Cal Water Announces Revenues and Earnings for 4th Quarter and Year-End 2006
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) today announced net income of $6.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2006, an increase of 10% over net income of $5.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. Diluted earnings per share were $0.31, compared to $0.32 per share for the same period last year.
Revenue for the fourth quarter increased $2.8 million, or 4%, to $80.6 million. The increase in revenue is primarily due to the addition of $2.8 million from rate increases and an increase of $0.7 million in sales to new customers, which were offset by a decline of $0.7 million in usage by existing customers.
Total operating expenses for the quarter were $71.0 million, an increase of 3%, or $2.0 million, over the same period last year. Water production costs were up approximately 5% or $1.4 million to $28.6 million, due to increases in rates charged by wholesalers. Other operations expense increased 9% or $2.0 million to $24.8 million, due to increases in vehicle costs, payroll, conservation programs, and outside services. Income taxes decreased 39% or $1.8 million to $2.7 million, due to a lower effective tax rate over the prior year resulting from a reduction in the impact of flow-through tax depreciation.
Maintenance expense increased approximately 4% or $0.2 million to $4.1 million, due to increased costs for repairs to water mains, meters, and hydrants. Depreciation expense increased 2% or $0.1 million to $7.6 million, due to increased utility plant.
Net interest expense was slightly lower in the fourth quarter of 2006 due to an increase in capitalized interest on capital expenditures.
Other income was down $0.4 million from the same period in 2005. Although there were no property sales during the quarter, the company earned more income on short-term investments than it did in the same period last year.
Full Year 2006 Results
2006 net income was $25.6 million, down 6%, or $1.6 million, from the $27.2 million posted in 2005, and diluted earnings per share were $1.34, compared to $1.47 for the same period last year. The decrease in earnings per share was primarily due to the record wet weather experienced during the first half of 2006; expense increases in several categories not yet recovered in rates, including employee health and welfare, water production, and conservation programs; and the dilutive effect of the company's stock offering completed in the fourth quarter.
Revenue for 2006 was $334.7 million, increasing $14.0 million, or 4%, from the $320.7 million in revenues recorded in 2005. The increase in revenue was due to $10.1 million in rate increases, $3.1 million in sales to new customers, and $0.8 million in sales to existing customers.
President and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson noted that despite wet weather in the first six months and regulatory delays in recovering certain costs in rates, the Company made several key achievements in 2006.
"Our customers continued to give us high marks in service, with 91.6% of those surveyed ranking it as 'excellent or very good' in 2006. We also strengthened our balance sheet by issuing 2.25 million shares of common stock and invested a record $86 million in capital projects," he said.
Total operating expenses increased $15.5 million, or 6%, to $294.4 million for the year. Of this amount, water production costs increased 7% or $8.6 million to $124.3 million during 2006. Other operations expense increased 8% or $6.9 million to $95.7 million. The increases in other operations expenses were primarily due to increases in upkeep of pumping facilities, water quality and treatment costs, conservation programs, and employee payroll and benefits costs.
Maintenance expense increased $0.4 million, or 3%, to $15.6 million, due to cost increases related to repairs of water mains and services in 2006. Depreciation increased 7% or $1.9 million to $30.7 million for the full year.
Net interest expense decreased 4% or $0.7 million to $17.0 million during the year, due to an increase in capitalized interest over the prior year. Income tax decreased 14% or $2.6 million to $15.3 million, due to the decrease in operating income in 2006 and the lower effective tax rate for the year.
Other income and expense decreased 28% or $0.9 million to $2.2 million during the year, primarily due to negligible gain on sale of non-utility property during 2006.
"Going forward, we expect that the regulatory climate in California will continue to improve as the California Public Utilities Commission implements its Water Action Plan, which is based on best practices of commissions throughout the country," Nelson said.
The California Water Action Plan expresses the Commission's commitment to policy that creates "viable utilities" and supports streamlined decision-making. The Commission is currently identifying ways to improve the rate-setting process for multi-district utilities like Cal Water and considering Cal Water's application for a Revenue Adjustment Mechanism that will decouple sales from revenues, thereby reducing the short-term impacts of conservation and weather on earnings. The Water Action Plan may be viewed in its entirety at: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/hottopics/3water/051109_wateractionplan.htm. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
Other Information
All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the 2006 fourth quarter and year-end conference on March 1, 2007, at 8:00 a.m. PST by dialing 1-866-802-4290 and keying in ID# 1022927. A replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. EST Thursday, March 1, 2007, through April 30, 2007, at 888-266-2081, ID# 1022927. The call, which will be hosted by Chairman Robert W. Foy and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki, will also be webcast under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com.
