<PAGE>
FORM 10-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
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Commission File Number 0-17736 Name of Registrant ESELCO, INC.
MICHIGAN 38-2785176
- --------------------- ---------------------
State of Incorporation (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
725 East Portage Avenue
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783
----------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (906) 632-2221
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock -
$.01 Par Value
--------------
Title of Class
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No
--- ---
Indicated by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant
to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (ss.229.405 of this chapter) is not contained
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorportated by reference in Part
III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this From 10-K [ X ]
The aggregate market value of voting stock (being Common Stock, $.01
Par Value) held by non-affiliates, is computed at $65,917,823 based on
1,593,180 shares held by non-affiliates and the average of the bid and ask
prices for such stock of $40.75 and $42.00, respectively, on March 20, 1998.
Number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's classes of
Common Stock, as of the date of this report: 1,593,180 shares of Common
Stock, $.01 Par Value.
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Documents incorporated by reference - none.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Cautionary Factors
When used in this document, "anticipate,"believe," "estimate,"
"expect," "objective," "project," and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject
to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions which could cause actual
results to differ materially from those that are described, including the
items described in Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - "CAUTIONARY FACTORS."
General
The Registrant ESELCO, Inc. is a non-operating holding company which
has three subsidiaries, Edison Sault Electric Company (Company); Northern
Tree Service, Inc. (NTS); and ESEG, Inc. (ESEG).
NTS was founded in May 1990 to provide tree trimming services to
both the Company and to outside parties. Edison Sault Electric Company is the
principal operating subsidiary of ESELCO and accounts for the vast majority
of ESELCO's total assets, revenue, and income. Therefore, the following
discussion and analysis deals primarily with the operations of Edison Sault
Electric Company.
ESEG began operations in December of 1997 when it purchased a 138 KV
submarine circuit from Consumers Energy Company. ESEG leases this circuit to
Edison Sault Electric Company under a FERC approved operating lease.
The Company is a public utility engaged in the generation, purchase,
transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy in the Eastern Upper
Peninsula of Michigan.
The Company is a Michigan corporation organized in 1891. Its address
is 725 East Portage Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783.
The Company supplies electricity in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of
Michigan. This area includes the cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Manistique, St.
Ignace, and Mackinac Island. On December 31, 1988, the Company acquired
approximately 1,900 customers from Wisconsin Electric Power Company. This
acquisition increased its service territory to over 2,000 square miles with a
population of approximately 55,000 people.
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Large industrial accounts located within the Company service area
are Manistique Papers, Inc., located in Manistique, which produces primarily
newsprint; Lakehead Pipeline Company, which operates a crude oil pipeline
through the Company's service area; Michigan Limestone Operation Limited
Partnership's limestone quarry operation located in Cedarville, Michigan; and
Specialty Minerals Inc.'s (formerly Inland Steel operation) limestone quarry
operation at Gulliver, Michigan.
Wholesale electric energy is supplied to the Cloverland Electric
Cooperative, Inc., an R.E.A. cooperative, serving adjoining rural areas.
Government facilities in the Company service area are the U.S. Coast
Guard area headquarters located in Sault Ste. Marie and a base in St. Ignace;
the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Soo Locks complex on the St. Marys River; and
the U.S. Immigration and Custom Services located at the International Bridge
Plaza in Sault Ste. Marie. The State of Michigan maintains correctional
facilities at Kinross and Manistique and Lake Superior State University, a
four year university in Sault Ste. Marie.
Recreation and tourism are important factors in the economy of the
Company's service area. Lake Superior borders on the north of the Eastern
Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with the St. Marys River on the east and Lake
Huron and Lake Michigan on the south. In addition, there are a number of
inland lakes and rivers that provide extensive recreation areas along with
national, state, and private parks and campgrounds serving the public. The
recreation business is a year around activity, with winter sports from skiing
to snowmobiling, spring fishing, summer water activities, and the fall colors
and hunting. The famous resort center, Mackinac Island, located in the
Straits of Mackinac, is served by submarine cable from the Company's St.
Ignace Division.
Competition
The Company's electric business is substantially free from direct
competition from other electric utilities or commissions, but has competition
from other forms of energy, such as natural gas, coal, wood, oil, and other
energy sources.
Employees
The Company had 88 full-time employees as of December 31, 1997.
Employees, other than officers, supervisors, and non-union clerical staff,
are represented by the United States Steel Workers of America, Local 13547.
The Company and Union signed a three-year contract in September, 1995.
Management considers its relations with its employees to be satisfactory. The
Company has reduced full-time employment from 115 in 1980 to the present 88.
The Company has no full-time professional employees engaged in research and
development activities.
Regulation
The Company is subject to the jurisdiction of the Michigan Public
Service Commission (MPSC) with respect to rates, standards of service,
accounting, and other matters. The Company is also subject to the
jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the
Federal Power Act with respect to rates, service, interconnections,
accounting, and other matters in connection with its purchases and sales of
electricity for resale. The MPSC has jurisdiction over the issuance of
long-term securities and the FERC has jurisdiction over short-term securities.
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Rates
Approximately 86% of the Company's revenues for 1997 were from
retail sales of electricity and 14% from sales of electricity for resale and
other miscellaneous revenue.
The last electric rate increase, effective November 17, 1982, was
authorized on November 16, 1982, by the MPSC in Case No. U-7235. This MPSC
Order granted a return on rate base of 9.30% which included a return on
common equity of 14%.
Under Michigan law, the Company (until 1996) filed an annual power
supply cost recovery plan to recover anticipated fuel and purchased power
costs for the following year. In addition to allowing the Company to recover
its power costs, this law provides for a return of over-collection or a
surcharge for under-collection of power costs at the close of the year, both
with interest.
On September 21, 1995, the MPSC approved the Company's application
for authority to implement price cap regulation. The Company implemented the
price cap order on January 1, 1996. For a description of the MPSC's approval
and the ensuing litigation, see Item 3(a) below ("Legal Proceedings,") which
description is incorporated herein by reference.
The MPSC, in Case No. U-10662, prescribed depreciation rates to be
used by the Company to determine its annual accrual for depreciation. The
order in this case was issued November 10, 1994, effective for a period of
five years beginning January 1, 1995, and continuing through December 31,
1999.
The Company has FERC approved wholesale contracts for resale of
electric energy with Cloverland Electric Cooperative, Inc.
On October 31, 1997, Edison Sault Electric Company ("Edison Sault")
received authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC")
to issue: (i) not more than $10 million of unsecured short-term notes during
the period of January 1, 1998 through December 1999, with a final maturity
date of not later than December 31, 2000, and (ii) not more than $4 million
of unsecured debt under a loan agreement, with a final maturity date not
later than December 31, 1999. Proceeds of the short-term notes are and will be
used for regular and recurring costs of additions to and extensions of Edison
Sault's utility plant on an interim basis as well as general construction
projects. The interest rates on the short-term notes vary based on the terms
of the individual notes and the economic market at the time the notes are
issued. Proceeds of the $4 million in unsecured debt will be used for
contribution to an environmental remediation project in Manistique, Michigan.
The rate of interest on the $4 million unsecured debt is a variable rate
determined by the New York Consensus Prime.
On December 29, 1997, ESEG, Inc. received authorization from FERC to
issue a promissory note in the principal amount of up to $4 million with a
maturity date of not later than five years from the date of issuance of the
note. The proceeds of this financing will be used for the purchase of certain
public facilities located along the Straits of Mackinac, including single
phase submarine cables along with additional cables, terminus structures and
associated equipment. It is anticipated that the $4 million will be borrowed
at a fixed rate of either New York Consensus Prime or 9.25% and will be
amortized over 20 years. It is also anticipated that a first lien will be
granted to the lender covering two submarine cables and all assets, plus the
assignment of the lease with Edison Sault.
Seasonal
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The business of the Company is seasonal due to shorter daylight
hours and colder temperatures in the winter resulting in greater overall
electric consumption during that time.
Environmental
See Note I of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 14, Part (a)
1, herein. Edison Sault filed an action on February 4, 1997, in the Circuit
Court for the County of Schoolcraft, Michigan, against certain insurance
carriers to recover unreimbursed defense costs and expenses associated with
defending this matter of approximately $350,000 and indemnification for its
costs of approximately $3.2 million in settling the matter with the U.S. EPA
and obtaining a release of the property damage claims asserted by the U.S.
EPA. The certainty and magnitude of any insurance recovery is unknown at this
time. On April 28, 1997, Michigan Mutual Insurance Company filed a
counterclaim for approximately $1.7 million for previously paid defense
costs. Legal counsel for Edison Sault believes, based on the information
currently available, that the counterclaims lacks merit.
Franchises - Service Area
The Company has 24 township and village franchises in the counties
of Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, and Schoolcraft, all in the State of Michigan.
The Company has franchises with the following cities in the service area, as
listed below, with their expiration date for electric service.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Franchise Type of Service Expiration Date
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Manistique Electric June 9, 2008
Mackinac Island Electric January 1, 2019
St. Ignace Electric April 20, 2001
</TABLE>
The Company operates under a perpetual franchise in the City of
Sault Ste. Marie by virtue of Act. No. 264, Public Acts of Michigan, 1905.
The Company's distribution system and services are, for the most part,
located on or under public streets, alleys, avenues, highways, and other public
places, or on private property not owned by the Company, with the permission or
consent, except to an inconsequential extent, of the individual owners. The
Company's distribution system located on or under public streets and other
public places were all installed under valid franchises granted by appropriate
local authorities.
Sources and Availability of Raw Materials
Please see Item 2 below - "Properties."
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Registrant's only material asset is the common stock of the Company.
The Company's major source of power is its hydroelectric generating
plant located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. In
addition, the Company owns and operates a diesel peaking station in its
service area.
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Hydro generation is also purchased by the Company under contract
from the U.S. Corps of Engineers hydroelectric plant located within the Soo
Locks complex in Sault Ste. Marie. This contract, which was modified in 1996,
has a tenure to November 1, 2040, and cannot be terminated by the government
prior to November 1, 2030.
The Company also owns a 138 KV submarine transmission cable circuit
which interconnects with Consumers Power Company in the Lower Peninsula of
Michigan. The Company owns and maintains two 138 KV substations which connect
a 46 mile 138 KV transmission line owned and maintained by Cloverland
Electric Cooperative. This line and the remainder of the transmission
facilities of both companies are operated under a Joint Transmission
Agreement dated May 1, 1977.
The Company's electric transmission system extends from Sault Ste.
Marie to Manistique, approximately 130 miles to the southwest, and to St.
Ignace, approximately 50 miles to the south. Additional transmission lines
extend to Cedarville, some 40 miles to the southeast. In total, the Company
has 279 miles of transmission line in service as of December 31, 1997. Also,
to serve its customers, the Company maintains 792 miles of primary
distribution lines. Service is rendered to its customers through
approximately 8,600 line transformers and 22,400 meters.
During 1997, the Company generated 26% of its total electric energy
requirements in its own hydro plant and purchased the remaining 74% as shown
below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Megawatt Hours
Generated and Purchased
-----------------------
Company Generation 219,910
Purchases -
U.S. Corps of Engineers-Hydro 134,345
Consumers Power Company 319,990
American Electric Power Company 167,934
Upper Peninsula Power Company 3,312
Cloverland Electric Cooperative 0
-------
Total 845,491
-------
-------
</TABLE>
Hydro Megawatt hours generated and purchased provided 42% of the
total energy requirements.
