FORM U-3A-2

FORM U-3A-2

File No. 69-248

SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.

Statement by Holding Company Claiming Exemption
Under Rule U-3A-2 from the Provisions of the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY hereby files with the Securities & Exchange Commission, pursuant to Rule U-3A-2, its statement claiming exemption as a holding company from the provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. In support of such claim for exemption, the following information is submitted:

    1. Southwestern Energy Company, an Arkansas corporation, is located at 2350 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77032. Southwestern Energy Company is a holding company with seven wholly owned subsidiaries. The wholly owned subsidiaries of the holding company are Arkansas Western Gas Company, an Arkansas utility; SEECO, Inc., an Arkansas based gas exploration and production company; Southwestern Energy Production Company (formerly Arkansas Western Production Company), an oil and gas exploration and production company with offices in Texas and Arkansas; Diamond "M" Production Company, a Texas based oil and gas exploration and production company; Southwestern Energy Services Company, an Oklahoma based gas marketing company; Southwestern Energy Pipeline Company, a corporation that owns a minority interest in the NOARK Pipeline System Limited Partnership (NOARK), (NOARK owns an interstate natural gas pipeline in Arkansas and Oklahoma); and A. W. Realty Company, an Arkansas real estate company which holds real estate interests. Overton Partners, L.L.C., is an Arkansas limited liability company owned by Southwestern Energy Production Company. Overton Partners, L.L.C., owns a majority interest in Overton Partners, L.P., a Texas limited partnership. The financial results of Overton Partners, L.P., are consolidated with the financial results for Southwestern Energy Company and its other subsidiaries. PV Exploration Company, an Arkansas corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SEECO, Inc. Arkansas Gas Gathering Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of SEECO, Inc., and is currently inactive.

      The main location of Arkansas Western Gas Company is 1001 Sain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703. The main location of SEECO, Inc., Arkansas Gas Gathering Company, A. W. Realty Company, Overton Partners, L.L.C., and Overton Partners, L.P. is 1083 Sain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703. The main location of Southwestern Energy Production Company and Diamond "M" Production Company is 2350 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77032. The main location of Southwestern Energy Services Company and Southwestern Energy Pipeline Company is 5314 South Yale, Suite 710, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135.

      All of the Claimant's subsidiaries, with the exception of Diamond "M" Production Company, Overton Partners, L.P., and Overton Partners, L.L.C., are Arkansas corporations with Southwestern Energy Production Company being authorized to do business in Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, New Mexico, Mississippi and Nebraska. SEECO, Inc., has authority to operate only in Arkansas. Arkansas Western Gas Company is also authorized to do business in Missouri, although it has sold all of its Missouri operations effective May 31, 2000. Southwestern Energy Pipeline Company is also authorized to do business in Oklahoma. Southwestern Energy Services Company is also authorized to do business in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. Diamond "M" Production Company is a Delaware corporation authorized to do business in Texas. Overton Partners, L.L.C., is an Arkansas limited liability company authorized to do business in Arkansas and Texas. Overton Partners, L.P., is a Texas limited partnership authorized to do business in Texas.

       

    2. Claimant, Southwestern Energy Company, is the parent company and owns beneficially and of record 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of its seven corporate subsidiaries.

      Arkansas Western Gas Company (AWG), Claimant's only public utility subsidiary, operates 5,283 miles of pipeline. This system is located entirely within the state of Arkansas and includes a gathering and storage system with 390 miles of pipeline, 993 miles of transmission pipeline and 3,900 miles of distribution pipeline.

      AWG's northwest Arkansas gas utility system gathers its primary gas supply in Arkansas from the Arkoma Basin where it also provides distribution service to communities in that area, including the towns of Ozark and Clarksville. AWG's transmission and distribution lines extend north and supply communities in the northwest part of the state, including the towns of Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers. AWG's service area also extends to the Harrison and Mountain Home areas. The section of the AWG system serving Harrison and Mountain Home receives a portion of its gas supply from a lateral line off of the Ozark Pipeline System.

      AWG's northeast Arkansas gas utility system obtains its primary gas supply from interstate pipelines. Through its northeast Arkansas gas utility system, AWG provides distribution of natural gas to the major communities of Blytheville, Piggott and Osceola.

