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8-K - 8-K - CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUPa11-28480_38k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

NEWS RELEASE

 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

.

 

 

 

1720 North First Street

 

For immediate release

 

 

San Jose, CA 95112-4598

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact:

 

Marty Kropelnicki (408) 367-8200 (analysts)

 

 

 

 

Shannon Dean (310) 257-1435 (media)

 

October 26, 2011

 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR THE 3rd

QUARTER OF 2011 AND

RENEWAL OF HAWTHORNE LEASE

 


 

SAN JOSE, CA  —  California Water Service Group (NYSE : CWT) today announced net income of $20.9 million and earnings per common share (EPS) of $0.50 for the third quarter of 2011, compared to net income of $20.4 million and EPS of $0.49 in the third quarter of 2010.

 

For the quarter, total revenue increased $22.9 million, or 15.7%, to $169.3 million.  Rate increases added $21.5 million and revenue from sales to new customers added $1.0 million.  Water usage by existing customers and other changes decreased revenue by $12.8 million.  During the quarter the net change from the prior year of the water revenue adjustment mechanism (WRAM) and the modified cost balancing account (MCBA) for the third quarter 2011 was an increase of $13.2 million to revenues.   The WRAM is a ratemaking mechanism that decouples water sales from revenues and the MCBA is an account that allows California Water Service Company (Cal Water) to track and recover or refund changes in water production costs.

 

Total operating expenses increased by $18.7 million, or 15.5%, to $139.2 million.  Water production costs increased by $7.0 million, or 12.7%, to $61.6 million, primarily due to wholesale water rate and power cost increases that were partially offset by reduced sales to existing customers.  Administrative costs increased $3.9 million, or 21.7%, to $21.6 million, due primarily to labor & benefit expense and higher legal and outside service costs.  Other operations expenses increased $2.6 million, or 17.6%,  to $17.5 million, due to increases in planned conservation expense and water treatment and water quality expenses.

 

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Maintenance expense decreased $0.2 million, or 4.2%, to $4.7 million.  Depreciation expense increased $1.8 million, or 16.4%, to $12.7 million as a result of increases in capital expenditures over 2010 and updated depreciation rates adopted in the 2009 General Rate Case for Cal Water that became effective January 1, 2011.

 

Other income, net of income taxes, decreased $2.8 million to a net loss of $1.8 million.  Included in this number are negative mark-to-market adjustments of $2.9 million, or $0.04 per share, associated with the change in value of long-term assets held in the Company’s non-qualified retirement plans.  This compares to positive mark-to-market adjustments of $1.4 million, or $0.02 per share for the same period last year.    Interest expense increased $0.9 million, or 13.3%, to $7.3 million due to higher long-term debt interest resulting from the November 2010 debt offering, partially offset by a decrease in short-term interest due to new pricing associated with the amended unsecured line of credit.

 

For the twelve months ended September 30, 2011, net income was $40.7 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.98, compared to net income of $39.2 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.94 for the same period last year.  Revenues for the trailing twelve months were $504.3 million, compared to $461.9 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

“While the increase in volatility from the stock market affected some of our long-term, non-regulated assets, earnings from utility operations grew 16% over the third quarter of last year and 19% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  While we cannot control what happens in the stock market, we can control our core business, which continues to be healthy,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson.  “In addition, during the fourth quarter, we will continue to operate efficiently and recover costs of completed capital projects through the regulatory process,” added Nelson.

 

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Other News

 

Cal Water reached an agreement to operate the City of Hawthorne’s water system for another 15 years, extending a relationship that began in 1996 when Cal Water was first selected to operate and maintain the water system through a 15-year lease agreement.

 

“We are pleased that the City of Hawthorne has chosen to continue to have us operate and maintain its water system.  We feel the decision is a reflection of the City’s satisfaction with our service and confidence in our ability to continue to operate and maintain the water system in a professional and responsive manner,” Nelson said.

 

Cal Water will operate and maintain the municipal water system, which is comprised of 4 wells, 57 miles of water lines, 6 reservoirs, and a water treatment plant, and provides meter reading, billing, collections, emergency response, and other water utility services to approximately 6,000 service connections in Hawthorne.

 

Other Information

 

All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the 2011 third-quarter conference call on October 27, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT), by dialing 1-888-312-3055 and keying in ID# 4591937.  A replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. (EDT) October 27, 2011, through December 26, 2011, at 1-888-203-1112, ID# 4591937. The call, which will be hosted by President and CEO Peter Nelson and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki, will also be webcast under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com.

 

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California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services.  Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to nearly 2 million people in California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii.  California Water Service Group’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CWT.”

 

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“Act”).  The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for “safe harbor” treatment established by the Act.  Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management’s judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions.  Such words as expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.  They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances.  Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement.  Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to: governmental and regulatory commissions’ decisions; changes in regulatory commissions’ policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions’ actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers’ prices and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies;  the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of weather on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events.  When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph, as well as the Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.

