United States
Securities And Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
x | Annual Report Pursuant To Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009
or
¨ | Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 1-14514
CONSOLIDATED EDISON, INC.
Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter
New York | 13-3965100 | |
(State of incorporation) | (I.R.S. Employer ID. Number) |
4 Irving Place,
New York, New York 10003
(principal office address)
(212) 460-4600
(telephone number)
Commission File Number 1-1217
CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.
Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter
New York | 13-5009340 | |
(State of incorporation) | (I.R.S. Employer ID. Number) |
4 Irving Place,
New York, New York 10003
(principal office address)
(212) 460-4600
(telephone number)
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc., | ||
Common Shares ($.10 par value) | New York Stock Exchange | |
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., | ||
$5 Cumulative Preferred Stock, without par value | New York Stock Exchange | |
Cumulative Preferred Stock, 4.65% Series C ($100 par value) | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. | ||
Cumulative Preferred Stock, 4.65% Series D ($100 par value) | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Con Edison, Inc. (Con Edison) | Yes x | No ¨ | ||
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (CECONY) | Yes x | No ¨ |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Con Edison | Yes ¨ | No x | ||
CECONY | Yes ¨ | No x |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Con Edison | Yes x | No ¨ | ||
CECONY | Yes x | No ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Con Edison | Yes x | No ¨ | ||
CECONY | Yes x | No ¨ |
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Con Edison | ||||||
Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ | |||
CECONY | ||||||
Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer x | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Con Edison | Yes ¨ | No x | ||
CECONY | Yes ¨ | No x |
The aggregate market value of the common equity of Con Edison held by non-affiliates of Con Edison, as of June 30, 2009, was approximately $10.3 billion.
As of January 31, 2010, Con Edison had outstanding 281,351,375 Common Shares ($.10 par value).
All of the outstanding common equity of CECONY is held by Con Edison.
Documents Incorporated By Reference
Portions of Con Edisons definitive proxy statement and CECONYs definitive information statement, for their respective Annual Meetings of Stockholders to be held on May 17, 2010, to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A and Regulation 14C, respectively, not later than 120 days after December 31, 2009, are incorporated in Part III of this report.
Filing Format
This Annual Report on Form 10-K is a combined report being filed separately by two different registrants: Consolidated Edison, Inc. (Con Edison) and Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (CECONY). CECONY is a subsidiary of Con Edison and, as such, the information in this report about CECONY also applies to Con Edison. As used in this report, the term the Companies refers to Con Edison and CECONY. However, CECONY makes no representation as to the information contained in this report relating to Con Edison or the subsidiaries of Con Edison other than itself.
Glossary of Terms |
The following is a glossary of frequently used abbreviations or acronyms that are used in the Companies SEC reports:
Con Edison Companies | ||
Con Edison | Consolidated Edison, Inc. | |
Con Edison Development | Consolidated Edison Development, Inc. | |
Con Edison Energy | Consolidated Edison Energy, Inc. | |
CECONY | Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. | |
Con Edison Solutions | Consolidated Edison Solutions, Inc. | |
O&R | Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. | |
Pike | Pike County Light & Power Company | |
RECO | Rockland Electric Company | |
The Companies | Con Edison and CECONY | |
The Utilities | CECONY and O&R | |
Regulatory Agencies, Government Agencies, and Quasi-governmental Not-for-Profits | ||
EPA | U. S. Environmental Protection Agency | |
FERC | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | |
IRS | Internal Revenue Service | |
ISO-NE | ISO New England Inc. | |
NJBPU | New Jersey Board of Public Utilities | |
NJDEP | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | |
NYAG | New York State Attorney General | |
NYSDEC | New York State Department of Environmental Conservation | |
NYISO | New York Independent System Operator | |
NYPA | New York Power Authority | |
NYSPSC | New York State Public Service Commission | |
NYSERDA | New York State Energy Research and Development Authority | |
NYSRC | New York State Reliability Council, LLC | |
PJM | PJM Interconnection LLC | |
PAPUC | Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission | |
SEC | U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission | |
Accounting | ||
ABO | Accumulated Benefit Obligation | |
FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board | |
LILO | Lease In/Lease Out | |
OCI | Other Comprehensive Income | |
SFAS | Statement of Financial Accounting Standards | |
SSCM | Simplified service cost method | |
VIE | Variable interest entity | |
Environmental | ||
CO2 | Carbon dioxide | |
GHG | Greenhouse gases | |
MGP Sites | Manufactured gas plant sites | |
PCBs | Polychlorinated biphenyls | |
PRP | Potentially responsible party | |
SO2 | Sulfur dioxide | |
Superfund | Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and similar state statutes |
3 |
Units of Measure | ||
dths | Dekatherms | |
kV | Kilovolts | |
kWh | Kilowatt-hour | |
mdths | Thousand dekatherms | |
MMlbs | Million pounds | |
MVA | Megavolt amperes | |
MW | Megawatts or thousand kilowatts | |
MWH | Megawatt hour | |
Other | ||
AFDC | Allowance for funds used during construction | |
COSO | Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission | |
EMF | Electric and magnetic fields | |
ERRP | East River Repowering Project | |
Fitch | Fitch Ratings | |
LTIP | Long Term Incentive Plan | |
Moodys | Moodys Investors Service | |
S&P | Standard & Poors Rating Services | |
VaR | Value-at-Risk |
4 |
PAGE | ||||
Introduction | 6 | |||
8 | ||||
8 | ||||
Part I | ||||
Item 1: | 11 | |||
Item 1A: | 35 | |||
Item 1B: | 38 | |||
Item 2: | 38 | |||
Item 3: | 38 | |||
Item 4: | 39 | |||
40 | ||||
Part II | ||||
Item 5: | 42 | |||
Item 6: | 44 | |||
Item 7: | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
45 | ||
Item 7A: | 73 | |||
Item 8: | 74 | |||
Item 9: | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
154 | ||
Item 9A: | 154 | |||
Item 9A(T): | 154 | |||
Item 9B: | 154 | |||
Part III | ||||
Item 10: | 155 | |||
Item 11: | 155 | |||
Item 12: | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
155 | ||
Item 13: | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
155 | ||
Item 14: | 155 | |||
Part IV | ||||
Item 15: | 156 | |||
Signatures | 161 |
5 |
This introduction contains certain information about Con Edison and its subsidiaries, including, CECONY, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this report.
Con Edisons mission is to provide energy services to our customers safely, reliably, efficiently, and in an environmentally sound manner; to provide a workplace that allows employees to realize their full potential; to provide a fair return to our investors; and to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.
Con Edison is a holding company that owns:
| CECONY, which delivers electricity, natural gas and steam to customers in New York City and Westchester County; |
| O&R (together with CECONY referred to as the Utilities), which delivers electricity and natural gas to customers primarily located in southeastern New York, and northern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania; and |
| Competitive energy businesses, which provide retail and wholesale electricity supply and energy services. |
Con Edison anticipates that the Utilities, which are subject to extensive regulation, will continue to provide substantially all of its earnings over the next few years. The Utilities have approved rate plans that are generally designed to cover each companys cost of service, including the capital and other costs of the companys energy delivery systems. The Utilities recover from their full-service customers (generally, on a current basis) the cost the Utilities pay for the energy and charge all of their customers the cost of delivery service.
Selected Financial Data
Con Edison
For the Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars, except per share amounts) | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 11,343 | $ | 11,962 | $ | 13,120 | $ | 13,583 | $ | 13,032 | |||||||
Energy costs |
6,450 | 6,611 | 7,225 | 7,584 | 6,242 | ||||||||||||
Operating income |
1,493 | 1,628 | 1,847 | 1,920 | 1,899 | ||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
756 | 751 | 936 | 933 | 879 | ||||||||||||
Total assets |
24,848 | 26,699 | 28,262 | 33,498 | * | 33,873 | * | ||||||||||
Long-term debt |
7,398 | 8,298 | 7,611 | 9,232 | 9,854 | ||||||||||||
Shareholders equity |
7,523 | 8,217 | 9,289 | 9,911 | 10,462 | ||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share |
|||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 3.05 | $ | 2.97 | $ | 3.48 | $ | 3.37 | $ | 3.16 | |||||||
Diluted earnings per share |
|||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 3.04 | $ | 2.96 | $ | 3.46 | $ | 3.36 | $ | 3.14 | |||||||
Cash dividends per common share |
$ | 2.28 | $ | 2.30 | $ | 2.32 | $ | 2.34 | $ | 2.36 | |||||||
Book value per share |
$ | 29.80 | $ | 31.11 | $ | 33.39 | $ | 35.43 | $ | 36.86 | |||||||
Average common shares outstanding (millions) |
244 | 249 | 266 | 273 | 275 | ||||||||||||
Stock price low |
$ | 41.50 | $ | 41.17 | $ | 43.10 | $ | 34.11 | $ | 32.56 | |||||||
Stock price high |
$ | 49.29 | $ | 49.28 | $ | 52.90 | $ | 49.30 | $ | 46.35 |
* | Reflects a $1,130 million decrease in 2009 and a $3,519 million increase in 2008 in regulatory assets for unrecognized pension and other retirement costs. See Notes E and F to the financial statements in Item 8. |
6 |
CECONY
For the Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars) | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 9,227 | $ | 9,288 | $ | 9,885 | $ | 10,424 | $ | 10,036 | |||||||
Energy costs |
4,813 | 4,479 | 4,580 | 4,844 | 3,904 | ||||||||||||
Operating income |
1,370 | 1,465 | 1,669 | 1,667 | 1,716 | ||||||||||||
Net income for common stock |
694 | 686 | 844 | 783 | 781 | ||||||||||||
Total assets |
21,144 | 22,816 | 24,504 | 30,415 | * | 30,461 | * | ||||||||||
Long-term debt |
6,055 | 6,925 | 7,172 | 8,494 | 9,038 | ||||||||||||
Shareholders equity |
6,650 | 7,345 | 8,299 | 9,204 | 9,560 |
* | Reflects a $1,076 million decrease in 2009 and a $3,392 million increase in 2008 in regulatory assets for unrecognized pension and other retirement costs. See Notes E and F to the financial statements in Item 8. |
Significant 2009 Developments
| CECONY delivered 56,667 millions of kWhrs of electricity (2.8% decrease from prior year), 124,890 thousands of dth of gas (1.2% increase from prior year) and 23,017 millions of pounds of steam to its customers (4.0% decrease from prior year). The companys electric and gas rate plans include revenue decoupling mechanisms pursuant to which delivery revenues are not generally affected by changes in delivery volumes from levels assumed in the rate plans. See Results of Operations in Item 7. |
| CECONY invested $2,100 million to upgrade and reinforce its energy delivery systems. O&R invested $132 million in its delivery systems. See Capital Requirements and Resources in Item 1. |
| CECONYs electric, gas and steam rates increased (on an annual basis) $523 million (April 2009), $67.5 million (October 2009) and $43.7 million (October 2009), respectively. O&Rs electric and gas rates increased (on an annual basis) $15.6 million and $9 million, respectively (July and November 2009). See Note B to the financial statements in Item 8. |
| CECONY entered into a Joint Proposal, subject to New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) approval, which, among others things, provides for electric base rate increases (on an annual basis) of $420 million (April 2010), $420 million (April 2011) and $287 million (April 2012), with an additional $133 million to be collected through a surcharge in the rate year ending March 2013. See Note B to the financial statements in Item 8. |
| Con Edison issued $213 million of common stock, in addition to stock issued under its dividend reinvestment and employee stock plans. CECONY issued $1,350 million of debentures, including $180 million used to refund debentures in advance of maturity. O&R issued $120 million of debentures, including $45 million used to refund debentures in advance of maturity. See Liquidity and Capital Resources Cash Flows from Financing Activities in Item 7. |
| CECONY and the NYSPSC staff entered into a Joint Proposal, which is subject to NYSPSC approval, relating to the NYSPSCs review of the companys 2005-2008 capital expenditures as to which the company established a $24 million regulatory liability for a refund and recognized a $14 million (after-tax) charge in its 2009 consolidated financial statements. See Rate Agreements CECONY Electric in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8. |
| The United States Court of Federal Claims issued a decision, which may be appealed, in favor of Con Edison with respect to the companys 1997 lease In/lease out transaction. See Note J to the financial statements in Item 8. |
7 |
Con Edison and CECONY file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy or information statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The public may read and copy any materials that the Companies file with the SEC at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580 Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers (including Con Edison and CECONY) that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.
This information the Companies file with the SEC is also available free of charge on or through the Investor Information section of their websites as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Con Edisons internet website is at: http://www.conedison.com; and CECONYs is at: http://www.coned.com.
The Investor Information section of Con Edisons website also includes the companys code of ethics (and amendments or waivers of the code for executive officers or directors), corporate governance guidelines and the charters of the following committees of the companys Board of Directors: Audit Committee, Management Development and Compensation Committee, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. This information is available in print to any shareholder who requests it. Requests should be directed to: Corporate Secretary, Consolidated Edison, Inc., 4 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003.
Information on the Companies websites is not incorporated herein.
This report includes forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe-harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectation and not facts. Words such as expects, estimates, anticipates, intends, believes, plans, will and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made, and accordingly speak only as of that time. Actual results or developments might differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements because of various factors including, but not limited to, those discussed under Risk Factors, in Item 1A.
8 |
Item 1: Business
Contents of Item 1 | Page | |||
Overview | 11 | |||
CECONY |
||||
Electric |
11 | |||
Gas |
11 | |||
Steam |
11 | |||
Orange and Rockland |
||||
Electric |
12 | |||
Gas |
12 | |||
Competitive Energy Businesses |
12 | |||
Utility Regulation | 12 | |||
State Utility Regulation |
12 | |||
Regulators |
12 | |||
Utility Industry Restructuring in New York |
12 | |||
Rate Plans |
12 | |||
Liability for Service Interruptions and Other Non-rate Conditions of Service |
14 | |||
Generic Proceedings |
14 | |||
Federal Utility Regulation |
15 | |||
New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) |
15 | |||
Competition | 15 | |||
The Utilities | 15 | |||
CECONY |
15 | |||
Electric Operations |
16 | |||
Electric Facilities |
16 | |||
Electric Sales and Deliveries |
16 | |||
Electric Peak Demand |
17 | |||
Electric Supply |
17 | |||
Gas Operations |
19 | |||
Gas Facilities |
19 | |||
Gas Sales and Deliveries |
19 | |||
Gas Peak Demand |
20 | |||
Gas Supply |
20 | |||
Steam Operations |
21 | |||
Steam Facilities |
21 | |||
Steam Sales and Deliveries |
21 | |||
Steam Peak Demand and Capacity |
21 | |||
Steam Supply |
22 | |||
O&R |
22 | |||
Electric Operations |
22 | |||
Electric Facilities |
22 | |||
Electric Sales and Deliveries |
22 | |||
Electric Peak Demand |
22 | |||
Electric Supply |
23 | |||
Gas Operations |
23 | |||
Gas Facilities |
23 | |||
Gas Sales and Deliveries |
24 | |||
Gas Peak Demand |
24 | |||
Gas Supply |
25 |
9 |
Contents of Item 1 | Page | |||
Competitive Energy Businesses | 25 | |||
Con Edison Solutions |
25 | |||
Con Edison Energy |
26 | |||
Con Edison Development |
26 | |||
Capital Requirements and Resources | 26 | |||
Environmental Matters | 30 | |||
Climate Change |
30 | |||
Environmental Sustainability |
30 | |||
CECONY |
31 | |||
O&R |
33 | |||
Other Federal, State and Local Environmental Provisions |
34 | |||
State Anti-Takeover Law | 35 | |||
Employees | 35 |
Incorporation By Reference
Information in any item of this report as to which reference is made in this Item 1 is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 1. The use of terms such as see or refer to shall be deemed to incorporate into Item 1 at the place such term is used the information to which such reference is made.
10 |
Part I |
Overview
Consolidated Edison, Inc. (Con Edison), incorporated in New York State in 1997, is a holding company which owns all of the outstanding common stock of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (CECONY), Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) and the competitive energy businesses. As used in this report, the term the Companies refers to Con Edison and CECONY.
CECONYs principal business operations are its regulated electric, gas and steam delivery businesses. O&Rs principal business operations are its regulated electric and gas delivery businesses. The competitive energy businesses sell electricity to wholesale and retail customers, provide certain energy-related services, and participate in energy infrastructure projects. Con Edison is evaluating additional opportunities to invest in electric and gas-related businesses.
Con Edisons strategy is to provide reliable energy services, maintain public and employee safety, promote energy efficiency, and develop cost-effective ways of performing its business. Con Edison seeks to be a responsible steward of the environment and enhance its relationships with customers, regulators and members of the communities it serves.
CECONY
Electric
CECONY provides electric service to approximately 3.3 million customers in all of New York City (except part of Queens) and most of Westchester County, an approximately 660 square mile service area with a population of more than nine million.
Gas
CECONY delivers gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx and parts of Queens and Westchester County.
Steam
CECONY operates the largest steam distribution system in the United States by producing and delivering more than 23,000 MMlbs of steam annually to approximately 1,760 customers in parts of Manhattan.
11 |
Orange and Rockland
Electric
O&R and its utility subsidiaries, Rockland Electric Company (RECO) and Pike County Power & Light Company (Pike) (together referred to herein as O&R) provide electric service to approximately 0.3 million customers in southeastern New York and in adjacent areas of northern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania, an approximately 1,350 square mile service area.
Gas
O&R delivers gas to over 0.1 million customers in southeastern New York and adjacent areas of north eastern Pennsylvania.
Competitive Energy Businesses
Con Edison pursues competitive energy opportunities through three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Con Edison Solutions, Con Edison Energy and Con Edison Development. These businesses include the sales and related hedging of electricity to wholesale and retail customers, sales of certain energy-related products and services, and participation in energy infrastructure projects. At December 31, 2009, Con Edisons equity investment in its competitive energy businesses was $279 million and their assets amounted to $751 million.
In 2008, Con Edison Development and its subsidiary, CED/SCS Newington, LLC, completed the sale of their ownership interests in electricity generating plants with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1,706 MW. See Note U to the financial statements in Item 8.
Utility Regulation
State Utility Regulation
Regulators
The Utilities are subject to regulation by the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC), which under the New York Public Service Law, is authorized to set the terms of service and the rates the Utilities charge for providing service in New York. It also approves the issuance of the Utilities securities. It exercises jurisdiction over the siting of the Utilities electric transmission lines and approves mergers or other business combinations involving New York utilities. O&Rs New Jersey subsidiary, RECO, is subject to similar regulation by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). O&Rs Pennsylvania subsidiary, Pike, is subject to similar regulation by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PAPUC). The NYSPSC, together with the NJBPU and the PAPUC, are referred to herein as state utility regulators.
Utility Industry Restructuring In New York
In the 1990s, the NYSPSC restructured the electric utility industry in the state. In accordance with NYSPSC orders, the Utilities sold all of their electric generating facilities other than those that also produce steam for CECONYs steam business (see Electric Operations Electric Facilities below) and provided all of their customers the choice to buy electricity or gas from the Utilities or other suppliers (see Electric Operations Electric Sales and Deliveries and Gas Operations Gas Sales and Deliveries below).
Following adoption of NYSPSC industry restructuring, there were several utility mergers as a result of which substantially all of the electric and gas delivery service in New York State is now provided by one of three investor-owned utility companies Con Edison, National Grid plc and Iberdrola, S.A. or one of two state authorities New York Power Authority (NYPA) or Long Island Power Authority.
Rate Plans
Investor-owned utilities in the United States provide service to customers according to the terms of tariffs approved by the appropriate state utility regulator. The tariffs include schedules of rates for service that are designed to permit the utilities to recover from their customers the approved anticipated costs, including capital costs, of providing service to customers as defined by the tariff. The tariffs implement rate plans, that result from rate orders, settlements, or joint proposals developed during rate proceedings. The utilities earnings depend on the rate levels authorized in the rate plans and their ability to operate their businesses in a manner consistent with their rate plans.
