e424b2
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2). Based upon the
registration of $375 million of Senior Secured Bonds to be
offered by means of this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus under the amended registration statement
filed March 9, 2007, a filing fee of $14,737.50 has been
calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r). This fee has
been previously transmitted to the SEC. This paragraph shall be
deemed to update the Calculation of Registration Fee
table in the registration statement referred to in the second
sentence above.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
File Number
333-132574-03
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated March 9, 2007)
$375,000,000
PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation
7.125% Senior Secured
Bonds Due 2013
PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (PPL Electric) is
offering its Senior Secured Bonds, 7.125% Series due 2013 (the
Bonds). Interest on the Bonds will be payable on May
30 and November 30 of each year, commencing May 30, 2009,
and at Maturity (as hereinafter defined), as further described
in this prospectus supplement. The Bonds will mature on
November 30, 2013, unless redeemed on an earlier date. We
may, at our option, redeem the Bonds, in whole at any time or in
part from time to time, as described herein. See
Description of the Bonds Redemption.
The Bonds will be secured by a lien on substantially all of our
electric distribution properties and certain of our electric
transmission properties as described in this prospectus
supplement and in the accompanying prospectus. See
Description of the Bonds Security herein.
Investing in the Bonds involves certain risks. See Risk
Factors beginning on
page S-6
of this prospectus supplement and on page 4 of the
accompanying prospectus.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) or any
state securities commission, nor has the SEC or any state
securities commission determined that this prospectus supplement
or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Price to
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Underwriting
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Proceeds, Before
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Public(1)
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Discount
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Expenses, to Us(1)
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Per Bond
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99.910
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%
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0.60
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%
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99.310
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%
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Total
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$
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374,662,500
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$
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2,250,000
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$
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372,412,500
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(1) |
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Plus accrued interest, if any, from date of issuance. |
The underwriters expect to deliver the Bonds to the purchasers
in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository
Trust Company on or about October 17, 2008.
Joint
Book-running Managers
Barclays Capital
BNP
PARIBAS
Lazard
Capital Markets
Scotia
Capital
Co-Managers
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BNY
Mellon Capital Markets, LLC |
PNC Capital Markets LLC |
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
The date of this prospectus supplement is October 14, 2008
You should rely only on the information contained in or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to
provide you with different information. We are not making an
offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not
permitted. You should not assume that the information contained
in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement
and the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date after
the date of this prospectus supplement.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Prospectus
Supplement
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S-2
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S-3
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S-4
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S-6
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S-6
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S-7
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S-8
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S-25
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S-28
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S-29
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Prospectus
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2
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4
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4
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6
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7
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9
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11
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12
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14
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14
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As used in this prospectus, the terms we,
our and us may, depending on the
context, refer to PPL Electric or to PPL Electric together with
PPL Electrics consolidated subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
S-1
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement
that PPL Electric has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the SEC) utilizing a shelf
registration process. Under this shelf process, we are offering
to sell the Bonds using this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement describes
the specific terms of this offering. The accompanying prospectus
and the information incorporated by reference therein describe
our business and give more general information, some of which
may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer only to
the prospectus, we are referring to both parts
combined. You should read this prospectus supplement together
with the accompanying prospectus before making a decision to
invest in the Bonds. If the information in this prospectus
supplement or the information incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying
prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement or the
information incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement will apply and will supersede that information in the
accompanying prospectus.
Certain affiliates of PPL Electric, specifically PPL
Corporation, PPL Energy Supply, LLC and PPL Capital Funding,
Inc., have also registered their securities on the
shelf registration statement referred to above.
However, the Bonds are solely obligations of PPL Electric, and
not of PPL Corporation or any of PPL Corporations other
subsidiaries or of any other affiliate of PPL Electric. None of
PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply, LLC or PPL Capital Funding,
Inc. or any of PPL Electrics subsidiaries or other
affiliates will guarantee or provide any credit support for the
Bonds.
S-2
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Available
Information
PPL Electric files reports and other information with the SEC.
You may obtain copies of this information by mail from the
Public Reference Room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E.,
Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed
rates. Further information on the operation of the SECs
Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained
by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
PPL Electrics Internet Web site is www.pplelectric.com.
Our parent, PPL Corporation, maintains an Internet Web site at
www.pplweb.com. On the Investor Center page of that Web site,
PPL Corporation provides access to SEC filings of PPL Electric
free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing
with the SEC. Neither the information at PPL Electrics Web
site nor the information at PPL Corporations Web site is
incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference, and you
should not consider it a part of this prospectus supplement. PPL
Electrics filings are also available at the SECs Web
site (www.sec.gov).
In addition, reports and other information concerning PPL
Electric can be inspected at its offices at Two North Ninth
Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179.
Incorporation
by Reference
PPL Electric will incorporate by reference
information into this prospectus supplement by disclosing
important information to you by referring you to other documents
that it files separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this
prospectus supplement, and later information that we file with
the SEC will automatically update and supersede that
information. This prospectus supplement incorporates by
reference the documents set forth below that have been
previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important
information about PPL Electric.
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SEC Filings
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Period/Date
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Annual Report on Form 10-K
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Year ended December 31, 2007
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Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
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Quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008
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Current Reports on Form 8-K
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Filed on January 30, 2008, March 28, 2008,
April 2, 2008, August 6, 2008, September 16, 2008
and October 2, 2008
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Notice of Annual Meeting and Information Statement
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Filed April 25, 2008
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Additional documents that PPL Electric files with the SEC
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, between the date of
this prospectus supplement and the termination of the offering
of the Bonds are also incorporated herein by reference.
PPL Electric will provide without charge to each person,
including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this
prospectus supplement has been delivered, a copy of any and all
of its filings with the SEC. You may request a copy of these
filings by writing or telephoning PPL Electric at:
Two North Ninth Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179
Attention: Investor Services Department
Telephone:
1-800-345-3085
S-3
SUMMARY
The following summary contains information about the offering
by PPL Electric of its Bonds. It does not contain all of the
information that may be important to you in making a decision to
purchase the Bonds. For a more complete understanding of PPL
Electric and the offering of the Bonds, we urge you to read this
entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and
the documents incorporated by reference herein carefully,
including the Risk Factors sections and our
financial statements and the notes to those statements.
The
Offering
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Issuer |
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PPL Electric Utilities Corporation |
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Securities Offered |
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$375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of PPL Electrics
Senior Secured Bonds, 7.125% Series due 2013 |
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Stated Maturity Date |
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November 30, 2013 |
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Interest Payment Dates |
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Interest on the Bonds will be payable on May 30 and November 30
of each year, commencing on May 30, 2009 and at Maturity, |
or upon earlier redemption.
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Interest Rate |
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7.125% per annum |
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Redemption |
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The Bonds may be redeemed at our option, in whole at any time or
in part from time to time, at the redemption prices set forth in
this prospectus supplement. The Bonds will not be entitled to
the benefit of any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption
and will not be repayable at the option of the Holder of a Bond
prior to the Stated Maturity Date. See Description of the
Bonds Redemption. |
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Ranking; Security |
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The Bonds will be secured by a lien on substantially all of our
electric distribution properties and certain of our electric
transmission properties, subject to certain exceptions and
exclusions, as described in this prospectus supplement. See
Description of the Bonds General and
Description of the Bonds Security. |
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Listing |
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We do not intend to list the Bonds on any securities exchange. |
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Form and Denomination |
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The Bonds will be initially issued in the form of one or more
global securities, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000
and integral multiples in excess thereof, and deposited with the
Trustee (as hereinafter defined) on behalf of The Depository
Trust Company (DTC), as depositary, and
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. See
Description of the Bonds General and
Description of the Bonds Book-Entry Only
Issuance The Depository Trust Company. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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We plan to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Bonds to
partially fund the repayment at maturity of $485,785,000
outstanding aggregate principal amount of PPL Electrics
Senior Secured Bonds,
61/4%
Series, due August 15, 2009. Prior to such use, the net
proceeds will be invested in short-term investments and used for
general corporate purposes. |
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Ratings |
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Our senior secured debt is currently rated A- by
Standard & Poors Ratings Services, A3 by
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. and A- by Fitch Ratings. A
credit rating reflects an assessment by the rating agency of the
creditworthiness associated with an issuer and particular
securities that it issues. These ratings are not a
recommendation to buy, |
S-4
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sell or hold any securities of PPL Electric. Such ratings may be
subject to revisions or withdrawal by these agencies at any time
and should be evaluated independently of each other and any
other rating that may be assigned to the securities. |
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Reopening of the Series |
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We may, without the consent of the Holders of the Bonds,
increase the principal amount of the series and issue additional
bonds of such series having the same ranking, interest rate,
maturity and other terms as the Bonds, other than the date of
initial issuance and, in some circumstances, the initial
interest accrual date and the initial interest payment date. Any
such additional bonds may, together with the Bonds, constitute a
single series of securities under the Indenture. See
Description of the Bonds General. |
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Governing Law |
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The Bonds and the Indenture are governed by the laws of the
State of New York, except to the extent the Trust Indenture
Act shall be applicable and except where otherwise required by
law. The effectiveness of the lien of the Indenture, and the
perfection and priority thereof, will be governed by
Pennsylvania law. |
S-5
RISK
FACTORS
Before making a decision to invest in the Bonds, you should
carefully consider the risk factors described below, the risk
factors described on page 4 of the accompanying prospectus,
and the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, beginning on
page 10, as well as the other information included in this
prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Risks
Relating to the Bonds
An
active trading market for the Bonds may not
develop.
The Bonds are new securities and we do not intend to apply for
listing of the Bonds on any securities exchange. We cannot
assure that an active trading market for the Bonds will develop.
There can be no assurances as to the liquidity of any market
that may develop for the Bonds, the ability of Holders to sell
their Bonds or the price at which the Holders will be able to
sell their Bonds. Future trading prices of the Bonds will depend
on many factors including, among other things, prevailing
interest rates, our operating results and the market for similar
securities.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We plan to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Bonds to
partially fund the repayment at maturity of $485,785,000
outstanding aggregate principal amount of PPL Electrics
Senior Secured Bonds,
61/4%
Series, due August 15, 2009. Prior to such use, the net
proceeds will be invested in short-term investments and used for
general corporate purposes.
S-6
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our historical unaudited
consolidated cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of
June 30, 2008 on an actual basis, and on an adjusted basis
to give effect to the issuance of the Bonds in this offering.
This table should be read in conjunction with our consolidated
financial statements, the notes related thereto and the
financial and operating data incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
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As of June 30, 2008
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Actual
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As Adjusted
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(In millions)
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$
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65
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$
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437
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Long-term debt, including current portion
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$
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1,514
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$
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1,514
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Bonds offered hereby
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375
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Total long-term debt
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1,514
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1,889
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Total shareowners equity
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1,621
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1,621
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Total capitalization
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$
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3,135
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$
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3,510
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S-7
DESCRIPTION
OF THE BONDS
The following summary description sets forth certain terms and
provisions of the Bonds that we are offering by this prospectus
supplement. Because this description is a summary, it does not
describe every aspect of the Bonds or the Indenture under which
the Bonds will be issued, as described below. The form of
Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement
of which the accompanying prospectus is a part. The Indenture
and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the
matters described in this section. This summary is subject to
and qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the
provisions of the Bonds and the Indenture, including definitions
of certain terms used in the Indenture. We also include
references in parentheses to certain sections of the Indenture.
Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the
Indenture in this prospectus supplement, such sections or
defined terms are incorporated by reference herein. The
Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act,
and you should refer to the Trust Indenture Act for
provisions that apply to the Bonds.
General
We will issue the Bonds as a series of debt securities under our
Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2001 (as such indenture
has been and may be amended and supplemented from time to time,
the Indenture), to The Bank of New York Mellon, as
successor trustee (the Trustee). We may issue an
unlimited amount of Bonds or other debt securities under the
Indenture. The Bonds and all other debt securities issued
previously or hereafter under the Indenture are collectively
referred to herein as Indenture Securities.
The Bonds will initially be issued on the basis of an equal
principal amount of our first mortgage bonds issued pursuant to,
and secured by, our Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of
October 1, 1945 (the 1945 Mortgage), to
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the
1945 Mortgage Trustee), and the lien of the
Indenture on our tangible electric distribution properties and
certain of our transmission properties, which lien is junior to
the lien of the 1945 Mortgage. As described below, the 1945
Mortgage constitutes a first mortgage lien on substantially all
of our distribution properties and certain of our transmission
properties. As described below under
Security and
Security Class A Bonds,
we intend to discharge the lien of the 1945 Mortgage later in
2008, and the first mortgage bonds canceled in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture, at which time the Indenture would be
a first mortgage lien, subject to Permitted Liens and exceptions
described below, on substantially all of our tangible electric
distribution properties and certain of our transmission
properties. (See Security
Class A Bonds below.)
