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CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORP - Quarter Report: 2012 June (Form 10-Q)

FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

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: June 30, 2012

OR

 

¨ 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: 001-11590

 

 

CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   51-0064146

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

909 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, Delaware 19904

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

(302) 734-6799

(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.    Yes  x    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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Common Stock, par value $0.4867 — 9,592,275 shares outstanding as of July 31, 2012.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     1   

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     1   

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     31   

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     52   

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

     54   

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

     55   

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     55   

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

     55   

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

     55   

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

     55   

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

     55   

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

     56   

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

     56   

SIGNATURES

     57   


Table of Contents

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (GAAP): A standard framework of accounting rules used to prepare and present financial statements in the United States of America.

Acquisition adjustment: The recovery, through rates, and inclusion in rate base, of the premium (amount in excess of net book value) paid for an acquisition as approved by the state PSCs for the regulated operations.

Application Evolution™: A new product developed and launched by BravePoint. Application Evolution™ is a component of ProfitZoom™ and is being marketed to customers both in the fire suppression industry and other unrelated businesses.

BravePoint®, Inc. (BravePoint): An advanced information services subsidiary, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia. BravePoint is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Services Company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (Chesapeake or the Company): The Registrant, its divisions, the Registrant and its subsidiaries, or the Registrant’s subsidiaries, as appropriate in the context of the disclosure.

Come-Back filing: The regulatory filing that was required by the Florida PSC within 18 months of the completion of the FPU merger to detail known benefits, synergies, cost savings and cost increases resulting from the merger.

Cooling Degree-Day (CDD): A measure of the variation in weather based on the extent to which the daily average temperature (from 10:00 am to 10:00 am the next day) is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This measurement is used to determine the impact of hot weather on our electric distribution operation during the cooling season.

Cost of sales: Includes the purchased cost of natural gas, electricity and propane commodities, costs of pipeline capacity needed to transport and store natural gas, transmission costs for electricity, costs to transport propane purchases to our storage facilities and the direct cost of labor spent on direct revenue-producing activities.

Dekatherm (Dt): A natural gas unit of measurement that measures heating value. A dekatherm (or 10 therms) of gas contains 10,000 British thermal units of heat, or the energy equivalent of burning approximately 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas under normal conditions.

Delmarva natural gas distribution operation: Chesapeake’s Delaware and Maryland divisions.

Delmarva Peninsula: A peninsula on the east coast of the United States of America that includes Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia. Chesapeake provides natural gas distribution, transmission and marketing services and propane distribution service to its customers on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company (Eastern Shore): A wholly owned natural gas transmission subsidiary of Chesapeake. Eastern Shore operates an interstate pipeline system that transports natural gas from various points in Pennsylvania to customers in southern Pennsylvania and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): An independent agency of the Federal government that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. The FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines. Eastern Shore is regulated by the FERC.

Florida natural gas distribution operation: Chesapeake’s Florida division and the natural gas operation of Florida Public Utilities Company, including its Indiantown division.

Florida Public Utilities Company (FPU): A wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake as of October 28, 2009, the date we acquired FPU through the merger. FPU provides natural gas, electric and propane distribution services in Florida.

Gross margin: A non-GAAP measure, which Chesapeake uses to evaluate the performance of its business segments. Gross margin is calculated by deducting the cost of sales from operating revenues. A more detailed description of gross margin, including how we calculate it, is provided in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


Table of Contents

Heating Degree-Day (HDD): A measure of the variation in weather based on the extent to which the daily average temperature (from 10:00 am to 10:00 am the next day) is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This measurement is used to determine the impact of cold weather on our natural gas, electric and propane distribution operations during the heating season.

Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP): A site that previously used coal to manufacture gaseous fuel used for industrial, commercial and residential use. Some MGPs are currently undergoing remedial action to remove contamination in the soil and water at or near these sites.

Normal Weather: The most recent 10–year average of heating and/or cooling degree-days in a particular geographic area.

Peninsula Pipeline Company, Inc. (Peninsula Pipeline): A wholly owned Florida intrastate pipeline subsidiary of Chesapeake.

Peninsula Energy Services Company, Inc. (PESCO): A wholly owned natural gas marketing subsidiary of Chesapeake. PESCO competes with regulated utilities and other unregulated third-party marketers to sell natural gas supplies directly to commercial and industrial customers through competitively-priced contracts.

ProfitZoom™: A new product developed and launched by BravePoint. ProfitZoom™ is an integrated system encompassing financial, job costing and service management modules, which was designed specifically for the fire protection and specialty contracting industries.

Public Service Commission (PSC): The state agency that regulates the rates and services provided by Chesapeake’s natural gas and electric distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida. Peninsula Pipeline’s service and rates are also regulated by the Florida PSC.

Remedial Action Plan (RAP): Procedures taken or being considered to remove contaminants from MGPs formerly owned or operated by Chesapeake or FPU.

Xeron, Inc. (Xeron): A wholly owned propane wholesale marketing subsidiary of Chesapeake based in Houston, Texas.


Table of Contents

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011  
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)              

Operating Revenues

     

Regulated Energy

   $ 55,553       $ 54,193   

Unregulated Energy

     25,176         29,692   

Other

     3,168         2,946   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

     83,897         86,831   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

     

Regulated energy cost of sales

     23,433         24,882   

Unregulated energy and other cost of sales

     19,861         24,420   

Operations

     20,071         20,401   

Maintenance

     1,858         1,892   

Depreciation and amortization

     5,885         4,937   

Other taxes

     2,334         2,523   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     73,442         79,055   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

     10,455         7,776   

Other income, net of expenses

     153         27   

Interest charges

     2,241         2,114   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

     8,367         5,689   

Income tax expense

     3,307         2,169   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 5,060       $ 3,520   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding:

     

Basic

     9,586,159         9,557,707   

Diluted

     9,681,597         9,650,887   

Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:

     

Basic

   $ 0.53       $ 0.37   

Diluted

   $ 0.52       $ 0.37   

Cash Dividends Declared Per Share of Common Stock

   $ 0.365       $ 0.345   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011  
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)              

Operating Revenues

     

Regulated Energy

   $ 127,849       $ 139,063   

Unregulated Energy

     70,063         88,442   

Other

     6,899         5,924   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

     204,811         233,429   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

     

Regulated energy cost of sales

     59,105         72,872   

Unregulated energy and other cost of sales

     54,453         68,711   

Operations

     40,027         40,237   

Maintenance

     3,834         3,595   

Depreciation and amortization

     11,646         9,958   

Other taxes

     5,218         5,441   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     174,283         200,814   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

     30,528         32,615   

Other income, net of expenses

     349         50   

Interest charges

     4,532         4,265   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

     26,345         28,400   

Income tax expense

     10,558         11,133   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 15,787       $ 17,267   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding:

     

Basic

     9,578,715         9,546,606   

Diluted

     9,674,240         9,642,374   

Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:

     

Basic

   $ 1.65       $ 1.81   

Diluted

   $ 1.63       $ 1.79   

Cash Dividends Declared Per Share of Common Stock

   $ 0.710       $ 0.675   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

 

     Three months      Six months  

For the periods ended June 30,

   2012     2011      2012     2011  
(in thousands)                          

Net Income

   $ 5,060      $ 3,520       $ 15,787      $ 17,267   

Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax:

         

Employee Benefits net of tax:

         

Amortization of prior service cost, net of tax of ($6), $1, ($13) and $3, respectively

     (9     2         (19     4   

Amortization of actuarial gain/loss, net of tax of $50, $28, $101 and $239, respectively

     76        42         152        357   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

     67        44         133        361   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 5,127      $ 3,564       $ 15,920      $ 17,628   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

 

Assets

   June 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)             

Property, Plant and Equipment

    

Regulated energy

   $ 544,118      $ 528,790   

Unregulated energy

     68,482        67,327   

Other

     18,334        19,988   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment

     630,934        616,105   

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (146,027     (137,784

Plus: Construction work in progress

     24,629        9,383   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net property, plant and equipment

     509,536        487,704   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,737        2,637   

Accounts receivable (less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $974 and $1,090, respectively)

     41,619        76,605   

Accrued revenue

     8,303        10,403   

Propane inventory, at average cost

     6,209        9,726   

Other inventory, at average cost

     2,999        4,785   

Regulatory assets

     2,375        1,846   

Storage gas prepayments

     3,229        5,003   

Income taxes receivable

     6,010        6,998   

Deferred income taxes

     2,116        2,712   

Prepaid expenses

     3,233        5,072   

Mark-to-market energy assets

     585        1,754   

Other current assets

     155        219   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     78,570        127,760   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred Charges and Other Assets

    

Goodwill

     4,090        4,090   

Other intangible assets, net

     2,961        3,127   

Investments, at fair value

     4,692        3,918   

Regulatory assets

     76,763        79,256   

Receivables and other deferred charges

     3,088        3,211   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred charges and other assets

     91,594        93,602   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 679,700      $ 709,066   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

 

Capitalization and Liabilities

   June 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)             

Capitalization

    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Common stock, par value $0.4867 per share (authorized 25,000,000 shares)

   $ 4,668      $ 4,656   

Additional paid-in capital

     149,908        149,403   

Retained earnings

     100,225        91,248   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (4,394     (4,527

Deferred compensation obligation

     958        817   

Treasury stock

     (958     (817
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     250,407        240,780   

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     108,755        110,285   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

     359,162        351,065   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt

     8,196        8,196   

Short-term borrowing

     13,553        34,707   

Accounts payable

     37,018        55,581   

Customer deposits and refunds

     29,991        30,918   

Accrued interest

     1,422        1,637   

Dividends payable

     3,501        3,300   

Accrued compensation

     5,088        6,932   

Regulatory liabilities

     3,743        6,653   

Mark-to-market energy liabilities

     504        1,496   

Other accrued liabilities

     9,052        8,079   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     112,068        157,499   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

    

Deferred income taxes

     123,609        115,624   

Deferred investment tax credits

     142        171   

Regulatory liabilities

     3,614        3,564   

Environmental liabilities

     9,298        9,492   

Other pension and benefit costs

     25,832        26,808   

Accrued asset removal cost—Regulatory liability

     37,461        36,584   

Other liabilities

     8,514        8,259   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred credits and other liabilities

     208,470        200,502   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

    

Total Capitalization and Liabilities

   $ 679,700      $ 709,066   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

   2012     2011  
(in thousands)             

Operating Activities

    

Net Income

   $ 15,787      $ 17,267   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     11,646        9,958   

Depreciation and accretion included in other costs

     2,686        2,473   

Deferred income taxes, net

     8,562        12,449   

Loss on sale of assets

     33        94   

Unrealized loss on commodity contracts

     232        30   

Unrealized gain on investments

     (502     (131

Employee benefits

     309        571   

Share-based compensation

     697        705   

Other, net

     (14     (18

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Sale (purchase) of investments

     (232     258   

Accounts receivable and accrued revenue

     37,103        14,017   

Propane inventory, storage gas and other inventory

     5,416        3,315   

Regulatory assets

     (24     601   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,084        1,792   

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

     (18,359     (11

Income taxes receivable

     920        (2,666

Accrued interest

     (215     (241

Customer deposits and refunds

     (927     (1,182

Accrued compensation

     (1,853     (2,234

Regulatory liabilities

     (2,859     2,887   

Other liabilities

     23        155   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     60,513        60,089   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing Activities

    

Property, plant and equipment expenditures

     (34,140     (21,236

Proceeds from sales of assets

     2,249        344   

Purchase of investments

     (124     (200

Environmental expenditures

     (194     (326
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (32,209     (21,418
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing Activities

    

Common stock dividends

     (5,987     (5,685

Purchase of stock for Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     (619     (609

Change in cash overdrafts due to outstanding checks

     (2,144     (3,193

Net repayment under line of credit agreements

     (19,010     (27,417

Other short-term borrowing

     —          (29,100

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     —          29,000   

Repayment of long-term debt

     (1,444     (1,482
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (29,204     (38,486
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (900     185   

Cash and Cash Equivalents — Beginning of Period

     2,637        1,643   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents — End of Period

   $ 1,737      $ 1,828   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

 

                                                       
    Common Stock     Additional           Accumulated Other                    
    Number of           Paid-In     Retained     Comprehensive     Deferred     Treasury        

(in thousands, except shares and per share data)

  Shares(1)     Par Value     Capital     Earnings     Loss     Compensation     Stock     Total  

Balances at December 31, 2010

    9,524,195      $ 4,635      $ 148,159      $ 76,805      ($ 3,360   $ 777      ($ 777   $ 226,239   

Net Income

          27,622              27,622   

Other comprehensive loss

            (1,167         (1,167

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

    —          —          (22             (22

Retirement Savings Plan

    2,002        1        79                80   

Conversion of debentures

    10,680        5        176                181   

Share-based compensation (2) (3)

    30,430        15        998                1,013   

Tax benefit on share-based compensation

        13                13   

Deferred Compensation Plan

              40        (40     —     

Purchase of treasury stock

    (993               (40     (40

Sale and distribution of treasury stock

    993                  40        40   

Dividends on share-based compensation

          (129           (129

Cash dividends (4)

          (13,050           (13,050
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2011

    9,567,307        4,656        149,403        91,248        (4,527     817        (817     240,780   

Net Income

          15,787              15,787   

Other comprehensive income

            133            133   

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

    —          —          (4             (4

Conversion of debentures

    5,341        3        88                91   

Share-based compensation (2) (3)

    19,217        9        421                430   

Deferred Compensation Plan

              141        (141     —     

Purchase of treasury stock

    (502               (21     (21

Sale and distribution of treasury stock

    502                  21        21   

Dividends on share-based compensation

          (5           (5

Cash dividends (4)

          (6,805           (6,805
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at June 30, 2012

    9,591,865      $ 4,668      $ 149,908      $ 100,225      ($ 4,394   $ 958      ($ 958   $ 250,407   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes 32,903 and 30,597 shares at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively , held in a Rabbi Trust established by the Company relating to the Deferred Compensation Plan.

(2)

Includes amounts for shares issued for Directors’ compensation.

(3)

The shares issued under the Performance Incentive Plan (“PIP”) are net of shares withheld for employee taxes. For six months ended June 30, 2012 and for the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company withheld 5,670 and 12,324 shares, respectively , for taxes.

(4)

Cash dividends per share for the periods ended June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $0.710 and $1.365 respectively .

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

1. Summary of Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

References in this document to the “Company,” “Chesapeake,” “we,” “us” and “our” are intended to mean the registrant and its subsidiaries, or the registrant’s subsidiaries, as appropriate in the context of the disclosure.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In accordance with these rules and regulations, certain information and disclosures normally required for audited financial statements have been condensed or omitted. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as amended. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of our results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented.

Due to the seasonality of our business, results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. Revenue and earnings are typically greater during the first and fourth quarters, when consumption of energy is highest due to colder temperatures.

We have assessed and reported on subsequent events through the date of issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications

We reclassified certain amounts in the condensed consolidated statement of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 to conform to the current year’s presentation. We also reclassified certain segment information as of December 31, 2011, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications are considered immaterial to the overall presentation of our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Sale of Assets

In September 2011, Florida Public Utilities Company (“FPU”) entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated entity to sell its office building located in West Palm Beach, Florida for $2.2 million. The sale of FPU’s West Palm Beach office building was finalized in February 2012 and did not result in a material gain or loss. We treated the West Palm Beach office building as an asset held for sale, and it was included in other property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2011 in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

In June and July 2012, FPU entered into a contract to sell its land located in West Palm Beach, Florida and a contract to purchase two parcels of land also located in the same city. FPU entered into the contract to sell its land and the contract to purchase one of the parcels to effectively exchange those lands. Therefore, these transactions will be accounted for as a non-monetary exchange and is expected to qualify as a “like-kind” exchange for income tax purposes. There will be no gain or loss related to the exchange portion of these transactions. The contract to purchase the other parcel of land will be recorded at the purchase price allocated to that parcel, which is approximately $600,000. The transactions are expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2012.

 

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Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statements and Other Authoritative Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-08, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) Testing Goodwill for Impairment,” which allows an entity to assess qualitatively whether it is necessary to perform step one of the two-step annual goodwill impairment test. Step one would be required if it is more-likely-than-not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. This differs from previous guidance, which required entities to perform step one of the test, at least annually, by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount. An entity may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to step one, for any reporting unit, in any period. ASU 2011-08 does not change the guidance on when to test goodwill for impairment. The amendments in ASU 2011-08 are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We adopted the guidance of ASU 2011-08, effective January 1, 2012. Adoption of ASU 2011-08 did not have a material impact on our financial position and results of operations.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS.” Amendments in the ASU do not extend the use of fair value accounting but provide guidance on how it should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards within International Financial Accounting Standards (“IFRS”) or U.S. GAAP. ASU 2011-04 supersedes most of the guidance in Topic 820, although many of the changes are clarifications of existing guidance or wording changes to align with IFRS. Certain amendments in ASU 2011-04 change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments in ASU 2011-04 are effective for public entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied prospectively. We adopted the guidance of ASU 2011-04, effective January 1, 2012, and provided additional disclosures as required. Adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material impact on our financial position and results of operations.

 

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2. Calculation of Earnings Per Share

 

     Three Months      Six Months  

For the Periods Ended June 30,

   2012      2011      2012      2011  
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)                            

Calculation of Basic Earnings Per Share:

           

Net Income

   $ 5,060       $ 3,520       $ 15,787       $ 17,267   

Weighted average shares outstanding

     9,586,159         9,557,707         9,578,715         9,546,606   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.53       $ 0.37       $ 1.65       $ 1.81   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Calculation of Diluted Earnings Per Share:

           

Reconciliation of Numerator:

           

Net Income

   $ 5,060       $ 3,520       $ 15,787       $ 17,267   

Effect of 8.25% Convertible debentures

     13         15         27         31   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted numerator — Diluted

   $ 5,073       $ 3,535       $ 15,814       $ 17,298   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Denominator:

           

Weighted shares outstanding — Basic

     9,586,159         9,557,707         9,578,715         9,546,606   

Effect of dilutive securities:

           

Share-based Compensation

     32,380         20,699         31,162         21,958   

8.25% Convertible debentures

     63,058         72,481         64,363         73,810   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted denominator — Diluted

     9,681,597         9,650,887         9,674,240         9,642,374   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.52       $ 0.37       $ 1.63       $ 1.79   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

3. Acquisition

On June 22, 2012, we entered into an agreement to purchase the operating assets of The Eastern Shore Gas Company and its affiliates, Eastern Shore Propane Company, LLC and Eastern Gas & Water Investment Company, LLC (collectively, “ESG”). These assets are currently used to provide propane distribution service to approximately 11,000 residential and commercial customers through underground propane gas distribution systems and bulk propane delivery service to over 500 customers in Worcester County, Maryland. We are evaluating the potential conversion of some of these underground propane distribution systems to natural gas where it is both economical and feasible. The transaction is subject to approval by the Maryland Public Service Commission (“PSC”), the receipt of consents of certain local jurisdictions to the assignment of certain franchise agreements and satisfaction of other closing conditions. The transaction, which is a cash purchase of assets, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2012. We expect to finance the acquisition using unsecured short-term debt.

 

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4. Rates and Other Regulatory Activities

Our natural gas and electric distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida are subject to regulation by their respective PSC; Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company (“Eastern Shore”), our natural gas transmission subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”); and Peninsula Pipeline Company, Inc. (“Peninsula Pipeline”), our intrastate pipeline subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the Florida PSC. Chesapeake’s Florida natural gas distribution division and the natural gas and electric operations of FPU continue to be subject to regulation by the Florida PSC as separate entities.

Delaware

On September 1, 2011, the Delaware division filed with the Delaware PSC its annual Gas Service Rates (“GSR”) Application, seeking approval to change its GSR, effective November 1, 2011. On September 20, 2011, the Delaware PSC authorized the Delaware division to implement the GSR charges, as filed, on November 1, 2011, on a temporary basis, subject to refund, pending the completion of a full evidentiary hearing and a final decision. The Delaware PSC granted approval of the GSR charges at its regularly scheduled meeting on July 17, 2012.

On June 18, 2012, the Delaware division filed an application with the Delaware PSC requesting approval for a Town of Selbyville Franchise Fee Rider. This rider will allow the Delaware division to charge all natural gas customers within the town limits the franchise fee paid by the Delaware division to the Town of Selbyville as a condition to providing natural gas service. We anticipate that the Delaware PSC will grant approval of the Franchise Fee Rider in the third quarter of 2012.

On June 25, 2012, the Delaware division filed with the Delaware PSC an application for proposed natural gas expansion service offerings in order to increase the availability of natural gas within its Delaware service areas. In this filing, the Delaware division is seeking approval from the Delaware PSC of the following:

 

  (i) a monthly fixed charge to customers in portions of Eastern Sussex County, Delaware, which will enable the Delaware division to extend its distribution system to provide natural gas service to these customers economically without upfront contributions from these customers;

 

  (ii) optional service offerings to customers to assist them in conversions, including a conversion finance service to assist customers with their cost of conversion equipment; and

 

  (iii) a slight rate increase for all Delaware customers in order to support the additional costs associated with the administration and implementation of the proposed service offerings.

On July 3, 2012, the Delaware PSC officially opened the docket and set a period for formal interventions to be filed. We anticipate that the Delaware PSC will render a final decision on these proposals in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Maryland

There were no significant regulatory proceedings in Maryland pending during 2012.

Florida

“Come-Back” Filing: On January 30, 2012, the Florida PSC issued an order, approving, among other things, the inclusion in our rate base in Florida of an acquisition adjustment of $34.2 million and merger-related costs of $2.2 million, to be amortized over a 30-year period and a five-year period, respectively, using the straight-line method beginning in November 2009. The acquisition adjustment permits the recovery, through rates, and inclusion in rate base, of the premium (amount in excess of net book value) paid for the acquisition of FPU. The Florida PSC also determined that FPU and Chesapeake’s Florida division did not have any excess earnings in 2010 to be refunded to customers. The Florida PSC issued a consummating order on these matters on January 30, 2012.

The Florida PSC order allows us to classify the acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs as regulatory assets and include them in our investment, or rate base, when determining our Florida natural gas rates. In addition, our rate of return calculation will be based upon this higher level of investment, which enables us to earn a return on this investment. Pursuant to this order, we reclassified to a regulatory asset at December 31, 2011, $31.7 million of the $34.2 million in merger-related goodwill, which represents the portion of the goodwill allowed to be recovered in future rates after the effective date of the Florida PSC order.

 

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We also recorded as a regulatory asset $18.1 million related to the gross-up of the acquisition adjustment for income tax. Of the $2.2 million of merger-related costs, $1.3 million, which represents the portion of the merger-related costs allowed to be recovered in future rates after the effective date of the Florida PSC order, had previously been deferred as a regulatory asset. We also recorded as a regulatory asset $349,000 related to the gross-up of the merger-related costs for income tax. Based upon the effective date and outcome of the order, we began reflecting the amortization of the acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs as an expense in January 2012, and included $1.2 million of the amortization expense in depreciation and amortization in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of income for the six months ended June 30, 2012. We will record $2.4 million ($1.4 million, net of tax) in amortization expense related to these assets in 2012 and 2013, $2.3 million ($1.4 million, net of tax) in 2014 and $1.8 million ($1.1 million, net of tax) annually, thereafter until 2039. These amortization expenses will be non-cash charges, and the net effect of the recovery will be positive cash flow. Over the long term, inclusion of the acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs in our rate base and the recovery of these regulatory assets through amortization expense will increase our earnings and cash flows above what we would have been able to achieve absent this regulatory authorization.

In FPU’s future rate proceedings, if it is determined that the level of cost savings supporting recovery of the acquisition adjustment no longer exists, the remaining acquisition adjustment may be partially or entirely disallowed by the Florida PSC. In such event, we would have to expense the corresponding unamortized amount of the disallowed acquisition adjustment.

Peninsula Pipeline: At its April 10, 2012 agenda conference, the Florida PSC approved a joint territorial agreement between FPU and the Peoples Gas System division of Tampa Electric Company (“Peoples Gas”) and other related agreements among FPU, Peninsula Pipeline and Peoples Gas. These agreements were executed in January 2012 among the parties to enable Peninsula Pipeline and FPU to expand natural gas service into Nassau and Okeechobee Counties, Florida.

One of the agreements provides for the joint construction, ownership and operation of a pipeline extending approximately 16 miles from the Duval/Nassau County line to Amelia Island in Nassau County, Florida. Under the terms of the agreement, Peninsula Pipeline will own approximately 45 percent of this 16-mile pipeline, and its portion of the estimated project cost is expected to be approximately $5.7 million. Peoples Gas will operate the pipeline, and Peninsula Pipeline will be responsible for its portion of the operation and maintenance expenses of the pipeline based on its ownership percentage. The new jointly-owned pipeline is expected to be completed and placed into service in late 2012 or early 2013. Under a separate agreement, Peninsula Pipeline will contract with Peoples Gas for transportation service from the Peoples Gas interconnection point with an unaffiliated upstream interstate pipeline to the new jointly-owned pipeline. Peninsula Pipeline will then utilize the transportation agreement with Peoples Gas and the jointly-owned pipeline capacity to provide transmission service to FPU for its natural gas distribution service in Nassau County.

Marianna Franchise: On July 7, 2009, the City Commission of Marianna, Florida (the “Marianna Commission”) adopted an ordinance granting a franchise to FPU effective February 1, 2010 for a period not to exceed 10 years for the operation and distribution and/or sale of electric energy (the “Franchise Agreement”). The Franchise Agreement provides that FPU will develop and implement new time-of-use (“TOU”) and interruptible electric power rates, or other similar rates, mutually agreeable to FPU and the City of Marianna. The Franchise Agreement further provides for the TOU and interruptible rates to be effective no later than February 17, 2011, and available to all customers within FPU’s Northwest Division, which includes the City of Marianna. If the rates were not in effect by February 17, 2011, the City would have the right to give notice to FPU within 180 days thereafter of its intent to exercise an option in the Franchise Agreement to purchase FPU’s property (consisting of the electric distribution assets) within the City of Marianna. Any such purchase would be subject to approval by the Marianna Commission, which would also need to approve the presentation of a referendum to voters in the City of Marianna for the approval of the purchase and the operation by the City of Marianna of an electric distribution facility. If the purchase is approved by the Marianna Commission and by the referendum, the closing of the purchase must occur within 12 months after the referendum is approved. If the City of Marianna elects to purchase the Marianna property, the Franchise Agreement requires the City of Marianna to pay FPU the fair market value for such property as determined by three qualified appraisers. Future financial results would be negatively affected by the loss of earnings generated by FPU from its approximately 3,000 customers in the City of Marianna.

 

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In accordance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement, FPU developed TOU and interruptible rates, and on December 14, 2010, FPU filed a petition with the Florida PSC for authority to implement such proposed TOU and interruptible rates on or before February 17, 2011. On February 11, 2011, the Florida PSC issued an order approving FPU’s petition for authority to implement the proposed TOU and interruptible rates, which became effective on February 8, 2011. The City of Marianna objected to the proposed rates and filed a petition protesting the entry of the Florida PSC’s order. On January 24, 2012, the Florida PSC dismissed with prejudice the protest by the City of Marianna.

On January 26, 2011, FPU filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of an amendment to FPU’s Generation Services Agreement entered into between FPU and Gulf Power. The amendment provides for a reduction in the capacity demand quantity, which generates the savings necessary to support the TOU and interruptible rates approved by the Florida PSC. The amendment also extends the current agreement by two years, with a new expiration date of December 31, 2019. By its order dated June 21, 2011, the Florida PSC approved the amendment. On July 12, 2011, the City of Marianna filed a protest of this decision and requested a hearing on the amendment. On January 24, 2012, the Florida PSC dismissed with prejudice the protest by the City of Marianna.

The City of Marianna filed an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on March 7, 2012 and with the Florida PSC on March 19, 2012, seeking an applicable review of the decisions by the Florida PSC with respect to the protests by the City of Marianna. At this time, this appeal is pending before the Florida Supreme Court. These Florida PSC dockets are currently in litigation status awaiting a decision by the Florida Supreme Court on the administrative appeal.

As disclosed in Note 6, “Other Commitments and Contingencies,” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the City of Marianna, on March 2, 2011, filed a complaint against FPU in the Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Jackson County, Florida, alleging breaches of the Franchise Agreement by FPU and seeking a declaratory judgment that the City of Marianna has the right to exercise its option to purchase FPU’s property in the City of Marianna in accordance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement. The litigation remains pending.

On April 7, 2011, FPU filed a petition for approval of a mid-course reduction to its Northwest Division fuel rates based on two factors: (1) the previously discussed amendment to the Generation Services Agreement with Gulf Power, and (2) a weather-related increase in sales resulting in an accelerated collection of the prior year’s under-recovered costs. Pursuant to its order dated July 5, 2011, the Florida PSC approved the petition, which reduced the fuel rates of FPU’s northwest division, which includes the fuel rates charged to customers in the City of Marianna.

On February 24, 2012, FPU filed a revised petition for approval of a mid-course reduction to its northwest division fuel rates based on a reduction in its supplier’s fuel rates, which would significantly lower purchased power costs for FPU’s northwest division in 2012. FPU filed for this mid-course reduction in order to ensure that its customers receive these savings in the most timely manner. The Florida PSC issued an order on March 27, 2012, approving the mid-course correction reduction in fuel rates, effective April 1, 2012. This further reduced the fuel rates of FPU’s northwest division, which includes the fuel rates charged to customers in the City of Marianna.

On June 1, 2012, the City of Marianna filed a petition with the Florida PSC for resolution of a territorial dispute for natural gas service in Jackson County as well as the surrounding areas included in FPU’s planned expansion. On June 22, 2012, FPU filed a response to the petition defending its planned expansion. The Florida PSC has not yet issued a date for an agenda conference to resolve the matter.

We also had developments in the following regulatory matters in Florida:

On June 21, 2011, FPU, in accordance with the Florida PSC rules, filed its 2011 depreciation study and request for new depreciation rates for its electric distribution operation, effective January 1, 2012. The Florida PSC approved the depreciation study at its January 24, 2012 agenda conference. The new approved depreciation rates are expected to reduce annual depreciation expense by approximately $227,000.

On February 3, 2012, FPU’s natural gas distribution operation and the Florida Division of Chesapeake filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of a surcharge to customers for a Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program. We are seeking approval to recover costs, inclusive of an appropriate return on investment, associated with accelerating the replacement of qualifying distribution mains and services (defined as any material other than coated steel or plastic (Polyethylene)) in their respective systems. If the petition is approved, we will replace qualifying mains and services over a 10-year period. The Florida PSC staff is expected to issue a recommendation on this surcharge in early August 2012, and a decision is expected by the Florida PSC at the agenda conference on August 14, 2012.

 

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On March 21, 2012, FPU filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of a negotiated contract for the purchase of renewable energy power between FPU and an unaffiliated company, which is constructing and installing a new renewable generating facility within FPU’s service territory. If constructed and installed, this facility will be capable of interconnecting and selling power to FPU’s northeast electric division. Overall, this contract will provide a significant benefit to FPU’s northeast electric customers, while also promoting the State of Florida’s goal of encouraging energy independence and the growth of renewable energy projects. If the contract is approved, savings will be passed on to customers through lower fuel costs. At the agenda conference on July 17, 2012, the Florida PSC approved the contract.

On July 12, 2012, FPU filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of recognition of a regulatory liability for a one-time tax contingency gain related to FPU’s income tax liability, which originated prior to the acquisition by Chesapeake from excess tax depreciation on vehicles. FPU recently determined that this tax liability was no longer needed because the applicable statute of limitation of the Internal Revenue Service and the tax remittance period related to this tax liability has expired. FPU believes that the treatment most consistent with prior regulatory treatment of one-time gains would be to record the amount as a regulatory liability and amortize that amount over a specified period. FPU is proposing to establish approximately $1.9 million of regulatory liability ($1.2 million in the tax contingency gain and $748,000 in the tax gross-up) and amortize it over a period from January 2012 to October 2014. The agenda conference date for this petition has not yet been set, but FPU expects that a decision on this petition will be made by the end of 2012.

 

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Eastern Shore

The following are regulatory activities involving FERC orders applicable to Eastern Shore and the expansions of Eastern Shore’s transmission system:

Rate Case Filing: On December 30, 2010, Eastern Shore filed with the FERC a base rate proceeding in accordance with the terms of the settlement in its prior base rate proceeding. Conferences involving Eastern Shore, the FERC Staff and other interested parties resulted in a settlement based on an annual cost of service of approximately $29.1 million and a pre-tax return of 13.9 percent. Also included in the settlement is a negotiated rate adjustment, effective November 1, 2011, associated with the phase-in of an additional 15,000 dekatherms per day (“Dts/d”) of new transmission service on Eastern Shore’s eight-mile extension to interconnect with Texas Eastern Transmission LP’s (“TETLP”) pipeline system. This rate adjustment reduces the rate per dekatherm (“Dt”) of the service on this eight-mile extension by reflecting the increased service of 15,000 Dts/d with no additional revenue. This rate adjustment effectively offsets the increased revenue that would have been generated from the 15,000 Dts/d increase in firm service although Eastern Shore may still collect a commodity charge on the increased volume from the phase-in of service. The settlement also provides a five-year moratorium on the parties’ rights to challenge Eastern Shore’s rates and on Eastern Shore’s right to file a base rate increase but allows Eastern Shore to file for rate adjustments during those five years in the event certain costs related to government-mandated obligations are incurred and Eastern Shore’s pre-tax earnings do not equal or exceed 13.9 percent. The FERC approved the settlement on January 24, 2012.

From July 2011 through October 2011, Eastern Shore adjusted its billing to reflect the rates requested in the base rate proceeding, subject to refund to customers upon the FERC’s approval of the new rates. Commencing in November 2011, Eastern Shore adjusted its billing to reflect the settlement rates, subject to refund to customers upon FERC’s approval of the settlement. At December 31, 2011 Eastern Shore had recorded approximately $1.3 million as a regulatory liability related to the refund due to customers as a result of the settlement; the refund was paid in January and February 2012.

Mainline Expansion Project: On May 14, 2012, Eastern Shore submitted to the FERC an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for approval to construct, own and operate the facilities necessary to deliver additional firm service of 15,040 Dts/d to an existing electric power generation customer and to Chesapeake’s Delaware and Maryland divisions. The estimated capital cost of the project is approximately $16.3 million. The filing was publicly noticed on May 25, 2012. Two of Eastern Shore’s existing customers and Chesapeake’s Delaware and Maryland divisions filed motions to intervene in support of the project. One existing customer filed a motion to intervene and protest. On June 28, 2012, Eastern Shore submitted a response to the protest. We expect the FERC ruling on this application by the end of 2012.

Eastern Shore also had developments in the following FERC matters:

On March 7, 2011, Eastern Shore filed certain tariff sheets to amend the creditworthiness provisions contained in its FERC Gas Tariff. On April 6, 2011, the FERC issued an order accepting and suspending Eastern Shore’s filed tariff revisions, effective April 1, 2011, subject to Eastern Shore submitting certain clarifications with regard to several proposed revisions. Eastern Shore responded with a revised filing on January 13, 2012, which the FERC approved on February 24, 2012.

On March 1, 2012, Eastern Shore filed revised tariff sheets to amend certain provisions contained in the Construction of Facilities and Right of First Refusal sections of its FERC Gas Tariff. On April 6, 2012, the FERC issued an order accepting Eastern Shore’s revised tariff sheet, effective April 1, 2012, subject to Eastern Shore submitting two additional revisions proposed by an intervening party during the review period. Eastern Shore responded with a revised filing on April 16, 2012, which the FERC accepted.

On June 27, 2012, Eastern Shore submitted a combined filing for its Fuel Retention Percentage (“FRP”) and Cash-Out Surcharge to the FERC, which encompassed a 24-month period from April 2010 to March 2012. In the filing, Eastern Shore proposed to maintain its existing zero FRP rate and its existing zero rate for the Cash-Out Surcharge. Eastern Shore also proposed to refund $319,933, inclusive of interest, to its eligible customers in the third quarter of 2012 as a result of combining its over-recovered Gas Required for Operations and its over-recovered Cash-Out Cost.

 

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5. Environmental Commitments and Contingencies

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality and pollution control. These laws and regulations require us to remove or remedy at current and former operating sites the effect on the environment of the disposal or release of specified substances.

We have participated in the investigation, assessment or remediation, and have exposure at six former Manufactured Gas Plant (“MGP”) sites. Those sites are located in Salisbury, Maryland, and Winter Haven, Key West, Pensacola, Sanford and West Palm Beach, Florida. We have also been in discussions with the Maryland Department of the Environment (“MDE”) regarding a seventh former MGP site located in Cambridge, Maryland.

As of June 30, 2012, we had approximately $10.9 million in environmental liabilities related to all of FPU’s MGP sites in Florida, which include the Key West, Pensacola, Sanford and West Palm Beach sites, representing our estimate of the future costs associated with those sites. FPU has approval to recover up to $14.0 million of its environmental costs related to all of its MGP sites from insurance and from customers through rates, approximately $8.5 million of which has been recovered as of June 30, 2012. We also had approximately $5.5 million in regulatory assets for future recovery of environmental costs from FPU’s customers.

In addition to the FPU MGP sites, we had $223,000 in environmental liabilities as of June 30, 2012, related to Chesapeake’s MGP sites in Maryland and Florida, representing our estimate of future costs associated with these sites. As of June 30, 2012, we had approximately $792,000 in regulatory and other assets for future recovery through Chesapeake’s rates.

We continue to expect that all costs related to environmental remediation and related activities will be recoverable from customers through rates.

The following discussion provides a brief summary of each MGP site:

West Palm Beach, Florida

Remedial options are being evaluated to respond to environmental impacts to soil and groundwater at and in the immediate vicinity of a parcel of property owned by FPU in West Palm Beach, Florida, where FPU previously operated an MGP. FPU is currently implementing a remedial plan approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”) for the east parcel of the West Palm Beach site which includes installation of monitoring test wells, sparging of air into the groundwater system and extraction of vapors from the subsurface. It is anticipated that similar remedial actions ultimately will be implemented for other portions of the site. Estimated costs of remediation for the West Palm Beach site range from approximately $4.6 million to $15.7 million, including costs associated with the relocation of FPU’s operations at this site, which is necessary to implement the remedial plan, and any potential costs associated with future redevelopment of the properties. We continue to expect that all costs related to these activities will be recoverable from customers through rates.

Sanford, Florida

FPU is the current owner of property in Sanford, Florida, which was a former MGP site that was operated by several other entities before FPU acquired the property. FPU was never an owner or an operator of the MGP. In January 2007, FPU and other responsible parties at the Sanford site (collectively with FPU the “Sanford Group”) signed a Third Participation Agreement, which provides for the funding of the final remedy approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for the site. FPU’s share of remediation costs under the Third Participation Agreement is set at five percent of a maximum of $13 million, or $650,000. As of June 30, 2012, FPU has paid $650,000 to the Sanford Group escrow account for all of its share of the funding requirements.

The total cost of the final remedy is now estimated at over $20 million, which includes long-term monitoring and the settlement of claims asserted by two adjacent property owners to resolve damages that the property owners allege they have incurred and will incur as a result of the implementation of the EPA-approved remediation. In settlement of these claims, members of the Sanford Group, which in this instance does not include FPU, have agreed to pay specified sums of money to the parties. FPU has refused to participate in the funding of the third-party settlement agreements based on its contention that it did not contribute to the release of hazardous substances at the site giving rise to the third-party claims. FPU has advised the other members of the Sanford Group that it is unwilling at this time to agree to pay any sum in excess of the $650,000 committed by FPU in the Third Participation Agreement.

 

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As of June 30, 2012, FPU’s remaining share of remediation expenses, including attorneys’ fees and costs, is estimated to be $24,000. However, we are unable to determine, to a reasonable degree of certainty, whether the other members of the Sanford Group will accept FPU’s asserted defense to liability for costs exceeding $13.0 million to implement the final remedy for this site or will pursue a claim against FPU for a sum in excess of the $650,000 that FPU has paid under the Third Participation Agreement. No such claims have been made as of June 30, 2012.

Key West, Florida

FPU formerly owned and operated an MGP in Key West, Florida. Field investigations performed in the 1990s identified limited environmental impacts at the site, which is currently owned by an unrelated third party. In 2010, after 17 years of regulatory inactivity, FDEP observed that some soil and groundwater standards were exceeded and requested implementation of additional soil and groundwater fieldwork. The scope of work is limited to the installation of two additional monitoring wells and periodic monitoring of the new and existing wells. The two new monitoring wells were installed in November 2011, and groundwater monitoring began in December 2011. The first semi-annual report from the monitoring program was issued in May 2012. It is anticipated that the next semi-annual report, which may include recommendations for further actions, if appropriate, will be issued before the end of 2012. Prior to completion of the monitoring program, we cannot determine to a reasonable degree of certainty the probable costs to resolve FPU’s liability for the Key West MGP Site, although we do not anticipate the cost to exceed $100,000.

Pensacola, Florida

FPU formerly owned and operated an MGP in Pensacola, Florida, which was subsequently owned by Gulf Power. Portions of the site are now owned by the City of Pensacola and the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”). In October 2009, FDEP informed Gulf Power that FDEP would approve a conditional No Further Action (“NFA”) determination for the site, which must include a requirement for institutional and engineering controls. On December 13, 2011, Gulf Power, the City of Pensacola, FDOT and FPU submitted to FDEP a draft covenant for institutional and engineering controls for the site. Upon FDEP’s approval and the subsequent recording of the institutional and engineering controls, no further work is expected to be required of the parties. Assuming FDEP approves the draft institutional and engineering controls, it is anticipated that FPU’s share of remaining legal and cleanup costs will not exceed $5,000.

Salisbury, Maryland

We have substantially completed remediation of a site in Salisbury, Maryland, where it was determined that a former MGP caused localized ground-water contamination. In February 2002, the MDE granted permission to permanently decommission the systems used for remediation and to discontinue all on-site and off-site well monitoring, except for one well, which is being maintained for periodic product monitoring and recovery. We anticipate that the remaining costs of the one remaining monitoring well will not exceed $5,000 annually. We cannot predict at this time when the MDE will grant permission to permanently decommission the one remaining monitoring well.

Winter Haven, Florida

The Winter Haven site is located on the eastern shoreline of Lake Shipp, in Winter Haven, Florida. Pursuant to a Consent Order entered into with the FDEP, we are obligated to assess and remediate environmental impacts at this former MGP site. The recent groundwater sampling results show a continuing reduction in contaminant concentrations from the treatment system, which has been in operation since 2002. Currently, we predict that remedial action objectives could be met in approximately two to three years for the area being treated by the remediation system. The total expected annual cost of operating and monitoring the system is approximately $46,000.

 

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The current treatment system at the Winter Haven site does not address impacted soils in the southwest corner of the site. In 2010, we obtained a conditional approval from FDEP for a soil excavation plan, and we estimate the cost of this excavation at $250,000; however, this estimate does not include costs associated with dewatering or shoreline stabilization, which would be required to complete the excavation. Because the costs associated with shoreline stabilization and dewatering are likely to be substantial, alternatives to this excavation plan are being evaluated.

FDEP has indicated that we may be required to remediate sediments along the shoreline of Lake Shipp, immediately west of the site. Based on studies performed to date, we object to FDEP’s suggestion that the sediments have been adversely impacted by the former operations of the MGP. Our early estimates indicate that some of the corrective measures discussed by FDEP could cost as much as $1.0 million. We believe that corrective measures for the sediments are not warranted and intend to oppose any requirement that we undertake corrective measures in the offshore sediments. We have not recorded a liability for sediment remediation, as the final resolution of this matter cannot be predicted at this time.

Other

We are in discussions with the MDE regarding a former MGP site located in Cambridge, Maryland. The outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time; therefore, we have not recorded an environmental liability for this location.

 

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6. Other Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

On March 2, 2011, the City of Marianna filed a complaint against FPU in the Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Jackson County, Florida. In the complaint, the City of Marianna alleged three breaches of the Franchise Agreement by FPU: (i) FPU failed to develop and implement TOU and interruptible rates that were mutually agreed to by the City of Marianna and FPU; (ii) mutually agreed upon TOU and interruptible rates by FPU were not effective or in effect by February 17, 2011; and (iii) FPU did not have such rates available to all of FPU’s customers located within and without the corporate limits of the City of Marianna. The City of Marianna is seeking a declaratory judgment allowing it to exercise its option under the Franchise Agreement to purchase FPU’s property (consisting of the electric distribution assets) within the City of Marianna. Any such purchase would be subject to approval by the Marianna Commission, which would also need to approve the presentation of a referendum to voters in the City of Marianna related to the purchase and the operation by the City of Marianna of an electric distribution facility. If the purchase is approved by the Marianna Commission and the referendum is approved by the voters, the closing of the purchase must occur within 12 months after the referendum is approved. On March 28, 2011, FPU filed its answer to the declaratory action by the City of Marianna, in which it denied the material allegations by the City of Marianna and asserted several affirmative defenses. On August 3, 2011, the City of Marianna notified FPU that it was formally exercising its option to purchase FPU’s property. On August 31, 2011, FPU advised the City of Marianna that it has no right to exercise the purchase option under the Franchise Agreement and that FPU would continue to oppose the effort by the City of Marianna to purchase FPU’s property. In December 2011, the City of Marianna filed a motion for summary judgment. FPU opposed the motion. On April 3, 2012, the court conducted a hearing on the City of Marianna’s motion for summary judgment. The court subsequently denied in part and granted in part the City of Marianna’s motion after concluding that fact issues remained for trial with respect to each of the three alleged breaches of the Franchise Agreement. Mediation was conducted on May 11, 2012, and again on July 6, 2012, but no resolution was reached. The parties will continue to conduct informal negotiations to explore a potential settlement. The case is currently scheduled for trial on October 29, 2012. Unless resolved through informal negotiations, we anticipate that the case will be tried and intend to defend this lawsuit vigorously. We also intend to oppose the adoption of any proposed referendum to approve the purchase of the FPU property by the City of Marianna. We have expensed approximately $978,000 in legal costs associated with this litigation, approximately $440,000 of which was expensed in 2012.

We are involved in certain other legal actions and claims arising in the normal course of business. We are also involved in certain legal proceedings and administrative proceedings before various governmental agencies concerning rates. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these proceedings will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Natural Gas, Electric and Propane Supply

Our natural gas, electric and propane distribution operations have entered into contractual commitments to purchase gas, electricity and propane from various suppliers. The contracts have various expiration dates. We have a contract with an energy marketing and risk management company to manage a portion of our natural gas transportation and storage capacity. This contract expires on March 31, 2013.

Chesapeake’s Florida natural gas distribution division has firm transportation service contracts with Florida Gas Transmission Company (“FGT”) and Gulfstream Natural Gas System, LLC (“Gulfstream”). Pursuant to a capacity release program approved by the Florida PSC, all of the capacity under these agreements has been released to various third parties, including Peninsula Energy Services Company, Inc. (“PESCO”). Under the terms of these capacity release agreements, Chesapeake is contingently liable to FGT and Gulfstream, should any party that acquired the capacity through release fail to pay for the service.

In May 2012, PESCO renewed contracts to purchase natural gas from various suppliers. These contracts expire in May 2013.

FPU’s electric fuel supply contracts require FPU to maintain an acceptable standard of creditworthiness based on specific financial ratios. FPU’s agreement with JEA (formerly known as Jacksonville Electric Authority) requires FPU to comply with the following ratios based on the results of the prior 12 months: (a) total liabilities to tangible net worth less than 3.75 times, and (b) fixed charge coverage ratio greater than 1.5 times. If either ratio is not met by FPU, it has 30 days to cure the default or provide an irrevocable letter of credit if the default is not cured. FPU’s electric fuel supply agreement with Gulf Power requires FPU to meet the following ratios based on the average of the prior six quarters: (a) funds from operations interest coverage ratio (minimum of 2 times), and (b) total debt to total capital (maximum of 65 percent). If FPU fails to meet the requirements, it has to provide the supplier a written explanation of actions taken or proposed to be taken to become compliant. Failure to comply with the ratios specified in the Gulf Power agreement could result in FPU providing an irrevocable letter of credit. As of June 30, 2012, FPU was in compliance with all of the requirements of its fuel supply contracts.

 

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Corporate Guarantees

The Board of Directors has authorized the Company to issue corporate guarantees securing obligations of our subsidiaries and to obtain letters of credit securing our obligations, including the obligations of our subsidiaries. The maximum authorized liability under such guarantees and letters of credit is $45 million.

We have issued corporate guarantees to certain vendors of our subsidiaries, primarily for our propane wholesale marketing subsidiary and our natural gas marketing subsidiary. These corporate guarantees provide for the payment of propane and natural gas purchases in the event of the respective subsidiary’s default. Neither subsidiary has ever defaulted on its obligations to pay its suppliers. The liabilities for these purchases are recorded in the condensed consolidated financial statements when incurred. The aggregate amount guaranteed at June 30, 2012 was $27.7 million, with the guarantees expiring on various dates through June 2013.

Chesapeake guarantees the payment of FPU’s first mortgage bonds. The maximum exposure under the guarantee is the outstanding principal plus accrued interest balances. The outstanding principal balances of FPU’s first mortgage bonds approximate their carrying values (see Note 13, “Long-Term Debt,” to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further details).

In addition to the corporate guarantees, we have issued a letter of credit for $1.0 million, which expires on September 12, 2012, related to the electric transmission services for FPU’s northwest electric division. We have also issued a letter of credit to our current primary insurance company for $656,000, which expires on December 2, 2012, as security to satisfy the deductibles under our various outstanding insurance policies. As a result of a change in our primary insurance company in 2010, we renewed the letter of credit for $725,000 to our former primary insurance company, which will expire on June 1, 2013. There have been no draws on these letters of credit as of June 30, 2012. We do not anticipate that the letters of credit will be drawn upon by the counterparties, and we expect that the letters of credit will be renewed to the extent necessary in the future.

We provided a letter of credit for $2.5 million to TETLP related to the Precedent Agreement between our Delaware and Maryland divisions and TETLP (the “Precedent Agreement”), which is described below.

Agreements for Access to New Natural Gas Supplies

On April 8, 2010, our Delaware and Maryland divisions entered into the Precedent Agreement to secure firm transportation service from TETLP in conjunction with its new expansion project, which is expected to expand TETLP’s mainline system by up to 190,000 Dts/d. The Precedent Agreement provides that, upon satisfaction of certain conditions, the parties will execute two firm transportation service contracts, one for our Delaware division and one for our Maryland division, for 34,100 Dts/d and 15,900 Dts/d, respectively. The 34,100 Dts/d for our Delaware division and the 15,900 Dts/d for our Maryland division reflect the additional volume subscribed to by our divisions above the volume originally agreed to by the parties. These contracts will be effective on the service commencement date of the project, which is currently projected to occur in November 2012. Each firm transportation service contract shall, among other things, provide for: (a) the maximum daily quantity of Dts/d described above; (b) a term of 15 years; (c) a receipt point at Clarington, Ohio; (d) a delivery point at Honey Brook, Pennsylvania; and (e) certain credit standards and requirements for security. Commencement of service and TETLP’s and our rights and obligations under the two firm transportation service contracts are subject to satisfaction of various conditions specified in the Precedent Agreement.

 

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Our Delmarva natural gas supplies have been received primarily from the Gulf of Mexico natural gas production region and have been transported through three interstate upstream pipelines, which interconnect directly or indirectly with Eastern Shore’s transmission system. The new firm transportation service contracts between our Delaware and Maryland divisions and TETLP will provide gas supply through an interconnection with Eastern Shore’s transmission system and provide access to new sources of supply from other natural gas production regions, including the Appalachian production region, thereby providing increased reliability and diversity of supply. They will also provide our Delaware and Maryland divisions with additional upstream transportation capacity to meet current customer demands and to plan for sustainable growth.

The Precedent Agreement provides that the parties shall promptly meet and work in good faith to negotiate a mutually acceptable reservation rate. In accordance with the Precedent Agreement, our Delaware and Maryland divisions executed the required reservation rate agreements with TETLP on July 2, 2010.

The Precedent Agreement requires us to reimburse TETLP for our proportionate share of TETLP’s pre-service costs incurred to date, if we terminate the Precedent Agreement, are unwilling or unable to perform our material duties and obligations thereunder, or take certain other actions whereby TETLP is unable to obtain the authorizations and exemptions required for this project. If such termination were to occur, we estimate that our proportionate share of TETLP’s pre-service costs could be approximately $25.5 million as of June 30, 2012. If we were to terminate the Precedent Agreement after TETLP completed its construction of all facilities, which is expected to be in the fourth quarter of 2012, our proportionate share could be as much as approximately $50 million. The actual amount of our proportionate share of such costs could differ significantly and would ultimately be based on the level of pre-service costs at the time of any potential termination. As our Delaware and Maryland divisions have now executed the required reservation rate agreements with TETLP, we believe that the likelihood of terminating the Precedent Agreement and having to reimburse TETLP for our proportionate share of TETLP’s pre-service costs is remote.

As previously mentioned, we have provided a letter of credit to TETLP for $2.5 million, which is the maximum amount required under the Precedent Agreement.

On March 17, 2010, our Delaware and Maryland divisions entered into a separate precedent agreement with Eastern Shore to extend its mainline by eight miles to interconnect with TETLP at Honey Brook, Pennsylvania. Eastern Shore completed the extension project in December 2010 and commenced the service in January 2011. The rate for the transmission service on this extension is Eastern Shore’s current tariff rate for service in that area.

In November 2011, TETLP obtained the necessary authorizations from the FERC for construction and operation of its portion of the project. Our Delaware and Maryland divisions require no regulatory approvals or exemptions to receive transmission service from TETLP or Eastern Shore.

As the Eastern Shore and TETLP transmission services commence, our Delaware and Maryland divisions incur costs for those services based on the agreed and FERC-approved reservation rates, which will become an integral component of the costs associated with providing natural gas supplies to our Delaware and Maryland divisions and will be included in the annual GSR filings for each of our respective divisions.

Non-income-based Taxes

From time to time, we are subject to various audits and reviews by the states and other regulatory authorities regarding non-income-based taxes. We are currently undergoing sales tax audits in Florida. As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we maintained accruals of $173,000 and $307,000, respectively, related to additional sales taxes and gross receipts taxes that we may owe to various states.

 

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7. Segment Information

We use the management approach to identify operating segments. We organize our business around differences in regulatory environment and/or products or services, and the operating results of each segment are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (our Chief Executive Officer) in order to make decisions about resources and to assess performance. The segments are evaluated based on their pre-tax operating income. Our operations comprise three operating segments:

 

   

Regulated Energy. The regulated energy segment includes natural gas distribution, electric distribution and natural gas transmission operations. All operations in this segment are regulated, as to their rates and services, by the PSC having jurisdiction in each operating territory or by the FERC in the case of Eastern Shore.

 

   

Unregulated Energy. The unregulated energy segment includes natural gas marketing, propane distribution and propane wholesale marketing operations, which are unregulated as to their rates and charges for their services.

 

   

Other. The “other” segment consists primarily of the advanced information services operation, unregulated subsidiaries that own real estate leased to Chesapeake and certain corporate costs not allocated to other operations.

The following table presents information about our reportable segments.

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  

For the Periods Ended June 30,

   2012     2011     2012      2011  
(in thousands)                          

Operating Revenues, Unaffiliated Customers

         

Regulated Energy

   $ 54,330      $ 54,011      $ 126,348       $ 138,695   

Unregulated Energy\

     25,176        29,692        70,063         88,442   

Other

     4,391        3,128        8,400         6,292   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating revenues, unaffiliated customers

   $ 83,897      $ 86,831      $ 204,811       $ 233,429   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Intersegment Revenues (1)

         

Regulated Energy

   $ 1,223      $ 182      $ 1,501       $ 368   

Unregulated Energy

     —          —          —           —     

Other

     221        195        456         389   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intersegment revenues

   $ 1,444      $ 377      $ 1,957       $ 757   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

         

Regulated Energy

   $ 10,505      $ 7,787      $ 25,303       $ 24,020   

Unregulated Energy

     (401     80        4,753         8,669   

Other and eliminations

     351        (91     472         (74
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating income

     10,455        7,776        30,528         32,615   

Other income, net of other expenses

     153        27        349         50   

Interest

     2,241        2,114        4,532         4,265   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     8,367        5,689        26,345         28,400   

Income taxes

     3,307        2,169        10,558         11,133   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 5,060      $ 3,520      $ 15,787       $ 17,267   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

All significant intersegment revenues are billed at market rates and have been eliminated from consolidated operating revenues.

 

     June 30,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 
(in thousands)              

Identifiable Assets

     

Regulated energy

   $ 572,073       $ 565,563   

Unregulated energy

     70,166         107,916   

Other

     37,461         35,587   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total identifiable assets

   $ 679,700       $ 709,066   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Our operations are almost entirely domestic. Our advanced information services subsidiary, BravePoint, has infrequent transactions in foreign countries, primarily Canada, which are denominated and paid in U.S. dollars. These transactions are immaterial to the consolidated revenues.

 

8. Employee Benefit Plans

Net periodic benefit costs for our pension and post-retirement benefits plans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 are set forth in the following table:

 

                                        Chesapeake              
    Chesapeake     FPU     Chesapeake     Postretirement     FPU  
    Pension Plan     Pension Plan     SERP     Plan     Medical Plan  

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

  2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011  
(in thousands)                                                            

Service Cost

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 40      $ 27   

Interest Cost

    125        130        639        672        22        27        15        15        45        39   

Expected return on plan assets

    (109     (101     (657     (684     —          —          —          —          —          —     

Amortization of prior service cost

    (2     (2     —          —          5        5        (20     —          —          —     

Amortization of net loss

    85        39        44        —          12        9        17        —          22        5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic cost (benefit)

    99        66        26        (12     39        41        12        15        107        71   

Amortization of pre-merger regulatory asset

    —          —          191        191        —          —          —          —          2        2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total periodic cost

  $ 99      $ 66      $ 217      $ 179      $ 39      $ 41      $ 12      $ 15      $ 109      $ 73   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
                                        Chesapeake              
    Chesapeake     FPU     Chesapeake     Postretirement     FPU  
    Pension Plan     Pension Plan     SERP     Plan     Medical Plan  

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

  2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011  
(in thousands)                                                            

Service Cost

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 80      $ 53   

Interest Cost

    250        260        1,278        1,343        45        54        30        30        90        78   

Expected return on plan assets

    (218     (202     (1,315     (1,368     —          —          —          —          —          —     

Amortization of prior service cost

    (3     (3     —          —          10        10        (40     —          —          —     

Amortization of net loss

    170        78        88        —          23        19        35        —          45        10   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic cost (benefit)

    199        133        51        (25     78        83        25        30        215        141   

Settlement expense

    —          217        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Amortization of pre-merger regulatory asset

    —          —          381        381        —          —          —          —          4        4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total periodic cost

  $ 199      $ 350      $ 432      $ 356      $ 78      $ 83      $ 25      $ 30      $ 219      $ 145   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

We expect to record pension and postretirement benefit costs of approximately $1.9 million for 2012. Included in that amount is $769,000 related to continued amortization of the FPU pension regulatory asset, which represents the portion attributable to FPU’s regulated energy operations of the changes in funded status that occurred but were not recognized as part of net periodic benefit costs prior to the merger. This was deferred as a regulatory asset by FPU prior to the merger to be recovered through rates pursuant to a previous order by the Florida PSC. The unamortized balance of this regulatory asset was $5.5 million and $5.9 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, we contributed $110,000 and $273,000 respectively, to the Chesapeake pension plan. We also contributed $413,000 and $705,000, respectively, to the FPU pension plan during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012. On June 29, 2012, the U.S. Congress passed the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st century Act” (also known as the “Transportation and Student Loan Bill”). Included in this legislation was pension funding relief, which allowed pension sponsors to use 25-year average corporate bond rates rather than current interest rates, which are lower, to measure pension obligations for pension funding purposes. Although this legislation does not affect accounting for pension plans, the use of higher interest rates to measure pension obligations for funding purposes reduces the minimum pension contribution requirements. We initially estimated our 2012 contributions to the Chesapeake and FPU pension plans to be $1.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively, which include minimum contribution payments required in 2012 using the current interest rate to measure pension obligations and any additional contributions that we may make to maintain a certain level of funding in those plans. We estimate that the new legislation could reduce our 2012 contributions to the Chesapeake and FPU pension plans by as much as $915,000 and $1.2 million, respectively.

 

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The Chesapeake Pension Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”), the Chesapeake Postretirement Plan and the FPU Medical Plan are unfunded and are expected to be paid out of our general funds. Cash benefits paid under the Chesapeake Pension SERP for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, were $22,000 and $45,000, respectively; we expect to pay cash benefits of approximately $88,000 in 2012. Cash benefits paid for the Chesapeake Postretirement Plan, primarily for medical claims for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, totaled $28,000 and $40,000, respectively, and we have estimated that approximately $87,000 will be paid for such benefits in 2012. Cash benefits paid for the FPU Medical Plan, primarily for medical claims for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, totaled $100,000 and $158,000, respectively. We have estimated that approximately $193,000 will be paid for such benefits in 2012.

 

9. Investments

The investment balance at June 30, 2012, represents: (a) a Rabbi Trust associated with our Supplemental Executive Retirement Savings Plan, (b) a Rabbi Trust related to the deferral of certain director compensation, and (c) investments in equity securities. We classify these investments as trading securities and report them at their fair value. We recorded $185,000 and $502,000, for an unrealized gain, net of other expenses, in other income in the consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended June 30, respectively. We also have recorded an associated liability that is adjusted each month for the gains and losses incurred by the Rabbi Trusts. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, total investments had a fair value of $4.7 million and $4.0 million, respectively.

 

10. Share-Based Compensation

Our non-employee directors and key employees are awarded share-based awards through our Directors Stock Compensation Plan (“DSCP”) and our Performance Incentive Plan (“PIP”), respectively. We record these share-based awards as compensation costs over the respective service period for which services are received in exchange for an award of equity or equity-based compensation. The compensation cost is based primarily on the fair value of the grant on the date it was awarded.

The table below presents the amounts included in net income related to share-based compensation expense for the awards granted under the DSCP and the PIP for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011:

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  

For the Periods Ended June 30,

   2012     2011     2012     2011  
(in thousands)                         

Directors Stock Compensation Plan

   $ 111      $ 102      $ 222      $ 185   

Performance Incentive Plan

     240        274        475        520   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total compensation expense

     351        376        697        705   

Less: tax benefit

     (141     (151     (280     (283
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share-Based Compensation amounts included in net income

   $ 210      $ 225      $ 417      $ 422   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Directors Stock Compensation Plan

Shares granted under the DSCP are issued in advance of the directors’ service periods and are fully vested as of the date of the grant. We record a prepaid expense of the shares issued and amortize the expense equally over a service period of one year.

In May 2012, each of our non-employee directors received an annual retainer of 900 shares of common stock under the DSCP. A summary of stock activity under the DSCP during the six months ended June 30, 2012 is presented below.

 

     Number of      Weighted Average  
     Shares      Grant Date Fair Value  

Outstanding — December 31, 2011

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Granted

     10,800       $ 41.06   

Vested

     10,800       $ 41.06   

Forfeited

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding — June 30, 2012

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

At June 30, 2012, there was $370,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to the DSCP awards. This expense is expected to be recognized over the directors’ remaining service period ending April 30, 2013.

Performance Incentive Plan

The table below presents the summary of the stock activity for the PIP for the six months ended June 30, 2012:

 

            Weighted Average  
     Number of Shares      Fair Value  

Outstanding — December 31, 2011

     87,414       $ 34.47   

Granted

     30,906       $ 38.79   

Vested

     13,837       $ 29.84   

Forfeited (1)

     21,600       $ 35.55   

Expired

     3,038       $ 26.29   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding — June 30, 2012

     79,845       $ 37.44   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes shares settled with a cash payment pursuant to the terms of a separation agreement with a former named executive officer.

In January 2012, the Board of Directors granted awards under the PIP for 30,906 shares. The shares granted in January 2012 are multi-year awards that will vest at the end of the three-year service period, or December 31, 2014. These awards are earned based upon the successful achievement of long-term goals, growth and financial results, which comprised both market-based and performance-based conditions or targets. The fair value of each performance-based condition or target is equal to the market price of our common stock on the date of the grant. For the market-based conditions, we used the Black-Scholes pricing model to estimate the fair value of each market-based award granted.

Effective February 24, 2012, one of our named executive officers, who was a participant in the PIP, resigned. Pursuant to a separation agreement entered into between the Company and the named executive officer, the executive officer received a cash payment of $181,500 and other benefits in lieu of other performance-based compensation, which he might have been entitled to receive.

At June 30, 2012, the aggregate intrinsic value of the PIP awards was $1.2 million.

 

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11. Derivative Instruments

We use derivative and non-derivative contracts to engage in trading activities and manage risks related to obtaining adequate supplies and the price fluctuations of natural gas, electricity and propane. Our natural gas, electric and propane distribution operations have entered into agreements with suppliers to purchase natural gas, electricity and propane for resale to their customers. Purchases under these contracts either do not meet the definition of derivatives or are considered “normal purchases and sales” and are accounted for on an accrual basis. Our propane distribution operation may also enter into fair value hedges of its inventory in order to mitigate the impact of wholesale price fluctuations. As of June 30, 2012, our natural gas and electric distribution operations did not have any outstanding derivative contracts.

In May 2012, our propane distribution operation entered into call options to protect against an increase in propane prices associated with 1,260,000 gallons purchased for the propane price cap program in December 2012 through March 2013. The call options are exercised if the propane prices rise above the strike prices, which range from $0.905 per gallon to $0.99 per gallon during this four-month period. We will receive the difference between the market price and the strike price during those months. We paid $139,000 to purchase the call options and we accounted for the call options as a fair value hedge. As of June 30, 2012, the call options had a fair value of $123,000. There has been no ineffective portion of this fair value hedge thus far in 2012.

In August 2011, our propane distribution operation entered into a put option to protect against the decline in propane prices and related potential inventory losses associated with 630,000 gallons purchased for the propane price cap program in the upcoming heating season. This put option was exercised as the propane prices fell below the strike price of $1.445 per gallon in January through March of 2012. We received $118,000 representing the difference between the market price and the strike price during those months. We had paid $91,000 to purchase the put option, and we accounted for it as a fair value hedge.

Xeron, our propane wholesale and marketing subsidiary, engages in trading activities using forward and futures contracts. These contracts are considered derivatives and have been accounted for using the mark-to-market method of accounting. Under the mark-to-market method of accounting, the trading contracts are recorded at fair value, and the changes in fair value of those contracts are recognized as unrealized gains or losses in the statement of income in the period of change. As of June 30, 2012, we had the following outstanding trading contracts, which we accounted for as derivatives:

 

     Quantity in      Estimated Market      Weighted Average  

At June 30, 2012

   Gallons      Prices      Contract Prices  

Forward Contracts

        

Sale

     5,754,000       $ 0.7200 — $1.3775       $ 0.8933   

Purchase

     5,670,000       $ 0.6825 — $1.3300       $ 0.8724   

Estimated market prices and weighted average contract prices are in dollars per gallon.

All contracts expire by the first quarter of 2013.

The following tables present information about the fair value and related gains and losses of our derivative contracts. We did not have any derivative contracts with a credit-risk-related contingency.

 

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Fair values of the derivative contracts recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, are as follows:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

 
          Fair Value  

(in thousands)

  

Balance Sheet Location

   June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

        

Forward contracts

   Mark-to-market energy assets    $ 462       $ 1,686   

Derivatives designated as fair value hedges

        

Put option (1)

   Mark-to-market energy assets      —           68   

Call option (2)

   Mark-to-market energy assets      123         —     
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total asset derivatives

      $ 585       $ 1,754   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
    

Liability Derivatives

 
          Fair Value  

(in thousands)

  

Balance Sheet Location

   June 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

        

Forward contracts

   Mark-to-market energy liabilities    $ 504       $ 1,496   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liability derivatives

      $ 504       $ 1,496   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) We purchased a put option for the Pro-Cap Plan in August 2011. The put option, which expired in March 2012, had a fair value of $0 at June 30, 2012.
(2) As a fair value hedge with no ineffective portion, the unrealized gains and losses associated with this call option are recorded in cost of sales, offset by the corresponding change in the value of propane inventory (hedged item), which is also recorded in cost of sales. The amounts in cost of sales offset to zero and the unrealized gains and losses of this call option effectively changed the value of propane inventory.

The effects of gains and losses from derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated financial statements are as follows:

 

          Amount of Gain (Loss) on Derivatives  
     Location of Gain    For the Three Months Ended June 30,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  

(in thousands)

   (Loss) on Derivatives    2012     2011     2012     2011  

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

           

Unrealized gain (loss) on forward contracts

   Revenue    $ (172   $ (112   $ (232   $ (30

Derivatives designated as fair value hedges:

           

Put Option

   Cost of sales      —          —          27        —     

Call Option(1)

   Inventory      (16     —          (16     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ (188   $ (112   $ (221   $ (30
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

The change in fair value of the call option effectively adjusts the propane inventory balance until it is exercised, at which point the proceeds, if any, reduce cost of sales. There is no ineffective portion of this call option.

The effects of trading activities on the condensed consolidated statements of income are the following:

 

     Location in the      Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  

(in thousands)

   Statement of Income      2012     2011     2012     2011  

Realized gains on forward contracts/put option

     Revenue       $ 807      $ 647      $ 1,321      $ 1,554   

Unrealized loss on forward contracts

     Revenue         (172     (112     (232     (30
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ 635      $ 535      $ 1,089      $ 1,524   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methods used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are the following:

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques requiring inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e. supported by little or no market activity).

The following table summarizes our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the fair value measurements, by level, within the fair value hierarchy used at June 30, 2012:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using:  
                   Significant Other      Significant  
            Quoted Prices in      Observable      Unobservable  
            Active Markets      Inputs      Inputs  

(in thousands)

   Fair Value      (Level 1)      (Level 2)      (Level 3)  

Assets:

           

Investments—equity securities

   $ 2,594       $ 2,594       $ —         $ —     

Investments—other

   $ 2,097       $ 2,098       $ —         $ —     

Mark-to-market energy assets, including call option

   $ 585       $ —         $ 585       $ —     

Liabilities:

           

Mark-to-market energy liabilities

   $ 504       $ —         $ 504       $ —     

The following table summarizes our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the fair value measurements, by level, within the fair value hierarchy used at December 31, 2011:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using:  
                   Significant Other      Significant  
            Quoted Prices in      Observable      Unobservable  
            Active Markets      Inputs      Inputs  

(in thousands)

   Fair Value      (Level 1)      (Level 2)      (Level 3)  

Assets:

           

Investments—equity securities

   $ 2,224       $ 2,224       $ —         $ —     

Investments—other(1)

   $ 1,734       $ 1,734       $ —         $ —     

Mark-to-market energy assets, including put option

   $ 1,754       $ —         $ 1,754       $ —     

Liabilities:

           

Mark-to-market energy liabilities

   $ 1,496       $ —         $ 1,496       $ —     

 

(1) 

The current portion of this investment ($40) is included in other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

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The following valuation techniques were used to measure fair value assets in the table above on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

Level 1 Fair Value Measurements:

Investments- equity securities - The fair values of these trading securities are recorded at fair value based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Investments- other - The fair values of these investments, comprised of money market and mutual funds, are recorded at fair value based on quoted net asset values of the shares.

Level 2 Fair Value Measurements:

Mark-to-market energy assets and liabilities—These forward contracts are valued using market transactions in either the listed or over the counter (“OTC”) markets.

Propane put/call option – The fair value of the propane put option is determined using market transactions for similar assets and liabilities in either the listed or OTC markets.

At June 30, 2012, there were no non-financial assets or liabilities required to be reported at fair value. We review our non-financial assets for impairment at least on an annual basis, as required.

Other Financial Assets and Liabilities

Financial assets with carrying values approximating fair value include cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Financial liabilities with carrying values approximating fair value include accounts payable and other accrued liabilities and short-term debt. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is measured using the comparable value in the active market and approximates its carrying value (Level 1 measurement). The fair value of short-term debt approximates the carrying value due to its short maturities and because interest rates approximate current market rates (Level 3 measurement).

At June 30, 2012, long-term debt, which includes the current maturities of long-term debt, had a carrying value of $117.0 million, compared to a fair value of $140.2 million, using a discounted cash flow methodology that incorporates a market interest rate based on published corporate borrowing rates for debt instruments with similar terms and average maturities, with adjustments for duration, optionality, and risk profile. At December 31, 2011, long-term debt, including the current maturities, had a carrying value of $118.5 million, compared to the estimated fair value of $142.3 million. The valuation technique used to estimate the fair value of long-term debt would be considered Level 3 measurement.

 

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13. Long-Term Debt

Our outstanding long-term debt is shown below:

 

     June 30,     December 31,  
     2012     2011  
(in thousands)             

FPU secured first mortgage bonds (A) :

    

9.57% bond, due May 1, 2018

   $ 5,442      $ 6,348   

10.03% bond, due May 1, 2018

     2,993        3,492   

9.08% bond, due June 1, 2022

     7,960        7,958   

Uncollateralized senior notes:

    

7.83% note, due January 1, 2015

     6,000        6,000   

6.64% note, due October 31, 2017

     16,363        16,363   

5.50% note, due October 12, 2020

     18,000        18,000   

5.93% note, due October 31, 2023

     30,000        30,000   

5.68% note, due June 30, 2026

     29,000        29,000   

Convertible debentures:

    

8.25% due March 1, 2014

     1,038        1,134   

Promissory note

     155        186   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

     116,951        118,481   

Less: current maturities

     (8,196     (8,196
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt, net of current maturities

   $ 108,755      $ 110,285   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(A) FPU secured first mortgage bonds are guaranteed by Chesapeake.

On June 23, 2011, we issued $29.0 million of 5.68 percent unsecured senior notes to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and New England Life Insurance Company, pursuant to an agreement we entered into with them on June 29, 2010. These notes require annual principal payments of $2.9 million beginning in the sixth year after the issuance. We used the proceeds to permanently finance the redemption of the 6.85 percent and 4.90 percent series of FPU first mortgage bonds. These redemptions occurred in January 2010 and were previously financed by Chesapeake’s short-term loan facilities. Under the same agreement, we may issue an additional $7.0 million of unsecured senior notes prior to May 3, 2013, at a rate ranging from 5.28 percent to 6.43 percent based on the timing of the issuance. These notes, if issued, will have similar covenants and default provisions as the senior notes issued in June 2011.

 

14. Short-Term Borrowing

On June 22, 2012, we entered into a new $40 million unsecured, short-term credit facility with an existing lender. The credit facility, which was structured in the form of a revolving credit note maturing on June 1, 2013, increases the short-term loan capacity available from this lender from $50 million to $90 million, and the total short-term loan capacity available to us from all lenders from $100 million to $140 million, during that period. Borrowings under this new facility bear interest at LIBOR plus 80 basis points or, at our discretion, this lender’s Base Rate (as defined in the term note agreement) plus 80 basis points. Other terms and conditions of this facility are substantially the same as the existing other loan facilities available from the same lender. The maximum aggregate short-term borrowing authorized by our Board of Directors remains at $85 million.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is designed to provide a reader of the financial statements with a narrative report on our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the attached unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2011, including the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

We make statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One can typically identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as “project,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” “forecast” or other similar words, or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” or “could.” These statements represent our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future financial performance, business strategy, projected plans and objectives of the Company. These statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to:

 

   

state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect cost and investment recovery, have an impact on rate structures, and affect the speed at and degree to which competition enters the electric and natural gas industries (including deregulation);

 

   

the outcomes of regulatory, tax, environmental and legal matters, including whether pending matters are resolved within current estimates;

 

   

the loss of customers due to government-mandated sale of our utility distribution facilities;

 

   

industrial, commercial and residential growth or contraction in our service territories;

 

   

the weather and other natural phenomena, including the economic, operational and other effects of hurricanes and ice storms and other damaging weather events;

 

   

the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and interest rates;

 

   

general economic conditions, including any potential effects arising from terrorist attacks and any consequential hostilities or other hostilities or other external factors over which we have no control;

 

   

changes in environmental and other laws and regulations to which we are subject and environmental conditions of property that we now or may in the future own or operate;

 

   

the results of financing efforts, including our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by various factors, including credit ratings and general economic conditions;

 

   

declines in the market prices of equity securities and resultant cash funding requirements for our defined benefit pension plans;

 

   

the creditworthiness of counterparties with which we are engaged in transactions;

 

   

opportunities for growth in our business units;

 

   

the extent of success in connecting natural gas and electric supplies to transmission systems and in expanding natural gas and electric markets;

 

   

the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies;

 

   

conditions of the capital markets and equity markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements;

 

   

the ability to successfully execute, manage and integrate merger, acquisition or divestiture plans, regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of a merger, acquisition or divestiture, and the success of the business following a merger, acquisition or divestiture;

 

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the ability to manage, maintain and grow key customer relationships;

 

   

the ability to maintain and establish new key supply sources;

 

   

the effect of spot, forward and future market prices on our distribution, wholesale marketing and energy trading businesses;

 

   

the effect of competition on our businesses;

 

   

the ability to construct facilities at or below estimated costs;

 

   

changes in technology affecting our advanced information services business; and

 

   

operation and litigation risks that may not be covered by insurance.

Introduction

We are a diversified utility company engaged, directly or through subsidiaries, in regulated energy businesses, unregulated energy businesses, and other unregulated businesses, including advanced information services.

Our strategy is focused on growing earnings from a stable utility foundation and investing in related businesses and services that provide opportunities for returns greater than traditional utility returns. The key elements of this strategy include:

 

   

executing a capital investment program in pursuit of organic growth opportunities that generate returns equal to or greater than our cost of capital;

 

   

expanding the regulated energy distribution and transmission businesses into new geographic areas and providing new services in our current service territories;

 

   

expanding the propane distribution business in existing and new markets through leveraging our community gas system services and our bulk delivery capabilities;

 

   

utilizing our expertise across our various businesses to improve overall performance;

 

   

enhancing marketing channels to attract new customers;

 

   

providing reliable and responsive customer service to retain existing customers;

 

   

maintaining a capital structure that enables us to access capital as needed;

 

   

maintaining a consistent and competitive dividend for shareholders; and

 

   

creating and maintaining a diversified customer base, energy portfolio and utility foundation.

Due to the seasonality of our business, results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. Revenue and earnings are typically greater during the first and fourth quarters, when consumption of energy is normally highest due to colder temperatures.

The following discussions and those later in the document on operating income and segment results include the use of the term “gross margin.” Gross margin is determined by deducting the cost of sales from operating revenue. Cost of sales includes the purchased cost of natural gas, electricity and propane and the cost of labor spent on direct revenue-producing activities. Gross margin should not be considered an alternative to operating income or net income, which are determined in accordance with GAAP. We believe that gross margin, although a non-GAAP measure, is useful and meaningful to investors as a basis for making investment decisions. It provides investors with information that demonstrates the profitability achieved by the Company under its allowed rates for regulated energy operations and under its competitive pricing structure for unregulated natural gas marketing and propane distribution operations. Our management uses gross margin in measuring our business units’ performance and has historically analyzed and reported gross margin information publicly. Other companies may calculate gross margin in a different manner.

 

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Summary of Key Factors

The following is a summary of key factors affecting our businesses and their impact on our results during the periods presented as well as the future.

Growth

We continue to see growth in our natural gas businesses from our efforts over the past several years to expand our services. We are committed to delivering clean-burning, environmentally friendly natural gas to customers, and we are identifying and developing additional opportunities that will generate growth over the next several years.

New natural gas transmission services and growth in natural gas distribution customers generated $1.1 million and $632,000, respectively, in additional gross margin for the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011. New natural gas transmission services and growth in natural gas distribution customers generated $1.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively, in additional gross margin for the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. Most of these increases in gross margin were related to continued execution of our strategic plan, with the objectives of expanding natural gas service to new areas and identifying opportunities to convert large commercial and industrial customers to natural gas. New services are being initiated by our natural gas transmission subsidiaries in response to increased demand for natural gas service on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Florida, both from our natural gas distribution operations and other unaffiliated customers directly connected to the transmission systems.

Major Expansion Initiatives and Customer Growth Reflected in Results

In late 2011 and during the first six months of 2012, we expanded natural gas transmission and distribution services to Lewes, Delaware, southeastern Sussex County, Delaware and Nassau County, Florida and also initiated natural gas transmission service in Worcester County, Maryland. These major expansion initiatives increased our natural gas footprint by providing natural gas service in areas where natural gas was not previously available. These initiatives generated $866,000 of additional gross margin for the natural gas transmission operations and $139,000 of additional gross margin for the natural gas distribution operations during the second quarter of 2012. For the first six months of 2012, these initiatives generated $1.1 million and $286,000 of additional gross margin for the natural gas transmission and distribution operations, respectively. New transmission services associated with these initiatives are expected to generate gross margin of $3.0 million in 2012 ($1.9 million expected to generate in the second half of the year), compared to $156,000 in 2011 (all of which occurred in the fourth quarter) and $3.9 million in annualized gross margin thereafter. New distribution services associated with these initiatives, which include new distribution service to two large industrial customers in Lewes, Delaware and two facilities of an existing customer located in southeastern Sussex County, Delaware, are expected to generate gross margin of $552,000 in 2012 ($266,000 expected to generate in the second half of the year) and $616,000 in annualized gross margin thereafter.

In addition to the major expansion initiatives, the Delmarva natural gas distribution operation has added 10 other new large industrial and commercial customers since the beginning of 2011, which generated $161,000 in additional gross margin in the second quarter of 2012 and $343,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same periods in 2011, respectively. These 10 new customers are expected to generate $960,000 of gross margin in 2012, compared to $429,000 generated in 2011. Customer growth in Florida, primarily in commercial and industrial customers, also generated $241,000 and $362,000 in additional gross margin in the second quarter and first six months of 2012, respectively.

Future Major Expansion Initiatives and Opportunities

Although not affecting our results in the second quarter and first six months of 2012, we are continuing our effort to extend natural gas service to Cecil County, Maryland. Service by Eastern Shore, our interstate natural gas transmission subsidiary, is expected to commence in September 2012. This expansion is expected to generate annual gross margin of $882,000, $294,000 of which will be recorded in 2012.

Eastern Shore also executed precedent agreements with NRG Energy Center Dover LLC (“NRG”) and PBF Energy Inc. (“Delaware City Refinery”) to further expand its transmission system to provide additional services. A firm transportation service agreement is expected to be executed by NRG and Delaware City Refinery with Eastern Shore upon satisfying certain conditions pursuant to the respective precedent agreements. These additional services are expected to be initiated in mid to late 2013. The additional transmission service to NRG is expected to generate estimated annual gross margin of $2.4 to $2.8 million. The additional transmission service to Delaware City Refinery is expected to generate estimated annual gross margin of $1.6 million.

 

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As we expand our natural gas service to new areas, first through transmission service and distribution service to large industrial customers, our natural gas distribution operations continue to pursue additional opportunities to provide service to residential and other commercial and industrial customers in those areas. In an effort to increase the availability of natural gas within our Delaware service areas, in June 2012, our Delaware natural gas distribution division filed an application with the Delaware PSC to add several natural gas expansion service offerings. These offerings include a monthly fixed charge in lieu of upfront contributions from customers to extend the distribution system and optional service offerings to assist customers in the process of converting to natural gas. The goal of these new offerings is to meet the energy needs of residents, communities and businesses throughout our service territory, specifically in areas of southeastern Sussex County, where natural gas will now be available.

Acquisition

In June 2012, we entered into an agreement to purchase the operating assets of ESG. These assets are currently used to provide propane distribution service to approximately 11,000 residential and commercial customers through underground propane gas distribution systems and bulk propane delivery service to over 500 customers in Worcester County, Maryland. We are evaluating the potential conversion of some of these underground propane distribution systems to natural gas where it is both economical and feasible. The transaction, which is subject to the approval of the Maryland PSC, the receipt of consents of certain local jurisdictions to the assignment of certain franchise agreements and satisfaction of other closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2012. We expect to finance the acquisition using unsecured short-term debt. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings per share in 2013 and thereafter.

Investing in Growth

To continue to grow at the rates that we have in the past, we will be increasing our resources to both execute on current opportunities and identify new opportunities to fuel tomorrow’s growth. We are at the early stages of several natural gas expansions on the Delmarva Peninsula. These include Lewes, Delaware, southeastern Sussex County, Delaware, and Worcester and Cecil Counties in Maryland. These expansions will not only require the construction or conversion of distribution facilities, but also require the conversion of customers’ appliances or equipment inside their home. To do this we have re-organized our natural gas distribution operations and are increasing our staffing. Secondly, as a result of BravePoint’s growth over the last several quarters, BravePoint is continuing to add staff. Finally, to increase our capacity for future growth we will be adding resources in several key functional areas. This includes, among others, the Human Resources, Communications and Strategic Business Development functions.

Weather

Weather affects customer energy consumption, especially the consumption by residential and certain commercial customers during the peak heating and cooling seasons. Natural gas, electricity and propane are all used for heating in our service territories and we use the number of heating degree-days (“HDD”) to analyze the weather impact. Only electricity is used for cooling, and we use the number of cooling degree-days (“CDD”) to analyze the weather impact. A degree-day is the measure of the variation in the weather based on the extent to which the average daily temperature (from 10:00 am to 10:00 am next day) falls above or below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Each degree of temperature above or below 65 degrees Fahrenheit is counted as one CDD or one HDD. We use 10-year historical averages to define the “normal” weather for this analysis.

Although weather was not a significant factor in the second quarter, lower customer energy consumption directly attributable to warmer temperatures in the six months ended June 30, 2012, compared to temperatures in the same period in 2011, reduced gross margin by $3.9 million, most of which occurred in the first three months of the year. Temperatures on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Florida in the first six months of 2012 were 19 percent (531 HDD) and 35 percent (187 HDD), respectively, warmer than the same period in 2011. Comparing first half 2012 temperatures to normal, based on the 10-year historic average of HDD, the weather on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Florida was 19 percent (556 HDD) and 41 percent (240 HDD), respectively, warmer than normal. We estimate that this variance reduced gross margin for the first half of 2012 by approximately $3.5 million, compared to gross margin under normal temperatures.

CDD variations were not a significant factor during the first six months of 2012.

Rates and Regulatory Matters

In January 2012, the Florida PSC issued an order, approving the recovery of $34.2 million in acquisition adjustment and $2.2 million in merger-related costs in connection with Chesapeake’s acquisition of FPU in 2009. The inclusion of the acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs in our rate base and the recovery of these assets through amortization expense will increase our earnings and cash flows above what FPU would have achieved absent the regulatory approval. The acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs are amortized over 30 years and five years, respectively, beginning in November 2009. Based upon the effective date and outcome of the order, we recorded the amortization as an expense in 2012, which increased amortization expense by $588,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and $1.2 million in the first six months of 2012. We expect to record $2.4 million ($1.4 million, net of tax) in amortization expense in 2012 and 2013, $2.3 million ($1.4 million, net of tax) in 2014 and $1.8 million ($1.1 million, net of tax) annually thereafter until 2039 related to these assets.

 

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Propane Prices

Propane prices affect both retail and wholesale marketing margins. Our propane distribution operation usually benefits from rising propane prices by selling propane to its distribution customers based upon higher wholesale prices, while its average cost of inventory trails behind. Retail prices generally take into account replacement cost, along with other factors, such as competition and market conditions. When wholesale prices (replacement costs) increase, retail prices generally increase and our margins expand until the current wholesale price is fully reflected in the average cost of inventory. The opposite occurs when propane prices decline. Our propane wholesale marketing operation benefits from price volatility in the propane wholesale market by entering into trading transactions.

Gross margin from our Delmarva propane distribution operation decreased by $581,000 and $608,000 during the first three and six months of 2012, compared to the same periods in 2011, respectively, due to lower retail margins per gallon. This decrease was attributable to a significant decline in wholesale propane prices during 2012, which resulted in a write-down of $338,000 and $465,000 in the inventory value during the first three and six months of 2012. Our Florida propane distribution operation continued to adjust retail pricing in response to local market conditions and generated $452,000 and $1.1 million in additional gross margin during the first three and six months of 2012, compared to the same periods in 2011, respectively, from higher retail margins per gallon.

Xeron, our propane wholesale marketing subsidiary, executed trades with higher margins, which generated an increase in gross margin of $100,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter of 2011, as the market presented opportunities from the steady decline in wholesale prices. Xeron’s gross margin decreased by $435,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, as a result of a 37-percent decrease in trading activity. High price volatility in the wholesale propane market during the first six months of 2011 resulted in higher-than-usual trading volume and profitability for Xeron. Lower price volatility during the first six months of 2012, coupled with lower wholesale propane demand, due partially to warmer weather, reduced Xeron’s trading volume and gross margin in the first half of 2012.

Advanced Information Services

BravePoint, our advanced information services subsidiary, reported operating income of $238,000 and $245,000 in the second quarter and first six months of 2012, compared to an operating loss of $188,000 and $283,000 in the same periods in 2011, respectively. Approximately 17 percent and nine percent of the period-over-period increase in BravePoint’s operating income for the quarter and six-month period, respectively, was a result of ProfitZoomTM and Application EvolutionTM sales and related services. The remaining increase was due to higher consulting revenues and other product sales.

BravePoint continues to market its new products, ProfitZoom™ and Application Evolution™. BravePoint generated $284,000 and

$577,000 in revenue from the sale of those two products and related services during the second quarter of 2012, and first six months of 2012, respectively. To date, BravePoint has successfully implemented ProfitZoom™ for four customers in the fire suppression industry, and two additional customers have executed sales contracts with implementations scheduled in the second half of 2012. Application Evolution™, which is a component of ProfitZoom™, is being marketed to customers both in the fire suppression industry and other unrelated businesses. Nine customers are currently utilizing this product. These new contracts are expected to generate $664,000 in additional revenue in the remainder of 2012. Additional sales proposals are under consideration by existing customers to expand their use of the product and also by other potential customers.

Results of Operations for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2012

Overview and Highlights

Our net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $5.1 million, or $0.52 per share (diluted). This represents an increase of $1.5 million, or $0.15 per share (diluted), compared to a net income of $3.5 million, or $0.37 per share (diluted), as reported for the same quarter in 2011.

 

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                 Increase  

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

   2012     2011     (decrease)  
(in thousands except per share)                   

Business Segment:

      

Regulated Energy

   $ 10,505      $ 7,787      $ 2,718   

Unregulated Energy

     (401     80        (481

Other

     351        (91     442   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income

     10,455        7,776        2,679   

Other Income

     153        27        126   

Interest Charges

     2,241        2,114        127   

Income Taxes

     3,307        2,169        1,138   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 5,060      $ 3,520      $ 1,540   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

      

Basic

   $ 0.53      $ 0.37      $ 0.16   

Diluted

   $ 0.52      $ 0.37      $ 0.15   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Highlights of our results in the second quarter of 2012 included:

 

   

New natural gas transmission services generated $1.1 million in additional gross margin.

 

   

Growth from new natural gas distribution customers generated $632,000 in additional gross margin.

 

   

Amortization related to the recovery of the FPU acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs increased other operating expenses by $588,000.

 

   

Other items affecting our quarter-over-quarter results included:

 

   

An adjustment to accrued revenue of approximately $568,000 ($440,000 of which corresponds to the first quarter of 2012), which increased gross margin in the second quarter of 2012;

 

   

A $549,000 non-recurring severance charge in the second quarter of 2011, which decreased other operating expenses for that quarter; and

 

   

An increase in BravePoint’s operating income of $425,000, approximately 17 percent of which was a result of ProfitZoom™ and Application EvolutionTM sales and related services and the remaining of which was due to higher consulting revenues and other product sales.

The following section also provides a more detailed analysis of our results by segment.

 

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Regulated Energy

 

                   Increase  

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011      (decrease)  
(in thousands, except degree-day and customer information)                     

Revenue

   $ 55,553       $ 54,193       $ 1,360   

Cost of sales

     23,433         24,882         (1,449
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

     32,120         29,311         2,809   

Operations & maintenance

     14,872         15,533         (661

Depreciation & amortization

     4,920         3,984         936   

Other taxes

     1,823         2,007         (184
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

     21,615         21,524         91   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

   $ 10,505       $ 7,787       $ 2,718   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weather and Customer Analysis

        

Delmarva Peninsula

        

HDD:

        

Actual

     416         382         34   

10-year average

     476         487         (11

Estimated gross margin per HDD

   $ 2,064       $ 1,995       $ 69   

Per residential customer added:

        

Estimated gross margin

   $ 375       $ 375       $ 0   

Estimated other operating expenses

   $ 113       $ 111       $ 2   

Florida

        

HDD:

        

Actual

     12         14         (2

10-year average

     28         30         (2

CDD:

        

Actual

     960         1,027         (67

10-year average

     914         894         20   

Residential Customer Information

        

Average number of customers:

        

Delmarva natural gas distribution

     49,445         48,660         785   

Florida natural gas distribution

     62,482         61,659         823   

Florida electric distribution

     23,670         23,593         77   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     135,597         133,912         1,685   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income for the regulated energy segment increased by approximately $2.7 million, or 35 percent, in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011. An increase in gross margin of $2.8 million, partially offset by an increase in operating expenses of $91,000, contributed to this increase.

 

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Gross Margin

Gross margin for our regulated energy segment increased by $2.8 million, or 10 percent, in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011.

Our Delmarva natural gas distribution operation experienced an increase in gross margin of $332,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011, due primarily to the following factors:

 

   

Gross margin from commercial and industrial customers for the Delmarva natural gas distribution operation increased by $313,000 in the second quarter of 2012, due primarily to the addition of 13 large commercial and industrial customers since the beginning of 2011.

 

   

Two-percent growth in residential customers generated an additional $78,000 in gross margin for the Delmarva natural gas distribution operation.

Gross margin for our Florida natural gas distribution operation increased by $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011. The factors contributing to this increase were as follows:

 

   

Customer growth, primarily in commercial and industrial customers, generated $241,000 of additional gross margin.

 

   

An increase in customer consumption of natural gas and an adjustment to accrued revenue generated $1.2 million in additional gross margin.

 

   

Partially offsetting these increases was $148,000 in lower gross margin as a result of a decline in fees and service revenues and a change in certain customer rates.

Our natural gas transmission operations generated gross margin growth of $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011. The factors contributing to this increase were as follows:

 

   

In April 2012, Peninsula Pipeline, our Florida intrastate natural gas transmission subsidiary, initiated natural gas transmission service to support FPU’s expansion of natural gas distribution service into Nassau County, Florida. The Florida PSC approved the firm transportation service agreement between Peninsula Pipeline and FPU for an annual charge of $2.1 million. Peninsula Pipeline generated $526,000 in gross margin from this new transmission service in the second quarter of 2012.

 

   

Eastern Shore, our interstate natural gas transmission subsidiary, generated $281,000 in additional gross margin as a result of two new transmission service agreements with an existing industrial customer; one for the period from May 2011 to April 2021 for an additional 3,405 Dts/d and the second for the period from November 2011 to October 2012 for an additional 9,514 Dts/d. These new services are the result of an expansion at this customer’s industrial facility. The service associated with the 10-year transmission service agreement generated an additional $28,000 of gross margin in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the second quarter of 2011. The service associated with the one-year transmission service agreement generated $253,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and is expected to generate additional gross margin of $336,000 over last year during the remainder of 2012.

 

   

Other transmission services that commenced on various dates in November 2011 through June 2012, as a result of Eastern Shore’s system expansion projects, generated additional gross margin of $368,000. The new system expansion projects are primarily a result of the growth in our Delmarva natural gas distribution operation, with new services added in Lewes, Delaware, southern Delaware and Worcester County, Maryland. These expansions added 5,791 Dts/d of capacity and are expected to generate additional gross margin of $807,000 during the remainder of 2012.

 

   

On January 24, 2012, the FERC approved the rate case settlement for Eastern Shore. Implementation of the new rates, effective July 2011, pursuant to this rate case settlement, generated $228,000 in additional gross margin in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011.

Gross margin for our Florida electric distribution operation decreased by $77,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011, due primarily to lower energy consumption by customers.

 

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Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses for the regulated energy segment increased by $91,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011, due largely to $588,000 in increased amortization expense associated with the recovery of the FPU acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs and $271,000 in higher depreciation expense and asset removal costs associated with capital investments made during 2011. Largely offsetting these increases were lower payroll and benefits cost of $900,000, which was the result of one-time charges totaling $481,000 in the second quarter of 2011, associated with the voluntary workforce reduction in Florida, and $374,000 in ongoing costs resulting from this workforce reduction.

Unregulated Energy

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

   2012     2011      Increase
(decrease)
 
(in thousands, except degree-day data)                    

Revenue

   $ 25,176      $ 29,692       ($ 4,516

Cost of sales

     18,887        22,849         (3,962
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

     6,289        6,843         (554

Operations & maintenance

     5,535        5,577         (42

Depreciation & amortization

     854        843         11   

Other taxes

     301        343         (42
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

     6,690        6,763         (73
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

   ($ 401   $ 80       ($ 481
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weather Analysis — Delmarva Peninsula

       

Actual HDD

     416        382         34   

10-year average HDD

     476        487         (11

Estimated gross margin per HDD

   $ 2,869      $ 2,611       $ 258   

The unregulated energy segment reported an operating loss of $401,000 in the second quarter of 2012, a decrease of $481,000 compared to the same quarter in 2011. A decrease in gross margin of $554,000 was partially offset by a decrease in other operating expenses of $73,000.

 

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Gross Margin

Gross margin for our unregulated energy segment decreased by $554,000, or eight percent, in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011.

Our Delmarva propane distribution operation reported a decrease in gross margin of $684,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011. The factors contributing to this decrease were as follows:

 

   

Lower retail margins per gallon decreased gross margin by $581,000. The decrease in retail margins per gallon was attributable to a significant decline in wholesale propane prices during the second quarter, which resulted in a write-down of $338,000 in the inventory value at June 30, 2012.

 

   

A decrease in customer consumption, particularly by bulk-delivery customers, reduced gross margin by $151,000. Weather, the timing of propane bulk deliveries, conservation and other factors contributed to this decline. Offsetting this decrease was $31,000 in higher gross margin generated by wholesale volumes.

Gross margin for our Florida propane distribution operation increased by $293,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to 2011. The factors contributing to this increase were as follows:

 

   

Higher retail margins per gallon in Florida generated an additional gross margin of $452,000 as the Florida propane distribution operation continued to adjust retail pricing in response to local market conditions.

 

   

A decrease in customer consumption reduced gross margin by $184,000. This decrease was partially offset by $51,000 in additional gross margin generated from 1,180 customers acquired in late 2011 and early 2012, following the purchase of the operating assets of several small propane distribution companies.

Xeron, our propane wholesale marketing subsidiary, generated an increase in gross margin of $100,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011, as a result of higher margins in trading activity. Xeron executed trades with higher margins during the second quarter of 2012 as the market presented opportunities from the steady decline in wholesale propane prices.

Gross margin from PESCO, our natural gas marketing subsidiary, decreased by $170,000 during the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011. PESCO’s gross margin in the second quarter of 2011 benefited from unusually large favorable imbalance resolutions with third-party intrastate pipelines, with which PESCO contracts for supply. The absence of such large imbalance resolutions in the second quarter of 2012 resulted in a quarter-over-quarter decrease in PESCO’s gross margin. Imbalance resolutions are not predictable and, therefore, are not included in our long-term financial plans or forecasts.

Merchandise sales in Florida decreased in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011, resulting in lower gross margin of $94,000, as we transition from a merchandise goods business to a services business.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses for the unregulated energy segment were $6.7 million for the second quarter of 2012, which is consistent with the same quarter in 2011.

 

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Other

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011     Increase
(decrease)
 
(in thousands)                    

Revenue

   $ 3,168       $ 2,946      $ 222   

Cost of sales

     974         1,571        (597
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     2,194         1,375        819   

Operations & maintenance

     1,522         1,183        339   

Depreciation & amortization

     111         110        1   

Other taxes

     210         173        37   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

     1,843         1,466        377   

Operating Income—Other

     351         (91     442   

Operating Income—Eliminations (1)

     —           —          —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income (Loss)

   $ 351       ($ 91   $ 442   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Eliminations are entries required to eliminate activities between business segments from the consolidated results.

Operating income for the “other” segment increased by approximately $442,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011, which was attributable to a gross margin increase of $819,000, partially offset by an operating expense increase of $377,000.

Gross margin

Our “other” segment generated gross margin of $2.2 million during the second quarter, compared to $1.4 million for the same quarter of 2011, as a result of an increase of $819,000 in BravePoint. $139,000 of BravePoint’s increase represents higher margin from ProfitZoom TM and Application Evolution TM sales and related services. The remaining increase was generated from higher consulting revenues and other product sales.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses for our “other” segment increased by $377,000 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter in 2011. BravePoint accounted for $394,000 of this increase as it added resources to support consulting and other service engagements.

Interest Expense

Total interest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 increased by approximately $127,000, or six percent, compared to the same quarter in 2011. The increase in interest expense is attributable primarily to an increase of $275,000 related to the $29 million long-term debt issuance of 5.68 percent unsecured senior notes on June 23, 2011. We used the proceeds from these notes to repay a portion of Chesapeake’s short-term loan credit facilities, which had been used to redeem two series of FPU first mortgage bonds. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease of $160,000 in other long-term interest expense as scheduled repayments decreased the outstanding principal balance.

On June 22, 2012, we entered into a new, unsecured short-term credit facility for $40 million with an existing lender for working capital needs, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. Short-term borrowings under this new facility bear interest at LIBOR plus 80 basis points or, at our discretion, the lender’s base rate (as defined in the term note agreement) plus 80 basis points. This facility, which is structured in the form of a revolving credit note, matures on June 1, 2013. No interest was incurred on this facility as of June 30, 2012.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $3.3 million in the second quarter of 2012, compared to $2.2 million in the same quarter in 2011. The increase in income tax expense was due to higher taxable income. Our effective income tax rate was 39.5 percent and 38.1 percent for the second quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

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Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

Overview and Highlights

Our net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was $15.8 million, or $1.63 per share (diluted). This represents a decrease of $1.5 million, or $0.16 per share (diluted), compared to a net income of $17.3 million, or $1.79 per share (diluted), as reported for the same period in 2011.

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011     Increase
(decrease)
 
(in thousands except per share)                    

Business Segment:

       

Regulated Energy

   $ 25,303       $ 24,020      $ 1,283   

Unregulated Energy

     4,753         8,669        (3,916

Other

     472         (74     546   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income

     30,528         32,615        (2,087

Other Income

     349         50        299   

Interest Charges

     4,532         4,265        267   

Income Taxes

     10,558         11,133        (575
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 15,787       $ 17,267      ($ 1,480
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

       

Basic

   $ 1.65       $ 1.81      ($ 0.16

Diluted

   $ 1.63       $ 1.79      ($ 0.16
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Highlights of our results in the first six months of 2012 included:

 

   

Lower customer energy consumption directly attributable to warmer weather reduced gross margin by $3.9 million.

 

   

New natural gas transmission services generated $1.7 million in additional gross margin.

 

   

Growth from new natural gas distribution customers generated $1.3 million in additional gross margin.

 

   

Amortization related to the recovery of the FPU acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs increased other operating expenses by $1.2 million.

 

   

Other items affecting our period-over-period results included:

 

   

An increase in BravePoint’s operating income of $528,000, approximately nine percent of which was a result of ProfitZoomTM and Application EvolutionTM sales and related services and the remaining of which was due to higher consulting revenues and other product sales.

 

   

A decrease in Xeron’s gross margin of $435,000 as a result of a 37-percent decrease in trading activity; and

 

   

Two non-recurring items, which impacted the first six months of 2011: severance and pension settlement charges totaling $787,000, partially offset by a $575,000 gain for the proceeds received from an antitrust litigation settlement with a major propane supplier.

The following section also provides a more detailed analysis of our results by segment.

 

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Regulated Energy

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011      Increase
(decrease)
 
(in thousands, except degree-day and customer information)                     

Revenue

   $ 127,849       $ 139,063       ($ 11,214

Cost of sales

     59,105         72,872         (13,767
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

     68,744         66,191         2,553   

Operations & maintenance

     29,726         29,826         (100

Depreciation & amortization

     9,730         8,115         1,615   

Other taxes

     3,985         4,230         (245
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

     43,441         42,171         1,270   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

   $ 25,303       $ 24,020       $ 1,283   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weather and Customer Analysis

        

Delmarva Peninsula

        

HDD:

        

Actual

     2,296         2,827         (531

10-year average

     2,852         2,863         (11

Estimated gross margin per HDD

   $ 2,064       $ 1,995       $ 69   

Per residential customer added:

        

Estimated gross margin

   $ 375       $ 375       $ 0   

Estimated other operating expenses

   $ 113       $ 111       $ 2   

Florida

        

HDD:

        

Actual

     347         534         (187

10-year average

     587         594         (7

CDD:

        

Actual

     1,144         1,107         37   

10-year average

     980         961         19   

Residential Customer Information

        

Average number of customers:

        

Delmarva natural gas distribution

     49,809         48,986         823   

Florida natural gas distribution

     62,368         61,603         765   

Florida electric distribution

     23,643         23,591         52   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     135,820         134,180         1,640   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income for the regulated energy segment increased by approximately $1.3 million, or five percent, in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. The increase in operating income reflected an increase in gross margin of $2.6 million partially offset by an increase in operating expenses of $1.3 million.

 

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Gross Margin

Gross margin for our regulated energy segment increased by $2.6 million, or four percent, in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.

Our Delmarva natural gas distribution operation experienced a decrease in gross margin of $255,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. The factors contributing to this decrease were as follows:

 

   

Lower customer consumption, due primarily to warmer weather on the Delmarva Peninsula during the first half of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, decreased gross margin by $1.3 million. HDD decreased by 531, or 19 percent, on the Delmarva Peninsula during the first half of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.

 

   

Net customer growth by the Delmarva natural gas distribution operation generated $892,000 in additional gross margin. Gross margin from commercial and industrial customers for the Delmarva natural gas distribution operation increased by $673,000 in the first six months of 2012, due primarily to the addition of 13 large commercial and industrial customers since the beginning of 2011. Two-percent growth in residential customers generated an additional $219,000 in gross margin for the Delmarva natural gas distribution operation.

Gross margin for our Florida natural gas distribution operation increased by $752,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. The factors contributing to this increase were as follows:

 

   

Customer growth, primarily in commercial and industrial customers, generated $362,000 of additional gross margin.

 

   

Higher customer energy consumption during the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, increased gross margin by $677,000, due primarily to an increase in non-weather-related consumptions by residential customers, coupled with an adjustment to unbilled revenue, which generated additional gross margin of $585,000.

 

   

These increases were partially offset by decreases in fees and miscellaneous revenues.

Our natural gas transmission operations achieved gross margin growth of $2.4 million in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. The factors contributing to this increase were as follows:

 

   

Eastern Shore generated $624,000 in additional gross margin as a result of two new transmission service agreements with an existing industrial customer; one for the period from May 2011 to April 2021 for an additional 3,405 Dts/d and the second for the period from November 2011 to October 2012 for an additional 9,514 Dts/d. These new services are the result of an expansion at this customer’s industrial facility. The service associated with the 10-year transmission service agreement generated $120,000 of additional gross margin for the first six months of 2012. The service associated with the one-year transmission service agreement generated $504,000 in the first six months of 2012 and is expected to generate additional gross margin of $336,000 over last year during the remainder of 2012.

 

   

Also generating additional gross margin of $617,000 were other transmission services that commenced on various dates in November 2011 through June 2012, as a result of Eastern Shore’s system expansion projects. The new system expansion projects are primarily a result of the growth in our Delmarva natural gas distribution operation with new services added in Lewes, Delaware, southern Delaware and Worcester County, Maryland. These expansions added 5,791 Dts/d of capacity and are expected to generate additional gross margin of $807,000 during the remainder of 2012.

 

   

In April 2012, Peninsula Pipeline initiated natural gas transmission service to support FPU’s expansion of natural gas distribution service into Nassau County, Florida. The Florida PSC approved the firm transportation service agreement between Peninsula Pipeline and FPU for an annual charge of $2.1 million. Peninsula Pipeline generated $526,000 in gross margin from this new transmission service for the first six months of 2012.

 

   

On January 24, 2012, the FERC approved the rate case settlement for Eastern Shore. Implementation of the new rates, effective July 2011, pursuant to this rate case settlement, generated $477,000 in additional gross margin in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.

 

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Gross margin for our Florida electric distribution operation decreased by $326,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, due primarily to lower energy consumption by customers as a result of warmer weather during the heating season.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses for the regulated energy segment increased by $1.3 million for the first six months of 2012 due largely to: (i) $1.2 million in increased amortization expense associated with the recovery of the FPU acquisition adjustment and merger-related costs, (ii) $408,000 in higher depreciation expense and asset removal costs associated with capital investments, (iii) $380,000 in increased maintenance costs related to the electric distribution systems; and (iv) $220,000 in higher legal costs associated with an electric franchise dispute. These increases in expense were partially offset by one-time charges in the first six months of 2011 totaling $664,000, associated with the voluntary workforce reduction in Florida and a pension settlement, and $774,000 in reduced payroll and benefits, mainly in Florida, resulting from the reduction in workforce.

Unregulated Energy

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011      Increase
(decrease)
 
(in thousands, except degree-day data)                     

Revenue

   $ 70,063       $ 88,442       ($ 18,379

Cost of sales

     51,612         65,604         (13,992
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

     18,451         22,838         (4,387

Operations & maintenance

     11,218         11,694         (476

Depreciation & amortization

     1,692         1,634         58   

Other taxes

     788         841         (53
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

     13,698         14,169         (471
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

   $ 4,753       $ 8,669       ($ 3,916
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weather Analysis — Delmarva Peninsula

        

Actual HDD

     2,296         2,827         (531

10-year average HDD

     2,852         2,863         (11

Estimated gross margin per HDD

   $ 2,869       $ 2,611       $ 258   

The unregulated energy segment reported operating income of $4.8 million in the first six months of 2012, a decrease of $3.9 million, or 45 percent, compared to the same period in 2011. A decrease in gross margin of $4.4 million was partially offset by a decrease in other operating expenses of $471,000.

 

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Gross Margin

Gross margin for our unregulated energy segment decreased by $4.4 million, or 19 percent, in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.

Our Delmarva propane distribution operation reported a decrease in gross margin of $3.9 million in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. The factors contributing to this decrease were as follows:

 

   

Significantly warmer weather resulted in decreased gross margin of $2.6 million during the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. Propane sales to bulk-delivery customers declined beyond the estimated weather impact due to the timing of deliveries, conservation and other factors, which further reduced gross margin by $172,000. Lower wholesale propane volumes also decreased gross margin by $104,000.

 

   

Lower retail margins per gallon during the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, decreased gross margin by $608,000. This decrease in retail margins per gallon was attributable to a significant decline in wholesale propane prices during 2012, which resulted in a write-down of $465,000 in the inventory value during the first six months of 2012.

 

   

$575,000 of a non-recurring gain was recorded in 2011 related to our share of proceeds received from an antitrust litigation settlement with a major propane supplier and is reflected as a period-over-period decrease in gross margin.

The gross margin generated by our Florida propane distribution operation increased by $269,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. The factors contributing to this increase were as follows:

 

   

Higher retail margins per gallon in Florida generated an additional gross margin of $1.1 million as the Florida propane distribution operation continued to adjust retail pricing in response to local market conditions.

 

   

A decrease in customer consumption reduced gross margin by $839,000. This decrease was partially offset by $186,000 in additional gross margin generated from 1,180 customers acquired in late 2011 and early 2012, following the purchase of the operating assets of several small propane distribution companies.

Xeron’s gross margin decreased by $435,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, as a result of a 37-percent decrease in trading activity. High price volatility in the wholesale propane market during the first six months of 2011 resulted in higher-than-usual trading volume and profitability for Xeron. Lower price volatility during the first six months of 2012, coupled with lower wholesale propane demand, due partially to warmer weather, reduced Xeron’s trading volume and gross margin in the first half of 2012.

Gross margin from PESCO decreased by $157,000 during the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. PESCO’s gross margin in the first six months of 2011 benefited from unusually large favorable imbalance resolutions with third-party intrastate pipelines, with which PESCO contracts for supply. The absence of such large imbalance resolutions in 2012 resulted in a decrease in PESCO’s gross margin. Imbalance resolutions are not predictable and, therefore, are not included in our long-term financial plans or forecasts.

Merchandise sales in Florida decreased in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, resulting in lower gross margin of $183,000, as we transition from a merchandise goods business to a services business.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses for the unregulated energy segment decreased by $471,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, due largely to decreased incentive compensation of $487,000 resulting from lower operating results and vacant positions, and lower payroll and benefit costs of $205,000 related to reduced seasonal, temporary and overtime costs in our Delmarva propane distribution operation. These decreases were partially offset by increased payroll and benefit costs of $183,000 in the Florida propane operation resulting from resources added to serve new territories.

 

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Other

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011     Increase
(decrease)
 
(in thousands)                    

Revenue

   $ 6,899       $ 5,924      $ 975   

Cost of sales

     2,841         3,107        (266
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     4,058         2,817        1,241   

Operations & maintenance

     2,917         2,312        605   

Depreciation & amortization

     224         209        15   

Other taxes

     445         370        75   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other operating expenses

     3,586         2,891        695   

Operating Income—Other

     472         (74     546   

Operating Income—Eliminations (1)

     —           —          —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income (Loss)

   $ 472       ($ 74   $ 546   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Eliminations are entries required to eliminate activities between business segments from the consolidated results.

Operating income for the “other” segment increased by approximately $546,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, which was attributable to a gross margin increase of $1.2 million, partially offset by an operating expense increase of $695,000.

Gross margin

Our “other” segment generated gross margin of $4.1 million during the first six months of 2012, compared to $2.8 million for the same period of 2011, as a result of an increase of $1.3 million in BravePoint. $276,000 of BravePoint’s increase represents higher margin from ProfitZoom TM and Application Evolution TM sales and related services. The remaining increase was generated from higher consulting revenues and other product sales.

Other Operating expenses

Other operating expenses for our “other” segment increased by $695,000 in the first six months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. BravePoint accounted for $728,000 of this increase as it added resources to support consulting and other service engagements.

Interest Expense

Total interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased by approximately $267,000, or six percent, compared to the same period in 2011. The increase in interest expense is attributable primarily to an increase of $573,000 related to the $29 million long-term debt issuance of 5.68 percent unsecured senior notes on June 23, 2011. We used the proceeds from these notes to repay a portion of Chesapeake’s short-term loan credit facilities, which had been used to redeem two series of FPU first mortgage bonds. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease of $329,000 in other long-term interest expense as scheduled repayments decreased the outstanding principal balance.

On June 22, 2012, we entered into a new, unsecured short-term credit facility for $40 million with an existing lender to temporarily finance working capital needs, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. Short-term borrowings under this new facility bear interest at LIBOR plus 80 basis points or, at our discretion, the lender’s base rate plus 80 basis points. This facility, which is structured in the form of a revolving credit note, matures on June 1, 2013. No interest was incurred on this facility as of June 30, 2012.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $10.6 million in the first six months of 2012, compared to $11.1 million in the same period in 2011. The decrease in income tax expense was due to lower taxable income. Our effective income tax rate was 40.1 percent and 39.2 percent for the first six months of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

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FINANCIAL POSITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our capital requirements reflect the capital-intensive and seasonal nature of our business and are principally attributable to investment in new plant and equipment, retirement of outstanding debt and seasonal variability in working capital. We rely on cash generated from operations, short-term borrowings, and other sources to meet normal working capital requirements and to finance capital expenditures.

Our energy businesses are weather-sensitive and seasonal. We normally generate a large portion of our annual net income and subsequent increases in our accounts receivable in the first and fourth quarters of each year due to significant volumes of natural gas, electricity, and propane delivered by our natural gas, electric, and propane distribution operations to customers during the peak heating season. In addition, our natural gas and propane inventories, which usually peak in the fall months, are largely drawn down in the heating season and provide a source of cash as the inventory is used to satisfy winter sales demand.

We originally budgeted $88.5 million for capital expenditures during 2012. As a result of continued growth, expansion opportunities and the timing of capital projects, we increased our capital spending projection for 2012 to $90.8 million. This amount includes $77.7 million for the regulated energy segment, $3.6 million for the unregulated energy segment and $9.5 million for the “Other” segment. The amount for the regulated energy segment includes estimated capital expenditures for the following: natural gas distribution operations ($28.2 million), natural gas transmission operations ($42.8 million) and electric distribution operation ($6.7 million) for expansion and improvement of facilities. The amount for the unregulated energy segment includes estimated capital expenditures for the propane distribution operations for customer growth and replacement of equipment. The amount for the “Other” segment includes estimated capital expenditures of $533,000 for the advanced information services subsidiary with the remaining balance for improvements of various offices and operations centers, other general plant, computer software and hardware. We expect to fund the 2012 capital expenditures program from short-term borrowings, cash provided by operating activities, and other sources. The capital expenditures program is subject to continuous review and modification. Actual capital requirements may vary from the above estimates due to a number of factors, including changing economic conditions, customer growth in existing areas, regulation, new growth or acquisition opportunities and availability of capital.

We recently announced an agreement with ESG to purchase the propane distribution assets to serve approximately 11,000 customers through underground propane gas distribution systems and over 500 bulk propane delivery customers in Worcester County, Maryland. We expect to finance the purchase of these assets using unsecured short-term debt.

Capital Structure

We are committed to maintaining a sound capital structure and strong credit ratings to provide the financial flexibility needed to access capital markets when required. This commitment, along with adequate and timely rate relief for our regulated operations, is intended to ensure our ability to attract capital from outside sources at a reasonable cost. We believe that the achievement of these objectives will provide benefits to our customers, creditors and investors. The following presents our capitalization, excluding and including short-term borrowings, as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 

     June 30,
2012
           December 31,
2011
        
(in thousands)                           

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

   $ 108,755         30   $ 110,285         31

Stockholders’ equity

     250,407         70     240,780         69
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization, excluding short-term debt

   $ 359,162         100   $ 351,065         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     June 30,
2012
           December 31,
2011
        
(in thousands)                           

Short-term debt

   $ 13,553         4   $ 34,707         9

Long-term debt, including current maturities

     116,951         31     118,481         30

Stockholders’ equity

     250,407         65     240,780         61
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization, including short-term debt

   $ 380,911         100   $ 393,968         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Short-term Borrowings

Our outstanding short-term borrowings at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $13.6 million and $34.7 million, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.51 percent and 1.57 percent, respectively.

We utilize bank lines of credit to provide funds for our short-term cash needs to meet seasonal working capital requirements and to fund temporarily portions of the capital expenditure program. As of June 30, 2012, we had four unsecured bank lines of credit with two financial institutions for a total of $100.0 million. Two of these unsecured bank lines, totaling $60.0 million, are available under committed lines of credit. None of these unsecured bank lines of credit requires compensating balances. Advances offered under the uncommitted lines of credit are subject to the discretion of the banks. Our outstanding borrowings under these unsecured bank lines of credit at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $11.5 million and $30.5 million, respectively, at weighted average interest rates of 1.51 percent and 1.57 percent, respectively.

In addition to the four unsecured bank lines of credit, we entered into a new, unsecured short-term credit facility for $40 million with an existing lender on June 22, 2012. Short-term borrowings under this new facility bear interest at LIBOR plus 80 basis points or, at our discretion, the lender’s base rate plus 80 basis points. This facility, which is structured in the form of a revolving credit note, matures on June 1, 2013. Our total short-term borrowing capacity available under this facility at June 30, 2012 was $40 million.

We are currently authorized by our Board of Directors to borrow up to $85.0 million of short-term debt in the aggregate, as required, from our bank lines of credit.

Cash Flows Provided By Operating Activities

Cash flows provided by operating activities were as follows:

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

   2012      2011  
(in thousands)              

Net Income

   $ 15,787       $ 17,267   

Non-cash adjustments to net income

     23,649         26,131   

Changes in assets and liabilities

     21,077         16,691   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 60,513       $ 60,089   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, net cash flow provided by operating activities was $60.5 million and $60.1 million, respectively, a period-over-period increase of $424,000. Significant operating activities reflected in the change in cash flows provided by operating activities were as follows:

 

   

Net income decreased by $1.5 million for the first six months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

 

   

Net cash flows from changes in propane and natural gas inventories increased by approximately $2.1 million as a result of lower commodity prices.

 

   

Net cash flows from depreciation and amortization increased by approximately $1.9 million, due primarily to increased capital investments and increased amortization expense associated with the recovery of the FPU acquisition adjustment and merger related costs.

 

   

Net cash flows from the changes in regulatory assets and liabilities decreased by approximately $6.4 million, due primarily to a reduction in fuel costs due and collected from rate payers and a refund of $1.3 million to customers by Eastern Shore as a result of its rate case settlement in January 2012.

 

   

Net cash flows from changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable increased by approximately $4.7 million, due primarily to collections and payments from our natural gas, electric and propane distribution operations. In addition, the timing of trading contracts entered into by our propane wholesale and marketing operation contributed to the changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable.

 

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Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities

Net cash flows used in investing activities totaled $32.2 million and $21.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Cash utilized for capital expenditures was $34.1 million and $21.2 million for the first six months of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Cash Flows Used by Financing Activities

Cash flows used in financing activities totaled $29.2 million and $38.5 million for the first six months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. Significant financing activities reflected in the change in cash flows used by financing activities were as follows:

 

   

During the first six months of 2012, we had a net repayment of $19.0 million under our line of credit agreements related to working capital, compared to $27.4 million during the same period in 2011. This resulted in a period-over-period net cash increase of $8.4 million. Changes in cash overdrafts increased by $1.0 million, resulting in a period-over-period net cash increase.

 

   

Net repayment of long-term debt during the first six months of 2012 was $1.4 million, compared to net repayments of long-term debt and other short-term borrowing of $1.6 million in the same period in 2011. During the first six months of 2011, we issued Chesapeake’s unsecured senior notes, using the proceeds to repay a short-term credit facility and permanently finance the FPU bonds.

 

   

We paid $6.0 million and $5.7 million in cash dividends for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have issued corporate guarantees to certain vendors of our subsidiaries, primarily the propane wholesale marketing subsidiary and the natural gas marketing subsidiary. These corporate guarantees provide for the payment of propane and natural gas purchases in the event of the respective subsidiary’s default. None of these subsidiaries has ever defaulted on its obligations to pay its suppliers. The liabilities for these purchases are recorded in our financial statements when incurred. The aggregate amount guaranteed at June 30, 2012 was $27.7 million, with the guarantees expiring on various dates through June 2013.

In addition to the corporate guarantees, we have issued a letter of credit for $1.0 million, which expires on September 12, 2012, related to the electric transmission services for FPU’s northwest electric division. We have also issued a letter of credit to our current primary insurance company for $656,000, which expires on December 2, 2012, as security to satisfy the deductibles under our various insurance policies. Although we changed our primary insurance company, we still have an outstanding letter of credit for $725,000 to our former primary insurance company, which will expire on June 1, 2013. There have been no draws on these letters of credit as of June 30, 2012. We do not anticipate that the letters of credit will be drawn upon by the counterparties, and we expect that the letters of credit will be renewed to the extent necessary in the future.

We provided a letter of credit for $2.5 million under the Precedent Agreement, which is the maximum amount required under the agreement.

 

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Contractual Obligations

There has not been any material change in the contractual obligations presented in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, except for commodity purchase obligations and forward contracts entered into in the ordinary course of our business. The following table summarizes the commodity and forward contract obligations at June 30, 2012.

 

      Payments Due by Period  

Purchase Obligations

   Less than 1 year      1 - 3 years      3 - 5 years      More than 5 years      Total  
(in thousands)                                   

Commodities (1)

   $ 13,850       $ 467       $ —         $ —         $ 14,317   

Propane (2)

     15,897         —           —           —           15,897   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Purchase Obligations

   $ 29,747       $ 467       $ —         $ —         $ 30,214   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) In addition to the obligations noted above, the natural gas, electric and propane distribution operations have agreements with commodity suppliers that have provisions with no minimum purchase requirements. There are no monetary penalties for reducing the amounts purchased; however, the propane contracts allow the suppliers to reduce the amounts available in the winter season if we do not purchase specified amounts during the summer season. Under these contracts, the commodity prices will fluctuate as market prices fluctuate.
(2) We have also entered into forward sale contracts in the aggregate amount of $5.1 million. See Part I, Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” below, for further information.

Environmental Matters

As more fully described in Note 5, “Environmental Commitments and Contingencies,” to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we continue to work with federal and state environmental agencies to assess the environmental impact and explore corrective action at seven environmental sites. We believe that future costs associated with these sites will be recoverable in rates or through sharing arrangements with, or contributions by, other responsible parties.

OTHER MATTERS

Rates and Regulatory Matters

Our natural gas distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida and electric distribution operation in Florida are subject to regulation by their respective PSC’s; Eastern Shore is subject to regulation by the FERC; and Peninsula Pipeline is subject to regulation by the Florida PSC. At June 30, 2012, we were involved in rate filings and/or regulatory matters in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Each of these rate filings and/or regulatory matters is fully described in Note 4, “Rates and Other Regulatory Activities,” to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Competition

Our natural gas and electric distribution operations and our natural gas transmission operation compete with other forms of energy, including natural gas, electricity, oil, propane and other alternative sources of energy. The principal competitive factors are price and, to a lesser extent, accessibility. Our natural gas distribution operations have several large-volume industrial customers that are able to use fuel oil as an alternative to natural gas. When oil prices decline, these interruptible customers may convert to oil to satisfy their fuel requirements, and our interruptible sales volumes may decline. Oil prices, as well as the prices of other fuels, fluctuate for a variety of reasons; therefore, future competitive conditions are not predictable. To address this uncertainty, we use flexible pricing arrangements on both the supply and sales sides of this business to compete with alternative fuel price fluctuations. As a result of the natural gas transmission operation’s conversion to open access and Chesapeake’s Florida natural gas distribution division’s restructuring of its services, these businesses have shifted from providing bundled transportation and sales service to providing only transmission and contract storage services. Our electric distribution operation currently does not face substantial competition because the electric utility industry in Florida has not been deregulated. In addition, natural gas is the only viable alternative fuel to electricity in our electric service territories and is available only in a small area.

 

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Our natural gas distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida offer unbundled transportation services to certain commercial and industrial customers. In 2002, Chesapeake’s Florida natural gas distribution division, Central Florida Gas, extended such service to residential customers. With such transportation service available on our distribution systems, we are competing with third-party suppliers to sell gas to industrial customers. With respect to unbundled transportation services, our competitors include interstate transmission companies, if the distribution customers are located close enough to a transmission company’s pipeline to make connections economically feasible. The customers at risk are usually large volume commercial and industrial customers with the financial resources and capability to bypass our existing distribution operations in this manner. In certain situations, our distribution operations may adjust services and rates for these customers to retain their business. We expect to continue to expand the availability of unbundled transportation service to additional classes of distribution customers in the future. We have also established a natural gas marketing operation in Florida, Delaware and Maryland to provide such service to customers eligible for unbundled transportation services.

Our propane distribution operations compete with several other propane distributors in their respective geographic markets, primarily on the basis of service and price, emphasizing responsive and reliable service. Our competitors generally include local outlets of national distributors and local independent distributors, whose proximity to customers entails lower costs to provide service. Propane competes with electricity as an energy source, because it is typically less expensive than electricity, based on equivalent BTU value. Propane also competes with home heating oil as an energy source. Since natural gas has historically been less expensive than propane, propane is generally not distributed in geographic areas served by natural gas pipeline or distribution systems.

The propane wholesale marketing operation competes against various regional and national marketers, many of which have significantly greater resources and are able to obtain price or volumetric advantages.

Our advanced information services subsidiary faces significant competition from a number of larger competitors having substantially greater resources available to them than does our subsidiary. In addition, changes in the advanced information services business are occurring rapidly and could adversely affect the markets for the products and services offered by these businesses. This segment competes on the basis of technological expertise, reputation and price.

Inflation

Inflation affects the cost of supply, labor, products and services required for operations, maintenance and capital improvements. While the impact of inflation has remained low in recent years, natural gas and propane prices are subject to rapid fluctuations. In the regulated natural gas and electric distribution operations, fluctuations in natural gas and electricity prices are passed on to customers through the fuel cost recovery mechanism in our tariffs. To help cope with the effects of inflation on our capital investments and returns, we seek rate increases from regulatory commissions for our regulated operations and closely monitor the returns of our unregulated business operations. To compensate for fluctuations in propane gas prices, we adjust propane selling prices to the extent allowed by the market.

Recent Authoritative Pronouncements on Financial Reporting and Accounting

Recent accounting developments applicable to us and their impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are described in Note 1, “Summary of Accounting Policies,” to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. Long-term debt is subject to potential losses based on changes in interest rates. Our long-term debt consists of fixed-rate senior notes, secured debt and convertible debentures. All of our long-term debt is fixed-rate debt and was not entered into for trading purposes. The carrying value of long-term debt, including current maturities, was $117.0 million at June 30, 2012, as compared to a fair value of $140.2 million, using a discounted cash flow methodology that incorporates a market interest rate that is based on published corporate borrowing rates for debt instruments with similar terms and average maturities with adjustments for duration, optionality, credit risk, and risk profile. We evaluate whether to refinance existing debt or permanently refinance existing short-term borrowing, based in part on the fluctuation in interest rates.

 

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Our propane distribution business is exposed to market risk as a result of propane storage activities and entering into fixed price contracts for supply. We can store up to approximately 5.4 million gallons of propane (including leased storage and rail cars) during the winter season to meet our customers’ peak requirements and to serve metered customers. Decreases in the wholesale price of propane may cause the value of stored propane to decline. To mitigate the impact of price fluctuations, we have adopted a Risk Management Policy that allows the propane distribution operation to enter into fair value hedges or other economic hedges of our inventory.

In May 2012, our propane distribution operation entered into call options to protect against an increase in propane prices associated with 1,260,000 gallons purchased for the propane price cap program in December 2012 through March 2013. The call options are exercised if the propane prices rise above the strike prices, which range from $0.905 per gallon to $0.99 per gallon during this four-month period. We will receive the difference between the market price and the strike price during those months. We paid $139,000 to purchase the call options, and we accounted for the call options as a fair value hedge. As of June 30, 2012, the call options had a fair value of $123,000. There has been no ineffective portion of this fair value hedge thus far in 2012.

In August 2011, our propane distribution operation entered into a put option to protect against the decline in propane prices and related potential inventory losses associated with 630,000 gallons purchased for the propane price cap program in the upcoming heating season. This put option was exercised as the propane prices fell below the strike price of $1.445 per gallon in January through March of 2012. We received $118,000, representing the difference between the market price and the strike price during those months. We had paid $91,000 to purchase the put option, and we accounted for it as a fair value hedge.

Our propane wholesale marketing operation is a party to natural gas liquids forward contracts, primarily propane contracts, with various third parties. These contracts require that the propane wholesale marketing operation purchase or sell natural gas liquids at a fixed price at fixed future dates. At expiration, the contracts are settled by the delivery of natural gas liquids to us or the counter-party or by “booking out” the transaction. Booking out is a procedure for financially settling a contract in lieu of the physical delivery of energy. The propane wholesale marketing operation also enters into futures contracts that are traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In certain cases, the futures contracts are settled by the payment or receipt of a net amount equal to the difference between the current market price of the futures contract and the original contract price; however, they may also be settled by physical receipt or delivery of propane.

The forward and futures contracts are entered into for trading and wholesale marketing purposes. The propane wholesale marketing business is subject to commodity price risk on its open positions to the extent that market prices for natural gas liquids deviate from fixed contract settlement prices. Market risk associated with the trading of futures and forward contracts is monitored daily for compliance with our Risk Management Policy, which includes volumetric limits for open positions. To manage exposures to changing market prices, open positions are marked up or down to market prices and reviewed daily by our oversight officials. In addition, the Risk Management Committee reviews periodic reports on markets and the credit risk of counter-parties, approves any exceptions to the Risk Management Policy (within limits established by the Board of Directors) and authorizes the use of any new types of contracts. Quantitative information on forward and futures contracts at June 30, 2012 is presented in the following tables.

 

At June 30, 2012

   Quantity in
Gallons
     Estimated  Market
Prices
     Weighted Average
Contract Prices
 

Forward Contracts

        

Sale

     5,754,000       $ 0.7200 —$1.3775       $ 0.8933   

Purchase

     5,670,000       $ 0.6825 —$1.3300       $ 0.8724   

Estimated market prices and weighted average contract prices are in dollars per gallon.

All contracts expire by the first quarter of 2013.

 

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At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we marked these forward and other contracts to market, using market transactions in either the listed or OTC markets, which resulted in the following assets and liabilities:

 

(in thousands)

   June 30,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Mark-to-market energy assets, including put/call option

   $ 585       $ 1,754   

Mark-to-market energy liabilities

   $ 504       $ 1,496   

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, with the participation of other Company officials, have evaluated our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of June 30, 2012. Based upon their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2012.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended June 30, 2012, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

As disclosed in Note 6, “Other Commitments and Contingencies,” of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we are involved in certain legal actions and claims arising in the normal course of business. We are also involved in certain legal and administrative proceedings before various governmental or regulatory agencies concerning rates and other regulatory actions. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these proceedings and claims will not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our business, operations, and financial condition are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The risk factors described in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2011, should be carefully considered, together with the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC in connection with evaluating the Company, our business and the forward-looking statements contained in this Report. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us at present, or that we currently deem immaterial also may affect the Company. The occurrence of any of these known or unknown risks could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Period

   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
     Average
Price Paid
per Share
     Total Number of  Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
or Programs (2)
     Maximum Number of
Shares  That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans
or Programs (2)
 

April 1, 2012 through April 30, 2012 (1)

     259       $ 40.89         —           —     

May 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012

     —         $ —           —           —     

June 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012

     —         $ —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     259       $ 40.89         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Chesapeake purchased shares of stock on the open market for the purpose of reinvesting the dividend on deferred stock units held in the Rabbi Trust accounts for certain Directors and Senior Executives under the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan is discussed in detail in Item 8 under the heading “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements - Note M, Employee Benefit Plans” in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as amended. During the quarter, 259 shares were purchased through the reinvestment of dividends on deferred stock units.

 

(2) 

Except for the purposes described in Footnote (1) , Chesapeake has no publicly announced plans or programs to repurchase its shares.

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

 

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Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits
31.1    Certificate of Chief Executive Officer of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, dated August 8, 2012.
31.2    Certificate of Chief Financial Officer of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, dated August 8, 2012.
32.1    Certificate of Chief Executive Officer of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, dated August 8, 2012.
32.2    Certificate of Chief Financial Officer of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, dated August 8, 2012.
101.INS*    XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

* XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed for purposes of Section 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the XBRL information in Exhibit 101 of this Form 10-Q shall not be subject to the liability of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and shall not be part of any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except as shall be expressly set forth in specific reference in such filing.

 

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SIGNATURES

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.

CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORPORATION

 

/s/ BETH W. COOPER

Beth W. Cooper
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: August 8, 2012

 

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