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Enron Mail |
Thanks, Jeff. I will give to Ken.
Rosie From: Jeff Dasovich on 02/20/2001 05:38 PM Sent by: Jeff Dasovich To: Rosalee Fleming/Corp/Enron@ENRON cc: skean@enron.com, Richard Shapiro/NA/Enron@Enron=20 Subject:=20 Hi Rosalee: Steve Kean asked that I send you this note for transmittal to Ken Lay. Mr.= =20 Lay may receive a call from David Freeman regarding on-going power=20 negotiations between the California Department of Water and Enron, but it i= s=20 not certain that he will call. In the event that he does phone, we would= =20 like to make sure that Mr. Lay gets this information prior returning the=20 call. Thanks very much for your help. All the best, Jeff Mr. Lay: As you know we've been working very hard with David Freeman trying to hamme= r=20 out a power deal with CDWR. The big issue getting in the way of the deal= =20 continues to be credit. I've attached the summary of the credit issues and= =20 possible solutions to the problem that was included in the email to Senator= =20 Brulte last week. As part of the ongoing efforts to resolve the credit=20 issues, Chris Calger of the Portland office sent a letter to David Freeman= =20 yesterday. That letter is also attached. In sum, the letter: expresses our commitment to continue working together to resolve the credit= =20 issues,and, requests payment for power previously delivered to CDWR and pre-payment for= =20 any new deliveries. In response, David Freeman phoned Chris Calger expressing dissappointment= =20 that 1) we had yet to sign a power deal with DWR, despite your meeting with= =20 Dave Freeman and Mike Peevey a couple of weeks ago, and 2) we would make a= =20 power deal contingent upon a) payment for power previously delivered to DWR= =20 and b) pre-payment for any future deliveries. Freeman suggested that we=20 could sign the deal for 200 MWs of power now, but then back out of the deal= =20 if CDWR fails to get adequate credit provisions in place within the next fe= w=20 weeks. Given the political climate in California, we are of course not=20 anxious to sign a deal today that carries significant credit risk and=20 announce later that we are backing out of the deal, since doing so would=20 place the Company in a very uncomfortable political position. Instead, we= =20 continue to suggest that it's best for all parties to have the credit issue= s=20 resolved up front. You may receive a call from David Freeman seeking to discuss these issues= =20 further. As you know, the credit issues are significant and we are working= =20 hard to overcome those issues. But in the current climate, where the=20 Governor and the Legislature are actively discussing a complete takeover of= =20 the electric industry in California, getting the contract issues right is= =20 critical. Regards, Jeff Dasovich SUMMARY OF CREDIT ISSUES FROM BRULTE EMAIL Credit Concerns Regarding Authority Granted to DWR in AB1X to Purchase=20 Electricity on Behalf of the Utilities=20 Enron responded to the RFP issued by DWR to enter into power contracts with= =20 suppliers. Enron is in active discussions with DWR to establish contract terms with th= e=20 goal of entering into a power purchase agreement as soon as possible. However, ambiguities contained in AB1X have created significant credit risk= =20 concerns that need to be resolved in order to finalize contract terms. We understand that the lion=01,s share of counterparties share Enron=01,s c= redit=20 risk concerns. Enron has proposed several options for resolving the credit risk issues and= =20 is working with DWR to arrive at a solution that is mutually agreeable to= =20 both sides and that might serve as a template for power purchase agreements= =20 going forward. Summary of the Source of the Credit Risk Issue Ambiguous Ratemaking Authority The language in AB1X is ambiguous as to whether DWR has any authority to=20 charge California ratepayers for the costs of purchasing power. From our= =20 analysis of the bill, the language in AB1X appears to leave intact the=20 California PUC=01,s exclusive jurisdiction over ratemaking in California. = As=20 such, suppliers have no assurance that the PUC will agree to include in rat= es=20 adequate charges to cover DWR=01,s costs of power purchases. Ambiguous Regulatory Authority Regarding Contract =01&Prudence=018 The language in AB1X leaves open the possibility that the California Public= =20 Utilities Commission could determine that power purchases made by DWR are= =20 =01&imprudent.