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 September 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 October 29, 2015 was 56,629,377.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| | Page Number |
Item 1. | | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 3 |
| | 4 |
| | 6 |
| | 7 |
Item 2. | | 29 |
| | 29 |
| | 37 |
| | 40 |
| | 40 |
| | 40 |
| | 41 |
Item 3. | | 46 |
Item 4. | | 46 |
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. | | 46 |
Item 1A. | | 47 |
Item 2. | | 47 |
Item 6. | | 47 |
| | 48 |
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 September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Revenues | | $ | 330,524 | | | $ | 293,026 | | | $ | 1,226,584 | | | $ | 1,198,982 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchased power | | | 47,041 | | | | 37,962 | | | | 180,858 | | | | 123,771 | |
Natural gas purchased | | | 26,313 | | | | 30,814 | | | | 240,934 | | | | 322,296 | |
Operation and maintenance | | | 111,286 | | | | 95,251 | | | | 315,637 | | | | 290,828 | |
Transmission wholesale | | | 30,272 | | | | 25,802 | | | | 67,969 | | | | 65,777 | |
Depreciation and amortization (Note F) | | | 40,615 | | | | 35,578 | | | | 123,279 | | | | 112,408 | |
Taxes - other than income taxes (Note F) | | | 35,196 | | | | 32,897 | | | | 108,345 | | | | 102,974 | |
Merger and acquisition-related expenses (Note A) | | | 600 | | | | 570 | | | | 7,395 | | | | 6,090 | |
Total Operating Expenses | | | 291,323 | | | | 258,874 | | | | 1,044,417 | | | | 1,024,144 | |
Operating Income | | | 39,201 | | | | 34,152 | | | | 182,167 | | | | 174,838 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Income and (Deductions), net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisition-related bridge facility fees (Note A) | | | - | | | | (849 | ) | | | - | | | | (15,188 | ) |
Other income and (deductions) (Note F) | | | 4,221 | | | | 4,336 | | | | 12,883 | | | | 12,822 | |
Total Other Income and (Deductions), net | | | 4,221 | | | | 3,487 | | | | 12,883 | | | | (2,366 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest Charges, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest on long-term debt | | | 22,510 | | | | 22,386 | | | | 66,952 | | | | 67,286 | |
Other interest, net (Note F) | | | 1,286 | | | | 636 | | | | 3,922 | | | | 1,203 | |
| | | 23,796 | | | | 23,022 | | | | 70,874 | | | | 68,489 | |
Amortization of debt expense and redemption premiums | | | 591 | | | | 619 | | | | 1,807 | | | | 1,833 | |
Total Interest Charges, net | | | 24,387 | | | | 23,641 | | | | 72,681 | | | | 70,322 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from Equity Investments | | | 3,408 | | | | 3,492 | | | | 10,284 | | | | 10,398 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income Before Income Taxes | | | 22,443 | | | | 17,490 | | | | 132,653 | | | | 112,548 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income Taxes (Note E) | | | 6,811 | | | | 4,986 | | | | 43,566 | | | | 35,276 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income | | | 15,632 | | | | 12,504 | | | | 89,087 | | | | 77,272 | |
Less: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests | | | 6 | | | | 6 | | | | 20 | | | | (21 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 15,626 | | | $ | 12,498 | | | $ | 89,067 | | | $ | 77,293 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Basic | | | 57,150 | | | | 56,855 | | | | 57,120 | | | | 56,827 | |
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted | | | 57,438 | | | | 57,133 | | | | 57,420 | | | | 57,114 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock - Basic (Note A) | | $ | 0.27 | | | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | 1.56 | | | $ | 1.36 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock - Diluted (Note A) | | $ | 0.27 | | | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | 1.55 | | | $ | 1.35 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash Dividends Declared per share of Common Stock | | $ | 0.432 | | | $ | 0.432 | | | $ | 0.864 | | | $ | 1.296 | |
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Income | | $ | 15,632 | | | $ | 12,504 | | | $ | 89,087 | | | $ | 77,272 | |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of income taxes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) related to pension and other post-retirement benefit plans | | | (64 | ) | | | (104 | ) | | | (154 | ) | | | 126 | |
Other | | | 3 | | | | (6 | ) | | | 2 | | | | 3 | |
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of income taxes | | | (61 | ) | | | (110 | ) | | | (152 | ) | | | 129 | |
Comprehensive Income | | | 15,571 | | | | 12,394 | | | | 88,935 | | | | 77,401 | |
Less: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests | | | 6 | | | | 6 | | | | 20 | | | | (21 | ) |
Comprehensive Income Attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 15,565 | | | $ | 12,388 | | | $ | 88,915 | | | $ | 77,422 | |
The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements are an integral part of the financial statements.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET
ASSETS
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
| | September 30, 2015 | | | December 31, 2014 | |
Current Assets | | | | | | |
Unrestricted cash and temporary cash investments | | $ | 83,716 | | | $ | 115,579 | |
Restricted cash | | | 1,256 | | | | 1,051 | |
Accounts receivable less allowance of $8,406 and $10,481, respectively | | | 216,165 | | | | 232,887 | |
Unbilled revenues | | | 55,045 | | | | 95,816 | |
Current regulatory assets (Note A) | | | 82,196 | | | | 92,764 | |
Natural gas in storage, at average cost | | | 62,177 | | | | 86,428 | |
Refundable taxes | | | 13,612 | | | | 15,211 | |
Current portion of derivative assets (Note A) | | | 10,382 | | | | 6,849 | |
Prepayments | | | 24,478 | | | | 10,696 | |
Other | | | 13,640 | | | | 12,815 | |
Total Current Assets | | | 562,667 | | | | 670,096 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other investments | | | | | | | | |
Equity investment in GenConn (Note A) | | | 110,346 | | | | 114,195 | |
Other | | | 27,709 | | | | 25,777 | |
Total Other investments | | | 138,055 | | | | 139,972 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Property, Plant and Equipment (Note A) | | | 3,485,452 | | | | 3,292,690 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Regulatory Assets (Note A) | | | 683,297 | | | | 687,198 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Deferred Charges and Other Assets | | | | | | | | |
Unamortized debt issuance expenses | | | 12,610 | | | | 13,571 | |
Other long-term receivable | | | 1,486 | | | | 1,490 | |
Derivative assets (Note A) | | | 21,134 | | | | 20,421 | |
Goodwill | | | 266,205 | | | | 266,205 | |
Other | | | 1,460 | | | | 20,292 | |
Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets | | | 302,895 | | | | 321,979 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 5,172,366 | | | $ | 5,111,935 | |
The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements are an integral part of the financial statements.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
| | September 30, 2015 | | | December 31, 2014 | |
Current Liabilities | | | | | | |
Line of credit borrowings | | $ | 85,000 | | | $ | 89,000 | |
Current portion of long-term debt | | | 6,529 | | | | 6,526 | |
Accounts payable | | | 141,845 | | | | 217,700 | |
Dividends payable | | | 24,464 | | | | 24,428 | |
Accrued liabilities | | | 68,381 | | | | 71,182 | |
Current regulatory liabilities (Note A) | | | 21,969 | | | | 17,026 | |
Taxes accrued | | | 19,856 | | | | 20,184 | |
Interest accrued | | | 25,838 | | | | 22,437 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 12,716 | | | | 3,767 | |
Current portion of derivative liabilities (Note A) | | | 28,206 | | | | 23,308 | |
Total Current Liabilities | | | 434,804 | | | | 495,558 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Deferred Income Taxes | | | 620,009 | | | | 585,335 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Regulatory Liabilities (Note A) | | | 524,077 | | | | 491,896 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
Pension accrued | | | 264,317 | | | | 265,009 | |
Other post-retirement benefits accrued | | | 86,684 | | | | 85,777 | |
Derivative liabilities (Note A) | | | 74,752 | | | | 61,766 | |
Other | | | 48,864 | | | | 46,924 | |
Total Other Noncurrent Liabilities | | | 474,617 | | | | 459,476 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Commitments and Contingencies (Note J) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Capitalization (Note B) | | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and premium | | | 1,730,306 | | | | 1,711,349 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock, not subject to mandatory redemption | | | 119 | | | | 119 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Common Stock Equity | | | | | | | | |
Common stock | | | 1,153,816 | | | | 1,149,985 | |
Paid-in capital | | | 22,459 | | | | 21,587 | |
Retained earnings | | | 212,590 | | | | 196,907 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | | | (431 | ) | | | (277 | ) |
Net Common Stock Equity | | | 1,388,434 | | | | 1,368,202 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Capitalization | | | 3,118,859 | | | | 3,079,670 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities and Capitalization | | $ | 5,172,366 | | | $ | 5,111,935 | |
The accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements are an integral part of the financial statements.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
Cash Flows From Operating Activities | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 89,087 | | | $ | 77,272 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 125,086 | | | | 114,241 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 40,533 | | | | 32,524 | |
Allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) - equity | | | (6,698 | ) | | | (6,869 | ) |
Stock-based compensation expense (Note A) | | | 6,060 | | | | 3,441 | |
Pension expense | | | 27,774 | | | | 23,508 | |
Undistributed (earnings) losses in equity investments | | | (10,284 | ) | | | (9,801 | ) |
Regulatory activity, net | | | 21,279 | | | | 83,021 | |
Other non-cash items, net | | | (956 | ) | | | 995 | |
Changes in: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable, net | | | 17,192 | | | | 31,737 | |
Unbilled revenues | | | 40,771 | | | | 37,856 | |
Natural gas in storage | | | 24,251 | | | | (2,484 | ) |
Prepayments | | | (13,782 | ) | | | (8,391 | ) |
Cash distribution from GenConn | | | 10,147 | | | | 10,404 | |
Accounts payable | | | (67,675 | ) | | | (38,298 | ) |
Interest accrued | | | 3,401 | | | | 3,781 | |
Taxes accrued/refundable, net | | | 1,271 | | | | (11,483 | ) |
Accrued liabilities | | | (5,163 | ) | | | 11,080 | |
Accrued pension | | | (24,182 | ) | | | (32,422 | ) |
Accrued other post-employment benefits | | | (3,377 | ) | | | (3,528 | ) |
Other assets | | | (1,101 | ) | | | 469 | |
Other liabilities | | | 2,714 | | | | 6,500 | |
Total Adjustments | | | 187,261 | | | | 246,281 | |
Net Cash provided by Operating Activities | | | 276,348 | | | | 323,553 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities | | | | | | | | |
Plant expenditures including AFUDC debt | | | (254,197 | ) | | | (196,171 | ) |
Acquisition of Milford LNG | | | - | | | | (20,110 | ) |
Cash distributions from GenConn | | | 3,981 | | | | 3,927 | |
Deposits in New England East West Solution (NEEWS) (Note C) | | | (1,451 | ) | | | (5,068 | ) |
Investment in NED pipeline | | | (1,595 | ) | | | - | |
Changes in restricted cash | | | (205 | ) | | | 395 | |
Other | | | - | | | | 690 | |
Net Cash used in Investing Activities | | | (253,467 | ) | | | (216,337 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities | | | | | | | | |
Issuance of long-term debt | | | 50,000 | | | | - | |
Payments on long-term debt | | | (27,500 | ) | | | (10,000 | ) |
Line of credit borrowings (repayments), net | | | (4,000 | ) | | | 10,000 | |
Payment of common stock dividend | | | (73,348 | ) | | | (73,280 | ) |
Other | | | 104 | | | | (288 | ) |
Net Cash used in Financing Activities | | | (54,744 | ) | | | (73,568 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Unrestricted Cash and Temporary Cash Investments: | | | | | | | | |
Net change for the period | | | (31,863 | ) | | | 33,648 | |
Balance at beginning of period | | | 115,579 | | | | 69,153 | |
Balance at end of period | | | 83,716 | | | | 102,801 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Non-cash investing activity: | | | | | | | | |
Plant expenditures included in ending accounts payable | | $ | 28,557 | | | $ | 18,461 | |
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.
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 nine-month periods ended September 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). All other regulatory approvals have been obtained. 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 terminating the proceeding. On July 31, 2015, UIL Holdings and Iberdrola USA (including its related entities) filed a new application with PURA for approval of the change in control.
On September 18, 2015, UIL Holdings, Iberdrola USA (including its related parties) and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) filed a settlement agreement with PURA that included various commitments in addition to
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)
those included in the July 31, 2015 application. Hearings have been completed and a draft decision is expected on November 24, 2015 with a final decision currently scheduled for December 9, 2015.
On October 19, 2015, UIL Holdings and Iberdrola USA (including its related parties), the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) filed a settlement agreement with the DPU that supplements, modifies and supersedes the various commitments included in the March 25, 2015 application and August 6, 2015 updated testimony. The filing of the settlement agreement requests that the DPU approve the settlement agreement and authorize the merger by December 18, 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 nine months ended September 30, 2015, UIL Holdings incurred pre-tax merger-related expenses of approximately $0.6 million and $7.4 million, respectively, which represented legal, investment banking, and other merger-related costs.
Further information concerning the proposed merger is included Note (C) “Regulatory Proceedings” and in a proxy statement/prospectus contained in a registration statement on Form S-4, as amended, 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 nine month periods ended September 30, 2014, UIL Holdings incurred pre-tax acquisition-related expenses of approximately $1.4 million and $21.3 million, respectively, $0.6 million and $6.1 million, respectively, of which represented legal, investment banking, and due diligence costs that are included in operating expenses and $0.8 million and $15.2 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.
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.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)
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 September 30, 2015, UI has recorded a gross derivative asset of $31.5 million ($1.3 million of which is related to UI’s portion of the CfD signed by CL&P), a regulatory asset of $72.0 million, a gross derivative liability of $102.9 million ($65.1 million of which is related to UI’s portion of the CfD signed by CL&P) and a regulatory liability of $0.6 million. See Note (K) “Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for additional CfD information.
The gross derivative assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:
| | September 30, 2015 | | | December 31, 2014 | |
| | (In Thousands) | |
Gross derivative assets: | | | | | | |
Current Assets | | $ | 10,382 | | | $ | 6,849 | |
Deferred Charges and Other Assets | | $ | 21,134 | | | $ | 20,421 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Gross derivative liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Current Liabilities | | $ | 28,206 | | | $ | 23,308 | |
Noncurrent Liabilities | | $ | 74,752 | | | $ | 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 nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
| | (In Thousands) | | | (In Thousands) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Regulatory Assets - Derivative liabilities | | $ | (3,206 | ) | | $ | 393 | | | $ | 7,751 | | | $ | (81,623 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Regulatory Liabilities - Derivative assets | | $ | 313 | | | $ | 5,077 | | | $ | 5,886 | | | $ | (6,616 | ) |
The fluctuations in the balances of the derivatives as well as the related unrealized gains in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 are primarily due to fluctuations in forward prices for capacity and reserves.
Weather Insurance Contracts
On an annual basis, SCG and Berkshire each assess the need for weather insurance contracts for the upcoming heating season in order to provide financial protection from significant weather fluctuations. According to the terms of such contracts, if temperatures are warmer than normal at a prescribed level for the contract period, a payment is received by the gas company. The premiums paid are amortized over the terms of the contracts. The intrinsic value of the contracts is carried on the balance sheet with changes in value recorded in the income statement as Other Income and (Deductions). As a result of PURA’s approval of a decoupling mechanism for CNG which went into effect in January 2014, CNG does not enter into weather insurance contracts.
In September 2015, SCG and Berkshire entered into weather insurance contracts for the winter period of November 1, 2015 through April 30, 2016. If temperatures are warmer than normal, SCG and Berkshire will receive payments up to a maximum of $3 million and $1 million, respectively.
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‑ and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
| | (In Thousands, except per share amounts) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 15,626 | | | $ | 12,498 | | | $ | 89,067 | | | $ | 77,293 | |
Less: Net income allocated to unvested units | | | 7 | | | | 7 | | | | 44 | | | | 45 | |
Net income attributable to common shareholders | | $ | 15,619 | | | $ | 12,491 | | | $ | 89,023 | | | $ | 77,248 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Denominator: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic average number of shares outstanding | | | 57,150 | | | | 56,855 | | | | 57,120 | | | | 56,827 | |
Effect of dilutive securities (1) | | | 288 | | | | 278 | | | | 300 | | | | 287 | |
Diluted average number of shares outstanding | | | 57,438 | | | | 57,133 | | | | 57,420 | | | | 57,114 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings per share: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.27 | | | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | 1.56 | | | $ | 1.36 | |
Diluted | | $ | 0.27 | | | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | 1.55 | | | $ | 1.35 | |
(1) | Includes unvested restricted stock and performance shares. |
Equity and Other 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 $110.3 million and $114.2 million as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. As of September 30, 2015, there was $0.1 million of undistributed earnings from UI’s equity investment in GenConn.
