10-Q 1 a12-8251_110q.htm 10-Q

Table of Contents

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012

 

or

 

o

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

for the transition period from                    to                   

 

Commission file number   001-14431

 

American States Water Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

California

 

95-4676679

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

630 E. Foothill Blvd, San Dimas, CA

 

91773-1212

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(909) 394-3600

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Commission file number   001-12008

 

Golden State Water Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

California

 

95-1243678

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

630 E. Foothill Blvd, San Dimas, CA

 

91773-1212

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(909) 394-3600

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

American States Water Company

 

Yes x No o

Golden State Water Company

 

Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

American States Water Company

 

Yes x No o

Golden State Water Company

 

Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

American States Water Company

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

Golden State Water Company

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

Non-accelerated filer x

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)

 

American States Water Company

 

Yes ¨ Nox

Golden State Water Company

 

Yes ¨ Nox

 

As of August 3, 2012, the number of Common Shares outstanding, of American States Water Company was 18,923,668 shares. As of August 3, 2012, all of the 146 outstanding Common Shares of Golden State Water Company were owned by American States Water Company.

 

Golden State Water Company meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction (H)(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this Form, in part, with the reduced disclosure format for Golden State Water Company.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

and

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY

FORM 10-Q

 

INDEX

 

Part I

Financial Information

 

 

 

 

Item 1:

Financial Statements

1

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets of American States Water Company as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income of American States Water Company for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

5

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income of American States Water Company for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

6

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow of American States Water Company for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

7

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheets of Golden State Water Company as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011

8

 

 

 

 

Statements of Income of Golden State Water Company for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

10

 

 

 

 

Statements of Income of Golden State Water Company for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

11

 

 

 

 

Statements of Cash Flow of Golden State Water Company for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

12

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

13

 

 

 

Item 2:

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

27

 

 

 

Item 3:

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

56

 

 

 

Item 4:

Controls and Procedures

56

 

 

 

Part II

Other Information

 

 

 

 

Item 1:

Legal Proceedings

57

 

 

 

Item 1A:

Risk Factors

57

 

 

 

Item 2:

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

57

 

 

 

Item 3:

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

57

 

 

 

Item 4:

Mine Safety Disclosure

57

 

 

 

Item 5:

Other Information

57

 

 

 

Item 6:

Exhibits

58

 

 

 

 

Signatures

61

 



Table of Contents

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

General

 

The basic financial statements included herein have been prepared by Registrant, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting of normal recurring items and estimates necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim period have been made.

 

It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto in the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K of American States Water Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Golden State Water Company.

 

Filing Format

 

American States Water Company (hereinafter “AWR”) is the parent company of Golden State Water Company (hereinafter “GSWC”) and American States Utility Services, Inc. (hereinafter “ASUS”) and its subsidiaries.

 

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is a combined report being filed by two separate Registrants: AWR and GSWC. For more information, please see Note 1 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and the heading entitled General in Item 2 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. References in this report to “Registrant” are to AWR and GSWC collectively, unless otherwise specified. GSWC makes no representations as to the information contained in this report relating to AWR and its subsidiaries, other than GSWC.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated herein contain forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the “safe harbor” from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are based on current estimates, expectations and projections about future events and assumptions regarding these events and include statements regarding management’s goals, beliefs, plans or current expectations, taking into account the information currently available to management.  Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts.  For example, when we use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may” and other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes, we are making forward-looking statements.  We are not able to predict all the factors that may affect future results.  We caution you that any forward-looking statements made by us are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements.  Some of the factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, or from historical results, include, but are not limited to:

 

·                  The outcome of pending and future regulatory, legislative or other proceedings, investigations or audits, including decisions in our general rate cases and the results of independent audits of our construction contracting procurement practices

 

·                  Changes in the policies and procedures of the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”)

 

·                  Timeliness of CPUC action on rates

 

·                  Our ability to efficiently manage capital expenditures and operating and maintenance expenses within CPUC authorized levels and timely recovery of our costs through rates

 

·                  Our ability to forecast the costs of maintaining GSWC’s aging water infrastructure

 

·                  Our ability to recover increases in permitting costs and in costs associated with negotiating and complying with the terms of our franchise agreements with cities and counties and other demands made upon us by the cities and counties in which GSWC operates

 

·                  Changes in accounting valuations and estimates, including changes resulting from changes in our assessment of anticipated recovery of regulatory assets, liabilities and revenues subject to refund or regulatory disallowances

 

1



Table of Contents

 

·                  Changes in environmental laws and water quality and wastewater requirements and increases in costs associated with complying with these laws and requirements

 

·                  Availability of water supplies, which may be adversely affected by changes in weather patterns, contamination and court decisions or other governmental actions restricting use of water from the Colorado River, transportation of water to GSWC’s service areas through the California State Water Project or pumping of groundwater

 

·                  Our ability to obtain adequate, reliable and cost-effective supplies of chemicals, electricity, fuel, water and other raw materials that are needed for our water operations

 

·                  Our ability to recover the costs associated with the contamination of GSWC’s groundwater supplies from parties responsible for the contamination or through the ratemaking process and the time and expense incurred by us in obtaining recovery of such costs

 

·                  Adequacy of our power supplies and the extent to which we can manage and respond to the volatility of electric and natural gas prices

 

·                  Our ability to comply with the CPUC’s renewable energy procurement requirements

 

·                  Changes in GSWC customer demand due to unanticipated population growth or decline, changes in climate conditions, general economic and financial market conditions, cost increases and conservation

 

·                  Changes in accounting treatment for regulated utilities

 

·                  Changes in estimates used in ASUS’ revenue recognition under the percentage of completion method of accounting for our construction activities at our contracted services business

 

·                  Termination, in whole or in part, of our contracts to provide water and/or wastewater services at military bases for the convenience of the U.S. government or for default

 

·                  Delays in obtaining redetermination of prices or equitable adjustments to our prices on our contracts to provide water and/or wastewater services at military bases

 

·                  Disallowance of costs on our contracts to provide water and/or wastewater services at military bases as a result of audits, cost review or investigations by contracting agencies

 

·                  Inaccurate assumptions used in preparing bids in our contracted services business

 

·                  Failure of the collection or sewage systems that we operate on military bases resulting in untreated wastewater or contaminants spilling into nearby properties, streams or rivers

 

·                  Failure to comply with the terms of our military privatization contracts

 

·                  Failure of any of our subcontractors to perform services for us in accordance with the terms of our military privatization contracts

 

·                  Implementation, maintenance and upgrading of our information technology systems

 

·                  General economic conditions which may impact our ability to recover revenue from customers

 

·                  Explosions, fires, accidents, mechanical breakdowns, the disruption of information technology and telecommunication systems, human error and similar events that may occur while operating and maintaining a water and electric system in California or operating and maintaining water and wastewater systems on military bases under varying geographic conditions

 

·                  The impact of storms, earthquakes, floods, mudslides, drought, wildfires, disease and similar natural disasters, or acts of terrorism or vandalism, that affect customer demand or that damage or disrupt facilities, operations or information technology systems owned by us, our customers or third parties on whom we rely

 

·                  Restrictive covenants in our debt instruments or changes to our credit ratings on current or future debt that may increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow or make payments on our debt

 

·                  Our ability to access capital markets and other sources of credit in a timely manner on acceptable terms

 

Please consider our forward-looking statements in light of these risks (which are more fully disclosed in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K) as you read this Form 10-Q.  We qualify all of our forward-looking statement by these cautionary statements.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

ASSETS

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands)

 

June 30,
2012

 

December 31,
2011

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

Regulated utility plant, at cost

 

$

1,324,583

 

$

1,302,589

 

Non utility property, at cost

 

8,466

 

7,747

 

Total

 

1,333,049

 

1,310,336

 

Less - Accumulated depreciation

 

(433,040

)

(413,836

)

Net property, plant and equipment

 

900,009

 

896,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Property and Investments

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

1,116

 

1,116

 

Other property and investments

 

13,471

 

11,803

 

Total other property and investments

 

14,587

 

12,919

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

25,915

 

1,315

 

Accounts receivable — customers (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $762 in 2012 and $715 in 2011)

 

22,212

 

20,399

 

Unbilled revenue

 

25,955

 

16,188

 

Receivable from the U.S. government (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 in 2012 and 2011)

 

10,091

 

7,584

 

Other accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $367 in 2012 and $333 in 2011)

 

7,640

 

12,181

 

Income taxes receivable

 

7,657

 

20,537

 

Materials and supplies, at average cost

 

4,958

 

3,070

 

Regulatory assets — current

 

31,814

 

36,362

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

5,822

 

3,959

 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

 

23,855

 

34,466

 

Deferred income taxes — current

 

9,935

 

9,540

 

Total current assets

 

175,854

 

165,601

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory and Other Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

 

143,867

 

143,595

 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

 

1,477

 

598

 

Receivable from the U.S. government (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 in 2012 and 2011)

 

4,499

 

6,660

 

Deferred income taxes

 

11

 

15

 

Other

 

12,456

 

12,474

 

Total regulatory and other assets

 

162,310

 

163,342

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,252,760

 

$

1,238,362

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

3



Table of Contents

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands)

 

June 30,
2012

 

December 31,
2011

 

Capitalization

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares, no par value

 

$

236,973

 

$

233,306

 

Earnings reinvested in the business

 

189,941

 

175,360

 

Total common shareholders’ equity

 

426,914

 

408,666

 

Long-term debt

 

341,541

 

340,395

 

Total capitalization

 

768,455

 

749,061

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable to banks

 

 

2,000

 

Long-term debt — current

 

177

 

291

 

Accounts payable

 

39,089

 

37,873

 

Income taxes payable

 

1,129

 

332

 

Accrued employee expenses

 

9,248

 

8,659

 

Accrued interest

 

3,921

 

3,938

 

Unrealized loss on purchased power contracts

 

5,176

 

7,611

 

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

 

25,887

 

26,973

 

Other

 

14,988

 

16,693

 

Total current liabilities

 

99,615

 

104,370

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Credits

 

 

 

 

 

Advances for construction

 

73,797

 

75,353

 

Contributions in aid of construction - net

 

100,240

 

100,037

 

Deferred income taxes

 

130,873

 

128,963

 

Unamortized investment tax credits

 

1,929

 

1,972

 

Accrued pension and other postretirement benefits

 

70,811

 

68,353

 

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

 

 

3,272

 

Other

 

7,040

 

6,981

 

Total other credits

 

384,690

 

384,931

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Capitalization and Liabilities

 

$

1,252,760

 

$

1,238,362

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

4



Table of Contents

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS

ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2011

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2012

 

2011

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

80,886

 

$

80,151

 

Electric

 

8,373

 

7,710

 

Contracted services

 

25,052

 

21,968

 

Total operating revenues

 

114,311

 

109,829

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Water purchased

 

13,831

 

12,924

 

Power purchased for pumping

 

2,019

 

2,165

 

Groundwater production assessment

 

3,982

 

3,886

 

Power purchased for resale

 

2,680

 

2,854

 

Supply cost balancing accounts

 

4,163

 

4,245

 

Other operation expenses

 

6,851

 

6,946

 

Administrative and general expenses

 

17,792

 

17,740

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

10,407

 

9,538

 

Maintenance

 

3,852

 

4,623

 

Property and other taxes

 

3,716

 

3,406

 

ASUS construction expenses

 

14,896

 

12,491

 

Net gain on sale of property

 

(3

)

(128

)

Total operating expenses

 

84,186

 

80,690

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

30,125

 

29,139

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income and Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(5,720

)

(6,869

)

Interest income

 

495

 

161

 

Other

 

(13

)

(289

)

Total other income and expenses

 

(5,238

)

(6,997

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

 

24,887

 

22,142

 

Income tax expense

 

9,809

 

9,414

 

Income from continuing operations

 

15,078

 

12,728

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

3,234

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

15,078

 

$

15,962

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings Per Common Share

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.68

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

0.17

 

Net Income

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fully Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.68

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

0.17

 

Net Income

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding

 

18,882

 

18,668

 

Weighted Average Number of Diluted Shares

 

18,945

 

18,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends Declared Per Common Share

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.28

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

5



Table of Contents

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS

ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2011

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2012

 

2011

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

146,843

 

$

144,477

 

Electric

 

19,186

 

18,434

 

Contracted services

 

54,930

 

41,225

 

Total operating revenues

 

220,959

 

204,136

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Water purchased

 

23,383

 

21,585

 

Power purchased for pumping

 

3,575

 

3,701

 

Groundwater production assessment

 

7,305

 

6,512

 

Power purchased for resale

 

5,871

 

6,729

 

Supply cost balancing accounts

 

7,600

 

9,324

 

Other operation expenses

 

14,277

 

13,863

 

Administrative and general expenses

 

34,377

 

36,159

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,897

 

19,275

 

Maintenance

 

7,183

 

8,349

 

Property and other taxes

 

7,821

 

6,958

 

ASUS construction expenses

 

35,181

 

24,675

 

Net gain on sale of property

 

(3

)

(128

)

Total operating expenses

 

167,467

 

157,002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

53,492

 

47,134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income and Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(11,790

)

(12,613

)

Interest income

 

710

 

298

 

Other

 

216

 

(209

)

Total other income and expenses

 

(10,864

)

(12,524

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

 

42,628

 

34,610

 

Income tax expense

 

17,435

 

14,927

 

Income from continuing operations

 

25,193

 

19,683

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

3,868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

25,193

 

$

23,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings Per Common Share

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

1.33

 

$

1.05

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

0.20

 

Net Income

 

$

1.33

 

$

1.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fully Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.05

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

0.20

 

Net Income

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding

 

18,857

 

18,658

 

Weighted Average Number of Diluted Shares

 

18,988

 

18,797

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends Declared Per Common Share

 

$

0.56

 

$

0.54

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

6



Table of Contents

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2011

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

25,193

 

$

23,551

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of CCWC, net of taxes

 

 

(2,454

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,897

 

19,275

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

959

 

577

 

Gain on sale of property

 

(3

)

(128

)

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits

 

2,361

 

(216

)

Stock-based compensation expense

 

1,170

 

969

 

Other — net

 

(257

)

679

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable — customers

 

(2,738

)

(6,318

)

Unbilled revenue

 

(9,767

)

(3,484

)

Other accounts receivable

 

4,306

 

(1,159

)

Receivable from the U.S. government

 

(346

)

(10,718

)

Materials and supplies

 

(1,888

)

(326

)

Prepayments and other current assets

 

(1,863

)

1,030

 

Regulatory assets — supply cost balancing accounts

 

7,600

 

9,324

 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

 

9,732

 

1,672

 

Other assets (including other regulatory assets)

 

(8,471

)

(12,224

)

Accounts payable

 

4,428

 

9,583

 

Income taxes receivable/payable

 

13,677

 

(2,202

)

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

 

(4,358

)

4,141

 

Accrued pension and other postretirement benefits

 

4,379

 

1,745

 

Other liabilities

 

(1,074

)

(378

)

Net cash provided

 

63,937

 

32,939

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Construction expenditures

 

(29,447

)

(37,295

)

Proceeds from the sale of CCWC

 

 

29,025

 

Other

 

4

 

(72

)

Net cash used

 

(29,443

)

(8,342

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of Common Shares and stock option exercises

 

2,748

 

953

 

Receipt of advances for and contributions in aid of construction

 

2,049

 

3,497

 

Refunds on advances for construction

 

(2,684

)

(2,351

)

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(234

)

(22,279

)

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs

 

1,266

 

61,914

 

Net change in notes payable to banks

 

(2,000

)

(48,900

)

Dividends paid

 

(10,559

)

(10,074

)

Other — net

 

(480

)

(292

)

Net cash used

 

(9,894

)

(17,532

)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

24,600

 

7,065

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

1,315

 

4,197

 

Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations

 

$

25,915

 

$

11,262

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

 

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY

BALANCE SHEETS

ASSETS

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands)

 

June 30,
2012

 

December 31,
2011

 

Utility Plant

 

 

 

 

 

Utility plant, at cost

 

$

1,324,583

 

$

1,302,589

 

Less - Accumulated depreciation

 

(429,300

)

(410,644

)

Net utility plant

 

895,283

 

891,945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Property and Investments

 

11,300

 

9,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

6,799

 

 

Accounts receivable-customers (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $762 in 2012 and $715 in 2011)

 

22,212

 

20,399

 

Unbilled revenue

 

25,955

 

16,188

 

Inter-company receivable

 

1,137

 

785

 

Other accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $290 in 2012 and 2011)

 

6,479

 

7,755

 

Income taxes receivable from Parent

 

6,315

 

19,914

 

Materials and supplies, at average cost

 

2,105

 

1,926

 

Regulatory assets — current

 

31,814

 

36,362

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

5,474

 

3,710

 

Deferred income taxes — current

 

8,898

 

8,497

 

Total current assets

 

117,188

 

115,536

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory and Other Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory assets

 

143,867

 

143,595

 

Other accounts receivable

 

2,039

 

1,838

 

Other

 

10,605

 

10,843

 

Total regulatory and other assets

 

156,511

 

156,276

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,180,282

 

$

1,173,383

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

8



Table of Contents

 

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY

BALANCE SHEETS

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands)

 

June 30,
2012

 

December 31,
2011

 

Capitalization

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares, no par value

 

$

229,734

 

$

228,936

 

Earnings reinvested in the business

 

164,361

 

155,870

 

Total common shareholder’s equity

 

394,095

 

384,806

 

Long-term debt

 

341,541

 

340,395

 

Total capitalization

 

735,636

 

725,201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt — current

 

177

 

291

 

Accounts payable

 

27,990

 

31,227

 

Accrued employee expenses

 

8,384

 

7,544

 

Accrued interest

 

3,921

 

3,938

 

Unrealized loss on purchased power contracts

 

5,176

 

7,611

 

Other

 

14,565

 

16,162

 

Total current liabilities

 

60,213

 

66,773

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Credits

 

 

 

 

 

Advances for construction

 

73,797

 

75,353

 

Contributions in aid of construction — net

 

100,240

 

100,037

 

Deferred income taxes

 

130,725

 

128,815

 

Unamortized investment tax credits

 

1,929

 

1,972

 

Accrued pension and other postretirement benefits

 

70,811

 

68,353

 

Other

 

6,931

 

6,879

 

Total other credits

 

384,433

 

381,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Capitalization and Liabilities

 

$

1,180,282

 

$

1,173,383

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

9



Table of Contents

 

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY

STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS

ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2011

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

80,886

 

$

80,151

 

Electric

 

8,373

 

7,710

 

Total operating revenues

 

89,259

 

87,861

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Water purchased

 

13,831

 

12,924

 

Power purchased for pumping

 

2,019

 

2,165

 

Groundwater production assessment

 

3,982

 

3,886

 

Power purchased for resale

 

2,680

 

2,854

 

Supply cost balancing accounts

 

4,163

 

4,245

 

Other operating expenses

 

