UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
X |
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES |
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES |
|
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from |
to |
Exact name of registrants as specified |
I.R.S. Employer |
||||
Commission File |
in their charters, address of principal |
Identification |
|||
Number |
executive offices, zip code and telephone number |
Number |
|||
1-14465 |
IDACORP, Inc. |
82-0505802 |
|||
1-3198 |
Idaho Power Company |
82-0130980 |
|||
1221 W. Idaho Street |
|||||
Boise, ID 83702-5627 |
|||||
(208) 388-2200 |
|||||
State of Incorporation: Idaho |
|||||
Websites: |
www.idacorpinc.com |
||||
www.idahopower.com |
|||||
None |
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if
changed since last report.
Indicate by check mark
whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to
file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes X No ___
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, or non-accelerated filers.
IDACORP, Inc.: |
||||||
Large accelerated filer |
X |
Accelerated filer |
Non-accelerated filer |
|||
Idaho Power Company: |
||||||
Large accelerated filer |
Accelerated filer |
Non-accelerated filer |
X |
Indicate by check mark
whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). Yes ___ No X
Number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2006:
IDACORP, Inc.: |
42,932,144 |
Idaho Power Company: |
39,150,812, all held by IDACORP, Inc. |
This
combined Form 10-Q represents separate filings by IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power
Company. Information contained herein relating to an individual registrant is
filed by that registrant on its own behalf. Idaho Power Company makes no
representations as to the information relating to IDACORP, Inc.'s other
operations.
Idaho
Power Company meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1)(a)
and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this Form with the reduced
disclosure format.
COMMONLY USED TERMS |
|||
AFDC |
- |
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction |
|
Cal ISO |
- |
California Independent System Operator |
|
CalPX |
- |
California Power Exchange |
|
Energy Act |
- |
Energy Policy Act of 2005 |
|
EPS |
- |
Earnings per share |
|
ESA |
- |
Endangered Species Act |
|
FASB |
- |
Financial Accounting Standards Board |
|
FERC |
- |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
|
FIN |
- |
Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation |
|
Fitch |
- |
Fitch Ratings |
|
FPA |
- |
Federal Power Act |
|
GAAP |
- |
Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America |
|
Ida-West |
- |
Ida-West Energy, a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
IDWR |
- |
Idaho Department of Water Resources |
|
IE |
- |
IDACORP Energy, a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
IFS |
- |
IDACORP Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
IPC |
- |
Idaho Power Company, a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
IPUC |
- |
Idaho Public Utilities Commission |
|
IRP |
- |
Integrated Resource Plan |
|
ITI |
- |
IDACORP Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc. |
|
kW |
- |
Kilowatt |
|
maf |
- |
Million acre-feet |
|
MD&A |
- |
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of |
|
Operations |
|||
Moody's |
- |
Moody's Investors Service |
|
MW |
- |
Megawatt |
|
MWh |
- |
Megawatt-hour |
|
NEPA |
- |
National Environmental Policy Act of 1996 |
|
NOx |
- |
Nitrogen Oxide |
|
OPUC |
- |
Oregon Public Utility Commission |
|
PCA |
- |
Power Cost Adjustment |
|
PM&E |
- |
Protection, Mitigation and Enhancement |
|
PURPA |
- |
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 |
|
RFP |
- |
Request for Proposal |
|
RTO |
- |
Regional Transmission Organization |
|
S&P |
- |
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services |
|
SFAS |
- |
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards |
|
SO2 |
- |
Sulfur Dioxide |
|
Valmy |
- |
North Valmy Steam Electric Generating Plant |
|
VIEs |
- |
Variable Interest Entities |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page |
||||
Part I. Financial Information: |
||||
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) |
||||
IDACORP, Inc.: |
||||
1-2 |
||||
3-4 |
||||
5 |
||||
6 |
||||
Idaho Power Company: |
||||
7-8 |
||||
9-10 |
||||
11 |
||||
12 |
||||
13 |
||||
14-33 |
||||
34-35 |
||||
Condition and Results of Operations |
36-63 |
|||
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
63-64 |
|||
64 |
||||
Part II. Other Information: |
||||
64 |
||||
65 |
||||
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
65 |
|||
65-71 |
||||
72 |
||||
73-74 |
||||
FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
This Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking
statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established
by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements should be read with the cautionary statements and important factors
included in this Form 10-Q at Part I, Item 2, "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking
Information." Forward-looking statements are all statements other than
statements of historical fact, including without limitation those that are
identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects,"
"intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "may result," "may continue" and
similar expressions.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Income
(unaudited)
Three months ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
(thousands of dollars except |
||||
for per share amounts) |
||||
Operating Revenues: |
||||
Electric utility: |
||||
General business |
$ |
179,411 |
$ |
207,237 |
Off-system sales |
39,692 |
34,105 |
||
Other revenues |
9,696 |
2,890 |
||
Total electric utility revenue |
228,799 |
244,232 |
||
Other |
1,733 |
1,675 |
||
Total operating revenues |
230,532 |
245,907 |
||
Operating Expenses: |
||||
Electric utility: |
||||
Purchased power |
98,926 |
81,396 |
||
Fuel expense |
34,933 |
28,018 |
||
Power cost adjustment |
(54,995) |
(9,670) |
||
Other operations and maintenance |
62,395 |
64,292 |
||
Gain on sale of emission allowances |
(22) |
- |
||
Depreciation |
25,289 |
25,726 |
||
Taxes other than income taxes |
4,057 |
5,115 |
||
Total electric utility operations |
170,583 |
194,877 |
||
Other |
3,293 |
3,125 |
||
Total operating expenses |
173,876 |
198,002 |
||
Operating Income (Loss): |
||||
Electric utility |
58,216 |
49,355 |
||
Other |
(1,560) |
(1,450) |
||
Total operating income |
56,656 |
47,905 |
||
Other Income |
4,431 |
3,610 |
||
Income (Losses) of Unconsolidated Equity-method Investments |
(444) |
872 |
||
Other Expenses |
2,669 |
1,759 |
||
Interest Expense: |
||||
Interest on long-term debt |
14,241 |
14,317 |
||
Other interest expense |
549 |
598 |
||
Total interest expense |
14,790 |
14,915 |
||
Income Before Income Taxes |
43,184 |
35,713 |
||
Income Tax Expense |
10,692 |
9,752 |
||
Income from Continuing Operations |
32,492 |
25,961 |
||
Income (Losses) from Discontinued Operations (net of tax) |
11,497 |
(2,344) |
||
Net Income |
$ |
43,989 |
$ |
23,617 |
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Basic (000's) |
42,678 |
42,287 |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (basic): |
||||
Income from Continuing Operations |
$ |
0.76 |
$ |
0.61 |
Income (Losses) from Discontinued Operations |
0.27 |
(0.05) |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (basic) |
$ |
1.03 |
$ |
0.56 |
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted (000's) |
42,863 |
42,380 |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (diluted): |
||||
Income from Continuing Operations |
$ |
0.76 |
$ |
0.61 |
Income (Losses) from Discontinued Operations |
0.27 |
(0.05) |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (diluted) |
$ |
1.03 |
$ |
0.56 |
Dividends Paid Per Share of Common Stock |
$ |
0.30 |
$ |
0.30 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
1
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)
Nine months ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
(thousands of dollars except |
||||
Operating Revenues: |
for per share amounts) |
|||
Electric utility: |
||||
General business |
$ |
500,803 |
$ |
504,189 |
Off-system sales |
219,531 |
105,189 |
||
Other revenues |
16,587 |
25,429 |
||
Total electric utility revenue |
736,921 |
634,807 |
||
Other |
4,586 |
3,915 |
||
Total operating revenues |
741,507 |
638,722 |
||
Operating Expenses: |
||||
Electric utility: |
||||
Purchased power |
229,659 |
162,403 |
||
Fuel expense |
83,856 |
77,483 |
||
Power cost adjustment |
(6,928) |
(1,673) |
||
Other operations and maintenance |
193,909 |
185,108 |
||
Gain on sale of emission allowances |
(8,258) |
- |
||
Depreciation |
74,471 |
75,838 |
||
Taxes other than income taxes |
15,957 |
15,644 |
||
Total electric utility operations |
582,666 |
514,803 |
||
Other |
10,157 |
9,380 |
||
Total operating expenses |
592,823 |
524,183 |
||
Operating Income (Loss): |
||||
Electric utility |
154,255 |
120,004 |
||
Other |
(5,571) |
(5,465) |
||
Total operating income |
148,684 |
114,539 |
||
Other Income |
14,181 |
10,978 |
||
Income (Losses) of Unconsolidated Equity-method Investments |
(2,703) |
584 |
||
Other Expenses |
6,745 |
4,055 |
||
Interest Expense: |
||||
Interest on long-term debt |
42,525 |
42,683 |
||
Other interest expense |
2,753 |
1,879 |
||
Total interest expense |
45,278 |
44,562 |
||
Income Before Income Taxes |
108,139 |
77,484 |
||
Income Tax Expense |
26,019 |
13,287 |
||
Income from Continuing Operations |
82,120 |
64,197 |
||
Income (Losses) from Discontinued Operations (net of tax) |
7,201 |
(8,062) |
||
Net income |
$ |
89,321 |
$ |
56,135 |
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Basic (000's) |
42,569 |
42,245 |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (basic): |
||||
Income from Continuing Operations |
$ |
1.93 |
$ |
1.52 |
Income (Losses) from Discontinued Operations |
0.17 |
(0.19) |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (basic) |
$ |
2.10 |
$ |
1.33 |
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted (000's) |
42,710 |
42,318 |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (diluted): |
||||
Income from Continuing Operations |
$ |
1.92 |
$ |
1.52 |
Income (Losses) from Discontinued Operations |
0.17 |
(0.19) |
||
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (diluted) |
$ |
2.09 |
$ |
1.33 |
Dividends Paid Per Share of Common Stock |
$ |
0.90 |
$ |
0.90 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
2
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
Assets |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
Current Assets: |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
8,366 |
$ |
52,356 |
Receivables: |
||||
Customer |
62,907 |
94,469 |
||
Allowance for uncollectible accounts |
(7,100) |
(33,078) |
||
Employee notes |
2,668 |
2,951 |
||
Other |
13,356 |
21,377 |
||
Energy marketing assets |
11,590 |
23,859 |
||
Accrued unbilled revenues |
27,668 |
38,905 |
||
Materials and supplies (at average cost) |
37,011 |
30,451 |
||
Fuel stock (at average cost) |
15,014 |
11,739 |
||
Deferred income taxes |
26,399 |
23,922 |
||
Prepayments |
14,454 |
17,876 |
||
Regulatory assets |
881 |
3,064 |
||
Other |
2,462 |
2,956 |
||
Assets held for sale |
3,556 |
6,673 |
||
Total current assets |
219,232 |
297,520 |
||
Investments |
199,916 |
191,593 |
||
Property, Plant and Equipment: |
||||
Utility plant in service |
3,568,485 |
3,477,067 |
||
Accumulated provision for depreciation |
(1,410,615) |
(1,364,640) |
||
Utility plant in service - net |
2,157,870 |
2,112,427 |
||
Construction work in progress |
194,519 |
149,814 |
||
Utility plant held for future use |
2,810 |
2,906 |
||
Other property, net of accumulated depreciation |
28,776 |
29,294 |
||
Property, plant and equipment - net |
2,383,975 |
2,294,441 |
||
Other Assets: |
||||
American Falls and Milner water rights |
31,585 |
31,585 |
||
Company-owned life insurance |
34,020 |
35,401 |
||
Energy marketing assets - long-term |
2,768 |
22,189 |
||
Regulatory assets |
371,026 |
415,177 |
||
Long-term receivable (net of allowance of $1,878) |
3,832 |
4,015 |
||
Employee notes -long-term |
2,454 |
2,862 |
||
Other |
42,765 |
43,377 |
||
Assets held for sale |
19,852 |
25,966 |
||
Total other assets |
508,302 |
580,572 |
||
Total Assets |
$ |
3,311,425 |
$ |
3,364,126 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements |
3
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
Current Liabilities: |
||||
Current maturities of long-term debt |
$ |
15,364 |
$ |
16,307 |
Notes payable |
32,690 |
60,100 |
||
Accounts payable |
66,448 |
80,324 |
||
Energy marketing liabilities |
11,945 |
24,093 |
||
Taxes accrued |
75,372 |
72,652 |
||
Interest accrued |
20,675 |
14,616 |
||
Other |
29,184 |
19,577 |
||
Liabilities held for sale |
1,536 |
5,916 |
||
Total current liabilities |
253,214 |
293,585 |
||
Other Liabilities: |
||||
Deferred income taxes |
497,661 |
519,563 |
||
Energy marketing liabilities - long-term |
2,829 |
22,189 |
||
Regulatory liabilities |
316,807 |
345,109 |
||
Other |
132,998 |
124,833 |
||
Liabilities held for sale |
7,666 |
10,051 |
||
Total other liabilities |
957,961 |
1,021,745 |
||
|
||||
Long-Term Debt |
1,013,692 |
1,023,545 |
||
|
||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5) |
||||
Shareholders' Equity: |
||||
Common stock, no par value (shares authorized 120,000,000; |
||||
43,003,714 and 42,656,393 shares issued, respectively) |
604,823 |
598,706 |
||
Retained earnings |
488,155 |
437,284 |
||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
(4,178) |
(3,425) |
||
Treasury stock (71,570 and 24,063 shares at cost, respectively) |
(2,242) |
(998) |
||
Unearned compensation |
- |
(6,316) |
||
Total shareholders' equity |
1,086,558 |
1,025,251 |
||
Total |
$ |
3,311,425 |
$ |
3,364,126 |
|
||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
4
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
Nine Months Ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
Operating Activities: |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
Net income |
$ |
89,321 |
$ |
56,135 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by |
||||
operating activities: |
||||
Unrealized (gains) losses from energy marketing activities |
(234) |
71 |
||
Depreciation and amortization |
90,928 |
93,069 |
||
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits |
(16,467) |
(8,030) |
||
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities |
6,111 |
2,974 |
||
Undistributed earnings of subsidiaries |
(7,944) |
(12,027) |
||
Provision for uncollectible accounts |
42 |
(167) |
||
Gain on sale of assets |
(25,242) |
(1,490) |
||
Other non-cash adjustments to net income |
(2,400) |
- |
||
Change in: |
||||
Accounts receivable and prepayments |
23,569 |
(8,875) |
||
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities |
(14,252) |
(31,518) |
||
Taxes accrued |
2,720 |
19,774 |
||
Other current assets |
1,241 |
(3,535) |
||
Other current liabilities |
14,779 |
9,715 |
||
Other assets |
889 |
(4,455) |
||
Other liabilities |
6,787 |
9,542 |
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
169,848 |
121,183 |
||
Investing Activities: |
||||
Additions to property, plant and equipment |
(168,185) |
(132,974) |
||
Sale of ITI |
21,469 |
- |
||
Investments in affordable housing |
- |
(3,752) |
||
Sale of emission allowances |
11,323 |
- |
||
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates |
(15,370) |
- |
||
Purchase of available-for-sale securities |
(14,358) |
(81,693) |
||
Sale of available-for-sale securities |
16,404 |
116,079 |
||
Purchase of held-to-maturity securities |
(2,730) |
(1,369) |
||
Maturity of held-to-maturity securities |
4,647 |
2,789 |
||
Other assets |
617 |
395 |
||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(146,183) |
(100,525) |
||
Financing Activities: |
||||
Issuance of long-term debt |
- |
64,992 |
||
Retirement of long-term debt |
(10,993) |
(76,166) |
||
Dividends on common stock |
(38,449) |
(38,001) |
||
Change in short-term borrowings |
(27,410) |
19,330 |
||
Issuance of common stock |
9,174 |
3,661 |
||
Acquisition of treasury stock |
(213) |
- |
||
Other assets |
(14) |
(4,388) |
||
Other liabilities |
250 |
(176) |
||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(67,655) |
(30,748) |
||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(43,990) |
(10,090) |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
52,356 |
23,403 |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ |
8,366 |
$ |
13,313 |
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: |
||||
Cash paid during the period for: |
||||
Income taxes |
$ |
43,022 |
$ |
2,718 |
Interest (net of amount capitalized) |
$ |
35,520 |
$ |
36,361 |
Non-cash investing activities |
||||
Additions to property, plant and equipment |
$ |
9,226 |
$ |
12,757 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
5
IDACORP, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Comprehensive Income
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Net Income |
$ |
43,989 |
$ |
23,617 |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): |
||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities: |
||||
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period, |
||||
net of tax of $673 and $196 |
1,141 |
214 |
||
Reclassification adjustment for gains included |
||||
in net income, net of tax of ($326) and ($321) |
(508) |
(500) |
||
Net unrealized gains (losses) |
633 |
(286) |
||
Total Comprehensive Income |
$ |
44,622 |
$ |
23,331 |
Nine Months Ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Net Income |
$ |
89,321 |
$ |
56,135 |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): |
||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities: |
||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period, |
||||
net of tax of $608 and ($393) |
893 |
(929) |
||
Reclassification adjustment for gains included |
||||
in net income, net of tax of ($1,057) and ($714) |
(1,646) |
(1,111) |
||
Net unrealized gains (losses) |
(753) |
(2,040) |
||
Total Comprehensive Income |
$ |
88,568 |
$ |
54,095 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
6
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Income
(unaudited)
Three months ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Operating Revenues: |
||||
General business |
$ |
179,411 |
$ |
207,237 |
Off-system sales |
39,692 |
34,105 |
||
Other revenues |
9,696 |
2,161 |
||
Total operating revenues |
228,799 |
243,503 |
||
Operating Expenses: |
||||
Operation: |
||||
Purchased power |
98,926 |
81,396 |
||
Fuel expense |
34,933 |
28,018 |
||
Power cost adjustment |
(54,995) |
(9,670) |
||
Other |
46,999 |
50,486 |
||
Gain on sales of emission allowances |
(22) |
- |
||
Maintenance |
15,396 |
13,173 |
||
Depreciation |
25,289 |
25,726 |
||
Taxes other than income taxes |
4,057 |
5,115 |
||
Total operating expenses |
170,583 |
194,244 |
||
Income from Operations |
58,216 |
49,259 |
||
Other Income (Expense): |
||||
Allowance for equity funds used during construction |
1,711 |
1,158 |
||
Earnings of unconsolidated equity-method investments |
2,191 |
2,937 |
||
Other income |
2,460 |
3,069 |
||
Other expense |
(2,577) |
(2,462) |
||
Total other income |
3,785 |
4,702 |
||
Interest Expense: |
||||
Interest on long-term debt |
13,548 |
13,427 |
||
Other interest |
1,263 |
704 |
||
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction |
(998) |
(668) |
||
Total interest expense |
13,813 |
13,463 |
||
Income Before Income Taxes |
48,188 |
40,498 |
||
Income Tax Expense |
17,799 |
19,529 |
||
Net Income |
$ |
30,389 |
$ |
20,969 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
7
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)
Nine months ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Operating Revenues: |
||||
General business |
$ |
500,803 |
$ |
504,189 |
Off-system sales |
219,531 |
105,189 |
||
Other revenues |
16,587 |
23,473 |
||
Total operating revenues |
736,921 |
632,851 |
||
Operating Expenses: |
||||
Operation: |
||||
Purchased power |
229,659 |
162,403 |
||
Fuel expense |
83,856 |
77,483 |
||
Power cost adjustment |
(6,928) |
(1,673) |
||
Other |
143,079 |
137,119 |
||
Gain on sales of emission allowances |
(8,258) |
- |
||
Maintenance |
50,830 |
46,133 |
||
Depreciation |
74,471 |
75,838 |
||
Taxes other than income taxes |
15,957 |
15,644 |
||
Total operating expenses |
582,666 |
512,947 |
||
Income from Operations |
154,255 |
119,904 |
||
Other Income (Expense): |
||||
Allowance for equity funds used during construction |
4,821 |
3,702 |
||
Earnings of unconsolidated equity-method investments |
5,995 |
8,127 |
||
Other income |
8,376 |
8,691 |
||
Other expense |
(6,834) |
(6,191) |
||
Total other income |
12,358 |
14,329 |
||
Interest Expense: |
||||
Interest on long-term debt |
40,479 |
39,982 |
||
Other interest |
3,727 |
2,593 |
||
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction |
(2,784) |
(2,060) |
||
Total interest expense |
41,422 |
40,515 |
||
Income Before Income Taxes |
125,191 |
93,718 |
||
Income Tax Expense |
48,169 |
38,364 |
||
Net Income |
$ |
77,022 |
$ |
55,354 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
8
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
|
September 30, |
December 31, |
||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
Assets |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
|
|
|||
Electric Plant: |
||||
In service (at original cost) |
$ |
3,568,485 |
$ |
3,477,067 |
Accumulated provision for depreciation |
(1,410,615) |
(1,364,640) |
||
In service - net |
2,157,870 |
2,112,427 |
||
Construction work in progress |
194,519 |
149,814 |
||
Held for future use |
2,810 |
2,906 |
||
|
||||
Electric plant - net |
2,355,199 |
2,265,147 |
||
Investments and Other Property |
88,709 |
68,049 |
||
Current Assets: |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
4,406 |
49,335 |
||
Receivables: |
||||
Customer |
55,849 |
49,830 |
||
Allowance for uncollectible accounts |
(900) |
(833) |
||
Notes |
3,115 |
3,273 |
||
Employee notes |
2,668 |
2,951 |
||
Related parties |
733 |
637 |
||
Other |
9,372 |
7,399 |
||
Accrued unbilled revenue |
27,668 |
38,905 |
||
Materials and supplies (at average cost) |
37,011 |
30,451 |
||
Fuel stock (at average cost) |
15,014 |
11,739 |
||
Prepayments |
14,199 |
17,532 |
||
Regulatory assets |
881 |
3,064 |
||
Total current assets |
170,016 |
214,283 |
||
Deferred Debits: |
||||
American Falls and Milner water rights |
31,585 |
31,585 |
||
Company-owned life insurance |
34,020 |
35,401 |
||
Regulatory assets |
371,026 |
415,177 |
||
Employee notes |
2,454 |
2,862 |
||
Other |
41,631 |
42,187 |
||
|
||||
Total deferred debits |
480,716 |
527,212 |
||
|
||||
Total |
$ |
3,094,640 |
$ |
3,074,691 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
9
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
|
September 30, |
December 31, |
||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
Capitalization and Liabilities |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
|
|
|||
Capitalization: |
|
|
||
Common stock equity: |
|
|
||
Common stock, $2.50 par value (50,000,000 shares |
|
|
||
authorized; 39,150,812 shares outstanding) |
$ |
97,877 |
$ |
97,877 |
Premium on capital stock |
483,707 |
483,707 |
||
Capital stock expense |
(2,097) |
(2,097) |
||
Retained earnings |
399,989 |
361,256 |
||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(4,178) |
(3,425) |
||
Total common stock equity |
975,298 |
937,318 |
||
Long-term debt |
982,827 |
983,720 |
||
Total capitalization |
1,958,125 |
1,921,038 |
||
Current Liabilities: |
||||
Long-term debt due within one year |
1,064 |
- |
||
Notes payable |
27,190 |
- |
||
Accounts payable |
65,039 |
79,433 |
||
Notes and accounts payable to related parties |
1,251 |
153 |
||
Taxes accrued |
68,918 |
72,994 |
||
Interest accrued |
20,166 |
14,105 |
||
Deferred income taxes |
526 |
3,064 |
||
Other |
28,968 |
19,182 |
||
|
||||
Total current liabilities |
213,122 |
188,931 |
||
|
||||
Deferred Credits: |
||||
Deferred income taxes |
485,771 |
507,880 |
||
Regulatory liabilities |
316,807 |
345,109 |
||
Other |
120,815 |
111,733 |
||
Total deferred credits |
923,393 |
964,722 |
||
|
||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5) |
||||
Total |
$ |
3,094,640 |
$ |
3,074,691 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
10
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Capitalization
(unaudited)
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
2006 |
% |
2005 |
% |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||||
Common Stock Equity: |
|
|
|
|
||
Common stock |
$ |
97,877 |
$ |
97,877 |
||
Premium on capital stock |
483,707 |
483,707 |
||||
Capital stock expense |
(2,097) |
(2,097) |
||||
Retained earnings |
399,989 |
361,256 |
||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(4,178) |
(3,425) |
||||
Total common stock equity |
975,298 |
50 |
937,318 |
49 |
||
|
||||||
Long-Term Debt: |
||||||
First mortgage bonds: |
||||||
7.38% Series due 2007 |
80,000 |
80,000 |
||||
7.20% Series due 2009 |
80,000 |
80,000 |
||||
6.60% Series due 2011 |
120,000 |
120,000 |
||||
4.75% Series due 2012 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
||||
4.25% Series due 2013 |
70,000 |
70,000 |
||||
6 % Series due 2032 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
||||
5.50% Series due 2033 |
70,000 |
70,000 |
||||
5.50% Series due 2034 |
50,000 |
50,000 |
||||
5.875% Series due 2034 |
55,000 |
55,000 |
||||
5.30% Series due 2035 |
60,000 |
60,000 |
||||
Total first mortgage bonds |
785,000 |
785,000 |
||||
|
||||||
Pollution control revenue bonds: |
||||||
Variable Auction Rate Series 2003 due 2024 |
49,800 |
49,800 |
||||
6.05% Series 1996A due 2026 |
68,100 |
68,100 |
||||
Variable Rate Series 1996B due 2026 |
24,200 |
24,200 |
||||
Variable Rate Series 1996C due 2026 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
||||
Variable Rate Series 2000 due 2027 |
4,360 |
4,360 |
||||
Total pollution control revenue bonds |
170,460 |
170,460 |
||||
American Falls bond guarantee |
19,885 |
19,885 |
||||
Milner Dam note guarantee |
11,700 |
11,700 |
||||
Note guarantee due within one year |
(1,064) |
- |
||||
Unamortized premium/discount - net |
(3,154) |
(3,325) |
||||
|
||||||
Total long-term debt |
982,827 |
50 |
983,720 |
51 |
||
|
||||||
Total Capitalization |
$ |
1,958,125 |
100 |
$ |
1,921,038 |
100 |
|
||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
11
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
|
Nine Months Ended |
|||
|
September 30, |
|||
|
2006 |
2005 |
||
Operating Activities: |
(thousands of dollars) |
|||
Net income |
$ |
77,022 |
$ |
55,354 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by |
|
|||
operating activities: |
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
77,596 |
80,917 |
||
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits |
(15,882) |
(8,406) |
||
Changes in regulatory assets and liabilities |
6,111 |
2,974 |
||
Undistributed earnings of subsidiary |
(5,995) |
(10,982) |
||
Provision for uncollectible accounts |
42 |
(167) |
||
Other non-cash adjustments to net income |
(4,802) |
- |
||
Gain on sale of assets |
(10,979) |
- |
||
Change in: |
||||
Accounts receivables and prepayments |
2,552 |
3,085 |
||
Accounts payable |
(13,889) |
(29,768) |
||
Taxes accrued |
(4,076) |
24,801 |
||
Other current assets |
1,158 |
(3,192) |
||
Other current liabilities |
15,729 |
9,986 |
||
Other assets |
923 |
(4,760) |
||
Other liabilities |
8,016 |
6,340 |
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
133,526 |
126,182 |
||
Investing Activities: |
||||
Additions to utility plant |
(166,309) |
(127,983) |
||
Purchase of available-for-sale securities |
(14,358) |
(81,693) |
||
Sale of available-for-sale securities |
16,404 |
116,078 |
||
Sale of emission allowances |
11,323 |
- |
||
Investments in unconsolidated affiliate |
(15,370) |
- |
||
Other assets |
525 |
532 |
||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(167,785) |
(93,066) |
||
Financing Activities: |
||||
Issuance of long-term debt |
- |
60,000 |
||
Retirement of long-term debt |
- |
(60,000) |
||
Dividends on common stock |
(38,289) |
(38,001) |
||
Change in short term borrowings |
27,190 |
- |
||
Other assets |
(14) |
(4,389) |
||
Other liabilities |
443 |
- |
||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(10,670) |
(42,390) |
||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(44,929) |
(9,274) |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
49,335 |
17,679 |
||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ |
4,406 |
$ |
8,405 |
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: |
||||
Cash paid during the period for: |
||||
Income taxes paid to parent |
$ |
70,037 |
$ |
27,244 |
Interest (net of amount capitalized) |
$ |
33,717 |
$ |
32,377 |
Non-cash investing activities: |
||||
Additions to utility plant |
$ |
9,226 |
$ |
12,757 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
12
Idaho Power Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Comprehensive Income
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Net Income |
$ |
30,389 |
$ |
20,969 |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): |
||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities: |
||||
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period, |
||||
net of tax of $673 and $196 |
1,141 |
214 |
||
Reclassification adjustment for gains included |
||||
in net income, net of tax of ($326) and ($321) |
(508) |
(500) |
||
Net unrealized gains (losses) |
633 |
(286) |
||
Total Comprehensive Income |
$ |
31,022 |
$ |
20,683 |
Nine Months Ended |
||||
September 30, |
||||
2006 |
2005 |
|||
(thousands of dollars) |
||||
Net Income |
$ |
77,022 |
$ |
55,354 |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): |
||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities: |
||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period, |
||||
net of tax of $608 and ($393) |
893 |
(929) |
||
Reclassification adjustment for gains included |
||||
in net income, net of tax of ($1,057) and ($714) |
(1,646) |
(1,111) |
||
Net unrealized gains (losses) |
(753) |
(2,040) |
||
Total Comprehensive Income |
$ |
76,269 |
$ |
53,314 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. |
13
IDACORP, INC. AND IDAHO
POWER COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
This Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q is a combined report of IDACORP, Inc. (IDACORP) and Idaho Power Company
(IPC). These Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements apply to
both IDACORP and IPC. However, IPC makes no representation as to the
information relating to IDACORP's other operations.
