SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C 20549 FORM 10-K/A For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 Commission file number 1-3632 (Mark One) (X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 OR ( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) For the transition period from to INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 42-0329500 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 1000 Main St., P.O. Box 769, Dubuque, IA 52004-0769 (Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code 319-582-5421 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Name of each exchange on Title of each class which registered Common Stock Par Value $3.50 Per Share ) New York Stock Exchange ) Chicago Stock Exchange ) Pacific Stock Exchange Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: N O N E Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X . No . Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ X ] As of March 1, 1997 the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $281,817,111. Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock. Shares Outstanding March 1, 1997 Common Stock Par Value $3.50 Per Share 9,676,124 Documents incorporated by reference - portions of the Annual Report to Stockholders for 1996 (Exhibit EX-13) are incorporated by reference in Parts I, II and IV. INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY 1996 Form 10-K Annual Report Table of Contents Page Part I Item 1. Business 1 General 1 Construction Program 1 Electric Operations 1 Sources and Availability of Raw Materials 2 Duration and Effect of Electric Patents and Franchises 3 Electric Seasonal Business 3 Working Capital Items 3 Electric Governmental Regulations 3 Electric Competitive Conditions 4 Other Sources of Power 6 Other Electric Operations 7 Gas Operations 7 Gas Sources and Availability of Raw Materials 8 Duration and Effect of Gas Patents and Franchises 9 Gas Seasonal Business 9 Gas Governmental Regulations 9 Gas Competitive Conditions 10 Dependence of Segment Upon a Single Customer 10 Research and Development 10 Electric and Magnetic Fields 10 Environmental Regulations 11 Employees 13 Accounting Matters 13 Item 2. Properties 13 Electric Properties 13 Generating Stations 14 Gas Properties 15 General Properties 15 Titles 15 Item 3. Legal Proceedings 15 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 16 Part II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters 16 Item 6. Selected Financial Data 18 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 18 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 18 Item 9. Disagreements on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 18 Part III Item 10. Executive Officers of the Registrant 19 Item 11. Executive Compensation 19 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 19 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 20 Part IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K 20 PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS (General) Interstate Power Company (the company), is a public utility incorporated in 1925 under the laws of the State of Delaware. The company is engaged in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It owns property in portions of twenty-five counties in the northern and northeastern parts of Iowa, in portions of twenty-two counties in the southern part of Minnesota, and in portions of four counties in northwestern Illinois. The company also engages in the distribution and sale of natural gas in Albert Lea, Minnesota; Clinton, Mason City and Clear Lake, Iowa; Fulton and Savanna, Illinois and in a number of smaller Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois communities, and in the transportation of natural gas within Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota, and in interstate commerce. For information pertaining to industry segments and lines of business please refer to pages 27 and 28 of Exhibit EX-13 (the Annual Report to Stockholders). (Construction Program) The table below shows actual construction expenditures for 1996 and estimated expenditures for the period 1997 through 2001: (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 Actual $31,000 1997 Est. $36,300 1998 Est. $45,000 1999 Est. $35,500 2000 Est. $38,400 2001 Est. $62,600 Current projections of construction expenditures for the 1997 and 1998 periods do not indicate any need for permanent financing. Refer to (Environmental Regulations) on page 11 for additional information on construction expenditures related to compliance with the regulations of the Clean Air Act of 1990. (Electric Operations) Of the 234 communities served with electricity, Dubuque, Iowa, is the largest with a population of approximately 58,000. Other major cities served are Albert Lea, Minnesota and Clinton and Mason City, Iowa. The remainder of the communities served are under 15,000 population, of which 193 are less than 1,000 population. As of December 31, 1996, the company sells electricity at wholesale to 13 small communities which have municipal distribution systems, 8 of which are total requirements customers, and 5 of which are partial requirements customers. During 1996, 6 firm municipal electric wholesale customers elected to purchase their requirements from other utilities. In addition, two firm municipal customers have given the company notice that they intend to purchase their requirements from other utilities when their contracts expire later in 1997. The estimated population of the company's service area is 340,000. Six large industrial customers account for 31% of electric MWH sales. A diverse mixture of residential, agricultural, and industrial customers constitute the remainder of the company's 164,900 electric customers. There have been no significant changes since the beginning of the fiscal year in the kind of products produced, services rendered, markets or method of distribution. The facilities owned or operated by the company include facilities for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce or the sale of electric energy at wholesale in interstate commerce. (Sources and Availability of Raw Materials) Electricity generated by the company in 1996 was 93.8% from coal as a fuel, 0.2% from oil and 6.0% from natural gas. In 1997, the sources of such generation are estimated to be: 96.6% from coal, 0.4% from middle distillate oils, and 3.0% from natural gas. In 1996, 78.1% of the company's coal requirements came from long-term contracts. In 1997, the company anticipates that 79.0% of its coal requirements will be from long-term contracts. These contracts have expiration dates ranging through August 31, 1999. The company has a contract for 450,000 tons per year of 0.5% sulfur Colorado coal for its Kapp #2, a 217 MW unit at Clinton, Iowa. The contract continues through August 1999, and will allow the company to comply with sulfur dioxide restrictions mandated by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The company has a contract for 500,000 tons per year for its 260 MW Lansing #4 unit. Lansing Unit #4 requires low sulfur coal, which is being purchased in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The coal is shipped by rail and then transloaded to barge at facilities near Keokuk, Iowa. A contract with Orba-Johnson Transshipment Company, Inc., covers rail to barge coal transloading. Coal required for generation at the Neal #4 unit, located near Sioux City, Iowa, and the Louisa #1 unit, located near Muscatine, Iowa, is contracted for by the operator, MidAmerican Energy Company, under terms of the Unit Participation Agreements. The company will purchase coal on an annual basis for the Dubuque Power Plant and for Lansing Units #1, #2 and #3. The company owns 120 coal cars and has an undivided ownership (21.528%) in 372 coal cars in connection with Neal #4. The company has an undivided ownership (4%) in 136 cars in connection with Louisa #1. Coal requirements in 1997 will require using leased cars for the Louisa #1 coal supply. The company relies on spot purchases of oil. The company burned 795,043 gallons of No. 2 and No. 6 oil in 1996 and has 6,477,000 gallons of oil storage capacity in which to store adequate reserves during periods of high demand on refineries. The company presently has interruptible natural gas available for its electric generation station at Clinton, Iowa through Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America. At the Fox Lake and Dubuque plants, interruptible gas is available through Peoples Natural Gas Company. There is no assurance