ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORP - Quarter Report: 2009 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
quarterly period ended March 31, 2009
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
transition period from _____ to _____
Commission
file number 000-18516
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
51-0002090
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
-------------------------------------------------
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
|
664
Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware 19702
------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
of principal executive offices
(302)
453 – 6900
-----------------------------------------------------------
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code
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.
þ
|
Yes
|
o
|
No
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted
on
its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data file required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit
and post such files).
o
|
Yes
|
o
|
No
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.:
Large
accelerated filer oAccelerated
filer þ Non-accelerated
filer oSmall
reporting company o
Indicate
by check mark whether the
registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act):
o
|
Yes
|
þ
|
No
|
As
of May
4, 2009, 6,546,586 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock and 881,452 shares
of Class B Common Stock were outstanding.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
-
|
Financial
Information:
|
|||
-
|
Financial
Statements
|
Page(s)
|
||
3
|
||||
4
|
||||
5
|
||||
6
|
||||
7
–
18
|
||||
-
|
19
– 29
|
|||
-
|
30
|
|||
-
|
31
|
|||
-
|
Other
Information:
|
|||
-
|
Risk
Factors
|
31
|
||
-
|
Exhibits
|
32
|
||
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
||||||||
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
||||||||
ASSETS
|
March
31, 2009
|
December
31, 2008
|
||||||
Utility
plant, at original cost less accumulated depreciation
|
$ | 319,443 | $ | 318,243 | ||||
Current
assets
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
841 | 2,894 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable (less reserve for bad debts 2009 - $102;
2008-$106)
|
4,587 | 4,224 | ||||||
Unbilled
operating revenues
|
2,950 | 3,597 | ||||||
Materials
and supplies (at cost on FIFO basis)
|
1,214 | 1,147 | ||||||
Prepaid
property taxes
|
578 | 1,119 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
747 | 491 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
10,917 | 13,472 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
||||||||
Non-utility
property (less accumulated depreciation 2009-$194;
2008-$179)
|
9,809 | 9,436 | ||||||
Other
deferred assets
|
5,133 | 4,992 | ||||||
Total
other assets
|
14,942 | 14,428 | ||||||
Regulatory
assets, net
|
2,666 | 2,563 | ||||||
$ | 347,968 | $ | 348,706 | |||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
|
||||||||
Stockholders'
equity
|
||||||||
Common
stock
|
$ | 7,425 | $ | 7,401 | ||||
Preferred
stock
|
--- | --- | ||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
66,995 | 66,699 | ||||||
Retained
earnings
|
13,980 | 13,694 | ||||||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
88,400 | 87,794 | ||||||
Long-term
debt, net of current portion
|
107,277 | 107,555 | ||||||
195,677 | 195,349 | |||||||
Current
liabilities
|
||||||||
Lines
of credit
|
20,084 | 20,286 | ||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
1,522 | 1,516 | ||||||
Accounts
payable
|
4,607 | 4,556 | ||||||
Accrued
expenses
|
1,153 | 2,868 | ||||||
Overdraft
payable
|
418 | 784 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
148 | 363 | ||||||
Interest
accrued
|
1,540 | 1,251 | ||||||
Customer
deposits
|
562 | 556 | ||||||
Other
|
2,395 | 2,197 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
32,429 | 34,377 | ||||||
Commitments
and contingencies
|
||||||||
Deferred
credits and other liabilities
|
||||||||
Net
advances for construction
|
20,696 | 21,089 | ||||||
Postretirement
benefit obligation
|
794 | 812 | ||||||
Deferred
investment tax credits
|
710 | 715 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
30,749 | 29,523 | ||||||
Total
deferred credits and other liabilities
|
52,949 | 52,139 | ||||||
Net
contributions in aid of construction
|
66,913 | 66,841 | ||||||
$ | 347,968 | $ | 348,706 |
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
||||||||
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(In
thousands, except per share amounts)
|
||||||||
For
the Quarter
|
||||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
OPERATING
REVENUES
|
||||||||
Water
sales
|
$ | 12,500 | $ | 11,089 | ||||
Other
utility operating revenue
|
468 | 440 | ||||||
Non-utility
revenue
|
908 | 741 | ||||||
13,876 | 12,270 | |||||||
OPERATING
EXPENSES
|
||||||||
Utility
operating expenses
|
6,844 | 6,973 | ||||||
Non-utility
operating expenses
|
670 | 563 | ||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
1,598 | 1,334 | ||||||
State
and federal income taxes
|
1,083 | 671 | ||||||
Property
and other taxes
|
853 | 793 | ||||||
11,048 | 10,334 | |||||||
OPERATING
INCOME
|
2,828 | 1,936 | ||||||
OTHER
INCOME, NET
|
||||||||
Allowance
for funds used during construction
|
109 | 117 | ||||||
Miscellaneous
|
468 | 464 | ||||||
INCOME
BEFORE INTEREST CHARGES
|
3,405 | 2,517 | ||||||
INTEREST
CHARGES
|
1,798 | 1,518 | ||||||
NET
INCOME
|
$ | 1,607 | $ | 999 | ||||
INCOME
PER COMMON SHARE:
|
||||||||
Basic
|
$ | 0.22 | $ | 0.14 | ||||
Diluted
|
$ | 0.22 | $ | 0.13 | ||||
CASH
DIVIDEND PER COMMON SHARE
|
$ | 0.1784 | $ | 0.1720 | ||||
AVERAGE
COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
|
||||||||
Basic
|
7,413 | 7,313 | ||||||
Diluted
|
7,470 | 7,434 |
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
||||||||
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the Quarter
|
||||||||
Ended
March 31
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 1,607 | $ | 999 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
1,598 | 1,334 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
1,006 | 667 | ||||||
Stock
compensation
|
30 | 41 | ||||||
Allowance
for funds used during construction
|
(109 | ) | (117 | ) | ||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
receivable, net of reserve for bad debts
|
(363 | ) | 661 | |||||
Unbilled
operating revenues
|
647 | 499 | ||||||
Materials
and supplies
|
(67 | ) | 65 | |||||
Prepaid
property taxes
|
541 | 508 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
(256 | ) | 69 | |||||
Other
deferred assets
|
(174 | ) | (315 | ) | ||||
Regulatory
assets
|
(103 | ) | 44 | |||||
Accounts
payable
|
51 | 876 | ||||||
Accrued
expenses
|
(1,715 | ) | 699 | |||||
Interest
accrued
|
289 | 168 | ||||||
Customer
deposits and other, net
|
204 | 186 | ||||||
Postretirement
benefit obligation
|
(18 | ) | --- | |||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
3,168 | 6,384 | ||||||
CASH
FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||
Capital
expenditures (net of AFUDC)
|
(3,461 | ) | (7,975 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from sale of assets
|
3 | 16 | ||||||
NET
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
(3,458 | ) | (7,959 | ) | ||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||
Net
borrowings (repayments) under lines of credit agreements
|
(202 | ) | 1,500 | |||||
(Decrease)
increase in overdraft payable
|
(366 | ) | 816 | |||||
Net
advances and contributions in aid of construction
|
75 | 1,158 | ||||||
Increase
in deferred debt issuance costs
|
33 | 25 | ||||||
Net
proceeds from issuance of common stock
|
290 | 280 | ||||||
Dividends
|
(1,321 | ) | (1,257 | ) | ||||
Principal
repayments of long-term debt
|
(272 | ) | (118 | ) | ||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
(1,763 | ) | 2,404 | |||||
NET
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(2,053 | ) | 829 | |||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
|
2,894 | 2,520 | ||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR
|
$ | 841 | $ | 3,349 | ||||
Supplemental
Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
|
||||||||
Utility
plant received as construction advances and contributions
|
$ | 182 | $ | 4,853 | ||||
Supplemental
Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
|
||||||||
Interest
paid
|
$ | 1,479 | $ | 1,325 | ||||
Income
taxes paid
|
$ | --- | $ | --- | ||||
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
||||||||
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the Quarter
|
||||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Balance,
beginning of period
|
$ | 13,694 | $ | 12,469 | ||||
Net
income
|
1,607 | 999 | ||||||
15,301 | 13,468 | |||||||
Less:
Dividends
|
1,321 | 1,257 | ||||||
Balance,
end of period
|
$ | 13,980 | $ | 12,211 | ||||
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
|
6
NOTE
1 – GENERAL
Artesian
Resources Corporation, or Artesian Resources, operates as a holding company,
whose income is derived from the earnings of our eight wholly owned
subsidiaries. The terms “we”, “our”, “Artesian” and the “Company” as
used herein refer to Artesian Resources, its subsidiaries, and a variable
interest entity required to be consolidated under FIN 46R (as defined in Note
2
below).
Artesian
Water Company Inc., or Artesian Water, our principal subsidiary, is the oldest
and largest public water utility in the State of Delaware and has been providing
water service within the state since 1905. Artesian Water distributes
and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal
and utility customers throughout the State of Delaware. In addition,
Artesian Water provides services to other water utilities, including operations
and billing functions, and has contract operation agreements with 21 private
and
municipal water providers.
Artesian
Water Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Water Maryland, began operations in August
2007 following the acquisition of Carpenters Point Water Company. It
serves a 141 home community in Cecil County, Maryland, or Cecil County, near
the
Interstate 95 growth corridor between Philadelphia and Baltimore and has
sufficient groundwater supply and elevated water storage to serve additional
customers in the undeveloped portions of its franchise and surrounding
area. In addition, on August 1, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland
completed its acquisition of all the outstanding membership interests of
Mountain Hill Water Company, LLC, or Mountain Hill, from its sole member,
Sunrise Holdings, L.P., or Sunrise, for a purchase price of approximately $7.1
million. The acquisition provides Artesian Water Maryland the right
to serve the entire 8,000 acres owned by Sunrise or its
associates. Mountain Hill serves three commercial accounts in the
Principio Business Park, located within Cecil County’s designated growth
corridor. Mountain Hill will also provide water service to future
customers in the Principio Business Park and will provide water service to
the
proposed 660 home residential development of Charlestown Crossing as well as
the
surrounding area. Expanded water service is expected for the 172
residents of Whitaker Woods, a development located in the Mountain Hill service
area. This expanded franchise area was approved by the Maryland
Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, in the Mountain Hill
acquisition.