All of the purchased power was delivered under firm contracts. The
Company's transmission system is directly interconnected with the systems of
Consumers Power Company and Cloverland Electric Cooperative. The
interconnection with Consumers Power Company has a capacity of 130,000 KW.
The Company purchases power from Consumers Power Company and American
Electric Power Company over this interconnection. Under contract with the
U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Company purchases the entire hydroelectric
generation from the St. Marys River plant, less Corps use, for approximately
17,400 KW of power. Again under contract a certain amount of the capacity is
delivered to other government installations in the area. The Company was
assigned a contract between Wisconsin Electric Power Company and Upper
Peninsula Power Company (UPPC) to purchase power from UPPC to serve a portion
of the customers acquired from Wisconsin Electric Power Company on December
31, 1988.
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The Company's total average generating capability is 34,600 KW,
consisting of the Edison Sault Hydro Plant with 29,800 KW and 4,800 KW from
the diesel generating plant. The water for the Company's hydroelectric
generating plant is leased under a contract with the U.S. Corps of Engineers
with a tenure to December 31, 2050. However, the Secretary of the Army has
the right to terminate the contract subsequent to December 2025 by providing
at least a five-year termination notice. No such notice can be given prior to
December 31, 2020. Starting January 1, 1986, the Company began paying for all
water taken at predetermined rates with a minimum annual payment of $100,000
per year. The total flow of water out of Lake Superior, which in effect is
the volume of water in the St. Marys River, and is under the direction and
control of the International Joint Commission. The International Joint
Commission was created by the Boundary Water Treaty of 1909 between the
United States of America and Great Britain, now represented by Canada. This
Commission has placed limitations on the flow of water from Lake Superior
during certain months of 1973, 1977, and from 1981 through 1995. During any
limited flow months, it is necessary for the Company to purchase additional
power from other electric utilities and increase the use of the Company
diesel generation.
The principal electric plants and properties are held subject to the
lien of the Company's Mortgage securing its First Mortgage Bonds.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On August 22, 1995, Edison Sault filed an application with the MPSC
for authority to implement price cap regulation. In the application the
Company proposed that its base rates be capped at present levels, that its
existing Power Supply Cost Recovery (PSCR) factor be rolled into base rates,
and that its existing PSCR Clause be suspended. The Company published the
required notice of opportunity to comment or request a hearing. We received
no comments, and on September 21, 1995, the MPSC approved the Company's
application subject to the modification that the Company gives thirty days
notice rather than two weeks notice for rate decreases. The Company will file
an application by October 1, 2000, to address its experience under the price
cap mechanism. With the latter modification the price cap authorization
represents an experimental regulatory mechanism. The order also allows Edison
Sault to file an application seeking an increase in rates only under
extraordinary circumstances.
On October 23, 1995, the Attorney General for the State of Michigan
filed an intervention and petition for rehearing in the Company's Price Cap
Order. The Attorney General's intervention was based on the grounds that the
MPSC did not have authority to approve price cap regulation. On December 21,
1995, the MPSC rejected the Attorney General's petition for rehearing. On
January 19, 1996, the Attorney General filed an appeal with the Michigan
Court of Appeals.
On January 21, 1998, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected the
Attorney General's appeal, affirming the MPSC Order. The Attorney General has
asked the Michigan Supreme Court to review the lower court's ruling.
During 1997, the Company reached a settlement agreement with
Consumers Energy Company on several contractual issues related to its
purchase of power and transmission service from Consumers. The agreement
which has received approval from FERC staff and the FERC Administrative Law
Judge is awaiting a FERC final order. Based on the terms of the settlement,
Edison Sault recorded a receivable and a corresponding decrease to purchased
power expense in the amount of approximately $1.2 million.
The Company is also currently intervening in the Consumers Energy
Open Access Transmission Tariff proceeding before FERC. The ultimate outcome
of this proceeding is unknown at
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this time and, accordingly, the Company has not recorded anything in
anticipation of a resolution to this matter.
Because of the Price Cap Order and other potential changes in the
industry, the Company continually reviews the applicability of accounting
under SFAS 71. As previously stated, the Price Cap Order is a five-year
experimental regulatory mechanism containing language allowing Edison Sault
to seek rate relief for costs incurred under extraordinary circumstances.
Based on a current evaluation of the factors affecting the applicability of
SFAS 71, the Company has determined that it is currently appropriate to
continue accounting according to SFAS 71.
In the event the Company was to stop accounting under SFAS 71, the
accounting impact would be an extraordinary after-tax non-cash charge to
earnings in an amount represented largely by any unamortized net regulatory
assets existing then. The Company's regulatory assets and liabilities are
shown in Note B to the Financial Statements.
(b) See Part I, Item 1. - Business - Environmental.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
On October 7, 1997, ESELCO, Inc., held a special meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of asking shareholders to approve an Amended and
Restated Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of May 13, 1997, as
amended and restated as of July 11, 1997, including the related Plan of
Merger (together, the "Reorganization Agreement"), which provides for the
merger (the "Merger") of ESL Acquisition, Inc. (Acquisition), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy Corporation ("Wisconsin Energy"), with and
into ESELCO.
This plan was approved by the Shareholders by a vote of 1,220,687
shares FOR and 14,755 shares AGAINST such approval. There were 1,658
abstentions and no broker non-votes with respect to such matter.
Of the 1,593,180 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to
vote on the record date of August 27, 1997, 78% of the shares were
represented at the meeting.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK
AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS
The stock of ESELCO, Inc. is traded on the NASDAQ stock market and
is available through most stock brokers. The stock is named as ESELCO (NASDAQ
ticker symbol EDSE) and is listed in the "E" section of the OTC daily stock
transactions.
As of February 1, 1998, based on the number of ESELCO, Inc.,
stockholder accounts, there were 1,360 registered stockholders.
Dividends on ESELCO, Inc. common stock are generally payable to
shareholders of record on the first business day of February, May, August,
and November unless the proposed merger of Wisconsin Energy Corporation and
ESELCO, Inc., is consummated on or before any aforementioned
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dates.
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE
(adjusted for stock dividends)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarter 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
------- --- --- --- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1997 $0.27 $0.28 $0.28 $0.28
1996 $0.26 $0.26 $0.26 $0.26
</TABLE>
The range of high and low bid information as regularly quoted in the
automated quotation system of a registered securities association for the
periods indicated.
COMMON STOCK
HIGH and LOW TRADES
(in dollars)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarter 1997 1996
<S> <C> <C>
1st $39.81-$25.24 $24.74-$21.68
2nd $41.00-$35.00 $27.91-$24.52
3rd $40.75-$38.50 $25.97-$23.30
4th $40.75-$39.13 $25.24-$23.30
</TABLE>
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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Set forth below is selected financial data from the ESELCO, Inc. and
its subsidiaries. The information set forth below should be read in
conjunction with ESELCO, Inc.'s financial statements and notes thereto set
forth in Items 8 and 14 hereof.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
for the Year Ended December 31
(Thousands of Dollars)
1997
PRO-FORMA
(1) 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING REVENUES $38,131 $37,511 $37,500 $36,845 $35,260 $33,573
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Purchased power 18,129 18,129 18,851 19,531 18,279 17,051
Other operations and maintenance expenses 9,528 12,838 8,886 8,148 8,511 8,506
Depreciation and amortization 2,735 2,735 2,614 2,499 2,308 2,171
Property and other taxes 1,721 1,707 1,556 1,560 1,470 1,568
Income taxes 1,365 367 1,247 1,117 983 766
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total Operating Expenses 33,478 35,776 33,154 32,855 31,551 30,062
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net Operating Income 4,653 1,735 4,346 3,990 3,709 3,511
OTHER DEDUCTIONS - NET 1,640 1,640 1,548 1,625 1,509 1,513
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
NET INCOME AVAILABLE FOR COMMON STOCK $3,013 $95 $2,798 $2,365 $2,200 $1,998
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
COMMON STOCK: (2)
Average Shares Outstanding 1,592,141 1,592,141 1,556,742 1,514,947 1,492,683 1,464,225
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings Per Share $1.89 $0.06 $1.80 $1.56 $1.47 $1.36
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Year End Shares Outstanding 1,593,180 1,593,180 1,586,427 1,526,939 1,503,163 1,480,665
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Book Value of Common Stock $13.92 $12.09 $12.76 $12.03 $11.36 $10.45
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
ANNUAL DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE (2) $1.11 $1.11 $1.04 $0.97 $0.91 $0.88
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Net Utility Plant $47,407 $47,407 $44,983 $43,481 $42,692 $40,828
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total Assets $61,530 $59,929 $57,156 $55,322 $51,070 $47,900
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Capitalization:
Common Equity $22,175 $19,257 $20,235 $18,364 $17,071 $15,470
Long-Term Debt (Less Current Maturities) 17,378 17,378 16,898 13,936 12,566 13,607
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total $39,553 $36,635 $37,133 $32,300 $29,637 $29,077
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Long-Term Deferred Tax Credits $4,140 $4,049 $5,328 $4,140 $4,021 $3,847
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Notes Payable $3,652 $3,864 $1,119 $3,652 $4,495 $3,475
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Capitalization Percentages:
Common Equity 56% 53% 54% 57% 58% 53%
Long-Term Debt (Less Current Maturities) 44% 47% 46% 43% 42% 47%
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
RETURN ON AVERAGE COMMON EQUITY 14.2% 0.5% 14.5% 13.3% 13.5% 13.6%
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
RETURN ON YEAR-END COMMON EQUITY 13.6% 0.5% 13.8% 12.9% 12.9% 12.9%
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
</TABLE>
(1) Results prior to the early retirement and merger related costs and
unbilled revenue adjustment.
(2) Retroactively adjusted for stock dividends.
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
When used in this document, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate,"
"expect," "objective," "project," and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject
to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions which could cause actual
results to differ materially from those that are described, including the
items described in Item 7.
Corporate Structure
ESELCO, Inc. (ESELCO), is the parent holding company of Edison Sault
Electric Company (Edison Sault); ESEG, Inc. (ESEG); and Northern Tree
Service, Inc. (NTS). Edison Sault (Company) is engaged in the generation,
purchase, transmission, and sale of electric energy. NTS, its tree trimming
subsidiary, began operation in May of 1990. ESEG began operations in December
of 1997 when it purchased a 138 KV submarine circuit from Consumers Energy
Company. ESEG leases this circuit to Edison Sault Electric Company under a
FERC approved operating lease. Edison Sault is the principal operating
subsidiary of ESELCO and accounts for the major share of ESELCO's total
assets, revenues, and income. Therefore, the following discussion and
analysis deal primarily with the operations of Edison Sault Electric Company.
Merger
On May 13, 1997, ESELCO and Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC)
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. The Agreement provides
for a merger of ESELCO and WEC.
The transaction is intended to be a tax-free exchange of shares and
will be accounted for as a pooling of interests. On October 7, 1997,
stockholders of ESELCO voted to approve the transaction.
The merger is subject to the approval of various federal regulatory
agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). ESELCO
and WEC filed a merger application with FERC on October 22, 1997. ESELCO is
unable to predict with certainty when FERC will rule on the transaction, but
is hopeful that a ruling will be received in the first half of 1998.
ESELCO's 1997 earnings reflect merger related costs of $981,000.
