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EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - UIL HOLDINGS CORPex31_1.htm
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EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - UIL HOLDINGS CORPex31_2.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10‑Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2015

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 1‑15052
 
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Connecticut
 
06-1541045
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

157 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut
 
06506
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  203‑499-2000

N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

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  ☒      No   ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes  ☒      No   ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer 
 
Accelerated filer                                                
Non-accelerated filer   
 
Smaller reporting company                      

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐          No ☒

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s only class of common stock, as of July 31, 2015 was 56,629,082.
 

 

INDEX

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   
Page Number
Item 1.
3
 
3
 
3
 
4
 
6
 
7
Item 2.
28
 
28
 
36
 
38
 
38
 
39
 
39
Item 3.
44
Item 4.
44

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
45
Item 1A.
45
Item 2.
45
Item 6.
46
 
47
 
- 2 -

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(In Thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
Operating Revenues
 
$
312,007
   
$
334,794
   
$
896,060
   
$
905,956
 
                                 
Operating Expenses
                               
Operation
                               
Purchased power
   
36,715
     
32,679
     
133,817
     
85,809
 
Natural gas purchased
   
40,101
     
76,557
     
214,621
     
291,482
 
Operation and maintenance
   
103,004
     
102,700
     
204,351
     
195,577
 
Transmission wholesale
   
17,988
     
19,064
     
37,697
     
39,975
 
Depreciation and amortization (Note F)
   
39,380
     
36,512
     
82,664
     
76,830
 
Taxes - other than income taxes (Note F)
   
31,834
     
30,541
     
73,149
     
70,077
 
Merger and acquisition-related expenses (Note A)
   
93
     
469
     
6,795
     
5,520
 
Total Operating Expenses
   
269,115
     
298,522
     
753,094
     
765,270
 
Operating Income
   
42,892
   
$
36,272
     
142,966
     
140,686
 
                                 
Other Income and (Deductions), net
                               
Acquisition-related bridge facility fees (Note A)
   
-
     
(7,926
)
   
-
     
(14,339
)
Other income and (deductions) (Note F)
   
4,294
     
4,624
     
8,662
     
8,486
 
Total Other Income and (Deductions), net
   
4,294
     
(3,302
)
   
8,662
     
(5,853
)
                                 
Interest Charges, net
                               
Interest on long-term debt
   
22,217
     
22,448
     
44,442
     
44,900
 
Other interest, net (Note F)
   
1,404
     
392
     
2,636
     
567
 
     
23,621
     
22,840
     
47,078
     
45,467
 
Amortization of debt expense and redemption premiums
   
609
     
607
     
1,216
     
1,214
 
Total Interest Charges, net
   
24,230
     
23,447
     
48,294
     
46,681
 
                                 
Income from Equity Investments
   
3,940
     
3,520
     
6,876
     
6,906
 
                                 
Income Before Income Taxes
   
26,896
     
13,043
     
110,210
     
95,058
 
                                 
Income Taxes (Note E)
   
11,050
     
3,740
     
36,755
     
30,290
 
                                 
                                 
Net Income
   
15,846
     
9,303
     
73,455
     
64,768
 
Less:
                               
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests
   
7
     
(40
)
   
14
     
(27
)
                                 
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
15,839
   
$
9,343
   
$
73,441
   
$
64,795
 
                                 
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Basic
   
56,950
     
56,842
     
56,918
     
56,814
 
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted
   
57,241
     
57,102
     
57,229
     
57,079
 
                                 
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock - Basic (Note A)
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.16
   
$
1.29
   
$
1.14
 
                                 
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock - Diluted (Note A)
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.16
   
$
1.28
   
$
1.13
 
                                 
Cash Dividends Declared per share of Common Stock
 
$
0.432
   
$
0.432
   
$
0.864
   
$
0.864
 
 

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
             
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
Net Income
 
$
15,846
   
$
9,303
   
$
73,455
   
$
64,768
 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of income taxes
                               
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) related to pension and other post-retirement benefit plans
   
(57
)
   
170
     
216
     
231
 
Other
   
(8
)
   
(4
)
   
(1
)
   
8
 
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of income taxes
   
(65
)
   
166
     
215
     
239
 
Comprehensive Income
   
15,781
     
9,469
     
73,670
     
65,007
 
Less:
                               
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests
   
7
     
(40
)
   
14
     
(27
)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
15,774
   
$
9,509
   
$
73,656
   
$
65,034
 

The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
- 3 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
ASSETS
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
June 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
Current Assets
       
Unrestricted cash and temporary cash investments
 
$
179,133
   
$
115,579
 
Restricted cash
   
1,161
     
1,051
 
Accounts receivable less allowance of $9,257 and $8,881, respectively
   
217,740
     
232,887
 
Unbilled revenues
   
63,453
     
95,816
 
Current regulatory assets (Note A)
   
102,987
     
92,764
 
Natural gas in storage, at average cost
   
47,328
     
86,428
 
Refundable taxes
   
17,413
     
15,211
 
Current portion of derivative assets (Note A)
   
9,934
     
6,849
 
Prepayments
   
14,389
     
10,696
 
Other
   
12,567
     
12,815
 
Total Current Assets
   
666,105
     
670,096
 
                 
Other investments
               
Equity investment in GenConn (Note A)
   
112,910
     
114,195
 
Other
   
27,348
     
25,777
 
Total Other investments
   
140,258
     
139,972
 
                 
Net Property, Plant and Equipment (Note A)
   
3,407,309
     
3,292,690
 
                 
Regulatory Assets  (Note A)
   
681,091
     
687,198
 
                 
Deferred Charges and Other Assets
               
Unamortized debt issuance expenses
   
12,953
     
13,571
 
Other long-term receivable
   
1,487
     
1,490
 
Derivative assets (Note A)
   
22,887
     
20,421
 
Goodwill
   
266,205
     
266,205
 
Other
   
2,867
     
20,292
 
Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets
   
306,399
     
321,979
 
                 
Total Assets
 
$
5,201,162
   
$
5,111,935
 
 
The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
- 4 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
June 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
Current Liabilities
       
Line of credit borrowings
 
$
80,000
   
$
89,000
 
Current portion of long-term debt
   
6,528
     
6,526
 
Accounts payable
   
145,543
     
217,700
 
Dividends payable
   
24,464
     
24,428
 
Accrued liabilities
   
63,318
     
71,182
 
Current regulatory liabilities (Note A)
   
44,242
     
17,026
 
Taxes accrued
   
18,323
     
20,184
 
Interest accrued
   
21,656
     
22,437
 
Deferred income taxes
   
16,691
     
3,767
 
Current portion of derivative liabilities (Note A)
   
27,513
     
23,308
 
Total Current Liabilities
   
448,278
     
495,558
 
                 
Deferred Income Taxes
   
608,290
     
585,335
 
                 
Regulatory Liabilities (Note A)
   
509,758
     
491,896
 
                 
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
               
Pension accrued
   
264,540
     
265,009
 
Other post-retirement benefits accrued
   
86,940
     
85,777
 
Derivative liabilities (Note A)
   
79,643
     
61,766
 
Other
   
47,649
     
46,924
 
Total Other Noncurrent Liabilities
   
478,772
     
459,476
 
                 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note J)
               
                 
Capitalization (Note B)
               
Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and premiun
   
1,758,987
     
1,711,349
 
                 
Preferred Stock, not subject to mandatory redemption
   
119
     
119
 
                 
Common Stock Equity
               
Common stock
   
1,153,569
     
1,149,985
 
Paid-in capital
   
22,023
     
21,587
 
Retained earnings
   
221,428
     
196,907
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
   
(62
)
   
(277
)
Net Common Stock Equity
   
1,396,958
     
1,368,202
 
                 
Total Capitalization
   
3,156,064
     
3,079,670
 
                 
Total Liabilities and Capitalization
 
$
5,201,162
   
$
5,111,935
 

The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
- 5 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
       
Net income
 
$
73,455
   
$
64,768
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
83,880
     
78,044
 
Deferred income taxes
   
35,515
     
28,053
 
Allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) - equity
   
(4,109
)
   
(4,920
)
Stock-based compensation expense (Note A)
   
5,377
     
3,564
 
Pension expense
   
18,516
     
15,672
 
Undistributed (earnings) losses in equity investments
   
(6,877
)
   
(6,907
)
Regulatory activity, net
   
31,944
     
75,925
 
Other non-cash items, net
   
(2,032
)
   
2,637
 
Changes in:
               
Accounts receivable, net
   
15,826
     
9,230
 
Unbilled revenues
   
32,363
     
37,676
 
Natural gas in storage
   
39,100
     
21,522
 
Prepayments
   
(3,693
)
   
3,759
 
Cash distribution from GenConn
   
5,578
     
6,662
 
Accounts payable
   
(62,663
)
   
(32,892
)
Interest accrued
   
(781
)
   
262
 
Taxes accrued/refundable, net
   
(4,063
)
   
(7,056
)
Accrued liabilities
   
(9,931
)
   
(8,510
)
Accrued pension
   
(16,129
)
   
(21,476
)
Accrued other post-employment benefits
   
(1,693
)
   
4,727
 
Other assets
   
(1,253
)
   
3,104
 
Other liabilities
   
1,082
     
6,915
 
Total Adjustments
   
155,957
     
215,991
 
Net Cash provided by Operating Activities
   
229,412
     
280,759
 
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
               
Plant expenditures including AFUDC debt
   
(159,169
)
   
(125,541
)
Cash distributions from GenConn
   
2,581
     
2,134
 
Changes in restricted cash
   
(110
)
   
(8
)
Deposits in New England East West Solution (NEEWS) (Note C)
   
(1,451
)
   
(1,749
)
Net Cash used in Investing Activities
   
(158,149
)
   
(125,164
)
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
               
Issuance of long-term debt
   
50,000
     
-
 
Line of credit borrowings (repayments), net
   
(9,000
)
   
-
 
Payment of common stock dividend
   
(48,884
)
   
(48,853
)
Other
   
175
     
(282
)
Net Cash used in Financing Activities
   
(7,709
)
   
(49,135
)
                 
Unrestricted Cash and Temporary Cash Investments:
               
Net change for the period
   
63,554
     
106,460
 
Balance at beginning of period
   
115,579
     
69,153
 
Balance at end of period
   
179,133
     
175,613
 
                 
Non-cash investing activity:
               
Plant expenditures included in ending accounts payable
 
$
26,853
   
$
17,188
 
Plant expenditures funded by deposits in NEEWS
 
$
(20,012
)
 
$
-
 
Deposits in New England East West Solution (NEEWS)
 
$
20,012
   
$
-
 

The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements are an integral part of the financial statements.
 

- 6 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in UIL Holdings Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.  References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to "UIL Holdings” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to UIL Holdings Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

(A)
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

UIL Holdings is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, where its senior management maintains offices and is responsible for overall planning, operating and financial functions.  The primary business of UIL Holdings is ownership of its operating regulated utility businesses.  The utility businesses consist of the electric distribution and transmission operations of The United Illuminating Company (UI) and the natural gas transportation, distribution and sales operations of The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG) and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire, and together with SCG and CNG, the Gas Companies).

UI is also a party to a joint venture with certain affiliates of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG affiliates) pursuant to which UI holds 50% of the membership interests in GCE Holding LLC, whose wholly owned subsidiary, GenConn Energy LLC (collectively with GCE Holding LLC, GenConn) operates peaking generation plants in Devon, Connecticut (GenConn Devon) and Middletown, Connecticut (GenConn Middletown).

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements of UIL Holdings are prepared on a consolidated basis and therefore include the accounts of UIL Holdings’ majority-owned subsidiaries noted above.  Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The year‑end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).  Certain information and footnote disclosures, which are normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, have been condensed or omitted in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations.  We believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  The information presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements reflects all adjustments which, in our opinion, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods described herein.  All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature.  The results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2015.

Proposed Merger with Iberdrola USA

On February 25, 2015, we announced that UIL Holdings had entered into a definitive merger agreement (the Agreement) with Iberdrola USA and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Green Merger Sub, Inc. (merger sub) under which Iberdrola USA will acquire UIL Holdings through a merger of UIL Holdings with and into merger sub and merger sub being the surviving corporation (the merger).  Merger sub will change its name to UIL Holdings Corporation and remain a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Iberdrola USA.  Iberdrola USA will then become a newly listed U.S. publicly-traded company.  In connection with the merger, each issued and outstanding share of the common stock of UIL Holdings will be converted into the right to receive one validly issued share of common stock of the newly listed company plus $10.50 in cash.  Immediately following the consummation of the merger, former holders of UIL Holdings’ common stock will own approximately 18.5% of the newly listed company.  The merger remains subject to certain closing conditions, including the approval of the shareowners of UIL Holdings and regulatory approvals from the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Iberdrola USA and UIL Holdings made the required filings at the PURA and the DPU seeking approval of the change in control on March 25, 2015.  On July 7, 2015, in response to the issuance of a draft decision issued by PURA, UIL Holdings and Iberdrola USA filed a letter with PURA withdrawing their pending application and on July 31, 2015, filed a new application for approval of the change in control.

The new application includes commitments and identifies public interest benefits to meet the statutory requirements in Connecticut for approval of a change in control.  The commitments include rate credits to customers (approximately $20 million), a distribution rate freeze to 2018 for SCG and CNG, and to 2017 for UI, commitments to contribute to a
 
- 7 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)
 
clean energy fund and disaster relief (together, approximately $7 million), accelerated capital investment in electric distribution system resiliency and gas distribution system replacement of cast iron and bare steel (delayed recovery in rates resulting in nearly $7 million), agreement to negotiate a consent order with DEEP to remediate the English Station site in New Haven, Connecticut, formerly owned by UI (DEEP informed UIL Holdings that it estimated the cost of the remediation to be approximately $30 million).  In addition, in the new application the companies commit to no change in the day-to-day management and operation of UIL Holdings’ three Connecticut utilities, to hiring 150 employees or contractors within the State of Connecticut over the next three years, to maintain UI’s high service reliability and CNG and SCG’s high levels of gas leak response, and to improve certain customer service metrics over the next three years.

The new application also proposes comprehensive “ring fencing” provisions to protect the Connecticut utilities from involuntary bankruptcy associated with potential future adverse changes in financial circumstances of Iberdrola affiliates.  These provisions include the creation of a special purpose entity with at least one independent director, dividend limitations on the Connecticut utilities where the investment grade credit rating is in jeopardy or if a minimum common equity ratio is not maintained, commitments to maintain separate books and records and a prohibition on commingling of funds.
 
The proceedings at the DPU remain pending.  All other regulatory approvals have been received.   We received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on May 22, 2015 and from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on June 2, 2015.  In addition we received clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) on June 16, 2015 and the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the HSR Act) expired on April 7, 2015.

We currently expect that the merger will close promptly after satisfaction or waiver of all closing conditions, including receipt of shareowner approval and all regulatory approvals, and not later than December 31, 2015.  There are no assurances that the merger will be consummated on the currently expected timetable or at all.  Unless stated otherwise, all forward-looking information contained in this report does not take into account or give any effect to the impact of the proposed merger.
 
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, UIL Holdings incurred pre-tax merger-related expenses of approximately $0.1 million and $6.8 million, respectively, which represented legal, investment banking, and other merger-related costs.

Further information concerning the proposed merger is included in a proxy statement/prospectus contained in a registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Iberdrola USA with the SEC on July 17, 2015 in connection with the proposed merger.

Philadelphia Gas Works
 
In March 2014, UIL Holdings entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the Asset Purchase Agreement) with the City of Philadelphia pursuant to which UIL Holdings, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, was to acquire the operating assets and assume certain liabilities of Philadelphia Gas Works.  The proposed acquisition was subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary and other closing conditions for transactions of this type, including approval from the Philadelphia City Council.  In light of the City Council’s October 2014 announcement to not endorse the proposed acquisition, we exercised our contractual right to terminate the Asset Purchase Agreement in December 2014.

For the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2014, UIL Holdings incurred pre-tax acquisition-related expenses of approximately $8.4 million and $19.9 million, respectively, $0.5 million and 5.5 million, respectively, of which represented legal, investment banking, and due diligence costs that are included in operating expenses and $7.9 million and $14.3 million, respectively, of which is a fee associated with a Bridge Term Loan Agreement that is included in other income and (deductions) in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
 

- 8 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)
Derivatives
 
UIL Holdings’ regulated subsidiaries are parties to contracts, and involved in transactions, that are derivatives.

