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Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION

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Exhibit 10.5.1    
  

 
 

Amendment to the Gas Purchase Agreement dated November 1, 1990, as amended,
  between Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, L.L.C. (successor to Mobil Oil
  Canada) And Cascade Natural Gas Corporation
  DETM
Agreement No. GSA 944    
  

    This Amendment to the Gas Purchase Agreement dated November 1, 1990, as amended, is made and entered into this 30 day of August 2001, by and between
Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, L.L.C. ("Seller") and Cascade Natural Gas Corporation ("Buyer"). 

Recitals:  

	A.
	Seller
and Buyer are parties to that certain Gas Purchase Agreement dated November 1, 1990 ("Agreement"), as amended.

	B.
	Seller
and Buyer desire to amend the Agreement for the period and to the extent defined herein. 

    NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants of the parties hereto, said parties agree as follows: 

	1.
	The
above referenced Agreement is amended for the period of July 1, 2001 (8:00 a.m. MST) through November 1, 2002 (7:59 a.m. MST) as follows:

	(A)
	Buyer's
Obligation to Nominate, Purchase and Use 

    Delete
Sub-clause 4.4 in its entirety and replace with the following: 

"Load
Factor shall be a 100% minimum take obligation." 

	(B)
	Commodity
Price 

    Delete
Sub-clause 5.1 (b), as amended, in its entirety and replace with the following: 

"The
Commodity Price shall equal the following: 

A)  [*]
per MMBtu; and, 

B)  Less
Demand charge as calculated in Sub-clause 5.1(a) of the Agreement." 

[*] = Confidential Information

	(C)
	Reservation
Fee 

    Delete
Sub-clause 5.1(c), as amended, in its entirety and replace with the following: 

"A
reservation fee ("Reservation Fee") each month of the term in consideration of Seller reserving for Buyer the quantity of Gas required to meet the DCQ. This Reservation Fee shall be 9% of the
Inside FERC Gas Market Report first of the month publication for the Northwest Pipeline—Canadian Border times the DCQ times the number of days in that Month. The obligation to pay the
Reservation Fee shall only be modified if Seller is unable, due to Supply Failure of Force Majeure claimed by Seller, to deliver as which it is obligated to deliver under
Sub-clause 4.1(a); in such event, the Reservation Fee shall be reduced by the ratio of the DCQ not delivered by Seller to the DCQ." 

	2.
	Terms
and conditions of the Agreement, as amended, previous or subsequent to those contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall be unchanged as a result of this
Amendment.

	3.
	This
Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their successors and/or assigns. 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first referenced above. 

	Seller	 	Buyer
	

DUKE ENERGY TRADING AND MARKETING, L.L.C.	
 	

CASCADE NATURAL GAS CORPORATION
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:	 	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

	

Title:	
 	

Director, Marketing, Pacific Northwest Division	
 	

Title:	
 	

 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

	

Date:	
 	

 	
 	

Date:	
 	

 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

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Exhibit 10.5.1

Amendment to the Gas Purchase Agreement dated November 1, 1990, as amended, between Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, L.L.C. (successor to Mobil Oil Canada) And Cascade Natural Gas Corporation DETM Agreement No.
GSA 944Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION

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Exhibit 10.10    
  

 
 

BASE CONTRACT FOR SHORT-TERM
  SALE AND PURCHASE OF NATURAL GAS    
  

This
Base Contract is entered into as of the following date:  8/1/99 

The
parties to this Base Contract are the following: 

	KIMBALL ENERGY CORPORATION	 	and	 	CASCADE NATURAL GAS CORPORATION
	2201 N. Collins Ave., Suite #185	 	 	 	222 Fairview Avenue North
	Arlington, TX 76011	 	 	 	Seattle, WA 98109-5312
	Duns # 15-156-1370	 	 	 	Duns #
	Contract # GI-0167	 	 	 	Contract #
	Attn: CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION	 	 	 	Attn: CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
	Phone: (817)860-9100 Fax: (817) 274-4724	 	 	 	Phone: (206) 624-3900 Fax: (206) 624-7215
	Federal Tax ID Number: 75-1918038	 	 	 	Federal Tax ID Number:
	 	 	 	 	 
	Invoices and Payments:	 	 	 	 
	see Attachment #1	 	 	 	see Attachment #1
	 	 	 	 	 
	Wire Transfer or ACH Nos. (if applicable)	 	 	 	Wire Transfer or ACH Nos. (if applicable)
	see attachment #1	 	 	 	see Attachment #1

This
Base Contract incorporates by reference for all purposes the General Terms and Conditions for Short-Term Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas published by the Gas Industry Standards
Board. The parties hereby agree to the following provisions offered in said General Terms and Conditions (select only one from each box, but see
"Note" relating to Section 2.24.):

	Section 1.2

Transaction Procedure	 	/x/

/ /	 	Oral

Written	 	Section 6.

