1 FORM 10-Q UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 [ X ]QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1998 OR [ ]TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission Registrant; State of Incorporation; IRS Employer File Number Address; and Telephone Number Identification No. 1-9513 CMS ENERGY CORPORATION 38-2726431 (A Michigan Corporation) Fairlane Plaza South, Suite 1100 330 Town Center Drive, Dearborn, Michigan 48126 (313)436-9200 1-5611 CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY 38-0442310 (A Michigan Corporation) 212 West Michigan Avenue,Jackson, Michigan 49201 (517)788-0550 Indicate by check mark whether the Registrants (1) have 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 Registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No Number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock at October 31, 1998: CMS Energy Corporation: CMS Energy Common Stock, $.01 par value 103,437,840 CMS Energy Class G Common Stock, no par value 8,411,559 Consumers Energy Company, $10 par value, privately held by CMS Energy 84,108,789 CMS Energy Corporation and Consumers Energy Company Quarterly reports on Form 10-Q to the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Quarter Ended September 30, 1998 This combined Form 10-Q is separately filed by CMS Energy Corporation and Consumers Energy Company. Information contained herein relating to each individual registrant is filed by such registrant on its own behalf. Accordingly, except for its subsidiaries, Consumers Energy Company makes no representation as to information relating to any other companies affiliated with CMS Energy Corporation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Glossary PART I: CMS Energy Corporation Management's Discussion and Analysis 8 Consolidated Statements of Income 25 Consolidated Balance Sheets 27 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 29 Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholders' Equity 30 Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 31 Report of Independent Public Accountants 48 Consumers Energy Company Management's Discussion and Analysis 50 Consolidated Statements of Income 60 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 61 Consolidated Balance Sheets 63 Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholder's Equity 65 Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 66 Report of Independent Public Accountants 77 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 78 PART II: Item 1. Legal Proceedings 78 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 79 Signatures 80 3 GLOSSARY Certain terms used in the text and financial statements are defined below. ABATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity ALJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Administrative Law Judge Ames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crescent and Ames gas gathering systems and processing plant in Oklahoma Articles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Articles of Incorporation Attorney General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michigan Attorney General bcf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billion cubic feet Big Rock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Rock Point nuclear power plant, owned by Consumers Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . Board of Directors of CMS Energy Btu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . British thermal unit CFLCL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Companhia Forcia e Luz Cataguazes-Leopoldina, a Brazilian utility Class G Common Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . One of two classes of common stock of CMS Energy, no par value, which reflects the separate performance of the Consumers Gas Group Clean Air Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal Clean Air Act, as amended CMS Electric and Gas. . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Electric and Gas Company, a subsidiary of Enterprises CMS Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Energy Corporation CMS Energy Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . One of two classes of common stock of CMS Energy, par value $.01 per share CMS Gas Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Gas Marketing Company, a subsidiary of Enterprises CMS Gas Transmission. . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Gas Transmission and Storage Company, a subsidiary of Enterprises CMS Generation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Generation Co., a subsidiary of Enterprises CMS Holdings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Midland Holdings Company, a subsidiary of Consumers CMS Midland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Midland Inc., a subsidiary of Consumers CMS MST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Marketing, Services and Trading Company, a subsidiary of Enterprises CMS Oil and Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Oil and Gas Company, a subsidiary of Enterprises Common Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Energy Common Stock and Class G Common Stock Consumers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumers Energy Company, a subsidiary of CMS Energy Consumers Gas Group . . . . . . . . . . . . The gas distribution, storage and transportation businesses currently conducted by Consumers and Michigan Gas Storage Court of Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michigan Court of Appeals Detroit Edison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Detroit Edison Company DOE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Department of Energy Dow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Dow Chemical Company DSM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Demand-side management Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Enterprises Company, a subsidiary of CMS Energy EPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Environmental Protection Agency EPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earning per share FASB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial Accounting Standards Board FERC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FMLP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Midland Limited Partnership GCR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gas cost recovery Grand Lacs partnership. . . . . . . . . . . Grand Lacs Limited Partnership, a marketing center for natural gas GTNs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMS Energy General Term Notes, $250 million Series A, $125 million Series B, $150 million Series C, $200 million Series D and $400 million Series E Huron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Huron Hydrocarbons, Inc., a subsidiary of Consumers Jorf Lasfar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A 1,320 MW coal-fueled power plant in Morocco, Africa, jointly owned by CMS Generation and ABB Energy Venture, Inc. kWh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kilowatt-hour LIHEAP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Loy Yang. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The 2,000 MW brown coal fueled Loy Yang A power plant and an associated coal mine in Victoria, Australia, in which CMS Generation holds a 50 percent ownership interest Ludington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ludington pumped storage plant, jointly owned by Consumers and Detroit Edison mcf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thousand cubic feet MCV Facility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A natural gas-fueled, combined-cycle cogeneration facility operated by the MCV Partnership MCV Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership in which Consumers has a 49 percent interest through CMS Midland MD&A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Management's Discussion and Analysis MichCon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michigan Consolidated Gas Company Michigan Gas Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . Michigan Gas Storage Company, a subsidiary of Consumers Mbbls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thousand barrels MMbbls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Million barrels MMBtu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Million British thermal unit MMcf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Million cubic feet Moss Bluff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moss Bluff Gas Storage Systems, a partnership that owns a gas storage facility MPSC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michigan Public Service Commission MW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megawatts Natural Gas Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal Natural Gas Act NGL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Natural gas liquids Nitrotec. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nitrotec Corporation, a propriety gas technology company in which CMS Gas Transmission owns an equity interest NRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nuclear Regulatory Commission Order 888 and Order 889 . . . . . . . . . . FERC final rules issued on April 24, 1996 Outstanding Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . Outstanding shares of Class G Common Stock Palisades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palisades nuclear power plant, owned by Consumers Panhandle Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company and its principal subsidiaries, Trunkline Gas Company and Pan Gas Storage Company, as well as Panhandle Storage Company and Trunkline LNG Company PCBs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Poly chlorinated biphenyls Pension Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The trusteed, non- contributory, defined benefit pension plan of Consumers and CMS Energy PPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Power Purchase Agreement between Consumers and the MCV Partnership with a 35- year term commencing in March 1990 ppm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parts per million PSCR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power supply cost recovery PUHCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 Qualifying Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . A facility that produces electricity or steam and electricity and meets the ownership and technical requirements of PURPA Retained Interest Shares. . . . . . . . . . Authorized but unissued shares of Class G Common Stock not held by holders of the Outstanding Shares and attributable to the Retained Interest SEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities and Exchange Commission Securitization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A financing authorized by statute in which the statutorily assured flow of revenues from a portion of the rates charged by a utility to its customers is set aside and pledged as security for the repayment of rate reduction bonds issued by a special purpose entity affiliated with such utility SERP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Senior Credit Facilities. . . . . . . . . . $725 million senior credit facilities consisting of a $600 million three-year revolving credit facility and a five-year $125 million term loan facility SFAS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Superfund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act TGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transportadora de Gas del Norte S. A., a natural gas pipeline located in Argentina Transition Costs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Costs incurred by utilities in order to serve their customers in a regulated monopoly environment, but which may not be recoverable in a competitive environment because of customers leaving their systems and ceasing to pay for their costs. These costs could include owned and purchased generation, regulatory assets, and costs incurred in the transition to competition. Trust Preferred Securities. . . . . . . . . Undivided beneficial interest in the assets of statutory business trusts, these interests have a preference with respect to certain trust distributions over the interests of either CMS Energy or Consumers, as applicable, as owner of the common beneficial interests of the trusts Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Utility Workers of America, AFL-CIO UST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Underground storage tanks Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A legal entity, established under guidelines of the Internal Revenue Code, through which the company can provide certain benefits for its employees or retirees (This page intentionally left blank) 8 CMS Energy Corporation Management's Discussion and Analysis The MD&A of this Form 10-Q should be read along with the MD&A and other parts of CMS Energy's 1997 Form 10-K and the restated financial information in a Form 8-K dated July 30, 1998. This MD&A also refers to, and in some sections specifically incorporates by reference from, CMS Energy's Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and should be read in conjunction with such Statements and Notes. This report contains forward-looking statements, as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that include without limitation, discussions as to expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives and future financial performance, or assumptions underlying or concerning matters discussed in this report. Refer to the Forward-Looking Information section of this MD&A for some important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking discussions. CMS Energy is the parent holding company of Consumers and Enterprises. Consumers is a combination electric and gas utility company serving the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy. Consumers' customer base includes a mix of residential, commercial and diversified industrial customers, the largest segment of which is the automotive industry. Enterprises is engaged in several domestic and international energy-related businesses including: acquisition, development and operation of independent power production facilities; oil and gas exploration and production; storage, transmission and processing of natural gas; energy marketing, services and trading; and international energy distribution. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS CMS Energy Consolidated Earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1998 1997(b) Change - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Three months ended Consolidated Net Income . . . . . . . . . . $ 81 $ 60 $ 21 Net Income Attributable to Common Stocks: CMS Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 62 21 Class G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) (2) - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earnings Per Average Common Share: CMS Energy Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 .64 .17 Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 .63 .17 Class G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Basic and Diluted . . . . . . . . . (.16) (.21) .05 Nine months ended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (a) Consolidated Net Income . . . . . . . . . . $234 $185 $ 49 Net Income Attributable to Common Stocks: CMS Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 176 50 Class G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9 (1) Earnings Per Average Common Share: CMS Energy Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.23 1.85 .38 Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.19 1.83 .36 Class G Basic and Diluted . . . . . . . . . 1.04 1.13 (.09) Twelve months ended . . . . . . . . . . . . (a) Consolidated Net Income . . . . . . . . . . $293 $ 223 $ 70 Net Income Attributable to Common Stocks: CMS Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 210 69 Class G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 13 1 Earnings Per Average Common Share: CMS Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.77 2.22 .55 Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.73 2.20 .53 Class G Basic and Diluted . . . . . . . . . 1.73 1.57 .16 ==================== (a) Includes the cumulative effect of an accounting change for property taxes which increased net income attributable to CMS Energy Common Stock $43 million ($.40 per share - basic and diluted) and Class G Common Stock $12 million ($.36 per share - basic and diluted). Refer to the discussion below for further information. (b) Restated as a result of change in method of accounting for investments in oil and gas properties. Refer to the discussion below and Note 1 for further information. The combined effects of the changes in accounting for oil and gas investments resulted in decreases to net income of $6 million ($.06 per share), $19 million ($.19 per share) and $25 million ($.26 per share) for the three months, nine months and twelve months ended September 30, 1997, respectively. The following discussion of earnings variations compares the results of this year's periods to the restated results of last year's periods. CMS Energy's earnings for the third quarter of 1998 increased from the comparable period in 1997 as a result of (1) an increase in earnings from international independent power production plant operations and gains on the sales of a biomass power purchase agreement and plant assets and (2) Consumers' increased electric sales and gas deliveries. Partially offsetting these increases were (1) lower oil prices and the gain in the prior period from the sale of oil and gas properties in the oil and gas exploration and production business and (2) increased interest on long- term debt due to higher amounts of debt outstanding. CMS Energy's earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 increased from the comparable period in 1997 as a result of (1) Consumers' one-time change in accounting for the recognition of property tax expense from a calendar-year basis to a fiscal-year basis which resulted in a benefit of $66 million ($43 million after-tax), (2) Consumers' increased electric sales partially offset by an increase in general taxes and depreciation, (3) a gain on the sale of Petal Gas Storage Company by the gas transmission, storage and processing business, (4) increased income from the international independent power production business, gains on the sale of two biomass project power purchase agreements, and gains on the sale of two biomass plants and (5) an increase in oil production and a decrease in exploration expenses and depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses. Partially offsetting these increases were (1) Consumers' decreased gas deliveries due to warmer temperatures during the winter heating season, (2) an increased provision for underrecoveries under the PPA of $37 million ($24 million after-tax) due to higher than expected plant availability of the MCV Facility, (3) lower earnings from international energy distribution businesses, (4) lower oil prices and the gain in the prior period from the sale of oil and gas properties in the oil and gas exploration and production business and (5) increased interest on long-term debt due to higher amounts of debt outstanding. For further information on past and future underrecoveries under the PPA, see Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership in Note 2. The increase in consolidated net income for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 compared to the same period in 1997 reflects (1) Consumers' change in accounting for property taxes as discussed above and a $9 million adjustment of Consumers' prior years' income taxes associated with non-taxable earnings on nuclear decommissioning trust funds, (2) Consumers' increased electric sales and lower operation and maintenance expenses partially offset by increased general taxes and depreciation, (3) an increase in international plants earnings and operating fees from the independent power production business, gains on the sale of two biomass project power purchase agreements, and gains on the sale of two biomass plants, (4) a gain on the sale of Petal Gas Storage Company and a gain on the sale of Australian gas reserves in the gas transmission, storage and processing business and (5) an increase in oil production and a decrease in exploration expenses and depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses. Partially offsetting these increases were the (1) recognition of Consumers' after-tax loss associated with the underrecovery of power costs under the PPA as discussed above, (2) Consumers' decreased gas deliveries due to warmer weather during the first nine months of 1998, (3) lower oil prices in the oil and gas exploration and production business, (4) a scheduled decrease in the industry expertise service fee income earned in connection with Loy Yang, (5) lower earnings from international energy distribution businesses and (6) increased interest on long-term debt due to higher amounts of debt outstanding. For further information, see the individual results of operations for each CMS Energy business segment in this MD&A. Consumers' Electric Business Unit Results of Operations Electric Pretax Operating Income: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In Millions - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- . . . . . . . . . . . . Three Months Nine Months Twelve Months . . . . . . . . . . . . Ended Sept. 30 Ended Sept. 30 Ended Sept. 30 Change Compared to Prior Year. 1998 vs 1997 1998 vs 1997 1998 vs 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deliveries (including special contract discounts) . . . . . $ 38 $ 50 $ 51 Other non-commodity revenue . . . . . . (1) (2) (3) Operations and maintenance . . . . . (11) (1) 15 General taxes, depreciation and other . . . . . . . . . .. . . . (5) (11) (18) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------------------------------- Total change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 21 $ 36 $ 45 . . . . . ======================================== Electric Deliveries: Total electric deliveries increased 10.1 percent for the three months ended September 30, 1998 over the same period in 1997. The increase includes a 5.8 percent increase in deliveries to ultimate customers, primarily within the residential and commercial classes, and an increase in sales intersystem and wholesale customer deliveries. For the nine months ended September 30, 1998, total electric deliveries increased 8.2 percent over the comparable 1997 period. Deliveries to ultimate customers were up 3.4 percent, with the remaining change attributable to an increase in sales between utility systems and wholesale deliveries. For the twelve months ended September 30, 1998, total electric deliveries increased 8.0 percent over the comparable 1997 period. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in sales between utility systems and a 2.7 percent increase in deliveries to ultimate customers. Power Costs: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In Millions - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1998 1997 Change - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Three months ended. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 315 $ 296 $ 19 Nine months ended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 899 847 52 Twelve months ended . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,190 1,132 58 ========================================================================= Power costs increased for all the reported periods ended September 30, 1998 compared to 1997. Both internal generation and power purchases from outside sources increased during these periods to meet increased deliveries. Uncertainties: CMS Energy's financial position may be affected by a number of trends or uncertainties that have had, or CMS Energy reasonably expects will have, a materially favorable or unfavorable impact on net sales, revenues, or income from continuing electric operations. Such uncertainties are: 1) environmental liabilities arising from compliance with various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including potential liability or expenses relating to the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act and Superfund; 2) capital expenditures for compliance with the Clean Air Act; 3) suits by various parties relating to the effect of so-called stray voltage on certain livestock; 4) suits by two independent power producers alleging antitrust violations and economic losses due to special electric contracts signed by Consumers; 5) cost recovery relating to the MCV Facility and nuclear plant investments and an experimental direct-access program; 6) electric industry restructuring; 7) after-tax cash underrecoveries associated with power purchases from the MCV Partnership; and 8) Big Rock decommissioning issues and ongoing issues relating to the storage of spent fuel and the operating life of Palisades. For detailed information about these trends or uncertainties see Note 2, "Consumers' Electric Business Unit Contingencies-Electric Environmental Matters," "Consumers' Electric Business Unit Contingencies-Stray Voltage," "Consumers' Electric Business Unit Contingencies-Anti-Trust," "Consumers' Electric Business Unit Rate Matters-Electric Restructuring," and "Other Consumers' Electric Business Unit Uncertainties-Nuclear Matters," incorporated by reference herein. For information about Consumers' electricity option contracts see Note 5, "Risk Management and Derivatives Transactions-Commodity Price Hedges", incorporated by reference herein. Consumers Gas Group Results Of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In Millions - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- . . . . . . .. . . . . . . Three Months Nine Months Twelve Months . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ended Sept. 30 Ended Sept. 30 Ended Sept. 30 Change Compared to Prior Year. 1998 vs 1997 1998 vs 1997 1998 vs 1997 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gas deliveries. . . . . . . . . . . $ 5 $(14) $(15) Gas wholesale and retail service activities . . . . . . . . 3 - (2) Operations and maintenance. . . . .. 1 (8) 6 General taxes, depreciation and other . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 3 3 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total change. . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7 $(19) $(8) =========================================================================== Gas Deliveries: System deliveries for the three month period ended September 30, 1998, excluding miscellaneous transportation, totaled 31 bcf, an increase of 1 bcf or 3 percent compared to the three month period ended September 30, 1997. Deliveries for the nine month period ended September 30, 1998, excluding miscellaneous transportation, totaled 203 bcf, a decrease of 29 bcf or 13 percent compared to the nine month period ended September 30, 1997. For the twelve month period ended September 30, 1998, deliveries excluding miscellaneous transportation, totaled 311 bcf, a decrease of 31 bcf or 9 percent compared to the twelve month period ended September 30, 1997. The decreased deliveries for the nine month and twelve month periods reflect warmer temperatures primarily for the first quarter of 1998. Miscellaneous transportation deliveries for the three month period ended September 30, 1998 totaled 11 bcf, a decrease of 8 bcf, or 40 percent compared to the three month period ended September 30, 1997. Miscellaneous transportation deliveries for the nine month period ended September 30, 1998 totaled 47 bcf, a decrease of 14 bcf, or 23 percent compared to the nine month period ended September 30, 1997. Miscellaneous transportation deliveries for the twelve month period ended September 30, 1998 totaled 65 bcf, a decrease of 18 bcf, or 22 percent compared to the twelve month period ended September 30, 1997. Cost of Gas Sold: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In Millions - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 30. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 1998 1997 Change - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Three months ended. . . . . . . . . . . $ 39 $ 39 $ - Nine Months ended . . . . . . . . . . . 377 472 (95) Twelve months ended . . . . . . . . . . 600 718 (118) ========================================================================== The cost decreases for the nine month and twelve month periods ended September 30, 1998 were the result of decreased sales and lower gas costs reflecting warmer temperatures during the winter heating season. Uncertainties: CMS Energy's financial position may be affected by a number of trends or uncertainties that have had, or CMS Energy reasonably expects will have, a materially favorable or unfavorable impact on net sales or revenues or income from continuing gas operations. Such uncertainties are: 1) potential environmental costs at a number of sites including sites formerly housing manufactured gas plant facilities, and 2) a statewide experimental gas transportation pilot program. For detailed information about these uncertainties see Note 2, "Consumers' Gas Group Contingencies-Gas Environmental Matters," and "Consumers' Gas Group Matters-Gas Restructuring," incorporated by reference herein. For information about Consumers' gas forward contracts, see Note 5, "Risk Management Activities and Derivatives Transactions-Commodity Price Hedges", incorporated by reference herein. Independent Power Production Results of Operations Pretax Operating Income: Pretax operating income for the three months ended September 30, 1998 increased $25 million (78 percent) over the comparable period in 1997. This increase primarily reflects increased operating income from international plants earnings and fees, a $14 million gain on the sale of a biomass project power purchase agreement, and a $9 million gain on the sale of two biomass plants, partially offset by higher net operating expenses and decreased earnings from the MCV Partnership due to a 1997 property tax adjustment. Pretax operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 increased $56 million (84 percent) over the comparable period in 1997, primarily reflecting an increase in international plants earnings and operating fees, a $26 million gain on the sale of two biomass project power purchase agreements, and a $9 million gain on the sale of two biomass plants, partially offset by higher net operating expenses and lower industry expertise service fee income earned in connection with Loy Yang. Pretax operating income for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 increased $79 million (108 percent) from the comparable period in 1997, primarily reflecting increased operating income resulting from increased international and domestic earnings, construction management fees earned in connection with Jorf Lasfar, a $26 million gain on the sale of two biomass project power purchase agreements, and a $9 million gain on the sale of two biomass plants, partially offset by lower industry expertise service fee income earned in connection with Loy Yang and higher operating expenses. Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Results of Operations In October 1998, CMS Energy Corporation changed the name of its oil and gas exploration and production business to CMS Oil and Gas Company, formerly known as CMS NOMECO Oil & Gas Co. Pretax Operating Income: Pretax operating income for the three months ended September 30, 1998 decreased $11 million (85 percent) from the comparable period in 1997. This decrease is the result of lower oil prices and the gain in the prior period from the sale of the entire interest in oil and gas properties in Yemen, partially offset by an increase in oil production and a decrease in depreciation, depletion and amortization charges. Pretax operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 decreased $4 million (25 percent) over the comparable period in 1997 due to lower oil prices and the gain in the prior period from the sale of the entire interest in oil and gas properties in Yemen, partially offset by increased oil production, decreased exploration expenses, and decreased depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses. Pretax operating income for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 was unchanged from the comparable period in 1997, primarily due to lower oil prices, offset by decreased exploration expenses and depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses, and increased oil volumes. CMS Oil and Gas changed its method of accounting effective January 1, 1998 for oil and gas operations from the full cost method to the successful efforts method. CMS Oil and Gas believes that the successful efforts method will minimize asset write-offs caused by periodic price swings, which may not be representative of overall or long-term markets, and will allow its results of operations to be more easily compared to other oil and gas companies. Nitrotec, in which CMS Gas Transmission has an equity investment, also elected to convert effective January 1, 1998 from the full cost method of accounting to the successful efforts method of accounting. All prior period financial statements have been restated to conform with successful efforts accounting. The effect, after tax, of the change in accounting method as of December 31, 1997, was a reduction to retained earnings of $175 million for CMS Oil and Gas and $15 million for CMS Gas Transmission, primarily attributable to a decrease in net plant and property and deferred tax liability of $270 million and $95 million, respectively, for CMS Oil and Gas and a $15 million decrease in CMS Gas Transmission's equity investment in Nitrotec. Natural Gas Transmission, Storage and Processing Results of Operations Pretax Operating Income: Pretax operating income for the three months ended September 30, 1998 was unchanged from the comparable period in 1997, primarily as a result of a decrease in earnings from international operations and higher operating expenses, offset by an increase in earnings from domestic operations. Pretax operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 increased $6 million (27 percent) over the comparable 1997 period primarily reflecting a gain in the first quarter of 1998 on the sale of Petal Gas Storage Company, a gain on the sale of Australian gas reserves, and lower operating expenses, partially offset by a gain in the first quarter of 1997 on the sale of a portion of the Ames gas gathering system and a decrease in earnings from international operations. Pretax operating income for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 increased $6 million (22 percent) over the comparable period in 1997, reflecting a gain on the sale of Petal Gas Storage Company and a gain on the sale of Australian gas reserves, partially offset by the gain in the first quarter of 1997 on the sale of a portion of the Ames gas gathering system. Marketing, Services and Trading Results of Operations Pretax Operating Income: Pretax operating income for the three months ended September 30, 1998 increased $2 million from the comparable period in 1997. This increase is the result of improved margins on electricity sales combined with increased electric sales volumes, partially offset by higher operating costs. Pretax operating income for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 decreased $5 million from the comparable period in 1997, primarily reflecting lower gas margins and higher costs reflecting management's continuing commitment to future electric and energy management growth, partially offset by higher electric sales volumes. Electric marketing volumes reached 6.4 million MW for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 compared to .3 million for the comparable period in 1997. Gas marketed for end users totaled 223 bcf and 144 bcf for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Energy management service revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 increased 67 percent over the comparable 1997 period. Market Risk Information CMS Energy is exposed to market risk including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, and certain commodity and equity prices. Derivative instruments including, but not limited to, futures contracts, swaps, options and forward contracts may be used to manage these exposures. Derivatives are principally used as hedges and not for trading purposes. During the third quarter of 1998, trading activities were immaterial. Regarding hedges, management believes that any losses incurred on derivative instruments used as a hedge would be offset by the opposite movement of the underlying hedged item. Management uses commodity futures contracts, options and swaps (which require a net cash payment for the difference between a fixed and variable price) and oil swaps to manage commodity price risk. They also use forward exchange contracts to hedge certain receivables, payables and long-term debt relating to foreign investments. Management also uses equity investments in which CMS Energy or its subsidiaries hold less than a 20 percent interest. These commodity, financial and equity instruments do not expose CMS Energy to material market risk. Interest Rate Risk: Management uses a combination of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt to reduce interest rate exposure. Interest rate swaps and rate locks may be used to adjust exposure when deemed appropriate, based upon market conditions. These strategies attempt to provide and maintain the lowest cost of capital. The carrying amount of long-term debt (including current maturities) was $4.4 billion at September 30, 1998 with a fair value (including current maturities) of $4.5 billion. The fair value of CMS Energy's financial derivative instruments at September 30, 1998, with a notional amount of $923 million, was $26 million, representing the amount that CMS Energy would have paid to terminate these agreements on September 30, 1998. In October 1998, Consumers unwound an interest rate guarantee of $145 million associated with the issuance of $150 million senior notes. The effective rate of the debt is 7 percent taking into consideration the issuance costs, interest rate guarantee and insurance costs. In accordance with SEC disclosure requirements, CMS Energy performed a sensitivity analysis. The analysis assesses the potential loss in fair value, cash flows and earnings based upon hypothetical increases and decreases in market interest rates. A hypothetical 10 percent adverse shift in market rates in the near term would not have a material impact on CMS Energy's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows as of September 30, 1998. Limitations of the Sensitivity Model: Management does not believe that a sensitivity analysis alone provides an accurate or reliable method for monitoring and controlling risk. Therefore, CMS Energy and its subsidiaries rely on the experience and judgement of senior management and traders to revise strategies and adjust positions as they deem necessary. Losses in excess of the amounts determined could occur if market rates or prices exceed the 10 percent shift used for the analysis. The model assumes that the maximum exposure associated with purchased options is limited to premiums paid. The model assumes that the Trust Preferred Securities are not converted into CMS Energy Common Stock. If the conversion occurred, the $173 million of Trust Preferred Securities would be discharged through the issuance of 4.2 million shares of CMS Energy Common Stock. The model also does not quantify short-term exposure to hypothetically adverse price fluctuations in inventories. For a discussion of accounting policies related to derivative transactions, see Note 5. CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY Cash Position, Investing and Financing CMS Energy's primary ongoing source of operating cash is dividends from subsidiaries. During the nine months ended September 30, 1998, Consumers paid $94 million in common dividends to CMS Energy. In October 1998, Consumers declared a $68 million common dividend to be paid in November 1998. During 1998, Enterprises paid common dividends and other distributions of $76 million to CMS Energy. CMS Energy's consolidated operating cash requirements are met by its operating and financing activities. Operating Activities: CMS Energy's consolidated net cash provided by operating activities is derived mainly from the sale and transportation of natural gas by Consumers; the generation, transmission, and sale of electricity by Consumers; the sale of oil and natural gas by CMS Oil and Gas; the transportation, storage and processing of natural gas by CMS Gas Transmission; and the production and sale of electricity by other affiliates. Consolidated cash from operations totaled $386 million and $334 million for the first nine months of 1998 and 1997, respectively. The $52 million increase resulted from increases in consolidated net income and deferred income taxes. These increases were partially offset by a $29 million net decrease reflecting the cumulative effect of the accounting change for property taxes and an increased provision for underrecoveries under the PPA, both of which are noncash items. CMS Energy uses its operating cash primarily to expand its international businesses, to maintain and expand electric and gas systems of Consumers, to retire portions of its long-term debt and to pay dividends. Investing Activities: CMS Energy's consolidated net cash used in investing activities totaled $690 million and $1,141 million for the first nine months of 1998 and 1997, respectively. The decrease of $451 million primarily reflects decreased investments in international projects (1997 included an approximately $500 million investment in Loy Yang). CMS Energy's 1998 expenditures for its utility and international businesses were $290 million and $424 million, respectively, compared to $269 million and $837 million, respectively, during 1997. Financing Activities: CMS Energy's consolidated net cash provided by financing activities totaled $336 million and $885 million for the first nine months of 1998 and 1997, respectively. The decrease of $549 million in net cash provided by financing activities resulted from an increase of $524 million in the issuance of new securities (see table below), offset by increases in the retirement of bonds and other long-term debt ($548 million) and the repayment of bank loans ($488 million). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In Millions - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . Distribution/ Principal Month Issued Maturity Interest Rate Amount Use of Proceeds - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CMS Energy GTNs Series D . . . . (1) (1) 6.8% (1) $119 General corporate purposes Extendible Tenor Rate Adjusted Securities . . January 2005 7.0% 180 Pay down . . . . . . . . . . . . . borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ------ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $299 Consumers Senior Notes (2) February.. . . . 2008. 6.375% $250 Pay down First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mortgage Bonds and general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . corporate purposes Senior Notes (2) March. . . . 2018. 6.875% 225 Pay down First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mortgage Bonds and pay down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . borrowings under credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . facilities Senior Notes (2). . .May . 2008 6.2%(3) 250 Pay down First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mortgage Bonds, long-term bank debt and general corporate purposes Senior Notes (2). . June. 2018 6.5%(4) 200 Pay down First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mortgage Bonds and general corporate purposes Long-Term Bank Debt May 2001-2003. 6.05%(5) 225 Pay down long- term bank debt Senior Notes (2). October 2028. 6.5% 150 Pay down long- term bank debt and general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . corporate purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -------- Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,599 =============================================================================== (1) GTNs are issued from time to time with various maturities. The rate shown herein is a weighted average interest rate. (2) The Senior Notes are secured by Consumers' First Mortgage Bonds issued contemporaneously in a similar amount. (3) The interest rate may be reset in May 2003. (4) The interest rate will be reset in June 2005. (5) The interest rate is variable; weighted average interest rate upon original issuance was 6.05 percent. As of September 30, 1998, CMS Energy had an aggregate $684 million in securities registered for future issuance and sale. CMS Energy also has Senior Credit Facilities, unsecured lines of credit and letters of credit as sources of funds needed to fulfill, in whole or in part, material commitments for capital expenditures. For detailed information, see "Short-Term and Long-Term Financing, and Capitalization-CMS Energy" in Note 3, incorporated by reference herein. Consumers has FERC authorization to issue securities and guarantees. Consumers has a credit facility, lines of credit and a trade receivable sale program in place as anticipated sources of funds needed to fulfill, in whole or in part, material commitments for capital expenditures as of September 30, 1998. For detailed information, see "Short-Term and Long- Term Financings, and Capitalization-Consumers" in Note 3, incorporated by reference herein. During the nine months ended September 30, 1998, CMS Energy declared and paid $94 million in cash dividends to holders of CMS Energy Common Stock and $8 million in cash dividends to holders of Class G Common Stock. In October 1998, the Board of Directors declared quarterly dividends of $.33 per share on CMS Energy Common Stock and $.325 per share on Class G Common Stock, payable in November 1998. In August 1998, CMS Energy filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act, for the issuance and the sale of $400 million of GTNs Series E. On November 10, 1998, CMS Energy sold 4.5 million new shares of CMS Energy Common Stock in a block trade. The net proceeds of approximately $208 million will be used for general corporate purposes. Other Investing and Financing Matters: At September 30, 1998, the book value per share of CMS Energy Common Stock and Class G Common Stock was $17.98 and $10.57, respectively. CMS Energy's $400 million, 364-day revolving credit facility expired June 30, 1998, and was not renewed, thus reducing the aggregate amount of the Senior Credit Facilities from $1.125 billion to $725 million. In October 1998, CMS Energy exchanged 1.4 million shares of CMS Energy Common Stock for 100% of the outstanding common stock of Continental Natural Gas, Inc. ("CNG"), an energy company engaged in gathering, processing, purchasing and marketing natural gas and natural gas liquids in Oklahoma and Texas. The acquisition of CNG will be accounted for as a pooling of interests, and all consolidated financial data for the periods subsequent to December 31, 1997 will be restated to include the financial data of CNG. The financial data of the pooled companies prior to January 1, 1998 will not be materially different from that previously reported by CMS Energy, and thus will not be restated. On November 2, 1998, CMS Energy announced the execution of a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with PanEnergy Corp ("PanEnergy") and certain other wholly-owned subsidiaries of Duke Energy Company to acquire all of the stock of the Panhandle Companies for a cash payment of $1.9 billion and existing Panhandle Companies debt of $300 million. Closing of the transaction is subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino pre-merger notification clearance. The Agreement is subject to termination upon failure of CMS Energy to satisfy its financing contingency. The Agreement also provides that if, as a result of CMS's Energy's continuing due diligence investigation, CMS Energy learns of material facts not previously disclosed or inconsistent with representations and warranties made in the Agreement, CMS Energy may, on or prior to November 23, 1998, notify PanEnergy of its intent to terminate the Agreement and the Agreement will terminate unless PanEnergy corrects the asserted misrepresentations within 30 days. CMS Energy expects to have $1.9 billion of bridge financing commitments available to fund the purchase price and it anticipates permanent financing of the acquisition at or near closing with approximately $900 million from the sale of common stock and/or securities convertible into common stock by CMS Energy and approximately $1 billion from the issuance of debt securities by the Panhandle Companies. The following discussions contain forward-looking statements. See the Forward-Looking Information section of this MD&A for some important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed herein. Capital Expenditures Looking forward, CMS Energy estimates that capital expenditures, including new lease commitments and investments in partnerships and unconsolidated subsidiaries, will total $6.3 billion over the next three years. This total includes approximately $2.2 billion for the pending acquisition of the Panhandle Companies as discussed more fully in Note 6, Subsequent Event. Payment for the purchase of the Panhandle Companies is expected to be financed as described above. A substantial portion of the remaining capital expenditures is expected to be satisfied by cash from operations. Nevertheless, CMS Energy will continue to evaluate capital markets in 1998 as a potential source of financing its subsidiaries' investing activities. CMS Energy estimates capital expenditures by business segment over the next three years as follows: In Millions - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Years Ended December 31 1998 1999 2000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Consumers electric operations (a) (b) $ 341 $ 380 $ 385 Consumers gas operations (a) 117 125 125 Independent power production 308 410 435 Oil and gas exploration and production 140 165 165 Natural gas transmission and storage 270 2,350(c) 165 International energy distribution 163 150 100 Marketing, services and trading 1 5 15 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ $1,340 $3,585 $1,390 ======================================================================== (a) These amounts include an attributed portion of Consumers' anticipated capital expenditures for plant and equipment common to both the electric and gas utility businesses. (b) These amounts do not include preliminary estimates for capital expenditures possibly required to comply with recently revised national air quality standards under the Clean Air Act. For further information see Note 2. (c) Includes approximately $2.2 billion for pending acquisition of the Panhandle Companies. CMS Energy currently plans investments from 1998 to 2000: (1) for oil and gas exploration and production operations, primarily in North and South America, offshore West Africa and North Africa; (2) for independent power production operations to pursue acquisitions and development of electric generating plants in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Australia, the Pacific Rim region, North Africa and the Middle East; (3) to continue development of non-utility natural gas storage, gathering and pipeline operations of CMS Gas Transmission, both domestic and international; (4) to acquire, develop and expand international energy distribution businesses; and (5) to provide gas, electric, oil and coal marketing, risk management and energy management services throughout the United States and eventually worldwide. These estimates are prepared for planning purposes and are subject to revision. OUTLOOK As the deregulation and privatization of the energy industry takes place in the United States and internationally, CMS Energy has positioned itself to be a leading international energy infrastructure company developing and operating energy facilities and providing energy services in major world growth markets. CMS Energy provides a complete range of international energy expertise from energy production to consumption. Beyond 1998 it intends to continue to grow its businesses by finding opportunities to invest in additional energy infrastructures and to capitalize on being a major, full-service energy company. CMS Energy will seek to increase its involvement in energy projects by pursuing opportunities in oil and gas exploration and production projects, natural gas pipelines, storage and processing facilities, power generation, and electric and gas distribution systems around the world. In addition, CMS Energy will focus more on marketing energy services and trading to take advantage of continued growth opportunities in both the domestic and international markets. International Operations Outlook CMS Energy will continue to grow internationally by investing in multiple projects in several countries as well as by developing synergistic projects across its lines of business. CMS Energy believes these integrated projects will create more opportunities and greater value than individual investments. Also, CMS Energy will achieve this growth through strategic partnering where appropriate. To improve the focus of its international energy businesses, CMS Energy has separated its development efforts from the operations of its assets. CMS Energy conducts its development efforts from offices in four regions of the world: Dearborn, Michigan for The Americas - Northern Hemisphere; Buenos Aires for The Americas - Southern Hemisphere; London for Africa and the Middle East; and Singapore for Asia. CMS Energy's development efforts will focus on countries where there are multiple investment opportunities across its businesses, high energy growth expectations, defined legal and regulatory structures, and economic policies that support private investment. CMS Energy will continue to create value by using the extensive knowledge and experience it has gained in the United States over the past century, to gain competitive positions in these countries. CMS Energy structures its investments to minimize operational and financial risks. These risks are mitigated when operating internationally by working with local partners, utilizing multi-lateral financing institutions, procuring political risk insurance and hedging foreign currency exposure where appropriate. Consumers' Electric Business Unit Outlook Growth: Consumers expects average annual growth of two and one-half percent per year in electric system deliveries over the next five years, absent the impact of restructuring on the industry and its regulation in Michigan. Abnormal weather, changing economic conditions, or the developing competitive market for electricity may affect actual electric sales in future periods. Electric Restructuring: Consumers' retail electric business is affected by competition. To meet its challenges, Consumers entered into multi-year contracts with some of its largest industrial customers to serve certain facilities. The MPSC has approved these contracts as part of its phased introduction to competition. Certain customers have the option of terminating their contracts early. FERC Orders 888 and 889, as amended, require utilities to provide direct access to the interstate transmission grid for wholesale transactions. Consumers and Detroit Edison disagree on the effect of the orders on the Michigan Electric Power Coordination Center pool. Consumers proposes to maintain the benefits of the pool through at least December 2000, while Detroit Edison contends that the pool agreement should be terminated immediately. Among