FTC Docket C-4008
dtemcnappbpv
12/18/00
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AUDITOR AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the ____ day of _____________, 2001, is by and between
MICHIGAN CONSOLIDATED GAS COMPANY, a Michigan corporation with offices at 500
Griswold Street, Detroit, Michigan 48226 ("MichCon") and EXELON ENERGY, COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation with its principal address at 2315 Enterprise Drive, Westchester, Illinois
60154 ("Exelon") and NAVIGANT CONSULTING, INC. with an office at 200 Wheeler Road,
Suite 400, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803 (the "Auditor").
RECITALS
Whereas, MichCon and Exelon are parties to an Amended and Restated Easement Agreement
dated _________ ("Easement Agreement"), which grants to Exelon certain capacity rights for the
transportation and storage of natural gas; and
Whereas, the Easement Agreement contemplates the appointment of an independent auditor,
subject to approval of the Federal Trade Commission; and
Whereas, the Auditor is willing to provide the services contemplated in this Agreement;
Therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and the mutual benefit to
be obtained, the parties agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
1.
AUDITOR SERVICES
a)
Subject to and in accordance with this Agreement and the Decision and Order of the
Federal Trade Commission (the "Commission") in Docket No. __________
("Commission Order"), the Auditor accepts the duties and obligations imposed by this
Agreement and agrees to perform those professional services specified in the attached
Schedule A (the "Services").
2
b)
The Auditor may engage in such other activities as the Auditor deems appropriate
which are not in conflict with the interests of MichCon and Exelon and their
respective subsidiaries and affiliates provided that the Services provided by the
Auditor shall constitute an incidental business endeavor and the Auditor shall devote
such time and skill as is necessary to fulfill all duties under this Agreement.
2.
GENERAL POWERS AND OBLIGATIONS
a)
The Auditor shall perform all duties contemplated herein in a manner consistent with
the terms and purposes of the Commission Order. The Auditor shall consult with the
Commission Staff when the Auditor concludes such consultations are appropriate or
upon the request of the Commission Staff. The Auditor shall have the power to take
all actions as in the Auditor’s judgment are necessary and appropriate to effectuate the
purposes of the Easement Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to assess
consequential damages, including lost profits, against MichCon if found to operate its
system in such a manner as to prejudice Exelon in the exercise of its rights under the
Easement Agreement, and the right to propose changes to the Easement Agreement
necessary to ensure the competitive viability of Exelon’s efforts under the Easement
Agreement.
b)
The Auditor shall have free access to all MichCon books, records, information
systems and facilities as deemed reasonably necessary by the Auditor to monitor
MichCon’s performance under the Easement Agreement. Exelon and MichCon shall
comply with Auditor’s requests to conduct interviews, meetings, or discussions with
their employees or agents on any matters related to Auditor Agreement, the Easement
Agreement, or the Commission Order, within such deadlines as the Auditor may
establish. If the Auditor reasonably believes such material is necessary for the
discharge of Auditor’s duties under the Auditor Agreement, the Easement Agreement,
or the Commission Order, MichCon and Exelon shall provide the Auditor with
documents requested by the Auditor or compiled at the Auditor’s request, within such
deadlines as the Auditor may establish. The Auditor may share such information with
Exelon if necessary to effectuate the terms of the Easement Agreement, subject to
appropriate provisions for the protection of Confidential Information.
c)
The Auditor may consult with attorneys, accountants, engineers, appraisers or other
parties deemed by the Auditor to have qualifications necessary to assist in the
performance of the Services. The Auditor may select and employ such persons
without Commission, MichCon or Exelon review or approval.
d)
Within 30 days after (i) the end of each full six-month calendar period during the term
of this Agreement and (ii) termination of this Agreement or the Auditor’s resignation,
the Auditor shall provide to the Commission, MichCon and Exelon a written report
and accounting, in reasonable detail, outlining: (i) the Services provided during the
six-month period just ended; (ii) any operational notices provided pursuant to Section
3
D-6 of the Easement Agreement; and (iii) any issues submitted to the Auditor for
arbitration and the decision rendered. The Auditor shall also include in its reports to
the Commission, or in such additional written or oral reports as the Commission or
the Commission Staff may at any time request or as may otherwise be appropriate, in
accordance with applicable confidentiality restrictions: (i) an opinion whether the
parties have performed under the Easement Agreement in conformity with the
Commission Order, including, as appropriate, supporting materials, documents and
other information; and (ii) any other matters reasonably requested by the Commission
or the Commission Staff. Unless otherwise directed by the Commission or the
Commission Staff, the Auditor shall submit all written reports to be provided to the
Commission pursuant to this paragraph, with all Confidential Information and other
confidential portions of such reports clearly designated as “Confidential” and
segregated from non-confidential portions of such reports, to: Secretary, Federal Trade
Commission, Washington D.C. 20580 and Assistant Director, Compliance, Bureau of
Competition, Federal Trade Commission, Washington D.C. 20580.