6,202

 

5,842

 

Administrative and general expenses

 

15,399

 

14,922

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

10,122

 

9,321

 

Maintenance

 

3,357

 

4,006

 

Property and other taxes

 

3,354

 

3,113

 

Net gain on sale of property

 

 

(128

)

Total operating expenses

 

65,109

 

63,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

24,150

 

24,711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income and Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(5,680

)

(6,685

)

Interest income

 

469

 

155

 

Other

 

(14

)

(477

)

Total other income and expenses

 

(5,225

)

(7,007

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations before income tax expense

 

18,925

 

17,704

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

7,567

 

7,699

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

11,358

 

$

10,005

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

10



Table of Contents

 

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY

STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS

ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2011

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

146,843

 

$

144,477

 

Electric

 

19,186

 

18,434

 

Total operating revenues

 

166,029

 

162,911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Water purchased

 

23,383

 

21,585

 

Power purchased for pumping

 

3,575

 

3,701

 

Groundwater production assessment

 

7,305

 

6,512

 

Power purchased for resale

 

5,871

 

6,729

 

Supply cost balancing accounts

 

7,600

 

9,324

 

Other operating expenses

 

12,851

 

11,556

 

Administrative and general expenses

 

28,851

 

29,784

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,342

 

18,837

 

Maintenance

 

6,297

 

6,990

 

Property and other taxes

 

7,097

 

6,272

 

Net gain on sale of property

 

 

(128

)

Total operating expenses

 

123,172

 

121,162

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

42,857

 

41,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income and Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(11,689

)

(12,298

)

Interest income

 

679

 

290

 

Other

 

215

 

(399

)

Total other income and expenses

 

(10,795

)

(12,407

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations before income tax expense

 

32,062

 

29,342

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

13,322

 

12,935

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

18,740

 

$

16,407

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

11



Table of Contents

 

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2011

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

18,740

 

$

16,407

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,342

 

18,837

 

Gain on sale of property

 

 

(128

)

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

925

 

498

 

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits

 

2,351

 

(65

)

Stock-based compensation expense

 

961

 

853

 

Other — net

 

(323

)

704

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable — customers

 

(2,738

)

(6,318

)

Unbilled revenue

 

(9,767

)

(3,484

)

Other accounts receivable

 

1,075

 

673

 

Materials and supplies

 

(179

)

(102

)

Prepayments and other current assets

 

(1,764

)

860

 

Regulatory assets — supply cost balancing accounts

 

7,600

 

9,324

 

Other assets (including other regulatory assets)

 

(8,383

)

(12,127

)

Accounts payable

 

(25

)

10,316

 

Inter-company receivable/payable

 

(352

)

(840

)

Income taxes receivable/payable from/to Parent

 

13,599

 

(4,115

)

Accrued pension and other postretirement benefits

 

4,379

 

1,745

 

Other liabilities

 

(722

)

24

 

Net cash provided

 

45,719

 

33,062

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Construction expenditures

 

(28,728

)

(36,715

)

Proceeds from sale of property

 

 

144

 

Net cash used

 

(28,728

)

(36,571

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Receipt of advances for and contributions in aid of construction

 

2,049

 

3,497

 

Refunds on advances for construction

 

(2,684

)

(2,351

)

Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs

 

1,266

 

61,914

 

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(234

)

(22,279

)

Net change in inter-company borrowings

 

 

(26,000

)

Dividends paid

 

(10,200

)

(10,000

)

Other — net

 

(389

)

(237

)

Net cash (used) provided

 

(10,192

)

4,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

6,799

 

1,035

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

1,541

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

6,799

 

$

2,576

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

12



Table of Contents

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

AND

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

 

Nature of Operations: American States Water Company (“AWR”) is the parent company of Golden State Water Company (“GSWC”) and American States Utility Services, Inc. (“ASUS”) (and its subsidiaries, Fort Bliss Water Services Company (“FBWS”), Terrapin Utility Services, Inc. (“TUS”), Old Dominion Utility Services, Inc. (“ODUS”), Palmetto State Utility Services, Inc. (“PSUS”) and Old North Utility Services, Inc. (“ONUS”)).  The subsidiaries of ASUS may be collectively referred to herein as the “Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries.” AWR was also the parent company of Chaparral City Water Company (“CCWC”) until the sale of CCWC on May 31, 2011.

 

GSWC is a public utility engaged principally in the purchase, production, distribution and sale of water in California serving approximately 255,000 customers. GSWC also distributes electricity in several San Bernardino Mountain communities in California serving approximately 23,000 customers. The California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) regulates GSWC’s water and electric businesses, including properties, rates, services, facilities and other matters, and transactions by GSWC with its affiliates.  AWR’s assets and operating income are primarily those of GSWC.

 

ASUS performs water and wastewater services, including the operation, maintenance, renewal and replacement of water and/or wastewater systems on a contract basis. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, ASUS operates and maintains the water and/or wastewater systems at various military bases pursuant to 50-year firm, fixed-price contracts, which are subject to periodic price redeterminations and modifications for changes in circumstances, and changes in laws and regulations. There is no direct regulatory oversight by the CPUC over AWR or the operation, rates or services provided by ASUS or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are being presented in a combined report being filed by two separate Registrants: AWR and GSWC. References in this report to “Registrant” are to AWR and GSWC, collectively, unless otherwise specified.  Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2012 financial statement presentation.

 

The consolidated financial statements of AWR include the accounts of AWR and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. These financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in the AWR consolidated financial statements. The operational results of CCWC for the periods presented are reported in discontinued operations, net of transaction costs.

 

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Registrant, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The December 31, 2011 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring items and estimates necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods, have been made. It is suggested that these consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC.

 

GSWC’s Related Party Transactions: GSWC and ASUS provide and receive various services to and from their parent, AWR.  Any transactions between GSWC and AWR or ASUS are governed by the CPUC’s affiliate transaction rules.  In addition, AWR has a $100.0 million syndicated credit facility. AWR borrows under this facility and provides funds to its subsidiaries, including GSWC, in support of their operations. Any amounts owed to AWR for borrowings under this facility are included in inter-company payables on GSWC’s balance sheet. The interest rate charged to GSWC and other affiliates is sufficient to cover AWR’s interest cost under the credit facility. GSWC also allocates certain corporate office administrative and general costs to its affiliate, ASUS, using allocation factors mandated by the CPUC.  Through May 31, 2011, GSWC also allocated costs to CCWC.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Sales and Use Taxes:  GSWC bills certain sales and use taxes levied by state or local governments to its customers. Included in these sales and use taxes are franchise fees, which GSWC pays to various municipalities (based on ordinances adopted by these municipalities) in order to use public right of way for utility purposes. GSWC bills these franchise fees to its customers based on a CPUC-authorized rate. These franchise fees, which are required to be paid regardless of GSWC’s ability to collect from the customer, are accounted for on a gross basis. GSWC’s franchise fees billed to customers and recorded as operating revenue were approximately $850,000 and $764,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $1,634,000 and $1,464,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. When GSWC acts as an agent, and the tax is not required to be remitted if it is not collected from the customer, the taxes are accounted for on a net basis.

 

Depending on the state in which the operations are conducted, ASUS and its subsidiaries are also subject to certain state non-income tax assessments generally computed on a “gross receipts” or “gross revenues” basis.  These non-income tax assessments are required to be paid regardless of whether the subsidiary is reimbursed by the U.S. government for these assessments under its 50-year contracts with the U.S. government.  The non-income tax assessments are accounted for on a gross basis and totaled $186,000 and $171,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $341,000 and $365,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements:  In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). Under ASU 2011-05, an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Under both options, an entity will be required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income.  In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05 (“ASU 2011-12”), which deferred the requirement to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income while the FASB further deliberates this aspect of the proposal.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have any impact on Registrant’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment (“ASU 2011-08”). Under ASU 2011-08, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, performing the two-step impairment test is not required. The guidance does not change how an entity measures a goodwill impairment loss, and is therefore not expected to affect the information reported to users of an entity’s financial statements. The guidance also includes examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider in evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of the new guidance did not have any impact on Registrant’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (“ASU 2011-11”). The ASU 2011-11 amendments require companies to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. ASU 2011-11 is required to be applied retrospectively for all prior periods presented and is effective for annual periods for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual fiscal years. Registrant does not expect adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

 

Other accounting standards that have been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on Registrant’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Note 2 — Regulatory Matters:

 

In accordance with accounting principles for rate-regulated enterprises, Registrant records regulatory assets, which represent probable future recovery of costs from customers through the ratemaking process, and regulatory liabilities, which represent probable future refunds that are to be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. At June 30, 2012, Registrant had approximately $81.2 million of regulatory assets, net of regulatory liabilities not accruing carrying costs. Of this amount, $53.0 million relates to the underfunded positions of the pension and other post-retirement obligations, $16.1 million relates to deferred income taxes representing accelerated tax benefits flowed through to customers, which will be included in rates concurrently with recognition of the associated future tax expense, and $5.2 million relates to a memorandum account authorized by the CPUC to track unrealized gains and losses on GSWC’s purchase power contract over the life of the contract. The remainder relates to other items that do not provide for or incur carrying costs. Regulatory assets, less regulatory liabilities, included in the consolidated balance sheets are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands) 

 

June 30,
 2012

 

December 31,
2011

 

GSWC

 

 

 

 

 

Electric supply cost balancing account

 

$

6,472

 

$

8,347

 

Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism, net of Modified Cost Balancing Account

 

38,273

 

39,112

 

Base Revenue Requirement Adjustment Mechanism

 

5,410

 

4,053

 

Costs deferred for future recovery on Aerojet case

 

16,673

 

17,173

 

Pensions and other post-retirement obligations

 

56,142

 

56,960

 

Derivative unrealized loss (Note 4)

 

5,176

 

7,611

 

Flow-through taxes, net (Note 6)

 

16,147

 

17,032

 

Electric transmission line abandonment costs

 

2,315

 

2,428

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

2,890

 

2,793

 

Low income rate assistance balancing accounts

 

7,728

 

6,194

 

General rate case memorandum accounts

 

9,290

 

12,922

 

Santa Maria adjudication memorandum accounts

 

3,645

 

3,662

 

Bay Point balancing accounts

 

5,475

 

5,752

 

Other regulatory assets, net

 

9,878

 

8,409

 

Various refunds to customers

 

(9,833

)

(12,491

)

Total

 

$

175,681

 

$

179,957

 

 

Regulatory matters are discussed in detail in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC.  The discussion below focuses on significant matters and changes since December 31, 2011.

 

Alternative-Revenue Programs:

 

GSWC records the difference between what it bills its water customers and that which is authorized by the CPUC using the Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (“WRAM”). GSWC also records the difference between adopted and actual expense levels for purchased water, purchased power and pump taxes, as established by the CPUC, using the Modified Cost Balancing Account (“MCBA”) accounts. GSWC has implemented surcharges to recover its WRAM balances, net of the MCBA.  For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, surcharges of $4.2 million and $4.0 million, respectively, were billed to customers to decrease previously incurred under-collections in the WRAM, net of MCBA accounts, and approximately $7.6 million and $5.6 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  As of June 30, 2012, GSWC has a net aggregated regulatory asset of $38.3 million which is comprised of a $61.1 million under-collection in the WRAM accounts and $22.8 million over-collection in the MCBA accounts.

 

Based on CPUC guidelines, recovery periods relating to GSWC’s WRAM/MCBA balances range between 12 and 36 months, with the majority being 24 months.  As required by the accounting guidance for alternative revenue programs, GSWC is required to collect its WRAM, net of its MCBA, within 24 months following the year in which they are recorded.  In September 2010, GSWC, along with other California water utilities, filed an application with the CPUC to modify the recovery period of its WRAM and MCBA to 18 months or less.  In April 2012, the CPUC issued a final decision which, among other things, sets the recovery period for under-collection balances that are up to 15% of adopted annual revenues at 18 months or less.  For under-collection balances greater than 15%, the recovery period is 19 to 36 months. GSWC does not currently have any balances over 15% of adopted annual revenues. In addition to adopting a new amortization schedule, the final decision sets a cap on total net WRAM/MCBA surcharges in any given calendar year of 10% of the last authorized revenue requirement. For GSWC, the cap will be applied to its 2013 WRAM balances filed in early 2014.  The cap requirement set forth in the final decision will not impact GSWC’s 2012 and prior year WRAM/MCBA balances.

 

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In June 2012, the CPUC approved surcharges for recovery of the 2011 Base Revenue Requirement Adjustment Mechanism (“BRRAM”) balance. The CPUC approved a 36-month surcharge, with the amounts collected through December 2013 to be applied to the 2011 BRRAM under-collection.  Surcharges collected during the remainder of the 36-month period would be for recovery of a $1.6 million increase in the BVES revenue requirement representing the difference between the allocated general office costs authorized by the CPUC in its November 2010 decision on the Region II, Region III and general office rate case, and what is currently in BVES’ rates for allocated general office costs.  As authorized by the CPUC, the $1.6 million was included in the BRRAM for recovery through the surcharge; however, these costs are not considered an alternative revenue program.

 

Other Regulatory Matters:

 

Cost of Capital Proceeding for Water Regions

 

In July 2012, the CPUC issued a final decision on GSWC’s cost of capital proceeding filed in May 2011. The decision approves the settlement agreement entered into between GSWC, along with three other California water utilities, and the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (“DRA”) in November 2011.  The approved settlement authorizes a Return on Equity (“ROE”) of 9.99% and a rate-making capital structure for GSWC of 55% equity and 45% debt. The weighted cost of capital (return on rate base), with an updated embedded debt cost and the settlement ROE, is 8.64%. The new rate of return authorized by the CPUC’s final decision will be implemented into water rates retroactive to January 1, 2012. Among other things, the final decision requires GSWC to refund to customers approximately $408,000, representing the settled amount included in the interest rate balancing account.  GSWC had estimated $789,000 would be refunded to customers, which had been recorded in the interest rate balancing account.  As a result of the CPUC’s decision, GSWC recorded a reduction in interest expense of $381,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and discontinued the interest rate balancing account.  GSWC will refund the $408,000 to customers through a one-time surcredit.

 

La Serena Plant Improvement Project:

 

In January 2008, the CPUC approved Region I’s general rate case effective for years 2008, 2009 and 2010.  The rates authorized by the CPUC in the decision included the costs of the La Serena plant improvement project as part of the utility rate base.  Subsequent to the issued decision, the CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates (“DRA”) requested a rehearing on whether these costs were reasonable.  The CPUC granted a limited rehearing, which was consolidated into GSWC’s Region II, Region III, and general office rate case, in order to consider whether it is reasonable to include in Region I’s rate base approximately $3.5 million of costs incurred in connection with the La Serena plant improvement project.  In November 2010, as part of GSWC’s Region II, Region III and general office rate case decision, the CPUC disallowed a portion of the La Serena plant improvement costs from utility customer rates.  The CPUC found that the disallowed portion of the costs were attributable to providing service to new development and should have been recovered from the customers in the new development.  As a result of the CPUC’s decision, in 2010 GSWC recorded a charge of $2.2 million, which included the disallowance of certain capital costs for the La Serena plant improvement project and the related revenues earned on those capital costs that will be refunded to customers.

 

In December 2010, DRA filed a motion for rehearing on this matter, contending that the CPUC erred in assigning a portion of the La Serena plant improvement costs to GSWC utility customers and requested that all of the capital costs related to the La Serena plant improvement project be disallowed. In July 2011, the CPUC granted DRA’s request for rehearing.  The rehearing will also address deferred rate case costs and the methodology for allocation of general office costs to GSWC’s affiliate, ASUS. Hearings on these matters are expected in the third or fourth quarter of 2012. In addition to granting a rehearing, the CPUC also directed the Division of Water and Audits to undertake an audit of the La Serena project costs and to provide a confidential report to the CPUC with recommendations on whether an investigation should be conducted to determine whether any laws were broken related to the La Serena project. At this time, management cannot predict the outcome of the rehearing, DWA’s recommendations, or determine the estimated loss or range of loss, if any.

 

Changes in Tax Law

 

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (“Tax Relief Acts”) extended 50% bonus depreciation for qualifying property through 2012 and created 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying property placed in service between September 9, 2010 and December 31, 2011.

 

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In June 2011, the CPUC adopted a resolution that requires water utilities to file advice letters implementing a one-way memorandum account to track the revenue effects associated with the Tax Relief Acts. This may result in a reduction in revenue requirements in future rate case proceedings. The effective date of the memorandum account established by the resolution was April 14, 2011.  More specifically, the memorandum account established by the resolution tracks on a CPUC-jurisdictional, revenue-requirement basis: (a) decreases in each impacted utility’s revenue requirement resulting from increases in its deferred tax reserve; and (b) other direct changes in the revenue requirement resulting from taking advantage of the Tax Relief Acts. This resolution also authorizes impacted utilities to use savings from this new tax law to invest in certain additional, needed utility infrastructure, not otherwise funded in rates, within a time frame shorter than would be practicable through the formal application or advice letter processes. The establishment of a memorandum account does not change rates, nor guarantee that rates will be changed in the future. This mechanism simply allows the CPUC to determine at a future date whether rates should be changed. GSWC has evaluated the potential impact of this resolution and does not expect it to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements in 2012.

 

Renewables Portfolio Standard

 

GSWC’s BVES division has been regularly filing compliance reports with the CPUC regarding its purchases of energy from renewable energy resources (“RPS”).  Previous filings under prior RPS laws had indicated that BVES had not achieved annual target purchase levels of renewable energy resources and thus, on its face, might be subject to a potential penalty.  However, a new RPS law went into effect in December 2011 which modified, among other things, the prior RPS requirement based upon annual procurement targets to multi-year procurement targets.  Under the new RPS law, BVES must procure sufficient RPS-eligible resources to meet (i) any RPS procurement requirement deficit for any year prior to 2011, and (ii) RPS procurement requirements for the 2011 — 2013 compliance period by no later than December 31, 2013.  BVES’ first RPS report under the new law was submitted to the CPUC on March 1, 2012 and it did not reflect any RPS procurement deficiencies nor any potential or actual penalties.  Accordingly, no provision for loss has been recorded in the financial statements as of June 30, 2012.

 

In September 2009, GSWC negotiated a ten-year contract with the Los Angeles County Sanitation District (“LACSD”) to purchase renewable energy created from landfill gas. In February 2011, LACSD notified GSWC that it intended to shut down the landfill gas generator. In August 2011, GSWC and LACSD negotiated a settlement to resolve a dispute between the parties regarding certain terms of the contract.  Under the terms of the settlement, GSWC agreed to waive its right to a 14 month termination notice and LACSD agreed to sell renewable energy credits (“RECs”) to GSWC. In November 2011, GSWC filed for approval with the CPUC for the purchase of these RECs.  In July 2012, the CPUC approved the purchase of these RECs, which BVES intends to apply towards either its pre-2011 renewable energy requirements or its 2011-2013 requirements. The REC’s will be purchased for approximately $325,000 during the third quarter of 2012 and will be recorded as a cost of purchased power and included in the electric supply cost balancing account.

