UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
EXELON CORPORATION
and
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE
GROUP INCORPORATED
Defendants.
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Case No.: 1:06CV01138
Judge: John D. Bates
Deck Type: Antitrust
Filed: 06/22/06
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HOLD SEPARATE STIPULATION AND ORDER
It is hereby stipulated by and between the undersigned parties, subject
to approval and entry by the Court, that:
I. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Hold Separate Stipulation and Order:
- "Acquire" means obtain any interest in any electricity generating facility, including real
property, deeded development rights to real property, capital equipment, buildings, or
fixtures.
- "Acquirer" or "Acquirers" means the entity or entities to whom Defendants divest any of
the Divestiture Assets or with whom Defendants have entered into definitive contracts to
sell any of the Divestiture Assets.
- "Control" means have the ability, directly or indirectly, to set the level of, dispatch, or
Offer the output of one or more units of an electricity generating facility or to operate one
or more units of an electricity generating facility.
- "Cost-based Offer" means the maximum offer to sell energy allowed under the version of
the PJM "Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of PJM Interconnection, LLC,"
Section 6.4, available at <www.pjm.com>, in effect at the time the offer is made.
- "Counter-Party" means any person other than Defendants who enters into a Tolling
Contract.
- "Designated Utility Zones" means the service territories in which the following
companies on June 1, 2006, owned the wires through which electricity is distributed:
- Atlantic City Electric Company,
- Baltimore Gas and Electric Company,
- Delmarva Power and Light Company,
- Jersey Central Power and Light Company,
- Metropolitan Edison Company,
- Rockland Electric Company,
- PECO Energy Company,
- Potomac Electric Power Company,
- PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, and
- Public Service Electric and Gas Company.
- "Divestiture Assets" means the following facilities: (1) Cromby Generating Station, 100
Cromby Rd. at Phoenixville, PA, 19460; (2) Eddystone Generating Station, Number 1
Industrial Hwy. at Eddystone, PA, 19022; (3) Hudson Generating Station, Duffield &
Van Keuren Aves. at Jersey City, NJ, 07306; (4) Linden Generating Station, 4001 South
Wood Ave. at Linden, NJ, 07036; (5) Mercer Generating Station, 2512 Lamberton Rd. at
Hamilton, NJ, 08611; and (6) Sewaren Generating Station, 751 Cliff Rd. at Sewaren, NJ,
07077; and
- For each of those facilities, all of Defendants' rights, titles,
and interests in any tangible and intangible assets relating to the
generation, dispatch, and offering of electricity at the facility; including
the land; buildings; fixtures; equipment; fixed assets; supplies; personal
property; non-consumable inventory on site as of June 1, 2006; furniture;
licenses, permits, and authorizations issued by any governmental organization
relating to the facility (including environmental permits and all permits
from federal or state agencies and all work in progress on permits or
studies undertaken in order to obtain permits); plans for design or
redesign of the facility or any assets at the facility; agreements,
leases, commitments, and understandings pertaining to the facility and
its operation; records relating to the facility or its operation, wherever
kept and in whatever form (excluding records of past offers to the PJM
Market); all equipment associated with connecting the facility to PJM
(including automatic generation control equipment); all remote start
capability or equipment located on site; and all other interests, assets,
or improvements at the facility customarily used in the generation,
dispatch, or offer of electricity from the facility; provided however,
that "Divestiture Assets" shall not include (i) electric and gas distribution
or transmission assets located in, or appurtenant to, the boundaries
of the facility, or (ii) any communications links between the facility
and Defendants, which will be disconnected.
- At the option of the Acquirer of the Linden Generating Station, the natural gas
pipeline facilities connecting any assets at the Linden Generating Station
(including the assets listed in Section I.G.a. for the Linden Generating Station), to
an interconnection with the Texas Eastern Gas Transmission LP, and all of
Defendants' rights, titles, and interests in any tangible and intangible assets
relating to the delivery of natural gas from the Texas Eastern Gas Transmission
LP interconnection with the Linden Generating Station, including the land;
buildings; fixtures; equipment; fixed assets; supplies; personal property; non-consumable inventory on site as of June 1, 2006; furniture; licenses, permits, and
authorizations issued by any governmental organization relating to the facility
(including environmental permits and all permits from federal or state agencies
and all work in progress on permits or studies undertaken in order to obtain
permits); plans for design or redesign of the facility or any assets at the facility;
agreements, leases, commitments, and understandings pertaining to the facility
and its operation; records relating to the facility or its operation, wherever kept
and in whatever form; and all other interests, assets, or improvements customarily
used in the delivery of natural gas from the interconnection of the Texas Eastern
Gas Transmission LP to the Linden Generating Station.
