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

     
 

FORM 10-Q

 

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For Quarter Ended

 

September 30, 2002

Commission File Number

 

1-3559

     

Atlantic City Electric Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     

New Jersey
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

21-0398280
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

     

800 King Street, P.O. Box 231, Wilmington, Delaware
(Address of principal executive office)

19899
(Zip Code)


202-872-2000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

     


     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 and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes

[ X ]

No

[  ]

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

     All 18,320,937 issued and outstanding shares of Atlantic City Electric Company common stock, $3 per share par value, are owned by Conectiv.

Atlantic City Electric Company

Table of Contents

 

Page

Part I. Financial Information:

     Item 1.

Financial Statements

 
 

Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, and September 30, 2001


1

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2002, and December 31, 2001

2-3

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, and September 30, 2001


4

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5-9

     Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations


10-17

     Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

17

     Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

18

Part II. Other Information

 

     Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

18

     Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

18

Signatures and Certifications

19-24

 

Part 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements


ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
            September 30,    

Nine Months Ended
            September 30,    

     2002   

     2001   

     2002   

     2001   

OPERATING REVENUES

$365,621 

$337,827 

$828,238 

$810,921 

OPERATING EXPENSES

    Electric fuel and purchased energy and capacity

233,374 

246,905 

513,075 

507,052 

    Operation and maintenance

56,022 

63,056 

176,864 

186,278 

    Merger-related costs

38,150 

38,150 

    Depreciation and amortization

17,107 

21,869 

51,046 

65,417 

    Taxes other than income taxes

7,668 

10,747 

18,967 

28,635 

    Deferred electric service costs

    (8,974)

  (67,049) 

    (49,406)

 (125,370)

 343,347 

  275,528 

   748,696 

   662,012 

OPERATING INCOME

   22,274 

    62,299 

     79,542 

   148,909 

OTHER INCOME

     6,018 

      2,361 

     13,084 

      8,103 

INTEREST EXPENSE

    Interest charges

13,654 

15,423 

41,858 

47,693 

    Allowance for borrowed funds used during
        construction and capitalized interest

       (379)

       (216) 

         (949)

         (477)

    13,275 

    15,207 

     40,909 

     47,216 

PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS ON
    PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY TRUSTS

      1,905 

     1,905 

      5,714 

       5,714 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

13,112 

47,548 

46,003 

104,082 

INCOME TAXES

      3,948 

    19,841 

    17,815 

    43,746 

NET INCOME

9,164 

27,707 

28,188 

60,336 

DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK

          66 

         308 

        683 

      1,374 

EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK

$   9,098 

$ 27,399 

$ 27,505 

$ 58,962 


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

September 30,
        2002        

December 31,
       2001       

ASSETS

Current Assets

    Cash and cash equivalents

$      32,467 

$      14,261 

    Accounts receivable, net of allowances
        of $9,712 and $7,804, respectively

178,237 

159,679 

    Inventories, at average cost

        Fuel (coal and oil)