Taxes	 	/x/	 	Buyer Pays At and After Delivery Point
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	/ /	 	Seller Pays Before and At Delivery Point
	
Section 2.4

Confirm Deadline	
 	

/x/	
 	

2 Business Days after receipt (default)	
 	
Section 7.2

Payment Date	
 	

 	
 	

25th date of Month following Month of
	 	 	/ /	 	Business Days after receipt	 	 	 	 	 	delivery
	
Section 2.5	
 	

/ /	
 	

Seller	
 	
Section 7.2	
 	

/x/	
 	

Wire Transfer (WT)
	Confirming Party	 	/ /

/x/	 	Buyer
 Both or Either	 	Method of

Payment	 	/ /	 	Automated Clearinghouse (ACH)
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	/ /	 	Check
	
Section 3.2	
 	

/ /	
 	

Cover Standard	
 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	Performance Obl.	 	/x/	 	Spot Price Standard	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Note: The following Spot Price Publication applies to both of the immediately preceding Standards and must be filled in after a Standard is selected.	 	Section 13.5

CHOICE OF LAW: Texas
	

Section 2.24

Spot Price Publication: Gas Daily
	/x/  Special Provisions: Number of sheets attached:  1

Page  1 of 13 Pages

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Base Contract in duplicate. 

	KIMBALL ENERGY CORPORATION
(Party Name)	 	CASCADE NATURAL GAS CORPORATION
(Party Name)
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By	 	/s/ K.T. Smith   
	 	By	 	/s/ King Oberg   

	Name/Title	 	Kimball T. Smith, President	 	Name/Title	 	 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

	Date:	 	8/20/99	 	Date	 	 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

DISCLAIMER:  The purposes of this Contract are to facilitate trade, avoid misunderstandings and make more definite the terms of contracts
of purchase and sale of natural gas. This Contract is intended for Interruptible transactions or Firm transactions of one month or less and may not be suitable for Firm
transactions of longer than one month. Further, GISB does not mandate the use of this Contract by any party. GISB DISCLAIMS AND EXCLUDES, AND ANY USER
OF THIS CONTRACT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES TO GISB'S DISCLAIMER OF, ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS OR REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ORAL OR WRITTEN, WITH RESPECT TO THIS CONTRACT OR ANY PART
THEREOF, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS OR SUITABILITY FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE (WHETHER OR NOT GISB
KNOWS, HAS REASON TO KNOW, HAS BEEN ADVISED, OR IS OTHERWISE IN FACT AWARE OF ANY SUCH PURPOSE), WHETHER ALLEGED TO ARISE BY LAW, BY REASON OF CUSTOM OR USAGE IN THE TRADE, OR BY COURSE OF DEALING.
EACH USER OF THIS CONTRACT ALSO AGREES THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL GISB BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY USE OF THIS
CONTRACT.

Page  2 of 13 Pages

 
 
 

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
  BASE CONTRACT FOR SHORT-TERM
  SALE AND PURCHASE OF NATURAL GAS    
  

SECTION 1. PURPOSE AND PROCEDURES  

	1.1.
	These
General Terms and Conditions are intended to facilitate purchase and sale transactions of Gas on a Firm or Interruptible basis. "Buyer" refers to the party receiving Gas and
"Seller" refers to the party delivering Gas. 

The parties have selected either the "Oral" version or the "Written" version of transaction procedures as indicated on the Base Contract.

Oral Transaction Procedure:

    1.2 The
parties will use the following Transaction Confirmation procedure. Any Gas purchase and sale transaction may be effectuated in an EDI transmission or telephone
conversation with the offer and acceptance constituting the agreement of the parties. The parties shall be legally bound from the time they so agree to transaction terms and may each rely thereon. Any
such transaction shall be considered a "writing" and to have been "signed". Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the parties agree that Confirming Party shall, and the other party may, confirm a
telephonic transaction by sending the other party a Transaction Confirmation by facsimile. EDI or mutually agreeable electronic means. Confirming Party adopts its confirming letterhead, or the like,
as its signature on any Transaction Confirmation as the identification and authentication of Confirming Party. 

Written Transaction Procedure:

    1.2 The
parties will use the following Transaction Confirmation procedure. Should the parties come to an agreement regarding a Gas purchase and sale transaction for a
particular Delivery Period, the Confirming Party shall, and the other party may, record that agreement on a Transaction Confirmation and communicate such Transaction Confirmation by facsimile, EDI or
mutually agreeable electronic
means, to the other party by the close of the Business Day following the date of agreement. The parties acknowledge that their agreement will not be binding until the exchange of non-conflicting
Transaction Confirmation or the passage of the Confirm Deadline without objection from the receiving party, as provided in Section 1.3. 