The utilities rate plans each cover specified periods, but rates determined pursuant to a plan generally continue in effect until a new rate plan is approved by
12 |
the state utility regulator. In New York, either the utility or the NYSPSC can commence a proceeding for
a new rate plan, and a new rate plan filed by the utility will take effect automatically in 11 months unless prior to such time the NYSPSC approves a rate plan.
In each rate proceeding, rates are determined by the state utility regulator following the submission by the utility of testimony and supporting information, which are subject to review by the staff of the regulator. Other parties with an interest in the proceeding can also review the utilities proposal and become involved in the rate case. The review process is overseen by an Administrative Law Judge. After an Administrative Law Judge issues a decision, that generally considers the interests of the utility, the regulatory staff, other parties, and legal requisites, the regulator will issue a rate order. The utility and the regulators staff and interested parties may enter into a settlement agreement or joint proposal prior to the completion of this administrative process, in which case the agreement would be subject to approval of the regulator.
For each rate plan, the revenues needed to provide the utility a return on invested capital is determined by multiplying the utilities forecasted rate base by the utilitys pre-tax weighted average cost of capital. In general, rate base is the amount of the utilitys net plant, deferred taxes and working capital. The NYSPSC uses a forecast of rate base for the rate year. The weighted average cost of capital is determined based on the forecasted amounts and costs of long-term debt and preferred equity, the forecasted amount of common equity and an allowed return on common equity determined by the state utility regulator. The NYSPSCs current methodology for determining the allowed return on common equity assigns a one-third weight to an estimate determined from a capital asset pricing model applied to a peer group of utility companies and a two-thirds weight to an estimate determined from a dividend discount model using stock prices and dividend forecasts for a peer group of utility companies.
Pursuant to the Utilities rate plans, there generally can be no change to the charges to customers during the respective terms of the rate plans other than for recovery of the costs incurred for energy supply and specified adjustments provided for in the rate plans.
Common provisions of the Utilities rate plans may include:
Recoverable energy cost clauses that allow the Utilities to recover on a current basis the costs for the energy they supply with no mark-up to their full-service customers.
Other cost reconciliations that reconcile pension and other post-retirement costs, environmental remediation costs, and certain other costs to amounts reflected in delivery rates for such costs. Utilities generally retain the right to petition for recovery or accounting deferral of extraordinary and material cost increases and provision is sometimes made for the utility to retain a share of costs reductions, for example, property tax refunds.
Revenue decoupling mechanisms under which actual energy delivery revenues will be compared, on a periodic basis, with the authorized delivery revenues. The difference is accrued with interest for refund to, or recovery from customers, as applicable.
Earnings sharing provisions require the Utilities to defer for customer benefit earnings over specified rates of return on common equity. There is no symmetric mechanism for earnings below specified rates of return on common equity.
Negative earnings adjustments for failure to meet certain performance standards relating to service reliability, safety and other matters.
13 |
The following table should be read in conjunction with, and is subject to, the more detailed discussion of the Utilities rate plans in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated by reference herein).
Effective Period | Rate Increases |
Rate Base | Amortization To Income of Net Regulatory (Assets) and Liabilities |
Authorized Return on Equity (ROE) |
ROE Sharing (Shareholders / | ||||||
(Millions of Dollars, except percentages) | |||||||||||
CECONY Electric(b) |
|||||||||||
April 2009 March 2010 |
$523 | $14,100 | $45 | 10.0 | % | No sharing by customers | |||||
CECONY Gas (c) |
|||||||||||
October 2007 - September 2010 |
Yr. 1 - $67.5 Yr. 2 - $67.5 Yr. 3 - $67.5 |
Yr. 1 - $2,300 Yr. 2 - $2,500 Yr. 3 - $2,700 |
$18 over 3 yrs. |
9.7 | % | 10.70% 50/50 | |||||
CECONY Steam(c) |
|||||||||||
October 2008 - September 2010 |
Yr. 1 - $43.7 Yr. 2 - $43.7 |
Yr. 1 - $1,334 Yr. 2 - $1,437 |
Yr. 1 - $10.2 Yr. 2 - $10.2 |
9.3 | % | 10.10% 50/50 | |||||
O&R Electric (NY) |
|||||||||||
July 2008 - June 2011 |
Yr. 1 - $15.6 Yr. 2 - $15.6 Yr. 3 - $5.7(d) |
Yr. 1 - $504 Yr. 2 - $567 Yr. 3 - $597 |
| 9.4 | % | 10.20% - 11.20% - 50/50 >11.20% - 25/75 | |||||
O&R Gas (NY) |
|||||||||||
November 2009 - October 2012 |
Yr. 1 - $9.0 Yr. 2 - $9.0 Yr. 3 - $4.6(e) |
Yr. 1 - $280 Yr. 2 - $296 Yr. 3 -$309 |
$2 over 3 yrs. |
10.4 | % | 11% - 12% - 50/50 12% - 14% - 35/65 >14% - 10/90 |
(a) | Subject to limitation for cost reconciliations described in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8. |
(b) | In November 2009, the company, the NYSPSC staff and other parties entered into a Joint Proposal, subject to NYSPSC approval, for a rate plan covering April 2010 through March 2013. |
(c) | In November 2009, CECONY filed for new gas and steam rate plans. |
(d) | The rate plan provides for a one-time surcharge of $9.9 million in Year 3. |
(e) | The rate plan provides for a one-time surcharge of $4.3 million in Year 3. |
Liability for Service Interruptions and Other Non-rate Conditions of Service
The tariff provisions under which CECONY provides electric service limits the companys liability to pay for damages resulting from service interruptions to circumstances in which the company was grossly negligent. In addition, the tariff provides for reimbursement to electric customers for spoilage losses resulting from service interruptions in certain circumstances. In general, the company is obligated to reimburse affected residential and commercial customers for food spoilage of up to $450 and $9,000, respectively, and reimburse affected residential customers for prescription medicine spoilage losses without limitation on amount per claim. The companys maximum aggregate liability for such reimbursement for an incident is $15 million. The company is not required to provide reimbursement to electric customers for outages attributable to generation or transmission system facilities or events beyond its control, such as storms, provided the company makes reasonable efforts to restore service as soon as practicable.
Generic Proceedings
The NYSPSC from time to time conducts generic proceedings to consider issues relating to all electric and gas utilities operating in New York State. Pending proceedings have included those relating to utilities exiting the service of selling electric energy and gas at retail (including an examination of utilities provider of last resort responsibility, the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and consumer protections) and addressing any rate disincentives to the promotion of energy efficiency and distributed generation. The Utilities are typically active
14 |
participants in such proceedings. The Utilities do not expect that the pending generic proceedings will have a material adverse effect on their financial positions, results of operation or liquidity.
Federal Utility Regulation
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), among other things, regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce and the transmission and sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce. In addition, the FERC has the authority to impose penalties, which could be substantial, including penalties for the violation of reliability rules. Certain activities of the Utilities and the competitive energy businesses are subject to the jurisdiction of FERC. The Utilities are subject to regulation by the FERC with respect to electric transmission rates and to regulation by the NYSPSC with respect to electric and gas retail commodity sales and local delivery service. As a matter of practice, the NYSPSC has approved delivery service rates that include both distribution and transmission costs.
New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
The NYISO is a not-for-profit organization that controls and operates most of the electric transmission facilities in New York State, including those of CECONY, as an integrated system and administers wholesale markets for electricity in New York State. In addition to operating the states high voltage grid, the NYISO administers the energy, ancillary services and capacity markets. The New York State Reliability Council promulgates reliability standards subject to FERC oversight. Pursuant to a requirement that is set annually by the NYSRC, the NYISO requires that entities supplying electricity to customers in New York State have generating capacity (either owned or contracted for) in an amount equal to the peak demand of their customers plus the applicable reserve margin. In addition, the NYISO has determined that entities that serve customers in New York City must have enough capacity that is electrically located in New York City to cover a substantial percentage (currently 80 percent) of the peak demands of their New York City customers. These requirements apply both to regulated utilities such as CECONY and O&R for the customers they supply under regulated tariffs and to companies such as Con Edison Solutions that supply customers on market terms. RECO, O&Rs New Jersey subsidiary, provides electric service in an area that has a different independent system operator PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM).
Competition
Competition from suppliers of oil and other sources of energy, including distributed generation (such as solar panels, fuel cells and micro-turbines), may provide alternatives for the Utilities delivery customers. See Rate Agreements in Note B and Recoverable Energy Costs in Note A to the financial statements in Item 8.
The Utilities do not consider it reasonably likely that another company would be authorized to provide utility delivery service of electricity, natural gas or steam where the company already provides service. Any such other company would need to obtain NYSPSC consent, satisfy applicable local requirements, install facilities to provide the service, meet applicable services standards, and charge customers comparable taxes and other fees and costs imposed on the service. A new delivery company would also be subject to extensive ongoing regulation by the NYSPSC.
The competitive energy businesses participate in competitive energy supply and services businesses that are subject to different risks than those found in the businesses of the Utilities.
The Utilities
CECONY
CECONY, incorporated in New York State in 1884, is a subsidiary of Con Edison and has no significant subsidiaries of its own. Its principal business segments are its regulated electric, gas and steam businesses.
For a discussion of the companys operating revenues and operating income for each segment, see Results of Operations in Item 7. For additional information about the segments, see Note N to the financial statements in Item 8.
15 |
Electric Operations
Electric Facilities
CECONYs capitalized costs for utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, for distribution facilities were $11,824 million and $10,998 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. For its transmission facilities, the costs for utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, were $1,953 million and $1,901 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and for its generation facilities, the costs for utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, were $392 million and $384 million, at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Distribution Facilities. CECONY owns 61 area distribution substations and various distribution facilities located throughout New York City and Westchester County. At December 31, 2009, the companys distribution system has a transformer capacity of 28,960 MVA, with 36,769 miles of overhead distribution lines and 95,627 miles of underground distribution lines. The underground distribution lines represent the single longest underground electric delivery system in the United States. To continue its commitment to upgrade and reinforce its energy delivery infrastructure so that it can continue to safely and reliably meet electric demand, the company added one new substation, Astor, in Manhattan in 2009. In 2010, it plans to add another substation, Newtown, in Queens.
Transmission Facilities. The companys transmission facilities are located in New York City and Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York State. At December 31, 2009, CECONY owns or jointly owns 438 miles of overhead circuits operating at 138, 230, 345 and 500 kV and 727 miles of underground circuits operating at 69, 138 and 345 kV. The companys 38 transmission substations and 61 area stations are supplied by circuits operated at 69 kV and above. In 2011, the company expects to complete a 9 1/2 mile transmission line connecting its Sprainbrook substation in Westchester County with the new Academy transmission substation being constructed in upper Manhattan.
CECONYs transmission facilities interconnect with those of National Grid, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, O&R, Iberdrola USA, Connecticut Light and Power Company, Long Island Power Authority, NYPA and Public Service Electric and Gas Company.
Generating Facilities. CECONYs electric generating facilities consist of plants located in Manhattan with an aggregate capacity of 706 MW. The company expects to have sufficient amounts of gas and fuel oil available in 2010 for use in these facilities. The largest and newest of the companys electric generating facilities is the East River Repowering Project. The facility commenced commercial operations in April 2005 and currently supplies electric capacity of 297 MW based on a summer rating.
Electric Sales and Deliveries
CECONY delivers electricity to its full service customers who purchase electricity from the company. The company also delivers electricity to its customers who purchase electricity from other suppliers through the companys retail access plan. In addition, the company delivers electricity to state and municipal customers of NYPA and economic development customers of municipal electric agencies.
16 |
The company charges all customers in its service area for the delivery of electricity. The company generally recovers, on a current basis, the cost of the electricity that it buys and then sells to its full-service customers. It does not make any margin or profit on the electricity it sells. Effective April 2008, CECONYs electric revenues became subject to a revenue decoupling mechanism. As a result, its electric delivery revenues are generally not affected by changes in delivery volumes from levels assumed when rates were approved. CECONYs electric sales and deliveries, excluding off-system sales, for the last five years were:
(millions of kWhs) | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||||||
CECONY full service customers |
29,344 | 26,101 | 25,314 | 24,640 | 23,483 | ||||||||||
Delivery service for retail access customers |
16,848 | 19,256 | 21,532 | 22,047 | 21,859 | ||||||||||
Delivery service to NYPA customers and others |
10,457 | 10,227 | 10,692 | 10,918 | 10,650 | ||||||||||
Delivery service for municipal agencies |
721 | 724 | 723 | 718 | 675 | ||||||||||
Total Deliveries in Franchise Area |
57,370 | 56,308 | 58,261 | 58,323 | 56,667 | ||||||||||
($ in millions) | |||||||||||||||
CECONY full service customers |
$ | 5,793 | $ | 5,108 | $ | 5,158 | $ | 5,569 | $ | 5,040 | |||||
Delivery service for retail access customers |
679 | 1,040 | 1,334 | 1,507 | 1,855 | ||||||||||
Delivery service to NYPA customers and others |
280 | 276 | 309 | 378 | 423 | ||||||||||
Delivery service for municipal agencies |
17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 21 | ||||||||||
Other operating revenues |
179 | 611 | 622 | 404 | 335 | ||||||||||
Total Deliveries in Franchise Area |
$ | 6,948 | $ | 7,052 | $ | 7,440 | $ | 7,878 | $ | 7,674 | |||||
Average Revenue per kWh Sold (Cents)(a) | |||||||||||||||
Residential |
$ | 21.1 | $ | 20.9 | $ | 21.6 | $ | 24.2 | $ | 23.6 | |||||
Commercial and Industrial |
$ | 18.6 | $ | 18.3 | $ | 19.2 | $ | 19.2 | $ | 19.6 |
(a) | Includes Municipal Agency Sales |
For further discussion of the companys electric operating revenues and its electric results, see Results of Operations in Item 7. For additional segment information, see Note N to the financial statements in Item 8.
Electric Peak Demand
The electric peak demand in CECONYs service area occurs during the summer air conditioning season. The 2009 service area peak demand, which occurred on August 21, 2009, was 12,242 MW. The 2009 peak demand included an estimated 5,562 MW for CECONYs full-service customers, 4,776 MW for customers participating in its electric retail access program and 1,904 MW for NYPAs customers and municipal electric agency customers. The NYISO did not invoke demand reduction programs on August 21, 2009, as it had on peak demand days in some previous years (most recently 2006). Design weather for the electric system is a standard to which the actual peak demand is adjusted for evaluation and planning purposes. Since the majority of demand reduction programs are invoked only in specific circumstances, design conditions do not include these programs potential impact. However, the CECONY forecasted peak demand at design conditions does include the impact of permanent demand reduction programs. The company estimates that, under design weather conditions, the 2010 service area peak demand will be 13,500 MW, including an estimated 5,950 MW for its full-service customers, 5,475 MW for its electric retail access customers and 2,075 MW for NYPAs customers and municipal electric agency customers. The company forecasts average annual growth of the peak electric demand in the companys service area over the next five years at design conditions to be approximately 0.3 percent per year. The company continues to monitor the potential impact on customer demand from the continuing difficult economic conditions.
Electric Supply
Most of the electricity sold by CECONY to its customers in 2009 was purchased under firm power contracts or through the wholesale electricity market administered by the NYISO. Con Edison expects that these resources will again be adequate to meet the
17 |
requirements of its customers in 2010. The company plans to meet its continuing obligation to supply electricity to its customers through a combination of electricity purchased under contracts, purchased through the NYISOs wholesale electricity market, or generated from its electricity generating facilities. For information about the companys contracts for approximately 3,469 MW of electric generating capacity, see Notes I and O to the financial statements in Item 8. To reduce the volatility of its customers electric energy costs, the company has contracts to purchase electric energy and enters into derivative transactions to hedge the costs of a portion of its expected purchases under these contracts and through the NYISOs wholesale electricity market.
CECONY owns generating stations in New York City associated primarily with its steam system. As of December 31, 2009, the generating stations had a combined electric capacity of approximately 706 MW, based on 2009 summer test ratings. For information about electric generating capacity owned by the company (706 MW), see Electric Operations Electric Facilities Generating Facilities, above.
In general, the Utilities recover their purchased power costs, including the cost of hedging purchase prices, pursuant to rate provisions approved by the state public utility regulatory authority having jurisdiction. See Financial and Commodity Market Risks Commodity Price Risk, in Item 7 and Recoverable Energy Costs in Note A to the financial statements in Item 8. From time to time, certain parties have petitioned the NYSPSC to review these provisions, the elimination of which could have a material adverse effect on the Companies financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
In a July 1998 order, the NYSPSC indicated that it agree(s) generally that CECONY need not plan on constructing new generation as the competitive market develops, but considers overly broad and did not adopt CECONYs request for a declaration that, solely with respect to providing generating capacity, it will no longer be required to engage in long-range planning to meet potential demand and, in particular, that it will no longer have the obligation to construct new generating facilities, regardless of the market price of capacity. CECONY monitors the adequacy of the electric capacity resources and related developments in its service area, and works with other parties on long-term resource adequacy issues within the framework of the NYISO. In addition, the NYISO has adopted reliability rules that include obligations on transmission owners (such as CECONY) to construct facilities that may be needed for system reliability if the market does not solve a reliability need identified by the NYISO.
In 2009, the Governor of New York announced a new goal of meeting 45 percent of the States electricity needs with energy efficiency or renewable resources by 2015. The goal is to be achieved by reducing electricity consumption by 15 percent, and having 30 percent of the electricity used in New York provided by renewable resources. Establishment of the renewable resources target began in September 2004, when the NYSPSC issued an order establishing a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) which provides that by 2013, 24 percent of the States energy needs would come from large renewable facilities (such as wind, hydro, and biomass) and smaller customer-sited renewable generation (limited to solar, fuel cells, and wind farm less than 300 kW in size), and 1 percent would come from green marketing efforts. The NYSPSC agreed with the Utilities that the responsibility for procuring the new renewable resources would rest with the NYSERDA, and not the Utilities. In implementing the RPS for large renewable resources, NYSERDA enters into long-term agreements with developers, and pays the developers renewable premiums based on the facilities energy output. For customer-sited resources, NYSERDA provides rebates when customers install eligible renewable technologies. The renewable premiums, rebates, and NYSERDAs administrative fee are financed through a volumetric charge imposed on the delivery customers of each of the states investor-owned utilities. Pursuant to the 2004 NYSPSC order, CECONY billed customers RPS surcharges of $32 million in 2009 and $28 million in 2008. These surcharges will increase as NYSERDA increases its renewables energy target. The NYSPSC issued an order in January 2010 formally increasing the RPS target to 30 percent by 2015 and requiring NYSPSC
18 |
staff to develop a program to address the geographic balance of the RPS, setting-aside up to $30 million per year to be spent in the downstate region (including in the Utilities service territories) until 2015 for this purpose. Large renewable resources are grid-connected and sell their energy output in the wholesale energy market administered by the NYISO. As a result of the Utilities participation in the NYISO wholesale markets, a portion of the Utilities NYISO energy purchases are sourced from renewable resources. The energy produced by customer-sited renewables offsets the energy which the Utilities would otherwise have procured, thereby reducing the overall level of non-renewable energy consumed. In 2008, the NYSPSC issued an order authorizing the Utilities to begin implementing energy efficiency programs. Costs of the programs will be recovered primarily through a separate non-bypassable charge.