Contracts for Differences (CfDs)

Pursuant to Connecticut’s 2005 Energy Independence Act, PURA solicited bids to create new or incremental capacity resources in order to reduce federally mandated congestion charges, and selected four new capacity resources.  To facilitate the transactions between the selected capacity resources and Connecticut electric customers, and provide the commitment necessary for owners of these resources to obtain necessary financing, PURA required that UI and The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) execute long-term contracts with the selected resources.  In August 2007, PURA approved four CfDs, each of which specifies a capacity quantity and a monthly settlement that reflects the difference between a forward market price and the contract price.  UI executed two of the contracts and CL&P executed the other two contracts.  The costs or benefits of each contract will be paid by or allocated to customers and will be subject to a cost-sharing agreement between UI and CL&P pursuant to which approximately 20% of the cost or benefit is borne by or allocated to UI customers and approximately 80% is borne by or allocated to CL&P customers.

PURA has determined that costs associated with these CfDs will be fully recoverable by UI and CL&P through electric rates, and in accordance with ASC 980 “Regulated Operations,” UI has deferred recognition of costs (a regulatory asset) or obligations (a regulatory liability).  The CfDs are marked-to-market in accordance with ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging.”  For those CfDs signed by CL&P, UI records its approximate 20% portion pursuant to the cost-sharing agreement noted above.  As of June 30, 2015, UI has recorded a gross derivative asset of $32.8 million ($1.5 million of which is related to UI’s portion of the CfD signed by CL&P), a regulatory asset of $75.2 million, a gross derivative liability of $107.2 million ($68.0 million of which is related to UI’s portion of the CfD signed by CL&P) and a regulatory liability of $0.9 million.  See Note (K) “Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for additional CfD information.

The gross derivative assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:


   
June 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Gross derivative assets:
       
Current Assets
 
$
9,934
   
$
6,849
 
Deferred Charges and Other Assets
 
$
22,887
   
$
20,421
 
                 
Gross derivative liabilities:
               
Current Liabilities
 
$
27,513
   
$
23,308
 
Noncurrent Liabilities
 
$
79,643
   
$
61,766
 
 
The unrealized gains and losses from fair value adjustments to these derivatives, which are recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities, for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
   
(In Thousands)
   
(In Thousands)
 
                 
Regulatory Assets - Derivative liabilities
 
$
(2,812
)
 
$
(10,397
)
 
$
10,957
   
$
(82,017
)
                                 
Regulatory Liabilities - Derivative assets
 
$
6,173
   
$
(8,751
)
 
$
7,371
   
$
(11,693
)

The fluctuations in the balances of the derivatives as well as the related unrealized gains in the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 compared to the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 are primarily due to fluctuations in forward prices for capacity and reserves.
 
- 9 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)
 
Earnings per Share

The following table presents a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
   
(In Thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                 
Numerator:
               
Net income attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
15,839
   
$
9,343
   
$
73,441
   
$
64,795
 
Less:  Net income allocated to unvested units
   
8
     
6
     
39
     
38
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders
 
$
15,831
   
$
9,337
   
$
73,402
   
$
64,757
 
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Basic average number of shares outstanding
   
56,950
     
56,842
     
56,918
     
56,814
 
Effect of dilutive securities (1)
   
291
     
260
     
311
     
265
 
Diluted average number of shares outstanding
   
57,241
     
57,102
     
57,229
     
57,079
 
                                 
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.16
   
$
1.29
   
$
1.14
 
Diluted
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.16
   
$
1.28
   
$
1.13
 

(1)
Includes unvested restricted stock and performance shares.
 
Equity Investments

UI is party to a 50-50 joint venture with the NRG affiliates in GenConn, which operates two peaking generation plants in Connecticut.  UI’s investment in GenConn is being accounted for as an equity investment, the carrying value of which was $112.9 million and $114.2 million as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  As of June 30, 2015, there was $1.3 million of undistributed earnings from UI’s equity investment in GenConn.

UI’s pre-tax income from its equity investment in GenConn was $3.9 million and $3.5 million for the three-month periods ending June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  UI’s pre-tax income from its equity investment in GenConn for each of the six-month periods ending June 30, 2015 and 2014 was $6.9 million.

Cash distributions from GenConn are reflected as either distributions of earnings or as returns of capital in the operating and investing sections of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, respectively.  UI received cash distributions from GenConn of $2.7 million and $3.4 million in the three-month periods ending June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  UI received cash distributions from GenConn of $8.1 million and $8.8 million in the six-month periods ending June 30, 2015, respectively and 2014.

On July 24, 2015, UIL Holdings announced its participation in Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company LLC’s (TGP) proposed Northeast Energy Direct project (NED pipeline), a new, “market path”  natural gas pipeline segment of approximately 188 miles from Wright, New York, to Dracut, Massachusetts, through its acquisition of a 2.5% equity interest in Northeast Expansion LLC, a joint venture between Kinder Morgan, Inc., through its affiliate Kinder Morgan Operating Limited Partnership “A” (Kinder Morgan “A”), and Liberty Utilities (Pipeline & Transmission) Corp, which will construct and own the NED pipeline.  This 2.5% equity interest, which UIL Holdings acquired for approximately $1.2 million, commits UIL Holdings to an initial capital investment opportunity that is expected to total up to approximately $80 million, depending on the final pipeline configuration and design capacity.  Pursuant to an option agreement with Kinder Morgan “A”, UIL Holdings also has the option to acquire up to an additional 12.5% of equity interests in Northeast Expansion LLC under certain limited circumstances, including if certain additional firm transportation agreements for service on the NED pipeline are entered into or if TGP does not sell additional volume on
 
- 10 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)
 
the NED pipeline.   Any increase in equity ownership would increase UIL Holdings’ investment commitment proportionately.  In addition, as a condition to making this investment, UIL Holdings entered into a 20-year Precedent Agreement with TGP for pipeline capacity of 70,000 Dekatherms/day on the NED pipeline, which capacity commitment, under the terms of the Precedent Agreement, would be reduced in the event that TGP enters into additional precedent agreements with third parties for capacity on the NED pipeline.  

Regulatory Accounting

Unless otherwise stated below, all of our regulatory assets earn a return.  Our regulatory assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 included the following:

 
Remaining
Period
 
June 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
      
(In Thousands)
 
Regulatory Assets:
         
Unamortized redemption costs
7 to 19 years
 
$
10,098
   
$
10,499
 
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans
(a)
   
398,732
     
402,700
 
Environmental remediation costs
7 years
   
14,364
     
13,197
 
Hardship programs
(b)
   
19,055
     
24,744
 
Debt premium
2 to 23 years
   
24,962
     
27,498
 
Income taxes due principally to book-tax differences
(c)
   
165,726
     
164,466
 
Unfunded future income taxes
(d)
   
16,734
     
14,859
 
Contracts for differences
(e)
   
75,233
     
64,276
 
Deferred transmission expense
(f)
   
23,914
     
17,387
 
Other
(g)
   
35,260
     
40,336
 
Total regulatory assets
     
784,078
     
779,962
 
Less current portion of regulatory assets
     
102,987
     
92,764
 
Regulatory Assets, Net
   
$
681,091
   
$
687,198
 
                   
Regulatory Liabilities:
                 
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits
29 years
 
$
7,282
   
$
4,319
 
Excess generation service charge
(h)
   
39,350
     
28,692
 
Middletown/Norwalk local transmission network service collections
35 years
   
20,542
     
20,828
 
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans
(a)
   
10,851
     
9,536
 
Asset retirement obligation
(i)
   
7,155
     
7,248
 
Low income programs
(j)
   
29,064
     
19,065
 
Asset removal costs
(i)
   
342,346
     
336,028
 
Unfunded future income taxes
(d)
   
26,812
     
26,318
 
Contracts for differences
(e)
   
899
     
6,472
 
Deferred purchased gas
(k)
   
16,757
     
4,736
 
Non-firm margin sharing credits
9 years
   
15,181
     
8,933
 
Other
(g)
   
37,761
     
36,747
 
Total regulatory liabilities
     
554,000
     
508,922
 
Less current portion of regulatory liabilities
     
44,242
     
17,026
 
Regulatory Liabilities, Net
   
$
509,758
   
$
491,896
 
 
(a) Life is dependent upon timing of final pension plan distribution; balance, which is fully offset by a corresponding asset/liability, is recalculated each year in accordance with ASC 715 "Compensation-Retirement Benefits." See Note (G) “Pension and Other Benefits” for additional information.
(b) Hardship customer accounts deferred for future recovery to the extent they exceed the amount in rates.
(c)
Amortization period and/or balance vary depending on the nature and/or remaining life of the underlying assets/liabilities.
 
- 11 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)
 
(d) The balance will be extinguished when the asset, which is fully offset by a corresponding liability, or liability has been realized or settled, respectively.
(e) Asset life is equal to delivery term of related contracts (which vary from approximately 5 - 12 years); balance fluctuates based upon quarterly market analysis performed on the related derivatives (Note K); amount, which does not earn a return, is fully offset by corresponding derivative asset/liability.  See “-Contracts for Differences” discussion above for additional information.
(f) Regulatory asset or liability which defers transmission income or expense and fluctuates based upon actual revenues and revenue requirements.
(g) Amortization period and/or balance vary depending on the nature, cost of removal and/or remaining life of the underlying assets/liabilities; asset amount includes certain amounts that are not currently earning a return; asset amount includes decoupling of $2.6 million; liability amount includes decoupling of $16.5 million.
(h) Regulatory asset or liability which defers generation-related and nonbypassable federally mandated congestion costs or revenues for future recovery from or return to customers.  Amount fluctuates based upon timing differences between revenues collected from rates and actual costs incurred.
(i) The liability will be extinguished simultaneous with the retirement of the assets and settlement of the corresponding asset retirement obligation.
(j) Various hardship and payment plan programs approved for recovery.
(k) Deferred purchased gas costs balances at the end of the rate year are normally recorded/returned in the next year.
 
Stock-Based Compensation

Pursuant to the UIL Holdings 2008 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (2008 Stock Plan), 94,410 restricted stock units were granted to certain members of management in March 2015; the average of the high and low market prices on the grant date, which approximate fair value, was $49.72 per share.

Also in March 2015, we granted a total of 1,584 shares of restricted stock to our President and Chief Executive Officer under the 2008 Stock Plan and in accordance with his employment agreement; the average of the high and low market price on the date of grant, which approximates fair value, was $49.72 per share.  Such shares vest in equal annual installments over a five-year period.

In May 2015, UIL Holdings granted a total of 18,801 shares of restricted stock to non-employee directors under the 2008 Stock Plan; the average of the high and low market price on the date of grant, which approximates fair value, was $48.37 per share.  Such shares vest in May 2016.

Total stock-based compensation expense for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 was $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  Total stock-based compensation expense for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 $5.4 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

Variable Interest Entities

We have identified GenConn as a variable interest entity (VIE), which is accounted for under the equity method.  UIL Holdings is not the primary beneficiary of GenConn, as defined in ASC 810 “Consolidation,” because it shares control of all significant activities of GenConn with its joint venturer, NRG affiliates.  As such, GenConn is not subject to consolidation.  GenConn recovers its costs through CfDs, which are cost of service-based and have been approved by PURA.  As a result, with the achievement of commercial operation by GenConn Devon and GenConn Middletown, our exposure to loss is primarily related to the potential for unrecovered GenConn operating or capital costs in a regulatory proceeding, the effect of which would be reflected in the carrying value of our 50% ownership position in GenConn and through “Income from Equity Investments” in UIL Holdings’ Consolidated Financial Statements.  Such exposure to loss cannot be determined at this time.  For further discussion of GenConn, see “–Equity Investments” as well as Note (C) “Regulatory Proceedings – Electric Distribution and Transmission – Equity Investment in Peaking Generation.”

We have identified the selected capacity resources with which UI has CfDs as VIEs and have concluded that UI is not the primary beneficiary as UI does not have the power to direct any of the significant activities of these capacity resources.   As such, we have not consolidated the selected capacity resources.  UI’s maximum exposure to loss through
 
- 12 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
these agreements is limited to the settlement amount under the CfDs as described in “–Derivatives – Contracts for Differences (CfDs)” above; however any such losses are fully recoverable through electric rates.  UI has no requirement to absorb additional losses nor has UI provided any financial or other support during the periods presented that were not previously contractually required.
 
We have identified the entities for which UI is required to enter into long-term contracts to purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) as VIEs.  In assessing these contracts for VIE identification and reporting purposes, we have aggregated the contracts based on similar risk characteristics and significance to UI.  UI is not the primary beneficiary as UI does not have the power to direct any of the significant activities of these entities.  UI’s exposure to loss is primarily related to the purchase and resale of the RECs, but, any losses incurred are recoverable through electric rates.  For further discussion of RECs, see Note (C) “Regulatory Proceedings – Electric Distribution and Transmission – New Renewable Source Generation.”

New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-11, “Inventory – Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” which requires inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out or average cost methods to be measured using the lower of cost and net realizable value.  ASU 2015-11 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and is to be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period.  This is not expected to be material to UIL Holdings’ consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB voted to defer by one year the effective date of ASU 2014-09 which requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.  A final Accounting Standards Update will be issued that reflects the revised effective date.  We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-03, “Interest-Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability.  ASU 2015-03 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and is to be applied retrospectively.  The effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements will be reductions in both Deferred Charges and Other Assets and Long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet.  This effect is not expected to be material to UIL Holdings’ consolidated financial statements.

(B) 
CAPITALIZATION

Common Stock

UIL Holdings had 56,629,082 shares of its common stock, no par value, outstanding at June 30, 2015.

Long-term Debt

On June 29, 2015 (the “execution date”), UI entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with a group of institutional accredited investors providing for the sale to such investors of UI’s 4.61% Senior Notes, Series G, due June 29, 2045, in the principal amount of $50 million which was issued on the execution date.  UI used the net proceeds from this long-term debt issuance to re-pay $27.5 million of pollution control refunding revenue bonds which were subject to mandatory purchase on July 1, 2015 and plans on using the remaining funds for general corporate purposes or other purposes described in its application to PURA for approval of the issuance of debt and as approved by PURA.
 

- 13 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
(C)
REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS

Proposed Merger with Iberdrola USA
 
As discussed in Note A “Organization and Statement of Accounting Policies”, on February 25, 2015 we announced that UIL Holdings had entered into a the Agreement with Iberdrola USA and merger sub under which Iberdrola USA will acquire UIL Holdings through a merger of UIL Holdings with and into merger sub and merger sub being the surviving corporation.  The merger remains subject to certain closing conditions, including the approval of the shareowners of UIL Holdings and regulatory approval from PURA and the DPU.   Iberdrola USA and UIL Holdings made the required filings at the PURA and the DPU seeking approval of the change in control on March 25, 2015.  On July 7, 2015, in response to the issuance of a draft decision issued by PURA, UIL Holdings and Iberdrola USA filed a letter with PURA withdrawing their pending application and on July 31, 2015 filed a new application for approval of the change in control. The proceedings at the DPU remain pending.  All other regulatory approvals have been received.  We received approval from the FCC on May 22, 2015 and from the FERC on June 2, 2015, we received clearance from CFIUS on June 16, 2015 and the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act expired on April 7, 2015.

Electric Distribution and Transmission
Rates

Utilities are entitled by Connecticut statutes to charge rates that are sufficient to allow them an opportunity to cover their reasonable operating and capital costs, to attract needed capital and to maintain their financial integrity, while also protecting relevant public interests.

UI’s allowed distribution return on equity established by PURA is 9.15%.  UI is required to return to customers 50% of any distribution earnings over the allowed ROE in a calendar year by means of an earnings sharing mechanism.

Power Supply Arrangements

UI has wholesale power supply agreements in place for its entire standard service load for all of 2015 and for 50% of its standard service load for the first half of 2016.  Supplier of last resort service is procured on a quarterly basis, however, from time to time there are no bidders in the procurement process for supplier of last resort service and in such cases UI manages the load directly.  UI determined that its contracts for standard service and supplier of last resort service are derivatives under ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” and elected the “normal purchase, normal sale” exception under ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging.”  UI regularly assesses the accounting treatment for its power supply contracts.  These wholesale power supply agreements contain default provisions that include required performance assurance, including certain collateral obligations, in the event that UI’s credit rating on senior debt were to fall below investment grade.  If UI’s credit rating were to decline one rating at Standard & Poor’s or two ratings at Moody’s and UI were to be placed on negative credit watch, monthly amounts due and payable to the power suppliers would be accelerated to semi-monthly payments.  UI’s credit rating would have to decline two ratings at Standard & Poor’s and three ratings at Moody’s to fall below investment grade.  If this were to occur, UI would have to deliver collateral security in an amount equal to the receivables due to the sellers for the thirty-day period immediately preceding the default notice.  If such an event had occurred as of June 30, 2015, UI would have had to post an aggregate of approximately $10.9 million in collateral.  UI would have been and remains able to provide that collateral.

