FORM 424B2
Table of Contents

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration No. 333-131810
A filing fee of $42,800, calculated in
accordance with Rule 457(r), has been previously
transmitted to the SEC in connection with the
securities offered by means
of this prospectus supplement.

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus Dated February 13, 2006)

 

 

$400,000,000

 

LOGO

 

Dominion Resources, Inc.

 

$400,000,000 2006 Series B Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2008

 

The Senior Notes will bear interest at a floating rate and will mature on November 14, 2008. We will pay interest on the Senior Notes on February 14, May 14, August 14 and November 14 of each year, beginning February 14, 2007.

 

Beginning May 14, 2007 we may, at our option, redeem all or any of the Senior Notes on any Interest Payment Date at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued interest.

 

We will not make application to list the Senior Notes on any securities exchange or to include them in any automated quotation system.

 

Investing in the Senior Notes involves risks. For a description of these risks, see “ Risk Factors” on page S-8.

 

 

     Public Offering
Price(1)


  Underwriting
Discount


 

Proceeds to Dominion

Before Expenses(1)


Per Senior Note

   100.000%   0.250%   99.750%

Total

   $400,000,000   $1,000,000   $399,000,000

(1)   Plus accrued interest from November 14, 2006, if settlement occurs after that date.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The Senior Notes will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about November 14, 2006.

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Barclays Capital   Citigroup   JPMorgan

 


 

Co-Managers

 

Credit Suisse   Deutsche Bank Securities

 


 

BNY Capital Markets, Inc.

HVB Capital Markets

KBC Financial Products

Scotia Capital

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is November 9, 2006.


Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the Senior Notes and certain other matters relating to us and our financial condition. The second part, the accompanying base prospectus, gives more general information about Senior Debt Securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to the Senior Notes we are offering at this time. Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. To the extent the description of the Senior Notes in the prospectus supplement differs from the description of Senior Debt Securities in the accompanying base prospectus, you should only rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which this document refers you, or in other offering materials filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We have not authorized anyone, and we have not authorized the underwriters to authorize anyone, to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information which appears in this document and which is incorporated by reference in this document may only be accurate as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the document in which incorporated information appears. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date of such information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

    Page

About This Prospectus Supplement

  S-2

Where You Can Find More Information

  S-3

Forward-Looking Information

  S-3

Prospectus Supplement Summary

  S-5

Risk Factors

  S-8

Dominion

  S-12

Use of Proceeds

  S-14

Capitalization

  S-15

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

  S-16

Description of the Senior Notes

  S-17

Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement

  S-21

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders

  S-23

Underwriting

  S-25

Legal Matters

  S-27

Experts

  S-27

Base Prospectus

 

    Page

About This Prospectus

  2

Where You Can Find More Information

  2

Safe Harbor and Cautionary Statements

  3

The Company

  3

Use of Proceeds

  4

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

  5

Description of Senior Debt Securities

  6

Legal Matters

  14

Experts

  14

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our file number with the SEC is 001-08489. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. You may also read and copy these documents at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update or supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), until such time as all of the securities covered by this prospectus supplement have been sold:

 

  Annual Report on Forms 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005;

 

  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006; and

 

  Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed January 13, 2006, January 26, 2006, February 15, 2006, March 3, 2006, April 4, 2006, June 22, 2006 and September 29, 2006.

 

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:

 

Corporate Secretary, Dominion Resources, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, Telephone (804) 819-2000.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

We have included certain information in this prospectus supplement or other offering materials which is “forward-looking information” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples include discussions as to our expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives and future financial or other performance or assumptions concerning matters discussed in this prospectus. This information, by its nature, involves estimates, projections, forecasts and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ substantially from those expressed in the forward-looking statement.

 

Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our ability to control. We have identified a number of these factors in this prospectus supplement, under the heading “Risk Factors,” and we refer you to that discussion for further information. The factors include unusual weather conditions and their effect on energy sales to customers and energy commodity prices; extreme weather events, including hurricanes and winter storms, that can cause outages, production delays and property damage to our facilities; state and

 

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federal legislative and regulatory developments, including deregulation and changes in environmental and other laws and regulations to which we are subject; cost of environmental compliance; risks associated with the operation of nuclear facilities; fluctuations in energy-related commodity prices and the effect these could have on our earnings, liquidity position and the underlying value of our assets; counterparty credit risk; capital market conditions, including price risk due to marketable securities held as investments in nuclear decommissioning and benefit plan trusts; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in rating agency requirements or credit ratings and the effect on availability and cost of capital; changes in financial or regulatory accounting principles or policies imposed by governing bodies; employee workforce factors including collective bargaining agreements and labor negotiations with union employees; the risks of operating businesses in regulated industries that are subject to changing regulatory structures; changes in our ability to recover investments made under traditional regulation through rates; receipt of approvals for and timing of closing dates for acquisitions and divestitures (including any divestiture of our natural gas and oil assets); risks associated with the realignment of our operating assets (including the potential dilutive effect on earnings in the near term); costs associated with any sale of our exploration and production operations; costs and reinvestment risks related to the redeployment of proceeds from any sales; political and economic conditions, including the threat of domestic terrorism, inflation and deflation; completing the divestiture of investments held by our financial services subsidiary, Dominion Capital, Inc.; and additional risk exposure associated with the termination of business interruption and offshore property damage insurance related to our exploration and production operations and our inability to replace such insurance on commercially reasonable terms.

 

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

 

In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the words “Dominion,” “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Dominion Resources, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and its subsidiaries and predecessors.

 

The following summary contains basic information about this offering. It may not contain all the information that is important to you. The DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES section of this prospectus supplement and the DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES section of the accompanying base prospectus contain more detailed information regarding the terms and conditions of the Senior Notes. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying base prospectus.

 

DOMINION

 

Dominion is a fully integrated gas and electric energy holding company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As of September 30, 2006, we had approximately $50.2 billion in assets.

 

We manage our operations through four primary business lines that integrate our electric and gas services, streamline operations, and position us for long-term growth in the competitive marketplace:

 

Dominion Delivery—Dominion Delivery manages our regulated electric and gas distribution systems serving approximately 4.0 million customer accounts and our customer service operations. Our electric distribution operations serve residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Gas distribution operations serve residential, commercial and industrial gas sales and transportation customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Dominion Delivery also operates our nonregulated retail energy marketing business serving approximately 1.4 million customer accounts in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest and manages more than 200 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage in Ohio and Pennsylvania. In March 2006, we agreed to sell our regulated gas distribution systems in Pennsylvania and West Virginia including approximately 500,000 customer accounts. We expect to close the transaction in the first quarter of 2007.

 

Dominion Energy—Dominion Energy manages our 7,800 miles of gas transmission pipeline, our 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines and a 750 billion cubic foot natural gas storage network. Dominion Energy also operates our Cove Point, Maryland liquefied natural gas facility. It oversees certain natural gas production located in the Appalachian Basin and producer services, including aggregation of gas supply, market-based services related to gas transportation and storage and associated gas trading.

 

Dominion Exploration & Production—Dominion Exploration & Production manages our onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production activities. With approximately 6.3 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves and, under

 

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normal conditions, approximately 1.1 billion cubic feet equivalent of daily production, Dominion Exploration & Production is one of the nation’s largest independent oil and gas operators. We operate offshore on the outer continental shelf and deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in western Canada, the Appalachian Basin, the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent Region and other selected regions in the continental United States. See Recent Developments below concerning our announcement of our decision to pursue the sale of the assets of our exploration and production operations.

 

    Dominion Generation—Dominion Generation manages our approximately 28,100 megawatt portfolio of electric power generation and guides our generation growth strategy and energy trading and marketing activities associated with optimization of our generation assets. The generation mix is diversified and includes coal, nuclear, gas, oil, hydro and purchased power. Our electric generation operations currently focus on serving customers in the energy intensive Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the United States. Our generation facilities are located in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

 

Dominion’s address and telephone number are: 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, Telephone (804) 819-2000.

 

Recent Developments

 

On November 1, 2006, we announced our decision to pursue the sale of all of our oil and natural gas exploration and production operations and assets, with the exception of those located in the Appalachian Basin. Proceeds from any sale are expected to be used to reduce debt, repurchase shares of our common stock, and/or acquire assets related to our remaining core businesses. See DOMINION—Recent Developments on page S-14.

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

9 Months
Ended
September 30,
2006


  12 Months
Ended
September 30,
2006


  Years Ended December 31,

    2005

  2004

  2003

  2002

  2001

3.13   2.90   2.29   2.78   2.29   2.82   1.82

 

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THE OFFERING

 

The Senior Notes

 

We are offering $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes will mature on November 14, 2008.

 

The Senior Notes will be represented by one or more global certificates that will be deposited with and registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (DTC) or its nominee. This means that you will not receive a certificate for your Senior Notes but, instead, will hold your interest through DTC’s system.