Sales, Expenses, and Income
For the year 1997, total kilowatthour sales decreased 1% and total
operating revenues increased 1%. Included in these figures is an adjustment
to both KWH sales and revenue which reflects a write-down of the Company's
unbilled revenue to an amount which more appropriately estimates this asset
in the Company's statement of financial position. The revenue adjustment
results in a decease to revenue of $620,000. Excluding the effect of this
adjustment, total operating revenues would have increased 2% and KWH sales
would have increased by 1%.
Residential revenues and KWH sales decreased 5% in 1997. Excluding
the effects of the unbilled revenue adjustment, revenues and KWH sales would
have decreased 1% from 1996 due to warmer temperatures as measured by degree
days, which were 7% lower in 1997.
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Commercial revenues and KWH sales were approximately equal to 1996
figures. Excluding the effects of the unbilled revenue adjustment, revenues
would have increased 2% while sales would have increased 1% from 1996.
Industrial sales increased 4% in 1997. Sales to Specialty Minerals,
Michigan Limestone, and Manistique Papers increased 11%, 9%, and 6%
respectively. Sales in 1997 to Lakehead Pipe Line, Inc., decreased 5%. Total
1997 revenue from the industrial customers was 3% above 1996.
During 1996, kwh sales and operating revenues increased 3% and 2%,
respectively, over 1995. Sales to the industrial customer class increased 1%,
while sales to the commercial and residential customer classes increased 2%
during this period. Total revenue increased because of the net increase in
sales, partially offset by a rate reduction for one of the industrial
customers during 1996.
Total hydro plant output decreased 1% in 1997 due to lower water
supplies. Purchases from other utilities increased 2% due to the lower hydro
output and increased requirements.
Purchased power expense decreased 4% in 1997 due to new power and
transmission agreements with Consumers Energy Company.
During 1996, power purchased from other utilities increased 2% due to
increased requirements. Purchased power expense decreased 3% in 1996 because
of purchases from a lower cost supplier for part of the Company's
requirements.
Other operations and maintenance expenses increased 44% over 1996,
primarily due to merger and early retirement costs. Early retirement costs
reflect the cost of enhanced pension and other post-employment benefits for
those employees meeting certain age and service requirements, which qualify
them for an early retirement. Merger related costs, which are not deductible
for tax purposes, include legal and consulting fees associated with ESELCO's
plan of merger with WEC.
Administrative and general expenses increased 42% in 1997. During
1997, the Company incurred legal expenses related to its new power contract
with Consumers Energy Company and other FERC regulatory matters.
Administrative and general expenses also reflect amortization of costs
related to the settlement of the Manistique Harbor environmental matter
discussed in the Environmental Matters section of this discussion. The 1997
expenses also include an accrual for the Directors' Pension Liability.
Depreciation and amortization increased 5% in 1997 due to an increase
in depreciable assets. Income taxes decreased 54% in 1997 because of lower
taxable income, reflecting the early retirement costs.
During 1996, other operation and maintenance expenses increased 9%
from 1995 figures. Payroll and associated benefit costs increased 9% in 1996
due to increases in employee benefit costs. Major maintenance and fuel and
water expenses increased 20% and 16%, respectively. Depreciation and
amortization expense increased 5% during 1996 due to an increase in
depreciable assets. Income taxes increased 12% in 1996 because of higher
taxable income.
Based on the previously described changes, earnings per common share
restated for stock dividends were $.06 in 1997, as compared to $1.80 in 1996
and $1.56 in 1995. Excluding the effects of merger related expenses, early
retirement costs, and the adjustment to unbilled revenue, earnings per common
share restated for stock dividends would have been $1.89, or an increase of
5% for 1997, as compared with a 15% increase for 1996.
12
<PAGE>
Rates and Regulatory Matters
On August 22, 1995, Edison Sault filed an application with the MPSC
for authority to implement price cap regulation. In the application the
Company proposed that its base rates be capped at present levels, that its
existing Power Supply Cost Recovery (PSCR) factor be rolled into base rates,
and that its existing PSCR Clause be suspended. The Company published the
required notice of opportunity to comment or request a hearing. We received
no comments, and on September 21, 1995, the MPSC approved the Company's
application subject to the modification that the Company gives thirty days
notice rather than two weeks notice for rate decreases. The Company will file
an application by October 1, 2000, to address its experience under the price
cap mechanism. With the latter modification the price cap authorization
represents an experimental regulatory mechanism. The order also allows Edison
Sault to file an application seeking an increase in rates only under
extraordinary circumstances.
On October 23, 1995, the Attorney General for the State of Michigan
filed an intervention and petition for rehearing in the Company's Price Cap
Order. The Attorney General's intervention was based on the grounds that the
MPSC did not have authority to approve price cap regulation. On December 21,
1995, the MPSC rejected the Attorney General's petition for rehearing. On
January 19, 1996, the Attorney General filed an appeal with the Michigan
Court of Appeals.
On January 21, 1998, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected the
Attorney General's appeal, affirming the MPSC Order. The Attorney General has
asked the Michigan Supreme Court to review the lower court's ruling.
During 1997, the Company reached a settlement agreement with
Consumers Energy Company on several contractual issues related to its
purchase of power and transmission service from Consumers. The agreement
which has received approval from FERC staff and the FERC Administrative Law
Judge is awaiting a FERC final order. Based on the terms of the settlement,
Edison Sault recorded a receivable and a corresponding decrease to purchased
power expense in the amount of approximately $1.2 million.
The Company is also currently intervening in the Consumers Energy
Open Access Transmission Tariff proceeding before FERC. The ultimate outcome
of this proceeding is unknown at this time and, accordingly, the Company has
not recorded anything in anticipation of a resolution to this matter.
Because of the Price Cap Order and other potential changes in the
industry, the Company continually reviews the applicability of accounting
under SFAS 71. As previously stated, the Price Cap Order is a five-year
experimental regulatory mechanism containing language allowing Edison Sault
to seek rate relief for costs incurred under extraordinary circumstances.
Based on a current
13
<PAGE>
evaluation of the factors affecting the applicability of SFAS 71, the Company
has determined that it is currently appropriate to continue accounting
according to SFAS 71.
In the event the Company was to stop accounting under SFAS 71, the
accounting impact would be an extraordinary after-tax non-cash charge to
earnings in an amount represented largely by any unamortized net regulatory
assets existing then. The Company's regulatory assets and liabilities are
shown in Note B to the Financial Statements.
Liquidity and Capital Commitments
Investing Activities:
ESELCO invested $8,070,000 in net property, plant, and equipment in
1997. Included in this amount is approximately $3,662,000 related to the
acquisition of a 138 KV submarine circuit at the Straits of Mackinac from
Consumers Energy Company and approximately $1,402,000 for the construction of
the new transmission line discussed below. Besides investments in net
property, plant, and equipment, $3,510,000 was spent in 1996 to resolve the
environmental issue discussed under Environmental Matters.
For the three-year period ending December 31, 1997, ESELCO made a net
investment of $15,777,000 in property, plant, and equipment.
Capital Requirements:
In October 1994, Edison Sault entered a construction and joint use
agreement with Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Upper Peninsula Power
Company, and Cloverland Electric Cooperative. This agreement specifies each
party's responsibility in the construction of a new transmission line from
Arnold, Michigan, to Manistique, Michigan. Edison Sault commenced
construction of this new line during 1997. This project has an expected
completion date of mid-1999. Edison Sault expects that its share of the cost
of this project will be approximately $10.5 million with approximately $1.9
million of this being spent through December 31, 1997. The Company expects to
invest $4 million in this project during 1998 and $4.6 million in 1999.
ESELCO's capital requirements for maturing long-term debt and sinking
funds total $16.8 million for the five-year period 1998 - 2002. See Note C-
Long-term Debt in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
Cash Provided by Operating and Financing Activities:
For the year ended December 31, 1997, cash provided by operating
activities totaled $4,904,000. After payment of dividends, internal sources
of funds provided 56% of the capital requirements for the three-year period
ending December 31, 1997. In 1997, ESELCO paid dividends of $1,772,000 which
exceeded its net income by a substantial margin. However, adjusting net
income for non-recurring merger, early retirements costs, and the unbilled
revenue adjustment, the dividend payout ratio would have been 59%. The
dividend payout ratio in 1996 and 1995 was 58% and 62%, respectively.
14
<PAGE>
During 1996, Edison Sault borrowed $3.2 million under a bank term
loan agreement. The proceeds of this loan were used for payment to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in settlement of the issue discussed under
environmental matters. In December of 1997, ESEG borrowed $3.7 million under
a bank secured term loan agreement for the acquisition of a 138 KV submarine
circuit from Consumers Energy Company. To date, the Company has used its
short-term line of credit to meet capital requirements related to the new
transmission line construction project. The Company is in the process of
securing construction financing for this project.
Edison Sault has FERC authority to issue up to $10 million in
short-term obligations. Included in this authority is a bank line of credit
at the prime rate. In addition, Edison Sault has authority to issue
short-term thrift notes to Michigan residents. The Company's short-term
financing requirements relate primarily to financing customer accounts
receivable, unbilled revenues resulting from cycle billing, and capital
expenditures until permanently financed. At December 31, 1997, the Company
had approximately $4.7 million of unused bank line of credit and additional
energy thrift note authority. These two sources of short-term financing have
been sufficient to meet the Company's short-term capital requirements.
ESELCO's shareholders reinvested approximately $207,000 through the
Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) in 1997. ESELCO suspended its DRP with the
announcement of its planned merger with WEC, thus the funds received
represent dividends reinvested for just the first quarterly dividend payment
in 1997. During 1996 and 1995, ESELCO shareholders reinvested $711,000 and
$536,000, respectively.
Edison Sault also has authority to issue up to $10 million in
Long-term Energy Thrift Notes to Michigan residents. At December 31, 1997,
there were $6,424,000 of Long-term Energy Thrift Notes outstanding, of which
$4,744,000 are classified as long-term debt on the statement of financial
position.
At December 31, 1997, the Company's long-term debt from First
Mortgage Bonds totaled $6,170,000. The First Mortgage Bonds are secured by
the utility plant of Edison Sault. At December 31, 1997, there was
approximately $11.7 million of unutilized bond financing capability resulting
from plant additions and bond retirements.
At December 31, 1997, there was approximately $15.3 million of
long-term credit available under the Company's First Mortgage Bond Indentures
and long-term Energy Thrift Note authorization.
Capital Structure:
ESELCO has historically maintained a relatively high ratio of common
equity to total capitalization because of its earnings growth, dividend
reinvestment plan, and low payout ratio. With the non-recurring merger, early
retirement charges, and unbilled revenue adjustment during 1997, and the
increase in short-term borrowings, common equity represented 43% of total
capitalization as compared to 49% in both 1996 and 1995.
15
<PAGE>
The capital structure of ESELCO is illustrated below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Capitalization at December 31st: 1997 1996 1995
---------------- --------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Equity 43% 49% 49%
Long-term Debt (Including current maturities) 48% 48% 41%
Short-term Debt 9% 3% 10%
---------------- --------------- ----------------
Total 100% 100% 100%
</TABLE>
With ESELCO's unutilized short and long-term financing sources,
ESELCO believes it is well positioned to finance its future capital
requirements.
Environmental Matters
Edison Sault, in 1993, received notification from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) that they were naming it a
"Potentially Responsible Party" at the Manistique River/Harbor Area of
Concern (AOC) in Manistique, Michigan. There were many other potentially
responsible parties, some of whom the U.S. EPA has notified.
