10-K 1 a2104831z10-k.htm 10-K

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

FORM 10-K


ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended DECEMBER 31, 2002

Commission
file number
  Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter   IRS Employer Identification No.

1-12869

 

CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC.

 

52-1964611

1-1910

 

BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

52-0280210

MARYLAND

(States of incorporation)

750 E. PRATT STREET                  BALTIMORE, MARYLAND                  21202
                                               (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

410-234-5000

(Registrants' telephone number, including area code)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:

Title of each class
 
  Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Common Stock—Without Par Value )   New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.
Pacific Exchange, Inc.

7.16% Trust Originated Preferred Securities ($25 liquidation amount per preferred security) issued by BGE Capital Trust I, fully and unconditionally guaranteed, based on several obligations, by Baltimore Gas and Electric Company

)

 

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:

Not Applicable

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý        No o.

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants' knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    ý

         Indicate by check mark whether Constellation Energy Group, Inc. is an accelerated filer    Yes ý        No o.

        Indicate by check mark whether Baltimore Gas and Electric Company is an accelerated filer    Yes o        No ý.

         Aggregate market value of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Common Stock, without par value, held by non-affiliates as of June 28, 2002 was approximately $4,791,476,554 and February 28, 2003 was approximately $4,293,890,795 based upon New York Stock Exchange composite transaction closing price.

CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. COMMON STOCK, WITHOUT PAR VALUE 164,764,752 SHARES OUTSTANDING ON FEBRUARY 28, 2003.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part of Form 10-K
  Document Incorporated by Reference
III   Certain sections of the Proxy Statement for Constellation Energy Group, Inc. for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 25, 2003.

         Baltimore Gas and Electric Company meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form in the reduced disclosure format.





TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
          Forward Looking Statements
PART I
  Item 1—Business
            Overview
            Merchant Energy Business
            Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
            Other Nonregulated Businesses
            Consolidated Capital Requirements
            Environmental Matters
            Employees
  Item 2—Properties
  Item 3—Legal Proceedings
  Item 4—Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
          Executive Officers of the Registrant (Instruction 3 to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K)
PART II
  Item 5—Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters
  Item 6—Selected Financial Data
  Item 7—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
  Item 7A—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
  Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
  Item 9—Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
PART III
  Item 10—Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
  Item 11—Executive Compensation
  Item 12—Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
Related Shareholder Matters
  Item 13—Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
  Item 14—Internal Controls and Procedures
PART IV
  Item 15—Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K
  Signatures
  Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Certifications
  Baltimore Gas and Electric Company Certifications


Forward Looking Statements

We make statements in this report that are considered forward looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Sometimes these statements will contain words such as "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," and other similar words. These statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from those we project. These risks, uncertainties, and factors include, but are not limited to:

    the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and volatilities for energy including coal, natural gas, oil, electricity and emission allowances,
    the timing and extent of deregulation of, and competition in, the energy markets in North America, and the rules and regulations adopted on a transitional basis in those markets,
    the conditions of the capital markets, interest rates, availability of credit, liquidity, and general economic conditions, as well as Constellation Energy and BGE's ability to maintain their current credit ratings,
    the effectiveness of Constellation Energy and BGE's risk management policies and procedures and the ability of their counterparties to satisfy their financial and performance commitments,
    the liquidity and competitiveness of wholesale markets for energy commodities,
    operational factors affecting the start-up or ongoing commercial operations of our generating facilities (including nuclear facilities) and BGE's transmission and distribution facilities, including catastrophic weather related damages, unscheduled outages or repairs, unanticipated changes in fuel costs or availability, unavailability of gas transportation or electric transmission services, workforce issues, terrorism, liabilities associated with catastrophic events, and other events beyond our control,

    the inability of BGE to recover all its costs associated with providing electric retail customers service during the electric rate freeze period,
    the effect of weather and general economic and business conditions on energy supply, demand, and prices,
    regulatory or legislative developments that affect deregulation, transmission or distribution rates and revenues, demand for energy, or increase costs, including costs related to nuclear power plants, safety, or environmental compliance,
    the actual outcome of uncertainties associated with assumptions and estimates using judgment when applying critical accounting policies and preparing financial statements, including factors that are estimated in determining the fair value of energy contracts, such as the ability to obtain market prices and in the absence of verifiable market prices the appropriateness of models and model inputs (including, but not limited to, estimated contractual load obligations, unit availability, forward commodity prices, interest rates, correlation and volatility factors),
    changes in accounting principles or practices,
    the ability to attract and retain customers in our competitive supply business and to adequately forecast their energy usage,
    losses on the sale or write down of assets due to impairment events or changes in management intent with regard to either holding or selling certain assets, and
    cost and other effects of legal and administrative proceedings that may not be covered by insurance, including environmental liabilities.

        Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. Please see the other sections of this report and our other periodic reports filed with the SEC for more information on these factors. These forward looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this report.

        Changes may occur after that date, and neither Constellation Energy nor BGE assume responsibility to update these forward looking statements.



PART I

Item 1. Business


Overview

Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (Constellation Energy) is a North American energy company that conducts its business through various subsidiaries including a merchant energy business and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE).

        Constellation Energy maintains a website at constellation.com where copies of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments may be obtained free of charge. These reports are posted on our website the same day they are filed with the SEC. The website address for BGE is bge.com. Both website addresses are inactive textual references and the contents of these websites are not part of this Form 10-K.

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        Constellation Energy was incorporated in Maryland on September 25, 1995. On April 30, 1999, Constellation Energy became the holding company for BGE and its subsidiaries through a share exchange. References in this report to "we" and "our" are to Constellation Energy and its subsidiaries, collectively. References in this report to the "utility business" are to BGE.

        Our merchant energy business is a competitive provider of energy solutions for large customers in North America. It has electric generation assets located in various regions of the United States and provides energy solutions to meet customers' needs. Our merchant energy business focuses on serving the full energy and capacity requirements of, and providing other risk management activities for various customers, such as utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, retail aggregators, and large commercial and industrial customers.

        Our merchant energy business includes:

    fossil, nuclear, and hydroelectric generating facilities and interests in qualifying facilities and power projects in the United States,
    origination of structured transactions (such as load-serving, tolling contracts, and power purchase agreements), and risk management services (hedging of output from generating facilities and fuel costs),
    electric and gas retail energy services to large commercial and industrial customers, and
    generation and consulting services.

        BGE is a regulated electric and gas public transmission and distribution utility company with a service territory that covers the City of Baltimore and all or part of ten counties in central Maryland. BGE was incorporated in Maryland in 1906.

        Our other nonregulated businesses:

    design, construct, and operate single-site heating, cooling, and cogeneration facilities for commercial and industrial customers,
    provide home improvements, service heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and indoor air quality systems, and provide electric and natural gas retail marketing, and
    own and operate a district cooling system for commercial customers in the City of Baltimore, Maryland.

        In addition, we own several investments that we do not consider to be core operations. These include financial investments, real estate projects, and interests in a Latin American distribution project and in a fund that holds interests in two South American energy projects. We decided to sell certain non-core assets and accelerated the exit strategies of other projects. We sold certain non-core assets in 2002 and closed our retail merchandise stores in December 2002.

        For a discussion of recent events that have impacted Constellation Energy, please refer to Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Significant Events section. For a discussion of Constellation Energy's strategy, please refer to Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Strategy section. For a discussion of the seasonality of our business, please refer to Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Business Environment section.


Operating Segments

The percentages of revenues, net income, and assets attributable to our operating segments are shown in the tables below. We present information about our operating segments, including certain special items, in Note 3 to Consolidated Financial Statements. Effective July 1, 2000, the financial results of the electric generation portion of our business are included in the merchant energy business segment. Prior to that date, the financial results are included in the regulated electric segment.

 
  Unaffiliated Revenues
 
 
  Merchant
Energy

  Regulated
Electric

  Regulated
Gas

  Other
Nonregulated

 
2002   35 % 42 % 12 % 11 %
2001   16   53   17   14  
2000   11   57   16   16  
 
  Net income(1)
 
 
  Merchant
Energy

  Regulated
Electric

  Regulated
Gas

  Other
Nonregulated

 
2002   67 % 29 % 8 % (4 )%
2001   75   22   10   (7 )
2000   68   34   9   (11 )
 
  Total Assets
 
 
  Merchant
Energy

  Regulated
Electric

  Regulated
Gas

  Other
Nonregulated
& Corp.
Items

 
2002   63 % 25 % 8 % 4 %
2001   57   27   8   8  
2000   56   26   9   9  
(1)
Excludes special items included in operations and a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle as discussed in more detail in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Merchant Energy Business

Introduction

Our merchant energy business integrates electric generation assets with the marketing and risk management of energy and energy-related commodities, allowing us to manage energy price risk over geographic regions and over time. Constellation Power Source, our origination and risk management operation, dispatches the energy from our generating facilities, manages the risks associated with selling the output and obtaining the fuel, and structures transactions to meet customers' energy and risk management requirements. Generation capacity supports our origination and risk management operation by providing a source of reliable power supply that provides a physical hedge for some of our load-serving activities.

        Our merchant energy business:

    provides service to distribution utilities, municipalities, and large commercial and industrial customers with approximately 18,700 megawatts (MW) of peak load in the aggregate,
    owns approximately 11,300 MW of generation capacity, and
    has under construction an 830 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle generating facility in California.

        We analyze the results of our merchant energy business as follows:

    PJM Platform—our fossil, nuclear, and hydroelectric generating facilities and load-serving activities in the PJM Interconnection (PJM) region for which the output is primarily used to serve BGE.
    Plants with Power Purchase Agreements—our generating facilities with long-term power purchase agreements, including our Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station (Nine Mile Point) nuclear generating facility and our new Oleander and University Park generating facilities.
    Competitive Supply—our wholesale business that provides load-serving activities to distribution utilities (primarily in Texas and New England), other wholesale origination and risk management services, and electric and gas retail energy services to large commercial and industrial customers.
    Other—our other gas-fired generating facilities, investments in qualifying facilities and domestic power projects, and our generation and consulting services.

        We present details about our generating properties in Item 2. Properties.


PJM Platform

We own 6,485 MW of fossil, nuclear and hydroelectric generation capacity in the PJM region. The output of these plants is managed by our origination and risk management operation and is hedged through a combination of power sales to wholesale and retail market participants.

        BGE transferred all of these facilities to our merchant energy generation subsidiaries on July 1, 2000 as a result of the implementation of electric customer choice and competition among suppliers in Maryland, except for the Handsome Lake project that commenced operations in mid-2001. The assets transferred from BGE are subject to the lien of BGE's mortgage.

        These facilities include the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (two units), which is our largest generating station. In March 2000, Calvert Cliffs became the first nuclear power plant in the United States to achieve license renewal. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a twenty-year license renewal for both units of Calvert Cliffs, extending the license for Unit 1 to 2034 and for Unit 2 to 2036.

        Our merchant energy business provides standard offer electric service to BGE as discussed in the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company section. Our merchant energy business meets the load-serving requirements of this contract using the output from the PJM facilities and from purchases in the wholesale market. For 2002, the peak load supplied to BGE was approximately 5,425 MW.


Plants with Power Purchase Agreements

We own 2,530 MW of nuclear and natural gas generation capacity, and have under construction an 830 MW natural gas-fired facility that will commence operation in 2003, with power purchase agreements for their output. These facilities include Nine Mile Point, which is our second largest generating station. We purchased 100% of Unit 1 (609 MW) and 82% of Unit 2 (941 MW) in November 2001. The remaining interest in Nine Mile Point Unit 2 is owned by a subsidiary of the Long Island Power Authority. Unit 1 entered service in 1969 and Unit 2 in 1988. Nine Mile Point is located within the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) region.

        We sell 90 percent of our share of the Nine Mile Point plant's output back to the sellers at an average price of nearly $35 per megawatt-hour (MWH) under agreements that terminate between 2009 and 2010. The agreements for the output of both units are unit contingent (if the output is not available because the plant is not operating, there is no requirement to provide output from other sources). The remaining 10% of Nine Mile Point's output is managed by our origination and risk management operation and sold into the wholesale market.

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        After termination of the power purchase agreements, a revenue sharing agreement will begin and continue through 2021. Under this agreement, which applies only to Unit 2, a strike price is compared to the market price for electricity. If the market price exceeds the strike price, then 80% of this excess amount is shared with the sellers. The revenue sharing agreement is unit contingent and is based on the operation of the unit.

        We have an operating agreement with the Long Island Power Authority subsidiary to exclusively operate Unit 2. The Long Island Power Authority subsidiary is responsible for 18% of the operating costs (and decommissioning costs) of Unit 2 and has representation on the Nine Mile Point management committee which provides certain oversight and review functions.

        The license on Nine Mile Point's Unit 1 expires in 2009 and in 2026 on Unit 2. We have commenced a license extension initiative for both units with the objective of obtaining up to 20 years of additional operations. We expect to submit the license extension application to the NRC in the fall of 2003.

        Our other facilities with power purchase agreements consist of:

    the Oleander project, which commenced operations in mid-2002, and
    the University Park project, which commenced operations in mid-2001.

        We have sold portions of the output of these facilities ranging from 50% to 100% under tolling contracts for terms ending in 2005 through 2009. Under these tolling contracts, our respective counterparties will pay a fixed amount per month and have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase power from us at prices linked to the variable fuel and other costs of production.

        We are currently leasing and supervising the construction of the High Desert Power Project, an 830 MW natural-gas fired combined cycle generating facility in Victorville, California. The project is scheduled for completion in mid-2003.

        We signed a long-term power sales agreement with the State of California. The contract is a "tolling" structure, under which the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) will pay a fixed amount of $12.1 million per month and provides the CDWR the right, but not the obligation, to purchase power from the High Desert Power Project at a price linked to the variable cost of production. During the term of the contract, which runs for seven years and nine months from the commercial operation date of the plant, the High Desert Power Project will provide energy exclusively to the CDWR. The capacity payment is proportionately reduced if the plant's availability is less than 95%. We discuss the High Desert project in more detail in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Significant Events section.


Competitive Supply

We are a leading supplier of energy through load-serving activities in North America to wholesale customers and large commercial and industrial customers and assist them in managing their energy needs. Our competitive supply activities include the 800 MW Rio Nogales natural gas-fired generating facility that commenced operation in mid-2002 and is used to manage our Texas portfolio.

Origination of Structured Transactions

We structure transactions that serve the full energy and capacity requirements of various customers outside the PJM region such as distribution utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, and retail aggregators that do not own sufficient generating capacity or in-house supply functions to meet their own load requirements. We also structure transactions that serve the full energy and capacity requirements and other operational and administrative processes for large commercial and industrial customers.

        These activities typically occur in regional markets in which end user customers' electricity rates have been deregulated and thereby separated from the cost of generation supply. These markets include: New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Texas, the Midwest, the West, and certain areas of Canada. Contracts with these customers generally extend from one to ten years, but some can be longer. We currently have approximately 18,700 MW of load under contract for 2003.

        In 2002, we acquired NewEnergy and Alliance as discussed in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Significant Events section. These acquisitions expand our business in the competitive supply market by providing electricity, natural gas, transportation, and other energy related services to large commercial and industrial customers throughout the United States.

        To meet our customers' load-serving requirements, our merchant energy business obtains energy from various sources, including:

    our generation assets (including our new Rio Nogales gas-fired facility),
    tolling contracts, which provide us the right, but not the obligation, to purchase power at a price linked to the variable cost of production, including fuel, with generation companies that generally extend from several months to several years but can be longer,
    bilateral power purchase agreements with third parties, or
    regional power pools.

Risk Management Activities

Our origination and risk management operation actively uses energy and energy-related commodities in order to manage our portfolio of energy purchases and sales to customers through structured transactions, to obtain market intelligence, and to take advantage of arbitrage opportunities that exist across different markets. These activities involve the use of a variety of instruments, including:

    forward contracts (which commit us to purchase or sell energy commodities in the future),

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    swap agreements (which require payments to or from counterparties based upon the difference between two prices for a predetermined contractual (notional) quantity),
    option contracts (which convey the right to buy or sell a commodity, financial instrument, or index at a predetermined price), and
    futures contracts (which are exchange traded standardized commitments to purchase or sell a commodity or financial instrument, or make a cash settlement, at a specified price and future date).

        Active portfolio management allows our origination and risk management operation to manage and hedge its fixed-price purchase and sale commitments; provide fixed-price commitments to customers and suppliers; reduce exposure to the volatility of cash market prices; and hedge fuel requirements at our generation facilities.


Other

We own 1,491 MW of generating facilities and qualifying facilities and domestic power projects, which include several natural gas-fired facilities that commenced operation since 2001. The output of these facilities is managed by our origination and risk management operation and sold into the wholesale market.

        In addition, we hold up to a 50% ownership interest in 28 operating energy projects that consist of electric generation (primarily relying on alternative fuel sources), fuel processing, or fuel handling facilities and are either qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 or otherwise exempt from, or not subject to, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. Each electric generating plant sells its output to a local utility under long-term contracts.

        Our merchant energy business has invested in partnerships that own 13 operating power projects of which our ownership percentage represents 137 megawatts of electricity that are sold to Pacific Gas & Electric (PGE) and to Southern California Edison (SCE) in California under power purchase agreements. The projects entered into agreements with PGE through July 2006 and SCE through April 2007 that provide for fixed-price payments averaging $53.70 per megawatt-hour plus the stated capacity payments in the original agreements.

        We also provide the following services:

    operation and maintenance services, including testing and start-up, to owners of electric generating facilities, and
    nuclear consulting services to the nuclear utility industry, along with plant life cycle support services, including aging management, spent fuel management, and project management and engineering.


Fuel Sources

Our power plants use diverse fuel sources. Our fuel mix based on capacity owned at December 31, 2002 and our generation based on actual output by fuel type in 2002 were as follows:

Fuel

  Capacity Owned
  Generation
 
Nuclear   28.6 % 53.4 %
Coal   24.2   35.7  
Natural Gas   25.6   3.3  
Oil   6.7   1.3  
Renewable and Alternative(1)   4.3   4.3  
Dual(2)   10.6   2.0  
(1)
Includes solar, geothermal, hydro, biomass, and waste-to-energy.