 

Interest Payment Dates

 

Interest on the Senior Notes will be payable quarterly in arrears on February 14, May 14, August 14 and November 14, commencing on February 14, 2007.

 

Record Dates

 

So long as the Senior Notes remain in book-entry only form, the record date for the Interest Payment Date will be the close of business on the business day before the Interest Payment Date.

 

If the Senior Notes are not in book-entry only form, the record date for the Interest Payment Date will be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to the Interest Payment Date (whether or not a business day).

 

Ranking

 

The Senior Notes rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness, and are senior in right of payment to all our subordinated indebtedness. The Senior Indenture contains no restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that we may incur. Additionally, because we are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through our subsidiaries, holders of Senior Notes will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries. See DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES—Ranking on page S-17.

 

Optional Redemption

 

We may not redeem the Senior Notes prior to May 14, 2007. Beginning May 14, 2007, we may, at our option, redeem all or any of the Senior Notes on any Interest Payment Date at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption. The Senior Notes may not be redeemed at anytime at the option of the holder.

 

No Listing of the Senior Notes

 

The Senior Notes are not listed and we do not plan to apply to list the Senior Notes on any securities exchange or to include them in any automated quotation system.

 

Use of Proceeds

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of short-term debt and maturing long-term debt. See USE OF PROCEEDS on page S-14.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Your investment in the Senior Notes involves certain risks. Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our control. We have identified a number of these factors below. In consultation with your own financial and legal advisers, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the following discussion of risks before deciding whether an investment in the Senior Notes is suitable for you.

 

Our operations are weather sensitive. Our results of operations can be affected by changes in the weather. Weather conditions directly influence the demand for electricity and natural gas and affect the price of energy commodities. In addition, severe weather, including hurricanes, winter storms and droughts, can be destructive, causing outages, production delays and property damage that require us to incur additional expenses.

 

We are subject to complex government regulation that could adversely affect our operations. Our operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local regulation and may require numerous permits, approvals and certificates from various governmental agencies. We must also comply with environmental legislation and associated regulations. Management believes the necessary approvals have been obtained for our existing operations and that our business is conducted in accordance with applicable laws. However, new laws or regulations, or the revision or reinterpretation of existing laws or regulations, may require us to incur additional expenses.

 

Costs of environmental compliance, liabilities and litigation could exceed our estimates, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations may result in increased capital, operating and other costs, including remediation and containment expenses and monitoring obligations. In addition, we may be a responsible party for environmental clean-up at a site identified by a regulatory body. Management cannot predict with certainty the amount and timing of all future expenditures related to environmental matters because of the difficulty of estimating clean-up and compliance costs, and the possibility that changes will be made to the current environmental laws and regulations. There is also uncertainty in quantifying liabilities under environmental laws that impose joint and several liability on all potentially responsible parties.

 

We are exposed to cost-recovery shortfalls because of capped base rates and amendments to the fuel factor statute in effect in Virginia. Under the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act (Virginia Restructuring Act), as amended in April 2004, our base rates (excluding, generally, a fuel factor with limited adjustment provisions, and certain other allowable adjustments) remain capped until December 31, 2010 unless modified or terminated consistent with the Virginia Restructuring Act. Although the Virginia Restructuring Act allows for the recovery of certain generation-related costs during the capped rates period, we remain exposed to numerous risks of cost-recovery shortfalls. These include exposure to stranded costs, future environmental compliance requirements, certain tax law changes, costs related to hurricanes or other weather events, inflation, the cost of obtaining

 

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replacement power during unplanned plant outages and increased capital costs.

 

In addition, under the 2004 amendments to the Virginia fuel factor statute, our current Virginia fuel factor provisions are locked-in until the earlier of July 1, 2007 or the termination of capped rates by order of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, with no deferred fuel accounting. The 2004 amendments provide for a one-time adjustment of our fuel factor, effective July 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010 (unless capped rates are terminated earlier), with no adjustment for previously incurred over-recovery or under-recovery. In 2006, the fuel factor statute was further amended to institute annual fuel rate adjustments for three 12-month periods beginning July 1, 2007 and one six-month period beginning July 1, 2010. Beginning with the July 1, 2008 adjustment, the recalculation of the fuel factor will account for differences between projections and actual recovery of fuel costs during the preceding twelve-month period. As a result of the current locked-in fuel factor, we are exposed to fuel price and other risks. These risks include exposure to increased costs of fuel, including purchased power costs, differences between our projected and actual power generation mix and generating unit performance (which affects the types and amounts of fuel we use) and differences between fuel price assumptions and actual fuel prices.

 

Under the Virginia Restructuring Act, the generation portion of our electric utility operations is open to competition and resulting uncertainty. Under the Virginia Restructuring Act, the generation portion of our electric utility operations in Virginia is open to competition and is no longer subject to cost-based regulation. To date, a competitive retail market has been slow to develop. Consequently, it is difficult to predict the pace at which a competitive

environment will evolve and the extent to which we will face increased competition and be able to operate profitably within this competitive environment.

 

Our merchant power business is operating in a challenging market, which could adversely affect our results of operations and future growth. The success of our merchant power business depends upon favorable market conditions as well as our ability to find buyers willing to enter into power purchase agreements at prices sufficient to cover operating costs. We attempt to manage these risks by entering into both short-term and long-term fixed price sales and purchase contracts and locating our assets in active wholesale energy markets. However, high fuel and commodity costs and excess capacity in the industry could adversely impact results of operations.

 

There are risks associated within the operation of nuclear facilities. We operate nuclear facilities that are subject to risks, including the threat of terrorist attack and ability to dispose of spent nuclear fuel, the disposal of which is subject to complex federal and state regulatory constraints. These risks also include the cost of and our ability to maintain adequate reserves for decommissioning, costs of replacement power, costs of plant maintenance and exposure to potential liabilities arising out of the operation of these facilities. We maintain decommissioning trusts and external insurance coverage to manage the financial exposure to these risks. However, it is possible that costs arising from claims could exceed the amount of any insurance coverage.

 

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The use of derivative instruments could result in financial losses and liquidity constraints. We use derivative instruments, including futures, forwards, financial transmission rights, options and swaps to manage our commodity and financial market risks. In addition, we purchase and sell commodity-based contracts in the natural gas, electricity and oil markets for trading purposes. We could recognize financial losses on these contracts as a result of volatility in the market values of the underlying commodities or if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract. In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the valuation of these contracts involves management’s judgment or use of estimates. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these contracts.

 

In addition, we use financial derivatives to hedge future sales of our merchant generation and gas and oil production, which may limit the benefit we would otherwise receive from increases in commodity prices. These hedge arrangements generally include collateral requirements that require us to deposit funds or post letters of credit with counterparties to cover the fair value of covered contracts in excess of agreed upon credit limits. When commodity prices rise to levels substantially higher than the levels where we have hedged future sales, we may be required to use a material portion of our available liquidity and obtain additional liquidity to cover these collateral requirements. In some circumstances, this could have a compounding effect on our financial liquidity and results.

 

Derivatives designated under hedge accounting to the extent not offset by the hedged transaction can result in ineffectiveness losses. These losses primarily result from differences in the location and specifications of the derivative hedging instrument and the hedged item and could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Our operations in regards to these transactions are subject to multiple market risks including market liquidity, counterparty credit strength and price volatility. These market risks are beyond our control and could adversely affect our results of operations and future growth.

 

Our decision to pursue a sale of most of our exploration and production assets is expected to be dilutive to earnings, could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and may not yield the benefits that we expect. On November 1, 2006, we announced our decision to pursue a sale of all of our exploration and production assets, excluding those assets located in the Appalachian Basin. We expect that a sale of our exploration and production assets would reduce future earnings in the near term. Although we expect shareholder value to increase over time, we can give no assurance that this will occur. While our management believes it would be able to execute any sales by mid-2007, we may not be able to sell our exploration and production assets within the expected time frame. If we sell our exploration and production assets, we cannot be certain of the price we would receive or the impact that such a sale and the use of proceeds from any sale would have on our results of operations. Additionally, we may incur significant costs or be required to record certain charges in connection with any sale and in connection with transactions related to the deployment of the proceeds from any sale.

 

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Additionally, uncertainty about the effect of the proposed disposition may have an adverse effect on the Company, particularly our exploration and production business. Although we have taken steps to reduce any adverse effects, including providing retention agreements for employees, these uncertainties may impair our ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel and could cause partners, customers, suppliers and others that deal with our exploration and production business to seek to change future business relationships. Our exploration and production business could be harmed if, despite our retention efforts, key employees depart as a result of the proposed disposition.

 

Our exploration and production business is dependent on factors that cannot be predicted or controlled and that could damage facilities, disrupt production or reduce the book value of our assets. Factors that may affect our financial results include damage to or suspension of operations caused by weather, fire, explosion or other events at our or third-party gas and oil facilities, fluctuations in natural gas and crude oil prices, results of future drilling and well completion activities and our ability to acquire additional land positions in competitive lease areas, as well as inherent operational risks that could disrupt production.

