CH Energy Group Reports Lower Second-Quarter Earnings
Second-quarter earnings for CH Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:CHG) totaled 11 cents per share in 2008, down from the 33 cents per share posted for the second quarter of 2007. Year-to-date earnings stand at $1.33 per share, as compared to $1.71 during the first half of 2007.
“During the second quarter, several challenges combined to depress our results. First, there were fewer degree days than last year. Secondly, we had much more storm activity and higher costs to restore electric service following storms. Third, higher energy costs induced our customers to use less energy. Fourth, the weakening economy has further induced our customers to use less energy and has also caused us to increase our allowance for doubtful accounts,” explained Steven V. Lant, Chairman of the Board, President and C.E.O.
“While we expect weather-related impacts to average out over time, the impact of high energy costs and the weakening economy are likely to continue and even perhaps intensify over the rest of the year and into 2009. As a result, we believe it is necessary and prudent to take two actions. First, we are reducing our earnings guidance for 2008, and second, we are filing a utility rate case to bring our revenues into line with the costs to serve our customers.”
The Poughkeepsie-based energy holding company modified its consolidated 2008 annual earnings projection to total between $2.02 and $2.27 (down from $2.30 – $2.50 per share). “This range reflects an estimated 16 cents of weather impacts incurred through June, and an estimated full-year impact of 50 cents resulting from Central Hudson’s sales falling below the level used to set current delivery rates,” Lant said.
The individual business unit projections are as follows: $1.65 to $1.75 from regulated utility Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation (reduced from $1.80 – $ 1.90 per share); 10 – 20 cents per share from Griffith fuel distribution (decreased from 20 – 25 cents); and 27 – 32 cents per share from holding company CH Energy Group, Inc., partnerships and other investments (as compared to 30 – 35 cents projected earlier).
Second-quarter 2008 earnings by business segment were as follows:
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation
Central Hudson’s contribution to quarterly earnings was 25 cents, 7 cents lower than that of the second quarter of 2007. In addition to weather that depressed sales and increased expenses to restore service following storms, uncollectible accounts and expenditures for taxes were also higher during the second quarter of 2008, Lant said. Year to date, the utility has earned 98 cents, compared to $1.15 posted for the first six months of 2007.
Quarterly results further widened the gap between the sales forecast incorporated in the utility’s current rate agreement and customers’ actual usage. “We plan to file for a delivery rate increase at the end of this month in order to have new rates in place at the expiration of our current agreement in July 2009. Simply put, we are currently not recovering the costs incurred to provide safe, reliable service to our customers. A new rate order must address this growing shortfall,” Lant said.
Griffith Energy Services
The Griffith fuel distribution business posted a 17-cent loss per share during the second quarter of 2008, compared to 9-cent loss during the same three months of 2007. Here, too, weather, customer conservation, and higher reserves for doubtful accounts dampened earnings during the second quarter, a period when a loss is anticipated due to the seasonal nature of Griffith’s fuel oil delivery business. Earnings during the first six months totaled 20 cents, down from the 31 cents earned during the first half of 2007.
Other Businesses
Holding company CH Energy Group, Inc. and the partnerships and other investments of Central Hudson Enterprises Corporation (CHEC) posted 3 cents toward quarterly results, down from 10 cents during the same period one year ago. In addition to challenging market conditions for the Company’s ethanol investment, interest income declined, given that acquisitions during the course of the year had reduced the amount of cash available for investment. Year-to-date earnings for these units total 15 cents, as compared to 25 cents during the first six months of 2007.
About CH Energy Group, Inc.
With more than 493,000 customers, CH Energy Group, Inc. is a family of companies seizing new opportunities in the energy marketplace through two primary subsidiaries: Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation is a regulated transmission and distribution utility serving approximately 376,000 customers in eight counties of New York State’s Mid-Hudson River Valley, and delivering natural gas and electricity in a 2,600-square-mile service territory that extends north from the suburbs of metropolitan New York City to the Capital District at Albany. Central Hudson Enterprises Corporation, a non-regulated subsidiary, is the umbrella for a family of energy-related companies and investments focused primarily on fuel distribution and renewable energy. Griffith Energy Service’s fuel distribution business supplies energy products and services to approximately 117,000 customers in 10 states, stretching from Rhode Island to the Washington, D.C. area. CHEC also has interests in a Lexington, Neb., ethanol plant, two wind power projects, a biomass plant in upstate New York, and plans to build a landfill gas energy facility in Auburn, NY, in 2008.
