to be able to buy from competitive suppliers, as will smaller non-residential customers tha t aggregate their loads to reach the 5 megawatt threshold and obtain VSCC approval. Additionally, if an ex-customer of Default Service wants to return to DPL as its energy supplier, it must give 5 years notice or obtain approval of the VSCC that the return is in the public interest. In this event, the ex-customer must take DPL's service at market based rates. DPL also believes that the amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act will terminate, as of December 31, 2008, the ratemaking provisions within the memorandum of agreement entered into by DPL, the staff of the VSCC and the Virginia Attorney General's office in the docket approving DPL's generating asset divestiture in 2000 (the MOA), including the application of the proxy rate calculation to DPL's fuel factor as discussed above; however, the VSCC's interpretation of these provisions is not known. It should be noted that in DPL's view, in the absence these amendments, the MOA and all of its provisions (including the proxy rate calculation) expire o n July 1, 2007; the VSCC staff and the Virginia Attorney General disagree with DPL's position. Assuming the ratemaking provisions of the MOA end on December 31, 2008 pursuant to the amended Virginia Restructuring Act, the amendments provide that DPL shall file a rate case in 2009 and every 2 years thereafter. The ROE to be allowed by the VSCC will be set within a range, the lower of which is essentially the average of vertically integrated investor-owned electric utilities in the southeast with an upper point that is 300 basis points above that average. The VSCC has authority to set rates higher or lower to allow DPL to maintain the opportunity to earn the determined ROE and to credit back to customers, in whole or in part, earnings that were 50 basis points or more in excess of the determined ROE. The amended Virginia Restructuring Act includes various incentive ROEs for the construction of new generation and would allow the VSCC to penalize or reward DPL for efficient operations or, if DPL were to add new generation, for generating unit performance. There are also enhanced ratemaking features if DPL pursues conservation, demand management and energy efficiency programs or pursues renewable energy portfolios. |
ACE Sale of Generating Assets |
On September 1, 2006, ACE completed the sale of its interests in the Keystone and Conemaugh generating facilities to Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. for approximately $177.0 million, which was subsequently decreased by $1.6 million based on a post-closing 60-day true-up for applicable items not known at the time of the closing. Approximately $81.3 million of the net gain from the sale has been used to offset the remaining regulatory asset balance, which ACE 211
____________________________________________________________________________________ has been recovering in rates, and approximately $49.8 million of the net gain is being returned to ratepayers over a 33-month period as a credit on their bills, which began with the October 2006 billing month. The balance to be repaid to customers is $48.4 million as of December 31, 2006. |
On February 8, 2007, ACE completed the sale of the B.L. England generating facility to RC Cape May Holdings, LLC (RC Cape May), an affiliate of Rockland Capital Energy Investments, LLC, for a price of $9.0 million, after adjustment for, among other things, variances in the value of fuel and material inventories at the time of closing, plant operating capacity, the value of certain benefits for transferred employees and the actual closing date. The purchase price will be further adjusted based on a post-closing 60-day true-up for applicable items not known at the time of the closing. In addition, RC Cape May and ACE have agreed to arbitration concerning whether RC Cape May must pay to ACE, as part of the purchase price, an additional $3.1 million remaining in dispute. RC Cape May also assumed certain liabilities associated with the B.L. England generating station, including substantially all environmental liabilities. This transaction is further described below under the h eading "Environmental Litigation." |
The sale of B.L. England will not affect the stranded costs associated with the plant that already have been securitized. ACE anticipates that approximately $9 million to $10 million of additional regulatory assets related to B.L. England may, subject to NJBPU approval, be eligible for recovery as stranded costs. The emission allowance credits associated with B. L. England will be monetized for the benefit of ACE's ratepayers pursuant to the NJBPU order approving the sale. Net proceeds from the sale of the plant and monetization of the emission allowance credits, which will be determined after the sale upon resolution of certain adjustments, will be credited to ACE's ratepayers in accordance with the requirements of EDECA and NJBPU orders. |
General Litigation |
During 1993, Pepco was served with Amended Complaints filed in the state Circuit Courts of Prince George's County, Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland in separate ongoing, consolidated proceedings known as "In re: Personal Injury Asbestos Case." Pepco and other corporate entities were brought into these cases on a theory of premises liability. Under this theory, the plaintiffs argued that Pepco was negligent in not providing a safe work environment for employees or its contractors, who allegedly were exposed to asbestos while working on Pepco's property. Initially, a total of approximately 448 individual plaintiffs added Pepco to their complaints. While the pleadings are not entirely clear, it appears that each plaintiff sought $2 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages from each defendant. |
Since the initial filings in 1993, additional individual suits have been filed against Pepco, and significant numbers of cases have been dismissed. As a result of two motions to dismiss, numerous hearings and meetings and one motion for summary judgment, Pepco has had approximately 400 of these cases successfully dismissed with prejudice, either voluntarily by the plaintiff or by the court. As of January 31, 2007, there are approximately 180 cases still pending against Pepco in the State Courts of Maryland; of which approximately 85 cases were filed after December 19, 2000, and have been tendered to Mirant for defense and indemnification pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Mirant has agreed to assume this contractual obligation. For a description of the Settlement Agreement, see the discussion of the relationship with Mirant above. 212
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While the aggregate amount of monetary damages sought in the remaining suits (excluding those tendered to Mirant) exceeds $360 million, PHI and Pepco believe the amounts claimed by current plaintiffs are greatly exaggerated. The amount of total liability, if any, and any related insurance recovery cannot be determined at this time; however, based on information and relevant circumstances known at this time, neither PHI nor Pepco believes these suits will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, if an unfavorable decision were rendered against Pepco, it could have a material adverse effect on Pepco's and PHI's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
Cash Balance Plan Litigation |
In 1999, Conectiv established a cash balance retirement plan to replace defined benefit retirement plans then maintained by ACE and DPL. Following the acquisition by Pepco of Conectiv, this plan became the Conectiv Cash Balance Sub-Plan within the PHI Retirement Plan. On September 26, 2005, three management employees of PHI Service Company filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the Delaware District Court) against the PHI Retirement Plan, PHI and Conectiv (the PHI Parties), alleging violations of ERISA, on behalf of a class of management employees who did not have enough age and service when the Cash Balance Sub-Plan was implemented in 1999 to assure that their accrued benefits would be calculated pursuant to the terms of the predecessor plans sponsored by ACE and DPL. A fourth plaintiff was added to the case to represent DPL-heritage "grandfathered" employees who will not be eligible for early retirement at the end of the grandfathere d period. |
The plaintiffs have challenged the design of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan and are seeking a declaratory judgment that the Cash Balance Sub-Plan is invalid and that the accrued benefits of each member of the class should be calculated pursuant to the terms of the predecessor plans. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the use of a variable rate to compute the plaintiffs' accrued benefit under the Cash Balance Sub-Plan results in reductions in the accrued benefits that violate ERISA. The complaint also alleges that the benefit accrual rates and the minimal accrual requirements of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan violate ERISA as did the notice that was given to plan participants upon implementation of the Cash Balance Sub-Plan. |
The PHI Parties filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which was denied by the court on July 11, 2006. The Delaware District Court stayed one count of the complaint regarding alleged age discrimination pending a decision in another case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (the Third Circuit). On January 30, 2007, the Third Circuit issued a ruling in the other case that PHI's counsel believes should result in the favorable disposition of all of the claims (other than the claim of inadequate notice) against the PHI Parties in the Delaware District Court. The PHI Parties filed pleadings apprising the Delaware District Court of the Third Circuit's decision on February 16, 2007, at the same time they filed their opposition to plaintiffs' motion. |
While PHI believes it has an increasingly strong legal position in the case and that it is therefore unlikely that the plaintiffs will prevail, PHI estimates that, if the plaintiffs were to prevail, the ABO and projected benefit obligation (PBO), calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 87, each would increase by approximately $12 million, assuming no change in benefits for persons who have already retired or whose employment has been terminated and using actuarial valuation data as of the time the suit was filed. The ABO represents the present value that participants have earned as of the date of calculation. This means that only service already worked and compensation already earned and paid is considered. The PBO is similar to the 213
____________________________________________________________________________________ ABO, except that the PBO includes recognition of the effect that estimated future pay increases would have on the pension plan obligation. |
Environmental Litigation |
PHI, through its subsidiaries, is subject to regulation by various federal, regional, state, and local authorities with respect to the environmental effects of its operations, including air and water quality control, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and limitations on land use. In addition, federal and state statutes authorize governmental agencies to compel responsible parties to clean up certain abandoned or unremediated hazardous waste sites. PHI's subsidiaries may incur costs to clean up currently or formerly owned facilities or sites found to be contaminated, as well as other facilities or sites that may have been contaminated due to past disposal practices. Although penalties assessed for violations of environmental laws and regulations are not recoverable from customers of the operating utilities, environmental clean-up costs incurred by Pepco, DPL and ACE would be included by each company in its respective cost of service for ratemaking purposes. |
In July 2004, DPL entered into an administrative consent order (ACO) with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) to further identify the extent of soil, sediment and ground and surface water contamination related to former manufactured gas plant (MGP) operations at a Cambridge, Maryland site on DPL-owned property and to investigate the extent of MGP contamination on adjacent property. The MDE has approved the RI and DPL submitted a final FS to MDE on February 15, 2007. The costs of cleanup (as determined by the RI/FS and subsequent negotiations with MDE) are anticipated to be approximately $2.7 million. The remedial action will include dredging activities within Cambridge Creek, which are expected to take place as early as October 2007, and soil excavation on DPL's and adjacent property as early as January 2008. |
In the early 1970s, both Pepco and DPL sold scrap transformers, some of which may have contained some level of PCBs, to a metal reclaimer operating at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, owned by a nonaffiliated company. In December 1987, Pepco and DPL were notified by the EPA that they, along with a number of other utilities and non-utilities, were potentially responsible parties (PRPs) in connection with the PCB contamination at the site. |
In 1994, an RI/FS including a number of possible remedies was submitted to the EPA. In 1997, the EPA issued a Record of Decision that set forth a selected remedial action plan with estimated implementation costs of approximately $17 million. In 1998, the EPA issued a unilateral administrative order to Pepco and 12 other PRPs directing them to conduct the design and actions called for in its decision. In May 2003, two of the potentially liable owner/operator entities filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In October 2003, the bankruptcy court confirmed a reorganization plan that incorporates the terms of a settlement among the two debtor owner/operator entities, the United States and a group of utility PRPs including Pepco (the Utility PRPs). Under the bankruptcy settlement, the reorganized entity/site owner will pay a total of $13.25 million to remediate the site (the Bankruptcy Settlement). |
In March 2006, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania approved global consent decrees for the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site, entered into on 214
____________________________________________________________________________________ August 23, 2005, involving the Utility PRPs, the U.S. Department of Justice, EPA, The City of Philadelphia and two owner/operators of the site. Under the terms of the settlement, the two owner/operators will make payments totaling $5.55 million to the U.S. Department of Justice and totaling $4.05 million to the Utility PRPs. The Utility PRPs will perform the remedy at the site and will be able to draw on the $13.25 million from the Bankruptcy Settlement to accomplish the remediation (the Bankruptcy Funds). The Utility PRPs will contribute funds to the extent remediation costs exceed the Bankruptcy Funds available. The Utility PRPs also will be liable for EPA costs associated with overseeing the monitoring and operation of the site remedy after the remedy construction is certified to be complete and also the cost of performing the "5 year" review of site conditions required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. Any Bankruptcy Funds not spent on the remed y may be used to cover the Utility PRPs' liabilities for future costs. No parties are released from potential liability for damages to natural resources. |
As of December 31, 2006, Pepco had accrued $1.7 million to meet its liability for a remedy at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site. While final costs to Pepco of the settlement have not been determined, Pepco believes that its liability at this site will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
In 1999, DPL entered into a de minimis settlement with EPA and paid approximately $107,000 to resolve its liability for cleanup costs at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site. The de minimis settlement did not resolve DPL's responsibility for natural resource damages, if any, at the site. DPL believes that any liability for natural resource damages at this site will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
In November 1991, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) identified ACE as a PRP at the Delilah Road Landfill site in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. In 1993, ACE, along with other PRPs, signed an ACO with NJDEP to remediate the site. The soil cap remedy for the site has been completed and the NJDEP conditionally approved the report submitted by the parties on the implementation of the remedy in January 2003. In March 2004, NJDEP approved a Ground Water Sampling and Analysis Plan. Positive results of groundwater monitoring events have resulted in a reduced level of groundwater monitoring. In August 2006, NJDEP issued a No Further Action Letter (NFA) and Covenant Not to Sue for the site. Among other things, the NFA requires the PRPs to monitor the effectiveness of institutional (deed restriction) and engineering (cap) controls at the site every two years and to continue groundwater monitoring.In March 2003, EPA demanded from the PRP group reimbursement for EPA's past costs at the site, totaling $168,789. The PRP group objected to the demand for certain costs, but agreed to reimburse EPA approximately $19,000. Based on information currently available, ACE anticipates that its share of additional cost associated with this site will be approximately $555,000 to $600,000. ACE believes that its liability for post-remedy operation and maintenance costs will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
On January 24, 2006, PHI, Conectiv and ACE entered into an ACO with NJDEP and the Attorney General of New Jersey resolving (i) New Jersey's claim for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and (ii) the NJDEP's concerns regarding ACE's compliance with New Source Review requirements of the CAA and Air Pollution Control Act requirements with respect to the B.L. England generating facility and various other environmental issues 215
____________________________________________________________________________________ relating to ACE and Conectiv Energy facilities in New Jersey. See Item 1 "Business -- Environmental Matters -- Air Quality Regulation." |
Federal Tax Treatment of Cross-Border Leases |
