EXHIBIT 10.II
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CAMDEN FUEL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CAMDEN ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇.
AND
EL PASO MERCHANT ENERGY, L.P.
DATED AS OF
OCTOBER 1, 2001
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CAMDEN FUEL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS CAMDEN FUEL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is
made and entered into this 1st day of October 1, 2001, by and between CAMDEN
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇. ("Company"), and EL PASO MERCHANT ENERGY, L.P. ("Marketer"). Marketer
and Company are sometimes referred to in this Agreement individually as a
"Party" and collectively as the "Parties."
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Company owns a combined cycle electric generation
facility having a nominal capacity of approximately 143 MW located near Camden,
New Jersey (the "Facility");
WHEREAS, the Facility will use natural gas as its primary fuel
supply and Fuel Oil as its back-up fuel supply;
WHEREAS, Marketer is a fuel supplier engaged in the purchase,
sale and marketing of natural gas;
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to have Marketer manage and
procure all of the natural gas to be used at the Facility; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to
set forth their agreements with respect to the terms and conditions applicable
to the purchase and sale of natural gas by Marketer to Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
benefits to be derived under this Agreement, Company and Marketer agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
1.1 Definitions - Unless otherwise provided to the
contrary in this Agreement, capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the
meanings set forth in Section 1.1 of Exhibit A.
1.2 Interpretations - Unless expressly provided to the
contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance
with the provisions set forth in Section 1.2 of Exhibit A.
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ARTICLE II
FUEL MANAGEMENT
2.1 Fuel Management - Marketer shall be responsible
during each Annual Period to supply all of the Gas requirements of the Facility
following the Effective Date.
2.2 Transportation - Pursuant to the Amended and
Restated Gas Service Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2001, between Public Service
Electric and Gas Company ("PSE&G") and Company, PSE&G has agreed to provide
transportation services to Company for the delivery of Gas from the
interconnection between PSE&G's system and the Gas transportation system of
Transporter(s) (the "Transportation Contract"). Marketer shall transport
available Gas supplies to the Facility pursuant to the Transportation Contract
as agent for Company under such Transportation Contract. Company shall be
responsible for the payment of all charges under the Transportation Contract.
2.3 Gas Pricing - The price for the quantities of Gas
delivered by Marketer and received by Company during any day shall be the
midpoint price per MMBtu set forth in Gas Daily for TETCO M-3 for such day plus
$.02 per MMBtu. For the avoidance of doubt, all Taxes, royalties, transportation
charges, expenses and costs applicable to the Gas prior to receipt by Company at
the Delivery Point shall be for the account of Company. In the event Marketer
should be required, by the laws of any governmental body having jurisdiction
under this Agreement, to pay any such costs or charges for which Company is
liable, then Company shall reimburse Marketer for such costs or charges within
ten (10) Days of Company's receipt of Marketer's invoice therefore. If, during
the term of this Agreement, the Gas pricing index specified herein ceases to be
published or a specified index price is not published for a given day, then the
Parties will attempt to agree upon a new index price for purposes of determining
the applicable price hereunder. If the Parties are unable to reach such
agreement by the expiration of the fifteenth (15th) Day immediately following
the end of the month in which the specified indexes or the specified pricing
information in such publications are not published, the method of setting the
price for Gas for periods after such publication or information in such
publications are not published, shall be determined by arbitration pursuant to
Article XIII. The arbitrators so selected shall be required to select an
alternate index or pricing mechanism that reflects the current market value of
Gas delivered from the applicable Supply Basin on the applicable Transporter.
2.4 Fuel Oil Supplies - Upon the request of Company,
Marketer shall assist Company with the acquisition of Fuel Oil supplies.
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ARTICLE III
FUEL MANAGEMENT FEE
3.1 Base Fee - In consideration of the Gas procurement,
sale and management services provided by Marketer pursuant to this Agreement,
Company shall pay Marketer a fuel management fee each month following the
Effective Date equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), escalated each Annual
Period by CPI (the "Base Fee").
