SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) June 18, 2019

 

 

Southwestern Public Service Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

New Mexico

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

001-03789     75-0575400

(Commission

File Number)

   

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

        790 South Buchanan, Amarillo, Texas   79101
                (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (303) 571-7511

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

N/A   N/A   N/A

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b 2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 8.01.

Other Events.

On June 18, 2019, Southwestern Public Service Company, a New Mexico corporation (SPS), issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049 (the Bonds) pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement among SPS and BofA Securities, Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., as underwriters named therein. The Bonds are being issued pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-224333-01) (the Registration Statement). A prospectus supplement relating to the offering and sale of the Bonds was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2019. The Bonds will be governed by the Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2011, by and between SPS and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 7 dated as of June 1, 2019.

This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed to report as exhibits certain documents in connection with that offering and sale for incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

  

Description

  4.01    Indenture dated as of August  1, 2011 between Southwestern Public Service Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by SPS on August 10, 2011, file no. 001-03789).
  4.02    Supplemental Indenture No. 7 dated as of June  1, 2019 between Southwestern Public Service Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, creating 3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049.
  4.03    Form of 3.75% First Mortgage Bonds due 2049 (included in Exhibit 4.02).
  5.01    Opinion of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP as to the legality of the securities.
  5.02    Opinion of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP as to the legality of the securities.
  5.03    Opinion of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C. as to the legality of the securities.
23.01    Consent of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP (included in Exhibit 5.01).
23.02    Consent of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.02).
23.03    Consent of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.03)

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Southwestern Public Service Company

(a New Mexico Corporation)

By:  

/s/ Sarah W. Soong

  Name:   Sarah W. Soong
  Title:   Vice President and Treasurer

Date: June 18, 2019

Exhibit 4.02

Execution Version

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

(First Mortgage Bonds)

SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY

TO

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 

 

This Instrument Grants A Security Interest By A Utility.

This Instrument Contains After-Acquired Property Provisions.

The following addresses for the parties to this Supplemental Indenture No. 7 are set out in Section 108 of the Indenture hereinafter referred to:

 

  Trustee:    Company:   
  U.S. Bank National Association    Southwestern Public Service Company   
  U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services    790 South Buchanan   
  60 Livingston Avenue, EP-MN-WS3C    Amarillo, Texas 79101   
  St. Paul, MN 55107-2292      
  Facsimile No. 651-495-8097      
  Attention: Joshua A. Hahn      

 

 

Supplemental Indenture No. 7

Dated as of June 1, 2019

Supplemental to the Indenture

dated as of August 1, 2011

Filed as Texas Utility Security Instrument File No. 11-0022610194

as supplemented by Supplemental Indentures filed with the Texas Secretary of State

Filed with New Mexico Secretary of State on August 2, 2011, as Public Utility Filing No. 599,

as supplemented by Supplemental Indentures filed with the New Mexico Secretary of State

 

 

Establishing the Securities of Series No. 7,

Designated 3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049


SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE NO.  7 , dated as of June 1, 2019 between SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY , a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Mexico (hereinafter sometimes called the “ Company ”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , a national banking association, as trustee (hereinafter sometimes called the “ Trustee ”) under the Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2011 (hereinafter called the “ Original Indenture ”), as previously supplemented and as further supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture No. 7. The Original Indenture and any and all indentures and all other instruments supplemental thereto are hereinafter sometimes collectively called the “ Indenture.

Recitals of the Company

The Original Indenture was authorized, executed and delivered by the Company to provide for the issuance from time to time of its Securities (such term and all other capitalized terms used herein without definition having the meanings assigned to them in the Original Indenture), to be issued in one or more series as contemplated therein, and to provide security for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities. The Original Indenture has been filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of New Mexico and in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Texas, and notices with respect to such filings have been recorded in each county in New Mexico and each county in Texas in which the Company owns real property that is used or intended to be used in or in connection with the Electric Utility Business, as more fully set forth in Schedule A hereto.

The Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee the Supplemental Indentures referred to in Schedule B for the purpose of establishing a series of securities.

The Company desires to establish a new series of Securities to be designated “3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049,” such series of Securities to be hereinafter sometimes called “ Series No.  7 .”

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture No. 7 to establish the Securities of Series No. 7 and has duly authorized the issuance of such Securities; and all acts necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture No. 7 a valid agreement of the Company, and to make the Securities of Series No. 7 valid obligations of the Company, have been performed.

Granting Clauses

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE NO.  7 WITNESSETH , that, in consideration of the premises and of the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, and in order to secure the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all Securities from time to time Outstanding and the performance of the covenants contained therein and in the Indenture and to declare the terms and conditions on which such Securities are secured, the Company hereby grants, bargains, sells, releases, conveys,

 

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assigns, transfers, mortgages, pledges, sets over and confirms to the Trustee, and grants to the Trustee a security interest in and lien on, the following:

Granting Clause First

All right, title and interest of the Company, as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture No. 7, in and to all property (other than Excepted Property), real, personal and mixed, located in the State of Texas or in the State of New Mexico and used or intended to be used in or in connection with the Electric Utility Business (whether or not such use is the sole use of such property), including all right, title and interest of the Company in and to the following property (other than Excepted Property) so located and so used or intended to be so used: (a) all real property owned in fee, easements, servitudes, rights of way and other rights and interests in or relating to real property used or intended to be used in or in connection with the Electric Utility Business or relating to the occupancy or use of such real property, including but not limited to that described in Schedule C hereto; (b) all plants, generators, turbines, engines, boilers, fuel handling and transportation facilities, air and water pollution control and sewage and solid waste disposal facilities, whether or not control or disposal of such substances is the exclusive function or purpose of such facilities, and other machinery and facilities for the generation of electric energy; (c) all switchyards, lines, towers, substations, transformers and other machinery and facilities for the transmission of electric energy; (d) all lines, poles, conduits, conductors, meters, regulators and other machinery and facilities for the distribution of electric energy; (e) all buildings, offices, warehouses and other structures used or intended to be used in or in connection with the Electric Utility Business; (f) all pipes, cables, insulators, ducts, tools, computers and other data processing and/or storage equipment and other equipment, apparatus and facilities used or intended to be used in or in connection with the Electric Utility Business; (g) any or all of the foregoing properties in the process of construction; and (h) all other property, of whatever kind and nature, ancillary to or otherwise used or intended to be used in conjunction with any or all of the foregoing or otherwise, directly or indirectly, in furtherance of the Electric Utility Business;

Granting Clause Second

Subject to the applicable exceptions permitted by Section 709(d), Section 1203 and Section 1205 of the Original Indenture, all right, title and interest of the Company in and to all property (other than Excepted Property) of the kind and nature described in Granting Clause First which may be hereafter acquired by the Company, it being the intention of the Company that all such property acquired by the Company after the date of the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture No. 7 shall be as fully embraced within and subjected to the Lien hereof as if such property were owned by the Company as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture No. 7;

Granting Clause Third

All other property of whatever kind and nature subjected or required to be subjected to the Lien of the Indenture by any of the provisions thereof;

 

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Excepted Property

Expressly excepting and excluding, however, from the Lien and operation of the Indenture all Excepted Property of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired;

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all such property, real, personal and mixed, unto the Trustee, its successors in trust and their assigns forever;

SUBJECT, HOWEVER, to (a) Existing Liens, (b) Acquisition Liens, (c) Retained Interests and (d) any other Permitted Liens;

IN TRUST, NEVERTHELESS, for the equal and ratable benefit and security of the Holders from time to time of all Outstanding Securities without any priority of any such Security over any other such Security;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right, title and interest of the Trustee in and to the Mortgaged Property shall cease, terminate and become void in accordance with, and subject to the conditions set forth in, Article Eight of the Original Indenture; otherwise the Indenture, and the estate and rights thereby granted shall be and remain in full force and effect; and

THE PARTIES HEREBY FURTHER COVENANT AND AGREE as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

Securities of Series No. 7

There are hereby established the Securities of Series No. 7, which shall have the terms and characteristics set forth below (the lettered subdivisions set forth below corresponding to the lettered subdivisions of Section 301 of the Original Indenture):

