RISK FACTORS
Investing in the notes involves risks. In addition to the risk factors described below, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (which description is incorporated by reference herein), as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference to the prospectus before making a decision to invest in our debt securities. Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, that are often beyond our control and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect our actual operating results, cash flows and financial condition.
The recentCOVID-19 coronavirus outbreak could adversely affect our business functions, financial condition and results of operations. The recentCOVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has resulted in widespread impacts on the global economy and on our employees, customers, contractors, and suppliers. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the extent to which the coronavirus will spread and the extent and duration of measures to try to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines,shelter-in-place orders (including those in effect in our service area in the states of Idaho and Oregon), and business and government shutdowns. Restrictions of this nature may cause us or our contractors to miss milestones on construction projects and experience operational delays, delay the delivery of electrical infrastructure and other supplies that we source from around the globe, delay the connection of electric service to new customers, prolong the time period necessary to perform maintenance of our infrastructure, and significantly reduce the use of electricity by commercial and industrial customers.
Further, while we have modified certain business and workforce practices (including employee travel, employee work locations, and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events, and conferences) to conform to government restrictions and best practices encouraged by government and regulatory authorities, we have a limited number of highly skilled operators for some of our critical power plants and our grid operations centers. If a large proportion of our employees in those critical facilities were to contractCOVID-19 at the same time, we would rely upon our business continuity plans in an effort to continue operations at those facilities, but there is no certainty that such measures will be sufficient to mitigate the adverse impact to our operations.
Additionally, the effects ofCOVID-19 on the U.S. capital markets may significantly impact Idaho Power. For example, the costs related to the noncontributory defined benefit pension plan we provide to Idaho Power employees, as well as a defined benefit postretirement benefit plan (consisting of health care and death benefits) that covers eligible retirees, are based in part on the value of the plans’ assets and, therefore, adverse investment performance for these assets or the failure to maintain sustained growth in pension investments over time could increase our plan costs and funding requirements related to the plans. Similarly, we rely on access to the capital markets to fund our capital requirements. To the extent that access to the capital markets is adversely affected byCOVID-19, we may need to consider alternative sources of funding for our operations and for working capital, which may increase our cost of, as well as adversely impact our access to, capital. These uncertain economic conditions may also result in the inability of our customers to pay for electric service, which could affect the collectability of our revenues and adversely affect our financial results.
The degree to whichCOVID-19 may impact our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations is unknown at this time and will depend on future developments, including the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, the severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, actions that may be taken by governmental authorities, and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
General
We are issuing these notes as part of a series of first mortgage bonds under our Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1937, as amended and supplemented. You should read the following information,
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