 

Short-term market declines in the prices of natural gas and oil could adversely affect our financial results by causing a permanent write-down of our natural gas and oil properties as required by the full cost method of accounting. Under the full cost method, all direct costs of property acquisition, exploration and development activities are capitalized. If net capitalized costs exceed the present value of estimated future net revenues based on hedge-adjusted period-end prices from the production of proved gas and oil reserves (the ceiling test) at the end of any quarterly period, then a permanent write-down of the assets must be recognized in that period.

 

In the past, we have maintained business interruption, property damage and other insurance for our exploration and production operations. However, the recent increased level of hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico led our insurers to terminate certain coverages for our exploration and production operations; specifically, our Operator’s Extra Expense (OEE), offshore property damage and offshore business interruption coverage has been terminated. All onshore property coverage (with the exception of OEE) and liability coverage commensurate with past coverage remained in place for our exploration and production operations. Recently our OEE coverage for both onshore and offshore exploration and production operations was reinstated under a new policy. However, efforts to replace the terminated insurance for our exploration and production operations for offshore property damage and offshore business interruption with similar insurance on commercially reasonable terms were unsuccessful. We have also entered into a six-month weather derivative contract with a special purpose entity, as further described in Note 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. This arrangement provides limited alternative risk mitigation; however, it offers substantially less protection than our previous exploration and production insurance policies. This lack of insurance could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

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An inability to access financial markets could affect the execution of our business plan. We rely on access to short-term money markets, longer-term capital markets and banks as significant sources of liquidity for capital requirements and collateral requirements related to hedges of future gas and oil production not satisfied by the cash flows from our operations. Management believes that we will maintain sufficient access to these financial markets based upon current credit ratings. However, certain disruptions outside of our control may increase our cost of borrowing or restrict our ability to access one or more financial markets. Such disruptions could include an economic downturn, the bankruptcy of an unrelated energy company or changes to our credit ratings. Restrictions on our ability to access financial markets may affect our ability to execute our business plan as scheduled.

 

Changing rating agency requirements could negatively affect our growth and business strategy. As of November 2, 2006, our senior unsecured debt is rated BBB, positive outlook, by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (Standard & Poor’s); Baa2, stable outlook, by Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) and BBB+, stable outlook, by Fitch Ratings Ltd. (Fitch). In order to maintain our current credit ratings in light of existing or future requirements, we may find it necessary to take steps or change our business plans in ways that may adversely affect our growth and earnings per share. A reduction in Dominion’s credit ratings or the credit ratings of our Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion Virginia Power) and Consolidated Natural Gas Company (CNG) subsidiaries by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s or Fitch could increase our borrowing costs and adversely affect operating results and could require us to post additional collateral in connection with some of our trading and marketing activities.

 

Potential changes in accounting practices may adversely affect our financial results. We cannot predict the impact that future changes in accounting standards or practices may have on public companies in general, the energy industry or our operations specifically. New accounting standards could be issued that could change the way we record revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities. These changes in accounting standards could adversely affect our reported earnings or could increase reported liabilities.

 

Failure to retain and attract key executive officers and other skilled professional and technical employees could have an adverse effect on our operations. Implementation of our growth strategy is dependent on our ability to recruit, retain and motivate employees. Competition for skilled employees in some areas is high and the inability to retain and attract these employees could adversely affect our business and future financial condition.

 

DOMINION

 

Dominion is a fully integrated gas and electric energy holding company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As of September 30, 2006, we had approximately $50.2 billion in assets.

 

We manage our operations through four primary business lines that integrate our electric and gas services, streamline operations, and position us for long-term growth in the competitive marketplace:

 

Dominion Delivery—Dominion Delivery manages our regulated electric

 

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and gas distribution systems serving approximately 4.0 million customer accounts and our customer service operations. Our electric distribution operations serve residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Gas distribution operations serve residential, commercial and industrial gas sales and transportation customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Dominion Delivery also operates our nonregulated retail energy marketing business serving approximately 1.4 million customer accounts in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest and manages more than 200 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage in Ohio and Pennsylvania. In March 2006, we agreed to sell our regulated gas distribution systems in Pennsylvania and West Virginia involving approximately 500,000 customer accounts. We expect to close the transaction in the first quarter of 2007.

 

Dominion Energy—Dominion Energy manages our 7,800 miles of gas transmission pipeline, our 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines and a 750 billion cubic foot natural gas storage network. Dominion Energy also operates our Cove Point, Maryland liquefied natural gas facility. It oversees certain natural gas production located in the Appalachian Basin and producer services, including aggregation of gas supply, market-based services related to gas transportation and storage and associated gas trading.

 

Dominion Exploration & Production—Dominion Exploration & Production manages our onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production activities. With approximately 6.3 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves and, under normal conditions, approximately 1.1 billion cubic feet equivalent of daily production, Dominion Exploration & Production is one of the nation’s largest independent oil and gas operators. We operate offshore on the outer continental shelf and deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in western Canada, the Appalachian Basin, the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent Region and other selected regions in the continental United States. See Recent Developments below concerning our announcement of our decision to pursue the sale of the assets of our exploration and production operations.

 

Dominion Generation—Dominion Generation manages our approximately 28,100 megawatt portfolio of electric power generation and guides our generation growth strategy and energy trading and marketing activities associated with optimization of our generation assets. The generation mix is diversified and includes coal, nuclear, gas, oil, hydro and purchased power. Our electric generation operations currently focus on serving customers in the energy intensive Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the United States. Our generation facilities are located in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

 

Principal Subsidiaries

 

Our principal direct, legal subsidiaries include Dominion Virginia Power, a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, CNG, an oil

 

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and gas producer, and a transporter, distributor and retail marketer of natural gas serving customers in the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest, Dominion Energy, Inc., which is involved in merchant electric generation, energy trading and marketing and natural gas exploration and production and Virginia Power Energy Marketing, Inc. which provides fuel and risk management services to other Dominion affiliates and engages in energy trading activities.

 

Recent Developments

 

On November 1, 2006, we announced our decision to pursue the sale of all of our oil and natural gas exploration and production operations and assets, with the exception of those located in the Appalachian Basin. Any disposition would allow us to focus on our core electric generating and energy distribution, transmission and storage businesses and realign our operations and risk profile more closely with our peer investment group of utilities.

 

As of December 31, 2005, our natural gas and oil assets—excluding the Appalachian Basin—included about 5.3 trillion cubic feet of proved reserves across major producing regions in the lower 48 states, including the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, West Texas, the Mid-Continent and Rockies and the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. The Appalachian assets that we would retain constitute approximately 16% of our total reserves.

 

Proceeds from any sale are expected to be used to reduce debt (including debt of our subsidiary CNG), repurchase shares of our common stock, and/or acquire assets related to our remaining core businesses.

 

We expect to conduct a formal asset auction process in early 2007. Closing of any sale or sales is targeted for mid-2007.

 

See the risk factor on page S-10 regarding our decision to pursue the sale of the assets of our exploration and production operations.

 

For additional information about our company, see WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION on page S-3.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of $412,500,000 of our 2000 Series G 3.66% Senior Notes that mature on November 15, 2006, approximately $580,500,000 of our secured bank debt that matures on November 19, 2006, and short-term debt. The short-term debt may include a portion of our commercial paper. As of September 30, 2006, the weighted average maturity of our $85 million of outstanding commercial paper was approximately 12.41 days and the weighted average interest rate was 5.40%.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

 

The table below shows our unaudited capitalization on a consolidated basis as of September 30, 2006.

 

The “As Adjusted for Concurrent Offering” column reflects our capitalization after giving effect to our offering of $250,000,000 2006 Series A 5.60% Senior Notes due 2016, which is occurring simultaneously with this offering (the Concurrent Offering).

 

The “As Fully Adjusted” column reflects our capitalization after giving effect to this offering of Senior Notes and the Concurrent Offering and the use of the net proceeds from the offerings. You should read this table along with our audited financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005 as well as the unaudited information presented in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. See WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION on page S-3 and USE OF PROCEEDS on page S-14.

 

    

(unaudited)

September 30, 2006


     (in millions)
     Actual

   As
Adjusted for
Concurrent
Offering


  

As Fully

Adjusted


                

Short-term debt1

   $ 4,302    $ 4,054    $ 3,655

Long-term debt:

                    

Junior Subordinated Debentures payable to affiliated trusts

     1,147      1,147      1,147

Junior Subordinated Notes

     798      798      798

Other long-term debt

     12,427      12,677      13,077
    

  

  

Total long-term debt2

     14,372      14,622      15,022

Subsidiary preferred stock not subject to mandatory redemption3

     257      257      257

Total common shareholders’ equity

     13,548      13,548      13,548
    

  

  

Total capitalization

   $ 32,479    $ 32,481    $ 32,482
    

  

  


1   Includes securities due within one year, which includes a $4 million deferred gain on a fair value hedge.
2   Actual September 30, 2006 amounts include the effect of unamortized discount ($77 million), unamortized premium ($41 million) and deferred losses on fair value hedges ($1 million).
3   Includes approximately $2 million of issuance expenses of preferred stock.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

For purposes of this ratio, earnings are determined by adding distributed income of equity investees and fixed charges (excluding interest capitalized) to income before income taxes and minority interest after eliminating the equity in earnings or losses of equity investees. These earnings are then divided by total fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest charges (without reduction for Allowance for Funds Used During Construction) on long-term and short-term debt, interest capitalized, the portion of rental expense that is representative of the interest factor and preferred stock dividends of consolidated subsidiaries (grossed-up by a factor of pre-tax net income divided by net income).

