Definitive Proxy Statement
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.     )

 

Filed by the Registrant    x

 

Filed by a party other than the Registrant    ¨

 

Check   the appropriate box:

 

¨    Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

¨    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

x    Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨    Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨    Soliciting Material Under §240.14a-12

 

CONSOLIDATED EDISON, INC.

 

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

NOT APPLICABLE

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x    No fee required.

 

¨    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  (1)    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

  

 

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  (3)    Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

  

 

  (4)    Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

  

 

  (5)    Total fee paid:

  

 

 

¨    Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨    Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

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LOGO   

 

 

 

 

Letter to

Stockholders

Notice of 2011

Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

 

May 16, 2011

Con Edison Headquarters

4 Irving Place

New York, N.Y. 10003

 


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LOGO   

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

4 Irving Place

New York, NY 10003

 

 

 

Kevin Burke

Chairman of the Board

 

April 8, 2011

 

Dear Stockholders:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Consolidated Edison, Inc. I hope that you will join the Board of Directors and the Company’s management at the Company’s Headquarters at 4 Irving Place, New York, New York, on Monday, May 16, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.

 

The accompanying Proxy Statement contains information about matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to vote on the election of Directors, the ratification of the appointment of independent accountants for 2011, an advisory vote on executive compensation, and an advisory vote on the frequency of such votes going forward. In addition to the matters described above, stockholders will be asked to vote on a proposal submitted by an individual stockholder described in the attached Proxy Statement. For the reasons stated in the Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors and the management recommend that stockholders vote against the stockholder proposal.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided. It is very important that as many shares as possible be represented at the meeting. Stockholders of record may also vote their shares by telephone or by the Internet. Instructions for using the telephone and the Internet service are set forth on the enclosed proxy card.

 

As a stockholder of record, if after voting your proxy you come to the meeting, you may vote in person even though you have previously voted your proxy.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

LOGO

Kevin Burke


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LOGO   

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

4 Irving Place

New York, NY 10003

 

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Dear Stockholders:

 

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Consolidated Edison, Inc. will be held at the Company’s Headquarters, 4 Irving Place, New York, New York, on Monday, May 16, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. for the following purposes:

 

  a.   To elect as the members of the Board of Directors the twelve nominees named in the Proxy Statement (attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference);

 

  b.   To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants for the year 2011;

 

  c.   To provide an advisory vote on executive compensation;

 

  d.   To provide an advisory vote on the frequency of the vote on executive compensation;

 

  e.   To act on a stockholder proposal as set forth in the Proxy Statement; and

 

  f.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment of the meeting.

 

You are cordially invited to attend the meeting. If you hold your shares directly in your name as a stockholder of record, an admission ticket is attached to your proxy card. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote your proxy but keep the admission ticket and bring it with you to the meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must present proof of your ownership, such as a bank or brokerage account statement, to be admitted to the meeting.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, we urge you to vote, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, or vote your proxy by telephone or by the Internet in accordance with the instructions accompanying the proxy card.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

 

Carole Sobin

Corporate Secretary

 

Dated: April 8, 2011


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IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION

 

Stockholder Voting of Shares Held Through Brokers, Banks or Other Financial Institutions

 

If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other financial institution (“broker”), the Securities and Exchange Commission has approved a New York Stock Exchange rule that changes the manner in which your broker may vote your shares. Your broker may not vote on your behalf for the election of directors or compensation-related matters unless you provide specific instructions by completing and returning the proxy card or following the instructions provided to you to vote your shares. For your vote to be counted, you need to communicate your voting decisions to your broker before the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

More Information is Available

 

If you have any questions about this rule or the proxy voting process in general, please contact the broker where you hold your shares. The Securities and Exchange Commission also has a website (www.sec.gov/spotlight/proxymatters.shtml) with more information about your rights as a stockholder.

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE

STOCKHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011

 

The Company’s Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available on our web site at http://www.conedison.com/investor/corporate_governance.asp under “Financial Reports.”


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Table of Contents

 

     Page  

Notice of Annual Meeting (including Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials)

  

Consolidated Edison, Inc. 2011 Proxy Statement

     1   

Matters to be Considered at the Annual Meeting

     3   

Item No. 1—Election of Directors

     3   

Item No. 2—Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Accountants

     18   

Item No. 3—Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

     19   

Item No. 4—Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Vote on Executive Compensation

     20   

Item No. 5—Stockholder Proposal Relating to Additional Compensation Information

     21   

Executive Compensation

     22   

Certain Information as to Insurance and Indemnification

     52   

Stockholder Proposals for the 2012 Annual Meeting

     53   

Delivery of Documents to Stockholders Sharing an Address

     53   

Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting

     54   

 


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PROXY STATEMENT

 

Introduction

 

This Proxy Statement is provided to stockholders of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (“Con Edison” or the “Company”) in connection with the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) and any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Company’s principal executive offices at 4 Irving Place, New York, New York 10003, on Monday, May 16, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.

 

Solicitation of Proxies

 

The Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Con Edison for use at the Annual Meeting. The Proxy Statement and the form of proxy are being mailed to stockholders on or about April 8, 2011.

 

The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2010, and other information relating to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, also accompanies the mailing of this Proxy Statement.

 

This solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting is being made by management on behalf of the Board of Directors and will be made by mail, telephone, the Internet, facsimile and electronic transmission or overnight delivery. The Company will pay the expenses associated with the solicitation of proxies. The expenses will include reimbursement for postage and clerical expenses to brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees or fiduciaries for forwarding proxy material and other documents to beneficial owners of stock held in their names. In addition, Morrow & Co., LLC has been retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies by the means described above. The estimated cost of Morrow’s services is $21,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Record Date, Outstanding Voting Securities and Voting Rights

 

The Board of Directors has established March 28, 2011 as the record date for the determination of Con Edison’s stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting. On the record date, there were 292,243,633 shares of Common Stock outstanding, which are entitled to one vote per share upon each of the proposals presented at the Annual Meeting. The holders will vote on the election of Directors, the ratification of the appointment of independent accountants, an advisory vote on executive compensation, an advisory vote on the frequency of such votes going forward, and a stockholder proposal.

 

The enclosed proxy card is for the number of shares registered in your name with Con Edison, together with any additional full shares held in your name in Con Edison’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Payment Plan. The instructions on the proxy card provide that any shares registered in your name and any full shares held for your account in the plan will be voted in the same manner.

 

The twelve nominees for Director named in this Proxy Statement receiving a majority of the votes cast at the meeting in person or by proxy shall be elected (meaning the number of shares voted “for” a Director nominee must exceed the number of shares voted “against” that Director nominee), subject to the Board’s policy regarding resignations by Directors who do not receive a majority of “for” votes. In all other matters, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, entitled to vote and voting on the subject matter, will be the act of the stockholders.

 

Abstentions and broker non-votes are voted neither “for” nor “against,” and have no effect on the vote, but are counted in the determination of the quorum.

 

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Voting and Revocation of Proxies

 

All shares represented by properly executed proxies received in time for the Annual Meeting will be voted at the Annual Meeting in the manner specified by the persons giving those proxies. If the proxy is signed but no voting instructions are made, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted for the election of the Director nominees named herein and in accordance with the recommendations of the Board on other proposals.

 

Instead of submitting a signed proxy card, if you are a stockholder of record you may vote your proxy by telephone or by the Internet using the instructions set forth on the proxy card. Voting by telephone or by the Internet eliminates the need to return the proxy card. Telephone voting is not available to stockholders of record outside the United States.

 

If your shares are held through a broker, you must vote your shares in the manner prescribed by your broker. If you hold your shares through a broker, your broker may not vote on your behalf in the election of Directors and compensation-related matters without your voting instructions. Please communicate your voting instructions to your broker before the stockholders meeting so that your vote will be counted. The telephone and Internet voting procedure may or may not be available to stockholders who hold their shares through a broker.

 

Voting by use of a proxy on the enclosed proxy card, by telephone or by the Internet does not preclude a stockholder of record from voting in person at the Annual Meeting. A stockholder of record may revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise by mailing to the Corporate Secretary of the Company a duly executed revocation or by submitting a duly executed proxy, telephone or Internet vote to the Company with a later date or by appearing at the Annual Meeting and voting in person. A stockholder of record may revoke a proxy by any of these methods, regardless of the method used to cast his or her previous vote. Attendance at the Annual Meeting without voting will not by itself revoke a proxy.

 

Attendance and Procedures at the Annual Meeting

 

Attendance at the Annual Meeting will be limited to stockholders of record, beneficial owners of Common Stock entitled to vote at the meeting having evidence of ownership, the authorized representative (one only) of an absent stockholder, and invited guests of management. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and you hold your shares directly in your name, please vote your proxy but keep the admission ticket attached to your proxy card and bring it with you to the meeting. Stockholders who hold their shares through a broker, bank, nominee, or other custodian will need to bring a copy of a brokerage or other statement reflecting their stock ownership as of the record date. You may be asked to present valid picture identification. Any person claiming to be an authorized representative of a stockholder must, upon request, produce written evidence of the authorization. In order to assure the holding of a fair and orderly meeting and to accommodate as many stockholders as possible who may wish to speak at the Annual Meeting, management will limit the general discussion portion of the meeting and permit only stockholders or their authorized representatives to address the meeting. In addition, management will require that all signs, banners, placards, handouts and similar materials be left outside the meeting room. Directions to the Annual Meeting are available on our website at http://www.conedison.com/investor/governance_documents.asp under “shareholder services.”

 

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MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(Proposal 1 on Proxy Card)

 

Twelve Directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the next Annual Meeting and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Directors are permitted to stand for election until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 72. Of the Board members standing for election, one (Kevin Burke) is a current officer of the Company. All of the nominees were elected Directors at the last Annual Meeting.

 

The Company’s management believes that all of the nominees will be able and willing to serve as Directors of the Company. All of the Directors also serve as Trustees of Con Edison’s subsidiary, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (“Con Edison of New York”). Mr. Burke also serves on the Board of Con Edison’s subsidiary, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (“Orange & Rockland”).

 

The Board of Directors held twelve meetings in 2010. At its meetings the Board considers a wide variety of matters involving such things as the Company’s strategic planning, its financial condition and results of operations, its capital and operating budgets, personnel matters, succession planning, risk management, industry issues, accounting practices and disclosure, and corporate governance practices.

 

In accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (currently Mr. Del Giudice) serves as Lead Director and, as such, chairs the executive sessions of the non-management Directors and the independent Directors. The Company’s independent Directors met once in executive session and the non-management Directors met nine times in executive session during 2010.

 

Shares represented by every properly signed proxy will be voted at the Annual Meeting for or against the election of the Director nominees as specified by the stockholder giving the proxy. If one or more of the nominees is unable or unwilling to serve, the shares represented by the proxies will be voted for any substitute nominee or nominees as may be designated by the Board.

 

Information About the Nominees

 

The Board and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consider the qualifications of Directors and Director candidates individually and in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition and the Company’s current and future needs. The Board believes that the Board, as a whole, should possess a combination of skills, professional experience, and diversity of backgrounds necessary to oversee the Company’s business. The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist it in exercising its responsibilities to the Company and its stockholders. In evaluating Director candidates and considering incumbent Directors for renomination to the Board, the Board and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consider various factors. Pursuant to the Guidelines, the Committee reviews with the Board the skills and characteristics of Director nominees, including independence, integrity, judgment, business experience, areas of expertise, availability for service, factors relating to the composition of the Board (including its size and structure) and the Company’s principles of diversity. For incumbent Directors, the Committee also considers past performance of the Director on the Board.

 

The current nominees bring to the Company the benefit of their qualifications, leadership, skills, and the diversity of their experience and backgrounds, as set forth below, which provide the Board, as a whole, with the skills and expertise that reflect the needs of the Company’s regulated and unregulated businesses.

 

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Name, Age, Length of Service as a Director and Trustee

and Principal Occupation and Business Experience

   Eugene R. McGrath, 69
LOGO    Mr. McGrath has leadership, engineering, and operations experience, and knowledge of the utility industry and the Company’s business. Mr. McGrath’s experience from his leadership positions at the Company and his service on other boards support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s management, operations, engineering and strategic planning activities. Mr. McGrath was Chairman of the Board of Con Edison from October 1997 through February 2006, Chairman of Con Edison of New York from September 1990 through February 2006, President and Chief Executive Officer of Con Edison from October 1997 until September 2005, and Chief Executive Officer of Con Edison of New York from September 1990 to September 2005. Mr. McGrath has been a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since 1987, a Director of Con Edison since October 1997, and Chairman of the Board of Orange & Rockland from July 1999 until September 2005. During the past five years, Mr. McGrath served as a Director or Trustee of Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited, GAMCO Investors, Inc., Sensus (Bermuda 2) Ltd. and Sensus USA Inc., and certain of their affiliates, and Schering-Plough Corporation through November 2009.
   Gordon J. Davis, 69
LOGO    Mr. Davis has experience as an attorney in real estate, environmental, utilities and financial matters, and experience in government service. Mr. Davis’ legal experience and government service support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s environmental, real estate, and financial activities. Mr. Davis is a partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, Attorneys at Law, New York, NY, the firm resulting from the merger in October 2007 of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, LLP (“LeBoeuf”) and Dewey Ballantine LLP. Mr. Davis was a Partner at LeBoeuf from October 1994 to October 2007 (except during 2001 when he served as President of Lincoln Center Inc.). Previously, Mr. Davis served as the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the City of New York. Mr. Davis has been a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since 1989 and a Director of Con Edison since December 1997. During the past five years, Mr. Davis served as a Director or Trustee of the Dreyfus Funds, Groups III and IX, Phoenix Companies, Inc., Central Park Conservatory, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Inc. (Founding Chairman Emeritus), John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Municipal Art Society of New York, New York Public Library, New York Public Theater and the Studio Museum in Harlem.

 

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Name, Age, Length of Service as a Director and Trustee

and Principal Occupation and Business Experience

   Ellen V. Futter, 61
LOGO    Ms. Futter has management and operations experience leading major New York not-for-profit entities that provide services to the public. Ms. Futter also has legal and financial experience. Ms. Futter’s experience from her leadership positions at the American Museum of Natural History and Barnard College, her legal experience, and her service on other boards support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s operations and planning activities and the Company’s relationships with stakeholders. Ms. Futter has been the President of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, since November 1993. Previously, Ms. Futter served as the President of Barnard College, New York, NY and as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and was a corporate attorney at the law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy. Ms. Futter has been a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since 1989 and a Director of Con Edison since December 1997. Ms. Futter also serves as a Director or Trustee of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Inc., and NYC & Company, and during the past five years she also served as a Director of American International Group, Inc. through July 2008, and Viacom, Inc. through April 2007. Ms. Futter is also a manager at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
   Sally Hernandez, 58
LOGO    Ms. Hernandez has experience in business development and government service, and also has legal experience. Ms. Hernandez’s experience from her positions as an attorney and in government service supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s corporate governance, environmental, and planning activities and the Company’s relationships with stakeholders. Ms. Hernandez has been an Attorney at Law, Yonkers, NY, since January 2008. Previously, Ms. Hernandez was President of East Harlem Business Capital Corporation, a non-profit corporation providing business services to promote economic development, from July 2006 to December 2007, and Executive Director of City Harvest, New York, NY, a non-profit corporation that collects and distributes food to community food programs, from August 2005 to July 2006. Previously, Ms. Hernandez served as the Managing Director of Fannie Mae American Communities Fund, Chairwoman of the New York City Housing Authority, Deputy Mayor for Finance and Economic Development, and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Financial Services Corporation of New York City. Ms. Hernandez has been a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since 1994 and a Director of Con Edison since December 1997.

 

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Name, Age, Length of Service as a Director and Trustee

and Principal Occupation and Business Experience

   Michael J. Del Giudice, 68
LOGO    Mr. Del Giudice has experience in private equity, with a focus on the power and energy infrastructure market, as well as experience in government service. Mr. Del Giudice’s experience from his investment activities and his government service support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s corporate governance, financial, and strategic planning activities, and the Company’s relationships with stakeholders. Mr. Del Giudice has been the Senior Managing Director at Millennium Credit Markets LLC, New York, NY, an investment banking firm, since 1996, and Chairman and Senior Managing Director of Rockland Capital, LLC, New York, NY, a private equity company focusing on power and energy infrastructure markets, since 2003. Previously, Mr. Del Giudice was a General Partner at the investment bank of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, and served as Secretary to the New York State Governor and Chief of Staff to the New York State Assembly Speaker. Mr. Del Giudice has been a Director of Con Edison since July 1999 and a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since May 2002. Mr. Del Giudice also serves as a Director of Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc., and Reis, Inc, and during the past five years Mr. Del Giudice also served as a Director of Barnes and Noble, Inc. through September 2010. Mr. Del Giudice is also Chairman of the Governor’s Committee on Scholastic Achievement and Vice Chairman of the New York Racing Association.
   George Campbell Jr., Ph.D., 65
LOGO    Dr. Campbell has experience leading one of the nation’s premiere colleges and a non-profit corporation, with a focus on engineering and science. Dr. Campbell also has experience in management and research and development at a public company. Dr. Campbell’s experience from his leadership positions at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, AT&T Bell Laboratories, and NACME, Inc., and his service on other boards support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s operations and management activities. Dr. Campbell, a physicist, has been the President of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, NY since July 2000. Previously, Dr. Campbell held various management positions at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Dr. Campbell has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of NACME, Inc., a non-profit corporation focused on engineering education and science and technology policy. Dr. Campbell has been a Director of Con Edison and a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since February 2000. During the past five years, Dr. Campbell also served as a Director of Barnes and Noble, Inc. and New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Josiah Macy Foundation, and a Trustee of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Montefiore Medical Center, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities and the New York Hall of Science.

