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SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES INC - Quarter Report: 2010 March (Form 10-Q)

form10-q.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark one)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010
 
OR
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ________________ to __________________
 
Commission File Number 1-6364
 
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
New Jersey
22-1901645
(State of incorporation)
(IRS employer identification no.)
1 South Jersey Plaza, Folsom, NJ 08037
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
(609) 561-9000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Common Stock
 
($1.25 par value per share)
New York Stock Exchange
(Title of each class)
(Name of exchange on which registered)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
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 o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o   No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer   x
 
Accelerated filer                      o
Non-accelerated filer     o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company    o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o  No x
 
As of May 3, 2010 there were 29,872,825 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.
 


 
SJI -1

 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
Page
No.
     
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
       
Item 1.
  3
Item 2.
  21
Item 3.
  30
Item 4.
  32
       
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
   
       
Item 1.
  32
Item 1A.
  32
Item 2.
  33
Item 6.
  33
       
  33
 
 
SJI -2

 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands Except for Per Share Data)
 
             
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Operating Revenues:
           
Utility
  $ 196,057     $ 240,109  
Nonutility
    133,226       122,067  
                 
Total Operating Revenues
    329,283       362,176  
                 
Operating Expenses:
               
  Cost of Sales - (Excluding depreciation)
               
- Utility
    116,216       162,973  
- Nonutility
    115,028       102,535  
Operations
    23,480       22,913  
Maintenance
    2,816       2,155  
Depreciation
    8,242       7,660  
Energy and Other Taxes
    4,872       5,167  
                 
      Total Operating Expenses
    270,654       303,403  
                 
Operating Income
    58,629       58,773  
                 
Other Income and Expense
    1,024       461  
                 
Interest Charges
    (4,966 )     (4,893 )
                 
Income Before Income Taxes
    54,687       54,341  
                 
Income Taxes
    (21,971 )     (20,218 )
                 
Equity in Loss of Affiliated Companies
    (1,148 )     (2,435 )
                 
Income from Continuing Operations
    31,568       31,688  
                 
Loss from Discontinued Operations - (Net of tax benefit)
    (29 )     (19 )
                 
      Net Income
    31,539       31,669  
                 
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries
          (66 )
                 
      Net Income - Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders
  $ 31,539     $ 31,603  
                 
Amounts Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders
               
Income from Continuing Operations
  $ 31,568     $ 31,622  
Loss from Discontinued Operations - (Net of tax benefit)
    (29 )     (19 )
                 
      Net Income - Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders
  $ 31,539     $ 31,603  
                 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders:
 
Continuing Operations
  $ 1.058     $ 1.063  
Discontinued Operations
    (0.001 )     (0.001 )
                 
      Basic Earnings Per Common Share
  $ 1.057     $ 1.062  
                 
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Basic
    29,826       29,752  
                 
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders:
 
Continuing Operations
  $ 1.055     $ 1.059  
Discontinued Operations
    (0.001 )     (0.000 )
                 
      Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
  $ 1.054     $ 1.059  
                 
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted
    29,913       29,851  
                 
Dividends Declared per Common Share
  $ 0.330     $ 0.298  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
SJI -3

 
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
             
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Net Income
  $ 31,539     $ 31,669  
                 
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax:*
               
                 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities
    144       (170 )
Unrealized Gain on Derivatives - Other
    97       373  
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income of Affiliated Companies
    (19 )     1,323  
                 
Other Comprehensive Income  - Net of Tax*
    222       1,526  
                 
Comprehensive Income
    31,761       33,195  
                 
Less: Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries
          (66 )
                 
Comprehensive Income Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc.
  $ 31,761     $ 33,129  
 
* Determined using a combined statutory tax rate of 41.08%.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
SJI -4

 
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
       
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
  $ 117,838     $ 119,845  
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
               
Capital Expenditures
    (38,546 )     (17,115 )
Net Purchase of Restricted Investments in Margin Account
    (24,022 )     (3,572 )
Investment in Long-Term Receivables
    (910 )     (2,044 )
Proceeds from Long-Term Receivables
    609       2,869  
Investment in Affiliate
    (1,200 )     (1,781 )
Advances on Notes Receivable - Affiliate
    (3,098 )     (650 )
Repayment of Notes Receivable - Affiliate
    177       1,100  
Net Advances on Lines of Credit - Affiliate
    (2,019 )      
Other
          175  
                 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
    (69,009 )     (21,018 )
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
               
Net Repayments of Lines of Credit
    (62,600 )     (97,875 )
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt
    15,000        
Payments for Issuance of Long-Term Debt
    (559 )      
Other
          (37 )
                 
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
    (48,159 )     (97,912 )
                 
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    670       915  
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
    3,823       5,775  
                 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
  $ 4,493     $ 6,690  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
SJI -5

 
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
             
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Assets
           
             
Property, Plant and Equipment:
           
Utility Plant, at original cost
  $ 1,306,746     $ 1,275,792  
Accumulated Depreciation
    (320,781 )     (314,627 )
Nonutility Property and Equipment, at cost
    116,939       132,119  
Accumulated Depreciation
    (19,842 )     (20,212 )
                 
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
    1,083,062       1,073,072  
                 
Investments:
               
Available-for-Sale Securities
    6,212       5,958  
Restricted
    29,237       5,215  
Investment in Affiliates
    1,777       2,483  
                 
Total Investments
    37,226       13,656  
                 
Current Assets:
               
Cash and Cash Equivalents
    4,493       3,823  
Accounts Receivable
    230,645       141,109  
Unbilled Revenues
    34,647       58,598  
Provision for Uncollectibles
    (6,293 )     (6,268 )
Notes Receivable - Affiliate
    2,865       502  
Natural Gas in Storage, average cost
    60,219       99,697  
Materials and Supplies, average cost
    4,311       6,877  
Prepaid Taxes
    5       20,093  
Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
    42,858       36,512  
Other Prepayments and Current Assets
    8,053       7,412  
                 
Total Current Assets
    381,803       368,355  
                 
Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets:
               
Regulatory Assets
    231,355       240,462  
Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
    14,210       11,585  
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
    7,168       6,788  
Notes Receivables-Affiliates
    44,385       30,838  
Contract Receivables
    13,083       13,544  
Other
    22,371       23,708  
                 
Total Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets
    332,572       326,925  
                 
Total Assets
  $ 1,834,663     $ 1,782,008  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
SJI -6

 
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
                 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
                 
Capitalization and Liabilities
               
                 
Equity:
               
Common Stock
  $ 37,341     $ 37,245  
Premium on Common Stock
    254,958       254,503  
Treasury Stock (at par)
    (183 )     (183 )
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
    (19,247 )     (19,469 )
Retained Earnings
    293,185       271,505  
                 
Total South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
    566,054       543,601  
                 
Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries
          963  
                 
Total Equity
    566,054       544,564  
                 
Long-Term Debt
    326,400       312,793  
                 
Total Capitalization
    892,454       857,357  
                 
Current Liabilities:
               
Notes Payable
    134,000       196,600  
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt
    35,000       35,119  
Accounts Payable
    146,587       123,921  
Customer Deposits and Credit Balances
    15,690       14,128  
Environmental Remediation Costs
    26,220       23,639  
Taxes Accrued
    34,811       6,518  
Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
    59,411       28,260  
Deferred Income Taxes - Net
    6,195       19,897  
Deferred Contract Revenues
    5,003       6,081  
Dividends Payable
    9,858        
Interest Accrued
    4,681       6,211  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
    1,109       1,109  
Other Current Liabilities
    11,866       17,301  
                 
Total Current Liabilities
    490,431       478,784  
                 
Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities:
               
Deferred Income Taxes - Net
    219,246       215,346  
Investment Tax Credits
    1,440       1,518  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
    71,058       69,141  
Environmental Remediation Costs
    46,607       49,803  
Asset Retirement Obligations
    23,154       23,229  
Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
    11,447       10,931  
Derivatives - Other
    6,000       5,823  
Regulatory Liabilities
    54,824       50,193  
Other
    18,002       19,883  
                 
Total Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities
    451,778       445,867  
                 
Commitments and Contingencies  (Note 12)
               
                 
Total Capitalization and Liabilities
  $ 1,834,663     $ 1,782,008  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
SJI -7

 
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
1.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
GENERAL - South Jersey Industries, Inc. (SJI or the Company) currently provides a variety of energy related products and services primarily through the following subsidiaries:
 
 
South Jersey Gas Company (SJG) is a regulated natural gas utility. SJG distributes natural gas in the seven southernmost counties of New Jersey.
 
 
South Jersey Resources Group, LLC (SJRG) markets wholesale natural gas storage, commodity and transportation in the mid-Atlantic and southern states.
 
 
Marina Energy, LLC (Marina) develops and operates on-site energy-related projects.
 
 
South Jersey Energy Company (SJE) acquires and markets natural gas and electricity to retail end users and provides total energy management services to commercial and industrial customers.
 
 
South Jersey Energy Service Plus, LLC (SJESP) installs residential and small commercial HVAC systems, provides plumbing services and services appliances via the sale of  appliance service programs.
 
BASIS OF PRESENTATION — The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SJI, its wholly owned subsidiaries and subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In management’s opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments needed to fairly present SJI’s financial position and operating results at the dates and for the periods presented. SJI’s businesses are subject to seasonal fluctuations and, accordingly, this interim financial information should not be the basis for estimating the full year’s operating results. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain certain condensed financial information and exclude certain footnote disclosures normally included in annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with SJI’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of the Company’s accounting policies and certain other information.
 
Marina and a joint venture partner formed AC Landfill Energy, LLC (ACLE) and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE) to develop and install methane-to-electric power generation systems at certain county-owned landfills. Marina owns a 51% interest in ACLE and WCLE and, prior to January 1, 2010, accounted for these entities as consolidated subsidiaries. In June 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs) which was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The new accounting guidance for VIEs considers if a company has a controlling financial interest in a VIE. A controlling financial interest will have both (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Entities are required to consolidate a VIE when it is determined that they have a controlling financial interest in a VIE and therefore, are the primary beneficiary of that VIE.
 
