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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04092 - NEW WEST ENERGY • • New West Energy (subsidiary of SRP) AGREEMENT 44092 R19501, 4-21-99 NEW WEST ENERGY CORPORATION AND CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RETAIL SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT NEW WEST ENERGY CORPORATION AND THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA RETAIL SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT THIS RETAIL SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into this 21st day of April, 1999 (the "Effective Date"), by and between THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGs, a California municipal corporation (the "City"), and NEW WEST ENERGY CORPORATION, an Arizona corporation ("NWE"), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District("SRP"). RECITALS A. The City and Enron California Municipal Services, Inc. (formerly known as Palm Springs Utility Solutions, Inc. and FirstPoint California, Inc.) are parties to a Municipal Utility Services Agreement dated February 5, 1997 pursuant to which Enron's predecessor was selected by the City to provide services to support the City's operations as a public agency aggregator in the newly competitive market for electricity in the State of California. B., Enron Corp. and its various subsidiaries and affiliate have now determined that they no longer wish to continue the program described in the February 5, 1997 Municipal Utility Services Agreement and have give notice to the City of their intention to terminate the program. C. NWE is willing to provide on a trial basis certain services to the City that would allow City to continue to sell electricity to those parties with which City presently has month to month contracts to provide electric energy sales, as well as other residential customers located within the boundaries of the City that City is obligated to offer service. D. NWE has therefore entered into a Municipal Utility Services Agreement with the City on even date with this Agreement. E. Under the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between City and NWE, NWE has agreed to provide certain support services to enable the City to serve as a public agency aggregator of electric services within its municipal boundaries and to coordinate the provision of unbundled energy and energy-related services to the City and its residents and, at NWE's discretion, businesses located within the City's boundaries. F. The Municipal Utility Services Agreement between City and NWE, provides a general framework for the City's and NWE's rights and obligations related to the City's activities as a public agency aggregator. G. Contemporaneously with this Agreement, pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between the parties, the City has entered into a Power Purchase and Sale Agreement with SRP (the "Power Purchase Agreement") for the purpose of 111/164826.06.00 1 04209911039/49263.00008 obtaining wholesale electricity for resale to certain of the City's customers that NWE has agreed to serve pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.1 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement. H. Contemporaneously with this Agreement, the City and NWE are entering into a Financial Assurances Agreement addressing the allocation of certain risks to which the City may be exposed hereunder and under the Power Purchase Agreement. I. The City and NWE desire to enter into this Agreement in order to provide further definition of the certain services that NWE will provide, either directly or through one or more of is affiliates, to the City. NOW, THEREFORE,the parties hereto agree as follows: 1.0 PURPOSE AND LENGTH OF AGREEMENT. 1.1 Purpose. This Agreement is in furtherance of Section 1.1 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement, and defines NWE's obligations under Sections 1.2, 2.1 and 4.2 of that agreement. 1.2 Nature of Services. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.1 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement, the services to be provided by NWE under this Agreement support the City's provision of retail electric utility service as a public agency aggregator. 1.3 Term. This Agreement shall be effective from the date set forth above, and unless earlier terminated due to breach by a party as provided in Section 5.2, will terminate on the date on which the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between City and NWE terminates pursuant to Section 1.4 thereof, or (b) the date on which the Power Purchase Agreement is terminated pursuant to the terms thereof. 2.0 SCOPE OF SERVICES. 2.1 General. a)NWE's provision of services is contingent upon compliance with the restrictions of California and federal law and regulatory control, including without limitation the California Public Utilities Code, the Federal Power Act, and decisions of the California Public Utilities Commission ("CPUC") and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") implementing the California direct access program. NWE and the City shall take all reasonable actions to achieve compliance with the foregoing and with applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the maintenance of the City's status as a public agency aggregator. Without limiting the foregoing, in no event will NWE be obligated to provide any services or take any action that would cause it, its parent corporation or its affiliated companies to be classified or regulated as a public utility under any federal or state law. Within the constraints of