02-02
""'l.
RESOLUTION NO. 02-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, APPROVING
THE FORM OF AN ALL REQUIREMENTS GAS SERVICES AGREEMENT
FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF GAS AND OTHER SERVICES AND
AUTHORIZING NEGOTIATIONS OF RELATED FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AS PROVIDED FOR THEREIN; AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTION OF THE ALL REQUIREMENTS GAS SERVICES
AGREEMENT AND RELATED INSTRUMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE
DELIVERY OF SUCH INSTRUMENTS TO FLORIDA GAS UTILITY;
PROVIDING FOR THE MAKING OF PAYMENTS PURSUANT TO SAID ALL
REQUIREMENTS GAS SERVICES AGREEMENT, AND MAKING CERTAIN
COVENANTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAID PAYMENTS; PROVIDING FOR
THE MAKING OF PAYMENTS PURSUANT TO SAID FINANCIAL
INSTRUMENTS PROVIDING FOR FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AUTHORIZED
BY THE ALL REQUIREMENTS GAS SERVICES AGREEMENT AND
IMPLEMENTED BY THE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE, AND MAKING
CERTAIN COVENANTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAID PAYMENTS;
PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MEMBER
REPRESENTATIVE; PROVIDING CERTAIN OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING CERTAIN OTHER
DETAILS WITH RESPECT THERETO.
WHEREAS, the City of Clearwater, Florida ("Member"), wishes to satisfy its
obligations as a Member of Florida Gas Utility (UFGU") by purchasing a supply of natural gas
and financial products and services related thereto, from FGU by entering into an All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement, a proposed form of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the "All Requirements Gas Services Agreement); and
WHEREAS, in order to provide the benefits of the gas supply and other
services to Members of FGU and in order to assure the flexibility in pricing and other services
provided by the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement, it is necessary for Member to
authorize and approve the form of the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement with such
changes, insertions, omissions and filling in of blanks as may be approved by the officers of
Member approving such Agreements, which duty and responsibility is delegated hereby to
such officers; and
WHEREAS, in order to take advantage of certain Financial Products as
provided in Financial Instruments described in the AI/ Requirements Gas Services Agreement
(together with the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement, sometimes collectively called
the "Agreements"), it is necessary for Member to authorize Member Representative to give
the Directive provided for in the AI/ Requirements Gas Services Agreement, binding Member
for the obligations set forth therein; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the governing body of each Member of FGU
choosing to do so, to approve the form of the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement and
authorize the execution of the other Agreements authorized hereby and thereby, and the
execution and delivery by its authorized representatives of the All Requirements Gas
Services Agreement and other Agreements and Directive pertaining to Member; and
Resolution 02-02
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WHEREAS, Member desires to take certain other actions and make certain
authorizations and delegations of authority with respect to the Agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. Authority. This Resolution is adopted pursuant to the Constitution
and laws of the State of Florida, including, particularly, Section 163.01, Florida Statutes, and
Chapter 166, Florida Statutes.
Section 2. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used
herein in capitalized form shal/ have the same meanings ascribed to such terms in the
Agreements.
Section 3. FindinQs. It is hereby ascertained, determined and declared that
Member is authorized under the authority cited above to approve the form of the Agreements
in the manner herein provided.
Section 4. Approval of Form of All ReQuirements Gas Services AQreement and
Other AQreements Authorized Thereby. The form of the All Requirements Gas Services
Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit A, is hereby approved, with such changes, insertions,
omissions and filling in of blanks therein as may be approved and made to such form of the
All Requirements Gas Services Agreement by the officers designated in Section 9 below,
executing the same in the manner consistent with the provisions of this Resolution. The duty
and responsibility for negotiating and approving modifications or amendments to the All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement and negotiating and approving of any Financial
Instruments described therein and in this Resolution are hereby delegated to the officers
designated in Section 9 below. Such execution and delivery of the final forms of the
Agreements shal/ be conclusive evidence of the approval of the Agreements by the officers
executing the same and Member shall be bound by the Agreements as executed and
delivered. Such officers are hereby authorized to deliver the Agreements, as so negotiated,
modified and amended, as executed, to FGU for its consideration and execution.
Section 5. Particular Covenants.
A. The payments required to be made by Member pursuant to the
provisions of Section 4(g) of the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement shall constitute
an obligation of Member payable as an operating expense of Member's System ("System")
solely from the revenues and other available funds of Member's System, and such payments
shall be made as provided in the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement and subject to
the provisions thereof, to the extent such payments would constitute operating expenses
under Member's indentures, bond resolutions or other bond documents entered into in
connection with the financing of Member's System.
S. If such payments are not treated as operating expenses, such payments
shall be made by such Member pursuant to the provisions of Section 40) of the All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement and shall constitute an obligation payable solely from
the revenues of Member's System which revenues are pledged therefor, subject and
subordinate to certain payments as provided in said Section 40).
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Resolution 02-02
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C. Member shall not be required to make such payments from taxes or
revenues other than the revenues of Member's System. The obligations of Member to make
payments under the Agreements shall not constitute a debt of Member within the meaning of
any constitutional or statutory provision or limitation or a general obligation of or pledge of the
full faith and credit of Member. Member shall never be required under the Agreements to
levy ad valorem taxes on any real property to make said payments, and the obligations of
Member thereunder shall not constitute a lien upon any tangible property owned by or located
within the boundaries or the service area of Member, but shall be payable solely from the
aforementioned revenues. No obligee under the Agreements shall ever have the power to
require or compel the levy of ad valorem taxes upon any property of Member or within its
boundaries or service area to make any of the payments required to be made under the
Agreements.
D. The provisions of the Financial Instruments creating Financial Products
as described in the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement obligating Member for certain
payments thereunder and to perform certain covenants will constitute obligations of Member
enforceable against it in accordance with the respective terms thereof, including, but not
limited to the payment of any "termination payment" or other obligations of the kind described
in Exhibit A to the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement.
Section 6. System Revenues. The estimated revenues to be derived by
Member from its System will be sufficient to make the payments required to be made by
Member pursuant to the Agreements, to pay all operating expenses of Member's System,
and to make all payments of principal of and interest on Member's outstanding obligations for
bonded or other indebtedness.
Section 7. Rate Covenant. Under the terms of the Agreements, Member
agrees that it will establish, impose, maintain, enforce and collect rates, fees and charges for
all services and facilities of its System sufficient to produce revenues at the times and in the
amounts required to pay all costs of the supply of Gas and other energy or other output and
other services for Member's System, including the payments to be made under the
Agreements, as well as all other costs of operation, administration, maintenance and debt
service of the System and all other amounts payable from or constituting a lien or charge on
the revenues of Member's System.
Member will provide to FGU, or its designee, annually, promptly upon its
preparation, but no later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the end of its Fiscal Year,
a copy of its annual audit and such other financial and other records as may be required by
the Agreements.
Section 8. Appointment of Member Representative. As required by Section 28
of the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement, the individual who shall serve from time to
time as City Manager of Member, or the individual who shall serve from time to time as either
the Managing Director & Executive Officer, or the Gas Program Coordinator/Gas Supply &
Technology Engineer, of Clearwater Gas System of Member shall serve as the Member
Representative authorized to take such actions as are provided in Section 28 of the All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement, including the giving of instructions and Directives to
FGU for the negotiation and execution of Financial Instruments that will be legally binding
upon Member, and otherwise to fulfill all duties of such representative under Section 28 of the
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Resolution 02-02
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All Requirements Gas Services Agreement. The Member Representative shall have full
authority to represent and bind Member for all purposes authorized by the All Requirements
Gas Services Agreement, including those matters set forth in Section 28, including Section
28(2) thereof, until such Member Representative shall be changed by Member and written
notice of such change shall be given to FGU. FGU may rely upon any instructions, as well as
a Directive or Addendum executed by Member Representative and such action of such
Member Representative shall be deemed duly authorized, executed and delivered by
Member Representative on behalf of Member and shall be the legally binding obligation of
Member.
Section 9. Authorizations Concernino Aoreements.
A. The Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem and the Clerk or any Deputy Clerk of Member
shall be and are hereby authorized to execute and deliver the All Requirements Gas Services
Agreement for and on behalf of Member pursuant to the terms hereof, in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A, and the Financial Instruments, in such forms as shall be
negotiated in the manner provided herein, in each case, with such changes, insertions and
omissions and filling in of blanks therein as such officers may approve, such approval to be
conclusively evidenced by the execution thereof.
B. Such officers authorized hereby are also directed to complete or approve
Appendix 1 to the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement, to complete Appendix 2 to the
All Requirements Gas Services Agreement, to insert the Point(s) of Delivery, to complete
Exhibit B to the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement to describe Member's enterprise
System and gas burning or distribution facilities, to complete Exhibit C to the All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement to list and describe Member's outstanding
obligations, and to complete Exhibit D to the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement to
describe Excluded Resources, or to add such facilities by Addendum.
C. Such other officers and employees of Member as may be designated by
the officers charged with the execution of the Agreements, including the Member
Representative and representatives on the Board of Directors or Executive Committee of
FGU, are each designated as agents in connection with the issuance and delivery of the
Agreements and are authorized and empowered, collectively or individually, to take all action
and steps and to execute all instruments, documents and contracts on behalf of Member that
are necessary or desirable in connection with the execution and delivery thereof, and which
are specifically authorized or are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this
Resolution.
Section 10. Resolution to Constitute Contract. This Resolution shall be
deemed to be and shall constitute a contract between Member and FGU and the other
Members of FGU. The covenants and agreements herein set forth to be performed by
Member shal/ be for the benefit, protection and security of FGU and the other Members and
those third parties in the manner and to the extent provided in the Agreements.
Section 11. Severability. If anyone or more provisions of this Resolution
should be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to law, such
provisions shall be deemed to be severable from the remaining provisions hereof and shall in
no way effect the validity or enforceability of such remaining provisions.
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Resolution 02-02
Section 12. ReDeal of Inconsistent Resolutions. All resolutions or parts of
resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
Section 13. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately
upon its adoption.
This Resolution passed and adopted this 24th day of January, 2002.