Nature of Business
IDACORP is a holding company formed
in 1998 whose principal operating subsidiary is IPC. IDACORP is subject to the
provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which provides
certain access to books and records to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) and state utility regulatory commissions and imposes certain record
retention and reporting requirements on IDACORP.
IPC is an electric utility
with a service territory covering approximately 24,000 square miles in southern
Idaho and eastern Oregon. IPC is regulated by the FERC and the state
regulatory commissions of Idaho and Oregon. IPC is the parent of Idaho Energy
Resources Co., a joint venturer in Bridger Coal Company, which supplies coal to
the Jim Bridger generating plant owned in part by IPC.
At September 30, 2006,
IDACORP's other subsidiaries included:
In the second quarter of
2006, IDACORP management designated the operations of IDACORP Technologies,
Inc. (ITI) and IDACOMM as assets held for sale, as defined by Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 144. IDACORP's condensed consolidated
financial statements reflect the reclassification of the results of these businesses
as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Discontinued operations
are discussed in more detail in Note 10.
On July 20, 2006, IDACORP
completed the sale of all of the outstanding common stock of ITI to IdaTech UK
Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Investec Group Investments (UK) Limited.
On October 12, 2006, IDACORP
entered into an agreement to sell all of the outstanding common stock of
IDACOMM to American Fiber Systems, Inc. IDACORP expects to complete the sale
as early as the end of the fourth quarter of 2006, subject to regulatory
approvals. IDACORP does not expect the sale to have a material effect on its
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Principles of
Consolidation
The condensed consolidated financial
statements of IDACORP and IPC include the accounts of each company and those
variable interest entities (VIEs) for which the companies are the primary
beneficiaries. All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated in
consolidation. Investments in business entities in which IDACORP and IPC are
not the primary beneficiaries, but have the ability to exercise significant
influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the
equity method.
14
Through
IFS, IDACORP also holds significant variable interests in VIEs for which it is
not the primary beneficiary. These VIEs are historic rehabilitation and
affordable housing developments in which IFS holds limited partnership
interests ranging from five to 99 percent. These investments were acquired
between 1996 and 2005. IFS' maximum exposure to loss in these developments was
$89 million at September 30, 2006.
Financial Statements
In the opinion of IDACORP and IPC, the accompanying unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present
fairly their consolidated financial positions as of September 30, 2006, and
consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 and 2005, and consolidated cash flows for the nine months
ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. These adjustments are of a normal and
recurring nature. These financial statements do not contain the complete
detail or footnote disclosure concerning accounting policies and other matters
that would be included in full-year financial statements and therefore they
should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial
statements included in IDACORP's and IPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005. The results of operations for the interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the
full year.
Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 1, 2006, IDACORP
and IPC adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" (SFAS 123R) using the modified
prospective application method. SFAS 123R changes measurement, timing and
disclosure rules relating to share-based payments, requiring that the fair
value of all share-based payments be expensed. The adoption of SFAS 123R did
not have a material impact on IDACORP's or IPC's financial statements for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.
IDACORP's and IPC's Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September
30, 2005 do not reflect any changes from the adoption of SFAS 123R. The
following table illustrates what net income and earnings per share would have
been had the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 been applied to
stock-based employee compensation in 2005 (in thousands of dollars, except for
per share amounts):
|
Three months |
|
Nine months |
||||
|
ended |
|
ended |
||||
|
September 30, 2005 |
|
September 30, 2005 |
||||
IDACORP: |
|
||||||
Net income, as reported |
$ |
23,617 |
$ |
56,135 |
|||
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in |
|||||||
reported net income, net of related tax effects |
275 |
597 |
|||||
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined |
|||||||
under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects |
495 |
1,250 |
|||||
Pro forma net income |
$ |
23,397 |
$ |
55,482 |
|||
Earnings per share of common stock: |
|||||||
Basic and diluted - as reported |
$ |
0.56 |
$ |
1.33 |
|||
Basic and diluted - pro forma |
0.56 |
1.31 |
|||||
|
|
||||||
IPC: |
|
|
|
||||
Net income, as reported |
$ |
20,969 |
$ |
55,354 |
|||
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in |
|||||||
reported net income, net of related tax effects |
167 |
311 |
|||||
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined |
|||||||
under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects |
313 |
660 |
|||||
Pro forma net income |
$ |
20,823 |
$ |
55,005 |
|||
For purposes of these 2005
pro forma calculations, the estimated fair value of the options, restricted
stock and performance shares is amortized to expense over the vesting period.
The fair value of the restricted stock and performance shares was the market
price of the stock on the date of grant. The fair value of an option award was
estimated at the date of grant using a binomial option-pricing model. Expenses
related to forfeited awards were reversed in the period in which the forfeiture
occurred.
15
Earnings Per Share
The computation of diluted earnings
per share (EPS) differs from basic EPS only due to the inclusion of potentially
dilutive shares related to stock-based compensation awards.
The following table presents
the computation of IDACORP's basic and diluted earnings per share for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands, except for per
share amounts):
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Nine months ended |
||||||||||||
|
|
September 30, |
|
September 30, |
||||||||||||
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
$ |
32,492 |
$ |
25,961 |
$ |
82,120 |
$ |
64,197 |
||||||||
Denominator: |
||||||||||||||||
Weighted-average common shares |
||||||||||||||||
outstanding - basic* |
42,678 |
42,287 |
42,569 |
42,245 |
||||||||||||
Effect of dilutive securities: |
||||||||||||||||
Options |
125 |
69 |
87 |
51 |
||||||||||||
Restricted Stock |
60 |
24 |
54 |
22 |
||||||||||||
Weighted-average common shares |
||||||||||||||||
outstanding - diluted |
42,863 |
42,380 |
42,710 |
42,318 |
||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations |
$ |
0.76 |
$ |
0.61 |
$ |
1.93 |
$ |
1.52 |
||||||||
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations |
$ |
0.76 |
$ |
0.61 |
$ |
1.92 |
$ |
1.52 |
||||||||
*Weighted average shares outstanding excludes non-vested shares issued under stock compensation plans. |
||||||||||||||||
The diluted EPS computation
excluded 463,600 and 643,600 common stock options for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2006, respectively, because the options' exercise prices were
greater than the average market price of the common stock during those
periods. For the same periods in 2005, there were 824,500 and 1,014,437
options excluded from the diluted EPS computation for the same reason. In
total, 1,156,296 options were outstanding at September 30, 2006, with
expiration dates between 2010 and 2015.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been
reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Net income and
shareholders' equity were not affected by these reclassifications.
New Accounting
Pronouncements
FIN 48: In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" (FIN 48), which
clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions. FIN 48 requires
that IDACORP and IPC recognize in their financial statements the impact of a
tax position if that position will more likely than not be sustained upon
examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation
processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The provisions of FIN
48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with the
cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle recorded as an
adjustment to opening retained earnings. IDACORP and IPC are currently
evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 48 on their financial statements.
SFAS 157: In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, "Fair
Value Measurements." SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for
measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands
disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and
interim periods within those fiscal years. IDACORP and IPC are currently
evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on their financial statements.
16
SFAS 158: In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Plans - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)." SFAS 158 requires an employer that is a business entity and sponsors one or more single-employer defined benefit plans to:
IDACORP is required to initially recognize the funded
status of its defined benefit postretirement plan and to provide the required
disclosures in its December 31, 2006, financial statements. The requirement to
measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer's
fiscal year-end statement of financial position is effective for fiscal years
ending after December 15, 2008. When adopted in the fourth quarter of 2006,
the provisions of SFAS 158 will increase IDACORP's and IPC's liabilities and
reduce each company's common equity by approximately $80 million as of January
1, 2006, which is the amount by which the plans' benefit obligations exceeded
the plans' assets. IPC's common equity balance is one factor used in the
determination of retail rates. The decrease in common equity resulting from
the adoption of SFAS 158 would decrease rates, absent special ratemaking
treatment. IPC expects to pursue such treatment from the IPUC and OPUC, and if
received, the adoption of SFAS 158 is not expected to have a material effect on
IDACORP's or IPC's results of operations or cash flows.
SAB 108: In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, "Considering the
Effects of Prior Year Misstatements When Quantifying Misstatements in Current
Year Financial Statements" (SAB 108), in September 2006. SAB 108 provides
guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year
financial statement misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current
year misstatement. Prior practice allowed the evaluation of materiality on the
basis of (1) the error quantified as the amount by which the current year
income statement was misstated (rollover method) or (2) the cumulative error
quantified as the cumulative amount by which the current year balance sheet was
misstated (iron curtain method). Reliance on either method in prior years
could have resulted in misstatement of the financial statements. The guidance
provided in SAB 108 requires both methods to be used in evaluating
materiality. Immaterial prior year errors may be corrected with the first
filing of prior year financial statements after adoption. The cumulative
effect of the correction would be reflected in the opening balance sheet with
appropriate disclosure of the nature and amount of each individual error
corrected in the cumulative adjustment, as well as a disclosure of the cause of
the error and that the error had been deemed to be immaterial in the past. SAB
108 is effective for IDACORP's and IPC's opening balance sheet in 2007.
IDACORP and IPC are currently evaluating the impact SAB 108 might have on their
financial position or results of operations.
2. INCOME TAXES:
17
Income tax rate
In accordance with interim reporting requirements, IDACORP and IPC use an
estimated annual effective tax rate for computing their provisions for income
taxes. IDACORP's effective rate on continuing operations for the nine months
ended September 30, 2006, was 24.1 percent, compared to 17.1 percent for the
nine months ended September 30, 2005. IPC's effective tax rate for the nine
months ended September 30, 2006, was 38.5 percent, compared to 40.9 percent for
the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
The differences in estimated
annual effective tax rates are primarily due to the increase in pre-tax
earnings at IDACORP and IPC, the loss of IPC's simplified service cost method
tax deduction in 2005 and the adoption of a new uniform capitalization method
in 2006, timing and amount of IPC's regulatory flow-through tax adjustments,
settlement of a Bridger Coal Company partnership audit at IPC (discussed
below), and slightly lower tax credits from IFS.
Status of audit
proceedings
In March 2005, the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) began its examination of IDACORP's 2001-2003 tax years. On
October 13, 2006, the IRS issued its examination report and assessment for
those years. With the exception of IPC's capitalized overhead costs method,
discussed below, the IRS and IDACORP were able to settle all issues. The
federal tax assessment for the settled issues will be paid in November 2006.
It is expected that associated interest charges and state income taxes will be
paid during 2007. Settlement of the agreed issues will not have a material
impact on IDACORP's 2006 results of operations or cash flows.
The IRS disallowed IPC's
capitalized overhead cost method for uniform capitalization (the simplified
service cost method) on the basis that IPC's self-constructed assets were not
produced on a "routine and repetitive" basis as defined by Rev. Rul. 2005-53.
The disallowance resulted in a federal tax assessment of $45 million. IDACORP
disagrees with this conclusion and will appeal the issue. Accordingly, in
November, 2006 IDACORP will file its formal protest, make a deposit of the
disputed tax with the IRS to stop the accrual of interest, and enter the
appeals process. Management cannot predict the timing or outcome of this
process, but believes that an adequate provision for income taxes and related
interest charges has been made for this issue.
The simplified service cost
method was also used for IPC's 2004 tax year. While 2004 is not currently
under examination, it is likely the IRS will take the same position for 2004 as
it did for 2001-2003; however, it is not likely that this position will result
in a federal income tax assessment primarily due to the mitigating effect of
accelerated tax depreciation.
On July 7, 2006, the IRS
issued its examination report for Bridger Coal Company's 2001-2003 tax years.
Bridger Coal is a partnership investment owned one-third by IPC. The audit
resulted in net favorable adjustments to Bridger Coal's tax returns for those
years. IPC's third quarter income tax expense decreased by $1.3 million as a
result of the settlement.
Capitalized overhead costs
Generally, section 263A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, requires the capitalization of all direct
costs and indirect costs, including mixed service costs, which directly benefit
or are incurred by reason of the production of property by a taxpayer. The
simplified service cost method, a "safe harbor" method, is one of the methods
provided by the section 263A treasury regulations for the calculation of mixed
service cost capitalization. IPC adopted the simplified service cost method
for both the self-construction of utility plant and production of electricity
beginning with its 2001 federal income tax return.
On August 2, 2005, the IRS
and the Treasury Department issued guidance interpreting the meaning of "routine
and repetitive" for purposes of the simplified service cost and simplified
production methods of the Internal Revenue Code section 263A uniform
capitalization rules. The guidance was issued in the form of a revenue ruling
(Rev. Rul. 2005-53) which is effective for all open tax years ending prior to
August 2, 2005, and proposed and temporary regulations (the "Temporary
Regulations") which are effective for tax years ending on or after August 2,
2005. Both pieces of guidance take a more restrictive view of the definition
of self-constructed assets produced by a taxpayer on a "routine and repetitive"
basis than did treasury regulations in effect at the time IPC changed to the
simplified service cost method.
18
For IPC, the simplified
service cost method produced a current tax deduction for costs capitalized to
electricity production that are capitalized into fixed assets for financial
accounting purposes. Deferred income tax expense had not been provided for
this deduction because the prescribed regulatory tax accounting treatment does
not allow for inclusion of such deferred tax expense in current rates. Rate
regulated enterprises are required to recognize such adjustments as regulatory
assets if it is probable that such amounts will be recovered from customers in
future rates.
As discussed in "Status of Audit Proceedings" above, the IRS has disallowed IPC's
use of the simplified service cost method for the tax years 2001-2003 on the
basis of Rev. Rul. 2005-53. As a result, the IRS has assessed a $45 million
tax liability. IDACORP will appeal the IRS's assessment. Because of the
nature of the issue, IDACORP's exposure with respect to this matter may be less
than the tax assessed plus applicable interest charges. The resolution of this
matter could result in a one time charge to earnings; however, at this time
IDACORP is not in a position to quantify such amount. Additionally, after resolution
IDACORP will likely amend its 2005 federal income tax return and its 2005
method change application to account for the effects that such resolution has
on IPC's new uniform capitalization method (discussed below). This amendment
is not expected to have a negative impact on IDACORP's or IPC's consolidated
financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
With respect to tax year 2005
and future tax years, the Temporary Regulations, as drafted, preclude IPC from
using the simplified service cost method for its self-constructed assets.
Under the Temporary Regulations, IPC is required to use another allowable
section 263A method for its indirect costs, including mixed service costs. As
a result of the Temporary Regulations, IPC made changes to its overall section
263A uniform capitalization method of accounting. In September 2006, the
changes were adopted with an automatic method change request included in
IDACORP's 2005 federal income tax return. The uniform capitalization
methodology adopted for 2005 and subsequent years involves the use of the
specific identification, burden rate, and step-allocation methods of
accounting. The methods used are allowable under both the final and temporary
section 263A regulations.
As with the simplified service
cost method, the new uniform capitalization methodology produces an annual tax
deduction for costs that are not required to be capitalized under section 263A
as well as costs capitalized into the production of electricity. The method,
while producing a beneficial result, is not as favorable as the simplified
service cost method. Changing the uniform capitalization method will result in
a net charge to IPC's 2006 income tax expense of $6.1 million, with $5.4
million being recorded in the third quarter. The estimated 2006 tax deduction
produces a $3.3 million tax benefit for the year, $2.5 million of which was
recorded at IPC in the third quarter. The change in method is not expected to
have a material effect on IDACORP's or IPC's 2006 cash flows. The accounting
and regulatory treatment for the new method is the same as previously used for
the simplified service cost method.
3. COMMON STOCK:
During the nine months ended
September 30, 2006, IDACORP entered into the following transactions involving
its common stock:
On January 1, 2006, IDACORP
adopted SFAS 123R. SFAS 123R requires that any amounts of unearned stock-based
compensation be charged against common equity. Prior to January 1, 2006,
IDACORP had aggregated its unearned compensation balances with treasury stock
on its consolidated balance sheets.
19
4. FINANCING:
The following table
summarizes IDACORP's long-term debt (in thousands of dollars):
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|||||||
2006 |
|
2005 |
|||||||
First mortgage bonds: |
|||||||||
7.38% Series due 2007 |
$ |
80,000 |
$ |
80,000 |
|||||
7.20% Series due 2009 |
80,000 |
80,000 |
|||||||
6.60% Series due 2011 |
120,000 |
120,000 |
|||||||
4.75% Series due 2012 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
|||||||
4.25% Series due 2013 |
70,000 |
70,000 |
|||||||
6% Series due 2032 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
|||||||
5.50% Series due 2033 |
70,000 |
70,000 |
|||||||
5.50% Series due 2034 |
50,000 |
50,000 |
|||||||
5.875% Series due 2034 |
55,000 |
55,000 |
|||||||
5.30% Series due 2035 |
60,000 |
60,000 |
|||||||
Total first mortgage bonds |
785,000 |
785,000 |
|||||||
Pollution control revenue bonds: |
|||||||||
Variable Auction Rate Series 2003 due 2024 (a) |
49,800 |
49,800 |
|||||||
6.05% Series 1996A due 2026 |
68,100 |
68,100 |
|||||||
Variable Rate Series 1996B due 2026 |
24,200 |
24,200 |
|||||||
Variable Rate Series 1996C due 2026 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
|||||||
Variable Rate Series 2000 due 2027 |
4,360 |
4,360 |
|||||||
Total pollution control revenue bonds |
170,460 |
170,460 |
|||||||
American Falls bond guarantee |
19,885 |
19,885 |
|||||||
Milner Dam note guarantee |
11,700 |
11,700 |
|||||||
Unamortized premium (discount) - net |
(3,154) |
(3,325) |
|||||||
Debt related to investments in affordable housing |
37,632 |
48,481 |
|||||||
Other subsidiary debt |
7,542 |
7,686 |
|||||||
Less: Liabilities held for sale |
(9) |
(35) |
|||||||
Total |
1,029,056 |
1,039,852 |
|||||||
Current maturities of long-term debt |
(15,364) |
(16,307) |
|||||||
Total long-term debt |
$ |
1,013,692 |
$ |
1,023,545 |
|||||
(a) |
Humboldt County Pollution Control Revenue bonds are secured by first mortgage bonds, bringing the total first mortgage bonds outstanding at September 30, 2006, to $834.8 million. |
||||||||
Long-Term Financing
IDACORP currently has $679 million
remaining on two shelf registration statements that can be used for the
issuance of unsecured debt (including medium-term notes) and preferred or
common stock. IPC currently has in place a registration statement that can be
used for the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of $240 million of first
mortgage bonds (including medium-term notes) and unsecured debt.
The amount of first mortgage
bonds issuable by IPC is limited to a maximum of $1.1 billion and by property,
earnings and other provisions of the mortgage and supplemental indentures
thereto. IPC may amend the indenture and increase this amount without consent
of the holders of the first mortgage bonds. The indenture requires that IPC's
net earnings must be at least twice the annual interest requirements on all
outstanding debt of equal or prior rank, including the bonds that IPC may
propose to issue. Under certain circumstances, the net earnings test does not
apply, including the issuance of refunding bonds to retire outstanding bonds
that mature in less than two years or that are of an equal or higher interest
rate, or prior lien bonds.
20
As of September 30, 2006, IPC
could issue under the mortgage approximately $452 million of additional first
mortgage bonds based on retired first mortgage bonds and $670 million of
additional first mortgage bonds based on unfunded property additions. As of
September 30, 2006, unfunded property additions were approximately $1.1
billion. Property additions consist of electric or gas property, or property
used in connection therewith. Property additions exclude securities, contracts
or choses in action, merchandise and equipment for consumption or resale,
materials and supplies, property used principally for production or gathering
of natural gas and any power sites and uncompleted works under Idaho state
permits. In determining net property additions, IPC deducts all retired funded
property from gross property additions except to the extent of certain credits
for released funded property.
The mortgage requires IPC to
spend or appropriate 15 percent of its annual gross operating revenues for
maintenance, retirement or amortization of its properties. IPC may, however,
anticipate or make up these expenditures or appropriations within the five
years that immediately follow or precede a particular year.
The mortgage secures all
bonds issued under the indenture equally and ratably, without preference,
priority or distinction. IPC may issue additional first mortgage bonds in the
future, and those first mortgage bonds will also be secured by the mortgage.
The lien of the indenture constitutes a first mortgage on all the properties of
IPC, subject only to certain limited exceptions including liens for taxes and
assessments that are not delinquent and minor excepted encumbrances. Certain
of the properties of IPC are subject to easements, leases, contracts, covenants,
workmen's compensation awards and similar encumbrances and minor defects and
clouds common to properties. The mortgage does not create a lien on revenues
or profits, or notes or accounts receivable, contracts or choses in action,
except as permitted by law during a completed default, securities or cash,
except when pledged, or merchandise or equipment manufactured or acquired for
resale. The mortgage creates a lien on the interest of IPC in property
subsequently acquired, other than excepted property, subject to limitations in
the case of consolidation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of IPC.
At September 30, 2006, IFS
had $38 million of debt related to investments in affordable housing with
interest rates ranging from 3.65 percent to 8.38 percent, due between 2006 and
2010. The investments in affordable housing developments that collateralize
this debt had a net book value of $62 million at September 30, 2006. IFS' $13
million Series 2003-1 tax credit note is non-recourse to both IFS and IDACORP.
The $7 million Series 2003-2 tax credit note and other outstanding debt are
recourse only to IFS.
On October 3, 2006, IPC
completed a tax-exempt bond financing in which Sweetwater County, Wyoming
issued and sold $116,300,000 aggregate principal amount of its Pollution
Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 2006. The
bonds will mature on July 15, 2026. The $116.3 million proceeds were loaned by
Sweetwater County to IPC pursuant to a Loan Agreement, dated as of October 1,
2006, between Sweetwater County and IPC (the Loan Agreement) On October 10,
2006, the proceeds of the new bonds, together with certain other moneys of IPC,
were used to refund Sweetwater County's (i) Pollution Control Revenue Refunding
Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 1996A that were outstanding in the
aggregate principal amount of $68,100,000, (ii) Pollution Control Revenue
Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 1996B that were
outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $24,200,000 and (iii)
Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series
1996C that were outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $24,000,000.
The regularly scheduled principal and interest payments on the bonds, and
principal and interest payments on the bonds upon mandatory redemption on
determination of taxability, are insured by a financial guaranty insurance
policy issued by AMBAC Assurance Corporation. IPC and AMBAC have entered into
an Insurance Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2006, pursuant to which IPC has
agreed, among other things, to pay certain premiums to AMBAC and to reimburse
AMBAC for any payments made under the policy.
In order to secure IPC's
obligation to make principal and interest payments on the loan made to IPC, IPC
issued and delivered to a trustee IPC's First Mortgage Bonds, Pollution Control
Series C, in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the new bonds.
Credit Facilities
IDACORP has a $150 million five-year
credit facility that expires on March 31, 2010. At September 30, 2006, no
loans were outstanding on IDACORP's credit facility and $6 million of
commercial paper was outstanding.
21
At September 30, 2006, IPC
had regulatory authority to incur up to $250 million of short-term
indebtedness. IPC has a $200 million five-year credit facility that expires on
March 31, 2010. At September 30, 2006, no loans were outstanding on IPC's
credit facility and $26 million of commercial paper and $1 million of notes (outside
of the credit facility) were outstanding.
