Exhibit 10.2
BGS BONDABLE TRANSITION PROPERTY SERVICING AGREEMENT
between
PSE&G TRANSITION FUNDING II LLC
Issuer
and
PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
Servicer
Dated as of September 23, 2005
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ARTICLE I
Definitions............................................................................................1
Section 1.01.
Definitions...............................................................................1
Section 1.02. Other
Definitional
Provisions.............................................................1
ARTICLE II Appointment and Authorization of
Servicer.............................................................2
Section 2.01.
Appointment of Servicer; Acceptance of
Appointment........................................2
Section 2.02.
Authorization.............................................................................2
Section 2.03. Dominion
and Control over Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property....................2
ARTICLE III Billing
Services.....................................................................................3
Section 3.01. Duties
of
Servicer........................................................................3
Section 3.02.
Collection and Allocation of the BGS Transition Bond
Charge...............................4
Section 3.03. Payment
of TBC
Collections................................................................4
Section 3.04.
Servicing and Maintenance
Standards.......................................................6
Section 3.05.
Servicer's
Certificates...................................................................7
Section 3.06. Annual
Statement as to
Compliance.........................................................7
Section 3.07. Annual
Independent Certified Public Accountants'
Report...................................7
Section 3.08. BGS
Bondable Transition Property
Documentation............................................8
Section 3.09. Computer
Records; Audits of
Documentation.................................................8
Section 3.10.
Defending Transferred BGS Bondable Transition Property Against
Claims.....................9
Section 3.11. Opinions
of
Counsel.......................................................................9
ARTICLE IV Services Related to BGS Transition
Bond Charge
Adjustments...........................................10
Section 4.01. BGS
Transition Bond Charge
Adjustments...................................................10
ARTICLE V The
Servicer..........................................................................................10
Section 5.01.
Representations and Warranties of
Servicer...............................................10
Section 5.02.
Indemnities of Servicer; Release of
Claims...............................................12
Section 5.03. Merger
or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of,
Servicer................14
Section 5.04.
Assignment of Servicer's
Obligations.....................................................15
Section 5.05.
Limitation on Liability of Servicer and
Others...........................................15
Section 5.06.
PSE&G Not To Resign as
Servicer..........................................................16
Section 5.07. Monthly
Servicing
Fee....................................................................16
Section 5.08. Servicer
Expenses........................................................................16
Section 5.09.
Subservicing.............................................................................16
Section 5.10. No
Servicer
Advances.....................................................................17
Section 5.11.
Remittances..............................................................................17
Section 5.12.
Protection of
Title......................................................................17
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ARTICLE VI Servicer
Default.....................................................................................18
Section 6.01. Servicer
Default.........................................................................18
Section 6.02. Notice
of Servicer
Default...............................................................19
Section 6.03. Waiver
of Past
Defaults..................................................................19
Section 6.04.
Appointment of
Successor.................................................................19
Section 6.05.
Cooperation with
Successor...............................................................20
ARTICLE VII Miscellaneous
Provisions............................................................................20
Section 7.01.
Amendment................................................................................20
Section 7.02.
Notices..................................................................................22
Section 7.03.
Limitations on Rights of
Others..........................................................22
Section 7.04.
Severability.............................................................................22
Section 7.05. Separate
Counterparts....................................................................23
Section 7.06.
Headings.................................................................................23
Section 7.07.
GOVERNING
LAW............................................................................23
Section 7.08.
Assignment to the
Trustee................................................................23
Section 7.09.
Nonpetition
Covenants....................................................................23
Section 7.10.
Termination..............................................................................23
ANNEX 1
TBC Adjustment Process and Reports--
PSE&G Transition Funding II LLC
APPENDIX A
Master Definitions
EXHIBIT A
Servicing Procedures
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BGS BONDABLE TRANSITION PROPERTY SERVICING AGREEMENT, dated as
of
September 23, 2005, by and between
PSE&G TRANSITION FUNDING II LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, as issuer (the
"Issuer"), and PUBLIC SERVICE
ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY, a New Jersey
corporation ("PSE&G"), as the servicer
of the BGS Bondable Transition Property
hereunder (together with each
successor to PSE&G (in the same
capacity) pursuant to Section 5.03, 5.04 or
6.04, the "Servicer").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS the Servicer is willing to service the Transferred BGS
Bondable Transition Property purchased from
the Seller by the Issuer; and
WHEREAS the Issuer, in connection with ownership of Transferred
BGS
Bondable Transition Property, desires to
engage the Servicer to carry out the
functions described herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained and other good
and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not
otherwise
defined herein have the meanings assigned
to them in Appendix A hereto.
Section 1.02. Other Definitional Provisions.
(a) "Agreement" means this BGS Bondable Transition Property
Servicing
Agreement, as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.
(b) Non-capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the
Competition Act, as the context requires,
have the meanings assigned to such
terms in the Competition Act, but without
giving effect to amendments to the
Competition Act after the date hereof which
have a material adverse effect on
the Issuer or the BGS Transition
Bondholders.
(c) All terms defined in this Agreement have the defined
meanings
when used in any certificate or other
document made or delivered pursuant
hereto unless otherwise defined
therein.
(d) The words "hereof", "herein", "hereunder" and words of
similar
import when used in this Agreement shall
refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement; Section, Annex,
Schedule and Exhibit references contained
in this Agreement are references to
Sections, Annexes, Schedules and Exhibits
in or to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified; and the term
"including" shall mean "including without
limitation".
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(e) The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to
the
singular as well as the plural forms of
such terms.
ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORIZATION OF SERVICER
Section 2.01. Appointment of Servicer; Acceptance of
Appointment.
Subject to Section 5.06 and Article VI, the
Issuer hereby appoints the
Servicer, and the Servicer hereby accepts
such appointment, to perform the
Servicer's obligations pursuant to this
Agreement on behalf of and for the
benefit of the Issuer in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement. This
appointment and the Servicer's acceptance
thereof may not be revoked except in
accordance with the express terms of this
Agreement.
