American States Water Company - Form 8-K (5/13/03)
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 13, 2003

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
California   333-47647   95-4676679
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
         
630 East Foothill Blvd.        
San Dimas, California       91773
(Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (909) 394-3600

 


 

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)   Exhibit
     
Exhibit 99.1   Press Release dated May 13, 2003

Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure (The following discussion is furnished under “Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition”).

In accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583, the following information, required to be furnished under “Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition,” is furnished under “Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.”

On May 13, 2003 American States Water Company released Earnings for the Three and Twelve Months Ended March 31, 2003. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

This Form 8-K and the attached exhibit are provide under Item 12 of Form 8-K and are furnished to, but not filed with, the Securities and Exchange Commission

 


 

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 hereunto duly authorized.

     
    AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY
     
Date: May 13, 2003   /s/ McClellan Harris III
   
    McClellan Harris III
    Sr. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
    Treasurer and Secretary

 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
99.1   Press Release dated May 13, 2003

 

American States Water Company - Exhibit 99.1
 

Exhibit 99.1

(LOGO)

American States Water Company
Announces Earnings for the Three and
Twelve Months Ended March 31, 2003

San Dimas, California, May 13, 2003 . . . American States Water Company (NYSE:AWR) today reported basic and fully diluted earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2003 were $0.20 per share, a decrease of 20%, compared to the $0.25 per share, for basic and fully diluted earnings, reported for the three months ended March 31, 2002.

Basic and fully diluted earnings were $1.29 per share for the twelve months ended March 31, 2003 a decrease of 10.4% as compared to basic and fully diluted earnings of $1.44 per share reported for the same period ended March 31, 2002,

Commenting on the reported results, President and Chief Executive Officer Floyd E. Wicks said, “The results reported today continue to reflect the effects of delayed rate increases and the California Public Utility Commission’s elimination of the earnings impact protection from increasing supply costs (known as “balancing account protection”) at our largest operating water utility unit. We continue to follow through on our plan to maintain quality service by filing for warranted rate increases and operating as efficiently as possible.”

First Quarter 2003 Results - Operating income for the first quarter of 2003 was $7.6 million and net income was $3.0 million as compared with operating income of $7.9 million and net income of $3.8 million for the first quarter of 2002.

Total operating revenues for the first quarter of 2003 increased by 4.9% to $46.7 million as compared to the $44.5 million recorded in the first quarter of 2002, due primarily to electric rate increases effective during 2002 at the Company’s Bear Valley Electric division. Electric revenues increased by 34.5% for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 while water revenues were flat in comparison to the same quarter ended March 31, 2002.

Total operating expenses increased by 7% to $39.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 as compared to the $36.6 million recorded for the same period in 2002.

 


 

Between the two reporting periods, total supply costs increased by 20.1%, although this increase was partially offset by reductions in administrative and general expense and income tax expense. An unrealized loss of $289,000 was recorded during the first quarter, in the Company’s Bear Valley Electric division, related to the purchased energy contract with Pinnacle West. Accounting rule SFAS 133 requires the Company to compare current long-term energy costs with the actual contract price negotiated last year with Pinnacle West. Since the current prices are below the contract’s average price, the company must record a “paper loss”, per FAS 133 accounting rules. (See further discussion in the “Twelve Month 2003 Results”, below.)

Due to increased short-term borrowing during the first quarter of this year, interest charges increased by 4.5% to $4.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 as compared to interest charges of $4.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

Twelve Month 2003 Results - The Company reported operating income of $37.3 million and net income of $19.5 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2003 compared with operating income of $38.0 million and net income of $21.8 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2002.

Total revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2003 increased by 4.8% to $211.4 million as compared to $201.7 million reported for the same period in 2002, due to various water rate increases effective during 2001 at its Southern California Water Company (SCW) unit that had full impact during 2002, a 3.0% increase in water sales, and rate increases at the Bear Valley Electric division of our SCW unit. Of the total increase in revenues, water revenues increased by $3.0 million or 1.6% while electric revenues increased by $6.6 million or 40.0%.