 

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

 

9 Months
Ended
Sept. 30,
20061


 

12 Months
Ended
Sept. 30,
20062


 

Years Ended December 31,


   

20053


 

20044


 

20035


  2002

  20016

3.13

 

2.90

 

2.29

 

2.78

  2.29   2.82   1.82

1   Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 include a $185 million charge related to the pending sale of The Peoples Natural Gas Company and Hope Gas, Inc. and primarily resulting from the write-off of certain regulatory assets, $89 million of impairment charges related to Dominion Capital, Inc. assets, a $17 million charge related to expenses following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a $60 million charge due to an adjustment eliminating the application of hedge accounting for certain interest rate swaps associated with our junior subordinated notes, $19 million of miscellaneous asset impairments and an $8 million benefit associated with the disposition of certain assets. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
2   Earnings for the twelve months ended September 30, 2006 include a $185 million charge related to the pending sale of The Peoples Natural Gas Company and Hope Gas, Inc. and primarily resulting from the write-off of certain regulatory assets, $108 million of impairment charges related to Dominion Capital, Inc. assets, $91 million of charges related to other asset impairments, a $34 million charge related to expenses following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a $60 million charge due to an adjustment eliminating the application of hedge accounting for certain interest rate swaps associated with our junior subordinated notes, an $8 million benefit associated with the disposition of certain assets and $3 million of net charges related to other items. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended September 30, 2006.
3   Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 include a $423 million charge reflecting the de-designation of hedge contracts resulting from the delay of natural gas and oil production following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, $73 million in charges resulting from the termination of certain long-term power purchase contracts, $21 million in net charges related to trading activities discontinued in 2004, including the Batesville long-term power-tolling contract divested in the second quarter of 2005, and other activities, $35 million of impairment charges related to Dominion Capital, Inc. assets, a $76 million charge related to miscellaneous asset impairments, a $28 million charge related to expenses following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and $5 million of charges related to other items. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005.
4   Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 include $76 million of impairment charges related to Dominion’s investment in and planned divestiture of Dominion Capital, Inc., a $23 million benefit associated with the disposition of certain assets held for sale, an $18 million benefit from the reduction of accrued expenses associated with Hurricane Isabel restoration activities, $96 million of losses related to the discontinuance of hedge accounting for certain oil hedges and subsequent changes in the fair value of those hedges during the third quarter following Hurricane Ivan, $71 million in charges resulting from the termination of certain long-term power purchase contracts, a $184 million charge related to the Batesville long-term power-tolling contract divested in the second quarter of 2005, a $10 million charge related to the sale of natural gas and oil production assets in British Columbia, and $27 million of charges related to net legal settlements and other items. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004.
5   Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 include a $134 million impairment of Dominion Capital, Inc. assets, $28 million for severance costs related to workforce reductions, an $84 million impairment of certain assets held for sale, $197 million for restoration expenses related to Hurricane Isabel, a $105 million charge related to the termination of a power purchase contract, $64 million in charges for the restructuring and termination of certain electric sales contracts, and a $144 million charge related to our investment in Dominion Telecom, Inc. including impairments, the cost of refinancings, and reallocation of equity losses. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003.
6   Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001 include $220 million related to the cost of the buyout of power purchase contracts and non-utility generating plants previously serving the company under long-term contracts, a $40 million loss associated with the divestiture of Saxon Capital, Inc., a $281 million write-down of Dominion Capital, Inc. assets, a $151 million charge associated with Dominion’s estimated Enron-related exposure, and a $105 million charge associated with a senior management restructuring initiative and related costs. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES

 

Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Senior Notes. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the Senior Debt Securities set forth in the accompanying base prospectus under the caption DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES and, to the extent it is inconsistent with the accompanying base prospectus, replaces the description in the accompanying base prospectus. The Senior Notes will be issued under an indenture dated as of June 1, 2000, between Dominion and The Bank of New York (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as indenture trustee, as supplemented and amended by the Thirty–Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2006. The following description is not complete in every detail and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the description of the Senior Debt Securities in the accompanying base prospectus, the Senior Indenture and the Thirty–Third Supplemental Indenture. Capitalized terms used in this DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES that are not defined in this prospectus supplement have the meanings given to them in the accompanying base prospectus, the Senior Indenture or the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture. In this DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES section, references to “Dominion,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean Dominion Resources, Inc., excluding any of its subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

 

General

 

The Senior Notes are unsecured senior obligations of Dominion. The Senior Notes will initially be limited in aggregate principal amount to $400,000,000. We may, without the consent of the existing holders of the Senior Notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Senior Notes. Any additional notes having such similar terms, together with the Senior Notes, will constitute a single series of notes under the Senior Indenture.

 

The entire principal amount of the Senior Notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, on November 14, 2008. The Senior Notes are not subject to any sinking fund provision. The Senior Notes are available for purchase in denominations of $2,000 and any greater integral multiple of $1,000.

 

Ranking

 

The Senior Notes are our direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, will rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured debt and will be effectively subordinated to our secured debt, if any.

 

Because we are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the Senior Notes is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Holders of Senior Notes will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders. As of September 30, 2006, Dominion Virginia Power had approximately 2.59 million issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock with

 

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an aggregate liquidation preference of $259 million. In addition to trade debt, most of our operating subsidiaries have ongoing corporate debt programs used to finance their business activities. As of September 30, 2006, our subsidiaries had approximately $9.3 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year).

 

The Senior Indenture contains no restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may incur. We and our subsidiaries expect to incur additional indebtedness from time to time.

 

Interest

 

Each Senior Note will bear interest at a floating rate of interest from the date of original issuance.

 

The per annum interest rate for the period from the issue date to the first LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be equal to the Three Month LIBOR Rate on November 14, 2006 plus 18 basis points (0.18%) (the Initial Interest Rate).

 

Following the initial interest period the per annum interest rate on the Senior Notes will be equal to the Three Month LIBOR Rate plus 18 basis points (0.18%). Such interest rate will be reset on the 14th day of the months of February, May, August and November of each year beginning in February 2007 (each a LIBOR Rate Reset Date).

 

If any LIBOR Rate Reset Date falls on a day that is not a business day, the LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be postponed to the next day that is a business day, except that if that business day is in the next succeeding calendar month, the LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be the next preceding business day. As used herein, “business day” means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday, a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business. The interest rate in effect on any LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be the applicable rate as reset on that date. The interest rate applicable to any other day will either be the Initial Interest Rate or the interest rate as reset on the immediately preceding LIBOR Rate Reset Date.

 

The “Three Month LIBOR Rate” means the rate determined in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(1)   On the LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the Calculation Agent or its affiliate will determine the Three Month LIBOR Rate which shall be the rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars having a three-month maturity which appears on the Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date.

 

(2)  

If no rate appears on Telerate Page 3750 on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the Calculation Agent or its affiliate will request the principal London offices of four major reference banks in the London Inter-Bank Market to provide it with their offered quotations for deposits in U.S. Dollars for the period of three months, commencing on the applicable LIBOR Rate Reset Date, to prime banks in the London Inter-Bank Market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time.

 

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If at least two quotations are provided, then the Three Month LIBOR Rate will be the average (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundredth (0.01) of a percent) of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, then the Three Month LIBOR Rate will be the average (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundredth (0.01) of a percent) of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date by three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent or its affiliate for loans in U.S. Dollars to leading European banks, having a three-month maturity and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If the banks selected by the Calculation Agent or its affiliate are not providing quotations in the manner described by this paragraph, the rate for the period following the LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the rate in effect on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date.

 

“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Telerate page 3750” on Moneyline Telerate, Inc. (or such other page as may replace “Telerate page 3750” on such service) or such other service displaying the offer prices, as may replace Moneyline Telerate, Inc.

 

“LIBOR Interest Determination Date” means the second LIBOR Business Day preceding each LIBOR Rate Reset Date.

 

“LIBOR Business Day” means any business day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. Dollars are transacted in the London Inter-Bank market.

 

“Calculation Agent” means The Bank of New York, or its successor appointed by us, acting as calculation agent.

