EXHIBIT 10.20
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
WHOLESALE STANDARD OFFER SERVICE AGREEMENT
WHOLESALE STANDARD OFFER
SERVICE AGREEMENT
among
MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY,
NANTUCKET ELECTRIC COMPANY,
and
USGEN NEW ENGLAND, INC.
Dated as of September 1, 1998
Table of Contents
ARTICLE 1. BASIC UNDERSTANDINGS..................................................... 1
ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS............................................................... 2
ARTICLE 3. TERM AND REGULATORY APPROVAL.............................................. 5
3.1 Term........................................................................ 5
3.2 Obtaining and Maintaining Required Permits.................................. 5
ARTICLE 4. SALE AND PURCHASE......................................................... 5
4.1 Wholesale Standard Offer Service............................................ 5
4.2 Dispatchable Load Credits................................................... 6
ARTICLE 5. PRICE AND BILLING......................................................... 6
5.1 Price....................................................................... 6
5.2 Payment..................................................................... 7
5.3 Taxes, Fees and Levies...................................................... 8
ARTICLE 6. DELIVERY, LOSSES, AND DETERMINATION AND REPORTING
OF HOURLY LOADS....................................................................... 9
6.1 Delivery.................................................................... 9
6.2 Losses...................................................................... 9
6.3 Determination and Reporting of Hourly Loads................................. 9
ARTICLE 7. DEFAULT AND TERMINATION................................................... 10
7.1 Material Breach and Termination............................................. 10
ARTICLE 8. NOTICES, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PARTIES................................... 12
8.1 Notices..................................................................... 12
8.2 Authority of Representative................................................. 12
ARTICLE 9. LIABILITY, INDEMNIFICATION, AND RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES................... 13
9.1 Limitation on Consequential, Incidental and Indirect Damages................ 13
9.2 Recovery of Direct Damages Permitted........................................ 13
9.3 Indemnification............................................................. 14
9.4 Independent Contractor Status............................................... 15
ARTICLE lO. ASSIGNMENT................................................................ 15
10.1 Assignment.................................................................. 15
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ARTICLE 11. FORCE MAJEURE............................................................ 16
11.1 Force Majeure Standard..................................................... 16
11.2 Force Majeure Definition................................................... 16
11.3 Obligation to Diligently Cure Force Majeure................................ 16
ARTICLE 12. WAIVERS.................................................................. 17
ARTICLE 13. REGULATION............................................................... 17
13.1 Laws and Regulations....................................................... 17
13.2 NEPOOL Requirements........................................................ 17
ARTICLE 14. INTERPRETATION, DISPUTE RESOLUTION....................................... 18
14.1 Interpretation............................................................. 18
14.2 Dispute Resolution......................................................... 18
ARTICLE 15. SEVERABILITY............................................................. 18
ARTICLE 16. MODIFICATIONS............................................................ 18
ARTICLE 17. SUPERSESSION............................................................. 19
ARTICLE 18. COUNTERPARTS............................................................. 19
ARTICLE 19. HEADINGS................................................................. 19
Appendix A. Standard Offer Fuel Adjustment Provision................................. A-l
Appendix B. Estimation of Supplier Hourly Loads...................................... X-x
Appendix C. Arbitration Agreement.................................................... X-x
xx
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED WHOLESALE
STANDARD OFFER SERVICE AGREEMENT
This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED WHOLESALE STANDARD OFFER SERVICE AGREEMENT
("Agreement") is dated as of September 1, 1998 and is by and among MASSACHUSETTS
ELECTRIC COMPANY, a Massachusetts corporation, NANTUCKET ELECTRIC COMPANY, a
Massachusetts corporation (these two parties being referred to collectively as
"MECO"), and USGen New England, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Seller"), and
amends and restates and supersedes in its entirety the Amended and Restated
Wholesale Standard Offer Service Agreement dated as of October 29, 1997 between
MECO and Seller. This Agreement provides for the purchase by MECO and the sale
by Seller of Wholesale Standard Offer Service, as defined in this Agreement.
ARTICLE 1. BASIC UNDERSTANDINGS
MECO purchases all of its requirements of electricity for resale to its
retail electric customers from its affiliate, New England Power Company
("NEP").
NEP, MECO and other parties have entered into an agreement in settlement of
regulatory proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (the "Massachusetts Restructuring
Agreement") that, among other things, permits MECO to terminate wholesale
purchases from NEP, permits current retail customers of MECO to purchase
electricity from other suppliers on and after a date defined therein as the
"Retail Access Date," or, for a limited time, to purchase Standard Offer Service
from MECO, obligates NEP to supply MECO with power sufficient to meet the
latter's obligations to supply Standard Offer Service, and obligates NEP to
transfer its interests in the electric generating business to another party or
parties.
NEP and Seller have entered an agreement under which Seller will acquire
certain NEP generating assets.
NEP and Seller desire that Seller shall supply electric capacity and energy
to MECO to fulfill a portion of NEP's power supply obligations under the
Massachusetts Restructuring Agreement.
Under the Massachusetts Restructuring Agreement, MECO is obligated to
afford wholesale power suppliers other than NEP the opportunity to commit to
supply MECO with power sufficient to meet MECO's obligation to supply retail
Standard Offer Service after the Retail Access Date.
This Agreement sets forth the terms under which Seller will supply
Wholesale Standard Offer Service to MECO, for a period beginning on the Closing
Date, to enable MECO to meet
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the needs of its retail customers for electricity, including all or a portion
of the needs of customers receiving retail Standard Offer Service after the
Retail Access Date.
ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS
The following words and terms shall be understood to have the following meanings
when used in this Agreement, or in any associated documents entered into in
conjunction with this Agreement. In addition, except as otherwise expressly
provided, where terms used in this Agreement are defined in the NEPOOL Agreement
and not otherwise defined herein, such definitions are expressly incorporated
into this Agreement by reference.
Affiliate of MECO - Any company that is a subsidiary of New England Electric
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System and its successors.
Closing Date - The date upon which the Seller acquires ownership of generating
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assets it purchases from NEP.
Commission or FERC - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or such successor
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federal regulatory agency as may have jurisdiction over this Agreement.
Contract Termination Date - The date established by the Massachusetts
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Restructuring Agreement when the respective obligations of NEP and MECO under
NEP's FERC Electric Tariff, Original Volume No. 1, to sell and purchase
wholesale electric requirements service shall cease. The Contract Termination
Date occurred on Xxxxx 0, 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx - Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Department of Telecommunications and Energy,
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formerly named the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.
GWh - Gigawatt hour.
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ISO - The Independent System Operator to be established in accordance with the
---
NEPOOL Agreement and the Interim Independent System Operator Agreement as
amended, superseded or restated from time to time.
kWh - Kilowatt- hour.
---
Massachusetts Restructuring Agreement - The Offer of Settlement dated May 28,
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1997, entered into by and among the Office of the Attorney General of
Massachusetts, American National Power, American Tractebel Corporation,
Conservation Law Foundation, Division of Energy Resources, KCS Power Marketing,
Inc., Low-Income Intervenors, Massachusetts Community Action Directors
Association, Massachusetts Energy Directors Association, Massachusetts High
Technology Council, Northeast Energy and Commerce Association,
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Northeast Energy Efficiency Council, Inc., The Energy Consortium, Union of
Concerned Scientists, U.S. Generating Company, Massachusetts Electric Company
and Nantucket Electric Company, and New England Power Company, as amended and
accepted or approved by the Department and the FERC.
