Jackson Jambalaya

Moody's rating service issued the following statement:


Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") downgraded Mississippi Power Company's senior unsecured rating to Baa2 from Baa1 and its preferred stock rating to Ba1 from Baa3. The rating outlook is negative. This rating action concludes the review of Mississippi Power's rating initiated on 27 May 2015. Moody's affirmed the ratings of The Southern Company (Southern, Baa1 senior unsecured) with a stable outlook.

Ratings Rationale

"The downgrade of Mississippi Power's ratings reflects the lack of permanent cost recovery provisions in place for the Kemper IGCC plant since the Mississippi Supreme Court invalidated the utility's 2013 rate plan earlier this year," said Michael G. Haggarty, Associate Managing Director. "The downgrade also considers the increased concentration risk, financial exposure and liquidity pressure on the utility following the exit of its electric cooperative utility partner from a planned 15% ownership in the Kemper plant," added Haggarty.

Although the Mississippi Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved interim rates by a two to one margin yesterday, providing the utility with some limited, potentially refundable rate relief on the plant's in-service assets and averting a potentially more negative rating action, there is still no permanent cost recovery plan in place for the Kemper plant. The lack of a unanimous decision on a utility's appeal for emergency financial relief is a particular credit concern. In addition, some interveners may challenge the approval of these interim rates.

The negative outlook reflects the financial uncertainty still facing Mississippi Power as it strives to obtain permanent rate relief on the Kemper plant with only two of the three commissioners supportive. Under a scheduling order issued by the MPSC earlier this week, hearings on designating these interim rates as permanent, including determining the prudency of the costs incurred for the in-service assets, are scheduled for November with a final order to be issued by 8 December 2015.

Near-term approval of some permanent rate relief on the Kemper plant has become all the more important because of the upcoming change in the composition of the MPSC on 1 January 2016 following elections this November. Several of the candidates running for the MPSC have voiced their opposition to the Kemper plant, as well as for the rate increases necessary for the utility recover the costs incurred under the MPSC's previously established construction cost cap. A less credit supportive regulatory commission in place without some permanent rates in effect will likely lead to a further rating downgrade.

The negative outlook also reflects Mississippi Power's constrained liquidity position and high reliance on parent company Southern for liquidity support. As a result of the Supreme Court decision, the MPSC ordered the utility to stop collecting the rates that had been in place since 2013 and to submit a plan for refunding those amounts already collected. The approximately $350 million of refunds will put additional stress on Mississippi Power's cash flow coverage metrics and increase its reliance on the Southern parent company for intercompany loans and other financial support.

Mississippi Power already borrowed $301 million from Southern in June through an 18-month promissory note to fund the return of the deposit to South Mississippi Electric, its former 15% partner in the Kemper project. For external financing, the utility is relying almost exclusively on short-term bank term loans ($900 million due 1 April 2016) in anticipation of a potential securitization of a portion of the Kemper costs, approval of which is by no means assured.

The Kemper project continues to be affected by schedule delays and cost increases and Mississippi Power now expects the plant to begin commercial operation during the first half of 2016. Construction of the plant is complete and its combined cycle has been in-service since 9 August 2014. .....

An upgrade of Mississippi Power is highly unlikely while there are no permanent cost recovery provisions in place and while the utility is midst of completing and testing the Kemper plant. Ratings could only be upgraded if there is an MPSC approved plan for the ultimate recovery of costs up to the current $2.88 billion regulatory approved cap, if the MPSC remains credit supportive following the election of new commissioners this November, and if the utility successfully executes an anticipated lengthy start-up and testing phase. Any upgrade would also be predicated on an improvement in credit metrics to levels more commensurate with a high Baa ratings, including CFO pre-working capital to debt of at least 20% on a sustained basis. ....  Rest of statement.