95-13530. Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (``Act'')  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 28820-28822]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-13530]
    
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    [Release No. 35-26296]
    
    
    Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as 
    amended (``Act'')
    
    May 26, 1995.
        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 June 19, 1995, 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 fact or 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. [[Page 28821]] 
    
    West Texas Utilities Company (70-8057)
    
        West Texas Utilities Company (``WTU''), 301 Cypress Street, 
    Abilene, Texas 79601-5820, a wholly owned electric public-utility 
    subsidiary company of Central and South West Corporation, a registered 
    holding company, has filed a post-effective amendment to its 
    declaration under sections 6(a) and 7 of the Act and rule 54 
    thereunder.
        By order of the Commission dated October 7, 1992 (HCAR No. 25649), 
    the Commission authorized WTU, among other things, to issue and sell up 
    to an aggregate principal amount of $150 million of first mortgage 
    bonds (``New Bonds''), in one or more series, from time to time through 
    December 31, 1994. The Company was authorized to use the proceeds from 
    the sale of New Bonds to redeem or purchase some of its then 
    outstanding first mortgage bonds, and repay outstanding short-term 
    borrowings or for other general corporate purposes.
        In October 1992, WTU issued $75 million of first mortgage bonds. By 
    order dated December 19, 1994, (HCAR No. 26194) (``Order''), the 
    Commission extended WTU's authorization to issue and sell the remaining 
    $75 million of first mortgage bonds from December 31, 1994 to December 
    31, 1996. In March 1995, WTU issued $40 million of additional New 
    Bonds. WTU has authority remaining under the Order to issue and sell up 
    to an additional $35 million of New Bonds (``Remaining Bonds'').
        WTU now proposes to issue and sell, through December 31, 1997, up 
    to an additional $95 million of first mortgage bonds which, together 
    with the Remaining Bonds would aggregate $130 million of first mortgage 
    bonds (collectively, ``Bonds''). WTU proposes to issue and sell the 
    Bonds with maturities not less than two nor more than 40 years.
        The Bonds will be issued under WTU's indenture dated August 1, 
    1943, to Harris Trust and Savings Bank and J. Bartolini, as Trustees, 
    as amended and supplemented, and secured by a first lien on 
    substantially all of the properties now owned and hereafter acquired by 
    WTU, except for properties specifically excepted from such liens. WTU 
    proposes to issue and sell the Bonds either pursuant to competitive 
    bidding or in negotiated transactions with underwriters or agents.
        The Bonds may have redemption or refunding restrictions to be 
    determined at or about the time of sale of the Bonds. WTU further 
    proposes to issue the Bonds with or without a sinking or retirement 
    fund and requests a waiver from the requirement of a limitation on 
    dividends.
        The proceeds from the sale of the Bonds will be used to: (1) Redeem 
    all or a portion of WTU's outstanding $55.203 million Series O Bonds; 
    and/or (2) repay a portion of WTU's short-term debt, to provide working 
    capital and for other general corporate purposes.
    
    Mississippi Power Company (70-8127)
    
        Mississippi Power Company (``Mississippi''), 2992 West Beach 
    Boulevard, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501, a wholly owned electric public-
    utility subsidiary company of The Southern Company, a registered 
    holding company, has filed a post-effective amendment to its 
    application-declaration previously filed under sections 6(a), 7, 9(a), 
    10, 12(c) and 12(d) of the Act and rules 42 and 44 thereunder.
        By orders dated April 13, 1993, June 25, 1993 and December 15, 1993 
    (HCAR Nos. 25791, 25837 and 25946, respectively), Mississippi was 
    authorized, among other things, to enter into loan agreements and/or 
    installment sales agreements with various public instrumentalities 
    (``Financing Agreements''), in connection with the issuance by those 
    authorities of bonds relating to certain pollution control equipment 
    (``Revenue Bonds''), in amounts aggregating $37.875 million. 
    Mississippi was further authorized to engage in related transactions 
    for the purpose of securing its obligations under the Financing 
    Agreements. The Commission reserved jurisdiction over all transactions, 
    in connection with the issuance and sale by one or more public 
    instrumentalities of one or more series of Revenue Bonds in an 
    aggregate principal amount of up to an additional $11.125 million.
        Mississippi proposes that its authority to enter into Financing 
    Agreements relating to Revenue Bonds be increased by $13.875 million, 
    so that it may enter into such agreements in amounts aggregating up to 
    $25 million.
    