Section 2.02. Authorization. With respect to all or any portion
of
the Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property, the Servicer shall be, and
hereby is, authorized and empowered by the
Issuer to:
(a) execute and deliver, on behalf of itself, the Issuer, or
both, as the case may be, any and all instruments, documents or
notices, and
(b) on behalf of itself, the Issuer, or both, as the case
may be, make any filing and participate in proceedings of any
kind
with any governmental authorities, including with the BPU.
The Issuer shall furnish the Servicer with such documents as
have
been prepared by the Servicer for execution
by the Issuer, and with such other
documents as may be in the Issuer's
possession, as necessary or appropriate to
enable the Servicer to carry out its
servicing and administrative duties
hereunder. Upon the written request of the
Servicer, the Issuer shall furnish
the Servicer with any powers of attorney or
other documents necessary or
appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry
out its duties hereunder.
Section 2.03. Dominion and Control over Transferred BGS
Bondable
Transition Property. Notwithstanding any
other provision herein, the Servicer
and the Issuer agree that the Issuer shall
have dominion and control over the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property, and the Servicer, in accordance
with the terms hereof, is acting solely as
the servicing agent of the Issuer
with respect to the Transferred BGS
Bondable Transition Property. The Servicer
hereby agrees that it shall not take any
action that is not authorized by this
Agreement, the Competition Act or the
Financing Order, that is not consistent
with its customary procedures and
practices, or that shall impair the rights
of the Issuer with respect to the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property, in each case unless such action
is required by law or court or
regulatory order.
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ARTICLE III
BILLING SERVICES
Section 3.01. Duties of Servicer. The Servicer, as agent for
the
Issuer (to the extent provided herein),
shall have the following duties:
(a) Duties of Servicer Generally. The Servicer will manage,
service, administer and make collections in respect of the BGS
Transition Bond Charge. The Servicer's duties will include:
(i) obtaining meter reads, calculating and billing
the BGS Transition Bond Charge in accordance with the
Financing Order and collecting (from Customers and Third
Parties, as applicable) all TBC Collections;
(ii) responding to inquiries by Customers, Third
Parties, the BPU, or any federal, local or other State
governmental authority with respect to the BGS Transition
Bond Charge;
(iii) delivering bills to customers and Third
Parties, accounting for TBC Collections, investigating and
resolving delinquencies, processing and depositing
collections, making periodic remittances and furnishing
periodic reports to the Issuer, the BPU, the Trustee and the
Rating Agencies;
(iv) selling, as the agent for the Issuer, as its
interest may appear, defaulted or written off accounts in
accordance with the Servicer's usual and customary practices
for accounts of its own electric service customers; and
(v) taking action in connection with BGS Transition
Bond
Charge Adjustments as is set forth herein.
Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the duties of the
Servicer set forth in this Agreement shall be qualified in
their
entirety by the Competition Act, the Financing Order and any
BPU
Regulations, as in effect at the time such duties are to be
performed. Without limiting the generality of this Section
3.01(a),
in furtherance of the foregoing, the Servicer hereby agrees that
it
shall also have, and shall comply with, the duties and
responsibilities set forth in Annex 1 which, among other
things,
relate to data acquisition, usage and bill calculation,
billing,
customer service functions, collections, payment processing and
remittance.
(b) Notification of Laws and Regulations. The Servicer shall
immediately notify the Issuer, the BPU, the Trustee and the
Rating
Agencies in writing of any laws or BPU Regulations hereafter
promulgated that have a material adverse effect on the
Servicer's
ability to perform its duties under this Agreement.
(c) Other Information. Upon the reasonable request of the
Issuer, the BPU, the Trustee or any Rating Agency, the Servicer
shall
provide to the Issuer, the BPU, the Trustee or the Rating
Agencies,
as the case may be, any public financial information in
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respect of the Servicer, or any material information regarding
the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition Property to the extent it
is
reasonably available to the Servicer, that may be reasonably
necessary and permitted by law for the Issuer, the BPU, the
Trustee
or the Rating Agencies to monitor the performance by the
Servicer
hereunder. In addition, so long as any of the BGS Transition Bonds
of
any Series are outstanding, the Servicer shall provide to the
Issuer,
the BPU and to the Trustee, within a reasonable time after
written
request therefor, any information available to the Servicer or
reasonably obtainable by it that is necessary to calculate the
BGS
Transition Bond Charge.
Section 3.02. Collection and Allocation of the BGS Transition
Bond
Charge.
(a) The Servicer shall use all reasonable efforts, consistent
with
its customary servicing procedures, to
collect all amounts owed in respect of
the BGS Transition Bond Charge as and when
the same shall become due and shall
follow such collection procedures as it
follows with respect to collection
activities that the Servicer conducts for
itself or others. The Servicer shall
not change the amount of or reschedule the
due date of any scheduled payment
of the BGS Transition Bond Charge, except
as contemplated in this Agreement or
as required by law or court or BPU
Regulations; provided, however, that the
Servicer may take any of the foregoing
actions to the extent that such action
would be in accordance with customary
billing and collection practices of the
Servicer with respect to billing and
collection activities that it conducts
for itself. The Servicer shall enforce the
obligations of any Third Parties
providing billing and collection services
with respect to the BGS Transition
Bond Charge.
(b) As specified in the Petition and the Financing Order, any
amounts
received by the Servicer from a Customer
that represent a partial payment
toward an outstanding balance will be
applied in the following manner:
(i) to sales taxes (which the Servicer collects as trustee
for the State of New Jersey and not for its own account or for
that
of the Issuer);
(ii) pro rata to the BGS Transition Bond Charge and the
Servicer's other charges and taxes, where any of such charges are
in
arrears, based on their proportion to the Servicer's total charges
in
arrears for that period; and
(iii) pro rata to the BGS Transition Bond Charge and the
Servicer's other charges and taxes, where any of such charges
are
current charges, based on their proportion to the Servicer's
total
current charges assessed for that period.