such laws and regulations,NWE will diligently endeavor to provide the services provided in this 111/164826.06.00 2 042099/1049/49263.00008 Agreement. In the event that such jurisdiction may be asserted by the CPUC or the FERC, NWE may immediately terminate this Agreement. b) City represents and warrants to NWE that City is in compliance with all applicable state and federal law and regulation with regard to the provision of services and general duties to be performed under this Agreement, and that City is in possession of all necessary permits, licenses or right to perform under this Agreement and enable NWE to perform its duties. City covenants that it will continue to remain in compliance with all applicable state and federal law and regulation with regard to the provision of services and general duties to be performed under this Agreement. In no event, however, shall City be liable to NWE for damages for the breach of this covenant and warranty. 2.2 Rate Setting Authority. In order to meet its responsibilities hereunder, NWE shall be responsible for establishing the retail prices and terms of service for retail sales of electricity to the City's customers that are eligible for service pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between NWE and City. To the maximurn extent permitted by law, the rates and terms of services may be set and adjusted by NWE without approval by the City Council. The rate setting performed pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the requirements of Articles 13C and 13D of the California Constitution (Proposition 218) because (1) to the maximum extent permitted by law, the rates will be set by a private party and not by the City or any of its departments; and (2) fees for the provision of electrical service are specifically exempt under Article 13D, Section 3(b). If the City rescinds this grant of rate-setting authority at any dine, or if the grant of rate setting authority is found to be unlawful, then NWE shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon ten (10) days' notice to the City. NWE and City shall work together during such period to transfer City's customers to the utility distribution company, Southern California Edison Company. 2.3 Payment for Services. The City will not compensate NWE directly for NWE's services under this Agreement. In consideration for its services, City hereby assigns and NWE shall be entitled to retain all proceeds collected by the City or NWE with respect to sales of electricity to the City's customers that are covered by the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between NWE and City. From such proceeds, NWE will be responsible to pay when due amounts owed by the City under the Power Purchase Agreement, amounts owed by the City to the UDC and to the ISO under applicable tariffs, applicable taxes and surcharges imposed with respect to sales of electricity, and amounts owed by NWE to subcontractors for customer acquisition costs, customer care costs, metering, billing and collection activities. Without limiting the foregoing, NWE shall be entitled to receive and retain, the full amount of any credits from the UDC against charges with respect to providing electricity and related services to the City's customers that are covered by the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between NWE and City. NWE shall not be responsible for any costs, expenses or liabilities associated with service that was provided by City, Enron California Municipal Services, Inc. or any other entity on behalf of City, prior to the time that NWE commenced service under the provisions of this Agreement, even if such costs, expenses and liabilities are not billed to City or its retail agent until after the effective date of this Agreement. NWE shall not be responsible for any costs, expenses or liabilities associated with service that is being provided by City, Enron California 111/164826.06.00 3 04209911039/49263.00008 Municipal Services, Inc. or any other entity on behalf of City to customers that are not covered by Section 2.1 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between NWE and City. 2.4 Description of Services. 2.4.1 Marketing. NWE will provide services that will allow the City to continue to serve those customers with which it has month to month electric energy services agreements, as of the date of this Agreement and other residential customers that City may be obligated to provided service to pursuant to the provisions of Public Utilities Code Section 366. In addition, at its sole discretion, but consistent with the provisions of Section 366 of the Public Utilities Code, NWE may determine to undertake certain marketing efforts targeting residential and small commercial customers, direct sales, and large commercial and industrial customers on behalf of the City. NWE, in its own discretion, may determine the scope and methods of such undertaking and shall be free to determine its overall marketing and sales efforts, but shall give notice of the availability of the program to potential residential customers using the comrmunications means set forth in paragraph 2.1(d) of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement. Prior to delivering any marketing materials to the City's customers, NWE shall deliver to the City's Contract Officer(as that term is used in Section 3.2 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement) a copy of the marketing materials for approval by the Contract Officer, which approval shall not unreasonably be withheld. The Contract Officer shall promptly, and in any case within ten days after delivery of the marketing materials, either approve or disapprove of the materials which approval shall not unreasonably be withheld. If the Contract Officer disapproves of the materials, the Contract Officer shall provide detailed comments to NWE's regarding the reasons for disapproval. If the Contract Officer does not respond to any marketing materials within the ten-day review period, then the materials shall be deemed approved. 