In
order
for Artesian Water Maryland to expand its franchise area, we must first obtain
approval from the county in Maryland in which we intend to expand. We
also need to seek approval from the MDPSC. In addition, we are
required to provide to the MDPSC any plans, permits, maps and proof of ownership
of easements for our facilities.
On
October 7, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland signed an agreement, or the Water
Asset
Purchase Agreement, to purchase from Cecil County all of Cecil County’s rights,
title and interest in and to the Meadowview, Pine Hills, Harbourview and the
Route 7 water facilities and the associated parcels of real property, easement
rights and water transmission and distribution systems. Closing on
this transaction is expected to occur on or before June 30, 2009, subject to
the
satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including, among other matters,
the completion of Artesian Resources’ due diligence and the approval of the
MDPSC. The Appleton Regional Community Alliance, or Appleton
Alliance, filed a petition with The Circuit Court of Cecil County, Maryland
for
judicial review of the proposed transfer of certain Cecil County property and
assets to Artesian. Should the Appleton Alliance proceed with their
action, closing on the transaction may be delayed. Under the Water
Asset Purchase Agreement, either party may terminate such agreement, subject
to
certain exceptions, in the event of uncured breach by the other party, or if
the
closing has not occurred by December 31, 2009.
Artesian
Water Pennsylvania, Inc., or Artesian Water Pennsylvania, began operations
upon
receiving recognition as a regulated public water utility by the Pennsylvania
Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC, in 2002. It provides water
service to a residential community consisting of 38 customers in Chester
County. Artesian Water Pennsylvania filed an application with the
PAPUC to increase our service area in Pennsylvania, which was approved and
a
related order was entered on February 4, 2005. This application
involved specific developments, in which we expect modest future
growth. Home construction in these developments has not progressed
yet pending resolution of developer related township approvals.
Another
subsidiary of ours, Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., or Artesian
Wastewater, is a regulated entity that owns wastewater collection and treatment
infrastructure and provides wastewater services to customers in Delaware as
a
regulated public wastewater service company. Artesian Wastewater
currently owns and operates five wastewater treatment facilities, which are
capable of treating approximately 750,000 gallons per day and can be expanded
to
treat approximately 1.6 million gallons per day, or mgd. Artesian
Wastewater currently provides wastewater service to eight communities in Sussex
County.
Artesian
Resources has completed the preliminary engineering and design work on a
regional wastewater treatment and disposal facility that will provide service
for up to 40,000 homes in the northern Sussex County area. This
facility is strategically situated to provide service to the growing population
in the Georgetown, Ellendale and Milton area, as well as to neighboring
municipal systems. This facility was granted conditional use approval
by Sussex County Council to serve the Elizabethtown subdivision of approximately
4,000 homes and 439,000 square feet of proposed commercial space, as well as
seven additional projects comprising approximately 3,000 residential
units. The facility will also be capable of offering wastewater
services to local municipalities. Artesian Utility signed an
agreement on June 30, 2008 with Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling
Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC, for the design, construction and operation of this
facility. Once constructed it will be operated by Artesian
Wastewater.
In
July
2008, Artesian Wastewater and the Town of Georgetown, or Georgetown, finalized
a
wastewater service agreement establishing a long term arrangement that will
meet
the future wastewater treatment and disposal needs in Georgetown’s growth and
annexation areas. Artesian Wastewater will provide up to 1 mgd of
wastewater capacity for the town within the next 10 years.
Artesian
Wastewater Maryland, Inc, or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, was incorporated
on
June 3, 2008 to provide regulated wastewater services in the State of
Maryland. On October 7, 2008, Artesian Wastewater Maryland signed an
agreement to purchase from Cecil County the wastewater facilities known as
the
Meadowview Wastewater Facility and the Highlands Wastewater Facility and the
associated parcels of real property, easement rights and wastewater collection
systems with respect to each facility. The Meadowview Wastewater
Facility has an average design permitted flow of 700,000 gallons per day, while
the Highlands Wastewater Facility has 50,000 gallons per day.
On
October 7, 2008, Artesian Wastewater Maryland signed an agreement to purchase
from Cecil County the wastewater facilities known as the Cherry Hill Wastewater
Facility and the Harbourview Wastewater Facility and the associated parcels
of
real property, easement rights and wastewater collection systems with respect
to
each facility.
Closings
on the transactions above are expected to occur on or before June 30, 2009,
subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including, among
other matters, the completion of Artesian Resources’ due diligence and the
approval of the MDPSC. The Appleton Regional Community Alliance, or
Appleton Alliance, filed a petition with The Circuit Court of Cecil County,
Maryland for judicial review of the proposed transfer of certain Cecil County
property and assets to Artesian. Should the Appleton Alliance proceed
with their action, closing on the transaction may be delayed. Under
each of the agreements, either party may terminate such agreement, subject
to
certain exceptions, in the event of uncured breach by the other party, or if
the
closing has not occurred by December 31, 2009. The existing water and
wastewater systems subject to the agreements serve approximately 3,400
customers.
Our
three
other subsidiaries, none of which are regulated, are Artesian Utility
Development, Inc., or Artesian Utility, Artesian Development Corporation, or
Artesian Development and Artesian Consulting Engineers, Inc., or Artesian
Consulting.
Artesian
Utility was formed in 1996. It designs and builds water and
wastewater infrastructure and provides contract water and wastewater services
on
the Delmarva Peninsula. Artesian Utility also evaluates land parcels,
provides recommendations to developers on the size of a water or wastewater
facility and the type of technology that should be utilized for treatment
at
said facilities, and operates 31 water and wastewater facilities in Delaware,
Maryland and Pennsylvania for others. Artesian Utility also has
several contracts with developers for design and construction of wastewater
facilities within the Delmarva Peninsula, utilizing a number of different
technologies for treatment of wastewater at each facility.
We
currently operate a 2.5 mgd wastewater facility for the town of Middletown,
in
Southern New Castle County, or Middletown, under a 20-year contract that expires
on February 1, 2021. Artesian Utility also operates an approximately
250,000 gallon per day wastewater facility in Middletown. In
addition, we operate an additional wastewater facility in Middletown in order
to
support the 2.5 mgd wastewater facility described above.
We
currently provide contract water and wastewater operation services to private,
municipal and governmental institutions in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania
as a result of our acquisition of TMH Environmental Services, Inc., or TMH,
in
May 2007.
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with NSRWRC for the design,
construction and operation of the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling
Complex, a wastewater treatment facility to be located in Sussex County,
Delaware, or the Facility. NSRWRC was created for the purpose of
developing the treatment facility site, which once constructed, will be operated
by Artesian Wastewater.
On
March
17, 2009, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with the Cecil County Public
Works in Cecil County, Maryland to operate the Meadowview Wastewater and
Highlands Wastewater treatment and disposal facilities until Artesian Wastewater
Maryland’s purchase of the facilities is closed. This agreement also
employs Artesian Utility to operate two water supply and treatment stations
and
two booster stations in Cecil County. In addition, on March 31, 2009
Artesian Utility signed an agreement with the Town of Port Deposit in Cecil
County, Maryland to operate and maintain a water system from April 1, 2009
through August 30, 2009, with three additional one-year renewal
options.
Artesian
Development owns an approximately six-acre parcel of land zoned for office
buildings located immediately adjacent to our corporate headquarters and 2
nine-acre parcels of land located in Sussex County.
On
October 8, 2007, Artesian Development purchased approximately eighteen acres
of
land located on Route 9, west of the City of Lewes in Sussex County,
Delaware. Artesian Development received a conditional use for this
land from Sussex County to construct an office facility, as we continue to
expand our operations in southern Delaware. This conditional use also
includes allowing for the construction of water treatment and wastewater
facilities and elevated storage on the site to provide service to the area
between Lewes and Georgetown, Delaware. Once permits and approvals to
construct the facilities are received, appropriate agreements with the utility
affiliates of Artesian Development for its use will be developed. In
January 2008 we received the approved Soils Investigation Report and in July
2008 we received the approved Preliminary Groundwater Impact Assessment and
Groundwater Mounding Analysis from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Control, or “DNREC.” We are in the process of
completing designs for submittal to DNREC, along with supplying additional
information to increase the number of units approved to be served at the site
from 400 units to approximately 1,600 units. We have current requests
for service from three local developments. We expect to complete the
permitting process by the second quarter of 2009.
Artesian
Consulting provides engineering services to developers for residential and
commercial development. Artesian Resources has routinely employed
engineering firms to design infrastructure for water and wastewater
systems. On June 6, 2008, Artesian Consulting acquired all the assets
of Meridian Architects and Engineers, or Meridian, for a purchase price of
$130,000. The acquisition includes the assignment of certain current
contract agreements to provide engineering services to developers and includes
services to be provided to Artesian Water.
Meridian
is a leading provider of engineering services in Delaware, particularly in
Sussex County. This acquisition provides Artesian Resources with
enhanced design and engineering capabilities that we believe will significantly
decrease our reliance on outside engineering firms for similar
services. In addition, we believe that Meridian’s ability to offer
engineering services to design on-site water and wastewater systems for
developers, as well as offsite wastewater collection systems in Sussex County,
will provide additional revenues that are not weather
sensitive.
NOTE
2 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The
unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with
the
requirements of Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all the disclosures
required in the financial statements included in the Company's annual report
on
Form 10-K. Accordingly, these financial statements and related notes
should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes
in
the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2008.
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Artesian Resources
Corporation, or Artesian Resources, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including
its principal operating company, Artesian Water Company, Inc., or Artesian
Water. In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited
consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments
necessary to present fairly the Company's balance sheet position as of March
31,
2009 and the results of operations for the quarterly periods ended March 31,
2009 and 2008 and cash flows for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 and
2008. In addition, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards
Board Interpretation No. 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an
interpretation of ARB No, 51,” or FIN 46(R), the Company consolidates variable
interest entities for which it is deemed to be the primary
beneficiary. All inter-company transactions and balances have been
eliminated in consolidation (refer to Note 9 “Northern Sussex Regional Water
Recycling Complex, LLC”).
