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):
July 20, 1998
TECO ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
FLORIDA 1-8180 59-2052286
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission file (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Number) Identification No.)
702 North Franklin Street, Tampa Florida 33602
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (813) 228-4111
Page 1 <PAGE>
Item 5. Other Events
See the Press Release dated July 20, 1998, filed as Exhibit
99.1 and incorporated herein by reference, announcing Tampa
Electric Company's plan to comply with Phase II sulfur dioxide
emission standards under the Clean Air Act Amendments.
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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.
Dated: July 21, 1998 TECO Energy, Inc.
By:/s/ G. L. Gillette
G. L. Gillette
Vice President-Finance,
and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Page 3 <PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibits Page No.
99.1 Press Release dated July 20, 1998 5
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Exhibit 99.1
[TECO Energy, Inc. Letterhead]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike Mahoney
Office: 813-228-4271
Internet: www.tecoenergy.com
Home: 813-991-6222
TAMPA ELECTRIC ANNOUNCES PLANS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM BIG BEND
UNITS ONE AND TWO
TAMPA, July 20, 1998 Tampa Electric Company today announced
it has concluded that the most cost-effective method of compliance
with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) Clean Air
Act, Phase 2 sulfur dioxide (SO2) reduction requirements is to
install a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system at Big Bend Station
units one and two.
The FGD system will be comparable to the system operated at
Big Bend units three and four. It will have a 95 percent sulfur
dioxide removal capability.
Tampa Electric President John Ramil said, By installing one
FGD system to service two units, we re going to benefit from one of
the lowest cost-per-kilowatt FGD system installations in the United
States.
-more-
Exhibit 99.1
Tampa Electric -- 2
The project's estimated cost of about $90 million, or $100
per kilowatt, is less than half the industry average for a project
of this kind, Ramil noted. This cost-effective approach will
directly benefit our customers.
Tampa Electric has contracted with Raytheon Engineers and
Constructors to provide architect/engineering and construction
management services, and with Wheelabrator Air Pollution Control,
Inc. to design, supply and install the FGD system.
The FGD system will use recycled water as part of its basic
operational design. In addition, the system will produce high
quality gypsum for use in the manufacture of wallboard.
Conceptual and preliminary site engineering are underway. The
project work is scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2000.
TECO Energy is a diversified, energy-related utility holding
company headquartered in Tampa. In addition to Tampa Electric, its
other principal businesses include Peoples Gas, TECO Transport,
TECO Coal, TECO Coalbed Methane, TECO Power Services, Bosek, Gibson
a n d Associates and TeCom, which is marketing its advanced
InterLane commercial and residential interactive energy management
systems.
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