PSE&G's other charges may include gas
charges which may be billed together
with electric charges, the market
transition charge, the MTC-Tax and all other
charges which PSE&G and any Third Party
may be authorized to bill and collect
from Customers on account of electric and
gas service. If there is more than
one Series of BGS Transition Bonds, the
Servicer shall allocate partial
payments among such Series, pro rata, based
on the respective outstanding
amounts payable with respect to such
Series.
Section 3.03. Payment of TBC Collections. (a) The Servicer
shall
prepare annually a Collections Curve for
each Billing Month, based on
statistically significant random sampling
of actual TBC Collections. With the
exception of the Monthly Servicing Fee,
which the Servicer is
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entitled to withhold from TBC Collections
pursuant to Section 5.07 hereof, the
Servicer agrees to remit TBC Collections
for each Billing Month to the Trustee
for deposit in the Collection Account not
later than the corresponding
Reconciliation Date or Dates following such
Billing Month. In addition, the
Servicer agrees to make periodic payments
on account of TBC Collections to the
Trustee for deposit in the Collection
Account as follows:
(i) on each Monthly Remittance Date, for so long as the
Servicer has satisfied the conditions of Section 5.11(b), the
Servicer shall remit to the Trustee for each of the seven
preceding
Billing Months an amount equal to the amount of TBC Collections
estimated to have been received during the preceding calendar
month,
based on the applicable Collections Curve then in effect for
those
seven preceding Billing Months, and
(ii) on each Daily Remittance Date, for so long as the
Servicer has not satisfied the conditions of Section 5.11(b),
the
Servicer shall remit to the Trustee for the Billing Month in
which
such Daily Remittance Date occurs and for each of the six
preceding
Billing Months an amount equal to the amount of TBC Collections
estimated to have been received during the Business Day which is
two
Business Days preceding such Daily Remittance Date for those
seven
Billing Months (including the Billing Month in which such Daily
Remittance Date occurs), including (for the first Daily
Remittance
Date following a period when the Servicer had been remitting on
a
monthly Remittance Date) any amounts on deposit with the
Servicer
(for the Billing Month and any prior Billing Month) prior to
such
Daily Remittance Date during a period when the Servicer had
been
remitting on a Monthly Remittance Date, provided that,
(x) in the
case of each such Billing Month other than the
Billing Month in which such Daily Remittance Date occurs,
such estimate shall be made by dividing (1) the amount of
TBC Collections estimated to be received during the calendar
month in which such Daily Remittance Date occurs ("the
current remittance month"), based on the applicable
Collections Curve then in effect, for each of those six
preceding Billing Months, divided by (2) the number of
Business Days in the current remittance month,
(y) in the
case of the Billing Month in which such Daily
Remittance Date occurs, such estimate shall be made, by
first, determining the amount of TBC Collections estimated
to be received during that Billing Month, based on the
applicable Collections Curve then in effect, for each day on
which bills are sent in such Billing Month (each, a "Billing
Day"; such estimated TBC Collections during such Billing
Month for each Billing Day being the "Billing Month
Estimated Collections" for such Billing Day),
second, dividing the amount of the Billing Month Estimated
Collections for such Billing Day by the number of Business
Days remaining in such
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Billing Month (for each Billing Day, the "Daily Billing
Month Estimated Collections" for such Billing Month),
third, for each Daily Remittance Date during such Billing
Month, summing the amount of the Daily Billing Month
Estimated Collections for each Billing Day in such Billing
Month through the Business Day which is two Business Days
preceding such Daily Remittance Date, and
(z) for each
Daily Remittance Date, any unremitted Daily Billing
Month Estimated Collections received in the preceding
Billing Month on a Business Day that is two Business Days
preceding such Daily Remittance Date in accordance with
subclause (y) above shall be remitted on such Daily
Remittance Date.
(b) On or before each Reconciliation Date, the Servicer shall
determine whether there exists a Curve
Payment Shortfall or an Excess Curve
Payment by comparing the actual TBC
Collections to the Collection Curve
Payments previously made to the Trustee in
respect of (i) for each Annual
Reconciliation Date, each of the twelve
Billing Months beginning 19 months
before the month in which such
Reconciliation Date occurs (or from the first
Series Issuance Date, if less than 19
months have elapsed), and (ii) for each
Monthly Reconciliation Date, the Billing
Month that is eight months prior to
the Billing Month in which such
Reconciliation Date occurs. In the event that
there is a Curve Payment Shortfall with
respect to the applicable Billing
Months or Billing Month, as the case may
be, the Servicer shall pay the Curve
Payment Shortfall to the Trustee for
deposit into the Collection Account on
that Reconciliation Date. In the event that
there is an Excess Curve Payment
for the applicable Billing Months or
Billing Month, as the case may be, the
Servicer may either (A) reduce the amount
that the Servicer is required to
remit to the Trustee for deposit in the
Collection Account on the following
Remittance Date (and, if necessary,
succeeding Remittance Dates) by the amount
of the Excess Curve Payment, or (B) require
the Trustee to pay to the Servicer
from the General Subaccount the amount of
the Excess Curve Payment, which upon
payment shall become the property of the
Servicer.
(c) The Servicer agrees and acknowledges that it holds all TBC
Collections collected by it for the benefit
of the Issuer and that all amounts
will be remitted by the Servicer in
accordance with this Agreement without any
surcharge, fee, offset, charge or other
deduction and without making any claim
to reduce its obligation to remit all TBC
Collections collected by it, except
(i) as set forth in clause (b) above, (ii)
the Monthly Servicing Fee which it
may withhold pursuant to Section 5.07
hereof and (iii) late fees permitted by
Section 5.07.