 

Interest is payable on the Senior Notes quarterly in arrears on February 14, May 14, August 14 and November 14 of each year (each, an Interest Payment Date). The initial Interest Payment Date will be on February 14, 2007. The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the relevant year divided by a 360-day year. If any Interest Payment Date, other than the maturity date or a redemption date of the Senior Notes, falls on a day that is not a business day, the Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next day that is a business day, except that if that business day is in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding business day. If the maturity date or a redemption date of the Senior Notes falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment of interest and principal will be made on the next succeeding business day, and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after the maturity date.

 

Accrued interest on any Senior Note will be calculated by multiplying the principal amount of the Senior Note by an accrued interest factor. The accrued interest factor will be computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the period for which interest is being paid. The interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to that day by 360.

 

So long as the Senior Notes remain in book-entry only form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the close of business on the business day before the applicable Interest Payment Date. If the Senior Notes are not in book-entry only

 

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form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day before the applicable Interest Payment Date (whether or not a business day); however, interest payable at maturity or upon redemption will be paid to the person to whom principal is payable.

 

Optional Redemption

 

The Senior Notes are not redeemable prior to May 14, 2007. Beginning May 14, 2007, the Senior Notes are redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, on any Interest Payment Date, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date.

 

We will mail a notice of redemption at least 20 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Senior Notes to be redeemed. If we elect to partially redeem the Senior Notes, the trustee will select in a fair and appropriate manner the Senior Notes to be redeemed.

 

Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Senior Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

Limitation on Liens

 

While any of the Senior Notes are outstanding, we are not permitted to create liens upon any Principal Property (as defined below) or upon any shares of stock of any Material Subsidiary (as defined below), which we now own or will own in the future, to secure any of our debt, unless at the same time we provide that the Senior Notes will also be secured by that lien on an equal and ratable basis. However, we are generally permitted to create the following types of liens:

 

  (1) purchase money liens on future property acquired by us; liens of any kind existing on property or shares of stock at the time they are acquired by us; conditional sales agreements and other title retention agreements on future property acquired by us (as long as none of those liens cover any of our other properties);

 

  (2) liens on our property or any shares of stock of any Material Subsidiary that existed as of the date the Senior Notes were first issued; liens on the shares of stock of any corporation, which liens existed at the time that corporation became a Material Subsidiary; certain liens typically incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (3) liens in favor of the United States (or any State), any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of those jurisdictions, to secure payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any debt incurred for the purpose of financing the purchase price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to those liens, including, for example, liens to secure debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type;

 

  (4)

debt that we may issue in connection with a consolidation or merger of Dominion or any Material Subsidiary with or into any other company (including any of our affiliates or Material Subsidiaries) in exchange for secured debt of that company

 

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(Third Party Debt) as long as that debt (i) is secured by a mortgage on all or a portion of the property of that company, (ii) prohibits secured debt from being incurred by that company, unless the Third Party Debt is secured on an equal and ratable basis or (iii) prohibits secured debt from being incurred by that company;

 

  (5) debt of another company that we must assume in connection with a consolidation or merger of that company, with respect to which any of our property is subjected to a lien;

 

  (6) liens on any property that we acquire, construct, develop or improve after the date the Senior Notes are first issued that are created before or within 18 months after the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of the property and secure the payment of the purchase price or related costs;

 

  (7) liens in favor of Dominion, our Material Subsidiaries or our wholly-owned subsidiaries;

 

  (8) the replacement, extension or renewal of any lien referred to above in clauses (1) through (7) as long as the amount secured by the liens or the property subject to the liens is not increased; and

 

  (9) any other lien not covered by clauses (1) through (8) above as long as immediately after the creation of the lien the aggregate principal amount of debt secured by all liens created or assumed under this clause (9) does not exceed 10% of our common shareholders’ equity.

 

When we use the term “lien” in this section, we mean any mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind; “Material Subsidiary” means each of our subsidiaries whose total assets (as determined in accordance with GAAP) represent at least 20% of our total assets on a consolidated basis; and “Principal Property” means any of our plants or facilities located in the United States that in the opinion of our Board of Directors or management is of material importance to the business conducted by us and our consolidated subsidiaries taken as whole.

 

The Trustee

 

The trustee under the Senior Indenture is The Bank of New York (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank)). The Bank of New York is also the property and guarantee trustee for Dominion Resources Capital Trust I, Dominion Resources Capital Trust II, Dominion Resources Capital Trust III and Dominion Resources Capital Trust IV and the trustee under the indenture related to our Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Bank of New York also serves as trustee under other indentures under which securities of certain of our affiliates are outstanding.

 

BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT

 

The Senior Notes are represented by one or more fully registered global certificates. Each global certificate is deposited with the trustee on behalf of DTC or its custodian and is registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC. DTC is thus the only registered holder of these securities.

 

The following is based on information furnished to us by DTC:

 

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking

 

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Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants (Direct Participants) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Direct Participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of Direct Participants of DTC and Members of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation, as well as by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC, and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (Indirect Participants). The rules applicable to DTC and its Direct and Indirect Participants are on file with the SEC.

 

Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, who will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security (Beneficial Owner) is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued.

 

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all securities deposited by Direct Participants with the trustee on behalf of DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

 

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct

 

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Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

 

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to the Company as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

 

Principal and interest payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from the Company or its agent on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the Company or the trustee, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of the Company or its agent, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

 

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the Senior Notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Company or the trustee. Under such circumstances, if a successor securities depository is not obtained, security certificates are required to be printed and delivered.

 

The Company may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, security certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.

 

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

 

We have no responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Participants of their respective obligations as described in this prospectus or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.

 

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS

 

This discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the Senior Notes applicable to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below). This discussion is based on interpretations of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury regulations issued thereunder, and rulings and decisions currently in effect (or in some cases proposed), all of which are subject to change. Any such change may be

 

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applied retroactively and may adversely affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not deal with all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular investors who are not Non-U.S. Holders or to investors subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws, nor does it deal with the tax consequences under the laws of any foreign, state or local taxing jurisdictions. Accordingly, prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences of investing in the Senior Notes, as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction to which they may be subject.

 

As used in this discussion, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of Senior Notes that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

  a nonresident alien individual,

 

  a foreign corporation other than a controlled foreign corporation or a passive foreign investment company,

 

  an estate whose income is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis, or

 

  a trust if no court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over its administration or if no United States person has the authority to control all of its substantial decisions.

 

Interest payments on the Senior Notes to Non-U.S. Holders will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

  the Non-U.S. Holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Company’s stock entitled to vote,

 

  the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is related to the Company through actual or constructive ownership, and

 

  the payments are not effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States and either (a) the Non-U.S. Holder provides a correct, complete and executed IRS Form W-8BEN, Form W-8EXP or Form W-8IMY (or successor form) with all of the attachments required by the IRS, or (b) the Non-U.S. Holder holds its Senior Notes through a qualified intermediary (generally a foreign financial institution or clearing organization or a non-U.S. branch or office of a U.S. financial institution or clearing organization that is a party to a withholding agreement with the IRS) which has provided an IRS Form W-8IMY stating that it is a qualified intermediary and has received documentation upon which it can rely to treat the payment as made to a foreign person.

 

If any of these exceptions identified above apply, interest on the Senior Notes will be subject to a 30% withholding tax when paid, unless an income tax treaty reduces or eliminates the tax or the interest is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business and the Non-U.S. Holder provides a correct, complete and executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form). In the latter event, Non-U.S. Holders will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to all income from the Senior Notes in the same manner as U.S. holders. In addition, Non-U.S. Holders that are corporations could be subject to a branch profits tax on such income.

 

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In general, gain realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of the Senior Notes by a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless:

 

  the gain with respect to the Senior Notes is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States, in which case the gain will be taxed in the same manner as interest that is effectively connected to such trade or business, or

 

  the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual who holds the Senior Notes as a capital asset and is present in the United States for more than 182 days in the taxable year of the sale or other disposition of the Senior Notes and certain other conditions are satisfied.

 

Backup withholding will not be required with respect to interest paid to Non-U.S. Holders, so long as the Company has received from the Non-U.S. Holder a correct and complete IRS Form W-8BEN, Form W-8ECI, Form W-8EXP or Form W-8IMY (or successor form) with all of the attachments required by the IRS. Interest paid to a Non-U.S. Holder will be reported on IRS Form 1042-S, which is filed with the IRS and sent to Non-U.S. Holders.

 

Information reporting and backup withholding may apply to the proceeds of a sale of Senior Notes by a Non-U.S. Holder made within the United States or conducted through certain U.S. related financial intermediaries, unless the Company receives one of the IRS tax forms described above.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax and may be refunded (or credited against U.S. federal income tax liability, if any), provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS. The information reporting requirements may apply regardless of whether withholding is required. For Non-U.S. Holders, copies of the information returns reporting such interest and withholding also may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which a Non-U.S. Holder is a resident under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or agreement.

