Form: 8-K

Current report filing

October 28, 2010

Exhibit 99.1
         
(CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP LOGO)   NEWS RELEASE
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE
GROUP
  (CWT LISTED NYSE LOGO)
         
 
  1720 North First Street    
 
  San Jose, CA 95112-4598   October 27, 2010
 
      For Immediate Release
 
       
Contact:
  Marty Kropelnicki (408) 367-8200 (analysts)    
 
  Shannon Dean (310) 257-1435 (media)    
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR
3RD QUARTER 2010
     SAN JOSE, CA – California Water Service Group (NYSE : CWT) today announced net income of $20.4 million and earnings per share of $0.98 for the third quarter of 2010, compared to net income of $19.6 million and earnings per share of $0.94 in the third quarter of 2009.
     For the quarter, total revenue increased $7.2 million, or 5.1%, to $146.3 million. The net effect of the water revenue adjustment mechanism (WRAM) and the modified cost balancing account (MCBA) for the third quarter 2010, was to add $2.4 million to revenue. Included in this number was an $8.6 million decrease resulting from lower-than-adopted production costs driven by a reduction in customer usage. The WRAM is a ratemaking mechanism that decouples water sales from revenues and the MCBA is an account that allows California Water Service Company (Cal Water) to track and recover or refund changes in water production costs.
     Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2010 increased by $5.4 million, or 4.7%, to $120.5 million. Water production costs increased by $5.7 million, or 11.7%, due to wholesale water rates and higher power costs, which were partially offset by

 


 

reduced sales to existing customers. Administrative costs decreased $1.3 million, or 6.8%, due primarily to lower outside services and legal costs. Other operations expenses increased by 1.7%, or $0.3 million, to $14.9 million, as a result of an increase in transmission and distribution expense that was partially offset by a decrease in uncollectible expense.
     Maintenance expense increased by 10.0% to $4.9 million, due to additional expenditures for water main repairs. Depreciation expense increased by 6.6% to $10.9 million as a result of increases in capital expenditures. Taxes other than income increased $0.2 million to $4.6 million, primarily due to property tax increases.
     Other income, net of income taxes, added $1.0 million in revenues, while interest expense increased by 17.1% to $6.5 million due to higher short-term borrowings in the current year.
     For the twelve months ended September 30, 2010, net income was $39.2 million and dilutive earnings per share were $1.89, compared to net income of $41.4 million and dilutive earnings per share of $1.99 for the same period last year. Revenues for the trailing twelve months were $461.9 million, compared to $442.6 million for the same period in the prior year.
     On Wednesday, October 27, 2010, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a proposed decision on California Water Service Company’s 2009 General Rate Case. The proposed decision approves the original settlement agreement announced by the company on June 28, 2010, and the total gross revenue recommended in the settlement. In addition, in the 3rd quarter, and since the original settlement filing, the company received $9.8 million in offset and other rate increases, meaning the proposed decision would increase rates on January 1, 2011 by an additional $25.44 million. The proposed decision also adopts the previously announced ratemaking authorizations which would allow the company to obtain up to another $7 million in gross revenue after certain capital projects are completed. The proposed decision cannot be approved by the Commission until completion of a 30-day comment period. The Commission may approve the proposed decision as written or may modify it based upon comments received. The company cannot predict the timing of final Commission approval or whether any changes will be made before adoption.
     “The most important factor in our financial performance continues to be our ability to recover prudently incurred costs in rates in a timely manner,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson. “We are pleased that the proposed decision adopting the comprehensive settlement was issued in a timely fashion.”
     Other Information

 


 

     All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the 2010 third quarter conference call on October 28, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. (EST), by dialing 1-866-253-6505 and keying in ID# 1484282. A replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. (EST) October 28, 2010, through December 27, 2010, at 1-888-266-2081, ID# 1484282. The call, which will be hosted by President and CEO, Peter Nelson and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Martin A. Kropelnicki, will also be webcast under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com.
     California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to nearly 2 million people in California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. Group’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CWT”.
     This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“Act”). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for “safe harbor” treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management’s judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to: governmental and regulatory commissions’ decisions; changes in regulatory commissions’ policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions’ actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers’ prices and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies; the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of weather on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil

 


 

disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph, as well as the annual 10-K, Quarterly 10-Q, and other reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.
     Additional information is available at our Web site at www.calwatergroup.com.
     Attachments (2).
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CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
ASSETS
               
Utility plant:
               
Utility plant
  $ 1,819,330     $ 1,709,062  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (538,919 )     (510,985 )
 
           
Net utility plant
    1,280,411       1,198,077  
 
           
 
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    9,738       9,866  
Receivables
               
