Form: 8-K

Current report filing

August 1, 2013

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NEWS RELEASE
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1720 North First Street

San Jose, CA 95112-4598

July 31, 2013

For Immediate Release

 

 

 

Contact:

Tom Smegal (408) 367-8200 (analysts)
Shannon Dean (310) 257-1435 (media)

 

 

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP ANNOUNCES

 

SECOND QUARTER 2013 RESULTS

 

SAN JOSE, CA  —  California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) today announced net income of $13.5 million or $0.28 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2013, compared to net income of $13.0 million or $0.31 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2012.  The year-to-year decrease in earnings per share is attributable to the dilutive effect of the stock offering completed in March 2013.

 

Revenue for the second quarter of 2013 was $154.6 million, compared to revenue of $143.6 million in second quarter 2012.  The increase in revenue is due primarily to an increase in usage of $9.6 million, net of WRAM, which includes a $3.6 million increase in accrued unbilled revenue.  Rate increases added $3.8 million in revenue and the effect of other regulatory mechanisms decreased revenue by $2.4 million.

 



 

Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2013 increased $9.9 million, or 7.9%, to $133.8 million. Water production costs increased $7.0 million, or 13.2%, to $59.6 million, due primarily to increased wholesaler water prices and increases in the quantity of water produced.  Administrative and general expense and other operations expense increased $0.3 million, or 0.7%, to $40.2 million, due primarily to increased wage and employee benefit costs, which were partially offset by decreased conservation program expense.

 

Maintenance expense decreased $0.4 million, or 9.0%, to $4.2 million, due primarily to a decrease in main and service repairs.  Depreciation expense increased $0.8 million, or 5.7%, to $14.5 million due to 2012 capital additions.

 

Other income, net of income taxes, decreased $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2013.  Interest expense increased $0.4 million, or 5.7%, to $7.3 million due to a decrease in capitalized interest charged to construction projects.

 

According to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson, second quarter results were in line with the company’s expectations.

 

“Given the fact that 2013 is the third year of our General Rate Case cycle in California and we expect to receive only limited rate increases, we continue to focus on

 



 

managing operating expenses and working toward the best outcome in our current General Rate Case filed in 2012,” Nelson said.

 

“The Company continues to have productive settlement negotiations with the California Public Utilities Commission’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates and other interested parties.  Hearings on the case are scheduled to resume in August, and a final decision is expected to become effective at the end of 2013,” he said.  All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the second quarter 2013 conference call August 1, 2013 at 11 a.m. EDT by dialing 1-888-337-8198 and keying in ID # 2783716.  A replay of the call will be available from 2 p.m. EDT on Thursday, August 1, 2013, through September 29, 2013, at 1-888-203-1112 and will be webcast under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com.

 

California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services.  Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to approximately 2 million people in more than 100 California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii communities.  Group’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CWT.” Additional information is available at our web site at www.calwatergroup.com.

 



 

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“Act”).  The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for “safe harbor” treatment established by the Act.  Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management’s judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions.  Such words as 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.

 

 Attachments (2).

 

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CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

2013

 

2012

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant:

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant

 

$

2,160,706

 

$

2,096,363

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(670,452

)

(639,307

)

Net utility plant

 

1,490,254

 

1,457,056

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

38,668

 

38,790

 

Receivables: net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $714 for both periods presented

 

 

 

 

 

Customers

 

41,493

 

29,958

 

Regulatory balancing accounts

 

25,560

 

34,020

 

Other

 

14,335

 

11,943

 

Unbilled revenue

 

24,750

 

15,394

 

Materials and supplies at weighted average cost

 

5,720

 

5,874

 

Taxes, prepaid expenses, and other assets

 

13,550

 

10,585

 

Total current assets

 

164,076

 

146,564

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

 

353,910

 

344,419

 

Goodwill

 

2,615

 

2,615

 

Other assets

 

47,752

 

45,270

 

Total other assets

 

404,277

 

392,304

 

 

 

$

2,058,607

 

$

1,995,924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalization:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value

 

$

477

 

$

419

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

327,628

 

221,013

 

Retained earnings

 

250,375

 

252,280

 

Total common stockholders’ equity

 

578,480

 

473,712

 

Long-term debt, less current maturities

 

430,705

 

434,467

 

Total capitalization

 

1,009,185

 

908,179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

48,040

 

46,783

 

Short-term borrowings

 

28,815

 

89,475

 

Accounts payable

 

57,158

 

47,199

 

Regulatory balancing accounts

 

4,717

 

5,018

 

Accrued interest

 

4,608

 

4,705

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

52,872

 

49,887

 

Total current liabilities

 

196,210

 

243,067

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unamortized investment tax credits

 

2,180

 

2,180

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

167,611

 

158,846

 

Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions

 

248,003

 

244,901

 

Regulatory and other liabilities

 

88,578

 

92,593

 

Advances for construction

 

186,202

 

187,584

 

Contributions in aid of construction

 

160,638

 

158,574

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

—

 

—

 

 

 

$

2,058,607

 

$

1,995,924

 

 



 

 

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

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$

154,555

 

$

143,552

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Water production costs

 

59,645

 

52,678

 

Administrative and general

 

23,155

 

22,167

 

Other operations

 

17,030

 

17,729

 

Maintenance

 

4,188

 

4,605

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

14,491

 

13,712

 

Income tax expense

 

9,548

 

9,062

 

Property and other taxes

 

5,715

 

3,977

 

Total operating expenses

 

133,772

 

123,930

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating income

 

20,783

 

19,622

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-regulated revenue

 

3,215

 

4,051

 

Non-regulated expenses, net

 

(3,240

)

(3,695

)

Income tax benefit (expense) on other income and expense

 

16

 

(138

)

Net other (expense) income

 

(9

)

218

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

7,803

 

7,821

 

Less: capitalized interest

 

(539

)

(946

)

Net interest expense

 

7,264

 

6,875

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

13,510

 

$

12,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.31

 

Diluted

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.31

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

47,729

 

41,911

 

Diluted

 

47,760

 

41,911

 

Dividends declared per share of common stock

 

$

0.1600

 

$

0.1575

 

 



 

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

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

$

265,999

 

$

260,301

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Water production costs

 

101,342

 

91,630

 

Administrative and general

 

48,436

 

45,185

 

Other operations

 

32,675

 

41,555

 

Maintenance

 

8,321

 

10,365

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

29,120

 

27,663

 

Income tax expense

 

8,402

 

9,090

 

Property and other taxes

 

11,150

 

8,584

 

Total operating expenses

 

239,446

 

234,072

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating income

 

26,553

 

26,229

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-regulated revenue

 

6,737

 

8,187

 

Non-regulated expenses, net

 

(5,657

)

(5,794

)

Income tax (expense) on other income and expense

 

(435

)

(961

)

Net other income

 

645

 

1,432

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

15,840

 

15,460

 

Less: capitalized interest

 

(1,079

)

(1,849

)

Net interest expense

 

14,761

 

13,611

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

12,437

 

$

14,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.34

 

Diluted

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.34

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

45,004

 

41,877

 

Diluted

 

45,034

 

41,877

 

Dividends declared per share of common stock

 

$

0.3200

 

$

0.3150