Applications, hearings, determinations, etc.: Public utility holding company filings,

[Federal Register: December 5, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 234)]

[Notices]

[Page 75980-75983]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr05de00-106]

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 35-27285]

Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as Amended (``Act'')

November 27, 2000.

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 under the Act. 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 amendment(s) is/are available for public inspection through the Commission's Branch 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 December 22, 2000, to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, DC 20549-0609, 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 the case of an attorney at law, by certificate) should be filedwith the request. Any request for hearing should identify specifically the issues of facts or law that are disputed. A person who so requests will be notified of any hearing, if order, and will receive a copy of any notice or order issued in the matter. After December 22, 2000, the applicant(s) and/or declaration(s), as filedor as amended, may be granted and/or permitted to become effective.

Alliant Energy Corporation, et al. (70-9735)

Alliant Energy Corporation (``Alliant''), a registered public utility holding company and is wholly owned utility subsidiaries, Wisconsin Power & Light Company (``WPL'') and South Beloit Water, Gas & Electric Company (``South Beloit''), each with principal executive offices N16 W23217 Stone Ridge Drive, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53187, and American Transmission Company LLC (``Transco''), an inactive Wisconsin limited liability subsidiary company of WPL which intends to operate as a utility company, and ATC Management Inc., an inactive Wisconsin subsidiary corporation of WPL which also intends to operate as a utility company (``Corporate Manager'', and together with Alliant, WPL, South Beloit and Transco, ``Applicants''), with principal executive offices at 231 W. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203, have filedan application-declaration (``Application'') under to sections 6(a), 7, 9(a), 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the Act and rules 43, 44, 54, 90 and 91 under the Act.

In summary, Applicants request authority for: (1) WPL to transfer, directly or indirectly, ownership and control over its transmission assets (``WPL Transmission Assets'') to Transco, (2) South Beloit to transfer, directly or indirectly, ownership and control over its transmission assets (``South Beloit Transmission Assets'') to Transco, (3) Transco to issue and WPL, South Beloit, Wisconsin Electric Power Co. (``WEPCO''), Edison Sault Electric Company (``ESE''), Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. (``WPPI''), Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (``WPS'') and Madison Gas and Electric Company (``MGE'' and collectively ``Member Utilities'' \1\) to acquire, directly or indirectly, member units (``Member Units'') of Transco in exchange for either transmission assets or cash, (4) WPL to purchase, and Corporate Manager to issue Class A shares of the Corporate Manager, (5) WPL to purchase, and Corporate Manager to issue, one Class B share of the Corporate Manager, (6) Transco to acquire the WPL Transmission Assets and the South Beloit Transmission Assets, as well as the transmission assets of WEPCO, ESE, WPS and MGE and (7) a series of

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financings by Transco and Corporate Manager through June 30, 2004 (``Authorization Period'').

\1\ ESE, WPPI, WPS, WEPCO and MGE are either exempt or municipal nonassociate utility companies of alliant and are not required to be applicants in this matter.

WPL is engaged principally in the generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electric power in 35 counties in a 16,000 square-mile area in southern and central Wisconsin. As of December 31, 1999, WPL provides retail electric service to approximately 407,000 customers in 599 cities, villages and towns, and wholesale service to 24 municipal utilities, three rural electric cooperatives, the WPPI system, which provides retail electric service to nine communities in the WPL service area, and one privately owned utility. The WPL Transmission Assets consist of 107 miles of 345 kV transmission facilities, 758 miles of 138 kV transmission facilities, 1,908 miles of 69 kV transmission facilities and associated substations and real property interests. WPL is subject to regulation by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.

South Beloit is a wholly owned subsidiary of WPL that supplies retail electric and gas services to customers in the cities of South Beloit and Rockton, Illinois, and the adjacent rural areas. As of December 31, 1999, South Beloit serves approximately 8,000 electric customers. The South Beloit Transmission Assets consist of less than one mile of 345 kV transmission facilities, 10 miles of 69 kV transmission facilities, one substation and associated real property interests. The service territory of South Beloit is located in Illinois and is adjacent to the service territory of WPL in Wisconsin. South Beloit is subject to regulation by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

The electric distribution systems of WPL and South Beloit are interconnected at many points along the Wisconsin-Illinois state line. Applicants state that the electric operations of WPL and South Beloit are integrated and all of WPL's generating units are centrally dispatched by Alliant Energy Corporate Services, Inc., the service company affiliate of WPL and South Beloit. The transmission facilities that Transco will acquire from WPL and South Beloit operate at voltages of 345 kV, 138 kV and 69 kV and include:

1. Transmission lines (including towers, poles and conductors) and transmission substations;

2. Transformers providing transformation within the bulk transmission system and between the bulk and area transmission systems;

3. Lines providing connections to generation sources and step-up (plant) substations;

4. Radial taps from the transmission system up to, but not including, the facilities that establish the final connection to distribution facilities or retail customers;

5. Substations that provide primarily a transmission function;

6. Voltage control devices and power flow control devices directly connected to the transmission system; and

7. WPL's systems operation center located in Stoughton, Wisconsin.

As of December 31, 2000, the original cost of the WPL Transmission Assets and the South Beloit Transmission Assets will be approximately $314,276,000 and $678,000, respectively. The net book value (original cost less accumulated depreciation) of the WPL Transmission Assets and the South Beloit Transmission Assets is expected to be approximately $177,650,000 and $439,000, respectively, at December 31, 2000.