The Bonds will be issued in fully registered form only, without
coupons. The Bonds will be initially represented by one or more
fully registered global securities (the Global
Securities) deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for
DTC, as depositary, and registered in the name of DTC or
DTCs nominee. A beneficial interest in a Global Security
will be shown on, and transfers or exchanges thereof will be
effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its
participants, as described below under
Book-Entry Only Issuance The
Depository Trust Company. The authorized
denominations of the Bonds will be $1,000 and any larger amount
that is an integral multiple of $1,000. Except in limited
circumstances described below, the Bonds will not be
exchangeable for Bonds in definitive certificated form.
The Bonds are initially being offered in one series in the
principal amount of $375,000,000. We may, without the consent of
the Holders of the Bonds, increase the principal amount of the
series and issue additional bonds of such series having the same
ranking, interest rate, maturity and other terms (other than the
date of issuance and, in some circumstances, the initial
interest accrual date and initial interest payment date) as the
Bonds. Any such additional bonds may, together with the Bonds,
constitute a single series of securities under the Indenture and
may be treated as a single class for all purposes under the
Indenture, including, without limitation, voting waivers and
amendments.
Maturity;
Interest
The Bonds will mature on November 30, 2013 (the
Stated Maturity Date) and will bear interest from
the date of issuance at a rate of 7.125% per annum. Interest
will be payable on each May 30 and November 30 of each year
(each, an Interest Payment Date), commencing on
May 30, 2009, and at Maturity (whether at the Stated
Maturity Date, upon redemption, or otherwise)
(Maturity). Subject to certain exceptions, the
Indenture provides for the
S-8
payment of interest on an Interest Payment Date only to persons
in whose names the Bonds are registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date, which will be the May 15 and
November 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be,
immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date;
except that interest payable at Maturity will be paid to the
person to whom principal is paid.
Interest on the Bonds will be calculated on the basis of a
360-day year
of twelve
30-day
months, and with respect to any period less than a full calendar
month, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed during
the period.
Payment
So long as the Bonds are registered in the name of DTC, as
depository for the Bonds as described herein under
Book-Entry Only Issuance The
Depository Trust Company or DTCs nominee,
payments on the Bonds will be made as described therein.
If we default in paying interest on a Bond, we will pay such
defaulted interest either
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to Holders as of a special record date between 10 and
15 days before the proposed payment; or
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in any other lawful manner of payment that is consistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Bonds
may be listed for trading. (See Section 307.)
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We will pay principal of and interest and premium, if any, on
the Bonds at Maturity upon presentation of the Bonds at the
corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon in New
York, New York, as our Paying Agent. In our discretion, we may
change the place of payment on the Bonds, and we may remove any
Paying Agent and may appoint one or more additional Paying
Agents (including us or any of our affiliates). (See
Section 702.)
If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity
of a Bond falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the
required payment of principal, premium, if any,
and/or
interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if
made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will
accrue on such payment for the period from and after such
Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity, as the
case may be, to the date of such payment on the next succeeding
Business Day.
Business Day means any day, other than a Saturday or
Sunday, that is not a day on which banking institutions or trust
companies in The City of New York, New York, or other city in
which a paying agent for such Bond is located, are generally
authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to
remain closed. (See Section 116.)
Form;
Transfers; Exchanges
You may have your Bonds divided into Bonds of smaller
denominations (of at least $1,000) or combined into Bonds of
larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is
not changed. This is called an exchange. (See
Section 305.)
So long as the Bonds are registered in the name of DTC, as
depository for the Bonds as described herein under
Book-Entry Only Issuance The
Depository Trust Company or DTCs nominee,
transfers and exchanges of beneficial interest in the Bonds will
be made as described therein. In the event that the book-entry
only system is discontinued, and the Bonds are issued in
certificated form, you may exchange or transfer Bonds at the
corporate trust office of the Trustee. The Trustee acts as our
agent for registering Bonds in the names of Holders and
transferring debt securities. We may appoint another agent
(including one of our affiliates) or act as our own agent for
this purpose. The entity performing the role of maintaining the
list of registered Holders is called the Security
Registrar. It will also perform transfers. In our
discretion, we may change the place for registration of transfer
of the Bonds and may designate a different entity as the
Security Registrar, including us or one of our affiliates. (See
Sections 305 and 702.)
There will be no service charge for any transfer or exchange of
the Bonds, but you may be required to pay a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection
therewith. We may block the transfer or exchange of
(1) Bonds during a period of 15 days prior to giving
any notice of redemption or (2) any Bond
S-9
selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Bond being redeemed in part. (See
Section 305.)
Redemption
We may, at our option, redeem the Bonds, in whole at any time or
in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the
greater of:
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100% of the principal amount of the Bonds to be so
redeemed; or
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as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest on the Bonds to be so redeemed (not including any
portion of such payments of interest accrued to the date of
redemption) discounted to the Redemption Date on a
semi-annual basis at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus
50 basis points;
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plus, in either of the above cases, accrued and unpaid interest
to the Redemption Date.
The redemption price for any redemption will be calculated
assuming a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months.
Adjusted Treasury Rate means, with respect to any
Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the
semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable
Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury
Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal
to the Comparable Treasury Price for that Redemption Date.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States
Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having an
actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term
of the Bonds to the Stated Maturity Date that would be utilized,
at the time of selection and in accordance with customary
financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt
securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the
Bonds.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any
Redemption Date:
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the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for
that Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and
lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations; or
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if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than five Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all of those
quotations received.
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Quotation Agent means one of the Reference Treasury
Dealers appointed by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer means:
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each of Barclays Capital Inc. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp.,
and their respective successors, unless any of them ceases to be
a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York
City (a Primary Treasury Dealer), in which case we
will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer; and
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any three other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by us.
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Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with
respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any
Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the
Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount), as provided to the Quotation Agent by that
Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the third Business Day preceding that Redemption Date.
The Bonds will not be subject to a sinking fund or other
mandatory redemption provisions and will not be repayable at the
option of the Holder prior to the Stated Maturity Date.
The Bonds will be redeemable upon notice by mail between
30 days and 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.
If less than all of the Bonds are to be redeemed, the Trustee
will select the Bonds to be redeemed. In the absence of any
provision for selection, the Trustee will choose a method of
random selection that it deems fair and appropriate. (See
Sections 503 and 504.)
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Bonds called for redemption will cease to bear interest on the
Redemption Date. We will pay the redemption price and any
accrued interest once you surrender the Bond for redemption.
(See Section 505.) If only part of a Bond is redeemed, the
Trustee will deliver to you a new Bond of the same series for
the remaining portion without charge. (See Section 506.)
We may make any redemption at our option conditional upon the
receipt by the Paying Agent, on or prior to the date fixed for
redemption, of money sufficient to pay the redemption price. If
the Paying Agent has not received such money by the date fixed
for redemption, we will not be required to redeem such Bonds.
(See Section 504.)
Security
Except as described below under this heading and under
Issuance of Additional Indenture
Securities, and subject to the exceptions described under
Satisfaction and Discharge, all
Indenture Securities, including the Bonds, will be initially
secured, equally and ratably, by:
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an equal principal amount of first mortgage bonds issued under
the 1945 Mortgage, which constitutes, subject to certain
exceptions, a first mortgage lien on substantially all of our
electric distribution properties and certain of our electric
transmission properties, and delivered to the Trustee under the
Indenture, and other Class A Bonds as described
below; and
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the lien of the Indenture on substantially all of our tangible
electric distribution properties and certain of our electric
transmission properties located in Pennsylvania, which lien is
junior to the lien of the 1945 Mortgage. We sometimes refer to
our property that is subject to the lien of the Indenture as
Mortgaged Property.
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Each of the Indenture and the 1945 Mortgage creates a lien on
substantially all tangible properties of PPL Electric in
Pennsylvania used in the distribution and transmission of
electric energy, other than property duly released from the
liens thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
and the 1945 Mortgage, as the case may be, and certain other
excepted property, and subject to certain Permitted Liens and
excepted encumbrances, in each case as described below.
We may obtain the release of property from the liens of the
Indenture and the 1945 Mortgage from time to time, upon the
bases provided for such release in the Indenture and the 1945
Mortgage. See Release of Property,
Description of the 1945 Mortgage Bonds
Security and Description of the 1945 Mortgage
Bonds Release Provisions.
Federal regulatory initiatives have encouraged separate
ownership of transmission assets and provided economic
incentives for divestiture of transmission assets. While we have
no current intention of selling our transmission properties, we
believe that it is prudent to take steps to release transmission
property from the liens of our mortgage indentures so that we
can act expeditiously in the event that attractive opportunities
arise. As a result, we expect to release certain portions of our
transmission properties from such liens from time to time upon
the deposit of cash, the certification of property additions or
retired bonds, or other permitted bases as provided in the
Indenture and the 1945 Mortgage. During 2003 through
September 30, 2008, we obtained the release from the liens
of the 1945 Mortgage and the Indenture of transmission property
having an aggregate fair value (at or near the time of release)
of approximately $482 million.
We intend to discharge the lien of the 1945 Mortgage later in
2008, and to cancel the related first mortgage bonds in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, at which time the
Indenture would become a first mortgage lien, subject to
Permitted Liens and exceptions described below, on substantially
all of our tangible electric distribution properties and certain
of our transmission properties. (See
Class A Bonds below.)
Class A
Bonds
As discussed below under Certain Additional Agreements of
PPL Electric; Ratings Consolidation, Merger and
Conveyance of Assets as an Entirety, we will be permitted
to merge or consolidate with another company upon meeting
specified requirements. Following a merger or consolidation of
another company into us, we could deliver to the Trustee bonds
issued under an existing mortgage on the properties of such
other company in lieu of or in
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addition to bonds issued under the 1945 Mortgage. In such event,
the Indenture Securities would be secured, additionally, by such
bonds and by the lien of the Indenture on the properties of such
other company, which would be junior to the liens of such
existing mortgage and the 1945 Mortgage. The 1945 Mortgage and
all such other mortgages are hereinafter collectively referred
to as the Class A Mortgages, and all bonds
issued under the Class A Mortgages and delivered to the
Trustee are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
Class A Bonds. (See Section 1706.)
Class A Bonds, including 1945 Mortgage Bonds, that are the
basis for the authentication and delivery of Indenture
Securities (a) will be delivered to, and registered in the
name of, the Trustee or its nominee and will be owned and held
by such trustee, subject to the provisions of the Indenture, for
the benefit of the Holders of all Indenture Securities
outstanding from time to time; (b) will mature or be
subject to mandatory redemption on the same dates, and in the
same principal amounts, as such Indenture Securities; and (c)(i)
may, but need not, bear interest and (ii) may, but need
not, contain provisions for redemption at our option, any such
redemption to be made at a redemption price or prices not less
than the principal amount of such Class A Bonds. (See
Sections 1602 and 1701.) To the extent that Class A
Bonds do not bear interest, Holders of Indenture Securities will
not have the benefit of the lien of a Class A Mortgage in
respect of an amount equal to accrued interest, if any, on the
Indenture Securities; however, such Holders will nevertheless
have the benefit of the lien of the Indenture in respect of the
amount of accrued interest.
Any payment by us of principal of or premium or interest on the
Class A Bonds delivered to and held by the Trustee will be
applied by the Trustee to the payment of any principal, premium
or interest, as the case may be, in respect of the Indenture
Securities which is then due, and our obligation under the
Indenture to make such payment in respect of the Indenture
Securities will be deemed satisfied and discharged to the extent
of such payment. If, at the time of any such payment of
principal of Class A Bonds, there is no principal then due
in respect of the Indenture Securities, the proceeds of the
payment will constitute Funded Cash and will be held by the
Trustee as part of the Mortgaged Property, to be withdrawn, used
or applied as provided in the Indenture. If, at the time of any
such payment of premium or interest on Class A Bonds, there
is no premium or interest then due on the Indenture Securities,
the payment will be remitted to us at our request; provided,
however, that if any Event of Default, as described below, has
occurred and is continuing, the payment will be held as part of
the Mortgaged Property until the Event of Default has been cured
or waived. See Section 1702 and
Withdrawal of Cash below.
Any payment by us of principal of or interest or premium, if
any, on Indenture Securities authenticated and delivered on the
basis of the delivery to the Trustee of Class A Bonds
(other than by application of the proceeds of a payment in
respect of such Class A Bonds) will, to the extent thereof,
be deemed to satisfy and discharge our obligations, if any, to
make a corresponding payment, in respect of such Class A
Bonds which is then due. (See Section 1702.)
The Trustee may not sell, assign or otherwise transfer any
Class A Bonds except to a successor trustee under the
Indenture. (See Section 1704.) At the time any Indenture
Securities which have been authenticated and delivered upon the
basis of Class A Bonds, cease to be outstanding (other than
as a result of the application of the proceeds of the payment or
redemption of such Class A Bonds), the Trustee will
surrender to us, or upon our order, an equal principal amount of
such Class A Bonds. (See Section 1703.)