       

    3. Arkansas Western Gas Company made gas sales for the 12 months ended December 31, 2003, as follows:
    1. Natural gas distributed at retail:

       

          Average          
      Utility Sales   Consumers   Mcf   Sales  
                     
      Residential   122,430   8,962,931   $  75,624,180  
      Commercial   16,332   6,084,094   44,502,273  
      Industrial   178   1,254,371   9,091,723  
                     
      Total   138,940   16,301,396   $129,218,176  

       

    2. None.

       

    3. None.

       

    4. The public utility subsidiary purchased outside the state of Arkansas 3,494,064 Mcf of natural gas costing $19,091,148 and utilized the services of interstate pipelines to deliver the gas to its service territory or to storage facilities pending later delivery.
                4.   The Claimant holds no direct or indirect interest in an EWG or a foreign utility company.

EXHIBIT A

Consolidating Statements of Income and Surplus along with Consolidating Balance Sheets for the year ended December 31, 2003.

EXHIBIT B

Financial Data Schedule for the year ended December 31, 2003.

EXHIBIT C

The Claimant holds no direct or indirect interest in an EWG or a foreign utility company.

 

The above named Claimant has caused this statement to be duly executed on its behalf by its authorized officer on this 27th day of February, 2004.

      SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
         
      By: /s/ GREG D. KERLEY
        Greg D. Kerley
        Executive Vice President
        and Chief Financial Officer
         
         
ATTEST:      
         
By:  /s/ MARK K. BOLING      
  Mark K. Boling      
  Secretary      

Notices and correspondence concerning this statement should be addressed to:

  Greg D. Kerley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  Southwestern Energy Company
  2350 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 300
  Houston, Texas 77032

 


 

  SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
  CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
  FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003
  (in thousands)
                                                           
                 

Southwestern

 

Diamond

                   

Southwestern

 

Southwestern

         
 

Southwestern

 

Arkansas

       

Energy

 

"M"

 

Overton

 

Overton

 

PV

 

A.W.

 

Energy

 

Energy

         
 

Energy

 

Western Gas

       

Production

 

Production

 

Partners

 

Partners

 

Exploration

 

Realty

 

Pipeline

 

Services

         
 

Company

 

Company

 

SEECO, Inc.

 

Company

 

Company

 

L.P.

 

L.L.C.

 

Company

 

Company

 

Company

 

Company

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

                                                               

Operating Revenues:

                                                                           

     Gas sales

$   $ 129,218    $ 60,245    $ 91,405    $ 222    $ 7,758    $ -    $   $ -    $   $   $ (32,381)  (a) $ 256,467 

     Gas marketing

                                          201,977      (158,664)  (a)   43,313 

     Oil sales

            10,461      3,436    283                    14,180 

     Gas transportation

      4,928                                              4,928 
     Other 1,252      3,210      2,433                    2,220        (604)  (b)    8,513 
    1,252      137,356      62,678      101,866      3,660      8,041              2,220          201,977      (191,649)     327,401 
                                                               

Operating Costs and Expenses:

                                                                           

     Gas purchases - utility

    84,926                              (32,341)  (a) (b)   52,585 

     Gas purchases - marketing

                                          198,092      (158,664)  (a)   39,428 

     Operating and general

    36,977      10,303      20,038      1,932    598          55    145    1,139    (708)   (b)   70,479 

     Depreciation, depletion and

                                                                           
       amortization     6,252      19,603      27,827      828    1,295          90      50        55,948 
     Taxes, other than income       2,435      1,714      7,322      129      (81)             11          84          11,619 
      130,590      31,620      55,187      2,889    1,812          156    153    199,365    (191,713)     203,059 
          Operating Income (Loss)   1,252      6,766      31,058      46,679      771      6,229              2,064      (153)     2,612      64      97,342 
                                                               

Interest Expense:

                                                                           

     Interest on long-term debt

17,722  17,722 

     Intercompany interest

  (4,398)     4,048      (1,570)     969      (218)         449          (74)     821      (27)        

     Other interest charges

910      351      107      11                          1,381 

     Interest capitalized

    (4)     (464)     (1,324)                                     (1,792)
  14,234      4,395      (1,927)     (344)     (218)       449      (74)   821    (25)       17,311 
                                                                             

Other Income (Expense)

54      (181)     (30)     (36)     (1)             1,053      (64)  (b) (c)   797 
                                                                             

Minority Interest - Partnership

            (2,180)                         (2,180)
                                                                             

Income (Loss) before Provision (Benefit)

                                                             

     for Income Taxes

  (12,928)     2,190      32,955      44,807      988      6,229      (449)         2,140      79      2,637          78,648 
                                                               

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes

(4,854)     767      12,926      17,879      346                  839      30      963          28,896 
                                                               

Cumulative Effect of SFAS 143 Adoption

              (855)                                     (855)
                                                               

Net Income (Loss)

$ (8,074)   $ 1,423    $ 20,029    $ 26,073    $ 642    $ 6,229    $ (449)   $   $ 1,301   

$

49   

$

1,674   

$

 

$

48,897 
                                                               

(a) To eliminate intercompany sales and purchases.

