SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES INC - Quarter Report: 2012 September (Form 10-Q)
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 September 30, 2012
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 x 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 November 1, 2012 there were 31,262,570 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PageNo. | ||
PART I | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | |
Item 1. | ||
Item 2. | ||
Item 3. | ||
Item 4. | ||
PART II | OTHER INFORMATION | |
Item 1. | ||
Item 1A. | ||
Item 2. | ||
Item 6. | ||
Item 1. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands Except for Per Share Data)
Three Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
Operating Revenues: | |||||||
Utility | $ | 53,999 | $ | 58,208 | |||
Nonutility | 57,978 | 79,413 | |||||
Total Operating Revenues | 111,977 | 137,621 | |||||
Operating Expenses: | |||||||
Cost of Sales - (Excluding depreciation) | |||||||
- Utility | 20,801 | 27,242 | |||||
- Nonutility | 49,748 | 79,413 | |||||
Operations | 25,817 | 24,002 | |||||
Maintenance | 3,570 | 3,414 | |||||
Depreciation | 10,602 | 9,023 | |||||
Energy and Other Taxes | 1,494 | 1,673 | |||||
Total Operating Expenses | 112,032 | 144,767 | |||||
Operating Loss | (55 | ) | (7,146 | ) | |||
Other Income and Expense | 4,359 | 2,586 | |||||
Interest Charges | (5,981 | ) | (6,242 | ) | |||
Loss Before Income Taxes | (1,677 | ) | (10,802 | ) | |||
Income Taxes | 2,576 | 6,034 | |||||
Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Affiliated Companies | 1,265 | (435 | ) | ||||
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations | 2,164 | (5,203 | ) | ||||
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations - (Net of tax benefit or expense) | (151 | ) | 65 | ||||
Net Income (Loss) | $ | 2,013 | $ | (5,138 | ) | ||
Basic Earnings Per Common Share: | |||||||
Continuing Operations | $ | 0.070 | $ | (0.173 | ) | ||
Discontinued Operations | (0.005 | ) | 0.002 | ||||
Basic Earnings Per Common Share | $ | 0.065 | $ | (0.171 | ) | ||
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Basic | 30,861 | 30,029 | |||||
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share: | |||||||
Continuing Operations | $ | 0.070 | $ | (0.173 | ) | ||
Discontinued Operations | (0.005 | ) | 0.002 | ||||
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share | $ | 0.065 | $ | (0.171 | ) | ||
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted | 30,945 | 30,029 | |||||
Dividends Declared per Common Share | $ | 0.403 | $ | 0.365 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
1
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands Except for Per Share Data)
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
Operating Revenues: | |||||||
Utility | $ | 292,257 | $ | 297,567 | |||
Nonutility | 216,465 | 332,453 | |||||
Total Operating Revenues | 508,722 | 630,020 | |||||
Operating Expenses: | |||||||
Cost of Sales - (Excluding depreciation) | |||||||
- Utility | 127,352 | 137,924 | |||||
- Nonutility | 169,584 | 294,309 | |||||
Operations | 80,015 | 74,187 | |||||
Maintenance | 10,133 | 9,638 | |||||
Depreciation | 30,691 | 26,528 | |||||
Energy and Other Taxes | 7,237 | 9,094 | |||||
Total Operating Expenses | 425,012 | 551,680 | |||||
Operating Income | 83,710 | 78,340 | |||||
Other Income and Expense | 9,890 | 12,963 | |||||
Interest Charges | (16,669 | ) | (18,457 | ) | |||
Income Before Income Taxes | 76,931 | 72,846 | |||||
Income Taxes | (12,236 | ) | (19,480 | ) | |||
Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Affiliated Companies | 2,512 | (493 | ) | ||||
Income from Continuing Operations | 67,207 | 52,873 | |||||
Loss from Discontinued Operations - (Net of tax benefit) | (785 | ) | (484 | ) | |||
Net Income | $ | 66,422 | $ | 52,389 | |||
Basic Earnings Per Common Share: | |||||||
Continuing Operations | $ | 2.203 | $ | 1.765 | |||
Discontinued Operations | (0.025 | ) | (0.016 | ) | |||
Basic Earnings Per Common Share | $ | 2.178 | $ | 1.749 | |||
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Basic | 30,502 | 29,961 | |||||
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share: | |||||||
Continuing Operations | $ | 2.197 | $ | 1.760 | |||
Discontinued Operations | (0.026 | ) | (0.016 | ) | |||
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share | $ | 2.171 | $ | 1.744 | |||
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted | 30,591 | 30,045 | |||||
Dividends Declared per Common Share | $ | 1.209 | $ | 1.095 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
Net Income (Loss) | $ | 2,013 | $ | (5,138 | ) | ||
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax:* | |||||||
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities | 205 | (478 | ) | ||||
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives - Other | 67 | (814 | ) | ||||
Other Comprehensive Income of Affiliated Companies | 364 | 666 | |||||
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Net of Tax* | 636 | (626 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive Income (Loss) | $ | 2,649 | $ | (5,764 | ) |
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
Net Income | $ | 66,422 | $ | 52,389 | |||
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax:* | |||||||
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities | 420 | (581 | ) | ||||
Unrealized Loss on Derivatives - Other | (158 | ) | (757 | ) | |||
Other Comprehensive Loss of Affiliated Companies | (1,598 | ) | (167 | ) | |||
Other Comprehensive Loss - Net of Tax* | (1,336 | ) | (1,505 | ) | |||
Comprehensive Income | $ | 65,086 | $ | 50,884 |
* Determined using a combined statutory tax rate of 41%.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | $ | 62,290 | $ | 135,569 | |||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | |||||||
Capital Expenditures | (147,759 | ) | (113,993 | ) | |||
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment | 29 | 3,500 | |||||
Net Proceeds from Sale of Restricted Investments in Margin Account | 9,532 | 743 | |||||
Investment in Long-Term Receivables | (4,178 | ) | (3,780 | ) | |||
Proceeds from Long-Term Receivables | 5,217 | 4,297 | |||||
Purchase of Company Owned Life Insurance | (4,547 | ) | (4,352 | ) | |||
Investment in Affiliate | (35,899 | ) | (23,034 | ) | |||
Return of Investment in Affiliate | — | 1,902 | |||||
Advances on Notes Receivable - Affiliate | (66,755 | ) | (28,827 | ) | |||
Repayment of Notes Receivable - Affiliate | 11,523 | 39,977 | |||||
Other | (6,388 | ) | (5,847 | ) | |||
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | (239,225 | ) | (129,414 | ) | |||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | |||||||
Net (Repayments of) Borrowings from Short-Term Credit Facilities | (6,000 | ) | 12,150 | ||||
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt | 200,000 | — | |||||
Principal Repayments of Long-Term Debt | (35,000 | ) | (25,000 | ) | |||
Payments for Issuance of Long-Term Debt | (1,820 | ) | (32 | ) | |||
Premium for Early Retirement of Debt | (700 | ) | — | ||||
Dividends on Common Stock | (24,452 | ) | (21,866 | ) | |||
Proceeds from Sale of Common Stock | 41,543 | 5,359 | |||||
Proceeds from Finance Obligation | — | 23,482 | |||||
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities | 173,571 | (5,907 | ) | ||||
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents | (3,364 | ) | 248 | ||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period | 7,538 | 2,363 | |||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period | $ | 4,174 | $ | 2,611 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
September 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Property, Plant and Equipment: | |||||||
Utility Plant, at original cost | $ | 1,625,431 | $ | 1,515,274 | |||
Accumulated Depreciation | (373,064 | ) | (357,245 | ) | |||
Nonutility Property and Equipment, at cost | 244,834 | 221,051 | |||||
Accumulated Depreciation | (34,251 | ) | (26,687 | ) | |||
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net | 1,462,950 | 1,352,393 | |||||
Investments: | |||||||
Available-for-Sale Securities | 7,359 | 6,677 | |||||
Restricted | 9,126 | 18,658 | |||||
Investment in Affiliates | 73,493 | 31,815 | |||||
Total Investments | 89,978 | 57,150 | |||||
Current Assets: | |||||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents | 4,174 | 7,538 | |||||
Accounts Receivable | 137,837 | 135,253 | |||||
Unbilled Revenues | 12,555 | 42,961 | |||||
Provision for Uncollectibles | (6,995 | ) | (5,337 | ) | |||
Notes Receivable - Affiliate | 38,368 | 2,747 | |||||
Natural Gas in Storage, average cost | 58,965 | 68,823 | |||||
Materials and Supplies, average cost | 2,729 | 2,794 | |||||
Deferred Income Taxes - Net | — | 12,779 | |||||
Prepaid Taxes | 34,099 | 22,303 | |||||
Derivatives - Energy Related Assets | 26,335 | 37,461 | |||||
Other Prepayments and Current Assets | 15,768 | 13,287 | |||||
Total Current Assets | 323,835 | 340,609 | |||||
Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets: | |||||||
Regulatory Assets | 324,161 | 315,221 | |||||
Derivatives - Energy Related Assets | 11,287 | 8,135 | |||||
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs | 9,107 | 7,009 | |||||
Notes Receivable-Affiliate | 118,272 | 111,946 | |||||
Contract Receivables | 13,553 | 13,280 | |||||
Other | 52,136 | 41,767 | |||||
Total Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets | 528,516 | 497,358 | |||||
Total Assets | $ | 2,405,279 | $ | 2,247,510 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
September 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||
Capitalization and Liabilities | |||||||
Equity: | |||||||
Common Stock | $ | 38,856 | $ | 37,765 | |||
Premium on Common Stock | 315,760 | 273,303 | |||||
Treasury Stock (at par) | (181 | ) | (193 | ) | |||
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | (29,774 | ) | (28,438 | ) | |||
Retained Earnings | 371,135 | 341,677 | |||||
Total Equity | 695,796 | 624,114 | |||||
Long-Term Debt | 566,400 | 424,213 | |||||
Total Capitalization | 1,262,196 | 1,048,327 | |||||
Current Liabilities: | |||||||
Notes Payable | 315,400 | 321,400 | |||||
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt | 25,000 | 2,187 | |||||
Accounts Payable | 111,071 | 153,666 | |||||
Customer Deposits and Credit Balances | 25,248 | 24,914 | |||||
Environmental Remediation Costs | 20,224 | 24,721 | |||||
Taxes Accrued | 2,094 | 3,168 | |||||
Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities | 17,558 | 38,738 | |||||
Deferred Income Taxes - Net | 11,400 | — | |||||
Deferred Contract Revenues | — | 996 | |||||
Dividends Payable | 12,511 | — | |||||
Interest Accrued | 5,241 | 6,408 | |||||
Pension Benefits | 1,240 | 1,275 | |||||
Other Current Liabilities | 5,858 | 10,498 | |||||
Total Current Liabilities | 552,845 | 587,971 | |||||
Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities: | |||||||
Deferred Income Taxes - Net | 290,056 | 295,434 | |||||
Investment Tax Credits | 690 | 905 | |||||
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits | 91,765 | 109,021 | |||||
Environmental Remediation Costs | 75,495 | 69,439 | |||||
Asset Retirement Obligations | 30,322 | 29,430 | |||||
Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities | 5,952 | 7,367 | |||||
Derivatives - Other | 14,454 | 14,046 | |||||
Regulatory Liabilities | 46,156 | 48,311 | |||||
Finance Obligation | 21,893 | 22,549 | |||||
Other | 13,455 | 14,710 | |||||
Total Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities | 590,238 | 611,212 | |||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11) | |||||||
Total Capitalization and Liabilities | $ | 2,405,279 | $ | 2,247,510 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
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, Appalachian 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 under warranty via a subcontractor arrangement. |
▪ | South Jersey Exploration, LLC (SJEX) owns oil, gas and mineral rights in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania. |
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. We eliminate all significant intercompany accounts and transactions. In management’s opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments needed to fairly present SJI’s financial position,operating results and cash flows 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 (SEC), 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 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of the Company’s accounting policies and certain other information.
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 $0.7 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $4.0 million and $5.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. TEFA, which accounts for the majority of the revenue based taxes, is subject to a planned phase-out, which decreased rates by 25% effective January 1, 2012.
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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company recorded $1.1 million of impairment charges within Other Income and Expense on the condensed consolidated statement of income due to a reduction in the expected cash flows to be received from certain shallow wells in the Marcellus region. No impairment charges were recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $9.0 million and $9.6 million, respectively, related to interests in proved and unproved properties in Pennsylvania, net of amortization, is included with Nonutility Property and Equipment and Other Noncurrent Assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
TREASURY STOCK – SJI uses the par value method of accounting for treasury stock. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, SJI held 144,864 and 154,718 shares of treasury stock, respectively. These shares are related to deferred compensation arrangements where the amounts earned are held in the stock of SJI.