(2)
Switches between natural gas and oil.

         We discuss our risks associated with fuel in more detail in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Market Risk section.

Nuclear

The output at Calvert Cliffs over the past five years has been:

 
  Generation
MWH

  Capacity
Factor

 
2002   12,087,408   82 %
2001   13,648,932   92  
2000   13,826,046   93  
1999   13,309,306   91  
1998   13,326,633   91  

         The output at Nine Mile Point over the past five years has been:

 
  Generation
MWH*

  Capacity
Factor

 
2002   11,727,567   87 %
2001   11,613,519   86  
2000   11,243,095   83  
1999   10,766,425   79  
1998   10,837,848   80  

*represents our proportionate ownership interest

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         The supply of fuel for nuclear generating stations includes the:

    purchase of uranium concentrates,
    conversion to uranium hexafluoride,
    enrichment of uranium hexafluoride, and
    fabrication of nuclear fuel assemblies.

Uranium
Concentrates:
 
We have under contract sufficient quantities of uranium to meet 100% of both Calvert Cliffs' and Nine Mile Point's requirements through 2004, 50% for both plants in 2005, 60% for both plants in 2006 and 25% for both plants in 2007.
Conversion:   We have contractual commitments providing for the conversion of uranium concentrate into uranium hexafluoride that will meet 100% of Calvert Cliffs' and Nine Mile Point's requirements through 2004, 50% for both plants in 2005, 67% for both plants in 2006 and 50% for both plants in 2007.
Enrichment:   We have contractual commitments that provide 100% of Calvert Cliffs' and Nine Mile Point's uranium enrichment requirements through 2006 and 25% of these requirements for both plants in 2007 and 2008.
Fuel Assembly
Fabrication:
 
We have contracted for the fabrication of fuel assemblies for reloads required through 2013 at Calvert Cliffs and through 2005 for Nine Mile Point Unit 2 and through 2009 for Nine Mile Point Unit 1.

        The nuclear fuel markets are competitive and we do not anticipate any problem in meeting our future requirements.

Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel—Federal Facilities
One of the issues associated with the operation and decommissioning of nuclear generating facilities is disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 required the federal government, through the Department of Energy (DOE) by January 31, 1998, to begin to dispose of spent nuclear fuel. The federal government has stated that it will not meet that obligation until 2010 at the earliest.

        The 1982 Act assesses a tenth of one cent (one mill) per kilowatt-hour fee on nuclear electricity generated and sold to pay for the costs of disposing of spent fuel. We estimate this fee to be approximately $13 million for Calvert Cliffs and $12 million for our portion of Nine Mile Point each year based on expected operating levels. We will pay our portion of these fees into the DOE's Nuclear Waste Fund.

        On February 14, 2002, the Secretary of Energy submitted to the President a recommendation for approval of the Yucca Mountain site for the development of a nuclear waste repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high level nuclear waste from the nation's defense activities. In July 2002, the President signed a resolution approving the Yucca Mountain site after receiving the approval of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. This action allows the Department of Energy to apply to the NRC to license the project. The Department of Energy currently expects that this facility will open in 2010. However, the opening of Yucca Mountain could be delayed due to multiple lawsuits initiated by the State of Nevada and other interested parties, the NRC licensing hearings, and other issues related to the site.

Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel—On-Site Facilities
Calvert Cliffs has a license from the NRC to operate an on-site independent spent fuel storage installation that expires in 2012. We have storage capacity at Calvert Cliffs that will accommodate spent fuel from operations through 2008. In addition, we can expand our temporary storage capacity at Calvert Cliffs to meet future requirements until approximately 2025. Currently, Nine Mile Point does not have independent spent fuel storage capacity. Rather, Nine Mile Point's Unit 1 has sufficient storage capacity within the plant until the end of its current operating license in 2009. If license renewal is obtained, independent spent fuel storage capability will need to be developed. Nine Mile Point's Unit 2 has sufficient storage capacity within the plant until 2012. After that time independent spent fuel storage capability may need to be developed.

Cost for Decommissioning Uranium Enrichment Facilities
The Energy Policy Act of 1992 contains provisions requiring domestic nuclear utilities to contribute to a fund for decommissioning and decontaminating uranium enrichment facilities that had been operated by DOE. These contributions are generally payable over a 15-year period with escalation for inflation and are based upon the amount of uranium enriched by DOE for each utility through 1992. The 1992 Act provides that these costs are recoverable through utility service rates. BGE is solely responsible for these costs as they relate to Calvert Cliffs. The sellers of the Nine Mile Point plant and a subsidiary of the Long Island Power Authority are responsible for the costs relating to the Nine Mile Point plant.

Cost for Decommissioning
We are obligated to decommission our nuclear plants at the time these plants cease operation. Both Calvert Cliffs and Nine Mile Point are required by the NRC to prepare financially for this decommissioning. When BGE transferred all of its nuclear generating assets to our merchant energy business, it also transferred the trust fund established to pay for decommissioning Calvert Cliffs. At December 31, 2002, the trust fund was $239.7 million.

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        Under the Maryland Public Service Commission's (Maryland PSC) order regarding the deregulation of electric generation, BGE ratepayers must pay a total of $520 million, in 1993 dollars, adjusted for inflation, to decommission Calvert Cliffs through fixed annual collections of approximately $18.7 million until June 30, 2006, and thereafter in an annual amount determined by reference to specified factors. BGE is collecting this amount on behalf of Calvert Cliffs. Any costs to decommission Calvert Cliffs in excess of this $520 million must be paid by Calvert Cliffs. If BGE ratepayers have paid more than this amount at the time of decommissioning, Calvert Cliffs must refund the excess. If the cost to decommission Calvert Cliffs is less than the amount BGE's ratepayers are obligated to pay, Calvert Cliffs may keep the difference.

        The sellers of Nine Mile Point transferred a $441.7 million decommissioning trust fund at the time of sale. In return, Nine Mile Point assumed all liability for the costs to decommission Unit 1 and 82% of the cost to decommission Unit 2. We believe that this amount is adequate to cover our responsibility for decommissioning Nine Mile Point to a greenfield status (restoration of the site so that it substantially matches the natural state of the surrounding properties and the site's intended use). At December 31, 2002, the Nine Mile Point trust fund was $405.7 million.

Coal
We purchase the majority of our coal under supply contracts with mining operators, and we acquire the remainder in the spot or forward coal markets. We believe that we will be able to renew supply contracts as they expire or enter into contracts with other coal suppliers. Our primary coal burning facilities have the following requirements:

 
  Approximate
Annual Coal
Requirement
(tons)

  Special Coal
Restrictions

Brandon Shores
Units 1 and 2
    (combined)
  3,500,000   Sulfur content less than 0.8%
C. P. Crane
Units 1 and 2
    (combined)
  850,000   Low ash melting temperature
H. A. Wagner
Units 2 and 3
    (combined)
  1,100,000   Sulfur content no more than 1%

        Coal deliveries to these facilities are made by rail and barge. The coal we use is produced from mines located in central and northern Appalachia.

        All of the Conemaugh and Keystone plants' annual coal requirements are purchased from regional suppliers on the open market. The sulfur restrictions on coal are approximately 2.5% for the Keystone plant and approximately 4.5% for the Conemaugh plant.

        The annual coal requirements for the ACE, Jasmin, and POSO plants, which are located in California, are supplied under contracts with mining operators. Each plant is restricted to coal with sulfur content less than 4%.

        All of our requirements reflect historical levels. The actual fuel quantities required can vary substantially from historical levels depending upon the relationship between energy prices and fuel costs, weather conditions, and operating requirements.

Gas
We purchase natural gas and transportation, as necessary, for electric generation at certain plants. Some of our gas-fired units can use residual fuel oil or distillates instead of gas. Gas is purchased under contracts with suppliers on the spot market and forward markets, including financial exchanges and bilateral agreements. The actual fuel quantities required can vary substantially from year to year depending upon the relationship between energy prices and fuel costs, weather conditions, and operating requirements. However, we believe that we will be able to obtain adequate quantities of gas to meet our requirements.

Oil
Under normal burn practices, our requirements for residual fuel oil (No. 6) amount to approximately 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 barrels of low-sulfur oil per year. Deliveries of residual fuel oil are made from the suppliers' Baltimore Harbor marine terminal for distribution to the various generating plant locations. Also, based on normal burn practices, we also require approximately 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 gallons of distillates (No. 2 oil and kerosene) annually, but these requirements can vary substantially from year to year depending upon the relationship between energy prices and fuel costs, weather conditions, and operating requirements. Distillates are purchased from the suppliers' Baltimore truck terminals for distribution to the various generating plant locations. We have contracts with various suppliers to purchase oil at spot prices, and for future delivery, to meet our requirements.


Competition

Market developments over the past several years have changed the nature of competition in the merchant energy business. Certain companies within the merchant energy sector have either curtailed their activities or have withdrawn completely from the business. In addition, other companies are entering the market (i.e., financial investors). We encounter competition from companies of various sizes, having varying levels of experience, financial and human resources, and differing strategies.

7


        We face competition in the market for energy, capacity, and ancillary services. In our merchant energy business, we compete with international, national, and regional full service energy providers, merchants and producers, to obtain competitively priced supplies from a variety of sources and locations, and to utilize efficient transmission or transportation. We principally compete on the basis of the price, customer service, reliability, and availability of our products.

        With respect to power generation, we compete in the operation of energy-producing projects, and our competitors in this business are both domestic and international organizations, many of whom have extensive and diversified operating expertise including various utilities, industrial companies and independent power producers (including affiliates of utilities), and some of which have financial resources that are greater than ours.

        During the transition of the energy industry to competitive markets, it is difficult for us to assess our position versus the position of existing power providers and new entrants because each company may employ widely differing strategies in their fuel supply and power sales contracts with regard to pricing, terms and conditions. Further difficulties in making competitive assessments of our company arise from states considering different types of regulatory initiatives concerning competition in the power industry. Increased competition that resulted from some of these initiatives in several states contributed in some instances to a reduction in electricity prices and put pressure on electric utilities to lower their costs, including the cost of purchased electricity. In addition, some states that were considering deregulation have slowed their plans or postponed consideration of deregulation.

        We believe there is adequate growth potential in the current deregulated market. However, in response to regional market differences and to promote competitive markets, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed initiatives promoting the formation of Regional Transmission Organizations and a standard market design. If approved, these market changes could provide additional opportunities for our merchant energy business. Additionally, while competition has been adversely impacted by recent market events including the weakened financial condition of certain energy companies, we expect our business to become more competitive due to technological advances in power generation, e-commerce enabling new ways of conducting business, the entrance of new full service providers, and increased efficiency of energy markets.

        However, we believe that our experience and expertise in assessing and managing risk will help us to remain competitive during volatile or otherwise adverse market circumstances.



Merchant Energy Operating Statistics

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998

Revenues (In millions)                              
  PJM Platform   $ 1,391.4   $ 1,379.2   $ 731.7   $   $
  Plants with Power Purchase Agreements     456.4     70.8            
  Competitive Supply—Accrual Revenues     587.6                
                                    —Mark-to-Market Revenues     238.1     175.8     151.5     147.7     47.5
  Other     92.2     139.7     142.5     129.6     136.1

    Total Revenue   $ 2,765.7   $ 1,765.5   $ 1,025.7   $ 277.3   $ 183.6

Generation (In millions)—MWH     44.7     37.4     18.8     1.3     1.3

        Operating statistics do not reflect the elimination of intercompany transactions.

8




Baltimore Gas and Electric Company

BGE is an electric and gas public transmission and distribution utility company with a service territory that covers the City of Baltimore and all or part of ten counties in central Maryland. BGE is regulated by the Maryland PSC and FERC with respect to rates and other aspects of its business.

        BGE's electric service territory includes an area of approximately 2,300 square miles. There are no municipal or cooperative wholesale customers within BGE's service territory. BGE's gas service territory includes an area of approximately 800 square miles.

        BGE's electric and gas revenues come from many customers—residential, commercial, and industrial. In 2002, BGE's largest electric customer provided approximately three percent of BGE's total electric revenues. In 2002, BGE's largest gas customer provided approximately one percent of BGE's total gas revenues.


Electric Business

Electric Regulatory Matters and Competition

Deregulation

Effective July 1, 2000, electric customer choice and competition among electric suppliers was implemented in Maryland. As a result of the deregulation of electric generation, the following occurred effective July 1, 2000:

    All customers can choose their electric energy supplier. BGE provides a fixed price standard offer service over various time periods for different classes of customers that do not select an alternative supplier until June 30, 2006.
    While BGE does not sell electric commodity to all customers in its service territory, BGE does deliver electricity to all customers and provides meter reading, billing, emergency response, regular maintenance, and balancing services.
    BGE provides a market rate standard offer service for those commercial and industrial customers who are no longer eligible for fixed price standard offer service until June 30, 2006.
    BGE reduced residential base rates by approximately 6.5% on average, or about $54 million a year, from rates prior to July 1, 2000. These rates will not change before July 2006. While total residential base rates remain unchanged over this transition period (July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2006), the increase in the standard offer service rate is offset by a corresponding decrease in the competitive transition charge (CTC) that BGE receives from its customers.
    Commercial and industrial customers have several service options that will fix electric energy rates through June 30, 2004 and transition charges through June 30, 2006.

    BGE transferred, at book value, its nuclear generating assets, its nuclear decommissioning trust fund, and related liabilities to Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Inc. In addition, BGE transferred, at book value, its fossil generating assets and related liabilities and its partial ownership interest in two coal plants and a hydroelectric plant located in Pennsylvania to Constellation Power Source Generation.
    BGE assigned approximately $47 million to Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Inc. and $231 million to Constellation Power Source Generation of tax-exempt debt related to the transferred assets. At December 31, 2002, BGE remains contingently liable for the $269.8 million outstanding balance of this debt.

Standard Offer Service

Our origination and risk management operation provides BGE with 100% of the energy and capacity required to meet its standard offer service obligations through June 30, 2003. Beginning July 1, 2003, this operation will provide 90% and Allegheny Energy Supply Company, LLC will provide the remaining 10% of the energy and capacity required for BGE to meet its standard offer service obligations until June 30, 2006.

        Beginning July 1, 2002, the fixed price standard offer service rate ended for large commercial and industrial customers. As a result, customers representing approximately 96% (approximately 1,200 megawatts) of load from this class purchase their electricity from an alternate supplier, including subsidiaries of Constellation Energy. The remaining large commercial and industrial customers that continue to receive their electric supply from BGE are charged market rate standard offer service.

        Beginning July 1, 2004, all other commercial and industrial customers that continue to receive their electric supply from BGE will be charged a market rate standard offer service. Currently, this class of customers represents approximately 2,200 megawatts of load. Beginning July 1, 2006, BGE's current obligation to provide fixed price standard offer service to residential customers ends.

        BGE's (and other Maryland utilities') role in providing electricity supply to customers is currently the subject of a proceeding at the Maryland PSC. Specifically, BGE entered into a proposed settlement agreement with parties representing customers, industry, utilities, suppliers, the Maryland Energy Administration, the Maryland PSC's Staff, and the Office of People's Counsel that extends BGE's obligation to supply standard offer service.

9


        Under the proposed settlement agreement, BGE would be obligated to provide market-based standard offer service to residential customers until June 30, 2010, and for commercial and industrial customers for a one, two or four year period beyond June 30, 2004, depending on customer size. The rates charged during this time would be fixed during the term of the supply contract and would include an administrative fee. The proposed settlement agreement currently is before the Maryland PSC for approval.

        We discuss the market risk of our regulated electric business in more detail in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Market Risk section.

Competition

The electric transmission and distribution services are facing competition from alternative energy sources that include on-site generation and cogeneration projects. In future years, emerging technologies, including fuel cells and solar panels, may also become a competitive factor.

Electric Load Management

BGE implemented various programs for use when system-operating conditions or market economics indicate that a reduction in load would be beneficial. We refer to these programs as active load management programs. These programs include:

    customer-owned generation and curtailable service for large commercial and industrial customers,
    air conditioning control for residential and commercial customers, and
    residential water heater control.

        BGE generally activates these programs on summer days when demand and/or wholesale prices are relatively high. The reduction in the summer 2002 peak load from active load management was approximately 260 MW.

Transmission and Distribution Facilities

BGE maintains approximately 250 substations and 1,300 circuit miles of transmission lines throughout central Maryland. BGE also maintains nearly 22,500 circuit miles of distribution lines. The transmission facilities are connected to those of neighboring utility systems as part of the PJM Interconnection. Under the PJM Tariff and various agreements, BGE and other market participants can use regional transmission facilities for energy, capacity and ancillary services transactions including emergency assistance.

        We discuss FERC's initiatives in implementing a standard market design for wholesale electric markets in more detail in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—FERC Regulation section.



Electric Operating Statistics

 
  2002
  2001
  2000(A)
  1999(A)
  1998(A)

Revenues (In millions)                              
  Residential   $ 946.6   $ 885.3   $ 922.6   $ 975.2   $ 948.6
  Commercial     809.5     903.0     926.2     939.3     912.9
  Industrial     169.6     218.1     203.6     204.3     211.5

    System Sales     1,925.7     2,006.4     2,052.4     2,118.8     2,073.0
 
Interchange Sales

 

 


 

 


 

 

53.8

 

 

112.1

 

 

120.8
  Other (B)     40.3     33.6     29.0     29.1     27.0

    Total   $ 1,966.0   $ 2,040.0   $ 2,135.2   $ 2,260.0   $ 2,220.8

Sales (In thousands)—MWH                              
  Residential     12,652     11,714     11,675     11,349     10,965
  Commercial     14,602     14,147     14,042     13,565     13,219
  Industrial     4,475     4,445     4,476     4,350     4,583

    System Sales     31,729     30,306     30,193     29,264     28,767

Customers (In thousands)                              
  Residential     1,052.3     1,040.5     1,033.4     1,021.4     1,009.1
  Commercial     110.8     110.9     108.9     107.7     106.5
  Industrial     4.9     5.0     5.0     4.7     4.6

    Total     1,168.0     1,156.4     1,147.3     1,133.8     1,120.2

    (A)
    Operating statistics reflect the generation function as part of regulated electric operations through June 30, 2000.