Conference Call: Mr. Lant will conduct a conference call with investors to review financial results at 2:00 p.m. (ET) today, July 28, 2008. Dial-in: 1-800-230-1074; Conference Name “CH Energy Group.” Supplemental materials will be posted to the Company’s Web site at www.CHEnergyGroup.com to assist participants in following the Conference Call presentation. A digitized replay of the call will be available from 4:30 p.m. (ET) on July 28, 2008, until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on August 4, 2008, by dialing 1-800-475-6701 and entering access code 953864. In addition, the call will be webcast live in listen-only mode and available for replay for approximately 30 days within the Investor Relations section of the Company’s Web site at www.CHEnergyGroup.com.
Forward-Looking Statements –
Statements included in this News Release and any documents incorporated by reference which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including “anticipates,”"intends,”"estimates,”"believes,”"projects,”"expects,”"plans,”"assumes,”"seeks,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements including, without limitation, those relating to CH Energy Group and its subsidiaries’ future business prospects, revenues, proceeds, working capital, liquidity, income, and margins, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, due to several important factors, including those identified from time-to-time in the forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to: weather; fuel prices; corn and ethanol prices; plant capacity factors; energy supply and demand; interest rates; potential future acquisitions; developments in the legislative, regulatory, and competitive environment; market risks; electric and natural gas industry restructuring and cost recovery; the ability to obtain adequate and timely rate relief; changes in fuel supply or costs including future market prices for energy, capacity, and ancillary services; the success of strategies to satisfy electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and propane requirements; the outcome of pending litigation and certain environmental matters, particularly the status of inactive hazardous waste disposal sites and waste site remediation requirements; and certain presently unknown or unforeseen factors, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism. CH Energy Group and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements.
CH ENERGY GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET June 30, December 31, 2008 (1) 2007 (2) ———– ———— ASSETS (Thousands of Dollars) UTILITY PLANT Utility plant $1,207,104 $1,169,800 Less: Accumulated depreciation 362,363 354,353 ———– ———— 844,741 815,447 Construction work in progress 70,346 75,866 ———– ———— Net Utility Plant 915,087 891,313 ———– ———— OTHER PROPERTY AND PLANT – NET 31,292 31,236 ———– ———— CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents 18,476 11,313 Short-term investments – available-for-sale securities 0 3,545 Accounts receivable – net 134,288 139,107 Fuel, materials and supplies 31,580 33,321 Fair value of derivative instruments 9,997 1,218 Regulatory assets 46,090 35,012 Special deposits and prepayments 33,842 28,108 Accumulated deferred income tax 1,088 7,378 Other 14,660 18,590 ———– ———— 290,021 277,592 ———– ———— DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER ASSETS 292,903 294,607 ———– ———— TOTAL $1,529,303 $1,494,748 =========== ============ CAPITALIZATION and LIABILITIES CAPITALIZATION Common Equity (3) $526,730 $523,148 Cumulative Preferred Stock: Not subject to mandatory redemption 21,027 21,027 Long-term debt 383,892 403,892 ———– ———— 931,649 948,067 ———– ———— CURRENT LIABILITIES Current maturities of long-term debt 20,000 0 Notes payable 76,000 42,500 Accounts payable 50,448 44,880 Accrued interest 5,964 6,127 Dividends payable 8,765 8,760 Customer advances and deposits 18,829 31,171 Regulatory liabilities 11,225 9,392 Fair value of derivative instruments 0 1,235 Accrued income taxes 0 834 Accumulated deferred income tax 4,173 0 Other 44,702 34,600 ———– ———— 240,106 179,499 ———– ———— DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES 203,308 218,469 ———– ———— MINORITY INTEREST 1,406 1,345 ———– ———— ACCUMULATED DEFERRED INCOME TAX 152,834 147,368 ———– ———— TOTAL $1,529,303 $1,494,748 =========== ============ (1) Unaudited. (2) Subject to explanations contained in the Annual Report on Form 10- K of the Company to the SEC for the Year ended December 31, 2007. (3) Shares outstanding at June 30, 2008 = 15,782,774. Shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2007 = 15,762,000.