12,709 

20,331 

        Materials and supplies

10,834 

10,738 

    Prepaid income taxes

13,570 

41,044 

    Other prepayments

15,939 

1,756 

    Deferred income taxes

            175 

            181 

     263,931 

     247,990 

Investments

         3,459 

         3,666 

Property, Plant and Equipment

    Electric generation

140,210 

136,152 

    Electric transmission and distribution

1,315,862 

1,264,311 

    Other electric facilities

82,147 

89,396 

    Other property, plant, and equipment

         1,359 

         5,772 

1,539,578 

1,495,631 

    Less: Accumulated depreciation

     570,939 

     544,564 

    Net plant in service

968,639 

951,067 

    Construction work-in-progress

83,671 

74,780 

    Intangibles

        13,990 

        14,941 

   1,066,300 

   1,040,788 

Deferred Charges and Other Assets

    Regulatory assets

        Recoverable stranded costs

875,720 

930,036 

        Deferred electric service costs

129,675 

106,259 

        Other non-current regulatory assets

81,940 

82,944 

    Unamortized debt expense

13,556 

12,966 

    Other

         8,005 

          7,681 

  1,108,896 

  1,139,886 

Total Assets

$2,442,586 

$2,432,330 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

September 30,

        2002        

December 31,

          2001         

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

Current Liabilities

    Short-term debt

$      117,243 

$        44,951 

    Long-term debt due within one year

241,450 

221,450 

    Variable rate demand bonds

22,600 

22,600 

    Accounts payable

79,502 

58,001 

    Interest accrued

9,835 

17,224 

    Dividends payable

1,043 

6,302 

    Other

        60,215 

        40,461 

      531,888 

      410,989 

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

    Deferred income taxes, net

422,298 

470,420 

    Deferred investment tax credits

26,961 

28,482 

    Regulatory liability for New Jersey income tax benefit

49,262 

49,262 

    Above-market purchased energy contracts
        and other electric restructuring liabilities

16,417 

16,615 

    Pension benefit obligation

43,683 

35,529 

    Other postretirement benefit obligation

36,834 

36,429 

    Other

         21,194 

         13,311 

       616,649 

       650,048 

Capitalization

    Common stock, $3 par value; 18,320,937 shares outstanding;
        25,000,000 shares authorized

54,963 

54,963 

    Additional paid-in capital

410,371 

410,194 

    Retained earnings

       161,106 

        156,152 

        Total common stockholder's equity

    626,440 

621,309 

    Preferred stock not subject to mandatory redemption

6,231 

6,231 

    Preferred stock subject to mandatory redemption

12,450 

    Company obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities
        of subsidiary trusts holding solely company debentures

95,000 

95,000 

    Long-term debt

       566,378 

        636,303 

    1,294,049 

     1,371,293 

    Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)

    Total Capitalization and Liabilities

$  2,442,586 

$  2,432,330 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended
        September 30,        

 

    2002   

 

    2001   

       

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     

    Net income

$   28,188 

 

$   60,336 

    Adjustments to reconcile net income to
      net cash provided (used) by operating activities:

          Depreciation and amortization

50,854 

 

74,251 

          Investment tax credit adjustments, net

(1,521)

 

(1,885)

          Deferred income taxes, net

(4,187)

 

53,956 

          Deferred electric service costs

(23,416)

 

(127,855)

          Net change in:

     

              Accounts receivable

(15,931)

 

(44,541)

              Inventories

7,526 

 

(4,778)

              Prepaid New Jersey sales & excise taxes

(20,209)

 

(3,215)

              Accounts payable

32,982 

 

7,302 

              Taxes accrued

27,474 

 

(18,674)

              Other current assets and liabilities (1)

6,925 

 

(15,031)

          Other, net

    11,893 

 

    10,973 

    Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

  100,578 

 

     (9,161)

       

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     

    Capital expenditures

(68,374)

 

(50,383)

    Sale of assets

7,400 

 

    Deposits to nuclear decommissioning trust funds

 

(825)

    Other, net

    (1,769)

 

      (2,421)

    Net cash used by investing activities

  (62,743)

 

    (53,629)

       

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     

    Common dividends paid

(27,633)

 

(38,913)

    Preferred dividends paid

(683)

 

(1,374)

    Long-term debt redeemed

(50,000)

 

(40,000)

    Preferred stock redeemed

(12,450)

 

(11,500)

    Principal portion of capital lease payments

 

(8,835)

    Net increase in short-term debt

72,292 

 

24,445 

    Other, net

    (1,155) 

 

       (428)

    Net cash used by financing activities

  (19,629) 

 

   (76,605)

    Net change in cash and cash equivalents

18,206 

 

(139,395)

    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     14,261 

 

  156,071 

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$   32,467 

$   16,676 

     (1) Other than debt and deferred income taxes classified as current.

