MIDDLESEX WATER CO - Quarter Report: 2007 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
DC 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
|
|
þ
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007
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 0-422
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New
Jersey
(State
of incorporation)
|
22-1114430
(IRS
employer identification no.)
|
1500
Ronson Road, Iselin, NJ 08830
(Address
of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(732)
634-1500
(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
þ No
¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
Large
accelerated filer ¨
|
Accelerated
filer þ
|
Non-accelerated
filer ¨
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨No þ
The
number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common
stock, as of August 1, 2007: Common Stock, No Par Value: 13,203,379 shares
outstanding.
INDEX
PAGE
|
||
1
|
||
2
|
||
3
|
||
4
|
||
5
|
||
11
|
||
17
|
||
17
|
||
18
|
||
18
|
||
18
|
||
18
|
||
18
|
||
19
|
||
19
|
||
19
|
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
|
||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share amounts) |
||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended June 30,
|
Six
Months Ended June 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Operating
Revenues
|
$ |
21,745
|
$ |
21,037
|
$ |
40,732
|
$ |
39,267
|
||||||||
Operating
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||
Operations
|
10,143
|
10,012
|
20,335
|
19,658
|
||||||||||||
Maintenance
|
1,037
|
794
|
2,015
|
1,533
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
1,875
|
1,713
|
3,720
|
3,381
|
||||||||||||
Other
Taxes
|
2,411
|
2,369
|
4,662
|
4,573
|
||||||||||||
Total
Operating Expenses
|
15,466
|
14,888
|
30,732
|
29,145
|
||||||||||||
Operating
Income
|
6,279
|
6,149
|
10,000
|
10,122
|
||||||||||||
Other
Income:
|
||||||||||||||||
Allowance
for Funds Used During Construction
|
140
|
115
|
252
|
228
|
||||||||||||
Other
Income
|
282
|
41
|
508
|
99
|
||||||||||||
Other
Expense
|
(8 | ) | (13 | ) | (12 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||
Total
Other Income, net
|
414
|
143
|
748
|
313
|
||||||||||||
Interest
Charges
|
1,698
|
1,808
|
3,081
|
3,323
|
||||||||||||
Income
before Income Taxes
|
4,995
|
4,484
|
7,667
|
7,112
|
||||||||||||
Income
Taxes
|
1,682
|
1,517
|
2,583
|
2,332
|
||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
3,313
|
2,967
|
5,084
|
4,780
|
||||||||||||
Preferred
Stock Dividend Requirements
|
62
|
62
|
124
|
124
|
||||||||||||
Earnings
Applicable to Common Stock
|
$ |
3,251
|
$ |
2,905
|
$ |
4,960
|
$ |
4,656
|
||||||||
Earnings
per share of Common Stock:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ |
0.25
|
$ |
0.25
|
$ |
0.38
|
$ |
0.40
|
||||||||
Diluted
|
$ |
0.24
|
$ |
0.25
|
$ |
0.37
|
$ |
0.40
|
||||||||
Average
Number of
|
||||||||||||||||
Common
Shares Outstanding :
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
13,191
|
11,611
|
13,184
|
11,602
|
||||||||||||
Diluted
|
13,522
|
11,942
|
13,515
|
11,933
|
||||||||||||
Cash
Dividends Paid per Common Share
|
$ |
0.1725
|
$ |
0.1700
|
$ |
0.3450
|
$ |
0.3400
|
||||||||
See
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
||||||||||||||||
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
|
|||||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
|||||||||||
June
30,
|
December
31,
|
||||||||||
ASSETS
|
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||
UTILITY
PLANT:
|
Water
Production
|
$ |
97,588
|
$ |
95,324
|
||||||
|
Transmission
and Distribution
|
250,753
|
243,959
|
||||||||
|
General
|
24,627
|
25,153
|
||||||||
|
Construction
Work in Progress
|
8,216
|
6,131
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL
|
381,184
|
370,567
|
||||||||
|
Less
Accumulated Depreciation
|
62,199
|
59,694
|
||||||||
|
UTILITY
PLANT - NET
|
318,985
|
310,873
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
|
2,519
|
5,826
|
||||||||
|
Accounts
Receivable, net
|
10,470
|
8,538
|
||||||||
|
Unbilled
Revenues
|
5,559
|
4,013
|
||||||||
|
Materials
and Supplies (at average cost)
|
1,445
|
1,306
|
||||||||
|
Prepayments
|
1,636
|
1,229
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL
CURRENT ASSETS
|
21,629
|
20,912
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
DEFERRED
CHARGES
|
Unamortized
Debt Expense
|
2,954
|
3,014
|
||||||||
AND
OTHER ASSETS:
|
Preliminary
Survey and Investigation Charges
|
5,026
|
3,436
|
||||||||
|
Regulatory
Assets
|
20,387
|
18,342
|
||||||||
|
Restricted
Cash
|
6,227
|
6,850
|
||||||||
|
Non-utility
Assets - Net
|
6,656
|
6,255
|
||||||||
|
Other
|
410
|
585
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL
DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER ASSETS
|
41,660
|
38,482
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
$ |
382,274
|
$ |
370,267
|
||||||
CAPITALIZATION
AND LIABILITIES
|
|||||||||||
CAPITALIZATION:
|
Common
Stock, No Par Value
|
$ |
104,953
|
$ |
104,248
|
||||||
|
Retained
Earnings
|
25,399
|
25,001
|
||||||||
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax
|
80
|
94
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL
COMMON EQUITY
|
130,432
|
129,343
|
||||||||
|
Preferred
Stock
|
3,958
|
3,958
|
||||||||
|
Long-term
Debt
|
130,073
|
130,706
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL
CAPITALIZATION
|
264,463
|
264,007
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
CURRENT
|
Current
Portion of Long-term Debt
|
2,556
|
2,501
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES:
|
Notes
Payable
|
800
|
–
|
||||||||
|
Accounts
Payable
|
7,502
|
5,491
|
||||||||
|
Accrued
Taxes
|
7,988
|
6,684
|
||||||||
|
Accrued
Interest
|
1,912
|
1,880
|
||||||||
|
Unearned
Revenues and Advanced Service Fees
|
707
|
601
|
||||||||
|
Other
|
1,183
|
984
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL
CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
22,648
|
18,141
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Note 7)
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
DEFERRED
CREDITS
|
Customer
Advances for Construction
|
20,501
|
19,246
|
||||||||
AND
OTHER LIABILITIES:
|
Accumulated
Deferred Investment Tax Credits
|
1,774
|
1,813
|
||||||||
|
Accumulated
