94-6325. Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (``Act'')  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-6325]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: March 18, 1994]
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    [Release No. 35-26001]
    
     
    
    Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 
    (``Act'')
    
    March 11, 1994.
        Notice is hereby given that the following filing(s) has/have been 
    made with the Commission pursuant to provisions of the Act and rules 
    promulgated thereunder. All interested persons are referred to the 
    application(s) and/or declaration(s) for complete statements of the 
    proposed transaction(s) summarized below. The application(s) and/or 
    declaration(s) and any amendments thereto is/are available for public 
    inspection through the Commission's Office of Public Reference.
        Interested persons wishing to comment or request a hearing on the 
    application(s) and/or declaration(s) should submit their views in 
    writing by April 4, 1994 to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange 
    Commission, Washington, DC 20549, and serve a copy on the relevant 
    applicant(s) and/or declarant(s) at the address(es) specified below. 
    Proof of service (by affidavit or, in case of an attorney at law, by 
    certificate) should be filed with the request. Any request for hearing 
    shall identify specifically the issues of factor law that are disputed. 
    A person who so requests will be notified of any hearing, if ordered, 
    and will receive a copy of any notice or order issued in the matter. 
    After said date, the application(s) and/or declaration(s), as filed or 
    as amended, may be granted and/or permitted to become effective.
    
    CNG Natural Gas Company, et al. (70-7258)
    
        Consolidated Natural Gas Company (``CNG''), a registered holding 
    company, CNG Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3199, and its wholly 
    owned nonutility subsidiary companies, CNG Research Company, 
    Consolidated System LNG Company, Consolidated Natural Gas Service 
    Company, Inc. (``Service'') and CNG Energy Company, located at CNG 
    Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3199; CNG Coal Company, CNG 
    Producing Company and its subsidiary company, CNG Pipeline Company 
    (``Pipeline''), located at CNG Tower, 1450 Poydras Street, New Orleans, 
    Louisiana 70112-6000, CNG Transmission Corporation (``Transmission''), 
    CNG Storage Service Company (``Storage'') and CNG Iroquois, Inc. 
    (``Iroquois''), located at 445 West Main Street, Clarksburg, West 
    Virginia 26301; CNG Gas Services Corporation, One Park Ridge Center, 
    P.O. Box 15746, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15244-0746; and Consolidated's 
    public-utility subsidiary companies, The Peoples Natural Gas Company, 
    GNG Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15244-0746; The East Ohio Gas 
    Company, 1717 East Ninth Street, Cleveland Ohio 44115; The River Gas 
    Company, 324 Fourth Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750; Virginia Natural Gas, 
    Inc. (''VNG''), 5100 East Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 
    23501-3488; Hope Gas, Inc., P.O. Box 2868, Clarksburg, West Virginia 
    26302-2868; and West Ohio Gas Company, 319 West Market Street, Lima, 
    Ohio 45802 (collectively, ``Subsidiaries''), have filed a post-
    effective amendment to an application-declaration pursuant to Sections 
    6(a), 7, 9(a), 10 and 12(b) of the Act and Rules 43 and 45 thereunder.
        By orders dated June 12, 1986 and July 16, 1986, HCAR No. 24128 and 
    24150 (``Original Orders''), respectively, CNG and all except five of 
    the subsidiaries were authorized to establish the Consolidated System 
    Money Pool (``Money Pool''). By order dated May 27, 1987 (HCAR No. 
    24399), Pipeline and Service were authorized to become participants in 
    the Money Pool. By order dated February 14, 1990 (HCAR No. 25040), VNG 
    was authorized to become a participant in the Money Pool. By order 
    dated May 13, 1991 (HCAR No. 25311), Storage was authorized to become a 
    participant in the Money Pool. Iroquois now requests authorization 
    through June 30, 1996 to participate in the Money Pool on the same 
    terms and under the same conditions as previously authorized by the 
    Commission in the Original Orders.
        Funds taken from and provided to the Money Pool would be made in 
    the form of open account advances. Open account advances would be 
    repayable not more than one year from the date of the first advance. If 
    no such borrowings are outstanding on the date of any advance, then the 
    interest rate would be the Federal Funds' effective rate of interest as 
    quoted daily by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
        By order dated July 6, 1993 (HCAR No. 25845), the Commission 
    authorized Transmission to provide Iroquois with up to $20 million in 
    funds (``Transmission Advances'') through either purchases of common 
    stock or through short-term loans. The aggregate outstanding amount of 
    funds obtained by Iroquois from the Money Pool, together with 
    Transmission Advances, would not at any time exceed $20 million.
        Additionally, CNG and the Subsidiaries request authority to change 
    the interest rate on outstanding borrowings by participants in the 
    Money Pool. The current rate charged to borrowers from the Money Pool 
    equals the effective short-term borrowing costs of CNG, as stated in 
    the Original Orders. CNG and the Subsidiaries request authority to 
    change this rate to a rate equal to the effective weighted average rate 
    of interest on CNG's commercial paper and/or revolving credit 
    borrowings.
    