MECO's Service Territory - The geographic area in which MECO provided electric
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service to retail customers on August 6, 1996.
MECO's System - The electrical system of MECO and/or the electrical system of
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any Affiliate of MECO.
MMBtu - Million British thermal units.
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NEP - New England Power Company, an Affiliate of MECO.
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NEPEX - The New England Power Exchange.
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NEPOOL - The New England Power Pool.
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NEPOOL Agreement - The New England Power Poo1 Agreement dated as of September 1,
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1971, as amended and as may be amended or restated from time to time.
Price - The price set forth in SECTION 5.1, below.
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Prime Rate - The prime (or comparable) rate announced from time to time as its
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prime rate by the Bank of Boston or its successor, which rate may differ from
the rate offered to its more substantial and creditworthy customers.
PTF - Facilities categorized as Pool Transmission Facilities under the NEPOOL
---
Agreement.
Retail Access Date - The date so defined under the Massachusetts Restructuring
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Agreement. The Retail Access Date occurred on March 1, 1998.
Standard Offer Auction - The solicitation by MECO of offers from wholesale
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power suppliers, including, at their option, NEP and Seller, of electric energy
and associated capacity and ancillary services necessary to meet the needs of
ultimate customers of MECO eligible for and accepting retail Standard Offer
Service on or after the Retail Access Date, and any wholesale electric supply
contracts resulting from that solicitation. The solicitation and any contract(s)
entered into as a result thereof shall not he on terms that are materially
different from those described by MECO in the Massachusetts Restructuring
Agreement, the RFQ dated April 3, 1997, and the letter to potential asset
purchasers dated June 16, 1997, or result in a material adverse impact on
Seller. MECO shall not, without Seller's consent, conduct the
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Standard Offer Auction more than once or more than six (6) months prior to and
in no event later than the Retail Access Date, which date shall be as
reasonably determined by MECO.
Standard Offer Service - The electric service provided by MECO pursuant to the
----------------------
Massachusetts Restructuring Agreement: (i) to retail customers in MECO's Service
Territory during the period, if any, during the term of this Agreement preceding
the Retail Access Date; and (ii) to all of MECO's retail customers on the Retail
Access Date that do not elect to obtain their electric supply from an
alternative supplier on or after the Retail Access Date through December 31,
2004.
Wholesale Access Date - The date so defined under the Massachusetts
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Restructuring Agreement, as the date on which MECO in its sole discretion
decides to terminate its purchase from NEP of wholesale requirements service
pursuant to NEP's FERC Electric Tariff, Original Volume No. 1, by providing the
Commission and the Signatories to the Massachusetts Restructuring Agreement with
90 days advance notice in writing, said date not to be earlier than January 1,
1998.
Wholesale Standard Offer Service - The generation and delivery, to any location
--------------------------------
on the NEPOOL PTF system or MECO's system, of the portion of the electric
capacity, energy and ancillary services required by MECO to meet the needs of
MECO's ultimate customers taking Standard Offer Service, excluding, after the
Retail Access Date, any portion of such requirements that MECO obtains or has
contracted to obtain through the Standard Offer Auction, determined in
accordance with ARTICLE 4. Seller, as the supplier of Wholesale Standard Offer
Service capacity and energy, will be responsible for all present, or future
requirements and associated costs for installed capability, operable capability,
energy, operating reserves, automatic generation control, including the benefit
payments, losses and any congestion charges associated with Seller's supply of
Wholesale Standard Offer Service and any other requirements imposed by NEPOOL or
the ISO, as they may be in effect from time to time. To the extent that any
NEPOOL, ISO or any successor entity expenses or uplift costs are allocated to
wholesale suppliers, the portion of such costs associated with Seller's supply
of Standard Offer Service will also be the responsibility of Seller. To the
extent any costs contemplated by this paragraph are applicable to MECO and
recoverable by MECO from its customers, MECO shall be responsible for such
costs.
ARTICLE 3. TERM AND REGULATORY APPROVAL
3.1 Term
----
The term of this Agreement shall begin at 12:01 am on the Closing Date
and continue until the earlier of: (a) 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2004; or (b)
the first date that MECO has no requirements for electric capacity and energy to
supply Standard Offer Service that are not satisfied by contracts resulting from
the Standard Offer Auction.
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3.2 Obtaining and Maintaining Required Permits
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(a) Performance under this Agreement is conditioned upon all Parties
securing and maintaining such federal, state or local approvals, grants or
permits as may be necessary for the sale and purchase of Wholesale Standard
Offer Service, which shall not include any approvals, grants, or permits
necessary for the operation of any particular generating facility. Each Party
shall use reasonable efforts to acquire and maintain such approvals, grants or
permits. If the acquisition or maintenance of a particular approval, grant, or
permit requires a modification to this Agreement, then the Parties agree to
negotiate in good-faith to reach a mutually agreeable modification of the
Agreement. The Parties are not required to reach such a mutually acceptable
modification.
(b) Seller will file this Agreement with FERC (and any other regulatory
agency as may have jurisdiction over the Agreement) in accordance with the
provisions of applicable laws, rules and regulations. Seller will be responsible
for any filing fees for filing this Agreement with FERC (and any other
regulatory agency as may have jurisdiction over the Agreement) and for any
regulatory assessments associated with sales under this Agreement. FERC approval
of this Agreement shall be a condition to the obligations of the Parties
hereunder.
ARTICLE 4. SALE AND PURCHASE
4.1 Wholesale Standard Offer Service
--------------------------------
Seller shall sell and deliver to the Delivery Points, as defined in
ARTICLE 6, SECTION 6.1, and MECO shall purchase 90.78% of MECO's requirements
for Wholesale Standard Offer Service. MECO's requirements for Wholesale Standard
Offer Service shall be determined on the basis of ARTICLE 6, SECTION 6.3, below,
and the price for such sale and purchase shall be as set forth in ARTICLE 5,
SECTION 5.1, below.
4.2 Dispatchable Load Credits
-------------------------
Seller shall have the right, but not the obligation, to elect to purchase
a portion of the peak load reduction credits, if any, as provided for in NEPOOL
Criteria, Rules and Standards No. 16, associated with MECO's retail customers
which are taking Standard Offer Service and which are taking service under
MECO's Cooperative Interruptible Service Provision (as defined in MECO's tariffs
on file with the Department) ("Dispatchable Load Credits"), during the period
commencing at 0001 hours on the Closing Date and ending at 2400 hours on
December 31, 2000 (the "Option Period"). Seller may purchase such credits for
any, all, or any combination of calendar months during the Option Period.
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In order to receive such credits, Seller shall provide MECO with written
notice of such election at least seven days prior to the requested start date.
Such notice shall include: (i) the requested start date, which shall be the
first day of a calendar month, (ii) the requested end date, which shall be the
last day of a calendar month, and (iii) the fixed amount per month of
Dispatchable Load Credits (the "Seller's Election"), which shall not exceed
90.78% of the minimum load reduction actually experienced by MECO during the
most recent 12 month period, excluding for such period months in which
interruptions occurred ("Load Reductions").
In the event Seller does not provide a timely notice of election for any
month, Seller's Election for such month will be presumed to be zero (0)
kilowatts.
