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BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]  
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(A)
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
UIL Holdings is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, where its senior management maintains offices and is responsible for overall planning, operating and financial functions.  The primary business of UIL Holdings is ownership of its operating regulated utility businesses.  The utility businesses consist of the electric distribution and transmission operations of The United Illuminating Company (UI) and the natural gas transportation, distribution and sales operations of The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), a subsidiary of Connecticut Energy Corporation (CEC), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), a subsidiary of CTG Resources, Inc. (CTG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire), a subsidiary of Berkshire Energy Resources (BER, and together with SCG, CNG, Berkshire, CEC and CTG, the Gas Companies).  Each of CEC, CTG and BER is a holding company whose sole business is ownership of its respective operating regulated gas utility.

UI is also a 50-50 joint venturer with NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) in GCE Holding LLC, whose wholly owned subsidiary, GenConn Energy LLC (collectively, GenConn) was chosen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to build and operate new peaking generation plants in Devon (GenConn Devon) and Middletown (GenConn Middletown), to help address Connecticut's need for power generation during the heaviest load periods.

Basis of Presentation

The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).  Certain information and footnote disclosures, which are normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, have been condensed or omitted in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations.  UIL Holdings believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  The information presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements reflects all adjustments which, in the opinion of UIL Holdings, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods described herein.  All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature.  The results for the six month period ended June 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.

The Company has revised its previously issued quarterly financial statements to correct an error in the 2011 Consolidated Financial Statements. The effect of this revision on the financial statements is a $4.6 million and a $13.5 million adjustment increasing depreciation and amortization expense and decreasing operation and maintenance expense in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011, respectively.  Corresponding adjustments were made within net cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011. These adjustments were not considered to be material individually or in the aggregate to previously issued financial statements.
 
Derivatives

UIL Holdings' regulated subsidiaries are parties to contracts, and involved in transactions, that are derivatives.  The fair values of the gross derivative assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows:

   
June 30, 2012
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
              
   
Current Portion
  
Noncurrent Portion
  
Current Portion
  
Noncurrent Portion
 
   
Derivative Assets
  
Derivative Assets
  
Derivative Liabilities
  
Derivative Liabilities
 
              
Contracts for differences
 $11,410  $70,161  $(30,332) $(229,563)
Weather insurance contracts
  1,000   -   -   - 
Total derivative assets/(liabilities), gross
 $12,410  $70,161  $(30,332) $(229,563)

   
December 31, 2011
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
              
   
Current Portion
  
Noncurrent Portion
  
Current Portion
  
Noncurrent Portion
 
   
Derivative Assets
  
Derivative Assets
  
Derivative Liabilities
  
Derivative Liabilities
 
              
Contracts for differences
 $10,678  $73,264  $(28,888) $(239,147)
Weather insurance contracts
  3,511   -   -   - 
Total derivative assets/(liabilities), gross
 $14,189  $73,264  $(28,888) $(239,147)

Contracts for Differences (CfDs)

Pursuant to Connecticut's 2005 Energy Independence Act (EIA), PURA solicited bids to create new or incremental capacity resources in order to reduce federally mandated congestion charges, and selected four new capacity resources.  To facilitate the transactions between selected capacity resources and Connecticut electric customers, and provide the commitment necessary for owners of these resources to obtain necessary financing, PURA required that UI and The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) execute long-term contracts with the selected resources.  In August 2007, PURA approved four CfDs, each of which specifies a capacity quantity and a monthly settlement that reflects the difference between a forward market price and the contract price.  UI executed two of the contracts and CL&P executed the other two contracts.  The cost of the contracts will be paid by customers and will be subject to a cost-sharing agreement whereby approximately 20% of the cost is borne by UI customers and approximately 80% by CL&P customers.

PURA has determined that costs associated with these CfDs will be recoverable by UI and CL&P, and in accordance with ASC 980 "Regulated Operations," UI has deferred recognition of costs (a regulatory asset) or obligations (a regulatory liability).  The CfDs are marked-to-market in accordance with ASC 815 "Derivatives and Hedging."  For those CfDs signed by CL&P, UI records its approximate 20% portion, pursuant to the cost-sharing agreement noted above.  As of June 30, 2012, UI has recorded a gross derivative asset of $81.6 million, a regulatory asset of $178.3 million, and a gross derivative liability of $259.9 million ($157.9 million of which is related to UI's portion of CL&P's derivative liabilities).  See Note (K) "Fair Value of Financial Instruments" for additional CfD information.