Total operating expenses for the twelve months ended March 31, 2003 increased by 6.4% to $174.1 million from the $163.7 million reported for the same period in 2002. The increase was due principally to a 26.9% increase in supply costs, as well as increased maintenance expense and other operating costs. In addition, the results for the twelve months ended March 31, 2003 are impacted by an unrealized loss of approximately $2.8 million related to certain electric power purchase contracts at BVE that were marked-to-market pursuant to the requirements of SFAS No. 133. This unrealized loss at Bear Valley Electric will continue to impact earnings during the life of the contract with Pinnacle West; both negatively and positively. The end result is projected to be a net zero impact on Bear Valley Electric earnings at the end of the contract period, in 2008. Offsetting these increases and extraordinary item is a reduction in income tax expense and administrative and general expense due to the reversal in the fourth quarter of 2002 of the remaining $6.5 million in reserves established against potential non-recovery of electric power costs.

Interest charges increased by 10.6% for the twelve months ending March 31, 2003 due to the issuance of an additional $50 million in long-term debt by the Company’s SCW unit in December 2001.

 


 

Other - Certain matters discussed in this news release with regard to the Company’s expectations may be forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include those described in the Company’s Form 10-Q and Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

American States Water Company is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries, provides water service to 1 out of 30 Californians located within 75 communities throughout 10 counties in Northern, Coastal and Southern California and to approximately 12,000 customers in the city of Fountain Hills, Arizona and portions of Scottsdale, Arizona. The Company distributes electricity to approximately 22,000 customers in the Big Bear recreational area of California, and contracts with various municipalities and private entities in both California and Arizona to provide services to an additional 91,500 customers.

         
CONTACT:   McClellan Harris III    
    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    
    Telephone: (909) 394-3600, ext. 705    

 


 

American States Water Company
Consolidated

                 
Comparative Condensed Balance Sheets                
(in thousands)   March 31   March 31
    2003   2003

 
 
    (Unaudited)
Assets
               
Utility Plant-Net
  $ 567,149     $ 543,184  
Other Property and Investments
    22,610       24,284  
Current Assets
    46,729       44,668  
Deferred Charges
    67,062       56,693  
 
   
     
 
 
  $ 703,550     $ 668,829  
 
   
     
 
Capitalization and Liabilities
               
Capitalization
  $ 444,202     $ 452,608  
Current Liabilities
    74,782       42,015  
Other Credits
    184,566       174,206  
 
   
     
 
 
  $ 703,550     $ 668,829  
 
   
     
 
                                   
Condensed Statements of Income                                
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
    March 31   March 31

 
 
    2003   2002   2003   2002

 
 
 
 
      (Unaudited)
Operating Revenues
  $ 46,676     $ 44,485     $ 211,396     $ 201,709  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Operating Expenses:
                               
 
Operations
    28,172       25,172       125,785       114,803  
 
Maintenance
    1,950       1,892       9,897       8,319  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    4,947       4,568       18,682       18,036  
 
Taxes on income
    1,995       3,013       11,931       15,027  
 
Property and other taxes
    2,057       1,922       7,817       7,485  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total operating expenses
    39,121       36,567       174,112       163,670  
Net operating income
    7,555       7,918       37,284       38,039  
Other Income
          256       135       (69 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income Before Interest Charges
    7,555       8,174       37,419       37,970  
Interest Charges
    4,565       4,367       17,897       16,182  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net Income
    2,990       3,807       19,522       21,788  
Dividends on Preferred Shares
          (21 )     (9 )     (83 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Earnings Available for Common Shareholders
  $ 2,990     $ 3,786     $ 19,513     $ 21,705  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
    15,188       15,120       15,162       15,120  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Earnings Per Common Share
  $ 0.20     $ 0.25     $ 1.29     $ 1.44  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Weighted Average Fully Diluted Sgares
    15,194       15,129       15,181       15,125  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Fully Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.20     $ 0.25     $ 1.29     $ 1.44  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Dividends Paid Per Common Share
  $ 0.221     $ 0.217     $ 0.876     $ 0.867