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| SJI > SEC Filings for SJI > Form 10-Q on 7-Aug-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
7-Aug-2009
Quarterly Report
Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors - Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report may qualify as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report should be considered forward-looking statements made in good faith and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "goal", "intend", "objective", "plan", "project", "seek", "strategy" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions on an international, national, state and local level; weather conditions in our marketing areas; changes in commodity costs; changes in the availability of natural gas; "non-routine" or "extraordinary" disruptions in our distribution system; regulatory, legislative and court decisions; competition; the availability and cost of capital; costs and effects of legal proceedings and environmental liabilities; the failure of customers, suppliers or business partners to fulfill their contractual obligations; and changes in business strategies.
A discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties may be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in other filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and they are made only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or in any document incorporated by reference, at the date of such document. While SJI believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. Further, SJI undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Critical Accounting Policies - Estimates and Assumptions - Management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Five types of transactions presented in our condensed consolidated financial statements require a significant amount of judgment and estimation. These relate to regulatory accounting, derivatives, environmental remediation costs, pension and other postretirement employee benefit costs, and revenue recognition. A discussion of these estimates and assumptions may be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
New Accounting Pronouncements - See detailed discussions concerning New Accounting Pronouncements and their impact on SJI in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Regulatory Actions -Other than the changes discussed in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, there have been no significant regulatory actions since December 31, 2008. See detailed discussion concerning Regulatory Actions in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI's Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.
Environmental Remediation -Other than the changes discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, there have been no significant changes to the status of the Company's environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2008. See detailed discussion concerning Environmental Remediation in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI's Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:
SJI operates in several different reportable operating segments. Gas Utility Operations (SJG) consists primarily of natural gas distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Wholesale Gas Operations include SJRG's activities. SJE is involved in both retail gas and retail electric activities. Retail Gas and Other Operations include natural gas acquisition and transportation service business lines. Retail Electric Operations consist of electricity acquisition and transportation to commercial and industrial customers. On-Site Energy Production consists of Marina's thermal energy facility and other energy-related projects. Appliance Service Operations includes SJESP's servicing of appliances via the sale of appliance service programs as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems.
A significant portion of the volatility in operating results is due to the impact of the accounting methods associated with SJRG's storage activities. SJRG purchases and holds natural gas in storage to earn a profit margin from its ultimate sale in the future. SJRG uses derivatives to mitigate commodity price risk in order to substantially lock-in the profit margin that will ultimately be realized. However, gas stored in inventory is accounted for at the lower of average cost or market; the derivatives used to reduce the risk associated with a change in the value of the inventory are accounted for at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in operating results in the period of change. As a result, earnings are subject to volatility as the market prices of derivatives change, even when the underlying hedged value of the inventory is unchanged. This volatility can be significant from period to period. Over time, gains or losses on the sale of gas in storage will be offset by losses or gains on the derivatives, resulting in the realization of the profit margin expected when the transactions were initiated.
Net Income attributable to SJI for the three months ended June 30, 2009 increased $18.3 million, or 138% to $5.0 million compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. Net Income for the six months ended June 30, 2009 increased $25.2 million, or 221% to $36.6 million compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008. This increase is primarily due to the change in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives used by SJRG to mitigate commodity price risk, as discussed above. These changes are also discussed in more detail below.