e)
If Exelon exercises its right to terminate the Easement Agreement or for any reason
ceases to be the grantee thereunder, the Auditor shall immediately, upon receipt of
Exelon’s notice of termination, utilize best efforts to attempt to find a replacement
buyer for the capacity held by Exelon, such that the Easement Agreement will be
assigned to the replacement buyer prior to its termination. Exelon and MichCon shall
take all actions reasonably requested to assist the Auditor in finding a replacement
buyer, including execution of all documents reasonably necessary to assign the
Easement Agreement to a replacement buyer. Any potential replacement buyer and
the manner by which it acquires Exelon’s capacity or otherwise accedes to Exelon
rights shall be subject to prior approval by the Commission.
f)
Upon request by the Commission or the Commission Staff, Auditor shall provide the
Commission or the Commission Staff any data, documents, reports, or other material
relating to Auditor Agreement, the Easement Agreement, or the Commission Order.
3.
RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF THE AUDITOR AND APPOINTMENT OF
SUCCESSOR
a)
The Auditor may resign its duties under this Agreement by written notice filed with
the Commission and served upon MichCon and Exelon, at least 30 days prior to the
proposed effective date of such resignation; provided, however, that the Auditor shall
continue to serve in such capacity after the filing of the resignation until its proposed
effective date unless the Commission shall direct otherwise, or the Auditor consents
to an earlier effective date, which shall be the date that appointment of a successor
Auditor becomes effective. Nothing in this Section 3(a) shall restrict the right to
remove the Auditor as provided in Section 3(b).
b)
The Auditor may be removed by MichCon and Exelon acting jointly, or by either
4
MichCon or Exelon acting at the direction of the Commission, for any reason and
without cause upon written notice served upon the Auditor and filed with the
Commission at least 30 days prior to the proposed effective date of such removal;
provided, however, that the Auditor shall continue to serve in such capacity after the
filing of the written notice of proposed removal until its proposed effective date unless
the Commission shall direct otherwise, or the Auditor consents to an earlier effective
date, which shall be the date that appointment of a successor Auditor becomes
effective.
c)
If at any time there is a vacancy or anticipated vacancy in the position of Auditor,
MichCon and Exelon shall select a successor Auditor subject to approval by the
Commission. Any Auditor appointed as a successor Auditor under the terms of this
Agreement shall be a person whose experience, background and capabilities are
appropriate for the responsibilities of an Auditor under the terms of this Agreement.
Every successor Auditor shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Commission,
MichCon and Exelon an instrument accepting such appointment subject the terms of
this Agreement.
d)
If MichCon and Exelon cannot agree upon a successor Auditor within 10 days, a
panel of five proposed Auditors shall be selected by the American Arbitration
Association and the successor Auditor shall be selected, subject to the approval of the
Commission, by MichCon and Exelon by the striking method. For the purposes of
this paragraph, if the Commission does not object in writing within ten business days
of being notified of the identity of the successor Auditor, then the proposed Auditor
shall serve as an interim Auditor until such time as the Commission approves or
disapproves the interim Auditor or a successor Auditor is selected by MichCon and
Exelon and approved by the Commission.
4.
COMPENSATION
a)
As compensation for Services provided under this Agreement, the Auditor shall
receive compensation in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule B. All
reasonable and necessary third party out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Auditor
in connection with the performance of Services will be promptly reimbursed to the
Auditor.
b)
The Auditor shall submit monthly, itemized invoices to MichCon and Exelon for the
Services actually completed. Payments on all undisputed amounts shall be made
within 30 days of receipt of such invoices.
c)
Prior to commencing any new activities for MichCon, Exelon, or any of their affiliates
or successors, the Auditor shall provide the Commission Staff with a description of
such activities and estimates of the compensation the Auditor expects to receive in
connection with such activities.
5
5.