 

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Name, Age, Length of Service as a Director and Trustee

and Principal Occupation and Business Experience

   Vincent A. Calarco, 68
LOGO    Mr. Calarco has experience leading public companies, and has management and executive experience with manufacturing companies. Mr. Calarco’s experience from his leadership positions at Newmont Mining Corporation and Crompton Corporation (now known as Chemtura Corporation), and his service on other boards support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s management, financial, operations, and strategic planning activities. Mr. Calarco has been the Non-Executive Chairman of Newmont Mining Corporation, Denver, CO, a gold production company, since January 2008. Mr. Calarco was Chairman, President and CEO of Crompton Corporation (specialty chemicals, polymer products and equipment), Middlebury, CT from April 1985 to July 2004. Previously, Mr. Calarco held various management and executive positions at Uniroyal Chemical Company. Mr. Calarco has been a Director of Con Edison and a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since September 2001. During the past five years, Mr. Calarco also served as a Director of CPG International, Inc., and Citadel Plastics Company, and is a Trustee of Saint Raphael Healthcare System.
   Kevin Burke, 60
LOGO    Mr. Burke has leadership, engineering, operations and legal experience, as well as knowledge of the utility industry and the Company’s business. Mr. Burke’s experience from his leadership positions at the Company, and his service on other boards supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s management, financial, operations, and strategic planning activities and the Company’s relationships with stakeholders. Mr. Burke has been Chairman of the Board of Con Edison and Con Edison of New York since February 2006. Mr. Burke was President and Chief Executive Officer of Con Edison and Chief Executive Officer of Con Edison of New York since September 2005. Previously, Mr. Burke was President and Chief Operating Officer of Con Edison of New York from September 2000 until September 2005. Mr. Burke has been a Director of Con Edison, a Trustee of Con Edison of New York and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orange & Rockland since October 2005. During the past five years, Mr. Burke also served as a Director of Honeywell International Inc., Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Business Council of New York State and YMCA of Greater New York, Inc., and a Director or Trustee of American Gas Association, The Economic Club of New York, Edison Electric Institute, Institute for Electric Efficiency, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, New York Botanical Garden, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and Partnership for New York City.

 

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Name, Age, Length of Service as a Director and Trustee

and Principal Occupation and Business Experience

   L. Frederick Sutherland, 59
LOGO    Mr. Sutherland has leadership experience at an international managed services company, including experience with financial reporting, internal auditing, mergers and acquisitions, financing, risk management, corporate compliance and corporate planning. Mr. Sutherland also has corporate banking experience. Mr. Sutherland’s experience from his leadership positions at ARAMARK Corporation and Chase Manhattan Bank supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, auditing, and strategic planning activities. Mr. Sutherland has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ARAMARK Corporation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a provider of services, facilities management and uniform and career apparel, since 1997, and assumed the added responsibilities as Group Executive in 2009. Prior to joining ARAMARK in 1980, Mr. Sutherland was Vice President in the Corporate Banking Department of Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, NY. Mr. Sutherland has been a Director of Con Edison and a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since April 2006. During the past five years, Mr. Sutherland also served as President of the Board of Trustees of People’s Light and Theater, and as a Board member of WHYY, a PBS affiliate.
   John F. Killian, 56
LOGO    Mr. Killian has leadership experience at regulated consumer services companies, including experience with financial reporting and internal auditing. Mr. Killian’s experience from his leadership positions at Verizon Communications, Inc., Bell Atlantic and NYNEX CableComms Limited supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s auditing, financial, operating, and strategic planning activities, and the Company’s relationships with stakeholders. Mr. Killian was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., a telecommunications company, from March 2009 to December 2010. Previously, Mr. Killian was the President of Verizon Business, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, from October 2005 until February 2009, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Telecom from June 2003 until October 2005, and the Senior Vice President and Controller of Verizon Telecom from April 2002 until June 2003. Mr. Killian also served in executive positions at Bell Atlantic and was the President and Chief Executive Officer of NYNEX CableComms Limited (a telecommunications, information services and entertainment company in the United Kingdom). Mr. Killian has been a Director of Con Edison and a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since September 2007. During the past five years, Mr. Killian also served as a Trustee of the National Urban League and Providence College.

 

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Name, Age, Length of Service as a Director and Trustee

and Principal Occupation and Business Experience

   Michael W. Ranger, 52
LOGO    Mr. Ranger has investment experience focusing on the energy and power sector, investment banking experience in the energy and power sector, and experience as a member of a utility banking group. Mr. Ranger’s experience from his investment activities in the energy and power sector supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s financial and strategic planning activities. Mr. Ranger has been Senior Managing Director of Diamond Castle Holdings LLC, New York, NY, a private equity investment firm, since 2004 and Chairman of KDC Solar LLC since 2010. Previously, Mr. Ranger was an investment banker in the energy and power sector for twenty years, including at Credit Suisse First Boston, Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette, DLJ Global Energy Partners, and Drexel Burnham Lambert. Mr. Ranger was also a member of the Utility Banking Group at Bankers Trust. Mr. Ranger has been a Director of Con Edison and a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since February 2008. During the past five years, Mr. Ranger also served as a Director of TXU Corp. through October 2007, and as a member of the Boards of Beacon Health Holdings, LLC, Managed Health Care Associates, Inc., Morristown-Beard School, Professional Direction Enterprise, Inc, and The Seeing Eye, Inc., and a Trustee Emeritus of St. Lawrence University.
   John F. Hennessy III, 55
LOGO    Mr. Hennessy has leadership experience at project performance consulting firms, and has engineering and construction industry experience. Mr. Hennessy’s experience from his leadership positions with a project performance consulting firm supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s operations and financial activities. Mr. Hennessy has been a Partner in the firm of Hennessy & Williamson, a project performance consulting firm, New York, NY, since 2004. Previously, Mr. Hennessy was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Syska Hennessy Group from 1989 to 2004. Mr. Hennessy has been a Director of Con Edison and a Trustee of Con Edison of New York since November 2008. During the past five years, Mr. Hennessy also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company. Mr. Hennessy is also Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors of the New York Building Congress, Chairman Emeritus of the New York Building Foundation, and Chairman Emeritus of the American Council of Engineering Companies.

 

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The following table includes information, as of February 28, 2011, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of the Company by each Director, each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, and by all Directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Each executive officer and member of the Board held his or her shares with sole voting power and sole investment power, except for the restricted stock units and deferred stock units (the holders of which have no voting rights or investment power) and shares as to which voting power, or investment power, or both, were shared with a spouse or a relative of such person. As of February 28, 2011, such ownership was, in each case, less than one percent of the outstanding 292,089,846 shares.

 

Beneficial Owner

  

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership1

    

Other Stock-

Based  Holdings2

    

Total Number of Shares

 

Vincent A. Calarco

     16,690         0         16,690   

George Campbell, Jr.

     15,657         9,639         25,296   

Gordon J. Davis

     22,308         0         22,308   

Michael J. Del Giudice

     25,638         0         25,638   

Ellen V. Futter

     13,880         6,000         19,880   

John F. Hennessy III

     4,101         0         4,101   

Sally Hernandez

     25,382         1,500         26,882   

John F. Killian

     1,419         4,750         6,169   

Eugene R. McGrath

     166,011         0         166,011   

Michael W. Ranger

     12,416         0         12,416   

L. Frederick Sutherland

     16,022         0         16,022   

Kevin Burke

     491,973         25,936         517,909   

Robert Hoglund

     68,469         15,000         83,469   

Craig Ivey

     7,140         0         7,140   

William Longhi

     41,249         0         41,249   

John D. McMahon3

     147,376         22,500         169,876   

Directors and Executive Officers as a group, including the above-named persons (23 persons)

     1,171,946         90,665         1,262,611   

 

1   Includes for the Directors, stock units that were deferred until the respective Director’s separation from the Board of Directors (“DSUs”): Mr. Calarco—16,290; Dr. Campbell—12,816; Mr. Davis—22,306; Mr. Del Giudice—23,943; Ms. Futter—11,934; Mr. Hennessy —4,101; Ms. Hernandez—21,734; Mr. Killian—1,419; Mr. McGrath—10,935; Mr. Ranger—12,416; and Mr. Sutherland—12,022. Includes for the Named Executive Officers, shares underlying exercisable stock options and vested restricted stock units the receipt of which the officer deferred until the officer’s separation from the Company, for: Mr. Burke—stock options: 339,000, restricted stock units: 64,326; Mr. Hoglund—stock options: 50,000, restricted stock units: 15,000; Mr. Longhi—stock options: 26,000, restricted stock units: 7,160; and Mr. McMahon—stock options: 132,000, restricted stock units: 12,500. These officers had no other restricted stock units that were to vest, and no unexercisable stock options that were to become exercisable, within 60 days of February 28, 2011.
2  

Represents shares, stock units or DSUs that have been deferred more than 60 days after February 28, 2011.

3   Mr. McMahon retired effective January 31, 2011.

 

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The following table provides, as of December 31, 2010, information with respect to persons who are known to the Company to beneficially own more than five percent of the Company’s shares of Common Stock:

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

   Shares of
Common  Stock
Beneficially
Owned
    Percent of
Class
 

State Street Corporation

State Street Financial Center

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

     16,303,262 (1)      5.6

 

(1)   State Street Corporation has shared voting and dispositive power for 16,303,262 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Directors and executive officers of the Company to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of the equity securities of the Company and its subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to furnish copies of these reports to the Company, within specified time limits. Based upon its review of the reports furnished to the Company for 2010 pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act, the Company believes that all of the reports were filed on a timely basis, except for one report, which was inadvertently filed late: for Robert Muccilo (Vice President and Controller), relating to the exercise of two option grants and the sale of 4,000 shares underlying such options.

 

Board Members’ Attendance

 

During 2010, each incumbent member of the Board attended more than 75 percent of the combined meetings of the Board of Directors and the Board Committees on which he or she served, except for Mr. Burke who did not attend meetings during one week in April 2010 due to absence for a medical procedure.

 

Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting. All of the current Directors attended the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Con Edison’s corporate governance documents, including its Corporate Governance Guidelines, the charters of the Audit, Corporate Governance and Nominating, and Management Development and Compensation Committees, and the Code of Ethics are available on the Company’s website at http://www.conedison.com/investor/governance_documents.asp. The Code of Ethics applies to all Directors, officers and employees. Con Edison intends to post on its website at http://www.conedison.com/investor/governance_documents.asp amendments to its Code of Ethics and a description of any waiver from a provision of the Code of Ethics granted by the Board to any Director or executive officer of Con Edison within four business days after such amendment or waiver.

 

Leadership Structure

 

The Company’s leadership structure combines the roles of the chairman and chief executive officer. The Board believes that this leadership structure is appropriate for the Company due to Mr. Burke’s knowledge of the Company and the utility industry, and his extensive engineering, operations and legal experience. The Board consists of a substantial majority of Directors who are independent (see “Board Members’ Independence” on page 13, the Board routinely holds executive sessions at which only non-management Directors are present, and the independent Directors meet in executive session at least once a year. Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board has oversight responsibility for reviewing the Company’s strategic plans,

 

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objectives and risks. The Committees of the Board which administer the Board’s risk oversight function are chaired by non-management Directors (see “Standing Committees of the Board” on page 14). In addition, the Board has an independent Lead Director who is the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Lead Director: (i) acts as a liaison between the independent Directors and the Company’s management; (ii) chairs the executive sessions of non-management and independent Directors and has the authority to call additional executive sessions as appropriate; (iii) chairs Board meetings in the Chairman’s absence; (iv) coordinates with the Chairman on agendas and schedules for Board meetings, information flow to the Board, and other matters pertinent to the Company and the Board; and (v) is available for consultation and communication with major shareholders as appropriate.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board’s primary function is one of oversight. In connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees the Company’s policies and procedures for managing risk. The Board administers its risk oversight function primarily through its Committees which report to the Board. Board Committees have assumed oversight of various risks that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies and the Audit Committee reports to the Board on the Company’s risk management program. Management regularly provides reports to the Board and its Committees concerning risks identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program.

 

Related Person Transactions and Policy

 

The Company has adopted a written policy for approval of transactions between the Company and its Directors, Director nominees, executive officers, greater-than-five percent beneficial owners, and their respective immediate family members, where the amount involved in the transaction exceeds or is expected to exceed $100,000 in a single calendar year.

 

The policy provides that the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews certain transactions subject to the policy and determines whether or not to approve or ratify those transactions. In doing so, the Committee takes into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction. In addition, the Board has delegated authority to the Chair of the Committee to pre-approve or ratify transactions where the aggregate amount involved is expected to be less than $1.0 million. A summary of any new transactions pre-approved by the Chair will be provided to the full Committee for its review in connection with a regularly scheduled Committee meeting.

 

The Committee has considered and adopted standing pre-approvals under the policy for limited transactions with related persons. Pre-approved transactions include:

 

   

business transactions with other companies at which a related person’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer), director or less-than-10 percent beneficial owner if the amount of business falls below the thresholds in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards and the Company’s Director independence standards; and

 

   

contributions to non-profit organizations at which a related person’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer) or director if the aggregate amount involved is less than both $1.0 million and two percent of the organization’s consolidated gross annual revenues.

 

At least annually, a summary of new transactions covered by the standing pre-approvals described above will be provided to the Committee for its review.

 

In 2010, Ms. Futter’s brother received $151,746 for providing legal services to Con Edison of New York and will provide such legal services in 2011. The provision of these services by Ms. Futter’s brother was approved by the Committee.

 

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Board Members’ Independence

 

The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that the following Directors are “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards: Mr. Calarco, Dr. Campbell, Mr. Davis, Mr. Del Giudice, Mr. Hennessy, Ms. Hernandez, Mr. Killian, Mr. Ranger, and Mr. Sutherland.

 

To assist it in making determinations of Director independence, the Board has adopted independence standards, which are set forth in its Corporate Governance Guidelines, available on the Company’s website at http://www.conedison.com/investor/pdfs/Guidelines.pdf. Under these standards, the Board has determined that each of the relationships below is categorically immaterial and therefore, by itself, does not preclude a Director from being independent; provided, however, that if a Director has any relationship that would be required to be disclosed as a related person transaction under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, that relationship may not be treated as categorically immaterial and must be specifically considered by the Board in assessing the Director’s independence:

 

  (i)   (a) the Director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of the Company’s internal or external auditor, but the immediate family member does not personally work on the Company’s audit; or (b) the Director or an immediate family member was, within the last three years, a partner or employee of such a firm but no longer works at the firm and did not personally work on the Company’s audit within that time;

 

  (ii)   the Director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed at another company where any of the Company’s present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee, but the Director or the Director’s immediate family member is not an executive officer of the other company and his or her compensation is not determined or reviewed by that company’s compensation committee;

 

  (iii)   the Director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in any of the last three fiscal years, but the total payments in each year were less than $1.0 million, or two percent of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues, whichever is greater;

 

  (iv)   the Director is a partner or the owner of five percent or more of the voting stock of another company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in any of the last three fiscal years, but the total payments in each year were less than $1.0 million, or two percent of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues, whichever is greater;

 

  (v)   the Director is a partner, the owner of five percent or more of the voting stock or an executive officer of another company which is indebted to the Company, or to which the Company is indebted, but the total amount of the indebtedness in each of the last three fiscal years was less than $1.0 million, or two percent of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues, whichever is greater; and

 

  (vi)   the Director or an immediate family member is a director or an executive officer of a non-profit organization to which the Company has made contributions in any of the last three fiscal years, but the Company’s total contributions to the organization in each year were less than $1.0 million, or two percent of such organization’s consolidated gross revenues, whichever is greater.

 

In assessing independence, the Board considered that certain Directors (Dr. Campbell and Messrs. Davis, Del Giudice, Killian, and Sutherland) are affiliated with organizations that do business with Con Edison. Con Edison made payments to, or received payments from, these organizations for property or services in 2010. However, in each case, the payments made by or to Con Edison were less than 1 percent of the recipient organization’s consolidated gross revenues and fell significantly below the thresholds in paragraphs (iii) and (iv) of Con Edison’s Director independence standards disclosed above. In assessing independence, the Board also considered that Dr. Campbell is an executive officer of a non-profit organization that received contributions from Con Edison in 2010 of no more than $360,000. Con Edison’s relationship with such organization predates Dr. Campbell’s service on the Board. In addition, the Board considered that Messrs. Davis, Hennessy, and Killian are directors of, or serve in a similar capacity for, non-profit organizations that received contributions

 

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from Con Edison in 2010 of no more than $83,000. In each case, the amount of the contributions fell significantly below the threshold in paragraph (vi) of Con Edison’s Director independence standards.

 

Standing Committees of the Board

 

The Audit Committee, composed of four independent Directors (currently Mr. Calarco, Chair, Mr. Del Giudice, Mr. Killian, and Mr. Sutherland), is responsible for the appointment of the independent accountants for the Company, subject to stockholder ratification at the Annual Meeting. If the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not ratified, the Audit Committee will take this into consideration in the future selection of independent accountants. The Committee meets with the Company’s management, including Con Edison of New York’s General Auditor and General Counsel, and the Company’s independent accountants, several times a year to discuss internal controls and accounting matters, the Company’s financial statements, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, earnings press releases and the scope and results of the auditing programs of the independent accountants and of Con Edison of New York’s internal auditing department. The Committee also oversees the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies, and the Company’s management of risks, relating to the Committee’s duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. Each member of the Committee is “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards. Con Edison’s Board of Directors has determined that each Director on the Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and is “independent” as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee held nine meetings in 2010.