MECO will provide Seller during each month of this Agreement with a
report on (i) the quantity of Load Reductions for the preceding month and (ii)
the number of customers (and associated nominal interruptible load), if any,
which ceased taking service under MECO's Cooperative Interruptible Service
Provision during the preceding month.
ARTICLE 5. PRICE AND BILLING
5.1 Price
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(a) For each kilowatt hour of Wholesale Standard Offer Service that
Seller delivers to the Delivery Points, in accordance with ARTICLE 6, SECTION
6.3, below, MECO shall pay Seller a price equal to the following amounts for
each period during the term of this Agreement:
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Period Price in Cents per
kWh
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1998 3.2 Cents
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1999 3.5 Cents
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2000 3.8 Cents
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2001 3.8 Cents
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2002 4.2 Cents
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2003 4.7 Cents
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2004 5.1 Cents
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In addition, in the event of substantial increasers in the market price
of No. 6 residual fuel oil (1% sulphur) and natural gas after 1999 as described
in Appendix A, MECO shall pay
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Seller additional amounts in accordance with the Standard Offer Fuel Adjustment
Provision, described in Appendix A, attached and incorporated herein by
reference.
(b) For any month in which Seller elects to receive Dispatchable Load
Credits, in accordance with ARTICLE 4, SECTION 4.2, for each kilowatt of
Seller's Election, MECO shall be entitled to a reduction in the amount owed to
Seller by MECO pursuant to paragraph (a) above at a value calculated pursuant to
the second paragraph of ARTICLE 5, SECTION 5.2 using the following rates
("Option Price"):
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Month Of Transfer Option Price in Dollars
per KW Month
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January, February, July, $3.125
August, September,
December
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March, April, May, $1.875
June, October, November
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5.2 Payment
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(a) On or before the tenth (10th) day of each month during the term
of this Agreement, MECO shall: (i) calculate the amount due and payable to
Seller pursuant to this ARTICLE 5 with respect to the preceding month; and (ii)
advise Seller of the schedule upon which it shall pay the amount so calculated,
which schedule shall comply with paragraph (b), below.
The amount payable shall be calculated by (i) multiplying the Price
specified in the first paragraph of ARTICLE 5, SECTION 5.1, above, for the
applicable Contract Period by the quantity of Wholesale Standard Offer Service
delivered by Seller to the Delivery Points for MECO's Standard Offer Service
customers in the month, as determined in accordance with ARTICLE 6, SECTION 6.3,
below and then subtracting the result obtained by (ii) multiplying the Option
Price specified in the second paragraph of ARTICLE 5, SECTION 5.1, above, for
the applicable month by the Seller's Election for the applicable month, as
determined and certified as true and accurate, by Seller.
Because quantities determined under SECTION 6.3 are estimated, subject to
a reconciliation process described in SECTION 6.3(d), quantities used in
calculations under this paragraph (a) shall be subject to adjustment, whether
positive or negative, in subsequent months' calculations, to reflect that
reconciliation process, and any adjusted quantities shall be applied to the
Price applicable during the month of the calculation being adjusted. Additional
amounts due Seller, if any, from the Standard Offer Fuel Adjustment Provision
revenue shall be added to such amount.
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(b) MECO shall pay Seller any amounts due and payable on or before the
twenty-fifth (25th) day after the date a calculation is made pursuant to
paragraph (a), provided that, if and to the extent MECO pays Seller any portion
of the amount due and payable before the twenty-fifth (25th) day after a
calculation is made, it shall be entitled, without interest or penalty, to defer
payment of an equal portion of the amount due and payable for that month by the
lesser of: (i) the same number of days that the early payment preceded the
twenty-fifth day after the calculation; and (ii) twenty-five (25) days. If all
or any part of any amount due and payable pursuant to paragraph (a) shall remain
unpaid thereafter, interest shall thereafter accrue and be payable to Seller on
such unpaid amount at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) above the Prime
Rate in effect on the date of such xxxx; provided, however, if the amount due
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and payable is disputed, interest shall accrue and be payable to Seller on the
unpaid amount finally determined to be due and payable at a rate per annum equal
to the Prime Rate in effect on the date of the calculation pursuant to paragraph
(a); and provided, further, no interest shall accrue in favor of Seller or MECO
---------------------
on amounts that are added to or credited against a calculation due to the
adjustment of estimated quantities in accordance with paragraph (a) and ARTICLE
6, SECTION 6.3.
(c) With respect to reconciliation adjustments pursuant to SECTION
6.3(d) or any error in a calculation (whether the amount is paid or not), any
overpayment, underpayment, or reconciliation adjustment will be refunded or paid
up, as appropriate. Interest shall accrue from the date of the error or
adjustment on the unpaid or overpaid amount finally determined to be due and
shall be calculated pursuant to Section 35.19a of the Commission regulations.
5.3 Taxes, Fees and Levies
----------------------
Seller shall be obligated to pay all present and future taxes, fees and
levies which may be assessed upon Seller by any entity upon the purchase or sale
of electricity covered by the Agreement. To the extent such taxes, fees, and
levies are allowed to be, and are actually, recoverable by MECO from its
customers, MECO shall reimburse Seller for such taxes, fees, and levies paid by
Seller.
ARTICLE 6. DELIVERY, LOSSES, AND DETERMINATION AND REPORTING
OF HOURLY LOADS
6.1 Delivery
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All electricity shall be delivered to MECO in the form of three-phase
sixty-hertz alternating current at any location on the NEPOOL PTF system or
MECO's System ("Delivery Points"). Title shall pass to MECO at the Delivery
Point and Seller shall incur no expense or risk beyond the Delivery Point other
than those described in SECTION 6.2. If the NEPOOL control area experiences
congestion, Seller will be responsible for any congestion costs incurred in
delivering power across the PTF system to MECO to the extent such costs
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are imposed by NEPOOL or the ISO on suppliers. Seller shall be responsible for
all transmission and distribution costs associated with the use of transmission
systems outside of NEPOOL and any local point to point charges and distribution
charges needed to deliver the power to the NEPOOL PTF.
6.2 Losses
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Seller shall be responsible for all transmission and distribution losses
associated with the delivery of electricity supplied under this Agreement to
the meters of ultimate customers of MECO receiving retail Standard Offer
Service, provided, however, that losses do not include service to unmetered
facilities for which estimates of kWh use are available and provided, further,
that Seller shall not be responsible for unmetered use or consumption of
electricity by MECO's Affiliates. Seller shall provide MECO at the Delivery
Points with additional quantities of electricity and ancillary services to cover
such losses, but Seller shall not be entitled to payment under ARTICLE 5 of this
Agreement for such additional quantity. The quantities required for this purpose
in each hour of a billing period shall be determined in accordance with
NEPOOL's, NEP's and MECO's filed procedures for loss determination.
