UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
[X] | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2004. | |
OR | ||
[ ] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______ TO _______. |
Commission File Number 1-935
QUESTAR GAS COMPANY | ||||
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | ||||
State of Utah | 87-0155877 | |||
| ||||
P.O. Box 45360 | 84145-0360 |
(801) 324-5555
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. | |||
Yes [X] | No [ ] | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). | |||
Yes [ ] | No [X] | ||
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. |
Class | Outstanding as of April 30, 2004 | |
Common Stock, $2.50 par value | 9,189,626 shares |
Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a ) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is filing this Form 10-Q with the reduced disclosure format. |
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Questar Gas Company
Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Notes Accompanying Financial Statements
Item 2.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 4.
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
Item 5.
Item 6.
Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated by reference in this report, including, without limitation, statements regarding the companys future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, could, expect, intend, project, estimate, anticipate, believe, forecast, or continue or t he negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Although these statements are made in good faith and are reasonable representations of Questar Gas Companys (Questar Gas or the Company) expected performance at the time, actual results may vary from managements stated expectations and projections due to a variety of factors.
Important assumptions and other significant factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements include: changes in general economic conditions; changes in gas and oil prices and changes in estimated quantities of gas and oil reserves; changes in rate-regulatory policies; regulation of the Wexpro Agreement; creditworthiness of counterparties; rate of inflation and interest rates; assumptions used in business combinations; weather and natural disasters; the effect of environmental and other regulation; effects of endangered or threatened species regulations; changes in customers' credit ratings; competition from other forms of energy, other pipelines and storage facilities; the effect of accounting policies issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies; terrorist attacks or acts of war; changes in the business or financial condition of the Company; and changes in credit ratings for Questar Gas.
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QUESTAR GAS COMPANY | ||||
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||
(Unaudited) | ||||
3 Months Ended | ||||
March 31, | ||||
2004 | 2003 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||
Net income | $ 26,311 | $ 25,670 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities: | ||||
Depreciation | 11,061 | 11,169 | ||
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits | 6,804 | (1,947) | ||
Net loss from asset sales | 132 | 94 | ||
Cumulative effect of accounting change | 334 | |||
44,308 | 35,320 | |||
Change in operating assets and liabilities | (1,104) | 6,815 | ||
NET CASH PROVIDED FROM OPERATING | ||||
ACTIVITIES | 43,204 | 42,135 | ||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (15,642) | (9,926) | ||
Proceeds from disposition of assets | 403 | 203 | ||
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES | (15,239) | (9,723) | ||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||
Checks in excess of cash balances | 2,016 | |||
Long-term debt issued | 110,000 | |||
Long-term debt repaid | (41,000) | |||
Increase in notes receivable from Questar Corp. | (50,000) | |||
Decrease in notes payable to Questar Corp. | (27,500) | (36,400) | ||
Dividends paid | (6,375) | (6,250) | ||
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES | (31,859) | (23,650) | ||
Change in cash and cash equivalents | (3,894) | 8,762 | ||
Beginning cash and cash equivalents | 3,894 | 2,993 | ||
Ending cash and cash equivalents | $ - | $ 11,755 | ||
See notes accompanying financial statements |
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
March 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
Results of Operations
Questar Gas a wholly-owned subsidiary of Questar Corporation (Questar) distributes natural gas in Utah, southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho. Following is a summary of financial results and operating information.