UI’s pre-tax income from its equity investment in GenConn was $3.4 million and $3.5 million for the three-month periods ending September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. UI’s pre-tax income from its equity investment in GenConn for each of the nine-month periods ending September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $10.3 million and $10.4 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 $6.0 million and $5.5 million in the three-month periods ending September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. UI received cash distributions from GenConn of $14.1 million and $14.3 million in the nine-month periods ending September 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) through an acquisition of a 2.5% equity interest in Northeast Expansion LLC. Northeast Expansion LLC is a joint venture between an affiliate of Kinder Morgan, Inc., (Kinder Morgan) and Liberty Utilities (Pipeline & Transmission) Corp, which will construct and own the NED pipeline, a new, “market path” natural gas pipeline segment of approximately 188 miles from Wright, New York, to Dracut, Massachusetts. This 2.5% equity interest, which totaled approximately $1.6 million as of September 30, 2015, 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, 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
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED)
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 September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 included the following:
| Remaining Period | | September 30, 2015 | | | December 31, 2014 | |
| | | (In Thousands) | |
Regulatory Assets: | | | | | | | |
Unamortized redemption costs | 7 to 19 years | | $ | 9,897 | | | $ | 10,499 | |
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans | (a) | | | 395,356 | | | | 402,700 | |
Environmental remediation costs | 7 years | | | 14,461 | | | | 13,197 | |
Hardship programs | (b) | | | 19,625 | | | | 24,744 | |
Debt premium | 2 to 23 years | | | 23,694 | | | | 27,498 | |
Income taxes due principally to book-tax differences | (c) | | | 168,093 | | | | 164,466 | |
Unfunded future income taxes | (d) | | | 17,722 | | | | 14,859 | |
Contracts for differences | (e) | | | 72,027 | | | | 64,276 | |
Deferred transmission expense | (f) | | | 7,620 | | | | 17,387 | |
Other | (g) | | | 36,998 | | | | 40,336 | |
Total regulatory assets | | | | 765,493 | | | | 779,962 | |
Less current portion of regulatory assets | | | | 82,196 | | | | 92,764 | |
Regulatory Assets, Net | | | $ | 683,297 | | | $ | 687,198 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Regulatory Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | |
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits | 29 years | | $ | 7,245 | | | $ | 4,319 | |
Excess generation service charge | (h) | | | 35,827 | | | | 28,692 | |
Middletown/Norwalk local transmission network service collections | 35 years | | | 20,398 | | | | 20,828 | |
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans | (a) | | | 10,026 | | | | 9,536 | |
Asset retirement obligation | (i) | | | 7,061 | | | | 7,248 | |
Low income programs | (j) | | | 30,098 | | | | 19,065 | |
Asset removal costs | (i) | | | 357,099 | | | | 336,028 | |
Unfunded future income taxes | (d) | | | 25,991 | | | | 26,318 | |
Contracts for differences | (e) | | | 586 | | | | 6,472 | |
Deferred purchased gas | (k) | | | 638 | | | | 4,736 | |
Non-firm margin sharing credits | 9 years | | | 13,044 | | | | 8,933 | |
Other | (g) | | | 38,033 | | | | 36,747 | |
Total regulatory liabilities | | | | 546,046 | | | | 508,922 | |
Less current portion of regulatory liabilities | | | | 21,969 | | | | 17,026 | |
Regulatory Liabilities, Net | | | $ | 524,077 | | | $ | 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. |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
(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; September 30, 2015 liability amount includes decoupling of $18.9 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 September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $0.7 million and an immaterial amount, respectively. Total stock-based compensation expense for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 $6.1 million and $3.4 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 future 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
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
resources. As such, we have not consolidated the selected capacity resources. UI’s maximum exposure to loss through 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 August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-13, “Derivatives and Hedging” which specifies that the use of locational marginal pricing by an independent system operator does not constitute net settlement of a forward contract for the purchase or sale of electricity and does not cause that contract to fail to meet the physical delivery criterion of the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception. This guidance was effective upon issuance and does have an impact on UIL Holdings’ consolidated financial statements.
In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 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. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.
Also in August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-15, “Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements” which incorporates SEC guidance into ASC 835 “Interest” that allows an entity to defer and present debt issuance costs related to line of credit arrangements as an asset and subsequently amortize such costs ratably over the term of the arrangement regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit. This guidance is not expected to be material to UIL Holdings’ consolidated financial statements.
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 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. Adopting this new accounting guidance will reduce 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.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
(B) CAPITALIZATION
Common Stock
UIL Holdings had 56,629,377 shares of its common stock, no par value, outstanding at September 30, 2015.
Long-term Debt
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 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.
(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 terminating the proceeding. On July 31, 2015, Iberdrola USA (and its related entities) and UIL Holdings filed a new application with PURA 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). 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 new application also included an agreement to negotiate a consent order with DEEP to remediate the English Station site in New Haven, Connecticut, formerly owned by UI. On September 16, 2015, UI signed a Proposed Partial Consent Order that, when issued by the Commissioner of DEEP, and subject to the closing of the merger and other terms and conditions in the Proposed Partial Consent Order, would require UI to investigate and remediate certain environmental conditions within the perimeter of the English Station site. Under the Proposed Partial Consent Order, to the extent that the cost of this investigation and remediation of the English Station site is less than $30 million, UI will remit to the State of Connecticut the difference between such cost and $30 million to be used for a public purpose as determined in the discretion of the Governor of the State of Connecticut, the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut, and the Commissioner of DEEP. Pursuant to the Proposed Partial Consent Order, upon its issuance and subject to its terms and conditions, UI is obligated to comply with the Proposed Partial Consent Order, even if the cost
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
of such compliance exceeds $30 million. The State will discuss options with UI on recovering or funding any cost above $30 million such as through public funding or recovery from third parties, however it is not bound to agree to or support any means of recovery or funding.
On September 18, 2015, UIL Holdings, Iberdrola USA (including its related parties) and the OCC filed a settlement agreement with PURA that included various commitments in addition to those included in the July 31, 2015 application. The settlement agreement includes $12.5 million in additional rate credits for CNG’s customers and $7.5 million in additional rate credits for SCG’s customers, both of which would be allocated over the ten-year period of 2018 – 2027. As part of the settlement, both OCC and UI will also withdraw their respective appeals of certain PURA decisions that are currently pending. Hearings have been completed and a draft decision is expected on November 24, 2015 with a final decision is currently scheduled for December 9, 2015.
On October 19, 2015, UIL Holdings and Iberdrola USA (including its related parties), the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) filed a settlement agreement with the DPU that supplements, modifies and supersedes the various commitments included in the March 25, 2015 application and August 6, 2015 updated testimony. The settlement agreement includes $4 million in rate credits for Berkshire customers and $1 million for jobs, economic development, or alternative heating programs for municipal owned buildings, low-income and moderate income residential consumers, or residences or businesses in Berkshire’s service territory, as determined by DOER. The settlement agreement also includes a distribution rate freeze for Berkshire, such that current distribution rates for Berkshire remain in effect, with no new distribution base rates in effect prior to June 1, 2018. The settlement agreement includes similar local management, ring-fencing and economic commitments to those that were offered in the settlement agreement filed with PURA in Connecticut. The filing of the settlement agreement requests that the DPU approve the settlement agreement and authorize the merger by December 18, 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 2015, 80% of its standard service load for the first half of 2016 and 30% of the standard serve load for the second 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 September 30, 2015, UI would have had to post an aggregate of approximately $10.0 million in collateral. UI would have been and remains able to provide that collateral.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
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 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 state attorneys general, state regulatory commissions, consumer advocates, consumer groups, municipal parties and other parties 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 and on August 26, 2015 reply 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 $3.4 million in the first nine months of 2015 relating to the third complaint and the March Order. As of September 30, 2015, net pre-tax reserves relating to refunds and potential refunds to customers under all three claims were approximately $5.1 million and cumulative pre-tax reserves were approximately $11.5 million, of which $6.4 million has already been refunded to customers.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
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 December 2015 and (3) the Central Connecticut Reliability Project (CCRP), 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. Based on the ISO-NE reassessment of CCRP and the currently planned generation in Connecticut, UI does not anticipate making any investments in GHCC or further 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 September 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 an immaterial amount and $0.5 million in the three‑month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. UI earned pre-tax income on deposits, net of transferred assets, of approximately $1.2 million in each of the nine‑month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.
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
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
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.
UI filed a motion to stay the appeals in the two proceedings discussed above in connection with the settlement agreement filed with PURA in the change in control proceeding. On October 12, 2015, the motions to stay were granted. Upon PURA’s acceptance of the settlement agreement, such proceedings would be terminated.
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. 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. In connection with the settlement agreement filed with PURA in our change in control proceeding, CNG filed a motion with PURA to extend the due date for CNG’s response to PURA’s comments on the private letter ruling to November 24, 2015.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
The OCC filed a motion to stay the appeal discussed above in connection with the settlement agreement filed with PURA in our change in control proceeding. On August 31, 2015, the motion to stay was granted. Upon PURA’s acceptance of the settlement agreement, the proceeding would be terminated.
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.