Gas Operations
Gas Facilities
CECONYs capitalized costs for utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, for gas facilities, which are primarily distribution facilities, were $2,892 million and $2,665 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Natural gas is delivered by pipeline to CECONY at various points in its service territory and is distributed to customers by the company through an estimated 4,333 miles of mains and 385,223 service lines. The company owns a natural gas liquefaction facility and storage tank at its Astoria property in Queens, New York. The plant can store approximately 1,000 mdths of which a maximum of about 250 mdths can be withdrawn per day. The company has about 1,226 mdths of additional natural gas storage capacity at a field in upstate New York, owned and operated by Honeoye Storage Corporation, a corporation 28.8 percent owned by CECONY and 19.1 percent owned by Con Edison.
Gas Sales and Deliveries
The company generally recovers the cost of the gas that it buys and then sells to its firm sales customers. It does not make any margin or profit on the gas it sells. CECONYs gas revenues are subject to a weather normalization clause and, effective October 2007, a revenue decoupling mechanism. As a result, its gas delivery revenues are generally not affected by changes in delivery volumes from levels assumed when rates were approved.
19 |
CECONYs gas sales and deliveries for the last five years were:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||||||
Gas Delivered (Mdth) |
|||||||||||||||
Firm Sales |
|||||||||||||||
Full service |
84,975 | 71,858 | 73,734 | 68,943 | 67,994 | ||||||||||
Firm transportation |
19,088 | 23,688 | 39,017 | 43,245 | 48,671 | ||||||||||
Total Firm Sales and Transportation |
104,063 | 95,546 | 112,751 | 112,188 | 116,665 | ||||||||||
Interruptible Sales |
13,128 | 11,995 | 10,577 | 11,220 | 8,225 | ||||||||||
Total Gas Sold to Con Edison of New York Customers |
117,191 | 107,541 | 123,328 | 123,408 | 124,890 | ||||||||||
Transportation of customer-owned gas |
|||||||||||||||
NYPA |
22,305 | 41,057 | 42,085 | 44,694 | 37,764 | ||||||||||
Other (mainly generating plants) |
66,667 | 83,688 | 95,260 | 94,086 | 86,454 | ||||||||||
Off-System Sales |
128 | 691 | 2,325 | 154 | 1 | ||||||||||
Total Sales and Transportation |
206,291 | 232,977 | 262,998 | 262,342 | 249,109 | ||||||||||
Gas Delivered ($ in millions) |
|||||||||||||||
Firm Sales |
|||||||||||||||
Full service |
$ | 1,309 | $ | 1,252 | $ | 1,341 | $ | 1,332 | $ | 1,229 | |||||
Firm transportation |
69 | 105 | 168 | 202 | 266 | ||||||||||
Total Firm Sales and Transportation |
1,378 | 1,357 | 1,509 | 1,534 | 1,495 | ||||||||||
Interruptible Sales |
149 | 121 | 88 | 138 | 75 | ||||||||||
Total Gas Sold to Con Edison of New York Customers |
1,527 | 1,478 | 1,597 | 1,672 | 1,570 | ||||||||||
Transportation of customer-owned gas |
|||||||||||||||
NYPA |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||
Other (mainly generating plants) |
75 | 76 | 76 | 85 | 73 | ||||||||||
Off-System Sales |
2 | 5 | 17 | 1 | | ||||||||||
Other operating revenues (mainly regulatory amortizations) |
22 | 50 | 65 | 77 | 54 | ||||||||||
Total Sales and Transportation |
$ | 1,630 | $ | 1,613 | $ | 1,759 | $ | 1,839 | $ | 1,701 | |||||
Average Revenue per DTH Sold |
|||||||||||||||
Residential |
$ | 16.94 | $ | 19.24 | $ | 19.78 | $ | 21.15 | $ | 20.33 | |||||
General |
$ | 13.41 | $ | 15.07 | $ | 16.01 | $ | 16.77 | $ | 14.91 |
For further discussion of the companys gas operating revenues and its gas results, see Results of Operations in Item 7. For additional segment information, see Note N to the financial statements in Item 8.
Gas Peak Demand
The gas peak demand for firm service customers in CECONYs service area occurs during the winter heating season. The daily peak day demand during the winter 2009/2010 (through January 31, 2010) occurred on January 3, 2010 when the demand reached 872 mdths. The 2009/2010 winter demand included an estimated 502 mdths for CECONYs full-service customers and 370 mdths for customers participating in its gas retail access program. Design weather for the gas system is a standard to which the actual peak demand is adjusted for evaluation and planning purposes. The company estimates that under design weather conditions the 2010/2011 service area peak demand will be 1,146 mdths, including an estimated 661 mdths for its full-service customers and 485 mdths for its retail access customers. The company forecasts average annual growth of the peak gas demand over the next five years at design conditions to be approximately 1.0 percent in its service area. The forecasted peak demand at design conditions does not include gas used by interruptible gas customers or in generating stations (electricity and steam). The company continues to monitor the potential impact on customer demand from the continuing difficult economic conditions.
Gas Supply
CECONY and O&R have combined their gas requirements, and contracts to meet those requirements, into a single portfolio. The combined
20 |
portfolio is administered by, and related management services are provided by, CECONY (for itself and as agent for O&R) and costs are allocated between the Utilities in accordance with provisions approved by the NYSPSC. See Note S to the financial statements in Item 8.
Charges from suppliers for the firm purchase of gas, which are based on formulas or indexes or are subject to negotiation, are generally designed to approximate market prices. The gas supply contracts are for various terms extending to 2012. The Utilities have contracts with interstate pipeline companies for the purchase of firm transportation from upstream points where gas has been purchased to the Utilities distribution systems, and for upstream storage services. Charges under these transportation and storage contracts are approved by the FERC. Such contracts are for various terms extending to 2023. The Utilities are required to pay certain fixed charges under the supply, transportation and storage contracts whether or not the contracted capacity is actually used. These fixed charges amounted to approximately $277 million in 2009, including $272 million for CECONY. See Contractual Obligations below. In addition, the Utilities purchase gas on the spot market and contract for interruptible gas transportation. See Recoverable Energy Costs in Note A to the financial statements in Item 8.
Steam Operations
Steam Facilities
CECONYs capitalized costs for utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation for steam facilities were $1,555 million and $1,512 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
CECONY generates steam at one steam-electric generating station and five steam-only generating stations and distributes steam to its customers through approximately 105 miles of transmission, distribution, and service piping.
Steam Sales and Deliveries
CECONYs steam sales and deliveries for the last five years were:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||||||
Steam Sold (MMlbs) |
|||||||||||||||
General |
655 | 515 | 589 | 785 | 786 | ||||||||||
Apartment house |
7,748 | 6,774 | 7,519 | 6,614 | 5,962 | ||||||||||
Annual power |
18,474 | 15,961 | 17,696 | 16,577 | 16,269 | ||||||||||
Total Steam Delivered to CECONY Customers |
26,877 | 23,250 | 25,804 | 23,976 | 23,017 | ||||||||||
Steam Sold ($ in millions) |
|||||||||||||||
General |
$ | 22 | $ | 21 | $ | 23 | $ | 23 | $ | 28 | |||||
Apartment house |
173 | 174 | 188 | 186 | 165 | ||||||||||
Annual power |
417 | 405 | 443 | 468 | 446 | ||||||||||
Other operating revenues |
37 | 23 | 32 | 30 | 22 | ||||||||||
Total Steam Delivered to CECONY Customers |
$ | 649 | $ | 623 | $ | 686 | $ | 707 | $ | 661 | |||||
Average Revenue per Mlb Sold |
$ | 22.77 | $ | 25.81 | $ | 25.34 | $ | 28.24 | $ | 27.76 |
For further discussion of the companys steam operating revenues and its steam results, see Results of Operations in Item 7. For additional segment information, see Note N to the financial statements in Item 8.
Steam Peak Demand and Capacity
Demand for steam in CECONYs service area peaks during the winter heating season. The one-hour peak demand during the winter of 2009/2010 (through January 31, 2010) occurred on January 4, 2010 when the demand reached 8.0 MMlbs per hour. The companys estimate for the winter of 2010/2011 peak demand of its steam customers is 9.6 MMlbs per hour under design criteria, which assumes severe weather.
21 |
On December 31, 2009, the steam system had the capability of delivering approximately 13.2 MMlbs of steam per hour and CECONY estimates that the system will have the capability to deliver this capacity in the 2010/2011 winter.
Steam Supply
Fifty-two percent of the steam produced by CECONY in 2009 was supplied by the companys steam-only generating assets; 31 percent was produced by the companys steam-electric generating assets, where steam and electricity are primarily cogenerated; and 17 percent was purchased under an agreement with Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Partners L.P.
O&R
Electric Operations
Electric Facilities
O&Rs capitalized costs for utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, for distribution facilities were $618 million and $588 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. For its transmission facilities, the costs for utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, were $137 million and $136 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
O&R, RECO and Pike, own, in whole or in part, transmission and distribution facilities which include 554 circuit miles of transmission lines, 13 transmission substations, 63 distribution substations, 84,585 in-service line transformers, 3,764 pole miles of overhead distribution lines and 1,696 miles of underground distribution lines. O&Rs transmission system is part of the NYISO system except that portions of RECOs system are located within the transmission area controlled by the PJM.
Electric Sales and Deliveries
O&R generally recovers, on a current basis, the cost of the electricity that it buys and then sells to its full-service customers. It does not make any margin or profit on the electricity it sells. Effective July 2008, O&Rs New York electric revenues (which accounted for 68 percent of O&Rs electric revenues in 2009) became subject to a revenue decoupling mechanism. As a result, O&Rs New York electric delivery revenues are generally not affected by charges in delivery volumes from levels assumed when rates were approved. O&Rs electric sales in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are not subject to a decoupling mechanism. O&Rs electric sales and deliveries, excluding off-system sales for the last five years were:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
(millions of kWhs) | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||||||
Total deliveries to O&R full service customers |
4,295 | 4,010 | 4,224 | 4,093 | 3,673 | |||||||||||
Delivery service for retail access customers |
1,836 | 1,766 | 1,688 | 1,814 | 1,901 | |||||||||||
Total Deliveries In Franchise Area |
6,131 | 5,776 | 5,912 | 5,907 | 5,574 | |||||||||||
($ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Total deliveries to O&R full service customers |
$ | 516 | $ | 503 | $ | 596 | $ | 650 | $ | 551 | ||||||
Delivery service for retail access customers |
81 | 76 | 73 | 80 | 95 | |||||||||||
Other operating revenues |
(1 | ) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||
Total Deliveries In Franchise Area |
$ | 596 | $ | 582 | $ | 671 | $ | 733 | $ | 648 | ||||||
Average Revenue per kWh Sold (Cents) | ||||||||||||||||
Residential |
$ | 13.34 | $ | 13.98 | $ | 15.56 | $ | 17.44 | $ | 17.19 | ||||||
Commercial and Industrial |
$ | 10.90 | $ | 11.34 | $ | 12.90 | $ | 14.58 | $ | 13.33 |
For further discussion of the companys electric operating revenues and its electric results, see Results of Operations in Item 7. For additional segment information, see Note N to the financial statements in Item 8.
Electric Peak Demand
The electric peak demand in O&Rs service area occurs during the summer air conditioning season. The 2009 service area peak demand, which occurred on August 17, 2009, was 1,375 MW. The 2009 peak demand included an estimated 999 MW for O&Rs
22 |
full-service customers and 376 MW for customers participating in its electric retail access program. The NYISO did not invoke demand reduction programs. Design weather for the electric system is a standard to which the actual peak demand is adjusted for evaluation and planning purposes. Since the majority of demand reduction programs are invoked only in specific circumstances, design conditions do not include these programs potential impact. However, the O&R forecasted peak demand at design conditions does include the impact of permanent demand reduction programs. The company estimates that, under design weather conditions, the 2010 service area peak demand will be 1,595 MW, including an estimated 1,192 MW for its full-service customers and 403 MW for its electric retail access customers. The company forecasts average annual growth of the peak electric demand in the companys service area over the next five years at design conditions to be approximately 0.9 percent per year. The company continues to monitor the potential impact on customer demand from the continuing difficult economic conditions.
Electric Supply
The electricity O&R sold to its customers in 2009 was purchased under firm power contracts or through the wholesale electricity markets administered by the NYISO and PJM. The company expects that these resources will again be adequate to meet the requirements of its customers in 2010.
O&R does not own any electric generating capacity.
Gas Operations
Gas Facilities
O&Rs capitalized costs for utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation for gas facilities, which are primarily distribution facilities, were $334 million and $317 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. O&R and Pike own their gas distribution systems, which include 1,732 miles of mains. In addition, O&R owns a gas transmission system, which includes 77 miles of mains.
23 |
Gas Sales and Deliveries
O&R generally recovers the cost of the gas that it buys and then sells to its firm sales customers. It does not make any margin or profit on the gas it sells. O&Rs gas revenues are subject to a weather normalization clause. Effective November 2009, O&Rs New York gas revenues (which accounted for substantially all of O&Rs gas revenues in 2009) became subject to a revenue decoupling mechanism. As a result, its gas delivery revenues are generally not affected by changes in delivery volumes from levels assumed when rates were approved. O&Rs gas deliveries and sales for the last five years were:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||||||
Gas delivered (mDTH) |
|||||||||||||||
Firm Sales |
|||||||||||||||
Full service |
11,576 | 9,650 | 10,835 | 9,884 | 9,561 | ||||||||||
Firm transportation |
9,841 | 9,058 | 10,248 | 10,471 | 10,905 | ||||||||||
Total Firm Sales and Transportation |
21,417 | 18,708 | 21,083 | 20,355 | 20,466 | ||||||||||
Interruptible Sales |
2,978 | 2,600 | 2,652 | 2,567 | 2,390 | ||||||||||
Total Gas Sold To O&R Customers |
24,395 | 21,308 | 23,735 | 22,922 | 22,856 | ||||||||||
Transportation of customer-owned gas |
|||||||||||||||
Interruptible transportation |
3,480 | 3,256 | 3,331 | 2,842 | 2,112 | ||||||||||
Sales for resale |
1,072 | 939 | 1,044 | 1,007 | 953 | ||||||||||
Sales to electric generating stations |
1,434 | 3,036 | 4,552 | 2,327 | 1,346 | ||||||||||
Off-System Sales |
172 | 372 | 455 | 249 | 624 | ||||||||||
Total Sales and Transportation |
30,553 | 28,911 | 33,117 | 29,347 | 27,891 | ||||||||||
Gas delivered ($ in millions) |
|||||||||||||||
Firm Sales |
|||||||||||||||
Full service |
$ | 161 | $ | 166 | $ | 186 | $ | 172 | $ | 159 | |||||
Firm transportation |
32 | 32 | 39 | 45 | 51 | ||||||||||
Total Firm Sales and Transportation |
193 | 198 | 225 | 217 | 210 | ||||||||||
Interruptible Sales |
29 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 21 | ||||||||||
Total Gas Sold To O&R Customers |
222 | 226 | 250 | 244 | 231 | ||||||||||
Transportation of customer-owned gas |
|||||||||||||||
Sales to electric generating stations |
2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||
Other operating revenues |
4 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 9 | ||||||||||
Total Sales and Transportation |
$ | 228 | $ | 236 | $ | 265 | $ | 258 | $ | 242 | |||||
Average Revenue Per DTH Sold |
|||||||||||||||
Residential |
$ | 14.07 | $ | 17.38 | $ | 17.31 | $ | 17.64 | $ | 16.86 | |||||
General |
$ | 13.37 | $ | 16.44 | $ | 16.36 | $ | 16.55 | $ | 15.58 |
For further discussion of the companys gas operating revenues and its gas results, see Results of Operations in Item 7. For additional segment information, see Note N to the financial statements in Item 8.
Gas Peak Demand
The gas peak demand for firm service customers in O&Rs service area occurs during the winter heating season. The daily peak day demand during the winter 2009/2010 (through January 31, 2010) occurred on January 3, 2010 when the demand reached 169 mdths. The 2009/2010 winter demand included an estimated 81 mdths for O&Rs full-service customers and 88 mdths for customers participating in its gas retail access program. Design weather for the gas system is a standard to which the actual peak demand is adjusted for evaluation and planning purposes. The company estimates that under design weather conditions the 2010/2011 service area peak demand will be 216 mdths, including an estimated 101 mdths for its full-service customers and 115 mdths for its retail access customers. The company forecasts average annual growth of the peak gas demand over the next five years at design conditions to be approximately 0.6 percent in the companys service area. The forecasted peak demand at design conditions does not include gas used by interruptible gas customers or in generating stations. The company continues to monitor the potential
24 |
impact on customer demand from the continuing difficult economic conditions.
Gas Supply
O&R and CECONY have combined their gas requirements and purchase contracts to meet those requirements into a single portfolio. See CECONY Gas Operations Gas Supply above.
Competitive Energy Businesses
Con Edison pursues competitive energy opportunities through three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Con Edison Solutions, Con Edison Energy and Con Edison Development. These businesses include the sales and related hedging of electricity to wholesale and retail customers, sales of certain energy-related products and services, and participation in energy infrastructure projects. At December 31, 2009, Con Edisons equity investment in its competitive energy businesses was $279 million and their assets amounted to $751 million.
The competitive energy businesses are evaluating opportunities to invest in renewable generation and energy-related infrastructure projects.
Con Edison Solutions
Con Edison Solutions primarily sells electricity to industrial and large commercial customers in the northeastern United States. It also sells electricity to residential customers in the northeastern United States. Con Edison Solutions does not sell electricity to the Utilities. Con Edison Solutions sells electricity to customers who are provided delivery service by the Utilities. It also provides energy efficiency services, procurement and management services to companies and governmental entities throughout most of the United States.
Con Edison Solutions was reported by KEMA, Inc. in September 2009 to be the 9th largest non-residential retail electricity provider in the United States. Most of the companys electricity sales volumes are to industrial, large commercial and government customers. The company also sells to two retail aggregation entities in Massachusetts and to individual residential customers in the northeastern United States. At December 31, 2009, it served approximately 75,000 customers, not including approximately 165,000 served under the two aggregation agreements. Con Edison Solutions sold 12.7 million MWHs of electricity in 2009, an 18 percent increase from 2008 volumes.
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||||||
Retail electric volumes sold (MWH) |
9,970,252 | 10,633,151 | 12,209,233 | 10,749,361 | 12,723,403 | ||||||||||
Number of retail customers accounts: |
|||||||||||||||
Industrial and large commercial |
5,775 | * | 10,957 | * | 14,335 | * | 14,491 | * | 26,009 | * | |||||
Mass market |
24,989 | 31,725 | 33,979 | 39,976 | 49,094 |
* | Excludes aggregation agreement customers |
Con Edison Solutions seeks to serve customers in utility service territories that encourage retail competition through transparent pricing, purchase of receivables programs or utility-sponsored customer acquisition programs. The company currently sells electricity in the service territories of 40 utilities in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas, as well as the District of Columbia.
Total peak load at the end of 2009 was 4,500 MWs. Approximately 42 percent of the sales volumes were in New York, 25 percent in New England, 28 percent in PJM and the remainder in Texas.
Con Edison Solutions offers the choice of green power to customers. In 2009, it sold approximately 175,000 MWHs of green power, ending the year with almost 20,300 customers. Green power is a term used by electricity suppliers to describe electricity produced from renewable energy sources, including wind, hydro and solar.
Through its second business line, Con Edison Solutions provides energy-efficiency services to government and commercial customers. The services include the design
25 |
and installation of lighting retrofits, high-efficiency heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment and other energy saving technologies. The company is compensated for their services based primarily on the increased energy efficiency of the installed equipment over a multi-year period. Con Edison Solutions has won competitive solicitations for energy savings contracts with the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, and a shared energy savings contract with the United States Postal Service.
Con Edison Energy
Con Edison Energy manages the output and fuel requirements for over 8,000 MW of third-party generating plants in the northeastern United States. The company also provides wholesale hedging and risk management services to Con Edison Solutions. In addition, the company sells electricity to utilities in the northeastern United States, primarily under fixed price contracts, which they use to supply their full-service customers. It does not currently sell electricity to the Utilities, though it has in the past and may do so in the future.
