(a) RUS encourages borrowers to maintain a current long-range financial forecast. The forecast should be used by the board of directors and the manager to guide the system towards its financial goals.

(b) A borrower must prepare, for RUS review and approval, a long-range financial forecast in support of its loan application. The forecast must demonstrate that the borrower's system is economically viable and that the proposed loan is financially feasible. Loan feasibility will be assessed based on the criteria set forth in § 1710.112.

(c) The financial forecast and related projections submitted in support of a loan application shall include:

(1) The projected results of future actions planned by the borrower's board of directors;

(2) The financial goals established for margins, TIER, DSC, equity, and levels of general funds to be invested in plant;

(3) A pro forma balance sheet, statement of operations, and general funds summary projected for each year during the forecast period;

(4) A full explanation of the assumptions, supporting data, and analysis used in the forecast, including the methodology used to project loads, rates, revenue, power costs, operating expenses, plant additions, and other factors having a material effect on the balance sheet and on financial ratios such as equity, TIER, and DSC;

(5) Current and projected cash flows;

(6) Projections of future borrowings and the associated interest and principal expenses required to meet the projected investment requirements of the system;

(7) Current and projected kW and kWh energy sales;

(8) Current and projected unit prices of significant variables such as retail and wholesale power prices, average labor costs, and interest;

(9) Current and projected system operating costs, including, but not limited to, wholesale power costs, depreciation expenses, labor costs, and debt service costs;

(10) Current and projected revenues from sales of electric power and energy;

(11) Current and projected non-operating income and expense;

(12) A discussion of the historical experience of the borrower, and in the case of a power supply borrower its member systems as appropriate, with respect to the borrower's market competitiveness as it relates to the rates charged for electricity, competition from other fuels, and other factors. Additional data and analysis may be required by RUS on a case by case basis to assess the probable future competitiveness of those borrowers that have a history of serious competitive problems; and

(13) An analysis of the effects of major factors, such as projected increases in rates charged for electricity, on the ability of the borrower, and in the case of a power supply borrower its member systems, to compete with neighboring utilities and other energy sources.

(d) The following plans, studies and assumptions shall be used in developing the financial forecast:

(1) The RUS-approved CWP;

(2) RUS-approved power requirements data;

(3) RUS-approved EE Program work plan;

(4) The current rate schedules or new rates;

(5) Future plant additions and operating expenses projected at anticipated future cost levels rather than in constant dollars, with the annual rate of inflation for major items specified; and

(6) A sensitivity analysis may be required by RUS on a case-by-case basis taking into account such factors as the number and type of large power loads, projections of future borrowings and the associated interest, projected loads, projected revenues, and the probable future competitiveness of the borrower. When RUS determines that a sensitivity analysis is necessary for distribution borrowers, the variables to be tested will be determined by the General Field Representative in consultation with the borrower and the regional office. The regional office will consult with the Power Supply Division in the case of generation projects for distribution borrowers. For power supply borrowers, the variables to be tested will be determined by the borrower and the Power Supply Division.

(e) The financial forecast shall use the accrual method, as approved by RUS, for analyzing costs and revenues, and, as applicable, compare the economic results of the various alternatives on a present value basis.

(a) Financial forecasts prepared by distribution borrowers shall cover at least a ten-year period, unless a shorter period is authorized by other RUS regulations.

(b) In addition to the requirements set forth in § 1710.300 of this part, financial forecasts prepared by distribution borrowers in support of a loan application shall:

(1) Include expenditures for any maintenance determined to be needed in the current system's operation and maintenance review and evaluation in order to comply with mortgage covenants and prudent utility practice;

(2) Fully explain the basis for the power cost projections used. Generally, the power supplier's most recent forecasted rates shall be used; and

(3) Use RUS Form 325 or computer-generated equivalent reports.

(a) The requirements of this section apply only to financial forecasts submitted by power supply borrowers in support of a loan from RUS. The financial forecast prepared by power supply borrowers shall demonstrate the effects that the addition of generation, transmission and any distribution facilities will have on the power supply borrower's sales, costs, and revenues, and on the cost of power to the member distribution systems.

(b) The financial forecast shall cover a period of 10 years. RUS may request projections for a longer period of time if RUS deems necessary.

(c) Financial forecasts prepared in support of loan applications to finance additional generation capacity shall include a power cost study as set forth in § 1710.303.

(d) In addition to the requirements set forth in § 1710.300, financial forecasts prepared by power supply borrowers shall:

(1) Identify all plans for generation and transmission capital additions and system operating expenses on a year-by-year basis, beginning with the present and running for 10 years, unless a longer period of time has been requested by RUS.

(2) Integrate projections of operation and maintenance expenses associated with existing plant with those of new proposed facilities to determine total costs of system operation as well as the costs of new generation and generation-related facilities;

(3) Provide an in-depth analysis of the regional markets for power if loan feasibility depends to any degree on a borrower's ability to sell surplus power while its system loads grow to meet the planned capacity of a proposed plant;

(4) If not previously submitted, furnish RUS with all material information on operating agreements, ownership agreements, fuel contracts and any other special agreements that affect annual cost projections, as may be required by RUS on a case by case basis; and

(5) Include sensitivity analysis if required by RUS pursuant to § 1710.300(d)(6).

(e) The projections shall be coordinated in advance with RUS so that agreement can be reached on major aspects of the economic studies. These include, but are not limited to, projections of future kW and kWh requirements, RE Act beneficiary loads, electricity prices, revenues from system and off-system power sales, the cost of prospective plant additions, interest and depreciation rates, fuel costs, cost escalation factors, the discount rate, and other factors.

(f) The projections, analysis, and supporting information must be included in a report that will provide RUS with the information needed to:

(1) Understand and compare various power supply plans;

(2) Determine that the facilities to be financed will perform satisfactorily; and

(3) Determine that the overall system is economically viable and the loan is financially feasible and secure.

(a) All applications for financing of additional generation capacity and the associated bulk transmission facilities shall be supported by a power cost study to demonstrate that the proposed generation and associated transmission facilities are the most economical and effective means of meeting the borrower's power requirements. This study usually is a separate study but it may be integrated with the financial forecast required by § 1710.302.

(b) A power cost study shall include the following basic elements:

(1) A study of all reasonably available self-generation, purchased-power, load management, and energy conservation alternatives as set forth in §§ 1710.253 and 1710.254;

(2) A present-value analysis of the costs of the alternatives and their effects on total power costs, covering a period of at least 10 years beyond the projected in-service date of the facilities;

(3) A description of proposed new power-purchase contracts or revisions to existing contracts, and an analysis of the effects on power costs;

(4) Use of sensitivity analyses to determine the vulnerability of the alternatives to a reasonable range of assumptions about fuel costs, failure to achieve projected load growth, changes in operating and financing costs, and other major factors, if the financial forecast is used in support of a loan or loan guarantee that exceeds the smaller of $25 million or 10 percent of the borrower's total utility plant. Individual sensitivity analyses need not be duplicated if they have been included in other materials submitted to RUS; and

(5) Assessment of the financial risks of the various alternatives, especially as between capital-intensive and non-capital-intensive alternatives, under the range of assumptions set forth in paragraph (b)(4) of this section.

(c) Power cost studies must use current, RUS-approved power requirements data, and all major assumptions are subject to RUS approval. Alternative assumptions about projected power requirements may be used, however, in conjunction with the sensitivity analyses required by paragraph (b)(4) of this section.