PCI maintains a portfolio of cross-border energy sale-leaseback transactions, which, as of December 31, 2006, had a book value of approximately $1.3 billion, and from which PHI currently derives approximately $57 million per year in tax benefits in the form of interest and depreciation deductions. |
On February 11, 2005, the Treasury Department and IRS issued Notice 2005-13 informing taxpayers that the IRS intends to challenge on various grounds the purported tax benefits claimed by taxpayers entering into certain sale-leaseback transactions with tax-indifferent parties (i.e., municipalities, tax-exempt and governmental entities), including those entered into on or prior to March 12, 2004 (the Notice). All of PCI's cross-border energy leases are with tax indifferent parties and were entered into prior to 2004. In addition, on June 29, 2005 the IRS published a Coordinated Issue Paper concerning the resolution of audit issues related to such transactions. PCI's cross-border energy leases are similar to those sale-leaseback transactions described in the Notice and the Coordinated Issue Paper. |
PCI's leases have been under examination by the IRS as part of the normal PHI tax audit. On June 9, 2006, the IRS issued its final revenue agent's report (RAR) for its audit of PHI's 2001 and 2002 income tax returns. In the RAR, the IRS disallowed the tax benefits claimed by PHI with respect to these leases for those years. The tax benefits claimed by PHI with respect to these leases from 2001 through December 31, 2006 were approximately $287 million. PHI has filed a protest against the IRS adjustments and the unresolved audit has been forwarded to the Appeals Office. The ultimate outcome of this issue is uncertain; however, if the IRS prevails, PHI would be subject to additional taxes, along with interest and possibly penalties on the additional taxes, which could have a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. PHI believes that its tax position related to these transactions was appropriate based on applicable statute s, regulations and case law, and intends to contest the adjustments proposed by the IRS; however, there is no assurance that PHI's position will prevail. |
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FSP FAS 13-2, which amends SFAS No. 13 effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. This amendment requires a lease to be repriced and the book value adjusted when there is a change or probable change in the timing of tax benefits of the lease regardless of whether the change results in a deferral or permanent loss of tax benefits. Accordingly, a material change in the timing of cash flows under PHI's cross-border leases as the result of a settlement with the IRS would require an adjustment to the book value of the leases and a charge to earnings equal to the repricing impact of the disallowed deductions which could result in a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. PHI believes its tax position was appropriate and at this time does not believe there is a probable change in the timing of its tax benefits that would require repricing the leases and a charge to earnings. |
On February 1, 2007 the U.S. Senate passed the Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of 2007. Included in this legislation is a provision which would apply passive loss limitation rules to leases with foreign tax indifferent parties effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, even if the leases were entered into on or prior to March 12, 2004. On February 16, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Small Business Relief Act of 216
____________________________________________________________________________________ 2007. This bill does not include any provision that would modify the current treatment of leases with tax indifferent parties. Enactment into law of a bill that is similar to that passed by the U.S. Senate in its current form could result in a material delay of the income tax benefits that PCI would receive in connection with its cross-border energy leases. Furthermore, under FSP FAS 13-2, PHI would be required to adjust the book values of its leases and record a charge to earnings equal to the repricing impact of the disallowed deductions which could result in a material adverse effect on PHI's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are expected to hold a conference in the near future to reconcile the differences in the two bills to determine the final legislation. |
IRS Mixed Service Cost Issue |
During 2001, Pepco, DPL, and ACE changed their methods of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes. The change allowed the companies to accelerate the deduction of certain expenses that were previously capitalized and depreciated. Through December 31, 2005, these accelerated deductions generated incremental tax cash flow benefits of approximately $205 million (consisting of $94 million for Pepco, $62 million for DPL, and $49 million for ACE) for the companies, primarily attributable to their 2001 tax returns. |
On August 2, 2005, the Treasury Department released regulations that, if adopted in their current form, would require Pepco, DPL, and ACE to change their method of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes for tax periods beginning in 2005. Based on those regulations, PHI in its 2005 federal tax return adopted an alternative method of accounting for capitalizable construction costs that management believes will be acceptable to the IRS. |
On the same day that the new regulations were released, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2005-53, which is intended to limit the ability of certain taxpayers to utilize the method of accounting for income tax purposes they utilized on their tax returns for 2004 and prior years with respect to capitalizable construction costs. In line with this Revenue Ruling, the IRS RAR for the 2001 and 2002 tax returns disallowed substantially all of the incremental tax benefits that Pepco, DPL and ACE had claimed on those returns by requiring the companies to capitalize and depreciate certain expenses rather than treat such expenses as current deductions. PHI's protest of the IRS adjustments is among the unresolved audit matters relating to the 2001 and 2002 audits pending before the Appeals Office. |
In February 2006, PHI paid approximately $121 million of taxes to cover the amount of taxes that management estimated to be payable based on the method of tax accounting that PHI, pursuant to the proposed regulations, has adopted on its 2005 tax return. However, if the IRS is successful in requiring Pepco, DPL and ACE to capitalize and depreciate construction costs that result in a tax and interest assessment greater than management's estimate of $121 million, PHI will be required to pay additional taxes and interest only to the extent these adjustments exceed the $121 million payment made in February 2006. |
IRS Examination of Like-Kind Exchange Transaction |
In 2001, Conectiv and certain of its subsidiaries (the Conectiv Group) were divesting nonstrategic electric generating facilities and replacing these facilities with mid-merit electric generating capacity. As part of this strategy, the Conectiv Group exchanged its interests in two 217
____________________________________________________________________________________ older coal-fired plants for the more efficient gas-fired Hay Road II generating facility, which was owned by an unaffiliated third party. For tax purposes, Conectiv treated the transaction as a "like-kind exchange" under IRC Section 1031. As a result, approximately $88 million of taxable gain was deferred for federal income tax purposes. |
The transaction was examined by the IRS as part of the normal Conectiv tax audit. In May 2006, the IRS issued its RAR for the audit of Conectiv's 2000, 2001 and 2002 income tax returns. In the RAR, the IRS exam team disallowed the qualification of the exchange under IRC Section 1031. In July 2006, Conectiv filed a protest of this disallowance to the IRS Office of Appeals. |
PHI believes that its tax position related to this transaction is proper based on applicable statutes, regulations and case law and intends to vigorously contest the disallowance. However, there is no absolute assurance that Conectiv's position will prevail. If the IRS prevails, Conectiv would be subject to additional income taxes, interest and possible penalties. However, a portion of the denied benefit would be offset by additional tax depreciation. |
As of December 31, 2006, if the IRS fully prevails, the potential cash impact on PHI would be current income tax and interest payments of approximately $29 million and the earnings impact would be approximately $7 million in after-tax interest. |
Third Party Guarantees, Indemnifications, and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements |
Pepco Holdings and certain of its subsidiaries have various financial and performance guarantees and indemnification obligations which are entered into in the normal course of business to facilitate commercial transactions with third parties as discussed below. |
As of December 31, 2006, Pepco Holdings and its subsidiaries were parties to a variety of agreements pursuant to which they were guarantors for standby letters of credit, performance residual value, and other commitments and obligations. The fair value of these commitments and obligations was not required to be recorded in Pepco Holdings' Consolidated Balance Sheets; however, certain energy marketing obligations of Conectiv Energy were recorded. The commitments and obligations, in millions of dollars, were as follows: |
Based on the number of employees that have accepted or are expected to accept the severance packages, substantially all of the severance liability will be paid by the end of 2007. Employees have the option of taking severance payments in a lump sum or over a period of time. |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans |
Pepco Holdings sponsors a retirement plan that covers substantially all employees of Pepco (the PHI Retirement Plan) and certain employees of other Pepco Holdings subsidiaries. Pepco Holdings also provides supplemental retirement benefits to certain eligible executives and key employees through nonqualified retirement plans and provides certain postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retired employees. |
The PHI Retirement Plan is accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," and its other postretirement benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions." Pepco Holdings' financial statement disclosures were prepared in accordance with SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits." |
SFAS No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)" |
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)." SFAS No. 158 requires that companies recognize a net liability or asset to report the funded status of their defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit 236
___________________________________________________________________________________ plans on the balance sheet. Recognizing the funded status of the company's benefit plans as a net liability or asset will require an offsetting adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity or will be deferred as a regulatory asset or liability if probable of recovery in rates under SFAS No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation." SFAS No.158 does not change how pension and other postretirement benefits are accounted for and reported in the income statement. |
Pepco participates in benefit plans sponsored by Pepco Holdings and as such, the provisions of SFAS No. 158 do not have an impact on its financial condition and cash flows. |
Long-Lived Asset Impairment Evaluation |
Pepco is required to evaluate certain assets that have long lives (for example, equipment and real estate) to determine if they are impaired when certain conditions exist. SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," provides the accounting for impairments of long-lived assets and indicates that companies are required to test long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Examples of such events or changes include a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset or a significant adverse change in the manner an asset is being used or its physical condition. For long-lived assets that are expected to be held and used, SFAS No. 144 requires that an impairment loss be recognized only if the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. |
Property, Plant and Equipment |
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. The carrying value of property, plant and equipment is evaluated for impairment whenever circumstances indicate the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable under the provisions of SFAS No. 144. Upon retirement, the cost of regulated property, net of salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. For additional information regarding the treatment of removal obligations, see the "Asset Retirement Obligations" section included in this Note. |
The annual provision for depreciation on electric property, plant and equipment is computed on the straight-line basis using composite rates by classes of depreciable property. Accumulated depreciation is charged with the cost of depreciable property retired, less salvage and other recoveries. Property, plant and equipment other than electric facilities is generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over the useful lives of the assets. The system-wide composite depreciation rates for 2006, 2005, and 2004 for Pepco's transmission and distribution system property were approximately 3.5%, 3.4%, and 3.5%, respectively. |
Income Taxes |
Pepco, as a direct subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, is included in the consolidated Federal income tax return of PHI. Federal income taxes are allocated to Pepco based upon the taxable income or loss amounts, determined on a separate return basis. |
The financial statements include current and deferred income taxes. Current income taxes represent the amounts of tax expected to be reported on Pepco's state income tax returns and the amount of Federal income tax allocated from Pepco Holdings. 237
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Deferred income tax assets and liabilities represent the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities and are measured using presently enacted tax rates. The portion of Pepco's deferred tax liability applicable to its utility operations that has not been recovered from utility customers represents income taxes recoverable in the future and is included in "regulatory assets" on the Balance Sheets. For additional information, see the discussion under "Regulation of Power Delivery Operations" above. |
Deferred income tax expense generally represents the net change during the reporting period in the net deferred tax liability and deferred recoverable income taxes. |
Investment tax credits from utility plants purchased in prior years are reported on the Balance Sheets as "Investment tax credits." These investment tax credits are being amortized to income over the useful lives of the related utility plant. |
FIN 46R, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" |
Due to a variable element in the pricing structure of Pepco's purchase power agreement (Panda PPA) with Panda-Brandywine, L.P. (Panda), Pepco potentially assumes the variability in the operations of the plants related to this PPA and therefore has a variable interest in the entity. In accordance with the provisions of FIN 46R (revised December 2003), entitled "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities," (FIN 46R), Pepco continued, during the year ended December 31, 2006, to conduct exhaustive efforts to obtain information from this entity, but was unable to obtain sufficient information to conduct the analysis required under FIN 46R to determine whether the entity was a variable interest entity or if Pepco was the primary beneficiary. As a result, Pepco has applied the scope exemption from the application of FIN 46R for enterprises that have conducted exhaustive efforts to obtain the necessary information, but have not been able to obtain such information. |
Power purchases related to the Panda PPA for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, were approximately $79 million, $91 million and $76 million, respectively. Pepco's exposure to loss under the Panda PPA is discussed in Note (11), Commitments and Contingencies, under "Relationship with Mirant Corporation." |
Other Non-Current Assets |
The other assets balance principally consists of deferred compensation trust assets and unamortized debt expense. |
Other Current Liabilities |
The other current liability balance principally consists of customer deposits, accrued vacation liability, and other miscellaneous liabilities. The $70 million paid pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and Release with Mirant Corporation, its predecessors, its subsidiaries and successors (Mirant) (the Settlement Agreement) was included in the 2006 balance. |
Other Deferred Credits |
The other deferred credits balance principally consists of miscellaneous deferred liabilities. 238
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Dividend Restrictions |
In addition to its future financial performance, the ability of Pepco to pay dividends is subject to limits imposed by: (i) state corporate and regulatory laws, which impose limitations on the funds that can be used to pay dividends and, in the case of regulatory laws, may require the prior approval of Pepco's utility regulatory commissions before dividends can be paid and (ii) the prior rights of holders of future preferred stock, if any, and existing and future mortgage bonds and other long-term debt issued by Pepco and any other restrictions imposed in connection with the incurrence of liabilities. Pepco had approximately $11.7 million and $41.0 million of restricted retained earnings at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. |
Reclassifications |
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in order to conform to current year presentation. |
New Accounting Standards |
FSP FTB 85-4-1, "Accounting for Life Settlement Contracts by Third-Party Investors" |