The
results of operations for the interim period presented are not necessarily
indicative of the results for the full year or for future periods.
Reclassification
Certain
accounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified for
comparative purposes to conform with the presentation in the current year
financial statements. These reclassifications had no effect on net
income or stockholders' equity.
NOTE
3 – STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
On
May
25, 2005, the Company’s stockholders approved a new Equity Compensation Plan,
which authorizes up to 500,000 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock for
issuance, referred to as the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan, or the
Plan. Since May 25, 2005, no additional grants have been made under
the Company’s other stock-based compensation plans that were previously
available. On January 1, 2006 the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R “Share-Based
Payment.” Approximately $30,000 in compensation expense was recorded
during the three months ended March 31, 2009 for stock options issued in May
2008 under the Plan. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 an
expense of approximately $41,000 was recorded for stock options granted in
May
2007. Costs were determined based on the fair value at the grant
dates and those costs are being charged to income over the service period
associated with the grants.
The
fair
value of each option grant is estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option
pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grants
issued in 2008 and 2007. All options were granted at market value
with a 10 year option term with a vesting period of one year from the dates
of
grant.
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Expected
Dividend Yield
|
3.60 | % | 3.30 | % | ||||
Expected
Stock Price Volatility
|
0.25 | 0.27 | ||||||
Weighted
Average Risk-Free Interest Rate
|
3.45 | % | 4.69 | % | ||||
Weighted
Average Expected Life of Options (in years)
|
6.93 | 3.65 |
For
2008
and 2007, the expected dividend yield was based on a 12 month rolling average
of
the current dividend yield. The expected volatility is the standard
deviation of the change in the natural logarithm of the stock price (expressed
as an annual rate) for the expected term shown above. The expected
life was based on historic exercise patterns for similar grants. The
risk free interest rate is the 7-year Treasury Constant Maturity rate as of
the
dates of the grants.
The
following summary reflects changes in the shares of Class A Non-Voting Common
Stock under option:
Option
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life
(Yrs.)
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||||
Plan
options
|
||||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at January 1, 2009
|
530,921 | $ | 15.14 | |||||||||||||
Granted
|
--- | N/A | ||||||||||||||
Exercised
|
(14,940 | ) | $ | 8.66 | ||||||||||||
Canceled
|
--- | N/A | ||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at March 31, 2009
|
515,981 | $ | 15.33 | 4.78 | $ | 625 | ||||||||||
Options
exercisable at March 31, 2009
|
482,231 | $ | 15.11 | 4.48 | $ | 625 |
The
total
intrinsic value of options exercised during the three month period ended March
31, 2009 was approximately $83,000.
The
following summary reflects changes in the non-vested shares of Class A Stock
under option:
Non-vested
Shares
|
Option
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Grant
- Date
Fair
Value
Per
Option
|
||||||
Non-vested
at January 1, 2009
|
33,750 | $ | 3.60 | |||||
Granted
|
--- | N/A | ||||||
Vested
|
--- | N/A | ||||||
Canceled
|
--- | N/A | ||||||
Non-vested
at March 31, 2009
|
33,750 | $ | 3.60 |
As
of
March 31, 2009, there was $15,000 of total unrecognized expense related to
non-vested option shares granted under the Plan. That cost will be
recognized over the remaining vesting period (approximately two months) of
the
unvested options.
NOTE
4 - REGULATORY ASSETS
In
accordance with SFAS No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of
Regulation,” certain expenses are recoverable through rates charged to our
customers, without a return on investment, and are deferred and amortized during
future periods using various methods as permitted by the Delaware Public Service
Commission, or DEPSC, the MDPSC, and the PAPUC. Depreciation and
salary study expenses are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period
of
five years, while all other expenses related to rate proceedings and
applications to increase rates are amortized on a straight-line basis over
a
period of two years. The postretirement benefit obligation, which is
being amortized over twenty years, is adjusted for the difference between the
net periodic postretirement benefit costs and the cash payments. The
deferred income taxes will be amortized over future years as the tax effects
of
temporary differences previously flowed through to the customers
reverse. Goodwill is the result of the Mountain Hill acquisition, and
is currently being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of fifty
years in accordance with SFAS No. 71. SFAS No.71 stipulates generally
accepted accounting principles for companies whose rates are established by
or
are subject to approval by a third-party regulatory agency. Deferred
acquisition costs are the result of due diligence costs related to the proposed
purchase agreements for water and wastewater facilities in Cecil County,
Maryland, which are expected to close on or before June 30, 2009, subject to
the
satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including, among other matters,
the completion of Artesian Resources’ due diligence and the approval of the
MDPSC. The Appleton Regional Community Alliance, or Appleton
Alliance, filed a petition with The Circuit Court of Cecil County, Maryland
for
judicial review of the proposed transfer of certain Cecil County property and
assets to Artesian. Should the Appleton Alliance proceed with their
action, closing on the transaction may be delayed.
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||
March
31, 2009
|
December
31, 2008
|
|||||||
Postretirement
benefit obligation
|
$ | 906 | $ | 924 | ||||
Deferred
income taxes recoverable in future rates
|
548 | 552 | ||||||
Goodwill
|
368 | 370 | ||||||
Deferred
acquisition costs
|
392 | 341 | ||||||
Expense
of rate proceedings
|
452 | 376 | ||||||
$ | 2,666 | $ | 2,563 |
Expenses
related to the Net Periodic Pension Cost for the postretirement benefit
obligation are as follows:
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the Three Months Ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Net
Periodic Pension Cost
|
||||||||
Interest
Cost
|
$ | 11 | $ | 13 | ||||
Amortization
of Net Gain
|
(3 | ) | --- | |||||
Amortization
of Transition Obligation
|
2 | 2 | ||||||
Total
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
|
$ | 10 | $ | 15 |
Contributions
Artesian
Water contributed $28,000 to its postretirement benefit plan in the first three
months of 2009 and expects to contribute another $84,000 for the remainder
of
the year. These contributions consist of insurance premium payments
for medical, dental and life insurance benefits made on behalf of the Company’s
eligible retired employees.
NOTE
5 - NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE AND EQUITY PER COMMON SHARE
Basic
net
income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding. Diluted net income per share is based on the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding and the potentially dilutive effect
of employee stock options. The following table summarizes the shares
used in computing basic and diluted net income per share:
For
the Quarter
|
||||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||
Average
common shares outstanding during
|
||||||||
the
period for Basic computation
|
7,413 | 7,313 | ||||||
Dilutive
effect of employee stock options
|
57 | 121 | ||||||
Average
common shares outstanding during
|
||||||||
the
period for Diluted computation
|
7,470 | 7,434 |
For
three
months ended March 31, 2009, employee stock options to purchase 301,500 shares
of common stock, were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income
per
share as the calculated proceeds from the options’ exercise were greater than
the average market price of the Company’s common stock during this
period.
The
Company has 15,000,000 authorized shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock
and
1,040,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. As of March 31, 2009,
6,543,694 Class A shares and 881,452 Class B shares were issued and
outstanding. The par value for both classes is $1.00 per
share. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and March
31, 2008, the Company issued 24,312 and 21,223 shares of Class A Stock,
respectively.
Equity
per common share was $11.93 and $11.64 at March 31, 2009 and 2008,
respectively. These amounts were computed by dividing common
stockholders' equity by the average number of shares of common stock outstanding
on March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
NOTE
6 - RATE PROCEEDINGS
Our
water
and wastewater utilities generate operating revenue from customers based on
rates that are established by state Public Service Commissions through a rate
setting process that may include public hearings, evidentiary hearings and
the
submission of evidence and testimony in support of the requested level of rates
by our company.
Delaware
statute permits water utilities to put into effect, on a semi-annual basis,
increases related to specific types of distribution system improvements through
a Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC. This charge is
available to water utilities to be implemented between general rate increase
applications that normally recognize changes in a water utility’s overall
financial position. The DSIC approval process is less costly when
compared to the approval process for general rate increase
requests. The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings is capped
at 7.5% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates
and
charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied can not exceed 5% within any
12-month period. In December 2007, we filed for a DSIC of 0.46% to be
applied to customers’ total bill, effective January 1, 2008, in order to recover
the cost of non-revenue producing plant put into service between the end of
the
last general rate increase and October 2007. During the first three
months of 2008, we earned approximately $65,000 in DSIC revenue. On
June 21, 2008, the Company discontinued the collection of DSIC pursuant to
Delaware law which requires the Company to discontinue a DSIC when new base
rates are put into effect. We did not have DSIC in effect during
2009.
On
January 25, 2008, Artesian Water submitted a notice to the DEPSC of our intent
to file an application for a rate increase, as is required to be submitted
prior
to filing an application. On April 22, 2008, Artesian Water filed a
petition with the DEPSC to implement new rates to meet a requested increase
in
revenue of 28.8%, or approximately $14.2 million, on an annualized
basis. On July, 11, 2008, pursuant to the DEPSC’s minimum filing
requirements, Artesian filed a supplemental filing with the DEPSC to update
financial schedules for actual experience through March 31, 2008 and to reflect
additional changes affecting the requested increase. The overall
result was a reduction to the requested increase in revenue of 1.5%, to 27.3%
or
approximately $13.5 million, on an annualized basis. This request was
primarily due to the Company’s significant investment in infrastructure to
improve and ensure water quality and service reliability. This
includes capital expenditures for additional supply, storage, water main
replacements, hydraulic improvements, installation of automated meter reading
equipment in the service territory south of the Chesapeake & Delaware canal,
or C&D Canal, and additional space to house our critical operations and
office support functions. The rate request was also filed due to increases
in
various operating and maintenance costs, including increased costs associated
with depreciation, purchased power, purchased water, additional building space
and postage. Additional reasons for this request include, expenses related
to
new water system additions, the implementation of monthly billing to customers
below the C&D Canal, and creation of new water consumption blocks to provide
the company an opportunity to achieve a fair rate of return.