Consumers' alternatives in the event of the pool being terminated would be joining an independent system operator. FERC has indicated this preference for structuring the operations of the electric transmission grid. As discussed in the Form 10-K, since June 1997 several orders have been issued and numerous appeals are pending at the Court of Appeals relating to the restructuring of the electric utility industry. Consumers cannot predict the outcome or timing of these matters. For material changes relating to the restructuring of the electric utility industry see "Electric Business Unit Rate Matters - Electric Restructuring" in Note 2, incorporated by reference herein. Electric Application of SFAS 71: Consumers applies the utility accounting standard, SFAS 71, that recognizes the economic effects of rate regulation and, accordingly, has recorded regulatory assets and liabilities related to the generation, transmission and distribution operations of its business in its financial statements. Consumers believes that the generation segment of its business is still subject to rate regulation based upon its present obligation to continue providing generation service to its customers, and the lack of definitive deregulation orders. If rate recovery of generation-related costs becomes unlikely or uncertain, whether due to competition or regulatory action, this accounting standard may no longer apply to the generation segment of Consumers' business. According to Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 97-4, Deregulation of the Pricing of Electricity - Issues Related to the Application of FASB Statements No. 71 and 101, Consumers can continue to carry its generation- related regulatory assets or liabilities for the part of the business being deregulated if deregulatory legislation or an MPSC rate order allows the collection of cash flows from its regulated transmission and distribution customers to recover these specific costs or settle obligations. Because the February 1998 MPSC order allows Consumers to fully recover its transition costs, Consumers believes that even if it was to discontinue application of SFAS 71 for the generation segment of its business, its regulatory assets, including those related to generation, are probable of future recovery from the regulated portion of the business. At September 30, 1998, Consumers had $251 million of generation-related net regulatory assets recorded on its balance sheet, and a net investment in generation facilities of $1.3 billion included in electric plant and property. For further information regarding electric restructuring, see "Electric Restructuring" above. Consumers' Gas Group Outlook Growth: Consumers currently anticipates gas deliveries, including gas customer choice deliveries (excluding transportation to the MCV Facility and off-system deliveries), to grow at an average annual rate of between one and two percent over the next five years based primarily on a steadily growing customer base. Abnormal weather, alternative energy prices, changes in competitive conditions, and the level of natural gas consumption may affect actual gas deliveries in future periods. Consumers is also offering a variety of energy-related services to its customers focused upon appliance maintenance, home safety, commodity choice and assistance to customers purchasing heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. In 1997, LIHEAP provided approximately $64 million in heating assistance to about 312,000 Michigan households, with approximately 13 percent of the funds going to Consumers' customers. Congress provided approximately $54 million in funding for Michigan for 1998. In October 1998, Congress approved funding for fiscal year 1999 of approximately $59 million for the state of Michigan. Consumers' expects presidential approval of the funding. Gas Application of SFAS 71: Based on a regulated utility accounting standard, SFAS 71, Consumers may defer certain costs to the future and record regulatory assets, based on the recoverability of those costs through the MPSC's approval. Consumers has evaluated its regulatory assets related to its gas business, and believes that sufficient regulatory assurance exists to provide for the recovery of these deferred costs. Other Matters New Accounting Standards In 1998, the FASB issued SFAS 132, Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits. This standard requires expanded disclosure effective for 1998. Also in 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, which will be effective for 1999. CMS Energy does not expect the application of these standards to materially affect its financial position, liquidity or results of operations. In addition, in 1998, the FASB issued SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which requires that every derivative instrument (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. The statement requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's gains and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the income statement, and requires that a company must formally document, designate, and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. SFAS 133 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. CMS Energy has not yet quantified the impacts of adopting SFAS 133 on its financial statements and has not determined the timing of or method of adoption of SFAS 133. However, SFAS 133 could increase volatility in earnings and other comprehensive income. Year 2000 Computer Modifications CMS Energy uses software and related technologies throughout its domestic and international businesses that the year 2000 date change will affect and, if uncorrected, could cause CMS Energy to, among other things, issue inaccurate bills, report inaccurate data, incur generating plant outages, or create energy delivery uncertainties. In 1995, CMS Energy established a Year 2000 Program to ensure the continued operation of the company at the turn of the century. CMS Energy's efforts included dividing the programs requiring modification between critical and noncritical programs. A formal methodology was established to identify critical business functions and risk scenarios, develop test plans and expected results, and execute tests. CMS Energy's Year 2000 Program involves an aggressive, comprehensive four-phase approach, including impact analysis, remediation, compliance review, and monitoring/contingency planning. The impact analysis phase includes the analysis, inventory, prioritization and remediation plan development for all technology essential to core business processes. The remediation phase involves testing and implementation of remediation technology. A mainframe test environment was established in 1997 and a test environment for network servers and stand-alone personal computers was established in mid-1998. All essential corporate business systems have been, or will be, tested in these test environments. The compliance review phase includes the assembling of compliance documentation for each technology component as remediation efforts are completed, and additional verification testing of essential technology where necessary. The monitoring/contingency planning phase includes compliance monitoring to ensure that year 2000 problems are not reintroduced into remediated technology, as well as the development of contingency plans to address reasonably likely risk scenarios. State of Readiness: CMS Energy is managing traditional information technology (IT), which consists of essential business systems such as payroll, billing, and purchasing, and infrastructure, including mainframe, wide area network, local area networks, personal computers, radios and telephone systems. CMS Energy is also managing process control computers and embedded systems contained in buildings, equipment and energy supply and delivery systems. Essential goods and services for CMS Energy are electric fuel supply, gas fuel supply, independent electric power supplies, facilities, electronic commerce, telecommunications network carriers, financial institutions, purchasing vendors, and software and hardware technology vendors. CMS Energy is addressing the preparedness of these businesses and their risk through readiness assessment questionnaires. The status of CMS Energy's Year 2000 Program by phase, with target dates for completion and current percentage complete based upon software and hardware inventory counts as of September 30, 1998, is as follows: Monitoring/ Impact Compliance Contingency Analysis Remediation Review Planning - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) Electric utility 3/98 100% 6/99 53% 6/99 22% 6/99 10% Gas utility 3/98 100% 6/99 66% 6/99 3% 6/99 10% Independent power production 12/98 55% 9/99 17% 9/99 0% 9/99 10% Oil and gas 12/98 79% 9/99 60% 9/99 0% 9/99 50% Natural gas transmission 12/98 45% 9/99 50% 9/99 0% 9/99 5% Marketing, services and trading 12/98 77% 9/99 50% 9/99 50% 9/99 10% Essential goods and services 6/99 35% N/A 9/99 0% 6/99 10% ========================================================================== (a) Target date for completion. (b) Current percentage complete. Cost of Remediation: CMS Energy will expense anticipated spending for modifications as incurred, while capitalizing and amortizing the cost for new software over its useful life. The total estimated cost of the Year 2000 Program is approximately $30 million. Costs incurred through September 30, 1998 are approximately $15 million. CMS Energy's annual Year 2000 Program costs have represented approximately 2% to 10% of CMS Energy's annual IT budget through 1998 and are expected to represent approximately 25% of CMS Energy's annual IT budget in 1999. Year 2000 compliance work is being funded primarily from operations. The devotion of CMS Energy resources to the year 2000 problem has not deferred any material IT projects which could have a material adverse affect on CMS Energy's financial position, liquidity or results of operations. Risk Assessment: CMS Energy considers the most reasonably likely worst- case scenarios to be: (1) a lack of communications to dispatch crews to electric or gas emergencies, (2) a lack of communications to contact generating units to balance electrical load, (3) power shortages due to the lack of stability of the electric grid and (4) a failure of fuel suppliers to deliver fuel to generating facilities. These scenarios could result in CMS Energy not being able to generate or distribute enough energy to meet customer demand for a period of time, which could result in lost sales and profits. Year 2000 remediation and testing efforts are concentrating on these risk areas and will continue through the end of 1999. Contingency plans will be revised and executed to further mitigate the risks associated with these scenarios. Contingency Plans: Contingency planning efforts are currently underway for all business systems and providers of essential goods and services. Extensive contingency plans are already in place in many locations and are currently being revised for reasonably likely worst-case scenarios related to year 2000 issues. In many cases, Consumers already has arrangements with multiple vendors of similar goods and services so that in the event that one cannot meet its commitments, others can. Current contingency plans provide for manual dispatching of crews and manual coordination of electrical load balancing and are being revised to provide for radio or satellite communications. Coordinated contingency planning efforts are in progress with third parties to minimize risk to electric generation, transmission and distribution systems. Expectations: CMS Energy does not expect that the cost of these modifications will materially affect its financial position, liquidity, or results of operations. There can be no guarantee, however, that these costs, plans or time estimates will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially. Because of the integrated nature of CMS Energy's business with other energy companies, utilities, jointly owned facilities operated by other entities, and business conducted with suppliers and large customers, CMS Energy may be indirectly affected by year 2000 compliance complications. At this time, CMS Energy is unable to anticipate the magnitude of the operational or financial impact on CMS Energy of year 2000 issues. Foreign Currency Translation CMS Energy adjusts common stockholders' equity to reflect foreign currency translation adjustments for the operation of long-term investments in foreign countries. As of September 30, 1998 the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment was $132 million. The adjustment is primarily due to the exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and each of the Australian dollar and Brazilian real. From January 1, 1998 through September 30, 1998, the change in the foreign currency translation adjustment totaled $36 million. Although management currently believes that the currency exchange rate fluctuations over the long term will not materially adversely affect CMS Energy's financial position, liquidity or results of operations, CMS Energy has hedged its exposure to the Australian dollar and the Brazilian real. CMS Energy uses forward exchange contracts and collared options to hedge certain receivables, payables, long-term debt and equity value relating to foreign investments. The notional amount of the outstanding foreign exchange contracts was $845 million at September 30, 1998, which includes $550 million and $250 million for Australian and Brazilian foreign exchange contracts, respectively. Forward-Looking Information Forward-looking information is included throughout this report. This report also describes material contingencies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and should be read accordingly. Some important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ are set forth in CMS Energy's 1997 Form 10-K, "Management's Discussion and Analysis-Forward-Looking Information." 25 CMS Energy Corporation Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997* 1998 1997* 1998 1997* In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts Operating Revenue Electric utility $ 729 $ 670 $1,990 $1,888 $2,617 $2,507 Gas utility 117 110 716 828 1,092 1,230 Independent power production 95 45 214 116 266 148 Natural gas transmission, storage and processing 20 19 69 71 94 90 Oil and gas exploration and production 15 30 46 67 72 103 Marketing, services and trading 305 153 748 366 1,074 433 Other 5 3 9 11 11 16 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 1,286 1,030 3,792 3,347 5,226 4,527 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Operating Expenses Operation Fuel for electric generation 109 85 273 234 359 316 Purchased power - related parties 143 151 433 447 585 600 Purchased and interchange power 77 65 220 180 282 235 Cost of gas sold 154 164 799 785 1,325 1,100 Other 371 191 830 540 1,031 753 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 854 656 2,555 2,186 3,582 3,004 Maintenance 49 40 128 122 180 180 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 112 108 347 342 472 458 General taxes 49 48 155 157 209 209 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 1,064 852 3,185 2,807 4,443 3,851 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Pretax Operating Income (Loss) Electric utility 153 132 378 342 468 423 Gas utility 6 (1) 81 100 134 142 Independent power production 57 32 123 67 152 73 Natural gas transmission, storage and processing 6 6 28 22 33 27 Oil and gas exploration and production 2 13 12 16 22 22 Marketing, services and trading 2 - 2 1 (4) 1 Other (4) (4) (17) (8) (22) (12) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 222 178 607 540 783 676 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Other Income (Deductions) Loss on MCV power purchases - - (37) - (37) - Accretion income 1 2 5 6 7 8 Accretion expense (4) (4) (12) (13) (16) (14) Other, net (3) 3 2 5 (6) 2 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ (6) 1 (42) (2) (52) (4) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Fixed Charges Interest on long-term debt 79 71 234 198 309 254 Other interest 8 12 33 34 48 47 Capitalized interest (6) (3) (17) (9) (21) (11) Preferred dividends 5 6 14 20 19 27 Preferred securities distributions 8 6 24 11 31 13 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 94 92 288 254 386 330 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Income Before Income Taxes 122 87 277 284 345 342 Income Taxes 41 27 86 99 95 119 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Consolidated Net Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle 81 60 191 185 250 223 Cumulative effect of change in accounting for property taxes, net of $23 tax (Note 1) - - 43 - 43 - ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Consolidated Net Income $ 81 $ 60 $ 234 $ 185 $ 293 $ 223 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== 26 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997* 1998 1997* 1998 1997* In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stocks CMS Energy $ 83 $ 62 $ 226 $ 176 $ 279 $ 210 Class G $ (2) $ (2) $ 8 $ 9 $ 14 $ 13 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Average Common Shares Outstanding CMS Energy 102 96 101 95 101 95 Class G 8 8 8 8 8 8 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Average Common Share Before Change in Accounting Principle CMS Energy $ .81 $ .64 $ 1.83 $ 1.85 $ 2.37 $ 2.22 Class G $ (.16) $ (.21) $ .68 $ 1.13 $ 1.37 $ 1.57 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Tax, Per Average Common Share CMS Energy $ - $ - $ .40 $ - $ .40 $ - Class G $ - $ - $ .36 $ - $ .36 $ - ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Average Common Share CMS Energy $ .81 $ .64 $ 2.23 $ 1.85 $ 2.77 $ 2.22 Class G $ (.16) $ (.21) $ 1.04 $ 1.13 $ 1.73 $ 1.57 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Average Common Share CMS Energy $ .80 $ .63 $ 2.19 $ 1.83 $ 2.73 $ 2.20 Class G $ (.16) $ (.21) $ 1.04 $ 1.13 $ 1.73 $ 1.57 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Dividends Declared Per Common Share CMS Energy $ .33 $ .30 $ .93 $ .84 $ 1.23 $ 1.11 Class G $ .325 $ .31 $ .945 $ .90 $ 1.255 $1.195 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ <FN> * Restated, see Note 1. The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements. 27 CMS Energy Corporation Consolidated Balance Sheets ASSETS September 30 September 30 1998 December 31 1997* (Unaudited) 1997* (Unaudited) In Millions Plant and Property (At Cost) Electric $ 6,641 $ 6,491 $ 6,447 Gas 2,498 2,528 2,502 Oil and gas properties (successful efforts method) 637 566 533 Other 320 168 100 ------- ------- ------- 10,096 9,753 9,582 Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization 5,052 4,870 4,784 ------- ------- ------- 5,044 4,883 4,798 Construction work-in-progress 226 261 332 ------- ------- ------- 5,270 5,144 5,130 ------- ------- ------- Investments Independent power production 868 792 819 Natural gas transmission, storage and processing 341 241 236 International energy distribution 272 255 65 First Midland Limited Partnership (Note 2) 237 242 239 Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership (Note 2) 199 171 163 Other 35 45 46 ------- ------- ------- 1,952 1,746 1,568 ------- ------- ------- Current Assets Cash and temporary cash investments at cost, which approximates market 101 69 136 Accounts receivable and accrued revenue, less allowances of $8, $7 and $7, respectively (Note 3) 457 495 401 Inventories at average cost Gas in underground storage 276 197 253 Materials and supplies 91 87 95 Generating plant fuel stock 29 35 26 Deferred income taxes 14 38 18 Prepayments and other 170 235 108 ------- ------- ------- 1,138 1,156 1,037 ------- ------- ------- Non-current Assets Nuclear decommissioning trust funds 510 486 478 Postretirement benefits 381 404 411 Abandoned Midland Project 77 93 98 Other 602 479 499 ------- ------- ------- 1,570 1,462 1,486 ------- ------- ------- Total Assets $ 9,930 $ 9,508 $ 9,221 ======= ======= ======= 28 STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT AND LIABILITIES September 30 September 30 1998 December 31 1997* (Unaudited) 1997* (Unaudited) In Millions Capitalization Common stockholders' equity $ 1,922 $ 1,787 $ 1,649 Preferred stock of subsidiary 238 238 238 Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable Trust Preferred Securities of: Consumers Power Company Financing I (a) 100 100 100 Consumers Energy Company Financing II (a) 120 120 120 Company-obligated convertible Trust Preferred Securities of CMS Energy Trust I (b) 173 173 173 Long-term debt 4,248 3,272 3,060 Non-current portion of capital leases 77 75 82 ------- ------- ------- 6,878 5,765 5,422 ------- ------- ------- Current Liabilities Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases 171 643 911 Notes payable 302 382 394 Accounts payable 309 398 326 Accrued taxes 144 272 146 Accounts payable - related parties 90 80 70 Accrued interest 64 51 61 Power purchases (Note 2) 47 47 47 Accrued refunds 12 12 7 Other 189 190 191 ------- ------- ------- 1,328 2,075 2,153 ------- ------- ------- Non-current Liabilities Deferred income taxes 654 648 581 Postretirement benefits 499 514 520 Deferred investment tax credit 144 151 154 Power purchases (Note 2) 134 133 144 Regulatory liabilities for income taxes, net 83 54 86 Other 210 168 161 ------- ------- ------- 1,724 1,668 1,646 ------- ------- ------- Commitments and Contingencies (Note 2) Total Stockholders' Investment and Liabilities $ 9,930 $ 9,508 $ 9,221 ======= ======= ======= <FN> (a) The primary asset of Consumers Power Company Financing I is $103 million principal amount of 8.36 percent subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2015 from Consumers. The primary asset of Consumers Energy Company Financing II is $124 million principal amount of 8.20 percent subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2027 from Consumers. (b) The primary asset of CMS Energy Trust I is $178 million principal amount of 7.75 percent convertible subordinated debentures due 2027 from CMS Energy. * Restated, see Note 1. The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements. 29 CMS Energy Corporation Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997* 1998 1997* In Millions Cash Flows from Operating Activities Consolidated net income $ 234 $ 185 $ 293 $ 223 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Depreciation, depletion and amortization (includes nuclear decommissioning of $38, $37, $51 and $49, respectively) 347 342 472 458 Deferred income taxes and investment tax credit 61 11 74 30 Loss on MCV power purchases 37 - 37 - Capital lease and debt discount amortization 29 36 37 44 Accretion expense 12 13 16 14 Accretion income - abandoned Midland project (5) (6) (7) (8) Undistributed earnings of related parties (36) (40) (54) (47) MCV power purchases (48) (47) (63) (67) Cumulative effect of accounting change for property taxes (66) - (66) - Other (8) (10) (7) 7 Changes in other assets and liabilities (171) (150) (56) (179) ------- ------- ------- ------- Net cash provided by operating activities 386 334 676 475 ------- ------- ------- ------- Cash Flows from Investing Activities Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under capital lease) (448) (509) (617) (740) Investments in partnerships and unconsolidated subsidiaries (234) (588) (476) (604) Cost to retire property, net (65) (26) (68) (37) Investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds (38) (37) (51) (49) Investment in Electric Restructuring Implementation Plan (9) - (10) - Other (7) (27) 8 (23) Proceeds from sale of property 56 46 59 91 Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust funds 43 - 43 - Proceeds from FMLP 12 - 12 - ------- ------- ------- ------- Net cash used in investing activities (690) (1,141) (1,100) (1,362) ------- ------- ------- ------- Cash Flows from Financing Activities Proceeds from bank loans, notes and bonds 1,636 827 2,023 875 Issuance of common stock 49 60 213 126 Retirement of bonds and other long-term debt (621) (73) (1,069) (73) Repayment of bank loans (520) (32) (517) (24) Payment of common stock dividends (102) (87) (134) (115) Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net (80) 61 (92) 53 Payment of capital lease obligations (26) (35) (35) (42) Proceeds from preferred securities - 286 - 286 Retirement of preferred stock - (120) - (120) Retirement of common stock - (2) - (2) ------- ------- ------- ------- Net cash provided by financing activities 336 885 389 964 ------- ------- ------- ------- Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Temporary Cash Investments 32 78 (35) 77 Cash and Temporary Cash Investments, Beginning of Period 69 58 136 59 ------- ------- ------- ------- Cash and Temporary Cash Investments, End of Period $ 101 $ 136 $ 101 $ 136 ======= ======= ======= ======= Other cash flow activities and non-cash investing and financing activities were: Cash transactions Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized) $ 229 $ 201 $ 321 $ 267 Income taxes paid (net of refunds) 51 57 61 78 Non-cash transactions Nuclear fuel placed under capital lease $ 21 $ 4 $ 21 $ 24 Other assets placed under capital leases 11 5 12 6 ======= ======= ======= ======= <FN> All highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. *Restated, see Note 1. The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements. 30 CMS Energy Corporation Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997* 1998 1997* 1998 1997* In Millions Common Stock At beginning and end of period $ 1 $ 1 $ 1 $ 1 $ 1 $ 1 ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- ------ Other Paid-in Capital At beginning of period 2,297 2,075 2,267 2,045 2,103 1,979 Common stock reacquired - (2) - (2) - (2) Common stock issued: CMS Energy 18 28 45 56 206 120 Class G 1 2 4 4 7 6 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ At end of period 2,316 2,103 2,316 2,103 2,316 2,103 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Revaluation Capital At beginning of period (6) (6) (6) (6) (4) (7) Change in unrealized investment-gain (loss) (a) (10) 2 (10) 2 (12) 3 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ At end of period (16) (4) (16) (4) (16) (4) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Foreign Currency Translation At beginning of period (123) - (96) - (45) - Change in foreign currency translation (a) (9) (45) (36) (45) (87) (45) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ At end of period (132) (45) (132) (45) (132) (45) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Retained Earnings (Deficit) At beginning of period (292) (435) (379) (504) (406) (514) Consolidated net income (a) 81 60 234 185 293 223 Common stock dividends declared: CMS Energy (33) (28) (94) (80) (123) (105) Class G (3) (3) (8) (7) (11) (10) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ At end of period (247) (406) (247) (406) (247) (406) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Total Common Stockholders' Equity $1,922 $1,649 $1,922 $1,649 $1,922 $1,649 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== (a) Disclosure of Comprehensive Income: Revaluation capital Unrealized investment-gain (loss), net of tax of $5, $-, $5, $-, $6 and $(1), respectively $ (10) $ 2 $ (10) $ 2 $ (12) $ 3 Foreign currency translation (9) (45) (36) (45) (87) (45) Consolidated net income 81 60 234 185 293 223 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Total Consolidated Comprehensive Income $ 62 $ 17 $ 188 $ 142 $ 194 $ 181 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== <FN> * Restated, see Note 1. The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements. 31 CMS Energy Corporation Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements These Consolidated Financial Statements and their related Condensed Notes should be read along with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes contained in the 1997 Form 10-K and the restated financial information in a Form 8-K dated July 30, 1998 of CMS Energy, which include the Reports of Independent Public Accountants. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the presentation in the current year. In the opinion of management, the unaudited information herein reflects all adjustments necessary to assure the fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. 1: Corporate Structure, Basis of Presentation And Changes of Significant Accounting Policies Corporate Structure and Basis of Presentation CMS Energy is the parent holding company of Consumers and Enterprises. Consumers is a combination electric and gas utility company serving the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy. Consumers' customer base includes a mix of residential, commercial and diversified industrial customers, the largest segment of which is the automotive industry. Enterprises is engaged in several domestic and international energy-related businesses including: acquisition, development and operation of independent power production facilities; oil and gas exploration and production; transmission, storage, and processing of natural gas; energy marketing, services and trading; and international energy distribution. CMS Energy uses the equity method of accounting for investments in companies and partnerships where it has more than a 20 percent but less than a majority ownership interest and includes these results in operating income. For the three, nine and twelve month periods ended September 30, 1998, undistributed equity earnings were $2 million, $36 million and $54 million, respectively, compared to $19 million, $40 million and $47 million for the three, nine and twelve month periods ended September 30, 1997. Foreign currency translation adjustments relating to the operation of CMS Energy's long-term investments in foreign countries are included in common stockholders' equity. As of September 30, 1998 the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment was $132 million relating primarily to the U.S. and Australian dollar exchange rate fluctuations related to Loy Yang. From January 1, 1998 through September 30, 1998, the change in the foreign currency translation adjustment totaled $36 million. In October 1998, CMS Energy changed the name of its oil and gas exploration and production business to CMS Oil and Gas Company, formerly known as CMS NOMECO Oil & Gas Co. In 1997, the FASB issued SFAS 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income. This statement, which is effective for 1998 financial statement reporting, establishes standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components. Equity adjustments related to unrealized investment gains and losses (net of tax) and foreign currency translation, along with consolidated net income, comprise comprehensive income. Change in Method of Accounting for Property Taxes During the first quarter of 1998, Consumers implemented a change in the method of accounting for property taxes so that such taxes are recognized during the fiscal period of the taxing authority for which the taxes are levied. This change provides a better matching of property tax expense with the services provided by the taxing authorities, and is considered the most acceptable basis of recording property taxes. Prior to 1998, Consumers recorded property taxes monthly during the year following the assessment date (December 31). The cumulative effect of this one-time change in accounting increased other income by $66 million, and earnings, net of tax, by $43 million or $.40 per share. The pro forma effect on prior years' consolidated net income of retroactively recording property taxes as if the new method of accounting had been in effect for all periods presented is not material. Change in Method of Accounting For Investments in Oil and Gas Properties CMS Oil and Gas elected to convert effective January 1, 1998 from the full cost method to the successful efforts method of accounting for its investments in oil and gas properties. CMS Oil and Gas believes this accounting change will more accurately present the results of its exploration and development activities and minimize asset write-offs caused by periodic price swings, which may not be representative of overall or long-term markets. In addition, the FASB has stated a preference for the use of successful efforts accounting. Nitrotec, in which CMS Gas Transmission has an equity investment, also elected to convert effective January 1, 1998 from the full cost method of accounting to the successful efforts method of accounting. Accordingly, all prior period financial statements have been restated to conform with successful efforts accounting. The effect, after tax, of the change in accounting method as of December 31, 1997, was a reduction to retained earnings of $175 million for CMS Oil and Gas and $15 million for CMS Gas Transmission, primarily attributable to a decrease in net plant and property and deferred tax liability of $270 million and $95 million, respectively, for CMS Oil and Gas and a $15 million decrease in CMS Gas Transmission's equity investment in Nitrotec. For the three, nine and twelve months ended September 30, 1997, the combined effects of the changes in accounting method resulted in decreases to net income of $6 million ($.06 per share), $19 million ($.19 per share), and $25 million ($.26 per share), respectively. Oil and Gas Properties CMS Oil and Gas utilizes the successful efforts method of accounting for its investments in oil and gas properties. CMS Oil and Gas capitalizes the costs of property acquisitions, successful exploratory wells, all development costs, and support equipment and facilities when incurred. It expenses unsuccessful exploratory wells when they are determined to be non-productive. CMS Oil and Gas also charges to expense production costs, overhead, and all exploration costs other than exploratory drilling as incurred. Depreciation, depletion and amortization of proved oil and gas properties is determined on a field-by-field basis using the unit-of- production method over the life of the remaining proved reserves. Business Combination In October 1998, CMS Energy exchanged 1.4 million shares of CMS Energy Common Stock for 100% of the outstanding common stock of Continental Natural Gas, Inc. ("CNG"), an energy company engaged in gathering, processing, purchasing and marketing natural gas and natural gas liquids in Oklahoma and Texas. The acquisition of CNG will be accounted for as a pooling of interests, and all consolidated financial data for the periods subsequent to December 31, 1997 will be restated to include the financial data of CNG. The financial data of the pooled companies prior to January 1, 1998 will not be materially different from that previously reported by CMS Energy, and thus will not be restated. 2: Uncertainties Consumers' Electric Business Unit Contingencies Electric Environmental Matters: The Clean Air Act limits emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides and requires emissions monitoring. Consumers' coal-fueled electric generating units burn low-sulfur coal and are currently operating at or near the sulfur dioxide emission limits that will be effective in the year 2000. During the past few years, in order to comply with the Act, Consumers incurred capital expenditures totaling $46 million to install equipment at certain generating units. Consumers estimates capital expenditures for ongoing and proposed modifications at other coal-fueled units to be an additional $26 million by the year 2000. Management believes that these expenditures will not materially affect Consumers' annual operating costs. Consumers currently operates within all Clean Air Act requirements and meets current emission limits. The Act requires the EPA to review, periodically, the effectiveness of the national air quality standards in preventing adverse health affects. In 1997 the EPA revised these standards. Monitoring for the new standards is reasonably likely to result in further limitations on small particulate and ozone related emissions. Following completion of the Ozone Transport Assessment Group process and requests by several Northeastern states, in September 1998, the EPA Administrator signed final regulations requiring the State of Michigan to further limit nitrogen oxide emissions. Fossil-fueled emitters, such as Consumers' generating units, can anticipate reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions by 2003 to only 32 percent of levels allowed for the year 2000. The State of Michigan has one year to submit an implementation plan. It is unlikely that the State of Michigan will establish Consumers' nitrogen oxide emissions reduction target until mid-to-late 1999. Until this target is established, the estimated cost of compliance is subject to significant revision. The preliminary estimate of capital costs to reduce nitrogen oxide-related emissions for Consumers' fossil-fueled generating units is approximately $290 million, plus an additional amount totaling $10 million per year for operation and maintenance costs. Consumers may need an equivalent amount of capital expenditures and operation and maintenance costs to comply with the new small particulate standards. The State of Michigan has objected to the extent of the required EPA emission reductions. If a court were to order the EPA to adopt the State of Michigan's position, costs could be less than the current estimated amounts. Under the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Consumers expects that it will ultimately incur investigation and remedial action costs at a number of sites. Nevertheless, it believes that these costs are properly recoverable in rates under current ratemaking policies. Consumers is a so-called potentially responsible party at several contaminated sites administered under Superfund. Superfund liability is joint and several; along with Consumers, many other creditworthy, potentially responsible parties with substantial assets cooperate with respect to the individual sites. Based upon past negotiations, Consumers estimates that its share of the total liability for the known Superfund sites will be between $3 million and $9 million. At September 30, 1998, Consumers has accrued $3 million for its estimated Superfund liability. While decommissioning Big Rock, Consumers found that some areas of the plant have coatings that contain both metals and PCBs. Consumers does not believe that any facility in the United States currently accepts the radioactive portion of that waste. The cost of removal and disposal is currently unknown. These costs would constitute part of the cost to decommission the plant, and will be paid from the decommissioning fund. Consumers is studying the extent of the contamination and reviewing options. Stray Voltage: Various parties have sued Consumers relating to the effect of so-called stray voltage on certain livestock. Claimants contend that stray voltage results when low-level electrical currents present in grounded electrical systems are diverted from their intended path. Consumers maintains a policy of investigating all customer calls regarding stray voltage and working with customers to address their concerns. It also has an ongoing mitigation program to modify the service of all customers with livestock. In December 1997, the Michigan Supreme Court remanded for further proceedings a 1994 Michigan trial court decision that refused to allow the claims of over 200 named plaintiffs to be joined in a single action. The trial court dismissed all of the plaintiffs except the first-named plaintiff, allowing the others to re-file separate actions. Of the original plaintiffs, only 49 re-filed separate cases. All of those 49 cases have been resolved. The Michigan Supreme Court remanded the matter, finding that the proper remedy for misjoinder was not dismissal, but to automatically allow each case to go forward separately. Consumers filed a motion for reconsideration with the Michigan Supreme Court, which was denied. As a result, 21 individual plaintiffs elected to exercise their right to proceed with separate actions. Consumers has now resolved all 21 of those cases. As of November 3, 1998, Consumers had 3 individual stray voltage lawsuits awaiting trial court action, down from 12 cases as reported at year end 1997. Anti-Trust: In October 1997, two independent power producers sued Consumers and CMS Energy in a federal court. The suit alleges antitrust violations relating to contracts which Consumers entered into with some of its customers and claims relating to power facilities. The plaintiffs claim damages of $100 million (which a court can treble in antitrust cases as provided by law). In September 1998, the court issued an opinion and order granting CMS Energy's motion to dismiss. The court has not yet ruled on Consumers' motion to dismiss. Consumers believes the lawsuit is without merit and will vigorously defend against it, but cannot predict the outcome of this matter. Consumers' Electric Business Unit Rate Matters Electric Proceedings: In 1996, the MPSC issued a final order that authorized Consumers to recover costs associated with the purchase of the additional 325 MW of MCV Facility capacity (see "Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership" in this Note) and recover its nuclear plant investment by increasing prospective annual nuclear plant depreciation expense by $18 million, with a corresponding decrease in fossil-fueled generating plant depreciation expense. It also established an experimental direct-access program. Customers having a maximum demand of at least 2 MW are eligible to purchase generation services directly from any eligible third-party power supplier and Consumers would transmit the power for a fee. The direct-access program is limited to 134 MW of load. In accordance with the MPSC order, Consumers held a lottery in April 1997 to select the customers to participate in the direct-access program. Subsequently, direct access for a portion of this 134 MW began in late 1997. Consumers expects the remaining amount of direct access to begin later in 1998. In January 1998, the Court of Appeals affirmed an MPSC conclusion that the MPSC has statutory authority to authorize an experimental electric retail wheeling program. By its terms, no retail wheeling has yet occurred pursuant to that program. In October 1998, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an order granting Consumers' application for leave to appeal. A decision by the Michigan Supreme Court in this matter is expected in mid- 1999. For information on other orders, see the Electric Restructuring section below. Electric Restructuring: As part of ongoing proceedings relating to the restructuring of the electric utility industry in Michigan, in June 1997 the MPSC issued an order proposing that beginning January 1, 1998 Consumers transmit and distribute energy on behalf of competing power suppliers to serve retail customers. Subsequent to the June 1997 order, the MPSC issued further restructuring orders in October 1997 and in January and February 1998. These orders provide for: 1) the recovery of estimated Transition Costs of $1.755 billion through a charge to all direct-access customers until the end of the transition period in 2007, subject to an adjustment through a true-up mechanism; 2) the commencement of the phase-in of direct-access in 1998; 3) the suspension of the power supply cost recovery clause; and 4) all customers to be free to choose power suppliers on January 1, 2002. See "Other Electric Uncertainties" below for further information regarding the effect of the PSCR suspension on the recovery of MCV Facility capacity charges. Consumers believes that the Transition Cost surcharge will apply to all customers beginning in 2002. The recovery of prudent costs of implementing a direct-access program, estimated at an additional $200 million, would be reviewed for prudence and recovered via a charge approved by the MPSC. Nuclear decommissioning costs will also continue to be collected through a separate surcharge to all customers. Consumers expects Michigan legislative consideration of the entire subject of electric industry restructuring in 1998. To be acceptable to Consumers, the legislation would have to provide for full recovery of Transition Costs. Consumers expects the legislature to review all of the policy choices made by the MPSC during the restructuring proceedings to assure that they are in accord with those that the legislature believes should be paramount. There are numerous appeals pending at the Court of Appeals relating to the MPSC's restructuring orders, including appeals by Consumers and Detroit Edison. Consumers believes that the MPSC lacks statutory authority to mandate industry restructuring, and its appeal is limited to this jurisdictional issue. As a result of an informal process involving consultations with MPSC staff and other interested parties, as directed in the MPSC's February 1998 order, Consumers submitted to the MPSC in June 1998 its plan for implementing direct access. The primary issues addressed in the plan are: 1) the implementation schedule; 2) the direct-access service options available to customers and suppliers; 3) the process and requirements for customers and others to obtain direct-access service; and 4) the roles and responsibilities for Consumers, customers and suppliers. Under the schedule in the plan, Consumers will, over the 1998-2001 period, phase-in 750 MW of retail customer load to direct-access customers. At one time, 300 MW of direct-access load was to be opened for bidding in 1998, and an additional 150 MW each year from 1999 to 2001. This plan is consistent with the previous orders regarding the phase-in process. Due to the time required for the MPSC to review the plan, Consumers does not believe direct access will commence prior to the first quarter of 1999. For further information regarding the effects of the restructuring on accounting methods, see Consumers' Electric Business Unit Outlook - Electric Application of SFAS 71 in the MD&A. CMS Energy cannot predict the outcome or timing of electric restructuring on CMS Energy's financial position, liquidity, or results of operations. On October 2, 1998, Consumers initiated a process for the solicitation of bids to acquire Consumers' rights to 1,240 MW of contract capacity and associated energy under its PPA with the MCV Partnership. Consumers' rights to the 1,240 MW of contract capacity and associated energy are being offered in one 1,240 MW block or in two 620 MW pieces, for the period from the effective date in 1999 through either September 2007 or March 2025. Consumers has reserved the right at any time, in its sole discretion, to terminate the bidding process or to reject any or all bids. Consumers will not consummate a transaction unless important customer benefits flow from that transaction. Any such transaction would be subject to the approval of Consumers' Board of Directors and obtaining satisfactory rate making and accounting treatment from the MPSC and the FERC with respect to the definitive agreements, including any necessary approval by FERC of the transfer of the 1,240 MW of contract capacity and associated energy. In an order issued October 12, 1998, the MPSC delayed its consideration of the auction process until the definitive agreements with the winning bidder(s) are presented for review, but stated that Consumers' approach offers a legitimate way to utilize independent market forces to determine the above-market or stranded portion of Consumers' obligations under the PPA with the MCV Partnership. Consumers anticipates that such definitive agreements, if any, will be negotiated by early February 1999 and appropriate filings will be made with MPSC for consideration during the first quarter of 1999. Other Consumers' Electric Business Unit Uncertainties The Midland Cogeneration Venture: The MCV Partnership, which leases and operates the MCV Facility, contracted to sell electricity to Consumers for a 35-year period beginning in 1990 and to supply electricity and steam to Dow. Consumers, through two wholly owned subsidiaries, holds the following assets related to the MCV Partnership and MCV Facility: 1) CMS Midland owns a 49 percent general partnership interest in the MCV Partnership; and 2) CMS Holdings holds, through FMLP, a 35 percent lessor interest in the MCV Facility. Summarized Statements of Income for CMS Midland and CMS Holdings- In Millions - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997 1998 1997 1998 1997 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pretax operating income $13 $18 $36 $36 $46 $45 Income taxes and other 4 6 11 11 14 13 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $ 9 $12 $25 $25 $32 $32 ========================================================================= Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership- After September 2007, pursuant to the terms of the PPA and related undertakings, Consumers will only be required to pay the MCV Partnership the capacity charge and energy charge amounts authorized for recovery from electric customers by the MPSC. Currently, Consumers' annual obligation to purchase capacity from the MCV Partnership is 1,240 MW through the termination of the PPA in 2025. The PPA provides that Consumers is to pay the MCV Partnership a levelized average capacity charge of 3.77 cents per kWh, a fixed energy charge, and a variable energy charge based primarily on Consumers' average cost of coal consumed. The MPSC has, since January 1, 1993, permitted Consumers to recover capacity charges averaging 3.62 cents per kWh for 915 MW, plus a substantial portion of the fixed and variable energy charges. Beginning January 1, 1996, the MPSC has also permitted Consumers to recover capacity charges for the remaining 325 MW of MCV Facility contract capacity. The order approving such recovery indicated that the recoverable capacity charge for the 325 MW would gradually increase from an initial average charge of 2.86 cents per kWh to an average charge of 3.62 cents per kWh by 2004, which latter would be collected thereafter. Because the MPSC suspended the PSCR process as part of the electric industry restructuring order (see "Electric Restructuring" in this Note), Consumers expects to recover the future increases approved for the 325 MW capacity through an adjustment to the frozen PSCR level; this adjustment is currently under consideration by the MPSC. Consumers recognized a loss in 1992 for the present value of the estimated future underrecoveries of power costs under the PPA. At September 30, 1998 and December 31,1997, the after-tax present value of the PPA liability totaled $118 million and $117 million, respectively. The increase in the liability since December 31, 1997 reflects an additional $37 million accrual ($24 million after-tax) for higher than anticipated MCV Facility availability levels experienced in prior periods and an after-tax accretion expense of $8 million, partially offset by after-tax cash underrecoveries of $31 million. The undiscounted after-tax amount associated with the liability totaled $170 million at September 30, 1998. The after-tax cash underrecoveries are currently based on the assumption that the MCV Facility will be available to generate electricity 91.5 percent of the time over its expected life. For the first nine months of 1998 the MCV Facility was available 99.3 percent of the time, resulting in $14 million over anticipated after-tax cash underrecoveries. Consumers believes it will continue to experience after-tax cash underrecoveries associated with the PPA in amounts comparable to those shown below. In Millions - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated cash underrecoveries, net of tax $37 $22 $21 $20 $19 ====================================================================== Consumers bases the above estimated underrecoveries, in part, on an estimate of the future availability of the MCV Facility. If the MCV Facility operates at levels above management's estimate over the remainder of the PPA, Consumers will need to recognize losses for future underrecoveries larger than amounts previously recorded. Therefore, Consumers would experience larger amounts of cash underrecoveries than originally anticipated. Management will continue to evaluate the adequacy of the accrued liability considering actual MCV Facility operations. In February 1998, the MCV Partnership filed a claim of appeal from the January 1998 and February 1998 MPSC orders in the electric utility industry restructuring. At the same time, the MCV Partnership filed suit in the U.S. District Court seeking a declaration that the MPSC's failure to provide Consumers and the MCV Partnership a certain source of recovery of capacity payments after 2007 deprived the MCV Partnership of its rights under the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. The MCV Partnership is seeking to prohibit the MPSC from implementing portions of the order. PSCR Matters Related to Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership- As part of a 1995 decision in the 1993 PSCR reconciliation case, the MPSC disallowed a portion of the costs related to purchases from the MCV Partnership and instead assumed recovery of those costs from wholesale customers. Consumers believed this was contrary to the terms of an earlier 1993 settlement order and appealed. The MCV Partnership and ABATE also filed separate appeals of this order. In November 1996, the Court of Appeals affirmed the MPSC's 1995 decision. The MCV Partnership filed an application for leave to appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court which was denied in January 1998. This matter is now closed. Nuclear Matters: Consumers filed updated decommissioning information with the MPSC in 1995 that estimated decommissioning costs for Big Rock and Palisades. In April 1996, the MPSC issued an order in Consumers' nuclear decommissioning case, which fully supported Consumers' request and did not change the overall surcharge revenues collected from retail customers. The MPSC ordered Consumers to file a report on the adequacy of the surcharge revenues with the MPSC at three-year intervals beginning in 1998. On March 31, 1998, Consumers filed with the MPSC a new decommissioning cost estimate for Big Rock and Palisades of $294 million and $518 million (in 1997 dollars) respectively. The estimated decommissioning costs decreased from previous estimates primarily due to a decrease in offsite burial costs. Consumers recommended a reallocation of its existing surcharge between the two plants on January 1, 1999 to provide additional funds to decommission Big Rock. Consumers filed a revision to its Post Shutdown Activities Report (formerly decommissioning report) with the NRC to reflect the shutdown of Big Rock. Big Rock is being decommissioned. It was closed permanently on August 29, 1997 because management determined that it would be uneconomical to operate in an increasingly competitive environment. Consumers had originally scheduled the plant to close May 31, 2000, at the end of the plant's operating license. Plant decommissioning began in September 1997 and may take five to ten years to return the site to its original condition. In January 1997, the NRC issued its Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance report for Palisades. The report rated all areas as good, unchanged from the previous assessment. The NRC suspended the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance process for all licensees. Palisades was to have been reevaluated in September 1998. Palisades' temporary on-site storage pool for spent nuclear fuel is at capacity. Consequently, Consumers is using NRC-approved steel and concrete vaults, commonly known as "dry casks", for temporary on-site storage. As of September 30, 1998 Consumers had loaded 13 dry storage casks with spent nuclear fuel at Palisades. Consumers plans to load five additional casks at Palisades in 1999 pending approval by the NRC. In June 1997, the NRC approved Consumers' process for unloading