When no Class A Bonds are outstanding under a Class A
Mortgage except for Class A Bonds delivered to and held by
the Trustee, then, at our request and subject to satisfaction of
certain conditions, the Trustee will surrender such Class A
Bonds for cancellation, the related Class A Mortgage will
be satisfied and discharged, the lien of such Class A
Mortgage on our property subject thereto will cease to exist and
the priority of the lien of the Indenture, as to such property,
will be increased accordingly. (See Sections 1703 and
1707.) If and when no Class A Mortgages are in effect, the
Company Indenture will constitute a direct, first mortgage lien
on the Companys electric utility property, subject to
certain Permitted Liens and certain other exceptions described
below. See Lien of the Indenture below.
At the date of this prospectus supplement, the only Class A
Mortgage is the 1945 Mortgage, and the only Class A Bonds
issuable at this time are 1945 Mortgage Bonds issuable under the
1945 Mortgage. Upon discharge of the 1945 Mortgage and assuming
no other Class A Mortgage exists at the time, the lien of
the Indenture would become a first mortgage lien, subject to
certain Permitted Liens and certain other exceptions described
below. See
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Lien of the Indenture. At
September 30, 2008, except for $325,000 principal amount of
our 1945 Mortgage Bonds, 7.7% Series due October 2009, and
$10,290,000 principal amount of our 1945 Mortgage Bonds, 7.375%
Series due March 2014, all of our outstanding 1945 Mortgage
Bonds have been delivered to the Trustee as the basis for
issuing Indenture Securities. If and when these bonds are
retired (by payment at maturity, redemption, repurchase or
otherwise), the lien of the 1945 Mortgage may be discharged in
accordance with the Indenture. We intend to discharge such 1945
Mortgage Bonds and the lien of the 1945 Mortgage later in 2008.
Lien
of the Indenture
The Indenture creates a lien on substantially all of our
tangible properties in Pennsylvania used in the distribution of
electric energy and certain of our electric transmission
properties in Pennsylvania, other than certain excepted property
and subject to certain Permitted Liens, in each case as
described below. As described above under Description of
the Bonds Security, we have released a
substantial amount of our transmission properties from the lien
of the Indenture and the 1945 Mortgage. We sometimes refer to
PPL Electrics distribution and transmission properties of
the type subject to the lien of the Indenture, regardless of
whether the Release Date has occurred, but exclusive of the
Excepted Property described below, as Electric Utility
Property. At the date of this prospectus supplement,
substantially all of such property (except for property released
as described above), while subject to the lien of the Indenture,
is also subject to the prior lien of the 1945 Mortgage. For so
long as the 1945 Mortgage is in effect, the Indenture Securities
will have the benefit of the first mortgage lien of the 1945
Mortgage on such property, and the benefit of the prior lien of
any additional Class A Mortgage on any property subject
thereto, to the extent of the aggregate principal amount of
Class A Bonds, issued under the respective Class A
Mortgages, held by the Trustee.
Permitted Liens. The lien of the
Indenture is subject to Permitted Liens described in the
Indenture. Such Permitted Liens include liens existing at the
execution date of the Indenture, liens on property at the time
we acquire such property, tax liens and other governmental
charges which are not delinquent or which are being contested in
good faith, mechanics, construction and materialmens
liens, certain judgment liens, easements, reservations and
rights of others (including governmental entities) in, and
defects of title in, our property, certain leases and leasehold
interests, liens to secure public obligations, rights of others
to take minerals, timber, electric energy or capacity, gas,
water, steam or other products produced by us or by others on
our property, rights and interests of Persons other than us
arising out of agreements relating to the common ownership or
joint use of property, and liens on the interests of such
Persons in such property, liens which have been bonded or for
which other security arrangements have been made, liens created
in connection with the issuance of tax-exempt debt securities,
purchase money liens and liens related to the construction or
acquisition of property, or the development or expansion of
property, liens which secure specified Indenture Securities
equally and ratably with other obligations, and additional liens
on any of our property (other than Excepted Property, as
described below) to secure debt for borrowed money in an
aggregate principal amount not exceeding 10% of the total assets
of PPL Electric and its consolidated subsidiaries, as shown on
the latest audited balance sheet of PPL Electric and such
subsidiaries. (See Granting Clauses and Sections 101 and
707.)
The Indenture also provides that the Trustee will have a lien,
prior to the lien on behalf of the Holders of the Indenture
Securities, upon the Mortgaged Property as security for our
payment of its reasonable compensation and expenses and for
indemnity against certain liabilities. (See Section 1007.)
Any such lien would be a Permitted Lien under the Indenture
Excepted Property. The lien of the
Indenture does not cover, among other things, the following
types of property: property located outside of Pennsylvania;
property not used by us in our electric transmission and
distribution business; cash and securities not paid, deposited
or held under the Indenture; contracts, leases and other
agreements of all kinds, contract rights, bills, notes and other
instruments, revenues, accounts receivable, claims, demands and
judgments; governmental and other licenses, permits, franchises,
consents and allowances; intellectual property rights and other
general intangibles; vehicles, movable equipment, aircraft and
vessels; all goods, stock in trade, wares, merchandise and
inventory held for the purpose of sale or lease in the ordinary
course of business; materials, supplies, inventory and other
personal property consumable in the operation of our business;
fuel; tools and equipment; furniture and furnishings; computers
and data processing, telecommunications and other facilities
used primarily for administrative or clerical purposes or
otherwise not used in connection with the
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operation or maintenance of electric transmission and
distribution facilities; coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals
and timber rights; electric energy and capacity, gas, steam,
water and other products generated, produced, manufactured,
purchased or otherwise acquired; real property and facilities
used primarily for the production or gathering of natural gas;
property which has been released from the lien of the Indenture;
and leasehold interests. We sometimes refer to property of PPL
Electric not covered by the lien of the Indenture as
Excepted Property. (See Granting Clauses.)
We may enter into supplemental indentures with the Trustee,
without the consent of the Holders, in order to subject
additional property (including property that would otherwise be
excepted from such lien) to the lien of the Indenture. (See
Section 1301.) This property would constitute Property
Additions and would be available as a basis for the issuance of
Indenture Securities. See Issuance of
Additional Indenture Securities.
The Indenture provides that after-acquired Electric Utility
Property (other than Excepted Property) will be subject to the
lien of the Indenture. (See Granting Clause Second.)
However, in the case of consolidation or merger (whether or not
we are the surviving company) or transfer of the Mortgaged
Property as or substantially as an entirety, the Indenture will
not be required to be a lien upon any of the properties either
owned or subsequently acquired by the successor company except
properties acquired from us in or as a result of such transfer,
as well as improvements, extensions and additions (as defined in
the Indenture) to such properties and renewals, replacements and
substitutions of or for any part or parts thereof. See
Section 1203 and Certain Additional
Agreements of PPL Electric; Ratings Consolidation,
Merger and Conveyance of Assets as an Entirety.
Issuance
of Additional Indenture Securities
Subject to the issuance restrictions described below, the
maximum principal amount of Indenture Securities that may be
authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited.
(See Section 301.) Indenture Securities of any series may
be issued from time to time on the basis of, and in an aggregate
principal amount not exceeding:
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the aggregate principal amount of Class A Bonds delivered
to the Trustee;
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the Cost or Fair Value to PPL Electric (whichever is less) of
Property Additions (as described below) which do not constitute
Funded Property (generally, Property Additions which have been
made the basis of the authentication and delivery of Indenture
Securities, the release of Mortgaged Property or the withdrawal
of cash, which have been substituted for retired Funded Property
or which have been used for other specified purposes) after
certain deductions and additions, primarily including
adjustments to offset property retirements;
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the aggregate principal amount of Retired Securities, but if
Class A Bonds had been made the basis for the
authentication and delivery of such Retired Securities, only
after the discharge of the related Class A Mortgage; or
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an amount of cash deposited with the Trustee. (See
Article Sixteen.)
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Property Additions generally include any property which is owned
by PPL Electric and is subject to the lien of the Indenture.
(See Section 104.)
To date, we have only issued Indenture Securities on the basis
of Class A Bonds issued under our 1945 Mortgage. At
September 30, 2008, we could have issued approximately
$692 million of first mortgage bonds against the retirement
or cancellation of previously outstanding first mortgage bonds
under our 1945 Mortgage. As discussed above, we intend to
discharge the lien of our 1945 Mortgage later in 2008. (See
Security Class A Bonds
above.) At the time of the discharge, we will be required to
designate as Funded Property, Property Additions under the
Indenture having a Cost (or, if lower, Fair Value) of
ten-sevenths of the aggregate principal amount of Indenture
Securities outstanding. Therefore, our issuances will be based
on the issuance tests describe above.
Release
of Property
Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, we
may obtain the release from the lien of the Indenture of any
Mortgaged Property, except for cash held by the Trustee, upon
delivery to the Trustee of an amount
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in cash equal to the amount, if any, by which the Cost of the
property to be released (or, if less, the Fair Value to us of
such property at the time it became Funded Property) exceeds the
aggregate of:
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an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of obligations
secured by Purchase Money Liens upon the property to be released
and delivered to the Trustee;
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an amount equal to the Cost or Fair Value to us (whichever is
less) of certified Property Additions not constituting Funded
Property after certain deductions and additions, primarily
including adjustments to offset property retirements (except
that such adjustments need not be made if such Property
Additions were acquired or made within the
90-day
period preceding the release);
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the aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities we would
be entitled to issue on the basis of Retired Securities (with
such entitlement being waived by operation of such release);
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the aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities delivered
to the Trustee (with such Indenture Securities to be canceled by
the Trustee);
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any amount of cash
and/or an
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of obligations
secured by Purchase Money Liens upon the property released
delivered to the trustee or other Holder of a lien prior to the
lien of the Indenture, subject to certain limitations described
in the Indenture; and
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any taxes and expenses incidental to any sale, exchange,
dedication or other disposition of the property to be released.
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(See Section 1803.)
Property which is not Funded Property may generally be released
from the lien of the Indenture without depositing any cash or
property with the Trustee as long as (a) the aggregate
amount of Cost or Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of all
Property Additions which do not constitute Funded Property
(excluding the property to be released) after certain deductions
and additions, primarily including adjustments to offset
property retirements, is not less than zero or (b) the Cost
or Fair Value (whichever is less) of property to be released
does not exceed the aggregate amount of the Cost or Fair Value
to us (whichever is less) of Property Additions acquired or made
within the
90-day
period preceding the release. (See Section 1804.)
The Indenture provides simplified procedures for the release of
property which has been released from the lien of a Class A
Mortgage, minor properties and property taken by eminent domain,
and provides for dispositions of certain obsolete property and
grants or surrender of certain rights without any release or
consent by the Trustee. (See Sections 1802, 1805 and 1807.)
If we retain any interest in any property released from the lien
of the Indenture, the Indenture will not become a lien on such
property or such interest therein or any improvements,
extensions or additions to such property or renewals,
replacements or substitutions of or for such property or any
part or parts thereof. (See Section 1810.)
Withdrawal
of Cash
Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and
subject to certain limitations, cash held by the Trustee may,
generally, (1) be withdrawn by us (a) to the extent of
the Cost or Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of Property
Additions not constituting Funded Property, after certain
deductions and additions, primarily including adjustments to
offset retirements (except that such adjustments need not be
made if such Property Additions were acquired or made within the
90-day
period preceding the withdrawal) or (b) in an amount equal
to the aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities that
we would be entitled to issue on the basis of Retired Securities
(with the entitlement to such issuance being waived by operation
of such withdrawal) or (c) in an amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of any outstanding Indenture
Securities delivered to the Trustee; or (2) upon our
request, be applied to (a) the purchase of Indenture
Securities in a manner and at a price approved by us or
(b) the payment (or provision for payment) at stated
maturity of any Indenture Securities or the redemption (or
provision for payment) of any Indenture Securities which are
redeemable (see Section 1806); provided, however, that cash
deposited with the Trustee as the basis for the authentication
and delivery of Indenture Securities, as well as cash
representing a payment of principal of Class A Bonds, may,
in addition, be withdrawn in an amount not exceeding
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the aggregate principal amount of cash or Class A Bonds
delivered to the Trustee, as the case may be, for such purpose.
(See Sections 1605 and 1702.)