7
INCOME TAXES — Deferred income taxes are provided for all significant temporary differences between the book and taxable bases of assets and liabilities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 740 - “Income Taxes”. A valuation allowance is established when it is determined that it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Investment tax credits related to renewable energy facilities of the non-regulated entities are recognized on the flow through method, which may result in variations in the customary relationship between income taxes and pre-tax income for interim periods.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — Other than as described below, no new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during 2011 and 2012 had, or is expected to have, a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS. This ASU amends ASC Topic 820 to include a consistent definition of the term “fair value” and set forth common requirements for measuring fair value and disclosing information about fair value measurements in financial statements. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance modified the disclosures around fair value, but did not have an impact on the Company's financial statement results.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. This ASU allows an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. In January 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for the Presentation of Reclassification Adjustments Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which defers the provisions related to the presentation of reclassification adjustments. The other portions of the ASU remain unchanged and are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company's financial statement results.
In January 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Enhanced Disclosure Requirements Concerning Offsetting of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This ASU amends ASC 210-20 to add disclosure requirements in respect of the offsetting of financial assets and financial liabilities. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Management does not anticipate that the adoption of this guidance will have an impact on the Company's financial statement results.
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 nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. No stock appreciation rights have been issued under the plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, SJI granted 40,955 and 40,711 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 and earnings-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. Grants containing market-based performance targets have been issued in each of the last three years and use SJI's total shareholder return (TSR) relative to a peer group to measure performance. Beginning with 2012, grants containing earnings-based targets have also been issued. These new grants are based on SJI's earnings per share (EPS) growth rate relative to a peer group to measure performance. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, SJI granted 9,904 and 12,220 restricted shares, respectively, to Directors. Shares issued to Directors in 2010 and 2011 vest over a three-year service period and contain no performance conditions. Shares issued to Directors in 2012 vest over twelve months and contain no performance conditions. As a result, 100% of the shares granted generally vest.
See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011 for the related accounting policy.
8
The following table summarizes the nonvested restricted stock awards outstanding at September 30, 2012 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. 2010 - TSR | 52,404 | $ | 39.020 | 29.0 | % | 1.65 | % | ||||||
Jan. 2011 - TSR | 40,227 | $ | 50.940 | 27.5 | % | 1.01 | % | |||||||
Jan. 2012 - TSR | 20,389 | $ | 51.230 | 22.5 | % | 0.43 | % | |||||||
Jan. 2012 - EPS | 20,389 | $ | 56.930 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
Directors - | Jan. 2010 | 11,690 | $ | 37.825 | — | — | ||||||||
Jan. 2011 | 7,332 | $ | 52.940 | — | — | |||||||||
Jan. 2012 | 8,666 | $ | 56.580 | — | — |
Expected volatility is based on the actual 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, 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 stock-based compensation cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||
Officers & Key Employees | $ | 524 | $ | 467 | $ | 1,572 | $ | 1,399 | ||||||
Directors | 110 | 110 | 464 | 567 | ||||||||||
Total Cost | 634 | 577 | 2,036 | 1,966 | ||||||||||
Capitalized | (58 | ) | (55 | ) | (173 | ) | (165 | ) | ||||||
Net Expense | $ | 576 | $ | 522 | $ | 1,863 | $ | 1,801 |
As of September 30, 2012, there was $3.2 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 1.8 years.
The following table summarizes information regarding restricted stock award activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, excluding accrued dividend equivalents:
Officers &Other Key Employees | Directors | Weighted Average Fair Value | |||||||
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, January 1, 2012 | 92,907 | 21,914 | $ | 44.112 | |||||
Granted | 40,955 | 9,904 | $ | 54.567 | |||||
Canceled/Forfeited | (453 | ) | — | $ | 49.430 | ||||
Vested | — | (4,130 | ) | $ | 47.919 | ||||
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, September 30, 2012 | 133,409 | 27,688 | $ | 47.300 |
9
During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, SJI awarded 33,322 shares to its Officers and other key employees, which had vested at December 31, 2011, at a market value of $1.9 million, and 69,271 shares, which had vested at December 31, 2010, at a market value of $3.7 million, respectively. Also, during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, SJI awarded 9,904 and 12,220 shares to its Directors at a market value of $0.6 million for each period. 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 these plans. However, a change in control could result in such shares becoming nonforfeitable 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 AND AFFILATIONS: |
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 and nine months ended September 30, were (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
(Loss) Income before Income Taxes: | |||||||||||||||
Sand Mining | $ | (34 | ) | $ | 126 | $ | (935 | ) | $ | (225 | ) | ||||
Fuel Oil | (198 | ) | (25 | ) | (273 | ) | (519 | ) | |||||||
Income Tax Benefits | 81 | (36 | ) | 423 | 260 | ||||||||||
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations — Net | $ | (151 | ) | $ | 65 | $ | (785 | ) | $ | (484 | ) | ||||
Earnings Per Common Share from | |||||||||||||||
Discontinued Operations — Net: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | (0.005 | ) | $ | 0.002 | $ | (0.025 | ) | $ | (0.016 | ) | ||||
Diluted | $ | (0.005 | ) | $ | 0.002 | $ | (0.026 | ) | $ | (0.016 | ) |
AFFILIATIONS — The following affiliated entities are accounted for under the equity method:
Marina and a joint venture partner formed the following entities in which Marina has a 50% equity interest:
LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE), which has entered into a contract to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Energenic – US, LLC (Energenic), which develops and operates on-site, self-contained, energy-related projects.
During the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, the Company made investments in, and provided net advances to, unconsolidated affiliates of $91.1 million and $10.0 million, respectively. The purpose of these investments and advances was to acquire two district energy systems in Hartford, Connecticut, and to develop landfill gas-fired electric production facilities, solar and thermal energy projects, and to cover certain project related costs of LVE (See Note 11). As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the outstanding balance on these Notes Receivable – Affiliate was $156.6 million and $114.7 million, respectively. Approximately $101.0 million of these notes are secured by property, plant and equipment of the affiliates, accrue interest at 7.5% and are to be repaid through 2025. The remaining $55.6 million of these notes are unsecured, and are either non-interest bearing or accrue interest at variable rates and are to be repaid when the affiliate secures permanent financing.
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SJI holds significant variable interests in these entities but is not the primary beneficiary. Consequently, these entities are accounted for under the equity method because SJI does not have both a) the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had a net asset of approximately $71.6 million included in Investment in Affiliates and Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to equity method investees, in addition to Notes Receivable – Affiliate as discussed above. SJI’s maximum exposure to loss from these entities as of September 30, 2012 is limited to its combined equity contributions and the Notes Receivable-Affiliate in the amount of $231.2 million.
SJI and a joint venture partner formed Potato Creek, LLC (Potato Creek) in which SJI has a 30% equity interest. Potato Creek owns and manages the oil, gas and mineral rights of certain real estate in Pennsylvania.
In April 2012, Energenic acquired The Energy Network, LLC, a holding company for the Hartford Steam Company, TEN Companies and CNE Power I, LLC, for approximately $50.5 million. In conjunction with the acquisition, Marina made a capital contribution to Energenic of $7.6 million and provided $35.4 million of advances which are expected to be repaid by Energenic when permanent financing is obtained.
4. | COMMON STOCK: |
The following shares were issued and outstanding at September 30:
2012 | ||
Beginning Balance, January 1 | 30,212,453 | |
New Issues During Period: | ||
Dividend Reinvestment Plan | 827,115 | |
Stock-Based Compensation Plan | 43,226 | |
Ending Balance, September 30 | 31,082,794 |
The par value ($1.25 per share) of stock issued was recorded in Common Stock and the net excess over par value of approximately $42.5 million was recorded in Premium on Common Stock.
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (EPS) — 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 83,897 for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and 89,060 and 84,072 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, incremental shares of 76,257 were not included in the denominator for the diluted EPS calculation because they would have an antidilutive effect on EPS. 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 automatic reinvestment of dividends or optional purchases. From April 2008 through April 2011, shares of common stock offered by the DRP have been purchased in open market transactions. Beginning in May 2011, shares of common stock offered by the DRP have been issued directly by SJI from its authorized but unissued shares of common stock. The Company raised $41.5 million and $5.4 million of equity capital through the DRP during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
5. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: |
RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS — In accordance with the terms of certain Marina and SJG loan agreements, unused proceeds are required to be escrowed pending approval of construction expenditures. As of both September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the escrowed proceeds, including interest earned, totaled $1.3 million.
11
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 September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the balances in these accounts totaled $7.8 million and $17.3 million, respectively. The carrying amounts of the Restricted Investments approximate their fair values at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which would be included in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy (See Note 13 - Fair Value of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities).
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 $12.8 million and $11.7 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, 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 amount of $1.2 million as of both September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. 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 September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which would be included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy (See Note 13 - Fair Value of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities).
CREDIT RISK - As of September 30, 2012, approximately $10.1 million, or 26.8%, of the current and noncurrent Derivatives – Energy Related Assets 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.
FINANCE OBLIGATION - During 2010, ACB Energy Partners LLC (ACB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, completed construction of a combined heat and power generating facility to serve, under an energy services agreement, a thermal plant owned by Marina. Construction period financing was provided by Marina. Due to its continuing involvement in the facility, Marina is considered the owner of the facility for accounting purposes. As a result, the Company included costs to construct the facility within Nonutility Property, Plant and Equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of $23.6 million and $23.5 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. In addition, the Company includes repayments from ACB to Marina on the construction loan within the Finance Obligation on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Marina does not have a fixed payment obligation to ACB; as a result, the Finance Obligation is classified as a noncurrent liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The costs to construct the facility and the repayments of the construction loan are amortized over the term of the energy services agreement. The impact on the condensed consolidated statements of income is not significant. As a result, the Company recorded $21.9 million and $22.5 million, net of amortization, within Finance Obligation on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS NOT CARRIED AT FAIR VALUE - The fair value of a financial instrument is the market price to sell an asset or transfer a liability at the measurement date. The carrying amounts of SJI's financial instruments that are not carried at fair value, including those financial instruments disclosed in this footnote, approximate their fair values at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, except as noted below.
• | For Long-Term Debt, in estimating the fair value, we use the present value of remaining cash flows at the balance sheet date. We based the estimates on interest rates available to SJI at the end of each period for debt with similar terms and maturities (Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, see Note 13 - Fair Value of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities). The estimated fair values of SJI's long-term debt, including current maturities, as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, were $706.6 million and $533.4 million, respectively. The carrying amounts of SJI's long-term debt, including current maturities, as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, was $591.4 million and $426.4 million, respectively. |
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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 Energy Operations include SJRG’s and SJEX'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 under warranty via a subcontractor arrangement as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems. The Retail Energy Operations caption includes Retail Gas and Other, Retail Electric, On-Site Energy Production and Appliance Service Operations. 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.