 

UNDERWRITING

 

Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement, dated the date of this prospectus supplement (Underwriting Agreement), the underwriters named below have severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to them, the principal amount of the Senior Notes set forth opposite their names below:

 

Name


  Principal Amount
of Senior Notes


Barclays Capital Inc.

  $ 100,000,000

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

    100,000,000

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

    100,000,000

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

    26,000,000

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

    26,000,000

BNY Capital Markets, Inc.

    12,000,000

HVB Capital Markets, Inc.

    12,000,000

KBC Financial Products USA Inc.

    12,000,000

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

    12,000,000
   

    $ 400,000,000
   

 

Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers in connection with the offering of the Senior Notes.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of the several underwriters to purchase and pay for the Senior Notes is subject to, among other things, the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and certain other

 

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conditions. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the Senior Notes if any are taken.

 

The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the Senior Notes directly to the public at the public offering prices set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and part to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of 0.15% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes. The underwriters may allow, and any such dealers may reallow, a concession to certain other dealers not to exceed 0.05% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes. After the initial offering of the Senior Notes, the offering prices and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the underwriters.

 

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, will be approximately $200,000.

 

We have agreed to indemnify each of the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

We do not intend to apply for listing of the Senior Notes on a national securities exchange or for quotation on any automated quotation system, but have been advised by the underwriters that they intend to make a

market in the Senior Notes. The underwriters are not obligated, however, to do so and may discontinue their market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the development, maintenance or liquidity of the trading market for the Senior Notes.

 

In order to facilitate the offering of the Senior Notes, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the prices of the Senior Notes. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in the Senior Notes for the underwriters. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the prices of the Senior Notes, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the Senior Notes in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may reclaim selling concessions allowed to a dealer for distributing the Senior Notes in the offering, if they repurchase previously distributed Senior Notes in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price for the Senior Notes above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

 

The underwriters and their affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and currently perform and may in the future perform various investment or commercial banking, trust and financial advisory services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business. Without limitation, we have engaged J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. as co-adviser with respect to the potential sale of certain of our exploration and production operations and assets, as described above under DOMINION—Recent Developments on page S-14.

 

Some of the underwriters or their affiliates may receive a portion of the net proceeds of this offering. See USE OF PROCEEDS on page S-14. If more than 10% of the net proceeds of this offering is to be paid to the underwriters or their affiliates, the NASD Conduct Rules require that the offering be conducted by the underwriters in compliance with NASD Rule 2710(c)(8).

 

 

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In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (as defined below), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that member state it has not made and will not make an offer of Senior Notes to the public in that member state, except that it may, with effect from and including such date, make an offer of Senior Notes to the public in that member state.

 

  at any time to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

  at any time to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or

 

  at any time in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For the purposes of the above, the expression an “offer of Senior Notes to the public” in relation to any Senior Notes in any member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Senior Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to acquire the Senior Notes, as the same may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in that member state.

 

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of the Senior Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of such act does not apply to us and it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of such act with respect to anything done by it in relation to any Senior Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters in connection with the offering of the Senior Notes will be passed upon for us by McGuireWoods LLP, and for the underwriters by Troutman Sanders LLP, which also performs certain legal services for us and our other affiliates on other matters.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005, and the related financial statement schedule and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, both incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting

 

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firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule and which report on the consolidated financial statements includes an explanatory paragraph as to changes in accounting principles in 2005 for conditional asset retirement obligations and in 2003 for asset retirement obligations, contracts involved in energy trading, derivative contracts not held for trading purposes, derivative contracts with a price adjustment feature and the consolidation of variable interest entities, (2) express an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment regarding the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and (3) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PROSPECTUS

LOGO

 

DOMINION RESOURCES, INC.

120 Tredegar Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219

(804) 819-2000

 

Senior Debt Securities

 

From time to time, we may offer and sell our senior debt securities. The senior debt securities we may offer may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for other senior debt securities or other securities of the Company.

 

We will file prospectus supplements and may provide other offering materials that furnish specific terms of the securities to be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the securities will include the initial offering price, aggregate amount of the offering, listing on any securities exchange or quotation system, investment considerations and the agents, dealers or underwriters, if any, to be used in connection with the sale of the securities. You should read this prospectus and any supplement or other offering materials carefully before you invest.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

This prospectus is dated February 13, 2006.


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell any of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement or other offering materials that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the offered securities will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials as necessary. The prospectus supplement or other offering materials may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or other offering materials together with additional information described under the heading WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION. When we use the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “Dominion” or the “Company” in this prospectus, we are referring to Dominion Resources, Inc. You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or other offering materials. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or other offering materials is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, and other information with the SEC. Our file number with the SEC is 001-08489. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. You may also read and copy these documents at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 while we are making offerings using this prospectus:

 

  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004;

 

  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2005, June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005; and

 

  Current Reports on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2005, January 27, 2005, March 3, 2005, April 26, 2005, May 18, 2005, May 31, 2005, June 17, 2005, July 12, 2005, August 18, 2005, September 6, 2005, September 26, 2005, December 15, 2005, December 16, 2005, January 13, 2006, and January 26, 2006.

 

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You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

 

    Corporate Secretary

    Dominion Resources, Inc.

    120 Tredegar Street

    Richmond, Virginia 23219

    (804) 819-2000

 

SAFE HARBOR AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus or other offering materials may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements. Examples include discussions as to our expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives and future financial or other performance. These statements, by their nature, involve estimates, projections, forecasts and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ substantially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements may accompany the statements themselves; generally applicable factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statements will be discussed in our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K incorporated by reference herein and in prospectus supplements and other offering materials.

 

By making forward-looking statements, we are not intending to become obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or other changes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as at their dates.

 

THE COMPANY

 

Dominion is a fully integrated gas and electric energy holding company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As of September 30, 2005, we had approximately $55.6 billion in assets.

 

We manage our operations through four primary business lines that integrate our electric and gas services, streamline operations, and position us for long-term growth in the competitive marketplace:

 

Dominion Delivery—Dominion Delivery manages our regulated electric and gas distribution systems serving approximately 4.0 million customer accounts and our customer service operations. Our electric distribution operations serve residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Gas distribution operations serve residential, commercial and industrial gas sales and transportation customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Dominion Delivery also operates our nonregulated retail energy marketing business serving approximately 1.1 million customer accounts in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest and manages 200 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

 

Dominion Energy—Dominion Energy manages our 7,900 miles of gas transmission pipeline, our 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines, an approximately 760 billion cubic foot natural gas storage network and our Cove Point, Maryland liquefied natural gas facility. It oversees certain natural gas production located in the Appalachian Basin and producer services, including aggregation of gas supply,

 

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market-based services related to gas transportation and storage and associated gas trading.

 

Dominion Exploration & Production—Dominion Exploration & Production manages our onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production activities. With approximately 5.9 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves and, under normal conditions, approximately 1.2 billion cubic feet equivalent of daily production, Dominion Exploration & Production is one of the nation’s largest independent oil and gas operators. We operate offshore on the outer continental shelf and deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in western Canada, the Appalachian Basin, the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent Region and other selected regions in the continental United States.

 

Dominion Generation—Dominion Generation manages our approximately 28,100 megawatt portfolio of electric power generation and guides our generation growth strategy and energy trading and marketing activities associated with optimization of our generation assets. The generation mix is diversified and includes coal, nuclear, gas, oil, hydro and purchased power. Our strategy for our electric generation operations focuses on serving customers in the MAIN-to-Maine region. Our generation facilities are located in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

 

Principal Subsidiaries

 

Dominion’s principal direct, legal subsidiaries include Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion Virginia Power), a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, Consolidated Natural Gas Company (CNG), an oil and gas producer, and a transporter, distributor and retail marketer of natural gas serving customers in the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest, Dominion Energy, Inc., which is involved in merchant electric generation, energy trading and marketing and natural gas exploration and production and Virginia Power Energy Marketing, which provides fuel and risk management services to Dominion Virginia Power and engages in price risk management activities on behalf of other Dominion Subsidiaries.

 

Other

 

For additional information about us, see WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION in this prospectus.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of securities to meet a portion of the general capital requirements of the Company, including the refinancing of our outstanding debt including our commercial paper and for other general corporate purposes.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

For purposes of this ratio, earnings are determined by adding distributed income of equity investees and fixed charges (excluding interest capitalized) to income before income taxes and minority interest after eliminating the equity in earnings or losses of equity investees. These earnings are then divided by total fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest charges (without reduction for Allowance for Funds Used During Construction) on long-term and short-term debt, interest capitalized, the portion of rental expense that is representative of the interest factor and preferred stock dividends of consolidated subsidiaries (grossed-up by a factor of pre-tax net income divided by net income).