    (B)
    Primarily includes transmission service integration revenues, late payment charges, miscellaneous service fees, and tower leasing revenues.

        Operating statistics do not reflect the elimination of intercompany transactions.

10



Gas Business

Currently, no regulation exists for the wholesale price of natural gas as a commodity, and the regulation of interstate transmission at the federal level has been reduced. All BGE gas customers have the option to purchase gas from other suppliers. BGE continues to deliver gas to all customers within its service territory. This delivery service is regulated by the Maryland PSC.

        BGE also provides these customers with meter reading, billing, emergency response, regular maintenance, and balancing services.

        Delivery service customers may choose to purchase gas from several different suppliers, including subsidiaries of Constellation Energy. The basis of competition for delivery service customers is primarily commodity price.

        Approximately 50% of the gas on our distribution system is for customers using delivery service. We charge all our delivery service customers fees to recover the costs for the transportation service we provide. These fees are the same as the delivery charges to customers that purchase gas from us.

        For customers that buy their gas from BGE, there is a market-based rates incentive mechanism. Under market-based rates, our actual cost of gas is compared to a market index (a measure of the market price of gas in a given period). The difference between our actual cost and the market index is shared equally between shareholders and customers. BGE must secure fixed-price contracts for at least 10%, but not more than 20%, of forecasted system supply requirements for the November through March period.

        We purchase the natural gas we resell to customers directly from many producers and marketers. We have transportation and storage agreements that expire from 2004 to 2012.

      
        Our current pipeline firm transportation entitlements to serve our firm loads are 284,053 dekatherms (DTH) per day during the winter period and 259,053 DTH per day during the summer period.

        Our current maximum storage entitlements are 235,080 DTH per day. To supplement our gas supply at times of heavy winter demands and to be available in temporary emergencies affecting gas supply, we have:

    a liquefied natural gas facility for the liquefaction and storage of natural gas with a total storage capacity of 1,092,977 DTH and a daily capacity of 311,500 DTH, and
    a propane air facility with a mined cavern with a total storage capacity equivalent to 564,200 DTH and a daily capacity of 85,000 DTH.

        We have under contract sufficient volumes of propane for the operation of the propane air facility and are capable of liquefying sufficient volumes of natural gas during the summer months for operations of our liquefied natural gas facility during winter emergencies.

        We historically have been able to arrange short-term contracts or exchange agreements with other gas companies in the event of short-term disruptions to gas supplies.

        BGE also participates in the interstate markets by releasing pipeline capacity or bundling pipeline capacity with gas for off-system sales. Off-system gas sales are low-margin direct sales of gas to wholesale suppliers of natural gas outside our service territory. Earnings from these activities are shared between shareholders and customers. We make these sales as part of a program to balance our supply of, and cost of, natural gas.

11



Gas Operating Statistics

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998

Revenues (In millions)                              
  Residential                              
    Excluding Delivery Service   $ 342.1   $ 378.4   $ 328.4   $ 298.1   $ 279.2
    Delivery Service     16.5     16.3     23.5     11.5     4.9
  Commercial                              
    Excluding Delivery Service     89.4     115.5     97.9     79.3     75.6
    Delivery Service     29.2     21.4     25.8     24.4     19.4
  Industrial                              
    Excluding Delivery Service     9.3     12.8     10.9     8.2     8.0
    Delivery Service     13.9     13.8     16.3     16.1     16.0

      System Sales     500.4     558.2     502.8     437.6     403.1
 
Off-system Sales

 

 

74.8

 

 

113.6

 

 

101.0

 

 

42.9

 

 

40.9
  Other     6.1     8.9     7.8     7.6     7.1

      Total   $ 581.3   $ 680.7   $ 611.6   $ 488.1   $ 451.1

Sales (In thousands)—DTH                              
  Residential                              
    Excluding Delivery Service     35,364     33,147     34,561     34,272     33,595
    Delivery Service     6,404     7,201     9,209     4,468     1,890
  Commercial                              
    Excluding Delivery Service     11,583     12,334     13,186     11,733     11,775
    Delivery Service     28,429     25,037     22,921     20,288     16,633
  Industrial                              
    Excluding Delivery Service     1,207     1,386     1,386     1,367     1,412
    Delivery Service     23,689     23,872     32,382     33,118     34,798

      System Sales     106,676     102,977     113,645     105,246     100,103
 
Off-system Sales

 

 

18,551

 

 

20,012

 

 

22,456

 

 

15,543

 

 

16,724

      Total     125,227     122,989     136,101     120,789     116,827

Customers (In thousands)                              
  Residential     567.3     558.7     553.7     543.5     532.5
  Commercial     40.7     40.2     40.1     39.9     39.6
  Industrial     1.3     1.4     1.4     1.3     1.3

      Total     609.3     600.3     595.2     584.7     573.4

        Operating statistics do not reflect the elimination of intercompany transactions.

12



Franchises

BGE has nonexclusive electric and gas franchises to use streets and other highways that are adequate and sufficient to permit us to engage in our present business. Conditions of the franchises are satisfactory.



Other Nonregulated Businesses

Energy Products and Services

We offer energy products and services designed primarily to provide solutions to the energy needs of commercial and industrial customers. These energy products and services include:

    designing, constructing, and operating single-site heating, cooling, and cogeneration facilities,
    energy consulting and power-quality services,
    services to enhance the reliability of individual electric supply systems, and
    customized financing alternatives.


Home Products and Electric and Gas Retail Marketing

We offer services to customers including:

    home improvements,
    the service of heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and indoor air quality systems, and
    electric and natural gas retail marketing.



District Cooling Services

We also provide cooling services using a central chilled water distribution system to commercial customers in the City of Baltimore.


Other

Our other nonregulated businesses include investments that we do not consider to be core operations. These include financial investments, real estate projects, and interests in a Latin American distribution project and in a fund that holds interests in two South American energy projects. In 2001, as part of our strategy to focus attention and capital resources on our core energy businesses, we accelerated our exit strategies for our remaining real estate projects and international investments.



Consolidated Capital Requirements

Our business requires a great deal of capital. Our total capital requirements for 2002 were $923 million. Of this amount, $706 million was used in our nonregulated businesses and $217 million was used in our utility operations. We estimate our total capital requirements to be $735 million in 2003.

       
        We continuously review and change our capital expenditure programs, so actual expenditures may vary from the estimates above. We discuss our capital requirements further in
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Capital Resources section.



Environmental Matters

We are subject to regulation by various federal, state, and local authorities with regard to:

    air quality,
    water quality, and
    disposal of hazardous substances.

        The development (involving site selection, environmental assessments, and permitting), construction, acquisition, and operation of electric generating and distribution facilities are subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental and land use laws and regulations. From the beginning phases of siting and developing, to the ongoing operation of existing or new electric generating and distribution facilities, our activities involve compliance with diverse laws and regulations that address emissions and impacts to air and water, special, protected and cultural resources (such as wetlands, endangered species, and archeological/historical resources), chemical, and waste handling and noise impacts.

       
        Our activities require complex and often lengthy processes to obtain approvals, permits, or licenses for new, existing, or modified facilities. Additionally, the use and handling of various chemicals or hazardous materials (including wastes) requires preparation of release prevention plans and emergency response procedures. We continuously monitor federal and state environmental initiatives in order to provide input as well as to maintain a proactive view of the future which is key to effective strategic planning. Additionally, as new laws or regulations are promulgated, we assess their applicability and implement the necessary modifications to our facilities or their operation, as required.

        Our capital expenditures (excluding allowance for funds used during construction) were approximately $265 million during the five-year period 1998-2002 to comply with existing environmental standards and regulations, and we estimate that the future incremental capital expenditures necessary to comply with existing environmental standards and regulations will be approximately $20 million in 2003.

13



Clean Air Act

The Clean Air Act affects both existing generating facilities and new projects. The Clean Air Act and many state laws require significant reductions in SO2 (sulfur dioxide) and NOX (nitrogen oxide) emissions that result from burning fossil fuels. The Clean Air Act also contains other provisions that could materially affect some of our projects. Various provisions may require permits, inspections, or installation of additional pollution control technology or may require the purchase of emission allowances. Certain of these provisions are described in more detail below.

        On October 27, 1998, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule requiring 22 Eastern states and the District of Columbia to reduce emissions of NOX (a precursor of ozone). Among other things, the EPA's rule establishes an ozone season, which runs from May through September, and a NOX emission budget for each state, including Maryland and Pennsylvania. The EPA rule requires states to implement controls sufficient to meet their NOX budget by May 30, 2004. Coal-fired power plants are a principal target of NOX reductions under this initiative.

        Many of our generation facilities are subject to NOX reduction requirements under the EPA rule, including those located in Maryland and Pennsylvania. At the Brandon Shores and Wagner facilities, we installed emission reduction equipment to meet Maryland regulations issued pursuant to EPA's rule. The owners of the Keystone plant in Pennsylvania are installing emissions reduction equipment by July 2003 to meet Pennsylvania regulations issued pursuant to EPA's rule. We estimate our costs for the equipment needed at this plant will be approximately $35 million. Through December 31, 2002, we have spent approximately $26 million.

        The EPA established new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for very fine particulates and revised standards for ozone attainment that were upheld after various court appeals. While these standards may require increased controls at some of our fossil generating plants in the future, implementation could be delayed for several years. We cannot estimate the cost of these increased controls at this time because the states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, and California, still need to determine what reductions in pollutants will be necessary to meet the EPA standards.

        The EPA and several states have filed suits against a number of coal-fired power plants in Mid-Western and Southern states alleging violations of the deterioration prevention and non-attainment provisions of the Clean Air Act's new source review requirements. In 2000, and again in 2002, using its broad investigatory powers, the EPA requested information relating to modifications made to our Brandon Shores, Crane, and Wagner plants in Baltimore, Maryland. The EPA also sent similar, but narrower, information requests to two of our newer Pennsylvania waste-coal burning plants. This information is to determine compliance with the Clean Air Act and state implementation plan requirements, including potential application of federal New Source Performance Standards. We have responded to the EPA and as of the date of this report the EPA has taken no further action.

        In general, such standards can require the installation of additional air pollution control equipment upon the major modification of an existing plant. Although there have not been any new source review-related suits filed against our facilities, there can be no assurance that any of them will not be the target of an action in the future. Based on the levels of emissions control that the EPA and states are seeking in these new source review enforcement actions, we believe that material additional costs and penalties could be incurred, and planned capital expenditures could be accelerated, if the EPA was successful in any future actions regarding our facilities.

        The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to evaluate the public health impacts of emissions of mercury, a hazardous air pollutant, from coal-fired plants. The EPA has decided to control mercury emissions from coal-fired plants. Compliance could be required by approximately 2007. We believe final regulations could be issued in 2004 and would affect all coal-fired boilers. The cost of compliance with the final regulations could be material.

        Future initiatives regarding greenhouse gas emissions and global warming continue to be the subject of much debate. The related Kyoto Protocol was signed by the United States but has since been rejected by the President, who instead has asked for an 18% decrease in carbon intensity on a voluntary basis. Future initiatives on this issue and the ultimate effects of the Kyoto Protocol and the President's initiatives on us are unknown at this time. As a result of our diverse fuel portfolio, our contribution to greenhouse gases varies by plant type. Fossil fuel-fired power plants are significant sources of carbon dioxide emissions, a principal greenhouse gas. Our compliance costs with any mandated federal greenhouse gas reductions in the future could be material.

14



Clean Water Act

Our facilities are subject to a variety of federal and state regulations governing existing and potential water/wastewater and stormwater discharges.

        In April 2002, the EPA proposed rules under the Clean Water Act that require that cooling water intake structures reflect the best technology available for minimizing adverse environmental impacts. These rules pertain to existing utilities and non-utility power producers that currently employ a cooling water intake structure and whose flow exceeds 50 million gallons per day. We expect a final action on the proposed rules by February 2004. The proposed rule may require the installation of additional intake screens or other protective measures, as well as extensive site specific study and monitoring requirements. There is also the possibility that the proposed rules may lead to the installation of cooling towers on four of our fossil and both of our nuclear facilities. Our compliance costs associated with the final rules could be material.

        Under current provisions of the Clean Water Act, existing permits must be renewed at least every five years, at which time permit limits come under extensive review and can be modified to account for more stringent regulations. In addition, the permits can be modified at any time. Changes to the environmental permits of our coal or other fuel suppliers due to federal or state initiatives may increase the cost of fuel, which in turn could have a significant impact on our operations.


Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund statute)

This law, or CERCLA, among other things, imposes cleanup requirements for threatened or actual releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or welfare of the environment. Under CERCLA, joint and several liability may be imposed on waste generators, site owners and operators and others regardless of fault or the legality of the original disposal activity. Many states have implemented laws similar to CERCLA. Although all waste substances generated by our facilities are generally not regarded as hazardous substances, some products used in the operations and the disposal of such products are governed by CERCLA and similar state statutes.

Metal Bank

In the early 1970s, BGE shipped an unknown number of scrapped transformers to Metal Bank of America, a metal reclaimer in Philadelphia. Metal Bank's scrap and storage yard has been found to be contaminated with oil containing high levels of PCBs (hazardous chemicals frequently used as a fire resistant coolant in electrical equipment). On December 7, 1987, the EPA notified BGE and nine other utilities that they are considered potentially responsible parties (PRPs) with respect to the cleanup of the site. BGE, along with the other PRPs, submitted a remedial investigation and feasibility study to the EPA on October 14, 1994, and the EPA issued its Record of Decision on December 31, 1997. On June 26, 1998, the EPA ordered BGE, the other utility PRPs, and the owner/operator to implement the requirements of the Record of Decision. The utility PRPs have submitted the remedial design to EPA. Based on the Record of Decision, BGE's share of the reasonably possible cleanup costs, estimated to be approximately 15.47%, could be as much as $1.3 million higher than amounts we believe are probable and have recorded as a liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. There has been no significant activity with respect to this site since the EPA's Record of Decision in 1997.

Kane and Lombard Streets

Suit was originally filed by the EPA under CERCLA in October 1989 against BGE and several other defendants in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, seeking to recover past and future clean up costs at the Kane and Lombard Street site located in Baltimore City, Maryland. The State of Maryland filed a similar complaint in the same case and court in February 1990. The complaints alleged that BGE arranged for coal fly ash to be deposited on the site. The Court dismissed these complaints in November 1995. Maryland began additional investigation on the remainder of the site for the EPA, but never completed the investigation. BGE, along with three other defendants, agreed to complete a remedial investigation and feasibility study of groundwater contamination around the site in a July 1993 consent order. The remedial investigation report and a draft feasibility study were submitted to the EPA in February 2002. In December 2002, the EPA released its proposed remedy for the site and estimated the total cost for the site to be $6.2 million. Until the EPA finalizes the plan, we cannot estimate BGE's share of the total site cleanup costs, but it is not expected to be material.

68th Street Dump

In July 1999, the EPA notified BGE, along with 19 other entities, that it may be a potentially responsible party at the 68th Street Dump/Industrial Enterprises Site, also known as the Robb Tyler Dump, located in Baltimore, Maryland. The EPA indicated that it is proceeding with plans to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study. This site was proposed for listing as a federal Superfund site in January 1999, but the listing has not been finalized. Although our potential liability cannot be estimated, we do not expect such liability to be material based on BGE records showing that it did not send waste to the site.

15


Spring Gardens

In the past, predecessor gas companies (which were later merged into BGE) manufactured coal gas for residential and industrial use. The Spring Gardens site was once used to manufacture gas from coal and oil. The residue from this manufacturing process was coal tar, previously thought to be harmless but now found to contain a number of chemicals designated by the EPA as hazardous substances.

        In late December 1996, BGE signed a consent order with the Maryland Department of the Environment that required it to implement remedial action plans for contamination at and around the Spring Gardens site, located in Baltimore, Maryland. BGE submitted the required remedial action plans, and they have been approved by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Based on these plans, the costs BGE considers to be probable to remedy the contamination are estimated to total $47 million. BGE recorded these costs as a liability in its Consolidated Balance Sheets and deferred these costs, net of accumulated amortization and amounts it recovered from insurance companies, as a regulatory asset. Through December 31, 2002, BGE spent approximately $39 million for remediation at this site.

        BGE also is required by accounting rules to disclose additional costs it considers to be less likely than probable, but still "reasonably possible" of being incurred at this site. Because of the results of studies at this site, it is reasonably possible that these additional costs could exceed the $47 million BGE recognized by approximately $14 million.

        As a result of CERCLA's no-fault, retroactive liability provisions, we cannot determine whether we will be free from substantial liabilities for other sites in the future.


Employees

Constellation Energy and its subsidiaries had, at December 31, 2002, approximately 8,700 employees. The Central Wayne plant has a partially unionized workforce where approximately 30 employees are represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers. The labor contract with this union expires June 30, 2004. At the Nine Mile Point plant, approximately 700 employees are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 97. The labor contract with this union expires in July 2006 with wages open to negotiation in June 2003. We believe that our relations with both unions are satisfactory, but there can be no assurances that this will continue to be the case.

        We discuss several workforce reduction programs in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Significant Events section.



Item 2. Properties

Constellation Energy's corporate offices occupy approximately 85,000 square feet of leased office space in Baltimore, Maryland. The corporate offices for most of our merchant energy business occupy approximately 100,000 square feet of leased office space in another building in Baltimore, Maryland. We describe our electric generation properties on the next page. We also have leases for other offices and services located in the Baltimore metropolitan region, and for various real property and facilities relating to our generation projects.

        We own BGE's principal headquarters building in downtown Baltimore. BGE owns propane air and liquefied natural gas facilities as discussed in Item 1. Business—Gas Business section.