spent fuel from a cask at Palisades previously discovered to have minor weld flaws. Consumers intends to transfer the spent fuel to a new transportable cask when one is available. A planned outage for refueling and maintenance at Palisades was completed June 7, 1998. Consumers replaced 60 nuclear fuel assemblies in the plant's reactor during the outage. The NRC requires Consumers to make certain calculations and report to it on the continuing ability of the Palisades reactor vessel to withstand postulated pressurized thermal shock events during its remaining license life, considering the embrittlement of reactor vessel materials over time due to operation in a radioactive environment. Based on continuing analysis of data in December 1996, Consumers received an interim Safety Evaluation Report from the NRC indicating that the reactor vessel can be safely operated through 2003 before reaching the NRC's screening criteria for reactor embrittlement. Consumers believes that with fuel management designed to minimize embrittlement, it can operate Palisades to the end of its license life in the year 2007 without annealing the reactor vessel. Nevertheless, Consumers will continue to monitor the matter. Consumers Gas Group Contingencies Gas Environmental Matters: Under the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Consumers expects that it will ultimately incur investigation and remedial action costs at a number of sites, including some 23 sites that formerly housed manufactured gas plant facilities, even those in which it has a partial or no current ownership interest. In 1998 Consumers plans to study indoor air issues at residences on some sites and ground water impacts or surface soil impacts at other sites. On sites where Consumers has received site-wide study plan approvals, it will continue to implement these plans. It will also work toward closure of environmental issues at sites as studies are completed. Data available to Consumers and its continued internal review have resulted in an estimate for all costs related to investigation and remedial action for all 23 sites of between $48 million and $98 million of which Consumers accrued a liability for $48 million. These estimates are based on undiscounted 1998 costs. As of September 30,1998, Consumers has a remaining accrued liability of $46 million and a regulatory asset for approximately the same amount. Any significant change in assumptions, such as remediation techniques, nature and extent of contamination, and legal and regulatory requirements, could affect the estimate of remedial action costs for the sites. According to an MPSC rate order issued in 1996, Consumers will defer and amortize, over a period of ten years, environmental clean-up costs above the amount currently being recovered in rates. Rate recognition of amortization expense will not begin until after a prudence review in a general rate case. The order authorizes current recovery of $1 million annually. Consumers has initiated a lawsuit against certain insurance companies regarding coverage for some or all of the costs that it may incur for these sites. Consumers Gas Group Matters Gas Restructuring: In December 1997, the MPSC approved Consumers' application to implement a statewide experimental gas transportation pilot program. Consumers' expanded experimental program will extend over a three-year period, eventually allowing 300,000 residential, commercial and industrial retail gas sales customers to choose their gas supplier. The program is voluntary for natural gas customers. Participating customers are being selected on a first-come, first-served basis, up to a limit of 100,000 customers beginning April 1, 1998. As of October 23, 1998, more than 80,000 customers chose alternative gas suppliers, representing approximately 24 bcf of gas load. Of these alternative gas suppliers, one was a CMS Energy affiliate. Up to 100,000 more customers may be added beginning April 1 of each of the next two years. Customers choosing to remain as sales customers of Consumers will not see a rate change in their natural gas rates. The order allowing the implementation of this program: 1) suspends Consumers' gas cost recovery clause, effective April 1, 1998 for a three-year period, establishing a gas commodity cost at a fixed rate of $2.84 per mcf; 2) establishes an earnings sharing mechanism that will provide for refunds to customers if Consumers' earnings during the three- year term of the program exceed certain pre-determined levels; and 3) establishes a gas transportation code of conduct that addresses concerns about the relationship between Consumers and marketers, including its affiliated marketers. This experimental program will allow competing gas suppliers, including marketers and brokers, to market natural gas to a large number of retail customers in direct competition with Consumers. In January 1998, the Attorney General, ABATE and other parties filed claims of appeal regarding the program with the Court of Appeals. For further information regarding the effects of the restructuring on accounting methods, see Consumers' Gas Group Outlook - Application of SFAS 71 in the MD&A. Other Uncertainities CMS Generation Environmental Matters: CMS Generation does not currently expect to incur significant capital costs, if any, at its power facilities to comply with current environmental regulatory standards. Capital Expenditures: CMS Energy estimates capital expenditures, including investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and new lease commitments, of $1.340 billion for 1998, $3.585 billion for 1999 (which includes approximately $2.2 billion for pending acquisition of the Panhandle Companies), and $1.390 billion for 2000. For further information, see the Capital Resources and Liquidity-Capital Expenditures in the MD&A. Other: As of September 30, 1998, CMS Energy and Enterprises have guaranteed up to $415 million in contingent obligations of unconsolidated affiliates and related parties. In addition to the matters disclosed in this note, Consumers and certain other subsidiaries of CMS Energy are parties to certain lawsuits and administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies arising from the ordinary course of business. These lawsuits and proceedings may involve personal injury, property damage, contractual matters, environmental issues, federal and state taxes, rates, licensing and other matters. CMS Energy has accrued estimated losses for certain contingencies discussed in this Note. Resolution of these contingencies is not expected to have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy's financial position, liquidity, or results of operations. 3: Short-Term and Long-Term Financings, and Capitalization CMS Energy: CMS Energy's Senior Credit Facilities consist of a $600 million three-year revolving credit facility and a five-year $125 million term loan facility. Additionally, CMS Energy has unsecured lines of credit and letters of credit in an aggregate amount of $167 million. At September 30, 1998, the total amount utilized under the Senior Credit Facilities was $407 million, including $47 million of contingent obligations, and under the unsecured lines of credit and letters of credit was $51 million. At September 30, 1998 CMS Energy has $123 million of Series A GTNs, $125 million of Series B GTNs, $150 million of Series C GTNs, and $198 million of Series D GTNs issued and outstanding with weighted average interest rates of 7.8 percent, 7.9 percent, 7.7 percent, and 7.0 percent, respectively. In January 1998, a Delaware statutory business trust established by CMS Energy sold $180 million of certificates due January 15, 2005 in a public offering. In exchange for those proceeds, CMS Energy sold to the trust $180 million aggregate principal amount of 7 percent Extendible Tenor Rate Adjusted Securities due January 15, 2005. Net proceeds to CMS Energy from the sale totaled $176 million. In March 1998, CMS Energy and an affiliated business trust filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act, for the issuance and the sale of an additional $200 million of CMS Energy Common Stock, Class G Common Stock, subordinated debentures, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, and Trust Preferred Securities. In August 1998, CMS Energy filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act, for the issuance and the sale of $400 million of General Term Notes Series E. On November 10, 1998, CMS Energy sold 4.5 million new shares of CMS Energy Common Stock in a block trade. The net proceeds of aproximately $208 million will be used for general corporate purposes. The primary asset of CMS Energy Trust I is $178 million principal amount of 7.75 percent convertible subordinated debentures due 2027 from CMS Energy. Consumers: At November 1, 1998, Consumers had remaining FERC authorization to: 1) issue or guarantee through June 2000, up to $900 million of short-term securities outstanding at any one time; 2) guarantee, through 1999, up to $25 million in loans made by others to residents of Michigan for making energy-related home improvements; and 3) issue through June 2000, up to $900 million long-term securities with maturities up to 30 years for refinancing purposes. Consumers has an unsecured $425 million credit facility and unsecured lines of credit aggregating $130 million. These facilities are available to finance seasonal working capital requirements and to pay for capital expenditures between long-term financings. At September 30, 1998, a total of $302 million was outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 6.3 percent, compared with $389 million outstanding at September 30, 1997, at a weighted average interest rate of 6.2 percent. In January 1998, Consumers entered into interest rate swaps totaling $300 million. These swap arrangements have had an immaterial effect on interest expense. Consumers also has in place a $500 million trade receivables sale program. At September 30, 1998 and 1997, receivables sold under the program totaled $307 million and $250 million, respectively. Accounts receivable and accrued revenue in the Consolidated Balance Sheets have been reduced to reflect receivables sold. The primary asset of Consumers Power Company Financing I is $103 million principal amount of 8.36 percent subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2015 from Consumers. The primary asset of Consumers Energy Company Financing II is $124 million principal amount of 8.20 percent subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2027 from Consumers. The following table describes the new issuances of long-term financings which have occurred during 1998 through early November 1998. In Millions - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month Interest Principal Issued Maturity Rate (%) Amount Use of Proceeds - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Notes (a) February 2008 6.375 $ 250 Pay down First Mortgage Bonds and general corporate purposes Senior Notes (a) March 2018 6.875 225 Pay down First Mortgage Bonds and other long-term debt Senior Notes (a) May 2008 6.2 (b) 250 Pay down First Mortgage Bonds, long-term bank debt and general corporate purposes Long-Term Bank Debt May 2001-2003 6.05 (d) 225 Pay down long-term bank debt and general corporate purposes Senior Notes (a) June 2018 6.5 (c) 200 Pay down First Mortgage Bonds and general corporate purposes Senior Notes (e) October 2028 6.5 150 Pay down long-term bank debt and general corporate purposes - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total $1,300 ======================================================================== (a) The Senior Notes are secured by Consumers First Mortgage Bonds issued contemporaneously in a similar amount. (b) The interest rate may be reset in 2003. (c) The interest rate will be reset in June 2005. (d) The interest rate is variable; weighted average interest rate upon original issuance was 6.05 percent. (e) The Senior Notes are secured by Consumers First Mortgage Bonds issued contemporaneously in a similar amount and are insured for full debt service. The following table describes the retirements of long-term financings which have occurred during 1998 through early November 1998. In Millions - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Month Interest Principal Retired Maturity Rate (%) Amount - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- First Mortgage Bonds February 1998 8.75 $248 Long-Term Bank Debt February 1998 6.4 (a) 50 First Mortgage Bonds March 2001-2002 7.5 119 First Mortgage Bonds April 2023 7.375 36 First Mortgage Bonds May 1998 6.875 43 Long-Term Bank Debt May 1998-1999 6.3 (b) 350 First Mortgage Bonds July 1999 8.875 136 First Mortgage Bonds October 1998 6.625 45 Long-Term Bank Debt November 2001-2003 6.05 50 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $1,077 ====================================================================== (a) The interest rate was variable; weighted average interest rate at December 31, 1997 was 6.4 percent. (b) The interest rate was variable; weighted average interest rate at March 31, 1998 was 6.3 percent. Consumers had unsecured, variable rate long-term bank debt with an outstanding balance at September 30, 1998 and 1997 of $225 million and $400 million, respectively. At September 30, 1998 and 1997 the debt carried weighted average interest rates of 6.1 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively. In February 1998, Consumers retired $50 million of its $400 million unsecured long-term bank debt. In May 1998, Consumers refinanced the remaining $350 million unsecured long-term bank debt, in part with $225 million unsecured long-term bank debt. To cover the remaining $125 million of bank debt refinancing, in May 1998 Consumers issued $250 million of senior notes due 2008, at an interest rate of 6.2 percent. The $125 million balance of senior notes due 2008 was used for repurchasing $36 million of 7.375 percent First Mortgage Bonds and for general corporate purposes. Under the provisions of its Articles of Incorporation at September 30, 1998, Consumers had $295 million of unrestricted retained earnings available to pay common dividends. In October 1998, Consumers declared a $68 million common dividend to be paid in November 1998. 4: Earnings Per Share and Dividends Earnings per share attributable to Common Stock for the three, nine and twelve month periods ended September 30, 1998 reflect the performance of the Consumers Gas Group. The Class G Common Stock has participated in earnings and dividends from its original issue date in July 1995. The allocation of earnings attributable to each class of common stock and the related amounts per share are computed by considering the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Earnings attributable to the Outstanding Shares are equal to Consumers Gas Group net income multiplied by a fraction; the numerator is the weighted average number of Outstanding Shares during the period and the denominator is the weighted average number of Outstanding Shares and Retained Interest Shares during the period. The earnings attributable to Class G Common Stock on a per share basis for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997 are based on 25.38 percent and 24.65 percent, respectively, of the income of Consumers Gas Group. Computation of Earnings Per Share: In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Three Months Nine Months Twelve Months Ended Ended Ended September 30 September 30 September 30 1998 1997 1998 1997 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) Net Income Applicable to Basic and Diluted EPS Consolidated Net Income $ 81 $ 60 $234 $185 $293 $223 ================================================== Net Income Attributable to Common Stocks: CMS Energy - Basic EPS $ 83 $ 62 $226 $176 $279 $210 Add conversion of 7.75% Trust Preferred Securities (net of tax) 2 2 6 2 9 2 ---------------------------------------------------- CMS Energy - Diluted EPS $ 85 $ 64 $232 $178 $288 $212 ==================================================== Class G: Basic and Diluted EPS $ (2) $ (2) $ 8 $ 9 $ 14 $ 13 ==================================================== Average Common Shares Outstanding Applicable to Basic and Diluted EPS CMS Energy: Average Shares - Basic 102 96 101 95 101 95 Add conversion of 7.75% Trust Preferred Securities 4 4 4 1 4 1 Options-Treasury Shares 1 1 1 1 1 1 ---------------------------------------------------- Average Shares - Diluted 107 101 106 97 106 97 ==================================================== Class G: Average Shares Basic and Diluted 8 8 8 8 8 8 ==================================================== Earnings Per Average Common Share CMS Energy: Basic $ .81 $ .64 $ 2.23 $1.85 $2.77 $2.22 Diluted $ .80 $ .63 $ 2.19 $1.83 $2.73 $2.20 Class G: Basic and Diluted $(.16) $(.21) $1.04 $1.13 $1.73 $1.57 ================================================================================ (a) Includes the cumulative effect of an accounting change in the first quarter of 1998 which increased net income attributible to CMS Energy Common Stock $43 million ($.40 per share - basic and diluted) and Class G Common Stock $12 million ($.36 per share - basic and diluted). (b) Restated; see Note 1. In February and May 1998, CMS Energy paid dividends of $.30 per share on CMS Energy Common Stock and $.31 per share on Class G Common Stock. In August 1998, CMS Energy paid dividends of $.33 per share on CMS Energy Common Stock and $.325 per share on Class G Common Stock. In October 1998, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.33 per share on CMS Energy Common Stock and $ .325 per share on Class G Common Stock to be paid in November 1998. 5: Risk Management Activities and Derivatives Transactions CMS Energy and its subsidiaries use a variety of derivative instruments (derivatives), including futures contracts, swaps, options and forward contracts, to manage exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign exchange rates. To qualify for hedge accounting, derivatives must meet the following criteria: (1) the item to be hedged exposes the enterprise to price, interest or exchange rate risk; and (2) the derivative reduces that exposure and is designated as a hedge. Derivative instruments contain credit risk if the counter parties, including financial institutions and energy marketers, fail to perform under the agreements. CMS Energy minimizes such risk by performing financial credit reviews using, among other things, publicly available credit ratings of such counter parties. Nonperformance by counter parties is not expected to have a material adverse impact on CMS Energy's financial position, liquidity, or results of operations. Commodity Price Hedges: CMS Energy accounts for its commodity price derivatives as hedges, as defined above, and as such, defers any changes in market value and gains and losses resulting from settlements until the hedged transaction is complete. If there was a loss of correlation between the changes in (1) the market value of the commodity price contracts and (2) the market price ultimately received for the hedged item, and the impact was material, the open commodity price contracts would be marked to market and gains and losses would be recognized in the income statement currently. Consumers uses gas forward contracts and electricity option contracts to limit its risk associated with gas and electricity price increases. In both the gas forward contracts and the electricity option contracts, it is management's intent to take physical delivery of the commodities. For gas forward contracts, Consumers is obligated to take physical delivery of the gas and would incur a significant penalty for nonperformance. At September 30, 1998, Consumers had an exposure to gas price increases if the cost was to exceed $2.84 per mcf for the following volumes: 5 percent of its 1998 requirements; 40 percent of its 1999 requirements; and 65 percent of its 2000 requirements. Additional forward contract coverage is currently under review. The gas forward contracts currently in place were consummated at prices less than $2.84 per mcf. The contracts are being used to protect against gas price increases in a three-year experimental gas program where Consumers is recovering from its customers $2.84 per mcf for gas delivered. Consumers enters into electricity option contracts to insure a reliable source of capacity to meet its customers' electricity requirements and to limit its risk associated with electricity price increases. It is management's intent to take physical delivery of the commodity. Consumers continuously evaluates its daily capacity needs and sells the option contracts, if marketable, when it has excess daily capacity. Consumers' maximum exposure associated with these options is limited to premiums paid. Consumers purchased $5 million of options to insure a reliable source of capacity during the summer months of 1998. As a result of weather conditions and fluctuations in the price of electricity, some options were sold to third parties for $11 million during June, July, and August 1998. As of September 30, 1998, all of the remaining options had expired. The costs relating to the expired options and income received from the sale of options were reflected as purchased power costs. CMS Oil and Gas has one arrangement which is used to fix the prices that CMS Oil and Gas will pay to supply gas to the MCV for the years 2001 through 2006 by purchasing the economic equivalent of 10,000 MMBtu per day at a fixed price, escalating at 8 percent per year thereafter, starting at $2.82 per MMBtu in 2001. The settlement periods are each a one-year period ending December 31, 2001 through 2006 on 3.65 million MMBtu. If the floating price, essentially the then-current Gulf Coast spot price, for a period is higher than the fixed price, the seller pays CMS Oil and Gas the difference, and vice versa. If a party's exposure at any time exceeds $5 million, that party is required to obtain a letter of credit in favor of the other party for the excess over $5 million and up to $10 million. At September 30, 1998, no letter of credit was posted by either party to the agreement. As of September 30, 1998, the fair value of this contract reflected payment due from CMS Oil and Gas of $13 million. CMS MST uses natural gas and oil futures contracts, options and swaps (which require a net cash payment for the difference between a fixed and variable price). Interest Rate Hedges: CMS Energy and some of its subsidiaries enter into interest rate swap agreements to exchange variable rate interest payment obligations to fixed rate obligations without exchanging the underlying notional amounts. These agreements convert variable rate debt to fixed rate debt to reduce the impact of interest rate fluctuations. The notional amounts parallel the underlying debt levels and are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not represent the exposure to credit loss. The notional amount of CMS Energy's and its subsidiaries' interest rate swaps was $923 million at September 30, 1998. In October 1998, Consumers unwound an interest rate guarantee of $145 million associated with the issuance of $150 million senior notes. The effective rate of the debt is 7 percent taking into consideration the issuance costs, interest rate guarantee and insurance costs. The difference between the amounts paid and received under the swaps is accrued and recorded as an adjustment to interest expense over the life of the hedged agreement. Foreign Exchange Hedges: CMS Energy uses forward exchange contracts and collared options to hedge certain receivables, payables, long-term debt and equity value relating to foreign investments. The purpose of CMS Energy's foreign currency hedging activities is to protect the company from the risk that U.S. dollar net cash flows resulting from sales to foreign customers and purchases from foreign suppliers and the repayment of non-U.S. dollar borrowings as well as equity reported on the company's balance sheet, may be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. These contracts do not subject CMS Energy to risk from exchange rate movements because gains and losses on such contracts offset losses and gains, respectively, on assets and liabilities being hedged. The notional amount of the outstanding foreign exchange contracts was $845 million at September 30, 1998, which includes $550 million and $250 million for Australian and Brazilian foreign exchange contracts, respectively. 6: Subsequent Event On November 2, 1998, CMS Energy announced the execution of a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with PanEnergy Corp ("PanEnergy") and certain other wholly-owned subsidiaries of Duke Energy Company to acquire all of the stock of the Panhandle Companies for a cash payment of $1.9 billion and existing Panhandle Companies debt of $300 million. This transaction will be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The Panhandle Companies are primarily engaged in the interstate transportation and storage of natural gas. The assets to be acquired include 1,400 miles of mainline gas pipeline extending from the Texas Gulf Coast to Michigan and 1,300 miles of mainline gas pipeline extending from the Kansas/Oklahoma mid-continent to Michigan, 340 miles of pipeline in the offshore Gulf of Mexico, 70 billion cubic feet of underground gas storage facilities, a liquified natural gas port, and unloading and regasification facilities. Closing of the transaction is subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino pre-merger notification clearance. The Agreement is subject to termination upon failure of CMS Energy to satisfy its financing contingency. The Agreement also provides that if, as a result of CMS Energy's continuing due diligence investigation, CMS Energy learns of material facts not previously disclosed or inconsistent with representations and warranties made in the Agreement, CMS Energy may, on or prior to November 23, 1998, notify PanEnergy of its intent to terminate the Agreement and the Agreement will terminate unless PanEnergy corrects the asserted misrepresentations within 30 days. CMS Energy expects to have $1.9 billion of bridge financing commitments available to fund the purchase price and it anticipates permanent financing of the acquisition at or near closing with approximately $900 million from the sale of common stock and/or securities convertible into common stock by CMS Energy and approximately $1 billion from the issuance of debt securities by the Panhandle Companies. If CMS Energy is unable to provide the appropriate financing commitments by November 23, 1998 or is unable to close the purchase when it otherwise would be obligated to close, it must pay PanEnergy a $75 million termination fee. The closing is scheduled for January 4, 1999, but may be delayed by mutual agreement. 48 ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Report of Independent Public Accountants To CMS Energy Corporation: We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CMS ENERGY CORPORATION (a Michigan corporation) and subsidiaries as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, the related consolidated statements of income and common stockholders' equity for the three-month, nine-month, and twelve-month periods then ended, and the related consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month and twelve-month periods then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of preferred stock of CMS Energy Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997, and the related consolidated statements of income, common stockholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and, in our report dated July 27, 1998, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1997, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived. Arthur Andersen LLP Detroit, Michigan, November 10, 1998. 