(a)    the title of the Securities of Series No. 7 shall be “3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049”;

(b)    the Securities of Series No. 7 shall initially be authenticated and delivered in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000. The Securities of Series No. 7 may be reopened and additional Securities of Series No. 7 may be issued in excess of the amount initially authenticated and delivered, provided that such additional Securities of Series No. 7 will contain the same terms (including the Stated Maturity and interest payment terms), except for the public offering price, the issue date and, if applicable, the first interest accrual and payment dates, as the other Securities of Series No. 7. Any such additional Securities of Series No. 7, together with the Securities of Series No. 7 initially authenticated, shall constitute a single series for purposes of the Indenture and shall be limited to an aggregate principal amount of $800,000,000;

(c)    interest on the Securities of Series No. 7 shall be payable to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or one or more Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, except as otherwise expressly provided in the form of such Securities attached as Exhibit A hereto;

 

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(d)    the principal of the Securities of Series No. 7 shall be payable on June 15, 2049, the Stated Maturity for Series No. 7;

(e)    the Securities of Series No. 7 shall bear interest at a rate of 3.75% per annum; interest shall accrue on the Securities of Series No. 7 from June 18, 2019 or the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for such Securities shall be June 15 and December 15 in each year, commencing December 15, 2019 and the Regular Record Dates with respect to the Interest Payment Dates for such Securities shall be June 1 and December 1 in each year, respectively (whether or not a Business Day);

(f)    the Corporate Trust Office of U.S. Bank National Association in New York, New York shall be the place at which (i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of Series No. 7 shall be payable, (ii) registration of transfer of such Securities may be effected, (iii) exchanges of such Securities may be effected and (iv) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and the Indenture may be served; and U.S. Bank National Association shall be the Security Registrar for such Securities; provided, however, that the Company reserves the right to change, by one or more Officer’s Certificates, any such place or the Security Registrar; and provided, further, that the Company reserves the right to designate, by one or more Officer’s Certificates, its office in Minneapolis, Minnesota as any such place or itself as the Security Registrar;

(g)    the Securities of Series No. 7 shall be redeemable at the option of the Company at any time prior to their maturity at the redemption prices specified in the form of such Securities attached as Exhibit A hereto;

(h)    not applicable;

(i)    the Securities of Series No. 7 shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

(j)    not applicable;

(k)    not applicable;

(l)    not applicable;

(m)    not applicable;

(n)    not applicable;

(o)    not applicable;

(p)    not applicable;

 

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(q)    the Securities of Series No. 7 are to be initially registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (the “ Depositary ”). Such Securities shall not be transferable or exchangeable, nor shall any purported transfer be registered, except as follows:

 

  (i)

such Securities may be transferred in whole, and appropriate registration of transfer effected, if such transfer is by such nominee to the Depositary, or by the Depositary to another nominee thereof, or by any nominee of the Depositary to any other nominee thereof, or by the Depositary or any nominee thereof to any successor securities depositary or any nominee thereof; and

 

  (ii)

such Securities may be exchanged for definitive Securities registered in the respective names of the beneficial holders thereof, and thereafter shall be transferable without restriction, if:

 

  (A)

the Depositary, or any successor securities depositary, shall have notified the Company and the Trustee that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as securities depositary with respect to such Securities or the Depositary has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Trustee shall not have been notified by the Company within ninety (90) days of the identity of a successor securities depositary with respect to such Securities; or

 

  (B)

the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such Securities shall be so exchangeable on and after a date specified therein; or

 

  (C)

(1) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (2) the Trustee shall have given notice of such Event of Default pursuant to Section 1002 of the Original Indenture and (3) there shall have been delivered to the Company and the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the interests of the beneficial owners of such Securities in respect thereof will be materially impaired unless such owners become Holders of definitive Securities;

(r)    not applicable;

(s)    no service charge shall be made for the registration of transfer or exchange of the Securities of Series No. 7; provided, however, that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the exchange or transfer;

(t)    not applicable; and

 

  (u)

(i) If the Company shall have caused the Company’s indebtedness in respect of any Securities of Series No. 7 to have been satisfied and discharged prior to the

 

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  Maturity of such Securities, as provided in Section 801 of the Original Indenture, the Company shall, promptly after the date of such satisfaction and discharge, give a notice to each Person who was a Holder of any of such Securities on such date stating (A)(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Securities and (2) the aggregate amount of any money (other than amounts, if any, deposited in respect of accrued interest on such Securities) and the aggregate principal amount of, the rate or rates of interest on, and the aggregate fair market value of, any Eligible Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 801 of the Original Indenture with respect to such Securities and (B) that the Company will provide (and the Company shall promptly so provide) to such Person, or any beneficial owner of such Securities holding through such Person (upon written request to the Company sent to an address specified in such notice), such other information as such Person or beneficial owner, as the case may be, reasonably may request in order to enable it to determine the federal income tax consequences to it resulting from the satisfaction and discharge of the Company’s indebtedness in respect of such Securities. Thereafter, the Company shall, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar year, give to each Person who at any time during such calendar year was a Holder of such Securities a notice containing (X) such information as may be necessary to enable such Person to report its income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes with respect to such Securities or the assets held on deposit in respect thereof during such calendar year or the portion thereof during which such Person was a Holder of such Securities, as the case may be (such information to be set forth for such calendar year as a whole and for each month during such year) and (Y) a statement to the effect that the Company will provide (and the Company shall promptly so provide) to such Person, or any beneficial owner of such Securities holding through such Person (upon written request to the Company sent to an address specified in such notice), such other information as such Person or beneficial owner, as the case may be, reasonably may request in order to enable it to determine its income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes with respect to such Securities or such assets for such year or portion thereof, as the case may be. The obligation of the Company to provide or cause to be provided information for purposes of income tax reporting by any Person as described in the first two sentences of this paragraph shall be deemed to have been satisfied to the extent that the Company has provided or caused to be provided substantially comparable information pursuant to any requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “ Code ”) and United States Treasury regulations thereunder.

 

  (ii)

Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (i) above, the Company shall not be required to give any notice specified in such subparagraph or to otherwise furnish any of the information contemplated therein if the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the satisfaction and discharge of the Company’s indebtedness in respect of such Securities and such Holders will be subject to federal income taxation on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as if such satisfaction and discharge had not occurred.

 

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  (iii)

Anything in this clause (u) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be required to give any notice specified in subparagraph (i) or to otherwise furnish the information contemplated therein or to deliver any Opinion of Counsel contemplated by subparagraph (ii) if the Company shall have caused Securities of Series No. 7 to be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the Indenture, as provided in Section 801 of the Original Indenture, but shall not have effected the satisfaction and discharge of its indebtedness in respect of such Securities pursuant to such Section.

The Securities of Series No. 7 shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and shall have such further terms as are set forth in such form.

ARTICLE TWO

Miscellaneous Provisions

This Supplemental Indenture No. 7 is a supplement to the Original Indenture. As previously supplemented and further supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture No. 7, the Original Indenture is in all respects ratified, approved and confirmed, and the Original Indenture, all previous supplements thereto and this Supplemental Indenture No. 7 shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture No. 7 limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c), such imposed duties shall control.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture No. 7 to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Sarah W. Soong

  Name:   Sarah W. Soong
  Its:   Vice President and Treasurer

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA      )
     ) ss.
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN      )

This instrument was acknowledged before me on the 11th day of June 2019, by Sarah W. Soong, the Vice President and Treasurer of Southwestern Public Service Company, a New Mexico corporation, on behalf of said corporation.

 

/s/ Pamela C. Wilson

 

Name: Pamela C. Wilson

Notary Public, State of Minnesota
My commission expires: January 31, 2020

(Seal, if any)

 

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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee

By:  

/s/ Joshua A. Hahn

  Name:   Joshua A. Hahn
  Its:   Vice President

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA    )
   ) ss.
COUNTY OF RAMSEY    )

This instrument was acknowledged before me on the 11th day of June 2019, by Joshua A. Hahn, a Vice President of U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, on behalf of said national banking association.