    1.3. If
a sending party's Transaction Confirmation is materially different from the receiving party's understanding of the agreement referred to in Section 1.2.,
such receiving party shall notify the sending party via facsimile by the Confirm Deadline, unless such receiving party has previously sent a Transaction Confirmation to the sending party. The failure
of the receiving party to so notify the sending party in writing by the Confirm Deadline constitutes the receiving party's agreement to the terms of the transaction described in the sending party's
Transaction Confirmation. If there are any material differences between timely sent Transaction Confirmations governing the same transaction, then neither Transaction Confirmation shall be binding
until or unless such differences are resolved including the use of any evidence that clearly resolves the differences in the Transaction Confirmations. The entire agreement between the parties shall
be those provisions contained in both the Base Contract and any effective Transaction Confirmation. In the event of a conflict among the terms of (i) a Transaction Confirmation, (ii) the
Base Contract, and (iii) these General Terms and Conditions, the terms of the documents shall govern in the priority listed in this sentence. 

SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS  

    2.1. "Base
Contract" shall mean a contract executed by the parties that incorporates these General Terms and Conditions by reference; that specifies the agreed
selections of provisions contained herein; and that sets forth other information required herein. 

Page  3 of 13 Pages

 

    2.2. "British thermal unit" or "Btu" shall have the meaning ascribed to it by the Receiving Transporter. 

    2.3. "Business
Day" shall mean any day except Saturday, Sunday or Federal Reserve Bank holidays. 

    2.4. "Confirm
Deadline" shall mean 5:00 p.m. in the receiving party's time zone on the second Business Day following the Day a Transaction Confirmation is
received, or if applicable, on the Business Day agreed to by the parties in the Base Contract; provided, if the Transaction Confirmation is time stamped after 5:00 p.m. in the receiving party's
time zone, it shall be deemed received at the opening of the next Business Day. 

    2.5. "Confirming
Party" shall mean the party designated in the Base Contract to prepare and forward Transaction Confirmations to the other party. 

    2.6. "Contract"
shall mean the legally-binding relationship established by (i) the Base Contract and (ii) the provisions contained in any effective
Transaction Confirmation. 

    2.7. "Contract
Price" shall mean the amount expressed in U.S. Dollars per MMBtu, as evidenced by the Contract Price on the Transaction Confirmation. 

    2.8. "Contract
Quantity" shall mean the quantity of Gas to be delivered and taken as set forth in the Transaction Confirmation. 

    2.9. "Cover
Standard", if applicable, shall mean that if there is an unexcused failure to take or deliver any quantity of Gas pursuant to this Contract, then the
non-defaulting party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain Gas or alternate fuels, or sell Gas, at a price reasonable for the delivery or production area, as applicable,
consistent with: the amount of notice provided by the defaulting party; the immediacy of the Buyer's Gas consumption needs or Seller's Gas sales requirements, as applicable; the quantities involved;
and the anticipated length of failure by the defaulting party. 

    2.10.  "Day"
shall mean a period of 24 consecutive hours, coextensive with a "day" as defined by the Receiving Transporter in a particular transaction. 

    2.11.  "Delivery
Period" shall be the period during which deliveries are to be made as set forth in the Transaction Confirmation. 

    2.12.  "Delivery
Point(s)" shall mean such point(s) as are mutually agreed upon between Seller and Buyer as set forth in the Transaction Confirmation. 

    2.13.  "EDI"
shall mean an electronic data interchange pursuant to an agreement entered into by the parties, specifically relating to the communication
of Transaction Confirmations under this Contract. 

    2.14.  "EFP"
shall mean the purchase, sale or exchange of natural Gas as the "physical" side of an exchange for physical transaction involving gas
futures contracts. EFP shall incorporate the meaning and remedies of "Firm". 

    2.15.  "Firm"
shall mean that either party may interrupt its performance without liability only to the extent that such performance is prevented for
reasons of Force Majeure; provided, however, that during Force Majeure interruptions, the party invoking Force Majeure may be responsible for any Imbalance Charges as set forth in Section 4.3.
related to its interruption after the nomination is made to the Transporter and until the change in deliveries and/or receipts is confirmed by the Transporter. 

    2.16.  "Gas"
shall mean any mixture of hydrocarbons and non-combustible gases in a gaseous state consisting primarily of methane. 