Section 3.04. Servicing and Maintenance Standards. The Servicer
shall, on behalf of the Issuer:
(a) manage, service, administer and make collections in
respect of the Transferred BGS Bondable Transition Property
with
reasonable care and in material compliance with applicable law,
including all applicable BPU Regulations, using the same degree
of
care and diligence that the Servicer exercises with respect to
billing and collection activities that the Servicer conducts
for
itself and others;6
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(b) follow standards, policies and procedures in performing
its duties as Servicer that are customary in the electric
distribution industry;
(c) use
all reasonable efforts, consistent with its
customary servicing procedures, to enforce and maintain the
Issuer's
and the Trustee's rights in respect of the Transferred BGS
Bondable
Transition Property; and
(d) calculate the BGS Transition Bond Charge in compliance
with the Competition Act, the Financing Order and any
applicable
tariffs; and
(e) invoice Customer in accordance with the procedures set
forth in Exhibit A.
except where the failure to comply with any
of the foregoing would not
materially and adversely affect the
Issuer's or the Trustee's interest in the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property. The Servicer shall follow such
customary and usual practices and
procedures as it shall deem necessary or
advisable in its servicing of the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property, which, in the Servicer's
judgment, may include the taking of legal
action pursuant to Section 3.10 or
otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Servicer shall not change its customary
and usual practices and procedures
in any manner that would materially and
adversely affect the Issuer's or the
Trustee's interest in the Transferred BGS
Bondable Transition Property unless
it shall have provided the Rating Agencies
with prior written notice.
Section 3.05. Servicer's Certificates. The Servicer will provide
to
the Issuer, the BPU and to the Trustee the
statements and certificates
specified in Annex 1.
Section 3.06. Annual Statement as to Compliance.
The Servicer shall deliver to the Issuer, the BPU, the Trustee
and
each Rating Agency, on or before March 31
of each year beginning March 31,
2006 to and including March 31 succeeding
the retiring of the BGS Transition
Bonds, an Officers' Certificate, stating
that:
(a) a review of the activities of the Servicer during the
preceding calendar year (or relevant portion thereof in the case
of
the first such Officer's Certificate) and of its performance
under
this Agreement has been made under such officers' supervision,
and
(b) to the best of such officers' knowledge, based on such
review, the Servicer has fulfilled all its obligations under
this
Agreement throughout such period or, if there has been a default
in
the fulfillment of any such obligation, describing each such
default
and its status.
Section 3.07. Annual Independent Certified Public Accountants'
Report.
(a) The Servicer shall cause a firm of independent certified
public
accountants (which may also provide other
services to the Servicer or the
Seller) to prepare, and the Servicer shall
deliver to the Issuer, the BPU to
the Trustee and to each Rating Agency, on
or before March 31 of each year,
beginning March 31, 2006 to and including
the March 31 succeeding the
retirement of all BGS Transition Bonds, a
report addressed to the Servicer
(the "Annual Accountant's
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Report"), which may be included as part of
the Servicer's customary auditing
activities, to the effect that such firm
has performed certain procedures in
connection with the Servicer's compliance
with its obligations under this
Agreement during the preceding calendar
year (or, in the case of the first
Annual Accountant's Report, the period of
time from the Initial Transfer Date
until December 31, 2005), identifying the
results of such procedures and
including any exceptions noted. In the
event such accounting firm requires the
Trustee or the Issuer to agree or consent
to the procedures performed by such
firm, the Issuer shall direct the Trustee
in writing to so agree; it being
understood and agreed that the Trustee will
deliver such letter of agreement
or consent in conclusive reliance upon the
direction of the Issuer, and the
Trustee will not make any independent
inquiry or investigation as to, and
shall have no obligation or liability in
respect of, the sufficiency, validity
or correctness of such procedures.
(b) The Annual Accountant's Report shall also indicate that the
accounting firm providing such report is
independent of the Servicer within
the meaning of the Code of Professional
Ethics of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants.
Section 3.08. BGS Bondable Transition Property Documentation.
To
assure uniform quality in servicing the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property and to reduce administrative
costs, the Servicer shall keep on file,
in accordance with its customary
procedures, all BGS Bondable Transition
Property Documentation, it being understood
that the Servicer is acting solely
as the servicing agent and custodian for
the Issuer with respect to the BGS
Bondable Transition Property
Documentation.
Section 3.09. Computer Records; Audits of Documentation.
(a) Safekeeping. The Servicer shall maintain accurate and
complete
accounts, records and computer systems
pertaining to the Transferred BGS
Bondable Transition Property and the BGS
Bondable Transition Property
Documentation in accordance with its
standard accounting procedures and in
sufficient detail to permit reconciliation
between payments or recoveries on
(or with respect to) the BGS Transition
Bond Charge and the TBC Collections
from time to time remitted to the Trustee
pursuant to Section 3.03 and to
enable the Issuer to comply with this
Agreement and the Indenture. The
Servicer shall conduct, or cause to be
conducted, periodic audits of the BGS
Bondable Transition Property Documentation
held by it under this Agreement and
of the related accounts, records and
computer systems, in such a manner as
shall enable the Issuer and the Trustee, as
pledgee of the Issuer, to verify
the accuracy of the Servicer's record
keeping. The Servicer shall promptly
report to the Issuer, the BPU and to the
Trustee any failure on the Servicer's
part to hold the BGS Bondable Transition
Property Documentation and maintain
its accounts, records and computer systems
as herein provided and promptly
take appropriate action to remedy any such
failure. Nothing herein shall be
deemed to require an initial review or any
periodic review by the Issuer or
the Trustee of the BGS Bondable Transition
Property Documentation. The
Servicer's duties to hold the BGS Bondable
Transition Property Documentation
on behalf of the Issuer set forth in this
Section 3.09, to the extent such BGS
Bondable Transition Property Documentation
has not been previously transferred
to a successor Servicer, shall terminate
three years after the earlier of the
date on which (i) the Servicer is succeeded
by a successor Servicer pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement or (ii)
no BGS Transition Bonds of any
Series are outstanding.