6.3 Determination and Reporting of Hourly Loads
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(a) To meet its NEPOOL obligations, Seller, or a NEPOOL member having
an own-load dispatch or settlement account with the NEPOOL billing system with
whom Seller has a load inclusion agreement, must report to NEPOOL or the ISO the
Standard Offer Service load for which Seller is providing Wholesale Standard
Offer Service pursuant to this Agreement, including losses. To accomplish this,
MECO will estimate its total hourly Standard Offer Service load based upon
average load profiles developed for each MECO customer class and MECO's actual
total hourly load. Appendix B, attached and incorporated herein by reference,
provides a general description of the estimation process that MECO will
initially employ (the "Estimation Process"). MECO reserves the right, subject to
the approval of appropriate regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, to
modify the Estimation Process in the future, provided that any such modification
be designed to improve the accuracy of its results and provided further that
MECO shall consult with Seller and other similarly situated sellers to the
maximum extent permitted by any applicable standards of conduct. MECO will
report to NEPOOL, on behalf of Seller or such other NEPOOL member, Seller's
hourly Standard Offer Service load, which shall equal the portion of MECO's
estimated total Standard Offer Service hourly load for which Seller is
responsible for supplying Wholesale Standard Offer Service under this Agreement.
(b) MECO will report to NEPOOL or the ISO Seller's hourly adjusted
Standard Offer Service loads by 1:00 p.m. of the second following business day.
This adjusted load should be added by NEPOOL or the ISO to the other NEPOOL load
of Seller or such other NEPOOL member.
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(c) At the end of each month, MECO shall aggregate Seller's hourly
loads for the month as determined by the Estimation Process. For purposes of
SECTION 5.1, above, the result of the Estimation Process, less losses to the
Standard Offer Service customers' meters determined as specified in ARTICLE 6
SECTION 6.2, above, will be deemed to be the quantity of Wholesale Standard
Offer Service delivered by Seller to the Delivery Points in a month.
(d) To refine the estimates of Seller's monthly Standard Offer Service
load developed by the Estimation Process, a monthly calculation will be
performed to reconcile the original estimate of Seller's Standard Offer Service
loads to actual customer usage based on meter reads. MECO will apply any
resulting billing adjustment (debit or credit) to Seller's account no later than
the last day of the third month following the billing month. Appendix B,
attached and incorporated herein by reference, also provides a general
description of this reconciliation process.
ARTICLE 7. DEFAULT AND TERMINATION
7.1 Material Breach and Termination
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(a) (i) if MECO fails in any material respect to comply with,
observe or perform any covenant, warranty or obligation
under this Agreement (except due to causes excused by force
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majeure or attributable to Seller's wrongful act or
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wrongful failure to act); and
(ii) After receipt of written notice from Seller such failure
continues for the Cure Period (as defined below), or, if
such failure cannot be reasonably cured within the Cure
Period, such further period as shall reasonably be required
to effect such cure (except in the case of a payment
default), provided that MECO commences within the Cure
Period to effect such cure and at all times thereafter
proceeds diligently to complete such cure as quickly as
possible; then
(iii) Seller shall have the right to terminate this Agreement,
subject to paragraph (c) below. For purposes of this Section
7.1(a), the Cure Period shall mean five days in the case of
a failure by MECO to fulfill its payment obligations
pursuant to Section 5.2 and forty-five (45) days in the case
of a failure by MECO to comply with, observe or perform any
other covenant, warranty or obligation under this Agreement.
If an unexcused failure to pay continues for fifteen (15)
days Seller shall have the right to suspend service until
payment is made in full and appropriate security is posted
for future payments or terminate this Agreement.
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(b) (i) If Seller fails in any material respect to comply with,
observe, or perform any covenant, warranty or obligation
under this Agreement (except due to causes excused by force
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majeure or attributable to MECO's wrongful act or wrongful
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failure to act); and
(ii) After receipt of written notice from MECO such failure
continues for a period of forty-five (45) days, or, if such
failure cannot be reasonably cured within such forty-five
(45) day period, such further period as shall reasonably be
required to effect such cure, provided that Seller
commences within such forty-five (45) day period to effect
such cure and at all times thereafter proceeds diligently
to complete such cure as quickly as possible; then
(iii) MECO shall have the right to terminate this Agreement,
subject to paragraph (c) below.
(c) Any termination arising out of the exercise of the termination
rights specified in paragraphs (a) or (b) above (with the exception of
termination for a payment default) may not take effect unless and until an
arbitrator (pursuant to ARTICLE 14, SECTION 14.2 of this Agreement) has made a
ruling that the exercise of such termination right was valid. The fact that one
party alleged to be in material breach of this Agreement ("Alleged Breaching
Party") complies with the request of the other to cure an alleged material
breach shall not be considered by the arbitrator as an admission against the
Alleged Breaching Party or evidence that such party was or was not in material
breach.
(d) Nothing in this SECTION 7.1 shall be construed to limit the right
of any party to seek any remedies for damages, as limited by ARTICLE 9 of this
Agreement, even if a cure of an alleged breach is made within the periods of
time specified for curing any such breach stated above. The provisions of this
SECTION 7.1 are intended only to provide the exclusive process through which one
party may exercise and effectuate its right to terminate this Agreement as a
result of a material breach of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 8. NOTICES, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PARTIES
8.1 Notices
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Any notice, demand, or request required or authorized by this Agreement
to be given by one party to another party shall be in writing. It shall either
be sent by facsimile (confirmed by telephone), overnight courier, personally
delivered and acknowledged in writing or by registered or certified mail,
(return receipt requested) postage prepaid, to the representative of the other
party designated in this ARTICLE 8. Any such notice, demand, or request shall be
deemed to be given (i) when sent by facsimile confirmed by telephone, (ii) when
actually
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received if delivered by courier or personal deliver or (iii) three (3) days
after deposit in the United States mail, if sent by first class mail.
Notices and other communications by Seller to MECO shall be addressed
to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
New England Power Service Company
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx XX 00000
Fax (000) 000-0000
Notices and other communications by MECO to Seller shall be addressed
to:
USGen New England, Inc.
0000 Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Any party may change its representative by written notice to the
others.
8.2 Authority of Representative
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The parties' representatives designated in ARTICLE 8, SECTION 8.1
shall have full authority to act for their respective principals in all
technical matters relating to the performance of this Agreement. They shall
not, however, have the authority to amend, modify, or waive any provision of
this Agreement unless they are authorized officers of their respective
entities.
ARTICLE 9. LIABILITY, INDEMNIFICATION, AND
RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES
.
9.1 Limitation on Consequential, Incidental and Indirect Damages
------------------------------------------------------------
To the fullest extent permissible by law, neither MECO nor Seller, nor
their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, parent or affiliates,
successor or assigns, or their respective officers, directors, agents, or
employees, successors, or assigns, shall be liable to the other party or its
parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees,
successors or assigns, for claims, suits, actions or causes of action for
incidental, indirect, special, punitive, multiple or consequential damages
including attorney's fees or litigation costs) connected with or resulting from
performance or non-performance of this Agreement, or any actions undertaken in
connection with or related to this Agreement, including without
13
limitation any such damages which are based upon causes of action for breach of
contract, tort (including negligence and misrepresentation), breach of warranty,
strict liability, Massachusetts Gen. Laws ch 93A, statute, operation of law, or
any other theory of recovery. The provisions of this SECTION 9.1 shall apply
regardless of fault and shall survive termination, cancellation, suspension,
completion or expiration of this Agreement.