Deferred Income Taxes
|
18,053
|
15,779
|
||||||||
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
17,688
|
16,388
|
||||||||
|
Regulatory
Liability - Cost of Utility Plant Removal
|
6,501
|
6,200
|
||||||||
|
Other
|
514
|
527
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES
|
65,031
|
59,953
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
CONTRIBUTIONS
IN AID OF CONSTRUCTION
|
30,132
|
28,166
|
|||||||||
|
TOTAL
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
|
$ |
382,274
|
$ |
370,267
|
||||||
See
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
|||||||||||
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
||||||||
Six
Months Ended June 30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ |
5,084
|
$ |
4,780
|
||||
Adjustments
to Reconcile Net Income to
|
||||||||
Net
Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
and Amortization
|
4,029
|
3,762
|
||||||
Provision
for Deferred Income Taxes and ITC
|
235
|
(98 | ) | |||||
Equity
Portion of AFUDC
|
(121 | ) | (105 | ) | ||||
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance
|
(205 | ) | (104 | ) | ||||
Gain
on Sale of Real Estate
|
(212 | ) |
-
|
|||||
Changes
in Assets and Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
Receivable
|
(1,555 | ) |
431
|
|||||
Unbilled
Revenues
|
(1,546 | ) | (1,196 | ) | ||||
Materials
& Supplies
|
(139 | ) | (195 | ) | ||||
Prepayments
|
(407 | ) | (795 | ) | ||||
Other
Assets
|
(194 | ) | (295 | ) | ||||
Accounts
Payable
|
2,011
|
(1,056 | ) | |||||
Accrued
Taxes
|
1,312
|
1,361
|
||||||
Accrued
Interest
|
32
|
28
|
||||||
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
1,300
|
920
|
||||||
Unearned
Revenue & Advanced Service Fees
|
106
|
19
|
||||||
Other
Liabilities
|
186
|
(73 | ) | |||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
9,916
|
7,384
|
||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Utility
Plant Expenditures, Including AFUDC of $131 in 2007 and $123 in
2006
|
(8,774 | ) | (12,019 | ) | ||||
Restricted
Cash
|
647
|
98
|
||||||
Proceeds
from Real Estate Dispositions
|
273
|
-
|
||||||
Preliminary
Survey & Investigation Charges
|
(1,590 | ) | (754 | ) | ||||
NET
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
(9,444 | ) | (12,675 | ) | ||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Redemption
of Long-term Debt
|
(711 | ) | (555 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from Issuance of Long-term Debt
|
133
|
1
|
||||||
Net
Short-term Bank Borrowings
|
800
|
8,600
|
||||||
Deferred
Debt Issuance Expenses
|
(30 | ) |
-
|
|||||
Common
Stock Issuance Expense
|
(15 | ) |
-
|
|||||
Restricted
Cash
|
(23 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from Issuance of Common Stock
|
705
|
767
|
||||||
Payment
of Common Dividends
|
(4,547 | ) | (3,943 | ) | ||||
Payment
of Preferred Dividends
|
(124 | ) | (124 | ) | ||||
Construction
Advances and Contributions-Net
|
33
|
(126 | ) | |||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
(3,779 | ) |
4,609
|
|||||
NET
CHANGES IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(3,307 | ) | (682 | ) | ||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
5,826
|
2,984
|
||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
|
$ |
2,519
|
$ |
2,302
|
||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITY:
|
||||||||
Utility
Plant received as Construction Advances and Contributions
|
$ |
2,811
|
$ |
2,095
|
||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:
|
||||||||
Cash
Paid During the Year for:
|
||||||||
Interest
|
$ |
3,098
|
$ |
3,319
|
||||
Interest
Capitalized
|
$ | (131 | ) | $ | (123 | ) | ||
Income
Taxes
|
$ |
1,518
|
$ |
2,040
|
||||
See
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
|
|||||||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL STOCK
|
|||||||||||||
AND
LONG-TERM DEBT
|
|||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
|||||||||||||
June
30,
|
December
31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||||
Common
Stock, No Par Value
|
|||||||||||||
Shares
Authorized
-
40,000
|
|||||||||||||
Shares
Outstanding - 2007 - 13,200
|
$ |
104,953
|
$ |
104,248
|
|||||||||
2006
- 13,168
|
|||||||||||||
Retained
Earnings
|
25,399
|
25,001
|
|||||||||||
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax
|
80
|
94
|
|||||||||||
$ |
130,432
|
$ |
129,343
|
||||||||||
Cumulative
Preference Stock, No Par Value:
|
|||||||||||||
Shares
Authorized -
100
|
|||||||||||||
Shares
Outstanding - None
|
|||||||||||||
Cumulative
Preferred Stock, No Par Value
|
|||||||||||||
Shares
Authorized -
139
|
|||||||||||||
Shares
Outstanding -
37
|
|||||||||||||
Convertible:
|
|||||||||||||
Shares
Outstanding, $7.00 Series - 14
|
1,457
|
1,457
|
|||||||||||
Shares
Outstanding, $8.00 Series - 12
|
1,399
|
1,399
|
|||||||||||
Nonredeemable:
|
|||||||||||||
Shares
Outstanding, $7.00 Series - 1
|
102
|
102
|
|||||||||||
Shares
Outstanding, $4.75 Series - 10
|
1,000
|
1,000
|
|||||||||||
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCK | $ |
3,958
|
$ |
3,958
|
|||||||||
Long-term
Debt
|
|||||||||||||
8.05%,
Amortizing Secured Note, due December 20, 2021
|
$ |
2,849
|
$ |
2,896
|
|||||||||
6.25%,
Amortizing Secured Note, due May 22, 2028
|
8,785
|
8,995
|
|||||||||||
6.44%,
Amortizing Secured Note, due August 25, 2030
|
6,487
|
6,627
|
|||||||||||
6.46%,
Amortizing Secured Note, due September 19, 2031
|
6,766
|
6,907
|
|||||||||||
4.22%,
State Revolving Trust Note, due December 31, 2022
|
707
|
739
|
|||||||||||
3.30%
to 3.60%, State Revolving Trust Note, due May 1, 2025
|
3,168
|
3,100
|
|||||||||||
3.49%,
State Revolving Trust Note, due January 25, 2027
|
603
|
598
|
|||||||||||
4.03%,
State Revolving Trust Note, due December 1, 2026
|
974
|
914
|
|||||||||||
4.00%
to 5.00%, State Revolving Trust Bond, due September 1, 2021
|
730
|
730
|
|||||||||||
0.00%,
State Revolving Fund Bond, due September 1, 2021
|
567
|
577
|
|||||||||||
First
Mortgage Bonds:
|
|||||||||||||
5.20%,
Series S, due October 1, 2022
|
12,000
|
12,000
|
|||||||||||
5.25%,
Series T, due October 1, 2023
|
6,500
|
6,500
|
|||||||||||
6.40%,
Series U, due February 1, 2009
|
15,000
|
15,000
|
|||||||||||
5.25%,
Series V, due February 1, 2029
|
10,000
|
10,000
|
|||||||||||
5.35%,
Series W, due February 1, 2038