50 Consumers Energy Company Management's Discussion and Analysis The MD&A of this Form 10-Q should be read along with the MD&A and other parts of Consumers' 1997 Form 10-K. This MD&A also refers to, and in some sections specifically incorporates by reference, Consumers' Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and should be read in conjunction with such Statements and Notes. This report contains forward- looking statements, as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that include without limitation, discussions as to expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives and future financial performance, or assumptions underlying or concerning matters discussed in this report. Refer to the Forward-Looking Information section of this MD&A for some important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking discussions. Consumers is a combination electric and gas utility company serving the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, a holding company. Consumers' customer base includes a mix of residential, commercial and diversified industrial customers, the largest segment of which is the automotive industry. Results of Operations In Millions September 30 1998 1997 Change ----- ----- ------ Three months ended $ 77 $ 71 $ 6 Nine months ended 239 212 27 Twelve months ended 311 269 42 Net income available to common stockholders was $77 million for the third quarter of 1998 compared with $71 million for the same 1997 period. The improved net income reflects increased electric and gas deliveries, the operation of the gas customer choice program (see note 2, Gas Rate Matters), along with increased revenues from gas retail and wholesale services activities. Net income available to common stockholders after the cumulative effect of a change in accounting for property taxes was $239 million for the first nine months of 1998 compared with $212 million for the same 1997 period. The increase in earnings for the first nine months of 1998 reflects revised accounting to recognize property tax expense on the fiscal year basis of the taxing units instead of on a calendar year basis. This one-time change in accounting for property taxes resulted in a benefit of $66 million ($43 million after-tax). Earnings for the first nine months of 1998 also reflect the recognition of a $37 million dollar loss ($24 million after tax) for the underrecovery of power costs under the PPA. Net income available to common stockholders was $311 million for the twelve months ended September 30,1998 compared with $269 million for the same 1997 period. The increase in earnings for this twelve months reflects the change in accounting for property taxes implemented during the first half of 1998 as discussed above. In addition, the improved net income for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 reflects an adjustment of prior years' income taxes associated with non-taxable earnings on nuclear decommissioning trust funds of $9 million. Partially offsetting these increases were the recognition, in the first half of 1998, of the loss associated with the underrecovery of power costs under the PPA as discussed above, and decreased gas deliveries due to warmer weather during the first half of 1998. The first nine months of 1998 were the fourth warmest since 1864. For further information concerning results of operations, see the Electric and Gas Utility Results of Operations sections of this MD&A and Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership in Note 2. ELECTRIC UTILITY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Electric Pretax Operating Income: In Millions September 30 1998 1997 Change ----- ----- ------ Three months ended $ 153 $ 132 $ 21 Nine months ended 378 342 36 Twelve months ended 468 423 45 Electric pretax operating income for all the above periods ended September 30, 1998 benefitted from increased deliveries compared to the same periods in 1997. These increases were partly offset by increased general taxes and depreciation associated with additional plant investment. Electric pretax operating income for the three months ended had increased operation and maintenance costs while the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 benefited from controlling operation expenses. The following table quantifies these impacts on pretax operating income. In Millions Three Months Nine Months Twelve Months Ended Sept. 30 Ended Sept. 30 Ended Sept. 30 Change Compared to Prior Year 1998 vs 1997 1998 vs 1997 1998 vs 1997 ------- ------- ------- Deliveries (including special contract discounts) $ 38 $ 50 $ 51 Other non-commodity revenue (1) (2) (3) Operations and maintenance (11) (1) 15 General taxes, depreciation and other (5) (11) (18) ------ ------ ------ Total change $ 21 $ 36 $ 45 ====== ====== ====== Electric Deliveries: Total electric deliveries increased 10.1 percent for the three months ended September 30, 1998 over the same period in 1997. The increase includes a 5.8 percent increase in deliveries to ultimate customers, primarily within the residential and commercial classes and an increase in sales between utility systems and wholesale customer deliveries. For the nine months ended September 30, 1998, total electric deliveries increased 8.2 percent over the comparable 1997 period. Deliveries to ultimate customers were up 3.4 percent, with the remaining change attributable to an increase in sales between utility systems and wholesale deliveries. For the twelve months ended September 30, 1998, total electric deliveries increased 8.0 percent over the comparable 1997 period. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in sales between utility systems and a 2.7 percent increase in deliveries to ultimate customers. Power Costs: In Millions September 30 1998 1997 Change ----- ----- ------ Three months ended $ 315 $ 296 $ 19 Nine months ended 899 847 52 Twelve months ended 1,190 1,132 58 Power costs increased for all the reported periods ended September 30, 1998 compared to 1997. Both internal generation and power purchases from outside sources increased during these periods to meet increased deliveries. Uncertainties: Consumers' financial position may be affected by a number of trends or uncertainties that have had, or Consumers reasonably expects will have, a materially favorable or unfavorable impact on net sales, revenues, or income from continuing electric operations. Such uncertainties are: 1) environmental liabilities arising from compliance with various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including potential liability or expenses relating to the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act and Superfund; 2) capital expenditures for compliance with the Clean Air Act; 3) suits by various parties relating to the effect of so-called stray voltage on certain livestock; 4) suits by two independent power producers alleging antitrust violations and economic losses due to special electric contracts signed by Consumers; 5) cost recovery relating to the MCV Facility and nuclear plant investments and an experimental direct-access program; 6) electric industry restructuring; 7) after-tax cash underrecoveries associated with power purchases from the MCV Partnership; and 8) Big Rock decommissioning issues and ongoing issues relating to the storage of spent fuel and the operating life of Palisades. For detailed information about these trends or uncertainties see Note 2, Uncertainties, "Electric Contingencies- Electric Environmental Matters," "Electric Contingencies-Stray Voltage," "Electric Contingencies-Anti-Trust," "Electric Rate Matters-Electric Proceedings," "Electric Rate Matters-Electric Restructuring," "Other Electric Uncertainties-The Midland Cogeneration Venture-Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership," and "Other Electric Uncertainties-Nuclear Matters," incorporated by reference herein. Consumers enters into electricity option contracts to insure a reliable source of capacity to meet its customers' electricity requirements and to limit its risk associated with electricity price increases. It is management's intent to take physical delivery of the commodity. Consumers continuously evaluates its daily capacity needs and sells the option contracts, if marketable, when it has excess daily capacity. Consumers' maximum exposure associated with these options is limited to premiums paid. Consumers purchased $5 million of options to insure a reliable source of capacity during the summer months of 1998. As a result of weather conditions and fluctuations in the price of electricity, some options were sold to third parties for $11 million during June, July, and August 1998. As of September 30, 1998, all of the remaining options had expired. The costs relating to the expired options and income received from the sale of options were reflected as purchased power costs. GAS UTILITY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Gas Pretax Operating Income: In Millions September 30 1998 1997 Change ----- ----- ------ Three months ended $ 6 $ (1) $ 7 Nine months ended 81 100 (19) Twelve months ended 134 142 (8) Gas pretax operating income increased in the three month period ended September 30, 1998 as a result of increased gas deliveries, operation of the gas customer choice program (see note 2, Gas Rate Matters) and increased revenues from gas retail and wholesale services. The change in general taxes and depreciation for the three month period ended September 30, 1998 is primarily a timing issue. Warmer temperatures during the winter heating seasons resulted in reduced gas deliveries which decreased gas pretax operating income in the nine month and twelve month periods ended September 30,1998. The decreased gas pretax operating income for the nine month period ended September 30, 1998 also reflects higher operations expense. In part, the higher operations expense reflects the absence of 1997 non-recurring expense reductions for uncollectible accounts and injuries and damages reserves. Gas pretax operating income for the three month and twelve month periods ended September 30, 1998 benefited from controlling operations and maintenance expenses. Gas wholesale and retail service revenues were down for the twelve month period ended September 30, 1998 due to the elimination of surcharges related to past conservation programs. The benefit to gas pretax operating income from reduced costs in general taxes and depreciation for the nine month and twelve month periods ended September 30, 1998 is primarily a timing issue. The following table quantifies these impacts on pretax operating income. In Millions Three Months Nine Months Twelve Months Ended Sept. 30 Ended Sept. 30 Ended Sept. 30 Change Compared to Prior Year 1998 vs 1997 1998 vs 1997 1998 vs 1997 ----------- ----------- ------------ Gas deliveries $ 5 $(14) $(15) Gas wholesale and retail service activities 3 - (2) Operations and maintenance 1 (8) 6 General taxes, depreciation and other (2) 3 3 ---- ---- ---- Total change $ 7 $(19) $(8) ==== ==== ==== Gas Deliveries: System deliveries for the three month period ended September 30, 1998, excluding miscellaneous transportation, totaled 31 bcf, an increase of 1 bcf or 3 percent compared to the three month period ended September 30, 1997. Deliveries for the nine month period ended September 30, 1998, excluding miscellaneous transportation, totaled 203 bcf, a decrease of 29 bcf or 13 percent compared to the nine month period ended September 30, 1997. For the twelve month period ended September 30, 1998, deliveries excluding miscellaneous transportation, totaled 311 bcf, a decrease of 31 bcf or 9 percent compared to the twelve month period ended September 30, 1997. The decreased deliveries for the nine month and twelve month periods reflect warmer temperatures primarily for the first quarter of 1998. Miscellaneous transportation deliveries for the three month period ended September 30, 1998 totaled 11 bcf, a decrease of 8 bcf or 40 percent compared to the three month period ended September 30, 1997. Miscellaneous transportation deliveries for the nine month period ended September 30, 1998, totaled 47 bcf, a decrease of 14 bcf or 23 percent compared to the nine month period ended September 30, 1997. Miscellaneous transportation deliveries for the twelve month period ended September 30, 1998, totaled 65 bcf, a decrease of 18 bcf or 22 percent compared to the twelve month period ended September 30, 1997. Cost of Gas Sold: In Millions September 30 1998 1997 Change ---- ---- ---- Three months ended $ 39 $ 39 $ - Nine Months ended 377 472 (95) Twelve months ended 600 718 (118) The cost decreases for the nine month and twelve month periods ended September 30, 1998 were the result of decreased sales and lower gas costs reflecting warmer temperatures during the winter heating season. Uncertainties: Consumers' financial position may be affected by a number of trends or uncertainties that have had, or Consumers reasonably expects will have, a materially favorable or unfavorable impact on net sales or revenues or income from continuing gas operations. Such uncertainties are: 1) potential environmental costs at a number of sites including sites formerly housing manufactured gas plant facilities, and 2) a statewide experimental gas transportation pilot program. For detailed information about these uncertainties see Note 2, Uncertainties, "Gas Contingencies-Gas Environmental Matters," and "Gas Rate Matters-Gas Restructuring," incorporated by reference herein. Consumers uses gas forward contracts to limit its risk associated with gas price increases. It is management's intent to take physical delivery of the commodity. For gas forward contracts, Consumers is obligated to take physical delivery of the gas and would incur a significant penalty for nonperformance. At September 30, 1998, Consumers had an exposure to gas price increases if the cost was to exceed $2.84 per mcf for the following volumes: 5 percent of its 1998 requirements; 40 percent of its 1999 requirements; and 65 percent of its 2000 requirements. Additional forward contract coverage is currently under review. The gas forward contracts currently in place were consummated at prices less than $2.84 per mcf. The contracts are being used to protect against gas price increases in a three-year experimental gas program where Consumers is recovering from its customers $2.84 per mcf for gas delivered. Capital Resources and Liquidity CASH POSITION, INVESTING AND FINANCING Operating Activities: Consumers derives cash from the sale and transportation of natural gas and the generation, transmission and sale of electricity. Cash from operations totaled $452 million and $458 million for the first nine months of 1998 and 1997, respectively. The $6 million decrease resulted primarily from the timing of cash payments related to normal operations. Other items included in income but which had no effect on cash flow were a one-time change in accounting for property taxes resulting in a $66 million ($43 million after-tax) gain and the recognition of a $37 million loss ($24 million after-tax) for the underrecovery of power costs under the PPA. Consumers uses operating cash primarily to maintain and expand electric and gas systems, to retire portions of long-term debt, and to pay dividends. Investing Activities: Cash used in investing activities totaled $(235) million and $(277) million for the first nine months of 1998 and 1997, respectively. The change of $(42) million was primarily the result of receiving $27 million from the sale of two partnerships, $12 million distribution from FMLP and $43 million from the nuclear decommissioning trust funds previously collected from electric customers for decommissioning Big Rock, offset by the payment of $39 million in cost of plant retired. Financing Activities: Cash used in financing activities totaled $(196) and $(176) million for the first nine months of 1998 and 1997, respectively. The change of $20 million is primarily the result of a net increase in cash of $79 million due to refinancing and issuance of Consumers' debt and $8 million decrease in capital lease payments. Offsetting this increase was a $60 million increase in the payment of common stock dividends and a $50 million return of paid in capital to Consumers' common stockholder. Consumers has FERC authorization to issue securities and guarantees. Consumers has a credit facility, lines of credit and a trade receivable sale program in place as anticipated sources of funds needed to fulfill, in whole or in part, material commitments for capital expenditures. For detailed information about these source of funds, see "Authorization" and "Short-Term Financings" in Note 3. Outlook The following discussions contain forward-looking statements. See the Forward-Looking Information section of this MD&A for some important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed herein. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OUTLOOK Consumers estimates the following capital expenditures, including new lease commitments, by company and by business segment over the next three years. These estimates are prepared for planning purposes and are subject to revision. In Millions Years Ended December 31 1998(b) 1999 2000 ---- ---- ---- Consumers Construction $388 $465 $490 Nuclear fuel lease 54 20 - Capital leases other than nuclear fuel 13 17 17 Michigan Gas Storage 3 3 3 ---- ---- ---- $458 $505 $510 ==== ==== ==== Electric utility operations (a) $341 $380 $385 Gas utility operations (a) 117 125 125 ---- ---- ---- $458 $505 $510 ==== ==== ==== (a) These amounts include an attributed portion of Consumers' anticipated capital expenditures for plant and equipment common to both the electric and gas utility businesses. (b) Includes actual amounts incurred during the first three quarters and estimate for fourth quarter. ELECTRIC BUSINESS OUTLOOK Growth: Consumers expects average annual growth of two and one-half percent per year in electric system deliveries over the next five years, absent the impact of restructuring on the industry and its regulation in Michigan. Abnormal weather, changing economic conditions, or the developing competitive market for electricity may affect actual electric sales in future periods. Restructuring: Consumers' retail electric business is affected by competition. To meet its challenges, Consumers entered into multi-year contracts with some of its largest industrial customers to serve certain facilities. The MPSC has approved these contracts as part of its phased introduction to competition. Certain customers have the option of terminating their contracts early. FERC Orders 888 and 889, as amended, require utilities to provide direct access to the interstate transmission grid for wholesale transactions. Consumers and Detroit Edison disagree on the effect of the orders on the Michigan Electric Power Coordination Center pool. Consumers proposes to maintain the benefits of the pool through at least December 2000, while Detroit Edison contends that the pool agreement should be terminated immediately. Among Consumers' alternatives in the event of the pool being terminated would be joining an independent system operator. FERC has indicated this preference for structuring the operations of the electric transmission grid. As discussed in the Form 10-K, since June 1997 several orders have been issued and numerous appeals are pending at the Court of Appeals relating to the restructuring of the electric utility industry. Consumers cannot predict the outcome or timing of these matters. For material changes relating to the restructuring of the electric utility industry see "Electric Rate Matters - Electric Restructuring" in Note 2, incorporated by reference herein. Electric Application of SFAS 71: Consumers applies the utility accounting standard, SFAS 71, that recognizes the economic effects of rate regulation and, accordingly, has recorded regulatory assets and liabilities related to the generation, transmission and distribution operations of its business in its financial statements. Consumers believes that the generation segment of its business is still subject to rate regulation based upon its present obligation to continue providing generation service to its customers, and the lack of definitive deregulation orders. If rate recovery of generation-related costs becomes unlikely or uncertain, whether due to competition or regulatory action, this accounting standard may no longer apply to the generation segment of Consumers' business. According to Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 97-4, Deregulation of the Pricing of Electricity - Issues Related to the Application of FASB Statements No. 71 and 101, Consumers can continue to carry its generation- related regulatory assets or liabilities for the part of the business being deregulated if deregulatory legislation or an MPSC rate order allows the collection of cash flows from its regulated transmission and distribution customers to recover these specific costs or settle obligations. Because the February 1998 MPSC order allows Consumers to fully recover its transition costs, Consumers believes that even if it was to discontinue application of SFAS 71 for the generation segment of its business, its regulatory assets, including those related to generation, are probable of future recovery from the regulated portion of the business. At September 30, 1998, Consumers had $251 million of generation-related net regulatory assets recorded on its balance sheet, and a net investment in generation facilities of $1.3 billion included in electric plant and property. For further information regarding electric restructuring, see "Restructuring" above. GAS BUSINESS OUTLOOK Growth: Consumers currently anticipates gas deliveries, including gas customer choice deliveries (excluding transportation to the MCV Facility and off-system deliveries), to grow at an average annual rate of between one and two percent over the next five years based primarily on a steadily growing customer base. Abnormal weather, alternative energy prices, changes in competitive conditions, and the level of natural gas consumption may affect actual gas deliveries in future periods. Consumers is also offering a variety of energy-related services to its customers focused upon appliance maintenance, home safety, commodity choice and assistance to customers purchasing heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. In 1997, LIHEAP provided approximately $64 million in heating assistance to about 312,000 Michigan households, with approximately 13 percent of the funds going to Consumers' customers. Congress provided approximately $54 million in funding for Michigan for 1998. In October 1998, Congress approved funding for fiscal year 1999 of approximately $59 million for the state of Michigan. Consumers' expects presidential approval of the funding. Gas Application of SFAS 71: Based on a regulated utility accounting standard, SFAS 71, Consumers may defer certain costs to the future and record regulatory assets, based on the recoverability of those costs through the MPSC's approval. Consumers has evaluated its regulatory assets related to its gas business, and believes that sufficient regulatory assurance exists to provide for the recovery of these deferred costs. Other Matters NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In 1998, the FASB issued SFAS 132, Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits. This standard requires expanded disclosure effective for 1998. Also in 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, which will be effective for 1999. Consumers does not expect the application of these standards to materially affect its financial position, liquidity or results of operations. In addition, in 1998, the FASB issued SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which requires that every derivative instrument be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. The statement requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's gains and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the income statement, and requires that a company must formally document, designate, and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. SFAS 133 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. Consumers has not yet quantified the impacts of adopting SFAS 133 on its financial statements and has not determined the timing of or method of adoption. YEAR 2000 COMPUTER MODIFICATIONS Consumers uses software and related technologies throughout its businesses that the year 2000 date change will affect and, if uncorrected, could cause Consumers to, among other things, issue inaccurate bills, report inaccurate data, incur generating plant outages, or create energy delivery uncertainties. In 1995, Consumers established a Year 2000 Program to ensure the continued operation of the company at the turn of the century. Consumers efforts included dividing the programs requiring modification between critical and noncritical programs. A formal methodology was established to identify critical business functions and risk scenarios, develop test plans and expected results, and execute tests. Consumers Year 2000 Program involves an aggressive, comprehensive, four-phase approach, including impact analysis, remediation, compliance review, and monitoring/contingency planning. The impact analysis phase includes the analysis, inventory, prioritization and remediation plan development for all technology essential to core business processes. The remediation phase involves testing and implementation of remediation technology. A mainframe test environment was established in 1997 and a test environment for network servers and stand-alone personal computers was established in mid-1998. All essential corporate business systems have been, or will be, tested in this test environment. The compliance review phase includes the assembling of compliance documentation for each technology component as remediation efforts are completed, and additional verification testing of essential technology where necessary. The monitoring/contingency planning phase includes compliance monitoring to ensure that year 2000 problems are not reintroduced into remediated technology, as well as the development of contingency plans to address reasonably likely risk scenarios. State of Readiness: Year 2000 issues are being managed by the major departments of Consumers. Traditional information technology consists of essential business systems such as payroll, billing and purchasing, and infrastructure, including mainframe, wide area network, local area networks, personal computers, radios and telephone systems. Process control computers and embedded systems contained in buildings, equipment and energy supply and delivery systems are also being managed. Essential goods and services for Consumers are electric fuel supply, gas fuel supply, independent electric power supplies, facilities, electronic commerce, telecommunications network carriers, financial institutions, purchasing vendors, and software and hardware technology vendors. Consumers is addressing the preparedness of these businesses and their risk through readiness assessment questionnaires. The status of Consumers Year 2000 Program by phase, with target dates for completion and current percentage complete based upon software and hardware inventory counts as of September 30, 1998, is as follows: Monitoring/ Impact Compliance Contingency Analysis Remediation Review Planning ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- Business System (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) Electric 3/98 100% 6/99 53% 6/99 22% 6/99 10% Gas 3/98 100% 6/99 66% 6/99 3% 6/99 10% Corporate 3/98 100% 6/99 62% 6/99 3% 6/99 10% Operating Services 3/98 100% 6/99 63% 6/99 40% 6/99 10% Essential Goods & Services 6/99 35% NA 9/99 0% 6/99 10% (a) Target date for completion. (b) Current percentage complete. Cost of Remediation: Consumers will expense anticipated spending for modifications as incurred, while capitalizing and amortizing the cost for new software over its useful life. The total estimated cost of the Year 2000 Program is approximately $22 million. Costs incurred through September 30, 1998 are $14 million. Consumers annual Year 2000 Program costs represent approximately 1% to 10% of a typical Consumers annual information technology budget. Year 2000 compliance work is being funded primarily from operations. The devotion of Consumers resources to the year 2000 problem has not deferred any material information technology projects which could have a material adverse affect on Consumers financial position, liquidity or results of operations. Risk Assessment: Consumers considers the most reasonably likely worst- case scenarios to be: (1) a lack of communications to dispatch crews to electric or gas emergencies, (2) a lack of communications to contact generating units to balance electrical load, and (3) power shortages due to the lack of stability of the regional or national electric grid. These scenarios could result in Consumers not being able to generate or distribute enough energy to meet customer demand for a period of time, which could result in lost sales and profits. Year 2000 remediation and testing efforts are concentrating on these risk areas and will continue through the end of 1999. Contingency plans will be revised and executed to further mitigate the risks associated with these scenarios. Contingency Plans: Contingency planning efforts are currently underway for all business systems and providers of essential goods and services. Extensive contingency plans are already in place in many locations and are currently being revised for reasonably likely worst-case scenarios related to year 2000 issues. In many cases, Consumers already has arrangements with multiple vendors of similar goods and services so that in the event that one cannot meet its commitments, others can. Current contingency plans provide for manual dispatching of crews and manual coordination of electrical load balancing, and are being revised to provide for radio or satellite communications. Coordinated contingency planning efforts are in progress with the North American Electric Reliability Council and its Regional Reliability Councils to minimize risk to electric generation, transmission and distribution systems. Expectations: Consumers does not expect that the cost of these modifications will materially affect its financial position, liquidity, or results of operations. There can be no guarantee, however, that these costs, plans or time estimates will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially. Because of the integrated nature of Consumers business with other energy companies, utilities, jointly owned facilities operated by other entities, and business conducted with suppliers and large customers, Consumers may be indirectly affected by year 2000 compliance complications. At this time, Consumers is unable to anticipate the magnitude of the operational or financial impact on Consumers of year 2000 issues. Forward-Looking Information Forward-looking information is included throughout this report. This report also describes material contingencies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and should be read accordingly. Important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ are set forth in Consumers' 1997 Form 10-K, "Management's Discussion and Analysis-Forward-Looking Information." 