In 1999, Wisconsin enacted legislation (``Transco Legislation'') that facilitates the formation of transmission companies, such as Transco, as not for-profit, single-purpose, limited liability transmission companies. This legislation promotes the transfer of utility company transmission assets to Transco. Transco will issue Member Units to the Member Utilities for cash, in the case of those Member Utilities who don't own transmission assets, or based on the contribution value (``Contribution Value'') of the transmission assets conveyed to Transco. Contribution Value is defined as the original cost less accumulated deprecation, as adjusted on a dollar-for-dollar basis for deferred taxes, excess deferred taxes and deferred investment tax credits. Transco also seeks authority to acquire the incidental transmission facilities of Member Utilities who do not own any transmission assets. The Member Utilities intend to contribute their transmission assets to Transco on or about January 1, 2001. Transco will have the exclusive duty to provide transmission service in geographic areas formerly served by the Transco members.\2\

\2\ Transco is expected to transfer operational control of its assets to the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. by November 1, 2001.

Because of limitations imposed by the WPL indenture (``Indenture''), WPL will effect the transfer of the WPL Transmission Assets to Transco, and its acquisition of Transco Member Units, through a newly created limited liability company (``NewCo'') to be wholly owned by WPL. Applicants specifically seek authority to carry out the following transactions:

(1) WPL will form NewCo and acquire ownership of NewCo for one or more cash payments,

(2) NewCo will transfer cash \3\ is an amount approximately equal to WPL's corresponding cash payment to NewCo for NewCo's ownership interest to the trustee under the Indenture (``Trustee''),

\3\ The cash payment will be equal to the ``fair value'' to WPL of the WPL Transmission Assets, as is defined in, and required by, the Indenture. The fair value will approximate the value of the WPL Transmission Assets. NewCo's payment of cash to the Trustee will permit the WPL Transmission Assets to be released from the Indenture lien.

(3) Upon receipt of the payment, the Trustee will release the WPL Transmission Assets from the Indenture lien,

(4) WPL will transfer the WPL Transmission Assets to Transco and

(5) Transco will issue its Member Units to NewCo. WPL and South Boloit also seek authority to transfer to Transco, from time to time, up to $10,000,000 of additional transmission assets, which are currently under construction, in exchange for additional Member Units to be issued to NewCo or South Beloit, as the case may be.

The transmission assets will be valued at their Contribution Value when identifying the Member Utilities' relative shares of interest in the Transco. The resulting shares will be adjusted based on various factors including the relative interest of transmission-dependent Member Utilities which acquire Member Units for cash instead of transmission assets.\4\ It is expected that WPL and South Beloit's Contribution Values at December 31, 2000 will be approximately $126,784,000 and $590,000, respectively, and their aggregate initial interest in Transco will approximate 26%. This ownership percentage may fluctuate based on various factors, including the number of Member Utilities.

\4\ The transmission dependent Member Utilities' ownership interest in Transco will be measured in relative shares of interest based upon their 1999 Wisconsin load share ratios.

The Member Utilities will enter into an agreement (``Operating Agreement'') governing the activities of Transco. The Operating Agreement will grant the Corporate Manager full, complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control Transco. The Corporate Manager will have the power to do all things necessary and convenient to carry out Transco's business including the employment of all personnel necessary to operate Transco and the management of any future Transco subsidiaries. In accordance with the Operating

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Agreement, all expenses of the Corporate Manager will be treated as Transco expenses. These expenses will be charged back to Transco at cost in accordance with section 13 of the Act and rules 90 and 91 under the Act. The Corporate Manager will employ all personnel necessary to operate Transco. The Corporate Manager will also hold Member Units.

It is expected that the transmission-owning Member Utilities and Transco will enter into one or more agreements (``O&M Agreements'') pursuant to which the Member Utilities will provide Transco with ``reasonable and cost effective operations and maintenance services'' for at least the first three years after the operations date in accordance with the Transco Legislation. Services provided under the O&M Agreements will include line equipment services, station equipment services and emergency response services. The Member Utilities and Transco will also enter into one or more services agreements (``Services Agreements'') under which the Members Utilities will provide Transco with certain services, such as control center services, real estate services and capital project services, not covered by the O&M Agreements. Additionally, the Member Utilities and Transco will enter into a system operating agreement (``System Operating Agreement'') under which Transco will provide, among other things, ancillary services and control area operations at rates approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Finally, Transco will provide certain services from the Stoughton Operations Center to support Alliant Energy's operation of its transmission facilities outside of Wisconsin and its 34.5 kV facilities in Wisconsin that are not being transferred to Transco. It is expected that these operations will be governed by an agency agreement (``Agency Agreement''). Any services provided or received by WPL, South Beloit or any other Alliant Energy affiliate under the foregoing agreements will be provided ``at cost'' in accordance with section 13 and rules 90 and 91 under the Act, unless otherwise authorized or directed by appropriate governmental or regulatory authority.