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) SHORT‑TERM CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS
As of September 30, 2015, there was $85 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 September 30, 2015 totaled $310.6 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 $1.8 million, from $5.0 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $6.8 million in the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to higher pre-tax earnings. UIL Holdings’ income tax expense increased $8.3 million, from $35.3 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $43.6 million in the first nine 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 rate for both nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was 32.9%.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS �� (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
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.
(F) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
| | (In Thousands) | | | (In Thousands) | |
Depreciation and Amortization | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant, and equipment depreciation | | $ | 37,081 | | | $ | 32,860 | | | $ | 106,185 | | | $ | 97,208 | |
Amortization of regulatory assets | | | 3,534 | | | | 2,718 | | | | 17,094 | | | | 15,200 | |
Total Depreciation and Amortization | | $ | 40,615 | | | $ | 35,578 | | | $ | 123,279 | | | $ | 112,408 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Taxes - Other than Income Taxes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Connecticut gross earnings | | $ | 18,180 | | | $ | 16,199 | | | $ | 56,353 | | | $ | 54,671 | |
Local real estate and personal property | | | 14,085 | | | | 13,310 | | | | 40,080 | | | | 37,399 | |
Payroll taxes | | | 2,886 | | | | 3,046 | | | | 11,064 | | | | 9,877 | |
Other | | | 45 | | | | 342 | | | | 848 | | | | 1,027 | |
Total Taxes - Other than Income Taxes | | $ | 35,196 | | | $ | 32,897 | | | $ | 108,345 | | | $ | 102,974 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Income and (Deductions) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | $ | 77 | | | $ | 666 | | | $ | 1,458 | | | $ | 1,731 | |
Allowance for funds used during construction - equity | | | 2,589 | | | | 1,949 | | | | 6,698 | | | | 6,869 | |
Allowance for funds used during construction - debt | | | 1,292 | | | | 1,201 | | | | 3,424 | | | | 4,032 | |
Weather insurance | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (2,437 | ) |
Other | | | 263 | | | | 520 | | | | 1,303 | | | | 2,627 | |
Total Other Income and (Deductions) | | $ | 4,221 | | | $ | 4,336 | | | $ | 12,883 | | | $ | 12,822 | |
(G) PENSION AND OTHER BENEFITS
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we made pension contributions of $15 million. No further contributions are expected during the remainder of 2015.
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 nine‑month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:
| | Three Months Ended September 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 | |
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | Pension Benefits | | | Other Postretirement Benefits | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | | | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
| | (In Thousands) | |
Components of net periodic benefit cost: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service cost | | $ | 10,815 | | | $ | 8,688 | | | $ | 1,179 | | | $ | 1,212 | |
Interest cost | | | 31,515 | | | | 33,057 | | | | 3,981 | | | | 4,461 | |
Expected return on plan assets | | | (42,360 | ) | | | (40,680 | ) | | | (2,070 | ) | | | (2,100 | ) |
Amortization of prior service costs | | | 144 | | | | 219 | | | | 225 | | | | 213 | |
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss | | | 14,535 | | | | 9,291 | | | | 528 | | | | (516 | ) |
Net periodic benefit cost | | $ | 14,649 | | | $ | 10,575 | | | $ | 3,843 | | | $ | 3,270 | |
| | Three and Nine Months Ended September 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 each of the three‑month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled $0.4 million. UIL Holdings’ lease payments for this office space for the nine‑month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled $1.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
(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 September 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.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
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 September 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 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. These lawsuits were stayed pending the disposition of mediation efforts involving the parties and certain claims relating to the English Station site. 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.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
On September 16, 2015, UI signed a Proposed Partial Consent Order that, when issued by the Commissioner of DEEP, and subject to the closing of the merger of UIL Holdings with Iberdrola USA and other terms and conditions in the Proposed Partial Consent Order, would require UI to investigate and remediate certain environmental conditions within the perimeter of the English Station site. Under the Proposed Partial Consent Order, to the extent that the cost of this investigation and remediation is less than $30 million, UI will remit to the State of Connecticut the difference between such cost and $30 million to be used for a public purpose as determined in the discretion of the Governor of the State of Connecticut, the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut, and the Commissioner of DEEP. Pursuant to the Proposed Partial Consent Order, upon its issuance and subject to its terms and conditions, UI would be obligated to comply with the Proposed Partial Consent Order, even if the cost of such compliance exceeds $30 million. The State will discuss options with UI on recovering or funding any cost above $30 million such as through public funding or recovery from third parties, however it is not bound to agree to or support any means of recovery or funding. On September 30, 2015, the Hearing Officer in DEEP’s administrative proceeding approved a Motion for Stay of further proceedings filed by DEEP, staying all proceedings on the administrative order for 120 days. A status conference is scheduled for January 28, 2016.
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 in advance of commencement of any required cleanup. 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 September 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, Connecticut and on Chapel Street in New Haven, Connecticut, and CNG owns a property located on Columbus Boulevard in Hartford, Connecticut, all of which are former MGP sites. Costs associated with the remediation of the sites, which will likely be subject to regulators’ approval, could be significant and these costs will be subject to a review by PURA as to whether these costs are recoverable in rates. Regarding the Chapel Street property, on October 7, 2015, SCG received a Proposed Consent Order from DEEP. SCG is presently reviewing this draft consent order, which, if issued by DEEP, would require the completion of investigation and then the development and implementation of a remedial action plan for the Chapel Street property. We cannot presently reasonably estimate the costs or range of costs of remediation or the likelihood of recoverability for these former MGP sites, including the Chapel Street property. As a result, as of September 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 September 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 September 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.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
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 September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
| | 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 | |
September 30, 2015 | | (In Thousands) | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative assets | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | | 31,516 | | | $ | 31,516 | |
Noncurrent investments | | | 13,141 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 13,141 | |
Deferred Compensation Plan | | | 3,529 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 3,529 | |
Supplemental retirement benefit trust life insurance policies | | | - | | | | 8,254 | | | | - | | | | 8,254 | |
| | $ | 16,670 | | | $ | 8,254 | | | $ | 31,516 | | | $ | 56,440 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative liabilities | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 102,958 | | | $ | 102,958 | |
Long-term debt | | | - | | | | 1,908,931 | | | | - | | | | 1,908,931 | |
| | $ | - | | | $ | 1,908,931 | | | $ | 102,958 | | | $ | 2,011,889 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net fair value assets/(liabilities), September 30, 2015 | | $ | 16,670 | | | $ | (1,900,677 | ) | | $ | (71,442 | ) | | $ | (1,955,449 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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 | ) |
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
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 September 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 September 30, 2015 | | | Range at December 31, 2014 | |
| | | | | | | |
Contracts for differences | Risk of non-performance | | | 0.31% - 0.94 | % | | | 0.00% - 0.66 | % |
| Discount rate | | | 1.37% - 2.06 | % | | | 1.65% - 2.25 | % |
| Forward pricing ($ per MW) | | $ | 3.15 - $11.19 | | | $ | 3.15 - $14.59 | |
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 September 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.
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
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 nine-month period ended September 30, 2015.
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 | |
| | (In Thousands) | |
| | | |
Net derivative assets/(liabilities), December 31, 2014 | | $ | (57,804 | ) |
Unrealized gains and (losses), net | | | (13,638 | ) |
Net derivative assets/(liabilities), September 30, 2015 | | $ | (71,442 | ) |
Change in unrealized gains (losses), net relating to net derivative assets/(liabilities), still held as of September 30, 2015 | | $ | (13,638 | ) |
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 nine-month period ended September 30, 2015. The amounts offset the net CfDs liabilities included in the derivative liabilities detailed above.