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(b) Maintenance of and Access to Records. The Servicer shall
maintain
the BGS Bondable Transition Property
Documentation at 80 Park Plaza, Newark,
New Jersey or at such other office as shall
be specified to the Issuer, the
BPU and to the Trustee by written notice
not later than 30 days prior to any
change in location. The Servicer shall
permit the Issuer, the BPU and the
Trustee or their respective duly authorized
representatives, attorneys, agents
or auditors at any time during normal
business hours to inspect, audit and
make copies of and abstracts from the
Servicer's records regarding the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property, the BGS Transition Bond Charge
and the BGS Bondable Transition Property
Documentation. The failure of the
Servicer to provide access to such
information as a result of an obligation or
applicable law (including BPU Regulations)
prohibiting disclosure of
information regarding customers shall not
constitute a breach of this Section
3.09(b).
Section 3.10. Defending Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property
Against Claims. The Servicer shall
institute and maintain any action or
proceeding necessary to compel performance
by the BPU or the State of New
Jersey of any of their obligations or
duties under the Competition Act or the
Financing Order with respect to the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property, and the Servicer agrees to take
such legal or administrative
actions, including defending against or
instituting and pursuing legal actions
and appearing or testifying at hearings or
similar proceedings, as may be
reasonably necessary to block or overturn
any attempts to cause a repeal of,
modification of or supplement to the
Competition Act or the Financing Order,
as the case may be, or the rights of
holders of Transferred BGS Bondable
Transition Property that would be adverse
to BGS Transition Bondholders. The
costs of any such action reasonably
allocated by the Servicer to the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property shall be payable from TBC
Collections as an Operating Expense in
accordance with the Indenture. The
Servicer's obligations pursuant to this
Section 3.10 shall survive and
continue notwithstanding the fact that the
payment of Operating Expenses
pursuant to the Indenture may be delayed
(it being understood that the
Servicer may be required to advance its own
funds to satisfy its obligations
under this Section 3.10).
Section 3.11. Opinions of Counsel. The Servicer shall deliver to
the
Issuer, the BPU and to the Trustee:
(a) promptly after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and of the Sale Agreement and of each amendment hereto
or
thereto, and on each Transfer Date, an Opinion of Counsel
either:
(i) to the effect
that, in the opinion of such
counsel, all UCC filings that are necessary to fully
preserve and protect the interests of the Trustee in the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition Property have been
executed and will be filed as required, and reciting the
details of such filings or referring to prior Opinions of
Counsel in which such details are given, or
(ii) to the effect that, in the opinion of such
counsel, no such action is necessary to preserve and protect
such interest; and
(b) within 90 days after the beginning of each calendar year
beginning with the first calendar year beginning more than three
full
calendar months after the Initial
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Transfer Date, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of a date during
such
90-day period, either:
(i) to the effect that, in the opinion of such
counsel, all UCC filings have been executed and filed that
are necessary to preserve fully and protect fully the
interest of the Trustee in the Transferred BGS Bondable
Transition Property, and reciting the details of such
filings or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which
such details are given, or
(ii) to the effect that, in the opinion of such
counsel, no such action is necessary to preserve and protect
such interest.
Each Opinion of Counsel referred to in
clause (a) or (b) above shall specify
any action necessary (as of the date of
such opinion) to be taken in the
following year to preserve and protect such
interest.
ARTICLE IV
SERVICES RELATED TO BGS TRANSITION BOND CHARGE ADJUSTMENTS
Section 4.01. BGS Transition Bond Charge Adjustments. The
Servicer
shall perform the calculations and take the
actions relating to adjusting the
BGS Transition Bond Charge, as set forth in
Annex 1.
ARTICLE V
THE SERVICER
Section 5.01. Representations and Warranties of Servicer. The
Servicer makes the following
representations and warranties as of each
Transfer Date, on which the Issuer has
relied and will rely in acquiring
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property and in entering into this
Agreement. The representations and
warranties shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the sale of the
Transferred BGS Bondable
Transition Property to the Issuer and the
pledge thereof to the Trustee
pursuant to the Indenture.
(a) Organization and Good Standing. The Servicer is a
corporation
duly organized and in good standing under
the laws of the State of its
incorporation, with the corporate power and
authority to own its properties
and to conduct its business as such
properties are currently owned and such
business is presently conducted and to
execute, deliver and carry out the
terms of this Agreement, and has the power,
authority and legal right to
service the Transferred BGS Bondable
Transition Property.
(b) Due Qualification. The Servicer is duly qualified to do
business
as a foreign corporation in good standing,
and has obtained all necessary
licenses and approvals in, all
jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease
of property or the conduct of its business
(including the servicing of the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property as required by this Agreement)
requires such qualifications, licenses or
approvals (except where the failure
to so qualify would not be reasonably
likely to have a material adverse effect
on the Servicer's
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business, operations, assets, revenues,
properties or prospects or adversely
affect the servicing of the Transferred BGS
Bondable Transition Property).
(c) Power and Authority. The Servicer has the corporate power
and
authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to carry out its terms;
and the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement have been duly
authorized by the Servicer by all necessary
corporate action.