 

In June 2011, GSWC’s BVES filed an application with the CPUC to recover $1.2 million in legal and outside service costs incurred during the period September 1, 2007 through March 31, 2011 in connection with seeking to procure renewable energy resources.  In March 2012, the CPUC approved the application.  Accordingly, a regulatory asset of $1.3 million, including accrued interest, was recorded in March 2012.  A 12- month surcharge was implemented in May 2012 for recovery of these costs.

 

CPUC Subpoena

 

On June 27, 2011 GSWC executed a settlement agreement with the Division of Water and Audits (“DWA”) to resolve an investigation of certain work orders and charges paid to a specific contractor used previously by GSWC for numerous construction projects over a period of 14 years.  On December 15, 2011, the CPUC approved the settlement agreement.  The settlement provides for refunds to customers totaling $9.5 million to be made over a period of 12-36 months, as well as a reduction in rate-base and other rate adjustments totaling $3.0 million.  As a result of the settlement, management does not expect future increases in the reserve related to this specific contractor.  Refunds totaling $1.0 million and $1.2 million were made to customers during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.

 

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Finally, as part of the settlement agreement, GSWC agreed to be subject to three separate independent audits of its procurement practices over a period of ten years from the date the settlement was approved by the CPUC.  The audits will cover GSWC’s procurement practices from 1994 forward and could result in further disallowances of costs.  The cost of the audits will be borne by shareholders and may not be recovered by GSWC in rates to customers. At this time, management cannot predict the outcome of these audits or determine the estimated loss or range of loss, if any, resulting from these audits.

 

Note 3 — Earnings per Share/Capital Stock:

 

In accordance with the accounting guidance for participating securities and earnings per share (“EPS”), AWR uses the “two-class” method of computing EPS. The “two-class” method is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security. AWR has participating securities related to stock options and restricted stock units that earn dividend equivalents on an equal basis with AWR’s Common Shares (the “Common Shares”) that have been issued under AWR’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan and 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2000 and 2008 Employee Plans”) and the 2003 Non-Employee Directors Plan (the “2003 Directors Plan”). In applying the “two-class” method, undistributed earnings are allocated to both common shares and participating securities.

 

The following is a reconciliation of AWR’s net income and weighted average Common Shares outstanding for calculating basic net income per share:

 

Basic

 

For The Three Months
Ended June 30,

 

For The Six Months
Ended June 30,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net income from continuing operations

 

$

15,078

 

$

12,728

 

$

25,193

 

$

19,683

 

Net income from discontinued operations

 

 

3,234

 

 

3,868

 

Total net income

 

15,078

 

15,962

 

25,193

 

23,551

 

Less: (a)

Distributed earnings to common shareholders

 

5,287

 

5,227

 

10,560

 

10,075

 

 

Distributed earnings to participating securities

 

38

 

36

 

68

 

64

 

Undistributed earnings

 

9,753

 

10,699

 

14,565

 

13,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b) 

Undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders

 

9,683

 

10,625

 

14,472

 

13,327

 

 

Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities

 

70

 

74

 

93

 

85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total income available to common shareholders, basic (a)+(b)

 

$

14,970

 

$

15,852

 

$

25,032

 

$

23,402

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding, basic

 

18,882

 

18,668

 

18,857

 

18,658

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.68

 

$

1.33

 

$

1.05

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

0.17

 

 

0.20

 

Net Income

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.85

 

$

1.33

 

$

1.25

 

 

Diluted EPS is based upon the weighted average number of Common Shares, including both outstanding shares and shares potentially issuable in connection with stock options granted under Registrant’s 2000 and 2008 Employee Plans, and the 2003 Directors Plan, and net income. At June 30, 2012 and 2011, there were 519,273 and 708,345 options outstanding, respectively, under these Plans. At June 30, 2012 and 2011, there were also 147,109 and 135,611 restricted stock units outstanding, respectively.

 

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The following is a reconciliation of AWR’s net income and weighted average Common Shares outstanding for calculating diluted net income per share:

 

Diluted

 

For The Three Months
Ended June 30,

 

For The Six Months
Ended June 30,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Common shareholders earnings, basic

 

$

14,970

 

$

15,852

 

$

25,032

 

$

23,402

 

Undistributed earnings for dilutive stock options

 

 

74

 

93

 

85

 

Total common shareholders earnings, diluted

 

$

14,970

 

$

15,926

 

$

25,125

 

$

23,487

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic

 

18,882

 

18,668

 

18,857

 

18,658

 

Stock-based compensation (1)

 

63

 

70

 

131

 

139

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted

 

18,945

 

18,738

 

18,988

 

18,797

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.68

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.05

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

0.17

 

 

0.20

 

Net Income

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.85

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.25

 

 


(1)     In applying the treasury stock method of reflecting the dilutive effect of outstanding stock-based compensation in the calculation of diluted EPS, 410,760 and 465,824 stock options at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were deemed to be outstanding in accordance with accounting guidance on earnings per share.  All of the 147,109 and 135,611 restricted stock units at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were included in the calculation of diluted EPS for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

 

Stock options of 108,013 and 241,921 were outstanding at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, but not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the related option exercise price was greater than the average market price of AWR’s Common Shares for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.  Stock options of 500 and 600 were outstanding at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, but not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they were anti-dilutive.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, AWR issued 131,581 and 49,456 Common Shares, for approximately $2,748,000 and $953,000, respectively, under AWR’s Common Share Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan, the 401(k) Plan, the 2000 and 2008 Employee Plans, and the 2003 Directors Plan. In addition, Registrant purchased 408,962 and 159,383 Common Shares on the open market during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, under Registrant’s 401(k) Plan and the Common Share Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The Common Shares purchased by Registrant were used to satisfy the requirements of these plans.

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, AWR paid quarterly dividends of approximately $5.3 million, or $0.28 per share, and $5.2 million, or $0.28 per share, respectively.  During the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, AWR paid quarterly dividends to shareholders of approximately $10.6 million, or $0.56 per share, and $10.1 million, or $0.54 per share.

 

Note 4 — Derivative Instruments:

 

GSWC purchases certain power at a fixed cost depending on the amount of power and the period during which the power is purchased under a purchased power contract.  The contract is subject to the accounting guidance for derivatives and requires mark-to-market derivative accounting.  The CPUC has authorized GSWC to establish a regulatory asset and liability memorandum account to offset the entries required by the accounting guidance.  Accordingly, all unrealized gains and losses generated from the purchased power contract are deferred on a monthly basis into a non-interest bearing regulatory memorandum account that tracks the changes in fair value of the derivative throughout the term of the contract, having no impact on GSWC’s earnings. Upon expiration of the purchased power contract, the balance in this regulatory memorandum account will be zero.

 

As of June 30, 2012 there was a $5.2 million cumulative unrealized loss which has been included in the memorandum account.

 

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On January 12, 2012, GSWC executed a new purchased power master agreement. The agreement is subject to CPUC approval. If approved, GSWC will be able to purchase 12 megawatts (“MWs”) of base load energy at a fixed price to be negotiated upon CPUC approval of the agreement. GSWC plans to file for approval of the agreement with the CPUC in 2012.  GSWC also intends to request CPUC approval of a regulatory asset and liability memorandum account for the new contract to offset the entries required by the accounting guidance on derivatives.

 

The accounting guidance for fair value measurements applies to all financial assets and financial liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. Under the accounting guidance, GSWC makes fair value measurements that are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

 

Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability, or

 

Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

 

Registrant’s valuation model utilizes various inputs that include quoted market prices for energy over the duration of the contract. The market prices used to determine the fair value for this derivative instrument were estimated based on independent sources such as broker quotes and publications that are not observable in or corroborated by the market.  Registrant receives one broker quote to determine the fair value of its derivative instrument.  When such inputs have a significant impact on the measurement of fair value, the instrument is categorized in Level 3. Accordingly, the valuation of the derivative on Registrant’s purchased power contract has been classified as Level 3 for all periods presented.

 

The following table presents changes in the fair value of the derivative for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Balance, at beginning of the period

 

$

(7,506

)

$

(6,874

)

$

(7,611

)

$

(6,850

)

Unrealized gain (loss) on purchased power contracts

 

2,330

 

(601

)

2,435

 

(625

)

Balance, at end of the period

 

$

(5,176

)

$

(7,475

)

$

(5,176

)

$

(7,475

)

 

Note 5 — Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

 

For cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term debt, the carrying amount is assumed to approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of the amounts. The table below estimates the fair value of long-term debt held by GSWC. Rates available to GSWC at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities were used to estimate fair value for long-term debt. The interest rates used for the June 30, 2012 valuation increased as compared to December, 31, 2011, reducing the fair value of long-term debt as of June 30, 2012. Changes in the assumptions will produce differing results.

 

 

 

June 30, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Carrying Amount

 

Fair Value

 

Carrying Amount

 

Fair Value

 

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt—GSWC

 

$

341,718

 

$

421,093

 

$

340,686

 

$

437,275

 

 

As previously discussed in Note 4, the accounting guidance for fair value measurements establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires fair value measurements to be classified and disclosed in one of three levels. The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, GSWC’s long-term debt measured at fair value as of June 30, 2012:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Long-term debt—GSWC

 

$

262,742

 

$

158,351

 

 

$

421,093

 

 

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Note 6 — Income Taxes:

 

As a regulated utility, GSWC treats certain temporary differences as flow-through adjustments in computing its income tax provision consistent with the income tax approach approved by the CPUC for ratemaking purposes. Flow-through adjustments increase or decrease tax expense in one period, with an offsetting decrease or increase occurring in another period. Giving effect to these temporary differences as flow-through adjustments typically results in a greater variance between the effective tax rate (“ETR”) and the statutory federal income tax rate in any given period than would otherwise exist if GSWC were not required to account for its income taxes as a regulated enterprise.  The GSWC ETRs deviated from the statutory rate primarily due to state taxes and differences between book and taxable income that are treated as flow-through adjustments in accordance with regulatory requirements (principally plant-, rate-case- and compensation-related items).

 

Changes in Tax Law

 

The Tax Relief Acts extended bonus depreciation for qualifying property through 2012.  As a result, Registrant’s current tax expense for 2011 and 2012 reflects benefits from the Tax Relief Acts. Although these law changes reduce AWR’s current taxes payable, they do not reduce its total income tax expense or ETR.

 

Note 7 — Employee Benefit Plans:

 

The components of net periodic benefit costs, before allocation to the overhead pool, for Registrant’s pension plan, postretirement plan, and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

 

 

For The Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

 

SERP

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Components of Net Periodic Benefits Cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

1,618

 

$

1,429

 

$

112

 

$

107

 

$

183

 

$

150

 

Interest cost

 

1,653

 

1,639

 

136

 

153

 

122

 

116

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(1,635

)

(1,588

)

(90

)

(74

)

 

 

Amortization of transition

 

 

 

105

 

105

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost (benefit)

 

29

 

30

 

(50

)

(50

)

40

 

40

 

Amortization of actuarial loss

 

740

 

322

 

 

 

77

 

34

 

Net periodic pension cost under accounting standards

 

2,405

 

1,832

 

213

 

241

 

422

 

340

 

Regulatory adjustment — deferred (1)

 

(632

)

(161

)

 

 

 

 

Total expense recognized, before allocation to overhead pool

 

$

1,773

 

$

1,671

 

$

213

 

$

241

 

$

422

 

$

340

 

 

 

 

For The Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

 

SERP

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Components of Net Periodic Benefits Cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

3,337

 

$

2,812

 

$

224

 

$

214

 

$

366

 

$

300

 

Interest cost

 

3,329

 

3,262

 

272

 

306

 

244

 

232

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(3,271

)

(3,174

)

(180

)

(147

)

 

 

Amortization of transition

 

 

 

210

 

210

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost (benefit)

 

59

 

59

 

(100

)

(100

)

80

 

81

 

Amortization of actuarial loss

 

1,518

 

621

 

 

 

154

 

67

 

Net periodic pension cost under accounting standards

 

4,972

 

3,580

 

426

 

483

 

844

 

680

 

Regulatory adjustment — deferred (1)

 

(1,198

)

(253

)

 

 

 

 

Total expense recognized, before allocation to overhead pool

 

$

3,774

 

$

3,327

 

$

426

 

$

483

 

$

844

 

$

680

 

 


(1)         Regulatory Adjustment - In November 2010, the CPUC authorized GSWC to establish a two-way balancing account, effective January 1, 2010, for all of its water regions and the general office to track differences between the forecasted annual pension expenses adopted in rates for 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the actual annual expense to be recorded by GSWC in accordance with the accounting guidance for pension costs.  As of June 30, 2012, GSWC has included a $3.1 million under-collection in the two-way pension balancing account recorded as a regulatory asset (Note 2).

 

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Registrant expects to contribute approximately $6.1 million and $500,000 to the pension and postretirement medical plans in 2012, respectively.  A contribution of $1.8 million was made to the pension plan during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Note 8 — Contingencies:

 

Water Quality-Related Litigation:

 

Perchlorate and/or Volatile Organic Compounds (“VOC”) have been detected in certain wells servicing GSWC’s South San Gabriel System. GSWC filed suit in federal court, along with two other affected water purveyors and the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, together known as the “Water Entities”, against some of those allegedly responsible for the contamination of two of GSWC’s wells and those of the other affected water purveyors. In response to the filing of the lawsuit, the Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”) defendants filed motions to dismiss the suit or strike certain portions of the suit. The judge issued a ruling on April 1, 2003 granting in part and denying in part the PRP’s motions. A key ruling of the court was that the water purveyors, including GSWC, by virtue of their ownership of wells contaminated with hazardous chemicals are themselves PRPs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). GSWC has amended its suit to claim certain affirmative defenses as an “innocent” party under CERCLA. GSWC is presently unable to estimate a range of loss, if any, in the event that GSWC is deemed to be a PRP, or on GSWC’s ability to fully recover from the PRPs, past and future costs associated with the treatment of these wells.  On August 29, 2003, the US Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued Unilateral Administrative Orders (“UAO”) against 41 parties deemed responsible for polluting the groundwater in portions of the San Gabriel Valley from which those impacted GSWC wells draw water. GSWC was not named as a party to the UAO. The UAO requires these parties to remediate the contamination.

 

On October 12, 2004, the judge in the lawsuit stayed the matter in order to allow the parties to explore settlement and appointed a special master to oversee mandatory settlement discussions between the PRPs and the Water Entities. EPA has also conducted settlement discussions with several PRPs regarding the UAO. The Water Entities and EPA have worked closely to coordinate their settlement discussions under the auspices of the special master in order to arrive at a complete resolution of all issues affecting the lawsuit and the UAO. Settlements have been reached with a majority of the PRPs.

 

On March 28, 2011, the Court lifted the stay and the matter has proceeded in litigation. The EPA filed a separate complaint against the remaining PRPs and this matter was consolidated with those filed by the Water Entities.  Since October 17, 2011 several 30-day stays were granted to continue settlement discussions.  During these 30-day stays, EPA and the Water Entities have successfully reached settlements with most of the remaining PRPs.  On January 15, 2012, the stay was lifted and the case entered the discovery phase as settlement negotiations with the remaining few PRPs continued.  Registrant believes it will reach settlements with all the PRPs.  However, Registrant is presently unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter.

 

Condemnation of Properties:

 

The laws of the State of California provide for the acquisition of public utility property by governmental agencies through their power of eminent domain, also known as condemnation, where doing so is necessary and in the public interest. In addition, these laws provide: (i) that the owner of utility property may contest whether the condemnation is actually necessary and in the public interest, and (ii) that the owner is entitled to receive the fair market value of its property if the property is ultimately taken.

 

The City of Claremont (“Claremont”) located in GSWC’s Region III, has expressed various concerns to GSWC about rates charged by GSWC and the effectiveness of the CPUC’s rate-setting procedures. On January 5, 2012, the Claremont City council members directed staff to pursue analysis required for potential acquisition of the water system and allocated funds from its general reserve for such analysis. On June 27, 2012, Claremont notified GSWC of its intent to appraise the value of GSWC’s water system serving Claremont.  GSWC serves approximately 11,000 customers in Claremont.

 

The Town of Apple Valley (the “Town”) had abandoned its activities related to a potential condemnation of GSWC’s water system serving the Town in 2007. However, in January 2011, the Town Council directed staff to update the previously prepared financial feasibility study for the acquisition of GSWC’s water systems. The Town also created a Blue Ribbon Water Commission (“BRWC”) to provide recommendations on the items pending before the CPUC associated with the water companies (including GSWC) serving the Town.  The BRWC recommended against acquisition at this time based on current economic conditions. The Town has not yet made a decision based on the recommendation.  GSWC’s Apple Valley water systems serve approximately 2,900 customers.

 

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In April 2011, an organization called Ojai FLOW (Friends of Locally Owned Water) started a local campaign for the Casitas Municipal Water District to purchase GSWC’s Ojai water system.  The Ojai City Council passed a resolution supporting the efforts of Ojai FLOW at their regular meeting on April 26, 2011.  In May 2011, Ojai FLOW submitted a petition with over 1,800 signatures to the Casitas Municipal Water District supporting the recommended acquisition of GSWC’s Ojai water system.  On July 25, 2012, the Casitas Municipal Water District hired a financial consultant to provide consulting services to the District for the establishment of a Community Facilities District (“CFD”) and the issuance of bonds within the CFD to provide funding for the potential acquisition of GSWC’s Ojai system.  GSWC serves approximately 3,000 customers in Ojai.

 

Except for the City of Claremont, Town of Apple Valley and the City of Ojai, Registrant is currently not involved in activities related to the potential condemnation of any of its water customer service areas or in its BVES customer service area. No formal condemnation proceedings have been filed against any of the Registrant’s service areas during the past three years.

 

Santa Maria Groundwater Basin Adjudication:

 

In 1997, the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District (“plaintiff”) filed a lawsuit against multiple defendants, including GSWC, the City of Santa Maria, and several other public water purveyors. The plaintiff’s lawsuit sought an adjudication of the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin (the “Basin”). A stipulated settlement of the lawsuit has been reached, subject to CPUC approval.  The settlement, among other things, if approved by the CPUC, would preserve GSWC’s historical pumping rights and secure supplemental water rights for use in case of drought or other reductions in the natural yield of the Basin. GSWC, under the stipulation, has a right to 10,000 acre-feet of groundwater replenishment provided by the Twitchell Project, a storage and flood control reservoir project operated by the Santa Maria Valley Conservation District.  A monitoring and annual reporting program has been established to allow the parties to responsibly manage the Basin and to respond to shortage conditions.  If severe water shortage conditions are found over a period of five years, the management area engineer will make findings and recommendations to alleviate such shortages.  In the unlikely case that the Basin experiences severe shortage conditions, the court has the authority to limit GSWC’s groundwater production to 10,248 acre-feet per year, based on developed water in the Basin.  Over the last five years, GSWC’s average groundwater production has been 10,140 acre-feet per year.