 

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, composed of four independent Directors (currently Mr. Del Giudice, Chair, Mr. Calarco, Dr. Campbell, and Ms. Hernandez), annually evaluates each Director’s individual performance when considering whether to nominate the Director for re-election to the Board and is responsible for recommending candidates to fill vacancies on the Board. In addition, the Committee assists with respect to the composition and size of the Board and of all Committees of the Board. The Committee also makes recommendations to the Board as to the compensation of Board members as well as other corporate governance matters, including Board independence criteria and determinations and corporate governance guidelines. Additionally, the Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to the Committee’s duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program.

 

All of the members of the Committee are “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards. Con Edison’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board of Directors consists of a substantial majority of Directors who meet the New York Stock Exchange definition of independence, as determined by the Board in accordance with the standards described in the Guidelines under “Board Members’ Independence” beginning on page 13. Among its duties, the Committee reviews the skills and characteristics of Director candidates as well as their integrity, judgment, business experience, areas of expertise and availability for service, factors relating to the composition of the Board (including its size and structure) and the Company’s principles of diversity.

 

The Committee has the authority under its charter to hire advisors to assist it in its decisions. The Committee retains a professional search firm to assist it in identifying director candidates. The search firm assists the Committee in developing criteria for potential Board members to complement the Board’s existing strengths. Based on such criteria, the firm also provides the Committee, for its review and consideration, lists of potential candidates with background information. After consulting with the Committee, the firm further screens and interviews candidates as directed by the Committee to determine their qualifications, interest and any potential conflicts of interest and provides its results to the Committee. The Committee also considers candidates recommended by stockholders. There are no differences in the manner in which the Committee will evaluate candidates recommended by stockholders. The Committee will make an initial determination as to whether a particular candidate meets the Company’s criteria for Board membership, and will then further consider candidates that do. Stockholder recommendations for candidates, accompanied by biographical material for evaluation, may be sent to the Secretary of the Company. Each recommendation should include information as to

 

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the qualifications of the candidate and should be accompanied by a written statement (presented to the Secretary of the Company) from the suggested candidate to the effect that the candidate is willing to serve.

 

The Committee has also retained Mercer (US) Inc. (“Mercer”) to provide information, analyses, and objective advice regarding director compensation. The Committee directs Mercer to: (i) assist the Committee by providing competitive market information on the design of the director compensation program, (ii) advise the Committee on the design of the director compensation program and also provide advice on the administration of the program, and (iii) brief the Committee on director compensation trends among the Company’s compensation peer group and broader industry. The chief executive officer is the Chairman of the Board and together with the other Board members considers the recommendations of the Committee. The decisions may reflect factors and considerations in addition to the information and advice provided by Mercer.

 

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held five meetings in 2010.

 

The Environment, Health and Safety Committee, composed of four non-management Directors (currently Ms. Futter, Chair, Mr. Davis, Mr. Hennessy, and Ms. Hernandez), provides advice and counsel to the Company’s management on corporate environment, health and safety policies and on such other environment, health and safety matters as from time-to-time the Committee deems appropriate, reviews significant issues relating to the Company’s environment, health and safety programs and its compliance with environment, health and safety laws and regulations, and makes such other reviews and recommends to the Board such other actions as it may deem necessary or desirable to help promote sound planning by the Company with due regard to the protection of the environment, health and safety. Additionally, the Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to the Committee’s duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Environment, Health and Safety Committee held six meetings in 2010.

 

The Executive Committee, composed of Mr. Burke, the Chairman of the Board and of the Committee, and three non-management Directors (currently Mr. Calarco, Mr. Del Giudice, and Mr. McGrath), may exercise, during intervals between the meetings of the Board, all the powers vested in the Board, except for certain specified matters. No meetings of the Executive Committee were held in 2010.

 

The Finance Committee, composed of four independent Directors (currently Mr. Sutherland, Chair, Mr. Davis, Mr. Hennessy, and Mr. Ranger), reviews and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s financial condition and policies, capital and operating budgets, financial forecasts, major contracts and real estate transactions, financings, investments, bank credit arrangements, its dividend policy, strategic business plan and litigation and other financial matters. Additionally, the Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to the Committee’s duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Finance Committee held ten meetings in 2010.

 

The Management Development and Compensation Committee, composed of four independent Directors (currently Dr. Campbell, Chair, Mr. Calarco, Mr. Del Giudice, and Mr. Killian), makes recommendations to the Board relating to officer and senior management appointments, and establishes, reviews and administers the Company’s executive compensation program. Additionally, the Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to the Committee’s duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program.

 

The Committee has the authority under its charter to engage the services of outside advisors, experts and others to assist it. The Committee engages Mercer to provide information, analyses, and objective advice regarding executive compensation. The Committee directs Mercer to: (i) assist the Committee in the development and assessment of the compensation peer group for the purposes of providing competitive market information for the design of the compensation program, (ii) compare the Company’s chief executive officer’s base salary, annual incentive and long-term incentive compensation to that of the chief executive officers of the identified compensation peer group and broader industry, (iii) advise the Committee on the officers’ base salaries and target award levels within the annual and long-term incentive plans, (iv) advise the Committee on the design of the Company’s annual and long-term incentive plans and also provide advice on the administration of the

 

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plans, (v) brief the Committee on executive compensation trends among the Company’s compensation peer group and broader industry, and (vi) assist with the preparation of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis Report for this Proxy Statement. The Committee held four meetings in 2010, all of which Mercer attended.

 

For a discussion of the role of the Committee and information about the Company’s processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive compensation, see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis Report beginning on page 22 of the Proxy Statement.

 

In addition, the Committee also reviews and makes recommendations as necessary to provide for orderly succession and transition in the executive management of the Company and receives reports and makes recommendations with respect to minority and female recruitment, employment and promotion. It also oversees and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), and reviews and makes recommendations with respect to benefit plans and plan amendments, the selection of plan trustees and the funding policy and contributions to the funded plans, and reviews the performance of the funded plans. Each of the members of the Committee is “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards, meets the “outside director” criteria of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the “Non-Employee” Director criteria of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

The Operations Oversight Committee, composed of five non-management Directors (currently Mr. McGrath, Chair, Dr. Campbell, Ms. Futter, Mr. Hennessy, and Mr. Killian), oversees the Company’s operation of its electric, gas and steam delivery systems. Additionally, the Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to the Committee’s duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Operations Oversight Committee held four meetings in 2010.

 

The Planning Committee, composed of five non-management Directors (currently Ms. Hernandez, Chair, Mr. Davis, Ms. Futter, Mr. McGrath, and Mr. Ranger), reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding long-range planning for the Company. Additionally, the Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to the Committee’s duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Planning Committee held three meetings in 2010.

 

Compensation Consultant Fee Disclosure

 

The Management Development and Compensation Committee has retained Mercer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan, to assist the Committee with its responsibilities related to the Company’s executive and Director compensation programs. Mercer’s fees for executive and Director compensation consulting to the Committee in 2010 were approximately $228,000.

 

During 2010, the Company retained Marsh & McLennan affiliates, other than Mercer, to provide services, unrelated to executive compensation. These services were approved by the Company’s management. The aggregate fees paid for these other services, which include litigation and economic consulting, were approximately $462,000.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

Mr. Calarco, Dr. Campbell (Chair), Mr. Del Giudice and Mr. Killian were on Con Edison’s Management Development and Compensation Committee during 2010. The Company believes that there are no interlocks with the members who serve on this Committee.

 

Communications with the Board of Directors

 

Interested parties may communicate directly with the members of the Board of Directors, including the non-management Directors as a group, by writing to them, care of the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Con

 

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Edison, 4 Irving Place, New York, New York 10003. The Corporate Secretary will forward all communications to the Director or the Directors indicated.

 

Report of the Audit Committee

 

The Company’s Audit Committee consisted of four independent Directors in 2010. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the qualifications required by the New York Stock Exchange and Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Audit Committee has also discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), the Company’s independent public accountants, the matters required to be discussed under the rules adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).

 

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding PwC’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence. The Audit Committee has discussed with PwC its independence and qualifications. The Audit Committee also has considered whether the provision of limited non-audit services to the Company is compatible with the independence of PwC and concluded that it was.

 

Based on the Audit Committee’s review and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Audit Committee:

 

Vincent A. Calarco (Chair)

Michael J. Del Giudice

John F. Killian

L. Frederick Sutherland

 

Fees Paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

Fees paid or payable to PwC for services related to 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

     2010      2009  

Audit Fees

   $ 4,404,453       $ 4,350,850   

Audit-Related Fees(a)

   $ 71,823       $ 234,489   

Tax Fees

   $ —         $ —     

All Other Fees

   $ —         $ 16,000 (b)
                 

TOTAL FEES

   $ 4,476,276       $ 4,601,339   
                 

 

(a)   Relates to assurance and related service fees that are reasonably related to the performance of the annual audit or quarterly reviews of the Company’s financial statements that are not specifically deemed “Audit Services.” The major items included in Audit-Related Fees are fees in 2009 for a review of the Company’s energy trading processes, and fees in both years for a review of the Company’s enterprise risk management program.
(b)   The major items included in All Other Fees are seminar fees.

 

The Audit Committee, or as delegated by the Audit Committee, the Chair of the Committee, approves in advance each auditing service and non-audit service permitted by applicable laws and regulations, including tax services, to be provided to the Company and its subsidiaries by its independent accountants.

 

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RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

(Proposal 2 on Proxy Card)

 

At the Annual Meeting, as a matter of sound corporate governance, stockholders will be asked to ratify the selection of PwC as independent accountants for the Company for the year 2011. If the selection of PwC is not ratified, the Audit Committee will take this into consideration in the future selection of independent accountants.

 

PwC has acted as independent accountants for the Company for many years. The Audit Committee’s charter provides that at least once every five years, the Audit Committee will evaluate whether it is appropriate to rotate the Company’s independent accountants.

 

The Audit Committee considered the firm’s qualifications. This included a review of PwC’s performance in prior years, as well as PwC’s reputation for integrity and for competence in the fields of accounting and auditing. The Audit Committee also reviewed a report provided by PwC regarding its quality controls, inquiries or investigations by governmental or professional authorities and independence.

 

Representatives of PwC will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be afforded the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to appropriate questions.

 

The Board Recommends a Vote FOR Proposal No. 2.

 

 

 

Ratification of Proposal No. 2 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voted on the proposal at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

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ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(Proposal 3 on Proxy Card)

 

The Company values the opinions of our stockholders, and in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”), the stockholders have the opportunity to provide an advisory vote on the executive compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers. The Board recommends that the stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s compensation of its Named Executive Officers included in the Summary Compensation Table on page 37.

 

As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on pages 22 to 36, the Company’s compensation program is designed to assist in attracting and retaining key executives critical to the Company’s long-term success, and to motivate these executives to create value for its stockholders and to provide reliable service for its customers. The Management Development and Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”), with the assistance of its compensation consultant, seeks to provide base salary, target annual cash incentive compensation, long-term equity-based incentive compensation, and retirement and welfare benefits that are competitive with the level of compensation provided by the Company’s compensation peer group (see “Compensation Peer Group” on page 26).

 

The Compensation Committee believes that variable compensation should represent the most significant portion of each Named Executive Officer’s total direct compensation to motivate strong annual and multi-year Company performance. Additionally, the Compensation Committee believes that most of the variable performance-based compensation should be in the form of long-term, rather than annual incentives, to emphasize the importance of sustained Company performance. Each year, the Compensation Committee evaluates the level of compensation and the mix of base and variable compensation of each Named Executive Officer to ensure that it meets the Compensation Committee’s objectives and is competitive with levels of compensation of the Compensation Peer Group.

 

For the reasons discussed above, the Board recommends that the stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:

 

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion.”

 

The Board Recommends a Vote FOR Proposal No. 3.

 

 

 

The Board values the opinions of the Company’s stockholders as expressed through their vote and other communications. The Board and its Compensation Committee will consider the results of this advisory vote when making future compensation decisions for the Company’s executive officers.

 

 

 

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ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(Proposal 4 on Proxy Card)

 

In addition to the advisory vote on executive compensation, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, the stockholders have the opportunity, at least once every six years, to provide an advisory vote on the frequency of the vote on Named Executive Officer compensation. By voting on this Proposal 4, stockholders may indicate whether they would prefer an advisory vote on Named Executive Officer compensation every one, two, or three years. The Board recommends that the stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, an annual vote on the compensation awarded to the Named Executive Officers. The Board believes that an annual advisory vote is the most appropriate for the Company as it will promote communication with the stockholders on the Company’s compensation program in a consistent and timely manner.

 

The Board Recommends a Vote of 1 YEAR for Proposal No. 4.

 

 

 

The Board values the opinions of the Company’s stockholders as expressed through their vote and other communications. The Board and its Compensation Committee will consider the results of this advisory vote when making decisions about the frequency of the vote on executive compensation.

 

 

 

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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL

(Proposal 5 on Proxy Card)

 

Mrs. Evelyn Y. Davis, Watergate Office Building, 2600 Virginia Avenue, N.W., Suite 215, Washington, D.C. 20037, who owns 200 shares of Common Stock, has submitted the following proposal:

 

“RESOLVED: That the stockholders recommend that the Board take the necessary steps that Con Edison specifically identify by name and corporate title in all future proxy statements those executive officers, not otherwise so identified, who are contractually entitled to receive in excess of $500,000 annually as a base salary, together with whatever other additional compensation bonuses and other cash payments were due them.”

 

The statement made in support of this proposal is as follows:

 

“In support of such proposed Resolution it is clear that the stockholders have a right to comprehensively evaluate the management in the manner in which the Corporation is being operated and its resources utilized. At present only a few of the most senior executive officers are so identified, and not the many other senior executive officers who should contribute to the ultimate success of the Corporation. Through such additional identification the stockholders will then be provided an opportunity to better evaluate the soundness and efficacy of the overall management.

 

“Last year the owners of 18,370,776 shares, representing approximately 12.41% of shares voting, voted FOR this proposal.

 

“If you AGREE, please mark your proxy FOR this proposal.”

 

The Board of Directors Recommends That You Vote AGAINST Proposal No. 5 for the Following Reasons:

 

Disclosure of executive compensation is governed by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proxy solicitation rules. In accordance with those rules, Con Edison currently provides information on pages 22 to 44 and 47 to 52 of the Proxy Statement concerning compensation for its highest paid executive officers.

 

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote AGAINST Proposal No. 5.

 

 

 

Adoption of the preceding stockholder proposal (Proposal 5) requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of Common Stock voted on the proposal at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

 

The Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) is composed of four independent Directors. The Committee establishes, reviews and administers the Company’s executive compensation program for the Chief Executive Officer and the other members of senior management, including the Named Executive Officers listed on the Summary Compensation Table, and determines the compensation of such officers.

 

The Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis report (the “CD&A”) for 2010 with management of the Company. Based on this review and discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and this Proxy Statement.

 

Management Development and Compensation Committee:

 

George Campbell, Jr. (Chair)

Vincent A. Calarco

Michael J. Del Giudice

John F. Killian

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS REPORT

 

Introduction

 

This section of the proxy statement provides management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s 2010 executive compensation program (the “compensation program”). The compensation program covers the Company’s officers, including the Named Executive Officers. The discussion and analysis addresses:

 

  I.   Executive summary of the compensation program;

 

  II.   Philosophy and objectives of the Company’s compensation program;

 

  III.   Role of the Committee and others in determining executive compensation;

 

  IV.   Committee’s actions concerning executive compensation;

 

  V.   Retirement and other benefits;

 

  VI.   Stock ownership guidelines, and

 

  VII.   Tax deductibility pay.

 

I.   Executive Summary

 

The Company’s compensation program is designed to assist in attracting and retaining key executives critical to the Company’s long-term success, and to motivate these executives to create value for its stockholders and to provide safe, reliable, and efficient service for its customers. The Committee seeks to provide base salary, and performance-based variable compensation, including target annual cash incentive compensation and long-term equity-based incentive compensation, that is competitive with the median level of compensation provided by the Company’s compensation peer group (see “Compensation Peer Group” on page 26).

 

The Committee believes that variable compensation should represent the most significant portion of each Named Executive Officer’s total direct compensation to motivate strong annual and multi-year Company performance. Additionally, the Committee believes that most of the variable compensation should be in the form of long-term, rather than annual incentives, to emphasize the importance of sustained Company performance.

 

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Each year, the Committee evaluates the level of compensation and the mix of base and variable compensation of each Named Executive Officer to ensure that it meets the Committee’s objectives and is competitive with levels of compensation of the Compensation Peer Group.

 

Key features of the compensation program include:

 

   

Base salary: recognizes individual responsibility and performance.

 

   

Variable compensation:

 

  ¡  

Annual incentive compensation: recognizes achievement of financial and operating objectives for which the Named Executive Officers have individual and collective responsibility.

 

  ¡  

Long-term incentive compensation: recognizes achievement, over a three-year period of financial and operating objectives critical to the performance of the Company’s business and its total shareholder return relative to its compensation peer group.

 

The following governance features assist in aligning the compensation program with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders:

 

   

The Committee retains a compensation consultant to provide information, analyses, and objective advice regarding executive compensation, and to annually evaluate the Company’s compensation-related risk management;

 

   

The Company’s compensation recoupment policy applies to all officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, and is intended to reduce potential risks associated with our compensation program, and align the long-term interests of the officers and stockholders (see “Compensation Policies and Practices as They Relate to the Company’s Risk Management” on page 52); and

 

   

Stock ownership guidelines for the Named Executive Officers and certain senior officers encourage a long-term commitment to the Company’s sustained performance and align the interests of the senior officers with stockholders (see “Stock Ownership Guidelineson page 36).

