Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Reports Record Results For Fiscal Year 2020; Updates Earnings And Capital Guidance

Rhea-AI Summary

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) reported a net income of $71.5 million for 2020, up from $65.2 million in 2019, translating to earnings of $4.26 per share. Despite a decline in fourth-quarter earnings to $22.4 million, the company noted significant growth in net income from continuing operations. Key growth drivers included regulatory settlements, acquisitions, and organic expansion, countered by $4.3 million in lower gross margin due to reduced customer consumption amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company affirmed EPS guidance for 2022 of $4.70 to $4.90 and extended guidance through 2025 of $6.05 to $6.25.

Positive

• Record net income of $71.5 million for 2020, a $6.3 million increase year-over-year.
• EPS guidance extended through 2025, now $6.05 to $6.25.
• Successful acquisitions of Boulden, Elkton Gas, and Western Natural Gas contributing to growth.
• Operating income increased by 6.1% to $112.7 million despite COVID-19 impacts.

Negative

• Fourth-quarter net income declined to $22.4 million from $22.6 million in 2019.
• Estimated COVID-19 impact of approximately $1.0 million on earnings.
• Lower gross margin by $4.3 million due to reduced customer consumption.

DOVER, Del., Feb. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) ("Chesapeake Utilities" or the "Company") today announced financial results for the year and the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020. Net income for 2020 was $71.5 million, or $4.26 per share compared to $65.2 million, or $3.96 per share for 2019. The Company's net income from continuing operations for 2020 was $70.6 million, or $4.21 per share. This represents an increase of $9.5 million, or $0.49 per share, above 2019 results.

Fourth quarter 2020 net income was $22.4 million, or $1.28 per share compared to $22.6 million, or $1.37 per share in 2019. The fourth quarter 2019 EPS results included $0.33 per share associated with a one-time gain from discontinued operations for our natural gas marketing business that we have exited. The Company's net income from continuing operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 was $21.7 million, or $1.24 per share compared to $17.1 million, or $1.04 for the same quarter of 2019.

Higher earnings for 2020 reflect increased earnings from the Hurricane Michael regulatory settlement reached with the Florida Public Service Commission ("PSC"); pipeline expansion projects; contributions from the acquisitions of Boulden, Inc. ("Boulden"), Elkton Gas Company ("Elkton Gas") and Western Natural Gas Company ("Western Natural Gas"); organic growth in the natural gas distribution operations, increased margin from Marlin Gas Services, LLC ("Marlin Gas Services"); higher retail propane margins and from gains on two property sales. The property sales were made possible due to the consolidation of certain operations. These increases were offset by $4.3 million in lower gross margin due to a decline in customer consumption driven primarily by weather and the unfavorable net impact of the coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, which included the establishment of regulatory assets totaling $1.9 million for estimated net expense increases in our distribution utilities in accordance with the applicable PSC orders. We are continuing to review the various cost impacts associated with COVID-19 and will adjust these estimates, as necessary, in the future. Earnings for the fourth quarter were impacted by the factors noted above.

In March 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") declared a national emergency due to the rapidly growing outbreak of COVID-19. In response to this declaration and the rapid spread of COVID-19 within the United States, federal, state and local governments throughout the country imposed varying degrees of restrictions on social and commercial activity to promote social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the illness.  These restrictions significantly impacted economic conditions in the United States in 2020 and are expected to continue well into 2021. Chesapeake Utilities is considered an "essential business," which allows the Company to continue its operational activities and construction projects while the social distancing restrictions remain in place. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, the Company implemented its pandemic response plan, which includes having all employees who can work remotely do so in order to promote social distancing and providing personal protective equipment to field employees to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the estimated consolidated impact that COVID-19 had on our earnings was approximately $1.0 million, after reflecting the impact of the regulatory assets we established in the fourth quarter of 2020 for the net incremental expenses incurred by our natural gas and electric distribution businesses as well as the tax benefits from the CARES Act.  Absent these positive impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced our operating income as a result of the reduced consumption of energy largely in the commercial and industrial sectors and incremental expenses incurred, including additional personal protective equipment, recording higher levels of bad debt expense and authorizing premium pay for frontline field personnel. The additional operating expenses we incurred support the ongoing delivery of our essential services during these unprecedented times. We will continue to monitor developments affecting our employees, customers, suppliers, stockholders and take additional precautions as warranted to operate safely and to comply with the CDC, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and state and local requirements in order to protect our employees, customers and the communities.

"To say that 2020 was another remarkable year of performance would be an understatement. Our employees helped the Company deliver another year of record-breaking performance, our 14th year of consecutive earnings growth, despite the many headlines and challenges that not only faced us as a company but at a personal level and also as a country – a global pandemic, social justice inequities and political turmoil. Our team rose to the challenges, working together to deliver strong performance, to capitalize on many new growth opportunities, to keep our current expansion projects on target, and to drive efficiency, increased collaboration and continuous improvement across the organization," stated Jeffry M. Householder, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our employees were determined that the challenges before us would not sidetrack our long-standing track record. We reported record earnings, added customers at a record pace, prudently issued equity to restore our capital structure back to our target ratio, and achieved positive shareholder returns. Strategically, we successfully completed seamless integrations of Boulden, Elkton Gas and Western Natural Gas - all while continuing to harvest organic growth, successfully settling the Hurricane Michael limited proceeding, expanding our pipeline and distribution service capacity and ensuring safe, reliable and clean energy service to our customers while staying connected to our communities. In recognition of our team's success and our future outlook as guided by our most recent strategic plan update, we have affirmed our existing financial guidance through 2022 and also extended our earnings and capital guidance through 2025."

Capital Investment and Earnings Guidance Update

The Company has continued to review its projections and affirms its EPS guidance of $4.70 to $4.90 per share for 2022, as previously announced in February 2020.  After taking into consideration its recent strategic planning process, the expected impacts of COVID-19, including the anticipated regulatory relief and opportunities for continued collaboration across the enterprise, the Company is extending its EPS guidance for three more years through 2025 to a range of $6.05 to $6.25 per share.

As the basis for its expanded EPS guidance, the Company's updated strategic plan supported the extension of its capital expenditure guidance. At the end of 2017, Management provided capital expenditure guidance of $750 million to $1 billion for the five years ended 2022. Through 2020, the Company has expended approximately $677.7 million and therefore, expects to hit the low end of the capital guidance range one year early in 2021. Given the capital forecast within the updated strategic plan, the Company is issuing new guidance forecasting capital expenditures of $750 million to $1 billion for the five years ended 2025.

*Unless otherwise noted, EPS information is presented on a diluted basis.

**This press release includes references to non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") financial measures, including gross margin. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is generally defined as a numerical measure of a company's historical or future performance that includes or excludes amounts, or that is subject to adjustments, so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. Our management believes certain non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionately positive or negative impact on results in any particular period.

The Company calculates "gross margin" by deducting the cost of sales from operating revenue. Cost of sales includes the purchased fuel cost for natural gas, electricity and propane, and the cost of labor spent on direct revenue-producing activities and excludes depreciation, amortization and accretion. Other companies may calculate gross margin in a different manner. Gross margin should not be considered an alternative to operating income or net income, both of which are determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that gross margin, although a non-GAAP measure, is useful and meaningful to investors as a basis for making investment decisions. It provides investors with information that demonstrates the profitability achieved by the Company under its allowed rates for regulated operations and under its competitive pricing structures for unregulated businesses. The Company's management uses gross margin in measuring its business units' performance.

Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

Consolidated Results

	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020				2019				Change				Percent Change
Gross margin	$	350,260			$	325,104			$	25,156			7.7	%
Depreciation, amortization and property taxes	77,913				63,415				14,498				22.9	%
Other operating expenses	159,624				155,404				4,220				2.7	%
Operating income	$	112,723			$	106,285			$	6,438			6.1	%

Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased by $6.4 million, or 6.1 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating income for the period was reduced by an estimated $6.4 million due to unfavorable impacts of COVID-19, after the establishment of $1.9 million of regulatory assets that were recognized in the fourth quarter of 2020 in accordance with the respective PSC orders. Excluding the negative impacts of COVID-19, operating income for the year increased by $12.8 million. The higher performance for 2020 is a result of many different drivers, including the settlement of the Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding, pipeline expansions, organic growth, gross margin contributions from natural gas and propane acquisitions completed in 2019 and 2020, and higher retail propane margins per gallon. Further contributing to the improved performance in 2020 was margin growth from the Company's investments in the ongoing Florida Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program ("GRIP") and increased demand for Marlin Gas Services' compressed natural gas ("CNG") transportation services. These increases were partially offset by higher operating expenses related to growth initiatives and reduced customer consumption primarily due to milder weather during 2020.

Regulated Energy Segment

	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020				2019				Change				Percent Change
Gross margin	$	260,752			$	240,203			$	20,549			8.6	%
Depreciation, amortization and property taxes	64,367				51,683				12,684				24.5	%
Other operating expenses	104,261				101,936				2,325				2.3	%
Operating income	$	92,124			$	86,584			$	5,540			6.4	%

Operating income for the Regulated Energy segment for 2020 was $92.1 million, an increase of $5.5 million, or 6.4 percent, compared to 2019. As mentioned previously, the Company established $1.9 million in regulatory assets based on the estimated net expense increases associated with COVID-19 as authorized by the various PSCs. Excluding the estimated unfavorable COVID-19 impacts of $4.2 million for the year, operating income increased $9.7 million as a result of the Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding settlement, higher gross margin from expansion projects completed by Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company ("Eastern Shore") and Peninsula Pipeline Company, Inc. ("Peninsula Pipeline"), organic growth in our natural gas distribution businesses, contribution from the Elkton Gas acquisition and margin growth from GRIP. These increases were offset by lower customer consumption driven primarily by milder weather; higher depreciation, amortization and property taxes, including amortization of the regulatory asset associated with the Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding settlement; new expenses associated with Elkton Gas; and higher other operating expenses.

The key components of the increase in gross margin are shown below:

(in thousands)
Margin contribution from Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding settlement	$	10,864
Eastern Shore and Peninsula Pipeline service expansions	8,006
Natural gas distribution customer growth (excluding service expansions)	3,370
Margin contribution from the Elkton Gas acquisition (completed July 2020)	1,344
Florida GRIP	1,239
Eastern Shore margin from capital relocation and non-service expansion projects	1,033
Unfavorable COVID-19 impacts on gross margin	(3,834)
Decreased customer consumption - primarily weather related	(1,340)
Other	(133)
Year-over-year increase in gross margin	$	20,549

The major components of the increase in other operating expenses are as follows:

(in thousands)
Unfavorable COVID-19 impacts (higher operating expenses)	$	2,285
Insurance (non-health) expense - both insured and self-insured components	1,442
Operating expenses from the Elkton Gas acquisition	651
Deferral of net expense increases of COVID-19 under PSC orders	(1,925)
Other variances	(128)
Year-over-year increase in other operating expenses	$	2,325

Unregulated Energy Segment

	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020				2019				Change				Percent Change
Gross margin	$	89,746			$	85,266			$	4,480			5.3	%
Depreciation, amortization and property taxes	13,438				11,598				1,840				15.9	%
Other operating expenses	55,644				53,730				1,914				3.6	%
Operating income	$	20,664			$	19,938			$	726			3.6	%

Operating income for the Unregulated Energy segment for 2020 was $20.7 million, an increase of $0.7 million compared to 2019. Excluding the estimated COVID-19 impacts of $1.7 million, operating income increased $2.4 million as a result of incremental gross margin from the acquisitions of the Boulden and Western Natural Gas propane assets, higher retail propane margins per gallon, increased demand for Marlin Gas Services' CNG transportation services and higher rates from Aspire Energy. These increases were partially offset by reduced gross margins from overall warmer temperatures, higher depreciation, amortization and property taxes, expenses associated with recent acquisitions, and increased insurance expenses.

The key components of the increase in gross margin are shown below:

(in thousands)
Propane Operations
Boulden and Western Natural Gas acquisitions (completed December 2019 and October 2020)		$	3,960
Increased retail propane margins per gallon driven by favorable market conditions and supply management		1,937
Decreased customer consumption - primarily weather related		(2,448)
Marlin Gas Services
Increased demand for CNG services		1,821
Aspire Energy
Higher margins from negotiated rate increases		1,312
Decreased customer consumption - primarily weather related		(517)
Unfavorable COVID-19 impacts on gross margin		(1,457)
Other variances		(128)
Year-over-year increase in gross margin		$	4,480

The key components of the increase in other operating expenses are as follows:

(in thousands)
Operating expenses from Boulden and Western Natural Gas acquisitions	$	1,510
Insurance expense (non-health) - both insured and self-insured	645
Other variances	(241)
Year-over-year increase in other operating expenses	$	1,914

Operating Results for the Quarters Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

Consolidated Results

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020				2019				Change				Percent Change
Gross margin	$	96,841			$	88,900			$	7,941			8.9	%
Depreciation, amortization and property taxes	20,810				16,078				4,732				29.4	%
Other operating expenses	40,826				43,181				(2,355)				(5.5)	%
Operating income	$	35,205			$	29,641			$	5,564			18.8	%

Operating income during the fourth quarter of 2020 increased by $5.6 million, or 18.8 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. As mentioned in the annual results discussion, in the fourth quarter of 2020, regulatory assets totaling $1.9 million were recorded related to the net expense increases of COVID-19 incurred in the Company's regulated distribution businesses and authorized by the respective PSCs. This amount included $0.9 million of net expense increases that were previously recognized in the earlier quarters of 2020. Operating income for the quarter also increased as a result of the settlement of the Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding, higher operating income from organic growth projects (pipeline expansions and new customer additions), gross margin contributions from acquisitions completed in 2019 and 2020, increased demand for Marlin Gas Services' CNG transportation services and margin growth from GRIP. These improvements were partially offset by decreased margin from customer consumption associated with milder weather during the quarter.

Regulated Energy Segment

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020				2019				Change				Percent Change
Gross margin	$	69,007			$	63,054			$	5,953			9.4	%
Depreciation, amortization and property taxes	17,223				12,989				4,234				32.6	%
Other operating expenses	26,035				28,791				(2,756)				(9.6)	%
Operating income	$	25,749			$	21,274			$	4,475			21.0	%

Operating income for the Regulated Energy segment increased by $4.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Higher operating income was a result of the settlement of the Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding, expansion projects completed and underway by Eastern Shore and Peninsula Pipeline, contribution from the Elkton Gas acquisition, organic growth in the Company's natural gas distribution businesses and margin from increased investments in the Florida GRIP. These increases were partially offset by higher depreciation, amortization and property taxes including amortization of the regulatory asset associated with the Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding settlement, new expenses associated with the Elkton Gas acquisition and milder weather. In the fourth quarter of 2020, as mentioned above, $1.9 million of regulatory assets were recorded, which offset the quarter's negative impacts from COVID-19. 

The key components of the increase in gross margin are shown below:

(in thousands)
Margin contribution from Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding settlement	$	2,603
Eastern Shore and Peninsula Pipeline service expansions	2,529
Margin contributions from the Elkton Gas acquisition (completed in July 2020)	986
Natural gas growth (excluding service expansions)	873
Florida GRIP	561
Decreased customer consumption - primarily weather related	(657)
Unfavorable COVID-19 impacts	(1,200)
Other variances	258
Quarter-over-quarter increase in gross margin	$	5,953

The major components of the decrease in other operating expenses are as follows:

(in thousands)
Deferral of net expense increases of COVID-19 under PSC orders	$	(1,925)
Facilities maintenance costs and outside services	(1,279)
Payroll, benefits and other employee-related expenses	(552)
Operating expenses from the Elkton Gas acquisition	540
Unfavorable COVID-19 impacts (higher operating expenses)	342
Other variances	118
Quarter-over-quarter decrease in other operating expenses	$	(2,756)

Unregulated Energy Segment

	Three Months Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020				2019				Change				Percent Change
Gross margin	$	27,864			$	25,926			$	1,938			7.5	%
Depreciation, amortization and property taxes	3,568				3,056				512				16.8	%
Other operating expenses	14,682				14,249				433				3.0	%
Operating income	$	9,614			$	8,621			$	993			11.5	%

Operating income for the Unregulated Energy segment increased by $1.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Improved performance was driven by incremental margin from the propane acquisitions of Boulden and Western Natural Gas, margin growth from Marlin Gas Services and higher rates for Aspire Energy. These increases were partially offset by milder weather, expenses associated with recent acquisitions, higher depreciation, amortization and property taxes.

The major components of the increase in gross margin are shown below:

(in thousands)
Marlin Gas Services - increased gross margin from demand for CNG transportation services		$	1,127
Propane Operations:
Boulden and Western Natural Gas acquisitions (completed December 2019 and October 2020)		1,196
Decreased customer consumption - primarily weather related		(897)
Aspire Energy - higher margins from negotiated rate increases		862
Unfavorable COVID-19 impacts on gross margin		(312)
Other variances		(38)
Quarter-over-quarter increase in gross margin		$	1,938

The major components of the increase in other operating expenses are as follows:

(in thousands)
Operating expenses from Boulden and Western Natural Gas acquisitions		$	574
Depreciation, amortization and property tax costs due to new capital investments		254
Payroll, benefits and other employee-related expenses		(263)
Other variances		(132)
Quarter-over-quarter increase in other operating expenses		$	433

Conference Call

Chesapeake Utilities will host a conference call on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company's financial results for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2020. To participate in this call, dial 877.224.1468 and reference Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's 2020 Financial Results Conference Call. To access the replay recording of this call, the accompanying transcript, and other pertinent quarterly information, use the link CPK - Conference Call Audio Replay, or visit the Investors/Events and Presentations section of Company's website at www.chpk.com.

About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation 

Chesapeake Utilities is a diversified energy company engaged in natural gas transmission and distribution; electricity generation and distribution; propane gas distribution; mobile compressed natural gas services; and other businesses. Information about Chesapeake Utilities and its family of businesses is available at https://www.chpk.com.

Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

For more information, contact:

Beth W. Cooper
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Assistant Corporate Secretary
302.734.6799

Financial Summary
(in thousands, except per-share data)
	Year Ended								Quarter Ended
	December 31,								December 31,
	2020				2019				2020				2019
Gross Margin
Regulated Energy segment	$	260,752			$	240,203			$	69,007			$	63,054
Unregulated Energy segment	89,746				85,266				27,864				25,926
Other businesses and eliminations	(238)				(365)				(30)				(80)
Total Gross Margin	$	350,260			$	325,104			$	96,841			$	88,900
Operating Income
Regulated Energy segment	$	92,124			$	86,584			$	25,749			$	21,274
Unregulated Energy segment	20,664				19,938				9,614				8,621
Other businesses and eliminations	(65)				(237)				(157)				(254)
Total Operating Income	112,723				106,285				35,206				29,641
Other income (expense), net	3,222				(1,847)				224				(1,117)
Interest Charges	21,765				22,224				6,313				5,641
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	94,180				82,214				29,117				22,883
Income Taxes on Continuing Operations	23,538				21,114				7,456				5,760
Income from Continuing Operations	70,642				61,100				21,661				17,123
Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	686				(1,349)				691				39
Gain on sale of Discontinued Operations, Net of tax	170				5,402				—				5,402
Net Income	$	71,498			$	65,153			$	22,352			$	22,564
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	16,711,579				16,398,443				17,439,993				16,403,776
Diluted	16,770,735				16,448,486				17,505,291				16,461,112
Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
Earnings from Continuing Operations	$	4.23			$	3.73			$	1.24			$	1.05
Earnings from Discontinued Operations	0.05				0.24				0.04				0.33
Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock	$	4.28			$	3.97			$	1.28			$	1.38
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
Earnings from Continuing Operations	$	4.21			$	3.72			$	1.24			$	1.04
Earnings from Discontinued Operations	0.05				0.24				0.04				0.33
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock	$	4.26			$	3.96			$	1.28			$	1.37

 

Financial Summary Highlights
Key variances in continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 included:
(in thousands, except per share data)		Pre-tax Income				Net Income				Earnings Per Share
Year ended December 31, 2019 Reported Results from Continuing Operations		$	82,214			$	61,100			$	3.72
Adjusting for unusual items:
Unfavorable COVID-19 impacts		(5,864)				(4,284)				(0.26)
Decreased customer consumption - primarily weather related		(4,305)				(3,145)				(0.19)
Interest expense associated with the early extinguishment of FPU mortgage bonds		(961)				(715)				(0.04)
Favorable income tax impact associated with the CARES Act		—				1,841				0.11
Gains from sales of assets		3,162				2,317				0.14
Deferral of COVID expenses under PSC orders		1,925				1,432				0.09
		(6,043)				(2,554)				(0.15)
Increased (Decreased) Gross Margins:
Hurricane Michael Settlement Margin Impact*		10,864				7,936				0.47
Eastern Shore and Peninsula Pipeline service expansions*		8,006				5,849				0.35
Margin from recent acquisitions*		5,304				3,875				0.23
Natural gas growth (excluding service expansions)		3,370				2,462				0.15
Increased retail propane margins per gallon		1,937				1,415				0.08
Increased demand for CNG services for Marlin Gas Services*		1,821				1,331				0.08
Aspire Energy rate increases		1,312				959				0.06
Florida GRIP*		1,239				905				0.05
Eastern Shore margin from capital improvements and non-service expansion projects*		1,033				755				0.05
		34,886				25,487				1.52
(Increased) Decreased Other Operating Expenses (Excluding Cost of Sales):
Depreciation and amortization associated with Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding settlement		(7,133)				(5,210)				(0.31)
Depreciation, amortization and property tax costs due to new capital investments		(6,262)				(4,575)				(0.27)
Operating expenses from recent acquisitions		(3,269)				(2,388)				(0.14)
Insurance		(2,088)				(1,525)				(0.09)
Payroll, benefits and other employee-related expenses		716				523				0.03
		(18,036)				(13,175)				(0.78)
Interest charges(1)		(1,232)				(900)				(0.05)
Increased share count from 2020 equity offerings		—				—				(0.08)
Other income tax effects		—				(1,060)				(0.06)
Lower pension expense		1,777				1,298				0.08
Net Other Changes		614				446				0.01
Year ended December 31, 2020 Reported Results from Continuing Operations		$	94,180			$	70,642			$	4.21

* See the Major Projects and Initiatives table later in this press release.

(1) Interest charges includes amortization of a regulatory liability of $1.5 million related to the Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding settlement.

Key variances in continuing operations for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020 included:

(in thousands, except per share)		Pre-tax Income				Net Income				Earnings Per Share
Fourth Quarter 2019 Reported Results from Continuing Operations		$	22,883			$	17,123			$	1.04
Adjusting for Unusual items:
Decreased customer consumption - primarily weather related		(1,375)				(1,023)				(0.06)
Unfavorable COVID-19 impacts		(1,040)				(774)				(0.04)
Interest expense associated with the early extinguishment of FPU mortgage bonds		(961)				(715)				(0.04)
Favorable income tax impact associated with the CARES Act		—				172				0.01
Deferral of COVID-19 expenses under PSC orders		1,925				1,432				0.08
		(1,451)				(908)				(0.05)
Increased (Decreased) Gross Margins:
Hurricane Michael Settlement Margin Impact*		2,603				1,942				0.11
Eastern Shore and Peninsula Pipeline service expansions*		2,529				1,881				0.11
Margin from recent acquisitions*		2,182				1,623				0.09
Increased demand for CNG services for Marlin Gas Services*		1,127				839				0.05
Aspire Energy rate increases		862				641				0.04
Natural gas growth (excluding service expansions)		873				650				0.04
Florida GRIP*		561				417				0.02
		10,737				7,993				0.46
(Increased) Decreased Other Operating Expenses (Excluding Cost of Sales):
Depreciation, amortization and property tax costs due to new capital investments		(2,530)				(1,882)				(0.11)
Hurricane Michael settlement agreement - depreciation and amortization impact		(1,778)				(1,326)				(0.08)
Operating expenses from recent acquisitions		(1,369)				(1,018)				(0.06)
Facilities maintenance costs and outside services		1,302				968				0.06
Payroll, benefits and other employee-related expenses		938				698				0.04
		(3,437)				(2,560)				(0.15)
Interest Charges(1)		(349)				(260)				(0.01)
Increased share count from 2020 equity offerings		—				—				(0.06)
Other income tax effects		—				(272)				(0.02)
Lower pension expense		646				481				0.03
Net Other Changes		88				64				—
Fourth Quarter 2020 Reported Results from Continuing Operations		$	29,117			$	21,661			$	1.24

* See the Major Projects and Initiatives table later in this press release.

(1) Interest charges includes amortization of a regulatory liability of $0.3 million related to the Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding settlement.

The following information highlights certain key factors contributing to the Company's results for the year ended December 31, 2020:

Recently Completed and Ongoing Major Projects and Initiatives

The Company constantly pursues and develops additional projects and initiatives to serve existing and new customers, and to further grow its businesses and earnings, with the intention of increasing shareholder value. The following represent the major projects/initiatives recently completed and currently underway. In the future, the Company will add new projects and initiatives to this table once substantially finalized and the associated earnings can be estimated.

		Gross Margin for the Period
		Year Ended December 31,								Estimate for Fiscal
(in thousands)		2019				2020				2021				2022
Pipeline Expansions:
Western Palm Beach County, Florida Expansion (1)		$	2,139			$	4,167			$	4,984			$	5,227
Del-Mar Energy Pathway (1) (2)		731				2,462				4,385				6,708
Auburndale		283				679				679				679
Callahan Intrastate Pipeline (2)		—				3,851				7,564				7,564
Guernsey Power Station		—				—				514				1,486
Total Pipeline Expansions		3,153				11,159				18,126				21,664
CNG Transportation		5,410				7,231				7,900				8,500
RNG Transportation		—				—				1,000				1,000
Acquisitions:
Boulden Propane		329				3,900				4,200				4,409
Elkton Gas		—				1,344				3,992				4,200
Western Natural Gas		—				389				1,800				1,854
Total Acquisitions		329				5,633				9,992				10,463
Regulatory Initiatives:
Florida GRIP		13,939				15,178				16,739				17,712
Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding		—				10,864				11,014				11,014
Capital Cost Surcharge Programs		—				—				1,500				3,000
Total Regulatory Initiatives		13,939				26,042				29,253				31,726
Total		$	22,831			$	50,065			$	66,271			$	73,353

(1) Includes gross margin generated from interim services.

(2) Includes gross margin from natural gas distribution services.

Detailed Discussion of Major Projects and Initiatives

Pipeline Expansions

Western Palm Beach County, Florida Expansion
Peninsula Pipeline is constructing four transmission lines to bring additional natural gas to the Company's distribution system in West Palm Beach, Florida. The first phase of this project was placed into service in December 2018 and generated incremental gross margin of $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019. The Company expects to complete the remainder of the project in phases through the second quarter of 2021, and estimates that the project will generate annual gross margin of $5.0 million in 2021 and $5.2 million in 2022.

Del-Mar Energy Pathway
In December 2019, the FERC issued an order approving the construction of the Del-Mar Energy Pathway project. Eastern Shore anticipates that this project will be fully in-service by the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2021. The new facilities will: (i) ensure an additional 14,300 Dts/d of firm service to four customers, (ii) provide additional natural gas transmission pipeline infrastructure in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, and (iii) represent the first extension of Eastern Shore's pipeline system into Somerset County, Maryland. Construction of the project began in January 2020, and interim services in advance of this project generated additional gross margin of $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The estimated annual gross margin from this project including natural gas distribution service in Somerset County, Maryland, is approximately $4.4 million in 2021 and $6.7 million annually thereafter.

Auburndale
In August 2019, the Florida PSC approved Peninsula Pipeline's Transportation Service Agreement with the Florida Division of Chesapeake Utilities. Peninsula Pipeline purchased an existing pipeline owned by the Florida Division of Chesapeake Utilities and Calpine, and has completed the construction of pipeline facilities in Polk County, Florida. Peninsula Pipeline provides transportation service to the Florida Division of Chesapeake Utilities; these facilities increased both delivery capacity and downstream pressure as well as introduced a secondary source of natural gas for the Florida Division of Chesapeake Utilities' distribution system. Peninsula Pipeline generated additional gross margin from this project of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019 and expects to generate annual gross margin of $0.7 million in 2021 and beyond.

Callahan Intrastate Pipeline
In May 2018, Peninsula Pipeline announced a plan to construct a jointly owned intrastate transmission pipeline with Seacoast Gas Transmission in Nassau County, Florida. The 26-mile pipeline will serve growing demand in both Nassau and Duval Counties. This project was placed in service in June 2020, one month earlier than initially forecasted, and generated $3.9 million in additional gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2020. The pipeline is expected to generate $7.6 million annually in gross margin in 2021 and beyond.

Guernsey Power Station
Guernsey Power Station, LLC ("Guernsey Power Station") and our affiliate, Aspire Energy Express, LLC ("Aspire Energy Express"), entered into a precedent firm transportation capacity agreement whereby Guernsey Power Station will construct a power generation facility and Aspire Energy Express will provide firm natural gas transportation service to this facility. Guernsey Power Station commenced construction of the project in October 2019. Aspire Energy Express is expected to commence construction of the gas transmission facilities to provide the firm transportation service to the power generation facility in the fourth quarter of 2021. This project is expected to produce gross margin of approximately $0.5 million in 2021 and $1.5 million in 2022 and beyond.

CNG Transportation

Marlin Gas Services provides CNG temporary hold services, contracted pipeline integrity services, emergency services for damaged pipelines and specialized gas services for customers who have unique requirements. For the year ended December 31, 2020, Marlin Gas Services generated additional gross margin of $1.8 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company estimates that Marlin Gas Services will generate annual gross margin of approximately $7.9 million in 2021 and $8.5 million in 2022, with potential for additional growth in future years. Marlin Gas Services continues to actively expand the territories it serves, as well as leverage its patented technology to serve other markets, including pursuing liquefied natural gas transportation opportunities and renewable natural gas transportation opportunities from diverse supply sources to various pipeline interconnection points, as further outlined below.

RNG Transportation

Noble Road Landfill RNG Project
In September 2020, Fortistar and Rumpke Waste & Recycling announced commencement of construction of the Noble Road Landfill RNG Project in Shiloh, Ohio. The project includes the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility that will utilize advanced, patented technology to treat landfill gas by removing carbon dioxide and other components to purify the gas and produce pipeline quality RNG. Aspire Energy will utilize its existing natural gas gathering assets to inject the RNG from this project to its system for distribution to end use customers. Once flowing the RNG volume will represent nearly 10% of Aspire Energy's gas gathering volumes. The project is expected to be in service in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Bioenergy Devco
In June 2020, the Company's Delmarva natural gas operations and Bioenergy Devco ("BDC"), a developer of anaerobic digestion facilities that create renewable energy and healthy soil products from organic material, entered into an agreement related to the development of a project to create renewable natural gas. BDC and the Company's affiliates are collaborating on this project in addition to several other project sites where organic waste can be converted into a potentially carbon-negative energy source. This project will provide the Company the opportunity to maintain the value of the green attributes of renewable natural gas as the gas is being distributed to natural gas distribution customers.

The renewable natural gas resource created from organic material at BDC's anaerobic digestion facilities in Delaware, will be processed for use by the Company's Delmarva natural gas operations. Marlin Gas Services will transport the sustainable fuel from the BDC facility to an Eastern Shore interconnection, where it will be introduced to the distribution system and ultimately distributed to the Company's natural gas customers. 

CleanBay Project
In July 2020, the Company's Delmarva natural gas operations and CleanBay Renewables Inc. ("CleanBay") announced a new partnership to bring renewable natural gas to the Company's operations. As part of this partnership, Eastern Shore and Marlin Gas Services will transport the renewable natural gas produced at CleanBay's planned Westover, Maryland bio-refinery, to the Company's natural gas infrastructure in the Delmarva Peninsula region where it is ultimately delivered to the Delmarva natural gas distribution end use customers. 

At the present time, the Company expects to generate $1.0 million in 2021 in incremental margin from renewable natural gas transportation beginning in 2021. As the Company continues to finalize contract terms associated with some of these projects, additional information will be provided regarding incremental margin at a future time.

Acquisitions

Boulden Propane
In December 2019, the Company's propane distribution subsidiary, Sharp Energy, Inc. ("Sharp"), acquired certain propane customers and operating assets of Boulden which provides propane distribution service to approximately 5,200 customers in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The customers and assets acquired from Boulden have been assimilated into Sharp. The operations acquired from Boulden generated $3.6 million of incremental gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019. The Company estimates that this acquisition will generate gross margin of approximately $4.2 million in 2021 and $4.4 million in 2022, with the potential for additional growth in future years.

Elkton Gas
In July 2020, the Company closed on the acquisition of Elkton Gas, which provides natural gas distribution service to approximately 7,000 residential and commercial customers within a franchised area of Cecil County, Maryland. The purchase price was approximately $15.6 million, which included $0.6 million of working capital. Elkton Gas' territory is contiguous to Chesapeake's franchised service territory in Cecil County, Maryland. The Company generated $1.3 million in additional gross margin from Elkton Gas for the year ended December 31, 2020 and estimates that this acquisition will generate gross margin of approximately $4.0 million in 2021 and $4.2 million in 2022 and beyond.

Western Natural Gas
In October 2020, Sharp acquired certain propane operating assets of Western Natural Gas, which provides propane distribution service throughout Jacksonville, Florida and the surrounding communities, for approximately $6.7 million, net of cash acquired. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination within the Company's Unregulated Energy Segment in the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company generated $0.4 million in additional gross margin from Western Natural Gas Company in 2020 and estimates that this acquisition will generate gross margin of approximately $1.8 million in 2021 and slightly more in years thereafter.

Regulatory Initiatives

Florida GRIP
Florida GRIP is a natural gas pipe replacement program approved by the Florida PSC that allows automatic recovery, through rates, of costs associated with the replacement of mains and services. Since the program's inception in August 2012, the Company has invested $164.9 million of capital expenditures to replace 331 miles of qualifying distribution mains, including $21.0 million and $16.7 million of new pipes during 2020 and 2019, respectively. GRIP generated additional gross margin of $1.2 million for the year ended 2020 compared to 2019.

Hurricane Michael
In October 2018, Hurricane Michael passed through FPU's electric distribution operation's service territory in Northwest Florida and caused widespread and severe damage to FPU's infrastructure resulting in 100 percent of its customers in the Northwest Florida service territory losing electrical service.

In August 2019, FPU filed a limited proceeding requesting recovery of storm-related costs associated with Hurricane Michael (capital and expenses) through a change in base rates. FPU also requested treatment and recovery of certain storm-related costs as regulatory assets for items currently not allowed to be recovered through the storm reserve as well as the recovery of capital replaced as a result of the storm. Recovery of these costs included a component of an overall return on capital additions and regulatory assets. In March 2020, FPU filed an update to the original filing to account for actual charges incurred through December 2019, revised the amortization period of the storm-related costs from 30 years as originally requested to 10 years, and included costs related to Hurricane Dorian of approximately $1.2 million in this filing.

In September 2019, FPU filed a petition, with the Florida PSC, for approval of its consolidated electric depreciation rates. The petition was joined to the Hurricane Michael docket. The approved rates, which were part of the settlement agreement in September 2020 that is described below, were retroactively applied effective January 1, 2020.

In September 2020, the Florida PSC approved a settlement agreement between FPU and the Office of the Public Counsel regarding final cost recovery and rates associated with Hurricane Michael. Previously, the Florida PSC approved an interim rate increase, subject to refund, effective January 1, 2020, associated with the restoration effort following Hurricane Michael. FPU fully reserved these interim rates, pending a final resolution and settlement of the limited proceeding. The settlement agreement allowed FPU to: (a) refund the over-collection of interim rates through the fuel clause; (b) record regulatory assets for storm costs in the amount of $45.8 million including interest which will be amortized over six years; (c) recover these storm costs through a surcharge for a total of $7.7 million annually; and (d) collect an annual increase in revenue of $3.3 million to recover capital costs associated with new plant and a regulatory asset for the cost of removal and undepreciated plant. The new base rates and storm surcharge were effective on November 1, 2020. The following table summarizes the impact of Hurricane Michael regulatory proceeding for the year ended December 31, 2020:

		For the Year Ended
(in thousands)		December 31, 2020
Gross Margin		$	10,864
Depreciation		(1,184)
Amortization of regulatory assets		8,317
Operating income		3,731
Amortization of liability associated with interest expense		(1,475)
Pre-tax income		5,206
Income tax expense		1,403
Net income		$	3,803

Capital Cost Surcharge Programs
In December 2019, the FERC approved Eastern Shore's capital cost surcharge to become effective January 1, 2020.  The surcharge, an approved item in the settlement of Eastern Shore's last general rate case, allows Eastern Shore to recover capital costs associated with mandated highway or railroad relocation projects that required the replacement of existing Eastern Shore facilities. Eastern Shore expects to produce gross margin of approximately $1.5 million in 2021 and $3.0 million in 2022 from relocation projects.

Other Major Factors Influencing Gross Margin

Weather and Consumption
Weather conditions accounted for decreased gross margin of $4.3 million in 2020 compared to 2019 and $5.8 million compared to Normal temperatures as defined below. The following table summarizes heating degree day ("HDD") and cooling degree day ("CDD") variances from the 10-year average HDD/CDD ("Normal") for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019.

HDD and CDD Information

	For the Years Ended December 31,									For the Quarters Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			Variance			2020			2019			Variance
Delmarva
Actual HDD	3,716			4,089			(373)			1,300			1,513			(213)
10-Year Average HDD ("Normal")	4,294			4,379			(85)			1,497			1,533			(36)
Variance from Normal	(578)			(290)						(197)			(20)
Florida
Actual HDD	647			619			28			304			240			64
10-Year Average HDD ("Normal")	763			792			(29)			255			260			(5)
Variance from Normal	(116)			(173)						49			(20)
Ohio
Actual HDD	5,218			5,500			(282)			1,835			1,967			(132)
10-Year Average HDD ("Normal")	5,701			5,983			(282)			2,010			2,133			(123)
Variance from Normal	(483)			(483)						(175)			(166)
Florida
Actual CDD	2,775			3,200			(425)			363			360			3
10-Year Average CDD ("Normal")	2,982			2,939			43			316			314			2
Variance from Normal	(207)			261						47			46

Natural Gas Distribution Growth
Customer growth for the Company's natural gas distribution operations, as a result of the addition of new customers (excluding acquisitions) and the conversion of customers from alternative fuel sources to natural gas service, generated $3.4 million of additional margin for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019. The average number of residential customers served on the Delmarva Peninsula and Florida increased by approximately 5.3 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively during 2020. On the Delmarva Peninsula, a larger percentage of the margin growth was generated from residential growth given the expansion of gas into new housing communities and conversions to natural gas as our distribution infrastructure continues to build out. In Florida, as new communities continue to build out due to population growth and infrastructure is added to support the growth, there is increased load from both residential customers as well as new commercial and industrial customers. The details are provided in the following table:

	Gross Margin Increase
	For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
(in thousands)	Delmarva Peninsula				Florida
Customer growth:
Residential	$	1,516			$	807
Commercial and industrial	380				667
Total customer growth	$	1,896			$	1,474

Capital Investment Growth and Associated Financing Plans

The Company's capital expenditures were $195.9 million (including the purchase of certain propane assets of Western Natural Gas and certain natural gas assets of Elkton Gas) for 2020. The following table shows total capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2020 by segment and by business line:

		For the Year Ended
(dollars in thousands)		December 31, 2020
Regulated Energy:
Natural gas distribution		$	85,257
Natural gas transmission		58,609
Electric distribution		3,234
Total Regulated Energy		147,100
Unregulated Energy:
Propane distribution		15,455
Energy transmission		19,398
Other unregulated energy		11,442
Total Unregulated Energy		46,295
Other:
Corporate and other businesses		2,480
Total 2020 Capital Expenditures		$	195,875

The Company's actual 2020 capital expenditures fell in the range of investment guidance provided in November 2020 of between $195 million to $215 million. From January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020, the Company has invested $677.7 million in new capital expenditures.

The following table shows a range of the forecasted 2021 capital expenditures by segment and by business line:

	Estimate for Fiscal 2021
(dollars in thousands)	Low				High
Regulated Energy:
Natural gas distribution	$	79,000			$	85,000
Natural gas transmission	55,000				60,000
Electric distribution	9,000				13,000
Total Regulated Energy	143,000				158,000
Unregulated Energy:
Propane distribution	9,000				12,000
Energy transmission	14,000				15,000
Other unregulated energy	8,000				12,000
Total Unregulated Energy	31,000				39,000
Other:
Corporate and other businesses	1,000				3,000
Total 2021 Forecasted Capital Expenditures	$	175,000			$	200,000

The capital expenditure projection is subject to continuous review and modification. Actual capital requirements may vary from the above estimates due to a number of factors, including changing economic conditions, capital delays because of COVID-19 that are greater than currently anticipated, customer growth in existing areas, regulation, new growth or acquisition opportunities and availability of capital. Historically, actual capital expenditures have typically lagged behind the forecasted amounts.

In light of the 2021 capital expenditure projection, the Company expects to reach the low end of the current capital expenditures guidance range of $750 million to $1 billion for the five-year period between 2018-2022, in 2021 – one year early. In conjunction with resetting the EPS guidance, the Company is also resetting and extending its capital expenditure guidance as well. Given its updated strategic plan, the Company is issuing new guidance forecasting capital expenditures of $750 million to $1 billion over the future five-year period (2021-2025).

The Company's target ratio of equity to total capitalization, including short-term borrowings, is between 50 and 60 percent. The Company's equity to total capitalization ratio, including short-term borrowings, was 50 percent as of December 31, 2020 within the target range.

The Company may utilize more temporary short-term debt, when the financing cost is attractive, as a bridge to the permanent long-term financing, or if the equity markets are more volatile. In September 2020, the Company entered into a $375.0 million syndicated revolving line of credit (the "Revolver"), with six participating lenders. The Revolver expires on September 29, 2021 and has a tiered commitment fee and interest rate schedule, based upon a pre-determined spread over LIBOR, depending upon the Company's total capitalization. As of December 31, 2020, the applicable commitment fee was 0.175 percent and the spread over LIBOR for the interest rate was 1.125 percent. As a result of entering into the Revolver, in September 2020, the Company terminated and paid outstanding balances for all previously existing bilateral lines of credit and its previous revolving credit facility. The Company's available credit under the new Revolver at December 31, 2020 was $196.9 million. More information about the Revolver as well as the renewal of several debt private placement shelf agreements is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

In terms of equity capital, the Company also maintains an effective shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the issuance of shares under its Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan (the "DRIP"). In June 2020, the Company also filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which provides for the issuance of shares of its common stock via a variety of offering types. In August 2020, the Company filed a prospectus supplement under the shelf registration statement for an At-the-Market ("ATM") program under which the Company may issue and sell shares of common stock up to an aggregate offering price of $75.0 million. In the third and fourth quarters of 2020, the Company issued 1.0 million shares of common stock through our DRIP and the ATM programs and received net proceeds of approximately $83.0 million which were added to our general funds.

Depending on the Company's capital needs and subject to market conditions, in addition to other debt and equity offerings, the Company may consider, as necessary in the future, issuing additional shares under the direct stock purchase component of the DRIP, the ATM program, or pursuant to its shelf registration statement.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
For the Periods Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)
		Year Ended								Fourth Quarter
		2020				2019				2020				2019
Operating Revenues
Regulated Energy		$	352,746			$	343,006			$	93,511			$	91,405
Unregulated Energy		152,526				154,151				48,060				45,166
Other businesses and eliminations		(17,074)				(17,552)				(4,533)				(4,597)
Total Operating Revenues		488,198				479,605				137,038				131,974
Operating Expenses
Regulated energy cost of sales		91,994				102,803				24,504				28,351
Unregulated energy and other cost of sales		45,944				51,698				15,691				14,723
Operations		142,055				137,845				36,540				38,285
Maintenance		15,587				15,679				3,892				4,479
Gain from a settlement		(130)				(130)				—				—
Depreciation and amortization		58,117				45,424				15,324				11,812
Other taxes		21,908				20,001				5,881				4,683
Total operating expenses		375,475				373,320				101,832				102,333
Operating Income		112,723				106,285				35,206				29,641
Other  income (expense), net		3,222				(1,847)				224				(1,117)
Interest charges		21,765				22,224				6,313				5,641
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		94,180				82,214				29,117				22,883
Income Taxes on Continuing Operations		23,538				21,114				7,456				5,760
Income from Continuing Operations		70,642				61,100				21,661				17,123
Income/(Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of tax		686				(1,349)				691				39
Gain on sale of Discontinued Operations, Net of tax		170				5,402				—				5,402
Net Income		$	71,498			$	65,153			$	22,352			$	22,564
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic		16,711,579				16,398,443				17,439,993				16,403,776
Diluted		16,770,735				16,448,486				17,505,291				16,461,112
Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:
Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations		$	4.23			$	3.73			$	1.24			$	1.05
Earnings from Discontinued Operations		0.05				0.24				0.04				0.33
Basic Earnings per Share of Common Stock		$	4.28			$	3.97			$	1.28			$	1.38
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:
Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations		$	4.21			$	3.72			$	1.24			$	1.04
Earnings/(Loss) Per Share from Discontinued Operations		0.05				0.24				0.04				0.33
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock		$	4.26			$	3.96			$	1.28			$	1.37

 

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
		As of December 31,
Assets		2020				2019
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)
Property, Plant and Equipment
Regulated energy		$	1,577,576			$	1,441,473
Unregulated energy		300,647				265,209
Other		30,769				39,850
Total property, plant and equipment		1,908,992				1,746,532
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(368,743)				(336,876)
Plus:  Construction work in progress		60,929				54,141
Net property, plant and equipment		1,601,178				1,463,797
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		3,499				6,985
Trade and other receivables		61,675				50,899
Less: Allowance for credit losses		(4,785)				(1,337)
Trade receivables, net		56,890				49,562
Accrued revenue		21,527				20,846
Propane inventory, at average cost		5,906				5,824
Other inventory, at average cost		5,539				6,067
Regulatory assets		10,786				5,144
Storage gas prepayments		2,455				3,541
Income taxes receivable		12,885				20,050
Prepaid expenses		13,239				13,928
Derivative assets, at fair value		3,269				—
Other current assets		436				2,879
Total current assets		136,431				134,826
Deferred Charges and Other Assets
Goodwill		38,731				32,668
Other intangible assets, net		8,292				8,129
Investments, at fair value		10,776				9,229
Operating lease right-of-use assets		11,194				11,563
Regulatory assets		113,806				73,407
Receivables and other deferred charges		12,079				49,579
Total deferred charges and other assets		194,878				184,575
Total Assets		$	1,932,487			$	1,783,198

 

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
		As of December 31,
Capitalization and Liabilities		2020				2019
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)
Capitalization
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (authorized 2,000,000 shares), no shares issued and outstanding		$	—			$	—
Common stock, par value $0.4867 per share (authorized 50,000,000 shares)		8,499				7,984
Additional paid-in capital		348,482				259,253
Retained earnings		342,969				300,607
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(2,865)				(6,267)
Deferred compensation obligation		5,679				4,543
Treasury stock		(5,679)				(4,543)
Total stockholders' equity		697,085				561,577
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		508,499				440,168
Total capitalization		1,205,584				1,001,745
Current Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		13,600				45,600
Short-term borrowing		175,644				247,371
Accounts payable		60,253				54,068
Customer deposits and refunds		33,302				30,939
Accrued interest		2,905				2,554
Dividends payable		7,683				6,644
Accrued compensation		13,994				16,236
Regulatory liabilities		6,284				5,991
Derivative liabilities, at fair value		127				1,844
Other accrued liabilities		15,240				12,077
Total current liabilities		329,032				423,324
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes		205,388				180,656
Regulatory liabilities		142,736				127,744
Environmental liabilities		4,299				6,468
Other pension and benefit costs		30,673				30,569
Operating lease - liabilities		9,872				9,896
Deferred investment tax credits and other liabilities		4,903				2,796
Total deferred credits and other liabilities		397,871				358,129
Environmental and other commitments and contingencies (1)
Total Capitalization and Liabilities		$	1,932,487			$	1,783,198

(1)Refer to Note 20 and 21 in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.

 

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Distribution Utility Statistical Data (Unaudited)
		For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2020																For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2019
		Delmarva NG Distribution(2)				Chesapeake Utilities' Florida NG Division				FPU NG Distribution				FPU Electric Distribution				Delmarva NG Distribution				Chesapeake Utilities' Florida NG Division				FPU NG Distribution				FPU Electric Distribution
Operating Revenues (in thousands)
Residential		$	15,167			$	1,655			$	8,690			$	10,401			$	15,569			$	1,587			$	8,169			$	10,618
Commercial		7,598				1,706				6,436				8,778				8,087				1,622				6,784				9,416
Industrial		2,693				3,302				6,676				380				2,300				3,232				6,753				511
Other (1)		4,825				1,169				3,470				(1,668)				5,425				419				356				(2,145)
Total Operating Revenues		$	30,283			$	7,832			$	25,272			$	17,891			$	31,381			$	6,860			$	22,062			$	18,400
Volumes (in Dts for natural gas and KWHs for electric)
Residential		829,951				94,775				396,777				69,737				918,892				92,584				355,510				71,039
Commercial		940,837				1,153,767				378,371				73,024				977,449				1,157,869				439,246				76,916
Industrial		1,568,322				6,546,177				1,187,577				828				1,410,990				7,095,966				1,280,375				9,546
Other		73,937				—				899,896				—				82,532				—				802,196				—
Total		3,413,047				7,794,719				2,862,621				143,589				3,389,863				8,346,419				2,877,327				157,501
Average Customers
Residential		85,434				18,325				61,151				25,229				74,884				17,511				58,280				24,759
Commercial		7,790				1,591				4,014				7,315				7,112				1,556				3,959				7,271
Industrial		196				16				2,521				2				169				16				2,455				2
Other		9				—				15				—				19				—				12				—
Total		93,429				19,932				67,701				32,546				82,184				19,083				64,706				32,032

 

		For the Year Ended December 31, 2020																For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
		Delmarva NG Distribution(2)				Chesapeake Utilities' Florida NG Division				FPU NG Distribution				FPU Electric Distribution				Delmarva NG Distribution				Chesapeake Utilities' Florida NG Division				FPU NG Distribution				FPU Electric Distribution
Operating Revenues (in thousands)
Residential		$	64,640			$	6,428			$	32,547			$	45,550			$	62,708			$	6,232			$	32,016			$	45,738
Commercial		30,788				6,498				24,247				34,494				33,070				6,418				26,708				38,254
Industrial		9,138				13,055				25,999				1,336				8,314				12,682				24,520				2,128
Other (1)		290				4,869				7,356				(4,517)				152				3,153				(826)				(8,704)
Total Operating Revenues		$	104,856			$	30,850			$	90,149			$	76,863			$	104,244			$	28,485			$	82,418			$	77,416
Volumes (in Dts for natural gas and KWHs for electric)
Residential		3,697,300				364,048				1,533,316				305,020				3,871,032				352,104				1,392,382				306,445
Commercial		3,671,768				4,424,053				1,497,452				293,262				3,776,388				4,475,776				1,714,574				310,856
Industrial		5,236,104				27,562,112				4,653,692				14,806				5,358,474				27,768,125				4,968,745				27,929
Other		270,013				—				2,900,247				—				220,541				—				2,574,925				—
Total		12,875,185				32,350,213				10,584,707				613,088				13,226,435				32,596,005				10,650,626				645,230
Average Customers
Residential		84,191				17,920				60,016				25,044				73,995				17,262				57,653				24,573
Commercial		7,764				1,584				3,990				7,280				7,097				1,546				3,932				7,243
Industrial		195				16				2,514				2				169				17				2,436				2
Other		16				—				14				—				15				—				12				—
Total		92,166				19,520				66,534				32,326				81,276				18,825				64,033				31,818

(1) Operating Revenues from "Other" sources include unbilled revenue, under (over) recoveries of fuel cost, conservation revenue, other miscellaneous charges, fees for billing services provided to third parties and adjustments for pass-through taxes.

(2) Operating revenues, volumes and average customers for the Delmarva natural gas distribution operations includes those for Elkton Gas which was acquired in July 2020.

 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chesapeake-utilities-corporation-reports-record-results-for-fiscal-year-2020-updates-earnings-and-capital-guidance-301235043.html

SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

FAQ

What were Chesapeake Utilities' earnings for 2020?

Chesapeake Utilities reported a net income of $71.5 million for 2020, or $4.26 per share.

How did Chesapeake Utilities perform in the fourth quarter of 2020?

In the fourth quarter of 2020, Chesapeake Utilities reported net income of $22.4 million, a slight decline from $22.6 million in the same period of 2019.

What is the EPS guidance for Chesapeake Utilities for 2022?

Chesapeake Utilities has affirmed its EPS guidance for 2022 at $4.70 to $4.90.

What is the long-term EPS guidance for Chesapeake Utilities?

The company has extended its EPS guidance through 2025, projecting earnings of $6.05 to $6.25 per share.

What factors contributed to Chesapeake Utilities' growth in 2020?

Key growth factors included regulatory settlements, acquisitions, and organic expansion in natural gas distribution.