New Renewable Source Generation
 
Pursuant to Connecticut law (PA 13-303), on September 19, 2013, at the direction of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, (DEEP), UI entered into two contracts for energy and/or RECs from Class I renewable resources, totaling approximately 3.5% of UI’s distribution load, which were subsequently approved by PURA.  Costs of each of these agreements will be fully recoverable through electric rates.  On December 18, 2013, Allco Finance Limited, an unsuccessful bidder for such contracts, filed a complaint against DEEP in the United States District Court in Connecticut alleging that DEEP’s direction to UI and CL&P to enter into the contracts violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Federal Power Act by setting wholesale electricity rates.  This
 
- 14 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
complaint was dismissed in December 2014.  On January 2, 2015 Allco filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Transmission

PURA decisions do not affect the revenue requirements determination for UI’s transmission business, including the applicable return on equity (ROE), which is within the jurisdiction of the FERC.  For 2015, UI is estimating an overall allowed weighted-average ROE for its transmission business in the range of 11.3% to 11.4%.  This includes the impact of the FERC orders issued in 2014 and 2015, and excludes any impacts of the reserve adjustment, both of which are discussed below.

Beginning in 2011, several New England governmental entities, including PURA, the Connecticut Attorney General and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Council (OCC), jointly filed three separate complaints with the FERC against ISO-NE and several New England transmission owners, including UI.  In the first complaint, filed in September 2011, the complainants claimed that the then current approved base ROE of 11.14% used in calculating formula rates for transmission service under the ISO-NE Open Access Transmission Tariff by the New England transmission owners was not just and reasonable and sought a reduction of the base ROE and a refund to customers for a refund period of October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012.  In 2012 and 2014, respectively, the complainants filed claims with the FERC similarly challenging the base ROE and seeking refunds for the 15-month periods beginning December 27, 2012 and July 31, 2014, respectively.  The complainants in the third complaint also asked for a determination that the top of the zone of reasonableness caps the ROE for each individual project.  The FERC issued an order consolidating the second and third complaints and establishing hearing procedures.  The New England transmission owners petitioned FERC for a rehearing, which was denied in May 2015.  Hearings were held in June 2015 on the second and third complaints before a FERC Administrative Law Judge, relating to the refund periods and going forward.  On July 29, 2015, post-hearing briefs were filed by parties. An initial decision by the Administrative Law Judge is expected by December 31, 2015.  On July 13, 2015, the New England transmission owners filed a petition for review of FERC’s orders establishing hearing and consolidation procedures for the second and third complaints with the U.S. Court of Appeals.

In 2014, the FERC determined that the base ROE should be set at 10.57% for the first complaint refund period and that a utility's total or maximum ROE should not exceed 11.74%.  The FERC ordered the New England transmission owners to provide refunds to customers for the first complaint refund period and set the new base ROE of 10.57% prospectively from October 16, 2014.

On March 3, 2015, the FERC issued an Order on Rehearing in the first complaint (the March Order) denying all rehearing requests from the complainants and the New England transmission owners.  On April 30, 2015, the New England transmission owners filed a petition for review of the FERC’s decisions on the first complaint with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  On May 1, 2015, two additional petitions for review of those FERC decisions were also filed at the D.C. Circuit by the complainants and by several customers.  The appeals of the FERC’s decisions on the first complaint have been consolidated and are currently pending before the D.C. Circuit.  UI recorded additional pre-tax reserves of $3.2 million in the first six months of 2015 relating to the third complaint and the March Order.  As of June 30, 2015, net pre-tax reserves relating to refunds and potential refunds to customers under all three claims were approximately $7 million and cumulative pre-tax reserves were approximately $11.4 million, of which $4.4 million has already been refunded to customers. 

New England East-West Solution

Pursuant to an agreement with CL&P (the Agreement), UI has the right to invest in, and own transmission assets associated with, the Connecticut portion of CL&P’s New England East West Solution (NEEWS) projects to improve regional energy reliability.  NEEWS consists of four inter-related transmission projects being developed by subsidiaries of Northeast Utilities (doing business as Eversource Energy), the parent company of CL&P, in collaboration with National Grid USA.  Three of the projects have portions located in Connecticut:  (1) the Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP), which was fully energized in November 2013, (2) the Interstate Reliability Project (IRP), which is expected to be placed in service in the fourth quarter 2015 and (3) the Central Connecticut Reliability Project, which was reassessed as part of the Greater Hartford Central Connecticut Study (GHCC). As CL&P places assets in service, it
 
- 15 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
will transfer title to certain NEEWS transmission assets to UI in proportion to UI’s investments, but CL&P will continue to maintain these portions of the transmission system pursuant to an operating and maintenance agreement with UI.  Any termination of the Agreement pursuant to its terms would have no effect on the assets previously transferred to UI.

Under the terms of the Agreement, UI has the option to make quarterly deposits to CL&P in exchange for ownership of specific NEEWS transmission assets as they are placed in service.  UI has the right to invest up to the greater of $60 million or an amount equal to 8.4% of CL&P’s costs for the originally proposed Connecticut portions of the NEEWS projects.  Based upon the current projected costs, UI’s investment rights in GSRP and IRP is approximately $45 million.  In February 2015, ISO-NE issued its final GHCC transmission solutions report and, in March 2015, approved the proposed plan applications.  UI and Eversource continue to evaluate the approved projects to determine the impact on UI’s aggregate investment in NEEWS.

Deposits associated with NEEWS are recorded as assets at the time the deposit is made and they are reported in the ‘Other’ line item within the Deferred Charges and Other Assets section of the consolidated balance sheet.   When title to the assets is transferred to UI, the amount of the corresponding deposit is reclassified from other assets to plant-in-service on the balance sheet and shown as a non-cash investing activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

As of June 30, 2015, UI had made aggregate deposits of $45 million under the Agreement since its inception, with assets associated with the GSRP valued at approximately $24.6 million and assets associated with the IRP valued at approximately $20 million having been transferred to UI.  UI earned pre-tax income on deposits, net of transferred assets, of approximately $0.5 million and $0.4 million in the three‑month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  UI earned pre-tax income on deposits, net of transferred assets, of approximately $1.1 million and $0.7 million in the six‑month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Other Proceedings

On November 12, 2014, PURA issued a decision in a docket addressing UI’s semi-annual Generation Services Charge (GSC), bypassable federally mandated congestion charge and the non-bypassable federally mandated congestion charge (NBFMCC) reconciliations.  PURA’s decision allowed for recovery of $7.7 million of the $11.3 million request included in UI’s filing for the reconciliation of certain revenues and expenses relating to the period from 2004 through 2013.  This resulted in UI recording a pre-tax write-off of approximately $3.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2014, which amount included the disallowed portion of UI’s request as well as additional 2014 carrying charges.

Also on November 12, 2014, PURA issued a final decision in UI’s final Competitive Transition Assessment (CTA) reconciliation proceeding which extinguished all remaining CTA balances.  In addition, the final decision allowed for the application of an approximate $8.2 million remaining CTA regulatory liability, as well as an approximate $12.0 million regulatory liability related to the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company litigation against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), against UI’s storm regulatory asset balance.  The final decision required that remaining regulatory liability balance be applied to the GSC “working capital allowance” and be returned to customers through the NBFMCC.

Because the two decisions noted above, among other things, fail to apply rate making principles on a consistent basis, UI filed appeals with the State of Connecticut Superior Court in December 2014 for both the GSC/NBFMCC and the CTA final decisions.  On February 3, 2015, PURA filed a motion to dismiss UI’s appeal of the CTA final decision.  On June 17, 2015, the Superior Court denied PURA’s motion to dismiss the CTA appeal.

Gas Distribution

Rates

Utilities are entitled by Connecticut and Massachusetts statutes to charge rates that are sufficient to allow them an opportunity to cover their reasonable operating and capital costs, to attract needed capital and to maintain their financial integrity, while also protecting relevant public interests.
 
- 16 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
The allowed returns on equity established by PURA are 9.18% and 9.36% for CNG and SCG, respectively.  Berkshire’s rates are established by the DPU.  Berkshire’s 10-year rate plan, which was approved by the DPU and included an approved ROE of 10.5%, expired on January 31, 2012.

Berkshire continues to charge the rates that were in effect at the end of the rate plan and currently anticipates that a base rate case would likely be filed in 2016, based on a calendar year 2015 test year, for rates to be effective in 2017.  Based on existing tracking mechanisms in place for gas and other costs, discussions with the DPU, and precedence set by other utility companies, Berkshire believes that regulatory assets are recoverable and regulatory liabilities are fairly stated.

SCG and CNG each have purchased gas adjustment clauses and Berkshire has a cost of gas adjustment clause, approved by PURA and DPU, respectively, which enable them to pass their reasonably incurred cost of gas purchases through to customers.  These clauses allow utilities to recover costs associated with changes in the market price of purchased natural gas, substantially eliminating exposure to natural gas price risk.  Additionally, Berkshire’s mechanism allows for the recovery of the gas-cost portion of bad debt.

On January 22, 2014, PURA approved new base delivery rates for CNG, with an effective date of January 10, 2014, which, among other things, approved an allowed ROE of 9.18%, a decoupling mechanism, and two separate ratemaking mechanisms that reconcile actual revenue requirements related to CNG’s cast iron and bare steel replacement program and system expansion.  Additionally, the final decision requires the establishment of an earnings sharing mechanism by which CNG and customers share on a 50/50 basis all earnings above the allowed ROE in a calendar year.  The decision also allows CNG, on a provisional basis, to reflect the increased rate base resulting from the accumulated deferred income tax (ADIT) impacts of the election of Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code upon its acquisition by UIL Holdings.   The decision requires CNG to seek a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service with regard to the specific question of whether, after extinguishment of an ADIT balance, a directive by a public utility commission to institute a ratemaking mechanism to reflect a credit to ratepayers of ADIT benefits lost through a Section 338(h)(10) election would result in a normalization violation.  The decision states that in the event of a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service stating that imposing such a ratemaking mechanism would not create a normalization violation, PURA would adjust rates to offset the ratemaking impacts of the 338(h)(10) election on rate base.  We estimate the impact to be an approximate $2.5 to $3.5 million decrease in annual revenue requirements.  In March 2014, CNG filed a draft of its private letter ruling request with PURA for approval upon which PURA subsequently issued comments.  During the first quarter of 2014, the OCC appealed PURA’s decision to the Connecticut Superior Court with regard to the establishment of an adjustment mechanism for incremental cast iron and bare steel replacement as well as PURA’s directive to seek a private letter ruling with respect to the extinguishment of ADITs rather than ordering a rate credit to hold customers harmless from the ratemaking effect of extinguishing the ADITs.  At the request of PURA, the OCC and CNG engaged in settlement discussions regarding the appeal.  Settlement discussions have now terminated.  CNG has filed a motion with PURA to extend the due date for CNG’s response to PURA’s comments on the private letter ruling to September 24, 2015.

Other Proceedings

As discussed above, CNG’s 2013 rate proceeding provides for a decoupling mechanism as well as a rate making mechanism related to its cast iron and bare steel replacement program.  Additionally, a comprehensive joint 10-year natural gas expansion plan (“Expansion Plan”) filed jointly by CNG, SCG and Yankee Gas Services Company in response to the gas expansion goals proposed in the Connecticut Governor’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy and Public Act 13-298 and approved by PURA includes a new business reconciliation mechanism that reconciles the actual new business revenue requirements each year with the revenues received from the new business customers.  The initial filings for these mechanisms are discussed below.

On March 2, 2015, CNG filed its initial decoupling adjustment which includes a $10.8 million credit to customers, which will be credited on customers’ bills during the period of April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016.
 
- 17 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
On March 20, 2015, SCG and CNG filed their initial System Expansion (SE) Rate reconciliation for 2014. The proposed SE rate was approved by PURA for implementation as of April 1, 2015, pending final PURA approval following a contested hearing.

On April 1, 2015, CNG filed its initial Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) reconciliation filing, which reconciles actual revenue requirements related to CNG’s cast iron and bare steel replacement program.  The proposed DIMP rate was approved by PURA for implementation as of May 1, 2015.
  
(D) SHORTTERM CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

As of June 30, 2015, there was $80 million in borrowings outstanding under the existing revolving credit agreement among UIL Holdings, certain of its subsidiaries and a group of banks that expires on November 30, 2016 (the UIL Holdings Credit Facility).  Under the UIL Holdings Credit Facility, UIL Holdings has outstanding standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $4.4 million, which expire on January 31, 2016 and June 16, 2016.  Available credit under the UIL Holdings Credit Facility at June 30, 2015 totaled $315.6 million for UIL Holdings and its subsidiaries in the aggregate.  We record borrowings under the UIL Holdings Credit Facility as short-term debt, but the UIL Holdings Credit Facility provides for longer term commitments from banks allowing us to borrow and reborrow funds, at our option, until the facility’s expiration, thus affording us flexibility in managing our working capital requirements.

(E)
INCOME TAXES

The significant portion of UIL Holdings’ income tax expense, including deferred taxes, is recovered through its regulated subsidiaries’ utility rates.  UIL Holdings’ annual income tax expense and associated effective tax rate is impacted by differences in the treatment of certain transactions for book and tax purposes and by differences between the timing of deferred tax temporary difference activity and deferred tax recovery.  In accordance with ASC 740, we use an estimated annual effective tax rate approach to calculate interim period income tax expense for ordinary income.  We also record separate income tax effects for significant unusual or infrequent items.  UIL Holdings’ income tax expense increased by $7.4 million, from $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $11.1 million  in the second quarter of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to the absence in 2015 of acquisition bridge facility fees and other increases in pre-tax earnings.  UIL Holdings’ income tax expense increased $6.5 million, from $30.3 million in the first six months of 2014 to $36.8 million in the first six months of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to higher pre-tax earnings due mainly to the absence in 2015 of acquisition bridge facility fees.

The annualized effective income tax rates for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 were 37.0% and 33.4%, respectively.  The increase in the effective rate for the quarter was due primarily to changes in flow through impacts related to lower projected capital expenditures.  The annualized effective income tax rates for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 were 32.9% and 33.4%, respectively. 

The Internal Revenue Service completed its examination of UIL Holdings’ income tax years 2009 through 2012, resulting in the effective settlement of these tax years and the recording of an additional $1.1 million in tax expense during the second quarter of 2015.
 
- 18 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
(F) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
   
(In Thousands)
   
(In Thousands)
 
Depreciation and Amortization
               
Property, plant, and equipment depreciation
 
$
34,363
   
$
32,360
   
$
69,104
   
$
64,348
 
Amortization of regulatory assets
   
5,017
     
4,152
     
13,560
     
12,482
 
Total Depreciation and Amortization
 
$
39,380
   
$
36,512
   
$
82,664
   
$
76,830
 
                                 
Taxes - Other than Income Taxes
                               
Operating:
                               
Connecticut gross earnings
 
$
15,207
   
$
15,758
   
$
38,173
   
$
38,472
 
Local real estate and personal property
   
13,005
     
12,125
     
25,995
     
24,089
 
Payroll taxes
   
3,264
     
2,974
     
8,178
     
6,831
 
Other
   
358
     
(316
)
   
803
     
685
 
Total Taxes - Other than Income Taxes
 
$
31,834
   
$
30,541
   
$
73,149
   
$
70,077
 
                                 
Other Income and (Deductions)
                               
Interest income
 
$
672
   
$
523
   
$
1,381
   
$
1,065
 
Allowance for funds used during construction - equity
   
1,952
     
2,370
     
4,109
     
4,920
 
Allowance for funds used during construction - debt
   
1,086
     
1,421
     
2,132
     
2,831
 
Weather insurance
   
-
     
(531
)
   
-
     
(2,437
)
Other
   
584
     
841
     
1,040
     
2,107
 
Total Other Income and (Deductions)
 
$
4,294
   
$
4,624
   
$
8,662
   
$
8,486
 
 
- 19 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
(G) PENSION AND OTHER BENEFITS

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, we made pension contributions of $10 million.  Additional contributions during the remainder of 2015 are expected to be approximately $5 million.

