Degree Days | Three Months Ended |
| June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | |
| | Variance | | Variance |
| | from | | from |
Heating Degree Days: | Actual | Normal | Actual | Normal |
Actual – | | | | |
Black Hills Power | 1,273 | 28% | 1,230 | 23% |
Cheyenne Light | 1,261 | 2% | 1,306 | 6% |
Colorado Electric | 579 | (10)% | — | — |
| | | | |
Cooling Degree Days: | | | | |
Actual – | | | | |
Black Hills Power | 51 | (50)% | 29 | (71)% |
Cheyenne Light | 24 | (43)% | 27 | (36)% |
Colorado Electric | 184 | (15)% | — | — |
Degree Days | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | |
| | Variance | | Variance |
| | from | | from |
Heating Degree Days: | Actual | Normal | Actual | Normal |
Actual – | | | | |
Black Hills Power | 4,527 | 5% | 4,591 | 7% |
Cheyenne Light | 4,085 | (7)% | 4,542 | 4% |
Colorado Electric | 2,949 | (10)% | — | — |
| | | | |
Cooling Degree Days: | | | | |
Actual – | | | | |
Black Hills Power | 51 | (50)% | 29 | (71)% |
Cheyenne Light | 24 | (43)% | 27 | (42)% |
Colorado Electric | 184 | (15)% | — | — |
57
| Electric Utilities Power Plant Availability |
| |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | |
Coal-fired plants | 81.8%** | 89.0%* | 89.5%** | 91.5%* |
Other plants | 92.6% | 78.8% | 96.0% | 86.9% |
Total availability | 86.0% | 85.4% | 92.0% | 89.9% |
_________________________
| * | Reflects major maintenance outages at our Ben French, Neil Simpson I and Osage coal-fired plants. The Ben French outage was scheduled for 25 days and was subsequently extended to accelerate major maintenance originally scheduled for 2009. The actual outage was 88 days and resulted in the plant’s output being restored to its full rated capacity. The Osage outage was originally scheduled for approximately 10 days and lasted 52 days as a result of additional unplanned required maintenance. All the plants were online by the end of the second quarter of 2008. |
** | Reflects major maintenance outages at Neil Simpson I and Neil Simpson II coal-fired plants. The Neil Simpson I outage was scheduled for 31 days and was subsequently extended to 39 days. The Neil Simpson II outage was scheduled for 18 days and was subsequently extended to 27 days. The outages were extended on both units for major rotor damage discovered during the overhauls. |
Cheyenne Light Natural Gas Distribution
Included in the Electric Utilities is Cheyenne Light’s natural gas distribution system. The following table summarizes certain operating information of these natural gas distribution operations:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | | | | | |
Sales Revenues (in thousands): | | | | | | | | |
Residential | $ | 3,634 | $ | 6,835 | $ | 12,646 | $ | 16,843 |
Commercial | | 1,631 | | 3,365 | | 6,060 | | 8,393 |
Industrial | | 373 | | 1,355 | | 1,807 | | 3,143 |
Other | | 185 | | 197 | | 409 | | 408 |
Total Sales Revenues | $ | 5,823 | $ | 11,752 | $ | 20,922 | $ | 28,787 |
| | | | | | | | |
Sales Margins (in thousands): | | | | | | | | |
Residential | $ | 2,089 | $ | 2,270 | $ | 5,366 | $ | 5,763 |
Commercial | | 746 | | 560 | | 1,917 | | 1,838 |
Industrial | | 98 | | 127 | | 268 | | 307 |
Other | | 185 | | 198 | | 409 | | 422 |
Total Sales Margins | $ | 3,118 | $ | 3,155 | $ | 7,960 | $ | 8,330 |
| | | | | | | | |
Volumes Sold (Dth): | | | | | | | | |
Residential | | 553,518 | | 553,018 | | 1,568,764 | | 1,761,111 |
Commercial | | 333,213 | | 309,552 | | 917,636 | | 995,824 |
Industrial | | 135,790 | | 138,787 | | 383,115 | | 400,742 |
Total Volumes Sold | | 1,022,521 | | 1,001,357 | | 2,869,515 | | 3,157,677 |
58
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income from continuing operations for the Electric Utilities decreased $5.0 million from the prior period primarily due to the following:
• A $2.8 million decrease in margins from off-system sales reflecting the lower margins available in the industry’s current low energy price environment; |
|
• A $1.8 million decrease in retail margins primarily due to outages at Neil Simpson I, Neil Simpson II and Wyodak, partially offset by a full quarter of operations at Ben French which had outages in the second quarter of 2008; |
|
• A $5.5 million increase in net interest expense due to additional debt associated with the acquisition of Colorado Electric; and |
|
• A $1.5 million increase in employee benefit costs. |
|
Partially offsetting these were the following: |
|
• Increased margin of $1.9 million related to an increase in transmission rate effective January 1, 2009 at Black Hills Power; and |
|
• Increased AFUDC of $1.3 million primarily due to construction of Wygen III and Colorado Electric in 2009. |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income from continuing operations for the Electric Utilities decreased $5.9 million from the prior period primarily due to the following:
• A $3.8 million decrease in margins from off-system sales reflecting the lower margins available in the industry’s current low energy price environment; |
|
• An $8.7 million increase in net interest expense due to additional debt associated with the acquisition of Colorado Electric; and |
|
• A $2.3 million increase in employee benefit costs. |
|
Partially offsetting these were the following: |
|
• Increased gross margins of $3.0 million due to increase in transmission rate effective January 1, 2009 at Black Hills Power; and |
|
• Increased AFUDC of $2.9 million due to construction of Wygen III and Colorado Electric in 2009. |
59
Gas Utilities
Operating results for the Gas Utilities are as follows:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2009 |
| (in thousands) |
| | | | |
Revenue: | | | | |
Natural gas – regulated | $ | 86,760 | $ | 335,741 |
Other – non-regulated services | | 6,578 | | 13,934 |
Total sales | | 93,338 | | 349,675 |
| | | | |
Cost of sales: | | | | |
Natural gas – regulated | | 46,601 | | 227,816 |
Other – non-regulated services | | 3,891 | | 8,461 |
Total cost of sales | | 50,492 | | 236,277 |
| | | | |
Gross margin | | 42,846 | | 113,398 |
| | | | |
Operating expenses | | 37,735 | | 78,912 |
Operating income | $ | 5,111 | $ | 34,486 |
| | | | |
Income from continuing | | | | |
operations and net income | | | | |
available for common stock | $ | 442 | $ | 17,708 |
60
The following table summarizes regulated Gas Utilities’ sales revenues:
Sales Revenues | Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2009 |
| (in thousands) |
| | | | |
Residential: | | | | |
Colorado | $ | 10,740 | $ | 38,150 |
Nebraska | | 18,864 | | 78,146 |
Iowa | | 16,867 | | 71,411 |
Kansas | | 11,182 | | 41,888 |
Total Residential | | 57,653 | | 229,595 |
| | | | |
Commercial: | | | | |
Colorado | | 2,481 | | 8,313 |
Nebraska | | 6,364 | | 28,323 |
Iowa | | 6,888 | | 32,375 |
Kansas | | 3,150 | | 13,566 |
Total Commercial | | 18,883 | | 82,577 |
| | | | |
Industrial: | | | | |
Colorado | | 579 | | 709 |
Nebraska | | 577 | | 2,090 |
Iowa | | 34 | | 651 |
Kansas | | 3,325 | | 4,585 |
Total Industrial | | 4,515 | | 8,035 |
| | | | |
Transportation: | | | | |
Colorado | | 186 | | 362 |
Nebraska | | 1,969 | | 5,922 |
Iowa | | 944 | | 2,044 |
Kansas | | 1,190 | | 2,796 |
Total Transportation | | 4,289 | | 11,124 |
| | | | |
Other: | | | | |
Colorado | | 29 | | 58 |
Nebraska | | 539 | | 1,186 |
Iowa | | 267 | | 693 |
Kansas | | 585 | | 2,473 |
Total Other | | 1,420 | | 4,410 |
| | | | |
Total Regulated | | 86,760 | | 335,741 |
| | | | |
Non-regulated Services | | 6,578 | | 13,934 |
| | | | |
Total | $ | 93,338 | $ | 349,675 |
61
The following table summarizes regulated Gas Utilities’ sales margins:
Sales Margins | Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2009 |
| (in thousands) |
| | | | |
Residential: | | | | |
Colorado | $ | 3,567 | $ | 8,682 |
Nebraska | | 8,995 | | 24,130 |
Iowa | | 8,597 | | 24,162 |
Kansas | | 6,292 | | 15,348 |
Total Residential | | 27,451 | | 72,322 |
| | | | |
Commercial: | | | | |
Colorado | | 649 | | 1,616 |
Nebraska | | 2,197 | | 6,941 |
Iowa | | 2,194 | | 7,316 |
Kansas | | 1,276 | | 3,495 |
Total Commercial | | 6,316 | | 19,368 |
| | | | |
Industrial: | | | | |
Colorado | | 149 | | 184 |
Nebraska | | 70 | | 212 |
Iowa | | 24 | | 90 |
Kansas | | 536 | | 750 |
Total Industrial | | 779 | | 1,236 |
| | | | |
Transportation: | | | | |
Colorado | | 186 | | 362 |
Nebraska | | 1,969 | | 5,921 |
Iowa | | 945 | | 2,045 |
Kansas | | 1,191 | | 2,797 |
Total Transportation | | 4,291 | | 11,125 |
| | | | |
Other: | | | | |
Colorado | | 28 | | 57 |
Nebraska | | 539 | | 1,187 |
Iowa | | 267 | | 693 |
Kansas | | 488 | | 1,937 |
Total Other | | 1,322 | | 3,874 |
| | | | |
Total Regulated | | 40,159 | | 107,925 |
| | | | |
Non-regulated Services | | 2,687 | | 5,473 |
| | | | |
Total | $ | 42,846 | $ | 113,398 |
62
The following table summarizes regulated Gas Utilities’ volumes sold:
Volumes Sold | Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2009 |
| (in Dth) |
| | | | |
Residential: | | | | |
Colorado | | 1,141,526 | | 3,493,140 |
Nebraska | | 1,740,296 | | 7,440,074 |
Iowa | | 1,487,113 | | 6,952,670 |
Kansas | | 1,062,405 | | 4,009,303 |
Total Residential | | 5,431,340 | | 21,895,187 |
| | | | |
Commercial: | | | | |
Colorado | | 293,801 | | 803,279 |
Nebraska | | 865,365 | | 3,201,025 |
Iowa | | 911,543 | | 3,734,480 |
Kansas | | 408,154 | | 1,529,081 |
Total Commercial | | 2,478,863 | | 9,267,865 |
| | | | |
Industrial: | | | | |
Colorado | | 118,536 | | 130,793 |
Nebraska | | 112,284 | | 314,765 |
Iowa | | 8,551 | | 90,683 |
Kansas | | 811,964 | | 1,001,218 |
Total Industrial | | 1,051,335 | | 1,537,459 |
| | | | |
Transportation: | | | | |
Colorado | | 196,826 | | 431,800 |
Nebraska | | 5,830,746 | | 13,414,429 |
Iowa | | 3,238,495 | | 7,305,769 |
Kansas | | 3,524,951 | | 7,017,578 |