In March 2006, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) FASB Technical Bulletin (FTB) 85-4-1, "Accounting for Life Settlement Contracts by Third-Party Investors" (FSP FTB 85-4-1). This FSP provides initial and subsequent measurement guidance and financial statement presentation and disclosure guidance for investments by third-party investors in life settlement contracts. FSP FTB 85-4-1 also amends certain provisions of FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance," and SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." The guidance in FSP FTB 85-4-1 applies prospectively for all new life settlement contracts and is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2006 (the year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco). Pepco has evaluated the impact of FSP FTB 85-4-1 and does not anticipate its adoption will have a material impact on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. |
EITF 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" |
In September 2005, the FASB ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" (EITF 04-13), which addresses circumstances under which two or more exchange transactions involving inventory with the same counterparty should be viewed as a single exchange transaction for the purposes of evaluating the effect of Accounting Principles Board Opinion 29, "Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions." EITF 04-13 is effective for new arrangements entered into, or modifications or renewals of existing arrangements, beginning in the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after March 15, 2006. |
Pepco implemented EITF 04-13 on April 1, 2006. The implementation did not have a material impact on Pepco's overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for the second quarter of 2006. 239
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FSP FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)" |
In April 2006, the FASB issued FSP FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), (FSP FIN 46(R)-6)" which provides guidance on how to determine the variability to be considered in applying FIN 46(R), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." |
The guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 is applicable prospectively beginning the first day of the first reporting period beginning after June 15, 2006. |
Pepco started applying the guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 to new and modified arrangements effective July 1, 2006. |
EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" |
On June 28, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" (EITF 06-3). EITF 06-3 provides guidance on an entity's disclosure of its accounting policy regarding the gross or net presentation of certain taxes and provides that if taxes included in gross revenues are significant, a company should disclose the amount of such taxes for each period for which an income statement is presented (i.e., both interim and annual periods). Taxes within the scope of EITF 06-3 are those that are imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction. Taxes assessed on an entity's activities over a period of time are not within the scope of EITF 06-3. EITF 06-3 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006 (March 31, 2007 for Pepco) although earlier application is permitted. |
Pepco does not anticipate that the adoption of EITF 06-3 will materially impact its disclosure requirements. |
FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" |
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the criteria for recognition of tax benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," and prescribes a financial statement recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Specifically, it clarifies that an entity's tax benefits must be "more likely than not" of being sustained prior to recording the related tax benefit in the financial statements. If the position drops below the "more likely than not" standard, the benefit can no longer be recognized. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. |
FIN 48 is effective the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco). Pepco is in the process of evaluating the impact of FIN 48, but does not believe it will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flow. 240
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SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" |
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of this Statement will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years (year ending December 31, 2008 for Pepco). |
Pepco is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 157 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
"Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108" |
On September 13, 2006, the SEC issued SAB No. 108 (SAB 108) which expresses the SEC staff's views on the process of quantifying financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify the impact of correcting all misstatements, including both the carryover and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements by quantifying an error using both the rollover and iron curtain approaches and by evaluating the error measured under each approach. Under SAB 108, a registrant's financial statements would require adjustment when either approach results in a material misstatement, after considering all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors. Further, the SEC believes that a registrant's materiality assessment of an identified unadjusted error should quantify the effects of the identified unadjusted error on each financial statement and related financial statement disclosure. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years endi ng on or after November 15, 2006. |
Pepco implemented the guidance provided in SAB 108 during the year ended December 31, 2006. |
EITF Issue No. 06-5, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance -- Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance |
On September 20, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-5, "Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance -- Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance" (EITF 06-5) which provides guidance on whether an entity should consider the contractual ability to surrender all of the individual-life policies (or certificates under a group life policy) together when determining the amount that could be realized in accordance with FTB 85-4, and whether a guarantee of the additional value associated with the group life policy affects that determination. EITF 06-5 provides that a policyholder should (i) determine the amount that could be realized under the insurance contract assuming the surrender of an individual-life by individual-life policy (or certificate by certificate in a group policy) and (ii) not discount the cash surrender value component of the amount that could be realized when c ontractual restrictions on the ability to surrender a policy exist unless contractual limitations prescribe that the cash surrender value component of the amount that could be realized is a fixed amount, in 241
___________________________________________________________________________________ which case the amount that could be realized should be discounted in accordance with Opinion 21. EITF 06-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for Pepco). |
Pepco does not anticipate that the adoption of EITF 06-5 will materially impact its disclosure requirements. |
SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" |
On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" (SFAS No. 159) which permits entities to choose to elect to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS No. 159 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of SFAS No. 159 will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No.159 establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provide additional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of the company's choice to use fair value on its earnings. It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair value on the face of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 does not eliminate disclosure requirements included in other accounting standards. |
SFAS No. 159 applies to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (year ending December 31, 2008 for Pepco), with early adoption permitted for an entity that has also elected to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements.An entity is prohibited from retrospectively applying SFAS No. 159, unless it chooses early adoption. SFAS No. 159 also applies to eligible items existing at November 15, 2007 (or early adoption date). Pepco is in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 159 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
(3) SEGMENT INFORMATION |
In accordance with SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," Pepco has one segment, its regulated utility business. |
(4) LEASING ACTIVITIES |
Lease Commitments |
Pepco leases its consolidated control center, an integrated energy management center used by Pepco's power dispatchers to centrally control the operation of its transmission and distribution systems. The lease is accounted for as a capital lease and was initially recorded at the present value of future lease payments, which totaled $152 million. The lease requires 242
___________________________________________________________________________________ semi-annual payments of $7.6 million over a 25-year period beginning in December 1994 and provides for transfer of ownership of the system to Pepco for $1 at the end of the lease term. Under SFAS No. 71, the amortization of leased assets is modified so that the total interest expense charged on the obligation and amortization expense of the leased asset is equal to the rental expense allowed for rate-making purposes. This lease has been treated as an operating lease for rate-making purposes. |
Capital lease assets recorded within Property, Plant and Equipment at December 31, 2006 and 2005 are comprised of the following: |
Separately, Mirant and SMECO have entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release (the SMECO Settlement Agreement). The SMECO Settlement Agreement provides that Mirant will assume, rather than reject, the SMECO Agreement. This assumption ensures that Pepco will not incur liability to SMECO as the guarantor of the SMECO Agreement due to the rejection of the SMECO Agreement, although Pepco will continue to guarantee to SMECO the future performance of Mirant under the SMECO Agreement. |
According to their terms, the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement will become effective when the Bankruptcy Court or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (the District Court), as applicable, has entered a final order, not subject to appeal or rehearing, approving both the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement. |
On August 9, 2006, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order approving the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement. On August 18, 2006, certain holders of Mirant bankruptcy claims, who had objected to approval of the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement before the Bankruptcy Court, appealed the approval order to the District Court. On December 26, 2006, the District Court issued an order affirming the Bankruptcy Court's order approving the Settlement Agreement. On January 25, 2007, the parties that previously appealed the Bankruptcy Court's order filed a notice of appeal of the District Court's order with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the Fifth Circuit). On February 12, 2007, the Fifth Circuit issued a briefing schedule. The brief of the appealing creditors is due on March 26, 2007, while Mirant's and Pepco's briefs are due on April 30, 2007. |
In August 2006, Mirant made a cash payment to Pepco of $70 million, which became due in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement as a result of the approval of the Settlement Agreement by the Bankruptcy Court. If the Bankruptcy Court order approving the Settlement Agreement becomes a final order after the exhaustion of all appeals, the payment will be taken into account as if it were proceeds from the resale by Pepco of shares of the Mirant common stock, as described above, and treated as a portion of the $520 million payment due Pepco. If the Bankruptcy Court approval of the Settlement Agreement is not upheld on appeal, Pepco must repay this cash payment to Mirant. Therefore, no income statement impact has been recognized in relation to the $70 million payment. |
Until the approval of the Settlement Agreement and the SMECO Settlement Agreement becomes final, Mirant is required to continue to perform all of its contractual obligations to Pepco and SMECO. Pepco intends to use the $450 million portion of the Pepco Distribution related to the rejection of the PPA-Related Obligations to pay for future capacity and energy purchases under the Panda PPA. |
In litigation prior to the entry into the Settlement Agreement, the District Court had entered orders denying Mirant's attempt to reject the PPA-Related Obligations and directing Mirant to resume making payments to Pepco pursuant to the PPA-Related Obligations, which Mirant had 252
____________________________________________________________________________________ suspended. Mirant is making the payments as required by the District Court order. On July 19, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an opinion affirming the District Court's orders. On September 4, 2006, Mirant filed a petition for rehearing and motion to stay the appeals pending completion of the settlement between the parties. On September 12, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order denying Mirant's motion for stay. On September 21, 2006, the Fifth Circuit issued an Order summarily denying Mirant's petition for rehearing. The appeal period has expired and that order is now final and nonappealable. |
Rate Proceedings |
Pepco currently has active electric distribution base rate cases underway in the District of Columbia and Maryland. In each of these cases, Pepco has proposed the adoption of a bill stabilization adjustment mechanism (BSA) for retail customers. The BSA will increase rates if revenues from distribution deliveries fall below the level approved by the applicable regulatory commission and will decrease rates if revenues from distribution deliveries are above the commission-approved level. The end result will be that Pepco will collect its authorized revenues for distribution deliveries. As a consequence, a BSA "decouples" revenue from unit sales consumption and ties the growth in revenues to the growth in the number of customers. Some advantages of the BSA are that it (i) eliminates revenue fluctuations due to weather and changes in customer usage patterns and, therefore, provides for more predictable utility distribution revenues that are better aligned with costs, (ii ) provides for more reliable fixed-cost recovery, (iii) tends to stabilize customers' delivery bills, and (iv) removes any disincentives for Pepco to promote energy efficiency programs for its customers, because it breaks the link between overall sales volumes and delivery revenues. Pepco proposed a quarterly BSA. |
District of Columbia |
In February 2006, Pepco filed an update to the District of Columbia GPC for the periods February 8, 2002 through February 7, 2004 and February 8, 2004 through February 7, 2005. The GPC provides for sharing of the profit from SOS sales. The update to the GPC in the District of Columbia takes into account the $112.4 million in proceeds received by Pepco from the December 2005 sale of an allowed bankruptcy claim against Mirant arising from a settlement agreement entered into with Mirant relating to Mirant's obligation to supply energy and capacity to fulfill Pepco's SOS obligations in the District of Columbia. The filing also incorporates true-ups to previous disbursements in the GPC for the District of Columbia. In the filing, Pepco requested that $24.3 million be credited to District of Columbia customers during the twelve-month period beginning April 2006. On June 15, 2006, the DCPSC granted conditional approval of the GPC update as filed, effective July 1, 2006. Final approval by the DCPSC is pending. |
On December 12, 2006, Pepco submitted an application to the DCPSC to increase electric distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The application requested an annual increase of approximately $46.2 million or an overall increase of 13.5%, reflecting a proposed ROE of 10.75%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase would be $50.5 million or an overall increase of 14.8%, reflecting an ROE of 11.00%. The application also proposed a Pension/OPEB Expense Surcharge that will allow Pepco to reflect in its distribution rates the increases and decreases that occur in the level of its pension and other post-employment benefits expense. A DCPSC decision is expected in mid-September 2007. 253
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Maryland |
On November 17, 2006, Pepco submitted an application to the MPSC to increase electric distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The application requested an annual increase of approximately $47.4 million or an overall increase of 10.9%, reflecting a proposed ROE of 11.00%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase would be $55.7 million or an overall increase of 12.9%, reflecting a proposed ROE of 11.25%. The application also proposed a Pension/OPEB Expense Surcharge that would allow Pepco to reflect in its distribution rates the increases and decreases that occur in the level of its pension and other post-employment benefits expense. The application requested that rates go into effect on December 17, 2006. In an order dated December 11, 2006, the MPSC suspended the proposed rates pending MPSC approval. An MPSC decision is expected in June 2007. |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
On May 15, 2006, Pepco updated its FERC-approved formula transmission rates based on its FERC Form 1 data for 2005. This new rate of $12,009 per megawatt per year became effective on June 1, 2006. By operation of the formula rate process, the new rate incorporates true-ups from the 2005 formula rate that was effective June 1, 2005 and the new 2005 customer demand or peak load. Also, beginning in January 2007, the new rates will be applied to 2006 customer demand data, replacing the 2005 demand data that is currently used. This demand component is driven by Pepco's prior year peak load. Further, the rate change will be positively impacted by changes to distribution rates based on the merger settlements in Maryland and the District of Columbia. The net earnings impact expected from the network transmission rate changes is estimated to be a reduction of approximately $2 million year over year (2005 to 2006). |