(d) Binding Obligation. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid
and
binding obligation of the Servicer
enforceable against the Servicer in
accordance with its terms subject to
bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws
affecting creditors' rights generally
from time to time in effect and to general
principles of equity (regardless of
whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
(e) No Violation. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated
by this Agreement and the fulfillment of
the terms hereof will not conflict
with, result in any breach of any of the
terms and provisions of, or
constitute (with or without notice or lapse
of time) a default under, the
articles of incorporation or by-laws of the
Servicer, or any indenture,
agreement or other instrument to which the
Servicer is a party or by which it
is bound; or result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien upon any of its
properties pursuant to the terms of any
such indenture, agreement or other
instrument; or violate any law or any
order, rule or regulation applicable to
the Servicer of any court or of any federal
or State regulatory body,
administrative agency or other governmental
instrumentality having
jurisdiction over the Servicer or its
properties.
(f) Approvals. Except for filings with the BPU for adjusting the
BGS
Transition Bond Charge pursuant to Section
4.01 and Annex 1, filing of
financing statements under the UCC and UCC
continuation filings, no approval,
authorization, consent, order or other
action of, or filing with, any court,
federal or State regulatory body,
administrative agency or other governmental
instrumentality is required in connection
with the execution and delivery by
the Servicer of this Agreement, the
performance by the Servicer of the
transactions contemplated hereby or the
fulfillment by the Servicer of the
terms hereof, except those that have been
obtained or made.
(g) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investigations
pending or, to the Servicer's best
knowledge, threatened before any court,
federal or State regulatory body,
administrative agency or other governmental
instrumentality having jurisdiction over
the Servicer or its properties:
(i) seeking to prevent the issuance of the BGS Transition
Bonds or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents;
(ii) seeking any determination or ruling that might
materially and adversely affect the performance by the Servicer
of
its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability against
the
Servicer of, this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents;
or
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(iii) relating to the Servicer and which might materially
and adversely affect the federal or State income, gross receipts
or
franchise tax
attributes of the BGS Transition Bonds.
(h) Reports and Certificates. Each report and certificate
delivered
in connection with any filing made to the
BPU by the Servicer on behalf of the
Issuer with respect to the BGS Transition
Bond Charge or BGS Transition Bond
Charge Adjustments will constitute a
representation and warranty by the
Servicer that each such report or
certificate, as the case may be, is true and
correct in all material respects; provided,
however, that to the extent any
such report or certificate is based in part
upon or contains assumptions,
forecasts or other predictions of future
events, the representation and
warranty of the Servicer with respect
thereto will be limited to the
representation and warranty that such
assumptions, forecasts or other
predictions of future events are reasonable
based upon historical performance.
Section 5.02. Indemnities of Servicer; Release of Claims.
(a) The Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to
the
extent of the obligations specifically
undertaken by the Servicer under this
Agreement.
(b) The Servicer shall indemnify the Issuer and the Trustee
(for
itself and on behalf of the BGS Transition
Bondholders) and each of their
respective trustees, members, managers,
officers, directors, employees and
agents for, and defend and hold harmless
each such Person from and against,
any and all Losses that may be imposed
upon, incurred by or asserted against
any such Person as a result of:
(i) the Servicer's willful misconduct, recklessness or gross
negligence in the performance of its duties or observance of
its
covenants under this Agreement or the Servicer's reckless
disregard
of its obligations and duties under this Agreement;
(ii) the Servicer's breach of any of its representations or
warranties in this Agreement; and
(iii) litigation and related expenses relating to its status
and obligations as Servicer,
provided, however, that the Servicer shall
not be liable for any Losses
resulting from the willful misconduct or
gross negligence of any Person
indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.02
(each, an "Indemnified Person") or
resulting from a breach of a representation
or warranty made by such
Indemnified Person in any of the Basic
Documents that gives rise to the
Servicer's breach.
Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified
Person of notice of its involvement
in any action, proceeding or investigation,
such Indemnified Person shall, if
a claim for indemnification in respect
thereof is to be made against the
Servicer under this Section 5.02, notify
the Servicer in writing of such
involvement. Failure by an Indemnified
Person to so notify the Servicer shall
relieve the Servicer from the obligation to
indemnify and hold harmless such
Indemnified Person under this Section 5.02
only to the extent that the
Servicer suffers actual prejudice as a
result of such failure. With respect to
any action, proceeding or investigation
brought by a third party for
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which indemnification may be sought under
this Section 5.02, the Servicer
shall be entitled to assume the defense of
any such action, proceeding or
investigation. Upon assumption by the
Servicer of the defense of any such
action, proceeding or investigation, the
Indemnified Person shall have the
right to participate in such action or
proceeding and to retain its own
counsel (including local counsel), and the
Servicer shall bear the reasonable
fees, costs and expenses of such separate
counsel. The Indemnified Person
shall not settle or compromise or consent
to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any pending or threatened claim,
action, suit or proceeding in
respect of which indemnification may be
sought under this Section 5.02
(whether or not the Servicer is an actual
or potential party to such claim or
action) unless the Servicer agrees in
writing to such settlement, compromise
or consent and such settlement, compromise
or consent includes an
unconditional release of the Servicer from
all liability arising out of such
claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(c) The Servicer shall indemnify the Trustee and its respective
officers, directors and agents for, and
defend and hold harmless each such
Person from and against, any and all Losses
that may be imposed upon, incurred
by or asserted against any such Person as a
result of the acceptance or
performance of the trusts and duties
contained herein and in the Indenture,
except to the extent that any such Loss is
due to the willful misconduct, bad
faith or gross negligence of the Trustee;
provided, however, that the
foregoing indemnity is extended to the
Trustee solely in its individual
capacity and not for the benefit of the BGS
Transition Bondholders or any
other Person. Such amounts with respect to
the Trustee shall be deposited and
distributed in accordance with the
Indenture.