Information about SJI’s operations in different reportable operating segments is presented below (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
Operating Revenues: | |||||||||||||||
Gas Utility Operations | $ | 54,251 | $ | 58,482 | $ | 292,864 | $ | 303,992 | |||||||
Wholesale Energy Operations | (1,601 | ) | (5,274 | ) | 15,570 | 49,472 | |||||||||
Retail Energy Operations: | |||||||||||||||
Retail Gas and Other Operations | 18,841 | 20,582 | 50,633 | 80,866 | |||||||||||
Retail Electric Operations | 28,918 | 51,305 | 117,470 | 165,458 | |||||||||||
On-Site Energy Production | 12,621 | 11,049 | 29,878 | 30,700 | |||||||||||
Appliance Service Operations | 3,048 | 3,720 | 9,908 | 12,308 | |||||||||||
Subtotal Retail Energy Operations | 63,428 | 86,656 | 207,889 | 289,332 | |||||||||||
Corporate & Services | 6,973 | 5,788 | 20,018 | 17,822 | |||||||||||
Subtotal | 123,051 | 145,652 | 536,341 | 660,618 | |||||||||||
Intersegment Sales | (11,074 | ) | (8,031 | ) | (27,619 | ) | (30,598 | ) | |||||||
Total Operating Revenues | $ | 111,977 | $ | 137,621 | $ | 508,722 | $ | 630,020 |
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Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
Operating (Loss) Income: | |||||||||||||||
Gas Utility Operations | $ | 2,950 | $ | 2,860 | $ | 69,270 | $ | 68,418 | |||||||
Wholesale Energy Operations | (4,380 | ) | (9,379 | ) | 3,449 | 1,716 | |||||||||
Retail Energy Operations: | |||||||||||||||
Retail Gas and Other Operations | (515 | ) | (150 | ) | (1,062 | ) | 564 | ||||||||
Retail Electric Operations | 1,300 | (888 | ) | 11,354 | 5,953 | ||||||||||
On-Site Energy Production | 440 | 578 | 786 | 2,945 | |||||||||||
Appliance Service Operations | (189 | ) | (321 | ) | (408 | ) | (1,143 | ) | |||||||
Subtotal Retail Energy Operations | 1,036 | (781 | ) | 10,670 | 8,319 | ||||||||||
Corporate and Services | 339 | 154 | 321 | (113 | ) | ||||||||||
Total Operating (Loss) Income | $ | (55 | ) | $ | (7,146 | ) | $ | 83,710 | $ | 78,340 | |||||
Depreciation and Amortization: | |||||||||||||||
Gas Utility Operations | $ | 11,209 | $ | 10,463 | $ | 33,301 | $ | 31,141 | |||||||
Wholesale Energy Operations | 56 | 64 | 173 | 198 | |||||||||||
Retail Energy Operations: | |||||||||||||||
Retail Gas and Other Operations | 18 | 8 | 49 | 25 | |||||||||||
On-Site Energy Production | 2,469 | 1,185 | 7,195 | 3,288 | |||||||||||
Appliance Service Operations | 74 | 86 | 236 | 235 | |||||||||||
Subtotal Retail Energy Operations | 2,561 | 1,279 | 7,480 | 3,548 | |||||||||||
Corporate and Services | 170 | 159 | 505 | 498 | |||||||||||
Total Depreciation and Amortization | $ | 13,996 | $ | 11,965 | $ | 41,459 | $ | 35,385 | |||||||
Interest Charges: | |||||||||||||||
Gas Utility Operations | $ | 3,872 | $ | 4,539 | $ | 11,832 | $ | 14,463 | |||||||
Wholesale Energy Operations | 42 | 4 | 200 | 26 | |||||||||||
Retail Energy Operations: | |||||||||||||||
Retail Gas and Other Operations | 49 | 46 | 100 | 157 | |||||||||||
On-Site Energy Production | 1,464 | 1,799 | 3,698 | 4,325 | |||||||||||
Subtotal Retail Energy Operations | 1,513 | 1,845 | 3,798 | 4,482 | |||||||||||
Corporate and Services | 1,349 | 777 | 2,907 | 1,961 | |||||||||||
Subtotal | 6,776 | 7,165 | 18,737 | 20,932 | |||||||||||
Intersegment Borrowings | (795 | ) | (923 | ) | (2,068 | ) | (2,475 | ) | |||||||
Total Interest Charges | $ | 5,981 | $ | 6,242 | $ | 16,669 | $ | 18,457 | |||||||
Income Taxes: | |||||||||||||||
Gas Utility Operations | $ | 258 | $ | (699 | ) | $ | 23,122 | $ | 22,412 | ||||||
Wholesale Energy Operations | (1,673 | ) | (3,547 | ) | 1,280 | 1,473 | |||||||||
Retail Energy Operations: | |||||||||||||||
Retail Gas and Other Operations | (214 | ) | (59 | ) | (120 | ) | 479 | ||||||||
Retail Electric Operations | 531 | (363 | ) | 4,638 | 2,432 | ||||||||||
On-Site Energy Production | (1,499 | ) | (1,621 | ) | (16,729 | ) | (9,278 | ) | |||||||
Appliance Service Operations | (70 | ) | 163 | (124 | ) | 1,796 | |||||||||
Subtotal Retail Energy Operations | (1,252 | ) | (1,880 | ) | (12,335 | ) | (4,571 | ) | |||||||
Corporate and Services | 91 | 92 | 169 | 166 | |||||||||||
Total Income Tax (Benefit) Expense | $ | (2,576 | ) | $ | (6,034 | ) | $ | 12,236 | $ | 19,480 |
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Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
Property Additions: | |||||||||||||||
Gas Utility Operations | $ | 37,263 | $ | 38,792 | $ | 118,139 | $ | 97,868 | |||||||
Wholesale Energy Operations | 1 | 53 | 13 | 83 | |||||||||||
Retail Energy Operations: | |||||||||||||||
Retail Gas and Other Operations | 74 | 3 | 177 | 18 | |||||||||||
On-Site Energy Production | 11,517 | 5,510 | 22,519 | 20,807 | |||||||||||
Appliance Service Operations | 1 | 111 | 3 | 244 | |||||||||||
Subtotal Retail Energy Operations | 11,592 | 5,624 | 22,699 | 21,069 | |||||||||||
Corporate and Services | 1,503 | 24 | 3,162 | 406 | |||||||||||
Total Property Additions | $ | 50,359 | $ | 44,493 | $ | 144,013 | $ | 119,426 |
September 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||
Identifiable Assets: | |||||||
Gas Utility Operations | $ | 1,699,399 | $ | 1,615,723 | |||
Wholesale Energy Operations | 141,427 | 159,424 | |||||
Retail Energy Operations: | |||||||
Retail Gas and Other Operations | 15,710 | 14,659 | |||||
Retail Electric Operations | 21,259 | 31,225 | |||||
On-Site Energy Production | 259,311 | 275,053 | |||||
Appliance Service Operations | 8,131 | 11,335 | |||||
Subtotal Retail Energy Operations | 304,411 | 332,272 | |||||
Discontinued Operations | 98 | 224 | |||||
Corporate and Services | 271,360 | 156,252 | |||||
Intersegment Assets | (11,416 | ) | (16,385 | ) | |||
Total Identifiable Assets | $ | 2,405,279 | $ | 2,247,510 |
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7. | RATES AND REGULATORY ACTIONS: |
SJG is subject to the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU). In May 2012, SJG filed a petition requesting the approval of a new Energy Efficiency Program (“EEP II”). The petition requests the approval to continue its Energy Efficiency Tracker (“EET”) to recover all costs associated with the EEP II through a $3.1 million increase in annual revenues. These programs provide customers with increased incentives to reduce their natural gas consumption. This petition is currently pending.
In September 2012, the BPU approved the 2010 and 2011 Annual EET true-up filings resulting in a $4.7 million increase in annual revenues, effective October 1, 2012.
In June 2012, SJG filed a petition requesting a continuation of the Energy Efficiency Program (“EEP I”) to bridge the gap between the expiration of the EEP I program on April 30, 2012 and the implementation of the proposed new EEP II program. This petition was approved by the BPU in August 2012. Also in June, SJG filed its annual EET rate adjustment petition requesting a $5.8 million increase in annual revenues to recover the costs associated with its EEP I program. This petition is still pending.
Also in June 2012, SJG filed its annual Basic Gas Supply Service (“BGSS”) and Conservation Incentive Program (“CIP”) petition with the BPU. This petition requested a $27.0 million reduction in annual revenues for the BGSS and a $30.4 million increase in annual revenues for the CIP. Provisional rates were approved for both clauses by the BPU in September 2012, with rates commencing on October 1, 2012.
In July 2012, SJG filed a petition to implement a five-year, $250.0 million Accelerated Infrastructure Replacement Program (“AIRP”). SJG proposed spending an incremental $50.0 million per year on the accelerated replacement of its cast iron and bare steel main and service infrastructure and is seeking a return on program investments as it had under prior Capital Investment Recovery Tracker ("CIRT") programs. This petition is still pending.
In October 2012, SJG filed a petition requesting a $13.2 million increase in annual CIRT revenues which would result from rolling portions of CIRT I, II and CIRT III investments into base rates effective January 1, 2013. This petition is currently pending.
There have been no other significant regulatory actions or changes to SJG's rate structure since December 31, 2011. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI's Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011.
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, 2011 which are described in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011.
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Regulatory Assets consisted of the following items (in thousands):
September 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||
Environmental Remediation Costs: | |||||||
Expended - Net | $ | 40,773 | $ | 45,815 | |||
Liability for Future Expenditures | 91,512 | 89,984 | |||||
Deferred Asset Retirement Obligation Costs | 25,477 | 25,162 | |||||
Deferred Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Costs | 88,340 | 88,624 | |||||
Deferred Gas Costs - Net | 4,638 | 22,441 | |||||
Conservation Incentive Program Receivable | 33,924 | 13,580 | |||||
Societal Benefit Costs Receivable | 11,827 | 8,618 | |||||
Premium for Early Retirement of Debt | 416 | 537 | |||||
Deferred Interest Rate Contracts | 8,365 | 8,146 | |||||
Energy Efficiency Tracker | 12,974 | 8,464 | |||||
Other Regulatory Assets | 5,915 | 3,850 | |||||
Total Regulatory Assets | $ | 324,161 | $ | 315,221 |
Regulatory Liabilities consisted of the following items (in thousands):
September 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||
Excess Plant Removal Costs | $ | 46,150 | $ | 47,230 | |||
Other Regulatory Liabilities | 6 | 1,081 | |||||
Total Regulatory Liabilities | $ | 46,156 | $ | 48,311 |
CONSERVATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM (CIP) RECEIVABLE – The increase in this receivable is primarily the result of unusually warm weather experienced in the region during the first nine months of 2012. The CIP tracking mechanism adjusts earnings when actual usage per customer experienced during the period varies from an established baseline usage per customer.
DEFERRED GAS COSTS – NET – Over/under collections of gas costs are monitored through SJG’s BGSS clause. 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 $22.4 million regulatory asset at December 31, 2011 to a $4.6 million regulatory asset at September 30, 2012, primarily due to gas costs recovered from customers exceeding the actual cost of the commodity incurred during the first nine months of 2012, as a result of natural gas prices remaining at very low levels.
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9. | PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS: |
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, 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 September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
Service Cost | $ | 1,133 | $ | 979 | $ | 3,400 | $ | 2,938 | |||||||
Interest Cost | 2,406 | 2,381 | 7,217 | 7,143 | |||||||||||
Expected Return on Plan Assets | (2,585 | ) | (2,342 | ) | (7,756 | ) | (7,026 | ) | |||||||
Amortizations: | |||||||||||||||
Prior Service Cost | 63 | 67 | 188 | 200 | |||||||||||
Actuarial Loss | 1,907 | 1,360 | 5,722 | 4,080 | |||||||||||
Net Periodic Benefit Cost | 2,924 | 2,445 | 8,771 | 7,335 | |||||||||||
Early Retirement Incentive Program Costs (ERIP) | — | — | — | 102 | |||||||||||
Capitalized Benefit Costs | (1,306 | ) | (906 | ) | (3,513 | ) | (2,718 | ) | |||||||
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense | $ | 1,618 | $ | 1,539 | $ | 5,258 | $ | 4,719 |
Other Postretirement Benefits | |||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
Service Cost | $ | 259 | $ | 249 | $ | 777 | $ | 747 | |||||||
Interest Cost | 750 | 800 | 2,251 | 2,400 | |||||||||||
Expected Return on Plan Assets | (526 | ) | (562 | ) | (1,579 | ) | (1,686 | ) | |||||||
Amortizations: | |||||||||||||||
Prior Service Credits | (71 | ) | (89 | ) | (213 | ) | (266 | ) | |||||||
Actuarial Loss | 431 | 414 | 1,293 | 1,241 | |||||||||||
Net Periodic Benefit Cost | 843 | 812 | 2,529 | 2,436 | |||||||||||
Capitalized Benefit Costs | (374 | ) | (302 | ) | (1,005 | ) | (907 | ) | |||||||
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense | $ | 469 | $ | 510 | $ | 1,524 | $ | 1,529 |
Capitalized benefit costs reflected in the table above relate to SJG’s construction program.
The ERIP costs reflected in the table above relate to an early retirement plan offered during 2011 to one of our business segments.
SJI contributed $25.0 million to the pension plans in January 2012. No contributions were made to the pension plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Payments related to the unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) plan are expected to approximate $1.3 million in 2012. SJG also has a regulatory obligation to contribute approximately $3.6 million annually to the other postretirement benefit plans’ trusts, less direct costs incurred.
See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011, for additional information related to SJI’s pension and other postretirement benefits.
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10. | UNUSED LINES OF CREDIT: |
Credit facilities and available liquidity as of September 30, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):
Company | Total Facility | Usage | Available Liquidity | Expiration Date | ||||||||||
SJG: | ||||||||||||||
Commercial Paper Program/Revolving Credit Facility | $ | 200,000 | $ | 137,900 | $ | 62,100 | May 2015 | |||||||
Uncommitted Bank Lines (B) | 10,000 | — | 10,000 | August 2013 | ||||||||||
Total SJG | 210,000 | 137,900 | 72,100 | |||||||||||
SJI: | ||||||||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility | $ | 300,000 | $ | 159,500 | $ | 140,500 | April 2015 (A) | |||||||
Term Line of Credit (C) | 50,000 | 50,000 | — | November 2013 | ||||||||||
Total SJI | 350,000 | 209,500 | 140,500 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 560,000 | $ | 347,400 | $ | 212,600 |
(A) Includes letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $32.0 million.
(B) SJG reduced the uncommitted bank lines by $10.0 million during 2012.
(C) In June 2012, SJI increased its term line of credit by $20.0 million, which matures in November 2013.
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. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted average interest rate on these borrowings, which changes daily, was 0.97% and 1.08% at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Average borrowings outstanding under these credit facilities, not including letters of credit, during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were $366.7 million and $209.2 million, respectively. The maximum amounts outstanding under these credit facilities, not including letters of credit, during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were $462.2 million and $271.4 million, respectively.