The following tables represent the components of net periodic benefit cost for pension and other postretirement benefits as well as the actuarial weighted-average assumptions used in calculating net periodic benefit cost for the three-and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
   
Pension Benefits
   
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
               
Service cost
 
$
3,605
   
$
2,896
   
$
393
   
$
404
 
Interest cost
   
10,505
     
11,019
     
1,327
     
1,487
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(14,120
)
   
(13,560
)
   
(690
)
   
(700
)
Amortization of prior service costs
   
48
     
73
     
75
     
71
 
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss
   
4,845
     
3,097
     
176
     
(172
)
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
4,883
   
$
3,525
   
$
1,281
   
$
1,090
 

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
Pension Benefits
   
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
               
Service cost
 
$
7,210
   
$
5,792
   
$
786
   
$
808
 
Interest cost
   
21,010
     
22,038
     
2,654
     
2,974
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(28,240
)
   
(27,120
)
   
(1,380
)
   
(1,400
)
Amortization of prior service costs
   
96
     
146
     
150
     
142
 
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss
   
9,690
     
6,194
     
352
     
(344
)
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
9,766
   
$
7,050
   
$
2,562
   
$
2,180
 

   
Three and Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
Pension Benefits
   
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
Discount rate
   
4.20%-4.30
%
   
4.90%-5.20
%
   
4.20%-4.30
%
   
4.85%-5.20
%
Average wage increase
   
3.50%-3.80
%
   
3.50%-3.80
%
   
N/
A
   
N/
A
Return on plan assets
   
7.75%-8.00
%
   
7.75%-8.00
%
   
5.56%-8.00
%
   
5.56%-8.00
%
Composite health care trend rate (current year)
   
N/
A
   
N/
A
   
7.00
%
   
7.00
%
Composite health care trend rate (2019 forward)
   
N/
A
   
N/
A
   
5.00
%
   
5.00
%
 
N/A – not applicable
 
(H) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A Director of UIL Holdings holds a beneficial interest in the building located at 157 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut, where UIL Holdings leases office space.  UIL Holdings’ lease payments for this office space for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled $0.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively.  UIL Holdings’ lease payments for this office space for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
 
- 20 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
(J) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various proceedings, including legal, tax, regulatory and environmental matters, which require management’s assessment to determine the probability of whether a loss will occur and, if probable, an estimate of probable loss.  When assessments indicate that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a reserve and disclose the reserve and related matter.  We disclose material matters when losses are probable but for which an estimate cannot be reasonably estimated or when losses are not probable but are reasonably possible.  Subsequent analysis is performed on a periodic basis to assess the impact of any changes in events or circumstances and any resulting need to adjust existing reserves or record additional reserves.  However, given the inherent unpredictability of these legal and regulatory proceedings, we cannot assure you that our assessment of such proceedings will reflect the ultimate outcome, and an adverse outcome in certain matters could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows.

Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company

UI has a 9.5% stock ownership share in the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company, an inactive nuclear generating company (Connecticut Yankee), the carrying value of which was $0.2 million as of June 30, 2015.  Connecticut Yankee has completed the physical decommissioning of its generation facilities and is now engaged primarily in the long-term storage of its spent nuclear fuel. Connecticut Yankee collects its costs through wholesale FERC-approved rates from UI and several other New England utilities.  UI recovers these costs from its customers through electric rates.  

DOE Spent Fuel Litigation

In 1998, Connecticut Yankee filed claims in the United States Court of Federal Claims seeking damages resulting from the breach of the 1983 spent fuel and high level waste disposal contract between Connecticut Yankee and the DOE.  In September 2010, the court issued its decision and awarded Connecticut Yankee damages of $39.7 million for its spent fuel-related costs through 2001, which was affirmed in May 2012.  Connecticut Yankee received payment of the damage award and, in light of its ownership share, in July 2013 UI received approximately $3.8 million of such award which was credited back to customers through the CTA.

In December 2007, Connecticut Yankee filed a second set of complaints with the United States Court of Federal Claims against the DOE seeking damages incurred since January 1, 2002 for the DOE’s failure to remove Connecticut Yankee’s spent fuel.  In November 2013, the court issued a final judgment, which was not appealed, awarding Connecticut Yankee damages of $126.3 million.  In light of its ownership share, in June 2014, UI received approximately $12.0 million of such award which was applied, in part, against the remaining storm regulatory asset balance.  The remaining regulatory liability balance was applied to the GSC “working capital allowance” and will be returned to customers through the nonbypassable federally mandated congestion charge.  See Note (C) “Regulatory Proceedings – Electric Distribution and Transmission – Other Proceedings” for additional information.

In August 2013, Connecticut Yankee filed a third set of complaints with the United States Court of Federal Claims against the DOE seeking an unspecified amount of damages incurred since January 1, 2009 for the DOE’s failure to remove Connecticut Yankee’s spent fuel.  In April 2015, Connecticut Yankee provided the DOE with a third set of damage claims totaling approximately $32.9 million for damages incurred from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2012.  UI’s 9.5% ownership share would result in a receipt of approximately $3.1 million which, if awarded, would be refunded to customers.

Environmental Matters

In complying with existing environmental statutes and regulations and further developments in areas of environmental concern, including legislation and studies in the fields of water quality, hazardous waste handling and disposal, toxic substances, climate change and electric and magnetic fields, we may incur substantial capital expenditures for equipment modifications and additions, monitoring equipment and recording devices, as well as additional operating
 
- 21 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
expenses.  The total amount of these expenditures is not now determinable.  Environmental damage claims may also arise from the operations of our subsidiaries.  Significant environmental issues known to us at this time are described below.

Site Decontamination, Demolition and Remediation Costs

In January 2012, Evergreen Power, LLC (Evergreen Power) and Asnat Realty LLC (Asnat), then and current owners of a former generation site on the Mill River in New Haven (the “English Station site”) that UI sold to Quinnipiac Energy in 2000, filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Connecticut against UI seeking, among other things: (i) an order directing UI to reimburse the plaintiffs for costs they have incurred and will incur for the testing, investigation and remediation of hazardous substances at the English Station site and (ii) an order directing UI to investigate and remediate the site.  In December 2013, Evergreen and Asnat filed a subsequent lawsuit in Connecticut state court seeking among other things: (i) remediation of the property; (ii) reimbursement of remediation costs; (iii) termination of UI’s easement rights; (iv) reimbursement for costs associated with securing the property; and (v) punitive damages.  UI believes the claims are without merit.  Management cannot presently assess the potential financial impact, if any, of the pending lawsuits.  UI has not recorded a liability related to it.

On April 8, 2013, DEEP issued an administrative order addressed to UI, Evergreen Power, Asnat and others, ordering the parties to take certain actions related to investigating and remediating the English Station site.  Mediation of the matter began in the fourth quarter of 2013 and concluded unsuccessfully in April of 2015.  Hearings on the administrative order are expected to take place in late February and early March 2016.  UI has requested access to the English Station site from Evergreen Power and Asnat, the current property owners, for purposes of performing additional investigation; this access has not yet been granted.

As discussed in our application with PURA for approval of the change in control of UIL Holdings to Iberdrola USA, we are negotiating a consent order with DEEP that would, upon closing of the merger, provide for UI to begin to investigate and remediate the English Station site.  DEEP has informed us that it has estimated the approximate cost of the remediation of the English Station site to be $30 million.  We have not assessed the accuracy of or any support for this the DEEP estimate.  Until we have successfully negotiated and agreed to a consent order and have sufficient access to the English Station site to permit us to undertake a reliable investigation, we will not know the expected cost of the remediation or the extent of any potential liability.

UI’s knowledge of the current conditions at the English Station site is insufficient for it to make a reliable investigation and remediation estimate at this time.  Therefore, management cannot predict the financial impact on UI of DEEP’s administrative order, the agreements regarding the consent order or other matters relating to the English Station site, and no range of loss can be reasonably estimated at this time.  UI has not recorded a liability related to it.
 
With respect to transmission-related property adjacent to the New Haven Harbor Generating Station, UI performed an environmental analysis that indicated remediation expenses would be approximately $3.2 million.  UI has accrued these estimated expenses, which were recovered in transmission rates.

The Gas Companies own or have previously owned properties where Manufactured Gas Plants (MGPs) had historically operated and are contaminated as a result of MGP-related activities.  Under existing regulations, the cleanup of such sites requires state and at times, federal, regulators’ involvement and approval before cleanup can commence.  In certain cases, such contamination has been evaluated, characterized and remediated.  In other cases, the sites have been evaluated and characterized, but not yet remediated.  Finally, at some of these sites, the scope of the contamination has not yet been fully characterized; no liability was recorded in respect of these sites as of June 30, 2015 and no amount of loss, if any, can be reasonably estimated at this time.  In the past, the Gas Companies have received approval for the recovery of MGP-related remediation expenses from customers through rates and will seek recovery in rates for ongoing MGP-related remediation expenses for all of their MGP sites.

SCG owns properties on Housatonic Avenue in Bridgeport, and on Chapel Street in New Haven, and CNG owns a property located on Columbus Boulevard in Hartford, all of which are former MGP sites.  Costs associated with the remediation of the sites could be significant and will be subject to a review by PURA as to whether these costs are recoverable in rates.  We cannot presently reasonably estimate the costs or range of costs of remediation or the
 
- 22 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
likelihood of recoverability.  As a result, as of June 30, 2015, we have not recorded any liabilities related to these properties.

Berkshire owns property on Mill Street in Greenfield, Massachusetts, a former MGP site.  We estimate that expenses associated with the remaining remedial activities, as well as the required ongoing monitoring and reporting to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will likely amount to approximately $0.9 million and have recorded a liability and offsetting regulatory asset for such expenses as of June 30, 2015.  Historically, Berkshire has received approval from the DPU for recovery of environmental expenses in its customer rates.

Berkshire formerly owned a site on East Street (the East Street Site) in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a former MGP site which was sold to the General Electric Company (GE) in the 1970s.  We reached a settlement with GE which provides, among other things, a framework for Berkshire and GE to allocate various monitoring and remediation costs at the East Street Site.  As of June 30, 2015, we had accrued approximately $3.2 million and established a regulatory asset for these and future costs incurred by GE in responding to releases of hazardous substances at the East Street Site.  Historically, Berkshire has received approval from the DPU for recovery of remediation expenses in its customer rates.

Middletown/Norwalk Transmission Project

The general contractor responsible for civil construction work in connection with the installation of UI’s portion of the Middletown/Norwalk Transmission Project’s underground electric cable system filed a lawsuit in Connecticut state court on September 22, 2009.  On September 3, 2013, the court found for UI on all claims but one related to certain change orders, and ordered UI to pay the general contractor approximately $1.3 million, which has since been paid.  On October 22, 2013, the general contractor filed an appeal of the trial court’s decision and on June 23, 2015, the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s judgment.  The period to file a petition for review by the Connecticut Supreme Court has passed and the case is now concluded.  UI expects to recover any amounts paid to resolve the contractor and subcontractor claims through UI’s transmission revenue requirements. 

In April 2013, an affiliate of the general contractor for the Middletown/Norwalk Transmission Project, purporting to act as a shareholder on behalf of UIL Holdings, filed a complaint against the UIL Holdings Board of Directors alleging that the directors breached a fiduciary duty by failing to undertake an independent investigation in response to a letter from the affiliate asking for an investigation regarding alleged improper practices by UI in connection with the Middletown/Norwalk Transmission Project.  In October 2013, the court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint, which dismissal was affirmed by the Connecticut Appellate Court in March 2015.  The period to file a petition for review by the Connecticut Supreme Court has passed and the case is now concluded.

(K) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

As required by ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety, based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The following tables set forth the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, other than pension benefits and other postretirement benefits, as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
 
- 23 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
   
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
   
Quoted Prices in
 Active Markets
 for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
   
Significant
 Other
 Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
   
Total
 
June 30, 2015
 
(In Thousands)
 
Assets:
               
Derivative assets
 
$
-
   
$
-
     
32,822
   
$
32,822
 
Noncurrent investments
   
13,820
     
-
     
-
     
13,820
 
Deferred Compensation Plan
   
3,639
     
-
     
-
     
3,639
 
Supplemental retirement benefit trust life insurance policies
   
-
     
7,938
     
-
     
7,938
 
   
$
17,459
   
$
7,938
   
$
32,822
   
$
58,219
 
                                 
Liabilities:
                               
Derivative liabilities
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
107,156
   
$
107,156
 
Long-term debt
   
-
     
1,976,832
     
-
     
1,976,832
 
   
$
-
   
$
1,976,832
   
$
107,156
   
$
2,083,988
 
                                 
Net fair value assets/(liabilities), June 30, 2015
 
$
17,459
   
$
(1,968,894
)
 
$
(74,334
)
 
$
(2,025,769
)
 
December 31, 2014
   
Assets:
               
Derivative assets
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
27,270
   
$
27,270
 
Noncurrent investments
   
11,387
     
-
     
-
     
11,387
 
Deferred Compensation Plan
   
3,624
     
-
     
-
     
3,624
 
Supplemental retirement benefit trust life insurance policies
   
-
     
8,498
     
-
     
8,498
 
   
$
15,011
   
$
8,498
   
$
27,270
   
$
50,779
 
                                 
Liabilities:
                               
Derivative liabilities
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
85,074
   
$
85,074
 
Long-term debt
   
-
     
1,941,711
     
-
     
1,941,711
 
   
$
-
   
$
1,941,711
   
$
85,074
   
$
2,026,785
 
                                 
Net fair value assets/(liabilities), December 31, 2014
 
$
15,011
   
$
(1,933,213
)
 
$
(57,804
)
 
$
(1,976,006
)

Fair value measurements categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are prepared by individuals with expertise in valuation techniques, pricing of energy and energy-related products, and accounting requirements.  The derivative assets consist primarily of CfDs.  The determination of fair value of the CfDs was based on a probability-based expected cash flow analysis that was discounted at the June 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014 risk-free interest rates, as applicable, and an adjustment for non-performance risk using credit default swap rates.  Certain management assumptions were required, including development of pricing that extended over the term of the contracts.  We believe this methodology provides the most reasonable estimates of the amount of future discounted cash flows associated with the CfDs.  Additionally, on a quarterly basis, we perform analytics to ensure that the fair value of the derivatives is consistent with changes, if any, in the various fair value model inputs.  Additional quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements is as follows:
 
   
Unobservable Input
 
Range at
June 30, 2015
 
Range at
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contracts for differences
 
Risk of non-performance
 
0.00% - 0.70%
 
0.00% - 0.66%
 
   
Discount rate
 
1.63% - 2.35%
 
1.65% - 2.25%
 
   
Forward pricing ($ per MW)
 
$3.15 - $11.19
 
$3.15 - $14.59
 
 
- 24 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
Significant isolated changes in the risk of non-performance, the discount rate or the contract term pricing would result in an inverse change in the fair value of the CfDs.

The fair value of the noncurrent investments is determined using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets.  The investments primarily consist of money market funds.

Under the UIL Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), directors, named executive officers and certain other executives may elect to defer certain elements of compensation.  Participants in the DCP are permitted to direct investments of their elective deferral accounts into “deemed” investments consisting of mutual funds and UIL Holdings common stock equivalents, with the exception of long-term incentive plan deferrals which are required to be invested in UIL Holdings common stock equivalents.  These investments, which are actively traded in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis, are marked-to-market based upon such pricing information.

The determination of the fair value of the supplemental retirement benefit trust life insurance policies was based on quoted prices as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 in the active markets for the various funds within which the assets are held.

Long-term debt is carried at cost on the consolidated balance sheet.  The fair value of long-term debt as displayed in the table above is based on evaluated prices that reflect significant observable market information such as reported trades, actual trade information of similar securities, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes of new issue prices and relevant credit information.

The following tables set forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of the assets and liabilities above that are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015.

   
Six Months Ended
 June 30, 2015
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
     
Net derivative assets/(liabilities), December 31, 2014
 
$
(57,804
)
Unrealized gains and (losses), net
   
(16,530
)
Net derivative assets/(liabilities), June 30, 2015
 
$
(74,334
)
         
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net relating to net derivative assets/(liabilities), still held as of June 30, 2015
 
$
(16,530
)

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the net regulatory asset/(liability) balances that were established to recover any unrealized gains/(losses) associated with the CfDs for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015.  The amounts offset the net CfDs liabilities included in the derivative liabilities detailed above.

   
Six Months Ended
 June 30, 2015
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
     
Net regulatory assets/(liabilities), December 31, 2014
 
$
57,804
 
Unrealized (gains) and losses, net
   
16,530
 
Net regulatory assets/(liabilities), June 30, 2015
 
$
74,334
 

(M) SEGMENT INFORMATION

UIL Holdings is organized into Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission and Gas Distribution reporting segments based on several factors including, but not limited to, the nature of each segment’s products and services, the sources of operating revenues and expenses and the regulatory environment in which each segment operates.  The following
 
- 25 -

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
measures of segment profit and loss are utilized by management to make decisions about allocating resources to the segments and assessing performance.  The following table reconciles certain segment information with that provided in our Consolidated Financial Statements.  In the table, distribution includes all electric utility revenue and expenses except for transmission, which is provided in a separate column.  “Other” includes the information for the remainder of our non-utility activities and unallocated corporate costs, including minority interest investments and administrative costs.  Revenues from inter-segment transactions are not material.  All of our revenues are derived in the United States.