Total Transportation | | 12,791,018 | | 28,169,576 |
| | | | |
Other: | | | | |
Colorado | | — | | — |
Nebraska | | 245 | | 1,135 |
Iowa | | 12,335 | | 48,508 |
Kansas | | 17,936 | | 77,518 |
Total Other | | 30,516 | | 127,161 |
| �� | | | |
Total Regulated | | 21,783,072 | | 60,997,248 |
63
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
Degree Days | June 30, 2009 | June 30, 2009 |
| | Variance From | | Variance From |
Heating Degree Days: | Actual | Normal | Actual | Normal |
| | | | |
Colorado | 987 | 13% | 3,511 | (6)% |
Nebraska | 566 | 10% | 3,545 | (3)% |
Iowa | 772 | 9% | 4,211 | 1% |
Kansas* | 496 | 2% | 2,698 | (11)% |
Combined Gas Utilities | | | | |
Heating Degree Days | 677 | (2)% | 3,690 | (5)% |
_________________________
* | Kansas Gas has a 30-year weather normalization adjustment mechanism in place that neutralized the impact of weather on revenues at Kansas Gas. |
Results from the Gas Utilities for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 reflect the operations from the gas utilities acquired from Aquila on July 14, 2008.
The Gas Utilities were acquired on July 14, 2008 and, consequently, information for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2008 is not available. Our Gas Utilities are highly seasonal and sales volumes depend largely on weather and seasonal heating and industrial loads. Approximately 74% of our Gas Utilities’ revenues are expected in the fourth and first quarters. Therefore, revenues for and certain expenses of, these operations fluctuate significantly among quarters.
Depending upon the state jurisdiction, the winter heating season begins around November 1 and ends around March 31. Margins for the Gas Utilities for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 decreased 39% from the quarter ended March 31, 2009. This decrease was driven by a 62% decrease in residential, commercial and industrial volumes.
64
Regulatory Matters – Utilities Group
The following summarizes our recent rate case activity:
| Type of | Date | Date | Amount | Amount |
In millions | Service | Requested | Effective | Requested | Approved |
Nebraska Gas (1) | Gas | 11/2006 | 9/2007 | $ | 16.3 | $ | 9.2 |
Iowa Gas (2) | Gas | 6/2008 | 7/27/09 | $ | 13.6 | $ | 10.8 |
Colorado Gas (3) | Gas | 6/2008 | 4/2009 | $ | 2.8 | $ | 1.4 |
Black Hills Power (4) | Electric | 9/2008 | 1/2009 | $ | 4.5 | $ | 3.8 |
Kansas Gas (5) | Gas | 5/2009 | Pending | $ | 0.5 | $ | Pending |
| (1) | In November 2006, Nebraska Gas filed for a $16.3 million rate increase. Interim rates were implemented in February 2007 and, in July 2007, the NPSC granted a $9.2 million increase in annual revenues based on an equity return of 10.4% on a capital structure of 51% equity and 49% debt. Nebraska Gas appealed the decision, and the district court affirmed the NPSC order in February 2008. Because Nebraska Gas collected interim rates subject to refund, it was required to refund to customers the difference between the higher interim rates and the final rates plus interest (approximately $5.6 million). The NPA appealed one aspect of our refund plan worth approximately $0.8 million. On April 15, 2009, the District Court affirmed the NPSC refund plan order, and thereby rejected NPA’s appeal. |
| (2) | On June 3, 2009, Iowa Gas received approval from the IUB to implement new natural gas service rates for its Iowa residential, commercial and industrial customers. The rates went into effect on July 27, 2009. The approved rates allow Iowa Gas to recover capital investments made in its natural gas distribution system and offset increasing operating costs due to inflation since the last rate increase in March 2006. The new rates represent approximately $10.8 million in additional revenue. The increase is based on a return on equity of 10.1%, with a capital structure of 51.4% equity and 48.6% debt. |
(3) | In June 2008, Colorado Gas filed for a $2.8 million rate increase. The increase was based on a proposed equity return of 11.5% on a capital structure of 50% equity and 50% debt. Interim rates were not available for collection in Colorado. On September 19, 2008, Colorado Gas filed the second phase of its rate request. On January 29, 2009, a settlement agreement was filed with the CPUC and a settlement was approved with new rates effective on April 1, 2009. The new rates included an increase in annual revenues of $1.4 million, which was based on a 10.25% return on equity with a capital structure of 50.48% equity and 49.52% debt. |
(4) | On February 10, 2009, the FERC approved a formulaic approach to the method used to determine the revenue component of Black Hills Power’s open access transmission tariff, and increased the utility’s annual transmission revenue requirement by approximately $3.8 million. The revenue requirement is based on an equity return of 10.8%, and a capital structure consisting of 57% equity and 43% debt. The new rates had an effective date of January 1, 2009. |
(5) | Kansas Gas has requested a GSRS in the amount of $0.5 million annually. The KCC staff is recommending approval of all projects submitted, the filed GSRS revenue requirement of $0.5 million, and that Kansas Gas be allowed to continue collecting its current GSRS amount of $0.3 million. The KCC has until September 16, 2009 to issue an order. |
65
Non-regulated Energy Group
An analysis of results from our Non-regulated Energy Group’s operating segments follows:
Oil and Gas
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| (in thousands) |
| | | | | | | | |
Revenue | $ | 17,829 | $ | 34,209 | $ | 34,340 | $ | 60,331 |
Operating expenses* | | 16,246 | | 21,917 | | 78,508 | | 42,407 |
Operating income (loss) | $ | 1,583 | $ | 12,292 | $ | (44,168) | $ | 17,924 |
| | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) from continuing | | | | | | | | |
operations and net income | | | | | | | | |
(loss) available for common | | | | | | | | |
stock | $ | 129 | $ | 7,197 | $ | (25,591) | $ | 9,749 |
__________________________
* | Six months ended June 30, 2009 operating expenses include a $43.3 million pre-tax ceiling test impairment charge. |
The following tables provide certain operating statistics for our Oil and Gas segment:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
Fuel production: | | | | |
Bbls of oil sold | 95,900 | 102,800 | 195,300 | 202,800 |
Mcf of natural gas sold | 2,653,600 | 2,856,800 | 5,342,500 | 5,420,000 |
Mcf equivalent sales | 3,229,000 | 3,473,600 | 6,514,300 | 6,636,800 |
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | | | | | |
Average price received: (a) | | | | | | | | |
Gas/Mcf (b) | $ | 4.39 | $ | 7.92 | $ | 4.65(c) | $ | 7.71(c) |
Oil/Bbl | $ | 58.32 | $ | 100.31 | $ | 54.30 | $ | 90.05 |
| | | | | | | | |
Depletion expense/Mcfe | $ | 1.67 | $ | 2.28 | $ | 2.09 | $ | 2.30 |
________________________
(a) | Net of hedge settlement gains/losses |
(b) | Exclusive of gas liquids |
(c) | Does not include the negative revenue impacts of a $1.2 million and $2.1 million royalty settlement accrual through June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, resulting in a $0.24/Mcf and $0.42/Mcf price impact |
66
The following are summaries of LOE/Mcfe:
| Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended |
| June 30, 2009 | June 30, 2008 |
| | Gathering, | | | Gathering, | |
| | Compression | | | Compression | |
| | and | | | and | |
Location | LOE | Processing | Total | LOE | Processing | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
New Mexico | $ | 1.18 | $ | 0.28 | $ | 1.46 | $ | 1.37 | $ | 0.18 | $ | 1.55 |
Colorado | | 1.25 | | 0.37 | | 1.62 | | 1.05 | | 0.88 | | 1.93 |
Wyoming | | 1.52 | | — | | 1.52 | | 1.57 | | — | | 1.57 |
All other properties | | 0.67 | | 0.26 | | 0.93 | | 0.68 | | 0.20 | | 0.88 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
All locations | $ | 1.17 | $ | 0.21 | $ | 1.38 | $ | 1.24 | $ | 0.18 | $ | 1.42 |
| Six Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, 2009 | June 30, 2008 |
| | Gathering, | | | Gathering, | |
| | Compression | | | Compression | |
| | and | | | and | |
Location | LOE | Processing | Total | LOE | Processing | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
New Mexico | $ | 1.20 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 1.47 | $ | 1.45 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 1.76 |
Colorado | | 1.00 | | 0.41 | | 1.41 | | 1.14 | | 0.86 | | 2.00 |
Wyoming | | 1.47 | | — | | 1.47 | | 1.68 | | — | | 1.68 |
All other properties | | 0.82 | | 0.34 | | 1.16 | | 0.99 | | 0.10 | | 1.09 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
All locations | $ | 1.17 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 1.40 | $ | 1.37 | $ | 0.21 | $ | 1.58 |
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income from continuing operations decreased $7.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 primarily due to:
• Revenue decreased $16.4 million due to a 42% decrease in the average hedged price of oil received, a 45% decrease in average hedged price of gas received, and a 7% decrease in production in both oil and gas. The gas production decrease reflects production shut-ins, impact of normal decline curves, and lower levels of capital deployment. |
|
Partially offsetting these were the following: |
|
• Decreased depletion and depreciation expense of $2.2 million primarily due to a lower depletion rate reflecting previous ceiling test adjustments and an increase in estimated oil and gas proven reserves as a result of higher commodity prices than those at the end of the first quarter of 2009; |
|
• A $3.4 million decrease in production taxes due to lower oil and natural gas prices and lower production. |
67
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income from continuing operations decreased $35.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 primarily due to:
• A $27.8 million after-tax non-cash ceiling test impairment charge for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 due to a ceiling test valuation of our natural gas and crude oil properties resulting from low quarter-end natural gas prices. The write-down of gas and oil properties was based on March 31, 2009 period-end NYMEX prices of $3.63 per Mcf, adjusted to $2.23 per Mcf at the wellhead, for natural gas; and $49.66 per barrel, adjusted to $45.32 per barrel at the wellhead, for crude oil; and |
|
• Revenue decreased $26.0 million due to a 40% decrease in the average hedged price of oil received, a 40% decrease in average hedged price of gas received, a 4% decrease in oil production and a 1% decrease in gas production. |
|
Partially offsetting these were the following: |
|
• A $1.5 million decrease in LOE as compared to 2008, which was impacted by severe 2008 weather; |
|
• A $5.0 million decrease in production taxes due to lower oil and natural gas prices and lower production; and |
|
• A $3.8 million income tax benefit related to an adjustment of a previously recorded tax position. |
Coal Mining
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| (in thousands) |
| | | | | | | | |
Revenue | $ | 13,493 | $ | 12,647 | $ | 27,895 | $ | 25,894 |
Operating expenses | | 14,488 | | 12,729 | | 28,669 | | 24,346 |
Operating (loss) income | $ | (995) | $ | (82) | $ | (774) | $ | 1,548 |
| | | | | | | | |
(Loss) income from continuing | | | | | | | | |
operations and net (loss) | | | | | | | | |
income available for | | | | | | | | |
common stock | $ | (499) | $ | 496 | $ | 319 | $ | 2,124 |
68
The following table provides certain operating statistics for our Coal Mining segment:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| (in thousands) |
| | | | |
Tons of coal sold | 1,363 | 1,453 | 2,870 | 2,998 |
Cubic yards of overburden | | | | |
moved | 3,473 | 2,623 | 6,635 | 5,653 |
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2008.
Income from continuing operations from our Coal Mining segment for the three months ended June 30, 2009 decreased $1.0 million compared to the same period in the prior year. Results were impacted by the following:
• Operating expenses increased $1.8 million, or 14%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009 primarily due to increased depreciation expense of $1.4 million due to an increased asset base, and increased coal taxes of $0.9 million due to higher coal prices. Cubic yards of overburden moved increased 32%. |
|
Partially offsetting the increased expenses were the following: |
|
• Revenue increased $0.8 million, or 7%, for the three month period ended June 30, 2009 primarily due to an increase in average price received, partially offset by lower volumes sold. The higher average price received includes the impact of regulated sales prices determined in part by a return on investment base; and |
|
• Increased operating expenses were offset by lower diesel fuel costs of $0.6 million. |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2008.
Income from continuing operations from our Coal Mining segment for the six months ended June 30, 2009 decreased $1.8 million compared to the same period in the prior year. Results were impacted by the following:
• Operating expenses increased $4.3 million, or 18%, during the six months ended June 30, 2009 primarily due to increased depreciation expense of $3.7 million due to increased equipment usage and an increased asset base, and increased coal taxes of $1.0 million due to higher coal prices. Cubic yards of overburden moved increased 17%. |
|
Partially offsetting the increased expenses were the following: |
|
• Revenue increased $2.0 million, or 8%, for the six month period ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 primarily due to an increase in average price received, partially offset by lower volumes sold. The higher average price received includes the impact of regulated sales prices determined in part by a return on investment base; and |
|
• Increased operating expenses were offset by lower diesel fuel costs of $1.0 million. |
69
Energy Marketing
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| (in thousands) |
| | | | | | | | |
Revenue – | | | | | | | | |
Realized gas marketing | | | | | | | | |
gross margin | $ | 11,384 | $ | (5,563) | $ | 22,354 | $ | 7,862 |
Unrealized gas marketing | | | | | | | | |
gross margin | | (5,642) | | 4,151 | | (6,978) | | (2,472) |
Realized oil marketing | | | | | | | | |
gross margin | | 5,131 | | 2,755 | | 8,108 | | 4,328 |
Unrealized oil marketing | | | | | | | | |
gross margin | | (3,135) | | 3,807 | | (8,927) | | 1,551 |
| | 7,738 | | 5,150 | | 14,557 | | 11,269 |
| | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses | | 4,169 | | 4,544 | | 9,431 | | 10,481 |
Operating income | $ | 3,569 | $ | 606 | $ | 5,126 | $ | 788 |
| | | | | | | | |
Income from continuing operations | | | | | | | | |
and net income available for | | | | | | | | |
common stock | $ | 2,210 | $ | 365 | $ | 3,247 | $ | 664 |
The following is a summary of average daily volumes marketed:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | |
Natural gas physical sales – MMBtus | 1,582,900 | 1,599,300 | 1,916,000 | 1,696,700 |
| | | | |
Crude oil physical sales – Bbls | 11,846 | 6,896 | 11,456 | 6,990 |
| | | | | |
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income from continuing operations increased $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, primarily due to:
• A $19.3 million increase in realized marketing margins primarily due to differing market conditions. In addition, gross margins from crude oil were higher due to the impact of increasing commodity prices and increased volumes marketed. |
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Partially offsetting these increases was the following: |
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• A $16.7 million decrease in unrealized marketing margins. |
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Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income from continuing operations increased $2.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, primarily due to:
• An $18.3 million increase in realized marketing margins primarily due to differing market conditions. In addition, gross margins from crude oil were higher due to the impact of increasing commodity prices and increased volumes marketed. |
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Partially offsetting these increases were the following: |
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• A $15.0 million decrease in unrealized marketing margins; and |
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• Lower operating expenses of $1.0 million primarily due to lower bank fees resulting from lower credit facility utilization. |
Power Generation
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| (in thousands) |
| | | | | | | | |
Revenue | $ | 7,215 | $ | 8,511 | $ | 14,834 | $ | 17,375 |
Operating expense (gains) | | 4,347 | | 7,290 | | (17,779) | | 14,539 |
Operating income | $ | 2,868 | $ | 1,221 | $ | 32,613 | $ | 2,836 |
| | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) from | | | | | | | | |
continuing operations | $ | 758 | $ | (472) | $ | 17,911 | $ | (1,368) |
The following table provides certain operating statistics for our retained plants within the Power Generation segment:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended |
| June 30, | June 30, |
| 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | |
Contracted power plant fleet availability: | | | | |
Coal-fired plant | 92.4% | 93.3% | 94.0% | 94.2% |
Other plants | 98.5% | 89.5% | 98.3% | 94.7% |
Total availability | 94.9% | 91.8% | 95.7% | 94.4% |
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Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income from continuing operations increased $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, and was primarily impacted by:
• 2008 results reflect $6.4 million of allocated indirect corporate costs and inter-segment interest expense related to the IPP assets sold and not reclassified to discontinued operations. |
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Partially offsetting were the following: |
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• A decrease of $1.0 million reflecting the net earnings impact of replacing the 20 MW power purchase agreement with operating and site lease agreements related to MEAN’s purchase of 23.5% ownership interest of Wygen I; and |
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• A $4.1 million increase in net interest expense primarily due to a change in inter-segment debt to equity capital structure. |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income from continuing operations increased $19.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, and was primarily impacted by:
• A $16.9 million after-tax gain on the sale to MEAN of a 23.5% ownership interest in the Wygen I power generation facility. In conjunction with the sale, MEAN will make payments for costs associated with coal supply, plant operations and administrative services. In addition, a 10-year power purchase contract under which MEAN was obligated to buy from us 20 MW of power annually was terminated; and |
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• 2008 results reflect $11.8 million of allocated indirect corporate costs and inter-segment interest expense related to the IPP assets sold and not reclassified to discontinued operations. |
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Partially offsetting were the following: |