    See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Note 1. Financial Statement Presentation

The consolidated condensed interim financial statements contained herein include the accounts of Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE) and its wholly owned subsidiaries and reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary in the opinion of management for a fair presentation of interim results. In accordance with regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), disclosures that would substantially duplicate the disclosures in ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K have been omitted. Accordingly, ACE's consolidated condensed interim financial statements contained herein should be read in conjunction with ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The following information updates the disclosures in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K concerning the Agreement and Plan of Merger among Pepco Holdings, Inc. (formerly New RC, Inc.), Conectiv and Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) (the Conectiv/Pepco Merger Agreement). On August 1, 2002, Conectiv was acquired by Pepco Holdings, Inc. in a transaction pursuant to the Conectiv/Pepco Merger Agreement, in which Pepco and Conectiv merged with subsidiaries of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (the Conectiv/Pepco Merger). As a result of the Conectiv/Pepco Merger, Pepco and Conectiv and their respective subsidiaries (including ACE) each became subsidiaries of Pepco Holdings, Inc. ACE continues as a wholly-owned, direct subsidiary of Conectiv.

On July 3, 2002, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) issued an order approving the Conectiv/Pepco Merger. Among other things, the order provides for ACE to forgo recovery through customer rates of $30.5 million of "deferred electric service costs," ACE to contribute $1.0 million to a fund supporting southern New Jersey schools, and certain customer service guarantees.

ACE's operating results for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 include costs related to the Conectiv/Pepco Merger of $38.2 million ($22.6 million after income taxes). The $38.2 million of costs included the following: (i) a $30.5 million write-down of deferred electric service costs based on the terms of an order issued by the NJBPU, as noted above; (ii) $6.6 million for stock options settled in cash, severances, and retention payments; and (iii) $1.0 million for a contribution to a certain fund based on the terms of an order issued by the NJBPU, as noted above. Based on the terms of the settlement agreements and Commission orders in the States having regulatory jurisdiction over ACE, none of the costs related to the Conectiv/Pepco Merger are recoverable in future customer rate increases. Such costs are, and will be, excluded from studies submitted in base rate filings.

As discussed in Notes 1 and 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, under-recoveries of costs related to Basic Generation Service (BGS) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2001 have been reclassified within the Consolidated Statements of Income from electric operating revenues to operating expenses, as a separate line item captioned "Deferred electric service costs."

On April 30, 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 145, "Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections." SFAS No. 145 rescinds SFAS No. 4, "Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt (an amendment of APB Opinion No. 30)." SFAS No. 4 had required that material gains and losses on extinguishment of debt be classified as an extraordinary item. Under SFAS No. 145, SFAS No. 4 is rescinded effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. Due to the rescission of SFAS No. 4, it is less likely that a gain or loss on extinguishment of debt would be classified as an extraordinary item in ACE's Consolidated Statement of Income.

On July 30, 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities." The standard requires companies to recognize costs associated with exit or disposal activities when they are incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal plan. The primary effect of applying SFAS No. 146 will be on the timing of recognition of costs associated with exit or disposal activities. In many cases, those costs will be recognized as liabilities in periods following a commitment to a plan, not at the date of the commitment. SFAS No. 146 is to be applied prospectively to exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002.

Note 2. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

Nine Months Ended
      September 30,       

 
 

    2002                 2001

 
 

(Dollars in Thousands)

Cash paid (received) for:

       

   Interest, net of amounts capitalized

$46,133    

$53,684          

   

   Income taxes, net of refunds

$(4,186)   

$10,425           

   


Note 3.
Income Taxes

The amounts computed by multiplying "Income before income taxes" by the federal statutory rate is reconciled in the table below to income tax expense on continuing operations.

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,   

 

            2002           

         2001          

           2002             

         2001        

 

Amount

Rate

Amount

Rate

Amount

Rate 

Amount

Rate

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

Statutory federal    income tax expense


$4,589   


35%  


$16,642 


35%


$16,101    


35% 


$36,429 


35%

State income taxes,    net of federal    benefit



1,192   



9     



3,175 



7   



3,681    



8    



7,095 



7   

Plant basis differences

500   

4     

704 

1   

1,500    

3    

2,112 

1   

Investment tax credit
   amortization


(507)  


(4)    


(628)


(1)  


(1,521)   


(3)   


(1,885)


(1)  

Resolution of income
   tax matters


(1,909)  


(15)    


- - 


- -   


(1,909)   


(4)   


