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BOWNE INTEGRATED TYPESETTING SYSTEM
CRC: 15924
Name: NATIONAL GRID
Date: 17-JUN-2008 03:10:51.35Operator: BNY99999TPhone: (212)924-5500Site: BOWNE OF NEW YORK
Y59930.SUB, DocName: EX-2.B.6.1, Doc: 6, Page: 104
Description: EXH 2(B).6.1
0/2708.00.00.00Y59930BNY
[E/O] EDGAR 2 *Y59930/708/2*
BOWNE INTEGRATED TYPESETTING SYSTEM
CRC: 15924
Name: NATIONAL GRID
Date: 17-JUN-2008 03:10:51.35Operator: BNY99999TPhone: (212)924-5500Site: BOWNE OF NEW YORK
Y59930.SUB, DocName: EX-2.B.6.1, Doc: 6, Page: 104
Description: EXH 2(B).6.1
0/2708.00.00.00Y59930BNY
[E/O] EDGAR 2 *Y59930/708/2*
instituted a $10 million settlement credit that terminated on March 1, 2005. Durin
g
this period, known as the Rate Freeze
Period, distribution rates (after the reduction for the $10 million settlement credit) were frozen. Durin
g
the period from March 1,
2005 throu
g
h December 31, 2009, the Rate Index Period, subsequent to the increase in distribution rates resultin
g
from the
termination of the $10 million settlement credit, the Company’s distribution rates are adjusted annually, upward or downward,
based upon the movement of a distribution index rate (in cents per kilowatt-hour) of similarly unbundled distribution utilities in
New En
g
land, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Company determined that its initial relative position a
g
ainst this
index of utilities established usin
g
distribution rates in effect July 1, 2004 was less than 90 percent, which allowed it to reflect in
distribution rates the effect of terminatin
g
the entire $10 million settlement credit. On July 1 of each succeedin
g
year, the
Company updates the re
g
ional index rate and, based upon the movement, upward or downward, of this re
g
ional index rate,
adjusts its own distribution rates accordin
g
ly effective March 1 of the followin
g
year. In the first two such adjustments the
Company implemented a 3.5 percent and a 1.6 percent increase in distribution rates pursuant to this mechanism effective
March 1, 2006 and March 1, 2007, respectively. Durin
g
2009, the Company will file a distribution cost of service to determine
the share of earned savin
g
s, if any, that it will be able to include in this and future cost of service studies for the purpose of
establishin
g
distribution rates to be in effect from January 2010 throu
g
h May 2020, in accordance with a sharin
g
mechanism
defined in the rate plan. The Company will be allowed to retain 100 percent of annual earned savin
g
s up to $70 million and
50 percent of annual earned savings between $70 million and $145 million (all figures pre-tax). Earned savin
g
s represent the
difference between annual distribution revenue based on rates in effect on March 1, 2009 and the Company’s cost of providin
g
service, includin
g
a re
g
ional avera
g
e authorized return. These efficiency incentive mechanisms provide an opportunity to
achieve returns in excess of traditional regulatory allowed returns.
Nantucket Electric’s distribution rates are linked to Massachusetts Electric’s rates. In addition, Nantucket Electric owns and
operates two 46 kilovolt submarine cables that interconnect Nantucket Island to the transmission system on Cape Cod, the
costs of which are recovered through a special surcharge to its customers.
The Narragansett Electric Company
Electric segment: In Rhode Island, Narragansett Electric’s distribution rates are governed by a long-term rate plan. Under its
rate plan, effective from November 2004 until December 2009, Narra
g
ansett Electric a
g
reed to reduce its distribution rates by
$10.2 million (pre-tax) per year. Be
g
innin
g
in January 2005, Narra
g
ansett has been able to keep an amount equal to 100
percent of its earnings up to an allowed ROE of 10.5 percent, plus $4.65 million (pre-tax), which represents its share of
demonstrated savin
g
s subsequent to the acquisition of EUA in 2000. Earnin
g
s above that amount up to an additional 1 percent
ROE are to be shared equally between Narra
g
ansett and its customers, while additional earnin
g
s will be allocated 75 percent to
customers and 25 percent to Narra
g
ansett. This re
g
ulatory mechanism offers the potential to achieve returns in excess of
traditional regulatory allowed returns.
In addition, Narragansett has implemented a customer credit totalling $27.6 million on most of its customers’ bills from
November 2004 through December 2005. This credit was designed to return customers’ share of the excess earnin
g
s accrued
under the mer
g
er rate plan approved and implemented in 2000
g
overnin
g
the mer
g
er of Narra
g
ansett with Blackstone Valley
Electric Company and Newport Electric Corporation.
Gas segment: In May 2002, the Rhode Island Public Utility Commission approved a settlement a
g
reement between the New
En
g
land Gas Company and the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (the Division). The settlement a
g
reement
resulted in a $3.9 million decrease in base revenues for the New England Gas Company, a unified rate structure (“One State;
One Rate”) and an inte
g
ration /mer
g
er savin
g
s mechanism. The settlement a
g
reement also allows New En
g
land Gas Company
to retain $2 million of mer
g
er savin
g
s and to share incremental earnin
g
s with customers when the return on equity exceeds
11.25 percent. Included in the settlement a
g
reement was a conversion to therm billin
g
and the approval of a reconcilin
g
Distribution Adjustment Clause (DAC). The DAC allows New En
g
land Gas Company to continue its low income assistance and
weatherization programs and to
F-19