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• A decrease of $2.0 million reflecting the net earnings impact of replacing the 20 MW power purchase agreement with operating and site lease agreements related to MEAN’s purchase of 23.5% ownership interest of Wygen I; and |
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• A $7.8 million increase in net interest expense primarily due to a change in inter-segment debt to equity capital structure. |
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Corporate
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income increased $20.7 million primarily due to unrealized net, mark-to-market gains for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 of approximately $20.6 million after-tax on certain interest rate swaps, partially offset by a $3.0 million after-tax increase in net interest expense. In addition, 2008 results included approximately $1.7 million after-tax for transition and integration costs related to the Aquila Transaction.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2008. Income increased $28.1 million primarily due to unrealized net, mark-to-market gains for the six months ended June 30, 2009 of approximately $30.2 million after-tax on certain interest rate swaps, partially offset by a $6.1 million after-tax increase in net interest expense. In addition, 2008 results include $4.2 million after-tax for transition and acquisition costs related to the Aquila Transaction.
Discontinued Operations
Earnings from discontinued operations were $0.8 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2009, compared to $14.1 million for the same period in 2008. The income from discontinued operations in 2009 relates to the final working capital adjustments for the IPP Transaction.
Critical Accounting Policies
There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies from those reported in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. For more information on our critical accounting policies, see Part II, Item 7 of our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Flow Activities
During the six month period ended June 30, 2009, we generated sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our operating needs, fund our property, plant and equipment additions and to pay dividends on our common stock. We received proceeds of $51.9 million for the sale of a 23.5% interest in the Wygen I power plant to MEAN and $32.8 million for the sale to MDU of a 25% interest in the 110 MW Wygen III power plant under construction near Gillette, Wyoming. We plan to fund future property and investment additions including our share of the construction costs of the Wygen III power plant and generation for Colorado Electric from internally generated cash resources and external financings.
Cash flows from operations of $246.2 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2009 represent a $205.0 million increase compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in cash provided by operating activities for the current period was due to an increase of $25.2 million in our income from continuing operations and changes in working capital as follows:
• A $136.6 million increase in cash flows from working capital changes. This increase primarily resulted from a $74.4 million increase in cash flows from decreased net purchases of materials, supplies and fuel and a $197.2 million increase from accounts receivable and other current assets partially offset by a $135.0 million decrease from accounts payable and other current liabilities. Changes in materials, supplies and fuel primarily relate to natural gas held in storage by Energy Marketing and the Gas Utilities which fluctuates based on seasonal trends and economic decisions reflecting current market conditions; |
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and adjusted for non-cash charges and other items as follows: |
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• A $14.8 million decrease in cash flows related to changes in deferred income taxes which is primarily a result of the deferred tax benefit associated with a non-cash ceiling test impairment charge applicable to our crude oil and natural gas properties; |
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• A $13.3 million increase in cash flows from the net change in derivative assets and liabilities primarily from derivatives associated with normal operations of our oil and gas marketing business and our Oil and Gas segment related to commodity price fluctuations; |
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• A $22.5 million increase in depreciation, depletion and amortization expense; |
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• A $43.3 million non-cash effect from the ceiling test impairment; |
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• A $26.0 million non-cash effect of the gain on sale of operating assets. This gain relates to the sale of the 23.5% interest in the Wygen I power plant to MEAN for which we received $51.9 million included in investing activities; |
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• A $46.5 million non-cash effect of unrealized mark-to-market gains on interest rate swaps; and |
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• A $64.5 million increase in regulatory assets and liabilities primarily resulting from deferred gas adjustments for our Gas Utilities segment. |
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During the six months ended June 30, 2009, we had cash outflows from investing activities of
$76.7 million, which were primarily due to the following:
• Cash outflows of $163.6 million for property, plant and equipment additions. These outflows include approximately $47.4 million related to the construction of our Wygen III power plant, approximately $13.0 million in oil and gas property maintenance capital and development drilling, and approximately $50.3 million of distribution, transmission and generation at our Electric Utilities, which includes new transmission at Colorado Electric and a plant air condenser upgrade at Black Hills Power; |
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• Cash inflows of $51.9 million of proceeds from the sale of the 23.5% interest in the Wygen I power plant to MEAN; |
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• Cash inflows of $32.3 million of proceeds from the sale of the 25% interest in the Wygen III power plant to MDU; and |
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• Cash inflows of $7.7 million for working capital adjustments on the purchase price allocation of the Aquila Transaction. |
During the six months ended June 30, 2009, we had net cash outflows from financing activities of $215.7 million resulting from:
• $433.3 million net payments on the Corporate Credit Facility and the Acquisition Facility; |
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• $27.5 million of payments of cash dividends on common stock; and |
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• $248.5 million proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured five year notes. |
Dividends
Dividends paid on our common stock totaled $27.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2009, or $0.71 per share. On July 29, 2009, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.355 per share payable September 1, 2009, which is equivalent to an annual dividend rate of $1.42 per share. The determination of the amount of future cash dividends, if any, to be declared and paid will depend upon, among other things, our financial condition, funds from operations, the level of our capital expenditures, restrictions under our credit facilities and our future business prospects.
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Financing Transactions and Short-Term Liquidity
Our principal sources of short-term liquidity are our revolving credit facility and cash provided by operations. As of June 30, 2009, we had approximately $122.4 million of cash unrestricted for operations.
Corporate Credit Facility
Our $525.0 million revolving credit facility expires on May 4, 2010. The cost of borrowings or letters of credit issued under the facility is determined based on our credit ratings. At our current ratings levels, the facility has an annual facility fee of 17.5 basis points, and has a borrowing spread of 70 basis points over LIBOR (which equates to a 1.01% one-month borrowing rate as of June 30, 2009).
Our revolving credit facility can be used to fund our working capital needs and for general corporate purposes. At June 30, 2009, we had borrowings of $270.5 million and $43.1 million of letters of credit issued on our revolving credit facility. Available capacity remaining on our revolving credit facility was approximately $211.4 million at June 30, 2009.
The credit facility includes customary affirmative and negative covenants, such as limitations on the creation of new indebtedness and on certain liens, restrictions on certain transactions and maintenance of the following financial covenants:
• A consolidated net worth in an amount of not less than the sum of $625 million and 50% of our aggregate consolidated net income beginning January 1, 2005; |
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• A recourse leverage ratio not to exceed 0.70 to 1.00 for the first year after the Aquila Transaction and thereafter, a ratio not to exceed 0.65 to 1.00; and |
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• An interest expense coverage ratio of not less than 2.5 to 1.0. |
If these covenants are violated, it would be considered an event of default entitling the lenders to terminate the remaining commitment and accelerate all principal and interest outstanding.