3.2 Renegotiation of Base Fee - Within ninety (90) Days
prior to the beginning of the fourth Annual Period, Marketer or Company may
request in writing a redetermination of the Base Fee. Following the receipt of
such request, Marketer and Company shall negotiate in good faith to attempt to
mutually agree upon a revised Base Fee, taking into consideration, among other
things, any changes in (a) the staffing and costs associated with providing the
marketing services under this Agreement (including the ability of the staff
assigned to administering this Agreement to also provide similar services under
other fuel management services arrangements with Affiliates of Company) and (b)
the risks that Marketer assumes in purchasing the Gas and other services under
this Agreement. If the Parties are unable to mutually agree upon a revised Base
Fee, then either Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at the
beginning of the fourth Annual Period upon providing the other Party written
notice on or before the beginning of the fourth Annual Period. Marketer agrees
to (a) continue to provide fuel management services under the terms of this
Agreement and (b) to provide transitional support to any replacement fuel
management services provider, in each case, for a period of up to three (3)
months following the termination of this Agreement if requested by Company.
ARTICLE IV
NATURAL GAS QUANTITY AND DELIVERY
4.1 Nomination Requirements - For so long as the Camden
Power Marketing Agreement is in full force and effect and Marketer is the
purchaser of the full electrical output of the Facility, then Company shall not
have any obligation to nominate the Gas to be purchased under this Agreement;
provided that Company shall notify Marketer as soon as practicable regarding any
changes in the operation of the Facility that would cause material changes in
the Gas requirements of the Facility.
ARTICLE V
TRANSPORTATION AND BALANCING ARRANGEMENTS
5.1 Transportation Arrangements - Marketer shall be
responsible for all arrangements necessary to deliver the Gas sold under this
Agreement to the
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Facility, including entering into or managing, as the case may be, the
Transportation Contract. Subject to its obligation to deliver Gas to Company at
the Facility in accordance with this Agreement, Marketer shall have full and
complete control over the utilization of the Transportation Contract, including,
without limitation, the manner and timing of any receipts, deliveries or
transportation of Gas under the Transportation Contract. Company and Marketer
shall cooperate (a) to ensure that nominations (including any necessary
adjustments thereto) are made timely to Transporter(s) and that such nominations
reflect the actual expected deliveries and receipts and (b) to respond to any
directives of Transporter(s) concerning the receipts, deliveries and imbalances
under the Transportation Contract.
5.2 Operational Balancing - Despite the efforts
described above, the Parties acknowledge that (a) imbalances between receipts
and deliveries and variances between scheduled quantities and actual quantities
may occur and (b) the Transportation Contract may provide for the payment of
penalties, including, without limitation, imbalance, cashout and scheduling
penalties. Company shall be responsible for any penalties or charges assessed by
Transporter(s) upstream of the Delivery Point, under the Transportation
Contract.
5.3 Transportation Limitation - If a Transporter
interrupts, curtails or otherwise fails to receive, transport or deliver the Gas
sold under this Agreement, then Marketer's obligation to deliver Gas under this
Agreement will be suspended for that portion of the quantities interrupted or
curtailed by such Transporter for so long as such interruption or curtailment of
deliveries continues; provided that subject to the reimbursement of any
incremental costs by Company, Marketer will use all reasonable efforts to locate
alternate supplies and/or transportation arrangements in order to maintain
deliveries of Gas under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
QUALITY AND PRESSURE
6.1 Quality Requirements - Marketer will deliver Gas at
the Delivery Point that meets the minimum quality specifications as set forth in
Transporter(s)' FERC Gas tariff(s). If Marketer fails to deliver Gas in
accordance with such quality specifications, then the Company shall have the
right to reject such non-conforming Gas supplies and Company shall retain any
and all remedies, including, without limitation, the right to seek alternative
supplies or any damages due to any harm to the Facility, arising from Marketer's
failure to deliver Gas meeting such quality specifications.
6.2 Pressure Requirements - The Gas shall be delivered
at the Delivery Point at a pressure sufficient to enter PSE&G's facilities and
shall meet Transporter(s) terms and conditions for pressure (including the
maximum allowable operating pressure at the Delivery Point).
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ARTICLE VII
MEASUREMENT AND TESTS
7.1 Measurement Point - The Gas sold under this
Agreement shall be measured at or near the Delivery Point at pressures in
existence from time to time and shall be corrected to the unit of measurement,
which shall be one (1) MMBtu.
ARTICLE VIII
TITLE AND TAXES
8.1 Transfer of Title, Possession and Control - Title
to the Gas sold under this Agreement shall pass from Marketer to Company upon
delivery of said Gas at the Delivery Point. As between the Parties, Marketer
shall be deemed to be in control and possession of all Gas delivered under this
Agreement and shall indemnify and hold Company harmless from any damage, injury
or losses which occur prior to delivery to Company at the Delivery Point except
to the extent caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Company;
otherwise, Company shall be deemed to be in exclusive control and possession
thereof and shall indemnify and hold Marketer harmless from any other injury,
damage or losses except to the extent caused by the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of Marketer.