Page  4 of 13 Pages

 

    2.17.  "Imbalance Charges" shall mean any fees, penalties, costs or charges (in cash or in kind) assessed by a Transporter for failure to satisfy the
Transporter's balance and/or nomination requirements. 

    2.18.  "Interruptible"
shall mean that either party may interrupt its performance at any time for any reason, whether or not caused by an event of Force
Majeure, with no liability, except such interrupting party may be responsible for any Imbalance Charges as set forth in Section 4.3. related to its interruption after the nomination is made to
the Transporter and until the change in deliveries and/or receipts is confirmed by Transporter. 

    2.19.  "MMBtu"
shall mean one million British thermal units which is equivalent to one dekatherm. 

    2.20.  "Month"
shall mean the period beginning on the first Day of the calendar month and ending immediately prior to the commencement of the first Day
of the next calendar month. 

    2.21.  "Payment
Date" shall mean a date, selected by the parties in the Base Contract, on or before which payment is due Seller for Gas received by
Buyer in the previous Month. 

    2.22.  "Receiving
Transporter" shall mean the Transporter receiving Gas at a Delivery Point, or absent such receiving Transporter, the Transporter
delivering Gas at a Delivery Point. 

    2.23.  "Scheduled
Gas" shall mean the quantity of Gas confirmed by Transporter(s) for movement, transportation or management. 

    2.24   "Spot
Price" as referred in Section 3.2 shall mean the price listed in the publication specified by the parties in the Base Contract, under
the listing applicable to the geographic location closest in proximity to the Delivery Point(s) for the relevant Day; provided, if there is no single price published for such location for such Day,
but there is published a range of prices, then the Spot Price shall be the average of such high and low prices. If no price or range of prices is published for such Day, then the Spot Price shall be
the average of the following: (i) the price (determined as stated above) for the first Day for which a price or range of prices is published that next precedes the relevant Day; and
(ii) the price (determined as stated above) for the first Day for which a price or range of prices is published that next follows the relevant Day. 

    2.25.  "Transaction
Confirmation" shall mean the document, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, setting forth the terms of a purchase and sale
transaction formed pursuant to Section 1. for a particular Delivery Period. 

    2.26.  "Transporter(s)"
shall mean all Gas gathering or pipeline companies, or local distribution companies, acting in the capacity of a transporter,
transporting Gas for Seller or Buyer upstream or downstream, respectively, of the Delivery Point pursuant to a particular Transaction Confirmation. 

SECTION 3 PERFORMANCE OBLIGATION  

    3.1. Seller
agrees to sell and deliver, and Buyer agrees to receive and purchase, the Contract Quantity for a particular transaction in accordance with the terms of the
Contract. Sales and purchases will be on a Firm or Interruptible basis, as specified in the Transaction Confirmation. 

The parties have selected the "Cover Standard" version or the "Spot Price Standard" version as indicated on the Base Contract.

Cover Standard:  

    3.2 In
addition to any liability for Imbalance Charges, which shall not be recovered twice by the following remedy, the exclusive and sole remedy of the parties in the
event of a breach of a Firm obligation shall be recovery of the following: (i) in the event of a breach by Seller on any Day(s), 

Page  5 of 13 Pages

 

payment by Seller to Buyer in an amount equal to the positive difference, if any, between the purchase price paid by Buyer utilizing the Cover Standard for replacement Gas or alternative fuels and the
Contract Price, adjusted for commercially reasonable differences in transportation costs to or from the Delivery Point(s), multiplied by the difference between the Contract Quantity and the quantity
actually delivered by Seller for such Day(s); or (ii) in the event of a breach by Buyer on any Day(s), payment by Buyer to Seller in the amount equal to the positive difference, if any, between the
Contract Price and the price received by Seller utilizing the Cover Standard for the resale of such Gas, adjusted for commercially reasonable differences in transportation costs to or from the
Delivery Point(s), multiplied by the difference between the Contract Quantity and the quantity actually taken by Buyer for such Day(s); or (iii) in the event that Buyer has used commercially
reasonable efforts to replace the Gas or Seller has used commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Gas to a third party, and no such replacement or sale is available, then the exclusive and sole
remedy of the non-breaching party shall be any unfavorable difference between the Contract Price and the Spot Price, adjusted for such transportation to the applicable Delivery Point, multiplied by
the difference between the Contract Quantity and the quantity actually delivered by Seller and received by Buyer for such Day(s). 