2.4.2 Sales. NWE may develop new forms of power sales contracts for the City's customers or use existing forms as NWE determines in its sole discretion. The City's Contract Officer shall take all actions reasonably necessary to approve the forms of contract, with such changes as the City's Contract Officer shall approve from time to time. The City shall not unreasonably withhold its approval of fonns of contract submitted by NWE for approval. NWE shall establish and maintain sales support staff to respond to reasonable foreseeable levels of customer inquiries and to enroll customers. In such marketing and sales efforts, NWE shall comply with the provisions of Section 366 of the Public Utilities Code. 2.4.3 Scheduling Coordination and Load Forecasting. Under Section 4.2 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between the City and NWE, NWE has been appointed the City's scheduling coordinator. In that role, NWE shall provide or cause to be provided either directly or through an affiliate or subcontractor, all scheduling coordination and load forecasting services necessary to receive energy at the Delivery Points (as defined in the Power Purchase Agreement) and redeliver such energy to those customers of the City that NWE's is serving pursuant to the terms of Section 2.1 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between NWE and City in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and tariffs. City hereby consents to NWE's use of SRP as its scheduling coordinator. 1 1 1/1 6 4 826.06.00 4 0 42 0 9 9/1 0 3 9/492 6 3.00008 2.4.4 Revenue Cycle Services. With respect to those customers that NWE is serving pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement between NWE and City, NWE shall, directly or through an affiliate or subcontractor, read the customer's meter or arrange for collection of meter information, process the bill, collect the remittances and respond to customer concerns and questions, in accordance with standards promulgated from time to time by the CPUC for such activities. With respect to metering services, the following procedures shall apply: 2.4.4.1 For those customers that are required to or elect to use hourly demand meters and that do not have such meters or do not have meters that comply with applicable standards necessary for NWE to provide metering services, NWE will, directly or through an affiliate or subcontractor, supply meters adequate to provide the customer with metering services. NWE will recover an, costs for acquiring or installing such interval meter in excess of its then current allocated meter credit solely from charges paid by the City's customers. NWE shall be entitled to retain all revenues collected, net of any amounts (if any) paid to the UDC for meter-related services under applicable tariffs. The City will not be obligated to pay any shortfall between the cost of such meters and amounts collected from the City's customers. At termination of a customer's contract with the City, the customer will be given the opportunity to purchase the meter from NWE pursuant to a separate agreement. If the customer does not purchase the meter from NWE, the customer will be required to pay NWE's then-standard removal charges and NWE shall continue to own the meter. 2.4.4.2 NWE will prepare and deliver to the City from time to time schedules of standard meter removal charges. Meter removal charges will be sufficient to reimburse NWE for labor and materials costs for removal and refurbishment of the meter, average storage costs, and reinstallation and recalibration of the meter for its next application. The initial meter removal cost will be $350 per meter. NWE will be entitled to retain the full amount of meter removal costs charged to customers. 2.4.4.3 All meters supplied by NWE will conform to all UDC and CPUC requirements and specifications. NWE will cause the meter to be installed, read and maintained in accordance with California standards and UDC specifications. NWE will also contract for delivery of the data to a qualified MDMA. 2.4.4.5 NWE will coordinate all contacts with the local UDC. 2.4.4.6 The parties acknowledge that the terms under which NWE will provide metering services will be subject to revision as additional regulations become available. As the City's billing agent, NWE will perform or contract for the performance of billing and related processing services necessary for the collection of amounts due from the City's electric customers served by NWE, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and for remitting all amounts due third parties under the Power Purchase Agreement, under applicable tariffs, and under agreements entered into pursuant to applicable tariffs. 111/164826.06.00 5 042099/1039149263.00008 NWE will undertake necessary activities to collect delinquent payments due from the City's electric customers served by NINE, to the extent that it is cost effective in NWE's discretion to pursue such action. To the extent not prohibited by law, the City appoints NWE as the City's agent to undertake such collection activities. NWE may undertake collection activities directly or through third-parry collection agents in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. NWE will establish and maintain staffing and procedures designed to respond in a timely manner to anticipated levels of customer inquiries and complaints. 