8.2 Warranty of Title - Marketer warrants title to all
Gas delivered under this Agreement by Marketer or that Marketer has the right to
sell the same, and that such Gas is free from liens and adverse claims of every
kind. Marketer will indemnify and save Company harmless against all loss, damage
and expense of every character on account of adverse claims to the Gas delivered
by it before delivery of the Gas to Company at the Delivery Point.
8.3 Taxes - The following terms shall apply with regard to
the payment of Taxes:
(a) Existing Taxes - Marketer will be responsible and
pay for all Taxes existing on the date of this
Agreement that are assessed or levied on the Gas
to the delivery of such Gas to Company, or for
Company's account at the Delivery Point. Company
will be responsible for and will pay all other
Taxes existing on the date of this Agreement that
are assessed or levied on the Gas at and after
delivery of such Gas to Company, or for Company's
account, at the Delivery Point. The Parties shall
cooperate to obtain and to provide any available
certificates of exemption or other evidence of
exemption from Taxes that might otherwise apply.
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(b) New or Increased Taxes - Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, Company shall also
reimburse Marketer for any new or increased Taxes
over and above those in effect as of the date of
this Agreement (the "New Taxes") which are levied
on the Gas sold pursuant to this Agreement;
provided that Company shall not be required to
reimburse Marketer for any portion of the New
Taxes that are reflected in the established Price
under this Agreement. If the Parties are unable to
agree upon whether the New Taxes are reflected in
the established Price under this Agreement, then
either Party may submit the dispute to be resolved
or determined by arbitration pursuant to Article
XIII. If submitted to arbitration, Marketer must
demonstrate the New Taxes are not included in the
established Price according to industry practice.
For avoidance of doubt, "New Taxes" shall be
deemed to include any Tax that, although it was in
effect on the date of this Agreement, the
application or interpretation of such Tax was
changed by the governmental body having
jurisdiction over such matter.
ARTICLE IX
TERM OF AGREEMENT
9.1 Primary Term - This Agreement shall become effective on
the Effective Date (as defined in the Amended and Restated Power Purchase
Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2001, between PSE&G and Cedar Brakes II, L.L.C.
(formerly known as Cedar Brakes IV, L.L.C.), and defined hereinafter as the
"Effective Date") and shall continue in full force and effect until and
including March 5, 2013, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms
hereof. This Agreement may be terminated by Company upon thirty (30) Days'
written notice to Marketer.
9.2 Extension - This Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect from year to year after the primary term, unless and until
terminated by either Party upon giving six (6) months' prior written notice to
the other Party.
ARTICLE X
BILLING AND PAYMENT
10.1 Billing and Payment - Marketer shall render to Company,
at the address indicated in Section 15.5, on or before the fifteenth (15th) Day
of each calendar month an invoice for all Gas purchased during the preceding
month according to the measurements, computations, and prices provided herein.
Invoices
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may be based initially upon estimates, but will be corrected to actuals as soon
as possible. Company agrees to make payment under this Agreement to Marketer for
its account in available funds by wire transfer at such location as Marketer may
from time to time designate in writing; provided that the Parties recognize that
Marketer has entered into a Subordination Agreement with Company and the
Lenders, pursuant to which certain payments under this Agreement are
subordinated to other expenses of Company, and that the terms of such agreement
are incorporated in this Agreement and shall govern the payment and
subordination of such amounts. Payment shall be made by Company within ten (10)
Days of the date of receipt of Marketer's invoice. If the invoiced amount is not
paid when due, then interest on any unpaid amount shall accrue at the then
current prime rate of interest of Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., not to exceed any
applicable maximum lawful rate, together with any court costs, reasonable
attorneys' fees and all other costs of collection which Marketer may incur in
enforcing the terms of this Agreement. If such default continues thirty (30)
Days after written notice from Marketer to Company, then Marketer, after giving
the Lenders notice thereof and the right to cure within such period, may suspend
Gas deliveries under this Agreement without liability and without prejudice to
other remedies. Notwithstanding the above, if a good faith dispute arises
between the Parties over the amounts due under the invoice for any matters, then
Company will pay that portion of the statement not in dispute on or before the
due date and both Parties will continue to perform their obligations under this
Agreement during such dispute; provided that (a) Company will be required to
provide in writing, within thirty (30) Days, the reasons for its dispute, (b)
Company will be required to provide, within thirty (30) Days of a written
request by Marketer, a good and sufficient surety bond guaranteeing payment to
Marketer of any portion of the amount ultimately found due that is not subject
to subordination under the terms of the Subordination Agreement and (c) in the
event Company and Marketer are unable to resolve the disputed portion of the
▇▇▇▇ within sixty (60) Days, the matter shall be submitted to arbitration under
the provisions of Article XIII.
