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Exhibit 99.1

 

NEWS RELEASE

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

GRAPHIC

 

 

 

1720 North First Street

San Jose, CA 95112-4598

April 30, 2014

For Immediate Release

 

 

 

Contact:

Tom Smegal (408) 367-8200 (analysts)

Shannon Dean (310) 257-1435 (media)

 

 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP ANNOUNCES

 

FIRST QUARTER 2014 RESULTS

 

SAN JOSE, CA  —  California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) today announced a net loss of $5.5 million or a $0.11 net loss per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2014, compared to a net loss of $1.1 million or a $0.03 net loss per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2013. Revenue for the first quarter decreased $0.9 million, or 1%, to $110.5 million.  The Company did not benefit from General Rate Case (GRC) rate increases for its largest subsidiary in the first quarter due to a delay in approval of the GRC.

 

The $4.4 million difference in the net loss between the first quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014 is primarily attributable to operating expense increases and lower estimated unbilled revenue, which decreased pre-tax income by $2.6 million. The unbilled revenue decrease resulted from lower consumption at the end of the quarter which is not included in the water revenue adjustment mechanism (WRAM).  The operating expense increases were driven by wage increases that became effective on January 1, 2014, health care cost increases, higher infrastructure maintenance expenses, and increases in depreciation expenses for plant placed in service in 2013.  Net other income net of income taxes decreased $0.6 million as compared to the first quarter of 2013.

 

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On December 19, 2013, the assigned Administrative Law Judge granted Cal Water’s request to continue charging existing rates beginning January 1, 2014 as interim rates, and is allowing Cal Water to track the difference between interim rates and rates which would result from a final CPUC decision. After new rates resulting from a decision are implemented, the Company expects any authorized memorandum account balance would be collected through customer surcharges over 12 to 24 months.  As of April 30, 2014, the Commission has yet to make a decision.  The Commission has the authority to adopt the settlement or render a different decision.  Had the Commission approved the settlement proposed by the parties by January 1, 2014, the interim rates memorandum account balance as of March 31, 2014 would have increased 2014 first quarter pre-tax income $9.4 million, which would have resulted in a profit during the first quarter of 2014.  For the first quarter of 2014, the Company’s pre-tax loss was $9.2 million, whereas the proposed new rates would have added the following to the Company’s first quarter results: $8.0 million of pre-tax income for service charges, flat rate, and fire protection rate increases, $1.6 million of pre-tax income from the proposed new health care balancing account, and a $0.2 million reduction to WRAM pre-tax income, all of which would have resulted in pre-tax income of $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2014.

 

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2014 increased $3.7 million, or 3.5%, to $109.4 million.  Water production costs increased $3.7 million, due primarily to purchased water price increases from water wholesalers and a 6% increase in the amount of water produced in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.  Administrative and general expense and other operations expense increased 2% to $41.5

 

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million.  This increase was mostly due to increases in employee health care and wages, and was partially offset by a $0.8 million planned reduction in conservation program expense due to the success of prior years’ conservation efforts.

 

Maintenance expense increased $0.9 million, or 21%, to $5.0 million, due primarily to increases in costs of maintaining groundwater treatment facilities, water lines, and pumping equipment.  Depreciation expense increased $1.4 million, or 10%, to $16.0 million, due to 2013 capital additions.

 

The income tax benefit increased $2.7 million due to a greater pre-tax operating loss in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.  Other taxes decreased $0.2 million due to reductions property tax assessments.

 

Other income, net of income taxes, decreased $0.6 million due primarily to increased costs associated with certain operations contracts and lower unrealized gains related to the Company’s non-qualified retirement plans.  Interest expense decreased $0.8 million, or 11%, to $6.7 million due to lower liability balances for both long-term and short-term borrowings.

 

According to President and Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki, results were in line with expectations, given the delay in a decision for the California Water Service Company’s (Cal Water) 2012 General Rate Case.