 

Additional information is available at our web site at www.calwatergroup.com.

 

Attachments (2).

 

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CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

2011

 

2010

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant:

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant

 

$

1,935,594

 

$

1,843,766

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(580,009

)

(549,469

)

Net utility plant

 

1,355,585

 

1,294,297

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

46,712

 

42,277

 

Receivables

 

 

 

 

 

Customers

 

38,713

 

25,813

 

Regulatory balancing accounts

 

11,065

 

14,784

 

Other

 

12,844

 

5,386

 

Unbilled revenue

 

22,771

 

13,925

 

Materials and supplies at average cost

 

5,778

 

6,058

 

Taxes, prepaid expense, and other assets

 

9,908

 

17,967

 

Total current assets

 

147,791

 

126,210

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

 

262,334

 

229,577

 

Goodwill

 

2,615

 

2,615

 

Other assets

 

33,550

 

39,367

 

Total other assets

 

298,499

 

271,559

 

 

 

$

1,801,875

 

$

1,692,066

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalization:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value-68,000 shares authorized, 41,817 and 41,667 outstanding in 2011 and 2010, respectively

 

$

418

 

$

417

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

219,237

 

217,308

 

Retained earnings

 

234,400

 

217,801

 

Total common stockholders’ equity

 

454,055

 

435,526

 

Long-term debt, less current maturities

 

477,559

 

479,181

 

Total capitalization

 

931,614

 

914,707

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

2,392

 

2,380

 

Short-term borrowings

 

39,860

 

23,750

 

Accounts payable

 

59,277

 

39,505

 

Regulatory balancing accounts

 

1,500

 

3,025

 

Accrued interest

 

10,996

 

4,651

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

47,423

 

34,037

 

Total current liabilities

 

161,448

 

107,348

 

Unamortized investment tax credits

 

2,328

 

2,244

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

124,998

 

107,084

 

Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions

 

162,307

 

155,224

 

Regulatory liability and Other

 

76,692

 

82,204

 

Advances for construction

 

187,146

 

186,899

 

Contributions in aid of construction

 

155,342

 

136,356

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,801,875

 

$

1,692,066

 

 



 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Unaudited

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

For the Three-Months ended:

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$

169,254

 

$

146,349

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Water production costs

 

61,593

 

54,634

 

Administrative and General

 

21,646

 

17,794

 

Other operations

 

17,506

 

14,889

 

Maintenance

 

4,651

 

4,853

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,729

 

10,934

 

Income taxes

 

15,881

 

12,825

 

Property and other taxes

 

5,170

 

4,555

 

Total operating expenses

 

139,176

 

120,484

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating income

 

30,078

 

25,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-regulated revenue

 

3,425

 

3,850

 

Non-regulated expenses, net

 

(6,489

)

(2,214

)

Gain on sale of non-utility property

 

 

33

 

Income tax (expense) on other income and expenses

 

1,254

 

(674

)

Net other income (expense)

 

(1,810

)

995

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

8,007

 

6,958

 

Less: capitalized interest

 

(674

)

(484

)

Net interest expense

 

7,333

 

6,474

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

20,935

 

$

20,386

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.50

 

$

0.49

 

Diluted

 

$

0.50

 

$

0.49

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

41,780

 

41,622

 

Diluted

 

41,789

 

41,648

 

Dividends per share of common stock

 

$

0.15375

 

$

0.14875

 

 



 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

For the Nine-Months ended:

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$

398,800

 

$

354,942

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Water production costs

 

138,296

 

126,923

 

Administrative and General

 

62,702

 

53,718

 

Other operations

 

47,879

 

43,204

 

Maintenance

 

15,138

 

14,962

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

37,690

 

32,364

 

Income taxes

 

23,278

 

21,324

 

Property and other taxes

 

14,236

 

12,545

 

Total operating expenses

 

339,219

 

305,040

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating income

 

59,581

 

49,902

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-regulated revenue

 

11,497

 

10,963

 

Non-regulated expenses, net

 

(13,422

)

(9,451

)

Gain on sale of non-utility property

 

62

 

33

 

Income tax (expense) benefit on other income and expenses

 

776

 

(614

)

Net other income (expense)

 

(1,087

)

931

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

24,556

 

20,386

 

Less: capitalized interest

 

(1,906

)

(2,338

)

Net interest expense

 

22,650

 

18,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

35,844

 

$

32,785

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.86

 

$

0.79

 

Diluted

 

$

0.86

 

$

0.79

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

41,743

 

41,595

 

Diluted

 

41,756

 

41,624

 

Dividends per share of common stock

 

$

0.46125

 

$

0.44625