 

/s/ Judy Ann Galberth

 

Name: Judy Ann Galberth

Notary Public, State of Minnesota
My commission expires: January 31, 2021

(Seal, if any)

 

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EXHIBIT A

FORM OF SECURITY

(See legend at the end of this Security for

restrictions on transfer)

SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY

3.75% First Mortgage Bond, Series No. 7 due 2049

 

Original Interest Accrual Date:

   [                    ]

Interest Rate:

   3.75% per annum

Stated Maturity:

   June 15, 2049

Interest Payment Dates:

   June 15 and December 15

Regular Record Dates:

   June 1 and December 1

CUSIP No.:

   845743 BT9

This Security is not a Discount Security

within the meaning of the within-mentioned Indenture

 

 

 

Principal Amount

   Registered No.  

$        

  

SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Mexico (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby promises to pay to

, or registered assigns, the principal sum of

Dollars on the Stated Maturity specified above, and to pay interest thereon from the Original Interest Accrual Date specified above or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on the Interest Payment Dates specified above in each year, commencing December 15, 2019 and at Maturity, at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for. The interest so payable, and paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date specified above (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest payable at Maturity shall be paid to the Person to whom principal shall be paid. Except as otherwise provided in said Indenture, any such interest not so paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 15 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid in such other manner as permitted by the Indenture.


Payment of the principal of this Security and interest hereon at Maturity shall be made upon presentation of this Security at the Corporate Trust Office of U.S. Bank National Association in New York, New York, or at such other office or agency as may be designated for such purpose by the Company from time to time. Payment of interest on this Security (other than interest at Maturity) shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, except that if such Person shall be a securities depositary, such payment may be made by such other means in lieu of check as shall be agreed upon by the Company, the Trustee and such Person. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Security, as aforesaid, shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and issuable in one or more series under and equally secured by an Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2011 (such Indenture as originally executed and delivered and as supplemented or amended from time to time thereafter, together with any constituent instruments establishing the terms of particular Securities, being herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the property mortgaged, pledged and held in trust, the nature and extent of the security and the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities thereunder and of the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered and secured. The acceptance of this Security shall be deemed to constitute the consent and agreement by the Holder hereof to all of the terms and provisions of the Indenture. This Security is one of the series designated above.

If any Interest Payment Date, any Redemption Date or the Stated Maturity shall not be a Business Day (as hereinafter defined), payment of the amounts due on this Security on such date may be made on the next succeeding Business Day; and, if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day, no interest shall accrue on such amounts for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, such Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day.

This Security shall be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December 15, 2048 (the “Par Call Date”) at a “make whole” redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of this Security being redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on this Security, or portion hereof, being redeemed that would be due if this Security matured on the Par Call Date (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to but excluding the Redemption Date), discounted to but excluding the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the Redemption


Date. This Security shall be redeemable at the option of the Company at any time on or after the Par Call Date, in whole or in part, at 100% of the principal amount of this Security being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of this Security (assuming, for this purpose, that this Security matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to such remaining term of this Security.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means with respect to any Redemption Date (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the Redemption Date, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

“Primary Treasury Dealer” means any primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of BofA Securities, Inc., or its affiliates and successors, (2) a Primary Treasury Dealer designated by each of U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. and KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. or each of their respective affiliates and successors, and (3) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company after consultation with an independent investment banker, provided, however, that if any of the foregoing, or any of their respective designees, ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will appoint another Primary Treasury Dealer as a substitute.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, for any Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for such Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date.

If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of this Security may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.


The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Trustee to enter into one or more supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, the Indenture with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series then Outstanding under the Indenture, considered as one class; provided, however, that if there shall be Securities of more than one series Outstanding under the Indenture and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required; and provided, further, that if the Securities of any series shall have been issued in more than one Tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such Tranches, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all Tranches so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required; and provided, further, that the Indenture permits the Trustee to enter into one or more supplemental indentures for limited purposes without the consent of any Holders of Securities. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Security or any portion of the principal amount hereof will be deemed to have been paid for all purposes of the Indenture and to be no longer Outstanding thereunder, and, at the election of the Company, the Company’s entire indebtedness in respect thereof will be satisfied and discharged, if there has been irrevocably deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company), in trust, money in an amount which will be sufficient and/or Eligible Obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due, without regard to any reinvestment thereof, will provide moneys which, together with moneys so deposited, will be sufficient to pay when due the principal of and interest on this Security when due.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the corporate office of U.S. Bank National Association in New York, New York, or such other office or agency as may be designated by the Company from time to time, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.


The Securities of this series are issuable only as registered Securities, without coupons, and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same, and of like tenor upon surrender of the Security or Securities to be exchanged at the office of U.S. Bank National Association in New York, New York, or such other office or agency as may be designated by the Company from time to time.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law or any successor to such statute), except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as then in effect or any successor statute shall be applicable and except to the extent that the law of any jurisdiction wherein any portion of the property mortgaged pursuant to the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto is located shall mandatorily govern the attachment, perfection, priority or enforcement of the lien of the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto with respect to such portion of the mortgaged property.

As used herein, “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is not a day on which the offices of the Trustee in The City of New York, New York, or other city in which is located any office or agency maintained for the payment of principal or interest on this Security, are generally authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed. All other terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

As provided in the Indenture, no recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities, or any part thereof, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or of the indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement under the Indenture, against, and no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation (either directly or through the Company or a predecessor or successor corporation), whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Indenture and all the Securities are solely corporate obligations and that any such personal liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issuance of the Securities.


Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
By:  

                                                                       

Name:   Sarah W. Soong
Its:   Vice President and Treasurer

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:                     

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

                        as Trustee

By  

                    

Authorized Officer


Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York Corporation (“DTC”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

This Security may not be transferred or exchanged, nor may any purported transfer be registered, except (i) this Security may be transferred in whole, and appropriate registration of transfer effected, if such transfer is by Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC (the “Depositary”), to the Depositary, or by the Depositary to another nominee thereof, or by any nominee of the Depositary to any other nominee thereof, or by the Depositary or any nominee thereof to any successor securities depositary or any nominee thereof; and (ii) this Security may be exchanged for definitive Securities registered in the respective names of the beneficial holders hereof, and thereafter shall be transferable without restrictions if: (A) the Depositary, or any successor securities depositary, shall have notified the Company and the Trustee that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as securities depositary with respect to the Securities and the Trustee shall not have been notified by the Company within ninety (90) days of the identity of a successor securities depositary with respect to the Securities; or (B) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that the Securities shall be so exchangeable on and after a date specified therein or (C) (1) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (2) the Trustee shall have given notice of such Event of Default pursuant to Section 1002 of the Original Indenture and (3) there shall have been delivered to the Company and the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the interests of the beneficial owners of such Securities in respect thereof will be materially impaired unless such owners become Holders of definitive Securities.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

 

 

[please insert social security or other identifying number of assignee]

 

[please print or typewrite name and address of assignee]

the within Security of SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                     , Attorney, to transfer said Security on the books of the within-mentioned Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:                      

Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Security in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.


SCHEDULE A

The Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011, granted by Southwestern Public Service Company to U.S. Bank National Association, Trustee, was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas on August 2, 2011 as Utility Security Instrument No. 11-0022610194.