As
permitted by law, on June 21, 2008, we placed temporary rates into effect,
designed to generate an increase in annual operating revenue of approximately
5.0%, or $2.5 million on an annualized basis, until new rates are approved
by
the DEPSC. Also pursuant to law, on December 17, 2008, we placed
temporary rates into effect, designed to generate an additional increase in
annual operating revenue of approximately 10% or $5.0 million on an annualized
basis, given that the rate case had not been concluded in a seven month
period. Evidentiary hearings were held on December 8-9, 2008 and a
final Commission decision is anticipated in the third quarter of 2009 in
reference to the implementation of our requested rate increase.
In
December 2008, the MDPSC approved an application for Artesian Water Maryland
to
construct a water system from the Delaware state line, interconnecting with
the
Artesian Water system, to the Town of Elkton. The Town of Elkton has
agreed to take a minimum of 50,000 gallons per day and a maximum of 200,000
gallons per day.
In
March
2009, Artesian Wastewater filed an application with the DEPSC for approval
of a
uniform tariff applicable to all of our wastewater territories in
Delaware. Currently, each time we add a new service territory, an
application must be submitted to the DEPSC for rate approval. If the
application is approved, Artesian Wastewater would be permitted to apply its
tariffed rates to any new service territories without prior DEPSC
approval.
In
April
2009, Artesian Water Maryland applied for approval from the MDPSC to construct
a
water system to the 172 residents of the Whitaker Woods housing development
located in the Mountain Hill service area. This expanded franchise
area was approved by the MDPSC in the Mountain Hill acquisition and would be
subject to the Mountain Hill tariff rates. Artesian Water Maryland
has requested expedited approval of this application, as water supply in that
area is currently very limited. A final decision is expected in May
2009.
NOTE
7 – INCOME TAXES
Under
FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,”
the Company analyzed Artesian’s various tax positions and determined that no
further entry, recognition or derecognition were required. The
Company would recognize, if applicable, interest accrued and penalties related
to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and in accordance with the
regulations of the jurisdictions involved. There were no such charges
for the period ended March 31, 2009. Additionally, there were no
accruals relating to interest or penalties as of March 31, 2009. The
Company remains subject to examination by federal and state authorities for
tax
years 2005 through 2008.
NOTE
8 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The
following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each
class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that
value.
Current
Assets and Liabilities
For
those
current assets and liabilities that are considered financial instruments, the
carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those
instruments.
Long-term
Financial Liabilities
The
fair
value of Artesian Resources' long-term debt as of March 31, 2009 and
December 31, 2008, determined by discounting their future cash flows using
current market interest rates on similar instruments with comparable maturities
as guided under SFAS 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial
Instruments,” are shown as below:
In
thousands
|
||||||||
March
31, 2009
|
December
31, 2008
|
|||||||
Carrying
amount
|
$ | 107,277 | $ | 107,555 | ||||
Estimated
fair value
|
109,289 | 113,214 | ||||||
The
fair
value of Advances for Construction cannot be reasonably estimated due to the
inability to accurately estimate future refunds expected to be paid over the
life of the contracts. Refund payments are based on the water sales
to new customers in the particular development constructed. The fair
value of Advances for Construction would be less than the carrying amount
because these financial instruments are non-interest bearing.
NOTE
9 – NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING COMPLEX, LLC
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC, for the design, construction and
operation of the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, a wastewater
treatment facility to be located in Sussex County, Delaware. NSRWRC
was created for the sole purpose of developing the treatment facility site,
which once constructed, will be operated by Artesian Wastewater. The
Company has determined that NSRWRC constitutes a variable interest entity,
or
VIE, as defined by FIN 46(R). See Note 2 – Basis of
Presentation.
The
Company, by contract, has control over the design and construction of the
treatment facility. NSRWRC is financially responsible for designing
and building the treatment facility. Under the terms of the
agreement, Artesian Resources acts as the guarantor of a $10 million
construction loan, secured by a 75 acre parcel purchased by NSRWRC on July
1,
2008 for approximately $5 million. The interest rate on the
construction loan is variable based on LIBOR Advantage Rate plus 225 basis
points. The line of credit includes provisions that require Artesian
Resources to assume the debt and all liabilities arising from that debt under
certain circumstances, including the bankruptcy of NSRWRC. In the
event of default by NSRWRC, Artesian Resources shall pay NSRWRC's obligations
due to the financial institution; or on demand of the financial institution
immediately deposit all amounts due under the obligation. As of March
31, 2009, approximately $7.1 million has been drawn on the loan, which is
included in the Lines of Credit on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. As
of March 31, 2009, approximately $7.4 million is included in non-utility
property and was comprised of the land and construction in progress of the
facility. The entire capitalization of NSRWRC is comprised of the
amounts borrowed against the $10 million construction loan. In
connection with the purchase of the treatment facility site, as of June 30,
2008, Artesian Utility agreed to commit $3.0 million to NSRWRC, payable in
10
equal annual installments, which commenced on June 30, 2008. In April
2009, Artesian Utility agreed to accelerate two of its payments to NSRWRC in
exchange for a $450,000 reduction in the total commitment. Artesian
Utility made a $900,000 payment to NSRWRC, which included the June 30, 2009
payment and the acceleration of two payments, or $600,000. As a
result of the reduction in the commitment and the acceleration of the payments,
the remaining balance of $1,350,000 will be repaid over the next 5 years with
a
final payment of $150,000 due on June 30, 2014. There has been a
nominal investment in NSRWRC by the owner of NSRWRC. The treatment
facility will be owned by NSRWRC until the initial loan to the treatment
facility is repaid. At that time, the treatment facility will be
transferred to the Company for nominal value as contributed
property. Immediately following the transfer of the treatment
facility and extinguishment of debt, NSRWRC will be dissolved.
NOTE
10 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The
Company has entered into transactions in the normal course of business with
related parties. The owner of NSRWRC is the sole owner of Meridian
Architects and Engineers, LLC, or Meridian Architects, Meridian Enterprises,
LLC, or Meridian Enterprises, and Meridian Consulting, LLC, or Meridian
Consulting. The Company has utilized Meridian Architects, Meridian
Enterprises and Meridian Consulting for various consulting services during
the
three month period ended March 31, 2009. As of March 31, 2009,
approximately $100,000 was paid to Meridian Architects, approximately $100,000
was paid to Meridian Enterprises and approximately $18,000 was paid to Meridian
Consulting in connection with these consulting
services. Approximately $15,000 was paid to Meridian Enterprises as
of March 31, 2009 for office space rental. Also, as of March 31,
2009, the Company had accounts receivable balances for engineering services
due
from the following entities, all of which are owned by the owner of
NSRWRC: Meridian Architects of approximately $51,000, Landlock, LLC
of approximately $168,000, and Peninsula Square, LLC of approximately
$21,000. There were no related party transactions during the three
month period ended March 31, 2008. All services were provided in the
ordinary course of business at fees and on terms and conditions that the Company
believes are the same as those that would result from arm’s-length negotiations
between unrelated parties.
NOTE
11 - IMPACT OF RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In
February 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. SFAS 157-2, "Effective Date of FASB
Statement No. 157," which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all
non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are
recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on at least
an
annual basis, until January 1, 2009 for calendar year-end
entities. See Note 8 — Fair Value Of Financial
Instruments.
In
April
2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and
Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and
Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly,” which provides additional
guidance for applying the provisions of SFAS No. 157. SFAS No. 157
defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or
paid
to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants
under current market conditions. This FSP requires an evaluation of
whether there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of
activity for the asset or liability in relation to normal market activity for
the asset or liability. If there has, transactions or quoted prices
may not be indicative of fair value and a significant adjustment may need to
be
made to those prices to estimate fair value. Additionally, an entity
must consider whether the observed transaction was orderly (that is, not
distressed or forced). If the transaction was orderly, the obtained
price can be considered a relevant observable input for determining fair
value. If the transaction is not orderly, other valuation techniques
must be used when estimating fair value. FSP FAS 157-4 must be
applied prospectively for interim periods ending after June 15,
2009. The Company does not expect the adoption of this FSP will have
a material impact on the financial statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations,” which
replaces SFAS No. 141. SFAS No. 141(R) establishes
principles for recognizing assets and liabilities acquired in a business
combination, contractual contingencies and certain acquired contingencies to
be
measured at their fair values at the acquisition date. This statement
requires that acquisition-related costs and restructuring costs be recognized
separately from the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) is
effective for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2009. The Company
adopted this statement January 1, 2009 and it did not have a material effect
on
the financial statements.
In
April 2009, the FASB
issued FSP FAS 141(R)-1, “Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed
in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies.” This
pronouncement amends SFAS No. 141(R) to clarify the initial and subsequent
recognition, subsequent accounting, and disclosure of assets and liabilities
arising from contingencies in a business combination. FSP SFAS
No. 141(R)-1 requires that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a
business combination that arise from contingencies be recognized at fair value,
as determined in accordance with SFAS No. 157, if the acquisition-date fair
value can be reasonably estimated. If
the
acquisition-date fair value of an asset or liability cannot be reasonably
estimated, the asset or liability would be measured at the amount that would
be
recognized in accordance with FASB Statement No. 5,
“Accounting for Contingencies,” and FASB Interpretation No. 14, “Reasonable
Estimation of the Amount of a Loss.” FSP SFAS No. 141(R)-1 is
effective for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2009. As the
provisions of FSP FAS 141(R)-1 are applied prospectively to business
combinations with an acquisition date on or after the guidance became effective,
the impact cannot be determined until the transactions occur. No such
transactions occurred during the first quarter of 2009.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No.160, “Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51.” This
statement establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling
interest in a subsidiary, the amount of consolidated net income attributable
to
the parent and to the noncontrolling interest, changes in a parent’s ownership
interest and the valuation of retained noncontrolling equity investments when
a
subsidiary is deconsolidated. This statement requires expanded
disclosures in the consolidated financial statements that clearly identify
and
distinguish between the interest of the parent and the interest of the
noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years
beginning January 1, 2009. The adoption of this statement did not
have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial
position.