(d) Any Servicer that is not subject to retail electric rate
regulation by the BPU shall indemnify
electric ratepayers in the historic
service territory of PSE&G for any and
all Losses (including, but not limited
to, increased BGS Transition Bond Charges)
that may be imposed upon or
incurred by such retail electric ratepayers
as a result of:
(i) any such Servicer's willful misconduct, recklessness or
gross negligence in the performance of its obligations, duties
and
covenants under this Agreement;
(ii) any such Servicer's breach of any of its
representations or warranties in this Agreement; and
(iii) litigation and related expenses relating to any such
Servicer's status and obligations as Servicer.
The BPU shall be entitled to enforce this
Section 5.02(d) for the benefit of
retail electric ratepayers in the historic
service territory of PSE&G. If so
directed by the BPU, any successor Servicer
that is not subject to retail
electric rate regulation by the BPU and
that is obligated to make payments
pursuant to this Section 5.02(d) shall make
such payments either to the
Trustee, for deposit to the Collection
Account and for allocation to the
Reserve Subaccount therein, or to such
other person or account as shall be
specified by the BPU.
(e) The
Servicer's indemnification obligations under Section 5.02(b)
and (c) for events occurring prior to the
removal or resignation of the
Trustee or the termination of this
Agreement shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Trustee or the termination
of this
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Agreement and shall include reasonable
costs, fees and expenses of
investigation and litigation (including the
Issuer's and the Trustee's
reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses).
(f) Except
to the extent expressly provided for in the Basic
Documents (including the Servicer's claims
with respect to the Monthly
Servicing Fees and the Seller's claim for
payment of the purchase price of the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property), the Servicer hereby releases
and discharges the Issuer (including its
Member, Managers, officers, employees
and agents, if any), and the Trustee
(including its respective officers,
directors and agents) (collectively, the
"Released Parties") from any and all
actions, claims and demands whatsoever,
which the Servicer shall or may have
against any such Person relating to the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property or the Servicer's activities with
respect thereto other than any
actions, claims and demands arising out of
the willful misconduct, bad faith
or gross negligence of the Released
Parties.
(g) The Servicer will not indemnify any person for any loss,
damages,
liability, obligation, claim, action, suit
or payment resulting solely from a
downgrade in the ratings on the BGS
Transition Bonds or for any consequential
damages, including any loss of market value
of the BGS Transition Bonds,
resulting from any default or any downgrade
of the ratings on the BGS
Transition Bonds.
Section 5.03. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the
Obligations of, Servicer. Any Person:
(a) into which the Servicer may be merged or consolidated
and which succeeds to all or the major part of the electric
distribution business of the Servicer,
(b) which results from the division of the Servicer into two
or more Persons and which succeeds to all or the major part of
the
electric distribution business of the Servicer,
(c) which may result from any merger or consolidation to
which the Servicer shall be a party and which succeeds to all or
the
major part of the electric distribution business of the
Servicer,
(d) which may succeed to the properties and assets of the
Servicer substantially as a whole and which succeeds to all or
the
major part of the electric distribution business of the Servicer,
or
(e) which may otherwise succeed to all or the major part of
the electric distribution business of the Servicer,
which Person in any of the foregoing cases
executes an agreement of assumption
to perform every obligation of the Servicer
under this Agreement, shall be the
successor to the Servicer hereunder without
the execution or filing of any
document or any further act by any of the
parties to this Agreement; provided,
however, that:
(i) immediately after giving effect to such
transaction, no representation or warranty made pursuant to
Section 5.01 shall have been
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breached and no Servicer Default, and no event that, after
notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Servicer
Default, shall have occurred and be continuing;
(ii) the Servicer shall have delivered to the
Issuer, the BPU and the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and
an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation,
merger or succession and such agreement of assumption comply
with this Section 5.03 and that all conditions precedent, if
any,
provided for in this Agreement relating to such
transaction have been complied with;
(iii) the Servicer shall have delivered to the
Issuer, the BPU and to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
either:
(A) stating that, in the opinion of such
counsel, all filings to be made by the Servicer,
including UCC filings, that are necessary fully to
preserve and protect the interests of the Trustee
in the Transferred BGS Bondable Transition Property
have been executed and filed and reciting the
details of such filings, or
(B) stating that, in the opinion of such
counsel, no such action is necessary to preserve
and protect such interests;
(iv) the Rating Agencies shall have received prior
written notice of such transaction; and
(v) the Servicer shall have delivered to the
Issuer, the BPU and the Trustee an opinion of independent
tax counsel (as selected by, and in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to, the Servicer, and which may be
based on a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service) to the
effect that, for federal income tax purposes, such
consolidation or merger will not result in a material
adverse federal income tax consequence to the Servicer, the
Issuer, the Trustee or the then existing BGS Transition
Bondholders.
The Servicer shall not consummate any
transaction referred to in subclauses
(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above except upon
execution of the above described
agreement of assumption and compliance with
subclauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
and (v) above. When any Person acquires the
properties and assets of the
Servicer substantially as a whole and
becomes the successor to the Servicer in
accordance with the terms of this Section
5.03, then upon the satisfaction of
all of the other conditions of this Section
5.03, the Servicer shall
automatically and without further notice be
released from its obligations
hereunder.
Section 5.04. Assignment of Servicer's Obligations. The Servicer
may
assign any or all of its obligations
hereunder to any successor if either (i)
the Rating Agency Condition and any other
condition specified in the Financing
Order have been satisfied, or (ii) the
Servicer is replaced by a successor
pursuant to Section 5.03 hereof.
Section 5.05.
Limitation on Liability of Servicer and Others. The
Servicer shall not be liable to the Issuer
or the Trustee, except as provided
under this Agreement, for any action taken
or for refraining from the taking
of any action pursuant to this Agreement or
for errors in
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judgment; provided, however, that this
provision shall not protect the
Servicer against any liability that would
otherwise be imposed by reason of
willful misconduct, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of its
duties or by reason of reckless disregard
of obligations and duties under this
Agreement. The Servicer and any director,
officer, employee or agent of the
Servicer may rely in good faith on the
advice of counsel reasonably acceptable
to the Trustee or on any document of any
kind, prima facie properly executed
and submitted by any Person, respecting any
matters arising under this
Agreement.