In accordance with Texas Business and Commerce Code Section 261.011, a Notice of Utility Security Instrument Affecting Real Property was thereafter recorded in each Texas county in which any of the Mortgaged Property consisting of real property was located as of the Effective Date of such Indenture. The following table sets forth recording information relating to the recordation, in each of the specified Texas counties, of such Notice of Utility Security Instrument Affecting Real Property:

 

COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Andrews

   8/3/11    112770    N/A    N/A

Armstrong

   8/3/11    2011276    53    790

Bailey

   8/3/11    201100016286    N/A    N/A

Borden

   8/3/11    111124    N/A    N/A

Briscoe

   8/3/11    11271    N/A    N/A

Carson

   8/3/11    1100000862    N/A    N/A

Castro

   8/3/11    59278    335    796

Cochran

   8/3/11    13897    N/A    N/A

Cottle

   8/3/11    2011-291    194    708

Crosby

   8/3/11    235843    N/A    N/A

Dallam

   8/2/11    164351    149    384

Deaf Smith

   8/3/11    1493    N/A    N/A

Ector

   8/3/11    201100011005    N/A    N/A

Floyd

   8/3/11    110857    N/A    N/A

Foard

   8/3/11    68419    247    71

Gaines

   8/3/11    20113945    N/A    N/A

Garza

   8/3/11    111229    N/A    N/A

 

Schedule A-1


COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Gray

   8/3/11    019194    N/A    N/A

Hale

   8/3/11    2011002855    N/A    N/A

Hansford

   8/3/11    78454    382    511

Hartley

   8/3/11    100087    N/A    N/A

Hemphill

   8/3/11    059371    N/A    N/A

Hockley

   8/3/11    00002996    N/A    N/A

Hutchinson

   8/3/11    343845    1664    137

Lamb

   8/3/11    1442    N/A    N/A

Lipscomb

   8/3/11    N/A    502    782

Lubbock

   8/3/11    2011026116    N/A    N/A

Lynn

   8/3/11    20112298    N/A    N/A

Midland

   8/3/11    15266    N/A    N/A

Moore

   8/2/11    0176902    702    18

Motley

   8/3/11    N/A    102    237

Ochiltree

   8/3/11    95434    N/A    N/A

Oldham

   8/3/11    11429    N/A    N/A

Parmer

   8/3/11    51211    N/A    N/A

Potter

   8/2/11    01200092    N/A    N/A

Randall

   8/2/11    2011012189    N/A    N/A

Roberts

   8/3/11    044416    N/A    N/A

Sherman

   8/3/11    23551    297    756

Swisher

   8/3/11    2011-0678    392    314

Terry

   8/3/11    252458    N/A    N/A

Wheeler

   8/3/11    N/A    640    738

Wilbarger

   8/3/11    00112766    636    602

Yoakum

   8/3/11    20111463    N/A    N/A

 

Schedule A-2


The Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011, granted by Southwestern Public Service Company to U.S. Bank National Association, Trustee, was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New Mexico on August 2, 2011 under the Public Utility Act, receiving Public Utility Filing No. 599. Concurrently with such filing, a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement, to which a copy of such Indenture was appended as an exhibit, was filed in the Uniform Commercial Code records of the Secretary of State of the State of New Mexico on August 2, 2011 as UCC Filing No. 20110012866J.

In accordance with New Mexico Statutes Annotated, 1978, Section 62-13-11, a Notice of Filing of Indenture with New Mexico Secretary of State, to which a copy of such Indenture was appended as an exhibit, was thereafter recorded in each New Mexico county in which any of the Mortgaged Property consisting of real property was located as of the Effective Date of such Indenture. The following table sets forth recording information relating to the recordation, in each of the specified New Mexico counties, of such Notice of Filing of Indenture with New Mexico Secretary of State:

 

COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Chaves

   8/3/11    340593    N/A    N/A

Curry

   8/3/11    110005245    N/A    N/A

Eddy

   8/3/11    1107879    N/A    N/A

Lea

   8/3/11    33578    N/A    N/A

Quay

   8/3/11    201108030006    N/A    N/A

Roosevelt

   8/3/11    20112258    N/A    N/A

 

Schedule A-3


The following table sets forth recording information relating to the recordation, in each of the specified New Mexico counties, of a Notice of Filing of Supplemental Indenture with the New Mexico Secretary of State with respect to Supplemental Indenture No. 1:

 

COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Chaves

   8/8/11    340698    N/A    N/A

Curry

   8/8/11    110005352    N/A    N/A

Eddy

   8/8/11    1107998    N/A    N/A

Lea

   8/8/11    33734    N/A    N/A

Quay

   8/8/11    201108080003    N/A    N/A

Roosevelt

   8/8/11    20112316    N/A    N/A

The following table sets forth recording information relating to the recordation, in each of the specified New Mexico counties, of a Notice of Filing of Supplemental Indenture with the New Mexico Secretary of State with respect to Supplemental Indenture No. 2:

 

COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Chaves

   6/18/14    389726    N/A    N/A

Curry

   6/18/14    157778190    N/A    N/A

Eddy

   6/18/14    1824479    N/A    N/A

Lea

   6/18/14    39612    N/A    N/A

Quay

   6/18/14    20149266515    N/A    N/A

Roosevelt

   6/18/14    20141875    N/A    N/A

 

Schedule A-4


The following table sets forth recording information relating to the recordation, in each of the specified New Mexico counties, of a Notice of Filing of Supplemental Indenture with the New Mexico Secretary of State with respect to Supplemental Indenture No. 3:

 

COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Chaves

   6/18/14    389727    N/A    N/A

Curry

   6/18/14    157778191    N/A    N/A

Eddy

   6/18/14    1824480    N/A    N/A

Lea

   6/18/14    39613    N/A    N/A

Quay

   6/18/14    20149266516    N/A    N/A

Roosevelt

   6/18/14    20141876    N/A    N/A

The following table sets forth recording information relating to the recordation, in each of the specified New Mexico counties, of a Notice of Filing of Supplemental Indenture with the New Mexico Secretary of State with respect to Supplemental Indenture No. 4:

 

COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Chaves

   8/19/16    407833    N/A    N/A

Curry

   8/19/16    189674134    N/A    N/A

Eddy

   8/19/16    22399408    N/A    N/A

Lea

   8/19/16    411897    N/A    N/A

Quay

   8/19/16    20167359981    N/A    N/A

Roosevelt

   8/19/16    20162074    N/A    N/A

 

Schedule A-5


The following table sets forth recording information relating to the recordation, in each of the specified New Mexico counties, of a Notice of Filing of Supplemental Indenture with the New Mexico Secretary of State with respect to Supplemental Indenture No. 5:

 

COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Chaves

   8/17/17    410921    N/A    N/A

Curry

   8/17/17    202655927    N/A    N/A

Eddy

   8/17/17    28402333    N/A    N/A

Lea

   8/17/17    422035    N/A    N/A

Quay

   8/17/17    20176648665    N/A    N/A

Roosevelt

   8/17/17    20174088    N/A    N/A

The following table sets forth recording information relating to the recordation, in each of the specified New Mexico counties, of a Notice of Filing of Supplemental Indenture with the New Mexico Secretary of State with respect to Supplemental Indenture No. 6:

 

COUNTY

   DATE    RECEPTION NUMBER    BOOK/FILM    PAGE

Chaves

   11/9/2018    421224    N/A    N/A

Curry

   11/9/2018    238400985    N/A    N/A

Eddy

   11/9/2018    30117445    N/A    N/A

Lea

   11/9/2018    428097    N/A    N/A

Quay

   11/9/2018    2018742751    N/A    N/A

Roosevelt

   11/9/2018    20188167    N/A    N/A

 

Schedule A-6


SCHEDULE B

 

Date of

Supplemental

Indenture       

   Series of Bonds    Principal Amount
Issued
     Principal Amount
Outstanding
 

August 3, 2011

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

June 1, 2014

   2    $ 250,000,000      $ 0  

June 1, 2014

   3    $ 350,000,000      $ 350,000,000  

August 1, 2016

   4    $ 300,000,000      $ 300,000,000  

August 1, 2017

   5    $ 450,000,000      $ 450,000,000  

October 1, 2018

   6    $ 300,000,000      $ 300,000,000  

 

Schedule B-1


SCHEDULE C

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

The property referred to in Granting Clause Second of the Indenture includes, without limitation, the Company’s right, title and interest in and to the Lands and Water Rights in the State of Texas and the State of New Mexico described below, together with all property related, used or appurtenant thereto of the kind and nature described in Granting Clause First (other than Excepted Property).

THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES ARE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS

The property referred to in Granting Clause Second of the Indenture includes, without limitation, the Company’s right, title and interest in and to the land acquired by the Company and described in the following deed into the Company and referenced recorded documents (the “ Lands ”), together with all property related, used or appurtenant thereto of the kind and nature described in Granting Clause First (other than Excepted Property) (the “ Property Accessions ”):

Carson County, Texas

 

SPS Id. No.

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

5257

   Buck    Document No. 2019-00000223, and Volume 709, Page 133 et seq. , Official Public Records, Carson County, Texas executed by Kelly D. Ramming and dated February 25, 2019, and recorded February 26, 2019, and Correction General Warranty Deed recorded at Document No. 2019-00000569, and Volume 713, Page 332 et seq. , Official Public Records, Carson County, Texas executed by Kelly D. Ramming and dated as of February 25, 2019, and recorded May 22, 2019,

as to the following property:

A 2.43 +/- acre tract of land out of Section 18, Block 4, I&GN RR Co. Survey, Carson County, Texas further being out of a tract of land described in that certain instrument recorded in Volume 611, Page 85, as filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Carson County, Texas, on the ground by Furman Land Surveyors, Inc. and being described by metes and bounds as follows:

(Bearings and Distances are Grid UTM Coordinate System-Zone 14N, NAD (1983) using GPS relative positioning techniques based on a OPUS solution on October 4, 2018 Combined Scale Factor = 0.99992773)

BEGINNING at a 3/4 inch iron rod with aluminum cap stamped “Furman Land Surveyors Section Corner Firm No. 10092400” set for the Southeast corner of said Section 18, same being the common corner of Sections 18, 19, 4 and 5, Block 4, I&GN RR Co. Survey, from whence a 1 1/4 inch iron pipe found for the Northeast corner of said Section 18 bears N. 01° 25’ 56” E. (Base Line) 5332.96;

 

Schedule C-1


THENCE, N. 89° 15’ 19” W. 325.18 feet along the South line of said Section 18, same being the North line of said Section 5, to a point for the Southwest corner of this tract of land;

THENCE, N. 01° 25’ 56” E. at 30.00 feet a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “Furman RPLS” set in the North Right-of-Way line of County Road 20 (per County Official), a total distance of 325.18 feet, to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “Furman RPLS” set for the Northwest corner of this tract of land;

THENCE, S. 89° 15’ 19” E. at 295.18 feet a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “Furman RPLS” set in the West Right-of-Way line of County Road Y (per County Official), a total distance of 325.18 feet, to a point in the East line of said Section 18, same being the West line of said Section 19, for the Northeast corner of this tract of land;

THENCE, S. 01° 25’ 56” W. 325.18 feet along the East line of said Section 18, to the POINT OF BEGINNING,

containing 2.43+/- acres (of which 0.43 +1- acres in roadway, for a net acreage of 2.00 acres, more or less).

Deaf Smith County, Texas

 

SPS Id. No.

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

158

   Dawn Substation    Document No. 16-0325, Official Public Records, Deaf Smith County, Texas, dated February 21, 1996, and recorded February 18, 2016, executed by James E. McCabe

as to the following described property:

A parcel of land, located in the NE 1 4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 21, Block 3, Adams, Beaty and Moulton survey being part of a tract conveyed to James E. McCabe as recorded in Volume 216, Page 614 of the Deaf Smith County records, and being more particularly described as follows:

COMMENCING at the southeast corner of the NE 1 4 of said Section 21, a found 1” iron Pipe;

THENCE, N. 0° 15’ 13” E. along the east line of the NE 1 4 off said Section 21, a distance of 1423.25 feet to a set 1/2 “ rebar with an aluminum cap, the true POINT OF BEGINNING of this survey, said point being the southeast corner of said surveyed parcel;

THENCE, N. 89° 44’ 47” W., perpendicular to the east line of the NE 1 / 4 of said Section 21, a distance of 228.00 feet to a set 1/2” rebar with an aluminum cap, the southwest corner of said surveyed parcel;

THENCE, N. 0° 15’ 13” E., parallel with the east line of the NE 1 4 of said Section 21, a distance of 242.00 feet to a set 1/2” rebar with as aluminum cap, the northwest corner of said surveyed parcel;

THENCE, S. 89° 44’ 47” E., perpendicular to the east line of the N 1 4 of said Section 21, a distance of 228.0 feet to a set 1/2” rebar with an aluminum cap on the east line of the NE 1 4 of said Section 21, the northeast corner of said surveyed parcel;

 

Schedule C-2


THENCE, S. 0° 15’ 13” W., along the east line of the NE 1 4 of said Section 21, a distance of 242.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING,

containing 1.267 acres, more or less.

 

Schedule C-3


Hansford County, Texas

 

SPS Id. No.

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

5154

   Hitchland Substation    Volume 361, Page 707 et seq., Deed Records, Hansford County, Texas, dated December 23, 2008, and recorded April 16, 2009, executed by Hitch Land & Cattle Company

as to the following described property:

A 5.560 ± acre tract of land located in Section 10, Block 1, Public Free School Land Survey, Hansford County, Texas, and being described by metes and bounds as follows:

COMMENCING at a 5/8” iron rod found with cap stamped TX 4290, the Northeast Corner of said Section 10;

THENCE, S. 21° 59’ 12” W., a distance of 1,590.82 feet to a point, the Northeast corner and POINT OF BEGINNING of this tract;

THENCE, South a distance of 301.27 feet to a point;

THENCE, North, a distance of 304.21 feet to a point;

THENCE, S. 89° 54’ 12” E., a distance of 800.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING of this tract;

containing a computed area of 5.560 acres (242,190 s. ft.), more or less.

Moore County, Texas

 

SPS Id. No.

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

765

   Dumas South    Volume 95, Page 10 et seq. , Deed Records, Moore County, Texas, dated August, 26, 1946, and recorded August 29, 1946, executed by West Texas Utilities Company, save and except partial divesting deed to City of Dumas recorded at Volume 97, Page 560 et seq ., Deed Records, Moore County, Texas, dated May 15, 1947, and recorded May 16, 1947,

as to the East half of Lots 13 through 18, Block 162, Town of Dumas, Moore County, Texas.

 

Schedule C-4


Randall County, Texas

 

SPS Id. No.

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

5251

   Outpost Substation Parcel 2    Document No. 2018018739, Official Public Records, Randall County, Texas, dated August 31, 2008, and recorded October 23, 2018, executed by Mary Ann Lane Holton

as to the following described property:

A 2.49 +/- acre tract of land out of the Southeast Quarter of Section 176, Block 9, B.S. & F. RR. Co. Survey, Randall County, Texas, further being out of that certain tract of land described in that certain instrument recorded in Clerk’s File No. 2005009719 of the Official Public Records of Randall County, Texas, said property having been surveyed on the ground by Furman Land Surveyors, Inc. and being described by metes and bounds as follows:

(Bearings and Distances are Grid UTM Coordinate System-Zone 14 North, NAD (1983) using GPS relative positioning techniques based on an OPUS on July 29, 2016. Combined Scale Factor =1.00038038)

COMMENCING at a 1/2 inch iron rod with aluminum cap found for the Southeast corner of said Section 176, same being the common corner of Sections 175, 176, 165 & 166, Block 9, from whence a 1/2 inch iron rod with aluminum cap found for the Northeast corner of said Section 176 bears N. 01° 53’ 20” E. (Base Line) 5404.95 feet;

THENCE, N. 88° 14’ 01” W. 50.02 feet along the common line of said Sections 175 and 176 to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “FURMAN RPLS” set in the West Right-of-Way line of Bushland Road described in that certain instrument recorded in Volume 258, Page 9 as filed in the Official Public Records of Randall County, Texas, same being the Southeast and BEGINNING CORNER of this tract of land;

THENCE, N. 88° 14’ 01” W. 230.09 feet along the common line of said Sections 175 and 176 to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap found for the Southeast corner of that certain 5.10 +/- acre tract of land described in that certain instrument recorded. in Clerk’s File No. 2016023092, same being the Southwest corner of this tract of land;

THENCE, N. 01° 53’ 20” E. 471.51 feet along the East line of said 5.10 +/- acre tract of land to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap found for the Northeast corner of said 5.10 +/- acre tract of land, same being the Northwest corner of this tract of land;

THENCE, S. 88° 14’ 01” E. 230.09 feet to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “FURMAN RPLS” set in the West Right-of-Way line of Bushland Road, same being the Northeast corner of this tract of land;

THENCE, S. 01° 53’ 20” W. 471.51 feet along the said West Right-of-Way line of Bushland Road to the POINT OF BEGINNING, and

containing 2.49 acres of land, more or less.