Divestiture Cases |
District of Columbia |
Final briefs on Pepco's District of Columbia divestiture proceeds sharing application were filed with the DCPSC in July 2002 following an evidentiary hearing in June 2002. That application was filed to implement a provision of Pepco's DCPSC-approved divestiture settlement that provided for a sharing of any net proceeds from the sale of Pepco's generation-related assets. One of the principal issues in the case is whether Pepco should be required to share with customers the excess deferred income taxes (EDIT) and accumulated deferred investment tax credits (ADITC) associated with the sold assets and, if so, whether such sharing would violate the normalization provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and its implementing regulations. As of December 31, 2006, the District of Columbia allocated portions of EDIT and ADITC associated with the divested generating assets were approximately $6.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively. |
Pepco believes that a sharing of EDIT and ADITC would violate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) normalization rules. Under these rules, Pepco could not transfer the EDIT and the ADITC benefit to customers more quickly than on a straight line basis over the book life of the related assets. Since the assets are no longer owned there is no book life over which the EDIT and ADITC can be returned. If Pepco were required to share EDIT and ADITC and, as a result, the normalization rules were violated, Pepco would be unable to use accelerated depreciation on District of Columbia allocated or assigned property. In addition to sharing with customers the generation-related EDIT and ADITC balances, Pepco would have to pay to the IRS an amount 254
____________________________________________________________________________________ equal to Pepco's District of Columbia jurisdictional generation-related ADITC balance ($5.8 million as of December 31, 2006), as well as its District of Columbia jurisdictional transmission and distribution-related ADITC balance ($4.7 million as of December 31, 2006) in each case as those balances exist as of the later of the date a DCPSC order is issued and all rights to appeal have been exhausted or lapsed, or the date the DCPSC order becomes operative. |
In March 2003, the IRS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), which would allow for the sharing of EDIT and ADITC related to divested assets with utility customers on a prospective basis and at the election of the taxpayer on a retroactive basis. In December 2005 a revised NOPR was issued which, among other things, withdrew the March 2003 NOPR and eliminated the taxpayer's ability to elect to apply the regulation retroactively. Comments on the revised NOPR were filed in March 2006, and a public hearing was held in April 2006. Pepco filed a letter with the DCPSC in January 2006, in which it has reiterated that the DCPSC should continue to defer any decision on the ADITC and EDIT issues until the IRS issues final regulations or states that its regulations project related to this issue will be terminated without the issuance of any regulations. Other issues in the divestiture proceeding deal with the treatment of internal costs and cost allocations as deductions from the gross proceeds of the divestiture. |
Pepco believes that its calculation of the District of Columbia customers' share of divestiture proceeds is correct. However, depending on the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, Pepco could be required to make additional gain-sharing payments to District of Columbia customers, including the payments described above related to EDIT and ADITC. Such additional payments (which, other than the EDIT and ADITC related payments, cannot be estimated) would be charged to expense in the quarter and year in which a final decision is rendered and could have a material adverse effect on Pepco's and PHI's results of operations for those periods. However, neither PHI nor Pepco believes that additional gain-sharing payments, if any, or the ADITC-related payments to the IRS, if required, would have a material adverse impact on its financial position or cash flows. |
Maryland |
Pepco filed its divestiture proceeds plan application with the MPSC in April 2001. The principal issue in the Maryland case is the same EDIT and ADITC sharing issue that has been raised in the District of Columbia case. See the discussion above under "Divestiture Cases -- District of Columbia." As of December 31, 2006, the Maryland allocated portions of EDIT and ADITC associated with the divested generating assets were approximately $9.1 million and $10.4 million, respectively. Other issues deal with the treatment of certain costs as deductions from the gross proceeds of the divestiture. In November 2003, the Hearing Examiner in the Maryland proceeding issued a proposed order with respect to the application that concluded that Pepco's Maryland divestiture settlement agreement provided for a sharing between Pepco and customers of the EDIT and ADITC associated with the sold assets. Pepco believes that such a sharing would violate the normalization rules (discussed abo ve) and would result in Pepco's inability to use accelerated depreciation on Maryland allocated or assigned property. If the proposed order is affirmed, Pepco would have to share with its Maryland customers, on an approximately 50/50 basis, the Maryland allocated portion of the generation-related EDIT ($9.1 million as of December 31, 2006), and the Maryland-allocated portion of generation-related ADITC. Furthermore, Pepco would have to pay to the IRS an amount equal to Pepco's Maryland jurisdictional generation-related ADITC balance ($10.4 million as of December 31, 2006), as well as its Maryland retail 255
____________________________________________________________________________________ jurisdictional ADITC transmission and distribution-related balance ($8.4 million as of December 31, 2006), in each case as those balances exist as of the later of the date a MPSC order is issued and all rights to appeal have been exhausted or lapsed, or the date the MPSC order becomes operative. The Hearing Examiner decided all other issues in favor of Pepco, except for the determination that only one-half of the severance payments that Pepco included in its calculation of corporate reorganization costs should be deducted from the sales proceeds before sharing of the net gain between Pepco and customers. Pepco filed a letter with the MPSC in January 2006, in which it has reiterated that the MPSC should continue to defer any decision on the ADITC and EDIT issues until the IRS issues final regulations or states that its regulations project related to this issue will be terminated without the issuance of any regulations. |
In December 2003, Pepco appealed the Hearing Examiner's decision to the MPSC as it relates to the treatment of EDIT and ADITC and corporate reorganization costs. The MPSC has not issued any ruling on the appeal and Pepco does not believe that it will do so until action is taken by the IRS as described above. However, depending on the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, Pepco could be required to share with its customers approximately 50 percent of the EDIT and ADITC balances described above in addition to the additional gain-sharing payments relating to the disallowed severance payments, which Pepco is not contesting. Such additional payments would be charged to expense in the quarter and year in which a final decision is rendered and could have a material adverse effect on results of operations for those periods. However, neither PHI nor Pepco believes that additional gain-sharing payments, if any, or the ADITC-related payments to the IRS, if required, would have a mate rial adverse impact on its financial position or cash flows. |
Default Electricity Supply Proceedings in Maryland |
Pursuant to an order issued by the MPSC in November 2006, Pepco is the SOS provider to its delivery customers who do not choose an alternative electricity supplier. Pepco purchases the power supply required to satisfy its SOS obligations from wholesale suppliers under contracts entered into pursuant to a competitive bid procedure approved and supervised by the MPSC. In March 2006, Pepco announced the results of competitive bids to supply electricity to its Maryland SOS customers for one year beginning June 1, 2006. Due to significant increases in the cost of fuels used to generate electricity, the auction results had the effect of increasing the average monthly electric bill by about 38.5% for Pepco's Maryland residential customers. |
On April 21, 2006, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement among Pepco, its affiliate DPL, the staff of the MPSC and the Office of Peoples Counsel of Maryland, which provides for a rate mitigation plan for the residential customers of Pepco. Under the plan, the full increase for Pepco's residential customers who affirmatively elect to participate are being phased-in in increments of 15% on June 1, 2006, 15.7% on March 1, 2007 and the remainder on June 1, 2007. Customers electing to participate in the rate deferral plan will be required to pay the deferred amounts over an 18-month period beginning June 1, 2007. Pepco will accrue the interest cost to fund the deferral program. The interest cost will be absorbed by Pepco during the period that the deferred balance is accumulated and collected from customers, to the extent of and offset against the margins that Pepco otherwise would earn for providing SOS to residential customers. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 2% o f Pepco's residential customers had elected to participate in the phase-in program. 256
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On June 23, 2006, Maryland enacted legislation that extended the period for customers to elect to participate in the phase-in of higher rates and revised the obligation to provide SOS to residential and small commercial customers until further action of the General Assembly. The legislation also provides for a customer refund reflecting the difference between the interest expense on an initially projected deferred balance at a 25% customer participation level and the interest expense on a deferred balance based on actual participation levels referred to above. The total amount of the refund is approximately $1.1 million for Pepco customers. At Pepco's 2% level of participation, Pepco estimates that the deferral balance, net of taxes, will be approximately $1.4 million. In July 2006, the MPSC approved a revised tariff rider filed in June 2006 by Pepco to implement the legislation. |
General Litigation |
During 1993, Pepco was served with Amended Complaints filed in the state Circuit Courts of Prince George's County, Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland in separate ongoing, consolidated proceedings known as "In re: Personal Injury Asbestos Case." Pepco and other corporate entities were brought into these cases on a theory of premises liability. Under this theory, the plaintiffs argued that Pepco was negligent in not providing a safe work environment for employees or its contractors, who allegedly were exposed to asbestos while working on Pepco's property. Initially, a total of approximately 448 individual plaintiffs added Pepco to their complaints. While the pleadings are not entirely clear, it appears that each plaintiff sought $2 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages from each defendant. |
Since the initial filings in 1993, additional individual suits have been filed against Pepco, and significant numbers of cases have been dismissed. As a result of two motions to dismiss, numerous hearings and meetings and one motion for summary judgment, Pepco has had approximately 400 of these cases successfully dismissed with prejudice, either voluntarily by the plaintiff or by the court. As of January 31, 2007, there are approximately 180 cases still pending against Pepco in the State Courts of Maryland; of which approximately 85 cases were filed after December 19, 2000, and have been tendered to Mirant for defense and indemnification pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Mirant has agreed to assume this contractual obligation. For a description of the Settlement Agreement, see the discussion of the relationship with Mirant above. |
While the aggregate amount of monetary damages sought in the remaining suits (excluding those tendered to Mirant) exceeds $360 million, Pepco believes the amounts claimed by current plaintiffs are greatly exaggerated. The amount of total liability, if any, and any related insurance recovery cannot be determined at this time; however, based on information and relevant circumstances known at this time, Pepco does not believe these suits will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, if an unfavorable decision were rendered against Pepco, it could have a material adverse effect on Pepco's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
Environmental Litigation |
Pepco is subject to regulation by various federal, regional, state, and local authorities with respect to the environmental effects of its operations, including air and water quality control, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and limitations on land use. In addition, federal and state statutes authorize governmental agencies to compel responsible parties to clean up certain abandoned or unremediated hazardous waste sites. Pepco may incur costs to clean up currently 257
____________________________________________________________________________________ or formerly owned facilities or sites found to be contaminated, as well as other facilities or sites that may have been contaminated due to past disposal practices. Although penalties assessed for violations of environmental laws and regulations are not recoverable from Pepco's customers, environmental clean-up costs incurred by Pepco would be included in its cost of service for ratemaking purposes. |
In the early 1970s, Pepco sold scrap transformers, some of which may have contained some level of PCBs, to a metal reclaimer operating at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, owned by a nonaffiliated company. In December 1987, Pepco was a notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it, along with a number of other utilities and non-utilities, was a potentially responsible party (PRP) in connection with the PCB contamination at the site. |
In 1994, an RI/FS including a number of possible remedies was submitted to the EPA. In 1997, the EPA issued a Record of Decision that set forth a selected remedial action plan with estimated implementation costs of approximately $17 million. In 1998, the EPA issued a unilateral administrative order to Pepco and 12 other PRPs directing them to conduct the design and actions called for in its decision. In May 2003, two of the potentially liable owner/operator entities filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In October 2003, the bankruptcy court confirmed a reorganization plan that incorporates the terms of a settlement among the two debtor owner/operator entities, the United States and a group of utility PRPs including Pepco (the Utility PRPs). Under the bankruptcy settlement, the reorganized entity/site owner will pay a total of $13.25 million to remediate the site (the Bankruptcy Settlement). |
In March 2006, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania approved global consent decrees for the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site, entered into on August 23, 2005, involving the Utility PRPs, the U.S. Department of Justice, EPA, The City of Philadelphia and two owner/operators of the site. Under the terms of the settlement, the two owner/operators will make payments totaling $5.55 million to the U.S. Department of Justice and totaling $4.05 million to the Utility PRPs. The Utility PRPs will perform the remedy at the site and will be able to draw on the $13.25 million from the Bankruptcy Settlement to accomplish the remediation (the Bankruptcy Funds). The Utility PRPs will contribute funds to the extent remediation costs exceed the Bankruptcy Funds available. The Utility PRPs also will be liable for EPA costs associated with overseeing the monitoring and operation of the site remedy after the remedy construction is certified to be complete and also the cost of performing the "5 year" review of site conditions required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. Any Bankruptcy Funds not spent on the remedy may be used to cover the Utility PRPs' liabilities for future costs. No parties are released from potential liability for damages to natural resources. |
As of December 31, 2006, Pepco had accrued $1.7 million to meet its liability for a remedy at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site. While final costs to Pepco of the settlement have not been determined, Pepco believes that its liability at this site will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
IRS Mixed Service Cost Issue |
During 2001, Pepco changed its method of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes. The change allowed Pepco to accelerate the 258
____________________________________________________________________________________ deduction of certain expenses that were previously capitalized and depreciated. Through December 31, 2005, these accelerated deductions generated incremental tax cash flow benefits of approximately $94 million, primarily attributable to its 2001 tax returns. |
On August 2, 2005, the Treasury Department released regulations that, if adopted in their current form, would require Pepco to change its method of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes for tax periods beginning in 2005. Based on those regulations, PHI in its 2005 federal tax return adopted an alternative method of accounting for capitalizable construction costs that management believes will be acceptable to the IRS. |