- - 


-   

Other, net

       83   

    1      

       (52)

  -   

      (37)   

  -    

        (5)

   -   

 

$3,948   

 30%  

$19,841 

42%

$17,815    

39% 

$43,746 

42%

Note 4. Regulatory Matters

Securitization

The information below updates the information included in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On September 9, 2002, New Jersey enacted an amendment (Amendment) to the 1999 Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (the New Jersey Act). The Amendment permits the NJBPU to authorize the securitization of deferred balances of electric public utilities resulting from the provisions of the New Jersey Act. The NJBPU may authorize the issuance of transition bonds by an electric public utility or other financing entity in order to (i) recover stranded costs deemed eligible for rate recovery in a stranded cost recovery order; (ii) recover rate reduction requirements determined by the NJBPU to be necessary under the provisions of the New Jersey Act; or (iii) recover basic generation service transition costs. The NJBPU may approve transition bonds with scheduled amortization of up to fifteen years if related to stranded cost recoveries or recoveries of basic generation service transition costs, or the remaining term of purchase power agreements if related to the buyout or buydown of long-term purchase powe r contracts with non-utility generators (NUGs).

On September 20, 2002, the NJBPU issued a Bondable Stranded Costs Rate Order (Financing Order) to ACE authorizing the issuance of $440 million of Transition Bonds. The proceeds of these bonds will be used to recover the stranded costs associated with the divestiture of the ACE nuclear assets, the buyout of the Pedricktown NUG contract and the buydown of the American Ref-Fuel NUG contract. Also included in the amount authorized is $20 million of transaction costs and capital reduction costs. Management expects that the bonds will be issued by the end of 2002, although this is dependent on conditions in the relevant capital markets at the times of the offerings.

ACE formed Atlantic City Electric Transition Funding LLC (ACE Transition Funding) during 2001 as a special purpose entity (SPE) for the sole purpose of purchasing and owning the bondable transition property (BTP), issuing transition bonds (Bonds), pledging ACE Transition Funding's interest in BTP and other collateral to the bond trustee to collateralize the Bonds, and performing activities that are necessary, suitable or convenient to accomplish these purposes. Proceeds from the sale of Bonds will be transferred to ACE in consideration for the BTP, and ACE will use the proceeds to repurchase debt and re-balance its capital structure. When issued, the Bonds of ACE Transition Funding will be included in ACE's Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Note 5. Termination of Agreements for Sale of Electric Generating Plants

As disclosed in Note 9 to ACE's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the agreements between ACE and NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) for the sale of ACE's fossil fuel-fired electric generating plants (740 megawatts (MW) of capacity), including the Deepwater Station and B.L. England Station, and ACE's interests in Conemaugh and Keystone Stations, were subject to termination by either party after February 28, 2002. NRG delivered notice to Conectiv on April 1, 2002 terminating these agreements. On May 23, 2002, Conectiv announced that it initiated a second competitive bidding process to sell these ACE-owned fossil fuel-fired electric generating plants. Management expects that the competitive bidding process will conclude by the end of 2002. Management cannot predict the results of the competitive bidding process, whether the process will result in any sales agreements, whether the NJBPU will grant the required approval of any resulting sales agre ements, or any related impacts upon recoverable stranded costs.

As discussed in Note 6 to ACE's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the BGS auction awarded about 1,900 MW, or 80% of ACE's BGS load to four suppliers for the period from August 1, 2002 to July 31, 2003. The remaining 20% of ACE's BGS load is supplied utilizing ACE's electric supply, consisting of its fossil fuel-fired electric generating plants (excluding Deepwater), which are used first to meet such BGS load, and its NUG contracts, to the extent such electric generating plants are not sufficient to satisfy such load. Any portion of ACE's electric supply that exceeds the load requirement of the BGS customers is sold in the wholesale market. In addition, if any of the four suppliers awarded 80% of ACE's BGS load default on performance, the Company will offer the defaulted load to the other winning bidders. If they are not interested, ACE will then procure the needed supply from the wholesale market. Any costs related to this new suppl y that are not covered by remuneration from the supplier in default will be included in the calculation of deferred electric service costs, which are subject to NJBPU review and future recovery in customer rate increases.