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 | |
| | (In Thousands) | |
| | | |
Net regulatory assets/(liabilities), December 31, 2014 | | $ | 57,804 | |
Unrealized (gains) and losses, net | | | 13,638 | |
Net regulatory assets/(liabilities), September 30, 2015 | | $ | 71,442 | |
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
(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 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 September 30, 2015 | |
| | Electric Distribution and Transmission | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distribution | | | Transmission | | | Total | | | Gas Distribution | | | Other | | | Total | |
Operating Revenues | | $ | 158,587 | | | $ | 77,767 | | | $ | 236,354 | | | $ | 94,170 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 330,524 | |
Purchased power and gas | | | 47,041 | | | | - | | | | 47,041 | | | | 27,715 | | | | (1,402 | ) | | | 73,354 | |
Operation and maintenance | | | 55,394 | | | | 14,838 | | | | 70,232 | | | | 47,805 | | | | (6,751 | ) | | | 111,286 | |
Transmission wholesale | | | - | | | | 30,272 | | | | 30,272 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 30,272 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 13,554 | | | | 4,475 | | | | 18,029 | | | | 17,285 | | | | 5,301 | | | | 40,615 | |
Taxes - other than income taxes | | | 14,721 | | | | 11,680 | | | | 26,401 | | | | 8,509 | | | | 286 | | | | 35,196 | |
Merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 600 | | | | 600 | |
Operating Income | | | 27,877 | | | | 16,502 | | | | 44,379 | | | | (7,144 | ) | | | 1,966 | | | | 39,201 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Income and (Deductions), net | | | 1,682 | | | | 375 | | | | 2,057 | | | | 1,594 | | | | 570 | | | | 4,221 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest Charges, net | | | 8,789 | | | | 3,086 | | | | 11,875 | | | | 6,723 | | | | 5,789 | | | | 24,387 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from Equity Investments | | | 3,408 | | | | - | | | | 3,408 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 3,408 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | | | 24,178 | | | | 13,791 | | | | 37,969 | | | | (12,273 | ) | | | (3,253 | ) | | | 22,443 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income Taxes | | | 6,032 | | | | 5,374 | | | | 11,406 | | | | (4,862 | ) | | | 267 | | | | 6,811 | |
Net Income (Loss) | | | 18,146 | | | | 8,417 | | | | 26,563 | | | | (7,411 | ) | | | (3,520 | ) | | | 15,632 | |
Less: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 6 | | | | - | | | | 6 | |
Net Income (Loss) attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 18,146 | | | $ | 8,417 | | | $ | 26,563 | | | $ | (7,417 | ) | | $ | (3,520 | ) | | $ | 15,626 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Capital Expenditures (1) | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 41,466 | | | $ | 39,744 | | | $ | 13,818 | | | $ | 95,028 | |
| | Three months ended September 30, 2014 | |
| | Electric Distribution and Transmission | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distribution | | | Transmission | | | Total | | | Gas Distribution | | | Other | | | Total | |
Operating Revenues | | $ | 134,289 | | | $ | 62,926 | | | $ | 197,215 | | | $ | 94,708 | | | $ | 1,103 | | | $ | 293,026 | |
Purchased power and gas | | | 37,962 | | | | - | | | | 37,962 | | | | 30,504 | | | | 310 | | | | 68,776 | |
Operation and maintenance | | | 42,819 | | | | 11,456 | | | | 54,275 | | | | 44,950 | | | | (3,974 | ) | | | 95,251 | |
Transmission wholesale | | | - | | | | 25,802 | | | | 25,802 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 25,802 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 11,943 | | | | 4,208 | | | | 16,151 | | | | 16,477 | | | | 2,950 | | | | 35,578 | |
Taxes - other than income taxes | | | 14,244 | | | | 10,441 | | | | 24,685 | | | | 9,082 | | | | (870 | ) | | | 32,897 | |
Merger and Acquisition-related expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 570 | | | | 570 | |
Operating Income | | | 27,321 | | | | 11,019 | | | | 38,340 | | | | (6,305 | ) | | | 2,117 | | | | 34,152 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Income and (Deductions), net | | | 2,877 | | | | 881 | | | | 3,758 | | | | 702 | | | | (973 | ) | | | 3,487 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest Charges, net | | | 7,590 | | | | 3,375 | | | | 10,965 | | | | 7,116 | | | | 5,560 | | | | 23,641 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from Equity Investments | | | 3,492 | | | | - | | | | 3,492 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 3,492 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | | | 26,100 | | | | 8,525 | | | | 34,625 | | | | (12,719 | ) | | | (4,416 | ) | | | 17,490 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income Taxes | | | 8,173 | | | | 3,048 | | | | 11,221 | | | | (6,229 | ) | | | (6 | ) | | | 4,986 | |
Net Income (Loss) | | | 17,927 | | | | 5,477 | | | | 23,404 | | | | (6,490 | ) | | | (4,410 | ) | | | 12,504 | |
Less: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 6 | | | | - | | | | 6 | |
Net Income (Loss) attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 17,927 | | | $ | 5,477 | | | $ | 23,404 | | | $ | (6,496 | ) | | $ | (4,410 | ) | | $ | 12,498 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Capital Expenditures (1) | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 31,523 | | | $ | 32,926 | | | $ | 6,181 | | | $ | 70,630 | |
UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (UNAUDITED) (Continued)
(M) SEGMENT INFORMATION(Continued)
(In Thousands)
| | Nine months ended September 30, 2015 | |
| | Electric Distribution and Transmission | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distribution | | | Transmission | | | Total | | | Gas Distribution | | | Other | | | Total | |
Operating Revenues | | $ | 481,278 | | | $ | 195,481 | | | $ | 676,759 | | | $ | 549,825 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 1,226,584 | |
Purchased power and gas | | | 180,858 | | | | - | | | | 180,858 | | | | 244,732 | | | | (3,798 | ) | | | 421,792 | |
Operation and maintenance | | | 152,747 | | | | 42,415 | | | | 195,162 | | | | 137,590 | | | | (17,115 | ) | | | 315,637 | |
Transmission wholesale | | | - | | | | 67,969 | | | | 67,969 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 67,969 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 40,678 | | | | 13,036 | | | | 53,714 | | | | 57,545 | | | | 12,020 | | | | 123,279 | |
Taxes - other than income taxes | | | 42,963 | | | | 28,216 | | | | 71,179 | | | | 36,271 | | | | 895 | | | | 108,345 | |
Merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 7,395 | | | | 7,395 | |
Operating Income | | | 64,032 | | | | 43,845 | | | | 107,877 | | | | 73,687 | | | | 603 | | | | 182,167 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Income and (Deductions), net | | | 5,591 | | | | 2,925 | | | | 8,516 | | | | 2,617 | | | | 1,750 | | | | 12,883 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest Charges, net | | | 24,979 | | | | 9,852 | | | | 34,831 | | | | 20,405 | | | | 17,445 | | | | 72,681 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from Equity Investments | | | 10,284 | | | | - | | | | 10,284 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10,284 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | | | 54,928 | | | | 36,918 | | | | 91,846 | | | | 55,899 | | | | (15,092 | ) | | | 132,653 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income Taxes | | | 14,980 | | | | 14,228 | | | | 29,208 | | | | 20,651 | | | | (6,293 | ) | | | 43,566 | |
Net Income (Loss) | | | 39,948 | | | | 22,690 | | | | 62,638 | | | | 35,248 | | | | (8,799 | ) | | | 89,087 | |
Less: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 20 | | | | - | | | | 20 | |
Net Income (Loss) attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 39,948 | | | $ | 22,690 | | | $ | 62,638 | | | $ | 35,228 | | | $ | (8,799 | ) | | $ | 89,067 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Capital Expenditures (1) | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 119,677 | | | $ | 93,094 | | | $ | 41,426 | | | $ | 254,197 | |
| | Nine months ended September 30, 2014 | |
| | Electric Distribution and Transmission | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distribution | | | Transmission | | | Total | | | Gas Distribution | | | Other | | | Total | |
Operating Revenues | | $ | 397,384 | | | $ | 183,715 | | | $ | 581,099 | | | $ | 616,780 | | | $ | 1,103 | | | $ | 1,198,982 | |
Purchased power and gas | | | 123,771 | | | | - | | | | 123,771 | | | | 321,986 | | | | 310 | | | | 446,067 | |
Operation and maintenance | | | 135,282 | | | | 36,049 | | | | 171,331 | | | | 130,761 | | | | (11,264 | ) | | | 290,828 | |
Transmission wholesale | | | - | | | | 65,777 | | | | 65,777 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 65,777 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 35,902 | | | | 12,635 | | | | 48,537 | | | | 55,994 | | | | 7,877 | | | | 112,408 | |
Taxes - other than income taxes | | | 38,597 | | | | 26,832 | | | | 65,429 | | | | 37,080 | | | | 465 | | | | 102,974 | |
Merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 6,090 | | | | 6,090 | |
Operating Income | | | 63,832 | | | | 42,422 | | | | 106,254 | | | | 70,959 | | | | (2,375 | ) | | | 174,838 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Income and (Deductions), net | | | 9,503 | | | | 2,793 | | | | 12,296 | | | | (587 | ) | | | (14,075 | ) | | | (2,366 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest Charges, net | | | 22,661 | | | | 9,832 | | | | 32,493 | | | | 21,320 | | | | 16,509 | | | | 70,322 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from Equity Investments | | | 10,398 | | | | - | | | | 10,398 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 10,398 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | | | 61,072 | | | | 35,383 | | | | 96,455 | | | | 49,052 | | | | (32,959 | ) | | | 112,548 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income Taxes | | | 18,015 | | | | 12,262 | | | | 30,277 | | | | 18,749 | | | | (13,750 | ) | | | 35,276 | |
Net Income (Loss) | | | 43,057 | | | | 23,121 | | | | 66,178 | | | | 30,303 | | | | (19,209 | ) | | | 77,272 | |
Less: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock Dividends of Subsidiary, Noncontrolling Interests | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (21 | ) | | | - | | | | (21 | ) |
Net Income (Loss) attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 43,057 | | | $ | 23,121 | | | $ | 66,178 | | | $ | 30,324 | | | $ | (19,209 | ) | | $ | 77,293 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Capital Expenditures (1) | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 91,600 | | | $ | 78,278 | | | $ | 26,293 | | | $ | 196,171 | |
| | Electric Distribution and Transmission (2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Distribution | | | Transmission | | | Total | | | Gas Distribution (3) | | | Other | | | Total (3) | |
Total Assets at September 30, 2015 | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 2,930,013 | | | $ | 2,069,913 | | | $ | 172,440 | | | $ | 5,172,366 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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 September 30, 2015, was $1,343.4 million and $699.7 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 September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. |
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
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). All other regulatory approvals have been obtained. 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 terminating the proceedings. On July 31, 2015, UIL and Iberdrola USA (and its related entities) filed a new application with PURA 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). 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 new application also included an agreement to negotiate a consent order with DEEP to remediate the English Station site in New Haven, Connecticut, formerly owned by UI. On September 16, 2015, UI signed a Proposed Partial Consent Order that, when issued by the Commissioner of DEEP, and subject to the closing of the merger and other terms and conditions in the Proposed Partial Consent Order, would require UI to investigate and remediate certain environmental conditions within the perimeter of the English Station site. Under the Proposed Partial Consent Order, to the extent that the cost of this investigation and remediation of the English Station site is less than $30 million, UI will remit to the State of Connecticut the difference between such cost and $30 million, to be used for a public purpose as determined in the discretion of the Governor of the State of Connecticut, the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut, and the Commissioner of DEEP. Pursuant to the Proposed Partial Consent Order, upon its issuance and subject to its terms and conditions, UI would be obligated to comply with the Proposed Partial Consent Order, even if the cost of such compliance exceeds $30 million. The State will discuss options with UI on recovering or funding any cost above $30 million such as through public funding or recovery from third parties, however it is not bound to agree to or support any means of recovery or funding.