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
Wholesale electricity sales (MWH)* |
1,288,696 | 6,548,658 | 8,046,474 | 7,798,463 | 5,472,083 |
* | Prior to 2008, wholesale electricity sales were reported as part of Con Edison Development. |
Con Edison Development
Con Edison Development participates in energy infrastructure projects. The companys investments include a minority interest in an oil-fired plant in Guatemala, an investment in an affordable housing partnership and leasehold interests in a gas-fired plant and a gas distribution network in the Netherlands (see Note J to the financial statements in Item 8). Con Edison Development and its subsidiary, CSD/SCS Newington, LLC, completed the sale of their ownership interests in electricity generating plants with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1,706 MW in the second quarter of 2008. See Note U to the financial statements in Item 8.
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
Generating capacity (MW) |
1,668 | 1,668 | 1,739 | 21 | 21 | |||||
Generation sold (MWH) |
3,602,727 | 3,154,988 | 3,558,302 | 1,422,491 | |
Capital Requirements and Resources
Capital Requirements
The following table contains the Companies capital requirements for the years 2007 through 2009 and their current estimate of amounts for 2010 through 2012.
Actual | Estimate | ||||||||||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars) | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |||||||||||||
Regulated utility construction expenditures* |
|||||||||||||||||||
CECONY** |
$ | 1,879 | $ | 2,202 | $ | 2,057 | $ | 2,007 | $ | 2,002 | $ | 1,986 | |||||||
O&R |
112 | 120 | 127 | 160 | 131 | 127 | |||||||||||||
Total regulated utility construction expenditures |
1,991 | 2,322 | 2,184 | 2,167 | 2,133 | 2,113 | |||||||||||||
Competitive energy businesses capital expenditures |
6 | 4 | 10 | 135 | 133 | 191 | |||||||||||||
Sub-total |
1,997 | 2,326 | 2,194 | 2,302 | 2,266 | 2,304 | |||||||||||||
Retirement of long-term securities*** |
|||||||||||||||||||
Con Edison parent company |
325 | 204 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||
CECONY |
330 | 280 | 655 | 625 | | 300 | |||||||||||||
O&R |
22 | 3 | 3 | 103 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||
Competitive energy businesses |
22 | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||
Total retirement of long-term securities |
699 | 487 | 662 | 732 | 5 | 305 | |||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 2,696 | $ | 2,813 | $ | 2,856 | $ | 3,034 | $ | 2,271 | $ | 2,609 |
* | Estimates for 2010-2012 include an aggregate $129 million for one-half of the costs of certain smart electric grid projects for which the company has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for negotiations to receive grants for the other half of the projects costs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. |
** | CECONYs capital expenditures for environmental protection facilities and related studies were $148 million in 2009 and are estimated to be $143 million in 2010. |
*** | For 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, includes long-term securities redeemed in advance of maturity. |
26 |
The Utilities have an ongoing need for substantial capital investment in order to meet the growth in demand for electricity, and electric, gas and steam reliability needs. The Utilities estimated construction expenditures for 2010, 2011 and 2012 are subject to change depending on the outcome of certain regulatory proceedings. See Note B to the financial statements in Item 8.
The estimated capital expenditure for the competitive energy businesses reflects potential investments in renewable generation and energy infrastructure projects and could significantly increase or decrease from the amounts estimated depending on market conditions and opportunities.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes the Companies material obligations at December 31, 2009 to make payments pursuant to contracts. Long-term debt, capital lease obligations and other long-term liabilities are included on their balance sheets. Operating leases and electricity purchase agreements (for which undiscounted future annual payments are shown) are described in the notes to the financial statements.
(Millions of Dollars) | Payments Due by Period | ||||||||||||||
Total | 1 year or less |
Years 2 & 3 |
Years 4 & 5 |
After 5 years | |||||||||||
Long-term debt (Statement of Capitalization) |
|||||||||||||||
CECONY |
$ | 9,686 | $ | 625 | $ | 300 | $ | 1,175 | $ | 7,586 | |||||
O&R |
602 | 103 | 6 | 62 | 431 | ||||||||||
Competitive energy businesses and parent |
323 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 312 | ||||||||||
Interest on long-term debt(a) |
8,670 | 554 | 1,047 | 942 | 6,127 | ||||||||||
Total long-term debt, including interest |
19,281 | 1,285 | 1,357 | 2,183 | 14,456 | ||||||||||
Capital lease obligations (Note J) |
|||||||||||||||
CECONY |
24 | 8 | 14 | | 2 | ||||||||||
Total capital lease obligations |
24 | 8 | 14 | | 2 | ||||||||||
Operating leases (Notes J and Q) |
|||||||||||||||
CECONY |
230 | 41 | 84 | 79 | 26 | ||||||||||
O&R |
1 | | 1 | | | ||||||||||
Competitive energy businesses |
18 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | ||||||||||
Total operating leases |
249 | 42 | 89 | 83 | 35 | ||||||||||
Purchase obligations |
|||||||||||||||
Electricity purchase power agreements Utilities (Note I) |
|||||||||||||||
CECONY |
|||||||||||||||
Energy (b) |
10,677 | 1,106 | 1,691 | 1,336 | 6,544 | ||||||||||
Capacity |
3,721 | 489 | 959 | 892 | 1,381 | ||||||||||
Total CECONY |
14,398 | 1,595 | 2,650 | 2,228 | 7,925 | ||||||||||
O&R |
|||||||||||||||
Energy and Capacity (b) |
243 | 160 | 83 | | | ||||||||||
Total electricity and purchase power agreements Utilities |
14,641 | 1,755 | 2,733 | 2,228 | 7,925 | ||||||||||
Natural gas supply, transportation, and storage contracts Utilities (c) |
|||||||||||||||
CECONY |
|||||||||||||||
Natural gas supply |
611 | 347 | 196 | 68 | | ||||||||||
Transportation and storage |
1,197 | 229 | 277 | 206 | 485 | ||||||||||
Total CECONY |
1,808 | 576 | 473 | 274 | 485 | ||||||||||
O&R |
|||||||||||||||
Natural gas supply |
86 | 48 | 29 | 9 | | ||||||||||
Transportation and storage |
235 | 44 | 52 | 41 | 98 | ||||||||||
Total O&R |
321 | 92 | 81 | 50 | 98 | ||||||||||
Total natural gas supply, transportation and storage contracts |
2,129 | 668 | 554 | 324 | 583 |
27 |
(Millions of Dollars) | Payments Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 1 year or less |
Years 2 & 3 |
Years 4 & 5 |
After 5 years | |||||||||||||
Other purchase obligations (d) |
|||||||||||||||||
CECONY |
2,895 | 2,009 | 830 | 40 | 16 | ||||||||||||
O&R |
187 | 140 | 43 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||
Total other purchase obligations |
3,082 | 2,149 | 873 | 42 | 18 | ||||||||||||
Competitive energy businesses commodity and service agreements (e) |
94 | 72 | 15 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||
Uncertain income taxes (Note L) |
|||||||||||||||||
CECONY |
92 | 92 | | | | ||||||||||||
O&R |
(12 | ) | (12 | ) | | | | ||||||||||
Competitive energy businesses and parent |
5 | 5 | | | | ||||||||||||
Total uncertain income taxes |
85 | 85 | | | | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 39,585 | $ | 6,064 | $ | 5,635 | $ | 4,862 | $ | 23,024 |
(a) | Includes interest on variable rate debt calculated at rates in effect at December 31, 2009. |
(b) | Included in these amounts is the cost of minimum quantities of energy that the company is obligated to purchase at both fixed and variable prices. |
(c) | Included in these amounts is the cost of minimum quantities of natural gas supply, transportation and storage that the Utilities are obligated to purchase at both fixed and variable prices. |
(d) | Amounts shown for other purchase obligations, which reflect capital and operations and maintenance costs incurred by the Utilities in running their day-to-day operations, were derived from the Utilities purchasing systems as the difference between the amounts authorized and the amounts paid (or vouchered to be paid) for each obligation. For many of these obligations, the Utilities are committed to purchase less than the amount authorized. Payments for the Other Purchase Obligations are generally assumed to be made ratably over the term of the obligations. The Utilities believe that unreasonable effort and expense would be involved to modify their purchasing systems to enable them to report their Other Purchase Obligations in a different manner. |
(e) | Amounts represent commitments to purchase minimum quantities of electric energy and capacity, natural gas, natural gas pipeline capacity and generating plant services entered into by Con Edisons competitive energy businesses. |
The Companies commitments to make payments in addition to these contractual commitments include their other liabilities reflected in their balance sheets, any funding obligations for their pension and other postretirement benefit plans, financial hedging activities, their collective bargaining agreements and Con Edisons guarantees of certain obligations of its businesses. See Notes E, F, O and Guarantees in Note H to the financial statements in Item 8.
Capital Resources
Con Edison is a holding company that operates only through its subsidiaries and has no material assets other than its interests in its subsidiaries. Con Edison expects to finance its capital requirements primarily through the sale of securities, including the issuance in 2010 of between $300 million and $500 million of Con Edison common shares (in addition to stock issuances under its dividend reinvestment and employee stock plans) and from dividends it receives from its subsidiaries. Con Edisons ability to make payments on its external borrowings and dividends on its common shares is also dependent on its receipt of dividends from its subsidiaries or proceeds from the sale of its securities or its interests in its subsidiaries.
For information about restrictions on the payment of dividends by the Utilities and significant debt covenants, see Note C to the financial statements in Item 8.
For information on the Companies commercial paper program and revolving credit agreements with banks, see Note D to the financial statements in Item 8.
The Utilities expect to finance their operations, capital requirements and payment of dividends to Con Edison from internally-generated funds, contributions of equity capital from Con Edison and external borrowings, including the issuance in 2010 of long-term debt of between $600 million and $900 million in addition to debt issuances for $680 million of maturing securities.
The Companies require access to the capital markets to fund capital requirements that are substantially in excess of available internally-generated funds. See Capital Requirements, above. Each of the Companies believes that it will continue to be able to access capital, although capital market conditions may affect the timing of the Companies financing activities. The Companies monitor the availability and costs of various forms of capital, and will seek to issue Con Edison common stock and other securities when it is necessary or advantageous to do so. For information about the Companies long-term debt and short-term borrowing, see Notes C and D to the financial statements in Item 8.
28 |
In 2009, the NYSPSC authorized CECONY and O&R to issue up to $4,800 million and $500 million of securities, respectively (of which up to $550 million and $100 million, respectively, may be preferred stock and up to the entire amount authorized may be debt securities). At December 31, 2009, CECONY and O&R had issued $770 million and $75 million, respectively, of debt securities pursuant to such authorization. In addition, the NYSPSC has authorized the Utilities to refund outstanding debt securities and preferred stock should the Utilities determine that it is economic to do so.
Con Edisons competitive energy businesses have financed their operations and capital requirements primarily with capital contributions and borrowings from Con Edison, internally-generated funds and external borrowings. See Note Q to the financial statements in Item 8.
For each of the Companies, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges (SEC basis) for the last five years was:
Earnings to Fixed Charges (Times) | ||||||||||
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
Con Edison |
3.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.0 | |||||
CECONY |
3.6 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.1 |
For each of the Companies, the common equity ratio for the last five years was:
Common Equity Ratio (Percent of total capitalization) | ||||||||||
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
Con Edison |
49.0 | 48.5 | 53.7 | 50.7 | 50.5 | |||||
CECONY |
50.7 | 50.0 | 52.3 | 50.8 | 50.3 |
The commercial paper of the Companies is rated P-2, A-2 and F2, respectively, by Moodys, S&P and Fitch. Con Edisons long-term credit rating is Baa1, BBB+ and BBB+, respectively, by Moodys, S&P and Fitch. The unsecured debt of CECONY is rated A3, A- and A-, respectively, by Moodys, S&P and Fitch. The unsecured debt of O&R is rated Baa1, A- and A, respectively, by Moodys, S&P and Fitch. Securities ratings assigned by rating organizations are expressions of opinion and are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities. A securities rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
CECONY has $636 million of tax-exempt debt for which the interest rates are to be determined pursuant to periodic auctions. Of this amount, $391 million is insured by Ambac Assurance Corporation and $245 million is insured by Syncora Guarantee Inc. (formerly XL Capital Assurance Inc.). Credit rating agencies have downgraded the ratings of these insurers from AAA to lower levels. Subsequently, there have not been sufficient bids to determine the interest rates pursuant to auctions, and interest rates have been determined by reference to a variable rate index. The weighted average annual interest rate on this tax-exempt debt was 0.44 percent on December 31, 2009. The weighted average interest rate was 0.80 percent, 3.94 percent and 3.77 percent for the years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Under CECONYs current electric and steam rate orders, variations in auction rate debt interest expense are reconciled to the levels set in rates.
CECONY has $225 million of uninsured tax-exempt debt and O&R has $99 million of insured tax-exempt debt that currently bears interest at rates determined weekly and is subject to tender by bondholders for purchase by the company. Of the $99 million of O&R debt, $55 million is insured by Financial Guaranty Insurance Company and $44 million is insured by Ambac Assurance Corporation (see Note C to the financial statements in Item 8). Downgrades in the credit ratings of these insurers have resulted in interest rates on this O&R debt that at times have been significantly higher than the interest rates borne by CECONYs $225 million of uninsured weekly rate tender bonds. As of December 31, 2009, the weighted average annual interest rate on the O&R insured weekly rate tender bonds, excluding the effects of an interest rate swap agreement (see Interest Rate Swaps in Note O to the financial statements in Item 8), was 0.27 percent and the rate on the CECONY weekly rate tender bonds was 0.23 percent. Under O&Rs current New York electric and gas rate orders, variations in variable rate tax-exempt debt interest expense are reconciled to the level set in rates. O&R is evaluating alternatives with respect to its weekly rate tender bonds and termination of its interest rate swap agreement.
29 |
Environmental Matters
Climate Change
As indicated in 2007 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, are very likely changing the worlds climate.
Climate change could affect customer demand for the Companies energy services. The effects of climate change might also include physical damage to the Companies facilities and disruption of their operations due to the impact of more extreme weather-related events.
Based on the most recent data (2006) published by the federal Department of Energy, Con Edison estimates that its greenhouse gas emissions constitute less than 0.1 percent of the nations greenhouse gas emissions.
Con Edisons emissions of greenhouse gases during the past five years (expressed in terms of millions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) were:
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
CO2 equivalent emissions |
6.6 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
The 36 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions during the past five years reflects equipment and repair projects, including projects to reduce sulfur hexafluoride emissions, and increased use of natural gas at CECONYs steam production facilities. Emissions from electric generation at the Con Edison Development electric generating plants (which were sold in 2008 see Note U to the financial statements in Item 8) have been removed from the above data for 2008 and prior years.
The Companies are working to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CECONY has participated for several years in voluntary initiatives with the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce its methane and sulfur hexafluoride emissions. The Utilities reduce methane emissions from the operation of their gas distribution systems through pipe maintenance and replacement programs, by operating system components at lower pressure, and by introducing new technologies. The Utilities reduce emissions of sulfur hexafluoride, which is used for arc suppression in substation circuit breakers and switches, by using improved technologies to locate and repair leaks, and by replacing older equipment. The Utilities also promote energy efficiency programs for customers that help them reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Beginning in 2009, CECONY is subject to carbon dioxide emissions regulations established by New York State under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The initiative, a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, will first cap and then reduce carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the generation of electricity to a level ten percent below current emissions by 2018. Under the initiative, affected electric generators are required to obtain emission allowances to cover their carbon dioxide emissions, available primarily through auctions administered by participating states or a secondary market. The participating states initiated auctions in 2008 for portions of the 2009 and 2010 allowances.
Congress and New York State are considering legislation, and the EPA has indicated it will propose regulations, that will limit greenhouse gas emissions. Also, New York State has announced a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, and New York City plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The cost to comply with legislation, regulations or initiatives limiting the Companies greenhouse gas emissions could be substantial.
Environmental Sustainability
Con Edison seeks to improve the environmental sustainability of its businesses. CECONY has a recycling agreement with a company that re-refines at least 450,000 gallons of used transformer mineral oil each year. Recycling, instead of burning the used oil, avoids nearly 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year. Further, CECONY is in the process of replacing transformer mineral oil with vegetable-based natural ester oil, a renewable resource that is nontoxic and biodegradable. CECONY installed energy-efficient lighting in the tower of its corporate headquarters. At night, the tower uses 63 percent less energy than conventional lighting, lowering carbon emissions by approximately 19 tons a year. In 2008, O&R made
30 |
energy efficiency improvements to its 90,000-square-foot facility in Spring Valley. O&R improved the efficiency of its lighting, windows, insulation, air conditioning and heating. As a result of these improvements, O&R will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1,400 tons annually.
CECONY
Superfund
The Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and similar state statutes (Superfund) impose joint and several liability, regardless of fault, upon generators of hazardous substances for investigation costs, remediation costs and environmental damages. The sites as to which CECONY has been asserted to have liability under Superfund include its and its predecessor companies former manufactured gas sites, its multi-purpose Astoria site, its former Arthur Kill electric generation plant site, its former Flushing Service Center site, the Gowanus Canal site, and other Superfund sites discussed below. There may be additional sites as to which assertions will be made that the Company has liability. For a further discussion of claims and possible claims against the Company under Superfund, estimated liability accrued for Superfund claims and recovery from customers of site investigation and remediation costs, see Note H to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Manufactured Gas Sites
CECONY and its predecessors formerly manufactured gas and maintained storage holders for gas manufactured at sites in New York City and Westchester County (MGP Sites). Many of these sites are now owned by parties other than CECONY and have been redeveloped by them for other uses, including schools, residential and commercial developments and hospitals. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) requires the company to investigate, and if necessary, develop and implement remediation programs for the sites, which include 34 manufactured gas plant sites and 17 storage holder sites and any neighboring areas to which contamination may have migrated.
The information available to CECONY for many of the MGP Sites is incomplete as to the extent of contamination and scope of the remediation likely to be required. Through the end of 2009, investigations have been started for all or portions of 46 MGP Sites, and have been completed at 18 of the sites. Coal tar and/or other manufactured gas production/storage-related environmental contaminants have been detected at 33 MGP Sites, including locations within Manhattan and other parts of New York City, and in Westchester County. Remediation has been completed at five sites and portions of six other sites.
Astoria Site
CECONY is permitted by the NYSDEC to operate a hazardous waste storage facility on property the company owns in the Astoria section of Queens, New York. Portions of the property were formerly the location of a manufactured gas plant and also have been used or are being used for, among other things, electric generation operations, electric substation operations, the storage of fuel oil and liquefied natural gas, and the maintenance and storage of electric equipment. As a condition of its NYSDEC permit, the company is required to investigate the property and, where environmental contamination is found and action is necessary, to conduct corrective action to remediate the contamination. The company has investigated various sections of the property and is performing additional investigations. The company has submitted to the NYSDEC and the New York State Department of Health a report identifying the known areas of contamination. The company estimates that its undiscounted potential liability for the completion of the site investigation and cleanup of the known contamination on the property will be at least $17 million. See also Permit Non-Compliance and Pollution Discharges in Note H to the financial statements in Item 8.
Arthur Kill Site
Following a September 1998 transformer fire at CECONYs former Arthur Kill Generating Station, it was determined that oil containing high levels of PCBs was released to the environment during the incident. The company has completed NYSDEC-approved
31 |
cleanup programs for the stations facilities and various soil and pavement areas of the site affected by the PCB release. Pursuant to a July 1999 NYSDEC consent order, the company completed a NYSDEC-approved assessment of the nature and extent of the contamination in the waterfront area of the station. The NYSDEC selected a remediation program for the waterfront area, and the company has implemented it pursuant to an additional consent order entered into during 2005. Field work associated with the waterfront remediation program has been completed and a final engineering report has been submitted to the NYSDEC. The company estimates that its undiscounted potential future liability for site monitoring, maintenance, and reporting to the NYSDEC will be approximately $0.3 million.