The SJI and SJG facilities are provided by a syndicate of banks and contain one financial covenant limiting the ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization (as defined in the respective credit agreements) to not more than 0.65 to 1, measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. SJI and SJG were in compliance with this covenant as of September 30, 2012.
During the third quarter of 2011, SJG began a commercial paper program under which SJG may issue short-term, unsecured promissory notes to qualified investors up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $200.0 million. The notes have fixed maturities which vary by note, but may not exceed 270 days from the date of issue. Proceeds from the notes are used for general corporate purposes. SJG uses the commercial paper program in tandem with the $200.0 million revolving credit facility and does not expect the principal amount of borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program and the credit facility at any time to exceed an aggregate of $200.0 million.
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11. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: |
GUARANTEES — The Company has recorded a liability of $1.9 million which is included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2012 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 service 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 August 2012, the resort developer, repeating previous disclosures, indicated again that it does not expect to resume construction on the project for three to five years. The resort developer stated that it remains committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a long-term growth strategy and continues 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. The outstanding balance of LVE’s bank debt is approximately $192.2 million as of September 30, 2012. As a result of the construction delay, the district energy system and central energy center were not completed by the end of 2010 as originally expected. Consequently, the full amount of LVE’s debt became due and payable in December 2010. LVE intends to seek additional financing to complete the facility once construction of the resort resumes, however, as of December 31, 2010, LVE was in default under the financing agreements with the banks. The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer includes a payment obligation by the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed to LVE’s lenders by the parent of the resort developer.
In March 2011, LVE reached agreements with (a) the resort developer, that specified the payments to be made by the developer to LVE during the suspension period and provided the developer and its corporate parent with an option to purchase the assets of LVE, and (b) the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address the existing default under the financing agreements. The terms of the March 2011 agreement require the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE on a monthly basis beginning in March 2011 until construction of the resort resumes or until the resort developer has exercised its option to purchase the energy facilities from LVE. The monthly payments that are being paid to LVE by the resort developer are expected to be sufficient to reimburse LVE for costs to maintain the energy facilities and to cover debt service costs over time. The resort developer has provided LVE with a $6.0 million letter of credit to support its monthly payment obligation.
The banks that are financing the energy facilities have agreed not to exercise their rights under the financing agreements resulting from the event of default discussed above through December 2013, provided that no additional events of default occur. SJI and its joint venture partner have provided a total of $10.0 million in letters of credit to the banks to support LVE’s obligations, which can be drawn upon by the banks at the end of the existing agreement in December 2013 or upon the occurrence of an event of default by LVE prior to December 2013.
As of September 30, 2012, the Company had a net liability of approximately $1.6 million included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project, in addition to unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $55.6 million due from LVE. As of September 30, 2012, SJI’s capital at risk is limited to its equity contributions, letters of credit and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $72.2 million. During 2012, SJI provided support to LVE of approximately $1.8 million to cover interest and other 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 September 30, 2012.
SJI has 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 this guarantee.
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SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE) and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE), unconsolidated joint ventures in which Marina has a 50% equity interest through Energenic. 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 do not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or are 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.
In February 2011, ACR Energy Partners, LLC (ACR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 20 year contract with a developer to build, own and operate a central energy center and energy distribution system for a new hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The complex commenced operations in April 2012 and as a result, ACR is providing full energy services to the complex. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, Marina and its joint venture partner each made capital contributions to ACR, through Energenic, of $22.0 million. Marina and its joint venture partner have also agreed to provide a $5.0 million letter of credit to support certain operating performance obligations of ACR under the operating agreements between ACR and the developer. 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 to or on behalf of ACR. Remaining capital contributions are not expected to be significant.
In May 2012, UMM Energy Partners, LLC (UMM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 30 year contract with a public university to build, own and operate a combined heating, cooling and power system for its main campus in New Jersey. The system is expected to be completed during the second half of 2013. Marina and its joint venture partner are each obligated to make capital contributions to UMM, through Energenic, of approximately $10.0 million. As of September 30, 2012, Marina has advanced approximately $8.8 million to UMM, through Energenic, for initial construction costs. Of this amount, $5.0 million is included in Investment in Affiliates and $3.8 million is included in Notes Receivable - Affiliate on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. In addition, SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of UMM under the operating and lease agreements between UMM and the university, for the terms of the agreements, commencing with the first year of operations. SJI has guaranteed up to $2.2 million for the first year. This amount is adjusted each year based upon the Consumer Price Index. SJI has also guaranteed certain construction obligations of UMM during the construction period, the majority of which are supported by a surety bond. 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.
As of September 30, 2012, SJI had issued $5.3 million of 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.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 47.0% of our workforce at September 30, 2012. 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, with the option to extend until February 2014 at the union’s election. 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 September 30, 2012, SJI provided $32.0 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company has also provided $87.6 million of additional letters of credit under separate facilities outside of the revolving credit facility to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system and to finance Marina's initial thermal plant project.
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PENDING LITIGATION — The Company is subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. The Company has been named in, among other actions, certain product liability claims related to our former sand mining subsidiary. We accrue liabilities related to these claims when we can reasonably estimate the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs or other charges for these claims. The Company has accrued approximately $3.0 million and $2.9 million related to all claims in the aggregate as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that there will be a material change in the Company's estimated liability in the near term and does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims that would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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 recorded 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, 2011 as described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011.
12. | 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 third parties. These subsidiaries are subject to market risk on expected future purchases and sales due to commodity price fluctuations. The Company uses a variety of derivative instruments to limit this exposure to market risk in accordance with strict corporate guidelines. These derivative instruments include forward contracts, swap agreements, options contracts and futures contracts. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding derivative contracts intended to limit the exposure to market risk on 23.4 MMdts (1 MMdts = one million decatherms) of expected future purchases of natural gas, 24.1 MMdts of expected future sales of natural gas, 1.0 MMmwh (1 MMmwh = one million megawatt hours) of expected future purchases of electricity and 1.0 MMmwh of expected future sales of electricity. 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. Some of these derivatives have been designated as hedging instruments under GAAP. Beginning in July 2012, hedge accounting was discontinued for these derivatives. As a result, unrealized gains and losses on these derivatives, that were previously included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, will be reclassified into earnings over the remaining life of the derivative. These derivatives are expected to mature in 2026.
There have been no other significant changes to the Company’s active interest rate swaps since December 31, 2011 which are described in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011.
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The fair values of all derivative instruments, as reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, are as follows (in thousands):
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP | September 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||||||||||
Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | |||||||||||||
Energy related commodity contracts: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives – Energy Related – Current | $ | 26,335 | $ | 17,558 | $ | 37,461 | $ | 38,738 | ||||||||
Derivatives – Energy Related – Non-Current | 11,287 | 5,952 | 8,135 | 7,367 | ||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives - Other | — | 14,454 | — | 10,684 | ||||||||||||
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP | 37,622 | 37,964 | 45,596 | 56,789 | ||||||||||||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under GAAP | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives - Other | — | — | — | 3,362 | ||||||||||||
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments under GAAP | — | — | — | 3,362 | ||||||||||||
Total Derivatives | $ | 37,622 | $ | 37,964 | $ | 45,596 | $ | 60,151 |
The effect of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships | 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
Interest Rate Contracts: | ||||||||||||||||
Gains (losses) recognized in OCI on effective portion | $ | — | $ | (1,765 | ) | $ | (752 | ) | $ | (2,407 | ) | |||||
Losses reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (a) | $ | (112 | ) | $ | (385 | ) | $ | (482 | ) | $ | (1,122 | ) | ||||
Gains (losses) recognized in income on ineffective portion (a) | — | — | — | — |
(a) Included in Interest Charges
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under GAAP | 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
(Losses) gains on energy related commodity contracts (a) | $ | (3,614 | ) | $ | (8,543 | ) | $ | 6,665 | $ | (2,411 | ) | |||||
Losses on interest rate contracts (b) | 53 | (309 | ) | 273 | (298 | ) | ||||||||||
Total | $ | (3,561 | ) | $ | (8,852 | ) | $ | 6,938 | $ | (2,709 | ) |
(a) Included in Operating Revenues - Non Utility
(b) Included in Interest Charges
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Net realized losses associated with SJG’s energy-related financial commodity contracts of $3.0 million and $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $13.7 million and $9.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, 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.
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 September 30, 2012, is $7.4 million. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on September 30, 2012, the Company would have been required to settle the instruments immediately or post collateral to its counterparties of approximately $3.2 million after offsetting asset positions with the same counterparties under master netting arrangements.
13. | 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 is as follows (in thousands):
As of September 30, 2012 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||
Available-for-Sale Securities (A) | $ | 7,359 | $ | 682 | $ | 6,677 | $ | — | |||||||
Derivatives – Energy Related Assets (C) | 37,622 | 13,592 | 16,458 | 7,572 | |||||||||||
$ | 44,981 | $ | 14,274 | $ | 23,135 | $ | 7,572 | ||||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives – Energy Related Liabilities (C) | $ | 23,510 | $ | 8,651 | $ | 10,184 | $ | 4,675 | |||||||
Derivatives – Other (B) | 14,454 | — | 14,454 | — | |||||||||||
$ | 37,964 | $ | 8,651 | $ | 24,638 | $ | 4,675 |
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As of December 31, 2011 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||
Available-for-Sale Securities (A) | $ | 6,677 | $ | 619 | $ | 6,058 | $ | — | |||||||
Derivatives – Energy Related Assets (C) | 45,596 | 24,689 | 16,582 | 4,325 | |||||||||||
$ | 52,273 | $ | 25,308 | $ | 22,640 | $ | 4,325 | ||||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives – Energy Related Liabilities (C) | $ | 46,105 | $ | 22,495 | $ | 13,327 | $ | 10,283 | |||||||
Derivatives – Other (B) | 14,046 | — | 14,046 | — | |||||||||||
$ | 60,151 | $ | 22,495 | $ | 27,373 | $ | 10,283 |
(A) Available-for-Sale Securities include securities that are traded in active markets and securities that are not traded publicly. The securities traded in active markets are valued using the quoted principal market close prices that are provided by the trustees and are categorized in Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The remaining securities consist of funds that are not publicly traded. These funds, which consist of stocks and bonds that are traded individually in active markets, are valued using quoted prices for similar assets and are categorized in Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
(B) 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.
(C) 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.
Significant Unobservable Inputs - Management uses the discounted cash flow model to value Level 3 physical and financial forwards, which calculates mark-to-market valuations based on forward market prices, original transaction prices, volumes, risk-free rate of return and credit spreads. Inputs to the valuation model are reviewed and revised as needed, based on historical information, updated market data, market liquidity and relationships, and changes in third party pricing sources. The validity of the mark-to-market valuations and changes in mark-to-market valuations from period to period are examined and qualified against historical expectations by the risk management function. If any discrepancies are identified during this process, the mark-to-market valuations or the market pricing information is evaluated further and adjusted, if necessary.
Level 3 valuation methods for natural gas derivative contracts include utilizing another location in close proximity adjusted for certain pipeline charges to derive a basis value. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of certain natural gas contracts are forward prices developed based on industry standard methodologies. Significant increases (decreases) in these forward prices for purchases of natural gas would result in a directionally similar impact to the fair value measurement and for sales of natural gas would result in a directionally opposite impact to the fair value measurement. Level 3 valuation methods for electric represent the value of the contract marked to the forward wholesale curve, as provided by daily exchange quotes for delivered electricity. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of electric contracts are fixed contracted electric load profiles; therefore no change in unobservable inputs would occur. Unobservable inputs are updated daily using industry standard techniques. 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.
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The following table provides quantitative information regarding significant unobservable inputs in Level 3 fair value measurements (in thousands):
Type | Fair Value at September 30, 2012 | Valuation Technique | Significant Unobservable Input | Range [Weighted Average] | |
Assets | Liabilities | ||||
Forward Contract - Natural Gas | 1,795 | 1,746 | Discounted Cash Flow | Forward price (per dt) | $(0.57) - $3.30 [$(0.11)] |
Forward Contract - Electric | 5,777 | 2,929 | Discounted Cash Flow | Fixed electric load profile (on-peak) | 21.62% - 68.93% [51.66%] |
Fixed electric load profile (off-peak) | 31.07% - 78.38% [48.34%] |
Transfers between different levels of the fair value hierarchy may occur based on the level of observable inputs used to value the instruments from period to period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, there were no transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy, including no transfers in or out of Level 3.
The changes in fair value measurements of Derivatives – Energy Related Assets and Liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 | ||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | 3,078 | $ | (5,958 | ) | ||
Total gains realized/unrealized included in earnings | (344 | ) | 3,131 | ||||
Settlements | 163 | 5,724 | |||||
Balance at September 30 | $ | 2,897 | $ | 2,897 |
Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 | ||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | 1,762 | $ | (3,163 | ) | ||
Total losses realized/unrealized included in earnings | (1,999 | ) | (2,585 | ) | |||
Settlements | (177 | ) | 5,334 | ||||
Balance at September 30 | $ | (414 | ) | $ | (414 | ) |
Total gains for 2012 included in earnings that are attributable to the change in unrealized losses relating to those assets and liabilities still held as of September 30, 2012, is $3.1 million. These losses are included in Operating Revenues-Nonutility on the condensed consolidated statements of income.