 

On February 11, 2008, the court issued its final judgment, which approved and incorporated the stipulation.  The judgment awarded GSWC prescriptive rights to groundwater against the non-stipulating parties.  In addition, the judgment granted GSWC the right to use the Basin for temporary storage and to recapture 45 percent of the return flows that are generated from its importation of State Water Project water.  Pursuant to this judgment, the court retained jurisdiction over all of the parties to make supplemental orders or to amend the judgment as necessary.  On March 20, 2008, the non-stipulating parties filed notices of appeal.  In August 2010, the appellants filed their opening briefs.  Registrant is unable to predict the outcome of the appeal.

 

Environmental Clean-Up and Remediation:

 

Chadron Plant: GSWC has been involved in environmental remediation and clean-up at a plant site (“Chadron Plant”) that contained an underground storage tank which was used to store gasoline for its vehicles. This tank was removed in July 1990 along with the dispenser and ancillary piping. Since then, GSWC has been involved in various remediation activities at this site.  Recent site assessments have been conducted which showed that there was more gasoline at higher concentrations spread over a larger area than previously measured. Remediation is estimated to take two more years, followed by at least one year of monitoring and reporting.  As of June 30, 2012, the total spent to clean-up and remediate GSWC’s plant facility was approximately $3.5 million, of which $1.5 million has been paid by the State of California Underground Storage Tank Fund. Amounts paid by GSWC have been included in rate-base and approved by the CPUC for recovery.

 

As of June 30, 2012, GSWC has an accrued liability for the estimated additional cost of $1.2 million to complete the clean-up at the site. The ultimate cost may vary as there are many unknowns in remediation of underground gasoline spills and this is an estimate based on currently available information. Management also believes it is probable that the estimated additional costs will be approved in rate base by the CPUC and has recorded a corresponding regulatory asset.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Other Litigation:

 

Registrant is also subject to other ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. Management believes that rate recovery, proper insurance coverage and reserves are in place to insure against property, professional and general liability and workers’ compensation claims incurred in the ordinary course of business. Registrant is unable to predict an estimate of the loss, if any, resulting from any pending suits or administrative proceedings.

 

Note 9 — Discontinued Operations:

 

On May 31, 2011, AWR sold CCWC to EPCOR Water (USA) Inc. for a total purchase price of $35.2 million, including the assumption of approximately $5.6 million of long-term debt. AWR received approximately $29.6 million in cash, which was used primarily to pay down short-term borrowings.  The completion of the sale generated a gain (net of taxes and transaction costs) of approximately $2.2 million during 2011.  A summary of discontinued operations presented in the consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended
June 30, 2011

 

Six Months Ended
June 30, 2011

 

Operating revenues

 

$

1,571

 

$

3,492

 

Operating expenses

 

(131

)

660

 

Operating income

 

1,702

 

2,832

 

Interest expense, net

 

(59

)

(142

)

Income before income taxes

 

1,643

 

2,690

 

Income tax expense

 

670

 

1,078

 

Income from the operations, net of tax

 

973

 

1,612

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of business, net of tax

 

2,454

 

2,454

 

Transaction costs, net of tax

 

(193

)

(198

)

Net gain on sale

 

2,261

 

2,256

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations (1)

 

$

3,234

 

$

3,868

 

 


(1)         Corporate overhead costs allocated to CCWC have been excluded from discontinued operations and have been included in other operating expenses and administrative and general expenses as part of continuing operations as they continue to be incurred, primarily at GSWC.

 

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Note 10 — Business Segments

 

AWR has three reportable segments, water, electric and contracted services, whereas GSWC has two segments, water and electric. Within the segments, AWR has two continuing principal business units: water and electric service utility operations conducted through GSWC, and one contracted services unit conducted through ASUS and its subsidiaries. All activities of GSWC are geographically located within California.  The operating activities of CCWC have been included in discontinued operations as described in Note 9.  All activities of CCWC were located in the state of Arizona. GSWC is, and CCWC was, a rate-regulated utility.  AWR has no material assets other than its investments in its subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis.

 

Activities of ASUS and its subsidiaries are conducted in California, Maryland, southeast New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.  Each of ASUS’s wholly owned subsidiaries is regulated by the state in which the subsidiary primarily conducts water and/or wastewater operations.  Fees charged for operation and maintenance, and renewal and replacement services are based upon the terms of the contracts with the U.S. government which have been filed with the commissions in the states in which ASUS’s subsidiaries are incorporated.

 

The tables below set forth information relating to GSWC’s operating segments, ASUS and its subsidiaries, and other matters. Certain assets, revenues and expenses have been allocated in the amounts set forth. The identifiable assets are net of respective accumulated provisions for depreciation. Capital additions reflect capital expenditures paid in cash and exclude property installed by developers and conveyed to GSWC and through May 31, 2011 for CCWC.

 

 

 

As Of And For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2012

 

 

 

GSWC

 

ASUS

 

AWR

 

Consolidated

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Water

 

Electric

 

Contracts

 

Parent

 

AWR

 

Operating revenues

 

$

80,886

 

$

8,373

 

$

25,052

 

$

 

 

 

$

114,311

 

Operating income (loss)

 

22,666

 

1,484

 

5,989

 

(14

)

 

 

30,125

 

Interest expense, net

 

4,815

 

396

 

40

 

(26

)

 

 

5,225

 

Identifiable assets

 

855,742

 

39,541

 

4,726

 

 

 

 

900,009

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

9,525

 

597

 

285

 

 

 

 

10,407

 

Capital additions

 

13,544

 

705

 

231

 

 

 

 

14,480

 

 

 

 

As Of And For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2011

 

 

 

GSWC

 

CCWC

 

ASUS

 

AWR

 

Consolidated

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Water

 

Electric

 

Water

 

Contracts

 

Parent

 

AWR

 

Operating revenues

 

$

80,151

 

$

7,710

 

$

 

$

21,968

 

$

 

$

109,829

 

Operating income (loss) (1)

 

23,470

 

1,241

 

(106

)

4,537

 

(3

)

29,139

 

Interest expense, net

 

6,091

 

439

 

 

141

 

37

 

6,708

 

Identifiable assets

 

841,318

 

37,939

 

 

3,736

 

 

882,993

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

8,874

 

447

 

 

217

 

 

9,538

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (2)

 

 

 

973

 

 

2,261

 

3,234

 

Capital additions

 

18,873

 

1,020

 

 

102

 

 

19,995

 

 

 

 

As Of And For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

 

 

 

GSWC

 

ASUS

 

AWR

 

Consolidated

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Water

 

Electric

 

Contracts

 

Parent

 

AWR

 

Operating revenues

 

$

146,843

 

$

19,186

 

$

54,930

 

$

 

 

 

$

220,959

 

Operating income (loss)

 

37,517

 

5,340

 

10,730

 

(95

)

 

 

53,492

 

Interest expense, net

 

10,221

 

789

 

94

 

(24

)

 

 

11,080

 

Identifiable assets

 

855,742

 

39,541

 

4,726

 

 

 

 

900,009

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

19,122

 

1,220

 

555

 

 

 

 

20,897

 

Capital additions

 

27,484

 

1,244

 

719

 

 

 

 

29,447

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

As Of And For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

 

 

 

GSWC

 

CCWC

 

ASUS

 

AWR

 

Consolidated

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Water

 

Electric

 

Water

 

Contracts

 

Parent

 

AWR

 

Operating revenues

 

$

144,477

 

$

18,434

 

$

 

$

41,225

 

$

 

$

204,136

 

Operating income (loss) (1)

 

38,568

 

3,181

 

(356

)

5,795

 

(54

)

47,134

 

Interest expense, net

 

11,192

 

816

 

 

225

 

82

 

12,315

 

Identifiable assets

 

841,318

 

37,939

 

 

3,736

 

 

882,993

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

17,830

 

1,007

 

 

438

 

 

19,275

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (2)

 

 

 

1,612

 

 

2,256

 

3,868

 

Capital additions

 

35,086

 

1,629

 

 

580

 

 

37,295

 

 


(1)         Operating income (loss) include CCWC’s allocated corporate overhead costs that are now primarily at GSWC.

 

(2)         In accordance with the accounting guidance relating to assets held for sale, Registrant did not record depreciation expense for CCWC in 2011.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

General

 

The following discussion and analysis provides information on AWR’s consolidated operations and assets and where necessary, includes specific references to AWR’s individual segments and/or other subsidiaries: GSWC, ASUS and its subsidiaries, or AWR’s former subsidiary, CCWC.  Included in the following analysis is a discussion of water and electric gross margins.  Water and electric gross margins are computed by taking total revenues, less total supply costs.  Registrant uses these margins and related percentages as important measures in evaluating its operating results.  Registrant believes these measures are useful internal benchmarks in evaluating the performance of GSWC. The discussions and tables included in the following analysis also present Registrant’s operations in terms of earnings per share by business segment.  Registrant believes that the disclosure of earnings per share by business segment provides investors with clarity surrounding the performance of its differing services and information that could be indicative of future performance for each business segment.  Registrant reviews these measurements regularly and compares them to historical periods and to its operating budget as approved. However, these measures, which are not presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or earnings per share, which are determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of water and electric gross margins to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the table under the section titled “Operating Expenses: Supply Costs.”  Reconciliations to AWR’s diluted earnings per share are included in the discussions under the sections titled “Summary Results by Segment.

 

Overview

 

Registrant’s revenues, operating income and cash flows are earned primarily through delivering potable water to homes and businesses, through its contracted services business for the operation and maintenance and renewal and replacement of water and/or wastewater systems for the U.S. government at various military bases, and through the delivery of electricity in the Big Bear area of San Bernardino County, California. Rates charged to GSWC customers are determined by the CPUC. These rates are intended to allow recovery of operating costs and a reasonable rate of return on capital.  Registrant plans to continue to seek additional rate increases in future years from the CPUC to recover operating and supply costs and receive reasonable returns on invested capital. Capital expenditures in future years at GSWC are expected to remain at much higher levels than depreciation expense. When necessary, Registrant obtains funds from external sources in the capital markets and through bank borrowings.

 

All of the current operation and maintenance contracts with the U.S. government are 50-year firm, fixed-price contracts with prospective price redeterminations. Additional revenues generated by contract operations are primarily dependent on new construction activities under contract modifications.  As a result, ASUS is subject to risks that are different than those of GSWC.

 

Some of the factors that affect Registrant’s financial performance are described in Item 1. Financial Statements, Forward-Looking Statements.

 

Summary of Second Quarter Results by Segment

 

The table below sets forth the second quarter diluted earnings per share by business segment from continuing operations:

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings per Share

 

 

 

3 Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

0.56

 

$

0.51

 

$

0.05

 

Electric

 

0.04

 

0.03

 

0.01

 

Contracted services

 

0.19

 

0.14

 

0.05

 

Totals from continuing operations, as reported

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.68

 

$

0.11

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, diluted earnings per share from water operations increased $0.05 to $0.56 per share as compared to $0.51 per share for the three months ended June 30, 2011.  Impacting the comparability of the two periods were the following items:

 

·                  An increase in the water gross margin of approximately $305,000, or $0.01 per share, during the three months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 due primarily to CPUC-approved third year rate increases for Regions II and III effective January 1, 2012.  It is also worth noting that 2012 is the last year of a rate case cycle for all of GSWC’s water regions, since rate increases are typically lowest in the final year of a rate case cycle.

 

·                  An increase in operating expenses (other than supply costs) by approximately $1.0 million, or $0.03 per share, due primarily to increases in: (i) other operation expenses of $306,000 due to higher labor and other employee benefits, and conservation costs, and (ii) depreciation expense of $651,000 resulting from additions to utility plant.

 

·                   An overall decrease in interest expense (net of interest income) of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per share, due primarily to lower short-term bank borrowings and the recording of a $381,000 reduction in interest expense in connection with the CPUC’s final decision on the water cost of capital proceeding, as further discussed under the Regulatory Matters section. In addition, included in the three months ended June 30, 2011 results were interest charges totaling $553,000 related to the redemption of $22.0 million of GSWC’s 7.65% Medium-Term Notes, which did not recur in 2012.

 

·                   A decrease in the effective tax rate increased earnings by approximately $0.03 per share during the second quarter of 2012 primarily resulting from changes between book and taxable income that are treated as flow-through adjustments in accordance with regulatory requirements, and changes in certain permanent items.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, diluted earnings from electric operations were $0.04 per share as compared to $0.03 per share for the same period of 2011. An increase in the electric gross margin of $492,000, or $0.02 per share, as compared to the same period in 2011, was partially offset by a $249,000, or $0.01 per share increase in operating expenses.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, diluted earnings from contracted services increased by $0.05 per share as compared to the same period in 2011 due primarily to an increase in construction activities at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. There was a receipt of a contract modification and revisions in cost estimates during the second quarter of 2012 for Fort Bragg, which resulted in additional pretax operating income of $820,000. These increases were partially offset by a $2.9 million increase in pretax operating income recorded during the second quarter of 2011 due to a change in estimated costs related to a pipeline project at Fort Bragg.

 

The tables below set forth summaries of the second quarter results of continuing operations by business segment (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

Pretax Operating Income

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

80,886

 

$

80,151

 

$

735

 

0.9

%

$

22,666

 

$

23,364

 

$

(698

)

-3.0

%

Electric

 

8,373

 

7,710

 

663

 

8.6

%

1,484

 

1,241

 

243

 

19.6

%

Contracted services

 

25,052

 

21,968

 

3,084

 

14.0

%

5,989

 

4,537

 

1,452

 

32.0

%

AWR (parent)

 

 

 

 

 

(14

)

(3

)

(11

)

366.7

%

Totals from continuing operations

 

$

114,311

 

$

109,829

 

$

4,482

 

4.1

%

$

30,125

 

$

29,139

 

$

986

 

3.4

%

 

Discontinued Operations:

 

Net income from discontinued operations for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $3.2 million, due primarily to the gain on sale of CCWC of $2.3 million, net of taxes and transaction costs, or $0.12 per share.  Excluding the gain on sale, there was also net income of $0.9 million from CCWC’s operations for the two months of operations during the three months ended June 30, 2011.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Summary of Year-to-Date Results by Segment

 

The table below sets forth the year-to-date diluted earnings per share by business segment from continuing operations, as reported:

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings per Share

 

 

 

6 Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

0.83

 

$

0.80

 

$

0.03

 

Electric

 

0.15

 

0.07

 

0.08

 

Contracted services

 

0.34

 

0.18

 

0.16

 

Totals from continuing operations

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.05

 

$

0.27

 

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, diluted earnings per share contributed by the water segment were $0.83 per share as compared to $0.80 per share for the same period in 2011.  Once again, it is worth noting that 2012 is the last year of a rate case cycle for all of GSWC’s water regions. The significant items in the water segment between the two periods were:

 

·                  An increase in the water gross margin of $2.1 million, or $0.07 per share, during the six months ended June 30, 2012 primarily as the result of CPUC-approved third year rate increases for Regions II and III effective January 1, 2012.

 

·                  An increase in operating expenses (other than supply costs) by approximately $2.8 million, or $0.09 per share, due primarily to increases in: (i) other operation expenses of $1.2 million due in large part to higher labor and other employee benefits, conservation costs and bad debt expense, and (ii) depreciation expense of $1.3 million resulting from additions to utility plant.

 

·                  An overall decrease in interest expense (net of interest income) of approximately $1.0 million, or $0.03 per share, primarily due to interest costs totaling $553,000 incurred in 2011 related to the redemption of $22.0 million of GSWC’s 7.65% Medium-Term Notes.  In addition, in June 2012 GSWC recorded a reduction in interest expense totaling $381,000 to reflect the CPUC’s final decision on the water cost of capital proceeding, as further discussed under the Regulatory Matters section.

 

·                  A decrease in the effective income tax rate during the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011, increasing earnings by approximately $0.02 per share primarily resulting from changes between book and taxable income that are treated as flow-through adjustments in accordance with regulatory requirements, and changes in certain permanent items.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, diluted earnings from electric operations increased by $0.08 per share as compared to the same period in 2011 due, in large part, to the CPUC’s approval of GSWC’s application to recover $1.2 million in legal and outside services costs incurred from September 2007 through March 2011 in connection with its efforts to procure renewable energy resources. As a result, in March 2012 GSWC recorded a $1.2 million, or $0.04 per share, reduction in legal and outside services costs which had previously been expensed as incurred. Excluding the impact of this item, electric earnings increased by $0.04 per share during the six months ended June 30, 2012 due primarily to an increase in the electric gross margin of $1.1 million, or $0.03 per share, as compared to the same period in 2011, and a decrease in the effective income tax rate increasing earnings by approximately $0.01 per share.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, diluted earnings from contracted services increased by $0.16 per share as compared to the same period in 2011 due primarily to an increase in construction activities at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. There was significant progress made on a major water and wastewater pipeline replacement project as a result of better than expected weather conditions at Fort Bragg during the first several months of 2012. This project is estimated to be completed in early 2014. There was also a receipt of a contract modification and revisions in cost estimates during the second quarter of 2012 for Fort Bragg, which resulted in additional pretax operating income of $820,000. The increase in construction activities was partially offset by a $2.9 million increase in pretax operating income recorded during the second quarter of 2011 due to a change in estimated costs related to the pipeline project at Fort Bragg.

 

29



Table of Contents

 

The tables below set forth summaries of the year-to-date results by business segment of continuing operations (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

Pretax Operating Income

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

146,843

 

$

144,477

 

$

2,366

 

1.6

%

$

37,517

 

$

38,212

 

$

(695

)

-1.8

%

Electric

 

19,186

 

18,434

 

752

 

4.1

%

5,340

 

3,181

 

2,159

 

67.9

%

Contracted services

 

54,930

 

41,225

 

13,705

 

33.2

%

10,730

 

5,795

 

4,935

 

85.2

%

AWR (parent)

 

 

 

 

 

(95

)

(54

)

(41

)

75.9

%

Totals from continuing operations

 

$

220,959

 

$

204,136

 

$

16,823

 

8.2

%

$

53,492

 

$

47,134

 

$

6,358

 

13.5

%

 

Discontinued Operations:

 

Net income from discontinued operations for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $3.9 million, due primarily to the gain on sale of CCWC of $2.3 million, net of taxes and transaction costs, or $0.12 per share.  Excluding the gain on sale, there was also net income of $1.6 million from CCWC’s operations for the first five months of 2011.

 

The following discussion and analysis provides information on AWR’s consolidated operations and where necessary, includes specific references to AWR’s individual segments and/or other continuing subsidiaries: GSWC and ASUS and its subsidiaries, and the discontinued operations of CCWC.

