Form: 8-K

Current report filing

August 2, 2007

 

Exhibit 99.1
         
(CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP LOGO)
  NEWS RELEASE

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE
GROUP
   
         
 
  1720 North First Street   August 1, 2007
 
  San Jose, CA 95112-4598   For Immediate Release
 
       
Contact:
  Marty Kropelnicki (408) 367-8200 (analysts)    
 
  Shannon Dean (310) 257-1435 (media)    
CAL WATER ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 2007 RESULTS AND
COMPANY DECLARES 251ST CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
     SAN JOSE, CA — California Water Service Group (NYSE : CWT) today announced net income of $7.7 million and earnings per common share of $0.37 for the second quarter of 2007, compared to net income of $5.7 million and earnings of $0.31 per common share in the second quarter of 2006.
     Revenues increased by $14.7 million, or 18%, to $95.8 million, benefiting from a $9.9 million increase in water sales to existing customers, a $4.0 million increase in rates, and $0.8 million in sales to new customers.
     Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2007 increased by $12.9 million, or 18%, to $84.4 million. Included in this category is a $7.1 million increase in water production costs, due largely to the increase in customer water usage and higher costs for wholesale water purchases.
     Other operations expenses increased $1.9 million, or 8%, to $25.3 million, due partially to an increase of $0.7 million in outside services for various initiatives, including preparation for the 2007 General Rate Case; $0.3 million for California Public Utilities Commission fees, which

 


 

are based upon revenues; and an increase of $0.2 million in general payroll increases that took effect January 2007.
     Maintenance expense increased by $1.8 million, or 53%, to $5.2 million for the quarter, due to an increase in repairs to water mains and services.
     Depreciation expense increased $0.7 million, or 10%, to $8.4 million, as a result of increases in 2006 utility plant.
     Property and taxes other than income taxes increased $0.4 million, or 13%, to $3.4 million, as a result of higher franchise fees and property taxes, while total income taxes increased $1.3 million, or 32%, to $5.4 million because of higher pre-tax income.
     Other income increased $0.4 million, or 88%, to $0.8 million, mainly due to interest on short-term and other investments. There were no property sales in the second quarter of 2007, compared to property sales of $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2006.
     For the six months ended June 30, 2007, net income increased $2.8 million, or 42%, to $9.3 million, compared to $6.5 million for the same period in the previous year. Earnings per share increased $0.10, or 27%, to $0.45, compared to $0.35 for the same period. Revenues for the six months increased $21.0 million, or 14%, to $167.4 million, compared to $146.3 million for the same period in the previous year.
     “Continuing dry weather boosted our revenues in the second quarter of 2007, as did our continued efforts to improve the process to recover cost increases in water rates,” said Peter C. Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer.
     Nelson noted that during the quarter, the company prepared its 2007 General Rate Case (GRC) for its company headquarters and eight districts. As part of this filing, the company requested that it be allowed to recover certain corporate costs associated with health care and employee welfare programs, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and general administration expenses. If the company headquarters or centralized services application is approved and adopted by the Commission, Cal Water will be allowed to recover these costs across all districts at once, thus greatly reducing the delay in recovery that occurred previously when company headquarters

 


 

costs were phased into rates only as districts filed separate General Rates Cases on a three-year schedule.
     Among the programs proposed by Cal Water in the centralized services filing were additional programs to promote conservation. “We share the Commission’s commitment to encouraging wise water use, and with the recent dry weather, our conservation efforts are more important than ever,” Nelson said.
     At their meeting on July 25, 2007, the Directors of California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) declared the Company’s 251st consecutive quarterly dividend on common stock. The quarterly dividend of $0.2900 will be payable on August 17, 2007, to stockholders of record on August 6, 2007. The Board also declared a regular dividend on Series C preferred stock.
     All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the 2007 second quarter conference call on August 2, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT), by dialing 1-866-253-5757 and keying in ID# 1100221. A replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. (EDT) on August 2, 2007, through October 1, 2007, at 888-266-2081, ID# 1100221. The call, which will be hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. 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., and CWS Utility Services. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to more than 2 million people in 100 California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii communities. The 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 (3).