 

Schedule C-5


SPS Id. No.

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

5255

   Hunsley Substation    Document No. 2019001317, Official Public Records, Randall County, Texas executed by Richard Ley Flenniken, Jr., Sally Flenniken Geymuller and Susan Ley Flenniken and dated January 18, 2019 and recorded January 24, 2019

as to the following property:

A ±7.95 acre tract of land out of Section 30, Block B5, H. & G.N. Survey, Randall County, Texas further being out of that tract of land described in that certain instrument recorded in Volume 712, Page 361, as filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Randall County, Texas, said tract of land having been surveyed on the ground by Furman Land Surveyors, Inc. and being described by metes and bounds as follows:

(Bearings and Distances are Grid UTM Coordinate System-Zone 14N, NAD (1983) using GPS relative positioning techniques based on an OPUS solution from April 29, 2016. Combined Scale Factor = 1.00035809)

BEGINNING at a point, from whence the Northeast corner of said Section 30 bears S. 87° 58’ 08” E. 47.70 feet, same being the common corner of Sections 30, 3, 2 and 31 Block B5, H. & G.N. Survey, Randall County, from said Northeast Section corner, a 1/2 inch iron pipe found for the Northwest corner of said Section 30 bears N. 87° 58’ 08” W. 5305.20 feet;

THENCE, S. 02° 04’ 29” W. along the East Right-of-Way line of FM 2590, as described in that certain instrument recorded in Volume 247, Page 298, as filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Randall County, Texas, at 30.00 feet a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “Furman RPLS” set as an offset corner in the South Right-of-Way line of Hunsley Road, as it exist on the ground, a total distance of 796.09 feet, to an “X” found for the Southeast corner of this tract of land, same being an offset corner for that certain 7.866 acre tract of land, described in that certain instrument recorded in Document No. 2018018532, as filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Randall County, Texas;

THENCE, N. 87° 56’ 36” W. (Base Line) 435.25 feet along the North line of said 7.866 acre tract of land, to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “Furman RPLS” set for the Southwest corner of this tract of land, from whence a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap found for the Southwest corner of that certain 6.668 acre tract of land, described in that certain instrument recorded in Document No. 02-6508, as filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Randall County, Texas, bears N. 87° 56’ 36” W. 1028.12 feet;

THENCE, N. 02° 04’ 29” E. at 735.89 feet a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “Furman RPLS” set as an offset corner in the South Right-of-Way line of Hunsley Road, as it exist on the ground, a total distance of 795.89 feet to a point in the North line of said Section 30, same being the South line of said Section 3, for the Northwest corner of this tract of land;

THENCE, S. 87° 58’ 08” E. 435.25 feet along the North line of said of said Section 30, to the POINT OF BEGINNING,

containing ±7.95 acres, (of which ±0.30 acres in roadway, for a net acreage of 7.65 acres, more or less).

 

Schedule C-6


Yoakum County, Texas

 

SPS Id. No.

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

5256

   Int. Parcel 4    Document No. 2019-0526, Real Property Records, Yoakum County, Texas, being a Statutory Correction Affidavit dated February 8, 2019, and recorded February 13, 2019, as to Deed recorded at Document No. 2018-3722, Real Property Records, Yoakum County, Texas, and dated July 10, 2018, recorded on October 9, 2018, as to original instrument executed by Larry P. Bade and Karen S. Bade as Trustees of the Larry P. Bade and Karen S. Bade Revocable Trust dated August 6, 1991,

as to the following described property:

A 12.01 acre tract of land out of Section 551, Block D, John H. Gibson Survey, Yoakum County, Texas, further being out of a tract of land described in that certain instrument recorded in Volume 256, Page 494, as filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Yoakum County, Texas, said tract of land having been surveyed on the ground by Furman Land Surveyors, Inc. and being described by metes and bounds as follows:

(Bearings and Distance are Grid UTM Coordinate System-Zone 13N, NAB (1983) using GPS relative positioning techniques based on multiple OPUS solutions from April 6, 2016 through February 21, 2017, Combined Scale Factor = 0.99997573)

COMMENCING at 1-1/4-inch iron pipe found and accepted for the Southwest corner of said Section 551, same being the common corner of Sections 551, 568, 569 and 550, Block D, John H. Gibson Survey, Yoakum County, from whence a spindle found for the Southeast corner of said Section 551 bears N. 88° 52’ 33” E. (Base Line) 5287.30 feet;

THENCE, N. 88° 52’ 33“E. 979.91 feet along the South line of said Section 551, same being the North line of said Section 568, to a 3/8 inch iron rod found for the Southeast corner of an existing Southwestern Public Service Company substation, and being described in that certain instrument recorded in Document No. 2011-1978, as filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Yoakum County, Texas, same being the BEGINNING CORNER of this tract of land;

THENCE, N. 01° 00’ 10” W. 880.07 feet along the East line of said substation, to a 3/8 inch iron found for the Northeast corner of this tract;

THENCE, S. 88° 52’ 23“W. 988.67 feet along the North line of said substation tract, same being in the West line of said Section 551, same being the East line of said Section 550;

 

Schedule C-7


THENCE, N. 00° 55’ 22” W. 384.97 feet along the common line of said Sections 551 and 550 to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “FURMAN RPLS” set for the Northwest corner of this tract of land;

THENCE, N. 88° 52’ 23” E. 599.51 feet to a 1/2 inch iron rod with. cap stamped “FURMAN RPLS” set;

THENCE, S. 01° 00’ 10” E. 345.86 feet to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “FURMAN RPLS” set;

THENCE, N. 88° 52’ 23” E. 690.01 feet to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “FURMAN RPLS” set;

THENCE, S. 01° 00’ 10” E. 919.19 feet to a 1/2 inch iron rod with cap stamped “FURMAN RPLS” set in the South line of Section 551; and

THENCE, S. 88° 52’ 33” W. 301.40 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING,

containing 12.01 acres, more or less.

Corrections

The descriptions of the following properties, which are described in the Indenture, are corrected and revised as set out below:

Bailey County

SPS 5242 Blue Cloud Substation :

 

SPS Id. No.

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

5242

   Blue Cloud Substation    Document No. 2017-22453, and Volume 321, Page 79 et seq. , Official Public Records, Bailey County, Texas executed by Blue County Wind Energy, LLC and dated September 29, 2017, and recorded October 16, 2017

as to the following property:

An 11.90 acres, more or less, tract of land out of Labor 24, League 209, Deaf Smith County School Land, Bailey County, Texas described by metes and bounds as follows:

BEGINNING at a 1 2 inch iron rod with cap found in the intersection of F. M. Highway 298 and a graded county road for the Northeast corner of Labor 24 and the Northeast corner of this tract;

THENCE, S. 0° 08’ W. with the East line of Labor 24 a distance of 720.00 feet to the Southeast corner of this tract;

THENCE, N. 89° 29’ W., at 25.00 feet pass a 1 2 inch steel rod with cap (TX No. 5020) set in reference continuing a total distance of 720.00 feet to a 1 2 inch steel rod with cap (TX No. 5020) set for the Southwest corner of this tract;

 

Schedule C-8


THENCE, N. 0° 08’ E., at 680.00 feet pass a 1 2 inch steel rod with cap (TX No. 5020) set in the South right-of-way line of said highway as recorded in Volume 52, Page 41 of the Deed Records of Bailey County, Texas continuing a total distance of 720.00 feet to the Northwest corner of this tract in the North line of Labor 24;

THENCE, S. 89°29’ E. a distance of 720.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING; and

containing 11.90 acres, more or less.

Lubbock County, Texas

SPS 712 Elbert Substation :

 

SPS Id. No.

(RS Id. No.)