Flushing Service Center Site
The owner of a former CECONY service center facility in Flushing, New York, informed the company that PCB contamination had been detected on a substantial portion of the property, which the owner remediated pursuant to the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program administered by the NYSDEC and is redeveloping for residential and commercial use. The property owners claim against the company for the cost of its environmental response costs for the site has been resolved. In September 2007, the NYSDEC demanded that the company investigate and remediate PCB contamination that may have migrated into the adjacent Flushing River from the site. In April 2008, the company and NYSDEC entered into a consent order under which the company has agreed to implement a NYSDEC-approved investigation program for the Flushing River and, if deemed necessary by the NYSDEC to protect human health and the environment from such contamination, to implement a NYSDEC-approved remediation program for any PCB contamination in the river attributable to the site. At this time, the company cannot estimate its liability for the investigation and cleanup of any PCB contamination that may have migrated to the Flushing River from the site, but such liability may be substantial.
Gowanus Canal
In August 2009, CECONY received a notice of potential liability and request for information from the EPA about the operations of the company and its predecessors at sites adjacent or near the 1.8 mile Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, New York. The company understands that the EPA also has provided or will provide notices of potential liability and information requests to other parties. The EPA has proposed adding the Gowanus Canal to its National Priorities List of Superfund sites. The canals adjacent waterfront is primarily commercial and industrial, currently consisting of concrete plants, warehouses, and parking lots, and the canal is near several residential neighborhoods. The company expects that the cost of assessment and remediation of hazardous substances in and around the Gowanus Canal will be substantial. CECONY is unable to predict its exposure to liability with respect to the Gowanus Canal site.
Other Superfund Sites
CECONY is a potentially responsible party (PRP) with respect to other Superfund sites where there are other PRPs and where it is generally not responsible for managing the site investigation and remediation. Work at these sites is in various stages, with the company participating in PRP groups at some of the sites. Investigation, remediation and monitoring at some of these sites have been, and are expected to continue to be, conducted over extended periods of time. The company does not believe that it is reasonably likely that monetary sanctions, such as penalties, will be imposed upon it by any governmental authority with respect to these sites.
The following table lists each of CECONYs other Superfund sites for which the company anticipates it may have a liability. The table also shows for each such site, its location, the year in which the company was designated or alleged to be a PRP or to otherwise have responsibilities with respect to the site (shown in the table under Start), the name of the court or agency in which proceedings with respect to the site are pending and its estimated percentage of total liability for each site. The company currently estimates that its potential liability for investigation, remediation,
32 |
monitoring and environmental damages at each site is less than $200,000, with the exception of the Cortese Landfill site, for which the estimate is $1.2 million. Superfund liability is joint and several. The companys estimate of its liability for each site was determined pursuant to consent decrees, settlement agreements or otherwise and in light of the financial condition of other PRPs. The companys actual liability could differ substantially from amounts estimated.
Site | Location | Start | Court or Agency |
% of Total Liability | ||||
Maxey Flats Nuclear |
Morehead, KY | 1986 | EPA | 0.8% | ||||
Curcio Scrap Metal |
Saddle Brook, NJ | 1987 | EPA | 100% | ||||
Metal Bank of America |
Philadelphia, PA | 1987 | EPA | 0.97% | ||||
Cortese Landfill |
Narrowsburg, NY | 1987 | EPA | 6.0% | ||||
Global Landfill |
Old Bridge, NJ | 1988 | EPA | 0.3% | ||||
Borne Chemical |
Elizabeth, NJ | 1997 | NJDEP | 0.7% |
O&R
Superfund
The sites at which O&R has been asserted to have liability under Superfund include its manufactured gas sites, its West Nyack site, the Newark Bay site, and other Superfund sites discussed below. There may be additional sites as to which assertions will be made that O&R has liability. For a further discussion of claims and possible claims against O&R under Superfund, see Note G to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Manufactured Gas Sites
O&R and its predecessors formerly owned and operated manufactured gas plants at seven sites (O&R MGP Sites) in Orange County and Rockland County, New York. Three of these sites are now owned by parties other than O&R, and have been redeveloped by them for residential, commercial or industrial uses. The NYSDEC is requiring O&R to develop and implement remediation programs for the O&R MGP Sites including any neighboring areas to which contamination may have migrated.
Through the end of 2009, O&R has conducted remedial investigations at all seven O&R MGP Sites and completed investigation of six of these sites. Supplemental investigation activities are ongoing at one of the former MGP sites. O&R has completed the remediation at one of its sites; has completed the NYSDEC-approved remediation program for the land portion of its Nyack site; and has received NYSDECs decision regarding the remedial work to be done at two other sites. Remedial design will begin in 2010 for two of the sites. Feasibility studies will be completed in 2010 for the two remaining sites and the shoreline/sediment portion of the Nyack site.
West Nyack Site
In 1994 and 1997, O&R entered into consent orders with the NYSDEC pursuant to which O&R agreed to conduct a remedial investigation and remediate certain property it owns in West Nyack, New York at which PCBs were discovered. Petroleum contamination related to a leaking underground storage tank was found as well. O&R has completed all remediation at the site that the NYSDEC has required to date. O&R is continuing a supplemental groundwater investigation and on-site vapor intrusion monitoring as required by the NYSDEC.
Newark Bay
Approximately 300 parties, including O&R (which was served with a third-party complaint in June 2009), were sued as third-party defendants by Tierra Solutions, Inc. (Tierra) and Maxus Energy Corporation (Maxus), successors to the Occidental Chemical Corporation and Diamond Shamrock Chemical Company. Tierra and Maxus were themselves sued in 2005 by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and others for removal and cleanup costs, punitive damages, penalties, and economic losses
allegedly arising from the dioxin contamination their predecessors pesticide/herbicide plant allegedly released to the Newark Bay Complex, a system of waterways including Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, the Kill Van Kull, and lower portions of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers. Tierra and Maxus are seeking equitable contribution from the third-party defendants for such costs, damages, penalties and losses, which are likely to be substantial. As to O&R, Tierra and Maxus allege that 1975 and 1976 shipments of waste oil by O&R from an electricity generating plant in Haverstraw, New York to the Borne Chemical
33 |
Company in Elizabeth, New Jersey was a source of petroleum discharges to the Arthur Kill. Con Edison is unable to predict O&Rs exposure to liability with respect to the Newark Bay Complex.
Other Superfund Sites
O&R is a PRP with respect to other Superfund sites where there are other PRPs and it is not managing the site investigation and remediation. Work at these sites is in various stages, with the company participating in PRP groups at some of the sites. Investigation, remediation and monitoring at some of these sites have been, and are expected to continue to be, conducted over extended periods of time. The company does not believe that it is reasonably likely that monetary sanctions, such as penalties, will be imposed upon it by any governmental authority with respect to these sites.
The following table lists each of O&Rs other Superfund sites for which the Company anticipates it may have liability. The table also shows for each such site, its location, the year in which the Company was designated or alleged to be a PRP or to otherwise have responsibilities with respect to the site (shown in the table under Start), the name of the court or agency in which proceedings with respect to the site are pending and its estimated percentage of total liability for each site. The company currently estimates that its potential liability for investigation, remediation, monitoring and environmental damages at each site is less than $500,000, Superfund liability is joint and several. The companys estimate of its anticipated share of the total liability for each site was determined pursuant to consent decrees, settlement agreements or otherwise and in light of the financial condition of other PRPs. The companys actual liability could differ substantially from amounts estimated.
Site | Location | Start | Court or Agency |
% of Total Liability | ||||
Borne Chemical |
Elizabeth, NJ | 1997 | NJDEP | 1.7% | ||||
Clarkstown Landfill |
Clarkstown, NY | 2003 | NYAG | (a) | ||||
Metal Bank of America |
Philadelphia, PA | 1993 | EPA | 4.58% |
(a) | Not ascertainable. |
Other Federal, State and Local Environmental Provisions
Toxic Substances Control Act
Virtually all electric utilities, including CECONY, own equipment containing PCBs. PCBs are regulated under the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.
Water Quality
Certain governmental authorities are investigating contamination in the Hudson River and the New York Harbor. These waters run through portions of CECONYs service area. Governmental authorities could require entities that released hazardous substances that contaminated these waters to bear the cost of investigation and remediation, which could be substantial.
New Source Review Regulations
In March 2009, New York State regulations implementing the new source review provisions of the Clean Air Act became effective. Under new source review regulations, an owner of a large generating facility, including CECONYs steam and steam-electric generating facilities, is required to obtain a permit before making modifications to the facility, other than routine maintenance, repair, or replacement, that increase emissions of pollutants from the facility above specified thresholds. To obtain a permit, the facility owner could be required to install additional pollution controls or otherwise limit emissions from the facility. The New York State new source review regulations exceed in some respects the requirements of federal guidelines. The company reviews on an on-going basis its planned modifications to its generating facilities to determine the potential applicability of new source review and similar regulations. For information about the companys generating facilities, see CECONY Electric Operations Electric Facilities above in this Item 1. The company is unable to predict the impact of these regulations on its operations or the additional costs, which could be substantial, it could incur to comply with the regulations.
34 |
State Anti-Takeover Law
New York State law provides that a domestic corporation, such as Con Edison, may not consummate a merger, consolidation or similar transaction with the beneficial owner of a 20 percent or greater voting stock interest in the corporation, or with an affiliate of the owner, for five years after the acquisition of the voting stock interest, unless the transaction or the acquisition of the voting stock interest was approved by the corporations board of directors prior to the acquisition of the voting stock interest. After the expiration of the five-year period, the transaction may be consummated only pursuant to a stringent fair price formula or with the approval of a majority of the disinterested stockholders.
Employees
Con Edison has no employees other than those of CECONY, O&R and Con Edisons competitive energy businesses (which at December 31, 2009 had 14,207, 1,055 and 279, employees, respectively). Of the 14,207 CECONY employees and 1,055 O&R employees, 9,067 and 627 were represented by a collective bargaining unit, respectively. The collective bargaining agreements covering these employees expire in June 2012 and June 2014, respectively.
Available Information
For the sources of information about the Companies, see Available Information in the Introduction appearing before this Item 1.
Information in any item of this report as to which reference is made in this Item 1A is incorporated by reference herein. The use of such terms as see or refer to shall be deemed to incorporate at the place such term is used the information to which such reference is made.
The Companies businesses are influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual operating results, cash flows and financial condition.
The Companies have established an enterprise risk management program to identify, assess, and manage its major operations and administrative risks based on established criteria for the severity of an event, the likelihood of its occurrence, and the programs in place to control the event or reduce the impact. The Companies also have financial and commodity market risks. See Financial and Commodity Market Risks in Item 7.
The Companies major risks include:
The Failure to Operate Energy Facilities Safely and Reliably Could Adversely Affect The Companies. The Utilities provide electricity, gas and steam service using energy facilities, many of which are located either in, or close to, densely populated public places. See the description of the Utilities facilities in Item 1. A failure of, or damage to, these facilities, or an error in the operation or maintenance of these facilities, could result in bodily injury or death, property damage, the release of hazardous substances or extended service interruptions. In such event, the Utilities could be required to pay substantial amounts, which may not be covered by the Utilities insurance policies, to repair or replace their facilities, compensate others for injury or death or other damage, and settle any proceedings initiated by state utility regulators or other regulatory agencies. See Manhattan Steam Main Rupture in Note H to the financial statements in Item 8. The occurrence of such an event could also adversely affect the cost and availability of insurance. Changes to judicial doctrines could further expand the Utilities liability for service interruptions. See Utility Regulation State Utility Regulation, Liability for Service Interruptions in Item 1).
The Failure To Properly Complete Construction Projects Could Adversely Affect The Companies. The Utilities ongoing construction program includes large energy transmission, substation and distribution system projects. The failure to properly complete these projects timely and effectively could adversely affect the Utilities ability to meet their customers growing energy needs with the high level of safety and reliability that they currently provide, which would adversely affect the Companies.
35 |
The Failure of Processes and Systems and the Performance of Employees and Contractors Could Adversely Affect the Companies. The Companies have developed business processes for operations, customer service, legal compliance, personnel, accounting, planning and other matters. Some of the Companies information systems and communications systems have been operating for many years, and may become obsolete. The failure of the Companies business processes or information or communication systems could adversely affect the Companies operations and liquidity and result in substantial liability, higher costs and increased regulatory requirements. The failure by the Companies employees or contractors to follow procedures, or their unsafe actions, errors or intentional misconduct, could also adversely affect the Companies. See Investigation of Contractor Payments in Note H to the financial statements in Item 8.
The Companies Are Extensively Regulated And Are Subject To Penalties. The Companies operations require numerous permits, approvals and certificates from various federal, state and local governmental agencies. State utility regulators may seek to impose substantial penalties on the Utilities for violations of state utility laws, regulations or orders. In addition, the Utilities rate plans usually include penalties for failing to meet certain operating standards. FERC has the authority to impose penalties on the Utilities and the competitive energy businesses, which could be substantial, for violations of the Federal Power Act, the Natural Gas Act or related rules, including reliability rules. Environmental agencies may seek penalties for failure to comply with laws, regulations or permits. See Permit Non-Compliance and Pollution Discharges in Note H to the financial statements in Item 8. The Companies may also be subject to penalties from other regulatory agencies. The Companies may be subject to new laws, regulations, accounting standards or other requirements or the revision or reinterpretation of such requirements, which could adversely affect the Companies. See Utility Regulation and Environmental Matters Climate Change and Other Federal State and Local Environmental Provisions in Item 1 and Application of Critical Accounting Policies in Item 7.
The Utilities Rate Plans May Not Provide A Reasonable Return. The Utilities have rate plans approved by state utility regulators that limit the rates they can charge their customers. The rates are generally designed for, but do not guarantee, the recovery of the Utilities cost of service (including a return on equity). The Utilities rate plans can involve complex accounting and other calculations, a mistake in which could have a substantial adverse affect on the Utilities. See Utility Regulation State Utility Regulation, Rate Plans in Item 1 and Rate Agreements in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8. Rates usually may not be changed during the specified terms of the rate plans other than to recover energy costs and limited other exceptions. The Utilities actual costs may exceed levels provided for such costs in the rate plans. The Utilities rate plans usually include penalties for failing to meet certain operating standards. State utility regulators can initiate proceedings to prohibit the Utilities from recovering from their customers the cost of service (including energy costs) that the regulators determine to have been imprudently incurred (see Other Regulatory Matters in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8). The Utilities have from time to time entered into settlement agreements to resolve various prudence proceedings.
The Companies May Be Adversely Affected By Changes To The Utilities Rate Plans. The Utilities rate plans typically require action by regulators at their expiration dates, which may include approval of new plans with different provisions. The need to recover from customers increasing costs, taxes or state-mandated assessments or surcharges could adversely affect the Utilities opportunity to obtain new rate plans that provide a reasonable rate of return and continue important provisions of current rate plans. The Utilities current New York electric and gas rate plans include revenue decoupling mechanisms and their New York electric, gas and steam rate plans include provisions for the recovery of energy costs and reconciliation of the actual amount of pension and other postretirement, environmental and certain other costs to amounts reflected in rates. See Rate Agreements in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8.
36 |
The Companies Are Exposed to Risks From The Environmental Consequences Of Their Operations. The Companies are exposed to risks relating to climate change and related matters. See Environmental Matters Climate Change in Item 1. CECONY may also be impacted by regulations implementing the new source review provisions of the Clean Air Act. See Environmental Matters Local Environmental Provisions, New Source Review Regulations in Item 1. In addition, the Utilities are responsible for hazardous substances, such as asbestos, PCBs and coal tar, that have been used or produced in the course of the Utilities operations and are present on properties or in facilities and equipment currently or previously owned by them. See Environmental Matters in Item 1 and Note G to the financial statements in Item 8. Electric and magnetic fields are found wherever electricity is used. The Companies could be adversely affected if a causal relationship between these fields and adverse health effects were to be established. Negative perceptions about electric and magnetic fields can make it more difficult to construct facilities needed for the Companies operations.
A Disruption In The Wholesale Energy Markets Or Failure By An Energy Supplier Could Adversely Affect The Companies. Almost all the electricity and gas the Utilities sell to their full-service customers is purchased through the wholesale energy markets or pursuant to contracts with energy suppliers. See the description of the Utilities energy supply in Item 1. Con Edison Energy and Con Edison Solutions also depend on wholesale energy markets to supply electricity to their customers. See Competitive Energy Businesses in Item 1. A disruption in the wholesale energy markets or a failure on the part of the Companies energy suppliers or operators of energy delivery systems that connect to the Utilities energy facilities could adversely affect the Companies ability to meet their customers energy needs and adversely affect the Companies.
The Companies Have Substantial Unfunded Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Liabilities. The Utilities have substantial unfunded pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities. The Utilities expect to make substantial contributions to their pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Significant declines in the market values of the investments held to fund the pension and other postretirement benefits could trigger substantial funding requirements under governmental regulations. See Application of Critical Accounting Policies Accounting for Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits and Financial and Commodity Market Risks, in Item 7 and Notes E and F to the financial statements in Item 8.
Con Edisons Ability To Pay Dividends Or Interest Depends On Dividends From Its Subsidiaries. Con Edisons ability to pay dividends on its common stock or interest on its external borrowings depends primarily on the dividends and other distributions it receives from its subsidiaries. The dividends that the Utilities may pay to Con Edison are limited by the NYSPSC to not more than 100 percent of their respective income available for dividends calculated on a two-year rolling average basis, with certain exceptions. See Dividends in Note C to the financial statements in Item 8.
The Companies Require Access To Capital Markets To Satisfy Funding Requirements. The Utilities estimate that their construction expenditures will exceed $6 billion over the next three years. The Utilities expect to use internally-generated funds, equity contributions from Con Edison and external borrowings to fund the construction expenditures. The competitive energy businesses are evaluating opportunities to invest in renewable generation and energy-related infrastructure projects that would require funds in excess of those produced in the businesses. Con Edison expects to finance its capital requirements through the sale of its securities. Changes in financial market conditions or in the Companies credit ratings could adversely affect their ability to raise new capital and the cost thereof. See Capital Requirements and Resources in Item 1.
The Internal Revenue Service Has Disallowed Substantial Tax Deductions Taken By The Company. The Companies federal income tax returns reflect certain tax positions with which the Internal Revenue Service does not or may not agree,
37 |
particularly its tax positions for Con Edisons lease in/lease out transactions (see Note J to the financial statements in Item 8) and the deduction of certain construction-related costs for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility (see Note L to the financial statements in Item 8).
The Companies Also Face Other Risks That Are Beyond Their Control. The Companies results of operations can be affected by circumstances or events that are beyond their control. Weather directly influences the demand for electricity, gas and steam service, and can affect the price of energy commodities. Natural disasters, such as a major storm, heat wave or hurricane (see Environmental Matters Climate Change in Item 1) or terrorist attacks or related acts of war could damage Company facilities. As a provider of essential utility services, the Utilities may experience more severe consequences from attempting to operate during and after such events. In addition, pandemic illness could potentially disrupt the Utilities employees and contractors from providing essential utility services. Economic conditions can affect customers demand and ability to pay for service, which could adversely affect the Companies.
Item 1B: Unresolved Staff Comments
Con Edison
Con Edison has no unresolved comments from the SEC staff.
CECONY
CECONY has no unresolved comments from the SEC staff.
Con Edison
Con Edison has no significant properties other than those of the Utilities and its competitive energy businesses.