    Gulf Power Company, et al. (70-7294)
    
        Gulf Power Company (``Gulf''), 500 Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, 
    Florida 32501 and Mississippi Power Company (``Mississippi'') 
    (together, ``Applicants''), 2993 West Beach, Gulfport, Mississippi 
    39501, electric utility subsidiary companies of The Southern Company, a 
    registered holding company, have filed a post-effective amendment under 
    section 6(a), 7, 9(a), 10, 12(b), 12(c) and 12(d) and Rules 42, 45 and 
    50(a)(5) thereunder to their declaration previously filed under 
    sections 6(a), 7 and 12(b) and Rules 45 and 50(a)(5) thereunder.
        Mississippi and Gulf are joint owners, as tenants in common, of 
    Plant Daniel, an electric generating facility in Jackson, Mississippi. 
    By order dated December 16, 1986 (HCAR No. 24261), the Commission 
    authorized Mississippi, acting as agent for Gulf, to enter into various 
    transactions with Fuelco, a special purpose subsidiary of the 
    Corporation Trinity Company, a nonassociated company, to finance 
    Termination and Closure Payments relating to the termination of 
    existing coal supply contracts and its entrance into new lower cost 
    arrangements for the supply of coal to Plant Daniel. In this regard, 
    Fuelco issued notes (``Notes'') in the aggregate principal amount of 
    $121.325 million to private investors, which mature on December 31, 
    1995 and bear interest at an 8.25% annual rate, payable semi-annually. 
    Mississippi borrowed the proceeds from the sale of the notes and issued 
    a secured note (``Secured Note'') to Fuelco in the same principal 
    amount and containing the same terms and conditions. The aggregate 
    unpaid principal amount of the Notes is approximately $35 million. The 
    Notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time on or after 
    January 1, 1994 at 101.03% of the principal amount thereof during 1994 
    and 100.00% of such principal amount during 1995, together in each case 
    with accrued interest to the prepayment date.
        The Applicants now propose to refinance the Notes and the Secured 
    Note by: (1) Having Fuelco, or another similar special purpose 
    corporation, issue and sell, on or before December 31, 1994, up to $36 
    million aggregate principal amount of new notes (``Refunding Notes'') 
    maturing on December 31, 1995; and (2) Mississippi issuing a new 
    Secured Note in the same principal amount as the Refunding Notes and 
    containing the same terms and conditions. The proceeds from the sale of 
    the Refunding Notes would be applied to the prepayment of the 
    outstanding Notes. While the interest rate to be borne by the Refunding 
    Notes has not been determined at this time, it is anticipated based 
    upon current market conditions and rate levels that such rate would not 
    exceed 5\1/2\% per annum. The Refunding Notes would not be prepayable 
    prior to maturity.
        As an alternative for refinancing the Notes, it is proposed that 
    Mississippi may effect borrowings of up to $36 million from a bank or 
    banks or other institutional lender or lenders. Such borrowings may be 
    evidenced by Mississippi's promissory note or notes, may be secured by 
    a subordinated lien on certain properties of Mississippi, would have a 
    final maturity of December 31, 1995, and would not be prepayable. As in 
    the case of the Refunding Notes, it is currently anticipated that the 
    interest rate of such borrowings would not exceed 5\1/2\% per annum. 
    The proceeds from such borrowings would be loaned to Fuelco and applied 
    to the prepayment of the outstanding Notes. The obligation of Fuelco to 
    repay such loan may be evidenced by a note issued to Mississippi the 
    payments on which would correspond to the payments due on Mississippi's 
    note or notes described above and would be included in the minimum 
    payments owing under the existing coal supply agreement between Fuelco 
    and Mississippi.
        Gulf will be responsible for one-half of all costs incurred by 
    Mississippi pursuant to the arrangements proposed herein, in accordance 
    with the agreement between the parties relating to Plant Daniel (HCAR 
    No. 19696, September 28, 1976).
        The refinancing will not be consummated unless the estimated 
    present value savings derived from the net difference between interest 
    payments on the obligations to be issued for refunding purposes and the 
    outstanding Notes is, on an after-tax basis, greater than the present 
    value of all prepayment and issuance costs, assuming an appropriate 
    discount rate. Such discount rate is based on the estimated after-tax 
    interest rate on the obligations issued for refunding purposes.
    
