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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Earliest Event Reported: October 1, 1996
THE NARRAGANSETT ELECTRIC COMPANY
(exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Rhode Island 1-7471 05-0187805
(state or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of File No.) Identification No.)
incorporation)
280 Melrose Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02907
(Address of principal executive offices)
(401) 784-7000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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Item 5. Other Events
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As previously reported, legislation was signed into law in
August 1996 that will restructure the electric utility industry
in Rhode Island. New England Electric System (NEES) subsidiaries
The Narragansett Electric Company (Narragansett) and New England
Power Company (NEP) are affected by the legislation. The
legislation provides, in part, for the sale, lease, spin off or
other disposition of at least a 15 percent interest in the NEES
companies' generating facilities and would provide for the
recovery of stranded costs by the NEES companies. On October 1,
1996, Narragansett affiliates, Massachusetts Electric Company and
NEP, together with the Massachusetts Attorney General, the
Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources and other parties
announced the filing of a restructuring plan with the
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (MDPU). The filed
plan is similar to the Rhode Island legislation except that the
NEES companies have agreed to voluntarily divest, either by sale
or spin off, 100% of their generating business to one or more
nonaffiliated entities. The divestiture would include
Narragansett's interest in its Manchester Street Station power
plant. The plan would require the NEES companies to file an
additional plan by July 1, 1997 detailing how the divestiture
would be carried out. Actual divestiture would take place within
six months after the later of (i) commencement of retail choice
in Massachusetts for all customers of investor-owned electric
utilities or (ii) the receipt of all governmental approvals
necessary for the transfer. The aggregate amount of the
transition access charge on retail distribution rates to recover
NEP's past generation commitments would be reduced by the
proceeds or other valuation of the divested generation assets.
The NEES companies have requested that the MDPU hold public
hearings on the plan and issue a decision by December 1, 1996.
Implementation of the plan is also subject to enactment of
enabling legislation by the Massachusetts legislature and the
approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Additional
governmental approvals would be required for the transfer of the
generation business.
Historically, electric utility rates have been based on a
utility's costs. As a result, electric utilities are subject to
certain accounting standards that are not applicable to other
business enterprises in general. Financial Accounting Standards
No. 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation
(FAS71), requires regulated entities, in appropriate
circumstances, to establish regulatory assets and liabilities,
and thereby defer the income statement impact of certain costs
that are expected to be recovered in future rates. The NEES
companies believe that, if approved by regulators, the
restructuring plan would meet the criteria for continued
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application of FAS71 to the NEES companies' remaining regulated
utility operations, including the recovery of stranded costs. As
a result, no writeoff of existing regulatory assets is expected
and any loss from the divestiture of the NEES companies
generating business would be recorded as a regulatory asset.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Current Report on
Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
THE NARRAGANSETT ELECTRIC COMPANY
s/Alfred D. Houston
By ________________________________
Alfred D. Houston
Vice President and Treasurer
Date: October 1, 1996