2.4.5 Outage Reporting Assistance. NWE will, as part of its customer response service, notify customers served by it how to report outages or damages to distribution system facilities to the entity responsible for correcting such outages or damage to the distribution system. 2.4.6 Distribution Coordination. NWE will arrange for distribution services for customers served by it under the filed tariffs of the UDC from the Delivery Point(s) specified in the Power Purchase Agreement to the City's customers that it serves pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.1 of the Municipal Utility Services Agreement. 2.5 Use of the City's Name. 'The City grants to NWE the right to use the name of the City and of Palm Springs Energy Services in the performance of NWE's duties hereunder, including the right to cash and deposit checks payable to the City for electric services rendered pursuant to this agreement and the Municipal Utility services Agreement. 3.0 IMPLEMENTATION. 3.1 Coordination of Work. The City and NWE will coordinate work performed under this Agreement through their respective representatives appointed under the Municipal Utility Services Agreement. 3.2 Insurance. NWE shall procure and maintain, at its sole cost and expense, in a form and content satisfactory to the City, during the entire term of this Agreement including any extension thereof, the following policies of insurance or evidence of self insurance by NWE for the same coverages: (a) Comprehensive General Liability Insurance. Comprehensive general liability insurance for a combined single limit of $5,000,000 for bodily injury, death and property damage, contractual liability and products and completed operations. (b) Worker's Compensation Insurance. Worker's compensation insurance in such amount as will fully comply with the laws of the State of California and employers liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per accident. 111/164826.06.00 6 04209911039/49263.00008 (c) Automobile Insurance. Comprehensive automobile liability insurance written on a per occurrence basis for either (i) bodily injury liability limits of$250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence and property damage liability limits of$100,000 per occurrence and $250,000 in the aggregate or (ii) combined single limit liability of $500,000. Said policy shall include coverage for owned, nonowned, leased and hired cars. All of the above policies of insurance shall be primary insurance. The insurer, if any, shall waive all rights of subrogation and contribution it may have against the City, its officers, employees and agents and their respective insurers. All of said policies of insurance shall provide that said insurance may not be amended or canceled without providing thirty (30) days prior written notice to the City. In the event any of said policies of insurance are canceled, NWE shall, prior to the cancellation date, submit new evidence of insurance or self insurance in conformance with this Section to the City. No work or services under this Agreement shall commence until NWE has provided the City with Certificates of Insurance or self insurance evidencing the above insurance coverages and said Certificates of Insurance or binders are approved by the City. In the event NWE subcontracts any portion of the work, the contract between NWE and such subcontractor shall require the subcontractor to maintain the same policies of insurance that NWE is required to maintain pursuant to this Section. 3.3 Current customer information. City shall provide to NWE, or cause Enron California Municipal Services, Inc., to provide NWE on its behalf, within five (5) days of the date of this Agreement, usage and billing data for all customers presently served by the City. Said data shall be provided without cost to NWE in the same format that is generally provided by Southern California Edison Company to an energy service provider when a direct access service agreement request is filed with the utility. 4.0 RECORDS AND REPORTS. NWE will keep books, accounts and records that accurately reflect all payments received and all expenditures incurred in connection with this Agreement. The books, accounts and records shall be maintained at the principal place of the business of NWE. NWE will, during regular business hours, make the books, accounts and records to be maintained hereunder available to the City or a representative of the City for examination and audit. Whenever possible, the City shall give 72 hours' notice to NWE of the City's intent to examine and audit the books, accounts and records. Any such audit will be at the expense of the City. NWE shall retain for safekeeping and store all original invoices, statements, purchase orders, billings and other documents with respect to this Agreement. NWE shall retain and keep accessible all such fiscal records, books, documents, papers, plans and writings for a minimum of four years, except as required longer by law, following final payment and termination of this Agreement, or until the conclusion of any audit, controversy or litigation arising out of or related to this Agreement, whichever date is later. NWE shall make available to the City and should the City so request, 111/164826.06.00 7 04209911039149263.00008 provide within reason copies of all or any portion of any invoice, statement, purchase order, billing report or other document with respect to this Agreement. NWE acknowledges and agrees that these books, accounts and records may be subject to public disclosure to the extent required by the Public Records Act, Cal. Government Code Section 6250 et. seq.; provided, that to the extent any such records constitute "customer information," as such term is used in Cal. Public Utility Code Section 394.4, those records shall be kept confidential unless the customer whose information would be disclosed consents in writing to such disclosure. 