Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: | August 3, 2006 |
NWN Reports Results for the Quarter & Six Months Ended June 30, 2006
Company Announces Operational Efficiency Initiatives; Reaffirms 2006 Guidance
Financial & Operating Highlights
• | Year-to-date net income and earnings per share up 5 percent |
• | Customer growth continues on pace for a 20th consecutive year at 3% or more |
• | Announced strategic initiatives to reduce costs and improve efficiencies |
• | Reaffirmed earnings guidance for 2006 at $2.12 to $2.27 per share |
PORTLAND, ORE.—Northwest Natural Gas, dba NW Natural(NYSE: NWN), reported net income for the second quarter of $2.0 million, or 7 cents per diluted share, up from $1.1 million, or 4 cents per diluted share, in the same quarter of 2005.
For the six months ended June 30, 2006, net income was $43.0 million, or $1.56 per diluted share, compared to $41.0 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, for the first six months of 2005, a 5 percent increase.
“Our solid financial performance comes from continued strong customer growth in our utility operations, solid performance from our gas storage activities, and focusing on the fundamentals of the business, including operating as efficiently and competitively as possible,” said Mark Dodson, chief executive officer and president.
“After a year-long review, we announced a company-wide restructuring of operations. Our restructuring seeks to significantly streamline work processes and cut operating expenses and capital costs, while allowing us to continue to deliver excellent customer service. The changes will create a more integrated and centralized organization, and are expected to take place over the next several years. Implementation of the new business model is expected to result in workforce reductions primarily through both attrition and voluntary severance packages.”
Second quarter financial and operating highlights
• | Higher net income and diluted earnings per share |
Net income was $2.0 million, or 7 cents per diluted share, compared to $1.1 million in 2005. Results from utility operations are typically low during the second quarter due to the reduced use of natural gas in spring and early summer. The utility contributed $0.2 million, or 1 cent per diluted share, to earnings in the second quarter of 2006, compared to $12,000 (less than 1 cent per diluted share) in 2005. Interstate gas storage contributed $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2006, or 6 cents per diluted share, compared to $0.8 million, or 3 cents per diluted share, in the same period in 2005. Other non-utility activities resulted in a loss of $37,000 for the quarter, or less than 1 cent per diluted share, compared to a gain of $0.3 million, or 1 cent per diluted share, in 2005.
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• | Customer growth remains strong at twice the national average |
NW Natural’s customer growth continues at a rate more than double the national average for the 20th consecutive year. This growth is driven by new construction activity and conversions from other fuel sources. At June 30, 2006, the company had 624,545 customers, for a growth rate of 3.3 percent over the past 12 months.
• | Operational results on target despite warm weather |
NW Natural’s total gas sales and transportation deliveries in the second quarter of 2006, excluding deliveries of gas stored for others, were 230 million therms, down 4 percent from 2005, due mainly to weather during the period that was 16 percent warmer than average and 12 percent warmer than last year. Margin from utility operations was $58.0 million, 4 percent higher than 2005.
Sales to residential and commercial customers in the second quarter of 2006 were 95 million therms, 4 percent lower than last year, due mainly to warmer weather in the period. Residential and commercial sales contributed $47.3 million to margin, down 3 percent from $48.9 million in 2005. The company’s weather normalization and decoupling mechanisms in Oregon reduced margin by $39,000 in the second quarter of 2006, compared to a margin reduction of $2.7 million from these mechanisms for the same period in 2005.
Gas deliveries to industrial customers in the second quarter were 134 million therms, down 4 percent from 141 million therms last year, while margin in this sector was $7.7 million, virtually unchanged from last year.
NW Natural continues to provide gas storage services to customers in the interstate and intrastate gas markets from its Mist gas storage field, using storage capacity that has been developed in advance of core utility customers’ requirements. Earnings from gas storage in the second quarter of 2006 were $1.8 million, or 6 cents per diluted share, compared to $0.8 million, or 3 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2005. These results include income from gas storage services as well as income from a contract with an unaffiliated company that optimizes the use of NW Natural’s utility assets by monetizing temporarily unused portions of its gas storage and upstream pipeline transportation capacity.
NW Natural has an annual Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) tariff in Oregon and Washington to reflect projected gas costs in customer rates. In Oregon, the company absorbs 33 percent of any excess cost of gas, or retains 33 percent of any gas cost savings, both as compared to the projected gas commodity prices built into rates. The company also retains 33 percent of the margin when it sells surplus gas commodity off-system, and credits 67 percent to customers.