Marina and the joint venture partner of ACLE and WCLE share the executive board seats and its voting rights equally and equally approve the annual budgets of both entities. Based on the shared control of operations, management concluded as of January 1, 2010 that the Company is no longer the primary beneficiary of ACLE and WCLE as defined by the new accounting guidance. As a result, ACLE and WCLE are no longer accounted for as consolidated subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2010, ACLE and WCLE are reported as equity investments and included in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The results of operations of ACLE and WCLE for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are included in Equity in Loss of Affiliated Companies on the condensed consolidated statements of income. The adoption of this guidance modified our financial statement presentation, but did not have an impact on our financial statement results.
 
REVENUE BASED TAXES — SJI collects certain revenue-based energy taxes from customers. Such taxes include New Jersey State Sales Tax, Transitional Energy Facility Assessment (TEFA) and Public Utilities Assessment (PUA). State sales tax is recorded as a liability when billed to customers and is not included in revenue or operating expenses. TEFA and PUA are included in both utility revenue and cost of sales and totaled $3.8 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended  March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
CAPITALIZED INTEREST — SJG capitalizes interest on construction at the rate of return on rate base utilized by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to set rates in its last base rate proceeding. Marina capitalizes interest on construction projects in progress based on the actual cost of borrowed funds. SJG’s amounts are included in Utility Plant and Marina’s amounts are included in Nonutility Property and Equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Interest Charges are presented net of capitalized interest on the condensed consolidated statements of income. The amount of interest capitalized by SJI for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was not significant.
 
 
SJI -8

 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS —The Company uses a variety of derivative instruments to limit its exposure to market risk in accordance with strict corporate guidelines (See Note 13). These contracts, which have not been designated as hedging instruments under GAAP, are measured at fair value and recorded in Derivatives — Energy Related Assets or Derivatives — Energy Related Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The net unrealized pre-tax gains and losses for these energy related commodity contracts are included with realized gains and losses in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.
 
The Company has also entered into interest rate derivatives to hedge exposure to increasing interest rates and the impact of those rates on cash flows of variable-rate debt. These interest rate derivatives, some of which have been designated as hedging instruments under GAAP, are measured at fair value and recorded in Derivatives-Other on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair value represents the amount SJI would have to pay the counterparty to terminate these contracts as of those dates. 
 
The interest rate derivatives that have been designated as cash flow hedges have been determined to be highly effective.  Therefore, the changes in fair value of the effective portion of these interest rate swaps along with the cumulative unamortized costs, net of taxes, have been recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. These unrealized gains and losses will be reclassified into earnings when the hedged forecasted cash flows of the related variable-rate debt occurs, or when it is probable that they will not occur. The ineffective portion of these swaps have been included in Interest Charges.
 
The unrealized gains and losses on the interest rate derivatives that have not been designated as cash flow hedges have also been included in Interest Charges. However, for selected interest rate derivatives at SJG, management believes that, subject to BPU approval, the market value upon termination can be recovered in rates and therefore these unrealized losses have been included in Other Regulatory Assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
  
GAS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT - The Company capitalizes all costs associated with gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities under the full cost method of accounting. Capitalized costs include costs related to unproved properties, which are not amortized until proved reserves are found or it is determined that the unproved properties are impaired. All costs related to unproved properties are reviewed quarterly to determine if impairment has occurred. As of March 31, 2010, $3.5 million related to the acquisition of interests in proved and unproved properties in Pennsylvania is included with Nonutility Property and Equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, respectively.
 
TREASURY STOCK – SJI uses the par value method of accounting for treasury stock. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, SJI held 146,099 and 146,028 shares of treasury stock, respectively. These shares are related to deferred compensation arrangements where the amounts earned are held in the stock of SJI.
 
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — Other than as described below, no new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during 2009 and 2010 had, or is expected to have, a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs). Accordingly, companies needed to carefully reconsider previous conclusions, including (1) whether an entity is a VIE, (2) whether the company is the VIE’s primary beneficiary, and (3) what type of financial statement disclosures are required. The new guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009.  As a result of adopting this guidance, we have deconsolidated ACLE and WCLE as of January 1, 2010 due to the shared control between the Company and the joint venture partner as discussed under “Basis of Presentation” above. Beginning January 1, 2010, ACLE and WCLE are reported using the equity method of accounting. The adoption of this guidance modified our financial statement presentation, but did not have an impact on our financial statement results.
 
HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION – In March of 2010, the President of the United States signed into law comprehensive health care reform legislation under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590) and the Health Care Education and Affordability Reconciliation Act (HR 4872) (the “Acts”).  The Acts contain provisions which could impact our accounting for retiree medical benefits in future periods.  However, the extent of that impact, if any, cannot be determined until regulations are promulgated under the Acts and additional interpretations of the Acts become available.  Based on the analysis to date of the provision in the Acts in which the impacts are reasonably determinable, a re-measurement of our Other Postretirement Benefits liability is not required at this time.  See Note 11 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009 for additional information related to SJI’s pension and other postretirement benefits.
 
 
SJI -9

 
2.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN:
 
Under the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock-Based Compensation Plan, no more than 2,000,000 shares in the aggregate may be issued to SJI’s officers (Officers), non-employee directors (Directors) and other key employees. The plan will terminate on January 26, 2015, unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors. No options were granted or outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. No stock appreciation rights have been issued under the plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, SJI granted 52,940 and 41,437 restricted shares to Officers and other key employees, respectively.   These restricted shares vest over a three-year period and are subject to SJI achieving certain market-based performance targets as compared to a peer group average, which can cause the actual amount of shares that ultimately vest to range from between 0% to 150% of the original share units granted. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, SJI granted 16,700 and 9,559 restricted shares to Directors, respectively.  Shares issued to Directors vest over a three-year service period but contain no performance conditions. As a result, 100% of the shares granted generally vest.
 
See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009 for the related accounting policy.
 
The following table summarizes the nonvested restricted stock awards outstanding at March 31, 2010 and the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the awards:
 
   
Grant Date
 
Shares
Outstanding
 
Fair Value
Per Share
   
Expected
Volatility
   
Risk-Free
Interest Rate
 
                             
Officers & Key Employees -
 
Jan. 2008
 
42,144
 
$
34.030
   
21.7
 
2.90
   
Jan. 2009
 
37,748
 
$
39.350
   
28.6
 
1.20
   
Jan. 2010
 
52,940
 
$
39.020
   
29.0
 
1.65
                             
Directors -
 
Jan. 2008
 
7,704
 
$
36.355
   
   
 
   
Jan. 2009
 
8,690
 
$
40.265
   
   
 
   
Jan. 2010
 
16,700
 
$
37.825
   
   
 
 
Expected volatility is based on the actual daily volatility of SJI’s share price over the preceding three-year period as of the valuation date. The risk-free interest rate is based on the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Bond, with a term equal to the three-year term of the Officers’ and other key employees’ restricted shares. As notional dividend equivalents are credited to the holders, which are reinvested during the three-year service period, no reduction to the fair value of the award is required. As the Directors’ restricted stock awards contain no performance conditions and dividends are paid or credited to the holder during the three-year service period, the fair value of these awards are equal to the market value of the shares on the date of grant.
 
The following table summarizes the total compensation cost for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Officers & Key Employees
 
$
407
   
$
335
 
Directors
   
111
     
82
 
Total Cost
   
518
     
417
 
                 
Capitalized
   
(51
)
   
(43
)
Net Expense
 
$
467
   
$
374
 
 
As of March 31, 2010, there was $4.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards granted under the restricted stock plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.3 years.
 
 
SJI -10

 
The following table summarizes information regarding restricted stock award activity during the three months ended March 31, 2010 excluding accrued dividend equivalents:
 
                   
   
Officers &
Other
Key
Employees
   
Directors
   
Weighted
Average
Fair Value
 
                   
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, January 1, 2010
   
80,281
     
16,394
   
$
36.874
 
Granted
   
52,940
     
16,700
   
$
38.733
 
Forfeited
   
(389
)
   
   
$
39.350
 
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, March 31, 2010
   
132,832
     
33,094
   
$
37.649
 
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, SJI awarded 59,893 shares, which had vested at December 31, 2009, at a market value of $2.3 million, and 57,976 shares, which had vested at December 31, 2008, at a market value of $2.3 million, respectively. The Company has a policy of issuing new shares to satisfy its obligations under these plans; therefore, there are no cash payment requirements resulting from the normal operation of this plan. However, a change in control could result in such shares becoming nonforefeitable or immediately payable in cash.  At the discretion of the Officers, Directors and other key employees, the receipt of vested shares can be deferred until future periods.  These deferred shares are included in Treasury Stock on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
3.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
 
Discontinued Operations consist of the environmental remediation activities related to the properties of South Jersey Fuel, Inc. (SJF) and the product liability litigation and environmental remediation activities related to the prior business of The Morie Company, Inc. (Morie). SJF is a subsidiary of Energy & Minerals, Inc. (EMI), an SJI subsidiary, which previously operated a fuel oil business. Morie is the former sand mining and processing subsidiary of EMI. EMI sold the common stock of Morie in 1996. 
 
SJI conducts tests annually to estimate the environmental remediation costs for these properties.
 
Summarized operating results of the discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, were (in thousands, except per share amounts):
  
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Loss before Income Taxes:
           
Sand Mining
 
$
(42
)
 
$
(27
)
Fuel Oil
   
(3
)
   
(2
)
Income Tax Benefits
   
16
     
10
 
Loss from Discontinued Operations — Net
 
$
(29
)
 
$
(19
)
Earnings Per Common Share from Discontinued Operations — Net:
               
Basic
 
$
(0.001
)
 
$
(0.001
)
Diluted
 
$
(0.001
)
 
$
(0.000
)
 
4.
COMMON STOCK:
 
The following shares were issued and outstanding at March 31:
 
   
2010
 
Beginning Balance, January 1
   
29,796,232
 
New Issues During Period:
       
Stock-Based Compensation Plan
   
76,593
 
Ending Balance, March 31
   
29,872,825
 
 
The par value ($1.25 per share) of stock issued was recorded in Common Stock and the net excess over par value of approximately $0.5 million, was recorded in Premium on Common Stock.
 
 
SJI -11

 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE — Basic EPS is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.  The incremental shares required for inclusion in the denominator for the diluted EPS calculation were 86,464 and 98,416 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These shares relate to SJI’s restricted stock as discussed in Note 2.
 
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (DRP) —  The Company offers a DRP which allows participating shareholders to purchase shares of SJI common stock by the automatic reinvestment of dividends or optional purchases. During 2010 and 2009, shares of SJI common stock offered by the DRP have been purchased in open market transactions.
 