In
March
2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities – Including an amendment of FASB
No.133.” This statement changes the disclosure requirements for
derivative instruments and hedging activities. Entities are required
to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why a company used derivative
instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedge items are
accounted for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations and (c) how
derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial
position, financial performance, and cash flow. This Statement is effective
for
financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning
after
November 15, 2008. The Company adopted this statement January 1, 2009
and it did not have a material effect on the financial statements.
In
May of
2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles.” This statement identifies the sources of
accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be
used
in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that
are
presented in conformity with GAAP in the United States (the GAAP
hierarchy). This statement is effective 60 days following the SEC’s
approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU
Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles.” The Company does not expect this
Statement will have a material impact on the financial statements.
In
December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 132(R)-1, “Employers’
Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets,” which requires additional
disclosures for employers’ pension and other postretirement benefit plan
assets. As pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets were
not included within the scope of SFAS No. 157, FSP FAS 132(R)-1 requires
employers to disclose information about fair value measurements of plan assets
similar to the disclosures required under SFAS No. 157, the investment
policies and strategies for the major categories of plan assets, and significant
concentrations of risk within plan assets. FSP FAS 132(R)-1 will be
effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. As FSP
SFAS 132(R)-1 provides only disclosure requirements, the adoption of this FSP
will not have a material impact on the financial statements.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2009
OVERVIEW
Our
profitability is primarily attributable to the sale of water by our largest
operating subsidiary, Artesian Water, the amount of which is dependent on
seasonal fluctuations in weather, particularly during the summer months when
water demand may vary with rainfall and temperature. Artesian Water
accounted for approximately 92% of our total operating revenues for the three
months ended March 31, 2009. In the event that temperatures during
the typically warmer months are cooler than expected, or rainfall is greater
than expected, the demand for water may decrease and our revenues may be
adversely affected. We believe the effects of weather are short term
and do not materially affect the execution of our strategic
initiatives.
While
water sales revenues are our primary source of revenues, we continue to explore
and develop relationships with developers and municipalities in order to
increase revenues from contract water operations and wastewater management
services. Our contract operations and wastewater management services
provide a revenue stream that is not affected by changes in weather
patterns. We plan to continue developing and expanding our contract
operations and wastewater services in a manner that complements our growth
in
water service to new customers. Our anticipated growth in these areas
is subject to changes in residential and commercial construction, which may
be
affected by interest rates, inflation and general housing and economic market
conditions. As a result of the general economic downturn, we may not
be able to increase our contract operations and wastewater services at the
rate
we had previously expected. We will continue to focus attention on
expanding our contract operations opportunities with municipalities and private
water providers in Delaware and surrounding areas.
As
of
March 31, 2009, we had approximately 75,900 metered water customers and
approximately 640 wastewater customers in Delaware. Increases in the
number of customers served by Artesian Water and Artesian Wastewater contributed
to increases in our operating revenues. Water customers increased by
approximately 500, while wastewater customers increased by approximately 100
compared to the same time period a year ago.
Water
Division
Artesian
Water, Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Water Pennsylvania provide water
service to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal and
utility customers. In October 2008, Artesian Water Maryland signed an
agreement with Cecil County to purchase four water facilities, with closing
expected to occur by June 30, 2009, subject to the satisfaction of customary
closing conditions, including, among other matters, the completion of Artesian
Resources’ due diligence and the approval of the MDPSC. The Appleton
Regional Community Alliance, or Appleton Alliance, filed a petition with The
Circuit Court of Cecil County, Maryland for judicial review of the proposed
transfer of certain Cecil County property and assets to
Artesian. Should the Appleton Alliance proceed with their action,
closing on the transaction may be delayed. In December 2008, the
MDPSC approved an application for Artesian Water Maryland to construct a water
system from the Delaware state line, interconnecting with the Artesian Water
system, to the Town of Elkton. The Town of Elkton desired an
additional source of water supply.
Wastewater
Division
Artesian
Wastewater, owns wastewater infrastructure and began providing wastewater
services in Delaware in July 2005. Artesian Wastewater Maryland was
incorporated on June 3, 2008 to provide regulated wastewater services in the
state of Maryland. In October 2008, Artesian Wastewater Maryland
signed two asset purchase agreements with Cecil County to purchase four
wastewater facilities in Maryland. Closings on these transactions are
expected to occur on or before June 30, 2009, subject to the satisfaction of
customary closing conditions, including, among other matters, the completion
of
Artesian Resources’ due diligence and the approval of the MDPSC. The
Appleton Regional Community Alliance, or Appleton Alliance, filed a petition
with The Circuit Court of Cecil County, Maryland for judicial review of the
proposed transfer of certain Cecil County property and assets to
Artesian. Should the Appleton Alliance proceed with their action,
closing on the transaction may be delayed. Our wastewater customers
are billed a flat monthly fee, which contributes to providing a revenue stream
unaffected by weather.
Non-Regulated
Division
Artesian
Utility provides contract water and wastewater operation services to 31 private,
municipal and governmental institutions in Pennsylvania, Delaware and
Maryland. Artesian Utility currently operates a 2.5 mgd wastewater
facility for Middletown under a 20-year contract that expires on February 1,
2021. Artesian Utility also operates an approximately 250,000 gallon
per day wastewater facility in Middletown. In addition, we operate an
additional wastewater facility in Middletown in order to support the 2.5 mgd
wastewater facility described above.
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC, for the design, construction and
operation of the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, a wastewater
treatment facility to be located in Sussex County, Delaware. NSRWRC
was created for the purpose of developing the treatment facility site, which
once constructed, will be operated by Artesian Wastewater.
On
March
17, 2009, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with the Cecil County Public
Works in Cecil County, Maryland to operate the Meadowview Wastewater and
Highlands Wastewater treatment and disposal facilities until Artesian
Wastewater Maryland’s purchase of the facilities is closed. This
agreement also employs Artesian Utility to operate two water supply and
treatment stations and two booster stations in Cecil County. In
addition, on March 31, 2009 Artesian Utility signed an agreement with the Town
of Port Deposit in Cecil County, Maryland to operate and maintain a water system
from April 1, 2009 through August 30, 2009, with three additional one-year
renewal options.
Artesian
Development owns an approximately six-acre parcel of land zoned for office
buildings located immediately adjacent to our corporate
headquarters. In 2007, Artesian Development purchased approximately
eighteen acres of land, in Sussex County, to construct an office facility,
a
water treatment plant and a wastewater facility.
Artesian
Consulting provides engineering services to developers for residential and
commercial development. The acquisition of Meridian in June 2008
included the assignment of certain current contract agreements to provide
engineering services to developers and includes services to be provided to
Artesian Water.
In
addition to services discussed above, Artesian Resources initiated a Water
Service Line Protection Plan, or WSLP Plan, in March 2005. The WSLP
Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace
participants’ leaking water service lines up to an annual limit. As
of March 31, 2009, approximately 13,300, or 20.8%, of our 64,000 eligible water
customers had signed up for the WSLP Plan. The WSLP Plan was expanded
in the second quarter of 2008 to include maintenance or repair to customers’
sewer lines. This plan, Sewer Service Line Protection Plan, or SSLP
Plan, covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace
participants’ leaking or clogged sewer lines up to an annual
limit. As of March 31, 2009, approximately 5,000, or 10.9%, of our
46,000 eligible customers had signed up for the SSLP Plan.
Strategic
Direction
Our
strategy is to significantly increase customer growth, revenues, earnings and
dividends by expanding our water and wastewater services across the Delmarva
Peninsula. We remain focused on providing superior service to our
customers and continuously seeking ways to improve our efficiency and
performance. By providing both water and wastewater services, we are
positioned as the primary resource for developers and communities throughout
the
Delmarva Peninsula seeking to fill both needs simultaneously. We have a proven ability to
acquire and
integrate high growth, established entities, through which we have captured
additional service territories that will serve as a base for future
revenue. We have completed four acquisitions during the past two
years, and have successfully integrated their operations, infrastructure,
technology and employees. We believe this experience presents a
strong platform for further expansion and that our success to date also produces
positive relationships and credibility with regulators, municipalities,
developers and customers in both existing and prospective service
areas.
In
our
regulated water division, our strategy is to focus on a wide spectrum of
activities, which include identifying new and dependable sources of supply,
developing the wells, treatment plants and delivery systems to get water to
customers and educating customers on the wise use of water. Our
strategy includes focusing our efforts to expand in new regions added to our
Delaware service territory over the last 10 years, where growth is strong and
demand is increasing. In addition, we believe growth will be
developed in the Maryland counties on the Delmarva Peninsula. We plan
to expand our regulated water service area in the Cecil County designated growth
corridor and to expand our business through the design, construction, operation
and management, as well as acquisition, of additional water
systems. The expansion of our exclusive franchise areas elsewhere in
Maryland and the award of additional contracts will similarly enhance our
operations within the state.
We
have
also expanded the provision of our services into Maryland. Cecil
County has designated the Interstate 95 corridor as a preferred growth area
for
business and residential expansion. Recently, the federal Base
Re-Alignment and Closure Commission announced the relocation of approximately
14,000 jobs to nearby Aberdeen, Maryland by 2011. The Wilmington
Metropolitan Area Planning Commission projects Cecil County will grow 86%
between 2000 and 2030 and the Maryland Department of Planning projects that
Cecil County will experience the highest rate of household growth through 2025
of any jurisdiction in the state. Artesian Water Maryland signed an
agreement in October 2008 with Cecil County for the purchase of specific water
facilities, which is expected to close by June 30, 2009, subject to the
satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including, among other matters,
the completion of Artesian Resources’ due diligence and the approval of the
MDPSC. The Appleton Regional Community Alliance, or Appleton
Alliance, filed a petition with The Circuit Court of Cecil County, Maryland
for
judicial review of the proposed transfer of certain Cecil County property and
assets to Artesian. Should the Appleton Alliance proceed with their
action, closing on the transaction may be delayed. Once completed,
this will add four water facilities to our service area. We continue
to increase our sources of supply to assure we have adequate high quality water
supply to meet our customer growth expectations in all of the states in which
we
provide water.