During the period, Oregon customers saved $3.7 million in lower gas costs due to the company’s commodity cost sharing mechanisms. NW Natural’s share of the commodity savings and off-system margin realized from its gas purchasing program in the second
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quarter of 2006 increased margin by $1.8 million, or 4 cents per share. In the second quarter of 2005, these factors contributed $0.2 million to margin, or less than 1 cent per diluted share. In Washington, 100 percent of all gas costs are passed through to customers.
Operations and maintenance expenses in the second quarter of 2006 increased about 3 percent over last year. The increase was primarily due to higher bad debt expense, corporate development expenses and higher payroll costs. Bad debt expense as a percent of revenues billed remained well below one percent (0.39 percent) for the 12 months ended June 2006. Excluding the increase in bad debt expense related to higher gas prices, which is covered by increased revenues, O&M expenses grew by only 2 percent. Operations and maintenance expenses increased by 9 percent in the second quarter of 2005.
According to Chief Financial Officer David Anderson, “The leveling off in our operating and maintenance costs in the first quarter continued in the second quarter, with further potential cost savings identified in the review of our operations model. Additional cost savings are expected to be achieved over the course of the next few years.”
• | Strategic initiatives underway |
NW Natural has begun to implement a variety of new strategic initiatives aimed at improving corporate efficiencies and reducing operating and capital costs, while maintaining excellent customer service. These initiatives will be implemented over the next several years. Implementation of these initiatives will involve:
• | Developing a more integrated operations model, |
• | Further enhancing the ability to add customers profitably, |
• | Implementing more standardization in all work processes, |
• | Centralizing resource planning, scheduling, quality assurance and performance management activities, |
• | Outsourcing work that is not core to the company’s safety, reliability, regulatory compliance or customer service activities, |
• | Increasing the integration and efficiency of information technology systems, and, |
• | Maintaining a strong community presence while reorganizing district operations. |
Implementation of the company’s streamlined operations model is expected to result in employee reductions, to be achieved mainly through attrition and voluntary severance programs offered to employees. As a result, the company expects to incur severance costs in the fourth quarter of 2006 of $1.5 million to $2.0 million related to workforce reductions of an estimated 50-100 people.
Year-to-date (six month) financial and operating highlights
• | Higher net income and diluted earnings per share |
For the six month period, net income increased 5 percent to $43.0 million, or $1.56 per diluted share, compared to $41.0 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, in the same period in 2005. NW Natural’s utility operations contributed $39.7 million, or $1.44 per diluted
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share, to earnings in the first six months of 2006 for a 3 percent increase to earnings per share, compared to $38.9 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, in 2005. Interstate gas storage contributed $3.3 million in the period, or 12 cents per diluted share, compared to $1.7 million or 6 cents per diluted share in the same period in 2005. Other non-utility activities resulted in net income of $0.1 million, or less than 1 cent per share, compared to net income of $0.4 million, or 2 cents per share, in 2005.
• | Operating results show higher sales & efficiency gains |
NW Natural’s total gas sales and transportation deliveries in the first six months of 2006, excluding deliveries of gas stored for others, were 638 million therms, up 5 percent from 2005 due to higher residential and commercial volumes. Margin from utility operations was $180.4 million, or 3 percent higher than in 2005.
Gas sales to residential and commercial customers in the first six months of 2006 were 350 million therms, up 6 percent from 2005 on strong customer growth, despite weather that was 6 percent warmer than average and 1 percent colder than last year.
Residential and commercial sales contributed $157.4 million to margin, up 7 percent from $146.6 million in 2005, due mainly to customer growth. The negative impact of warmer weather was largely offset by the company’s weather normalization and decoupling mechanisms. These mechanisms recovered a net $0.8 million in margin for the first six months of 2006. This compares to a margin recovery of $5.4 million from these mechanisms for the same period in 2005.
Gas deliveries to industrial customers in the first six months of 2006 were 288 million therms, up about 3 percent from the same period last year. Contribution to margin from sales and transportation in these markets was $16.2 million, down 2 percent from last year, primarily driven by a $0.3 million net loss from a temporary mark-to-market contract adjustment.
For the first six months of the year, Oregon customers saved $7.3 million in lower gas costs due to the company’s commodity cost sharing mechanisms. NW Natural’s share of the commodity savings and off-system margin realized from its gas purchasing program and PGA in 2006 contributed $3.6 million to margin for the first six months of the year, equivalent to 8 cents a diluted share of earnings. Last year these factors contributed $2.0 million of margin, equivalent to 4 cents per diluted share of earnings. All gas costs are passed through to customers in Washington.