Events of
Default
An Event of Default occurs under the Indenture if
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we do not pay any interest on any Indenture Securities within
30 days of the due date;
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we do not pay principal or premium, if any, on any Indenture
Securities on its due date;
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we remain in breach of any other covenant (excluding covenants
specifically dealt with elsewhere in this section) in respect of
any Indenture Securities for 90 days after we receive a
written notice of default stating we are in breach and requiring
remedy of the breach; the notice must be sent by either the
Trustee or Holders of 25% of the principal amount of outstanding
Indenture Securities; the Trustee or such Holders can agree to
extend the
90-day
period and such an agreement to extend will be automatically
deemed to occur if we are diligently pursuing action to correct
the default;
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we file for bankruptcy or certain other events in bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or reorganization occur; or
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for so long as the Trustee holds any outstanding Class A
Bonds which were delivered as the basis for the authentication
and delivery of outstanding Indenture Securities, the occurrence
of a matured event of default under the related Class A
Mortgage (other than any such matured event of default which
(i) is not a failure to make payments on Class A Bonds
and is not of similar kind or character to the Event of Default
described in the immediately preceding bullet point above and
(ii) has not resulted in the acceleration of the
outstanding Class A Bonds under such Class A Mortgage);
provided, however, that the waiver or cure of such event of
default under the Class A Mortgage will constitute a waiver
and cure of the corresponding Event of Default under the
Indenture, and the rescission and annulment of the consequences
thereof will constitute a rescission and annulment of the
corresponding consequences under the Indenture.
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(See Section 901.)
In addition, so long as our Senior Secured Bonds of the Earliest
Series (as hereinafter defined) remain outstanding, there will
be an additional Event of Default under the
Indenture if the Independent Administrator (as hereinafter
defined) delivers a notice to the Trustee of our material,
continuing noncompliance under the Compliance Administration
Agreement (as hereinafter defined), which noncompliance has
continued for a period of 90 business days without correction as
provided in such agreement. When our Senior Secured Bonds of the
Earliest Series are no longer outstanding, this additional Event
of Default provision will no longer be effective.
Remedies
Acceleration
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then either the
Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the outstanding Indenture Securities may declare the
principal amount of all of the Indenture Securities to be due
and payable immediately. (See Section 902.)
Rescission
of Acceleration
After the declaration of acceleration has been made and before
the Trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for payment of the
money due, such declaration and its consequences will be
rescinded and annulled, if
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we pay or deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
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all overdue interest;
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the principal of and premium, if any, which have become due
otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest
thereon;
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interest on overdue interest to the extent lawful; and
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all amounts due to the Trustee under the Indenture; and
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all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the
principal which has become due solely by such declaration of
acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in the
Indenture.
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(See Section 902.)
For more information as to waiver of defaults, see
Waiver of Default and of Compliance
below.
Appointment
of Receiver and Other Remedies
Subject to the Indenture, under certain circumstances and to the
extent permitted by law, if an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee has the power, prior to the Release
Date, to appoint a receiver of the Mortgaged Property, and is
entitled to all other remedies available to mortgagees and
secured parties under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other
applicable law. (See Section 917.)
Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default after
the Release Date, the remedies of the Trustee and the Holders
under the Indenture would be limited to the rights of unsecured
creditors.
In addition to every other right and remedy provided in the
Indenture, the Trustee may exercise any right or remedy
available to the Trustee in its capacity as owner and Holder of
Class A Bonds which arises as a result of a default or
matured event of default under any Class A Mortgage,
whether or not an Event of Default under the Indenture has
occurred and is continuing. (See Section 916.)
Control
by Holders; Limitations
Subject to the Indenture, if an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Indenture Securities will have the right to
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direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
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exercise any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with
respect to the Indenture Securities.
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The rights of Holders to make direction are subject to the
following limitations:
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the Holders directions may not conflict with any law or
the Indenture; and
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the Holders directions may not involve the Trustee in
personal liability where the Trustee believes indemnity is not
adequate.
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The Trustee may also take any other action it deems proper which
is not inconsistent with the Holders direction. (See
Sections 912 and 1003.)
In addition, the Indenture provides that no Holder of any
Indenture Security will have any right to institute any
proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture
for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy
thereunder unless
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that Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
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the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Indenture Securities have made written request to
the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of that Event of
Default and have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity
against costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in complying
with such request; and
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for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer
of indemnity, the Trustee has failed to institute any such
proceeding and no direction inconsistent with such request has
been given to the Trustee during such
60-day
period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of outstanding Indenture Securities.
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Furthermore, no Holder will be entitled to institute any such
action if and to the extent that such action would disturb or
prejudice the rights of other Holders. (See Sections 907
and 1003.)
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However, each Holder has an absolute and unconditional right to
receive payment when due and to bring a suit to enforce that
right. (See Section 908.)
Notice of
Default
The Trustee is required to give the Holders of the Indenture
Securities notice of any default under the Indenture to the
extent required by the Trust Indenture Act, unless such
default has been cured or waived; except that in the case of an
Event of Default of the character specified in the third bullet
point under Events of Default (regarding
a breach of certain covenants continuing for 90 days after
the receipt of a written notice of default), no such notice
shall be given to such Holders until at least 60 days after
the occurrence thereof. (See Section 1002.) The
Trust Indenture Act currently permits the Trustee to
withhold notices of default (except for certain payment
defaults) if the Trustee in good faith determines the
withholding of such notice to be in the interests of the Holders.
We will furnish the Trustee with an annual statement as to our
compliance with the conditions and covenants in the Indenture.
(See Section 705.)
Waiver of
Default and of Compliance
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Indenture Securities may waive, on behalf of the
Holders of all outstanding Indenture Securities, any past
default under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of
principal, premium or interest, or with respect to compliance
with certain provisions of the Indenture that cannot be amended
without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Indenture
Security affected. (See Section 913.)
Compliance with certain covenants in the Indenture or otherwise
provided with respect to Indenture Securities may be waived by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
affected Indenture Securities, considered as one class. (See
Section 706.)
Certain
Additional Agreements of PPL Electric; Ratings
In addition, so long as our Senior Secured Bonds of the Earliest
Series remain outstanding, we have agreed to certain other
covenants in the Indenture, including covenants limiting our
ability to pay dividends if we fail to meet certain interest
coverage ratios, or if we fail to comply with certain
separateness formalities and receive a notice from the
Independent Administrator of continuing non-compliance under the
Compliance Administration Agreement, a covenant limiting our
ability to issue additional Indenture securities (except for
refinancing purposes and subject to certain other exceptions)
unless we have received specified ratings confirmations from
certain rating agencies; covenants limiting our business
activities and our ability to make certain acquisitions; and a
covenant requiring that we seek rate relief if our interest
coverage ratios fall below certain levels during specified
measurement periods. At such time as our Senior Secured Bonds of
the Earliest Series are no longer outstanding, these covenants
will no longer be effective.
As used herein, Senior Secured Bonds of the Earliest
Series means our Senior Secured Bonds 3.125% Pollution
Control Series due November 1, 2008; Senior Secured Bonds,
61/4%
Series due 2009; and Senior Secured Bonds, 4.30% Series due
2013. Our Senior Secured Bonds,
61/4%
Series due 2009, and Senior Secured Bonds, 4.30% Series due
2013, are redeemable at any time at make-whole redemption prices.
Ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the Bonds,
and any rating agency may revise or withdraw its rating on the
Bonds at any time. Any downward revision or withdrawal of a
rating by any rating agency would probably have an adverse
effect on the market price of the Bonds. Each rating
agencys ratings should be evaluated independently of each
other rating agencys ratings of the Bonds. The ratings
reflect the respective rating agencys current assessment
of our creditworthiness and our ability to make payments on the
Bonds. Any further explanation as to the significance of any
rating agencys rating may be obtained only from the
applicable rating agency.
Independent
Administrator
As described in PPL Electric Utilities
Strategic Initiative in the accompanying prospectus, PPL
Electric has taken certain actions to confirm its legal
separation from PPL Corporation and PPL Corporations other
subsidiaries. In connection with such actions and in connection
with the issuance of our Senior Secured Bonds of the Earliest
Series, our board of directors has appointed an independent
administrator (the Independent Administrator) to
monitor specified formalities and activities that support our
legal separateness from PPL Corporation and the other affiliates
of
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PPL Corporation, and we have entered into a compliance
administration agreement with the Independent Administrator that
requires the Independent Administrator to review, on a
semi-annual basis, certain information relating to our
activities (the Compliance Administration
Agreement). In addition, the Compliance Administration
Agreement requires our officers to certify, semi-annually, our
compliance with particular formalities intended to reinforce
this legal separateness. The Independent Administrator also
makes semi-annual compliance reports to us, and in the event of
continuation of noncompliance beyond specific grace periods,
will send a notice directing us to cease payment of dividends on
our common stock. Further, continuance of such noncompliance
could give rise to an event of default with respect to the
Bonds. See Description of the Bonds Events of
Default and Certain Additional
Agreements of PPL Electric; Ratings above. When our Senior
Secured Bonds of the Earliest Series are no longer outstanding,
and in certain other circumstances, the Compliance
Administration Agreement can be terminated by the Company
without the consent of Holders of Indenture Securities.
Consolidation,
Merger and Conveyance of Assets as an Entirety
Subject to the provisions described below, we have agreed to
preserve our corporate existence. (See Section 704.)
We have agreed not to consolidate with or merge with or into any
other entity or convey, transfer or lease our Electric Utility
Property as or substantially as an entirety to any entity unless
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the entity formed by such consolidation or into which we merge,
or the entity which acquires or which leases our Electric
Utility Property substantially as an entirety, is an entity
organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America or any State thereof or the District of
Columbia, and
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expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture, the due and
punctual payment of the principal of, and premium and interest
on, all the outstanding Indenture Securities and the performance
of all of our covenants under the Indenture, and
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such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, disposition or
other transfer occurs prior to the Release Date, and such
entity confirms the lien of the Indenture on the Mortgaged
Property;
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in the case of a lease, such lease is made expressly subject to
termination by (i) us or by the Trustee and (ii) the
purchaser of the property so leased at any sale thereof, at any
time during the continuance of an Event of Default;
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immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of
Default, and no event which after notice or lapse of time or
both would become an Event of Default, will have occurred and be
continuing; and
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only if any of our Senior Secured Bonds of the Earliest Series
remain outstanding, we have received specified rating agency
confirmations and meet certain net worth tests.
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(See Section 1201.)
In the case of the conveyance or other transfer of the Electric
Utility Property as or substantially as an entirety to any other
person, upon the satisfaction of all the conditions described
above we would be released and discharged from all obligations
under the Indenture and on the Indenture Securities then
outstanding unless we elect to waive such release and discharge.
(See Section 1204.)
The Indenture does not prevent or restrict:
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any consolidation or merger after the consummation of which we
would be the surviving or resulting entity;
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any conveyance or other transfer, or lease, of any part of our
Electric Utility Property which does not constitute the entirety
or substantially the entirety thereof; or
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any conveyance or transfer where we retain Electric Utility
Property with a fair value in excess of the aggregate principal
amount of all outstanding Indenture Securities. This fair value
will be determined within 90 days of the conveyance or
transfer by an independent expert that we select and that is
approved by the Trustee.
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(See Sections 1205 and 1206.)
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Modification
of Indenture
Without Holder Consent. Without the
consent of any Holders of Indenture Securities, we and the
Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures for
any of the following purposes:
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to evidence the succession of another entity to us;
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to add one or more covenants or other provisions for the benefit
of the Holders of all or any series or tranche of Indenture
Securities, or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us;
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to add any additional Events of Default for all or any series of
Indenture Securities;
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to change or eliminate any provision of the Indenture or to add
any new provision to the Indenture that does not adversely
affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect;
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to provide additional security for any Indenture Securities;
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to establish the form or terms of any series or tranche of
Indenture Securities;
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to provide for the issuance of bearer securities;
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a
separate or successor Trustee;
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to provide for the procedures required to permit the utilization
of a noncertificated system of registration for any series or
tranche of Indenture Securities;
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to change any place or places where
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we may pay principal, premium and interest,
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Indenture Securities may be surrendered for transfer or
exchange, and
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notices and demands to or upon us may be served;
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after the Release Date, to amend the Indenture to eliminate any
provisions related to the lien of the Indenture, the
Class A Bonds and Mortgaged Property which are no longer
applicable;
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to amend and restate the Indenture as originally executed, and
as amended from time to time, with such additions, deletions and
other changes that do not adversely affect the interest of the
Holders in any material respect; or
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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to make any
other changes that do not materially adversely affect the
interests of the Holders in any material respect.
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In addition, if the Trust Indenture Act is amended after
the date of the Indenture so as to require changes to the
Indenture or so as to permit changes to, or the elimination of,
provisions which, at the date of the Indenture or at any time
thereafter, were required by the Trust Indenture Act to be
contained in the Indenture, the Indenture will be deemed to have
been amended so as to conform to such amendment or to effect
such changes or elimination, and we and the Trustee may, without
the consent of any Holders, enter into one or more supplemental
indentures to effect or evidence such amendment.
(See Section 1301.)