  

Common Name

  

Deed into Southwestern Public

Service Company Recorded at

712

(32-53)

   Elbert Substation   

Volume 763, Page 558 et seq. ,

Deed Records, Lubbock County, Texas, executed by Myrtle Gosnell Edwards, a widow, Alton D. Edwards and wife, Garnetta Edwards, James W. Edwards and wife, Dorothy Fay Edwards, Anna Bell Luman and husband, N.J. Luman, Frances Lavern Roberts and husband Earl D. Roberts, and Jorita Lamberson and husband, Wylie Lamberson, dated July 28, 1959 and recorded October 10, 1959

as to the following property:

All that certain tract or parcel of land situated in Lubbock County, Texas, and being a 60 x 120 foot tract of land located in Section Nineteen (19), Block Twenty-Four (24), Lubbock County, Texas, described by metes and bounds as follows:

BEGINNING at the intersection of the South right-of-way line of U.S. Highway #84, with the West right-of-way line of 7 th Street, as shown on plat of the “South Park Heights Addition” to the City of Slaton, Texas;

THENCE, South in the West line of 7 th Street a distance of 60 feet;

THENCE, West 120 feet;

THENCE, North 60 feet; and

THENCE, East 120 feet to the PLACE OF BEGINNING,

which property is further identified as “South Park 60’ x 120’ of Tract 1” per a plat filed in Volume 26, Page 59, Official Public Records of Lubbock County, Texas and titled South Park Heights Acreage Tracts, an Addition to Slaton, Lubbock County, Texas, according to the records of the Lubbock County Tax Appraisal District.

 

Schedule C-9


SPS 5250 Quincy Substation : The reference to the date of recording of the Deed into Southwestern Public Service Company of the property described in the Indenture as “SPS 5250 Quincy Substation” in Lubbock County, Texas is hereby corrected to read “recorded January 18, 2018”.

 

Schedule C-10

Exhibit 5.01

 

LOGO

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

2200 Wells Fargo Center q 90 South Seventh Street

Minneapolis q Minnesota 55402-3901

Main +1 612 766 7000

Fax +1 612 766 1600

June 18, 2019

Southwestern Public Service Company

790 South Buchanan Street

Amarillo, TX 79101

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Southwestern Public Service Company, a New Mexico corporation (the “Company”), in connection with (i) the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-224333-01) (the “Registration Statement”) of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and (ii) the Prospectus Supplement dated June 11, 2019 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) and the Prospectus dated April 18, 2018 (the “Base Prospectus” and, together with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) relating to the offer and sale by the Company under the Registration Statement of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049 (the “Mortgage Bonds”). The Mortgage Bonds are to be issued under the Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011 entered into between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 7 dated as of June 1, 2019 (such Indenture and such Supplemental Indenture referred to herein collectively as the “Indenture”), and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated June 11, 2019, by and among the Company and BofA Securities, Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Indenture, an executed copy of the global certificate evidencing the Mortgage Bonds, and the Underwriting Agreement, and have reviewed and relied upon such other documents, records, certifications and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.


Southwestern Public Service Company

June 18, 2019

Page 2

 

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

 

  1.

the Indenture, to the extent New York law is applicable thereto, is a valid and binding obligation of the Company with respect to the issuance of the Mortgage Bonds under the Registration Statement; and

 

  2.

upon the due authentication by the Trustee of the Mortgage Bonds pursuant to the Indenture, the Mortgage Bonds, to the extent New York law is applicable thereto, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company;

except, that, to the extent they relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of provisions of the Indenture or the Mortgage Bonds, each of the foregoing opinions is limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, voidable transaction or preference, receivership and other laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights and laws affecting the rights of mortgagees and other secured parties generally and state laws which affect the enforcement of certain remedial provisions, and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. We express no opinion as to the enforceability or effect in the Indenture or the Mortgage Bonds of (i) any provision that authorizes one party to act as attorney-in-fact for another party; (ii) any provision waiving legal or equitable defenses or other procedural, judicial or substantive rights; (iii) any provision that unreasonably restricts the ability of the Company to transfer any property; (iv) any usury or fraudulent transfer or conveyance “savings” provision; or (v) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any particular court or other governmental authority (either as to personal jurisdiction or subject matter jurisdiction), any waivers of the right to jury trial, any waivers of service of process requirements that would otherwise be applicable, any agreement that a judgment rendered by a court in one jurisdiction may be enforced in another jurisdiction, or any provision otherwise affecting the jurisdiction or venue of courts.

Without limiting any other qualifications set forth herein, the opinion expressed herein regarding the enforceability of the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds is subject to the effect of generally applicable laws that (i) provide for the enforcement of oral waivers or modifications where a material change of position in reliance thereon has occurred or provide that a course of performance may operate as a waiver; (ii) limit the availability of a remedy under certain circumstances where another remedy has been elected; (iii) limit the enforceability of provisions releasing, exculpating or exempting a party from, or requiring indemnification of a party for, liability for its own action or inaction, to the extent the action or inaction involves negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful conduct; (iv) may, where less than all of a contract may be unenforceable, limit the enforceability of the balance of the contract to circumstances in which the unenforceable portion is not an essential part of the agreed exchange; (v) govern and afford judicial discretion regarding the determination of damages and entitlement to attorneys’ fees and other costs; (vi) may permit a party who has materially failed to render or offer performance required by a contract to

 


Southwestern Public Service Company

June 18, 2019

Page 3

 

cure that failure unless either permitting a cure would unreasonably hinder the aggrieved party from making substitute arrangements for performance or it is important under the circumstances to the aggrieved party that performance occur by the date stated in the contract; (vii) may limit the enforceability of provisions for the payment of premiums upon mandatory prepayment to the extent any such payment constitutes, or is deemed to constitute, a penalty or forfeiture; (viii) may require mitigation of damages; and (ix) provide a time limitation after which a remedy may not be enforced (i.e., statutes of limitation).

The foregoing opinions assume that (i) the Trustee has satisfied those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make the Indenture enforceable against it, (ii) the Trustee and the holders of the Mortgage Bonds issued under the Indenture have complied with all legal requirements pertaining to their status as such status relates to their rights to enforce the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds against the Company, (iii) the Company has obtained all governmental and third party authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all filings and registrations required to enable it to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under, and consummate the transactions contemplated by, the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds, including without limitation an order of the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission authorizing and approving the issuance and sale of the Mortgage Bonds, and such execution, delivery, performance and consummation does not, and at all relevant times will not, violate or conflict with any law, rule, regulation, order, decree, judgment, instrument or agreement binding upon the Company or its properties, (iv) the Mortgage Bonds will be issued upon receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor specified in the Underwriting Agreement, (v) there has not been any mutual mistake of fact or misunderstanding, fraud, duress or undue influence, (vi) all statutes, judicial and administrative decisions, and rules and regulations of governmental agencies, constituting the law of the opining jurisdiction, are publicly available to lawyers practicing in New York, (vii) the conduct of the parties to or having rights under any the Indenture or the Mortgage Bonds has complied with any requirement of good faith, fair dealing and conscionability, and (viii) all relevant statutes, rules, regulations or agency actions are constitutional and valid unless a reported decision in the opining jurisdiction has specifically addressed but not resolved, or has established, its unconstitutionality or invalidity.

We have further assumed that (i) natural persons acting on behalf of the Company have sufficient legal capacity to enter into and perform, on behalf of the Company, the transaction in question and to carry out their role in the transaction; and (ii) each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures on each such document are genuine.

The opinions herein expressed are limited to the specific issues addressed and to documents, laws and facts existing on the date hereof. By rendering our opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such documents, laws and facts or in the interpretation thereof which may occur after the date hereof.

 


Southwestern Public Service Company

June 18, 2019

Page 4

 

Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York of general application. We have assumed that the choice of law to govern the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds will be upheld. As to all matters governed by the laws of the State of New Mexico, we have relied, with the Company’s consent, upon the opinion of even date herewith addressed to the Company by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, local counsel to the Company, and we have made no independent examination of the laws of such State. All assumptions, qualifications and exceptions in such opinion are incorporated herein by reference.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Commission and thereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading “Legal Opinions” in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
FAEGRE BAKER DANIELS LLP
By   /s/ Brandon C. Mason
  Brandon C. Mason

 

Exhibit 5.02

 

LOGO

June 18, 2019

Southwestern Public Service Company

790 South Buchanan

Amarillo, Texas 79101

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as local counsel for Southwestern Public Service Company, a New Mexico corporation (the “Company”), in connection with (i) the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and (ii) the Prospectus Supplement dated June 11, 2019 and the Prospectus dated April 18, 2018 relating to the offer and sale by the Company under the Registration Statement of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049 (the “Mortgage Bonds”). The Mortgage Bonds are to be issued under the Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011 entered into between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 1 dated as of August 1, 2011, Supplemental Indenture No. 2 dated as of June 1, 2014, Supplemental Indenture No. 3 dated as of June 1, 2014, Supplemental Indenture No. 4 dated as of August 1, 2016, Supplemental Indenture No. 5 dated as of August 1, 2017, Supplemental Indenture No. 6 dated as of October 1, 2018 and Supplemental Indenture No. 7 dated as of June 1, 2019 (such Indenture and such Supplemental Indenture referred to herein collectively as the “Indenture”), and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated June 11, 2019, by and among the Company, BofA Securities, Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., as the Underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

We have examined the Registration Statement and have reviewed and relied upon such other documents, records, certifications and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

 

  1.