9.2 Recovery of Direct Damages Permitted
------------------------------------
Notwithstanding the provisions of ARTICLE 9, SECTION 9.1, subject to
the duty to mitigate damages as provided under common law of damages recovery,
both MECO and Seller shall be entitled to recover their actual, direct damages
(i) incurred as a result of the other party's breach of this Agreement or (ii)
incurred as a result of any other claim arising out of any action undertaken
in connection with or related to this Agreement. For purposes of avoiding any
disputes about the difference between direct damages and consequential damages,
the parties agree as follows:
(a) (1) To the extent that MECO is found to be in breach of
this Agreement or liable under another cause of action;
and
(2) as a result of such breach or event giving rise to the
cause of action, Seller suffers loss of profits that
Seller reasonably expected to have received from MECO
under this Agreement had MECO performed under this
Agreement; then
(3) Seller shall be entitled to recover any lost profits
that Seller can demonstrate it lost or will lose as a
result of MECO's breach, subject to the duty to
mitigate.
(b) (1) To the extent that Seller fails to provide MECO
Wholesale Standard Offer Service Power under the terms
of this Agreement; and
(2) as a result, Seller is found to be in material breach
of this Agreement or liable under another cause of
action; and
(3) subject to the duty to mitigate, MECO purchases (as a
result of Seller's failure) power from a third party at
a price that is higher than what MECO would have paid
under the terms of this Agreement, MECO may recover the
difference between the price MECO paid to such third
party and the price it would have paid had Seller
performed; provided, however, Seller shall not be
-------- -------
liable to MECO for lost profits associated with any
expected revenue streams from the sale of power to
third parties or lost profits from any other contracts
acts or sales.
14
(c) Except as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, neither MECO nor
Seller shall be liable to the other for lost profits arising out of
performance, or non-performance of this Agreement, whether such lost profits
may be categorized as direct, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages
and irrespective of whether such claims are based xxxx xxxxxxxx, xxxx, xxxxxx
liability, contract, statute (including Mass. G.L. ch 93A), operation of law or
otherwise.
9.3 Indemnification
---------------
(a) Seller agrees to defend, indemnify and save MECO, its officers,
directors, employees, agents, successors, assigns, and Affiliates and their
officers, directors, employees, and agents harmless from and against any and
all claims, suits, actions or causes of action for damage by reason of bodily
injury, death, or damage to property caused by Seller, its officers, directors,
employees, agents or affiliates or caused by or sustained on its facilities,
except to the extent caused by an act of negligence or willful misconduct by an
officer, director, agent, employee or Affiliate of MECO or their successors or
assigns.
(b) MECO agrees to defend, indemnify and save Seller, its officers,
directors, employees, agents, successors, assigns, and affiliates and their
officers, directors, employees, and agents harmless from and against any and
all claims, suits, actions or causes of action for damage by reason of bodily
injury, death, or damage to property caused by MECO, its officers, directors,
employees, agents or affiliates or caused by or sustained on its facilities,
except to the extent caused by an act of negligence or willful misconduct by an
officer, director, agent, employee or Affiliate of Seller or their successors
or assigns.
(c) If any party intends to seek indemnification under this ARTICLE
from the other party with respect to any action or claim, the party seeking
indemnification shall give the other party notice of such claim or action within
fifteen (15) days of the commencement of, or actual knowledge of, such claim or
action. Such party seeking indemnification shall have the right, at its sole
cost and expense, to participate in the defense of any such claim or action. The
party seeking indemnification shall not compromise or settle any such claim or
action without the prior consent of the other party, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
9.4 Independent Contractor Status
-----------------------------
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as creating any relationship
between MECO and Seller other than that of independent contractors for the sale
and purchase of electricity provided as Wholesale Standard Offer Service.
15
ARTICLE 10. ASSIGNMENT
10.1 Assignment
----------
This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any party hereto,
including by operation of law without the prior written consent of the other
party, nor is this Agreement intended to confer upon any other Person except the
parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(i) MECO may, without Seller's prior written consent, (A) assign all or a
portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate of
MECO or (B) assign its rights and obligations hereunder, or transfer such rights
and obligations by operation of law, to any corporation or other entity with
which or into which MECO shall merge or consolidate or to which MECO shall
transfer all or substantially all of its assets, provided that such Affiliate or
other entity agrees to be bound by the terms thereof; provided, in either case,
that the assignee or transferor shall have senior securities rated investment
grade or better; (ii) the Seller may assign all of its rights and obligations
hereunder to any wholly owned Subsidiary (direct or indirect) of PG&E
Corporation and upon the MECO's; receipt of notice from Seller of any such
assignment, the Seller will be released from all liabilities and obligations
hereunder, accrued and unaccrued, such assignee will be deemed to have assumed,
ratified, agreed to be bound by and perform all such liabilities and
obligations, and all references herein to "Seller" shall thereafter be deemed
references to such assignee, in each case without the necessity for further act
or evidence by the parties hereto or such assignee; provided, however, that no
such assignment and assumption shall release the Buyer from its liabilities and
obligations hereunder unless the assignee shall have acquired all or
substantially all of the Buyer's assets; provided, further, however, that no
such assignment and assumption shall relieve or in any way discharge PG&E
Corporation from the performance of its duties and obligations under the
Guaranty dated as of the date of this Agreement executed by PG&E Corporation,
and (iii) the Seller or its permitted assignee may assign, transfer, pledge or
otherwise dispose of its rights and interests hereunder to a trustee or lending
institution(s) for the purposes of financing or refinancing the Purchased
Assets, including upon or pursuant to the exercise of remedies under such
financing or refinancing, or by way of assignments, transfers, conveyances or
dispositions in lieu thereof; provided, however, that no such assignment or
disposition shall relieve or in any way discharge the Seller or such assignee
from the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement. MECO
agrees to execute and deliver such documents as may be reasonably necessary to
accomplish any such assignment, transfer, conveyance, pledge or disposition of
rights hereunder so long as MECO's rights under this Agreement are not thereby
altered, amended, diminished or otherwise impaired.
16
ARTICLE 11. FORCE MAJEURE
11.1 Force Majeure Standard
----------------------
The parties shall be excused from performing their respective obligations
hereunder and shall not be liable in damages or otherwise, if and only to the
extent that they are unable to so perform or are prevented from performing by an
event of force majeure.
-------------
11.2 Force Majeure Definition
------------------------
An event of force majeure includes, without limitation, storm, flood,
-------------
lightning, drought, earthquake, fire, explosion, equipment failure, civil
disturbance, labor dispute, act of God or the public enemy, action of a court or
public authority, or any other cause beyond a party's control but only if and to
the extent that the event directly affects the availability of the transmission
or distribution facilities of NEPOOL, MECO or an Affiliate of MECO necessary to
deliver Wholesale Standard Offer Service to MECO's customers. Events affecting
the availability or cost of operating any generating facility shall not be
events of force majeure.
-------------
11.3 Obligation to Diligently Cure Force Majeure
-------------------------------------------
If any party shall rely on the occurrence of an event or condition
described in ARTICLE 11, SECTION 11.2, above, as a basis for being excused from
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, then the party relying on
the event or condition shall:
a. provide written notice to the other parties promptly but in no
event later than 5 days of the occurrence of the event or
condition giving an estimation of its expected duration and the
probable impact on the performance of its obligations hereunder;
b. exercise all reasonable efforts to continue to perform its
obligations hereunder;
C. expeditiously take reasonable action to correct or cure the event
or condition excusing performance provided that settlement of
-------- ----
strikes or other labor disputes will be completely within the
sole discretion of the party affected by such strike or labor
dispute;
d. exercise all reasonable efforts to mitigate or limit damages to
the other parties to the extent such action will not adversely
affect its own interests; and
e. provide prompt notice to the other parties of the cessation of
the event or condition giving rise to its excuse from
performance.
