Form: 8-K

Current report filing

March 1, 2007

 

Exhibit 99.1
(CALIFORNIA WATER LOGO)   (CWT LISTED NYSE)
     
NEWS RELEASE
   
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
   


         
 
  1720 North First Street   February 28, 2007
 
  San Jose, CA 95112-4598   For Immediate Release
 
       
Contact:
  Martin A. Kropelnicki (408) 367-8200 (analysts)    
 
  Shannon Dean (310) 257-1435 (media)    
CAL WATER ANNOUNCES REVENUES AND EARNINGS FOR
4
TH QUARTER AND YEAR-END 2006
 
     SAN JOSE, CA — California Water Service Group (NYSE : CWT) today announced net income of $6.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2006, an increase of 10% over net income of $5.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. Diluted earnings per share were $0.31, compared to $0.32 per share for the same period last year.
     Revenue for the fourth quarter increased $2.8 million, or 4%, to $80.6 million. The increase in revenue is primarily due to the addition of $2.8 million from rate increases and an increase of $0.7 million in sales to new customers, which were offset by a decline of $0.7 million in usage by existing customers.
     Total operating expenses for the quarter were $71.0 million, an increase of 3%, or $2.0 million, over the same period last year. Water production costs were up approximately 5% or $1.4 million to $28.6 million, due to increases in rates charged by wholesalers. Other operations expense increased 9% or $2.0 million to $24.8 million, due to increases in vehicle costs, payroll, conservation programs, and outside services. Income taxes decreased 39% or $1.8 million to $2.7 million, due to a lower effective tax rate over the prior year resulting from a reduction in the impact of flow-through tax depreciation.
     Maintenance expense increased approximately 4% or $0.2 million to $4.1 million, due to increased costs for repairs to water mains, meters, and hydrants. Depreciation expense increased 2% or $0.1 million to $7.6 million, due to increased utility plant.

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     Net interest expense was slightly lower in the fourth quarter of 2006 due to an increase in capitalized interest on capital expenditures.
     Other income was down $0.4 million from the same period in 2005. Although there were no property sales during the quarter, the company earned more income on short-term investments than it did in the same period last year.
Full Year 2006 Results
     2006 net income was $25.6 million, down 6%, or $1.6 million, from the $27.2 million posted in 2005, and diluted earnings per share were $1.34, compared to $1.47 for the same period last year. The decrease in earnings per share was primarily due to the record wet weather experienced during the first half of 2006; expense increases in several categories not yet recovered in rates, including employee health and welfare, water production, and conservation programs; and the dilutive effect of the company’s stock offering completed in the fourth quarter.
     Revenue for 2006 was $334.7 million, increasing $14.0 million, or 4%, from the $320.7 million in revenues recorded in 2005. The increase in revenue was due to $10.1 million in rate increases, $3.1 million in sales to new customers, and $0.8 million in sales to existing customers.
     President and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson noted that despite wet weather in the first six months and regulatory delays in recovering certain costs in rates, the Company made several key achievements in 2006.
     “Our customers continued to give us high marks in service, with 91.6% of those surveyed ranking it as ‘excellent or very good’ in 2006. We also strengthened our balance sheet by issuing 2.25 million shares of common stock and invested a record $86 million in capital projects,” he said.
     Total operating expenses increased $15.5 million, or 6%, to $294.4 million for the year. Of this amount, water production costs increased 7% or $8.6 million to $124.3 million during 2006. Other operations expense increased 8% or $6.9 million to $95.7 million. The increases in other operations expenses were primarily due to increases in upkeep of pumping facilities, water quality and treatment costs, conservation programs, and employee payroll and benefits costs.

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     Maintenance expense increased $0.4 million, or 3%, to $15.6 million, due to cost increases related to repairs of water mains and services in 2006. Depreciation increased 7% or $1.9 million to $30.7 million for the full year.
     Net interest expense decreased 4% or $0.7 million to $17.0 million during the year, due to an increase in capitalized interest over the prior year. Income tax decreased 14% or $2.6 million to $15.3 million, due to the decrease in operating income in 2006 and the lower effective tax rate for the year.
     Other income and expense decreased 28% or $0.9 million to $2.2 million during the year, primarily due to negligible gain on sale of non-utility property during 2006.
     “Going forward, we expect that the regulatory climate in California will continue to improve as the California Public Utilities Commission implements its Water Action Plan, which is based on best practices of commissions throughout the country,” Nelson said.
     The California Water Action Plan expresses the Commission’s commitment to policy that creates “viable utilities” and supports streamlined decision-making. The Commission is currently identifying ways to improve the rate-setting process for multi-district utilities like Cal Water and considering Cal Water’s application for a Revenue Adjustment Mechanism that will decouple sales from revenues, thereby reducing the short-term impacts of conservation and weather on earnings. The Water Action Plan may be viewed in its entirety at: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/hottopics/3water/051109_wateractionplan.htm.
Other Information
     All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the 2006 fourth quarter and year-end conference on March 1, 2007, at 8:00 a.m. PST by dialing 1-866-802-4290 and keying in ID# 1022927. A replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. EST Thursday, March 1, 2007, through April 30, 2007, at 888-266-2081, ID# 1022927. The call, which will be hosted by Chairman Robert W. Foy and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki, will also be webcast under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com.
     California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., and CWS Utility Services. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to approximately 2