INDEMNIFICATION
a)
The Auditor, acting in any capacity contemplated by this Agreement or the
Commission Order, shall not be personally liable to any person except for such
Auditor’s acts or omissions that constitute fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith or gross
negligence. Except in those situations in which the Auditor is not exonerated of
personal liability as provided above, MichCon and Exelon shall indemnify the
Auditor and hold the Auditor harmless from any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or
expenses arising out or, or in connection with the performance of the Auditor’s duties
and Services under this Agreement, including all reasonable fees of counsel and other
expenses incurred in connection with the preparation for, or defense of, any claim,
whether or not resulting in any liability except to the extent that such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses result from misfeasance, gross negligence, willful or
wanton acts, or bad faith by the Auditor.
6.
STANDARD OF CARE
a)
The Auditor shall perform the Services in an efficient, prompt, economical, skillful
and careful manner in accordance with current industry standards and practices. In
performing the Services, the Auditor shall observe and obey all applicable laws,
regulations, rules and standards imposed by any government or any other duly
constituted authority having jurisdiction with respect to the Services or the parties to
this Agreement.
7.
TERM OF AGREEMENT
a)
This Agreement is effective upon the effective date of the Easement Agreement. The
initial term of this Agreement expires twenty (20) years after the effective date.
Thereafter, the term of this Agreement is automatically renewed for successive
periods of five (5) years unless and until terminated pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement. All requirements to file reports and notices with or obtain approvals from
the Commission pursuant to the Auditor Agreement, the Easement Agreement or the
Commission Order shall continue as provided in those Agreements and the
Commission Order until the Commission Order (or relevant provisions therein)
terminates.
b)
This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon written notice to the Auditor, if
either of the following occur:
i)
The Easement Agreement is terminated; or
ii)
The Commission directs MichCon and/or Exelon or their respective parent
corporations to terminate this Agreement.
8.
NOTICES
6
a)
Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by
registered mail, overnight mail or facsimile transmission, and will be effective upon
receipt thereof.
Auditor:
Navigant Consulting, Inc.
200 Wheeler Road, Suite 400,
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803
Attn: ________________
Fax No: ______________
MichCon:
Michigan Consolidated Gas Company
500 Griswold Street
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Attn: Office of General Counsel
Fax No: (313) 965-0009
Exelon: Exelon Energy, Company
2315 Enterprise Drive
Westchester, Illinois 60154
Fax No: (708) 236-7901
Attn: Vice President and General Manager
Commission:
Assistant Director, Compliance
Bureau of Competition
Federal trade Commission
Washington D.C. 20580
Fax No. (202) 326-3396 or (202) 326-2655
Any person may change the address at which it is to receive notices under this
Agreement by furnishing written notice of such change to the other parties.
9
CONFIDENTIALITY
a)
As used herein, "Confidential Information" shall include any and all oral and written
information provided to the Auditor by MichCon or Exelon, provided, however, that
Confidential Information shall not include any information which (i) is, or hereafter
becomes (but not in violation of this Agreement), generally known to the public, (ii)
was available to the Auditor on a non-confidential basis prior to the time it was
disclosed by MichCon or Exelon, or (iii) is disclosed by an independent third party
with a right to make such disclosure. Unless required by law, the Auditor shall not
disclose the Confidential Information to any person or entity except to its directors,
employees or outside consultants retained by it in connection with Auditor
7
Agreement, the Easement Agreement, or the Commission Order.
b)
The Auditor agrees that the Confidential Information will not be used for any purpose
other than in connection with the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Auditor Agreement. The Auditor shall use best efforts to prevent access by
unauthorized persons to the Confidential Information, such efforts to reflect at least
the same general degree of security that the Auditor accords its own Confidential
Information. The Auditor shall require that any outside consultant retained by the
Auditor shall not disclose Confidential Information to anyone other than the FTC or
the MPSC.
c)
In the event that the Auditor is requested or required under compulsion of legal
process to disclose the Confidential Information, the Auditor will not, unless required
by law, disclose the Confidential Information until MichCon and Exelon have each
first (i) received prompt written notice of such request or requirement to disclose, and
(ii) had an adequate opportunity to obtain a protective order or other reliable assurance
that confidential treatment will be accorded to the Confidential Information. The
Auditor shall not oppose actions by MichCon and Exelon to assure such confidential
treatment.
d)
This paragraph 9 shall not restrict the Auditor's obligations to provide any information
requested by the Commission or Commission Staff.