5.0 MISCELLANEOUS. 5.1 Time of Essence. Parties agree that time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement. 5.2 Defaults and Right to Cure. Failure or delay by either party to timely perform any covenant of this Agreement constitutes a default under this Agreement, but only if the party who so fails or delays does not commence to cure, correct, or remedy such failure or delay within thirty (30) days after receipt of a written notice specifying such failure or delay, and does not thereafter prosecute such cure, correction, or remedy with diligence to completion. The injured party shall give written notice of default to the party in default, specifying the default complained of by the injured party. Except as required to protect against further damages, the injured party may not institute proceedings against the party in default until thirty (30) days after giving such notice. Failure or delay in giving such notice shall not constitute a waiver of any default, nor shall it change the time of default. 5.3 Dispute Resolution. All claims and disputes between the City and NWE arising out of or related to this Agreement will first be attempted to be resolved by the responsible management personnel for both parties. Resolution failing to materialize, senior management for both the City and NWE will negotiate in good faith to reach an acceptable and timely resolution of the claim or dispute. Should the parties be unable to resolve the dispute to their mutual satisfaction within two (2) weeks after such negotiation by senior management, or any other mutually agreeable time period, the parties will attempt to resolve the dispute through non-binding mediation (using a mediator upon which the parties shall mutually agree within thirty (30) days), as a condition precedent to pursuing litigation. Neither party shall be obligated to engage in mediation for longer than two (2) weeks. Each party will be responsible for its own expenses and one-half of any mediation expenses incurred to resolve the dispute. If the parties are still unable to resolve their differences after good faith consideration of a resolution through mediation for a period not to exceed two (2) weeks, each party will have the right to pursue litigation in accordance with the provisions set forth below. Neither party may commence any action at law or in equity as a result of any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with or relating to this Agreement or any breach or alleged breach hereof until the above procedures with respect to settlement and mediation have been complied with. 5.4 Limitation of Liability; Remedies. The parties expressly agree that neither party has any claims one against the other at this time. 111/164826.06.00 $ 042099/1039/49263.00008 0 The parties agree that it would be extremely difficult and impracticable, if not impossible to ascertain with any degree of certainty, the damages suffered by either party by the failure to perform the Agreement. Based on the foregoing, the parties waive one against the other any right to assert any claim for loss or damage for the breach of any term of this Agreement. As used herein, "claim" includes any effort to recover losses, damages, expenses, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, and whether general, punitive, or otherwise. No legal damages shall be available for a breach of the terms hereof and the sole and exclusive remedy shall be an action for specific performance or declaratory or injunctive relief. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY HERETO FOR ANY LOST OR PROSPECTIVE PROFITS OR ANY OTHER SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR INDIRECT LOSSES OR DAMAGES (IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) UNDER OR IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR FOR ANY FAILURE OF PERFORMANCE RELATED HERETO HOWSOEVER CAUSED, WHETHER OR NOT ARISING FROM THAT PARTY'S SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE. 5.5 Attorneys' Fees. In the event of any dispute resulting in litigation between the parties hereto involving the covenants or conditions contained in this Agreement or arising out of the subject matter of the Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover, and the other party agrees to pay, all reasonable fees, expenses and costs, including but not limited to attorneys' fees both at trial and upon appeal. 5.6 Notices. Unless otherwise provided for herein, any notice to be given or other document to be delivered by either party to the other hereunder shall either be delivered in person to such party or may be deposited in the United States mail, duly certified or registered, or by reputable overnight delivery service, with postage prepaid, addressed to the party for whom intended as follows: To the City: City of Palm Springs 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92263 Attention: City Manager Telephone: (760) 322-8350 Facsimile: (760) 323-8207 Copy to: Rutan& Tucker 611 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1400 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Attention: David J. Aleshire, Esq. Telephone: (714) 641-5100 Facsimile: (714) 546-9035 111/164826 06.00 9 042099/1039/49263.00008 To NWE: New West Energy Corporation P. O. Box 61868 Phoenix, AZ 85082-1868 Attention: Acme Bertolet Either party may from time to time, by written notice to the others, designate a different address which shall be substituted for the one above specified, and for specify additional parties to be notified. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, any notices or documents which may lie delivered by mail pursuant to this Section 5.6 must be actually delivered to the other party on the last business day immediately preceding any deadline date specified in this Agreement. 5.7 Assignment. Neither party shall assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may, without the need for consent from the other party (and without relieving itself from liability hereunder), (a)transfer, sell, pledge, encumber or assign this Agreement or the accounts, revenues or proceeds hereof in connection with any financing or other financial arrangements; (b)transfer or assign this Agreement to an affiliate of such party; or (c) transfer or assign this Agreement to any person or entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets of such party; provided, however, that in each such case any such assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions hereof. 5.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and all negotiations and agreements, statements or promises between the parties hereto or their agents with respect to this transaction are merged in this Agreement, which alone expresses the parties' rights and obligations, and if not contained herein shall not be binding or valid against either of the parties hereto. 5.9 Modification. Any amendments or modifications to this Agreement must be in writing and executed by both parties to this Agreement. 5.10 Interpretation-Governing_Law. This Agreement shall be construed according to its fair meaning and as if prepared by both parties hereto. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California in effect at the time of the execution of this Agreement. Titles and captions are for convenience only and shall not constitute a portion of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, masculine, feminine or neuter gender and the singular or plural number shall each be deemed to include the others wherever and whenever the context so dictates. 5.11 No Waiver. No delay or omission by either party hereto in exercising any right or power accruing upon the compliance or failure of performance by the other parry hereto under the provisions of this Agreement shall impair any such right or power or be construed to be a waiver thereof. A waiver by either party hereto of a breach of any of the covenants, conditions or 11 VI64826.06.00 10 042099/1039/49263.00008 agreements hereof to be performed by the party shall not be construed as a waiver of any succeeding breach of the same or other covenants, agreements, restrictions or conditions thereof. 5.12 Severability. If any term, provision, condition or covenant of this Agreement or the application thereof to either party or circumstances shall, to any extent, be held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this instrument, or the application of such term, provision, condition or covenant to persons or circumstances other than those as to whom or which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each term and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 5.13 Authority to Execute. Each individual executing this Agreement on behalf of a party represents and warrants that he or she is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of such party, that all conditions to the exercise of such authority have been satisfied and that this Agreement will be binding upon such entity in accordance with its terms. 5.14 Counterparts. This Agreement, including any exhibits attached hereto may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy. 5.15 No Joint Venture. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create a joint venture or any other form of business association, partnership, or entity among the parties. The City is interested only in the result to be achieved as a result of this Agreement and the conduct and control of the work to be performed will be as provided herein. 5.16 Captions and Headings. The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be construed or referred to in resolving questions of interpretation or construction. Any Recitals set forth at the beginning of this Agreement are contractual and shall be considered or referred to in resolving questions of interpretation or construction. 5.17 Publici . NWE and the City shall coordinate with respect to any press releases or publicity related to this Agreement and the business relationships created herein except for general public filings and releases which discuss broadly agreements of this nature and except for legally required disclosures. 1111164826.06.00 11 042099/1039/49263.00008 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Retail Support Services Agreement the day and year first above written. NWE NEW WEST ENERGY CORPORATION, AN ARIZONA CORPORATION By: Name: Anne Bertolet Title: Director of Marketing & Sales By: (O��P6)L.o �'✓� Name: t Oj f etl\ CC),I J L-Lie 11 Title: fflwa5(n5 ,�ti;eC�ab THE CITY THE C[ Y OF PALM SPRINGS, ICIPAL CORPORATION By: City M Hager ATT y: G=� .e ES City Clerk REVIEWED AND APPROVED AS TO :FORM: By: �1 G^ Cit-it 111/164826.06.00 12 042099/1039/49263.00008