5.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:
 
RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS - In accordance with the terms of the Marina and certain SJG loan agreements, unused proceeds are required to be escrowed pending approved construction expenditures. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the escrowed proceeds, including interest earned, totaled $1.4 million.
 
The Company maintains margin accounts with selected counterparties to support its risk management activities. The balances required to be held in these margin accounts increase as the net value of the outstanding energy related contracts with the respective counterparties decrease. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the balances in these accounts totaled $27.9 million and $3.8 million respectively. The carrying amounts of the Restricted Investments approximate their fair values at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
 
LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES — SJG provides financing to customers for the purpose of attracting conversions to natural gas heating systems from competing fuel sources.  The terms of these loans call for customers to make monthly payments over a period of up to five years with no interest.  The carrying amounts of such loans were $10.4 million and $10.8 million as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The current portion of these receivables is reflected in Accounts Receivable and the non-current portion is reflected in Contract Receivables on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The carrying amounts noted above are net of unamortized discounts resulting from imputed interest in the amounts of $1.3 million and $1.2 million as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  The annual amortization to interest is not material to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.   The carrying amounts of these receivables approximate their fair value at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
 
LONG-TERM DEBT – In March 2010, SJG issued in a private placement, $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of its Medium Term Notes.  These notes bear interest at 4.84%, are secured by a first mortgage lien on substantially all utility plant and are due in 2026.  The estimated fair values of SJI’s long-term debt, including current maturities, as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, were $418.0 million and $394.5 million, respectively. The carrying amounts as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, were $362.9 million and $347.9 million, respectively.  We based the estimates on interest rates available to SJI at the end of each period for debt with similar terms and maturities.  The carrying amounts of SJI’s other financial instruments approximate their fair values at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
 
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK - As of March 31, 2010, approximately 47.0% of the current and noncurrent Derivatives – Energy Related Assets or $26.9 million are with a single retail counterparty. This counterparty has contracts with a large number of diverse customers which minimizes the concentration of this risk. A portion of these contracts may be assigned to SJI in the event of a default by the counterparty.
 
6.
SEGMENTS OF BUSINESS:
 
SJI operates in several different reportable operating segments which reflect the financial information regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker. Gas Utility Operations (SJG) consists primarily of natural gas distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Wholesale Gas Operations include SJRG’s activities. SJE is involved in both retail gas and retail electric activities. Retail Gas and Other Operations include natural gas acquisition and transportation service business lines. Retail Electric Operations consist of electricity acquisition and transportation to commercial and industrial customers. On-Site Energy Production consists of Marina’s thermal energy facility and other energy-related projects. Appliance Service Operations includes SJESP’s servicing of appliances via the sale of appliance service programs as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems.  The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.  Intersegment sales and transfers are treated as if the sales or transfers were to third parties at current market prices.
 
 
SJI -12

 
Information about SJI’s operations in different reportable operating segments is presented below (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Operating Revenues:
           
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
196,716
   
$
243,113
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
54,441
     
63,868
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
35,834
     
38,040
 
Retail Electric Operations
   
31,950
     
8,268
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
9,350
     
10,013
 
Appliance Service Operations
   
4,712
     
5,003
 
Corporate & Services
   
5,403
     
4,900
 
Subtotal
   
338,406
     
373,205
 
Intersegment Sales
   
(9,123
)
   
(11,029
)
Total Operating Revenues
 
$
329,283
   
$
362,176
 
                 
Operating Income:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
47,791
   
$
46,367
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
20,294
     
10,400
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
706
     
661
 
Retail Electric Operations
   
(11,803
)
   
(1,620
)
On-Site Energy Production
   
1,110
     
2,059
 
Appliance Service Operations
   
262
     
704
 
Corporate and Services
   
269
     
202
 
Total Operating  Income
 
$
58,629
   
$
58,773
 
                 
Depreciation and Amortization:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
9,485
   
$
8,453
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
72
     
(87
)
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
9
     
5
 
Appliance Services Operations
   
89
     
71
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
977
     
883
 
Corporate and Services
   
130
     
118
 
Total Depreciation and Amortization
 
$
10,762
   
$
9,443
 
                 
Interest Charges:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
4,015
   
$
4,097
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
12
     
200
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
22
     
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
1,000
     
525
 
Corporate and Services
   
57
     
262
 
Subtotal
   
5,106
     
5,084
 
Intersegment Borrowings
   
(140
)
   
(191
)
Total Interest Charges
 
$
4,966
   
$
4,893
 
                 
Income Taxes:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
18,139
   
$
17,615
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
8,477
     
4,323
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
370
     
278
 
Retail Electric Operations
   
(4,849
)
   
(666
On-Site Energy Production
   
(540
)
   
(1,765
Appliance Service Operations
   
114
     
296
 
Corporate and Services
   
260
     
137
 
Total Income Taxes
 
$
21,971
   
$
20,218
 
                 
Property Additions:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
31,731
   
$
14,822
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
6
     
3
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
8
     
5
 
Appliance Service Operations
   
11
     
325
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
235
     
1,264
 
Corporate and Services
   
205
     
61
 
Total Property Additions
 
$
32,196
   
$
16,480
 
 
 
SJI -13

 
   
March 31,
 2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Identifiable Assets:
           
Gas Utility Operations
  $ 1,383,202     $ 1,357,062  
Wholesale Gas Operations
    231,555       194,989  
Retail Gas and Other Operations
    26,512       35,506  
Retail Electric Operations
    26,662       13,433  
On-Site Energy Production
    129,568       135,288  
Appliance Service Operations
    17,633       18,832  
Discontinued Operations
    980       1,215  
Corporate and Services
    40,013       56,543  
Subtotal
    1,856,125       1,812,868  
Intersegment Assets
    (21,462 )     (30,860 )
Total Identifiable Assets
  $ 1,834,663     $ 1,782,008  
 
7.
RATES AND REGULATORY ACTIONS:
 
In November 2009, SJG filed its annual CIRT petition seeking an increase in revenue of $9.9 million over 2009.  The CIRT rate increase was provisionally approved by the BPU effective January 1, 2010.  On January 15, 2010, SJG filed a petition for an increase in the Company’s base rates.  As of SJG’s last base rate case, and through December 31, 2010, it is expected that $465.2 million will be invested in utility plant in service.  The filing requested incremental revenue of $35.9 million, or a 7.1% increase.  In addition, the petition seeks approval for a new tracker mechanism, the Reliability Tracker. This petition is still pending. The base rate petition also seeks various other modifications to SJG’s tariff.  There have been no other significant regulatory actions or changes to SJG’s rate structure since December 31, 2009. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009.
 
8.
REGULATORY ASSETS & REGULATORY LIABILITIES:
 
There have been no significant changes to the nature of the Company’s regulatory assets and liabilities since December 31, 2009 which are described in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009.
 
Regulatory Assets consisted of the following items (in thousands):
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Environmental Remediation Costs:
           
Expended - Net
 
$
40,788
   
$
42,924
 
Liability for Future Expenditures
   
68,521
     
69,056
 
Income Taxes-Flowthrough Depreciation
   
1,507
     
1,752
 
Deferred Asset Retirement Obligation Costs
   
22,562
     
22,438
 
Deferred Gas Costs - Net
   
567
     
6,519
 
Deferred Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Costs
   
71,098
     
71,192
 
Conservation Incentive Program Receivable
   
15,378
     
16,672
 
Societal Benefit Costs Receivable
   
2,082
     
1,872
 
Premium for Early Retirement of Debt
   
1,005
     
1,046
 
Other Regulatory Assets
   
7,847
     
6,991
 
                 
Total Regulatory Assets
 
$
231,355
   
$
240,462
 
 
 
SJI -14

 
Regulatory Liabilities consisted of the following items (in thousands):
 
   
March 31,
 2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Excess Plant Removal Costs
 
$
48,731
   
$
48,715
 
Other Regulatory Liabilities
   
6,093
     
1,478
 
                 
Total Regulatory Liabilities
 
$
54,824
   
$
50,193
 
 
DEFERRED GAS COSTS – NET – Over/under collections of gas costs are monitored through SJG’s Basic Gas Supply Service Clause (BGSS) mechanism.  Net undercollected gas costs are classified as a regulatory asset and net overcollected gas costs are classified as a regulatory liability.  Derivative contracts used to hedge natural gas purchases are also included in the BGSS, subject to BPU approval.  The BGSS decreased from a $6.5 million regulatory asset at December 31, 2009 to a $0.6 million regulatory asset at March 31, 2010 primarily as a result of gas costs recovered from customers exceeding the actual cost of the commodity incurred during the first quarter.  Gas cost recoveries are typically very high in the first and fourth quarters of the year as customer consumption is at its highest point during the winter months.  This was partially offset by a change in the fair value of energy related derivatives resulting primarily from a decrease in the average future NYMEX prices which offset $15.1 million of the decrease.
 
9.
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS:
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, net periodic benefit cost related to the employee and officer pension and other postretirement benefit plans consisted of the following components (in thousands):
                         
   
Pension Benefits
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
Other Postretirement Benefits
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Service Cost
 
$
859
   
$
878
   
$
239
   
$
268
 
Interest Cost
   
2,261
     
2,165
     
821
     
763
 
Expected Return on Plan Assets
   
(1,943
)
   
(1,913
)
   
(405
)
   
(388
)
Amortizations:
                               
Prior Service Cost (Credits)
   
62
     
70
     
(88
   
(88
Actuarial Loss
   
1,376
     
1,367
     
456
     
453
 
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
   
2,615
     
2,567
     
1,023
     
1,008
 
Capitalized Benefit Costs
   
(988
)
   
(992
)
   
(419
)
   
(388
)
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense
 
$
1,627
   
$
1,575
   
$
604
   
$
620
 
 
Capitalized benefit costs reflected in the table above relate to SJG’s construction program.
 
No contributions were made to the pension plans during the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
However, the Company expects to make a contribution of $8.0 million during the second quarter in order to improve the funded status of the plans and partially offset the increase in expense caused by the amortization of losses realized on plan assets during 2008.
 
See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009, for additional information related to SJI’s pension and other postretirement benefits.
 
10.
RETAINED EARNINGS:
 
SJG is restricted as to the amount of cash dividends or other distributions that may be paid on its common stock by an order issued by the BPU in July 2004 that granted SJG an increase in base rates. Per the order, SJG is required to maintain total common equity of no less than $289.2 million. SJG’s total common equity balance was $455.1 million at March 31, 2010.
 