that interruptible gas will continue to be available as fuel for electric generating plants. (Duration and Effect of Electric Patents and Franchises) The company owns no patents. The company has, in the opinion of its legal counsel, all necessary franchises or other rights from the incorporated communities and other governmental subdivisions now served, required for the operation of its properties. With 195 electric franchises in effect in cities and villages, and with the majority of such franchises being for a term of 25 years, the renewal of such franchises is a continuing process. Twenty-three percent (45) of the franchises have been secured since January 1, 1987. (Electric Seasonal Business) The effects of air conditioning in summer and heating in winter have a seasonal impact. The air conditioning sales in the summer months are primarily related to the residential and commercial customer classes, however, the company does not meter air conditioning sales separately. During the past five years, the highest and lowest average residential consumption in the peak summer month has been 960 Kwh (August 1995) and 571 Kwh (June 1993), respectively, compared to 806 Kwh (January 1994) and 651 Kwh (February 1992) during the peak winter month. Refer to the (Electric Governmental Regulations) section for a discussion of Iowa and Minnesota seasonal rates. (Working Capital Items) Three of the company's generating stations are located on the Mississippi River at Clinton, Dubuque and Lansing, Iowa. The coal supply for the three plants is delivered by barge during the shipping season (approximately April 1st to December 1st). Refinements to the company's fuel delivery process have decreased the amount of inventory required to carry the company over the winter. Coal shipments to the company's Neal #4 and Louisa #1 generating stations are able to continue through the winter as river transportation is not involved. (Electric Governmental Regulations) In August 1993, the company implemented a revised electric tariff structure. The new tariffs give greater weight to the demand component of electric usage, and include a provision for a higher rate during the summer cooling season (June-September), but did not change the company's overall annual electric revenue. The company filed an Iowa electric rate increase application in March 1995. The application requested an annual increase of $13.1 million. Interim rates in an annual amount of $7.1 million were placed in effect on June 29, 1995. A December 1995 Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) order allowed an annual increase of $6.6 million. The company filed a Minnesota electric rate increase application in June 1995. The application requested an annual increase of $4.6 million (later adjusted by the company to $3.3 million). Interim rates were not requested. On April 10, 1996, the Commission issued an order allowing an increase in electric rates of $2.3 million. Rates reflecting the increase were implemented in August 1996. A Commission order issued December 16, 1996, allowed the company to recover approximately an additional $830,000 in 1997 applicable to the time period from the original order to the date when new rates were implemented. Minnesota and Iowa regulations require that utilities conduct energy efficiency and demand side management programs. Demand side management expenditures applicable to the Minnesota jurisdiction in an annual amount of approximately $1.0 million are currently being recovered through rates. Iowa jurisdiction tariffs which provide for the recovery of demand side management costs incurred through December 31, 1992, were placed in effect in October 1994. The Iowa tariffs provide for the recovery of $6.7 million of costs over a four year period. The company filed in 1996 for recovery of $18.5 million of costs incurred from 1993 through 1995. A decision by the IUB is pending. As of December 31, 1996 and 1995, the amounts deferred were $29.9 and $23.1 million, respectively. The company's electric rate tariffs provide for recovery of the cost of fuel through energy adjustment clauses. These clauses are subject to revision from time to time by the regulatory authority having jurisdiction, and are designed to pass on to the consumer the increases or decreases in the cost of fuel without formal rate proceedings. Purchased capacity costs are not recovered from customers through energy adjustment clauses, but rather must be addressed in base rates in a formal rate proceeding. In the company's Iowa electric jurisdiction, the company is required to return to customers any jurisdictional revenue from capacity sales to other utilities. (Electric Competitive Conditions) The Illinois Commerce Commission entered an order in 1993 determining that the company, and not Jo-Carroll Electric Cooperative, had the right to provide electric service to a freezer service plant near East Dubuque, IL. Upon judicial review sought by Jo-Carroll, the Illinois 15th Judicial Circuit Court in 1994 remanded the proceeding to the Commission for further hearings. The Commission entered an order on remand in 1996 further determining that the company, and not Jo-Carroll, had the right to provide such service. Proceedings brought by Jo-Carroll for judicial review of the Commission order on remand are now pending before that court. The company continues to serve the freezer service plant pursuant to Commission order. The National Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Act) addresses several matters designed to promote competition in the electric wholesale power generation market, including mandated open access to the electric transmission system. Current initiatives at the federal level propose to allow customers to purchase energy from alternative power suppliers and then pay the local utility a fee for delivery of the energy. As legislation, regulations, and economic changes occur, electric utilities will be faced with increasing pressure to become more competitive. The company cannot predict the long-term consequences of these competitive issues on its results of operation or financial condition. The company has experienced difficulty in retaining electric wholesale customers which take service under one year contracts. To date, 6 of the company's 18 firm municipal electric wholesale customers have elected to purchase their requirements from other utilities. The net impact on the company's financial condition is not expected to be significant as these municipal customers are required to pay the company a wheeling fee for use of the company's transmission system to transport power from other utilities. The company's industrial rates generally compare favorably with those of neighboring utilities. For the company's six largest industrial customers, the aggregate 1996 rate was approximately 3.4 cents per KWH. This rate also compares favorably with that of potential independent power producers and electric wholesale generators. The company's favorable rates mitigate the incentive that these customers might otherwise have to relocate, self-generate or purchase electricity from other suppliers. The company anticipates that its generating cost will decline slightly over the next several years as long-term coal purchase and transloading contracts expire and are renegotiated. The company currently has no competition from the same type of public utility service in the sale of electricity in any of the incorporated communities it serves. In the States of Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota, territorial laws govern the question of possible service to customers in unincorporated areas, and such laws regulate competition in such areas. Laws and statutory regulations in the different states in which service is rendered provide, under varying terms and conditions, for municipal ownership of electric generating plants and distribution systems. Certain franchises under which utility service is rendered give the municipality the right to purchase the system of the company within said municipality upon certain terms and conditions. However, no such purchase option and no right of condemnation of the company's properties has been exercised and no municipal generating plant or municipal distribution system has been established in the territory now served by the company during the past twenty-five years. The Iowa Utilities Board, the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission have each approved tariffs that allow the company to offer interruptible electric service for qualifying customers. The