In
our
regulated wastewater division, we foresee significant growth opportunities
and
will continue to seek strategic partnerships and relationships with developers
and municipalities to complement existing agreements for the provision of
wastewater service in Delaware, Maryland, and the surrounding
areas. Artesian Wastewater completed an agreement with Georgetown,
Delaware in July 2008 to provide wastewater treatment and disposal services
for
Georgetown’s growth and annexation areas. Artesian Wastewater will
provide up to 1 mgd of wastewater capacity for the town within the next 10
years. Artesian Wastewater Maryland signed two agreements in October
2008 with Cecil County for the purchase of specific wastewater facilities,
which
are expected to close by June 30, 2009, subject to the satisfaction of customary
closing conditions, including, among other matters, the completion of Artesian
Resources’ due diligence and the approval of the MDPSC. The Appleton
Regional Community Alliance, or Appleton Alliance, filed a petition with The
Circuit Court of Cecil County, Maryland for judicial review of the proposed
transfer of certain Cecil County property and assets to
Artesian. Should the Appleton Alliance proceed with their action,
closing on the transaction may be delayed. Once completed, these
acquisitions will add four wastewater facilities to our service
area.
We
will
continue to seek acquisitions of water and wastewater contract operations on
the
Delmarva Peninsula. The purchase of water and wastewater operations
agreements assists in our expansion efforts in water and wastewater
activity.
In
our
non-regulated division, we are actively pursuing opportunities to expand
our
contract operations in southern Delaware. In Artesian Utility, we
will continue to expand our contract design and construction services of
water
and wastewater facilities for developers, municipalities and other utilities
and
will continue to actively pursue water and wastewater operation contracts
with
municipalities across the Delmarva Peninsula. Artesian Development
purchased eighteen acres of land, also located in Sussex County, Delaware,
which
will allow for construction of an office facility, water treatment facility
and
wastewater treatment facility. Artesian Consulting continues to
provide engineering services to design on-site and off-site water and wastewater
systems for developers as demand increases. Also, with the expansion
efforts in our water and wastewater divisions, Artesian Consulting will provide
increased design and engineering services.
Regulatory
Matters and Inflation
Our
water
and wastewater utility operations are subject to regulation by their respective
state regulatory commissions, which have broad administrative power and
authority to regulate rates charged for service, determine franchise areas
and
conditions of service, approve acquisitions, authorize the issuance of
securities and other matters. The profitability of our utility
operations is influenced, to a great extent, by the timeliness and adequacy
of
rate allowances we are granted by the respective regulatory commissions or
authorities in the states in which we operate.
We
are
subject to regulation by the following state regulatory
commissions: The DEPSC regulates both Artesian Water and Artesian
Wastewater. Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Wastewater Maryland
are subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the MDPSC, and Artesian Water
Pennsylvania is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the
PAPUC.
Our
regulated utilities periodically seek rate increases to cover the cost of
increased operating expenses, increased financing expenses due to additional
investments in utility plant and other costs of doing business. In
Delaware, utilities are permitted by law to place rates into effect, under
bond,
on a temporary basis pending completion of a rate increase
proceeding. The first temporary increase may be up to the lesser of
$2.5 million on an annual basis or 15% of gross water sales. Should
the rate case not be completed within seven months, by law, the utility may
put
the entire requested rate relief, up to 15% of gross water sales, in effect
under bond until a final resolution is ordered and placed into
effect. If any such rates are found to be in excess of rates the
DEPSC finds to be appropriate, the utility must refund the portion found to
be
in excess to customers with interest. The timing of our rate increase
requests are therefore dependent upon the estimated cost of the administrative
process in relation to the investments and expenses that we hope to recover
through the rate increase. We can provide no assurances that rate
increase requests will be approved by applicable regulatory agencies; and,
if
approved, we cannot guarantee that these rate increases will be granted in
a
timely or sufficient manner to cover the investments and expenses for which
we
initially sought the rate increase.
On
January 25, 2008, Artesian Water submitted a notice to the DEPSC of our intent
to file an application for a rate increase. On April 22, 2008,
Artesian Water filed a petition with the DEPSC to implement new rates to meet
a
requested increase in revenue of 28.8%, or approximately $14.2 million, on
an
annualized basis. On July, 11, 2008, pursuant to the DEPSC’s minimum
filing requirements, Artesian filed a supplemental filing with the DEPSC to
update financial schedules for actual experience through March 31, 2008 and
to
reflect additional changes affecting the requested increase. The
overall result was a reduction to the requested increase in revenue of 1.5%,
to
27.3% or approximately $13.5 million, on an annualized basis.
As
permitted by law, on June 21, 2008, we placed temporary rates into effect,
designed to generate an increase in annual operating revenue of approximately
5.0%, or $2.5 million on an annualized basis, until new rates are approved
by
the DEPSC. Also pursuant to law, on December 17, 2008, we placed
temporary rates into effect, designed to generate an additional increase in
annual operating revenue of approximately 10% or $5.0 million on an annualized
basis, given that the rate case had not been concluded in a seven month
period. Evidentiary hearings were held on December 8-9, 2008 and a
final Commission decision is anticipated in the third quarter of 2009 in
reference to the implementation of our requested rate increase.
Delaware
statute permits water utilities to put into effect, on a semi-annual basis,
increases related to specific types of distribution system improvements through
a Distribution System Improvement Charge or DSIC. This charge is
available to water utilities to be implemented between general rate increase
applications that normally recognize changes in a water utility’s overall
financial position. The DSIC approval process is less costly when
compared to the approval process for general rate increase
requests. The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings is capped
at 7.5% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates
and
charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied can not exceed 5% within any
12-month period. In December 2007, Artesian Water filed an
application with the DEPSC for approval to collect a 0.46% increase, effective
January 1, 2008, to recover the costs of eligible non-revenue producing
improvements made since the last rate increase in 2006. The DEPSC
approved the DSIC effective January 1, 2008 subject to audit at a later
date. During the first three months of 2008, we earned approximately
$65,000 in DSIC revenue. On June 21, 2008, the Company discontinued
the collection of DSIC pursuant to Delaware law which requires the Company
to
discontinue a DSIC when new base rates are put into effect. We did
not have DSIC in effect during 2009.
In
2003,
legislation was enacted in Delaware requiring all water utilities serving within
northern New Castle County, Delaware to certify by July 2006, and each three
years thereafter, that they have sufficient sources of self-supply to serve
their respective systems. On June 30, 2006, Artesian Water filed our
certification related to the adequacy of our water supply through
2009. After completion of their review, on July 24, 2007, the DEPSC
accepted our certification of sufficient water supply. As required,
we will file a new certification of self-sufficiency with the DEPSC by June
30,
2009, for the period through 2012.
On
April
10, 2006, the DEPSC made effective new rules under Regulation Docket 15 that
govern the terms and conditions under which water utilities require advances
or
contributions from customers or developers. These regulations require
that developers pay for all water facilities within a new development, with
such
funding recorded as contributions in aid of construction by the water
utility. In addition, the utility is required to receive a
contribution in aid of construction of $1,500 for each new residential
connection to its system towards the cost of water supply, treatment and storage
facilities. These regulations further require developers to fully pay
for facilities to serve satellite systems. These required
contributions are intended to place a greater burden upon new customers to
pay
for the cost of facilities required to serve them. On April 8, 2008,
the DEPSC reopened this docket to assess the effectiveness of the 2006 rules
and
regulations requiring water utilities to collect contributions in aid of
construction. In March 2009, the Delaware Public Advocate, or DPA,
and in April 2009 the DEPSC filed their findings, which both recommend the
current rules and regulations remain in effect. We anticipate a final
decision in the second quarter of 2009.
On
March
20, 2007, the DEPSC entered Order No. 7142 which re-opened Regulation Docket
No.
51. By this Order, the DEPSC proposes to repeal rules implemented in
2001 and replace them with new "Regulations Governing Certificates of Public
Convenience and Necessity." The proposed rules address the content of
how notifications are sent to landowners, the definitions for the “Proposed
Service Area,” and the requirement of the applying utility to certify that it
will actually provide water services to a new proposed service territory within
three years. If water service is not provided within the three year
time frame, the proposed rule provides a mechanism for the DEPSC to determine
whether the utility should be able to retain the new CPCN. In the
March 2009 proceedings, the DEPSC recommended that a utility provide water
service to a new proposed service territory within five years. These
proposed rules have not been adopted and they may not be adopted or could be
modified prior to adoption. As of March 31, 2009, no final decision
had been made by the DEPSC.
In
March
2009, Artesian Wastewater filed an application with the DEPSC for approval
of a
uniform tariff applicable to all of our wastewater territories in
Delaware. Currently, each time we add a new service territory, an
application must be submitted to the DEPSC for rate approval. If the
application is approved, Artesian Wastewater would be permitted to apply its
tariffed rates to any new service territories without prior DEPSC
approval.
In
April
2009, Artesian Water Maryland applied for approval from the MDPSC to construct
a
water system to the 172 residents of the Whitaker Woods housing development
located in the Mountain Hill service area. This expanded franchise
area was approved by the MDPSC in the Mountain Hill acquisition and would be
subject to the Mountain Hill tariff rates. Artesian Water Maryland
has requested expedited approval of this application, as water supply in that
area is currently very limited. A final decision is expected in May
2009.
Our
water
and wastewater utilities in Maryland are subject to regulation by the
MDPSC. If we are seeking new franchise areas, we must first seek
approval from the county government and this franchise area must be included
in
that county’s master sewer and water plan. Final granting of these
franchise areas must then be obtained by the MDPSC. In Maryland, if
utilities want to construct a new plant, approvals must be obtained from
the
Maryland Department of the Environment, the county government and the
MDPSC. Also, soil and erosion plans must be approved and easement
agreements with affected parties must be obtained. The MDPSC also
approves rates and charges for service, acquisitions, mergers, issuance of
securities and other matters.