 

“Our business is typically seasonal, and this year’s first quarter results were further impacted by the delay in a decision on our largest subsidiary’s rate case.  We expect a decision during 2014, which would positively impact our results by the end of the year,” he said.

 

All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the first quarter 2014 conference call on May 1, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT), by dialing 1-888-539-3678 or

 

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1-719-325-2244 and keying in ID# 8667775. A replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. EDT on May 1, 2014, through June 30, 2014, at 1-888-203-1112 or 1-719-457-0820, ID# 8667775. The call, which will be hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Thomas F. Smegal, will also be webcast under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com.

 

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 approximately 2 million people in more than 100 California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii communities.  Group’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CWT.” Additional information is available at our web site at www.calwatergroup.com.

 

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 would, 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

 

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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 10-K, Quarterly 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.

 

Attachments (2).

 

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CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant:

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant

 

$

2,236,187

 

$

2,213,328

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(713,069

)

(697,497

)

Net utility plant

 

1,523,118

 

1,515,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

21,744

 

27,506

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

Customers

 

26,799

 

31,468

 

Regulatory balancing accounts

 

28,547

 

30,887

 

Other

 

19,878

 

18,700

 

Unbilled revenue

 

14,594

 

17,034

 

Materials and supplies at weighted average cost

 

5,966

 

5,571

 

Taxes, prepaid expenses and other assets

 

12,578

 

8,324

 

Total current assets

 

130,106

 

139,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

 

254,345

 

251,681

 

Goodwill

 

2,615

 

2,615

 

Other assets

 

52,404

 

50,238

 

Total other assets

 

309,364

 

304,534

 

 

 

$

1,962,588

 

$

1,959,855

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalization:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value

 

$

478

 

$

477

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

328,826

 

328,364

 

Retained earnings

 

256,680

 

269,915

 

Total common stockholders’ equity

 

585,984

 

598,756

 

Long-term debt, less current maturities

 

425,730

 

426,142

 

Total capitalization

 

1,011,714

 

1,024,898

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

7,860

 

7,908

 

Short-term borrowings

 

64,015

 

46,815

 

Accounts payable

 

50,731

 

55,087

 

Regulatory balancing accounts

 

6,130

 

1,827

 

Accrued interest

 

9,828

 

4,245

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

53,675

 

50,702

 

Total current liabilities

 

192,239

 

166,584

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unamortized investment tax credits

 

2,106

 

2,106

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

179,369

 

183,245

 

Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions

 

145,836

 

145,451

 

Regulatory and other liabilities

 

81,699

 

86,455

 

Advances for construction

 

182,042

 

183,393

 

Contributions in aid of construction

 

167,583

 

167,723

 

 

 

$

1,962,588

 

$

1,959,855

 

 



 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Unaudited

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

For the Three-Months ended:

 

 

 

March 31

 

March 31

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$

110,515

 

$

111,444

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Water production costs

 

45,402

 

41,697

 

Administrative and general

 

25,141

 

25,281

 

Other operations

 

16,376

 

15,645

 

Maintenance

 

5,005

 

4,133

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

16,053

 

14,629

 

Income tax (benefit)

 

(3,839

)

(1,146

)

Property and other taxes

 

5,225

 

5,435

 

Total operating expenses

 

109,363

 

105,674

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating income

 

1,152

 

5,770

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-regulated revenue

 

4,280

 

3,522

 

Non-regulated expenses, net

 

(4,119

)

(2,417

)

Income tax (expense) on other income and expenses

 

(79

)

(451

)

Net other income

 

82

 

654

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

7,075

 

8,037

 

Less: capitalized interest

 

(365

)

(540

)

Net interest expense

 

6,710

 

7,497

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(5,476

)

$

(1,073

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.11

)

$

(0.03

)

Diluted

 

$

(0.11

)

$

(0.03

)

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

47,756

 

42,248

 

Diluted

 

47,756

 

42,248

 

Dividends declared per share of common stock

 

$

0.1625

 

$

0.1600