Spot Price Standard:  

    3.2 In
addition to any liability for Imbalance Charges, which shall not be recovered twice by the following remedy, the exclusive and sole remedy of the parties in the
event of a breach of a Firm obligation shall be recovery of the following: (i) in the event of a breach by Seller on any Day(s), payment by Seller to Buyer in an amount equal to the difference between
the Contract Quantity and the actual quantity delivered by Seller and received by Buyer for such Day(s), multiplied by the positive difference, if any, obtained by subtracting the Contract Price from
the Spot Price; (ii) in the event of a breach by Buyer on any Day(s), payment by Buyer to Seller in an amount equal to the difference between the Contract Quantity and the actual quantity delivered by
Seller and received by Buyer for such Day(s), multiplied by the positive difference, if any, obtained by subtracting the applicable Spot Price from the Contract Price. 

    EXCEPT
AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED HEREIN, IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE UNDER THIS CONTRACT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, IN TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE AND STRICT
LIABILITY), OR OTHERWISE, FOR INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES. 

SECTION 4. TRANSPORTATION, NOMINATIONS AND IMBALANCES  

    4.1. Seller
shall have the sole responsibility for transporting the Gas to the Delivery Point(s) and for delivering such Gas at a pressure sufficient to effect such
delivery but not to exceed the maximum operating pressure of the Receiving Transporter. Buyer shall have the sole responsibility for transporting the Gas from the Delivery Point(s). 

    4.2. The
parties shall coordinate their nomination activities, giving sufficient time to meet the deadlines of the affected Transporter(s). Each party shall give the
other party timely prior notice, sufficient to meet the requirements of all Transporter(s) involved in the transaction, of the quantities of Gas to be delivered and purchased each Day. Should either
party become aware that actual deliveries at the Delivery Point(s) are greater or lesser than the Scheduled Gas, such party shall promptly notify the other party. 

    4.3. The
parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid imposition of any Imbalance Charges. If Buyer or Seller receives an invoice from a Transporter that
includes Imbalance Charges, the parties shall determine the validity as well as the cause of such Imbalance Charges. If the Imbalance Charges were incurred as a result of Buyer's actions or inactions
(which shall include, but shall not be limited to, Buyer's failure to accept quantities of Gas equal to the Scheduled Gas), then Buyer shall 

Page  6 of 13 Pages

 

pay for such Imbalance Charges, or reimburse Seller for such Imbalance Charges paid by Seller to the Transporter. If the Imbalance Charges were incurred as a result of Seller's actions or inactions
(which shall include, but shall not be limited to, Seller's failure to deliver quantities of Gas equal to the Scheduled Gas), then Seller shall pay for such Imbalance Charges, or reimburse Buyer for
such Imbalance Charges paid by Buyer to the Transporter. 

SECTION 5. QUALITY AND MEASUREMENT  

All
Gas delivered by Seller shall meet the quality and heat content requirements of the Receiving Transporter. The unit of quantity measurement for purposes of this Contract shall be one MMBtu dry.
Measurement of Gas quantities hereunder shall be in accordance with the established procedures of the Receiving Transporter. 

SECTION 6. TAXES  

The
parties have selected either the "Buyer Pays At and After Delivery Point" version or the "Seller Pays Before and At Delivery Point" version as indicated on the Base Contract. 

Buyer Pays At and After Delivery Point:  

Seller
shall pay or cause to be paid all taxes, fees, levies, penalties, licenses or charges imposed by any government authority ("Taxes") on or with respect to the Gas prior to the Delivery Point(s).
Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes on or with respect to the Gas at the Delivery Point(s) and all Taxes after the Delivery Point(s). If a party is required to remit or pay Taxes that are
the other party's responsibility hereunder, the party responsible for such Taxes shall promptly reimburse the other party for such Taxes. Any party entitled to an exemption from any such Taxes or
charges shall furnish the other party any necessary documentation thereof. 

Seller Pays Before and At Delivery Point:  

Seller
shall pay or cause to be paid all taxes, fees, levies, penalties, licenses or charges imposed by any government authority ("Taxes") on or with respect to he Gas prior to the Delivery Point(s)
and all Taxes at the Delivery Point(s). Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes on or with respect to the Gas after the Delivery Point(s). If a party is required to remit or pay Taxes which are
the other party's responsibility hereunder, the party responsible for such Taxes shall promptly reimburse the other party for such Taxes. Any party entitled to an exemption from any such Taxes or
charges shall furnish the other party any necessary documentation thereof. 

SECTION 7. BILLING, PAYMENT AND AUDIT  

    7.1. Seller
shall invoice Buyer for Gas delivered and received in the preceding Month and for any other applicable charges, providing supporting documentation
acceptable in industry practice to support the amount charged. If the actual quantity delivered is not known by the billing date, billing will be prepared based on the quantity of Scheduled Gas. The
invoiced quantity will then be adjusted to the actual quantity on the following Month's billing or as soon thereafter as actual delivery information is available. 

