SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-1004
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 3, 1996
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Commission File Number 0-7624
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WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MASSACHUSETTS 04-1961130
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
174 BRUSH HILL AVENUE, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 01090-0010
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(413) 785-5871
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events
1. Property Tax Litigation
On September 5, 1996, a Connecticut Superior Court judge ruled that the
Town of Haddam had over-assessed the Connecticut Yankee nuclear plant (CY) at
three and a half times its proper assessment. The decision sets the plant's
fair market value at $235 million. A consultant hired by the town had valued
the plant at $840 million in 1991. Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power
Company (CYAPC), which operates CY, estimates that the town owes it
approximately $12.9 million in refunds, including accrued interest, for taxes
that were overpaid from July 31, 1992 through July 31, 1996. Northeast
Utilities (NU) system companies (collectively, with NU, the System) own a 49
percent interest in CYAPC (34.5 percent for The Connecticut Light and Power
Company (CL&P), 9.5 percent for Western Massachusetts Electric Company
(WMECO) and 5.0 percent for Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH)).
The Superior Court's decision is subject to appeal.
For more information regarding this proceeding, see "Item 3. Legal
Proceedings" in WMECO's 1995 Form 10-K.
2. Nuclear Matters
Nuclear Management Reorganization
On August 15, 1996, NU announced the appointment of Bruce Kenyon as
President and Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Utilities' nuclear
operations, effective September 3, 1996. Mr. Kenyon replaced Robert E.
Busch, former president of NU's energy resources group, who has left NU.
Since 1990, Mr. Kenyon had been president and chief operating officer of
South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, operator of the V. C. Summer nuclear
plant. Prior to that position, Mr. Kenyon was senior vice president of the
nuclear division at Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, which operates the
two Susquehanna nuclear units.
On September 18, 1996, Mr. Kenyon unveiled a reorganization of the NU
senior management that is intended to establish direct accountability for
performance at each of NU's five nuclear power units. He also announced that
three executives loaned from unaffiliated utility companies--all with
experience at companies with excellent nuclear operations, including some
which have shown marked improvement during their tenure--would lead the
recovery of NU's three Millstone Station units. A recovery officer for CY
will be named if the plant passes an economic viability review, which is now
underway.
Each of the outside utilities has agreed to lend the recovery officer
and their respective teams for six months, which can be extended by mutual
agreement. The search for executives to lead those units for the longer term
has already begun. The recovery officers have full authority to take
whatever action is necessary to move their units expeditiously toward
restart.
Mr. Kenyon also announced that retired Admiral David Goebel was selected
to serve as Vice President for Nuclear Oversight. Mr. Goebel has more than
25 years of nuclear management experience, including service as Director of
Plans and Policy of the U.S. Strategic Command and Commander of Submarine
Group Two in Groton, Connecticut.
Nuclear Operations
NU system companies have a 100 percent ownership interest in Millstone 1
and 2 (81 percent for CL&P and 19 percent for WMECO), an approximately 68
percent interest in Millstone 3 (52.93 percent for CL&P, 12.24 percent for
WMECO and 2.85 percent for PSNH) and a 49 percent interest in CYAPC (34.5
percent for CL&P, 9.5 percent for WMECO and 5.0 percent for PSNH). These
units have been out of service since November 4, 1995, February 22, 1996,
March 30, 1996 and July 22, 1996, respectively.
The management reorganization of NU's nuclear organization described
above may impact the actions currently being taken by NU to improve
operations, regulatory compliance and safety at the Millstone units and CY.
Mr. Kenyon has made it the first priority of the loaned recovery officers to
reassess these actions and related scheduling issues for the Millstone units.
That effort will begin in early October after these officers arrive at
Millstone and begin to work full-time. New estimates and plans will be
developed following this reassessment.
In addition to events previously reported, the actions may also be
impacted by the currently ongoing analysis of CY's economics, an August 14,
1996 order of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requiring the creation
of an independent corrective action verification program for each of the
Millstone units, and the NRC's ongoing and planned inspection activities at
each of the units.
Management estimates the System's combined cost of replacement power for
the three Millstone units and CY to range from $25 to $33 million per month.
NU, however, cannot estimate how the events discussed above may otherwise
affect operation and maintenance expense and other costs associated with the
outages or the timing for restart of any of the units.
For additional information regarding nuclear performance matters, see
WMECO's Forms 8-K dated January 31, 1996, March 30, 1996, June 6, 1996, June
28, 1996, and July 22, 1996, Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1996
and June 30, 1996 and "Item 1. Business - Electric Operations - Nuclear
Generation" in WMECO's 1995 Form 10-K.
3. System Companies' Ratings
On September 5, 1996, Moody's Investors Service Inc. placed all of the
securities of NU, CL&P, WMECO, CYAPC and Niantic Bay Fuel Trust under review
for possible downgrades as a result of the ongoing outages at Millstone and
CY.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY
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Registrant
Date September 27, 1996 By /s/John H. Forsgren
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John H. Forsgren
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