APPROVED:
CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
Approved as to form:
Attest:
BY~C~
e C. Hayman
Assistant City Attor ey
0~:L,
Cyn H'a E. Gou~:a1J
Citygerk
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Resolution 02-02
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ALL REQUIREMENTS GAS SERVICES AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
FLORIDA GAS UTILITY
AND
CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
Dated as of
_,2002
Exhibit "A"
{.,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1. Definitions and Explanations of Terms. ......................................2
SECTION 2. Term of Agreement. ....................................................................7
SECTION 3. Gas Supply Service and Pricing. .................................................8
SECTION 4. Method of Payment......................... ......................................... .12
SECTION 5. Scheduling of Deliveries; Title. ................................................ ..15
SECTION 6. Point(s) of Delivery.. ....................... .......................................... .16
SECTION 7. Curtailment............................................................................. .17
SECTION 8. Availability of Gas or Gas Allocation Shares. .............................17
SECTION 9. Insurance.. . .. . . . . . . . . . .... . .. . . ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . ... . .. . . . 17
SECTION 10. Annual Budget; Accounting. .................................................. ..17
SECTION 11. Information to be Made Available........................................... ..17
SECTION 12. Member Covenants....... ......................................................... .19
SECTION 13. Pledge of Payments. .................................................................20
SECTION 14. Event of Default. .....................................................................20
SECTION 15. Continuing Obligation, Right to Discontinue Service. ...............20
SECTION 16. Transfer of Gas Allocation Shares Following Default. ...............21
SECTION 17. Other Default by Member. .......................................................22
SECTION 18. Default by FGU. .......................................... ..... ..................... ..22
SECTION 19. Abandonment of Remedy. ...................................................... ..22
SECTION 20 . Waiver of Default. ....................................................................22
SECTION 21. Relationship to and Compliance with Other Instruments. ........23
SECTION 22. Measurement of Gas. .............................................................. .23
SECTION 23. Liability of Parties. ..................................................... ............ ..23
SECTION 24. Sale of Member's Excess Gas Allocation Share. ........................26
SECTION 25. Assignment of All Requirements Gas Services Agreement,
Sale of Member's System. .........................................................26
SECTION 26. Termination or Amendment of Contract. ..................................27
SECTION 27. Force Majeure. .............. ......................................................... .28
SECTION 28. Member Representative. ........................................................ .30
SECTION 29. Special Projects. ................ ..................................................... .31
SECTION 30. Notice and Computation of Time............................................ ..31
SECTION 31. Applicable Law; Construction. ................................................ .32
SECTION 32. Severability.. ................................ ............... .......................... ..32
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
Exhibit D
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
- Characteristics of Financial Products
- Description of System
- Member Outstanding Obligations
- Excluded Resources
- Schedule of Members
- Member's Point or Points of Delivery
- Form of Opinion of Counsel to Member
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ALL REQUIREMENTS GAS SERVICES AGREEMENT
This ALL REQUIREMENTS GAS SERVICES AGREEMENT
("Agreement") made and entered into as of _, 2002, by and
between FLORIDA GAS UTILITY, a public body corporate and politic
formed under the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act ("FGU") and the CITY
OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, a municipal corporation of the State of
Florida ("Member").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, FGU was formed by Interlocal Agreement on
September 1, 1989, which was subsequently amended by the Amended
Interlocal Agreement on June 1, 1992, and thereafter amended and
restated by Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement dated as of
July 1, 1996, and thereafter amended and restated by Second Amended
and Restated Interlocal Agreement dated as of July 27, 1999 (the
"Interlocal Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, in order to take advantage of perceived opportunities
created by the restructuring of natural gas services, FGU was established
between and among several public agencies for the purpose of achieving
savings through joint services for, or which otherwise benefit, its
Members; and
WHEREAS, FGU will take or cause to be taken all steps necessary
for the acquisition of, and will undertake such contractual arrangements
necessary to secure, a suitable supply of Gas or a suitable pricing
mechanism including Financial Products, or both, under one or more
Gas Purchase Contracts or Financial Instruments, and will provide the
Gas and pricing mechanism and services pursuant to this Agreement
and/ or other related or suitable Financial Instruments, and pursuant to
agreements similar to this Agreement and related or suitable Financial
Instruments with other Members, all as hereinafter defined; and
WHEREAS, in order to enable FGU to provide its services
hereunder and to pay the Cost of Services and Monthly Costs provided
for herein, FGU may have substantially similar All Requirements Gas
Services Agreements with some or all of its Members and, in such event,
such Member's obligations under any previous Gas Services Agreement
shall cease; and
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WHEREAS, Article VI of the Interlocal Agreement authorizes the
Board of FGU to undertake a Special Project, and it is intended that
unless each of its Members shall become a party to substantially similar
agreements, the undertakings pursuant to this Agreement shall be
treated as a Special Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, it is agreed by and between
the parties hereto as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions and Explanations of Terms.
As used herein:
Addendum or Addenda shall mean an instrument or instruments,
in writing, sufficient to amend, add to or otherwise modify this
Agreement or any part thereof, which may be used to create a Special
Project, and which term shall include a Directive by a Member
Representative that implements some part or all of this Agreement.
Aggregated Transportation Contracts shall have the meaning
ascribed to that term in Section 3(e).
Agreement shall mean this All Requirements Gas Services
Agreement and/ or any other related or suitable Financial Instruments
that may accompany this Agreement or be appropriate for the purposes
to be achieved by this Agreement.
All Requirements Gas Services Agreements shall mean this All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement and, as appropriate, the
substantially similar All Requirements Gas Services Agreements, between
FGU and some or all of its other Members.
Annual Budget shall mean the budget adopted by the Board of
FGU pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 10, or, in the case of an
amended Annual Budget adopted by the Board or Executive Committee
of FGU, during the remainder of a Fiscal Year.
Approved Rate Tariff shall mean the tariff for the transportation of
Gas as approved by FERC or the governmental or other entity charged
with this responsibility.
Board shall mean the Board of Directors of FGU or if said Board
shall be abolished, its successor board, body, commission or agency
succeeding to the principal functions thereof.
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Commencement Date shall mean the first date on which FGU shall
make Gas available to, or the effective date of any Financial Instrument
entered into for the benefit of, Member pursuant to this Agreement or
any Special Project authorized hereby.
Cost of Services shall mean all costs of planning, financing,
pricing, acquiring, transporting, storing and implementing the supply of
Gas hereunder, or the utilization of any Financial Product pursuant to
any Financial Instrument, which shall include, but shall not be limited
to, funds for:
(1) the payment of costs and expenses incurred for or in
connection with the acquisition and/or pricing of the services
provided under this Agreement or with respect to Gas or other
services, provided under any other agreement;
(2) all federal, state and local taxes and payments in lieu
of taxes required to be paid with respect to the services rendered
pursuan t to this Agreement;
(3) all costs and expenses relating to claims or judgments
(including injury and damage claims) relating to the operations of
FGU;
(4) all planning and development costs, engineering fees,
contractors' fees, costs of obtaining governmental or regulatory
permits, licenses and approvals, costs of real property, labor,
materials, equipment, supplies, training and testing costs,
insurance premiums, legal, consulting and financing costs,
administrative and general costs, and all other costs properly
allocable to the acquisition and implementation of the services
provided under this Agreement;
(5) all other costs incurred in connection with and
properly chargeable to, the acquisition or implementation of the
services provided under this Agreement, including any prepayment
of operating expenses required under this Agreement and amounts
required to be paid by FGU under any contract to which it is a
party in respect of Financial Products authorized hereunder or by
Financial Instruments, implemented in accordance with the
Financial Derivatives Policy adopted by the Board of FGU; and
(6) the allowance for working capital or any other reserve
requirements of FGU and all costs relating thereto, and the cost of
credit facilities or enhancements, in such amounts as shall be
deemed reasonably necessary by FGU as determined in accordance
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with the Reserve Obligation Policy and Credit Policy adopted by the
Board of FGU.
Designee shall mean FGU as the contractually authorized agent of
a Member as defined in the general terms and conditions of Transporter's
Approved Rate Tariff.
Division shall mean a Member of FGU, and the associated Point(s)
of Delivery of that Member, whose transportation entitlements have been
aggregated under one transportation contract held by FGU to which
Transporter's Approved Rate Tariff applies.
Directive shall mean an instrument, in writing, executed and
delivered by a Member Representative that gives directions to FGU
hereunder, or otherwise authorizes actions by FGU hereunder, or
implements all or a part of this Agreement, and upon which FGU may
rely as being duly authorized, executed and delivered by Member. A
Directive may be given by an Addendum.
Excluded Resources shall mean those facilities consisting of future
power plant(s) co-developed by Member with a third party where natural
gas is supplied by said third party as a part of the development
agreement. Such facilities shall be described in Exhibit D, attached, or
shall be added as an Addendum to this Agreement at such time as such
co-development shall occur.
Financial Instrument shall mean an agreement entered into with
respect to the purchase or pricing of Gas or other services provided
hereunder that provides for Financial Products by and between the
parties thereto that may include FGU, or Member, or both, any other
Member and any third parties or counterparties; provided that a Member
or Member Representative is required to authorize a Financial
Instrument that obligates only such Member.
Financial Products shall mean futures contracts, commodity swaps
and hedging arrangements related to the pricing or supply of Gas or
other services provided hereunder, whether entered into by FGU, or by
Member and/ or FGU, including balancing or similar agreements or
interest rate exchanges or swaps, cash flow exchanges, options, caps,
floors or collars implemented in accordance with the Financial
Derivatives Policy adopted by the Board of FGU. Such Financial
Products may have characteristics similar to those set forth in Exhibit A
hereto.
Fiscal Year shall mean the twelve (12) month period commencing
at 12:01 a.m. on October 1 of each year, or with respect to a Special
Project, as may be specified for that project.
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Gas shall mean pipeline quality natural gas supplied pursuant to
this Agreement with the quality provisions set forth in the general terms
and conditions of Transporter's Approved Rate Tariff, or any equivalent
standard.
Gas Allocation Share shall mean the Gas or other undertakings
allocated to each Member in the manner provided by Section 3(b) of this
Agreement.
Gas Purchase Contract shall mean one or more gas purchase
contracts (including amendments thereto) entered into between FGU and
one or more Gas suppliers or owners of interests in Gas.