        BGE also has rights-of-way to maintain 26-inch natural gas mains across certain Baltimore City-owned property (principally parks) which expire in 2004. These rights-of-way can be renewed during their last year for an additional period of 25 years based on a fair revaluation. Conditions of the grants are satisfactory.

       
        BGE has electric transmission and electric and gas distribution lines located:

    in public streets and highways pursuant to franchises, and
    on rights-of-way secured for the most part by grants from owners of the property.

        All of BGE's property is subject to the lien of BGE's mortgage securing its mortgage bonds. All of the generation facilities transferred to affiliates by BGE on July 1, 2000, along with the stock we own in certain of our subsidiaries, are subject to the lien of BGE's mortgage.

        We believe we have satisfactory title to our power project facilities in accordance with standards generally accepted in the energy industry, subject to exceptions, which in our opinion, would not have a material adverse effect on the use or value of the facilities.

        We also maintain office space throughout North America to support our competitive supply activities.

16


        The following table describes our generating facilities:

Plant

  Location
  Installed
Capacity (MW)

  % Owned
  Capacity
Owned (MW)

  Primary
Fuel

 
   
  (at December 31, 2002)

   
  (at December 31, 2002)

   
PJM Platform                    
  Calvert Cliffs   Calvert Co., MD   1,685   100.0   1,685   Nuclear
  Brandon Shores   Anne Arundel Co., MD   1,286   100.0   1,286   Coal
  H. A. Wagner   Anne Arundel Co., MD   1,020   100.0   1,020   Coal/Oil/Gas
  C. P. Crane   Baltimore Co., MD   399   100.0   399   Oil/Coal
  Keystone   Armstrong and Indiana Cos., PA   1,711   21.0   359  (A) Coal
  Conemaugh   Indiana Co., PA   1,711   10.6   181  (A) Coal
  Perryman   Harford Co., MD   360   100.0   360   Oil/Gas
  Riverside   Baltimore Co., MD   251   100.0   251   Oil/Gas
  Handsome Lake   Rockland Twp, PA   250   100.0   250   Gas
  Notch Cliff   Baltimore Co., MD   128   100.0   128   Gas
  Westport   Baltimore City, MD   121   100.0   121   Gas
  Gould Street   Baltimore City, MD   104   100.0   104   Oil/Gas
  Philadelphia Road   Baltimore City, MD   64   100.0   64   Oil
  Safe Harbor   Safe Harbor, PA   416   66.7   277   Hydro
       
     
   
Total PJM Platform       9,506       6,485    

Plants with Power Purchase Agreements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Nine Mile Point Unit 1   Scriba, NY   609   100.0   609   Nuclear
  Nine Mile Point Unit 2   Scriba, NY   1,148   82.0   941   Nuclear
  Oleander   Brevard Co., FL   680   100.0   680   Oil/Gas
  University Park   Chicago, IL   300   100.0   300   Gas
       
     
   
Total Plants with Power Purchase Agreements   2,737       2,530    

Competitive Supply

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Rio Nogales   Seguin, TX   800   100.0   800   Gas

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Holland Energy   Shelby Co., IL   665   100.0   665   Gas
  Big Sandy   Neal, WV   300   100.0   300   Gas
  Wolf Hills   Bristol, VA   250   100.0   250   Gas
  Panther Creek   Nesquehoning, PA   83   50.0   42   Waste Coal
  Colver   Colver Township, PA   110   25.0   28   Waste Coal
  Sunnyside   Sunnyside, UT   53   50.0   26   Waste Coal
  ACE   Trona, CA   102   30.3   31   Coal
  Jasmin   Kern Co., CA   33   50.0   17   Coal
  POSO   Kern Co., CA   33   50.0   17   Coal
  Puna I   Hilo, HI   30   50.0   15   Geothermal
  Mammoth Lakes G-1   Mammoth Lakes, CA   8   50.0   4   Geothermal
  Mammoth Lakes G-2   Mammoth Lakes, CA   12   50.0   6   Geothermal
  Mammoth Lakes G-3   Mammoth Lakes, CA   12   50.0   6   Geothermal
  Soda Lake I   Fallon, NV   3   50.0   2   Geothermal
  Soda Lake II   Fallon, NV   13   50.0   7   Geothermal
  Stillwater   Fallon, NV   13   50.0   6   Geothermal
  Rocklin   Placer Co., CA   24   50.0   12   Biomass
  Fresno   Fresno, CA   24   50.0   12   Biomass
  Chinese Station   Sonora, CA   22   45.0   10   Biomass
  Malacha   Muck Valley, CA   32   50.0   16   Hydro
  Central Wayne   Dearborn, MI   22   50.0   11   Municipal Solid Waste
  SEGS IV   Kramer Junction, CA   30   12.0   4   Solar
  SEGS V   Kramer Junction, CA   30   4.0   1   Solar
  SEGS VI   Kramer Junction, CA   30   9.0   3   Solar
       
     
   
Total Other       1,934       1,491    
       
     
   
Total Generating Facilities       14,977       11,306    
       
     
   
(A)
Reflects our proportionate interest in and entitlement to capacity from Keystone and Conemaugh, which include 2 megawatts of diesel capacity for Keystone and 1 megawatt of diesel capacity for Conemaugh.

17


        The following table describes our processing facilities:

Plant
  Location
  Installed
Capacity (MW)

  % Owned
  Capacity
Owned (MW)

  Primary
Fuel

 
   
  (at December 31, 2002)

   
  (at December 31, 2002)

   
A/C Fuels   Hazelton, PA     50.0     Coal Processing
Gary PCI   Gary, IN     24.5     Coal Processing
PC Synfuel VA I   Appalachia, VA     16.7     Synfuel Processing
PC Synfuel WV I   Charleston, WV     16.7     Synfuel Processing
PC Synfuel WV II   Wheelersburg, OH     16.7     Synfuel Processing
PC Synfuel WV III   Mayberry, WV     16.7     Synfuel Processing


Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We discuss our legal proceedings in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis—Business Environment section and in Note 11 to Consolidated Financial Statements.



Item 4. Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders

Not applicable.


Executive Officers of the Registrant

Name

  Age
  Present Office
  Other Offices or Positions Held
During Past Five Years

Mayo A. Shattuck III   48   Chairman of the Board of Constellation Energy (since July 2002), President and Chief Executive Officer of Constellation Energy (since November 2001); and Chairman of the Board of BGE (since July 2002)   Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer—DB Alex Brown, LLC and Deutsche Banc Securities, Inc., Vice Chairman—Bankers Trust Corporation.

E. Follin Smith

 

43

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Constellation Energy (since June 2001) and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (since January 2002)

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer—Armstrong Holdings, Inc.; Vice President and Treasurer—Armstrong Holdings, Inc. (filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 on December 6, 2000); and Chief Financial Officer—General Motors—Delphi Chassis Systems.

Thomas V. Brooks

 

40

 

President of Constellation Power Source, Inc. (since October 2001)

 

Vice President of Business Development and Strategy—Constellation Energy; and Vice President—Goldman Sachs.

Frank O. Heintz

 

59

 

President and Chief Executive Officer of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (since July 2000)

 

Executive Vice President, Utility Operations—BGE; and Vice President, Gas—BGE.

Michael J. Wallace

 

55

 

President of Constellation Generation Group, LLC (since January 2002)

 

Managing Director and Member—Barrington Energy Partners; and Senior Vice President—Commonwealth Edison.

Thomas F. Brady

 

53

 

Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development of Constellation Energy (since May 2002)

 

Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development—Constellation Energy; Vice President, Retail Services—BGE; and Vice President, Customer Service and Distribution—BGE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18



Paul J. Allen

 

51

 

Vice President, Corporate Affairs of Constellation Energy (since May 2001)

 

Senior Vice President and Group Head—Ogilvy Public Relations.

Kathleen A. Chagnon

 

43

 

Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Constellation Energy (since August 2002)

 

Vice President, Corporate Group General Counsel—The St. Paul Companies, Inc.; and Assistant Vice President and Associate Group Counsel—USF&G Corporation.

John R. Collins

 

45

 

Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of Constellation Energy (since December 2001)

 

Managing Director—Finance—Constellation Power Source Holdings, Inc.; and Senior Financial Officer—Constellation Power Source, Inc.

Mark P. Huston

 

39

 

Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development of Constellation Energy (since May 2002)

 

Manager, Corporate Strategy & Development—Constellation Energy; Project Manager, Restructuring Project—BGE; and Director, Gas Business Development—BGE.

Marc C. Ugol

 

44

 

Vice President, Human Resources of Constellation Energy (since October 2002)

 

Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration—Tellabs, Inc.; and Senior Vice President, Human Resources—Platinum Technology International.

        Officers are elected by, and hold office at the will of, the Board of Directors and do not serve a "term of office" as such. There is no arrangement or understanding between any director or officer and any other person pursuant to which the director or officer was selected.

19



PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters


Stock Trading

Constellation Energy's common stock is traded under the ticker symbol CEG. It is listed on the New York, Chicago, and Pacific stock exchanges. It has unlisted trading privileges on the Boston, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia exchanges.

        As of February 28, 2003, there were 50,914 common shareholders of record.


Dividend Policy

Constellation Energy pays dividends on its common stock after its Board of Directors declares them. There are no contractual limitations on Constellation Energy paying common stock dividends.

        Dividends have been paid continuously since 1910 on the common stock of Constellation Energy, BGE, and their predecessors. Future dividends depend upon future earnings, our financial condition, and other factors.

        In January 2003, we announced an increase in our quarterly dividend from 24 cents to 26 cents per share on our common stock payable April 1, 2003 to holders of record on March 10, 2003. This is equivalent to an annual rate of $1.04 per share.

        Quarterly dividends were declared on our common stock during 2002 and 2001 in the amounts set forth below.

        BGE pays dividends on its common stock after its Board of Directors declares them. There are no contractual limitations on BGE paying common stock dividends unless:

    BGE elects to defer interest payments on the 7.16% Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures due June 30, 2038, and any deferred interest remains unpaid; or
    all dividends (and any redemption payments) due on BGE's preference stock have not been paid.


Common Stock Dividends and Price Ranges

 
  2002
  2001
 
   
  Price*
   
  Price*
 
  Dividend
Declared

  Dividend
Declared

 
  High
  Low
  High
  Low
First Quarter   $ .24   $ 31.18   $ 26.16   $ .12   $ 44.65   $ 34.69
Second Quarter     .24     32.38     27.65     .12     50.14     40.10
Third Quarter     .24     29.85     21.51     .12     43.80     22.85
Fourth Quarter     .24     29.02     19.30     .12     28.21     20.90
   
             
           
Total   $ .96               $ .48            
   
             
           

* Based on New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions.

20



Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Constellation Energy Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998

 
  (Dollar amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

Summary of Operations                              
  Total Revenues   $ 4,703.0   $ 3,878.8   $ 3,774.4   $ 3,830.9   $ 3,382.5
  Total Expenses     3,878.1     3,527.2     3,009.9     3,081.0     2,647.9
  Net Gain on Sales of Investments and Other Assets     261.3     6.2     78.1     10.0     3.9

  Income From Operations     1,086.2     357.8     842.6     759.9     738.5
  Other Income     30.5     1.3     4.2     7.9     5.7
  Fixed Charges     281.5     238.8     271.4     255.0     260.6

  Income Before Income Taxes     835.2     120.3     575.4     512.8     483.6
  Income Taxes     309.6     37.9     230.1     186.4     177.7

  Income Before Extraordinary Item and Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle     525.6     82.4     345.3     326.4     305.9
  Extraordinary Loss, Net of Income Taxes                 (66.3 )  
  Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Income Taxes         8.5            

  Net Income   $ 525.6   $ 90.9   $ 345.3   $ 260.1   $ 305.9

 
Earnings Per Common Share and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
    Earnings Per Common Share—Assuming Dilution Before Extraordinary Item and Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle   $ 3.20   $ .52   $ 2.30   $ 2.18   $ 2.06
  Extraordinary Loss                 (.44 )  
  Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle         .05            

  Earnings Per Common Share and                              
    Earnings Per Common Share—Assuming Dilution   $ 3.20   $ .57   $ 2.30   $ 1.74   $ 2.06

  Dividends Declared Per Common Share   $ .96   $ .48   $ 1.68   $ 1.68   $ 1.67


Summary of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Total Assets   $ 14,128.9   $ 14,109.4   $ 12,939.3   $ 9,745.1   $ 9,434.1

  Short-Term Borrowings   $ 10.5   $ 975.0   $ 243.6   $ 371.5   $

  Current Portion of Long-Term Debt   $ 426.2   $ 1,406.7   $ 906.6   $ 808.3   $ 541.7

  Capitalization                              
    Long-Term Debt   $ 4,613.9   $ 2,712.5   $ 3,159.3   $ 2,575.4   $ 3,128.1
    Minority Interests     105.3     101.7     97.7     95.2     2.0
    Preference Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption     190.0     190.0     190.0     190.0     190.0
    Common Shareholders' Equity     3,862.3     3,843.6     3,174.0     3,017.5     2,995.9

  Total Capitalization   $ 8,771.5   $ 6,847.8   $ 6,621.0   $ 5,878.1   $ 6,316.0


Financial Statistics at Year End

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges     3.33     1.18     2.78     2.87     2.60
  Book Value Per Share of Common Stock   $ 23.44   $ 23.48   $ 21.09   $ 20.17   $ 20.08

Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation.

We discuss items that affect comparability between years, including acquisitions, accounting changes, and special items, in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis.

21


Baltimore Gas and Electric Company and Subsidiaries

 
  2002
  2001
  2000(A)
  1999
  1998

 
  (Dollar amounts in millions)


Summary of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Total Revenues   $ 2,547.3   $ 2,720.7   $ 2,746.8   $ 3,092.2   $ 3,386.4
  Total Expenses     2,181.0     2,408.9     2,334.4     2,387.9     2,647.9

  Income From Operations     366.3     311.8     412.4     704.3     738.5
  Other Income     10.7     0.4     7.5     8.4     5.7
  Fixed Charges     140.6     154.6     184.0     205.9     238.8

  Income Before Income Taxes     236.4     157.6     235.9     506.8     505.4
  Income Taxes     93.3     60.3     92.4     178.4     177.7

  Income Before Extraordinary Item     143.1     97.3     143.5     328.4     327.7
  Extraordinary Loss, Net of Income Taxes                 (66.3 )  

  Net Income     143.1     97.3     143.5     262.1     327.7
  Preference Stock Dividends     13.2     13.2     13.2     13.5     21.8

  Earnings Applicable to Common Stock   $ 129.9   $ 84.1   $ 130.3   $ 248.6   $ 305.9


Summary of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Total Assets   $ 4,779.9   $ 4,954.5   $ 4,654.2   $ 7,272.6   $ 9,434.1

  Short-Term Borrowings   $   $   $ 32.1   $ 129.0   $

  Current Portion of Long-Term Debt   $ 420.7   $ 666.3   $ 567.6   $ 523.9   $ 541.7

  Capitalization                              
    Long-Term Debt   $ 1,499.1   $ 1,821.7   $ 1,864.4   $ 2,206.0   $ 3,128.1
    Minority Interest     19.4     5.0     4.6     4.2     1.1
    Preference Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption     190.0     190.0     190.0     190.0     190.0
    Common Shareholder's Equity     1,461.7     1,131.4     802.3     2,355.4     2,981.5

  Total Capitalization   $ 3,170.2   $ 3,148.1   $ 2,861.3   $ 4,755.6   $ 6,300.7


Financial Statistics at Year End

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

 

2.66

 

 

1.99

 

 

2.27

 

 

3.45

 

 

2.94
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred and Preference Stock Dividends

 

 

2.31

 

 

1.75

 

 

2.03

 

 

3.14

 

 

2.60

Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation.

(A)
In July 2000, BGE transferred its generation assets, net of associated liabilities, to our merchant energy business as a result of the deregulation of electric generation.

22



Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations


Introduction

Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (Constellation Energy) is a North American energy company that conducts its business through various subsidiaries including a merchant energy business and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE). We describe our operating segments in Note 3.

        This report is a combined report of Constellation Energy and BGE. References in this report to "we" and "our" are to Constellation Energy and its subsidiaries, collectively. References in this report to the "utility business" are to BGE.

        Our merchant energy business is a competitive provider of energy solutions for large customers in North America. It has electric generation assets located in various regions of the United States and provides energy solutions to meet customers' needs. Our merchant energy business focuses on serving the full energy and capacity requirements (load-serving activities) of, and providing other risk management activities for various customers, such as utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, retail aggregators, and large commercial and industrial customers. These load- serving activities typically occur in regional markets in which end use customer electricity rates have been deregulated and thereby separated from the cost of generation supply.

        BGE is a regulated electric and gas public transmission and distribution utility company with a service territory that covers the City of Baltimore and all or part of ten counties in central Maryland.

        Our other nonregulated businesses:

    design, construct, and operate single-site heating, cooling, and cogeneration facilities for commercial and industrial customers,
    provide home improvements, service heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and indoor air quality systems, and provide electric and natural gas retail marketing, and
    own and operate a district cooling system for commercial customers in the City of Baltimore, Maryland.

        In addition, we own several investments that we do not consider to be core operations. These include financial investments, real estate projects, and interests in a Latin American distribution project and in a fund that holds interests in two South American energy projects. We sold certain non-core assets in 2002 and closed our retail merchandise stores in December 2002.

        In this discussion and analysis, we explain the general financial condition and the results of operations for Constellation Energy and BGE including:

    factors which affect our businesses,
    our earnings and costs in the periods presented,
    changes in earnings and costs between periods,
    sources of earnings,
    impact of these factors on our overall financial condition,
    expected future expenditures for capital projects, and
    expected sources of cash for future capital expenditures.

        As you read this discussion and analysis, refer to our Consolidated Statements of Income, which present the results of our operations for 2002, 2001, and 2000. We analyze and explain the differences between periods in the specific line items of the Consolidated Statements of Income.

