SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 March 31, 1997 For the quarterly period ended. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from. . . . . . . .to. . . . . . . . . 1-3103-2 Commission file number. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . New York State Electric & Gas Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) New York 15-0398550 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) P.O. Box 3287, Ithaca, New York 14852-3287 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) 607 347-4131 Registrant's telephone number, including area code . . . . . . . N/A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [x] No [ ] The number of shares of common stock (par value $6.66 2/3 per share) outstanding as of April 30, 1997 was 68,502,727. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I Page Item 1. Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (a) Liquidity and Capital Resources . . . . . 7 (b) Results of Operations . . . . . . . . . . 10 PART II Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K (a) Exhibits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 (b) Reports on Form 8-K . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Signature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Exhibit Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements New York State Electric & Gas Corporation Consolidated Statements of Income - (Unaudited) Periods Ended March 31 Three Months 1997 1996 (Thousands, except per share amounts) Operating Revenues Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $451,270 $472,352 Natural gas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136,867 149,704 ---------- ---------- Total Operating Revenues. . . . . . . 588,137 622,056 ---------- ---------- Operating Expenses Fuel used in electric generation . . . . 59,983 59,581 Electricity purchased. . . . . . . . . . 93,212 90,626 Natural gas purchased. . . . . . . . . . 60,407 69,043 Other operating expenses . . . . . . . . 79,561 76,123 Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,917 25,116 Depreciation and amortization. . . . . . 48,289 47,091 Other taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55,241 58,123 ---------- ---------- Total Operating Expenses. . . . . . . 420,610 425,703 ---------- ---------- Operating Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . 167,527 196,353 Interest Charges, Net . . . . . . . . . . 30,626 32,112 Other Income and Deductions . . . . . . . 4,768 8,691 ---------- ---------- Income Before Federal Income Taxes . . . 132,133 155,550 Federal Income Taxes. . . . . . . . . . . 50,156 56,874 ---------- ---------- Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81,977 98,676 Preferred Stock Dividends . . . . . . . . 2,315 2,333 ---------- ---------- Earnings Available for Common Stock . . . $79,662 $96,343 ========== ========== Earnings Per Share. . . . . . . . . . . . $1.15 $1.35 Dividends Per Share . . . . . . . . . . . $.35 $.35 Average Shares Outstanding. . . . . . . . 69,353 71,503 The notes on pages 6 and 7 are an integral part of the financial statements. Item 1. Financial Statements (Cont'd) New York State Electric & Gas Corporation Consolidated Balance Sheets - (Unaudited) March 31, Dec. 31, 1997 1996 (Thousands) Assets Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,533 $8,253 Special deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,277 31,364 Accounts receivable, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199,171 189,043 Fuel, at average cost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,966 36,472 Materials and supplies, at average cost. . . . . . . . 43,238 43,044 Prepayments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,678 47,169 Accumulated deferred federal income tax benefits, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,222 3,424 ---------- ---------- Total Current Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360,085 358,769 Utility Plant, at Original Cost Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,192,738 5,177,365 Natural gas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540,251 529,023 Common . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152,859 151,290 ---------- ---------- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,885,848 5,857,678 Less accumulated depreciation. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,973,522 1,933,599 ---------- ---------- Net Utility Plant in Service. . . . . . . . . . . . 3,912,326 3,924,079 Construction work in progress. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,462 58,285 ---------- ---------- Total Utility Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,962,788 3,982,364 Other Property and Investments, Net . . . . . . . . . . 97,668 99,221 Regulatory and Other Assets Regulatory assets Unfunded future federal income taxes. . . . . . . . . 268,746 269,767 Environmental remediation costs . . . . . . . . . . . 84,600 32,100 Unamortized debt expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80,088 80,745 Demand-side management program costs. . . . . . . . . 70,500 71,425 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132,146 149,561 ---------- ---------- Total regulatory assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 636,080 603,598 Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,762 15,729 ---------- ---------- Total Regulatory and Other Assets . . . . . . . . . 660,842 619,327 ---------- ---------- Total Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,081,383 $5,059,681 ========== ========== The notes on pages 6 and 7 are an integral part of the financial statements. Item 1. Financial Statements (Cont'd) New York State Electric & Gas Corporation Consolidated Balance Sheets - (Unaudited) March 31, Dec. 31, 1997 1996 (Thousands) Liabilities Current Liabilities Current portion of long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . $34,843 $83,488 Commercial paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,500 129,300 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities . . . . . . . 96,194 121,123 Interest accrued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,380 22,195 Taxes accrued. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,884 - Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49,976 71,324 ---------- ---------- Total Current Liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341,777 427,430 Regulatory and Other Liabilities Regulatory liabilities Deferred income taxes - unfunded future federal income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108,519 109,065 Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93,742 94,004 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71,458 65,471 ---------- ---------- Total regulatory liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273,719 268,540 Other liabilities Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 749,896 751,553 Other postretirement benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . 101,104 95,195 Environmental remediation costs . . . . . . . . . . . 84,600 32,100 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71,139 74,627 ---------- ---------- Total other liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,006,739 953,475 Long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,481,360 1,480,814 ---------- ---------- Total Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,103,595 3,130,259 Commitments - - Preferred Stock Redeemable Solely at the Option of the Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134,440 134,440 Preferred Stock Subject to Mandatory Redemption Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,000 25,000 Common Stock Equity Common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 462,250 464,469 Capital in excess of par value. . . . . . . . . . . . 811,576 816,384 Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 544,522 489,129 ---------- ---------- Total Common Stock Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,818,348 1,769,982 ---------- ---------- Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity . . . . $5,081,383 $5,059,681 ========== ========== The notes on pages 6 and 7 are an integral part of the financial statements. Item 1. Financial Statements (Cont'd) New York State Electric & Gas Corporation Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - (Unaudited) Periods Ended March 31 Three Months 1997 1996 (Thousands) Operating Activities Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $81,977 $98,676 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Depreciation and amortization. . . . . . . . . . 48,289 47,091 Federal income taxes and investment tax credits deferred, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (11,038) 581 Changes in current operating assets and liabilities Accounts receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (10,128) (48,945) Prepayments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (18,509) (19,929) Inventory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,312 16,403 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities . . . . (24,929) (9,786) Taxes accrued. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,884 58,822 Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,982 15,040 ------- ------- Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities . . . 154,840 157,953 ------- ------- Investing Activities Utility plant capital expenditures . . . . . . . . (25,995) (45,966) Proceeds from governmental and other sources . . . 131 31 Expenditures for other property and investments. . (551) (552) ------- ------- Net Cash Used in Investing Activities . . . . . (26,415) (46,487) ------- ------- Financing Activities Repurchase of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . (7,246) - Repayments of first mortgage bonds and preferred stock, including net premiums. . . . . (48,000) (128,960) Changes in funds set aside for first mortgage bond repayments . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,000 - Long-term notes, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (456) 2,234 Commercial paper, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (66,800) 39,680 Dividends on common and preferred stock. . . . . . (26,643) (29,647) ------- ------- Net Cash Used in Financing Activities . . . . . (124,145) (116,693) ------- ------- Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,280 (5,227) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period. . . 8,253 11,433 ------- ------- Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period. . . . . . $12,533 $6,206 ======= ======= Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flows Information Cash paid during the period Interest, net of amounts capitalized. . . . . . . $14,216 $15,362 Income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - $1,770 The notes on pages 6 and 7 are an integral part of the financial statements. Item 1. Financial Statements (Cont'd) New York State Electric & Gas Corporation Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings - (Unaudited) Periods ended March 31 Three Months 1997 1996 (Thousands) Balance, beginning of period. . . . . . . . . . $489,129 $424,412 Add net income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81,977 98,676 -------- -------- 571,106 523,088 Deduct dividends on capital stock Preferred. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,315 2,333 Common . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,269 25,026 -------- -------- 26,584 27,359 Deduct premium paid on preferred stock redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 5,960 -------- -------- Balance, end of period. . . . . . . . . . . . . $544,522 $489,769 ======== ======== The notes on pages 6 and 7 are an integral part of the financial statements. Item 1. Financial Statements (Cont'd) Note 1. Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of New York State Electric & Gas Corporation's (company) consolidated results for the interim periods. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes contained in the company's annual report for the year ended December 31, 1996. Due to the seasonal nature of the company's operations, financial results for interim periods are not neces- sarily indicative of trends for a twelve-month period. Note 2. Reclassification Certain items have been reclassified on the consolidated financial statements to conform to the 1997 presentation. Note 3. Environmental Liability The company has a program to investigate and perform necessary remediation at its known inactive gas manufacturing sites. In March 1994 and October 1996 the company entered into Orders on Consent with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation requiring the company to investigate and, where necessary, remediate 34 of the company's 38 known inactive gas manufacturing sites. With respect to the 38 sites, eight sites are included in the New York State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites. The company revised its estimate for all costs related to investigation and remediation of the 38 sites, from $31 million at December 31, 1996, to a range of $83 million to $186 million at March 31, 1997. The company's previous estimate of $31 million was based on known conditions and only one remedial alternative for each site. The new estimate is based on both known and potential site conditions and multiple remediation alternatives for each of the sites. The estimate was not revised as a result of any new obligations. The new estimate has not been discounted and is based on costs in 1996 dollars that the company expects to incur through the year 2017. The estimate could change materially, based on facts and circumstances derived from site investigations, changes in required remedial action, changes in technology relating to remedial alternatives and changes to current laws and regulations. The liability to investigate and perform remediation, as necessary, at the known inactive gas manufacturing sites, is reflected in the company's consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 1997 and December 31, 1996, in the amounts of $83 million and $31 million, respectively. The company has recorded a corresponding regulatory asset, since it expects to recover such expenditures in rates, as the company has previously been allowed by the Public Service Commission of the State of New York (PSC) to recover such costs. The company has notified its former and current insurance carriers that it seeks to recover from them certain of the cleanup costs. The company is unable to predict the amount of insurance recoveries, if any, that it may obtain. Item 2. Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (a) Liquidity and Capital Resources Competitive Conditions (See Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, Item 7 - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Competitive Conditions - Electric Industry, Accounting Issues, and Rate Matters - Electric Rate Settlement.) Electric Rate and Restructuring Plan On September 27, 1996, the company submitted a five-year rate and restructuring plan (NYSEGPlan) in response to the PSC's Order dated May 20, 1996, in the Competitive Opportunities Proceeding. On October 9, 1996, the PSC issued a procedural order allowing until January 7, 1997, (subsequently extended for the company until March 25, 1997) to complete the discovery and settlement negotiations regarding the utilities' submissions. The company was unable to reach a settlement with the PSC Staff regarding NYSEGPlan. As a result, the company filed testimony on March 25, 1997, to litigate the issues, and hearings before the PSC are scheduled to begin May 15, 1997. The company also filed a proposed settlement that includes the following key elements: - All eligible customers would be able to choose their electricity supplier by August 1, 1999. This would be one of the nation's most aggressive programs for achieving full retail competition. - The company would forgo the $45.5 million electric price increase the PSC approved for the third and final year of its current electric rate settlement. The company would also pass along to its customers any net savings that result from gross receipts tax or special financing legislation. - The company would stabilize electric prices for five years. During that period many large customers would see their prices reduced 25%, while others would receive discounts for growth or increased electricity usage. - The company would provide customers and suppliers with more detailed price information through a rate unbundling proposal during the five-year transition period. - The current freeze of natural gas prices would be extended four more years through July 31, 2002. - The company would be authorized to form a holding company and to transfer designated coal-fired generation assets to one or more generation companies within the holding company structure. - The company continues to insist on the opportunity to recover past investments that were prudently incurred as a result of government mandates and the company's obligation to serve all customers. The company is unable to predict the outcome of this proceeding and its ultimate effect on the company's financial position, results of operations or its eligibility to continue applying Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71 (Statement 71), Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation. Continued application of Statement 71 requires that the company's regulated operations meet the following three criteria: - rates for regulated services or products provided to customers are subject to approval by an independent, third party regulator, - the regulated rates are designed to recover the company's costs of providing regulated services or products and - it is reasonable to assume that rates set at levels that will recover the company's costs can be charged to and collected from customers. Although the company believes that it will continue to meet those criteria in the near future, it cannot predict what effect the following two matters will have on its ability to do so: 1) recent inquiries by the Securities and Exchange Commission's Chief Accountant regarding the continued application of Statement 71 for generation operations of electric utilities facing restructuring or 2) discussions the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Emerging Issues Task Force is expected to have in the near future related to the continued application of Statement 71 during the transition to competition. If the company no longer met the criteria of Statement 71 for all or a separable part of its business, it may have to record as expense or revenue certain previously