With Holder Consent. Except as provided
above, the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Indenture Securities of all
outstanding series, considered as one class, is generally
required for the purpose of adding to, or changing or
eliminating any of the provisions of, the Indenture pursuant to
a supplemental indenture. However, if less than all of the
series of outstanding Indenture Securities are directly affected
by a proposed supplemental indenture, then such proposal only
requires the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Indenture Securities of all
directly affected series, considered as one class. Moreover, if
the Indenture Securities of any series have been issued in more
than one tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture
directly affects the rights of the Holders of Indenture
Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such tranches,
then such proposal only requires the consent of the Holders of a
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majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Indenture Securities of all directly affected tranches,
considered as one class.
However, no amendment or modification may, without the consent
of the Holder of each outstanding Indenture Security directly
affected thereby,
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change the stated maturity of the principal or interest on any
Indenture Security (other than pursuant to the terms thereof),
or reduce the principal amount, interest or premium payable or
change the currency in which any Indenture Security is payable,
or impair the right to bring suit to enforce any payment;
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create any lien ranking prior to the lien of the Indenture with
respect to all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property,
or unless in connection with the Release Date, terminate the
lien of the Indenture on all or substantially all of the
Mortgaged Property, or deprive any Holder of the benefits of the
security of the lien of the Indenture; or
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reduce the percentages of Holders whose consent is required for
any supplemental indenture or waiver of compliance with any
provision of the Indenture or of any default thereunder and its
consequences, or reduce the requirements for quorum and voting
under the Indenture.
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A supplemental indenture which changes, modifies or eliminates
any provision of the Indenture expressly included solely for the
benefit of Holders of Indenture Securities of one or more
particular series or tranches will be deemed not to affect the
rights under the Indenture of the Holders of Indenture
Securities of any other series or tranche.
(See Section 1302.)
Miscellaneous
Provisions
The Indenture provides that certain Indenture Securities,
including those for which payment or redemption money has been
deposited or set aside in trust as described under
Satisfaction and Discharge below, will
not be deemed to be outstanding in determining
whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the
outstanding Indenture Securities have given or taken any demand,
direction, consent or other action under the Indenture as of any
date, or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum
purposes. (See Section 101.)
We will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the
purpose of determining the Holders of outstanding Indenture
Securities of any series entitled to give or take any demand,
direction, consent or other action under the Indenture, in the
manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture.
In certain circumstances, the Trustee also will be entitled to
set a record date for action by Holders. If such a record date
is set for any action to be taken by Holders of particular
Indenture Securities, such action may be taken only by persons
who are Holders of such Indenture Securities on the record date.
(See Section 107.)
Satisfaction
and Discharge
Any Indenture Securities or any portion thereof will be deemed
to have been paid and no longer outstanding for purposes of the
Indenture, and at our election, our entire indebtedness with
respect to those securities will be satisfied and discharged, if
there shall have been irrevocably deposited with the Trustee or
any Paying Agent (other than PPL Electric), in trust:
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money sufficient, or
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in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of such
Indenture Securities, non-redeemable Eligible Obligations (as
defined in the Indenture) sufficient, or
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a combination of the items listed in the preceding two bullet
points, which in total are sufficient,
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to pay when due the principal of, and any premium, and interest
due and to become due on such Indenture Securities or portions
of such Indenture Securities on and prior to their maturity.
(See Section 801.)
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The Indenture will be deemed satisfied and discharged when no
Indenture Securities remain outstanding and when we have paid
all other sums payable by us under the Indenture. (See
Section 802.)
All moneys we pay to the Trustee or any Paying Agent on Bonds
that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after payments
have become due may be paid to or upon our order. Thereafter,
the Holder of such Bond may look only to us for payment. (See
Section 703.)
Voting of
Class A Bonds
The Indenture provides that the Trustee will, as holder of
Class A Bonds delivered as the basis for the issuance of
Indenture Securities, attend such meetings of bondholders under
the related Class A Mortgages, or deliver its proxy in
connection therewith, as related to matters with respect to
which it, as such holder, is entitled to vote or consent. The
Indenture provides that, so long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing at the time of such meeting or
required consent, the Trustee will, as holder of such
Class A Bonds, vote or consent (without any consent or
other action by the holders of the Indenture Securities, except
as described in the proviso of the last bullet below) in favor
of amendments or modifications to the Class A Mortgage of
substantially the same tenor and effect as follows:
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to delete any provisions in any Class A Mortgage limiting
the payment of dividends or distributions on our common stock or
purchases of common stock;
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to delete any provisions in any Class A Mortgage that
require a sale, exchange or other disposition, or an agreement
to sell, exchange or dispose of property to be released from the
lien of a Class A Mortgage;
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to modify any provisions in any Class A Mortgage that
require insurance proceeds or other payments to be paid to the
trustee under such Class A Mortgage in case of any loss so
that such proceeds or payments need not be paid to such trustee
with respect to any loss less than the greater of
(A) $10,000,000 and (B) 3% of the sum of (1) the
principal amount of Indenture Securities outstanding on the date
of such particular loss and (2) the principal amount of the
Class A Bonds outstanding on the date of such particular
loss, other than Class A Bonds delivered to and held by the
Trustee under the Indenture;
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to modify certain net earnings test requirements of any
Class A Mortgage to facilitate issuances of variable rate
debt by providing for calculations of annual interest
requirements to be based on average annual rates or the initial
interest rate;
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to delete any requirement in any Class A Mortgage of a net
earnings test or net earnings certificate as a condition
precedent to the issuance or authentication of Class A
Bonds under such Class A Mortgage;
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to modify any Class A Mortgage to provide that the term
corporation as used in such Class A Mortgage
shall mean corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, or trust or other legal entity and to provide
that any provision requiring us to maintain our corporate
existence shall not be interpreted to prevent us from
changing from a corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, trust or other legal entity to a corporation,
limited liability company, a partnership, a trust or any other
legal entity;
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to conform any provision of a Class A Mortgage to the
correlative provision of the Indenture, to add to a Class A
Mortgage any provision not otherwise contained therein which
conforms in all material respects to a provision contained in
the Indenture, to delete from a Class A Mortgage any
provision to which the Indenture contains no correlative
provision, and any combination of the foregoing; and
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with respect to any amendments or modifications to any
Class A Mortgage other than those amendments or
modifications referred to in each of the bullet points above,
vote all such Class A Bonds delivered under such
Class A Mortgage, or consent with respect thereto,
proportionately with the vote or consent of the holders of all
other Class A Bonds outstanding under such Class A
Mortgage the holders of which are eligible to vote or consent,
as evidenced by a certificate delivered by the trustee under
such Class A Mortgage; provided, however, that the Trustee
will not vote in favor of, or consent to, any amendment or
modification of a Class A Mortgage which, if it were an
amendment or modification of the Indenture, would require the
consent of Holders of Indenture Securities as described under
Modification of the Indenture With Holder
Consent
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above, without the prior consent of Holders of Indenture
Securities which would be required for such an amendment or
modification of the Indenture. (See Section 1705.)
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As of the date of this prospectus supplement, approximately
$1.36 billion of first mortgage bonds are issued and
outstanding under the 1945 Mortgage. Except for $10,615,000
principal amount of bonds outstanding under the 1945 Mortgage,
the Trustee holds all of the outstanding bonds issued under the
1945 Mortgage. As described more fully in Description of
the 1945 Mortgage Bonds Modification of
Mortgage below, we may make amendments to, or eliminate
certain covenants in, the 1945 Mortgage with the consent of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding bonds issued under the
1945 Mortgage. A Holder of Bonds would no longer benefit from
such covenants contained in the 1945 Mortgage should the Trustee
vote these 1945 Mortgage Bonds to amend or eliminate the
covenants as described above.
Resignation
and Removal of the Trustee; Deemed Resignation
The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to
us.
The Trustee may also be removed by act of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Indenture
Securities of any series.
No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor trustee will become effective until the acceptance of
appointment by a successor trustee in accordance with the
requirements of the Indenture.
Under certain circumstances, we may appoint a successor trustee
and if the successor accepts, the Trustee will be deemed to have
resigned.
(See Section 1010.)
Governing
Law
The Indenture and the Indenture Securities provide that they are
to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York except where the Trust Indenture Act
is applicable or where otherwise required by law. (See
Section 115.) The effectiveness of the lien of the
Indenture, and the perfection and priority thereof, will be
governed by Pennsylvania law.
Book-Entry
Only Issuance The Depository
Trust Company
DTC will act as the initial securities depository for the Bonds.
The Bonds will be issued in fully registered form and will be
evidenced by one or more global bonds registered in the name of
DTCs nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as
may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The
global bonds will be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for
DTC.
DTC is a New York limited-purpose trust company organized under
the New York Banking Law, a banking organization
within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation
within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and
a clearing agency registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. DTC holds securities for its participants
(Direct Participants) and also facilitates the
post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and
other securities transactions in deposited securities, through
electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between
Direct Participants accounts, thereby eliminating the need
for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct
Participants include both U.S. and
non-U.S. securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust &
Clearing Corporation (DTCC). DTCC, in turn, is owned
by a number of Direct Participants of DTC and Members of the
National Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing
Corporation and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation (NSCC,
FICC, and EMCC, also subsidiaries of DTCC), as well as by the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC,
and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access
to the DTC system is also available to others such as both
U.S. and
non-U.S. securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing
corporations that clear through or
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maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant,
either directly or indirectly (Indirect
Participants). The rules that apply to DTC and those using
its system are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of the Bonds under the DTC system must be made by or
through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the
Bonds on DTCs records. The ownership interest of each
actual purchaser (Beneficial Owner) is in turn to be
recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants records.
Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC
of their purchases, but Beneficial Owners should receive written
confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as
periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or
Indirect Participant through which they purchased Bonds.
Transfers of ownership interests on the Bonds are to be
accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect
Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial
Owners will not receive certificates representing their
ownership interests in Bonds, except in the event that use of
the book-entry system for the Bonds is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Bonds deposited by
Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of
DTCs nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as
may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The
deposit of the Bonds with DTC and their registration in the name
of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not effect any
change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the
actual Beneficial Owners of the Bonds; DTCs records
reflect only the identity of the participants to whose accounts
the Bonds are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial
Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain
responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of
their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants,
and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to
Beneficial Owners, will be governed by arrangements among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Notices will be sent to DTC.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor such other DTC
nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the Bonds unless
authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTCs
procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus
proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The
omnibus proxy assigns the voting or consenting rights of
Cede & Co. to those Direct Participants to whose
accounts the Bonds are credited on the record date. We believe
that these arrangements will enable the beneficial owners to
exercise rights equivalent in substance to the rights that can
be directly exercised by a registered Holder of the Bonds.
Payments of principal and interest on the Bonds will be made to
Cede & Co. (or such other nominee of DTC). DTCs
practice is to credit Direct Participants accounts upon
DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding detail information
from us or the Trustee, on payable date in accordance with their
respective holdings shown on DTCs records. Payments by
participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices and will be the
responsibility of each participant and not of DTC, the Trustee
or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as
may be in effect from time to time. Payment of the Purchase
Price, principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or other
such nominee of DTC) is our responsibility. Disbursement of such
payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of
DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners
is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
A beneficial owner will not be entitled to receive physical
delivery of the Bonds. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must
rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the
Bonds.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depository with respect to the Bonds at any time by giving us or
the Trustee reasonable notice. In the event no successor
securities depository is obtained, certificates for the Bonds
will be printed and delivered.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTCs
book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe
to be reliable, but neither we nor the underwriters take any
responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
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DESCRIPTION
OF THE 1945 MORTGAGE BONDS
General
We will issue the 1945 Mortgage Bonds in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds, in
one or more series, under the 1945 Mortgage, in fully registered
form. The 1945 Mortgage Bonds will rank on a parity with our
other first mortgage bonds issued under the 1945 Mortgage.
The 1945 Mortgage is filed as an exhibit to the registration
statement. The 1945 Mortgage and its associated documents
contain the full legal text of the matters described in this
section. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe
every aspect of the 1945 Mortgage Bonds or the 1945 Mortgage.
This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by
reference to all the provisions of the 1945 Mortgage, including
definitions of certain terms used in the 1945 Mortgage. We also
include references in parentheses to certain sections of the
1945 Mortgage. Whenever we refer to particular sections or
defined terms of the 1945 Mortgage in this prospectus
supplement, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by
reference herein. This summary also is subject to and qualified
by reference to the description of the particular terms of the
1945 Mortgage Bonds described herein. The 1945 Mortgage has been
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and you should
refer to the Trust Indenture Act for provisions that apply
to the 1945 Mortgage Bonds.