|
23,000
|
23,000
|
|||||||||||
0.00%,
Series X, due September 1, 2018
|
636
|
647
|
|||||||||||
4.25%
to 4.63%, Series Y, due September 1, 2018
|
820
|
820
|
|||||||||||
0.00%,
Series Z, due September 1, 2019
|
1,428
|
1,455
|
|||||||||||
5.25%
to 5.75%, Series AA, due September 1, 2019
|
1,890
|
1,890
|
|||||||||||
0.00%,
Series BB, due September 1, 2021
|
1,774
|
1,805
|
|||||||||||
4.00%
to 5.00%, Series CC, due September 1, 2021
|
2,090
|
2,090
|
|||||||||||
5.10%,
Series DD, due January 1, 2032
|
6,000
|
6,000
|
|||||||||||
0.00%,
Series EE, due September 1, 2024
|
7,420
|
7,482
|
|||||||||||
3.00%
to 5.50%, Series FF, due September 1, 2024
|
8,735
|
8,735
|
|||||||||||
0.00%,
Series GG, due September 1, 2026
|
1,750
|
1,750
|
|||||||||||
4.00%
to 5.00%, Series HH, due September 1, 2026
|
1,950
|
1,950
|
|||||||||||
SUBTOTAL
LONG-TERM DEBT
|
132,629
|
133,207
|
|||||||||||
Less:
Current Portion of Long-term Debt
|
(2,556 | ) | (2,501 | ) | |||||||||
TOTAL
LONG-TERM DEBT
|
$ |
130,073
|
$ |
130,706
|
|||||||||
See
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
NOTES
TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note
1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization
– Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) is the parent company and
sole shareholder of Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Tidewater
Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI), Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water)
and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively,
Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), and Utility Service
Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc. (USA-PA). Southern Shores Water
Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc.
(White Marsh) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tidewater. The financial
statements for Middlesex and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the Company) are
reported on a consolidated basis. All significant intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
The
consolidated notes within the 2006 Form 10-K are applicable to these financial
statements and, in the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary
(including normal recurring accruals) to present fairly the financial position
as of June 30, 2007, the results of operations for the three and six month
periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, and cash flows for the six month periods
ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. Information included in the Balance Sheet as
of
December 31, 2006, has been derived from the Company’s audited financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Certain
reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements to
conform with the current period presentation.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements– In July 2006, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN
48) “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB
Statement No. 109”, to clarify certain aspects of accounting for uncertain
tax positions, including recognition and measurement of those tax positions.
This interpretation was effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2006 (January 1, 2007 for the Company). The adoption of this
interpretation had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of
operations, or cash flows.
In
September 2006, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force reached a consensus on
EITF Issue No. 06-5, “Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance – Determining
the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin
No.
85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance” (“EITF 06-5”). EITF 06-5
provides clarification for determining the amounts that could be realized by
policyholders in accounting for life insurance contracts. EITF 06-5
is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 (January 1,
2007
for the Company). Adoption of EITF 06-5 had no material impact on the
Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note
2 – Rate Matters
Middlesex
filed for an $8.9 million or 16.5% base rate increase with the New Jersey Board
of Public Utilities (BPU) on April 18, 2007. The requested increase
is intended to recover increased costs of operations,
maintenance,
labor and benefits, purchased power, purchased water and taxes, as well as
capital investment of approximately $23.0 million since June 2005. We
cannot predict whether the BPU will ultimately approve, deny, or reduce the
amount of our request. We do not expect a decision on this matter
until the first quarter of 2008.
In
accordance with the tariff established for Southern Shores, an annual rate
increase of 3% was implemented on January 1, 2007. The increase cannot exceed
the lesser of the regional Consumer Price Index or 3%. The contracted rate
schedule is set to expire on December 31, 2007. The Company is in the process
of
renegotiating the rate schedule.
Note
3 – Capitalization
Common
Stock–During the six months ended June 30, 2007, there were 31,680,
common shares (approximately $0.6 million) issued under the Company’s Dividend
Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan (DRP). Middlesex received approval
from the BPU in June 2007 to increase the number of shares authorized under
the
DRP from 1.7 million to 2.3 million shares.
In
May
2007, the Company received shareholders approval to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock from 20 million shares to 40 million
shares.
Long-term
Debt– Middlesex received approval from the BPU to issue up to $4.0
million of first mortgage bonds through the New Jersey Environmental
Infrastructure Trust under the New Jersey State Revolving Fund (SRF) program.
The Company expects to complete the transaction in November
2007. Proceeds from this financing will be used for the ongoing main
cleaning and lining project in 2008.
Note
4 – Earnings Per Share
Basic
earnings per share (EPS) are computed on the basis of the weighted average
number of shares outstanding during the period presented. Diluted EPS
assumes the conversion of both the Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series
and
the Convertible Preferred Stock $8.00 Series.
(In
Thousands Except per Share Amounts)
Three
Months Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic:
|
2007
|
Shares
|
2006
|
Shares
|
||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ |
3,313
|
13,191
|
$ |
2,967
|
11,611
|
||||||||||
Preferred
Dividend
|
(62 | ) |
|
(62 | ) |
|
||||||||||
Earnings
Applicable to Common Stock
|
$ |
3,251
|
13,191
|
$ |
2,905
|
11,611
|
||||||||||
Basic
EPS
|
$ |
0.25
|
$ |
0.25
|
||||||||||||
Diluted:
|
||||||||||||||||
Earnings
Applicable to Common Stock
|
$ |
3,251
|
13,191
|
$ |
2,905
|
11,611
|
||||||||||
$7.00
Series Preferred Dividend
|
24
|
167
|
24
|
167
|
||||||||||||
$8.00
Series Preferred Dividend
|
24
|
164
|
24
|
164
|
||||||||||||
Adjusted
Earnings Applicable to Common Stock
|
$ |
3,299
|
13,522
|
$ |
2,953
|
11,942
|
||||||||||
Diluted
EPS
|
$ |
0.24
|
$ |
0.25
|
Six
Months Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic:
|
2007
|
Shares
|
2006
|
Shares
|
||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ |
5,084
|
13,184
|
$ |
4,780
|
11,602
|
||||||||||
Preferred
Dividend
|
(124 | ) |
|
(124 | ) |
|
||||||||||
Earnings
Applicable to Common Stock
|
$ |
4,960
|
13,184
|
$ |
4,656
|
11,602
|
||||||||||
Basic
EPS
|
$ |
0.38
|
$ |
0.40
|
||||||||||||
Diluted:
|
||||||||||||||||
Earnings
Applicable to Common Stock
|
$ |
4,960
|
13,184
|
$ |
4,656
|
11,602
|
||||||||||
$7.00
Series Preferred Dividend
|
49
|
167
|
49
|
167
|
||||||||||||
$8.00
Series Preferred Dividend
|
48
|
164
|
48
|
164
|
||||||||||||
Adjusted
Earnings Applicable to Common Stock
|
$ |
5,057
|
13,515
|
$ |
4,753
|
11,933
|
||||||||||
Diluted
EPS
|
$ |
0.37
|
$ |
0.40
|
Note
5 – Business Segment Data
The
Company has identified two reportable segments. One is the regulated business
of
collecting, treating and distributing water on a retail and wholesale basis
to
residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection customers in parts
of
New Jersey and Delaware. This segment also includes regulated wastewater systems
in New Jersey and Delaware. The Company is subject to regulations as
to its rates, services and other matters by the States of New Jersey and
Delaware with respect to utility services within these States. The other segment
is primarily comprised of non-regulated contract services for the operation
and
maintenance of municipal and private water and wastewater systems in New Jersey
and Delaware. Inter-segment transactions relating to operational
costs are treated as pass-through expenses. Finance charges on inter-segment
loan activities are based on interest rates that are below what would normally
be charged by a third party lender.
(In
Thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended
June
30,
|
Six
Months Ended
June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
Operations
by Segments:
|
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||||||
Regulated
|
$ |
19,776
|
$ |
18,663
|
$ |
36,462
|
$ |
34,663
|
||||||||
Non
– Regulated
|
2,081
|
2,404
|
4,427
|
4,664
|
||||||||||||
Inter-segment
Elimination
|
(112 | ) | (30 | ) | (157 | ) | (60 | ) | ||||||||
Consolidated
Revenues
|
$ |
21,745
|
$ |
21,037
|
$ |
40,732
|
$ |
39,267
|
||||||||
Operating
Income:
|
||||||||||||||||
Regulated
|
$ |
5,951
|
$ |
5,746
|
$ |
9,416
|
$ |
9,449
|
||||||||
Non
– Regulated
|
328
|
403
|
584
|
673
|
||||||||||||
Consolidated
Operating Income
|
$ |
6,279
|
$ |
6,149
|
$ |
10,000
|
$ |
10,122
|
||||||||
Net
Income:
|
||||||||||||||||
Regulated
|
$ |
3,140
|
$ |
2,740
|
$ |
4,777
|
$ |
4,407
|
||||||||
Non
– Regulated
|
173
|
227
|
307
|
373
|
||||||||||||
Consolidated
Net Income
|
$ |
3,313
|
$ |
2,967
|
$ |
5,084
|
$ |
4,780
|
Capital
Expenditures:
|
||||||||||||||||
Regulated
|
$ |
5,024
|
$ |
7,209
|
$ |
8,549
|
$ |
11,801
|
||||||||
Non
– Regulated
|
130
|
200
|
225
|
218
|
||||||||||||
Total
Capital Expenditures
|
$ |
5,154
|
$ |
7,409
|
$ |
8,774
|
$ |
12,019
|
||||||||
As
of
June
30,
2007
|
As
of
December
31,
2006
|
|||||||||||||||
Assets:
|
||||||||||||||||
Regulated
|
$ |
377,728
|
$ |
366,149
|
||||||||||||
Non
– Regulated
|
7,540
|
6,808
|
||||||||||||||
Inter-segment
Elimination
|
(2,994 | ) | (2,690 | ) | ||||||||||||
Consolidated
Assets
|
$ |
382,274
|
$ |
370,267
|
Note
6 – Short-term Borrowings
As
of
June 30, 2007, the Company has established lines of credit aggregating $40.0
million. At June 30, 2007, the outstanding borrowings under these credit lines
were $0.8 million at a weighted average interest rate of 6.62%.
The
weighted average daily amounts of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s
credit lines and the weighted average interest rates on those amounts were
$0.2
million and $9.2 million at 6.62% and 5.91% for the three months ended June
30,
2007 and 2006, respectively. The weighted average daily amounts of borrowings
outstanding under the Company’s credit lines and the weighted average interest
rates on those amounts were $0.1 million and $7.6 million at 6.62% and 5.82%
for
the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Interest
rates for short-term borrowings under the lines of credit are below the prime
rate with no requirement for compensating balances.
Note
7 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
Guarantees
- USA-PA operates the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey (Perth Amboy) water and
wastewater systems under contract through June 30, 2018. The agreement was
effected under New Jersey’s Water Supply Public/Private Contracting Act and the
New Jersey Wastewater Public/Private Contracting Act. Under the agreement,
USA-PA receives a fixed fee and in addition, a variable fee based on increased
system billing. Scheduled fixed fee payments for 2007 are $7.8 million. The
fixed fees will increase over the term of the contract to $10.2 million per
year.
In
connection with the agreement, Perth Amboy, through the Middlesex County
Improvement Authority, issued approximately $68.0 million in three series of
bonds. Middlesex guaranteed one of those series of bonds, designated the Series
C Serial Bonds, in the principal amount of approximately $26.3 million. Perth
Amboy guaranteed the two other series of bonds. The Series C Serial Bonds have
various maturity dates with the final maturity date on September 1, 2015. As
of
June 30, 2007, approximately $23.4 million of the Series C Serial Bonds remained
outstanding.
Middlesex
is obligated to perform under the guarantee in the event notice is received
from
the Series C Serial Bonds trustee of an impending debt service deficiency.
If
Middlesex funds any debt service obligations as
guarantor,
Perth Amboy is required to reimburse the Company. There are other provisions
in
the agreement that make it unlikely that we would be required to perform under
the guarantee, such as scheduled annual rate increases for water and wastewater
services as well as rate increases that may be implemented at anytime by Perth
Amboy. In the event revenues from customers could not satisfy the reimbursement
requirements, Perth Amboy has Ad Valorem taxing powers, which could be used
to
raise the needed amount.
Water
Supply - Middlesex has an agreement with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority
(NJWSA) for the purchase of untreated water through November 30, 2023, which
provides for an average purchase of 27 million gallons per day (mgd). Pricing
is
set annually by the NJWSA through a public rate making process. The agreement
has provisions for additional pricing in the event Middlesex overdrafts or
exceeds certain monthly and annual thresholds.
Middlesex
also has an agreement with a non-affiliated regulated water utility for the
purchase of treated water. This agreement, which expires February 27, 2011,
provides for the minimum purchase of 3 mgd of treated water with provisions
for
additional purchases.
Purchased
water costs are shown below:
(In
Thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
June
30,
|
June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Purchased
Water
|
||||||||||||||||
Treated
|
$ |
539
|
$ |
473
|
$ |
999
|
$ |
935
|
||||||||
Untreated
|
529
|
492
|
1,128
|
1,059
|
||||||||||||
Total
Costs
|
$ |
1,068
|
$ |
965
|
$ |
2,127
|
$ |
1,994
|
Construction
– The Company expects to spend approximately $32.1 million on its construction
program in 2007.
Litigation
– In July 2005, Tidewater received a notice of violation and request for
corrective action issued by the Delaware State Fire Marshal regarding the
alleged failure of one of the community water systems operated by Tidewater
to
meet Delaware fire protection requirements. Tidewater appealed the
Fire Marshal’s decision with the Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission (the
“SFPC”) and, in November 2005, the SFPC denied Tidewater’s appeal. In
December 2005, Tidewater filed an appeal of the SFPC’s decision with the Sussex
County Superior Court in Delaware, which is still pending. There are
approximately 67 of our other systems that may not meet the Delaware Fire
Marshal’s recent interpretation of the fire protection
requirements. If the Delaware Fire Marshal’s interpretation of the
regulations is upheld upon appeal, we may be required to make corrections to
the
system at issue and the Delaware Fire Marshal could issue notices of violation
and requests for corrective action for some or all of the approximately 67
other
community systems. At this time, we cannot predict how many community
water systems would ultimately require corrective action if our appeal is
unsuccessful nor can we predict the timing and the cost of any required
corrective actions. We will apply to the PSC to increase base rates to recover
the costs of any such corrective actions. However, if corrective
actions need to be taken at several community water systems, our costs could
be
significant, and to the extent the PSC does not approve rate increases to offset
these costs, or if there is a significant delay in receiving approval for such
rate increases, such costs could have a material adverse effect on our operating
results.
The
Court
action is currently on hold while the parties, with the assistance of a
mediator, have met in an attempt to resolve as many open issues as
possible. If any significant issues remain open after these
discussions, they will be referred back to the Court for ultimate
decision.
The
Company is a defendant in lawsuits in the normal course of business. We believe
the resolution of pending claims and legal proceedings will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Change
in
Control Agreements – The Company has Change in Control Agreements with certain
of its Officers that provide compensation and benefits in the event of
termination of employment in connection with a change in control of the
Company.
Note
8 – Employee Retirement Benefit Plans
Pension
– The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, which
covers all employees with more than 1,000 hours of service. The Company
contributed $1.5 million of cash to the plan on August 3, 2007. The Company
also
maintains an unfunded supplemental retirement benefit plan for certain active
and retired company officers and currently pays $0.3 million in annual benefits
to the retired participants.
Postretirement
Benefits Other Than Pensions– The Company maintains a postretirement
benefit plan other than pensions for substantially all of its retired employees.
Coverage includes healthcare and life insurance. Retiree contributions are
dependent on credited years of service. The Company expects to make cash
contributions to the plan of approximately $1.6 million beginning in the third
quarter of 2007.
The
following table sets forth information relating to the Company’s periodic costs
for its retirement plans.
(In
Thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||
Pension
Benefits
|
Other
Benefits
|
|||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Service
Cost
|
$ |
320
|
$ |
334
|
$ |
205
|
$ |
189
|
||||||||
Interest
Cost
|
453
|
425
|
224
|
201
|
||||||||||||
Expected
Return on Assets
|
(456 | ) | (402 | ) | (120 | ) | (83 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization
of Unrecognized Losses
|
66
|
62
|
84
|
111
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
of Unrecognized Prior Service Cost
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
of Transition Obligation
|
2
|
-
|
34
|
34
|
||||||||||||
Net
Periodic Benefit Cost
|
$ |
385
|
$ |
422
|
$ |
427
|
$ |
452
|
||||||||
Pension
Benefits
|
Other
Benefits
|
|||||||||||||||
Six
Months Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Service
Cost
|
$ |
639
|
$ |
644
|
$ |
411
|
$ |
366
|
||||||||
Interest
Cost
|
907
|
855
|
448
|
419
|
||||||||||||
Expected
Return on Assets
|
(913 | ) | (816 | ) | (241 | ) | (174 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization
of Unrecognized Losses
|
131
|
119
|
169
|
240
|
Amortization
of Unrecognized Prior Service Cost
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
of Transition Obligation
|
5
|
-
|
68
|
68
|
||||||||||||
Net
Periodic Benefit Cost
|
$ |
769
|
$ |
805
|
$ |
855
|
$ |
919
|
||||||||
Note
9 – Stock Based Compensation
The
Company maintains a Restricted Stock Plan, under which 63,837 shares of the
Company's common stock are held in escrow by the Company as of June 30, 2007
for
key employees. Such stock is subject to forfeiture by the employee in the event
of termination of employment within five years of the award other than as a
result of retirement, death, disability or change in control. The maximum number
of shares authorized for grant under this plan is 240,000 shares. There were
no
grants, vesting or forfeitures of restricted stock during the six months ended
June 30, 2007.
The
Company recognizes compensation expense at fair value for its restricted stock
awards in accordance with SFAS 123(R), “Share Based
Payment”. Compensation
expense is determined by the market value of the stock on the date of the award
and is being amortized over a five-year period. Compensation expense for the
three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 was $0.1
million. Total unearned compensation related to restricted stock was
$0.7 million at June 30, 2007.
Note
10 – Other Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive
income was as follows:
(In
Thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
June
30,
|
June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ |
3,313
|
$ |
2,967
|
$ |
5,084
|
$ |
4,780
|
||||||||
Other
Comprehensive Income:
|
||||||||||||||||
Change
in Value of Equity Investments,
Net
of Income Tax
|
(23 | ) |
---
|
(14 | ) |
---
|
||||||||||
Other
Comprehensive Income
|
(23 | ) |
---
|
(14 | ) |
---
|
||||||||||
Comprehensive
Income
|
$ |
3,290
|
$ |
2,967
|
$ |
5,070
|
$ |
4,780
|
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the
unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company included
elsewhere herein and with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain
statements contained in this annual report and in the documents incorporated
by
reference constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities
Act
of 1933. The Company intends that these statements be covered by the safe
harbors created under those laws. These statements include, but are
not limited to:
|
-
|
statements
as to expected financial condition, performance, prospects and earnings
of
the Company;
|
|
-
|
statements
regarding strategic plans for
growth;
|
|
-
|
statements
regarding the amount and timing of rate increases and other regulatory
matters;
|
|
-
|
statements
regarding expectations and events concerning capital
expenditures;
|
|
-
|
statements
as to the Company’s expected liquidity needs during fiscal 2007 and beyond
and statements as to the sources and availability of funds to meet
its
liquidity needs;
|
|
-
|
statements
as to expected rates, consumption volumes, service fees, revenues,
margins, expenses and operating
results;
|
|
-
|
statements
as to the Company’s compliance with environmental laws and regulations and
estimations of the materiality of any related
costs;
|
|
-
|
statements
as to the safety and reliability of the Company’s equipment, facilities
and operations;
|
|
-
|
statements
as to financial projections;
|
|
-
|
statements
as to the ability of the Company to pay
dividends;
|
|
-
|
statements
as to the Company’s plans to renew municipal franchises and consents in
the territories it serves;
|
|
-
|
expectations
as to the amount of cash contributions to fund the Company’s retirement
benefit plans, including statements as to anticipated discount rates
and
rates of return on plan assets;
|
|
-
|
statements
as to trends; and
|
|
-
|
statements
regarding the availability and quality of our water
supply.
|
These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results and
outcomes include, but are not limited to:
|
-
|
the
effects of general economic
conditions;
|
|
-
|
increases
in competition in the markets served by the
Company;
|
|
-
|
the
ability of the Company to control operating expenses and to achieve
efficiencies in its operations;
|
|
-
|
the
availability of adequate supplies of
water;
|
|
-
|
actions
taken by government regulators, including decisions on base rate
increase
requests;
|
|
-
|
new
or additional water quality
standards;
|
|
-
|
weather
variations and other natural
phenomena;
|
|
-
|
the
existence of attractive acquisition candidates and the risks involved
in
pursuing those acquisitions;
|
|
-
|
acts
of war or terrorism;
|
|
-
|
significant
changes in the housing starts in
Delaware;
|
|
-
|
the
availability and cost of capital resources;
and
|
|
-
|
other
factors discussed elsewhere in this quarterly
report.
|
Many
of
these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Given
these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements, which only speak to the Company’s understanding as
of the date of this report. The Company does not undertake any obligation
to
release
publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events
or
circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities
laws.
For
an
additional discussion of factors that may affect the Company’s business and
results of operations, see Item 1A. - Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
Overview
The
Company has operated as a water utility in New Jersey since 1897, and in
Delaware, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tidewater, since 1992. We are
in
the business of collecting, treating, distributing and selling water for
residential, irrigation, commercial, municipal, industrial and fire protection
purposes. We also operate a New Jersey municipal water and wastewater system
under contract and provide wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware
through our subsidiaries. Our utility companies are regulated as to rates
charged to customers for water and wastewater services in New Jersey and
Delaware, as to the quality of service provided and as to certain other matters.
Our USA, USA-PA and White Marsh subsidiaries are not regulated
utilities.
Our
New
Jersey water utility system (the Middlesex System) provides water services
to
approximately 59,300 retail, commercial and fire service customers, primarily
in
central New Jersey. The Middlesex System also provides water service under
contract to municipalities in central New Jersey with a total population of
approximately 303,000. Through our subsidiary, USA-PA, we operate the water
supply system and wastewater collection system for the City of Perth Amboy,
New
Jersey. Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater provide water and wastewater
services to residents in Southampton Township, New Jersey.
Tidewater
and Southern Shores provide water services to approximately 31,000 retail
customers in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, Delaware. Our TESI
subsidiary provides regulated wastewater service to approximately 190
residential retail customers. White Marsh serves approximately 5,400 customers
under unregulated operating contracts with various owners of small water and
wastewater systems in Kent and Sussex Counties.
USA
provides customers both inside and outside of our service territories a service
line maintenance program called LineCareSM. In the
first
quarter of 2007 we introduced a similar program for wastewater customers called
LineCare+SM.
The
majority of our revenue is generated from regulated water services to customers
in our franchise areas. We record water service revenue as such service is
rendered and include estimates for amounts unbilled at the end of the period
for
services provided since the end of the last billing cycle. Fixed service charges
are billed in advance by our subsidiary, Tidewater, and are recognized in
revenue as the service is provided.
Our
ability to increase operating income and net income is based significantly
on
four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate relief, effective cost
management, and customer growth. These factors are evident in the discussions
below which compare our results of operations with prior periods.
Recent
Developments
Rate
Increases
Middlesex
filed for an $8.9 million, or 16.5% base rate increase with the New Jersey
Board
of Public Utilities (BPU) on April 18, 2007. The requested increase is intended
to recover increased costs of operations, maintenance, labor and benefits,
purchased power, purchased water and taxes, as well as capital investment of
approximately $23.0 million since rates were last established in 2005. We cannot
predict whether the BPU will ultimately approve, deny, or reduce the amount
of
our request. We do not expect a decision on this matter until the
first quarter of 2008.
In
accordance with the tariff established for Southern Shores, an annual rate
increase of 3% was implemented on January 1, 2007. The increase
cannot exceed the lesser of the regional Consumer Price Index or 3%. The
contracted rate schedule is set to expire on December 31, 2007. The
Company is in the process of renegotiating the rate schedule.
Operating
Results by Segment
The
Company has two operating segments, Regulated and Non-Regulated. Our Regulated
segment contributed 91% of total revenues and 95% of net income for the six
months ended June 30, 2007 and 88% of total revenues and 92% of net income
for
the six months ended June 30, 2006. The discussion of the Company’s results of
operations is on a consolidated basis, and includes significant factors by
subsidiary. The segments in the tables included below consist of the following
companies: Regulated-Middlesex, Tidewater, Pinelands, Southern Shores, and
TESI;
Non-Regulated- USA, USA-PA, and White Marsh.
Results
of Operations – Three Months Ended June 30, 2007
(In
Thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Regulated
|
Non-Regulated
|
Total
|
Regulated
|
Non-Regulated
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ |
19,776
|
$ |
1,969
|
$ |
21,745
|
$ |
18,663
|
$ |
2,374
|
$ |
21,037
|
||||||||||||
Operations
and maintenance expenses
|
9,631
|
1,549
|
11,180
|
8,921
|
1,885
|
10,806
|
||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
expense
|
1,842
|
33
|
1,875
|
1,683
|
30
|
1,713
|
||||||||||||||||||
Other
taxes
|
2,352
|
59
|
2,411
|
2,313
|
56
|
2,369
|
||||||||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
5,951
|
328
|
6,279
|
5,746
|
403
|
6,149
|
||||||||||||||||||
Other
income
|
414
|
---
|
414
|
143
|
---
|
143
|
||||||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
1,672
|
26
|
1,698
|
1,784
|
24
|
1,808
|
||||||||||||||||||
Income
taxes
|
1,553
|
129
|
1,682
|
1,365
|
152
|
1,517
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
3,140
|
$ |
173
|
$ |
3,313
|
$ |
2,740
|
$ |
227
|
$ |
2,967
|
Operating
revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2007 increased $0.7 million, or
3.4%, from the same period in 2006 due to customer growth and rate relief in
our
Delaware service territories. The implementation of a 15% interim rate increase
in June 2006 and the additional 12% final increase on February 28, 2007 provided
an additional $1.0 million of revenues. Customer growth and higher consumption
contributed $0.3 million of revenues. Fees charged to new customers
for initial connection to our Delaware water systems were lower by $0.4 million
as new residential and commercial development has slowed in our Delaware service
territories. Consumption revenues in our Middlesex system were lower by $0.1
million. USA-PA’s fees for managing the Perth Amboy water and wastewater systems
were $0.3 million lower than the same period in 2006 due to
lower
pass-through
charges. There was an equal and offsetting amount of lower expenses
connected with this management contract.
While
we
anticipate continued organic customer and consumption growth, particularly
in
our Delaware systems, such growth and increased consumption cannot be
guaranteed. Revenues from our water systems are highly dependent on the effects
of weather, which may adversely impact future consumption despite customer
growth. Customer growth in both the regulated water and wastewater businesses
are dependent upon economic conditions surrounding new housing as well as
developer construction timetables. Since early 2007, we have experienced a
slow
down in the rate of customer growth in Delaware. Appreciable organic
customer and consumption growth is less likely in our New Jersey systems due
to
the extent to which our service territory is developed.
Operation
and maintenance expenses increased $0.4 million or 3.5%. Labor costs were $0.2
million higher due wage increases and increased headcount to meet the needs
of
the growing Delaware customer base. Water production costs were $0.2
million higher due to increased sales in Delaware and higher unit costs for
water, electric power and treatment costs in New Jersey.
Depreciation
expense increased $0.2 million, or 9.5%, primarily as a result of a higher
level
of utility plant in service since June 30, 2006. The $0.2 million
increase in other income resulted from the sale of non-utility
property. Interest expense decreased by $0.1 million commensurate with lower
short-term borrowings compared to the prior year period.
Income
taxes increased $0.2 million as a result of increased operating income as
compared to the prior year.
Net
income increased by 11.7% from $3.0 million to $3.3 million. However, due to
a
higher number of shares outstanding, basic earnings per share were $0.25 for
the
three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $0.25 for the same period in
2006. Diluted earnings per share were $0.24 and $0.25 for three
months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. Middlesex sold and issued 1.5 million
shares of its common stock in November 2006.
Results
of Operations – Six Months Ended June 30, 2007
(In
Thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six
Months Ended June 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Regulated
|
Non-Regulated
|
Total
|
Regulated
|
Non-Regulated
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ |
36,462
|
$ |
4,270
|
$ |
40,732
|
$ |
34,663
|
$ |
4,604
|
$ |
39,267
|
||||||||||||
Operations
and maintenance expenses
|
18,846
|
3,504
|
22,350
|
17,432
|
3,759
|
21,191
|
||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
expense
|
3,656
|
64
|
3,720
|
3,324
|
57
|
3,381
|
||||||||||||||||||
Other
taxes
|
4,544
|
118
|
4,662
|
4,458
|
115
|
4,573
|
||||||||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
9,416
|
584
|
10,000
|
9,449
|
673
|
10,122
|
||||||||||||||||||
Other
income
|
748
|
---
|
748
|
313
|
---
|
313
|
||||||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
3,030
|
51
|
3,081
|
3,273
|
50
|
3,323
|
||||||||||||||||||
Income
taxes
|
2,357
|
226
|
2,583
|
2,082
|
250
|
2,332
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
4,777
|
$ |
307
|
$ |
5,084
|
$ |
4,407
|
$ |
373
|
$ |
4,780
|
Operating
revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased $1.5 million, or
3.7%,
from the same period in 2006. Water sales improved by $1.8 million in our
Delaware water systems, of which $1.6 million was a result of a base rate
increase that was granted to Tidewater. The rate increase was
implemented in two parts; a 15% interim rate increase in June 2006 and an
additional 12% final increase on February 28, 2007. Customer growth
and higher consumption contributed $0.6 million of revenues. Fees
charged to new customers for initial connection to our Delaware water systems
were down $0.4 million for the reasons described
above. Consumption revenues in our Middlesex system were lower
by $0.2 million. USA-PA’s fees for managing the Perth Amboy water and wastewater
systems were $0.2 million lower than the same period in 2006 due mostly to
lower
pass-through charges. There was on equal and offsetting amount of
lower expenses connected with this management contract. All other operations
accounted for $0.1 million of additional revenues.
Operation
and maintenance expenses increased $1.2 million, or 5.5%. Labor and benefit
costs were $0.7 million higher due wage increases and increased headcount to
meet the needs of the growing Delaware customer base. Pumping and
water treatment costs increased a combined $0.3 million due to higher costs
for
electricity, chemicals and disposal of residuals. All other operating costs
increased by $0.2 million.
Depreciation
expense increased $0.3 million, or 10.0%, due to the higher level of utility
plant in service, as discussed for the three-month results. The $0.4
million increase in other income resulted from the sale of non-utility property
and higher earnings on our short-term investments. Interest expense
decreased by $0.2 million commensurate with lower
short-term borrowings compared to the prior year period.
Income
taxes increased by $0.3 million as a result of increased operating income as
compared to the prior year.