To the extent that any licenses, permits, or authorizations described in Section I.G.a. or
Section I.G.b. are nontransferable, Defendants will use their best efforts to obtain the
necessary consent for assignment to the Acquirer or Acquirers of the license, permit, or
authorization.
- "Exelon" means Exelon Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation headquartered in
Chicago, Illinois, its successors and assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups,
affiliates, partnerships, joint ventures (not including Exelon's participation in the
ownership, operation, dispatch, or offering of output of the Keystone Generating Station
or the Conemaugh Generating Station), and their directors, officers, managers, agents,
and employees.
- "Exelon/PSEG Transaction" means the merger of Exelon and PSEG that is the subject of
HSR Transaction Identification No. 2005-0696, which was filed pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C.A. § 18a (West
1997), including any changes in the terms of that merger that do not necessitate a new
Hart-Scott-Rodino filing.
- "Good Utility Practice" means any of the practices, methods, and acts engaged in or
approved by a significant portion of the electric utility industry during the relevant time
period, or any of the practices, methods, and acts which, in the exercise of reasonable
judgment in light of the facts known at the time the decision is made, could have been
expected to accomplish the desired result at a reasonable cost consistent with good
business practices, reliability, safety, and expedition. "Good Utility Practice" is not
intended to be limited to the optimum practice, method, or act to the exclusion of all
others, but rather is intended to include acceptable practices, methods, or acts generally
accepted in the region.
- "Including" means including but not limited to.
- "Offer" or "Offers" means an offer to sell energy submitted into the PJM Market pursuant
to the version of PJM "Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of PJM
Interconnection, LLC," Section 6.4, available at <www.pjm.com>, in effect at the time
the offer is made.
- "Outage" means any outage as defined in the version of PJM Manual 35, "Definitions and
Acronyms," available at <www.pjm.com>, in effect at the time the outage occurs,
including "forced outage," "generator forced/unplanned outage," "generator maintenance
outage," "generator planned outage," "maintenance outage," and "planned outage."
- "Person" means any natural person, corporation, association, firm, partnership, or other
business or legal entity.
- "PJM" means PJM Interconnection, LLC.
- "PJM Market" means any market for energy operated or administered by PJM, including
the "Day-ahead Energy Market" or the "Real-time Energy Market."
- "PSEG" means Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, a New Jersey corporation
headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, its successors and assigns, and its subsidiaries,
divisions, groups, affiliates, partnerships, joint ventures (not including PSEG's
participation in the ownership, operation, dispatch, or offering of output of the Keystone
Generating Station, the Conemaugh Generating Station, or the Yards Creek Generating
Station), and their directors, officers, managers, agents, and employees.
- "Self Scheduling" means scheduling for dispatch by the owner or operator of the unit and
not by PJM.
- "Tolling Contract" means a contract giving a Counter-Party Control over the level and
offer price of the output for any unit listed in Attachment A or Attachment B.
II. OBJECTIVES
The Final Judgment filed in this case is meant to ensure Defendants' prompt divestiture
of the Divestiture Assets in order to remedy the effects that the United States alleges would
otherwise result from the Exelon/PSEG Transaction. This Hold Separate Stipulation and Order
ensures that, prior to such divestiture, (1) the Divestiture Assets will be offered into the PJM
Market as specified herein; (2) the Divestiture Assets will be preserved, maintained, and operated
at least in the same physical condition as of the date of consummation of the Exelon/PSEG
Transaction, ordinary wear and tear excepted and consistent with Good Utility Practice; and (3)
competition is maintained during the pendency of the ordered divestiture.
III. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action and, for purposes of this
action only, over each of the parties hereto, and venue of this action is proper in the United States
District Court for the District of Columbia.
IV. COMPLIANCE WITH AND ENTRY OF FINAL JUDGMENT
- The parties stipulate that a Final Judgment in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A, may be filed with and entered by the Court, upon
the motion of any party or upon the Court's own motion, at any time
after compliance with the requirements of the Antitrust Procedures
and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. § 16, and without further notice
to any party or other proceedings, provided that the United States
has not withdrawn its consent, which it may do at any time before
the entry of the proposed Final Judgment by serving notice thereof
on Defendants and by filing that notice with the Court.
- Defendants shall abide by and comply with the provisions of the
proposed Final Judgment pending the entry of the Final Judgment by
the Court, or until expiration of the time for all appeals of any
Court ruling declining entry of the proposed Final Judgment and shall,
from the date of the signing of this Hold Separate Stipulation and
Order by the parties, comply with all the terms and provisions of
the proposed Final Judgment as though the same were in full force
and effect as an order of the Court.