 

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

 

9 Months

Ended
Septem-

ber 30,
20051


 

12 Months

Ended
Septem-

ber 30,
20052


                   
   

Years Ended December 31,


    20043

  20034

  2002

  20015

  20006

2.33

 

2.28

  2.78   2.29   2.82   1.82   1.56

1   Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 include $567 million in charges related to the impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, primarily reflecting the de-designation of hedge contracts resulting from the delay of natural gas and oil production following the hurricanes, a $77 million charge related to the termination of a power purchase contract, $21 million in net charges connected to trading activities discontinued in 2004, including the Batesville long-term power-tolling contract divested in the second quarter of 2005, and other activities, and $16 million in impairment charges related to Dominion Capital, Inc. assets. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
2   Earnings for the twelve months ended September 30, 2005 include $567 million in charges related to the impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, primarily reflecting the de-designation of hedge contracts resulting from the delay of natural gas and oil production following the hurricanes, $179 million in charges resulting from the termination of certain long-term power purchase contracts, $25 million of impairment charges related to Dominion’s investment in and planned divestiture of Dominion Capital, Inc., a $198 million charge related to Dominion’s divestiture of its interest in a long-term power tolling contract, a $10 million charge related to the sale of natural gas and oil production assets in British Columbia, and $14 million of charges related to other items. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended September 30, 2005.
3   Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 include $76 million of impairment charges related to Dominion’s investment in and planned divestiture of Dominion Capital, Inc., a $23 million benefit associated with the disposition of certain assets held for sale, an $18 million benefit from the reduction of accrued expenses associated with Hurricane Isabel restoration activities, $96 million of losses related to the discontinuance of hedge accounting for certain oil hedges and subsequent changes in the fair value of those hedges during the third quarter following Hurricane Ivan, $71 million in charges resulting from the termination of certain long-term power purchase contracts, a $184 million charge related to the valuation of Dominion’s interest in a long-term power tolling contract, a $10 million charge related to the sale of natural gas and oil production assets in British Columbia, and $27 million of charges related to net legal settlements and other items. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004.
4   Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 include a $134 million impairment of Dominion Capital, Inc. assets, $28 million for severance costs related to workforce reductions, an $84 million impairment of certain assets held for sale, $197 million for restoration expenses related to Hurricane Isabel, a $105 million charge related to the termination of a power purchase contract, $64 million in charges for the restructuring and termination of certain electric sales contracts, and a $144 million charge related to our investment in Dominion Telecom, Inc. including impairments, the cost of refinancings, and reallocation of equity losses. Excluding these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003.
5   Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001 include $220 million related to the cost of the buyout of power purchase contracts and non-utility generating plants previously serving the company under long-term contracts, a $40 million loss associated with the divestiture of Saxon Capital Inc., a $281 million write-down of Dominion Capital, Inc. assets, a $151 million charge associated with Dominion’s estimated Enron-related exposure, and a $105 million charge associated with a senior management restructuring initiative and related costs. Excluding these items from the calculation above would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001.
6   Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2000 include $579 million in restructuring and other acquisition-related costs resulting from the CNG acquisition and a write-down at Dominion Capital, Inc. Excluding these items from the calculation above would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2000.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 

We will issue the Senior Debt Securities (also referred to in this prospectus as Debt Securities) in one or more series under our Senior Indenture dated as of June 1, 2000 between us and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as trustee, as supplemented from time to time. We have summarized selected provisions of the Senior Indenture below. The Senior Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, and you should read the Senior Indenture for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to section numbers of the Senior Indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in this description have the meanings specified in the Senior Indenture.

 

General

 

The Senior Debt Securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt.

 

Because we are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the Debt Securities is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Holders of Debt Securities will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders. As of September 30, 2005, Dominion Virginia Power had approximately 2.59 million issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock. In addition to trade debt, all of our operating subsidiaries have ongoing corporate debt programs used to finance their business activities. As of September 30, 2005, our subsidiaries had approximately $9.1 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year).

 

The Senior Indenture does not limit the amount of Debt Securities that we may issue under it. We may issue Debt Securities from time to time under the Senior Indenture in one or more series by entering into supplemental indentures or by our Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee authorizing the issuance. A form of supplemental indenture to the Senior Indenture is an exhibit to the registration statement.

 

The Senior Indenture does not protect the holders of Debt Securities if we engage in a highly leveraged transaction.

 

Provisions of a Particular Series

 

The Debt Securities of a series need not be issued at the same time, bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a series, a series may be reopened, without notice to or consent of any holder of outstanding Debt Securities, for issuances of additional Debt Securities of that series. The prospectus supplement or other offering materials for a particular series of Debt Securities will specify the terms of that series, including, if applicable, some or all of the following:

 

    the title and type of the Debt Securities;

 

    the total principal amount of the Debt Securities;

 

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    the portion of the principal payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the entire principal;

 

    the date or dates on which principal is payable or the method for determining the date or dates, and any right that we have to change the date on which principal is payable;

 

    the interest rate or rates, if any, or the method for determining the rate or rates, and the date or dates from which interest will accrue;

 

    any interest payment dates and the regular record date for the interest payable on each interest payment date, if any;

 

    any payments due if the maturity of the Debt Securities is accelerated;

 

    any optional redemption terms or any other repayment terms;

 

    any provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the Debt Securities, or any sinking fund provisions;

 

    the currency in which payments will be made if other than U.S. dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent of those amounts in U.S. dollars;

 

    if payments may be made, at our election or at the holder’s election, in a currency other than that in which the Debt Securities are stated to be payable, then the currency in which those payments may be made, the terms and conditions of the election and the manner of determining those amounts;

 

    any index or formula used for determining principal, interest, or premium, if any;

 

    the percentage of the principal amount at which the Debt Securities will be issued, if other than 100% of the principal amount;

 

 

    whether the Debt Securities are to be issued in fully registered certificated form or in book-entry form represented by certificates deposited with, or on behalf of, a securities depositary and registered in the name of the depositary’s nominee (Book-Entry Debt Securities);

 

    denominations, if other than $1,000 each or multiples of $1,000;

 

    any changes to events of defaults or covenants; and

 

    any other terms of the Debt Securities. (Sections 201 & 301 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

The prospectus supplement or other offering materials will also indicate any special tax implications of the Debt Securities and any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs.

 

Conversion or Redemption

 

No Debt Security will be subject to conversion, amortization, or redemption, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. Any provisions relating to the conversion or redemption of Debt Securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, including whether conversion is mandatory or at our option. If no redemption date or redemption price is indicated with respect to a Debt Security, we cannot redeem the Debt Security before the Stated Maturity. Debt Securities subject to redemption by us will be subject to the following terms:

 

    redeemable on and after the applicable redemption dates;

 

    redemption dates and redemption prices fixed at the time of sale and set forth on the Debt Security; and

 

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    redeemable in whole or in part (provided that any remaining principal amount of the Debt Security will be equal to an authorized denomination) at our option at the applicable redemption price, together with interest, payable to the date of redemption, on notice given not more than 60 nor less than 20 days before the date of redemption. (Section 1104 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

We will not be required to:

 

    issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Securities of a series during the

period beginning 15 days before the date the notice is mailed identifying the Debt Securities of that series that have been selected for redemption; or

 

    register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Security of that series selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of a Debt Security being partially redeemed. (Section 305 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Repayment at the Option of the Holder; Repurchases by the Company

 

We must repay the Debt Securities at the option of the Holders before the Stated Maturity Date only if specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the Debt Securities subject to repayment at the option of the Holder will be subject to repayment:

 

    on the specified Repayment Dates; and

 

    at a repayment price equal to 100% of the unpaid principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued to the Repayment Date. (Section 1302 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

For any Senior Debt Security to be repaid, the Trustee must receive, at its office maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days before the date of repayment:

 

    in the case of a certificated Senior Debt Security, the certificated Senior Debt Security and the form in the Senior Debt Security entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase duly completed; or

 

    in the case of a book-entry Senior Debt Security, instructions to that effect from the beneficial owner to the securities depositary and forwarded by the securities depositary. Exercise of the repayment option by the Holder will be irrevocable. (Section 1303 of the Senior Indenture)

 

Only the securities depositary may exercise the repayment option in respect of beneficial interests in the book-entry Senior Debt Securities. Accordingly, beneficial owners that desire repayment in respect of all or any portion of their beneficial interests must instruct the participants through which they own their interests to direct the securities depositary to exercise the repayment option on their behalf. All instructions given to participants from beneficial owners relating to the option to elect repayment will be irrevocable. In addition, at the time the instructions are given, each beneficial owner will cause the participant through which it owns its interest to transfer its interest in the book-entry Senior Debt Securities or the global certificate representing the related book-entry Senior Debt Securities, on the securities depositary’s records, to the Trustee. See DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES—Global Securities.

 

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Payment and Transfer; Paying Agent

 

The paying agent will pay the principal of any Debt Securities only if those Debt Securities are surrendered to it. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the paying agent will pay principal, interest and premium, if any, on Debt Securities, subject to such surrender, where applicable, at its office or, at our option:

 

  by wire transfer to an account at a banking institution in the United States that is designated in writing to the Trustee before the deadline set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials by the person entitled to that payment (which in the case of Book-Entry Debt Securities is the securities depositary or its nominee); or

 

  by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to that interest as that address appears in the security register for those Debt Securities. (Sections 307 & 1001 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Book-Entry Debt Security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests. We expect that the securities depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, in a Book-Entry Debt Security, will credit immediately the accounts of the related participants with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interest in the Book-Entry Debt Security as shown on the records of the securities depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Book- Entry Debt Security will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name” and will be the responsibility of the participants.