availability of this service provides price incentives to those customers having the ability to interrupt their connected load. The primary objective of the incentives is to reduce the system peak. The incentives also serve to retain existing customers and attract new customers. (Other Sources of Power) The company has been a participant in the Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) since March 31, 1972. Membership in the Pool permits sharing of reserve capacities of the members which affects reductions in plant facilities investment for MAPP members. The minimum reserve margin for participants in MAPP has been established at 15%. A new Restated Agreement was approved by the MAPP membership and after FERC review became effective November 1, 1996. MAPP is now comprised of a Regional Transmission Committee (RTC), a Regional Reliability Committee (RRC), and a Power and Energy Market (PEM). With open membership MAPP has gained several new members and includes investor- owned utilities, the United States (Western Area Power Administration), a Canadian system, public power districts, rural electric generating and transmission cooperative associations, municipal electric supply agencies, municipal utilities, and power marketers operating in Canada and the North Central region of the United States. The Pool coordinates planning and reliability in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The Pool also provides a marketplace for economic power supply in these States with an expanding influence in the surrounding States through new utility and marketer membership. The MAPP Agreement was filed with the FERC and accepted as an initial rate filing effective December 1, 1972 and has been in operation since that time. In 1995, MAPP implemented an intra-pool transmission service fee. With an effective date of November 1, 1996 the Restated Agreement, in addition to opening membership, implemented a revised rate schedule for transmission service for transactions with terms of up to two years. The company has little historical data to use as a basis for quantifying the potential maximum intra-pool transmission service fees that are now required under the Restated MAPP Agreement. Current projections of maximum charges would be up to three times the level incurred prior to approval of the Restated Agreement. MAPP is presently working to develop a region-wide tariff for transactions longer than two years. The company cannot project the effective date nor the level of charges of that long term tariff. In addition to the MAPP membership, the company has interchange agreements with certain Missouri and Illinois utilities through 345 kV transmission systems. Future interconnections are planned to meet transmission requirements for the next ten years. In 1992, the company entered into three long-term power purchase contracts with other utilities. The contracts provide for the purchase of 255 MW of capacity through April 2001. Energy is available at the company's option at approximately 100% to 110% of the monthly production costs for the designated units. The three power purchase contracts required capacity payments of $24.6 million in each year 1994 - 1996. Over the remaining life of the contracts, total capacity payments will be approximately $111 million. The purchase power contract payments are not for debt service requirements of the selling utility, nor do they transfer risk or rewards of ownership. In Iowa the IUB has concluded that the capacity purchases were prudent and allowed recovery of costs in rates. The rate structure approved by the MPUC does not provide for full recovery of purchased power applicable to the Minnesota jurisdiction. The 1996 rate order by the MPUC held that the company had 100 MW of excess capacity and disallowed recovery of approximately $800,000 annually. The company has not filed for rate recovery of approximately $2.5 million of the purchased power payments in the Illinois and FERC jurisdictions. The company believes that increased margins from sales growth in Illinois have largely offset the revenue deficiency. The company has contracts with several governmental power agencies whereby the company provides transmission service to their customer/members. During 1996, the company received $1,419,838 for transmission service to customers of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), and $1,392,455 from Cooperative Power Association (CPA) for wheeling power to nine of its member distribution cooperatives. The company's contract with CPA also provides for payment by the company for mutually utilized facilities constructed and owned by CPA. During 1996, these payments amounted to $321,066. The company and Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) have agreed by contract to compensate each other if over/underinvestment in the shared transmission system occurs. During 1996, SMMPA made payments to the company in the amount of $365,886. The company's contract with Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) provides for compensation to each other if over/underinvestment in the shared transmission system occurs. During 1996, the company paid CIPCO $139,302 for underinvestment in the Liberty Substation property. (Other Electric Operations) The 1996 peak of 996,378 KW occurred on August 6, 1996 between 2:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon. At the time of its 1996 peak the company had a net effective electric capability of 1,310,600 KW. Of this net effective capability, 903,300 KW was in steam generation, 113,500 KW was in combustion turbine and the balance was in internal combustion units and purchases. The previous historical system net peak load for a sixty-minute period, of 1,010,821 KW, was reached on July 14, 1995. (Gas Operations) The company supplies retail gas service in 39 communities and serves approximately 49,200 gas customers. There have been no significant changes since the beginning of the fiscal year in the kind of products produced, markets or methods of distribution. (Gas Sources and Availability of Raw Materials) The company purchases pipeline transportation capacity from Northern Natural Gas Company (NNG), Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) and Northern Border Pipeline Company (NBPL). During 1996 the company purchased gas from six non-traditional suppliers, i.e. producers, brokers and marketers, at market responsive rates. FERC Order 636 became effective in 1993. Order 636 unbundled pipeline supply from its capacity. Subsequent to Order 636, FERC continues to approve the tariffs of NNG and NGPL, but only with regard to capacity and storage rates, subject to change as rate cases are filed. Gas for the company's Mason City, Albert Lea and Savanna service areas is transported by NNG under capacity contracts for 36,338 Mcf daily, and for an additional 15,657 Mcf in the November to March time frame. The majority, 26,999 Mcf, of the above capacities is from the producing areas of Oklahoma and Texas, etc. These contracts expire in October, 1999. Gas is supplied by producers, marketers and brokers, as well as from storage services, to meet the peak heating season requirements. The company had 15,170 Mcf/d of storage, with the necessary pipeline capacity, available for the 1995-1996 heating season. Gas for its Clinton service area is transported by NGPL under capacity contracts for 17,750 Mcf annually, with expiration dates of November 30, 1998, February 28, 1999, and two as of November 30, 2001. This gas is supplied by producers, marketers and brokers. The company supplements this capacity with storage gas, which has the pipeline capacity embedded in its FERC approved rate. The company had 10,000 Mcf/d of storage available for the 1995-1996 heating season. During 1996, the company utilized approximately 34.9% of its annualized daily contract gas available from its firm suppliers. The company's 1996 total throughput level of 35,706,261 Mcf represents a 1.1% increase over 1995. The total throughput was composed of sales gas (26.3%) and customer transportation gas (73.7%). During 1996, twenty-four of Interstate's customers transported a total of 26,305,197 Mcf of their own gas over the company's pipeline and distribution systems. This reflects an increase over 1994 and 1995 in the number of customers exercising the transportation option. In 1994, eighteen of Interstate's customers transported a total of 24,498,793 Mcf, and in 1995, twenty-one customers transported a total of 26,400,766 Mcf. The customer owned gas was delivered by interstate pipeline