17
ARTICLE 12. WAIVERS
The failure of either party to insist in any one or more instance upon
strict performance of any of the provisions of this Agreement or to take
advantage of any of its rights under this Agreement shall not be construed as a
general waiver of any such provision or the relinquishment of any such right,
but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect, except with
respect to the particular instance or instances.
ARTICLE 13. REGULATION
13.1 Laws and Regulations
--------------------
This Agreement and all rights, obligations, and performances of the parties
hereunder, are subject to all applicable Federal and state laws, and to all duly
promulgated orders and other duly authorized action of governmental authority
having jurisdiction.
13.2 NEPOOL Requirements
-------------------
This Agreement must comply with all NEPOOL Criteria, Rules, and Standard
Operating Procedures ("Rules"). If, during the term of this Agreement, the
NEPOOL Agreement is terminated or amended in a manner that would eliminate or
materially alter a Rule affecting a right or obligation of a party hereunder, or
if such a Rule is eliminated or materially altered by NEPOOL, the parties agree
to negotiate in good faith in an attempt to amend this Agreement to incorporate
a replacement Rule ("Replacement Rule"). The intent of the parties is that any
such Replacement Rule reflect, as closely as possible, the intent and substance
of the Rule being replaced as such Rule was in effect prior to such termination
or amendment of the NEPOOL Agreement or elimination or alteration of the Rule.
If the parties are unable to reach agreement on such an amendment, the parties
agree to submit the matter to arbitration under the terms of Appendix C,
attached and incorporated herein by reference, and to seek a resolution of the
matter consistent with the above stated intent.
ARTICLE 14. INTERPRETATION DISPUTE RESOLUTION
14.1 Interpretation
------------
The interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be in accordance
with and controlled by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
18
14.2 Dispute Resolution
------------------
All disputes between MECO and Seller arising out of relating to this
Agreement which are defined as "Arbitrable Claims" in SECTION 2 of Appendix C,
attached and incorporated herein by reference, shall be resolved by binding
arbitration and be governed by the terms of such Arbitration Agreement. Any
arbitration of an Arbitrable Claim that is substantially related to an
arbitrable claim under a Wholesale Standard Offer Service Agreement between
Seller and The Narragansett Electric Company shall be conducted jointly with the
arbitration of the latter claim, before the same panel of arbitrators, with MECO
and The Narragansett Electric Company jointly exercising their rights regarding
the selection of arbitrators. Any decisions of the arbitrators shall be final
and binding upon the parties.
ARTICLE 15. SEVERABILITY
If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held invalid,
illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby.
ARTICLE 16. MODIFICATIONS
No modification to this Agreement will be binding on any party unless it is
in writing and signed by all parties.
ARTICLE 17. SUPERSESSION
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
relating to the subject matter hereof and its execution supersedes any other
agreements, written or oral, between the parties concerning such subject matter.
ARTICLE 18. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each
executed counterpart shall have the same force and effect as an original
instrument.
19
ARTICLE 19. HEADINGS
Article and Section headings used throughout this Agreement are for the
convenience of the parties only and are not to be construed as part of this
Agreement.
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized
representatives to execute this Agreement on their behalf as of the date first
above written.
MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY
BY: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Its President
---------------------------------
NANTUCKET ELECTRIC COMPANY
BY: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Its President
---------------------------------
USGEN NEW ENGLAND, INC.
BY: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Its Senior Vice President
---------------------------------
Appendix A. Standard Offer
Fuel Adjustment Provision
In the event of substantial increases in the market prices of No. 6
residual fuel oil (1% sulphur) and natural gas after 1999, MECO will pay
additional amounts to Seller in accordance with this Standard Offer Fuel
Adjustment Provision, which is calculated as follows:
The Stipulated Price that is in effect for a given billing month is
multiplied by a "Fuel Adjustment" that is set equal to 1.0 and thus has no
impact on the rate paid unless the "Market Gas Price" plus "Market Oil Price"
----
for the billing month exceeds the "Fuel Trigger Point" then in effect, where:
The Stipulated Price is the following predetermined, flat
--------------------
rate, for energy consumed at the customer meter point:
Calendar Year Price per Kilowatt hour
------------- -----------------------
1998 2.8 cents
1999 3.1 cents
2000 3.4 cents
2001 3.8 cents
2002 4.2 cents
2003 4.7 cents
2004 5.1 cents
Seller will be paid the difference between the Stipulated Price as
adjusted in accordance with this Standard Offer Fuel Adjustment Provision and
the Stipulated Price for each kilowatt-hour it provides in the applicable month.
Market Gas Price is the average of the values of "Gas Index" for the
----------------
most recent available twelve months, where:
Gas Index is the average of the daily settlement prices for the
---------
last three days that the NYMEX Contract (as defined below) for the
month of delivery trades as reported in the "Wall Street Journal",
expressed in dollars per MMBtu. NYMEX Contract shall mean the New
York Mercantile Exchange Natural Gas Futures Contract as approved
by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for the purchase and
sale of natural gas at Xxxxx Hub;
Market Oil Price is the average of the values of "Oil Index" for the
----------------
most recent available twelve months, where:
A-1
Oil Index is the average for the month of the daily low
---------
quotations for cargo delivery of 1.0% sulphur No. 6 residual
fuel oil into New York harbor, as reported in "Xxxxx'x Oilgram
U.S. Marketscan" in dollars per barrel and converted to
dollars per MMBtu by dividing by 6.3; and
If the indices referred to above should become obsolete or no longer
suitable, MECO shall file alternate indices with the Massachusetts Department
of Public Utilities.
Fuel Trigger Point is the following amounts, expressed in dollars per
------------------
MMBtu, applicable for all months in the specified calendar year:
2000 $5.35/MMBtu
2001 $5.35
2002 $6.09
2003 $7.01
2004 $7.74
In the event that the Fuel Trigger Point is exceeded, the Fuel
Adjustment value for the billing month is determined based according to the
following formula:
Fuel = (Market Gas Price + $.6O/MMBtu)+(Market Oil Price + $.04/MMBtu)
Adjustment ---------------------------------------------------------------
Fuel Trigger Point + $.60 + $.04/MMBtu
Where:
Market Gas Price, Market Oil Price and Fuel Trigger Point are as
defined above. The values of $.60 and $.04/MMBtu represent for
gas and oil respectively, estimated basis differentials or
market costs of transportation from the point where the index is
calculated to a proxy power plant in the New England market.
For example if at a point in the year 2002 the Market Gas Price and
Market Oil Price total $6.50 ($3.50/MMBtu plus $3.00/MMBtu respectively), the
Fuel Trigger Point of $6.09 would be exceeded. In this case the Fuel Adjustment
value would be:
($3.50+$.60/MMBtu)+($3.00+$.04/MMBtu) = 1.0609
------------------------------------
$6.09+$.60+$.04/MMBtu
The Stipulated Price is increased by this Fuel Adjustment factor for the billing
month, becoming 4.4548 (cents)/kWh (4.2 x 1.0609).
A-2
In subsequent months the same comparisons are made and, if applicable,
a Fuel Adjustment determined.