60 Consumers Energy Company Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997 1998 1997 1998 1997 In Millions Operating Revenue Electric $ 729 $ 670 $1,990 $1,888 $2,617 $2,507 Gas 117 110 716 828 1,092 1,230 Other 14 19 37 39 48 49 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 860 799 2,743 2,755 3,757 3,786 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Operating Expenses Operation Fuel for electric generation 95 80 246 220 323 297 Purchased power - related parties 143 151 433 447 585 600 Purchased and interchange power 77 65 220 180 282 235 Cost of gas sold 39 39 377 472 600 718 Other 147 144 409 404 548 566 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 501 479 1,685 1,723 2,338 2,416 Maintenance 48 38 126 119 177 176 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 93 88 291 286 395 384 General taxes 47 45 146 148 199 198 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 689 650 2,248 2,276 3,109 3,174 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Pretax Operating Income Electric 153 132 378 342 468 423 Gas 6 (1) 81 100 134 142 Other 12 18 36 37 46 47 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 171 149 495 479 648 612 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Other Income (Deductions) Loss on MCV power purchases - - (37) - (37) - Dividends and interest from affiliates 4 11 11 20 15 24 Accretion income 1 2 5 6 7 8 Accretion expense (4) (4) (12) (13) (16) (14) Other, net 1 1 3 1 - (3) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 2 10 (30) 14 (31) 15 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Interest Charges Interest on long-term debt 35 34 103 103 137 138 Other interest 9 9 28 25 39 33 Capitalized interest - - - - (1) - ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 44 43 131 128 175 171 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net Income Before Income Taxes 129 116 334 365 442 456 Income Taxes 43 36 111 126 137 151 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle 86 80 223 239 305 305 Cumulative effect of change in accounting for property taxes, net of $23 tax (Note 1) - - 43 - 43 - ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net Income 86 80 266 239 348 305 Preferred Stock Dividends 5 6 14 20 19 27 Preferred Securities Distributions 4 3 13 7 18 9 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net Income Available to Common Stockholder $ 77 $ 71 $ 239 $ 212 $ 311 $ 269 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== <FN> The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements. 61 Consumers Energy Company Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- In Millions Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net income $ 266 $239 $ 348 $ 305 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Depreciation, depletion and amortization (includes nuclear decommissioning of $38, $37, $51 and $49, respectively) 291 286 395 384 Loss on MCV power purchases 37 - 37 - Capital lease and other amortization 27 35 36 42 Deferred income taxes and investment tax credit 21 11 24 32 Accretion expense 12 13 16 14 Accretion income - abandoned Midland project (5) (6) (7) (8) Undistributed earnings of related parties (37) (35) (48) (45) MCV power purchases (48) (47) (63) (67) Cumulative effect of accounting change (66) - (66) - Changes in other assets and liabilities (46) (38) 81 13 ---- ---- ---- ---- Net cash provided by operating activities 452 458 753 670 ---- ---- ---- ---- Cash Flows from Investing Activities Capital expenditures (excludes assets placed under capital lease) (258) (260) (358) (371) Associated company preferred stock redemption 50 50 50 50 Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust funds 43 - 43 - Proceeds from the sale of two partnerships 27 - 27 - Proceeds from FMLP 12 - 12 - Investment in Electric Restructuring Implementatioin Plan (9) - (10) - Investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds (38) (37) (51) (49) Cost to retire property, net (65) (26) (68) (37) Other 3 (4) 4 (4) ---- ---- ---- ---- Net cash used in investing activities (235) (277) (351) (411) ---- ---- ---- ---- Cash Flows from Financing Activities Proceeds from senior notes 914 - 914 - Retirement of bonds and other long-term debt (759) (51) (759) (51) Payment of common stock dividends (173) (113) (278) (199) Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net (75) 56 (87) 49 Contribution from stockholder (50) - (100) - Payment of capital lease obligations (26) (34) (36) (42) Payment of preferred stock dividends (14) (23) (19) (29) Preferred securities distributions (13) (7) (18) (9) Retirement of preferred stock - (120) - (120) Proceeds from Trust Preferred Securities - 116 - 116 Proceeds from bank loans - - - 23 ---- ---- ---- ---- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (196) (176) (383) (262) ---- ---- ---- ---- Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Temporary Cash Investments 21 5 19 (4) Cash and Temporary Cash Investments, Beginning of Period 7 4 9 13 ---- ---- ---- ---- Cash and Temporary Cash Investments, End of Period $ 28 $ 9 $ 28 $ 9 ==== ==== ==== ==== Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- In Millions Other cash flow activities and non-cash investing and financing activities were: Cash transactions Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized) $ 128 $ 129 $ 165 $ 164 Income taxes paid (net of refunds) 113 122 108 135 Non-cash transactions Nuclear fuel placed under capital lease $ 21 $ 4 $ 21 $ 24 Other assets placed under capital leases 11 5 12 6 ==== ==== ==== ==== <FN> All highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements. 63 Consumers Energy Company Consolidated Balance Sheets ASSETS September 30 September 30 1998 December 31 1997 (Unaudited) 1997 (Unaudited) In Millions Plant (At original cost) Electric $6,641 $6,491 $6,447 Gas 2,328 2,322 2,292 Other 26 24 25 ------ ------ ------ 8,995 8,837 8,764 Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization 4,748 4,603 4,540 ------ ------ ------ 4,247 4,234 4,224 Construction work-in-progress 165 145 146 ------ ------ ------ 4,412 4,379 4,370 ------ ------ ------ Investments Stock of affiliates 227 278 258 First Midland Limited Partnership (Note 2) 237 242 239 Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership (Note 2) 199 171 163 Other - 7 7 ------ ------ ------ 663 698 667 ------ ------ ------ Current Assets Cash and temporary cash investments at cost, which approximates market 28 7 9 Accounts receivable and accrued revenue, less allowances of $5, $6 and $6, respectively (Note 3) - 82 47 Accounts receivable - related parties 77 62 87 Inventories at average cost Gas in underground storage 276 197 253 Materials and supplies 65 63 69 Generating plant fuel stock 29 35 26 Postretirement benefits 25 25 25 Deferred income taxes - 22 9 Prepayments and other 124 161 51 ------ ------ ------ 624 654 576 ------ ------ ------ Non-current Assets Nuclear decommissioning trust funds 510 486 478 Postretirement benefits 380 404 411 Abandoned Midland Project 77 93 98 Other 250 235 238 ------ ------ ------ 1,217 1,218 1,225 ------ ------ ------ Total Assets $6,916 $6,949 $6,838 ====== ====== ====== STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT AND LIABILITIES September 30 September 30 1998 December 31 1997 (Unaudited) 1997 (Unaudited) In Millions Capitalization Common stockholder's equity Common stock $ 841 $ 841 $ 841 Paid-in capital 402 452 502 Revaluation capital 57 58 45 Retained earnings since December 31, 1992 429 363 396 ------ ------ ------ 1,729 1,714 1,784 Preferred stock 238 238 238 Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of: Consumers Power Company Financing I (a) 100 100 100 Consumers Energy Company Financing II (a) 120 120 120 Long-term debt 1,977 1,369 1,462 Non-current portion of capital leases 77 74 82 ------ ------ ------ 4,241 3,615 3,786 ------ ------ ------ Current Liabilities Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases 146 579 483 Notes payable 302 377 389 Accounts payable 160 171 140 Accrued taxes 109 244 97 Accounts payable - related parties 72 79 75 Power purchases (Note 2) 47 47 47 Accrued interest 26 32 25 Accrued refunds 12 12 7 Deferred income taxes 4 - - Other 143 136 139 ------ ------ ------ 1,021 1,677 1,402 ------ ------ ------ Non-current Liabilities Deferred income taxes 661 688 630 Postretirement benefits 467 489 495 Power purchases (Note 2) 134 133 144 Deferred investment tax credit 142 149 152 Regulatory liabilities for income taxes, net 83 54 86 Other 167 144 143 ------ ------ ------ 1,654 1,657 1,650 ------ ------ ------ Commitments and Contingencies (Note 2) Total Stockholders' Investment and Liabilities $6,916 $6,949 $6,838 ====== ====== ====== <FN> (a) The primary asset of Consumers Power Company Financing I is $103 million principal amount of 8.36% subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2015 from Consumers. The primary asset of Consumers Energy Company Financing II is $124 million principal amount of 8.20% subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2027 from Consumers. The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements. 65 Consumers Energy Company Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholder's Equity (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997 1998 1997 1998 1997 In Millions Common Stock At beginning and end of period $ 841 $ 841 $ 841 $ 841 $ 841 $ 841 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Other Paid-in Capital At beginning of period 452 504 452 504 502 504 Return of stockholder's contribution (50) - (50) - (100) - Preferred stock reacquired - (2) - (2) - (2) ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- At end of period 402 502 402 502 402 502 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Revaluation Capital At beginning of period 59 41 58 37 45 30 Change in unrealized investment - gain (loss) (a) (2) 4 (1) 8 12 15 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- At end of period 57 45 57 45 57 45 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Retained Earnings At beginning of period 396 368 363 297 396 326 Net income (a) 86 80 266 239 348 305 Common stock dividends declared (44) (43) (173) (113) (278) (199) Preferred stock dividends declared (5) (6) (14) (20) (19) (27) Preferred securities distributions (4) (3) (13) (7) (18) (9) ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- At end of period 429 396 429 396 429 396 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Common Stockholder's Equity $1,729 $1,784 $1,729 $1,784 $1,729 $1,784 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= (a) Disclosure of Comprehensive Income: Revaluation capital Unrealized investment - gain (loss), net of tax of $(1), $2, $-, $4, $7 and $8, respectively $ (2) $ 4 $ (1) $ 8 $ 12 $ 15 Net income 86 80 266 239 348 305 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Comprehensive Income $ 84 $ 84 $ 265 $ 247 $ 360 $ 320 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= <FN> The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these statements. 66 Consumers Energy Company Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements These Consolidated Financial Statements and their related Condensed Notes should be read along with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes contained in Consumers' 1997 Form 10-K that includes the Report of Independent Public Accountants. In the opinion of management, the unaudited information herein reflects all adjustments necessary to assure the fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. 1: Corporate Structure and Change of Significant Accounting Policies CORPORATE STRUCTURE Consumers is a combination electric and gas utility company serving the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, a holding company. Consumers' customer base includes a mix of residential, commercial and diversified industrial customers, the largest segment of which is the automotive industry. IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD In 1997, the FASB issued SFAS 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income. This statement, which is effective for 1998 financial statement reporting, establishes standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components. Equity adjustments related to unrealized investment gains and losses (net of tax), along with consolidated net income, comprise comprehensive income. CHANGE IN METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR PROPERTY TAXES During the first quarter of 1998, Consumers implemented a change in the method of accounting for property taxes so that such taxes are recognized during the fiscal period of the taxing authority for which the taxes are levied. This change provides a better matching of property tax expense with the services provided by the taxing authorities, and is considered the most acceptable basis of recording property taxes. Prior to 1998, Consumers recorded property taxes monthly during the year following the assessment date (December 31). The cumulative effect of this one-time change in accounting increased other income by $66 million, and earnings, net of tax, by $43 million. The pro forma effect on prior years' consolidated net income of retroactively recording property taxes as if the new method of accounting had been in effect for all periods presented is not material. 2: Uncertainties ELECTRIC CONTINGENCIES Electric Environmental Matters: The Clean Air Act limits emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides and requires emissions monitoring. Consumers' coal-fueled electric generating units burn low-sulfur coal and are currently operating at or near the sulfur dioxide emission limits that will be effective in the year 2000. During the past few years, in order to comply with the Act, Consumers incurred capital expenditures totaling $46 million to install equipment at certain generating units. Consumers estimates capital expenditures for ongoing and proposed modifications at other coal-fueled units to be an additional $26 million by the year 2000. Management believes that these expenditures will not materially affect Consumers' annual operating costs. Consumers currently operates within all Clean Air Act requirements and meets current emission limits. The Act requires the EPA to review, periodically, the effectiveness of the national air quality standards in preventing adverse health affects. In 1997 the EPA revised these standards. Monitoring for the new standards is reasonably likely to result in further limitations on small particulate and ozone related emissions. Following completion of the Ozone Transport Assessment Group process and requests by several Northeastern states, in September 1998, the EPA Administrator signed final regulations requiring the State of Michigan to further limit nitrogen oxide emissions. Fossil-fueled emitters, such as Consumers' generating units, can anticipate reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions by 2003 to only 32 percent of levels allowed for the year 2000. The State of Michigan has one year to submit an implementation plan. It is unlikely that the State of Michigan will establish Consumers' nitrogen oxide emissions reduction target until mid-to-late 1999. Until this target is established, the estimated cost of compliance is subject to significant revision. The preliminary estimate of capital costs to reduce nitrogen oxide-related emissions for Consumers' fossil-fueled generating units is approximately $290 million, plus an additional amount totaling $10 million per year for operation and maintenance costs. Consumers may need an equivalent amount of capital expenditures and operation and maintenance costs to comply with the new small particulate standards. The State of Michigan has objected to the extent of the required EPA emission reductions. If a court were to order the EPA to adopt the State of Michigan's position, costs could be less than the current estimated amounts. Under the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Consumers expects that it will ultimately incur investigation and remedial action costs at a number of sites. Nevertheless, it believes that these costs are properly recoverable in rates under current ratemaking policies. Consumers is a so-called potentially responsible party at several contaminated sites administered under Superfund. Superfund liability is joint and several; along with Consumers, many other creditworthy, potentially responsible parties with substantial assets cooperate with respect to the individual sites. Based upon past negotiations, Consumers estimates that its share of the total liability for the known Superfund sites will be between $3 million and $9 million. At September 30, 1998, Consumers has accrued $3 million for its estimated Superfund liability. While decommissioning Big Rock, Consumers found that some areas of the plant have coatings that contain both metals and PCBs. Consumers does not believe that any facility in the United States currently accepts the radioactive portion of that waste. The cost of removal and disposal is currently unknown. These costs would constitute part of the cost to decommission the plant, and will be paid from the decommissioning fund. Consumers is studying the extent of the contamination and reviewing options. Stray Voltage: Various parties have sued Consumers relating to the effect of so-called stray voltage on certain livestock. Claimants contend that stray voltage results when low-level electrical currents present in grounded electrical systems are diverted from their intended path. Consumers maintains a policy of investigating all customer calls regarding stray voltage and working with customers to address their concerns. It also has an ongoing mitigation program to modify the service of all customers with livestock. In December 1997, the Michigan Supreme Court remanded for further proceedings a 1994 Michigan trial court decision that refused to allow the claims of over 200 named plaintiffs to be joined in a single action. The trial court dismissed all of the plaintiffs except the first-named plaintiff, allowing the others to re-file separate actions. Of the original plaintiffs, only 49 re-filed separate cases. All of those 49 cases have been resolved. The Michigan Supreme Court remanded the matter, finding that the proper remedy for misjoinder was not dismissal, but to automatically allow each case to go forward separately. Consumers filed a motion for reconsideration with the Michigan Supreme Court, which was denied. As a result, 21 individual plaintiffs elected to exercise their right to proceed with separate actions. Consumers has now resolved all 21 of those cases. As of November 3, 1998, Consumers had 3 individual stray voltage lawsuits awaiting trial court action, down from 12 cases as reported at year end 1997. Anti-Trust: In October 1997, two independent power producers sued Consumers and CMS Energy in a federal court. The suit alleges antitrust violations relating to contracts which Consumers entered into with some of its customers and claims relating to power facilities. The plaintiffs claim damages of $100 million (which a court can treble in antitrust cases as provided by law). In September 1998, the court issued an opinion and order granting CMS Energy's motion to dismiss. The court has not yet ruled on Consumers' motion to dismiss. Consumers believes the lawsuit is without merit and will vigorously defend against it, but cannot predict the outcome of this matter. ELECTRIC RATE MATTERS Electric Proceedings: In 1996, the MPSC issued a final order that authorized Consumers to recover costs associated with the purchase of the additional 325 MW of MCV Facility capacity (see "Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership" in this Note) and recover its nuclear plant investment by increasing prospective annual nuclear plant depreciation expense by $18 million, with a corresponding decrease in fossil-fueled generating plant depreciation expense. It also established an experimental direct-access program. Customers having a maximum demand of at least 2 MW are eligible to purchase generation services directly from any eligible third-party power supplier and Consumers would transmit the power for a fee. The direct-access program is limited to 134 MW of load. In accordance with the MPSC order, Consumers held a lottery in April 1997 to select the customers to participate in the direct-access program. Subsequently, direct access for a portion of this 134 MW began in late 1997. Consumers expects the remaining amount of direct access to begin later in 1998. In January 1998, the Court of Appeals affirmed an MPSC conclusion that the MPSC has statutory authority to authorize an experimental electric retail wheeling program. By its terms, no retail wheeling has yet occurred pursuant to that program. In October 1998, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an order granting Consumers' application for leave to appeal. A decision by the Michigan Supreme Court in this matter is expected in mid- 1999. For information on other orders, see the Electric Restructuring section below. Electric Restructuring: As part of ongoing proceedings relating to the restructuring of the electric utility industry in Michigan, in June 1997 the MPSC issued an order proposing that beginning January 1, 1998 Consumers transmit and distribute energy on behalf of competing power suppliers to serve retail customers. Subsequent to the June 1997 order, the MPSC issued further restructuring orders in October 1997 and in January and February 1998. These orders provide for: 1) the recovery of estimated Transition Costs of $1.755 billion through a charge to all direct-access customers until the end of the transition period in 2007, subject to an adjustment through a true-up mechanism; 2) the commencement of the phase-in of direct-access in 1998; 3) the suspension of the power supply cost recovery clause; and 4) all customers to be free to choose power suppliers on January 1, 2002. See "Other Electric Uncertainties" below for further information regarding the effect of the PSCR suspension on the recovery of MCV Facility capacity charges. Consumers believes that the Transition Cost surcharge will apply to all customers beginning in 2002. The recovery of prudent costs of implementing a direct-access program, estimated at an additional $200 million, would be reviewed for prudence and recovered via a charge approved by the MPSC. Nuclear decommissioning costs will also continue to be collected through a separate surcharge to all customers. Consumers expects Michigan legislative consideration of the entire subject of electric industry restructuring in 1998. To be acceptable to Consumers, the legislation would have to provide for full recovery of Transition Costs. Consumers expects the legislature to review all of the policy choices made by the MPSC during the restructuring proceedings to assure that they are in accord with those that the legislature believes should be paramount. There are numerous appeals pending at the Court of Appeals relating to the MPSC's restructuring orders, including appeals by Consumers and Detroit Edison. Consumers believes that the MPSC lacks statutory authority to mandate industry restructuring, and its appeal is limited to this jurisdictional issue. As a result of an informal process involving consultations with MPSC staff and other interested parties, as directed in the MPSC's February 1998 order, Consumers submitted to the MPSC in June 1998 its plan for implementing direct access. The primary issues addressed in the plan are: 1) the implementation schedule; 2) the direct-access service options available to customers and suppliers; 3) the process and requirements for customers and others to obtain direct-access service; and 4) the roles and responsibilities for Consumers, customers and suppliers. Under the schedule in the plan, Consumers will, over the 1998-2001 period, phase in 750 MW of retail customer load to direct-access customers. At one time, 300 MW of direct-access load was to be opened for bidding in 1998, and an additional 150 MW each year from 1999 to 2001. This plan is consistent with the previous orders regarding the phase-in process. Due to the time required for the MPSC to review the plan, Consumers does not believe direct access will commence prior to the first quarter of 1999. For further information regarding the effects of the restructuring on accounting methods, see Electric Business Outlook - Electric Application of SFAS 71 in the MD&A. Consumers cannot predict the outcome or timing of electric restructuring on Consumers' financial position, liquidity, or results of operations. On October 2, 1998, Consumers initiated a process for the solicitation of bids to acquire Consumers' rights to 1,240 MW of contract