The U.S. EPA, with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
identified the Manistique River and Harbor as an "Area of Concern" (AOC) due
to PCBs that have been found in that area. We submitted an Environmental
Engineering/Cost Analysis (EECA) to the U.S. EPA that provided an analysis of
various methods of remediation for the harbor. The EECA presented six
alternatives of remediation action and ultimately recommended a remediation
method of in-place capping. Management believed this to be the most prudent
course of action. Although the total ultimate cost of specific remedial
action and Edison Sault's potential liability were not known then, management
had estimated Edison Sault's minimum cost of this remedy to be $2.9 million.
That figure represented an increase of $1.9 million from the amount recorded
during 1994. We incurred certain other expenditures for investigation of any
necessary remedial action that are reflected in the accompanying financial
statements. Future costs related to this issue are not expected to have a
material impact on Edison Sault's financial position or future results of
operations.
During 1995 and 1996, the U.S. EPA agreed to allow the PRPs to
remediate the harbor through in-place capping at a total cost of $6.4
million, with the Edison Sault portion costing $3.2 million. Through further
negotiations, the U.S. EPA and the PRPs agreed to a cash-out settlement under
which the PRPs would pay to the U.S. EPA the $6.4 million cost of capping for
the right to be absolved from any future legal actions concerning PCB
pollution. To effect this settlement, all parties in December 1996 executed
an Administrative Order on Consent with payments made to the U.S. EPA before
year-end 1996.
To date, Edison Sault has incurred a total cost of $3.6 million in
this project. Edison Sault has retained legal assistance to start a process
of recovering these costs through several insurance entities. The certainty
and magnitude of insurance recovery are unknown at this time.
Edison Sault believes that the costs discussed above, including the
payment to the U.S. EPA
16
<PAGE>
to be relieved of future liability, is a legitimate cost of doing business
and would be recoverable through utility rates. Further, in November 1993,
the MPSC issued an order authorizing Edison Sault to defer and amortize, over
a period not to exceed ten years, environmental assessment and remediation
costs associated with the Manistique River AOC. Therefore, Edison Sault has
recorded a regulatory asset for $3.2 million, and unreimbursed cost of
$300,000, for a total of $3.5 million, which the Company began amortizing in
1997.
In late 1997, Edison Sault was notified by the U.S. EPA that
investigations were being conducted on a separate site (Trinity Chemicals) in
Kansas City, Missouri, to which Edison Sault may have shipped PCB related
materials during the 1980s under legal, appropriate, and accepted industry
standards. While Edison Sault is in the process of answering various U.S. EPA
interrogatories, preliminary data show that the Company appears to have been
a very minor contributor to this site.
Year 2000
The Company has evaluated the impact that the year 2000 issue would
have on its existing reporting systems and has determined that the most cost
effective solution will be realized with the acquisition of new systems,
which are year 2000 compliant, and consolidation of some systems with those
of Wisconsin Energy Corporation.
The Company does not believe the cost of implementing this solution
will have a material adverse financial impact on its financial position or
future results of operations.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements are included in Part IV of this report and
are incorporated herein by reference.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
(a) Identification of directors.
17
<PAGE>
The following directors of ESELCO have been elected for three years,
terms expiring on the years indicated below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name, Position with the Company Director Amount and Nature of Percent
and Business Experience During Since (1) Beneficial Ownership of
the Past Five Years (1) Age February 1, 1998 (2) Class
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(term expiring in 2000)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
WILLIAM R. GREGORY, Director 58 1972 43,047 Shares 2.7%
President of the ESELCO, Inc., and
Edison Sault
Director - First of America, Michigan NA
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JAMES S. CLINTON, Director 57 1975 9,210 Shares (3)(4)
Chairman, President, & CEO Leggoons, Inc.
(Consumer Products Manufacturer)
Omaha, Nebraska
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Term Expiring in 1998)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THOMAS S. NURNBERGER, Chairman 79 1977 34,909 Share s 2.2%
Chairman of the Board of ESELCO, Inc., and
Edison Sault Electric Company
Montague, Michigan
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALLAN L. GRAUER, Vice Chairman 67 1986 4,812 shares (3)
Vice Chairman of ESELCO, Inc., and Edison
Sault Electric Company
Counsel to the firm of Kutak Rock
Omaha, Nebraska
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Term expiring in 1999)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAVID K. EASLICK, Director 77 1986 2,740 shares (3)
Director of Michigan Bell Telephone Company
North Naples, Florida
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Directors and Officers as a Group ( 13 persons) 179,728 Shares 11.3%(5) (6)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Includes time as Director and Officer of subsidiary and predecessor
- Edison Sault.
(2) Inclusive of the individual's beneficial interest in common
shares held by the Employee Incentive
Investment and Stock Ownership Plan because the individuals have the
right to vote such shares. Mr. Hubbard, Vice President - Finance of
the Company, has the power to vote and the power to sell all 28,150
held in the Bargaining Unit Savings Plan as Trustee. The shares held
in the Bargaining Unit Savings Plan are not included in this table.
(3) Less than 1%.
(4) Includes 6,051 shares in C.E. Clinton Family Trust stock account for which
Mr. Clinton is the trustee.
(5) Includes the Vice President - Engineering, Vice President -
Operations, Assistant Vice President Operations, and Assistant Vice
President - Information Systems, who are officers of Edison Sault,
but are not officers of the Company, who collectively own 24,557
shares of Company stock, which includes shares vested to their
accounts in the Employee Incentive Investment and Stock Ownership
Plan.
(6) Includes shares administered and awarded through the Restricted
Stock Bonus Plan approved by shareholders at the 1996 ESELCO, Inc.,
Annual Meeting.
18
<PAGE>
(b) Identification of executive officers.
The following officers of the Company were elected for one year or
until their successors have been elected and have qualified at the annual
Organizational Meeting of the Board of Directors last held in May 1997. All
executive officers except Messrs. Beedy, Maas, Jirikovic, and Schemanski hold
identical positions with Registrant.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Since Position with Company
-------------------- --- ----- -----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Thomas S. Nurnberger 79 1980 Director - Chairman of the Board
William R. Gregory 58 1972 Director - President
James L. Beedy 59 1986 Vice President - Engineering
David R. Hubbard 58 1977 Vice President - Finance
Donald Sawruk 50 1994 Executive Vice President
1989 Vice President
1987 Secretary
Steven L. Boeckman 43 1993 Vice President
1991 Treasurer
Donald C. Wilson 42 1995 Secretary
Ernest H. Maas 41 1997 Vice President - Operations
1996 Assistant Vice President - Engineering
David H. Jirikovic 45 1996 Assistant Vice President - Operations
Paul A. Schemanski 34 1996 Assistant Vice President - Information
Systems
</TABLE>
(c) Identification of certain significant employees.
None.
(d) Family relationships.
There is no family relationship between any director or
executive officer and any other director or executive officer
of the Company.
(e) Business experience.
See Item 10 (a) and (b).
(f) Involvement in certain legal proceedings.
There have been no events under any bankruptcy act, no
criminal proceedings, and no judgments or injunctions material
to the evaluation of the ability and integrity of any director
or executive officer during the past five years.
19
<PAGE>
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND TRANSACTIONS
The Company has three subsidiaries - Edison Sault Electric Company
("Edison Sault"); Northern Tree Service, Inc.; and ESEG, Inc. ESELCO, Inc. is a
holding company and does not engage in any business on its own. Officers'
salaries and Directors' fees are paid by Edison Sault only. Therefore, the
following information is provided with respect to Edison Sault.
The base compensation for 1997 for each person whose cash compensation
exceeded $100,000 and for all executive officers as a group was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation Awards Payout
Securities All
Other Annual Restricted underlying LTIP Other
Name and Principal Salary Bonus Compensation Stock Options/ Payout Compensation
Position Year ($) ($) ($)(1) Award(s)($)(2) SARs (#) ($) ($)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William R. Gregory 1997 $176,244 -0- $ 26,891(i) $ 9,000 -0- -0- -0-
President & CEO
William R. Gregory 1996 $167,077 -0- $ 19,790 $222,960 -0- -0- -0-
President & CEO
William R. Gregory 1995 $159,903 -0- $ 18,103 -0- -0- -0- -0-
President & CEO
Donald Sawruk 1997 $123,532 $10,000 $ 15,474(ii) $9,000 -0- -0- -0-
Exec. V.P. & COO
Donald Sawruk 1996 $116,538 -0- $10,637 $222,960 -0- -0- -0-
Exec. V.P. & COO
Donald Sawruk 1995 $106,538 -0- $10,923 -0- -0- -0- -0-
Exec. V.P. & COO
David R. Hubbard 1997 $101,927 -0- $14,553(ii) $3,600 -0- -0- -0-
V.P. - Finance
David R. Hubbard 1996 $98,615 -0- $12,075 $83,610 -0- -0- -0-
V.P. - Finance
David R. Hubbard 1995 $94,615 -0- $11,022 -0- -0- -0- -0-
V.P. - Finance
</TABLE>
(1) Other includes life insurance, transportation allotment, and contributions
to savings plans.
(1) (ii) Of William R. Gregory's other compensation totaling $26,891 for 1997, a
vehicle allotment in an amount of $9,197 and an amount of $16,269 in
contributions to his savings plans are included in the total other annual
compensation.
(1)(ii) Of Donald Sawruk and David R. Hubbard's other compensation of $15,474
and $14,553, respectively, amounts of $11,373 and $9,558 in contributions to
their savings plans are included in the total other annual compensation.
20
<PAGE>
(2) The dollar value of shares listed in the table was based upon the number of
shares multiplied by the market value of the shares on the date of award. The
dollar value of the shares awarded to Messrs. Gregory and Sawruk, as of December
31, 1997, was $328,611, and for Mr. Hubbard the dollar value was $123,229.
Employees of Edison Sault not covered by a collective bargaining
contract may become participants in the Pension Plan. To become a participant,
such an employee has also to complete one year of continuous service of at least
1,000 hours of service as a permanent full-time employee of Edison Sault. Under
the plan's current benefit formula, which applies to services beginning December
31, 1991, the annual normal retirement allowance payable to a member on his
normal retirement date will be equal to 1.2% of the member's final average
compensation, multiplied by his years of credit service up to 35 years
(including pre-1991 service) and .75% of the member's final average compensation
multiplied by his years of service over 35 years. Benefits attributable to
service prior to December 31, 1991, were calculated under the prior formula and
required transition rules for the 1989-1990 plan years will reflect changes in
the final average compensation prior to retirement. The final average
compensation means the average of the highest five full years of compensation
paid to the member. For a member who retires with less than five years of
compensation, such final average compensation shall be the average of the
compensation for those lesser number of years. The compensation covered by the
Plan is the regular remuneration paid to an employee for services rendered to
Edison Sault during a Plan year, excluding any bonuses, pay for overtime, and
special pay. The normal retirement allowance is payable monthly to the member
during his life. After the member's death, an allowance of one-half the
unreduced normal retirement allowance is payable to the member's spouse under
most circumstances.
Edison Sault also maintains an unfunded non-qualified Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan which covers all executive officers. The
Supplemental Plan provides three layers of benefits. The first layer pays the
difference, if any, between the maximum allowable benefit and the Pension
Plan benefit. The second layer preserves the benefit levels produced by the
Pension Plan formula in effect prior to December 31, 1991. The third layer
provides up to five years of prior service credit for related employment
prior to joining Edison Sault. Messrs. Nurnberger, Gregory, Hubbard, Beedy,
Sawruk, Boeckman, Wilson, Maas, Jirikovic, and Schemanski are covered by the
Supplemental Plan. The following table contains maximum annual total
projected pension benefits for Supplemental Plan participants retiring at age
62.