        Effective July 1, 2000, electric generation was deregulated in Maryland and BGE transferred all of its generation assets and related liabilities at book value to our merchant energy business. As a result, the financial results of the electric generation portion of our business are included in the merchant energy business beginning July 1, 2000. Prior to July 1, 2000, the financial results of electric generation were included in BGE's regulated electric business. We discuss the deregulation of electric generation in the Electric Competition—Maryland section.


Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements that were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management makes estimates and assumptions when preparing financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect various matters, including:

    our reported amounts of assets and liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at the dates of the financial statements,
    our disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and
    our reported amounts of revenues and expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income during the reporting periods.

        These estimates involve judgments with respect to numerous factors that are difficult to predict and are beyond management's control. As a result, actual amounts could materially differ from these estimates.

        Management believes the following accounting policies represent critical accounting policies as defined by the SEC. The SEC defines critical accounting policies as those that are both most important to the portrayal of a company's financial condition and results and require management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgment, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. We discuss our significant accounting policies, including those that do not require management to make difficult, subjective, or complex judgments or estimates, in Note 1.


Revenue Recognition/Mark-to-Market Method of Accounting

Our merchant energy business engages in origination and risk management activities using contracts for energy, other energy-related commodities, and related derivative contracts. We record merchant energy business revenues using two methods of accounting: accrual accounting and mark-to-market accounting. We describe our use of accrual accounting in more detail in Note 1.

23


        On October 25, 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on Issue 02-3, Recognition and Reporting of Gains and Losses on Energy Trading Contracts Under EITF Issues No. 98-10 and No. 00-17. EITF 02-3 affects how we apply the mark-to-market method of accounting. We describe our accounting for energy contracts and the impact of EITF 02-3 below.

        We use mark-to-market accounting for energy trading activities and for derivatives and other contracts for which we are not permitted to use accrual accounting or hedge accounting. These mark-to-market activities include derivative and (prior to EITF 02-3) non-derivative contracts for energy and other energy-related commodities. Under the mark-to-market method of accounting, we record the fair value of energy contracts as mark-to-market energy assets and liabilities at the time of contract execution. We record the changes in mark-to-market energy assets and liabilities on a net basis in "Nonregulated revenues" in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

        At December 31, 2002, mark-to-market energy assets and liabilities consisted of a combination of energy and energy-related derivative and non-derivative contracts. While some of these contracts represent commodities or instruments for which prices are available from external sources, other commodities and certain contracts are not actively traded and are valued using modeling techniques to determine expected future market prices, contract quantities, or both. The market prices and quantities used to determine fair value reflect management's best estimate considering various factors. However, future market prices and actual quantities will vary from those used in recording mark-to-market energy assets and liabilities, and it is possible that such variations could be material.

        We record reserves to reflect uncertainties associated with certain estimates inherent in the determination of fair value that are not incorporated in market price information or other market-based estimates used to determine fair value of our mark-to-market energy contracts. To the extent possible, we utilize market-based data together with quantitative methods for both measuring the risks for which we record reserves and determining the level of such reserves and changes in those levels.

        We describe below the main types of reserves we record and the process for establishing each. Generally, increases in reserves reduce our earnings, and decreases in reserves increase our earnings. However, all or a portion of the effect on earnings of changes in reserves may be offset by changes in the value of the underlying positions.

    Close-out reserve—this reserve represents the estimated cost to close out or sell to a third-party open mark-to-market positions. This reserve has the effect of valuing "long" positions at the bid price and "short" positions at the offer price. We compute this reserve based on our estimate of the bid/offer spread for each commodity and option price and the absolute quantity of our open positions for each year. Effective July 1, 2002, to the extent that we are not able to obtain market information for similar contracts, the close-out reserve is equivalent to the initial contract margin, thereby resulting in no gain or loss at inception. The level of total close-out reserves increases as we have larger unhedged positions, bid-offer spreads increase, or market information is not available, and it decreases as we reduce our unhedged positions, bid-offer spreads decrease, or market information becomes available.
    Credit-spread adjustment—for risk management purposes, we compute the value of our mark-to-market assets and liabilities using a risk-free discount rate. In order to compute fair value for financial reporting purposes, we adjust the value of our mark-to-market assets to reflect the credit-worthiness of each individual counterparty based upon published credit ratings, where available, or equivalent internal credit ratings and associated default probability percentages. We compute this reserve by applying the appropriate default probability percentage to our outstanding credit exposure, net of collateral, for each counterparty. The level of this reserve increases as our credit exposure to counterparties increases, the maturity terms of our transactions increase, or the credit ratings of our counterparties deteriorate, and it decreases when our credit exposure to counterparties decreases, the maturity terms of our transactions decrease, or the credit ratings of our counterparties improve.

        Market prices for energy and energy-related commodities vary based upon a number of factors. Changes in market prices will affect both the recorded fair value of our mark-to-market energy contracts and the level of future revenues and costs associated with accrual-basis activities. Changes in the value of our mark-to-market energy contracts will affect our earnings in the period of the change, while changes in forward market prices related to accrual-basis revenues and costs will affect our earnings in future periods. We cannot predict whether or to what extent the factors affecting market prices may change, but those changes could be material and could affect us either favorably or unfavorably. We discuss our market risk in more detail in the Market Risk section.

        On October 25, 2002, the EITF reached a consensus on Issue 02-3 that changed the accounting for certain energy contracts. The main provisions of Issue 02-3 are as follows:

    EITF 02-3 prohibits the use of mark-to-market accounting for any energy-related contracts that are not derivatives. Any contracts subject to EITF 02-3 must be accounted for on the accrual basis and recorded in the income statement gross rather than net upon application of EITF 02-3. This change applied immediately to new contracts executed after October 25, 2002 and applied to existing non-derivative energy-related contracts beginning January 1, 2003.
    We are required to report the impact of initially applying EITF 02-3 as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.
    The EITF minutes on Issue 02-3 indicate that an entity should not record unrealized gains or losses at the inception of derivative contracts unless the fair value of the contracts is evidenced by observable market data.

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        Applying EITF 02-3 will not affect our cash flows or our accounting for new load-serving contracts for which we have been using accrual accounting since early 2002. Additionally, we continued to mark existing non-derivative energy-related contracts to market for the remainder of 2002. However, EITF 02-3 requires us to record a non-cash, cumulative effect adjustment to convert these non-derivative mark-to-market contracts to accrual accounting no later than January 1, 2003.

        We reviewed our portfolio of mark-to-market contracts to identify the contracts that are subject to the requirements of EITF 02-3. The primary contracts that are affected are our full requirements load-serving contracts and unit-contingent power purchase contracts, which are not derivatives. The majority of these contracts are in Texas and New England and were entered into prior to the shift to accrual accounting earlier in 2002. Additionally, we reviewed derivatives we use as supply sources and hedges of contracts that are subject to EITF 02-3. To the extent permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, we designated derivative contracts used to fulfill our load-serving contracts as either normal purchases or cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133 effective January 1, 2003.

        We summarize the impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheets of applying EITF 02-3 on January 1, 2003 as follows:

 
  Assets
  Liabilities
  Net
 



 
 
  (In millions)

 
Mark-to-market energy contracts                    
  Current   $ 144.0   $ 94.1   $ 49.9  
  Noncurrent     1,348.2     881.5     466.7  

 
  Total     1,492.2     975.6     516.6  
Other                    
  Current     85.7     56.8     28.9  
  Noncurrent     24.2     2.5     21.7  

 
  Total     109.9     59.3     50.6  

 
Balance at December 31, 2002     1,602.1     1,034.9     567.2  

Impact of EITF 02-3 Adoption

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Non-derivative net asset reversed as cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle                    
  Mark-to-market energy contracts     (494.7 )   (119.8 )   (374.9 )
  Other     (109.9 )   (59.3 )   (50.6 )

 
Total non-derivative net asset reversed as cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle     (604.6 )   (179.1 )   (425.5 )
Derivatives designated as hedges     (88.3 )   (94.4 )   6.1  
Derivatives designated as normal purchases and sales     (192.6 )   (128.3 )   (64.3 )

 
Mark-to-market derivatives remaining after adoption of EITF 02-3 on January 1, 2003   $ 716.6   $ 633.1   $ 83.5  

 

        On January 1, 2003, we recorded the $425.5 million non-derivative net asset removed from our Consolidated Balance Sheets as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, which will reduce our 2003 net income by $263 million. The $425.5 million represents $374.9 million of non-derivative contracts recorded as "Mark-to-market energy assets and liabilities" and $50.6 million of "Other assets and liabilities" from the re-designation of Texas contracts to accrual accounting earlier in 2002. The fair value of these contracts will be recognized in earnings as power is delivered.

        Additionally, on January 1, 2003, we reclassified the fair value of derivatives designated as hedges as "Risk management assets and liabilities" in the balance sheet and will account for these hedges in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 133. At that time, we also reclassified the fair value of derivatives designated as normal purchases and normal sales as "Other assets and liabilities" in the balance sheet and will account for these contracts on the accrual basis, with the fair value amortized into earnings over the lives of the underlying contracts.

        We cannot predict the impact of applying the provisions of EITF 02-3 in the future. Those provisions prohibit mark-to-market accounting for gains at the inception of new non-derivative energy contracts, require accrual accounting for those contracts, and limit the ability to record gains at the inception of new derivative contracts. We believe that our shift to accrual accounting for new physical delivery transactions in early 2002 is consistent with the requirement of EITF 02-3 to use accrual accounting for non-derivative contracts.

        However, the impact of applying EITF 02-3 in the future will be affected by many factors, including:

    our ability to designate and qualify derivative contracts for normal purchase and sale accounting or hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133,
    potential volatility in earnings from derivative contracts that serve as economic hedges but do not meet the accounting requirements to qualify for normal purchase and sale accounting or hedge accounting,
    our ability to enter into new mark-to-market derivative origination transactions, and
    sufficient liquidity and transparency in the energy markets to permit us to record gains at inception of new derivative contracts because fair value is evidenced by quoted market prices or current market transactions.

        While we cannot predict the ongoing impact of applying EITF 02-3, the timing of recognizing earnings on new transactions will change. In general, earnings on new transactions will no longer be recognized at the inception of the transactions under mark-to-market accounting because they will be recognized over the term of the transaction. As a result, while total earnings over the term of a transaction will be unchanged, we expect that our reported earnings for contracts subject to EITF 02-3 will generally match the cash flows from those contracts more closely and may be less volatile under accrual accounting than under mark-to-market accounting, which reflects changes in fair value of contracts when they occur rather than when products are delivered and costs are incurred.

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        Alternatively, other comprehensive income may have greater fluctuations after we apply EITF 02-3 because of a larger number of derivative contracts that we designated for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133, but these fluctuations will not affect earnings or cash flows. Additionally, because we will record revenues and costs on a gross basis under accrual accounting, our revenues and costs could increase, but our earnings will not be affected by gross versus net reporting.

         We discuss the impact of mark-to-market accounting on our financial results in the Results of Operations—Merchant Energy Business section.


Evaluation of Assets for Impairment and Other Than Temporary Decline in Value

We are required to evaluate certain assets that have long lives (for example, generating property and equipment and real estate) to determine if they are impaired when certain conditions exist. SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, provides the accounting for impairments of long-lived assets. We are required to test our long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Examples of such events or changes would be as follows:

    a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset,

    a significant adverse change in the manner an asset is being used or its physical condition,

    an adverse action by a regulator or in the business climate,

    an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the construction or acquisition of an asset,

    a current-period loss combined with a history of losses or the projection of future losses, or

    a change in our intent about an asset from an intent to hold to a greater than 50% likelihood that an asset will be sold or disposed of before the end of its previously estimated useful life.

        For long-lived assets that are expected to be held and used, SFAS No. 144 requires that an impairment loss shall only be recognized if the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable under SFAS No. 144 if the carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. Therefore, when we believe an impairment condition may have occurred, we are required to estimate the undiscounted future cash flows associated with a long-lived asset or group of long-lived assets. This necessarily involves judgement surrounding the inherent uncertainty of future cash flows.

        In order to estimate an asset's future cash flows, we will consider historical cash flows, as well as reflect our understanding of the extent to which future cash flows will be either similar to or different from past experience based on all available evidence. To the extent applicable, the assumptions we use are consistent with forecasts that we are otherwise required to make (for example, in preparing our other earnings forecasts). If we are considering alternative courses of action to recover the carrying amount of a long-lived asset (such as the potential sale of an asset), we probability-weight the alternative courses of action to establish the cash flows.

        We use our best estimates in making these evaluations and consider various factors, including forward price curves for energy, fuel costs, legislative initiatives, and operating costs. However, actual future market prices and project costs could vary from the assumptions used in our estimates, and the impact of such variations could be material.

        For long-lived assets that can be classified as assets to be disposed of by sale under SFAS No. 144, an impairment loss shall be recognized to the extent their carrying amount exceeds their fair value, including costs to sell.

        The estimation of fair value under SFAS No. 144, whether in conjunction with an asset to be held and used or with an asset to be disposed of by sale, also involves estimation and judgment. We consider quoted market prices in active markets to the extent they are available. In the absence of such information, we may look to prices of similar assets, consult with brokers, or employ other valuation techniques. Often, we will discount the estimated future cash flows associated with the asset using a single interest rate that is commensurate with the risk involved with such an investment or employ an expected present value method that probability-weights a range of possible outcomes. The use of these methods involves the same inherent uncertainty of future cash flows as discussed above with respect to undiscounted cash flows and actual future market prices and project costs could vary from those used in our estimates, and the impact of such variations could be material.

        We also are required to evaluate our equity-method and cost-method investments (for example, in partnerships that own power projects) to determine whether or not they are impaired. Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 18, The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock, provides the accounting for these investments. The standard for determining whether an impairment must be recorded under APB No. 18 is whether the investment has experienced a loss in value that is considered an "other than a temporary" decline in value.

        The evaluation and measurement of impairments under the APB No. 18 standard involves the same uncertainties as described above for long-lived assets that we own directly and account for in accordance with SFAS No. 144. Similarly, the estimates that we make with respect to our equity and cost-method investments are subject to variation, and the impact of such variations could be material. Additionally, if the projects in which we hold these investments recognize an impairment under the provisions of SFAS No. 144, we would record our proportionate share of that impairment loss and would evaluate our investment for an other than temporary decline in value under APB No. 18.

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Significant Events

2002

In 2002, we recorded the following special items in earnings:

 
  Pre-Tax
  After-Tax
 
 
  (In millions)

 
Workforce reduction costs:              
  Costs associated with 2001 programs   $ (50.8 ) $ (30.8 )
  Costs associated with programs initiated in 2002     (12.0 )   (7.2 )

 
  Total workforce reduction costs     (62.8 )   (38.0 )
Impairment losses and other costs:              
  Impairments of investments in qualifying facilities and power projects     (14.4 )   (9.9 )
  Costs associated with exit of BGE Home merchandise stores     (9.0 )   (6.1 )
  Impairments of real estate and international investments     (1.8 )   (1.2 )

 
  Total impairment losses and other costs     (25.2 )   (17.2 )
Net gain on sales of investments and other assets     261.3     166.7  

 
Total special items   $ 173.3   $ 111.5  

 

        We also discuss these special items in Note 2.

Workforce Reduction Costs

During 2002, we incurred costs related to workforce reduction efforts initiated in the fourth quarter of 2001 as discussed in the 2001 section and additional initiatives undertaken in 2002. We discuss these costs in more detail below.

Costs Associated with 2001 Programs
In 2002, we recorded $63.7 million of net workforce reduction costs associated with our 2001 workforce initiatives as discussed below. The $63.7 million included $50.8 million recognized as expense, of which BGE recognized $33.8 million. The remaining $12.9 million was recognized by BGE as a regulatory asset related to its gas business.

    We recorded $52.9 million when 308 employees elected the age 50 to 54 Voluntary Special Early Retirement Program (VSERP).
    We reversed $17.8 million of the $25.1 million involuntary severance accrual that was recorded in 2001 to reflect the employees that elected the age 50 to 54 VSERP and whose costs were included in that program. Ultimately, we involuntarily severed 129 employees that resulted in a total cost for the involuntary severance program of $7.3 million.
    We recorded $29.6 million of settlement charges related to our pension plans under SFAS No. 88, Employers' Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits. These charges reflect the recognition of actuarial gains and losses associated with employees who have retired and taken their pension in the form of a lump-sum payment. Under SFAS No. 88, the settlement charge could not be recognized until lump-sum pension payments exceeded annual pension plan service and interest cost, which occurred in 2002.
    We recorded a $1.6 million expense associated with deferred payments to employees eligible for the VSERP.
    Partially offsetting these costs, we reversed approximately $2.6 million of previously accrued workforce reduction costs primarily as a result of the reversal of education and outplacement assistance benefits we accrued that employees did not utilize to the extent expected.

Costs Associated with 2002 Programs
In 2002, we recorded $12.0 million of expenses for anticipated involuntary severance costs in accordance with EITF 94-3,
Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring) associated with new workforce reduction initiatives as follows:

    We recorded $8.5 million for workforce reduction costs for the severance of 120 employees at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (Calvert Cliffs).
    We recorded $1.6 million of workforce reduction costs for the severance of 27 employees in our information technology organization. BGE recorded $0.6 million of this amount.
    We recorded $1.9 million of workforce reduction costs for the severance of 20 employees in our legal organization. BGE recorded $0.9 million of this amount.

Ongoing Impacts
As a result of our workforce reduction programs and other process improvements, we expect to realize cost savings from productivity initiatives of approximately $65 million in 2003.

Impairment Losses and Other Costs

Investments in Qualifying Facilities and Power Projects
Our merchant energy business recorded impairment losses on certain of the investments in qualifying facilities and power projects totaling $14.4 million under the provisions of APB No. 18. The provisions of APB No. 18 require that an impairment loss be recognized when an investment experiences a loss in value that is other than temporary as discussed in our
Critical Accounting Policies section.