5. COMMITMENTS AND
CONTINGENCIES:
Off-Balance Sheet
Arrangements
The federal Surface Mining Control
and Reclamation Act of 1977 and similar state statutes establish operational,
reclamation and closure standards that must be met during and upon completion
of mining activities. These obligations mandate that mine property be restored
consistent with specific standards and the approved reclamation plan. The
mining operations at the Bridger Coal Company are subject to these reclamation
and closure requirements. IPC has agreed to guarantee the performance of
reclamation activities at Bridger Coal Company, of which Idaho Energy Resources
Co., a subsidiary of IPC, owns a one-third interest. This guarantee, which is
renewed each December, was $60 million at September 30, 2006. Bridger Coal has
a reclamation trust fund set aside specifically for the purpose of paying these
reclamation costs and expects that the fund will be sufficient to cover all
such costs. Because of the existence of the fund, the estimated fair value of
this guarantee is minimal.
Regional Transmission
Organization
Over the last several years, IPC has
spent funds supporting the development of Grid West, a Northwest regional
transmission organization (RTO). As of September 30, 2006, IPC had recorded
$1.1 million of loans to Grid West and $2.3 million of deferred internal costs
from participating in the development effort. These amounts were initially
deferred anticipating future recovery through Grid West tariffs. IPC ceased
funding Grid West after the first quarter of 2006 and Grid West was dissolved
on April 11, 2006. IPC no longer expects reimbursement of either amount from
Grid West. IPC's accumulation of Grid West development costs in a deferred
expense account is consistent with a 2004 accounting order that IPC received
from the FERC.
Grid West Deferral in Oregon: On
April 4, 2006, IPC filed a request for an accounting order from the OPUC
addressing the deferral of costs related to the development of Grid West. On
August 22, 2006, the OPUC granted IPC's request for the deferral of the costs
of unrecoverable Grid West loans; however, the OPUC denied IPC's request to defer an immaterial amount of
internal costs incurred directly in the development of Grid West.
Grid West Deferral in Idaho: On
April 4, 2006, IPC filed a request for an accounting order from the IPUC
addressing the deferral of costs related to the development of Grid West. The
total deferral request was $3.4 million. On June 29, 2006, the IPUC determined
that the case would be processed by modified procedure. IPC argued that it
should be allowed deferral of the principal and interest on the RTO loan
amounts, a carrying charge on the deferred balance and recovery of the
incremental internal costs it identified in its application. On October 24,
2006, the IPUC issued an order granting $1.1 million related to the principal
of the RTO loans over a five-year amortization beginning January 1, 2007 and
denying recovery of the remaining items. IPC has until November 14, 2006, to
petition the IPUC for reconsideration. Following a final decision from the
IPUC, IPC will make a filing with the FERC for recovery of Grid West costs.
If IPC is unsuccessful with
either the IPUC or with the FERC, some or all of the remaining costs will be
expensed.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Reference is made to IDACORP's
and IPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006, and June
30, 2006, for a discussion of all material pending legal proceedings to which
IDACORP and IPC and their subsidiaries are parties. The following discussion
provides a summary of material developments that occurred in those proceedings
during the period covered by this report and of any new material proceedings
instituted during the period covered by this report.
22
Proceedings Relating to
the Western Power Markets
IDACORP, IPC and/or IE are involved
in a number of proceedings which relate to the western power markets.
Public
Utility District No. 1 of Grays Harbor County, Washington
On July 25, 2006, the case was
dismissed with prejudice by the Honorable Robert H. Whaley, sitting by
designation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California,
pursuant to an agreed resolution of the matter between Grays Harbor and
IDACORP, IPC and IE. The settlement did not have a material adverse effect on
IDACORP's consolidated financial position, results of operation or cash flows.
Port of Seattle
On March 7, 2006, the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard argument on the Port of Seattle's appeal of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California's dismissal
of its complaint with prejudice. On March 30, 2006, the Ninth Circuit issued
an order denying the Port of Seattle's appeal and affirming the dismissal of
the entire case. The dismissal of the case, with prejudice, became final on
June 28, 2006, when the Port of Seattle elected not to file a certiorari
petition to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Wah Chang
Following the October 18, 2005,
consolidation of Wah Chang's appeal of the dismissal order to the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit with an identical order in Wah Chang v. Duke
Energy Trading and Marketing, IDACORP, IPC and IE filed an answering brief on
November 30, 2005. Wah Chang filed its reply brief on January 6, 2006. Wah
Chang's appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has now been
fully briefed; however, no date has yet been set for oral argument. IDACORP,
IPC and IE intend to vigorously defend their position in this proceeding and
believe this matter will not have a material adverse effect on their
consolidated financial positions, results of operations or cash flows.
City of Tacoma
The City of Tacoma's March 10, 2005,
appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit of the dismissal of
the case by Judge Whaley has been fully briefed; however, no date has yet been
set for oral argument. IDACORP, IPC and IE intend to vigorously defend their
position in this proceeding and believe this matter will not have a material
adverse effect on their consolidated financial positions, results of operations
or cash flows.
Wholesale
Electricity Antitrust Cases I & II
In April 2002, several subsidiaries
of Reliant Energy, Inc. (Reliant) and Duke Energy Corporation (Duke) filed
cross-complaints against IE and IPC and numerous other participants in the California energy market. The cross-complaints sought indemnification for any liability
that may arise from original complaints filed against Reliant and Duke with
respect to charges of unlawful and unfair business practices in the California energy markets under California law. On November 9, 2005, both Duke and Reliant
submitted to the California Superior Court stipulations with IE and IPC to
conditionally dismiss, with prejudice, the cross-complaints, subject to
reinstatement if proposed settlements between Duke and Reliant and the
plaintiffs of the underlying actions were not approved by the court. Neither
IE nor IPC paid any amount to Duke or to Reliant to obtain these dismissals.
On
December 14, 2005, the court granted final approval of the Duke settlement with
the plaintiffs. The Court's order granting final approval of the Duke
settlement became final on March 14, 2006. On January 6, 2006, the court granted preliminary approval of the Reliant settlement.
On March 30, 2006, oppositions and objections to the Reliant settlement were
filed by certain parties under the Eggers case caption, including by the
States of Montana and Idaho. Neither IPC nor IE is a party to the Eggers
case, which seeks to recover damages on behalf of consumers in western states
other than California. A hearing on final approval of the Reliant settlement
was held on April 28, 2006. At the hearing, the court ruled that the California class settlement would receive final approval contingent on a satisfactory
showing that the notice to those class members was adequate. As for the Eggers
case, the court set a briefing schedule to provide evidence and oral argument
regarding the State of Montana's treatment by its class representative and
Montana's connection to the California energy market.
23
On May 30, 2006, the court
signed and approved the Judgment, Final Order, and Decree Granting Final Approval to the Reliant
settlement. The court also signed and approved the Order Granting Reliant's
Motion for Good Faith Settlement Determination. The order approving the
Reliant settlement became final on July
31, 2006. On July 14, 2006, the court
held a separate hearing to consider approval of the settlement of the Eggers
action, and thereafter signed and approved
the Judgment, Final Order and Decree Granting Final Approval to the Class
Action Settlement in the Eggers case. All appeal periods have now
expired.
California Refund
On February 17, 2006, IE and IPC
jointly filed with the California Parties (Pacific Gas & Electric Company,
San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison, the
California Public Utilities Commission, the California Electricity Oversight
Board, the California Department of Water Resources and the California Attorney
General) an Offer of Settlement at the FERC. Other parties had until March 9,
2006, to elect to become an additional settling party. The majority of other
parties chose to opt out of the settlement. After consideration of comments,
the FERC approved the settlement on May 22, 2006. Under the terms of the
settlement, IE and IPC assigned $24.25 million of the rights to accounts
receivable from the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) and
California Power Exchange (CalPX) to the California Parties to pay into an
escrow account for refunds to settling parties. Amounts from that escrow not
used for settling parties and $1.5 million of the remaining IE and IPC
receivables that are to be retained by the CalPX are available to fund, at
least partially, payment of the claims of any non-settling parties if they
prevail in the remaining litigation of this matter. Any excess funds remaining
at the end of the case are to be returned to IDACORP. Approximately $10.25
million of the remaining IE and IPC receivables was paid to IE and IPC under
the Settlement.
On June 21, 2006, the Port of
Seattle, Washington filed a request for rehearing of the FERC order approving
the Settlement. On July 10, 2006, IDACORP and the California Parties filed a
response to Port of Seattle's request for rehearing. On October 5, 2006, the
FERC issued an order denying the Port of Seattle's request for rehearing. The
time for seeking review of the FERC's Order will not expire until December 4,
2006. IDACORP is unable to predict at this time if any person will seek such
review or, if such review is sought, what the eventual outcome will be.
For some time the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals held in abeyance consolidated petitions for review (in
excess of 100) of FERC orders related to the California Refund proceeding. On
September 21, 2004, the Ninth Circuit convened case management proceedings on
these petitions and on October 22, 2004, severed a subset of issues for
briefing related to: (1) which parties are subject to the FERC's refund
jurisdiction under section 201(f) of the Federal Power Act; (2) the temporal
scope of refunds under section 206 of the Federal Power Act; and (3) which
categories of transaction are subject to refunds. Oral argument was held on
April 12-13, 2005. On September 6, 2005, the Ninth Circuit issued a decision
on the jurisdictional issues concluding that the FERC lacked refund authority
over wholesale electric energy sales made by governmental entities and
non-public utilities. On August 2, 2006, the Ninth Circuit issued its decision
on the appropriate temporal reach and the type of transactions subject to the
FERC refund orders and concluded, among other things, that all transactions at
issue in the case that occurred within or as a result of the CalPX and the Cal
ISO were the proper subject of refund proceedings; refused to expand the refund
proceedings into the bilateral markets including transactions with the
California Department of Water Resources; approved the refund effective date as
October 2, 2000, but also required the FERC to consider whether refunds,
including possibly market-wide refunds, should be required for an earlier time
due to claims that some market participants had violated governing tariff
obligations (although the decision did not specify when that time would start,
the California Parties generally had sought further refunds starting May 1, 2000);
and effectively expanded the scope of the refund proceeding to transactions
within the CalPX and Cal ISO markets outside the 24-hour spot market and energy
exchange transactions.
IDACORP believes that these
decisions should have no material effect on IDACORP under the terms of the
IDACORP Settlement with the California Parties approved by the FERC on May 22,
2006.
California
Power Exchange Chargeback
Based upon the Offer of Settlement
filed with the FERC on February 17, 2006, between the California Parties and IE
and IPC and discussed above in "California Refund", the California Parties
supported a motion filed by IE and IPC with the FERC seeking an Order Directing
Return of Chargeback Amounts currently held by the CalPX totaling $2.27
million. In the May 22, 2006, Order approving the Settlement, the FERC granted
the IE and IPC motion for return of chargeback funds held by the CalPX. On
June 1, 2006, IE received approximately $2.5 million from the CalPX
representing the return of $2.27 million in chargeback funds plus interest.
24
Market Manipulation
Pursuant to the Offer of Settlement
filed with the FERC on February 17, 2006, between the California Parties and IE
and IPC and discussed above in "California Refund", the requests for rehearing
of the California Parties and other settling parties of the FERC's approval of
an earlier settlement with the FERC staff regarding allegations of "gaming" are
deemed to be withdrawn. On May 22, 2006, the FERC issued an order approving
the February 17, 2006, Offer of Settlement. On October 11, 2006, the FERC
issued an Order denying rehearing of its earlier approval of the "gaming"
allegations, thereby effectively terminating the FERC investigations as to IPC
and IE regarding bidding behavior, physical withholding of power and "gaming"
without finding of wrongdoing. The time for seeking review of the FERC's Order
will not expire until December 11, 2006. IPC and IE are unable to predict at
this time if any person will seek such review or, if such review is sought,
what the eventual outcome will be.
Pacific Northwest Refund
On September 24, 2001, the FERC
Administrative Law Judge submitted recommendations and findings to the FERC
finding that prices in the Pacific Northwest during the December 25, 2000,
through June 20, 2001, time period should be governed by the Mobile-Sierra
standard of public interest rather than the just and reasonable standard, that
the Pacific Northwest spot markets were competitive and that no refunds should
be allowed. The FERC approved these recommendations on June 25, 2003, and
multiple parties then appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. IE and
IPC were parties in the FERC proceeding and are participating in the appeal.
Briefing on the appeal was completed on May 25, 2005, and oral argument has
been scheduled for January 8, 2007. The Settlement approved by the FERC on May
22, 2006, resolves all claims the California Parties have against IE and IPC in
the Pacific Northwest Refund proceeding. The settlement with Grays Harbor
resolves all claims Grays Harbor has against IE and IPC in this proceeding. IE
and IPC are unable to predict the outcome as to all other parties in this
proceeding.
Other Litigation
Shareholder Lawsuit
On March 29, 2006, the U.S. District
Court for the District of Idaho (Judge Edward J. Lodge) issued an Order in this
case (Powell v. IDACORP) adopting the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate
Judge Williams issued on September 14, 2005, granting the defendants' (IDACORP
and certain of its officers and directors) motion to dismiss because plaintiffs
failed to satisfy the pleading requirements for loss causation. However, Judge
Lodge modified the Report and Recommendation and ruled that plaintiffs had
until May 1, 2006, to file an amended complaint only as to the loss causation
element. On May 1, 2006, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. The
defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on June 16, 2006,
asserting that the amended complaint still failed to satisfy the pleading
requirements for loss causation. Briefing on this most recent motion to
dismiss was completed on August 28, 2006. IDACORP and the other defendants
intend to defend themselves vigorously against the allegations. IDACORP
cannot, however, predict the outcome of these matters.
Western Shoshone National
Council
On April 10, 2006, the Western
Shoshone National Council (which purports to be the governing body of the
Western Shoshone Nation) and certain of its individual tribal members filed a
First Amended Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial in the U.S. District Court
for the District of Nevada, naming IPC and other unrelated entities as
defendants.
Plaintiffs
allege that IPC's ownership interest in certain land, minerals, water or other
resources was converted and fraudulently conveyed from lands in which the
plaintiffs had historical ownership rights and Indian title dating back to the
1860's or before. Although it is unclear from the complaint, it appears
plaintiffs' claims relate primarily to lands within the state of Nevada. Plaintiffs seek a judgment declaring their title to land and other resources,
disgorgement of profits from the sale or use of the land and resources, a
decree declaring a constructive trust in favor of the plaintiffs of IPC's
assets connected to the lands or resources, an accounting of money or things of
value received from the sale or use of the lands or resources, monetary damages
in an unspecified amount for waste and trespass and a judgment declaring that
IPC has no right to possess or use the lands or resources.
25
On
May 1, 2006, IPC filed an Answer to plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint denying
all liability to the plaintiffs and asserting certain affirmative defenses
including collateral estoppel and res judicata, preemption, impossibility and
impracticability, failure to join all real and necessary parties, and various
defenses based on untimeliness. On June 19, 2006, IPC filed a motion to
dismiss plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint, asserting, among other things,
that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction and that plaintiffs failed to
join an indispensable party (namely, the United States government). Briefing
on the motion to dismiss was completed on September 28, 2006. IPC intends to
vigorously defend its position in this proceeding, but is unable to predict the
outcome of this matter.
6. REGULATORY MATTERS:
General Rate Cases
Oregon: On September 21, 2004, IPC
filed an application with the OPUC to increase general rates an average of 17.5
percent or approximately $4.4 million annually. A partial settlement resolved
most issues in a manner consistent with the results of the corresponding Idaho general rate case. The most significant issue in this proceeding was the appropriate
quantification of net power supply expenses for purposes of setting rates. The
OPUC staff proposed that net power supply expenses for IPC be set at a negative
number - meaning that IPC should be able to sell enough surplus energy to pay
for all fuel and purchased power expenses and still have revenue left over to
offset other costs. The bulk of IPC's rebuttal was directed at this position.
A hearing was conducted on May 23, 2005. The OPUC issued its order in July
2005 authorizing an increase of $0.6 million in annual revenues for an average
of 2.37 percent. The OPUC adopted the OPUC staff's argument for the negative
net power supply costs, thus reducing IPC's initial rate request of $4.4
million by $2.4 million with this one adjustment.
On September 26, 2005, IPC
filed a complaint with the Circuit Court of Marion County, Oregon asking the
court to reverse the portion of the OPUC's general rate case order related to
the determination of net power supply costs. Following a full review of the
matter, the court denied IPC's reversal
request on August 29, 2006. IPC has until November 13, 2006, to file an appeal
with the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Deferred (Accrued) Net
Power Supply Costs
IPC's deferred (accrued) net power
supply costs consisted of the following (in thousands of dollars):
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|||
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|||
Idaho PCA current year: |
||||||
Deferral for the 2006-2007 rate year |
$ |
- |
$ |
3,684 |
||
Deferral for the 2007-2008 rate year * |
3,872 |
- |
||||
Idaho PCA true-up awaiting recovery (refund): |
||||||
Authorized May 2005 |
- |
28,567 |
||||
Authorized May 2006 |
(15,161) |
- |
||||
Oregon deferral: |
||||||
2001 costs |
7,108 |
8,411 |
||||
2005 costs |
2,833 |
2,880 |
||||
Total deferral (accrual) |
$ |
(1,348) |
$ |
43,542 |
||
* includes a $42.1 million credit for excess SO2 emission allowance sales allocated to customers |
Idaho: IPC has a
Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) mechanism that provides for annual adjustments to
the rates charged to its Idaho retail customers. These adjustments are based
on forecasts of net power supply costs, which are fuel and purchased power less
off-system sales, and the true-up of the prior year's forecast. During the
year, 90 percent of the difference between the actual and forecasted costs is
deferred with interest. The ending balance of this deferral, called the
true-up for the current year's portion and the true-up of the true-up for the
prior years' unrecovered portion, is then included in the calculation of the
next year's PCA.
On May 25, 2006, the IPUC
approved IPC's 2006-2007 PCA filing with an effective date of June 1, 2006.
The filing reduced the PCA component of customers' rates from the existing
level, which was recovering $76.7 million above then-existing base rates, to a
level that is $46.8 million below those base rates, a decrease of approximately
$123.5 million.
26
On April 13, 2006, IPC filed
testimony requesting review of one component of the PCA referred to as the load
growth adjustment rate, as agreed to in the stipulation of the parties settling
the 2005 general rate case. The load growth adjustment rate provides a
reduction to power supply expenses for PCA purposes when loads grow from levels
included in IPC's base rates. IPC maintains that this reduction to expenses
should be equal to the relative increase in revenues received as a result of
load growth. The IPUC Staff and other parties to the proceeding filed
testimony on September 15, 2006, advocating load growth adjustment rates above
both the existing rate and IPC's proposal. A hearing was held on October 30,
2006. The dollar impact of load growth adjustment rates is significant and
increasing, based on continuing growth within IPC's territory. Any increase in
the load growth adjustment rate as a result of this proceeding would magnify
the impact. In its rebuttal testimony, IPC estimated that the IPUC Staff
proposal, if implemented last year, would have resulted in $20 million of power
supply expense attributable to load growth from April 1, 2005 through March 31,
2006, that would not have been recoverable by IPC when compared to IPC's
proposal for full recovery of power supply expense attributable to load growth.
On June 1, 2005, IPC
implemented the 2005-2006 PCA, which held the PCA component of customers' rates
at the existing level, recovering $71 million above base rates. By IPUC order,
the PCA included $12 million in lost revenues and $2 million in related
interest resulting from IPC's Irrigation Load Reduction Program that was in
place in 2001. The PCA deferred recovery of approximately $28 million of power
supply costs, or 4.75 percent, for one year to help mitigate the impacts of
other rate increases. The $28 million was included in the 2006-2007 PCA
filing, and IPC earned a two percent carrying charge on the balance.
Oregon: On April
28, 2006, IPC filed for an accounting order with the OPUC to defer net power
supply costs for the period of May 1, 2006, through April 30, 2007, in
anticipation of higher than "normal" power supply expenses. In the Oregon
general rate case discussed above, "normal" power supply expenses were set at a
negative number (meaning that under normal water conditions IPC should be able
to sell enough surplus energy to pay for all fuel and purchased power expenses
and still have revenue left over to offset other costs). The forecasted system
net power supply expenses included in this deferral filing were $64 million,
which is $65.9 million higher than the normalized power supply expenses
established in the Oregon general rate case. IPC requested authorization to
defer an estimated $3.3 million, the Oregon jurisdictional share of the $65.9
million. IPC also requested that it earn its Oregon authorized rate of return
on the deferred balance and recover the amount through rates in future years,
as approved by the OPUC. The parties met
on September 20, 2006, and began negotiating for a PCA mechanism for IPC's Oregon jurisdiction, and agreed to suspend discussion of the deferral application while the
PCA negotiations are ongoing. The parties believe that any agreement regarding
a PCA mechanism may impact resolution of IPC's deferral application. The
parties are planning to meet again in early November 2006.
On March 2, 2005, IPC filed
for an accounting order with the OPUC to defer net power supply costs for the
period of March 2, 2005 through February 28, 2006, in anticipation of continued
low water conditions. The forecasted net power supply costs included in this
filing were $169 million, of which $3 million related to the Oregon
jurisdiction. IPC proposed to use the same methodology for this deferral
filing that was accepted in 2002 for Oregon's share of IPC's 2001 net power
supply expenses. On July 1, 2005, IPC, the OPUC staff, and the Citizen's
Utility Board entered into a stipulation requesting that the OPUC accept IPC's
proposed methodology. Under this methodology, IPC will earn its Oregon authorized rate of return on the deferred balance and will recover the amount
through rates in future years, as approved by the OPUC. The OPUC issued Order
05-870 on July 28, 2005, approving the stipulation. On April 19, 2006, IPC
filed a request for review and acknowledgement of its deferred net power supply
costs for the period of March 2, 2005, through February 28, 2006. The deferral
amount was quantified by IPC to be $2.7 million. On June 14, 2006, a
settlement conference was held; however, settlement is pending further staff
review.
The timing of future recovery
of Oregon power supply cost deferrals is subject to an Oregon statute that
specifically limits rate amortizations of deferred costs to six percent per
year. IPC is currently amortizing through rates power supply costs associated
with the western energy situation of 2001. Full recovery of the 2001 deferral
is not expected until 2009, at which time the rate amortization of the
2005-2006 deferral could begin. A 2006-2007 deferral would have to be
amortized sequentially following the full recovery of the authorized 2005-2006
deferral.
27
Emission Allowances
In June 2005, IPC filed
applications with the IPUC and OPUC requesting blanket authorization for the
sale of excess SO2 emission allowances and an accounting order. The
IPUC issued Order 29852 on August 22, 2005, authorizing the sale and interim
accounting treatment. The OPUC issued Order 05-983 on September 13, 2005,
stating that IPC did not need a blanket order to sell emission allowances and
approved the interim accounting treatment.
As of September 30, 2006, IPC
has sold 78,000 SO2 emission allowances for approximately $81.6
million (before income taxes and expenses) on the open market. After
subtracting transaction fees, the total amount of sales proceeds to be
allocated to the Idaho jurisdiction is approximately $76.8 million ($46.8
million net of tax, assuming a tax rate of approximately 39 percent). Through
allowance year 2006, IPC has approximately 32,000 excess allowances remaining.
Pursuant to the IPUC order,
the IPUC staff held several workshops and settlement discussions. On May 12,
2006, the IPUC approved a stipulation filed in April 2006 by IPC on behalf of
several parties. The stipulation allows IPC to retain ten percent, or
approximately $4.7 million after tax, of the emission allowance net proceeds as
a shareholder benefit. The remaining 90 percent of the sales proceeds ($69.1
million) plus a carrying charge will be recorded as a customer benefit and
included as a line-item in the PCA true-up. The carrying charge will be
calculated on $42.1 million, the net-of-tax amount allocable to Idaho jurisdiction customers. This customer benefit is included in IPC's PCA calculations
as a credit to the PCA true-up balance and will be reflected in PCA rates
during the June 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008 PCA rate year.
There is no current OPUC
proceeding with respect to SO2 emission allowances, and IPC cannot
predict the outcome of any future OPUC ratemaking proceeding relating to this
issue.
7. INDUSTRY SEGMENT
INFORMATION:
IDACORP has identified two
reportable segments: utility operations and IFS. ITI and IDACOMM, which had
previously been identified as reportable segments, are now reported as
discontinued operations (see Note 10).
The utility operations
segment's primary sources of revenue are the regulated operations of IPC. IPC's
regulated operations include the generation, transmission, distribution,
purchase and sale of electricity. This segment also includes income from
Bridger Coal Company, an unconsolidated joint venture also subject to
regulation. The IFS segment represents that subsidiary's investments in
affordable housing developments and historic rehabilitation projects.
Operating segments not included above are below the quantitative thresholds for
reportable segments and are included in the "All Other" category. This
category is comprised of Ida-West's joint venture investments in small
hydroelectric generation projects, the remaining activities of energy marketer
IE, which wound down its operations in 2003, and IDACORP's holding company
expenses.