A-3
Appendix B. Estimation of Supplier Hourly Loads
Overview
Generating units operated by suppliers are dispatched by the power
pool to meet the region's electrical requirements reliably, and at the lowest
possible cost. As a result, a supplier's electricity production may not match
the demand of its customers. In each hour some suppliers with low cost
production units are net sellers of electricity to the pool, while other
suppliers are purchasing power from the pool to meet the demand of their
customers. To determine the extent to which suppliers are net buyers or sellers
on an hourly basis, it is necessary to estimate the hourly aggregate demand for
all of the customers served by each supplier ("own-load"). MECO will estimate
Seller's Wholesale Standard Offer Service "own-load" within MECO's service
territory and report the hourly results to NEPOOL or the ISO on a daily basis.
The estimation process is a cost effective approach to producing
results that are reliable, unbiased and reasonably accurate. The hourly load
estimates will be based on rate class load profiles which will be developed from
statistically designed samples. Each day, the class load shapes will be scaled
to the population of customers served by each supplier. In cases where
telemetered data on individual customers are available, they will be used in
place of the estimated shapes. On a monthly basis, the estimates will be refined
by incorporating actual usage data obtained from meter readings. In both
processes, the sum of all suppliers' estimated loads will match the total load
delivered into the distribution system. A description of the estimation process
follows.
Daily Estimation of Suppliers' Own Load
The daily process estimates the hourly load for each supplier for the
previous day. There are five components in this process:
. Select a proxy date from the previous year with characteristics
which best match the day for which the hourly demand estimates
are being produced. Extract class load shapes for the selected
proxy date from the load research data base.
. Scale the class load shapes appropriately for each individual
customer based on the usage level of the customer relative to the
class average usage level.
. Calculate a factor for each customer which reflects their
relative usage level and includes an adjustment for losses ("load
adjustment factor"). Aggregate the load adjustment factors across
the customers served by each supplier in each class.
B-1
. Produce a preliminary estimate of each supplier's hourly loads by
combining the proxy day class load shapes with the supplier's
total load adjustment factors. Aggregate the loads across the
classes for each supplier.
. Adjust the preliminary hourly supplier estimates so that their
sum is equal to MECO's actual hourly metered loads (as metered at
the point of delivery to the distribution system) by allocating
any differences to suppliers in proportion to their estimated
load.
Monthly Reconciliation Process
The monthly process will improve the estimates of supplier loads by
incorporating the most recent customer usage information, which will be
available after the monthly meter readings are processed. A comparison will be
made between customers' estimated and actual usage, by billing cycle, then
summed across billing cycles for each supplier. The ratio between the actual kWh
and the estimated kWh reflects the kWh amount for which the supplier may have
been overcharged or undercharged by NEPOOL or the ISO during the month. This
ratio will be used to develop a kWh adjustment amount for each supplier for the
calendar month. The sum of the adjustments will be zero because the total kWh
will still be constrained to equal MECO's actual hourly metered loads during
the month.
B-2
Appendix C. Arbitration Agreement
ARBITRATION AGREEMENT
---------------------
This Arbitration Agreement, dated as of September 1, 1998, is entered
into between Massachusetts Electric Company and Nantucket Electric Company,
both Massachusetts corporations (referred to collectively as "MECO") and USGen
New England, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Seller"). Reference is made to that
certain Second Amended and Restated Wholesale Standard Offer Service Agreement
dated as of September 1, 1998 (the "Service Agreement") between MECO and
Seller. Unless otherwise specified or apparent from the context of this
Arbitration Agreement, the term "Party" shall mean either MECO or Seller, or
both of them.
WHEREAS, MECO and Seller wish to avoid the burden, time, and expense
of court proceedings with respect to any disputes that may arise from or relate
to the Service Agreement, and to submit such disputes to mandatory binding
arbitration if they cannot first be resolved through negotiation and mediation.
NOW, THEREFORE, MECO and SELLER AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Mediation
---------
Before resorting to mediation or arbitration under this Arbitration
Agreement, the Parties will try to resolve promptly through negotiation any
Arbitrable claim, as defined below. If the Arbitrable Claim has not been
resolved through negotiation within ten (10) days after the existence of the
Arbitrable Claim has been brought to the attention of the other Party in a
writing, any Party may request in writing to resolve the Arbitrable Claim
through mediation conducted by a mediator selected by agreement of the Parties.
The mediation procedure shall be determined by the Parties in consultation with
the mediator. Any medication pursuant hereto shall be kept confidential in
accordance with Mass. X.X. x. 233, (S)23C. The fees and expenses of the mediator
shall be borne equally by the Parties. If the Parties are unable to agree upon
the identity of a mediator or a mediation procedure within ten (10) days after a
Party has requested mediation in writing or if the Arbitrable Claim has not been
resolved to the satisfaction of either MECO or Seller within forty (40) days
after the Parties have selected a mediator and agreed upon a mediation
procedure, either Party may invoke arbitration pursuant to the following
sections by notifying the other Party of such selection in writing consistent
with Section 3(c), below.
2. Mandatory Arbitration
---------------------
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 2 and in
Section 8, below, any case, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
the Service Agreement, its breach,
C-1
or any other disputes arising out of the business relationship created by the
Service Agreement, of whatever nature, including but not limited to any claim
based in contract, in law, in equity, any statute, regulation, or theory of law
now in existence or which may come into existence in the future, whether known
or unknown , including without limitation, claims based upon deceit, fraudulent
inducement, misrepresentation, 18 X.X.X (X)(X)0000 and 1964 (RICO), and
Mass. X.X. x. 93A, the federal and state antitrust laws (collectively, the
"Arbitrable Claims"), which cannot be resolved by negotiation or mediation, as
provided in Section 1 above, shall be submitted to mandatory, binding, and final
arbitration in accordance with procedures set forth in this Agreement, which
shall constitute the exclusive remedy for any and all Arbitrable Claims.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above, physical accidents or
events giving rise to negligence or intentional tort claims for the recovery of
property damages and/or damages for personal injury and failure to make
payments due under Section 5.2 of the Service Agreement shall not be considered
"Arbitrable Claims." However disputes regarding the interpretation or scope of
any indemnification clauses in the Service Agreement shall be subject to
arbitration, even if the dispute relates to whether one Party must indemnify
the other for property damages and/or damages for personal injury, the recovery
of which was or will be determined in a court of law.
(c) Each Party agrees that it will not attempt to circumvent this
Arbitration Agreement by coordinating or cooperating with their respective
parent companies of affiliates or guarantors in the filing of a legal action in
the name of any of the parent companies or affiliates or guarantors of the
Parties to this Arbitration Agreement regarding claims that otherwise are
subject to this Arbitration Agreement. Any Party failing to comply with this
provision shall indemnify the other Party against, and hold the other harmless
from, the costs (including reasonable litigation costs) incurred by the other
in defending any and all claims brought by a parent company or affiliate or
guarantor of the other in a court of law regarding claims that otherwise
would Arbitrable Claims under this Arbitration Agreement.