 

30



Table of Contents

 

Consolidated Results of Operations — Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

80,886

 

$

80,151

 

$

735

 

0.9

%

Electric

 

8,373

 

7,710

 

663

 

8.6

%

Contracted services

 

25,052

 

21,968

 

3,084

 

14.0

%

Total operating revenues

 

114,311

 

109,829

 

4,482

 

4.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water purchased

 

13,831

 

12,924

 

907

 

7.0

%

Power purchased for pumping

 

2,019

 

2,165

 

(146

)

-6.7

%

Groundwater production assessment

 

3,982

 

3,886

 

96

 

2.5

%

Power purchased for resale

 

2,680

 

2,854

 

(174

)

-6.1

%

Supply cost balancing accounts

 

4,163

 

4,245

 

(82

)

-1.9

%

Other operation expenses

 

6,851

 

6,946

 

(95

)

-1.4

%

Administrative and general expenses

 

17,792

 

17,740

 

52

 

0.3

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

10,407

 

9,538

 

869

 

9.1

%

Maintenance

 

3,852

 

4,623

 

(771

)

-16.7

%

Property and other taxes

 

3,716

 

3,406

 

310

 

9.1

%

ASUS construction expenses

 

14,896

 

12,491

 

2,405

 

19.3

%

Net gain on sale of property

 

(3

)

(128

)

125

 

-97.7

%

Total operating expenses

 

84,186

 

80,690

 

3,496

 

4.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

30,125

 

29,139

 

986

 

3.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(5,720

)

(6,869

)

1,149

 

-16.7

%

Interest income

 

495

 

161

 

334

 

207.5

%

Other

 

(13

)

(289

)

276

 

-95.5

%

 

 

(5,238

)

(6,997

)

1,759

 

-25.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

24,887

 

22,142

 

2,745

 

12.4

%

Income tax expense

 

9,809

 

9,414

 

395

 

4.2

%

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

15,078

 

12,728

 

2,350

 

18.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX

 

 

3,234

 

(3,234

)

-100.0

%

NET INCOME

 

$

15,078

 

$

15,962

 

$

(884

)

-5.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings from continuing operations

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.68

 

$

0.11

 

16.2

%

Basic earnings from discontinued operations

 

 

0.17

 

(0.17

)

-100.0

%

 

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.85

 

$

(0.06

)

-7.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings from continuing operations

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.68

 

$

0.11

 

16.2

%

Diluted earnings from discontinued operations

 

 

0.17

 

(0.17

)

-100.0

%

 

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.85

 

$

(0.06

)

-7.1

%

 

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Table of Contents

 

Operating Revenues

 

General

 

Registrant relies upon rate approvals by the CPUC to recover operating expenses and to provide for a return on invested and borrowed capital used to fund utility plant for GSWC.  ASUS files price redeterminations and equitable adjustments with the U.S. government in order to recover operating expenses and provide profit margin for contracted services.  If adequate rate relief and price redeterminations and adjustments are not granted in a timely manner, operating revenues and earnings can be negatively impacted.  ASUS’ earnings are also impacted by additional construction projects at each of the Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries.

 

Water

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, revenues from water operations increased to $80.9 million, as compared to $80.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011.  The increase in water revenues is primarily due to CPUC-approved third year rate increases for Regions II and III effective January 1, 2012.

 

GSWC’s revenue requirement and volumetric revenues are adopted as part of a general rate case (“GRC”) every three years. GSWC filed a GRC for all three water regions in July of 2011 with rates expected to be effective January 2013.  As further discussed in the Regulatory Matters section, in June 2012 GSWC filed a motion to adopt a settlement agreement resolving most issues between GSWC and the CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates in connection with this GRC.

 

GSWC’s billed customer water usage increased by approximately 5% as compared to the second quarter of 2011 but was lower than adopted consumption.  Changes in consumption do not have a significant impact on earnings due to the CPUC-approved Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (“WRAM”) account in all three water regions. GSWC records the difference between what it bills its water customers and that which is authorized by the CPUC in the WRAM accounts.

 

Electric

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, revenues from electric operations increased to $8.4 million compared to $7.7 million for the same period in 2011 due to increases in electric base rates approved by the CPUC effective January 1, 2012.  There was also an increase in electric supply costs of $171,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2012, which resulted in a corresponding increase in electric revenues.

 

Billed electric usage increased by 5.6% during the three months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2011.  Due to the CPUC-approved Base Revenue Requirement Adjustment Mechanism, which adjusts certain revenues to adopted levels authorized by the CPUC, changes in usage did not have a significant impact on earnings.

 

Contracted Services

 

Revenues from contracted services are composed of construction revenues (including renewals and replacements) and management fees for operating and maintaining the water and/or wastewater systems at military bases.  For the three months ended June 30, 2012, revenues from contracted services increased by $3.1 million, or 14%, to $25.1 million as compared to $22.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, due primarily to an increase in construction activities at Fort Bragg in North Carolina related to various projects, including a major water and wastewater pipeline replacement project.  This project is estimated to be completed in early 2014.  The increase in construction activities was partially offset by a $2.9 million increase in revenues recorded during the second quarter of 2011 due to a change in estimated costs related to the pipeline project at Fort Bragg.  Contracted services continues to receive U.S. government awarded contract modifications and agreements with third-party prime contractors for new construction projects at the Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries. The majority of the current new construction activity is expected to be performed during the next twelve months.  Earnings and cash flows from amendments and modifications to the original 50-year contracts with the U.S. government and agreements with third-party prime contractors for additional construction projects may or may not continue in future periods.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Operating Expenses:

 

Supply Costs

 

Supply costs for the water segment consist of purchased water, purchased power for pumping, groundwater production assessments and water supply cost balancing accounts. Supply costs for the electric segment consist of purchased power for resale (including the cost of natural gas used by BVES’ generating unit) and the electric supply cost balancing account. Water and electric gross margins are computed by taking total revenues, less total supply costs. Registrant uses these gross margins and related percentages as important measures in evaluating its operating results. Registrant believes these measures are useful internal benchmarks in evaluating the utility business performance within its water and electric segments. Registrant reviews these measurements regularly and compares them to historical periods and to its operating budget. However, these measures, which are not presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities and should not be considered as alternatives to operating income, which is determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total supply costs comprise the largest segment of total operating expenses. Supply costs accounted for 31.7% and 32.3% of total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

The table below provides the amount of increases (decreases), percent changes in supply costs, and gross margins during the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

WATER OPERATING REVENUES (1)

 

$

80,886

 

$

80,151

 

$

735

 

0.9

%

WATER SUPPLY COSTS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water purchased (1)

 

$

13,831

 

$

12,924

 

$

907

 

7.0

%

Power purchased for pumping (1)

 

2,019

 

2,165

 

(146

)

-6.7

%

Groundwater production assessment (1)

 

3,982

 

3,886

 

96

 

2.5

%

Water supply cost balancing accounts (1)

 

3,587

 

4,014

 

(427

)

-10.6

%

TOTAL WATER SUPPLY COSTS

 

$

23,419

 

$

22,989

 

$

430

 

1.9

%

WATER GROSS MARGIN (2)

 

$

57,467

 

$

57,162

 

$

305

 

0.5

%

PERCENT MARGIN - WATER

 

71.0

%

71.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTRIC OPERATING REVENUES (1)

 

$

8,373

 

$

7,710

 

$

663

 

8.6

%

ELECTRIC SUPPLY COSTS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power purchased for resale (1)

 

$

2,680

 

$

2,854

 

$

(174

)

-6.1

%

Electric supply cost balancing accounts (1)

 

576

 

231

 

345

 

149.4

%

TOTAL ELECTRIC SUPPLY COSTS

 

$

3,256

 

$

3,085

 

$

171

 

5.5

%

ELECTRIC GROSS MARGIN (2)

 

$

5,117

 

$

4,625

 

$

492

 

10.6

%

PERCENT MARGIN - ELECTRIC

 

61.1

%

60.0

%

 

 

 

 

 


(1)                              As reported on AWR’s Consolidated Statements of Income, except for supply cost balancing accounts. The sum of water and electric supply cost balancing accounts in the table above are shown on AWR’s Consolidated Statements of Income and totaled $4,163,000 and $4,245,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

(2)                                  Water and electric margins do not include any depreciation and amortization, maintenance, administrative and general, property and other taxes, or other operation expenses.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Two of the principal factors affecting water supply costs are the amount of water produced and the source of the water. Generally, the variable cost of producing water from wells is less than the cost of water purchased from wholesale suppliers. Under the modified cost balancing account (“MCBA”), GSWC tracks adopted and actual expense levels for purchased water, purchased power and pump taxes, as established by the CPUC. GSWC records the variances (which include the effects of changes in both rate and volume) between adopted and actual purchased water, purchased power, and pump tax expenses. GSWC recovers from or refunds to customers the amount of such variances.  GSWC tracks these variances individually for each water ratemaking area.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, 35.0% of GSWC’s water supply mix was purchased as compared to 35.7% purchased for the three months ended June 30, 2011.  However, as noted above, the implementation of the MCBA for GSWC’s water regions eliminates the effects of changes in the water supply mix on earnings. The overall adopted percentages of purchased water for the three months ended June 30, 2012 was approximately 42.7% as compared to overall actual purchased water of 35.0%.  The overall water margin percent was 71.0% in the second quarter of 2012 as compared to 71.3% in the same period of 2011.

 

Purchased water costs for the three months ended June 30, 2012 increased to $13.8 million as compared to $12.9 million in the same period of 2011. This increase was primarily due to higher water rates charged by wholesale suppliers, an increase in the amount of water purchased in Region I, and an increase in customer water consumption.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, power purchased for pumping decreased to $2.0 million as compared to $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2011.  This was primarily due to lower electric supply rates and improved energy efficiency at GSWC’s pumping facilities.

 

A decrease of $427,000 in the water supply cost balancing account provision during the three months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 was primarily due to a higher than adopted purchased water supply mix in Region I, creating a decrease in the MCBA account as compared to the second quarter of 2011.  In addition, certain surcharges related to supply cost balancing accounts expired in early 2012.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, the cost of power purchased for resale to customers in GSWC’s BVES division decreased to $2.7 million compared to $2.9 million for the same period in 2011.  For the three months ended June 30, 2012, BVES purchased seasonal energy in the spot market at an average price of $28.15 per megawatt hour (“MWh”), as compared to an average price of $34.28 in the spot market for the same period of 2011. In addition to the spot market, BVES purchases power at $67.90 per MWh under an existing purchased power contract. The difference between the price of purchased power and $77 per MWh as authorized by the CPUC is reflected in the electric supply cost balancing account.

 

Other Operation Expenses

 

The primary components of other operation expenses for GSWC include payroll, materials and supplies, chemicals and water treatment costs, and outside service costs of operating the regulated water systems, including the costs associated with water transmission and distribution, pumping, water quality, meter reading, billing, and operations of district offices.  Registrant’s electric and contracted services operations incur many of the same types of costs as well.  For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, other operation expenses by segment consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

5,600

 

$

5,294

 

$

306

 

5.8

%

Electric Services

 

603

 

556

 

47

 

8.5

%

Contracted Services

 

648

 

1,096

 

(448

)

-40.9

%

Total other operation expenses

 

$

6,851

 

$

6,946

 

$

(95

)

-1.4

%

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, other operation expenses for water services increased by $306,000 due primarily to an increase of $202,000 in costs related to conservation programs previously approved by the CPUC and included in rates.  In addition, there were increases in labor and other employee related benefits of $199,000 and water treatment costs of $217,000.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in other miscellaneous operation expenses.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Other operation expenses for contracted services decreased by $448,000 primarily due to an overall decrease in precontract costs during the three months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 due to a decrease in bidding related activities, particularly at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Bliss in Texas.

 

Administrative and General Expenses

 

Administrative and general expenses include payroll related to administrative and general functions, the related employee benefits charged to expense accounts, insurance expenses, outside legal and consulting fees, regulatory utility commission expenses, expenses associated with being a public company, and general corporate expenses. For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, administrative and general expenses by segment, including AWR (parent), consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

13,359

 

$

13,052

 

$

307

 

2.4

%

Electric Services

 

2,039

 

1,971

 

68

 

3.5

%

Contracted Services

 

2,378

 

2,715

 

(337

)

-12.4

%

AWR (parent)

 

16

 

2

 

14

 

700.0

%

Total administrative and general expenses

 

$

17,792

 

$

17,740

 

$

52

 

0.3

%

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, administrative and general expenses increased by $307,000 in water services compared to the three months ended June 30, 2011 due primarily to a $535,000 increase in labor costs and other employee related benefits, partially offset by decreases of $207,000 in legal and outside services costs and $21,000 of other miscellaneous administrative and general expenses.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, administrative and general expenses for contracted services decreased by $337,000 due primarily to an increase in the allocation of overhead expenses to construction costs and a reduced allocation to administrative and general expenses as compared to the same period in 2011 as a result of increased construction activities primarily at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 depreciation and amortization by segment consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

9,525

 

$

8,874

 

$

651

 

7.3

%

Electric Services

 

597

 

447

 

150

 

33.6

%

Contracted Services

 

285

 

217

 

68

 

31.3

%

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

10,407

 

$

9,538

 

$

869

 

9.1

%

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, depreciation and amortization expense for water and electric services increased by $801,000 to $10.1 million compared to $9.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 due to approximately $93.1 million of additions to utility plant during 2011.  Registrant believes that depreciation expense related to property additions approved by the CPUC will be recovered through rates.

 

35



Table of Contents

 

Maintenance

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, maintenance expense by segment consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

3,173

 

$

3,792

 

$

(619

)

-16.3

%

Electric Services

 

183

 

214

 

(31

)

-14.5

%

Contracted Services

 

496

 

617

 

(121

)

-19.6

%

Total maintenance

 

$

3,852

 

$

4,623

 

$

(771

)

-16.7

%

 

Maintenance expense for water services decreased by $619,000 due primarily to a decrease in planned and unplanned maintenance of Registrant’s water facilities, particularly in Region II and Region III.  Maintenance expenses are expected to increase in the second half of 2012 partially offsetting the lower second quarter costs.

 

Maintenance expense for contracted services decreased by $121,000 due primarily to a decrease in the need for maintenance of the Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries’ facilities.

 

Property and Other Taxes

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, property and other taxes by segment consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

3,143

 

$

2,916

 

$

227

 

7.8

%

Electric Services

 

212

 

197

 

15

 

7.6

%

Contracted Services

 

361

 

293

 

68

 

23.2

%

Total property and other taxes

 

$

3,716

 

$

3,406

 

$

310

 

9.1

%

 

Property and other taxes for water services increased by $227,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 due primarily to increases in property and payroll taxes.

 

ASUS Construction Expenses

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, construction expenses for contracted services were $14.9 million, increasing $2.4 million compared to the same period in 2011, due primarily to additional construction activity at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

 

36



Table of Contents

 

Interest Expense

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, interest expense by segment, including AWR (parent) consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

5,273

 

$

6,246

 

$

(973

)

-15.6

%

Electric Services

 

407

 

439

 

(32

)

-7.3

%

Contracted Services

 

40

 

143

 

(103

)

-72.0

%

AWR (parent)

 

 

41

 

(41

)

-100.0

%

Total interest expense

 

$

5,720

 

$

6,869

 

$

(1,149

)

-16.7

%

 

Overall, interest expense decreased by $1.1 million during the second quarter of 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 due to costs totaling $553,000 incurred in connection with the redemption of $22.0 million of GSWC’s 7.65% Medium-Term Notes during the second quarter of 2011.  In addition, in 2012 GSWC recorded a $381,000 reduction to interest expense in connection with the CPUC’s final decision on the water cost of capital proceeding, as further discussed under the Regulatory Matters section. Average bank loan balances outstanding under Registrant’s revolving credit facility for the three months ended June 30, 2012 were approximately $352,000, as compared to an average of $30.0 million during the same period of 2011. The average interest rates on short-term borrowings for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were approximately 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.

 

Interest Income

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, interest income by segment, including AWR (parent) consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

458

 

$

155

 

$

303

 

195.5

%

Electric Services

 

11

 

 

11

 

100.0

%

Contracted Services

 

 

2

 

(2

)

-100.0

%

AWR (parent)

 

26

 

4

 

22

 

550.0

%

Total interest income

 

$

495

 

$

161

 

$

334

 

207.5

%

 

Overall, interest income increased by $334,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 due primarily to changes in the settlement of refund claims currently under review by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Other

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2011, Registrant recorded other expenses of $289,000 primarily related to a loss incurred on one of Registrant’s investments.  No similar loss was incurred in 2012.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Income Tax Expense

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, income tax expense by segment, including AWR (parent), consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

3 Months

 

3 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

7,208

 

$

7,353

 

$

(145

)

-2.0

%

Electric Services

 

359

 

303

 

56

 

18.5

%

Contracted Services

 

2,313

 

1,713

 

600

 

35.0

%

AWR (parent)

 

(71

)

45

 

(116

)

-257.8

%

Total income tax expense

 

$

9,809

 

$

9,414

 

$

395

 

4.2

%

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, income tax expense for water and electric services decreased to $7.6 million compared to $7.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 due primarily to a decrease in the effective tax rate, partially offset by an increase in pretax income.  The effective tax rate (“ETR”) for GSWC was 40.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to 43.5% applicable to the three months ended June 30, 2011. The ETR deviates from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state taxes and differences between book and taxable income that are treated as flow-through adjustments in accordance with regulatory requirements (principally plant-, rate-case- and compensation-related items), and changes in permanent items.  Flow-through adjustments increase or decrease tax expense in one period, with an offsetting decrease or increase occurring in another period.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, income tax expense for contracted services increased to $2.3 million as compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 due to an increase in pretax income.  The ETR was 38.9% and 39.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Income from Discontinued Operations

 

Net income from discontinued operations for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $3.2 million, due primarily to the gain on sale of CCWC of $2.3 million, net of taxes and transaction costs, or $0.12 per share, recorded in May 2011.  Excluding the gain on sale, there was also net income of $974,000 from CCWC’s operations through the completion of the sale on May 31, 2011.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Consolidated Results of Operations — Six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water

 

$

146,843

 

$

144,477

 

$

2,366

 

1.6

%

Electric

 

19,186

 

18,434

 

752

 

4.1

%

Contracted services

 

54,930

 

41,225

 

13,705

 

33.2

%

Total operating revenues

 

220,959

 

204,136

 

16,823

 

8.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water purchased

 

23,383

 

21,585

 

1,798

 

8.3

%

Power purchased for pumping

 

3,575

 

3,701

 

(126

)

-3.4

%

Groundwater production assessment

 

7,305

 

6,512

 

793

 

12.2

%

Power purchased for resale

 

5,871

 

6,729

 

(858

)

-12.8

%

Supply cost balancing accounts

 

7,600

 

9,324

 

(1,724

)

-18.5

%

Other operation expenses

 

14,277

 

13,863

 

414

 

3.0

%

Administrative and general expenses

 

34,377

 

36,159

 

(1,782

)

-4.9

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,897

 

19,275

 

1,622

 

8.4

%

Maintenance

 

7,183

 

8,349

 

(1,166

)

-14.0

%

Property and other taxes

 

7,821

 

6,958

 

863

 

12.4

%

ASUS construction expenses

 

35,181

 

24,675

 

10,506

 

42.6

%

Net gain on sale of property

 

(3

)

(128

)

125

 

-97.7

%

Total operating expenses

 

167,467

 

157,002

 

10,465

 

6.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

53,492

 

47,134

 

6,358

 

13.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(11,790

)

(12,613

)

823

 

-6.5

%

Interest income

 

710

 

298

 

412

 

138.3

%

Other

 

216

 

(209

)

425

 

-203.3

%

 

 

(10,864

)

(12,524

)

1,660

 

-13.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

42,628

 

34,610

 

8,018

 

23.2

%

Income tax expense

 

17,435

 

14,927

 

2,508

 

16.8

%

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

25,193

 

19,683

 

5,510

 

28.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX

 

 

3,868

 

(3,868

)

-100.0

%

NET INCOME

 

$

25,193

 

$

23,551

 

$

1,642

 

7.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings from continuing operations

 

$

1.33

 

$

1.05

 

$

0.28

 

26.7

%

Basic earnings from discontinued operations

 

 

0.20

 

(0.20

)

-100.0

%

 

 

$

1.33

 

$

1.25

 

$

0.08

 

6.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings from continuing operations

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.05

 

$

0.27

 

25.7

%

Diluted earnings from discontinued operations

 

 

0.20

 

(0.20

)

-100.0

%

 

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.25

 

$

0.07

 

5.6

%

 

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Table of Contents

 

Operating Revenues

 

Water

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, revenues from water operations increased by $2.4 million to $146.8 million as compared to $144.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011.  The increase in water revenues is primarily due to CPUC-approved third year rate increases for Regions II and III effective January 1, 2012.

