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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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): MARCH 13, 1997
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COMMISSION EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS I.R.S. EMPLOYER
FILE NUMBER SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER IDENTIFICATION NO.
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<S> <C> <C>
1-11607 DTE ENERGY COMPANY
(A MICHIGAN CORPORATION) 38-3217752
2000 2ND AVENUE
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-1279
313-235-4000
1-2198 THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY
(A MICHIGAN CORPORATION) 38-0478650
2000 2ND AVENUE
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-1279
313-235-8000
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
As discussed in Item 5 - Other Events, of the December 20, 1996 Form 8-K
Current Report for DTE Energy Company ("DTE") and The Detroit Edison Company
("Detroit Edison"), on December 19, 1996, the Michigan Public Service
Commission ("MPSC") Staff Report on Electric Industry Restructuring was filed
with the MPSC. Further, on February 5, 1997, the MPSC requested that Detroit
Edison and Consumers Energy Company make informational filings with the MPSC to
disclose how they would propose to implement the Staff Report. These filings
were due March 7, 1997, and were to include: detailed calculations of
anticipated stranded costs and transition charges, items that the utility would
expect to securitize if authorized, allocation of direct access capacity and
alternatives to the proposed phase-in program, proposed direct access service
charges and conditions of service, standby service options for direct access
customers, transmission constraints or limitations, development of an
independent system operator, and methods to alleviate concerns regarding market
power in a competitive environment.
On March 7, 1997, Detroit Edison, the principal subsidiary of DTE, filed
its response with the MPSC. Detroit Edison continues to support its position
that direct access must be coupled with the opportunity to recover stranded
costs. In addition, Detroit Edison indicated its support of restructuring
contemplates the completion of all regulatory and legislative proceedings by
December 31, 1997.
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In its filing, Detroit Edison establishes that neither available
transmission capacity nor market power concerns are real barriers to
implementation of the MPSC Staff's plan, especially during the 1997 - 2000
retail direct access phase-in period. Also, Detroit Edison is a staunch
advocate for prompt development of a Michigan Independent System Operator
("ISO") and is fully engaged in the work being carried on by 25 utilities in 10
states to develop a Midwest ISO. Detroit Edison has set a goal internally for
the formation of a Michigan based ISO by June 1, 1998.
Using the MPSC Staff Report definition of stranded costs, and assuming
that all customers have direct access on January 1, 1997, Detroit Edison
estimates the net after-tax present value of its stranded costs with
reciprocity to be $5.4 billion. This value assumes that Detroit Edison can
successfully remarket lost sales at the prevailing market clearing price.
Without this mitigation, stranded costs without reciprocity would increase
significantly. The MPSC Staff's reciprocity requirement makes this mitigation
reasonable. Under the MPSC Staff's plan, the estimated $5.4 billion of
stranded costs will be recovered through a combination of securitization and
transition surcharges, Detroit Edison mitigation, and the adoption of an
appropriate phase-in of direct access. All of these mechanisms operate in a
manner that does not shift any costs to non-participants. Furthermore, the
securitization feature using rate reduction bonds has been designed to deliver
immediate rate decreases to all customers.
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The components for the mitigation or the recovery of the estimated $5.4
billion of stranded costs are: nuclear decommissioning non-bypassable
surcharge $400 million, securitization $2,400 million, direct access phase-in
$1,400 million, competitive transition surcharge $400 million and
self-mitigation $800 million.
Detroit Edison proposes to securitize approximately $2.8 billion in
assets. These assets will consist of $2 billion for Fermi 2 plant assets, $0.4
billion for regulatory assets and $0.4 billion for purchased power contracts
from qualifying facilities. The $2.8 billion securitization results in a
reduction of strandedness of $2.4 billion because the securitized amount
includes cost items which are not included in the stranded cost calculation or
Detroit Edison's balance sheet.
Implementing securitization will result in a net rate decrease for all
customers totaling approximately $295 million.
The Company anticipates that the rate reduction bonds would be 15-year AAA
rated with a coupon rate of 7.5%.
During the transition period for each major customer group,
utility generation costs will be frozen at 1996 levels. The transition
period for industrial and large commercial customers served at primary voltage
will end on January 1, 2001 and for small commercial and residential customers
on January 1, 2004. Detroit Edison's filing maintained that such safeguards are
needed for customers during the industry's move to a competitive market. The
freeze will provide price stability for customers who remain on the utility's
system during the transition period.
In the filing, Detroit Edison recommended that transition charges only be
assessed to customers leaving the utility system. Those who remain Detroit
Edison customers will be protected from cost shifting. Transition surcharges,
efforts to
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increase sales and operating efficiencies, and adoption of an appropriate
phase-in of direct access will prevent cost shifting and are part of the
stranded cost recovery process.
Both the MPSC Staff Report and Detroit Edison endorse a bidding program to
allocate capacity between customers interested in direct access, with the basic
presumption being that the program will be oversubscribed during the phase-in
period. An example of capacity allocations of 225 megawatts ("MW") would be:
residential 85 MW, small business 55 MW, large non-manufacturing 35 MW and
industrial 50 MW.
In its filing, Detroit Edison acknowledged that the deregulation of
electric markets will result in financial uncertainty and risk to the
shareholders of DTE. Detroit Edison will bear the risk of full replacement of
electricity sales lost to retail wheeling, plus approximately an additional
$800 million in mitigation responsibility which should largely be in place
during the 2001 - 2004 time period, and which Detroit Edison anticipates will
be achieved largely through reductions in operating and maintenance expenses.
The MPSC will hold four public hearings on the informational filings on
March 25, March 26, April 2 and April 3, 1997, and will receive additional
written comments by April 7, 1997.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
DTE ENERGY COMPANY
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(Registrant)
By: /s/ Ronald W. Gresens
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Ronald W. Gresens
Vice President and Controller
THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY
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(Registrant)
By: /s/ Ronald W. Gresens
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Ronald W. Gresens
Vice President and Controller
Date: March 13, 1997
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