Note 6. Preferred Stock

On May 1, 2002, ACE redeemed 124,500 shares of its $7.80 annual dividend rate preferred stock, under mandatory and optional redemption provisions, at the $100 per share stated value or $12.45 million in total.

Note 7. Debt

ACE redeemed long-term debt at maturity as follows: (i) $20 million of unsecured 6.46% Medium Term Notes on April 1, 2002; (ii) $5 million of secured 7.04% Medium Term Notes on May 28, 2002; and (iii) $25.0 million of secured 7.01% Medium Term Notes on August 23, 2002.

Effective with the Conectiv/Pepco Merger, Pepco Holdings, Inc. entered into a $1.5 billion credit agreement for general corporate purposes, including commercial paper back-up. Under the Pepco Holdings, Inc. credit agreement, a borrowing sublimit of $1.0 billion exists for Pepco Holdings Inc. and a borrowing sublimit of $500 million exists for aggregate borrowings by Pepco, DPL, and ACE, limited to $300 million for each such borrower.

Note 8. Contingencies

Environmental Matters

Hazardous Substances

ACE is subject to regulation with respect to the environmental effects of its operations, including air and water quality control, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and limitation on land use by various federal, regional, state, and local authorities. Federal and state statutes authorize governmental agencies to compel responsible parties to clean up certain abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Costs may be incurred to clean up facilities found to be contaminated due to past disposal practices. ACE is a potentially responsible party at a state superfund site and has agreed, along with other responsible parties, to remediate the site pursuant to an Administrative Consent Order with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). ACE and other parties entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NJDEP to address remediation at a federal superfund site in Gloucester County, New Jersey. ACE's liability for clean-up costs is affected by the activ ities of these governmental agencies and private land-owners, the nature of past disposal practices, the activities of others (including whether they are able to contribute to clean-up costs), and the scientific and other complexities involved in resolving clean-up related issues (including whether ACE or a corporate predecessor is responsible for conditions on a particular parcel). ACE's current liabilities included $2.3 million as of September 30, 2002 and $3.2 million as of December 31, 2001 for remediation activities at these sites. ACE does not expect such future costs to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

Air Quality Regulations

On July 11, 2001, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) denied ACE's request to renew a permit variance, effective through July 30, 2001, that authorized Unit 1 at the B.L. England station to burn coal containing greater than 1% sulfur. ACE has appealed the denial. The NJDEP has issued a stay of the denial to authorize ACE to operate Unit 1 with the current fuel until February 28, 2003 and an addendum to the permit/certificate to operate authorizing a trial burn of coal with a sulfur content less than 2.6%. Management is not able to predict the outcome of ACE's appeal, including the effects, if any, of trial burn results on the appeal.

On May 4, 2002, ACE, Conectiv Atlantic Generation, LLC (CAG), and the NJDEP entered into an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to address ACE's and CAG's inability to procure Discrete Emission Reductions (DER) credits to comply with New Jersey's NOx RACT requirements and NJDEP's allegations that ACE had failed to comply with DER credit use restrictions from 1996 to 2001. The ACO eliminates requirements for ACE and CAG to purchase DER credits for certain ACE and CAG electric generating units through May 1, 2005 and provides, among other things, for installation of new controls on CAG's electric generating units ($7 million estimated cost), a $1.0 million penalty, a $1.0 million contribution to promote, develop and enhance an urban airshed reforestation project, and operating hour limits at ACE's Deepwater Unit No. 4.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) requested data from a number of electric utilities regarding older coal-fired units in order to determine compliance with the regulations for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality (PSD). A number of settlements of litigation brought as a result of such inquiries alleging violations of so-called new source standards have been announced. ACE has responded to a number of requests from the USEPA and the NJDEP for data on coal-fired operations at the Deepwater and B.L. England electric generating stations. Management cannot predict the impact, if any, of these inquiries on Deepwater or B.L. England operations.