Net
income increased by $0.3 million, or 6.4%. However, due to a higher
number of shares outstanding, basic earnings per share were $0.38 for the six
months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $0.40 for the same period in
2006. Diluted earnings per share were $0.37 and $0.40 for six months
ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. Middlesex sold and issued 1.5 million
shares of its common stock in November 2006.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Cash
flows from operations are largely dependent on three factors: the impact of
weather on water sales, adequate and timely rate increases, and customer growth.
The effect of those factors on net income is discussed in results of operations.
For the six months ended June 30, 2007, cash flows from operating activities
were $9.9 million, an increase of $2.5 million from the prior year. This
increase was attributable to increased earnings, and the timing of payments
to
vendors. These higher cash flows were partially offset by an increase in the
level of customer receivables. The $9.9 million of net cash flow from operations
enabled us to fund all of our utility plant expenditures internally for the
period.
The
capital spending program for 2007 is currently estimated to be $32.1 million,
which is lower by $22.5 million than the amount previously reported in our
2006
Annual Report on Form 10-K. This decrease is due primarily to the slowing of
new
residential and commercial development in our Delaware service territories.
Included in our revised estimate for 2007 are: $12.1 million for additions
and
improvements to our Delaware water systems, including the construction of
several storage tanks and the creation of new wells and interconnections. We
expect to spend approximately $6.0 million for infrastructure additions and
acquisitions for our Delaware wastewater systems. We expect to spend $3.9
million for the RENEW program, to clean and cement line approximately nine
miles
of unlined mains in the Middlesex system. There remains a total of approximately
120 miles of unlined mains in the 730-mile Middlesex system. The capital program
also includes $10.1 million for scheduled upgrades to our existing systems
in
New Jersey. These upgrades consist of $1.9
million
for improvements to existing plant, $5.6 million for mains, $0.7 million for
service lines, $0.4 million for meters, $0.5 million for hydrants, and $1.0
million for other infrastructure needs.
To
fund
our capital program in 2007, we will utilize remaining proceeds from the
November 2006 common stock offering, internally generated funds and funds
available under existing New Jersey State Revolving Fund (SRF) program loans
(currently, $3.5 million) and Delaware SRF program loans (currently, $2.1
million). These programs provide low cost financing for projects that meet
certain water quality and system improvement benchmarks. We also expect to
utilize short-term borrowings through $40.0 million of available lines of credit
with several financial institutions. As of June 30, 2007, $0.8 million was
outstanding against the lines of credit.
We
periodically issue shares of common stock in connection with our dividend
reinvestment and stock purchase plan (DRP). From time to time, we may
issue additional equity to reduce short-term indebtedness, fund our capital
program, and for other general corporate purposes.
We
currently project that we may be required to expend between $70 million and
$100
million for capital projects in 2008 and 2009 combined. To the extent possible
and because of the favorable interest rates available to regulated water
utilities, we will finance our capital expenditures under SRF loan programs.
We
also expect to use internally generated funds, proceeds from the DRP and
proceeds from additional common stock offerings, as needed to maintain an
appropriate capital structure balance.
In
addition to the effect of weather conditions on revenues, increases in certain
operating costs will impact our liquidity and capital resources. As described
above, we have recently received rate relief for Tidewater and Southern Shores.
Changes in operating costs and timing of capital projects will have an impact
on
revenues, earnings, and cash flows and will also impact the timing of filings
for future rate increases.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements– See Note 1 of the Notes to Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent
accounting pronouncements.
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures of Market
Risk
|
The
Company is subject to the risk of fluctuating interest rates in the normal
course of business. Our capital program is partially financed with
fixed rate, long-term debt and, to a lesser extent, short-term debt. The
Company’s interest rate risk related to existing fixed rate, long-term debt is
not material due to the term of the majority of our Amortizing Secured Notes
and
First Mortgage Bonds, which have maturity dates ranging from 2009 to
2038. Over the next twelve months, approximately $2.6 million of the
current portion of sixteen existing long-term debt instruments will mature.
Applying a hypothetical change in the rate of interest of 10% on those
borrowings would not have a material effect on earnings.
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
As
required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls
and procedures was conducted by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer along with
the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer concluded that
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of
the period covered by this Report. There have been no changes in the Company’s
internal controls or in other factors, which materially affected internal
controls during the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
Disclosure
controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed
to
ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or
submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include,
without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is
accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely
decisions regarding disclosure.
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
Reference
is made to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2006 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the period ended March
31,
2007. Note 7 to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for
the period ended June 30, 2007, included in Part I of this Quarterly Report
on
Form 10-Q, is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item
1A.
|
Risk
Factors
|
We
expect
our revenues to increase from customer growth in Delaware for our regulated
water operations and, to a lesser degree, our regulated wastewater operations
as
a result of the anticipated construction and sale of new housing units in the
territories we serve. Although the residential building market in
Delaware has experienced growth in recent years, this growth may not continue
in
the future. If housing starts in the Delaware territories we serve
decline significantly as a result of economic conditions or otherwise, our
revenue growth may not meet our expectations and our financial results could
be
negatively impacted.
Except
as
described above, information about risk factors for the six months ended June
30, 2007 does not differ materially from those set forth in Part I, Item 1A.
of
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2006.
Item
2.
|
Changes
in
Securities
|
None.
Item
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior
Securities
|
None.
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders
|
|
1.
|
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS:
|
Nominees
for Class II term expiring 2010
FOR
|
%
|
WITHHOLD
|
%
|
|||
Annette
Catino
|
10,662,775
|
93.6
|
729,157
|
6.4
|
||
Walter
G. Reinhard
|
10,660,977
|
93.6
|
730,955
|
6.4
|
|
2.
|
Approval
of an Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase
the total authorized Common Stock, No par Value, from 20,000,00 to
40,000,000 shares
|
FOR
|
%
|
AGAINST
|
%
|
ABSTAIN
|
%
|
|
10,648,916
|
94.2
|
659,727
|
5.8
|
83,289
|
0.0
|
Item
5.
|
Other
Information
|
None.
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
Employment
Agreement between Middlesex Water Company and Bernadette M.
Sohler
|
Section
302 Certification by Dennis W. Doll pursuant to Rules 13a-14 and
15d-14 of
the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
|
Section
302 Certification by A. Bruce O’Connor pursuant to Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14
of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
|
Section
906 Certification by Dennis W. Doll pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
Section
906 Certification by A. Bruce O’Connor pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
A. Bruce O’Connor
|
||
A.
Bruce O’Connor
|
|||
Vice
President and
|
|||
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Date:
August 7, 2007
19