• | Cash flows & capital structure |
Cash provided by operations in the first six months of 2006 was $131.4 million, compared to $144.3 million in 2005. Cash flows reflect lower cash from working capital sources due mainly to higher gas costs in the period. Cash requirements for investing activities totaled $33.9 million, down from $38.6 million in 2005, partly reflecting lower utility capital expenditures.
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NW Natural’s capitalization at June 30, 2006 reflected 51.4 percent common equity, 41.4 percent long-term debt, and 7.2 percent short-term debt, compared to 51.9 percent common equity, 45.7 percent long-term debt, and 2.4 percent short-term debt at June 30, 2005.
Outlook for 2006
Despite warmer than average weather for the first six months, NW Natural confirmed its prior estimate that its full-year earnings per diluted share in 2006 will be in the range of $2.12 to $2.27. The company’s earnings guidance assumes normal weather for the remainder of the year, continued customer growth, benefits from some cost reduction initiatives, and no significant changes in current regulatory policies. The company continues to target long-term earnings per share growth of 5 percent or more and to maintain a dividend payout ratio of 60 to 70 percent of earnings.
Dividend Declaration
The Board of Directors of NW Natural on July 3, 2006 declared a quarterly dividend of 34.5 cents per share on the company’s common stock. The dividends will be paid August 15, 2006 to shareholders of record on July 31, 2006. The current indicated annual dividend is $1.38 per share.
Presentation of Results
In addition to presenting results of operations and earnings amounts in total, NW Natural has expressed certain measures in this press release in cents per share on a diluted basis. These amounts reflect factors that directly impact the company’s earnings. NW Natural believes this per share information is useful because it enables readers to better understand the impact of these factors on its earnings.
Conference call arrangements
As previously reported, NW Natural will conduct a conference call starting at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 3 to review the company’s financial results of operations.
To hear the conference call live, please dial 800-573-4840 from anywhere in the United States, or 617-224-4326 from international points, including Canada. Participants will be asked for their name, company name, and the name of the conference they will be joining (“NW Natural”). The participant pass code number is 33430528. A replay of the call will be available two hours after completion of the conference call until August 17, 2006. To access the recording, call 888-286-8010 and enter the conference replay pass code number 71858556.
To hear the conference by Webcast, log on to NW Natural’s corporate Website at www.nwnatural.com and select the webcast icon on the home page. A replay of the webcast will be available two hours after the conference concludes.
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Forward Looking Statements
This report and other presentations made by NW Natural from time to time may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. The company’s expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis. However, each such forward-looking statement involves uncertainties and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and “Forward-Looking Statements” following Part II, Item 7A, in the company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in “Forward-Looking Statements” following Part I, Item 2 and Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in the company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that could cause the actual results of the company to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.
All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of the company, also are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the company to predict all such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
About NW Natural
NW Natural is headquartered in Portland, Ore., and serves over 624,000 residential and business customers in Oregon and southwest Washington. It is the largest independent natural gas utility in the Pacific Northwest. With customer growth on pace for a 20th consecutive year of more than 3 percent annual increase, it is also one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the nation. NW Natural has approximately $1.8 billion in total assets, which includes nearly 14 bcf of underground gas storage capacity within its service territory at Mist, Ore. The company has in place rate mechanisms that help to protect revenues from warmer than average weather and declining consumption. NW Natural has increased its dividends paid on common stock for 50 consecutive years.