 

GSWC’s revenue requirement and volumetric revenues are adopted as part of a general rate case (“GRC”) every three years. GSWC filed a GRC for all three water regions in July of 2011 with rates expected to be effective January 2013.  As further discussed in the Regulatory Matters section, in June 2012 GSWC filed a motion to adopt a settlement agreement resolving most issues between GSWC, the CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates and The Utility Reform Network in connection with this GRC.

 

GSWC’s billed customer water usage increased by approximately 6% as compared to the same period in 2011, but was lower than adopted consumption.  Changes in consumption do not have a significant impact on earnings due to the CPUC-approved Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (“WRAM”) account in all three water regions. GSWC records the difference between what it bills its water customers and that which is authorized by the CPUC in the WRAM accounts.

 

Electric

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, revenues from electric operations increased by 4.1% to $19.2 million compared to $18.4 million for the same period in 2011 due primarily to increases in electric base rates approved by the CPUC effective January 1, 2012.

 

Billed electric usage for the six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased 2.8% as compared to the same period in 2011.  Due to the CPUC approved Base Revenue Requirement Adjustment Mechanism, which adjusts certain revenues to adopted levels authorized by the CPUC, this change in usage did not have a significant impact on earnings.

 

Contracted Services

 

Revenues from contracted services are composed of construction revenues (including renewals and replacements) and management fees for operating and maintaining the water and/or wastewater systems at military bases.  For the six months ended June 30, 2012, revenues from contracted services increased by $13.7 million, or 33.2%, to $54.9 million as compared to $41.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 primarily due to an increase in construction activities at Fort Bragg in North Carolina related to various projects, including a major water and wastewater pipeline replacement project.  This project is estimated to be completed in early 2014.  The increase in construction activities was partially offset by a $2.9 million increase in revenues recorded during the second quarter of 2011 due to a change in estimated costs related to the pipeline project at Fort Bragg. Contracted services continues to receive contract modifications from the U.S. government and agreements with third-party prime contractors for new construction projects at the Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries. The majority of the current new construction activity is expected to be performed during the next twelve months.  Earnings and cash flows from amendments and modifications to the original 50-year contracts with the U.S. government and agreements with third-party prime contractors for additional construction projects may or may not continue in future periods.

 

Registrant relies upon rate approvals by the CPUC to provide for a return on invested and borrowed capital used to fund utility plant, and price redeterminations and equitable adjustments by the U.S. government in order to recover operating expenses and profit margin. If adequate rate relief and price redeterminations and adjustments are not granted in a timely manner, operating revenues and earnings can be negatively impacted.  ASUS’ earnings are also impacted by additional construction projects at each of the Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Operating Expenses:

 

Supply Costs

 

Supply costs for the water segment consist of purchased water, purchased power for pumping, groundwater production assessments and water supply cost balancing accounts. Supply costs for the electric segment consist of power purchased for resale (including the cost of natural gas) and the electric supply cost balancing account. Water and electric gross margins are computed by taking total revenues, less total supply costs. Registrant uses these margins and related percentages as important measures in evaluating its operating results. Registrant believes these measures are useful internal benchmarks in evaluating the utility business performance within its water and electric segments. Registrant reviews these measurements regularly and compares them to historical periods and to its operating budget. However, these measures, which are not presented in accordance with GAAP, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities and should not be considered as alternatives to operating income, which is determined in accordance with GAAP, as an indicator of operating performance.

 

Total supply costs comprise the largest segment of total operating expenses. Supply costs accounted for approximately 28.5% and 30.5% of total operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

The table below provides the amount of increases (decreases), percent changes in supply costs, and margins during the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

WATER OPERATING REVENUES (1)

 

$

146,843

 

$

144,477

 

$

2,366

 

1.6

%

WATER SUPPLY COSTS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water purchased (1)

 

$

23,383

 

$

21,585

 

$

1,798

 

8.3

%

Power purchased for pumping (1)

 

3,575

 

3,701

 

(126

)

-3.4

%

Groundwater production assessment (1)

 

7,305

 

6,512

 

793

 

12.2

%

Water supply cost balancing accounts (1)

 

5,605

 

7,823

 

(2,218

)

-28.4

%

TOTAL WATER SUPPLY COSTS

 

$

39,868

 

$

39,621

 

$

247

 

0.6

%

WATER GROSS MARGIN (2)

 

$

106,975

 

$

104,856

 

$

2,119

 

2.0

%

PERCENT MARGIN - WATER

 

72.8

%

72.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTRIC OPERATING REVENUES (1)

 

$

19,186

 

$

18,434

 

$

752

 

4.1

%

ELECTRIC SUPPLY COSTS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power purchased for resale (1)

 

$

5,871

 

$

6,729

 

$

(858

)

-12.8

%

Electric supply cost balancing accounts (1)

 

1,995

 

1,501

 

494

 

32.9

%

TOTAL ELECTRIC SUPPLY COSTS

 

$

7,866

 

$

8,230

 

$

(364

)

-4.4

%

ELECTRIC GROSS MARGIN (2)

 

$

11,320

 

$

10,204

 

$

1,116

 

10.9

%

PERCENT MARGIN - ELECTRIC

 

59.0

%

55.4

%

 

 

 

 

 


(1)                                  As reported on AWR’s Consolidated Statements of Income, except for supply cost balancing accounts. The sum of water and electric supply cost balancing accounts in the table above are shown on AWR’s Consolidated Statements of Income and totaled $7,600,000 and $9,324,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

(2)                                  Water and electric margins do not include any depreciation and amortization, maintenance, administrative and general, property and other taxes, or other operation expenses.

 

Two of the principal factors affecting water supply costs and gross margin are the amount of water produced and the source of the water. Generally, the variable cost of producing water from wells is less than the cost of water purchased from wholesale suppliers.  Under the modified cost balancing account (“MCBA”), GSWC tracks adopted and actual expense levels for purchased water, purchased power and pump taxes, as established by the CPUC. GSWC records the variances (which include the effects of changes in both rate and volume) between adopted and actual purchased water, purchased power, and pump tax expenses. GSWC recovers from or refunds to customers the amount of such variances.  GSWC tracks these variances individually for each water ratemaking area.

 

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Table of Contents

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, 34.6% of GSWC’s water supply mix was purchased as compared to 34.2% purchased for the six months ended June 30, 2011.  However, GSWC implemented the MCBA for all its water regions which eliminates the effects of changes in the water supply mix on earnings.  The overall adopted percentages of purchased water for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was approximately 40.8% as compared to overall actual purchased water of 34.6%.  The difference in actual mix compared to the mix approved by the CPUC resulted in an over-collection in the MCBA account. The overall water margin percent was 72.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to 72.6% in the same period of 2011.

 

Purchased water costs for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased to $23.4 million as compared to $21.6 million in the same period of 2011 primarily due to higher water rates charged by wholesale suppliers and an overall increase in the amount of water purchased.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, power purchased for pumping decreased slightly to $3.6 million as compared to $3.7 million for the same period of 2011.  This was primarily due to lower electric supply rates and improved energy efficiency at GSWC’s pumping facilities.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, groundwater production assessments were $793,000 higher when compared to the same period in 2011 due to additional assessment rates levied.  Due to the MCBA account, these additional assessments do not impact the dollar water margin. The MCBA tracks the increases in pump tax rates for future recovery in water rates.

 

A decrease of $2.2 million in the water supply cost balancing account provision during the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 was primarily due to a decrease in the over-collection tracked in the MCBA account from higher water supply rates and a higher percentage of purchased water as compared to the same period in 2011.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, the cost of power purchased for resale to customers in GSWC’s BVES division decreased 12.8% to $5.9 million as compared $6.7 million for the same period of 2011 due primarily to lower energy prices purchased in the spot market in 2012 as compared to the same period of 2011. The difference between the price of purchased power and $77 per MWh as authorized by the CPUC is reflected in the electric supply cost balancing account.

 

Other Operation Expenses

 

The primary components of other operation expenses include payroll, materials and supplies, chemicals and water treatment, and outside service costs of operating the continuing regulated water systems, including the costs associated with water transmission and distribution, pumping, water quality, meter reading, billing, and operations of district offices.  Registrant’s electric and contracted services operations incur many of the same types of costs as well.  For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, other operation expenses by segment consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

11,689

 

$

10,471

 

$

1,218

 

11.6

%

Electric Services

 

1,162

 

1,105

 

57

 

5.2

%

Contracted Services

 

1,426

 

2,287

 

(861

)

-37.6

%

Total other operation expenses

 

$

14,277

 

$

13,863

 

$

414

 

3.0

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, other operation expenses for water services increased by $1.2 million as compared to the same period in 2011 primarily due to: (i) an increase of $696,000 in outside services costs related to conservation programs previously approved by the CPUC and included in rates; (ii) an increase of $426,000 in bad debt expense, and; (iii) a $312,000 increase in labor and related benefits costs.  These increases were partially offset by a $216,000 decrease in other miscellaneous operation expenses.

 

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Table of Contents

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, other operation expenses for contracted services decreased by $861,000 as compared to the same period in 2011, due largely to a decrease in precontract costs for design and engineering labor incurred for potential new construction projects primarily at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

 

Administrative and General Expenses

 

Administrative and general expenses include payroll related to administrative and general functions, all employee benefits charged to expense accounts, insurance expenses, outside legal and consulting fees, regulatory utility commission expenses, expenses associated with being a public company, and general corporate expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, administrative and general expenses by segment, including AWR (parent), consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

26,032

 

$

26,060

 

$

(28

)

-0.1

%

Electric Services

 

2,819

 

4,061

 

(1,242

)

-30.6

%

Contracted Services

 

5,431

 

5,985

 

(554

)

-9.3

%

AWR (parent)

 

95

 

53

 

42

 

79.2

%

Total administrative and general expenses

 

$

34,377

 

$

36,159

 

$

(1,782

)

-4.9

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, administrative and general expenses remained flat for water services compared to the six months ended June 30, 2011.  Increases in labor and other employee related costs of $1.2 million were offset by decreases in legal and other administrative and general expenses of approximately $1.1 million.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, administrative and general expenses for electric services decreased by $1.2 million compared to the six months ended June 30, 2011 due to the CPUC’s approval in March 2012 for BVES to recover $1.2 million of previously incurred legal and outside service costs in connection with its efforts to procure renewable energy resources.  As a result, in March 2012 BVES recorded a $1.2 million reduction in legal and outside services for these costs which had previously been expensed as incurred.

 

Administrative and general expenses for contracted services decreased by $554,000 due primarily to an increase in allocation of overhead expenses to construction costs as compared to the same period in 2011 as a result of increased construction activities primarily at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, depreciation and amortization by segment consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

19,122

 

$

17,830

 

$

1,292

 

7.2

%

Electric Services

 

1,220

 

1,007

 

213

 

21.2

%

Contracted Services

 

555

 

438

 

117

 

26.7

%

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

20,897

 

$

19,275

 

$

1,622

 

8.4

%

 

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Table of Contents

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, depreciation and amortization expense for water and electric services increased by $1.5 million to $20.3 million compared to $18.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 primarily due to approximately $93.1 million of additions to utility plant during 2011.  Registrant believes that depreciation expense related to property additions approved by the CPUC will be recovered through rates.

 

There was also an increase in depreciation and amortization expense for contracted services due to the addition of fixed assets.

 

Maintenance

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, maintenance expense by segment consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

5,977

 

$

6,556

 

$

(579

)

-8.8

%

Electric Services

 

319

 

434

 

(115

)

-26.5

%

Contracted Services

 

887

 

1,359

 

(472

)

-34.7

%

Total maintenance

 

$

7,183

 

$

8,349

 

$

(1,166

)

-14.0

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, maintenance expense for water services decreased $579,000 to $6.0 million compared to $6.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 primarily due to a decrease in both planned and unplanned maintenance at GSWC’s water facilities in Region II and Region III. Maintenance costs are expected to increase in the second half of 2012 partially offsetting the lower costs for the first six months of the year.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, maintenance expense for electric services decreased by $115,000 due primarily to a decrease in tree trimming maintenance as compared to the same period in 2011.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, maintenance expense for contracted services decreased by $472,000 due primarily to a decrease in the need for maintenance performed primarily at Fort Bragg as compared to the same period in 2011.

 

Property and Other Taxes

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, property and other taxes by segment consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

6,638

 

$

5,856

 

$

782

 

13.4

%

Electric Services

 

460

 

416

 

44

 

10.6

%

Contracted Services

 

723

 

686

 

37

 

5.4

%

Total property and other taxes

 

$

7,821

 

$

6,958

 

$

863

 

12.4

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, property and other taxes for water services increased by $782,000 primarily due to increases in franchise fees and property taxes.

 

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ASUS Construction Expenses

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, construction expenses for contracted services were $35.2 million, increasing by $10.5 million compared to the same period in 2011, due primarily to increased construction activity at Fort Bragg.

 

Interest Expense

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, interest expense by segment, including AWR (parent) consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

10,877

 

$

11,482

 

$

(605

)

-5.3

%

Electric Services

 

812

 

816

 

(4

)

-0.5

%

Contracted Services

 

99

 

228

 

(129

)

-56.6

%

AWR (parent)

 

2

 

87

 

(85

)

-97.7

%

Total interest expense

 

$

11,790

 

$

12,613

 

$

(823

)

-6.5

%

 

Overall, interest expense decreased by $823,000 due primarily to costs totaling $553,000 incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2011 related to the redemption of $22.0 million of GSWC’s 7.65% Medium-Term Notes. No such costs were incurred during 2012.  Also, in 2012 GSWC recorded a $381,000 reduction to interest expense in connection with the CPUC’s final decision on the water cost of capital proceeding, as further discussed under the Regulatory Matters section.  These decreases were partially offset by additional interest expense related to $62.0 million of 6% senior notes issued in April 2011. Average bank loan balances outstanding under Registrant’s revolving credit facility for the six months ended June 30, 2012 were approximately $1.8 million, as compared to an average of $45.5 million during the same period of 2011. The average interest rates on short-term borrowings for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were approximately 1.5%.

 

Interest Income

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, interest income by segment, including AWR (parent) consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

656

 

$

290

 

$

366

 

126.2

%

Electric Services

 

23

 

0

 

23

 

100.0

%

Contracted Services

 

5

 

3

 

2

 

66.7

%

AWR (parent)

 

26

 

5

 

21

 

420.0

%

Total interest income

 

$

710

 

$

298

 

$

412

 

138.3

%

 

Interest income increased by $412,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 primarily as a result of changes in the settlement of refund claims currently under review by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Other

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, Registrant recorded a gain of $216,000 on investments held in a Rabbi Trust for the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.  For the six months ended June 30, 2011, Registrant recorded other expenses of $209,000 primarily related to a loss incurred on one of Registrant’s investments.

 

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Income Tax Expense

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, income tax expense by segment, including AWR (parent), consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

6 Months

 

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

6/30/2012

 

6/30/2011

 

CHANGE

 

CHANGE

 

Water Services

 

$

11,563

 

$

11,741

 

$

(178

)

-1.5

%

Electric Services

 

1,759

 

1,049

 

710

 

67.7

%

Contracted Services

 

4,143

 

2,166

 

1,977

 

91.3

%

AWR (parent)

 

(30

)

(29

)

(1

)

3.4

%

Total income tax expense

 

$

17,435

 

$

14,927

 

$

2,508

 

16.8

%

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, income tax expense for water and electric services increased to $13.3 million compared to $12.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 due primarily to an increase in pretax income, partially offset by a decrease in the effective tax rate.  The effective tax rate (“ETR”) for GSWC for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 41.6% as compared to a 44.1% ETR applicable to the six months ended June 30, 2011.  The ETR deviates from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state taxes and changes between book and taxable income that are treated as flow-through adjustments in accordance with regulatory requirements (principally plant-, rate-case- and compensation-related items), and changes in permanent items.  Flow-through adjustments increase or decrease tax expense in one period, with an offsetting decrease or increase occurring in another period.

 

Income tax expense for contracted services increased $1.9 million to $4.1 million compared to $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 due primarily to an increase in pretax income.  The ETR for contracted services for both the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was 38.9%.

 

Income from Discontinued Operations

 

Net income from discontinued operations for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $3.9 million, due primarily to the gain on sale of CCWC of $2.3 million, net of taxes and transaction costs, or $0.12 per share.  Excluding the gain on sale, there was also net income of $1.6 million from CCWC’s operations from the five months of operations in 2011 until the completion of the sale on May 31, 2011.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Critical accounting policies and estimates are those that are important to the portrayal of Registrant’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments of Registrant’s management. The need to make estimates about the effect of items that are uncertain is what makes these judgments difficult, subjective and/or complex. Management makes subjective judgments about the accounting and regulatory treatment of many items. These judgments are based on Registrant’s historical experience, terms of existing contracts, Registrant’s observance of trends in the industry, and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

The critical accounting policies used in the preparation of the Registrant’s financial statements that it believes affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements presented in this report are described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” included in Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. There have been no material changes to Registrant’s critical accounting policies.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

AWR

 

Registrant’s regulated business is capital intensive and requires considerable capital resources. A portion of these capital resources are provided by internally generated cash flows from operations. When necessary, Registrant obtains funds from external sources in the capital markets and through bank borrowings. Access to external financing on reasonable terms depends on the credit ratings of AWR and GSWC and current business conditions, including that of the water utility industry in general as well as conditions in the debt or equity capital markets. Registrant also has access to a revolving credit facility that is currently utilized to support operations.  Under the Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which expires on May 27, 2013, the maximum amount that may be borrowed under this facility is $100.0 million.  AWR may, under the terms of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, elect to increase the aggregate bank commitments by up to $40.0 million.  The aggregate effective amount that may be outstanding under letters of credit is $25.0 million. As of June 30, 2012, there were no borrowings under this facility and $18.2 million of letters of credit were outstanding.  As of June 30, 2012, AWR had $81.8 million available to borrow under the credit facility.