On the same day that the new regulations were released, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2005-53, which is intended to limit the ability of certain taxpayers to utilize the method of accounting for income tax purposes they utilized on their tax returns for 2004 and prior years with respect to capitalizable construction costs. In line with this Revenue Ruling, the IRS revenue agent's report for the 2001 and 2002 tax returns disallowed substantially all of the incremental tax benefits that Pepco had claimed on those returns by requiring it to capitalize and depreciate certain expenses rather than treat such expenses as current deductions. PHI's protest of the IRS adjustments is among the unresolved audit matters relating to the 2001 and 2002 audits pending before the Appeals Office. |
In February 2006, PHI paid approximately $121 million of taxes to cover the amount of taxes that management estimated to be payable based on the method of tax accounting that PHI, pursuant to the proposed regulations, has adopted on its 2005 tax return. However, if the IRS is successful in requiring Pepco to capitalize and depreciate construction costs that result in a tax and interest assessment greater than management's estimate of $121 million, PHI will be required to pay additional taxes and interest only to the extent these adjustments exceed the $121 million payment made in February 2006. |
Contractual Obligations |
As of December 31, 2006, Pepco's contractual obligations under non-derivative fuel and power purchase contracts (excluding PPA-related obligations that are part of the back-to-back agreement with Mirant) were $810.3 million in 2007, $484.2 million in 2008 to 2009, $19.1 million in 2010 to 2011, and zero in 2012 and thereafter. |
(12) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
PHI Service Company provides various administrative and professional services to PHI and its regulated and unregulated subsidiaries including Pepco. The cost of these services is allocated in accordance with cost allocation methodologies set forth in the service agreement using a variety of factors, including the subsidiaries' share of employees, operating expenses, assets, and other cost causal methods. These intercompany transactions are eliminated by PHI in consolidation and no profit results from these transactions at PHI. PHI Service Company costs directly charged or allocated to Pepco for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 were approximately $114.4 million, $114.6 million and $91.1 million, respectively. 259
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Certain subsidiaries of Pepco Energy Services perform utility maintenance services, including services that are treated as capital costs, for Pepco. Amounts paid by Pepco to these companies for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 were approximately $15.3 million, $11.6 million and $14.1 million, respectively. |
In addition to the transactions described above, Pepco's financial statements include the following related party transactions in its Statements of Earnings: |
A description for each category of regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities follows: |
Deferred Energy Supply Costs: Primarily represents deferred fuel costs for DPL's gas business. All deferrals receive a return. The deferred fuel costs are recovered annually. |
Deferred Recoverable Income Taxes:Represents a receivable from our customers for tax benefits DPL has previously flowed through before the company was ordered to provide deferred income taxes. As the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets reverse, the deferred recoverable balances are reversed. There is no return on these deferrals. |
Deferred Debt Extinguishment Costs: Represents the costs of debt extinguishment for which recovery through regulated utility rates is considered probable and, if approved, will be amortized to interest expense during the authorized rate recovery period. A return is received on these deferrals. |
Unrecovered Purchased Power Contract Costs: Represents deferred costs related to purchase power contracts at DPL, which are being recovered from February 1996 through October 2007 and which earn a return. |
Phase In Credits: Represents a phase in credit for Maryland and Delaware customers to mitigate the immediate impact of the significant rate increases. The deferral period for Delaware is May 1, 2006 - January 1, 2008. It is recoverable over a 17-month period beginning January 1, 2008. It will be amortized over a straight-line basis. Delaware customers are all in the plan unless they "opt out." For Maryland, the deferral period is June 1, 2006 - June 1, 2007. The recovery period is over an 18-month period beginning June 2007. Customers for Maryland are 271
____________________________________________________________________________________ required to "opt in." Recovery is the rate per kilowatt hour, based on usage during the recovery period. There is no return on these deferrals. |
Other: Includes losses associated with DPL's natural gas hedging activity and under-recovery of procurement, transmission and administration costs associated with Maryland and Delaware SOS. Increase in Other went from $15.3 million in 2005 to $51.8 million in 2006 primarily due to the gas hedging activity. |
Deferred Income Taxes Due to Customers: Represents the portion of deferred income tax liabilities applicable to DPL's utility operations that has not been reflected in current customer rates, for which future payment to customers is probable. As temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets reverse, deferred recoverable income taxes are amortized. |
Accrued Asset Removal Costs: Represents DPL's asset retirement obligation associated with removal costs accrued using public service commission approved depreciation rates for transmission, distribution and general utility property. |
Other: Includes gains associated with DPL's natural gas hedging activity and over-recovery of procurement, transmission and administration costs associated with Maryland and Delaware SOS. |
Income Taxes |
DPL, as an indirect subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, is included in the consolidated Federal income tax return of PHI. Federal income taxes are allocated to DPL based upon the taxable income or loss amounts, determined on a separate return basis. |
The financial statements include current and deferred income taxes. Current income taxes represent the amounts of tax expected to be reported on DPL's state income tax returns and the amount of Federal income tax allocated from Pepco Holdings. |
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities represent the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities and are measured using presently enacted tax rates. The portion of DPL's deferred tax liability applicable to its utility operations that has not been recovered from utility customers represents income taxes recoverable in the future and is included in "regulatory assets" on the Balance Sheets. For additional information, see the discussion under "Regulation of Power Delivery Operations," above. |
Deferred income tax expense generally represents the net change during the reporting period in the net deferred tax liability and deferred recoverable income taxes. |
Investment tax credits from utility plant purchased in prior years are reported on the Balance Sheets as "Investment tax credits." These investment tax credits are being amortized to income over the useful lives of the related utility plant. |
Accounting for Derivatives |
DPL uses derivative instruments (forward contracts, futures, swaps, and exchange-traded and over-the-counter options) primarily to reduce gas commodity price volatility while limiting its 272
____________________________________________________________________________________ firm customers' exposure to increases in the market price of gas. DPL also manages commodity risk with physical natural gas and capacity contracts that are not classified as derivatives. The primary goal of these activities is to reduce the exposure of its regulated retail gas customers to natural gas price fluctuations. All premiums paid and other transaction costs incurred as part of DPL's natural gas hedging activity, in addition to all gains and losses related to hedging activities, are fully recoverable through the fuel adjustment clause approved by the DPSC, and are deferred under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 71 until recovered. At December 31, 2006, there was a net deferred derivative payable of $27.3 million, offset by a $28.5 million regulatory asset. At December 31, 2005, there was a deferred derivative receivable on DPL's balance sheet of $21.6 million, offset by a $21.6 million regulatory liability. |
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts |
DPL's accounts receivable balances primarily consist of customer accounts receivable, other accounts receivable, and accrued unbilled revenue. Accrued unbilled revenue represents revenue earned in the current period, but not billed to the customer until a future date (usually within one month after the receivable is recorded). DPL uses the allowance method to account for uncollectible accounts receivable. |
Capitalized Interest and Allowance for Funds Used During Construction |
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 71, utilities can capitalize as Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC) the capital costs of financing the construction of plant and equipment. The debt portion of AFUDC is recorded as a reduction of "interest expense" and the equity portion of AFUDC is credited to "other income" in the accompanying Statements of Earnings. |
DPL recorded AFUDC for borrowed funds of $.6 million, $.9 million, and $.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. |
DPL recorded amounts for the equity component of AFUDC of $.6 million, $.5 million and $.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. |
Amortization of Debt Issuance and Reacquisition Costs |
The amortization of debt discount, premium, and expense, including deferred debt extinguishment costs associated with the regulated electric and gas transmission and distribution businesses, is included in interest expense. |
Accounting for Goodwill |
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired. DPL's goodwill balance at December 31, 2006 and 2005 of $48.5 million was derived from DPL's acquisition of Conowingo Power Company in 1995. The accounting for goodwill is governed by SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." SFAS No. 141 requires business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and broadens the criteria for recording intangible assets apart from goodwill. SFAS No. 142 requires that purchased goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangibles no longer be amortized, but instead be tested for impairment at least annually. 273
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Goodwill Impairment Evaluation |
The provisions of SFAS No. 142 require the evaluation of goodwill for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Examples of such events and circumstances include an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, and unanticipated competition. SFAS No. 142 indicates that if the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, including goodwill, an impairment charge may be necessary. During 2006, DPL tested its goodwill for impairment as of July 1, 2006. This test concluded that none of DPL's goodwill balance was impaired. |
Long-Lived Asset Impairment Evaluation |
DPL is required to evaluate certain long-lived assets (for example, equipment and real estate) to determine if they are impaired when certain conditions exist. SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," provides the accounting for impairments of long-lived assets and indicates that companies are required to test long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Examples of such events or changes include a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset or a significant adverse change in the manner an asset is being used or its physical condition. |
For long-lived assets that are expected to be held and used, SFAS No. 144 requires that an impairment loss be recognized only if the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. For long-lived assets that can be classified as assets to be disposed of by sale under SFAS No. 144, an impairment loss shall be recognized to the extent their carrying amount exceeds their fair value, including costs to sell. |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans |
Pepco Holdings sponsors a retirement plan that covers substantially all employees of DPL (the PHI Retirement Plan) and certain employees of other Pepco Holdings subsidiaries. Pepco Holdings also provides supplemental retirement benefits to certain eligible executives and key employees through nonqualified retirement plans and provides certain postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retired employees. |
The PHI Retirement Plan is accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," and its other postretirement benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions." Pepco Holdings' financial statement disclosures were prepared in accordance with SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits." |
SFAS No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)" |
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)" (SFAS No. 158). SFAS No. 158 requires that companies recognize a net liability or asset to report the funded status of their defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans on the balance sheet. Recognizing the funded status of the company's benefit plans as a net liability or asset will 274
____________________________________________________________________________________ require an offsetting adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity or will be deferred as a regulatory asset or liability if probable of recovery in rates under SFAS No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation." SFAS No. 158 does not change how pension and other postretirement benefits are accounted for and reported in the income statement. |
DPL participates in benefit plans sponsored by Pepco Holdings and as such, the provisions of SFAS No. 158 do not have an impact on its financial condition and cash flows. |
Property, Plant and Equipment |
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. The carrying value of property, plant and equipment is evaluated for impairment whenever circumstances indicate the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable under the provisions of SFAS No. 144. Upon retirement, the cost of regulated property, net of salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. For additional information regarding the treatment of retirement obligations, see the "Asset Retirement Obligations" section included in this Note. |
The annual provision for depreciation on electric and gas property, plant and equipment is computed on the straight-line basis using composite rates by classes of depreciable property. Accumulated depreciation is charged with the cost of depreciable property retired, less salvage and other recoveries. Property, plant and equipment other than electric and gas facilities is generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over the useful lives of the assets. The system-wide composite depreciation rates for 2006, 2005 and 2004 for DPL's transmission and distribution system property were approximately 3.0%, 3.1%, and 3.1%, respectively. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents |
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, money market funds, and commercial paper with original maturities of three months or less. Additionally, deposits in PHI's "money pool," which DPL and certain other PHI subsidiaries use to manage short-term cash management requirements, are considered cash equivalents. Deposits in the money pool are guaranteed by PHI. PHI deposits funds in the money pool to the extent that the pool has insufficient funds to meet the needs of its participants, which may require PHI to borrow funds for deposit from external sources. |
Restricted Cash |
Restricted cash represents cash either held as collateral or pledged as collateral, and is restricted from use for general corporate purposes. |
Asset Retirement Obligations |
In accordance with SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations" and Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 47, asset removal costs are recorded as regulatory liabilities. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, $229.5 million and $179.2 million, respectively, are reflected as regulatory liabilities in the accompanying Balance Sheets. Additionally, in 2005, DPL recorded immaterial conditional asset retirement obligations for underground storage tanks. Accretion for these asset retirement obligations has been recorded as a regulatory asset. 275
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Other Non-Current Assets |
The other assets balance principally consists of deferred compensation trust assets and unamortized debt expense. |
Other Current Liabilities |
The other current liabilities balance principally consists of customer deposits and accrued vacation liability. |
Other Deferred Credits |
The other deferred credits balance principally consists of miscellaneous deferred liabilities. |
Dividend Restrictions |
In addition to its future financial performance, the ability of DPL to pay dividends is subject to limits imposed by: (i) state corporate and regulatory laws, which impose limitations on the funds that can be used to pay dividends and, in the case of regulatory laws, may require the prior approval of DPL's utility regulatory commissions before dividends can be paid and (ii) the prior rights of holders of existing and future preferred stock, mortgage bonds and other long-term debt issued by DPL and any other restrictions imposed in connection with the incurrence of liabilities. DPL had approximately $113.3 million and $74.6 million of restricted retained earnings at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. |
Reclassifications |
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in order to conform to current year presentation. |
New Accounting Standards |
EITF 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" |
In September 2005, the FASB ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" (EITF 04-13), which addresses circumstances under which two or more exchange transactions involving inventory with the same counterparty should be viewed as a single exchange transaction for the purposes of evaluating the effect of Accounting Principles Board Opinion 29, "Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions." EITF 04-13 is effective for new arrangements entered into, or modifications or renewals of existing arrangements, beginning in the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after March 15, 2006. |
DPL implemented EITF 04-13 on April 1, 2006. The implementation did not have a material impact on DPL's overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for the second quarter of 2006. |
FSP FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)" |
In April 2006, the FASB issued FSP FASB Interpretation Number (FIN) 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), 276
____________________________________________________________________________________ (FSP FIN 46(R)-6)" which provides guidance on how to determine the variability to be considered in applying FIN 46(R), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." |
The guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 is applicable prospectively beginning the first day of the first reporting period beginning after June 15, 2006. |
DPL started applying the guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 to new and modified arrangements effective July 1, 2006. |
EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" |
On June 28, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" (EITF 06-3). EITF 06-3 provides guidance on an entity's disclosure of its accounting policy regarding the gross or net presentation of certain taxes and provides that if taxes included in gross revenues are significant, a company should disclose the amount of such taxes for each period for which an income statement is presented (i.e., both interim and annual periods). Taxes within the scope of EITF 06-3 are those that are imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction. Taxes assessed on an entity's activities over a period of time are not within the scope of EITF 06-3. EITF 06-3 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006 (March 31, 2007 for DPL) although earlier application is permitted. |
DPL does not anticipate that the adoption of EITF 06-3 will materially impact its disclosure requirements. |
FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" |
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the criteria for recognition of tax benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," and prescribes a financial statement recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Specifically, it clarifies that an entity's tax benefits must be "more likely than not" of being sustained prior to recording the related tax benefit in the financial statements. If the position drops below the "more likely than not" standard, the benefit can no longer be recognized. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. |
FIN 48 is effective the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for DPL). DPL is in the process of evaluating the impact of FIN 48, but does not believe it will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flow. |
SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" |
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of this Statement 277
____________________________________________________________________________________ will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years (year ending December 31, 2008 for DPL). |
DPL is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 157 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
"Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108" |
On September 13, 2006, the SEC issued SAB No. 108 (SAB 108) which expresses the SEC staff's views on the process of quantifying financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify the impact of correcting all misstatements, including both the carryover and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements by quantifying an error using both the rollover and iron curtain approaches and by evaluating the error measured under each approach. Under SAB 108, a registrant's financial statements would require adjustment when either approach results in a material misstatement, after considering all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors. Further, the SEC believes that a registrant's materiality assessment of an identified unadjusted error should quantify the effects of the identified unadjusted error on each financial statement and related financial statement disclosure. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years endi ng on or after November 15, 2006. |
DPL implemented the guidance provided in SAB 108 during the year ended December 31, 2006. |
SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" |
On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" (SFAS No. 159) which permits entities to choose to elect to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS No. 159 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of SFAS No. 159 will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No.159 establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provide additional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of the company's choice to use fair value on its earnings. It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair value on the face of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 does not eliminate disclosure requirements included in other accounting standards. 278
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SFAS No. 159 applies to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (year ending December 31, 2008 for DPL), with early adoption permitted for an entity that has also elected to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements.An entity is prohibited from retrospectively applying SFAS No. 159, unless it chooses early adoption. SFAS No. 159 also applies to eligible items existing at November 15, 2007 (or early adoption date). DPL is in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 159 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
(3) SEGMENT INFORMATION |
In accordance with SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," DPL has one segment, its regulated utility business. |
(4) LEASING ACTIVITIES |
DPL leases an 11.9% interest in the Merrill Creek Reservoir. The lease is an operating lease and payments over the remaining lease term, which ends in 2032, are $114.8 million in the aggregate. DPL also has long-term leases for certain other facilities and equipment. Minimum commitments as of December 31, 2006, under the Merrill Creek Reservoir lease and other lease agreements, are as follows: 2007-$7.8 million; 2008-$8.6 million; 2009-$8.6 million; 2010-$8.5 million; 2011-$8.5 million; beyond 2011-$96.9 million; total-$138.9 million. |
(5) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
Property, plant and equipment is comprised of the following: |
The methods and assumptions below were used to estimate, at December 31, 2006 and 2005, the fair value of each class of financial instruments shown above for which it is practicable to estimate a value. |
The fair values of derivative instruments were derived based on quoted market prices. |
The fair values of the Long-term debt, which includes First Mortgage Bonds, Amortizing First Mortgage Bonds, Unsecured Tax-Exempt Bonds, Medium-Term Notes, and Unsecured Notes, excluding amounts due within one year, were derived based on current market prices, or for issues with no market price available, were based on discounted cash flows using current rates for similar issues with similar terms and remaining maturities. |
The fair value of the Redeemable serial preferred stock, excluding amounts due within one year, were derived based on quoted market prices or discounted cash flows using current rates of preferred stock with similar terms. |
The carrying amounts of all other financial instruments in DPL's accompanying financial statements approximate fair value. 285
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(11) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
REGULATORY AND OTHER MATTERS |
Rate Proceedings |
DPL currently has two active distribution base rate cases underway: a gas distribution base rate case in Delaware (which is the subject of a settlement agreement as discussed below) and an electric base rate case in Maryland. In each of these cases, DPL has proposed the adoption of a bill stabilization adjustment mechanism (BSA) for retail customers. The BSA will increase rates if revenues from distribution deliveries fall below the level approved by the applicable regulatory commission and will decrease rates if revenues from distribution deliveries are above the commission-approved level. The end result will be that DPL will collect its authorized revenues for distribution deliveries. As a consequence, a BSA "decouples" revenue from unit sales consumption and ties the growth in revenues to the growth in the number of customers. Some advantages of the BSA are that it (i) eliminates revenue fluctuations due to weather and changes in customer usage patterns and, the refore, provides for more predictable utility distribution revenues that are better aligned with costs, (ii) provides for more reliable fixed-cost recovery, (iii) tends to stabilize customers' delivery bills, and (iv) removes any disincentives for DPL to promote energy efficiency programs for its customers, because it breaks the link between overall sales volumes and delivery revenues. DPL has proposed a monthly BSA in the gas base rate case and a quarterly BSA in the electric base rate case. |
Delaware |
On August 31, 2006, DPL submitted its 2006 Gas Cost Rate (GCR) filing to the DPSC, which permits DPL to recover gas procurement costs through customer rates. The proposed decrease of approximately 9.6% is in anticipation of decreasing natural gas commodity costs. On October 3, 2006, the DPSC issued its initial order approving the proposed rates, which became effective November 1, 2006, subject to refund pending final DPSC approval after evidentiary hearings. Any amounts subject to refund would be deferred, resulting in no earnings impact. |
On February 23, 2007, DPL submitted an additional filing to the DPSC that proposed a 4.3% decrease in the GCR effective April 1, 2007, in compliance with its gas service tariff and to ensure collections are more aligned with expenses. DPL expects DPSC approval of the rate decrease in late March 2007, subject to refund pending final DPSC approval after evidentiary hearings. |
On August 31, 2006, DPL submitted an application to the DPSC for an increase in gas distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The application requested an annual increase of approximately $15 million or an overall increase of 6.6%, including certain miscellaneous tariff fees, reflecting a proposed return on equity (ROE) of 11.00%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase would be $15.5 million or an overall increase of 6.8%, reflecting an ROE of 11.25%. On October 17, 2006, the DPSC authorized DPL to place into effect beginning November 1, 2006, subject to refund, gas base rates designed to produce an annual interim increase in revenue of approximately $2.5 million. On February 16, 2007, all of the parties in this proceeding (DPL, DPSC staff and the Delaware Division of Public Advocate) filed a settlement agreement with the DPSC. The settlement provisions include a $9.0 million increase in distribution rates, including certain miscellaneous tarif f fees (of which $2.5 million was put into effect on November 1, 2006, as noted above), an ROE of 10.25%, and a change in 286
____________________________________________________________________________________ depreciation rates that result in a $2.1 million reduction in pre-tax annual depreciation expense. Although the settlement agreement does not include a BSA, it provides for all of the parties to the case to participate in any generic statewide proceeding for the purpose of investigating BSA mechanisms for electric and gas distribution utilities. In a separate proceeding, DPL has requested that a docket be opened for this purpose. Under the settlement agreement, rates will become effective on April 1, 2007. A DPSC decision is expected by the end of March 2007. |
Maryland |
On November 17, 2006, DPL submitted an application to the MPSC to increase electric distribution base rates, including a proposed BSA. The application requested an annual increase of approximately $18.4 million or an overall increase of 3.2%, including certain miscellaneous tariff fees, reflecting a proposed ROE of 11.00%. If the BSA is not approved, the proposed annual increase would be $20.3 million or an overall increase of 3.6%, reflecting a proposed ROE of 11.25%. The application also proposed a Pension/OPEB Expense Surcharge that would allow DPL to reflect in its distribution rates the increases and decreases that occur in the level of its pension and other post-employment benefits expense. The application requested that rates go into effect on December 17, 2006. In an order dated December 11, 2006, the MPSC suspended the proposed rates pending MPSC approval. An MPSC decision is expected in June 2007. |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
On May 15, 2006, DPL updated its FERC-approved formula transmission rates based on its FERC Form 1 data for 2005. This new rate of $10,034 per megawatt per year became effective on June 1, 2006. By operation of the formula rate process, the new rate incorporates true-ups from the 2005 formula rate that was effective June 1, 2005 and the new 2005 customer demand or peak load. Also, beginning in January 2007, the new rate will be applied to 2006 customer demand data, replacing the 2005 demand data that is currently used. This demand component is driven by DPL's prior year peak load. Further, the rate changes will be positively impacted by changes to distribution rates based on the merger settlements in Maryland. The net earnings impact expected from the network transmission rate changes is estimated to be a reduction of approximately $3 million year over year (2005 to 2006). |
Default Electricity Supply Proceedings |
Delaware |
Effective May 1, 2006, SOS replaced fixed-rate POLR service for customers who do not choose an alternative electricity supplier. In October 2005, the DPSC approved DPL as the SOS provider to its Delaware delivery customers. DPL obtains the electricity to fulfill its SOS supply obligation under contracts entered pursuant to a competitive bid procedure approved by the DPSC. The bids received for the May 1, 2006, through May 31, 2007, period have had the effect of increasing rates significantly for all customer classes, including an average residential customer increase of 59%, as compared to the fixed rates previously in effect. |
To address this increase in rates, Delaware in April 2006 enacted legislation that provides for a deferral of the financial impact on customers of the increases through a three-step phase-in of the rate increases, with 15% of the increase taking effect on May 1, 2006, 25% of the increase taking effect on January 1, 2007, and any remaining balance taking effect on June 1, 2007, subject to the right of customers to elect not to participate in the deferral program. Customers who do not "opt-out" of the rate deferral program are required to pay the amounts deferred, 287
____________________________________________________________________________________ without any interest charge, over a 17-month period beginning January 1, 2008. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 53% of the eligible Delaware customers have opted not to participate in the deferral of the SOS rates offered by DPL. With approximately 47% of the eligible customers participating in the phase-in program, DPL anticipates a maximum deferral balance of $51.4 million. |
Maryland |
Pursuant to an order issued by the MPSC in November 2006, DPL is the SOS provider to its delivery customers who do not choose an alternative electricity supplier. DPL purchases the power supply required to satisfy its SOS obligations from wholesale suppliers under contracts entered into pursuant to a competitive bid procedure approved and supervised by the MPSC. In March 2006, DPL announced the results of competitive bids to supply electricity to its Maryland SOS customers for one year beginning June 1, 2006. Due to significant increases in the cost of fuels used to generate electricity, the auction results had the effect of increasing the average monthly electric bill by about 35% for DPL's Maryland residential customers. |
On April 21, 2006, the MPSC approved a settlement agreement among DPL, its affiliate Pepco, the staff of the MPSC and the Office of Peoples Counsel of Maryland, which provides for a rate mitigation plan for the residential customers of DPL. Under the plan, the full increase for DPL's residential customers who affirmatively elect to participate are being phased-in in increments of 15% on June 1, 2006, 15.7% on March 1, 2007 and the remainder on June 1, 2007. Customers electing to participate in the rate deferral plan will be required to pay the deferred amounts over an 18-month period beginning June 1, 2007. DPL will accrue the interest cost to fund the deferral program. The interest cost will be absorbed by DPL during the period that the deferred balance is accumulated and collected from customers, to the extent of and offset against the margins that the companies otherwise would earn for providing SOS to residential customers. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 1% o f DPL's residential customers had elected to participate in the phase-in program. |
On June 23, 2006, Maryland enacted legislation that extended the period for customers to elect to participate in the phase-in of higher rates and revised the obligation to provide SOS to residential and small commercial customers until further action of the General Assembly. The legislation also provides for a customer refund reflecting the difference between the interest expense on an initially projected deferred balance at a 25% customer participation level and the interest expense on a deferred balance based on actual participation levels referred to above. The total amount of the refund is approximately $.3 million for DPL customers. At DPL's 1% level of participation, DPL estimates that the deferral balance, net of taxes, will be approximately $.2 million. In July 2006, the MPSC approved a revised tariff rider filed in June 2006 by DPL to implement the legislation. |
Virginia |