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The following tables summarize the composition of selected SJG data for the
three and six months ended June 30 (in thousands, except for degree day data):
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
Utility Throughput - dth:
Firm Sales -
Residential 2,847 2,748 14,364 12,931
Commercial 769 829 3,646 3,413
Industrial 56 15 205 90
Cogeneration & Electric Generation 88 356 102 372
Firm Transportation -
Residential 264 263 1,271 1,215
Commercial 914 869 3,485 3,329
Industrial 2,917 3,167 5,969 6,447
Cogeneration & Electric Generation 286 573 719 925
Total Firm Throughput 8,141 8,820 29,761 28,722
Interruptible Sales 2 18 4 27
Interruptible Transportation 572 613 1,208 1,525
Off-System 1,071 1,633 3,765 5,872
Capacity Release 8,964 15,827 17,463 27,057
Total Throughput - Utility 18,750 26,911 52,201 63,203
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
Utility Operating Revenues:
Firm Sales -
Residential $ 40,645 $ 44,043 $ 209,283 $ 187,511
Commercial 8,008 12,613 44,534 43,799
Industrial 517 1,622 2,328 5,177
Cogeneration & Electric Generation 772 4,960 1,045 5,287
Firm Transportation -
Residential 1,628 1,611 6,323 6,080
Commercial 3,072 2,755 10,986 10,408
Industrial 3,616 3,081 7,203 6,273
Cogeneration & Electric Generation 334 435 793 757
Total Firm Revenues 58,592 71,120 282,495 265,292
Interruptible Sales 55 269 95 394
Interruptible Transportation 529 371 1,086 967
Off-System 4,348 18,596 21,250 58,586
Capacity Release 983 2,953 2,423 5,753
Other 328 262 599 483
64,835 93,571 307,948 331,475
Less: Intercompany Sales (380 ) (408 ) (3,384 ) (1,900 )
Total Utility Operating Revenues 64,455 93,163 304,564 329,575
Less:
Cost of Sales 29,526 59,855 192,499 221,280
Conservation Recoveries* 2,124 1,968 5,389 5,033
RAC Recoveries* 1,208 694 2,417 1,389
Revenue Taxes 1,270 1,252 5,341 5,042
Utility Margin $ 30,327 $ 29,394 $ 98,918 $ 96,831
Margin:
Residential $ 16,548 $ 16,154 $ 62,138 $ 57,136
Commercial and Industrial 7,025 6,831 22,454 21,149
Cogeneration and Electric Generation 535 610 875 899
Interruptible 42 16 88 81
Off-system & Capacity Release 198 507 900 1,588
Other 945 563 1,215 783
Margin Before Incentive Mechanisms 25,293 24,681 87,670 81,636
CIP Mechanism 4,659 4,713 10,873 15,195
CIRT Mechanism 375 - 375 -
Utility Margin $ 30,327 $ 29,394 $ 98,918 $ 96,831
Degree Days: 481 471 2,999 2,735
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*Represents revenues for which there is a corresponding charge in operating expenses. Therefore, such recoveries have no impact on our financial results.
Throughput - Total gas throughput decreased 8.2 MMdts, or 30.3%, for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared with the same period in 2008, and 11.0 MMdts, or 17.4%, for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared with the same period in 2008. Off-System sales (OSS) and capacity release volume decreased substantially as SJG's portfolio of assets available for such activities has been reduced under the Conservation Incentive Program, as discussed under "Rates and Regulation" in Item 7 of SJI's Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008. As the majority of profits from OSS and capacity release are returned to the ratepayers via a BPU-approved sharing formula, the decrease in such activities had a negligible impact on SJG earnings as reflected in the margin table above. Firm throughput increased in the residential market, primarily on a year-to-date basis, as a result of 9.7% colder weather, as reflected by the degree day data in the table above, and the addition of 4,357 customers during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2009. Changes in throughput in other customer categories were not significant.
Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) - The effects of the CIP on SJG's net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 and the associated weather comparisons were as follows ($'s in millions):
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
Net Income Benefit:
CIP - Weather Related $ 0.8 $ 0.4 $ (0.1 ) $ 1.6
CIP - Usage Related 1.9 2.4 6.5 7.4
Total Net Income Benefit $ 2.7 $ 2.8 $ 6.4 $ 9.0
Weather Compared to 20-Year Average 12.4% warmer 14.2% warmer 0.7% colder 8.2% warmer
Weather Compared to Prior Year 2.1% colder 13.9% warmer 9.7% colder 7.8% warmer
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Operating Revenues - Utility - Revenues decreased $28.7 million, or 30.8%, during the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year. This was the result of a substantial decrease in off-system sales (OSS) and capacity release revenue, which decreased by $14.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, during the second quarter of 2009 versus 2008, before eliminating intercompany transactions. These decreases were primarily related to a reduction in SJG's portfolio of assets available for such activities under the provisions of the CIP, as noted above under "Throughput," and a significant decrease in the average cost per unit sold. As a result of steady declines in the cost of natural gas prices during 2009, OSS unit sales prices had dropped from an average of $11.39 per decatherm (Dt) during the second quarter of 2008 to only $4.06 per Dt during the second quarter of 2009. As reflected in the margin table above, the impact of lower OSS and Capacity Release did not have a material impact on earnings, as SJG is required to share 85% of the profits of such activity with the ratepayers. The decrease in natural gas prices also led to lower revenue from firm customers in the second quarter of 2009 since recovery of natural gas costs through the BGSS rate exceeded the actual costs being incurred during the period. When this occurs, the excess revenue is deferred (removed from revenue) and recorded on the balance sheet. During the three months ended June 30, 2009, SJG deferred revenues related to BGSS over-recoveries of approximately $8.9 million. No such deferrals were required during 2008. Finally, revenue decreased $4.2 million during the second quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period last year due to a significant decrease in consumption by an electric generation customer in 2009. In comparison to the mild summer season experienced this year, June 2008 was one of the warmest Junes on record, thereby driving higher natural gas consumption by the region's electric utility to meet the electric consumption for air conditioning.
Revenues decreased $25.0 million, or 7.6%, during the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year. This decrease was the result of a substantial decrease in off-system sales (OSS) and capacity release revenue, which decreased by $37.3 million and $3.3 million, respectively, during the first six months of 2009 versus 2008 before eliminating intercompany transactions; the deferral of excess natural gas cost recoveries approximating $8.9 million; and lower firm sales to the region's electric utility, as discussed in greater detail above. These decreases were partially offset by several factors including higher sales resulting from 9.7% colder weather during the first six months of 2009, the addition of approximately 4,400 customers over the last twelve months, and a higher Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) rate in effect during the period. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the BGSS rate was 11.1% higher than the rate in effect during the same time last year. This increase was necessary to fully recover higher gas costs incurred through most of 2008. However, as SJG does not profit from the sale of the commodity, the BGSS rate increase did not have an impact on profitability.
Operating Revenues - Nonutility - Combined revenues for SJI's nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, increased by $27.4 million and $37.8 million, or 64.1% and 24.5% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2008.
SJE's revenues from retail gas, net of intercompany transactions, decreased by $20.0 million and $38.5 million, or 46.7% and 39.1% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2008. These decreases were due mainly to a 68.8% and 56.2% decrease in the average monthly NYMEX settle price during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2008. The majority of SJE's natural gas customer contracts are market-priced. In addition, as of June 30, 2009, SJE was serving 9,508 residential customers compared with 11,958 as of June 30, 2008. Market conditions continue to make it difficult to be competitive in this market. SJE's commercial customer count also declined from 1,328 as of June 30, 2008 to 917 as of June 30, 2009, driven mainly by the expiration of a large municipal contract early in the fourth quarter of 2008. We continue to focus our marketing efforts on the pursuit of non-heat-sensitive commercial customers in an effort to mitigate price volatility and weather risk.
SJE's revenues from retail electricity, net of intercompany transactions, increased $10.8 million and $3.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2008. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized losses recorded on forward financial contracts due to price volatility of $9.6 million and $11.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, SJE's revenues from retail electricity increased $20.4 million and $14.7 million or 152.1% and 54.4%, respectively. These increases were mainly due to the impact of SJE being the successful bidder on a contract to supply retail electricity to over 400 school districts located throughout the state of New Jersey beginning in April 2009. Partially offsetting this was a 61.8% and 53.6% decrease in the average monthly Locational Marginal Price (LMP) per megawatt hour for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2008. Excluding the school bid, essentially all of SJE's retail electric customer contracts are market-priced.