    EUA Energy Investment Corp. (70-7426)
    
        EUA Energy Investment Corp. (``EEIC''), P.O. Box 2333, Boston, 
    Massachusetts 02107, a wholly-owned, non-utility subsidiary company of 
    Eastern Utilities Associates (``EUA''), a registered holding company, 
    has filed a post-effective amendment to its application-declaration 
    under Sections 6(a), 7, 9(a), 10, 12(b) and 13(b) of the Act and Rules 
    43(a), 45(a), 86, 87, 90 and 91 promulgated thereunder. EEIC requests 
    authorization to invest up to $5 million in energy and energy 
    conservation research.
        By order dated December 4, 1987 (HCAR No. 24515), which was amended 
    on January 11, 1988 (HCAR No. 24515-A) (``Amended Order''), EUA was 
    authorized to establish EEIC to participate in the development of 
    cogeneration and small power production facilities and to engage in 
    energy and energy conservation research. EUA also was authorized to 
    invest up to $25 million in EEIC, which itself was authorized to invest 
    up to $2 million in energy and energy conservation research. To date, 
    EEIC has invested about $1.85 million in energy and energy conservation 
    research.
        EEIC now requests authorization to invest, through December 31, 
    1999, up to $5 million in energy and energy conservation research, 
    which funds it would acquire from the $25 million that the Amended 
    Order authorized EUA to invest in EEIC. EEIC contemplates that it will 
    engage in research relative to new generation technology, new 
    transformer efficiency and design, air quality management, and electric 
    vehicle development. The post-effective amendment states that any 
    acquisition of securities by EEIC or any subsidiary or affiliate of 
    EEIC using any or all of the research and development funds requested 
    will remain subject to Commission jurisdiction.
    
    Central Power and Light Co., et al. (70-8327)
    
        Central Power and Light Company (``CP&L''), 539 North Carancahua 
    Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401; Public Service Company of Oklahoma 
    (``PSCO''), P.O. Box 201, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74102; Southwestern Electric 
    Power Company (``SWEPCO''), 428 Travis Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 
    71101; and West Texas Utilities Company (``WTUC''), 301 Cypress Street, 
    Abilene, Texas 79601-5820, all of which are electric public utility 
    subsidiaries of Central and South West Corporation, a registered 
    holding company, have filed an application pursuant to Sections 9(a) 
    and 10 of the Act.
        CP&L, PSCO, SWEPCO, and WTUC (``Applicants'') propose to engage in 
    meter reading, billing, and collecting services (``Services'') to non-
    affiliate companies through December 31, 1997. The non-affiliate 
    companies include non-affiliated water, gas and electric utilities, 
    cooperatives, towns, cities, counties, water authorities and other 
    entities located in or closely adjacent to the service territories of 
    the Applicants.
        In 1992, Tulsa, Oklahoma requested that PSCO assess whether it 
    would be feasible for PSCO to provide the Services on behalf of Tulsa. 
    PSCO has estimated that it will require nine or ten additional 
    employees to provide Tulsa with the Services. For the five year period 
    1994-1998, PCSO expects that the average annual revenues from the 
    Services will be about $534,000 and the average cost thereof--based on 
    annual bills of $534,000--will be about $493,000. Other Oklahoma cities 
    have expressed an interest in the Services through PSCO.
        PSCO first proposes to conclude a contract with Tulsa. Second, PSCO 
    proposes to market the Services to other non-affiliate companies within 
    six months thereafter through PSCO employees responsible for customer 
    service, community relations, and business development as well as 
    through printed materials. PSO will market the Services tailored to 
    meet the customer requirements of non-affiliate companies.
        The Applicants state that revenues and expenses from the Services, 
    which will be non-utility activities, will be accounted for in 
    accordance with accepted principles and will conform to the FERC 
    Uniform System of Accounts, 18 CFR part 101. The Applicants state they 
    believe that the Services can be provided with margins that would 
    provide them with positive cash flows. The Applicants state that the 
    Services would not be provided to non-affiliate companies for less than 
    cost.
    