On March 10, 2006, DPL filed for a rate increase with the VSCC for its Virginia Default Service customers to take effect on June 1, 2006, which was intended to allow DPL to recover its higher cost for energy established by the competitive bid procedure. On June 19, 2006, the VSCC issued an order that granted a rate increase for DPL of $11.5 million ($8.5 million less than requested by DPL in its March 2006 filing), to go into effect July 1, 2006. In determining the amount of the approved increase, the VSCC applied the proxy rate calculation to DPL's fuel factor, rather than allowing full recovery of the costs DPL incurred in procuring the supply 288
____________________________________________________________________________________ necessary for its Default Service obligation. The estimated after-tax earnings and cash flow impacts of the decision are reductions of approximately $3.6 million in 2006 (including the loss of revenue in June 2006 associated with the Default Service rate increase being deferred from June 1 until July 1) and $2.0 million in 2007. The order also mandated that DPL file an application by March 1, 2007 (which has been delayed until April 2, 2007 by subsequent VSCC order) for Default Service rates to become effective June 1, 2007, which should include a calculation of the fuel factor that is consistent with the procedures set forth in the order. |
In February 2007, the Virginia General Assembly passed amendments to the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act (the Virginia Restructuring Act) that modified the method by which investor-owned electric utilities in Virginia will be regulated by the VSCC. These amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act, subject to further amendment or veto by the Virginia governor and subsequent action by the General Assembly, will be effective on July 1, 2007. The amendments provide that, as of December 31, 2008, the following will come to an end: (i) capped rates (the previous expiration date was December 31, 2010); (ii) DPL's Default Service obligation (previously, DPL was obligated to continue to offer Default Service until relieved of that obligation by the VSCC); and (iii) customer choice, except that customers with loads of 5 megawatts or greater will continue to be able to buy from competitive suppliers, as will smaller non-residential customers tha t aggregate their loads to reach the 5 megawatt threshold and obtain VSCC approval. Additionally, if an ex-customer of Default Service wants to return to DPL as its energy supplier, it must give 5 years notice or obtain approval of the VSCC that the return is in the public interest. In this event, the ex-customer must take DPL's service at market based rates. DPL also believes that the amendments to the Virginia Restructuring Act will terminate, as of December 31, 2008, the ratemaking provisions within the memorandum of agreement entered into by DPL, the staff of the VSCC and the Virginia Attorney General's office in the docket approving DPL's generating asset divestiture in 2000 (the MOA), including the application of the proxy rate calculation to DPL's fuel factor as discussed above; however, the VSCC's interpretation of these provisions is not known. It should be noted that in DPL's view, in the absence these amendments, the MOA and all of its provisions (including the proxy rate calculation) expire o n July 1, 2007; the VSCC staff and the Virginia Attorney General disagree with DPL's position. Assuming the ratemaking provisions of the MOA end on December 31, 2008 pursuant to the amended Virginia Restructuring Act, the amendments provide that DPL shall file a rate case in 2009 and every 2 years thereafter. The ROE to be allowed by the VSCC will be set within a range, the lower of which is essentially the average of vertically integrated investor-owned electric utilities in the southeast with an upper point that is 300 basis points above that average. The VSCC has authority to set rates higher or lower to allow DPL to maintain the opportunity to earn the determined ROE and to credit back to customers, in whole or in part, earnings that were 50 basis points or more in excess of the determined ROE. The amended Virginia Restructuring Act includes various incentive ROEs for the construction of new generation and would allow the VSCC to penalize or reward DPL for efficient operations or, if DPL were to add new generation, for generating unit performance. There are also enhanced ratemaking features if DPL pursues conservation, demand management and energy efficiency programs or pursues renewable energy portfolios. |
Environmental Litigation |
DPL is subject to regulation by various federal, regional, state, and local authorities with respect to the environmental effects of its operations, including air and water quality control, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and limitations on land use. In addition, federal and state statutes authorize governmental agencies to compel responsible parties to clean up certain 289
____________________________________________________________________________________ abandoned or unremediated hazardous waste sites. DPL may incur costs to clean up currently or formerly owned facilities or sites found to be contaminated, as well as other facilities or sites that may have been contaminated due to past disposal practices. Although penalties assessed for violations of environmental laws and regulations are not recoverable from DPL's customers, environmental clean-up costs incurred by DPL would be included in its cost of service for ratemaking purposes. |
In July 2004, DPL entered into an administrative consent order with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) to further identify the extent of soil, sediment and ground and surface water contamination related to former manufactured gas plant (MGP) operations at a Cambridge, Maryland site on DPL-owned property and to investigate the extent of MGP contamination on adjacent property. The MDE has approved the RI and DPL submitted a final FS to MDE on February 15, 2007. The costs of cleanup (as determined by the RI/FS and subsequent negotiations with MDE) are anticipated to be approximately $2.7 million. The remedial action will include dredging activities within Cambridge Creek, which are expected to take place as early as October 2007, and soil excavation on DPL's and adjacent property as early as January 2008. |
In the early 1970s, DPL sold scrap transformers, some of which may have contained some level of PCBs, to a metal reclaimer operating at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, owned by a nonaffiliated company. In December 1987, DPL was notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it, along with a number of other utilities and non-utilities, was a potentially responsible party in connection with the PCB contamination at the site. In 1999, DPL entered into a de minimis settlement with EPA and paid approximately $107,000 to resolve its liability for cleanup costs at the Metal Bank/Cottman Avenue site. The de minimis settlement did not resolve DPL's responsibility for natural resource damages, if any, at the site. DPL believes that any liability for natural resource damages at this site will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. |
IRS Mixed Service Cost Issue |
During 2001, DPL changed its method of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes. The change allowed DPL to accelerate the deduction of certain expenses that were previously capitalized and depreciated. Through December 31, 2005, these accelerated deductions generated incremental tax cash flow benefits of approximately $62 million, primarily attributable to its 2001 tax returns. |
On August 2, 2005, the Treasury Department released regulations that, if adopted in their current form, would require DPL to change its method of accounting with respect to capitalizable construction costs for income tax purposes for future tax periods beginning in 2005. Based on those regulations, PHI in its 2005 federal tax return adopted an alternative method of accounting for capitalizable construction costs that management believes will be acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). |
On the same day that the new regulations were released, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2005-53, which is intended to limit the ability of certain taxpayers to utilize the method of accounting for income tax purposes they utilized on their tax returns for 2004 and prior years with respect to capitalizable construction costs. In line with this Revenue Ruling, the IRS revenue agent's report for the 2001 and 2002 tax returns disallowed substantially all of the 290
____________________________________________________________________________________ incremental tax benefits that DPL had claimed on those returns by requiring it to capitalize and depreciate certain expenses rather than treat such expenses as current deductions. PHI's protest of the IRS adjustments is among the unresolved audit matters relating to the 2001 and 2002 audits pending before the Appeals Office. |
In February 2006, PHI paid approximately $121 million of taxes to cover the amount of taxes that management estimated to be payable based on the method of tax accounting that PHI, pursuant to the proposed regulations, has adopted on its 2005 tax return. However, if the IRS is successful in requiring DPL to capitalize and depreciate construction costs that result in a tax and interest assessment greater than management's estimate of $121 million, PHI will be required to pay additional taxes and interest only to the extent these adjustments exceed the $121 million payment made in February 2006. |
Contractual Obligations |
As of December 31, 2006, DPL's contractual obligations under non-derivative fuel and power purchase contracts were $602.2 million in 2007, $387.7 million in 2008 to 2009, $35.6 million in 2010 to 2011, and $37.0 million in 2012 and thereafter. |
(12) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
PHI Service Company provides various administrative and professional services to PHI and its regulated and unregulated subsidiaries including DPL. The cost of these services is allocated in accordance with cost allocation methodologies set forth in the service agreement using a variety of factors, including the subsidiaries' share of employees, operating expenses, assets, and other cost causal methods. These intercompany transactions are eliminated by PHI in consolidation and no profit results from these transactions at PHI. PHI Service Company costs directly charged or allocated to DPL for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 were $100.5 million, $98.4 million and $99.5 million, respectively. |
In addition to the PHI Service Company charges described above, DPL's financial statements include the following related party transactions in its Statements of Earnings: |
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___________________________________________________________________________________ A description for each category of regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities follows: |
Securitized Stranded Costs: Represents stranded costs associated with a non-utility generator contract termination payment and the discontinuance of the application of SFAS No. 71 for ACE's electricity generation business. The recovery of these stranded costs has been securitized through the issuance of transition bonds by Atlantic City Electric Transition Funding LLC (ACE Funding) (Transition Bonds). A customer surcharge is collected by ACE to fund principal and interest payments on the Transition Bonds. The stranded costs are amortized over the life of the Transition Bonds, which mature between 2010 and 2023. |
Deferred Energy Supply Costs: The regulatory liability balances of $164.9 and $40.9 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, primarily represent deferred costs relating to a net over-recovery by ACE connected with the provision of BGS and other restructuring related costs incurred by ACE. This deferral received a return and is being recovered over 8 years, beginning in 2007. |
Deferred Recoverable Income Taxes: Represents a receivable from our customers for tax benefits ACE has previously flowed through before the company was ordered to provide deferred income taxes. As the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets reverse, the deferred recoverable balances are reversed. There is no return on these deferrals. |
Deferred Debt Extinguishment Costs: Represents the costs of debt extinguishment for which recovery through regulated utility rates is considered probable and, if approved, will be amortized to interest expense during the authorized rate recovery period. A return is received on these deferrals. |
Deferred Other Postretirement Benefit Costs: Represents the non-cash portion of other postretirement benefit costs deferred by ACE during 1993 through 1997. This cost is being recovered over a 15-year period that began on January 1, 1998. There is no return on this deferral. |
Unrecovered Purchased Power Contract Costs: Represents deferred costs related to purchase power contracts at ACE, which are being recovered from July 1994 through May 2014 and which earn a return. |
Asset Retirement Obligation: During the first quarter of 2006, ACE recorded an asset retirement obligation of $60 million for B.L. England plant demolition and environmental remediation costs. Amortization of the liability is over a two-year period amortized quarterly. The cumulative amortization of $33.0 million at December 31, 2006, is recorded as a regulatory asset -- "Asset Retirement Cost." As discussed in Note (11) Commitments and Contingencies, on February 8, 2007, ACE completed the sale of the B.L. England generating facility. |
Other: Represents miscellaneous regulatory assets that generally are being amortized over 1 to 20 years and generally do not receive a return. 304
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Excess Depreciation Reserve: The excess depreciation reserve was recorded as part of a New Jersey rate case settlement. This excess reserve is the result of a change in estimated depreciable lives and a change in depreciation technique from remaining life to whole life. The excess is being amortized over an 8.25 year period, which began in June 2005. |
Regulatory Liability for Federal and New Jersey Tax Benefit and Other: Securitized stranded costs include a portion of stranded costs attributable to the future tax benefit expected to be realized when the higher tax basis of the generating plants is deducted for New Jersey state income tax purposes as well as the future benefit to be realized through the reversal of federal excess deferred taxes. To account for the possibility that these tax benefits may be given to ACE's regulated electricity delivery customers through lower rates in the future, ACE established a regulatory liability. The regulatory liability related to federal excess deferred taxes will remain on ACE's Consolidated Balance Sheets until such time as the Internal Revenue Service issues its final regulations with respect to normalization of these federal excess deferred taxes. |
Gain from Sale of Keystone and Conemaugh: On September 1, 2006, ACE completed the sale of its interests in the Keystone and Conemaugh generating facilities to Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. for approximately $177.0 million, which was subsequently decreased by $1.6 million based on a post-closing 60-day true-up for applicable items not known at the time of the closing. The total gain recognized on this sale, net of adjustments, came to $131.4 million. Approximately $81.3 million of the net gain from the sale has been used to offset the remaining regulatory asset balance, which ACE has been recovering in rates, and approximately $49.8 million of the net gain is being returned to ratepayers over a 33-month period as a credit on their bills, which began during the October 2006 billing period. The balance to be repaid to customers is $48.4 million as of December 31, 2006. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents |
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, money market funds, and commercial paper with original maturities of three months or less. Additionally, deposits in PHI's "money pool," which ACE and certain other PHI subsidiaries use to manage short-term cash management requirements, are considered cash equivalents. Deposits in the money pool are guaranteed by PHI. PHI deposits funds in the money pool to the extent that the pool has insufficient funds to meet the needs of its participants, which may require PHI to borrow funds for deposit from external sources. Deposits in the PHI money pool were zero and $4.0 million at December 31, 2006, and 2005, respectively. |
Restricted Cash |
Restricted cash represents cash either held as collateral or pledged as collateral, and is restricted from use for general corporate purposes. |
Capitalized Interest and Allowance for Funds Used During Construction |
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 71, utilities can capitalize as Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC) the capital costs of financing the construction of plant and equipment. The debt portion of AFUDC is recorded as a reduction of "interest expense" and the equity portion of AFUDC is credited to "other income" in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings. 305
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ACE recorded AFUDC for borrowed funds of $.8 million, $.8 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. |
ACE recorded amounts for the equity component of AFUDC of $.7 million, $1.6 million and $1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. |
Amortization of Debt Issuance and Reacquisition Costs |
The amortization of debt discount, premium, and expense, including deferred debt extinguishment costs associated with the regulated electric businesses, is included in interest expense. |
Emission Allowances |
Emission allowances for sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrous oxide (NOx) are allocated to generation owners by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on Federal programs designed to regulate the emissions from power plants. The EPA allotments have no cost basis to the generation owners. Depending on the run-time of a generator in a given year, and other pollution controls it may have, the unit may need additional allowances above its allocation, or it may have excess allowances that it does not need. Allowances are traded among companies in an over-the-counter market, which allows companies to purchase additional allowances to avoid incurring penalties for noncompliance with applicable emissions standards or to sell excess allowances. |