28
The following table
summarizes the segment information for IDACORP's utility operations and IFS and
the total of all other segments, and reconciles this information to total
enterprise amounts (in thousands of dollars):
Utility |
|
|
|
All |
|
|
|
Consolidated |
|||||||||
Operations |
IFS |
|
|
Other |
|
Eliminations 1 |
|
Total |
|||||||||
Three months ended September 30, 2006: |
|||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
228,799 |
$ |
339 |
$ |
1,394 |
$ |
- |
$ |
230,532 |
|||||||
Income (loss) from | |||||||||||||||||
continuing | |||||||||||||||||
operations |
30,389 |
2,116 |
(13) |
- |
32,492 |
||||||||||||
Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2005: |
|||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
244,232 |
$ |
343 |
$ |
1,332 |
$ |
- |
$ |
245,907 |
|||||||
Income from | |||||||||||||||||
continuing | |||||||||||||||||
operations |
20,969 |
2,687 |
2,305 |
- |
25,961 |
||||||||||||
Total assets at | |||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2006 |
$ |
3,094,640 |
$ |
134,981 |
$ |
101,469 |
$ |
(19,665) |
$ |
3,311,425 |
|||||||
Nine months ended | |||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2006: |
|||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
736,921 |
$ |
1,038 |
$ |
3,548 |
$ |
- |
$ |
741,507 |
|||||||
Income (loss) from | |||||||||||||||||
continuing | |||||||||||||||||
operations |
7,022 |
6,347 |
(1,249) |
- |
82,120 |
||||||||||||
Nine months ended | |||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2005: |
|||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
634,807 |
$ |
1,032 |
$ |
2,883 |
$ |
- |
$ |
638,722 |
|||||||
Income from | |||||||||||||||||
continuing | |||||||||||||||||
operations |
55,354 |
7,777 |
1,066 |
- |
64,197 |
||||||||||||
Total assets at December | |||||||||||||||||
31, 2005 |
$ |
3,074,691 |
$ |
139,306 |
$ |
188,891 |
$ |
(38,762) |
$ |
3,364,126 |
|||||||
1 Includes assets of ITI and IDACOMM which are presented as assets held for sale. |
|
||||||||||||||||
8. BENEFIT PLANS:
The following table shows the
components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months ended September
30 (in thousands of dollars):
|
Deferred |
Postretirement |
||||||||||||
Pension Plan |
Compensation Plan |
Benefits |
||||||||||||
2006 |
2005 |
2006 |
2005 |
2006 |
2005 |
|||||||||
Service cost |
$ |
3,334 |
$ |
3,282 |
$ |
368 |
$ |
292 |
$ |
345 |
$ |
331 |
||
Interest cost |
5,145 |
5,282 |
582 |
538 |
809 |
804 |
||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(7,097) |
(7,423) |
- |
- |
(596) |
(591) |
||||||||
Amortization of net |
||||||||||||||
obligation at transition |
- |
(32) |
- |
78 |
482 |
485 |
||||||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
153 |
193 |
61 |
57 |
(126) |
(127) |
||||||||
Amortization of net loss |
29 |
- |
211 |
172 |
192 |
179 |
||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ |
1,564 |
$ |
1,302 |
$ |
1,222 |
$ |
1,137 |
$ |
1,106 |
$ |
1,081 |
||
29
The following table shows the
components of net periodic benefit costs for the nine months ended September 30
(in thousands of dollars):
|
Deferred |
Postretirement |
||||||||||||
Pension Plan |
Compensation Plan |
Benefits |
||||||||||||
2006 |
2005 |
2006 |
2005 |
2006 |
2005 |
|||||||||
Service cost |
$ |
10,857 |
$ |
9,846 |
$ |
1,105 |
$ |
877 |
$ |
1,097 |
$ |
1,044 |
||
Interest cost |
16,755 |
15,844 |
1,745 |
1,613 |
2,569 |
2,536 |
||||||||
Expected return on plan | ||||||||||||||
assets |
(23,113) |
(22,267) |
- |
- |
(1,892) |
(1,864) |
||||||||
Amortization of net |
||||||||||||||
obligation at transition |
- |
(94) |
- |
233 |
1,530 |
1,530 |
||||||||
Amortization of prior | ||||||||||||||
service cost |
498 |
578 |
184 |
171 |
(401) |
(401) |
||||||||
Amortization of net loss |
97 |
- |
633 |
517 |
609 |
565 |
||||||||
Net periodic benefit |
||||||||||||||
cost |
$ |
5,094 |
$ |
3,907 |
$ |
3,667 |
$ |
3,411 |
$ |
3,512 |
$ |
3,410 |
||
IDACORP and IPC have not
contributed and do not expect to contribute to their pension plan in 2006.
9. STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION:
IDACORP has three share-based
compensation plans. IDACORP's employee plans are the 2000 Long-Term Incentive
and Compensation Plan (LTICP) and the 1994 Restricted Stock Plan (RSP). These
plans are intended to align employee and shareholder objectives related to
IDACORP's long-term growth. IDACORP also has one non-employee plan, the
Director Stock Plan (DSP). The purpose of the DSP is to increase directors'
stock ownership through stock-based compensation.
The LTICP for officers, key
employees and directors permits the grant of nonqualified stock options,
incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock,
restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares and other
awards. The RSP permits only the grant of restricted stock or
performance-based restricted stock. At September 30, 2006, the maximum number
of shares available under the LTICP and RSP were 1,688,562 and 104,325,
respectively. The following table shows the compensation cost recognized in
income and the tax benefits resulting from these plans, as well as the amounts
allocated to IPC for those costs associated with IPC's employees (in thousands
of dollars):
IDACORP |
IPC |
|||||||||
Nine months ended |
Nine months ended |
|||||||||
September 30, |
September 30, |
|||||||||
2006 |
2005 |
2006 |
2005 |
|||||||
Compensation cost |
$ |
2,124 |
$ |
981 |
$ |
1,016 |
$ |
511 |
||
Income tax benefit |
$ |
830 |
$ |
384 |
$ |
397 |
$ |
200 |
||
No equity compensation costs
have been capitalized.
Stock awards: Restricted stock awards have vesting periods of up to
four years. Restricted stock awards entitle the recipients to dividends and
voting rights, and unvested shares are restricted to disposition and subject to
forfeiture under certain circumstances. The fair value of restricted stock
awards is measured based on the market price of the underlying common stock on
the date of grant and charged to compensation expense over the vesting period based
on the number of shares expected to vest.
30
Performance-based restricted
stock awards have vesting periods of three years. Performance awards entitle
the recipients to voting rights, and unvested shares are restricted to
disposition, subject to forfeiture under certain circumstances, and subject to
meeting specific performance conditions. Based on the attainment of the
performance conditions, the ultimate award can range from zero to 150 percent
of the target award. For awards granted prior to 2006, dividends were paid to
recipients at the time they were paid on the common stock. Beginning with the
2006 awards, dividends are accumulated and will be paid out only on shares that
eventually vest.
The performance goals for the
2006 awards are independent of each other and equally weighted, and are based
on two metrics, cumulative earnings per share (CEPS) and total shareholder
return (TSR) relative to a peer group. The fair value of the CEPS portion is
based on the market value at the date of grant, reduced by the loss in
time-value of the estimated future dividend payments, using an expected
quarterly dividend of $0.30. The fair value of the TSR portion is estimated
using a statistical model that incorporates the probability of meeting
performance targets based on historical returns relative to the peer group.
Both performance goals are measured over the three-year vesting period and are
charged to compensation expense over the vesting period based on the number of
shares expected to vest.
A summary of the status of
nonvested share awards as of September 30, 2006, and changes during the nine
months ended September 30, 2006, is presented below. IPC share amounts
represent the portion of IDACORP amounts related to IPC employees:
|
IDACORP |
|
IPC |
||||||
|
|
|
Weighted- |
|
|
|
Weighted- |
||
|
|
|
average |
|
|
|
average |
||
|
|
|
Grant date |
|
|
|
Grant date |
||
|
Shares |
|
Fair value |
|
Shares |
|
Fair value |
||
Nonvested shares at January 1, 2006 |
214,851 |
$ |
29.71 |
182,888 |
$ |
29.78 |
|||
Shares granted |
124,126 |
25.90 |
112,146 |
25.91 |
|||||
Shares forfeited |
(115,569) |
26.48 |
(91,538) |
26.14 |
|||||
Shares vested |
(19,200) |
30.39 |
(19,200) |
30.39 |
|||||
Nonvested shares at September 30, 2006 |
204,208 |
$ |
29.16 |
184,296 |
$ |
29.17 |
|||
At September 30, 2006,
IDACORP had $2.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to
nonvested share-based compensation that was expected to vest. IPC's share of
this amount was $1.7 million. These costs are expected to be recognized over a
weighted-average period of 1.93 years. IDACORP uses original issue and/or
treasury shares for these awards.
Stock options: Stock option awards are granted with exercise prices
equal to the market value of the stock on the date of grant. The options have
a term of 10 years from the grant date and vest over a five-year period. Upon adoption
of SFAS 123R on January 1, 2006, the fair value of each option is amortized
into compensation expense using graded-vesting. Beginning in 2006, stock
options are not a significant component of share-based compensation awards
under the LTICP.
The fair values of all stock
option awards have been estimated as of the date of the grant by applying a
binomial option pricing model. The application of this model involves
assumptions that are judgmental and sensitive in the determination of
compensation expense. The key assumptions used in determining the fair value
of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, were:
Dividend yield, based on current dividend and stock price on grant date |
3.7% |
Expected stock price volatility, based on IDACORP historical volatility |
18% |
Risk-free interest rate based on U.S. Treasury composite rate |
4.92% |
Expected term based on the SEC "simplified" method |
6.50 years |
31
Stock option activity during
the nine months ended September 30, 2006, was as follows:
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|||
|
|
Weighted- |
Average |
Aggregate |
|||
|
Number |
Average |
Remaining |
Intrinsic |
|||
|
of |
Exercise |
Contractual |
Value |
|||
|
Shares |
Price |
Term |
(000s) |
|||
IDACORP |
|
|
|
|
|||
Outstanding at January 1, 2006 |
1,421,914 |
$ |
32.24 |
||||
Granted |
9,905 |
31.86 |
|||||
Exercised |
(91,215) |
27.08 |
|||||
Forfeited |
(162,632) |
28.43 |
|||||
Expired |
(21,676) |
34.31 |
|||||
Outstanding at September 30, 2006 |
1,156,296 |
$ |
33.14 |
5.66 |
$ |
6,119 |
|
Exercisable at September 30, 2006 |
894,972 |
$ |
34.31 |
5.59 |
$ |
5,279 |
|
IPC |
|
|
|
|
|||
Outstanding at January 1, 2006 |
1,094,137 |
$ |
32.03 |
||||
Granted |
- |
- |
|||||
Exercised |
(14,690) |
24.54 |
|||||
Forfeited |
(142,625) |
28.51 |
|||||
Expired |
(11,600) |
39.89 |
|||||
Outstanding at September 30, 2006 |
925,222 |
$ |
32.60 |
5.68 |
$ |
5,445 |
|
Exercisable at September 30, 2006 |
713,957 |
$ |
33.71 |
5.38 |
$ |
3,801 |
|
The following table presents
information about options granted and exercised during the nine months ended
September 30 (in thousands of dollars, except for weighted-average amounts):
|
IDACORP |
|
IPC |
||||||||
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||||
Weighted-average grant-date fair value |
$ |
9.96 |
$ |
8.84 |
$ |
- |
$ |
8.81 |
|||
Fair value of options vested |
2,191 |
1,865 |
1,275 |
1,390 |
|||||||
Intrinsic value of options exercised |
888 |
- |
146 |
- |
|||||||
Cash received from exercise |
2,470 |
- |
361 |
- |
|||||||
Tax benefits realized from exercise |
346 |
- |
57 |
- |
As of September 30, 2006,
there was $0.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock
options. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average
period of 1.95 years. IDACORP uses original issue and/or treasury shares to
satisfy exercised options.
10. DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS:
In the second quarter of
2006, IDACORP decided to seek buyers for its fuel cell technology subsidiary
ITI and its telecommunications subsidiary IDACOMM. IDACORP had been reviewing
strategic alternatives for ITI and IDACOMM in order to focus on its core
utility business. The planned disposals of these businesses meet the criteria
established for reporting them as assets held for sale as defined by SFAS 144.
SFAS 144 requires that a long-lived asset classified as held for sale be
measured at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value, less costs to sell,
and requires the holder to cease depreciation and amortization. Based on an
analysis of the fair value of each subsidiary, no adjustments to the carrying
values were required.
32
On July 20, 2006, IDACORP
completed the sale of all of the outstanding common stock of ITI to IdaTech UK
Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Investec Group Investments (UK) Limited.
IDACORP recorded a gain of $11.8 million, net of tax, or $0.27 per diluted
share from this transaction in the third quarter of 2006.
On October 12, 2006, IDACORP entered into an agreement to sell all of the
outstanding common stock of IDACOMM to American Fiber Systems, Inc. IDACORP
expects to complete the sale as early as the end of the fourth quarter of 2006,
subject to regulatory approvals. IDACORP does not expect the sale to have a
material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The operating results of
these businesses have been separately classified and reported as discontinued
operations on IDACORP's condensed consolidated statements of income. A summary
of discontinued operations is as follows (in thousands of dollars):
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Nine months ended |
||||||||
|
|
September 30, |
|
September 30, |
||||||||
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||||
Revenues |
$ |
2,036 |
$ |
3,235 |
$ |
10,740 |
$ |
12,073 |
||||
Operating expenses |
(2,969) |
(7,928) |
(18,416) |
(24,658) |
||||||||
Other income (expense) |
(61) |
142 |
(128) |
412 |
||||||||
Gain on disposal |
14,476 |
- |
14,476 |
- |
||||||||
Pre-tax income (losses) |
13,482 |
(4,551) |
6,672 |
(12,173) |
||||||||
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(1,985) |
2,207 |
529 |
4,111 |
||||||||
Income (losses) from discontinued operations |
$ |
11,497 |
$ |
(2,344) |
$ |
7,201 |
$ |
(8,062) |
||||
The results of operations for
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, do not include depreciation
expense of approximately $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively, that
would be recorded if the related assets were classified as held and used.
The assets and liabilities of
IDACOMM and ITI have been classified as held for sale on IDACORP's balance
sheets at September 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005. A summary of the
components of assets and liabilities held for sale on IDACORP's Consolidated
Balance Sheets is as follows (in thousands of dollars):
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
||||
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||||
Assets |
|||||||
Current assets |
$ |
3,556 |
$ |
6,673 |
|||
Property and investments |
19,630 |
19,848 |
|||||
Other assets |
222 |
6,118 |
|||||
Total assets |
$ |
23,408 |
$ |
32,639 |
|||
Liabilities |
|||||||
Current liabilities |
$ |
1,536 |
$ |
5,916 |
|||
Other liabilities |
7,657 |
10,016 |
|||||
Long-term debt |
9 |
35 |
|||||
Total liabilities |
$ |
9,202 |
$ |
15,967 |
|||
33
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Shareholders of IDACORP, Inc.
Boise, Idaho
We have reviewed the
accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of IDACORP, Inc. and
subsidiaries (the "Company") as of September 30, 2006, and the related
condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the
three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, and the
condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended
September 30, 2006 and 2005. These interim financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management.
We conducted our reviews in
accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). A review of interim financial information consists
principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons
responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in
scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is
the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a
whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our reviews, we are
not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed
consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited,
in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of IDACORP, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements
of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the
year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 6, 2006,
we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial
statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying
condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2005 is fairly stated,
in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from
which it has been derived.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boise, Idaho
November 1, 2006
34
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Shareholder of Idaho Power Company
Boise, Idaho
We have reviewed the
accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet and statement of capitalization
of Idaho Power Company and subsidiary (the "Company") as of September 30, 2006,
and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive
income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and
2005, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the
nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. These interim financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.
We conducted our reviews in
accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). A review of interim financial information consists
principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons
responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in
scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is
the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.
Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our reviews, we are
not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed
consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have previously audited,
in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet and statement of
capitalization of Idaho Power Company and subsidiary as of December 31, 2005,
and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income,
retained earnings, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented
herein); and in our report dated March 6, 2006, we expressed an unqualified
opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the
information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet
and statement of capitalization as of December 31, 2005 is fairly stated, in
all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet and
statement of capitalization from which it has been derived.
DELOITTE
& TOUCHE LLP
Boise, Idaho
November 1, 2006
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollar
amounts and megawatt-hours (MWh) are in thousands unless otherwise indicated.)
INTRODUCTION:
In Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), the
general financial condition and results of operations for IDACORP, Inc. and its
subsidiaries (collectively, IDACORP) and Idaho Power Company and its subsidiary
(collectively, IPC) are discussed.
IDACORP is a holding company
formed in 1998 whose principal operating subsidiary is IPC. IDACORP is subject
to the provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, which
provides certain access to books and records to the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) and state utility regulatory commissions and imposes certain
record retention and reporting requirements on IDACORP.
IPC is an electric utility
with a service territory covering approximately 24,000 square miles in southern
Idaho and eastern Oregon. IPC is regulated by the FERC and the state
regulatory commissions of Idaho and Oregon. IPC is the parent of Idaho Energy
Resources Co., a joint venturer in Bridger Coal Company, which supplies coal to
the Jim Bridger generating plant owned in part by IPC.
At September 30, 2006,
IDACORP's other subsidiaries included:
In the second quarter of
2006, IDACORP management designated the operations of IDACORP Technologies,
Inc. (ITI) and IDACOMM as assets held for sale, as defined by Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 144. IDACORP's condensed consolidated
financial statements reflect the reclassification of the results of these
businesses as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Discontinued
operations are discussed in more detail in Note 10 to IDACORP's and IPC's
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and later in the MD&A.
On July 20, 2006, IDACORP
completed the sale of all of the outstanding common stock of ITI to IdaTech UK
Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Investec Group Investments (UK) Limited.
On October 12, 2006, IDACORP entered into an agreement to sell all of the
outstanding common stock of IDACOMM to American Fiber Systems, Inc. IDACORP
expects to complete the sale as early as the end of the fourth quarter of 2006,
subject to regulatory approvals. IDACORP does not expect the sale to have a
material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
This MD&A should be read
in conjunction with the accompanying condensed consolidated financial
statements. This discussion updates the MD&A included in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and the Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006, and June 30, 2006, and should
be read in conjunction with the discussions in those reports.
FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION:
36
In connection with the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
(Reform Act), IDACORP and IPC are hereby filing cautionary statements
identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected in forward-looking statements (as such term is
defined in the Reform Act) made by or on behalf of IDACORP or IPC in this
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in presentations, in response to questions or
otherwise. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to
expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or
performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as
"anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts,"
"projects," "may result," "may continue" or similar expressions) are not
statements of historical facts and may be forward-looking. Forward-looking
statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties and are qualified
in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following
important factors, which are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties, are
beyond IDACORP's or IPC's control and may cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in forward-looking statements:
37
Any forward-looking statement
speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge
from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such
factors, nor can it assess the impact of any such factor on the business or the
extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to
differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW:
Third quarter 2006
financial results
IDACORP's earnings for the quarter
were $44 million, a $20 million increase over the same period in 2005. Basic
and diluted earnings per share were $1.03 in the third quarter of 2006 and
$0.56 in the same period of 2005. The gain on the sale of ITI and improved
results at IPC were the key drivers of IDACORP's increase. IDACORP recorded a
gain of $11.8 million, net of tax, or $0.27 per diluted share for the sale of
ITI.
IPC's earnings increased from
$21 million in 2005 to $30 million in 2006, mainly due to customer growth and
increased electricity usage. Key components of the increase in earnings
include the following:
IDACORP's non-regulated
subsidiaries and the holding company contributed earnings of $0.32 per diluted
share, compared to $0.06 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2005. The
increase is primarily a result of the gain on the sale of ITI.
Power Cost Adjustment
On June 1, 2006, IPC implemented its annual Power Cost Adjustment (PCA),
resulting in a $123.5 million reduction in the rates of Idaho customers. The
reduction in rates comes as a direct benefit of the above-average snow pack in
the mountains upstream of Brownlee Reservoir and lower-than-forecasted power
supply costs in the 2005-2006 PCA year. In years when water is plentiful and
IPC can fully utilize its extensive hydroelectric system, power production
costs are lower and IPC can pass those benefits to its customers in the form of
rate reductions. When water is in short supply, as it was from 2000 through
2005, the higher costs of supplying power by other means also are shared with
IPC's customers.
38
General rate case
settlement
On June 1, 2006, IPC implemented a
3.2 percent ($18 million annual) increase to its Idaho retail base rates. IPC
had filed a general rate case with the IPUC in October 2005, and the IPUC
approved a settlement agreement in May 2006. Base rates primarily reflect IPC's
cost of providing electrical service to its customers, including equipment,
vehicles and infrastructure. IPC's overall allowed rate of return in Idaho increased from 7.85 percent to 8.1 percent.
IRS audit proceedings
On October 13, 2006, the Internal
Revenue Service issued its examination report and assessment for IDACORP's
2001-2003 tax years. The IRS and IDACORP were able to settle all issues, with
the exception of IPC's capitalized overhead cost method. The federal tax
assessment for the settled issues will be paid in November 2006 and will not
have a material impact on IDACORP's 2006 results of operations or cash flows. The
disallowance of IPC's capitalized overhead cost method for uniform
capitalization (the simplified service cost method) resulted in a federal tax
assessment of $45 million. IDACORP disagrees with this conclusion and will
appeal the issue. In November 2006, IDACORP will file its formal protest, make
a deposit of the disputed tax with the IRS to stop the accrual of interest, and
enter the appeals process. Management cannot predict the timing or outcome of
this process, but believes that an adequate provision for income taxes and
related interest charges has been made for this issue (see "Income Taxes" for a
more detailed discussion).
June and July 2006 high
temperatures
IPC's service territory, along with
much of the western United States, experienced above-normal temperatures during
the months of June and July 2006. New records were set for cooling
degree-days, a measure of temperature impact on customer demand. Due to these
above-normal conditions, a new summer peak of 3,050 MW was first set on June
27, 2006, and was subsequently surpassed on July 24, 2006, when a new summer
peak of 3,084 MW was recorded. Since June 27, the previous system peak of
2,983 MW, which was set in 2002, has been met or exceeded 11 times. IPC was
able to meet all of its load requirements during these periods of increased
demand through its system generation and by increasing the amount of its
purchased power.
Integrated Resource Plan
IPC filed its 2006 Integrated
Resource Plan (IRP) with the IPUC in September 2006 and with the OPUC in
October 2006. The 2006 IRP previewed IPC's load and resource situation for the
next twenty years, analyzed potential supply-side and demand-side options and
identified near-term and long-term actions. IPC is reviewing the potential impact of
implementing the IRP on future construction expenditures and expects estimated
total construction expenditures for the years 2007 through 2009 to exceed the
2006 through 2008 estimate. Variations in the timing and amounts of capital
expenditures will result from regulatory and environmental factors, load growth
and other resource acquisition needs, including relicensing expenditures. See "REGULATORY
ISSUES - Integrated Resource Plan" for a discussion of IPC's 2006 IRP.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING
POLICIES AND ESTIMATES:
IDACORP's and IPC's
discussion and analysis of their financial condition and results of operations
are based upon their condensed consolidated financial statements, which have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial
statements requires IDACORP and IPC to make estimates and judgments that affect
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, IDACORP
and IPC evaluate these estimates including those estimates related to rate
regulation, benefit costs, contingencies, litigation, impairment of assets,
income taxes, restructuring costs and bad debt. These estimates are based on
historical experience and on other assumptions and factors that are believed to
be reasonable under the circumstances, and are the basis for making judgments
about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily
apparent from other sources. IDACORP and IPC, based on their ongoing reviews,
make adjustments when facts and circumstances dictate.
IDACORP's and IPC's critical
accounting policies are reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors. These policies are discussed in more detail in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and have not changed materially
from that discussion.
39
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:
This section of the MD&A
takes a closer look at the significant factors that affected IDACORP's and IPC's
earnings during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006. In this
analysis, the results for 2006 are compared to the same period in 2005.
The following table presents
the earnings (losses) for IDACORP's segments as well as the holding company:
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Nine Months Ended |
||||||||
|
September 30, |
|
|
September 30, |
||||||||
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|||
Continuing operations: |
||||||||||||
IPC - Utility operations |
$ |
30,389 |
$ |
20,969 |
$ |
77,022 |
$ |
55,354 |
||||
IDACORP Financial Services |
2,116 |
2,687 |
6,347 |
7,777 |
||||||||
Ida-West Energy |
1,079 |
888 |
2,441 |
1,714 |
||||||||
IDACORP Energy |
(54) |
(84) |
(166) |
(607) |
||||||||
Holding Company |
(1,038) |
1,501 |
(3,524) |
(41) |
||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
32,492 |
25,961 |
82,120 |
64,197 |
||||||||
Income (losses) from discontinued operations |
11,497 |
(2,344) |
7,201 |
(8,062) |
||||||||
Net income |
$ |
43,989 |
$ |
23,617 |
$ |
89,321 |
$ |
56,135 |
||||
Average common shares outstanding (diluted) |
42,863 |
42,380 |
42,710 |
42,318 |
||||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share: |
||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
$ |
0.76 |
$ |
0.61 |
$ |
1.92 |
$ |
1.52 |
||||
Income (losses) from discontinued | ||||||||||||
operations |
$ |
0.27 |
$ |
(0.05) |
$ |
0.17 |
$ |
(0.19) |
||||
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
1.03 |
$ |
0.56 |
$ |
2.09 |
$ |
1.33 |
||||
Utility Operations
Operating environment:
IPC is one of the nation's few
investor-owned utilities with a predominantly hydroelectric generating base.
Because of its reliance on hydroelectric generation, IPC's generation
operations can be significantly affected by weather conditions. The
availability of hydroelectric power depends on the amount of snow pack in the
mountains upstream of IPC's hydroelectric facilities, springtime snow pack
run-off, rainfall and other weather and stream flow management considerations.
During low water years, when stream flows into IPC's hydroelectric projects are
reduced, IPC's hydroelectric generation is reduced. This results in less
generation from IPC's resource portfolio (hydroelectric, coal-fired and
gas-fired) available for off-system sales and, most likely, an increased use of
typically more expensive purchased power to meet load requirements. Both of
these situations - a reduction in profitable off-system sales and an increased
use of more expensive purchased power - result in increased net power supply
costs. During high water years, increased off-system sales and the decreased
need for purchased power reduce net power supply costs.
Operations plans are
developed during the year to provide guidance for generation resource
utilization and energy market activities (off-system sales and power
purchases). The plans incorporate forecasts for generation unit availability,
reservoir storage and stream flows, gas and coal prices, customer loads, energy
market prices and other pertinent inputs. Consideration is given to when to
use IPC's available resources to meet forecast loads and when to transact in
the energy market. The allocation of hydroelectric generation between
heavy-load and light-load hours or calendar periods is considered in
development of the operating plans. This allocation is intended to utilize the
flexibility of the hydroelectric system to shift generation to high value periods,
while operating within the constraints imposed on the system. IPC's energy
risk management policy, unit operating requirements and other obligations
provide the framework for the plans.
40
The following table presents
IPC's power supply for the three and nine month periods ended September 30:
|
|
MWh |
||||||||
|
|
Hydroelectric |
|
Thermal |
|
Total system |
|
Purchased |
|
|
|
|
Generation |
|
Generation |
|
Generation |
|
Power |
|
Total |
Three months ended: |
||||||||||
September 30, 2006 |
1,821 |
2,082 |
3,903 |
1,427 |
5,330 |
|||||
September 30, 2005 |
1,494 |
2,070 |
3,564 |
1,420 |
4,984 |
|||||
Nine months ended: |
||||||||||
September 30, 2006 |
7,687 |
5,020 |
12,707 |
4,130 |
16,837 |
|||||
September 30, 2005 |
4,818 |
5,409 |
10,227 |
3,104 |
13,331 |
|||||
The observed streamflow data
released on August 1, 2006, by the National Weather Service's Northwest River Forecast Center indicates that Brownlee reservoir inflow for April through
July 2006 was 8.95 million acre-feet (maf), or 142 percent of average. Storage
in selected federal reservoirs upstream of Brownlee as of October 29, 2006, was
126 percent of average. With current and forecasted stream flow conditions,
IPC expects to generate between 9.0 and 9.2 million MWh from its hydroelectric
facilities in 2006, compared to 6.2 million MWh in 2005.
