Tampa Electric Company

Risks

• Risks Relating to TEC’s Business and Strategy
• TEC’s electric and gas utilities are regulated; changes in regulation or the regulatory environment could reduce revenues, increase costs or competition.
• Changes in the environmental laws and regulations affecting its businesses could increase TEC’s costs or curtail its activities.
• Federal or state regulation of GHG emissions, depending on how they are enacted, could increase Tampa Electric’s costs or the rates charged to its customers, which could curtail sales.
• Tampa Electric and PGS may not be able to secure adequate rights-of-way to construct transmission lines, gas interconnection lines and distribution-related facilities and could be required to find alternate ways to provide adequate sources of energy and maintain reliable service for their customers.
• The franchise rights held by Tampa Electric and PGS could be lost in the event of a breach by such utilities or could expire and not be renewed.
• TEC’s businesses are sensitive to variations in weather and the effects of extreme weather and have seasonal variations.
• TEC is subject to several risks that arise or may arise from climate change.
• The facilities and operations of TEC could be affected by natural disasters or other catastrophic events.
• TEC is exposed to potential risks related to cyberattacks and unauthorized access, which could cause system failures, disrupt operations or adversely affect safety.
• National and local economic conditions can have a significant impact on the results of operations, net income and cash flows at TEC.
• Potential competitive changes may adversely affect TEC.
• Disruption of fuel supply could have an adverse impact on the financial condition of TEC.
• Commodity price changes may affect the operating costs and competitive positions of TEC’s businesses.
• Developments in technology could reduce demand for electricity and gas.
• Results at TEC may be affected by changes in customer energy-usage patterns.
• Failure to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce, or workforce disruptions, could adversely affect TEC’s financial results.
• TEC’s substantial indebtedness could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as its ability to meet its payment obligations on its debt.
• Financial market conditions could limit TEC’s access to capital and increase TEC’s costs of borrowing or refinancing, or have other adverse effects on its results.
• Declines in the financial markets or in interest rates used to determine benefit obligations could increase TEC’s pension expense or the required cash contributions to maintain required levels of funding for its plan.
• TEC’s financial condition and results could be adversely affected if its capital expenditures are greater than forecast or costs are not recoverable through rates.
• TEC’s financial condition and ability to access capital may be materially adversely affected by multiple ratings downgrades to below investment grade.