In addition to covenant violations, an event of default under the credit facility may be triggered by other events, such as a failure to make payments when due or a failure to make payments when due in respect of, or a failure to perform obligations relating to, other debt obligations of $20 million or more. Subject to applicable cure periods (none of which apply to a failure to timely pay indebtedness), an event of default would permit the lenders to restrict our ability to further access the credit facility for loans or new letters of credit, and could require both the immediate repayment of any principal and interest outstanding and the cash collateralization of outstanding letter of credit obligations.
The credit facility prohibits us from paying cash dividends if a default or an event of default exists prior to, or would result, after giving effect to such action.
Our consolidated net worth was $1,080.1 million at June 30, 2009, which was approximately $270.5 million in excess of the net worth we were required to maintain under the credit facility. At June 30, 2009, our long-term debt ratio was 40.0%, our total debt leverage ratio (long-term debt and short-term debt) was 48.6%, and our recourse leverage ratio was approximately 53.3%. Our interest expense coverage ratio for the twelve month period ended June 30, 2009 was 4.2 to 1.0.
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Public Debt Offering
On May 14, 2009, we issued a $250 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due in 2014 pursuant to a public offering. The notes were priced at par and carry a fixed interest rate of 9%. We received proceeds of $248.5 million, net of underwriting fees. Proceeds were used to pay down the Acquisition Facility. Estimated deferred financing costs related to the offering of $2.2 million were capitalized and will be amortized over the life of the debt.
Enserco Credit Facility
On May 8, 2009, Enserco entered into an agreement for a $240 million committed credit facility. Societe Generale, Fortis Capital Corp., and BNP Paribas were co-lead arranger banks. On May 27, 2009, Enserco entered into an agreement for an additional $60 million of commitments under the credit facility with three participating banks: Calyon, Rabobank and RZB Finance. This credit facility expires on May 7, 2010. The facility is a borrowing base line of credit, which allows for the issuance of letters of credit and for borrowings. Maximum borrowings under the facility are subject to a sublimit of $50 million. Borrowings under this facility are available under a base rate option or a Eurodollar option. The base rate option borrowing rate is 2.75% plus the higher of: (i) 0.5% above the Federal Funds Rate, or (ii) the prime rate established by Fortis Bank S.A./N.V. The Eurodollar option borrowing rate is 2.75% plus the higher of the Eurodollar Rate or the reference bank cost of funds. Our Enserco credit facility is a borrowing base credit facility, the structure of which requires certain levels of tangible net worth and net working capital to be maintained for a given borrowing base election level. In order to maintain a borrowing base election level, we may be restricted from making dividends from Enserco to the parent company of Enserco. At June 30, 2009, $73.6 million of letters of credit were issued under this facility and there were no cash borrowings outstanding.
Acquisition Facility
In July 2008, in conjunction with the closing of the Aquila Transaction, we borrowed $382.8 million under our $1 billion bridge acquisition credit facility dated May 7, 2007. The Acquisition Facility was structured as a single-draw term loan facility for the sole purpose of financing the Aquila Transaction.
On April 9, 2009, we received proceeds of $30.2 million for the sale of 25% of the Wygen III plant to MDU. The net proceeds were used to pay down a portion of the Acquisition Facility.
On May 14, 2009, we received proceeds from a $250 million public debt offering. The net proceeds were used to pay down a portion of the Acquisition Facility.
On June 15, 2009, we paid off the remaining $104.6 million balance of the Acquisition Facility by borrowing on our Corporate Credit Facility.
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Future Financing Plans
We have an effective shelf registration statement on file with the SEC under which we may issue, from time to time, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants and other securities. Although the shelf registration statement does not limit our issuance capacity, our ability to issue securities is limited to the authority granted by our Board of Directors, certain covenants in our finance arrangements and restrictions imposed by federal and state regulatory authorities.
We continue to evaluate the debt capital markets and prepare for additional long-term debt issuances to refinance other short-term debt and fund our power generation construction projects. We anticipate issuing a long-term first mortgage bond of approximately $180 million for our electric utility, Black Hills Power, Inc. The offering is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2009; proceeds of the transaction will be used to fund capital expenditures for the utility, including construction costs related to the Wygen III facility, and to fund the approximate $30 million maturity of our Series AC, 8.06% first mortgage bonds due in February 2010.
In the unlikely event we are unable to complete debt financing on acceptable terms, we will consider implementing alternative measures to conserve or raise capital. These alternatives could include deferring our planned capital expenditure program, implementing asset sales, issuing equity, reducing or eliminating our dividend payments, or curtailing certain business activities, including our marketing operations.
Interest Rate Swaps
We have entered into floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreements to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations.
We have interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $250.0 million that are not designated as hedge instruments in accordance with SFAS 133. Accordingly, mark-to-market changes in value on the swaps are recorded within the income statements. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, we recorded a $31.7 million and $46.5 million pre-tax unrealized mark-to-market non-cash gain on the swaps. The mark-to-market value on these swaps was a liability of $48.0 million at June 30, 2009. Subsequent mark-to-market adjustments could have a significant impact on our results of operations. A one basis point move in the interest rate curves over the term of the swaps would have a pre-tax impact of approximately $0.3 million. These swaps are for terms of ten and twenty years and have amended mandatory early termination dates ranging from September 30, 2009 to December 29, 2009. We may choose to cash settle these swaps at their fair value prior to their mandatory early termination dates, or unless these dates are extended, we will cash settle these swaps for an amount equal to their fair value on the termination dates.
In addition, we have $150.0 million notional amount floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, having a maximum term of 7.5 years. These swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges in accordance with SFAS 133 and accordingly, their mark-to-market adjustments are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The mark-to-market value of these swaps was a liability of $16.5 million at June 30, 2009.
There have been no other material changes in our financing transactions and short-term liquidity from those reported in Item 7 of our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
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Credit Ratings
Credit ratings impact our ability to obtain short- and long-term financing, the cost of such financing, and vendor payment terms, including collateral requirements. As of June 30, 2009, our senior unsecured credit ratings, as assessed by the three major credit rating agencies, were as follows:
Rating Agency | Rating | Outlook |
| | |
Moody’s | Baa3 | Stable |
S&P | BBB- | Stable |
Fitch | BBB | Stable |
In addition, the first mortgage bonds issued by Black Hills Power were rated at June 30, 2009 as follows:
Rating Agency | Rating | Outlook |
Moody’s | Baa1 | Stable |
S&P | BBB | Stable |
Fitch | A- | Stable |
In August 2009, Moody’s upgraded the senior secured debt rating for Black Hills Power to A3.
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Capital Requirements
During the six months ended June 30, 2009, capital expenditures were approximately $203.7 million for property, plant and equipment additions, which were partially financed through approximately $40.1 million of accrued liabilities. We currently expect total capital expenditures in 2009 to approximate $365.8 million. This sum includes, but is not limited to: $62.1 million for our share of the Wygen III power plant located near Gillette, Wyoming in which we retain 75% ownership interest in the plant; $73.8 million related to maintenance capital for our new utility properties, and $38.6 million within our Oil and Gas segment primarily for maintenance capital and development drilling.
Actual and forecasted capital requirements for maintenance capital and development capital are as follows:
| Six Months Ended | Total |
| June 30, 2009 | 2009 Planned |
| Expenditures | Expenditures |
| (in thousands) |
Utilities: | | |
Electric Utilities – Wygen III(1) | $ | 14,612 | $ | 62,100 |
Electric Utilities (2) (3) | | 73,256 | | 187,568 |
Gas Utilities | | 20,449 | | 42,508 |
Non-regulated Energy: | | | | |
Oil and Gas(4) | | 12,951 | | 38,621 |
Power Generation | | 2,696 | | 4,925 |
Coal Mining | | 4,963 | | 12,592 |
Energy Marketing | | 113 | | 4,135 |
Corporate | | 1,769 | | 13,342 |
| $ | 130,809 | $ | 365,791 |
__________________________
(1) | Capital expenditures of the Wygen III coal-fired plant are net of $17.2 million of accrued liabilities and $32.8 million proceeds received from the sale to MDU of a 25% interest in the plant. Forecasted expenditures of the Wygen III coal-fired plant reflect our 75% ownership interest in the plant. |
(2) | Electric Utilities capital requirements include approximately $17.6 million for transmission projects in 2009. |
(3) | The 2009 total planned expenditures include capital requirements associated with our plans to build gas-fired power generation facilities to serve our Colorado Electric customers. In February 2009, the CPUC authorized Colorado Electric to build two natural gas-fired combustion turbine facilities. We expect to spend capital of $52.3 million in 2009 particularly related to the commitment to purchase the turbine generators from GE. The total construction cost is expected to be approximately $225 million to $275 million to be completed by the end of 2011. |
(4) | Development capital for our oil and gas properties is expected to be limited to no more than the cash flows produced by those properties. Continued low commodity prices could further reduce our planned development capital expenditures. |
As a result of the current global credit crisis we are re-evaluating all of our forecasted capital expenditures, and if determined prudent, may defer some of these expenditures for a period of time. Future projects are dependent upon the availability of attractive economic opportunities, and as a result, actual expenditures may vary significantly from forecasted estimates.