Various loan agreements also contain potential restrictions regarding the amount of cash dividends or other distributions that SJG may pay on its common stock. As of March 31, 2010, these loan restrictions did not affect the amount that may be distributed from either SJG’s or SJI’s retained earnings.
 
 
SJI -15

 
11.
UNUSED LINES OF CREDIT:
 
Credit facilities and available liquidity as of March 31, 2010 were as follows (in thousands):
 
Company
 
Total
Facility
   
Usage
   
Available
Liquidity
 
Expiration Date
                     
SJG: 
                   
                           
Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
100,000
   
$
40,000
   
$
60,000
 
August 2011
Line of Credit
   
40,000
     
     
40,000
 
December 2010 (A)
Uncommitted Bank Lines
   
55,000
     
22,000
     
33,000
 
Various
                           
Total SJG
   
195,000
     
62,000
     
133,000
   
                           
SJI:
                         
                           
Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
200,000
   
$
161,140
   
$
38,860
 
August 2011 (B)
Uncommitted Bank Lines
   
30,000
     
980
     
29,020
 
Various
                           
Total SJI
   
230,000
     
162,120
     
67,880
   
                           
Total
 
$
425,000
   
$
224,120
   
$
200,880
   
 
 
(A)
The Company anticipates extending this line of credit during the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
(B)
Includes letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $90.1 million.
 
The SJG facilities are restricted as to use and availability specifically to SJG; however, if necessary the SJI facilities can also be used to support SJG’s liquidity needs. All committed facilities contain one financial covenant regarding the ratio of total debt to total capitalization, measured on a quarterly basis. SJI and SJG were in compliance with this covenant as of March 31, 2010. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted average borrowing cost, which changes daily, was 0.77% and 1.09% at March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
12.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
GUARANTEES —   The Company has recorded a liability of $5.8 million which is included in Other Current Liabilities and Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2010 for the fair value of the following guarantees:
 
In April 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest.  LVE entered into a 25-year contract with a resort developer to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.  LVE began construction of the facility in 2007 and expected to provide full energy services in 2010 when the resort was originally scheduled to be completed. LVE suspended construction of the district energy system and central energy center in January 2009 after the resort developer’s August 2008 announcement that it was delaying the completion of construction of the resort due to the difficult environment in the capital markets and weak economic conditions.  The resort developer had indicated that it was considering different strategies to move its project forward, including opening its project in phases and obtaining a partner, but that it was unlikely construction would resume during 2009. In October 2009, the resort developer announced that they do not expect to resume construction on the project for three to five years. They stated that they remain committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a long-term growth strategy and continue to view this site as a major strategic asset.
 
 
SJI -16

 
The district energy system and central energy center are being financed by LVE with debt that is non-recourse to SJI. In September 2009, LVE reached an agreement with the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address defaults under the financing agreements. These LVE defaults were caused by the resort developer’s construction delay and the termination of an energy services agreement by a hotel operator associated with the project. As a result of these defaults, the banks had previously stopped funding the project. The terms of the new agreement require SJI and its partner in this joint venture to guaranty the payment of future interest costs by LVE through, at the latest, December 2010. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have each provided the banks with a $2.0 million irrevocable letter of credit from a bank to support this guaranty. The maximum amount of remaining LVE interest costs to be paid by SJI under this guaranty if payments are required, and SJI was the only guarantor, would be approximately $7.8 million. In addition, SJI and its partner in this joint venture each committed to provide approximately $8.9 million of additional capital as of September 2009 to cover costs related to the termination of the energy services agreement by a hotel operator and interest costs incurred since August 2008 when the resort developer suspended construction. Of this amount, $6.7 million was in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank and the remaining $2.2 million was provided in cash in 2009. These funds are in addition to the $30.4 million capital contribution obligation discussed below. In turn, the banks waived all existing defaults under the financing agreements and were relieved of their commitment to provide additional funding. LVE continues to pursue a work around plan to address the project delay by the resort developer and intends to seek additional financing to complete the facility once construction of the resort resumes. The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer includes a payment obligation by the resort developer of certain fixed payments to be made to LVE beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed by the parent of the resort developer.  As of March 31, 2010, the Company had a net liability of approximately $9.5 million included in Investment in Affiliates, Other Current Liabilities and Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project, in addition to unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $16.2 million due from LVE. As of March 31, 2010, SJI’s capital at risk is limited to its equity contributions, contribution obligations and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $55.9 million. During the first three months of 2010, SJI and its partner in this joint venture each provided support to LVE of approximately $2.0 million to cover project related costs.
 
As a result of the construction delay, management has evaluated the investment in LVE and concluded that the fair value of this investment continues to be in excess of the carrying value as of March 31, 2010.
 
SJI issued a performance guaranty for up to $180.0 million to the resort developer to ensure that certain construction milestones relating to the development of the thermal facility are met. As a result of achieving certain milestones, the guaranty was reduced to $94.0 million as of March 31, 2010. Concurrently, SJI is the beneficiary of a surety bond purchased by the project’s general contractor that provides security to SJI in the event of missed construction milestones. LVE has proposed a revised milestone schedule due to delays announced by the resort developer. In addition, SJI has guaranteed the obligations of LVE under certain insurance policies during the construction period.  The maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that LVE does not have sufficient resources to make deductible payments on future claims under these insurance policies, is approximately $6.0 million.  SJI has also guaranteed certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort developer, up to $20.0 million each year for the term of the agreement, commencing with the first year of operations.  SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees.
 
SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest, and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE) an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 51% equity interest. BCLE and WCLE have entered into agreements ranging from 15-20 years with the respective county governments to lease and operate facilities that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas. Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that BCLE and WCLE does not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or is unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.2 million each year.  SJI and its partner in these joint ventures have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees.  SJI holds variable interests in BCLE and WCLE but is not the primary beneficiary.
 
SJI has guaranteed the long-term debt obligations of AC Landfill Energy, LLC (ACLE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 51% equity interest. ACLE has entered into a long-term agreement with a county government to lease and operate a facility that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas. Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that ACLE is unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $1.5 million.  SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into a reimbursement agreement that secures reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on this guarantee.  SJI holds a variable interest in ACLE but is not the primary beneficiary.
 
 
SJI -17

 
As of March 31, 2010, SJI had issued approximately $4.5 million of parental guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable our subsidiary to market retail natural gas.
 
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OBLIGATION - In December 2007, Marina and its joint venture partner agreed to each contribute approximately $30.4 million of equity to LVE as part of its construction period financing. This equity contribution is expected to be made in 2010, and is secured by an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank. In September 2009, Marina and its joint venture partner agreed to each contribute an additional $6.7 million of equity to LVE as discussed above. This equity contribution is expected to be made in 2010, and is also secured by an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank.
 
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 50% of our workforce at March 31, 2010. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with two unions that represent these employees: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”) Local 1293 and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (“IAM”) Local 76.  SJG and SJESP employees represented by the IBEW operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 2013. The remaining unionized employees represented by the IAM operate under a collective bargaining agreement that expires in August 2014.
 
STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — As of March 31, 2010, SJI provided $90.1 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility and uncommitted bank lines. Letters of credit in the amount of $62.3 million support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance Marina’s initial thermal plant project and $8.7 million was posted to support SJI’s guaranty of LVE discussed above. The additional outstanding letters of credit total $19.1 million, and were posted to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided two additional letters of credit under separate facilities outside of the revolving credit facility. Those letters of credit consist of a $25.2 million letter of credit provided by SJG to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the NJEDA to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system; and a $30.7 million letter of credit provided by Marina to support a capital contribution obligation as discussed above. These letters of credit expire in August 2010 and November 2010, respectively.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS — SJI incurred and recorded costs for environmental cleanup of 12 sites where SJG or its predecessors operated gas manufacturing plants. SJG stopped manufacturing gas in the 1950s. SJI and some of its nonutility subsidiaries also accrued costs for environmental cleanup of sites where SJF previously operated a fuel oil business and Morie maintained equipment, fueling stations and storage. There have been no changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2009 as described in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009.  
 
13. 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS:
 
Certain SJI subsidiaries are involved in buying, selling, transporting and storing natural gas and buying and selling retail electricity for their own accounts as well as managing these activities for other third parties. These subsidiaries are subject to market risk on expected future purchases and sales due to commodity price fluctuations. As of March 31, 2010, the Company had outstanding derivative contracts intended to limit the exposure to market risk on 21.5 MMdts of expected future purchases of natural gas, 21.3 MMdts of expected future sales of natural gas, 1.6 MMmwh of expected future purchases of electricity and 0.1 MMmwh of expected future sales of electricity. These derivative instruments include forward contracts, futures contracts, swap agreements and options contracts.
 
The Company has also entered into interest rate derivatives to hedge exposure to increasing interest rates and the impact of those rates on cash flows of variable-rate debt. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s active interest rate swaps since December 31, 2009 which are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009.
 
 
SJI -18

 
The fair values of all derivative instruments, as reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, are as follows (in thousands):
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
 
March 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
 
 
Assets
   
Liabilities
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
 
                         
Energy related commodity contracts:
                       
Derivatives – Energy Related – Current
 
$
42,858
   
$
59,411
   
$
36,512
   
$
28,260
 
Derivatives – Energy Related – Non-Current
   
14,210
     
11,447
     
11,585
     
10,931
 
Interest rate contracts:
                               
Derivatives - Other
   
     
4,004
     
     
3,704
 
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
   
57,068
     
74,862
     
48,097
     
42,895
 
                                 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
                               
                                 
Interest rate contracts:
                               
Derivatives - Other
   
     
1,996
     
     
2,119
 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
   
     
1,996
     
     
2,119
 
                                 
Total Derivatives
 
$
57,068
   
$
76,858
   
$
48,097
   
$
45,014
 
 
The effect of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2010, and 2009 are as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three months ended March 31,
 
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
 
2010
   
2009
 
             
Interest Rate Contracts:
           
Gains recognized in OCI on effective portion
 
$
72
   
$
373
 
Losses reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (a)
 
$
(232
)
 
$
(172
)
Gains or (losses) recognized in income on ineffective portion (a)
   
     
 
 
(a) Included in Interest Charges
 
   
Three months ended March 31,
 
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under GAAP
 
2010
   
2009
 
             
Losses on energy related commodity contracts (a)
 
$
(22,124
)
 
$
(16,279
)
Losses (gains) on interest rate contracts (b)
   
(239
)
   
203
 
                 
Total
 
$
(22,363
)
 
$
(16,076
)
 
(a) Included in Operating Revenues - Non Utility
(b) Included in Interest Charges
 
Net realized losses associated with SJG’s energy related financial commodity contracts of $4.0 million and $16.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are not included in the above table. These contracts are part of SJG’s regulated risk management activities that serve to mitigate BGSS costs passed on to its customers. As these transactions are entered into pursuant to, and recoverable through, regulatory riders, any changes in the value of SJG’s energy related financial commodity contracts are deferred in Regulatory Assets or Liabilities and there is no impact to earnings. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, SJG had $24.2 million and $9.2 million of unrealized losses, respectively, included in its BGSS related to open financial contracts.
 