(In Thousands)
   
Three months ended June 30, 2015
 
   
Electric Distribution and Transmission
             
   
Distribution
   
Transmission
   
Total
   
Gas Distribution
   
Other
   
Total
 
Operating Revenues
 
$
130,803
   
$
59,632
   
$
190,435
   
$
121,572
   
$
-
   
$
312,007
 
Purchased power and gas
   
36,715
     
-
     
36,715
     
41,280
     
(1,179
)
   
76,816
 
Operation and maintenance
   
50,049
     
14,089
     
64,138
     
43,938
     
(5,072
)
   
103,004
 
Transmission wholesale
   
-
     
17,988
     
17,988
     
-
     
-
     
17,988
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
12,991
     
4,365
     
17,356
     
18,483
     
3,541
     
39,380
 
Taxes - other than income taxes
   
13,200
     
8,155
     
21,355
     
10,200
     
279
     
31,834
 
Merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
93
     
93
 
Operating Income
   
17,848
     
15,035
     
32,883
     
7,671
     
2,338
     
42,892
 
                                                 
Other Income and (Deductions), net
   
1,968
     
1,065
     
3,033
     
564
     
697
     
4,294
 
                                                 
Interest Charges, net
   
8,151
     
3,295
     
11,446
     
6,975
     
5,809
     
24,230
 
                                                 
Income from Equity Investments
   
3,940
     
-
     
3,940
     
-
     
-
     
3,940
 
                                                 
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
   
15,605
     
12,805
     
28,410
     
1,260
     
(2,774
)
   
26,896
 
                                                 
Income Taxes
   
5,095
     
4,993
     
10,088
     
(151
)
   
1,113
     
11,050
 
Net Income (Loss)
   
10,510
     
7,812
     
18,322
     
1,411
     
(3,887
)
   
15,846
 
Less:
                                               
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
7
     
-
     
7
 
Net Income (Loss) attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
10,510
   
$
7,812
   
$
18,322
   
$
1,404
   
$
(3,887
)
 
$
15,839
 
                                                 
Total Capital Expenditures (1)
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
40,129
   
$
30,146
   
$
18,246
   
$
88,521
 


   
Three months ended June 30, 2014
 
   
Electric Distribution and Transmission
             
   
Distribution
   
Transmission
   
Total
   
Gas Distribution
   
Other
   
Total
 
Operating Revenues
 
$
117,906
   
$
62,001
   
$
179,907
   
$
154,887
   
$
-
   
$
334,794
 
Purchased power and gas
   
32,679
     
-
     
32,679
     
76,557
     
-
     
109,236
 
Operation and maintenance
   
46,646
     
14,012
     
60,658
     
46,155
     
(4,113
)
   
102,700
 
Transmission wholesale
   
-
     
19,064
     
19,064
     
-
     
-
     
19,064
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
11,896
     
4,202
     
16,098
     
17,769
     
2,645
     
36,512
 
Taxes - other than income taxes
   
11,492
     
8,039
     
19,531
     
10,358
     
652
     
30,541
 
Merger and Acquisition-related expenses
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
469
     
469
 
Operating Income
   
15,193
     
16,684
     
31,877
     
4,048
     
347
     
36,272
 
                                                 
Other Income and (Deductions), net
   
3,440
     
929
     
4,369
     
(308
)
   
(7,363
)
   
(3,302
)
                                                 
Interest Charges, net
   
7,239
     
3,253
     
10,492
     
7,441
     
5,514
     
23,447
 
                                                 
Income from Equity Investments
   
3,520
     
-
     
3,520
     
-
     
-
     
3,520
 
                                                 
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
   
14,914
     
14,360
     
29,274
     
(3,701
)
   
(12,530
)
   
13,043
 
                                                 
Income Taxes
   
3,740
     
5,362
     
9,102
     
(1,439
)
   
(3,923
)
   
3,740
 
Net Income (Loss)
   
11,174
     
8,998
     
20,172
     
(2,262
)
   
(8,607
)
   
9,303
 
Less:
                                               
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(40
)
   
-
     
(40
)
Net Income (Loss) attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
11,174
   
$
8,998
   
$
20,172
   
$
(2,222
)
 
$
(8,607
)
 
$
9,343
 
                                                 
Total Capital Expenditures (1)
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
26,290
   
$
25,493
   
$
9,066
   
$
60,849
 
 
- 26 -

 UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
 
(M)
SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)
(In Thousands)

   
Six months ended June 30, 2015
 
   
Electric Distribution and Transmission
             
   
Distribution
   
Transmission
   
Total
   
Gas Distribution
   
Other
   
Total
 
Operating Revenues
 
$
322,691
   
$
117,714
   
$
440,405
   
$
455,655
   
$
-
   
$
896,060
 
Purchased power and gas
   
133,817
     
-
     
133,817
     
217,017
     
(2,396
)
   
348,438
 
Operation and maintenance
   
97,353
     
27,577
     
124,930
     
89,785
     
(10,364
)
   
204,351
 
Transmission wholesale
   
-
     
37,697
     
37,697
     
-
     
-
     
37,697
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
27,124
     
8,561
     
35,685
     
40,260
     
6,719
     
82,664
 
Taxes - other than income taxes
   
28,242
     
16,536
     
44,778
     
27,762
     
609
     
73,149
 
Merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
6,795
     
6,795
 
Operating Income
   
36,155
     
27,343
     
63,498
     
80,831
     
(1,363
)
   
142,966
 
                                                 
Other Income and (Deductions), net
   
3,909
     
2,550
     
6,459
     
1,023
     
1,180
     
8,662
 
                                                 
Interest Charges, net
   
16,190
     
6,766
     
22,956
     
13,682
     
11,656
     
48,294
 
                                                 
Income from Equity Investments
   
6,876
     
-
     
6,876
     
-
     
-
     
6,876
 
                                                 
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
   
30,750
     
23,127
     
53,877
     
68,172
     
(11,839
)
   
110,210
 
                                                 
Income Taxes
   
8,948
     
8,854
     
17,802
     
25,513
     
(6,560
)
   
36,755
 
Net Income (Loss)
   
21,802
     
14,273
     
36,075
     
42,659
     
(5,279
)
   
73,455
 
Less:
                                               
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
14
     
-
     
14
 
Net Income (Loss) attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
21,802
   
$
14,273
   
$
36,075
   
$
42,645
   
$
(5,279
)
 
$
73,441
 
                                                 
Total Capital Expenditures (1)
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
78,211
   
$
53,350
   
$
27,608
   
$
159,169
 


   
Six months ended June 30, 2014
 
   
Electric Distribution and Transmission
             
   
Distribution
   
Transmission
   
Total
   
Gas Distribution
   
Other
   
Total
 
Operating Revenues
 
$
263,095
   
$
120,789
   
$
383,884
   
$
522,072
   
$
-
   
$
905,956
 
Purchased power and gas
   
85,809
     
-
     
85,809
     
291,482
     
-
     
377,291
 
Operation and maintenance
   
92,463
     
24,593
     
117,056
     
85,811
     
(7,290
)
   
195,577
 
Transmission wholesale
   
-
     
39,975
     
39,975
     
-
     
-
     
39,975
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
23,959
     
8,427
     
32,386
     
39,517
     
4,927
     
76,830
 
Taxes - other than income taxes
   
24,353
     
16,391
     
40,744
     
27,998
     
1,335
     
70,077
 
Merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
5,520
     
5,520
 
Operating Income
   
36,511
     
31,403
     
67,914
     
77,264
     
(4,492
)
   
140,686
 
                                                 
Other Income and (Deductions), net
   
6,626
     
1,912
     
8,538
     
(1,289
)
   
(13,102
)
   
(5,853
)
                                                 
Interest Charges, net
   
15,071
     
6,457
     
21,528
     
14,204
     
10,949
     
46,681
 
                                                 
Income from Equity Investments
   
6,906
     
-
     
6,906
     
-
     
-
     
6,906
 
                                                 
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
   
34,972
     
26,858
     
61,830
     
61,771
     
(28,543
)
   
95,058
 
                                                 
Income Taxes
   
9,842
     
9,214
     
19,056
     
24,978
     
(13,744
)
   
30,290
 
Net Income (Loss)
   
25,130
     
17,644
     
42,774
     
36,793
     
(14,799
)
   
64,768
 
Less:
                                               
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(27
)
   
-
     
(27
)
Net Income (Loss) attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
25,130
   
$
17,644
   
$
42,774
   
$
36,820
   
$
(14,799
)
 
$
64,795
 
                                                 
Total Capital Expenditures (1)
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
60,077
   
$
45,352
   
$
20,112
   
$
125,541
 
 
   
Electric Distribution and Transmission (2)
             
   
Distribution
   
Transmission
   
Total
   
Gas Distribution (3)
   
Other
   
Total (3)
 
Total Assets at June 30, 2015
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
2,939,714
   
$
2,072,868
   
$
188,580
   
$
5,201,162
 
                                                 
Total Assets at December 31, 2014
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
2,876,792
   
$
2,087,284
   
$
147,859
   
$
5,111,935
 

(1)
Information for segmenting total capital expenditures between Distribution and Transmission is not available.  Total Electric Distribution and Transmission capital expenditures are disclosed in the Total Electric Distribution and Transmission column.
(2) Information for segmenting total assets between Distribution and Transmission is not available.  Total Electric Distribution and Transmission assets are disclosed in the Total Electric and Distribution and Transmission column.  Net plant in service is segregated by segment and, as of June 30, 2015, was $1,304.9 million and $697.3 million for Distribution and Transmission, respectively.  As of December 31, 2014, net plant in service was $1,283.6 million and $659.4 million for Distribution and Transmission, respectively.
(3) Includes $266.2 million of goodwill in the Gas Distribution segment as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.


- 27 -

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Certain statements contained in this Form 10-K, regarding matters that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995).  These include statements regarding management’s intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or forecasts for the future.  Such forward-looking statements are based on our expectations and involve risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, conditions in the debt and equity markets, legislative and regulatory changes, changes in demand for electricity, gas and other products and services, unanticipated weather conditions, changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines and other economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products and services of our subsidiaries.  In addition, risks and uncertainties related to the proposed merger with a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA include, but are not limited to, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the pending merger, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the pending merger that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the transaction, the ability to successfully integrate the businesses, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, the possibility that UIL Holdings’ shareowners may not approve the merger agreement, the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed merger in a timely manner or at all, risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed merger, the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed merger could have adverse effects on the market price of UIL Holdings’ common stock, and the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of UIL Holdings to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its suppliers, and on its operating results and businesses generally.  All such factors are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties that may materially affect our actual results and are beyond our control.  You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, each speaks only as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.  New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, nor can we assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.  The foregoing and other factors are discussed and should be reviewed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

MAJOR INFLUENCES ON FINANCIAL CONDITION

The primary business of UIL Holdings is ownership of its operating regulated utility businesses.  The utility businesses consist of the electric distribution and transmission operations of The United Illuminating Company (UI) and the natural gas transportation, distribution and sales operations of The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire, and together with SCG and CNG, the Gas Companies).

UI is also party to a 50-50 joint venture with certain affiliates of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG affiliates) in GCE Holding LLC, whose wholly owned subsidiary, GenConn Energy LLC (collectively, GenConn), operates two peaking generation plants in Connecticut.

Pending Merger with Iberdrola USA

On February 25, 2015, we announced that UIL Holdings had entered into a definitive merger agreement (the Agreement) with Iberdrola USA and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Green Merger Sub, Inc. (merger sub), under which Iberdrola USA will acquire UIL Holdings through a merger of UIL Holdings with and into merger sub and merger sub being the surviving corporation (the merger).  Merger Sub will change its name to UIL Holdings Corporation and remain a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Iberdrola USA.  Iberdrola USA will then become a newly listed U.S. publicly-traded company.  In connection with the merger, each issued and outstanding share of the common stock of UIL Holdings will be converted into the right to receive one validly issued share of common stock of the newly listed company plus $10.50 in cash.  Immediately following the consummation of the merger, former holders of UIL Holdings’ common stock will own approximately 18.5% of the newly listed company.
 
The agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants of UIL Holdings, Iberdrola USA and merger sub which are customary for transactions of this type, many of which are subject to materiality qualifiers.  The merger
 
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remains subject to certain closing conditions, including approval by the shareowners of UIL Holdings and regulatory approval from the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU).  Iberdrola USA and UIL Holdings made the required filings at the PURA and the DPU seeking approval of the change in control on March 25, 2015.  On July 7, 2015, in response to the issuance of a draft decision issued by PURA, UIL Holdings and Iberdrola USA filed a letter with PURA withdrawing their pending application and on July 31, 2015, filed a new application for approval of the change in control.

The new application includes commitments and identifies public interest benefits to meet the statutory requirements in Connecticut for approval of a change in control.  The commitments include rate credits to customers (approximately $20 million), a distribution rate freeze to 2018 for SCG and CNG, and to 2017 for UI, commitments to contribute to a clean energy fund and disaster relief (together, approximately $7 million), accelerated capital investment in electric distribution system resiliency and gas distribution system replacement of cast iron and bare steel (delayed recovery in rates resulting in nearly $7 million), agreement to negotiate a consent order with DEEP to remediate the English Station site in New Haven, Connecticut, formerly owned by UI (DEEP informed UIL Holdings that it estimated the cost of the remediation to be approximately $30 million).  In addition, in the new application the companies commit to no change in the day-to-day management and operation of UIL Holdings’ three Connecticut utilities, to hiring 150 employees or contractors within the State of Connecticut over the next three years, to maintain UI’s high service reliability and CNG and SCG’s high levels of gas leak response, and to improve certain customer service metrics over the next three years.

The new application also proposes comprehensive “ring fencing” provisions to protect the Connecticut utilities from involuntary bankruptcy associated with potential future adverse changes in financial circumstances of Iberdrola affiliates.  These provisions include the creation of a special purpose entity with at least one independent director, dividend limitations on the Connecticut utilities where the investment grade credit rating is in jeopardy or if a minimum common equity ratio is not maintained, commitments to maintain separate books and records and a prohibition on commingling of funds.
 
The proceedings at the DPU remain pending.  All other regulatory approvals have been received.  We received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on May 22, 2015 and from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on June 2, 2015.  In addition we received clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) on June 16, 2015 and the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the HSR Act) expired on April 7, 2015.
 
We currently expect that the transaction will close promptly after satisfaction or waiver of all closing conditions, including receipt of shareowner and regulatory approvals, and no later than December 31, 2015.  There are no assurances that the proposed merger will be consummated on the currently expected timetable or at all.  Unless stated otherwise, all forward-looking information contained in this report does not take into account or give any effect to the impact of the proposed merger.

Further information concerning the proposed merger is included in a proxy statement/prospectus contained in a registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Iberdrola USA with the SEC on July 17, 2015 in connection with the proposed merger.

Legislation and Regulation

On June 30, 2015, Connecticut Public Act 15-244 (PA 15-244) was passed which mandates unitary income tax reporting for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, extends the 20% corporate income tax surcharge through 2017, imposes a temporary 10% surcharge for 2018 and effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, decreases the percentage of annual corporate income tax liability that may be offset by available tax credits.  PA 15-244 also allows a state-regulated utility company to defer until its next general rate case, any increase in tax expense resulting from this legislation which is not currently authorized in such company’s rates.  We have considered the impacts of this legislation, including the utility rate relief provisions, and believe that the overall impacts will not have a material impact on cash flows, results of operations or financial condition.

Electric Distribution and Transmission

UI is an electric distribution and transmission utility whose structure and operations are significantly affected by legislation and regulation.  UI’s rates and authorized return on equity are regulated by PURA and the FERC.  Legislation and regulatory decisions implementing legislation establish a framework for UI’s operations.  Other factors affecting UI’s financial results are operational matters, such as the ability to manage expenses, uncollectibles and capital
 
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expenditures, in addition to sales volume and major weather disturbances.  Sales volume is not expected to have an impact on distribution earnings due to the decoupling mechanism in place.  UI expects to continue to make capital investments in its distribution and transmission infrastructure.

Rates

UI’s allowed distribution return on equity (ROE) established by PURA is 9.15%.  UI is required to return to customers 50% of any distribution earnings over the allowed ROE in a calendar year by means of an earnings sharing mechanism. 