Other Matters

On October 24, 2000, the City of Vineland, New Jersey (City), filed an action in a New Jersey Superior Court to acquire ACE electric distribution facilities located within the City limits by eminent domain. On March 13, 2002, ACE and the City signed an agreement that provides for ACE to sell the electric distribution facilities within the City limits, and the related customer accounts, for $23.9 million. The proceeds are being received in installments as milestones are met, and are proceeding on schedule. The remaining proceeds should be received in the second quarter of 2004, when the final milestones will be completed. At that time the assets and customers will be transferred to the City and the sale will be recorded by ACE.

Note 9. Business Segments

Effective January 1, 2002, Conectiv redefined its business segments. Conectiv's Power Delivery business segment, which had previously included the operating results for delivering electricity to ACE's customers now also includes the operating results for supplying electricity to ACE's customers and the operating results of the Deepwater electric generating plant, which produces power sold in transactions not subject to price regulation. As a result, all material aspects of ACE's operations are conducted in Conectiv's Power Delivery business segment.

                              ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                           OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Acquisition of Conectiv by Pepco Holdings, Inc.

The following information updates the disclosures in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of Atlantic City Electric Company's (ACE) 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K concerning the Agreement and Plan of Merger among Pepco Holdings, Inc. (formerly New RC, Inc.), Conectiv and Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) (the Conectiv/Pepco Merger Agreement). On August 1, 2002, Conectiv was acquired by Pepco Holdings, Inc. in a transaction pursuant to the Conectiv/Pepco Merger Agreement, in which Pepco and Conectiv merged with subsidiaries of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (the Conectiv/Pepco Merger). As a result of the Conectiv/Pepco Merger, Pepco and Conectiv and their respective subsidiaries (including ACE) each became subsidiaries of Pepco Holdings, Inc. ACE continues as a wholly-owned, direct subsidiary of Conectiv.

On July 3, 2002, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) issued an order approving the Conectiv/Pepco Merger. Among other things, the order provides for ACE to forgo recovery through customer rates of $30.5 million of "deferred electric service costs," ACE to contribute $1.0 million to a fund supporting southern New Jersey schools, and certain customer service guarantees.

ACE's operating results for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 include costs related to the Conectiv/Pepco Merger of $38.2 million ($22.6 million after income taxes). The $38.2 million of costs included the following: (i) a $30.5 million write-down of deferred electric service costs based on the terms of an order issued by the NJBPU, as noted above; (ii) $6.6 million for stock options settled in cash, severances, and retention payments; and (iii) $1.0 million for a contribution to a certain fund based on the terms of an order issued by the NJBPU, as noted above. Based on the terms of the settlement agreements and Commission orders in the States having regulatory jurisdiction over ACE, none of the costs related to the Conectiv/Pepco Merger are recoverable in future customer rate increases. Such costs are, and will be, excluded from studies submitted in base rate filings.

Regulatory Matters

Securitization

The information below updates the information included in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On September 9, 2002, New Jersey enacted an amendment (Amendment) to the 1999 Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (the New Jersey Act). The Amendment permits the NJBPU to authorize the securitization of deferred balances of electric public utilities resulting from the provisions of the New Jersey Act. The NJBPU may authorize the issuance of transition bonds by an electric public utility or other financing entity in order to (i) recover stranded costs deemed eligible for rate recovery in a stranded cost recovery order; (ii) recover rate reduction requirements determined by the NJBPU to be necessary under the provisions of the New Jersey Act; or (iii) recover basic generation service transition costs. The NJBPU may approve transition bonds with scheduled amortization of up to fifteen years if related to stranded cost recoveries or recoveries of basic generation service transition costs, or the remaining term of purchase power agreements if related to the buyout or buydown of long-term purchase powe r contracts with non-utility generators (NUGs).

On September 20, 2002, the NJBPU issued a Bondable Stranded Costs Rate Order (Financing Order) to ACE authorizing the issuance of $440 million of Transition Bonds. The proceeds of these bonds will be used to recover the stranded costs associated with the divestiture of the ACE nuclear assets, the buyout of the Pedricktown NUG contract and the buydown of the American Ref-Fuel NUG contract. Also included in the amount authorized is $20 million of transaction costs and capital reduction costs. Management expects that the bonds will be issued by the end of 2002, although this is dependent on conditions in the relevant capital markets at the times of the offerings.

