SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER CO
8-K, 2000-02-04
ELECTRIC SERVICES
Previous: SOUTHWEST GAS CORP, 5, 2000-02-04
Next: SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER CO, S-3, 2000-02-04





                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of earliest event reported:    February 4, 2000
Date of report:                     February 4, 2000

Commission             Registrant, State of Incorporation,    I.R.S. Employer
File Number              Address and Telephone Number         Identification No.


1-3146                 Southwestern Electric Power Company     72-0323455
                       (A Delaware Corporation)
                       428 Travis Street
                       Shreveport, Louisiana 71156-0001
                       (318) 673-3000



<PAGE>


GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following abbreviations or acronyms used in this text are defined below:

Abbreviation or Acronym    Definition
AEP........................American Electric Power Company, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
AEP Merger.................Proposed Merger between AEP and CSW where CSW would
                           become a wholly owned subsidiary of AEP
Cajun                      Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.
CSW........................Central and South West Corporation, Dallas, Texas
CSW System.................CSW and its subsidiaries
Exchange Act...............Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
MMbtu......................Million British Thermal Units
SWEPCO.....................Southwestern Electric Power Company, Shreveport,
                           Louisiana











FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This  report  made by SWEPCO  contains  forward-looking  statements  within  the
meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act.  Although  SWEPCO  believes that its
expectations  are based on reasonable  assumptions,  any such  statements may be
influenced  by factors  that  could  cause  actual  outcomes  and  results to be
materially  different from those projected.  Important  factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to:

- -    the impact of general  economic changes in the United States and the states
     in which  SWEPCO  either  currently  has made or in the future may make
     investments,
- -    the impact of the proposed AEP Merger including any regulatory conditions
     imposed on the merger or the inability of CSW to consummate the AEP Merger,
- -    increased competition and the restructuring of the electric utility
     industry in the United States,
- -    federal and state regulatory developments and changes in law which may have
     a substantial adverse impact on the value of SWEPCO's generating and other
     assets,
- -    timing and adequacy of rate relief,
- -    adverse changes in electric load and customer growth,
- -    climatic changes or unexpected changes in weather patterns,
- -    changing fuel prices,  generating plant and distribution facility
     performance,
- -    costs associated with any year 2000 computer related failure(s) within the
     CSW System, with the electric grid or with supplier(s) that adversely
     affect SWEPCO and
- -    risks associated with hedging and other risk management techniques.




<PAGE>



ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

      In anticipation  of filing a Securities and Exchange  Commission Form S-3,
SWEPCO provides the following information.

      Results of Operations
      SWEPCO's net income for common stock for 1999 was $83.4 million,  which is
$13.1 million,  or 14% lower than in 1998.  Factors  contributing  to the change
were increases in electric operating revenues, operating expenses and taxes, and
interest  charges.  Nonrecurring  factors  contributing  to the change  were the
write-off of Cajun acquisition expenses and an extraordinary loss resulting from
industry restructuring legislation in Texas and Arkansas.

      Electric operating  revenues for 1999 were $965.0 million,  which is $12.1
million higher than in 1998.  The change was primarily  caused by an increase of
$32.2 million in the sales for resale market offset by a decrease in revenues in
the residential market of $19.9 million.  All other markets remained  relatively
stable with only slight  increases in revenue.  Other items  affecting  electric
operating revenues include fuel and transmission revenue related adjustments and
a $6.5 million charge against revenues to reflect the excess earnings  provision
of the deregulation legislation passed in Texas.

