FORM 10-K

                      Securities and Exchange Commission
                            Washington, D.C. 20549



    [ X ] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
                             Exchange Act of 1934

                 For the fiscal year ended DECEMBER 31, 1996

                                      OR

   [ ] Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
                             Exchange Act of 1934

         For the transition period from ____________ to ____________



                        Commission file number 1-1217



                Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                             New York 13-5009340
        (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



                   4 Irving Place, New York, New York 10003
             (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)



                Registrant's telephone number: (212) 460-4600





                                       2






Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                         Name of each exchange
Title of each class                                       on which registered

Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.,
7 3/4% Quarterly Income Capital Securities (Series A     New York Stock Exchange
   Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures)
$5 Cumulative Preferred Stock, without par value         New York Stock Exchange
Cumulative Preferred Stock, 4.65% Series C               New York Stock Exchange
     ($100 par value)
Cumulative Preference Stock, 6% Convertible Series B
    ($100 par value)                                     New York Stock Exchange
Common Stock ($2.50 par value)                           New York, Chicago and
                                                         Pacific Stock Exchanges
Kings County Electric Light and Power Company,
Purchase Money, 6%, 99 Years Gold Bonds, due             New York Stock Exchange
   due October 1, 1997 (non-callable)


Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Title of each class

Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., Cumulative Preferred Stock,
   4.65% Series D ($100 par value)


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

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

      The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of
the registrant,  as of January 31, 1997, was $7,414,319,109.  Excluded from this
figure is  $1,862,666  representing  the market value of 60,086 shares of Common
Stock held by the registrant's Trustees  (directors).  The registrant's Trustees
are the only stockholders of the registrant,  known to the registrant, who might
be deemed "affiliates" of the registrant.

      As of February 28, 1997, the registrant had outstanding 235,004,373 shares
of Common Stock.

                     Documents Incorporated By Reference

      Portions of the  registrant's  Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders,  to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not
later than 120 days  after  December  31,  1996,  the close of the  registrant's
fiscal year, are incorporated in Part III of this report.



                                       3







                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                       Page
PART I

ITEM 1.  Business                                                           4
ITEM 2.  Properties                                                        20
ITEM 3.  Legal Proceedings                                                 23
ITEM 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders              None

Executive Officers of the Registrant                                       31


PART II

ITEM 5.  Market for the Registrant's Common Equity
               and Related Stockholder Matters                             36
ITEM 6.  Selected Financial Data                                           36
ITEM 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
               Financial Condition and Results of Operations               37
ITEM 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                       47
ITEM 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
               on Accounting and Financial Disclosure                     None


PART III

ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant                 *
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation                                             *
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management     *
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                     *


PART IV

ITEM 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K   69


SIGNATURES                                                                 79

- -------------------
*Incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 19, 1997.




                                       4






PART I


ITEM 1.     BUSINESS

Contents of Item 1                                                       Page

THE COMPANY                                                                4
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS                                                          5
ELECTRIC OPERATIONS                                                        5
GAS OPERATIONS                                                             8
STEAM OPERATIONS                                                          10
COMPETITIVE BUSINESSES AND COMPETITION                                    11
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND FINANCING                                        11
FUEL SUPPLY                                                               12
REGULATION AND RATES                                                      14
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS AND RELATED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS                       15
GENERAL                                                                   17
EMPLOYEES                                                                 17
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT                                                  17
OPERATING STATISTICS                                                      18


THE COMPANY

      Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (the Company),  incorporated
in New York  State in 1884,  supplies  electric  service in all of New York City
(except part of Queens) and most of Westchester  County,  an  approximately  660
square  mile  service  area with a  population  of more than 8 million.  It also
supplies gas in Manhattan,  The Bronx and parts of Queens and  Westchester,  and
steam in part of Manhattan.  State and municipal  customers within the Company's
service  territory  receive  electric  service from the New York Power Authority
(NYPA) through the Company's facilities.

      The New York State Public Service  Commission  (PSC),  by order issued and
effective May 20, 1996 in its "Competitive Opportunities" proceeding, endorsed a
fundamental  restructuring  of the electric  utility industry in New York State,
based on  competition  in the  generation  and  energy  services  sectors of the
industry.  On March  13,  1997,  Con  Edison  and the PSC staff  entered  into a
settlement  agreement with respect to this proceeding.  The settlement agreement
is subject to PSC approval.  For information about the settlement  agreement and
changes  to  the  Company's  business,  see  "Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources
Competition  and  Restructuring  and PSC  Settlement  Agreement  " in Item 7 and
"Competitive Businesses," below.

      This report includes forward-looking  statements,  which are statements of
future  expectation  and  not  facts.  Words  such  as  "estimates,"  "expects,"
"anticipates,"   "plans,"  and  similar  expressions  identify   forward-looking
statements.  Actual results or developments  might differ  materially from those
included  in  the   forward-looking   statements  because  of  factors  such  as
competition and industry restructuring,  changes in economic conditions, changes
in  historical  weather  patterns,  changes in laws,  regulations  or regulatory
policies,  developments  in  legal or  public  policy  doctrines,  technological
developments and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors.



                                       5






INDUSTRY SEGMENTS

      In 1996,  electric,  gas and steam  operating  revenues were 79.6 percent,
14.6 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, of the Company's operating revenues.
For information on operating  revenues,  expenses and income for the years ended
December 31,  1996,  1995 and 1994,  and assets at those dates,  relating to the
Company's  electric,  gas and  steam  operations,  see  Note J to the  financial
statements in Item 8. For information  about changes to the Company's  business,
see "Liquidity and Capital  Resources - Competition  and  Restructuring  and PSC
Settlement Agreement" in Item 7 and "Competitive Businesses," below.


ELECTRIC OPERATIONS

      ELECTRIC SALES.  Electric  operating revenues were $5.6 billion in 1996 or
79.6 percent of total Company operating revenues.  The percentages were 82.5 and
80.6,  respectively,  in the  two  preceding  years.  Electricity  sales  in the
Company's service area in 1996,  including usage by customers served by NYPA and
the New York  City and  Westchester  County  municipal  electric  agencies,  but
excluding  off-system  sales,  increased 0.8 percent from 1995, after increasing
0.7 percent and 2.0 percent,  respectively,  in the two preceding  years.  After
adjusting for  variations,  principally  weather and billing  days,  electricity
sales volume  increased 0.9 percent in 1996, 1.2 percent in 1995 and 1.5 percent
in 1994.  Weather-adjusted  sales represent the Company's  estimate of the sales
that would have been made if historical average weather conditions had occurred.

      In 1996,  79.8  percent  of the  electricity  delivered  in the  Company's
service  area was sold by the  Company to its  customers,  and the  balance  was
delivered to customers of NYPA and municipal electric agencies. Of the Company's
sales, 29.2 percent was to residential customers, 66.9 percent was to commercial
customers,  2.2  percent  was to  industrial  customers  and the  balance was to
railroads and public authorities.

      For  further  information  about  amounts of  electric  energy  sold,  see
"Operating  Statistics,"  below.  For  information  about the Company's  current
electric rate  agreement,  see "Liquidity and Capital  Resources - 1995 Electric
Rate  Agreement" in Item 7. For  information  about changes that will permit the
Company's  customers to choose alternative energy suppliers,  see "Liquidity and
Capital Resources - Competition and Restructuring and PSC Settlement  Agreement"
in Item 7.


      ELECTRIC  SUPPLY.  The Company  either  generates  the electric  energy it
sells,  purchases  the energy from other  utilities  or  non-utility  generators
(NUGs, sometimes referred to as independent power producers or IPPs) pursuant to
long-term firm power contracts or purchases non-firm economy energy.



                                       6






      The sources of electric  energy  generated and purchased  during the years
1992-1996 are shown below:

                                  1992     1993     1994     1995     1996

Generated:
  Fossil-Fueled* ...........      42.3%    35.5%    30.9%    30.1%    22.7%
  Nuclear (Indian Point 2) .      20.4%    14.8%    18.4%    10.8%    17.7%
Total Generated ............      62.7%    50.3%    49.3%    40.9%    40.4%

Firm Purchases:
  NYPA .....................       4.8%     6.0%     1.3%     1.3%     2.0%
  Hydro-Quebec .............       2.9%     4.3%     4.8%     5.8%     6.0%
  Non-Utility Generators ...       8.9%    11.9%    12.9%    29.9%    29.5%
Other Purchases* ...........      20.7%    27.5%    31.7%    22.1%    22.1%
Total Purchased ............      37.3%    49.7%    50.7%    59.1%    59.6%

Generated & Purchased ......       100%     100%     100%     100%     100%
- -----
*  For 1996 and 1995, includes electricity generated for others. See "Gas
Conversions" and "Operating Statistics", below.

      For further  information  about amounts of electric  energy  generated and
purchased,  see  "Operating  Statistics",   below.  For  information  about  the
Company's   generating   facilities,   see  "Electric  Facilities  -  Generating
Facilities"  in Item 2.  For  information  about  divestiture  of the  Company's
generating  capacity,  see  "Liquidity  and Capital  Resources - PSC  Settlement
Agreement" in Item 7. For information about the Company's  purchases of electric
energy, see "NYPA",  "Hydro-Quebec",  "Non-Utility Generators",  "New York Power
Pool" and "Gas Conversions", below.


ELECTRIC PEAK LOAD AND CAPACITY. The electric peak load in the Company's service
area occurs during the summer air  conditioning  season.  The 1996 one-hour peak
load in the Company's  service area (which  occurred on July 18, 1996) was 9,788
thousand  kilowatts  (MW).  The record  peak load for the  service  area,  which
occurred  on August 2,  1995 was  10,805  MW.  The 1996  peak load  included  an
estimated 8,158 MW for the Company's customers and 1,630 MW for NYPA's customers
and  municipal  electric  agency  customers.  The  1996  peak,  if  adjusted  to
historical design weather  conditions,  would have been 10,950 MW, 100 MW higher
than the peak in 1995 when similarly adjusted. The Company estimates that, under
design  weather  conditions,  the 1997  service  peak load  would be 11,050  MW,
including  9,300  MW for  the  Company's  customers.  "Design  weather"  for the
electric  system is a standard  to which the actual  peak load is  adjusted  for
evaluation.

      The capacity resources available to the Company's service area at the time
of the system peak in the summer of 1996 totaled (before  outages) 13,635 MW, of
which 10,362 MW represented  net available  generating  capacity  (including the
capacity of NYPA's  Poletti and Indian  Point 3 units) and 3,273 MW  represented
net firm  purchases  by the  Company  and  NYPA.  The  Company  expects  to have
sufficient electric capacity available to meet the requirements of its customers
in 1997. For information about the Company's  capacity reserve margin,  see "New
York Power Pool", below.



                                       7






      For  information   about  the  Company's   generating,   transmission  and
distribution  facilities,  see "Electric  Facilities" in Item 2. For information
about  divestiture  of the Company's  generating  capacity,  see  "Liquidity and
Capital  Resources - PSC Settlement  Agreement" in Item 7. For information about
the  Company's  plans  to meet  its  requirements  for  electric  capacity,  see
"Liquidity and Capital Resources - Electric Capacity Resources" in Item 7.


      NYPA.  NYPA  supplies  its  customers in the  Company's  service area with
electricity from its Poletti  fossil-fueled unit in Queens, New York, its Indian
Point 3 nuclear unit in Westchester  County and other NYPA sources.  Electricity
is delivered to these NYPA  customers  through the  Company's  transmission  and
distribution facilities, and NYPA pays a delivery charge to the Company. NYPA is
contractually  obligated to the Company to provide the  capacity  needed to meet
the present and future  electricity  requirements of its customers,  except that
upon 17 years' prior  notice to the  Company,  NYPA may elect not to provide for
future growth of its customers' requirements.

      The Company purchases portions of the output of Poletti and Indian Point 3
on  a  firm  basis.  The  Company  also  purchases  firm  capacity  from  NYPA's
Blenheim-Gilboa  pumped-storage  generating  facility in upstate  New York.  The
Company and NYPA also sell to each other energy on a non-firm basis.


      HYDRO-QUEBEC.  The Company has an agreement with NYPA to purchase, through
a contract between NYPA and Hydro-Quebec (a  government-owned  Canadian electric
utility),  780 MW of capacity and associated  kilowatt-hours of energy each year
during the months of April through  October  until October 31, 1998.  The amount
and price of a "basic amount" of energy the Company is entitled to purchase each
year are subject to negotiation  with  Hydro-Quebec and approval by the National
Energy Board of Canada,  a Canadian  regulatory  agency.  However,  the capacity
commitment is firm and the Company may draw upon the capacity in accordance with
the  contract  even if the energy  received  by the  Company  exceeds  the basic
amount,  provided the Company returns the excess energy to  Hydro-Quebec  during
the following  November-through-March  period.  Subject to regulatory approvals,
this contract has been  extended to cover  purchases by the Company of 400 MW of
power during the April-through-October periods of 1999 through 2003.


      NON-UTILITY   GENERATORS.   Federal   and  state   regulations   encourage
competition in the market for generation of electric power. These laws generally
require  electric  utilities to purchase  electric  power from and sell electric
power to qualifying NUGs. The Federal Energy  Regulatory  Commission  (FERC) has
issued  rules  requiring  utilities  to  purchase  electricity  from  qualifying
facilities  at a price equal to the  purchasing  utility's  "avoided  cost." For
information about the Company's  contracts with NUGs, see "Liquidity and Capital
Resources - Electric  Capacity  Resources and Competition and  Restructuring and
PSC  Settlement  Agreement" in Item 7 and Note G to the financial  statements in
Item 8.




                                       8






      NEW YORK POWER POOL. The Company and the other major electric utilities in
New York State,  including  NYPA,  are  members of the New York Power Pool.  The
primary purpose of the Power Pool is to coordinate planning and operations so as
to better assure the reliability of the State's interconnected electric systems.
As a member of the Power Pool,  the Company is required to maintain its capacity
resources (net generating  capacity and net firm purchases) at a minimum reserve
margin of 18% above its peak load,  and to pay penalties if it fails to maintain
the required level. The Company met the reserve  requirement in 1996 and expects
to meet it in 1997. For  information  about a plan to restructure  the wholesale
electric  market  in New  York  State,  see  "Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources
Competition and Restructuring" in Item 7.


      MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC AGENCIES. Westchester County and New York City maintain
municipal electric agencies to purchase electric energy, including hydroelectric
energy from NYPA.  The Company has entered into  agreements  with the County and
City  agencies  whereby the Company is  delivering  interruptible  hydroelectric
energy  from  NYPA's  Niagara and St.  Lawrence  projects to electric  customers
designated by the agencies.  These  agreements may be terminated by either party
upon either one year's prior notice or, in certain circumstances,  upon 10 days'
notice. A similar  agreement,  covering energy from NYPA's  Fitzpatrick  nuclear
plant, provides for termination in 2010. For information on the amount of energy
delivered, see "Operating Statistics," below.


      GAS  CONVERSIONS.  In 1996, the Company,  for a fee,  generated  1,672,603
MWhrs of electric  energy (3.8  percent of the  electric  energy  generated  and
purchased by the Company) for others using as fuel gas that they  provided,  and
subsequently  purchased  1,553,764 MWhrs of such electric energy for sale to the
Company's customers.  In 1995, 3,159,047 MWhrs were so generated (7.0 percent of
the electric energy generated and purchased by the Company),  of which 2,666,837
MWhrs were subsequently purchased by the Company.



GAS OPERATIONS


      GAS  SALES.  Gas  operating  revenues  in 1996 were $1.0  billion  or 14.6
percent of total Company operating revenues. The percentages were 12.4 and 14.0,
respectively,  in the two preceding  years.  Gas sales volume to firm  customers
increased  8.9  percent  in 1996  from  the  1995  level.  After  adjusting  for
variations,  principally  weather,  firm gas  sales  volume  to these  customers
increased  1.9  percent.   Including  sales  to  interruptible   and  off-system
customers, actual sales volume increased 19.0 percent in 1996.




                                       9






      The Company sells gas to its firm gas customers at the Company's cost. The
Company shares with its firm gas customers net revenues (operating revenues less
the cost of gas purchased for resale) from  interruptible gas sales,  off-system
sales and other  "non-core"  transactions.  Regardless of whether the Company or
another  supplier sells the gas to customers in the Company's  service area, the
gas is distributed to the customers through the Company's system of distribution
mains and service  lines.  The customers pay the Company a fee  (reflecting  the
Company's  costs  and a rate of return on the  Company's  investment  in its gas
system) for  distributing the gas. For information  about the Company's  current
gas rate  agreement see  "Liquidity  and Capital  Resources - Gas and Steam Rate
Agreements" in Item 7. For Information  about the Company's gas facilities,  see
"Gas Facilities" in Item 2.

      All of the Company's gas customers,  either  individually  (at least 3,500
dekatherms  per annum) or by aggregating  their demand with other  customers (at
least 5,000  dekatherms  per  annum),  became  eligible in 1996 to purchase  gas
directly  from  suppliers  other than the  Company.  In 1996,  100  large-volume
customers,  with a total usage of approximately 20,000,000 dekatherms per annum,
had contracts  enabling them to purchase gas from other  suppliers.  The Company
sold to these  customers 75 percent of the gas used by them. By the end of 1996,
12 smaller firm gas customers, with a total annual usage of approximately 17,200
dekatherms per annum, had aggregated their demand.  All of the gas used by these
smaller  customers  in  1997  is  expected  to  be  supplied  by  gas  marketers
unaffiliated with the Company.

      The Company enters into off-system sales  transactions such as releases of
pipeline capacity and bundled sales of gas and ancillary services.  Net revenues
from these transactions were $15.1 million in 1996,  compared to $2.5 million in
1995.

      For information on the quantities of gas sold,  transported for others and
used by the  Company as boiler  fuel to  generate  electricity  and  steam,  see
"Operating Statistics" and "Fuel Supply," below.


      GAS REQUIREMENTS.  Firm demand for gas in the Company's service area peaks
during the winter  heating  season.  The design  criteria for the  Company's gas
system assume severe weather  conditions that have not occurred in the Company's
service area since 1934.  Under these criteria,  the Company  estimates that the
requirements to supply its firm gas customers,  together with the minimum amount
essential for its electric and steam  systems,  would amount to 71,400  thousand
dekatherms  (mdth) of gas during the 1996/97  winter heating season and that gas
available to the Company  would amount to 92,300 mdth.  For the 1997/98  winter,
the Company estimates that the requirements would amount to approximately 72,200
mdth and that the gas  available to the Company  would  amount to  approximately
92,300 mdth.  As of March 15, 1997,  the 1996/97  winter peak day sendout to the
Company's  customers  was 798 mdth,  which  occurred  on January 18,  1997.  The
Company estimates that, under the design criteria, the peak day requirements for
firm customers  during the 1997/98  winter season would amount to  approximately
862 mdth and expects that it would have  sufficient  gas available to meet these
requirements.




                                       10






      GAS  SUPPLY.   The  Company  has   contracts  for  the  purchase  of  firm
transportation  and storage services with seven interstate  pipeline  companies.
The Company also has contracts with sixteen pipeline and non-pipeline  suppliers
for the firm  purchase of natural gas. The Company  also has  interruptible  gas
purchase  contracts with numerous suppliers and interruptible gas transportation
contracts with interstate pipelines.  The Company expects to have sufficient gas
supply to meet the requirements of its customers in 1997.



STEAM OPERATIONS


      STEAM SALES.  The Company  sells steam in Manhattan  south of 96th Street,
mostly to large office buildings, apartment houses and hospitals. In 1996, steam
operating  revenues were $405 million or 5.8 percent of total Company  operating
revenues. The percentages were 5.1 and 5.4,  respectively,  in the two preceding
years.  Steam sales  volume  increased  1.9 percent in 1996 from the 1995 level.
After adjusting for variations,  principally weather,  steam sales decreased 0.1
percent.  For information about the Company's current steam rate agreement,  see
"Liquidity and Capital Resources - Gas and Steam Rate Agreements" in Item 7.

      STEAM  SUPPLY.  47.3  percent of the steam sold by the Company in 1996 was
produced in the Company's electric generating  stations,  where it is first used
to  generate  electricity.  2.2 percent of the steam sold by the Company in 1996
was purchased from a NUG. The remainder was produced in the Company's steam-only
generating  units.  For information  about the Company's steam  facilities,  see
"Steam Facilities" in Item 2.

      STEAM PEAK LOAD AND CAPABILITY.  Demand for steam in the Company's service
area peaks during the winter heating  season.  The one-hour peak load during the
winter of 1996/97 (through March 15, 1997) occurred on January 13, 1997 when the
load reached 10.0 million pounds.  The Company  estimates that for the winter of
1997/98  the peak  demand of its steam  customers  would be  approximately  12.2
million pounds per hour under design criteria, which assume severe weather.

      On December 31, 1996,  the steam system had the  capability  of delivering
about 14.2  million  pounds of steam per hour.  This figure does not reflect the
unavailability  or reduced  capacity of  generating  facilities  resulting  from
repair or maintenance.  The Company  estimates that, on a comparable  basis, the
system will have the capability to deliver  approximately 13.1 million pounds of
steam per hour in the 1997/98 winter.





                                       11







COMPETITIVE BUSINESSES AND COMPETITION


      For  information  about  competition in the electricity and gas industries
and additional  information  about the Company's  plans to engage in competitive
businesses,  see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Electric Capacity Resources,
Competition and Industry  Restructuring and PSC Settlement  Agreement" in Item 7
and "Gas Operations - Gas Sales," above.

      ProMark Energy, Inc. and Gramercy Development, Inc, each a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, engage in competitive businesses.

      ProMark  was formed in 1993 to market gas and related  services.  In 1996,
the PSC eliminated its restriction  which had prohibited  ProMark from marketing
gas within the Company's gas service area. In March 1997,  the PSC authorized an
expansion of ProMark's business  activities that will permit ProMark to become a
full-service  provider of energy services  engaging in both wholesale and retail
sales of electricity and gas and related services.

      Gramercy  Development  was  formed  in  late  1996  to  invest  in  energy
infrastructure development projects and to market technical services.

      The financial statements in Item 8 include the accounts of the Company and
its wholly-owned subsidiaries (with intercompany  transactions  eliminated).  At
December  31,  1996,  the  Company's   investment  in  these   subsidiaries  was
approximately $16 million.  The results of operations of these subsidiaries have
not been material.



CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND FINANCING

      For information  about the Company's  capital  requirements and financing,
the refunding of certain securities and the Company's  securities  ratings,  see
"Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Item 7.

      Securities  ratings  assigned by rating  organizations  are expressions of
opinion  and  are  not  recommendations  to buy,  sell  or  hold  securities.  A
securities  rating is  subject  to  revision  or  withdrawal  at any time by the
assigning rating organization.  Each rating should be evaluated independently of
any other rating.






                                       12






FUEL SUPPLY


      GENERAL.  In  1996,  22.1  percent  of  the  electricity  supplied  to the
Company's  customers was obtained by the Company  through  economy  purchases of
energy  produced from a variety of fuels.  Of the remaining 77.9 percent,  which
was either obtained  through firm purchases of energy,  generated by the Company
for its  customers,  or  generated by the Company for others from their fuel and
subsequently  purchased by the Company (see "Electric  Operations",  above), oil
was used to generate 8.7 percent of the  electricity,  natural gas 43.0 percent,
nuclear  power 19.3  percent,  hydroelectric  power 6.0 percent,  and refuse 0.9
percent.  In 1996,  the Company  used oil to produce  63.1  percent,  and gas to
produce 34.7  percent,  of the steam  supplied to the Company's  customers.  The
remaining 2.2 percent was purchased by the Company from a NUG.

      A  comparison  of the cost,  in cents per million Btu, of fuel used by the
Company to generate electricity and steam (excluding  electricity  generated for
others as described under "Gas  Conversions,"  above) during the years 1992-1996
is shown below:
                   1992      1993      1994      1995      1996
Residual Oil ...... 345       352       316       316       441
Distillate Oil .... 501       499       467       399       465
Natural Gas ....... 285       288       255       253       324
Nuclear ...........  43        37        42        51        50
Weighted Average .. 232       243       206       223       255

      The  Company is  prohibited  from using  fuels that do not  conform to the
requirements  of the New York State air pollution  control code and, in the case
of its in-City  plants,  the New York City air  pollution  control  code. In the
City,  the Company is not  permitted to burn coal or to burn  residual  fuel oil
having a sulfur content of more than 0.3 percent.


      RESIDUAL OIL. Based on anticipated  consumption  rates, the Company has an
adequate  supply  of  residual  fuel  oil for its  generating  stations  and the
Company's  shares of  generating  capacity  at the  Roseton  and  Bowline  Point
stations  jointly-owned  by the  Company  and  other  utilities.  See  "Electric
Facilities"  in Item 2. Oil  consumption  rates vary widely from month to month.
The oil burned at Company facilities in 1996,  including the Company's shares of
generating capacity at Roseton and Bowline Point,  totaled 10.4 million barrels.
The Company has contracts for oil supply that have staggered  termination  dates
and has  options  for  additional  oil  supply  sufficient  to cover  all of its
expected  requirements  for residual  oil through  September  1997.  The Company
anticipates covering the balance of its 1997 requirements through new contracts,
exercise of existing contract options and purchases on the spot market.


      NATURAL GAS. During 1996, the Company burned  approximately 89,900 mdth of
gas  for  the  production  of  electricity  and  steam,   including  5,000  mdth
attributable  to the Company's  share of generating  capacity at the Roseton and
Bowline Point stations and 16,700 mdth of gas provided by others.  See "Electric
Operations - Gas  Conversions,"  above.  The Company expects to continue to have
substantial  amounts of gas available in 1997 for the  production of electricity
and steam for its customers.




                                       13






      DISTILLATE OIL. The Company's  estimated 1997  requirements for distillate
oil for gas turbine fuel are about 200,000  barrels.  The Company  expects to be
able to satisfy these requirements through purchases on the spot market.

      COAL.  The  Company  does  not burn  coal.  In  1983,  the New York  State
Department of  Environmental  Conservation  (DEC) ruled on an application by the
Company for permission to convert three electric generating units,  Ravenswood 3
in Queens and Arthur Kill 2 and 3 on Staten  Island,  to  coal-burning.  The DEC
ruled that the Company  would be permitted to burn coal at each location only if
flue gas  desulfurization  (FGD) systems were installed.  The Company's  studies
showed  that it would not be  economical  to  pursue  coal  conversion  with FGD
systems.  However,  the Company has installed  most of the necessary  facilities
(without  FGD  systems)  at  Ravenswood  3 and  Arthur  Kill  3 to  provide  for
coal-burning in emergency circumstances such as an oil supply interruption. Even
in such an  emergency,  a special  permit,  or waiver of existing  restrictions,
would be required to allow the Company to burn coal at these units.


      NUCLEAR FUEL.  The nuclear fuel cycle for power plants like Indian Point 2
consists of (1) mining and milling of uranium ore, (2) chemically converting the
uranium  in  preparation  for  enrichment,   (3)  enriching  the  uranium,   (4)
fabricating  the  enriched  uranium  into  fuel  assemblies,  (5) using the fuel
assemblies in the generating station and (6) storing the spent fuel.

      Contracts  for  uranium  and  conversion  are  in  the  process  of  being
negotiated. The uranium and conversion provided under these contracts,  together
with that already  purchased,  will be sufficient  for the planned 1997 and 1999
refuelings of Indian Point 2.  Arrangements are expected to be completed in 1998
for the  additional  uranium  and  conversion  required  for the  expected  2001
refueling  of Indian  Point 2. The Company has  contracts  covering  most of its
expected  requirements for uranium  enrichment  services and all of its expected
requirements  for fuel  fabrication  services  through the  expiration of Indian
Point 2's operating license in 2013.

      Under normal  operating  conditions,  scheduled  refueling and maintenance
outages  are  generally  required  for  Indian  Point  2  after  each  cycle  of
approximately  22 months of  operation.  A refueling and  maintenance  outage is
scheduled to commence in May 1997.  Mid-cycle inspection and maintenance outages
may also be required.  An unscheduled Indian Point 2 outage commenced on January
25, 1997 and ended on March 15, 1997.

      See  "Nuclear  Decommissioning"  and  "Nuclear  Fuel"  in  Note  A to  the
financial statements in Item 8.

      The Company is one of eleven  utilities  participating  in a private spent
fuel  storage  initiative,   which  plans  to  license  and  build  an  interim,
commercial,  spent  nuclear fuel storage  facility by 2002.  The site  currently
under  consideration is on the Skull Valley Goshute Indian  Reservation in Utah.
Since  1995,  each  participant  has  contributed  approximately  $1 million for
engineering,  licensing  and  legal  studies  for the  preparation  of a license
submittal to the Nuclear  Regulatory  Commission  by the third  quarter of 1997.
Thereafter,  each  participating  utility  will  have an  opportunity  to decide
whether or not to continue its participation in this project. See "Liquidity and
Capital Resources -- Nuclear Fuel Disposal" in Item 7.



                                       14






      The Company disposes of low-level  radioactive  wastes (LLRW) generated at
Indian  Point at the  licensed  disposal  facility  located in  Barnwell,  South
Carolina. Under the 1985 Federal Low Level Radioactive Waste Amendments Act, New
York State was required by January 1996 to provide for permanent disposal of all
LLRW generated in the state.  New York State has not provided for such disposal.
The Company  expects that it will be able to provide for such storage of LLRW as
may be required until New York State  establishes a storage or disposal facility
or adopts some other LLRW management method.


REGULATION AND RATES


      GENERAL.  The New York State Public Service  Commission  (PSC)  regulates,
among other things, the Company's  electric,  gas and steam rates, the siting of
its transmission lines and the issuance of its securities.

      Certain  activities of the Company are subject to the  jurisdiction of the
Federal Energy Regulatory  Commission (FERC). The Nuclear Regulatory  Commission
(NRC)  regulates the  Company's  nuclear  units.  In addition,  various  matters
relating to the  construction  and  operation of the  Company's  facilities  are
subject to regulation by other governmental agencies.

      For  information  about changes in regulation  affecting the Company,  see
"Liquidity and Capital Resources - Competition and Industry Restructuring and
PSC Settlement" in Item 7.

      ELECTRIC,  GAS and STEAM RATES.  The Company's rates are among the highest
in the country.  For information  about the Company's  rates, see "Liquidity and
Capital Resources - 1992 Electric Rate Agreement,  1995 Electric Rate Agreement,
PSC Settlement Agreement and Gas and Steam Rate Agreements" in Item 7.

      New York State law requires electric and gas utilities to charge religious
organizations  rates that do not exceed those charged to residential  customers.
In  December  1994,  the Company and the New York  Attorney  General  executed a
settlement  under which the Company admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to provide
refunds to religious  organizations  that had been served under generally higher
commercial rates and transfer affected  customers to the appropriate rates. In a
related  matter,  seven  customers  have sued the  Company in the United  States
District  Court for the Southern  District of New York each claiming that it has
operated as a religious  organization and has been charged  commercial rates for
electric service.  The plaintiffs are seeking $500 million for the class members
in this purported class action.  The Company is opposing  plaintiffs' motion for
class certification and the Company has made a motion for summary judgment.  The
suit is entitled  Brownsville  Baptist Church,  et. al. v.  Consolidated  Edison
Company of New York, Inc.

      STATE ENERGY PLAN.  In October  1994,  the New York State Energy  Planning
Board,  released  its most recent  State  Energy  Plan.  The plan is designed to
provide "an  intelligent  framework for  evaluating the proper course for energy
policy,  environmental  protection and economic development . . . to assure that
New Yorkers will have a safe, affordable and reliable supply of energy that will
promote  future  economic  growth and protect our  environment."  Under New York
State law, any  energy-related  decisions of State  agencies  must be reasonably
consistent  with the plan.  The Energy  Planning  Board has announced that a new
plan will be issued during 1997.




                                       15






ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS AND RELATED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      GENERAL. During 1996, the Company's capital expenditures for environmental
protection  facilities and related studies were  approximately $45 million.  The
Company  estimates  that such  expenditures  will  amount to  approximately  $53
million  in 1997  and  $43  million  in  1998.  These  amounts  include  capital
expenditures  in 1997 and 1998 required to comply with the Federal Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990 and a 1994 consent decree with the New York State  Department
of Environmental Conservation.  See "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Clean Air
Act Amendments" in Item 7 and "Environmental Matters - DEC Settlement" in Note F
to the financial statements in Item 8.

      INDIAN POINT.  The Company  believes that a serious accident at its Indian
Point 2 nuclear unit is extremely unlikely,  but despite  substantial  insurance
coverage,  the losses to the  Company in the event of a serious  accident  could
materially  adversely  affect the  Company's  financial  position and results of
operations.  For  information  about  Indian Point 2 and the  Company's  retired
Indian Point 1 nuclear unit, see "Electric  Operations" and "Fuel Supply Nuclear
Fuel"  above,   "Cooling  Towers"  below,   "Electric  Facilities  -  Generating
Facilities" in Item 2, "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Capital  Requirements"
in Item 7 and Notes A and F to the financial statements in Item 8.

      SUPERFUND. The Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation
and  Liability  Act of 1980  (Superfund)  by its terms imposes joint and several
strict liability,  regardless of fault, upon generators of hazardous  substances
for  resulting  removal and remedial  costs and  environmental  damages.  In the
course of the Company's  operations,  materials are generated that are deemed to
be hazardous  substances under Superfund.  These materials  include asbestos and
dielectric fluids containing  polychlorinated  biphenyls (PCBs). Other hazardous
substances  are  generated  in the  Company's  operations  or may be  present at
Company locations. Also, hazardous substances were generated at the manufactured
gas plants which the Company and its predecessor  companies used to operate. For
additional   information  about  Superfund,   see  "Superfund"  in  Item  3  and
"Environmental Matters - Superfund Claims" in Note F to the financial statements
in Item 8.

      ASBESTOS.   Asbestos  is  present  in  numerous  Company  facilities.  For
information  about asbestos,  see  "Environmental  Matters - Asbestos Claims" in
Note F to the financial  statements in Item 8 and "Gramercy  Park" and "Asbestos
Litigation" in Item 3.

      TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT. Virtually all electric utilities,  including
the Company, own equipment containing PCBs. PCBs are regulated under the Federal
Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. The Company has reduced  substantially the
amount of PCBs in electrical equipment it uses,  including  transformers located
in or near public buildings.

      For information about a claim under the Toxic Substances  Control Act, see
"Toxic Substances Control Act" in Item 3.

      AIR QUALITY. For information about the Federal Clean Air Act amendments of
1990, see "Liquidity and Capital  Resources - Clean Air Act  Amendments" in Item
7.  For  information  about  divestiture  of the  Company's  in-City  generating
capacity,  see "Liquidity and Capital  Resources - PSC Settlement  Agreement" in
Item 7.



                                       16






      The flue gases  from oil  combustion  furnaces,  including  the  Company's
generating  stations,  contain  microscopic  particles  of ash  and  soot.  Some
chemical  constituents of these particles have been designated as "Hazardous Air
Pollutants"  under the Clean Air Act  Amendments  of 1990.  Utility  boilers are
exempt from  regulation as sources of hazardous air pollutants  until the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completes a study of the hazards to
public  health  reasonably  anticipated  to occur as a result  of  emissions  by
electric  generating  units.  In 1996,  the EPA issued an interim  final  report
regarding the study. The report contains no conclusions  concerning the need for
control of hazardous air pollutants from utility facilities.

      In  November  1996,  the EPA  proposed  new ozone and  particulate  matter
standards.  If the new standards are adopted,  the New York State  Department of
Environmental  Conservation  (DEC) will be required to develop an implementation
plan  acceptable to the EPA. The Company cannot predict  whether or in what form
new standards will be adopted.  If the proposed  ozone standard is adopted,  the
Company  does not  expect  that  compliance  with this  standard  would  require
additional  capital  expenditures in excess of the approximately $150 million of
capital expenditures  estimated to be required for compliance with the Clean Air
Act amendments of 1990.  See  "Liquidity  and Capital  Resources - Clean Air Act
Amendments" in Item 7. If the proposed  particulate  matter standard is adopted,
the  Company  expects  that  compliance  with  the new  standard  could  require
additional capital expenditures, the amount of which could be material.

      In March  1991,  the DEC  issued a notice  of  intent  to  prepare a draft
environmental  impact  statement  (DEIS)  concerning  draft DEC regulations that
would establish standards of performance,  effective beginning in the year 2000,
for steam  electric  generating  units that are operated  beyond  their  "useful
design life." The draft regulations define "useful design life" as 45 years from
the date of initial  operation.  All of the Company's steam electric  generating
units in New York City would  reach their  "useful  design  lives" by 2014.  The
draft regulations would impose operating  efficiency  requirements  (heat rates)
that many of these units may not be able to meet, and stringent  nitrogen oxides
and particulate  matter  emissions  limitations.  The DEC has not yet issued the
DEIS.  The  Company is unable to predict  the final form of the  regulations  or
whether the DEC will ultimately adopt such regulations.

      The New York City air pollution  control code contains  limitations on the
allowable   sulfur  content  of  fuels  and  on  emissions  of  sulfur  dioxide,
particulate  matter,  oxides of nitrogen  and various  trace  elements.  Certain
provisions of the code, specifically those pertaining to standards for emissions
of  nitrogen  oxides,  may be  impracticable  to meet  at some of the  Company's
generating  stations  located in New York City unless  variances or other relief
from such provisions are granted.

      COOLING  TOWERS.  The  Federal  Clean  Water  Act  provides  for  effluent
limitations,  to be implemented by a permit system, to regulate the discharge of
pollutants,  including  heat,  into United States  waters.  In 1981, the Company
entered into a settlement  with the EPA and others that relieved the Company for
at least 10 years from a proposed regulatory agency requirement that, in effect,
would have  required  that cooling  towers be  installed  at the Bowline  Point,
Roseton and Indian Point units.  In return the Company  agreed to certain  plant
modifications,  operating  restrictions  and other measures and  surrendered its
operating  license for a proposed  pumped-storage  facility that would have used
Hudson River water.



                                       17






      In September  1991,  after the  expiration of the 1981  settlement,  three
environmental interest groups commenced litigation challenging the permit status
of the units  pending  renewal  of their  discharge  permits,  which  expired in
October  1992.  Under  a  consent  order  settling  this   litigation,   certain
restrictions  on the units'  usage of Hudson River water have been imposed on an
interim basis. Permit renewal applications were filed in April 1992, after which
the DEC  determined  that the Company  must submit a DEIS to provide a basis for
determining new permit conditions. The DEIS, submitted in July 1993, includes an
evaluation  of the costs and  environmental  benefits  of  potential  mitigation
alternatives,  one of which is the  installation of cooling towers.  The Company
has  been  participating  with  the  DEC and  several  environmental  groups  in
reviewing  the initial  DEIS.  The review is expected to be  completed  in 1997,
after  which a revised and updated  DEIS will be  prepared  for public  comment.
Pending  issuance of final  renewal  permits,  the terms and  conditions  of the
expired permits continue in effect.

      ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS. Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are found
wherever  electricity is used.  Several  scientific studies have raised concerns
that EMF surrounding  electric  equipment and wires,  including power lines, may
present health risks. In October 1996, the National  Academy of Science issued a
report concluding that "the current body of evidence does not show that exposure
to [EMF] presents a human health hazard." For additional  information about EMF,
see "Environmental  Matters - EMF" in Note F to the financial statements in Item
8.


GENERAL


STATE  ANTITAKEOVER  LAW. New York State law provides that a "resident  domestic
corporation," such as the Company, may not consummate a merger, consolidation or
similar  transaction with the beneficial owner of a 20 percent or greater voting
stock interest in the  corporation,  or with an affiliate of the owner, for five
years after the acquisition of the voting stock interest, unless the transaction
or  the   acquisition   of  the  voting  stock  interest  was  approved  by  the
corporation's  board of directors  prior to the  acquisition of the voting stock
interest.  After the expiration of the five-year period,  the transaction may be
consummated  only  pursuant  to a  stringent  "fair  price"  formula or with the
approval of a majority of the disinterested stockholders.


EMPLOYEES

      The Company had 15,801  employees on December 31,  1996.  For  information
about the  collective  bargaining  agreement  covering  about  two-thirds of the
Company's employees, see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Collective
Bargaining Agreement " in Item 7.


RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

      For information  about the Company's  research and development  costs, see
Note A to the financial statements in Item 8.


                                       18






OPERATING STATISTICS
=======================================================================================================================
                                                                                              
Year Ended December 31                        1996          1995              1994             1993             1992
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELECTRIC Energy (MWhrs)

Generated (a) ........................   17,823,778       18,436,798       20,419,828       20,079,995       24,157,503
Purchased from Others (a) ............   26,178,042       26,700,594       21,036,437       19,813,654       14,360,373
Total Generated and Purchased ........   44,001,820       45,137,392       41,456,265       39,893,649       38,517,876
Less: Supplied without direct charge .           71               71               73               74               75
      Used by Company (b) ............      164,206          165,934          134,940          183,903          173,834
      Distribution losses and
            other variances ..........    2,716,235        2,977,547        2,762,315        2,863,828        2,781,046
Net Generated and Purchased ..........   41,121,308       41,993,840       38,558,937       36,845,844       35,562,921

Electric Energy Sold:
      Residential ....................   10,867,085       10,848,648       10,660,148       10,512,496        9,845,397
      Commercial and Industrial ......   25,725,502       25,492,489       25,511,974       25,118,125       24,680,600
      Railroads and Railways .........       47,004           47,482           47,289           49,542           50,934
      Public Authorities .............      564,363          569,749          554,753          560,836          542,358
Total Sales to Con Edison Customers      37,203,954       36,958,368       36,774,164       36,240,999       35,119,289
Off-System Sales (a) (c) .............    3,917,354        5,035,472        1,784,773          604,845          443,632
Total Electric Energy Sold ...........   41,121,308       41,993,840       38,558,937       36,845,844       35,562,921

Total Sales to Con Edison Customers      37,203,954       36,958,368       36,774,164       36,240,999       35,119,289
Delivery Service to NYPA
      Customers and Others ...........    8,816,873        8,855,790        8,773,155        8,441,624        8,187,292
Service for Municipal Agencies .......      617,293          456,728          413,893          361,854          287,489
Total Sales in Franchise Area ........   46,638,120       46,270,886       45,961,212       45,044,477       43,594,070


Average Annual kWhr Use Per
      Residential Customer (d) .......        4,184            4,188            4,136            4,104            3,872

Average Revenue Per kWhr Sold (cents):
      Residential (d) ................         16.5             16.1             15.8             16.0             15.0
      Commercial and Industrial (d) ..         12.9             12.5             12.2             12.6             12.0



(a) For 1996 and 1995,  amounts generated include 1,672,603 and 3,159,047 MWhrs,
    respectively,  generated  for others,  which is also  included in off-system
    sales. For 1996 and 1995,  amounts purchased include 1,553,764 and 2,666,837
    MWhrs, respectively, of such electric energy that was subsequently purchased
    by the Company. See "Electric Operations Gas Conversions", above.

(b) For 1995, 1993 and 1992,  electric energy used by the Company  includes 436,
    29,233 and 30,859 MWhrs,  respectively,  supplied to NYPA. For 1996 and 1994
    electric  energy  used  by  the  Company  includes  544  and  21,275  MWhrs,
    respectively, received from NYPA.

(c) For 1995, 1994, 1993 and 1992,  off-system sales include 2,825,  350, 2,142,
    and  52,929  MWhrs,  respectively,  which  were  sold to NYPA  and are  also
    included in the Delivery  Service to NYPA.  There were no such sales to NYPA
    in 1996.

(d) Includes Municipal Agency sales.



                                       19





OPERATING STATISTICS
=======================================================================================================================
                                                                                            
Year Ended December 31                        1996            1995            1994             1993             1992
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


GAS (Dth) (a)

Purchased (b) ..........................  219,439,813       217,268,986    208,328,267     214,719,241      221,181,200
Storage - net change ...................   (4,032,224)        9,469,767     (4,410,363)        222,559          752,561
     Used as boiler fuel  at Electric
      and Steam Stations (b) ...........  (84,849,049)     (110,761,124)   (92,680,221)   (108,153,436)    (116,951,577)
Gas Purchased for Resale ...............  130,558,540       115,977,629    111,237,683     106,788,364      104,982,184

Less: Gas used by Company ..............      272,040           237,688        221,715         203,793          153,537
      Off-System Sales & NYPA (c) ......   11,023,023         4,887,971          --              --               --
      Distribution losses
           and other variances .........      176,930         4,654,832      2,443,486       3,998,234        3,856,836
Total Sales to Con Edison Customers ....  119,086,547       106,197,138    108,572,482     102,586,337      100,971,811

Gas Sold (a)
Firm Sales:
      Residential ......................   56,590,018        51,702,329     53,981,416      52,624,331       52,626,406
      General ..........................   42,190,091        39,021,997     39,365,003      37,214,994       36,656,433
      Total Firm Sales .................   98,780,109        90,724,326     93,346,419      89,839,325       89,282,839
Interruptible Sales ....................   20,306,438        15,472,812     15,226,063      12,747,012       11,688,972
Total Sales to Con Edison Customers ....  119,086,547       106,197,138    108,572,482     102,586,337      100,971,811
Transportation of Customer-Owned Gas:
      NYPA .............................    4,966,983        24,972,796     14,546,325      15,965,084       19,892,008
      Other ............................    5,011,124         5,388,393      3,823,176       4,926,565        5,556,433
Off-System Sales .......................   11,293,425         3,376,375         --              --                --
Total Sales and Transportation .........  140,358,079       139,934,702    126,941,983     123,477,986      126,420,252


Average Revenue Per Dth Sold (a):
      Residential ......................       $10.00            $ 9.43         $ 9.85          $ 9.27           $ 8.41
      General ..........................       $ 7.15            $ 6.38         $ 7.05          $ 6.71           $ 6.03



STEAM Sold (Mlbs): .....................   29,995,762        29,425,780     30,685,155      29,394,335       29,381,922

Average Revenue per Mlbs Sold ..........       $13.34            $11.35         $11.10          $11.06           $10.63


CUSTOMERS - Average for Year
Electric ...............................    3,001,870         2,994,447      2,980,026       2,964,716        2,950,614
Gas ....................................    1,035,528         1,034,784      1,031,675       1,028,048        1,026,546
Steam ..................................        1,932             1,945          1,964           1,973            1,970




(a) Does not include amounts for the Company's gas marketing subsidiary.  See
    "Competitive Businesses and Competition," above.

(b) For  1996 and  1995,  gas  used as  boiler  fuel  includes  16,739,188  and
    31,706,551 Dth, respectively, provided by others. See "Electric Operations -
    Gas Conversions," above.

(c) For 1996 and 1995,  includes  173,388 and 1,305,730 Dth,  respectively,  for
    balancing transactions with NYPA.


20 ITEM 2. PROPERTIES At December 31, 1996, the capitalized cost of the Company's utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, (and excluding $101.5 million of nuclear fuel assemblies) was as follows: Net Capitalized Cost Percentage of Classification (millions of dollars) Net Utility Plant In Service: Electric: Generation .......... $ 1,696.1 15% Transmission ........ 1,127.3 10% Distribution ........ 5,237.7 48% Gas ...................... 1,275.5 12% Steam .................... 445.0 4% Common ................... 837.1 8% Held For Future Use ............ 14.8 -- Construction Work in Progress .. 332.3 3% Net Utility Plant .............. $ 10,965.8 100% ELECTRIC FACILITIES GENERATING FACILITIES. As shown in the following table, at December 31, 1996, the Company's net maximum generating capacity (on a summer rating basis) was 8,333 MW, without reduction to reflect the unavailability or reduced capacity at any given time of particular units because of maintenance or repair or their use to produce steam for sale. For information about the electric energy purchased by the Company, see "Electric Operations" in Item 1. For information about divestiture of the Company's generating capacity, see "Liquidity and Capital Resources - PSC Settlement Agreement" in Item 7. Generating Net Generating Capacity Percentage of Electric Stations at December 31, 1996 Energy Generated and (Megawatts-Summer Rating) Purchased in 1996* Fossil-Fueled: Ravenswood (3 Units) ...... 1,742 7.9% Astoria (3 Units) ......... 1,075 7.1% Arthur Kill (2 Units) ..... 826 1.6% East River (2 Units) ...... 300 0.7% Bowline Point (2 Units) - two-thirds interest 808 1.3% Roseton (2 Units) - 40% interest ....... 480 1.4% Other (4 Units) ........... 231 1.6% Subtotal ............... 5,462 21.6% Nuclear - Indian Point ....... 931 17.7% Gas Turbines (39 Units) ...... 1,940 1.1% Total .................. 8,333 40.4% * Includes electricity generated for others. See "Electric Operations - Gas Conversions" in Item 1. 21 The Company's generating stations are located in New York City with the exception of the Indian Point nuclear station in Westchester County, New York; the Bowline Point station in Rockland County, New York; and the Roseton station in Orange County, New York. The Company's fossil-fueled plants burn natural gas or residual oil. Most of the gas turbines burn distillate oil. Certain units have the capability to burn either natural gas or oil, and certain units can be converted to burn coal. See "Fuel Supply" in Item 1. For information about the Company's Indian Point 2 nuclear unit, see "Electric Operations", "Fuel Supply - Nuclear Fuel", "Environmental Matters and Related Legal Proceedings - Indian Point and Cooling Towers" in Item 1, "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Capital Requirements" in Item 7 and Notes A and F to the financial statements in Item 8. The Company's electric and steam generating stations are held in fee with the following exceptions: (i) Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) has a one-third interest and the Company has a two-thirds interest as tenants in common in the Bowline Point station, which is operated by O&R; (ii) Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation (Central Hudson) has a 35 percent interest, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (Niagara Mohawk) has a 25 percent interest and the Company has a 40 percent interest as tenants in common in the Roseton station (which is operated by Central Hudson), with Central Hudson having the right to acquire the Company's interest in 2004; and (iii) the Company leases from trusts in which it owns the remainder interests certain gas turbine generating facilities of which the Company can assume direct ownership upon expiration of the leases in 1997. TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. The Company has transmission interconnections with Niagara Mohawk, Central Hudson, O&R, New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, Connecticut Light and Power Company, Long Island Lighting Company, NYPA and Public Service Electric and Gas Company. The Company's transmission facilities are located in New York City and Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York State. At December 31, 1996, the Company's transmission system had approximately 432 miles of overhead circuits operating at 138, 230, 345 and 500 kilovolts and approximately 378 miles of underground circuits operating at 138 and 345 kilovolts. There are approximately 267 miles of radial subtransmission circuits operating at 138 kilovolts. The Company's 15 transmission substations, supplied by circuits operated at 69 kilovolts and above, have a total transformer capacity of 15,632 megavolt amperes. At December 31, 1996, the transmission capacity to receive power from outside New York City to supply in-City load during the summer peak period was 4,915 MW. The 1996 one-hour peak load in the Company's service area was 9,788 MW, of which 8,575 MW was for use within the City. The record one-hour peak load in the Company's service area, which occurred in August 1995, was 10,805 MW, of which 9,476 MW was for use within the City. See "Electric Operations - Electric Peak Load and Capacity" in Item 1. In-City load in excess of transmission capacity must be supplied by in-City generating stations. See "Generating Facilities", above. 22 DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES. The Company owns various distribution substations and facilities located throughout New York City and Westchester County. At December 31, 1996, the Company's distribution system had 294 distribution substations, with a transformer capacity of 20,065 megavolt amperes, 32,307 miles of overhead distribution lines and 87,001 miles of underground distribution lines. GAS FACILITIES Natural gas is delivered by pipeline to the Company at various points in its service territory and is distributed to customers by the Company through approximately 4,200 miles of mains and 360,700 service lines. The Company owns a natural gas liquefaction facility and storage tank at its Astoria property in Queens, New York. The plant can store approximately 1,000 mdth of which a maximum of about 250 mdth can be withdrawn per day. The Company has about 1,230 mdth of additional natural gas storage capacity at a field in upstate New York, owned and operated by Honeoye Storage Corporation, a corporation 23 1/3 percent owned by the Company. STEAM FACILITIES The Company generates steam for distribution at five electric generating stations and two steam-only generating stations and distributes steam to customers through approximately 87 miles of mains and 17 miles of service lines. OTHER FACILITIES The Company also owns or leases various pipelines, fuel storage facilities, office equipment, a thermal outfall structure at Indian Point, and other properties located primarily in New York City and Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York State. 23 ITEM 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS SUPERFUND The following is a discussion of significant proceedings pending under Superfund or similar statutes involving sites for which the Company has been asserted to have a liability. The list is not exhaustive and additional proceedings may arise in the future. For a further discussion of claims and possible claims against the Company under the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund) and the estimated liability accrued for certain Superfund claims, see "Environmental Matters and Related Legal Proceedings - Superfund" in Item 1, and "Environmental Matters - Superfund" in Note F to the financial statements in Item 8. MAXEY FLATS NUCLEAR DISPOSAL SITE. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advised the Company by letter, dated November 26, 1986, that it was a potentially responsible party (PRP) under Superfund for the investigation and cleanup of the Maxey Flats Nuclear Disposal Site in Morehead, Kentucky. The site is owned by the State of Kentucky and was operated as a disposal facility for low level radioactive waste from 1963 through 1977 by the Nuclear Engineering Corporation (now known as U.S. Ecology Corporation). EPA's letter alleges that various radionuclides and organic chemicals have been released from the site into the environment. In September 1991, the EPA issued its Record of Decision ("ROD") for the site cleanup program. Phase one of the program requires, among other things, the removal, treatment and on-site disposal of the contaminated leachate that has accumulated in the site's waste burial trenches, the installation of an impervious cover over the waste burial trench area of the site, and the construction of a trench/leachate groundwater monitoring system, erosion controls and storm water drainage systems in that area. Phase two requires a 100-year stabilization period, with periodic monitoring and maintenance of the cover, followed by installation of a permanent cap. In March 1995, the EPA, de minimis PRPs, large private party PRPs (including the Company), large federal agency PRPs and Kentucky entered into consent decrees with respect to the funding and implementation of the cleanup program. Under the consent decrees, which in April 1996 were approved by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the large private party PRPs will implement phase one of the program and any corrective actions required during the first 10 years following completion of phase one to meet the performance standards established in the ROD, and share the costs of those activities with the large federal agency PRPs. Also, if during this ten-year period the EPA determines that horizontal flow barriers are required, the large private party PRPs will construct the barriers and share the cost of that work with the large federal agency PRPs and Kentucky. The large private party PRPs are not responsible for any costs after the ten-year period expires. Kentucky will implement and fund the phase two program. The Company's share of the cleanup costs is estimated to be about $500,000. In addition, if horizontal flow barriers are required during the ten-year period following completion of the phase one program, the Company would be obligated to pay an estimated $10,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and the number of the barriers required by the EPA. 24 CURCIO SCRAP METAL SITE. The EPA advised the Company, in a letter received on August 11, 1987, that it had documented the release of hazardous substances into the environment at the site of Curcio Scrap Metal, Inc. in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, and that the EPA had information indicating that the Company sent hazardous substances (PCBs) to the site. The Company provided the EPA with records that indicated that the Company sold scrap electric transformers to a metal broker who in turn sold them to the owner of the site. A site study indicated that chemical contamination had occurred on a portion of the site. Elevated concentrations of PCBs and various organic compounds and metals were detected in the soil and PCBs, organic compounds and various metals were also detected in the shallow groundwater beneath the site. On September 30, 1991, the EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order which required the Company and three other PRPs to commence a soil cleanup of this site pursuant to the EPA's Record of Decision, dated June 28, 1991. This soil cleanup has been completed. The EPA has required additional groundwater studies to determine whether the soil cleanup reduced or eliminated the groundwater contamination detected during the site study referred to above. The Company's estimate of the cost of the additional groundwater studies, which are in progress, is $400,000. The EPA has only designated five PRPs for this site and, as a result, the Company will be expected to pay a major share of the cleanup costs. METAL BANK OF AMERICA SITES. The EPA advised the Company by letter dated October 26, 1987 that it had reason to believe that the Company was a supplier of scrap transformers to Metal Bank of America Inc.'s recycling sites in Philadelphia during the late 1960s and thereafter. One of the sites was placed on the EPA's national priority list under Superfund in 1983 as a result of a suspected leak in a storage tank containing PCBs. The EPA alleged that PCBs had been found in the soil and groundwater at the site and in the sediment from areas of a tidal mudflat and the Delaware River along the site's shoreline. The Company provided the EPA with documents which indicate that the Company sold approximately 80 scrap transformers to a broker who, in turn, delivered them to the site and that the Company sold an additional 46 scrap transformers to Metal Bank (which may have salvaged them at the site). Under a steering committee (PRP Group) participation agreement, the Company is responsible for 1.48% of the expense of the remedial investigation and feasibility study, which has been completed under an EPA administrative consent order. The Company's share of the cost of the study was about $80,000. In July 1995, EPA issued its proposed site cleanup plan for public comment. EPA's proposed plan calls for, among other things, the removal and disposal of PCBs and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments in the areas of the tidal mudflat and the Delaware River along the site's shoreline, the construction of a sheet pile wall along the site's shoreline, the removal and off-site disposal of soil in the southern portion of the site that contains 25 parts per million (ppm) or more of PCBs and/or 10,000 ppm or more of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and the removal and off-site disposal of soil that contains more than 10 ppm of PCBs in the northern portion of the site. Although EPA estimated the cost of its plan at about $17.2 million, the PRP Group believes that the plan could cost as much as $28.8 million to implement and has requested EPA to reconsider various aspects of the plan. 25 NARROWSBURG SITE. In 1987, the New York State Attorney General notified the Company that he had evidence that the Company is a PRP under Superfund for hazardous substances that have been released at the Cortese landfill in Narrowsburg, Sullivan County, New York. The Cortese landfill is listed on the EPA's Superfund National Priorities List. Company records indicate that drums containing waste oil were shipped from its Indian Point nuclear station to the Cortese landfill for disposal. Before notifying the Company, the Attorney General commenced an action under Superfund in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Cortese site owner and operator and SCA Services, an alleged transporter of hazardous substances to the site. On January 17, 1989, SCA Services commenced a third-party action for contribution against the Company and five other parties whose chemical waste was allegedly disposed of at the site. In 1990, SCA served a second amended third-party complaint in which it sued the Company and 27 other third-party defendants for contribution. The Company and SCA Services have reached a settlement of the third-party action under which the Company paid $114,485 toward the cost of the site environmental studies conducted by SCA and agreed to pay 6 percent of the first $25 million of remedial costs at the site. SCA Services has agreed to indemnify the Company for any other remedial costs and natural resource damages that it has to pay. The EPA has selected a cleanup program for the site that is estimated to cost $12 million. SCA, the Company and various other third-party defendants with which SCA settled entered into a consent decree under which they agree to implement the cleanup program, to pay the EPA's oversight costs for the site and to pay approximately $220,000 for natural resource damages. The consent decree has been approved by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Cleanup work at the site is now in progress. CARLSTADT SITE. On August 20, 1990, the Company was served with a third-party complaint in a Superfund cost contribution action for a former waste solvent and oil recycling facility located in Carlstadt, New Jersey. The complaint, which is pending before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that the Company shipped 120,000 gallons of waste oil to this site and that the Company is one of several hundred parties who are responsible under Superfund for the study and cleanup of the facility. The plaintiffs in the action, which include a group of former customers of the facility, have completed a $3 million remedial investigation and feasibility study for the site. Plaintiffs estimate that 7 to 15 million gallons of waste solvents and oil were recycled at the site and based on this estimate, the Company's share of the cleanup costs would be about 0.8 to 1.7 percent. The costs of the cleanup alternatives that were evaluated in the remedial investigation and feasibility study range from $8 million to $321 million. In 1990, the EPA selected an interim remedy to control releases from the site while the EPA evaluates and develops a final cleanup remedy. The interim remedy called for, among other things, the construction of a slurry wall around the site and an infiltration barrier over the site. EPA estimated that the interim remedy would cost about $3 million to implement. Plaintiffs claim that the interim remedy, which has been completed, cost $10 million. 26 HELEN KRAMER LANDFILL SITE. In September 1991, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) was served with a third-party complaint in a Superfund cost recovery contribution action for the Helen Kramer Landfill Site in Mantau, New Jersey. The third-party plaintiffs are site PRPs that were sued for site cleanup costs by the State of New Jersey. The complaint, which is pending before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that, in 1974, Marvin Jonas, Inc. transported hazardous substances for O&R and disposed of those substances in the Helen Kramer Landfill. Preliminary investigation by O&R indicates that waste materials generated during the construction of the Bowline Point generating station were hauled and disposed of by Marvin Jonas, Inc. in 1974. The Company owns a two-thirds interest in Bowline Point. O&R, which operates Bowline Point, owns the remaining one-third interest. Bowline Point liabilities are shared by the Company and O&R in accordance with their respective ownership interests. The EPA has commenced cleanup of this site and the total site cleanup cost is estimated at $150 million. The third-party plaintiffs have offered to settle with O&R and other third-party defendants. If the settlement is approved by the district court, O&R would pay $15,000 to a site trust fund and the third-party plaintiffs would dismiss their action against O&R and indemnify O&R from claims for site cleanup costs by other parties. GLOBAL LANDFILL SITE. The Company has been designated a PRP under Superfund and the New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act (Spill Act) for the study and cleanup of the Global Landfill Site in Old Bridge, New Jersey. This 57.5-acre municipal and industrial waste landfill is included on the Superfund National Priorities List and is being administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy (NJDEPE) pursuant to an agreement between the EPA and the State of New Jersey. The Company provided EPA with records indicating that it had disposed of approximately ten cubic yards of waste asbestos at the site in February 1984. In August 1989, the NJDEPE served the Company with a Spill Act directive that required the Company and 40 other designated site PRPs to fund a $1.5 million remedial investigation and feasibility study for the site. The Company joined the PRP Group formed for the site and the Group entered into a settlement agreement and an administrative consent order with NJDEPE that, among other things, required the PRP Group's members to contribute $500,000 towards the cost of the study. The Company's share of the PRP Group's payment to the NJDEPE was $5,000. In February 1991, the EPA and the NJDEPE proposed a $30 million interim remedy for the site. This remedy calls for the installation of gas and leachate collection and treatment systems at the landfill and the construction of an impervious cover over the landfill (Phase I). It also calls for further studies to determine the alternatives for addressing groundwater and wetlands contamination in the vicinity of the landfill (Phase II). In March 1991, the NJDEPE served the Company with a second Spill Act Directive that required the Company and the other site PRPs to pay for the implementation of the Phase I remedy for the site. The PRP Group entered into a consent decree with the NJDEPE under which they agreed to implement the Phase I remedy with partial funding to be provided by the NJDEPE. The Company's share of the cost is estimated at $150,000. 27 CHEMSOL SITE. By letter dated December 20, 1991, the EPA advised the Company that it had documented the release of hazardous substances at the Chemsol Site in Piscataway, New Jersey and that it had reason to believe that the Company sent waste materials to the site during the 1960 to 1965 period. In response to EPA's demand for records, including any relating to Cenco Instruments Corp., the Company submitted to EPA records of payments to Central Scientific Company, a Division of Cenco Instruments Corp. during the 1960-1965 period. The Company is unable at this time to determine either the purpose of the payments to Central Scientific Company or the connection of that company to the site. The EPA has not designated the Company as a PRP and has not yet selected a final cleanup program for the site. However, the EPA has selected an interim remedy, expected to cost about $8 million, for the site groundwater contamination and has ordered several designated PRPs to implement that remedy. ECHO AVENUE SITE. In December 1987, the DEC classified the Company's former Echo Avenue Substation Site in New Rochelle, New York as an "Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site." The basis for this classification was the presence of PCBs in the soil and in the buildings on the site. Although the Company has cleaned up the PCBs on the site, the DEC requires a thorough site survey before it will remove the site from the Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site list. Under a consent order with the DEC, a new site survey was done and remedial action taken. The cost to the Company of this additional work was $213,000. The Company demolished its building on this site, and expects to incur approximately $1 million in additional cleanup expenses. In January 1992, the owners of Echo Bay Marina filed suit in Federal court alleging that PCBs were being discharged from the Echo Avenue site into Long Island Sound. Plaintiffs sought $24 million for personal injuries and property damages, a declaration that the Company is in violation of the Clean Water Act, civil penalties of $25,000 per day for each violation, remediation costs, an injunction against further discharges and legal fees. In December 1994, the court dismissed plaintiffs claims for property damage, including loss of business. Pretrial discovery on the remaining claims is continuing. In October 1996, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the personal injury claims. PCB TREATMENT, INC., SITES. On September 30, 1994, the Company received a letter from the EPA indicating that it had been identified as a PRP for the PCB Treatment, Inc. (PTI) Sites in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. The sites -- a vacant, five-story building and a partially-occupied, seven-story building -- were used by PTI from 1982 until 1987 for the storage, processing, and treatment of PCB-containing electric equipment, dielectric oils, and materials. According to the EPA, the buildings' floor slabs and ceilings and the soil areas outside the buildings' loading docks are contaminated with PCBs. The EPA has developed a preliminary list indicating that approximately 16.9 million pounds of PCB-contaminated oil, equipment and materials were shipped to the sites. The Company has informed the EPA that it shipped approximately 2.8 million pounds of waste to the sites. The EPA has identified over 700 parties that shipped waste to the sites, including federal agencies which, based on responses to the EPA's information request, appear to be responsible for approximately 7 million pounds of the waste. EPA is continuing to search for additional PRPs. 28 In September 1996, the Company joined a PRP steering committee that is conducting studies at the sites under an EPA consent order and negotiating a cost sharing agreement with federal agency PRPs. Based on preliminary information, the Company currently believes that its share of the study and remediation costs could exceed $5 million. PELHAM MANOR SITE. Prior to 1968, the Company and its predecessor companies operated a manufactured gas plant on a site located in Pelham Manor, Westchester County, which is now used for a shopping center. Soil and groundwater tests by the current owners and lessees indicate the presence of hazardous substances which are associated with the manufactured gas process. The Company has agreed to participate with the site owners and lessees in further site studies to develop and implement a cleanup plan that will be acceptable to the DEC. The site lessee and the DEC are negotiating the scope of the site studies, which will be funded in major part by the Company. ASTORIA SITE. The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act delegates to the states licensing authority for PCB storage. As a condition to renewal by the DEC of the Company's permit to store PCBs at the Company's Astoria generating station in Queens, New York, the Company is required to conduct a site investigation and, where necessary, a remediation program. The site investigation commenced in April 1994 and is scheduled to be completed in late 1997. The cost of the investigation is estimated at approximately $5 million. A portion of the investigation has been completed and reports thereon, indicating PCB-contamination of portions of the site, have been submitted to the DEC and the New York State Department of Health for the determination of the remediation action that may be required. Depending on the remediation required, the costs of remediation could be material. HUNTS POINT SITE. In September 1994, the City of New York notified the Company that it had discovered coal tar on the site of a former Company manufactured gas plant in the Hunts Point section of The Bronx. The Company had manufactured gas at that location prior to its sale of the site to the City in the 1960s. The Company has agreed to conduct a site study and to develop and implement a remediation program. However, the Company has not agreed to pay costs not associated with the Company's use of the site. The Company is unable at this time to estimate its exposure to liability with respect to this site. ANCHOR MOTOR SITE. In November 1995, Anchor Motor Freight, Inc. notified the Company that it had discovered coal tar on its site in Westchester County. Anchor requested that the Company remediate the site. A predecessor of the Company had operated a manufactured gas plant at that location prior to the 1940's. The Company has conducted preliminary sampling at the site and found coal tar beneath the areas formerly occupied by the manufactured gas plant. Material closely resembling the coal tar at the site has also been found in the Hudson River along the bulkhead of an asphalt plant located between the site and the river and beneath portions of the asphalt plant property. The Company has assumed responsibility for maintaining a boom in the river around the area of bulkhead and will develop a cleanup program for the coal tar contamination under an agreement with the DEC. The cost of the cleanup program could exceed $8 million if the DEC requires the Company to excavate all of the coal tar present on the site. 29 PORT REFINERY SITE. The EPA notified the Company by letter, dated October 21, 1996, that it is a PRP for the Port Refinery Superfund Site in Rye Brook, NY. According to the EPA, Port Refinery Company used the site for the reprocessing and repackaging of mercury and caused extensive contamination which the EPA has cleaned up at a cost of approximately $4.5 million. In its letter, the EPA demands reimbursement of its costs from the Company and the 58 other site PRPs that the EPA has identified. Based on the documents provided by the EPA, it appears that the Company shipped 60 pounds of mercury to Port Refinery. In January 1997, the Company entered into a consent decree under which it agreed to pay approximately $2,000 as its share of the EPA's costs. The consent decree will not become effective until it is published for public comment and approved by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT In November 1994, BCF Oil Refining, Inc., a processor and refiner of used oil products and waste containing oil, brought suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and four transporters of waste oil products alleging that the defendants (primarily the Company) caused PCB contaminated waste to be shipped to BCF thereby contaminating its facilities. In addition to the remediation of BCF's facilities under the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the suit sought compensatory damages of not less than $12.5 million from all the defendants and additional punitive damages of not less than $12.5 million from the Company. In February 1997, the court dismissed 24 of BCF's 25 claims and the Company filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the remaining claim. This suit is entitled BCF Oil Refining, Inc. v. Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., et. al. GRAMERCY PARK On August 19, 1989, a Company steam main exploded in the Gramercy Park area of Manhattan, releasing debris containing asbestos into that area. The Company took responsibility for the asbestos cleanup and most of the cost of that cleanup was covered by the Company's insurance. In April 1995, the Company was sentenced to a fine of $500,000 and to three years probation for criminal acts relating to the reporting of the release of asbestos from the steam main explosion. During the probation period, the Company's compliance with environmental laws is being monitored by a court-appointed monitor. DEC PROCEEDING For information about this proceeding, see "Environmental Matters - DEC Settlement" in Note F to the financial statements in Item 8 and "Results of Operations - Other Operations and Maintenance Expenses" in Item 7. 30 ASBESTOS LITIGATION For a discussion of asbestos and suits against the Company involving asbestos, see "Environmental Matters and Related Legal Proceedings - Asbestos" in Item 1, and "Environmental Matters - Asbestos Claims" in Note F to the financial statements in Item 8. The following is a discussion of the significant suits involving asbestos in which the Company has been named a defendant. The listing is not exhaustive and additional suits may arise in the future. MASS TORT CASES. Numerous suits have been brought in New York State and Federal courts against the Company and many other defendants for death and injuries allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos at various Company premises. Many of these suits have been disposed of without any payment by the Company, or for immaterial amounts. The amounts specified in the remaining suits, including the Moran v. Vacarro suit discussed below, total billions of dollars, but the Company believes that these amounts are greatly exaggerated, as were the claims already disposed of. MORAN, ET AL. V. VACARRO, ET AL. On May 9, 1988, the Company was served with a complaint in an action in the New York State Supreme Court, New York County, in which approximately 184 Company employees and their union alleged that the employees were exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos as a result of alleged intentional conduct of supervisory employees. Each of the employee plaintiffs seeks $1 million in punitive damages, unspecified additional compensatory damages, and to enjoin the Company from violating EPA regulations and exposing employees to asbestos without first taking certain safety measures. On May 16, 1988, the complaint was amended to add a claim by each employee plaintiff for $1 million in damages for mental distress. In November 1988, the complaint was amended to add four additional employee plaintiffs. On July 9, 1990, the complaint was amended to add the spouses of 131 plaintiffs as additional plaintiffs and to remove the union as a plaintiff. Each spouse seeks medical monitoring, $1 million for emotional distress and $1 million for punitive damages. On January 19, 1995, the court dismissed the claims of the employee plaintiffs, leaving employee spouses as the only plaintiffs. RATE PROCEEDINGS For information concerning proceedings relating to the Company's rates, see "Regulation and Rates" in Item 1. NUCLEAR FUEL DISPOSAL Reference is made to the information under the caption "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Nuclear Fuel Disposal" in Item 7 for information concerning a joint petition for review brought by the Company and a number of other utilities against the United States Department of Energy. The suit is entitled Northern States Power Co., et al. v. Department of Energy, et al. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS None. 31 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT The names of the executive officers of the Company together with their ages and the positions and offices with the Company held by them as of March 1, 1997, the respective dates they became executive officers and their business experience during the past five years (or since they became executive officers, if earlier) are set forth below. Under the Company's By-laws, officers of the Company are elected to hold office until the next election of Trustees (directors) of the Company and until their respective successors are chosen and qualify, subject to removal at any time by the Company's Board of Trustees. Name, Age, Positions and Offices Business Experience During the Past Five with the Company and Date First Years or Since Becoming an Executive Became an Executive Officer Officer, If Longer Eugene R. McGrath - 55 9/90 to present - Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and President, Trustee Chief Executive Officer, 2/89 to 8/90 - President, Chief Operating and Trustee; Officer and Trustee 9/1/78 10/87 to 1/89 - Executive Vice President Operations and Trustee 9/82 to 9/87 - Executive Vice President - Central Operations 3/81 to 8/82 - Senior Vice President - Power Generation 9/78 to 2/81 - Vice President - Power Generation J. Michael Evans - 51 7/95 to present - Executive Vice President Executive Vice President - - Customer Service Customer Service; 4/95 to 6/95 - Executive Vice President 9/1/91 9/91 to 3/95 - Executive Vice President - Central Operations Charles F. Soutar - 60 7/95 to present - Executive Vice President - Executive Vice President - Central Services Central Services; 2/89 to 6/95 - Executive Vice President - 9/1/77 Customer Service 3/85 to 1/89 - Executive Vice President Central Services 5/80 to 2/85 - Senior Vice President - Construction, Engineering and Environmental Affairs 9/77 to 4/80 - Vice President - Central Services Stephen B. Bram - 54 4/95 to present - Senior Vice President - Senior Vice President - Central Operations Central Operations; 12/94 to 3/95 - Senior Vice President 8/1/79 9/94 to 11/94 - Vice President 12/87 to 8/94 - Vice President - Nuclear Power 9/82 to 11/87 - Vice President- Fossil Power 7/80 to 8/82 - Vice President - Central Substation, System Operations and Technical Services 8/79 to 6/80 - Vice President- Central Substation and System Operations 32 Name, Age, Positions and Offices Business Experience During the Past Five with the Company and Date First Years or Since Becoming an Executive Became an Executive Officer Officer, If Longer Joan S. Freilich - 55 7/96 to present - Senior Vice President Senior Vice President and Chief and Chief Financial Officer Financial Officer; 9/94 to 6/96 - Vice President, Controller 12/1/90 and Chief Accounting Officer 7/92 to 8/94 - Vice President and Controller 12/90 to 6/92 - Vice President - Corporate Planning Mary Jane McCartney - 48 10/93 to present - Senior Vice President Senior Vice President - Gas Gas Operations Operations; 2/93 to 10/93 - Vice President - 12/1/90 Gas Supply 7/92 to 1/93 - Vice President - Gas Business Development 12/90 to 6/92 - Vice President - Queens Peter J. O'Shea, Jr. - 59 1/96 to present - Senior Vice President Senior Vice President and and General Counsel General Counsel; 4/87 to 12/95 - Vice President and 1/1/96 Associate General Counsel, ITT Corporation Horace S. Webb - 56 9/92 to present - Senior Vice President - Senior Vice President - Public Affairs Public Affairs; 1/90 to 8/92 - Vice President - 9/1/92 Communications and Public Affairs, Hoechst Celanese Corp. Archie M. Bankston - 59 6/89 to present - Secretary and Associate Secretary and Associate General General Counsel Counsel; 1/74 to 5/89 - Secretary and Assistant 1/7/74 General Counsel Hyman Schoenblum - 48 3/97 to present - Vice President and Vice President and Treasurer; Treasurer 3/1/97 6/96 to 2/97 - Director - Financial Restructuring 11/93 to 5/96 - Director - Corporate Planning 7/81 to 10/93 - Assistant Controller Lawrence F. Travaglia - 58 3/93 to present - General Auditor General Auditor; 3/1/93 10/80 to 2/93 - Assistant Treasurer John A. Arceri - 54 6/95 to present - Vice President - Energy Vice President - Energy Services Services; 10/93 to 5/95 - Assistant Vice President - 6/1/95 Gas Business Development 3/90 to 9/93 - Assistant Vice President - Electrical Distribution Robert A. Bell - 63 6/81 to present - Vice President - Vice President Research & Research & Development Development; 6/1/81 33 Name, Age, Positions and Offices Business Experience During the Past Five with the Company and Date First Years or Since Becoming an Executive Became an Executive Officer Officer, If Longer Kevin Burke - 46 3/93 to present - Vice President - Vice President - Corporate Corporate Planning Planning; 3/90 to 2/93 - Vice President - Brooklyn 12/1/87 Customer Service 12/87 to 2/90 - Vice President - Construction John F. Cioffi - 63 3/97 to present - Vice President and Vice President and Controller; Controller 7/1/92 10/96 to 2/97 - Vice President, Treasurer & Controller 7/96 to 9/96 - Vice President & Controller 7/92 to 6/96 - Treasurer 6/87 to 6/92 - Assistant Vice President V.Richard Conforti - 58 8/96 to present - Vice President Vice President - Transportation Transportation & Stores & Stores; 7/92 to 7/96 - Assistant Vice President - 8/1/96 Gas Operations 4/91 to 6/92 - General Manager- Gas Operations - Manhattan Richard P. Cowie - 50 3/94 to present - Vice President - Vice President - Employee Employee Relations Relations; 2/91 to 2/94 - Director - Central Customer 3/1/94 Service Charles J. Durkin, Jr. - 53 12/93 to present - Vice President - Fossil Vice President - Fossil Power; Power 9/1/82 1/88 to 12/93 - Vice President - Engineering 9/82 to 12/87 - Vice President - System and Transmission Operations Robert F. Crane - 60 1/97 to present - Vice President - Gas Vice President - Gas Operations Operations 12/1/82 3/94 to 1/97 - Vice President - Fuel Supply 10/93 to 2/94 - Vice President - Gas Supply 2/93 to 10/93 - Vice President - Gas Business Development 4/91 to 1/93 - Vice President - Gas Supply 12/84 to 3/91 - Vice President- Manhattan Division 12/82 to 11/84 - Vice President - Queens Division Vincent J. D'Amelio - 55 2/97 to present - Vice President - Staten Vice President - Staten Island Island Customer Service Customer Service; 4/88 to 1/97 - Director - Customer Service 2/1/97 Sprint Communications Company George J. Delaney - 61 2/96 to present - Vice President - Central Vice President - Central Services Services; 12/78 to 2/96 - Vice President - 5/28/74 Westchester Customer Service 9/74 to 11/78 - Vice President - Bronx Division 5/74 to 8/74 - Vice President - Staten Island Division 34 Name, Age, Positions and Offices Business Experience During the Past Five with the Company and Date First Years or Since Becoming an Executive Became an Executive Officer Officer, If Longer Robert W. Donohue, Jr. - 54 2/94 to present - Vice President - Vice President Queens Customer Service; - Queens Customer Service; 3/90 to 1/94 - Vice President - 3/1/90 Construction Jacob Feinstein - 53 4/91 to present - Vice President Vice President - System - System & Transmission Operations Transmission Operations; 4/1/91 David F. Gedris - 48 2/96 to present - Vice President - Vice President Westchester Customer Service - Westchester Customer Service 2/94 to 1/96 - Vice President - Mantenance 2/1/94 and Construction 7/92 to 1/94 - Assistant Vice President - Power Generation Maintenance 3/90 to 6/92 - Assistant Vice President - Steam Operations Garrett W. Groscup - 56 6/95 to present - Vice President - Brooklyn Vice President Customer Service - Brooklyn Customer Service; 2/94 to 5/95 - Vice President - Energy 12/1/82 Services 4/91 to 1/94 - Vice President - Manhattan Customer Service 1/88 to 3/91 - Vice President - System & Transmission Operations 12/82 to 12/87 - Vice President - Engineering William A. Harkins - 51 2/97 to present - Vice President - Energy Vice President Management - Energy Management; 2/89 to 1/97 - Vice President - Planning and 2/1/89 Inter-Utility Affairs Paul H. Kinkel - 52 2/96 to present - Vice President Vice President- Maintenance and Construction Maintenance and Construction; 12/93 to 2/96 - Vice President- Engineering 5/24/83 12/87 to 12/93 - Vice President - Fossil Power 5/83 to 11/87 - Vice President - Construction M. Peter Lanahan - 52 8/96 to present - Vice President - Vice President Environment, Health and Safety - Environment, Health 5/95 to 8/96 - Vice President - Environmental and Safety; Affairs 5/1/95 1/91 to 4/95 - Manager, General Electric Company 35 Name, Age, Positions and Offices Business Experience During the Past Five with the Company and Date First Years or Since Becoming an Executive Became an Executive Officer Officer, If Longer Richard J. Morgan - 61 12/96 to present - Vice President - Steam Vice President - Steam Operations Operations; 7/92 to 11/96 - Assistant Vice President - 12/1/96 Steam Operations John A. Nutant - 61 2/94 to present - Vice President - Manhattan Vice President - Manhattan Customer Service; Customer Service; 7/92 to 1/94 - Vice President - Queens 5/27/80 Customer Service 9/86 - 6/92 - Vice President - Purchasing 7/80 to 8/86 - Vice President - Environmental Affairs 5/80 to 6/80 - Vice President James P. O'Brien - 49 3/94 to present - Vice President Vice President - Information - Information Resources Resources; 6/89 to 2/94 - Assistant Vice President - 3/1/94 - Employee Relations Stephen E. Quinn - 50 9/94 to present - Vice President - Nuclear Vice President - Nuclear Power; Power 9/1/94 8/88 to 8/94 - General Manager - Nuclear Power Generation Edwin W. Scott - 58 6/89 to present - Vice President and Deputy Vice President and Deputy General Counsel General Counsel; 6/1/89 Minto L. Soares - 60 6/91 to present - Vice President - Bronx Vice President - Bronx Customer Service Customer Service; 6/1/91 Alfred R. Wassler - 52 8/96 to present - Vice President - Vice President - Purchasing; Purchasing 8/15/80 3/94 to 8/96 - Vice President - Purchasing, Transportation and Stores 7/92 to 2/94 - Vice President - Purchasing 8/80 to 6/92 - Treasurer 36 PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS The Company's Common Stock ($2.50 par value) is the only class of common equity of the Company. The Common Stock is traded on the New York, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges. MARKET PRICE RANGE IN CONSOLIDATED REPORTING SYSTEM AND DIVIDENDS PAID ON COMMON STOCK 1996 1995 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dividends Dividends High Low Paid High Low Paid 1st Quarter $34-3/4 $30-7/8 $.52 $28-7/8 $25-1/2 $.51 2nd Quarter 32-3/8 27-3/8 .52 30-7/8 27 .51 3rd Quarter 29-5/8 25-7/8 .52 30-5/8 27-7/8 .51 4th Quarter 30-5/8 27-1/2 .52 32-1/4 28-3/8 .51 As of January 31, 1997 there were 143,820 holders of record of common stock. On January 28, 1997, the Board of Trustees of the Company declared a quarterly dividend of 52-1/2 cents per share of Common Stock which was paid on March 15, 1997 to holders of record on February 19, 1997. ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA Year Ended December 31 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Millions of Dollars) Operating revenues ........... $ 6,959.7 $ 6,536.9 $ 6,373.1 $ 6,265.4 $ 5,932.9 Purchased power .............. 1,272.9 1,107.2 787.5 812.6 606.8 Fuel ......................... 573.3 504.1 567.8 605.2 710.3 Gas purchased for resale ..... 418.3 259.8 341.2 289.7 245.2 Operating income ............. 1,013.6 1,041.4 1,036.2 951.1 880.4 Net income for common stock .. 688.2 688.3 698.7 622.9 567.7 Total assets ................. 14,057.2 13,949.9 13,728.4 13,257.4 11,596.1 Long-term obligations Long-term debt ......... 4,238.6 3,917.2 4,030.5 3,643.9 3,493.6 Capitalized leases ..... 42.7 45.3 47.8 50.4 52.9 Preferred stock subject to mandatory redemption ............. 84.6 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Common shareholders' equity .. 5,727.6 5,522.7 5,313.0 5,068.5 4,886.9 Per common share: Net income ............. $2.93 $2.93 $2.98 $2.66 $2.46 Cash dividends ......... $2.08 $2.04 $2.00 $1.94 $1.90 Average common shares outstanding (millions) ....... 235.0 234.9 234.8 234.0 231.1
37 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Sources of Liquidity Cash and temporary cash investments were $106.9 million at December 31, 1996 compared with $342.3 million at December 31, 1995 and $245.2 million at December 31, 1994. The Company's cash balances reflect, among other things, the timing and amounts of external financing. In December 1996 the Company issued $150 million of five-year floating rate debentures, the interest rate on which is reset quarterly. A portion of the proceeds was used in that month to retire at maturity the $75 million 5.90% Series DD mortgage bonds. The January 1996 retirement at maturity of the $100 million 5% Series CC mortgage bonds and the December 1995 redemption, in advance of maturity, of the $27.4 million of 9.70% debentures were funded from cash balances. In July 1995 the Company issued $100 million 10-year 6-5/8% debentures. In the first quarter of 1994, pursuant to its amended dividend reinvestment plan, the Company issued 478,016 shares of common stock for $14.7 million. The Company amended the plan in 1993 to permit, at the option of the Company, the use of new shares or outstanding shares purchased in the market. In February 1994 the Company issued $150 million of 35-year debentures. In July 1994 the Company issued $150 million of five-year floating rate debentures, the interest rate on which is reset quarterly. In December 1994 the Company issued $100 million of 35-year tax-exempt debt through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). In March 1996 the Company refunded $317 million of certain series of its preferred stock with the proceeds from the issuance of $275 million of 35-year 7-3/4% subordinated deferrable interest debentures (interest payments on which, unlike preferred stock dividends, are tax deductible) and $25 million of cash balances. The net gain on this transaction was offset by an additional provision for depreciation. See Note B to the financial statements. In May 1996 the Company issued $100 million of 30-year 7-3/4% debentures, the proceeds of which were used in June 1996 to redeem, in advance of maturity, $95.3 million of its 9-3/8% debentures. In August 1995 the Company issued $128.3 million of 25-year 6.10% tax-exempt debt through NYSERDA, the proceeds of which were used to redeem, in advance of maturity, a like amount of outstanding 9% tax-exempt debt. The Company's cash requirements are subject to substantial fluctuations during the year due to seasonal variations in cash flow and peak in January and July of each year when the semi-annual payments of New York City property taxes are due. At such times the Company has borrowed from banks for short periods. For 1997 the Company has arranged for bank credit lines amounting to $150 million. Borrowings under the credit lines would bear interest at prevailing market rates. Customer accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible accounts, amounted to $544.0 million, $497.2 million and $440.5 million at December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The increase at year-end 1996 compared to year-end 1995 is primarily attributable to higher fuel billings. In terms of equivalent days of revenue outstanding, these amounts represented 28.6, 27.6 and 27.1 days, respectively. Regulatory accounts receivable recoverable from customers amounted to $45.4 million and $26.3 million at December 31, 1996 and 1994, respectively. Regulatory accounts receivable at December 31, 1995 amounted to a net credit to be refunded to customers of $6.5 million. See Note A to the financial statements. The following is a summary of the balances and activity in regulatory accounts receivable in 1996: 1996 Balance Recoveries Balance Dec. 31, 1996 from Dec. 31, (Millions of Dollars) 1995* Accruals* Customers** 1996* Modified ERAM $(37.7) $10.1 $28.0 $ .4 Electric Incentives Enlightened Energy program 19.7 24.2 (14.8) 29.1 Customer service 4.0 6.1 (4.6) 5.5 Fuel and purchased power 1.9 24.9 (23.3) 3.5 Gas Incentives System improvement 4.6 6.5 (6.2) 4.9 Customer service 1.0 2.7 (1.7) 2.0 Total $ (6.5) $74.5 ($22.6) $45.4 * Negative amounts are refundable; positive amounts recoverable **Negative amounts were recovered; positive amounts refunded. 38 The components of the balance in regulatory accounts receivable at December 31, 1996 are recoverable from customers during 1997 and 1998 under the 1995 electric rate agreement and 1994 and 1997 gas rate agreements discussed below. See, however, "PSC Settlement Agreement." Deferred charges for Enlightened Energy (demand-side management) program costs amounted to $133.7 million, $144.3 million and $170.2 million at December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. These costs are recoverable from customers under the 1992 and 1995 electric rate agreements discussed below. See, however, "PSC Settlement Agreement." The Company's earnings include an allowance for funds used during construction which, as a percent of net income for common stock, was 0.7 percent, 0.8 percent and 1.7 percent in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Interest coverage on the SEC book basis was 4.18, 4.20 and 4.58 times for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The decline in interest coverage in 1995 was due to lower earnings and higher interest charges. The Company's interest coverage continues to be high compared with the electric utility industry generally. The Company's unsecured debentures and tax-exempt debt (which, after the December 1996 retirement at maturity of the last series of the Company's first mortgage bonds, are the Company's senior debt securities) are rated A1, A+ and AA- by Moody's Investor Service (Moody's), Standard and Poor's (S&P) and Fitch Investors Service, respectively. The Company's subordinated debentures are rated A2 by Moody's and A by S&P. Cash flows from operating activities for years 1994 through 1996 were as follows: (Millions of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Net cash flows from operating activities $1,107 $1,276 $1,250 Less: Dividends on common and preferred stock 511 515 505 Net after dividends $ 596 $ 761 $ 745 Net cash flows in 1996 were lower than in 1995 principally due to lower incentive billings and higher costs for recoverable fuel and gas in storage. Net cash flows in 1996 were favorably affected by incentive billings of $50.6 million, offset by the return to customers of $28 million of revenues under the ERAM. Net cash flows in 1995 were favorably affected by incentive billings of $116.5 million, offset by the return to customers of $54 million of revenues under the ERAM. Net cash flows in 1994 were favorably affected by incentive billings of $92.3 million, ERAM billings of $28.9 million and labor productivity improvements resulting in costs estimated to be approximately $51 million less than related amounts reflected in rates. See the table on the previous page for balances in regulatory accounts receivable at December 31, 1996 recoverable from customers in future periods. Capital Requirements The following table compares the Company's capital requirements for the years 1994 through 1996 and estimated amounts for 1997 and 1998: (Millions of Dollars) 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 Construction expenditures $622 $660 $675 $693 $ 758 Enlightened Energy program costs less recoveries (a) (52) (19) (11) (26) 30 Power contract termination costs - net (a) (12) (47) (31) (55) 62 Nuclear decommissioning trust (b) 21 21 21 19 15 Nuclear fuel 57 15 49 13 47 Investment in subsidiaries 52 77 7 2 7 Subtotal 688 707 710 646 919 Retirement of long term debt and preferred stock (c) 200 106 184 11 134 Total $888 $813 $894 $657 $1,053 (a) See discussion below of electric rate agreements. (b) See Note A to the financial statements for discussion of nuclear decommissioning costs. (c) Does not include refundings in advance of maturity, nor the preferred stock refunding in 1996, discussed above. For details of securities maturing after 1998, see Note B to the financial statements. Capital requirements shown above for 1996 were met from internally generated funds and external debt financings of $150 million. The Company expects to finance its capital requirements for 1997 and 1998, including $306 million of maturing securities, from internally generated funds and external financings of about $300 million, most, if not all, of which would be debt issues. In 1997 and 1998 the Company may, from time to time, make short-term borrowings. The estimates for 1997 and 1998 do not reflect the settlement agreement discussed under "PSC Settlement Agreement." The Company is reviewing its capital structure in the light of the Settlement Agreement, and these estimates may change as a result of this review. In addition, these estimates are forward-looking statements. They are statements of future expectation and not facts. Actual results might differ materially from those estimated because of factors such as the continuing development of competition and related rule-making and legislation, weather variations, economic conditions, changes in public policy and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors. 39 Electric Capacity Resources Electric peak load in the Company's service area, adjusted for historical design weather conditions, grew by 100 megawatts (MW) (0.9 percent) in 1996. This growth was due primarily to the improving local economy during 1996. The growth in peak load has been mitigated by the Company's Enlightened Energy program, introduced in 1990, which has helped the Company's customers purchase and install energy-efficient equipment and encourages the efficient use of energy resources. In response to federal and state regulatory policies and requirements for utilities to contract with non-utility generators (NUGs), the Company entered into contracts for the supply of substantial capacity from NUG facilities. Plants with approximately 2,100 MW of such capacity are in commercial operation, and the related charges are reflected in the Company's rates under the 1995 electric rate agreement. As excess generating capacity developed in the Northeast, estimates of future market prices for power declined. Since 1993 the Company has entered into agreements to terminate NUG contracts involving 725.6 MW at a cost of $212 million (exclusive of interest), $153 million of which has already been recovered from customers. See "1995 Electric Rate Agreement" below. The Company's current resource plans indicate that the Company's service area could require additional generation resources within the next five years. However, the Company does not anticipate adding long-term capacity resources to its electric system. In a competitive electric market, unregulated entities, possibly including an unregulated affiliate of the Company, would be expected to provide additional capacity resources as dictated by market conditions. Competition and Industry Restructuring In recent years federal and New York State initiatives have promoted the development of competition in the sale of electricity and gas. In general these initiatives "unbundle," or separate, the integrated services electric and gas utilities have traditionally provided, and enable customers to purchase electricity and gas directly from suppliers other than their local utility. Under these initiatives the Company will continue to transport and deliver energy to customers in its service area, including energy from other suppliers, over its electric and gas systems. The rates for such delivery services are expected to remain regulated on a cost-of-service basis. These systems, along with the Company's steam system, which will also remain rate-regulated, comprised more than 70 percent of the Company's net utility plant at December 31, 1996. In a competitive electric marketplace, the Company could be disadvantaged by its potential "strandable" costs. Strandable costs are prior investments and commitments that may not be recoverable in a competitive market. The Company estimates that, on a present value basis, its electric strandable costs could be between $4.7 billion and $6.2 billion, including an estimated $650 million relating to its fossil-fueled power plants, $1.1 billion relating to its nuclear generating operations (including decommissioning costs) and $3 billion to $4.5 billion relating to capacity charges under the Company's contracts with NUGs. These estimates are forward-looking statements. Actual stranded costs might be materially higher or lower than these estimates because of factors affecting the future market price of capacity (such as competition among capacity providers, changes in energy usage patterns or economic conditions, technological developments, or installation of new, or retirement of existing, generation or transmission capacity), changes in laws or regulations, and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors. See "PSC Settlement Agreement." Competition for electric sales in the Company's service area could also be affected by the limited capacity of the existing transmission facilities for importing electricity. In April 1996 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued its Order 888 requiring electric utilities to file non-discriminatory open access transmission tariffs that would be available to wholesale sellers and buyers of electric energy and allowing utilities to recover related legitimate and verifiable stranded costs subject to FERC's jurisdiction. The Company's open access tariff took effect in July 1996, subject to refund pending the outcome of a hearing on the tariff scheduled by FERC for August 1997. In December 1996 the Company filed a tariff to permit it to sell electric energy and capacity at market-based rates. In January 1997 the Company, along with the other New York electric utilities, submitted a filing to FERC for approval of a restructuring of the wholesale electric market in New York State, including the establishment of an independent system operator that would control and operate most electric transmission facilities in New York as an integrated system, and a "power exchange" that would establish visible spot market prices for wholesale energy. In May 1996 the PSC issued an order in its "Competitive Opportunities" proceeding endorsing a fundamental restructuring of the electric utility industry in New York State, based on competition in the generation and energy services sectors of the industry. In March 1997 the Company and the PSC staff entered into a Settlement Agreement, which is subject to PSC approval. The Settlement Agreement reflects the Company's strategy for dealing with competition, including ongoing cost reductions, increased productivity, pursuit of growth opportunities and strengthening of customer relations by providing value-added services. The extent to which the Company will compete in the emerging competitive marketplace will depend on the outcome of the PSC's Competitive Opportunities proceeding, particularly as it relates to the corporate reorganization and inter-affiliate relationship provisions of the Settlement Agreement, and on management's assessment of the potential for increasing shareholder value through business activities in this marketplace. See "PSC Settlement Agreement." All of the Company's gas customers, either individually or by aggregating their demand with other customers, became eligible in 1996 to purchase gas directly from suppliers other than the Company. 40 1992 Electric Rate Agreement In April 1992 the PSC approved an electric rate agreement covering the three-year period April 1, 1992 through March 31, 1995. Under the agreement annual electric rates were increased by $250.5 million (5.0 percent) in April 1992, by $251.2 million (5.0 percent) in April 1993 and by $55.2 million (1.1 percent) in April 1994. In order to settle disputed items, including alleged excess earnings in prior years, the Company's revenue allowance was reduced in each of the three years by $35 million. For calendar year 1994, the Company accrued incentives of $116.4 million, before federal income tax, for attaining certain objectives for the Company's Enlightened Energy program, customer service and fuel costs. The agreement introduced a rate-making concept known as the Electric Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (ERAM). The purpose of the ERAM was to eliminate the linkage between customers' energy consumption and Company profits. Under the ERAM, rates were based on annual forecasts of electric sales and sales revenues, with refund to or recovery from customers of any overages or deficiencies of actual revenues in the prior rate year from those forecasts. Implementation of the ERAM removed from Company earnings the impact of all variations in electric sales from forecasts, including the effects of year-to-year weather variations, changes in economic conditions and the Enlightened Energy program. In 1994 the Company set aside $63.7 million to be returned to customers for revenue overcollections under the ERAM. 1995 Electric Rate Agreement In April 1995 the PSC approved a three-year electric rate agreement effective April 1, 1995. See, however, "PSC Settlement Agreement." The principal features of the 1995 electric rate agreement are as follows: Limited Changes in Base Revenues. There was no increase in base electric revenues for the first rate year of the agreement (the 12 months ending March 31, 1996). Differences between actual and projected amounts for certain expense items for each rate year are subject to reconciliation and deferral for refund to or recovery from customers in subsequent years. These items include pension and retiree health and life insurance expenses, costs incurred under NUG contracts, and certain Enlightened Energy and renewable energy expenses. Likewise, property tax differences are subject to reconciliation and refund to or recovery from customers, except that the Company absorbs (or retains) 14 percent of any property tax increase (or decrease) from the forecast amounts. Unlike previous multi-year rate agreements, there are no increases in rates in the second and third rate years to cover general escalation, wage and salary increases or carrying costs on increased utility plant investment. See "Modified ERAM" below for revenue adjustments to reflect changes in numbers of customers. In March 1996 the PSC approved rates for the second year of the agreement effective April 1, 1996. Base electric rates were reduced by approximately $19 million (0.3 percent). The decrease reflects a lower allowed rate of return on equity and a refund to customers under the modified ERAM mechanism, offset in part by increases in pension and retiree health expenses and NUG capacity costs. In October 1996 the Company filed for an increase to its electric rates to become effective April 1, 1997, for the third rate year of the electric rate agreement. The Company currently anticipates no change in the revenue requirement from the second rate year. Return on Equity and Equity Ratio. The allowed rate of return on common equity in the first rate year was 11.1 percent. The allowed return is subject to adjustment for the second and third rate years to reflect changes in 30-year Treasury bond rates. The rate of return on equity for the second rate year is 10.31 percent. For purposes of calculating the allowed return, a 52 percent common equity ratio is assumed throughout the term of the agreement. Costs for debt and preferred stock are not updated from the levels projected for the first rate year. Earnings Sharing. Following each rate year the Company's actual return on equity is calculated, using actual capitalization ratios and debt and preferred stock costs, but excluding any earnings from the incentives discussed below. The Company is permitted to retain 100 percent of any earnings up to 50 basis points above the allowed rate of return for that rate year. The Company is permitted to retain 50 percent of earnings exceeding the allowed rate of return by more than 50 basis points but not more than 150 basis points, and the balance is required to be deferred for customer benefit. The Company is permitted to retain 25 percent of earnings that exceed the allowed rate of return by more than 150 basis points; one-third of the balance above this level is required to be deferred for customer benefit and two-thirds is required to be applied to reduce rate base balances in a manner to be determined by the Company. The rate of return on electric common equity, excluding incentives, for the first rate year exceeded the sharing threshold of 11.6 percent, principally due to increased productivity. As a result, the Company recorded a provision for the future benefit of electric customers of $10.2 million (primarily in the fourth quarter of 1995), before federal income tax. Similarly, the Company estimates the rate of return on electric common equity, excluding incentives, for the second rate year will exceed the sharing threshold of 10.81 percent. As a result, in 1996 the Company recorded an additional provision for the future benefit of electric customers of $18.0 million, before federal income tax. NUG Termination Costs. The rate agreement provides for full recovery by the Company of all NUG contract termination costs incurred to date, and permits the Company to petition the PSC to defer for future recovery from customers the costs of new NUG contract terminations or modifications, if any, during the term of the agreement. 41 Incentive Provisions. The rate agreement permits the Company to earn additional incentive amounts, not subject to the earnings sharing provisions, by attaining certain objectives for the Company's Enlightened Energy program, fuel costs and customer service. While these incentive mechanisms are similar to those provided under the 1992 electric rate agreement, opportunities for earning incentives are generally less than under the earlier agreement. There are also penalties for failing to achieve minimum objectives, and there is a penalty-only incentive mechanism designed to encourage the Company to maintain its high level of service reliability. For 1995 the Company accrued benefits of $32.7 million (including $17.1 million related to the prior year) and $5.7 million, before federal income tax, for the Enlightened Energy incentive and for electric customer service performance, respectively. For 1996 the Company accrued benefits of $24.2 million and $6.1 million, before federal income tax, for the Enlightened Energy incentive and for electric customer service performance, respectively. Partial Pass-Through Fuel Adjustment Clause (PPFAC). A fuel and purchased power cost-savings incentive was continued with certain modifications from the 1992 electric rate agreement. See Note A to the financial statements. For each rate year of the 1995 agreement, there is a $35 million cap (previously $30 million) on the maximum incentive or penalty, with a "sub-cap" (within the $35 million cap) of $10 million (as previously) for costs associated with generation from the Company's Indian Point 2 nuclear unit. While the cap is higher, the targets established for incentive earnings are generally more difficult to achieve than under the prior agreement. For 1995 the Company earned $19.2 million, before federal income tax, under the PPFAC, $6.5 million of which was earned in the first calendar quarter, under the 1992 agreement. For 1996 the Company earned $24.9 million, before federal income tax, under the PPFAC. Modified ERAM. The agreement continues, in modified form, the ERAM introduced in the 1992 electric rate agreement. The new agreement adds to the ERAM a revenue per customer (RPC) mechanism which excludes from adjustment those variances in the Company's electric revenues that result from changes in the number of customers in each electric service classification. In effect the Company retains additional revenues attributable to added customers, but bears the revenue shortfall resulting from lost customers, while other variances from forecast revenues are deferred for subsequent recovery from or refund to customers and do not affect the Company's earnings. The ERAM and the RPC mechanism do not apply to delivery service for the New York Power Authority (NYPA). At the end of each rate year, the forecast average annual amount of revenue per customer in each service classification (the RPC Factor) for that rate year is multiplied by the actual average number of customers in that classification. The net difference between the total of such amounts and the actual revenues from all service classifications is deferred for refund to or recovery from customers in the subsequent rate year; the RPC Factor for the following rate year is adjusted to reflect such net difference. The RPC Factors are also subject to adjustment in the second and third rate years to reflect any increase or decrease in allowed base revenues for reconciliations and projections discussed above in "Limited Changes in Base Revenues." For 1995 the Company set aside $35.3 million, before federal income tax, to be refunded to customers for revenue overcollections under the ERAM and Modified ERAM, net of $13.3 million earned under the RPC. For 1996 the Company accrued $10.1 million, before federal income tax, to be recovered from customers for revenue undercollections under the Modified ERAM, net of $59.6 million earned under the RPC. Nuclear Decommissioning Expense. See Note A to the financial statements for changes in nuclear decommissioning expense under the agreement. PSC Settlement Agreement On March 13, 1997, the Company and the PSC staff entered into a settlement agreement (the Settlement Agreement) with respect to the PSC's Competitive Opportunities proceeding. See "Competition and Industry Restructuring." The Settlement Agreement, which is subject to PSC approval, provides for a transition to a competitive electric market by instituting "retail access" over a five-year period (the Transition), a rate plan for the Transition, a reasonable opportunity to recover prior utility investments and commitments that may not be recoverable in a competitive electric market (often referred to as "strandable" costs), the divestiture by the Company to unaffiliated third parties of at least 50 percent of its New York City fossil-fueled generating capacity, and, subject to shareholder and other approvals, a corporate reorganization into a holding company structure. A PSC order with respect to the Settlement Agreement is expected by mid-1997. The Company believes that the Settlement Agreement will not adversely affect its eligibility to continue to apply Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation." If such eligibility were adversely affected, a material write-down of assets, the amount of which is not presently determinable, could be required. 42 Retail Access. The Company will implement an energy and capacity retail access program that will permit its customers to choose alternative energy suppliers. The delivery of electricity to customers will continue to be through the Company's transmission and distribution systems. The program will begin in late 1997 with certain large customers and will be expanded to 500 megawatts of customer load within 12 months following PSC approval of the Settlement Agreement. The program will be further expanded in annual increments. The Company will target the phase-in of retail access to make it available to all of its customers by the earlier of 24 months after the independent system operator becomes fully operational or December 2002. This schedule is subject to adjustment as circumstances warrant. In general, the Company's delivery rates for retail access customers during the Transition will equal the rate applicable to other comparable customers of the Company less the market value of the energy and capacity being supplied for customers by the other sellers. Rate Plan. The rate plan reduces the generation-related revenues that the Company would have received over the five-year Transition had current rate levels remained in effect by $655 million. Base rates will be lower by 25 percent for the Company's largest industrial customers and, by the last year of the Transition, will be lower by 10 percent for other large industrial and commercial customers and 3.3 percent for residential and other customers. In general, base electric rates will not otherwise be changed during the Transition except in the event of changes in costs above anticipated annual levels resulting from legal or regulatory requirements (including a requirement or interpretation resulting in the Company's refunding of its tax-exempt debt), inflation in excess of a 4 percent annual rate, property tax increases, environmental costs or in the event the Company's rate of return becomes unreasonable for the provision of safe and adequate service. The Settlement Agreement also provides, among other things, for a non-bypassable system benefits charge to recover, to the extent not otherwise recovered, the costs of required research and development, energy efficiency programs and programs to assist low income customers, and a penalty mechanism (estimated maximum, $26 million per year) for failure to maintain certain service quality and reliability standards. For any Transition rate year, 50 percent of any earnings in excess of a rate of return of 12.9 percent on electric common equity will be retained for shareholders and 50 percent will be applied for customer benefit, with one-half of such amount to be applied to a reduction of rates or as otherwise determined by the PSC and the balance to be deferred and applied to reduce the Company's generating plant balances through additional depreciation expense. The rate of return calculation will exclude any incentives and reflect any amounts by which the rate of return for earlier Transition rate years fell below 11.9 percent. This earnings sharing will end beginning in the year in which the Company fulfills its divestiture commitment (discussed below) or in which 15 percent of the service area peak load (excluding the existing load served by NYPA) is supplied other than by the Company. The Settlement Agreement supersedes the provisions of the 1995 electric rate agreement prescribing overall electric revenue levels for the 12 months ending March 31, 1998. The Settlement Agreement also eliminates the provisions of the 1995 electric rate agreement for incentives or penalties related to the Enlightened Energy program and customer service performance, the modified ERAM, earnings sharing and reconciliation of amounts included in base rates with actual costs for pensions and other post-employment benefits, capacity charges under the Company's contracts with NUGs, Enlightened Energy program and renewable energy expenses, property taxes and research and development expenses. The Settlement Agreement also requires the reversal of all related balances at March 31,1997, the net effect of which is not expected to be material. An incentive-based fuel adjustment clause, initially similar to the current PPFAC, will be in effect during the Transition. Divestiture Commitment. The Company has agreed to divest to unaffiliated third parties at least 50 percent of its New York City fossil-fueled generating capacity no later than December 2002, unless the PSC determines that such divestiture should be delayed or reduced (to maximize sales price or address other developments). Divestiture could also be delayed under certain other circumstances. The generating units not divested to unaffiliated third parties might be transferred to an unregulated affiliate of the Company. The Company has agreed to submit a detailed divestiture plan to the PSC within one year of the PSC's approval of the Settlement Agreement. The PSC could approve the divestiture plan as submitted, initiate a proceeding to address market power or other concerns, or request the Company to respond to such concerns. Recovery of Prior Investments and Commitments. During the Transition, the Company will continue to recover its potential electric strandable costs (see "Competition and Industry Restructuring") in the rates it charges all customers. The Company will also provide during the Transition for $350 million of additional depreciation for its fossil-fueled generating units and $45 million for its Indian Point 2 nuclear unit. In addition, as indicated above, certain "excess" earnings will be applied as an offset to strandable costs. Following the Transition, the Company will be given a reasonable opportunity to recover remaining electric strandable costs, as adjusted for any after-tax net gain or loss from divestiture or transfer of generating units, through a non-bypassable charge to customers. For remaining fossil-related strandable costs, the recovery period will be 10 years and for the Company's Indian Point nuclear station, the recovery period will be the then-remaining life of the Indian Point 2 unit. With respect to its NUG contracts, the Company will be permitted to recover at least 90% of the amount by which the actual costs of its purchases under the contracts exceed market value after the Transition. Any potential disallowance after the Transition will be limited to the lower of (i) 10% of the above-market costs or (ii) $300 million (in 2002 dollars). The potential disallowance will be offset by NUG contract mitigation achieved by the Company after the beginning of the Transition period and 10% of the gross proceeds of generating unit sales to third parties. The Company will be permitted a reasonable opportunity to recover any costs subject to disallowance that are not offset by these two factors if it makes good faith efforts in implementing provisions of the Settlement Agreement leading to the development of a competitive electric market in its service territory. 43 Any financing savings from "securitization" of the Company's strandable costs are expected to be applied to further reduce customer rates. Subject to satisfying any conditions of any securitization legislation enacted in New York, the Company could transfer its right to recover from customers the payment for the strandable costs to a financing entity that would in return remit to the Company the proceeds of debt issued by the financing entity. The debt, which would be non-recourse to the Company, would be secured by, and repaid from, the future customer payments. Corporate Structure. The Settlement Agreement authorizes Con Edison to establish a holding company and establishes guidelines governing transactions among affiliates. The formation of the holding company is subject to shareholder approval, FERC approval and the consent of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Upon formation of the holding company, the Company will become a subsidiary of the holding company, and the Company's common shareholders will automatically become the shareholders of the holding company. The Company expects that the holding company would initially also have unregulated energy supply, energy services and new ventures subsidiaries. The energy supply subsidiary may become an unregulated owner and operator of electric generating plants and marketer of electricity. It is expected that the Company's existing gas marketing subsidiary, ProMark Energy, Inc., will be transferred to the holding company to become a full-service provider of energy services engaging in both wholesale and retail sales of electricity and gas and related services. Likewise, the Company's existing subsidiary, Gramercy Development, Inc., is expected to be the "new ventures" subsidiary, through which the holding company will develop other opportunities in both energy and non-energy fields, both domestically and internationally. The Settlement Agreement limits the dividends that the Company could pay to the holding company to not more than 100 percent of income available for dividends calculated on a two-year rolling average basis. Excluded from "income available for dividends" will be non-cash charges to income resulting from accounting changes or charges to income resulting from significant unanticipated events. The limitation will not apply to dividends necessary to transfer to the holding company proceeds from major transactions, such as asset sales, or to dividends reducing the Company's capital ratio to a level appropriate to the Company's business risk. Litigation. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company will terminate an appeal of a November 1996 rejection by the Supreme Court of the State of New York of a challenge to the PSC's May 1996 order. Gas and Steam Rate Agreements In September 1993 the PSC granted the Company permission to increase its firm gas rates for the second rate year of a 1992 gas rate agreement by $21.6 million (2.8 percent). In lieu of an increase of $2.1 million for the second rate year of a 1992 steam rate agreement, the PSC authorized the Company to retain certain tax refunds being held by the Company for refund to steam customers. In October 1994 the PSC approved three-year rate agreements for gas and steam services. The agreements provide for gas and steam rate increases in the first rate year, the 12 months ended September 30, 1995, of $7.7 million (0.9 percent) and $9.9 million (3.0 percent), respectively, and a methodology for rate changes in the second and third rate years. The gas agreement contained two incentive mechanisms providing for rewards or penalties. In 1995 the Company accrued benefits of $6.1 million and $1.3 million, before federal income tax, for performance under the gas system improvement and customer service incentives, respectively. In 1996 the Company accrued benefits of $6.5 million and $2.7 million, before federal income tax, for the gas system improvement and customer service incentives, respectively. Effective October 1, 1995 (the beginning of the second year of the 1994 gas and steam rate agreements), gas and steam rates were increased by $20.9 million (2.5 percent) and $4.6 million (1.3 percent), respectively. In September 1996 the PSC approved rates for the third year of the 1994 steam rate agreement. Effective October 1, 1996, base steam rates were increased by $12.1 million (3.44 percent). The calculated increase for the third year was $22.9 million (6.52 percent). However, under the provisions of the agreement, the increase was capped, and the balance of $10.8 million will be eligible for recovery in a future period. In November 1996 the Company filed a request for a four-year steam rate plan that would provide annual rate increases of $16.6 million (4.6 percent in the first rate year). The plan levelizes what would otherwise be a request for a $44 million increase (12.1 percent in the first rate year), followed by smaller increases in subsequent years. The first increase would be effective October 1997 and the four-year plan would end in September 2001. The major reasons for the increase are the recovery of the $10.8 million from the 1994 steam rate agreement; proposed increases in depreciation rates; increases in steam plant operation and maintenance expenses; the effect of transferring certain common facilities to steam operations; and an increase in the allowed rate of return on equity from 10.9 percent to 11.6 percent. In January 1997 the PSC approved a four-year gas rate settlement agreement under which the Company withdrew its request for an increase to base gas rates for the third rate year of the 1994 gas rate agreement (which was to have taken effect on October 1, 1996). The new agreement contains the following major provisions: base rates will, with limited exceptions, remain at September 30, 1996 levels through September 30, 2000; the Company will share in net revenue from interruptible gas sales (previously used only to reduce firm customer gas costs) by retaining in each rate year the first $7.0 million of net revenue above 8.5 million dekatherms and 50 percent of additional net revenues; and 86 percent of any increase in property taxes above levels implicit in rates will be recovered by offsetting amounts, if any, that would otherwise be returned to customers. The incentive mechanisms under the 1994 gas agreement will be discontinued effective October 1997, after which the Company will be subject to a penalty (maximum, $1.7 million per year) if it fails to maintain targeted levels of customer satisfaction; and the Company will share with customers 50 percent of earnings above a 13 percent rate of return on gas common equity. 44 Clean Air Act Amendments The Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 impose limits on sulfur dioxide emissions from electric generating units. Because the Company uses very low sulfur fuel oil and natural gas as boiler fuels, the sulfur dioxide emissions limits should not affect the Company's operations. The Company will incur increased capital and operating costs to meet the nitrogen oxide emissions limits set by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) under the "Reasonably Available Control Technology" (RACT) provisions of the Clean Air Act. The Company has spent approximately $23 million to comply with the Phase I limitations. New York and ten other member states of the Northeast Ozone Transport Commission have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which calls for the states to adopt more stringent nitrogen oxide emissions limits for RACT Phases II and III, effective in 1999 and 2003, respectively. The Company estimates that compliance with these phases could require capital expenditures of approximately $150 million. Nuclear Fuel Disposal The Company has a contract with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) which provides that, in return for payments being made by the Company to the DOE pursuant to the contract, the DOE, starting in 1998, will take title to the Company's spent nuclear fuel, transport it to a federal repository and store it permanently. Notwithstanding the contract, the DOE has announced that it is not likely to have a permanent operating repository before 2015. In July 1996 the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia held that the DOE has an obligation "reciprocal to the utilities' obligation to pay fees, to start disposing of the [spent nuclear fuel] no later than January 31, 1998." In January 1997 the Company and a number of other utilities petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for an order directing the DOE to implement a program enabling it to begin acceptance of spent fuel by 1998, and to provide relief from any obligation to pay further fees to DOE until waste disposal commences, authorization to pay (under certain circumstances) into an escrow account fees which would otherwise be payable to DOE pursuant to the spent nuclear fuel disposal contracts and enhanced judicial oversight of DOE's performance under the contracts. The Company estimates that it has adequate on-site capacity until 2005 for interim storage of its spent fuel. Absent regulatory or technological developments by 2005, the Company expects that it will require additional on-site or other spent fuel storage facilities. Such additional facilities would require regulatory approvals. In the event that the Company is unable to make appropriate arrangements for the storage of its spent fuel, the Company would be required to curtail the operation of its Indian Point 2 nuclear unit. See discussion of decommissioning in Note A to the financial statements. Superfund and Asbestos Claims and Other Contingencies Reference is made to Note F to the financial statements for information concerning potential liabilities of the Company arising from the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("Superfund"), from claims relating to alleged exposure to asbestos, and from certain other contingencies to which the Company is subject. Collective Bargaining Agreement In June 1996 the Company concluded a new collective bargaining agreement with the union representing approximately two-thirds of the Company's employees. The four-year agreement provides for general wage increases of 2.5 percent in each of the first two years and 3.0 percent in each of years three and four, with a potential 0.5 percent additional merit-based increase in each year. Impact of Inflation The Company is affected by the decline in the purchasing power of the dollar caused by inflation. Regulation permits the Company to recover through depreciation only the historical cost of its plant assets even though in an inflationary economy the cost to replace the assets upon their retirement will substantially exceed historical cost. However, this is partially offset by the repayment of the Company's long-term debt in dollars of lesser value than the dollars originally borrowed. 45 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Earnings per share were $2.93 in 1996 and 1995 and $2.98 in 1994. The average number of common shares outstanding for 1996, 1995 and 1994 was 235.0 million, 234.9 million and 234.8 million, respectively. Earnings for 1996, 1995 and 1994 reflect electric, gas and steam rate increases or decreases, and other provisions of the electric, gas and steam rate agreements discussed above. Operating Revenues and Fuel Costs Operating revenues in 1996 and 1995 increased from the prior year by $422.8 million and by $163.8 million, respectively. The principal increases and decreases in revenue were: Increase (Decrease) 1996 1995 (Millions of Dollars) over 1995 over 1994 Electric, gas and steam rate changes ..... $ .8 $ 29.3 Fuel rider billings* ..................... 319.7 22.4 Sales volume changes Electric** ........................... 2.9 41.4 Gas ................................. 124.2 (11.7) Steam ................................ 8.1 (13.9) Gas weather normalization ................ (18.5) 5.9 Electric: ERAM/Modified ERAM accruals .......... 45.4 28.4 Recoveries (refunds) of prior rate year ERAM accruals .............. (25.9) 83.1 Rate refund provision ................ (8.2) (10.0) Off-system sales ..................... (4.8) 12.5 Other .................................... (20.9) (23.6) Total .................................... $422.8 $ 163.8 * Excludes costs of fuel, purchased power and gas purchased for resale reflected in base rates. **Includes Con Edison direct customers and delivery service for NYPA and municipal agencies. The increase in fuel billings in 1996 reflects increases in the unit costs of both purchased power and fuel used to produce electricity and steam and an increase in the unit cost of gas purchased for resale. The increase in fuel billings in 1995 reflects higher unit costs of electric purchased power, offset by a lower unit cost of gas. Electric fuel costs increased $23.3 million in 1996, largely because of the Company's increased unit cost of fuel partially offset by lower generation. Electric purchased power costs increased by $161.9 million over the 1995 period reflecting a higher unit cost of power purchased under NUG contracts. The increases in electric fuel and purchased power costs in 1996 were mitigated by the greater availability in 1996 than in 1995 of lower-cost nuclear generation from the Company's Indian Point 2 unit. During 1995 Indian Point 2 underwent a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage and the unit's low cost generation was, therefore, unavailable for part of the year. Gas purchased for resale increased $158.5 million in 1996, reflecting higher unit costs of purchased gas and higher sendout. The unit cost of gas was 48.8 percent higher in 1996 than in 1995 and was 20.2 percent lower in 1995 than in 1994. Steam fuel and purchased steam costs increased $49.7 million in 1996 due to the higher unit cost of fuel. Electricity sales volume in the Company's service territory increased 0.8 percent in 1996 and 0.7 percent in 1995. Gas sales volume to firm customers increased 8.9 percent in 1996 and decreased 2.8 percent in 1995. Transportation of customer-owned gas decreased 67.1 percent in 1996 and increased 65.3 percent in 1995, primarily due to variations in the volume of gas transported for use by NYPA as boiler fuel at its Poletti unit. Steam sales volume increased 1.9 percent in 1996 and decreased 4.1 percent in 1995. The Company's electricity, gas and steam sales vary seasonally in response to weather. Electric peak load occurs in the summer, while gas and steam sales peak in the winter. After adjusting for variations, principally weather and billing days, in each period, electricity sales volume increased 0.9 percent in 1996 and 1.2 percent in 1995. Similarly adjusted, gas sales volume to firm customers increased 1.9 percent in 1996 and 0.1 percent in 1995, and steam sales volume decreased 0.1 percent in 1996 and 1.9 percent in 1995. Weather-adjusted sales represent the Company's estimate of the sales that would have been made if historical average weather conditions had prevailed. 46 Off-system electricity sales were 3,917 millions of kilowatthours (kWh) in 1996 compared with 5,035 millions of kWh in 1995. Off-system sales include arrangements in which the Company produces electricity for others using gas they provide as fuel. The Company has purchased a substantial portion of this electricity for sale to its own customers. Other Operations and Maintenance Expenses Other operations and maintenance expenses decreased 1.8 percent in 1996 and were unchanged in 1995. For 1996 the decrease reflects lower production expenses, principally due to the refueling and maintenance outage of the Indian Point 2 nuclear unit in 1995; there was no such outage in 1996. The decrease was offset in part by higher pension and retiree benefit costs due to changes in actuarial assumptions. For 1995 lower administrative and general expenses and production expenses at fossil-fueled generating stations were offset in part by higher amortization of previously deferred Enlightened Energy program costs and higher production expenses related to the refueling and maintenance outage of the Indian Point 2 nuclear unit in that year. In 1996 the Company accrued $10 million for environmental liabilities related to various Superfund sites. During 1995 the Company accrued $10 million for environmental remediation costs relating to Company facilities pursuant to a 1994 settlement of a DEC civil administrative proceeding against the Company, and $5 million for two Superfund sites. In 1994, pursuant to the DEC settlement, the Company paid a $9 million penalty and contributed $5 million to an environmental projects fund. In addition the Company accrued $11.5 million during 1994 for environmental investigation and site remediation costs. See Note F to the financial statements for additional information about the settlement. Taxes, Other Than Federal Income Tax At $1.2 billion, taxes, other than federal income tax, remain one of the Company's largest operating expenses. The principal components and variations in operating taxes were: Increase (Decrease) 1996 1996 1995 (Millions of Dollars) Amount over 1995 over 1994 Property taxes .................. $ 571.6 $37.6 $(5.4) State and local taxes on revenues . 473.9 13.6 (2.2) Payroll taxes ..................... 60.8 2.6 .4 Other taxes ....................... 59.9 (7.8) (.3) Total $1,166.2* $46.0 $(7.5) * Including sales taxes on customers' bills, total taxes, other than federal income taxes, billed to customers in 1996 were $1,478.9 million. The increase in property taxes in 1996 reflects higher assessed valuations. The reduction in property taxes in 1995 reflects a decrease in the share of total New York City property taxes borne by the Company. Other Income Other income decreased $7.5 million in 1996 and increased $8.2 million in 1995. The variations in other income reflect primarily changes in interest rates and the level of temporary cash investment balances. Net Interest Charges and Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements Interest on long-term debt increased $5.9 million in 1996 and $12.9 million in 1995 principally as a result of new debt issues. The increase in 1996 relates to the preferred stock refunding discussed above, which substantially reduced the Company's preferred stock dividend requirements. Other interest decreased $11.6 million in 1996, principally as a result of lower interest associated with certain tax settlements and customer overpayments. Other interest increased $9.1 million in 1995, principally as a result of a higher rate of interest applied to customer deposits and interest associated with certain tax settlements. Federal Income Tax Federal income tax decreased $1.4 million in 1996 and $41.0 million in 1995 reflecting the changes each year in income before tax and in tax credits. See Note I to the financial statements. March 13, 1997 47 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA A. Financial Statements Page Index to Financial Statements Number Report of Independent Accountants 49 Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 1996 and 1995 50-51 Consolidated Income Statement for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 52 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 53 Consolidated Statement of Capitalization at December 31, 1996 and 1995 54-55 Consolidated Statement of Retained Earnings for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 56 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 56-64 The following Schedule is filed as a "Financial Statement Schedule" pursuant to Item 14 of this report: Schedule VIII - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 65-67 All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto. Separate financial statements of subsidiaries, not consolidated, have been omitted because, if considered in the aggregate, they would not constitute a significant subsidiary. 48 B. Supplementary Financial Information Selected Quarterly Financial Data for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 (Unaudited) First Second Third Fourth 1996 (Millions of Dollars) Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Operating revenues ......... $1,867.4 $1,539.7 $1,920.3 $1,632.3 Operating income ........... 252.7 152.3 409.4 199.2 Net income ................. 174.5 71.4 328.0 120.2 Net income for common stock 182.5 66.8 323.4 115.5 Earnings per common share .. $.78 $.28 $1.38 $.49 First Second Third Fourth 1995 (Millions of Dollars) Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Operating revenues ......... $1,668.8 $1,459.8 $1,879.9 $1,528.4 Operating income ........... 280.0 156.0 412.8 192.6 Net income ................. 201.1 76.4 333.3 113.1 Net income for common stock 192.2 67.5 324.4 104.2 Earnings per common share .. $.82 $.29 $1.38 $.44 In the opinion of the Company these quarterly amounts include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation. 49 Report of Independent Accountants To the Board of Trustees and Stockholders of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed under Item 8.A in the index appearing on page 47 present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. Price Waterhouse LLP 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10036 March 13, 1997 50 Consolidated Balance Sheet Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Assets At December 31 (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 Utility plant, at original cost (Notes A and B) Electric $11,588,344 $11,319,622 Gas 1,642,231 1,537,296 Steam 536,672 462,975 General 1,152,001 1,085,795 Total 14,919,248 14,405,688 Less: Accumulated depreciation 4,285,732 4,036,954 Net 10,633,516 10,368,734 Construction work in progress 332,333 360,457 Nuclear fuel assemblies and components, less accumulated amortization 101,461 85,212 Net utility plant 11,067,310 10,814,403 Current assets Cash and temporary cash investments (Note A) 106,882 342,292 Accounts receivable - customers, less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $21,600 in 1996 and 1995 544,004 497,215 Other receivables 42,056 45,558 Regulatory accounts receivable (Note A) 45,397 (6,481) Fuel, at average cost 64,709 40,506 Gas in storage, at average cost 44,979 26,452 Materials and supplies, at average cost 204,801 221,026 Prepayments 64,492 66,148 Other current assets 15,167 15,126 Total current assets 1,132,487 1,247,842 Investments and nonutility property 177,224 145,646 Deferred charges (Note A) Enlightened Energy program costs 133,718 144,282 Unamortized debt expense 130,786 133,812 Recoverable fuel costs (Note A) 101,462 59,454 Power contract termination costs 58,560 105,408 Other deferred charges 271,356 256,783 Total deferred charges 695,882 699,739 Regulatory asset - future federal income taxes (Notes A and I) 984,282 1,042,260 Total $14,057,185 $13,949,890
51 Capitalization and Liabilities At December 31 (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 Capitalization (see Consolidated Statement of Capitalization) Common shareholders' equity $ 5,727,568 $ 5,522,734 Preferred stock subject to mandatory redemption (Note B) 84,550 100,000 Other preferred stock (Note B) 238,098 539,917 Long-term debt 4,238,622 3,917,244 Total capitalization 10,288,838 10,079,895 Noncurrent liabilities Obligations under capital leases 42,661 45,250 Other noncurrent liabilities 80,499 75,907 Total noncurrent liabilities 123,160 121,157 Current liabilities Long-term debt due within one year (Note B) 106,256 183,524 Accounts payable 431,115 420,852 Customer deposits 159,616 158,366 Accrued taxes 27,342 24,374 Accrued interest 83,090 89,374 Accrued wages 80,225 76,459 Other current liabilities 147,968 168,477 Total current liabilities 1,035,612 1,121,426 Provisions related to future federal income taxes and other deferred credits (Notes A and I) Accumulated deferred federal income tax 2,289,092 2,296,284 Accumulated deferred investment tax credits 172,510 181,420 Other deferred credits 147,973 149,708 Total deferred credits 2,609,575 2,627,412 Contingencies (Note F) Total $14,057,185 $13,949,890 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
52 Consolidated Income Statement Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Year Ended December 31 (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Operating revenues (Note A) Electric $5,541,117 $5,389,408 $5,140,472 Gas 1,015,070 813,356 890,107 Steam 403,549 334,133 342,507 Total operating revenues 6,959,736 6,536,897 6,373,086 Operating expenses Purchased power 1,272,854 1,107,223 787,455 Fuel 573,275 504,104 567,764 Gas purchased for resale 418,271 259,789 341,204 Other operations 1,163,337 1,139,732 1,146,094 Maintenance 458,637 512,102 506,179 Depreciation and amortization (Note A) 496,412 455,776 422,356 Taxes, other than federal income tax 1,166,199 1,120,232 1,127,691 Federal income tax (Notes A and I) 397,160 396,560 438,160 Total operating expenses 5,946,145 5,495,518 5,336,903 Operating income 1,013,591 1,041,379 1,036,183 Other income (deductions) Investment income (Note A) 8,327 16,966 10,601 Allowance for equity funds used during construction (Note A) 3,468 3,763 8,354 Other income less miscellaneous deductions (8,749) (8,149) (15,201) Federal income tax (Notes A and I) 970 (1,060) (430) Total other income 4,016 11,520 3,324 Income before interest charges 1,017,607 1,052,899 1,039,507 Interest on long-term debt 307,820 301,917 289,060 Other interest 17,331 28,954 19,853 Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction (Note A) (1,629) (1,822) (3,676) Net interest charges 323,522 329,049 305,237 Net income 694,085 723,850 734,270 Preferred stock dividend requirements (19,859) (35,565) (35,587) Gain on refunding of preferred stock (Note B) 13,943 -- -- Net income for common stock $ 688,169 $ 688,285 $ 698,683 Earnings per common share based on average number of shares outstanding during each year (234,976,697; 234,930,301 and 234,753,901) $ 2.93 $ 2.93 $ 2.98 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
53 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Year Ended December 31 (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Operating activities Net income $ 694,085 $ 723,850 $ 734,270 Principal non-cash charges (credits) to income Depreciation and amortization 496,412 455,776 422,356 Deferred recoverable fuel costs (42,008) (61,937) 20,132 Federal income tax deferred 40,600 69,020 64,090 Common equity component of allowance for funds used during construction (3,274) (3,546) (7,876) Other non-cash charges 9,602 14,382 45,537 Changes in assets and liabilities Accounts receivable - customers, less allowance for uncollectibles (46,789) (56,719) 18,765 Regulatory accounts receivable (51,878) 32,827 70,771 Materials and supplies, including fuel and gas in storage (26,505) 43,341 17,306 Prepayments, other receivables and other current assets 5,117 4,566 21,317 Enlightened Energy program costs 10,564 25,919 (30,144) Power contract termination costs 30,827 55,387 (62,376) Accounts payable 10,263 46,383 (18,074) Other - net (19,679) (72,785) (46,161) Net cash flows from operating activities 1,107,337 1,276,464 1,249,913 Investing activities including construction Construction expenditures (675,233) (692,803) (757,530) Nuclear fuel expenditures (48,705) (12,840) (47,071) Contributions to nuclear decommissioning trust (21,301) (18,893) (14,586) Common equity component of allowance for funds used during construction 3,274 3,546 7,876 Net cash flows from investing activities including construction (741,965) (720,990) (811,311) Financing activities including dividends Issuance of common stock -- -- 14,650 Issuance of long-term debt 525,000 228,285 400,000 Retirement of long-term debt (183,524) (10,889) (133,639) Advance refunding of preferred stock (316,982) -- -- Advance refunding of long-term debt (95,329) (155,699) -- Issuance and refunding costs (18,480) (5,269) (5,988) Common stock dividends (488,756) (479,262) (469,561) Preferred stock dividends (22,711) (35,569) (35,599) Net cash flows from financing activities including dividends (600,782) (458,403) (230,137) Net increase (decrease) in cash and temporary cash investments (235,410) 97,071 208,465 Cash and temporary cash investments at January 1 342,292 245,221 36,756 Cash and temporary cash investments at December 31 $ 106,882 $ 342,292 $ 245,221 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Cash paid during the period for: Interest $ 309,279 $ 309,953 $ 269,839 Income taxes 346,755 344,754 385,355 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
54 Consolidated Statement of Capitalization Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. At December 31 (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 Shares outstanding December 31, 1996 December 31, 1995 Common shareholders' equity (Note B) Common stock, $2.50 par value, authorized 340,000,000 shares 234,993,596 234,956,299 $1,478,536 $1,464,305 Retained earnings 4,283,935 4,097,035 Capital stock expense (34,903) (38,606) Total common shareholders' equity 5,727,568 5,522,734 Preferred stock (Note B) Subject to mandatory redemption Cumulative Preferred, $100 par value, 7.20% Series I 475,000 500,000 47,500 50,000 6 1/8% Series J 370,500 500,000 37,050 50,000 Total subject to mandatory redemption 84,550 100,000 Other preferred stock $5 Cumulative Preferred, without par value, authorized 1,915,319 shares 1,915,319 1,915,319 175,000 175,000 Cumulative Preferred, $100 par value, authorized 6,000,000 shares* 5 3/4% Series A 70,612 600,000 7,061 60,000 5 1/4% Series B 138,438 750,000 13,844 75,000 4.65% Series C 153,296 600,000 15,330 60,000 4.65% Series D 222,330 750,000 22,233 75,000 5 3/4% Series E -- 500,000 -- 50,000 6.20% Series F -- 400,000 -- 40,000 Cumulative Preference, $100 par value, authorized 2,250,000 shares 6% Convertible Series B 46,305 49,174 4,630 4,917 Total other preferred stock 238,098 539,917 Total preferred stock $ 322,648 $ 639,917 * Represents total authorized shares of cumulative preferred stock, $100 par value, including preferred stock subject to mandatory redemption.
55 At December 31 (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 Long-term debt (Note B) Maturity Interest Rate Series First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds (open-end mortgage): 1996 5 % CC $ -- $ 100,000 1996 5.90 DD -- 75,000 Total mortgage bonds -- 175,000 Debentures: 1997 5.30 % 1993E 100,000 100,000 1998 6 1/4 1993A 100,000 100,000 1998 5.70 1993F 100,000 100,000 1999 6 1/2 1992D 75,000 75,000 1999 * 1994B 150,000 150,000 2000 7 3/8 1992A 150,000 150,000 2000 7.60 1992C 125,000 125,000 2001 6 1/2 1993B 150,000 150,000 2001 * 1996B 150,000 -- 2002 6 5/8 1993C 150,000 150,000 2003 6 3/8 1993D 150,000 150,000 2004 7 5/8 1992B 150,000 150,000 2005 7 3/8 1992E 75,000 75,000 2005 6 5/8 1995A 100,000 100,000 2023 7 1/2 1993G 380,000 380,000 2026 9 3/8 1991A -- 95,329 2026 7 3/4 1996A 100,000 -- 2027 8.05 1992F 100,000 100,000 2029 7 1/8 1994A 150,000 150,000 Total debentures 2,455,000 2,300,329 Tax-exempt debt - notes issued to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for Facilities Revenue Bonds: 2020 6.10 % 1995A 128,285 128,285 2020 5 1/4 1993B 127,715 127,715 2021 7 1/2 1986A 150,000 150,000 2022 7 1/8 1987A 100,855 100,855 2022 9 1/4 1987B 29,385 29,385 2022 5 3/8 1993C 19,760 19,760 2024 7 3/4 1989A 150,000 150,000 2024 7 3/8 1989B 100,000 100,000 2024 7 1/4 1989C 150,000 150,000 2025 7 1/2 1990A 150,000 150,000 2026 7 1/2 1991A 128,150 128,150 2027 6 3/4 1992A 100,000 100,000 2027 6 3/8 1992B 100,000 100,000 2028 6 1993A 101,000 101,000 2029 7 1/8 1994A 100,000 100,000 Total tax-exempt debt 1,635,150 1,635,150 Subordinated deferrable interest debentures: 2031 7 3/4% 1996A 275,000 -- Other long-term debt 8,848 19,163 Unamortized debt discount (29,120) (28,874) Total 4,344,878 4,100,768 Less: Long-term debt due within one year 106,256 183,524 Total long-term debt 4,238,622 3,917,244 Total capitalization $10,288,838 $10,079,895 *Rate reset quarterly. At December 31, 1996 the rates for the Series 1994 B and the Series 1996 B were 5.8125% and 5.65078%, respectively. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
56 Consolidated Statement of Retained Earnings Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Year Ended December 31 (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Balance, January 1 $4,097,035 $3,888,010 $3,658,886 Net income for the year 694,085 723,850 734,270 Total 4,791,120 4,611,860 4,393,156 Dividends declared on capital stock Cumulative Preferred, at required annual rates 18,145 35,259 35,259 Cumulative Preference, 6% Convertible Series B 284 304 326 Common, $2.08, $2.04 and $2.00 per share 488,756 479,262 469,561 Total dividends declared 507,185 514,825 505,146 Balance, December 31 $4,283,935 $4,097,035 $3,888,010 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Note A Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Regulation. The Company is subject to regulation by the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Company's accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles, as applied in the case of regulated public utilities, and to the accounting requirements and rate-making practices of these regulatory authorities. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of," requires long-lived and certain other assets to be reviewed for impairment if the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. SFAS No. 121 also amends SFAS No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation," to require that regulatory assets (which include certain deferred charges) be charged to earnings if such assets are no longer considered probable of recovery. The application of SFAS No. 121 had no effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations in 1996. On March 13, 1997, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement with the PSC staff with respect to the PSC's "Competitive Opportunities" proceeding. The Settlement Agreement, which is subject to PSC approval, provides for a transition to a competitive electricity market over a five-year period (the Transition), a rate plan for the Transition, a reasonable opportunity to recover prior utility investments and commitments that may not be recoverable in a competitive electric market (often referred to as "strandable" costs), the divestiture by the Company to unaffiliated third parties of at least 50 percent of its New York City fossil-fueled generating capacity, and, subject to shareholder and other approvals, a corporate reorganization into a holding company structure. The Settlement Agreement will change certain accounting policies described in these notes. The Company believes that the Settlement Agreement will not adversely affect its eligibility to continue to apply SFAS No. 71. If such eligibility were adversely affected, a material write-down of assets, the amount of which is not presently determinable, could be required. Principles of Consolidation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Utility Plant and Depreciation. The capitalized cost of additions to utility plant includes indirect costs such as engineering, supervision, payroll taxes, pensions, other benefits and an allowance for funds used during construction (AFDC). The original cost of property, together with removal cost, less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation as property is retired. The cost of repairs and maintenance is charged to expense, and the cost of betterments is capitalized. Rates used for AFDC include the cost of borrowed funds used for construction purposes and a reasonable rate on the Company's own funds when so used, determined in accordance with PSC and FERC regulations. The AFDC rate was 9.0 percent in 1996, 9.1 percent in 1995 and 9.4 percent in 1994. The rate was compounded semiannually, and the amounts applicable to borrowed funds were treated as a reduction of interest charges. The annual charge for depreciation is computed on the straight-line method for financial statement purposes using rates based on average lives and net salvage factors, with the exception of the Indian Point 2 nuclear unit, the Company's share of the Roseton generating station, certain leaseholds and certain general equipment, which are depreciated on a remaining life amortization method. Depreciation rates averaged approximately 3.4 percent in 1996, 3.3 percent in 1995 and 3.2 percent in 1994. In 1996 an additional 57 provision for depreciation of $13.9 million was accrued in connection with a preferred stock refunding. See Note B. The Company is a joint owner of two 1,200-megawatt (MW) electric generating stations: (1) Bowline Point, operated by Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., with the Company owning a two-thirds interest, and (2) Roseton, operated by Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., with the Company owning a 40 percent interest. Central Hudson has the option to acquire the Company's interest in the Roseton station in 2004. The Company's share of the investment in these stations at original cost and as included in its balance sheet at December 31, 1996 and 1995 was: (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 Bowline Point: Plant in service $204,484 $203,360 Construction work in progress 2,788 2,340 Roseton: Plant in service 146,623 145,207 Construction work in progress 846 2,089 The Company's share of accumulated depreciation for the Roseton station at December 31, 1996 and 1995 was $70.3 million and $64.8 million, respectively. A separate depreciation account is not maintained for the Company's share of the Bowline Point station. The Company's share of operating expenses for these stations is included in its income statement. Nuclear Decommissioning. Depreciation charges include a provision for decommissioning both the Indian Point 2 and the retired Indian Point 1 nuclear units. Decommissioning costs are being accrued ratably over the Indian Point 2 license period which extends to the year 2013. The Company has been accruing for the costs of decommissioning within the internal accumulated depreciation reserve since 1975. In 1989 the PSC permitted the Company to establish an external trust fund for the costs of decommissioning the nuclear portions of the plants pursuant to Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations. Accordingly, beginning in 1989, the Company has made contributions to such a trust. The external trust fund is discussed below under "Investments" in this Note A. Accumulated decommissioning provisions at December 31, 1996 and 1995, which include earnings on funds externally invested, were as follows: Amounts Included in Accumulated Depreciation (Millions of Dollars) 1996 1995 Nuclear $ 164.7 $ 134.4 Non-Nuclear 57.0 55.3 Total $ 221.7 $ 189.7 For the 12 months ended March 31, 1995, the Company provided expense allowances of $11.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively, for decommissioning the nuclear and non-nuclear portions of the plants. These amounts, which were recovered from customers through billings, were approved by the PSC in a 1992 electric rate agreement, and were designed to fund decommissioning costs which had been estimated at approximately $300 million in 1993 dollars. In 1994 a site-specific decommissioning study was prepared for both the Indian Point 2 and the retired Indian Point 1 nuclear units. Based upon this study, the estimated decommissioning cost in 1993 dollars is approximately $657 million, of which $252 million is for extended on-site storage of spent nuclear fuel. Using a 3.25 percent annual escalation factor, the estimated cost in 2016, the assumed midpoint for decommissioning expenditures, is approximately $1,372 million. Under a 1995 electric rate agreement, effective April 1995, the Company revised the annual decommissioning expense allowance for the nuclear and non-nuclear portions of the plants to $21.3 million and $1.8 million, respectively, to fund the future estimated costs of decommissioning. The annual expense allowance assumes a 6 percent after-tax annual return on fund assets. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is currently reviewing the utility industry's accounting treatment of nuclear and certain other plant decommissioning costs. In the exposure draft, "Accounting for Certain Liabilities Related to Closure or Removal of Long-Lived Assets," issued in February 1996, the FASB concluded that decommissioning costs should be accounted for at present value as a liability, with a corresponding asset in utility plant, rather than as a component of depreciation. Discussions of issues addressed in the exposure draft are ongoing. Nuclear Fuel. Nuclear fuel assemblies and components are amortized to operating expenses based on the quantity of heat produced in the generation of electricity. Fuel costs also include provisions for payments to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for future off-site storage of the spent fuel and for a portion of the costs to decontaminate and decommission the DOE facilities used to enrich uranium purchased by the Company. Such payments amounted to $9.8 million in 1996. Nuclear fuel costs are recovered in revenues through base rates or through the fuel adjustment clause. Leases. In accordance with SFAS No. 71, those leases that meet the criteria for capitalization are capitalized for accounting purposes. For rate-making purposes, all leases have been treated as operating leases. Revenues. Revenues for electric, gas and steam service are recognized on a monthly billing cycle basis. Pursuant to the 1992 and 1995 electric rate agreements, actual electric net revenues (operating revenues less fuel and purchased power costs and revenue taxes) are adjusted by accrual to target levels established under the agreements in accordance with an electric revenue adjustment mechanism (ERAM). The 1995 agreement introduced a revenue per customer mechanism (RPC) which modified the ERAM. Under the RPC, revenues are increased (or decreased) to reflect variations from target levels in the numbers of customers in the various service classes. Revenues are also increased (or decreased) each month to reflect rewards (or penalties) earned under incentive mechanisms for the Enlightened Energy (demand-side management) program and for customer service activities. The agreements provide that the net regulatory asset (or liability) thus accrued in each rate year is to be reflected in customers' bills in the following rate year. The 1994 and 1997 gas rate agreements provide for revenues to be increased (or decreased) each month to reflect rewards (or penalties) earned under incentive mechanisms related to gas customer service and system improvement targets. 58 Recoverable Fuel Costs. Fuel and purchased power costs that are above the levels included in base rates are recoverable under electric, gas and steam fuel adjustment clauses. If costs fall below these levels, the difference is credited to customers. For electric and steam, such costs are deferred until the period in which they are billed or credited to customers (40 days for electric, 30 days for steam). For gas, the excess or deficiency is accumulated for refund or surcharge to customers on an annual basis. Effective April 1992 a partial pass-through electric fuel adjustment clause (PPFAC) was implemented with monthly targets for electric fuel and purchased power costs. The Company retains for stockholders 30 percent of any savings in actual costs below the target amount, but must bear 30 percent of any excess of actual costs over the target. For each rate year of the 1995 electric rate agreement, there is a $35 million cap on the maximum increase or decrease in fuel billings, with a limit (within the $35 million) of $10 million for costs associated with generation at the Company's Indian Point 2 nuclear unit. Regulatory Accounts Receivable. Regulatory accounts receivable at December 31, 1996 amounted to $45.4 million, reflecting accruals under the 1995 electric rate agreement and the 1994 gas rate agreement for incentive benefits related to the Company's Enlightened Energy program ($29.1 million), and electric customer service activities ($5.5 million), for the amounts to be billed under the PPFAC ($3.5 million), for incentive benefits related to gas system improvement ($4.9 million) and gas customer service ($2.0 million) and for net electric sales revenues in accordance with the Modified ERAM ($0.4 million). The revenues accrued in a given 12-month period under the Modified ERAM and for incentives related to the Enlightened Energy program, electric customer service activities and the Company's gas business are being recovered from or refunded to customers over an ensuing 12-month period. The amounts accrued under the PPFAC are billed to customers on a monthly basis through the electric fuel adjustment clause. Enlightened Energy Program Costs. In accordance with PSC directives, the Company defers the costs for its Enlightened Energy program for future recovery from ratepayers. Such deferrals amounted to $133.7 million at December 31, 1996 and $144.3 million at December 31, 1995. In accordance with the 1992 and 1995 electric rate agreements, the Company is generally recovering its Enlightened Energy program costs over a five-year period. Temporary Cash Investments. Temporary cash investments are short-term, highly liquid investments which generally have maturities of three months or less. They are stated at cost which approximates market. The Company considers temporary cash investments to be cash equivalents. Investments. Investments consist primarily of an external nuclear decommissioning trust fund. At December 31, 1996 and 1995 the trust fund amounted to $164.7 million and $134.4 million, respectively. Investments are stated at market. Earnings on the trust fund are not recognized in income but are included in the accumulated depreciation reserve. See "Nuclear Decommissioning" in this Note A. Gas Hedging. In 1996 the Company initiated a program to hedge the cost of natural gas in storage against adverse market price fluctuations. The Company defers hedging gains and losses until the underlying gas commodity is withdrawn from storage and then adjusts the cost of its gas in storage accordingly. Hedging losses or gains are charged or credited to customers through the Company's gas fuel adjustment clause. Hedging losses deferred on open positions at December 31, 1996 were not material. Federal Income Tax. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," the Company has recorded an accumulated deferred federal income tax liability for substantially all temporary differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities at current tax rates. In accordance with rate agreements, the Company has recovered amounts from customers for a portion of the tax expense the Company will pay in the future as a result of the reversal or "turn-around" of these temporary differences. As to the remaining temporary differences, in accordance with SFAS No. 71, the Company has established a regulatory asset for the net revenue requirements to be recovered from customers for the related future tax expense. In 1993 the PSC issued an Interim Policy Statement proposing accounting procedures consistent with SFAS No. 109 and providing assurances that these future increases in taxes will be recoverable in rates. The final policy statement is not expected to differ materially from the interim policy statement. See Note I. Accumulated deferred investment tax credits are amortized ratably over the lives of the related properties and applied as a reduction in future federal income tax expense. The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes are allocated to each company based on its taxable income. Research and Development Costs. Research and development costs relating to specific construction projects are capitalized. All other such costs are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Research and development costs in 1996, 1995 and 1994, amounting to $32.3 million, $45.0 million and $46.8 million, respectively, were charged to operating expenses. No research and development costs were capitalized in these years. Estimates. The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect judgments and estimates made in the application of the above accounting policies. Note B Capitalization Common Stock and Preferred Stock Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption. Each share of Series B preference stock is convertible into 13 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $7.69 per share. During 1996, 1995 and 1994, 2,869 shares, 3,928 shares and 4,176 shares of Series B preference stock were converted into 37,297 shares, 51,064 shares and 54,288 shares of common stock, respectively. At December 31, 1996, 601,965 shares of unissued common stock were reserved for conversion of preference stock. 59 The prices at which the Company has the option to redeem its preferred stock other than Series I and Series J (in each case, plus accrued dividends) are as follows: $5 Cumulative Preferred Stock $ 105.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock: Series A $ 102.00 Series B 102.00 Series C 101.00 Series D 101.00 Cumulative Preference Stock: 6% Convertible Series B $ 100.00 Preferred Stock Subject to Mandatory Redemption. The Company is required to redeem 25,000 of the Series I shares on May 1 of each year in the five-year period commencing with the year 2002 and to redeem the remaining Series I shares on May 1, 2007. The Company is required to redeem the Series J shares on August 1, 2002. In each case, the redemption price is $100 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date. In addition, the Company may redeem Series I shares at a redemption price of $104.32 per share, plus accrued dividends, if redeemed prior to May 1, 1997 (and thereafter at prices declining annually to $100 per share, plus accrued dividends, after April 30, 2002). Neither Series I nor Series J shares may be called for redemption while dividends are in arrears on outstanding shares of $5 Cumulative Preferred Stock or Cumulative Preferred Stock. Preferred Stock Refunding. In March 1996 the Company canceled approximately $227 million of its preferred stock purchased pursuant to a tender offer and redeemed an additional $90 million of its preferred stock. In accordance with the PSC order approving the issuance of subordinated deferrable interest debentures to refund the preferred stock, the Company offset the net gain of $13.9 million by accruing an additional provision for depreciation equal to the net gain. Dividends. No dividends may be paid, or funds set apart for payment, on the Company's Cumulative Preference Stock or common stock until all dividends accrued on the $5 Cumulative Preferred Stock and Cumulative Preferred Stock have been paid, or declared and set apart for payment, and unless the Company is not in arrears on its mandatory redemption obligation for the Series I and Series J Cumulative Preferred Stock. No dividends may be paid on any of the Company's capital stock during any period in which the Company has deferred payment of interest on its subordinated deferrable interest debentures. Long-Term Debt. Total long-term debt maturing in the period 1997-2001 is as follows: 1997 $106,256,000 1998 200,000,000 1999 225,000,000 2000 275,000,000 2001 300,000,000 Note C Lines of Credit The Company has bank lines of credit for 1997 amounting to $150 million. The credit lines require average compensating balances of 2.5 percent of the credit lines, with interest on any borrowings to be at prevailing market rates. There are no legal restrictions applicable to the Company's cash balances resulting from its obligation to maintain compensating balances. Note D Pension Benefits The pension plans for management and bargaining unit employees cover substantially all employees of the Company and are designed to comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Contributions are made solely by the Company based on an actuarial valuation, and are not less than the minimum amount required by ERISA. The Company's policy is to fund the actuarially computed net pension cost as such cost accrues subject to statutory maximum (and minimum) limits. Benefits for management and bargaining unit employees are generally based on a final five-year average pay formula. In accordance with SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," the Company uses the projected unit credit method for determining pension cost. Pension costs for 1996, 1995 and 1994 amounted to $73.2 million, $11.4 million and $38.7 million, respectively, of which $57.8 million for 1996, $8.9 million for 1995 and $30.3 million for 1994 was charged to operating expense. Pension costs reflect the amortization of a regulatory asset established pursuant to SFAS No. 71 to offset the $33.3 million increase in pension obligations from a special retirement program the Company offered in 1993, which provided special termination benefits as described in SFAS No. 88, "Employers' Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits." Pension cost for 1995 also includes an actuarially determined credit of $7.3 million representing a prepayment on one of the plans. This credit reduced pension funding in 1996. The Company is subject to the PSC's "Statement of Policy and Order Concerning the Accounting and Ratemaking Treatment for Pensions and Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions" (the PSC Policy). The PSC Policy requires actuarial recognition of investment gains and losses over five years and a 10-year period for amortization of unrecognized actuarial gains and losses. The components of net periodic pension cost for 1996, 1995 and 1994 were as follows: (Millions of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Service cost - benefits earned during the period $120.2 $ 98.2 $ 103.9 Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 320.1 296.7 278.2 Actual return on plan assets (593.6) (865.8) (3.4) Unrecognized investment gain (loss) deferred 217.6 521.6 (322.6) Net amortization 6.7 (41.5) (17.4) Net periodic pension cost 71.0 9.2* 38.7 Amortization of regulatory asset 2.2 2.2 -- Total pension cost $ 73.2 $ 11.4 $ 38.7 * Includes a prepayment credit of $7.3 million. 60 The funded status of the pension plans as of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was as follows: (Millions of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Actuarial present value of benefit obligation: Vested $3,525.9 $3,319.2 $2,813.0 Nonvested 190.5 267.9 189.6 Accumulated to date 3,716.4 3,587.1 3,002.6 Effect of projected future compensation levels 986.6 1,070.3 786.0 Total projected obligation 4,703.0 4,657.4 3,788.6 Plan assets at fair value 5,269.3 4,775.8 4,046.7 Plan assets less projected benefit obligation 566.3 118.4 258.1 Unrecognized net gain (703.8) (240.3) (401.1) Unrecognized prior service cost* 100.1 85.3 93.9 Unrecognized net transition liability at January 1, 1987* 14.3 17.2 20.2 Accrued pension cost** $ (23.1) $ (19.4) $ (28.9) * Being amortized over approximately 15 years. **Accrued liability primarily for special retirement program, reduced in 1995 by a prepayment credit and increased in 1996 by the application of that credit. To determine the present value of the projected benefit obligation in 1996, 1995 and 1994, discount rates of 7.25 percent, 7 percent and 8 percent, respectively, were assumed. A weighted average rate of increase in future compensation levels of 5.8 percent and long-term rate of return on plan assets of 8.5 percent were assumed for all years. The pension plan assets consist primarily of corporate common stocks and bonds, group annuity contracts and debt of the United States government and its agencies. Note E Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions (OPEB) The Company has a contributory comprehensive hospital, medical and prescription drug program for all retirees, their dependents and surviving spouses. The Company also provides life insurance benefits for approximately 6,400 retired employees. All of the Company's employees become eligible for these benefits upon retirement except that the amount of life insurance is limited and is available only to management employees and to those bargaining unit employees who participated in the optional program prior to retirement. The Company has reserved the right to amend or terminate these programs. The Company's policy is to fund in external trusts the actuarially determined annual costs for retiree health and life insurance subject to statutory maximum limits. The Company is subject to the PSC Policy (see Note D) which requires actuarial recognition of investment gains and losses over five years and a 10-year period for amortization of unrecognized actuarial gains and losses. The cost to the Company for retiree health benefits for 1996, 1995 and 1994 amounted to $89.2 million, $65.5 million and $67.1 million, respectively, of which $70.5 million for 1996, $51.6 million for 1995 and $52.7 million for 1994 was charged to operating expense. The cost of the retiree life insurance plan for 1996, 1995 and 1994 amounted to $22.8 million, $18.0 million and $21.6 million, respectively, of which $18.0 million for 1996, $14.2 million for 1995 and $17.0 million for 1994 was charged to operating expense. The components of postretirement benefit (health and life insurance) costs for 1996, 1995 and 1994 were as follows: (Millions of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Service cost - benefits earned during the period $ 17.4 $10.7 $11.5 Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation 68.9 61.2 56.9 Actual return on plan assets (51.3) (60.8) (8.4) Unrecognized investment gain (loss) deferred 23.5 40.4 (5.7) Amortization of transition obligation and unrecognized net loss 53.5 32.0 34.4 Net periodic postretirement benefit cost $112.0 $83.5 $88.7 The following table sets forth the program's funded status at December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994: (Millions of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation: Retirees $471.1 $ 447.7 $413.9 Employees eligible to retire 248.8 250.7 167.2 Employees not eligible to retire 279.2 305.6 204.5 Total projected obligation 999.1 1,004.0 785.6 Plan assets at fair value 444.2 322.2 219.1 Plan assets less accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (554.9) (681.8) (566.5) Unrecognized net loss 139.9 240.8 11.1 Unrecognized net transition liability at January 1, 1993* 415.0 441.0 555.4 Accrued postretirement benefit cost $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 * Being amortized over a period of 20 years. To determine the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation in 1996, 1995 and 1994, discount rates of 7.25 percent, 7 percent and 8 percent, respectively, were assumed. The assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets was 8.5 percent for these years. The health care cost trend rate assumed for 1996 was 9 percent, for 1997, 8.5 percent, and then declining one-half percent per year to 5 percent for 2004 and thereafter. If the assumed health care cost trend rate were to be increased by one percentage point each year, the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation would increase by approximately $125.7 million and the service cost and interest component of the net periodic postretirement benefit cost would increase by $13.2 million. 61 Postretirement plan assets consist of corporate common stocks and bonds, group annuity contracts, debt of the United States government and its agencies and short-term securities. Note F Contingencies Indian Point. Nuclear generating units similar in design to the Company's Indian Point 2 unit have experienced problems that have required steam generator replacement. Inspections of the Indian Point 2 steam generators since 1976 have revealed various problems, some of which appear to have been arrested, but the remaining service life of the steam generators is uncertain and may be shorter than the unit's life. The projected service life of the steam generators is reassessed periodically in the light of the inspections made during scheduled outages of the unit. Based on the latest available data and current Nuclear Regulatory Commission criteria, the Company estimates that steam generator replacement will not be required before 1999, and possibly not until some years later. To avoid procurement delays in the event replacement is necessary, the Company purchased replacement steam generators, which are stored at the site. If replacement of the steam generators is required, such replacement is presently estimated (in 1996 dollars) to require additional expenditures of approximately $110 million (exclusive of replacement power costs) and an outage of approximately four months. However, securing necessary permits and approvals or other factors could require a substantially longer outage if steam generator replacement is required on short notice. Nuclear Insurance. The insurance policies covering the Company's nuclear facilities for property damage, excess property damage, and outage costs permit assessments under certain conditions to cover insurers' losses. As of December 31, 1996 the highest amount which could be assessed for losses during the current policy year under all of the policies was $29 million. While assessments may also be made for losses in certain prior years, the Company is not aware of any losses in such years which it believes are likely to result in an assessment. Under certain circumstances, in the event of nuclear incidents at facilities covered by the federal government's third-party liability indemnification program, the Company could be assessed up to $79.3 million per incident of which not more than $10 million may be assessed in any one year. The per-incident limit is to be adjusted for inflation not later than 1998 and not less than once every five years thereafter. The Company participates in an insurance program covering liabilities for injuries to certain workers in the nuclear power industry. In the event of such injuries, the Company is subject to assessment up to an estimated maximum of approximately $3.1 million. Environmental Matters. The normal course of the Company's operations necessarily involves activities and substances that expose the Company to potential liabilities under federal, state and local laws protecting the environment. Such liabilities can be material and in some instances may be imposed without regard to fault, or may be imposed for past acts, even though such past acts may have been lawful at the time they occurred. Sources of such potential liabilities include (but are not limited to) the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("Superfund"), a 1994 settlement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), asbestos, and electric and magnetic fields (EMF). Superfund. By its terms Superfund imposes joint and several strict liability, regardless of fault, upon generators of hazardous substances for resulting removal and remedial costs and environmental damages. The Company has received process or notice concerning possible claims under Superfund or similar state statutes relating to a number of sites at which it is alleged that hazardous substances generated by the Company (and, in most instances, a large number of other potentially responsible parties) were deposited. Estimates of the investigative, removal, remedial and environmental damage costs (if any) the Company will be obligated to pay with respect to each of these sites range from extremely preliminary to highly refined. Based on these estimates, the Company had accrued a liability at December 31, 1996 of approximately $23.1 million. There will be additional costs with respect to these and possibly other sites, the materiality of which is not presently determinable. DEC Settlement. In 1994 the Company agreed to a consent order settling a civil administrative proceeding instituted by the DEC alleging environmental violations by the Company. Pursuant to the consent order, the Company has conducted an environmental management systems evaluation and is conducting an environmental compliance audit. The Company also must implement "best management practices" plans for certain facilities and undertake a remediation program at certain sites. At December 31, 1996 the Company had an accrued liability of $17.3 million for these sites. Expenditures for environment-related projects in the five years 1997-2001, including expenditures to comply with the consent order, are currently estimated at $147 million. There will be additional costs, including costs arising out of the compliance audit, the materiality of which is not presently determinable. Asbestos Claims. Suits have been brought in New York State and federal courts against the Company and many other defendants, wherein several hundred plaintiffs sought large amounts of compensatory and punitive damages for deaths and injuries allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos at various premises of the Company. Many of these suits have been disposed of without any payment by the Company, or for immaterial amounts. The amounts specified in all the remaining suits total billions of dollars but the Company believes that these amounts are greatly exaggerated, as were the claims already disposed of. Based on the information and relevant circumstances known to the Company at this time, it is the opinion of the Company that these suits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position. EMF. Electric and magnetic fields are found wherever electricity is used. The Company is the defendant in several suits claiming property damage or personal injury allegedly resulting from EMF. In the event that a causal relationship between EMF and adverse health effects is established, or independently of any such causal determination, in the event of adverse developments in related legal or public policy doctrines, there could be a material adverse effect on the electric utility industry, including the Company. 62 Note G Non-Utility Generators (NUGs) The Company has contracts with NUGs for approximately 2,100 MW of electric generating capacity. Under the 1995 electric rate agreement, payments by the Company under the contracts are reflected in rates. Assuming performance by the NUGs, the Company is obligated over the terms of these contracts (which extend for various periods, up to 2036) to make capacity and other fixed (non-energy) payments. In addition, for energy delivered under certain of these contracts, the Company is obligated to pay variable prices that will exceed market prices for energy. Capacity and other fixed (non-energy) payments under these contracts are estimated for 1997-2001 to be $336 million, $340 million, $356 million, $413 million and $419 million. Such payments gradually increase to approximately $500 million in 2013, and thereafter decline significantly. Energy payments under the contracts for 1997-1999 (assuming performance by the NUGs) will exceed market prices by an average estimated $200 million each year. Beginning in the year 2000, the prices that the Company will be obligated to pay for energy will approximate market levels. Note H Stock-Based Compensation Under the 1996 Stock Option Plan, options may be granted to officers and key employees for up to 10,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. In May 1996 the Company granted options for 704,200 shares at an exercise price of $27.875 per share. These options become exercisable three years after the grant date and generally remain exercisable until ten years from the grant date. As permitted by SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," the Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25) and related interpretations in accounting for its employee stock options. Under APB 25, because the exercise price of the Company's employee stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recognized. Disclosure of pro-forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is required by SFAS No. 123. This information has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its employee stock options under the fair value method of that statement. The fair value of these options, $2.49 per share, was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for grants in 1996: risk-free interest rate of 6.74%; expected life of eight years; expected volatility of 16.28%; and a dividend yield of 7.46%. Had the Company used SFAS No. 123, earnings per share for 1996 would be unaffected and pro-forma net income for common stock would be $687,938,000, or $231,000 less than the amount reported. Note I Federal Income Tax The net revenue requirements for the future federal income tax component of accumulated deferred federal income taxes (see Note A) at December 31, 1996 and 1995 are shown on the following table: (Millions of Dollars) 1996 1995 Future federal income tax liability Temporary differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities: Property related $5,595.0 $ 5,513.3 Reserve for injuries and damages (55.7) (49.2) Other 16.7 54.5 Total 5,556.0 5,518.6 Future federal income tax computed at statutory rate - 35% 1,944.6 1,931.5 Less: Accumulated deferred federal income taxes previously recovered 1,304.8 1,254.0 Net future federal income tax expense to be recovered 639.8 677.5 Net revenue requirements for above (Regulatory asset-future federal income taxes)* 984.3 1,042.3 Add: Accumulated deferred federal income taxes previously recovered Depreciation 1,115.5 1,046.8 Unbilled revenues (94.6) (87.1) Advance refunding of long-term debt 32.7 32.4 Other 251.2 261.9 Subtotal 1,304.8 1,254.0 Total accumulated deferred federal income tax $2,289.1 $2,296.3 * Net revenue requirements will be offset by the amortization to federal income tax expense of accumulated deferred investment tax credits, the tax benefits of which the Company has already realized. Including the full effect therefrom, the net revenue requirements related to future federal income taxes at December 31, 1996 and 1995 are $811.8 million and $860.8 million, respectively. 63 Note I Federal Income Tax, continued Year Ended December 31 (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 Charged to: Operations $ 397,160 $ 396,560 $ 438,160 Other Income (970) 1,060 430 Total federal income tax 396,190 397,620 438,590 Reconciliation of reported net income with taxable income Federal income tax - current 355,590 328,600 374,500 Federal income tax - deferred 49,510 78,330 73,710 Investment tax credits deferred (8,910) (9,310) (9,620) Total federal income tax 396,190 397,620 438,590 Net income 694,085 723,850 734,270 Income before federal income tax 1,090,275 1,121,470 1,172,860 Effective federal income tax rate 36.3% 35.5% 37.4% Adjustments decreasing (increasing) taxable income Tax depreciation in excess of book depreciation: Amounts subject to normalization 201,760 202,230 218,181 Other (99,576) (85,538) (94,813) Deferred recoverable fuel costs 42,008 61,937 (20,132) Regulatory accounts receivable 51,878 (32,827) (70,771) Excess research and development (13,025) (2,969) (1,284) Pension and other postretirement benefit (34,136) 38,102 3,535 Power contract termination costs (38,759) (56,397) 77,699 Other - net (45,729) 25,356 (12,824) Total 64,421 149,894 99,591 Taxable income 1,025,854 971,576 1,073,269 Federal income tax - current Amount computed at statutory rate - 35% 359,049 340,052 375,644 Tax credits (3,459) (11,452) (1,144) Total 355,590 328,600 374,500 Charged to: Operations 357,000 328,200 374,160 Other Income (1,410) 400 340 Total 355,590 328,600 374,500 Federal income tax - deferred Charged to: Operations 49,070 77,670 73,620 Other Income 440 660 90 Total $ 49,510 $ 78,330 $ 73,710
64 Note J Financial Information by Business Segments (a) Electric Steam (Thousands of Dollars) 1996 1995 1994 1996 1995 1994 Operating revenues .... $5,552,247 $5,401,524 $5,152,351 $ 405,040 $ 335,694 $ 343,916 Operating expenses Purchased power ........ 1,269,092 1,107,223 787,455 3,762 -- -- Fuel ................... 377,351 354,086 410,173 195,924 150,018 157,591 Other operations and maintenance* ... 1,331,801 1,372,715 1,372,865 83,837 79,929 80,035 Depreciation and amortization ....... 425,397 393,382 364,988 15,900 13,064 10,961 Taxes, other than federal income ..... 980,309 951,095 955,850 51,361 45,788 46,178 Federal income tax ..... 330,103 339,863 379,584 14,131 12,598 11,577 Total operating expenses* .......... 4,714,053 4,518,364 4,270,915 364,915 301,397 306,342 Operating income ....... 838,194 883,160 881,436 40,125 34,297 37,574 Construction expenditures ....... 515,006 538,454 587,189 38,290 27,559 44,957 Net utility plant** .... 9,150,261 9,027,031 8,874,341 458,019 399,028 378,748 Fuel ................... 64,231 40,444 50,821 478 62 62 Other identifiable assets ............. 1,703,906 1,724,005 1,899,182 42,817 51,969 48,141 *Intersegment rentals included in segments' income but eliminated for total Company Operating revenues $ 11,130 $ 12,116 $ 11,879 $ 1,491 $ 1,561 $ 1,409 Operating expenses 2,472 2,513 2,331 12,190 13,102 12,733 Gas Total Company 1996 1995 1994 1996 1995 1994 Operating revenues* $1,017,124 $ 815,307 $ 891,897 $ 6,959,736 $ 6,536,897 $ 6,373,086 Operating expenses Purchased power ....... -- -- -- 1,272,854 1,107,223 787,455 Fuel .................. -- -- -- 573,275 504,104 567,764 Gas purchased for resale ........ 418,271 259,789 341,204 418,271 259,789 341,204 Other operations and maintenance* .. 221,011 214,818 214,451 1,621,974 1,651,834 1,652,273 Depreciation and amortization ...... 55,115 49,330 46,407 496,412 455,776 422,356 Taxes, other than federal income .... 134,529 123,349 125,663 1,166,199 1,120,232 1,127,691 Federal income tax .... 52,926 44,099 46,999 397,160 396,560 438,160 Total operating expenses* ......... 881,852 691,385 774,724 5,946,145 5,495,518 5,336,903 Operating income ...... 135,272 123,922 117,173 1,013,591 1,041,379 1,036,183 Construction expenditures ...... 121,937 126,790 125,384 675,233 692,803 757,530 Net utility plant** ... 1,459,030 1,388,344 1,308,119 11,067,310 10,814,403 10,561,208 Fuel and gas in storage ........ 44,979 26,452 50,698 109,688 66,958 101,581 Other identifiable assets ............ 197,033 177,374 151,628 1,943,756 1,953,348 2,098,951 Other corporate assets 936,431 1,115,181 966,624 Total assets $14,057,185 $13,949,890 $13,728,364 * Intersegment rentals included in segments' income but eliminated for total Company Operating revenues $ 2,054 $ 1,951 $ 1,790 $ 14,675 $ 15,628 $ 15,078 Operating expenses 13 13 14 14,675 15,628 15,078 **General Utility Plant was allocated to Electric and Gas on the basis of the departmental use of such plant. Pursuant to PSC requirements the Steam department is charged an interdepartmental rent for General Plant used in Steam operations which is credited to the Electric and Gas departments.
(a) The Company supplies electric service in all of New York City (except part of Queens) and most of Westchester County. It also supplies gas in Manhattan, The Bronx and parts of Queens and Westchester, and steam in part of Manhattan. 65 SCHEDULE VIII CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (Thousands of Dollars) COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E Additions (1) (2) Balance at Charged to Charged to Balance at Beginning Costs and Other End of Description of Period Expenses Accounts Deductions Period Valuation Accounts deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which they apply: Accumulated Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable: Electric, Gas and Steam Customers $ 21,600 $ 30,771 - $ 30,771* $ 21,600 Other - - - - - *Accounts written off less cash collections, miscellaneous adjustments and amounts reinstated as receivables previously written off. 66 SCHEDULE VIII CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 (Thousands of Dollars) COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E Additions (1) (2) Balance at Charged to Charged to Balance at Beginning Costs and Other End of Description of Period Expenses Accounts Deductions Period Valuation Accounts deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which they apply: Accumulated Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable: Electric, Gas and Steam Customers $ 21,600 $ 32,589 - $ 32,589* $ 21,600 Other - - - - - *Accounts written off less cash collections, miscellaneous adjustments and amounts reinstated as receivables previously written off. 67 SCHEDULE VIII CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 (Thousands of Dollars) COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E Additions (1) (2) Balance at Charged to Charged to Balance at Beginning Costs and Other End of Description of Period Expenses Accounts Deductions Period Valuation Accounts deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which they apply: Accumulated Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable: Electric, Gas and Steam Customers $ 21,600 $ 30,256 - $ 30,256* $ 21,600 Other - - - - - *Accounts written off less cash collections, miscellaneous adjustments and amounts reinstated as receivables previously written off. 68 ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE NONE. PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS Information required by Part III is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 19, 1997. The proxy statement is to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after December 31, 1996, the close of the fiscal year covered by this report. In accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, other information regarding the Company's Executive Officers may be found in Part I of this report under the caption "Executive Officers of the Registrant." 69 PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Documents filed as part of this report: 1. List of Financial Statements Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 1996 and 1995 Consolidated Income Statement for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 Consolidated Statement of Capitalization at December 31, 1996 and 1995 Consolidated Statement of Retained Earnings for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 2. List of Financial Statement Schedules Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Schedule VIII) 70 3. List of Exhibits 3.1.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on December 31, 1984. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 3(a).) 3.1.2 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on May 16, 1988. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 3(b).) 3.1.3 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on June 2, 1989. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 3(c).) 3.1.4 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on April 28, 1992. (Designated in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 24, 1992, (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4(d).) 3.1.5 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on August 21, 1992. (Designated in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 20, 1992, (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4(e).) *3.2 By-laws of the Company, effective as of January 1, 1997. 4.1 Participation Agreement, dated as of August 15, 1985, between New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Company. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1990 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4(a)(1).) 71 4.2 The following Supplemental Participation Agreements supplementing the Participation Agreement, dated as of August 15, 1985, between NYSERDA and the Company, which are designated as follows: Supplemental Securities Exchange Act Participation Agreement File No. 1-1217 Number Date Form Date Exhibit 1. First 11/15/86 10-Q 6/30/90 4(a)(2) 2. Second 4/15/87 10-Q 6/30/90 4(a)(3) 3. Third 9/15/87 10-Q 6/30/90 4(a)(4) 4. Fourth 1/1/89 10-Q 6/30/90 4(a)(5) 5. Fifth 7/1/89 10-Q 6/30/90 4(a)(6) 6. Sixth 11/1/89 10-Q 6/30/90 4(a)(7) 7. Seventh 7/1/90 10-Q 6/30/90 4(a)(8) 8. Eighth 1/1/91 10-K 12/31/90 4(e)(8) 9. Ninth 1/15/92 10-K 12/31/91 4(e)(9) 4.3 Participation Agreement, dated as of December 1, 1992, between NYSERDA and the Company. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4(f).) 4.4 The following Supplemental Participation Agreements supplementing the Participation Agreement, dated as of December 1, 1992, between NYSERDA and the Company, which are designated as follows: Supplemental Securities Exchange Act Participation Agreement File No. 1-1217 Number Date Form Date Exhibit 1. First 3/15/93 10-Q 6/30/93 4.1 2. Second 10/1/93 10-Q 9/30/93 4.3 3. Third 12/1/94 10-K 12/31/94 4.7.3 4. Fourth 7/1/95 10-Q 6/30/95 4.2 4.5 Indenture of Trust, dated as of August 15, 1985, between NYSERDA and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Trustee (Morgan Guaranty). (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1990 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4(b)(1).) 72 4.6 The following Supplemental Indentures of Trust supplementing the Indenture of Trust, dated as of August 15, 1985, between NYSERDA and Morgan Guaranty. Supplemental Securities Exchange Act Indenture of Trust File No. 1-1217 Number Date Form Date Exhibit 1 . First 11/15/86 10-Q 6/30/90 4(b)(2) 2. Second 4/15/87 10-Q 6/30/90 4(b)(3) 3. Third 9/15/87 10-Q 6/30/90 4(b)(4) 4. Fourth 1/1/89 10-Q 6/30/90 4(b)(5) 5. Fifth 7/1/89 10-Q 6/30/90 4(b)(6) 6. Sixth 11/1/89 10-Q 6/30/90 4(b)(7) 7. Seventh 7/1/90 10-Q 6/30/90 4(b)(8) 8. Eighth 1/1/91 10-K 12/31/90 4(g)(8) 9. Ninth 1/15/92 10-K 12/31/91 4(g)(9) 4.7 Indenture of Trust, dated as of December 1, 1992, between NYSERDA and Morgan Guaranty. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4(i).) 4.8 The following Supplemental Indentures of Trust supplementing the Indenture of Trust, dated as of December 1, 1992, between NYSERDA and Morgan Guaranty. Supplemental Securities Exchange Act Indenture of Trust File No. 1-1217 Number Date Form Date Exhibit 1. First 3/15/93 10-Q 6/30/93 4.2 2. Second 10/1/93 10-Q 9/30/93 4.4 3. Third 12/1/94 10-K 12/31/94 4.11.3 4. Fourth 7/1/95 10-Q 6/30/95 4.3 4.9 Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1990, between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee (the "Debenture Indenture"). (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4(h).) 4.10 First Supplemental Indenture (to the Debenture Indenture), dated as of March 6, 1996, between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4.13.) 73 4.11 The following Forms of the Company's Debentures: Securities Exchange Act File No. 1-1217 Debenture Form Date Exhibit 7 3/8%, Series 1992 A 8-K 2/5/92 4(a) 7 5/8%, Series 1992 B 8-K 2/5/92 4(b) 7.60%, Series 1992 C 8-K 2/25/92 4 6 1/2%, Series 1992 D 8-K 8/26/92 4(a) 7 3/8%, Series 1992 E 8-K 8/26/92 4(b) 8.05%, Series 1992 F 8-K 12/15/92 4 6 1/4%, Series 1993 A 8-K 1/13/93 4 6 1/2%, Series 1993 B 8-K 2/4/93 4(a) 6 5/8%, Series 1993 C 8-K 2/4/93 4(b) 6 3/8%, Series 1993 D 8-K 4/7/93 4 5.30%, Series 1993 E 8-K 5/19/93 4(a) 5.70%, Series 1993 F 8-K 5/19/93 4(b) 7 1/2%, Series 1993 G 8-K 6/7/93 4 7 1/8%, Series 1994 A 8-K 2/8/94 4 Floating Rate Series 1994 B 8-K 6/29/94 4 6 5/8%, Series 1995 A 8-K 6/21/95 4 7 3/4%, Series 1996 A 8-K 4/24/96 4 Floating Rate Series 1996 B 8-K 11/25/96 4 4.12 Form of the Company's 7 3/4% Quarterly Income Capital Securities (Series A Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures). (Designated in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 29, 1996, (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 4.) 10.1 Agreement dated as of October 31, 1968 among Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, the Company and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. (Designated in Registration Statement No. 2-31884 as Exhibit 7.) 10.2 Amendment dated November 23, 1976 to Agreement dated as of October 31, 1968 among Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, the Company and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and Additional Agreement dated as of November 23, 1976 between Central Hudson and the Company. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991 (File No.1-1217) as Exhibit 10(b).) 10.3 General Agreement between Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. and the Company dated October 10, 1969. (Designated in Registration Statement No. 2-35734 as Exhibit 7-1.) 10.4 Letters, dated November 18, 1970 and November 23, 1970, between Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. and the Company pursuant to Article 14(a) of the aforesaid General Agreement. (Designated in Registration Statement No. 2-38807 as Exhibit 5-3.) 74 *10.5 The Con Edison Thrift Savings Plan for Management Employees and Tax Reduction Act Stock Ownership Plan, as amended and restated. 10.6 Deferred Compensation Plan for the Benefit of Trustees of the Company, dated February 27, 1979, and amendments thereto, dated September 19, 1979 (effective February 27, 1979), February 26, 1980, and November 24, 1992 (effective January 1, 1993). (Designated in Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(i).) 10.7 Employment contract, dated August 24, 1982, between the Company and Arthur Hauspurg, as amended. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991(File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(i).) 10.8 Agreement, dated January 24, 1991, between the Company and Arthur Hauspurg. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(l).) 10.9 Employment Contract, dated May 22, 1990, between the Company and Eugene R. McGrath. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1990 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.) 10.10 Amendment, dated August 27, 1991, to Employment Contract dated May 22, 1990, between the Company and Eugene R. McGrath. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1991 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 19.) 10.11 Amendment, dated August 25, 1992, to Employment Contract, dated May 22, 1990, between the Company and Eugene R. McGrath. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) s Exhibit 19.) 10.12 Amendment, dated February 18, 1993, to Employment Contract dated May 22, 1990, between the Company and Eugene R. McGrath. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(o).) 10.13 Amendment, dated August 24, 1993, to Employment Contract dated May 22, 1990, between the Company and Eugene R. McGrath. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1993 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.1.) 75 10.14 Amendment, dated August 24, 1994, to Employment Contract, dated May 22, 1990, between the Company and Eugene R. McGrath. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1994 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.1.) 10.15 Amendment, dated August 22, 1995, to Employment Contract, dated May 22, 1990, between the Company and Eugene R. McGrath. (Designated as in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.3.) 10.16 Amendment, dated July 23, 1996, to Employment Contract, dated May 22, 1990, between the Company and Eugene R. McGrath. (Designated as in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1996 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.2.) 10.17 The Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan adopted by the Company's Board of Trustees on March 23, 1982 as amended through March 30, 1989. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991, (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(q).) 10.18 Amendment and Restatement, dated August 26, 1991 and effective as of April 30, 1991, of The Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(r).) 10.19 Amendment and Restatement, dated January 29, 1992 and effective as of December 1, 1991, of The Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(s).) 10.20 The Consolidated Edison Retirement Plan for Management Employees, as amended and restated. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.1.) 10.21 Amendment No. 1, dated December 29, 1995, to the Consolidated Edison Retirement Plan for Management Employees. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.29.) 76 *10.22 Amendment No. 2, dated July 1,1996, to the Consolidated Edison Retirement Plan for Management Employees. 10.23 Con Edison Supplemental Retirement Income Plan, adopted July 22, 1987, effective January 1, 1987. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(cc).) *10.24 Amendment No. 1, dated March 21,1997, to the Con Edison Supplemental Retirement Income Plan. 10.25 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Retirement Plan for Trustees, effective as of July 1, 1988. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(ee).) 10.26 Amendment No. 1, dated September 28, 1990, to the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Retirement Plan for Trustees. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1990 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 19(c).) 10.27 Planning and Supply Agreement, dated March 10, 1989, between the Company and the Power Authority of the State of New York. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(gg).) 10.28 Delivery Service Agreement, dated March 10, 1989, between the Company and the Power Authority of the State of New York. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(hh).) 10.29 Supplemental Medical Plan for the Benefit of the Company's officers. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(aa).) 10.30 The Con Edison Discount Stock Purchase Plan. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(bb).) 10.31 Amendment, dated December 29, 1995, to the Con Edison Discount Stock Purchase Plan. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.38.) 10.32 Employment Agreement, dated June 25, 1991, between the Company and J. Michael Evans. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1991 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 19.) 77 10.33 Amendment, dated March 29, 1993, to Employment Agreement, dated June 25, 1991, between the Company and J. Michael Evans. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1993 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.) 10.34 Amendment, dated November 8, 1993, to Employment Agreement, dated June 25, 1991, between the Company and J. Michael Evans. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1993 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.2.) 10.35 The Consolidated Edison Retiree Health Program for Management Employees, effective as of January 1, 1993. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10(ll).) 10.36 Amendment No. 1, dated October 31, 1994, to the Consolidated Edison Retiree Health Program for Management Employees. (Designated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1994(File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.3.) 10.37 Amendment No. 2, dated December 28, 1994, to the Consolidated Edison Retiree Health Program for Management Employees. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.44.) 10.38 Amendment No. 3, dated December 29, 1995, to the Consolidated Edison Retiree Health Program for Management Employees. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.45.) *10.39 Amendment No. 4, dated July 1, 1996, to the Consolidated Edison Retiree Health Program for Management Employees. 10.40 Employment Agreement, dated November 28, 1995, between the Company and Peter J. O'Shea, Jr. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.46.) 10.41 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan. (Designated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.47.) 10.42 Agreement and Settlement, dated March 12, 1997, between the Company and the Staff of the New York State Public Service Commission (without Appendices). (Designated in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 13, 1997, (File No. 1-1217) as Exhibit 10.) 78 *12 Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993 and 1992. *23 Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP. *24 Powers of Attorney of each of the persons signing this report by attorney-in-fact. *27 Financial Data Schedule. (To the extent provided in Rule 402 of Regulation S-T, this exhibit shall not be deemed "filed", or otherwise subject to liabilities, or be deemed part of a registration statement.) Exhibits listed above which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and which were designated as noted above, are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this report with the same effect as if filed with the report. - -------------------- * Filed herewith (b) Reports on Form 8-K: The Company filed Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated October 1, 1996 and March 13, 1997, reporting (under Item 5) matters discussed under "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Competition and Industry Restructuring and PSC Settlement Agreement" in Item 7. The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 25, 1996, reporting (under Item 5) the December 12, 1996 sale of $150 million aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Debentures, Series 1996 B and the November 25, 1996 rejection by the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Albany County, of a challenge by the Company and other utilities to the May 1996 PSC order discussed under "Liquidity and Capital Resources Competition and Industry Restructuring and PSC Settlement Agreement" in Item 7. The Company filed no other Current Reports on Form 8-K during the quarter ended December 31, 1996. 79 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC. Date: March 28, 1997 By Joan S. Freilich Joan S. Freilich Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Date Signature Title March 28, 1997 Eugene R. McGrath* Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee (Principal Executive Officer) March 28, 1997 Joan S. Freilich* Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) March 28, 1997 John F. Cioffi* Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) E. Virgil Conway* Trustee Ruth M. Davis* Trustee Ellen V. Futter* Trustee Arthur Hauspurg* Trustee Sally Hernandez-Pinero* Trustee Peter W. Likins* Trustee Donald K. Ross* Trustee Robert G. Schwartz* Trustee Richard A. Voell* Trustee Myles V. Whalen, Jr.* Trustee March 28, 1997 *By Joan S. Freilich Attorney-in-Fact Joan S. Freilich

                                     BY-LAWS
                                       OF

                           CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY
                                OF NEW YORK, INC.


                         Effective as of January 1, 1997



      SECTION  1. The annual  meeting of  stockholders  of the  Company  for the
election of Trustees and such other  business as may  properly  come before such
meeting  shall be held on the third  Monday in May in each year at such hour and
at such  place in the City of New York or the  County of  Westchester  as may be
designated by the Board of Trustees.

      SECTION 2. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Company may be held
upon call of the  Chairman of the Board,  the Vice  Chairman  of the Board,  the
President,  the Board of Trustees,  or  stockholders  holding  one-fourth of the
outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at such meeting.

      SECTION 3. Notice of the time and place of every meeting of  stockholders,
the purpose of such  meeting  and, in case of a special  meeting,  the person or
persons by or at whose direction the meeting is being called, shall be mailed by
the Secretary,  or other officer  performing his duties,  at least ten days, but
not more than fifty days,  before the meeting to each stockholder of record,  at
his last known Post Office address; provided,  however, that if a stockholder be
present at a meeting,  in person or by proxy,  without  protesting  prior to the
conclusion  of the  meeting  the lack of notice of such  meeting,  or in writing
waives  notice  thereof  before  or  after  the  meeting,  the  mailing  to such
stockholder of notice of such meeting is unnecessary.

      SECTION 4. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of
the Company,  entitled to vote at a meeting, present in person or by proxy shall
constitute a quorum, but less than a quorum shall have power to adjourn.

      SECTION 5. The Chairman of the Board,  or in his absence the Vice Chairman
of the Board, or in his absence the President shall preside over all meetings of
stockholders.  In their  absence one of the Vice  Presidents  shall preside over
such meetings.  The Secretary of the Board of Trustees shall act as Secretary of
such  meeting,  if  present.  In his  absence,  the  Chairman of the meeting may
appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting.





SECTION 6. At each  meeting of  stockholders  at which  votes are to be taken by
ballot there shall be at least two and not more than five inspectors of election
and of stockholders' votes, who shall be either designated prior to such meeting
by the Board of Trustees  or, in the absence of such  designation,  appointed by
the Chairman of the meeting.

      SECTION 7.  Transfer of shares of stock of the Company will be  registered
on the books of the Company  maintained  for that purpose upon  presentation  of
share certificates  appropriately  endorsed. The Board of Trustees may, in their
discretion, appoint one or more registrars of the stock.

      SECTION 8. The affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction
of a Board consisting of thirteen Trustees, who shall be elected annually by the
stockholders by ballot and shall hold office until their  successors are elected
and qualified.  Vacancies in the Board of Trustees may be filled by the Board at
any  meeting,  but if the number of Trustees is  increased  or  decreased by the
Board by an  amendment  of this section of the  By-laws,  such  amendment  shall
require  the vote of a  majority  of the whole  Board.  Members  of the Board of
Trustees  shall be entitled to receive  such  reasonable  fees or other forms of
compensation,  on a per  diem,  annual  or  other  basis,  as  may be  fixed  by
resolution  of the Board of  Trustees  or the  stockholders  in respect of their
services  as  such,  including  attendance  at  meetings  of the  Board  and its
committees;  provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed
as precluding any Trustee from serving the Company in any capacity other than as
a member of the Board or a committee thereof and receiving compensation for such
other services.

      SECTION 9. Meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held at the time and
place  fixed by  resolution  of the  Board or upon call of the  Chairman  of the
Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, or a Vice President or any
two Trustees.  The Secretary of the Board or officer performing his duties shall
give 24 hours'  notice of all meetings of Trustees;  provided that a meeting may
be held without notice  immediately  after the annual election of Trustees,  and
notice need not be given of regular  meetings  held at times fixed by resolution
of the  Board.  Meetings  may be  held at any  time  without  notice  if all the
Trustees are present and none  protests  the lack of notice  either prior to the
meeting or at its  commencement,  or if those not present  waive  notice  either
before or after the meeting. Notice by mailing or telegraphing, or delivering by
hand,  to the usual  business  address or residence of the Trustee not less than
the time above specified  before the meeting shall be sufficient.  A Majority of
the  Trustees in office  shall  constitute  a quorum,  but less than such quorum
shall have power to  adjourn.  The  Chairman of the Board or, in his absence the
Vice  Chairman of the Board or, in his absence a Chairman pro tem elected by the
meeting from among the  Trustees  present  shall  preside at all meetings of the
Board. Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a special meeting
of the  Board by means  of a  conference  telephone  or  similar  communications
equipment  allowing all persons  participating in the meeting to hear each other
at the same time. Participation





by such means shall constitute  presence in person at such special meeting.  Any
action  required or  permitted  to be taken by the Board may be taken  without a
meeting if all  members of the Board  consent  in writing to the  adoption  of a
resolution  authorizing the action;  provided,  however, that no action taken by
the  Board by  unanimous  written  consent  shall be taken in lieu of a  regular
monthly  meeting of the  Board.  Each  resolution  so  adopted  and the  written
consents  thereto by the members of the Board shall be filed with the minutes of
the proceedings of the Board.

      SECTION 10. The Board of Trustees, as soon as may be after the election of
Trustees in each year,  shall  elect from their  number a Chairman of the Board,
who shall be the chief executive officer of the Company,  and shall elect a Vice
Chairman  of the Board and a  President.  The Board shall also elect one or more
Vice  Presidents,  a Secretary and a Treasurer,  and may from time to time elect
such other officers as they may deem proper. Any two or more offices may be held
by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.

      SECTION  11.  The term of office of all  officers  shall be until the next
election  of  Trustees  and until  their  respective  successors  are chosen and
qualify,  but any officer may be removed from office at any time by the Board of
Trustees. Vacancies among the officers may be filled by the Board of Trustees at
any meeting.

      SECTION 12. The  Chairman of the Board and the  President  shall have such
duties as  usually  pertain to their  respective  offices,  except as  otherwise
directed  by the Board of Trustees or the  Executive  Committee,  and shall also
have such powers and duties as may from time to time be  conferred  upon them by
the Board of Trustees or the Executive Committee. The Vice Chairman of the Board
shall have such powers and duties as may from time to time be conferred upon him
by the Board of Trustees,  the Executive Committee or the Chairman of the Board.
In the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board,  the Vice Chairman of
the Board shall  perform the duties and  exercise  the powers of the Chairman of
the Board.  The Vice Presidents and the other officers of the Company shall have
such duties as usually pertain to their respective offices,  except as otherwise
directed by the Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee,  the Chairman of the
Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board or the President, and shall also have such
powers and duties as may from time to time be  conferred  upon them by the Board
of  Trustees,  the  Executive  Committee,  the  Chairman of the Board,  the Vice
Chairman of the Board or the President.

      SECTION 13. The Board of Trustees, as soon as may be after the election of
Trustees  in each year,  may by a  resolution  passed by a majority of the whole
Board, appoint an Executive  Committee,  to consist of the Chairman of the Board
(and in his absence the Vice Chairman of the Board) and three or more additional
Trustees as the Board may from time to time determine,  which shall have and may
exercise  during the intervals  between the meetings of the Board all the powers
vested in the Board except that neither the  Executive  Committee  nor any other
committee appointed pursuant to this section of the By-laws shall have authority
as to any of the following






matters:  the submission to stockholders of any action as to which stockholders'
authorization  is required by law;  the filling of  vacancies on the Board or on
any committee thereof;  the fixing of compensation of any Trustee for serving on
the Board or on any committee thereof; the amendment or repeal of these By-laws,
or the adoption of new By-laws; and the amendment or repeal of any resolution of
the Board which by its terms shall not be so amendable or repealable.  The Board
shall  have the power at any time to change  the  membership  of such  Executive
Committee and to fill  vacancies in it. The  Executive  Committee may make rules
for the conduct of its business and may appoint such  committees  and assistants
as it may  deem  necessary.  Four  members  of said  Executive  Committee  shall
constitute a quorum. The Chairman of the Board or, in his absence a Chairman pro
tem elected by the meeting  from among the  members of the  Executive  Committee
present shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee.  The Board may
designate one or more Trustees as alternate  members of any committee  appointed
pursuant to this  section of the  By-laws  who may replace any absent  member or
members at any meeting of such  committee.  The Board of Trustees  may also from
time to time appoint other committees  consisting of three or more Trustees with
such powers as may be granted to them by the Board of  Trustees,  subject to the
restrictions  contained in this section of the By-laws.  Any one or more members
of any  committee  appointed  pursuant to this  section may  participate  in any
meeting  of such  committee  by  means  of a  conference  telephone  or  similar
communications  equipment  allowing all persons  participating in the meeting to
hear each other at the same time.  Participation  by such means shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken
by any  committee  appointed  pursuant to this  section  may be taken  without a
meeting if all members of such committee consent in writing to the adoption of a
resolution  authorizing  the action.  Each resolution so adopted and the written
consents  thereto  by the  members  of such  committee  shall be filed  with the
minutes of the proceedings of such committee.

      SECTION  14.  The  Board  of  Trustees  are   authorized  to  select  such
depositories as they shall deem proper for the funds of the Company.  All checks
and  drafts  against  such  deposited  funds  shall be signed by such  person or
persons and in such manner as may be specified by the Board of Trustees.

      SECTION 15. The Company shall fully indemnify in all  circumstances to the
extent not  prohibited by law any person made, or threatened to be made, a party
to  an  action  or   proceeding,   whether  civil  or  criminal,   including  an
investigative, administrative or legislative proceeding, and including an action
by or in the right of the Company or any other  corporation of any type or kind,
domestic or foreign, or any partnership,  joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other  enterprise,  by  reason  of the fact  that he,  his  testator  or
intestate,  is or was a Trustee or officer of the Company,  or is or was serving
at the  request  of the  Company  any  other  corporation  of any  type or kind,
domestic or foreign, or any partnership,  joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other  enterprise,  as a  director,  officer  or in any  other  capacity
against any and all judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, and expenses,






including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred as a result of or in
connection  with any such  action or  proceeding  or related  appeal;  provided,
however,  that no indemnification  shall be made to or on behalf of any Trustee,
director  or officer if a judgment or other  final  adjudication  adverse to the
Trustee,  director or officer  establishes  that his acts were  committed in bad
faith or were the result of active and  deliberate  dishonesty and were material
to the cause of action so  adjudicated,  or that he personally  gained in fact a
financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally  entitled;  and,
except in the case of an action or proceeding specifically approved by the Board
of Trustees,  the Company shall pay expenses  incurred by or on behalf of such a
person in defending  such a civil or criminal  action or  proceeding  (including
appeals)  in  advance  of the final  disposition  of such  action or  proceeding
promptly upon receipt by the Company,  from time to time, of a written demand of
such person for such  advancement,  together with an undertaking by or on behalf
of such  person to repay any  expenses so advanced to the extent that the person
receiving  the   advancement   is  ultimately   found  not  to  be  entitled  to
indemnification  for  such  expenses;  and  the  right  to  indemnification  and
advancement of defense  expenses granted by or pursuant to this by-law (i) shall
not limit or exclude, but shall be in addition to, any other rights which may be
granted by or pursuant to any statute,  certificate  of  incorporation,  by-law,
resolution  or  agreement,  (ii)  shall  be  deemed  to  constitute  contractual
obligations  of the  Company to any  Trustee,  director or officer who serves in
such capacity at any time while this by-law is in effect,  (iii) are intended to
be retroactive and shall be available with respect to events  occurring prior to
the adoption of this by-law and (iv) shall continue to exist after the repeal or
modification  hereof with respect to events  occurring prior thereto.  It is the
intent of this by-law to require the Company to indemnify  the persons  referred
to herein for the aforementioned  judgments,  fines,  amounts paid in settlement
and expenses, including attorneys' fees, in each and every circumstance in which
such  indemnification  could lawfully be permitted by an express  provision of a
by-law, and the indemnification  required by this by-law shall not be limited by
the absence of an express recital of such  circumstances.  The Company may, with
the approval of the Board of Trustees,  enter into an agreement  with any person
who is, or is about to become,  a Trustee or officer of the  Company,  or who is
serving,  or is about  to  serve,  at the  request  of the  Company,  any  other
corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership,  joint
venture,  trust,  employee  benefit  plan or other  enterprise,  as a  director,
officer  or  in  any  other   capacity,   which   agreement   may   provide  for
indemnification  of such  person and  advancement  of defense  expenses  to such
person upon such terms, and to the extent, as may be permitted by law.

      SECTION 16.  Wherever the expression  "Trustees" or "Board of Trustees" is
used in these  By-laws  the same  shall be deemed to apply to the  Directors  or
Board of  Directors,  as the case may be, if the  designation  of those  persons
constituting  the governing  board of this Company is changed from "Trustees" to
"Directors".

      SECTION 17. Either the Board of Trustees or the  stockholders may alter or
amend these  By-laws at any meeting duly held as above  provided,  the notice of
which includes notice of the proposed amendment.









                                EMERGENCY BY-LAWS

                                       OF

                  CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                                   As Amended
                                February 23, 1966

                             Effective May 16, 1966




      SECTION  1. These  Emergency  By-laws  may be  declared  effective  by the
Defense  Council of New York as  constituted  under the New York  State  Defense
Emergency  Act in the event of attack and shall cease to be  effective  when the
Council declares the end of the period of attack.

      SECTION 2. In the event of attack and until the Defense  Council  declares
the end of the period of attack the affairs of the  Company  shall be managed by
such  Trustees  theretofore  elected as are  available to act, and a majority of
such Trustees shall  constitute a quorum.  In the event that there are less than
three  Trustees  available to act,  then and in that event the Board of Trustees
shall  consist of such  Trustees  theretofore  elected and available to act plus
such  number of senior  officers  of the  Company  not  theretofore  elected  as
Trustees as will make a Board of not less than three nor more than five members.
The Board as so  constituted  shall  continue  until  such  time as the  Defense
Council  declares the end of the period of attack and their  successors are duly
elected.

      SECTION 3. The By-laws of the Company  shall  remain in effect  during the
period of emergency to the extent that said  By-laws are not  inconsistent  with
these Emergency By-laws.







                                                                        12/27/96







                 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.



                        Con Edison Thrift Savings Plan
                           for Management Employees
                                      and
                    Tax Reduction Act Stock Ownership Plan








As Amended and  Restated  Effective  as of December 1, 1996 Except as  Otherwise
Noted.



















                                                                        12/27/96




PURPOSE....................................................................  1

ARTICLE 1..................................................................  3
      Definitions..........................................................  3

ARTICLE 2.................................................................. 18
      Eligibility and Participation........................................ 18
            2.01  Eligibility.............................................. 18
            2.02  Participation............................................ 18
            2.03  Reemployment   of   Former    Employees   and   Former
                  Participants............................................. 19
            2.04  Transferred Participants................................. 19
            2.05  Termination of Participation............................. 19

ARTICLE 3.................................................................. 20
      Contributions........................................................ 20
            3.01  Pre-Tax Contributions.................................... 20
            3.02  After-Tax Contributions.................................. 22
            3.03  Company Contributions.................................... 22
            3.04  Participating and Nonparticipating Contributions......... 23
            3.05  Rollover Contributions and Trust to Trust Transfers...... 23
            3.06  Changes in Contributions................................. 25
            3.07  Suspension in Contributions.............................. 25
            3.08  Payment to Trust......................................... 26
            3.09  No Contributions to TRASOP............................... 26
            3.10  Transition Period........................................ 26

ARTICLE 4.................................................................. 26
      Company Contributions................................................ 26
            4.01  Company Contributions Election........................... 26
            4.02  Change of Election....................................... 27
            4.03  Certification to Company.  .............................. 27
            4.04  Forfeitures.............................................. 27

ARTICLE 5.................................................................. 27
      The Trust Fund; Investments.......................................... 27
            5.01  Trust Agreement.......................................... 27
            5.02  Investment of Trust Fund................................. 28
            5.03  Company Stock Fund....................................... 31
            5.04  Accounts and Subaccounts................................. 32
            5.05  Pre-January 1, 1985 Contributions........................ 32
            5.06  Statements of Account.................................... 32
            5.07  Responsibility for Investments........................... 33

ARTICLE 6.................................................................. 33
      Vesting.............................................................. 33
            6.01  Participant Contributions................................ 33
            6.02  Company Contributions.................................... 34
            6.03  TRASOP Account........................................... 34

ARTICLE 7.................................................................. 34
      Distributions, Withdrawals and Forfeitures........................... 34
            7.01  Retirement............................................... 34
            7.02  Voluntary  Termination  or Termination by the Company;
                  Forfeitures.............................................. 35
            7.03   Death................................................... 36
            7.04  Withdrawals.............................................. 36
            7.05  Hardship Withdrawals..................................... 41
            7.06  Distribution from Company Stock Fund..................... 44
            7.07  Leaves of Absence and Transfers to Weekly Payroll........ 44
            7.08  Age 70 1/2 Required Distribution......................... 45
            7.09  Form and Timing of Distributions......................... 46
            7.10  Status of Account Pending Distribution................... 47
            7.11  Proof  of Death  and  Right  of  Beneficiary  or Other
                  Person................................................... 48
            7.12  Distribution Limitation.................................. 48
            7.13  Direct Rollover of Certain Distributions................. 48

ARTICLE 8.................................................................. 50
      Non-Discrimination and Limitation.................................... 50
            8.01  Actual Deferral Percentage Test.......................... 50
            8.02  Actual Contribution Percentage Test...................... 52
            8.03  Aggregate Contribution Limitation........................ 54
            8.04  Additional Discrimination Testing Provisions............. 54
            8.05  Maximum Annual Additions................................. 57
            8.06  Defined Benefit Plan Limitation.......................... 60

ARTICLE 9.................................................................. 60
      Loans ............................................................... 60
            9.01  Loans Permitted.......................................... 60
            9.02  Amount of Loans.......................................... 61
            9.03  Source of Loans.......................................... 61
            9.04  Interest Rate............................................ 62
            9.05  Repayment................................................ 62
            9.06  Multiple Loans........................................... 63
            9.07  Pledge................................................... 63
            9.08  Loan Reserve............................................. 64
            9.09  Minimum Account Balance.................................. 64
            9.10  Consent.................................................. 64
            9.11  Other Terms.............................................. 64

ARTICLE 10................................................................. 65
      Administration of the Plan........................................... 65
            10.01  Named Fiduciaries and Plan Administrator................ 65
            10.02  Authority of Plan Administrator......................... 65
            10.03  Reliance on Reports..................................... 66
            10.04  Delegation of Authority................................. 66
            10.05  Administration Expenses................................. 66
            10.06  Fiduciary Insurance..................................... 67
            10.07  Claim Review............................................ 68
            10.08  Appointment of Trustee.................................. 70
            10.09  Limitation of Liability................................. 70

ARTICLE 11................................................................. 70
      Miscellaneous........................................................ 70
            11.01  Exclusive Benefit; Amendments........................... 70
            11.02  Termination; Sale of Assets of Subsidiary............... 71
            11.03  Beneficiaries........................................... 72
            11.04  Assignment of Benefits.................................. 74
            11.05  Merger.................................................. 74
            11.06  Conditions of Employment Not Affected by Plan........... 75
            11.07  Facility of Payment..................................... 75
            11.08  Information............................................. 75
            11.09  Additional Participating Employers...................... 76
            11.10  IRS Determination....................................... 76
            11.11  Mistaken Contributions.................................. 78
            11.12  Prevention of Escheat................................... 78
            11.13  Limitations Imposed on Insider Participants............. 78
            11.14  Construction............................................ 79

ARTICLE 12................................................................. 79
      Top-Heavy Provisions................................................. 79
            12.01  Application of Top-Heavy Provisions..................... 79
            12.02  Minimum Benefit for Top-Heavy Year...................... 79
            12.03  Aggregation Groups...................................... 80
            12.04  Special Benefit Limits.................................. 80
            12.05  Special Distribution Rule............................... 81

ARTICLE 13................................................................. 81
      Tax Reduction Act Stock Ownership Plan............................... 81
            13.01  Purpose; Separate Entity................................ 81
            13.02  TRASOP Accounts; Application of Dividends............... 82
            13.03  Voting Rights; Options; Rights; Warrants................ 83
            13.04  Distribution of Shares.................................. 83
            13.05  Diversification of TRASOP Accounts...................... 90








                                                                        12/27/96
                        CON EDISON THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN
                           FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
                                      AND
                    TAX REDUCTION ACT STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN




                                     PURPOSE

            The  purpose  of this  Plan is to  establish  a  convenient  way for
management  employees of the Company to supplement  their  retirement  income by
saving on a regular  and  long-term  basis and to provide  additional  financial
security  for  emergencies,  thereby  offering  these  employees  an  additional
incentive to continue  their careers with the Company.  This Plan is intended to
satisfy  the  requirements  of  Sections  401(k)  and  401(m) of the Code and to
qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code,  and the trust  described in Article 5
of this Plan is an integral  part of this Plan and is intended to qualify  under
Section 501(a) of the Code, so as to provide  Participants  an option to defer a
portion of their  compensation on a pre-tax and/or after-tax basis and to invest
and  reinvest  their  savings  under  the Plan on a  tax-deferred  basis.  It is
intended that a Participant's  Pre-Tax  Contributions,  as defined in this Plan,
shall  constitute  payments by the Company as contributions to the Trust Fund on
behalf of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 401(k) of the Code.
            Effective as of July 1, 1988,  the Company's Tax Reduction Act Stock
Ownership Plan ("TRASOP") for management employees has been included within this
plan  document,  and all TRASOP  Accounts and all  transactions  with respect to
TRASOP and TRASOP  Accounts  shall be governed by this plan  document,  but this
Plan and the TRASOP shall be separate plans.  All TRASOP matters relating to the
period up to June 30,  1988 shall be  governed  by TRASOP as amended to February
19, 1988.  There shall be no transfers  between  TRASOP  Accounts and other Plan
Accounts and Subaccounts,  and Plan Accounts and Subaccounts and TRASOP Accounts
shall continue to be operated as separate entities,  albeit within a single plan
document and trust.
            On December  28,  1994,  the Plan was  amended  and  restated in its
entirety  effective as of January 1, 1994 except as otherwise  provided therein.
The Plan,  as so amended and  restated,  was  submitted to the Internal  Revenue
Service for a determination of its qualified status.  Following consideration of
comments  received  from the Internal  Revenue  Service  after its review of the
Plan, the Company decided to change the effective date of the Plan. Accordingly,
the Plan was amended and restated in its entirety,  as amended  through  October
18, 1995, and this amendment and restatement waseffective as of January 1, 1989,
except as otherwise  provided therein and except that Sections  301(b),  (c) and
(d), 8.05 and 8.06 were effective as of January 1, 1987.
            Effective as of December 1, 1996 the Plan is amended and restated in
its entirety to make a transition to Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company to provide
trustee,  recordkeeping,   investment  management  and  participant  educational
services for the Plan, to add new investment funds, to change to daily valuation
and make certain other changes to the Plan.





                                   ARTICLE 1
                                  Definitions
            The following words and phrases have the following meanings unless a
different meaning is plainly required by the context:
      1.01 "Account" means the record maintained pursuant to Section 5.04 by the
Recordkeeper  for each Participant  relating to thrift savings  contributions to
the Plan.






      1.02 "Act" means the Tax  Reduction  Act of 1975,  as amended from time to
time.

      1.03 "Actual Contribution  Percentage," or "ACP," means, with respect to a
specified group of Employees,  the average of the ratios,  calculated separately
for each  Employee  in the  group,  of (a) the sum of the  Employee's  After-Tax
Contributions  and  Company  Contributions  for that  Plan Year  (excluding  any
Company Contributions forfeited under the provisions of Sections 3.01 and 8.01),
to (b) his Statutory Compensation for that entire Plan Year; provided that, upon
direction  of the Plan  Administrator,  Statutory  Compensation  for a Plan Year
shall only be  counted if  received  during  the  period an  Employee  is, or is
eligible to become, a Participant.  The Actual Contribution  Percentage for each
group  and the  ratio  determined  for  each  Employee  in the  group  shall  be
calculated to the nearest one one-hundredth of one percent.
      1.04 "Actual  Deferral  Percentage,"  or "ADP,"  means,  with respect to a
specified group of Employees,  the average of the ratios,  calculated separately
for each Employee in that group, of (a) the amount of Pre-Tax Contributions made
pursuant  to  Section  3.01 for a Plan  Year  (including  Pre-Tax  Contributions
returned to a Highly  Compensated  Employee  under  Section  3.01(c) and Pre-Tax
Contributions  returned to any Employee pursuant to Section 3.01(d)), to (b) the
Employee's Statutory Compensation for that entire Plan Year, provided that, upon
direction  of the Plan  Administrator,  Statutory  Compensation  for a Plan Year
shall only be  counted if  received  during  the  period an  Employee  is, or is
eligible to become, a Participant. The Actual Deferral Percentage for each group
and the ratio  determined  for each Employee in the group shall be calculated to
the nearest one  one-hundredth  of one percent.  For purposes of determining the
Actual Deferral  Percentage for a Plan Year, Pre-Tax  Contributions may be taken
into account for a Plan Year only if they:
      (a) relate to  compensation  that either  would have been  received by the
Employee in the Plan Year but for the deferral election,  or are attributable to
services performed by the Employee in the Plan Year and would have been received
by the Employee within 2 1/2 months after the close of the Plan Year but for the
deferral election,
      (b) are  allocated  to the Employee as of a date within that Plan Year and
the allocation is not contingent on the  participation or performance of service
after such date, and
      (c) are actually paid to the Trustee no later than 12 months after the end
of the Plan Year to which the contributions relate.
      1.05  "Adjustment  Factor"  means  the cost of  living  adjustment  factor
prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury under Section 415(d) of the Code for
calendar years  beginning on or after January 1, 1988, and applied to such items
and in such manner as the Secretary shall provide.
      1.06  "Affiliated  Employer"  means  any  company  which is a member  of a
controlled  group of  corporations  (as  defined in Section  414(b) of the Code)
which also includes as a member the Company;  any trade or business under common
control  (as  defined  in  Section  414(c) of the Code)  with the  Company;  any
organization  (whether or not  incorporated)  which is a member of an affiliated
service  group (as  defined in Section  414(m) of the Code) which  includes  the
Company;  and any  other  entity  required  to be  aggregated  with the  Company
pursuant to regulations  under Section 414(o) of the Code.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  for purposes of Sections 1.31 and 8.05, the  definitions in Sections
414(b) and (c) of the Code shall be modified by  substituting  the phrase  "more
than 50 percent"  for the phrase "at least 80 percent"  each place it appears in
Section 1563(a)(1) of the Code.
      1.07  "After-Tax  Contribution"  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth in
Section 3.02.
      1.08  "After-Tax  Subaccount"  shall  have  the  meaning  set  forth  in
Section 5.04.
      1.09  "Annual  Dollar  Limit"  means for Plan Years  beginning on or after
January  1,  1989  and  before  January  1,  1994,  $200,000  multiplied  by the
Adjustment  Factor.  Commencing with the 1994 Plan Year, the Annual Dollar Limit
means   $150,000,   except  that  if  for  any  calendar  year  after  1994  the
Cost-of-Living  Adjustment  as  hereafter  defined is equal to or  greater  than
$10,000,  then the  Annual  Dollar  Limit (as  previously  adjusted  under  this
Section) for any Plan Year  beginning in any  subsequent  calendar year shall be
increased by the amount of such Cost-of-Living  Adjustment,  rounded to the next
lowest multiple of $10,000. The Cost-of-Living Adjustment shall equal the excess
of (i) $150,000  increased by the  adjustments  made under Section 415(d) of the
Code for the calendar  years after 1994 except that the base period for purposes
of Section  415(d)(1)(A)  of the Code shall be the  calendar  quarter  beginning
October  1, 1993 over (ii) the Annual  Dollar  Limit in effect for the Plan Year
beginning in the calendar year.
      1.10 "Annuity  Starting  Date" means the first day of the first period for
which  an  amount  is  paid  following  a  Participant's   Retirement  or  other
termination of employment.
      1.11  "Beneficiary"  means the person or persons  determined in accordance
with the  provisions  of Section  11.03 to succeed to a  Participant's  benefits
under the Plan in the  event of death of such  Participant  prior to the  entire
distribution of such benefits.
      1.12  "Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Company.
      1.13  "Break in Service"  means an event  affecting  forfeitures,  which
shall  occur to the extent  that a  Participant's  nonforfeitable  rights in his
Company  Contributions   Subaccount  are  determined  under  the  cliff  vesting
provisions of Section 6.02, as of the Participant's  Severance Date if he is not
reemployed  by the  Company or an  Affiliated  Employer  within one year after a
Severance  Date.  However,  if an  Employee  is  absent  from  work  immediately
following his or her active  employment,  irrespective of whether the Employee's
employment is terminated,  because of the Employee's pregnancy, the birth of the
Employee's  child, the placement of a child with the Employee in connection with
the  adoption of that child by the  Employee or for  purposes of caring for that
child for a period beginning  immediately  following that birth or placement and
that  absence  from work  began on or after the first day of the Plan Year which
began in 1985, a Break in Service shall occur to the extent that a Participant's
nonforfeitable  rights in his Company  Contributions  Subaccount  are determined
under the cliff vesting  provisions of Section 6.02 only if the Participant does
not return to work within two years of his  Severance  Date.  A Break in Service
shall  not occur  during  an  approved  leave of  absence  or during a period of
military service which is included in the Employee's Vesting Service pursuant to
Section 1.57.
      1.14 "Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
      1.15  "Company" means  Consolidated  Edison Company of New York, Inc. or
any  successor  by  merger,  purchase  or  otherwise,   with  respect  to  its
employees;  or any other  company  participating  in the Plan as  provided  in
Section 11.09 with respect to its employees.
      1.16 "Company  Contribution"  means any contributions to the Trust Fund by
the Company pursuant to Section 3.03.
      1.17 "Company Contribution Subaccount" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.04.
      1.18  "Compensation"  means base salary paid to an Employee  for  services
rendered  to  the  Company,  determined  prior  to  any  reduction  for  Pre-Tax
Contributions  pursuant to Section 3.01 or amounts contributed on the Employee's
behalf on a salary  reduction basis to a cafeteria plan under Section 125 of the
Code and excluding  bonuses,  overtime  pay,  incentive  compensation,  deferred
compensation  and all  other  forms of  special  pay.  However,  for Plan  Years
beginning after 1988, Compensation shall not exceed the Annual Dollar Limit. The
Annual  Dollar  Limit  applies to the  aggregate  Compensation  paid to a Highly
Compensated  Employee  referred  to in Section  8.04,  his spouse and his lineal
descendants who have not attained age 19 before the end of the Plan Year. If, as
a result of the  application of the family  aggregation  rule, the Annual Dollar
Limit is  exceeded,  then  the  Limit  shall  be  prorated  among  the  affected
individuals in proportion to each such  individual's  Compensation as determined
under this Section prior to the application of the Limit.
      1.19 "Defined  Benefit Plan" means a "defined  benefit plan" as defined in
Section  414(j) of the Code which is  maintained by the Company or an Affiliated
Employer for its employees.
      1.20 "Defined Benefit Plan Fraction"  means, for any Participant,  for any
calendar year, a fraction:
      (a)  The  numerator  of  which  is the  Projected  Annual  Benefit  of the
Participant  under all Defined Benefit Plans  (determined as of the close of the
year); and
      (b)   The denominator of which is the lesser of:

            (i)   The product of 1.25  multiplied by $90,000
                  as adjusted by the Adjustment Factor; or
            (ii)  The  product  of  1.4   multiplied   by  the  average  of  the
                  Participant's  aggregate  renumeration  as  defined in Section
                  8.05 for his highest three consecutive years.
      1.21 "Defined  Contribution  Plan" means a "defined  contribution plan" as
defined in Section  414(i) of the Code which is  maintained by the Company or an
Affiliated Employer for its employees.
      1.22 "Defined Contribution Plan Fraction" means, for any Participant,  for
any calendar year, a fraction:
      (a)   The  numerator  of  which is the sum of the  Participant's  Annual
Additions for the year determined as of the end of such year; and
      (b) The  denominator  of which is the sum of the  lesser of the  following
amounts determined for such year and for each prior year of Service:
            (i)   The   product   of  1.25   multiplied   by
                  $30,000,  as  adjusted  by the  Adjustment
                  Factor; or
            (ii)  The  product  of 1.4  multiplied  by 25% of the  Participant's
                  aggregate  renumeration  as defined  in  Section  8.05 for the
                  year.
      1.23 "Disability" means total and permanent physical or mental disability,
as  evidenced  by (a)  receipt of a Social  Security  disability  pension or (b)
receipt of disability payments under the Company's long-term disability program.
      1.24 "Earnings"  means the amount of income to be returned with any excess
deferrals,  excess contributions or excess aggregate contributions under Section
3.01, 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03. Earnings on excess deferrals and excess  contributions
shall be determined by multiplying  the income earned on the Pre-Tax  Subaccount
for the Plan Year by a fraction,  the numerator of which is the excess deferrals
or  excess  contributions,  as the  case  may be,  for  the  Plan  Year  and the
denominator  of which is the Pre-Tax  Subaccount  balance at the end of the Plan
Year,  disregarding any income or loss occurring during the Plan Year.  Earnings
on excess  aggregate  contributions  shall be determined in a similar  manner by
substituting  the sum of the  Company  Contributions  Subaccount  and  After-Tax
Subaccount for the Pre-Tax  Subaccount,  and the excess aggregate  contributions
for the excess deferrals and excess contributions in the preceding sentence.
      1.25  "Employee"  means a salaried  employee  of the Company who is on the
management  payroll  and  receives  stated  compensation  other  than a pension,
severance pay,  retainer,  or fee under contract;  however,  the term "Employee"
excludes  any  Leased  Employee  and any  person  who is  included  in a unit of
employees  covered by a collective  bargaining  agreement which does not provide
for his participation in the Plan.
      1.26 "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time.
      1.27 "Highly Compensated Employee" means any employee of the Company or an
Affiliated  Employer (whether or not eligible for participation in the Plan) who
satisfies the criteria of paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d):
      (a)   During the look-back year the employee:
            (i)   received   Statutory   Compensation  in  excess  of  $75,000
                  multiplied by the Adjustment Factor;
            (ii)  received   Statutory   Compensation   in  excess  of   $50,000
                  multiplied by the Adjustment  Factor and was among the highest
                  20 percent of employees for that year when ranked by Statutory
                  Compensation  paid for that year  excluding,  for  purposes of
                  determining  the number of such  employees,  such employees as
                  the Company may  determine on a consistent  basis  pursuant to
                  Section 414(q)(8) of the Code; or
            (iii) was at any time an  officer of the  Company  or an  Affiliated
                  Employer and received Statutory  Compensation  greater than 50
                  percent of the dollar  limitation  on maximum  benefits  under
                  Section  415(b)(1)(A)  of the  Code for such  Plan  Year.  The
                  number of  officers  is  limited  to 50 (or,  if  lesser,  the
                  greater of 3 employees  or 10 percent of  employees  excluding
                  those  employees  who  may  be  excluded  in  determining  the
                  top-paid group).  If no officer has Statutory  Compensation in
                  excess of 50  percent  of the  dollar  limitation  on  maximum
                  benefits under Section  415(b)(1)(A)  of the Code, the highest
                  paid officer is treated as a Highly Compensated Employee.
      (b) During the  determination  year,  the employee  satisfies the criteria
under  (i),  (ii),  or (iii) of (a)  above  and is one of the 100  highest  paid
employees of the Company or an Affiliated Employer.
      (c) During the  determination  year or the look-back year the employee was
at any time a five percent owner of the Company.
      (d) For purposes of Section 8.04(a), a Highly  Compensated  Employee shall
include a former employee who separated from service prior to the  determination
year and who was a five percent owner for either (i) the year he separated  from
service or (ii) any  determination  year ending on or after the employee's  55th
birthday.
      (e)  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  employees who are nonresident aliens
and who  receive no earned  income from the  Company or an  Affiliated  Employer
which  constitutes  income  from  sources  within  the  United  States  shall be
disregarded for all purposes of this Section.
      (f) For purposes of this Section,  the "determination year" means the Plan
Year and "look-back  year" means the 12 month period  immediately  preceding the
determination year. However, to the extent permitted under regulations, the Plan
Administrator may elect to determine the status of Highly Compensated  Employees
on a current calendar year basis.
      (g) The  provisions  of the  Section  shall  be  further  subject  to such
additional  requirements as shall be described in Section 414(q) of the Code and
its  applicable  regulations,  which shall  override any aspects of this Section
inconsistent therewith.
      1.28 "Hour of Service"  means each hour for which the  employee is paid or
entitled  to  payment  for the  performance  of  duties  for the  Company  or an
Affiliated Employer.
      1.29  "Investment  Fund" means an investment fund available under the Plan
for investment of assets held in the Trust Fund.
      1.30  "Investment  Manager"  means an  investment  manager  as  defined in
Section 3(38)of ERISA, which is appointed by the Named Fiduciaries to manage the
assets invested in an Investment Fund.
      1.31  "Leased  Employee"  means any  person  performing  services  for the
Company or an  Affiliated  Employer  as a leased  employee as defined in Section
414(n) of the Code. In the case of any person who is a Leased Employee before or
after a period of service as an Employee,  the entire period during which he has
performed  services  as a Leased  Employee  shall be  counted  as  service as an
Employee  for all  purposes of the Plan,  except that he shall not, by reason of
that status, become a Participant of the Plan.
      1.32  "Loan Reserve" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.08.
      1.33  "Named   Fiduciaries"   means  the  persons  designated  as  named
fiduciaries of the Plan pursuant to Section 10.01.
      1.34  "Nonparticipating  Contribution"  shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3.04.
      1.35 "Participant" means any person who has a balance to his credit in the
Trust Fund and/or shares beneficially owned under a TRASOP Account.
      1.36  "Participating  Contribution"  shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.04.
      1.37  "Plan"  means the Con  Edison  Thrift  Savings  Plan for  Management
Employees and, effective as of July 1, 1988, the TRASOP, as amended from time to
time, as set forth herein.
      1.38 "Plan Administrator" means the Plan Administrator  appointed pursuant
to Section 10.01 to administer the Plan.