    Appalachian Power Company, et al. (70-8347)
    
        Appalachian Power Company (``Appalachian''), 40 Franklin Road, 
    Roanoke, Virginia 24022, Columbus Southern Power Company 
    (``Columbus''), 215 North Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, and Ohio 
    Power Company (``Ohio Power''), 301 Cleveland Avenue SW., Canton, Ohio 
    44702, all electric public-utility subsidiary companies of American 
    Electric Power Company, Inc., a registered holding company, have filed 
    a declaration under Section 12(c) of the Act and Rule 42 thereunder.
        Appalachian, Columbus, and Ohio Power intend to issue and sell, in 
    one or more series through June 30, 1995 shares of their cumulative 
    preferred stock (``Stock'') up to $30 million (no par), $100 million 
    (par value $25 per share and/or $100 per share), and $85 million (par 
    value $25 per share and/or $100 per share), respectively, under Rule 
    52. If market conditions require, Applicants propose to include a 
    redemption provision and/or a sinking fund with their sale of the 
    Stock, and request authorization from the Commission to acquire or 
    redeem such Stock through the operation of such redemption provision 
    and/or sinking fund.
        Should the Stock include a redemption provision, the Stock would 
    not otherwise be redeemable at the option of Applicants for a period 
    ending on a date occurring up to 15 years following the date of its 
    issuance. Alternatively, Applicants may provide in the terms of the 
    Stock that the Stock would not be redeemable at the option of 
    Applicants for a period of up to 15 years if the monies for such 
    redemption are obtained by Applicants through a borrowing or issuance 
    of stock at an effective interest rate or dividend cost to Applicants 
    of less than the dividend rate per annum of such Stock. After the 
    expiration of such non-redemption or non-refunding period, such Stock 
    may be redeemable at Applicants' option at a price per share equal to 
    the stated value thereof together with accrued dividends to the date of 
    redemption, plus 100% of the dividend rate, declining annually on a 
    straight-line or other formula basis until arriving at the stated value 
    thereof, and thereafter at the stated value thereof. Applicants state 
    that they will not exercise any right of redemption by using the 
    proceeds of any new issue of securities unless the estimated present 
    value savings (derived from the net difference between interest or 
    dividend payments on a new issue of comparable securities and on the 
    cumulative preferred stock to be redeemed) is, on an after-tax basis, 
    greater than the present value of all redemption and issuing costs, 
    assuming an appropriate discount rate.
        Should the Stock be subject to a sinking fund, Applicants may be 
    required, after the expiration of a non-redemption or non-refunding 
    period, to annually redeem a number of the shares of the Stock equal to 
    between 5% and 20% of the number of shares of Stock initially issued. 
    In addition, Applicants may, at their option, redeem on any such date 
    an additional equivalent amount of Stock. The price of such shares 
    subject to the sinking fund would be the price per share equal to the 
    stated value thereof together with accrued dividends to the date of 
    redemption. The Stock also may be subject to a final balloon sinking 
    fund payment which would require Applicants to redeem at per share 
    equal to the stated value thereof, together with accrued dividends to 
    the date of redemption, a number of the shares of the Stock of up to 
    80% of the number issued.
    
    CECo Holding Company (70-8353)
    