=018 On the basis of such a finding, the CPUC could then ref= use to=20 allow DWR to collect from ratepayers the costs associated with its power=20 purchases. Consequently, suppliers have no assurance that the PUC will agr= ee=20 to include in rates the charges to cover the costs of power contracts that= =20 DWR has entered into with suppliers. =20 Ambiguous Language Regarding the Ratemaking Mechanism that Will Be Used to= =20 Recover DWR=01,s Costs of Power Purchases In addition to the ambiguity regarding ratemaking and regulatory authority= =20 noted above, the language in the bill is equally ambiguous with respect to= =20 the specific ratemaking =01&mechanics=018 that AB1X directs the PUC to empl= oy to=20 permit DWR to recover its power purchase costs. Based on our analysis, it i= s=20 extremely difficult to determine how the PUC would design the rates to ensu= re=20 DWR recovers its power purchase costs. Moreover, as currently drafted, it = is=20 difficult to determine whether AB1X would even permit the PUC to include in= =20 rates all of the charges necessary to fully recover DWR=01,s power purchase= =20 costs. Again, this ambiguity raises significant credit risk concerns since= =20 suppliers have little assurance that DWR will have the ability to recover= =20 from ratepayers the costs of purchasing power. Options to Resolve Concerns Regarding Credit Risk=20 We have been working diligently with DWR officials to resolve the credit ri= sk=20 issues. We have identified three options: Amend AB1X The amendments, which are attached to this email, would clarify that a) the= =20 PUC would accept as =01&prudent and reasonable=018 all purchase costs incur= red by=20 DWR, and b) the PUC is obligated to include in rates the charges necessary = to=20 ensure that DWR fully recovers its costs of power purchases. This is the= =20 preferred option, though we understand that the there may be some political= =20 challenges standing in the way of amending AB1X. (See attached file=20 entitled, =01&AmendAB1X.doc=018.) Clarify the Ambiguities in AB1X through an Order Issued by the PUC, and=20 through Contract Language This is the option that we are currently working with DWR officials to=20 implement. However, it is more complicated and could take significantly mo= re=20 time to implement than the "legislative" fix. We have attached electronic= =20 copies of the talking points related to the order that the California PUC= =20 would need to issue under this option. (See attached file entitled,=20 =01&cpuctalkingpoints.doc.=018) Make Use of Other Instruments Designed to Address Credit Risk As indicated in our letter responding to DWR=01,s RFP, we are willing to ac= cept=20 other forms of credit from DWR. Those options include a letter of credit,= =20 cash prepayment, or an acceptable form of collateral. DWR officials have= =20 indicated to us that DWR prefers to pursue the second options. That is, DWR= =20 prefers to clarify the ambiguities in AB1X through a PUC order and through= =20 contract amendments. LETTER FROM CHRIS CALGER TO DAVID FREEMAN February 19, 2001 S. David Freeman, Advisor to the Governor California Department of Water Resources 1416 =01) 9th Street Sacramento, California 95814 FAX# (213) 897-9560 Re: Proposed Short-Term CAISO Firm Energy Sale Dear Mr. Freeman, As we described in our Response to Notice and Invitation to Bid dated=20 February 6, 2001, Enron Power Marketing Inc. (=01&EPMI=018) and its affilia= tes are=20 prepared to provide California Department of Water Resources (=01&CDWR=018)= various=20 power and power-related products. At this time, however, EPMI and CDWR are= =20 not in agreement with respect to the form of contract and the credit suppor= t=20 required to enter into long-term transactions. In response to your request= =20 of February 14, 2001, EPMI proposes that CDWR consider a short-term firm=20 energy transaction. =20 EPMI is prepared to offer to CDWR CAISO Firm Energy under the attached EEI= =20 Agreement and Confirmation Letter subject to (i) the payment in full by CDW= R=20 to EPMI on or before February 21, 2001 for deliveries of power already made= =20 by EPMI to CDWR; (ii) confirmation that CDWR will pay EPMI in full for the= =20 new power deliveries according to the schedule described in the attached=20 Confirmation Letter; and (iii) CDWR will in good faith consider the followi= ng=20 proposals described in our Response To Notice and Invitation to Bid dated= =20 February 6, 2001: a) Unit Contingent Power supply from Pastoria Energy Facility b) Firm Power Supply from Market Sources c) Hourly Demand Response Program The amounts due from CDWR to EPMI are described below: DATE DESCRIPTION NET SALES JAN CDWR $578,870.00 JAN CDWR $4,913,100.00 FEB CERS $6,014,000.00 FEB1-17 Block Forward $2,502,000.00 Total: $14,007,970.00 The above amount can be wire transferred to: BNK: Bank of America For: Enron Power Marketing, Inc. ABA: Routing # 111000012 ACCT: #375 046 9312 Confirmation: Enron Power Marketing, Inc. Credit and Collections (713) 853-5667 If we find that payment has been made, we will be able to offer a firm pric= e,=20 and if we are in agreement at that time, we will sign and forward the=20 attached documents. On Friday, February 16, 2001, the price for the power= =20 described in the attached Confirmation Letter was $270 per MWh. The price = is=20 subject to change based on market conditions and will need to be revised an= d=20 confirmed prior to execution of the attached Confirmation Letter. =20 EPMI is available to discuss this proposal at your convenience and we will = be=20 available on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 to discuss the amounts payable=20 described above. We are prepared to continue working with you and your te= am=20 to establish a Master Agreement with sufficient credit support to enable us= =20 to enter into other agreements that best meet your power purchase needs. = I=20 can be reached at (503) 464-3735. Yours Truly, ENRON POWER MARKETING, INC. Christopher F. Calger Managing Director
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