 

II.   Compensation Program Overview, Philosophy and Objectives

 

A. Compensation Program Overview

 

The compensation program consists of the following components:

 

   

Base salary;

 

   

Annual incentive compensation;

 

   

Long-term incentive compensation;

 

   

Retirement and welfare benefits; and

 

   

Perquisites and personal benefits.

 

The Company’s Named Executive Officers are:

 

   

Kevin Burke, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Robert Hoglund, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

John D. McMahon, Executive Vice President, Con Edison of New York (who retired January 31, 2011);

 

   

Craig Ivey, President of Con Edison of New York; and

 

   

William Longhi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Orange & Rockland.

 

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B. Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

 

The Committee has established the following philosophy and objectives to govern the development and implementation of the Company’s compensation program. There are no material differences in the Company’s compensation policies for each Named Executive Officer.

 

(i) Competitive Positioning—Attraction and Retention

 

The Company’s compensation program is designed to assist in attracting and retaining key executives critical to the Company’s long-term success. The Committee seeks to provide base salary, target annual incentive awards, and target long-term incentive award values that are competitive with levels of compensation provided by the Company’s compensation peer group. The Company also seeks to provide retirement and welfare benefits, perquisites, and personal benefits that are competitive with those provided by the compensation peer group.

 

In May 2009, the Committee approved reductions in compensation (“Compensation Reductions”) effective July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. These Compensation Reductions included a base salary reduction of 5.0 percent for the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the executive vice president, and the former president of Con Edison of New York. The Committee also approved reductions in employee benefits, effective July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, including a reduction in Con Edison of New York’s match under the Company’s savings plan, supplemental plan and stock purchase plan. Employee benefits were also reduced for Orange & Rockland management employees from August 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

 

In 2010, the Named Executive Officers’ total direct compensation compared to the Company’s compensation peer group median was as follows:

 

     Company Target Compensation as a Percentage of
Peer Group Median Target
 

Principal Position

   Base Salary     Total Cash
Compensation
(Base Salary +
Target
Annual Incentive)
    Target
Long-Term
Incentive
Compensation
    Target
Total Direct
Compensation
 

Chief Executive Officer

     97     96     82     86

Other Named Executive Officers (Average)(1)

     102     101     117     104

 

Footnote:

(1)   Based on comparisons to compensation for functionally comparable positions at the Company’s compensation peer group companies for the positions held by the chief financial officer, the executive vice president, the president of Orange & Rockland, and the president of Con Edison of New York.

 

(ii) Pay-Performance Alignment and Total Direct Compensation Mix

 

The Company’s compensation program is designed to motivate its officers to create value for its stockholders and provide safe, reliable and efficient service for its customers. The Committee seeks to assure that the total direct compensation of each Named Executive Officer is balanced appropriately between base salary (fixed compensation) and annual incentive and long-term incentive compensation (variable compensation). The Committee believes that fixed compensation should recognize each Named Executive Officer’s individual responsibility and performance. The Committee believes that variable compensation should represent the most significant portion of each Named Executive Officer’s total direct compensation to motivate strong annual and multi-year performance. The Committee also believes that most of the total variable compensation targeted to each Named Executive Officer should be in the form of long-term, rather than annual, incentives, to emphasize the importance of sustained Company performance. The target annual incentive and target long-term incentive grants made to each Named Executive Officer by the Committee reflect the Committee’s desired balance between these elements, relative to the base salary paid to each executive. Awards under the Company’s annual incentive plan are based on achieving financial and operating objectives critical to the performance of the

 

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Company’s businesses. Awards of performance restricted stock units under the Company’s long-term incentive plan are based on achieving financial and operating objectives and the Company’s total shareholder return relative to the total shareholder return for the Company’s compensation peer group over a three-year period.

 

As shown below for 2010, the mix of total direct compensation for the Named Executive Officers meets the Committee’s objectives: each is weighted heavily towards performance-based variable compensation, with the largest portion delivered in long-term incentives. As each element of compensation for the chief executive officer and the other Named Executive Officers as a group is set at median levels for chief executive officers and other named executive officers of the compensation peer group, we believe the total direct compensation mix of the Named Executive Officers is in line with that of the compensation peer group.

 

The following charts illustrate the average mix of target total direct compensation for the chief executive officer and for chief executive officers in our compensation peer group for 2010:

 

LOGO

 

The following charts illustrate the average mix of target total direct compensation for the other Named Executive Officers and other named executive officers in our compensation peer group for 2010:

 

LOGO

 

III.   Role of the Committee and Others in Determining Executive Compensation

 

A. Committee’s Role

 

The role of the Committee is to establish and oversee the Company’s executive compensation and benefit plans and policies, administer its equity plans and annual incentive plan and review and approve annually all compensation relating to the Named Executive Officers. All of the decisions with respect to determining the amount or form of compensation of the Named Executive Officers under the Company’s compensation program are made by the Committee.

 

 

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B. Management’s Role

 

The role of the Company’s chief executive officer with respect to determining the amount or form of the compensation of the other Named Executive Officers is to provide his recommendations to the Committee. The chief executive officer is not present when the Committee determines his compensation. The chief executive officer considers the following in making his recommendations:

 

   

Individual performance of the other Named Executive Officers;

 

   

The other Named Executive Officer’s contribution towards the Company’s long-term performance;

 

   

The scope of their individual responsibilities; and

 

   

Compensation peer group proxy data provided by the Committee’s compensation consultant.

 

The Company’s Human Resources department also supports the Committee in its work.

 

C. Compensation Consultant’s Role

 

The Committee has the authority under its charter to hire advisors to assist it in its compensation decisions. It has retained Mercer as its compensation consultant to provide information, analyses, and objective advice regarding executive compensation. The Committee periodically meets with Mercer in executive session to discuss compensation matters. The Committee’s decisions reflect factors and considerations in addition to the information and advice provided by Mercer. A discussion of Mercer’s role as the Committee’s compensation consultant is set forth in the section titled “Standing Committees of the Board” on pages 15 to 16.

 

IV.   Committee Actions with Respect to Executive Compensation

 

A. Compensation Peer Group

 

For 2010, the Committee used a compensation peer group of 20 publicly-traded utility companies of comparable size and scope to that of the Company. The companies in the compensation peer group have revenues that range from approximately 50 percent below to approximately 35 percent above the revenues of the Company. The purpose of the compensation peer group is to provide benchmark information on compensation levels provided to the Company’s officers, as well as measuring relative total shareholder returns for the vesting of performance restricted stock unit awards.

 

The Company’s compensation peer group consists of the following companies:

 

Ameren Corporation

   FirstEnergy Corp.

American Electric Power Company, Inc

   NextEra Energy, Inc. (formerly FPL Group., Inc.)

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

   NiSource, Inc.

Constellation Energy Group, Inc.

   Pepco Holdings, Inc.

Dominion Resources Inc.

   PG&E Corporation

DTE Energy Company

   PPL Corporation

Duke Energy Corporation

   Progress Energy, Inc.

Edison International

   Sempra Energy

Entergy Corporation

   The Southern Company

Exelon Corporation

   Xcel Energy Inc.

 

B. Base Salary

 

A portion of each officer’s annual cash compensation is paid in the form of base salary. Base salary is reviewed on an annual basis to recognize individual performance, as well as at the time of a promotion or other change in responsibilities.

 

 

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In setting base salary for the Company’s Named Executive Officers, including the chief executive officer, the Committee considers various factors, including:

 

   

Recommendations from the chief executive officer for the other Named Executive Officers;

 

   

A general assessment of each Named Executive Officer’s performance of his or her responsibilities; and

 

   

The level of base salary compared to executives holding equivalent positions in the Company’s compensation peer group.

 

Effective July 1, 2010, base salary merit increases for the Named Executive Officers as a group increased by an average of 1.8 percent to align the Named Executive Officers’ base salaries with the market median for equivalent positions in the Company’s compensation peer group. The 2010 base salary of each Named Executive Officer is set forth in the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 37.

 

C. Annual Incentive Compensation

 

(i) Awards

 

A significant portion of the annual cash compensation paid to the officers is directly related to the Company’s financial and operating performance, factors that the Committee believes influence stockholder value.

 

Individual performance is taken into consideration in setting annual incentive compensation through the establishment by the Committee of financial and operating objectives for which the Named Executive Officers have individual and collective responsibility.

 

(ii) Potential Awards

 

For 2010, the Committee set the range of the award that each Named Executive Officer was eligible to receive under the annual incentive plan after considering various factors, including:

 

   

Recommendations from the chief executive officer for the other Named Executive Officers;

 

   

A general assessment of each Named Executive Officer’s performance of his or her responsibilities; and

 

   

The level of annual incentive compensation compared to executives holding equivalent positions in the Company’s compensation peer group.

 

The range of awards included threshold, target and maximum levels reflecting differing levels of achievement of the various financial and operating objectives. Awards are scaled to reflect relative levels of achievement of the objectives between the threshold, target and maximum levels. The range of each Named Executive Officer’s potential award is set forth on the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table on page 38. Awards under the annual incentive plan are designed to provide a competitive level of compensation if the officers achieve the target financial and operating objectives. Over the past three years, the aggregate actual awards to the Named Executive Officers ranged from 100.6 percent to 156.7 percent of aggregate target annual incentive awards. Pursuant to the terms of the annual incentive plan, the Committee has the discretion to adjust (upward or downward) the annual incentive awards to be paid to an officer.

 

Mercer prepared a study of compensation relative to performance of the Company’s compensation peer group and recommended that the Company’s annual incentive plan be modified to better align with compensation peer group practices. Based on this recommendation, effective January 1, 2010, the Committee increased (a) the threshold for a payout on the adjusted net income component of the financial objectives from 90 percent of the target to 92.5 percent of the target, and (b) the maximum range of the payout for each of the performance measure targets from 120 percent to 200 percent.

 

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Awards under the annual incentive plan are calculated as follows:

 

Base Salary         X         Target Percentage         X         Weighting Earned

 

Base Salary” is the annual base salary of the officer as of the end of the year to which the annual incentive award relates, and is determined as discussed under the caption “Base Salary” on page 26.

 

Target Percentage” is a percentage of base salary that varies based on an officer’s position. The chief executive officer’s target is 100 percent; the target for the executive vice president and the president of each of Con Edison of New York and Orange & Rockland is 80 percent; and the target for the chief financial officer is 50 percent.

 

Weighting Earned” is the sum of the weightings earned for the financial and operating objectives. For each officer, target weightings totaling 100 percent are assigned to each of the officer’s objectives. Weightings earned reflect achievement of the objectives and may vary from zero to 200 percent. If actual results are between performance targets, weightings earned are interpolated.

 

(iv) Financial Objectives

 

The financial objectives under the annual incentive plan were selected as those most indicative of the Company’s success during the year. For 2010, the financial objectives consisted of “adjusted net income” and “other financial performance” components.

 

The “adjusted net income” component, reflecting the financial results of the Company’s business for which its officers are responsible and accounting for 50 percent of each Named Executive Officer’s potential annual incentive award, was: the adjusted Company net income, for the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and the executive vice president; adjusted regulated net income (the total for Con Edison of New York and Orange & Rockland) for the president of Con Edison of New York; and, 70 percent of Orange & Rockland adjusted net income and 30 percent of Con Edison of New York adjusted net income for the president of Orange & Rockland. “Adjusted net income” excludes the net mark-to-market effects of the Company’s competitive energy businesses and any extraordinary non-recurring items identified by the Company after the performance target had been determined. No non-recurring items were excluded from adjusted net income with respect to the 2010 annual incentive awards.

 

2010 target adjusted net income and actual adjusted net income were:

 

     Target      Actual      Performance
Relative

to Targets
 
     (in millions)         

Adjusted Company net income

   $ 928.5       $ 981.0         105.7

Adjusted Con Edison of New York net income

   $ 871.7       $ 892.5         102.4

Adjusted Orange & Rockland net income

   $ 42.0       $ 49.0         116.7

Adjusted Regulated net income

   $ 913.7       $ 941.5         103.0

 

If actual adjusted net income for 2010 is less than or equal to 90 percent of the target adjusted net income, no annual incentive awards are made.

 

 

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The weightings earned for the 50 percent “adjusted net income” component were determined based upon the following scale:

 

Performance Relative

to Targets

 

Weighting Earned

³ 110%

  100%

107.5%

  87.5%

105%

  75%

102.5%

  62.5%

Target 100%

  50%

97.5%

  37.5%

95%

  25%

92.5%

  12.5%

£ 92.5%

  0%

 

The “other financial performance” component, reflecting the responsibilities of the Named Executive Officer and accounting for 20 percent of each Named Executive Officer’s potential annual incentive award, as shown on the “Achievement of 2010 Financial and Operating Objectives” table on page 31, was comprised of one or more of the Con Edison of New York and Orange & Rockland operating budgets, or objectives for the competitive energy businesses relating to operations and maintenance expense, capital expenditures, dividend payout and value at risk exposure.

 

2010 target operating budgets and actual expenditures were:

 

     Target      Actual      Performance
Relative
to Targets
 
     (in millions)         

Con Edison of New York

   $ 1,325.0       $ 1,253.6         94.6

Orange & Rockland

   $ 199.3       $ 192.2         96.4

 

Weightings earned for the “other financial performance” component are based on the Company’s business for which each Named Executive Officer is responsible. For the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and executive vice president “other financial performance” weighting earned is allocated 18 percent for Con Edison of New York’s operating budget, 1 percent for Orange & Rockland’s operating budget and 1 percent for the competitive energy businesses’ objectives. For the president of each of Con Edison of New York and Orange & Rockland, “other financial performance” weighting earned is 20 percent for Con Edison of New York’s and Orange & Rockland’s operating budget, respectively.

 

 

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The weightings earned for Con Edison of New York’s and Orange & Rockland’s “other financial performance” component were determined based upon the following scales:

 

Con Edison of New York

Performance Relative to

Operating Budget Target

($ millions)

 

Weighting Earned for
the Chairman, the Chief
Financial Officer, and the
Executive Vice President

 

Weighting Earned for
the President of
Con Edison of New York

£93.75%

  36.0%   40%

95.00%

  32.4%   36%

96.25%

  28.8%   32%

97.50%

  25.2%   28%

98.75%

  21.6%   24%

(Target) 100%

  18.0%   20%

101.25%

  14.4%   16%

102.50%

  10.8%   12%

103.75%

    7.2%     8%

105.00%

    3.6%     4%

³106.25%

      0%      0%

 

Orange & Rockland

Performance Relative to

Operating Budget Target

($ millions)

 

Weighting Earned for
the Chairman, the Chief Financial
Officer, the Executive Vice President,
and the President of Con Edison

 

Weighting Earned
for the President Orange & Rockland

£ 93.75%

  2.0%   40%

95.00%

  1.8%   36%

96.25%

  1.6%   32%

97.50%

  1.4%   28%

98.75%

  1.2%   24%

(Target) 100%

  1.0%   20%

101.25%

  0.8%   16%

102.50%

  0.6%   12%

103.75%

  0.4%     8%

105.00%

  0.2%     4%

³ 106.25%

     0%     0%

 

(v) Operating Objectives

 

The operating objectives, reflecting the responsibilities of the Named Executive Officer and accounting for 30 percent of each Named Executive Officer’s potential annual incentive award, were designed to encourage sustained or improved performance regarding specific matters that are important to day-to-day operations of the Company’s businesses. There were numerous objectives for:

 

   

Employee safety;

 

   

Electric, gas and steam system performance;

 

   

Customer service;

 

   

Environmental performance; and

 

   

Employee development.

 

For the competitive energy businesses, there were other objectives including gross margins, retail sales and collections, and financial, regulatory controls, and business development goals.

 

The operating objectives chosen represent a number of key safety and performance indicators that guide the Company to serve its customers in a safe, effective, and efficient manner. These measures are recognized across the Company’s compensation peer group and industry.

 

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(vi) Achievement of 2010 Financial and Operating Objectives

 

The following table shows, for each Named Executive Officer, the target weightings assigned to the financial and operating objectives and the weightings earned based on achievement of those objectives. The weightings of the Company’s subsidiaries for the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the executive vice president and the presidents of Con Edison of New York and Orange & Rockland were based on each subsidiary’s relative contribution to the Company’s net income.

 

Objectives

  Chief
Executive Officer
    Chief Financial
Officer
    Executive Vice
President
    President of
Con Edison of
New York
    President of
Orange &
Rockland
 
  Target     Earned     Target     Earned     Target     Earned     Target     Earned     Target     Earned  

Net Income

                   

Adjusted Company Net Income

      50       78.3       50       78.3       50       78.3     —         —         —         —     

Adjusted Regulated Net Income

    —         —          —         —          —         —            50       65.2       50       88.6

Other Financial

                   

Con Edison of New York

      18       33.5       18       33.5       18       33.5       20       37.2     —         —     

Orange & Rockland

        1         1.6         1         1.6         1         1.6     —         —           20       31.4

Competitive Energy Businesses

        1         2.0         1         2.0         1         2.0     —         —         —         —     

Operating

                   

Con Edison of New York

      28       56.0       28       56.0       28       56.0       30         60.0     —         —     

Orange & Rockland

        1         1.0         1         1.0         1         1.0     —         —           30       30.0

Competitive Energy Businesses

        1         0.8         1         0.8         1         0.8     —         —         —         —     
                                                                               

Total

    100     173.2     100     173.2     100     173.2     100     162.4     100     150.0
                                                                               

 

(vii) 2010 Annual Incentive Awards

 

In February 2011, the Committee evaluated and determined whether the applicable financial and operating objectives were satisfied. In assessing performance against the objectives, the Committee considered actual results achieved against the specific targets associated with each objective. After its assessment, the Committee exercised its discretion to reduce the calculated award for each Named Executive Officer except for the President of Orange & Rockland whose award was increased to reflect his additional responsibilities for regulatory matters.