21
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pension Benefits Payable at Age 62
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Average
Compensation Years of Credited Service
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 25 30 35
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 60,000 $ 19,200 $ 22,800 $ 26,400 $ 30,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75,000 24,000 28,500 33,000 37,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
90,000 28,800 34,200 39,600 45,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
120,000 38,400 45,600 52,800 60,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
150,000 50,100 59,600 69,200 78,700
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
200,000 70,000 83,500 97,000 110,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Edison Sault has an Employee Incentive Investment and Stock Ownership
Plan which is a qualified plan for federal tax purposes. The purposes of the
Plan are to stimulate interest in the improvement and progress of Edison Sault
by encouraging ownership of the Company Common Stock and to permit tax deferred
employee contributions under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Subject to statutory limits, Plan participants may contribute on either
a pre-tax or a post-tax basis through payroll deduction from 2% to 12% of their
earnings to be invested at the employee's election among a number of investment
funds offered by the Plan. For any amount the employee contributes up to 8% of
earnings, Edison Sault may contribute up to an additional 2.0%, depending on
profitability. Of the Edison Sault 1997 contributions, $12,037 and $61,398 were
unconditionally vested in 1997 for Mr. Gregory, and for the executive officers
as a group, respectively. Directors who are not officers of Edison Sault are
compensated at the rate of $1,423 per month. During 1997, there were six (6)
Special Meetings for which the non-employee Directors of the Company were paid a
fee of $1,000. Directors who are officers of Edison Sault receive no fees for
service on the Board of Directors.
Directors who are not employees of ESELCO, Inc., or its subsidiaries,
are eligible to participate in the Directors' Retirement Plan. Each eligible
Director will receive one-twelfth (1/12) of a year of Credited Service for each
month during which he serves as a Director for at least fifteen (15) days. The
Directors' Retirement Plan provides each eligible participant with monthly
retirement payments equal in an amount to the monthly Directors' fee in effect
on the date that the Director retires, which such monthly retirement payment
shall continue for a number of months equal to the lesser of: (i) 120 months or
(ii) the retired Director's months of Credited Service. In lieu of receiving
these monthly retirement payments, any such Director may elect to receive an
alternative form of payment of equivalent actuarial value to the total of
monthly retirement payments that such Director would otherwise receive under the
formula described in the preceding sentence. The Board reserves the right to
amend or terminate the plan at any time and for any reason.
Effective December 23, 1988, and amended November 12, 1991; August 17,
1995; and August 15, 1996, Edison Sault entered executive severance agreements
with each of its nine
22
<PAGE>
executive officers. Under these agreements, Edison Sault has agreed to make
certain severance payments to any executive officer in case of change in
ownership or control of Edison Sault and the executive officer's subsequent
termination of employment relating to, or resulting from, such change.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
See item 10(a).
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
None.
PART IV
23
<PAGE>
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 10-K
(a) 1. Financial Statements
ESELCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31 December 31
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 6
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS:
ELECTRIC PLANT, at original cost $80,034,217 $71,802,321
Less - Accumulated depreciation 32,627,532 29,671,038
----------- -----------
$47,406,685 $42,131,283
Asset acquired under capital lease 0 2,851,622
----------- -----------
$47,406,685 $44,982,905
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash $282,441 $293,883
Accounts receivable, less reserve of $32,000 3,854,789 2,999,783
Unbilled revenue 1,145,572 1,693,826
Materials and supplies, at average cost 1,156,667 1,148,046
Prepayments 2,303,447 1,966,932
----------- -----------
$8,742,916 $8,102,470
OTHER ASSETS:
Debt expense, being amortized $21,152 $28,972
Regulatory asset 3,164,400 3,510,181
Other 594,255 531,193
----------- -----------
$3,779,807 $4,070,346
----------- -----------
$59,929,408 $57,155,721
----------- -----------
----------- -----------
STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT AND LIABILITIES:
CAPITALIZATION (See Statement):
Common equity $19,257,039 $20,234,722
Preferred stock 0 0
Long-term debt (less current portion) 17,378,321 16,898,187
----------- -----------
$36,635,360 $37,132,909
----------- -----------
OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Obligation under capital lease $0 $2,775,905
----------- -----------
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Notes payable $3,863,500 $1,119,000
Current portion of long-term debt 4,033,177 2,877,323
Current portion of lease obligation 0 75,717
Accounts payable 2,199,204 2,143,082
Dividends declared 446,090 415,960
Accrued taxes 2,361,277 1,754,101
Current deferred income taxes 205,020 66,755
Accrued interest 159,260 166,215
Other 245,657 270,116
----------- -----------
$13,513,185 $8,888,269
----------- -----------
DEFERRED CREDITS:
Deferred income taxes $3,242,976 $4,454,626
Net regulatory liability 1,085,514 1,193,526
Unamortized investment tax credit 806,421 873,181
Other 4,645,952 1,837,305
----------- -----------
$9,780,863 $8,358,638
----------- -----------
$59,929,408 $57,155,721
----------- -----------
----------- -----------
</TABLE>
See notes to financial statements.
24
<PAGE>
E S E L C O, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITALIZATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31 December 31
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 6
------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
AMOUNT % AMOUNT %
COMMON EQUITY:
COMMON STOCK, par value $.01 per share
1997 1996
--------- ---------
Authorized shares 9,840,000 3,000,000
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
Outstanding shares 1,593,180 1,540,592 $15,932 $15,406
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
Capital surplus 19,256,710 17,331,579
Retained earnings 787,037 4,204,585
Unearned compensation - ESOP and
Restricted Stock Bonus Plan (802,640) (1,316,848)
------------ -------------
$19,257,039 53% $20,234,722 54%
------------ -------------
PREFERRED STOCK, value $.01 per share,
authorized 160,000 shares $0 0% $0 0%
------------ -------------
LONG-TERM DEBT of Subsidiaries (less current portion) First Mortgage Bonds:
Series D, 7.00%, due 1998 $0 $855,000
Series F, 10.31%, due 2001 900,000 1,200,000
Series G, 10.25%, due 2009 4,070,000 4,440,000
Series H, 7.90%, due 2002 1,200,000 1,500,000
Energy Thrift Notes, 6.55%-8%, due 1997-2007 4,744,000 5,355,000
Equipment Loan, floating rate, due 1998 0 147,786
ESOP Loans of the Corporation,
floating rate, due 2000 - 2001 126,502 421,110
Term Loans, floating rate, due 1999-2002 6,337,819 2,979,291
------------ -------------
$17,378,321 47% $16,898,187 46%
------------ -------------
TOTAL CAPITALIZATION $36,635,360 100% $37,132,909 100%
------------ ---- -------------
------------ ---- -------------
See notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
25
<PAGE>
E S E L C O, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN COMMON EQUITY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Common Stock Total
Capital Retained Unearned Common
Shares Amount Surplus Earnings Compensation Equity
--------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at January 1, 1995 1,373,138 $13,731 $13,117,216 $4,255,939 ($315,917) $17,070,969
3% Stock Dividend 41,061 411 887,739 (894,585) (6,435)
Common Stock issued under Dividend Plan 23,776 238 536,143 536,381
Net income 2,364,966 2,364,966
Unearned compensation - ESOP (126,454) (126,454)
Cash Dividends - Common Stock, $.97
per share (a) (1,475,429) (1,475,429)
--------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1995 1,437,975 $14,380 $14,541,098 $4,250,891 ($442,371) $18,363,998
3% Stock Dividend 43,129 431 1,202,005 (1,210,551) (8,115)
Common Stock issued under
Dividend Reinvestment Plan 27,988 280 710,571 710,851
Net income 2,798,085 2,798,085
Unearned compensation - ESOP &
Restricted Stock Bonus Plan 31,500 315 877,905 (874,477) 3,743
Cash Dividends -
Common Stock, $1.04 per share (a) (1,633,840) (1,633,840)
--------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1996 1,540,592 $15,406 $17,331,579 $4,204,585 ($1,316,848) $20,234,722
3% Stock Dividend 45,835 458 1,718,355 (1,740,766) (21,953)
Common Stock issued under
Dividend Reinvestment Plan 6,753 68 206,776 206,844
Net income 94,746 94,746
Unearned compensation - ESOP &
Restricted Stock Bonus Plan 514,208 514,208
Cash Dividends -
Common Stock, $1.11 per share (a) (1,771,528) (1,771,528)
--------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1997 1,593,180 $15,932 $19,256,710 $787,037 ($802,640) $19,257,039
--------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
--------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
</TABLE>
(a) Retroactively adjusted for stock dividends.
() Denotes deduction.
See notes to financial statements.
26
<PAGE>
E S E L C O, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
for the Year Ended December 31
1 9 9 7 1 9 9 6 1 9 9 5
----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING REVENUES $37,511,449 $37,499,931 $36,844,488
----------- ----------- -----------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Operation - Purchased power $18,128,749 $18,851,035 $19,531,448
- Early retirement costs 2,330,053 0 0
- Merger related costs 980,787 0 0
- Other 7,326,788 6,743,273 6,164,031
Maintenance 2,200,264 2,142,159 1,983,348
Depreciation and amortization 2,735,246 2,614,395 2,498,773
Property and other taxes 1,707,342 1,556,351 1,560,496
Income taxes 366,788 1,247,196 1,116,784
----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating expenses $35,776,017 $33,154,409 $32,854,880
----------- ----------- -----------
Net operating income $1,735,432 $4,345,522 $3,989,608
----------- ----------- -----------
OTHER INCOME (DEDUCTIONS), NET ($28,476) ($47,594) ($68,773)
----------- ----------- -----------
ALLOWANCE FOR FUNDS USED DURING
CONSTRUCTION $81,569 $0 $0
----------- ----------- -----------
INTEREST CHARGES:
Interest on long-term debt $1,567,253 $1,367,387 $1,243,954
Other interest 126,526 132,456 311,915
----------- ----------- -----------
Total interest charges $1,693,779 $1,499,843 $1,555,869
----------- ----------- -----------
NET INCOME $94,746 $2,798,085 $2,364,966
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
BASIC AND DILUTIVE EARNINGS PER
AVERAGE SHARE OF COMMON STOCK (a) $0.06 $1.80 $1.56
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER
SHARE OF COMMON STOCK (a) $1.11 $1.04 $0.97
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (a) 1,592,141 1,556,742 1,514,947
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
(a) Retroactively adjusted for stock dividends.