      1.39  "Plan Year" means the calendar year.

      1.40  "Pre-Tax  Contribution"  shall  have  the  meaning  set  forth  in
Section 3.01.
      1.41  "Pre-Tax  Subaccount"  shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.04.
      1.42  "Projected  Annual  Benefit"  means,  for any  Participant,  for any
calendar year, the annual benefit payable in the form of a straight life annuity
to which the  Participant  would be entitled under a Defined Benefit Plan on the
assumptions  that he continues in the employment of the Company until the normal
retirement  age under the Defined  Benefit  Plan (or his current age, if later),
that his compensation, as defined in such Defined Benefit Plan, continues at the
same rate in effect for the year under  consideration  until such age,  and that
all other relevant factors used to determine  benefits under the Defined Benefit
Plan remain constant as of the year under consideration for all future years.
      1.43  "Recordkeeper"  means the individual(s) or firm selected by the Plan
Administrator to provide  recordkeeping and Participant  accounting services for
the Plan,  including  maintenance  of  separate  accounts  for  Participants  in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.04.
      1.44 "Retirement"  means a termination of service by a Participant  either
(a) by reason of disability,  or (b) under circumstances in which he is entitled
to receive a retirement  pension  under any Defined  Benefit Plan, or (c) in the
case of any  Participant who is employed after age 60 and who is not entitled to
receive a retirement  pension  under any Defined  Benefit  Plan, on or after his
sixty-fifth birthday.
      1.45 "Rollover  Subaccount"  means the account  credited with the Rollover
Contributions made by a Participant and earnings on those contributions.
      1.46  Rollover  Contributions"  means  amounts  contributed  pursuant to
Section 3.05.
      1.47 "Severance Date" means the earlier of (a) the date an employee quits,
retires,  is  discharged or dies,  or (b) the first  anniversary  of the date on
which an employee is first  absent from  service,  with or without  pay, for any
reason such as vacation, sickness, disability, layoff or leave of absence.
      1.48 "Statutory Compensation" means the wages, salaries, and other amounts
paid in respect of an employee for services  actually rendered to the Company or
an Affiliated Employer,  including by way of example,  overtime and bonuses, but
excluding deferred  compensation,  stock options and other  distributions  which
receive special tax benefits under the Code. For purposes of determining  Highly
Compensated  Employees  under Section 1.27 and key  employees  under Article 12,
Statutory   Compensation   shall  include  Pre-Tax   Contributions  and  amounts
contributed on a Participant's behalf on a salary reduction basis to a cafeteria
plan under Section 125 of the Code. For all other  purposes,  each Plan Year the
Plan Administrator may direct that Statutory  Compensation shall include Pre-Tax
Contributions  and amounts  contributed  on a  Participant's  behalf on a salary
reduction  basis to a cafeteria  plan under  Section  125 of the Code.  For Plan
Years beginning on or after January 1, 1989,  Statutory  Compensation  shall not
exceed the Annual Dollar Limit, provided that such Limit shall not be applied in
determining Highly  Compensated  Employees under Section 1.27. The Annual Dollar
Limit  applies  to  the  aggregate  Statutory  Compensation  paid  to  a  Highly
Compensated  Employee referred to in Section 8.04(a),  his spouse and his lineal
descendants  who have not attained age 19 before the close of the Plan Year. If,
as a result of the application of the family aggregation rule, the Annual Dollar
Limit is  exceeded,  then  the  Limit  shall  be  prorated  among  the  affected
individuals in proportion to each such  individual's  Statutory  Compensation as
determined under this Section prior to the application of the Limit.
      1.49 "Shares" means issued and  outstanding  shares of common stock of the
Company and shall include fractional shares of such common stock.






      1.50  "Top-Heavy  Plan"  means any  Defined  Contribution  Plan or Defined
Benefit Plan under which more that 60% of the sum of (i) its  aggregate  account
balances  and (ii)  the  present  value of its  aggregate  accrued  benefits  is
allocated to key employees.  For the purposes of this definition "present value"
shall be determined on the basis of the applicable  interest rate and applicable
mortality table as set forth in the Company's Defined Benefit Plan.
      1.51 "Top Heavy Group" means any "required  aggregation group" (as defined
in Section 12.03) or any "permissive  aggregation  group" (as defined in Section
12.03) in which more than 60% of the sum of (i) the aggregate  account  balances
under all plans in the group and (ii) the  aggregate  present  value of  accrued
benefits  under all plans in the group is  allocated to key  employees.  For the
purpose of this definition,  "present value" shall be determined on basis of the
applicable  interest  rate and  applicable  mortality  table as set forth in the
Company's Defined Benefit Plan.
      1.52  "TRASOP"  means the Tax Reduction  Act Stock  Ownership  Plan of the
Company, as included within this plan document effective as of July 1, 1988.
      1.53 "TRASOP Account" means an account maintained on behalf of an Employee
by the Trustee  under the TRASOP,  in which is held  Shares  beneficially  owned
thereunder by the Employee,  as determined under the provisions and requirements
of the TRASOP.
      1.54  "Trust Fund" means the trust fund described in Article 5.
      1.55  "Trustee"  means the trustee at any time  appointed  and acting as
trustee of the Trust Fund.
      1.56  "Vested  Portion"  means the  portion  of the  Account  in which the
Participant  has a  nonforfeitable  interest  as  provided  in  Article 6 or, if
applicable, Article 12.
      1.57 "Vesting Service" means, with respect to any employee,  his period of
employment  with the Company or any  Affiliated  Employer,  whether or not as an
Employee, beginning on the date he first completes an Hour of Service and ending
on his Severance Date, provided that:
      (a) if his employment  terminates and he is reemployed  within one year of
the earlier of (i) his date of  termination  or (ii) the first day of an absence
from service immediately  preceding his date of termination,  the period between
his Severance Date and his date of reemployment shall be included in his Vesting
Service;
      (b) if he is absent  from the  service of the  Company  or any  Affiliated
Employer  because  of service  in the Armed  Forces of the United  States and he
returns to service with the Company or an Affiliated  Employer having applied to
return while his reemployment rights were protected by law, the absence shall be
included in his Vesting Service;
      (c) if he is on a leave of absence covered by the Family and Medical Leave
Act of 1993,  as it may be amended from time to time,  the period of leave shall
be included in his Vesting Service;
      (d) if he is on leave of absence  approved  by the  Company,  under  rules
uniformly  applicable  to all  Employees  similarly  situated,  the  Company may
authorize the inclusion in his Vesting  Service of any portion of that period of
leave which is not included in his Vesting  Service under (a), (b) or (c) above;
and
      (e)  if  his  employment  terminates  and he is  reemployed  after  he has
incurred a Break in Service,  his Vesting  Service after  reemployment  shall be
aggregated  with his previous period or periods of Vesting Service if (i) he was
vested in his Company Contribution  Subaccount or (ii) the period from his Break
in Service to his subsequent  reemployment  does not equal or exceed the greater
of five years or his period of Vesting Service before his Break in Service.
      1.58 "Weekly  Plan"means the Con Edison Retirement Income Savings Plan for
Weekly Employees as from time to time in effect.
      1.59  The masculine pronoun wherever used includes the feminine pronoun.






                                   ARTICLE 2

                         Eligibility and Participation
      2.01   Eligibility.   Any   Employee   shall  be  eligible  for
participation  in the Plan,  except that only an Employee who was a  Participant
in, and had an account  under  TRASOP on June 30,  1988,  shall be  eligible  to
continue to  participate  in TRASOP and have a TRASOP  Account  under this Plan,
because  applicable laws do not permit  additional tax credit  contributions  to
TRASOP.
      2.02  Participation.  An Employee may become a Participant by
completing   such   enrollment   process  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  Plan
Administrator and by electing to make monthly contributions to the Trust Fund in
an amount equal to any percentage of his Compensation permitted by Sections 3.01
and/or 3.02. An Employee may also become a Participant by electing to contribute
to the Trust Fund  amounts  allocated  to the  Employee by the  Company  under a
cafeteria  plan of the  Company  under  Section  125 of the Code  and  otherwise
available  under such plan to be  contributed  under this Plan. A  Participant's
contributions  shall be made by regular payroll deductions  authorized from time
to time by such  Participant  in such  manner and on such  conditions  as may be
prescribed by the Plan Administrator,  including a form furnished by the Company
under a cafeteria plan of the Company under Section 125 of the Code. An Employee
may  become a  Participant  beginning  with any  calendar  month by making  such
election  on or  before  such  day of the  preceding  calendar  month  as may be
specified by the Plan Administrator.
2.03  Reemploymentof  Former  Employees  and  Former  Participants.  Any  person
reemployed by the Company as an Employee,  who was  previously a Participant  or
who was previously eligible to become a Participant,  shall become a Participant
upon completing the enrollment process and making an election in accordance with
Section 2.02. Transferred Participants.  A Participant who remains in the employ
of the Company or an  Affiliated  Employer  but ceases to be an  Employee  shall
continue  to be a  Participant  of the Plan but  shall not be  eligible  to make
After-Tax Contributions,  Pre-Tax Contributions or to have Company Contributions
made on his behalf while his employment status is other than as an Employee.
2.05 Termination of Participation. A Participant's participation shall terminate
on the date he is no longer  employed by the Company or any Affiliated  Employer
unless the  Participant  is entitled to benefits  under the Plan, in which event
his participation shall terminate when those benefits are distributed to him.





                                   ARTICLE 3
                                 Contributions
      3.01  Pre-Tax Contributions.
      (a) A Participant  may elect in accordance with Section 2.02 to reduce his
Compensation  payable while a Participant by at least 1% and,  effective January
1, 1994, not more than 18%, in multiples of 1% and have that amount  contributed
to the Plan by the Company as Pre-Tax  Contributions.  An amount  contributed to
the Plan pursuant to the election of a Participant under a cafeteria plan of the
Company  under  Section  125  of  the  Code  may  be  designated  as  a  Pre-Tax
Contribution by the Participant.  Pre-Tax Contributions shall be further limited
as provided below and in Sections 8.01, 8.04 and 8.05.
      (b) In no event shall the Participant's  Pre-Tax Contributions and similar
contributions made on his behalf by the Company or an Affiliated Employer to all
plans, contracts or arrangements subject to the provisions of Section 401(a)(30)
of the Code in any calendar  year exceed  $7,000  multiplied  by the  Adjustment
Factor. If a Participant's  Pre-Tax  Contributions in a calendar year reach that
dollar  limitation,  his election of Pre-Tax  Contributions for the remainder of
the calendar year will be canceled and, if so elected by the  Participant,  then
recharacterized  as an election to make  After-Tax  Contributions  under Section
3.02 at the same rate as was previously in effect for his Pre-Tax Contributions.
Each  Participant  affected by this paragraph (b) may elect to change or suspend
the rate at which he makes After-Tax  Contributions.  As of the first pay period
of the calendar year following such cancellation,  the Participant's election of
Pre-Tax  Contributions  shall again become  effective at the rate in  accordance
with his most recent election for Pre-Tax Contributions.
      (c) In the event that the sum of the  Pre-Tax  Contributions  and  similar
contributions to any other qualified Defined Contribution Plan maintained by the
Company or an  Affiliated  Employer  exceeds  the dollar  limitation  in Section
3.01(b) for any calendar year, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected a
return of Pre-Tax  Contributions  in excess of such limit  ("excess  deferrals")
from this Plan. The excess deferrals,  together with Earnings, shall be returned
to the  Participant no later than the April 15 following the end of the calendar
year in which the excess  deferrals were made. The amount of excess deferrals to
be returned for any calendar year shall be reduced by any Pre-Tax  Contributions
previously  returned to the  Participant  under  Section 8.01 for that  calendar
year. In the event any Pre-Tax  Contributions  returned under the this paragraph
(c) were matched by Company  Contributions  under  Section  3.03,  those Company
Contributions,  together  with  Earnings,  shall be forfeited and used to reduce
future Company contributions.
      (d)  If a  Participant  makes  tax-deferred  contributions  under  another
qualified  defined  contribution  plan  maintained by an employer other than the
Company or an Affiliated  Employer for any calendar year and those contributions
when added to his  Pre-Tax  Contributions  exceed the  dollar  limitation  under
Section  3.01(b) for that calendar year, the  Participant  may allocate all or a
portion of such  excess  deferrals  to this Plan.  In that  event,  such  excess
deferrals, together with Earnings, shall be returned to the Participant no later
than the April 15 following  the end of the  calendar  year in which such excess
deferrals  were made.  However,  the Plan shall not be required to return excess
deferrals unless the Participant notifies the Plan Administrator, in writing, by
March 1 of that  following  calendar year of the amount of the excess  deferrals
allocated to this Plan.  The amount of such excess  deferrals to be returned for
any  calendar  year  shall be reduced by any  Pre-Tax  Contributions  previously
returned to the  Participant  under Section 8.01 for that calendar  year. In the
event any Pre-Tax  Contributions  returned under this paragraph (d) were matched
by Company  Contributions  under  Section  3.03,  those  Company  Contributions,
together with  Earnings,  shall be forfeited  and used to reduce future  Company
contributions.
3.02 After-Tax  Contributions.  Any Participant may make After-Tax Contributions
under this Section  whether or not he has elected to have Pre-Tax  Contributions
made  on  his  behalf   pursuant  to  Section  3.01.  The  amount  of  After-Tax
Contributions shall be at least 1% and, effective January 1, 1994, not more than
18% of his  Compensation  while a  Participant,  in  multiples  of 1%. An amount
contributed  to the Plan  pursuant  to the  election  of a  Participant  under a
cafeteria plan of the Company under Section 125 of the Code may be designated as
any After-Tax  Contribution by the  Participant.  If the Participant has made an
election under Section 3.01, the maximum  percentage of  Compensation  which the
Participant  may elect to  contribute  under this Section  shall be equal to the
excess of 18% over the percentage elected by the Participant under Section 3.01.
      3.03  Company   Contributions.   The  Company  shall
contribute  on behalf of each of its  Participants  who  elects to make  Pre-Tax
Contributions  or After-Tax  Contributions  an amount equal to 50% of the sum of
the Pre-Tax  Contributions and After-Tax  Contributions  made on behalf of or by
the  Participant  to  the  Plan  during  each  month,  not to  exceed  6% of the
Participant's  Compensation  for such month, in the following order of priority:
(a) Pre-Tax Contributions,  and then (b) After-Tax  Contributions.  In no event,
however,  shall the Company  Contributions  for a month pursuant to this Section
exceed  3% of  the  Participant's  Compensation  for  such  month.  The  Company
Contributions  are  made  expressly  conditional  on  the  Plan  satisfying  the
provisions of Sections 3.01,  8.01, 8.02 and 8.03. If any portion of the Pre-Tax
Contribution or After-Tax Contribution to which the Company Contribution relates
is returned to the  Participant  under Section  3.01,  8.01,  8.02 or 8.03,  the
corresponding Company Contribution shall be forfeited,  and if any amount of the
Company  Contribution is deemed an excess aggregate  contribution  under Section
8.03,  such amount shall be forfeited in accordance  with the provisions of that
Section. Company Contributions shall be paid to the Trustee each calendar month.
3.04  Participating  and  Nonparticipating  Contributions.   The  portion  of  a
Participant's  Pre-Tax  Contribution  or  After-Tax  Contribution  to which  the
Company  Contribution  relates  shall be  Participating  Contributions,  and the
portion of a Participant's  Pre-Tax  Contribution  or After-Tax  Contribution in
excess   of   the   Participant's    Participating    Contributions   shall   be
Nonparticipating Contributions.
3.05 Rollover Contributions and Trust to Trust Transfers.
      (a) Subject to such terms and  conditions  as the Plan  Administrator  may
determine to be appropriate,  applied in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner
to all Participants,  and without regard to any limitations on contributions set
forth in this Article 3, the Plan may receive from a  Participant  for credit to
his Rollover Subaccount,  in cash, any amount previously  distributed (or deemed
to have been  distributed)  to him from a qualified  plan.  The Plan may receive
such amount  either  directly  from the  Participant  or in the form of a direct
rollover  from  an  individual  retirement  account  or from a  qualified  plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the Plan shall not accept any amount unless such
amount is eligible to be rolled over in accordance  with  applicable law and the
Participant  provides evidence  satisfactory to the Plan Administrator that such
amount qualifies for rollover treatment. Unless received by the Plan in the form
of a direct rollover,  the Rollover  Contribution must be paid to the Trustee on
or before the 60th day after the day it was  received by the  Participant  or be
rolled over through the medium of an individual retirement account that contains
no assets other than those  representing  employer  contributions to a qualified
plan, any earnings thereon and any earnings from employee  contributions to that
plan. At the time received by the Plan, the  Participant  shall,  in such manner
and on such conditions as may be prescribed by the Plan Administrator,  elect to
invest the Rollover  Contribution  in the Investment  Funds then available under
the Plan to the  Participant.  If the  Participant  fails to make an  investment
election,  100% of the Rollover Contribution shall be invested in the Investment
Fund that has the most conservative investment risk.
      (b)  Rollovers  and  direct  rollovers  shall  only  be  accepted  from  a
Participant  who is an Employee  except that the Plan shall accept a rollover or
direct  rollover  from a  former  Employee  who is a  Participant  of an  amount
received from either a Defined Benefit Plan or the TRASOP.
      (c) Subject to such terms and  conditions  as the Plan  Administrator  may
determine to be appropriate,  applied in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner
to all  Participants,  the Plan  shall  receive  on  behalf of a  Participant  a
trust-to-trust  transfer from the Weekly Plan of the Participant's  benefits and
liabilities  under the Weekly  Plan.  Any  Participant  whose  benefits  are the
subject of a  trust-to-trust  transfer from the Weekly Plan to this Plan will be
entitled to receive benefits, rights and features from the Plan that are no less
than the benefits,  rights and features he would be entitled to receive from the
Weekly Plan  immediately  preceding  the transfer.  Following the transfer,  the
Participant's  rights to the non-vested portion of any benefits transferred from
the Weekly Plan shall vest in accordance  with Section 6.02 of this Plan. To the
extent feasible,  such transfer shall be made on an in-kind basis. To the extent
that such transfer is made in the form of cash, at the time received by the Plan
the Participant  shall, in such manner and on such terms as may be prescribed by
the Plan  Administrator,  elect to invest the cash in the Investment  Funds then
available  under the Plan except that the Participant may elect to invest in the
Company  Stock  Fund only cash  derived  from the sale of shares in the  Company
Stock Fund under the Weekly Plan.
      3.06 Changes  in Contributions.  A Participant may
increase or reduce his  contributions  within the limits  prescribed by Sections
3.01 and 3.02,  effective as of the first day of any calendar month, by making a
new  election  on or before  such day of the  preceding  calendar  month in such
manner and on such conditions as may be prescribed by the Plan Administrator.  A
Participant may make changes in contribution levels once a month.
      3.07 Suspension in Contributions. A Participant
may at any time  suspend his  contributions  as of the last day of any  calendar
month by making an election on or before such day of such month,  in such manner
and on  such  conditions  as may be  prescribed  by the  Plan  Administrator.  A
Participant may resume making contributions, effective as of any calendar month,
by making an election on or before such day of the preceding  calendar month, in
such  manner  and  as  such   conditions  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  Plan
Administrator.  A suspension or resumption of contributions is counted as one of
the changes in  contribution  levels  permitted  within each Plan Year under the
Plan.
      3.08 Payment to Trust.
      (a) Amounts  contributed by  Participants  shall be paid by the Company to
the Trustee promptly and credited by the Trustee to their Accounts in accordance
with  the  certification  of  the  Plan  Administrator  as to the  names  of the
contributing  Participants  and  the  respective  amounts  contributed  by  each
Participant  as  Participating  Contributions,  Nonparticipating  Contributions,
Pre-Tax Contributions and After-Tax Contributions.
      (b) Each Company Contribution shall be paid by the Company promptly to the
Trustee and shall be  allocated  among the  Participants  and  credited to their
respective  Accounts in proportion  to their  Participating  Contributions  made
during the calendar month for which the Company Contribution is being made.
3.09 No Contributions to TRASOP. No contributions to TRASOP by the Company or by
Participants are permitted.
      3.10 Transition  Period. In order to carry out the
transition  to  Vanguard   Fiduciary   Trust   Company  as  Successor   Trustee,
Recordkeeper and Investment Manager, the Plan Administrator shall have authority
to impose such rules and  restrictions in the  administration  of the Plan as he
may deem  appropriate,  so long as such rules and  restrictions are applied on a
uniform and nondiscriminatory basis.






                                   ARTICLE 4

                             Company Contributions
      4.01  Company  Contributions  Election.  A
Participant  may elect to have  Company  Contributions  allocated to his Account
invested,  in  multiples  of  1%,  in  any  Investment  Fund  or  Funds.  If the
Participant fails to make an election as to Company Contributions,  100% of such
Contributions  shall  be  invested  in the  Investment  Fund  that  has the most
conservative investment risk. Any such election shall be made in such manner and
on such conditions as may be prescribed by the Plan Administrator.
      4.02 Change  of Election.  A Participant may change his
investment election regarding future Company Contributions once a month during a
calendar  year.  Any  such  election  shall be made in such  manner  and on such
conditions as may be prescribed by the Plan Administrator.
      4.03  Certification to Company. The Recordkeeper
shall  certify to the  Company  the amount of  Company  Contributions  that each
Participant has most recently elected, pursuant to Section 4.01 or 4.02, to have
invested for his Account in the Investment Funds.
      4.04 Forfeitures.  The total amount of the Trust Fund forfeited
by Participants pursuant to Section 7.02 or otherwise,  shall be invested in the
Investment Fund that has the most conservative investment risk and then shall be
applied forthwith to reduce future Company Contributions due under the Plan. The
Trustee shall promptly  advise the Company of any such forfeiture and the amount
thereof.  ARTICLE  5  ARTICLE  5  The  Trust  Fund;  Investmentshe  Trust  Fund;
Investments
      5.01    Trust  Agreement.   Contributions  and  TRASOP
Accounts  shall be held in a Trust  Fund by the  Trustee  under a written  trust
agreement  between the Company and the Trustee.  No person shall have any rights
to or interest in the Trust Fund except as provided in the Plan.  The provisions
of the trust  agreement  between the Company and the Trustee shall be considered
an integral part of the Plan as if fully set forth herein.
      5.02  Investment of Trust Fund.
      (a)   Except  for that  portion of the Trust  Fund to be  invested  in a
Participant's Loan Reserve pursuant to Section 9.08 or in TRASOP Shares pursuant
to Section 13.02,  the Trust Fund shall be invested and reinvested in Investment
Funds in  accordance  with the  Participants'  investment  directions.  All such
investment directions by Participants shall be made in accordance with rules and
procedures  prescribed  by the  Plan  Administrator  applied  on a  uniform  and
non-discriminatory  basis. To the extent that any  Participant  fails to provide
investment  directions in accordance with such rules and  procedures,  the Named
Fiduciaries  shall be  responsible  for  directing  the  investment  of  amounts
allocated to the  Participant's  Account under the Plan. A Participant  shall be
permitted  to  change  investment  directions  both as to his  existing  Account
balance and future  contributions  by or on behalf of the Participant  under the
Plan. Any such change in investment  directions shall be made in accordance with
rules and procedures  prescribed by the Plan Administrator  applied on a uniform
and non-discriminatory basis.
      (b) Notwithstanding  Section 5.02(a) above, to carry out the transition to
Vanguard  Fiduciary  Trust  Company  as  Successor  Trustee,   Recordkeeper  and
Investment  Manager,  contributions  and loan repayments made after November 30,
1996 shall be  invested  by the  Trustee in the mutual  fund  designated  as the
"Vanguard Money Market Reserves-U.S. Treasury Portfolio". As soon as practicable
following  establishment  of  Participant  Accounts  by  the  Recordkeeper,  the
contributions  and loan  repayments  so  invested,  together  with any  earnings
thereon,  shall be  transferred  to the  Investment  Funds  and  allocated  to a
Participant's Account in accordance with the Participant's election.
      (c) Notwithstanding  Section 5.02(a) above, to carry out the transition to
Vanguard  Fiduciary  Trust  Company  as  Successor  Trustee,   Recordkeeper  and
Investment  Manager, on December 31, 1996 the Trustee shall invest the assets of
the Trust Fund in the following Investment Funds:
            (i)  Assets  in the  Treasury  Bill  Fund  shall  be  invested  in
Vanguard Money Market Reserves-U.S. Treasury Portfolio;
            (ii) Assets in the Fixed  Income Fund shall be invested in the Fixed
Income Fund, an investment contract fund that invests primarily in a diversified
portfolio  of  traditional  and  alternative  investments  contracts  issued  by
insurance  companies  and  banks  and  other  similar  types of fixed  principal
investments;
            (iii)  Assets in the  Balanced  Fund shall be  invested  in Vanguard
LifeStrategy  Funds-Moderate Growth Portfolio, a balanced fund that invests in a
combination of Vanguard funds with the overall  objective of providing growth of
capital and a reasonable level of current income;
            (iv)  Assets in the Equity  Index Fund shall be invested in Vanguard
Index Trust-500 Portfolio,  a growth and income stock fund that holds 500 of the
largest  stocks in the U.S.  in an  attempt  to match the  performance  and risk
characteristics of Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index; and
            (v)  Assets in the  Company  Stock  Fund  shall be  invested  in the
Company  Stock  Fund  that  invests  in  Company  common  stock to  provide  the
possibility of long-term growth through  increases in the value of the stock and
reinvestments  of  dividends  and in a short-term  reserves to help  accommodate
daily transactions.
      (d) As soon as  practicable  after  December 31, 1996 as determined by the
Plan  Administrator,   the  following  additional   Investment  Funds  shall  be
established:
            (i) Vanguard Bond Index  Fund-Total  Bond Market  Portfolio,  a bond
fund that invests in a broad array of bonds from a variety of  industries  in an
attempt to match the performance and risk characteristics of the Lehman Brothers
Aggregate Bond Index;
            (ii) Vanguard Index Trust-Extended Market Portfolio,  a growth stock
fund that invests in about 2000 companies in an attempt to match the performance
and risk characteristics of the Wilshire 4500 Index; and
            (iii)  Vanguard  STAR   Fund-Total   International   Portfolio,   an
international  stock fund that invests in stocks of about 1500 companies located
in approximately  30 countries around the world,  excluding the U.S. and Canada.
The  Portfolio  invests  in  a  combination  of  three  portfolios  of  Vanguard
International  Equity Index Fund in proportions  that mirror the  composition of
two  indices  compiled  by Morgan  Stanley  Capital  International:  the Europe,
Australia and Far East Index and the Emerging Markets (Select) Index.
      (e) The Named  Fiduciaries may establish other Investment Funds (or modify
the investment objectives or mix of Investment Funds), in addition to or in lieu
of the Investment  Funds described  above.  Such other Investment Funds shall be
established without the necessity of an amendment to the Plan and shall have the
objectives  prescribed  by the  Named  Fiduciaries.  The Named  Fiduciaries  may
eliminate  one or  more  Investment  Funds  existing  at any  time  without  the
necessity of an amendment to the Plan.





      5.03  Company Stock Fund.
      (a) Investments in Fund. The Trustee shall  regularly  purchase Shares for
the Company Stock Fund in accordance with a nondiscretionary purchasing program.
Such purchases may be made on any  securities  exchange where Shares are traded,
in the  over-the-counter  market, or in negotiated  transactions,  and may be on
such terms as to price,  delivery and  otherwise as the Trustee may determine to
be in the best  interests  of the  Participants.  Dividends,  interest and other
income  received on assets held in the Company Stock Fund shall be reinvested in
the Company Stock Fund. All funds to be invested in the Company Stock Fund shall
be invested by the Trustee in one or more transactions promptly after receipt by
the Trustee,  subject to any applicable  requirement of law affecting the timing
or manner of such  transactions.  All  brokerage  commissions  and other  direct
expenses  incurred  by the Trustee in the  purchase or sale of Shares  under the
Plan will be borne by the Plan  except to the extent the Company  determines  to
pay such expenses.
      (b) Units.  The interests of  Participants in the Company Stock Fund shall
be measured in Units, the number and value of which shall be determined daily.
      (c) Voting of Shares.  Each  Participant  shall be  entitled to direct the
Trustee as to the manner in which any Shares or fractional Share  represented by
Units allocated to the Participant's Account are to be voted. Any such Shares or
fractional Share for which the Participant does not give voting directions shall
be voted by the Trustee in the same manner and  proportions  as all other Shares
held by the Trustee for which voting  directions are given by Participants.  The
Trustee  shall  keep  confidential  a  Participant's   voting  instructions  and
information regarding a Participant's  purchases,  holdings and sales of Shares.
The Plan  Administrator  shall  be  responsible  for  monitoring  the  Trustee's
performance of its confidentiality obligations.
            5.04  Accounts   and   Subaccounts.   The
Recordkeeper shall maintain in any equitable manner, which shall include a daily
revaluation at current market values,  as determined by the Trustee,  a separate
TRASOP Account for each Participant eligible therefor and a separate Account for
each  Participant,  and  within  each  such  Account a  Pre-Tax  Subaccount,  an
After-Tax   Subaccount,   a  Rollover  Subaccount  and  a  Company  Contribution
Subaccount,  in which  the  Recordkeeper  shall  keep a  separate  record of the
respective  shares  of  such  Participant  in the  Trust  Fund,  including  each
Investment  Fund, and the Loan Reserve,  attributable to amounts credited to his
Pre-Tax Subaccount,  his After-Tax  Subaccount,  his Rollover Subaccount and his
Company Contribution  Subaccount. A Participant's Pre-Tax Contributions shall be
credited to his Pre-Tax  Subaccount.  A  Participant's  After-Tax  Contributions
shall  be  credited  to  his  After-Tax  Subaccount.  A  Participant's  Rollover
Contributions  shall be credited to his  Rollover  Subaccount.  A  Participant's
share  of  Company  Contributions  made on or after  January  1,  1985  shall be
credited to his Company Contribution Subaccount.
      5.05 Pre-January  1, 1985 Contributions.
Any  contributions  to the Trust Fund made by a Participant  prior to January 1,
1985 shall, as of January 1, 1985, be credited to his After-Tax Subaccount.  Any
contributions  to  the  Trust  Fund  made  by the  Company  and  allocated  to a
Participant's  Account  prior  to  January  1,  1985  shall be  credited  to the
Participant's Company Contribution Subaccount.
      5.06 Statements  of Account.  As soon as practicable
after each  calendar  quarter  the  Recordkeeper  shall cause to be sent to each
Participant a written statement showing, as of such date, the respective amounts
of the  Trust  Fund,  including  each  investment  Fund  and the  Loan  Reserve,
attributable to the Participant's Pre-Tax Subaccount,  his After-Tax Subaccount,
his  Rollover  Subaccount  and  his  Company  Contribution  Subaccount  and  the
Participant's  balance  in his  TRASOP  Account,  if any.  With  respect  to the
Participant's  After-Tax  Subaccount,  the statement  shall show  separately the
amount of the Participant's own contributions (less any withdrawals) credited to
his After-Tax  Subaccount.  The Plan  Administrator  may direct the Recordkeeper
from time to time to issue  comparable  statements to  Participants  as of other
dates during the calendar year.
      5.07 Responsibility  for Investments.  Each
Participant is solely responsible for the selection of his Investment Funds. The
Trustee, the Recordkeeper,  any Investment Manager,  the Named Fiduciaries,  the
Plan Administrator,  the Company and the trustees,  officers and other employees
of the Company,  the Trustee,  the Recordkeeper and any Investment Manager,  are
not  empowered to advise a  Participant  as to the decision in which his Account
shall be invested. The fact that an Investment Fund is available to Participants
for investment under the Plan shall not be construed as a  recommendation  for a
particular Participant to invest in that Investment Fund.
                                   ARTICLE 6
                                    Vesting
      6.01 Participant Contributions. The amount to the
credit  of  a  Participant's  Account  which  is  attributable  to  his  Pre-Tax
Contributions,  After-Tax  Contributions and Rollover Contributions to the Trust
Fund made by the Participant shall be 100% vested at all times.






      6.02 Company  Contributions. The amount to the credit
of a  Participant's  Account  which is  attributable  to Company  Contributions,
including  contributions  to the Trust Fund made by the Company prior to January
1, 1985,  shall  become 100%  vested,  subject to Article 8, on the later of (i)
January  1,  1985,  and (ii) the  first day of the  calendar  month in which the
Participant  completes three years of Vesting Service;  provided,  however, that
all amounts to the credit of a Participant's  Account which are  attributable to
Company   Contributions,   shall  become  100%  vested  upon  the  Participant's
attainment of age 65, his  Disability,  termination  of his service by reason of
Retirement  or death or by the Company for reasons  other than cause.  Except to
the  extent  that they  shall  have  become  vested,  amounts to the credit of a
Participant's  Account  which are  attributable  to  Company  Contributions  are
subject to forfeiture as provided in Section 7.02.







      6.03 TRASOP  Account. A Participant's  balance in his TRASOP
Account, if any, shall always be 100% vested.


                          ARTICLE 7
                          ---------
                  Distributions, Withdrawals and Forfeitures
      7.01  Retirement.  If a  Participant's  service is  terminated
by  reason of  Retirement,  the  entire  amount  to the  credit  of his  Account
(including  any amount due under any  outstanding  loan  pursuant  to Article 9)
shall be distributed to him in accordance with Section 7.09.





      7.02   Voluntary Termination or Termination by the Company; Forfeitures.
      (a) If a  Participant's  service is terminated by the Company for cause or
if the Participant  voluntarily  terminates his service otherwise than by reason
of Retirement, the non-vested portion of the Participant's Company Contributions
Subaccount shall not be forfeited until the Participant incurs a period of Break
in Service of five years or receives a distribution of the Vested Portion of his
Account,  if  earlier.  The Vested  Portion to the credit of such  Participant's
Account (including any amount due under any outstanding loan pursuant to Article
9) shall be  distributed to such  Participant  in accordance  with Section 7.09.
Termination  of service for cause shall be determined by the Plan  Administrator
under rules  uniformly  applied to all  Participants.  If the Participant is not
reemployed by the Company or an Affiliated Employer before he incurs a period of
Break in Service  of five  years or  receives  a  distribution,  the  non-vested
portion of his Company Contribution Subaccount shall be forfeited.





      (b) If an amount to the credit of a  Participant's  Company  Contributions
Subaccount  has been  forfeited in accordance  with  paragraph  (a) above,  such
amount shall subsequently be restored to his Company Contribution  Subaccount by
the  Company  provided  (i) he is  reemployed  by the  Company or an  Affiliated
Employer  prior to incurring a period of Break in Service of five years and (ii)
either he has elected or is deemed to have  elected a deferred  distribution  in
accordance  with Section 7.09 or during his  reemployment  and within five years
after his  reemployment  date he makes a lump sum  payment  to the Trust Fund in
cash in an amount  equal to that  portion  of the  distribution  received  which
represents the Participant's  Participating  Contributions  relating directly to
Company  Contributions  which were  forfeited at the time of  distribution.  The
forfeited  amount so restored  shall vest in  accordance  with Section 6.02 as a
Company  Contribution  and  shall  be  credited  to  the  Participant's  Company
Contribution  Subaccount.   The  lump  sum  payment  by  the  Participant  shall
immediately be 100% vested and shall be credited to the Participant's Account.






      (c) If any  amounts  to be  restored  by the  Company  to a  Participant's
Company Contributions  Subaccount have been forfeited under paragraph (a) above,
those  amounts shall be taken first from any  forfeitures  which have not as yet
been  applied  against  Company  contributions  and if any amounts  remain to be
restored,  the Company shall make a special Company  contribution equal to those
amounts.

      (d) A  Participant  may elect,  in such manner and on such terms as may be
prescribed by the Plan  Administrator,  to invest a repayment in the  Investment
Funds available under the Plan to the Participant at the time of the repayment.
      7.03 Death.  Upon the death of a Participant the entire amount to the
credit of his  Account  (including  any  amount due under any  outstanding  loan
pursuant to Article 9) shall be  distributed  to his  Beneficiary  in accordance
with  Section  11.03 as soon as  practicable  (but in any event  within 90 days)
after the calendar month in which his death occurs.
      7.04  Withdrawals.  A Participant may request cash  withdrawals
from his Account by making a withdrawal  application  in such manner and on such
conditions as may be prescribed by the Plan Administrator. Payment of the amount
withdrawn shall be made as soon as practicable  after such  application has been
completed and processed. Withdrawals shall be permitted not more than four times
in any calendar year and only in accordance with the following terms:
      (a) Withdrawals will be made on an average cost basis within each category
below and pro rata from the Participant's balances available for withdrawal.
      (b) A  Participant  may at any time  withdraw  an amount up to the  entire
amount to the credit of his  After-Tax  and  Company  Contribution  Subaccounts,
except that a Participant  may not withdraw an amount  attributable to a Company
Contribution  until December 31 of the second  calendar year beginning after the
calendar month for which the Company  Contribution was made. A Participant shall
not be permitted to make any such withdrawal  amounting to less than $300 unless
the maximum amount available under this paragraph (b) is less than $300 in which
case the  Participant  shall only be permitted to withdraw such maximum  amount.
Withdrawals shall be made in the following order from a Participant's Account:
      1.    If the Participant requests a nontaxable withdrawal:
            (i)   Nonparticipating   After-Tax   Contributions   made   before
                  January 1, 1987,  excluding  any  earnings  thereon,  and (ii)
            Participating After-Tax Contributions made before January
                  1, 1987, excluding any earnings thereon.
      2.    If  the  Participant   requests  a  taxable  withdrawal,   without
incurring a suspension as provided in (f) below:
            (i)   Nonparticipating   After-Tax   Contributions   made   before
                  January 1, 1987, excluding any earnings thereon;
            (ii)  Participating  After-Tax  Contributions  made before January
                  1, 1987, excluding earnings thereon;
            (iii) Nonparticipating  After-Tax  Contributions  made on or after
                  January 1, 1987, including any earnings thereon;
            (iv)  Participating After-Tax Contributions made on or after January
                  1, 1987 that have been in the Account two full calendar  years
                  after the year contributed, including any earnings thereon;
            (v)   Any  earnings  attributable  to  Nonparticipating  After-Tax
                  Contributions made before January 1, 1987;
            (vi)  Any  earnings   attributable  to   Participating   After-Tax
                  Contributions made before January 1, 1987; and
            (vii) Company  Contributions  in the Account  for two full  calendar
                  years after the  contribution  year,  including  any  earnings
                  thereon.
      3.    If the Participant  requests a taxable  withdrawal  resulting in a
suspension as provided in (f) below:
            (i)   Nonparticipating   After-Tax   Contributions   made   before
                  January 1, 1987, excluding any earnings thereon;
            (ii)  Participating  After-Tax  Contributions  made before January
                  1, 1987, excluding any earnings thereon;
            (iii) Nonparticipating  After-Tax  Contributions  made on or after
                  January 1, 1987, including any earnings thereon;
            (iv)  Participating  After-Tax  Contributions  made  on  or  after
                  January 1, 1987, including any earnings thereon;
            (v)   Any  earnings  attributable  to  Nonparticipating  After-Tax
                  Contributions made before January 1, 1987;
            (vi)  Any  earnings   attributable  to   Participating   After-Tax
                  Contributions made before January 1, 1987; and
            (vii) Company  Contributions  in the Account  for two full  calendar
                  years after the  contribution  year,  including  any  earnings
                  thereon.
      (c) A Participant  who has withdrawn at least the entire amount  available
under (b) above  without  incurring  a  suspension  may at any time  withdraw an
amount up to the entire amount to the credit of his Rollover Subaccount.
      (d) A Participant  who has attained the age of 59 years and six months and
who has withdrawn at least the entire  amounts  available for  withdrawal  under
paragraphs  (b) and (c) above without  incurring a  suspension,  may withdraw an
amount up to the entire  amount to the credit of his Pre-Tax  Subaccount  in the
following order:
      1.    If the Participant  requests a withdrawal,  without resulting in a
suspension under (f) below:
            (i)   Nonparticipating   Pre-Tax   Contributions,   including  any
                  earnings thereon, and
            (ii)  Participating  Pre-Tax  Contributions  that  have  been in the
                  Account   for  two  full   calendar   years   after  the  year
                  contributed, including any earnings thereon.





      2.    If  the   Participant   requests  a  withdrawal   resulting  in  a
suspension under (f) below:
            (i)   Participating  After-Tax  Contributions,   made  on  or  after
                  January  1, 1987 that have been in the  Account  for less than
                  two full calendar years after the contribution year, including
                  any earnings thereon;
            (ii)  Nonparticipating   Pre-Tax   Contributions,   including  any
                  earnings thereon; and
            (iii) Participating  Pre-Tax  Contributions  including  any earnings
                  thereon. A Participant shall not be permitted to make any such
                  withdrawal  amounting  to less than $300  unless  the  maximum
                  amount  available under this Section 7.04 is less than $300 in
                  which case the Participant shall only be permitted to withdraw
                  such maximum amount.
      (e)  Notwithstanding  the  preceding   paragraphs  (b),  (c)  and  (d),  a
Participant  may not  withdraw  any amount  that would  cause the balance of his
Account to be less than the minimum amount required under Section 9.09.
      (f) In the event a  Participant  withdraws  any  amounts  which  represent
After-Tax  Participating  Contributions  made at any  time  during  the two full
calendar years  preceding the calendar year in which the withdrawal is made, the
Participant's right to make any contributions to the Plan shall be suspended for
the six full calendar months as soon as practicable following the withdrawal. To
resume contributions  following such suspension,  the Participant must elect, on
or before such day, in such manner and on such  conditions  as may be prescribed
by the Plan Administrator, to resume making contributions.
      7.05 Hardship  Withdrawals. A Participant may, in the
event  of  hardship,  withdraw  all  or  any  part  of  the  amount  of  Pre-Tax
Contributions  to the credit of the Account of the  Participant  (excluding  any
earnings  after  December 31, 1988  attributable  to Pre-Tax  Contributions)  in
excess of any minimum Account balance required under Section 9.09. A Participant
may apply for a hardship withdrawal in such manner and on such conditions as may
be prescribed by the Plan Administrator.  For purposes of the Plan a Participant
shall be deemed to have a hardship if the Participant has an immediate and heavy
financial need and if the withdrawal is necessary to satisfy such financial need
as set forth  below.  The Plan  Administrator  or his delegate  shall  determine
whether the Participant satisfies the requirements for a hardship and the amount
of any hardship  withdrawal.  Any  withdrawal  under this Section  shall be made
pro-rata  from the  Participant's  balances in the  Investment  Funds from which
withdrawal  may be made as provided in Section  7.04. A  withdrawal  pursuant to
this  Section  7.05  shall  not be  subject  to the  limitations  on  number  of
withdrawals permitted under Section 7.04.






      (a) Immediate and Heavy  Financial Need - A Participant  will be deemed to
have an immediate and heavy  financial  need if the  withdrawal is to be made on
account of any of the following:

            (1)   Medical  expenses  described  in  Section  213(d)  of the Code
                  previously  incurred  by the  Participant,  the  Participant's
                  spouse or any  dependent  (as  defined in  Section  152 of the
                  Code) of the  Participant,  or  expenses  necessary  for those
                  persons to obtain  medical care described in Section 213(d) of
                  the Code;
            (2)   Costs  directly  related  to the  purchase
                  (excluding   mortgage   payments)   of   a
                  principal residence for the Participant;
            (3)   Payment of tuition and related  educational  fees for the next
                  twelve-months   of   post-   secondary   education   for   the
                  Participant,   or  the  Participant's   spouse,   children  or
                  dependents;
            (4)   Payment of amounts  necessary  to prevent the  eviction of the
                  Participant   from  his   principal   residence  or  to  avoid
                  foreclosure  on the  mortgage of the  Participant's  principal
                  residence; or
            (5)   Any  other  need  added  to  the  foregoing  items  of  deemed
                  immediate and heavy financial needs by the Commissioner of the
                  Internal  Revenue  Service  through the publication of revenue
                  rulings,  notices and other documents of general availability,
                  rather than on an individual basis.
A  Participant  shall not be permitted  to make a  withdrawal  in the event of a
hardship on account of any reason other than as set forth above.