 

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the Trustee will act as paying agent for the Debt Securities, and the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee will be the office through which the paying agent acts. We may, however, change or add paying agents or approve a change in the office through which a paying agent acts. (Section 1002 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Any money that we have paid to a paying agent for principal or interest on any Debt Securities which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after that principal or interest has become due will be repaid to us at our request. After repayment to the Company, holders should look only to us for those payments. (Section 1003 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency we maintain for those purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge and related expenses. (Section 1002 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Global Securities

 

We may issue some or all of the Debt Securities as Book-Entry Debt Securities. Book-Entry Debt Securities will be represented by one or more fully registered global certificates. Book-Entry Debt Securities of like tenor and terms up to $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount

 

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may be represented by a single global certificate. Each global certificate will be registered with the securities depositary or its nominee and deposited with the securities depositary or its custodian. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive form, a global certificate may generally be transferred only as a whole unless it is being transferred to certain nominees of the depositary. (Section 305 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Unless otherwise stated in any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, The Depository Trust Company will act as the securities depositary. Beneficial interests in global certificates will be shown on, and transfers of global certificates will be effected only through, records maintained by the securities depositary and its participants. If there are any additional or differing terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to the Book-Entry Debt Securities, we will describe them in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

 

Holders of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Debt Securities represented by a global certificate are referred to as beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will be limited to institutions having accounts with the securities depositary or its nominee, which are called participants in this discussion, and to persons that hold beneficial interests through participants. When a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities is issued, the securities depositary will credit on its book-entry, registration and transfer system the principal amounts of Book-Entry Debt Securities the global certificate represents to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global certificate will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by:

 

    the securities depositary, with respect to participants’ interests; and

 

    any participant, with respect to interests the participant holds on behalf of other persons.

 

As long as the securities depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities, that person will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global certificate and the Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents for all purposes. Except in limited circumstances, beneficial owners:

 

    may not have the global certificate or any Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents registered in their names;

 

    may not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Book-Entry Debt Securities in exchange for the global certificate; and

 

    will not be considered the owners or holders of the global certificate or any Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents for any purposes under the Debt Securities or the Senior Indenture. (Section 308 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

We will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, on a Book-Entry Debt Security to the securities depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global certificate. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global certificate.

 

Payments participants make to beneficial owners holding interests through

 

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those participants will be the responsibility of those participants. The securities depositary may from time to time adopt various policies and procedures governing payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global certificate. None of the following will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the securities depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to beneficial interests in a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities, for payments made on account of those beneficial interests or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests:

 

    the Company;

 

    the Trustee; or

 

    any agent of any of the above.

 

Covenants

 

Under the Senior Indenture we will:

 

    pay the principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities when due;

 

    maintain a place of payment;

 

    deliver an officer’s certificate to the Trustee at the end of each fiscal year confirming our compliance with our obligations under the Senior Indenture;

 

    preserve and keep in full force and effect our corporate existence except as provided in the Senior Indenture; and

 

    deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the due date for any principal, interest or premium, if any. (Sections 1001, 1002, 1003 & 1006 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

The Senior Indenture provides that we may consolidate or merge with or into, or sell all or substantially all our assets to, another Person, provided that any successor assumes our obligations under the Senior Indenture and the Debt Securities issued under the Senior Indenture. We must also deliver an opinion of counsel to the Trustee affirming our compliance with all conditions in the Senior Indenture relating to the transaction. When the conditions are satisfied, the successor will succeed to and be substituted for us and, in the case of a sale of all or substantially all our assets, we will be relieved of our obligations under the Senior Indenture. (Sections 801 & 802 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Events of Default

 

Event of Default when used in the Senior Indenture, will mean any of the following with respect to Debt Securities of any series:

 

    failure to pay the principal or any premium on any Debt Security when due;

 

    failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for that series when due that continues for 60 days;

 

    failure to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series, when due, that continues for 60 days;

 

    failure to perform any other covenant in the Senior Indenture (other than a covenant expressly included solely for the benefit of other series) that continues for 90 days after the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series give us written notice of the default;

 

    certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company; or

 

   

any other Event of Default included in the Senior Indenture or any

 

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supplemental indenture. (Section 501 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

In the case of a general covenant default described above, the Trustee may extend the grace period. In addition, if holders of a particular series have given a notice of default, then holders of at least the same percentage of Debt Securities of that series, together with the Trustee, may also extend the grace period. The grace period will be automatically extended if we have initiated and are diligently pursuing corrective action.

 

An Event of Default for a particular series of Debt Securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of Debt Securities issued under the Senior Indenture. Additional events of default may be established for a particular series and, if established, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

 

If an Event of Default for any series of Debt Securities occurs and continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series can void the declaration. (Section 502 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of Debt Securities of any default (except in the payment of principal or interest) if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. Other than its duties in case of a default, a Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Senior Indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the Trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this reasonable indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of Debt Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the Trustee, for any series of Debt Securities. However, the Trustee must give the holders of Debt Securities notice of any default to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act. (Sections 512, 601, 602 & 603 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

The holder of any Debt Security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium and, within certain limitations, any interest on that Debt Security on its maturity date or redemption date and to enforce those payments. (Section 508 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Defeasance

 

We will be discharged from our obligations on the Senior Debt Securities of any series at any time if we deposit with the Trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the Senior Debt Securities of the series. If this happens, the holders of the Senior Debt Securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the Senior Indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of Senior Debt Securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated Senior Debt Securities. (Section 402 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Under federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, a discharge may be treated as an exchange of the related Senior

 

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Debt Securities. Each holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holder’s cost or other tax basis for the Senior Debt Securities and the value of the holder’s interest in the defeasance trust. Holders might be required to include as income a different amount than would be includable without the discharge. We urge prospective investors to consult their own tax advisers as to the consequences of a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the federal income tax law.

 

Satisfaction; Discharge

 

We may discharge all our obligations (except those described below) to holders of the Debt Securities issued under the Senior Indenture, which Debt Securities have not already been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and which either have become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, by depositing with the Trustee an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due the principal, interest and premium, if any, on all outstanding Debt Securities. However, certain of our obligations under the Senior Indenture will survive, including with respect to the following:

 

    remaining rights to register the transfer, conversion, substitution or exchange of Debt Securities of the applicable series;

 

    rights of holders to receive payments of principal of, and any interest on, the Debt Securities of the applicable series, and other rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Debt Securities with respect to any amounts deposited with the Trustee; and

 

    the rights, obligations and immunities of the Trustee under the Senior Indenture. (Section 401 of Senior Indenture.)

 

Modification of Senior Indenture; Waiver

 

Under the Senior Indenture our rights and obligations and the rights of the holders may be modified with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by the modification. No modification of the principal or interest payment terms, and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications, is effective against any holder without its consent. (Section 902 of the Senior Indenture.) In addition, we may supplement the Senior Indenture to create new series of Debt Securities and for certain other purposes, without the consent of any holders of Debt Securities. (Section 901 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

The holders of a majority of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series under the Senior Indenture with respect to which a default has occurred and is continuing may waive a default for all those series, except a default in the payment of principal or interest, or any premium, on any Debt Securities or a default with respect to a covenant or provision which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security of the series affected. (Section 513 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

Concerning the Trustee

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is the Trustee under the Senior Indenture. We and certain of our affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. also serves as trustee under other indentures under which we and

 

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certain of our affiliates have issued securities. Affiliates of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. have purchased, and are likely to purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates.

 

The Trustee will perform only those duties that are specifically described in the Senior Indenture unless an event of default under the Senior Indenture occurs and is continuing. The Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers under the Senior Indenture at the request of any holder of Debt Securities unless that holder offers reasonable indemnity to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur as a result. (Section 601 of the Senior Indenture.)

 

The Trustee administers its corporate trust business at 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004 (Attention: Worldwide Securities Services).

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The legality of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered will be passed on for us by McGuireWoods LLP. As of February 1, 2006, partners of McGuireWoods LLP owned less than 1% of our common stock. Underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, who we will identify in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, may have their counsel pass upon certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered by this prospectus.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements, the related financial statement schedule, and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference (which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule and which report on the consolidated financial statements includes an explanatory paragraph as to changes in accounting principles in 2003 for: asset retirement obligations, contracts involved in energy trading, derivative contracts not held for trading purposes, derivative contracts with a price adjustment feature, the consolidation of variable interest entities, and guarantees, (2) express an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment regarding the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and (3) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting) and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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