In
December 2008, the MDPSC approved an application for Artesian Water Maryland
to
construct a water system from the Delaware state line,
interconnecting with the Artesian Water system, to the Town of
Elkton. The Town of Elkton has agreed to take a minimum of 50,000
gallons per day and a maximum of 200,000 gallons per day.
We
are
affected by inflation, most notably by the continually increasing costs required
to maintain, improve and expand our service capability. The
cumulative effect of inflation results in significantly higher facility costs
compared to investments made 20 to 40 years ago, which must be recovered
from
future cash flows.
Results
of Operations –
Analysis of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 Compared to the Three Months
Ended March 31, 2008
Operating
Revenues
Revenues
totaled $13.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, $1.6 million,
or 13.1% above revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 of $12.3
million. Water sales revenues increased 12.7% for the three months
ended March 31, 2009, over the corresponding period in 2008. Water
sales revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was positively impacted
by the implementation a 5% temporary rate increase effective June 21, 2008
and a
10% temporary rate increase effective December 17, 2008. In addition,
a portion of the increase in water sales revenue reflects an increase of 509
in
the number of customers served as compared to the same period in
2008. However, per capita demand has declined for the quarter ended
March 31, 2009 in comparison to the quarter ended March 31, 2008, thereby
reducing the effect of the temporary rate increases. We realized
90.1% of our total operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009
from the sale of water. In 2008, 90.4% of our total revenue was from
water sales.
Non-utility
operating revenue increased $167,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2009,
or 22.5%, from $741,000 in 2008 to $908,000 for the same period in
2009. This increase in non-utility revenue is attributable to the
addition of Artesian Consulting, which contributed $122,000 to the
increase. The increase in non-utility revenue also reflects an
increase of $27,000 and $82,000, respectively, in water and wastewater Service
Line Protection Plan, or SLP Plans, revenue earned by Artesian
Resources. The SLP Plans provide coverage for all material and labor
required to repair or replace participants’ leaking water service or clogged
sewer lines up to an annual limit.
Operating
Expenses
Operating
expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $38,000, or 0.5%,
to $8.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $8.3
million for the same period in 2008. The components of the change in
operating expenses includes a decrease in utility operating expenses of
$129,000, an increase in property taxes of $60,000 and an increase in
non-utility operating expenses of $107,000.
The
decrease in utility operating expense of $129,000 for the quarter ended March
31, 2009, or 1.9%, over the same period in 2008, is comprised of a reduction
in
administration expenses offset by increases in payroll and employee benefits
costs and purchased water expense.
Administration
expenses decreased $197,000, or 17.3%, in the first quarter of 2009 compared
to
2008 as a result of decreases in employee recruitment fees, employee training
expenses, postage costs, outside consulting fees and the use of temporary
employment services.
Payroll
and employee benefit expense increased $93,000, or 2.6%, compared to the
same
period in 2008, primarily due to increases in employee count, employee wages
from merit increases, and increased medical insurance
expense.
Purchased
water expense increased $64,000, or 9.1%, compared to the same period in
2008,
primarily due to the timing of required minimum purchases under contracts
from
the Chester Water Authority and an increase of 7.8% in Chester Water Authority’s
rates effective in July 2008. The Chester Water Authority sent us a
notice on March 16, 2009 of a rate increase, effective July 1,
2009.
Non-utility
expense increased approximately $107,000, or 19.0% for the three months ended
March 31, 2009, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008, as a result
of increased contract projects as compared to the same period in
2008.
Property
and other taxes increased by $60,000, or 7.6%, compared to the same period
in
2008, reflecting increases in tax rates charged for public schools in various
areas where Artesian holds property and increases in the number of plants
owned
by Artesian. Property taxes are assessed on land, buildings and
certain utility plants, which includes the footage and size of pipe, hydrants
and wells primarily owned by Artesian Water.
The
ratio
of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total revenue
was 60.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to 67.9% for
the
three months ended March 31, 2008.
Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $264,000, or 19.8%, over the three months
ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008, due to continuing
investment in utility plant in service providing supply, treatment, storage
and
distribution of water and the addition of the new office building.
Federal
and state income tax expense increased $412,000 due to higher taxable income
for
the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the three months ended March
31, 2008.
Other
Income,
Net
Our
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction, or AFUDC, decreased $8,000, or
6.8%, compared to the same period in 2008, as a result of decreased long-term
construction activity subject to AFUDC for the first quarter of 2009 compared
to
the same period in 2008.
Interest
Charges
Interest
charges increased $280,000, or 18.4%, for the three months ended March 31,
2009,
compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008, primarily due to more long
term debt interest expense, a result of an increase in long term debt in 2009
compared to 2008. In December 2008, we issued a First Mortgage Bond,
Series S, in the amount of $15 million, and at an interest rate of
6.73%.
Net
Income
Our
net
income increased $608,000, or 60.9%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009,
compared to the same period a year ago. The increase in net income
for the three months was primarily due to the implementation of temporary rate
increases in 2008 in our Delaware water utility business. Net income
also increased for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three
months ended March 31, 2008 due to increased SLP Plan
participants.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our
primary source of liquidity for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $3.2
million provided by cash flow from operating activities. Cash flow
from operating activities is primarily provided by our utility operations,
and
is impacted by the timeliness and adequacy of rate increases and changes in
water consumption as a result of year-to-year variations in weather conditions,
particularly during the summer. A significant part of our ability to
maintain and meet our financial objectives is to assure our investments in
utility plant and equipment are recovered in the rates charged to
customers. As such, from time to time we file rate increase requests
to recover increases in operating expenses and investments in utility plant
and
equipment.
We
invested $3.5 million in capital expenditures during the first three months
of
2009 compared to $8.0 million invested during the same period in
2008. The reduction in investment is primarily the result of the
general slowdown in the housing market. The primary focus of Artesian
Water’s investment was to continue to provide high quality reliable service to
our growing service territory.
We
have invested $0.2 million through
the three months ended March 31, 2009 to enhance or improve existing treatment
facilities and for the rehabilitation of pumping equipment to better serve
our
customers. We invested approximately $1.1 million in new
transmission and distribution facilities, in our rehabilitation program for
transmission and distribution facilities and replacing aging or deteriorating
mains. Developers financed $0.6 million for the installation of water
mains and hydrants in 2009 compared to $0.4 million in 2008. We also
invested $1.0 million in general plant which includes $0.3 for equipment and
furniture for the new office building addition to our corporate headquarters
in
New Castle County. An additional $0.2 million was invested in
wastewater projects in Sussex County, Delaware. Another $0.4 million
was invested into NSRWRC for the regional wastewater treatment
facility.
At
March
31, 2009, Artesian Water had two lines of credit of $20 million each to meet
temporary cash requirements. These revolving credit facilities are
unsecured. As of March 31, 2009, we had $32.4 million of available
funds under these lines. The interest rate for borrowings under one
of these lines is the London Interbank Offering Rate, or “LIBOR,” plus 0.75% or,
at our discretion, the bank’s federal funds rate plus 1.00%. The
interest rate for borrowings under the other line of credit is the LIBOR plus
1.00% or, at our discretion, the bank’s federal funds rate plus
1.00%. Each bank reviews all of their facilities annually for
renewal.
At
March
31, 2009, Artesian Utility and Artesian Wastewater had lines of credit with
a
financial institution for $3.5 million and $10.0 million, respectively, to
meet
temporary cash requirements. These revolving credit facilities are
unsecured. As of March 31, 2009, Artesian Wastewater had $4.5 million
of available funds while Artesian Utility had not borrowed funds under its
line
of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under each of these lines is the
LIBOR plus 1.75%. The bank reviews its facilities annually for
renewal.
Although
we believe we will continue to be able to renew these facilities, there is
no
assurance that they will be renewed, or what the terms of any such renewal
will
be. Current economic conditions and disruptions have caused
substantial volatility in capital markets, including credit markets and the
banking industry. We believe that internally generated funds along
with existing credit facilities will be adequate to provide sufficient working
capital to maintain normal operations and to meet our financing
requirements.
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC. Under the terms of the
agreement, Artesian Resources acts as the guarantor of NSRWRC’s $10 million
construction loan secured by land. As of March 31, 2009 NSRWRC had
$2.9 million of available funds under the construction loan. The
interest rate on this guaranteed debt is variable based on LIBOR Advantage
Rate
plus 225 basis points. In the event of a default by NSRWRC, Artesian
Resources shall pay the bank the amount due of the obligations or, on demand
of
the bank, immediately deposit all amounts due under the obligation.
Line
of Credit Commitments
|
Commitment
Due by Period
|
|||||||||||||||
In
thousands
|
Less
than
1
Year
|
1-3
Years
|
4-5
Years
|
Over
5 Years
|
||||||||||||
Lines
of Credit
|
$ | 20,084 | $ | ----- | $ | ----- | $ | ----- |
On
August
1, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland executed a promissory note in the amount of
approximately $2.3 million to Sunrise that bears interest at a variable interest
rate based upon the LIBOR plus 150 basis points. The note is payable
in four equal installments, commencing on the first anniversary of the closing
date. The note is secured by a first lien security interest in all of
Mountain Hill’s assets in favor of Sunrise and is guaranteed by Artesian
Resources.
We
may,
from time to time, sell our securities to meet capital
requirements. The amount and timing of future sales of our securities
will depend upon market conditions and our specific needs. However,
due to current economic conditions and disruptions in the financial markets,
which have increased the cost and significantly reduced the availability of
debt
and equity financing, there is a higher than usual risk that we may be unable
to
raise additional funds on acceptable terms or at all. Artesian
Water’s trust indentures, which set certain criteria for the issuance of new
long-term debt, limit long-term debt, including the short-term portion thereof,
to 66 ⅔% of total capitalization. Our debt to total capitalization,
including the short-term portion thereof, was 55.6% at March 31,
2009.