( ) Denotes deduction.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
</TABLE>
27
<PAGE>
ESELCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW
for the Year Ended December 31
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996 1995
----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED BY):
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $94,746 $2,798,085 $2,364,966
Noncash expenses, revenue, losses and gains
included in income
Depreciation and amortization 2,802,573 2,706,428 2,605,376
Deferred taxes and charge equivalent to
investment tax credit, net of amortization (1,248,157) 1,073,606 58,230
Net decrease (increase) in receivables and
unbilled revenue (306,752) 492,259 (805,148)
Net decrease (increase) in materials and
supplies and prepayments (345,136) (158,153) (613,593)
Net increase (decrease) in accounts payable,
accrued taxes, and other current liabilities 638,839 (313,050) 181,086
Increase (decrease)in interest accrued
but not paid (6,955) (91,758) (78,833)
Early retirement costs 2,330,053 0 0
Other 945,134 424,411 83,626
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash from operating activities $4,904,345 $6,931,828 $3,795,710
----------- ----------- -----------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment ($8,131,391) ($4,296,974) ($3,494,997)
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant
and equipment 61,236 31,292 53,545
E P A payments 0 (3,510,181) 0
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash used by investing activities ($8,070,155) ($7,775,863) ($3,441,452)
----------- ----------- -----------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds of short-term debt $12,608,500 $10,274,000 $16,752,000
Payments to settle short-term debt (9,864,000) (12,807,000) (17,594,500)
Issuance of long-term debt, net 4,700,000 5,701,000 2,674,000
Payments on long-term debt (2,725,448) (1,409,938) (1,212,153)
Proceeds from sale of common stock 206,844 710,851 536,381
Dividends paid (1,771,528) (1,633,840) (1,475,429)
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash (used) provided by
financing activities $3,154,368 $835,073 ($319,701)
----------- ----------- -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS ($11,442) ($8,962) $34,557
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 293,883 302,845 268,288
----------- ----------- -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR $282,441 $293,883 $302,845
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
INTEREST PAID $1,700,542 $1,644,511 $1,637,731
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
See notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
28
<PAGE>
NOTE A - ORGANIZATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
ESELCO, Inc. (ESELCO), and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Edison Sault
Electric Company (Edison Sault); ESEG, Inc. (ESEG); and Northern Tree
Service, Inc. (NTS). Edison Sault (Company) is engaged in the generation,
purchase, transmission, and sale of electric energy in the Eastern Upper
Peninsula of Michigan. NTS is a tree trimming subsidiary that began operation
in May of 1990, but accounts for less than one percent of total consolidated
operating revenues. ESEG began operations in December of 1997 when it
purchased a 138 KV submarine circuit from Consumers Energy Company. ESEG
leases this circuit to Edison Sault Electric Company under a FERC approved
operating lease. On May 13, 1997, ESELCO and Wisconsin Energy Corporation
(WEC) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. The Agreement
provides for a merger of ESELCO and WEC.
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting records of Edison Sault are maintained in accordance
with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Michigan Public Service Commission
(MPSC). The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles, requires management to make estimates that
could differ from actual results.
Utility Regulation
Edison Sault accounts for the effects of regulation under Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 71, "Accounting for the Effects of
Certain Types of Regulations." As a result, the actions of regulators affect
when revenues,expenses, assets, and liabilities are recognized.
In accordance with SFAS 71, the Company capitalizes as deferred
regulatory assets costs which are expected to be recovered in future utility
rates. The Company also records as deferred regulatory liabilities costs
which are to be paid in the future. These consist primarily of amounts
related to the adoption of SFAS 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," and the
environmental matter discussed in Note I.
Rates and Regulatory Matters
On August 22, 1995, Edison Sault filed an application with the MPSC
for authority to implement price cap regulation. In the application the
Company proposed that its base rates be capped at present levels, that its
existing Power Supply Cost Recovery (PSCR) factor be rolled into base rates,
and that its existing PSCR Clause be suspended. The Company published the
required notice of opportunity to comment or request a hearing. We received
no comments, and on September 21, 1995, the MPSC approved the Company's
application subject to the modification that the Company gives thirty days
notice rather than two weeks notice for rate decreases. The Company will file
an application by October 1, 2000, to address its experience under the price
cap mechanism. With the latter modification the price cap authorization
represents an experimental regulatory mechanism. The order also allows Edison
Sault to file an application seeking an increase in rates only under
extraordinary circumstances.
On October 23, 1995, the Attorney General for the State of Michigan
filed an intervention and petition for rehearing in the Company's Price Cap
Order. The Attorney General's intervention was based
29
<PAGE>
on the grounds that the MPSC did not have authority to approve price cap
regulation. On December 21, 1995, the MPSC rejected the Attorney General's
petition for rehearing. On January 19, 1996, the Attorney General filed an
appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals.
On January 21, 1998, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected the
Attorney General's appeal, affirming the MPSC Order. The Attorney General
subsequently requested the Michigan Supreme Court to review the lower court's
ruling.
During 1997, the Company reached a settlement agreement with
Consumers Energy Company on several contractual issues related to its
purchase of power and transmission service from Consumers. The agreement
which has received approval from FERC staff and the FERC Administrative Law
Judge is awaiting a FERC final order. Based on the terms of the settlement,
Edison Sault recorded a receivable and a corresponding decrease to purchased
power expense in the amount of approximately $1.2 million.
The Company is also currently intervening in the Consumers Energy
Open Access Transmission Tariff proceeding before FERC. The ultimate outcome
of this proceeding is unknown at this time and, accordingly, the Company has
not recorded anything in anticipation of a resolution to this matter.
Because of the Price Cap Order and other potential changes in the
industry, the Company continually reviews the applicability of accounting
under SFAS 71. As previously stated, the Price Cap Order is a five-year
experimental regulatory mechanism containing language allowing Edison Sault
to seek rate relief for costs incurred under extraordinary circumstances.
Based on a current evaluation of the factors affecting the applicability of
SFAS 71, the Company has determined that it is currently appropriate to
continue accounting according to SFAS 71.
In the event the Company was to stop accounting under SFAS 71, the
accounting impact would be an extraordinary after-tax non-cash charge to
earnings in an amount represented largely by any unamortized net regulatory
assets existing then.
The following regulatory assets and (liabilities) were reflected in
the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
(Thousands of Dollars) 1997 1996 1995
------------ ----------- -----------
SAFS 109 Regulatory assets.............................................. $184 $208 $219
SAFS 109 Regulatory liability........................................... (1,270) (1,401) (1,512)
------- ------- -------
SAFS 109 Net Regulatory liability....................................... ($1,086) ($1,193) ($1,293)
Environmental Matter Regulatory asset................................... 3,164 3,510 2,850
------- ------- -------
Total Net Regulatory Asset (Liability).................................. $2,078 $2,317 $1,557
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
</TABLE>
In accordance with SFAS 71, the Company had recorded a capital lease
on its statement of financial position and had been amortizing the capital
lease asset over the life of the lease. In December of 1997, ESEG purchased
the 138 KV circuit that Edison Sault had previously leased from Consumers
Energy, thus eliminating the capital lease from the Statement of Financial
Position. If the Company had not accounted for this lease in accordance with
SFAS 71, the asset value of the capital lease would have been approximately
$660,000 less than what is reflected on its statement of financial position
at December 31, 1996.
30
<PAGE>
Revenues
Edison Sault records revenue monthly, as billed, on the basis of
meter readings throughout the month and includes an estimate of unbilled
revenue relative to power consumed from the meter reading date to the end of
the month in the current month's revenue. The Company's statement of
financial position includes an estimated amount for revenues accrued but not
billed as of year-end.
For the first year presented (1995), Edison Sault was able to
recover changes in its power supply cost from its residential and commercial
customers through its Power Supply Cost Recovery Clause. The clause provided
for an annual reconciliation of actual costs to projected costs and
settlement of any over or under-collection, both with interest. Edison Sault
was able, on a monthly basis, to pass on to its industrial customers
substantially all changes in its power supply costs from its suppliers, as it
affects these customers.
As previously discussed, Edison Sault implemented price cap
regulation January 1, 1996; and, with this change, the PSCR clause was
suspended.
Revenues resulting from sales to Cloverland Electric Cooperative
represented approximately 14% of total revenues for 1997, 13% for 1996, and
12% for 1995. Revenues resulting from sales to Manistique Papers, Inc.,
represented approximately 12% of total revenues for each year presented.
Customer receivables, electric sales, and resale revenues arise from
operations of Edison Sault which delivers electric energy to a diversified
base of residential, commercial, and industrial customers within the eastern
portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Edison Sault continually reviews its
customers' credit-worthiness and requests deposits or refunds deposits based
on that review.
Utility Plant - Electric
Utility plant is stated at original cost, including engineering,
material, labor, supervision, other related items, and an allowance for funds
used during construction.
Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, while
replacements and betterments are capitalized. Upon the sale or retirement of
an asset, the original cost of the property retired, plus the cost of
removal, less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation.
Edison Sault depreciates the original cost of property over its
estimated useful life by the straight-line method at composite rates approved
by the MPSC. The composite rate was approximately 3.8% for the years
presented.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
ESELCO considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of
three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
31
<PAGE>
Other
In 1995 the FASB issued SFAS 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of." This statement
imposed a stricter criterion for regulatory assets by requiring that such
assets be probable of future recovery at each balance sheet date. The Company
adopted this standard on January 1, 1996. Adoption did not have an impact on
the financial position or results of operations due to the regulatory
structure set forth in the Price Cap Order previously discussed. This
conclusion may change in the future as competitive factors influence pricing
in this industry.
NOTE C - LONG-TERM DEBT
Annual sinking fund requirements on First Mortgage Bonds and maturities
of long-term debt for each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 1997,
are:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Thousands of Dollars)
<S> <C>
1998 $4,033
1999 $4,964
2000 $1,805
2001 $2,049
2002 $3,960
</TABLE>
Substantially all of Edison Sault's utility plant is pledged as
collateral for the first mortgage bonds.
Edison Sault has authority to issue up to $10 million of long-term
thrift notes to Michigan residents.
The provisions of Edison Sault's bond indentures and the short-term
line of credit agreement contain various covenants pertaining to the
maintenance of debt to equity ratios and the payment of dividends. Under the
most restrictive of these covenants, the declaration of cash dividends by
Edison Sault is restricted to $600,000, plus net income available for common
stock and capital contributions subsequent to January 1, 1992, after
deducting all dividends paid on common stock. At December 31, 1997,
$4,500,915 of Edison Sault's retained earnings are available for the
declaration of dividends. There are no additional restrictions on ESELCO's
ability to pay dividends.
NOTE D - STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Earnings Per Share
Earnings per average share of common stock are computed on the basis of
the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, after giving
retroactive effect to the 3% stock dividends in each year presented. Shares
granted under the Restricted Stock Plan, which is described in Note H, have been
included in the calculation of earnings per share for 1997. In 1997, the FASB
issued SFAS No. 128 "Earnings Per Share." This statement, which required the
Company to display basic and diluted earnings per share in its income statement,
had no impact on the Company upon adoption in 1997.
NOTE E - SHORT-TERM BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS
Edison Sault has authority to issue up to $10 million in
short-term obligations. Included in this authority, Edison Sault has
available a line of credit at the prime rate with a bank in its service area.
In
32
<PAGE>
addition, Edison Sault has authority to issue short-term thrift notes to
Michigan residents. These notes mature one year from the date of issue, with
interest at 2.5% to 3.0% below the New York prime rate, depending on the
amount of the note. Included in notes payable at December 31, 1997, are
$2,143,000 in thrift notes to Michigan residents.
NOTE F - LEASES AND PURCHASED POWER AGREEMENTS
Edison Sault's hydroelectric plant at Sault Ste. Marie is operated
by the diversion of surplus waters of the St. Marys River. This surplus water
is leased under an agreement with the Secretary of the Army, expiring in the
year 2050. Annual rentals under this lease were $839,000 in 1997, $886,000
in 1996, and $759,000 in 1995 and are determined based on the amount of water
used for power generation. Edison Sault also leases certain office and
computer equipment and vehicles for which gross rentals were $65,000 in 1997,
$73,000 in 1996, and $99,000 in 1995 under agreements that extend up to six
years.