- Defendants shall not consummate the transaction sought to be enjoined
by the Complaint herein before the Court has signed this Hold Separate
Stipulation and Order.
- This Hold Separate Stipulation and Order shall apply with equal
force and effect to any amended proposed Final Judgment agreed upon
in writing by the parties and submitted to the Court.
- In the event that (1) the United States has withdrawn its consent,
as provided in Section IV.A. above, or (2) the proposed Final Judgment
is not entered pursuant to this Hold Separate Stipulation and Order,
the time has expired for all appeals of any Court ruling declining
entry of the proposed Final Judgment, and the Court has not otherwise
ordered continued compliance with the terms and provisions of the
proposed Final Judgment, then the parties are released from all further
obligations under this Hold Separate Stipulation and Order, and the
making of this Hold Separate Stipulation and Order shall be without
prejudice to any party in this or any other proceeding.
- Defendants represent that the divestitures required by the proposed Final Judgment can
and will be made, subject to receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, and that
Defendants will later raise no claims of mistake, hardship, or difficulty of compliance as
grounds for asking the Court to modify any provisions contained therein.
V. HOLD SEPARATE PROVISIONS
From consummation of the Exelon/PSEG Transaction until the divestitures required by
Section IV and Section V of the Final Judgment have been accomplished:
- Defendants shall take all steps necessary to assure that the Divestiture Assets are
maintained as separate, distinct, and saleable assets, apart from other assets of
Defendants. Defendants shall preserve the documents, books, and records relating to the
Divestiture Assets until the date of divestiture.
- Defendants shall provide sufficient working capital to continue to maintain the
Divestiture Assets as economically viable and competitive facilities, consistent with the
requirements of Section V.A.
- Defendants shall take no action that would jeopardize, delay, or impede the sale of the
Divestiture Assets.
- Defendants shall take all steps necessary to ensure that the Divestiture Assets are fully
maintained in operable condition at no less than their capacity at the time of the
consummation of the Exelon/PSEG Transaction and shall maintain and adhere to normal
repair and maintenance schedules for the Divestiture Assets, consistent with Good Utility
Practice.
- Defendants shall not, except as part of a divestiture in accordance with Sections IV or V
of the proposed Final Judgment or a Tolling Contract in accordance with Section VI.C.,
remove, sell, lease, assign, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any of the Divestiture
Assets.
- Defendants' employees stationed at the Divestiture Assets shall not be transferred or
reassigned to other areas within the company except for transfers initiated by employees
pursuant to Defendants' regular, established job posting policy and existing collective
bargaining agreements. Defendants shall provide the United States with ten (10) calendar
days notice of any such transfer.
- Within twenty (20) calendar days after the entry of this Hold Separate Stipulation and
Order, Defendants will inform the United States of the steps such Defendants have taken
to comply with this Hold Separate Stipulation and Order.
VI. CONDITIONS FOR OFFERS, PENDING DIVESTITURE
From consummation of the Exelon/PSEG Transaction until the divestitures required by
Section IV and Section V of the Final Judgment have been accomplished:
- Defendants shall offer the units listed in Attachment A at offers no more than the Cost-Based Offer. The Defendants shall make offers as follows:
- Defendants must submit offers into the PJM Market in accordance with the terms
of Section VI.A. for each facility listed in Attachment A, unless unable to do so
due to an Outage. In the event of an Outage, Defendants will offer all energy that
is unaffected by the Outage in accordance with the terms of Section VI.A.
- Defendants are prohibited from Self Scheduling any of the units in Attachment A.
- Defendants shall offer the units listed in Attachment B at offers no more than the higher
of (a) the Cost-Based Offer or (b) the offer for the facility submitted into the PJM Market
on May 15, 2006, to provide energy on May 16, 2006. The Defendants shall make offers
as follows:
- Defendants must submit offers into the PJM Market in accordance with the terms
of Section VI.B. for each facility listed in Attachment B, unless unable to do so
due to an Outage. In the event of an Outage, Defendants will offer all energy that
is unaffected by the Outage in accordance with the terms of Section VI.B.
- Defendants are prohibited from Self Scheduling any of the units in Attachment B.
- Defendants may enter into Tolling Contracts, provided that:
- Defendants shall submit any proposed Tolling Contract to the United States for
review by submitting the name of the proposed Counter-Party and a copy of the
proposed contract, the term sheet, and any related agreements to the United States;
- The United States may, in its sole discretion, disapprove any proposed Tolling
Contract; and
- The United States will inform Defendants within ten (10) days of Defendants'
submission of the required information about any such proposed Tolling Contract
whether the United States disapproves the proposed Tolling Contract. The United
States, in its sole discretion, may extend the time period set forth in Section
VI.C.3. for an additional period or periods of time not to exceed five (5) calendar
days.
