Eversource 2009 Annual Report Download - page 24

16
We have closely monitored research and government policy developments for many years and will continue to do so. In accordance
with recommendations of various regulatory bodies and public health organizations, we reduce EMF associated with new transmission
lines by the use of designs that can be implemented without additional cost or at a modest cost. We do not believe that other capital
expenditures are appropriate to minimize unsubstantiated risks.
Global Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emission Issues
Global climate change and greenhouse gas emission issues have received an increased focus from state governments and the federal
government, particularly in the last year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated a rulemaking addressing
greenhouse gas emissions and, on December 7, 2009, issued a finding that concluded that greenhouse gas emissions are "air
pollution" and endanger public health and welfare and should be regulated. The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the
U.S. is the electricity generating sector.
We are continually evaluating the risks presented by climate change concerns and issues. Such concerns could potentially lead to
additional rules and regulations that impact how we operate our business, both in terms of the generating facilities we own and operate
as well as general utility operations. (See "Air Quality Requirements" in this section for information concerning RGGI) These could
include federal “cap and trade” laws, or regulations requiring additional capital expenditures at our generating facilities. In addition, such
rules or regulations could potentially impact the prices we pay for goods and services provided by companies directly affected by such
rules or regulations. We would expect that any costs of these rules and regulations would be recovered from customers, but such costs
could impact energy use by our customers.
Global climate change could potentially impact weather patterns such as increasing the frequency and severity of storms or altering
temperatures. These changes could affect our facilities and infrastructure and could also impact energy usage by our customers.
FERC Hydroelectric Project Licensing
Federal Power Act licenses may be issued for hydroelectric projects for terms of 30 to 50 years as determined by the FERC. Upon the
expiration of an existing license, (i) the FERC may issue a new license to the existing licensee, or (ii) the United States may take over
the project or (iii) the FERC may issue a new license to a new licensee, upon payment to the existing licensee of the lesser of the fair
value or the net investment in the project, plus severance damages, less certain amounts earned by the licensee in excess of a
reasonable rate of return.
PSNH owns nine hydroelectric generating stations with a current claimed capability representing winter rates of approximately 71 MW,
eight of which are licensed by the FERC under long-term licenses that expire on varying dates from 2017 through 2047. As a licensee
under the Federal Power Act (FPA), PSNH and its hydroelectric projects are subject to conditions set forth in the FPA and related FERC
regulations, including provisions related to the condemnation of a project upon payment of just compensation, amortization of project
investment from excess project earnings, possible takeover of a project after expiration of its license upon payment of net investment
and severance damages and other matters.
Licensed operating hydroelectric projects are not generally subject to decommissioning during the license term in the absence of a
specific license provision which expressly permits the FERC to order decommissioning during the license term. However, the FERC
has taken the position that under appropriate circumstances it may order decommissioning of hydroelectric projects at relicensing or
may require the establishment of decommissioning trust funds as a condition of relicensing. The FERC may also require project
decommissioning during a license term if a hydroelectric project is abandoned, the project license is surrendered or the license is
revoked.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2009, we employed a total of 6,078 employees, excluding temporary employees, of which 1,870 were employed by
CL&P, 1,250 by PSNH, 348 by WMECO, 425 by Yankee Gas and 2,185 were employed by Northeast Utilities Service Company
(NUSCO). Approximately 2,231 employees of CL&P, PSNH, WMECO, NUSCO and Yankee Gas are members of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and The United Steelworkers and are covered by 11 union agreements.
INTERNET INFORMATION
Our website address is www.nu.com. We make available through our website a link to the SEC's EDGAR website
(http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html), at which site NU's, CL&P's, WMECO's and PSNH's Annual Reports on
Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports may be reviewed.
Printed copies of these reports may be obtained free of charge by writing to our Investor Relations Department at Northeast Utilities, 56
Prospect Street, Hartford, CT 06103.