    7.2. Buyer
shall remit the amount due in the manner specified in the Base Contract, in immediately available funds, on or before the later of the Payment Date or
10 days after receipt of the invoice by Buyer; provided that if the Payment Date is not a Business Day, payment is due on the next Business Day following that date. If Buyer fails to remit the
full amount payable by it when due, interest on the unpaid portion shall accrue at a rate equal to the lower of (i) the then-effective prime rate of interest published under "Money
Rates" by The Wall Street Journal, plus two percent per 

Page  7 of 13 Pages

 

annum from the date due until the date of payment; or (ii) the maximum applicable lawful interest rate. If Buyer, in good faith, disputes the amount of any such statement or any part thereof,
Buyer will pay to Seller such amount as it concedes to be correct; provided, however, if Buyer disputes the amount due, Buyer must provide supporting documentation acceptable in industry practice to
support the amount paid or disputed. 

    7.3. In
the event any payments are due Buyer hereunder, payment to Buyer shall be made in accordance with Section 7.2. above. 

    7.4. A
party shall have the right, at its own expense, upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times, to examine the books and records of the other party only to the
extent reasonably necessary to verify the accuracy of any statement, charge, payment, or computation made under the Contract. This examination right shall not be available with respect to proprietary
information not directly relevant to transactions under this Contract. All invoices and billings shall be conclusively presumed final and accurate unless objected to in writing, with adequate
explanation and/or documentation, within two years after the Month of Gas delivery. All retroactive adjustments under Section 7. shall be paid in full by the party owing payment within
30 days of notice and substantiation of such inaccuracy. 

SECTION 8. TITLE, WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY  

    8.1. Unless
otherwise specifically agreed, title to the Gas shall pass from Seller to Buyer at the Delivery Point(s). Seller shall have responsibility for and assume
any liability with respect to the Gas prior to its delivery to Buyer at the specified Delivery Point(s). Buyer shall have responsibility for and assume any liability with respect to said Gas after its
delivery to Buyer at the Delivery Point(s). 

    8.2. Seller
warrants that it will have the right to convey and will transfer good and merchantable title to all Gas sold hereunder and delivered by it to Buyer, free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims. 

    8.3. Seller
agrees to indemnify Buyer and save it harmless from all losses, liabilities or claims including attorneys' fees and costs of court ("Claims"), from any and
all persons, arising from or out of claims of title, personal injury or property damage from said Gas or other charges thereon which attach before title passes to Buyer. Buyer agrees to indemnify
Seller and save it harmless from all Claims, from any and all persons, arising from or out of claims regarding payment, personal injury or property damage from said Gas or other charges thereon which
attach after title passes to Buyer. 

    8.4. Notwithstanding
the other provisions of this Section 8., as between Seller and Buyer, Seller will be liable for all Claims to the extent that such arise
from the failure of Gas delivered by Seller to meet the quality requirements of Section 5. 

SECTION 9. NOTICES  

    9.1. All
Transaction Confirmations, invoices, payments and other communications made pursuant to the Base Contract ("Notices") shall be made to the addresses specified
in writing by the respective parties from time to time. 

    9.2. All
Notices required hereunder may be sent by facsimile or mutually acceptable electronic means, a nationally recognized overnight courier service, first class
mail or hand delivered. 

    9.3. Notice
shall be given when received on a Business Day by the addressee. In the absence of proof of the actual receipt date, the following presumptions will apply.
Notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been received upon the sending party's receipt of its facsimile machine's confirmation of successful transmission, if the day on which such facsimile
is received is not a Business Day or is after five p.m. on a Business Day, then such facsimile shall be deemed to have been received on the next following Business Day. Notice by overnight mail
or courier shall be deemed to have been 

Page  8 of 13 Pages

 

received on the next Business Day after it was sent or such earlier time as is confirmed by the receiving party. Notice via first class mail shall be considered delivered two Business Days after
mailing. 

SECTION 10. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY  

    10.1.  When
reasonable grounds for insecurity of payment or title to the Gas arise, either party may demand adequate assurance of performance. Adequate
assurance shall mean sufficient security in the form and for the term reasonably specified by the party demanding assurance, including, but not limited to, a standby irrevocable letter of credit, a
prepayment, a security interest in an asset acceptable to the demanding party or a performance bond or guarantee by a creditworthy entity. In the event either party shall (i) make an assignment
or any general arrangement for the benefit of creditors; (ii) default in the payment obligation to the other party; (iii) file a petition or otherwise commence, authorize, or
acquiesce in the commencement of a proceeding or cause under any bankruptcy or similar law for the protection of creditors or have such petition filed or proceeding commenced against it;
(iv) otherwise become bankrupt or insolvent (however evidenced); or (v) be unable to pay its debts as they fall due; then the other party shall have the right to either withhold and/or
suspend deliveries or payment, or terminate the Contract without prior notice, in addition to any and all other remedies available hereunder. Seller may immediately suspend deliveries to Buyer
hereunder in the event Buyer has not paid any amount due Seller hereunder on or before the second day following the date such payment is due. 