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Contractual Obligations
Unconditional purchase obligations for firm transportation and storage fees for our Energy Marketing segment increased $6.9 million from $93.5 million at December 31, 2008 to $100.4 million at June 30, 2009. Approximately $62.8 million of the firm transportation and storage fee obligations relate to the 2009-2011 period with the remaining occurring thereafter.
In June 2009, we entered into a ten and a half year lease obligation to relocate our office located in Golden, Colorado to Denver, Colorado. Total obligations over the ten and a half year lease are $14.7 million. This lease contained certain landlord incentives including rent abatement, relocation and tenant finishes.
Guarantees
See Note 6 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Other than the new pronouncements reported in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and those discussed in Notes 2 and 3 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no new accounting pronouncements that affect us.
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This report contains forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this report that address activities, events, or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which we believe are reasonable based on current expectations and projections about future events and industry conditions and trends affecting our business. Forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties, and certain important factors can cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar terminology. There are various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such indicated results will be realized. The forward-looking statements include the factors discussed above, the risk factors described in Item 1A. of our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and other reports that we file with the SEC from time to time, and the following:
• We are evaluating financing options including first mortgage bonds, term loans, project financing and equity issuance. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include: |
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§ Our ability to access the bank loan and debt capital markets depends on market conditions beyond our control. If the credit markets remain tight and do not improve, we may not be able to permanently refinance some short-term debt and fund our power generation projects on reasonable terms, if at all. |
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§ Our ability to raise capital in the debt capital markets depends upon our financial condition and credit ratings, among other things. If our financial condition deteriorates unexpectedly, or our credit ratings are lowered, we may not be able to refinance some short-term debt and fund our power generation projects on reasonable terms, if at all. |
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• We anticipate that our existing credit capacity and available cash will be sufficient to fund our working capital needs and capital requirements. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include: |
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§ Our access to revolving credit capacity depends on maintaining compliance with loan covenants. If we violate these covenants, we may lose revolving credit capacity and not have sufficient cash available for our peak winter needs and other working capital requirements, and our forecasted capital expenditure requirements. |
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§ Counterparties may default on their obligations to supply commodities, return collateral to us, or otherwise meet their obligations under commercial contracts, including those designed to hedge against movements in commodity prices. |
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• We expect to make contributions to our defined benefit pension plans of approximately $9.5 million and $16.7 million in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Some important factors that could cause actual contributions to differ materially from anticipated amounts include: |
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§ The actual value of the plans’ invested assets. |
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§ The discount rate used in determining the funding requirement. |
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• We expect the goodwill related to our utility assets to fairly reflect the long-term value of stable, long-lived utility assets. Some important factors that could cause us to revisit the fair value of this goodwill include: |
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§ A significant, sustainable deterioration of the market value of our common stock. |
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§ Negative regulatory orders or other events that materially impact our Utilities’ ability to generate stable cash flow over an extended period of time. |
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• We expect to make approximately $365.8 million of capital expenditures in 2009. Some important factors that could cause actual costs to differ materially from those anticipated include: |
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§ The timing of planned generation, transmission or distribution projects for our Utilities is influenced by state and federal regulatory authorities and third parties. The occurrence of events that impact (favorably or unfavorably) our ability to make planned or unplanned capital expenditures could cause our 2009 forecasted capital expenditures to change. |
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§ Forecasted capital expenditures associated with our Oil and Gas segment are driven, in part, by current market prices. A continued decline in crude oil and natural gas prices may cause us to change our planned 2009 capital expenditures related to our oil and gas operations. |
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• The timing, volatility, and extent of changes in energy and commodity prices, supply or volume, the cost and availability of transportation of commodities, changes in interest or foreign exchange rates, and the demand for our services, any of which can affect our earnings, our financial liquidity and the underlying value of our assets. |
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• Federal and state laws concerning climate change and air emissions, including emission reduction mandates and renewable energy portfolio standards, may materially increase our generation and production costs and could render some of our generating units uneconomical to operate and maintain. |
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• The possibility that we may be required to take impairment charges under the SEC’s full cost ceiling test for the accumulated costs of our natural gas and oil reserves. |
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| ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
Utilities
We produce, purchase and distribute power in four states and purchase and distribute natural gas in five states. All of our gas distribution utilities have PGA provisions that allow them to pass the prudently-incurred cost of gas through to the customer. To the extent that gas prices are higher or lower than amounts in our current billing rates, adjustments are made on a periodic basis to “true-up” billed amounts to match the actual natural gas cost we incurred. These adjustments are subject to periodic prudence reviews by the state utility commissions. In South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, we have a mechanism for our electric utilities that serves a purpose similar to the PGAs for our gas utilities. To the extent that our fuel and purchased power energy costs are higher or lower than the energy cost built into our tariffs, the difference (or a portion thereof) is passed through to the customer.
The fair value of our Utilities derivative contracts are summarized below (in thousands):
| June 30, | December 31, |
| 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | |
Net derivative liabilities | $ | (670) | $ | (7,444) |
Cash collateral | | 5,792 | | 8,744 |
| | | | |
| $ | 5,122 | $ | 1,300 |
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Non Regulated Trading Activities
The following table provides a reconciliation of activity in our natural gas and crude oil marketing portfolio that has been recorded at fair value including market value adjustments on inventory positions that have been designated as part of a fair value hedge during the six months ended June 30, 2009 (in thousands):
Total fair value of energy marketing positions marked-to-market at December 31, 2008 | $ | 28,447 (a) |
Net cash settled during the period on positions that existed at December 31, 2008 | | (25,840) |
Unrealized gain on new positions entered during the period and still existing at | | |
June 30, 2009 | | 2,164 |
Realized loss on positions that existed at December 31, 2008 and were settled during | | |
the period | | (3,477) |
Change in cash collateral | | 25,581 |
Unrealized gain on positions that existed at December 31, 2008 and still exist at | | |
June 30, 2009 | | 10,929 |
| | |
Total fair value of energy marketing positions at June 30, 2009 | $ | 37,804 (a) |
_____________________________
(a) | The fair value of energy marketing positions consists of derivative assets/liabilities held at fair value in accordance with SFAS 157 and market value adjustments to natural gas inventory that has been designated as a hedged item as part of a fair value hedge in accordance with SFAS 133, as follows (in thousands): |
| June 30, | March 31, | December 31, |
| 2009 | 2009 | 2008 |
| | | | | | |
Net derivative assets (liabilities) | $ | 32,352 | $ | 39,843 | $ | 54,117 |
Cash collateral | | 9,267 | | (3,673) | | (16,315) |
Market adjustment recorded | | | | | | |
in material, supplies and fuel | | (3,815) | | (2,399) | | (9,355) |
| | | | | | |
| $ | 37,804 | $ | 33,771 | $ | 28,447 |
GAAP restricts mark-to-market accounting treatment primarily to only those contracts that meet the definition of a derivative under SFAS 133. Therefore, the above reconciliation does not present a complete picture of our overall portfolio of trading activities or our expected cash flows from energy trading activities. In our natural gas and crude oil marketing operations, we often employ strategies that include utilizing derivative contracts along with inventory, storage and transportation positions to accomplish the objectives of our producer services, end-use origination and wholesale marketing groups. Except in circumstances when we are able to designate transportation, storage or inventory positions as part of a fair value hedge, SFAS 133 generally does not allow us to mark our inventory, transportation or storage positions to market. The result is that while a significant majority of our energy marketing positions are fully economically hedged, we are required to mark some parts of our overall strategies (the derivatives) to market value, but are generally precluded from marking the rest of our economic hedges (transportation, inventory or storage) to market. Volatility in reported earnings and derivative positions should be expected given these accounting requirements.
