SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
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.
As of November 8, 2002, the number of Common Shares outstanding, no par value with stated value of $2.50, of American States Water Company was 15,167,149 shares.
As of November 8, 2002, all of the 110 outstanding Common Shares of Southern California Water Company were owned by American States Water Company.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANYandSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANYFORM 10-Q
INDEX
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PART I
Item 1. Financial Statements
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AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANYCONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETSASSETS(Unaudited)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
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AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANYCONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETSCAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES(Unaudited)
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AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANYCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOMEFOR THE THREE MONTHSENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001(Unaudited)
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AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANYCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOMEFOR THE NINE MONTHSENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001(Unaudited)
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AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANYCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOMEFOR THE TWELVE MONTHSENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001(Unaudited)
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AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANYCONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTSFOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001(Unaudited)
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANYBALANCE SHEETSASSETS(Unaudited)
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANYBALANCE SHEETSCAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES(Unaudited)
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANYSTATEMENTS OF INCOMEFOR THE THREE MONTHSENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001(Unaudited)
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANYSTATEMENTS OF INCOMEFOR THE NINE MONTHSENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001(Unaudited)
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANYSTATEMENTS OF INCOMEFOR THE TWELVE MONTHSENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001(Unaudited)
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANYCASH FLOW STATEMENTSFOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 AND 2001(Unaudited)
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AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANYANDSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Unaudited)
American States Water Company (AWR), incorporated in 1998, is the parent company of Southern California Water Company (SCW), American States Utility Services, Inc. (ASUS) and Chaparral City Water Company (CCWC). More than 90% of AWRs assets consist of the common stock of SCW. SCW is a public utility company engaged principally in the purchase, production, distribution and sale of water in California. In addition, SCW distributes and sells electric energy in several mountain communities in California. Unless otherwise stated in this report, the term Registrant applies to both AWR and SCW, collectively.
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Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation
Forward-Looking Information
General
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Results of Operation
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higher labor costs. Other operating expenses decreased by 1.7%, respectively, for the nine and twelve months ended September 30, 2002 as compared to the same periods of last year. The decreases were primarily due to a refund for a sewer service overpayment, reimbursement received during the second quarter of 2002 from one of the settling parties for expenses incurred in the San Gabriel basin to meet water quality standards, and a decrease in the accrual for bad debt during the first quarter of 2002.
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Accounting for Supply Costs
Critical Accounting Policies
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assets, operating costs and other matters are subject to review, and disallowances could occur. Regulatory disallowances in the past have not been frequent but have on occasion significantly impacted Registrants results of operations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
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Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments
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(1) Excludes interest, dividends, commitment and facility fees.
(2) The Notes and Debentures are issued under an Indenture dated as of September 1, 1993. The Notes and Debentures do not contain any financial covenants that Registrant believes to be material or cross default provisions.
(3) The private placement notes are issued pursuant to the terms of Note Agreements with substantially similar terms. The Note Agreements contain restrictions on the payment of dividends, minimum interest coverage requirements, maximum debt to capitalization ratio and a negative pledge. Pursuant to the Note Agreements, SCW must maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio of two times interest expense. SCW does not currently have any outstanding mortgages or other encumbrances on its properties. For further information on the dividend restrictions, see discussion included in Part II, Item 2 in Changes in Securities..
(4) Consists of obligations under a loan agreement supporting $8 million in debt issued by the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, $6 million in obligations supporting $6 million in certificates of participation issued by the Three Valleys Municipal Water District and $6.7 million of obligations incurred by SCW with respect to its 500 acre foot entitlement to water from the State Water Project (SWP). Except as described below, these obligations do not contain any financial covenants believed to be material to Registrant or any cross default provisions. SCWs obligations with respect to the certificates of participation issued by the Three Valleys Municipal Water District are supported by a letter of credit issued by Wells Fargo Bank. In regards to its SWP entitlement, SCW has entered into agreements with various developers for 422 acre-feet, in aggregate, of its entitlement to water from the SWP. For further information, see the section entitled Regulatory Matters-Disallowance of Costs included inPart I, Item 2 in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.
