Edison Mission retirees want committee in light of termination motion

By Caroline Salls

Pittsburgh, Jan. 23 - A group of Edison Mission Energy non-union retirees asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois to appoint an official retiree committee for the company's Chapter 11 case, according to a Wednesday court filing.

As previously reported, Edison Mission filed a motion on Jan. 8 for court approval to terminate the benefits of 276 retirees.

The retirees objected to that motion on Jan. 21 and said that a retiree committee must be appointed even when the company raises unilateral termination arguments.

In addition, the retirees said appointment of an official committee could aid negotiations, including talks for a potential settlement that calls for funding of a non-company sponsored medical benefit plan.

"If the debtors want this court to approve their elimination of a multi-million dollar obligation, then they need to comply with the Bankruptcy Code," the retirees said in the motion.

"That necessarily means the formation of a retiree committee to represent the affected retirees."

A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4.

Edison Mission, a Santa Ana, Calif.-based owner, operator and leaser of a portfolio of electric generating facilities, filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 17, 2012. Its Chapter 11 case number is 12-49219.

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