On September 18, 2015, UIL Holdings, Iberdrola USA (including its related parties) and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) filed a settlement agreement with PURA that included various commitments in addition to those included in the July 31, 2015 application. The settlement agreement includes a commitment for $12.5 million in additional rate credits for CNG’s customers and $7.5 million in additional rate credits for SCG’s customers, both of which would be allocated over the ten-year period of 2018 – 2027. As part of the settlement, both OCC and UI will also withdraw their respective appeals of certain PURA decisions that are currently pending. The settlement agreement also includes minor modifications to certain commitments with respect to local management to provide further specificity with respect to maintaining local control over UIL Holdings’ utilities. Lastly, the settlement agreement includes certain modifications to those ring-fencing measures proposed in the application, as well as several additional ring-fencing measures. The modifications include requiring the appointment of an officer or employee of UIL Holdings or a subsidiary of UIL Holdings as a director of the special purpose entity; additional restrictions on any utility subsidiary of UIL Holdings paying dividends within the first six months after the closing of the merger or making distributions to its parent entity if its credit rating is below investment grade; and additional ring-fencing measures related to the role of UIL Holdings’ senior management with respect to the utility subsidiaries of UIL Holdings. A final decision from PURA is currently scheduled for December 9, 2015.
On October 19, 2015, UIL Holdings and Iberdrola USA (including its related parties), the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) filed a settlement
agreement with the DPU that supplements, modifies and supersedes the various commitments included in the March 25, 2015 application and August 6, 2015 updated testimony. The settlement agreement includes $4 million in rate credits to Berkshire’s customers and $1 million for jobs, economic development, or alternative heating programs for municipal owned buildings, low-income and moderate income residential consumers, or residences or businesses in Berkshire’s service territory, as determined by DOER. The settlement agreement also includes a distribution base rate freeze for Berkshire such that current distribution rates for Berkshire remain in effect, with no new distribution base rates in effect prior to June 1, 2018. The settlement agreement includes a commitments to maintain Berkshire’s current level of charitable giving, with an additional $80,000 in the first year following the closing, no involuntary terminations in Massachusetts for the first three years following the closing except for cause or performance as well as similar local management, ring-fencing and economic commitments to those that were offered in the settlement agreement filed with PURA in Connecticut described above. The filing of the settlement agreement requests that the DPU approve the settlement agreement and authorize the merger by December 18, 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, as amended, 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 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 2015, 80% of its standard service load for the first half of 2016 and 30% of the standard serve load for the second 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 September 30, 2015, UI would have had to post an aggregate of approximately $10.0 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 state attorneys general, state regulatory commissions, consumer advocates, consumer groups, municipal parties and other parties 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 and on August 26 2015, reply 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 $3.4 million in the first nine months of 2015 relating to the third complaint and the March Order. As of September 30, 2015, net pre-tax reserves relating to refunds and potential refunds to customers under all three claims were approximately $5.1 million and cumulative pre-tax reserves were approximately $11.5 million, of which $6.4 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 December 2015 and (3) the Central Connecticut Reliability Project (CCRP), 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. Based on the ISO-NE reassessment of (CCRP) and the currently planned generation in Connecticut, UI does not anticipate making any investments in GHCC or further 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 September 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 an immaterial amount and $0.5 million in the three‑month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. UI earned pre-tax income on deposits, net of transferred assets, of approximately $1.2 million in each of the nine��month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.
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.
GenConn filed a revenue requirements request with PURA on June 30, 2015, seeking approval of its 2015 revenue requirements for the period commencing January 1, 2016 for both the GenConn Devon and GenConn Middletown facilities. A final decision on this request is expected by the end of 2015.
As of September 30, 2015, UI’s equity investment in GenConn was $110.3 million and there was $0.1 million of undistributed earnings.
UI’s pre-tax income from its equity investment in GenConn was $3.4 million and $3.5 million for the three-month periods ending September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. UI’s pre-tax income from its equity investment in GenConn for each of the nine-month periods ending September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $10.3 million and $10.4 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 $6.0 million and $5.5 million in the three-month periods ending September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. UI received cash distributions from GenConn of $14.1 million and $14.3 million in the nine-month periods ending September 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.
UI filed a motion to stay the appeals in the two proceedings discussed above in connection with the settlement agreement filed with PURA in the change in control proceeding. On October 12, 2015, the motions to stay were granted. Upon PURA’s acceptance of the settlement agreement, such proceedings would be terminated.
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. These lawsuits were stayed pending the disposition of mediation efforts involving the parties and certain claims relating to the English Station site. 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.
On September 16, 2015, UI signed a Proposed Partial Consent Order that, when issued by the Commissioner of DEEP, and subject to the closing of the merger and other terms and conditions in the Proposed Partial Consent Order, would require UI to investigate and remediate certain environmental conditions within the perimeter of the English Station site. Under the Proposed Partial Consent Order, to the extent that the cost of this investigation and remediation of the English Station site is less than $30 million, UI will remit to the State of Connecticut the difference between such costs and $30 million to be used for a public purpose as determined in the discretion of the Governor of the State of Connecticut, the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut, and the Commissioner of DEEP. Pursuant to the Proposed Partial Consent Order, upon its issuance and subject to its terms and conditions, UI is obligated to comply with the Proposed Partial Consent Order, even if the cost of such compliance exceeds $30 million. The State will discuss options with UI for recovering or funding any cost above $30 million such as through public funding or recovery from third parties, however it is not bound to agree to or support any means of recovery or funding. On September 30, 2015, the Hearing Officer issued a Ruling on Motion for Stay of further proceedings on the administrative order; the Motion for Stay had been filed by DEEP. Pursuant to this Ruling on Motion for Stay, all proceedings on the administrative order have been stayed for 120 days. A status conference is scheduled for January 28, 2016.
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. 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. In connection with the settlement agreement filed with PURA in the change in control proceeding, CNG filed a motion with PURA to extend the due date for CNG’s response to PURA’s comments on the private letter ruling to November 24, 2015.
The OCC filed a motion to stay the appeal discussed above in connection with the settlement agreement filed with PURA in the change in control proceeding. On August 31, 2015, the motion to stay was granted. Upon PURA’s acceptance of the settlement agreement, the proceeding would be terminated.