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million people in more than 100 California, Washington, New Mexico and Hawaii communities. Group’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CWT.”
     This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“Act”). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for “safe harbor” treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management’s judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include: governmental and regulatory commissions’ decisions, including decisions on proper disposition of property; changes in regulatory commissions’ policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions’ actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; changes in accounting valuations and estimates; the ability to satisfy requirements related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulations on internal controls; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers’ prices and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies; the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of weather on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph. The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.
     Additional information is available online at www.calwatergroup.com.
     Attachments (2).

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CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
                 
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2006     2005  
 
               
ASSETS
               
Utility plant:
               
Utility plant
  $ 1,344,415     $ 1,235,090  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    402,940       372,359  
 
           
Net utility plant
    941,475       862,731  
 
           
 
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    60,312       9,533  
Receivables, net of allowances for uncollectible accounts
               
Customers
    19,526       16,061  
Other receivables
    6,700       4,700  
Unbilled revenue
    11,341       11,445  
Materials and supplies
    4,515       4,182  
Prepaid pension expense
    1,576       1,696  
Taxes and other prepaid expenses
    5,654       4,607  
 
           
Total current assets
    109,624       52,224  
 
           
 
               
Regulatory assets
    93,785       58,213  
Other assets
    20,135       23,777  
 
           
 
  $ 1,165,019     $ 996,945  
 
           
 
               
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
               
Capitalization:
               
Common stock, $.01 par value
  $ 207     $ 184  
Additional paid-in capital
    211,513       131,991  
Retained earnings
    166,582       162,968  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    —       (1,202 )
 
           
Total common stockholders’ equity
    378,302       293,941  
Preferred stock
    3,475       3,475  
Long-term debt, less current maturities
    291,814       274,142  
 
           
Total capitalization
    673,591       571,558  
 
           
 
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current maturities of long-term debt
    1,778       1,133  
Accounts payable
    33,130       36,120  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    35,317       25,772  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    70,225       63,025  
 
               
Unamortized investment tax credits
    2,541       2,615  
Deferred income taxes
    69,503       63,920  
Regulatory and other liabilities
    19,954       18,782  
Pension and postretirement benefits other than pension
    48,584       21,514  
Advances for construction
    157,660       141,842  
Contributions in aid of construction
    109,504       99,958  
Other long-term debt
    13,457       13,731  
Commitments and contingencies
    —       —  
 
           
 
  $ 1,165,019     $ 996,945  
 
           

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CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
                                 
    For the three month ended:     For the twelve month ended:  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
 
                               
Operating revenue
  $ 80,644     $ 77,840     $ 334,717     $ 320,728  
 
                       
Operating expenses:
                               
Water production costs
    28,622       27,245       124,258       115,665  
Other operations
    24,771       22,765       95,716       88,803  
Maintenance
    4,088       3,921       15,591       15,216  
Depreciation and amortization
    7,585       7,442       30,652       28,731  
Income taxes
    2,704       4,459       15,297       17,875  
Property and other taxes
    3,199       3,175       12,897       12,613  
 
                       
Total operating expenses
    70,969       69,007       294,411       278,903  
 
                       
 
                               
Net operating income
    9,675       8,833       40,306       41,825  
 
                       
 
                               
Other income and expenses:
                               
Non-regulated income, net
    1,671       874       3,437       2,979  
Gain on sale of non-utility property
    —       1,522       348       2,250  
Less: income taxes on other income and expenses
    (681 )     (976 )     (1,542 )     (2,131 )
 
                       
 
    990       1,420       2,243       3,098  
 
                       
 
                               
Interest expense:
                               
Interest Expense
    4,971       4,641       19,669       18,600  
Less: capitalized interest
    (725 )     (225 )     (2,700 )     (900 )
 
                       
Total interest expense
    4,246       4,416       16,969       17,700  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income
  $ 6,419     $ 5,837     $ 25,580     $ 27,223  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings per share
                               
Basic
  $ 0.31     $ 0.32     $ 1.34     $ 1.47  
 
                       
Diluted
  $ 0.31     $ 0.32     $ 1.34     $ 1.47  
 
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding
                               
Basic
    20,388       18,390       18,905       18,379  
 
                       
Diluted
    20,408       18,409       18,925       18,402  
 
                       
Dividends per share of common stock
  $ 0.28750     $ 0.28500     $ 1.1500     $ 1.1400  
 
                       

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