For information about the capitalized cost of the Companies utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, see Plant and Depreciation in Note A to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
CECONY
For a discussion of CECONYs electric, gas and steam facilities, see CECONY- Electric Operations Electric Facilities, CECONY- Gas Operations Gas Facilities, and CECONY Steam Operations Steam Facilities in, Item 1 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
O&R
For a discussion of O&Rs electric and gas facilities, see O&R Electric Operations Transmission and Distribution Facilities and O&R Gas Operations Gas Facilities in Item 1 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Competitive Energy Businesses
For a discussion of the competitive energy businesses facilities, see Competitive Energy Businesses in, Item 1 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Con Edison
Lease In/Lease Out Transactions
For information about legal proceedings with the IRS with respect to certain tax losses recognized in connection with the companys lease in/lease out transactions, see Note J to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
CECONY
Manhattan Steam Main Rupture
For information about proceedings relating to the July 2007 rupture of a steam main located in midtown Manhattan, see Manhattan Steam Main Rupture in Note H to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Investigation of Contractor Payments
For information about alleged unlawful conduct in connection with contractor payments, see Investigation of Contractor Payments in Note H to the financial statements in Item 8 (which is incorporated herein by reference).
38 |
Asbestos
For information about legal proceedings relating to exposure to asbestos, see Note G to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Superfund
For information about CECONY Superfund sites, see Environmental Matters CECONY Superfund in Item 1 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Permit Non-Compliance and Pollution Discharges
For information about Permit Non-Compliance and Pollution Discharges, see Note H to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
O&R
Asbestos
For information about legal proceedings relating to exposure to asbestos, see Note G to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Superfund
For information about O&R Superfund sites, see Environmental Matters O&R Superfund in Item 1 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
Item 4: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None
39 |
Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following table sets forth certain information about the executive officers of Con Edison and CECONY as of February 18, 2010. As indicated, certain of the executive officers are executive officers of each of Con Edison and CECONY and others are executive officers of Con Edison or CECONY. The term of office of each officer, is until the next election of directors (trustees) of their company and until his or her successor is chosen and qualifies. Officers are subject to removal at any time by the board of directors (trustees) of their company. Mr. Burke has an employment agreement with Con Edison, which provides for him to serve in his present position through December 31, 2010. The employment agreement provides for automatic one-year extensions of its term, unless notice to the contrary is received six months prior to the end of the term.
Name | Age | Offices and Positions During Past Five Years | ||
Executive Officers of Con Edison and CECONY |
||||
Kevin Burke |
59 | 3/06 to present Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director of Con Edison and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of CECONY | ||
9/05 to 2/06 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Con Edison and Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of CECONY | ||||
9/00 to 8/05 President of CECONY | ||||
Craig S. Ivey |
47 | 12/09 to present President of CECONY | ||
08/07 to 09/09 Senior Vice President Transmission & Distribution, | ||||
Dominion Resources, Inc. | ||||
04/06 08/07 Senior Vice President Electric Distribution, Dominion Resources, Inc. | ||||
09/04 04/06 Vice President Electric Operations, Dominion Resources, Inc. | ||||
John D. McMahon |
58 | 2/09 to present Executive Vice President of CECONY | ||
1/03 to 1/09 President and Chief Executive Officer of O&R | ||||
Robert Hoglund |
48 | 9/05 to present Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Con | ||
Edison and CECONY | ||||
4/04 to 8/05 Senior Vice President of Finance of Con Edison and CECONY | ||||
6/04 to 10/09 Chief Financial Officer and Controller of O&R | ||||
Elizabeth D. Moore |
55 | 05/09 to Present General Counsel of Con Edison and CECONY | ||
01/95 to 04/09 Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP | ||||
Frances A. Resheske |
49 | 2/02 to present Senior Vice President Public Affairs of CECONY | ||
JoAnn Ryan |
52 | 7/06 to present Senior Vice President Business Shared Services of CECONY | ||
3/01 to 6/06 President and CEO, Con Edison Solutions | ||||
Luther Tai |
61 | 7/06 to present Senior Vice President Enterprise Shared Services of CECONY | ||
9/01 to 6/06 Senior Vice President Central Services of CECONY | ||||
Gurudatta Nadkarni |
44 | 1/08 to present Vice President of Strategic Planning | ||
8/06 to 12/07 Managing Director of Growth Initiatives, Duke Energy Corporation | ||||
1/05 to 7/06 Director of Growth Initiatives, Strategy and Integration, | ||||
Duke Energy Corporation | ||||
Scott Sanders |
46 | 02/10 Present Vice President and Treasurer of Con Edison and CECONY | ||
01/10 to 02/10 Vice President Finance | ||||
05/09 12/09 Co-founder and Partner of New Infrastructure Advisors | ||||
05/05 01/09 Managing Director - Investment Banking, Bank of America | ||||
Robert Muccilo |
53 | 07/09 to present Vice President and Controller of Con Edison and CECONY | ||
11/09 to present Chief Financial Officer and Controller of O&R | ||||
04/08 to 06/09 Assistant Controller of CECONY | ||||
08/06 to 03/08 General Manager Central Field Services of CECONY | ||||
09/99 to 07/06 Assistant Controller of CECONY |
40 |
Name | Age | Offices and Positions During Past Five Years | ||
Executive Officers of Con Edison but not CECONY | ||||
William G. Longhi |
56 | 2/09 to present President and Chief Executive Officer of O&R | ||
12/06 to 1/09 Senior Vice President Central Operations | ||||
08/06 to 11/06 Vice President Manhattan Electric Operations | ||||
09/01 to 07/06 Vice President System and Transmission Operations | ||||
Executive Officers of CECONY but not Con Edison | ||||
(All offices and positions listed are with CECONY) | ||||
Marilyn Caselli |
55 | 5/05 to present Senior Vice President Customer Operations | ||
8/98 to 4/05 Vice President Customer Operations | ||||
John McAvoy |
49 | 2/09 to present Senior Vice President Central Operations | ||
12/06 to 1/09 Vice President System and Transmission Operations | ||||
Claude Trahan |
57 | 05/09 to present Senior Vice President Gas Operations | ||
02/02 to 05/09 Vice President Human Resources | ||||
John F. Miksad |
50 | 9/05 to present Senior Vice President Electric Operations | ||
2/03 to 8/05 Vice President Manhattan Electric Operations |
41 |
Item 5:Market for the
Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters
and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Con Edison
Con Edisons Common Shares ($.10 par value), the only class of common equity of Con Edison, are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. As of January 31, 2010, there were 68,186 holders of record of Con Edisons Common Shares.
The market price range for Con Edisons Common Shares during 2009 and 2008, as reported in the consolidated reporting system, and the dividends paid by Con Edison in 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||
High | Low | Dividends Paid |
High | Low | Dividends Paid | |||||||||||||
1st Quarter |
$ | 41.79 | $ | 32.56 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 49.30 | $ | 39.30 | $ | 0.585 | ||||||
2nd Quarter |
$ | 40.00 | $ | 34.36 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 42.73 | $ | 38.36 | $ | 0.585 | ||||||
3rd Quarter |
$ | 41.77 | $ | 36.46 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 46.39 | $ | 37.38 | $ | 0.585 | ||||||
4th Quarter |
$ | 46.35 | $ | 40.15 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 44.86 | $ | 34.11 | $ | 0.585 |
On January 21, 2010, Con Edisons Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of 59 1/2 cents per Common Share. The first quarter 2010 dividend will be paid on March 15, 2010.
Con Edison expects to pay dividends to its shareholders primarily from dividends and other distributions it receives from its subsidiaries. The payment of future dividends, which is subject to approval and declaration by Con Edisons Board of Directors, will depend on a variety of factors, including business, financial and regulatory considerations. For additional information see Dividends in Note C to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
During 2009, the market price of Con Edisons Common Shares increased by 16.70 percent (from $38.93 at year-end 2008 to $45.43 at year-end 2009). By comparison, the S&P 500 Index and the S&P Utilities Index increased 23.45 percent and 6.80 percent, respectively. The total return to Con Edisons common shareholders during 2009, including both price appreciation and reinvestment of dividends, was 24.02 percent. By comparison, the total returns for the S&P 500 Index and the S&P Utilities Index were 26.47 percent and 11.94 percent, respectively. For the five-year period 2005 through 2009, Con Edisons shareholders total average annual return was 6.25 percent, compared with total average annual returns for the S&P 500 Index and the S&P Utilities Index of 0.42 percent and 6.03 percent, respectively.
42 |
Years Ending | ||||||||||||
Company / Index | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
Consolidated Edison, Inc. |
100.00 | 111.32 | 121.50 | 129.57 | 109.16 | 135.23 | ||||||
S&P 500 Index |
100.00 | 104.91 | 121.48 | 128.16 | 80.74 | 102.11 | ||||||
S&P Utilities |
100.00 | 116.84 | 141.36 | 168.76 | 119.85 | 134.12 |
Based on $100 invested at December 31, 2004, reinvestment of all dividends in equivalent shares of stock and market price changes on all such shares.
CECONY
The outstanding shares of CECONYs Common Stock ($2.50 par value), the only class of common equity of CECONY, are held by Con Edison and are not traded.
The dividends declared by CECONY in 2009 and 2008 are shown in its Consolidated Statement of Common Shareholders Equity included in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference). For additional information about the payment of dividends by CECONY, and restrictions thereon, see Dividends in Note C to the financial statements in Item 8 (which information is incorporated herein by reference).
43 |
Item 6: Selected Financial Data
For selected financial data of Con Edison and CECONY, see Introduction appearing before Item 1 (which selected financial data is incorporated herein by reference).
44 |
Item 7: Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
This combined managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations relates to the consolidated financial statements included in this report of two separate registrants: Con Edison and CECONY and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto. As used in this report, the term the Companies refers to Con Edison and CECONY. CECONY is a subsidiary of Con Edison and, as such, information in this managements discussion and analysis about CECONY applies to Con Edison.
Information in any item of this report referred to in this discussion and analysis is incorporated by reference herein. The use of terms such as see or refer to shall be deemed to incorporate by reference into this discussion and analysis the information to which reference is made.
Corporate Overview
Con Edisons principal business operations are those of the Utilities. Con Edison also has competitive energy businesses. See The Utilities and Competitive Energy Businesses in Item 1. Certain financial data of Con Edisons businesses is presented below:
Twelve months ended December 31, 2009 | At December 31, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars, except percentages) | Operating Revenues |
Net Income | Assets | |||||||||||||||||
CECONY |
$ | 10,036 | 77 | % | $ | 781 | 90 | % | $ | 30,461 | 90 | % | ||||||||
O&R |
890 | 7 | % | 43 | 5 | % | 2,216 | 7 | % | |||||||||||
Total Utilities |
10,926 | 84 | % | 824 | 95 | % | 32,677 | 97 | % | |||||||||||
Con Edison Development(a) |
| | % | 3 | | % | 429 | 1 | % | |||||||||||
Con Edison Energy(a) |
717 | 5 | % | (15 | ) | (2 | )% | 136 | | % | ||||||||||
Con Edison Solutions(a) |
1,430 | 11 | % | 71 | 8 | % | 237 | 1 | % | |||||||||||
Other(b) |
(41 | ) | | % | (15 | ) | (1 | )% | 394 | 1 | % | |||||||||
Total Con Edison |
$ | 13,032 | 100 | % | $ | 868 | 100 | % | $ | 33,873 | 100 | % |
(a) | Net income from the competitive energy businesses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 includes $19 million of net after-tax mark-to-market gains/(losses) (Con Edison Development, $2 million, Con Edison Energy, $(9) million and Con Edison Solutions, $26 million). |
(b) | Represents inter-company and parent company accounting. See Results of Operations, below. |
Con Edisons net income for common stock in 2009 was $868 million or $3.16 a share ($3.14 on a diluted basis). Net income for common stock in 2008 and 2007 was $1,196 million or $4.38 a share ($4.37 on a diluted basis) and $929 million or $3.49 a share ($3.47 on a diluted basis), respectively. See Results of Operations Summary, below. For segment financial information, see Note N to the financial statements in Item 8 and Results of Operations, below.
Results of Operations Summary
Net income for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was as follows:
(Millions of Dollars) | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||
CECONY |
$ | 781 | $ | 783 | $ | 844 | |||||
O&R |
43 | 44 | 46 | ||||||||
Competitive energy businesses(a) |
59 | 73 | 58 | ||||||||
Other(b) |
(15 | ) | 22 | (23 | ) | ||||||
Total continuing operations |
868 | 922 | 925 | ||||||||
Discontinued operations(c) |
| 274 | 4 | ||||||||
Con Edison |
$ | 868 | $ | 1,196 | $ | 929 |
(a) | Includes $19 million, $(59) million and $(5) million of net after-tax mark-to-market gains/(losses) in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In 2008, also includes $131 million after-tax from the gain on sale of Con Edison Developments ownership interests in electricity generating plants. See Note U to the financial statements in Item 8. |
(b) | Consists of inter-company and parent company accounting. In 2008, also includes $30 million of after-tax net income related to the resolution of Con Edisons legal proceeding with Northeast Utilities. See Results of Operations, below. |
(c) | Represents the discontinued operations of certain of Con Edison Developments ownership interests in electricity generating plants. See Note U to the financial statements in Item 8. |
45 |
The Companies results of operations for 2009, as compared with 2008, reflect changes in the Utilities rate plans (including additional revenues designed to recover increases in certain operations and maintenance expenses, depreciation and property taxes, interest charges and the impact of revenue decoupling mechanisms), a regulatory reserve in December 2009 relating to the NYSPSCs review of capital spent during the period April 2005 through March 2008, and the operating results of the competitive energy businesses (including net mark-to-market effects). The results of operations for 2009 as compared with 2008 include a higher allowed return for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2009, offset in part by a lower allowed electric return on common equity for CECONY for the first quarter of 2009. Operations and maintenance expenses were higher in 2009 compared with 2008 reflecting primarily higher costs, which are generally reflected in rates, such as pension and other postretirement benefits and uncollectible accounts that were offset in part by austerity initiatives reflecting the general economic downturn. Depreciation and property taxes were higher in 2009 compared with 2008 reflecting primarily the impact from increased capital expenditures and higher property tax rates. Results of operations for 2008 include the gain on the sale of ownership interests in electricity generating plants, the impact of discontinued operations and resolution of litigation with Northeast Utilities.
The following table presents the estimated effect on earnings per share and net income for common stock for 2009 as compared with 2008 and 2008 as compared with 2007, resulting from these and other major factors:
2009 vs. 2008 | 2008 vs. 2007 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings per Share |
Net Income (Millions of Dollars) |
Earnings per Share |
Net Income (Millions of Dollars) |
|||||||||||||
CECONY |
||||||||||||||||
Rate plans, primarily to recover increases in certain costs |
$ | 1.28 | $ | 351 | $ | 0.63 | $ | 169 | ||||||||
Resolution of deferred tax amortization petition in 2007 and other tax matters |
| | (0.08 | ) | (22 | ) | ||||||||||
Operations and maintenance expense |
(0.62 | ) | (169 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (117 | ) | ||||||||
Long Island City power outage reserve in 2008 |
0.05 | 14 | 0.04 | 10 | ||||||||||||
2005 2008 capital expenditure reserve |
(0.05 | ) | (14 | ) | | | ||||||||||
Depreciation and property taxes |
(0.55 | ) | (151 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (59 | ) | ||||||||
Net interest expense |
(0.14 | ) | (38 | ) | (0.07 | ) | (19 | ) | ||||||||
Other (includes dilutive effect of new stock issuances) |
| 5 | (0.16 | ) | (23 | ) | ||||||||||
Total CECONY |
(0.03 | ) | (2 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (61 | ) | ||||||||
Orange and Rockland Utilities |
| (1 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||
Competitive energy businesses |
||||||||||||||||
Earnings excluding net mark-to-market effects, gain on the sale of ownership interests in electricity generating plants and discontinued operations |
0.15 | 39 | (0.24 | ) | (62 | ) | ||||||||||
Net mark-to-market effects |
0.29 | 78 | (0.20 | ) | (54 | ) | ||||||||||
Gain on the sale of ownership interests in electricity generating plants and discontinued operations |
(1.49 | ) | (405 | ) | 1.48 | 401 | ||||||||||
Total competitive energy businesses |
(1.05 | ) | (288 | ) | 1.04 | 285 | ||||||||||
Northeast Utilities litigation settlement |
(0.11 | ) | (30 | ) | 0.11 | 30 | ||||||||||
Other, including parent company expenses |
(0.03 | ) | (7 | ) | 0.05 | 15 | ||||||||||
Total variations |
$ | (1.22 | ) | $ | (328 | ) | $ | 0.89 | $ | 267 |
See Results of Operations below for further discussion and analysis of results of operations.
Risk Factors
The Companies businesses are influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual operating results, cash flows and financial condition. See Risk Factors in Item 1A.
46 |
Application of Critical Accounting Policies
The Companies financial statements reflect the application of their accounting policies, which conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Companies critical accounting policies include industry-specific accounting applicable to regulated public utilities and accounting for pensions and other postretirement benefits, contingencies, long-lived assets, derivative instruments, goodwill and leases.
Accounting for Regulated Public Utilities
The Utilities are subject to the accounting rules for regulated operations and the accounting requirements of the FERC and state public utility regulatory authorities having jurisdiction.
The accounting rules for regulated operations specify the economic effects that result from the causal relationship of costs and revenues in the rate-regulated environment and how these effects are to be accounted for by a regulated enterprise. Revenues intended to cover some costs may be recorded either before or after the costs are incurred. If regulation provides assurance that incurred costs will be recovered in the future, these costs would be recorded as deferred charges or regulatory assets under the accounting rules. If revenues are recorded for costs that are expected to be incurred in the future, these revenues would be recorded as deferred credits or regulatory liabilities under the accounting rules.
The Utilities principal regulatory assets and liabilities are listed in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8. The Utilities are each receiving or being credited with a return on all regulatory assets for which a cash outflow has been made. The Utilities are each paying or being charged with a return on all regulatory liabilities for which a cash inflow has been received. The regulatory assets and liabilities will be recovered from customers, or applied for customer benefit, in accordance with rate provisions approved by the applicable public utility regulatory commission.
In the event that regulatory assets of the Utilities were no longer probable of recovery (as required by the accounting rules), these regulatory assets would be charged to earnings. At December 31, 2009, the regulatory assets for Con Edison and CECONY were $7,304 million and $6,694 million, respectively.
Accounting for Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Utilities provide pensions and other postretirement benefits to substantially all of their employees and retirees. Con Edisons competitive energy businesses also provide such benefits to certain of their employees. The Companies account for these benefits in accordance with the accounting rules for retirement benefits. In addition, the Utilities apply the accounting rules for regulated operations to account for the regulatory treatment of these obligations (which, as described in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8, reconciles the amounts reflected in rates for the costs of the benefit to the costs actually incurred). In applying these accounting policies, the Companies have made critical estimates related to actuarial assumptions, including assumptions of expected returns on plan assets, discount rates, health care cost trends and future compensation. See Notes A, E and F to the financial statements in Item 8 for information about the Companies pension and other postretirement benefits, the actuarial assumptions, actual performance, amortization of investment and other actuarial gains and losses and calculated plan costs for 2009, 2008 and 2007.
The cost of pension and other postretirement benefits in future periods will depend on actual returns on plan assets, assumptions for future periods, contributions and benefit experience. Con Edisons and CECONYs current estimates for 2010 are increases, compared with 2009, in their pension and other postretirement benefits cost of $181 million and $178 million, respectively. The discount rates used to determine 2010 pension and other postretirement benefit accounting costs are 6.05 percent and 5.95 percent, respectively, and the expected return on plan assets (tax-exempt assets for postretirement benefit accounting costs) is 8.50 percent.
47 |
The discount rate for determining the present value of future period benefit payments is determined using a model to match the durations of highly-rated (Aa and Aaa, by Moodys) corporate bonds with the projected stream of benefit payments.
In determining the health care cost trend rate, the Companies review actual recent cost trends and projected future trends.