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 September 30, 2015, the assets
accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as Level 3 instruments, which consist primarily of contracts for differences (CfDs), represent 55.8% 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 nine 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 and Other Investments
On July 24, 2015, UIL Holdings announced its participation in Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company LLC’s (TGP) proposed Northeast Energy Direct project (NED pipeline) through an acquisition of a 2.5% equity interest in Northeast Expansion LLC. Northeast Expansion LLC is a joint venture between an affiliate of Kinder Morgan, Inc., (Kinder Morgan) and Liberty Utilities (Pipeline & Transmission) Corp, which will construct and own the NED pipeline, a new, “market path” natural gas pipeline segment of approximately 188 miles from Wright, New York, to Dracut, Massachusetts This 2.5% equity interest, which totaled approximately $1.6 million as of September 30, 2015, 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, 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.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At September 30, 2015, UIL Holdings had $83.7 million of unrestricted cash and temporary cash investments. This represents a decrease of $31.9 million from the corresponding balance at December 31, 2014. The components of this decrease, 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 | | | 276.3 | |
| | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities: | | | | |
Cash invested in plant - including AFUDC debt | | | (254.2 | ) |
Deposits in NEEWS | | | (1.5 | ) |
Cash distributions from GenConn | | | 4.0 | |
Investment in NED pipeline | | | (1.6 | ) |
Changes in restricted cash | | | (0.2 | ) |
| | | (253.5 | ) |
| | | | |
Net cash (used in) financing activities: | | | | |
Issuance of long-term debt | | | 50.0 | |
Payments on long-term debt | | | (27.5 | ) |
Line of credit borrowings (repayments), net | | | (4.0 | ) |
Dividend payments | | | (73.3 | ) |
Other | | | 0.1 | |
| | | (54.7 | ) |
| | | | |
Net change in cash | | | (31.9 | ) |
| | | | |
Unrestricted cash and temporary cash investments, September 30, 2015 | | $ | 83.7 | |
(1) As of September 30, 2015, we had $1.3 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 $276.3 million in the first nine months of 2015, compared with $323.6 million in the first nine 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, excess GSC 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 as well as decreased costs of natural gas in storage which was primarily attributable to lower purchased gas rates and lower gas costs associated with non-firm customers.
Cash capital expenditures totaled $254.2 million in the first nine months of 2015, compared with $196.2 million in the first nine 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 $14.1 million from GenConn in the first nine months of 2015, compared with $14.3 million in the first nine months of 2014.
UIL Holdings paid common dividends of $73.3 million in the first nine months of both 2015 and 2014.
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 September 30, 2015, there were $85 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 January 31, 2016 and June 16, 2016. Available credit under the UIL Holdings Credit Facility at September 30, 2015 totaled $310.6 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 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 nine months of 2015, we made pension contributions of $15 million. No further contributions are expected during the remainder of 2015.
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 September 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 $34 million from the previously disclosed $449 million reported in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease is primarily related to project deferrals into future periods.
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 September 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.
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.
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 nine-month periods ended September 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.
Third Quarter 2015 vs. Third Quarter 2014
UIL Holdings’ net income was $15.6 million, or $0.27 per share, for the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $3.1 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to the third quarter of 2014. UIL Holdings’ net income for the third quarter of 2015 excluding nonrecurring items was $16.1 million, or $0.28 per share, a decrease of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share, compared to the third quarter of 2014. The table below presents a comparison of UIL Holdings’ net income and EPS for the third quarter of 2015 and the third quarter of 2014.
| | Quarter Ended September 30, 2015 | | | Quarter Ended September 30, 2014 | | | 2015 More (Less) than 2014 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) (In Millions except per share amounts) | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Electric Distribution and Transmission | | $ | 26.6 | | | $ | 26.6 | | | $ | - | |
Transmission ROE reserves | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (3.2 | ) | | | 3.1 | |
Total Electric Distribution and Transmission | | | 26.5 | | | | 23.4 | | | | 3.1 | |
Gas Distribution | | | (7.4 | ) | | | (6.5 | ) | | | (0.9 | ) |
Non-Utility excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | (3.1 | ) | | | (3.5 | ) | | | 0.4 | |
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | 16.0 | | | | 13.4 | | | | 2.6 | |
Non-Utility merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | (0.4 | ) | | | (0.9 | ) | | | 0.5 | |
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 15.6 | | | $ | 12.5 | | | $ | 3.1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
EPS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Electric Distribution and Transmission | | $ | 0.46 | | | $ | 0.47 | | | $ | (0.01 | ) |
Transmission ROE reserves | | | - | | | | (0.06 | ) | | | 0.06 | |
Total Electric Distribution and Transmission | | | 0.46 | | | | 0.41 | | | | 0.05 | |
Gas Distribution | | | (0.13 | ) | | | (0.11 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) |
Non-Utility excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) | | | 0.02 | |
Total EPS - Basic excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.23 | | | | 0.05 | |
Non-Utility merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | - | |
Total EPS - Basic | | $ | 0.27 | | | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | 0.05 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total EPS - Diluted | | $ | 0.27 | | | $ | 0.22 | | | $ | 0.05 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
EPS - Basic - Excluding impact of nonrecurring items (1) | | $ | 0.28 | | | $ | 0.29 | | | $ | (0.01 | ) |
EPS - Diluted - Excluding impact of nonrecurring items (1) | | $ | 0.28 | | | $ | 0.29 | | | $ | (0.01 | ) |
(1) | Nonrecurring items include Transmission ROE reserves and non-utility merger and acquisition related expenses. |
Note: Certain EPS amounts related to the quarter ended September 30, 2014 have been updated to correct for rounding and to conform to the current presentation.
Electric Distribution and Transmission
Overall, UI’s operating revenue increased by $39.2 million, from $197.2 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $236.4 million in the third quarter of 2015. Retail revenue increased by $6.2 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 third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014. Retail sales increased by 151 million kWh, from 1,447 million kWh in the third quarter of 2014, to 1,598 million kWh in the third quarter of 2015. Retail sales normalized for the weather impact increased by 38 million kWh, from 1,481 million kWh in the third quarter of 2014, to 1,519 million kWh in the third quarter of 2015. Other revenues increased by $33.0 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, partially offset by the distribution revenue decoupling adjustment, none of which directly impact net income.
Purchased power expense increased by $9.0 million, from $38.0 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $47.0 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 $15.9 million, from $54.3 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $70.2 million in the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in uncollectible expense, employee benefits expense as well as increases in recoverable costs associated with regulatory true-up items, primarily conservation and load management (C&LM) programs, which do not directly impact net income.
UI’s transmission wholesale expenses increased by $4.5 million, from $25.8 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $30.3 million in the second quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to higher 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 $1.8 million, from $16.2 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $18.0 million in the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increased amortization expense related to UI’s enhanced tree-trimming program well as increased depreciation expense due to increases in software.
UI’s taxes other than income taxes increased $1.7 million, from $24.7 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $26.4 million in the third quarter of 2015. The increase is primarily related to increased gross receipts taxes resulting from increased operating revenues.
UI’s other income and deductions decreased by $1.7 million, from $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $2.1million in the third quarter of 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in interest earned on deposits in NEEWS, decreases 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.
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 $18.1 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $0.2 million, compared to the third quarter of 2014.
Transmission
The transmission business had total net income of $8.4 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $2.9 million, compared to the third quarter of 2014. The increase was primarily attributable to the decrease in reserves recorded in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014 related to FERC ROE claims.
Gas Distribution
The Gas Companies’ operating revenue decreased by $3.9 million, from $94.7 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $90.8 million in the third 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 and lower normalized use per customer, partially offset by higher sales volume due to increased customer growth and CNG’s DIMP & revenue decoupling adjustments. The decrease in non-firm customer revenues is largely offset by lower purchased gas expense. The customer growth in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014 resulted in a $2.6 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 $2.8 million, from $30.5 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $27.7 million in the third 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 lower use per customer, 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 increased by $2.8 million, from $45 million in the third quarter of 2014 to $47.8 million in the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increased uncollectible expense, outside services expense, payroll and employee benefits expense and corporate charges partially offset by lower conservation expense. Conservation expenses are fully offset by operating revenues.
The Gas Companies’ income tax expense increased $1.3 million, from a $6.2 million benefit in the third quarter of 2014 to a $4.9 million benefit in the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to the absence in 2015 of a change in the annualized effective tax rate.
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 3.5 million, or $0.06 per share in the second quarter of 2015, compared to net after-tax costs of $4.4 million, or $0.08 per share, in the third quarter of 2014. The decrease in costs was primarily due an increase in income earned on UIL Corporate investments that support UIL Holdings.
First Nine Months 2015 vs. First Nine Months 2014
UIL Holdings’ net income was $89.1 million, or $1.56 per share, for the first nine months of 2015, an increase of $11.8 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to the first nine months of 2014. UIL Holdings’ net income for the first nine months of 2015 excluding nonrecurring items was $95.8 million, or $1.68 per share, an increase of $2.5 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to the first nine months of 2014. The table below presents a comparison of UIL Holdings’ net income and EPS for the first nine months of 2015 and the first nine months of 2014.