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14. | LONG-TERM DEBT: |
In 2011, SJG received approval from the BPU to issue up to $200.0 million in long-term debt under its MTN program by September 2014. At September 30, 2012, $115.0 million was available under this program.
In February 2012, SJG called its $35.0 million, 7.7% MTN's due April 2027 at par plus a 2.0% premium. The early redemption occurred concurrently with the issuance in April 2012 of $35.0 million, 3.74% Series D MTN's due April 2032.
In June 2012, the Company issued $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of long-term debt, consisting of the following: (a) $64.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.39% Senior Notes due June 28, 2015; (b) $16.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.71% Senior Notes due June 28, 2017; and (c) $35.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.46% Senior Notes due June 28, 2022. The Senior Notes are included in long-term debt on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012.
In September 2012, SJG issued $50.0 million of 3.00% aggregate principal amount of MTN's due September 20, 2024. The MTN's are included in long-term debt on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012. SJG also agreed to issue $35.0 million of 3.03% Series D MTN's in November 2012 via private placement with delayed funding.
15. | SUBSEQUENT EVENT: |
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, bringing high winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to homes and businesses throughout the northeastern United States. Service disruptions and damage to Company facilities was minimal. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the storm, and is unable at this time to estimate a possible loss or range of loss related to Hurricane Sandy, however such costs are not expected to be significant.
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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, 2011 and in other filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 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 South Jersey Industries, Inc. (SJI or the Company) 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, 2011.
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, 2011. See detailed discussion concerning Regulatory Actions in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011.
Environmental Remediation —There have been no significant changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2011. See detailed discussion concerning Environmental Remediation in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011.
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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 Energy Operations include the activities of South Jersey Resources Group, LLC (SJRG) and South Jersey Exploration, LLC (SJEX). South Jersey Energy Company (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 Energy, LLC ("Marina's") thermal energy facility and other energy-related projects. Appliance Service Operations includes South Jersey Energy Service Plus, LLC (SJESP’s) servicing of appliances under warranty via a subcontractor arrangement as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems. The Retail Energy Operations caption includes Retail Gas and Other, Retail Electric, On-Site Energy Production and Appliance Service Operations.
Net Income for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $7.2 million to $2.0 million compared with the same period in 2011 primarily as a result of the following:
• | The income contribution from Marina for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $3.0 million to $3.6 million due primarily to the timing of the investment tax credit available on renewable energy facilities as compared to the prior year. |
• | The loss from SJRG for the three months ended September 30, 2012 decreased $2.8 million to a net loss of $2.6 million due primarily to strong margins earned on transportation contracts in 2012 as compared to losses in the prior year as discussed under Gross Margin – Nonutility below. The change in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives used by SJRG to mitigate natural gas commodity price risk, as discussed under Operating Revenues - Nonutility below also contributed to the decrease in the net loss. |
• | The income contribution from SJE for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $1.1 million to $0.5 million due primarily to the change in unrealized gains and losses on forward financial contracts used to mitigate price risk on electric as discussed under Operating Revenues – Nonutility below. |
Net Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased $14.0 million to $66.4 million compared with the same period in 2011 primarily as a result of the following:
• | The income contribution from Marina for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased $9.8 million to $20.0 million due primarily to the timing of the investment tax credit available on renewable energy facilities as compared to the prior year. |
• | The income contribution from SJG for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased $5.2 million to $38.8 million due primarily to an increase in CIRT-related earnings along with an increase in residential customers. |
• | The income contribution from SJE for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased $2.3 million to $6.5 million due primarily to the change in unrealized gains and losses on forward financial contracts used to mitigate price risk on electric as discussed under Operating Revenues – Nonutility below. |
• | The income contribution from SJESP for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 decreased $2.8 million to a net loss of $0.2 million due primarily to proceeds received in the first nine months of 2011 from a provider of homeowner assistance services in accordance with an agreement with the Company that gives them the exclusive right to renew the home appliance repair contracts at SJESP. |
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A significant portion of the volatility in operating results is due to the impact of the accounting methods associated with SJI’s derivative activities. The Company uses derivatives to limit its exposure to market risk on transactions to buy, sell, transport and store natural gas and to buy and sell retail electricity. The Company also uses derivatives to limit its exposure to increasing interest rates on variable-rate debt.
The types of transactions that cause the most significant volatility in operating results are as follows:
• | 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 price of derivatives change, even when the underlying hedged value of the inventory is unchanged. Additionally, volatility in earnings is created when realized gains and losses on derivatives used to mitigate commodity price risk on expected future purchases of gas in storage are recognized in earnings when the derivatives settle, but the cost of the related gas in storage is not recognized in earnings until the period of withdrawal. This volatility can be significant from period to period. Over time, gains or losses on sale of gas in storage will be offset by losses or gains on the derivatives, resulting in the realization of the profit margin expected when the transactions were initiated. |
• | SJE uses forward contracts to mitigate commodity price risk on fixed price electric contracts with customers. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), the forward contracts are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings in the period of change. Several related customer contracts are not considered derivatives and therefore are not recorded in earnings until the electricity is delivered. As a result, earnings are subject to volatility as the market price of the forward 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 contracts, resulting in the realization of the profit margin expected when the transactions were initiated. |
As a result, management also uses the non-generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) financial measures of Economic Earnings, Economic Earnings per share, Non-Utility Economic Earnings, Wholesale Energy Economic Earnings and Retail Energy Economic Earnings when evaluating the results of operations for its nonutility operations. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures, such as net income, operating income, earnings per share from continuing operations or any other GAAP measure of liquidity or financial performance.
We define Economic Earnings as: Income from continuing operations, (1) less the change in unrealized gains and plus the change in unrealized losses, as applicable and in each case after tax, on all derivative transactions, and (2) less realized gains and plus realized losses, as applicable and in each case after tax, on all commodity derivative transactions attributed to expected purchases of gas in storage to match the recognition of these gains and losses with the recognition of the related cost of the gas in storage in the period of withdrawal, and (3) less the impact of transactions or contractual arrangements where the true economic impact will be realized in a future period.
Economic Earnings is a significant performance metric used by our management to indicate the amount and timing of income from continuing operations that we expect to earn after taking into account the impact of derivative instruments on the related transactions and transactions or contractual arrangements where the true economic impact will be realized in a future period. Specifically, we believe that this financial measure indicates to investors the profitability of the entire derivative related transaction and not just the portion that is subject to mark-to-market valuation under GAAP. Considering only the change in market value on the derivative side of the transaction can produce a false sense as to the ultimate profitability of the total transaction as no change in value is reflected for the non-derivative portion of the transaction.
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Economic Earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $3.6 million to $4.1 million compared with the same period in 2011, primarily as a result of the following:
• | The income contribution from Marina for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $2.3 million to $3.5 million due primarily to the timing of the investment tax credit available on renewable energy facilities as compared to the prior year. |
• | The income contribution from SJRG for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $1.6 million to a net loss of $0.5 million due primarily to strong margins earned on transportation contracts in 2012 as compared to losses in the prior year as discussed under Gross Margin – Nonutility below. |
Economic Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased $7.5 million to $62.7 million compared with the same period in 2011, primarily as a result of the following:
• | The income contribution from Marina for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased $8.5 million to $19.5 million due primarily to the timing of the investment tax credit available on renewable energy facilities as compared to the prior year. |
• | The income contribution from SJG for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased $5.2 million to $38.8 million due primarily to an increase in CIRT-related earnings along with an increase in residential customers. |
• | The income contribution from SJESP for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 decreased $2.8 million to a net loss of $0.2 million due primarily to proceeds received in the first nine months of 2011 from a provider of homeowner assistance services in accordance with an agreement with the Company that gives them the exclusive right to renew the home appliance repair contracts at SJESP. |
• | The income contribution from SJE for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 decreased $1.7 million to $1.3 million due primarily to the expiration of a significant school board contract as discussed under Gross Margin – Nonutility below. |
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The following table presents a reconciliation of our income from continuing operations and earnings per share from continuing operations to Economic Earnings and Economic Earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30 (in thousands except per share data):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations | $ | 2,164 | $ | (5,203 | ) | $ | 67,207 | $ | 52,873 | ||||||
Minus/Plus: | |||||||||||||||
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives | 2,004 | 5,677 | (4,460 | ) | 2,207 | ||||||||||
Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges | (110 | ) | (50 | ) | (34 | ) | 123 | ||||||||
Economic Earnings | $ | 4,058 | $ | 424 | $ | 62,713 | $ | 55,203 | |||||||
Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations | $ | 0.07 | $ | (0.17 | ) | $ | 2.20 | $ | 1.76 | ||||||
Minus/Plus: | |||||||||||||||
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives | 0.06 | 0.19 | (0.15 | ) | 0.07 | ||||||||||
Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges | — | (0.01 | ) | — | 0.01 | ||||||||||
Economic Earnings per Share | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.01 | 2.05 | $ | 1.84 | ||||||||
Non-Utility Income from Continuing Operations | $ | 1,639 | $ | (4,873 | ) | $ | 28,408 | $ | 19,287 | ||||||
Minus/Plus: | |||||||||||||||
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives | 2,004 | 5,677 | (4,460 | ) | 2,207 | ||||||||||
Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges | (110 | ) | (50 | ) | (34 | ) | 123 | ||||||||
Non-Utility Economic Earnings | $ | 3,533 | $ | 754 | $ | 23,914 | $ | 21,617 | |||||||
Wholesale Energy (Loss) Income from Continuing Operations | $ | (2,432 | ) | $ | (5,233 | ) | $ | 1,876 | $ | 2,036 | |||||
Minus/Plus: | |||||||||||||||
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives | 2,233 | 3,420 | 1,319 | 2,693 | |||||||||||
Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges | (110 | ) | (50 | ) | (34 | ) | 123 | ||||||||
Wholesale Energy Economic Earnings | $ | (309 | ) | $ | (1,863 | ) | $ | 3,161 | $ | 4,852 | |||||
Retail Energy Income from Continuing Operations | $ | 4,071 | $ | 360 | $ | 26,532 | $ | 17,251 | |||||||
Minus/Plus: | |||||||||||||||
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives | (229 | ) | 2,257 | (5,779 | ) | (486 | ) | ||||||||
Retail Energy Economic Earnings | $ | 3,842 | $ | 2,617 | $ | 20,753 | $ | 16,765 |
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The effect of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP in the condensed consolidated statements of income (see Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements) is as follows (gains (losses) in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
(Losses) Gains on energy related commodity contracts | $ | (3,614 | ) | $ | (8,543 | ) | $ | 6,665 | $ | (2,411 | ) | ||||
Gains (Losses) on interest rate contracts | 53 | (309 | ) | 273 | (298 | ) | |||||||||
Total before income taxes | (3,561 | ) | (8,852 | ) | 6,938 | (2,709 | ) | ||||||||
Income taxes (A) | 1,460 | 3,629 | (2,845 | ) | 1,111 | ||||||||||
Total after income taxes | (2,101 | ) | (5,223 | ) | 4,093 | (1,598 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized mark-to-market gains (losses) on derivatives held by affiliated companies, net of tax (A) | 97 | (454 | ) | 367 | (609 | ) | |||||||||