Certain of the Company’s derivative instruments contain provisions that require immediate payment or demand immediate and ongoing collateralization on derivative instruments in net liability positions in the event of a material adverse change in the credit standing of the Company. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a liability position on March 31, 2010, is $45.5 million.   If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on March 31, 2010, the Company would have been required to settle the instruments immediately or post collateral to its counterparties of approximately $29.2 million after offsetting asset positions with the same counterparties under master netting arrangements.
 
 
SJI -19

 
14.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:
 
GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes fair value measurements based on the types of inputs used for the various valuation techniques.  The levels of the hierarchy are described below:
 
 
Level 1:  Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
 
Level 2:  Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; these include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
 
 
Level 3:  Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.
 
Assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of financial assets and financial liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.
 
For financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, information about the fair value measurements for each major category as of March 31, 2010 is as follows (in thousands):
                         
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Assets
                       
Available-for-Sale Securities (A)
 
$
6,212
   
$
6,212
   
$
   
$
 
Derivatives – Energy Related Assets (B)
   
57,068
     
34,567
     
20,306
     
2,195
 
   
$
63,280
   
$
40,779
   
$
20,306
   
$
2,195
 
                                 
Liabilities
                               
                                 
Derivatives – Energy Related Liabilities (B)
 
$
70,858
   
$
33,560
   
$
10,267
   
$
27,031
 
Derivatives – Other (C)
   
6,000
     
     
6,000
     
 
   
$
76,858
   
$
33,560
   
$
16,267
   
$
27,031
 
 
(A) Available-for-Sale Securities are valued using the quoted principal market close prices that are provided by the trustees of these securities.
 
(B) Derivatives – Energy Related Assets and Liabilities are traded in both exchange-based and non-exchange-based markets. Exchange-based contracts are valued using unadjusted quoted market sources in active markets and are categorized in Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Certain non-exchange-based contracts are valued using indicative price quotations available through brokers or over-the-counter, on-line exchanges and are categorized in Level 2. These price quotations reflect the average of the bid-ask mid-point prices and are obtained from sources that management believes provide the most liquid market. For non-exchange-based derivatives that trade in less liquid markets with limited pricing information, model inputs generally would include both observable and unobservable inputs. In instances where observable data is unavailable, management considers the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. This includes assumptions about market risks such as liquidity, volatility and contract duration. Such instruments are categorized in Level 3 as the model inputs generally are not observable. Management reviews and corroborates the price quotations to ensure the prices are observable which includes consideration of actual transaction volumes, market delivery points, bid-ask spreads and contract duration.
 
(C) Derivatives – Other are valued using quoted prices on commonly quoted intervals, which are interpolated for periods different than the quoted intervals, as inputs to a market valuation model. Market inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment.
 
The changes in fair value measurements of Derivatives – Energy Related Assets and Liabilities  at March 31, 2010, using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), are as follows (in thousands):
         
Balance at January 1, 2010
 
$
(10,299
)
Total gains and losses (realized/unrealized) included in earnings
   
(16,470
)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3, net
   
 
Settlements
   
1,933
 
         
Balance at March 31, 2010
 
$
(24,836
)
 
 
SJI -20

 
Total losses for 2010 included in earnings that are attributable to the change in unrealized losses relating to those assets and liabilities still held as of March 31, 2010, is $16.5 million.  These losses are included in Operating Revenues-Nonutility on the condensed consolidated statements of income.
 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors — Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report may qualify as “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report should be considered forward-looking statements made in good faith and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “goal”, “intend”, “objective”, “plan”, “project”, “seek”, “strategy” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions on an international, national, state and local level; weather conditions in our marketing areas; changes in commodity costs; changes in the availability of natural gas; “non-routine” or “extraordinary” disruptions in our distribution system; regulatory, legislative and court decisions; competition; the availability and cost of capital; costs and effects of legal proceedings and environmental liabilities; the failure of customers, suppliers or business partners to fulfill their contractual obligations; and changes in business strategies.
 
A discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties may be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in other filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and they are made only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or in any document incorporated by reference, at the date of such document. While SJI believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. Further, SJI undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
Critical Accounting Policies — Estimates and Assumptions — Management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Five types of transactions presented in our condensed consolidated financial statements require a significant amount of judgment and estimation. These relate to regulatory accounting, derivatives, environmental remediation costs, pension and other postretirement employee benefit costs, and revenue recognition. A discussion of these estimates and assumptions may be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
New Accounting Pronouncements — See detailed discussions concerning New Accounting Pronouncements and their impact on SJI in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Regulatory Actions —Other than the changes discussed in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, there have been no significant regulatory actions since December 31, 2009. See detailed discussion concerning Regulatory Actions in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009.
 
Environmental Remediation —There have been no significant changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2009. See detailed discussion concerning Environmental Remediation in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:
 
SJI operates in several different reportable operating segments. Gas Utility Operations (SJG) consists primarily of natural gas distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Wholesale Gas Operations include SJRG’s activities. SJE is involved in both retail gas and retail electric activities. Retail Gas and Other Operations include natural gas acquisition and transportation service business lines. Retail Electric Operations consist of electricity acquisition and transportation to commercial and industrial customers. On-Site Energy Production consists of Marina’s thermal energy facility and other energy-related projects. Appliance Service Operations includes SJESP’s servicing of appliances via the sale of appliance service programs as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems.
 
A significant portion of the volatility in operating results is due to the impact of the accounting methods associated with SJRG’s storage activities. SJRG purchases and holds natural gas in storage to earn a profit margin from its ultimate sale in the future. SJRG uses derivatives to mitigate commodity price risk in order to substantially lock-in the profit margin that will ultimately be realized. However, gas stored in inventory is accounted for at the lower of average cost or market; the derivatives used to reduce the risk associated with a change in the value of the inventory are accounted for at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in operating results in the period of change. As a result, earnings are subject to volatility as the market prices of derivatives change, even when the underlying hedged value of the inventory is unchanged. This volatility can be significant from period to period. Over time, gains or losses on the sale of gas in storage will generally be offset by losses or gains on the derivatives, resulting in the realization of the profit margin expected when the transactions were initiated.
 
 
SJI -21

 
Net Income attributable to SJI for the three months ended March 31, 2010 did not change significantly from the three months ended March 31, 2009. However, the income contribution from SJRG for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased 97% as compared to the same period in the prior year due primarily to the change in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives used by SJRG to mitigate commodity price risk, as discussed above.  In addition, the change in the income contribution from SJE for the three months ended March 31, 2010 offset this SJRG increase due to the change in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives used to mitigate price risk on electric as discussed under Operating Revenues – Nonutility below.  These changes are also discussed in more detail below.
 
The following tables summarize the composition of selected SJG data for the three months ended March 31 (in thousands, except for degree day data):
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Utility Throughput – dth:
           
Firm Sales -
           
Residential
   
11,431
     
11,517
 
Commercial
   
2,694
     
2,877
 
Industrial
   
148
     
149
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
44
     
14
 
Firm Transportation -
               
Residential
   
982
     
1,007
 
Commercial
   
2,641
     
2,571
 
Industrial
   
3,089
     
3,052
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
2,193
     
433
 
                 
Total Firm Throughput
   
23,222
     
21,620
 
                 
Interruptible Sales
   
3
     
2
 
Interruptible Transportation
   
586
     
636
 
Off-System
   
1,116
     
2,694
 
Capacity Release
   
10,189
     
8,499
 
                 
Total Throughput - Utility
   
35,116
     
33,451
 
 
 
SJI -22

 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Utility Operating Revenues:
           
Firm Sales -
           
Residential
 
$
137,515
   
$
168,638
 
Commercial
   
29,623
     
36,526
 
Industrial
   
1,795
     
1,811
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
411
     
273
 
Firm Transportation -
               
Residential
   
4,454
     
4,695
 
Commercial
   
8,599
     
7,914
 
Industrial
   
3,976
     
3,587
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
2,009
     
459
 
                 
Total Firm Revenues
   
188,382
     
223,903
 
                 
Interruptible Sales
   
48
     
40
 
Interruptible Transportation
   
607
     
557
 
Off-System
   
6,924
     
16,902
 
Capacity Release
   
518
     
1,440
 
Other
   
237
     
271
 
     
196,716
     
243,113
 
Less: Intercompany Sales
   
659
     
3,004
 
Total Utility Operating Revenues
   
196,057
     
240,109
 
                 
Less:
               
Cost of Sales
   
116,216
     
162,973
 
Conservation Recoveries*
   
3,119
     
3,265
 
RAC Recoveries*
   
1,741
     
1,209
 
EET Recoveries*
   
179
     
 
Revenue Taxes
   
3,752
     
4,071
 
Utility Margin
 
$
71,050
   
$
68,591
 
                 
Margin:
               
Residential
 
$
45,300
   
$
45,590
 
Commercial and Industrial
   
14,958
     
15,429
 
Cogeneration and Electric Generation
   
709
     
340
 
Interruptible
   
38
     
46
 
Off-system & Capacity Release
   
309
     
702
 
Other Revenues
   
236
     
270
 
Margin Before Weather Normalization & Decoupling
   
61,550
     
62,377
 
CIRT Mechanism
   
2,024
     
 
CIP Mechanism
   
7,442
     
6,214
 
EET Mechanism
   
34
     
 
Utility Margin
 
$
71,050
   
$
68,591
 
                 
Degree Days:
   
2,433
     
2,518
 
 
*Represents expenses for which there is a corresponding credit in operating revenues.  Therefore, such recoveries have no impact on our financial results.
 