The Company is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Mexico;

 

  2.

The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds, to perform its obligations thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby;

 

  3.

The execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds, the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby do not violate the Company’s articles of incorporation or bylaws;

 

       

201 Third Street NW, Suite 1800

Albuquerque, NM 87102-4386

main 505.244.0770

       
    bhfs.com         Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
       


Southwestern Public Service Company

June 18, 2019

Page 2

 

  4.

The Indenture, to the extent New Mexico law is applicable thereto, is a valid and binding obligation of the Company with respect to the issuance of the Mortgage Bonds under the Registration Statement; and

 

  5.

Upon the due authentication by the Trustee of the Mortgage Bonds pursuant to the Indenture, the Mortgage Bonds, to the extent New Mexico law is applicable thereto, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company;

except, that, to the extent they relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of provisions of the Indenture or the Mortgage Bonds, each of the foregoing opinions is limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference, receivership and other laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights and laws affecting the rights of mortgagees and other secured parties generally and state laws which affect the enforcement of certain remedial provisions, and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. We express no opinion as to the enforceability or effect in the Indenture or the Mortgage Bonds of (x) any provision that authorizes one party to act as attorney-in-fact for another party; (y) any provision waiving legal or equitable defenses or other procedural, judicial or substantive rights; or (z) any provision that unreasonably restricts the ability of the Company to transfer any property.

The foregoing opinions assume that (a) the Trustee has satisfied those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make the Indenture enforceable against it, (b) the Trustee and the holders of the Mortgage Bonds issued under the Indenture have complied with all legal requirements pertaining to their status as such status relates to their rights to enforce the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds against the Company, (c) except for the law of New Mexico, as to which an opinion is given as provided above, the terms of the Mortgage Bonds do not violate and are not void or voidable under, any applicable law (including without limitation as a matter of public policy), (d) the Company has obtained all governmental and third party authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all filings and registrations required to enable it to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under, and consummate the transactions contemplated by, the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds, including without limitation an order of the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission authorizing and approving the issuance and sale of the Mortgage Bonds, and such execution, delivery, performance and consummation does not, and at all relevant times will not, violate or conflict with any law, rule, regulation, order, decree, judgment, instrument or agreement binding upon the Company or its properties, and (e) the Mortgage Bonds will be issued upon receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor specified in the Underwriting Agreement.

We have further assumed that each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, all signatures on each such document are genuine, and each document has not been amended, modified or supplemented by any other agreement or understanding, written or oral.

The opinions herein expressed are limited to the specific issues addressed and to documents and laws existing on the date hereof. By rendering our opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such documents and laws or in the interpretation thereof which may occur after the date hereof.

Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of New Mexico of general application. We have assumed that the choice of law to govern the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds will be upheld.

 

 


Southwestern Public Service Company

June 18, 2019

Page 3

 

This opinion may be relied upon by the firms of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C. and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP for the purposes of rendering their opinions that are exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K referred to below.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Commission and thereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

 

 

Exhibit 5.03

 

LOGO      

William H. Locke, Jr.

Board Certified Real Estate Law

Commercial, Residential and Farm and Ranch

Texas Board of Legal Specialization

 

512.480.5736

512.480.5837 (fax)

blocke@gdhm.com

 

M AILING A DDRESS :

P.O. Box 98

Austin, TX 78767-9998

June 18, 2019

Southwestern Public Service Company

790 South Buchanan Street

Amarillo, TX 79101

 

Re:

$300,000,000 in 3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as local counsel for Southwestern Public Service Company, a New Mexico corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with (i) the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”) of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and (ii) the proposed transactions described in the Prospectus Supplement dated June 11, 2019(the “ Prospectus Supplement ”) and the Prospectus dated April 18, 2018 (the “ Prospectus ”) relating to the offer and sale by the Company under the Registration Statement of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.75% First Mortgage Bonds, Series No. 7 due 2049 (the “ Mortgage Bonds ”). The Mortgage Bonds are to be issued under the Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011 entered into between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 1 dated as of August 3, 2011, Supplemental Indenture No. 2 dated as of June 1, 2014, Supplemental Indenture No. 3 dated as of June 1, 2014, Supplemental Indenture No. 4 dated as of August 1, 2016, Supplemental Indenture No. 5 dated as of August 1, 2017, Supplemental Indenture No. 6 dated as of October 1, 2018, and Supplemental Indenture No. 7 dated as of June 1, 2019 (such Indenture and such Supplemental Indentures referred to herein collectively as the “ Indenture ”), and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated June 11, 2019, by and among the Company, BofA Securities, Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. acting as the several Underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds and have reviewed and relied upon such other documents, records, certifications and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

1. the Indenture, to the extent Texas law is applicable thereto, is a valid and binding obligation of the Company with respect to the issuance of the Mortgage Bonds under the Registration Statement; and

2. upon the due authentication by the Trustee of the Mortgage Bonds pursuant to the Indenture, the Mortgage Bonds, to the extent Texas law is applicable thereto, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company;

except, that, to the extent they relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of provisions of the Indenture or the Mortgage Bonds, each of the foregoing opinions is limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference, receivership and other laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights and laws affecting the rights of mortgagees and other secured parties generally and state laws which affect the enforcement of certain remedial provisions, and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. We express no opinion as to the enforceability or effect in the Indenture or the Mortgage Bonds of (i) any provision that authorizes one party to act as attorney-in-fact for another party; (ii) any provision waiving legal or equitable defenses or other procedural, judicial or substantive rights; or (iii) any provision that unreasonably restricts the ability of the Company to transfer any property.

 

401 Congress Ave.     Suite 2700     Austin, Texas 78701     512.480.5600     www.gdhm.com


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The foregoing opinions assume that (a) the Trustee shall have satisfied those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make the Indenture enforceable against it, (b) the Trustee and the holders of the Mortgage Bonds issued under the Indenture shall have complied with all legal requirements pertaining to their status as such status relates to their rights to enforce the Indenture and Mortgage Bonds against the Company, (c) the Company has obtained all governmental and third party authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all filings and registrations required to enable it to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under, and consummate the transactions contemplated by, the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds, including without limitation an order of the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission authorizing and approving the issuance and sale of the Mortgage Bonds, and such execution, delivery, performance and consummation does not, and at all relevant times will not, violate or conflict with any law, rule, regulation, order, decree, judgment, instrument or agreement binding upon the Company or its properties, and (d) the Mortgage Bonds will be issued upon receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor specified in the Underwriting Agreement.

We have further assumed that each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures on each such document are genuine.

The opinions herein expressed are limited to the specific issues addressed and to documents and laws existing on the date hereof. By rendering our opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such documents and laws or in the interpretation thereof which may occur after the date hereof.

Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of Texas of general application. We have assumed that the choice of law to govern the Indenture and the Mortgage Bonds will be upheld. As to all matters governed by the laws of the State of New Mexico, we have relied, with the Company’s consent, upon the opinion of even date herewith addressed to the Company by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, local counsel to the Company, and we have made no independent examination of the laws of such State. All assumptions, qualifications and exceptions in such opinion and incorporated herein by reference. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Commission and thereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Yours very truly,

/s/ Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody

GRAVES, DOUGHERTY, HEARON & MOODY

A Professional Corporation