The unrealized gains and losses from fair value adjustments to these derivatives recorded in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
  
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
  
June 30,
 
   
2012
  
2011
  
2012
  
2011
 
   
(In Thousands)
  
(In Thousands)
 
              
Regulatory Assets - Derivative liabilities
 $2,167  $30,375  $(5,781) $70,536 
                  
Regulatory Liabilities - Derivative assets
 $40  $(584) $12  $5,748 
 
Weather Insurance Contracts

In October 2011, SCG and CNG each entered into weather insurance contracts for the winter period of November 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012 in order to provide financial protection from significant weather fluctuations.  According to the terms of each contract, if temperatures were warmer than normal at a prescribed level for the contract period, SCG and CNG would each receive a payment, up to the maximum amount allowed under the contracts of $3 million; however, if temperatures were colder than normal at a prescribed level for the contract period, SCG and CNG would each make a payment of up to a maximum of $2 million.  The premiums paid were amortized over the terms of the contracts.  The fair value of the contracts is carried on the balance sheet as a derivative with changes in value recorded in the income statement as Other Income and (Deductions).  Each of SCG and CNG received a payment of $3 million upon the expiration of their respective contracts.

In November 2011, Berkshire entered into a weather insurance contract for 2012 in order to provide financial protection from significant weather fluctuations.  According to the terms of the contract, if temperatures are warmer than normal for the contract period, Berkshire will receive a payment, up to the maximum amount allowed under the contract of $1 million.  The premiums paid are amortized over the term of the contract.  The fair value of the contract is carried on the balance sheet as a derivative with changes in value recorded in the income statement as Other Income and (Deductions).  The derivative asset related to this contract totaled $1 million at June 30, 2012.

Earnings per Share

The following table presents a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
  
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2012
  
2011
  
2012
  
2011
 
   
(In Thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Numerator:
            
Net income attributable to UIL Holdings
 $11,999  $14,156  $59,049  $66,200 
Less:  Net income allocated to unvested units
  18   29   105   143 
Net income attributable to common shareholders
 $11,981  $14,127  $58,944  $66,057 
                  
Denominator:
                
Basic average number of shares outstanding
  50,793   50,628   50,740   50,574 
Effect of dilutive securities
  248   244   262   250 
Diluted average number of shares outstanding
  51,041   50,872   51,002   50,824 
                  
Earnings per share:
                
Basic
 $0.24  $0.28  $1.16  $1.31 
Diluted
 $0.23  $0.28  $1.16  $1.30 

As of June 30, 2011, options to purchase an average amount of 89,336 and 97,669 shares of common stock were outstanding but not included in the three or six-month respective computations of diluted earnings per share, because the options' exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011.

Equity Investments

In February 2008, UI and an NRG affiliate formed GenConn, a 50-50 joint venture, for the purpose of constructing peaking generation plants in Connecticut.  UI's investment in GenConn is being accounted for as an equity investment, the carrying value of which was $126.6 million and $131.1 million as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
UI's income from its equity investment in GenConn was $8.4 million and $4.7 million for the six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  For the three month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, such income was $3.9 million and $2.6 million, respectively.  As of June 30, 2012, the undistributed earnings from UI's equity investment in GenConn were immaterial.
 
Regulatory Accounting

UIL Holdings' regulatory assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 included the following:
 
 
Remaining
 
June 30,
  
December 31,
 
 
Period
 
2012
  
2011
 
 
 
 
(In Thousands)
 
Regulatory Assets:
 
      
Nuclear plant investments - above market
(a)
 $262,720  $272,943 
Connecticut Yankee
4 years
  12,718   14,247 
Unamortized redemption costs
9 to 21 years
  12,505   12,906 
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans
(c)
  336,656   344,746 
Environmental remediation costs
4 to 5 years
  19,354   19,101 
Customer rate surcharge
(g)
  10,032   15,757 
Low income program
(h)
  29,003   37,420 
Debt premium
1 to 26 years
  44,925   48,275 
Deferred purchased gas
(i)
  -   15,558 
Deferred income taxes
(j)
  29,279   20,994 
Unfunded future income taxes
(j)
  9,958   11,657 
Contracts for differences
(d)
  178,322   184,105 
Excess generation service charge
(e)
  16,035   13,758 
Deferred transmission income/expense
(f)
  10,650   - 
Storm Costs
(l)
  26,088   29,618 
Other
(b)
  39,733   45,037 
Total regulatory assets
 
  1,037,978   1,086,122 
Less current portion of regulatory assets
 
  123,007   102,900 
Regulatory Assets, Net
 
 $914,971  $983,222 
 
 
        
Regulatory Liabilities:
 
        
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits
32 years
 $4,685  $4,758 
Income taxes due principally to book-tax differences
(b)
  19,628   14,445 
Deferred gain on sale of property
(a)
  37,798   37,798 
Middletown/Norwalk local transmission network service collections
38 years
  22,261   22,548 
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans
1 to 8 years
  14,836   17,956 
Deferred income taxes
(j)
  36,247   48,740 
Asset retirement obligation
(k)
  8,455   8,941 
Deferred purchased gas
(i)
  10,787   - 
Low income program
(h)
  14,782   - 
Unfunded future income taxes
(j)
  20,534   9,735 
Asset removal costs
(b)
  233,527   224,125 
Deferred transmission income/expense
(f)
  -   11,628 
Other
(b)
  35,828   45,746 
Total regulatory liabilities
 
  459,368   446,420 
Less current portion of regulatory liabilities
 
  28,597   26,245 
Regulatory Liabilities, Net
 
 $430,771  $420,175 
 
(a) Asset/Liability relates to the Competitive Transition Assessment (CTA).  Total CTA costs recovery is currently projected to be completed in 2015, with stranded cost amortization expected to end in 2013.  The remaining balances will be fully offset by amounts primarily included in income taxes, due principally to book-tax differences.
(b) Amortization period and/or balance vary depending on the nature, cost of removal and/or remaining life of the underlying assets/liabilities.
(c) Asset life is dependent upon timing of final pension plan distribution; balance is recalculated each year in accordance with ASC 715 "Compensation-Retirement Benefits" (Note G).
(d) Asset life is equal to delivery term of related contracts (which vary from approximately 7 - 15 years); balance fluctuates based upon quarterly market analysis performed on the related derivatives (Note K).
(e) Working capital allowance for generation service charge; this amount fluctuates based upon cash inflows and outflows in a given period.
(f) Regulatory asset or liability which defers transmission income or expense and fluctuates based upon actual revenues and revenue requirements.
(g) Deferral of revenue received for excess refund of overearnings, recovery of which will be complete by November 2012.
(h) Various hardship and payment plan programs approved for recovery.
(i) Deferred purchase gas costs balances at the end of the rate year are normally recorded/returned in the next year.
(j) The balance will be extinguished when the asset or liability has been realized or settled, respectively.
(k) The liability will be extinguished simultaneous with the retirement of the assets and settlement of the corresponding asset retirement obligation.
(l) Storm costs include accumulated costs for major storms occurring from January 2009 forward. UI will seek recovery of these costs in future rate proceedings.
 
Stock-Based Compensation

Pursuant to the UIL Holdings 2008 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (2008 Stock Plan), a target amount of 119,640 performance shares was granted to certain members of management in March 2012; the average of the high and low market price on the grant date was $34.45 per share.

Also in March 2012, UIL Holdings granted a total of 2,286 shares of restricted stock to its President and Chief Executive Officer under the 2008 Stock Plan and in accordance with his employment agreement; the average of the high and low market price on the date of grant was $34.45 per share.  Such shares vest in equal annual installments over a five year period.

In May 2012, UIL Holdings granted a total of 23,461 shares of restricted stock to non-employee directors under the 2008 Stock Plan; the average of the high and low market price on the date of grant was $33.42 per share.  Such shares vest in May 2013.

Total stock-based compensation expense for the six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was $3.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively.  Total stock-based compensation expense for the three month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was $0.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

Variable Interest Entities

GenConn is a variable interest entity (VIE), accounted for under the equity method.  UIL Holdings is not the primary beneficiary of GenConn, as defined in ASC 810 "Consolidation," because it shares control of all significant activities of GenConn equally with its joint venturer, NRG.  As such, GenConn is not subject to consolidation.  GenConn recovers its costs through CfDs, which are cost of service-based and have been approved by PURA.  As a result, with the achievement of commercial operation by GenConn Devon and GenConn Middletown, UIL Holdings' exposure to loss is primarily related to the potential for unrecovered GenConn operating or capital costs in a regulatory proceeding, the effect of which would be reflected in the carrying value of UIL Holdings' 50% ownership position in GenConn and through "Income from Equity Investments" in UIL Holdings' Consolidated Financial Statements.  Such exposure to loss cannot be determined at this time.

New Accounting Standards

In May 2011, the FASB issued amendments to ASC 820 "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures," which UIL Holdings adopted on a prospective basis on January 1, 2012.  The adoption of the amendments resulted in additional details being included in new and existing tabular fair value disclosures as well as additional discussion regarding unobservable inputs.  The implementation of this guidance did not have a material impact on UIL Holdings' consolidated financial statements.