We
expect
to fund our activities for the next twelve months using our available cash
balances and bank credit lines, plus projected cash generated from operations
and the capital markets.
Contractual
Obligations
|
Payments
Due by Period
|
|||||||||||||||||||
In
thousands
|
Less
than
1 Year
|
1-3
Years
|
4-5
Years
|
After
5
Years
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||
First
Mortgage Bonds (Principal and Interest)
|
$ | 7,168 | $ | 14,335 | $ | 14,344 | $ | 182,413 | $ | 218,260 | ||||||||||
State
revolving fund loans
|
374 | 1,180 | 1,180 | 5,479 | 8,213 | |||||||||||||||
Note
Payable (Principal and Interest)
|
660 | 1,240 | 580 | --- | 2,480 | |||||||||||||||
Operating
leases
|
177 | 142 | 94 | 1,802 | 2,215 | |||||||||||||||
Unconditional
purchase obligations
|
2,298 | 6,101 | 6,109 | 24,412 | 38,920 | |||||||||||||||
Tank
painting contractual obligation
|
374 | 484 | --- | --- | 858 | |||||||||||||||
Total
contractual cash obligations
|
$ | 11,051 | $ | 23,482 | $ | 22,307 | $ | 214,106 | $ | 270,946 |
Long-term
debt obligations reflect the maturities of certain series of our first mortgage
bonds, which we intend to refinance when due. Current economic
conditions and disruptions have caused substantial volatility in capital
markets, including credit markets and the banking industry and have increased
the cost and significantly reduced the availability of credit from financing
sources, which may continue or worsen in the future. In the event we
are unable to refinance our first mortgage bonds when due and the borrowings
are
called for payment, we will have to seek alternative financing sources, although
there can be no assurance that these alternative financing sources will be
available on terms acceptable to us. The state revolving fund loan
obligation has an amortizing mortgage payment payable over a 20-year period,
and
will be refinanced as future securities are issued. Both the
long-term debt and the state revolving fund loan have certain financial covenant
provisions, the violation of which could result in default and require the
obligation to be immediately repaid, including all interest. We have
not experienced conditions that would result in our default under these
agreements, and we do not anticipate any such occurrence. Payments
for unconditional purchase obligations reflect minimum water purchase
obligations based on rates that are subject to change under our interconnection
agreement with the Chester Water Authority. The Chester Water
Authority sent us a notice on March 16, 2009 of a rate increase, effective
July
1, 2009.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
In
connection with the purchase of the treatment facility site, as of June 30,
2008, Artesian Utility agreed to commit $3.0 million to NSRWRC, payable in
10
equal annual installments, which commenced on June 30, 2008. In April
2009, Artesian Utility agreed to accelerate two of its payments to NSRWRC in
exchange for a $450,000 reduction in the total commitment. Artesian
Utility made a $900,000 payment to NSRWRC, which included the June 30, 2009
payment and the acceleration of two payments, or $600,000. As a
result of the reduction in the commitment and the acceleration of the payments,
the remaining balance of $1,350,000 will be repaid over the next 5 years with
a
final payment of $150,000 due on June 30, 2014.
Critical
Accounting Assumptions, Estimates and Policies; Recent Accounting
Standards
This
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
is
based on the accounting policies used and disclosed in our 2008 consolidated
financial statements and accompanying notes that were prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
and included as part of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2008. The preparation of those financial statements
required management to make assumptions and estimates that affected the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the dates of the financial statements as well as the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual
amounts or results could differ from those based on such assumptions and
estimates.
Our
critical accounting policies are described in Management's Discussion and
Analysis included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2008. There have been no changes in our critical accounting
policies. Our significant accounting policies are described in our
notes to the 2008 consolidated financial statements included in our annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Service
line protection plan revenues are recognized on an accrual basis effective
January 1, 2009, as compared to 2008, in which they were billed quarterly and
the revenue recognized when billed. This significant accounting
policy change did not have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Information
concerning our implementation and the impact of recent accounting standards
issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board is included in the notes
to
our 2008 consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on
Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and also in the notes to our
consolidated financial statements contained in this quarterly report on Form
10-Q. We did not adopt any accounting policy in the first three
months of 2009 that had a material impact on our financial condition, liquidity
or results of operations.
CAUTION
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements
in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which express our “belief,” “anticipation”
or “expectation,” as well as other statements which are not historical fact, are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the
Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Statements regarding our goals, priorities, growth and
expansion plans for our water and wastewater subsidiaries, customer base growth
opportunities in Cecil County, Maryland, our belief regarding our capacity
to
provide water services for the foreseeable future to our customers, our belief
relating to our compliance and the cost to achieve compliance with relevant
governmental regulations, our expectation of the timing of decisions by
regulatory authorities, the impact of weather on our operations and the
execution of our strategic initiatives, our expectation relating to the adoption
of recent accounting pronouncements, contract operations opportunities, legal
proceedings, our properties, deferred tax assets, adequacy of our available
sources of financing, the expected recovery of expenses related
to our
long-term debt, our expectation to be in
compliance with
financial covenants in our debt instruments, our ability to refinance
our debt as it
comes due, plans to increase our wastewater treatment operations and
other revenue streams less affected by weather, plans to expand our service
line
protection plan program offerings, expected contributions in 2009 to our
postretirement benefit plan, and our liquidity needs are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of
1995 and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected. Words such as “expects”,
“anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “projects”,
“forecasts”, “may”, “should”, variations of such words and similar expressions
are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Certain
factors including changes in weather, changes in our contractual obligations,
changes in government policies, the timing and results of our rate requests,
changes in economic and market conditions generally, and other matters discussed
in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 could
cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking
statements, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so other than as
required by under the federal securities laws and you should not rely on any
forward-looking statement as representation of the Company’s views as of any
date subsequent to the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q.
The
Company is subject to the risk of fluctuating interest rates in the normal
course of business. Our policy is to manage interest rates through the use
of
fixed rate long-term debt and, to a lesser extent, short-term debt. The
Company's exposure to interest rate risk related to existing fixed rate,
long-term debt is due to the term of the majority of our First Mortgage Bonds,
which have final maturity dates ranging from 2019 to 2043. We are also exposed
to market risk associated with changes in commodity prices. Our risks associated
with price increases in chemicals, electricity and other commodities are
mitigated by our ability to recover our costs through rate increases to our
customers. We have also sought to mitigate future significant electric price
increases by signing a two year supply contract, at a fixed price.
At
March
31, 2009, Artesian Water had two lines of credit of $20 million each to meet
temporary cash requirements. These revolving credit facilities are
unsecured. As of March 31, 2009, we had $32.4 million of available
funds under these lines. The interest rate for borrowings under one
of these lines is the London Interbank Offering Rate, or “LIBOR,” plus 0.75% or,
at our discretion, the bank’s federal funds rate plus 1.00%. The
interest rate for borrowings under the other line of credit is the LIBOR plus
1.00% or, at our discretion, the bank’s federal funds rate plus
1.00%. Each bank reviews all of their facilities annually for
renewal.
At
March
31, 2009, Artesian Utility and Artesian Wastewater had lines of credit with
a
financial institution for $3.5 million and $10.0 million, respectively, to
meet
temporary cash requirements. These revolving credit facilities are
unsecured. As of March 31, 2009, Artesian Wastewater had $4.5 million
of available funds while Artesian Utility had not borrowed funds under its
line
of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under each of these lines is the
LIBOR plus 1.75%. The bank reviews its facilities annually for
renewal.
Although
we believe we will continue to be able to renew these facilities, there is
no
assurance that they will be renewed, or what the terms of any such renewal
will
be. Current economic conditions and disruptions have caused
substantial volatility in capital markets, including credit markets and the
banking industry. We believe that internally generated funds along
with existing credit facilities will be adequate to provide sufficient working
capital to maintain normal operations and to meet our financing
requirements.
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC. Under the terms of the
agreement, Artesian Resources acts as the guarantor of NSRWRC’s $10 million
construction loan secured by land. As of March 31, 2009 NSRWRC had
$2.9 million of available funds under the construction loan. The
interest rate on this guaranteed debt is variable based on LIBOR Advantage
Rate
plus 225 basis points. In the event of a default by NSRWRC, Artesian
Resources shall pay the bank the amount due of the obligations or, on demand
of
the bank, immediately deposit all amounts due under the obligation.
On
August
1, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland executed a promissory note in the amount of
approximately $2.3 million to Sunrise, that bears interest at a variable
interest rate based upon the LIBOR plus 150 basis points. The note is
payable in four equal installments, commencing on the first anniversary of
the
closing date. The note is secured by a first lien security interest
in all of Mountain Hill’s assets in favor of Sunrise and is guaranteed by
Artesian Resources.
(a) Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
|
Our
management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer
and
Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this
report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls
and
procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report are
functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the
information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended is (i) recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
rules and
forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and (ii) accumulated
and
communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer
and
Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions
regarding disclosure. A controls system cannot provide absolute
assurance, however, that the objectives of the controls system are
met,
and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that
all
control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have
been
detected.
|
(b) Change
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
|
No
change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred
during
our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over
financial reporting.
|
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
In
addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully
consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which could materially
affect our business, financial condition or future results. Although
there have been no material changes to the risk factors described in such Annual
Report on Form 10-K, the risks described therein are not the only risks facing
us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or
that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect
our
business, financial condition and/or operating results.
ITEM
6 -
EXHIBITS
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a
– 14 (a)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
|
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a
– 14 (a)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Section 1350 of Chapter
63
of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C.
Section 1350).*
|
* Filed
herewith
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.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
Date: May
7, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/ DIAN
C. TAYLOR
|
Dian
C. Taylor (Principal Executive
Officer)
|
Date: May
7, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/ DAVID
B. SPACHT
|
David
B. Spacht (Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer)
|
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
Certification
of Chief Executive
Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a – 14(a) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
|
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a
– 14(a)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Section 1350 of Chapter
63
of Title 18 of the United States Code
(18 U.S.C.
Section 1350).*
|
|
* Filed
herewith