      (b) Necessary to Satisfy Such Need - The requested  withdrawal will not be
treated as necessary to satisfy the Participant's  immediate and heavy financial
need to the extent that the amount of the  requested  withdrawal is in excess of
the amount required to relieve the financial need or to the extent such need may
be  satisfied  from  other  sources  that  are   reasonably   available  to  the
Participant. The amount of an immediate and heavy financial need may include any
amounts  necessary to pay any federal,  state or local income taxes or penalties
reasonably  anticipated to result from the hardship withdrawal.  The Participant
must  request,  on such  form or  otherwise  as the  Plan  Administrator  or his
delegate may  prescribe,  that the Plan  Administrator  or his delegate make its
determination  of the  necessity for the  withdrawal  solely on the basis of the
Participant's  certification,  without any supporting documents.  In that event,
the Plan Administrator or his delegate shall make such  determination,  provided
all of the following  requirements are met: (1) the Participant has obtained all
distributions  and  withdrawals,  other  than  distributions  available  only on
account of hardship,  and all nontaxable  loans  currently  available  under all
plans of the Company and Affiliated Employers, (2) the Participant is prohibited
from making Pre-Tax  Contributions  and After-Tax  Contributions to the Plan and
all other plans of the Company and Affiliated  Employers under the terms of such
plans or by means of an otherwise legally enforceable  agreement for at least 12
months after receipt of the  distribution,  and (3) the limitation  described in
Section 3.01(b) under all plans of the Company and Affiliated  Employers for the
calendar  year  following  the year in which  the  distribution  is made must be
reduced by the Participant's elective deferrals made in the calendar year of the
distribution  for hardship.  For purposes of clause (2), "all other plans of the
Company and Affiliated Employers" means all qualified and non-qualified plans of
deferred  compensation  maintained by the Company and  Affiliated  Employers and
includes a stock option,  stock purchase (including the Company's Discount Stock
Purchase Plan though it isn't a deferred compensation plan) and such other plans
as may be designated under regulations  issued under Section 401(k) of the Code,
but shall  not  include  health  and  welfare  benefit  plans and the  mandatory
employee contribution portion of a Defined Benefit Plan.

7.06  Distribution  from Company Stock Fund.  Where an amount to be  distributed
pursuant to Section 7.01,  7.02, or 7.03 is  represented  in part by Units,  the
distributee  may  elect,  in  such  manner  and  on  such  conditions  as may be
prescribed by the Plan  Administrator,  to have  distributed the number of whole
Shares   represented  by  such  Units,   together  with  an  amount  of  dollars
representing  the balance of the current value of such Units.  In the absence of
such  an  election,   the  distribution  shall  be  made  entirely  in  dollars.
Withdrawals  pursuant to Section 7.04 or 7.05 and loans pursuant to Article 9 to
be made from the Company Stock Fund shall be made entirely in cash.
      7.07 Leaves of Absence and  Transfers to Weekly  Payroll.
If a Participant  shall be granted a leave of
absence by the  Company or shall  transfer  from the  management  payroll to the
weekly payroll, neither such event shall be deemed a termination of service, but
such Participant's Pre-Tax Contributions and After-Tax  Contributions under this
Plan shall be suspended  as of the last day of the calendar  month in which such
leave commences,  or transfer  occurs,  as the case may be. Such Participant may
resume making Pre-Tax Contributions and After-Tax Contributions, as of the first
day of any calendar month  following the termination of such leave of absence or
his  return  to the  management  payroll,  as the case may be,  by  making a new
payroll deduction  authorization in such manner and on such conditions as may be
prescribed by the Plan Administrator.
      7.08  Age  70  1/2   Required   Distribution  
            
      (a) In no event  shall the  provisions  of this  Article  operate so as to
extend the time by which a distribution  is to be made under any other provision
of the Plan or to allow the  distribution  of a  Participant's  Account to begin
later than the April 1 following  the  calendar  year in which he attains age 70
1/2,  provided that such  commencement  in active  service shall not be required
with respect to a Participant (i) who does not own more than five percent of the
outstanding  stock of the Company (or stock possessing more than five percent of
the  total  combined  voting  power of all stock of the  Company),  and (ii) who
attained age 70 1/2 prior to January 1, 1988.
      (b) In the event a  Participant  in active  service is  required  to begin
receiving payments while in service under the provisions of paragraph (a) above,
the Plan shall distribute to the Participant in each distribution  calendar year
the minimum amount  required to satisfy the  provisions of Section  401(a)(9) of
the Code provided, however, that the payment for the first distribution calendar
year shall be made on or before April 1 of the  following  calendar  year.  Such
minimum  amount will be determined on the basis of the joint life  expectancy of
the Participant and his  Beneficiary.  Such life expectancy will be recalculated
once each year;  however,  the life  expectancy of the  Beneficiary  will not be
recalculated if the Beneficiary is not the Participant's  spouse.  The amount of
the withdrawal  shall be allocated  among the Investment  Funds in proportion to
the value of the Accounts as of the date of each withdrawal. The commencement of
payments  under this Section shall not  constitute an Annuity  Starting Date for
purposes of Sections 72,  401(a)(11) and 417 of the Code. Upon the Participant's
subsequent termination of employment, payment of the Participant's Account shall
be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09.
      7.09  Form and Timing of Distributions.
      (a)  Distributions  pursuant to Sections  7.01 and 7.02 shall be made as
follows:
            (i)   the Vested Portion of the Participant's  Account balance which
                  equals $3500 or less shall be distributed in a single lump sum
                  as soon as  practicable,  but not later than 60 days after the
                  end  of  the   calendar   year  in  which  the   Participant's
                  termination of employment occurs; or
            (ii)  unless  the  Participant  makes an  election  under  Section
                  7.09(b),  the Vested  Portion of the  Participant's  Account
                  balance  which  exceeds  $3500 shall be  deferred  until the
                  Participant  attains  age 65 and the amount to the credit of
                  the  Participant's  Account as of the day he attains  age 65
                  shall be  distributed to him in a single lump sum as soon as
                  practicable  thereafter.  If the  Participant  fails to make
                  an election under Section 7.09(b),  the Participant shall be
                  deemed to have elected the deferred  distribution under this
                  Section 7.09(a)(ii).






      (b) In lieu of the deferred distribution upon attaining age 65 provided in
Section  7.09(a)(ii),  the  Participant  may elect,  in such  manner and on such
conditions as may be






prescribed by the Plan Administrator, one of the following:
            (i)   a distribution  in a single lump sum as soon as practicable,
                  but not later  than 60 days  after  the end of the  calendar
                  year in which the Participant's termination occurs;
            (ii)  a  distribution  deferred  until the last day of a  calendar
                  month  not  later  than the  calendar  month  in  which  the
                  Participant   attains   age   70  as   designated   by   the
                  Participant,    in   which   event   distribution   of   the
                  Participant's  Account  balance  as of the  last  day of the
                  calendar  month so  designated by the  Participant  shall be
                  made in a single lump sum as soon as practicable  after such
                  calendar month; or
            (iii) a  distribution  in five  annual  installments  as promptly as
                  practicable  after the end of each calendar year commencing in
                  the calendar year  immediately  following the calendar year in
                  which the termination  occurs, in which event each such annual
                  installment  shall be an  amount  equal  to the  Participant's
                  Account balance as of December 31 of the previous year divided
                  by the  number of  annual  installments  remaining  to be made
                  hereunder,  except that the fifth such installment shall equal
                  the  entire  balance  in the  Participant's  Account as of the
                  preceding  December 31. Each such annual  installment shall be
                  taken  pro  rata  from  the  Participant's   balances  in  the
Investment  Funds under the Plan. 7.10 Status of Account  Pending  Distribution.
Until  completely  distributed the Account of a Participant who is entitled to a
distribution shall continue to be invested as part of the funds of the Plan.
7.11  Proof of  Death  and  Right  of  Beneficiary  or  Other  Person.  The Plan
Administrator may require and rely upon such proof of death and such evidence of
the right of any Beneficiary or other person to receive the value of the Account
of a deceased  Participant  as the Plan  Administrator  may deem  proper and his
determination  of the  right of that  Beneficiary  or other  person  to  receive
payment shall be conclusive.
      7.12 Distribution Limitation.  Notwithstanding any
other  provision  of this  Article  7, all  distributions  from this Plan  shall
conform to the regulations issued under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code, including
the incidental  death benefit  provisions of Section  401(a)(9)(G)  of the Code.
Further, such regulations shall override any Plan provision that is inconsistent
with Section 401(a)(9) of the Code.
7.13  Direct  Rollover  of  Certain  Distributions.   This  Section  applies  to
distributions made on or after January 1, 1993. Notwithstanding any provision of
the Plan to the contrary that would  otherwise  limit a  distributee's  election
under  this  Section,  a  distributee  may  elect,  in such  manner  and on such
conditions as may be prescribed by the Plan  Administrator,  to have any portion
of an eligible  rollover  distribution  paid directly to an eligible  retirement
plan  specified  by  the  distributee  in  a  direct  rollover.   The  following
definitions apply to the terms used in this Section:
      (a) "Eligible rollover  distribution" means any distribution of all or any
portion of the balance to the credit of the distributee, except that an eligible
rollover  distribution does not include any distribution that is one of a series
of  substantially  equal periodic  payments (not less  frequently than annually)
made for the life (or life expectancy) of the distributee or the joint lives (or
joint life  expectancies)  of the distributee and the  distributee's  designated
beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more, any distribution to
the extent such  distribution  is required under Section  401(a)(9) of the Code,
and the  portion of any  distribution  that is not  includible  in gross  income
(determined without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized appreciation with
respect to employer securities);
      (b)  "Eligible  retirement  plan" means an individual  retirement  account
described  in  Section  408(a) of the Code,  an  individual  retirement  annuity
described in Section  408(b) of the Code,  an annuity plan  described in Section
403(a) of the Code,  or a qualified  trust  described  in Section  401(a) of the
Code, that accepts the distributee's eligible rollover distribution. However, in
the case of an  eligible  rollover  distribution  to the  surviving  spouse,  an
eligible  retirement  plan is an  individual  retirement  account or  individual
retirement annuity;
      (c) "Distributee" means an employee or former employee.  In addition,  the
employee's or former  employee's  surviving  spouse and the employee's or former
employee's  spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a qualified
domestic  relations  order  as  defined  in  Section  414(p)  of the  Code,  are
distributees with regard to the interest of the spouse or former spouse; and
      (d)  "Direct  rollover"  means  a  payment  by the  Plan  to the  eligible
retirement plan specified by the distributee.





                                   ARTICLE 8
                       Non-Discrimination and Limitation
      8.01 Actual Deferral Percentage Test. The
Actual Deferral Percentage for Highly Compensated Employees who are Participants
or  eligible  to  become  Participants  shall not  exceed  the  Actual  Deferral
Percentage for all other  Employees who are  Participants  or eligible to become
Participants  multiplied by 1.25. If the Actual  Deferral  Percentage for Highly
Compensated  Employees  does not meet the foregoing  test,  the Actual  Deferral
Percentage for Highly  Compensated  Employees may not exceed the Actual Deferral
Percentage for all other  Employees who are  Participants  or eligible to become
Participants  by more  than  two  percentage  points,  and the  Actual  Deferral
Percentage for Highly  Compensated  Employees may not be more than 2.0 times the
Actual Deferral Percentage for all other Employees (or such lesser amount as the
Plan  Administrator  shall determine to satisfy the provisions of Section 8.03).
The Plan  Administrator  may implement rules limiting the Pre-Tax  Contributions
which may be made on behalf of some or all Highly Compensated  Employees so that
this  limitation is satisfied.  If the Plan  Administrator  determines  that the
limitation  under this  Section  8.01 has been  exceeded  in any Plan Year,  the
following provisions shall apply:
      (a) The  amount  of  Pre-Tax  Contributions  made on behalf of some or all
Highly  Compensated  Employees  shall be reduced  until the  provisions  of this
Section  are   satisfied  as  follows.   The  actual   deferral   ratio  of  the
Highly-Compensated  Employee  with the highest  actual  deferral  ratio shall be
reduced to the extent necessary to meet the test or to cause such ratio to equal
the actual  deferral  ratio of the  Highly  Compensated  Employee  with the next
highest  ratio.  This  process  will  be  repeated  until  the  actual  deferral
percentage  test is passed.  Each ratio  shall be  rounded  to the  nearest  one
one-hundredth of one percent of the Participant's Statutory Compensation.
      (b)  Pre-Tax  Contributions  subject  to  reduction  under  this  Section,
together with Earnings thereon,  ("excess  contributions")  shall be paid to the
Participant  before the close of the Plan Year  following the Plan Year in which
the excess contributions were made and, to the extent practicable,  within 2 1/2
months  of the close of the Plan Year in which  the  excess  contributions  were
made.  However,  any excess  contributions for any Plan Year shall be reduced by
any Pre-Tax  Contributions  previously returned to the Participant under Section
3.01 for that Plan Year. In the event any Pre-Tax  Contributions  returned under
this  Section  8.01 were matched by Company  Contributions,  such  corresponding
Company  Contributions,  with Earnings  thereon,  shall be forfeited and used to
reduce Company contributions.  The Participant may elect, in lieu of a return of
the excess contributions,  to have the Plan treat all or a portion of the excess
contributions to the Plan as After-Tax  Contributions for the Plan Year in which
the excess  contributions were made, subject to the limitations of Section 3.02.
Recharacterized excess contributions shall be considered After-Tax Contributions
made in the Plan Year to which the excess  contributions  relate for purposes of
Section 8.02 and shall be subject to the  withdrawal  provisions  applicable  to
After-Tax   Contributions  under  Article  7.  The  Participant's   election  to
recharacterize  Pre-Tax  Contributions  shall be made within 2 1/2 months of the
close of the Plan Year in which the excess  contributions  were made,  or within
such shorter period as the Plan Administrator may prescribe. In the absence of a
timely  election  by  the   Participant,   the  Plan  shall  return  his  excess
contributions as provided in the paragraph (b).
      8.02 Actual  Contribution  Percentage
Test. The Actual  Contribution  Percentage for Highly Compensated  Employees who
are Participants or eligible to become  Participants shall not exceed the Actual
Contribution Percentage for all other Employees who are Participants or eligible
to become Participants multiplied by 1.25. If the Actual Contribution Percentage
for the Highly  Compensated  Employees  does not meet the  foregoing  test,  the
Actual Contribution  Percentage for Highly Compensated  Employees may not exceed
the Actual  Contribution  Percentage of all other Employees who are Participants
or eligible to become  Participants by more than two percentage  points, and the
Actual Contribution  Percentage for Highly Compensated Employees may not be more
than 2.0 times the Actual  Contribution  Percentage for all other  Employees (or
such lesser  amount as the Plan  Administrator  shall  determine  to satisfy the
provisions of Section 8.03). The Plan Administrator may implement rules limiting
the After-Tax  Contributions which may be made by some or all Highly Compensated
Employees  so that  this  limitation  is  satisfied.  If the Plan  Administrator
determines that the limitation  under this Section 8.02 has been exceeded in any
Plan Year, the following provisions shall apply:
      (a) The amount of After-Tax  Contributions and Company  Contributions made
by or on behalf of some or all  Highly  Compensated  Employees  in the Plan Year
shall be reduced until the  provisions of this Section are satisfied as follows.
The  actual  contribution  ratio of the  Highly  Compensated  Employee  with the
highest actual  contribution  ratio shall be reduced to the extent  necessary to
meet the test or to cause such ratio to equal the actual  contribution  ratio of
the Highly-Compensated Employee with the next highest actual contribution ratio.
This process will be repeated until the actual  contribution  percentage test is
passed.  Each ratio  shall be rounded to the nearest  one  one-hundredth  of one
percent of a Participant's Statutory Compensation.
      (b) Any  After-Tax  Contributions  and  Company  Contributions  subject to
reduction under this Section,  together with Earnings thereon ("excess aggregate
contributions"), shall be reduced and allocated in the following order:
            (i)   Nonparticipating After-Tax Contributions, to the extent of the
                  excess aggregate contributions,  together with Earnings, shall
                  be paid to the Participant; and then, if necessary,
            (ii)  so much of the  Participating  After-Tax  Contributions  and
                  corresponding   Company    Contributions,    together   with
                  Earnings,  as shall be  necessary  to meet the test shall be
                  reduced,  with the  After-Tax  Contributions,  together with
                  Earnings,  being  paid to the  Participant  and the  Company
                  Contributions,  together with Earnings,  being reduced, with
                  vested Company  Contributions being paid to the Participant,
                  and Company  Contributions  which are forfeitable  under the
                  Plan  being   forfeited   and  applied  to  reduce   Company
                  contributions; then if necessary,
            (iii) so much of the Company Contributions,  together with Earnings,
                  as shall be  necessary  to equal  the  balance  of the  excess
                  aggregate  contributions shall be reduced, with vested Company
                  Contributions  being  paid  to  the  Participant  and  Company
                  Contributions  which  are  forfeitable  under  the Plan  being
                  forfeited and applied to reduce Company contributions.
      (c) Any repayment or forfeiture of excess aggregate contributions shall be
made  before  the close of the Plan Year  following  the Plan Year for which the
excess aggregate  contributions  were made and, to the extent  practicable,  any
repayments or  forfeiture  shall be made within 2 1/2 months of the close of the
Plan Year in which the excess aggregate contributions were made.
      8.03 Aggregate  Contribution Limitation.
Notwithstanding  the provisions of Sections 8.01 and 8.02, in no event shall the
sum  of  the  Actual  Deferral  Percentage  of  the  group  of  eligible  Highly
Compensated  Employees  and the Actual  Contribution  Percentage  of such group,
after applying the  provisions of Sections 8.01 and 8.02,  exceed the "aggregate
limit" as provided in Section  401(m)(9) of the Code and the regulations  issued
thereunder.  In the event the aggregate limit is exceeded for any Plan Year, the
Actual  Contribution  Percentages of the Highly  Compensated  Employees shall be
reduced to the extent  necessary to satisfy the  aggregate  limit in  accordance
with the procedure set forth in Section 8.02.
8.04 Additional Discrimination Testing Provisions.
      (a) If any Highly Compensated  Employee is either (i) a five percent owner
or (ii)  one of the 10  highest  paid  Highly  Compensated  Employees,  then any
Statutory  Compensation  paid to or any contribution made by or on behalf of any
member of his  "family"  shall be deemed paid to or made by or on behalf of such
Highly Compensated Employee for purposes of Sections 8.01, 8.02 and 8.03, to the
extent required under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury or
his delegate  under Sections  401(k) and 401(m) of the Code.  The  contributions
required to be aggregated  under the preceding  sentence shall be disregarded in
determining the Actual Deferral  Percentage and Actual  Contribution  Percentage
for the group of non-highly compensated employees for purposes of Sections 8.01,
8.02  and  8.03.  Any  return  of  excess   contributions  or  excess  aggregate
contributions  required under  Sections 8.01,  8.02 and 8.03 with respect to the
family  group shall be made by  allocating  the excess  contributions  or excess
aggregate   contributions   among  the  family  members  in  proportion  to  the
contributions  made by or on behalf of each family member that is combined.  For
purposes  of this  paragraph,  the term  "family"  means,  with  respect  to any
employee,  such  employee's  spouse,  any lineal  ascendants or descendants  and
spouses of such lineal ascendants or descendants.
      (b) If any Highly  Compensated  Employee is a member of another  qualified
plan of the Company or an  Affiliated  Employer,  other than an  employee  stock
ownership  plan  described  in  Section  4975(e)(7)  of the  Code  or any  other
qualified plan which must be mandatorily  disaggregated  under Section 410(b) of
the Code, under which deferred cash contributions or matching  contributions are
made on behalf of the  Highly  Compensated  Employee  or under  which the Highly
Compensated Employee makes after-tax contributions, the Plan Administrator shall
implement rules, which shall be uniformly  applicable to all employees similarly
situated, to take into account all such contributions for the Highly Compensated
Employee under all such plans in applying the  limitations of Section 8.01, 8.02
and 8.03. If any other such  qualified  plan has a plan year other than the Plan
Year, the  contributions to be taken into account in applying the limitations of
Sections 8.01, 8.02 and 8.03 will be those made in the plan years ending with or
within the same calendar year.
      (c) In the event that this Plan is aggregated with one or more other plans
to satisfy the requirements of Sections  401(a)(4) and 410(b) of the Code (other
than for  purposes of the  average  benefit  percentage  test) or if one or more
other plans is  aggregated  with this Plan to satisfy the  requirements  of such
sections of the Code,  then the provisions of Sections 8.01, 8.02 and 8.03 shall
be applied by determining the Actual Deferral Percentage and Actual Contribution
Percentage of employees as if all such plans were a single plan. If this Plan is
permissively  aggregated with any other plan or plans for purposes of satisfying
the provisions of Section 401(k)(3) of the Code , the aggregated plans must also
satisfy the  provisions  of Section  401(a)(4)  and 410(b) of the Code as though
they were a single plan. For Plan Years beginning after December 31, 1989, plans
may be aggregated under this paragraph (c) only if they have the same plan year.
      (d) The  Company  may elect to use  Pre-Tax  Contributions  to satisfy the
tests  described in Sections 8.02 and 8.03,  provided that the test described in
Section 8.01 is met prior to such  election,  and  continues to be met following
the Company's  election to shift the application of those Pre-Tax  Contributions
from Section 8.01 to Section 8.02.
      (e)  The  Company  may  authorize  that  special  "qualified   nonelective
contributions"  shall be made for a Plan Year,  which shall be allocated in such
amounts and to such Participants,  who are not Highly Compensated Employees,  as
the Named Fiduciaries shall determine.  The Plan Administrator,  shall establish
such separate accounts as may be necessary.  Qualified nonelective contributions
shall be 100% nonforfeitable when made. Any qualified nonelective  contributions
made on or after  January 1, 1994 and any  earnings  credited  on any  qualified
nonelective contributions after such date shall only be available for withdrawal
under the provisions of Section  7.04(d).  Qualified  nonelective  contributions
made for the Plan Year may be used to satisfy  the tests  described  in Sections
8.01, 8.02 and 8.03, where necessary.
      (f) Notwithstanding  any provision of the Plan to the contrary,  employees
included in a unit of  employees  covered by a collective  bargaining  agreement
shall be disregarded in applying the provisions of Sections 8.01,  8.02 and 8.03
except that the  provisions  of Section 8.01 above shall be  applicable  to that
group of  employees  on and  after  January  1,  1993 on the  basis  that  those
employees are included in a separate cash-or-deferred arrangement.
      8.05  Maximum Annual Additions.
      (a)   The annual addition to a Participant's  Account for any Plan Year,
which shall be considered the  "limitation  year" for purposes of Section 415 of
the Code,  when added to the  Participant's  annual  addition for that Plan Year
under  any  other  qualified  Defined  Contribution  Plan of the  Company  or an
Affiliated Employer,  shall not exceed an amount which is equal to the lesser of
(i) 25% of his aggregate  remuneration  for the Plan Year or (ii) the greater of
$30,000  or  one-quarter  of the  dollar  limitation  in  effect  under  Section
415(b)(1)(A) of the Code.
      (b) For purposes of this Section, the "annual addition" to a Participant's
Account  under  this  Plan or any  other  qualified  Defined  Contribution  Plan
maintained by the Company or an Affiliated Employer shall be the sum of:
            (i)   the total  contributions,  including Pre-Tax  Contributions,
                  made on the  Participant's  behalf  by the  Company  and all
                  Affiliated Employers,
            (ii)  all  Participant  contributions,  exclusive  of any Rollover
                  Contributions, and
            (iii) forfeitures, if applicable,
that have been  allocated to the  Participant's  Account  under this Plan or his
accounts under any other such qualified Defined  Contribution Plan. For purposes
of this paragraph (b), any Pre-Tax Contributions  distributed under Section 8.01
and  any  Company  Contributions  or  After-Tax  Contributions   distributed  or
forfeited  under the  provisions  of Section 3.01,  8.01,  8.02 or 8.03 shall be
included in the annual addition for the year allocated.
      (c) For purposes of this Section,  the term "remuneration" with respect to
any Participant shall mean the wages, salaries and other amounts paid in respect
of the  Participant  by the  Company  or an  Affiliated  Employer  for  personal
services  actually  rendered,  determined  after any  reduction of  Compensation
pursuant to Section 3.01 or pursuant to a cafeteria plan as described in Section
125 of the Code,  including (but not limited to) bonuses,  overtime payments and
commissions,  but  excluding  deferred  compensation,  stock  options  and other
distributions which receive special tax benefits under the Code.
      (d) If the annual addition to a  Participant's  Account for any Plan Year,
prior to the  application  of the  limitation  set forth in paragraph (a) above,
exceeds that limitation due to a reasonable  error in estimating a Participant's
annual  compensation or in determining the amount of Pre-Tax  Contributions that
may be made with respect to a  Participant  under Section 415 of the Code, or as
the  result of the  allocation  of  forfeitures,  the  amount  of  contributions
credited to the Participant's Account in that Plan Year shall be adjusted to the
extent  necessary to satisfy that  limitation in  accordance  with the following
order of priority:





            (i)   The  Participant's  Nonparticipating  After-Tax  Contributions
                  under  Section 3.02 shall be reduced to the extent  necessary.
                  The  amount  of  the  reduction   shall  be  returned  to  the
                  Participant,  together with any earnings on the  contributions
                  to be returned.
            (ii)  The Participant's Nonparticipating Pre-Tax Contributions under
                  Section  3.01 shall be reduced  to the extent  necessary.  The
                  amount of the reduction shall be returned to the  Participant,
                  together  with  any  earnings  on  the   contributions  to  be
                  returned.
            (iii) The Participant's  Participating  After-Tax  Contributions and
                  corresponding  Company  Contributions  shall be reduced to the
                  extent necessary.  The amount of the reduction attributable to
                  the Participant's  Participating After-Tax Contributions shall
                  be returned to the Participant,  together with any earnings on
                  those   contributions   to  be   returned,   and  the   amount
                  attributable to the Company  Contributions  shall be forfeited
                  and used to reduce  subsequent  contributions  payable  by the
                  Company.
            (iv)  The Participant's  Participating  Pre-Tax  Contributions and
                  corresponding  Company Contributions shall be reduced to the
                  extent necessary.  The amount of the reduction  attributable
                  to the  Participant's  Participating  Pre-Tax  Contributions
                  shall be  returned  to the  Participant,  together  with any
                  earnings  on those  contributions  to be  returned,  and the
                  amount  attributable to the Company  Contributions  shall be
                  forfeited  and  used  to  reduce  subsequent   contributions
                  payable by the Company.
Any Pre-Tax  Contributions  returned to a Participant  under this  paragraph (d)
shall be disregarded in applying the dollar limitation of Pre-Tax  Contributions
under Section  3.01(b),  and in performing the Actual  Deferral  Percentage Test
under Section 8.01.  Any After-Tax  Contributions  returned under this paragraph
(d) shall be disregarded in performing the Actual  Contribution  Percentage Test
under Section 8.02.
      8.06 Defined  Benefit Plan Limitation. If a
Participant is or ever was a participant in a Defined Benefit Plan then prior to
restricting  any Annual  Addition  under this Plan the rate of benefit  accruals
under such  Defined  Benefit Plan shall first be reduced so as to cause the sum,
for any limitation year, of the Participant's  Defined Benefit Plan Fraction and
the Participant's Defined Contribution Plan Fraction not to exceed 1.0.
                                   ARTICLE 9
                                     Loans
      9.01 Loans  Permitted.  A Participant who is not on a leave
of absence and remains on the active  payroll may, with the approval of the Plan
Administrator  under such  uniform  rules as the Plan  Administrator  may adopt,
borrow from his Account upon terms and  conditions  set forth in this Article 9.
Any loans made prior to October 19, 1989 shall be subject to this  Article 9 and
the rules in effect thereunder at the time such loans were made. Any loans made,
renewed,  renegotiated,  modified or extended on or after October 19, 1989 shall
be subject to this Article 9 as amended effective as of such date.  Effective as
of October 19, 1989 the Plan  Administrator is authorized to administer the loan
program  under  this  Article 9. Any  Participant  who is an  Employee,  and any
Participant  who is a former Employee and a  "party-in-interest"  (as defined in
Section  3(14)  of  ERISA)  to the  Plan,  may  borrow  from his  Account,  upon
application made in such manner and on such conditions as the Plan Administrator
may  prescribe and under such uniform and  non-discriminatory  rules as the Plan
Administrator may adopt.






      9.02  Amount  of  Loans.  The  minimum  amount of any loan
pursuant  to this  Article 9 shall be  $1,000.  The amount of any such loan to a
Participant,  together with the  outstanding  balance of all other such loans to
the same  Participant,  shall not  exceed  the lesser of (a) or (b) where (a) is
$50,000 reduced by the excess (if any) of (i) the highest outstanding balance of
loans to the Participant  from the Plan during the one year period ending on the
day  before  the date on which  such  loan is made,  over  (ii) the  outstanding
balance of loans to the Participant from the Plan on the date on which such loan
is made, and (b) is one-half of the Vested Portion of the Participant's  Account
balance.  Outstanding balance of loans means the outstanding amount of all loans
from the Plan and any other plans of the Company.

      9.03 Source of Loans.  Funds for loans from a Participant's
Account  shall be taken  from the  Participant's  Subaccounts  in the  following
order:
            (i)  Nonparticipating  Pre-Tax  Contributions  and earnings thereon;
            (ii) Participating Pre-Tax Contributions and earnings thereon; (iii)
            Rollover  Contributions  and earnings  thereon;  (iv) Vested Company
            Contributions that have been in the Account
                  for two full calendar years after the contribution  year and
                  earnings thereon;





            (v)   Vested Company Contributions that have been in the Account for
                  less than two full calendar years after the contribution  year
                  and earnings thereon;






            (vi)  Nonparticipating   After-Tax   Contributions   and  earnings
                  thereon; and

            (vii) Participating After-Tax Contributions and earnings thereon. No
loan shall be made from a Subaccount or a part of a Subaccount  until exhaustion
of the entire balance in the  Subaccount or part of the Subaccount  preceding it
on the above list. Within each Subaccount or part thereof,  funds for loans will
be taken on an average cost basis and pro-rata from each  Investment Fund within
the  Subaccount  or part of the  Subaccount  and such  pro-rata  portion of each
Investment  Fund will be  converted  to cash for the loan  based upon the market
value of the investment on the date of conversion.
      9.04 Interest Rate. The interest rate to be charged on loans
pursuant to this  Article 9 shall be a  reasonable  rate of interest  determined
from time to time by the Plan  Administrator.  In determining such rate the Plan
Administrator  shall seek to  provide to the Plan a rate of return  commensurate
with the interest  rates charged by persons in the business of lending money for
loans  that would be made under  similar  circumstances  on the date the loan is
approved. The interest rate will be fixed for the entire term of the loan.
      9.05 Repayment.  The Participant may select a period of one, two,
three,  four or five years for repayment of a loan,  except that the Participant
may, at his option,  select a longer period of whole years,  not exceeding  ten,
for repayment of a loan for the purpose of purchasing  his principal  residence.
Repayment  shall be made by level  monthly  payments  in such amount as shall be
sufficient  to pay the  principal  and  interest  thereon  over the  period  for
repayment.  Repayment  shall be made by payroll  deductions,  except that in the
case of a Participant who is not on the active payroll,  repayment shall be made
by check or other  similar  means  as the Plan  Administrator  shall  determine.
Prepayment  of a loan in full may be made without  penalty at any time.  Partial
prepayment  of a loan may be made at any time without  penalty by a cash payment
of not less than  $1000.00 or by  additional  repayments  of  principal  made by
payroll  deduction.  The amount of each monthly payment shall be restored to the
Participant's Subaccounts in the same proportion as the loan was taken from such
Subaccounts.  However,  the amount of each such monthly  payment shall be placed
into  Investment  Funds,  except the Company Stock Fund, in accordance  with the
most recent  investment  election  made by the  Participant  with respect to the
Participant's Contributions.
      9.06 Multiple Loans. No more than one loan may be granted to
a  Participant  in a calendar  year  unless all  earlier  loans made in the same
calendar year to the Participant shall have been repaid in full.






      9.07 Pledge. The Vested Portion of the Participant's Account balance
shall be pledged as security for all loans to the  Participant  pursuant to this
Article 9. The amount  pledged  shall not be greater  than fifty  percent of the
Participant's  Vested  Portion.  If a default  shall occur in the repayment of a
loan,  the entire  unpaid  principal  balance plus accrued  interest if any: (i)
shall  be  charged,   when  the  Participant   becomes  eligible  to  receive  a
distribution,  against that portion of the  Participant's  Vested  Portion which
serves as security for the loan; (ii) shall be deducted, if a distribution is to
made,  from  the  amount  payable  to  the  Participant  or  the   Participant's
Beneficiary;  or (iii)  if  neither  (i) nor (ii)  applies,  shall  continue  to
encumber that portion of the  Participant's  Vested Plan Account balance Portion
that serves as security for the loan.

      9.08 Loan  Reserve.  The amount of each loan to a Participant
shall  be  transferred  from  the  portion  of  the  Trust  Fund  held  for  the
Participant's  Account and  invested  pursuant to Section 5.02 to a special Loan
Reserve  maintained for such Participant's  Account.  Such Loan Reserve shall be
invested  solely in the loan or loans made to the  Participant.  Payments on any
such loan will reduce the Participant's Loan Reserve and shall be reinvested for
the Participant's Account in accordance with Section 9.05.
      9.09  Minimum  Account  Balance.  So long as any
amount of a loan shall remain  outstanding to a Participant,  the  Participant
may not make any withdrawal from his Account
that would reduce the value of his Vested Portion to less than his Loan Reserve.
      9.10  Consent.  No loan shall be made  pursuant  to this  Article 9
without the prior consent of the Participant and the  Participant's  spouse,  if
any, at the time of application for the loan. Such consent shall be required for
(1) the making of the loan from the Participant's  Account and (2) the deduction
of the full outstanding loan balance, including interest and principal, from the
Participant's  Account in the event of default,  as provided in this  Article 9.
Such consent may not be revoked by the Participant or the  Participant's  spouse
after the loan  proceeds are paid to the  Participant.  Such consent shall be in
writing on a form  furnished  by the Company and shall be  witnessed by a Notary
Public. Any renegotiation,  extension, renewal or other revision of a loan shall
also require prior consent by the Participant and the  Participant's  spouse, if
any, in the manner  described  above.  Spousal consent shall not be required for
loans made after March 1, 1994.
      9.11 Other  Terms.  Each loan made  pursuant to this Article 9
shall be evidenced by a promissory note payable to the Trustee. Such loans shall
be upon such  additional  terms and conditions as the Plan  Administrator  shall
determine,  applied in a uniform and  non-discriminatory  manner.  The terms and
conditions of any loan may be adjusted at any time, to the extent  determined by
the Plan  Administrator  to be necessary for compliance  with law or to maintain
the qualification of the Plan under the Code.
                                  ARTICLE 10
                          Administration of the Plan
10.01 Named Fiduciaries and Plan Administrator.  The following persons from time
to time occupying the following  offices of the Company are hereby designated as
Named Fiduciaries:  Chief Executive Officer,  Chief Financial Officer, and Chief
Accounting Officer. The Company may designate other persons who, upon acceptance
of such designation,  shall serve as Named  Fiduciaries  either instead of or in
addition to those named above.  Any such  designation and acceptance shall be in
writing and retained by the Plan Administrator.  The Named Fiduciaries shall act
by majority rule. The Named Fiduciaries shall appoint from among the officers of
the Company a Plan  Administrator who shall serve at the discretion of the Named
Fiduciaries.  The Plan  Administrator  shall serve without  compensation for his
services as such and shall act solely in the  interest of the  Participants  and
their Beneficiaries.
      10.02 Authority of Plan Administrator.  The
Plan Administrator shall have discretionary  authority to control and manage the
operation and  administration  of the Plan; and, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing,  may interpret the Plan,  determine  eligibility  for benefits
under the Plan,  determine  any facts or resolve any  questions  relevant to the
administration of the Plan and, in connection therewith,  may remedy and correct
any  ambiguities,  inconsistencies,  or omissions  in the Plan.  Any such action
taken  by  the  Plan  Administrator  shall  be  conclusive  and  binding  on all
Participants,  Beneficiaries  and  other  persons.  The  Plan  Administrator  is
authorized  to make any  changes  to the Plan that he,  in his sole  discretion,
determines  are  necessary or desirable to carry out the  transition to Vanguard
Fiduciary Trust Company as Trustee,  Recordkeeper and Investment Manager for the
Plan, the addition of new Investment  Funds and the change to daily valuation of
Accounts,  and to make any other  changes to  facilitate  administration  of the
Plan.
      10.03 RReliance  on Reports.  The Named Fiduciaries and
the Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon any opinions,  reports, or
other  advice  which shall be  furnished  by  specialists,  subject to fiduciary
responsibilities imposed by ERISA.
      10.04 Delegation of Authority. With approval of the
Named  Fiduciaries,  the Plan Administrator may designate one or more persons to
exercise any power,  or perform any duty,  of the Plan  Administrator.  Any such
designation  shall be in writing  and signed by the Plan  Administrator  and the
Named Fiduciaries and a copy thereof shall be delivered to the Trustee.
      10.05 Administration Expenses. All expenses arising
in  connection  with the  administration  of the Plan shall be paid by the Plan,
except to the extent that the Company  decides to pay such  expenses  and except
expenses arising from  administration  of TRASOP within the Trust which shall be
paid in accordance with the following paragraph.
      The  expenses  of  administration  of the TRASOP  within  the Trust  shall
include, without limitation,  transfer taxes, postage, brokerage commissions and
other  direct  selling  expenses  incurred  by the Trustee in the sale of Shares
pursuant to Section  13.04,  losses  incurred  by the Trustee on funds  invested
pursuant  to  Section  13.02,  and fees of the  Trustee in  connection  with the
administration  of TRASOP within this Trust,  including  fees for legal services
rendered to the Trustee  (whether or not rendered in connection  with a judicial
or  administrative  proceeding and whether or not incurred while it is acting as
Trustee),  but shall exclude  brokerage  fees and  commissions  for purchases of
Shares pursuant to Section 13.02,  which brokerage fees and commissions shall be
paid  out  of  the  dividends  being  reinvested   thereby.   Such  expenses  of
administration of TRASOP within the Trust shall, to the extent permitted by law,
be paid:






            first, out of any available income of TRASOP;