 

Principal Position

   Base Salary     ×     Target
Percentage
    ×     Weighting
Earned
    =     Calculated
2010 Award
    Actual
2010 Award
 

Chief Executive Officer

   $ 1,158,300          100       173.2     $ 2,006,200      $ 1,805,600   

Chief Financial Officer

   $ 609,700          50       173.2     $ 528,100      $ 475,300   

Executive Vice President

   $ 753,900          80       173.2     $ 1,044,600      $ 940,100   

President of Con Edison of New York

   $ 560,000          80       162.4     $ 727,600      $ 700,000   

President of Orange & Rockland

   $ 424,500          80       150.0     $ 509,400      $ 550,000   

 

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D. Long-Term Incentive Compensation

 

(i) Awards

 

Officers are eligible to receive equity-based awards under the Company’s long term incentive plan. The Committee determines the target long-term incentive award value for each Named Executive Officer based on various factors, including:

 

   

Recommendations from the chief executive officer for the other Named Executive Officers;

 

   

A general assessment of each Named Executive Officer’s performance of his or her responsibilities; and

 

   

Level of long-term incentive compensation compared to executives holding equivalent positions in the Company’s compensation peer group.

 

 

(ii) Performance Restricted Stock Unit Awards

 

It is the Committee’s practice in the first quarter of each year to approve its annual awards of performance restricted stock units under the long term incentive plan for the Company’s officers and to authorize the chief executive officer to make annual awards under the plan to the Company’s employees (other than officers). The number of stock units awarded in 2010 to the Named Executive Officers is shown in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table on page 38.

 

The stock units awarded to officers provide for the right to receive one share of Company common stock and/or a cash payment equal to the fair market value of one share of Company common stock for each stock unit granted, subject to the satisfaction of certain pre-established long-term performance objectives. Officers may elect to defer the receipt of the cash value of the award into the Company’s supplemental plan and/or to defer the receipt of the shares. Dividends are not paid and do not accrue on the stock unit awards during the vesting period.

 

(iii) Calculation of 2010 Performance Restricted Stock Units

 

Payouts to officers of the stock units, if any, are calculated by a non-discretionary formula as follows:

 

Award X 50% X Incentive Plan Percentage

 

plus

 

Award X 50% X Shareholder Return Percentage

 

Award” is the annual award of performance restricted stock units under the long term incentive plan. The target award of performance restricted stock units is a percentage of base salary that varies based on position. The chief executive officer’s target award is 375 percent; the target award for the executive vice president, the president of Con Edison of New York and Orange & Rockland and for the chief financial officer is 200 percent.

 

Incentive Plan Percentage” is the average calculated payout under the Company’s annual incentive plan over the performance period beginning on January 1, 2010 and ending on December 31, 2012 (for awards granted in 2010). See “Annual Incentive Compensation” starting on page 27.

 

“Shareholder Return Percentage” is the weighting earned based on the cumulative change in Company total shareholder returns over the performance period beginning on January 1, 2010 and ending on December 31, 2012 (for awards granted in 2010) compared with the Company’s compensation peer group as constituted on the date of grant. In the event that the companies that make up the peer group change during the performance period, the Committee will use the compensation peer group as constituted on the date of grant. If a company ceases to be publicly traded before the end of the performance period, that company’s total shareholder returns will not be used to calculate awards.

 

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The levels of awards of performance restricted stock units that will be earned are as follows:

 

Ratio of Company’s Shareholder Returns vs.

Compensation Peer Group

 

Weighting Earned

75th or greater

  150%

70th

  140%

65th

  130%

60th

  120%

55th

  110%

50th

  100%

45th

  85%

40th

  70%

35th

  55%

30th

  40%

25th

  25%

Below 25th

  0%

 

Actual payout of the stock unit awards to the officers may vary from zero up to a maximum of 175 percent of such award, based on actual performance over the performance period. The maximum payout of the stock unit awards represents the weighted average of: (i) the maximum payout of the stock unit awards that vest based on payouts from the annual incentive plan (200 percent), plus (ii) the maximum payout of the stock unit awards that vest based on the cumulative change in total shareholder returns (150 percent). The Committee has discretion to adjust (upward or downward) the actual stock unit awards to be paid to an officer.

 

The Committee believes that total shareholder return is the performance measure that most closely helps the Company to achieve its overall compensation philosophy by aligning executive rewards with the creation of stockholder value, as articulated in the Company’s compensation philosophy. Total shareholder return is balanced with the annual operating and financial objectives of the annual incentive plan to further align executives’ rewards with other key Company performance objectives which total shareholder return does not fully capture.

 

The Committee may adopt different performance measures for the stock unit grants, from time to time, as it deems appropriate at the time of grant.

 

(iv) Payout of Awards for the 2008-2010 Performance Period

 

Following the end of the relevant performance period for each outstanding stock unit award, the Company’s achievement of the performance measures is reviewed by the Committee. The Committee evaluates and approves the Company’s performance relative to the performance measures and pays out the stock units in either cash and/or shares of Company common stock (as elected by the officer) based on the attainment of such performance measures.

 

The following table shows, for each Named Executive Officer (other than the president of Con Edison of New York who was hired in 2009), the calculation of the payout with respect to the stock units for the 2008 – 2010 performance period:

 

Principal Position

   Award × 50%     ×     Incentive
Plan
Percentage(1)
    +     Award × 50%     ×     Shareholder
Return
Percentage
    =     2008-2010
Payout
Total
 

Chief Executive Officer

     39,100          126.4       39,100          150.0       108,072   

Chief Financial Officer

     12,000          126.4       12,000          150.0       33,168   

Executive Vice President

     15,000          128.5       15,000          150.0       41,775   

President of Orange & Rockland

     3,650          116.2       3,650          150.0       9,716   

 

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Footnote:

(1)   The calculated Incentive Plan Percentage for each year in the 2008–2010 performance period was as follows:

 

     2008      2009      2010  

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

     96.8      109.3      173.2

Executive Vice President

     103.0      109.3      173.2

President of Orange & Rockland

     110.0      88.5      150.0

 

V.   Retirement and Other Benefits

 

A. Retirement and Welfare Benefits

 

The Company provides employees with a range of retirement and welfare benefits that reflects the competitive practices of the industry. These benefits assist the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating employees critical to its long-term success. Officers are eligible for benefits under the following Company plans:

 

   

Tax-qualified retirement plan and its related non-qualified supplemental plan;

 

   

Tax-qualified savings plan and its related non-qualified supplemental plan;

 

   

Stock purchase plan; and

 

   

Health and welfare plans.

 

(i) Retirement Plans

 

A tax-qualified retirement plan covers substantially all the Company’s employees. All employees whose benefits under the plan are limited by the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to participate in a supplemental retirement income plan. The plans are described in the narrative to the Pension Benefits Table on page 41.

 

The estimated retirement benefits payable to the Named Executive Officers (determined on a present value basis) are set forth in the Pension Benefits table.

 

(ii) Savings Plans

 

A tax-qualified savings plan covers substantially all of the Company’s employees. All employees whose benefits under the plan are limited by the Internal Revenue Code, are eligible to participate in a supplemental plan. Officers may defer a portion of their salary into the supplemental plan. The plans are described in the narrative to the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table on page 43.

 

Company matching contributions allocated to the Named Executive Officers under the savings plan and supplemental plan are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 37.

 

(iii) Stock Purchase Plan

 

The stock purchase plan covers substantially all of the Company’s employees and provides the opportunity to purchase shares of Company common stock. The plan is described in Note M to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 

(iv) Health and Welfare Plans

 

Active employee benefits, such as medical, dental, life insurance and disability coverage, are available to all employees through the Company’s health and welfare benefits plans. Employees contribute towards the cost of the plans by paying a portion of the premium costs on a pre-tax basis. Under the plans, employees can purchase a higher level of coverage than that provided to employees generally. The Company also provides all employees with paid time-off benefits, such as vacation and sick leave.

 

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Officers are eligible to participate in a supplemental medical plan. The plan supplements medical and hospital benefits provided to officers under the Company’s medical program. Officers contribute towards a portion of the cost of the supplemental plan on an after-tax basis. The supplemental plan provides officers with the option to continue their participation following retirement. The amount that the Company contributes for each Named Executive Officer is included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 37.

 

B. Perquisites and Personal Benefits

 

Pursuant to the compensation program, the Company provides certain officers, including the Named Executive Officers, with limited, specific perquisites that are competitive with industry practices. The Committee reviews the level of perquisites and personal benefits annually. The Company provides the following perquisites, the costs of which, if used by an Executive Officer in 2010 are set forth in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 37:

 

   

Supplemental health insurance and life insurance;

 

   

Reimbursement for reasonable costs of financial and tax planning; and

 

   

A company vehicle and, in the case of the chief executive officer, a company vehicle and driver.

 

C. Severance and Change of Control Benefits

 

The Company provides for the payment of severance benefits upon certain types of employment terminations. Providing severance and change of control benefits assists the Company in attracting and retaining executive talent and reduces the personal uncertainty that executives are likely to feel when considering a corporate transaction. These arrangements also provide valuable retention incentives that focus executives on completing such transactions, thus, enhancing long-term shareholder value. The compensation under the various circumstances that trigger payments or provision of benefits upon termination or a change of control was chosen to be broadly consistent with prevailing competitive practices.

 

Officers of the Company (other than the chief executive officer) are provided benefits under the officers’ severance program. The severance benefits payable to the chief executive officer are set forth in his employment agreement, which is described in the narrative to the Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change of Control table beginning on page 47. The severance benefits payable to each of the Named Executive Officers (other than the chief executive officer) are set forth in the severance program which is described in footnote 2 to the Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change of Control table on page 50. The estimated severance benefits that each Named Executive Officer would be entitled to receive are set forth in the applicable Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change of Control table beginning on page 47.

 

As set forth in greater detail in the narrative to the Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change of Control table, the Company’s change of control provisions provide that payments may be made only in the event that the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated under certain circumstances in connection with a change of control. Upon a change in control, the vesting of long term incentive plan grants will accelerate, whether or not the Named Executive Officer’s employment with the Company continues. This practice eliminates the Named Executive Officer’s incentive to terminate employment in the event of a change in control. The Committee believes that such vesting is broadly consistent with prevailing competitive practices.

 

 

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Table of Contents
VI.   Stock Ownership Guidelines

 

The Company has established the following stock ownership guidelines for the Company’s officers:

 

Chief Executive Officer

  

3 × base salary

Chief Financial Officer

  

2 × base salary

President of Con Edison of New York

  

2 × base salary

Executive Vice President of Con Edison of New York

  

2 × base salary

President and Chief Executive Officer of Orange & Rockland

  

2 × base salary

Presidents of Consolidated Edison Development, Inc., Consolidated Edison Energy, Inc. and Consolidated Edison Solutions, Inc.

  

1 × base salary

Senior Vice Presidents of Con Edison of New York

  

1 × base salary

 

The officers covered by the guidelines are expected to retain for at least one year a minimum of 25 percent of the net shares acquired upon exercise of stock options and 25 percent of the net shares acquired pursuant to vested restricted stock and restricted stock unit grants until their holdings of common stock equal or exceed their applicable ownership guidelines.

 

For these purposes, officers subject to the guidelines have five years from January 1st after their appointment to covered titles to meet the guidelines. In February 2011, it was determined that as of December 31, 2010, all Named Executive Officers have either met their ownership milestones or are making reasonable progress towards their milestones.

 

For purposes of the guidelines:

 

   

“Stock ownership” includes value of the officers’ individually-owned shares, vested restricted stock and restricted stock units, and shares held under the Company’s benefit plans.

 

   

The one-year period is measured from the date the stock options are exercised or the restricted stock or restricted stock units vest, as applicable.

 

   

“Net shares” means the shares remaining after sale of shares necessary to pay the related tax liability and, if applicable, exercise price.

 

VII.   Tax Deductibility of Pay

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation that the Company may deduct in any one year with respect to each of the Named Executive Officers, other than the chief financial officer, employed by the Company on the last day of the fiscal year. There is an exception to the $1,000,000 limitation for performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements. While the Committee considers the tax impact of Section 162(m), the Committee has determined that it is appropriate to maintain flexibility in compensating Named Executive Officers in a manner intended to promote varying corporate goals, recognizing that certain amounts paid to Named Executive Officers in excess of $1,000,000 may not be deductible under Section 162(m). For 2010, $5,357,000 of the compensation paid to the chief executive officer and $703,000 of the compensation paid to the executive vice president, was not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

 

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Table of Contents

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

The following table sets forth the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and the other three most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2010. The positions shown in the table are the officers’ positions with the Company or with the Company’s principal subsidiaries, Con Edison of New York or Orange & Rockland as of December 31, 2010.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name & Principal Position

  Year     Salary(1)
($)
    Bonus(2)
($)
    Stock
Awards(3)
($)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation(2)
($)
    Change in
Pension Value
and Non-
Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(4)
($)
    All Other
Compensation(5)
($)
    Total(6)
($)
 

Kevin Burke

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

   
 
 
2010
2009
2008
  
  
  
  $

$

$

1,118,550

1,107,200

1,102,500

  

  

  

   

 

 

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  $

$

$

4,063,356

3,691,980

2,776,187

  

  

  

  $

$

$

1,805,600

1,179,100

1,066,100

  

  

  

  $

$

$

3,189,329

1,882,192

2,734,830

  

  

  

  $

$

$

99,559

38,829

103,256

  

  

  

  $

$

$

10,276,394

7,899,301

7,782,873

  

  

  

Robert Hoglund

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   
 
 
2010
2009
2008
  
  
  
  $

$

$

589,450

584,200

583,200

  

  

  

   

 

 

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  $

$

$

1,151,880

1,010,070

852,027

  

  

  

  $

$

$

475,300

311,100

282,000

  

  

  

  $

$

$

102,449

58,421

71,429

  

  

  

  $

$

$

43,706

37,073

43,078

  

  

  

  $

$

$

2,362,785

2,000,864

1,831,734

  

  

  

John D. McMahon(7)

Executive Vice President, Con Edison of New York

   
 
 
2010
2009
2008
  
  
  
  $

$

$

731,550

727,850

722,500

  

  

  

   

 

 

—  

—  

—  

  

  

  

  $

$

$

1,390,200

1,323,540

1,065,033

  

  

  

  $

$

$

940,100

620,100

595,300

  

  

  

  $

$

$

2,156,829

1,123,131

1,149,172

  

  

  

  $

$

$

74,392

38,650

69,001

  

  

  

  $

$

$

5,293,071

3,833,271

3,601,006

  

  

  

Craig Ivey

President, Con Edison of
New York

    2010      $
555,000
  
   
—  
  
  $ 1,104,216      $ 700,000      $ 75,543      $ 34,399      $ 2,469,158   

William Longhi

President and Chief Executive Officer, Orange & Rockland

   
 
2010
2009
  
  
  $

$

419,000

409,000

  

  

   

 

40,600

—  

(8) 

  

  $

$

873,840

309,987

  

  

  $

$

509,400

292,800

  

  

  $

$

475,729

697,252

  

  

  $

$

46,908

46,275

  

  

  $

$

2,365,477

1,755,314

  

  

 

Footnotes:

(1)   Salary for 2010 reflects certain reductions that were effective from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 (see “Competitive Positioning—Attraction and Retention” on page 24) and merit increases effective July 1, 2010.
(2)   The amounts paid were awarded under the annual incentive plan. Represents amounts earned for 2010 and paid in 2011.
(3)   Dividends are not paid and do not accrue on stock awards during the vesting period. Amounts shown do not reflect the payment or accrual of dividends during the vesting period for any portion of the stock awards and otherwise reflect the assumptions used for the Company’s financial statements. See Note M to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. Actual value to be realized, if any, on stock awards by the Named Executive Officers will depend on the performance of the Company’s common stock and the Named Executive Officer’s continued service. The terms applicable to the stock awards granted for fiscal year 2010 are set forth on the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table. See page 38 of the Proxy Statement. The amount shown for Mr. McMahon reflects the full amount of his stock awards and is not pro rated to reflect the portion of the performance period for which he was employed. Based on the fair value at grant date, the following are the maximum potential values of the performance restricted stock units for the 2010-2012 performance period granted under the long term incentive plan assuming maximum level of performance is achieved: Mr. Burke $7,109,880; Mr. Hoglund $2,017,776; Mr. McMahon $2,434,836; Mr. Ivey $1,934,364; and Mr. Longhi $1,529,220.
(4)   Amounts do not represent actual compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers. Instead the amounts represent the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the accumulated pension benefit based on the difference between the amounts required to be disclosed under the Pension Benefits Table for the year indicated and the amounts reported or that would have been reported under the Pension Benefits Table for the previous year. For information about the assumptions used, see the Pension Benefits Table on page 42 of the Proxy Statement. There are no above-market or preferential earnings with respect to the non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements.
(5)   Value of the items shown below are based on the aggregate incremental cost, which except for the Company provided vehicle and the supplemental health insurance is the actual cost to the Company.