                                                     

(b) To eliminate intercompany income and expense items.

                                                     

(c) To eliminate intercompany dividends.

                                                     

 


 

  SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
  CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
  DECEMBER 31, 2003
  (in thousands)
                                                           
                 

Southwestern

 

Diamond

                   

Southwestern

 

Southwestern

         
 

Southwestern

 

Arkansas

       

Energy

 

"M"

 

Overton

 

Overton

 

PV

 

A.W.

 

Energy

 

Energy

         
 

Energy

 

Western Gas

       

Production

 

Production

 

Partners

 

Partners

 

Exploration

 

Realty

 

Pipeline

 

Services

         
 

Company

 

Company

 

SEECO, Inc.

 

Company

 

Company

 

L.P.

 

L.L.C.

 

Company

 

Company

 

Company

 

Company

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

     Assets                                                              
                                                                 
Current Assets:                                                                            
     Cash $ 1,741    $ 561    $ (648)   $ (1,381)   $   $ 908    $   $ 95    $ -    $ -    $ 1    $   $ 1,277 
     Accounts receivable   1,448      24,219      3,324      11,073      611      830      878                  16,160          58,543 
     Intercompany accounts receivable 100,614          (35,906)     (51,574)     2,697        (4,100)       1,410    (11,244)   (1,897)      
     Income taxes receivable                                                    
     Deferred gas purchases       1,107                                              1,107 
     Inventories, at average cost       12,943      18,475                                          31,418 
     Hedging asset       2,137      1,556                                          3,693 
     Other 3,156      796      (3)     324      (1)                       4,272 
          Total Current Assets   106,959      41,763      (13,202)     (41,558)     3,307      1,738      (3,222)     95      1,410      (11,244)     14,264          100,310 
                                                                 
Investments:                                                                            
     Investment in subsidiaries, at cost 422,097                                    (422,097)  (e)  
     Other               (1,907)             1,908          49      13,791          (1)  (d)   13,840 
    422,097              (1,907)             1,908          49      13,791          (422,098)     13,840 
                                                                             
Property, Plant and Equipment:                                                                            
     Oil and gas properties, using the                                                                            
          full cost method 348,755  817,500  7,434  28,228      1,201,917 
     Gas utility system       203,793                                              203,793 
     Gas in underground storage     17,207      16,049                                33,256 
     Other   15,933      1,564      680      5,704      63                  5,695          399          30,038 
    15,933      222,564      365,484      823,204      7,497      28,228              5,695          399          1,469,004 
Less - Accumulated depreciation,                                                                            
           depletion and amortization   11,630      95,338      205,688      373,395      7,130      6,042              1,160          337          706,720 
    4,303      127,226      159,796      443,809      367      22,186              4,535          62          762,284 
                                                                             
Other Assets   7,623      2,037      4,003      613                                      14,276 
                                                                 
  $ 540,982    $ 171,026    $ 150,597    $ 400,957    $ 3,674    $ 23,924    $ (1,314)   $ 95    $ 5,994    $ 2,547    $ 14,326    $ (422,098)   $ 890,710 
                                                               

(d) To eliminate intercompany amounts related to Overton Partners, L.P. activity.

                                         

(e) To eliminate investments in subsidiaries.

                                         

 


 

  SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
  CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
  DECEMBER 31, 2003
  (in thousands)
                                                           
                 

Southwestern

 

Diamond

                   

Southwestern

 

Southwestern

         
 

Southwestern

 

Arkansas

       

Energy

 

"M"

 

Overton

 

Overton

 

PV

 

A.W.

 

Energy

 

Energy

         
 

Energy

 

Western Gas

       

Production

 

Production

 

Partners

 

Partners

 

Exploration

 

Realty

 

Pipeline

 

Services

         
 

Company

 

Company

 

SEECO, Inc.