Edison Sault purchased the output of a government-owned
hydroelectric station in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, under a contract which
expires in the year 2040. Payments under the contract were $1,914,000
annually, with modifications to such payments for power outages and the cost
of designated repairs in excess of the federal share of such costs. Annual
payments are subject to renegotiation every five years. During 1996, the
Company renegotiated the annual payment for the five-year period starting in
November of 1996. The new annual payment is $1,820,000.
Edison Sault also purchases power from Consumers Energy Company
(Consumers) under an agreement which expires in 2020, or 2010 under an early
termination provision. Rates under the agreement provide for capacity and
energy charges which are approved by the FERC. The cost of power purchased
from Consumers totaled $12,522,000, $12,875,000, and $17,638,000 for 1997,
1996, and 1995, respectively.
During 1996, Edison Sault reached agreement with Consumers on a new
purchase power agreement which became effective January 1, 1997. Under this
new agreement, Edison Sault will purchase 35 megawatts of firm power and a
variable amount of interruptible power for a five-year period. After the
initial five-year period, Edison is obligated to purchase a minimum of 20
megawatts of firm power through the contract term which remains the same as
the previous agreement.
During 1997, Edison Sault reached a settlement agreement with
Consumers Energy Company on transmission service for the 1996 purchase power
agreement. As a result of this settlement, Edison Sault recorded a receivable
and a corresponding decrease in purchased power expense of approximately $1.2
million.
During 1990, Edison Sault entered a 20-year capital lease with
Consumers Power Company for two 138 KV cables across the Straits of Mackinac.
In 1997, ESEG purchased these cables from Consumers a cost of $3,662,000.
ESEG is leasing these cables to Edison Sault under an operating lease
arrangement. Both the purchase and lease of the cables received FERC approval
in 1997.
Effective January 1, 1996, Edison Sault began purchasing 20 MW of
firm capacity and energy from American Electric Power Company under the terms
of two one-year contracts. This purchase replaced a portion of the capacity
and energy that had been purchased under the wholesale contract with
Consumers Energy Company. The cost of this power in 1997 and 1996 was
$3,676,000 and $4,007,000, respectively.
Commencing January 1, 1998, Edison Sault will purchase 20 megawatts
of firm power from Wisconsin Electric Power Company under the terms of a
ten-year agreement.
33
<PAGE>
NOTES G - INCOME TAXES
The following summarizes the components of income tax expense and
reconciles the statutory Federal income tax rate to the effective rate.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(Thousands of Dollars) 1997 1996 1995
-------- --------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income Taxes - Currently payable $1,587 $155 $1,045
-------- ------- --------
- Deferred -
Employee benefit
plans...................... ($1,047) ($98) $25
EPA matter................... (118) 1,193 0
Property taxes............... 6 15 13
Depreciation................. 6 50 103
- -- ---
($1,153) $1,160 $141
------ ------ ----
Amortization of deferred investment
tax credit.......................................... ($67) ($68) ($69)
---- ---- ----
Income taxes per statement
of income........................................... $367 $1,247 $1,117
Allocated to other accounts............................ (42) (31) (38)
--- --- ---
Total Income Taxes..................................... $325 $1,216 $1,079
---- ------ ------
Total Income Taxes Paid................................ $1,130 $645 $1,045
------ ---- ------
</TABLE>
34
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(Thousand of Dollars) 1997 1996 1995
--------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------
Amount % Amount % Amount %
------- ----- ------ ----- ------- -----
Federal income tax at
statutory rate........................ $143 34.0% $1,365 34.0% $1,171 34.0%
Reduction in taxes
resulting from -
Capitalized costs deducted
currently for tax
purposes*........................ (2) -0.4% (1) 0.0% (1) 0.0%
Depreciation and pension
differences*..................... 40 9.5% 32 0.8% 38 1.1%
Amortization of deferred
investment tax credit............ (67) -15.9% (68) -1.7% (69) -2.0%
Refund of excess deferred
taxes resulting from
reduction in tax rates*.......... (88) -21.0% (74) -1.8% (43) -1.3%
Merger related costs................ 334 79.5% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Other, net.......................... (35) -8.3% (38) -1.0% (17) -0.5%
Total Income Taxes....................... $325 77.4% $1,216 30.3% $1,079 31.3%
</TABLE>
* Accounting treatment in accordance with regulatory commission policy.
35
<PAGE>
The following summarizes the principal components of ESELCO's deferred
tax assets (liabilities) for the year ended December 31,
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
(Thousands of Dollars) 1997 1996 1995
------- ------- -------
Property.................... ($3,569) ($3,454) ($3,305)
E P A Regulatory Asset...... (1,076) (1,193) 0
Property taxes.............. (216) (210) (196)
Employee benefit plans...... 1,402 325 209
Other....................... 11 11 11
Total........ ($3,448) ($4,521) ($3,281)
Total Deferred Tax Assets... $3,253 $2,243 $2,183
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities (6,701) (6,764) (5,464)
Total........ ($3,448) ($4,521) ($3,281)
</TABLE>
NOTE H - PENSION PLAN AND OTHER BENEFITS
Edison Sault has two trusteed, noncontributory, defined benefit
pension plans, covering substantially all management and bargaining unit
employees. Annual retirement benefits are based upon the employee's years of
service and compensation level. Edison Sault's funding policy is to
contribute amounts to the plans sufficient to meet the minimum funding
requirements set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, plus such additional amounts as Edison Sault may determine to be
appropriate from time to time.
The weighted average discount rate used in determining the actuarial
present value of the projected benefit obligation for both plans was lowered
to 7.25% as of December 31, 1997. In addition, the salary scale for the
Bargaining Unit plan was decreased from 3.5% to 3.0%. These changes increased
the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 1997, by $296,000 for
both plans. The plans' assets are invested primarily in listed debt and
equity securities and ESELCO's common stock. At December 31, 1997, the
pension plans held 52,196 shares of ESELCO common stock with a market value
of $2,323,000. During 1997, $57,000 of dividends were paid on the shares held
by the plans.
During 1997, a special retirement program was offered to both
Management and Bargaining Unit employees who met certain age and service
criteria. This offer resulted in curtailment and termination expense of
$1,300,000.
The plans' funded status and expense at December 31, are as follows:
36
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
(Thousands of Dollars) 1997 1996 1995
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
Vested Benefit Obligation................................ ($11,010) ($9,032)
--------- ------------
--------- ------------
Accumulated Benefit Obligation........................... ($12,445) ($9,887)
--------- ------------
--------- ------------
Projected benefit obligation............................. ($12,972) ($10,696)
Plan assets at fair value..................................... 11,297 9,170
--------- ------------
Projected benefit obligation (in excess of) or less than
plan assets................................................ ($1,675) ($1,526)
Unrecognized net loss......................................... 406 766
Unrecognized net obligation at January 1, net of
amortization............................................... (144) 634
Additional Liability.......................................... 0 (592)
--------- ------------
Net Pension (liability) Recognized in the Statement of
Financial Position......................................... ($1,413) ($718)
--------- ------------
--------- ------------
Net pension expense combined for both plans, included the following components:
Service cost-benefits earned during the period................ $272 $285 $211
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations................ 814 755 680
Actual return on plan assets.................................. (2,238) (623) (1,237)
Net amortization and deferral................................. 1,529 (32) 619
Termination benefit expense................................... 523 0 0
Curtailment loss.............................................. 750 0 0
-------- -------- --------
Net Pension Expense........................................... $1,650 $385 $273
-------- -------- --------
-------- -------- --------
Rates used for calculation (%):
Discount rate 7.25% 7.50% 7.00%
Assumed rate of increase in salary levels 3.0%-4.0% 3.5%-4.0% 3.5%-4.0%
Expected long-term return on investments 9.0% 9.0% 9.0%
</TABLE>
Edison Sault accrues postretirement benefits (such as health care
benefits) during the years an employee provides services in accordance with SFAS
106.
The 1997 costs were calculated using the health care plan in effect
January 1, 1997. The accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was
calculated by the actuary as of January 1, 1997, using a discount rate of 7.5%.
Effective December 31, 1997, the discount rate used for valuing the accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation was lowered to 7.25%. The health
37
<PAGE>
care cost trend rate used by the actuary for both the January 1, 1997,
and January 1, 1996, valuations was 10.6%, then decreasing gradually to 5.0% by
the year 2004. A 1% increase in the health care cost trend rate would increase
the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 1997, by
$187,000 and the net periodic postretirement benefit cost for 1997 by $98,000.
The special retirement offer discussed above included medical benefits
which resulted in curtailment and termination expense of $612,000 in 1997.
38
<PAGE>
The funded status of the postretirement benefit plan is reconciled with the
recorded liability as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Thousands of Dollars) 1997 1996 1995
--------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation (APBO):
Retirees................................................. ($1,598) ($669) ($629)
Eligible for retirement.................................. (9) (209) (205)
Not yet eligible......................................... (205) (236) (268)
--------- --------- ---------
Total APBO................................................. ($1,812) ($1,114) ($1,102)
Plan assets at fair value................................ 0 0 0
--------- --------- ---------
Total APBO in excess of plan assets........................ ($1,812) ($1,114) ($1,102)
Unrecognized transition obligation....................... 727 1,038 1,103
Unrecognized net (gains)/losses.......................... 0 (314) (306)
--------- --------- ---------
Net Postretirement Benefit Liability Recognized in
the Statement of Financial Position at December 31,....... ($1,085) ($390) ($305)
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Net postretirement benefit expense:
Service cost............................................. $13 $15 $14
Interest cost............................................ 79 78 86
Amortization of transition obligation.................... 61 65 65
Net amortization and deferral............................ (14) (13) (13)
Termination benefit expense.............................. 96 0 0
Curtailment loss......................................... 516 0 0
--------- --------- ---------
Net Postretirement Benefit Expense......................... $751 $145 $152
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Postretirement benefit expense reconciled to the
accrued cost:
Beginning net benefit liability.......................... ($390) ($305) ($216)
Net benefit expense...................................... (751) (145) (152)
Actual premium paid...................................... 56 60 63
--------- --------- ---------
Net Postretirement Benefit Liability Recognized in
the Statement of Financial Position at December 31,....... ($1,085) ($390) ($305)
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
</TABLE>
Edison Sault has an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) which covers
substantially all its non-bargaining unit employees. In accordance with
applicable accounting rules, ESELCO has recorded the ESOP indebtedness for the
following loans in current and long-term debt on its balance sheet, with an
offsetting charge to common stock equity captioned "Unearned compensation - ESOP
and Restricted Stock Bonus Plan."
In December 1992, the plan borrowed $625,000 to purchase 20,000 shares
of ESELCO, Inc., common stock. Dividends and other income received by the trust
and used for this debt service in 1997 were approximately $70,000. Interest
expense on this debt incurred by the trust in 1997 was $8,000.
39
<PAGE>
In February 1995, the plan borrowed $357,000 to purchase an additional
15,445 shares of ESELCO, Inc., common stock. Dividends and other income received
by the trust and used for this debt service in 1997 were $50,000. Interest
expense on this debt incurred by the trust in 1997 was $10,000.
In April 1997, the plan borrowed $364,000 to purchase 13,120 shares of
ESELCO, Inc., common stock. Dividends and other income received by the trust and
used for this debt service in 1997 were $254,000. Interest expense on this debt
incurred by the trust in 1997 was $17,000.
The market value of the total allocated shares held by the ESOP
amounted to $7,498,000 at December 31, 1997.