    10.2.  Each
party reserves to itself all rights, set-offs, counterclaims, and other defenses which it is or may be entitled to arising from
the Contract. 

SECTION 11. FORCE MAJEURE  

    11.1.  Except
with regard to a party's obligation to make payment due under Section 7. and Imbalance Charges under Section 4, neither
party shall be liable to the other for failure to perform a Firm obligation, to the extent such failure was caused by Force Majeure. The term "Force Majeure" as employed herein means any cause not
reasonably within the control of the party claiming suspension, as further defined in Section 11.2. 

    11.2.  Force
Majeure shall include but not be limited to the following: (i) physical events such as acts of God, landslides, lightning,
earthquakes, fires, storms or storm warnings, such as hurricanes, which result in evacuation of the affected area, floods, washouts, explosions, breakage or accident or necessity of repairs to
machinery or equipment or lines of pipe; (ii) weather related events affecting an entire geographic region, such as low temperatures which cause freezing or failure of wells or lines of pipe;
(iii) interruption of firm transportation and/or storage by Transporters; (iv) acts of others such as strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances, riots, sabotage, insurrections
or wars; and (v) governmental actions such as necessity for compliance with any court order, law, statute, ordinance, or regulation promulgated by a governmental authority having jurisdiction.
Seller and Buyer shall make reasonable efforts to avoid the adverse impacts of a Force Majeure and to resolve the event or occurrence once it has occurred in order to resume performance. 

    11.3.  Neither
party shall be entitled to the benefit of the provisions of Force Majeure to the extent performance is affected by any or all of the
following circumstances: (i) the curtailment of interruptible or secondary firm transportation unless primary, in-path, firm transportation is also curtailed; (ii) the party
claiming excuse failed to remedy the condition and to resume the performance of such covenants or obligations with reasonable dispatch; or (iii) economic hardship. The party claiming Force
Majeure shall not be excused from its responsibility for Imbalance Charges. 

    11.4.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, the parties agree that the settlement of strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances
shall be entirely within the sole discretion of the party experiencing such disturbance. 

Page  9 of 13 Pages

 

    11.5.  The party whose performance is prevented by Force Majeure must provide notice to the other party. Initial notice may be given orally; however,
written notification with reasonably full particulars of the event or occurrence is required as soon as reasonably possible. Upon providing written notification of Force Majeure to the other party,
the affected party will be relieved of its obligation to make or accept delivery of Gas as applicable to the extent and for the duration of Force Majeure, and neither party shall be deemed to have
failed in such obligations to the other during such occurrence or event. 

SECTION 12. TERM  

This
Contract may be terminated on 30 days' written notice, but shall remain in effect until the expiration of the latest Delivery Period of any Transaction Confirmation(s). The rights of
either party pursuant to Section 7.4., the obligations to make payment hereunder, and the obligation of either party
to indemnify the other, pursuant hereto shall survive the termination of the Base Contract or any Transaction Confirmation. 

SECTION 13. MISCELLANEOUS  

    13.1.  This
Contract shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors, assigns, personal representatives, and heirs of the respective
parties hereto, and the covenants, conditions, rights and obligations of this Contract shall run for the full term of this Contract. No assignment of this Contract, in whole or in part, will be made
without the prior written consent of the non-assigning party, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, either party may transfer its interest to any parent or
affiliate by assignment, merger or otherwise without the prior approval of the other party. Upon any transfer and assumption, the transferor shall not be relieved of or discharged from any obligations
hereunder. 

    13.2.  If
any provision in this Contract is determined to be invalid, void or unenforceable by any court having jurisdiction, such determination shall
not invalidate, void, or make unenforceable any other provision, agreement or covenant of this Contract. 

    13.3.  No
waiver of any breach of this Contract shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. 

    13.4.  This
Contract sets forth all understandings between the parties respecting each transaction subject hereto, and any prior contracts,
understandings and representations, whether oral or written, relating to such transactions are merged into and superseded by this Contract and any effective Transaction Confirmation(s). This Contract
may be amended only by a writing executed by both parties. 

    13.5.  The
interpretation and performance of this Contract shall be governed by the laws of the state specified by the parties in the Base Contract,
excluding, however, any conflict of laws rule which would apply the law of another jurisdiction. 