        During the third quarter of 2002, we performed an analysis of whether any of the investments were impaired. As a result of our analysis, we concluded that the declines in value of particular investments in certain qualifying facilities and power projects were other than temporary in nature under the provisions of APB No. 18 and we recognized the following losses in 2002:

    We recognized a $5.2 million other than temporary decline in value of our investment in a partnership that owns a geothermal project in Nevada. This project experienced a well implosion and we believe that the expected cash flows from the project will not be sufficient to recover our equity interest in that partnership.

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    We recognized a $2.6 million other than temporary decline in value of our investment in a fuel processing site in Pennsylvania where the expected cash flows from a sublease are no longer expected to be sufficient to recover our lease costs associated with this site.
    We recognized a $6.6 million other than temporary decline in value of our investment in a partnership that owns a waste burning power project in Michigan.

        At December 31, 2002, our investment in qualifying facilities and domestic power projects consisted of the following:

Project Type

  Book Value
 
  (In millions)

Geothermal   $ 151.4
Coal     133.9
Hydroelectric     62.6
Biomass     52.6
Fuel Processing     23.2
Solar     10.5

Total   $ 434.2

        We believe the current market conditions for our equity-method investments that own geothermal, coal, hydroelectric, and fuel processing projects provide sufficient positive cash flows to recover our investments. We continuously monitor issues that potentially could impact future profitability of these investments, including environmental and legislative initiatives. We discuss certain risks and uncertainties in more detail in our Forward Looking Statements section. However, should future events cause these investments to become uneconomic, our investments in these projects could become impaired under the provisions of APB No. 18.

        We have an investment in a partnership that owns a geothermal project with a book value of $99.0 million at December 31, 2002. Currently, the project is not generating at its designed capacity. The project is drilling wells at this site to restore the generation and we expect the geothermal resource to be sufficient to enable the project to generate adequate cash flows over the life of this project to recover our equity interest in that investment. However, should current or future well drilling at this site prove to be unsuccessful or become uneconomic causing us not to make future investments in this partnership, our investment in this partnership could become impaired under the provisions of APB No. 18 and any losses recognized could be material.

        The ability to recover our costs in our equity-method investments that own biomass and solar projects is partially dependent upon subsidies from the State of California. Under the California Public Utility Act, subsidies currently exist in that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires electric corporations to identify a separate rate component to fund the development of renewable resources technologies, including solar, biomass, and wind facilities. In addition, recently enacted legislation in California requires that each electric corporation increase its total procurement of eligible renewable energy resources by at least one percent per year so that 20% of its retail sales are procured from eligible renewable energy resources by 2017. The legislation also requires the California Energy Commission to award supplemental energy payments to electric corporations to cover above market costs of renewable energy.

        Given the need for electric power and the desire for renewable resource technologies, we believe California will continue to subsidize the use of renewable energy to make these projects economical to operate. However, should the California legislation fail to adequately support the renewable energy initiatives, our equity-method investments in these types of projects could become impaired under the provisions of APB No. 18, and any losses recognized could be material.

        If our strategy were to change from an intent to hold to an intent to sell for any of our equity-method investments in qualifying facilities or power projects, we would need to adjust their book value to fair value, and that adjustment could be material. If we were to sell these investments in the current market, we may have losses that could be material.

Closing of BGE Home Retail Merchandise Stores
In September 2002, we announced our decision to close our BGE Home retail merchandise stores. In connection with that decision, we recognized approximately $9.5 million in exit costs. We recognized $2.9 million related to expected severance costs for 93 employees and $2.9 million of costs in connection with the termination of leases for the eight stores and other exit costs in accordance with EITF 94-3.

        We also recognized $3.2 million for the write-off of unamortized leasehold improvements in accordance with SFAS No. 144, and $0.5 million for the write-down of inventory to a lower-of-cost-or-market valuation in accordance with Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, Restatement and Revision of Accounting Research Bulletins. The $0.5 million is included in "Operating expenses" in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Real Estate and International Investments
As discussed in the
2001 section, we changed our strategy from an intent to hold to an intent to sell for certain of our non-core assets in 2001. During 2002, we determined that the fair value of several real estate projects and our investment in a South American generation project declined below their respective book values due to deteriorating market conditions for these projects. Accordingly, we recorded losses that totaled $1.8 million for these projects in accordance with SFAS No. 144 and APB No. 18. In 2002, we sold our investment in a South American generation project for approximately book value.

Net Gain on Sales of Investments and Other Assets

In February 2002, Reliant Resources, Inc. acquired all of the outstanding shares of Orion Power Holdings, Inc. (Orion) for $26.80 per share, including the shares we owned of Orion. We received cash proceeds of $454.1 million and recognized a gain of $255.5 million on the sale of our investment.

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        In the fourth quarter of 2001, we announced our decision to focus efforts and capital on core domestic energy businesses and undertook a plan to sell a number of non-core businesses and investments. In 2002, we made further progress on this initiative, and recognized approximately $5.8 million in net gains from the sale of several non-core assets including:

    Our other nonregulated businesses recognized gains totaling $6.7 million on the sale of several parcels of real estate and financial investments.
    In October 2002, we sold all of our 18 senior-living facilities for $77.2 million that represents a combination of cash and the assumption by the buyer of existing mortgages. Our other nonregulated businesses recognized a $2.8 million gain on the sale of our entire ownership interest in these facilities.
    Our merchant energy business recognized a $2.3 million gain on the sale of a discontinued wind-powered development project.
    In 2001, our merchant energy business recognized an impairment loss on four turbines, associated with a discontinued development program as discussed in the 2001 section. Since that time, many other companies canceled development projects and the market values for turbines have declined significantly. Orders for three of the four turbines were canceled with termination fees paid to the manufacturer consistent with the amount recognized in December 2001. The fourth turbine-generator set was sold during 2002 for $6.0 million below its book value.

        In addition, we sold all of our Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) equity-method investment in 2002, approximately 8.9 million shares, as part of a public offering. We received cash proceeds of $101.3 million on the sale, which approximated the book value of our investment.

Acquisitions

NewEnergy
On September 9, 2002, we completed our purchase of AES NewEnergy, Inc. from AES Corporation. Subsequent to the acquisition, we renamed AES NewEnergy, Inc. as Constellation NewEnergy, Inc. (NewEnergy). NewEnergy is a leading national provider of electricity, natural gas, and energy services, serving approximately 4,300 megawatts (MW) of load associated with large commercial and industrial customers in competitive energy markets including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Texas and California. We acquired 100% ownership of NewEnergy for cash of $250.3 million including $1.4 million of direct costs associated with the acquisition. We acquired cash of $45.5 million as part of the purchase. We describe the net assets acquired in
Note 14. We include the results of NewEnergy in our merchant energy business segment beginning on the date of acquisition.

Alliance
On December 31, 2002, we purchased Alliance Energy Services, LLC and Fellon-McCord Associates, Inc. (collectively, Alliance) from Allegheny Energy, Inc. These businesses provide gas supply and transportation services and energy consulting services to large commercial and industrial businesses primarily in the Midwest region, but also in other competitive energy markets including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Texas and California regions. We acquired 100% ownership of these companies for a note payable of $21.2 million that was settled in cash on January 2, 2003. We acquired cash of $4.6 million as part of the purchase. We describe the net assets acquired in
Note 14. We will include the operating results of Alliance in our merchant energy business segment in 2003.

Renegotiations of our High Desert Power Contract

We are currently leasing and supervising the construction of the High Desert Power Project. The project is scheduled for completion in mid-2003. In April 2002, we amended our High Desert Power Project long-term power sales agreement with the State of California to provide revised pricing and more flexibility in the amount of electricity purchased from the plant by the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) and the timing of such purchases. This amended agreement provides the State of California with the flexibility they desired, while preserving our overall economics and reducing our regulatory, fuel, and legal risks.

        The contract is a "tolling" structure, under which the CDWR will pay a fixed amount of $12.1 million per month and provides CDWR the right, but not the obligation, to purchase power from the High Desert Power Project at a price linked to the variable cost of production. During the term of the contract, which runs for seven years and nine months from the commercial operation date of the plant, the High Desert Power Project will provide energy exclusively to the CDWR.

        We also signed a comprehensive settlement agreement with the CDWR, the California Energy Oversight Board (EOB), the CPUC, the California Attorney General, and the Governor of California by which each of these parties agreed to release claims against us arising out of the original and renegotiated contracts.

        Under the settlement agreement, the California parties filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to withdraw us from the regulatory complaint filed at the FERC by the CPUC and EOB against all holders of long-term power contracts. We agreed to pay $1.25 million into a school and public buildings energy retrofit fund and another $1.25 million to the Attorney General's office in order to conclude this overall comprehensive settlement package.

        We discuss our High Desert project in more detail in the Capital Resources section.

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Generating Facilities Commence Operations

The following generating facilities commenced operations during the second half of 2002. Our origination and risk management operation manages the output of these plants.

Plant
  Location
  Capacity
(MW)

  Type
  Primary
Fuel

Rio Nogales   Seguin, TX   800   Combined Cycle   Natural Gas
Oleander   Brevard Co., FL   680   Combustion Turbine   Natural Gas
Holland Energy   Shelby Co., IL   665   Combined Cycle   Natural Gas

Pension Plan

At December 31, 2002, we recorded an after-tax charge to equity of $118 million as a result of increasing our additional minimum pension liability. We discuss this in more detail in Note 6.

        As a result of declines in the financial markets, our actual return on pension plan assets was a loss of approximately 10% for the year ended December 31, 2002. We assume an expected return on pension plan assets of 9% for the purpose of computing annual net periodic pension expense. We determined our assumption for expected return on pension plan assets in accordance with SFAS No. 87, Employers Accounting for Pensions. This assumption reflects our targeted long-term investment allocation of 65% equities and 35% fixed income securities for our pension plan assets. We set the level of this assumed return based on a review of average, actual returns for these categories of investments over a long-term period. Some years our actual return on pension assets will exceed the 9% expected return, resulting in an actuarial gain; and some years our actual return will fall short of the 9% expected return, resulting in an actuarial loss.

        These differences between actual and expected returns are deferred along with other actuarial gains and losses and reflected in future net periodic pension expense in accordance with SFAS No. 87. Expected and actual returns on pension assets also are affected by plan contributions. In 2002, we contributed $152 million to our pension plans, which included $80 million to the Constellation Energy qualified pension plan and amounts received from the sellers of Nine Mile Point to the Nine Mile Point pension plan. As of the date of this report, we contributed an additional $111 million to our pension plans in 2003.

Certain Relationships

Thomas F. Brady, a Senior Vice President of Constellation Energy is a trustee of COPT. Constellation Energy sold some of its real estate holdings to COPT in 2002 for an aggregate price of less than $5 million. Constellation Energy sold, and anticipates selling, additional real estate holdings to COPT in 2003 for an aggregate price of less than $35 million. The real estate sales were made, and future sales will be made, on an arm's length basis.


2001

In 2001, we recorded the following special items in earnings:

 
  Pre-Tax
  After-Tax
 
 
  (In millions)

 
Workforce reduction costs:              
  Voluntary termination benefits—VSERP   $ (70.1 ) $ (42.5 )
  Settlement and curtailment charges     (16.3 )   (9.9 )
  Involuntary severance accrual     (19.3 )   (11.7 )

 
  Total workforce reduction costs     (105.7 )   (64.1 )
Contract termination related costs     (224.8 )   (139.6 )
Impairment losses and other costs:              
  Cancellation of domestic power projects     (46.9 )   (30.5 )
  Impairments of real estate, senior-living, and international investments     (107.3 )   (69.7 )
  Reduction of financial investment     (4.6 )   (2.8 )

 
  Total impairment losses and other costs     (158.8 )   (103.0 )
Net gain on the sales of investments and other assets     6.2     1.9  

 
Total special items   $ (483.1 ) $ (304.8 )

 

        We also discuss these special items in Note 2.

Workforce Reduction Costs

In the fourth quarter of 2001, we undertook several measures to reduce our workforce through both voluntary and involuntary means. The purpose of these programs was to reduce our operating costs to become more competitive. As part of this initiative, several companies, including our merchant energy business and BGE, announced several workforce reduction initiatives to provide enhanced retirement benefits to certain eligible participants that elected to retire in 2002 and other involuntary severance programs.

        As a result, we recorded $105.7 million of expenses related to these programs during the fourth quarter of 2001. BGE recorded $57.0 million of this amount as expense relating to its electric and gas businesses. BGE also recorded $19.5 million on its balance sheet as a regulatory asset of its gas business.

Contract Termination Related Costs

We announced the termination of our power business services agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. (Goldman Sachs) in 2001. We paid Goldman Sachs a total of $355 million, representing $196 million to terminate the power business services agreement with our origination and risk management operation and $159 million previously recognized as a payable for services rendered under the agreement. We issued commercial paper and borrowed under our existing bank lines to fund this payment. In the fourth quarter of 2001, we recognized expenses of approximately $224.8 million related to the termination of the contract with Goldman Sachs.

Impairment Losses and Other Costs

In the fourth quarter of 2001, our merchant energy business recorded impairments of $46.9 million primarily due to the termination of all planned development projects not under construction, including projects in Texas, California, Florida, and Massachusetts, and due to a decline in value of an investment in

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a power project in Michigan. We decided to terminate our development projects due to the expected excess generation capacity in most domestic markets and the significant decline in the forward market prices of electricity. The impairments included costs associated with four turbines no longer expected to be placed in service.

        In the fourth quarter of 2001, our other nonregulated businesses recorded $107.3 million in impairments of certain non-core assets as follows:

    We decided to sell six real estate projects without further development and our senior-living facilities.
    We decided to accelerate the exit strategies for two other real estate projects that we will continue to hold and own over the next several years.
    We decided to accelerate the exit strategy for the investment in a distribution company in Panama.
    There was an other than temporary decline in value in our equity-method Bolivian investment due to a deterioration in our investment's position in the Bolivian capacity market.

        In addition, our financial investments business recorded a $4.6 million reduction of its investment in an aircraft due to the decline in value of used airplanes as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the general downturn in the aviation industry.

Net Gain on the Sales of Investments and Other Assets

During 2001, our other nonregulated businesses recognized a $49.5 million gain on the sale of non-core assets, including a $14.9 million gain on the sale of one million shares of our Orion investment and $34.6 million on the sales of other financial investments.

        In addition, on November 8, 2001, we sold our Guatemalan power plant operations to an affiliate of Duke Energy International, L.L.C., the international business unit of Duke Energy. Through this sale, Duke Energy acquired Grupo Generador de Guatemala y Cia., S.C.A., which owns two generating plants at Esquintla and Lake Amatitlan in Guatemala. The combined capacity of the plants is 167 megawatts.

        We decided to sell our Guatemalan operations to focus our efforts on our core North American energy businesses. As a result of this transaction, we are no longer committed to making significant future capital investments in this non-core operation. We recorded a loss of $43.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2001 resulting from this sale.

Nine Mile Point

On November 7, 2001, we completed our purchase of the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station (Nine Mile Point) located in Scriba, New York. Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC, a subsidiary of Constellation Nuclear, purchased 100 percent of Nine Mile Point Unit 1 and 82 percent of Unit 2 for cash of $382.7 million including settlement costs and a sellers' note of $388.1 million to be repaid over five years with an interest rate of 11.0%. This note was prepaid in April 2002. The sellers also transferred approximately $442 million in decommissioning funds. As a result of this purchase, we own 1,550 megawatts of Nine Mile Point's 1,757 megawatts of total generating capacity.

        We sell 90% of our share of Nine Mile Point's output, on a unit contingent basis (if the output is not available because the plant is not operating, there is no requirement to provide output from other sources), back to the sellers at an average price of nearly $35 per megawatt-hour for approximately 10 years under power purchase agreements.

        We describe the net assets acquired in Note 14.

Bethlehem Steel

On October 15, 2001, Bethlehem Steel Corporation filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point plant, located in Baltimore, Maryland is BGE's largest customer, accounting for approximately three percent of electric revenues and one percent of gas revenues. At December 31, 2002 and 2001, our exposure to Bethlehem Steel was not material. There is uncertainty regarding the continuation of Bethlehem Steel's operations; however, we do not expect the impact to be material to our financial results.


Strategy

We are pursuing an integrated energy platform that provides a balanced mix of stable and predictable earnings from regulated utility operations with a growth platform from merchant energy operations. The strategy for our merchant energy business is to be a leading competitive provider of energy solutions for large customers in North America. Our merchant energy business has electric generation assets located in various regions of the United States and has an origination and risk management operation that focuses on providing energy solutions to meet customers' needs throughout North America.

        The integration of electric generation assets with origination and risk management of energy and energy-related commodities allows our merchant energy business to manage energy price risk over geographic regions and over time. Our focus is on providing solutions to customers' energy needs, and our origination and risk management operation adds value to our generation assets by providing national market access, market infrastructure, real-time market intelligence, risk management and arbitrage opportunities, and transmission and transportation expertise. Generation capacity supports our origination and risk management operation by providing a source of reliable power supply that provides a physical hedge for some of our load-serving activities.

        To achieve our strategic objectives, we expect to continue to pursue opportunities that expand our access to customers and to support our origination and risk management operation with generation assets that have diversified geographic, fuel, and dispatch characteristics. We also expect to use a disciplined growth strategy through originating transactions with large customers and by acquiring and developing additional generating facilities when desirable to support our merchant energy business.

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        Our merchant energy business will focus on long-term, high-value sales of energy, capacity, and related products to large customers, including distribution utilities, industrial customers, and large commercial customers primarily in the regional markets in which end-use customer electricity rates have been deregulated and thereby separated from the cost of generation supply. These markets include the New England region, the New York region, the Mid-Atlantic region, Texas, Illinois, California, and certain areas in Canada.

        The growth of BGE and our other retail energy services businesses is expected through focused and disciplined expansion primarily from new customers.

        Customer choice, regulatory change, and energy market conditions significantly impact our business. In response, we regularly evaluate our strategies with these goals in mind: to improve our competitive position, to anticipate and adapt to business environment and regulatory changes, and to maintain a strong balance sheet and investment-grade credit quality.

        Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2001, we undertook a number of initiatives to reduce our costs towards competitive levels and to ensure that our resources are focused on our core energy businesses. This included the implementation of workforce reduction programs, termination of all planned development projects not under construction, and the acceleration of our exit strategy for certain non-core assets.

        We also might consider one or more of the following strategies:

    the complete or partial separation of BGE's transmission function from its distribution function,
    mergers or acquisitions of utility or non-utility businesses or assets, and
    sale of assets or one or more businesses.


Business Environment

General Industry

The utility industry and energy markets continue to experience significant changes as a result of less liquid and more volatile wholesale markets, deteriorating credit qualities of various industry participants, volatile power and fuel prices, excess generation in the domestic markets, and the slow recovery of the U.S. economy.

        Due to market conditions in 2001, we canceled our separation plans and terminated our power business services agreement with Goldman Sachs on October 26, 2001 and decided to maintain our existing corporate structure. We also terminated all planned development projects not under construction. Separately, we initiated efforts to reduce costs in order to become more competitive and to sell certain non-core assets to focus attention and capital resources on our core energy businesses.

        During 2002, the energy markets were affected by significant events, including expanded investigations by state and federal authorities into business practices of energy companies in the deregulated power and gas markets relating to "wash trading" to inflate revenues and volumes, and other trading practices allegedly designed to manipulate market prices. In addition, several merchant energy businesses significantly reduced their energy trading activities due to deteriorating credit quality.

        Beginning in the second quarter of 2002, several regional energy markets experienced a significant decline in liquidity. As a result of the reduced market liquidity, our origination and risk management operation held energy positions in certain markets longer than it otherwise would have during the first half of 2002. In response to this reduced market liquidity, we reduced these positions and continue to modify our positions to reflect the underlying liquidity of the various regional energy markets.

        As discussed above, certain companies in the energy industry have been experiencing deteriorating credit quality. We continue to actively manage our credit portfolio to attempt to reduce the impact of a potential counterparty default. We discuss our counterparty credit risk in more detail in the Market Risk section.

        We also continue to examine plans to achieve our strategies and to further strengthen our balance sheet and enhance our liquidity. We discuss our strategies in the Strategy section. We discuss our liquidity in the Financial Condition section.


Electric Competition

We are facing competition in the sale of electricity in wholesale power markets and to retail customers.

Maryland

As a result of the deregulation of electric generation in Maryland, the following occurred effective July 1, 2000:

    All customers can choose their electric energy supplier. BGE provides fixed price standard offer service over various time periods for different classes of customers that do not select an alternative supplier until June 30, 2006.
    While BGE does not sell electric commodity to all customers in its service territory, BGE does deliver electricity to all customers and provides meter reading, billing, emergency response, regular maintenance, and balancing services.
    BGE provides a market rate standard offer service for those commercial and industrial customers who are no longer eligible for fixed price standard offer service until June 30, 2006.
    BGE reduced residential base rates by approximately 6.5% on average, or about $54 million a year, from rates prior to July 1, 2000. These rates will not change before July 2006. While total residential base rates remain unchanged over this transition period (July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2006), the increase in the standard offer service rate is offset by a corresponding decrease in the competitive transition charge (CTC) that BGE receives from its customers.
    Commercial and industrial customers have several service options that will fix electric energy rates through June 30, 2004 and transition charges through June 30, 2006.

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    BGE transferred, at book value, its nuclear generating assets, its nuclear decommissioning trust fund, and related assets and liabilities to Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Inc. In addition, BGE transferred, at book value, its fossil generating assets and related assets and liabilities and its partial ownership interest in two coal plants and a hydroelectric plant located in Pennsylvania to Constellation Power Source Generation.

        Our origination and risk management operation provides BGE with 100% of the energy and capacity required to meet its standard offer service obligations through June 30, 2003. Our origination and risk management operation obtains the energy and capacity to supply BGE's standard offer service obligations from affiliates that own Calvert Cliffs and BGE's former fossil plants, supplemented with energy and capacity purchased from the wholesale market, as necessary.

        In August 2001, BGE entered into contracts with our origination and risk management operation to supply 90% and Allegheny Energy Supply Company, LLC (Allegheny) to supply the remaining 10% of BGE's standard offer service for the final three years (July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2006) of the transition period. Currently, the credit ratings of Allegheny are below investment grade. Under the terms of the contract, in certain circumstances, BGE has the right to request additional credit support from Allegheny to secure performance under the contract. If BGE was to exercise these rights and Allegheny did not meet such request, BGE could liquidate and terminate the contract. As of the date of this report, Allegheny is in compliance with the terms of the contract.

        BGE's (and other Maryland utilities') role in providing electricity supply to customers is currently the subject of a proceeding at the Maryland PSC. Specifically, BGE entered into a proposed settlement agreement with parties representing customers, industry, utilities, suppliers, the Maryland Energy Administration, the Maryland PSC's Staff, and the Office of People's Counsel that extends BGE's obligation to supply standard offer service.

        Under the proposed settlement agreement, BGE would be obligated to provide market-based standard offer service to residential customers until June 30, 2010, and for commercial and industrial customers for a one, two or four year period beyond June 30, 2004, depending on customer size. The rates charged during this time would be fixed during the term of the supply contract and would include an administrative fee. The proposed settlement agreement currently is before the Maryland PSC for approval.

Other States

Several states, other than Maryland, have supported deregulation of the electric industry. The pace of deregulation in other states varies based on historical moves to competition and responses to recent market events. Certain states that were considering deregulation have slowed their plans or postponed consideration. In response to regional market differences and to promote competitive markets, the FERC proposed initiatives promoting the formation of Regional Transmission Organizations and a standard market design. If approved, these market changes could provide additional opportunities for our merchant energy business. We discuss these initiatives in the FERC Regulation—Regional Transmission Organizations and Standard Market Design section.

        As a result of ongoing litigation before the FERC regarding sales into the spot markets of the California Independent System Operator and Power Exchange, we estimate that we may be required to pay refunds of between $3 and $4 million for transactions that we entered into with these entities for the period between October 2000 and June 2001. However, our estimate is based on current information and because litigation is ongoing, new events could occur that could cause the actual amount, if any, to be materially different from our estimate.


Gas Competition

Currently, no regulation exists for the wholesale price of natural gas as a commodity, and the regulation of interstate transmission at the federal level has been reduced. All BGE gas customers have the option to purchase gas from other suppliers.


Regulation by the Maryland PSC

In addition to electric restructuring which was discussed earlier, regulation by the Maryland PSC influences BGE's businesses. The Maryland PSC determines the rates that BGE can charge customers for the electric distribution and gas businesses. The Maryland PSC incorporates into BGE's electric rates the transmission rates determined by FERC. Prior to July 1, 2000, BGE's regulated electric rates consisted primarily of a "base rate" and a "fuel rate." BGE unbundled its electric rates to show separate components for delivery service, competitive transition charges, standard offer services (generation), transmission, universal service, and taxes. The rates for BGE's regulated gas business continue to consist of a "base rate" and a "fuel rate."

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Base Rate

The base rate is the rate the Maryland PSC allows BGE to charge its customers for the cost of providing them service, plus a profit. BGE has both an electric base rate and a gas base rate. Higher electric base rates apply during the summer when the demand for electricity is higher. Gas base rates are not affected by seasonal changes.

        BGE may ask the Maryland PSC to increase base rates from time to time. The Maryland PSC historically has allowed BGE to increase base rates to recover increased utility plant asset costs and higher operating costs, plus a profit, beginning at the time of replacement. Generally, rate increases improve our utility earnings because they allow us to collect more revenue. However, rate increases are normally granted based on historical data, and those increases may not always keep pace with increasing costs. Other parties may petition the Maryland PSC to decrease base rates.

        On June 19, 2000, the Maryland PSC authorized a $6.4 million annual increase in our gas base rates effective June 22, 2000.

        As a result of the deregulation of electric generation in Maryland, BGE's residential electric base rates are frozen until 2006. Electric delivery service rates are frozen until 2004 for commercial and industrial customers. The generation and transmission components of rates are frozen for different time periods depending on the service options selected by those customers.

Fuel Rate

Through June 30, 2000, we charged our electric customers separately for the fuel we used to generate electricity (nuclear fuel, coal, gas, or oil) and for the net cost of purchases and sales of electricity. We charged the actual cost of these items to the customer with no profit to us. If these fuel costs increased, the Maryland PSC generally permitted us to increase the fuel rate.

        Under deregulation of electric generation, BGE's electric fuel rate was frozen until July 1, 2000, at which time the fuel rate clause was discontinued. We deferred the difference between our actual costs of fuel and energy and what we collected from customers under the fuel rate through June 30, 2000.

        In September 2000, the Maryland PSC approved the collection of the $54.6 million accumulated difference between our actual costs of fuel and energy and the amounts collected from customers that were deferred under the electric fuel rate clause through June 30, 2000. We collected this accumulated difference from customers over the twelve-month period ended October 2001. Effective July 1, 2000, earnings are affected by the changes in the cost of fuel and energy.

        We charge our gas customers separately for the natural gas they purchase from us. The price we charge for the natural gas is based on a market-based rates incentive mechanism approved by the Maryland PSC. We discuss market-based rates and a current proceeding with the Maryland PSC in more detail in the Gas Cost Adjustments section and in Note 1.


FERC Regulation

Regional Transmission Organizations and Standard Market Design

In December 1999, FERC issued Order 2000, amending its regulations under the Federal Power Act to advance the formation of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) that would allow easier access to transmission.

        On July 31, 2002, the FERC issued a proposed rulemaking regarding implementation of a standard market design (SMD) for wholesale electric markets. The SMD rulemaking is intended to complement the FERC's RTO order, and will require RTOs to substantially comply with its provisions. The SMD proposal requires transmission providers to turn over the operation of their facilities to an independent operator that will operate them consistent with a revised market structure proposed by the FERC. According to the FERC, the revised market structure will reduce inefficiencies caused by inconsistent market rules and barriers to transmission access. The FERC proposed that its rule be implemented in stages by October 1, 2004. Comments on the SMD proposal were submitted in February 2003. However, in early 2003, the FERC announced that it would issue a report on SMD and again solicit comments from interested parties.

        In 1997, BGE turned over the operation of its transmission facilities to PJM, a FERC approved RTO, which generally conducts its operations in accordance with FERC standard market design principles. We believe that the SMD proposal may lead to long-term benefits for Constellation Energy and BGE because the proposal will promote competition in regions where it is implemented. However, until the proposal is finalized, we cannot predict its effect on our, or BGE's, financial results.

Cash Management

In August 2002, the FERC issued proposed rules for the regulation of cash management practices of a regulated subsidiary of a nonregulated parent. As currently proposed, we do not believe the proposed rule will have a material effect on our, and BGE's, financial results. We discuss our cash management arrangement in Note 15.


Weather

Merchant Energy Business

Weather conditions in the different regions of North America influence the financial results of our merchant energy business. Weather conditions can affect the supply of and demand for electricity and fuels, and changes in energy supply and demand may impact the price of these energy commodities in both the spot market and the forward market. Typically, demand for electricity and its price are higher in the summer and the winter, when weather is more extreme. Similarly, the demand for and price of natural gas and oil are higher in the winter. However, all regions of North America typically do not experience extreme weather conditions at the same time.

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BGE

Weather affects the demand for electricity and gas for our regulated businesses. Very hot summers and very cold winters increase demand. Mild weather reduces demand. Residential sales for our regulated businesses are impacted more by weather than commercial and industrial sales, which are mostly affected by business needs for electricity and gas.

        However, the Maryland PSC allows us to record a monthly adjustment to our regulated gas business revenues to eliminate the effect of abnormal weather patterns. We discuss this further in the Weather Normalization section.

        We measure the weather's effect using "degree-days." The measure of degree-days for a given day is the difference between the average daily actual temperature and a baseline temperature of 65 degrees. Cooling degree-days result when the average daily actual temperature exceeds the 65 degree baseline. Heating degree-days result when the average daily actual temperature is less than the baseline.

        During the cooling season, hotter weather is measured by more cooling degree-days and results in greater demand for electricity to operate cooling systems. During the heating season, colder weather is measured by more heating degree-days and results in greater demand for electricity and gas to operate heating systems.

        We show the number of cooling and heating degree-days in 2002 and 2001, the percentage change in the number of degree-days from the prior year, and the number of degree-days in a "normal" year as represented by the 30-year average in the following table.

 
  2002
  2001
  30-year
Average

Cooling degree-days   1,006   787   836
Percentage change from prior year   27.8 % 6.9 %  
Heating degree-days   4,542   4,514   4,736
Percentage change from prior year   0.6 % (8.5 )%  


Other Factors

A number of other factors significantly influence the level and volatility of prices for energy commodities and related derivative products for our merchant energy business. These factors include:

    seasonal daily and hourly changes in demand,
    number of market participants,
    extreme peak demands,
    available supply resources,
    transportation availability and reliability within and between regions,
    procedures used to maintain the integrity of the physical electricity system during extreme conditions, and
    changes in the nature and extent of federal and state regulations.

        These factors can affect energy commodity and derivative prices in different ways and to different degrees. These effects may vary throughout the country as a result of regional differences in:

    weather conditions,
    market liquidity,
    capability and reliability of the physical electricity and gas systems, and
    the nature and extent of electricity deregulation.

        Other factors, aside from weather, also impact the demand for electricity and gas in our regulated businesses. These factors include the "number of customers" and "usage per customer" during a given period. We use these terms later in our discussions of regulated electric and gas operations. In those sections, we discuss how these and other factors affected electric and gas sales during the periods presented.

        The number of customers in a given period is affected by new home and apartment construction and by the number of businesses in our service territory.

        Usage per customer refers to all other items impacting customer sales that cannot be measured separately. These factors include the strength of the economy in our service territory. When the economy is healthy and expanding, customers tend to consume more electricity and gas. Conversely, during an economic downtrend, our customers tend to consume less electricity and gas.


Environmental and Legal Matters

You will find details of our environmental matters in Note 11 and Item 1. Business—Environmental Matters section. You will find details of our legal matters in Note 11. Some of the information is about costs that may be material to our financial results.


Accounting Standards Adopted and Issued

We discuss recently adopted and issued accounting standards in Note 1.

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Results of Operations

In this section, we discuss our earnings and the factors affecting them. We begin with a general overview, then separately discuss net income for our operating segments. Changes in other income, fixed charges and income taxes are discussed in the aggregate for all segments in the Consolidated Nonoperating Income and Expenses section.


Overview

Net Income

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 

 
 
  (In millions)
 
Net Income Before Special Items Included in Operations:                    
Merchant energy   $ 275.5   $ 291.2   $ 213.6  
Regulated electric     119.8     84.5     106.5  
Regulated gas     31.9     38.3     30.6  
Other nonregulated     (13.1 )   (26.8 )   (33.4 )

 
Net Income Before Special Items Included in Operations     414.1     387.2     317.3  
Special Items Included in Operations:                    
  Net gain on sales of investments and other assets     166.7     1.9     47.2  
  Workforce reduction costs     (38.0 )   (64.1 )   (4.2 )
  Impairments of investment in qualifying facilities and domestic power projects     (9.9 )   (30.5 )    
  Costs associated with exit of BGE Home merchandise stores     (6.1 )        
  Impairments of real estate, senior-living, and international investments     (1.2 )   (69.7 )    
  Contract termination related costs         (139.6 )    
  Reduction of financial investment         (2.8 )    
  Deregulation transition cost             (15.0 )

 
Net Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle     525.6     82.4     345.3  
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle         8.5      

 
Net Income   $ 525.6   $ 90.9   $ 345.3  

 

Net income for the periods presented reflect a significant shift from the regulated electric business to the merchant energy business as a result of the transfer of BGE's electric generation assets to nonregulated subsidiaries on July 1, 2000.

2002

Our total net income for 2002 increased $434.7 million, or $2.63 per share, compared to 2001 mostly because of the following:

    We recognized a $163.3 million after-tax gain, or $1.00 per share, on the sale of our investment in Orion as previously discussed in the Significant Events section.
    We recorded special items in 2001 that had a negative impact in that year.
    We had cost reductions due to productivity initiatives associated with our corporate-wide workforce reduction and other productivity programs.
    The addition of Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station (Nine Mile Point) to the generation fleet increased net income.
    We benefited from the absence of Goldman Sachs fees due to the termination of the power business services agreement in October 2001.
    We had higher mark-to-market earnings from our origination and risk management operation.
    We had higher earnings from our regulated electric business because of warmer summer weather in the central Maryland region.
    We had higher earnings from the addition of NewEnergy.
    We had higher earnings from our other nonregulated businesses due to the growth of our energy services business and improved results from our international portfolio.

        These increases were partially offset by special items recorded in 2002 as previously discussed in the Significant Events section and the following:

    We had higher fixed charges due to the issuance of $2.5 billion of long-term debt that was primarily used to repay short-term borrowings and due to lower capitalized interest because of the new generating facilities that commenced operations since mid-2001.
    Our merchant energy business had higher purchased fuel costs.
    We had lower earnings due to the extended outage at Calvert Cliffs to replace the steam generators at Unit 1.
    Our merchant energy business had lower earnings due to the impact of large commercial and industrial customers leaving BGE's standard offer service and electing other generation suppliers resulting in the sale of excess generation at lower wholesale market prices.
    Our merchant energy business had lower earnings from our investments in qualifying facilities and domestic power projects.

        In addition, our other nonregulated businesses recorded the following in 2001 that had a positive impact in that period:

    an $8.5 million after-tax, or $.05 per share, gain for the cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 133, and
    gains on the sale of securities of $30.0 million after-tax, or $.19 per share.

        Earnings per share contributions from all of our business segments are impacted by the dilution resulting from the issuance of 13.2 million of common shares during 2001.