Member or Members shall mean the Member specified in the first
paragraph of this Agreement and one or more parties, other than FGU, to
All Requirements Gas Services Agreements substantially similar to this
Agreement. An initial list of such Members is set forth in Appendix 1
hereto.
Member Representative shall mean the Member Representative as
provided in Section 28 hereof.
Month shall mean a calendar month.
Monthlv Costs shall mean, with respect to each Month of each
Fiscal Year, all costs that are paid or incurred by FGU during such
Month directly or indirectly with respect to the purchase, pricing, supply,
storage or transportation of Gas to Members under and pursuant to the
Gas Purchase Contract, Financial Instruments, Transportation Contracts
or otherwise, as hereinafter provided, including without limitation, the
following items of cost:
(1) the costs, as determined In accordance with the Pricing
Policy adopted by the Board of FGU, of
(i) Gas supply purchased by Member under this
Agreement pursuant to the Gas Purchase Contract, or
any other instrument;
(ii) Gas transportation to the Point(s) of Delivery pursuant
to the Transportation Contracts;
(iii) FGU service charges for its administrative servIces
provided hereunder; and
(iv) adjustments, and an equitably allocated portion of all
FGU's other expenses;
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(2) amounts required to be paid by FGU under any contract to
which it is a party, including Financial Instruments entered into in
respect of Financial Products; unless expressly otherwise provided to the
contrary in the Financial Instrument, payments on such obligations shall
be allocated to Member in accordance with the Financial Derivatives
Policy adopted from time to time by the Board of FG U;
(3) any additional amount not specified in the other items of this
definition which must be paid by FGU during such Month, as determined
in accordance with the Pricing Policy adopted by the Board of FGU,
including, without limitation, costs imposed or permitted by any
regulatory agency or which are paid or incurred in connection with the
supply of services hereunder or the provision of services by FGU to
Members;
(4) all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, legal
fees and expenses) relating to personal injury and damage claims and
extraordinary costs relating to pipeline, regulatory or other such costs,
expenses or assessments required to be paid by FGU in connection with
the delivery of services hereunder, as determined in accordance with the
Pricing Policy adopted by the Board of FGU;
(5) any reserves FGU determines to be reasonably necessary for
payment of those items of costs and expenses incurred in the delivery of
services, to the extent not covered by any preceding clause, and in
accordance with the Reserve Obligation Policy and Credit Policy adopted
by the Board of FGU; and
(6) debt service (including principal, interest and premiums) and
all related charges on any line of credit, letter of credit, working capital or
other shorter term loans incurred by FGU pursuant to action taken by
the Board of FGU. Payments on such obligations shall be allocated to
Member in accordance with the Debt Obligation Policy adopted by the
Board of FGU.
Notwithstanding the foregoing (except for the matters described in
items (5) and (6) of the definition of Monthly Costs in Section 1 above), if
an item of cost or expense referred to above or any part thereof shall
relate to less than all of Members or shall clearly not be applicable to a
Member, such item shall only be included as an item of Monthly Cost
with respect to those Members to which such cost or expense relates.
Point or Points of Delivery shall mean the point or points of
delivery specified in Appendix 2 hereto or such other point or points of
delivery from time to time agreed to between Member and FGU.
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Schedule of Members shall mean the Schedule of Members
contained in Appendix 1 hereto, or that may be set forth in an
Addendum, including an Addendum for a Special Project, as the same
may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with
the provisions hereof.
Special Proiect shall mean a project designated by one or more
Member Representatives for any of the purposes of this Agreement, and
such Member Representatives may, by Addendum to this Agreement,
make such changes as shall be agreed by FGU and all Members engaging
in a Special Project. Such Special Project shall be designated as a
Special Project and shall be given an appropriate identifying number,
letter or other designation. This Agreement shall constitute a Special
Project unless each Member shall become a party to a substantially
similar All Requirements Gas Services Agreement. A Member in a
Special Project may be referred to as a "Participant" and the Special
Project designation may follow.
System shall mean and refer to a Member's enterprise system, as
more particularly described in Exhibit B hereto, which describes those
facilities that require or permit the utilization or local distribution of gas,
and any additions or improvements thereto, and all other gas utilization
or distribution enterprise systems that may be constructed or acquired
by Member.
Transportation Contracts shall mean the contract or contracts for
the transportation of Gas between FGU, or FGU on behalf of Member, or
contracts between Member with the designation of FGU as Member's
agent, and Transporter.
Transporter shall mean Florida Gas Transmission Company,
Gulfstream Natural Gas Systems, L.L.C., or any other company legally
authorized to transport Gas, and its successors in interest.
SECTION 2. Term of Agreement.
This Agreement shall supercede the Gas Services Agreement
currently in effect between Member and FGU, and shall be effective on
the date first written above and shall continue in full force and effect
until the end of the Fiscal Year which expires in the calendar year which
next succeeds the calendar year during which written notice of intent to
terminate shall be given. Such written notice, if given, shall be given
prior to April 1 of a calendar year. Any such termination shall be subject
to all contractual restrictions applicable to FGU or Member, and Member
shall in all events remain obligated as provided by this Agreement,
including Section 3, Section 25 and Section 26 hereof.
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SECTION 3. Gas Supply Service and Pricing.
(a)
(i)
FGU and Member agree that FGU shall, pursuant to
this Agreement, furnish gas supplies and pricing
methodology for all of Member's gas requirements and
requirements for Financial Products for Member's
System, except for Member's Excluded Resources, to
the extent such supplies can be transported to
Member's Point(s) of Delivery under Member's or FGU's
Transportation Contracts with Transporter or third
parties, including those Transportation Contracts
maintained at the offices of FGU.
(ii) Member shall be obligated by this Agreement to
purchase all of its gas requirements and related
Financial Products for Member's System, except for
Member's Excluded Resources, from FGU and from no
other source, unless FGU shall be unwilling or unable
to provide such gas or related Financial Products to
Member, and Member may not otherwise enter into
gas purchase arrangements or Financial Products
directly or indirectly with any other suppliers.
(b) The General Manager of FGU, in accordance with policies
established by the Board of FGU and the requirements of Member, shall
determine the sources from which the gas supply services,
transportation, pricing, Financial Products and all other services to be
provided under this Agreement shall be provided, including the proper
mix of firm gas supplies, spot gas supplies and long term gas supplies
and the method of pricing therefor, including the undertaking of one or
more Financial Products by one or more Financial Instruments in the
name of FGU, as obligor for the benefit of all Members who are a party to
the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement and the pro rata allocation
of such Gas or other undertakings to each such Member with respect
thereto.
(c) FGU agrees to and does hereby sell, and Member agrees to
and does hereby purchase, Member's Gas Allocation Share pursuant to
this Agreement. Member further agrees to become obligated for those
Financial Products created by the Financial Instruments in accordance
with the terms thereof and hereof.
(d) Member shall be obligated as follows:
(i) The quantity to be supplied by FGU shall be stated on
a daily basis and nominated monthly by Member or as
8
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otherwise agreed to In accordance with Section 5(c)
hereof.
(ii) Member shall, in accordance with the Pricing Policy
adopted by the Board of FGU, be obligated for its Gas
Allocation Share of all Gas Purchase Contracts,
including any firm or long term supply of gas including
all contracts for supply and all other charges related
thereto which are authorized by this Agreement,
specifically including all items of the Monthly Costs
and obligations for Financial Products under Financial
Instruments. No notification from Member of intent to
accept less Gas shall be effective with respect to such
obligation for such Gas Allocation Share of Member
under any such firm or long term Gas Purchase
Contracts or Financial Instruments. FGU shall,
however, accommodate Member's request with respect
to any spot, short term or terminable Gas supply, and
shall utilize its best efforts to attempt to dispose of any
excess Gas supply to the extent not required by
Member.
(iii) Upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement
by Member or in the event of excess Gas supply, a
determination shall be made by the Board of FGU as
to whether an allocable part of such firm or long term
Gas Supply Contracts or Financial Instruments shall
remain in the ownership and control of Member and
the obligation of Member, or whether such agreements
shall remain in the ownership and control of FGU and
shall be paid for by FGU. Any right of Member to
retain ownership of such allocation shall be subject to
the release by the provider of Gas or Financial Product
of any liability of FGU or other Members for such
con tract.
(e) Certain of Members have, pursuant to separate agreements
with FGU, aggregated their firm transportation entitlements with other
Members (referred to herein as the "Aggregated Transportation
Contracts") and have authorized FGU to administer that capacity in the
delivery of Gas to each Member. Certain other Members have designated
FGU as their agent for the utilization of their respective gas
transportation entitlements for the delivery of Gas hereunder.
(f) FGU is hereby authorized, and shall be responsible for
utilizing those firm transportation entitlements, to the extent available
9
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.
under the respective Transportation Contracts, to cause Member's Gas to
be transported to Member's Point(s) of Delivery and for all operational
decisions and arrangements associated with the transportation of Gas on
or upstream of Transporter's pipeline, including but not limited to,
transportation along pipelines other than Transporter, selection of
Point(s) of Delivery, scheduling, balancing and dispatching of Gas on
such pipelines other than Transporter, as well as on Transporter's
pipeline.
(g) The administration of the Aggregated Transportation
Contract(s) shall be governed solely in accordance with the Pricing Policy
adopted by the Board of FGU.
(h) It IS understood that the Aggregated Transportation
Contract(s) will be operated in a manner which will preserve to each
Division, with Member being a Division, a priority right to the use of the
firm transportation entitlements which would have been assigned to it in
the absence of the Aggregated Transportation Contract(s). Only when
Member's capacity rights are not required to meet the requirements of
Member, will they be made available to other Divisions in accordance
with the Pricing Policy adopted by the Board of FGU. Aggregated
Transportation Contract(s) capacity not required by any Division may be
temporarily relinquished or otherwise utilized by FGU under the terms of
the Approved Rate Tariff and in accordance with the Pricing Policy
adopted by the Board of FGU.
(i) Member shall assume full responsibility for payment of
actual transportation charges, including demand charges, incurred by
the Aggregated Transportation Contract(s) for the benefit of Member. To
the extent another Division or customer of FGU may make actual use of
Member's transportation rights, a reallocation of demand costs shall be
made by FGU in accordance with the Pricing Policy adopted by the Board
of FGU.