(5) Consists of $1.6 million outstanding under a fixed rate obligation incurred to fund construction of water storage and delivery facilities with the Three Valleys Municipal Water District, $0.6 million outstanding under a variable rate obligation incurred to fund construction of water delivery facilities with the Three Valleys Municipal Water District and an aggregate of $0.4 million outstanding under capital lease obligations. These obligations do not contain any financial covenants believed to be material to Registrant or any cross default provisions.
(6) Other commitments of Registrant consist of (i) $75 million syndicated revolving credit facility, expiring in June 2005, (ii) a $966,534 irrevocable letter of credit, which is reviewed at the end of each year for adjustment, for its self-insured workers compensation plan, (iii) an amount of $296,000 with respect to a $6,296,000 irrevocable letter of credit issued by Wells Fargo Bank to support the certificates of participation of Three Valleys Municipal Water District (the other $6,000,000 is reflected under tax-exempt obligations), (iv) an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $400,000 that expires on October 2003 for the deductible in Registrants business automobile insurance policy (v) an irrevocable letter of
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credit that expires June 30, 2005 for its energy scheduling agreement with Automated Power Exchange; the amount of the credit is $585,000 for the months from November to March, and $270,000 to cover the months from April to October, and (vi) outstanding performance bonds of $14,790 to secure performance under franchise agreements with governmental agencies. The syndicated revolving credit facility contains restrictions on prepayments, deposition of property, mergers, liens and negative pledges, indebtedness and guaranty obligations, transactions with affiliates, minimum interest coverage requirements, a maximum debt to capitalization ratio, and a minimum debt rating. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, AWR must maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3.25 times interest expense, a maximum total funded debt ratio of 0.65 to 1.00 and a minimum debt rating of Baa1 or BBB+.
(7) Consists of $8.1 million of obligations under a loan agreement supporting Industrial Development Revenue Bonds due in 2006 and a $1.1 million repayment obligation to the United States Bureau of Reclamation. The loan agreement contains provisions that establishes a maximum of 65% debt in the capital structure, limits cash distributions when the percentage of debt in the capital structure exceeds 55% and requires a debt service coverage ratio of two times. The Bureau of Reclamation obligation does not contain any financial covenants believed to be material to Registrant or any cross default provisions.
Under the terms of its power purchase contracts with Mirant Americas Energy Marketing, LP and Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, SCW is required to post security, at the request of the seller, if SCW is in default under the terms of the contract and the future value of the contract is greater than the future value of contracts of a similar term on the date of default. SCW will be in default under the terms of these contracts if its debt is rated less than BBB- by Standard & Poors Ratings Service (S&P) or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch) or less than Baa3 by Moodys Investor Services, Inc (Moodys). SCW currently has a rating of A+ by S & P and A2 by Moodys. Fitch does not rate SCW.
S&P debt ratings range from AAA (highest rating possible) to D (obligation is in default). Moodys debt ratings range from Aaa (best quality) to C (lowest quality). 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.
Electric Energy Situation in California
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market. It remains unclear how long the FERC will leave its mitigation measures in place. The premature termination of such mitigation measures could result in a substantial increase in spot market prices and the prices of long-term contracts for power and capacity. In addition, FERC is considering a number of market reforms. One of the reforms that has been suggested by the Cal ISO is the imposition of an available capacity obligation (ACAP) on all load-serving entities. The purpose of the ACAP obligation is to ensure that all load-serving entities have sufficient power resources to meet their maximum possible load. If an ACAP obligation is adopted, SCW could be required to procure substantial additional power and capacity. The cost of procuring this additional power and capacity could have a material adverse impact on SCW if SCW is not permitted to recover the costs of procuring this additional power and capacity from its ratepayers on a timely basis.
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not it will be entitled to receive any refunds as a result of these proceedings or any other investigations into the causes of the California energy crisis.