3. Selection and Qualification of Arbitrators
------------------------------------------
(a) Any arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of three neutral
arbitrators, consisting of (i) a practicing lawyer admitted to practice in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts; (ii) a person with professional experience in and
substantial knowledge of the power generation industry in any one or more of the
New England States, who may be, but need not be a lawyer, and (iii) a person
with professional experience in and substantial knowledge of power markets in
any one or more of the New England States, who may, but need not be, a lawyer
(collectively, the "Arbitration Panel"). For purposes of this Arbitration
Agreement, an arbitrator or candidate shall be considered "neutral" only if the
arbitrator or candidate has not previously served as an arbitrator for a Party
or one of its affiliates or guarantors and is not a present or former lawyer,
employee or consultant of a Party or any of its affiliates or guarantors.
C-2
(b) Any Party entitled to commence arbitration hereunder shall
do so by serving a written Notice of Arbitration briefly describing the
Arbitrable Claims and the Agreements under which they are brought. Service of
such Notice of Arbitration shall be complete upon receipt by the person
designated for each party at the addresses specified in Section 12 below.
(c) Within twenty (20) days after service of a Notice of Arbitration,
each Party shall serve upon the other Party a list of seven neutral candidates
for each of the three panel members described in subparagraph (a) above.
(d) Within twenty (20) days after service of the lists referred to in
subparagraph (c), MECO and Seller shall then strike from the other's lists any
two candidates from each of the lists, for any reason whatsoever. For the
remaining candidates each Party shall rank each candidate on its three lists
from one to five and shall do the same for the other Party's lists.
(e) The candidates in each of the three categories with the lowest
total score shall be invited to serve as panel members. In the event that the
candidate in any of the three categories with the lowest total score is unable
or unwilling to serve, or has a potential conflict of interest not consented to
by each Party, then the candidate with the next lowest score in that category
shall be invited to serve, subject to full disclosure by each candidate of, and
consent by each Party to any potential conflicts of interests. This process
shall be repeated until a full arbitration Panel is selected or the list of
candidates for that category is exhausted. If the list of candidates for a
category is exhausted the Parties shall exchange a new list of candidates for
that category and the procedures set forth above shall be repeated a second
time.
(f) If the parties cannot select a full Arbitration Panel in
accordance with these procedures than any Party may request that a court of
competent jurisdiction appoint the remaining members subject to their
qualifications, willingness and ability to serve as provided above.
(g) The American Arbitration Association shall be appointed to
facilitate and administer the parties' compliance with the procedures set forth
above.
4. Time Schedule
-------------
The Arbitration shall be conducted as expeditiously as possible. The
Arbitration Panel shall schedule a pre-hearing conference and hearings as it
deems advisable and shall use its best efforts to schedule consecutive days of
hearings. Hearings shall be limited to a total of ten (10) days. The Arbitration
Panel shall issue its final decision and award within thirty (30) days of the
close of the hearings, which shall be accompanied by a written, reasoned
opinion.
C-3
C-3
5. Remedies
--------
(a) The Arbitration Panel shall not award punitive or multiple
damages or any other damages not measured by the prevailing Party's actual
damages - except that the Arbitration Panel, in its sole discretion, may shift
all or a port on of the costs of the Arbitration to any Party.
(b) Any award of damages by the Arbitration Panel shall be determined,
limited and controlled by the damages limitation clauses of the Service
Agreement applicable to the dispute before the Arbitration Panel.
(c) The Arbitration Panel may, in its discretion, award pre-award and
post-award interest on any damages award; provided, however, that the rate of
pre-award or post-award interest shall not exceed a rate equal to the rate
provided for post-judgment interest by 28 U.S.C.(S) 1961 as published from time
to time by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts based on the
equivalent coupon issue yield or auctions of 52-week Treasury bills.
6. Confidentiality
---------------
In accordance with Mass. G.L.c. 233 (S)23C. the existence, contents,
or results of any mediation or arbitration hereunder may not be disclosed
without the prior written consent of both Parties; provided, however, either
Party may make disclosures as may be necessary to fulfill regulatory
obligations to any regulatory bodies having jurisdiction, and may inform their
lenders, affiliates, auditors and insurers, as necessary, under pledge of
confidentiality and can consult with experts as required in connection with the
arbitration under pledge of confidentiality. If any Party seeks preliminary
injunctive relief from any court to preserve the status quo or avoid
irreparable harm pending mediation or arbitration, the Parties agree to use
best efforts to keep the court proceedings confidential, to the maximum extent
permitted by law.
7. FERC Jurisdiction over Certain Disputes
---------------------------------------
(a) Nothing in this Arbitration Agreement shall preclude, or be
construed to preclude, any Party from filing a petition or complaint with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") with respect to any Arbitrable
Claim. In such case, the other Party may request FERC to reject or to waive
jurisdiction. If the FERC rejects or waives jurisdiction, with respect to all
or a portion of the claim, the portion of the claim not so accepted by FERC
shall be resolved through arbitration, as provided in this Arbitration
Agreement. TO the extent that FERC asserts or accepts jurisdiction over the
claim, the decision, finding of fact, or order of FERC shall be final and
binding, and any arbitration proceedings that may have commenced prior to the
assertion or acceptance of jurisdiction by FERC shall be stayed, pending the
outcome of the FERC proceedings.
C-4
(b) The Arbitration Panel shall have no authority to modify, and
shall be conclusively bound by, any decision, finding of fact, or order of
FERC. However, to the extent that a decision finding of fact, or order of FERC
does not provide a final or complete remedy to the Party seeking relief, such
Party may proceed to arbitration under this Arbitration Agreement to secure
such remedy, subject to the FERC decision, finding or order.
8. Preliminary Injunctive Relief
-----------------------------
Nothing in this Arbitration Agreement shall preclude, or be construed
to preclude, the resort by either Party to a court of competent jurisdiction
solely for the purposes of securing a temporary or preliminary injunction to
preserve the status quo or avoid irreparable harm pending mediation or
arbitration pursuant to this Arbitration Agreement.
9. Governing Law
-------------
This Arbitration Agreement shall be construed, enforced in accordance
with, and governed by, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
10. Location of Arbitration
-----------------------
Any arbitration hereunder shall be conducted in Boston, Massachusetts.
11. Severability
------------
If any section, subsection, sentence, or Clause of this Arbitration
Agreement is adjudged illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, such illegality,
invalidity, or enforceability shall not affect the legality, validity, or
enforceability of the Arbitration Agreement as a whole or of any section,
subsection, sentence or clause hereof not so adjudged.
12. Notices
-------
Any notices required to be given pursuant to this Arbitration
Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the receiving party by (i) certified
mail, return receipt requested, (ii) overnight delivery service, or (iii)
facsimile transmission (confirmed by telephone), addressed to the receiving
party at the address shown below or such other address as a party may
subsequently designate in writing. Any such notice shall be deemed to be given
(i) three days after deposit in the United States mail, if sent by mail, (ii)
when actually received if sent by overnight delivery service, or (iii) when
sent, if sent by facsimile and confirmed by telephone.
C-5
If to MECO: Massachusetts Electric Company
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to Seller USGen New England, Inc.
0000 Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
In addition, the parties shall send copies of any notices required by
the terms of any of the Agreements, in accordance with the terms of each
Agreement.
C-6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Each Party has caused its duly authorized officers
to execute this Arbitration Agreement on the dates set forth below.
MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY
BY: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------
Its President
------------------------
NANTUCKET ELECTRIC COMPANY
BY: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------
Its President
------------------------
USGEN NEW ENGLAND, INC.
BY: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------
Its Senior Vice President
------------------------
