SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report - August 17, 1995
ROCHESTER GAS AND ELECTRIC CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
New York
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-672
(Commission File Number)
16-0612110
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
89 EAST AVENUE, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14649
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (716) 546-2700
Item 5. Other Events
On August 17, 1995, the Company announced that a negotiated settlement had
been reached with the Staff of the New York State Public Service Commission
("PSC") and other parties which would resolve various PSC proceedings which were
commenced to review the factors affecting the Company's gas costs. The
settlement is subject to the approval of the PSC which is expected to act on the
settlement prior to November 1, 1995, the date upon which it would take effect.
The settlement affects the rate treatment of various gas costs through October
31, 1998.
Under the settlement the Company would forego, for three years, gas rate
increases exclusive of the cost of natural gas and certain cost increases
imposed by interstate pipelines. The Company has also agreed to write off
excess gas pipeline capacity and other costs incurred through 1995 and to take
the economic risk of remarketing excess gas capacity for the years 1996 through
1998, the cost of which will be borne by the Company net of resale credits.
The economic effect on the Company of the proposed settlement in 1995 would
be approximately $38.4 million, which would represent the following actions:
- As previously disclosed, pre-tax earnings from gas operations were
reduced by approximately $5.3 million this year due to a decision to
eliminate weather normalization charges on customer bills for the 1995
heating season which ended in May.
- $1.9 million in revenue from a gas rate increase scheduled for the
rate year July 1, 1995, which the Company will forego.
- $8 million in gas pipeline capacity costs for 1995, net of capacity
release payments, which the Company will forego recovering in rates.
Of this amount, $4.2 million of costs were reflected in the June 30,
1995 financial statements.
- $23.2 million in gas pipeline capacity and other costs, which will be
written off when the settlement is approved by the PSC.
The amounts described above, could increase by as much as $4.0 million due
to the ratemaking methodology applicable to certain retroactive pipeline
charges, which are now pending before the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
As described above, the Company has agreed not to charge customers for
pipeline capacity costs in 1996, 1997 and 1998 of $22.5 million, $24.5 million,
and $27.2 million, respectively.
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Under FERC rules, the Company may release its excess transportation capacity in
the market.
The Company has entered into a marketing agreement with CNG Transmission
Corporation (CNG), pursuant to which CNG will assist the Company in obtaining
permanent replacement customers for transportation capacity the Company will not
require. As a result of this marketing agreement and FERC approval of the
Chambersburg Project (described below), a substantial portion of this capacity
will be released to replacement shippers through the settlement period described
above. The Company is now in the process of assigning the subject capacity. On
May 31, 1995, the FERC issued an order approving the construction and rate
treatment of the Chambersburg Project which includes modifications to CNG's
pipeline which are required to facilitate the use of pipeline capacity by the
replacement shippers.
The Company has also entered into a Supply Portfolio Management agreement
with MidCon Gas Services Corp. (MGSC). MGSC will work with the Company to
identify and implement opportunities for temporary and permanent release of
surplus pipeline capacity, as well as advise with respect to the management of
the Company's gas supply, transportation and storage assets consistent with the
goal of providing reliable service and reducing the cost of gas.
Together, the agreements described above constitute a release of a
substantial portion of the capacity costs in each of the three years of the
settlement period. More information with respect to these two agreements is
contained in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the period ending
June 30, 1995.
The gas base rate increases the Company has agreed to forego subsequent to
1995 during the period of the settlement are approximately $10.4 million in the
aggregate.
The actions taken with respect to the settlement described above will
reduce 1995 earnings by approximately sixty-five cents per share after tax.
Sixteen cents of this amount has already reduced earnings through June 30,
1995. The Company believes that this settlement, by itself, will not
affect its ability to pay dividends on its Common Stock at the current
annual rate of $1.80 per share.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Proforma Financial Information and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits. See Exhibit Index below.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 99-1 - Press release of the Company dated August 17, 1995 relating to
the negotiated settlement with the PSC Staff and other parties
which affects the rate treatment of various gas costs through
October 31, 1998.
Exhibit 99-2 - Press release of the Gas Settlement Parties dated August 17,
1995 relating to the negotiated settlement with the PSC Staff
and other parties which affects the rate treatment of
various gas costs through October 31, 1998.
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SIGNATURE
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ROCHESTER GAS AND ELECTRIC CORPORATION
--------------------------------------
(Registrant)
By DANIEL J. BAIER
-----------------------------------
Daniel J. Baier
Controller
Date: August 17, 1995
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