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 | | | 2015 More (Less) than 2014 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) (In Millions except per share amounts) | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Electric Distribution and Transmission | | $ | 64.9 | | | $ | 69.4 | | | $ | (4.5 | ) |
Transmission ROE reserves | | | (2.3 | ) | | | (3.2 | ) | | | 0.9 | |
Total Electric Distribution and Transmission | | $ | 62.6 | | | | 66.2 | | | | (3.6 | ) |
Gas Distribution | | | 35.2 | | | | 30.3 | | | | 4.9 | |
Non-Utility excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | (4.3 | ) | | | (6.4 | ) | | | 2.1 | |
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | 93.5 | | | | 90.1 | | | | 3.4 | |
Non-Utility merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | (4.4 | ) | | | (12.8 | ) | | | 8.4 | |
Net Income attributable to UIL Holdings | | $ | 89.1 | | | $ | 77.3 | | | $ | 11.8 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
EPS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Electric Distribution and Transmission | | $ | 1.14 | | | $ | 1.22 | | | $ | (0.08 | ) |
Transmission ROE reserves | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | 0.02 | |
Total Electric Distribution and Transmission | | $ | 1.10 | | | | 1.16 | | | | (0.06 | ) |
Gas Distribution | | | 0.61 | | | | 0.53 | | | | 0.08 | |
Non-Utility excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.11 | ) | | | 0.04 | |
Total EPS - Basic excluding merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | 1.64 | | | | 1.58 | | | | 0.06 | |
Non-Utility merger and acquisition-related expenses | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.22 | ) | | | 0.14 | |
Total EPS - Basic | | $ | 1.56 | | | $ | 1.36 | | | $ | 0.20 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total EPS - Diluted | | $ | 1.55 | | | $ | 1.35 | | | $ | 0.20 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
EPS - Basic - Excluding impact of nonrecurring items (1) | | $ | 1.68 | | | $ | 1.64 | | | $ | 0.04 | |
EPS - Diluted - Excluding impact of nonrecurring items (1) | | $ | 1.67 | | | $ | 1.63 | | | $ | 0.04 | |
| (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 $95.7 million, from $581.1 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $676.8 million in the first nine months of 2015. Retail revenue increased by $78.7 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 nine months of 2015 as compared to the first nine months of 2014. Retail sales increased by 169 million kWh, from 4,046 million kWh in the first nine months of 2014, to 4,215 million kWh in the first nine months of 2015. Retail sales normalized for the weather impact increased by 15 million kWh, from 4,067 million kWh in the first nine months of 2014, to 4,082 million kWh in the first nine months of 2015. Other revenues increased by $17.0 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, partially offset by the distribution revenue decoupling adjustment, none of which directly impact net income.
Purchased power expense increased by $57.1million, from $123.8 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $180.9 million in the first nine 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 $23.9 million, from $171.3 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $195.2 million in the first nine months of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in payroll and employee benefits expense, uncollectible expense and outside services expense as well as increases in recoverable costs associated with regulatory true-up items, C&LM programs, which do not directly impact net income.
UI’s transmission wholesale expenses increased by $2.2 million, from $65.8 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $68.0 million in the first nine months of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to higher 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 $5.2 million, from $48.5 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $53.7 million in the first nine months of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increased amortization expense related to UI’s enhanced tree-trimming program as well as increased depreciation expense due to increases in software.
UI’s taxes other than income taxes increased $5.8 million, from $65.4 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $71.2 million in the first nine months of 2015. The increase is primarily related to increased gross receipts taxes resulting from increased operating revenues as well as increased property taxes resulting from increased plant and equipment.
UI’s other income and deductions decreased by $3.8 million, from $12.3 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $8.5 million in the first nine 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 $2.3 million, from $32.5 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $34.8 million in the first nine months of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in carrying charges on deferred amounts due to customers as well as increased interest expense due to the issuance of additional long-term debt.
UI’s income tax expense decreased $1.1 million, from $30.3 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $29.2 million in the first nine months of 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower pre-tax earnings partially offset by 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 $39.9 million in the first nine months of 2015, a decrease of $3.2 million, compared to the first nine months of 2014. The decrease was primarily attributable to increases in payroll and employee benefits expense and depreciation and amortization expense as well as adjustments associated with the aforementioned federal tax audit.
Transmission
The transmission business had total net income of $22.7million in the first nine months of 2015, a decrease of $0.4 million, compared to the first nine months of 2014.
Gas Distribution
The Gas Companies’ operating revenue decreased by $67.0 million, from $616.8 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $549.8 million in the first nine months of 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower purchased gas rates, lower revenues associated with non-firm customers due to lower volume, lower normalized use per customer as well as 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 and CNG’s DIMP adjustment. The decrease in non-firm customer revenues is largely offset by lower purchased gas expense. Retail sales increased by 1.3 million mcf, from 60.5 million mcf in the first nine months of 2014, to 61.8 million mcf in the first nine months of 2015. The increase in sales volume resulted from the impact of colder weather in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014 as well as from increased customer growth year over year. Temperatures were colder in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 which resulted in a $6.2 million increase, pre-tax, in gross margin in the first nine months of 2015. The customer growth in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014 resulted in a $6.3 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 $77.3 million, from $322 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $244.7 million in the first nine months of 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower purchased gas rates, lower volume due to lower use per customer 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 $6.8 million, from $130.8 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $137.6 million in the first nine months of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in payroll and employee benefits expense, outside services expense, corporate charges and conservation expenses partially offset by lower uncollectible expense and regulatory amortization expense. Conservation expenses are fully offset by operating revenues.
The Gas Companies’ depreciation and amortization increased by $1.5 million, from $56.0 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $57.5 million in the first nine months of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increased investment in plant and equipment related to both customer growth and scheduled replacement of gas mains and services.
The Gas Companies’ other income and deductions increased by $3.2 million, from $0.6 million of other deductions in the first nine months of 2014 to $2.6 million of other income in the first nine 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.
The Gas Companies’ income tax expense increased $1.9 million, from $18.7 million in the first nine months of 2014 to $20.6 million in the first nine months 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 $8.7 million, or $0.15 per share, in the first nine months of 2015 compared to net after-tax costs of $19.2 million, or $0.33 per share, in the first nine months of 2014. The decrease in costs was primarily due to decreased after-tax merger and acquisition-related expenses in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the first nine months of 2014.
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 September 30, 2015. As of September 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 September 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, UIL Holdings’ internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
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, in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, which disclosures are incorporated herein by reference, and elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Other than the changes identified below, there have been no additional legal proceedings identified and no material changes with regard to the legal proceedings previously disclosed.
UIL Holdings Shareholder Litigation—Proposed UIL Holdings and Iberdrola USA merger. Following the February 25, 2015 announcement that UIL Holdings had entered into a definitive agreement to combine with a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, five shareholder putative class action lawsuits were filed in Connecticut Superior Court, beginning on February 27, 2015, against UIL Holdings, its directors, Iberdrola USA and merger sub and/or Morgan Stanley, alleging breach of fiduciary duties and aiding and abetting in connection with the proposed transaction. The five actions have been consolidated and transferred to the Complex Litigation Docket of the Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford, Connecticut. The consolidated amended complaint generally alleges that UIL Holdings’ directors conducted an allegedly inadequate sale process, agreed to the merger at a price that allegedly undervalues UIL Holdings, agreed to deal protection measures that allegedly prevent another company from making a superior offer, and retained Morgan Stanley as UIL Holdings’ financial advisor despite Morgan Stanley’s alleged conflict of interest. The consolidated complaint also alleges that certain of UIL Holdings’ directors approved the merger to benefit themselves personally. In addition, the consolidated complaint alleges that the proxy statement/prospectus fails to provide shareowners with all material information necessary for them to make an informed decision on whether to vote in favor
of the transaction. The consolidated amended complaint seeks various remedies, including to enjoin or rescind the merger, to enjoin a shareowner vote on the merger unless or until additional disclosures are made in UIL Holdings’ proxy statement, and unspecified damages, costs and fees.
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 15,120 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 |
July 1-31 | | 10,360 | | | 45.39 | | None | | None |
August 1-31 | | 2,880 | | | 47.35 | | None | | None |
September 1-30 | | 1,880 | | | 48.07 | | None | | None |
Total | | 15,120 | | | 46.10 | | 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.
Exhibit No. | | Description |
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| | Precedent Agreement by and between Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. and UIL Holdings Corporation. |
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| | Certification of Periodic Financial Report. |
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| | Certification of Periodic Financial Report. |
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| | Certification of Periodic Financial Report. |
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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 September 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on November 2, 2015 is formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, (ii) the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
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 |
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Date | 11/2/15 | | /s/ Richard J. Nicholas | |
| | | Richard J. Nicholas | |
| | | Executive Vice President | |
| | | and Chief Financial Officer | |