Mr. Burke received the following amounts for 2010: $7,507, representing personal use of company provided vehicle; $4,279, in driver costs; $58,528 in life insurance; $3,780, in supplemental health insurance; and company matching contributions to the Savings Plan of $3,675, and supplemental plan of $21,790.

 

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Mr. Hoglund received the following amounts for 2010: $1,279, representing personal use of company provided vehicle; $10,000, in financial planning; $13,705, in life insurance; $5,424, in supplemental health insurance; and company matching contributions to the Savings Plan of $3,558, and supplemental plan of $9,740.

Mr. McMahon received the following amounts for 2010: $7,313, representing personal use of company provided vehicle; $10,000, in financial planning; $35,027, in life insurance; $5,424, in supplemental health insurance; and company matching contributions to the Savings Plan of $3,675, and supplemental plan of $12,953.

Mr. Ivey received the following amounts for 2010: $250, representing personal use of company provided vehicle; $9,166, in financial planning; $7,034, in life insurance; $5,424, in supplemental health insurance; and company matching contributions to the Savings Plan of $3,675, and supplemental plan of $8,850.

Mr. Longhi received the following amounts for 2010: $6,556, representing personal use of company provided vehicle; $10,166, in financial planning; $15,293, in life insurance; $5,424, in supplemental health insurance; and company matching contributions to the Savings Plan of $4,249, and supplemental plan of $5,220.

(6)   Represents, for each Named Executive Officer, the total of amounts shown for the Named Executive Officer in all other columns of the table.
(7)   Mr. McMahon retired effective January 31, 2011.
(8)   Mr. Longhi’s annual incentive plan award was increased to reflect his additional responsibilities for regulatory matters (see “Annual Incentive Compensation—2010 Annual Incentive Awards” on page 31).

 

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the grant of equity plan awards and non-equity incentive plan awards awarded to the Named Executive Officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

Name & Principal Position

  Grant
Date
    Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(1)
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(2)
    Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
Awards(3)
($)
 
    Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
   

Kevin Burke

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

    4/1/2010      $ 144,800      $ 1,158,300      $ 2,316,600        25,600        102,300        179,000      $ 4,063,356   

Robert Hoglund

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    4/1/2010      $ 38,100      $ 304,900      $ 609,800        7,300        29,000        50,800      $ 1,151,880   

John D. McMahon

Executive Vice President, Con Edison of New York

    4/1/2010      $ 75,400      $ 603,100      $ 1,206,200        8,800        35,000        61,300      $ 1,390,200   

Craig Ivey

President, Con Edison of New York

    4/1/2010      $ 56,000      $ 448,000      $ 896,000        7,000        27,800        48,700      $ 1,104,216   

William Longhi

President and Chief Executive Officer, Orange & Rockland

    4/1/2010      $ 42,500      $ 339,600      $ 679,200        5,500        22,000        38,500      $ 873,840   

 

Footnotes:

(1)   Represents annual cash incentive award opportunity awarded under the Company’s annual incentive plan. See “Annual Incentive Compensation” starting on page 27.
(2)   Represents awards of performance restricted stock units for the 2010-2012 performance period granted under the Company’s long term incentive plan. See “Long-Term Incentive Compensation” starting on page 32. Based on the fair value at grant date, the following are the maximum potential values of the performance restricted stock units for the 2010-2012 performance period granted under the long term incentive plan assuming maximum level of performance is achieved: Mr. Burke $7,109,880; Mr. Hoglund $2,017,776; Mr. McMahon $2,434,836; Mr. Ivey $1,934,364 and Mr. Longhi $1,529,220.
(3)   This column reflects the grant date fair value of the performance restricted stock unit awards for the 2010-2012 performance period. See footnote 3 to the Summary Compensation Table on page 37.

 

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Table of Contents

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS TABLE

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to all unexercised options and stock awards previously awarded to the Named Executive Officers as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

    OPTION AWARDS(1)     STOCK AWARDS(2)  

Name & Principal Position

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(# Exercisable)
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:

Number
of
unearned
shares,
units or
other
rights
held that
have not
vested
(#)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:

Market or
Payout
Value of
unearned
shares,
units or
other
rights that
have not
vested
($)
 

Kevin Burke

    59,000      $ 43.63        2/12/2014        106,000 (3)    $ 5,254,420   

    Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

    280,000      $ 46.88        1/19/2016        102,300 (4)    $ 5,071,011   
     

Robert Hoglund

    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    25,000      $ 43.72        1/20/2015        29,000 (3)    $ 1,437,530   
    25,000      $ 46.88        1/19/2016        29,000 (4)    $ 1,437,530   
             
     

John D. McMahon

    35,000      $ 43.63        2/12/2014        38,000 (3)    $ 1,883,660   

    Executive Vice President, Con Edison of New York

    40,000      $ 43.72        1/20/2015        35,000 (4)    $ 1,734,950   
    57,000      $ 46.88        1/19/2016         
     

Craig Ivey

    —          —          —          27,800 (4)    $ 1,378,046   

    President, Con Edison of New York

             
     

William Longhi.

    8,000      $ 43.06        1/15/2014        8,900 (3)    $ 441,173   

    President and Chief Executive Officer, Orange & Rockland

    8,000      $ 43.72        1/20/2015        22,000 (4)    $ 1,090,540   
    10,000      $ 46.88        1/19/2016                   

 

Footnotes:

(1)   Represents grants made from 2004–2006. All outstanding options were fully vested as of December 31, 2010.
(2)   Value of unvested restricted stock units using the closing price of $49.57 for a share of Company common stock on December 31, 2010.
(3)   The number of performance restricted stock units and payment amount of the performance restricted stock units will be determined as of December 31, 2011 based on satisfaction of target performance measures for 2009-2011 performance cycle.
(4)   The number of performance restricted stock units and payment amount of the performance restricted stock units will be determined as of December 31, 2012 based on satisfaction of target performance measures for 2010-2012 performance cycle.

 

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Table of Contents

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to all stock awards vesting in 2010 for the Named Executive Officers.

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

     OPTION AWARDS      STOCK AWARDS  

Name & Principal Position

   Number of Shares
Acquired on

Exercise
(#)
     Value Realized
on Exercise(1)
($)
     Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
    Value Realized
on Vesting
($)
 

Kevin Burke

    Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

    

 

60,000

60,000

  

  

   $

$

478,074

580,074

  

  

    

 

108,072

2,797

(2) 

(3) 

  $

$

5,319,304

127,068

(2) 

(3) 

Robert Hoglund

    Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

     —           —          

 

33,168

1,599

(2) 

(3) 

  $

$

1,632,529

72,643

(2) 

(3) 

John D. McMahon

    Executive Vice President, Con Edison of New York

    

 

50,000

50,000

  

  

   $

$

276,700

485,060

  

  

     41,775 (2)    $ 2,056,166 (2) 

William Longhi

    President and Chief Executive Officer, Orange & Rockland

     10,000       $ 78,900        

 

9,716

699

(2) 

(3) 

  $

$

478,222

31,756

(2) 

(3) 

 

Footnotes:

(1)   The value realized on exercise was determined by calculating the difference between the average of the actual sales price of the Company common stock underlying the options exercised and the exercise price of the respective option.
(2)   Represents the vesting of each Named Executive Officer’s performance restricted stock unit award for the 2008-2010 performance period, valued at $49.22, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the vesting date. Actual value realized by each Named Executive Officer will depend on each individual’s payout election under the Company’s long term incentive plan.
(3)   Represents the vesting of each Named Executive Officer’s 2004 annual incentive plan deferral, valued at $45.43, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2009, the last trading date before the vesting date (January 1, 2010).

 

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PENSION BENEFITS

 

Retirement Plan Benefits

 

The retirement plan, a tax qualified retirement plan, covers substantially all of the Company’s employees. The supplemental retirement income plan provides certain highly compensated employees (including the Named Executive Officers) whose benefits are limited by the Internal Revenue Code with that portion of their retirement benefit that represents the difference between (i) the amount they would have received under the retirement plan absent IRS limitations on the amount of final average salary that may be considered in calculating pension benefits and the amount of pension benefits paid and (ii) the amount actually paid from the retirement plan. All amounts under the supplemental retirement income plan are paid out of the Company’s general assets.

 

For management employees hired before January 1, 2001, including Messrs. Burke, McMahon, and Longhi, the retirement plan and the supplemental retirement income plan (the “Plans”) provide pension benefits based on: (i) the participant’s highest average salary for 48 consecutive months within the 120 consecutive months prior to retirement (“final average salary”); (ii) the portion of final average salary in excess of the Social Security taxable wage base in the year of retirement; and (iii) the participant’s length of service. For purposes of the Plans, a participant’s salary for a year is deemed to include any award under the Company’s annual incentive plans for that year. Participants in the Plans whose age and years of service equal 75 are entitled to an annual pension benefit for life, payable in monthly installments. Participants may earn increased pension benefits by working additional years. Benefits payable to a participant who retires between ages 55 and 59 with less than 30 years of service are subject to a reduction of 1.5 percent for each full year of retirement before age 60. Early retirement reduction factors are not applied to pensions of employees electing retirement at age 55 or older with at least 30 years of service. Effective January 1, 2009, management employees covered under the final average salary formula who are at least age 55 and have 30 or more years of service or will turn age 55 with 30 or more years of service during the period from January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012 qualify for an additional pension accrual for a limited period of time. The additional pension accrual will be credited from the time an employee becomes eligible through June 30, 2012 at a rate equal to one-twelfth of 0.5 percent of the final average salary for each month of service. The additional pension accrual period ends on June 30, 2012. The Plans provide an annual adjustment equal to the lesser of 3 percent or 3/4 of the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index to offset partially the effects of inflation.

 

For management employees hired on or after January 1, 2001, including Messrs. Hoglund and Ivey, the Plans provide pension benefits based on a cash balance formula under which benefits accrue at the end of each calendar quarter. The crediting percent, which can range from 4 to 7 percent, depending on the participant’s age and years of service, is applied to the participant’s base salary and annual incentive award (“Earnings”) during the quarter. In addition, a participant whose Earnings exceed the Social Security Wage Base ($106,800 for 2010) will receive a 4 percent credit on the amount of his or her Earnings that exceed the Social Security Wage Base. The cash balance account of participants is credited with interest quarterly at a rate equal to one-quarter of the annual interest rate payable on the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond, subject to a minimum annual rate of 3 percent and a maximum annual rate of 9 percent. The following table shows how this works:

 

Age Plus Years of Service

   Rate on
Earnings
    Plus      Rate on
Earnings Above
Social Security
Wage Base
 

Under 35

     4.00        4.00

35–49

     5.00        4.00

50–64

     6.00        4.00

Over 64

     7.00        4.00

 

Mr. Hoglund currently has seven years of credited service under the Plans. The Company has agreed to provide Mr. Hoglund credit for an additional ten years of service in the cash balance formula. Five of the additional ten years of service will be credited after he completes ten years of continuous employment and the

 

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remaining five years will be credited after he completes fifteen actual years of continuous service. The portion of Mr. Hoglund’s retirement benefit that is attributable to the additional years of service provided by the Company will be paid under the supplemental retirement income plan. Benefit distributions are made in the form of a lump sum payment, but participants may elect instead to receive an immediate or deferred lifetime annuity.

 

Pension Benefits Table

 

The following table shows certain pension benefits information for each Named Executive Officer as of December 31, 2010.

 

Pension Benefits

 

Name & Principal Position

   Plan Name    Number of
Years Credited
Service
(#)
     Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit(1)
($)
     Payments during
Last Fiscal Year
($)
 

Kevin Burke

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Retirement
Income Plan

    

 

38

38

  

  

   $

$

1,628,854

13,302,869

  

  

   $

$

0

0

  

  

Robert Hoglund

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Retirement
Income Plan

    

 

7

7

  

  

   $

$

119,543

323,944

  

  

   $

$

0

0

  

  

John D. McMahon

Executive Vice President, Con Edison of New York

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Retirement
Income Plan

    

 

34

34

  

  

   $

$

1,452,460

7,648,084

  

  

   $

$

0

0

  

  

Craig Ivey

President, Con Edison of New York

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Retirement
Income Plan

    

 

1

1

  

  

   $

$

17,858

59,702

  

  

   $

$

0

0

  

  

William Longhi

President and Chief Executive Officer, Orange & Rockland

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Retirement
Income Plan

    

 

35

35

  

  

   $

$

1,219,082

2,042,754

  

  

   $

$

0

0

  

  

 

Footnotes:

(1)   Amounts were calculated as of December 31, 2010, using the assumptions that were used for the Company’s financial statements. See Note E to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for material assumptions.

 

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NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

 

Company Savings Plan

 

The savings plan, a tax-qualified retirement plan, covers substantially all of the Company’s employees. Participating employees may contribute up to 50 percent of their compensation on a before-tax basis and/or an after-tax basis, into their savings plan accounts. In addition, the Company matches an amount equal to 50 percent for each dollar contributed by participating employees on the first 6 percent of their regular earnings. For information about reductions to the Company match during 2009-2010 see “Competitive Positioning—Attraction and Retention” on page 24.

 

Pursuant to IRS rules, effective for 2010, the savings plan limits the “additions” that can be made to a participating employee’s account to $49,000 per year. “Additions” include Company matching contributions, before-tax contributions made by a participating employee under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, and employee after-tax contributions.

 

Of those additions, the current maximum before-tax contribution is $16,500 per year (or $22,500 per year for certain participants age 50 and over). In addition, no more than $245,000 of annual compensation may be taken into account in computing benefits under the savings plan.

 

Supplemental Plan

 

Certain highly compensated employees, including the Named Executive Officers, are eligible to participate in the supplemental plan, a non-qualified deferred compensation plan. The supplemental plan permits participating officers to defer on a before-tax basis: (i) up to 50 percent of their base salary, (ii) all or a portion of their annual incentive award, and (iii) the cash value of any restricted stock unit awards (including any dividend equivalents). In addition, under the supplemental plan the Company will credit participating employees with a Company matching contribution on that portion of their contributions that cannot be matched under the savings plan because of IRS limitations. Earnings on amounts contributed under the supplemental plan reflect investment in accordance with participating employees’ investment elections. For information about reductions to the Company match during 2009-2010 see “Competitive Positioning—Attraction and Retention” on page 24. There were no above-market or preferential earnings with respect to the supplemental plan. Individuals participating in the plan may elect to have their account balances credited with a return that is benchmarked to numerous investment funds institutionally managed by the Nationwide Insurance Company. Participants may change their investment allocation once per calendar quarter. All amounts distributed from the supplemental plan are paid out of the Company’s general assets.

 

Amounts deferred, if any, under the savings plan and the supplemental plan by the Named Executive Officers are included in the “Salary” and “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” columns of the Summary Compensation Table on page 37 of the Proxy Statement. Company matching contributions allocated to the Named Executive Officers under the savings plan and the supplemental plan are shown in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 37 of the Proxy Statement. Amounts realized upon vesting of stock awards that were deferred into the supplemental plan, if any, are shown on the Value Realized on Vesting column of the Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table on page 40.

 

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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to nonqualified deferred compensation for each Named Executive Officer as of December 31, 2010.

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Name & Principal Position

   Executive
Contributions
in Last FY(1)
($)
     Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY(2)
($)
     Aggregate
Earnings in
Last FY(3)
($)
     Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
     Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE(4)
($)
 

Kevin Burke

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

   $ 115,021       $ 21,790       $ 463,787       $ 0       $ 3,650,042   

Robert Hoglund

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   $ 20,667       $ 9,740       $ 29,200       $ 0       $ 212,663   

John D. McMahon

Executive Vice President, Con Edison of New York

   $ 29,193       $ 12,953       $ 208,829       $ 0       $ 1,946,377   

Craig Ivey

President, Con Edison of New York

   $ 70,770       $ 8,850       $ 7,510       $ 0       $ 95,625   

William Longhi

President and Chief Executive Officer,

Orange & Rockland

   $ 42,323       $ 5,220       $ 24,964       $ 0       $ 168,995   

 

Footnotes:

(1)   Amounts set forth under “Executive Contributions in Last FY” are reported in either (i) the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table; (ii) the “Value Realized on Vesting” column of the “Stock Awards” section of the Options Exercised and Stock Vested Table; or (iii) the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s proxy statements for its 2010 and 2011 annual meetings of stockholders, as applicable.
(2)   The amounts set forth under the “Registrant Contributions in Last FY” are reported in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 37.
(3)   Represents earnings on accounts for fiscal year 2010. No amounts set forth under “Aggregate Earnings in Last FY” have been reported in the Summary Compensation Table on page 37, as there were no above-market or preferential earnings credited to any Named Executive Officer’s account.
(4)   Aggregate account balances as of December 31, 2010:

 

Mr. Burke’s aggregate balance is comprised of: executive contributions of $2,669,939; company matching contributions of $172,478; and earnings of $807,625. Mr. Hoglund’s aggregate balance is comprised of: executive contributions of $123,683; company matching contributions of $56,980; and earnings of $32,000; Mr. McMahon’s aggregate balance is comprised of: executive contributions of $1,200,498; company matching contributions of $118,627; and earnings of $627,252; Mr. Ivey’s aggregate balance is comprised of: executive contributions of $79,020; company matching contributions of $8,974; and earnings of $7,631; and Mr. Longhi’s aggregate balance is comprised of: executive contributions of $109,309; company matching contributions of $18,615; and earnings of $41,071.