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
2004 | 2003 | 2004 | 2003 | |
FINANCIAL RESULTS (in thousands) | ||||
Revenues | ||||
From unaffiliated customers | $306,879 | $234,514 | $691,156 | $567,391 |
From affiliates | 1,137 | 889 | 2,452 | 2,264 |
Total revenues | 308,016 | 235,403 | 693,608 | 569,655 |
Cost of natural gas sold | 216,730 | 144,635 | 466,618 | 337,800 |
Margin | $ 91,286 | $ 90,768 | $226,990 | $231,855 |
Operating income | $ 47,899 | $ 48,706 | $ 50,578 | $ 74,170 |
Income before cumulative effect | $ 26,311 | $ 26,004 | $ 20,823 | $ 34,237 |
Cumulative effect of accounting change | (334) | (334) | ||
Net income | $ 26,311 | $ 25,670 | $ 20,823 | $ 33,903 |
OPERATING STATISTICS | ||||
Natural gas volumes (thousands of decatherms) | ||||
Residential and commercial sales | 41,684 | 35,468 | 90,609 | 82,903 |
Industrial sales | 3,014 | 3,227 | 9,400 | 10,516 |
Transportation for industrial customers | 9,938 | 9,552 | 38,727 | 44,151 |
Total industrial | 12,952 | 12,779 | 48,127 | 54,667 |
Total deliveries | 54,636 | 48,247 | 138,736 | 137,570 |
Natural gas revenue (per decatherm) | ||||
Residential and commercial | $6.79 | $6.08 | $6.84 | $6.01 |
Industrial sales | 5.52 | 4.30 | 5.11 | 3.96 |
Transportation for industrial customers | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.16 |
Heating degree days | ||||
colder (warmer) than normal | 13% | (11%) | 4% | (8%) |
Average temperature-adjusted usage | ||||
per customer (decatherm) | 49.3 | 52.1 | 116.1 | 118.6 |
Customers at March 31, | ||||
Residential and commercial | 775,031 | 752,148 | ||
Industrial | 1,235 | 1,286 | ||
Total | 776,266 | 753,434 |
Revenues less cost of natural gas sold (margin)
Questar Gass margin increased by 1% in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the first quarter of 2003 and decreased 2% in the 12 months ended March 31, 2004, compared with the 12 months ended March 31, 2003. Following is a summary of major changes in Questar Gass margin.
Change in Margin | |||
First Quarter 2004 v. 2003 | 12 Months Ended March 31, 2004 v. 2003 | ||
(in thousands) | |||
General rate case | $6,000 | ||
New customers | $2,500 | 6,500 | |
Change in usage per customer | (4,200) | (3,800) | |
Lower customer contribution revenues | (9,700) | ||
2002 recovery of gas-processing costs | (3,800) | ||
Recovery of gas-cost portion of bad-debt costs | 600 | 1,000 | |
Other | 1,600 | (1,100) | |
Increase (decrease) | $500 | ($4,900) |
Effective December 30, 2002 the Public Service Commission of Utah (PSCU) approved an $11.2 million general-rate increase and an 11.2% allowed return on equity. The PSCU based the increase on November 2002 rate base, operating costs and usage per customer.
At March 31, 2004 Questar Gas was serving 776,266 customers. Customer growth remained above national averages at 3% over the prior year. Housing construction in Utah remained strong, driven by low mortgage-interest rates. Usage per customer, adjusted for normal temperatures, decreased 5% in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the 2003 first quarter and 2% for the 12 month period ended March 31, 2004 compared with the 2003 period. Usage per customer has been decreasing due to more efficient appliances and homes and customer response to higher prices.
Weather, as measured in degree days, was 13% colder than normal in the first quarter of 2004 compared with 11% warmer than normal in the first quarter of 2003. A weather-normalization adjustment on customer bills generally offsets financial impacts of moderate temperature variations.
Questar Gass results for the 12 months ended March 31, 2003, included $3.8 million of recovery of previously denied 1999 gas-processing costs. The PSCUs 2002 order allowing the recovery of gas-processing costs is part of a continuing dispute, as discussed below.
Questar Gass results for the 12 months ended March 31, 2003, also included revenues of $9.7 million due to upfront contributions from customers. Accounting for customer contributions changed beginning in 2003 as a result of the 2002 Utah general rate case. Customer contributions are now recorded as a reduction of investment instead of revenues and general rates were increased to make up for the change in revenues.