(j) Member (or other Members or customers) shall be permitted
to withdraw all or part of its aggregated firm entitlements from the
Aggregated Transportation Contract(s) at any time, without otherwise
affecting this Agreement, provided appropriate Transporter consent and
FERC authorizations have been obtained.
(k) Because Member requirements change from time to time,
FGU will assist in acquiring and/ or disposing of transportation
entitlements for Member. To the extent Member and FGU agree, FGU
will request an allocation of such capacity in its own name; provided,
however, that a sub-allocation of such incremental transportation
entitlement will also be made to the requesting Member's Division, which
10
..
shall be binding in the event of later withdrawals of membership or
entitlements, or dissolution.
(1) All contracts involving a substantial change in the burdens
or benefits of Member entered into with Transporter in the name of the
Aggregated Transportation Contract(s) for the benefit of Member will be
subject to approval in advance by both FGU and Member.
(m) Member may retain its transportation contracts with
Transporter or other pipeline supplier rather than aggregate some or all
of its transportation entitlements as provided above. In this case, the
relationship between Member and FGU shall be that of principal and
agent and FGU shall in all such cases serve as Designee. FGU shall
administer the retained transportation contracts in accordance with its
terms as Designee for Member and shall serve in such capacity for the
purpose of the administration of such contracts and shall perform the
services as provided herein with respect to such Transportation
Contracts, in accordance with instructions received from Member.
(n) Member will provide engineering information and support as
reasonably requested by Transporter or FGU in order to assure
appropriate design, configuration, and installation of facilities in
accordance with generally accepted industry standards necessary to
serve Member's Point(s) of Delivery.
(0) If Member is temporarily or permanently unable to utilize all
or any portion of its share of the Aggregated Transportation Contract(s),
the following provisions shall apply:
(i) As provided in the Transportation Policy, FGU may
utilize that portion of Member's unused capacity for
use by other FGU members or customers. These other
FGU members or customers shall reimburse Member
for use of such capacity, as provided in the Pricing
Policy adopted by the Board of FGU.
(ii) To the extent FGU is unable to utilize such excess
Member capacity, FGU will, as permitted by the
Approved Rate Tariff and applicable FERC regulations
and agreements, assist and cooperate with Member to
dispose of such excess transportation entitlement so
as to avoid or minimize any payment obligations by
Member to Transporter or others.
(iii) Nothing herein shall relieve Member from its obligation
to reimburse FGU for costs and expenses incurred by
11
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FGU for the released excess capacity for which FGU is
not otherwise reimbursed by third parties.
(p) Unless otherwise agreed to by FGU and Member, Member
and FGU anticipate that Transporter and third parties will rely on FGU
for all purposes connected with servicing the transportation and
purchasing of Gas for Member on Transporter's system or otherwise,
including, but not limited to, the furnishing and receipt of information
concerning daily nominations, scheduling, balancing, Point(s) of Delivery,
invoice payment, accounting, third party transportation, and
communications with Member, and that operational conditions may
allow limited time for communications concerning such matters. To
facilitate this process, and except with respect to services covered by the
Aggregated Transportation Contract(s), Member agrees to name and
hereby designates FGU, or a representative of FGU, as Member's
designee to perform Member's obligations with respect to nominations,
scheduling and payment under the various Transporter transportation
rate schedules under which Member arranges transportation service for
Gas purchased from FG U hereunder.
(q) Notwithstanding the foregoing, FGU's responsibilities to
arrange for transportation of Gas to Member's Point(s) of Delivery shall
be limited to Member's transportation entitlements made available to
FGU hereunder and Member shall ultimately be responsible for securing
transportation rights with respect to Gas to be delivered hereunder.
(r) Member agrees that except for its obligation under its Gas
Supply Contract dated as of November 1, 1998, and any other
obligations in existence on the date hereof as set forth on Exhibit C
hereto, it will satisfy all of its gas requirements for its System, except for
Member's Excluded Resources, from Gas purchased under this
Agreement. Member further agrees not to assign its Gas Allocation Share
hereunder to any third party without FGU's consent, and then only in
accordance with the restrictions set forth in Sections 25 and 26 hereof.
SECTION 4. Method of Payment.
(a) As soon as the billing information is available, FGU shall
render to Member, by mail, courier or facsimile or other electronic
transmission, a monthly statement showing, in each case with respect to
the prior Month (i) the amount payable by Member in respect of Monthly
Costs, and (ii) any other amounts payable by such Member pursuant to
this Agreement; and such Member shall pay the total of such amounts at
the times specified in this Section 4. FGU will provide a calendar of
invoice and due dates at the beginning of each Fiscal Year.
12
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(b) Monthly payments required to be paid to FGU pursuant to
this Section 4 shall be due and payable to FGU at the principal office of
FGU, or such other address as FGU shall designate in writing to
Member, on FGU's published due dates, which shall not be later than the
ninth (9th) calendar day of the Month in which the statement was
rendered.
(c) If payment in full is not made on or before the close of
business on the due date, a delayed-payment charge on the unpaid
amount due for each day overdue may be imposed at the prime rate of
interest as published from time to time by the Wall Street Journal and in
effect in the calendar month for which the unpaid balance shall be
received, plus 2%, or the maximum rate lawfully payable by Member,
whichever is less. If said due date is a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday,
the next preceding business day shall be the last day on which payment
may be made without the addition of the delayed-payment charge.
Failure by Member to pay the full amount due by the due date may
result in the suspension of gas supply service by FGU as set forth in
Section 15 below.
(d) In the event of any dispute as to any portion of any monthly
statement, Member shall nevertheless pay the full amount of the
disputed charges when due and shall give written notice of the dispute to
FGU not later than thirty (30) days after the date such payment is due.
Such notice shall identify the disputed bill, state the amount in dispute
and set forth a full statement of the grounds on which such dispute is
based. No adjustment shall be considered or made for disputed charges
unless notice is given as aforesaid. FGU shall give consideration to such
dispute and shall advise Member with regard to its position relative
thereto within thirty (30) days following receipt of such written notice.
Upon final determination (whether by agreement, arbitration,
adjudication or otherwise) of the correct amount, any difference between
such correct amount and such full amount shall be properly reflected in
the statement next submitted to Member after such determination.
(e) [Intentionally Omitted.]
(f) If FGU is entitled to payments under or in respect of the Gas
Purchase Contract (other than payments intended to reimburse FGU for
its costs and expenses and other than payments required under any
applicable documents), FGU shall distribute such payments or Gas
credits to each Member after deducting therefrom any amounts otherwise
due by such Members hereunder, all in accordance with the Pricing
Policy adopted by the Board of FGU.
13
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T
,
(g) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4U), the obligation of
Member to make the payments under this Agreement for its share of
Monthly Costs and other amounts, shall constitute an obligation of
Member payable as an operating expense of Member's System solely from
the revenues and other available funds of the System.
(h) The obligation of Member to make payments under this
Agreement shall not constitute a debt of Member within the meaning of
any constitutional or statutory provision or limitation or a general
obligation of or pledge of the full faith and credit of Member, and neither
Member nor the State of Florida or any agency or political subdivision
thereof shall ever be obligated or compelled to levy ad valorem taxes to
make the payments provided for under this Agreement, and the
obligation of Member to make payments pursuant to this Agreement
shall not give rise to or constitute a lien upon any tangible property of
Member or any tangible property located within its boundaries or service
area.
(i) If the obligations of Member to make payments under
Section 4(g) of this Agreement or any part of the obligation under any
Financial Instrument, would not be treated as, or otherwise be accorded
the status of, operation and maintenance payments under the provisions
of Member's indentures, bond resolutions or other bond documents
entered into in connection with the financing of Member's System, such
part of such obligations that are precluded such status will be incurred
and accorded the treatment in accordance with the provisions of Section
40) hereof.
0) Such part of such obligations for the payment of servIces
hereunder or under a Financial Instrument that is not treated as, or
otherwise accorded the status of, operation and maintenance costs of
Member's System for the reasons set forth in paragraph 4(i) hereof shall
constitute an obligation payable solely from the revenues and other
funds of Member's System, which are hereby pledged for such purpose,
subject and subordinate to the following obligations of Member that
would expressly preclude Member from making the payments required
hereunder senior to such obligations (i) operation, maintenance, renewal
and replacement expenses of Member's System, (ii) bonds (as well as
bond anticipation notes), notes or other obligations for money borrowed,
now outstanding or hereafter issued, for System purposes payable from
revenues of Member's System, (iii) subordinated bonds, notes or other
obligations of the System payable from revenues of Member's System and
senior in credit to, or subject to a negative pledge with respect to, the
obligations of the type imposed hereby, in each case, outstanding on the
date of execution of this Agreement by Member, and (iv) payments
required to be made into or from funds established under the ordinances
14
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or resolutions authorizing bonds, notes or other obligations referred to in
clauses (ii) or (iii) hereof. All such obligations in existence on the date
hereof shall be listed on Exhibit C hereto, and all further obligations
shall be listed on an amended Exhibit C and delivered to FGU.
(k) If at any time Member has revenue bonds outstanding
payable from or secured by a pledge of net revenues of its System,
Member agrees that, in connection with any financial tests or conditions
for the issuance of additional revenue bonds or other obligations payable
from and secured by a pledge of net revenues of its System, Member
shall treat all payments made or estimated to be made to FGU under this
Agreement as operating expenses for purposes of computing the amount
of net revenues available for the payment of such outstanding revenue
bonds and such additional revenue bonds.
SECTION 5. Scheduling of Deliveries; Title.
(a) All of the provisions of this Section 5 are subject to the
provisions of any applicable Gas Purchase Contract, and in the event of
any inconsistencies between this Section 5 and the provisions of the Gas
Purchase Contract governing scheduling, the terms of the Gas Purchase
Contract shall govern.
(b) The quantity to be supplied by FGU shall be stated on a
daily basis and nominated monthly by Member or as othezwise agreed to
in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(c) It will be Member's responsibility to notify FGU of any
variations in Member's daily Gas usage rate. Member will provide FGU
with its natural gas requirements in such a manner to allow FGU to
effectively arrange for the required Gas transportation and associated
services and as required by the Gas Purchase Contract, in a timely and
cost effective manner for Member. The actual details of such daily and
monthly information requirements will be mutually agreed upon by the
parties and may change from time to time to meet varying conditions.