Generation from thermal
plants during 2006 has been lower than 2005 due primarily to an unanticipated
outage at the Boardman plant, of which IPC owns a ten percent interest. The
unit returned to service in late June 2006. Additionally, the Bennett Mountain combustion turbine suffered a mechanical failure on July 11, 2006. IPC's
investigation has revealed that during construction a bolt was negligently
installed by a third party. The bolt came loose, causing extensive mechanical
damage. The plant was down from July 12 through September 6, 2006. Total
repair costs are estimated to be approximately $16 million. IPC anticipates
that insurance proceeds and recovery from the party or parties responsible for
the failure will result in substantial reimbursement of these costs. IPC
expects to generate approximately 6.9 million MWh from its thermal facilities
in 2006, compared to 7.3 million MWh in 2005.
IPC's system load peaks in
the summer and winter, with the larger peak demand occurring in the summer. IPC's
record system peak of 3,084 MW occurred on July 24, 2006. IPC was able to meet
system load requirements and off-system sales requirements and had sufficient
system reserves in place.
41
General business revenue:
The following table presents IPC's general business revenues, MWh sales,
average number of customers and Boise, Idaho weather conditions for the three
and nine months ended September 30:
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||||||
Revenue |
||||||||||||||
Residential |
$ |
72,550 |
$ |
76,131 |
$ |
224,992 |
$ |
215,506 |
||||||
Commercial |
41,700 |
48,115 |
125,241 |
129,547 |
||||||||||
Industrial |
24,055 |
31,780 |
80,947 |
86,893 |
||||||||||
Irrigation |
41,106 |
51,211 |
69,623 |
72,243 |
||||||||||
Total |
$ |
179,411 |
$ |
207,237 |
$ |
500,803 |
$ |
504,189 |
||||||
MWh |
||||||||||||||
Residential |
1,249 |
1,141 |
3,689 |
3,424 |
||||||||||
Commercial |
1,009 |
965 |
2,794 |
2,719 |
||||||||||
Industrial |
875 |
880 |
2,597 |
2,548 |
||||||||||
Irrigation |
987 |
1,012 |
1,593 |
1,386 |
||||||||||
Total |
4,120 |
3,998 |
10,673 |
10,077 |
||||||||||
Customers (average, in thousands) |
||||||||||||||
Residential |
389,379 |
375,359 |
386,122 |
371,585 |
||||||||||
Commercial |
59,202 |
57,327 |
58,727 |
56,892 |
||||||||||
Industrial |
131 |
130 |
132 |
128 |
||||||||||
Irrigation |
18,219 |
18,013 |
18,093 |
17,930 |
||||||||||
Total |
466,931 |
450,829 |
463,074 |
446,535 |
||||||||||
Heating degree-days |
114 |
107 |
3,115 |
3,182 |
||||||||||
Cooling degree-days |
940 |
855 |
1,209 |
963 |
||||||||||
Precipitation (inches) |
0.42 |
0.34 |
8.62 |
8.14 |
Heating and cooling
degree-days are a common measure used in the utility industry to analyze the
demand for electricity and indicate when a customer would use electricity for
heating and air conditioning. A degree-day measures how much the average daily
temperature varies from 65 degrees. Each degree of temperature above 65
degrees is counted as one cooling degree-day, and each degree of temperature
below 65 degrees is counted as one heating degree-day.
General business revenue decreased $28 million for the quarter, due primarily to:
General business revenues decreased $3 million year-to-date, due primarily to:
42
Off-system sales: Off-system sales consist primarily of long-term
sales contracts and opportunity sales of surplus system energy. The following
table presents IPC's off-system sales for the three and nine months ended
September 30:
Three months ended |
|
Nine months ended |
||||||||
September 30, |
|
September 30, |
||||||||
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||||
Revenue |
$ |
39,692 |
$ |
34,105 |
$ |
219,531 |
$ |
105,189 |
||
MWh sold |
790 |
587 |
5,077 |
2,269 |
||||||
Revenue per MWh |
$ |
50.22 |
$ |
58.12 |
$ |
43.24 |
$ |
46.36 |
||
Improved streamflow
conditions increased total system generation and electricity available for
surplus sales. Revenues from higher sales volumes were moderated by lower
prices caused by abundant energy in the region. Additional sales activities
are the result of conforming to IPC's risk management policy, managing IPC's
energy portfolio to meet customer load, and reacting to changes in market
conditions to minimize net power supply costs.
Other revenues: The following table presents the components of other
revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30:
Three months ended |
|
Nine months ended |
|||||||||
|
September 30, |
|
September 30, |
||||||||
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|||
Transmission services and property rental |
$ |
10,210 |
$ |
9,951 |
$ |
27,639 |
$ |
28,503 |
|||
Rate case tax settlement |
100 |
(3,602) |
(4,745) |
(134) |
|||||||
Irrigation load reduction |
118 |
(4,188) |
(5,400) |
(5,296) |
|||||||
Provision for rate refund |
(732) |
- |
(907) |
400 |
|||||||
Total |
$ |
9,696 |
$ |
2,161 |
$ |
16,587 |
$ |
23,473 |
|||
From June 2005 to May 2006
IPC was collecting and recording in general business revenues, with a
corresponding reduction to other revenues, amounts related to a 2003 Idaho general rate case tax settlement and amounts related to an irrigation load reduction
program. Revenues for the rate case tax settlement were accrued from September
2004 to May 2005. The increase in other revenues as compared to the third
quarter of 2005 is due primarily to the completed recovery of these amounts
during the second quarter of 2006. Partially offsetting the increase is a
provision for rate refund associated with a revised Open Access Transmission
Tariff (OATT) filing with the FERC requesting an increase in transmission rates
(see "Regulatory Matters" for a more detailed discussion of the OATT filing).
Purchased power: The following table presents IPC's purchased power
for the three and nine months ended September 30:
43
Three months ended |
|
Nine months ended |
||||||||
|
September 30, |
|
September 30, |
|||||||
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||
Purchases |
$ |
98,926 |
$ |
81,396 |
$ |
229,659 |
$ |
162,403 |
||
MWh purchased |
1,427 |
1,420 |
4,130 |
3,104 |
||||||
Cost per MWh purchased |
$ |
69.33 |
$ |
57.32 |
$ |
55.61 |
$ |
52.32 |
The
increase in purchased power in the third quarter of 2006 was due primarily to
record high temperatures and electricity demand in July 2006, which led to
increased purchases during a period of high market prices. The year-to-date
increase was also impacted by early water year indications suggesting continued
drought conditions for 2006, which prompted IPC to make forward purchases in
conformance with its risk management policy. Additional purchase activities
were the result of managing IPC's energy portfolio to meet customer load and
reacting to changes in market conditions to minimize net power supply costs.
Fuel expense: The following table presents IPC's fuel expenses and
generation at its thermal generating plants for the three and nine months ended
September 30:
|
Three months ended |
|
Nine months ended |
|||||||
|
September 30, |
|
September 30, |
|||||||
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
||
Fuel expense |
$ |
34,933 |
$ |
28,018 |
$ |
83,856 |
$ |
77,483 |
||
Thermal MWh generated |
2,082 |
2,070 |
5,020 |
5,409 |
||||||
Cost per MWh |
$ |
16.78 |
$ |
13.53 |
$ |
16.70 |
$ |
14.32 |
||
The increase in fuel expense
is due primarily to a $4 million increase in expense from higher coal and rail
transportation costs. The increased cost of coal is due primarily to higher
market demand, and the increased rail transportation costs are primarily driven
by higher diesel fuel costs, including an adjustable fuel surcharge. Higher
natural gas costs of $2 million also contributed to the increase. Natural gas
costs in the third quarter of 2005 were abnormally low as a result of credits
received for the sale-back of natural gas to the supplier at market price,
which was greater than the price as purchased for use at IPC's gas-fired
plants.
PCA: PCA expense represents the effects of IPC's PCA
regulatory mechanism and Oregon deferrals of net power supply costs, which are
discussed in more detail below in "REGULATORY MATTERS - Deferred (Accrued) Net
Power Supply Costs."
In the third quarter of 2006,
higher electricity purchase prices, particularly in July, coupled with
increased coal and natural gas prices, caused a significant increase in net power
supply costs (fuel and purchased power less off-system sales) over the amounts
in the annual PCA forecasts. This increase in net power supply costs was
partially offset by increased hydroelectric generation in the first half of
2006, resulting in the deferral of costs which will be recovered in subsequent
rate years. As the deferred costs are recovered in rates, the deferred
balances are amortized.
The following table presents
the components of PCA expense for the three and nine months ended September 30:
Three months ended |
|
Nine months ended |
|||||||||
|
September 30, |
|
September 30, |
||||||||
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
2005 |
||||
Current year power supply cost deferral |
$ |
(51,216) |
$ |
(12,833) |
$ |
(7,499) |
$ |
(25,378) |
|||
Amortization of prior year authorized balances |
(3,779) |
3,163 |
571 |
23,705 |
|||||||
Total power cost adjustment |
$ |
(54,995) |
$ |
(9,670) |
$ |
(6,928) |
$ |
(1,673) |
|||
44
Other operating and
maintenance expenses: O&M
expenses decreased $2 million for the quarter and increased $9 million
year-to-date, compared to 2005. The third quarter decrease was primarily
attributable to a $3 million reversal of accrued FERC fees. IPC and several
other utilities contested whether certain federal agency charges could be
passed on to utilities through FERC fees. A judgment in favor of IPC and the
other utilities was finalized in September. The year-to-date increase
primarily resulted from a $4 million increase in labor-related expenses, a $4
million increase in electricity transmission expenses, a $2 million increase in
thermal plant expenses and a $1 million increase in electricity generation
expenses. These increases were partially offset by the reversal of accrued
FERC fees recorded in the third quarter of 2006. Total O&M expenses in
2006 are expected to be between $250 and $260 million.
Non-utility operations
IFS
IFS contributed $2.1 million in the
third quarter of 2006, compared to $2.7 million in the third quarter of 2005.
IFS' income is derived principally from the generation of federal income tax
credits and accelerated tax depreciation benefits related to its investments in
affordable housing and historic rehabilitation developments. IFS generated
$4.6 million of tax credits in the third quarter of 2006 ($13.8 million
year-to-date) and expects to continue delivering tax benefits at a level
commensurate with the ongoing needs of IDACORP.
Discontinued Operations
In the second quarter of 2006,
IDACORP management designated the operations of ITI and IDACOMM as assets held
for sale, as defined by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144.
The operations of these entities are presented as discontinued operations in
IDACORP's financial statements.
On July 20, 2006, IDACORP
completed the sale of all of the outstanding common stock of ITI to IdaTech UK
Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Investec Group Investments (UK) Limited.
IDACORP recorded a gain of $11.8 million, net of tax, or $0.27 per diluted
share from this transaction in the third quarter of 2006.
On October 12, 2006, IDACORP
entered into an agreement to sell all of the outstanding common stock of
IDACOMM to American Fiber Systems, Inc. IDACORP expects to complete the sale
as early as the end of the fourth quarter of 2006, subject to regulatory
approvals. IDACORP does not expect the sale to have a material effect on its
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
ITI lost $0.2 million in the
third quarter of 2006 and $3.6 million year-to-date, compared to losses of $2.5
million and $6.9 million for the same periods in 2005. IDACOMM lost $0.2 million
in the third quarter of 2006 and $0.6 million year-to-date, compared to losses
of $0.7 million and $1.0 million for the same periods in 2005.
INCOME TAXES:
Income tax rate
In accordance with interim reporting requirements, IDACORP and IPC use an estimated
annual effective tax rate for computing their provisions for income taxes.
IDACORP's effective rate on continuing operations for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006, was 24.1 percent, compared to 17.1 percent for the nine
months ended September 30, 2005. IPC's effective tax rate for the nine months
ended September 30, 2006, was 38.5 percent, compared to 40.9 percent for the
nine months ended September 30, 2005.
The differences in estimated
annual effective tax rates are primarily due to the increase in pre-tax
earnings at IDACORP and IPC, the loss of IPC's simplified service cost method
tax deduction in 2005 and the adoption of a new uniform capitalization method
in 2006, timing and amount of IPC's regulatory flow-through tax adjustments,
settlement of a Bridger Coal Company partnership audit at IPC (discussed
below), and slightly lower tax credits from IFS.
Status of audit
proceedings
In March 2005, the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) began its examination of IDACORP's 2001-2003 tax years. On
October 13, 2006, the IRS issued its examination report and assessment for
those years. With the exception of IPC's capitalized overhead costs method,
discussed below, the IRS and IDACORP were able to settle all issues. The
federal tax assessment for the settled issues will be paid in November 2006.
It is expected that associated interest charges and state income taxes will be
paid during 2007. Settlement of the agreed issues will not have a material
impact on IDACORP's 2006 results of operations or cash flows.
45
The IRS disallowed IPC's
capitalized overhead cost method for uniform capitalization (the simplified
service cost method) on the basis that IPC's self-constructed assets were not
produced on a "routine and repetitive" basis as defined by Rev. Rul. 2005-53.
The disallowance resulted in a federal tax assessment of $45 million. IDACORP
disagrees with this conclusion and will appeal the issue. Accordingly, in
November, 2006 IDACORP will file its formal protest, make a deposit of the
disputed tax with the IRS to stop the accrual of interest, and enter the
appeals process. Management cannot predict the timing or outcome of this
process, but believes that an adequate provision for income taxes and related
interest charges has been made for this issue.
The simplified service cost
method was also used for IPC's 2004 tax year. While 2004 is not currently
under examination, it is likely the IRS will take the same position for 2004 as
it did for 2001-2003; however, it is not likely that this position will result
in a federal income tax assessment primarily due to the mitigating effect of
accelerated tax depreciation.
On July 7, 2006, the IRS
issued its examination report for Bridger Coal Company's 2001-2003 tax years.
Bridger Coal is a partnership investment owned one-third by IPC. The audit
resulted in net favorable adjustments to Bridger Coal's tax returns for those
years. IPC's third quarter income tax expense decreased by $1.3 million as a
result of the settlement.
IDACORP intends to vigorously
defend its tax positions. It is possible that material differences in actual
outcomes, costs and exposures relative to current estimates, or material
changes in such estimates, could have a material adverse effect on IDACORP's
and IPC's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash
flows.
Capitalized overhead costs
Generally, section 263A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, requires the capitalization of all
direct costs and indirect costs, including mixed service costs, which directly
benefit or are incurred by reason of the production of property by a taxpayer.
The simplified service cost method, a "safe harbor" method, is one of the
methods provided by the section 263A treasury regulations for the calculation
of mixed service cost capitalization. IPC adopted the simplified service cost
method for both the self-construction of utility plant and production of
electricity beginning with its 2001 federal income tax return.
On August 2, 2005, the IRS
and the Treasury Department issued guidance interpreting the meaning of "routine
and repetitive" for purposes of the simplified service cost and simplified
production methods of the Internal Revenue Code section 263A uniform
capitalization rules. The guidance was issued in the form of a revenue ruling
(Rev. Rul. 2005-53) which is effective for all open tax years ending prior to
August 2, 2005, and proposed and temporary regulations (the "Temporary
Regulations") which are effective for tax years ending on or after August 2,
2005. Both pieces of guidance take a more restrictive view of the definition
of self-constructed assets produced by a taxpayer on a "routine and repetitive"
basis than did treasury regulations in effect at the time IPC changed to the
simplified service cost method.
For IPC, the simplified
service cost method produced a current tax deduction for costs capitalized to
electricity production that are capitalized into fixed assets for financial
accounting purposes. Deferred income tax expense had not been provided for
this deduction because the prescribed regulatory tax accounting treatment does
not allow for inclusion of such deferred tax expense in current rates. Rate
regulated enterprises are required to recognize such adjustments as regulatory
assets if it is probable that such amounts will be recovered from customers in
future rates.
As discussed in "Status of
Audit Proceedings" above, the IRS has disallowed IPC's use of the simplified
service cost method for the tax years 2001-2003 on the basis of Rev. Rul. 2005-53.
As a result, the IRS has assessed a $45 million tax liability. IDACORP will
appeal the IRS's assessment. Because of the nature of the issue, IDACORP's
exposure with respect to this matter may be less than the tax assessed plus
applicable interest charges. The resolution of this matter could result in a
one time charge to earnings; however, at this time IDACORP is not in a position
to quantify such amount. Additionally, after resolution IDACORP will likely
amend its 2005 federal income tax return and its 2005 method change application
to account for the effects that such resolution has on IPC's new uniform
capitalization method (discussed below). This amendment is not expected to
have a negative impact on IDACORP's or IPC's consolidated financial position,
results of operations, or cash flows.
46
With respect to tax year 2005
and future tax years, the Temporary Regulations, as drafted, preclude IPC from
using the simplified service cost method for its self-constructed assets.
Under the Temporary Regulations, IPC is required to use another allowable
section 263A method for its indirect costs, including mixed service costs. As
a result of the Temporary Regulations, IPC made changes to its overall section
263A uniform capitalization method of accounting. In September 2006, the
changes were adopted with an automatic method change request included in
IDACORP's 2005 federal income tax return. The uniform capitalization
methodology adopted for 2005 and subsequent years involves the use of the
specific identification, burden rate, and step-allocation methods of
accounting. The methods used are allowable under both the final and temporary
section 263A regulations.
As with the simplified
service cost method, the new uniform capitalization methodology produces an
annual tax deduction for costs that are not required to be capitalized under
section 263A as well as costs capitalized into the production of electricity.
The method, while producing a beneficial result, is not as favorable as the
simplified service cost method. Changing the uniform capitalization method
will result in a net charge to IPC's 2006 income tax expense of $6.1 million,
with $5.4 million being recorded in the third quarter. The estimated 2006 tax
deduction produces a $3.3 million tax benefit for the year, $2.5 million of
which was recorded at IPC in the third quarter. The change in method is not
expected to have a material effect on IDACORP's or IPC's 2006 cash flows. The
accounting and regulatory treatment for the new method is the same as
previously used for the simplified service cost method.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES:
Operating cash flows
IDACORP's and IPC's operating cash
flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, were $170 million and $134
million, respectively.
IDACORP's and IPC's operating
cash flows increased $49 million and $8 million, respectively, compared to
2005. The increase in IDACORP's operating cash flows was primarily the result
of activities at IE. IE collected $12 million of accounts receivable in 2006
resulting from the settlement of legal matters, and a $10 million margin
deposit made in 2005 was returned by the counterparty in 2006. The remaining
increase in cash flows resulted primarily from normal fluctuations in working
capital items.
In 2006 and 2007, net cash
provided by operating activities will continue to be driven by IPC, where
general business revenues, sales of excess energy to wholesale customers, and
costs to supply power to general business customers have the greatest impact on
operating cash flows. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2006, IDACORP
expects to make a $45 million federal tax deposit relating to the assessment by
the IRS on IPC's 2001 through 2003 federal income tax returns. IDACORP
disagrees with this assessment but is making the tax deposit to stop the
accrual of interest charges. See "INCOME TAXES - Status of audit proceedings"
for a discussion of this assessment.
Contractual obligations
There have been no material changes
in contractual obligations, outside of the ordinary course of business, since
December 31, 2005.
Credit ratings
Access to capital markets at a
reasonable cost is determined in large part by credit quality. The following
table outlines the current S&P, Moody's and Fitch ratings of IDACORP's and
IPC's securities:
|
S&P |
Moody's |
Fitch |
|||
|
IPC |
IDACORP |
IPC |
IDACORP |
IPC |
IDACORP |
Corporate Credit Rating |
BBB+ |
BBB+ |
Baa 1 |
Baa 2 |
None |
None |
Senior Secured Debt |
A- |
None |
A3 |
None |
A- |
None |
Senior Unsecured Debt |
BBB |
BBB |
Baa 1 |
Baa 2 |
BBB+ |
BBB |
(prelim) |
(prelim) |
|||||
Short-Term Tax-Exempt Debt |
BBB/A-2 |
None |
Baa 1/ |
None |
None |
None |
VMIG-2 |
||||||
Commercial Paper |
A-2 |
A-2 |
P-2 |
P-2 |
F-2 |
F-2 |
Credit Facility |
None |
None |
Baa 1 |
Baa 2 |
None |
None |
Rating Outlook |
Negative |
Negative |
Stable |
Stable |
Stable |
Stable |
47
These security ratings
reflect the views of the rating agencies. An explanation of the significance
of these ratings may be obtained from each rating agency. Such ratings are not
a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Any rating can be revised
upward or downward or withdrawn at any time by a rating agency if it decides
that the circumstances warrant the change. Each rating should be evaluated
independently of any other rating.
Capital requirements
IDACORP's internal cash generation
after dividends is expected to provide less than the full amount of total
capital requirements for 2006 through 2008. The contribution from internal
cash generation is dependent primarily upon IPC's cash flows from operations,
which are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to weather and water
conditions, and IPC's ability to obtain rate relief to cover its operating
costs.
IDACORP's internally
generated cash after dividends is expected to provide approximately 44 percent
of 2006 capital requirements, where capital requirements are defined as utility
construction expenditures, excluding Allowance for Funds Used During
Construction (AFDC), plus other regulated and non-regulated investments. This
excludes mandatory or optional principal payments on debt obligations. IDACORP
and IPC expect to continue financing the utility construction program and other
capital requirements with internally generated funds and externally financed
capital.
The current expectation of
approximately 44 percent of 2006 capital requirements is a decrease from the 58
percent projected in IDACORP's and IPC's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2006. This decrease is primarily due to a projected $45
million tax deposit that will be made with the IRS pending settlement of prior
year tax returns. Both the current and prior quarter estimates for 2006 also
include $28 million in income taxes paid by IPC in the first quarter of 2006
from the sale of excess SO2 emission allowances in 2005. These tax
payments total $73 million and reduced IDACORP's 2006 forecast for internally
generated cash. Excluding these tax payments, IDACORP's internally generated
cash after dividends would have provided approximately 83 percent of 2006
capital requirements.
Utility construction
program: Utility construction
expenditures were $166 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006,
compared to $128 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 due
primarily to increases in transmission and distribution construction. IPC's
total construction expenditures are expected to be $720 million, excluding
AFDC, from 2006 through 2008. IPC has recently issued its 2006 Integrated
Resource Plan (IRP) and is reviewing the potential impact on its future
construction expenditures. It is expected that estimated total
construction expenditures for the years 2007 through 2009 will exceed the 2006
through 2008 estimate as a result of implementing the IRP. See "REGULATORY
ISSUES - Integrated Resource Plan" for a discussion of IPC's 2006 IRP.
Variations in the timing and amounts of capital expenditures will result from
regulatory and environmental factors, load growth and other resource
acquisition needs, including relicensing expenditures.
Other capital requirements: Most of IDACORP's non-regulated capital
expenditures relate to IFS' investments in affordable housing developments that
help lower IDACORP's income tax liability.
Financing Programs
Credit facilities: IDACORP has a
$150 million five-year credit agreement with various lenders (IDACORP Facility),
which is used for general corporate purposes and commercial paper back-up and
will terminate on March 31, 2010. The IDACORP
Facility provides for the
issuance of loans and standby letters of credit not to exceed the aggregate
principal amount of $150 million, provided that the aggregate amount of the
standby letters of credit may not exceed $75 million.
IPC has a $200 million
five-year credit agreement with various lenders (IPC Facility), which is used
for general corporate purposes and commercial paper back-up and will terminate
on March 31, 2010. The IPC Facility provides for the issuance of loans and
standby letters of credit not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $200
million, provided that the aggregate amount of the standby letters of credit
may not exceed $100 million.
48
At September 30, 2006, no
loans were outstanding under the IDACORP Facility or IPC Facility.
The IDACORP Facility and the IPC Facility both contain a covenant requiring
each company to maintain a leverage ratio of consolidated indebtedness to
consolidated total capitalization of no more than 65 percent as of the end of
each fiscal quarter. At September 30, 2006, the leverage ratios for both
IDACORP and IPC were 49 and 51 percent, respectively. At September 30, 2006,
IDACORP was in compliance with all other covenants of the IDACORP Facility and
IPC was in compliance with all other covenants of the IPC Facility.
See "LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES - Financing Programs - Credit Facilities" in IDACORP's and IPC's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, for a discussion of
the terms of the IDACORP Facility and the IPC Facility.
Long-term financings: In April 2005, with the goal of adding additional
common equity to its capital structure, IDACORP began using original issue
common stock in its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, rather than
purchasing this stock on the open market. Beginning in August 2005, IDACORP
also began using original issue common stock for its 401(k) plan. In the third
quarter of 2006, IDACORP issued 56,548 shares.
On October 3, 2006, IPC
completed a tax-exempt bond financing in which Sweetwater County, Wyoming
issued and sold $116,300,000 aggregate principal amount of its Pollution
Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 2006. The
bonds will mature on July 15, 2026. The $116.3 million proceeds were loaned by
Sweetwater County to IPC pursuant to a Loan Agreement, dated as of October 1,
2006, between Sweetwater County and IPC (the Loan Agreement) On October 10,
2006, the proceeds of the new bonds, together with certain other moneys of IPC,
were used to refund Sweetwater County's (i) Pollution Control Revenue Refunding
Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 1996A that were outstanding in the
aggregate principal amount of $68,100,000, (ii) Pollution Control Revenue
Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series 1996B that were
outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $24,200,000 and (iii)
Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Idaho Power Company Project) Series
1996C that were outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $24,000,000.
The regularly scheduled principal and interest payments on the bonds, and
principal and interest payments on the bonds upon mandatory redemption on
determination of taxability, are insured by a financial guaranty insurance
policy issued by AMBAC Assurance Corporation. IPC and AMBAC have entered into
an Insurance Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2006, pursuant to which IPC has agreed,
among other things, to pay certain premiums to AMBAC and to reimburse AMBAC for
any payments made under the policy.
In order to secure IPC's
obligation to make principal and interest payments on the loan made to IPC, IPC
issued and delivered to a trustee IPC's First Mortgage Bonds, Pollution Control
Series C, in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the new bonds.
LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES:
Legal and Other
Proceedings
Reference is made to IDACORP's
and IPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006, and June
30, 2006, for a discussion of all material pending legal proceedings to which
IDACORP and IPC and their subsidiaries are parties. The following discussion
provides a summary of material developments that occurred in those proceedings
during the period covered by this report and of any new material proceedings
instituted during the period covered by this report.
49
Shareholder Lawsuit: On March 29, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the
District of Idaho (Judge Edward J. Lodge) issued an Order in this case (Powell
v. IDACORP) adopting the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Williams
issued on September 14, 2005, granting the defendants' (IDACORP and certain of
its officers and directors) motion to dismiss because plaintiffs failed to
satisfy the pleading requirements for loss causation. However, Judge Lodge
modified the Report and Recommendation and ruled that plaintiffs had until May
1, 2006, to file an amended complaint only as to the loss causation element.
On May 1, 2006, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. The defendants
filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on June 16, 2006, asserting
that the amended complaint still failed to satisfy the pleading requirements
for loss causation. Briefing on this most recent motion to dismiss was
completed on August 28, 2006. IDACORP and the other defendants intend to
defend themselves vigorously against the allegations. IDACORP cannot, however,
predict the outcome of these matters.
Wah Chang: Following the October 18, 2005 consolidation of Wah
Chang's appeal of the dismissal order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Ninth Circuit with an identical order in Wah Chang v. Duke Energy Trading and
Marketing, IDACORP, IPC and IE filed an answering brief on November 30, 2005.
Wah Chang filed its reply brief on January 6, 2006. Wah Chang's appeal to the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has now been fully briefed;
however, no date has yet been set for oral argument. IDACORP, IPC and IE
intend to vigorously defend their position in this proceeding and believe this
matter will not have a material adverse effect on their consolidated financial
positions, results of operations or cash flows.
City of Tacoma: The City of Tacoma's March 10, 2005, appeal to the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit of the dismissal of the case by
Judge Whaley has been fully briefed; however, no date has yet been set for oral
argument. IDACORP, IPC and IE intend to vigorously defend their position in
this proceeding and believe this matter will not have a material adverse effect
on their consolidated financial positions, results of operations or cash flows.
Wholesale
Electricity Antitrust Cases I & II:
In April 2002, several subsidiaries of Reliant Energy, Inc. (Reliant) and Duke
Energy Corporation (Duke) filed cross-complaints against IE and IPC and
numerous other participants in the California energy market. The cross-complaints
sought indemnification for any liability that may arise from original
complaints filed against Reliant and Duke with respect to charges of unlawful
and unfair business practices in the California energy markets under California law. On November 9, 2005, both Duke and Reliant submitted to the California
Superior Court stipulations with IE and IPC to conditionally dismiss, with
prejudice, the cross-complaints, subject to reinstatement if proposed
settlements between Duke and Reliant and the plaintiffs of the underlying
actions were not approved by the court. Neither IE nor IPC paid any amount to
Duke or to Reliant to obtain these dismissals.
On December 14, 2005, the
court granted final approval of the Duke settlement with the plaintiffs. The
court's order granting final approval of the Duke settlement became final on
March 14, 2006. On January 6, 2006, the
court granted preliminary approval of the Reliant settlement. On March 30,
2006, oppositions and objections to the Reliant settlement were filed by
certain parties under the Eggers case caption, including by the States
of Montana and Idaho. Neither IPC nor IE is a party to the Eggers case,
which seeks to recover damages on behalf of consumers in western states other
than California. A hearing on final approval of the Reliant settlement was
held on April 28, 2006. At the hearing, the court ruled that the California class settlement would receive final approval contingent on a satisfactory
showing that the notice to those class members was adequate. As for the Eggers
case, the court set a briefing schedule to provide evidence and oral argument
regarding the State of Montana's treatment by its class representative and
Montana's connection to the California energy market.
On May 30, 2006, the Court signed
and approved the Judgment, Final Order, and Decree
Granting Final Approval to the Reliant settlement. The Court also signed and
approved the Order Granting Reliant's Motion for Good Faith Settlement
Determination. The order approving the
Reliant settlement became final on July 31, 2006. On July 14, 2006, the Court held a separate hearing to
consider approval of the settlement of the Eggers action, and thereafter
signed and approved the Judgment, Final
Order and Decree Granting Final Approval to the Class Action Settlement in the Eggers
case. All appeal periods have now expired.
Western Energy Proceedings
at the FERC
50
1. California Refund
On February 17, 2006, IE and IPC
jointly filed with the California Parties (Pacific Gas & Electric Company,
San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison, the
California Public Utilities Commission, the California Electricity Oversight
Board, the California Department of Water Resources and the California Attorney
General) an Offer of Settlement at the FERC. Other parties had until March 9,
2006, to elect to become an additional settling party. The majority of other
parties chose to opt out of the Settlement. After consideration of comments,
on May 22, 2006, the FERC approved the settlement. Under the terms of the
settlement, IE and IPC assigned $24.25 million of the rights to accounts
receivable from the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) and
California Power Exchange (CalPX) to the California Parties to pay into an
escrow account for refunds to settling parties. Amounts from that escrow not
used for settling parties and $1.5 million of the remaining IE and IPC
receivables which are to be retained by the CalPX are available to fund, at
least partially, payment of the claims of any non-settling parties if they
prevail in the remaining litigation of this matter. Any excess funds remaining
at the conclusion of the case are to be returned to IDACORP. Approximately
$10.25 million of the remaining IE and IPC receivables was paid to IE and IPC
under the Settlement.
On May 22, 2006, the FERC
issued an order approving, with certain conditions, the Offer of Settlement.
On June 21, 2006, the Port of Seattle, Washington filed a request for rehearing
of the FERC order approving the Settlement. On July 10, 2006, IDACORP and the
California Parties filed a response to Port of Seattle's request for
rehearing. On October 5, 2006, the FERC issued an order denying the Port of Seattle's request for rehearing. The time for seeking review of the FERC's Order
will not expire until December 4, 2006. IDACORP is unable to predict at this
time if any person will seek such review or, if such review is sought, what the
eventual outcome will be.
For some time the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals held in abeyance consolidated petitions for review (in
excess of 100) of FERC orders related to the California Refund proceeding. On
September 21, 2004, the Ninth Circuit convened case management proceedings on
these petitions and on October 22, 2004, severed a subset of issues for
briefing related to: (1) which parties are subject to the FERC's refund
jurisdiction under section 201(f) of the Federal Power Act; (2) the temporal
scope of refunds under section 206 of the Federal Power Act; and (3) which
categories of transaction are subject to refunds. Oral argument was held on
April 12-13, 2005. On September 6, 2005, the Ninth Circuit issued a decision
on the jurisdictional issues concluding that the FERC lacked refund authority
over wholesale electric energy sales made by governmental entities and
non-public utilities. On August 2, 2006, the Ninth Circuit issued its decision
on the appropriate temporal reach and the type of transactions subject to the
FERC refund orders and concluded, among other things, that all transactions at
issue in the case that occurred within or as a result of the CalPX and the Cal
ISO were the proper subject of refund proceedings; refused to expand the refund
proceedings into the bilateral markets including transactions with the
California Department of Water Resources; approved the refund effective date as
October 2, 2000, but also required the FERC to consider whether refunds,
including possibly market-wide refunds, should be required for an earlier time
due to claims that some market participants had violated governing tariff
obligations (although the decision did not specify when that time would start,
the California Parties generally had sought further refunds starting May 1,
2000); and effectively expanded the scope of the refund proceeding to
transactions within the CalPX and Cal ISO markets outside the 24-hour spot
market and energy exchange transactions.
IDACORP believes that these
decisions should have no material effect on IDACORP under the terms of the
IDACORP Settlement with the California Parties approved by the FERC on May 22,
2006.
2. Market Manipulation
Pursuant to the Offer of Settlement
filed with the FERC on February 17, 2006, between the California Parties and IE
and IPC and discussed above in "California Refund" the requests for rehearing
of the California Parties and other settling parties of the FERC's approval of
an earlier settlement with the FERC staff regarding allegations of "gaming" are
deemed to be withdrawn. On May 22, 2006, the FERC issued an order approving
the February 17, 2006, Offer of Settlement. On October 11, 2006, the FERC
issued an Order denying rehearing of its earlier approval of the "gaming"
allegations, thereby effectively terminating the FERC investigations as to IPC
and IE regarding bidding behavior, physical withholding of power and "gaming"
without finding of wrongdoing. The time for seeking review of the FERC's Order
will not expire until December 11, 2006. IPC and IE are unable to predict at
this time if any person will seek such review or, if such review is sought,
what the eventual outcome will be.
51
3. Pacific Northwest
Refund
On September 24, 2001, the FERC
Administrative Law Judge submitted recommendations and findings to the FERC
finding that prices in the Pacific Northwest during the December 25, 2000,
through June 20, 2001, time period should be governed by the Mobile-Sierra
standard of public interest rather than the just and reasonable standard, that
the Pacific Northwest spot markets were competitive and that no refunds should
be allowed. The FERC approved these recommendations on June 25, 2003, and
multiple parties then appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. IE and
IPC were parties in the FERC proceeding and are participating in the appeal.
Briefing on the appeal was completed on May 25, 2005, and oral argument has
been scheduled for January 8, 2007. The Settlement approved by the FERC on May
22, 2006, resolves all claims the California Parties have against IE and IPC in
the Pacific Northwest Refund proceeding. The settlement with Grays Harbor
resolves all claims Grays Harbor has against IE and IPC in this proceeding. IE
and IPC are unable to predict the outcome as to all other parties in this
proceeding.
Other Legal Proceedings: IDACORP, IPC and/or IE are involved in lawsuits and
legal proceedings in addition to those discussed above and in Note 5 to IDACORP's
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The companies believe they have
meritorious defenses to all lawsuits and legal proceedings where they have been
named as defendants. Resolution of any of these matters will take time, and
the companies cannot predict the outcome of any of these proceedings. The
companies believe that their reserves are adequate for these matters.
Idaho Water Management Issues
Idaho experienced six consecutive years of below normal precipitation and
stream flows from 2000 through 2005. These conditions exacerbated a developing
water shortage in the state, which is manifested by a number of water issues
including declining Snake River base flows and declining levels in the Eastern
Snake Plain Aquifer, a large underground aquifer that has been estimated to
hold between 200 - 300 maf of water. These issues are of interest to IPC
because of their potential impacts on generation at IPC's hydroelectric
projects. With respect to base flows, observed records suggest that the base
flows in the Snake River, particularly between IPC's Twin Falls and Swan Falls projects, have been in decline for several decades. The yearly average flow
measured below Swan Falls declined at an average rate of 43 cubic feet per
second (cfs) per year during the period 1961-2003, and between Twin Falls and Lower Salmon Falls, which significantly contribute to base flow, declined at a rate of
approximately 27 cfs per year over the same period. Low flow in the Snake
River near Hagerman, Idaho continued to be observed during 2005, where several
river gauges in that area recorded the lowest January - March Snake River flows
since the early 1960's.
As a result of these declines
in river flows, in 2003 several surface water users filed delivery calls with
the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), demanding that it manage ground
water withdrawals pursuant to the prior appropriation doctrine of "first in
time is first in right" and curtail junior ground water rights that are
depleting the aquifer and affecting flows to senior surface water rights.
These delivery calls have resulted in several administrative actions before the
IDWR and judicial actions before the State District Court in Ada and Gooding
counties in Idaho challenging the constitutionality of state regulations used
by the IDWR to conjunctively administer ground and surface water rights. One
such action, filed in January 2005, involves seven surface water irrigation
entities from above Milner Dam that submitted a delivery call letter to the
Director of the IDWR requesting that the Director administer and deliver their
senior natural flow and storage water rights pursuant to Idaho law. The
irrigation entities contend that existing data reflects that senior surface
water rights above Milner Dam have been reduced by approximately 600,000
acre-feet, a 30 percent reduction, over the past six years, due in part to
junior groundwater pumping from the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, and that these
reductions have resulted in cumulative shortages in natural flow and storage
water accrual in American Falls Reservoir, a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
reservoir that supplies a portion of their senior water rights. The Idaho Ground
Water Appropriators, Inc., an Idaho non-profit corporation organized to promote
and represent the interests of groundwater users, and the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, the owner of American Falls Reservoir, petitioned to intervene in
the delivery call action. Both petitions were granted.
52
Since IPC holds water rights
that are dependent on the Snake River, spring flows and the overall condition
of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, IPC continues to participate in actions, as
necessary, to protect its water rights. One such action relates to the
constitutionality of the Conjunctive Management Rules (CMR) that were developed
by the IDWR to administer connected ground and surface water rights. In August
2005, the surface water irrigation entities that initiated the delivery call
filed an action against the IDWR in the state district court in Gooding County, Idaho for a declaratory judgment regarding the validity and
constitutionality of the CMR. IPC intervened in the action as a
plaintiff/intervenor. The Idaho Ground Water Appropriators intervened as a
defendant. In October 2005, the plaintiffs in the case filed a motion for
summary judgment, contending that the CMR were unconstitutional and violated
the doctrine of prior appropriation as applied in Idaho. After briefing and
argument, on June 2, 2006, the district court issued a memorandum decision
granting summary judgment to the plaintiffs and holding that the CMR are
unconstitutional because the rules failed to protect senior water rights from
injury by junior water right diversions. On July 11, 2006, the IDWR appealed
the court's order to the Idaho Supreme Court and subsequently filed a motion
with the district court asking the court to stay the effect of its order until
the conclusion of the appeal. On September 27, 2006, the Idaho Supreme Court
entered an order denying the stay and expediting the appeal. The Court set an
expedited briefing schedule and scheduled oral argument for December 8, 2006.
IPC is participating in the appeal.
IPC, together with other
interested water users and state interests, also continues to explore and
encourage the development of a long-term management plan that will protect the
aquifer and the river from further depletion. One management option being
explored is aquifer recharge, or using surface water supplies to increase
ground water supplies by allowing the water to percolate into the aquifer in
porous locations. Under certain circumstances aquifer recharge may impact
senior water rights, including water rights held by IPC for hydropower
purposes, and therefore conflict with state law. For that reason, IPC
continues to participate in the processes that are considering solutions, such
as aquifer recharge, to the conflict between ground and surface water interests
in an effort to protect its existing hydroelectric generation water rights.
In February 2006, at the
request of senior surface water interests, IPC entered into discussions with
the State of Idaho, through the Office of the Governor, and senior surface
water interests to explore opportunities for engaging in some limited aquifer
recharge in 2006, provided any adverse impact to IPC's hydropower generation
and its customers is adequately addressed. These discussions led to a proposal
to implement a recharge pilot program in 2006. However, before that proposal
could be finalized, on March 17, 2006, the House of Representatives of the
State of Idaho passed House Bill 800, which proposed to repeal certain
provisions of the Idaho Code that governed the use of natural water flow to
recharge the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and would have subordinated certain
hydropower water rights held by IPC to aquifer recharge. The introduction of
House Bill 800 effectively concluded the discussions between IPC, senior
surface water interests and the Governor's Office to implement a pilot recharge
project.
IPC strongly opposed House
Bill 800 because, if it had become law, IPC's hydroelectric generation could
have been reduced and IPC would have to rely on more expensive generation or
purchased power to meet customers' needs. This would have resulted in higher
costs to IPC's customers. On March 30, 2006, the Senate defeated House Bill
800 by a vote of 21 to 14.
At the conclusion of the
legislative session, the Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 136
directing the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) to develop a comprehensive
aquifer management plan for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) and to
receive public input regarding the goals, objectives, and methods of management
for the ESPA from affected water right holders, cities, counties, the general
public and state and federal agencies. The IWRB initiated a public process for
the development of an aquifer management plan in June 2006. IPC is
participating in that process. The IWRB is expected to report to the Idaho
Legislature in 2007 on the progress of the planning effort.
On April 11, 2006, IPC and
the State of Idaho entered into a stipulation agreement regarding two water
right permits. The permits allow for limited aquifer recharge and are held by
the IWRB. The two water right permits were issued in the early 1980's, prior
to the 1984 Swan Falls Agreement. IPC entered into the Swan Falls Agreement
with the Governor and Attorney General of Idaho in October 1984 to resolve
litigation relating to IPC's water rights at the Swan Falls project. In the
early 1980's, IPC filed an action identifying approximately 7,500 water
licenses and permits that had the potential to adversely impact IPC's
hydropower water rights at the Swan Falls project. The Swan Falls Agreement
resolved that litigation. One provision of the Swan Falls Agreement provided
that the action against the 7,500 water licenses and permits would be dismissed
with prejudice and that IPC's hydropower water rights on the middle Snake River
would be subordinate to those water rights dismissed. In the stipulation, IPC
and the state recognized that the two water right permits referred to above
were named in the action brought by IPC and were subject to the Swan Falls
Agreement and that IPC's water rights are therefore subordinate to these water
right permits. IPC cannot determine the financial impact of the stipulation
upon IPC and its customers until such time, if ever, that recharge programs
under the two water permits are established, but IPC believes that the
potential maximum impact in a median water year may be approximately $30
million.
Air
Quality Issues
IPC owns two natural gas combustion
turbine power plants and co-owns three coal-fired power plants that are subject
to air quality regulation. The natural gas-fired plants, Danskin and Bennett Mountain, are located in Idaho. The coal-fired plants are: Jim Bridger (33 percent
interest) located in Wyoming; Boardman (ten percent interest) located in Oregon; and North Valmy (50 percent interest) located in Nevada.
53
Clean Air: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued SO2
allowances, as defined in the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990, based on coal
consumption during established baseline years. IPC currently has more than a
sufficient amount of SO2 allowances to provide compliance for
emissions attributable to IPC at all three of its jointly-owned coal-fired
facilities and both of its natural gas-fired facilities.
The Clean Air Interstate Rule
(CAIR) will cap emissions of SO2 and nitrogen oxides in 28 eastern
states and the District of Columbia. The CAIR does not impose any restrictions
on emissions from any IPC facilities and, therefore, IPC does not foresee any
adverse effects upon its operations as a result of CAIR.
Clean Air Mercury Rule: The Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) will limit mercury
emissions from new and existing coal-fired power plants and creates a
market-based cap-and-trade program that will permanently cap utility mercury
emissions in two phases (2010 - 2017, and 2018 and beyond). Mercury emission
allocations have been set at the state level, but the states are currently
working to allocate the allowances to individual power plants. States have
until November 17, 2006, to submit to the EPA mercury plans establishing
mercury emission standards and allowances for the power plants within their
jurisdictions. Mercury continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) are
required to be installed and operational on each coal-fired unit by January 1,
2009. IPC is actively monitoring developments on state mercury plans in Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, and Oregon.
On October 10, 2006, the
Wyoming Environmental Quality Commission approved the Wyoming Department of
Environmental Quality's (WDEQ) recommended Wyoming regulation to implement
CAMR. This rule will allocate mercury allowances to each plant based on
heat-input and hold back 10 percent of the allocated allowances for new
sources. This rule will also allow the plant to participate in the national
cap-and-trade program. Mercury CEMS are planned to be installed at the Jim
Bridger plant in 2007 and 2008 at an estimated cost of $0.7 million (IPC
share). Until the mercury CEMS are installed and operational, the amount of
mercury emissions is not definitively known. It is not possible to determine
the effect of the allowance allocation rule on future operations and costs at
the plant.
Oregon has started a rulemaking process that may result in
the adoption of mercury reduction requirements that are stricter than those of
the EPA. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has held public
meetings and workshops to discuss the CAMR for Oregon. During the public
hearing held on August 16, 2006, the ODEQ preliminarily recommended a mercury
emission limit for the Boardman plant of 0.6lb/TBtu (which would require a
reduction in current mercury emission levels of approximately 90 percent). If
the ODEQ recommended mercury limit is adopted, it will be one of the most
stringent limits in the West. The ODEQ is scheduled to provide a final
recommendation to the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (OEQC) by the end
of 2006. IPC estimates that capital expenditures for mercury controls at
Boardman will be $9.2 million (IPC's share) with an annual incremental
operations and maintenance cost of up to $0.8 million (IPC's share). IPC has
filed testimony urging the OEQC to grant mercury allocation credits to Boardman
in order to defray the costs.
The Nevada Department of
Environmental Protection has adopted a state CAMR that will provide mercury
allowances to each plant based on actual emissions until 2018, at which time
the allowance allocations will be reduced to meet the federal cap. To meet the
reduced allocations in the year 2018, mercury controls are expected to be
installed. Mercury CEMS are planned to be installed at the North Valmy plant
in 2007 and 2008 at an estimated cost of $0.4 million (IPC's share).
IPC anticipates that the CAMR
will require additional emission controls and expenses at all of its
jointly-owned coal-fired facilities, although impacts on future plant
operations, operating costs and generating capacity are not known at this time.
The Idaho DEQ has proposed
two new rules to the Idaho Environmental Quality Commission: a proposed rule to
opt out of the federal mercury cap-and-trade program, and a proposed rule to
prohibit the construction and operation of a coal-fired power plant in Idaho. The rules will be presented for adoption by the Board of Environmental Quality at
its November 16, 2006, meeting in Boise. If approved by the Board, the rules
will be sent to the Idaho Legislature for review and approval during its 2007
session.
54
Regional Haze - Best
Available Retrofit Technology: In
accordance with new federal regional haze rules, the WDEQ and ODEQ are
conducting an assessment of emission sources pursuant to a Regional Haze Best
Available Retrofit Technology (RH BART) process. Coal-fired utility boilers
are subject to RH BART if they were built between 1962 and 1977 and affect any
Class I areas. This includes all four units at the Jim Bridger and Boardman
plants. The two units at the North Valmy plant were constructed after 1977 and
are not subject to the federal regional haze rule.
On October 2, 2006, the Jim
Bridger plant was formally notified that is it subject to RH BART and will have
to provide a compliance strategy with the WDEQ before the end of January 2007.
The WDEQ has proposed regulations to comply with the federal RH BART standard
and anticipates that the rulemaking process will be completed in December
2006. During the acquisition of PacifiCorp by MidAmerican Energy Holdings
Company (MEHC), MEHC committed to install additional pollution control
equipment at most of PacifiCorp's facilities. This includes additional low NOx
burners and scrubber upgrades at the Jim Bridger plant. Over the next three
years, upgrade expenditures are estimated at $9 million (IPC's share), with
total project costs estimated at $15 million (IPC's share).
In Oregon, a demonstration analysis
for identified haze sources, utilizing modeling techniques, began in 2006 and
is currently in progress. Those sources which are determined to cause, or
contribute to, visibility impairment at protected areas will be subject to an
RH BART determination. In January 2006, IPC volunteered to participate in an
ODEQ pilot project that will analyze information about air emissions from the
Boardman plant to determine the effect on visibility in the region,
particularly in wilderness and scenic areas. The pilot project is expected to
be completed by the end of 2006.
Greenhouse Gases: IPC continues to monitor and evaluate the possible
adoption of national, regional, or state greenhouse gas (GHG) requirements.
New GHG bills were introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
during 2006. On April 4, 2006, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources sponsored a day-long hearing on the subject of global climate
change. National, regional or state GHG requirements, if enacted and applicable,
could result in significant costs to IPC to comply with restrictions on carbon
dioxide or other GHG emissions.
REGULATORY MATTERS:
General Rate Cases
Idaho: On May 12, 2006, the IPUC
issued an order approving a settlement of IPC's general rate case filed in
October 2005. The order approves an average increase of 3.2 percent in base
rates, or $18 million in revenues, effective June 1, 2006.
On February 27, 2006, IPC,
the IPUC staff and representatives of customer groups had filed a stipulation
with the IPUC that became the basis for the final order.
IPC's original filing had
asked for an annual increase to its Idaho retail base rates of $44 million, a
7.8 percent average increase. The rate case filing was made with six months of
actual operating expenses and six months of projected expenses. The actual
increase in rates was lower than the requested amount due to three factors:
(1) 2005 actual expenses were significantly less than those forecasted; (2) the
overall rate of return agreed to was 8.1 percent compared to the 8.42 percent
IPC requested (no specific return on equity was determined); and (3) net power
supply costs were kept at levels currently existing in rates.
Oregon: On
September 21, 2004, IPC filed an application with the OPUC to increase general
rates an average of 17.5 percent or approximately $4.4 million annually. A
partial settlement resolved most issues in a manner consistent with the results
of the corresponding Idaho general rate case. The most significant issue in
this proceeding was the appropriate quantification of net power supply expenses
for purposes of setting rates. The OPUC staff proposed that net power supply
expenses for IPC be set at a negative number - meaning that IPC should be able
to sell enough surplus energy to pay for all fuel and purchased power expenses
and still have revenue left over to offset other costs. The bulk of IPC's
rebuttal was directed at this position. A hearing was conducted on May 23,
2005. The OPUC issued its order in July 2005 authorizing an increase of $0.6
million in annual revenues for an average of 2.37 percent. The OPUC adopted
the OPUC staff's argument for the negative net power supply costs, thus
reducing IPC's initial rate request of $4.4 million by $2.4 million with this
one adjustment.
55
On September 26, 2005, IPC
filed a complaint with the Circuit Court of Marion County, Oregon asking the
court to reverse the portion of the OPUC's general rate case order related to
the determination of net power supply costs. IPC has until November 13, 2006, to file an appeal with the Oregon
Court of Appeals.
Deferred (Accrued) Net Power Supply Costs
IPC's deferred (accrued) net power supply costs consisted of the following
(in thousands of dollars):
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|||
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|||
Idaho PCA current year: |
||||||
Deferral for the 2006-2007 rate year |
$ |
- |
$ |
3,684 |
||
Deferral for the 2007-2008 rate year * |
3,872 |
- |
||||
Idaho PCA true-up awaiting recovery (refund): |
||||||
Authorized May 2005 |
- |
28,567 |
||||
Authorized May 2006 |
(15,161) |
- |
||||
Oregon deferral: |
||||||
2001 costs |
7,108 |
8,411 |
||||
2005 costs |
2,833 |
2,880 |
||||
Total deferral (accrual) |
$ |
(1,348) |
$ |
43,542 |
||
* includes a $42.1 million credit for SO2 emission allowance sales allocated to customers |
Idaho: IPC has a
PCA mechanism that provides for annual adjustments to the rates charged to its Idaho retail customers. These adjustments are based on forecasts of net power supply
costs, which are fuel and purchased power less off-system sales, and the
true-up of the prior year's forecast. During the year, 90 percent of the
difference between the actual and forecasted costs is deferred with interest.
The ending balance of this deferral, called the true-up for the current year's
portion and the true-up of the true-up for the prior years' unrecovered
portion, is then included in the calculation of the next year's PCA.