companies for those customers' accounts to Interstate's town border stations. The company subsequently delivered the gas to customers under tariffs approved by respective state commissions. The company owns propane-air gas plants in Albert Lea, Minnesota and Clinton and Mason City, Iowa. The daily output capacities are: 5,000 Mcf, 4,000 Mcf and 9,600 Mcf of propane-air mix gas respectively. The requirement for gas on the peak winter day of the 1995-1996 season was 126,312 Mcf, including both firm and interruptible customers. This peak consisted of 40.5% jurisdictional sales gas, 2.4% spot gas, 39.0% customer purchased gas, 15.4% storage gas and 2.7% propane-air from the company's peak-shaving plant. The maximum daily firm gas sales during the 1995-1996 season were as follows: Albert Lea 15,770 Mcf; Savanna 3,268 Mcf; Clinton 26,265 Mcf; Mason City 31,470 Mcf, or 60.8% of the peak winter day throughput. (Duration and Effect of Gas Patents and Franchises) The company owns no patents. The company has, in the opinion of its legal counsel, all necessary franchises or other rights from the incorporated communities and other governmental subdivisions now served, required for the operation of its properties. With 34 gas franchises in effect in cities and villages, and with the larger majority of such franchises being for a term of 25 years, the renewal of such franchises is a continuing process. Thirty-eight percent (13) of the franchises have been secured since January 1, 1987. (Gas Seasonal Business) The effects of heating sales to the residential and commercial classes of customers have a significant seasonal impact on the company's business. The heating sales in the winter months account for 98% of the total annual sales to these classes of customers. The average consumption for a residential customer during the peak winter months is 18.8 Mcf compared to the average of 2.5 Mcf during the summer. The average consumption for a commercial customer during the peak winter months is 90.5 Mcf compared to the average of 12.9 Mcf during the summer. (Gas Governmental Regulations) The company filed an Iowa gas rate increase application in August 1995. The application requested an annual increase of $2.2 million. Interim rates in an annual amount of $1.3 million were placed in effect on October 20, 1995. An IUB order granting an increase of $1.1 million was received in August 1996. The company filed a Minnesota gas rate increase application in May 1995. The application requested an annual increase of $2.4 million, including a return on common equity of 11.75%. Interim rates in an annual amount of $1.5 million were placed in effect in June 1995. On February 29, 1996, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) issued an order allowing an increase in gas rates of $2.1 million. Rates reflecting the increase were implemented in September 1996. The Minnesota Department of Public Service (DPS) and the Office of Attorney General (OAG) appealed the Commission's decision. The appeal was denied by the Minnesota Court of Appeals on February 18, 1997. On March 21, 1997, the DPS and OAG appealed the decision of the Court of Appeals (and the MPUC) to the Minnesota Supreme Court. FERC order 636 provides a mechanism under which gas pipelines can recover transition costs from local distribution companies. The company estimates its remaining share of transition costs will aggregate approximately $2.2 million payable in declining annual installments from 1997 to 2006. The company is recovering transition costs from customers. (Gas Competitive Conditions) The company has no competition from the same type of public utility service in the sale of gas in any of the incorporated communities serviced by it. Certain major industrial customers of the company purchase their own gas supply from others and have that gas transported by the company as described in the "Gas Sources and Availability of Raw Materials" section. One customer recently constructed independent distribution facilities to bypass the company's system. The company is evaluating its response to the bypass issue and developing policies to deal with future competitive conditions which could result from potential system bypass. The customers most likely to bypass the company's distribution facilities are transportation customers. During 1996, four of the 24 gas transportation customers chose to return as jurisdictional sales customers. At the present time the company has 20 gas transportation customers with total revenues of $2.7 million (6% of gas revenues and 0.8% of total company revenues). Over 60% of the $2.7 million of revenues occurs in an area where the potential for bypass is considered to be minimal. The loss of any one customer would not have a material adverse impact on the company's financial condition. (Dependence of Segment Upon a Single Customer) In 1996, 1995 and 1994, the company had no single customer or industry for which electric and/or gas sales accounted for 10% or more of the company's consolidated revenues. In 1996, the company's three largest industrial customers accounted for 1,353,162,917 Kwh of electric sales ($45,844,492) and 23,676,656 Mcf of gas sales and transportation ($1,991,412). The company's largest gas customer, which represents 32% of the company's total gas throughput, is committed by contract for the next five years. (Research and Development) The company has no full-time professional employees engaged in research activities and had no company-sponsored research programs during 1996, 1995 and 1994. In the public utility industry, research is commonly and traditionally done by manufacturers of equipment, trade organizations to which the company belongs, and university research programs. In 1996 approximately $782,299 was paid for research activities compared with $1,054,925 in 1995 and $1,072,871 in 1994. (Electric and Magnetic Fields) Electric and magnetic fields, a topic that has been an issue for a number of years, was clarified by a study of the National Research Council. The committee spent two years analyzing about 500 studies conducted since 1979, and concluded in its report issued in 1996 that there was no evidence to clearly prove electric and magnetic fields are harmful to health. The company expects there will be continuing national debate as to whether or not electromagnetic fields are harmful to health. (Environmental Regulations) The company is subject to various federal and state government environmental regulations. The company meets or exceeds the existing federal and state environmental regulations. The Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 requires reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants. The most restrictive provisions relate to sulfur dioxide emissions. Phase 1 of the Clean Air Act became effective January 1, 1995, while Phase 2 is effective January 1, 2000. To comply with Phase 1, the company switched to low sulfur coal and installed low nitrogen oxide burners. Phase 2 regulations will affect approximately 87% of the company's current generating capacity and will require capital, operating and maintenance costs beyond those required for Phase 1. The United States EPA and the states have promulgated discharge limits necessary to meet water quality standards. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is required for all discharges. The company has current NPDES permits for all discharges and meets or is within the range of required discharge limits. Early this century, various utilities including the company operated plants which manufactured gas for cooking and lighting. The company's facilities ceased operations over 40 years ago when natural gas pipelines were extended into the upper Midwest. Some of the former gasification sites contain coal tar waste products which may present an environmental hazard. In 1957, the company purchased facilities in Mason City, Iowa, from Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCPL) which included land previously used for a coal gasification plant. Coal tar waste was discovered on the property in 1984. In 1995, a settlement was reached with KCPL for sharing of costs to remediate the site. As of year end 1996, remediation of the site is almost complete. The company's total share of cost from 1984 to 1996 at this site was $3.7 million. The company formerly operated a manufactured gas plant in Rochester, Minnesota. Soil remediation was completed in 1995 and post- remediation groundwater monitoring is underway. From 1991 through 1996, the company incurred costs aggregating $6.8 