SJRG's revenues, net of intercompany transactions, increased $40.0 million and $77.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2008. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts due to price volatility of $55.8 million and $68.0 million, respectively. SJRG's revenues decreased $15.7 million and increased $9.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2008. A summary of SJRG's revenue for the three and six months ended June 30 is as follows (in millions):
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Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
SJRG Revenue $ 10.1 $ (30.0 ) $ 40.1 $ 73.8 $ (3.8 ) $ 77.6
Add: Unrealized
Losses (Subtract:
Unrealized Gains) (12.5 ) 43.3 (55.8 ) 1.7 69.7 (68.0 )
SJRG Revenue,
Excluding Unrealized
Losses (Gains) $ (2.4 ) $ 13.3 $ (15.7 ) $ 75.5 $ 65.9 $ 9.6
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The decrease in revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared with the same period of 2008 is mainly attributable to the timing of realized storage hedge gains and losses. See Gross Margin - Nonutility. The increase in revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared with the same period of 2008 is mainly attributable to a 32.0% increase in sales of storage volumes. As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI's Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues - Nonutility.
Revenues for Marina decreased $3.5 million and $4.3 million or 28.8% and 18.6% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2008 due mainly to lower sales rates for chilled and hot water. Lower sales rates were driven by lower underlying commodity prices. Volumetric hot water production increased 3.5% and chilled water production decreased 3.3% in the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, respectively. Hot water production increased 9.8% and chilled water production decreased 3.8% in the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, respectively. Additional production was mainly attributable to the opening of Borgata's new Water Club tower in June 2008. This was offset by lower demand, particularly for chilled water, at Borgata's other facilities mainly driven by the impact of current economic conditions on resort occupancy and significantly cooler temperatures in June 2009 compared with June 2008.
Revenues for SJESP remained relatively unchanged in the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 compared with the same periods in 2008. However, SJESP did recognize revenues from a large commercial HVAC job that for the most part offset a decline in revenues from time and materials (T&M) and installation jobs. T&M and installation revenues were negatively impacted by current depressed economic conditions.
Margin (pre-tax) - Utility- SJG's margin is defined as natural gas revenues less natural gas costs; volumetric and revenue based energy taxes; and regulatory rider expenses. We believe that margin provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating utility operations than revenues since natural gas costs, energy taxes and regulatory rider expenses are passed through to customers, and therefore, have no effect on margin. Natural gas costs are charged to operating expenses on the basis of therm sales at the prices approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities through the BGSS tariff.
Total margin increased $0.9 million, or 3.2%, for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 due to customer additions, as noted above, and increased profits earned through SJG's Storage Incentive Mechanism (SIM) and the Capital Investment Recovery Tracker (CIRT). The SIM allows SJG to retain 20% of storage related gains and losses as measured against an established benchmark. The balance of these gains and losses are passed through to customers as part of the BGSS. As discussed in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, the CIRT was approved by the BPU in April 2009. The CIRT allows SJG to accelerate certain capital spending and also earn a return of, and a return on, investment at the time the investment is made. The CIRT added $0.4 million of pre-tax margin in the second quarter of 2009. Partially offsetting these increases were lower margins from OSS and capacity release resulting from decreased volumes as discussed above under "Throughput" and "Operating Revenues". The CIP protected $4.7 million of pre-tax margin that would have been lost due to lower customer usage in both the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. Of these amounts, $1.4 million and $0.7 million were related to weather variations and $3.3 million and $4.0 million were related to other customer usage variations in 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Total margin increased $2.1 million, or 2.2%, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 primarily due to customer additions, and increased earnings from the SIM and the CIRT as noted above. Partially offsetting these increases were lower margins from OSS and capacity release as noted above. The CIP protected $10.9 million of pre-tax margin in the first half of 2009 that would have been lost due to lower customer usage, compared to $15.2 million in the same period last year. Of these amounts, $(0.2) million and $2.7 million were related to weather variations and $11.1 million and $12.5 million were related to other customer usage variations in 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Gross Margin - Nonutility - Gross margin for the nonutility businesses is defined as revenue less all costs that are directly related to the production, selling and delivery of the company's products and services. These costs primarily include natural gas and electric commodity costs as well as certain payroll and related benefits. On the statements of condensed consolidated income, revenue is reflected in Operating Revenues - Nonutility and the costs are reflected in Cost of Sales - Nonutility.
As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI's Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues - Nonutility.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 combined gross margins for the nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, increased $30.1 million and $43.3 million, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2008. This increase is primarily due to the following:
· Gross margin for SJRG increased $40.2 million and $56.7 million for the three . . .
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