 

In July 2012, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) affirmed the ‘A+’ corporate credit rating on AWR and GSWC with a stable outlook.  S&P debt ratings range from AAA (highest rating possible) to D (obligation is in default).  Securities ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold a security and are subject to change or withdrawal at any time by the rating agency.  Pursuant to the revolving credit facility agreement, the “A+ stable” credit rating results in an interest rate spread on the facility of 125 basis points. Registrant believes that AWR’s sound capital structure and “A+ stable” credit rating, combined with its financial discipline, will enable AWR to access the debt and/or equity markets.  However, unpredictable financial market conditions in the future may limit its access or impact the timing of when to access the market, in which case, Registrant may choose to temporarily reduce its capital spending.  Registrant estimates capital expenditures for 2012 to be approximately $70 - $80 million.

 

AWR’s shelf Registration Statement expires on August 21, 2012.  Prior to the expiration of this Registration Statement, AWR plans to file another Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the sale from time to time of debt and equity securities.

 

AWR funds its operating expenses and pays dividends on its outstanding common shares primarily through dividends from GSWC and through proceeds from equity issuances not invested in subsidiaries.  The ability of GSWC to pay dividends to AWR is restricted by California law. Under these restrictions, approximately $164.4 million was available on June 30, 2012 to pay dividends to AWR.

 

Registrant has paid common dividends for over 75 consecutive years.  On July 31, 2012, AWR declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.355 per Common Share. The dividend, totaling approximately $6.7 million, will be paid on or about September 1, 2012 to common shareholders of record at the close of business on August 13, 2012.  AWR’s ability to pay cash dividends on its Common Shares outstanding depends primarily upon cash flows from GSWC. AWR presently intends to continue paying quarterly cash dividends in the future, on or about March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, subject to earnings and financial condition, regulatory requirements and such other factors as the Board of Directors may deem relevant.

 

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AWR anticipates that interest costs will increase in future periods due to the need for additional external capital to fund its construction program. AWR believes that costs associated with capital used to fund construction projects at GSWC will continue to be recovered in water and electric rates charged to customers.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

Cash flows from operating activities have generally been sufficient to meet operating requirements and a portion of capital expenditure requirements. Registrant’s future cash flows from operating activities will be affected by a number of factors, including utility regulation; infrastructure investment; maintenance expenses; inflation; compliance with environmental, health and safety standards; production costs; customer growth; per customer usage of water and electricity; weather and seasonality; compliance with local governmental requirements and required cash contributions to pension and post-retirement plans.  In addition, future cash flows from non-regulated subsidiaries will depend on new business activities, including military base operations and the construction of new and/or replacement infrastructure at military bases, timely redetermination of prices and equitable adjustments of prices and timely collection of payments from the U.S. government.

 

Cash flows from operating activities are primarily generated by net income, adjusted for non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, and deferred income taxes.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $63.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to $32.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011.  There was an increase in cash flows from operating activities at ASUS of approximately $19 million due primarily to higher construction activity at Fort Bragg and the timely collection of amounts billed for construction work.  There was also an increase in GSWC’s operating cash flows due to rate increases approved by the CPUC, including surcharges to recover previously recorded regulatory assets. GSWC currently has surcharges in place to recover approximately $31.6 million included in its WRAM, net of MCBA accounts, as of June 30, 2012.  The timing of cash receipts and disbursements related to other working capital items also affected the changes in net cash provided by operating activities.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $29.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2011. Cash flows from investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2011 included $29.0 million in cash received in connection with the sale of CCWC.

 

Registrant intends to invest in capital to provide essential services to its regulated customer base, while working with its regulators to have the opportunity to earn a fair rate of return on investment. Registrant’s infrastructure investment plan consists of both infrastructure renewal programs, where infrastructure is replaced, as needed, and major capital investment projects, where new water treatment and delivery facilities are constructed.  GSWC may also be required from time to time to relocate existing infrastructure in order to accommodate local infrastructure improvement projects.  Projected capital expenditures and other investments are subject to periodic review and revision to reflect changes in economic conditions and other factors.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

Registrant’s financing activities include primarily: (i) the issuance of common shares, and short-term and long-term debt; (ii) the repayment of long-term debt and notes payable to banks; (iii) proceeds from stock option exercises; and (iv) the payment of dividends on common shares.  In order to finance new infrastructure, Registrant also receives customer advances for and contributions in aid of construction (net of refunds).  Short-term borrowings are used to fund capital expenditures until long-term financing is arranged.

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to $17.5 million for the same period in 2011 due primarily to the decrease in short-term borrowings.  Due to an increase in cash flows from operations, AWR was able to use the funds to pay down its short-term borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

 

GSWC

 

GSWC funds the majority of its operating expenses, payments on its debt, and dividends on its outstanding common shares and a portion of its construction expenditures through internal sources. Internal sources of cash flow are provided primarily by retention of a portion of earnings from operating activities. Internal cash generation is influenced by factors such as weather patterns, environmental regulation, litigation, changes in supply costs and regulatory decisions affecting GSWC’s ability to recover these supply costs, timing of rate relief, increases in maintenance expenses and capital expenditures.  As of June 30, 2012, GSWC had $100.0 million available for issuance of debt securities under a Registration Statement filed with the SEC in November 2011.  During the six months ended June 30, 2012, GSWC was able to fund its operations and its capital expenditures through cash generated from operating activities.

 

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GSWC relies on external sources, including equity investments and short-term borrowings from AWR, and long-term debt from time to time to help fund a portion of its construction expenditures.  In addition, GSWC receives advances and contributions from customers, home builders and real estate developers to fund construction necessary to extend service to new areas. Advances for construction are generally refundable at a rate of 2.5% in equal annual installments over 40 years.  Amounts which are no longer refundable are reclassified to contributions in aid of construction. Utility plant funded by advances and contributions is excluded from rate base. Generally, GSWC depreciates contributed property and amortizes contributions in aid of construction at the composite rate of the related property.

 

As is often the case with public utilities, GSWC’s current liabilities may at times exceed its current assets.  Management believes that internally-generated funds along with the short-term borrowings under AWR’s existing credit facility and the proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt and common shares issuances to AWR will be adequate to provide sufficient working capital to enable GSWC to maintain normal operations and to meet its capital and financing requirements pending recovery of costs in rates.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $45.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to $33.1 million for the same period in 2011.  As previously discussed, this increase was due primarily to higher rates in effect, as well as surcharges in place to collect the WRAM under-collections in all of GSWC’s water regions.  GSWC currently has surcharges in place to recover approximately $31.6 million included in its WRAM, net of MCBA, accounts as of June 30, 2012.  The timing of cash receipts and disbursements related to other working capital items also affected the changes in net cash provided by operating activities.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $28.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to $36.6 million for the same period in 2011, which is consistent with GSWC’s 2012 capital investment program. GSWC is expected to incur capital expenditures in 2012 of approximately $70 - $80 million primarily for upgrades to its water supply and distribution facilities.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $10.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to cash provided by financing activities of $4.5 million for the same period in 2011.  As a result of the increase in cash generated from operations, GSWC did not have any intercompany borrowings and was able to pay dividends to AWR.

 

ASUS

 

ASUS funds its operating expenses primarily through internal operating sources and investments by, or loans from, AWR.  ASUS, in turn, provides funding to its subsidiaries.

 

Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments

 

Registrant has various contractual obligations which are recorded as liabilities in the consolidated financial statements. Other items, such as certain purchase commitments and operating leases are not recognized as liabilities in the consolidated financial statements, but are required to be disclosed. In addition to contractual maturities, Registrant has certain debt instruments that contain annual sinking fund or other principal payments. Registrant believes that it will be able to refinance debt instruments at their maturity through public issuance, or private placement, of debt or equity. Annual principal and interest payments are generally made from cash flow from operations.

 

In October 2009, GSWC entered into an agreement with the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) whereby CDPH agreed to loan GSWC up to $9.0 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”).  Proceeds of the loan will be used to reimburse GSWC for the costs of retrofitting 6,228 water meters.  Pursuant to the agreement, as reimbursements are filed, GSWC will issue letters of credit to CDPH equal to 80% of the amount loaned to GSWC (up to an aggregate of $7.2 million).  In March 2012, GSWC filed a $6.8 million request for reimbursement with the CDPH.  In June 2012, GSWC received $2.0 million in ARRA funds from CDPH, a portion of which was recorded as contributions and the remainder of which was recorded as long term debt.

 

There have been no other material changes to AWR’s contractual obligations and other commitments since December 31, 2011. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Off Balance Sheet Arrangements” section of the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2011 for a detailed discussion of contractual obligations and other commitments.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Contracted Services

 

The timely receipt of price redeterminations continues to be critical in order for ASUS to recover increasing costs of operating and maintaining, and renewing and replacing the water and/or wastewater systems at the military bases.  In addition, higher expenses from the corporate office and ASUS headquarters allocated to the Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries were not contemplated at the time the contracts with the U.S. government were negotiated and are being addressed in current outstanding and future price redeterminations. Under the terms of these contracts, each contract price is subject to price redetermination two years after commencement of operations and every three years thereafter, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.  In the event that ASUS is: (i) managing more assets at specific military bases than were included in the U.S. government’s request for proposal; (ii) managing assets that are in substandard condition as compared to what is disclosed in the request for proposal; or (iii) becomes subject to new regulatory requirements such as more stringent water quality standards, ASUS is permitted to file, and has filed, requests for equitable adjustment.

 

The timing of future filings of price redeterminations may be impacted by government actions, including audits by the Defense Contract Audit Agency.  At times, our filing of price redetermination and requests for equitable adjustment may be postponed pending the outcomes of these audits.

 

Below is a summary of price redetermination and requests for equitable adjustment filings by subsidiaries of ASUS.

 

·                  FBWS — In connection with the inventory settlement with the U.S. government reached in January 2010, FBWS and the government agreed to waive the first and second price redeterminations for Fort Bliss required under the original 50-year contract. The third price redetermination, for the three-year period beginning October 1, 2012, was filed on July 16, 2012.

 

·                  TUS —The first price redetermination for Andrews Air Force Base was filed in December 2007.  The U.S. government has agreed in principle with TUS’ settlement position for this redetermination, which would provide an increase of 7% to the operations and maintenance fee and an increase of 15% to the renewal and replacement fee compared to the interim adjustment in effect since August 2010 (and retroactive to February 2008).  Final modification for funding is pending government approval.

 

·                  ODUS — The second price redetermination for the Fort Lee privatization contract in Virginia, for the three-year period beginning February 2011, was filed in May 2012 and the the second price redetermination for the other bases that ODUS operates in Virginia, for the three-year period beginning April 2011, was filed on July 30, 2012.

 

·                  PSUS — In February 2012, PSUS filed the first price redetermination for Fort Jackson, to be effective beginning February 16, 2010.  Pending resolution of this filing, an interim increase of 3.4%, retroactive to February 2010, is currently in effect.

 

·                  ONUS - In March 2012, ONUS received a contract modification regarding installation of new water meters at Fort Bragg.  The contract modification provided for a reduction in the number of water meters to be installed, and the price associated with this revised scope. This $11.0 million project commenced during the second quarter and is being performed in conjunction with a backflow preventor installation.  The meter and backflow preventor installations are expected to be completed by the end of 2013. In April 2012, ONUS received a contract modification affirming that ONUS will be able to retain the full amount of the cost savings from the use of an alternative pipe replacement technology. This modification and revision in cost estimates resulted in additional pretax operating income of $820,000. In December 2011, ONUS filed the first price redetermination for Fort Bragg, to be effective beginning March 1, 2010. Pending resolution of this filing, an interim increase of 3.6%, retroactive to March 2010, is currently in effect.

 

Price redeterminations and equitable adjustments, which include adjustments to reflect changes in operating conditions and infrastructure levels from that assumed at the time of the execution of the contracts, as well as inflation in costs, are expected to provide added revenues to help offset increased costs and provide Registrant the opportunity to continue to generate positive operating income at its Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Regulatory Matters

 

Recent Changes in Rates

 

Rate changes in 2012:

 

In July 2012, the CPUC issued a final decision on GSWC’s cost of capital proceeding filed in May 2011. The decision approves the settlement agreement entered into between GSWC, along with three other California water utilities, and the CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates (“DRA”) in November 2011. The approved settlement authorizes a Return on Equity (“ROE”) of 9.99% and a rate-making capital structure for GSWC of 55% equity and 45% debt. The weighted cost of capital (return on rate base), with an updated embedded debt cost and the settlement ROE, is 8.64%. The new rate of return authorized by the CPUC’s final decision will be implemented into water rates retroactive to January 1, 2012. Among other things, the final decision requires GSWC to refund to customers approximately $408,000, representing the settled amount included in the interest rate balancing account.  GSWC had estimated $789,000 would be refunded to customers.  This estimate was recorded in the interest rate balancing account.  As a result of the CPUC’s decision, GSWC recorded a $381,000 reduction in interest expense in the second quarter of 2012 and discontinued the interest rate balancing account. GSWC will refund the $408,000 to customers through a one-time surcredit.

 

The CPUC decision also authorized GSWC to continue the Water Cost of Capital Mechanism (“WCCM”).  The WCCM adjusts ROE and rate of return on rate base between the three-year cost of capital proceedings only if there is a positive or negative change of more than 100 basis points in the average of the Moody’s Aa utility bond rate as measured over the period October 1 through September 30.  If the average Moody’s rate for this period changes by over 100 basis points from the benchmark, the ROE will be adjusted by one half of the difference.  For the first 10-months of the period, the rate has declined by more than 100 basis points from the benchmark. Based upon this data, at this time GSWC expects that it will have to lower its ROE by about 50 to 60 basis points, effective January 1, 2013.

 

In January 2012, the CPUC approved rate increases for Regions I, II and III effective January 1, 2012. The authorized rate increases represent increases of approximately $2.0 million for Region II and $3.0 million for Region III over 2011 adopted revenues. The rate increases for Region I are not material.

 

In January 2012, the CPUC approved the phase-in rate increase for BVES effective January 1, 2012.  The authorized rate increase is expected to provide GSWC with additional annual revenues of approximately $681,000, which includes BVES’ portion of the general office allocation.

 

Rate changes in 2011:

 

In January 2011, the CPUC approved rate increases for Region II and Region III effective January 1, 2011.  The authorized rate increases represented increases of approximately $1.6 million for Region II, and approximately $2.4 million for Region III as compared to 2010 adopted revenues. These additional revenues were based upon normalized sales levels approved by the CPUC, effective January 1, 2011.

 

In January 2011, the CPUC approved rate increases for BVES effective January 1, 2011.  The authorized rate increase provided GSWC with additional annual revenues of approximately $209,000 for BVES.  In addition, the CPUC authorized rate increases to cover higher general office costs allocated to BVES.  This added additional revenues to BVES of $1.4 million in 2011 as compared to 2010.

 

In December 2010, the CPUC issued a final decision on GSWC’s Region I rate case, approving revenue increases for 2011 and 2012. On a year to year basis, the increase in 2011 revenues represented an increase of approximately $3.6 million over 2010 adopted revenues. The CPUC also authorized approximately $18.5 million of capital projects to be filed for revenue recovery with advice letters when those projects are completed. During the time that such projects are under development and construction, GSWC may accrue an allowance for funds used during construction on the accrued expenditures to offset the cost of financing project construction. A portion of these projects was completed in 2011. The remaining projects are expected to be completed during 2012 and 2013.

 

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Pending General Rate Case Requests

 

GSWC

 

On June 21, 2012, GSWC filed a motion to adopt a settlement agreement between GSWC, the DRA, and The Utility Reform Network (“TURN”) in connection with the water General Rate Case (“GRC”) filing made in July 2011.  The proposed settlement, if approved by the CPUC, resolves almost all of the issues in the GRC application and would generate approximately $9 million in additional annual revenues starting in 2013 as compared to 2012 adopted revenues. The proposed rate increases for 2014 over 2013 are $8 million or 3%, and the 2015 proposed rate increases over 2014 amount to $6.5 million, or 2%.  While the increase in 2013 revenues would be $9 million under the settlement agreement, the increase in the adopted water gross margin is approximately $18 million, or 8.4%, when compared to the 2012 adopted water gross margin.  Supply costs, which are a pass-through, are projected to decrease by approximately $9 million in 2013 as compared to 2012 adopted supply costs resulting primarily from lower customer consumption as compared to 2012 adopted consumption levels.  In addition, the CPUC requested GSWC, DRA and TURN to file additional testimony to justify the reasonableness of the Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (“WRAM”) and address the CPUC’s questions regarding the WRAM. In July 2012, all three parties filed additional testimony addressing the WRAM.  The settlement agreement for the GRC is subject to an acceptable resolution regarding the WRAM matter.

 

In February 2012, GSWC filed its BVES rate case for rates in years 2013 through 2016. If rates are approved as filed, the rate increases are expected to generate approximately $1.3 million in annual revenues starting in 2013. The proposed rate increases for 2014 over 2013 are $1.9 million, the 2015 proposed rate increases over 2014 amount to $1.3 million, and the 2016 proposed rate increases over 2015 amount to $1.3 million.

 

Other Regulatory Matters

 

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Regulatory Matters” section of the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2011 for a detailed discussion of other regulatory matters.

 

Finance Application

 

In July 2012, GSWC filed with the CPUC an application requesting authorization for it to issue, sell and deliver, by public offering or private placement, securities not exceeding $225.0 million in aggregate offering amount, consisting of, but not limited to, common shares and preferred shares, bonds, debentures, medium-term notes, loans and tax exempt debt. GSWC expects to use the net proceeds from the issuance of securities to first pay down all or a portion of its then outstanding short-term debt and fund its construction expenditures.  GSWC expects the CPUC will approve this application in 2012 or early 2013.

 

Alternative Revenue Mechanisms:

 

GSWC records the difference between what it bills its water customers and that which is authorized by the CPUC using the WRAM. GSWC also records the difference between adopted and actual expense levels for purchased water, purchased power and pump taxes, as established by the CPUC, using the Modified Cost Balancing Account (“MCBA”) accounts.  GSWC has implemented surcharges to recover its WRAM balances, net of the MCBA. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, surcharges of $4.2 million and $7.6 million, respectively, were billed to customers to decrease previously incurred under-collections in the WRAM, net of MCBA accounts.  As of June 30, 2012, GSWC has a net aggregated regulatory asset of $38.3 million which is comprised of a $61.1 million under-collection in the WRAM accounts and $22.8 million over-collection in the MCBA accounts.