ACE accounts for emission allowances as inventory in the balance sheet line item "Fuel, materials and supplies - at average cost." Allowances from EPA allocation are added to current inventory each year at a zero basis. Additional purchased allowances are recorded at cost. Allowances sold or consumed at the power plants are expensed at a weighted-average cost. This cost tends to be relatively low due to the zero-basis allowances. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, the book value of emission allowances was $.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively. ACE has established a committee to ensure its plants are in compliance with emissions regulations and that its power plants have the required number of allowances on hand. |
Income Taxes |
ACE, as an indirect subsidiary of PHI, is included in the consolidated Federal income tax return of Pepco Holdings. Federal income taxes are allocated to ACE based upon the taxable income or loss amounts, determined on a separate return basis. |
The consolidated financial statements include current and deferred income taxes. Current income taxes represent the amounts of tax expected to be reported on ACE's state income tax returns and the amount of Federal income tax allocated from PHI. |
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities represent the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities, and are measured using presently enacted tax rates. The portion of ACE's deferred tax liability applicable to its utility operations that has not been recovered from utility customers represents income taxes recoverable in the future and is included in "regulatory assets" on the Consolidated Balance 306
___________________________________________________________________________________ Sheets. For additional information, see the discussion under "Regulation of Power Delivery Operations" above. |
Deferred income tax expense generally represents the net change during the reporting period in the net deferred tax liability and deferred recoverable income taxes. |
Investment tax credits from utility plant purchased in prior years are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Investment tax credits." These investment tax credits are being amortized to income over the useful lives of the related utility plant. |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans |
Pepco Holdings sponsors a retirement plan that covers substantially all employees of ACE (the PHI Retirement Plan) and certain employees of other Pepco Holdings subsidiaries. Pepco Holdings also provides supplemental retirement benefits to certain eligible executives and key employees through nonqualified retirement plans and provides certain postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retired employees. |
The PHI Retirement Plan is accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," and its other postretirement benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions." Pepco Holdings' financial statement disclosures were prepared in accordance with SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits." |
SFAS No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)" |
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)" (SFAS No. 158). SFAS No. 158 requires that companies recognize a net liability or asset to report the funded status of their defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans on the balance sheet. Recognizing the funded status of the company's benefit plans as a net liability or asset will require an offsetting adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity or will be deferred as a regulatory asset or liability if probable of recovery in rates under SFAS No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation." SFAS No. 158 does not change how pension and other postretirement benefits are accounted for and reported in the income statement. |
ACE participates in benefit plans sponsored by Pepco Holdings and as such, the provisions of SFAS No. 158 do not have an impact on its financial condition and cash flows. |
Long-Lived Asset Impairment Evaluation |
ACE is required to evaluate certain long-lived assets (for example, generating property and equipment and real estate) to determine if they are impaired when certain conditions exist. SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," provides the accounting for impairments of long-lived assets and indicates that companies are required to test long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Examples of such events or changes include a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset or a significant adverse change in the manner an asset is being used or its physical condition. For long-lived assets that are 307
____________________________________________________________________________________ expected to be held and used, SFAS No. 144 requires that an impairment loss be recognized only if the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. |
Property, Plant and Equipment |
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. The carrying value of property, plant and equipment is evaluated for impairment whenever circumstances indicate the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable under the provisions of SFAS No. 144. Upon retirement, the cost of regulated property, net of salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. |
The annual provision for depreciation on electric property, plant and equipment is computed on the straight-line basis using composite rates by classes of depreciable property. Accumulated depreciation is charged with the cost of depreciable property retired, less salvage and other recoveries. Property, plant and equipment other than electric facilities is generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over the useful lives of the assets. The system-wide composite depreciation rates for 2006, 2005 and 2004 for ACE's transmission and distribution system property were 2.9%, 3.1% and 3.5%, respectively, and for its generation system property were .3%, 2.4%, and 2.3%, respectively. |
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts |
ACE's accounts receivable balances primarily consist of customer accounts receivable, other accounts receivable, and accrued unbilled revenue. Accrued unbilled revenue represents revenue earned in the current period but not billed to the customer until a future date (usually within one month after the receivable is recorded). ACE uses the allowance method to account for uncollectible accounts receivable. |
FIN 46R, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" |
ACE has power purchase agreements (PPAs) with a number of entities, including three contracts between unaffiliated non-utility generators (NUGs) and ACE. Due to a variable element in the pricing structure of the NUGs, ACE potentially assumes the variability in the operations of the plants related to these PPAs and, therefore, has a variable interest in the entities. In accordance with the provisions of FIN 46R, ACE continued, during 2006, to conduct exhaustive efforts to obtain information from these entities, but was unable to obtain sufficient information to conduct the analysis required under FIN 46R to determine whether these three entities were variable interest entities or if ACE was the primary beneficiary. As a result, ACE has applied the scope exemption from the application of FIN 46R for enterprises that have conducted exhaustive efforts to obtain the necessary information, but have not been able to obtain such information. |
Net power purchase activities with the counterparties to the NUGs for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, were approximately $324 million, $327 million and $265 million, respectively, of which $288 million, $289 million and $236 million, respectively, related to power purchases under the NUGs. ACE does not have exposure to loss under the PPA agreements since cost recovery will be achieved from its customers through regulated rates. |
Prepaid Expenses and Other |
The prepaid expenses and other balance primarily consists of prepayments and the current portion of deferred income tax assets. 308
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Other Non-Current Assets |
The other assets balance principally consists of deferred compensation trust assets and unamortized debt expense. |
Other Current Liabilities |
The other current liability balance principally consists of customer deposits, accrued vacation liability and other miscellaneous liabilities. |
Other Deferred Credits |
The other deferred credits balance principally consists of miscellaneous deferred liabilities. |
Dividend Restrictions |
In addition to its future financial performance, the ability of ACE to pay dividends is subject to limits imposed by: (i) state corporate and regulatory laws, which impose limitations on the funds that can be used to pay dividends and, in the case of regulatory laws, may require the prior approval of ACE's utility regulatory commission before dividends can be paid; (ii) the prior rights of holders of existing and future preferred stock, mortgage bonds and other long-term debt issued by ACE and any other restrictions imposed in connection with the incurrence of liabilities; and (iii) certain provisions of the charter of ACE, which impose restrictions on payment of common stock dividends for the benefit of preferred stockholders. ACE had approximately $97.9 million and $106.0 million of restricted retained earnings at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. |
Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities |
In accordance with FASB Staff Position (FSP), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Industry Audit Guide, Audits of Airlines--"Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities" (FSP AUG AIR-1), the costs associated with planned major maintenance activities related to generation facilities are accounted for on an as incurred basis. |
Discontinued Operations |
Discontinued operations are identified and accounted for in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." For information regarding ACE's discontinued operations refer to Note (13), "Discontinued Operations," herein. |
Reclassifications |
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in order to conform to current year presentation. |
New Accounting Standards |
EITF 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" |
In September 2005, the FASB ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 04-13, "Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty" (EITF 04-13), 309
____________________________________________________________________________________ which addresses circumstances under which two or more exchange transactions involving inventory with the same counterparty should be viewed as a single exchange transaction for the purposes of evaluating the effect of Accounting Principles Board Opinion 29, "Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions." EITF 04-13 is effective for new arrangements entered into, or modifications or renewals of existing arrangements, beginning in the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after March 15, 2006. |
ACE implemented EITF 04-13 on April 1, 2006. The implementation did not have a material impact on ACE's overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for the second quarter of 2006. |
FSP FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)" |
In April 2006, the FASB issued FSP FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), (FSP FIN 46(R)-6)" which provides guidance on how to determine the variability to be considered in applying FIN 46(R), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." |
The guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 is applicable prospectively beginning the first day of the first reporting period beginning after June 15, 2006. |
ACE started applying the guidance in FSP FIN 46(R)-6 to new and modified arrangements effective July 1, 2006. |
EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" |
On June 28, 2006, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 06-3, "Disclosure Requirements for Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority on Revenue-producing Transactions" (EITF 06-3). EITF 06-3 provides guidance on an entity's disclosure of its accounting policy regarding the gross or net presentation of certain taxes and provides that if taxes included in gross revenues are significant, a company should disclose the amount of such taxes for each period for which an income statement is presented (i.e., both interim and annual periods). Taxes within the scope of EITF 06-3 are those that are imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction. Taxes assessed on an entity's activities over a period of time are not within the scope of EITF 06-3. EITF 06-3 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006 (March 31, 2007 for ACE) although earlier application is permitted. |
ACE does not anticipate that the adoption of EITF 06-3 will materially impact its disclosure requirements. |
FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" |
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the criteria for recognition of tax benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," and prescribes a financial statement recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Specifically, it clarifies that an entity's tax benefits must be "more likely than not" of being sustained prior to recording the related tax benefit in the financial statements. If the position drops below the "more likely than not" standard, the benefit can no longer be 310
____________________________________________________________________________________ recognized. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. |
FIN 48 is effective the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for ACE). ACE is in the process of evaluating the impact of FIN 48, but does not believe it will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flow. |
SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" |
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" (SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of this Statement will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years (year ending December 31, 2008 for ACE). |
ACE is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 157 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
FSP AUG AIR-1, "Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities" |
On September 8, 2006, the FASB issued FSP AUG AIR-1, which prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities in annual and interim financial reporting periods. FSP AUG AIR-1 is effective the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 (year ending December 31, 2007 for ACE). |
ACE does not believe that the implementation of FSP AUG AIR-1 will have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
"Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108" |
On September 13, 2006, the SEC issued SAB No. 108 (SAB 108) which expresses the SEC staff's views on the process of quantifying financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify the impact of correcting all misstatements, including both the carryover and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements by quantifying an error using both the rollover and iron curtain approaches and by evaluating the error measured under each approach. Under SAB 108, a registrant's financial statements would require adjustment when either approach results in a material misstatement, after considering all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors. Further, the SEC believes that a registrant's materiality assessment of an identified unadjusted error should quantify the effects of the identified unadjusted error on each financial statement and related financial statement disclosure. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years endi ng on or after November 15, 2006. |
ACE implemented the guidance provided in SAB 108 during the year ended December 31, 2006. 311
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SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" |
On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" (SFAS No. 159) which permits entities to choose to elect to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS No. 159 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. However, it is possible that the application of SFAS No. 159 will change current practice with respect to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. |
SFAS No.159 establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provide additional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of the company's choice to use fair value on its earnings. It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair value on the face of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 does not eliminate disclosure requirements included in other accounting standards. |
SFAS No. 159 applies to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (year ending December 31, 2008 for ACE), with early adoption permitted for an entity that has also elected to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements.An entity is prohibited from retrospectively applying SFAS No. 159, unless it chooses early adoption. SFAS No. 159 also applies to eligible items existing at November 15, 2007 (or early adoption date). ACE is in the process of evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 159 on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
(3) SEGMENT INFORMATION |
In accordance with SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," ACE has one segment, its regulated utility business. |
(4) LEASING ACTIVITIES |
ACE leases other types of property and equipment for use in its operations. Amounts charged to operating expenses for these leases were $9.6 million in 2006, $11.0 million in 2005, and $11.7 million in 2004. Future minimum rental payments for all non-cancelable lease agreements are less than $10 million per year for each of the next five years. 312
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(5) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
Property, plant and equipment is comprised of the following: |