            second,  out of any available  dividends  received by the Trustee on
            Shares  allocated to Participants  pursuant to Section 13.02,  which
            dividends  have not then been applied to the purchase of  additional
            Shares pursuant to Section 13.02; and
            third, by the Company.
Provided, however, that in no event shall the amounts paid by the Trustee during
such Plan Year  pursuant  to clauses  "first"  and  "second"  above,  exceed the
smaller of:
      (a) the sum of 10  percent  of the first  $100,000  and 5  percent  of any
amount in excess of $100,000 of the income  from  dividends  paid to the Trustee
with respect to common stock of the Company during such Plan Year; or
      (b)   $100,000.
      10.06 Fiduciary Insurance. The Company may purchase and
carry fiduciary  responsibility  insurance under which each member of the Board,
each Named Fiduciary, the Plan Administrator, or any person to whom there may be
delegated any  responsibility in connection with the administration of the Plan,
including  the  Trustee,  will  be  indemnified  against  any  cost  or  expense
(including counsel's fees) or liability which may be incurred arising out of any
act or  failure  to act in the  administration  of this  Plan,  except for gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
      10.07Claim Review.
            (a) Any  denial by the Plan  Administrator  of a claim for  benefits
under the Plan by a Participant or Beneficiary shall be stated in writing by the
Plan  Administrator  and delivered or mailed to the  Participant  or Beneficiary
within 90 days  following the date on which the claim is filed;  and such notice
shall set forth the  specific  reasons  for the  denial,  written in a plain and
understandable manner,  specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which
the denial is based,  a description  of any  additional  material or information
necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an  explanation  of why such
material or  information  is necessary  and an  explanation  of the Plan's claim
review  procedure.  If special  circumstances  require an  extension of time for
processing the claim,  written notice of an extension  shall be furnished to the
claimant prior to the end of the initial period of 90 days following the date on
which the claim was filed.  Such an extension may not exceed a period of 90 days
beyond the end of the initial period. If the claim has not been granted,  and if
written  notice  of the  denial  of the  claim is not  furnished  within 90 days
following the date on which the claim is filed, the claim shall be deemed denied
for the purpose of proceeding to the claim review procedure.
      (b) Claim Review Procedure. A Participant,  Beneficiary, or the authorized
representative   of  either  shall  have  60  days  after   receipt  of  written
notification  of denial of a claim to  request a review of the  denial by making
written request to the Plan  Administrator.  Within 30 days following receipt of
such requests for review, the Plan Administrator shall review his prior decision
denying  the  claim.  The  Plan   Administrator   shall  give  the  Participant,
Beneficiary, or the authorized representative of either an opportunity to appear
to review pertinent documents,  to submit issues and comments in writing, and to
present evidence supporting the claim.
      Not later than 60 days after  receipt of the request for review,  the Plan
Administrator  shall render and furnish to the claimant a written decision which
shall  include  specific  reasons  for the  decision,  and shall  make  specific
references  to  pertinent  Plan  provisions  on which it is  based.  If  special
circumstances require an extension of time for processing, the decision shall be
rendered as soon as possible,  but not later than 120 days after  receipt of the
request for review,  provided that written  notice and  explanation of the delay
are given to the claimant prior to commencement of the extension.  Such decision
by the Plan Administrator  shall not be subject to further review. If a decision
on review is not furnished to a claimant  within the specified time period,  the
claim shall be deemed to have been denied on review.
      (c)  Exhaustion  of Remedy.  No  claimant  shall  institute  any action or
proceeding  in any  state or  federal  court of law or  equity,  or  before  any
administrative tribunal or arbitrator,  for a claim for benefits under the Plan,
until he or she has first exhausted the procedures set forth in this section.
      10.08 Appointment  of  Trustee.  The Trustee and
any successor thereto shall be appointed by the Board.
      10.09 Limitation  of Liability.  The Company,  the
Board, the Named Fiduciaries, the Plan Administrator,  and any officer, employee
or agent of the Company shall not incur any liability  individually or on behalf
of any other  individuals  or on behalf of the Company for any act or failure to
act,  made in good  faith  in  relation  to the Plan or the  funds of the  Plan.
However,  this  limitation  shall not act to relieve any such  individual or the
Company from a  responsibility  or liability for any  fiduciary  responsibility,
obligation or duty under Part 4, Title I, of ERISA.
                                  ARTICLE 11
                                 Miscellaneous
      11.01 Exclusive Benefit; Amendments. It shall
be impossible  for any part of the corpus or income of the Trust Fund to be used
for  or  diverted  to  purposes   other  than  for  the  exclusive   benefit  of
Participants,  Beneficiaries  and other persons  entitled to benefits  under the
Plan and for  paying the  expenses  of the Plan not paid by the  Company,  or to
deprive any of them of his vested  interest in the Trust Fund.  No person  shall
have any  interest  in, or right to, any part of the Trust Fund except as and to
the extent expressly  provided in the Plan.  Subject to the foregoing,  the Plan
may be  amended,  in whole or in part,  at any time and from time to time by the
Board or pursuant to  authority  granted by the Board and any  amendment  may be
given such retroactive  effect as the Board or its duly authorized  delegate may
determine.
11.02 Termination; Sale of Assets of Subsidiary.
      (a) The Plan may be  terminated or partially  terminated or  contributions
under the Plan may be permanently discontinued for any reason at any time by the
Board.  In the  event  of  termination  or  partial  termination  of the Plan or
permanent  discontinuance  of contributions  under the Plan: (i) no contribution
shall be made thereafter except for a month the last day of which coincides with
or precedes such termination or  discontinuance;  (ii) no distribution  shall be
made except as provided in the Plan; (iii) the rights of all Participants to the
entire  amounts  to the  credit  of  their  Accounts  as of  the  date  of  such
termination or partial  termination or discontinuance  shall become 100% vested;
(iv) no person shall have any right or interest except with respect to the Trust
Fund;  and (v) the Trustee shall continue to act until the Trust Fund shall have
been distributed in accordance with the Plan.
      (b) Upon  termination of the Plan,  Pre-Tax  Contributions,  with earnings
thereon,  shall only be distributed to  Participants  if (i) neither the Company
nor  an  Affiliated  Employer  establishes  or  maintains  a  successor  defined
contribution plan, and (ii) payment is made to the Participants in the form of a
lump sum  distribution  (as defined in Section  402(d)(4)  of the Code,  without
regard to clauses (i) through (iv) of  subparagraph  (A),  subparagraph  (B), or
subparagraph (F) thereof).  For purposes of this paragraph, a "successor defined
contribution plan" is a defined  contribution plan (other than an employee stock
ownership  plan as defined  in  Section  4975(e)(7)  of the Code  ("ESOP")  or a
simplified  employee  pension as defined in Section  408(k) of the Code  ("SEP))
which  exists at the time the Plan is  terminated  or within the 12 month period
beginning on the date all assets are distributed.  However,  in no event shall a
defined  contribution  plan be deemed a successor plan if fewer than two percent
of the employees who are eligible to  participate in the Plan at the time of its
termination   are  or  were  eligible  to  participate   under  another  defined
contribution  plan of the Company or an Affiliated  Employer (other than an ESOP
or a SEP) at any time during the period beginning 12 months before and ending 12
months after the date of the Plan's termination.
      (c) Upon the  disposition  by the  Company  of at least 85  percent of the
assets (within the meaning of Section 409(d)(2) of the Code) used by the Company
in a trade or business or upon the disposition by the Company of its interest in
a  subsidiary  (within the meaning of Section  409(d)(3)  of the Code),  Pre-Tax
Contributions,  with earnings thereon,  may be distributed to those Participants
who continue in employment  with the employer  acquiring such assets or with the
sold  subsidiary,  provided  that (a) the Company  maintains  the Plan after the
disposition,  (b) the  buyer  does  not  adopt  the Plan or  otherwise  become a
participating employer in the Plan and does not accept any transfer of assets or
liabilities  from the Plan to a plan it  maintains in a  transaction  subject to
Section  414(l)(1) of the Code, an (c) payment is made to the Participant in the
form of a lump sum  distribution  (as defined in Section  402(d)(4) of the Code,
without  regard to clauses (i) through (iv) of  subparagraph  (A),  subparagraph
(B), or subparagraph (F) thereof).
      11.03  Beneficiaries.  Upon the  death of a  Participant  his
entire nonforfeitable  accrued benefit under the Plan shall be payable in a lump
sum  to  his  surviving  spouse  unless  there  is no  surviving  spouse  of the
Participant or such surviving  spouse has consented,  in the manner  provided in
this Section  11.03,  to a designation  of a  Beneficiary  or  Beneficiaries  in
addition to or instead of such spouse and such  designation  is in effect at the
time of the  Participant's  death.  Each Participant may designate a Primary and
Contingent  Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to receive the  Participant's  benefits
under the Plan in a lump sum in the event of death of such Participant  prior to
distribution  of  such  benefits,  by  filing  prior  to his  death,  a  written
designation  with the Plan on a form furnished by the Plan  Administrator or his
delegate,  provided that such  designation  shall be effective  only if (1) such
designation is accompanied by the written  consent of the  Participant's  spouse
which  acknowledges the effect on the spouse of the designation and is witnessed
by a Notary Public, or (2) the Participant is not married.  Any such designation
made  by an  unmarried  Participant  shall  become  null  and  void  during  any
subsequent  marriage  (unless  consented to in the manner described above by the
spouse of that  marriage)  and any consent of a spouse shall be  effective  only
with respect to such spouse. If, at the time of a Participant's  death, there is
no surviving  spouse of the  Participant  and no designation of a Beneficiary by
such Participant is in effect, then the Participant's  benefits shall be payable
in a lump sum to his estate or legal representative.  A Participant may revoke a
designation  made  pursuant to this Section 11.03 by signing and filing with the
Plan  Administrator a written  instrument to that effect,  in such manner and on
such conditions as may be prescribed by the Plan  Administrator,  or by filing a
new designation  pursuant to this Section 11.03.  The consent of a Participant's
spouse may not be revoked, but such spouse's consent shall be required for every
designation of a Beneficiary other than the  Participant's  spouse and for every
change in any such  designation.  The  requirement  for  spousal  consent may be
waived by the Plan  Administrator  if he  believes  there is no  spouse,  or the
spouse  cannot be  located,  or because of such  other  circumstances  as may be
established by applicable law.
      11.04 Assignment of Benefits.
      (a) No  Participant  or  Beneficiary  shall  have  the  right  to  assign,
transfer, alienate, pledge, encumber or subject to lien any benefits to which he
is entitled  under the Plan, and benefits under the Plan shall not be subject to
adverse  legal  process of any kind,  except that nothing in this Section  shall
preclude  payment of Plan benefits  pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations
order as defined in Section 414(p) of the Code and Section 206(d) of ERISA.  The
Plan  Administrator  shall  establish  a  written  procedure  to  determine  the
qualified status of domestic  relations  orders and to administer  distributions
under such qualified orders.
      (b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the amount payable
to the alternate payee under the qualified domestic relations order is $3,500 or
less, such amount shall be paid in one lump sum as soon as practicable following
the  qualification of the order. If the amount exceeds $3,500, it may be paid as
soon as practicable  following the  qualification  of the order if the alternate
payee consents  thereto;  otherwise it may not be payable before the earliest of
(i) the Participant's termination of employment, (ii) the time such amount could
be withdrawn under Article 7 or (iii) the Participant's attainment of age 50.
      11.05  Merger.  The Plan may not be merged or consolidated  with, or
its assets or  liabilities  may not be transferred to any other plan unless each
person  entitled to benefits  under the Plan would,  if the resulting  plan were
then  terminated,  receive  immediately  after the merger or  consolidation,  or
transfer of assets or  liabilities,  a benefit which is equal to or greater than
the  benefit  he would have been  entitled  to  receive  immediately  before the
merger, consolidation or transfer if the Plan had then terminated.
11.06  Conditions  of Employment  Not Affected by Plan.  The  establishment  and
maintenance  of the Plan shall not confer any legal  rights upon any Employee or
other person for a continuation  of employment,  nor shall it interfere with the
rights of the Company to discharge any Employee and to treat him without  regard
to the effect  which that  treatment  might  have upon him as a  Participant  or
potential Participant of the Plan.
      11.07 Facility of  Payment. If the Plan Administrator
shall find that a Participant or other person entitled to a benefit is unable to
care for his  affairs  because of illness or  accident  or is a minor,  the Plan
Administrator  may direct that any benefit due him, unless claim shall have been
made for the benefit by a duly appointed  legal  representative,  be paid to his
spouse,  a child, a parent or other blood relative,  or to a person with whom he
resides. Any payment so made shall be a complete discharge of the liabilities of
the Plan for that benefit.
      11.08  IInformation.  Each  Participant,  Beneficiary  or  other
person  entitled to a benefit,  before any benefit shall be payable to him or on
his  account  under  the  Plan,  shall  file  with  the Plan  Administrator  the
information  that the Plan  Administrator  shall require to establish his rights
and benefits under the Plan.
11.09 Additional Participating Employers.
      (a) If any company is or becomes a subsidiary  of or  associated  with the
Company,  the Board may include the  employees of that  subsidiary or associated
company in the participation of the Plan upon appropriate action by that company
necessary to adopt the Plan. In that event,  or if any persons become  Employees
of the  Company  as the  result of merger or  consolidation  or as the result of
acquisition  of all or part of the assets or  business of another  company,  the
Board  shall  determine  to what  extent,  if any,  previous  service  with  the
subsidiary,  associated or other company shall be recognized under the Plan, but
subject to the continued  qualification  of the trust for the Plan as tax-exempt
under the Code.
      (b) Any subsidiary or associated  company may terminate its  participation
in the Plan upon  appropriate  action by it. In that event the funds of the Plan
held on account of  Participants  in the employ of that company,  and any unpaid
balances of the Account of all  Participants  who have separated from the employ
of that  company,  shall be determined  by the Plan  Administrator.  Those funds
shall be  distributed  as  provided  in  Section  11.02 if the  Plan  should  be
terminated,  or shall be segregated by the Trustee as a separate trust, pursuant
to certification to the Trustee by the Plan  Administrator,  continuing the Plan
as a separate  plan for the  employees of that company  under which the board of
directors  of that  company  shall  succeed  to all the powers and duties of the
Board,   including  the   appointment   of  the  Named   Fiduciaries   and  Plan
Administrator.
      11.10IRS  Determination.  All contributions made to the
Trust Fund after  December 31, 1984,  and all loans made  pursuant to Article 9,
which are made prior to the receipt by the Company of a  determination  from the
Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the Plan, as amended, is a qualified
plan under  Sections  401(a) and 401(k) of the Code or the refusal of the IRS in
writing to issue such a  determination,  shall be made on the express  condition
that such  determination is received.  In the event the Internal Revenue Service
determines  that the Plan is not so qualified or refuses in writing to make such
determination,  such  contributions,  increased  by any  earnings  thereon,  and
reduced by any losses  thereon and by the  outstanding  balance  (principal  and
interest)  on any loans made under  Article 9, shall be  returned to the Company
and  Participants,  as  appropriate,  as  promptly  as  practicable  after  such
determination.  In the event the Internal Revenue Service requires reductions in
such contributions and/or changes in the terms and conditions of such loans as a
condition  of its  determination  that the Plan is so  qualified,  the  required
reductions in contributions, increased by any earnings and reduced by any losses
attributable  thereto,  shall be returned to the  Company and  Participants,  as
appropriate, and/or the amounts and terms and conditions of any such outstanding
loans  shall be modified  to meet  Internal  Revenue  Service  requirements,  as
promptly as practicable after notification from the Internal Revenue Service. If
all or part of the  Company's  deductions  under  Section  404 of the  Code  for
Company  Contributions  to the  Plan  are  disallowed  by the  Internal  Revenue
Service,  the portion of the  Company  Contributions  to which the  disallowance
applies shall be returned to the Company without earnings  thereon,  but reduced
by any losses  attributable  thereto.  The return  shall be made within one year
after the denial of qualification or disallowance of deduction,  as the case may
be.
      11.11 Mistaken  Contributions. Any contribution made
by mistake of fact shall be returnable, without any earnings thereon but reduced
by any losses  attributable  thereto,  to the Company  and/or  Participants,  as
appropriate within one year after the payment of the contribution.
      11.12   PrPrevention   of  Escheat.   If  the  Plan
Administrator  cannot  ascertain the whereabouts of any person to whom a payment
is due under the Plan, the Plan  Administrator  may, no earlier than three years
from the date such payment is due,  mail a notice of such due and owing  payment
to the last known address of such person, as shown on the records of the Plan or
Company.  If such person has not made written claim therefor within three months
of the date of the mailing, the Plan Administrator may, if he so elects and upon
receiving  advice from  counsel to the Plan,  direct  that such  payment and all
remaining  payments  otherwise due such person be canceled on the records of the
Plan and the amount thereof applied to reduce the  contributions of the Company.
Upon such  cancellation,  the Plan and the Trust shall have no further liability
therefor except that, in the event such person or his beneficiary later notifies
the Plan  Administrator  of his whereabouts and requests the payment or payments
due to him  under  the  Plan,  the  amount  so  applied  shall be paid to him in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
      11.13 Limitations  Imposed on
Insider  Participants.  Notwithstanding  any other  provision of the Plan to the
contrary,  an Insider  Participant's right to direct investments under the Plan,
and his right to  withdrawals  and loans under Articles 7 and 9 shall be subject
to such limitations and restrictions as may be imposed by the Plan Administrator
from time to time to comply with the  conditions  for the employee  benefit plan
exemptions to the  short-swing  trading  liability rules of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
      11.14Construction. The Plan shall be construed, regulated and
administered  under  ERISA and the laws of the State of New York,  except  where
ERISA controls.
                                  ARTICLE 12
                             Top-Heavy Provisions
      12.01   Application   of  Top-Heavy
Provisions. For any Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 1984 in which the
Plan shall on the last day of such Plan Year  ("Determination  Date"), be either
(i) a  Top-Heavy  Plan or  (ii) a part of a  "required  aggregation  group"  (as
defined in Section  12.03)  that is a  Top-Heavy  Group and not also a part of a
"permissive  aggregation  group" (as  defined in  Section  12.03)  that is not a
Top-Heavy Group, the provisions of Article 12 shall apply,  notwithstanding  any
other conflicting provisions of the Plan.
12.02Minimum  Benefit  for  Top-Heavy  Year.  For any Plan Year for  which  this
     Article 12 is applicable, each Participant,  who is employed by the Company
     on the last day of such year and who is not a Key  Employee,  shall  accrue
     the Minimum  Benefit for Top-Heavy year provided under  paragraph 22 of the
     Consolidated Edison Retirement Plan for Management Employees.  For purposes
     of this Article 12, "Key Employee" means an employee who is in the category
     of employees  determined  in  accordance  with the  provisions  of Sections
     416(i)(l)  and (5) of the Code and any  regulations  thereunder,  and where
     applicable,  on the basis of the Employee's Statutory Compensation from the
     Company or an Affiliated Employer.
      12.03 Aggregation Groups.
      (a)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary herein, this Plan shall not
be a Top-Heavy Plan if it is part of either a "required  aggregation group" or a
"permissive aggregation group" that is not a Top-Heavy Group.
      (b)   The "required aggregation group" consists of:
            (i)   each Defined  Contribution  Plan or Defined  Benefit Plan in
                  which at least one Key Employee participates; and
            (ii)  each other Defined  Contribution  Plan or Defined Benefit Plan
                  which enables a plan referred to in the preceding subparagraph
                  (i) to meet  the  nondiscrimination  requirements  of  Section
                  401(a)(4) or 410 of the Code.
      (c) A "permissive aggregation group" consists of the plans included in the
"required  aggregation  group" plus any one or more other  Defined  Contribution
Plans or  Defined  Benefit  Plans  which,  when  considered  as a group with the
"required  aggregation  group",  would  continue  to meet the  nondiscrimination
requirements of Section 401(a)(4) and 410 of the Code.
      12.04 Special Benefit Limits. For any Plan Year for
which this Article 12 is applicable  the  definitions  of "Defined  Benefit Plan
Fraction" and "Defined  Contribution  Plan  Fraction" in Sections 1.20 and 1.22,
respectively, shall be modified in each case by substituting "1.0" for "1.25".
      12.05  Special  Distribution  Rule.  For  any
Plan Year for which  this  Article 12 is  applicable,  Section  7.08(a)  shall
apply to Key Employees.
                                  ARTICLE 13
                    Tax Reduction Act Stock Ownership Plan
      13.01  Purpose; Separate Entity.
      (a)   TRASOP,  which is a stock bonus plan established under the Act, is
intended to give eligible  participants an equity interest in the Company and to
encourage  them to remain in the employ of the  Company.  TRASOP is  designed to
invest   primarily  in  Shares.   Applicable  laws  do  not  permit   additional
contributions to TRASOP by the Company or by Employees,  but the Company desires
to  continue  the  TRASOP  Accounts  of   Participants   having  such  accounts.
Accordingly,  effective as of July 1, 1988, all TRASOP Accounts were transferred
to this Plan, and all TRASOP  provisions  which  continue to be applicable  were
added to this Plan and shall,  together with other applicable provisions of this
Plan, govern TRASOP Accounts.
      (b)  Accounts  and  TRASOP  Accounts  shall  be  administered  separately,
although  they shall be held as part of the same Trust  Fund.  There shall be no
transfers between TRASOP Accounts and Accounts and Sub-Accounts.
      (c) All matters  relating to TRASOP which relate to or arise out of facts,
circumstances  or conditions in effect prior to July 1, 1988,  shall be governed
by the  provisions  of TRASOP as in effect on June 30, 1988 prior to the merger,
unless expressly otherwise provided in this Plan.
13.02 TRASOP Accounts; Application of Dividends.
      (a) The TRASOP  Account of each  Participant in TRASOP who remained in the
employ of the Company on July 1, 1988 was  transferred to this Plan effective as
of July 1, 1988. Each such  Participant  shall continue to have a nonforfeitable
right to all Shares  allocated  and all amounts  credited to such  Participant's
TRASOP Account.
      (b) All dividends received by the Trustee with respect to Shares allocated
to the TRASOP  Accounts  of  Participants  shall be applied to the  purchase  of
additional  Shares.  Such purchases  shall be made promptly after the receipt of
each such dividend. The Trustee shall purchase, in one or more transactions, the
maximum number of whole Shares obtainable at then prevailing  prices,  including
brokerage  commissions and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with
such  purchases.  Such  purchases may be made on any  securities  exchange where
Shares  are  traded,   in  the   over-the-counter   market,   or  in  negotiated
transactions,  and may be on such terms as to price,  delivery and  otherwise as
the Trustee may  determine to be in the best interest of the  Participants.  The
Trustee shall complete such purchases as soon as practical after receipt of such
dividends,  having due regard for any applicable  requirements  of law affecting
the timing or manner of such purchases. The additional Shares so purchased shall
be  allocated  among the  respective  TRASOP  Accounts  of the  Participants  in
proportion to the number of Shares in each TRASOP Account at the record date for
the  payment  of the  dividend  so  applied.  Such  allocation  shall be made as
promptly as practicable  but for purposes of determining  the time at which such
additional  Shares shall become  distributable  pursuant to Section  13.04,  the
additional  Shares so allocated to each  Participant's  TRASOP  Account shall be
deemed to have  been  allocated  as of the  respective  allocation  dates of the
Shares in such TRASOP  Account at such record date,  in proportion to the number
of such Shares previously allocated as of each such allocation date.





13.03 Voting Rights; Options; Rights; Warrants.

      (a) Each  Participant  shall be  entitled  to direct the Trustee as to the
manner in which any Shares or fractional  Shares allocated to the  Participant's
TRASOP Account are to be voted.
      (b) In the event that any option,  right,  or warrant  shall be granted or
issued with respect to any Shares allocated to the Participant's TRASOP Account,
each  Participant  shall be entitled to direct the Trustee  whether to exercise,
sell, or deal with such option, right, or warrant.
      (c)  The  Trustee  shall  keep  confidential  the   Participant's   voting
instructions  and  instructions  as to any  option,  right  or  warrant  and any
information regarding a Participant's purchases, holdings and sales of Shares.
      13.04  Distribution of Shares.
      A.    Each Share  allocated to a  Participant's  TRASOP Account shall be
available for distribution to such Participant promptly after the earlier of (i)
the end of the 84th  month  beginning  after the month in which  such  Share was
allocated to such Participant's TRASOP Account,  and (ii) the death,  disability
or termination of employment of such  Participant.  No Shares may be distributed
from a TRASOP Account before the end of the 84th month beginning after the month
in which  Shares were  allocated  to the TRASOP  Account,  except in the case of
termination of  employment,  death or  disability,  and in accordance  with this
Section 13.04.
      B. Each Share which shall become  distributable to a Participant by reason
of clause A.(i) above is herein called, from the time such Share shall become so
distributable,  an "Unrestricted  Share".  Notwithstanding the provisions of the
aforesaid clause A.(i), Unrestricted Shares shall be distributed to Participants
as follows:






            (a)   From  time to  time,  a  Participant  may  request,  in such
                  manner and on such  conditions  as may be  prescribed by the
                  Company,  that Unrestricted Shares held in the Participant's
                  TRASOP Account be distributed  to the  Participant.  If such
                  Participant  is  married,   the  written  application  shall
                  include   written  consent  of  the   Participant's   spouse
                  witnessed by a Notary Public.  Spousal  consent shall not be
                  required  with  respect to  withdrawal  requests  made on or
                  after March 1, 1994.  Applications  made in a calendar month
                  shall  be  effective  as of the  last  day of such  calendar
                  month.  Any such  request  must be for whole Shares only and
                  must be for at  least  ten  Shares  or the  number  of whole
                  Unrestricted  Shares in the  TRASOP  Account,  whichever  is
                  less.

            (b)   Certificates for  Unrestricted  Shares requested in accordance
                  with the preceding  paragraph  B(a) shall be  delivered,  or a
                  cash  distribution in respect of such  Unrestricted  Shares if
                  elected by the  Participant  pursuant to Section  13.04D below
                  shall be made, to the Participant as soon as practicable after
                  the effective date of the application.
            (c)   Any  Unrestricted  Share which shall become  distributable  by
                  reason of any  provision  of this Plan other than clause A.(i)
                  above   (including,   without   limitation,    provision   for
                  distribution  upon the death,  disability  or  termination  of
                  employment  of  the  Participant)   shall  be  distributed  in
                  accordance with such provision.






      C. In the case of death of a  Participant,  distributions  in  respect  of
Shares  allocated  to the  Participant's  TRASOP  Account  shall  be made to the
Participant's  Beneficiary.   In  the  case  of  disability  or  termination  of
employment with the Company of a Participant, distributions in respect of Shares
allocated to the Participant's TRASOP Account shall be made to the Participant.

            All distributions  under TRASOP will begin,  subject to Section 7.08
and Subsection 13.04.F,  not later than the 60th day after the close of the Plan
Year in which the latest of the following  events  occurs:  (1) the  Participant
attains age 65, (2) the 10th  anniversary  of the year in which the  Participant
commenced participation in TRASOP, or (3) the Participant becomes disabled, dies
or terminates service with the Company.
      D. All distributions from a Participant's  TRASOP Account shall be made in
Shares;  provided,  however,  that a Participant or  Beneficiary  shall have the
right to elect, on a form furnished by and submitted to the Company,  to receive
a distribution,  other than a distribution  upon termination of TRASOP, in cash.
Except in the case of a final  distribution from a Participant's  TRASOP Account
and a distribution of the Participant's entire TRASOP Account balance after such
time as all Shares in a  Participant's  TRASOP Account have become  Unrestricted
Shares,  all distributions  from such TRASOP Account shall be made in respect of
whole Shares only,  and any  fractional  Share which is otherwise  distributable
shall be retained in such TRASOP  Account until it can be combined,  in whole or
in  part,  with  another  fractional  Share  which  shall  subsequently   become
distributable,  so as  to  make  up a  whole  Share.  In  the  case  of a  final
distribution  from a Participant's  TRASOP Account  (except a distribution  upon
termination  of TRASOP) or in the case of a  distribution  of the  Participant's
entire  TRASOP  Account  balance  after  such  time as all of the  Shares in the
Participant's  TRASOP Account have become Unrestricted Shares, such distribution
shall be made in respect of the number of whole  Shares  then  remaining  in the
Participant's  TRASOP  Account,  together  with a cash payment in respect of any
fractional  Share based on the  closing  price of a Share as reported on the New
York  Stock  Exchange  consolidated  tape on the last  trading  day of the month
immediately  preceding the month in which such final  distribution  is made. The
Trustee,  in each such  case,  shall  purchase  such  fractional  Share from the
Participant at a price equal to the cash payment to be made to the  Participant.
Whenever the Trustee requires funds for the purchase of fractional Shares,  such
funds  shall be drawn  from the  accumulated  income of the Trust,  if any,  and
otherwise shall be advanced by the Company upon the Trustee's  request,  subject
to  reimbursement  from future  income of the Trust.  All  fractional  Shares so
purchased  by the  Trustee  shall be  allocated  to the TRASOP  Accounts  of the
remaining  Participants  at such  intervals as shall be  determined  by the Plan
Administrator,  but no later than the end of the next  succeeding Plan Year. The
Trustee shall sell any Shares in respect of which a cash  distribution  is to be
made.  The Trustee may make such sales on any  securities  exchange where Shares
are traded, in the over-the-counter market, or in negotiated transactions.  Such
sales may be on such terms as to price,  delivery  and  otherwise as the Trustee
may determine to be in the best interests of the Participants. The Trustee shall
complete  such sales as soon as  practical  under the  circumstances  having due
regard for any applicable  requirements of law affecting the timing or manner of
such sales. All brokerage commissions and other direct selling expenses incurred
by the Trustee in the sale of Shares under this Subsection  13.04D shall be paid
as provided in Section 10.05.






      E. Upon any  termination of TRASOP  pursuant to Section  11.02,  the Trust
shall  continue  until all Shares  which have been  allocated  to  Participants'
TRASOP  Accounts have been  distributed  to the  Participants,  unless the Board
directs an earlier  termination  of the Trust.  Upon the final  distribution  of
Shares,  or at  such  earlier  time  as the  Board  shall  have  fixed  for  the
termination  of the Trust,  the Plan  Administrator  shall direct the Trustee to
allocate  to the  Participants  any Shares  then held by the Trustee and not yet
allocated, and the Trustee shall distribute to the Participants any whole Shares
which  have been  allocated  to their  TRASOP  Accounts  but which have not been
distributed, shall sell all fractional Shares and distribute the proceeds to the
respective  Participants entitled to such fractional Shares, shall liquidate any
remaining  assets  (other than  Shares)  held by the Trust,  and shall apply the
proceeds of such  liquidation and any remaining  funds held by the Trustee,  the
disposition  of which is not otherwise  provided for, to a  distribution  to all
Participants then receiving a final distribution of Shares, in proportion to the
whole and  fractional  Shares to which  each is  entitled;  and the Trust  shall
thereupon terminate.







      F.    Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this  Plan,  unless  a
Participant otherwise elects in writing on a form furnished by the Company:

            (a)   Distribution of a Participant's  TRASOP Account balance will
                                          commence  not  later  than  one  (1)
                                          year  after  the  close  of the Plan
                                          Year -                  (i)   in
                                          which  the  Participant   terminates
                                          employment   with  the   Company  by
                                          reason of  Retirement  upon or after
                                          attainment   of  Normal   Retirement
                                          Age, death, or disability, or
                  (ii)  which is the fifth Plan Year  following the Plan Year in
                        which the  Participant  terminates  employment  with the
                        Company for any other reason, and the Participant is not
                        reemployed by the Company before such Plan Year.
                                      AND
            (b) Distribution of the Participant's TRASOP Account balance will be
in five (5) annual  distributions  as promptly as  practicable  after the end of
each Plan Year;  provided,  however,  that a TRASOP Account  balance that equals
$3500  or  less  shall  be  distributed  in a  single  distribution  as  soon as
practicable,  but not  later  than 60 days  after  the close of the Plan Year in
which the  Participant's  termination  of  employment  occurs.  Each such annual
distribution  shall be in respect of the number of Shares,  rounded  down to the
nearest  number of whole  Shares,  which most  closely  approximates  the entire
balance in the  Participant's  TRASOP  Account as of December 31 of the previous
year  divided by the number of annual  distributions  remaining to be made under
this subsection, except that the fifth such distribution shall be respect of the
entire balance in the Participant's  TRASOP Account as of the preceding December
31. Each such annual  distribution shall be taken pro rata from all contribution
years in Participant's TRASOP Account.
      G. A Participant whose employment with the Company is terminated by reason
of  Retirement,  disability  or any other reason (other than death) may elect in
such a manner and on such conditions as may be prescribed by the Company to have
his TRASOP Account balance distributed in one of the following forms:
            (i)   a single lump sum distribution as soon as practicable, but not
                  later than 60 days after the end of the Calendar Year in which
                  the Participant's termination of employment occurs; or
             (ii) a distribution deferred until the last day of a calendar month
                  not later  than the  calendar  month in which the  Participant
                  attains age 70, as  designated  by the  Participant,  in which
                  event the  distribution  of the  Participant's  TRASOP Account
                  balance as of the last day of the calendar month so designated
                  by the Participant  shall be made in a single lump sum as soon
                  as practicable after such calendar month.




13.05 Diversification of TRASOP Accounts.
      A.    Definitions
      The following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this
Section 13.05:
            (a)   "Qualified  Participant"  shall mean a  Participant  who has a
                  TRASOP  Account and has attained at least age 55 and completed
                  at least 10 years of participation in TRASOP.
            (b)   "Qualified  Election  Period" shall mean the first ninety (90)
                  days following the end of Plan Year 1987 and of each Plan Year
                  thereafter.
            (c)   "Eligible  Shares" shall mean Shares added to a  Participant's
                  TRASOP Account after December 31, 1986.
            (d)   "Diversifiable  Amount" shall, with respect to any Qualified
                  Election  Period,  mean  twenty-five  percent  (25%)  of the
                  number  of  Eligible  Shares  in  the  Participant's  TRASOP
                  Account as of the end of the preceding  Plan Year.  However,
                  if the  Diversifiable  Amount  for  any  Qualified  Election
                  Period  shall have a value which may be deemed "de  minimis"
                  under  regulations  issued by the  Secretary  of the  United
                  States  Department of the  Treasury,  then there shall be no
                  Diversifiable  Amount available for such Qualified  Election
                  Period.






      B.    Eligibility for Diversification

      Each Qualified  Participant  shall,  beginning with the Qualified Election
Period in 1988, have the right to elect to diversify, by means of a distribution
of whole Eligible Shares only, all or some portion of the  Diversifiable  Amount
in his TRASOP Account during each of the six (6) consecutive  Qualified Election
Periods  following  the 1987  Plan Year or the  later  Plan  Year in which  such
Participant  first  became a Qualified  Participant,  provided,  however,  that,
notwithstanding  subsection  13.05.A.(d),  the Diversifiable Amount in the sixth
Qualified Election Period for each Qualified  Participant shall be fifty percent
(50%) of the number of  Eligible  Shares in his TRASOP  Account as to the end of
the preceding Plan Year. A distribution pursuant to this Article 13.05 must be a
minimum of ten (10) Shares,  or all Whole Shares  comprising  the  Diversifiable
Amount  for such  Qualified  Election  Period  if less than 10.  Each  Qualified
Participant  who  desires to elect  diversification  under this  Section  shall,
during the Qualified  Election  Period,  complete and execute a  diversification
election and consent form provided by the Company.  Such election may be revoked
or  modified or a new  election  may be made in its stead  within the  Qualified
Election Period, upon the expiration of which the diversification election shall
be irrevocable.



      Diversification Procedure

            (i)   TRASOP  shall,  within  the 90  day  period  following  each
                  Qualified  Election  Period,  distribute  to each  Qualified
                  Participant   who  has  elected  to  diversify   under  this
                  Section,  the  number of whole  Eligible  Shares  which most
                  closely  approximates,  but does not  exceed,  the number of
                  Eligible  Shares duly elected to be diversified by each such
                  Qualified  Participant.  Failure by a Qualified  Participant
                  to  provide   required   consents  to  distribution  of  any
                  Diversifiable   Amount,   shall   relieve   TRASOP   of  all
                  obligation to make any such distribution.



            (ii)  To the extent a  Qualified  Participant  has  Eligible  Shares
                  which are  Unrestricted  Shares in his  TRASOP  Account,  such
                  Unrestricted  Shares  shall be  distributed  pursuant  to this
                  Section 13.05.  Only upon exhaustion of all such  Unrestricted
                  Shares may  additional  Eligible  Shares  then be  distributed
                  hereunder.












                             AMENDMENT NO. 2

                                   TO

                 THE CONSOLIDATED EDISON RETIREMENT PLAN

                        FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES









                                                 Dated: July 1, 1996

                                                 Effective: July 1, 1996








      Pursuant  to  resolutions  adopted on  November  28,  1995 by the Board of
Trustees of  Consolidated  Edison  Company of New York,  Inc.,  the  undersigned
hereby approves the amendments to The  Consolidated  Edison  Retirement Plan for
Management Employees set forth below, effective July 1, 1996.

      1.    A new subdivision (e), which shall read as follows, shall
be added to Paragraph 23 E:

      "(e)  Effective  July 1, 1996,  a health  maintenance  organization  (HMO)
      option,  including  coverage for Medicare  eligible  persons on a Medicare
      risk  basis and  coverage  for  non-Medicare  eligible  persons,  shall be
      available as an  alternative  to  participation  in the Program.  The Plan
      Administrator  shall select one or more HMOs that will be available  under
      the HMO option, fix the contributions to be made by participants who elect
      to enroll in the HMO option,  and determine the terms and  conditions  for
      participation  in  the  HMO  option,   including  but  not  limited  to  a
      participant's  rights to switch from one HMO to another and from an HMO to
      the Program or vice versa."

      2.    The second paragraph in subdivision (b) of Paragraph 23 E
shall be amended to read as follows:

      "FAILURE BY AN ELIGIBLE  PERSON TO ELECT TO  PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM OR
      THE HMO OPTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE  DECLINATION  BY SUCH  PERSON.  IF AN
      ELIGIBLE  PERSON  DECLINES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM OR THE HMO OPTION
      OR IS  DEEMED  TO HAVE  DECLINED  TO  PARTICIPATE,  SUCH  PERSON  AND SUCH
      PERSON'S  SURVIVING  SPOUSE AND  DEPENDENTS  SHALL NOT  PARTICIPATE IN THE
      PROGRAM OR THE HMO OPTION AND SHALL NOT BE  ELIGIBLE TO  PARTICIPATE  AT A
      LATER DATE."

      3. The following  words shall be added after the word  "customary"  at the
end of the first sentence in the first paragraph of Paragraph 23 B:

      "or required by applicable law and, effective July 1, 1996, to change from
      time to time copayments, deductibles and out-of-pocket and other limits as
      he may deem appropriate."

      4. The  following  sentence  shall be added  after the first  sentence  in
Paragraph 23 G and in Paragraph IV in Appendix I, Part A Benefits:

      "PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
      1996 THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND THE PROGRAM,
      INCLUDING  THE  HMO  OPTION,   AS  HE  DEEMS   APPROPRIATE  TO  FACILITATE
      ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM OR THE HMO OPTION."


      5. A new  paragraph  "E" shall be added to  Appendix  I, Part A  Benefits,
Hospital/Medical Benefits, under the heading, "MEDICAL", to read as follows:

      "E. Effective July 1, 1996, provide a participating  provider organization
      (PPO) for  participants  in the Program not eligible for  Medicare,  under
      which each  visit to a  participating  physician  or other  provider  will
      require a $10 copayment.  The benefit limitations stated above shall apply
      to  the  following  services  provided  by a  PPO  provider:  chiropractic
      services other than spinal manipulation or x-rays; outpatient treatment of
      alcohol and substance  abuse;  mental and nervous  disorders;  routine ear
      exams to fit hearing aids;  routine  mammography  screening;  routine foot
      care; second surgical opinions and outpatient surgery. If the PPO is used,
      deductible and coinsurance  provisions do not apply, and the PPO copayment
      is not counted toward the annual deductible or out-of-pocket maximum."

      6.  The  second  sentence  under  the  heading  "Required  Deductible  and
Copayment for  Prescription  Drugs" in Appendix I, Part B - Costs, is amended to
read as follows:

      "Effective  July 1, 1996, the required  copayment for basic coverage shall
      be $8.00 for brand name drugs and $5.00 for generic drugs, and there shall
      be no copayment for  prescription  drugs  obtained  under the mail service
      program."

      7. The following  sentence shall be added after the second  sentence under
the heading "Effective Dates" in Appendix I, Part B Costs:

      "Effective  July 1,  1996,  from time to time the Plan  Administrator  may
      change such contribution,  deductible and copayment amounts,  and the Plan
      Administrator  shall notify  participants in advance of the effective date
      of any such change."


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 1st
day of July, 1996.


                              RICHARD P. COWIE
                              Richard P. Cowie
                        Vice President-Employee Relations
                           Consolidated Edison Company
                                of New York, Inc.















                               AMENDMENT NO. 1

                                    TO THE

                           CON EDISON SUPPLEMENTAL

                            RETIREMENT INCOME PLAN

                        -------------------------

                        Effective as of January 1, 1997










      Pursuant to resolutions  adopted by the Board of Trustees of  Consolidated
Edison Company of New York,  Inc. on November 26, 1996, the  undersigned  hereby
approves the amendments to The Con Edison  Supplemental  Retirement  Income Plan
set forth below, effective as of January 1, 1997.

      1. Paragraph B of ARTICLE FOUR shall be designated as Paragraph B (1), and
the following new provision shall be added and designated as Paragraph B (2):

"(2)  Notwithstanding subdivision (1) above, for purposes of determining the
      benefits payable under this Plan for any Participant in the Company's
      Executive Incentive Plan ("EIP") whose termination of employment with
      the Company occurs on or after January 1, 1997, in calculating the
      Participant's Final Average Salary under the Final Average Salary
      Formula in the Basic Plan there shall be added to the portion of such
      Participant's Annual Basic Straight-Time Compensation allocable to a
      calendar year the amount of the Participant's Incentive Award
      (including the Mandatory Deferral Portion unless such Portion is
      forfeited as provided in the EIP) granted under the EIP in such
      calendar year; provided, however, that not more than five Incentive
      Awards shall be included in calculating the Participant's Final Average
      Salary."


      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 21
day of March, 1997.



                                          RICHARD P.COWIE
                                          Richard P. Cowie
                                    Vice President-Employee Relations
                                        Consolidated Edison Company
                                          of New York, Inc.









                             AMENDMENT NO. 4

                                   TO

                         THE CONSOLIDATED EDISON

                         RETIREE HEALTH PROGRAM

                        FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES







                                                Dated: July 1, 1996

                                                Effective: July 1, 1996













                                  

      Pursuant  to  resolutions  adopted on  November  28,  1995 by the Board of
Trustees of  Consolidated  Edison  Company of New York,  Inc.,  the  undersigned
hereby approves the amendments to the Consolidated Edison Retiree Health Program
for Management Employees set forth below, effective July 1, 1996.

      1. Subdivision (c) of Section 3.01 shall be renumbered as subdivision (d),
and a new  subdivision  (c),  which  shall  read as  follows,  shall be added to
Section 3.01:

      "(c)  Effective  July 1, 1996,  a health  maintenance  organization  (HMO)
      option,  including  coverage for Medicare  eligible  persons on a Medicare
      risk  basis and  coverage  for  non-Medicare  eligible  persons,  shall be
      available as an  alternative  to  participation  in the Program.  The Plan
      Administrator  shall select one or more HMOs that will be available  under
      the HMO option, fix the contributions to be made by participants who elect
      to enroll in the HMO option,  and determine the terms and  conditions  for
      participation  in  the  HMO  option,   including  but  not  limited  to  a
      participant's  rights to switch from one HMO to another and from an HMO to
      the Program or vice versa."

      2.    Renumbered subdivision (d) shall be amended to read as
follows:

      "(d) FAILURE BY AN ELIGIBLE  PERSON TO ELECT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM
      OR THE HMO OPTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE DECLINATION BY SUCH PERSON.  IF AN
      ELIGIBLE  PERSON  DECLINES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM OR THE HMO OPTION
      OR IS  DEEMED  TO HAVE  DECLINED  TO  PARTICIPATE,  SUCH  PERSON  AND SUCH
      PERSON'S  SURVIVING  SPOUSE AND  DEPENDENTS  SHALL NOT  PARTICIPATE IN THE
      PROGRAM OR THE HMO OPTION AND SHALL NOT BE  ELIGIBLE TO  PARTICIPATE  AT A
      LATER DATE."


      3.    The following words shall be added after the word "law" at
the end of the first sentence in Section 4.01:

      "and,  effective  July 1, 1996,  to change  from time to time  copayments,
      deductibles   and   out-of-pocket   and  other   limits  as  he  may  deem
      appropriate."

      4.    The second sentence in Section 5.01(b) is amended to read
as follows:

      "Effective  July 1, 1996, the required  copayment for basic coverage shall
      be $8.00 for brand name drugs and $5.00 for generic drugs."

      5.    The following sentence shall be added after the second
sentence in Section 5.01(c):

      "Effective  July 1,  1996,  from time to time the Plan  Administrator  may
      change such contribution,  deductible and copayment amounts,  and the Plan
      Administrator  shall notify  participants in advance of the effective date
      of any such change."

      6. The words, "Except as otherwise provided herein," shall be added to the
beginning of the last sentence in Section 7.03(c).

      7.    The following sentence shall be added after the first
sentence in Section 8.01:

      "Pursuant to authority granted by the Board of Trustees, effective July 1,
      1996 the Plan Administrator shall have the authority to amend the Program,
      including  the  HMO  option,   as  he  deems   appropriate  to  facilitate
      administration of the Program or the HMO option."

      8. A new  paragraph  "E" shall be added to  Appendix  I,  Hospital/Medical
Benefits, under the heading, "MEDICAL", to read as follows:

      "E. Effective July 1, 1996, provide a participating  provider organization
      (PPO) for  participants  in the Program not eligible for  Medicare,  under
      which each  visit to a  participating  physician  or other  provider  will
      require a $10 copayment.  The benefit limitations stated above shall apply
      to  the  following  services  provided  by a  PPO  provider:  chiropractic
      services other than spinal manipulation or x-rays; outpatient treatment of
      alcohol and substance  abuse;  mental and nervous  disorders;  routine ear
      exams to fit hearing aids;  routine  mammography  screening;  routine foot
      care; second surgical opinions and outpatient surgery. If the PPO is used,
      deductible and coinsurance  provisions do not apply, and the PPO copayment
      is not counted toward the annual deductible or out-of-pocket maximum."

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 1st
day of July, 1996.

                                RICHARD P. COWIE
                                Richard P. Cowie
                                    Vice President-Employee Relations
                                    Consolidated Edison Company
                                of New York, Inc.












                                                                      

                               CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                                        Computation in Support of
                                   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                                            Years 1992 to 1996
                                         (Thousands of Dollars)



                                                 1996        1995         1994         1993         1992
                                                 ----        ----         ----         ----         ----

                                                                                

Earnings

Net Income ......................           $ 694,085**  $  723,850   $  734,270    $  658,522   $  604,088
Federal Income Tax ..............             355,590       328,600      374,500       270,800      252,600
Federal Income Tax Deferred .....              49,510        78,330       73,710       106,470       81,670
Investment Tax Credits Deferred .              (8,910)       (9,310)      (9,620)      (12,260)     (13,800)
                                                                 

Total Earnings Before
  Federal Income Tax ............            1,090,275    1,121,470    1,172,860     1,023,532      924,558

Fixed Charges* ..................              343,308      350,254      327,353       320,554      315,305
                                            

Total Earnings Before
  Federal Income Tax and
  Fixed Charges ................             1,433,583   $1,471,724   $1,500,213    $1,344,086   $1,239,863





*Fixed Charges

Interest on Long-Term Debt .....            $  296,443   $  287,842   $  277,685    $  272,781   $  270,469
Amortization of Debt Discount,
  Premium and Expense ..........                11,376       14,075       11,376         8,975        3,974
Interest on Component of Rentals                18,157       19,383       18,439        19,077       19,175
Other Interest ................                 17,332       28,954       19,853        19,721       21,687

Total Fixed Charges ...........             $  343,308   $  350,254   $  327,353    $  320,554   $  315,305



Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges                4.18         4.20         4.58          4.19         3.93






** Reflects  increased  depreciation  expense,  but  not  the  net  gain,
   resulting from refunding of preferred stock. See  "Note B  Capitalization
   - Preferred  Stock  Refunding" to the financial statements in Item 8 of the
   Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.





                       Consent of Independent Accountants


We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference of our report dated March
13, 1997,  appearing on page 49 of this Annual  Report on Form 10-K,  in (i) the
Prospectus  constituting  part of the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 (No.
33-15725) relating to the Consolidated Edison Discount Stock Purchase Plan, (ii)
the Prospectus  constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No.
33-64657)  relating to $540 million principal amount of the Company's  unsecured
debt securities, (iii) the Prospectus, dated March 14, 1996, and the Prospectus,
dated  November 23, 1993, as amended by the Prospectus  Supplement,  dated March
14,  1996  constituting  part of the  Registration  Statement  on Form  S-3 (No.
333-01717)  relating  to the  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of New  York,  Inc.
Automatic  Dividend  Reinvestment and Cash Payment Plan, and (iv) the Prospectus
constituting  part of the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 (No.  333-04463)
relating to the Consolidated  Edison Company of New York, Inc. 1996 Stock Option
Plan.





PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

New York, New York
March 28, 1997







                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 24th day
of March, 1997.


                                          Eugene R. McGrath












                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 27 day
of March, 1997.


                                          Joan S. Freilich












                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 27 day
of March, 1997.


                                          John F. Cioffi












                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 24th day
of March, 1997.


                                          E. Virgil Conway













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 25th day
of March, 1997.


                                          Ruth M. Davis













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 25th day
of March, 1997.


                                          Ellen V. Futter













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 25th day
of March, 1997.


                                          Arthur Hauspurg













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 25th day
of March, 1997.


                                          Sally Hernandez-Pinero













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 22 day
of March, 1997.


                                          Peter W. Likins













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 24 day
of March, 1997.


                                          Donald K. Ross













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 24 day
of March, 1997.


                                          Robert G. Schwartz













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 24th day
of March, 1997.


                                          Richard A. Voell













                CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS  Consolidated  Edison  Company  of  New  York,  Inc.,  a New  York
corporation  (the  "Company"),  intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,  under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 with
any and all exhibits and other documents having relation thereto,  as prescribed
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

      NOW, THEREFORE,

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that the  undersigned,  in his or her
capacity  as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case may be, of the  Company,
does hereby  constitute and appoint Joan S. Freilich,  Peter J. O'Shea,  Jr. and
Peter  A.  Irwin,  and  each of  them  severally,  his or her  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with power to act with or  without  the others and with full
power of substitution and  resubstitution,  to execute in his or her name, place
and stead,  in his or her capacity as a Trustee or Officer or both,  as the case
may be,  of the  Company,  said  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K,  and any and all
amendments  thereto,  and all instruments  necessary or incidental in connection
therewith,  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents  having relation  thereto,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and
perform,  in the  name  and  on  behalf  of the  undersigned,  in  any  and  all
capacities,  every  act  whatsoever  necessary  or  desirable  to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person,  the  undersigned  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has executed this instrument this 24th day
of March, 1997.


                                          Myles V. Whalen, Jr.





 




UT THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, INCOME STATEMENT AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE NOTES THERETO 1,000 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 12-MOS PER-BOOK 11,067,310 177,224 1,132,487 695,882 984,282 14,057,185 587,484 856,149 4,283,935 5,727,568 84,550 238,098 4,238,622 0 0 0 106,256 0 42,661 2,591 3,616,839 14,057,185 6,959,736 397,160 5,548,985 5,946,145 1,013,591 4,016 1,017,607 323,522 694,085 19,859 688,169 488,756 307,820 1,107,337 2.93 2.93