Investor Contact:
Bob Hess, 503-220-2388
Bob.Hess@nwnatural.com
or
Press Contact:
Steve Sechrist, 503-220-2594
sms@nwnatural.com
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NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Comparative Income Statement
(Consolidated - Unaudited)
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
(Thousands, except per share amounts) | 06/30/06 | 06/30/05 | Increase | % Change | ||||||||
Gross Operating Revenues | $ | 170,979 | $ | 153,667 | $ | 17,312 | 11 | % | ||||
Net Income | $ | 1,994 | $ | 1,140 | $ | 854 | 75 | % | ||||
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding | 27,563 | 27,555 | 8 | — | ||||||||
Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.03 | 75 | % | ||||
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.03 | 75 | % | ||||
Year To Date | ||||||||||||
(Thousands, except per share amounts) | 06/30/06 | 06/30/05 | Increase | % Change | ||||||||
Gross Operating Revenues | $ | 561,370 | $ | 462,444 | $ | 98,926 | 21 | % | ||||
Net Income | $ | 43,027 | $ | 41,027 | $ | 2,000 | 5 | % | ||||
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding | 27,574 | 27,568 | 6 | — | ||||||||
Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock | $ | 1.56 | $ | 1.49 | $ | 0.07 | 5 | % | ||||
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock | $ | 1.56 | $ | 1.48 | $ | 0.08 | 5 | % | ||||
Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||
(Thousands, except per share amounts) | 06/30/06 | 06/30/05 | Increase | % Change | ||||||||
Gross Operating Revenues | $ | 1,009,412 | $ | 805,939 | $ | 203,473 | 25 | % | ||||
Net Income | $ | 60,149 | $ | 59,703 | $ | 446 | 1 | % | ||||
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding | 27,567 | 27,493 | 74 | — | ||||||||
Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock | $ | 2.18 | $ | 2.17 | $ | 0.01 | — | |||||
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock | $ | 2.18 | $ | 2.16 | $ | 0.02 | 1 | % |
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NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) Thousands | June 30, 2006 | June 30, 2005 | ||||||
Assets: | ||||||||
Plant and property: | ||||||||
Utility plant | $ | 1,914,301 | $ | 1,835,326 | ||||
Less accumulated depreciation | 557,632 | 523,518 | ||||||
Utility plant - net | 1,356,669 | 1,311,808 | ||||||
Non-utility property | 41,094 | 34,862 | ||||||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | 6,452 | 5,581 | ||||||
Non-utility property - net | 34,642 | 29,281 | ||||||
Total plant and property | 1,391,311 | 1,341,089 | ||||||
Other investments | 54,962 | 57,978 | ||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 6,636 | 40,343 | ||||||
Accounts receivable | 44,782 | 35,740 | ||||||
Accrued unbilled revenue | 16,657 | 17,244 | ||||||
Allowance for uncollectible accounts | (3,814 | ) | (2,521 | ) | ||||
Gas inventory | 76,667 | 36,547 | ||||||
Materials and supplies inventory | 9,546 | 9,295 | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets | 47,648 | 16,048 | ||||||
Total current assets | 198,122 | 152,696 | ||||||
Regulatory assets: | ||||||||
Income tax asset | 66,757 | 65,622 | ||||||
Deferred environmental costs | 21,771 | 13,175 | ||||||
Deferred gas costs receivable | 8,594 | 7,958 | ||||||
Unamortized costs on debt redemptions | 6,670 | 7,097 | ||||||
Unrealized loss on non-trading derivatives | 186 | — | ||||||
Other | — | 7,092 | ||||||
Total regulatory assets | 103,978 | 100,944 | ||||||
Other assets: | ||||||||
Fair value of non-trading derivatives | 26,926 | 64,089 | ||||||
Other | 9,448 | 7,643 | ||||||
Total other assets | 36,374 | 71,732 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,784,747 | $ | 1,724,439 | ||||
Capitalization and liabilities: | ||||||||
Capitalization: | ||||||||
Common stock | $ | 383,103 | $ | 87,285 | ||||
Premium on common stock | — | 300,074 | ||||||
Earnings invested in the business | 229,684 | 207,050 | ||||||
Unearned stock compensation | — | (756 | ) | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (1,911 | ) | (1,818 | ) | ||||
Total common stock equity | 610,876 | 591,835 | ||||||
Long-term debt | 492,000 | 521,500 | ||||||
Total capitalization | 1,102,876 | 1,113,335 | ||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Notes payable | 55,800 | — | ||||||
Long-term debt due within one year | 29,500 | 27,241 | ||||||
Accounts payable | 76,804 | 66,472 | ||||||
Taxes accrued | 13,886 | 8,543 | ||||||
Interest accrued | 2,878 | 2,953 | ||||||
Other current and accrued liabilities | 36,216 | 35,312 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 215,084 | 140,521 | ||||||
Regulatory liabilities: | ||||||||
Accrued asset removal costs | 178,272 | 162,350 | ||||||
Unrealized gain on non-trading derivatives, net | — | 54,666 | ||||||
Customer advances | 2,113 | 1,662 | ||||||
Other | 5,744 | — | ||||||
Total regulatory liabilities | 186,129 | 218,678 | ||||||
Other liabilities: | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 220,439 | 206,666 | ||||||