Security
The 1945 Mortgage Bonds now or hereafter issued will be secured
by the 1945 Mortgage, which, in the opinion of our counsel,
constitutes a first mortgage lien on substantially all of our
electric distribution properties (except those referred to
below) and certain of our electric transmission properties,
subject, in each case, to:
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minor defects, irregularities and deficiencies in titles of
properties and rights-of-way, which do not materially impair the
use of such property and rights-of-way for PPL Electrics
purposes; and
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other excepted encumbrances.
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In general, there are excepted from the lien of the 1945
Mortgage:
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all cash and securities;
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equipment, apparatus, materials or supplies held for sale or
other disposition;
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aircraft, automobiles and other vehicles;
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timber, minerals, mineral rights and royalties;
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receivables, contracts, leases and operating agreements; and
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property released from the lien pursuant to the provisions of
the 1945 Mortgage.
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The 1945 Mortgage will generally also create a lien on electric
distribution and transmission property that we acquire after the
date of this prospectus supplement, subject to any pre-existing
liens and to certain limitations in the case of consolidation,
merger or sale of substantially all of our assets. As described
under Description of the Bonds Security,
the Company has released approximately $482 million of its
transmission properties from the liens of the Indenture and the
1945 Mortgage from 2003 through September 30, 2008.
As of September 30, 2008, there were outstanding
$10,615,000 aggregate principal amount of 1945 Mortgage Bonds,
other than 1945 Mortgage Bonds securing Indenture Securities,
and, as described above, we intend to discharge these 1945
Mortgage Bonds and the lien of the 1945 Mortgage later in 2008,
in accordance with the 1945 Mortgage and the Indenture.
S-25
Issuance
of Additional Bonds Under the 1945 Mortgage
We may issue 1945 Mortgage Bonds, from time to time, on the
basis of:
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60% of property additions to electric, gas, steam or hot water
property, acquired after June 30, 1945, but not including
natural gas production property, and after adjustments for
retirements of funded property other than property for supplying
water;
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retirement or cancellation of 1945 Mortgage Bonds or prior lien
indebtedness; or
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deposit of cash.
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It is expected that the 1945 Mortgage Bonds issued to the
Trustee as the basis for the issuance of Bonds will be issued
against the retirement or cancellation of 1945 Mortgage Bonds,
which were approximately $692 million at September 30,
2008. (See Articles V, VI and VII.)
The amount of any obligations secured by a prior lien on
mortgaged property may be increased, provided that, if any
property subject to such prior lien shall have been made the
basis of a credit under the 1945 Mortgage, all the additional
obligations are deposited with the 1945 Mortgage Trustee or the
trustee or other holder of the prior lien. (See Section 46.)
Release
Provisions
We may release property from the lien of the 1945 Mortgage upon
the bases of
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the deposit of cash, or, to a limited extent, purchase money
mortgages;
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property additions, after adjustments in certain cases to offset
retirements and after making adjustments for any prior lien
indebtedness on mortgaged property; and
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waiver of our right to issue a principal amount of 1945 Mortgage
Bonds.
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We may withdraw cash upon the bases stated in the second and
third bullets above. We have reserved the right (without any
consent or other action by holders of any series of 1945
Mortgage Bonds created after September 30, 1989, including
the 1945 Mortgage Bonds delivered to the Trustee as the basis
for the issuance of Bonds) to amend the release provisions of
the 1945 Mortgage to permit releases of funded property at the
lower of cost or fair value at the time of funding and to permit
release of unfunded property on the basis of an engineers
certificate stating that we have at least $1.00 of unfunded
property after deducting the cost of the property then being
released. (See Article XI.)
Modification
of Mortgage; Voting of 1945 Mortgage Bonds Held by the
Trustee
We have the right to modify the 1945 Mortgage generally with the
consent of the holders of a majority of the 1945 Mortgage Bonds
affected by the modification. In general, no modification of the
terms of payment of principal of and any interest and premium,
if any, and no modification affecting the lien or reducing the
percentage required for modification is effective against any
bondholder without its consent. (See Article XIX.)
The Trustee holds all outstanding bonds issued under the 1945
Mortgage except for $10,615,000 principal amount. The Trustee
will, as holder of the 1945 Mortgage Bonds, attend such meetings
of bondholders under the 1945 Mortgage, or deliver its proxy in
connection therewith, as to matters with respect to which it is
entitled to vote or consent.
Events of
Default; Notice of Default; Remedies
The following are defaults under the 1945 Mortgage:
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default in payment of principal;
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default for 60 days in payment of interest or of
installments of funds for retirement of 1945 Mortgage Bonds;
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certain defaults with respect to qualified lien bonds;
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization; and
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default for 90 days after notice by the 1945 Mortgage
Trustee in other covenants.
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S-26
The 1945 Mortgage Trustee may withhold notice of default (except
for defaults in payment of principal, interest or any
installments of funds for retirement of 1945 Mortgage Bonds), if
it thinks it is in the interests of the holders of the 1945
Mortgage Bonds.
Holders of 25% of the 1945 Mortgage Bonds may declare the
principal and interest due on default, but a majority may annul
such declaration if such default has been cured. No holder of
1945 Mortgage Bonds may enforce the lien of the 1945 Mortgage
unless:
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such holder has given the 1945 Mortgage Trustee written notice
of a default;
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holders of 25% of the 1945 Mortgage Bonds have requested the
1945 Mortgage Trustee to act and offered it reasonable
opportunity to act and indemnity satisfactory to the 1945
Mortgage Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to
be incurred thereby; and
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the 1945 Mortgage Trustee has failed to act within 60 days
of such request.
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The 1945 Mortgage Trustee is not required to risk its funds or
incur personal liability if there is reasonable ground for
believing that the repayment is not reasonably assured. The
holders of a majority of the 1945 Mortgage Bonds may direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any
remedy available to the 1945 Mortgage Trustee, or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the 1945 Mortgage Trustee. (See
Article XIII.)
Evidence
to be Furnished to the 1945 Mortgage Trustee
We will furnish the 1945 Mortgage Trustee with an annual
statement as to our compliance with the 1945 Mortgage.
Certain
Pennsylvania Tax Matters
Bonds owned by individuals residing in Pennsylvania are subject
to the 4 mills ($4.00 on each $1,000 of principal amount)
Pennsylvania corporate loans tax.
S-27
UNDERWRITING
The Company and the underwriters for the offering named below
have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the
Bonds. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has
severally, but not jointly, agreed to purchase the principal
amount of Bonds indicated in the following table:
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Principal
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Amount of
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Underwriters
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Bonds
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Barclays Capital Inc.
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$
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85,312,500
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BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
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85,312,500
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Lazard Capital Markets LLC
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85,312,500
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Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
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85,312,500
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BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC
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11,250,000
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PNC Capital Markets LLC
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11,250,000
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U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
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11,250,000
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Total
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$
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375,000,000
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The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the
Bonds being offered, if any are taken.
Bonds sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be
offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the
cover of this prospectus supplement. Any Bonds sold by the
underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount
from the initial public offering price of up to .350% of the
principal amount of Bonds. Any such securities dealers may
resell any Bonds purchased from the underwriters to certain
other brokers or dealers at a discount from the initial public
offering price of up to .250% of the principal amount of Bonds.
If all the Bonds are not sold at the initial offering price, the
underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling
terms.
The Bonds are a new issue of securities with no established
trading market. The Company has been advised by the underwriters
that the underwriters intend to make a market in the Bonds as
permitted by applicable laws and regulations. The underwriters
are not obligated, however, to do so and any such market making
may be discontinued at any time without notice at the sole
discretion of the underwriters. Accordingly, no assurance can be
given as to the liquidity of, or trading markets for, the Bonds.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase
and sell Bonds in the open market. These transactions may
include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to
cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the
sale by the underwriters of a greater number of Bonds than they
are required to purchase in the offering. Stabilizing
transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the
purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price
of the Bonds while the offering is in progress.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when
a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of
the underwriting discount received by it because the
representatives have repurchased Bonds sold by or for the
account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering
transactions.
These activities by the underwriters, as well as other purchases
by the underwriters for their own accounts, may stabilize,
maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Bonds. As a
result, the price of the Bonds may be higher than the price that
otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities
are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at
any time. These transactions may be effected in the
over-the-counter market or otherwise.
The Company estimates that its share of the total expenses of
the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions,
will be approximately $375,000.
The Company has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In the ordinary course of their business, certain of the
underwriters and their affiliates have engaged and may in the
future engage in investment and commercial banking transactions
with PPL Electric and certain of our affiliates.
S-28
Lazard Capital Markets LLC (Lazard Capital Markets)
has entered into an agreement with Mitsubishi UFJ Securities
(USA), Inc. (MUS(USA)) pursuant to which MUS(USA)
provides certain advisory
and/or other
services to Lazard Capital Markets, including in respect of this
offering. In return for the provision of such services by
MUS(USA) to Lazard Capital Markets, Lazard Capital Markets will
pay to MUS(USA) a mutually agreed upon fee.
VALIDITY
OF THE BONDS AND THE 1945 MORTGAGE BONDS
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, New York, New York, and Michael
A. McGrail, Esq., Deputy General Counsel of
PPL Services Corporation, will pass upon the validity of
the Bonds and the 1945 Mortgage Bonds for PPL Electric.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York, will pass
upon the validity of the Bonds and the 1945 Mortgage Bonds for
the underwriters. However, all matters pertaining to the
organization of PPL Electric and PPL Electrics title to
its property and the liens of the Indenture and the 1945
Mortgage upon PPL Electrics properties will be passed upon
only by Mr. McGrail. As to matters involving the law of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP will rely on the opinion
of Mr. McGrail. As to matters involving the law of the
State of New York, Mr. McGrail will rely on the opinion of
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP.
S-29
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PROSPECTUS
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PPL Corporation
PPL Capital Funding, Inc.
PPL Energy Supply, LLC
PPL Electric Utilities Corporation
Two North Ninth Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101-1179
(610) 774-5151
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PPL
Corporation
Common Stock, Preferred
Stock,
Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units and Depositary
Shares
PPL
Capital Funding, Inc.
Debt Securities and
Subordinated Debt Securities
Guaranteed by PPL Corporation as described
in a supplement to this prospectus
PPL
Energy Supply, LLC
Debt Securities, Subordinated
Debt Securities and Preferred Securities
PPL
Electric Utilities Corporation
Preferred Stock, Preference
Stock, Depositary Shares and Debt Securities
We will provide the specific terms of these securities in
supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus
and the supplements carefully before you invest.
We may offer the securities directly or through underwriters or
agents. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the
terms of any particular plan of distribution.
Investing in the securities involves certain risks. See
Risk Factors on page 4.
PPL Corporations common stock is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and trades
under the symbol PPL.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities
commission, nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any state securities commission determined that this prospectus
is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is March 9, 2007.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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2
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RISK FACTORS
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4
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
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4
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PPL CORPORATION
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6
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PPL CAPITAL FUNDING, INC
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7
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PPL ENERGY SUPPLY, LLC
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7
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PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION
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9
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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11
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RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED
FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
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11
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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12
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EXPERTS
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14
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VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES AND THE PPL GUARANTEES
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14
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ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that PPL
Corporation, PPL Capital Funding, Inc. (PPL Capital
Funding), PPL Energy Supply, LLC (PPL Energy
Supply) and PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (PPL
Electric) have each filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or SEC, using the shelf registration
process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time,
sell combinations of the securities described in this prospectus
in one or more offerings. Each time we sell securities, we will
provide a prospectus supplement that will contain a description
of the securities we will offer and specific information about
the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also
add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement together with additional information described under
Where You Can Find More Information.
We may use this prospectus to offer from time to time:
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shares of PPL Corporation Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share (PPL Common Stock);
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shares of PPL Corporation Preferred Stock, par value
$.01 per share (PPL Preferred Stock);
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contracts or other rights to purchase shares of PPL Common Stock
or PPL Preferred Stock (PPL Stock Purchase
Contracts);
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stock purchase units, each representing (1) a PPL Stock
Purchase Contract and (2) debt securities or preferred
trust securities of third parties (such as Debt Securities or
subordinated debt securities of PPL Capital Funding, preferred
trust securities of a subsidiary trust or United States Treasury
securities) that are pledged to secure the stock purchase unit
holders obligations to purchase PPL Common Stock or PPL
Preferred Stock under the PPL Stock Purchase Contracts
(PPL Stock Purchase Units);
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PPL Corporations Depositary Shares, issued under a deposit
agreement and representing a fractional interest in PPL
Preferred Stock;
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PPL Capital Fundings unsecured and unsubordinated debt
securities (PPL Capital Funding Debt Securities);
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PPL Capital Fundings unsecured and subordinated debt
securities (PPL Capital Funding Subordinated Debt
Securities);
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PPL Energy Supplys unsecured and unsubordinated debt
securities;
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PPL Energy Supplys unsecured and subordinated debt
securities;
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PPL Energy Supplys preferred limited liability company
membership interests;
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PPL Electrics Series Preferred Stock (PPL
Electric Preferred Stock);
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PPL Electrics Preference Stock (PPL Electric
Preference Stock);
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PPL Electrics Depositary Shares, issued under a deposit
agreement and representing a fractional interest in PPL Electric
Preferred Stock or PPL Electric Preference Stock; and
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PPL Electrics senior secured debt securities issued under
PPL Electrics 2001 indenture, as amended (PPL
Electric Secured Debt Securities), which PPL Electric
Secured Debt Securities may be secured by first mortgage bonds
issued under PPL Electrics 1945 first mortgage indenture
(PPL Electric 1945 Mortgage Bonds), as well as by
the lien of the 2001 indenture on PPL Electrics
distribution and transmission properties (subject to certain
exceptions to be described in a prospectus supplement).