- Notwithstanding Sections VI.A., VI.B., and VI.C., Defendants will be relieved from their
obligation to offer the units listed in Attachment A and Attachment B in accordance with
the limits defined in Sections VI.A. and VI.B.:
- After the sales of all the Divestiture Assets have been completed; or
- At such time as Defendants enter into Tolling Contracts:
- for the complete output of each Divestiture Asset,
- for a period of time ending no sooner than the date of transfer of the
Divestiture Asset associated with the Tolling Contract to the Acquirer of
that Divestiture Asset, and
- such that Defendants offer no share of the energy of the Divestiture Assets
into the PJM Market.
- The United States shall retain an auditor to monitor Defendants' compliance with the
requirements of Section VI. The auditor shall have or shall contract with professionals or
agents who have competence or experience in the operation of electric generation
facilities and understanding of the requirements of Cost-Based Offers.
- Within five (5) business days of the consummation of the Exelon/PSEG
Transaction, Defendants shall execute an agreement that, subject to the prior
approval of the United States, confers on the auditor all the power and authority
necessary to permit the auditor to monitor Defendants' compliance with Section
VI, in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Hold Separate Stipulation and
Order.
- The auditor shall have the rights, duties, and responsibilities necessary to monitor
Defendants' compliance with Section VI, and shall exercise such power and
authority and carry out the duties and responsibilities of the auditor in a manner
consistent with the purposes of this Hold Separate Stipulation and Order,
including determining (a) whether an Outage taken by Defendants is consistent
with the requirements of Section VI or (b) whether an offer made for any unit is
contrary to the requirements of Section VI.
- On demand the auditor shall receive all information relevant to the necessity and
duration of an Outage of any asset covered by Section VI, including Generating
Availability Data System (GADS) data, Dispatcher Application and Reporting
Tool (eData) data, and engineering or any other logs or contemporaneous records.
All information relevant to the offering of generation units in the PJM Market,
including all information necessary to evaluate compliance with Section VI.A. and
Section VI.B. must be maintained by Defendants for one year after the sale of the
Divestiture Assets.
- The auditor shall have full and complete access to all personnel, books, records,
documents, and facilities of Defendants related to Defendants' compliance with
Section VI, or to any other relevant information, as the auditor may request,
including but not limited to, all documents and records kept in the normal course
of business that relate to Defendants' obligations under Section VI. Defendants
shall provide such financial or other information as auditor may request and shall
cooperate with the auditor. Defendants shall take no action to interfere with or
impede the auditor's ability to perform his responsibilities or to monitor
Defendants' compliance with Section VI.
- At any time during the period that Defendants are bound by Section VI,
- if Defendants contact PJM orally or in writing to discuss offers made by
Defendants for units subject to the requirements of Section VI, Defendants
must also communicate the same information to the auditor in writing
within six (6) hours, unless another form of communication is authorized
by the auditor;
- if Defendants are contacted by PJM orally or in writing to discuss offers
made by Defendants for units subject to the requirements of Section VI,
Defendants must communicate any information they provide to PJM to the
auditor in writing within six (6) hours, unless another form of
communication is authorized by the auditor, and
- as to units listed in Attachment B,
- within five (5) days of the execution of the agreement referenced in
Section VI.E.1., Defendants must inform the auditor in writing of
what provision of the PJM "Amended and Restated Operating
Agreement of PJM Interconnection, LLC," Section 6.4, applies at
that time to the Cost-Based Offers for those units, and
- if PJM informs Defendants that any of those units become subject
to a different provision of the PJM "Amended and Restated
Operating Agreement of PJM Interconnection, LLC," Section 6.4,
Defendants must communicate that information to the auditor in
writing within six (6) hours.
- Defendants may require the auditor to sign a confidentiality agreement
prohibiting the disclosure of any information gained as a result of his role as
auditor to anyone other than the United States or the Court.
- The auditor shall serve, without bond or other security, at the cost and
expense of Defendants, on terms commensurate with the auditor's experience and
responsibilities. Defendants shall indemnify the auditor and hold the auditor
harmless against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses arising out
of, or in connection with, the performance of the auditor's duties, including all
reasonable fees of counsel and other expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation for, or defense of any claim, whether or not resulting in any liability,
except to the extent that such liabilities, losses, damages, claims, or expenses
result from misfeasance, gross negligence, willful or wanton acts, or bad faith by
the auditor.
- The auditor shall have no responsibility or obligation for the operation of,
or the right to operate, Defendants' businesses.