Total unrealized mark-to-market (losses) gains on derivatives | (2,004 | ) | (5,677 | ) | 4,460 | (2,207 | ) | ||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on inventory injection hedges, net of tax (A) | 110 | 50 | 34 | (123 | ) | ||||||||||
Total reconciling items between income from continuing operations and economic earnings | $ | (1,894 | ) | $ | (5,627 | ) | $ | 4,494 | $ | (2,330 | ) |
(A) Determined using a combined statutory tax rate of 41%
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The following tables summarize the composition of selected SJG data for the three and nine months ended September 30 (in thousands, except for degree day data):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Utility Throughput – dt: | ||||||||||
Firm Sales - | ||||||||||
Residential | 1,327 | 1,226 | 12,216 | 14,981 | ||||||
Commercial | 585 | 516 | 3,202 | 3,950 | ||||||
Industrial | 18 | 24 | 180 | 206 | ||||||
Cogeneration & Electric Generation | 834 | 1,014 | 1,328 | 1,568 | ||||||
Firm Transportation - | ||||||||||
Residential | 171 | 162 | 1,411 | 1,732 | ||||||
Commercial | 552 | 538 | 3,717 | 4,174 | ||||||
Industrial | 3,051 | 2,976 | 9,545 | 9,612 | ||||||
Cogeneration & Electric Generation | 3,400 | 1,584 | 7,465 | 5,110 | ||||||
Total Firm Throughput | 9,938 | 8,040 | 39,064 | 41,333 | ||||||
Interruptible Sales | — | 1 | 2 | 13 | ||||||
Interruptible Transportation | 264 | 307 | 1,005 | 1,371 | ||||||
Off-System | 1,176 | 1,455 | 6,727 | 4,910 | ||||||
Capacity Release | 16,488 | 18,220 | 50,474 | 45,879 | ||||||
Total Throughput - Utility | 27,866 | 28,023 | 97,272 | 93,506 |
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||
Utility Operating Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
Firm Sales - | ||||||||||||||
Residential | $ | 25,618 | $ | 25,906 | $ | 172,271 | $ | 174,794 | ||||||
Commercial | 7,571 | 8,153 | 36,862 | 42,694 | ||||||||||
Industrial | 327 | 582 | 1,961 | 2,876 | ||||||||||
Cogeneration & Electric Generation | 3,298 | 5,450 | 5,226 | 8,951 | ||||||||||
Firm Transportation - | ||||||||||||||
Residential | 1,864 | 1,862 | 9,945 | 10,725 | ||||||||||
Commercial | 2,802 | 2,804 | 15,851 | 15,991 | ||||||||||
Industrial | 5,239 | 4,710 | 15,847 | 13,375 | ||||||||||
Cogeneration & Electric Generation | 2,170 | 379 | 5,412 | 2,866 | ||||||||||
Total Firm Revenues | 48,889 | 49,846 | 263,375 | 272,272 | ||||||||||
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Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||
Interruptible Sales | — | 14 | 50 | 229 | ||||||||||
Interruptible Transportation | 278 | 282 | 1,094 | 1,244 | ||||||||||
Off-System | 4,051 | 6,727 | 22,934 | 24,175 | ||||||||||
Capacity Release | 786 | 1,345 | 4,632 | 5,244 | ||||||||||
Other | 247 | 268 | 779 | 828 | ||||||||||
54,251 | 58,482 | 292,864 | 303,992 | |||||||||||
Less: Intercompany Sales | (252 | ) | (274 | ) | (607 | ) | (6,425 | ) | ||||||
Total Utility Operating Revenues | 53,999 | 58,208 | 292,257 | 297,567 | ||||||||||
Less: | ||||||||||||||
Cost of Sales | 20,801 | 27,242 | 127,352 | 137,924 | ||||||||||
Conservation Recoveries* | 1,259 | 691 | 6,101 | 5,393 | ||||||||||
RAC Recoveries* | 1,912 | 1,590 | 5,735 | 4,773 | ||||||||||
EET Recoveries* | 797 | 604 | 2,352 | 1,748 | ||||||||||
Revenue Taxes | 650 | 832 | 4,025 | 5,861 | ||||||||||
Utility Margin | $ | 28,580 | $ | 27,249 | $ | 146,692 | $ | 141,868 | ||||||
Margin: | ||||||||||||||
Residential | $ | 14,484 | $ | 13,839 | $ | 80,100 | $ | 92,314 | ||||||
Commercial and Industrial | 8,385 | 7,984 | 35,865 | 38,550 | ||||||||||
Cogeneration and Electric Generation | 1,620 | 973 | 3,749 | 2,513 | ||||||||||
Interruptible | 12 | 21 | 64 | 108 | ||||||||||
Off-system & Capacity Release | 213 | 241 | 1,309 | 1,169 | ||||||||||
Other Revenues | 409 | 412 | 1,181 | 1,054 | ||||||||||
Margin Before Weather Normalization & Decoupling | 25,123 | 23,470 | 122,268 | 135,708 | ||||||||||
CIRT Mechanism | 756 | 719 | 2,286 | 1,911 | ||||||||||
CIP Mechanism | 2,586 | 2,961 | 21,819 | 3,975 | ||||||||||
EET Mechanism | 115 | 99 | 319 | 274 | ||||||||||
Utility Margin | $ | 28,580 | $ | 27,249 | $ | 146,692 | $ | 141,868 | ||||||
Degree Days: | 26 | 21 | 2,323 | 2,892 |
*Represents expenses for which there is a corresponding credit in operating revenues. Therefore, such recoveries have no impact on our financial results.
Throughput - Utility - Total gas throughput decreased 0.2 MMdts, or 0.6%, for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with the same period in 2011. This decrease was realized primarily in the Capacity Release and Off-System Sales (OSS) markets. Following an unusually warm winter season in the region, the demand for both Capacity Release and OSS declined in the summer months and combined for a decrease of 2.0 MMdts for the third quarter. Partially offsetting that decline in usage was higher electric generation transportation throughput, which increased 1.8 MMdts, or 114.6%, as a result of the excessive heat during the third quarter. As the third quarter of 2012 was one of the warmest on record in the region, higher electric consumption for air conditioning drove the demand for greater natural gas consumption by the region's electric producers.
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Total gas throughput increased 3.8 MMdts, or 4.0%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with the same period in 2011. This increase was realized primarily in the Capacity Release and OSS markets which increased 4.6 MMdts and 1.8 MMdts, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011. Due to unusually warm weather experienced in the region during the first quarter of 2012, SJG experienced a lower demand by its firm customers, thereby creating greater opportunity for both Capacity Release and OSS sales outside of SJG's territory during the winter months. Firm throughput decreased 2.3 MMdts, or 5.5%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. This is most apparent in the heat sensitive residential and commercial markets whose total throughput decreased 4.3 MMdts, or 17.3%, as a result of weather that was 19.7% warmer for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared with the same period last year. Partially offsetting the negative impact of warmer weather on firm throughput was customer growth. SJG added 6,337 customers over the twelve month period ended September 30, 2012, which represents a growth rate of 1.8%.
Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) - Utility - The effects of the CIP on SJG’s net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and the associated weather comparisons were as follows ($’s in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
Net Income Benefit: | |||||||||||||||
CIP – Weather Related* | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 7.6 | $ | 1.3 | |||||||
CIP – Usage Related | 1.5 | 1.8 | 5.3 | 1.1 | |||||||||||
Total Net Income Benefit | $ | 1.5 | $ | 1.8 | $ | 12.9 | $ | 2.4 | |||||||
Weather Compared to 20-Year Average* | — | — | 23.4% warmer | 4.6% warmer | |||||||||||
Weather Compared to Prior Year* | — | — | 19.7% warmer | 4.0% colder |
* Weather variations did not have a material impact on third quarter residential and commercial usage.
Operating Revenues - Utility - Revenues decreased $4.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with the same period in the prior year after eliminating intercompany transactions. Lower Off-System Sales (OSS) volume, coupled with lower natural gas prices, resulted in a $2.7 million, or 39.8%, reduction in OSS revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with the same period last year. The average price per decatherm of gas sold in the third quarter of 2012 was $3.45 versus $4.62 during the same period last year. As reflected in the Margin table above, the impact of changes in OSS and capacity release activity do not have a material impact on the earnings of SJG, as SJG is required to share 85% of the profits of such activity with the ratepayers.
Total firm sales revenue decreased $1.0 million, or 1.9%, during the third quarter of 2012 versus the same period in 2011 as a result of lower natural gas costs, primarily in the Cogeneration and Electric Generation markets. Firm sales volume to those markets declined slightly compared with prior year; however, associated revenue decreased $2.2 million, or 39.5%, as lower gas costs are being passed through to those customers. 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 SJG profitability, as further discussed below under the caption “Margin-Utility.”
Firm transportation revenue increased $2.3 million during the third quarter. As previously stated under "Throughput-Utility", electric generation transportation increased significantly as a result of the excessive heat during the third quarter, which drove the demand for greater natural gas consumption by the region's electric producers.
Revenues decreased $5.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with the same period in the prior year after eliminating intercompany transactions. Total firm revenue decreased $8.9 million, or 3.3%, during the first nine months of 2012 versus the same period in 2011, as a result of lower firm throughput as reflected in the table above. This reduction in sales was the direct result of weather that was 19.7% warmer than last year. The impact of the warmer weather on the heat sensitive residential and commercial markets can readily be seen in the throughput table above; however, the impact on firm revenue is not as evident in the corresponding revenue table above. As SJG provided firm customers with a $21.1 million refund in March 2011, due to an over recovery of natural gas costs, revenues during 2011 were also lower than normal.
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OSS revenue decreased slightly during the first nine months of 2012, versus the same period in 2011, despite a significant increase in sales throughput during the period as a result of lower gas costs during 2012, as previously discussed.
While changes in gas costs and Basic Gas Supply Service (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.”
Operating Revenues — Nonutility - Combined revenues for SJI’s nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, decreased $21.4 million, or 27.0%, and $116.0 million, or 34.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011.
SJE’s revenues from retail gas operations, net of intercompany transactions, decreased $1.9 million, or 9.1% , and $29.5 million, or 37.0%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. Excluding the change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts of $(0.1) million and $(0.7) million, revenues decreased $2.0 million and $30.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. The decrease in revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 was mainly due to a 33.1% decrease in the average monthly New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) settle price, partially offset by a 25.2% increase in sales volumes due mainly to the purchase of a retail gas marketing book in central Pennsylvania that added over 350 commercial and small industrial customers. The decrease in revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 was due to a decrease in the average monthly NYMEX settle price of 38.5% along with a 6.3% decrease in sales volumes mainly due to SJE's exit from the residential market in October 2011 and the significantly warmer weather experienced during the first nine months of 2012 as compared with the same period in 2011.
As of September 30, SJE was serving the following number of retail gas customers:
2012 | 2011 | ||||
Residential | — | 5,731 | |||
Commercial & Large Volume | 1,751 | 1,632 |
Sales volumes for the comparative periods were as follows (in dekatherms):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||
Residential | — | 31,207 | — | 378,479 | |||||||
Commercial & Large Volume | 5,168,779 | 4,099,763 | 13,533,844 | 14,065,291 |
Market conditions continue to make it difficult to be competitive in the small commercial market. We continue to focus our marketing efforts on the pursuit of non-heat-sensitive commercial customers in an effort to mitigate price volatility and weather risk.
SJE’s revenues from retail electric operations, net of intercompany transactions, decreased $22.0 million, or 44.7%, and $47.1 million, or 29.4%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts due to price volatility of $(2.8) million and $(6.0) million, revenues decreased $24.8 million and $53.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011.
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A summary of SJE’s revenues from retail electricity is as follows (in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | Change | 2012 | 2011 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
SJE Retail Electric Revenue | $ | 27.1 | $ | 49.1 | $ | (22.0 | ) | $ | 112.8 | $ | 159.9 | $ | (47.1 | ) | |||||||||
Add: Unrealized Losses (Subtract: Unrealized Gains) | — | 2.8 | (2.8 | ) | (8.5 | ) | (2.5 | ) | (6.0 | ) | |||||||||||||
SJE Retail Electric Revenue, Excluding Unrealized Losses (Gains) | $ | 27.1 | $ | 51.9 | $ | (24.8 | ) | $ | 104.3 | $ | 157.4 | $ | (53.1 | ) |
The three and nine month comparative period decreases were mainly due to a 20.0% and 18.3% decrease, respectively, in the average monthly sales price, which was driven by lower-priced fixed price contracts and lower Locational Marginal Price (LMP) per megawatt hour. Volumes also decreased 36.4% and 10.3% for the comparative periods, respectively, mainly due to a significant school board contract that expired in the second quarter of 2012. 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 electricity 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. SJE serves both fixed and market-priced customers.
SJRG’s revenues from wholesale energy operations, net of intercompany transactions, increased $3.7 million and decreased $33.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts due to price volatility of $(2.0) million and $(2.4) million, and adjusting for the change in realized gains and losses on all hedges attributed to inventory injection transactions of $(0.1) million and $(0.3) million to align them with the related cost of inventory in the period of withdrawal, SJRG’s revenues increased $1.6 million and decreased $36.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011.
A summary of SJRG’s revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30 is as follows (in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | Change | 2012 | 2011 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
SJRG Revenue | $ | (1.6 | ) | $ | (5.3 | ) | $ | 3.7 | $ | 15.4 | $ | 49.2 | $ | (33.8 | ) | ||||||||
Add: Unrealized Losses (Subtract: Unrealized Gains) | 3.8 | 5.8 | (2.0 | ) | 2.2 | 4.6 | (2.4 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Add: Realized Losses (Subtract: Realized Gains) on Inventory Injection Hedges | (0.2 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (0.1 | ) | 0.2 | (0.3 | ) | ||||||||||||
SJRG Revenue, Excluding Unrealized Losses (Gains) and Realized Losses (Gains) on Inventory Injection Hedges | $ | 2.0 | $ | 0.4 | $ | 1.6 | $ | 17.5 | $ | 54.0 | $ | (36.5 | ) |
The increase in revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 was due mainly to strong margins from acquired capacity and optimization in 2012 compared to losses on transportation contracts in 2011 that occurred due to system constraints. The decrease in revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 was mainly due to an 85.0% decrease in storage volumes sold and a 38.5% decrease in the average monthly NYMEX settle price for the comparative quarter. 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, 2011, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.