Throughput - Total gas throughput increased 1.7 MMdts, or 5.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with the same period in 2009. This increase was realized in the cogeneration market as a single customer increased its contract significantly during the winter season to shift supply from its pipeline supplier to SJG.  With the exception of cogeneration throughput, firm throughput in all other categories remained consistent between the two quarters.  While the Company was successful in adding approximately 3,100 firm sales customers over the twelve months ended March 31, 2010, representing a 1% increase, 3.4% warmer weather negated the impact on throughput from those customers.
 
 
SJI -23

 
Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) - The effects of the CIP on SJG’s net income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 and the associated weather comparisons were as follows ($’s in millions):
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Net Income Benefit: 
           
CIP – Weather Related
 
$
0.4
   
$
(0.6
CIP – Usage Related
   
4.0
     
4.3
 
Total Net Income Benefit
 
$
4.4
   
$
3.7
 
                 
Weather Compared to 20-Year Average
 
0.2% colder
   
3.7% colder
 
Weather Compared to Prior Year
 
3.4% warmer
   
11.2% colder
 
 
Operating Revenues  - Utility -  Revenues decreased $44.1 million, or 18.3%, during the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in the prior year.  Firm revenues decreased $35.5 million, or 15.9%, primarily as a result of a lower Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) rate in effect during the first quarter of 2010.  The BGSS rate had been reduced 21% in October 2009 to address lower natural gas costs in 2009 and forecasted through 2010.  While changes in gas costs and BGSS recoveries may fluctuate from period to period, SJG does not profit from the sale of the commodity.  Therefore, corresponding fluctuations in Operating Revenue or Cost of Sales have no impact on Company profitability, as further discussed under “Margin-Utility.”  There was also a $10.0 million decrease in off-system sales (OSS) during the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in the prior year before eliminating intercompany transactions.  This decrease was primarily related to a reduction in SJG’s portfolio of assets available for such activities under the provisions of the CIP, as discussed under “Rates and Regulation” in Item 7 of SJI’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.  As reflected in the Margin table above, the impact of lower OSS did not have a material impact on the earnings of the Company, as SJG is required to share 85% of the profits of such activity with the rate payers.
 
Operating Revenues — Nonutility  — Combined revenues for SJI’s nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, increased by $11.2 million, or 9.1%, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009.
 
SJE’s revenues from retail gas, net of intercompany transactions, decreased by $2.1 million, or 5.6%, in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with the same period in 2009 due mainly to lower sales volumes across all customer classes.  As of March 31, SJE was serving the following number of retail gas customers:
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Residential
    8,408       9,891  
Commercial
    1,025       1,075  
Large Volume
    31       36  
 
SJE’s revenues from retail electricity, net of intercompany transactions, increased $23.6 million, or 393.3%, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized losses recorded on forward financial contracts due to price volatility of $11.7 million, revenues increased $35.3 million or 440.7%.  A summary of SJE’s revenues from retail electricity is as follows (in millions):
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
                   
SJE Retail Electric Revenue
 
$
29.6
   
$
6.0
   
$
23.6
 
                         
Add: Unrealized Losses
   
13.7
     
2.0
     
11.7
 
                         
SJE Retail Electric Revenue, Excluding Unrealized Losses
 
$
43.3
   
$
8.0
   
$
35.3
 
 
This increase was mainly due to the impact of SJE being the successful bidder on a contract to supply retail electricity to over 400 school districts located throughout the state of New Jersey that began in April 2009. SJE uses forward financial contracts to mitigate commodity price risk on fixed price electric contracts. In accordance with GAAP, the forward financial contracts are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings in the period of change. The related customer contracts are not considered derivatives and therefore are not recorded in earnings until the electric is delivered. As a result, earnings are subject to volatility as the market price of the forward financial contracts change, even when the underlying hedged value of the customer contract is unchanged. Over time, gains or losses on the sale of the fixed price electric under contract will be offset by losses or gains on the forward financial contracts, resulting in the realization of the profit margin expected when the transactions were initiated.  Excluding the school bid, essentially all of SJE’s retail electric customer contracts are market-priced.
 
 
SJI -24

 
SJRG’s revenues, net of intercompany transactions, decreased $9.4 million in the three months ended March 2010 compared with the same period in 2009. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts of ($5.8) million due to price volatility, SJRG’s revenues decreased $15.2 million. A summary of SJRG’s revenue is as follows (in millions):
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
                   
SJRG Revenue
 
$
54.3
   
$
63.7
   
$
(9.4
)
                         
Add: Unrealized Losses
   
8.4
     
14.2
     
(5.8
)
                         
SJRG Revenue, Excluding Unrealized Losses
 
$
62.7
   
$
77.9
   
$
(15.2
)
 
Although storage volumes sold in both periods were essentially the same, the average cost per decatherm sold was 38% lower for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009. As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.
 
Revenues for Marina decreased $0.6 million, or 6.6%, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009 due mainly to the deconsolidation of ACLE and WCLE as discussed in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, which was partially offset by revenues from two new projects that came on line in the latter stages of 2009.
 
Revenues for SJESP decreased $0.3 million or 5.8% in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009 due mainly to revenues from a large commercial installation job recorded in 2009.
 
Margin – Utility -  SJG’s margin is defined as natural gas revenues less natural gas costs; volumetric and revenue based energy taxes; and regulatory rider expenses. SJG believes that margin provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating utility operations than revenues since natural gas costs, energy taxes and regulatory rider expenses are passed through to customers, and therefore, they have no effect on margin. Natural gas costs are charged to operating expenses on the basis of therm sales at the prices approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities through SJG’s BGSS tariff.
 
Total margin increased $2.5 million, or 3.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009 primarily due to profits earned through SJG’s Capital Investment Recovery Tracker (CIRT).   The CIRT was approved by the BPU in April 2009 and allows SJG to accelerate certain capital spending and also earn a return of, and a return on, investment at the time the investment is made. The CIRT added $2.0 million of pre-tax margin in the first quarter of 2010.
 
The CIP protected $7.4 million of pre-tax margin in the first quarter of 2010 that would have been lost due to lower customer usage, compared to $6.2 million in the same period last year.  Of these amounts, $0.7 million and $(1.1) million were related to weather variations and $6.7 million and $7.3 million were related to other customer usage variations in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
Gross Margin — Nonutility — Gross margin for the nonutility businesses is defined as revenue less all costs that are directly related to the production, selling and delivery of the company’s products and services. These costs primarily include natural gas and electric commodity costs as well as certain payroll and related benefits. On the statements of condensed consolidated income, revenue is reflected in Operating Revenues - Nonutility and the costs are reflected in Cost of Sales - Nonutility. As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues - Nonutility.
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2010, combined gross margins for the nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, decreased $1.3 million to $18.2 million compared with the same period in 2009. This decrease is primarily due to the following:
 
 
Gross margin for SJRG increased $10.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period of 2009. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts as discussed above, gross margin for SJRG increased $4.7 million due mainly to favorable time spreads on storage and transportation asset positions that were locked in and/or improved upon. Storage assets allow SJRG to lock in the differential between purchasing natural gas at low current prices and selling equivalent quantities at higher future prices. Gross margin is generated via seasonal pricing differentials. While this margin will be attained over the transaction cycle, the timing of physical injections and withdraws and related hedge settlements can cause earnings fluctuations for accounting purposes due to the volatile nature of wholesale gas prices. Similar to storage, transportation assets allow us to lock in the differential of transporting natural gas from one delivery point to another.
 
 
SJI -25

 
 
Gross Margin for Marina decreased $1.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period of 2009. Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues decreased 6.8 percentage points due mainly to the deconsolidation of ACLE and WCLE as discussed in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, partially offset by a decrease in low-margin electric sales to Borgata. As per our contract, the billing rates are designed to recover the underlying commodity costs over time. However during interim periods, certain components of the underlying commodity costs are not adjusted proportionately.
 
 
Gross margin from SJE’s retail gas sales decreased $0.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with the same period in 2009 due mainly to lower customer counts (See Operating Revenues – Nonutility). Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues did not change significantly in 2010 compared with 2009.
 
 
Gross margin from SJE’s retail electricity sales decreased $10.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period of 2009. Excluding the impact of a $11.7 million increase in unrealized losses recorded on forward financial contracts, gross margin increased $1.6 million in 2010 compared with 2009. This increase was mainly due to the impact of the school bid as mentioned in Operating Revenues - Nonutility. Excluding the impact of the unrealized losses, gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues decreased 2.1 percentage points in 2010 compared with 2009. LMP rates, which were lower in 2010, are a pass through to our customers while our margin is based on volumetric and transmission components of the customer contracts.
 
 
Gross margin for SJESP decreased $0.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009 due mainly to margins recognized on a large commercial installation job in 2009.  Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues decreased 2.3 percentage points in 2010 compared with 2009 due to higher labor and benefit costs.
 
 Operations Expense — A summary of net changes in operations expense, for the three months ended March 31, follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three
Months
Ended
March 31,
2010 vs.
2009
 
     
     
         
Utility
 
$
447
 
Nonutility:
       
Wholesale Gas
   
270
 
Retail Gas and Other
   
(262
Retail Electricity
   
114
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
(60
Appliance Service
   
196
 
Total Nonutility
   
258
 
Intercompany Eliminations and Other
   
(138
Total Operations
 
$
567
 
 
Utility operations expense increased $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared with the same period in 2009.  The increase is primarily due to moderate increases in governance, compliance and employee compensation costs.
 
Nonutility Wholesale Gas Operations expense increased $0.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009 due mainly to additional personnel costs and governance and compliance costs to support continued growth.
 
Other changes in operations expense during the three months ended March 31, 2010 were not significant.
 
Other Operating Expenses —Changes in other consolidated operating expenses which consist of Maintenance, Depreciation, and Energy and Other Taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same periods in 2009, were not significant.
 
Interest Charges –    Interest charges decreased by $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009, primarily due to lower average short-term interest rates on short-term debt during 2010.  The impact of lower interest rates was partially offset by higher average short-term debt outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009.
 