    EUA Energy Investment Corporation (70-8617)
    
        EUA Energy Investment Corporation (``EEIC''), P.O. Box 2333, 
    Boston, Massachusetts 02107, a wholly owned nonutility subsidiary of 
    Eastern Utilities Associates (``EUA''), a registered holding company, 
    has filed an application-declaration pursuant to sections 6(a), 7, 
    9(a), 10, and 12(b) of the Act and rules 43(a) and 45(a) promulgated 
    thereunder.
        By orders dated December 4, 1987 (HCAR No. 24515) and April 15, 
    1994 (HCAR 26028), the Commission authorized EEIC to engage in certain 
    energy related research and development activities. Pursuant to these 
    orders, EEIC has developed certain proprietary technology with a group 
    of individuals and companies not associated with EEIC (``Wood Group''). 
    Additionally, EEIC has acquired certain related contract rights and 
    equipment related to this technology (together with such technology, 
    ``Proprietary Technology''). The Proprietary Technology relates to the 
    development and commercialization of biomass-fired combustion turbine 
    power generation facilities and products and/or services offered in 
    connection with such facilities (``Business Opportunity'').
        EEIC requests Commission authorization to incorporate a nonutility 
    subsidiary (``EEIC Subsidiary''), which would participate as one of two 
    general partners in a proposed joint venture (``BIOTEN Partnership''), 
    along with a corporation to be established by the Wood Group (``BIOTEN 
    LLC''). The initial authorized capitalization of the EEIC Subsidiary 
    will be 200,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share. EEIC, 
    which will be the sole owner of the EEIC Subsidiary, will acquire 100 
    of the authorized shares of the EEIC Subsidiary Common Stock in 
    exchange for its contribution of the Proprietary Technology to the EEIC 
    Subsidiary.
        The EEIC subsidiary will, in turn, contribute the Proprietary 
    Technology to the BIOTEN Partnership in exchange for its general 
    partnership interest. BIOTEN LLC will contribute its title to all 
    shares of a to-be-formed wholly-owned subsidiary of BIOTEN LLC 
    (``BIOTEN Operations'') in exchange for its general partnership 
    interest in the BIOTEN Partnership. BIOTEN Operations will own certain 
    property to be used in connection with the Business Opportunity at the 
    time its stock is transferred to the BIOTEN Partnership.
        In addition, EEIC requests authorization through December 31, 1998 
    to make additional capital contributions to the BIOTEN Partnership in 
    an aggregate amount of up to $3,907,000. This would consist of up to 
    $1.907 million to be disbursed in connection with the testing and 
    development of a commercial prototype plant using the Proprietary 
    Technology and, possibly, an additional $2 million (``Additional 
    Contribution'').
        EEIC will at all times own no more than a 9.9% voting interest in 
    the BIOTEN Partnership. However, EEIC will initially have a 30% 
    interest in the profits of the BIOTEN Partnership upon its formation. 
    Also, EEIC will also [[Page 28822]] receive an additional one and one-
    half percent share of the partnership's profits for each $100,000 that 
    its capital contribution to the partnership exceeds $1.607 million, 
    exclusive of the Additional Contribution. This share of the 
    partnership's profits will increase to 45% upon EEIC's election to make 
    the Additional Contribution, which election is solely within EEIC's 
    discretion.
        EEIC also requests Commission authorization from time to time 
    through December 31, 1998 to provide the BIOTEN Partnership with a line 
    of credit of up to $3 million. Advances made under this line of credit 
    will bear interest at an annual rate equal to the prime lending rate 
    announced from time to time by The First National Bank of Boston, N.A., 
    plus (a) 6% at any time the Additional Contribution has been made but 
    not yet repaid to EEIC and (b) 2% after the Additional Contribution 
    made to the BIOTEN Partnership has been repaid, but in no event to 
    exceed 16% per annum.
        All advances made under the line of credit will become due and 
    payable three years after the later of (a) the date of the partnership 
    agreement establishing the BIOTEN Partnership and (b) the date such 
    line of credit is first drawn upon. All advances under this line of 
    credit will be evidenced by a promissory note and the BIOTEN 
    Partnership's obligations under the note will be secured by a first 
    priority security interest in the assets of the BIOTEN Partnership.
    
    UNITIL Corp., et al. (70-8623)
    
        UNITIL Corporation (``UNITIL''), a registered holding company, and 
    its wholly owned subsidiary companies (``Subsidiaries''), Concord 
    Electric Company (``Concord''), Exeter & Hampton Electric Company 
    (``E&H''), Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company (``Fitchburg''), 
    UNITIL Power Corp. (``UNITIL Power''), UNITIL Realty Corp. (``UNITIL 
    Realty''), UNITIL Resources, Inc. (``UNITIL Resources''), and UNITIL 
    Service Corp. (``UNITIL Service''), all of 216 Epping Road, Exeter, New 
    Hampshire, 03833, have filed an application-declaration under sections 
    6(a), 7, 9(a), 10 and 12(b) and the Act and rules 43 and 45 thereunder.
        The application-declaration seeks Commission authorization for: (i) 
    The issuance of unsecured bank notes in support of short-term borrowing 
    by UNITIL through June 30, 1997 of up to $15 million on a revolving 
    basis from certain banks; (ii) short-term borrowing by the Subsidiaries 
    pursuant to formal or informal credit lines up to stated limits through 
    June 30, 1997; and, (iii) continued use of the system money pool 
    (``Money Pool'') through June 30, 1997, pursuant to the February 1, 
    1985 Cash Pooling and Loan Agreement (``Pooling Agreement'') among 
    UNITIL and the Subsidiaries.
        By order dated March 29, 1993 (HCAR No. 25773) (``Order''), UNITIL 
    and the Subsidiaries, with the exception of UNITIL Resources, were 
    authorized to make unsecured short-term borrowings up to stated limits 
    and to operate under the Money Pool through June 30, 1995. UNITIL 
    Resources now seeks Commission authorization to engage in short-term 
    borrowing of up to $500,000. In addition, UNITIL Resources seeks 
    authorization to operate under the Money Pool.
        UNITIL proposes to issue bank notes pursuant to which it will be 
    allowed to borrow up to $15 million at the base or prime rate. These 
    borrowings will be subject to prepayment at UNITIL's option. In some 
    instances the borrowings may bear an interest rate that is the higher 
    of the base rate or \1/2\ of one percent per annum above the daily 
    Federal Funds Rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 
    In addition, short-term notes may be offered at fixed money market 
    rates. Money market rate borrowings may or may not be subject to 
    prepayment. Borrowings will not exceed the nine months.
        Concord, E&H, Fitchburg, UNITIL Power, UNITIL Realty, UNITIL 
    Resources and UNITIL Service seek authorization to incur short-term 
    borrowings from any source, but principally if not exclusively from the 
    Money Pool, of up to the following amounts (in millions of dollars):
    
    Concord.......................................................       5  
    E&H...........................................................       5  
    Fitchburg.....................................................      12  
    UNITIL Power..................................................       6  
    UNITIL Realty.................................................       7  
    UNITIL Resources..............................................        .5
    UNITIL Service................................................       1  
                                                                            
    
        Short-term borrowing from commercial banks undertaken by the 
    Subsidiaries will be under terms and conditions substantially similar 
    to the terms and conditions of the short-term borrowing agreements 
    entered into by UNITIL.
        The Pooling Agreement allows UNITIL and the Subsidiaries to invest 
    their surplus funds and the Subsidiaries to borrow on an equal basis. 
    UNITIL Service administers the Money Pool for UNITIL and the 
    Subsidiaries on an ``at-cost'' basis. UNITIL and the Subsidiaries 
    propose to continue operating under the Money Pool pursuant to the same 
    terms and conditions as authorized in the Order.
    
        For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
    pursuant to delegated authority.
    Margaret H. McFarland,
    Deputy Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 95-13530 Filed 6-1-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/02/1995
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
95-13530
Pages:
28820-28822 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 35-26296
PDF File:
95-13530.pdf