The increases in Total Gas Operating Revenue of $1.9 million and $31.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021, reflect higher costs of gas sales, which are tracked and reconciled costs that are passed through directly to customers, and, for the nine month period, higher gas sales volumes.
Operating Expenses
Cost of Electric Sales - Cost of Electric Sales includes the cost of electric supply and spending on energy efficiency programs. Cost of Electric Sales increased $7.2 million, or 18.0%, and $33.8 million, or 31.1% in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021. These increases reflect higher wholesale electricity prices and higher sales of electricity. Because the Company reconciles and recovers the approved Cost of Electric Sales in its rates at cost on a pass-through basis, changes in approved expenses do not affect earnings.
Cost of Gas Sales - Cost of Gas Sales includes the cost to supply the Company’s total gas requirements and spending on energy efficiency programs. Cost of Gas Sales increased $0.9 million, or 6.8%, and $22.8 million, or 38.6%, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021. These increases reflect higher wholesale gas commodity prices and, in the nine month period, higher sales of gas. Because the Company reconciles and recovers the approved Cost of Gas Sales in its rates at cost on a pass-through basis, changes in approved expenses do not affect earnings.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) - O&M expense includes electric and gas utility operating costs, and the operating cost of the Company’s corporate and other business activities. O&M expense increased $1.9 million, or 11.4%, and $4.3 million, or 8.4%, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021. The increase in the three month period reflects higher utility operating costs of $1.0 million, higher labor costs of $0.8 million and higher professional fees of $0.1 million. The increase in the nine month period reflects higher labor costs of $2.5 million, higher professional fees of $1.3 million and higher utility operating costs of $0.5 million.
Depreciation and Amortization - Depreciation and Amortization expense increased $1.8 million, or 12.2%, and $2.4 million, or 5.4%, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021, reflecting additional depreciation associated with higher levels of utility plant in service and higher amortization of rate case costs.
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes - Taxes Other Than Income Taxes increased $0.3 million, or 4.9%, and $1.4 million, or 7.6% in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021. The increase in the three month period reflects higher local property taxes on higher utility plant in service. The increase in the nine month period reflects higher local property taxes on higher utility plant in service and higher payroll taxes.
Other Expense (Income), Net - Other Expense (Income), Net decreased $0.4 million, or 40.0%, and $1.5 million, or 44.1%, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021, reflecting lower retirement benefit costs.
Provision for Income Taxes - Federal and State Income Taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2022 decreased $0.2 million compared with the same period in 2021, primarily resulting from the flow back of excess Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, Federal and State Income Taxes increased $0.1 million compared to the same period in 2021, reflecting higher pre-tax earnings in the current period, partially offset by the flow back of excess Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes.
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