      Operating expenses and taxes for 1999 were $817.5 million,  which is $15.3
million higher than in 1998. Fuel and purchased power expense increased by $10.1
million for 1999 when compared to 1998.  The increase in fuel expense is largely
attributable  to an  increase  in  average  unit fuel costs  combined  with a 3%
increase in generation.  Average unit fuel costs  increased from $1.63 per MMbtu
in 1998 to $1.66 per MMbtu in 1999 as a result of higher spot market natural gas
prices. The increase in purchased power expense is due to an increase in economy
energy purchases.  Maintenance  expenses for 1999 increased $13 million,  or 25%
when  compared to 1998.  This change was the result of increased  power  station
maintenance,   tree-trimming   maintenance   and  overhead   line   maintenance.
Depreciation  and amortization  expenses for 1999 increased $3.9 million,  or 4%
when  compared to 1998 due  primarily  to higher  levels of  depreciable  plant.
Partially offsetting these increases was a $3.3 million decrease in taxes, other
than income taxes for 1999,  resulting from lower ad valorem  taxes.  Income tax
expenses  associated with utility operations during 1999 decreased $9.5 million,
or 20% when compared to 1998 due to lower taxable income.

      Interest charges for 1999 were $58.9 million, an increase of $3.8 million,
or 7%  compared  to 1998.  This  increase  was the  result of  higher  levels of
short-term  borrowing and additional interest expense in connection with changes
to CSW's transmission coordination agreement.

      Nonrecurring  items that  reduced net income for common stock in 1999 were
the write-off of Cajun acquisition expenses of $3.7 million, net of tax, as well
as an extraordinary  loss of $3.0 million,  net of tax. The  extraordinary  loss
reflects the effect of  legislation  passed in Texas and Arkansas which resulted
in the electricity generation portion of the SWEPCO's business no longer meeting
the  criteria to apply  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 71,
Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.



<PAGE>




ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)   Exhibits.

(12)  Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
12.1 - SWEPCO, Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(27)  Financial Data Schedule
27.1 - SWEPCO, Financial Data Schedule



<PAGE>


SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                        SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY

Date:  February 4, 2000

                        By: /s/ R. Russell Davis
                                R. Russell Davis
                                Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
                                (Principal Accounting Officer)








                                                                    Exhibit 12.1

Southwestern Electric Power Company
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
For Years Ended December 31,

                             1999       1998       1997        1996       1995
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                                        (thousands, except ratios)

Operating income           $147,524   $150,787    $139,409   $138,083  $162,776
Adjustments:
  Income taxes               55,343     62,595      44,396     32,931    41,131
  Provision for deferred
    income taxes            (17,098)   (11,850)     (2,244)     2,849     6,287
  Deferred investment tax
    credits                  (4,565)    (4,631)     (4,662)    (4,730)   (4,786)
  Charges for investments
    and plant development
    costs, net of tax            --         --        (483)   (21,815)       --
  Other income and
    deductions               (2,000)     1,115       3,578        312       178
  Allowance for borrowed
    and equity funds used
    during construction        1,984     2,687       2,156      2,423     9,334
  Interest portion of
    financing leases             335       598       1,194      1,514     1,896
                           -----------------------------------------------------
        Earnings            $181,523  $201,301    $183,344   $151,567  $216,816
                           =====================================================


Fixed charges:
  Interest on long-term debt $38,380   $39,233     $40,440    $44,066   $44,468
 Distributions on Trust
    Preferred Securities       8,662     8,662       5,582         --        --
  Interest on short-term
    debt and other            13,800     8,591       5,736      8,381    10,706
  Interest portion of
    financing leases             335       598       1,194      1,514     1,896
                           -----------------------------------------------------
        Fixed charges        $61,177   $57,084     $52,952    $53,961   $57,070
                           =====================================================


Ratio of earnings to fixed
    charges                     2.97      3.53        3.46       2.81      3.80




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  UT
<CIK>  0000092487
<NAME>  SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
<SUBSIDIARY>
<NUMBER> 005
<NAME> SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,847,189
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      5,782
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         159,407
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         4,974
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  90,446
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,107,798
<COMMON>                                       135,660
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      245,000
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            288,018
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 668,678
                                0
                                      4,706
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           605,973
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             140,897
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   45,595
                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 641,949
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,107,798
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      965,027
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            38,506
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     778,997
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     817,503
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        147,524
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (1,965)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 145,559
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        58,893
<NET-INCOME>                                    83,655
                        229
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   83,426
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        96,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       38,380
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         154,942
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00


</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission