California Water Service Group Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) announced a Q3 2020 net income of $96.4 million ($1.94 per diluted share), a significant increase from $42.4 million ($0.88 per diluted share) in Q3 2019. This growth is attributed to interim rate recovery and regulatory assets from the California 2018 General Rate Case. Total operating revenues rose to $304.1 million from $232.5 million, while operating expenses increased by 9.4% to $198.0 million. Liquidity remains strong with $113.3 million in cash. The proposed decision from the CPUC could further enhance regulatory conditions.

Positive

• Net income increased by $54.0 million year-over-year.
• Total operating revenue rose by $71.6 million compared to Q3 2019.
• Liquidity is strong with $113.3 million in cash and additional borrowing capacity of over $170.0 million.
• Proposed CPUC decision is expected to be adopted, allowing for continued investment in infrastructure improvements.

Negative

• Operating expenses increased by $17.0 million (9.4%) compared to Q3 2019.
• Potential income decrease if CPUC does not approve the proposed decision, impacting regulatory asset balances.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) (the “Company”) today announced net income of $96.4 million or $1.94 earnings per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2020, compared to a net income of $42.4 million or $0.88 earnings per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2019.   

The $54.0 million increase in net income was due to our determination that the October 14, 2020 proposed decision in the California 2018 General Rate Case (GRC) was sufficient evidence to record regulatory assets and associated revenues for interim rate recovery as well as benefits balancing accounts and the decoupling mechanisms. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded revenues of $37.6 million related to interim rate recovery regulatory assets, balancing account net revenue increases of $37.0 million, and customer refunds for 2017 excess deferred federal income taxes (TCJA) of $7.1 million. Included in the amounts above were third quarter interim rate recovery regulatory assets of $18.9 million, balancing account net revenue increases of $11.5 million, and $3.0 million of 2017 TCJA refunds to customers. These increases were partially offset by increases in depreciation and amortization of $2.4 million, employee wages costs of $2.2 million, income taxes of $1.6 million, bad debt expenses of $0.9 million, and outside service costs of $0.7 million.
               
Additionally, certain factors outside the Company’s immediate control decreased net income $1.2 million, including a $2.6 million reduction in accrued unbilled revenue, partially offset by a $1.2 million increase in unrealized gain on certain benefit plan investments.

The proposed decision for our California GRC is subject to adoption by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which can occur no earlier than the CPUC’s November 19, 2020 meeting. Both California Water Service Company (Cal Water) and the CPUC's Public Advocates Office have provided feedback on the proposed decision. If adopted as proposed, the decision would approve the settlement reached in October of 2019 by Cal Water and the CPUC’s Public Advocates Office, allow Cal Water to continue its decoupling balancing accounts through 2022, and allow Cal Water to retain its Pension Cost Balancing Account (PCBA) and Health Cost Balancing Account (HCBA).  

We determined that the proposed decision for our California GRC provides additional evidence about conditions existing as of September 30, 2020. As of November 6, 2020, we also believe that it is probable that the proposed decision will be adopted by the CPUC without any material variation. Applying accounting standards for regulated operations, we recorded regulatory assets and associated operating revenue resulting from the regulatory mechanisms that were approved in the proposed decision as of September 30, 2020. In the unlikely event that the CPUC does not approve the proposed decision as issued, we will need to adjust our regulatory asset balances and operating revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020. Any such adjustment could result in a material decrease to our operating revenue and net operating income for full-year 2020.

According to President and Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki, the October 14, 2020 proposed decision helps enable the Company to continue to provide safe and reliable water service to customers.

“I’m pleased with the October 14, 2020 proposed decision for our California GRC. It fully supports our goal of providing customers with the highest quality water service and reflects the Commission’s support of our operations during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic health crisis,” he said.                 

“I’m also pleased with the solid progress we’ve made on our 2020 infrastructure improvement investment program, making improvements totaling $221.3 million during the first nine months of 2020, despite the continuing pandemic. A top priority for the remainder of the year is to continue doing everything we can to keep our employees healthy and take care of our customers during this unprecedented time,” he said.

Additional Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2020
Total operating revenue increased $71.6 million to $304.1 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $232.5 million in the third quarter of 2019. The increase in the third quarter of 2020 was due to the October 14, 2020 California GRC proposed decision, which allowed the Company to record in the third quarter of 2020 the net operating revenue increases for the first nine months of 2020 that had not previously been recorded while resolution of the California GRC was pending.

Total operating expenses increased $17.0 million, or 9.4%, to $198.0 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $181.0 million in the third quarter of 2019.

Water production expenses increased $4.7 million, or 5.9%, to $85.3 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $80.6 million in the third quarter of 2019, primarily due to increased rates from our purchased water wholesalers, changes in water production mix, and an increase in customer usage.

Administrative and general and other operations expenses increased $7.7 million to $59.0 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $51.3 million in the third quarter of 2019. The increase was due to a $5.4 million cost increase associated with the recording of previously deferred water revenue adjustment mechanism (WRAM) revenue, a $2.2 million increase in employee wages, a $1.3 million increase in employee retirement pension benefit costs, a $0.9 million increase in bad debt expense, and a $0.7 million increase in outside service costs which were partially offset by decreases of $2.0 million in water conservation program costs and $0.5 million in travel costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.4 million, to $24.7 million, in the third quarter of 2020, as compared to $22.3 million in the third quarter of 2019, due to an increase in utility plant investment in 2019.         

Income taxes increased $1.6 million due to an increase in pre-tax income from operations which was partially offset by a $7.1 million TCJA refund to customers authorized in the California GRC proposed decision. The Company’s estimated combined effective income tax rate for 2020 is 11.6 percent.

Other income and expense, net of income tax benefits, increased $0.7 million in 2020, mostly due to a $1.2 million increase in unrealized gain on certain benefit plan investments and a $0.8 million decrease in other components of net periodic benefit costs which was partially offset by a $0.9 million decrease in allowance for funds used during construction.

Year-to-Date Results
For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, the Company had a net income of $81.3 million or $1.66 income per diluted common share, compared to net income of $51.8 million or $1.08 earnings per diluted common share for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019.

The $29.5 million increase in net income was due to our determination that the October 14, 2020 proposed decision in the California 2018 GRC allowed us to record regulatory assets and associated revenues for interim rate recovery. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded revenues of $37.6 million related to interim rate recovery regulatory assets and customer refunds for 2017 excess deferred federal income taxes of $7.1 million. These increases were partially offset by increases in depreciation and amortization of $6.8 million, employee wages costs of $1.8 million, maintenance expense of $1.7 million, bad debt expenses of $1.6 million, and outside service costs of $1.1 million.

Additionally, certain factors outside the Company’s immediate control decreased net income $0.5 million, including a $2.8 million decrease in unrealized gain on certain benefit plan investments, partially offset by a $2.2 million increase in accrued unbilled revenue.

Regulatory Update

On October 14, 2020, an administrative law judge (ALJ) with the CPUC issued a proposed decision for Cal Water's 2018 GRC filing. The proposed decision is subject to adoption by the CPUC, which can occur no earlier than the CPUC’s November 19, 2020 meeting. If adopted as proposed, the decision would approve the settlement reached in October of 2019 by Cal Water and the CPUC’s Public Advocates Office, allow Cal Water to continue its decoupling balancing accounts through 2022, and allow Cal Water to retain its PCBA and HCBA. Under this proposed decision, Cal Water would be authorized to invest $828.0 million in its districts throughout California through 2021. This includes $148.0 million of water system infrastructure upgrades that would be recovered via the CPUC’s advice letter procedure once those projects are completed.

Water System Improvements

Company-funded and developer-funded capital investments during the first nine months of 2020 were $221.3 million, an increase of $26.4 million, or 13.5 %, compared to $194.9 million during the first nine months of 2019. 

Liquidity Outlook

Our liquidity remains strong. We maintained $113.3 million of cash as of September 30, 2020 and have additional borrowing capacity of more than $170.0 million, subject to meeting the borrowing conditions on the Company’s lines of credit facilities. On November 5, 2020, the CPUC approved Cal Water’s request for an additional $700.0 million of authorization for debt and equity financing, in addition to the $170.0 million of borrowing capacity discussed above, to fund its capital improvement program through 2025.    In addition, we will continue our 2020 infrastructure improvement investment program, estimated between $260.0 and $290.0 million. At our Board of Directors meeting on October 28, 2020, the Board declared a cash dividend of $0.2125 per share of common stock.

WRAM Receivable
The under-collected net receivable balance in the WRAM and modified cost balancing account (MCBA) was $72.7 million as of September 30, 2020, an increase of 16.1%, or $10.1 million, from the balance of $62.6 million as of December 31, 2019.

Other Information
All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the 2020 third quarter conference call on November 6, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. PT (11:00 a.m. ET) by dialing 1-833-832-5130 or 1-509-844-0151 and keying in ID #3858077. Please dial in at least 15 minutes in advance of the call to ensure a timely connection. A replay of the call will be available from 11:00 a.m. PT (2:00 p.m. ET) on November 6, 2020 through February 5, 2021, at 1-855-859-2056 or 1-404-537-3406, ID #3858077. The replay will also be available under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com. Prior to the call, Cal Water will post a slide presentation on its website. The presentation can be found at www.calwatergroup.com/docs/q32020slides.pdf after 6:00 a.m. PT. The call will be hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Thomas F. Smegal III, Vice President of Corporate Development and Chief Regulatory Officer Paul G, Townsley, and Vice President and Corporate Controller David B. Healey.

California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service, Washington Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, Inc., CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services LLC. Together, these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to nearly 2 million people in California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. California Water Service Group’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CWT.” Additional information is available online at www.calwatergroup.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management's judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as would, expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to: any failure by the CPUC to adopt the proposed decision as proposed; governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions; natural disasters or calamities, epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks (including COVID-19) or any escalation or worsening of, or economic effects of, the foregoing, including as a result of our suspension of collection activity; consequences of eminent domain actions relating to our water systems; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the outcome and timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief and other matters, including with respect to the GRC; inability to renew leases to operate city water systems on beneficial terms; changes in California State Water Resources Control Board water quality standards; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; electric power interruptions; changes in customer water use patterns and the effects of conservation; our ability to complete, successfully integrate and achieve anticipated benefits from announced acquisitions; the impact of weather and climate on water availability, water sales and operating results; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; labor relations matters as we negotiate with the unions; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph, as well as the annual 10-K, Quarterly 10-Q, and other reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.

Contact

Tom Smegal
(408) 367-8200 (analysts)

Shannon Dean
(408) 367-8243 (media)

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)			September 30				December 31
				2020				2019
ASSETS
Utility plant:
	Utility plant		$	3,835,194			$	3,550,485
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(1,238,880	)			(1,144,115	)
		Net utility plant		2,596,314				2,406,370
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			113,312				42,653
	Receivables:
		Customers, net		53,397				32,058
		Regulatory balancing accounts		54,415				38,225
		Other, net		15,056				14,187
	Unbilled revenue, net			46,247				34,879
	Materials and supplies at weighted average cost			8,611				7,745
	Taxes, prepaid expenses, and other assets			14,726				14,965
		Total current assets		305,764				184,712
Other assets:
	Regulatory assets			484,435				433,322
	Goodwill			30,349				2,615
	Other assets			89,572				84,289
		Total other assets		604,356				520,226
TOTAL ASSETS			$	3,506,434			$	3,111,308
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
	Common stock, $.01 par value; 68,000 shares authorized, 49,840 and 48,532 outstanding in 2020 and 2019, respectively		$	498			$	485
	Additional paid-in capital			422,391				362,275
	Retained earnings			467,303				417,146
		Total common stockholders' equity		890,192				779,906
	Long-term debt, net			785,055				786,754
		Total capitalization		1,675,247				1,566,660
Current liabilities:
	Current maturities of long-term debt, net			21,883				21,868
	Short-term borrowings			375,100				175,100
	Accounts payable			127,158				108,463
	Regulatory balancing accounts			11,003				4,462
	Accrued interest			14,233				5,810
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities			54,446				43,018
		Total current liabilities		603,823				358,721
Deferred income taxes, net				245,456				222,590
Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions				261,081				258,907
Regulatory liabilities and other				257,054				271,831
Advances for construction				196,853				191,062
Contributions in aid of construction				266,920				241,537
Commitments and contingencies
TOTAL CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES			$	3,506,434			$	3,111,308

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Three Months ended:
			September 30,				September 30,
				2020				2019
Operating revenue			$	304,108			$	232,537
Operating expenses:
	Operations:
		Water production costs		85,344				80,568
		Administrative and General		29,208				26,779
		Other operations		29,746				24,550
	Maintenance			7,129				7,065
	Depreciation and amortization			24,699				22,273
	Income taxes			13,804				12,194
	Property and other taxes			8,116				7,541
		Total operating expenses		198,046				180,970
		Net operating income		106,062				51,567
Other income and expenses:
	Non-regulated revenue			3,934				4,118
	Non-regulated expenses			(2,865	)			(4,351	)
	Other components of net periodic benefit cost			(1,008	)			(1,857	)
	Allowance for equity funds used during construction			973				1,868
	Income tax (expense) benefit on other income and expenses			(245	)			330
		Net other income		789				108
Interest expense:
	Interest Expense			11,162				10,279
	Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction			(671	)			(1,028	)
		Net interest expense		10,491				9,251
Net Income			$	96,360			$	42,424
Earnings per share
	Basic		$	1.94			$	0.88
	Diluted		$	1.94			$	0.88
Weighted average shares outstanding
	Basic			49,576				48,141
	Diluted			49,576				48,141
Dividends per share of common stock			$	0.2125			$	0.1975
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Nine Months ended:
			September 30,				September 30,
				2020				2019
Operating revenue			$	605,155			$	537,679
Operating expenses:
	Operations:
		Water production costs		210,462				190,795
		Administrative and General		85,827				81,310
		Other operations		69,618				64,913
	Maintenance			20,924				19,212
	Depreciation and amortization			73,733				66,967
	Income taxes			10,489				13,524
	Property and other taxes			22,470				21,902
		Total operating expenses		493,523				458,623
		Net operating income		111,632				79,056
Other income and expenses:
	Non-regulated revenue			11,969				14,149
	Non-regulated expenses			(11,811	)			(10,470	)
	Other components of net periodic benefit cost			(3,770	)			(4,308	)
	Allowance for equity funds used during construction			4,292				5,087
	Income tax expense on other income and expenses			(152	)			(985	)
		Net other income		528				3,473
Interest expense:
	Interest Expense			33,573				33,532
	Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction			(2,747	)			(2,783	)
		Net interest expense		30,826				30,749
Net income			$	81,334			$	51,780
Earnings per share
	Basic		$	1.66			$	1.08
	Diluted		$	1.66			$	1.08
Weighted average shares outstanding
	Basic			49,034				48,121
	Diluted			49,034				48,121
Dividends per share of common stock			$	0.6375			$	0.5925

FAQ

What were California Water Service Group's Q3 2020 earnings?

The company reported a net income of $96.4 million, or $1.94 earnings per diluted share.

How did California Water Service Group's revenues change in Q3 2020?

Total operating revenues increased to $304.1 million from $232.5 million in Q3 2019.

What are the implications of the CPUC's proposed decision for CWT?

If adopted, the decision could enhance regulatory support and allow investment in $828 million of infrastructure projects.

What are the main costs affecting California Water Service Group in Q3 2020?

Increased operating expenses included a $4.7 million rise in water production costs and $7.7 million in administrative expenses.

What is the liquidity status of California Water Service Group as of Q3 2020?

The company has $113.3 million in cash and additional borrowing capacity exceeding $170 million.