        CECo Holding Company (``CECo''), 37th Floor, 10 South Dearborn 
    Street, P.O. Box 767, Chicago, Illinois 60690-0767, a wholly owned 
    subsidiary company of Commonwealth Edison Company (``Edison''), an 
    Illinois public-utility holding company exempt from registration under 
    section 3(a)(1) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 
    (``Act'') by order and pursuant to rule 2, has filed an application 
    under sections 3(a)(1), 9(a)(2) and 10 of the Act in connection with 
    the proposed acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of 
    Edison and, indirectly, Commonwealth Edison Company of Indiana, Inc. 
    (``Indiana Company''), an Indiana electric public-utility subsidiary 
    company of Edison.\1\
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        \1\Edison is engaged in the production, purchase, transmission, 
    distribution, and sale of electricity in Illinois. It serves 
    approximately 3.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial 
    customers in an area of approximately 11, 540 square miles. Indiana 
    Company owns generation and transmission facilities in Indiana. It 
    is engaged primarily in the sale of electricity at wholesale to 
    Edison.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        CECo requests an order approving the proposed acquisition of 
    interests in Edison and Indiana Company under sections 9(a)(2) and 10, 
    and granting an exemption under section 3(a)(1) from all provisions of 
    the Act, except section 9(a)(2).
        CECO's proposed acquisition of the common stock of Edison and the 
    Indiana Company (``Acquisition'') is part of a corporate restructuring 
    in which CECo will become a holding company over Edison. CECo states 
    that the proposed restructuring is intended to permit Edison affiliates 
    to engage in nonutility businesses in competition with other 
    unregulated companies while protecting Edison and its ratepayers.
        CECo and its wholly owned subsidiary, CECo Merging Corporation 
    (``Merging Corp.''), were incorporated under Illinois law for the 
    purpose of carrying out the proposed restructuring. Neither CECo nor 
    Merging Corp. owns any utility assets or engages in any business. 
    Edison and the Indiana Company are ``electric utilities'' as defined in 
    section 2(a)(3) of the Act and ``public utilities'' as defined in 
    section 2(a)(5) of the Act.
        Applicant proposes to accomplish the Acquisition through a merger 
    (``Merger'') of Edison and Merging Corp., with Edison as the surviving 
    corporation. As a result of the Merger, the common stock of Merging 
    Corp. owned by CECo would be converted into common stock of Edison; the 
    outstanding common stock of Edison would be converted, on a share-for-
    share basis, into common stock of CECo; and Edison would become a 
    subsidiary of CECo.
        CECo proposes that there will be no exchange of, or any change to, 
    the outstanding preferred and preference stock, warrants and debt of 
    Edison in connection with the restructuring. Following the 
    restructuring Edison preferred stock and warrants will continue to be 
    convertible into shares of Edison common stock, creating a possible 
    minority interest in Edison common stock.
        CECo states that following the consummation of the Merger, it will 
    be a public-utility holding company entitled to an exemption under 
    section 3(a)(1) of the Act from all of the provisions of the Act, 
    except for section 9(a)(2), because it and each of its public utility 
    subsidiaries from which it derives a material part of its income will 
    be predominantly intrastate in character and will carry on their 
    businesses substantially within the State of Illinois. CECo states that 
    Indiana Company will not provide it with a material part of its income. 
    Following the Acquisition, Edison will remain a holding company exempt 
    from registration under section 3(a)(1.).
        For the year ended December 31, 1992, Indiana Company represented 
    approximately 1.2% of Edison's consolidated operating revenues, 1.0% of 
    consolidated net income, 0.4% of consolidated net utility plant, and 
    0.6% of consolidated total assets.
        Edison also has six wholly owned non-utility subsidiaries. All but 
    one, CECo Enterprises, Inc. (``CECo Enterprises''), will remain Edison 
    subsidiaries subsequent to the Acquisition. CECo Enterprises was 
    recently established by Edison to provide, through subsidiaries, 
    unregulated energy-related services to Edison's customers and others. 
    Following the Acquisition, Edison will transfer the stock of CECo 
    Enterprises to CECo.
    
    Central and South West Corp. (70-8357)
    