Industrial deliveries increased 1% in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the first quarter of 2003. Industrial deliveries decreased 12% in the 12 months ended March 31, 2004, compared with the same period ended March 31, 2003, as a result of lower power-generation requirements.
Operating Expenses
Operating and maintenance expenses were flat in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the first quarter of 2003. Lower information technology and labor costs offset higher contracted services and bad-debt costs. Operating and maintenance expenses decreased 7% in the 12 months ended March 31, 2004, compared with the 12 months ended March 31, 2003 because of lower information technology and bad-debt costs.
The Utah Supreme Court in August 2003 reversed earlier PSCU decisions in 2000 and 2002. The PSCU in August 2000 permitted Questar Gas to collect $5 million per year to recover a portion of the costs of processing certain gas volumes. The Btu content of natural gas entering parts of Questar Gass system has been declining over the past decade. Processing provides a multi-year transition period during which customers will be required to have their appliances adjusted to ensure safe and efficient operation. In August 2002, the PSCU allowed an additional $3.8 million of recovery from a previous period. As a result of the 2003 Utah Supreme Court order, Questar Gas recorded a $24.9 million before-tax liability in 2003 and an additional $1.5 million liability in the first quarter of 2004. The liability reflects a potential refund of gas processing costs collected in rates from June 1999 through March 2004 plus interest. The plant must be operated to protect customers; therefore, management believes past and future costs of gas processing are recoverable in rates. Management expects to resolve this dispute in 2004.
Depreciation expense decreased 3% in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the first quarter of 2003 and 2% in the 12 months ended March 31, 2004, compared with the 2003 period. Retirements of plant have offset the depreciation impact of plant additions.
Accounting change
On January 1, 2003 the Company adopted a new accounting standard, SFAS 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, and recorded a cumulative effect that reduced net income by $334,000.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Operating Activities
Net cash provided from operating activities increased 3% in 2004 compared with 2003 due to increased income and noncash adjustments to income. Higher realized prices for gas in 2004 resulted in an increase in receivables.
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures increased 58% in 2004 compared with 2003. Questar Gas expects capital expenditures to reach $82.8 million in 2004. The Company is replacing an aging customer information system.
Financing Activities
Net cash flow provided from operating activities was more than sufficient to fund capital expenditures and pay dividends in the first quarter of 2004. The excess cash flow was used to repay debt. As a result total debt was 49% of total capital at March 31, 2004. Questar Gas borrowed $110 million and redeemed $41 million of long-term debt in the first quarter of 2003 and an additional $64 million in April 2003. The Company anticipates funding 2004 capital expenditures from cash flow from operations.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
a. Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"). Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in alerting them on a timely basis to material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, required to be included in the Company's reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act
b. Changes in Internal Controls. Since the Evaluation Date, there have not been any significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect such controls.
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Part II
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
a.
On April 29, 2004, Questar Gas Company (Questar Gas or the Company) filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wyoming (the PSCW), requesting permission to reflect gas costs in the annualized amount of $19,233,649, in its rates effective June 1, 2004. This figure reflects an increase of $1,361,000, which represents an increase of 4.77 percent in the total rate charged to the average Wyoming general service customer. In the pass-on application, the Company attributed the increased costs to price forecasts for gas volumes in the Rocky Mountain region. Questar Gas, in the application, also explained that it was filing the application a month earlier than normal to facilitate a smooth transition to a new customer information system scheduled to take place in July of 2004. As of the date of this report, the PSCW had not ta ken any action on the Companys application.
b.
Questar Gas filed a similar gas cost application with the Public Service Commission of Utah (the PSCU) on May 5, 2004. In it, the Company requested permission to reflect gas costs in the annualized amount of $492,309,673, in rates effective June 1, 2004. This figure reflects an increase of $34,835,000 and represents an increase of 4.97 percent for the average Utah general service customer. The PSCU, as of the date of this report, had not taken any action on the Companys application.
c.