 
SJI -26

 
Discontinued Operations— The losses are primarily comprised of environmental remediation and product liability litigation associated with previously disposed of businesses.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES:
 
Liquidity needs are driven by factors that include natural gas commodity prices; the impact of weather on customer bills; lags in fully collecting gas costs from customers under the Basic Gas Supply Service charge; working capital needs of our energy trading and marketing activities; the timing of construction and remediation expenditures and related permanent financings; the timing of equity contributions to unconsolidated affiliates; mandated tax payment dates; both discretionary and required repayments of long-term debt; and the amounts and timing of dividend payments.
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities — Liquidity needs are first met with net cash provided by operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $117.8 million and $119.8 million in the first quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities varies from year-to-year primarily due to the impact of weather on customer demand and related gas purchases, customer usage factors related to conservation efforts and the price of the natural gas commodity, inventory utilization, and gas cost recoveries. Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2010 was positively impacted by lower unit gas costs which resulted in lower natural gas inventory balances.  SJI also ends each calendar year in a prepaid tax position due to mandatory prepayment requirements on all state taxes. Such prepayments are credited against amounts otherwise due during the first quarter of the subsequent year; improving first quarter liquidity. These items were offset by higher spending on environmental remediation at SJG and higher accounts receivable.
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities —   SJI has a continuing need for cash resources and capital, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment. Net cash outflows for capital expenditures, which are primarily construction projects, for the first quarter of 2010 and 2009 amounted to $38.5 million and $17.1 million, respectively. We estimate the net cash outflows for construction projects for fiscal years 2010, 2011 and 2012 to be approximately $167.5 million, $58.5 million and $58.3 million, respectively.
 
In support of its risk management activities, The Company is required to maintain margin accounts with selected counterparties as collateral for its forward contracts, swap agreements, options contracts and futures contracts. These margin accounts are included in Restricted Investments or Margin Account Liability, depending upon the value of the related contracts, (the change in the Margin Account Liability is reflected in cash flows from Operating Activities) on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The required amount of restricted investments changes on a daily basis due to fluctuations in the market value of the related outstanding contracts and are difficult to predict. Margin posted by the Company increased by $24.0 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared with an increase of $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2009.
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company provided advances to unconsolidated affiliates of $5.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The purpose of the advances was to cover certain project related costs of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (See Commitments and Contingencies), to provide working capital for a retail marketing operation, and to develop several landfill gas-fired electric production facilities.
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities —   Short-term borrowings under lines of credit from commercial banks are used to supplement cash flows from operations, to support working capital needs and to finance capital expenditures as incurred. From time to time, short-term debt incurred to finance capital expenditures is refinanced with long-term debt.  
 
Credit facilities and available liquidity as of March 31, 2010 were as follows (in thousands):
 
Company
 
Total
Facility
   
Usage
   
Available Liquidity
 
Expiration Date
                     
SJG: 
                   
                           
Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
100,000
   
$
40,000
   
$
60,000
 
August 2011
Line of Credit
   
40,000
     
     
40,000
 
December 2010 (A)
Uncommitted Bank Lines
   
55,000
     
22,000
     
33,000
 
Various
                           
Total SJG
   
195,000
     
62,000
     
133,000
   
                           
SJI:
                         
                           
Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
200,000
   
$
161,140
   
$
38,860
 
August 2011 (B)
Uncommitted Bank Lines
   
30,000
     
980
     
29,020
 
Various
                           
Total SJI
   
230,000
     
162,120
     
67,880
   
                           
Total
 
$
425,000
   
$
224,120
   
$
200,880
   
 
 
(A) 
The Company anticipates extending this line of credit during the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
 
(B) 
Includes letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $90.1 million.
 
 
SJI -27

 
The SJG facilities are restricted as to use and availability specifically to SJG; however, if necessary the SJI facilities can also be used to support SJG’s liquidity needs. All committed facilities contain one financial covenant regarding the ratio of total debt to total capitalization, measured on a quarterly basis. SJI and SJG were in compliance with this covenant as of March 31, 2010. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted average borrowing cost, which changes daily, was 0.77% and 1.09% at March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Based upon the existing credit facilities and a regular dialogue with our banks, we believe there will continue to be sufficient credit available to meet our business’ future liquidity needs.
 
SJI supplements its operating cash flow and credit lines with both debt and equity capital. Over the years, SJG has used long-term debt, primarily in the form of First Mortgage Bonds and Medium Term Notes (MTN), secured by the same pool of utility assets, to finance its long-term borrowing needs. These needs are primarily capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. In September 2009, SJG received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to issue up to $150.0 million of MTNs through September 2011.  In March 2010, SJG issued $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of its MTNs and intends to issue an additional $45 million by June 2010 in a delayed funding under a private placement.  No other long-term debt was issued during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
SJI’s capital structure was as follows:
 
   
As of
March 31, 2010
   
As of
December 31, 2009
 
             
Equity
   
53.3
%
   
50.0
%
Long-Term Debt
   
34.1
     
32.0
 
Short-Term Debt
   
12.6
     
18.0
 
Total
   
100.0
%
   
100.0
%
 
SJG’s long-term, senior secured debt is rated “A” and “A2” by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investor Services, respectively. Moody’s Investor Services raised SJG’s senior secured debt rating to “A3” from “Baal” in February of 2009, and then raised it again to “A2” in August 2009.  Moody’s also assigned an Issuer Rating of “Baa1” to SJG in August 2009.
 
In the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, SJI declared quarterly dividends to its common shareholders. SJI has paid dividends on its common stock for 58 consecutive years and has increased that dividend each year for the last ten years. The Company currently looks to grow that dividend by at least 6% to 7% per year and has a targeted payout ratio of between 50% and 60%. In setting the dividend rate, the Board of Directors of SJI considers future earnings expectations, payout ratio, and dividend yield relative to those at peer companies as well as returns available on other income-oriented investments.  However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to increase the dividend, meet the targeted payout ratio or pay a dividend at all in the future.
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
SJI has a continuing need for cash resources and capital, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment, working capital, and for environmental remediation costs. Cash outflows for capital expenditures for the first three months of 2010 amounted to $38.6 million. Management estimates net cash outflows for construction projects for 2010, 2011 and 2012, to be approximately $167.5 million, $58.5 million and $58.3 million, respectively. Costs for remediation projects, net of insurance reimbursements, for the first three months of 2010 amounted to net cash inflows of $0.2 million. Total cash outflows for remediation projects are expected to be $16.7 million, $18.3 million and $9.2 million for 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.  As discussed in Notes 9 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s 10-K as of December 31, 2009, certain environmental costs are subject to recovery from insurance carriers and ratepayers.
 
As of March 31, 2010, SJI provided $90.1 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility and uncommitted bank lines. Letters of credit in the amount of $62.3 million support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance Marina’s initial thermal plant project and $8.7 million was posted to support SJI’s guaranty of LVE discussed below. The additional outstanding letters of credit total $19.1 million, and were posted to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided two additional letters of credit under separate facilities outside of the revolving credit facility. Those letters of credit consist of a $25.2 million letter of credit provided by SJG to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the NJEDA to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system; and a $30.7 million letter of credit provided by Marina to support a capital contribution obligation as discussed below. These letters of credit expire in August 2010 and November 2010, respectively.
 
There were no significant changes to the Company’s contractual obligations described in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009, except for commodity supply purchase obligations which increased by approximately $99.8 million in total since December 31, 2009, due to the origination of new contracts during the  three months ended March 2010, and for the principal and interest obligations related to the $15.0 million of long-term debt issued in March 2010.
 
 
SJI -28

 
Off-Balance Sheet ArrangementsAn off-balance sheet arrangement is any contractual arrangement involving an unconsolidated entity under which the company has either made guarantees, or has certain other interests or obligations.
 
The Company has recorded a liability of $5.8 million which is included in Other Current Liabilities and Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2010 for the fair value of the following guarantees:
 
In April 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest.  LVE entered into a 25-year contract with a resort developer to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.  LVE began construction of the facility in 2007 and expected to provide full energy services in 2010 when the resort was originally scheduled to be completed. LVE suspended construction of the district energy system and central energy center in January 2009 after the resort developer’s August 2008 announcement that it was delaying the completion of construction of the resort due to the difficult environment in the capital markets and weak economic conditions.  The resort developer had indicated that it was considering different strategies to move its project forward, including opening its project in phases and obtaining a partner, but that it was unlikely construction would resume during 2009. In October 2009, the resort developer announced that they do not expect to resume construction on the project for three to five years. They stated that they remain committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a long-term growth strategy and continue to view this site as a major strategic asset.
 
The district energy system and central energy center are being financed by LVE with debt that is non-recourse to SJI. In September 2009, LVE reached an agreement with the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address defaults under the financing agreements. These LVE defaults were caused by the resort developer’s construction delay and the termination of an energy services agreement by a hotel operator associated with the project. As a result of these defaults, the banks had previously stopped funding the project. The terms of the new agreement require SJI and its partner in this joint venture to guaranty the payment of future interest costs by LVE through, at the latest, December 2010. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have each provided the banks with a $2.0 million irrevocable letter of credit from a bank to support this guaranty. The maximum amount of remaining LVE interest costs to be paid by SJI under this guaranty if payments are required, and SJI was the only guarantor, would be approximately $7.8 million. In addition, SJI and its partner in this joint venture each committed to provide approximately $8.9 million of additional capital as of September 2009 to cover costs related to the termination of the energy services agreement by a hotel operator and interest costs incurred since August 2008 when the resort developer suspended construction. Of this amount, $6.7 million was in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank and the remaining $2.2 million was provided in cash in 2009. These funds are in addition to the $30.4 million capital contribution obligation discussed below. In turn, the banks waived all existing defaults under the financing agreements and were relieved of their commitment to provide additional funding. LVE continues to pursue a work around plan to address the project delay by the resort developer and intends to seek additional financing to complete the facility once construction of the resort resumes. The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer includes a payment obligation by the resort developer of certain fixed payments to be made to LVE beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed by the parent of the resort developer.  As of March 31, 2010, the Company had a net liability of approximately $9.5 million included in Investment in Affiliates, Other Current Liabilities and Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project, in addition to unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $16.2 million due from LVE. As of March 31, 2010, SJI’s capital at risk is limited to its equity contributions, contribution obligations and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $55.9 million. During the first three months of 2010, SJI and its partner in this joint venture each provided support to LVE of approximately $2.0 million to cover project related costs.
 
As a result of the construction delay, management has evaluated the investment in LVE and concluded that the fair value of this investment continues to be in excess of the carrying value as of March 31, 2010.
 