To value the assets and liabilities for our outstanding derivative contracts, we use the fair value methodology outlined in SFAS 157. See Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 12, Note 13 and Note 14 of the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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The sources of fair value measurements were as follows (in thousands):
Source of Fair Value | Maturities |
of Energy Marketing Positions | Less than 1 year | 1 – 2 years | Total Fair Value |
| | | | | | |
Cash collateral | $ | 9,267 | $ | — | $ | 9,267 |
Level 2 | | 25,696 | | 3,749 | | 29,445 |
Level 3 | | 3,122 | | (215) | | 2,907 |
Market value adjustment for inventory | | | | | | |
(see footnote (a) above) | | (3,815) | | — | | (3,815) |
| | | | | | |
Total fair value of our energy | | | | | | |
marketing positions | $ | 34,270 | $ | 3,534 | $ | 37,804 |
The following table presents a reconciliation of our June 30, 2009 energy marketing positions recorded at fair value under GAAP to a non-GAAP measure of the fair value of our energy marketing forward book wherein all forward trading positions are marked-to-market (in thousands):
Fair value of our energy marketing positions marked-to-market in accordance with GAAP | | |
(see footnote (a) above) | $ | 37,804 |
Market value adjustments for inventory, storage and transportation positions that are | | |
part of our forward trading book, but that are not marked-to-market under GAAP | | (6,734) |
Fair value of all forward positions (non-GAAP) | | 31,070 |
Cash collateral included in GAAP marked-to-market fair value | | (9,267) |
Fair value of all forward positions excluding cash collateral (non-GAAP) | $ | 21,803 |
There have been no material changes in market risk compared to those reported in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. For more information on market risk, see Part II, Items 7 and 7A. in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Note 12 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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Activities Other Than Trading
We have entered into agreements to hedge a portion of our estimated 2009, 2010 and 2011 natural gas and crude oil production from the Oil and Gas segment. The hedge agreements in place are as follows:
Natural Gas
Location | Transaction Date | Hedge Type | Term | Volume | Price |
| | | | (MMBtu/day) | |
San Juan El Paso | 07/27/2007 | Swap | 07/09 – 09/09 | 5,000 | $ | 7.63 |
CIG | 09/07/2007 | Swap | 07/09 – 09/09 | 1,500 | $ | 6.48 |
AECO | 09/07/2007 | Swap | 04/08 – 10/09 | 1,000 | $ | 6.89 |
San Juan El Paso | 10/29/2007 | Swap | 07/09 – 09/09 | 5,000 | $ | 7.38 |
San Juan El Paso | 10/29/2007 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 5,000 | $ | 7.53 |
CIG | 10/29/2007 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 1,500 | $ | 7.07 |
NWR | 11/16/2007 | Swap | 01/09 – 12/09 | 1,500 | $ | 6.87 |
San Juan El Paso | 12/13/2007 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 1,500 | $ | 7.39 |
San Juan El Paso | 12/13/2007 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 1,500 | $ | 7.41 |
CIG | 01/03/2008 | Swap | 01/10 – 03/10 | 2,000 | $ | 7.49 |
NWR | 01/03/2008 | Swap | 01/10 – 03/10 | 1,500 | $ | 7.50 |
AECO | 01/03/2008 | Swap | 11/09 – 03/10 | 1,000 | $ | 8.07 |
San Juan El Paso | 01/23/2008 | Swap | 01/10 – 03/10 | 5,000 | $ | 7.50 |
San Juan El Paso | 02/28/2008 | Swap | 01/10 – 03/10 | 3,000 | $ | 8.55 |
San Juan El Paso | 04/09/2008 | Swap | 04/10 – 06/10 | 5,000 | $ | 7.26 |
San Juan El Paso | 04/30/2008 | Swap | 04/10 – 06/10 | 2,500 | $ | 7.65 |
AECO | 08/20/2008 | Swap | 04/10 – 06/10 | 1,000 | $ | 7.73 |
San Juan El Paso | 08/20/2008 | Swap | 07/10 – 09/10 | 5,000 | $ | 7.74 |
AECO | 08/20/2008 | Swap | 07/10 – 09/10 | 1,000 | $ | 7.88 |
AECO | 10/24/2008 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 1,000 | $ | 7.05 |
San Juan El Paso | 12/19/2008 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 1,000 | $ | 5.12 |
San Juan El Paso | 12/19/2008 | Swap | 04/10 – 06/10 | 1,500 | $ | 5.39 |
San Juan El Paso | 12/19/2008 | Swap | 07/10 – 09/10 | 3,000 | $ | 5.95 |
San Juan El Paso | 12/19/2008 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 5,000 | $ | 5.89 |
CIG | 01/26/2009 | Swap | 04/10 – 06/10 | 2,000 | $ | 4.45 |
CIG | 01/26/2009 | Swap | 07/10 – 09/10 | 2,000 | $ | 4.47 |
CIG | 01/26/2009 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 2,000 | $ | 4.68 |
CIG | 01/26/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 2,000 | $ | 6.00 |
NWR | 01/26/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 2,000 | $ | 6.05 |
San Juan El Paso | 01/26/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 5,000 | $ | 6.38 |
San Juan El Paso | 02/13/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 2,500 | $ | 6.16 |
San Juan El Paso | 02/13/2009 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 3,000 | $ | 5.35 |
NWR | 02/13/2009 | Swap | 04/10 – 12/10 | 1,000 | $ | 4.20 |
AECO | 03/04/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 1,000 | $ | 5.95 |
NWR | 03/04/2009 | Swap | 07/09 – 09/09 | 1,000 | $ | 3.07 |
NWR | 03/04/2009 | Swap | 04/10 – 06/10 | 1,000 | $ | 4.06 |
NWR | 03/04/2009 | Swap | 07/10 – 09/10 | 1,000 | $ | 4.12 |
NWR | 03/04/2009 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 1,000 | $ | 4.55 |
NWR | 03/20/2009 | Swap | 01/10 – 03/10 | 500 | $ | 4.58 |
San Juan El Paso | 03/20/2009 | Swap | 01/10 – 03/10 | 1,000 | $ | 4.87 |
San Juan El Paso | 06/02/2009 | Swap | 04/11 – 06/11 | 5,000 | $ | 5.99 |
San Juan El Paso | 06/02/2009 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 1,500 | $ | 4.14 |
AECO | 06/02/2009 | Swap | 04/11 – 06/11 | 800 | $ | 5.89 |
NWR | 06/02/2009 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 500 | $ | 3.95 |
NWR | 06/02/2009 | Swap | 04/11 – 06/11 | 1,500 | $ | 5.54 |
San Juan El Paso | 06/25/2009 | Swap | 04/11 – 06/11 | 2,500 | $ | 5.55 |
CIG | 06/25/2009 | Swap | 04/11 – 06/11 | 1,750 | $ | 5.33 |
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Crude Oil
Location | Transaction Date | Hedge Type | Term | Volume | Price |
| | | | (Bbls/month) | |
| | | | | | |
NYMEX | 06/22/2007 | Swap | 07/09 – 09/09 | 5,000 | $ | 72.10 |
NYMEX | 07/27/2007 | Put | 07/09 – 09/09 | 5,000 | $ | 65.00 |
NYMEX | 09/12/2007 | Swap | 07/09 – 09/09 | 5,000 | $ | 71.20 |
NYMEX | 10/29/2007 | Put | 10/09 – 12/09 | 5,000 | $ | 75.00 |
NYMEX | 10/29/2007 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 5,000 | $ | 80.75 |
NYMEX | 11/16/2007 | Put | 07/09 – 09/09 | 5,000 | $ | 75.00 |
NYMEX | 11/16/2007 | Put | 10/09 – 12/09 | 5,000 | $ | 75.00 |
NYMEX | 01/03/2008 | Put | 01/10 – 03/10 | 5,000 | $ | 80.00 |
NYMEX | 01/03/2008 | Swap | 01/10 – 03/10 | 5,000 | $ | 88.70 |
NYMEX | 01/23/2008 | Swap | 10/09 – 12/09 | 5,000 | $ | 83.10 |
NYMEX | 01/23/2008 | Swap | 01/10 – 03/10 | 5,000 | $ | 82.90 |
NYMEX | 02/28/2008 | Put | 01/10 – 03/10 | 5,000 | $ | 85.00 |
NYMEX | 04/09/2008 | Swap | 04/10 – 06/10 | 5,000 | $ | 99.60 |
NYMEX | 04/30/2008 | Put | 04/10 – 06/10 | 5,000 | $ | 85.00 |
NYMEX | 05/29/2008 | Put | 04/10 – 06/10 | 5,000 | $ | 105.00 |
NYMEX | 07/16/2008 | Swap | 04/10 – 06/10 | 5,000 | $ | 135.10 |
NYMEX | 07/16/2008 | Swap | 07/10 – 09/10 | 5,000 | $ | 134.90 |
NYMEX | 08/20/2008 | Put | 07/10 – 09/10 | 5,000 | $ | 90.00 |
NYMEX | 09/03/2008 | Put | 07/10 – 09/10 | 5,000 | $ | 90.00 |
NYMEX | 10/24/2008 | Put | 07/10 – 09/10 | 5,000 | $ | 60.00 |
NYMEX | 12/05/2008 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 5,000 | $ | 65.20 |
NYMEX | 01/26/2009 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 5,000 | $ | 60.15 |
NYMEX | 01/26/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 5,000 | $ | 60.90 |
NYMEX | 02/13/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 5,000 | $ | 60.05 |
NYMEX | 03/04/2009 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 5,000 | $ | 55.80 |
NYMEX | 03/04/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 5,000 | $ | 57.00 |
NYMEX | 04/08/2009 | Swap | 04/11 – 06/11 | 5,000 | $ | 68.80 |
NYMEX | 04/23/2009 | Swap | 04/11 – 06/11 | 5,000 | $ | 65.10 |
NYMEX | 06/02/2009 | Swap | 10/10 – 12/10 | 5,000 | $ | 74.30 |
NYMEX | 06/02/2009 | Swap | 01/11 – 03/11 | 5,000 | $ | 75.05 |
NYMEX | 06/02/2009 | Swap | 04/11 – 06/11 | 5,000 | $ | 75.86 |
NYMEX | 06/04/2009 | Put | 04/11 – 06/11 | 5,000 | $ | 67.00 |
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of June 30, 2009. Based on their evaluation, they have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2009 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting. On July 14, 2008, we acquired the assets of Aquila’s regulated electric utility in Colorado and its regulated gas utilities in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa (the “Acquired Businesses”). The internal controls of the Acquired Businesses are an area of focus for us. We are in the process of reviewing the internal controls of the Acquired Businesses and making any necessary changes. As permitted by the guidance set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Acquired Businesses were not included in management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of June 30, 2009 excluded the assets and operations acquired on July 14, 2008 in the Aquila Transaction, which are doing business as Black Hills Energy. Such exclusion was in accordance with SEC guidance that an assessment of a recently acquired business may be omitted in management’s report on internal control over financial reporting, provided the acquisition took place within twelve months of management’s evaluation. Collectively, Black Hills Energy comprised 36% of our consolidated assets at June 30, 2009, and for the six months ended June 30, 2009 62% of our consolidated revenues and 25% of our net income. Our disclosure controls and procedures were not materially impacted by the acquisition.