        Central and South West Corporation (``CSW''), 1616 Woodall Rodgers 
    Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75202, a registered holding company, has filed a 
    declaration under Sections 6(a) and 7 of the Act and Rule 50(a)(5) 
    thereunder.
        CSW proposes to issue and sell up to 11 million shares of its 
    authorized and unissued Common Stock, par value $3.50 per share 
    (``Additional Common Stock''), as well as provide net proceeds to it of 
    approximately $300 million, in one or more issues from time-to-time 
    through December 31, 1996. CSW will issue and sell shares of Additional 
    Common Stock under the competitive bidding procedures of Rule 50 of the 
    Act, as modified, by the Commission's Statement of Policy Concerning 
    the Application of Rule 50 under the Public Utility Holding Company Act 
    of 1935, dated September 2, 1982 (HCAR No. 22623), or in negotiated 
    sales to underwriters pursuant to an exception from the competitive 
    bidding requirements of Rule 50 under subsection (a)(5).
        As of December 31, 1983, CSW has common stock equity of $1.849 
    billion, consolidated total capitalization of $4.108 billion and 
    consolidated short-term debt of $110.3 million. As of December 31, 
    1993, CSW had common stock equity of $2.930 billion, consolidated 
    short-term debt of $110.3 million. As of December 31, 1993, CSW had 
    common stock equity of $2.930 billion, consolidated total 
    capitalization of $6.042 billion and consolidated short-term debt of 
    $769 million.
        At December 31, 1993, CSW's consolidated capitalization ratios were 
    48.5% common stock equity; 5.8% preferred stock; and45.7% long-term 
    debt. In order to keep its capital ratios at the appropriate levels to 
    support its growth and to support the credit rating of its 
    subsidiaries' outstanding securities, CSW desires to issue the 
    Additional Common Stock.
        CSW intends to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the 
    Additional Common Stock to reduce short-term debt. Although CSW's 
    current intention is to apply all net proceeds to reduce its short-term 
    debt, any proceeds not used for such purposes would be used for general 
    corporate purposes, including but not limited to capital contributions 
    to its subsidiaries, subject to further authorization by the 
    Commission.
        CSW will not, however, use such proceeds, or any short-term 
    borrowing availability created by the repayment of short-term debt with 
    such proceeds to acquire the securities of or any interest in (1) any 
    exempt wholesale generators, as such term is defined in section 32(e) 
    of the Act (``EWG'') until such time as such investment shall be 
    approved by order or regulation of the Commission or (2) any foreign 
    utility companies, as such term is defined in section 33(a) of the Act 
    (``FUCO'') until such time as such investment shall be approved by 
    order or regulation of the Commission. Neither CSW nor any of its 
    subsidiaries has an ownership interest in an EWG or FUCO, and neither 
    CSW nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to a service, sales or 
    construction agreement with an EWG or FUCO.
        CSW requests an exception from the competitive bidding requirements 
    of Rule 50 under subsection (a)(5) thereunder, and also requests 
    authority to enter into negotiations with potential underwriters with 
    respect to the timing, pricing and other terms and conditions 
    applicable to the Additional Common Stock, subject to receipt of the 
    order of the Commission requested authorizing the issuance and sale of 
    the Additional Common Stock. It may do so.
    
    Central Power and Light Co. (70-8359)
    