Deferred investment tax credits | 4,422 | 5,200 | ||||||
Fair value of non-trading derivatives | 27,398 | 9,423 | ||||||
Other | 28,399 | 30,616 | ||||||
Total other liabilities | 280,658 | 251,905 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 9) | — | — | ||||||
Total capitalization and liabilities | $ | 1,784,747 | $ | 1,724,439 | ||||
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NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) Thousands (six months ended June 30) | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 43,027 | $ | 41,027 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operations: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 31,792 | 30,507 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits | (3,453 | ) | (5,762 | ) | ||||
Undistributed (losses) earnings from equity investments | (59 | ) | (54 | ) | ||||
Allowance for funds used during construction | (333 | ) | (201 | ) | ||||
Deferred gas costs - net | (1,620 | ) | 1,593 | |||||
Gain on sale of non-utility investments | — | (12 | ) | |||||
Non-cash expenses related to qualified defined benefit pension plans | 2,883 | 2,318 | ||||||
Deferred environmental costs | (3,586 | ) | (805 | ) | ||||
Income from life insurance investments | (1,797 | ) | (974 | ) | ||||
Other | 5,787 | (2,925 | ) | |||||
Changes in working capital: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable and accrued unbilled revenue - net | 105,238 | 72,138 | ||||||
Inventories of gas, materials and supplies | (52 | ) | 20,635 | |||||
Income taxes receivable | 13,234 | 15,970 | ||||||
Prepayments and other current assets | 2,377 | 7,383 | ||||||
Accounts payable | (58,483 | ) | (36,006 | ) | ||||
Accrued interest and taxes | 1,121 | (1,643 | ) | |||||
Other current and accrued liabilities | (4,719 | ) | 1,144 | |||||
Cash provided by operating activities | 131,357 | 144,333 | ||||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||
Investment in utility plant | (38,991 | ) | (41,428 | ) | ||||
Investment in non-utility property | (236 | ) | (889 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of non-utility investments | — | 3,001 | ||||||
Proceeds from life insurance | 892 | — | ||||||
Other | 4,453 | 679 | ||||||
Cash used in investing activities | (33,882 | ) | (38,637 | ) | ||||
Financing activities: | ||||||||
Common stock issued, net of expenses | 1,556 | 4,669 | ||||||
Common stock purchased | (1,608 | ) | (4,861 | ) | ||||
Long-term debt issued | — | 50,000 | ||||||
Long-term debt retired | (8,000 | ) | — | |||||
Change in short-term debt | (70,900 | ) | (102,500 | ) | ||||
Cash dividends paid on common stock | (19,030 | ) | (17,909 | ) | ||||
Cash used in financing activities | (97,982 | ) | (70,601 | ) | ||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (507 | ) | 35,095 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period | 7,143 | 5,248 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period | $ | 6,636 | $ | 40,343 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||
Interest paid | $ | 19,052 | $ | 17,796 | ||||
Income taxes paid | $ | 9,520 | $ | 11,739 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities: | ||||||||
Conversion to common stock: | ||||||||
7-1/4% Series of Convertible Debentures | $ | — | $ | 286 |
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NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
Second Quarter - 2006
3 Months Ended Jun. 30, | 6 Months Ended Jun. 30, | 12 Months Ended Jun. 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Thousands, except per share amounts) | 2006 | 2005 | % Change | 2006 | 2005 | % Change | 2006 | 2005 | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Operating Revenues | $ | 170,979 | $ | 153,667 | 11 | % | $ | 561,370 | $ | 462,444 | 21 | % | $ | 1,009,412 | $ | 805,939 | 25 | % | |||||||||||||||
Cost of Sales | 105,036 | 92,425 | 14 | % | 360,435 | 273,033 | 32 | % | 651,262 | 472,831 | 38 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue Taxes | 4,196 | 3,593 | 17 | % | 13,724 | 10,776 | 27 | % | 24,581 | 18,948 | 30 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net Operating Revenues | 61,747 | 57,649 | 7 | % | 187,211 | 178,635 | 5 | % | 333,569 | 314,160 | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
O&M | 27,909 | 26,981 | 3 | % | 56,156 | 54,176 | 4 | % | 115,196 | 106,514 | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
General Taxes | 6,066 | 5,210 | 16 | % | 13,639 | 11,980 | 14 | % | 24,844 | 22,632 | 10 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