SJI issued a performance guaranty for up to $180.0 million to the resort developer to ensure that certain construction milestones relating to the development of the thermal facility are met. As a result of achieving certain milestones, the guaranty was reduced to $94.0 million as of March 31, 2010. Concurrently, SJI is the beneficiary of a surety bond purchased by the project’s general contractor that provides security to SJI in the event of missed construction milestones. LVE has proposed a revised milestone schedule due to delays announced by the resort developer. In addition, SJI has guaranteed the obligations of LVE under certain insurance policies during the construction period.  The maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that LVE does not have sufficient resources to make deductible payments on future claims under these insurance policies, is approximately $6.0 million.  SJI has also guaranteed certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort developer, up to $20.0 million each year for the term of the agreement, commencing with the first year of operations.  SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees. 
 
 
SJI -29

 
SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest, and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE) an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 51% equity interest.  BCLE and WCLE have entered into agreements with the respective county governments to lease and operate facilities that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas.    Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that BCLE and WCLE does not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or is unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.2 million each year.  SJI and its partner in these joint ventures have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees.  SJI holds variable interests in BCLE and WCLE but is not the primary beneficiary.
 
SJI has guaranteed the long-term debt obligations of AC Landfill Energy, LLC (ACLE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 51% equity interest. ACLE has entered into a long-term agreement with a county government to lease and operate a facility that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas. Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that ACLE is unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $1.5 million.  SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into a reimbursement agreement that secures reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on this guarantee.  SJI holds a variable interest in ACLE but is not the primary beneficiary.
 
As of March 31, 2010, SJI had issued approximately $4.5 million of parental guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable our subsidiary to market retail natural gas.
 
Capital Contribution Obligation-  In December 2007, Marina and its joint venture partner agreed to each contribute approximately $30.4 million of equity to LVE as part of its construction period financing.  Marina’s obligation is secured by an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank.  The equity contribution is expected to be made in 2010.  In September 2009, Marina and its joint venture partner agreed to each contribute an additional $6.7 million of equity to LVE as discussed above. This equity contribution is expected to be made in 2010, and is also secured by an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank.
 
Pending Litigation — SJI is subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. We accrue liabilities related to claims when we can determine the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs. SJI has been named in, among other actions, certain product liability claims related to our former sand mining subsidiary. Management does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims to have a material adverse effect on SJI’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Commodity Market Risks — Certain regulated and nonregulated SJI subsidiaries are involved in buying, selling, transporting and storing natural gas and buying and selling retail electricity for their own accounts as well as managing these activities for other third parties. These subsidiaries are subject to market risk due to price fluctuations. To hedge against this risk, we enter into a variety of physical and financial transactions including forward contracts, swaps, futures and options agreements. To manage these transactions, SJI has a well-defined risk management policy approved by our Board of Directors that includes volumetric and monetary limits. Management reviews reports detailing activity daily. Generally, the derivative activities described above are entered into for risk management purposes.
 
SJG and SJE transact commodities on a physical basis and typically do not enter into financial derivative positions directly. SJRG manages risk in the natural gas markets for these entities as well as for its own portfolio by entering into the types of transactions noted above. As part of its gas purchasing strategy, SJG uses financial contracts through SJRG to hedge against forward price risk. These contracts are recoverable through SJG’s BGSS, subject to BPU approval. It is management’s policy, to the extent practical, within predetermined risk management policy guidelines, to have limited unmatched positions on a deal or portfolio basis while conducting these activities. As a result of holding open positions to a minimal level, the economic impact of changes in value of a particular transaction is substantially offset by an opposite change in the related hedge transaction.
 
 
SJI -30

 
SJI has entered into certain contracts to buy, sell, and transport natural gas and to buy and sell retail electricity.  For those derivatives not designated as hedges, we recorded the net unrealized pre-tax loss of $22.1 million and  $16.3 million in earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively,  which are included with realized gains and losses in Operating Revenues — Nonutility.    The fair value and maturity of these energy-trading contracts determined under the mark-to-market method as of March 31, 2010 is as follows (in thousands):
                                     
Assets
                                   
  Source of Fair Value    
Maturity < 1
Year
   
Maturity 1 -
3 Years
   
Maturity
Beyond 3
Years
    Total  
                                     
Prices actively quoted
 
$
27,453
   
$
7,114
   
$
   
$
34,567
 
                                 
Prices provided by other external sources
   
14,354
     
5,952
     
     
20,306
 
                                 
Prices based on internal models or other valuation methods
   
1,051
     
1,144
     
     
2,195
 
                                 
Total
 
$
42,858
   
$
14,210
   
$
   
$
57,068
 
                                     
Liabilities                            
 
Source of Fair Value
   
Maturity < 1
Year
   
Maturity 1 -
3 Years
   
Maturity
Beyond 3
Years
    Total  
                                     
Prices actively quoted
 
$
26,980
   
$
6,580
   
$
   
$
33,560
 
                                 
Prices provided by other external sources
   
7,558
     
2,709
     
     
10,267
 
                                 
Prices based on internal models or other valuation methods
   
24,873
     
1,987
     
171
     
27,031
 
                                 
Total
 
$
59,411
   
$
11,276
   
$
171
   
$
70,858
 
 
NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) is the primary national commodities exchange on which natural gas is traded. Basis represents the price of a NYMEX natural gas futures contract adjusted for the difference in price for delivering the gas at another location. Contracted volumes of our NYMEX contracts are 0.2 million decatherms (dts) with a weighted-average settlement price of $6.34 per dt.  Contracted volumes of our basis contracts are 6.9 million dts with a weighted average settlement price of $0.53 per dt.  Contracted volumes of electric are 1.5 million mwh with a weighted average settlement price of $65.45 per mwh.
 
 A reconciliation of SJI’s estimated net fair value of energy-related derivatives follows (in thousands):
 
Net Derivatives — Energy Related Assets,  January 1, 2010
 
$
8,906
 
Contracts Settled During Three Months Ended March 31, 2010, Net
   
(16,777
)
Other Changes in Fair Value from Continuing and New Contracts, Net
   
(5,919
         
Net Derivatives — Energy Related Assets  March 31, 2010
 
$
(13,790
 
Interest Rate Risk — Our exposure to interest-rate risk relates primarily to short-term, variable-rate borrowings. Short-term, variable-rate debt outstanding at March 31, 2010 was $134.0 million and averaged $174.3 million during the first three months of 2010. A hypothetical 100 basis point (1%) increase in interest rates on our average variable-rate debt outstanding would result in a $1.0 million increase in our annual interest expense, net of tax. The 100 basis point increase was chosen for illustrative purposes, as it provides a simple basis for calculating the impact of interest rate changes under a variety of interest rate scenarios. Over the past five years, the change in basis points (b.p.) of our average monthly interest rates from the beginning to end of each year was as follows: 2009 - 29 b.p. decrease; 2008 –397 b.p. decrease; 2007 — 45 b.p. increase; 2006 —67 b.p. increase; and 2005 —194 b.p. decrease.  For March 2010, our average interest rate on variable-rate debt was 0.69%.
 
We issue long-term debt either at fixed rates or use interest rate derivatives to limit our exposure to changes in interest rates on variable-rate, long-term debt. As of March 31, 2010, the interest costs on all but $7.1 million of our long-term debt was either at a fixed-rate or hedged via an interest rate derivative. Consequently, interest expense on existing long-term debt is not significantly impacted by changes in market interest rates. However, during the first quarter of 2009, as a result of unusual market conditions, the interest rate derivatives on Marina’s variable rate demand bonds were no longer highly effective in mitigating the risks resulting from changes in interest rates. Consequently, the Company discontinued hedge accounting on these interest rate derivatives.  All of these interest rate derivatives remain in place and are expected to substantially offset future changes in interest rates on the respective securities.
 
 
SJI -31

 
As of March 31, 2010, SJI’s active interest rate swaps were as follows:
 
Amount
   
Fixed
Interest Rate
 
Start Date
 
Maturity
 
Type
 
Obligor
$
3,900,000
     
4.795
%
12/01/2004
 
12/01/2014
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
8,000,000
     
4.775
%
11/12/2004
 
11/12/2014
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
20,000,000
     
4.080
%
11/19/2001
 
12/01/2011
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
14,500,000
     
3.905
%
03/17/2006
 
01/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
500,000
     
3.905
%
03/17/2006
 
01/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
330,000
     
3.905
%
03/17/2006
 
01/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
7,100,000
     
4.895
%
02/01/2006
 
02/01/2016
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
12,500,000
     
3.430
%
12/01/2006
 
02/01/2036
 
Tax-exempt
 
SJG
$
12,500,000
     
3.430
%
12/01/2006
 
02/01/2036
 
Tax-exempt
 
SJG
  
Concentration of Credit Risk - As of March 31, 2010, approximately 47.0% of the current and noncurrent Derivatives – Energy Related Assets or $26.9 million are with a single retail counterparty. This counterparty has contracts with a large number of diverse customers which minimizes the concentration of this risk. A portion of these contracts may be assignable to SJI in the event of a default by the counterparty.
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Company’s management, with the participation of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of March 31, 2010. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures employed at the Company are effective.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
There has not been any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 
 
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item l. Legal Proceedings
 
Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to Part I, Item 2, Pending Litigation, beginning on page 30.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes to our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
 
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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
The following table presents information about purchases by SJI of its own common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2010:
 
Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased1
   
Average Price Paid Per
Share1
   
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs2
   
Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs2
 
January             2010
   
3,581
   
$
38.3846
     
     
 
February           2010
   
6,028
   
$
40.2954
     
     
 
March               2010
   
     
     
     
 
Total
   
9,609
             
     
 
  
 1The total number of shares purchased and the average price paid per share represent shares purchased in open market transactions under the South Jersey Industries Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “DRP”) by the administrator of the DRP.
 
2On September 22, 2008, SJI publicly announced a share repurchase program under which the Company can purchase up to 5% of its currently outstanding common stock over the next four years.  As of March 31, 2010, no shares have been purchased under this program.
 
Item 6. Exhibits
(a)  Exhibits
 
Exhibit
No.
 
Description
     
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
     
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
     
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code).
     
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code).
 
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
 
   
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
   
(Registrant)
       
Dated: May 7, 2010
 
By: 
/s/ Edward J. Graham
     
Edward J. Graham
     
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
       
Dated: May 7, 2010
 
By: 
/s/ David A. Kindlick
     
David A. Kindlick
     
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
 
 
SJI -33