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We sometimes refer to the securities listed above collectively
as the Securities.
PPL Corporation will fully and unconditionally guarantee the
payment of principal, premium and interest on the PPL Capital
Funding Debt Securities and PPL Capital Funding Subordinated
Debt Securities as will be described in supplements to this
prospectus. We sometimes refer to PPL Corporations
guarantees of PPL Capital Funding Debt Securities as PPL
Guarantees and PPL Corporations guarantees of PPL
Capital Fundings Subordinated Debt Securities as the
PPL Subordinated Guarantees.
Information contained herein relating to each registrant is
filed separately by such registrant on its own behalf. No
registrant makes any representation as to information relating
to any other registrant or Securities or guarantees issued by
any other registrant, except that information relating to PPL
Capital Fundings Securities is also attributed to PPL
Corporation.
As used in this prospectus, the terms we,
our and us generally refer to:
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PPL Corporation with respect to Securities, PPL Guarantees or
PPL Subordinated Guarantees issued by PPL Corporation or PPL
Capital Funding;
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PPL Energy Supply with respect to Securities issued by PPL
Energy Supply; and
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PPL Electric, with respect to Securities issued by PPL Electric.
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For more detailed information about the Securities, the PPL
Guarantees and the PPL Subordinated Guarantees, you can read the
exhibits to the registration statement. Those exhibits have been
either filed with the registration statement or incorporated by
reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the registration
statement.
3
RISK
FACTORS
Investing in the Securities involves certain risks. You are
urged to read and consider the risk factors relating to an
investment in the Securities described in the Annual Reports on
Form 10-K
of PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric, as
applicable, for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed
with the SEC on February 28, 2007 and incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. Before making an investment
decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as
other information we include or incorporate by reference in this
prospectus. The risks and uncertainties we have described are
not the only ones facing PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and
PPL Electric. The prospectus supplement applicable to each type
or series of Securities we offer will contain a discussion of
additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the
particular type of Securities we are offering under that
prospectus supplement.
FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
Certain statements included or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, including statements with respect to future
earnings, energy supply and demand, costs, electric rates,
subsidiary performance, growth, new technology, project
development, fuel and energy prices, strategic initiatives, and
generating capacity and performance, are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the federal securities
laws. Although we believe that the expectations and assumptions
reflected in these statements are reasonable, there can be no
assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct.
These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the
results discussed in the forward-looking statements. In addition
to the specific factors discussed in the Risk
Factors section in this prospectus and our reports that
are incorporated by reference, the following are among the
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements:
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market demand and prices for energy, capacity and fuel;
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market prices for crude oil and the potential impact on
synthetic fuel operations, synthetic fuel purchases from third
parties and the phase out of synthetic fuel tax
credits;
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weather conditions affecting generation production, customer
energy usage and operating costs;
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competition in retail and wholesale power markets;
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liquidity of wholesale power markets;
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defaults by our counterparties under our energy or fuel
contracts;
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the effect of any business or industry restructuring;
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our profitability and liquidity, including access to capital
markets and credit facilities;
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new accounting requirements or new interpretations or
applications of existing requirements;
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operation and availability of existing generation facilities and
operating costs;
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transmission and distribution system conditions and operating
costs;
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current and future environmental conditions and requirements and
the related costs of compliance, including environmental capital
expenditures and emission allowances and other expenses;
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significant delays in the planned installation of pollution
control equipment at our coal-fired generating units in
Pennsylvania due to weather conditions, contractor performance
or other reasons;
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market prices of commodity inputs for ongoing capital
expenditures;
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collective labor bargaining negotiations;
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development of new projects, markets and technologies;
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performance of new ventures;
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asset acquisitions and dispositions;
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political, regulatory or economic conditions in states, regions
or countries where we or our subsidiaries conduct business;
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any impact of hurricanes or other severe weather on our
business, including any impact on fuel prices;
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receipt of necessary governmental permits, approvals and rate
relief;
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new state, federal or foreign legislation, including new tax
legislation;
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state, federal and foreign regulatory developments;
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the impact of any state, federal or foreign investigations
applicable to us and our subsidiaries and the energy industry;
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capital market conditions, including changes in interest rates,
and decisions regarding our capital structure;
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stock price performance of PPL Corporation;
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the market prices of equity securities and the impact on pension
costs and resultant cash funding requirements for defined
benefit pension plans;
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securities and credit ratings;
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foreign currency exchange rates;
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the outcome of litigation against us;
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potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism or war or
other hostilities; and
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our commitments and liabilities.
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Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in
light of such important factors and in conjunction with other
documents we file with the SEC.
New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in forward-looking statements emerge from
time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of
such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or
combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from
those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which
such statement is made, and we do not undertake any obligation
to update the information contained in such statement to reflect
subsequent developments or information.
5
PPL
CORPORATION
PPL Corporation, incorporated in 1994 and headquartered in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, is an energy and utility holding
company that, through its subsidiaries, is primarily engaged in
the supply and delivery of energy. Through its subsidiaries, PPL
Corporation generates electricity from power plants in the
northeastern and western United States; markets wholesale
or retail energy primarily in the northeastern and western
portions of the United States; delivers electricity to
approximately 5.1 million customers in Pennsylvania, the
United Kingdom and Latin America; and provides energy services
for businesses in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United
States. PPL Corporations overall strategy is to achieve
disciplined growth in energy supply margins while limiting
volatility in both cash flows and earnings, and to achieve
stable, long-term growth in regulated delivery businesses
through efficient operations and strong customer and regulatory
relations.
PPL Corporations principal subsidiaries are shown below:
Energy
Supply
PPL Corporation, through its indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiaries, PPL Generation and PPL EnergyPlus, owns and
operates electricity generating power plants and markets this
electricity and other power purchases to deregulated wholesale
and retail markets. Both of these subsidiaries also are direct,
wholly owned subsidiaries of PPL Energy Supply. As of
December 31, 2006, PPL Corporation owned or controlled,
through its subsidiaries, 11,556 megawatts, or MW, of electric
power generation capacity and had plans to implement capital
projects at certain existing generating facilities that would
provide 349 MW of additional capacity by 2011. See
PPL Energy Supply, LLC below for more information.
PPL Corporations strategy for its energy supply business
is to match energy supply with load, or customer demand, under
agreements of varying lengths with creditworthy
counterparties, to capture profits while effectively
managing exposure to movements in energy and fuel prices and
counterparty credit risk.
Energy
Delivery
PPL Corporation provides energy delivery services in the
mid-Atlantic regions of the United States through its regulated
public utility subsidiaries, PPL Electric and PPL Gas, and in
the United Kingdom and Latin America through its subsidiary, PPL
Global. PPL Electric provides electricity delivery services to
approximately 1.4 million customers in eastern and central
Pennsylvania. See PPL Electric Utilities Corporation
below for more information. PPL Gas Utilities Corporation
provides natural gas distribution and propane services to
approximately 110,000 customers in portions of various counties
in Pennsylvania, as well as in small portions of Maryland and
6
Delaware. Through its subsidiaries, PPL Global provides
electricity delivery services to approximately 3.7 million
customers in the United Kingdom and Latin America. PPL Global
also is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply, LLC. See
PPL Energy Supply, LLC below for more information.
In March, 2007 PPL Corporation announced that it intends to sell
its regulated electricity delivery operations in Latin America
through an auction process that it expects to take several
months to complete.
PPL Corporations strategy for its energy delivery
businesses is to operate these businesses at the most efficient
cost while maintaining high levels of customer service and
reliability.
PPL Corporations subsidiaries, including PPL Energy Supply
and PPL Electric, are separate legal entities, and are not
liable for the debts of PPL Corporation, and PPL Corporation is
not liable for the debts of its subsidiaries (other than under
the PPL Guarantees and the PPL Subordinated Guarantees). Neither
PPL Energy Supply nor PPL Electric will guarantee or provide
other credit or funding support for the Securities to be offered
by PPL Corporation pursuant to this prospectus.
PPL
CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
PPL Capital Funding is a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of PPL Corporation. PPL Capital Fundings
primary business is to provide PPL Corporation with financing
for its operations. PPL Corporation will fully and
unconditionally guarantee the payment of principal, premium and
interest on the PPL Capital Funding Debt Securities pursuant to
the PPL Guarantees and the PPL Capital Funding Subordinated Debt
Securities pursuant to the PPL Subordinated Guarantees, as will
be described in supplements to this prospectus.
PPL
ENERGY SUPPLY, LLC
PPL Energy Supply, formed in 2000 and headquartered in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, is an energy company engaged, through
its subsidiaries, in the generation and marketing of electricity
in the northeastern and western power markets of the United
States and in the delivery of electricity in the United Kingdom
and Latin America. PPL Energy Supplys major operating
subsidiaries are PPL Generation, PPL EnergyPlus and PPL Global.
PPL Energy Supply is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of PPL
Corporation. See PPL Corporation above for more
information.
Energy
Supply: PPL Generation and PPL EnergyPlus
As of December 31, 2006, PPL Energy Supply owned or
controlled, through its PPL Generation subsidiary,
11,556 MW of electric power generation capacity, with power
plants in Pennsylvania (9,229 MW),
Montana (1,289 MW), Illinois (540 MW),
Connecticut (243 MW), New York (159 MW) and Maine
(96 MW). PPL Generation also has current plans to implement
capital projects at certain of its existing generation
facilities in Pennsylvania and Montana that would provide
349 MW of additional generation capacity by 2011. PPL
Generations plants are fueled by nuclear fuel, coal, gas,
oil and water. The electricity from these plants is sold to PPL
EnergyPlus under FERC-jurisdictional power purchase agreements.
PPL EnergyPlus markets or brokers the electricity produced by
PPL Generations subsidiaries, along with purchased power,
natural gas and oil, in competitive wholesale and deregulated
retail markets, primarily in the northeastern and western
portions of the United States. PPL EnergyPlus also provides
energy-related products and services, such as engineering and
mechanical contracting, construction and maintenance services,
to commercial and industrial customers.
At December 31, 2006, PPL Energy Supply estimated that, on
average, approximately 89% of its expected annual generation
output for the period 2007 through 2010 would be used to meet:
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the obligation of its subsidiary PPL EnergyPlus under two
agreements to provide electricity to PPL Electric, so that PPL
Electric can, in turn, provide electricity as a provider
of last resort, or PLR, through 2009 under
fixed-price tariffs pursuant to the Pennsylvania Electricity
Generation Customer
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Choice and Competition Act, or Customer Choice Act (See
PPL Electric Utilities Corporation Provider of
Last Resort);
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PPL EnergyPlus obligation under agreements to provide
electricity to NorthWestern Corporation through June
2014; and
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other contractual sales to other counterparties for terms of
various lengths.
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In anticipation of the expiration of the PLR agreements
referenced above at the end of 2009, and consistent with its
business strategy, PPL Energy Supply has already entered into
commitments for a portion of the output of its facilities for
the years 2010 and later. PPLs strategy for 2007 is to
obtain commitments for 30 to 50 percent of its 2010
baseload generation output in the PJM Interconnection region.
PPL has already obtained commitments at the lower end of this
range. Based on the way in which the wholesale markets have
developed over the last several years, PPL Energy Supply expects
that these new agreements are likely to continue to be of a
shorter duration than the current PLR agreements, which at
inception had terms of approximately nine years.
International
Energy Delivery: PPL Global
PPL Energy Supply provides electricity delivery services in the
United Kingdom and Latin America through its PPL Global
subsidiary, which currently owns and operates electricity
delivery businesses serving approximately 3.7 million
customers. PPL Global owns Western Power Distribution Holdings
Limited and WPD Investment Holdings Limited, which together we
refer to as WPD. WPD operates two electric distribution
companies in the U.K., which together serve approximately
2.6 million end-users. PPL Globals Latin American
subsidiaries in Chile, El Salvador and Bolivia serve an
aggregate of approximately 1.1 million end-users.