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Revenues from on-site energy production at Marina, net of intercompany transactions, decreased $0.4 million, or 3.2%, and $2.8 million, or 9.0%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. The decrease reflects lower sales rates for chilled and hot water production at the thermal facility that was attributable to lower underlying commodity rates and the termination of a contract with a large customer in August 2011. These decreases were partially offset by revenues for several new renewable energy projects that began operations over the past twelve months.
Revenues from appliance service operations at SJESP decreased $0.7 million, or 18.1%, and $2.4 million, or 19.5%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011 due mainly to a decrease in customer warranty contract sales. SJESP sold the rights to renew the home appliance repair contracts to a provider of homeowner assistance services under an exclusive agreement that took effect in the third quarter of 2011. Under the terms of this agreement, SJESP received a fee for the sale of the rights. SJESP also receives a commission for all new and renewed service contracts and is paid a fee to service those warranty contracts.
Margin – Utility — SJG’s margin is defined as natural gas revenues less natural gas costs, regulatory rider expenses and related volumetric and revenue based energy taxes. SJG believes that margin provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating utility operations than revenues since natural gas costs, regulatory rider expenses and related energy taxes 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 (BPU) through SJG’s BGSS clause.
Total margin increased $1.3 million, or 4.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with the same period in 2011, primarily due to customer additions and increased margins from cogeneration and electric generation due to the warmer temperatures noted above. SJG added 6,337 customers over the 12-month period ended September 30, 2012, representing growth of 1.8% over the prior year and a corresponding increase in margin.
The CIP protected $2.6 million of pre-tax margin in the third quarter of 2012 that would have been lost due to lower customer usage, compared with $3.0 million in the same period last year.
Total margin increased $4.8 million, or 3.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 due to customer additions, higher margins from cogeneration and electric generation and increased margins from commercial and industrial customers.
The CIP protected $21.8 million of pre-tax margin in the first nine months of 2012 that would have been lost due to lower customer usage, compared with $4.0 million in the same period last year. Of these amounts, $12.8 million and $2.2 million were related to weather variations and $9.1 and $1.8 million were related to other customer usage variations in 2012 and 2011, 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 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues - Nonutility.
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For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, combined gross margins for the nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, increased $8.2 million and $8.7 million to $8.2 million and $46.9 million, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. These changes were primarily due to the following:
• | Gross margin from the wholesale energy operations of SJRG increased $5.2 million and $2.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts due to price volatility of $(2.0) million and $(2.4) million and adjusting for the change in realized gains and losses on all hedges attributed to inventory injection transactions of $(0.1) million and $(0.3) million to align them with the related cost of inventory in the period of withdrawal as discussed above, gross margin for SJRG increased $3.1 million and decreased $0.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. The increase in gross margin for the three month comparative periods was mainly due to strong margins from acquired capacity and optimization in 2012 compared to losses on transportation contracts in 2011 that occurred due to system constraints. The decrease in gross margin for the comparative nine month periods was mainly due to lower daily trading and swing supply margins and higher transportation costs experienced during the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The treatment of the costs attributable to injections of gas into storage has also contributed to the decrease in gross margin. These costs are included in the carrying value of gas in storage when injections are made. SJRG has not injected significant amounts of gas into storage during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and as a result, these costs have been expensed as incurred. |
Overall, SJRG's contribution to margin from storage and transportation agreements has decreased due to market conditions and, as a result, SJRG has shed some of these agreements. However, SJRG expects to continue to add incremental margin from marketing and related opportunities in the Marcellus region, capitalizing on its established presence in the area. Future margins could fluctuate significantly due to the volatile nature of wholesale gas prices. As of September 30, 2012, SJRG had 8.6 Bcf of storage and 453,111 dts/day of transportation under contract.
• | Gross Margin from on-site energy production at Marina, net of intercompany transactions, increased $0.8 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues increased 9.5 and 11.4 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. This was due mainly to the impact of several solar projects coming on line in 2012, which was partially offset by the termination of a customer contract in 2011. Solar projects typically produce higher margins as compared to the margins produced by the terminated customer. |
• | Gross margin from SJE’s retail gas and other operations increased $0.3 million and decreased $0.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. After excluding the change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts of $(0.1) million and $(0.7) million, gross margins increased $0.2 million and decreased $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts as discussed above, gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues increased 1.2 and 2.6 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. This increase was due mainly to the impact of SJE acquiring a retail marketing book that contained higher-margin customers (See Operating Revenues - Nonutility). |
• | Gross margin from SJE’s retail electric operations increased $2.4 million and $5.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts of $(2.8) million and $(6.0) million as discussed above, gross margin decreased $0.4 million and $0.1 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. Excluding the impact of the unrealized gains/losses discussed above, gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues increased 3.0 and decreased 2.6 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. The three month comparative period decrease is due to a significant school board contract that expired in the second quarter of 2012 (See Operating Revenues - Nonutility). The nine month comparative period increase is mainly due to lower capacity, transmission and network services costs and the addition of numerous higher-margin customers over the past twelve months, partially offset by the expiration of the school board contract. |
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• | Gross margin from appliance service operations at SJESP was unchanged for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Gross margin decreased $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 due mainly to the lower customer warranty contract sales as mentioned in Operating Revenues – Nonutility. Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues increased 7.9 and 1.4 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011, mainly due to the significant decline in personnel costs that resulted from an initiative to right-size our workforce. |
Operations Expense — A summary of net changes in operations expense, for the three and nine months ended September 30, follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 vs. 2011 | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 vs. 2011 | ||||||
Gas Utility Operations | $ | 1,843 | $ | 5,308 | |||
Nonutility: | |||||||
Wholesale Energy Operations | 158 | 729 | |||||
Retail Gas and Other Operations | 567 | 964 | |||||
Retail Electric Operations | 189 | 451 | |||||
On-Site Energy Production | (246 | ) | 224 | ||||
Appliance Service Operations | (85 | ) | (1,398 | ) | |||
Total Nonutility | 583 | 970 | |||||
Intercompany Eliminations and Other | (611 | ) | (450 | ) | |||
Total Operations Expense | $ | 1,815 | $ | 5,828 |
Gas Utility operations expense increased $1.8 million and $5.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. This is due to an increase in expense related to changes in SJG's reserve for uncollectible customer accounts, which are the result of fluctuations in levels of customer accounts receivable balances from period to period. Also contributing was increased spending under the New Jersey Clean Energy Program and Energy Efficiency Programs. Such costs are recovered on a dollar-for-dollar basis; therefore, SJG experienced an offsetting increase in revenues during the period. Finally, higher corporate support, governance and compliance, and employee benefit costs also contributed to the increase.
Nonutility operations expense increased $0.6 million and $1.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. The increase is primarily due to additional personnel, governance and compliance costs incurred to support continued growth.
Maintenance - Changes in maintenance expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with the same periods in 2011, were not significant.
Depreciation - Depreciation increased $1.6 million and $4.2 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011 due mainly to the increased investment in property, plant and equipment by SJG and Marina.
Energy and Other Taxes - Energy and Other Taxes decreased $0.2 million and $1.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011 primarily due to a decrease in SJG's primary energy tax, the Transitional Energy Facilities Assessment, effective January 1, 2012. SJG also experienced lower taxable firm throughput in 2012 resulting from significantly warmer weather during 2012. Additional weather information can be found above under the caption “CIP.”
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Other Income and Expense - Other income and expense increased $1.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, primarily due to interest income charged on notes receivable from affiliates. Other income and expense decreased $3.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, primarily due to proceeds received during the first nine months of 2011 from a provider of homeowner assistance services, in accordance with an agreement with the Company, that gives them the exclusive right to renew the home appliance repair contracts at SJESP; along with a $1.1 million impairment charge taken during the first quarter of 2012 at SJEX. The impairment charge is related to lower than forecasted natural gas reserves at our shallow well investment in the Marcellus region.
Interest Charges – Interest charges decreased $0.3 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2011. These decreases were primarily due to the redemption of $25.0 million aggregate principal long-term debt during the third quarter 2011, and the April 2012 retirement and concurrent issuance of $35.0 million of Medium Term Notes (MTN), which effectively reduced SJG's long-term rate on the $35.0 million of debt from 7.7% to 3.7%. These decreases were partially offset by the issuance of $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes at the end of the second quarter 2012 as discussed in Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Income Taxes – Income tax benefit decreased $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 as compared with the same period in 2011 primarily due to a lower loss before income taxes in 2012, along with the impact of the investment tax credits available on renewable energy facilities at Marina as compared to the prior year. Investment tax credits were in excess of the loss before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2012, which resulted in net income for the three month period. Income taxes decreased $7.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 as compared with the same period in 2011 primarily due to a lower effective tax rate during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 as compared with the same period in 2011. The change in the effective tax rate is primarily due to the projected increase in the investment tax credits available on renewable energy facilities at Marina in 2012, as compared to 2011.
Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies – Equity in earnings of affiliated companies increased by $1.7 million and $3.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. These increases were primarily due to new projects coming on line in 2012 and the improved operating performance of our renewable energy project fleet at affiliated companies.
Discontinued Operations — The results 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 BGSS 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 $62.3 million and $135.6 million in the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, 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. Operating activities in the first nine months of 2012 produced less net cash than the same period in 2011, primarily due to lower withdrawals of natural gas from storage by our wholesale energy business as a result of the flat market conditions compounded by warmer-than-normal weather which negatively impacted working capital needs. Net cash provided by operating activities was also impacted by a $25.0 million pension contribution that occurred in January 2012. There were no pension contributions made by the Company in 2011.
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 nine months of 2012 and 2011 amounted to $147.8 million and $114.0 million, respectively. We estimate the net cash outflows for construction projects for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014 at SJI to be approximately $279.1 million, $206.4 million and $202.9 million, respectively. The increase in the capital expenditures is a direct result of SJG's CIRT program, which began in 2009. For capital expenditures, including those under SJG’s CIRT, the Company will use short-term borrowings under lines of credit from commercial banks and the commercial paper program to finance capital expenditures as incurred. From time to time, the Company will refinance the short-term debt incurred to support capital expenditures with long-term debt.
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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 decreased by $9.5 million in the first nine months of 2012, compared with a decrease of $0.7 million in the same period of 2011.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company made investments in, and provided net advances to unconsolidated affiliates of $91.1 million and $10.0 million, respectively. The purpose of these investments and advances was to acquire two district energy systems in Hartford, Connecticut, and to develop landfill gas-fired electric production facilities, solar and thermal energy projects, and to cover certain project-related costs of LVE (See Commitments and Contingencies in Note 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).
Cash Flows from Financing Activities — Short-term borrowings from the commercial paper program and 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 September 30, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):
Company | Total Facility | Usage | Available Liquidity | Expiration Date | ||||||||||
SJG: | ||||||||||||||
Commercial Paper Program/Revolving Credit Facility | $ | 200,000 | $ | 137,900 | $ | 62,100 | May 2015 | |||||||
Uncommitted Bank Lines (B) | 10,000 | — | 10,000 | August 2013 | ||||||||||
Total SJG | 210,000 | 137,900 | 72,100 | |||||||||||
SJI: | ||||||||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility | $ | 300,000 | $ | 159,500 | $ | 140,500 | April 2015 (A) | |||||||
Term Line of Credit (C) | 50,000 | 50,000 | — | November 2013 | ||||||||||
Total SJI | 350,000 | 209,500 | 140,500 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 560,000 | $ | 347,400 | $ | 212,600 |
(A) Includes letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $32.0 million.
(B) SJG reduced the uncommitted bank lines by $10.0 million during 2012.
(C) In June 2012, SJI increased its term line of credit by $20.0 million, which matures in November 2013.
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 limiting the ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization (as defined in the respective credit agreements), measured on a quarterly basis. SJI and SJG were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2012. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted average borrowing cost, which changes daily, was 0.97% and 1.08% at September 30, 2012 and 2011, 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.
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During the third quarter of 2011, SJG began a commercial paper program under which SJG may issue short-term, unsecured promissory notes to qualified investors up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $200.0 million. The notes have fixed maturities which vary by note, but may not exceed 270 days from the date of issue. Proceeds from the notes are used for general corporate purposes. SJG uses the commercial paper program in tandem with the $200.0 million revolving credit facility and does not expect the principal amount of borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program and the credit facility at any time to exceed an aggregate of $200.0 million.
SJI supplements its operating cash flow, commercial paper program 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 MTNs, 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 April 2012, SJG issued $35.0 million aggregate principal amount of its MTN's as discussed in Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Concurrent with that debt issuance, SJG redeemed its $35.0 million, 7.7% MTN's due April 2027 at par plus a 2.0% premium. In June 2012 (as discussed in Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements), the Company issued $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of MTNs, consisting of the following: (a) $64.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.39% Senior Notes due June 28, 2015; (b) $16.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.71% Senior Notes due June 28, 2017; and (c) $35.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.46% Senior Notes due June 28, 2022. In September 2012 (as discussed in Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements), SJG issued $50.0 million of 3.0% aggregate principal amount of MTN's due September 20, 2024. The MTN's are included in long-term debt on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012. The notes purchase agreement also provides for the issuance of $35.0 million aggregate principal amount of its MTNs to be issued in November 2012. No other long-term debt was issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 or 2011.