- The term of the auditor shall end sixty (60) days after the sale of the Divestiture
Assets is completed. The United States may extend the time period set forth in
Section VI.E.9. for an additional period or periods of time not to exceed thirty
(30) calendar days.
- The auditor shall report in writing to the United States concerning Defendants'
compliance with Section VI thirty (30) days after execution of the agreement
referenced in Section VI.E.1. and every thirty (30) days thereafter until the
auditor's term expires. The auditor shall provide a final report to the United
States sixty (60) days after the sale of the Divestiture Assets. The United States
may extend the time period set forth in Section VI.E.10. for an additional period
or periods of time not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days.
VII. TERM
- This Hold Separate Stipulation and Order shall remain in effect until consummation of
the divestitures required by the proposed Final Judgment or until further order of the
Court.
Dated: June 22, 2006
Respectfully submitted,
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FOR PLAINTIFF
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
_______________/s/________________
Mark N. Niefer (DC Bar # 470370)
Jade Alice Eaton (DC Bar # 939629)
Tracy Lynn Fisher (MN Bar # 315837)
Trial Attorneys
United States Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
Transportation, Energy & Agriculture Section
325 7th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20530
Tel: (202) 307-6318
Fax: (202) 307-2784
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FOR DEFENDANT
EXELON CORPORATION:
_______________/s/________________
John M. Nannes (DC Bar # 195966)
John H. Lyons (DC Bar # 453191)
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP
1440 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202) 371-7500
Fax: (202) 661-9191
FOR DEFENDANT
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE
GROUP INCORPORATED:
_______________/s/________________
Douglas G. Green (DC Bar # 183343)
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 429-3000
Fax: (202) 429-3902
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ORDER
It is SO ORDERED, this ______ day of _________, 2006.
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______________________________
United States District Court Judge |
ATTACHMENT A
| Electric Generating Facility |
Location/Address |
Unit Number(s) |
| Bergen Generating Station |
10 Victoria Terr.
Ridgefield, NJ, 07657 |
CC, CC1 |
| Cromby Generating Station |
100 Cromby Rd.
Phoenixville, PA, 19460 |
1, 2 |
| Eddystone Generating Station |
Number 1 Industrial Hwy.
Eddystone, PA, 19022 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Hudson Generating Station, |
Duffield & Van Keuren Aves.
Jersey City, NJ, 07306 |
1, 2 |
| Linden Generating Station |
4001 South Wood Ave.
Linden, NJ, 07036 |
CC1, CC2 |
| Mercer Generating Station |
2512 Lamberton Rd.
Hamilton, NJ, 08611 |
1, 2 |
| Sewaren Generating Station |
751 Cliff Rd.
Sewaren, NJ, 07077 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Schuylkill Generating Station |
2800 Christian St.
Philadelphia, PA, 19146 |
1 |
ATTACHMENT B
| Electric Generating Facility |
Location/Address |
Unit Number(s) |
| Burlington Generating Station |
W. Broad St. And Devlin Ave.
Bordentown, NJ, 08505 |
9, 11, 12 |
| Chester Generating Station |
Front and Ward Sts.
Chester, PA 19013 |
7, 8, 9 |
| Croydon Generating Station |
955 River Rd.
Croydon, PA, 19020 |
11, 12, 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42 |
| Delaware Generating Station |
1325 N. Beach St.
Philadelphia, PA, 19125 |
9, 10, 11, 12 |
| Eddystone Generating Station |
Number 1 Industrial Hwy.
Eddystone, PA, 19022 |
10, 20, 30, 40 |
| Edison Generating Station |
164 Silver Lake Rd.
Edison, NJ, 08817 |
1, 2, 3 |
| Essex Generating Station |
155 Raymond Blvd.
Newark, NJ, 07105 |
9, 10, 11, 12 |
| Falls Generating Station |
Bristol and Tyburn Rds.
Fallsington, PA, 19067 |
1, 2, 3 |
| Kearny Generating Station |
Foot of Hackensack Ave.
Kearny, NJ, 07032 |
12 |
| Linden Generating Station |
Grasselli Ave.
Linden, NJ, 07036 |
5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Moser Generating Station |
1595 Industrial Hwy.
Pottstown, PA 19464 |
1, 2, 3 |
| Richmond Generating Station |
3901 N. Delaware Ave.
Philadelphia, PA, 19137 |
91, 92 |
| Schuylkill Generating Station |
2800 Christian St.
Philadelphia, PA, 19146 |
10, 11 |
| Southwark Generating Station |
2501 S. Delaware Ave.
Philadelphia, PA, 19148 |
3, 4, 5, 6 |
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