Power Supply Arrangements

UI has wholesale power supply agreements in place for its entire standard service load for all of 2015 and for 50% of its standard service load for the first half of 2016.  Supplier of last resort service is procured on a quarterly basis, however, from time to time there are no bidders in the procurement process for supplier of last resort service and in such cases UI manages the load directly.  UI determined that its contracts for standard service and supplier of last resort service are derivatives under ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” and elected the “normal purchase, normal sale” exception under ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging.”  UI regularly assesses the accounting treatment for its power supply contracts.  These wholesale power supply agreements contain default provisions that include required performance assurance, including certain collateral obligations, in the event that UI’s credit rating on senior debt were to fall below investment grade.  If UI’s credit rating were to decline one rating at Standard & Poor’s or two ratings at Moody’s and UI were to be placed on negative credit watch, monthly amounts due and payable to the power suppliers would be accelerated to semi-monthly payments.  UI’s credit rating would have to decline two ratings at Standard & Poor’s and three ratings at Moody’s to fall below investment grade.  If this were to occur, UI would have to deliver collateral security in an amount equal to the receivables due to the sellers for the thirty-day period immediately preceding the default notice.  If such an event had occurred as of June 30, 2015, UI would have had to post an aggregate of approximately $10.9 million in collateral.  UI would have been and remains able to provide that collateral.

New Renewable Source Generation
 
Pursuant to Connecticut law (PA 13-303), on September 19, 2013, at the direction of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), UI entered into two contracts for energy and/or renewable energy credits (RECs) from Class I renewable resources, totaling approximately 3.5% of UI’s distribution load, which were subsequently approved by PURA.  Costs of each of these agreements will be fully recoverable through electric rates.  On December 18, 2013, Allco Finance Limited, an unsuccessful bidder for such contracts, filed a complaint against DEEP in the United States District Court in Connecticut alleging that DEEP’s direction to UI and The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) to enter into the contracts violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Federal Power Act by setting wholesale electricity rates.  This complaint was dismissed in December 2014.  On January 2, 2015 Allco filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Transmission

PURA decisions do not affect the revenue requirements determination for UI’s transmission business, including the applicable return on equity (ROE), which is within the jurisdiction of the FERC.  For 2015, UI is estimating an overall allowed weighted-average ROE for its transmission business in the range of 11.3% to 11.4%.  This includes the impact of the FERC orders issued in 2014 and 2015, and excludes any impacts of the reserve adjustment, both of which are discussed below.

Beginning in 2011, several New England governmental entities, including PURA, the Connecticut Attorney General and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Council (OCC), jointly filed three separate complaints with the FERC against ISO-NE and several New England transmission owners, including UI.  In the first complaint, filed in September 2011, the complainants claimed that the then current approved base ROE of 11.14% used in calculating formula rates for transmission service under the ISO-NE Open Access Transmission Tariff by the New England transmission owners was not just and reasonable and sought a reduction of the base ROE and a refund to customers for a refund period of October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012.  In 2012 and 2014, respectively, the complainants filed claims with the FERC similarly challenging the base ROE and seeking refunds for the 15-month periods beginning December 27, 2012 and July 31, 2014, respectively.  The complainants in the third complaint also asked for a determination that the top of the zone of reasonableness caps the ROE for each individual project.  The FERC issued an order consolidating the second and third complaints and establishing hearing procedures.  The New England transmission owners petitioned
 
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FERC for a rehearing, which was denied in May 2015.  Hearings were held in June 2015 on the second and third complaints before a FERC Administrative Law Judge, relating to the refund periods and going forward.  On July 29, 2015, post-hearing briefs were filed by parties. An initial decision by the Administrative Law Judge is expected by December 31, 2015.  On July 13, 2015, the New England transmission owners filed a petition for review of FERC’s orders establishing hearing and consolidation procedures for the second and third complaints with the U.S. Court of Appeals.

In 2014, the FERC determined that the base ROE should be set at 10.57% for the first complaint refund period and that a utility's total or maximum ROE should not exceed 11.74%.  The FERC ordered the New England transmission owners to provide refunds to customers for the first complaint refund period and set the new base ROE of 10.57% prospectively from October 16, 2014.

On March 3, 2015, the FERC issued an Order on Rehearing in the first complaint (the March Order) denying all rehearing requests from the complainants and the New England transmission owners.  On April 30, 2015, the New England transmission owners filed a petition for review of the FERC’s decisions on the first complaint with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  On May 1, 2015, two additional petitions for review of those FERC decisions were also filed at the D.C. Circuit by the complainants and by several customers.  The appeals of the FERC’s decisions on the first complaint have been consolidated and are currently pending before the D.C. Circuit.  UI recorded additional pre-tax reserves of $3.2 million in the first six months of 2015 relating to the third complaint and the March Order.  As of June 30, 2015, net pre-tax reserves relating to refunds and potential refunds to customers under all three claims were approximately $7 million and cumulative pre-tax reserves were approximately $11.4 million, of which $4.4 million has already been refunded to customers. 

New England East-West Solution

Pursuant to an agreement with CL&P (the Agreement), UI has the right to invest in, and own transmission assets associated with, the Connecticut portion of CL&P’s New England East West Solution (NEEWS) projects to improve regional energy reliability.  NEEWS consists of four inter-related transmission projects being developed by subsidiaries of Northeast Utilities (doing business as Eversource Energy), the parent company of CL&P, in collaboration with National Grid USA.  Three of the projects have portions located in Connecticut:  (1) the Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP), which was fully energized in November 2013, (2) the Interstate Reliability Project (IRP), which is expected to be placed in service in the fourth quarter 2015 and (3) the Central Connecticut Reliability Project, which was reassessed as part of the Greater Hartford Central Connecticut Study (GHCC). As CL&P places assets in service, it will transfer title to certain NEEWS transmission assets to UI in proportion to UI’s investments, but CL&P will continue to maintain these portions of the transmission system pursuant to an operating and maintenance agreement with UI.  Any termination of the Agreement pursuant to its terms would have no effect on the assets previously transferred to UI.

Under the terms of the Agreement, UI has the option to make quarterly deposits to CL&P in exchange for ownership of specific NEEWS transmission assets as they are placed in service.  UI has the right to invest up to the greater of $60 million or an amount equal to 8.4% of CL&P’s costs for the originally proposed Connecticut portions of the NEEWS projects.  Based upon the current projected costs, UI’s investment rights in GSRP and IRP is approximately $45 million.  In February 2015, ISO-NE issued its final GHCC transmission solutions report and, in March 2015, approved the proposed plan applications.  UI and Eversource continue to evaluate the approved projects to determine the impact on UI’s aggregate investment in NEEWS.

Deposits associated with NEEWS are recorded as assets at the time the deposit is made and they are reported in the ‘Other’ line item within the Deferred Charges and Other Assets section of the consolidated balance sheet.   When title to the assets is transferred to UI, the amount of the corresponding deposit is reclassified from other assets to plant-in-service on the balance sheet and shown as a non-cash investing activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

As of June 30, 2015, UI had made aggregate deposits of $45 million under the Agreement since its inception, with assets associated with the GSRP valued at approximately $24.6 million and assets associated with the IRP valued at approximately $20 million having been transferred to UI.  UI earned pre-tax income on deposits, net of transferred assets, of approximately $0.5 million and $0.4 million in the three-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  UI earned pre-tax income on deposits, net of transferred assets, of approximately $1.1 million and $0.7 million in the six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
 
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Equity Investment in Peaking Generation

UI is party to a 50-50 joint venture with the NRG affiliates in GenConn, which operates two peaking generation plants in Connecticut.  The two peaking generation plants, GenConn Devon and GenConn Middletown, are both participating in the ISO-New England markets.  PURA has approved revenue requirements for the period from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 of $29.5 million and $36.5 million for GenConn Devon and GenConn Middletown, respectively.  In addition, PURA has ruled that GenConn project costs incurred that were in excess of the proposed costs originally submitted in 2008 were prudently incurred and are recoverable.  Such costs are included in the determination of the 2015 approved revenue requirements.

As of June 30, 2015, UI’s equity investment in GenConn was $112.9 million and there was $1.3 million of undistributed earnings.

UI’s pre-tax income from its equity investment in GenConn was $3.9 million and $3.5 million for the three-month periods ending June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  UI’s pre-tax income from its equity investment in GenConn for each of the six-month periods ending June 30, 2015 and 2014 was $6.9.

Cash distributions from GenConn are reflected as either distributions of earnings or as returns of capital in the operating and investing sections of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, respectively.  UI received cash distributions from GenConn of $2.7 million and $3.4 million in the three-month periods ending June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  UI received cash distributions from GenConn of $8.1 million and $8.8 million in the six-month periods ending June 30, 2015, respectively and 2014.
 
Other Proceedings

On November 12, 2014, PURA issued a decision in a docket addressing UI’s semi-annual Generation Service Charge (GSC), bypassable federally mandated congestion charge and the nonbypassable federally mandated congestion charge (NBFMCC) reconciliations.  PURA’s decision allowed for recovery of $7.7 million of the $11.3 million request included in UI’s filing for the reconciliation of certain revenues and expenses relating to the period from 2004 through 2013. This resulted in UI recording a pre-tax write-off of approximately $3.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2014, which amount included the disallowed portion of UI’s request as well as additional 2014 carrying charges.

Also on November 12, 2014, PURA issued a final decision in UI’s final Competitive Transition Assessment (CTA) reconciliation proceeding which extinguished all remaining CTA balances.  In addition, the final decision allowed for the application of an approximate $8.2 million remaining CTA regulatory liability, as well as an approximate $12.0 million regulatory liability related to the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company litigation against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), against UI’s storm regulatory asset balance.  The final decision required that remaining regulatory liability balance be applied to the GSC “working capital allowance” and be returned to customers through the NBFMCC.

Because the two decisions noted above, among other things, fail to apply rate making principles on a consistent basis, UI filed appeals with the State of Connecticut Superior Court in December 2014 for both the GSC/NBFMCC and the CTA final decisions.  On February 3, 2015, PURA filed a motion to dismiss UI’s appeal of the CTA final decision.  On June 17, 2015, the Superior Court denied PURA’s motion to dismiss the CTA appeal.

Environmental Matters

In January 2012, Evergreen Power, LLC (Evergreen Power) and Asnat Realty LLC (Asnat), then and current owners of a former generation site on the Mill River in New Haven (the “English Station site”) that UI sold to Quinnipiac Energy in 2000, filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Connecticut against UI seeking, among other things: (i) an order directing UI to reimburse the plaintiffs for costs they have incurred and will incur for the testing, investigation and remediation of hazardous substances at the English Station site and (ii) an order directing UI to investigate and remediate the site.  In December 2013, Evergreen and Asnat filed a subsequent lawsuit in Connecticut state court seeking among other things: (i) remediation of the property; (ii) reimbursement of remediation costs; (iii) termination of UI’s easement rights; (iv) reimbursement for costs associated with securing the property; and (v) punitive damages.  UI believes the claims are without merit.  Management cannot presently assess the potential financial impact, if any, of the pending lawsuits.  UI has not recorded a liability related to it.
 
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On April 8, 2013, DEEP issued an administrative order addressed to UI, Evergreen Power, Asnat and others, ordering the parties to take certain actions related to investigating and remediating the English Station site.  Mediation of the matter began in the fourth quarter of 2013 and concluded unsuccessfully in April of 2015.  Hearings on the administrative order are expected to take place in late February and early March 2016.  UI has requested access to the English Station site from Evergreen Power and Asnat, the current property owners, for purposes of performing additional investigation; this access has not yet been granted.

As discussed in our application with PURA for approval of the change in control of UIL Holdings to Iberdrola USA, we are negotiating a consent order with DEEP that would, upon closing of the merger, provide for UI to begin to investigate and remediate the English Station site.  DEEP has informed us that it has estimated the approximate cost of the remediation of the English Station site to be $30 million.  We have not assessed the accuracy of or any support for this the DEEP estimate.  Until we have successfully negotiated and agreed to a consent order and have sufficient access to the English Station site to permit us to undertake a reliable investigation, we will not know the expected cost of the remediation or the extent of any potential liability.

UI’s knowledge of the current conditions at the English Station site is insufficient for it to make a reliable investigation and remediation estimate at this time.  Therefore, management cannot predict the financial impact on UI of DEEP’s administrative order, the agreements regarding the consent order or other matters relating to the English Station site, and no range of loss can be reasonably estimated at this time.  UI has not recorded a liability related to it.

Gas Distribution

Rates

Utilities are entitled by Connecticut and Massachusetts statutes to charge rates that are sufficient to allow them an opportunity to cover their reasonable operating and capital costs, to attract needed capital and to maintain their financial integrity, while also protecting relevant public interests.

The allowed returns on equity established by PURA are 9.18% and 9.36% for CNG and SCG, respectively.  Berkshire’s rates are established by the DPU.  Berkshire’s 10-year rate plan, which was approved by the DPU and included an approved ROE of 10.5%, expired on January 31, 2012.

Berkshire continues to charge the rates that were in effect at the end of the rate plan and currently anticipates that a base rate case would likely be filed in 2016, based on a calendar year 2015 test year, for rates to be effective in 2017.  Based on existing tracking mechanisms in place for gas and other costs, discussions with the DPU, and precedence set by other utility companies, Berkshire believes that regulatory assets are recoverable and regulatory liabilities are fairly stated.

SCG and CNG each have purchased gas adjustment clauses and Berkshire has a cost of gas adjustment clause, approved by PURA and DPU, respectively, which enable them to pass their reasonably incurred cost of gas purchases through to customers.  These clauses allow utilities to recover costs associated with changes in the market price of purchased natural gas, substantially eliminating exposure to natural gas price risk.  Additionally, Berkshire’s mechanism allows for the recovery of the gas-cost portion of bad debt.

On January 22, 2014, PURA approved new base delivery rates for CNG, with an effective date of January 10, 2014, which, among other things, approved an allowed ROE of 9.18%, a decoupling mechanism, and two separate ratemaking mechanisms that reconcile actual revenue requirements related to CNG’s cast iron and bare steel replacement program and system expansion.  Additionally, the final decision requires the establishment of an earnings sharing mechanism by which CNG and customers share on a 50/50 basis all earnings above the allowed ROE in a calendar year.  The decision also allows CNG, on a provisional basis, to reflect the increased rate base resulting from the accumulated deferred income tax (ADIT) impacts of the election of Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code upon its acquisition by UIL Holdings.   The decision requires CNG to seek a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service with regard to the specific question of whether, after extinguishment of an ADIT balance, a directive by a public utility commission to institute a ratemaking mechanism to reflect a credit to ratepayers of ADIT benefits lost through a Section 338(h)(10) election would result in a normalization violation.  The decision states that in the event of a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service stating that imposing such a ratemaking mechanism would not create a normalization violation, PURA would adjust rates to offset the ratemaking impacts of the 338(h)(10) election on rate base.  We estimate the impact to be an approximate $2.5 to $3.5 million decrease in annual revenue requirements.  In March 2014, CNG filed a draft of
 
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its private letter ruling request with PURA for approval upon which PURA subsequently issued comments.  During the first quarter of 2014, the OCC appealed PURA’s decision to the Connecticut Superior Court with regard to the establishment of an adjustment mechanism for incremental cast iron and bare steel replacement as well as PURA’s directive to seek a private letter ruling with respect to the extinguishment of ADITs rather than ordering a rate credit to hold customers harmless from the ratemaking effect of extinguishing the ADITs.  At the request of PURA, the OCC and CNG engaged in settlement discussions regarding the appeal.  Settlement discussions have now terminated.  CNG has filed a motion with PURA to extend the due date for CNG’s response to PURA’s comments on the private letter ruling to September 24, 2015.

On March 2, 2015, CNG filed its initial decoupling adjustment which includes a $10.8 million credit to customers, which will be credited on customers’ bills during the period of April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016.

On April 1, 2015, CNG filed its initial Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) reconciliation filing, which reconciles actual revenue requirements related to CNG’s cast iron and bare steel replacement program. The proposed DIMP rate was approved by PURA for implementation as of May 1, 2015.