 

Company

 

Company

 

L.P.

 

L.L.C.

 

Company

 

Company

 

Company

 

Company

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

     Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity                                                              
                                                                 
Current Liabilities:                                                                            
     Accounts payable $ 17,794    $ 4,040    $ 7,925    $ 18,971    $ 105    $ 1,372    $ -    $ -    $   $   $ 3,979    $ -    $ 54,186 
     Taxes payable   836      2,662      881      288                      60          965          5,692 
     Interest payable 2,264      74                                    2,338 
     Hedging liability           20,997                                          20,997 
     Regulatory liability - hedging       2,137                                              2,137 
     Deferred gas purchases                                                  
     Customer deposits       5,277                                              5,277 
     Other 358      1,064      631      2,258                      130        4,441 
          Total Current Liabilities   21,252      15,254      30,434      21,517      105      1,372              60          5,074          95,068 
                                                                 
Long-Term Debt, less current portion 278,800      68,788                                (68,788)  (e)   278,800 
                                                                                 
Other Liabilities:                                                                
     Deferred income taxes   (9,938)     21,499      20,585      103,555      (1,116)                 473      11,259      20          146,337 
     Deferred investment tax credits     958                                    958 
     Long-term hedging liability           532                                          532 
     Other 3,710  773  3,251  7,593  15,327 
    (6,228)     23,230      24,368      111,148      (1,116)                 473      11,259      20          163,154 
                                                                  
Minority Interest - Partnership               12,127                                      12,127 
                                                                 
Shareholders' Equity                                                                            
     Common stock 3,723      24,214      8,244                            (32,465)  (e)   3,723 
     Additional paid-in-capital   123,508      29,000      21,905      253,555      7,000              95      1,728      7,573          (320,845)  (e)   123,519 
     Retained earnings 140,520      10,540      77,685      12,054      (2,315)   13,041      (1,315)       3,732    (16,287)   9,230        246,885 
     Partnership capital               (9,511)         9,511                             
     Other comprehensive income (547)         (12,039)     66                            (12,520)
     Common stock in treasury, at cost   (14,571)                                                 (14,571)
     Unamortized cost of restricted shares                                                                
          issued under stock incentive plan   (5,475)                                                 (5,475)
  247,158      63,754      95,795      256,165      4,685    22,552      (1,314)   95      5,461    (8,712)   9,232    (353,310)     341,561 
                                                                             
  $ 540,982    $ 171,026    $ 150,597    $ 400,957    $ 3,674    $ 23,924    $ (1,314)   $ 95    $ 5,994    $ 2,547    $ 14,326    $ (422,098)   $ 890,710 
                                                                 

(d) To eliminate intercompany amounts related to Overton Partners, L.P. activity.

                                         

(e) To eliminate investments in subsidiaries.

                                         

 


 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
  CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS
  FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003
  (in thousands)
                                                           
                 

Southwestern

 

Diamond

                   

Southwestern

 

Southwestern

         
 

Southwestern

 

Arkansas

       

Energy

 

"M"

 

Overton

 

Overton

 

PV

 

A.W.

 

Energy

 

Energy

         
 

Energy

 

Western Gas

       

Production

 

Production

 

Partners

 

Partners

 

Exploration

 

Realty

 

Pipeline

 

Services

         

Company

Company

SEECO, Inc.

Company

Company

L.P.

L.L.C.

Company

Company

Company

Company

Eliminations

Consolidated

                                                                 
Retained Earnings, beginning of year $ 148,594    $ 9,117    $ 57,656    $ (14,019)   $ (2,957)   $ 6,812    $ (866)   $   $ 2,431    $ (16,336)   $ 7,556    $ -    $ 197,988 
                                                                             
Net income (loss)   (8,074)     1,423      20,029      26,073      642      6,229      (449)         1,301      49      1,674          48,897 
                                                                 
Cash dividends                                                  
                                                                             
Retained Earnings, end of year $ 140,520    $ 10,540    $ 77,685    $ 12,054    $ (2,315)   $ 13,041    $ (1,315)   $   $ 3,732    $ (16,287)   $ 9,230    $   $ 246,885 

 


 

 

SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

 

(in thousands)

       
 

Total Assets

$

890,710

       
 

Total Operating Revenues

$

327,401

       
 

Net Income

$

48,897