ACE formed Atlantic City Electric Transition Funding LLC (ACE Transition Funding) during 2001 as a special purpose entity (SPE) for the sole purpose of purchasing and owning the bondable transition property (BTP), issuing transition bonds (Bonds), pledging ACE Transition Funding's interest in BTP and other collateral to the bond trustee to collateralize the Bonds, and performing activities that are necessary, suitable or convenient to accomplish these purposes. Proceeds from the sale of Bonds will be transferred to ACE in consideration for the BTP, and ACE will use the proceeds to repurchase debt and re-balance its capital structure. When issued, the Bonds of ACE Transition Funding will be included in ACE's Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Termination of Agreements for Sale of Electric Generating Plants

As disclosed in Note 9 to ACE's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the agreements between ACE and NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) for the sale of ACE's fossil fuel-fired electric generating plants (740 megawatts (MW) of capacity), including the Deepwater Station and B.L. England Station, and ACE's interests in Conemaugh and Keystone Stations, were subject to termination by either party after February 28, 2002. NRG delivered notice to Conectiv on April 1, 2002 terminating these agreements. On May 23, 2002, Conectiv announced that it initiated a second competitive bidding process to sell these ACE-owned fossil fuel-fired electric generating plants. Management expects that the competitive bidding process will conclude by the end of 2002. Management cannot predict the results of the competitive bidding process, whether the process will result in any sales agreements, whether the NJBPU will grant the required approval of any resulting sales agre ements, or any related impacts upon recoverable stranded costs.

As discussed in Note 6 to ACE's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Basic Generation Service (BGS) auction awarded about 1,900 MW, or 80% of ACE's BGS load to four suppliers for the period from August 1, 2002 to July 31, 2003. The remaining 20% of ACE's BGS load is supplied utilizing ACE's electric supply, consisting of its fossil fuel-fired electric generating plants (excluding Deepwater), which are used first to meet such BGS load, and its NUG contracts, to the extent such electric generating plants are not sufficient to satisfy such load. Any portion of ACE's electric supply that exceeds the load requirement of the BGS customers is sold in the wholesale market. In addition, if any of the four suppliers awarded 80% of ACE's BGS load default on performance, the Company will offer the defaulted load to the other winning bidders. If they are not interested, ACE will then procure the needed supply from the wholesale market. Any costs related to this new supply that are not covered by remuneration from the supplier in default will be included in the calculation of deferred electric service costs, which are subject to NJBPU review and future recovery in customer rate increases.

Earnings Results Summary

Earnings applicable to common stock decreased $18.3 million to $9.1 million for the third quarter of 2002, from $27.4 million for the third quarter of 2001. Earnings applicable to common stock decreased $31.5 million to $27.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, from $59.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. The earnings decreases were mainly due to higher total operating expenses for ACE's electric utility business, which reflected lower deferred electric service costs partly because a return on ACE's ownership interests in nuclear electric generating plants, which were sold on October 18, 2001, was not reflected in the determination of deferred electric service costs subsequent to the sale of such ownership interests. In addition, earnings were unfavorably impacted by a $30.5 million write-off of previously deferred electric service costs, as required under the NJBPU order approving the Conectiv/Pepco Merger. The decrease in earnings for both periods also reflects lower earnings from the deregulated Deepwater electric generating plant, primarily due to lower wholesale electricity prices, partially offset by increased customer usage of electricity during the third quarter of 2002 due to hotter summer weather and a favorable variance for lower interest expense.

 

Operating Revenues

 

    Three Months Ended
      September 30,        

         Nine Months Ended
                   September 30,           

 

     2002                  2001

     2002                 2001

 

(Dollars in millions)

Electric revenues

$365.3     

$336.7                                 

$826.3    

$806.6      

Other revenues

       0.3     

      1.1     

       1.9    

     4.3       

Total operating revenues

$365.6     

 $337.8    

$828.2    

$810.9      

Electric revenues in the table above are earned primarily from activities subject to rate regulation, including delivering electricity and supplying electricity (Basic Generation Service) to customers located in ACE's service territory.