10.2 Adjustments to Payments - If any overcharge or
undercharge in any form whatsoever shall at any time be found and the ▇▇▇▇
therefor has been paid, Marketer shall refund the amount of any overcharge
received by Marketer and Company shall pay the amount of any undercharge, within
thirty (30) Days after final determination thereof; provided, there shall be no
retroactive adjustment of any overcharge or undercharge if the matter is not
brought to the attention of the other Party in writing within the earlier of (a)
twelve (12) months following the date deliveries under this Agreement were made
regarding which overcharge or undercharge apply or (b) the period in which the
statements and payments to Transporter(s) become final for transportation of Gas
under this Agreement.
10.3 Review of Books and Records - Company and Marketer shall
have the right to inspect and examine, or cause to be inspected and examined at
reasonable business hours and upon reasonable advance notice, the books, records
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and charts of the other (pertaining to the sale of Gas under this Agreement or
any other charge or fee arising under this Agreement) to the extent necessary to
verify the accuracy of any invoice, charge or computation made pursuant to this
Agreement.
ARTICLE XI
REGULATORY BODIES
11.1 Laws and Regulations - This Agreement shall be
subject to all valid applicable governmental laws and orders, regulatory
authorizations, directives, rules and regulations of any governmental body or
official having jurisdiction over the Parties, their facilities, the Gas, this
Agreement or any provision thereof; but nothing contained in this Agreement
shall be construed as a waiver of any right to question or contest any such law,
order, rule or regulation in any forum having jurisdiction.
11.2 Reliance on Law - The Parties are entitled to act
in accordance with a law until such law is amended, reversed or otherwise
disposed in a final nonappealable order.
11.3 Cooperation - The Parties shall cooperate to ensure
compliance with all governmental regulation, including obtaining and maintaining
all necessary regulatory authorizations or any reasonable exchange or provision
of information needed for filing or reporting requirements.
11.4 Changes in Law or Regulation - If any federal or
state statute or regulation or order by a court of law or regulatory authority
directly or indirectly (a) prohibits performance under this Agreement, or (b)
makes such performance illegal or impossible, or (c) effects a change in a
substantive provision of this Agreement which has a significant material adverse
impact upon the ability of either Party to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, then the Parties will use all reasonable efforts to revise this
Agreement so that (a) performance under this Agreement is no longer prohibited,
illegal, impossible or is no longer impacted in a material adverse fashion, and
(b) this Agreement is revised in a manner that preserves, to the maximum extent
possible, the respective positions of the Parties. Each Party will provide
reasonable and prompt notice to the other Party as to any proposed law,
regulations or any regulatory proceedings or actions that could affect the
rights and obligations of the Parties. If the Parties are unable to revise this
Agreement in accordance with the above, then the Party whose performance is
rendered prohibited, illegal, impossible or is impacted in a material adverse
manner shall have the right to, at its sole discretion, suspend this Agreement
upon thirty (30) Days' prior written notice and to terminate this Agreement upon
ninety (90) Days' prior written notice.
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ARTICLE XII
FORCE MAJEURE
12.1 Suspension of Receipt and Delivery Obligations - If
Company or Marketer is rendered unable, wholly or in part, by Force Majeure to
perform obligations under this Agreement, other than the obligation to make
payments due under this Agreement, it is agreed that the performance of the
respective obligations of Marketer and Company to deliver or purchase and
receive Gas, so far as they are affected by Force Majeure, shall be excused and
suspended from the inception of any such inability until it is corrected, but
for no longer period. Company or Marketer, whichever is claiming such inability,
shall give notice thereof to the other as soon as practicable after the
occurrence of the Force Majeure. Such notice may be given orally or in writing,
but, if given orally, it shall be promptly confirmed in writing, giving
reasonably full particulars. Such inability shall be promptly corrected to the
extent it may be corrected through the exercise of reasonable diligence by the
Party claiming inability by reason of Force Majeure.