Customers
    33,606       25,567  
Regulatory balancing accounts
    6,898       10,513  
Other
    5,699       9,043  
Unbilled revenue
    21,602       13,417  
Materials and supplies at average cost
    5,925       5,530  
Taxes, prepaid expense, and other assets
    8,260       18,305  
 
           
Total current assets
    91,728       92,241  
 
           
 
               
Other assets:
               
Regulatory assets
    223,724       204,104  
Goodwill
    2,615       2,615  
Other assets
    33,462       28,544  
 
           
Total other assets
    259,801       235,263  
 
           
 
  $ 1,631,940     $ 1,525,581  
 
           
 
               
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
               
Capitalization:
               
Common stock, $.01 par value
  $ 208     $ 208  
Additional paid-in capital
    217,147       215,528  
Retained earnings
    219,127       204,898  
 
           
Total common stockholders’ equity
    436,482       420,634  
Long-term debt, less current maturities
    380,285       374,269  
 
           
Total capitalization
    816,767       794,903  
 
           
 
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current maturities of long-term debt
    2,374       12,953  
Short-term borrowings
    56,250       12,000  
Accounts payable
               
Trade and other
    47,827       43,689  
Regulatory balancing accounts
    586       2,430  
Accrued interest
    8,991       4,258  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    39,511       35,028  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    155,539       110,358  
 
               
Unamortized investment tax credits
    2,318       2,318  
Deferred income taxes, net
    103,866       91,851  
Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions
    143,619       137,127  
Regulatory liability and Other
    88,839       85,780  
Advances for construction
    187,646       185,027  
Contributions in aid of construction
    133,346       118,217  
 
           
 
  $ 1,631,940     $ 1,525,581  
 
           

 


 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Three-Months ended:
                 
    September 30     September 30  
    2010     2009  
Operating revenue
  $ 146,349     $ 139,167  
 
           
Operating expenses:
               
Operations:
               
Water production costs
    54,634       48,898  
Admistrative and General
    17,794       19,084  
Other operations
    14,889       14,639  
Maintenance
    4,853       4,405  
Depreciation and amortization
    10,934       10,259  
Income taxes
    12,825       13,417  
Property and other taxes
    4,555       4,371  
 
           
Total operating expenses
    120,484       115,073  
 
           
 
               
Net operating income
    25,865       24,094  
 
           
 
               
Other income and expenses:
               
Non-regulated revenue
    3,850       5,194  
Non-regulated expenses
    (2,214 )     (3,464 )
Gain on sale of non-utility property
    33       —  
Income taxes(expense) on other income and expenses
    (674 )     (702 )
 
           
 
    995       1,028  
 
           
 
               
Interest expense:
               
Interest Expense
    6,958       6,480  
Less: capitalized interest
    (484 )     (950 )
 
           
Net interest expense
    6,474       5,530  
 
           
 
               
Net income
  $ 20,386     $ 19,592  
 
           
 
               
Earnings per share
               
Basic
  $ 0.98     $ 0.94  
 
           
Diluted
  $ 0.98     $ 0.94  
 
           
Weighted average shares outstanding
               
Basic
    20,811       20,745  
 
           
Diluted
    20,824       20,767  
 
           
Dividends per share of common stock
  $ 0.2975     $ 0.2950  
 
           

 


 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Nine-Months ended:
                 
    September 30     September 30  
    2010     2009  
Operating revenue
  $ 354,942     $ 342,447  
 
           
Operating expenses:
               
Operations:
               
Water production costs
    126,923       119,468  
Admistrative and General
    53,718       57,331  
Other operations
    43,204       41,425  
Maintenance
    14,962       13,352  
Depreciation and amortization
    32,364       30,739  
Income taxes
    21,324       21,438  
Property and other taxes
    12,545       12,371  
 
           
Total operating expenses
    305,040       296,124  
 
           
 
               
Net operating income
    49,902       46,323  
 
           
 
               
Other income and expenses:
               
Non-regulated revenue
    10,963       11,173  
Non-regulated expenses
    (9,451 )     (6,826 )
Gain on sale of non-utility property
    33       675  
Income taxes(expense) on other income and expenses
    (614 )     (2,032 )
 
           
 
    931       2,990  
 
           
 
               
Interest expense:
               
Interest Expense
    20,386       17,480  
Less: capitalized interest
    (2,338 )     (2,270 )
 
           
Net interest expense
    18,048       15,210  
 
           
 
               
Net income
  $ 32,785     $ 34,103  
 
           
 
               
Earnings per share
               
Basic
  $ 1.58     $ 1.64  
 
           
Diluted
  $ 1.58     $ 1.64  
 
           
Weighted average shares outstanding
               
Basic
    20,798       20,740  
 
           
Diluted
    20,813       20,765  
 
           
Dividends per share of common stock
  $ 0.8925     $ 0.8850