of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the bonds being redeemed (assuming, for this purpose, that the bonds mature on the Par Call Date).
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations for such redemption date after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of
all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.
Independent Investment Banker means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that
we appoint to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time or, if any of such firms is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer means (1) Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., or, in each case, an affiliate thereof, and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a Primary
Treasury Dealer), we will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (2) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with us.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each 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 at 5:00 p.m. on
the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
Purchase of the Bonds
We or our affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase all or some of the bonds at any price or prices by means other than
redemption, whether by tender, in the open market, by private negotiated agreement or otherwise, subject to applicable law.
Issuance of Additional
First Mortgage Bonds
See Description of the New Bonds Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds in the
accompanying prospectus for a description of the bases upon which we are permitted to issue first mortgage bonds under the mortgage and the related requirements for such issuance. As of September 30, 2021, we could have issued approximately
$964 million principal amount of first mortgage bonds on the basis of retired first mortgage bonds, and we had approximately $897 million of unfunded property additions, entitling us to issue approximately $628 million principal amount of first
mortgage bonds on the basis of property additions. Such amounts will be affected by the issuance of the bonds. First mortgage bonds in a greater amount may also be issued for the refunding of outstanding first mortgage bonds. The bonds will be
issued on the basis of property additions.
Amendments to the Mortgage
Effective as of May 1, 2020, the mortgage has been amended to permit the amendment of the mortgage at any time without the consent or other
action of the holders of any of the first mortgage bonds, including the bonds, for certain specified circumstances described in the second paragraph under the heading Description of the New Bonds Modification Modification Without
Consent in the accompanying prospectus.
Effective as of May 1, 2020, the mortgage has been amended to provide that, if we transfer
as an entirety all or substantially all of our mortgaged property to a successor, the successor will assume all of our obligations under the mortgage and we may be released from all such obligations, as described in the third paragraph under the
heading Description of the New Bonds Consolidation, Merger and Conveyance of Assets in the accompanying prospectus.
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