million applicable to the Rochester site. The company has identified an additional seven sites, as described below, which may contain hazardous waste from former coal gasification plants and has recorded an estimated liability applicable to the investigation of those sites. The company is unable to determine, at this time, the extent, if any, of remediation necessary at these seven sites. In Minnesota, the company owned or operated four manufactured gas plant sites: Albert Lea, Austin, New Ulm and Owatonna. Potentially hazardous wastes associated with former coal gasification operations have been identified at each site. The company incurred $0.2 million in investigation costs for these sites in 1996, and $1.2 million since the investigation process began. In 1995 and 1996, the company received accounting orders from the MPUC which allow the deferral of investigation and remediation costs applicable to the Minnesota sites and further allows the company to seek recovery in a rate case. In addition, the company has identified three other sites: Galena and Savanna, Illinois, and Clinton, Iowa. Potentially hazardous wastes associated with former coal gasification operations have been identified at these sites. Little or no activity is expected at the Illinois sites in 1997. In 1996, $0.4 million was expensed for investigation work expected at the Clinton site in 1997. Previous actions by Iowa and Illinois regulators have permitted utilities to recover prudently incurred unreimbursed investigation and remediation costs. In 1994, the company filed a lawsuit against certain of its insurers to recover the costs of investigating and remediating the former coal gasification plants. Seven insurers paid the company a total of $8.6 million in 1995 and 1996 in order to be discharged from the lawsuit. As of December 31, 1996, $5.8 million is recorded as a deferred credit pending regulatory disposition. The trial against the remaining insurers is expected to begin in Iowa in 1997. Neither the company nor its legal counsel is able to predict the amount of any additional insurance recovery, and no potential recovery has been recorded. Under the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), a past waste generator can be designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) as a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP). Certain types of used transformer oil (primarily those containing polychlorinated biphenyls, or "PCBs") have been designated as hazardous substances by the U.S. EPA. In 1988, the U.S. EPA designated the company a PRP for the clean-up of former salvage facilities operated by the Missouri Electric Works, Inc. (MEW) in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. A portion of the PCB-contaminated equipment found at the site was formerly owned by the company. The company has notified the U.S. EPA that it disclaims responsibility for the site, as the equipment was in proper operating condition when sold by the company to a third party, which subsequently made arrangements to transport this equipment to MEW. The U.S. EPA has not responded to the company's disclaimer. The company has not recorded any liability for the MEW site, and management believes that it will be able to successfully defend itself against any claims applicable to the site. (Employees) The company has 914 regular employees consisting of 882 full-time and 32 part-time employees. (Accounting Matters) Statements of Position (SOP) 96-1 on environmental liabilities was issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 1996. The company has reviewed the requirements of the SOP and is in compliance with its provisions. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES The principal power plants and other materially important physical properties of the company are maintained in accordance with sound operating practices. Their general character and location are described below: (Electric Properties) The company has been a participant in the Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) Agreement since March 31, 1972. As a part of this power network the company is the owner of a 55.0 mile section of the 345 KV transmission line extending from St. Louis, Missouri to Minneapolis, Minnesota; a 15.5 mile section of the 345 KV transmission line between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Kansas City, Missouri; a 5.0 mile 345 KV transmission line from near Clinton, Iowa to near Cordova, Illinois; a 49.8 mile 345 KV transmission line from near Clinton, Iowa to a substation south of Dubuque, Iowa; and three associated 345/161 KV substations. The company's electric generating stations at year-end consist of six steam plants, three combustion turbine stations, and five internal combustion facilities. Pertinent information regarding each electric generating station is shown on the following page: INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY GENERATING STATIONS Net Generating Units December 31, 1996 Output Nameplate Capability in KWH Unit Capacity Year KW KW (000's) Location Number KW Installed (Gross) (Net) 1996 STEAM: Dubuque, IA 2 15,000 1929 82,500 78,000 179,734 3 25,000 1952 4 33,000 1959 Clinton, IA 1 15,000 1947 254,900 235,000 934,033 (M.L.Kapp Plt.) 2 212,284 1967 Lansing, IA 1 15,000 1948 337,800 320,000 914,062 2 11,500 1949 3 33,000 1957 4 252,649 1977 Sherburn, MN 1 11,500 1950 113,500 108,000 241,396 (Fox Lake Plt.) 2 11,500 1951 3 75,000 1962 Sioux City, IA 4* 125,924 1979 142,000 134,300 938,881 (Neal Unit #4) Louisa County, IA 1** 27,400 1983 29,400 28,000 183,306 (Louisa Unit #1) TOTAL STEAM 960,100 903,300 3,391,412 GAS TURBINE: Montgomery, MN 1 26,535 1974 22,200 22,200 231 Sherburn, MN 4 26,535 1974 21,300 21,300 255 (Fox Lake Plt.) Mason City, IA 1 37,520 1991 70,400 70,000 1,314 (Lime Creek Plt.) 2 37,520 1991 TOTAL GAS TURBINE 113,900 113,500 1,800 INTERNAL COMBUSTION: Dubuque, IA 1 2,000 1966 4,600 4,600 (93) 2 2,000 1966 Hills, MN 1 2,000 1996 4,000 4,000 (140) 2 2,000 1960 Lansing, IA 1 1,000 1970 2,000 2,000 4 2 1,000 1971 New Albin, IA 1 685 1970 700 700 (51) TOTAL INTERNAL COMBUSTION 11,300 11,300 (280) TOTAL COMPANY 1,085,300 1,028,100 3,392,932 * Interstate owns 21.528% of a 584,931 KW unit operated by MidAmerican Energy Company. ** Interstate owns 4.0% of a 685,000 KW unit operated by MidAmerican Energy Company. (Gas Properties) The company owns and operates natural gas distributing systems in Albert Lea, Minnesota; Savanna, Illinois; Clinton, Mason City and Clear Lake, Iowa and in a number of smaller Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa communities. At Albert Lea, the company owns 14 tanks with a liquid propane storage capacity of 357,000 gallons; at Clinton, there are 12 tanks with 306,000 gallons capacity and at Mason City, 22 tanks with 561,000 gallons capacity. During 1996, in response to a request from the company's largest gas customer to increase their firm contract from 35,000 MMBtu/d to 50,000 MMBtu/d, the company began construction of approximately 13.5 miles of 10" steel pipeline. The project was completed and placed into service on November 25, 1996. The company owns 47 gas regulating stations and approximately 992 miles of gas distribution mains. (General Properties) The company owns numerous properties in various parts of its territory which are used for office, service and other purposes. The most important of these are three General Office buildings in Dubuque and the district office buildings at Clinton, Decorah, Dubuque, Mason City and Oelwein, Iowa and Albert Lea, and Winnebago, Minnesota and the distribution service buildings in each of those locations. The company, as lessee, leases office space at various locations. The company also leases a few small parcels of land for storage of poles and miscellaneous temporary uses. (Titles) In the opinion of legal counsel for the company, the company has satisfactory title to its properties for use in its utility businesses subject only to permitted liens as defined in the Bond Indenture and to minor defects and encumbrances customarily found in cases of like size and character and which do not materially interfere with the use of such properties. Properties such as electric transmission and electric and gas distribution lines are constructed principally on rights-of-way which are maintained under franchise or held by easement only. All properties of the company, other than "excepted property" as defined in the Bond Indenture, are subject to the lien of the company's Bond Indenture dated as of January 1, 1948, as supplemented, securing the company's outstanding First Mortgage Bonds. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS Reference is made to "Electric Governmental Regulations", "Electric Competitive Conditions" and "Environmental Regulations" under "Item 1. Business" for certain pending legal proceedings and proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities. Other than these items, there are no material pending legal proceedings, or proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the company is a party or of which any of the company's property is the subject. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS There was no submission of matters to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the 1996 year. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS (Proposed Merger) WPL Holdings, Inc. (WPLH), IES Industries, Inc. (IES) and Interstate Power Company (IPC) have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated November 10, 1995, as amended May 22, 1996 and August 16, 1996, (Merger Agreement), which provides for the combination of all three companies. The new company will be named Interstate Energy Corporation (IEC). See Note 15 of "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" for additional information. Detailed pro forma financial statements for IEC are included at EX-99.1. IES is a holding company headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is the parent company of IES Utilities Inc. (IES Utilities) and IES Diversified Inc. (IES Diversified). IES Utilities supplies electric and gas service to approximately 336,000 and 176,000 customers, respectively, in Iowa. IES Diversified and its principal subsidiaries are primarily engaged in the energy-related, transportation and real estate development businesses. WPLH is a holding company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and is the parent company of Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WP&L) and Heartland Development Corporation (HDC). WP&L supplies electric and gas service to approximately 385,000 and 150,000 customers, respectively, in south and central Wisconsin. HDC and its principal subsidiaries are engaged in business in three major areas: environmental, energy and affordable housing services. The proposed merger, which will be accounted for as a pooling of interests, was approved by the respective Boards of Directors and shareholders on September 5, 1996. The merger is conditioned on the receipt of approvals of several federal and state regulatory agencies. The status of these approvals is as follows: On January 15, 1997, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order in which it accepted several provisions of the IEC merger application without the need for public hearings. Specifically, the FERC found that the IEC merger does not pose any major concerns with respect to market concentration and that the legal structure proposed by the company does not impair FERC's ability to regulate. The FERC has set limited issues for hearing, including generation market power in the transmission-constrained Wisconsin Upper Michigan System (WUMS) subregion. The FERC has also ordered the merger partners to negotiate a ratepayer protection mechanism with those intervenors who are not satisfied with the four year rate freeze proposed in the application. If an agreement between the merger partners and the intervenors is not reached, the FERC will decide the issue. A final decision on the merger is expected to be issued by the FERC by the end of 1997. IES and IPC announced in 1996 their intentions to hold retail electric prices to their current levels until at least January 1, 2000. The companies made the proposal as part of their testimony in the IEC merger application filed with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB). The proposal excludes price changes due to government-mandated programs, such an energy efficiency cost recovery, or unforeseen dramatic changes in operations. The IUB approval is expected by the end of 1997. In March of 1996, an application requesting approval of the merger was filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW). On February 13, 1997, the PSCW voted to delay hearings on the proposed merger. The hearings have been rescheduled for June of 1997 with a decision anticipated by the end of the third quarter of 1997. Legislation was introduced in the Wisconsin State Senate in February 1997 which could delay the PSCW approval of the merger. IPC cannot predict the outcome of such legislation. In March of 1996, an application requesting approval of the merger was also submitted to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The ICC conducted hearings on November 12, 1996, and final briefs were filed on December 23, 1996. A decision is pending. On January 15, 1997, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) announced that it had approved the IEC merger without hearings, subject to a number of technical conditions, which are not opposed by the merger partners. Included in these conditions is a four year rate freeze for IEC's electric and gas customers in the state of Minnesota. An application to establish IEC as a registered holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (1935 Act) was submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The period for comments by interested parties was closed on November 5, 1996. A decision on the application is pending. The SEC historically has interpreted the 1935 Act to preclude registered holding companies, with limited exceptions, from owning both electric and gas utility systems. Although the SEC has recently recommended that registered holding companies be allowed to hold both gas and electric utility operations if the affected states agree, it remains possible that the SEC may require as a condition to its approval of the proposed merger that IPC, WPLH and IES divest their gas utility properties, and possibly certain non-utility ventures of IES and WPLH, within a reasonable time after the effective date of the proposed merger. An impact review of the merger on market power, which is required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, was completed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). All requirements of this review have been satisfied. If the merger is not consummated before July 7, 1997, the merger partners will be required to submit new information to the DOJ. The merger partners do not currently believe that a new submission to the DOJ will result in a delay in the consummation of the transaction. An application was filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to approve the transfer of the licenses of IES's Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC) nuclear facility and WP&L's co-owned Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant to IEC. The application, which was filed on October 1, 1996, is pending. For information pertaining to common stock market data required by Item 201 of Regulation S-K please refer to page 32 of Exhibit EX-13 (the Annual Report to Stockholders). ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA For information pertaining to selected financial data required by Item 301 of Regulation S-K please refer to page 31 of Exhibit EX-13 (the Annual Report to Stockholders). ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS For information pertaining to management's discussion and analysis required by Item 303 of Regulation S-K please refer to pages 1 through 8 of Exhibit EX-13 (the Annual Report to Stockholders). ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA Financial statements and supplementary data incorporated by reference to Exhibit EX-13 (the Annual Report to Stockholders for 1996): Statements of Income Page 9 Balance Sheets Pages 10 & 11 Statements of Cash Flows Page 12 Statements of Capitalization Page 13 Statements of Retained Earnings Page 14 Notes to Financial Statements Pages 15 - 28 Independent Auditors' Report Page 29 ITEM 9. DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT Name Age Offices Held Past 5 Years M. R. Chase 58 5-7-91 - Vice President-Power Production 7-1-95 - Executive Vice President 10-1-96 - President & Chief Operating Officer 1-1-97 - President & Chief Executive Officer R. R. Ewers 52 5-1-90 - Vice President-Administrative Services 7-1-95 - Vice President-Administration D. E. Hamill 60 9-1-80 - Vice President-Budgets & Regulatory Affairs J. C. McGowan 59 2-1-89 - Secretary & Treasurer R. P. Richards 60 1-1-91 - Vice President-Gas Operations D. R. Sharp 56 7-1-95 - Vice President-Power Production 1-1-96 - Vice President-Engineering W. C. Troy 58 5-1-86 - Controller All officers are elected and serve as such until the next annual meeting of directors. There are no arrangements or understandings with respect to election of any person as an officer. For information pertaining to directors, and other data required by Items 401 and 405 of Regulation S-K, refer to pages 2 through 5 of the company's Official Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 1997. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Refer to information on pages 7 through 11 of the company's Official Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 1997. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT Refer to information on page 6 of the company's Official Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 1997. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS Transactions with Management and Others: In 1996 there were no transactions and there are presently proposed no transactions with management, to which the company or its subsidiary was or is to be a party, of the character as to which answer is called for in response to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Indebtedness of Management: No director or officer, or nominee for election as a director, or any associate of any thereof, was indebted to the company or its subsidiary during 1996, as to which answer is called for in response to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K. PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) List of documents filed as part of this report: 1. The financial statements, including supporting schedules, are listed in the Index to Financial Statements, Schedules and Exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report. 2. Exhibits which are filed herewith, including those incor- porated by reference are listed in the Index to Financial Statements, Schedules and Exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report. (b) Reports on Form 8-K: No reports on Form 8-K were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during the last quarter of 1996. (c) Refer to Index to Exhibits commencing on page 22. (d) The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information of Interstate Energy Corporation is filed herewith as EX-99.1. INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS The 1996, 1995 and 1994 financial statements, together with the Independent Auditors' Report thereon of Deloitte & Touche LLP, dated January 30, 1997, appearing on pages 9 through 29 of Exhibit EX-13 (the 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders), are incorporated in this Form 10-K Annual Report. The following additional data, as attached on EX-23 and S-1 should be read in conjunction with the financial statements in such Exhibit EX-13. Schedules and other historical financial information not included with this additional financial data have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto. Page or Exhibit Reference Exhibit EX-13 Form (Annual Report to 10-K Stockholders) Consent of Independent Auditors EX-23 Financial Statements: Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 9 Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 10 & 11 Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 12 Statements of Capitalization as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 13 Statements of Retained Earnings for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 14 Notes to Financial Statements 15 - 28 Selected Financial Data 31 Common Stock Market Data 32 Management's Discussion and Analysis 1 - 8 Schedule II: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Provisions S-1 Report of Independent Auditors 28 INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS (CONT'D.) Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 10, 1995, by and among WPL Holdings, Inc., IES Industries Inc., Interstate Power Company and AMW Acquisition, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 8-K of Interstate Power Company, a Delaware corporation, dated November 10, 1995). ** 2.2 Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Stock Option Agreements, dated May 22, 1996, by and among WPL Holdings, Inc., IES Industries Inc., Interstate Power Company, AMW Acquisition, Inc., WPLH Acquisition Co. and Interstate Power Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 8- K of Interstate Power Company, a Delaware corporation, dated May 22, 1996). ** 2.3 Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended, dated August 16, 1996, by and among WPL Holdings, Inc., IES Industries, Inc., Interstate Power Company, WPLH Acquisition Co. and Interstate Power Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 8-K of Interstate Power Company, a Delaware corporation, dated August 23, 1996). ** 3.(i).1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Interstate Power Company as originally filed April 18, 1925 and as amended effective through October 21, 1993. * 3.(i).2 Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Interstate Power Company, effective March 4, 1997. * 3.(i).3 IPC Development Co. Articles of Incorporation, State of Iowa dated May 24, 1978 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1978 as EXHIBIT G). ** 3.(ii).1 By-Laws of Interstate Power Company as adopted April 20, 1925 and as amended October 1, 1996 (filed in Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 1996 as EX-3.(ii)). ** 3.(ii).2 IPC Development Co. By-Laws adopted May 10, 1978 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1978 as EXHIBIT H). ** 4.1 The Original through the Nineteenth Supplemental Indentures of Interstate Power Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank and Carl E. Buckley and C. J. Heinzelmann, as Trustees, dated January 1, 1948 securing First Mortgage Bonds (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 33-59352 dated March 11, 1993 under the Securities Act of 1933 as Exhibits (4)(b) through (4)(t)). ** * Filed Herewith ** Previously Filed Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 4.2 Twentieth Supplemental Indenture of Interstate Power Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank and C. J. Heinzelmann, as Trustees, dated May 15, 1993 (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 33-59352 dated March 11, 1993 under the Securities Act of 1933 as Exhibit (4)(u)). ** 4.3 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan filed on Form S-3 covering the registration of 500,000 shares of Common Stock, dated May 11, 1993 (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 33-62644 under the Securities Act of 1933). ** 4.4 Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 33- 62644, Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, providing for expansion of the safekeeping option in the Plan, dated December 19, 1996 and effective December 31, 1996 (filed in Form S-3 on December 19, 1996). ** 4.5 Guaranty Agreement between Interstate Power Company and Commerce Union Bank as Trustee dated as of December 1, 1973 (City of Dubuque, Iowa $4,400,000 Pollution Control Revenue Bonds) (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 2-50685 as EXHIBIT 5-GG.1a). ** 4.6 Security Agreement dated as of December 1, 1973 between Interstate Power Company (Guarantor) and Commerce Union Bank (Trustee) (City of Dubuque, Iowa $4,400,000 Pollution Control Revenue Bonds) (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 2-50685 as EXHIBIT 5-GG.1b). ** 4.7 Guaranty Agreement between Interstate Power Company and Commerce Union Bank as Trustee dated as of December 1, 1973 (Town of Lansing, Iowa $3,700,000 Pollution Control Revenue Bonds) (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 2-50685 as EXHIBIT 5-GG.2a). ** 4.8 Security Agreement dated as of December 1, 1973 between Interstate Power Company (Guarantor) and Commerce Union Bank (Trustee) (Town of Lansing, Iowa $3,700,000 Pollution Control Revenue Bonds) (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 2-50685 as EXHIBIT 5-GG.2b). ** 4.9 Guaranty Agreement between Interstate Power Company and Commerce Union Bank as Trustee dated as of December 1, 1973 (City of Clinton, Iowa $900,000 Pollution Control Revenue Bonds) (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 2-50685 as EXHIBIT 5-GG.3a). ** 4.10 Security Agreement dated as of December 1, 1973 between Interstate Power Company (Guarantor) and Commerce Union Bank (Trustee) (City of Clinton, Iowa $900,000 Pollution Control Revenue Bonds) (physically filed in Registration Statement No. 