On June 14, 2013, CNG, SCG and Yankee Gas Services Company, an unrelated regulated gas distribution company, filed a comprehensive joint 10-year natural gas expansion plan (“Expansion Plan”) with PURA and DEEP.  The plan was in response to the gas expansion goals proposed in the Connecticut Governor’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy and Public Act 13-298.  The Expansion Plan included a set of recommendations designed to help meet the statewide goal of adding approximately 280,000 new customers, including providing more flexibility to minimize a new customer’s contribution to the cost to serve them, providing tools to help fund natural gas conversion costs, establishing a process to extend natural gas service for interested customers who are further away from the main gas line, and  allowing utilities to secure additional pipeline capacity coming into Connecticut.  PURA issued its final Decision on November 22, 2013 approving new System Expansion (SE) rates exclusively for new on and off-main customers commencing service on or after January 1, 2014.  These rates include a 10% premium distribution component for on-main customers and a 30% premium for off-main customers.  The SE rates are complemented by new business rules that extend the gas companies’ financial hurdle rate model from a 20-year to a 25-year time horizon, which will reduce the customer’s contributions to any construction costs, and allow the grouping of customers to help reduce or eliminate new customer contributions to system expansion.  A separate new business reconciliation mechanism was also approved that reconciles the actual new business revenue requirements each year with the revenues received from the new business customers.   As a result of the reconciliation, any shortfall or surplus in revenues will be charged or credited to existing firm customers.  This ensures the timely recovery of new business capital investments and any associated expenses.

On June 11, 2014, PURA reopened the Expansion Plan Proceedings to modify the assignment of non-firm margin credits to comport with new statutory requirements that change the manner in which non-firm margin credits are allocated between existing customers and proposed gas expansion projects, and to consider a request made by CNG and SCG concerning the aggregating of potential customers when determining possible gas expansion projects.

SCG, CNG, Yankee Gas Services Company, the OCC and the Bureau of Energy & Technology Policy entered into a settlement agreement on these issues which was approved by PURA on January 14, 2015.  The settlement agreement specifically states how non-firm margin credits are to be allocated between existing customers and proposed gas expansion projects, streamlines reporting requirements for gas expansion projects, and among other issues, defines the methodology to be used for aggregating potential gas customers into possible gas expansion projects.

On March 20, 2015, SCG and CNG filed their initial SE rate reconciliation for 2014. The proposed SE rate was approved by PURA for implementation as of April 1, 2015, pending final PURA approval following a contested hearing.

UIL Holdings Corporation

Derivatives

In accordance with FASB ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” we apply fair value measurements to certain assets and liabilities, a portion of which fall into Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources.  As of June 30, 2015, the assets accounted
 
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for at fair value on a recurring basis as Level 3 instruments, which consist primarily of contracts for differences (CfDs), represent 56.4% of the total amount of assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis.  In addition, CfDs are the only liability accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis.

Contracts for Differences

Pursuant to Connecticut’s 2005 Energy Independence Act, PURA solicited bids to create new or incremental capacity resources in order to reduce federally mandated congestion charges, and selected four new capacity resources.  To facilitate the transactions between the selected capacity resources and Connecticut electric customers, and provide the commitment necessary for owners of these resources to obtain necessary financing, PURA required that UI and CL&P execute long-term contracts with the selected resources.  In August 2007, PURA approved four CfDs, each of which specifies a capacity quantity and a monthly settlement that reflects the difference between a forward market price and the contract price.  UI executed two of the contracts and CL&P executed the other two contracts.  The costs or benefits of each contract will be paid by or allocated to customers and will be subject to a cost-sharing agreement between UI and CL&P pursuant to which approximately 20% of the cost or benefit is borne by or allocated to UI customers and approximately 80% is borne by or allocated to CL&P customers.

The determination of fair value of the CfDs is based on a probability-based expected cash flow analysis that is discounted at risk-free interest rates and adjusted for non-performance risk using credit default swap rates.  Certain management assumptions are required, including development of pricing that extended over the term of the contracts.  We believe this methodology provides the most reasonable estimates of the amount of future discounted cash flows associated with the CfDs.  Additionally, on a quarterly basis, we perform analytics to ensure that the fair value of the derivatives is consistent with changes, if any, in the various fair value model inputs.  In addition, we perform an assessment of risks related to obtaining regulatory, legal and siting approvals, as well as obtaining financing resources and ultimately attaining commercial operation.

PURA has determined that costs associated with the CfDs are fully recoverable through electric rates.  As a result, there is no impact on our net income, because any unrealized gains/(losses) resulting from quarterly mark-to-market adjustments are offset by the establishment of regulatory assets/(liabilities) that have been recognized for the purpose of such recovery.  During the first six months of 2015, the fluctuations in the fair value of the CfDs were due to fluctuations in forward prices for capacity and reserves as a result of ISO New England market rule changes.

Equity Investment

On July 24, 2015, UIL Holdings announced its participation in Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company LLC’s (TGP) proposed Northeast Energy Direct project (NED pipeline), a new, “market path”  natural gas pipeline segment of approximately 188 miles from Wright, New York, to Dracut, Massachusetts, through its acquisition of a 2.5% equity interest in Northeast Expansion LLC, a joint venture between Kinder Morgan, Inc., through its affiliate Kinder Morgan Operating Limited Partnership “A” (Kinder Morgan “A”), and Liberty Utilities (Pipeline & Transmission) Corp, which will construct and own the NED pipeline.  This 2.5% equity interest, which UIL Holdings acquired for approximately $1.2 million, commits UIL Holdings to an initial capital investment opportunity that is expected to total up to approximately $80 million, depending on the final pipeline configuration and design capacity.  Pursuant to an option agreement with Kinder Morgan “A”, UIL Holdings also has the option to acquire up to an additional 12.5% of equity interests in Northeast Expansion LLC under certain limited circumstances, including if certain additional firm transportation agreements for service on the NED pipeline are entered into or if TGP does not sell additional volume on the NED pipeline.   Any increase in equity ownership would increase UIL Holdings’ investment commitment proportionately.  In addition, as a condition to making this investment, UIL Holdings entered into a 20-year Precedent Agreement with TGP for pipeline capacity of 70,000 Dekatherms/day on the NED pipeline, which capacity commitment, under the terms of the Precedent Agreement, would be reduced in the event that TGP enters into additional precedent agreements with third parties for capacity on the NED pipeline.  
 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

At June 30, 2015, UIL Holdings had $179.1 million of unrestricted cash and temporary cash investments.  This represents an increase of $63.5 million from the corresponding balance at December 31, 2014.  The components of this increase, which are detailed in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, are summarized as follows:

   
(In Millions)
 
     
Unrestricted cash and temporary cash investments, December 31, 2014
 
$
115.6
 
         
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
229.4
 
         
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities:
       
Cash invested in plant - including AFUDC debt
   
(159.2
)
Deposits in NEEWS
   
(1.5
)
Cash distributions from GenConn
   
2.6
 
Other
   
(0.1
)
     
(158.2
)
         
Net cash (used in) financing activities:
       
Issuance of long-term debt
   
50.0
 
Line of credit borrowings (repayments), net
   
(9.0
)
Dividend payments
   
(48.9
)
Other
   
0.2
 
     
(7.7
)
         
Net change in cash
   
63.5
 
         
Unrestricted cash and temporary cash investments, June 30, 2015
 
$
179.1
 
 
(1) As of June 30, 2015, we had $1.2 million in restricted cash, which primarily relates to Electric Distribution and Transmission capital projects, and which has been withheld by UI and will remain in place until the verification of fulfillment of contractor obligations.
 
Cash Flows

Cash flows provided by operating activities totaled $229.4 million in the first six months of 2015, compared with $280.8 million in the first six months of 2014.  The decrease in operating cash flows is related primarily to changes in cash flows from other regulatory activity and accounts payable.  The decrease in changes in other regulatory activity is primarily related to decreases in deferred purchased gas costs as well as decreases in non-firm margin credits.  The decrease in cash flows from changes in accounts payable is primarily related to increases in payments in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to the first quarter of 2014 as a result of the January 1, 2014 effective date of the implementation of an enterprise resource planning system.

Cash capital expenditures totaled $158.2 million in the first six months of 2015, compared with $125.5 million in the first six months of 2014.  The increase is primarily attributable to increases in system enhancements and renewable projects as well as programs relating to gas distribution system replacement and expansion of the gas distribution system due to customer growth.

UI received distributions of $8.1 million from GenConn in the first six months of 2015, compared with $8.8 million in the first six months of 2014.

UIL Holdings paid common dividends of $48.9 million in the each of the six month periods ending June 30, 2015 and 2014.
 
- 36 -

We expect to fund capital requirements that exceed available cash through external financings.  Although there is currently no commitment to provide such financing from any source of funds, other than from the financings and credit facilities discussed below, we expect to satisfy future external financing needs by the issuance of additional equity and/or short‑term and long‑term debt.  The continued availability and timing of such financings will be dependent on many factors, including conditions in the bank and capital markets, general economic conditions and our future income and cash flow.

In addition to the covenants described in “– Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financial Covenants”, the following potential restrictions on the payment of dividends by UIL Holdings’ subsidiaries exist under law, contractual provisions and a charter provision:

The Federal Power Act declares it to be unlawful for any officer or director of any public utility “to participate” in the making or paying of any dividends of such public utility from any funds properly included in capital account.  This restriction would apply to UI.  FERC has consistently interpreted the provision to allow dividends to be paid as long as (1) the source of the dividends is clearly disclosed, (2) the dividend is not excessive and (3) there is no self-dealing on the part of corporate officials.

Corporate laws in the states in which we operate, Connecticut and Massachusetts, authorize distributions to the extent they are not limited by corporate documents such as charters and bylaws and do not result in insolvency.

Provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation of CNG require that dividends on its $3.125 Par Preferred Stock be paid before dividends may be paid on its common stock.

Other Sources of Funding

UIL Holdings, UI, CNG, SCG, and Berkshire are parties to a revolving credit agreement with a group of banks that will expire on November 30, 2016 (the UIL Holdings Credit Facility).  The aggregate borrowing limit under the UIL Holdings Credit Facility is $400 million, all of which is available to UIL Holdings, $250 million of which is available to UI, $150 million of which is available to each of CNG and SCG, and $25 million of which is available to Berkshire, all subject to the aggregate limit of $400 million.  The UIL Holdings Credit Facility permits borrowings at fluctuating interest rates and also permits borrowings for fixed periods of time specified by each borrower at fixed interest rates determined by the Eurodollar interbank market in London (LIBOR).  The UIL Holdings Credit Facility also permits the issuance of letters of credit of up to $50 million.

As of June 30, 2015, there were $80 million borrowings outstanding under the UIL Holdings Credit Facility.  UIL Holdings has outstanding standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $4.4 million, which expire on June 16, 2015 and January 31, 2016.  Available credit under the UIL Holdings Credit Facility at June 30, 2015 totaled $315.6 million for UIL Holdings and its subsidiaries in the aggregate.  We record borrowings under the UIL Holdings Credit Facility as short‑term debt, but the UIL Holdings Credit Facility provides for longer term commitments from banks allowing us to borrow and reborrow funds, at our option, until the facility’s expiration, thus affording us flexibility in managing our working capital requirements.

UIL Holdings filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in March 2015 under which we may, from time to time, sell debt, equity or other securities in one or more transactions.

On February 4, 2015, PURA approved UI’s application to issue long term debt in the aggregate amount of $400 million from time to time through December 31, 2017, including, among other approved uses of proceeds, approximately (i) $70 million to refinance its outstanding 6.06% Senior Notes, which mature in 2017, (ii) $27.5 million to refinance its Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (PCRBs) issued by the Business Finance Authority of New Hampshire that mature in 2027, and (iii) $64.46 million of PCRBs which mature in 2033 and have a floating interest rate that resets based on an auction that takes place every 35 days.  The debt authorized to be issued to refinance the PCRBs may be issued in either the taxable private placement market or the bank market as an alternative to financing the bonds in the tax-exempt market.  On June 29, 2015, UI issued $50 million of its 4.61% Senior Notes, Series G, due June 29, 2045.  UI used the net proceeds from this long-term debt issuance to re-pay $27.5 million PCRBs which were subject to mandatory purchase on July 1, 2015 and plans on using the remaining funds for general corporate purposes or other purposes described in its application to PURA for approval of the issuance of debt and as approved by PURA.  UI monitors
 
- 37 -

conditions in the bond markets and plans to refund the $64.5 million of PCRBs at such time market conditions and financing terms are economically favorable.

UI expects to continue to receive periodic cash distributions from GenConn similar to those discussed in “– Cash Flows” above.  Future cash distributions, however, are subject to GenConn generating sufficient cash flows to fund operations as well as continued compliance with the terms and conditions of its project financing documents.

Long-term debt issuances for UIL Holdings’ regulated utilities require regulatory authorization which is typically obtained for a specified amount of debt to be issued during a specified period of time.

Uses of Funds

The first six months of 2015, we made pension contributions of $10 million.  Additional contributions during the remainder of 2015 are expected to aggregate $5 million.

Financial Covenants

UIL Holdings and its subsidiaries are required to comply with certain covenants in connection with their respective loan agreements.  The covenants are standard and customary in bank and loan agreements, and UIL Holdings and its subsidiaries were in compliance with such covenants as of June 30, 2015.

2015 Capital Resource and Expenditure Projections

We have revised our planned capital spending for 2015 by decreasing our capital expenditure projections by approximately $9 million from the previously disclosed $449 million reported in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

Contractual and Contingent Obligations

There have been no material changes in UIL Holdings’ 2015 contractual and contingent obligations from those reported in UIL Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

UIL Holdings’ Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared based on certain critical accounting policies that require management to make judgments and estimates that are subject to varying degrees of uncertainty.  Investors need to be aware of these policies and how they impact our financial reporting to gain a more complete understanding of our Consolidated Financial Statements as a whole, as well as management’s related discussion and analysis presented herein.  While we believe that these accounting policies are grounded on sound measurement criteria, actual future events can and often do result in outcomes that can be materially different from these estimates or forecasts.  The accounting policies and related risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 are those that depend most heavily on these judgments and estimates.  As of June 30, 2015, there have been no material changes to any of the Critical Accounting Policies described therein.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

UIL Holdings occasionally enters into guarantee contracts in the ordinary course of business.  At the time a guarantee is provided, we perform an analysis to assess the expected financial impact, if any, based on the likelihood of certain events occurring that would require us to perform under such guarantee.  We perform subsequent analyses on a periodic basis to assess the impact of any changes in events or circumstances.

As of June 30, 2015, we had certain immaterial guarantees outstanding for which no liability has been recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 

- 38 -

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

We review new accounting standards to determine the expected financial impact, if any, that the adoption of each such standard will have.  There have been no new accounting standards issued since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, that we expect to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Within the “Results of Operations” section of this Form 10-Q, we provide narrative and tabular presentations showing a comparison of our net income and earnings per share (EPS) for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, along with reconciliations for certain non-GAAP measures.  The presentations include EPS for each of our lines of business as well as Net Income and EPS excluding the impact of certain nonrecurring items and the impact of such items on EPS.  Such EPS amounts are calculated by dividing the income of each line of business, as well as the amount of certain nonrecurring items by the average number of shares of UIL Holdings’ common stock outstanding for the periods presented.  We believe this information is useful in understanding the fluctuations in EPS between the current and prior year periods.

Second Quarter 2015 vs. Second Quarter 2014

UIL Holdings’ net income was $15.8 million, or $0.28 per share, for the second quarter of 2015, an increase of $6.5 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to the second quarter of 2014.  Nonrecurring items did not impact UIL Holdings’ net income or earnings per share for the second quarter of 2015.  The table below presents a comparison of UIL Holdings’ net income and EPS for the second quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2014.

   
Quarter Ended
   
Quarter Ended
   
2015 More (Less)
 
   
June 30, 2015
   
June 30, 2014
   
than 2014
 
             
Net Income (Loss) (In Millions except per share amounts)
           
             
Electric Distribution and Transmission
 
$
18.2
   
$
20.2
     
(2.0
)
Transmission ROE reserves
   
0.1
     
-
     
0.1
 
Total Electric Distribution and Transmission
   
18.3
     
20.2
     
(1.9
)
Gas Distribution
   
1.4
     
(2.2
)
   
3.6
 
Non-Utility excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
(3.8
)
   
(3.7
)
   
(0.1
)
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
15.9
     
14.3
     
1.6
 
Non-Utility merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
(0.1
)
   
(5.0
)
   
4.9
 
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
15.8
   
$
9.3
   
$
6.5
 
                         
EPS
                       
Electric Distribution and Transmission
 
$
0.32
   
$
0.35
     
(0.03
)
Transmission ROE reserves
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Total Electric Distribution and Transmission
   
0.32
     
0.35
     
(0.03
)
Gas Distribution
   
0.02
     
(0.04
)
   
0.06
 
Non-Utility excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
(0.06
)
   
(0.06
)
   
-
 
Total EPS - Basic excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
0.28
     
0.25
     
0.03
 
Non-Utility merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
-
     
(0.09
)
   
0.09
 
Total EPS - Basic
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.16
   
$
0.12
 
                         
Total EPS - Diluted
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.16
   
$
0.12
 
                         
EPS - Basic - Excluding impact of nonrecurring items (1)
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.25
   
$
0.03
 
EPS - Diluted - Excluding impact of nonrecurring items (1)
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.25
   
$
0.03
 
                         
(1)
Nonrecurring items include Transmission ROE reserves and non-utility merger and acquisition related expenses.