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BLACK HILLS CORPORATION
Part II – Other Information
For information regarding legal proceedings, see Note 18 in Item 8 of our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 15 in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which information from Note 15 is incorporated by reference into this item.
Except to the extent updated or described below, our Risk Factors are documented in Item IA. of Part I in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Federal and state laws concerning climate change and air emissions, including emission reduction mandates and renewable energy portfolio standards, may materially increase our generation and production costs and could render some of our generating units uneconomical to operate and maintain.
We own and operate regulated and non-regulated fossil-fuel generating plants in South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho. We are constructing another fossil-fuel generating plant in Wyoming. Air emissions of fossil-fuel generating plants are subject to federal, state and tribal regulation. Recent developments under federal and state laws and regulation governing air emissions from fossil-fuel generating plants will likely result in more stringent emission limitations.
On April 2, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of Massachusetts v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, holding that CO2 and other GHG emissions are pollutants subject to regulation under the motor vehicle provisions of the Clean Air Act. The case was remanded to the EPA for further rulemaking to determine whether GHG emissions may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare, or alternatively, to explain why GHG emissions should not be regulated. On April 17, 2008, the EPA issued its proposed endangerment finding under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act. Although this proposal does not specifically address stationary sources, such as power generation plants, the general endangerment finding relative to GHG’s could support such a proposal by the EPA for stationary sources. On March 10, 2009, the EPA released proposed rules regarding a mandatory GHG reporting regimen, the purpose of which would be to collect data to inform future policy and regulatory decisions. Finally, federal legislation is currently under consideration in the U.S. Congress, including H.R. 2454, “the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009”, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 26, 2009. This legislation would affect electric generation and electric and natural gas distribution companies. H.R. 2454 would establish mandatory GHG reduction targets, utilizing a Federal emissions cap-and-trade program. H.R.2454 also proposes a national renewable electricity standard, which would implement a phased process ultimately mandating that 20% of electricity sold by retail suppliers be met by energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy resources by 2020. The Senate is expected to consider its own version of the legislation later in 2009 or in 2010.
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Due to the uncertainty as to the final outcome of federal climate change legislation, or regulatory changes under the Clean Air Act, we cannot definitively estimate the effect of GHG regulation on our results of operations, cash flows or financial position. The impact of GHG legislation or regulation upon our company will depend upon many factors, including but not limited to the timing of implementation, the GHG sources that are regulated, the overall GHG emissions cap level, and the availability of technologies to control or reduce GHG emissions. If a “cap and trade” structure is implemented, the impact will also be affected by the degree to which offsets are allowed, the allocation of emission allowances to specific sources, and the affect of carbon regulation on natural gas and coal prices.
More stringent GHG emissions limitations or other energy efficiency requirements, however, could require us to incur significant additional costs relating to, among other things, the installation of additional emission control equipment, the acceleration of capital expenditures, the purchase of additional emissions allowances or offsets, the acquisition or development of additional energy supply from renewable resources, and the closure of certain generating facilities. To the extent our regulated fossil-fuel generating plants are included in rate base, we will attempt to recover costs associated with complying with emission standards or other requirements. We will also attempt to recover the emission compliance costs of our non-regulated fossil-fuel generating plants from utility and other purchasers of the power generated by our non-regulated power plants. Any unrecovered costs could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, future changes in environmental regulations governing air emissions could render some of our power generating units more expensive or uneconomical to operate and maintain.
We own electric utilities that serve customers in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. To varying degrees, Colorado and Montana have each adopted mandatory renewable portfolio standards that require electric utilities to supply a minimum percentage of the power delivered to customers from renewable resources (e.g., wind, solar, biomass) by a certain date in the future. These renewable energy portfolio standards have increased the power supply costs of our electric operations. If these states increase their renewable energy portfolio standards, or if similar standards are imposed by the other states in which we operate electric utilities, our power supply costs will further increase. Although we will seek to recover these higher costs in rates, any unrecovered costs could have a material negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
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Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
| | | | Maximum |
| | | Total | Number (or |
| | | Number | Approximate |
| | | of Shares | Dollar |
| Total | | Purchased as | Value) of Shares |
| Number | | Part of Publicly | That May Yet Be |
| of | Average | Announced | Purchased Under |
| Shares | Price Paid | Plans | the Plans |
Period | Purchased | per Share | or Programs | or Programs |
| | | | | | |
April 1, 2009 – | | | | | | |
April 30, 2009 | 415 (1) | $ | 19.00 | — | | — |
| | | | | | |
May 1, 2009 – | | | | | | |
May 31, 2009 | — | $ | — | — | | — |
| | | | | | |
June 1, 2009 – | | | | | | |
June 30, 2009 | — | $ | — | — | | — |
| | | | | | |
Total | 415 | $ | 19.00 | — | | — |
__________________________
| (1) | Shares were acquired from certain officers and key employees under the share withholding provisions of the Omnibus Incentive Plan for the payment of taxes associated with the vesting of shares of Restricted Stock and the distribution of vested restricted stock units. |
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Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
| (a) | The Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 19, 2009. |
| (b) | Matters Voted Upon at the Meeting |
| 1. | Elected three Class III Directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2012. |
David C. Ebertz | |
Votes For | 29,879,847 |
Votes Withheld | 5,267,115 |
| |
John R. Howard | |
Votes For | 29,783,428 |
Votes Withheld | 5,363,534 |
| |
Stephen D. Newlin | |
Votes For | 30,106,421 |
Votes Withheld | 5,040,541 |
| 2. | Ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as Black Hills Corporation’s independent auditors in 2009. |
Votes For | 34,628,264 |
Votes Against | 382,210 |
Abstain | 136,488 |
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Item 6. | Exhibits | |
| | |
| Exhibit 4 | Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 14, 2009, between the Registrant and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 14, 2009). |
| | |
| Exhibit 10 | Joinder Agreements dated May 27, 2009 to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement effective May 7, 2009, among Enserco Energy Inc., the borrower, Fortis Capital Corp., as administrative agent, and Calyon New York Branch, Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch and RZB Finance LLC (filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2009). |
| | |
| Exhibit 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | |
| Exhibit 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | |
| Exhibit 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | |
| Exhibit 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002. |
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BLACK HILLS CORPORATION
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| BLACK HILLS CORPORATION |
| |
| |
| /s/ David R. Emery |
| David R. Emery, Chairman, President and |
| Chief Executive Officer |
| |
| |
| /s/ Anthony S. Cleberg |
| Anthony S. Cleberg, Executive Vice President |
| and Chief Financial Officer |
| |
| |
Dated: August 10, 2009 | |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | Description |
| |
Exhibit 4 | Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 14, 2009, between the Registrant and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 14, 2009). |
| |
Exhibit 10 | Joinder Agreements dated May 27, 2009 to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement effective May 7, 2009, among Enserco Energy Inc., the borrower, Fortis Capital Corp., as administrative agent, and Calyon New York Branch, Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch and RZB Finance LLC (filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2009). |
| |
Exhibit 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
Exhibit 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
Exhibit 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
Exhibit 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002. |
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