Member shall advise FGU of any change in any of the gas
requirements at Member's Point(s) of Delivery as soon as is reasonably
possible to allow FGU to make necessary adjustments in other Member's
or customer's gas volume nominations to avoid imbalances and penalties
and to fully comply with the Gas Purchase Contract.
(d) FGU will promptly notify Member of all pipeline operating
conditions, including but not limited to operational flow orders and alert
days for which Member may be subject to costs or penalties as a result of
noncompliance. If Member does not fully comply with such operational
requirements, Member will assume full liability for any noncompliance.
15
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(e) Title to the Gas transported for Member with its own
transportation contracts will pass to such Member upon and
concurrently with the purchase thereof by FGU from the supplier. Title
to Gas purchased for transportation under the Aggregate Transportation
Contracts will pass upon delivery by FGU to Member at Member's
Point(s) of Delivery.
(f) Although FGU may hold title to the Gas during the
transportation process to Member's Point(s) of Delivery under paragraph
(e) above, Member shall bear the full risk of loss for all such Gas during
such transportation by FGU on Transporter's system or otherwise,
including but not limited to, injury, loss or damage caused by the Gas
during the transportation thereof and any economic or consequential
damages to Member for failure to deliver Gas or otherwise.
Member agrees, to the extent permitted by law, and pro rata with
other Members to the extent of its Gas provided hereunder, and/or its
Gas Allocation Share, in effect on the date of occurrence of the event
giving rise to the claim, to indemnify and hold FGU harmless from any
and all losses or damages sustained by FGU, including any and all suits,
actions, damages, losses, and expenses arising out of adverse claims of
any persons, including Member, to such Gas or the title thereto,
regardless of the party responsible for its delivery, or to royalties, taxes,
license fees, or charges thereon, and from any and all liability to any
persons, including Member, or for any property damage, occasioned by
FGU holding title to Gas for benefit of Member during transportation on
Transporter's system.
(g) Except as otherwise expressly stated herein or in a Directive
or Addendum, neither the scheduling by Member, nor the delivery by
FGU of Gas in quantities less than Member's Gas to be purchased
hereunder or its Gas Allocation Share, or the curtailment by FGU or the
under utilization by Member of its transportation entitlements under any
other agreement with FGU or otherwise, shall relieve Member of its
payment obligations under this Agreement, including those set forth in
Sections 3 and 4 hereof.
SECTION 6. Point(s) of Delivery.
Gas scheduled by Member pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement
will be delivered at Member's Point or Points of Delivery, which Member
shall designate to FGU in writing. The quantity of Gas actually delivered
to Member shall be adjusted to take into account Gas used or consumed
in the transportation thereof to the Points of Delivery.
16
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SECTION 7. Curtailment.
It is understood that, in the event of a capacity curtailment on the
Transporter's system or other transportation system used by FGU which
causes an interruption of transportation service, curtailment shall be
implemented in accordance with Transporter's currently effective
curtailment plan.
SECTION 8. Availability of Gas or Gas Allocation Shares.
Except as provided otherwise by this Agreement, and subject to the
the Gas Purchase Contract and any applicable
Contracts or other transportation arrangements,
or Gas Allocation Share, as the case may be, shall be
in accordance with this Agreement during the term
provisions of
Transportation
Member's Gas,
made available
hereof.
SECTION 9. Insurance.
FGU shall carry such insurance as shall be carried in accordance
with customary industry standards.
SECTION 10. Annual Budget; Accounting.
(a) At FGU's annual meeting each year, the Board of FGU shall
adopt an Annual Budget for the next ensuing Fiscal Year and shall
deliver the Annual Budget to each Member prior to the beginning of each
Fiscal Year. During each Fiscal Year, FGU, by action of its Executive
Committee, may from time to time amend the Annual Budget.
(b) FGU agrees to keep accurate records and accounts in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently
applied. Said accounts shall be audited annually by a firm of certified
public accountants, experienced in governmental accounting and gas
utility company accounting and of national reputation, to be employed by
FGU. A copy of each annual audit, including all written comments and
recommendations of such accountants, shall be furnished by FGU to
Member not later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the end of
each Fiscal Year. Member shall have the right to audit the books and
records of FGU from time to time upon reasonable notice, to the extent
necessary to verify the Monthly Costs payable hereunder.
SECTION 11. Information to be Made Available.
(a) Based, in each case, upon the data most recently available to
FGU pursuant to the Gas Purchase Contract or Financial Instruments,
FGU will furnish or otherwise make available to Member all information
17
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related to Gas supply or pricing of Gas, which FGU receives under the
Gas Purchase Contract or any Financial Instrument and all
transportation costs under the Transportation Contracts, where available
to FGU, and will prepare and issue to Members reports each quarter of
the Fiscal Year on the status of the Annual Budget.
(b) Member shall, upon request, furnish to FGU all such
information, certificates, certified copies of official proceedings,
engineering reports, feasibility reports, information relating to its system,
Transportation Contracts, financial statements, opinions of counsel
(including the opinion required by subsection (c) hereof), official
statements and other documents as FGU shall be reasonably requested
to deliver pursuant to the services provided under this Agreement.
(c) Member shall at the time requested by FGU, cause an
OpinIOn or opinions (i) in substantially the form attached hereto as
Appendix 3 to be delivered by one or more attorneys or firms of attorneys
satisfactory to FGU with respect to the authorization, execution and
validity of this Agreement or any Financial Instrument, as it relates to
Member, and, if Member shall have bonds or other obligations
outstanding secured by a pledge of revenues of its System, the legality
under the terms and conditions of the ordinance, resolution, indenture
or other contractual arrangement with the holders of such bonds, of the
performance by Member of its covenants and agreements under this
Agreement, and (ii) in such other form as may be required under the Gas
Purchase Contract, Financial Instrument or this Agreement.
(d) Member shall provide to FGU, or its designees, on a timely
basis and in such form as shall be reasonably requested by either, any
and all documents, releases, financial statements and other information
necessary to enable FGU to comply with any disclosure or other
reporting requirement, including but not limited to Rule 15c2-12 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Rule"), now or hereafter imposed by the
United States of America, the State of Florida, or any political subdivision
or agency of either having jurisdiction over the issuance of any debt
obligations for the acquisition of gas, by law, judicial decision, regulation,
rule or policy. Such information shall be provided by Member from time
to time promptly following the occurrence of a "material event" as
described in the Rule, and as otherwise may be requested by FGU, or its
designees, but in any case, no less frequently than shall enable FGU or
the underwriters or broker/dealers of the obligations of FGU, or such
Member, to comply with any such law, judicial decision, regulation, rule
or policy.
18
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.
temporary basis, providing all or any portion of the Gas sold hereunder
or Member's Gas Allocation Share.
SECTION 16. Transfer of Gas Allocation Shares Following Default.
In the event of a default by Member and permanent discontinuance
of service of Member's Gas Services Agreement pursuant to Section 15,
FGU is hereby appointed the agent of Member for the purpose of
disposing of Member's Gas Allocation Share and as such agent, FGU
shall proceed to dispose of the defaulting Member's Gas Allocation Share
as follows:
(a) FGU shall, as soon as possible, terminate any spot, short
term or terminable supply of Gas.
(b) FGU shall then, with respect to long term or non-terminable
Gas, offer to transfer to all other nondefaulting Members, a pro rata
portion of the defaulting Member's Gas Allocation Share which shall have
been discontinued by reason of such default. Any part of such Gas
Allocation Share of a defaulting Member which shall be declined by any
nondefaulting Member shall be reoffered pro rata to the nondefaulting
Members which have accepted in full the first such offer; such reoffering
shall be repeated until the defaulting Member's Gas Allocation Share has
been reallocated in full or until all nondefaulting Members have declined
to take any portion or additional portion of the defaulting Member's Gas
Allocation Share.
(c) In the event less than all of a defaulting Member's Gas
Allocation Share shall be accepted by the other nondefaulting Members,
pursuant to clause (b) above, FGU shall, to the extent permitted by law,
use its reasonable best efforts to sell the remaining portion of a
defaulting Member's Gas Allocation Share for the remaining term of the
defaulting Member's All Requirements Gas Services Agreement with FGU.
(d) Any portion of the Gas Allocation Share of a defaulting
Member transferred pursuant to this Section to a nondefaulting Member
in accordance with clause (c) above, shall become a part of and shall be
added to the Gas Allocation Share of each transferee Member effective on
and as the date of transfer, and the transferee Member shall be obligated
to pay for its Gas Allocation Share increased as aforesaid, as if the Gas
Allocation Share of the transferee Member in its All Requirements Gas
Services Agreement with FGU had been stated originally to increase as
aforesaid on the effective date of the transfer.
(e) In the event less than all of a defaulting Member's Gas
Allocation Share shall be sold or transferred pursuant to the foregoing
clauses of this Section 16, FGU shall, to the extent permitted by law, use
21
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its reasonable best efforts to sell the remaining portion of a defaulting
Member's Gas Allocation Share on such terms and conditions as are
acceptable to FG U .
The defaulting Member shall remain liable for all payments to be
made on its part pursuant to this Agreement, except that the obligation
of the defaulting Member to pay FGU shall be reduced to the extent that
payments shall be received by FGU for that portion of the defaulting
Member's Gas Allocation Share which may be transferred or sold as
provided in this Section 16.
SECTION 17. Other Default by Member.
In the event of any default by Member under any other covenant,
agreement or obligation of this Agreement other than Section 15 hereof,
which shall be governed by Sections 15 and 16 hereof, FGU may bring
any suit, action, or proceeding in law or in equity, including mandamus,
injunction, specific performance, declaratory judgment, or any
combination thereof, as may be necessary or appropriate to enforce any
covenant, agreement or obligation of this Agreement against Member.
Such remedies shall be in addition to all other remedies provided for
herein.
SECTION 18. Default by FGU.
In the event of any default by FGU under any covenant, agreement
or obligation of this Agreement, Member's remedy for such default shall
be limited to mandamus, injunction, action for specific performance or
any other available equitable remedy designed to enforce any covenant,
obligation or agreement of FGU hereunder as may be necessary or
appropriate.
SECTION 19. Abandonment of Remedy.