D&A | 15,962 | 15,312 | 4 | % | 31,792 | 30,507 | 4 | % | 62,930 | 60,059 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total Operating Expenses | 49,937 | 47,503 | 5 | % | 101,587 | 96,663 | 5 | % | 202,970 | 189,205 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Income from Operations | 11,810 | 10,146 | 16 | % | 85,624 | 81,972 | 4 | % | 130,599 | 124,955 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other Income and Expense - net | 410 | 405 | 1 | % | 928 | 470 | 97 | % | 1,663 | 2,833 | (41 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest Charges - net of amounts capitalized | 9,184 | 8,906 | 3 | % | 19,039 | 18,034 | 6 | % | 38,288 | 36,077 | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Income Tax Expense | 1,042 | 505 | 106 | % | 24,486 | 23,381 | 5 | % | 33,825 | 32,008 | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income | $ | 1,994 | $ | 1,140 | 75 | % | $ | 43,027 | $ | 41,027 | 5 | % | $ | 60,149 | $ | 59,703 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||
Common Shares Outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average for Period - basic | 27,563 | 27,555 | 27,574 | 27,568 | 27,567 | 27,493 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average for Period - diluted | 27,611 | 27,834 | 27,621 | 27,841 | 27,621 | 27,751 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
End of Period | 27,547 | 27,564 | 27,547 | 27,564 | 27,547 | 27,564 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings per Share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 1.56 | $ | 1.49 | $ | 2.18 | $ | 2.17 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 1.56 | $ | 1.48 | $ | 2.18 | $ | 2.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends Paid Per Share | $ | 0.345 | $ | 0.325 | $ | 0.69 | $ | 0.65 | $ | 1.36 | $ | 1.30 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Book Value Per Share - end of period | $ | 22.18 | $ | 21.47 | $ | 22.18 | $ | 21.47 | $ | 22.18 | $ | 21.47 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Market Closing Price - end of period | $ | 37.03 | $ | 38.24 | $ | 37.03 | $ | 38.24 | $ | 37.03 | $ | 38.24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data - end of period: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 1,784,747 | $ | 1,724,439 | $ | 1,784,747 | $ | 1,724,439 | $ | 1,784,747 | $ | 1,724,439 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock Equity | $ | 610,876 | $ | 591,835 | $ | 610,876 | $ | 591,835 | $ | 610,876 | $ | 591,835 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Debt (including amounts due in one year) | $ | 521,500 | $ | 548,741 | $ | 521,500 | $ | 548,741 | $ | 521,500 | $ | 548,741 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Statistics: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Customers - end of period | 624,545 | 604,572 | 3.3 | % | 624,545 | 604,572 | 3.3 | % | 624,545 | 604,572 | 3.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gas Deliveries (therms) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Res. & Comm. Customers | 95,097 | 99,193 | 349,734 | 330,405 | 624,854 | 579,458 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial Firm | 15,519 | 16,375 | 38,932 | 37,584 | 76,228 | 68,501 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial Interruptible | 25,256 | 35,130 | 68,444 | 71,448 | 146,102 | 128,370 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transportation | 93,706 | 89,042 | 180,404 | 169,473 | 338,987 | 357,420 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 229,578 | 239,740 | 637,514 | 608,910 | 1,186,171 | 1,133,749 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gas Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Res. & Comm. Customers | $ | 127,762 | $ | 113,807 | $ | 454,913 | $ | 372,801 | $ | 803,901 | $ | 649,601 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial Firm | 14,665 | 13,119 | 38,051 | 30,211 | 72,347 | 54,414 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial Interruptible | 20,384 | 21,376 | 55,736 | 43,989 | 112,487 | 76,334 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transportation | 3,037 | 2,772 | 5,844 | 5,606 | 10,993 | 11,810 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Revenues | 1,402 | 573 | (38 | ) | 5,726 | (2,902 | ) | 6,266 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 167,250 | $ | 151,647 | $ | 554,506 | $ | 458,333 | $ | 996,826 | $ | 798,425 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of Gas Sold | $ | 105,007 | $ | 92,378 | $ | 360,391 | $ | 272,945 | $ | 651,218 | $ | 472,705 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue Taxes | $ | 4,196 | $ | 3,593 | $ | 13,724 | $ | 10,776 | $ | 24,581 | $ | 18,948 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net Operating Revenues (Utility Margin) | $ | 58,047 | $ | 55,676 | $ | 180,391 | $ | 174,612 | $ | 321,027 | $ | 306,772 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Degree Days | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average (25-year average) | 683 | 683 | 2,550 | 2,550 | 4,265 | 4,265 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | 572 | 652 | 2,386 | 2,421 | 4,143 | 3,998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colder (Warmer) than Average | (16 | %) | (5 | %) | (6 | %) | (5 | %) | (3 | %) | (6 | %) |
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