SJG's $150.0 million MTN program that was approved by the BPU in September 2009 expired in September 2011. In December 2011, SJG received approval from the NJ BPU to issue up to $200.0 million in long-term debt by September 2014.
SJI raises equity capital through its Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP). Participants in SJI's DRP receive newly-issued shares, with SJI offering a 2% discount on DRP investments as it has been considered to be the most cost effective way to raise equity capital. From April 2008 through April 2011, shares of common stock offered by the DRP were purchased in open market transactions. Beginning in May 2011, shares of common stock offered by the DRP have again been issued at a 2% discount directly by SJI from its authorized but unissued shares of common stock. SJI raised $41.5 million and $5.4 million of equity capital through the DRP during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
SJI’s capital structure was as follows:
As of September 30, 2012 | As of December 31, 2011 | ||||
Equity | 43.4 | % | 45.5 | % | |
Long-Term Debt | 36.9 | 31.1 | |||
Short-Term Debt | 19.7 | 23.4 | |||
Total | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
SJI has paid dividends on its common stock for 60 consecutive years and has increased that dividend each year for the last eleven 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% of Economic Earnings. 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.
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FINANCE OBLIGATION - During 2010, ACB Energy Partners LLC (ACB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, completed construction of a combined heat and power generating facility to serve, under an energy services agreement, a thermal plant owned by Marina. Construction period financing was provided by Marina. Due to its continuing involvement in the facility, Marina is considered the owner of the facility for accounting purposes. As a result, the Company included costs to construct the facility within Nonutility Property, Plant and Equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of $23.6 million and $23.5 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. In addition, the Company includes repayments from ACB to Marina on the construction loan within the Finance Obligation on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Marina does not have a fixed payment obligation to ACB; as a result, the Finance Obligation is classified as a noncurrent liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The costs to construct the facility and the repayments of the construction loan are amortized over the term of the energy services agreement. The impact on the condensed consolidated statements of income is not significant. As a result, the Company recorded $21.9 million and $22.5 million, net of amortization, within Finance Obligation on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
SJI has a continuing need for cash resources and capital, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment, and for environmental remediation costs. Cash outflows for capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 amounted to $147.8 million and $114.0 million, respectively. Management estimates the net cash outflows for construction projects for 2012, 2013 and 2014 at SJI to be approximately $279.1 million, $206.4 million and $202.9 million, respectively. The increase in the capital expenditures is a direct result of SJG's CIRT program, which began in 2009. Costs for remediation projects, net of insurance reimbursements, for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 amounted to net cash outflows of $0.9 million and $14.2 million, respectively. Total cash outflows for remediation projects are expected to be $3.5 million, $21.1 million and $16.9 million for 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. As discussed in Notes 10 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s 10-K as of December 31, 2011, certain environmental costs are subject to recovery from insurance carriers and ratepayers.
As of September 30, 2012, SJI provided $32.0 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided $87.6 million of additional letters of credit under separate facilities outside of the revolving credit facility to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system and to finance Marina's initial thermal plant project.
Contractual Obligations - There were no significant changes to the Company’s contractual obligations described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011, except for long-term debt, which increased $165.0 million due to the issuance of Medium Term Notes at SJI and SJG (see Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements), and commodity supply purchase obligations which decreased by approximately $66.4 million in total since December 31, 2011, due to payments made during the first nine months of 2012 on commitments at SJE and SJRG. In addition, SJRG's minimum commitment to purchase natural gas under long-term contracts as discussed in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI's Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2011 has changed to approximately 0.4 million dts/d.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements – An 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 $1.9 million which is included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2012 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 service 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 August 2012, the resort developer, repeating previous disclosures, indicated again that it does not expect to resume construction on the project for three to five years. The resort developer stated that it remains committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a long-term growth strategy and continues 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. The outstanding balance of LVE’s bank debt is approximately $192.2 million as of September 30, 2012. As a result of the construction delay, the district energy system and central energy center were not completed by the end of 2010 as originally expected. Consequently, the full amount of LVE’s debt became due and payable in December 2010. LVE intends to seek additional financing to complete the facility once construction of the resort resumes, however, as of December 31, 2010, LVE was in default under the financing agreements with the banks. The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer includes a payment obligation by the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed to LVE’s lenders by the parent of the resort developer.
In March 2011, LVE reached agreements with (a) the resort developer, that specified the payments to be made by the developer to LVE during the suspension period and provided the developer and its corporate parent with an option to purchase the assets of LVE, and (b) the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address the existing default under the financing agreements. The terms of the March 2011 agreement require the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE on a monthly basis beginning in March 2011 until construction of the resort resumes or until the resort developer has exercised its option to purchase the energy facilities from LVE. The monthly payments that are being paid to LVE by the resort developer are expected to be sufficient to reimburse LVE for costs to maintain the energy facilities and to cover debt service costs over-time. The resort developer has provided LVE with a $6.0 million letter of credit to support its monthly payment obligation.
The banks that are financing the energy facilities have agreed not to exercise their rights under the financing agreements resulting from the event of default discussed above through December 2013, provided that no additional events of default occur. SJI and its joint venture partner have provided a total of $10.0 million in letters of credit to the banks to support LVE’s obligations, which can be drawn upon by the banks at the end of the existing agreement in December 2013 or upon the occurrence of an event of default by LVE prior to December 2013.
As of September 30, 2012, the Company had a net liability of approximately $1.6 million included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project, in addition to unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $55.6 million due from LVE. As of September 30, 2012, SJI’s capital at risk is limited to its equity contributions, letters of credit and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $72.2 million. During 2012, SJI provided support to LVE of approximately $1.8 million to cover interest and other 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 September 30, 2012.
SJI has 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 this guarantee.
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• | SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE) and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE), unconsolidated joint ventures in which Marina has a 50% equity interest through Energenic. 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 do not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or are 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. |
• | In February 2011, ACR Energy Partners, LLC (ACR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 20 year contract with a developer to build, own and operate a central energy center and energy distribution system for a new hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The complex commenced operations in April 2012 and as a result, ACR is providing full energy services to the complex. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, Marina and its joint venture partner each made capital contributions to ACR, through Energenic, of $22.0 million. Marina and its joint venture partner have also agreed to provide a $5.0 million letter of credit to support certain operating performance obligations of ACR under the operating agreements between ACR and the developer. 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 to or on behalf of ACR. Remaining capital contributions are not expected to be significant. |
• | In May 2012, UMM Energy Partners, LLC (UMM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 30 year contract with a public university to build, own and operate a combined heating, cooling and power system for its main campus in New Jersey. The system is expected to be completed during the second half of 2013. Marina and its joint venture partner are each obligated to make capital contributions to UMM, through Energenic, of approximately $10.0 million. As of September 30, 2012, Marina has advanced approximately $8.8 million to UMM, through Energenic, for initial construction costs. Of this amount, $5.0 million is included in Investment in Affiliates and $3.8 million is included in Notes Receivable - Affiliate on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. In addition, SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of UMM under the operating and lease agreements between UMM and the university, for the terms of the agreements, commencing with the first year of operations. SJI has guaranteed up to$2.2 million for the first year. This amount is adjusted each year based upon the Consumer Price Index. SJI has also guaranteed certain construction obligations of UMM during the construction period, the majority of which are supported by a surety bond. 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. |
• | As of September 30, 2012, SJI had issued $5.3 million of 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. |
Pending Litigation — The Company is subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. The Company has been named in, among other actions, certain product liability claims related to our former sand mining subsidiary. We accrue liabilities related to these claims when we can reasonably estimate the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs or other charges for these claims. The Company has accrued approximately $3.0 million and $2.9 million related to all claims in the aggregate as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that there will be a material change in the Company's estimated liability in the near term and does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims that would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Commodity Market Risks — Certain regulated and non-regulated 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 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, SJI recorded a net unrealized pre-tax loss of $3.6 million and $8.5 million in earnings during the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and a net unrealized pre-tax gain of $6.7 million and a net unrealized pre-tax loss $2.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which are included with realized gains and losses in Operating Revenues — Nonutility. The fair value and maturity of these energy-related contracts determined under the mark-to-market method as of September 30, 2012 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 | $ | 10,530 | $ | 3,020 | $ | 42 | $ | 13,592 | |||||||
Prices provided by other external sources | 10,334 | 5,922 | 202 | 16,458 | |||||||||||
Prices based on internal models or other valuable methods | 5,471 | 2,101 | — | 7,572 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 26,335 | $ | 11,043 | $ | 244 | $ | 37,622 | |||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||||||
Source of Fair Value | Maturity <1 Year | Maturity 1 -3 Years | Maturity Beyond 3Years | Total | |||||||||||
Prices actively quoted | $ | 6,726 | $ | 1,882 | $ | 43 | $ | 8,651 | |||||||
Prices provided by other external sources | 7,099 | 2,991 | 94 | 10,184 | |||||||||||
Prices based on internal models or other valuable methods | 3,733 | 942 | — | 4,675 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 17,558 | $ | 5,815 | $ | 137 | $ | 23,510 |
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 1.2 million decatherms (dts) with a weighted-average settlement price of $3.69 per dt. Contracted volumes of our basis contracts are 27.5 million dts with a weighted average settlement price of $0.22 per dt. Contracted volumes of electric are 0.1 million mwh with a weighted average settlement price of $44.65 per mwh.
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A reconciliation of SJI’s estimated net fair value of energy-related derivatives follows (in thousands):
Net Derivatives — Energy Related Liabilities, January 1, 2012 | $ | (509 | ) |
Contracts Settled During Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012, Net | 4,418 | ||
Other Changes in Fair Value from Continuing and New Contracts, Net | 10,203 | ||
Net Derivatives — Energy Related Assets September 30, 2012 | $ | 14,112 |
Interest Rate Risk — Our exposure to interest-rate risk relates primarily to short-term, variable-rate borrowings. Short-term, variable-rate debt outstanding at September 30, 2012 was $315.4 million and averaged $366.7 million during the first nine months of 2012. A hypothetical 100 basis point (1%) increase in interest rates on our average variable-rate debt outstanding would result in a $2.2 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: 2011 - 33 b.p. increase; 2010 – 13 b.p. decrease; 2009 – 29 b.p. decrease; 2008 – 397 b.p. decrease; 2007 – 45 b.p. decrease. At September 30, 2012, our average interest rate on variable-rate debt was 0.94%.
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 September 30, 2012, the interest costs on all but $27.1 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.
As of September 30, 2012, SJI’s active interest rate swaps were as follows:
Amount | Fixed Interest Rate | Start Date | Maturity | Type | Obligor | |||||||
$ | 3,900,000 | 4.795% | 12/1/2004 | 12/1/2014 | Taxable | Marina | ||||||
$ | 8,000,000 | 4.775% | 11/12/2004 | 11/12/2014 | Taxable | Marina | ||||||
$ | 14,500,000 | 3.905% | 3/17/2006 | 1/15/2026 | Tax-exempt | Marina | ||||||
$ | 500,000 | 3.905% | 3/17/2006 | 1/15/2026 | Tax-exempt | Marina | ||||||
$ | 330,000 | 3.905% | 3/17/2006 | 1/15/2026 | Tax-exempt | Marina | ||||||
$ | 7,100,000 | 4.895% | 2/1/2006 | 2/1/2016 | Taxable | Marina | ||||||
$ | 12,500,000 | 3.430% | 12/1/2006 | 2/1/2036 | Tax-exempt | SJG | ||||||
$ | 12,500,000 | 3.430% | 12/1/2006 | 2/1/2036 | Tax-exempt | SJG |
Credit Risk - As of September 30, 2012, approximately $10.1 million, or 26.8%, of the current and noncurrent Derivatives – Energy Related Assets 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.
As of September 30, 2012, SJRG had $61.3 million of Accounts Receivable under sales contracts. Of that total, 84.5% were with regulated utilities or companies rated investment-grade or guaranteed by an investment-grade-rated parent or were with companies where we have a collateral arrangement or insurance coverage. The remainder of the Accounts Receivable were within approved credit limits.
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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 September 30, 2012. 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 September 30, 2012 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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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 47.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in 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, 2011.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - There were no purchases by SJI of its own common stock during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Item 6. Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
Exhibit No. | Description | |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act. | |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act. | |
32.1 | 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). | |
32.2 | 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). | |
101 | The following financial statements from South Jersey Industries’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. | |||
(Registrant) | |||
Dated: | November 8, 2012 | By: | /s/ Edward J. Graham |
Edward J. Graham | |||
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer | |||
Dated: | November 8, 2012 | By: | /s/ David A. Kindlick |
David A. Kindlick | |||
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
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