12.2 Liability During Force Majeure - Neither Company
nor Marketer shall be liable to the other for any losses or damages, regardless
of the nature thereof and however occurring, whether such losses or damages be
direct or indirect, immediate or remote, by reason of, caused by, arising out of
or in any way attributable to suspension of the performance of any obligation of
either Party to the extent that such suspension occurs because a Party is
rendered unable, wholly or in part, by Force Majeure to perform its obligations.
12.3 Definition of Force Majeure - The term "Force
Majeure" as used herein shall mean, cover and include acts of God, epidemics,
landslides, hurricanes, floods, washouts, lightning, earthquakes, storms, perils
of the sea, hurricane or storm warnings (to the extent that such warnings cause
an evacuation of facilities and restrict service under this Agreement),
restraints of any court or governmental or regulatory authorities, acts of civil
disorder, acts of industrial disorder of a general nature, accidents to
Company's facilities or any storage or pipeline system of a Transporter, the
freezing of Marketer's or its suppliers' ▇▇▇▇▇, lines of pipe, storage
facilities or other equipment, necessities for making repairs or alternations to
machinery, ▇▇▇▇▇, platforms, lines of pipe, storage facilities, pumps,
compressors, valves, gauges or any other similar equipment to the extent such
repairs or alterations are caused by Force Majeure as defined herein, cratering,
blowout or similar physical failure of any well or ▇▇▇▇▇ to produce, or any
cause, whether of the kind herein enumerated or otherwise, that (a) restricts or
prevents performance under this Agreement, and (b) is not reasonably within the
control, or caused by the default or negligence, of the party claiming
suspension and could not be avoided or overcome by the exercise of due care;
provided, however, the settlement of any labor dispute to prevent or end any act
of industrial disorder shall be within the sole discretion of the Party to this
Agreement involved in such labor dispute, and the above requirement that an
inability shall be corrected with reasonable diligence
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shall not apply to labor disputes. The inability of Marketer to obtain and
resell Gas supplies at a profit, and the failure of Marketer to obtain Gas
supply, Fuel Oil or transportation (other than due to Force Majeure as defined
herein) and the financial inability to perform, shall not constitute events of
Force Majeure under this Agreement.
12.4 Termination - If a Force Majeure event continues
for a period of ninety (90) consecutive Days, then the Party which did not claim
such Force Majeure may at any time thereafter terminate this Agreement upon
thirty (30) Days prior written notice provided to the other Party to the extent
the Force Majeure event has not been corrected prior to the expiration of such
notice period.
ARTICLE XIII
ARBITRATION
13.1 Submission of Dispute for Arbitration - Any
controversy under this Agreement shall be resolved by a board of arbitration,
consisting of three members, upon notice of submission given by either Party,
which notice shall also name one (1) arbitrator. The Party receiving such
notice, shall, by notice to the other Party within ten (10) Days thereafter,
name the second arbitrator, or failing to do so, the Party giving notice of
submission shall name the second arbitrator. The two (2) arbitrators so
appointed shall name a third arbitrator, or, failing to do so within ten (10)
Days, the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the person who is the senior
(in terms of service) actively-sitting judge of the United States District Court
for the District where Company's principal place of business is located.
13.2 Qualifications of Arbitrators - The arbitrators
shall be qualified by education, experience and training in the Gas or Fuel Oil
industry to decide upon the particular question in dispute.
13.3 Arbitration Proceedings - The arbitrators so
appointed, after giving the Parties due notice of the date of a hearing and
reasonable opportunity to be heard, shall promptly hear the controversy in the
area where Company's principal place of business is located and shall thereafter
render their decision determining said controversy no later than ninety (90)
Days after such board has been appointed. Any decision requires the support of a
majority of the arbitrators. If the board of arbitration is unable to reach such
decision, new arbitrators will be named and shall act under this Agreement, at
the request of either Party, in a like manner as if none had been previously
named. After the presentation of evidence has been concluded, each party shall
submit to the arbitrators a final offer of its proposed resolution of the
dispute. The arbitrators shall approve the final offer of one party, without
modification, and reject that of the other. In considering the evidence and
deciding which final offer to approve, the arbitrators shall be guided by the
criteria described in the applicable section of this Agreement.
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13.4 Arbitrator's Decision - The decision of the
arbitrators shall be rendered in writing and supported by written reasons. The
decision of the arbitrators shall be final and binding upon the Parties and will
be complied with by the Parties. The Parties agree that the decision of the
arbitrators shall be kept confidential in accordance with Section 15.1 of this
Agreement. Each Party shall bear the expenses of its chosen arbitrator, and the
expenses of the third arbitrator shall be borne equally by the Parties. Each
Party shall bear the compensation and expenses of its legal counsel, witnesses
and employees.
ARTICLE XIV
DEFAULT
14.1 Default Remedies - If an Event of Default shall
occur, then the non-defaulting party may (a) subject to Section 14.2, exercise
any remedy it may have at law, in equity or as provided in this Agreement, (b)
in addition to its other remedies, elect to terminate this Agreement in
accordance with this Section 14.1 or (c) in the case of Company's failure to pay
in accordance with Section 14.2(a), Marketer may either terminate this Agreement
or suspend deliveries of Gas upon thirty (30) Days' prior written notice. Prior
to exercising any right to terminate this Agreement, the non-defaulting Party
shall provide the defaulting Party (and the Lenders to the extent required
pursuant to the Financing Agreements) written notice of the Event of Default.
14.2 Events of Default - An "Event of Default" shall mean:
(a) Failure to Pay - Except as permitted in whole or
in part by this Agreement, the failure of either
Party to make payments in full and when due
pursuant to this Agreement, which failure is not
cured within thirty (30) Days after written notice
of such default by the non-defaulting Party to the
defaulting Party and the Lenders to the extent
required pursuant to the Financing Agreements;
(b) Failure to Deliver - Except as expressly excused
under this Agreement, the failure of Marketer to
deliver Gas or Fuel Oil supplies in accordance
with this Agreement for a period of sixty (60)
consecutive Days or sixty (60) Days in any one
hundred and twenty (120) Day period;
(c) Failure to Perform - Except with respect to the
payment of amounts owed under this Agreement which
is governed by Section 14.2(a) and except with
respect to Marketer's failure to deliver in
accordance with this Agreement which is governed
by Section 14.2(b), the failure of either
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Party to perform any of its material obligations
under this Agreement and such failure is not cured
within forty-five (45) Days after written notice
thereof by the non-defaulting Party provided to
the defaulting Party (and the Lenders to the
extent required pursuant to the Financing
Agreements) specifying the failure; provided that
if the nature of the failure is such that the
Event of Default cannot be cured within such
forty-five (45) Day period and if the defaulting
Party has commenced and is diligently pursuing
such cure, such period shall be extended for such
further period not to exceed three (3) months
after the notice of the default, as shall be
necessary for non-defaulting Party to cure the
failure;
(d) Voluntary Bankruptcy - Either Party files for or
becomes subject to voluntary bankruptcy or similar
proceedings; or
(e) Involuntary Bankruptcy - Either Party has filed
against it involuntary bankruptcy or similar
proceedings and such proceedings are not dismissed
or stayed within ninety (90) Days; provided,
however, that the events described in (d) and (e)
of this Section 14.2 shall not constitute an Event
of Default if the debtor in possession, trustee or
other party exercising control over the assets of
the party in default affirms this Agreement within
a reasonable period of time and provides evidence
reasonably satisfactory to the non-defaulting
Party of the ability to continue the performance
of the defaulting party's obligations under this
Agreement.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS
15.1 Confidentiality - Except as necessary to obtain
transportation of the Gas sold under this Agreement, any notices to Lenders or
as otherwise provided herein, Marketer and Company agree to maintain the
confidentiality of this Agreement and each of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and any information provided pursuant to this Agreement and Marketer
and Company agree not to divulge same to any third party except to the extent,
and only to the extent, required by law, court order or the order or regulation
of an administrative agency having jurisdiction over Company and Marketer. If
required to be disclosed, then the Party subject to the disclosure requirement
shall (a) notify the other Party immediately and (b) cooperate to the fullest
extent in seeking whatever confidential status may be available to protect any
material so disclosed. The Parties shall be
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entitled to all remedies available at law or in equity to enforce or seek relief
in connection with these confidentiality obligations.
15.2 No Incidental, Consequential or Punitive Damages -
Unless expressly provided for herein, the Parties hereto waive any and all
rights, claims, or causes of action arising under this Agreement for incidental,
consequential, tortious, exemplary or punitive damages. Any damages resulting
from a breach of this Agreement by either Party shall be limited to actual
damages incurred by the Party claiming damages.
15.3 Waiver of Deceptive Trade Practices - MARKETER AND
COMPANY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE NOT "CONSUMERS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE TEXAS
DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES-CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, SUBCHAPTER E OF CHAPTER 17,
SECTIONS 17.41 ET SEQ., AMENDED (THE "DTPA"). THE PARTIES COVENANT, FOR
THEMSELVES TO THE EXTENT DTPA IS APPLICABLE, (A) THE PARTIES ARE "BUSINESS
CONSUMER" THEREUNDER, (B) EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES AND RELEASES ALL OF ITS
RIGHTS AND REMEDIES THEREUNDER (OTHER THAN SECTION 16.55, TEXAS BUSINESS AND
COMMERCE CODE) AS APPLICABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY AND ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
AND (C) EACH PARTY SHALL DEFEND AND INDEMNIFY THE OTHER FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND
ALL OF THEIR AFFILIATES BASED IN WHOLE OR IN PART ON THE DTPA, ARISING OUT OF
OUR IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
15.4 Third-Party Beneficiaries - Neither Company nor
Marketer intend for the provisions of this Agreement to benefit any third party.
No third party shall have any right to enforce the terms of this Agreement
against Company or Marketer.
15.5 Notices - Except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Agreement, every notice, request, statement and invoice provided in this
Agreement shall be in writing directed to the Party to whom given, made or
delivered at such Party's address as follows:
COMPANY:
CAMDEN ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Manager
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MARKETER:
EL PASO MERCHANT ENERGY, L.P.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Camden Gas Manager
Either Company or Marketer may change one or more of its
addresses for receiving invoices, statements, notices and payments by notifying
the other in the manner as provided above. All written notices, requests,
statements and invoices shall be considered transmitted at the time of delivery,
if hand delivered, or, if delivered by mail, on the second working Day after
mailing; if transmitted by telephone or other oral means or by telecopy or other
form of electronic or telegraphic communication, all such notices shall be
considered transmitted at the time of oral communication or at the time the
telecopy or other form of electronic or telegraphic communication was sent.
15.6 Choice of Law - THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE LAW OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS SHALL CONTROL CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, VALIDITY AND/OR
ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT, EXCLUSIVE OF THE CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH
LAWS.
15.7 Assignment - All provisions of this Agreement shall
extend to and be binding on the successors and assigns of the Parties hereto
insofar as applicable to the rights and obligations succeeded to or assigned,
but no succession or assignment shall relieve the assigning or succeeded to
Party of its obligations without the written consent of the other Party, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Nothing in this Section 15.7
prevents either Party from pledging or mortgaging all or any part of such
Party's property as security. Except with regard to any sale associated with a
foreclosure by the Lenders pursuant to the Financing Agreements, Company shall
require any purchaser or lessee of Company's Facility to assume the obligations
under this Agreement to the extent so directed by Marketer.
15.8 Entire Agreement - The terms and conditions
contained in this Agreement, along with any confirmation letters, exhibits,
schedules or other agreements entered into by the Parties to document a
Transaction under this Agreement constitute the full and complete agreement
between the Parties and any change to be made must be submitted in writing and
agreed to by both Parties. If there is any conflict between this Agreement and
any confirmation letter, then the terms of the confirmation letter shall govern.
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15.9 Recording of Transaction - The Parties agree that
(i) each may electronically record all telephone conversations between them
relating to any Transaction, (ii) each waives any further notice of such
monitoring or recording, and agrees to notify its officers and employees of such
monitoring or recording and to obtain any necessary consent of such officers and
employees and an electric recording of the oral agreement of the Parties maybe
used as evidence of to the terms set forth in a confirmation letter.
15.10 Severability - Except as otherwise stated herein,
any article or section declared or rendered unlawful by a court of law or
regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Parties or deemed unlawful
because of a statutory change will not otherwise affect the lawful obligations
that arise under this Agreement.
15.11 Enforceability - Each Party represents that it has
all necessary power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations
under this Agreement and that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of that Party enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, except as such enforceability may be affected by any bankruptcy law or
the application of principles of equity.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which is an original, as of the date first written above.
CAMDEN ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
EL PASO MERCHANT ENERGY, L.P.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice-President
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EXHIBIT A
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
1.1 Definitions - Unless expressly stated otherwise, the
following terms as used in this Agreement shall mean:
Affiliate means, with respect to any person, any other person
(other than an individual) that, directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such person. For purposes of the foregoing definition, "control" means the
direct or indirect ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding
capital stock or other equity interests having ordinary voting power.
Annual Period means the one (1) year period commencing on
January 1 of each year; provided, however, that the first Annual Period shall
commence on the Effective Date and the last Annual Period shall end on the last
day of the term of this Agreement.