On May 7, 2004, the Company and other parties to the proceedings filed their briefs with the PSCU in a pending case to determine if Questar Gas acted prudently to address a safety problem. This case involves the companys recovery of a portion of the costs associated with removing carbon dioxide from gas volumes. It was reopened after the Utah Supreme Court, by order dated August 1, 2003, found that the PSCU did not comply with its responsibilities when approving a stipulation that permitted Questar Gas to reflect such costs in its rates. See the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2003 for a full discussion of the history of the case. In its brief, Questar Gas argued that the record before the PSCU clearly establishes that the Companys action were reasonable and prudent, given the expense and the uncertain and time-consuming nature of the alternat ives available to it. Questar Gas also requested that the PSCU approve the stipulation that permits it to reflect $5,000,000 of its annual costs associated with the removal in its rates. The Division of Public Utilities, a state agency, also filed a brief requesting approval of the stipulation.
The PSCUs schedule for the case ends with a hearing on May 27, 2004. The Company hopes to receive an order from the PSCU prior to the end of the second quarter. Pending the receipt of the order, Questar Gas will continue to book the liability for the processing costs recovered in rates plus interest.
Item 5. Other information.
Questar Gas Company (Questar Gas or the Company) announced several changes in its executive officers effective March 1, 2004. Ronald W. Jibson and Kelly B. Maxfield were appointed to serve as Vice President, Operations, and Vice President, Information Technology and Administration, respectively. Both men also serve in these same positions for other entities within the Regulated Services unit of Questar Corporation (Questar).
Mr. Jibson, age 51, joined the Company as an engineer in 1980 and has held several leadership roles, most recently General Manager, Operations (January 2003 to March 2004). Prior to being named to his current position, Mr. Maxfield, age 51, served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Consonus, Inc., Questar's data hosting subsidiary. He joined Questar as an auditor in 1977.
Shahab Saeed, age 44, resigned as Vice President, Support Services, for Questar Gas and Questar Pipeline Company to replace Mr. Maxfield as President and Chief Executive Officer of Consonus. He also serves as Vice President of the Companys parent, Questar Regulated Services Company, and Chief Operating Officer of another entity within Regulated Services. He joined Questar Gas as an industrial engineer in 1981 and has served as an officer within the group since November 2000.
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Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
a.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
Exhibit No.
Exhibit
31.1.
Certification signed by Alan K. Allred, Questar Gas Company's Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification signed by S. E. Parks, Questar Gas Company's Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
b.
The Company did not file any Current Reports on Form 8-K during the first quarter of 2004.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
QUESTAR GAS COMPANY
(Registrant)
May 13, 2004_____________
/s/Alan K. Allred_____________________
Date
Alan K. Allred
President and Chief Executive Officer
May 13, 2004____________
/s/S. E. Parks________________________
Date
S. E. Parks
Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief
Financial Officer
Exhibit List
Exhibit No.
Exhibit
31.1. | Certification signed by Alan K. Allred, the Chief Executive Officer of Questar Gas Company (Questar Gas), pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
31.2. | Certification signed by S. E. Parks, Questar Gass Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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Exhibit No. 31.1.
CERTIFICATION
I, Alan K. Allred, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Questar Gas Company.
2.
Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report.
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report.
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the Evaluation Date); and
c)
presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function);
a)
all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls;
6.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
May 13, 2004____________
/s/Alan K. Allred_______________________
Date
Alan K. Allred
President and Chief Executive Officer
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Exhibit No. 31.2.
CERTIFICATION
I, S. E. Parks, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Questar Gas Company.
2.
Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report.
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report.
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the Evaluation Date); and
c)
presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function);
a)
all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls;
6.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
May 13, 2004_____________
/s/S. E. Parks_____________________
Date
S. E. Parks
Vice President, Treasurer, and
Chief Financial Officer
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