In case any proceeding taken on account of any default shall have
been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, the parties to such
proceedings shall be restored to their former positions and rights
hereunder, respectively, and all rights, remedies, powers and duties of
FGU and Member shall continue as though no such proceedings had
been taken.
SECTION 20. Waiver of Default.
Any waiver at any time by either FGU or Member of its rights with
respect to any default of the other party hereto, or with respect to any
other matter arising in connection with this Agreement, shall not be a
waiver with respect to any subsequent default, right or matter.
22
"I
SECTION 21. Relationship to and Compliance with Other
Instruments.
(a) It is recognized by the parties hereto that FGU, in
undertaking, or causing to be undertaken, the planning, acquisition, and
supply of Gas hereunder, may be required to comply with the
requirements of the Gas Purchase Contract, the Financial Instruments
and all licenses, permits and regulatory approvals necessary therefor,
and it is therefore agreed that the performance of FGU under this
Agreement is made subject to the terms and provisions of the Gas
Purchase Contract, Financial Instruments and all such licenses, permits
and regulatory approvals.
(b) FGU covenants and agrees to use its best efforts for the
benefit of Member to comply in all material respects with all terms,
conditions and covenants of the Gas Purchase Contract and all licenses,
permits and regulatory approvals relating thereto. FGU shall diligently
pursue all rights and remedies set forth in the Gas Purchase Contract.
SECTION 22. Measurement of Gas.
All Gas delivered hereunder shall be metered at the Point(s) of
Delivery by meters operated by Transporter, or as the parties shall
otherwise agree.
SECTION 23. Liability of Parties.
(a) Except as otherwise herein provided, FGU and Member shall
each assume full responsibility and liability for the maintenance and
operation of their respective properties and each shall, to the extent
permitted by law, indemnify and save harmless the other from all liability
and expense on account of any and all damages, claims, or actions,
including injury to or death of persons arising from any act or accident in
connection with the installation, presence, maintenance and operation of
the property and equipment of the indemnifying party and not caused by
the negligence of the other party; provided that any liability which is
incurred by FGU hereunder and not covered, or not covered sufficiently,
by insurance shall be paid solely from the revenues of FGU derived from
sales of Gas and other services under this Agreement, and any payments
made by FGU, or which FGU is obligated to make, to satisfy such liability
shall become part of Monthly Costs.
(b) For purposes of any indemnification under this Section 23,
(i) promptly after the party seeking indemnification (the
"Indemnified Party") learns of any event or circumstance, including,
without limitation, any claim or assertion by a third party that, in the
23
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judgment of the Indemnified Party, may give rise to a claim for
indemnification hereunder (each such claim being referred to as a "Loss"
and collectively as "Losses"), the Indemnified Party shall deliver to the
party from which indemnification is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") a
certificate (the "Certificate"), which Certificate shall:
(1) state that the Indemnified Party has incurred or
anticipates that it will incur a Loss for which such Indemnified
Party is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement;
and
(2) specify in reasonable detail each individual item of
Loss included in the amount so stated, the date such item arose or
was incurred, the basis for any anticipated Loss or Losses and the
nature of the claim to which the Loss is related and the
computation of the amount to which such Indemnified Party
claims to be en ti tIed hereunder;
provided, however, that any failure or delay by the Indemnified Party in
delivering a Certificate to the Indemnifying Party shall not affect the
Indemnified Party's right to indemnification under this Section 23, except
to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is able to establish damages
resulting directly from such failure or delay.
(ii) If the Indemnifying Party objects to the claim for the
indemnification by an Indemnified Party in respect of any Loss, the
Indemnifying Party shall, within thirty (30) days after receipt by the
Indemnifying Party of such Certificate, deliver to the Indemnified Party a
written notice to such effect and the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party shall, within the 3D-day period beginning on the date
of receipt by the Indemnified Party of such written objection, attempt in
good faith to agree upon the rights of the respective parties with respect
to each of such claim to which the Indemnifying Party shall have so
objected. If the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall
succeed in reaching agreement on their respective rights with respect to
any of such claims, the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party
shall promptly prepare and sign a memorandum setting forth such
agreemen t.
(iii) Notwithstanding any provision hereof, if any claim for
any Loss is asserted against FGU hereunder, FGU may, at its option,
assume the defense of the Indemnified Party against such claim or may
undertake any remedial action required in connection therewith or both
(including the employment of counsel, and the payment of expenses),
provided, however, that any failure or delay by the Indemnified Party in
delivering such written notification to FGU of any such occurrence, event
24
or circumstance, other than the filing of any such claim, action or
proceeding, shall not affect the Indemnified Party's right to
indemnification under this Section 23, except to the extent that FGU is
able to establish its damages resulting directly from such failure or delay.
(iv) Until the Indemnifying Party shall have assumed the
defense of the Indemnified Party against such claim following the delivery
of such notice, the Indemnified Party may, but shall not be obligated to,
undertake the defense of such claim on behalf of and for the account and
risk of the Indemnifying Party, and if such Indemnified Party is entitled
to indemnification under this Section 23, all legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Party shall be borne by the
Indemnifying Party.
(v) Any Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in any such action or claim and to participate in the
defense thereof, but except with respect to FGU, the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall not be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party
unless (i) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed, within ten (10) days
after having been notified by the Indemnified Party of the existence of
such claim as provided in the preceding sentence, to assume the defense
of such claim or to notify the Indemnified Party in writing that it will
assume the defense of such claim, or ill) the employment of such counsel
has been specifically authorized in writing by the Indemnifying Party,
and in each case above, FGU whether as an Indemnifying Party or an
Indemnified Party shall have the right to assume full control of the
defense of the claim or Loss in the manner provided below.
(vi) An appealable final judgment will not give rise to an
indemnification payment obligation if and only to the extent that the
Indemnifying Party diligently undertakes an appeal of such final
judgment and posts a supersedeas bond or takes other action which
prevents the execution of the final judgment pending the appeal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing (x) any liability or Loss incurred by FGU
hereunder shall be paid in the manner provided above from the revenues
of FGU derived from sale of Gas or other services hereunder, as a part of
the Monthly Costs; (y) FGU shall in all events, at its option, have the
right to assume the defense of any claim for any Loss whether against
the Indemnifying Party or as an Indemnified Party and shall be entitled
to be reimbursed for the full amount of any such costs of defense
including fees and expenses of counsel in trial or on appeal; and (z) as a
part of its control of the defense of any claim for Loss, FGU shall have the
full right and authority to compromise or settle any such claim or Loss
for and on behalf of and for the account and risk of the Indemnifying
Party, the Indemnified Party and/ or itself.
25
(vii) After any such claim has been filed or initiated, each
party shall make available to the other and its attorneys and accountants
all pertinent information under its control relating to such claim which is
not confidential or proprietary in nature or which is made available
under the terms of a confidentiality agreement or is delivered or obtained
under appropriate protective orders satisfactory to such party and the
parties agree to render to each other such assistance as they may
reasonably require of each other in order to facilitate the proper and
adequate defense of any such claim.
(viii) In no event shall the indemnification obligations of the
Indemnifying Party under this Section 23, whether based on contract,
warranty, tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise, extend
to or include special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages of
any kind whatsoever, except to the extent that the Indemnified Party is
obligated to pay any of such damages to a third party under any claim
for which such indemnification is sought.
SECTION 24. Sale of Member's Excess Gas Allocation Share.
Unless Member shall specifically direct FGU to the contrary, FGU
shall use its best efforts to terminate or sell and transfer on behalf of
such Member for any period of time all or any part of such excess Gas to
such other Member or Members as shall agree to take such excess Gas,
at such prices as may be agreed to, provided, however, that in the event
the other Members do not agree to take the entire amount of such
excess, FGU shall have the right, to the extent permitted by law, to
dispose of such excess to other parties. If all or any portion of such
excess of the Gas sold hereunder or Member's Gas Allocation Share, is
sold pursuant to this Section 24, Member's Gas and/or Gas Allocation
Share and resulting payments hereunder shall not be reduced, and
Member shall remain liable to FGU to pay the full amount due as if such
sale had not been made; except that such liability shall be discharged to
the extent that FGU shall receive payment for such excess from the
purchaser or purchasers thereof and that any amounts received by FGU
as payment for such excess which is greater than the liability owed by
Member to FGU in respect of such excess shall be promptly paid by FGU
to Member.
SECTION 25. Assignment of All Requirements Gas Services
Agreement, Sale of Member's System.
(a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be
binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties to this
Agreement; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 16
hereof in the event of a default, and except for the assignment and pledge
26
authorized by paragraph (b) of this Section 25 and for the assignments
authorized by paragraph (c) of this Section 25, neither this Agreement
nor any interest herein shall be transferred or assigned by either party
hereto except with the consent in writing of the other party hereto.
(b) Member acknowledges and agrees that FGU may assign and
pledge to any party to which it may be obligated hereunder or under the
Financial Instruments, all its right, title, and interest in, to and under
this Agreement, and all payments to be made to FGU under the
provisions of this Agreement as security for payment of obligations
thereunder, and may deliver possession of this Agreement to an agent of
such party in connection therewith, and, upon such assignment and
pledge, FGU may grant to such party any rights and remedies herein
provided to FGU, and thereupon any reference herein to FGU shall be
deemed, with the necessary changes in detail, to include such trustee
which shall be a third party beneficiary of the covenants and agreements
of Member herein contained.
(c) Member agrees that, except as otherwise provided herein, it
will not sell, lease, abandon or otherwise dispose of all or substantially
all of its System except upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to FGU
and, in any event, will not sell, lease, abandon or otherwise dispose of
the same unless the following conditions are met: (i) Member shall,
subject to the Gas Purchase Contract, assign this Agreement and its
rights and interest hereunder to the purchaser or lessee of said System,
if any, and any such purchaser or lessee shall assume all obligations of
Member under this Agreement and shall have the financial capacity to do
so; and (ii) FGU shall be permitted by then applicable law to sell Gas to
said purchaser or lessee.
(d) Member, in making or accepting such assignment, shall
agree to assume any costs incurred in reporting the assignment as a
"material event" or such other event pursuant to the Rule or any
successor provision, or any law, judicial decision, regulation, rule or
policy now or hereafter imposed by the United States of America, the
State of Florida, or any political subdivision or agency of either having
jurisdiction over such matters, requiring any such reporting.