The following table illustrates the effect on 2010 pension and other postretirement costs of changing the critical actuarial assumptions discussed above, while holding all other actuarial assumptions constant:
(Millions of Dollars) | ||||||||||||||
Actuarial Assumption | Change in Assumption |
Pension | Other Postretirement Benefits |
Total | ||||||||||
Increase in accounting cost: |
||||||||||||||
Discount rate |
||||||||||||||
Con Edison |
(0.25 | )% | $ | 30 | $ | 5 | $ | 35 | ||||||
CECONY |
(0.25 | )% | $ | 28 | $ | 4 | $ | 32 | ||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
||||||||||||||
Con Edison |
(0.25 | )% | $ | 19 | $ | 3 | $ | 22 | ||||||
CECONY |
(0.25 | )% | $ | 18 | $ | 2 | $ | 20 | ||||||
Health care trend rate |
||||||||||||||
Con Edison |
1.00 | % | | $ | 3 | $ | 3 | |||||||
CECONY |
1.00 | % | | $ | (2 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | |||||
Increase in projected benefit obligation: |
||||||||||||||
Discount rate |
||||||||||||||
Con Edison |
(0.25 | )% | $ | 297 | $ | 47 | $ | 344 | ||||||
CECONY |
(0.25 | )% | $ | 279 | $ | 41 | $ | 320 | ||||||
Health care trend rate |
||||||||||||||
Con Edison |
1.00 | % | | $ | 15 | $ | 15 | |||||||
CECONY |
1.00 | % | | $ | (7 | ) | $ | (7 | ) |
A 5.0 percentage point variation in the actual annual return in 2010, as compared with the expected annual asset return of 8.50 percent, would change pension and other postretirement benefit costs for both Con Edison and CECONY by approximately $17 million and $16 million, respectively, in 2011.
Pension benefits are provided through a pension plan maintained by Con Edison to which CECONY, O&R and the competitive energy businesses make contributions for their participating employees. Pension accounting by the Utilities includes an allocation of plan assets.
The Companies policy is to fund their pension and other postretirement benefit accounting costs to the extent tax deductible, and for the Utilities, to the extent these costs are recovered under their rate agreements. The Companies were not required to make cash contributions to the pension plan in 2009 under funding regulations and tax laws. However, CECONY, O&R and Con Edisons competitive energy businesses made discretionary contributions to the plan in 2009 of $257 million, $40 million and $1 million, respectively, and expect to make discretionary contributions in 2010 for CECONYand O&R of $391 million and $36 million, respectively. See Expected Contributions in Notes E and F to the financial statements in Item 8.
Accounting for Contingencies
The accounting rules for contingencies apply to an existing condition, situation or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible loss that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. Known material contingencies, which are described in the notes to the financial statements, include the Utilities responsibility for hazardous substances, such as asbestos, PCBs and coal
48 |
tar that have been used or generated in the course of operations (Note G); certain tax matters (Notes J and L); and other contingencies (Note H). In accordance with the accounting rules, the Companies have accrued estimates of losses relating to the contingencies as to which loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated and no liability has been accrued for contingencies as to which loss is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated.
The Utilities generally recover costs for asbestos lawsuits, workers compensation and environmental remediation pursuant to their current rate plans. Changes during the terms of the rate plans to the amounts accrued for these contingencies would not impact earnings.
Accounting for Long-Lived Assets
The accounting rules for property, plant and equipment require that certain long-lived assets must be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset is deemed not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. Under the accounting rules an impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount is not recoverable from such cash flows, and exceeds its fair value, which approximates market value.
Accounting for Goodwill
In accordance with the accounting rules for goodwill and other intangibles, Con Edison is required to test goodwill for impairment annually. See Note K to the financial statements in Item 8. Goodwill is tested for impairment using a two-step approach. The first step of the goodwill impairment test compares the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, the second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step requires a calculation of the implied fair value of goodwill.
Goodwill was $416 million at December 31, 2009. The most recent test, which was performed during the first quarter of 2009, did not require any second-step assessment and did not result in any impairment. The companys most significant assumptions surrounding the goodwill impairment test relate to the estimates of reporting unit fair values. The company estimated fair values based primarily on discounted cash flows and on market values for a proxy group of companies.
Accounting for Derivative Instruments
The Companies apply the accounting rules for derivatives and hedging to their derivative financial instruments. The Companies use derivative financial instruments to hedge market price fluctuations in related underlying transactions for the physical purchase and sale of electricity and gas and interest rate risk on certain debt securities. The Utilities are permitted by their respective regulators to reflect in rates all reasonably incurred gains and losses on these instruments. See Financial and Commodity Market Risks, below and Note O to the financial statements in Item 8.
Where the Companies are required to make mark-to-market estimates pursuant to the accounting rules, the estimates of gains and losses at a particular period end do not reflect the end results of particular transactions, and will most likely not reflect the actual gain or loss at the conclusion of a transaction. Substantially all of the estimated gains or losses are based on prices supplied by external sources such as the fair value of exchange traded futures and options and the fair value of positions for which price quotations are available through or derived from brokers or other market sources.
Accounting for Leases
The Companies apply the accounting rules for leases and other related pronouncements to their leasing transactions. See Note J to the financial statements in Item 8 for information about Con Edison Developments Lease In/Lease Out or LILO transactions, a disallowance of tax losses by the IRS and a favorable court decision in the companys litigation with the IRS. In accordance with the accounting rules,
49 |
Con Edison accounted for the two LILO transactions as leveraged leases. Accordingly, the companys investment in these leases, net of non-recourse debt, is carried as a single amount in Con Edisons consolidated balance sheet and income is recognized pursuant to a method that incorporates a level rate of return for those years when net investment in the lease is positive, based upon the after-tax cash flows projected at the inception of the leveraged leases.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Companies liquidity reflects cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as shown on their respective consolidated statement of cash flows and as discussed below.
The principal factors affecting Con Edisons liquidity are its investments in the Utilities, the dividends it pays to its shareholders and the dividends it receives from the Utilities and cash flows from financing activities discussed below.
The principal factors affecting CECONYs liquidity are its cash flows from operating activities, cash used in investing activities (including construction expenditures), the dividends it pays to Con Edison and cash flows from financing activities discussed below.
The Companies generally maintain minimal cash balances and use short-term borrowings to meet their working capital needs and other cash requirements. The Companies repay their short-term borrowings using funds from long-term financings and operating activities. The Utilities cost of capital, including working capital, is reflected in the rates they charge to their customers.
Each of the Companies believes that it will be able to meet its reasonably likely short-term and long-term cash requirements. See The Companies Require Access to Capital Market to Satisfy Funding Requirements and The Companies Also Face Other Risks That Are Beyond Their Control in Item 1A, Application of Critical Accounting Policies Accounting for Contingencies, above, and Utility Regulation in Item 1.
Changes in the Companies cash and temporary cash investments resulting from operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are summarized as follows:
Con Edison
(Millions of Dollars) | 2009 | 2008 | Variance 2009 vs. 2008 |
2007 | Variance 2008 vs. 2007 |
|||||||||||||||
Operating activities |
$ | 2,466 | $ | 640 | $ | 1,826 | $ | 1,566 | $ | (926 | ) | |||||||||
Investing activities |
(2,360 | ) | (1,071 | ) | (1,289 | ) | (2,086 | ) | 1,015 | |||||||||||
Financing activities |
80 | 295 | (215 | ) | 636 | (341 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net change |
186 | (136 | ) | 322 | 116 | (252 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period |
74 | 210 | (136 | ) | 94 | 116 | ||||||||||||||
Balance at end of period |
$ | 260 | $ | 74 | $ | 186 | $ | 210 | $ | (136 | ) |
CECONY
(Millions of Dollars) | 2009 | 2008 | Variance 2009 vs. 2008 |
2007 | Variance 2008 vs. 2007 |
|||||||||||||||
Operating activities |
$ | 2,222 | $ | 1,036 | $ | 1,186 | $ | 1,251 | $ | (215 | ) | |||||||||
Investing activities |
(2,108 | ) | (2,448 | ) | 340 | (2,021 | ) | (427 | ) | |||||||||||
Financing activities |
(20 | ) | 1,328 | (1,348 | ) | 844 | 484 | |||||||||||||
Net change |
94 | (84 | ) | 178 | 74 | (158 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period |
37 | 121 | (84 | ) | 47 | 74 | ||||||||||||||
Balance at end of period |
$ | 131 | $ | 37 | $ | 94 | $ | 121 | $ | (84 | ) |
50 |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
The Utilities cash flows from operating activities reflect principally their energy sales and deliveries and cost of operations. The volume of energy sales and deliveries is dependent primarily on factors external to the Utilities, such as growth of customer demand, weather, market prices for energy, economic conditions and measures that promote energy efficiency. Under the revenue decoupling mechanisms in CECONYs electric and gas rate plans and O&Rs New York electric and gas rate plans, changes in delivery volumes from levels assumed when rates were approved may affect the timing of cash flows but not net income. See Note B to the financial statements in Item 8. The prices at which the Utilities provide energy to their customers are determined in accordance with their rate agreements. In general, changes in the Utilities cost of purchased power, fuel and gas may affect the timing of cash flows but not net income because the costs are recovered in accordance with rate agreements. See Recoverable Energy Costs in Note A to the financial statements in Item 8.
Net income is the result of cash and non-cash (or accrual) transactions. Only cash transactions affect the Companies cash flows from operating activities. Principal non-cash charges include depreciation and deferred income tax expense. Principal non-cash credits include amortizations of certain net regulatory liabilities, net derivative losses and the 2008 pre-tax gain on the sale of Con Edison Developments ownership interests in electricity generating plants. Non-cash charges or credits may also be accrued under the revenue decoupling mechanisms in CECONYs current electric and gas rate plans and O&Rs New York electric and gas rate plans. See Rate Agreements CECONY Electric and O&R Electric in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8.
In March 2009, CECONY adopted unbilled revenue accounting which had the non-cash effect of increasing an accrued unbilled revenue receivable, within other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet, and regulatory liabilities. See Note A to the financial statements in Item 8. In September 2009, the Companies applied $109 million of a $160 million deposit paid to the IRS in 2007 to pay tax liabilities, and related interest, with respect to the timing of deductions of certain construction related costs. See Note L to the financial statements in Item 8.
Net cash flows from operating activities in 2009 for Con Edison and CECONY were $1,826 million and $1,186 million higher, respectively, than in the 2008 period. The increases in net cash flows reflect the January 2008 semi-annual payment and July 2008 annual payment of CECONYs New York City property taxes, compared with a semi-annual payment in July 2009. The Company achieved a 1.5 percent reduction in its New York City property taxes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 by prepaying the annual tax amount in July 2008. The increase is offset by the effect of changes in commodity prices on cash collateral requirements under the Companies derivative instruments. For Con Edison, the increase also reflects the 2008 payment of income taxes on the gain on the sale of Con Edison Developments ownership interests in electricity generating plants.
Net cash flows from operating activities in 2008 for Con Edison and CECONY were $926 million and $215 million lower, respectively, than in the 2007 period. The decreases reflect primarily the July 2008 prepayment, by CECONY, of its annual New York City property taxes in the amount of $915 million. By prepaying this annual amount as opposed to paying in semi-annual installments, CECONY received a 1.5 percent reduction in its New York City property taxes. Con Edisons decrease also reflects the 2008 payment of income taxes, which includes the taxes on the gain on the sale of Con Edison Developments ownership interests in electricity generating plants. The decreases also reflect higher cash collateral paid due to lower commodity prices associated with the Companies derivative transactions. Con Edison and CECONYs decrease is offset by lower rate case amortizations and the reconciliation of Net T&D in 2008 when compared with 2007.
The change in net cash flows also reflects the timing of payments for and recovery of energy costs. This timing issue is reflected within changes to accounts receivable customers, recoverable energy costs and accounts payable balances.
51 |
The changes in regulatory assets principally reflects changes in deferred pension costs in accordance with the accounting rules for retirement benefits and changes in future federal income taxes associated with increased removal costs. See Notes A, B and E to the financial statements in Item 8.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
Net cash flows used in investing activities for Con Edison were $1,289 million higher in 2009 compared with the 2008 period. The increase reflects primarily the absence of, in 2009, proceeds from the sale of Con Edison Developments ownership interests in electricity generating plants in 2008, offset in part by decreased construction expenditures in 2009. Net cash flows used in investing activities for CECONY were $340 million lower in 2009 compared with the 2008 period reflecting primarily decreased construction expenditures and the repayment of loans by O&R. See Note S to the financial statements in Item 8.
Net cash flows used in investing activities in 2008 for Con Edison were $1,015 million lower than in 2007. The decrease reflects primarily the proceeds from the sale of Con Edison Developments ownership interests in electricity generating plants in 2008, offset in part by increased utility construction expenditures. Net cash flows used in investing activities for CECONY was $427 million higher in 2008 than in 2007, reflecting primarily increased utility construction expenditures in 2008.
From time to time, CECONY lends funds to O&R for periods of not more than 12 months. CECONYs outstanding loans to O&R amounted to $113 million at December 31, 2008. There were no outstanding loans to O&R at December 31, 2009. See Note S to the financial statements in Item 8.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net cash flows from financing activities in 2009 for Con Edison and CECONY were $215 million and $1,348 million lower, respectively, than in 2008. In 2008, cash flows from financing activities for Con Edison were $341 million lower than in 2007 and for CECONY were $484 million higher in 2008 than in 2007.
Con Edisons cash flows from financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2007, reflect the issuance through public offerings of 5 million and 11 million Con Edison common shares resulting in net proceeds of $213 million and $558 million, respectively. Most of the 2009 proceeds were invested by Con Edison in CECONY. The 2007 proceeds were invested by Con Edison in CECONY ($518 million) and O&R (and $40 million), respectively. For CECONY, cash flows from financing activities in 2008 also reflect a $752 million capital contribution from Con Edison.
Cash flows from financing activities for 2009, 2008 and 2007 also reflect the issuance of Con Edison common shares through its dividend reinvestment and employee stock plans (2009: 2.4 million shares for $68 million, 2008: 1.7 million shares for $42 million, 2007: 3.6 million shares for $121 million). In addition, as a result of the stock plan issuances, cash used to pay common stock dividends was reduced by $48 million in 2009, $21 million in 2008 and $38 million in 2007.
Net cash flows from financing activities during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 also reflect the following CECONY transactions:
2009
| Issued $275 million 5.55% 5-year debentures, $475 million 6.65% 10-year debentures and $600 million 5.50% 30-year debentures, the proceeds of which were used to redeem in advance of maturity $105 million 7.10% debentures and $75 million 6.90% debentures due 2028, to repay short-term borrowings and for other general corporate purposes; and |
| Redeemed at maturity $275 million 4.70% 5-year debentures and $200 million 7.15% 10-year debentures. |
2008
| Issued $600 million 5.85% 10-year debentures, $600 million 6.75% 30-year debentures and $600 million 7.125% 10-year debentures, the proceeds of which were used to repay short-term borrowings and for other general corporate purposes; and |
52 |
| Redeemed at maturity $180 million 6.25% 10-year debentures and $100 million 6.15% 10-year debentures. |
2007
| Issued $525 million 6.30% 30-year debentures, the proceeds of which were used for general corporate purposes; and |
| Redeemed at maturity $330 million 6.45% 10-year debentures. |
In 2008, Con Edison issued $326 million of unsecured notes in exchange for a like amount of secured project debt (see Note Q to the financial statements in Item 8) and redeemed at maturity $200 million 3.625% 5-year debentures. In 2007, Con Edison issued commercial paper and used available cash balances to redeem in advance of maturity $325 million 7.25% 40-year Public Income NotES.
Con Edisons net cash flows from financing activities also include O&Rs financings. In 2009, O&R issued $60 million 4.96% 10-year debentures and $60 million 6.00% 30-year debentures, the proceeds of which were used to redeem (in January 2010) $45 million 7.00% debentures due 2029, to repay short-term debt and for other general corporate purposes. In 2008, O&R issued $50 million 6.15% 10-year debentures. The net proceeds received from the issuance in 2008 were used for general corporate purposes, including repayment of short-term debt. In 2007, O&Rs New Jersey subsidiary redeemed at maturity $20 million 7.125% First Mortgage Bonds.
Cash flows from financing activities of the Companies also reflect commercial paper issuance (included on the consolidated balance sheets as Notes payable). The commercial paper amounts outstanding at December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the average daily balances for 2009, 2008 and 2007 for Con Edison and CECONY were as follows:
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars, except Weighted Average Yield) |
Outstanding at December 31 |
Daily average |
Outstanding at December 31 |
Daily average |
Outstanding at December 31 |
Daily average |
||||||||||||||||||
Con Edison |
$ | | $ | 277 | $ | 363 | $ | 517 | $ | 840 | $ | 340 | ||||||||||||
CECONY |
$ | | $ | 169 | $ | 253 | $ | 380 | $ | 555 | $ | 151 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average yield |
| % | 0.4 | % | 2.4 | % | 3.4 | % | 5.5 | % | 5.3 | % |
Common stock issuances and external borrowings are sources of liquidity that could be affected by changes in credit ratings, financial performance and capital market conditions. For information about the Companies credit ratings and certain financial ratios, see Capital Requirements and Resources in Item 1.
Other Changes in Assets and Liabilities
The following table shows changes in certain assets and liabilities at December 31, 2009, compared with December 31, 2008.
(Millions of Dollars) | Con Edison 2009 vs. 2008 Variance |
CECONY 2009 vs. 2008 Variance |
||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Accrued unbilled revenue |
$ | 448 | $ | 413 | ||||
Other current assets |
162 | 47 | ||||||
Deferred derivative losses current |
(147 | ) | (143 | ) | ||||
Regulatory asset Unrecognized pension and other postretirement costs |
(1,130 | ) | (1,076 | ) | ||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Regulatory liability Net unbilled revenue deferrals |
91 | 91 | ||||||
Regulatory liability Refundable energy costs-unbilled |
44 | 39 | ||||||
Pension and retiree benefits |
(1,148 | ) | (1,081 | ) |
53 |
Accrued Unbilled Revenue Asset and Regulatory Liabilities
In March 2009, CECONY began recording unbilled electric, gas and steam revenues in accordance with a NYSPSC order. See Note A to the financial statements in Item 8.
Other Current Assets
Other current assets increased $162 million and $47 million for Con Edison and CECONY, respectively, at December 31, 2009 compared with December 31, 2008. The increases reflect the Companys reclassification from noncurrent assets of the deposit with the IRS. See Note L to the financial statements in Item 8.
Deferred Derivative Losses
Deferred derivative losses decreased $147 million and $143 million for Con Edison and CECONY, respectively, at December 31, 2009 compared with December 31, 2008. Although forward short-term electric and gas commodity prices are lower at December 31, 2009 compared with December 31, 2008, the change is due primarily to the impact of the maturity of certain contract positions, which were outstanding at December 31, 2008 and the timing of entering into new positions in 2009.
Regulatory Asset Unrecognized Pension and Other Postretirement Costs and Pension and Retiree Benefits
The decrease in regulatory assets and pension and retiree benefits liability reflects primarily an increase in the fair value of the companies retirement plan and other postretirement benefit plan assets including the funding of the plan. See Notes B, E and F to the financial statements in Item 8.
Capital Requirements and Resources
For information about capital requirements, contractual obligations and capital resources, see Capital Requirements and Resources in Item 1.
Regulatory Matters
For Information about the Utilities rate plans and other regulatory matters affecting the Companies, see Utility Regulation in Item 1 and Note B to the financial statements in Item 8.
Financial and Commodity Market Risks
The Companies are subject to various risks and uncertainties associated with financial and commodity markets. The most significant market risks include interest rate risk, commodity price risk, credit risk and investment risk.