The true-up of the true-up
portion of the PCA provides a tracking of the collection or the refund of
true-up amounts. Each month, the collection or the refund of the true-up
amount is quantified based upon the true-up portion of the PCA rate and the
consumption of energy by customers. At the end of the PCA year, the total
collection or refund is compared to the previously determined amount to be
collected or refunded. Any difference between authorized amounts and amounts
actually collected or refunded are then reflected in the following PCA year,
which becomes the true-up of the true-up. Over time, the actual collection or
refund of authorized true-up dollars matches the amounts authorized.
On
May 25, 2006, the IPUC approved IPC's 2006-2007 PCA filing with an effective
date of June 1, 2006. The filing reduced the PCA component of customers' rates
from the existing level, which was recovering $76.7 million above then-existing
base rates, to a level that is $46.8 million below those base rates, a decrease
of approximately $123.5 million.
On
April 13, 2006, IPC filed testimony requesting review of one component of the
PCA referred to as the load growth adjustment rate, as agreed to in the
stipulation of the parties settling the 2005 general rate case. The load
growth adjustment rate provides a reduction to power supply expenses for PCA
purposes when loads grow from levels included in IPC's base rates. IPC
maintains that this reduction to expenses should be equal to the relative
increase in revenues received as a result of load growth. The IPUC Staff and
other parties to the proceeding filed testimony by September 15, 2006. A
hearing was held on October 30, 2006. The dollar impact of load growth
adjustment rates is significant and increasing, based on continuing growth
within IPC's territory. Any increase in the load growth adjustment rate as a
result of this proceeding would magnify the impact. In its rebuttal testimony,
IPC estimated that the IPUC Staff proposal, if implemented last year, would
have resulted in $20 million of power supply expense attributable to load
growth from April 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006, that would not have been
recoverable by IPC when compared to IPC's proposal for full recovery of power
supply expense attributable to load growth.
On
June 1, 2005, IPC implemented the 2005-2006 PCA, which held the PCA component
of customers' rates at the existing level recovering $71 million above base rates.
By IPUC order, the PCA included $12 million in lost revenues and $2 million in
related interest resulting from IPC's Irrigation Load Reduction Program that
was in place in 2001. The PCA deferred recovery of approximately $28 million
of power supply costs, or 4.75 percent, for one year to help mitigate the
impacts of other rate increases. The $28 million was included in the 2006-2007
PCA filing, and IPC earned a two percent carrying charge on the balance.
56
Oregon: On April 28, 2006, IPC filed for an accounting order
with the OPUC to defer net power supply costs for the period of May 1, 2006,
through April 30, 2007, in anticipation of higher than "normal" power supply
expenses. In the Oregon general rate case discussed above, "normal" power
supply expenses were set at a negative number (meaning that under normal water
conditions IPC should be able to sell enough surplus energy to pay for all fuel
and purchased power expenses and still have revenue left over to offset other
costs). The forecasted system net power supply expenses included in this
deferral filing were $64 million, which is $65.9 million higher than the
normalized power supply expenses established in the Oregon general rate case.
IPC requested authorization to defer an estimated $3.3 million, the Oregon jurisdictional share of the $65.9 million. IPC also requested that it earn its Oregon authorized rate of return on the deferred balance and recover the amount through
rates in future years, as approved by the OPUC. The parties met on September 20, 2006, and began negotiating for a PCA
mechanism for IPC's Oregon jurisdiction. The parties agreed to suspend
discussion of the deferral application while the PCA negotiations are ongoing.
The parties believe that any agreement regarding a PCA mechanism may impact
resolution of IPC's deferral application. The parties are planning to meet
again in early November 2006.
On March 2, 2005, IPC filed for an accounting order with the OPUC to defer net
power supply costs for the period of March 2, 2005, through February 28, 2006,
in anticipation of continued low water conditions. The forecasted net power
supply costs included in this filing were $169 million, of which $3 million
related to the Oregon jurisdiction. IPC proposed to use the same methodology
for this deferral filing that was accepted in 2002 for Oregon's share of IPC's
2001 net power supply expenses. On July 1, 2005, IPC, the OPUC staff, and the
Citizen's Utility Board entered into a stipulation requesting that the OPUC
accept IPC's proposed methodology. Under this methodology, IPC will earn its Oregon authorized rate of return on the deferred balance and will recover the amount
through rates in future years, as approved by the OPUC. The OPUC issued Order
05-870 on July 28, 2005, approving the stipulation. On April 19, 2006, IPC
filed a request for review and acknowledgement of its deferred net power supply
costs for the period of March 2, 2005 through February 28, 2006. The deferral
amount was quantified by IPC to be $2.7 million. On June 14, 2006, a
settlement conference was held; however, settlement is pending further staff
review.
The timing of future recovery
of Oregon power supply cost deferrals is subject to an Oregon statute that
specifically limits rate amortizations of deferred costs to six percent per
year. IPC is currently amortizing through rates power supply costs associated
with the western energy situation. Full recovery of the 2001 deferral is not
expected until 2009, at which time the rate amortization of the 2005-2006
deferral could begin. A 2006-2007 deferral would have to be amortized
sequentially following the full recovery of the authorized 2005-2006 deferral.
Emission Allowances
In June 2005, IPC filed
applications with the IPUC and OPUC requesting blanket authorization for the
sale of excess SO2 emission allowances and an accounting order. The
IPUC issued Order 29852 on August 22, 2005, authorizing the sale and interim
accounting treatment. The OPUC issued Order 05-983 on September 13, 2005,
stating that IPC did not need a blanket order to sell emission allowances and
approved the interim accounting treatment.
As of September 30, 2006, IPC
has sold 78,000 SO2 emission allowances for approximately $81.6
million (before income taxes and expenses) on the open market. After
subtracting transaction fees, the total amount of sales proceeds to be
allocated to the Idaho jurisdiction is approximately $76.8 million ($46.8
million net of tax, assuming a tax rate of approximately 39 percent). Through
allowance year 2006, IPC has approximately 32,000 excess allowances remaining.
Pursuant to the IPUC order,
the IPUC staff held several workshops and settlement discussions. On May 12,
2006, the IPUC approved a stipulation filed in April 2006 by IPC on behalf of
several parties. The stipulation allows IPC to retain ten percent, or
approximately $4.7 million after tax, of the emission allowance net proceeds as
a shareholder benefit. The remaining 90 percent of the sales proceeds ($69.1
million) plus a carrying charge will be recorded as a customer benefit and
included as a line-item in the PCA true-up. The carrying charge will be
calculated on $42.1 million, the net-of-tax amount allocable to Idaho jurisdiction customers. This customer benefit is included in IPC's PCA calculations
as a credit to the PCA true-up balance and will be reflected in PCA rates
during the June 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008 PCA rate year.
57
There is no current OPUC
proceeding with respect to SO2 emission allowances, and IPC cannot
predict the outcome of any future OPUC ratemaking proceeding relating to this
issue.
Fixed Cost Adjustment Mechanism (FCA)
On January 27, 2006, IPC filed with the IPUC for authority to implement a rate
adjustment mechanism that would adjust rates downward or upward to recover
fixed costs independent from the volume of IPC's energy sales. This filing is
a continuation of a 2004 case that was opened to investigate the financial
disincentives to investment in energy efficiency by IPC. This true-up
mechanism would be applicable only to residential and small general service
customers. The first FCA rate change under this proposal would occur on June
1, 2007, coincident with IPC's PCA rate change. The accounting for the FCA
will be separate from the PCA. As part of the filing, IPC proposes a three
percent cap on any rate increase to be applied at the discretion of the IPUC.
On March 6, 2006, the IPUC
reviewed IPC's proposal and acknowledged the intent of IPC and the IPUC Staff
to initiate and engage in settlement discussions. The first workshop was held
on May 17, 2006. The IPUC Staff presented an alternate view of IPC's
proposal. A second workshop was held August 31, 2006. The parties are
attempting to resolve this case through settlement.
Regional
Transmission Organization
Over the last several years, IPC has
spent funds supporting the development of Grid West, a Northwest regional
transmission organization (RTO). As of September 30, 2006, IPC had recorded
$1.1 million of loans to Grid West and $2.3 million of deferred internal costs
from participating in the developmental effort. These amounts were initially
deferred anticipating future recovery through Grid West tariffs. IPC ceased
funding Grid West after the first quarter of 2006 as Grid West was dissolved
April 11, 2006. IPC no longer expects reimbursement of either amount from Grid
West. IPC's accumulation of Grid West development costs in a deferred expense
account is consistent with a 2004 accounting order that IPC received from the
FERC.
Grid West Deferral in Oregon: On
April 4, 2006, IPC filed a request for an accounting order from the OPUC
addressing the deferral of costs related to the development of Grid West. On
August 22, 2006, the OPUC granted IPC's request for the deferral of the costs
of unrecoverable Grid West loans; however, the OPUC denied IPC's request to defer an immaterial amount of
internal costs incurred directly in the development of Grid West.
Grid
West Deferral in Idaho: On April 4, 2006, IPC filed a request for an
accounting order from the IPUC addressing the deferral of costs related to the
development of Grid West. The total deferral request was $3.4 million. On
June 29, 2006, the IPUC determined that the case would be processed by modified
procedure. IPC argued that it should be allowed deferral of the principal and
interest on the RTO loan amounts, a carrying charge on the deferred balance and
recovery of the incremental internal costs it identified in its application.
On October 24, 2006, the IPUC issued an order granting $1.1 million related to
the principal of the RTO loans over a five-year amortization beginning January
1, 2007 while denying recovery of the remaining items. IPC has until November
14, 2006, to petition the IPUC for reconsideration. Following a final decision
from the IPUC, IPC will make a filing with the FERC for recovery of Grid West
costs.
If
IPC is unsuccessful with either the IPUC or with the FERC, some or all of the
remaining costs will be expensed.
58
FERC
Proceedings
On March 24, 2006, IPC submitted a
revised Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) filing with the FERC requesting
an increase in transmission rates. The purpose of the filing was to implement
formula rates for the IPC OATT in order to more adequately reflect the costs
that IPC incurs in providing transmission service. In the filing IPC proposed
to move from a fixed rate to a formula rate, which allows for transmission
rates to be updated each year based on FERC Form 1 data. The formula rate
request included a rate of return on equity of 11.25 percent. The proposed
rates would have produced an annual revenue increase of approximately $13
million based on 2004 test year data. On May 31, 2006, the FERC accepted IPC's
rates, effective June 1, 2006, subject to adjustment to conform to FASB 109 tax
accounting requirements, which ultimately resulted in lowering the estimated
annual revenues to approximately $11 million. IPC has complied with this
directive and on August 28, 2006, the FERC issued an order accepting IPC's
compliance filing and ordering that this new rate be used, subject to refund as
discussed below. As a result, IPC has made refunds with interest for June and
July amounts billed, and started billing the new rate beginning in August. The
rates are being collected subject to refund pending the outcome of the FERC
hearing process scheduled for May 2007 with an initial decision expected to be
issued in August 2007.
Cassia Wind Farm Complaint
On September 13, 2006, Cassia Gulch Wind Park, LLC and Cassia Wind Farm,
LLC (collectively Cassia) filed a complaint against IPC with the IPUC
requesting an IPUC declaration and determination that, as a matter of law and
policy, the cost responsibility for specified transmission system upgrades to
meet contingency planning conditions should not be assigned to PURPA qualifying
facilities connecting to the system, but rather should be rolled into IPC's
plant-in-service rate base and recovered through rates to retail and
transmission customers. The estimated costs of transmission system upgrades
included in this complaint that relate to connecting Cassia to IPC's system are
$60 million. Cassia requested that the IPUC process its request for an order
under modified procedure. The IPUC Staff contends that the policy issue raised
by Cassia is one of generic consequence and has, therefore, provided copies of
Cassia's complaint to both PacifiCorp and Avista and recommended that those
utilities also be provided the opportunity to address the issue raised by
Cassia. A schedule for oral arguments has not yet been set.
Integrated Resource Plan
IPC filed its 2006 IRP with the IPUC
in September 2006 and with the OPUC in October 2006. The 2006 IRP previewed
IPC's load and resource situation for the next twenty years, analyzed potential
supply-side and demand-side options and identified near-term and long-term
actions. The two primary goals of the 2006 IRP were to: (1) identify
sufficient resources to reliably serve the growing demand for energy service
within IPC's service area throughout the 20-year planning period and (2) ensure
that the portfolio of resources selected balances cost, risk and environmental
concerns. In addition, there were four secondary goals: (1) to give equal and
balanced treatment to both supply-side resources and demand-side measures; (2)
to involve the public in the planning process in a meaningful way; (3) to
explore transmission alternatives; and (4) to investigate and evaluate advanced
coal technologies.
The IRP is filed every two
years with both the IPUC and the OPUC. IPC's IRP process utilizes an Advisory
Council consisting of representatives from the IPUC Staff, OPUC Staff, as well
as representatives from customer, governmental, environmental and other
interested groups and is the starting point for demonstrating prudence in IPC's
resource decisions. The 20-year 2006 IRP includes the following supply-side
resources:
Year |
Resource |
MW |
2008 |
Wind (2005 RFP)1 |
100 |
2009 |
Geothermal (2006 RFP)1 |
50 |
2010 |
Combined Heat & Power |
50 |
2012 |
Wind |
150 |
2012 |
Transmission Capacity |
225 |
2013 |
Pulverized Coal |
250 |
2017 |
Regional Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle Coal |
250 |
2019 |
Transmission Capacity |
60 |
2020 |
Combined Heat & Power |
100 |
2021 |
Geothermal |
50 |
2022 |
Geothermal |
50 |
2023 |
Nuclear2 |
250 |
1IPC is currently negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement
with the successful bidder on the 100 MW wind RFP (see Wind RFP section). The
RFP for 100 MW of geothermal-powered generation was released on June 2, 2006.
IPC is in the process of evaluating bids and expects to identify a successful
bidder in February 2007.
2The 250-MW of nuclear generation is anticipated to be
acquired through a Power Purchase Agreement for output from the Idaho National
Laboratory's planned Next Generation Nuclear Project.
In addition to the
supply-side resources identified above, the 2006 IRP also includes demand-side
programs designed to reduce average energy needs by 88 MW and peak-hour needs
by 187 MW. To reach these totals, existing demand-side programs will be
expanded and new programs will be implemented over the 20-year planning period.
59
Peaking Resource: On January 9, 2006, IPC selected a
Siemens-Westinghouse combustion turbine project in response to a request for
proposal for construction of a natural gas-fired power plant, as identified in
the 2004 IRP. The plant will be located at the Evander Andrews Power Complex
near Mountain Home, Idaho and is planned to be online prior to the summer of
2008. The unit will provide approximately 166 MW of capacity to help meet
summer load peaks and can provide greater capacity during cooler times of the
year. On April 14, 2006, IPC filed an application for a Certificate of
Convenience and Necessity with the IPUC with a commitment estimate of $60
million. The application also requests
confirmation that IPC can expect to include in rate base the prudent capital
costs for the project and recover prudent fuel costs through its PCA mechanism.
The application is based on a signed
contract with Siemens Power Generation, Inc. to construct the plant valued at
$50 million. The contract is contingent upon approval of the application by
the IPUC. The IPUC Staff and intervening parties filed testimony on the matter
on October 10, 2006. Technical hearings are scheduled for November 20-21,
2006, and IPC anticipates a conclusion before year end. Related transmission
interconnection and line upgrades will be constructed by IPC at an estimated
cost of $23 million.
PURPA Wind Projects: As of September 2006, three wind projects, with a
total nameplate capacity of 20 MW, are selling energy to IPC under approved
PURPA agreements. An additional thirteen wind projects, comprising 187 MW of
wind generation, for a total of 207 MW, have approved PURPA agreements and are
scheduled to come online during 2007.
Wind RFP: IPC has selected Horizon Wind Energy (Horizon) as the
successful bidder in IPC's RFP for renewable wind-powered generation issued on
January 13, 2005. IPC is currently negotiating the power purchase agreement
with Horizon. IPC and Horizon intend to file a signed agreement with the IPUC
later this fall. The Horizon proposal is for a 100 MW project located near La
Grande, Oregon, and is expected to be online by the end of 2007. The northeast
Oregon location for the Horizon project is different from IPC's existing and
proposed PURPA wind projects, which are located along the Snake River in
southern Idaho, and should complement the energy from the existing wind
projects.
Relicensing of
Hydroelectric Projects
IPC, like other utilities that
operate nonfederal hydroelectric projects on qualified waterways, obtains
licenses for its hydroelectric projects from the FERC. These licenses last for
30 to 50 years depending on the size, complexity, and cost of the project. IPC
is actively pursuing the relicensing of the Hells Canyon Complex and Swan Falls projects, a process that may continue for the next ten to fifteen years. Middle
Snake project licenses were issued in 2004 and, as discussed below, a legal
proceeding contesting the licenses was recently concluded.
Hells Canyon Complex: The
most significant ongoing relicensing effort is the Hells Canyon Complex, which
provides approximately two-thirds of IPC's hydroelectric generating capacity
and 40 percent of its total generating capacity. The current license for the
Hells Canyon Complex expired at the end of July 2005. Until the new multi-year
license is issued, IPC will operate the project under an annual license issued
by the FERC. IPC developed the license application for the Hells Canyon
Complex through a collaborative process involving representatives of state and
federal agencies and business, environmental, tribal, customer, local
government and local landowner interests. The license application was filed in
July 2003 and accepted by the FERC for filing in December 2003.
60
On October 28, 2005, the FERC
issued its Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis, which requires the
federal and state agencies, Native American tribes and other participants in
the relicensing process to file preliminary comments, recommendations, terms,
conditions and prescriptions under the FPA, the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Energy Policy Act and other applicable
federal laws. NEPA requires that the FERC independently evaluate the
environmental effects of relicensing the Hells Canyon Complex as proposed under
the final license application (the proposed action) and also consider
reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. Consistent with the
requirements of NEPA, the FERC Staff will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the Hells Canyon project, which the FERC will use to
determine whether, and under what conditions, to issue a new license for the
project. The EIS will describe and evaluate the probable effects, if any, of
the proposed action and the other alternatives considered. Section 241 of the
Energy Policy Act modifies the existing hydroelectric relicensing process under
the FPA and requires federal resource agencies with authority to impose
mandatory conditions on licenses under Sections 4(e) or 18 of the FPA
(conditions that the FERC must include in the license) to provide license
applicants, and other parties to the licensing process, with evidentiary
hearings on disputed issues of material fact related to proposed conditions.
It also requires that such agencies accept more cost effective alternative
conditions proposed by license applicants, or other parties, provided that the
proposed alternative conditions will be no less protective of the resource or
the reservation than the original condition recommended by the agency.
The federal and state agencies, Native American tribes and other interested
parties filed their preliminary comments, recommendations, terms, conditions
and prescriptions with the FERC on January 26, 2006. Consistent with the
provisions of the FPA, IPC filed reply comments to these filings on April 11,
2006. Federal agencies with mandatory conditioning authority under sections
4(e) and 18 of the FPA also filed their preliminary terms and conditions under
those sections with the FERC on January 26, 2006. The Energy Policy Act of
2005, and the interim final rules issued on November 17, 2005, to implement the
Act, require IPC, within 30 days of the agency's filing of their preliminary
terms and conditions with the FERC, to file requests for evidentiary hearings
on disputed issues of material fact relied upon by the federal agency for
support of any term or condition and also file any proposed alternative
conditions. On February 27, 2006, IPC filed requests for hearing on Section
4(e) conditions filed by the Department of the Interior through the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Agriculture through the U. S.
Forest Service (USFS). IPC also filed proposed alternative conditions with the
agencies. The hearing requests related to travel and access management, law
enforcement and emergency services, and recreation and land management
conditions proposed by the BLM, and sediment supply and sandbar maintenance and
restoration, wildlife habitat mitigation and management, noxious weed control,
recreation resource management, and cultural resource management conditions
filed by the USFS. Each of the agencies responded to the hearing requests and
referred the requests to the hearings division within the respective agencies
for assignment to an administrative law judge (ALJ). Hearings were
subsequently set before a Department of Interior ALJ for June 12, 2006, on the
requests for hearing on the BLM conditions and a Department of Agriculture ALJ
for June 19, 2006, on the USFS requests for hearing. While IPC was preparing
for the evidentiary hearings, IPC continued to engage in discussions with the
respective agencies regarding possible settlements.
Through these discussions,
IPC was able to resolve the disputed issues associated with the pending hearing
requests. On May 10, 2006, IPC and the USFS filed a stipulation with the
Department of Agriculture ALJ, and revised preliminary terms and conditions
with the FERC, resolving all issues associated with the pending USFS hearing
requests except for the issues associated with the USFS condition relating to
sediment supply and sandbar maintenance. These issues remained subject to
hearing on June 19, 2006. On May 15, 2006, IPC and the BLM filed a stipulation
with the Department of Interior ALJ and revised preliminary terms and
conditions with the FERC resolving all issues associated with the pending BLM
hearing requests. Through subsequent settlement discussions with the USFS, IPC
resolved all disputed issues associated with the hearing request on the USFS
condition relating to sediment supply and sandbar maintenance.
All of these hearing requests
were resolved through stipulations between IPC and the USFS and BLM,
respectively, providing for the withdrawal of IPC's requests for hearing and the
filing of revised preliminary terms and conditions with the FERC with
provisions that were acceptable to IPC.
On July 28, 2006, the FERC
released the draft EIS, and comments are due November 3, 2006. The draft EIS
is prepared by the FERC staff, pursuant to NEPA and applicable federal
regulations, to inform the FERC Commissioners, the public, state and federal
agencies and the tribes about the potential adverse and beneficial
environmental effects of licensing of the project as proposed by the IPC in its
license application and provide a review of other reasonable alternatives or
measures that might be included in a license for the project. Based upon the
draft EIS, the subsequent comments received, the license application and other
material in the FERC record, the FERC Commissioners will decide whether to
license the Hells Canyon Complex and what conditions to include in the license
to address project effects. IPC is in the process of reviewing the draft EIS
and will prepare comments for filing with the FERC on or before November 3,
2006. Because this is a draft EIS, containing only FERC staff conclusions, it
cannot be relied upon to accurately predict what measures will be included in
the final EIS or the outcome of the relicensing process. IPC's review of the
draft EIS indicates that the FERC staffs' conclusions with regard to the
effects of the project and the measures necessary to address those effects are
in many respects consistent with the license application filed by IPC. In its
comments on the draft EIS, IPC will identify those areas where IPC believes
that the FERC staff may have misinterpreted the information relating to an
issue or included proposed measures that may be inconsistent with information
in the record before the FERC. To the extent new information is available with
regard to an issue addressed by the draft EIS, IPC will also supplement the
record with that information.
61
In connection with the
issuance of the draft EIS, the FERC held public meetings in Boise, Weiser and
Lewiston, Idaho and Halfway, Oregon from September 7 through September 13,
2006, to take public comments on the draft EIS. Transcripts of the public
meetings are filed in the FERC record. The FERC will consider these comments,
in addition to the written comments received by November 3, 2006, in connection
with the preparation of the final EIS. The FERC's updated schedule indicates
issuance of a final EIS by February 26, 2007.
On August 1, 2006, the FERC
requested formal consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), advising the
NMFS that the FERC staff, in the draft EIS, had concluded that the licensing of
the Hells Canyon Complex was likely to adversely affect the Snake River fall
Chinook salmon (threatened species), Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon
(threatened species), Snake River Sockeye salmon (endangered species) and Snake
River Steelhead (threatened species), along with the critical habitat for these
species. On September 7, 2006, NMFS sent a letter to the FERC advising that
the draft EIS did not meet the information requirements for initiation of
formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA because the draft EIS did not
fully describe the action alternative that was to be subject to consultation.
The NFMS advised that several processes were still underway that may affect the
action alternative, including the section 10(j) process under the Federal Power
Act, the outcome of the section 401 certification process under the Clean Water
Act that is pending before the Departments of Environmental Quality of Idaho
and Oregon, and discussions with IPC intended to craft measures to address ESA
issues. For these reasons NMFS suggested that consultation should be initiated
at a later time. NMFS suggested that NMFS, USFWS and IPC work cooperatively to
address ESA issues as the NEPA process continues so as to assure that the
licensing process is not delayed due to ESA consultation.
On August 1, 2006, the FERC
requested formal consultation with the USFWS, pursuant to section 7 of the ESA,
advising the USFWS that FERC staff, in the draft EIS, had concluded that the
licensing of the Hells Canyon Complex was likely to adversely affect the bull
trout (threatened species), and its critical habitat and the bald eagle
(threatened species). On August 31, 2006, USFWS sent a letter to the FERC
advising that the draft EIS did not meet the information requirements for
initiation of formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA because the draft
EIS did not fully describe the action alternative that was to be subject to
consultation. The USFWS advised the FERC that elements relating to a new
license were still under development in processes involving IPC and state and
federal agencies, one such process being section 401 certification under the
Clean Water Act, which is currently pending before the Departments of
Environmental Quality of Idaho and Oregon. The USFWS further advised that it
was also still in the process of preparing comments to the draft EIS and that
the FERC had yet to complete the processes necessary under the Federal Power
Act with regard to the federal agencies section 10(j) recommendations. For
these reasons, USFWS suggested that the USFWS, NMFS, and IPC work cooperatively
to address ESA issues as the NEPA process continues so as to assure that the
licensing process is not delayed due to ESA consultation.
IPC is cooperatively working
with the USFWS, NMFS and FERC in an effort to address ESA concerns.
At September 30, 2006, $84
million of Hells Canyon Complex relicensing costs were included in construction
work in progress. The relicensing costs are recorded and held in construction
work in progress until a new multi-year license is issued by the FERC, at which
time the charges are transferred to electric plant in service. Relicensing
costs and costs related to a new license will be submitted to regulators for
recovery through the ratemaking process.
Swan Falls Project:
The license for the Swan Falls hydroelectric project expires in 2010. On March
10, 2005, IPC issued a Formal Consultation Package with agencies, Native
American tribes and the public regarding the relicensing of the Swan Falls project. IPC is in the process of compiling information and performing studies
in preparation for filing an application for a new license with the FERC in
2008.
At September 30, 2006, $2
million of Swan Falls project relicensing costs were included in construction
work in progress. The relicensing costs are recorded and held in construction
work in progress until a new multi-year license is issued by the FERC, at which
time the charges are transferred to electric plant in service. Relicensing
costs and costs related to a new license will be submitted to regulators for
recovery through the ratemaking process.