Except as provided in this Agreement, the
Servicer shall not be under any
obligation to appear in, prosecute or
defend any legal action that is not
incidental to its duties to service the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property in accordance with this Agreement
or related to its obligation to pay
indemnification, and that in its reasonable
opinion may cause it to incur any
expense or liability.
Section 5.06. PSE&G Not To Resign as Servicer. Subject to
the
provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.04,
PSE&G shall not resign from the
obligations and duties imposed on it as
Servicer under this Agreement except
upon a determination that the performance
of its duties under this Agreement
shall no longer be permissible under
applicable law. Notice of any such
determination permitting the resignation of
PSE&G shall be communicated to the
Issuer, the BPU, the Trustee and each
Rating Agency at the earliest
practicable time (and, if such
communication is not in writing, shall be
confirmed in writing at the earliest
practicable time), and any such
determination shall be evidenced by an
Opinion of Counsel to such effect
delivered to the Issuer, the BPU and the
Trustee concurrently with or promptly
after such notice. No such resignation
shall become effective until a
successor Servicer has assumed the
servicing obligations and duties hereunder
of the Servicer in accordance with Section
6.04.
Section 5.07. Monthly Servicing Fee. The Issuer agrees to pay
the
Servicer the Monthly Servicing Fee with
respect to all Series of BGS
Transition Bonds. On any Monthly Remittance
Date, the Servicer shall be
entitled to withhold the amount of the
Monthly Servicing Fee from TBC
Collections as compensation under this
Agreement unless the Trustee has
notified the Servicer in writing that the
Issuer does not hold sufficient
funds to pay amounts owed in such month to
the Trustee. For so long as PSE&G
is the Servicer, the Monthly Servicing Fee
shall be $1,250. The Servicer shall
be entitled to retain as additional
compensation net investment income on TBC
Collections related to the Transferred BGS
Bondable Transition Property
received by the Servicer during any
Collection Period prior to remittance to
the Collection Account and the late fees,
if any, paid by Customers to the
Servicer. The foregoing fees constitute a
fair and reasonable price for the
obligations to be performed by the
Servicer.
Section 5.08. Servicer Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, the Servicer shall be
required to pay all expenses incurred
by it in connection with its activities
hereunder, including fees and
disbursements of independent accountants
and counsel, taxes imposed on the
Servicer and expenses incurred in
connection with reports to BGS Transition
Bondholders and shall not be entitled to
any additional payment or
reimbursement therefor.
Section 5.09. Subservicing. The Servicer may at any time appoint
a
subservicer to perform all or any portion
of its obligations as Servicer
hereunder; provided, however, the Rating
Agency Condition shall have been
satisfied in connection therewith; and
provided further that
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the Servicer shall remain obligated and be
liable to the Issuer, the Trustee
and the BGS Transition Bondholders for the
servicing and administering of the
Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property in accordance with the provisions
hereof without diminution of such
obligation and liability by virtue of the
appointment of such subservicer and to the
same extent and under the same
terms and conditions as if the Servicer
alone were servicing and administering
the Transferred BGS Bondable Transition
Property. The fees and expenses of the
subservicer shall be as agreed between the
Servicer and its subservicer from
time to time, and none of the Issuer, the
Trustee or the BGS Transition
Bondholders shall have any responsibility
therefor. Any such appointment shall
not constitute a Servicer resignation under
Section 5.06.
Section 5.10. No Servicer Advances. The Servicer shall not make
any
advances of interest on or principal of the
BGS Transition Bonds.
Section 5.11. Remittances.
(a) The Servicer shall remit TBC Collections (from whatever
source)
in accordance with Section 3.03(a)(ii), and
all proceeds of other Collateral
of the Issuer, if any, received by the
Servicer, to the Trustee for deposit
pursuant to the Indenture, not later than
each Daily Remittance Date. The
Servicer shall promptly remit any Indemnity
Amounts paid or received by it
immediately to the Trustee for deposit
pursuant to the Indenture.
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (a), as long as:
(i) PSE&G or any successor to PSE&G's electric
distribution business remains the Servicer,
(ii) no Servicer Default has occurred and is
continuing, and,
(iii) with respect to Moody's and Fitch only, PSE&G
maintains a long-term rating on its senior, unsecured debt
of "Baa2" by Moody's and "BBB" by Fitch, or better, or, if
the senior, unsecured debt of PSE&G is downgraded to "Baa3"
by Moody's or "BBB-" by Fitch, PSE&G shall received within
30 days of such downgrading, confirmation from Moody's and
Fitch that remittances in accordance with Section 3.03(a)(i)
will not adversely affect their respective ratings on the
BGS Transition Bonds, or if the long-term, unsecured debt of
PSE&G is downgraded below "Baa3" by Moody's or "BBB-" by
Fitch, PSE&G shall have received within 48 hours of such
downgrading, confirmation from Moody's and Fitch that
remittances in accordance with Section 3.03(a)(i) will not
adversely affect their respective ratings on the BGS
Transition Bonds,
the Servicer need not make the daily
remittances required by clause (a), but
in lieu thereof, shall remit all TBC
Collections (from whatever source) in
accordance with Section 3.03(a)(i), and all
proceeds of other Collateral of
the Issuer, if any, received by the
Servicer during any Collection Period, to
the Trustee for deposit pursuant to the
Indenture, not later than the
corresponding Monthly Remittance Date.
Section 5.12. Protection of Title. The Servicer shall execute
and
file such filings and cause to be executed
and filed such filings, all in such
manner and in such places as may be
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required by law fully to preserve, maintain
and protect the interests of the
Trustee in the Transferred BGS Bondable
Transition Property, including all
filings required under the UCC relating to
the transfer of