Electric revenues increased by $28.6 million to $365.3 million for the third quarter of 2002, from $336.7 million for the third quarter of 2001. Electric revenues increased $19.7 million to $826.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, from $806.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. These increases were primarily attributed to higher revenues from retail customers and higher interchange sales due to hotter weather during the third quarter of 2002. The nine-month period increase also reflects higher retail revenues from commercial businesses, partly offset by lower revenues from the deregulated Deepwater electric generating plant, which reflected the effect of lower wholesale electricity prices earlier in the year.

The gross margin earned from electric revenues is equal to electric revenues decreased by "electric fuel and purchased energy and capacity" expenses and increased by "deferred electric service costs." The gross margin earned from electric revenues decreased $15.9 million to $141.0 million for the third quarter of 2002, from $156.9 million for the third quarter of 2001. The gross margin earned from electric revenues decreased $62.3 million to $362.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, from $424.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. The decreases reflect higher revenues offset by a reduction in the amount of deferred electric service costs. The third quarter and nine-month period electric gross margin variances also reflect lower and higher "electric fuel and purchased energy and capacity" expenses in each respective period.

Effective August 1, 2002, in accordance with the provisions of New Jersey's Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act and the NJBPU's Final Decision and Order concerning restructuring ACE's electric utility business, ACE reduced electric rates by approximately $30 million, or 3.2%, on an annualized basis. For background information concerning the rate decreases which resulted from the restructuring of ACE's electric utility industry, see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of ACE's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

See "Deferred Electric Service Costs" within the discussion of Operating Expenses for information concerning a filing by ACE for a $71.6 million annual rate increase, with a proposed effective date of August 1, 2003.

Operating Expenses

Electric Fuel and Purchased Energy and Capacity

"Electric fuel and purchased energy and capacity" decreased by $13.5 million to $233.4 million for the third quarter of 2002, from $246.9 million for the third quarter of 2001, mainly due to a lower average cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity supplied to customers. "Electric fuel and purchased energy and capacity" increased by $6.0 million to $513.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, from $507.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001, mainly due to a higher average cost per kWh of electricity supplied to customers, primarily due to less electricity production by ACE's B.L. England plant in the first quarter of 2002.

Operation and Maintenance Expenses

Operation and maintenance expenses decreased by $7.0 million to $56.0 million for the third quarter of 2002, from $63.0 million for the third quarter of 2001. Operation and maintenance expenses decreased by $9.4 million to $176.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, from $186.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. Both decreases were mainly due to the effect of the sale of ACE's interests in nuclear electric generating plants in October 2001, partly offset by higher pension and other postretirement benefit expenses and higher amounts of estimated uncollectible accounts receivable.

Merger-related Costs

ACE's operating results for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 include costs related to the Conectiv/Pepco Merger of $38.2 million ($22.6 million after income taxes). The $38.2 million of costs included the following: (i) a $30.5 million write-down of deferred electric service costs based on the terms of an order issued by the NJBPU, as noted above; (ii) $6.6 million for stock options settled in cash, severances, and retention payments; and (iii) $1.0 million for a contribution to a certain fund based on the terms of an order issued by the NJBPU, as noted above. Based on the terms of the settlement agreements and Commission orders in the States having regulatory jurisdiction over ACE, none of the costs related to the Conectiv/Pepco Merger are recoverable in future customer rate increases. Such costs are, and will be, excluded from studies submitted in base rate filings.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased by $4.8 million to $17.1 million in the third quarter of 2002, from $21.9 million in the third quarter of 2001. Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased by $14.4 million to $51.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, from $65.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. Both decreases were mainly due to the sale of ACE's interests in nuclear electric generating plants in October 2001.

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes

Taxes other than income taxes decreased by $3.1 million to $7.6 million in the third quarter of 2002, from $10.7 million in the third quarter of 2001. Taxes other than income taxes decreased by $9.7 million to $18.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, from $28.6 million for