62
Middle Snake River
Projects: IPC's middle Snake River
projects consist of the Bliss, Upper Salmon Falls, Lower Salmon Falls, Shoshone Falls and CJ Strike projects. On August 4, 2004, IPC received the FERC license
orders for each of the middle Snake River projects. On September 2, 2004, two
conservation groups, American Rivers and Idaho Rivers United, filed petitions
for rehearing of the orders issuing the licenses for the middle Snake River projects. These petitions asked the FERC to vacate the licensing orders and
request a determination from the USFWS that the middle Snake River projects
jeopardize the listed snail species. On October 4, 2004, the FERC issued an
Order Granting Rehearing for Further Consideration to provide additional time
to consider the matters raised by the rehearing requests. On March 4, 2005,
the FERC issued an order denying the conservation groups' rehearing request.
On April 28, 2005, American Rivers and Idaho Rivers United appealed this order
to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. IPC filed a motion to
intervene in the appeal and the USFWS filed a motion to be designated a
respondent-intervenor. On June 15, 2005, the court granted these motions. On
July 12, 2006, the Ninth Circuit issued a memorandum decision denying the
conservation groups' appeal. American Rivers' and Idaho Rivers United's appeal
period ended on October 10, 2006, with no action by either group. The new
licenses for the middle Snake River projects are in full effect and IPC is complying
with their provisions.
Shoshone Falls Expansion
On August 17, 2006, IPC filed a
License Amendment Application with the FERC, which would allow IPC to upgrade
the Shoshone Falls project from 12 MW to 62.5 MW. The FERC is currently
evaluating the application and, on October 10, 2006, requested additional
information on eleven items. IPC is in the process of complying with this
request. In addition, on October 3, 2006, IPC filed a Water Right Application
with the Idaho Department of Water Resources for rights to additional water for
this potential project expansion. IPC is awaiting further action on these
applications.
OTHER MATTERS:
Adopted Accounting
Pronouncements
Effective January 1, 2006, IDACORP
and IPC adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised
2004), "Share-Based Payment," (SFAS 123R)
using the modified prospective application method. Prior to adopting SFAS
123R, the companies accounted for stock-based employee compensation under the
recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion
25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related interpretations.
From 2003 through 2005, total
compensation expense recorded for these plans was less than $1 million
annually. IDACORP and IPC did not modify outstanding stock options prior to
the adoption of SFAS 123R, and the fair value estimation model for options did
not differ significantly.
Since 2001, IDACORP and IPC
have granted a mix of performance restricted stock, time-vesting restricted
stock and stock options. In 2006, IDACORP and IPC granted cumulative earnings
per share- and total shareholder return-based performance shares, and
time-vesting restricted stock and granted only a minimal amount of stock
options. The adoption of SFAS 123R did not have a material effect on IDACORP's
and IPC's financial statements, and, based on current levels of awards, is not
expected to have a material effect in the future.
New Accounting
Pronouncements
See Note 1 to IDACORP's and IPC's
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recently issued
accounting pronouncements.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
IDACORP and IPC are exposed
to market risks, including changes in interest rates, changes in commodity
prices, credit risk and equity price risk. The following discussion summarizes
these risks and the financial instruments, derivative instruments and
derivative commodity instruments sensitive to changes in interest rates,
commodity prices and equity prices that were held at September 30, 2006.
63
Interest Rate Risk
IDACORP and IPC manage interest
expense and short- and long-term liquidity through a combination of fixed rate
and variable rate debt. Generally, the amount of each type of debt is managed
through market issuance, but interest rate swap and cap agreements with highly
rated financial institutions may be used to achieve the desired combination.
Variable Rate Debt: As of September 30, 2006, IDACORP and IPC had $152
million and $147 million, respectively, in floating rate debt, net of temporary
investments. Assuming no change in either company's financial structure, if
variable interest rates were to average one percentage point higher than the
average rate on September 30, 2006, interest expense for the year ending
December 31, 2006, would increase and pre-tax earnings would decrease by
approximately $1.5 million for IDACORP and $1.5 million for IPC.
Fixed Rate Debt: As of September 30, 2006, IDACORP and IPC had
outstanding fixed rate debt of $910 million and $865 million, respectively.
The fair market value of this debt was $908 million and $863 million,
respectively. These instruments are fixed rate, and therefore do not expose
IDACORP or IPC to a loss in earnings due to changes in market interest rates.
However, the fair value of these instruments would increase by approximately
$77 million for IDACORP and $76 million for IPC if interest rates were to
decline by one percentage point from their September 30, 2006, levels.
Commodity Price Risk
Utility: IPC's commodity price risk
has not changed materially from that reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Credit Risk
Utility: IPC's credit risk has not
changed materially from that reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005.
Energy: As part of the sale of its forward book of
electricity trading contracts, IE had entered into an Indemnity Agreement with
Sempra Energy Trading guaranteeing the performance of one of the counterparties
through 2009. The maximum amount payable by IE under the Indemnity Agreement
was $20 million. During the second quarter this guarantee terminated and IE
was refunded all outstanding margin deposits.
Equity Price Risk
IDACORP's and IPC's equity price risk
has not changed materially from that reported in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure controls and
procedures:
IDACORP:
The Chief Executive Officer and the
Chief Financial Officer of IDACORP, based on their evaluation of IDACORP's
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e))
as of September 30, 2006, have concluded that IDACORP's disclosure controls and
procedures are effective.
IPC:
The Chief Executive Officer and the
Chief Financial Officer of IPC, based on their evaluation of IPC's disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of
September 30, 2006, have concluded that IPC's disclosure controls and
procedures are effective.
Changes in internal
control over financial reporting:
There have been no changes in
IDACORP's or IPC's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter
ended September 30, 2006, that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, IDACORP's or IPC's internal control over financial
reporting.
PART II - OTHER
INFORMATION
Reference is made to Note 5
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The Risk Factors included in
IDACORP's and IPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2005 have not changed materially.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND
USE OF PROCEEDS
Restrictions on Dividends:
A covenant under the IDACORP and IPC
Credit Facilities requires IDACORP and IPC to maintain leverage ratios of
consolidated indebtedness to consolidated total capitalization of no more than
65 percent at the end of each fiscal quarter. See "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - LIQUIDITY AND
CAPITAL RESOURCES - Financing Programs - Credit Facilities." IPC's ability to
pay dividends on its common stock held by IDACORP and IDACORP's ability to pay
dividends on its common stock are limited to the extent payment of such
dividends would cause their leverage ratios to exceed 65 percent. At September
30, 2006, the leverage ratios for IDACORP and IPC were 49 percent and 51
percent, respectively.
IPC's articles of
incorporation contain restrictions on the payment of dividends on its common
stock if preferred stock dividends are in arrears. IPC has no preferred stock
outstanding.
Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities:
IDACORP, Inc. Common Stock
|
|
|
|
(d) Maximum Number |
||
|
|
|
(c) Total Number of |
(or Approximate |
||
|
(a) Total |
(b) |
Shares Purchased |
Dollar Value) of |
||
|
Number of |
Average |
as Part of Publicly |
Shares that May Yet |
||
|
Shares |
Price Paid |
Announced Plans or |
Be Purchased Under |
||
Period |
Purchased 1 |
per Share |
Programs |
the Plans or Programs |
||
|
|
|
|
|||
July 1 - July 31, 2006 |
- |
$ |
- |
- |
- |
|
August 1 - August 31, 2006 |
122 |
|
38.42 |
- |
- |
|
September 1 - September 30, 2006 |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Total |
122 |
$ |
38.42 |
- |
- |
|
1 These shares were withheld for taxes upon vesting of restricted stock |
||||||
65
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
*Previously Filed and Incorporated Herein by Reference
*2 |
Agreement and Plan of Exchange between IDACORP, Inc., and IPC dated as of February 2, 1998. File number 333-48031, Form S-4, filed on 3/16/98, as Exhibit 2. |
*3(a) |
Restated Articles of Incorporation of IPC as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on June 30, 1989. File number 33-00440, Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3, filed on 6/30/89, as Exhibit 4(a)(xiii). |
*3(a)(i) |
Statement of Resolution Establishing Terms of Flexible Auction Series A, Serial Preferred Stock, Without Par Value (cumulative stated value of $100,000 per share) of IPC, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on November 5, 1991. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 4(a)(ii). |
*3(a)(ii) |
Statement of Resolution Establishing Terms of 7.07% Serial Preferred Stock, Without Par Value (cumulative stated value of $100 per share) of IPC, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on June 30, 1993. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 4(a)(iii). |
*3(a)(iii) |
Articles of Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation of IPC, as amended, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on January 21, 2005. File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 3.3. |
*3(b) |
Amended Bylaws of IPC, amended on January 20, 2005, and presently in effect. File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 3.2. |
*3(c) |
Articles of Share Exchange, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on September 29, 1998. File number 33-56071-99, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8, filed on 10/1/98, as Exhibit 3(d). |
*3(d) |
Articles of Incorporation of IDACORP, Inc. File number 333-64737, Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3, filed on 11/4/98, as Exhibit 3.1. |
*3(d)(i) |
Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of IDACORP, Inc. as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on March 9, 1998. File number 333-64737, Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3, filed on 11/4/98, as Exhibit 3.2. |
*3(d)(ii) |
Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of IDACORP, Inc. creating A Series Preferred Stock, without par value, as filed with the Secretary of State of Idaho on September 17, 1998. File number 333-00139-99, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3, filed on 9/22/98, as Exhibit 3(b). |
*3(e) |
Amended Bylaws of IDACORP, Inc., amended on January 20, 2005, and presently in effect. File number 1-14456, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 3.1. |
*4(a)(i) |
Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1937, between IPC and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company) and R. G. Page, as Trustees. File number 2-3413, as Exhibit B-2. |
*4(a)(ii) |
IPC Supplemental Indentures to Mortgage and Deed of Trust: |
File number 1-MD, as Exhibit B-2-a, First, July 1, 1939 |
|
File number 2-5395, as Exhibit 7-a-3, Second, November 15, 1943 |
|
File number 2-7237, as Exhibit 7-a-4, Third, February 1, 1947 |
|
File number 2-7502, as Exhibit 7-a-5, Fourth, May 1, 1948 |
|
File number 2-8398, as Exhibit 7-a-6, Fifth, November 1, 1949 |
|
File number 2-8973, as Exhibit 7-a-7, Sixth, October 1, 1951 |
|
File number 2-12941, as Exhibit 2-C-8, Seventh, January 1, 1957 |
|
File number 2-13688, as Exhibit 4-J, Eighth, July 15, 1957 |
|
File number 2-13689, as Exhibit 4-K, Ninth, November 15, 1957 |
|
File number 2-14245, as Exhibit 4-L, Tenth, April 1, 1958 |
|
File number 2-14366, as Exhibit 2-L, Eleventh, October 15, 1958 |
|
File number 2-14935, as Exhibit 4-N, Twelfth, May 15, 1959 |
|
File number 2-18976, as Exhibit 4-O, Thirteenth, November 15, 1960 |
|
File number 2-18977, as Exhibit 4-Q, Fourteenth, November 1, 1961 |
|
File number 2-22988, as Exhibit 4-B-16, Fifteenth, September 15, 1964 |
|
File number 2-24578, as Exhibit 4-B-17, Sixteenth, April 1, 1966 |
|
File number 2-25479, as Exhibit 4-B-18, Seventeenth, October 1, 1966 |
|
File number 2-45260, as Exhibit 2(c), Eighteenth, September 1, 1972 |
|
File number 2-49854, as Exhibit 2(c), Nineteenth, January 15, 1974 |
|
File number 2-51722, as Exhibit 2(c)(i), Twentieth, August 1, 1974 |
|
File number 2-51722, as Exhibit 2(c)(ii), Twenty-first, October 15, 1974 |
|
File number 2-57374, as Exhibit 2(c), Twenty-second, November 15, 1976 |
|
File number 2-62035, as Exhibit 2(c), Twenty-third, August 15, 1978 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(iii), Twenty-fourth, September 1, 1979 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(iv), Twenty-fifth, November 1, 1981 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(v), Twenty-sixth, May 1, 1982 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(vi), Twenty-seventh, May 1, 1986 |
|
File number 33-00440, as Exhibit 4(c)(iv), Twenty-eighth, June 30, 1989 |
|
File number 33-34222, as Exhibit 4(d)(vii), Twenty-ninth, January 1, 1990 |
|
File number 33-65720, as Exhibit 4(d)(iii), Thirtieth, January 1, 1991 |
|
File number 33-65720, as Exhibit 4(d)(iv), Thirty-first, August 15, 1991 |
|
File number 33-65720, as Exhibit 4(d)(v), Thirty-second, March 15, 1992 |
|
File number 33-65720, as Exhibit 4(d)(vi), Thirty-third, April 1, 1993 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 12/20/93, as Exhibit 4, Thirty-fourth, December 1, 1993 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 11/21/00, as Exhibit 4, Thirty-fifth, November 1, 2000 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 10/1/01, as Exhibit 4, Thirty-sixth, October 1, 2001 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 4/16/03, as Exhibit 4, Thirty-seventh, April 1, 2003 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 6/30/03, filed on 8/7/03, as Exhibit 4(a)(iii), Thirty-eighth, May 15, 2003 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 9/30/03, filed on 11/6/03, as Exhibit 4(a)(iii), Thirty-ninth, October 1, 2003 |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K filed 5/10/05, as Exhibit 4, Fortieth, May 1, 2005. |
|
File number 1-3198, Form 8-K filed 10/10/06, as Exhibit 4, Forty-first, October 1, 2006. |
|
*4(b) |
Instruments relating to IPC American Falls bond guarantee (see Exhibit 10(c)). File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 6/30/00, filed on 8/4/00, as Exhibit 4(b). |
*4(c)(i) |
Agreement of IPC to furnish certain debt instruments. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 4(f). |
*4(c)(ii) |
Agreement of IDACORP, Inc. to furnish certain debt instruments. File number 1-14465, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 9/30/03, filed on 11/6/03, as Exhibit 4(c)(ii). |
*4(d) |
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 10, 1989, between Idaho Power Company, a Maine Corporation, and Idaho Power Migrating Corporation. Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3, File number 33-00440, filed on 6/30/89, as Exhibit 2(a)(iii). |
*4(e) |
Rights Agreement, dated as of September 10, 1998, between IDACORP, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent. File number 1-14465, Form 8-K, filed on 9/15/98, as Exhibit 4. |
*4(f) |
Indenture for Senior Debt Securities dated as of February 1, 2001, between IDACORP, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), as trustee. File number 1-14465, Form 8-K, filed on 2/28/01, as Exhibit 4.1. |
*4(g) |
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 1, 2001 to Indenture for Senior Debt Securities dated as of February 1, 2001 between IDACORP, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), as trustee. File number 1-14465, Form 8-K, filed on 2/28/01, as Exhibit 4.2. |
*4(h) |
Indenture for Debt Securities dated as of August 1, 2001 between Idaho Power Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), as trustee. File number 333-67748, Form S-3, filed on 8/16/01, as Exhibit 4.13. |
*10(a) |
Agreements, dated September 22, 1969, between IPC and Pacific Power & Light Company 66 relating to the operation, construction and ownership of the Jim Bridger Project. File number 2-49584, as Exhibit 5(b). |
*10(a)(i) |
Amendment, dated February 1, 1974, relating to operation agreement filed as Exhibit 10(a). File number 2-51762, as Exhibit 5(c). |
*10(b) |
Agreement, dated as of October 11, 1973, between IPC and Pacific Power & Light Company. File number 2-49584, as Exhibit 5(c). |
*10(c) |
Guaranty Agreement, dated April 11, 2000, between IPC and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, relating to $19,885,000 American Falls Replacement Dam Refinancing Bonds of the American Falls Reservoir District, Idaho. File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 6/30/00, filed on 8/4/00, as Exhibit 10(c). |
*10(d) |
Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1974, between IPC and Pacific Power & Light Company. File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(r). |
*10(e) |
Letter Agreement, dated January 23, 1976, between IPC and Portland General Electric Company. File number 2-56513, as Exhibit 5(i). |
*10(e)(i) |
Agreement for Construction, Ownership and Operation of the Number One Boardman Station on Carty Reservoir, dated as of October 15, 1976, between Portland General Electric Company and IPC. File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(s). |
*10(e)(ii) |
Amendment, dated September 30, 1977, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10(e). File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(t). |
*10(e)(iii) |
Amendment, dated October 31, 1977, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10(e). File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(u). |
*10(e)(iv) |
Amendment, dated January 23, 1978, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10(e). File number 2-62034, as Exhibit 5(v). File number 2-62034, Form S-7 filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(v). |
*10(e)(v) |
Amendment, dated February 15, 1978, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10(e). File number 2-62034, Form S-7, filed on 6/30/78, as Exhibit 5(w). |
*10(e)(vi) |
Amendment, dated September 1, 1979, relating to agreement filed as Exhibit 10(e). File number 2-68574, Form S-7, filed on 7/23/80, as Exhibit 5(x). |
*10(f) |
Participation Agreement, dated September 1, 1979, relating to the sale and leaseback of coal handling facilities at the Number One Boardman Station on Carty Reservoir. File number 2-68574, Form S-7, filed on 7/23/80, as Exhibit 5(z). |
*10(g) |
Agreements for the Operation, Construction and Ownership of the North Valmy Power Plant Project, dated December 12, 1978, between Sierra Pacific Power Company and IPC. File number 2-64910, Form S-7 filed on 6/29/79, as Exhibit 5(y). |
10(h)(i) 1 |
Idaho Power Company Security Plan for Senior Management Employees I - a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, amended and restated effective December 31, 2004. |
*10(h)(ii) 1 |
2005 IDACORP, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.2. |
10(h)(iii) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan, as amended July 20, 2006. |
*10(h)(iv) 1 |
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 9/30/04, filed on 11/4/04, as Exhibit 10(h)(iv). |
*10(h)(v)1 |
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 9/30/04, filed on 11/4/04, as Exhibit 10(h)(v). |
10(h)(vi) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (time-vesting) (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(vii) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan - Form of Performance Stock Agreement (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(viii) 1 |
The Revised Security Plan for Board of Directors - a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, as amended and restated effective July 20, 2006. |
*10(h)(ix) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Stock Compensation Plan, as amended on January 20, 2005. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.9. |
10(h)(x)1 |
Form of Change in Control Agreement between IDACORP, Inc. and Officers of IDACORP and IPC (senior vice president and higher), as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xi) 1 |
Form of Change in Control Agreement between IDACORP, Inc. and Officers of IDACORP and IPC (below senior vice president), as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xii) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan, as amended July 20, 2006. |
*10(h)(xiii)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Stock Option Award Agreement. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 9/30/04, filed on 11/4/04, as Exhibit 10(h)(x). |
*10(h)(xiv)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan-Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (time vesting). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.4. |
*10(h)(xv)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan-Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (performance vesting). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.5. |
10(h)(xvi)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Stock Option Award Agreement (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(xvii)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (time vesting) (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(xviii)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (performance vesting) (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(xix)1 |
Form of Officer Indemnification Agreement for Officers of IDACORP, Inc. and IPC, as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xx)1 |
Form of Director Indemnification Agreement for Directors of IDACORP, Inc., as amended July 20, 2006. |
*10(h)(xxi)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company NEO 2005 Base Compensation Table. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.1. |
*10(h)(xxii) 1 |
2005 IDACORP, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan NEO Award Opportunity Chart. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.3. |
*10(h)(xxiii) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - 2005 Restricted Stock Awards (time vesting) to NEOs Chart. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.6. |
*10(h)(xxiv) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - 2005 Restricted Stock Awards (performance vesting) to NEOs Chart. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.7. |
*10(h)(xxv) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. and IPC 2005 Compensation for Non-Employee Directors of the Board of Directors. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.8. |
|
*10(h)(xxvi)1 |
Jan B. Packwood 2005 Restricted Stock Award Agreement. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/26/05, as Exhibit 10.10. |
|
*10(h)(xxvii)1 |
Offer of employment letter dated July 9, 2004, to Thomas R. Saldin from IDACORP, Inc. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-K for the year ended 12/31/04, filed on 3/9/05, as Exhibit 10(h)(xxiv). |
|
*10(h)(xxviii) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. and IPC 2006 NEO Base Compensation Table. File Number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 1/25/06, as Exhibit 10.1. |
|
*10(h)(xxix)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2006 Revised Executive Incentive Plan. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 2/9/06, as Exhibit 10.1. |
|
*10(h)(xxx)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2006 Revised Executive Incentive Plan NEO Award Opportunity Chart. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 2/9/06, as Exhibit 10.2 |
|
*10(h)(xxxi)1 |
IPC 1994 (now, IDACORP, Inc.) Restricted Stock Plan - 2006 Restricted Stock Awards (time-vesting) to NEOs Chart. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 2/9/06, as Exhibit 10.4. |
|
*10(h)(xxxii)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Performance Share Award Agreement (performance with two goals). File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 3/17/06, as Exhibit 10.1. |
|
10(h)(xxxiii)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Performance Share Award Agreement (performance with two goals) (July 20, 2006). |
|
*10(h)(xxxiv)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan Performance Share Awards (performance with two goals) to NEOs Chart. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 3/17/06, as Exhibit 10.2. |
|
10(h)(xxxv)1 |
Idaho Power Company Security Plan for Senior Management Employees II, a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, effective January 1, 2005, as amended July 20, 2006. |
|
10(h)(xxxvi)1 |
Idaho Power Company Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended July 20, 2006. |
|
*10(i) |
Framework Agreement, dated October 1, 1984, between the State of Idaho and IPC relating to IPC's Swan Falls and Snake River water rights. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(h). |
|
*10(i)(i) |
Agreement, dated October 25, 1984, between the State of Idaho and IPC relating to the agreement filed as Exhibit 10(i). File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(h)(i). |
|
*10(i)(ii) |
Contract to Implement, dated October 25, 1984, between the State of Idaho and IPC relating to the agreement filed as Exhibit 10(i). File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(h)(ii). |
|
*10(j) |
Agreement Regarding the Ownership, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the Milner Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2899), dated January 22, 1990, between IPC and the Twin Falls Canal Company and the Northside Canal Company Limited. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(m). |
|
*10(j)(i) |
Guaranty Agreement, dated February 10, 1992, between IPC and New York Life Insurance Company, as Note Purchaser, relating to $11,700,000 Guaranteed Notes due 2017 of Milner Dam Inc. File number 33-65720, Form S-3, filed on 7/7/93, as Exhibit 10(m)(i). |
|
*10(k) |
Power Purchase Agreement between IPC and PPL Montana, LLC, dated March 1, 2003 and Revised Confirmation Agreement dated May 9, 2003. File number 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 6/30/03, filed on 8/7/03, as Exhibit 10(k). |
|
*10(l) |
$150 Million Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2005, among IDACORP, Inc, various lenders, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as joint lead arranger and administrative agent and JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA, as joint lead arranger and syndication agent and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint book runners. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 3/31/05, filed on 5/5/05, as Exhibit 10(l). |
|
*10(m) |
$200 Million Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2005, among Idaho Power Company, various lenders, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as joint lead arranger and administrative agent and JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA, as joint lead arranger and syndication agent and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint book runners. File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 3/31/05, filed on 5/5/05, as Exhibit 10(m). |
|
*10(n) |
Loan Agreement, dated October 1, 2006, between Sweetwater County, Wyoming and IPC. File number 1-3198, Form 8-K, filed on 10/10/2006, as Exhibit 10.1. |
|
12 |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
|
12(a) |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
|
12(b) |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
|
12(c) |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
|
12(d) |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IPC) |
|
12 (e) |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IPC) |
|
15 |
Letter Re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information. |
|
*21 |
Subsidiaries of IDACORP, Inc., File number 1-14465, 1-3198, Form 10-K for the year ended 12/31/04, filed on 3/9/05, as Exhibit 21. |
|
31(a) |
IDACORP, Inc. Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
31(b) |
IDACORP, Inc. Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
31(c) |
IPC Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
31(d) |
IPC Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
32(a) |
IDACORP, Inc. Section 1350 certification. |
|
32(b) |
IPC Section 1350 certification. |
|
99 |
Earnings press release for third quarter 2006. |
|
1 Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement |
||
71
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this
report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.
IDACORP, Inc. |
(Registrant) |
Date |
November 2, 2006 |
By: |
/s/ J. LaMont Keen |
J. LaMont Keen |
|||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|||
Date |
November 2, 2006 |
By: |
/s/ Darrel T. Anderson |
Darrel T. Anderson |
|||
Senior Vice President - Administrative Services |
|||
and Chief Financial Officer |
IDAHO POWER COMPANY |
(Registrant) |
Date |
November 2, 2006 |
By: |
/s/ J. LaMont Keen |
J. LaMont Keen |
|||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|||
Date |
November 2, 2006 |
By: |
/s/ Darrel T. Anderson |
Darrel T. Anderson |
|||
Senior Vice President - Administrative Services |
|||
and Chief Financial Officer |
72
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
|
10(h)(i) 1 |
Idaho Power Company Security Plan for Senior Management Employees I - a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, amended and restated effective December 31, 2004. |
10(h)(iii) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan, as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(vi) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (time-vesting) (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(vii) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan - Form of Performance Stock Agreement (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(viii) 1 |
The Revised Security Plan for Board of Directors - a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, as amended and restated effective July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(x)1 |
Form of Change in Control Agreement between IDACORP, Inc. and Officers of IDACORP and IPC (senior vice president and higher), as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xi) 1 |
Form of Change in Control Agreement between IDACORP, Inc. and Officers of IDACORP and IPC (below senior vice president), as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xii) 1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan, as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xvi)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Stock Option Award Agreement (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(xvii)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (time vesting) (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(xviii)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (performance vesting) (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(xix)1 |
Form of Officer Indemnification Agreement for Officers of IDACORP, Inc. and IPC, as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xx)1 |
Form of Director Indemnification Agreement for Directors of IDACORP, Inc., as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xxxiii)1 |
IDACORP, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive and Compensation Plan - Form of Performance Share Award Agreement (performance with two goals) (July 20, 2006). |
10(h)(xxxv)1 |
Idaho Power Company Security Plan for Senior Management Employees II, a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan, effective January 1, 2005, as amended July 20, 2006. |
10(h)(xxxvi)1 |
Idaho Power Company Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended July 20, 2006. |
12 |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
12(a) |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
12(b) |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
12(c) |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements. (IDACORP, Inc.) |
12(d) |
Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IPC) |
12 (e) |
Statement Re: Computation of Supplemental Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (IPC) |
15 |
Letter Re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information. |
31(a) |
IDACORP, Inc. Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
31(b) |
IDACORP, Inc. Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
31(c) |
IPC Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
31(d) |
IPC Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
32(a) |
IDACORP, Inc. Section 1350 certification. |
32(b) |
IPC Section 1350 certification. |
99 |
Earnings press release for third quarter 2006. |
74