Member Utilities will also purchase shares of the Corporate Member, for cash, in proportion to their percentage interests in Transco. WPL proposes to pay $10 per share for an approximate 26% interest in the Corporate Manager. The Corporate Manager will have two classes of stock: Class A and Class B shares. \5\ WPL will receive approximately 26% of the nonvoting Class A shares. Additionally, each Member Utility will receive one Class B voting share. \6\ Each holder of a Class B share will be entitled to appoint one of the Corporate Manager's directors. All Class B shares will convert into Class A shares on the earlier of (1) the ownership by the Corporate Manager of more than 50% of Transco interests or (2) the tenth anniversary of the first day of operations of Transco, unless the Corporate Manager's board of directors (``Board'') elects to override the conversion. Class A shares will become voting shares upon the conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares or after the Corporate Manager commences a public offering of its stock. Following a public offering, the Class A shareholders will have the right to elect a majority of the Board and the Class B shareholders will elect a minority of the Board, but each owner of a Class B share will continue to have the right to appoint one of the Board. Each Class A and Class B share will be entitled to the same amount of dividends.

\5\ The Class A and B structure ensures that the Member Utilities will have economic interests proportionate to the value of their contribution to the Transco while still maintaining the desired per capita voting arrangement.

\6\ Neither South Beloit nor ESE will receive shares in the Corporate Manager.

Transco and the Corporate Manager also request authorization for external financing as follows: (1) Short-term debt financing by Transco in the form of, among other things, borrowings under a revolving credit agreement and issuance of commercial paper, (2) long-term debt financing by Transco in the form of debentures or other forms of long- term debt financing and (3) equity financing by Transco and the Corporate Manager in the form of common or preferred stock of the Corporate Manager and other equity securities or additional interests in Transco. The amount of Transco's short-term and long-term debt outstanding at any time will not exceed, in the aggregate, $400 million.

Transco will initially obtain funds externally through short-term debt financing under a Credit Agreement between Transco and Bank One, N.A., as Agent (``Credit Facility''). Transco seeks authority to enter into borrowings up to a principal amount of $125 million under the Credit Facility.\7\ Transco proposes to issue short-term debt under the Credit Facility, commercial paper or other forms of short-term financing from time to time during the Authorization Period. Commercial paper would be issued in established domestic or European commercial paper markets to dealers at the prevailing discount rate per annum, or at the prevailing coupon rate per annum, at the date of issuance. The maturity of short-term debt will not exceed one year. Transco seeks authority to amend the Credit Facility without further authorization provided that the maturity date does not extend beyond the Authorization Period and the aggregate principal amount of authorized borrowings does not exceed $125 million.

\7\ Transco was previously authorized to enter into borrowings of $30 million under the Credit Facility. See Alliant Energy Corporation, et al., Holding Co. Act Release No. 27197 (August 3, 2000).

Transco also proposes to issue long-term debt consisting of debentures, which may be in the form of medium-term notes, convertible debt, subordinated debt, bank borrowings, other debt securities or other forms of long-term financing from time to time, through the Authorization period. Any long-term debt security would have a maturity ranging from one to 50 years. Debentures and medium-term notes would be issued under an indenture. The aggregate amount of short-term and long- term debt outstanding at any time, including debt under the Credit Facility, will not exceed $400 million.

Transco and the Corporate Manager propose to issue equity securities from time to time through the Authorization Period. Corporate Manager intends to issue common or preferred stock and Transco intends to issue other equity securities or additional interests. The aggregate amount of both Transco and Corporate Manager's equity securities will not exceed $500 million. The dividend rate on any series of preferred securities issued by the Corporate Manager will not exceed 500 basis points over the yield to maturity of U.S. Treasury security having a remaining term equal to the term of that series of preferred securities at the time of issuance. Preferred securities may have mandatory redemption dates. Transco also requests authorization to enter into interest rate hedging transactions with respect to existing indebtedness, subject to certain limitations and restrictions, in order to reduce or manage interest rate cost. In addition, the Transco request authorization to enter into interest rate hedging transactions with respect to anticipated debt offerings, subject to certain limitations and restrictions.

Applicants state that proceeds requested under this application will be used to provide financing for general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements, and to fund construction spending to undertake large scale capital improvements to the

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Wisconsin transmission system necessary to maintain reliability.

For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00-30850Filed12-4-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-M