capacity and associated energy under its PPA with the MCV Partnership. Consumers' rights to the 1,240 MW of contract capacity and associated energy are being offered in one 1,240 MW block or in two 620 MW pieces, for the period from the effective date in 1999 through either September 2007 or March 2025. Consumers has reserved the right at any time, in its sole discretion, to terminate the bidding process or to reject any or all bids. Consumers will not consummate a transaction unless important customer benefits flow from that transaction. Any such transaction would be subject to the approval of Consumers' Board of Directors and obtaining satisfactory rate making and accounting treatment from the MPSC and the FERC with respect to the definitive agreements, including any necessary approval by FERC of the transfer of the 1,240 MW of contract capacity and associated energy. In an order issued October 12, 1998, the MPSC delayed its consideration of the auction process until the definitive agreements with the winning bidder(s) are presented for review, but stated that Consumers' approach offers a legitimate way to utilize independent market forces to determine the above-market or stranded portion of Consumers' obligations under the PPA with the MCV Partnership. Consumers anticipates that such definitive agreements, if any, will be negotiated by early February 1999 and appropriate filings will be made with MPSC for consideration during the first quarter of 1999. OTHER ELECTRIC UNCERTAINTIES The Midland Cogeneration Venture: The MCV Partnership, which leases and operates the MCV Facility, contracted to sell electricity to Consumers for a 35-year period beginning in 1990 and to supply electricity and steam to Dow. Consumers, through two wholly owned subsidiaries, holds the following assets related to the MCV Partnership and MCV Facility: 1) CMS Midland owns a 49 percent general partnership interest in the MCV Partnership; and 2) CMS Holdings holds, through FMLP, a 35 percent lessor interest in the MCV Facility. Summarized Statements of Income for CMS Midland and CMS Holdings- In Millions Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30 1998 1997 1998 1997 1998 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Pretax operating income $13 $18 $36 $36 $46 $45 Income taxes and other 4 6 11 11 14 13 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Net income $ 9 $12 $25 $25 $32 $32 ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership- After September 2007, pursuant to the terms of the PPA and related undertakings, Consumers will only be required to pay the MCV Partnership the capacity charge and energy charge amounts authorized for recovery from electric customers by the MPSC. Currently, Consumers' annual obligation to purchase capacity from the MCV Partnership is 1,240 MW through the termination of the PPA in 2025. The PPA provides that Consumers is to pay the MCV Partnership a levelized average capacity charge of 3.77 cents per kWh, a fixed energy charge, and a variable energy charge based primarily on Consumers' average cost of coal consumed. The MPSC has, since January 1, 1993, permitted Consumers to recover capacity charges averaging 3.62 cents per kWh for 915 MW, plus a substantial portion of the fixed and variable energy charges. Beginning January 1, 1996, the MPSC has also permitted Consumers to recover capacity charges for the remaining 325 MW of MCV Facility contract capacity. The order approving such recovery indicated that the recoverable capacity charge for the 325 MW would gradually increase from an initial average charge of 2.86 cents per kWh to an average charge of 3.62 cents per kWh by 2004, which latter amount would be collected thereafter. Because the MPSC suspended the PSCR process as part of the electric industry restructuring order (see "Electric Restructuring" in this Note), Consumers expects to recover the future increases approved for the 325 MW capacity through an adjustment to the frozen PSCR level; this adjustment is currently under consideration by the MPSC. Consumers recognized a loss in 1992 for the present value of the estimated future underrecoveries of power costs under the PPA. At September 30, 1998 and December 31,1997, the after-tax present value of the PPA liability totaled $118 million and $117 million, respectively. The increase in the liability since December 31, 1997 reflects an additional $37 million accrual ($24 million after-tax) for higher than anticipated MCV Facility availability levels experienced in prior periods and an after-tax accretion expense of $8 million, partially offset by after-tax cash underrecoveries of $31 million. The undiscounted after-tax amount associated with the liability totaled $170 million at September 30, 1998. The after-tax cash underrecoveries are currently based on the assumption that the MCV Facility will be available to generate electricity 91.5 percent of the time over its expected life. For the first nine months of 1998 the MCV Facility was available 99.3 percent of the time, resulting in $14 million over anticipated after-tax cash underrecoveries. Consumers believes it will continue to experience after-tax cash underrecoveries associated with the PPA in amounts comparable to those shown below. In Millions 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Estimated cash underrecoveries, net of tax $37 $22 $21 $20 $19 Consumers bases the above estimated underrecoveries, in part, on an estimate of the future availability of the MCV Facility. If the MCV Facility operates at levels above management's estimate over the remainder of the PPA, Consumers will need to recognize losses for future underrecoveries larger than amounts previously recorded. Therefore, Consumers would experience larger amounts of cash underrecoveries than originally anticipated. Management will continue to evaluate the adequacy of the accrued liability considering actual MCV Facility operations. In February 1998, the MCV Partnership filed a claim of appeal from the January 1998 and February 1998 MPSC orders in the electric utility industry restructuring. At the same time, the MCV Partnership filed suit in the U.S. District Court seeking a declaration that the MPSC's failure to provide Consumers and the MCV Partnership a certain source of recovery of capacity payments after 2007 deprived the MCV Partnership of its rights under the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. The MCV Partnership is seeking to prohibit the MPSC from implementing portions of the order. PSCR Matters Related to Power Purchases from the MCV Partnership- As part of a 1995 decision in the 1993 PSCR reconciliation case, the MPSC disallowed a portion of the costs related to purchases from the MCV Partnership and instead assumed recovery of those costs from wholesale customers. Consumers believed this was contrary to the terms of an earlier 1993 settlement order and appealed. The MCV Partnership and ABATE also filed separate appeals of this order. In November 1996, the Court of Appeals affirmed the MPSC's 1995 decision. The MCV Partnership filed an application for leave to appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court which was denied in January 1998. This matter is now closed. Nuclear Matters: Consumers filed updated decommissioning information with the MPSC in 1995 that estimated decommissioning costs for Big Rock and Palisades. In April 1996, the MPSC issued an order in Consumers' nuclear decommissioning case, which fully supported Consumers' request and did not change the overall surcharge revenues collected from retail customers. The MPSC ordered Consumers to file a report on the adequacy of the surcharge revenues with the MPSC at three-year intervals beginning in 1998. On March 31, 1998, Consumers filed with the MPSC a new decommissioning cost estimate for Big Rock and Palisades of $294 million and $518 million (in 1997 dollars) respectively. The estimated decommissioning costs decreased from previous estimates primarily due to a decrease in offsite burial costs. Consumers recommended a reallocation of its existing surcharge between the two plants on January 1, 1999 to provide additional funds to decommission Big Rock. Consumers filed a revision to its Post Shutdown Activities Report (formerly decommissioning report) with the NRC to reflect the shutdown of Big Rock. Big Rock is being decommissioned. It was closed permanently on August 29, 1997 because management determined that it would be uneconomical to operate in an increasingly competitive environment. Consumers had originally scheduled the plant to close May 31, 2000, at the end of the plant's operating license. Plant decommissioning began in September 1997 and may take five to ten years to return the site to its original condition. In January 1997, the NRC issued its Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance report for Palisades. The report rated all areas as good, unchanged from the previous assessment. The NRC suspended the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance process for all licensees. Palisades was to have been reevaluated in September 1998. Palisades' temporary on-site storage pool for spent nuclear fuel is at capacity. Consequently, Consumers is using NRC-approved steel and concrete vaults, commonly known as "dry casks", for temporary on-site storage. As of September 30, 1998 Consumers had loaded 13 dry storage casks with spent nuclear fuel at Palisades. Consumers plans to load five additional casks at Palisades in 1999 pending approval by the NRC. In June 1997, the NRC approved Consumers' process for unloading spent fuel from a cask at Palisades previously discovered to have minor weld flaws. Consumers intends to transfer the spent fuel to a new transportable cask when one is available. A planned outage for refueling and maintenance at Palisades was completed June 7, 1998. Consumers replaced 60 nuclear fuel assemblies in the plant's reactor during the outage. The NRC requires Consumers to make certain calculations and report to it on the continuing ability of the Palisades reactor vessel to withstand postulated pressurized thermal shock events during its remaining license life, considering the embrittlement of reactor vessel materials over time due to operation in a radioactive environment. Based on continuing analysis of data in December 1996, Consumers received an interim Safety Evaluation Report from the NRC indicating that the reactor vessel can be safely operated through 2003 before reaching the NRC's screening criteria for reactor embrittlement. Consumers believes that with fuel management designed to minimize embrittlement, it can operate Palisades to the end of its license life in the year 2007 without annealing the reactor vessel. Nevertheless, Consumers will continue to monitor the matter. Capital Expenditures: Consumers estimates electric capital expenditures, including new lease commitments, of $341 million for 1998, $380 million for 1999, and $385 million for 2000. For further information, see the Capital Expenditures Outlook section in the MD&A. GAS CONTINGENCIES Gas Environmental Matters: Under the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Consumers expects that it will ultimately incur investigation and remedial action costs at a number of sites, including some 23 sites that formerly housed manufactured gas plant facilities, even those in which it has a partial or no current ownership interest. In 1998 Consumers plans to study indoor air issues at residences on some sites and ground water impacts or surface soil impacts at other sites. On sites where Consumers has received site-wide study plan approvals, it will continue to implement these plans. It will also work toward closure of environmental issues at sites as studies are completed. Data available to Consumers and its continued internal review have resulted in an estimate for all costs related to investigation and remedial action for all 23 sites of between $48 million and $98 million, of which Consumers accrued a liability for $48 million. These estimates are based on undiscounted 1998 costs. As of September 30,1998, Consumers has a remaining accrued liability of $46 million and a regulatory asset for approximately the same amount. Any significant change in assumptions, such as remediation techniques, nature and extent of contamination, and legal and regulatory requirements, could affect the estimate of remedial action costs for the sites. According to an MPSC rate order issued in 1996, Consumers will defer and amortize, over a period of ten years, environmental clean-up costs above the amount currently being recovered in rates. Rate recognition of amortization expense will not begin until after a prudence review in a general rate case. The order authorizes current recovery of $1 million annually. Consumers has initiated a lawsuit against certain insurance companies regarding coverage for some or all of the costs that it may incur for these sites. GAS RATE MATTERS Gas Restructuring: In December 1997, the MPSC approved Consumers' application to implement a statewide experimental gas transportation pilot program. Consumers' expanded experimental program will extend over a three-year period, eventually allowing 300,000 residential, commercial and industrial retail gas sales customers to choose their gas supplier. The program is voluntary for natural gas customers. Participating customers are being selected on a first-come, first-served basis, up to a limit of 100,000 customers beginning April 1, 1998. As of October 23, 1998, more than 80,000 customers chose alternative gas suppliers, representing approximately 24 bcf of gas load. Of these alternative gas suppliers, one was a CMS Energy affiliate. Up to 100,000 more customers may be added beginning April 1 of each of the next two years. Customers choosing to remain as sales customers of Consumers will not see a rate change in their natural gas rates. The order allowing the implementation of this program: 1) suspends Consumers' gas cost recovery clause, effective April 1, 1998 for a three-year period, establishing a gas commodity cost at a fixed rate of $2.84 per mcf; 2) establishes an earnings sharing mechanism that will provide for refunds to customers if Consumers' earnings during the three- year term of the program exceed certain pre-determined levels; and 3) establishes a gas transportation code of conduct that addresses concerns about the relationship between Consumers and marketers, including its affiliated marketers. This experimental program will allow competing gas suppliers, including marketers and brokers, to market natural gas to a large number of retail customers in direct competition with Consumers. In January 1998, the Attorney General, ABATE and other parties filed claims of appeal regarding the program with the Court of Appeals. At September 30, 1998, Consumers had an exposure to gas price increases if the cost was to exceed $2.84 per mcf for the following volumes: 5 percent of its 1998 requirements; 40 percent of its 1999 requirements; and 65 percent of its 2000 requirements. Additional forward coverage is currently under review. The forward contracts currently in place were consummated at prices less than $2.84 per mcf. The contracts are being used to manage Consumers' exposure to gas commodity cost increases in a three-year experimental gas program. For further information regarding the effects of the restructuring on accounting methods, see Gas Business Outlook - Application of SFAS 71 in the MD&A. OTHER GAS UNCERTAINTIES Capital Expenditures: Consumers estimates gas capital expenditures, including new lease commitments, of $117 million for 1998, $125 million for 1999, and $125 million for 2000. For further information, see the Capital Expenditures Outlook section in the MD&A. In addition to the matters disclosed in this note, Consumers and certain of its subsidiaries are parties to certain lawsuits and administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies arising from the ordinary course of business. These lawsuits and proceedings may involve personal injury, property damage, contractual matters, environmental issues, federal and state taxes, rates, licensing and other matters. Consumers has accrued estimated losses for certain contingencies discussed in this Note. Resolution of these contingencies is not expected to have a material adverse impact on Consumers' financial position, liquidity, or results of operations. 3: Short-Term Financings and Capitalization Authorization: At November 1, 1998, Consumers had remaining FERC authorization to: 1) issue or guarantee through June 2000, up to $900 million of short-term securities outstanding at any one time; 2) guarantee, through 1999, up to $25 million in loans made by others to residents of Michigan for making energy-related home improvements; and 3) issue through June 2000, up to $900 million long-term securities with maturities up to 30 years for refinancing purposes. Short-Term Financings: Consumers has an unsecured $425 million credit facility and unsecured lines of credit aggregating $130 million. These facilities are available to finance seasonal working capital requirements and to pay for capital expenditures between long-term financings. At September 30, 1998, a total of $302 million was outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 6.3 percent, compared with $389 million outstanding at September 30, 1997, at a weighted average interest rate of 6.2 percent. In January 1998, Consumers entered into interest rate swaps totaling $300 million. These swap arrangements have had an immaterial effect on interest expense. Consumers also has in place a $500 million trade receivables sale program. At September 30, 1998 and 1997, receivables sold under the program totaled $307 million and $250 million, respectively. Accounts receivable and accrued revenue in the Consolidated Balance Sheets have been reduced to reflect receivables sold. Capital Stock: The primary asset of Consumers Power Company Financing I is $103 million principal amount of 8.36 percent subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2015 from Consumers. The primary asset of Consumers Energy Company Financing II is $124 million principal amount of 8.20 percent subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2027 from Consumers. Long-Term Financings: The following table describes the new issuances of long-term financings which have occurred during 1998 through early November 1998. In Millions Month Interest Principal Issued Maturity Rate (%) Amount Use of Proceeds - ---------------- ------ -------- ------- --------- --------------------------- Senior Notes (a) February 2008 6.375 $ 250 Pay down First Mortgage Bonds and general corporate purposes Senior Notes (a) March 2018 6.875 225 Pay down First Mortgage Bonds and other long-term debt Senior Notes (a) May 2008 6.2 (b) 250 Pay down First Mortgage Bonds, long-term bank debt and general corporate purposes Long-Term Bank Debt May 2001-2003 6.05 (d) 225 Pay down long-term bank debt and general corporate purposes Senior Notes (a) June 2018 6.5 (c) 200 Pay down First Mortgage Bonds and general corporate purposes Senior Notes (e) October 2028 6.5 150 Pay down long-term bank debt and general corporate purposes ------- Total $1,300 <FN> (a) The Senior Notes are secured by Consumers First Mortgage Bonds issued contemporaneously in a similar amount. (b) The interest rate may be reset in 2003. (c) The interest rate will be reset in June 2005. (d) The interest rate is variable; weighted average interest rate upon original issuance was 6.05 percent. (e) The Senior Notes are secured by Consumers First Mortgage Bonds issued contemporaneously in a similar amount and are insured for full debt service. In October 1998, Consumers unwound an interest rate guarantee of $145 million associated with the issuance of $150 million senior notes. The effective rate of the debt is 7 percent taking into consideration the issuance costs, interest rate guarantee and insurance costs. The following table describes the retirements of long-term financings which have occurred during 1998 through early November 1998. In Millions Month Interest Principal Retired Maturity Rate (%) Amount ------- ------- ------- ---------- First Mortgage Bonds February 1998 8.75 $248 Long-Term Bank Debt February 1998 6.4 (a) 50 First Mortgage Bonds March 2001-2002 7.5 119 First Mortgage Bonds April 2023 7.375 36 First Mortgage Bonds May 1998 6.875 43 Long-Term Bank Debt May 1998-1999 6.3 (b) 350 First Mortgage Bonds July 1999 8.875 136 First Mortgage Bonds October 1998 6.625 45 Long-Term Bank Debt November 2001-2003 6.05 50 ----- Total $1,077 ===== (a) The interest rate was variable; weighted average interest rate at December 31, 1997 was 6.4 percent. (b) The interest rate was variable; weighted average interest rate at March 31, 1998 was 6.3 percent. Consumers had unsecured, variable rate long-term bank debt with an outstanding balance at September 30, 1998 and 1997 of $225 million and $400 million, respectively. At September 30, 1998 and 1997 the debt carried weighted average interest rates of 6.1 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively. In February 1998, Consumers retired $50 million of its $400 million unsecured long-term bank debt. In May 1998, Consumers refinanced the remaining $350 million unsecured long-term bank debt, in part with $225 million unsecured long-term bank debt. To cover the remaining $125 million of bank debt refinancing, in May 1998 Consumers issued $250 million of senior notes due 2008, at an interest rate of 6.2 percent. The $125 million balance of senior notes due 2008 was used for repurchasing $36 million of 7.375 percent First Mortgage Bonds and for general corporate purposes. Under the provisions of its Articles of Incorporation at September 30, 1998, Consumers had $295 million of unrestricted retained earnings available to pay common dividends. In October 1998, Consumers declared a $68 million common dividend to be paid in November 1998. 77 ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Report of Independent Public Accountants To Consumers Energy Company: We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY (a Michigan corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation) and subsidiaries as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, the related consolidated statements of income and common stockholder's equity for the three-month, nine-month, and twelve-month periods then ended, and the related consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month and twelve-month periods then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of long-term debt and preferred stock of Consumers Energy Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997, and the related consolidated statements of income, common stockholder's equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and, in our report dated January 26, 1998, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1997, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived. Arthur Andersen LLP Detroit, Michigan, November 10, 1998. 78 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk CMS Energy Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk is contained in PART I: CMS Energy Corporation Management's Discussion and Analysis which is incorporated by reference herein. PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings The discussion below is limited to an update of developments that have occurred in various judicial and administrative proceedings, many of which are more fully described in CMS Energy's and Consumers' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and in their Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, and June 30, 1998. Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding various pending administrative and judicial proceedings involving rate, operating and environmental matters. Consumers Stray Voltage Litigation For a discussion of Consumers' stray voltage litigation see Note 2, subsection "Stray Voltage" of the Condensed Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I of this Report, incorporated by reference herein. CMS Energy and Consumers Antitrust Litigation For a discussion of CMS Energy's and Consumers' antitrust litigation see Note 2, subsection "Anti-Trust" of the Condensed Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I of this Report, incorporated by reference herein. CMS Energy Independent Power Production Project Litigation In August 1995, William R. Williams and two of his corporations, Altresco Philippines, Inc. and WRW Corporation (formerly Altresco International, Inc.), filed a lawsuit against CMS Generation in connection with a project to be developed in the Philippines by Luzon Power Associates, Inc. in which CMS Generation owned a 50 percent interest. The plaintiffs' claims primarily relate to a confidentiality agreement between the parties and CMS Generation's alleged violation of a restrictive covenant in the confidentiality agreement. The plaintiffs claimed direct damages of approximately $85 million and indirect damages in a like amount from loss of future business, plus punitive damages, interest, and attorney's fees. Arbitration was completed in June 1998 and a decision by the International Chamber of Commerce ("ICC"), International Court of Arbitration was rendered in September 1998. The ICC ruled that the plaintiffs are entitled to a sum of $3 million in direct damages together with interest thereon at 7 percent per annum, plus a total of $3.7 million in attorneys fees and costs. Related litigation in Denver Federal District Court remains pending, with a trial scheduled for April 1999. ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K (a) List of Exhibits (4)(a) - Consumers: Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 29, 1998, between Consumers and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (4)(b) - Consumers: Seventy-fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 29, 1998, between Consumers and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (12) - CMS Energy: Statements regarding computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (15)(a) - Consumers: Letter of Independent Public Accountant (15)(b) - CMS Energy: Letter of Independent Public Accountant (27)(a) - CMS Energy: Financial Data Schedule (27)(b) - Consumers: Financial Data Schedule (99) - CMS Energy: Consumers Gas Group Financials (b) Reports on Form 8-K A Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 2, 1998 was filed by each of CMS Energy and Consumers, and Current Reports on Form 8-K dated June 23, July 30, October 2, and November 3, 1998 were filed by CMS Energy, all covering matters pursuant to "Item 5. Other Events." 80 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. The signature for each undersigned company shall be deemed to relate only to matters having reference to such company or its subsidiary. CMS ENERGY CORPORATION (Registrant) Dated: November 12, 1998 By_____________________ Alan M. Wright Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY (Registrant) Dated: November 12, 1998 By_____________________ Alan M. Wright Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 CMS ENERGY CORPORATION AND CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY FORM 10-Q EXHIBITS FOR QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Numbers Description (4)(a) Consumers: Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 29, 1998, between Consumers and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (4)(b) Consumers: Seventy-fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 29, 1998, between Consumers and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (12) CMS Energy: Statements regarding computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (15)(a) Consumers: Letter of Independent Public Accountant (15)(b) CMS Energy: Letter of Independent Public Accountant (27)(a) CMS Energy: Financial Data Schedule (27)(b) Consumers: Financial Data Schedule (99) CMS Energy: Consumers Gas Group Financials