SECTION 26. Termination or Amendment of Contract.
(a) This Agreement shall not be terminated by either party
under any circumstance, whether based upon the default of the other
party under this Agreement or any other instrument or otherwise except
as specifically provided in this Agreement.
27
,
,
(b) This Agreement shall not be terminated, amended, modified,
or otherwise altered in any manner that will adversely affect the security
for any obligations authorized by FGU afforded by the provisions of this
Agreement upon which the owners from time to time of such obligations
shall have relied or with respect to the obligations of the Gas Purchase
Contract or Financial Instruments entered into by FGU, in its name, or
on behalf of some or all of Members. So long as any of such obligations
are outstanding or until adequate provisions for the payment thereof
have been made in accordance with the provisions of the instruments
authorizing such obligations, this Agreement or Financial Instruments,
shall not be terminated, amended, modified, or otherwise altered in any
manner which will reduce the payments pledged as security for such
obligations or extend the time of such payments provided herein or
which will in any manner impair or adversely affect the rights of the
owners from time to time of such obligations.
(c) Except as otherwise provided for Special Projects, no All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement entered into between FGU and
another Member may be amended so as to provide terms and conditions
substantially different from those herein contained, except upon written
notice to and written consent or waiver by each of the other Members,
and upon similar amendment being made to the All Requirements Gas
Services Agreement of any other Members requesting such amendment
after receipt by such Member of notice of such amendment. In such
event, no such amendment shall cause any increase in Monthly Costs or
other increased obligations or burdens to those Members who do not sign
substantially similar amendments.
SECTION 27. Force Majeure.
(a) In the event that either FGU or Member ("Party" or "Parties"),
is rendered unable, wholly or in part, by force majeure to carry out its
obligations under this Agreement or any subsequent service agreement
between the Parties contemplated herein, other than the obligation of
Member to make payments due hereunder, including the payment of
Monthly Costs and other amounts due under Sections 3 and 4, it is
agreed that upon such Party giving notice and full particulars of such
force majeure in writing to the other Party as soon as possible after the
occurrence of the cause relied on, then the obligations of the Party giving
such notice (other than the obligation to make payments due), so far as
they are affected by such force majeure, shall be suspended during the
continuance of any inability so caused but for no longer period, and such
cause shall as far as possible be remedied with all reasonable dispatch.
It is further agreed that except for the obligation to make payments due,
neither FGU nor Member shall be liable to the other for any damage
occasioned by force majeure.
28
{
(b) In the event of any nonperformance caused by any of the
forces described in clause (c) the Party affected shall within twenty-four
(24) hours promptly notify the other Party verbally, and within two (2)
working days of nonperformance provide the other Party with written
confirmation of the nature, cause, date of commencement and
anticipated extent of such nonperformance.
(c) The term "force majeure" as employed herein shall mean acts
of God, strikes, lockouts, or other industrial disturbances, acts of the
public enemy, wars, blockades, insurrections, riots, epidemics,
landslides, lightning, earthquakes, fires, storms, floods, freezes,
washouts, arrests and restraints of governments and people, civil
disturbances, explosions, breakage or accidents to machinery or lines of
pipe, the necessity for making repairs or alterations to machinery or lines
of pipe (other than regularly scheduled or routine maintenance), freezing
of wells or lines of pipe, planned or unplanned outages, disruptions or
curtailments by Transporter, Member or other parties in the
transportation of the Gas, partial or entire failure of source of supply,
acts of civil or military authority (including, but not limited to, courts or
administrative or regulatory agencies), and any other similar or related
cause, whether or not enumerated herein, and whether caused or
occasioned by or happening on account of the act or omission of FGU or
Member or any other person or concern, not reasonably within the
control of the Party claiming suspension and which by the exercise of
due diligence such Party is unable to prevent or overcome; such term
shall likewise include, without limitation;
(1) in those instances where either Party is required
to obtain servitude, rights of way grants, permits or licenses
to enable such Party to fulfill its obligations hereunder, the
inability of such Party to acquire, or the delays on the part of
such Party in acquiring, at reasonable cost and after the
exercise of reasonable diligence, such servitude, rights of
way grants, permits or licenses; and
(2) in those instances where either Party is required
to furnish materials and supplies for the purpose of
constructing or maintaining facilities or is required to secure
grants or permissions from any governmental agency to
enable such Party to fulfill its obligations hereunder, the
inability of such Party to acquire, or the delays on the part of
such Party in acquiring, at reasonable cost and after the
exercise of reasonable diligence, such materials and
supplies, permits and permissions.
29
,
,
(d) The settlement of strikes or lockouts shall be entirely within
the discretion of the Party having the difficulty, and the above
requirement that any force majeure shall be remedied with all reasonable
dispatch shall not require the settlement of strikes or lockouts by
acceding to the demands of the opposing Party when such course is
inadvisable in the discretion of the Party having the difficulty.
(e) If a force majeure prevents or curtails FGU's delivery of Gas
under the Gas Purchase Contract, FGU shall use reasonable efforts to
locate and make available to Member Gas from an alternative source at
the then prevailing prices as FGU may reasonably determine, until the
force majeure affecting the supply of Gas has ended.
SECTION 28. Member Representative.
Member shall appoint from time to time by motion or resolution of
its governing body and provide to FGU evidence thereof, and written
notice of the name, mailing address, telephone number and facsimile
transmission number of one or more employees or agents with authority
to. give instructions required by this Agreement and otherwise exercise
decisions by Member required under this Agreement (the "Member
Represen tative").
(1) The Member Representative, or its designee as
provided below, shall represent Member in giving and receiving
notices and directives regarding the routine operational decisions,
which decisions may be relied upon by FGU and shall be
contractually binding upon Member.
(2) The Member Representative may also, if so stated,
represent Member in giving and receiving notices, Directives and
Addenda, taking actions or making decisions required or that may
be exercisable under this Agreement, or approving and executing
any Financial Products provided by any Financial Instrument
hereunder, in each case, for and on behalf of Member. Such
Financial Products may involve those risks and have
characteristics similar to those set forth in Exhibit A hereto. The
decisions of the Member Representative may be relied upon by
FGU and such action and the due authorization, execution and
delivery of such Directives or Addenda shall be contractually
binding upon Member.
(3) The Member Representative may from time to time
designate an operational representative to discharge its duties and
obligations as set forth in subsection (1) above.
30
(4) Notices and directives between The Member
Representative, its designee, and FGU may be transmitted orally
when not required to be in writing, provided that all such notices
and directives shall be promptly confirmed by a written notice as
authorized by this Agreement.
SECTION 29. Special Projects.
The Member Representative and FGU may agree to undertake a
Special Project hereunder on behalf of Member, in which event FGU shall
maintain separate records for such Special Project. Other Members may
be afforded an opportunity to participate on an equitable basis in a
Special Project. When a Special Project is operational, FGU may
maintain a separate, subsidiary operating account on, or otherwise
separately track, each such Special Project which will demonstrate the
financial relationship between the Special Project and FGU's general
operating budget. Unless each Member shall become a party to an
agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, this Agreement and
the undertakings hereunder shall create a Special Project.
SECTION 30. Notice and Computation of Time.
Any notice or demand under this Agreement shall be in writing,
and shall be deemed given in writing and properly given if sent by (i)
telegraphic, cable or wireless transmission (including by telecopy,
facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, with appropriate hard
copy being made available) or (ii) delivery to an overnight courier or
delivery service company in a sealed prepaid wrapper, or (iii) certified
mail, postage prepaid, in each case to the number or address set forth
below, or to such other number or address as a party hereto may give the
other by notice given in accordance with the provisions in this section.
To FGU:
Florida Gas Utility
Attn: General Manager
The Bank of America Building
2815 N.W. 13th Street, Suite 200
Gainesville, Florida 32609
To Member:
Clearwater Gas System
400 N. Myrtle Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Attention: Mr. Brian Langille
Unless otherwise specified herein, a notice is considered effectively given
when it is received by the intended recipient, or when the intended
31
recipient refuses delivery. If a notice is mailed by certified mail, or sent
by courier or delivery service, to the address of the intended recipient
specified above (or such other address as the intended recipient has
previously specified in a written notice pursuant to the provisions
hereof), the notice shall be presumed to have been received or refused by
the intended recipient on the date indicated on the receipt or return
inVOIce.
SECTION 31. Applicable Law; Construction.
This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by the laws
of the State of Florida. Headings herein are for convenience only and
shall not influence the construction hereof.
SECTION 32. Severability.
If any section, paragraph, clause or provISIOn of this Agreement
shall be finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect as though such section, paragraph, clause or provision or any part
thereof so adjudicated to be invalid had not been included herein.
32
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their proper officers respectively, being
thereunto duly authorized, and their respective seals to be hereto affixed,
as of the day and year first above written.
FLORIDA GAS UTILITY
By:
Title:
Attest:
Title:
(Seal)
Countersigned:
FLORIDA
CITY OF CLEARWATER,
By:
Brian J. Aungst
Mayor-Commissioner
William B. Horne, II
City Manager
Approved as to form:
Attest:
Jane C. Hayman
Assistant City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau
City Clerk
LAKl #232942 vI
11/19/01
33
Exhibit A
CHARACTERISTICS OF FINANCIAL PRODUCTS
1. Types of Financial Products. The General Manager of
FGU, in accordance with the Financial Derivatives Policy of FGU, may
approve and the Member Representative shall approve on behalf of
Member, Financial Products which may consist of the following, without
limitation:
(a) Swaps. Fixed to floating swaps, pursuant to which the
price of the Member's Allocable Share of Gas under the All Requirements
Gas Services Agreement, is effectively converted from a fIxed price of gas
to a floating market price, based on industry standards, or a floating to
fIxed swap pursuant to which the cost of the Member's Allocable Share of
gas under the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement is effectively
converted from a floating market price determined under an applicable
gas supply contract to a fIxed price.
(b) Options. pursuant to which the cost of a Member's
price of gas can be converted to a specifIed fIxed or floating price in the
future;
(c) Caps or Collars, pursuant to which a Member's price
of gas may be capped at a certain price or index level, or may be allowed
to fluctuate between a top and bottom price or index level, or both;
(d) Hedges, other derivative transactions that may provide
for a balancing of the exposure to fInancial risks; and
(e) Futures Contracts, for the purchase or sale of natural
gas that is traded for future delivery under exchange regulations.
