FILE NO. 70-09151
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
CERTIFICATE OF CONSUMMATION WITH RESPECT TO
AMENDMENT OF A CREDIT FACILITY FOR NUCLEAR FUEL FINANCING
NORTHEAST UTILITIES
THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY
Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 24(a) of the Commission's regulations
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, Northeast
Utilities ("NU"), The Connecticut Light and Power Company ("CL&P"), and
Western Massachusetts Electric Company ("WMECO") hereby report and certify
as follows:
On March 9, 1998, CL&P and WMECO consummated the transactions
contemplated by the Declaration/Application (as amended, the
"Declaration") in File No. 70-09151. The transactions were
carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of and
for the purposes represented by the Declaration and the order of
the Commission issued on March 4, 1998 in this File.
March 16, 1998
NORTHEAST UTILITIES
THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY
BY /s/ David R. McHale
Name: David R. McHale
Title: Assistant Treasurer
<PAGE>
March 16, 1998
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Re:The Connecticut Light and Power Company and Western Massachusetts
Electric Company; Declaration/Application with Respect to Proposed
Amendment of a Credit Facility for Nuclear Fuel Financing
File No. 70-09151
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to The Connecticut Light and Power Company
and Western Massachusetts Electric Company (the "Companies"), in
connection with the Declaration/Application (the "Declaration") on Form
U-1 of the Companies to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") filed in this proceeding under the Public Utilities Holding
Company Act of 1935 (the "Act") with respect to the proposed changes to
the financing arrangements involving the Niantic Bay Fuel Trust (the
"Trust") established pursuant to a Trust Agreement dated as of January 4,
1982 among The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company as Trustor, Bankers
Trust Company as Trustee (the "Trustee") and the Companies as
beneficiaries, in particular, the proposed credit facility under a Credit
Agreement among the Trustee, the Banks named therein, and the First
National Bank of Chicago as Agent, as more fully set forth in the
Declaration. We are furnishing this opinion in connection with the
Certificate of Consummation of Transaction (the "Certificate") delivered
on the date hereof pursuant to the Act and Rule 24(a) thereunder, and
relating to the Declaration to the Commission and the transactions
consummated on March 9, 1998. The Commission permitted the Declaration
to become effective by its Order set forth in Release No. 35-26836 dated
March 4, 1998.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined the Declaration
and the various exhibits thereto including: the proposed Third Amendment
and Waiver to Credit Agreement (the "Third Amendment"), and the minutes
of meetings of the Companies' Boards of Directors; and we have examined
or caused to be examined such other papers, documents and records, and
have made such examination of law and have satisfied ourselves as to such
other matters as we have deemed relevant or necessary for the purpose of
this opinion. Terms defined in the Declaration are used herein with the
same meanings as therein provided unless otherwise defined herein.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
(a) All state laws applicable to the transactions contemplated by
the Third Amendment for which the Commission's approval was sought in the
Declaration were complied with at the time such transactions were
consummated;
(b) The obligations incurred by the Companies in connection with
the Third Amendment are valid and binding obligations of the Companies
in accordance with their terms, subject to laws of general application
with respect to the relief and rehabilitation of debtors, and provided
that equitable remedies are within the discretion of the court before
which enforcement is sought; and
(c) The consummation of the proposed transactions did not violate
the legal rights of the holders of any securities issued by either of the
Companies or any associate company thereof.
The opinions set forth herein are based solely on the federal laws
of the United States and the laws of the State of Connecticut and The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and no opinion is expressed regarding the
laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in connection with the
filing of the Certificate.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Day, Berry & Howard
Day, Berry & Howard
DBH:PLH/mrd