2-50685 as EXHIBIT 5-GG.3b). ** * Filed Herewith ** Previously Filed Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 4.11 Registration Statement No. 33-32529 on Form S-8 covering the registration of $10,000,000 of participation interests, including the registration of up to 402,010 shares of Common Stock, par value $3.50 per share, of Interstate Power Company pursuant to its 401(k) Plan (filed with the Commission on December 12, 1989). ** 4.12 Statement regarding availability upon request of Loan Agreement and Pollution Control Indenture (filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1994 as EX-4). ** 10.1 P Gas Portfolio Management and Sales Contract between Interstate Power Company and MidCon Gas Services Corp. filed under Form SE as confidential and non-public. * 10.2 Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) Restated Agreement dated January 12, 1996. * 10.3 Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) Center Agreement dated December 2, 1996. * 10.4 Participation Power and Block Energy Agreement between United Power Association and Interstate Power Company, dated August 7, 1991 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1991 as EXHIBIT F). ** 10.5 Unit Participation Power Agreement between Iowa Public Service Company and Interstate Power Company, dated August 12, 1991 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1991 as EXHIBIT G). ** 10.6 Unit Participation Power Agreement between Minnesota Power and Interstate Power Company, dated August 14, 1991 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1991 as EXHIBIT H). ** 10.7 Mid-Continent Area Power Pool Agreement Amendment dated January 1, 1991 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1991 as EXHIBIT I). ** 10.8 Mid-Continent Area Power Pool Coordination Center Agreement dated September 18, 1990 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1991 as EXHIBIT J). ** 10.9 Coal Transportation Agreement ICC-BN-C-2536 between Interstate Power Company and Burlington Northern Railroad Company dated February 21, 1990 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1990 as EXHIBIT D). ** * Filed Herewith ** Previously Filed Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 10.10 Third Amended and Restated Coal Supply Agreement between Interstate Power Company and AMAX Coal Company and a fully executed Release and Discharge Agreement for the previous Agreement and Amendments. Both dated April 9, 1990 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1990 as EXHIBIT E). ** 10.11 Coal Transshipment Agreement by and between Interstate Power Company and Orba-Johnson Transshipment Company dated December 20, 1979 (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1979 as EXHIBIT F, and filed in Form 10-K/A for the Year Ended December 31, 1995 as EX-10.b). ** 10.12 Coal Transloading Agreement between Interstate Power Company and Orba-Johnson Transshipment Company dated December 20, 1995 (filed in Form 10-K/A for the Year Ended December 31, 1995 as EX-10.a). ** 10.13 Barge Transportation Agreement dated March 1, 1990 between Orgulf Transport Company and Interstate Power Company for the shipment of coal from the Orba-Johnson Transshipment Terminal near Keokuk, Iowa to the Unit 4 power-generating facility at Lansing, Iowa (physically filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1990 as EXHIBIT J). ** 10.14 Coal Supply Agreement between Interstate Power Company and Powderhorn Coal Company filed under Form SE as confidential and non-public (filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1994 as EX-10.a). ** 12 Statement re Computation of Ratios. * 13 The Company's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders. * 23 Consent of Independent Auditors. * 27 Financial Data Schedule (required for electronic filing only in accordance with Item 601 (c) (1) of Regulation S-K). * 99.1 Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information of Interstate Energy Corporation. * 99.2 Summary Plan Description for the Interstate Power Company 401(k) Plan dated November 30, 1993 (filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1993 as EX-99.c). ** 99.3 Interstate Power Company Irrevocable Trust Agreement dated April 30, 1990 (filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1993 as EX-99.f). ** * Filed Herewith ** Previously Filed Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 99.4 Interstate Power Company Amended Deferred Compensation Plan as amended through January 30, 1990 (filed in Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1993 as EX-99.e). ** 99.5 Interstate Power Company Supplemental Retirement Plan as amended and restated November 10, 1995 (filed in Form 10-K/A for the Year Ended December 31, 1995 as EX-99.b). ** * Filed Herewith ** Previously Filed SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY Date March 20, 1997 By /s/ M. R. CHASE (M. R. Chase, President and Chief Executive Officer) Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated. Signature Title /s/ M. R. CHASE President and Chief Executive (M. R. Chase) Officer (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer) /s/ W. C. TROY Controller (Principal (W. C. Troy) Accounting Officer) /s/ W. H. STOPPELMOOR Chairman of the Board (W. H. Stoppelmoor /s/ A. B. ARENDS Director (A. B. Arends) /s/ J. E. BYRNS Director (J. E. Byrns) /s/ A. D. CORDES Director (A. D. Cordes) /s/ J. L. HANES Director (J. L. Hanes) /s/ G. L. KOPISCHKE Director (G. L. Kopischke) Date March 20, 1997 SCHEDULE II INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND PROVISIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994 (Thousands of Dollars) COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E ADDITIONS BALANCE AT CHARGED CHARGED DEDUCTION BALANCE BEGINNING TO TO OTHER FROM AT END DESCRIPTION OF YEAR INCOME ACCOUNTS RESERVES OF YEAR YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 1996 Valuation account deducted from caption of which it applies - accumulated provision for doubtful accounts $200 $277 $143 (a) $420 (b) $200 Provision for medical benefits, injuries and damages $4,682 $6,469 $1,215 $9,341 (c) $3,025 YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 1995 Valuation account deducted from caption of which it applies - accumulated provision for doubtful accounts $200 $169 $144 (a) $313 (b) $200 Provision for medical benefits, injuries and damages $4,671 $5,729 $1,081 $6,799 (c) $4,682 YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 1994 Valuation account deducted from caption of which it applies - accumulated provision for doubtful accounts $203 $243 $148 (a) $394 (b) $200 Provision for medical benefits, injuries and damages $4,105 $7,240 $2,757 $9,431 (c) $4,671 (a) Recoveries on accounts previously written off. (b) Accounts written off. (c) Claims and damages paid and expenses in connection therewith. S-1 (28) DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT Interstate Power Company: We have audited the financial statements of Interstate Power Company as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, and have issued our report thereon dated January 30, 1997; such financial statements and report are included in your 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders and are incorporated herein by reference. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Interstate Power Company, listed in Item 14. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP Deloitte & Touche LLP Davenport, Iowa January 30, 1997 INDEX OF EXHIBITS FILED HEREWITH: EX-3.(i).1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Interstate Power Company as originally filed April 18, 1925 and as amended effective through October 21, 1993. EX-3.(i).2 Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Interstate Power Company, effective March 4, 1997. EX-10.1 P Gas Portfolio Management and Sales Contract between Interstate Power Company and MidCon Gas Services Corp. filed under Form SE as confidential and non-public EX-10.2 Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) Restated Agreement dated January 12, 1996 EX-10.3 Mid-Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) Center Agreement dated December 2, 1996 EX-12 Statement re Computation of Ratios EX-13 The Company's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders EX-23 Consent of Independent Auditors EX-27 Financial Data Schedule (required for electronic filing only in accordance with Item 601 (c) (1) of Regulation S-K) EX-99.1 Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information of Interstate Energy Corporation