 

Based on CPUC guidelines, recovery periods relating to GSWC’s WRAM/MCBA balances range between 12 and 36 months, with the majority being 24 months.  As required by the accounting guidance for alternative revenue programs, GSWC is required to collect its WRAM, net of its MCBA, within 24 months following the year in which they are recorded.  In September 2010, GSWC, along with other California water utilities, filed an application with the CPUC to modify the recovery period of its WRAM and MCBA to 18 months or less.  In April 2012, the CPUC issued a final decision which, among other things, sets the recovery period for under-collection balances that are up to 15% of adopted annual revenues at 18 months or less.  For under-collection balances greater than 15%, the recovery period is 19 to 36 months. GSWC does not currently have any balances over 15% of adopted annual revenues. In addition to adopting a new amortization schedule, the final decision sets a cap on total net WRAM/MCBA surcharges in any given calendar year of 10% of the last authorized revenue requirement. The cap becomes effective following the first test year of each applicant’s pending or next general rate case.  For GSWC, the cap will be applied to its 2013 WRAM balances filed in early 2014.  The cap requirement set forth in the final decision will not impact GSWC’s 2012 and prior year WRAM/MCBA balances. Surcharges are currently in place to recover the WRAM/MCBA balances from 2009, 2010 and 2011.

 

In June 2012, the CPUC approved surcharges for recovery of the 2011 Base Revenue Requirement Adjustment Mechanism (“BRRAM”) balance. The CPUC approved a 36-month surcharge, with the amounts collected through December 2013 to be applied to the 2011 BRRAM under-collection.  Surcharges collected during the remainder of the 36-month period would be for recovery of a $1.6 million increase in the BVES revenue requirement representing the difference between the allocated general office costs authorized by the CPUC in its November 2010 decision on the Region II, Region III and general office rate case, and what is currently in BVES’ rates for allocated general office costs.  As authorized by the CPUC, the $1.6 million was included in the BRRAM for recovery through the surcharge; however, these costs are not considered an alternative revenue program.

 

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Bear Valley Electric Service:

 

In January 2010, the City of Big Bear and surrounding areas of San Bernardino County experienced a series of snow storms, which damaged BVES power lines, poles, transformers, and other facilities and caused temporary interruption of service to some BVES customers.  As a result of these storms, BVES incurred additional operating costs to repair equipment and restore electric service to its customers, which were tracked in a catastrophic event memorandum account (“CEMA”).  In June 2011, GSWC filed for recovery of the CEMA account related to the storm damage and also for the remaining unrecovered balance for costs incurred from 2003 through 2005 related to a bark beetle infestation in its BVES service area.  In June 2012, the CPUC approved a 12-month surcharge to recover $796,000 recorded in BVES’s CEMA accounts.

 

GSWC’s BVES division has been regularly filing compliance reports with the CPUC regarding its purchases of energy from renewable energy resources to meet the renewable portfolio standard (“RPS”).  Previous filings under prior RPS laws had indicated that BVES had not achieved annual target purchase levels of renewable energy resources and thus, on its face, might be subject to a potential penalty.  However, a new RPS law went into effect in December 2011 which modified, among other things, the prior RPS requirement based upon annual procurement targets to multi-year procurement targets.  Under the new RPS law, BVES must procure sufficient RPS-eligible resources to meet (i) any RPS procurement requirement deficit for any year prior to 2011, and (ii) RPS procurement requirements for the 2011 — 2013 compliance period by no later than December 31, 2013.  BVES’ first RPS report under the new law was submitted to the CPUC on March 1, 2012 and it did not reflect any RPS procurement deficiencies nor any potential or actual penalties.  Accordingly, no provision for loss has been recorded in the financial statements as of June 30, 2012.

 

In September 2009, GSWC negotiated a ten-year contract with the Los Angeles County Sanitation District (“LACSD”) to purchase renewable energy created from landfill gas. In February 2011, LACSD notified GSWC that it intended to shut down the landfill gas generator. In August 2011, GSWC and LACSD negotiated a settlement to resolve a dispute between the parties regarding certain terms of the contract.  Under the terms of the settlement, GSWC agreed to waive its right to a 14 month termination notice and LACSD agreed to sell renewable energy credits (“RECs”) to GSWC. In November 2011, GSWC filed for approval with the CPUC for the purchase of these RECs. In July 2012, the CPUC approved the purchase of these RECs, which BVES intends to apply towards either its pre-2011 renewable energy requirements or its 2011-2013 requirements. The REC’s will be purchased for approximately $325,000 during the third quarter of 2012 and will be recorded as purchased power and included in the electric supply cost balancing account.

 

In June 2011, BVES filed an application with the CPUC to recover $1.2 million in outside service costs incurred during the period September 1, 2007 through March 31, 2011 in connection with its efforts to procure renewable energy resources.  In March 2012, the CPUC approved the application.  Accordingly, a regulatory asset of $1.3 million, including accrued interest, was recorded in March 2012.  A 12-month surcharge was implemented in May 2012 for recovery of these costs.

 

La Serena Plant Improvement Project:

 

In January 2008, the CPUC approved Region I’s general rate case effective for years 2008, 2009 and 2010.  The rates authorized by the CPUC in the decision included the costs of the La Serena plant improvement project as part of the utility rate base.  Subsequent to the issued decision, the DRA requested a rehearing on whether these costs were reasonable.  The CPUC granted a limited rehearing, which was consolidated into GSWC’s Region II, Region III, and general office rate case, in order to consider whether it is reasonable to include in Region I’s rate base approximately $3.5 million of costs incurred in connection with the La Serena Plant Improvement Project.  In November 2010, as part of GSWC’s Region II, Region III and general office rate case decision, the CPUC disallowed a portion of the La Serena plant improvement costs from utility customer rates.  The CPUC found that the disallowed portion of the costs were attributable to providing service to new development and should have been recovered from the customers in the new development.  As a result of the CPUC’s decision, in 2010 GSWC recorded a charge of $2.2 million, which included the disallowance of certain capital costs for the La Serena Plant Improvement Project and the related revenues earned on those capital costs that will be refunded to customers.

 

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In December 2010, DRA filed a motion for rehearing on this matter, contending that the CPUC erred in assigning a portion of the La Serena plant improvement costs to GSWC utility customers and requested that all of the capital costs related to the La Serena plant improvement project be disallowed. In July 2011, the CPUC granted DRA’s request for rehearing.  The rehearing will also address deferred rate case costs and the methodology for allocation of general office costs to GSWC’s affiliate, ASUS. Hearings on these matters are expected in the third or fourth quarter of 2012. In addition to granting a rehearing, the CPUC also directed the Division of Water and Audits (“DWA”) to undertake an audit of the La Serena project costs and to provide a confidential report to the CPUC with recommendations on whether an investigation should be conducted to determine whether any laws were broken related to the La Serena project.  At this time, management cannot predict the outcome of the rehearing, DWA’s recommendations, or determine the estimated loss or range of loss, if any.

 

Changes in Tax Law:

 

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (“Tax Relief Acts”) extended 50% bonus depreciation for qualifying property through 2012 and created a 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying property placed in service between September 9, 2010 and December 31, 2011.

 

In June 2011, the CPUC adopted a resolution that requires water utilities to file advice letters implementing a one-way memorandum account to track the revenue effects associated with the Tax Relief Acts, which may reduce revenue requirements in future rate case proceedings.  The effective date of the memorandum account established by the resolution was April 14, 2011.  More specifically, the memorandum account established by the resolution will track on a CPUC-jurisdictional, revenue requirement basis: (a) decreases in each impacted utility’s revenue requirement resulting from increases in its deferred tax reserve; and (b) other direct changes in the revenue requirement resulting from taking advantage of the Tax Relief Acts. This resolution also authorizes impacted utilities to use savings from this new tax law to invest in certain additional, needed utility infrastructure, not otherwise funded in rates, within a time frame shorter than would be practicable through the formal application or advice letter processes. The establishment of a memorandum account does not change rates, nor guarantee that rates will be changed in the future. This mechanism simply allows the CPUC to determine at a future date whether rates should be changed.  GSWC has evaluated the potential impact of this resolution and does not expect it to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements in 2012.

 

CPUC Subpoena:

 

On June 27, 2011 GSWC executed a settlement agreement with DWA to resolve an investigation of certain work orders and charges paid to a specific contractor used previously by GSWC for numerous construction projects over a period of 14 years.  On December 15, 2011, the CPUC approved the settlement agreement.  The settlement provides for refunds to customers totaling $9.5 million to be made over a period of 12-36 months, as well as a reduction in rate-base and other rate adjustments totaling $3.0 million.  As a result of the settlement, management does not expect future increases in the reserve related to this specific contractor.  Refunds totaling $1.0 million and $1.2 million were made to customers during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.

 

Finally, as part of the settlement agreement, GSWC agreed to be subject to three separate independent audits of its procurement practices over a period of ten years from the date the settlement was approved by the CPUC.  The audits will cover GSWC’s procurement practices from 1994 forward and could result in further disallowances of costs.  The cost of the audits will be borne by shareholders and may not be recovered by GSWC in rates to customers. At this time, management cannot predict the outcome of these audits or determine the estimated loss or range of loss, if any.

 

Environmental Matters

 

AWR’s subsidiaries are subject to increasingly stringent environmental regulations, including the 1996 amendments to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act; interim enhanced surface water treatment rules; regulation of disinfectant/disinfection by-products; the long-term enhanced surface water treatment rules; the ground water treatment rule; contaminant regulation of radon and arsenic; and unregulated contaminants monitoring rule.

 

There have been no material changes to AWR’s environmental matters since December 31, 2011. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation-Environmental Matters” section of the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2011 for a detailed discussion of environmental matters.

 

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Water Supply

 

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Water Supply” section of the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2011 for a detailed discussion of water supply issues. The discussion below focuses on significant matters and changes since December 31, 2011.

 

Metropolitan Water District/ State Water Project

 

Water supplies available to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (“MWD”) through the State Water Project (“SWP”) vary from year to year based on weather.  However, MWD has generally been able to provide sufficient quantities of water to satisfy the needs of its member agencies and their customers.  Under its Integrated Resources Plan, MWD estimates that it can meet its member agencies’ demands over at least the next 20 years.

 

Every year, the California Department of Water Resources (“DWR”) establishes the SWP allocation for water deliveries to the state water contractors.  DWR generally establishes a percentage allocation of delivery requests based on a number of factors, including weather patterns, snow pack levels and reservoir levels.  The percent allocation given to state contractors can vary throughout the year as weather and other factors change. In April 2012, DWR announced an increase in its projected 2012 deliveries from 50% to 60% of delivery requests.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Registrant is subject to newly issued requirements as well as changes in existing requirements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Differences in financial reporting between periods for GSWC could occur unless and until the CPUC approves such changes for conformity through regulatory proceedings. See Note 1 of Unaudited Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Registrant is exposed to certain market risks, including fluctuations in interest rates, commodity price risk primarily relating to changes in the market price of electricity for BVES and economic conditions. Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in prevailing market rates and prices.

 

There have been no other material changes regarding Registrant’s market risk position from the information provided in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are discussed in Item 7A-Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, contained in Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), Registrant has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its’ management, including Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and its Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness, as of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report, of the design and operation of its “disclosure controls and procedures” as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO concluded that disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of such fiscal quarter, were adequate and effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Registrant in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to Registrant’s management, including its CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(b) Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2012, that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect its internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

There have been no material developments in any of the legal proceedings described in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Registrant is subject to ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. Other than those disclosed in Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, no other legal proceedings are pending, which are believed to be material. Management believes that rate recovery, proper insurance coverage and reserves are in place to insure against property, general liability and workers’ compensation claims incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There have been no significant changes in the risk factors disclosed in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

The shareholders of AWR have approved the material features of all equity compensation plans under which AWR directly issues equity securities. AWR did not directly issue any unregistered equity securities during the second quarter of 2012.  The following table provides information about repurchases of common shares by AWR during the second quarter of 2012:

 

Period

 

Total Number of
Shares
Purchased

 

Average Price Paid
per Share

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs (1)

 

Maximum Number
of Shares That May
Yet Be Purchased
under the Plans or
Programs

 

April 1 - 30, 2012

 

77,982

 

$

36.10

 

 

NA

 

May 1 - 31, 2012

 

96,418

 

$

36.16

 

 

NA

 

June 1 - 30, 2012

 

12,630

 

$

37.98

 

 

NA

 

Total

 

187,030

(2)

$

36.52

 

 

NA

(3)

 


(1)          None of the common shares were purchased pursuant to any publicly announced stock repurchase program.

 

(2)          Of this amount, 180,450 Common Shares were acquired on the open market for employees pursuant to the Company’s 401(k) Plan.  The remainder of the Common Shares were acquired on the open market for participants in the Company’s Common Share Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

(3)          None of these plans contain a maximum number of common shares that may be purchased in the open market under the plans.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

(a)          On July 31, 2012, the Board of Directors of AWR declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.355 per Common Share. The dividend will be paid on or about September 1, 2012 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 13, 2012.

 

(b)         There have been no material changes during the second quarter of 2012 to the procedures by which shareholders may nominate persons to the Board of Directors of AWR.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

(a)         The following documents are filed as Exhibits to this report:

 

3.1

 

By-Laws of American States Water Company (1)

 

 

 

3.2

 

By-laws of Golden State Water Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Registrant’s Form 8-K filed May 13, 2011

 

 

 

3.3

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of American States Water Company incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Registrant’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2003

 

 

 

3.4

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation of Golden State Water Company, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated September 1, 1993 between Golden State Water Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee, as supplemented, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.01 of Golden State Water Company Form S-3 filed December 12, 2008

 

 

 

4.2

 

Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 11, 2005 between Golden State Water Company and Co-Bank, ACB incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 13, 2005

 

 

 

4.3

 

Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 10, 2009 between Golden State Water Company and Co-Bank, ACB, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Registrant’s Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2009

 

 

 

4.4

 

Indenture dated as of December 1, 1998 between American States Water Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 31, 2009 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of American States Water Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009

 

 

 

10.1

 

Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Executives incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-2, Registration No. 33-5151 (2)

 

 

 

10.2

 

Second Sublease dated October 5, 1984 between Golden State Water Company and Three Valleys Municipal Water District incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-2, Registration No. 33-5151

 

 

 

10.3

 

Note Agreement dated as of May 15, 1991 between Golden State Water Company and Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Form 10-Q with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 1991

 

 

 

10.4

 

Schedule of omitted Note Agreements, dated May 15, 1991, between Golden State Water Company and Transamerica Annuity Life Insurance Company, and Golden State Water Company and First Colony Life Insurance Company incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Form 10-Q with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 1991

 

 

 

10.5

 

Loan Agreement between California Pollution Control Financing Authority and Golden State Water Company, dated as of December 1, 1996 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998

 

 

 

10.6

 

Agreement for Financing Capital Improvement dated as of June 2, 1992 between Golden State Water Company and Three Valleys Municipal Water District incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Form 10-K with respect to the year ended December 31, 1992

 

 

 

10.7

 

Water Supply Agreement dated as of June 1, 1994 between Golden State Water Company and Central Coast Water Authority incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of Registrant’s Form 10-K with respect to the year ended December 31, 1994

 

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10.8

 

2003 Non-Employee Directors Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on January 30, 2009 (2)

 

 

 

10.9

 

Dividend Reinvestment and Common Share Purchase Plan incorporated herein by reference to American States Water Company Registrant’s Form S-3D filed November 12, 2008

 

 

 

10.10

 

Form of Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement between American States Water Company or a subsidiary and certain executives incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on November 5, 2008(2)

 

 

 

10.11

 

Golden State Water Company Pension Restoration Plan, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2009(2)

 

 

 

10.12

 

American States Water Company 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrant’s Form 8-K filed May 23, 2008 (2)

 

 

 

10.13

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between American States Water Company dated June 3, 2005 with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed June 3, 2010

 

 

 

10.14

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement for executive officers and directors incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (2)

 

 

 

10.15

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan Agreement for officers and key employees for the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2005 (2)

 

 

 

10.16

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan Agreement for officers and key employees for the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2006 (2)

 

 

 

10.17

 

Form of Director’s Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006 (2)

 

 

 

10.18

 

Water Sale Agreement dated as of January 31, 2006 between Natomas Central Mutual Water Company and American States Utility Services, Inc. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.01 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed February 3, 2006

 

 

 

10.19

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for officers and key employees under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Registrant’s Form 8-K filed November 5, 2008 (2)

 

 

 

10.20

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for officers and key employees under the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan for restricted stock unit awards prior to January 1, 2011 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on November 5, 2008 (2)

 

 

 

10.21

 

Form of Amendment to Change in Control Agreement between American States Water Company or a subsidiary and certain executives incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed November 5, 2008 (2)

 

 

 

10.22

 

2008 Stock Incentive Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed May 23, 2008 (2)

 

 

 

10.23

 

Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for officers and key employees for the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan incorporated for stock options granted prior to January 1, 2011 herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed May 23, 2008 (2)

 

 

 

10.24

 

2011 Short-Term Incentive Program incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2011(2)

 

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10.25

 

Form of Award Agreement for Awards under the 2011 Short-Term Incentive Program incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2011(2)

 

 

 

10.26

 

Policy Regarding the Recoupment of Certain Performance-Based Compensation Payments incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on July 31, 2009(2)

 

 

 

10.27

 

Performance Incentive Plan incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on July 31, 2009(2)

 

 

 

10.28

 

Officer Relocation Policy incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on July 31, 2009(2)

 

 

 

10.29

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement for officers and key employees under the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan for stock options granted after December 31, 2010 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2011

 

 

 

10.30

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for officers and key employees under the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan for restricted stock unit awards after December 31, 2010 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2011

 

 

 

10.31

 

2012 Short-Term Incentive Program (1)(2)

 

 

 

10.32

 

Form of 2012 Short-Term Incentive Award Agreement (1)(2)

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for AWR (1)

 

 

 

31.1.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for GSWC (1)

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for AWR (1)

 

 

 

31.2.1

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for GSWC (1)

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (3)

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (3)

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document (3)

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema (3)

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase (3)

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase (3)

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase (3)

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase (3)

 


(1)         Filed concurrently herewith

(2)         Management contract or compensatory arrangement

(3)         Furnished concurrently herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized and as its principal financial officer.

 

 

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY (“AWR”):

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ EVA G. TANG

 

 

Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial

 

 

Officer, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY (“GSWC”):

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ EVA G. TANG

 

 

Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial

 

 

Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

Date:

August 6, 2012

 

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