        Central Power and Light Company (``Company''), 539 N. Carancahua 
    Street, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78401-2431, an electric utility 
    subsidiary company of Central and South West Corporation, a registered 
    holding company, has filed an application-declaration under sections 
    6(a) 7, 9(a), 10 and 12(c) of the Act of Rules 42 and 50(a)(5) 
    thereunder.
        The Company requests authority to issue and sell in one or more 
    series, through December 31, 1996, up to one million additional shares 
    of its authorized and unissued preferred stock, par value $100 per 
    share (``Additional Preferred Stock'') under the competitive bidding 
    procedures or, in the alternative, in a negotiated underwriting.
        The Company proposes to sell the Additional Preferred Stock as 
    depositary preferred stock if market conditions at the time of issuance 
    and sale are such that preferred stock having an offering price other 
    than $100 per share is likely to have a better market reception than 
    preferred stock having an offering price of $100 per share. In an 
    offering of depositary preferred stock, the Company would issue and 
    sell Additional Preferred Stock to underwriters for deposit with a 
    Depositary. The underwriters would then receive from the Depositary, 
    and deliver to purchasers in a subsequent public offering, receipts 
    (``Depositary Receipts'') evidencing Depositary Preferred Shares, each 
    representing a proportional share of Additional Preferred Stock. Any 
    additional terms of such an arrangement would be established at the 
    time of the proposed issuance.
        The Company requests the flexibility to set the terms and amount of 
    Additional Preferred Stock to be issued at the time of the issuance of 
    any series thereof. The terms of the Additional Preferred Stock may 
    include provisions for mandatory or optional redemption at various 
    prices and may include various restrictions on optional redemption for 
    a specified number of years. The exact terms of any redemption or 
    refunding restrictions would be determined at or about the time of sale 
    of the Additional Preferred Stock.
        Further, the Company may include provisions for a sinking or 
    retirement fund for any series of the Additional Preferred Stock 
    designed to redeem annually, commencing a specified number of years 
    after the first day of the calendar month in which such series is 
    issued, a number of shares specified in such provision. Such provisions 
    may also give the Company the option to credit against any sinking fund 
    requirement shares of Additional Preferred Stock of that series 
    theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company and not 
    previously credited against any sinking fund requirement. Additionally, 
    any such sinking or retirement fund provision may give the Company the 
    option to redeem or purchase on an annual basis up to an additional 
    equivalent amount of the shares so retired pursuant to the sinking or 
    retirement fund requirement. The Company would not expect to determine 
    whether to include a sinking or retirement fund as part of the terms of 
    any series of the Additional Preferred Stock until at or about the time 
    of issuance and sale of such series.
        The Company is requesting authority, for the period during which 
    any shares of the Additional Preferred Stock are outstanding to (1) 
    redeem shares of Additional Preferred Stock in accordance with any 
    mandatory or optional redemption provisions established in any series 
    of the Additional Preferred Stock, and (2) redeem (or purchase in lieu 
    of redemption) shares of Additional Preferred Stock in accordance with 
    any sinking or retirement fund provisions established in any series of 
    the Additional Preferred Stock.
        The proceeds from the sale of the Additional Preferred Stock will 
    be applied to redeem, or reimburse the Company's treasury in connection 
    with the redemption of, all or a portion of one or more series of the 
    Company's outstanding preferred stock, including the Company's 10.05% 
    Preferred Stock, $100 par value and 8.72% Preferred Stock, $100 par 
    value (collectively, ``Old Preferred Stock'') at the then current 
    redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, to the 
    redemption date. Any net proceeds from the issuance of the Additional 
    Preferred Stock not used for the redemption of the Old Preferred Stock, 
    or reimbursement of the Company's treasury, will be used to repay 
    outstanding short-term borrowings that provide working capital or for 
    other general corporate purposes. In the event that the proceeds from 
    the sale of the Additional Preferred Stock are less than the amount 
    required to redeem the Old Preferred Stock, the Company will pay a 
    portion of the redemption price from internally generated funds or 
    available short-term borrowings pursuant to an order of the Commission 
    dated March 31, 1993 (HCAR No. 24777) (``Order'').
        The Company will not redeem the Old Preferred Stock with the 
    proceeds from the sale of the Additional Preferred Stock unless the 
    estimated present value savings derived from the net difference between 
    dividend payments on a hypothetical new issue of preferred stock of a 
    structure comparable to the structure on the Old Preferred Stock is 
    greater, on an after-tax basis, than the present value of all 
    redemption, tendering and issuance costs, assuming a discount rate 
    based on the estimated dividend rate on the Additional Preferred Stock.
        The Company is also requesting authority for the period during 
    which any shares of the Old Preferred Stock are outstanding to 
    repurchase, reacquire or redeem shares of the Old Preferred Stock. The 
    Company will pay for any such repurchase, reacquisition or redemption 
    from the proceeds of the issuance of debt securities approved by the 
    Commission or from internally generated funds or available short-term 
    borrowings as provided in the Order.
    
    Public Service Company of Oklahoma (70-8363)
    
        Public Service Company of Oklahoma (``PSO''), P.O. Box 201, Tulsa, 
    Oklahoma 74119-1212, an electric public-utility subsidiary company of 
    Central and Southwest Corporation, a registered holding company, has 
    filed an application under sections 9(a) and rule 51 thereunder.
        PSO proposes to acquire certain electric distribution facilities 
    (``Facilities'') from the City of Clinton, Oklahoma (``Clinton'') for a 
    cash purchase price of $450,000. The Facilities consist of 
    approximately 890 utility poles, 9.4 circuit miles of underground 
    distribution line, 73 circuit miles of overhead distribution line, 230 
    transformers, 200 street light fixtures, 11 line switches and all 
    apparatus and appurtenances now comprising the electric distribution 
    system within the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Park in Clinton.
        The Facilities are currently being leased to PSO under a lease 
    agreement dated June 26, 1972 for a term of twenty-five years. PSO 
    offered by letter dated December 15, 1993 to purchase the Facilities 
    for a cash purchase price of $450,000. The City of Clinton agreed to 
    these terms by ordinance effective on January 30, 1994.
        The cash to be used to acquire the Facilities will come from PSO's 
    internally generated funds.
    
        For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
    pursuant to delegated authority.
    Margaret H. McFarland,
    Deputy Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 94-6325 Filed 3-17-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/18/1994
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Document Number:
94-6325
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: March 18, 1994, Release No. 35-26001