2001

Our total net income for 2001 decreased $254.4 million, or $1.73 per share, compared to 2000 mostly because the special items included in operations as previously discussed in the Significant Events section more than offset the $69.9 million, or $.29 per share, increase in our net income before special items.

        Net income before special items was $387.2 million, or $2.41 per share, in 2001 compared to $317.3 million, or $2.12 per share, in 2000. Net income before special items was higher compared to 2000 mostly because BGE recorded $75.0 million pre-tax, or approximately $.30 per share, of amortization expense for the reduction of our generating plants associated with the deregulation of electric generation in 2000 that had a negative impact in that year. In addition, we had higher earnings from our regulated gas business in 2001 mostly because of increases in

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the sharing mechanism under our gas cost adjustment clauses and the increase in our base rates. These increases were offset by the impact of a 6.5% annual electric residential rate reduction that was effective July 1, 2000.

        The decrease in total net income for 2001 compared to 2000 also was partially offset by the following:

    Our merchant energy business recorded in 2000 an expense of $15.0 million after-tax, or $.10 per share, for a deregulation transition cost to Goldman Sachs that had a negative impact in that year.
    BGE recorded an expense of $4.2 million after-tax, or $.03 per share, for its employees that elected to participate in a targeted VSERP in 2000 that had a negative impact in that year.
    We recorded an $8.5 million after-tax, or $.05 per share, gain for the cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 133 in the first quarter of 2001.

        In the following sections, we discuss our net income by business segment in greater detail.


Merchant Energy Business

Background

Our merchant energy business is a competitive provider of energy solutions for large customers in North America. As discussed in the Business Environment—Electric Competition section, in connection with the July 1, 2000 implementation of customer choice in Maryland, BGE's generating assets became part of our nonregulated merchant energy business, and our origination and risk management operation began selling to BGE the energy and capacity required to meet its standard offer service obligations for the first three years (July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2003) of the transition period.

        In August 2001, BGE entered into a contract with our origination and risk management operation to provide 90% of the energy and capacity required for BGE to meet its standard offer service requirements for the final three years (July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2006) of the transition period. Also effective July 1, 2000, merchant energy business revenues include 90% of the competitive transition charges (CTC revenues) BGE collects from its customers and the portion of BGE's revenues providing for nuclear decommissioning costs.

        We record merchant energy revenues and expenses in our financial results in different periods depending upon which portion of our business they affect. We discuss our revenue recognition policies in the Critical Accounting Policies section and in Note 1. We summarize our policies as follows:

    We record revenues as they are earned and electric fuel and purchased energy costs as they are incurred for contracts and activities subject to accrual accounting, including certain load-serving activities, as discussed below.
    Prior to the settlement of the forecasted transaction being hedged, we record changes in the fair value of contracts designated as cash-flow hedges in other comprehensive income to the extent that the hedges are effective. We record the effective portion of the changes in fair value of hedges in earnings in the period the settlement of the hedged transaction occurs. We record the ineffective portion of the changes in fair value of hedges, if any, in earnings in the period in which the change occurs.
    We record changes in the fair value of contracts that are subject to mark-to-market accounting in revenues on a net basis in the period in which the change occurs. EITF 02-3 will affect how we apply the mark-to-market method of accounting. We discuss EITF 02-3 in the Critical Accounting Policies section and in Note 1.

        Mark-to-market accounting requires us to make estimates and assumptions using judgment in determining the fair value of our contracts and in recording revenues from those contracts. We discuss the effects of mark-to-market accounting on our revenues in the Competitive Supply—Mark-to-Market Revenues section. We discuss mark-to-market accounting and the accounting policies for the merchant energy business further in the Critical Accounting Policies section and in Note 1.

        As a result of the changes in our organization and senior management in late 2001, including the cancellation of our business separation and the termination of the power business services agreement with Goldman Sachs, we re-evaluated our load-serving activities in Texas and New England as discussed in more detail in the Competitive Supply section. We determined that since we manage these activities as a physical delivery business rather than a trading business, it is appropriate to apply accrual accounting for these activities. After the re-designation of existing contracts to non-trading, we began to record revenues and expenses on a gross basis, but this did not have a material impact on earnings because the resulting increase in revenues was accompanied by a similar increase in fuel and purchased energy expenses.

        As a result of applying accrual accounting to an increasing portion of our merchant energy business, including the January 1, 2003 implementation of EITF 02-3, future mark-to-market earnings will be lower than they otherwise would have been because we will record the margin on new transactions as power is delivered to customers over the contract term using accrual accounting rather than in full at the inception of each new contract. However, we expect accrual earnings for 2003 to be $52 million higher than they would have been prior to applying EITF 02-3, reflecting the 2003 portion of the fair value of contracts converted to accrual accounting using market prices as of December 31, 2002.

        While we cannot predict the ongoing impact of applying EITF 02-3, the timing of recognizing earnings on new transactions will change. In general, earnings on new transactions will no longer be recognized at the inception of the transactions under mark-to-market accounting because they will be recognized over the term of the transaction. However, we cannot predict the total impact of these changes on our earnings for the reasons discussed in the Critical Accounting Policies section.

        Additionally, we also expect lower earnings volatility for this portion of our business because unrealized changes in the fair value of load-serving contracts will no longer be recorded as revenue at the time of the change under mark-to-market accounting as is required for trading activities. Any contracts subject to EITF 02-3 must be accounted for on the accrual basis and recorded gross rather than net upon application of EITF 02-3, which was effective after October 25, 2002 for new non-derivative transactions (including spot market purchases and sales) and January 1, 2003 for contracts existing as of October 25, 2002.

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        Our merchant energy business results were as follows:

Net Income

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 

 
 
  (In millions)
 
Revenues   $ 2,765.7   $ 1,765.5   $ 1,025.7  
Fuel and purchased energy expenses     1,151.3     484.5     199.5  
Operations and maintenance expenses     787.4     597.8     387.3  
Workforce reduction costs     26.5     46.0      
Impairment losses and other costs     14.4     46.9      
Contract termination related costs         224.8      
Depreciation and amortization     242.8     174.9     83.6  
Taxes other than income taxes     83.5     49.4     24.6  
Net loss on sales of assets     3.7          

 
Income from Operations   $ 456.1   $ 141.2   $ 330.7  

 
Net Income   $ 247.2   $ 93.1   $ 198.6  

 
Net Income Before Special Items Included in Operations   $ 275.5   $ 291.2   $ 213.6  
  Workforce reduction costs     (16.0 )   (28.0 )    
  Impairment of investments in qualifying facilities and domestic power projects     (9.9 )   (30.5 )    
  Net loss on sales of assets     (2.4 )        
  Contract termination related costs         (139.6 )    
  Deregulation transition cost             (15.0 )

 
Net Income   $ 247.2   $ 93.1   $ 198.6  

 

Above amounts include intercompany transactions eliminated in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Note 3 provides a reconciliation of operating results by segment to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Revenues and Fuel and Purchased Energy Expenses

Our origination and risk management operation manages our costs of procuring fuel and energy and revenues we realize from the sale of energy to our customers. The difference between revenues and fuel and purchased energy expenses is the primary driver of the profitability of our merchant energy business. Accordingly, we believe it is appropriate to discuss the operating results of our merchant energy business by analyzing the changes in the relationship between revenues and fuel and purchased energy expenses. We discuss non-fuel direct costs, such as ancillary services, transmission costs, financing, and legal costs in conjunction with other operations and maintenance expenses later in this section.

        We analyze our merchant energy revenues and fuel and purchased energy expenses in the following categories because of differences in the revenue sources, the nature of fuel and purchased energy expenses, and the risk profile of each category.

    PJM Platform—our fossil, nuclear, and hydroelectric generating facilities and load-serving activities in the PJM Interconnection (PJM) region for which the output is primarily used to serve BGE.
    Plants with Power Purchase Agreements—our generating facilities with long-term power purchase agreements, including our Nine Mile Point nuclear generating facility and our new Oleander and University Park generating facilities.
    Competitive Supply—our wholesale business that provides load-serving activities to distribution utilities (primarily in Texas and New England), other wholesale origination and risk management services, and electric and gas retail energy services to large commercial and industrial customers.
    Other—our other gas-fired generating facilities, investments in qualifying facilities and domestic power projects, and our generation and consulting services.

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        We provide a summary of our revenues and fuel and purchased energy expenses as follows:

 
  2002
   
  2001
   
  2000
   
 

 
 
  (Dollar amounts in millions)
 
Revenues:                                
  PJM Platform   $ 1,391.4       $ 1,379.2       $ 731.7      
  Plants with Power Purchase Agreements     456.4         70.8              
  Competitive Supply     825.7         175.8         151.5      
  Other     92.2         139.7         142.5      

 
  Total   $ 2,765.7       $ 1,765.5       $ 1,025.7      

 
Fuel and purchased energy expenses:                                
  PJM Platform   $ 527.5       $ 420.9       $ 199.5      
  Plants with Power Purchase Agreements     40.0         13.9              
  Competitive Supply     552.9                      
  Other     30.9         49.7              

 
  Total   $ 1,151.3       $ 484.5       $ 199.5      

 
Revenue less fuel and purchased energy expenses:

   
  % of Total
   
  % of Total
   
  % of Total
 
  PJM Platform   $ 863.9   53 % $ 958.3   75 % $ 532.2   65 %
  Plants with Power Purchase Agreements     416.4   26     56.9   4        
  Competitive Supply     272.8   17     175.8   14     151.5   18  
  Other     61.3   4     90.0   7     142.5   17  

 
  Total   $ 1,614.4   100 % $ 1,281.0   100 % $ 826.2   100 %

 

PJM Platform

 
  2002
  2001
  2000

 
  (In millions)
Revenues   $ 1,391.4   $ 1,379.2   $ 731.7
Fuel and purchased energy expenses     527.5     420.9     199.5

Revenues less fuel and purchased energy   $ 863.9   $ 958.3   $ 532.2

Revenues

BGE Standard Offer Service

The majority of PJM Platform revenues arise from BGE standard offer service. Revenues from BGE's standard offer service requirements decreased $8.3 million, including CTC and decommissioning revenues that decreased $4.3 million, in 2002 compared to 2001.

        These decreases were due to approximately 1,200 megawatts of large commercial and industrial customers leaving BGE's standard offer service in the second quarter of 2002 and electing other electric generation suppliers, partially offset by higher volumes sold to BGE due to warmer summer weather. However, approximately one-third of the load for large commercial and industrial customers left BGE's standard offer service and elected BGE Home, a subsidiary of Constellation Energy, as their electric generation supplier. Our merchant energy business continues to provide the energy to BGE Home to meet the requirements of these customers under market-based rates. Revenues from BGE Home were $45.3 million in 2002. BGE Home is included in our other nonregulated businesses.

        CTC revenues are impacted by the CTC rates our merchant energy business receives from BGE customers as well as the volumes delivered to BGE customers. The CTC rates decline over the transition period as previously discussed in the Electric CompetitionMaryland section.

        Revenues from BGE's standard offer service requirements increased $578.0 million, including CTC and decommissioning revenues that increased $74.4 million, in 2001 compared to 2000 because our merchant energy business provided BGE's standard offer service requirements for a full year in 2001 as compared to six months in 2000.

Other PJM Revenues

Other merchant energy revenues in the PJM region decreased $32.6 million in 2002 compared to 2001 mostly because of the following:

    The sales of power from our owned generation in excess of that required to serve BGE's standard offer service requirements decreased $17.9 million compared to 2001. These sales decreased primarily due to lower generation because of the extended outage at Calvert Cliffs in order to replace the steam generators at Unit 1 and lower generation from our coal plants partially offset by higher revenues due to warmer summer weather.
    Our merchant energy business recognized a $9.5 million gain on the sale of a project under development in this region in 2001 that had a positive impact in that year.

        Other merchant energy revenues in the PJM region increased $69.5 million in 2001 compared to 2000 mostly because of the following:

    The sales of power from our Baltimore plants in excess of that required to serve BGE's standard offer service requirements increased $51.2 million.
    Our merchant energy business recognized a $9.5 million gain on the sale of a project under development in the PJM region in March 2001.
    The Handsome Lake generating facility that commenced operations in 2001 provided revenues of $8.8 million.

Fuel and Purchased Energy Expenses

Our merchant energy business had higher fuel and purchased energy expenses in the PJM region in 2002 compared to 2001 primarily due to higher replacement power costs from the extended outage at Calvert Cliffs and higher coal prices. These were partially offset by lower generation at our coal plants.

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        Our merchant energy business began an extended outage at Unit 1 of Calvert Cliffs during the first quarter of 2002 to replace the unit's steam generators, which was completed at the end of June 2002. As a result, our merchant energy business had lower revenues and higher operating costs, including higher purchased energy to meet BGE's standard offer service. Calvert Cliffs will replace the steam generators for Unit 2 during the 2003 refueling outage. Based on our current outage schedule, we expect the 2003 outage to be shorter than the 2002 extended outage. However, this outage will be significantly longer than a normal refueling outage. We expect lower annual revenues and higher annual operating costs in 2003 from Calvert Cliffs compared to 2001 due to the longer outage.

        Our merchant energy business had higher fuel and purchased energy expenses in the PJM region in 2001 compared to 2000 mostly because 2001 reflects a full year's operation of the generation plants that were transferred from BGE effective July 1, 2000. The fuel cost increase also reflects higher fuel prices for generating electricity mostly because coal prices increased during 2001 compared to 2000.

Plants with Power Purchase Agreements

 
  2002
  2001
  2000

 
  (In millions)
Revenues   $ 456.4   $ 70.8   $
Fuel and purchased energy expenses     40.0     13.9    

Revenues less fuel and purchased energy   $ 416.4   $ 56.9   $

        The increases in revenues and expenses primarily were due to a full year's results from Nine Mile Point, which we acquired in November 2001, and the University Park generating facility, which commenced operations in the second half of 2001. In addition, the Oleander generating facility commenced operations in the second half of 2002.

Competitive Supply

 
  2002
  2001
  2000

 
  (In millions)
Accrual revenues   $ 587.6   $   $
Mark-to-market revenues     238.1     175.8     151.5
Fuel and purchased energy expenses     552.9        

Revenues less fuel and purchased energy   $ 272.8   $ 175.8   $ 151.5

        We analyze our accrual and mark-to-market competitive supply activities separately below.

Accrual Revenues and Fuel and Purchased Energy Expenses

Our accrual revenues and fuel and purchased energy expenses increased in 2002 primarily due to the re-designation of our Texas and New England load-serving activities to accrual and the acquisition of NewEnergy in September 2002. Texas and New England revenues were $310.5 million, and purchased energy expenses were $317.1 million. NewEnergy's revenues were $261.3 million, and purchased energy expenses were $211.6 million. We discuss the re-designation of Texas and New England below.

        Since February 2002, we manage our Texas load-serving activities as a physical delivery business separate from our trading activities and re-designated these activities as non-trading. We believe this designation more accurately reflects the substance of our Texas load-serving physical delivery activities.

        At the time of this change in designation, we reclassified the fair value of load-serving contracts and physically delivering power purchase agreements in Texas from "Mark-to-market energy assets and liabilities" to "Other assets and liabilities." The contracts reclassified consisted of gross assets of $78 million and gross liabilities of $15 million, or a net asset of $63 million. EITF 02-3 required us to remove the unamortized balance of these assets and liabilities, excluding the costs of any acquired contracts, from our Consolidated Balance Sheets by January 1, 2003.

        After the change in designation, the results of our Texas load-serving business are included in "Nonregulated revenues" on a gross basis as power is delivered to our customers and "Operating expenses" as costs are incurred. Prior to the re-designation, the results of these activities were reported on a net basis as part of mark-to-market revenues included in "Nonregulated revenues." Mark-to-market revenues for the Texas trading activities were a net loss of $1.2 million for the portion of 2002 prior to designation as non-trading. Mark-to-market revenues for the Texas trading activities were a net loss of $33.4 million in 2001.

        Since future power sales revenues and costs from this business will be reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Income as part of "Nonregulated revenues" when power is delivered and "Operating expenses" when the costs are incurred, this re-designation generally will delay the recognition of earnings from this business in the future compared to what we would have recognized under mark-to-market accounting. The change in designation of our Texas load-serving business did not impact our cash flows.

        In addition, our New England load-serving business consists primarily of contracts to serve the full energy and capacity requirements of retail customers and electric distribution utilities and associated power purchase agreements to supply our customers' requirements. We manage this business primarily to assure profitable delivery of customers' energy requirements rather than as a traditional trading activity. Therefore, we use accrual accounting for New England load-serving transactions and associated power purchase agreements entered into since the second quarter of 2002.

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        Because applicable accounting rules significantly limited the circumstances under which contracts previously designated as a trading activity could be re-designated as non-trading, prior to EITF 02-3, we were required to continue to include contracts entered into before the second quarter of 2002 in our mark-to-market accounting portfolio. However, under EITF 02-3, on January 1, 2003, we removed these contracts from our "Mark-to-market energy assets and liabilities" and began to account for these contracts under the accrual method of accounting.

        We discuss the implications of EITF 02-3 in more detail in the Critical Accounting Policies section and in Note 1.

Mark-to-Market Revenues

Mark-to-market revenues include net gains and losses from origination and risk management activities for which we use the mark-to-market method of accounting. We discuss these activities and the mark-to-market method of accounting in more detail in the Critical Accounting Policies section and in Note 1. We also discuss the implications of EITF 02-3 on the mark-to-market method of accounting in the Critical Accounting Policies section and in Note 1.

        As a result of the nature of our operations and the use of mark-to-market accounting for certain activities, mark-to-market revenues and earnings will fluctuate. We cannot predict these fluctuations, but the impact on our revenues and earnings could be material. We discuss our market risk in more detail in the Market Risk section. The primary factors that cause fluctuations in our mark-to-market revenues and earnings are:

    the number, size, and profitability of new transactions,
    changes in the level and volatility of forward commodity prices and interest rates,
    changes in estimates of customers' load requirements as a result of changes in weather and customer attrition due to the selection of other suppliers, and
    the number and size of our open derivative positions.