Interest Rate Risk
The interest rate risk relates primarily to variable rate debt and to new debt financing needed to fund capital requirements, including the construction expenditures of the Utilities and maturing debt securities. Con Edison and its businesses manage interest rate risk through the issuance of mostly fixed-rate debt with varying maturities and through opportunistic refinancing of debt. Con Edison and CECONY estimate that at December 31, 2009, a 10 percent variation in interest rates applicable to its variable rate debt would not result in a material change in annual interest expense. Under CECONYs current electric rate plan and O&Rs current New York gas rate plan, variations to long-term debt costs are reconciled to levels reflected in rates. Under CECONYs current steam rate plan and O&Rs current New York electric rate plan, variations in variable tax-exempt debt interest expense are reconciled to the level set in rates.
In addition, from time to time, Con Edison and its businesses enter into derivative financial instruments to hedge interest rate risk on certain debt securities. See Interest Rate Swaps in Note O to the financial statements in Item 8.
Commodity Price Risk
Con Edisons commodity price risk relates primarily to the purchase and sale of electricity, gas and related derivative instruments. The Utilities and Con Edisons competitive energy businesses have risk management strategies to mitigate their related exposures. See Note O to the financial statements in Item 8.
Con Edison estimates that, as of December 31, 2009, a 10 percent decline in market prices would result in a decline in fair value of $129 million for the derivative instruments used by the Utilities to hedge purchases of electricity and gas, of which $104 million is for CECONY and $25 million is for O&R. Con Edison expects that any such change in fair value would be
54 |
largely offset by directionally opposite changes in the cost of the electricity and gas purchased. In accordance with provisions approved by state regulators, the Utilities generally recover from customers the costs they incur for energy purchased for their customers, including gains and losses on certain derivative instruments used to hedge energy purchased and related costs. See Recoverable Energy Costs in Note A to the financial statements in Item 8.
Con Edisons competitive energy businesses use a value-at-risk (VaR) model to assess the market risk of their electricity and gas commodity fixed-price purchase and sales commitments, physical forward contracts and commodity derivative instruments. VaR represents the potential change in fair value of instruments or the portfolio due to changes in market factors, for a specified time period and confidence level. These businesses estimate VaR across their electricity and natural gas commodity businesses using a delta-normal variance/covariance model with a 95 percent confidence level. Since the VaR calculation involves complex methodologies and estimates and assumptions that are based on past experience, it is not necessarily indicative of future results. VaR for transactions associated with hedges on generating assets and commodity contracts, assuming a one-day holding period, for the years ended December 31, 2009, and 2008, respectively, was as follows:
(Millions of Dollars) | 2009 | 2008 | ||||
95% Confidence Level, One-Day Holding Period |
||||||
Average for the period |
$ | 1 | $ | 2 | ||
High |
2 | 3 | ||||
Low |
| |
Credit Risk
The Companies are exposed to credit risk related to transactions entered into primarily for the various energy supply and hedging activities by the Utilities and the competitive energy businesses. Credit risk relates to the loss that may result from a counterpartys nonperformance. The Companies use credit policies to manage this risk, including an established credit approval process, monitoring of counterparty limits, netting provisions within agreements and collateral or prepayment arrangements, credit insurance and credit default swaps. The Companies measure credit risk exposure as the replacement cost for open energy commodity and derivative positions plus amounts owed from counterparties for settled transactions. The replacement cost of open positions represents unrealized gains, net of any unrealized losses where the company has a legally enforceable right of setoff.
The Utilities had $26 million of credit exposure in connection with energy supply and hedging activities, net of collateral, at December 31, 2009, of which $4 million was with investment grade counterparties and $22 million was with commodity exchange brokers.
Con Edisons competitive energy businesses had $150 million of credit exposure in connection with energy supply and hedging activities, net of collateral, at December 31, 2009, of which $118 million was with investment grade counterparties and $32 million was with commodity exchange brokers or independent system operators.
Investment Risk
The Companies investment risk relates to the investment of plan assets for their pension and other postretirement benefit plans. See Application of Critical Accounting Policies Accounting for Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits, above. The Companies current investment policy for pension plan assets includes investment targets of 65 percent equities and 35 percent fixed income and other securities. At December 31, 2009, the pension plan investments consisted of 67 percent equity and 33 percent fixed income and other securities.
Environmental Matters
For information concerning climate change, environmental sustainability, potential liabilities arising from laws and regulations protecting the environment and other environmental matters, see Environmental Matters in Item 1 and Note G to the financial statements in Item 8.
55 |
Impact of Inflation
The Companies are affected by the decline in the purchasing power of the dollar caused by inflation. Regulation permits the Utilities to recover through depreciation only the historical cost of their plant assets even though in an inflationary economy the cost to replace the assets upon their retirement will substantially exceed historical costs. The impact is, however, partially offset by the repayment of the Companies long-term debt in dollars of lesser value than the dollars originally borrowed.
Material Contingencies
For information concerning potential liabilities arising from the Companies material contingencies, see Application of Critical Accounting Policies Accounting for Contingencies, above, and Notes B, G, H, J and L to the financial statements in Item 8.
Results of Operations
Results of operations reflect, among other things, the Companies accounting policies (see Application of Critical Accounting Policies, above) and rate plans that limit the rates the Utilities can charge their customers (see Utility Regulation in Item 1). Under the revenue decoupling mechanisms currently applicable to CECONYs electric and gas businesses and O&Rs electric and gas businesses in New York, the Utilities delivery revenues generally will not be affected by changes in delivery volumes from levels assumed when rates were approved. Revenues for CECONYs steam business and O&Rs businesses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are affected by changes in delivery volumes resulting from weather, economic conditions and other factors. See Note B to the financial statements in Item 8.
The Companies results of operations for 2009, as compared with 2008, reflect changes in the Utilities rate plans (including additional revenues designed to recover increases in certain operations and maintenance expenses, depreciation and property taxes, interest charges and the impact of revenue decoupling mechanisms), a regulatory reserve in December 2009 relating to the NYSPSCs review of capital spent during the period April 2005 through March 2008, and the operating results of the competitive energy businesses (including net mark-to-market effects). The results of operations for 2009 as compared with 2008 include a higher allowed return for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2009, offset in part by a lower allowed electric return on common equity for CECONY for the first quarter of 2009. Operations and maintenance expenses were higher in 2009 compared with 2008 reflecting primarily higher costs, which are generally reflected in rates, such as pension and other postretirement benefits and uncollectible accounts that were offset in part by austerity initiatives reflecting the general economic downturn. Depreciation and property taxes were higher in 2009 compared with 2008 reflecting primarily the impact from increased capital expenditures and higher property tax rates. Results of operations for 2008 include the gain on the sale of ownership interests in electricity generating plants, the impact of discontinued operations and resolution of litigation with Northeast Utilities. For additional information about major factors affecting earnings, see Results of Operations Summary, above.
In general, the Utilities recover on a current basis the fuel, gas purchased for resale and purchased power costs they incur in supplying energy to their full-service customers (see Recoverable Energy Costs in Note A and Regulatory Matters in Note B to the financial statements in Item 8). Accordingly, such costs do not generally affect the Companies results of operations. Management uses the term net revenues (operating revenues less such costs) to identify changes in operating revenues that may affect the Companies results of operations. Management believes that, although net revenues may not be a measure determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the measure facilitates the analysis by management and investors of the Companies results of operations.
A discussion of the results of operations by principal business segment for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 follows. For additional business segment financial information, see Note N to the financial statements in Item 8.
56 |
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2008
The Companies results of operations (which were discussed above under Results of Operations Summary) in 2009 compared with 2008 were:
CECONY | O&R | Competitive Energy |
Con Edison(b) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars) | Increases (Decreases) Amount |
Increases (Decreases) Percent |
Increases (Decreases) Amount |
Increases (Decreases) Percent |
Increases (Decreases) Amount |
Increases (Decreases) Percent |
Increases (Decreases) Amount |
Increases (Decreases) Percent |
||||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | (388 | ) | (3.7 | )% | $ | (101 | ) | (10.2 | )% | $ | (62 | ) | (2.9 | )% | $ | (551 | ) | (4.1 | )% | ||||||||
Purchased power |
(602 | ) | (18.9 | ) | (105 | ) | (24.2 | ) | (266 | ) | (12.5 | ) | (973 | ) | (16.9 | ) | ||||||||||||
Fuel |
(157 | ) | (23.8 | ) | N/A | N/A | (3 | ) | Large | (160 | ) | (24.1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Gas purchased for resale |
(181 | ) | (18.1 | ) | (23 | ) | (14.5 | ) | (5 | ) | (35.7 | ) | (209 | ) | (17.8 | ) | ||||||||||||
Operating revenues less purchased power, fuel and gas purchased for resale (net revenues) |
552 | 9.9 | 27 | 6.8 | 212 | Large | 791 | 13.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other operations and maintenance |
249 | 12.9 | 25 | 11.3 | 22 | 22.0 | 296 | 13.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
72 | 10.7 | 2 | 5.0 | | | 74 | 10.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Taxes, other than income taxes |
182 | 14.0 | 1 | 2.3 | (2 | ) | (12.5 | ) | 181 | 13.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of ownership interests in electricity generating plants |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | (261 | ) | Large | (261 | ) | Large | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating income |
49 | 2.9 | (1 | ) | (1.1 | ) | (69 | ) | (43.1 | ) | (21 | ) | (1.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other income less deductions |
17 | Large | (1 | ) | (33.3 | ) | (66 | ) | Large | (50 | ) | (61.7 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net interest expense |
61 | 12.4 | | | 6 | 25.0 | 67 | 12.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations, before taxes |
5 | 0.4 | (2 | ) | (2.9 | ) | (141 | ) | (71.2 | ) | (138 | ) | (9.5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Incomes taxes |
7 | 1.8 | 2 | 8.3 | (90 | ) | (87.4 | ) | (84 | ) | (16.0 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax(c) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | (274 | ) | Large | (274 | ) | Large | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income for common stock |
$ | (2 | ) | (0.3 | )% | $ | (1 | ) | (2.3 | )% | $ | (325 | ) | (88.1 | )% | $ | (328 | ) | (27.4 | )% |
(a) | Includes inter-company and parent company accounting. |
(b) | Represents the consolidated financial results of Con Edison and its businesses. |
(c) | See Note U to the financial statements in Item 8. |
CECONY
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009 |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2008 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars) | Electric | Gas | Steam | 2009 Total |
Electric | Gas | Steam | 2008 Total |
2009-2008 Variation |
|||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 7,674 | $ | 1,701 | $ | 661 | $ | 10,036 | $ | 7,878 | $ | 1,839 | $ | 707 | $ | 10,424 | $ | (388 | ) | |||||||||
Purchased power |
2,529 | | 54 | 2,583 | 3,092 | | 93 | 3,185 | (602 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Fuel |
247 | | 256 | 503 | 376 | | 284 | 660 | (157 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Gas purchased for resale |
| 818 | | 818 | | 999 | | 999 | (181 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net revenues |
4,898 | 883 | 351 | 6,132 | 4,410 | 840 | 330 | 5,580 | 552 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance |
1,734 | 281 | 171 | 2,186 | 1,518 | 261 | 158 | 1,937 | 249 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
587 | 98 | 59 | 744 | 521 | 90 | 61 | 672 | 72 | |||||||||||||||||||
Taxes, other than income taxes |
1,209 | 195 | 82 | 1,486 | 1,038 | 186 | 80 | 1,304 | 182 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating income |
$ | 1,368 | $ | 309 | $ | 39 | $ | 1,716 | $ | 1,333 | $ | 303 | $ | 31 | $ | 1,667 | $ | 49 |
57 |
Electric
CECONYs results of electric operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with the year ended December 31, 2008 is as follows:
Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars) | December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | |||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 7,674 | $ | 7,878 | $ | (204 | ) | |||
Purchased power |
2,529 | 3,092 | (563 | ) | ||||||
Fuel |
247 | 376 | (129 | ) | ||||||
Net revenues |
4,898 | 4,410 | 488 | |||||||
Operations and maintenance |
1,734 | 1,518 | 216 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
587 | 521 | 66 | |||||||
Taxes, other than income taxes |
1,209 | 1,038 | 171 | |||||||
Electric operating income |
$ | 1,368 | $ | 1,333 | $ | 35 |
CECONYs electric sales and deliveries, excluding off-system sales, in 2009 compared with 2008 were:
Millions of kWhs Delivered | Revenues in Millions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Twelve Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Description | December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | Percent Variation |
December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | Percent Variation |
|||||||||||||||
Residential/Religious(a) |
10,952 | 11,720 | (768 | ) | (6.6 | )% | $ | 2,583 | $ | 2,834 | $ | (251 | ) | (8.9 | )% | ||||||||
Commercial/Industrial |
12,457 | 12,852 | (395 | ) | (3.1 | ) | 2,444 | 2,720 | (276 | ) | (10.1 | ) | |||||||||||
Retail access customers |
21,859 | 22,047 | (188 | ) | (0.9 | ) | 1,855 | 1,507 | 348 | 23.1 | |||||||||||||
NYPA, Municipal Agency and other sales |
11,399 | 11,704 | (305 | ) | (2.6 | ) | 457 | 413 | 44 | 10.7 | |||||||||||||
Other operating revenues |
| | | | 335 | 404 | (69 | ) | (17.1 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total |
56,667 | 58,323 | (1,656 | ) | (2.8 | )% | $ | 7,674 | $ | 7,878 | $ | (204 | ) | (2.6 | )% |
(a) | Residential/Religious generally includes single-family dwellings, individual apartments in multi-family dwellings, religious organizations and certain other not-for-profit organizations. |
CECONYs electric operating revenues decreased $204 million in 2009 compared with 2008 due primarily to lower purchased power ($563 million) and fuel costs ($129 million), offset in part by the 2009 electric rate plan ($368 million, which among other things, reflected a 10.0 percent return on common equity, effective April 2009, as compared with the 9.1 percent return previously reflected in rates) and an accrual for the revenue decoupling mechanism ($124 million). Effective April 2008, CECONYs revenues from electric sales are subject to a revenue decoupling mechanism, as a result of which delivery revenues generally are not affected by changes in delivery volumes from levels assumed when rates were approved. Other electric operating revenues generally reflect changes in regulatory assets and liabilities in accordance with the revenue decoupling mechanism and other provisions of the companys rate plans. See Note B to the financial statements in Item 8.
Electric delivery volumes in CECONYs service area decreased 2.8 percent in 2009 compared with 2008. After adjusting for variations, principally weather and billing days, electric delivery volumes in CECONYs service area decreased 1.7 percent in 2009 compared with 2008, reflecting the impact of lower average normalized use per customer.
CECONYs electric purchased power costs decreased $563 million in 2009 compared with 2008 due to a decrease in unit costs ($480 million) and purchased volumes ($83 million). Electric fuel costs decreased $129 million in 2009 compared with 2008 due to lower unit costs ($88 million) and sendout volumes from the companys electric generating facilities ($41 million).
58 |
CECONYs electric operating income increased $35 million in 2009 compared with 2008. The increase reflects primarily higher net revenues ($488 million, due primarily to the electric rate plan, including the collection of a surcharge for a New York State assessment and the recovery of higher pension expense), offset by higher operations and maintenance costs ($216 million, due primarily to the surcharge for a New York State assessment ($108 million), higher pension expense ($80 million) and higher write-offs of uncollectible accounts ($11 million)), taxes other than income taxes ($171 million, principally property taxes) and depreciation ($66 million).
Gas
CECONYs results of gas operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with the year ended December 31, 2008 is as follows:
Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars) | December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | |||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 1,701 | $ | 1,839 | $ | (138 | ) | |||
Gas purchased for resale |
818 | 999 | (181 | ) | ||||||
Net revenues |
883 | 840 | 43 | |||||||
Operations and maintenance |
281 | 261 | 20 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
98 | 90 | 8 | |||||||
Taxes, other than income taxes |
195 | 186 | 9 | |||||||
Gas operating income |
$ | 309 | $ | 303 | $ | 6 |
CECONYs gas sales and deliveries, excluding off-system sales, in 2009 compared with 2008 were:
Thousands of dths Delivered | Revenues in Millions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Twelve Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Description | December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | Percent Variation |
December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | Percent Variation |
|||||||||||||||
Residential |
39,749 | 40,195 | (446 | ) | (1.1 | )% | $ | 808 | $ | 850 | $ | (42 | ) | (4.9 | )% | ||||||||
General |
28,245 | 28,748 | (503 | ) | (1.7 | ) | 421 | 482 | (61 | ) | (12.7 | ) | |||||||||||
Firm transportation |
48,671 | 43,245 | 5,426 | 12.5 | 266 | 202 | 64 | 31.7 | |||||||||||||||
Total firm sales and transportation |
116,665 | 112,188 | 4,477 | 4.0 | 1,495 | 1,534 | (39 | ) | (2.5 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interruptible sales |
8,225 | 11,220 | (2,995 | ) | (26.7 | ) | 75 | 138 | (63 | ) | (45.7 | ) | |||||||||||
NYPA |
37,764 | 44,694 | (6,930 | ) | (15.5 | ) | 4 | 4 | | | |||||||||||||
Generation plants |
68,157 | 74,082 | (5,925 | ) | (8.0 | ) | 34 | 55 | (21 | ) | (38.2 | ) | |||||||||||
Other |
18,297 | 20,004 | (1,707 | ) | (8.5 | ) | 39 | 30 | 9 | 30.0 | |||||||||||||
Other operating revenues |
| | | | 54 | 78 | (24 | ) | (30.8 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total |
249,108 | 262,188 | (13,080 | ) | (5.0 | )% | $ | 1,701 | $ | 1,839 | $ | (138 | ) | (7.5 | )% |
CECONYs gas operating revenues decreased $138 million in 2009 compared with 2008 due primarily to a decrease in gas purchased for resale costs ($181 million), offset in part by the 2008 gas rate plan ($59 million). CECONYs revenues from gas sales are subject to a weather normalization clause and a revenue decoupling mechanism as a result of which delivery revenues are generally not affected by changes in delivery volumes from levels assumed when rates were approved. Other gas operating revenues generally reflect changes in regulatory assets and liabilities in accordance with the companys rate plans. See Note B to the financial statements in Item 8.
CECONYs sales and transportation volumes for firm customers increased 4.0 percent in 2009 compared with 2008. After adjusting for variations, principally weather and billing days, firm gas sales and transportation volumes in the companys service area increased 2.4 percent in 2009, reflecting primarily new business and transfers of interruptible customers to firm service, offset in part by lower average normalized use per customer.
59 |
CECONYs purchased gas cost decreased $181 million in 2009 compared with 2008 due to lower unit costs ($152 million) and sendout volumes ($29 million).
CECONYs gas operating income increased $6 million in 2009 compared with 2008. The increase reflects primarily higher net revenues ($43 million), offset by higher operations and maintenance expense ($20 million, due primarily to a surcharge for a New York State assessment ($15 million)), taxes other than income taxes ($9 million, principally property taxes) and depreciation ($8 million).
Steam
CECONYs results of steam operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with the year ended December 31, 2008 is as follows:
Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||
(Millions of Dollars) | December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | |||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 661 | $ | 707 | $ | (46 | ) | |||
Purchased power |
54 | 93 | (39 | ) | ||||||
Fuel |
256 | 284 | (28 | ) | ||||||
Net revenues |
351 | 330 | 21 | |||||||
Operations and maintenance |
171 | 158 | 13 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
59 | 61 | (2 | ) | ||||||
Taxes, other than income taxes |
82 | 80 | 2 | |||||||
Steam operating income |
$ | 39 | $ | 31 | $ | 8 |
CECONYs steam sales and deliveries in 2009 compared with 2008 were:
Millions of Pounds Delivered | Revenues in Millions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Twelve Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Description | December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | Percent Variation |
December 31, 2009 |
December 31, 2008 |
Variation | Percent Variation |
|||||||||||||||
General |
786 | 785 | 1 | 0.1 | % | $ | 28 |