Btu means British Thermal Unit(s) which shall mean that amount
of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one avoirdupois pound of
water from fifty-nine-degrees Fahrenheit (59 degrees F) to sixty-degrees
Fahrenheit (60oF) at standard atmospheric pressure, as determined on a dry
basis. All prices and charges paid under this Agreement shall be computed on a
"dry" Btu basis. Any indices reported will be converted on a dry basis before
being utilized.
Camden Power Marketing Agreement means the Camden Power
Marketing Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between El Paso Merchant
Energy, L.P. and Mesquite Investors, L.L.C.
Company means Camden ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇.
CPI means the "Consumer Price Index" for all Items for the
Houston Metropolitan Area, as published monthly in the "Monthly Labor Review" of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. If at
any time the Consumer Price Index is no longer used, the term "CPI" shall mean
an index comparable to the Consumer Price Index and published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the United States of Labor.
Day means the period of time defined as "Day" or "daily" in
the effective tariff or other operating rules, policies or procedures applicable
to transportation service hereunder.
Delivery Point means the Receipt Point, as such term is
defined in the Transportation Contract.
Effective Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section
9.1.
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Event of Default shall have the meaning set forth in Section
14.2.
Facility shall have the meaning set forth in the first recital
of this Agreement.
FERC means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any
regulatory agency succeeding to substantially all of the authority of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with respect to gas service.
Financing Agreements means any agreements with one or more
Lenders pursuant to which Financing or refinancing is obtained for the Facility.
Force Majeure shall have the meaning set forth in Section
12.3.
Fuel Oil means No. 2 distillate oil, kerosene or jet fuel.
Gas means casinghead gas, natural gas from gas ▇▇▇▇▇, and
residue gas resulting from processing casinghead gas and gas well gas.
Lenders means any financial institutions or other lenders that
provide capital in connection with financing or refinancing of the Facility.
Marketer means El Paso Merchant Energy, L.P.
MMBtu shall mean one million (1,000,000) Btus.
New Taxes shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.
Price means the price paid for Gas in accordance with this
Agreement.
PSE&G means Public Service Electric and Gas Company.
Supply Basin means any location which (a) represents liquid
and transparent pricing points at which Marketer can, on a consistent basis
using reasonable efforts, purchase and sell Gas supplies and trade financial
derivatives thereof and (b) are points from which firm service or the functional
equivalent is readily available from the pricing point to the Facility.
Tax(es) means any tax levied, assessed or claimed to be due by
any federal, state, county, tribal or municipal government or any other
governmental agency having jurisdiction to do so.
Transaction means a particular, specifically agreed-to
purchase or sale of Gas for delivery or receipt to be performed under this
Agreement.
Transportation Contract shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1 hereof.
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Transporter(s) means Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation
and/or Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corporation.
1.2 Interpretations - Unless expressly provided for
elsewhere in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance
with the following provisions:
(a) Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used
in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine, or neuter
forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the
plural and vice versa.
(b) If a word or phrase is defined, its other grammatical
forms have a corresponding meaning.
(c) A reference to a person, corporation, trust, partnership,
or other entity includes any of them.
(d) The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
(e) All references in this Agreement to articles,
sections or subdivisions thereof shall refer to the corresponding article,
section or subdivision thereof of this Agreement unless specific reference is
made to such articles, sections, or subdivisions of another document or
instrument.
(f) A reference to any agreement or document (including
without limitation a reference to this Agreement) is to the agreement or
document as amended, varied, supplemented, novated or replaced, except to the
extent prohibited by this Agreement or that other agreement or document.
(g) No waiver by either Party of any default by the
other Party in the performance of any provision, condition or requirement herein
shall be deemed to be a waiver of, or in any manner release the other Party
from, performance of any other provision, condition or requirement herein, nor
shall such waiver be deemed to be a waiver of, or in any manner a release of,
the other Party from future performance of the same provision, condition or
requirement. Any delay or omission of either Party to exercise any right
hereunder shall not impair the exercise of any such right, or any like right,
accruing to it thereafter. The failure of either Party to perform its
obligations hereunder shall not release the other Party from the performance of
such obligations.
(h) A reference to any party to this Agreement or another
agreement or document includes the party's successors and assigns.
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(i) A reference to legislation or to a provision of
legislation includes a modification or reenactment of it, a legislative
provision substituted for it and a regulation or statutory instrument issued
under it.
(j) A reference to writing includes a facsimile
transmission and any means of reproducing words in a tangible and permanently
visible form.
(k) The words "hereof," "herein" and "hereunder" and
words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and
article, section, subsection, schedule and exhibit references are to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified.
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