Electric Distribution and Transmission

Overall, UI’s operating revenue increased by $10.5 million, from $179.9 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $190.4 million in the second quarter of 2015.  Retail revenue increased by $28.5 million, which was primarily attributable to increases in distribution rates as a result of the 2013 rate case decision and increased costs of purchased power as well as increases in sales volume in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014.  Retail sales
 
- 39 -

increased by 13 million kWh, from 1,233 million kWh in the second quarter of 2014, to 1,246 million kWh in the second quarter of 2015.  Retail sales normalized for the weather impact decreased by 10 million kWh, from 1,248 million kWh in the second quarter of 2014, to 1,238 million kWh in the second quarter of 2015.  Other revenues decreased by $17.8 million, which was primarily attributable to the net activity of the “working capital allowance” of the GSC due to timing differences as well as higher transmission revenue requirements, as required to achieve the authorized return, and the distribution revenue decoupling adjustment, none of which directly impact net income.

Purchased power expense increased by $4.0 million, from $32.7 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $36.7 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to increased costs of procured power as well as increases in sales volume.  UI procures electricity to satisfy its standard service and supplier of last resort requirements through fixed-price purchased power agreements.  The variance does not impact net income as these costs are recovered through the GSC and Bypassable Federally Mandated Congestion Charges portions of UI’s unbundled retail customer rates.

UI’s O&M expense increased by $3.4 million, from $60.7 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $64.1 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to increases in recoverable costs associated with UI’s residential loan program related to conservation and load management as well as increases in payroll and employee benefits expense.

UI’s transmission wholesale expenses decreased by $1.1 million, from $19.1 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $18.0 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to lower regional transmission expenses, of which UI pays a portion based upon its relative load and which are recoverable through rates.

UI’s depreciation and amortization expense increased by $1.3 million, from $16.1 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $17.4 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to increased amortization expense related to UI’s enhanced tree-trimming program.

UI’s taxes other than income taxes increased $1.9 million, from $19.5 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $21.4 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The increase is primarily related to increased property taxes resulting from increased plant and equipment, increased gross receipts taxes resulting from increased operating revenues and increased sales taxes.

UI’s other income and deductions decreased by $1.4 million, from $4.4 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in allowance for funds used during construction due mainly to a decrease in UI’s average construction work in progress balance as well as mark-to-market adjustments to non-qualified pension investments.

UI’s income tax expense increased $1.0 million, from $9.1 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $10.1 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to adjustments associated with the completion of the Internal Revenue Service’s examination of income tax years 2009 through 2012.

Many of the changes in UI’s unbundled revenue and expense components impact line items in its Consolidated Statement of Income, but do not affect net income, because the costs associated with those components are passed through to customers.  The following discussion details variances which have the most significant impact on net income in the periods presented.

Distribution

The distribution business had total net income of $10.5 million in the second quarter of 2015, a decrease of $0.7 million, compared to the second quarter of 2014. The decrease was primarily attributable to adjustments associated with the aforementioned federal tax audit.

Transmission

The transmission business had total net income of $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2015, a decrease of $1.2 million, compared to the second quarter of 2014.  The decrease was primarily attributable to a lower return on equity as a result of an October 2014 FERC order.
 
- 40 -

Gas Distribution

The Gas Companies’ operating revenue decreased by $33.3 million, from $154.9 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $121.6 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to lower purchased gas rates, lower revenues associated with non-firm customers due to lower volume, decreased conservation expense recovery, warmer weather and CNG’s revenue decoupling adjustment partially offset by higher sales volume due to increased customer growth.  The decrease in non-firm customer revenues is largely offset by lower purchased gas expense.  Temperatures were warmer in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014 which resulted in a 12.2% decrease in heating degree days and a $0.5 million decrease, pre-tax, in gross margin in the second quarter of 2015.  The customer growth in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014 resulted in a $1.0 million increase, pre-tax, in gross margin.  Fluctuations in natural gas prices have no impact on net income because the cost associated with such variances is passed through to customers.

Purchased gas expense decreased by $35.3 million, from $76.6 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $41.3 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to lower purchased gas rates, lower gas costs associated with non-firm customers, as discussed above, and lower volume due to warmer weather partially offset by higher sales volume due to increased customer growth.  Fluctuations in natural gas costs have no impact on net income because the cost associated with such variances is passed through to customers.

The Gas Companies’ O&M expense decreased by $2.3 million, from $46.2 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $43.9 million in the second quarter of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to decreases in uncollectible expense, lower corporate charges and conservation expense partially offset by increased payroll and employee benefits expense.  Conservation expenses are fully offset by operating revenues.

The Gas Companies’ income tax expense increased by $1.2 million, from a $1.4 million benefit in the second quarter of 2014 to a $0.2 million benefit in the second quarter of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to higher pre-tax earnings.

Non-Utility

We retain certain costs, such as acquisition-related expenses and interest expense on holding company debt, at the holding company, or UIL Corporate level, which are not allocated to its subsidiaries.  UIL Corporate incurred net after-tax costs of $3.9 million, or $0.06 per share in the second quarter of 2015, compared to net after-tax costs of $8.7 million, or $0.15 per share, in the second quarter of 2014.  The decrease in costs was primarily due to decreased after-tax merger and acquisition-related expenses in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014.

First Six Months 2015 vs. First Six Months 2014

UIL Holdings’ net income was $73.4 million, or $1.29 per share, for the first six months of 2015, an increase of $8.6 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to the first six months of 2014.  UIL Holdings’ net income for the first six months of 2015 excluding nonrecurring items was $79.6 million, or $1.40 per share, an increase of $2.9 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to the first six months of 2014.  The table below presents a comparison of UIL Holdings’ net income and EPS for the first six months of 2015 and the first six months of 2014.
 
- 41 -

 
 
Six Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
   
2015 More (Less)
 
 
 
June 30, 2015
   
June 30, 2014
   
than 2014
 
 
           
Net Income (Loss) (In Millions except per share amounts)
           
 
           
Electric Distribution and Transmission
 
$
38.2
   
$
42.8
     
(4.6
)
Transmission ROE reserves
   
(2.1
)
   
-
     
(2.1
)
Total Electric Distribution and Transmission
 
$
36.1
     
42.8
     
(6.7
)
Gas Distribution
   
42.6
     
36.8
     
5.8
 
Non-Utility excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
(1.2
)
   
(2.9
)
   
1.7
 
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
77.5
     
76.7
     
0.8
 
Non-Utility merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
(4.1
)
   
(11.9
)
   
7.8
 
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings
 
$
73.4
   
$
64.8
   
$
8.6
 
 
                       
EPS
                       
Electric Distribution and Transmission
 
$
0.67
   
$
0.75
     
(0.09
)
Transmission ROE reserves
   
(0.04
)
   
-
     
(0.03
)
Total Electric Distribution and Transmission
 
$
0.63
     
0.75
     
(0.12
)
Gas Distribution
   
0.75
     
0.65
     
0.10
 
Non-Utility excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
(0.02
)
   
(0.05
)
   
0.03
 
Total EPS - Basic excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
1.36
     
1.35
     
0.01
 
Non-Utility merger and acquisition-related expenses
   
(0.07
)
   
(0.21
)
   
0.14
 
Total EPS - Basic
 
$
1.29
   
$
1.14
   
$
0.15
 
 
                       
Total EPS - Diluted
 
$
1.28
   
$
1.13
   
$
0.15
 
 
                       
EPS - Basic - Excluding impact of nonrecurring items (1)
 
$
1.40
   
$
1.35
   
$
0.05
 
EPS - Diluted - Excluding impact of nonrecurring items (1)
 
$
1.39
   
$
1.34
   
$
0.05
 
                            
(1) Nonrecurring items include Transmission ROE reserves and non-utility merger and acquisition related expenses.

Electric Distribution and Transmission

Overall, UI’s operating revenue increased by $56.5 million, from $383.9 million in the first six months of 2014 to $440.4 million in the first six months of 2015.  Retail revenue increased by $72.5 million, which was primarily attributable to increases in distribution rates as a result of the 2013 rate case decision and increased costs of purchased power as well as increases in sales volume in the first six months of 2015 as compared to the first six months of 2014.  Retail sales increased by 18 million kWh, from 2,599 million kWh in the first six months of 2014, to 2,617 million kWh in the first six months of 2015.  Retail sales normalized for the weather impact decreased by 23 million kWh, from 2,586 million kWh in the first six months of 2014, to 2,563 million kWh in the first six months of 2015.  Other revenues decreased by $16.0 million, which was primarily attributable to the net activity of the “working capital allowance” of the GSC due to timing differences as well as higher transmission revenue requirements, as required to achieve the authorized return, and the distribution revenue decoupling adjustment, none of which directly impact net income.

Purchased power expense increased by $48.0 million, from $85.8 million in the first six months of 2014 to $133.8 million in the first six months of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to increased costs of procured power as well as increases in sales volume.  UI procures electricity to satisfy its standard service and supplier of last resort requirements through fixed-price purchased power agreements.  The variance does not impact net income as these costs are recovered through the GSC and Bypassable Federally Mandated Congestion Charges portions of UI’s unbundled retail customer rates.

UI’s O&M expense increased by $7.8 million, from $117.1 million in the first six months of 2014 to $124.9 million in the first six months of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to increases in recoverable costs associated with UI’s residential loan program related to conservation and load management as well as payroll and employee benefits expense.

UI’s transmission wholesale expenses decreased by $2.3 million, from $40.0 million in the first six months of 2014 to $37.7 million in the first six months of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to lower regional transmission expenses, of which UI pays a portion based upon its relative load and which are recoverable through rates.
 
- 42 -

UI’s depreciation and amortization expense increased by $3.3 million, from $32.4 million in the first six months of 2014 to $35.7 million in the first six months of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to increased depreciation expense due to increases in plant and equipment as well as increased amortization expense related to UI’s enhanced tree-trimming program.

UI’s taxes other than income taxes increased $4.1 million, from $40.7 million in the first six months of 2014 to $44.8 million in the first six months of 2015.  The increase is primarily related to increased property taxes resulting from increased plant and equipment as well as increased gross receipts taxes resulting from increased operating revenues.

UI’s other income and deductions decreased by $2.0 million, from $8.5 million in the first six months of 2014 to $6.5 million in the first six months of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in allowance for funds used during construction due mainly to a decrease in UI’s average construction work in progress balance as well as mark-to-market adjustments to non-qualified pension investments.

UI’s interest expense increased $1.5 million, from $21.5 million in the first six months of 2014 to $23.0 million in the first six months of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in carrying charges on deferred amounts due to customers.

UI’s income tax expense decreased $1.3 million, from $19.1 million in the first six months of 2014 to $17.8 million in the first six months of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to lower pre-tax earnings as well as adjustments associated with the completion of the Internal Revenue Service’s examination of income tax years 2009 through 2012.

Many of the changes in UI’s unbundled revenue and expense components impact line items in its Consolidated Statement of Income, but do not affect net income, because the costs associated with those components are passed through to customers.  The following discussion details variances which have the most significant impact on net income in the periods presented.

Distribution

The distribution business had total net income of $21.8 million in the first six months of 2015, a decrease of $3.3 million, compared to the first six months of 2014.  The decrease was primarily attributable increases in payroll and employee benefits expense, depreciation and amortization and taxes other than income taxes as well as adjustments associated with the aforementioned federal tax audit.

Transmission

The transmission business had total net income of $14.3 million in the first six months of 2015, a decrease of $3.4 million, compared to the first six months of 2014.  The decrease was primarily attributable to a $3.4 million pre-tax reserve recorded in the first quarter of 2015 related to a FERC ROE claim and a lower return on equity as a result of an October 2014 FERC order.

Gas Distribution

The Gas Companies’ operating revenue decreased by $66.4 million, from $522.1 million in the first six months of 2014 to $455.7 million in the first six months of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to lower purchased gas rates, lower revenues associated with non-firm customers due to lower volume and CNG’s revenue decoupling adjustment partially offset by higher sales volume due to colder weather and increased customer growth as well as increased conservation expense recovery.  The decrease in non-firm customer revenues is largely offset by lower purchased gas expense.  Retail sales increased by 1.9 million mcf, from 51.4 million mcf in the first six months of 2014, to 53.3 million mcf in the first six months of 2015.  The increase in sales volume resulted from the impact of colder weather and increased customer growth in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014.  Temperatures were colder in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014 which resulted in a 2.6% increase in heating degree days and a $6.2 million increase, pre-tax, in gross margin in the first six months of 2015.  The customer growth in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014 resulted in a $3.2 million increase, pre-tax, in gross margin.  Fluctuations in natural gas prices have no impact on net income because the cost associated with such variances is passed through to customers.
 
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Purchased gas expense decreased by $74.5 million, from $291.5 million in the first six months of 2014 to $217.0 million in the first six months of 2015.  The decrease was primarily attributable to lower purchased gas rates and lower gas costs associated with non-firm customers as discussed above partially offset by higher sales volume due to colder weather, and increased customer growth. Fluctuations in natural gas costs have no impact on net income because the cost associated with such variances is passed through to customers.
 
The Gas Companies’ O&M expense increased by $4.0 million, from $85.8 million in the first six months of 2014 to $89.8 million in the first six months of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to increases in payroll and employee benefits expense, conservation expense, outside services expense and corporate charges partially offset by lower uncollectible expense and regulatory amortization expense.  Conservation expenses are fully offset by operating revenues.

The Gas Companies’ other income and deductions increased by $2.3 million, from $1.3 million of other deductions in the first six months of 2014 to $1.0 million of other income in the first six months of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to the absence in the first quarter of 2015 of weather insurance losses recorded in the first quarter of 2014.

Non-Utility

We retain certain costs, such as acquisition-related expenses and interest expense on holding company debt, at the holding company, or UIL Corporate level, which are not allocated to its subsidiaries.  UIL Corporate incurred net after-tax costs of $5.3 million, or $0.09 per share, in the first six months of 2015 compared to net after-tax costs of $14.8 million, or $0.26 per share, in the first six months of 2014.  The decrease in costs was primarily due to decreased after-tax merger and acquisition-related expenses in the first six months of 2015 compared to the first six months of 2014 as well as increased income earned on UIL Corporate investments that support UIL Holdings.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

There have been no additional risks identified and no material changes with regard to items previously disclosed in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of UIL Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its periodic reports to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act.  Management designed its disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2015.  As of June 30, 2015, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective and provide reasonable assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures accomplish their objectives.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in UIL Holdings’ internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, UIL Holdings’ internal control over financial reporting.
 

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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings.

We are parties to various legal proceedings.  We have identified these legal proceedings in Part I, Item 3, "Legal Proceedings," and elsewhere in our 2014 Form 10-K and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, which disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.  There have been no additional legal proceedings identified and no material changes with regard to the legal proceedings previously disclosed.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

We are subject to a variety of significant risks in addition to the matters set forth under "Forward Looking Statements," in Item 2, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  We have identified a number of these risk factors in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in our 2014 Form 10-K, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference.  These risk factors should be considered carefully in evaluating our risk profile.  There have been no additional risk factors identified and no material changes with regard to the risk factors previously disclosed.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

UIL Holdings repurchased 15,340 shares of common stock in open market transactions to satisfy matching contributions for participants’ contributions into UIL Holdings’ 401(k) plans in the form of UIL Holdings stock as follows:

Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased*
   
Average Price Paid
Per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
 Announced Plans or
Programs
 
Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
 Under the Plans or
Programs
April 1-30
   
10,430
     
51.02
 
None
None
May 1-31
   
2,890
     
49.47
 
None
None
June 1-30
   
2,020
     
48.37
 
None
 
None
Total
   
15,340
     
50.38
 
None
 
None

* All shares were purchased in open market transactions.  The effects of these transactions did not change the number of outstanding shares of UIL Holdings’ common stock.
 
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Item 6. Exhibits.
 
(a) Exhibits:
 
Exhibit
No.
Description
Agreement effective October 1, 2014, between The Berkshire Gas Company and Local 12325, the United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO-CLC.
   
Certification of Periodic Financial Report.
   
Certification of Periodic Financial Report.
   
Certification of Periodic Financial Report.
   
101.INS
101.SCH
101.CAL
101.LAB
101.PRE
101.DEF
The following financial information from the UIL Holdings Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2015 is formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, (ii) the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
   
Date  8/5/15
/s/ Richard J. Nicholas
 
Richard J. Nicholas
 
Executive Vice President
 
and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
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