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Those members of the Board who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries were paid an annual retainer of $50,000 and a fee of $1,500 for each meeting of the Board or of the Boards of its subsidiaries attended prior to July 1, 2010. Effective July 1, 2010, the annual retainer was changed to $75,000 and separate fees for each meeting of the Board or Boards, was eliminated. The Lead Director receives an additional annual retainer of $20,000.

 

In 2010, the Chairs of the Environment, Health and Safety, Finance, Operations Oversight and Planning Committees each received an additional annual retainer of $5,000. The Chairs of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Management Development and Compensation Committee each received an additional annual retainer of $10,000. The Audit Committee Chair received an additional annual retainer of $20,000, and each Audit Committee member received an additional annual retainer of $10,000 and a fee of $2,000 for each meeting of the Audit Committee attended. Members of the other Committees of the Board or of the Boards of its subsidiaries received a fee of $1,500 for each meeting of a Committee attended. The Acting Chair of any Board Committee, at meetings where the regular Chair is absent, was paid an additional meeting fee of $200 for any Committee meeting at which he or she presided.

 

In 2010, the Company reimbursed Board members who were not currently officers of the Company for expenses incurred in attending Board and Committee meetings. No person who served on both the Con Edison Board and on the Board of its subsidiary, Con Edison of New York, and corresponding Committees, was paid additional compensation for concurrent service. Members of the Board who were officers of the Company or its subsidiaries received no retainer or meeting fees for their service on the Board.

 

The Company has stock ownership guidelines for Directors under which each Director is to own shares with a value equal to three times the annual director retainer (not including committee and/or committee chair fees) paid to such Director during the previous fiscal year.

 

Members of the Board participate in the long term incentive plan. In 2010, pursuant to the long term incentive plan, each non-management Director was allocated an annual award of 1,500 deferred stock units on the first business day following the 2010 Annual Meeting. Effective on the first business day following the 2011 Annual Meeting, each non-management Director will be allocated an annual award of $90,000 of deferred stock units. If a non-management Director was first appointed to the Board after the Annual Meeting, his or her first annual award would have been pro rated. The 2010 annual awards of stock units were deferred until the Director’s termination of service from the Board of Directors. At the Director’s option, they may be paid at that time or further deferred for payment over a maximum of ten years. Each Director may defer all or a portion of his or her 2010 retainers and meeting fees into an interest account, which may, at the option of the Director, be distributed prior, upon or following the Director’s date of termination. Each Director may also defer all or a portion of his or her 2010 retainers and meeting fees into additional deferred stock units, which are deferred until the Director’s termination of service or, at the option of the Director, further deferred for payment over a maximum of ten years following the Director’s termination of service or deferred for payment prior to the Director’s date of termination for five years or more after the year in which the units were deferred. Dividend equivalents are payable on 2010 deferred stock units in the amount and at the time that dividends are paid on Con Edison’s common stock and are invested in additional deferred stock units or, at the Director’s option, are paid in cash. All payments on account of deferred stock units will be made in shares of Con Edison common stock. Effective July 1, 2010, the long term incentive plan was amended to eliminate the interest account and to provide that cash compensation deferred into stock units, the annual stock units, and the dividend equivalents granted to non-management Directors, be payable in a single one-time payment of whole shares (rounded to the nearest whole share) within sixty days following separation from Board service.

 

Directors are eligible to participate in the stock purchase plan, which is described in Note M to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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Director Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth the compensation for the members of the Company’s Board of Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Director Compensation

 

Name

   Fees Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($)
     Stock
Awards(1)
($)
     All Other
Compensation(2)
($)
     Total
($)
 

Kevin Burke(3)

     —           —           —           —     

Vincent A. Calarco

   $ 130,500       $ 66,780         —         $ 197,280   

George Campbell, Jr.

   $ 110,000       $ 66,780       $ 10,500       $ 187,280   

Gordon J. Davis

   $ 98,500       $ 66,780       $ 6,750       $ 172,030   

Michael J. Del Giudice

   $ 145,000       $ 66,780         —         $ 211,780   

Ellen V. Futter

   $ 99,000       $ 66,780       $ 5,000       $ 170,780   

John F. Hennessy III

   $ 104,500       $ 66,780         —         $ 171,280   

Sally Hernandez

   $ 102,000       $ 66,780         —         $ 168,780   

John F. Killian

   $ 118,500       $ 66,780       $ 10,500       $ 195,780   

Eugene R. McGrath

   $ 90,000       $ 66,780         —         $ 156,780   

Michael W. Ranger

   $ 93,000       $ 66,780         —         $ 159,780   

L. Frederick Sutherland

   $ 124,000       $ 66,780         —         $ 190,780   

 

Footnotes:

(1)   Each of the Directors, except Mr. Burke, received an annual grant of 1,500 stock units on May 17, 2010. Pursuant to the Company’s long term incentive plan and as indicated in Note M to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the restricted stock units are valued in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The annual grant is valued at $44.52 per share.
(2)   This column includes matching contributions made by the Company to qualified educational institutions under its matching gift program. All directors and employees are eligible to participate in this program. The Company matches 100 percent of up to $7,500 of contributions to qualified educational institutions per calendar year. Gifts up to $3,000 are matched two-for-one and gifts greater than $3,000 (up to the $7,500 maximum) are matched one-for-one.
(3)   Mr. Burke did not receive any director compensation because he is an officer of the Company and only non-management Directors receive director compensation.

 

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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

The Company’s Severance Program for Officers of Consolidated Edison, Inc. and its Subsidiaries (the “Severance Program”) provides compensation to its officers in the event of certain terminations of employment or a change of control of the Company. Mr. Burke is provided such benefit pursuant to his employment agreement, dated July 22, 2005, as amended on December 15, 2008. The initial term ended December 31, 2008. The employment agreement as amended automatically extends for additional one-year periods unless either Mr. Burke or the Company provides written notice of non-renewal 180 days prior to the expiration.

 

The amount of compensation that is potentially payable to each Named Executive Officer in each situation is listed in the table below and in the table on page 50. These amounts are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual amounts that would be paid to the Named Executive Officers, which would only be known at the time that they become eligible for payment. The tables reflect the amount that could be payable under the Severance Program (or, in the case of Mr. Burke, his employment agreement) assuming such termination occurred at December 31, 2010, including a gross-up for certain taxes in the case of Mr. Burke in the event that any payments made in connection with a change of control would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Mr. Burke

 

The following table describes the potential payments upon termination of employment or a change of control of the Company for Mr. Burke as of December 31, 2010.

 

Name

 

Executive

Benefits and
Payments Upon
Termination(1)

  Resignation
without
Good
Reason(2)
    Non-Renewal of
employment
agreement(3)
    Retirement     Termination
without
Cause or
Resignation for
Good Reason
(before a CIC)(4)
    Termination
for Cause
    Termination
without Cause or
Resignation for
Good Reason
(following a CIC)(5)
    Death or
Disability(6)
 

Kevin Burke

  Severance     $ 3,474,900        $ 5,791,500        $ 8,108,100     
  Long-term incentives(7)   $ 0      $ 10,325,431 (8)    $ 0      $ 10,325,431      $ 0      $ 10,325,431 (9)    $ 1,158,300   
  Benefits and Perquisites   $ 5,193,284        $ 10,325,431 (8)      $ 0        $ 10,325,431 (8) 
  Total   $ 111,375      $ 1,226,913      $ 111,375      $ 2,317,451      $ 111,375      $ 11,604,316      $ 2,427,975   
                                                         
    $ 5,304,659      $ 15,027,244      $ 10,436,806      $ 18,434,382      $ 111,375      $ 30,037,847      $ 13,911,706   
                                                         

 

(1)   Assumes the compensation of Mr. Burke for 2010 is as follows: base salary equal to $1,158,300 and a target annual bonus equal to 100 percent of base salary. Benefits and perquisites include incremental pension amounts, health and life insurance coverage cost, life insurance proceeds, accrued vacation pay, and outplacement costs, as applicable. For purposes of Mr. Burke’s table above, Mr. Burke is defined as the “Executive” in the corresponding footnotes below.
(2)   As per Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, the Executive’s severance benefit pursuant to a resignation without Good Reason is equal to (i) any unpaid base salary and bonus for any completed prior fiscal year and (ii) any accrued vacation pay.
(3)   As per Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, the Executive’s severance benefit pursuant to a non-renewal of the employment agreement is equal to: (i) a lump sum equal to base salary and target annual bonus pro-rated through the termination date and any accrued vacation pay, (ii) a lump sum equal to the net present value of one additional year of service credit under the Company’s pension plans (assuming compensation at the Executive’s then annual rate of base salary and target annual bonus), (iii) a lump sum equal to 1x the sum of base salary and target annual bonus, (iv) one year continuation of health and life insurance coverage and one year of additional service credit toward eligibility for (but not for commencement of) retiree benefits, and (v) one year of outplacement costs.
(4)   As per Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, the Executive’s severance benefit pursuant to a termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason (before a Change of Control or “CIC”) is equal to: (A) the same severance benefit under a non-renewal of employment agreement, except the amounts in clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) in footnote 3 above are 2x instead of 1x.
(5)   As per Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, the Executive’s severance benefit under a termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason (on or following a CIC) is equal to the same severance benefit under a termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason (before a CIC) except the amounts in clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) in footnote 4 above are 3x instead of 2x. Includes reimbursement for all excise taxes that are imposed on the Executive under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code and any income and excise taxes that are payable by the Executive as a result of any reimbursements by the Company for Section 280G excise taxes.
(6)   As per Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, the Executive’s severance benefit due to death or disability is equal to the same severance benefit under a resignation without Good Reason (except for the payment of life insurance proceeds and his pro-rata annual incentive award).
(7)   In calculating the potential payments, the Executive’s date of termination is assumed to be December 31, 2010 and the price per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of termination is $49.57 per share.
(8)   For disclosure purposes only, upon a non-renewal of Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, retirement, death or disability the Committee is assumed to have taken action pursuant to the long term incentive plan to fully accelerate the vesting of target performance-based equity awards.

 

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(9)   As per the long term incentive plan, in the event of a Change in Control, target performance-based restricted stock unit awards vest pro-rata through the date of such event. For disclosure purposes, the Committee is assumed to have taken action to fully accelerate target performance-based restricted stock unit awards under the long term incentive plan.

 

Below is a description of the assumptions used in creating the above table.

 

Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Provisions

 

As a condition to Mr. Burke’s receiving the severance benefits referenced in the table above, he is bound by the terms of the non-competition and non-solicitation provisions in his employment agreement for the period of two years from the date of his termination of employment for any reason (other than in connection with a non-renewal of employment in which case the period shall be one year from the date of termination).

 

Equity Acceleration

 

Pursuant to Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, in the event of his termination of employment without Cause by the Company or a resignation by him for Good Reason (in connection with or without a Change of Control), performance-based and non-performance based awards under the long term incentive plan, including stock option awards, fully vest upon the date of termination. In the event of a termination of employment without Good Reason, a non-renewal of Mr. Burke’s employment agreement or a termination due to death or disability, Mr. Burke’s performance-based and non-performance based awards under the long term incentive plan vest pro-rata through the date of termination and stock option awards become fully vested. In addition, in the event of a termination of Mr. Burke’s employment for any reason other than for Cause or a non-renewal of his employment agreement, unexpired stock options remain exercisable until the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. In the event of a termination for Cause, all unvested equity is forfeited on the date of termination.

 

Incremental Pension Amounts

 

As per Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, the amounts relating to the incremental pension amounts in the above table are based on the net present value of two additional years of additional service credit under the Company’s pension plans following a termination without Cause or a resignation for Good Reason (one additional year if such termination is in connection with a non-renewal of the employment agreement and three additional years if such termination is in connection with a Change of Control) assuming compensation at Mr. Burke’s annual salary and target incentive award, age 65 normal retirement, and the assumptions used to calculate lump sum benefits under the qualified retirement plan in December 2010. These assumptions include interest rates of 2.55 percent for the first five years, 4.36 percent for the next 15 years, and 5.13 percent thereafter (adjusted to 0.74 percent, 2.51 percent and 3.27 percent, respectively, to reflect cost of living adjustments) and the RP-2000 mortality table projected for 2010 (50 percent male/50 percent female blend). All amounts payable pursuant to an incremental non-qualified pension are assumed to be paid as a lump sum.

 

Termination without Cause or a Resignation for Good Reason

 

Mr. Burke will receive certain benefits as described in the above table if he is terminated by the Company for reasons other than Cause or by him for Good Reason. Under Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, “Cause” is defined as termination of employment by the Company for any of the following reasons: (i) willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties as a CEO, (ii) a conviction of a felony or entering a plea of nolo contendere to a felony that has a significant adverse effect on the business of the Company, or (iii) a finding by a regulatory or judicial body that the Executive has violated the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or other federal or state securities laws in relation to the Company.

 

Under Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, “Good Reason” is defined as a resignation by Mr. Burke for any of the following reasons: (i) any adverse change to his title, authority, duties, responsibilities or reporting lines or the assignment of any duties or responsibilities inconsistent in any respect with those customarily associated to

 

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the position of CEO, (ii) the appointment, without his consent, of any person other than the executive to the position of CEO or other position or title conferring similar status or authority, (iii) any reduction in salary, target annual bonus, target long-term incentive or retirement benefit, (iv) any requirement by the Company that his services be rendered primarily at an office or location that is more than 50 miles from his office or location as of the date of the employment agreement, (v) any purported termination of his employment for reasons not expressly permitted by his employment agreement, (vi) any failure by a successor of the Company to assume the employment agreement, or (vii) any other material breach of Mr. Burke’s employment agreement by the Company that is not taken in good faith, or if taken in good faith, is not remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice from the Executive.

 

Termination of Employment due to Disability

 

Under Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, Mr. Burke will receive certain benefits as described in the above table if he is terminated by the Company due to a disability, which occurs if the Executive is: (i) by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that could result in death or could last for a continuous period of at least 12 months (A) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity or (B) receiving income replacement for a period of at least three months under an accident and health plan covering employees by the Company, and (ii) has not been able to perform his material duties and responsibilities for six consecutive months or for more than six months within a period of twelve calendar months.

 

Payments upon Termination of Employment in Connection with a Change of Control

 

Under Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, Mr. Burke will receive certain benefits as described in the above table if his termination of employment is without Cause by the Company or by him for Good Reason in connection with a Change of Control. Under Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, “Change of Control” is defined under the Severance Program. Under the Severance Program, a Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934) acquires securities of the Company, together with securities held by such person or group, representing more than 50 percent of the fair market value or combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, (ii) any person or group acquires securities of the Company representing 30 percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, (iii) a majority of the number of directors who constitute the Board of Directors is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of appointment or election, or (iv) there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition of the Company’s assets having a total gross market value equal to or more than 40 percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the Company’s assets immediately prior to such sale or disposition (other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all assets to an entity of which at least 50 percent of the combined voting power of the securities owned by shareholders of the Company).

 

280G Tax Gross-Up

 

Under Mr. Burke’s employment agreement, in the event Mr. Burke receives any payment or distribution from the Company in connection with a Change of Control, he may be subject to certain excise taxes pursuant to Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 280G”). The Company has agreed to reimburse Mr. Burke for all excise taxes that are imposed on him under Section 280G and any income and excise taxes that are payable by him as a result of any reimbursements by the Company for Section 280G excise taxes. The total Section 280G tax gross-up amount in the table above assumes that Mr. Burke is entitled to full reimbursement by the Company of (i) any excise taxes that are imposed upon him as a result of such payment, (ii) any income and excise taxes imposed upon Mr. Burke as a result of the Company’s reimbursement of the excise tax amount and (iii) any additional income and excise taxes that are imposed upon Mr. Burke as a result of the Company’s reimbursement of any excise or income taxes. The calculation of the Section 280G gross-up amount in the above table is based upon a Section 280G excise tax rate of 20 percent, a 35 percent federal income tax rate, a 1.45

 

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percent Medicare tax rate, a 8.97 percent state income tax rate, a Change in Control date of December 31, 2010 and a closing price of $49.57 per share of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2010.

 

Messrs. Hoglund, McMahon, Ivey, and Longhi

 

The following table describes the potential payments upon termination of employment or a change of control of the Company for each of Messrs. Hoglund, McMahon, Ivey, and Longhi as of December 31, 2010.