Edison Sault has an unfunded, nonqualified Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan (SERP) that provides benefits which are integrated with its
Management Pension Plan. The projected benefit obligation for service rendered
to date for the plan was $722,000 as of December 31, 1997, and the accrued
liability of the plan included in ESELCO's Statement of Financial Position at
December 31, 1997, was $714,000. Expense recognized under the plan in 1997 was
$381,000, including $272,000 in curtailment and termination expenses.
ESELCO has an unfunded, nonqualified Directors' Pension Plan that
provides benefits to retired Directors meeting certain age and service
requirements. The accrued liability of the Plan included in ESELCO's statement
of Financial Position at December 31, 1997, was $356,000 which is also the
amount of expense recognized during 1997.
In May 1996, stockholders approved adoption of the Restricted Stock
Bonus Plan. Under this plan ESELCO can, from time to time, grant to officers or
other key employees awards of restricted stock. The maximum number of shares
reserved for this purpose is 50,000 shares. In 1996, 31,500 shares, with a total
fair market value of $878,000 were granted to the officers of the Company. No
shares were granted in 1997. Under the terms of agreements with each of the
recipients, shares are not vested for a five-year period following the grant,
and the shares are forfeited if a recipient leaves the employment of the Company
prior to the five-year holding period. The Restricted Stock Committee can, at
their discretion, accelerate the vesting of these shares. In addition, a change
in control of ESELCO, Inc., would accelerate the vesting. In accordance with
SFAS 123 - Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, the Company recorded
compensation expense in the amount of $176,000 in 1997.
NOTE I - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Environmental Matters
Edison Sault, in 1993, received notification from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) that they were naming it a
"Potentially Responsible Party" at the Manistique River/ Harbor Area of Concern
(AOC) in Manistique, Michigan. There were many other potentially responsible
parties, some of whom the U.S. EPA has notified.
40
<PAGE>
The U.S. EPA, with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
identified the Manistique River and Harbor as an "Area of Concern" (AOC) due to
PCBs that have been found in that area. We submitted an Environmental
Engineering/Cost Analysis (EECA) to the U.S. EPA that provided an analysis of
various methods of remediation for the harbor. The EECA presented six
alternatives of remediation action and ultimately recommended a remediation
method of in-place capping. Management believed this to be the most prudent
course of action. Although the total ultimate cost of specific remedial action
and Edison Sault's potential liability were not known then, management had
estimated Edison Sault's minimum cost of this remedy to be $2.9 million. That
figure represented an increase of $1.9 million from the amount recorded during
1994. We incurred certain other expenditures for investigation of any necessary
remedial action that are reflected in the accompanying financial statements.
Future costs related to this issue are not expected to have a material impact on
Edison Sault's financial position or future results of operations.
During 1995 and 1996, the U.S. EPA agreed to allow the PRPs to
remediate the harbor through in-place capping at a total cost of $6.4 million,
with the Edison Sault portion costing $3.2 million. Through further
negotiations, the U.S. EPA and the PRPs agreed to a cash-out settlement under
which the PRPs would pay to the U.S. EPA the $6.4 million cost of capping for
the right to be absolved from any future legal actions concerning PCB pollution.
To effect this settlement, all parties in December 1996 executed an
Administrative Order on Consent with payments made to the U.S. EPA before
year-end 1996.
To date, Edison Sault has incurred a total cost of $3.6 million in this
project. Edison Sault has retained legal assistance to start a process of
recovering these costs through several insurance entities. The certainty and
magnitude of insurance recovery are unknown at this time.
Edison Sault believes that the costs discussed above, including the
payment to the U.S. EPA to be relieved of future liability, is a legitimate cost
of doing business and would be recoverable through utility rates. Further, in
November 1993, the MPSC issued an order authorizing Edison Sault to defer and
amortize, over a period not to exceed ten years, environmental assessment and
remediation costs associated with the Manistique River AOC. Therefore, Edison
Sault has recorded a regulatory asset for $3.2 million, and unreimbursed cost of
$300,000, for a total of $3.5 million, which the Company began amortizing in
1997.
In late 1997, Edison Sault was notified by the U.S. EPA that
investigations were being conducted on a separate site (Trinity Chemicals) in
Kansas City, Missouri, to which Edison Sault may have shipped PCB related
materials during the 1980s under legal, appropriate, and accepted industry
standards. While Edison Sault is in the process of answering various U.S. EPA
interrogatories, preliminary data show that the Company appears to have been a
very minor contributor to this site.
Other Commitments and Contingencies
In October 1994, Edison Sault entered into a construction and joint use
agreement with Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Upper Peninsula Power Company,
and Cloverland Electric Cooperative. This agreement specifies each party's
responsibility in the construction of a new transmission line from Arnold,
Michigan, to Manistique, Michigan. Edison Sault commenced construction of this
new line during 1997. This project has an expected completion date of mid-1999.
Edison Sault expects that its share of the cost of this project will be
approximately $10.5 million with approximately $8.6 million of this being spent
in 1997 and 1998.
41
<PAGE>
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Report of Independent Public Accountants
To the Shareholders of ESELCO, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of
ESELCO, Inc., (a Michigan corporation), and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997
and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in common
equity, and cash flow for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of ESELCO, Inc. and subsidiaries
as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Detroit, Michigan
February 6, 1998.
42
<PAGE>
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 10-K
Report of Independent Public Accountants
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Report of Independent Public Accountants
To ESELCO, Inc.:
We have audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the
condsolidated financial statements of ESELCO, Inc. included in the Form 10-K,
and have issued our report dated February 6, 1998. Our audit was made for the
purpose of forming an opinion on those statements taken as a whole. The
schedules listed in item 14(a) is the responsibility of the company's
management and is presentd for purpose of complying with the Securities and
Exchange Commission's rules and is not part of the basic consolidated financial
statements. This schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures
applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion,
fairly states in all material respects the financial data required to be set
forth therein in relation to the basic consolidated fiancial statements taken
as a whole.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Detroit, Michigan
February 6, 1998.
43
<PAGE>
2. Financial Statement Schedules
Included in Part IV of this report:
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
The Report of Independent Public Accountants on
Financial Statement Schedules for the three years
ended December 31, 1997, is on page 42.
Schedules I, III and IV are omitted as not
applicable because required items or conditions are
not met.
3. List of Exhibits
(See page 46 for Exhibit Index)
(b) The following report on Form 8-K was filed during
the last quarter of the period covered by this report:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Item Reported Financial Statements Files Date of Report
Item 5 None October 7, 1997
</TABLE>
(c) The Exhibits, if any, filed herewith are identified in
(a) 3. above.
(d) The Financial Statement Schedules filed herewith are
identified in (a) 2. above.
44
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ESELCO, INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ William R. Gregory
--------------------------------
WILLIAM R. GREGORY
Director and President
Date: March 25, 1998
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ Thomas S. Nurnberger /s/ David K. Easlick
- ------------------------------ ------------------------------
THOMAS S. NURNBERGER DAVID K. EASLICK
Chairman of the Board Director
Date: March 25, 1998 Date: March 25, 1998
/s/ Allan L. Grauer /s/ James S. Clinton
- ------------------------------ ------------------------------
ALLAN L. GRAUER JAMES S. CLINTON
Director Director
Date: March 25, 1998 Date: March 25, 1998
/s/ William R. Gregory
- ------------------------------
WILLIAM R. GREGORY
Director
Date: March 25, 1998
/s/ David R. Hubbard
- ------------------------------
DAVID R. HUBBARD
Vice President - Finance
Date: March 25, 1998
</TABLE>
45
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
FORM 10-K
1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Filed
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Exhibit No. By
Description of Exhibit Herewith Reference
(2) Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among *
Wisconsin Energy Corporation and ESELCO, Inc., and ESL Acquisition,
Inc., dated as of May 13, 1997, as amended and restated as of July 11,
1997.(6)
(3) (a) Articles of Incorporation as filed on January 6, 1989.(6) *
(b) Amendment to Articles of Incorporation as filed on August 7, 1997.(6) *
(c) By-laws.(6) *
(4) Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including
indentures:
(a) Mortgage and Deed of Trust as of March 1, 1952.(1) *
(b) Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 1, 1957.(1) *
(c) Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 1, 1964.(1) *
(d) Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 1, 1968.(1) *
(e) Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 15, 1975.(1) *
(f) Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1986.(2) *
(g) Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 1989.(4) *
(h) Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 15, 1992.(5) *
(i) Debenture Indenture dated as of August 1, 1973.(1) *
(j) Form of Long-term Energy Thrift Note.(3) *
(10) (a) Form of Executive Severance Agreement.(6) *
(b) 1996 ESELCO, Inc., Restricted Stock Bonus Plan.(6) *
(c) ESELCO, Inc., Directors' Retirement Plan, as amended *
January 1, 1995.(6)
(d) Edison Sault Electric Company Directors' Fee Deferral Plan, *
October 1, 1989.(6)
(e) Edison Sault Electric Company ESELCO Directors' Fee *
Deferral Plan, January 1, 1986.(6)
(f) Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Edison Sault *
Electric Company, as amended as of August 17, 1995.(6)
(21) Subsidiaries of the Registrant *
</TABLE>
46
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
(23) Consent of Independent Public Accountants *
(27) Financial Data Schedule *
</TABLE>
Key to Exhibits Incorporated by Reference:
(1) Filed with the Company's Registration Statement, Form S-16, No.
2-67191, filed April 2, 1980.
(2) Filed with the Company's Form 10-K for
1986, dated March 30, 1987, File No. 0-1158.
(3) Filed with the Company's Registration Statement, Amendment No. 2 to
Form S-3, No. 2-67191, filed February 16, 1988.
(4) Filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for June 30, 1989, dated
August 11, 1989, File No.0-17736.
(5) Filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for March 31, 1992, dated May 13,
1992, File No. 0-17736.
(6) Filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for June 30, 1997, dated
August 11, 1997, File No. 0-17736.
(7) Filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for December 31, 1996, File No.
0-17736
47
<PAGE>
ESELCO, INC.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Column A Column B Column C Column D Column E
Reserve for
Purposes for
Provisions Which the
Balance Beginning Charged Reserve Balance
Description of Period to Income was Provided End of Period
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
Reserve deducted from asset in $32,000 $76,394 $76,394 $32,000
balance sheet
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
Reserve deducted from asset in $32,000 $69,526 $69,526 $32,000
balance sheet
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
Reserve deducted from asset in $32,000 $52,060 $52,060 $32,000
balance sheet
</TABLE>
48
<PAGE>
ESELCO, INC.
EXHIBIT 21 - SUBSIDIARIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Jurisdiction of
Name Incorporation
Edison Sault Electric Company U.S.A.
Michigan
Northern Tree Service, Inc. U.S.A.
Michigan
ESEG, Inc. U.S.A.
Michigan
</TABLE>
49
<PAGE>
ESELCO, INC.
EXHIBIT 23 - CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our reports included or incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, into
ESELCO, Inc.'s previously filed Registration Statement No. 33-22287.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Detroit, Michigan,
March 25, 1998.
50
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> UT
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 47,406,685
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,742,916
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 3,779,807
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 59,929,408
<COMMON> 15,932
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 19,256,710
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 787,087
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 19,257,039
0
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 17,378,321
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 3,863,500
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 4,033,177
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 15,397,371
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 59,929,408
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 37,511,449
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 366,788
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 35,409,229
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 35,776,017
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 1,735,432
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> (28,476)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 1,706,956
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,693,779
<NET-INCOME> 94,746
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 94,746
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 1,771,528
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 757,170
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 4,904,345
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.06
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.06
</TABLE>