2. Basic Document Format. The format for each of the
Financial Products may include the Standard ISDA based Master
Agreement (copyrighted in 1992 by the International Swap Dealers
Association, Inc., as amended, changed or updated), and as amended by
appropriate schedules and confIrms.
3. Risks assumed in Financial Products. Inherent in
Financial Instruments and the underlying Financial Products will be a
variety of risks including, without limitation:
(a) Counterpartv credit risks, including adverse financial
changes in a counterparty (including bankruptcy) that would tend to
negate the benefIt of the Financial Product and may give rise to
termination payments described below;
(b) Rate structuring risks where the payments to be
received from the counterparty under the Financial Product may not
exactly match the base payments the Member is otherwise obligated to
pay under FGU's applicable Gas Purchase Contract;
(c) Termination risks which may trigger a payment
obligation by FGU (which will be passed through to the Member under
the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement or Financial Instrument),
or a payment obligation directly by Member, if Member, rather than all
Members, is obligated on the Financial Product, whether or not FGU or
the Member causes or is responsible for the Termination. Terminations
can arise from a variety of causes, including a default by either the
Member or the counterparty, a downgrade in the credit rating of the
counterparty, a counterparty merger pursuant to which the surviving
entity either fails to assume the swap' obligation or has a materially
weaker financial condition, bankruptcy of the counterparty, defaults
under other payment obligations by either the counterparty, or FGU or
the Member, defaults by other participating Members under similar
Financial Product transactions (to the extent applicable), and general
illegality of the basic Financial Instruments.
Termination payments arising from any of the foregoing
occurrences may be calculated under either a market quotation basis
pursuant to which formal bids to "buyout of' the contractual obligation
are required, or on a "Loss" basis pursuant to which the financial loss
suffered by a party in connection with the Termination is subjectively
determined by that party. Termination Payments may be subject to
negotiation to require payments only where FGU or the Member is "at
fault," rather than without regard to whether FGU or a Member is at
fault in causing the Termination.
(d) Margin calls or other obligations to pay, related to
Futures Contracts pursuant to which a Member shall be obligated to
provide margin call requirements on short notice.
4. Netting issues pursuant to which payments owed by the
counterparty under the Financial Instrument with respect to
transactions entered into for a Member may be netted against other
payments from the counterparty with respect to transactions for other
Members.
LAK1 #232942 vI
11/19/01
2
Exhibit B
DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM
(including gas burning or distribution facilities)
City of Clearwater, d.b.a. Clearwater Gas System
. 298 Square Mile service territory
. Serving nearly 16,000 customers in 17 municipalities & two Counties
. Annual throughput: 20.5 million therms
. Annual revenues: $30.2 million
. 4 Gate Stations
. 650.6 miles of distribution main
Note: Numbers are as of 9/30/01
LAKl #232942 vI
11/19/01
Exhibit C
MEMBER OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS
Infinite Energy, Inc.
750 Dekatherms per day (expires on 7/31/02)
LAKl #232942 vI
11/19/01
1
Exhibit D
EXCLUDED RESOURCES
None
LAKl #232942 vI
11/19/01
f
,
,
Name and Address of
Member
LAKl #232942 vI
11/19/01
Appendix 1
SCHEDULE OF MEMBERS
To be determined by 2/1/02.
"
Appendix 2
MEMBER'S POINT OR POINTS OF DELIVERY
MEMBER
Clearwater
POINT OR POINTS OF DELIVERY
. North Gate Station:
1010 N. Hercules Ave, Clearwater, DRN# 3171
. South Gate:
2531 Nursery Rd, Clearwater, DRN # 3172
· Northeast Gate:
2910 McMullen Booth Rd, Clearwater, DRN# 3168
. Trinity Gate:
8017 Mitchell Blvd, New Port Richey (Pasco County), DRN# 291990
LAK1 #232942 vI
11/19/01
t
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,
Appendix 3
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO MEMBER
_, 200_
[Underwriters, Counterparties
or other Interested Parties]
Florida Gas Utility
The Bank of America Building
2815 NW 13th Street, Suite 200
Gainesville, FL 32609
Re: All Requirements Gas
Agreement[; Other
Instruments]
Services
Financial
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am counsel to the [please insertl (the "Public
Agency"), and am furnishing this opinion to you in connection with the
All Requirements Gas Services Agreement [Financial Instrument] (the
"Agreement"), dated as of , and executed between Florida Gas
Utility ("FGU"), [ ] and the Public Agency as a Member and
purchaser of Gas from FGU.
All terms used herein in capitalized form and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the same meanings as ascribed to them in the
Agreement.
In connection with this opinion, I have examined originals or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of the
following:
(a) The Constitution and laws of the State of Florida including,
as applicable, special acts, ordinances, charters and
agreements pursuant to which the Public Agency was
created and by which it is governed;
(b) Resolution No. _, duly adopted on , 2001
[please insert one or, if applicable, more resolution
numbers and dates] (collectively, the "Resolution"), and
~
certified as true and correct by certificate and seal as of
[ ], authorizing the Public Agency to execute and
deliver (i) the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement
described below and (ii) [other Agreement], in accordance
with the provisions of the Constitution of the State of
Florida, the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969,
Section 163.01 and Chapter 166, Florida Statutes, and other
applicable provisions of law;
(c) A copy of the All Requirements Gas Services Agreement
[other Agreement] executed by the Public Agency;
(d) The Interlocal Agreement dated September 1, 1989, as
amended on June 1, 1992, and as amended and restated by
Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement dated as of
July 1, 1996, and thereafter amended and restated by
Second Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement dated
as of July 27, 1999, between the Public Agency and the
other public agencies named therein (the "Interlocal
Agreemen tn);
(e)
[The Official Statement, [Private
Memorandum] [Other] dated as of [
[ ];]
Placement
], relating to
(f) [The Continuing Disclosure Agreement, dated as of
[ ] (the "Continuing Disclosure Agreement"),
among the Public Agency, FGU, and [ ]; and]
(g) All outstanding instruments relating to bonds, notes or other
indebtedness of or relating to the Public Agency's System.
I have also examined and relied upon originals or copies, certified
or otherwise authenticated to my satisfaction, of such other records,
documents, certificates and other instruments, and made such
investigations of law, as in my judgment I have deemed necessary or
appropriate to enable me to render the opinions expressed below.
Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:
1. The Public Agency is [a public body corporate and municipal
corporation of the State of Florida], [a utility authority and a
part of government of the City of ], [a public agency as
defined in Section 163.01(3)(b), Florida Statutes, as amended,
and an electric utility as defined in Section 361.11(2), Florida
Statutes, as amended] [pLEASE SELECT AS APPROPRIATE],
duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of
2
.~,
.
,
Florida, with the legal right to carry on the business of its System
as currently being conducted and as proposed to be conducted [as
described in the [Official Statement] [Private Placement
Memorandum] [other].]
2. The Public Agency has the right and power to adopt the
Resolution, and the Resolution has been duly adopted by the
Public Agency and is in full force and effect as of the date hereof in
the form in which adopted.
3. The All Requirements Gas Services Agreement[, the Financial
Instrument] [,the Continuing Disclosure Agreemene]
(collectively, the "Agreements") and the Interlocal Agreement have
been duly and lawfully authorized, executed and delivered by the
Public Agency, and constitute the legal, valid and binding
agreements and obligations of the Public Agency, enforceable
against the Public Agency in accordance with their respective
terms.
4. The authorization, execution, delivery, receipt and performance of
the Agreements and all agreements and documents provided for or
contemplated by the Resolution do not violate any applicable
judgment or order of any court and do not conflict with or result in
a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, the terms of any statute of the State of
Florida, the Public Agency's ordinances or charter, any
administrative rule or regulation of the State of Florida or any
agency thereof or of any bond resolution, indenture, agreement,
license, permit, franchise, or other instrument to which the Public
Agency is subject, or by which it or any. of its properties is bound,
or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or other
security interest or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon
any of the properties or assets of the Public Agency, except as
expressly provided by the Agreements, nor do such actions result
in any violation of any order, rule or regulation applicable to the
Public Agency of any court or of any federal, state or other
regulatory authority or governmental body having jurisdiction over
the Public Agency or any federal statute, order, rule or regulation
applicable to the Public Agency or the State of Florida.
This phrase will be included only in the opinions of counsel to the following
Project Participants: Florida Municipal Power Agency, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority,
Kissimmee Utility Authority, City of Lakeland, City of Lake Worth, Orlando Utilities
Commission and City of Vero Beach
3
.~ J;
5. Amounts payable by the Public Agency to FGU pursuant to the All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement [Financial Instrument] will
constitute operating expenses of the Public Agency's System.
6. All approvals, consents or authorizations of, or registrations, or
filings with, any governmental or public agency, authority or
person required on the part of the Public Agency in connection
with the execution, delivery and performance by it of the
Agreements have been obtained or made.
7. There is no action, suit, litigation, inquiry, investigation or other
proceeding by or before any court, governmental agency, public
board or body or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction (either
State or Federal) pending or, to the best of my knowledge after due
inquiry, threatened against the Public Agency or its System which
(a) questions the creation, organization or existence of the Public
Agency, (b) affects or seeks to prohibit, restrain or enjoin the Public
Agency from entering into, or wherein an unfavorable decision
would materially adversely affect the ability of the Public Agency to,
comply with its obligations contained in the Agreements, including
the payment obligations to FGU contained therein, or (c) in any
way affects or questions the validity, legality or enforceability of the
Agreements, nor, to the best of my knowledge, is there any basis
therefor.
8. The Member Representative has the power and authority to enter
into Financial Products of the type described in the All
Requirements Gas Services Agreement or to authorize FGU to
enter into such transactions on the Member's behalf and to bind
the Member with respect thereto, subject in each case to the
general parameters set forth in Exhibit A to the All Requirements
Gas Services Agreement.
The opinions set forth herein as to the enforceability of the
legal obligations of the Public Agency are subject to and limited by (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws, in
each case relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally, and (ii) other general principles of equity.
Very truly yours,
LAK1 #232942 vI
11/19/01
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