California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., and CWS Utility Services. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to approximately 2 million people in more than 100 California, Washington, New Mexico and Hawaii communities. Group's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CWT."
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management's judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include: governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions, including decisions on proper disposition of property; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; changes in accounting valuations and estimates; the ability to satisfy requirements related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulations on internal controls; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers' prices and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies; the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of weather on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph. The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.
Additional information is available online at www.calwatergroup.com. CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET Unaudited (In thousands, except per share data) December 31, December 31, 2006 2005 ------------ ------------ ASSETS Utility plant: Utility plant $1,344,415 $1,235,090 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 402,940 372,359 ------------ ------------ Net utility plant 941,475 862,731 ------------ ------------ Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 60,312 9,533 Receivables, net of allowances for uncollectible accounts Customers 19,526 16,061 Other receivables 6,700 4,700 Unbilled revenue 11,341 11,445 Materials and supplies 4,515 4,182 Prepaid pension expense 1,576 1,696 Taxes and other prepaid expenses 5,654 4,607 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 109,624 52,224 ------------ ------------ Regulatory assets 93,785 58,213 Other assets 20,135 23,777 ------------ ------------ $1,165,019 $996,945 ============ ============ CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES Capitalization: Common stock, $.01 par value $207 $184 Additional paid-in capital 211,513 131,991 Retained earnings 166,582 162,968 Accumulated other comprehensive loss - (1,202) ------------ ------------ Total common stockholders' equity 378,302 293,941 Preferred stock 3,475 3,475 Long-term debt, less current maturities 291,814 274,142 ------------ ------------ Total capitalization 673,591 571,558 ------------ ------------ Current liabilities: Current maturities of long-term debt 1,778 1,133 Accounts payable 33,130 36,120 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 35,317 25,772 ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 70,225 63,025 Unamortized investment tax credits 2,541 2,615 Deferred income taxes 69,503 63,920 Regulatory and other liabilities 19,954 18,782 Pension and postretirement benefits other than pension 48,584 21,514 Advances for construction 157,660 141,842 Contributions in aid of construction 109,504 99,958 Other long-term debt 13,457 13,731 Commitments and contingencies - - ------------ ------------ $1,165,019 $996,945 ============ ============
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the three For the twelve
months ended: months ended:
December 31, December 31,
------------------- -------------------
2006 2005 2006 2005
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating revenue $80,644 $77,840 $334,717 $320,728
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating expenses:
Water production costs 28,622 27,245 124,258 115,665
Other operations 24,771 22,765 95,716 88,803
Maintenance 4,088 3,921 15,591 15,216
Depreciation and
amortization 7,585 7,442 30,652 28,731
Income taxes 2,704 4,459 15,297 17,875
Property and other taxes 3,199 3,175 12,897 12,613
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating
expenses 70,969 69,007 294,411 278,903
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net operating income 9,675 8,833 40,306 41,825
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Other income and expenses:
Non-regulated income, net 1,671 874 3,437 2,979
Gain on sale of non-utility
property - 1,522 348 2,250
Less: income taxes on other
income and expenses (681) (976) (1,542) (2,131)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
990 1,420 2,243 3,098
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Interest expense:
Interest Expense 4,971 4,641 19,669 18,600
Less: capitalized interest (725) (225) (2,700) (900)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total interest expense 4,246 4,416 16,969 17,700
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income $6,419 $5,837 $25,580 $27,223
========= ========= ========= =========
Earnings per share
Basic $0.31 $0.32 $1.34 $1.47
========= ========= ========= =========
Diluted $0.31 $0.32 $1.34 $1.47
========= ========= ========= =========
Weighted average shares
outstanding
Basic 20,388 18,390 18,905 18,379
========= ========= ========= =========
Diluted 20,408 18,409 18,925 18,402
========= ========= ========= =========
Dividends per share of common
stock $0.28750 $0.28500 $1.1500 $1.1400
========= ========= ========= =========
Released February 28, 2007