10
MISCELLANEOUS
a)
With the approval of the Commission, the parties may enter into an amendment of this
Agreement for the purpose of adding any provision, changing it in any manner, or
eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement.
b)
The Commission’s retained jurisdiction shall be as set forth in the Commission Order.
c)
This Agreement is governed by the law of the State of Michigan.
d)
This Agreement includes the following schedules (and all documents referenced
therein) which are incorporated herein by reference:
SCHEDULE A - Scope of Services
SCHEDULE B - Price Schedule
This Agreement represents the entire understanding between the parties making all
other representations null and void.
e)
This Agreement, together with Schedules A and B and the Easement Agreement shall
be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties and their successors and
8
assigns.
f)
No modification, amendment, or assignment of this Auditor Agreement may become
effective without the prior written approval of the Commission.
g)
Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to preclude the FTC from
bringing any action as may be appropriate under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
9
This Agreement is executed by duly authorized officers of the parties as of the day and year
first above written.
MICHIGAN CONSOLIDATED GAS COMPANY
By: ______________________________
Its: ______________________________
EXELON ENERGY COMPANY
By: ______________________________
Its: ______________________________
NAVIGANT CONSULTING, INC.
By: ______________________________
Its: _______________________________
Schedule A
Page 1 of 1
SCHEDULE A
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Auditor shall perform such services as necessary to effectuate the intent of the Easement
Agreement, including but not limited to:
1. Arbitration of disputes in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section D-18 of
Exhibit D to the Easement Agreement.
2. Calculation of the Keep-Whole Payment, as defined in the Easement Agreement.
3. Assessment of money damages against MichCon if found to be the cause of undue delays
in the in-service date of any expansions or upgrades required to serv e a customer of
Exelon, or to have unreasonably denied nominations or receipt points, or otherwise to
have interfered in Exelon’s rights under the Easement Agreement.
4. Determination of the operational feasibility of granting Exelon’s request for additional
receipt points under the Easement Agreement.
5. From time to time, at Auditor’s discretion, establish or modify such procedures as
reasonably deemed necessary for MichCon's handling of Exelon's requests for system
expansion and upgrades or for implementing any other procedures or provisions under the
Easement Agreement in a non-discriminatory manner.
6. Any other duties or responsibilities as set forth in the Easement Agreement.
Schedule B
Page 1 of 2
SCHEDULE B
COMPENSATION SCHEDULE
$______ per month plus $_____ per hour and reasonable costs and third party fees incurred
by Auditor for the performance of Services. Any expenses incurred by Auditor in its performance of
this Agreement will be passed through at ____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________. MichCon and Exelon
shall each bear one-half of the Auditor's fees and expenses.
The following table details the type of activities expected and the manner in which fees
would be charged:
Type of Activity
Detailed Activities
Frequency
Billing Method
Specify data
requirements,
collection, reporting,
and frequency
Definition of all
algorithms and data
forms/sources/timing as
specified in the
Easement Agreement
Once at
inception, and
from time to
time as needed
_______________
Complete monthly
analyses and reports
necessary to
perform as Auditor
Sales/load by customer
segment, capacity
utilization, storage
utilization, system
expansion, operational
performance
Monthly
_______________
Calculate Keep-
Whole payment
As defined in the
Easement Agreement
Annually
_______________
Dispute arbitration
As required
_______________
Respond to
Commission
requests as required
by Section 2.f) of the
Auditor Agreement
As requested
_______________
Other activities as
may be required
As required
_______________
Schedule B
Page 2 of 2
Type of Activity
Detailed Activities
Frequency
Billing Method
from time to time
Develop reports
required by Section
2.d) of the Auditor
Agreement
As described in the
Auditor Agreement
Semi-annually
and as may be
required by
Section 2.d)
_______________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.
The
Auditor’s fees do not include sales, use, excise, gross revenue, or similar taxes. Such taxes, if
applicable to all or any portion of this assignment, will be charged in addition to fees and
expenses.
With respect to dispute resolution, each party shall bear its own expenses (including without
limitation the fees and expenses of legal counsel and accountants) in connection with such
arbitration and MichCon and Exelon shall each bear one-half of the Auditor’s fees and expenses,
provided that the Auditor’s award shall allocate such fees and expenses of counsel, accoun tants,
other advisors and the Auditor according to the relative success of the contesting parties in the
arbitration, as determined by the Auditor. The Auditor shall award an amount equal to the actual
direct and indirect damages, including lost profits, suffered by each contesting party, which may
include interest costs incurred by such party, but the Auditor shall not have the authority to
award punitive damages.