As discussed above, in March, 2007 PPL Corporation announced
that it intends to sell its regulated electricity delivery
operations in Latin America.
PPL Energy Supplys strategy for its international
electricity delivery businesses is to operate these businesses
at the most efficient cost while maintaining high levels of
customer service and reliability.
Neither PPL Corporation nor any of its other subsidiaries or
affiliates will guarantee or provide other credit or funding
support for the securities to be offered by PPL Energy Supply
pursuant to this prospectus.
8
PPL
ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION
PPL Electric, incorporated in 1920 and headquartered in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a direct subsidiary of PPL
Corporation and a regulated public utility. PPL Electric
provides electricity delivery services to approximately
1.4 million customers in eastern and central Pennsylvania.
PPL Electric also provides electricity supply to retail
customers in that territory as a PLR under the Customer Choice
Act.
Provider of Last Resort. Pursuant to a 1998 order issued
by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PUC, PPL
Electric agreed to provide electricity supply as a PLR to retail
customers in its service territory not selecting an alternate
electric energy supplier at predetermined capped rates through
2009. In order to meet this obligation, PPL Electric entered
into full-requirements energy supply agreements with another
subsidiary of PPL Corporation, PPL EnergyPlus, designed to
provide PPL Electric with sufficient supply to satisfy its PLR
obligation through the end of 2009. PPL Electrics PLR
obligation after 2009 will be determined by the PUC pursuant to
rules that have not yet been promulgated. While regulations
governing PLR obligations after 2009 have been proposed for
comment by the PUC, at this time, PPL Electric cannot predict
the content of these regulations, including whether this will
include requirements for the pricing and other terms of PLR
contracts, or when the regulations will be finalized. PPL
Electric also cannot predict the extent to which it will
purchase power from PPL EnergyPlus after 2009.
Strategic Initiative. In 2001, PPL Electric completed a
strategic initiative designed to reduce its business and
financial risk profile by, among other things, limiting its
business activities to the transmission and distribution of
electricity and businesses related to or arising out of the
electric transmission and distribution businesses and reduce its
exposure to volatility in energy prices associated with its PLR
obligation. Obtaining long-term electric supply agreements with
PPL EnergyPlus to meet its PLR obligations through 2009 at
prices generally equal to the predetermined capped rates it was
allowed to charge PLR customers was a key component of this
initiative. Other key components of the initiative involved
actions to confirm PPL Electrics legal separation from PPL
Corporation and PPL Corporations other subsidiaries. In
connection with the initiative PPL Electric:
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adopted amendments to its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
containing corporate governance and operating provisions
designed to confirm and reinforce its legal and corporate
separateness from PPL Corporation and its other affiliated
companies and providing for PPL Electric to limit its businesses
to electric transmission and distribution and related activities;
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appointed an independent director to its Board of Directors and
required the unanimous approval of the Board of Directors,
including the consent of the independent director, to amendments
to these corporate governance and operating provisions or to the
commencement of any insolvency proceedings, including any filing
of a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or other similar
actions; and
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in connection with the issuance of certain senior secured bonds,
agreed to appoint an independent compliance administrator to
review, on a semi-annual basis, its compliance with the
corporate governance and operating requirements contained in its
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. When such bonds are no
longer outstanding, and in certain other circumstances, PPL
Electric will not be required to maintain an independent
compliance administrator.
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The amended Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws permit PPL
Electrics Board of Directors to adopt additional
amendments to the Bylaws, including amendments that revise or
eliminate provisions that are designed to reinforce PPL
Electrics legal separateness from its affiliates. However,
any such amendment must be approved unanimously by PPL
Electrics Board of Directors, including the independent
director.
The enhancements to PPL Electrics legal separation from
its affiliates were intended to minimize the risk that a court
would order PPL Electrics assets and liabilities to be
substantively consolidated with those of PPL Corporation or
another affiliate of PPL Corporation in the event that PPL
Corporation or another PPL Corporation affiliate were to become
a debtor in a bankruptcy case. However, if PPL Corporation or
another PPL Corporation affiliate were to become a debtor in a
bankruptcy case, there can be no assurance that a court would
not order PPL Electrics assets and liabilities to be
consolidated with those of PPL Corporation or such other PPL
Corporation
9
affiliate. Any such substantive consolidation could result in
delays or reductions in payments on PPL Electrics
Securities.
Neither PPL Corporation nor any of PPL Corporations
subsidiaries or affiliates will guarantee or provide other
credit or funding support for the securities to be offered by
PPL Electric pursuant to this prospectus.
The offices of PPL Corporation, PPL Capital Funding, PPL Energy
Supply and PPL Electric are located at Two North Ninth
Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179
and they can be contacted through telephone
number (610) 774-5151.
The information above concerning PPL Corporation, PPL
Capital Funding, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric and, if
applicable, their respective subsidiaries is only a summary and
does not purport to be comprehensive. For additional information
about these companies, including certain assumptions, risks and
uncertainties involved in the forward-looking statements
contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, you
should refer to the information described in Where You Can
Find More Information.
10
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise described in a prospectus supplement, the
net proceeds from the sale of the PPL Capital Funding Debt
Securities and the PPL Capital Funding Subordinated Debt
Securities will be loaned to PPL Corporation
and/or its
subsidiaries. PPL Corporation
and/or its
subsidiaries are expected to use the proceeds of such loans, and
the proceeds of the other Securities issued by PPL Corporation,
for general corporate purposes, including repayment of debt.
Except as otherwise described in a prospectus supplement, each
of PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric is expected to use the
proceeds of the Securities it issues for general corporate
purposes, including repayment of debt.
RATIOS OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
PPL
Corporation
The following table sets forth PPL Corporations ratio of
earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods
indicated:
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Twelve Months
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Ended December 31,
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2006
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2005
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2004
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2003
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2002
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to
combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (a)
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3.0
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2.6
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2.7
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2.6
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1.9
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(a) |
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In calculating the earnings component, net income excludes
minority interest, loss from discontinued operations and the
cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles. See PPL
Corporations reports on file with the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act), as described under Where You Can Find More
Information for more information. PPL Corporation had no
preferred securities outstanding during the periods indicated;
therefore, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred stock dividends is the same as the ratio of earnings
to fixed charges. |
PPL
Energy Supply
The following table sets forth PPL Energy Supplys ratio of
earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred dividends for the periods indicated:
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Twelve Months
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Ended December 31,
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2006
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2005
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2004
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2003
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2002
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to
combined fixed charges and preferred securities dividends (a)
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3.8
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3.3
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4.1
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4.8
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3.9
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(a) |
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In calculating the earnings component, net income excludes
minority interest, loss from discontinued operations and the
cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles. See PPL
Energy Supplys reports on file with the SEC pursuant to
the Exchange Act as described under Where You Can Find
More Information for more information. PPL Energy Supply
had no preferred securities outstanding during the periods
indicated; therefore, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred securities dividends is the same as the
ratio of earnings to fixed charges. |
11
PPL
Electric
The following table sets forth PPL Electrics ratio of
earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods
indicated:
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Twelve Months
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Ended December 31,
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2006
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2005
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2004
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2003
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2002
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (a)
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2.9
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2.1
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1.4
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1.2
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1.2
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Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends (a)
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2.5
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2.1
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1.4
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1.2
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1.2
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(a) |
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See PPL Electrics reports on file with the SEC pursuant to
the Exchange Act as described under Where You Can Find
More Information for more information. |
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Available
Information
PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric each file
reports and other information with the SEC. You may obtain
copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference
Room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Further
information on the operation of the SECs Public Reference
Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the SEC
at
1-800-SEC-0330.
PPL Corporations Internet Web site is www.pplweb.com. On
the Investor Center page of that Web site PPL Corporation
provides access to all SEC filings of PPL Corporation, PPL
Energy Supply and PPL Electric free of charge, as soon as
reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC. The
information at PPL Corporations Internet Web site is not
incorporated in this prospectus by reference, and you should not
consider it a part of this prospectus. Additionally, PPL
Corporations, PPL Energy Supplys and PPL
Electrics filings are available at the SECs Internet
Web site (www.sec.gov).
PPL Corporation Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE) and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange
(symbol: PPL), and reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning PPL Corporation can also be inspected at
the offices of the NYSE at 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York 10005 and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, 1900 Market
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.
Certain securities of PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric are
also listed on the NYSE, and certain information
concerning PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric may be inspected
at the NYSE offices in New York.
In addition, reports, proxy statements and other information
concerning PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric
can be inspected at their offices at Two North Ninth Street,
Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179.
Incorporation
by Reference
Each of PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric will
incorporate by reference information into this
prospectus by disclosing important information to you by
referring you to another document that it files separately with
the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to
be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file
with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that
information. This prospectus incorporates by reference the
documents set forth below that have been previously filed with
the SEC. These documents contain important information about the
registrants.
12
PPL
Corporation
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SEC Filings (File No. 1-11459)
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Period/Date
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
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Year ended December 31, 2006
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
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Filed on January 3, 2007,
January 31, 2007 and
March 6, 2007
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PPL Corporations Registration Statement on
Form 8-B
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Filed on April 27, 1995
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PPL Corporations 2006 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy
Statement
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Filed on March 20, 2006
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PPL
Energy Supply
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SEC Filings (File
No. 333-74794)
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Period/Date
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
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Year ended December 31, 2006
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
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Filed on March 6, 2007
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PPL
Electric
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SEC Filings (File No. 1-905)
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Period/Date
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
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Year ended December 31, 2006
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
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Filed on January 31, 2007
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Additional documents that PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and
PPL Electric file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, between the date of this
prospectus and the termination of the offering of the Securities
are also incorporated herein by reference. In addition, any
additional documents that PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply or
PPL Electric file with the SEC pursuant to these sections of the
Exchange Act after the date of the filing of the registration
statement containing this prospectus, and prior to the
effectiveness of the registration statement are also
incorporated herein by reference.
Each of PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric will
provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial
owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, a
copy of any and all of its filings with the SEC. You may request
a copy of these filings by writing or telephoning the
appropriate registrant at:
Two North Ninth Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179
Attention: Investor Services Department
Telephone:
1-800-345-3085
No separate financial statements of PPL Capital Funding are
included herein or incorporated herein by reference. PPL
Corporation and PPL Capital Funding do not consider those
financial statements to be material to holders of the PPL
Capital Funding Debt Securities or PPL Capital Funding
Subordinated Debt Securities because (1) PPL Capital
Funding is a wholly-owned subsidiary that was formed for the
primary purpose of providing financing for PPL Corporation and
its subsidiaries, (2) PPL Capital Funding does not
currently engage in any independent operations and (3) PPL
Capital Funding does not currently plan to engage, in the
future, in more than minimal independent operations. See
PPL Capital Funding. PPL Capital Funding has
received a no action letter from the Staff of the
SEC stating that the Staff would not raise any objection if PPL
Capital Funding does not file periodic reports under
Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, PPL
Corporation and PPL Capital Funding do not expect PPL Capital
Funding to file those reports.
13
EXPERTS
The financial statements and schedule and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting (which is included in Managements
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) of PPL
Corporation audited by Ernst & Young LLP, incorporated
in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006, have been so
incorporated in reliance on their reports, given on their
authority as experts in auditing and accounting.
The financial statements and schedules of PPL Energy Supply, LLC
and PPL Electric Utilities Corporation audited by
Ernst & Young, LLP incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006, have been so
incorporated in reliance on their reports, given on their
authority as experts in auditing and accounting.
The financial statements as of December 31, 2005 and for
the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, of PPL
Corporation, PPL Energy Supply, LLC and PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006 have been so
incorporated in reliance on the reports of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting.
VALIDITY
OF THE SECURITIES AND THE PPL GUARANTEES
Dewey Ballantine LLP, New York, New York or Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York and Michael
A. McGrail, Esq., Associate General Counsel of PPL Services
Corporation, will pass upon the validity of the Securities, the
PPL Guarantees and the PPL Subordinated Guarantees for PPL
Corporation, PPL Capital Funding, PPL Energy Supply and PPL
Electric. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York,
will pass upon the validity of the Securities, the PPL
Guarantees and the PPL Subordinated Guarantees for any
underwriters or agents. Dewey Ballantine LLP, Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Sullivan &
Cromwell LLP will rely on the opinion of Mr. McGrail as to
matters involving the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
As to matters involving the law of the State of New York,
Mr. McGrail will rely on the opinion of Dewey Ballantine
LLP or Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, as applicable.
14
$375,000,000
PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation
7.125% Senior Secured
Bonds
due 2013
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
October 14, 2008
Joint Book-Running Managers
Barclays Capital
BNP PARIBAS
Lazard Capital
Markets
Scotia Capital
Co-Managers
BNY Mellon Capital Markets,
LLC
PNC Capital Markets
LLC
U.S. Bancorp Investments,
Inc.