 


 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Unaudited
                 
(In thousands, except per share data)   June 30     December 31  
    2007     2006  
ASSETS
               
Utility plant:
               
Utility plant
  $ 1,394,883     $ 1,344,415  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (420,321 )     (402,940 )
 
           
Net utility plant
    974,562       941,475  
 
           
 
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    29,842       60,312  
Receivables
               
Customers
    23,050       19,526  
Other
    6,134       6,700  
Unbilled revenue
    14,698       11,341  
Materials and supplies at average cost
    4,742       4,515  
Prepaid pension expense
    —       1,696  
Taxes and other prepaid expenses
    5,587       5,534  
 
           
Total current assets
    84,053       109,624  
 
           
 
               
Other assets:
               
Regulatory assets
    93,861       93,785  
Other assets
    22,008       20,135  
 
           
Total other assets
    115,869       113,920  
 
           
 
  $ 1,174,484     $ 1,165,019  
 
           
 
               
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
               
Capitalization:
               
Common stock, $.01 par value
  $ 207     $ 207  
Additional paid-in capital
    211,681       211,513  
Retained earnings
    163,830       166,582  
 
           
Total common stockholders’ equity
    375,718       378,302  
Preferred stock
    3,475       3,475  
Long-term debt, less current maturities
    291,299       291,814  
 
           
Total capitalization
    670,492       673,591  
 
           
 
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current maturities of long-term debt
    1,778       1,778  
Accounts payable
    37,988       33,130  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    32,503       35,317  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    72,269       70,225  
 
               
Unamortized investment tax credits
    2,541       2,541  
Deferred income taxes, net
    69,472       69,503  
Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions
    48,584       48,584  
Regulatory and other liabilities
    33,629       33,411  
Advances for construction
    165,819       157,660  
Contributions in aid of construction
    111,678       109,504  
 
           
Commitments and contingencies
  $ 1,174,484     $ 1,165,019  
 
           

 


 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the three months ended:
                 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2007     2006  
 
               
Operating revenue
  $ 95,782     $ 81,102  
 
           
Operating expenses:
               
Water production costs
    37,271       30,210  
Other operations
    25,274       23,399  
Maintenance
    5,241       3,432  
Depreciation and amortization
    8,380       7,640  
Income taxes
    4,792       3,753  
Property and other taxes
    3,435       3,045  
 
           
Total operating expenses
    84,393       71,479  
 
           
 
               
Net operating income
    11,389       9,623  
 
           
 
               
Other income and expenses:
               
Non-regulated revenue
    3,423       2,206  
Non-regulated expenses
    (1,966 )     (1,800 )
Gain (loss) on sale of non-utility property
    (83 )     323  
Less: income taxes on other income and expenses
    (560 )     (297 )
 
           
 
    814       432  
 
           
 
               
Interest expense:
               
Interest Expense
    4,926       4,970  
Less: capitalized interest
    (450 )     (625 )
 
           
Net interest expense
    4,476       4,345  
 
           
 
               
Net income
  $ 7,727     $ 5,710  
 
           
 
               
Earnings per share
               
Basic
  $ 0.37     $ 0.31  
 
           
Diluted
  $ 0.37     $ 0.31  
 
           
Weighted average shares outstanding
               
Basic
    20,666       18,407  
 
           
Diluted
    20,690       18,427  
 
           
Dividends per share of common stock
  $ 0.2900     $ 0.2875  
 
           

 


 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
                 
For the six months ended:   June 30,     June 30,  
    2007     2006  
 
               
Operating revenue
  $ 167,352     $ 146,318  
 
           
Operating expenses:
               
Water production costs
    63,084       51,639  
Other operations
    48,930       47,187  
Maintenance
    9,750       7,330  
Depreciation and amortization
    16,781       15,349  
Income taxes
    5,336       4,041  
Property and other taxes
    6,840       6,221  
 
           
Total operating expenses
    150,721       131,767  
 
           
 
               
Net operating income
    16,631       14,551  
 
           
 
               
Other income and expenses:
               
Non-regulated revenue
    6,465       4,355  
Non-regulated expenses
    (3,717 )     (3,339 )
Gain (loss) on sale of non-utility property
    (83 )     348  
Less: income taxes on other income and expenses
    (1,086 )     (556 )
 
           
 
    1,579       808  
 
           
 
               
Interest expense:
               
Interest Expense
    9,852       9,667  
Less: capitalized interest
    (950 )     (850 )
 
           
Net interest expense
    8,902       8,817  
 
           
 
               
Net income
  $ 9,308     $ 6,542  
 
           
 
               
Earnings per share
               
Basic
  $ 0.45     $ 0.35  
 
           
Diluted
  $ 0.45     $ 0.35  
 
           
Weighted average shares outstanding
               
Basic
    20,663       18,404  
 
           
Diluted
    20,687       18,427  
 
           
Dividends per share of common stock
  $ 0.5800     $ 0.5750