deferred items (regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities) and may have to record as a loss the amount for power purchase contracts with nonutility generators that is above the estimated price in a competitive marketplace. FERC Orders 888 and 889 In April 1996 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Orders 888 and 889 adopting final rules to facilitate the development of competitive wholesale electric markets by opening up transmission services and to address the resulting stranded costs. In March 1997 the FERC issued Orders 888-A and 889-A, which generally affirmed Orders 888 and 889. Various parties, including the company, have filed petitions for review of these orders with the U.S. Courts of Appeals in various circuits. In Orders 888 and 889, the FERC directed all public utilities to file a compliance open-access transmission tariff on or before July 9, 1996. Order 888 allows each utility to submit further modifications to its tariff and allows customers to request modifications to the tariff. The company filed its compliance open-access transmission tariff and a modified open- access transmission tariff on July 9 and July 10, 1996, respectively. The FERC accepted the company's transmission rates filed on July 9, 1996, subject to refund and set the rates for hearing. As required by the FERC, in February 1997 the company filed a new compliance tariff with respect to non-rate terms and conditions, which became effective retroactively on January 29, 1997. On March 28, 1997, the company submitted to FERC a request for a modification of its transmission rate. The company requested an increase in its transmission rate, effective May 28, 1997, to ensure that it is adequately compensated by customers who use its transmission services. To date, the FERC has not acted on the company's request. Investing Activities Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 1997 were $26 million, primarily for the extension of service and necessary improvements to existing facilities. The company estimates its capital expenditures for 1997 will total $141 million and will be financed entirely with internally generated funds. Financing Activities During the first quarter of 1997, the company repaid $25 million of 5 5/8% Series first mortgage bonds that matured on January 1, 1997; redeemed, at par, the remaining $23 million of its 9 7/8% Series first mortgage bonds, due February 1, 2020; and repaid approximately $67 million of commercial paper. The company initiated a common stock repurchase program of not to exceed 4,000,000 shares in September 1996. The company repurchased 3,000,100 shares as of April 30, 1997. (b) Results of Operations Three months ended March 31, 1997 compared with three months ended March 31, 1996: 1997 1996 Change (Thousands, except per share amounts) Total Operating Revenues $588,137 $622,056 (5%) Operating Income $167,527 $196,353 (15%) Earnings Available for Common Stock $79,662 $96,343 (17%) Average Shares Outstanding 69,353 71,503 (3%) Earnings Per Share $1.15 $1.35 (15%) Dividends Per Share $.35 $.35 - Earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 1997, decreased 20 cents compared to the prior year period. Lower electric and natural gas retail sales, due to a very mild winter this year compared to 1996, reduced earnings per share 18 cents. A less favorable electric sales mix, due to lower residential and commercial sales but higher industrial sales, and increases in the price of mandated purchases of power from nonutility generators (NUGs) reduced earnings 14 cents per share. The above decreases were partially offset by several items that increased earnings per share. A reduction in average shares outstanding due to the repurchase of common stock added three cents; a decrease in losses incurred by NGE Enterprises, Inc. added three cents; a decrease in the price of natural gas purchased added two cents; and lower interest charges, due to the redemption of first mortgage bonds, also added two cents to earnings per share. Operating Results by Business Segment Electric Three Months ended March 31, 1997 1996 Change (Thousands) Retail Sales - Megawatt-Hours(mwh) 3,492 3,643 (4%) Operating Revenues $451,270 $472,352 (4%) Operating Expenses $331,969 $326,965 2% Operating Income $119,301 $145,387 (18%) Electric retail sales decreased 4% for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, primarily because of a very mild winter this year compared to 1996. The $21 million decrease in electric operating revenues for the quarter was primarily due to lower retail sales, which reduced revenues $18 million. The $5 million increase in electric operating expenses for the three months is primarily due to a $4 million increase in other operating expenses and a $3 million increase in electricity purchased, mostly due to increases in the price of mandated purchases of power from NUGs. Those increases were partially offset by decreases in other taxes and maintenance of $2 million and $1 million, respectively. Natural Gas Three Months ended March 31, 1997 1996 Change (Thousands) Retail Deliveries - Dekatherms(dth) 23,419 25,337 (8%) Operating Revenues $136,867 $149,704 (9%) Operating Expenses $88,641 $98,738 (10%) Operating Income $48,226 $50,966 (5%) Natural gas retail deliveries decreased 8% for the three months ended March 31, 1997, primarily because of a very mild winter this year compared to 1996. The $13 million decrease in natural gas operating revenues for the quarter is primarily due to lower retail deliveries, which reduced revenues $11 million. Natural gas operating expenses decreased $10 million due to a $9 million decrease in natural gas purchased, mainly due to lower volume, and a $1 million decrease in other taxes. PART II - OTHER INFORMATION Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K (a) Exhibits - See Exhibit Index. (b) Reports on Form 8-K No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter for which this report is filed. Signature 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. NEW YORK STATE ELECTRIC & GAS CORPORATION (Registrant) By Gary J. Turton GARY J. TURTON Vice President and Controller (Chief Accounting Officer) Date: May 14, 1997 EXHIBIT INDEX 27 -- Financial Data Schedule.