CH ENERGY GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Unaudited) 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended June 30, June 30, —————– —————– 2008 2007 2008 2007 ——– ——– ——– ——– (Thousands of Dollars) Operating Revenues Electric $145,844 $150,445 $289,658 $302,120 Natural gas 44,275 40,242 120,494 104,433 Competitive business subsidiaries 123,533 80,296 313,292 207,809 ——– ——– ——– ——– Total Operating Revenues 313,652 270,983 723,444 614,362 ——– ——– ——– ——– Operating Expenses Operation: Purchased electricity and fuel used in electric generation 90,441 97,232 174,775 191,268 Purchased natural gas 31,465 27,925 84,603 71,261 Purchased petroleum 102,122 60,818 252,980 155,378 Other expenses of operation – regulated activities 41,254 39,493 84,167 77,142 Other expenses of operation – comp. bus. Subs 21,540 17,756 45,207 36,549 Depreciation and amortization 9,549 9,026 19,009 18,131 Taxes, other than income tax 9,327 8,660 18,790 17,147 ——– ——– ——– ——– Total Operating Expenses 305,698 260,910 679,531 566,876 ——– ——– ——– ——– Operating Income 7,954 10,073 43,913 47,486 ——– ——– ——– ——– Other Income and Deductions Income from unconsolidated affiliates 66 349 335 1,544 Interest on regulatory assets and investment income 1,792 2,254 3,065 4,394 Other – net (559) (538) (118) (1,034) ——– ——– ——– ——– Total Other Income 1,299 2,065 3,282 4,904 ——– ——– ——– ——– Interest Charges Interest on long term debt 5,049 4,495 10,138 8,986 Interest on regulatory liabilities and other interest 1,343 923 2,631 1,873 ——– ——– ——– ——– Total Interest Charges 6,392 5,418 12,769 10,859 ——– ——– ——– ——– Income before income taxes and preferred dividends of subsidiary, and minority interests 2,861 6,720 34,426 41,531 Income taxes 972 1,293 12,909 14,256 Minority Interest (23) (4) 61 (97) ——– ——– ——– ——– Income before preferred dividends of subsidiary 1,912 5,431 21,456 27,372 Cumulative preferred stock dividends of subsidiary 242 242 485 485 ——– ——– ——– ——– Net Income 1,670 5,189 20,971 26,887 Dividends Declared on Common Stock 8,523 8,512 17,041 17,023 ——– ——– ——– ——– Amount Retained in the Business ($6,853) ($3,323) $3,930 $9,864 ======== ======== ======== ======== Average number of common stock shares outstanding Basic 15,768 15,762 15,765 15,762 Diluted 15,812 15,784 15,809 15,784 Earnings per share -Basic: $0.11 $0.33 $1.33 $1.71 Earnings per share -Diluted: $0.11 $0.33 $1.33 $1.70 Dividends Declared Per Share $0.54 $0.54 $1.08 $1.08
CH ENERGY GROUP, INC. EARNINGS PER SHARE BY SEGMENT Consolidated CH Energy Group 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended June 30, June 30, —————- ————– 2008 2007 2008 2007 ——– ——- —— ——- Central Hudson – Electric $0.23 $0.24 $0.62 $0.73 Central Hudson – Natural Gas $0.02 $0.08 $0.36 $0.42 Griffith $(0.17) $(0.09) $0.20 $0.31 Other Businesses and Investments $0.03 $0.10 $0.15 $0.25 ——– ——- —— ——- Earnings per Share (basic) $0.11 $0.33 $1.33 $1.71 ======== ======= ====== ======= ——– ——- —— ——- Earnings per Share (diluted) $0.11 $0.33 $1.33 $1.70 ======== ======= ====== =======