    13.6.  This
Contract and all provisions herein will be subject to all applicable and valid statutes, rules, orders and regulations of any Federal,
State, or local governmental authority having jurisdiction over the parties, their facilities, or Gas supply, this Contract or Transaction Confirmation or any provisions thereof. 

    13.7.  There
is no third party beneficiary to this Contract. 

    13.8.  Each
party to this Contract represents and warrants that it has full and complete authority to enter into and perform this Contract. Each person
who executes this Contract on behalf of either party represents and warrants that it has full and complete authority to do so and that such party will be bound thereby. 

Page  10 of 13 Pages

 
 
 

EXHIBIT A    
  

 
 

TRANSACTION CONFIRMATION
  
  FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY    
  

	Letterhead/Logo	 	Date:  , 199

Transaction Confirmation #:          

This
Transaction Confirmation is subject to the Base Contract between Seller and Buyer dated      . The terms of this Transaction Confirmation are binding unless disputed in writing within
2 Business Days of receipt unless otherwise specified in the Base Contract. 

	SELLER:	 	BUYER:
	 	 	 
	Kimball Energy Corporation	 	 
	
	 	

	 	 	 
	
	 	

	 	 	 
	
	 	

	 	 	 
	Attn:	 	Attn:
	Phone:	 	Phone:
	Fax:	 	Fax:
	Base Contract No.	 	Base Contract No.
	Transporter:	 	Transporter:
	Transporter Contract Number:	 	Transporter Contract Number:

Contract
Price: $         /MMBtu or 

Delivery
Period: Begin:            , 199         End:            , 199 

	Performance Obligation and Contract Quantity: (Select One)
	
Firm (Fixed Quantity):	
 	

Firm (Variable Quantity):	
 	

Interruptible:
	      MMBtus/day	 	      MMBtus/day Minimum	 	Up to      MMBtus/day
	/ / EFP	 	      MMBtus/day Maximum

subject to Section 4.2. at election of

/ / Buyer or / / Seller	 	 

Delivery Point(s):

(If
a pooling point is used, list a specific geographic and pipeline location): 

Page  11 of 13 Pages

 

Special Conditions:

	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	Seller:	 	 	 	Buyer:	 	 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

	By:	 	 	 	By:	 	 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

	Title:	 	 	 	Title:	 	 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

	Date:	 	 	 	Date:	 	 
	 	 	
	 	 	 	

Page  12 of 13 Pages

 

KEC CONTRACT # GI-0167

DATED: 8/1/99 

 
 

ATTACHMENT #1
  GISB GAS SALES AND PURCHASE CONTRACT
  
    NOTICES    
  

	Notice to: KIMBALL ENERGY CORPORATION	 	Notice to: CASCADE NATURAL GAS CORPORATION
	 	 	 
	Kimball Energy Corporation	 	Cascade Natural Gas Corporation
	2201 N. Collins Ave., Suite 185	 	222 Fairview Avenue North
	Arlington, TX 76011	 	Seattle, WA 98109-5312
	Attn: Contract Administrator	 	Attn: Contract Administration
	Fax No.: (817) 274-4724	 	Fax No.: (206) 624-7215
	Phone No.: (817) 860-9100	 	Phone No.: (206) 624-3900
	 	 	 
	Payments to Kimball Energy:	 	Payments to: CASCADE NATURAL GAS
	 	 	 
	Bank of America, NT&SA	 	

	ABA # 121000358	 	ABA #:
	Concord, CA 94520	 	Acct. #:
	Account #: 12331-31528

for further credit to: Kimball Energy Corporation	 	 
	 	 	 
	Billing and Accounting Matters to	 	Billing and Accounting Matters to:
	Kimball Energy Corporation:	 	CASCADE NATURAL GAS CORPORATION
	

 	
 	

 
	Kimball Energy Corporation	 	Cascade Natural Gas Corporation
	2201 N. Collins Ave., Suite 185	 	222 Fairview Avenue North
	Arlington, TX 76011	 	Seattle, WA 98109-5312
	Attn: Accounts Payable	 	Attn: Accounts Payable
	Phone No.: (817) 860-9100	 	Phone No.: (206) 624-3900
	Fax No.: (817) 274-4724	 	Fax No.: (206) 624-7215

Page  13 of 13 Pages

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.10

BASE CONTRACT FOR SHORT-TERM SALE AND PURCHASE OF NATURAL GAS

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS BASE CONTRACT FOR SHORT-TERM SALE AND PURCHASE OF NATURAL GAS

EXHIBIT A

TRANSACTION CONFIRMATION FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

ATTACHMENT #1 GISB GAS SALES AND PURCHASE CONTRACT NOTICES

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