 

Name

 

Executive Benefits
and Payments Upon
Termination(1)

  Resignation
for any Reason
(prior to CIC)
or Resignation
without Good
Reason
(following a
CIC)
    Retirement     Termination
without  Cause(2)
    Termination
for Cause
    Termination
without Cause or
Resignation for
Good Reason
(following a
CIC)(3)
    Death or
Disability
 

Robert Hoglund

  Severance   $ 0      $ 0      $ 1,219,500      $ 0      $ 2,134,000      $ 0   
  Long-term incentives(4)   $ 0      $ 2,875,060 (5)    $ 2,875,060 (5)    $ 0      $ 2,875,060 (6)    $ 2,875,060 (5) 
  Benefits and Perquisites   $ 46,900      $ 46,900      $ 195,868      $ 46,900      $ 319,836      $ 1,266,300   
                                                 
  Total   $ 46,900      $ 2,921,960      $ 4,290,428      $ 46,900      $ 5,328,896      $ 4,141,360   
                                                 

John D. McMahon(7)

  Severance   $ 0      $ 0      $ 1,960,300      $ 0      $ 3,317,300      $ 0   
  Long-term incentives(4)   $ 0      $ 3,618,610 (5)    $ 3,618,610 (5)    $ 0      $ 3,618,610 (6)    $ 3,618,610 (5) 
  Benefits and Perquisites   $ 72,490      $ 72,490      $ 765,503      $ 72,490      $ 1,433,515      $ 1,580,290   
                                                 
  Total   $ 72,490      $ 3,691,100      $ 6,344,413      $ 72,490      $ 8,369,425      $ 5,198,900   
                                                 

Craig Ivey

  Severance   $ 0      $ 0      $ 1,456,000      $ 0      $ 2,464,000      $ 0   
  Long-term incentives(4)   $ 0      $ 1,378,046 (5)    $ 1,378,046 (5)    $ 0      $ 1,378,046 (6)    $ 1,378,046 (5) 
  Benefits and Perquisites   $ 21,538      $ 21,538      $ 186,278      $ 21,538      $ 326,018      $ 1,141,538   
                                                 
  Total   $ 21,538      $ 1,399,584      $ 3,020,324      $ 21,538      $ 4,168,064      $ 2,519,584   
                                                 

William Longhi

  Severance   $ 0      $ 0      $ 1,103,700      $ 0      $ 1,867,800      $ 0   
  Long-term incentives(4)   $ 0      $ 1,531,713 (5)    $ 1,531,713 (5)    $ 0      $ 1,531,713 (6)    $ 1,531,713 (5) 
  Benefits and Perquisites   $ 40,817      $ 40,817      $ 727,615      $ 40,817      $ 1,389,412      $ 1,102,067   
                                                 
  Total   $ 40,817      $ 1,572,530      $ 3,363,028      $ 40,817      $ 4,788,925      $ 2,633,780   
                                                 

 

(1)   Assumes the compensation of Messrs. Hoglund, McMahon, Ivey and Longhi for 2010 are as follows: (i) Mr. Hoglund’s base salary equal to $609,700 and a target annual bonus equal to 50 percent of base salary; (ii) Mr. McMahon’s base salary equal to $753,900 and a target annual bonus equal to 80 percent of base salary; (iii) Mr. Ivey’s base salary equal to $560,000 and a target annual bonus equal to 80 percent of base salary; and (iv) Mr. Longhi’s base salary equal to $424,500 and a target annual bonus equal to 80 percent of base salary. Benefits and perquisites include incremental pension amounts, health and life insurance coverage cost, life insurance proceeds, accrued vacation pay, and outplacement costs, as applicable. For purposes of the table above, Messrs. Hoglund, McMahon, Ivey and Longhi are each defined as the “Executive” in the corresponding footnotes below.
(2)   As per the Severance Program, the Executive’s severance benefit pursuant to a termination without Cause (before a Change of Control or “CIC”) is equal to: (i) a lump sum equal to base salary and annual target bonus pro-rated through the termination date and any accrued vacation pay, (ii) a lump sum equal to the net present value of one additional year of service credit under the Company’s pension plans (assuming compensation at Executive’s then annual rate of base salary and target annual bonus), (iii) a lump sum equal to 1x the sum of the Executive’s then base salary and target annual bonus, (iv) one year continuation of health and life insurance coverage and one year of additional service credit toward eligibility for (but not for commencement of) retiree benefits, and (v) one year of outplacement costs.
(3)   As per the Severance Program, the Executive’s severance benefit under a termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason (on or following CIC) is equal to the same severance benefit under a termination without Cause (before CIC) as described in footnote 2 above except the amounts in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) are 2x instead of 1x.
(4)   In calculating the potential payments, the Executive’s date of termination is assumed to be December 31, 2010 and the price per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of termination is $49.57 per share.

 

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(5)   For disclosure purposes, upon Termination (other than a termination for Cause or a resignation without Good Reason), retirement, death or disability the Management Development and Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) is assumed to have taken action pursuant to the long term incentive plan to fully accelerate the vesting of target performance-based awards and non-performance awards.
(6)   As per the long term incentive plan, in the event of a CIC, non-performance based stock unit awards and stock option awards fully vest on the date of such event and target performance-based restricted stock unit awards vest pro-rata through the date of such event. For disclosure purposes, the Committee is assumed to have taken action to fully accelerate target performance-based restricted stock unit awards under the long term incentive plan.
(7)   Mr. McMahon retired effective January 31, 2011.

 

Assumptions for Messrs. Hoglund, McMahon, Ivey, and Longhi

 

Below is a description of the assumptions that were used in creating the tables for Messrs. Hoglund, McMahon, Ivey, and Longhi.

 

Equity Acceleration

 

As per the long term incentive plan, in the event of a Termination, resignation, retirement, death or Disability, the Management Development and Compensation Committee has discretion to determine the terms of the stock option awards and performance-based restricted stock awards (including, without limitation, to accelerate the vesting of unvested awards). Unless otherwise provided in the applicable long term incentive plan award agreement, in the event of a retirement, death or Disability, restricted stock awards vest pro-rata through the date of termination on the termination date.

 

As per the long term incentive plan, in the event of a Change in Control (as described below), stock unit awards, restricted stock awards, stock option awards, and stock appreciation awards fully vest on the date of such event. In the event of a Change in Control, performance-based restricted stock awards vest pro-rata through the date of such event.

 

For the purposes of the long term incentive plan: (i) a “Termination” means a resignation or discharge from employment, except death, disability or retirement, (ii) “retirement” means resignation on or after age 55 with at least five years of service, (iii) “Disability” means an inability to work in any gainful occupation for which the person is reasonably qualified by education, training or experience because of a sickness or injury for which the person is under doctor’s care, and (iv) “Change in Control” has the same meaning as such term is used in the Severance Program.

 

Incremental Pension Amounts

 

As per the Severance Program, the amounts relating to the incremental pension amounts in the above tables are based on the net present value of one additional year of additional service credit under the Company’s pension plans following a termination without Cause or a resignation for Good Reason (two additional years if such termination is in connection with a Change of Control) assuming compensation at the Executive’s annual salary and target award, age 65 normal retirement, and the assumptions used to calculate lump sum benefits under the qualified retirement plan in December 2010. These assumptions include interest rates of 2.55 percent for the first five years, 4.36 percent for the next 15 years, and 5.13 percent thereafter (adjusted to 0.74 percent, 2.51 percent and 3.27 percent, respectively, to reflect cost of living adjustments) and the RP-2000 mortality table projected for 2010 (50 percent male/50 percent female blend). The assumptions for Messrs. Hoglund and Ivey’s pension amount do not reflect a cost of living adjustment in accordance with the “cash balance” formula. All amounts payable pursuant to an incremental non-qualified pension are assumed to be paid as a lump-sum.

 

Termination without Cause or a Resignation for Good Reason

 

As per the Severance Program, the Executive will receive certain benefits as described in the table above if he is terminated by the Company for reasons other than Cause or he resigns for Good Reason (following a Change of Control). A termination is for Cause if it is for any of the following reasons: (i) willful and continued

 

51


Table of Contents

failure to substantially perform his duties, (ii) a conviction of a felony or entering a plea of nolo contendere to a felony that has a significant adverse effect on the business of the Company, or (iii) a willful engaging in illegal conduct or in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.

 

As per the Severance Program, a resignation for Good Reason occurs if the Executive resigns for any of the following reasons on or following a Change of Control: (i) any material decrease in base compensation (except uniform decreases affecting similarly situated employees), (ii) any material breach by the Company of any material provisions of the Severance Program, (iii) a requirement by the Company for the Executive to be based more than 50 miles from the location the Executive is employed prior to the Change of Control, or (iv) the assignment of any duties materially inconsistent in any respect with the Executive’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or any other action by the Company resulting in a material diminution in position, authority, duties or responsibilities.

 

Payments upon Termination of Employment in Connection with a Change of Control

 

As per the Severance Program, the Executive will receive certain benefits as described in the above table if his termination of employment is without Cause by the Company or he resigns for Good Reason following a Change of Control.

 

Section 280G

 

As per the Severance Program, in the event an Executive receives any payment or distribution from the Company in connection with a Change of Control, he may be subject to certain excise taxes pursuant to Section 280G. If any such payment by the Company to any of the Executives subjects the Executive to such taxes and the Executive would receive a greater net after-tax amount if the payment were reduced to avoid such taxation, the aggregate present value of amounts payable to the Executive pursuant to the Severance Program will be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent it does not trigger taxation under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. As per the long term incentive plan, any stock option award for which the exercise price is greater than fair market value or the Company’s common stock may be cancelled if such cancellation would reduce or eliminate any such excise taxes under Section 4999 of the Code.

 

COMPENSATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES AS THEY RELATE TO THE COMPANY’S RISK MANAGEMENT

 

In 2010, the Management Development and Compensation Committee asked Mercer to undertake a risk assessment of the Company’s compensation programs to determine whether the Company’s compensation policies and practices for employees, generally, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s risk management and create incentives that could lead to excessive or inappropriate risk taking by employees. The Committee also asked management to review the assessment. Based on Mercer’s risk assessment findings, with which the Committee and management concur, the Company’s compensation programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s risk management or create incentives that could lead to excessive or inappropriate risk taking by employees. The Company’s compensation programs include a Recoupment Policy applicable to all Company officers with respect to incentive-based compensation for periods commencing on or after January 1, 2011.

 

CERTAIN INFORMATION AS TO INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

No stockholder action is required with respect to the following information that is included to fulfill the requirements of Sections 726 of the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Effective December 2, 2010, the Company purchased Directors and Officers (“D&O”) Liability insurance for a one-year term providing for reimbursement, with certain exclusions and deductions, to: (a) Con Edison and its subsidiaries for payments they make to indemnify Directors, Trustees, officers and assistant officers of Con Edison and its subsidiaries, (b) Directors, Trustees and officers for losses, costs and expenses incurred by them in actions brought against them in connection with their acts in those capacities for which they are not indemnified by Con Edison or its subsidiaries, and (c) Con Edison and its subsidiaries for any payments they make resulting from a securities claim. The insurers are: Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited, Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd., Arch Insurance Company, Continental Casualty Company, Federal Insurance Company, Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company, Illinois National Insurance Company, Ironshore Insurance Ltd., National Specialty Insurance Company, U.S. Specialty Insurance Company, X.L. Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd., XL Specialty Insurance Company and Zurich American Insurance Company. The total cost of the D&O Liability insurance for one year from December 2, 2010 amounts to $4,926,780. The Company also purchased from Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited, Arch Insurance Company, Axis Insurance Company, Great American Insurance Company, Illinois National Insurance Company, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, RLI Insurance Company, U.S. Specialty Insurance Company and Zurich American Insurance Company, additional insurance coverage for one year effective January 1, 2011, insuring the Directors, Trustees, officers, and employees of Con Edison and its subsidiaries and certain other parties against certain liabilities which could arise in connection with fiduciary obligations mandated by ERISA and from the administration of the employee benefit plans of the Company and its subsidiaries. The cost of such coverage was $870,889.

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2012 ANNUAL MEETING

 

In order to be included in the Proxy Statement and form of proxy relating to the Company’s 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, stockholder proposals must be received by the Company at its principal offices at 4 Irving Place, New York, New York 10003, Attention: Corporate Secretary, by December 10, 2011.

 

Under the Company’s By-laws, written notice of any proposal to be presented by any stockholder or any other person to be nominated by any stockholder for election as a Director must be received by the Secretary of the Company at its principal executive office not less than 70 days nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is first publicly announced or disclosed less than 80 days prior to the date of the meeting, such notice must be given not more than 10 days after such date is first announced or disclosed.

 

DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

 

If you are a record holder, The Bank of New York Mellon will deliver only one copy of the Company’s Proxy Statement and Annual Report to multiple stockholders who share an address unless The Bank of New York Mellon has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. In addition, if you are the beneficial owner of the Company’s shares, your broker, bank or other nominee may determine to deliver only one copy of the Company’s Proxy Statement and Annual Report to multiple stockholders who share an address unless that nominee has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. The Company will deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the Proxy Statement and Annual Report to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. A stockholder who wishes to receive a separate copy of the Proxy Statement and Annual Report should submit the request to the Company by telephone at (212) 460-4322 or by submitting a written request to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Con Edison, 4 Irving Place, New York, New York 10003. Beneficial owners who share an address and who are receiving multiple copies of proxy materials and Annual Reports and wish to receive a single copy of such materials in the future will need to contact their broker, bank or other nominee.

 

 

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Table of Contents

OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

 

Management intends to bring before the meeting only the election of Directors and Proposals No. 2, 3 and 4, and knows of no matters to come before the meeting other than the matters set forth herein, including Proposal No. 5 by a stockholder. If other matters or motions come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters or motions, including any matters dealing with the conduct of the meeting.

 

Please vote, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and mail it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, or vote your proxy by telephone or by the Internet in accordance with the instructions set forth on the proxy card. Your vote is important. If you are a registered stockholder planning to attend the meeting, please check the appropriate box on the proxy card but retain your admission ticket and bring it with you to the meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

 

Carole Sobin

Corporate Secretary

 

New York, NY

April 8, 2011

 

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Table of Contents

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY.

We encourage you to take advantage of Internet or telephone voting.

Both are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

INTERNET AND TELEPHONE VOTING IS AVAILABLE UNTIL 11:59 P.M. EDT SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2011.

 

         

 

INTERNET

       

 

http://www.proxyvoting.com/ed

       

 

Use the Internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site.

 

         

 

OR

 

  LOGO      

 

TELEPHONE

 

1-866-540-5760

         

 

Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you call.

 

         

 

OR

 

         

 

MAIL

 

Mark, sign and date your proxy card. Detach your proxy card from this form. Return your proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided.

 

 

      

 

If you have submitted your proxy by Internet or by telephone, there is no need for you to mail back your proxy card.

 

Your Internet or telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner and to the same extent as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

 

  WO #   
  96846   

q  FOLD AND DETACH HERE  q

 

The Board of Directors Recommends you Vote FOR all of the nominees listed (Proposal 1).   

Please mark your votes as

indicated in this example

  x

 

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:

                 The Board of Directors Recommends you Vote FOR Proposals 2 and 3.
   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN       FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN            FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

 

1.1

K. Burke

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

1.7

J.F. Hennessy III

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

    

 

2.   Ratification of appointment of independent accountants.

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

 

1.2

V.A. Calarco

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

1.8

S. Hernandez

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

    

 

3.   Advisory vote on executive compensation.

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

 

1.3

G. Campbell, Jr.

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

1.9

J.F. Killian

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

    

 

The Board of Directors Recommends you Vote 1 YEAR on Proposal 4.

                             1 YEAR    2 YEARS    3 YEARS    ABSTAIN

 

1.4

G.J. Davis

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

1.10

E.R. McGrath

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

    

 

4.   Frequency of an advisory vote on executive compensation.

  

 

  ¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

 

1.5

M.J. Del Giudice

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

1.11

M.W. Ranger

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

    

 

The Board of Directors Recommends you Vote AGAINST the Following Stockholder Proposal 5.

   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

 

1.6

E.V. Futter

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

1.12

L.F. Sutherland

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

    

 

5.   Additional compensation information.

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

  

 

¨

 

                        

SEE REVERSE FOR ADMISSION TICKET.

THIS TICKET ADMITS ONLY          

        
                        THE NAMED STOCKHOLDER(S).               
                          

I will attend the

Annual Meeting

 

  

 

¨

                               

Mark Here for

Address Change

SEE REVERSE

   ¨

 

  (Please sign exactly as name or names appear hereon. Full title of one signing in representative capacity should be clearly designated after signature. Names of all joint holders should be written even if signed by only one.)
Signature   

 

   Co-owner sign here   

 

   Date   

 


Table of Contents
 

 

LOGO

 

ADMISSION TICKET

 

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

of

CONSOLIDATED EDISON, INC.

 

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011 10:00 a.m.

 

4 Irving Place

 

New York, NY 10003

 

This ticket admits only the named stockholder(s). Please bring this admission ticket and a proper

form of identification with you if attending the meeting.

 

 

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please promptly vote by telephone, through the Internet

or by completing and returning the attached proxy card. Voting early will not prevent you from voting

in person at the Annual Meeting if you wish to do so. Your proxy is revocable in accordance with

the procedures set forth in the proxy statement.

 

 
 

 

 

 

q  FOLD AND DETACH HERE  q

 

LOGO     

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

4 Irving Place

New York, NY 10003

  

CONSOLIDATED EDISON, INC

COMMON STOCK

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Kevin Burke, Michael J. Del Giudice and Eugene R. McGrath and each or any of them with power of substitution, proxies to vote all stock of the undersigned (including any shares held through the Company’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Payment Plan) at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Monday, May 16, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Company’s Headquarters, 4 Irving Place, New York, NY or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, as specified on the reverse side in the election of Directors and on the proposals, all as more fully set forth in the proxy statement, and in their discretion on any matters that may properly come before the meeting.

Your vote for the election of Directors may be indicated on the reverse side. Nominees are: 1.1 - K. Burke, 1.2 - V.A. Calarco, 1.3 - G. Campbell, Jr., 1.4 - G.J. Davis, 1.5 - M.J. Del Giudice, 1.6 - E.V. Futter, 1.7 - J.F. Hennessy III, 1.8 - S. Hernandez, 1.9 - J.F. Killian, 1.10 - E.R. McGrath, 1.11 - M.W. Ranger and 1.12 - L.F. Sutherland.

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE, BUT IF NO CHOICE IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR LISTED ABOVE (PROPOSAL 1), “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 3, “1 YEAR” ON PROPOSAL 4 AND “AGAINST” PROPOSAL 5.

 

    Address Change/Comments          
            (Mark the corresponding  box on the reverse side)                      
               
               
          BNY MELLON SHAREOWNER SERVICES    
          P.O. BOX 3550    
          SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ 07606-9250    
         
        WO#    
  (Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the reverse side)   96846