Construction Program
Regulatory Matters
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FERC in which SCW has requested FERC to reduce the prices in its power purchase contract with Mirant to a just and reasonable price. If FERC rules a price reduction, SCW is required to file an Advice Letter to notify the CPUC within 30 days of the ruling. On July 17, 2002, CPUC approved the settlement agreement with new rates effective immediately thereafter. For further information, see the section entitled Electric Energy Situation in California included in Part I, Item 2 in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and Note 4 to the Notes to Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1.
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application. An Administrative Law Judge subsequently reopened the proceeding in August 2001 requiring additional information. A final order is not anticipated until 2003. A final order is not anticipated until 2003.
Environmental Matters
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each of SCWs five surface water treatment plants and CCWCs surface water treatment plant. It Registrant anticipates that all plants will achieve compliance within the three year to five-year time frames identified by EPA.
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most likely will not be published until late 2003. SCW and CCWC currently monitor their wells for radon in order to determine the best treatment appropriate for affected wells.
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the three wells detected with ammonium perchlorate in excess of the 1997 action levels out of service. In April 1997, SCW found ammonium perchlorate in three additional wells and, at that time, removed those wells from service until it was determined that the levels were below the state-determined action level. Those wells were returned to service. SCW periodically monitors these wells to determine that levels of ammonium perchlorate are below the action level currently in effect. Following the reduction in the action level for ammonium perchlorate in January 2002, SCW removed three wells from service since they contained ammonium perchlorate in amounts in excess of this reduced action level.
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Santa Monica and Santa Monica took over the prosecution against the potentially responsible parties in exchange for an assignment payment. The settlement agreement is pending the CPUCs approval.
Security
Water Supply
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SCW undertook taken a number of steps to provide water service, including trucking water into the area from nearby sources, bringing a formerly shut down well into service, taking steps to increase capacity at existing wells and expediting the drilling and equipping of a new well. In taking these steps to meet water demand, SCW experienced increased operating costs of approximately $450,000, most significantly associated with the cost of trucking water. However, due to the actions of SCW and conservation efforts of consumers the situation has stabilized. Management is unable to predict the extent to which additional costs may be incurred or the extent to which additional problems may be encountered. The cause of the unexplained and sudden drop in groundwater supply has not been identified, but it may be drought-related.
Risk Factor Summary
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in place. The premature termination of such mitigation measures could result in a substantial increase in spot market prices and the prices of long-term contracts for power and capacity. In addition, Cal ISO has proposed a number of market reforms that could require us to procure substantial additional power and/or capacity. This could also result in an increase in the level and volatility of electric prices in California.
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from all customers for costs associated with general office activities. In addition, we are seeking CPUC authorization to construct an 8.4 MW natural gas-fueled generator facility to meet increasing demand in our Bear Valley customer service area. The CPUCs resolution ordering SCW to suspend the use of the current water balancing account, and instead to start a memorandum account for our supply costs has and will directly impact our earnings. We may recover certain water supply costs based on the memorandum account only if we are within our rate case cycle and we are not earning an amount in excess of our authorized rate of return.
Accounting Standards
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
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San Gabriel Valley that has been designated a federal superfund site, that the maintenance of this contaminated well water has resulted in contamination of the soil, subsurface soil and surrounding air with trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethene (PCE), carbon tetrachloride and other solvents and that plaintiffs have been injured and their property damaged as a result. Three of the lawsuits involve a customer service area located in Sacramento County in northern California that have been filed in Sacramento County Superior Court: Nathaniel Allen, Jr. v. Aerojet-General Corporation, et al., Case No. 97AS06295, Daphne Adams, et al. v. Aerojet-General Corporation, et al., Case No. 98AS01025, and Wallace Andrew Pennington et al. v. Aerojet-General Corporation, et al., Case No. 00AS02622. The lawsuits filed in Sacramento County Superior Court are based on the allegations that SCW and other defendants have delivered water to plaintiffs that is contaminated with a number of chemicals, including, TCE, PCE, carbon tetrachloride, perchlorate, Freon-113, hexavalent chromium and other unnamed chemicals and that plaintiffs have been injured and their property damaged as a result.
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Item 2. Changes in Securities
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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5. Other Information
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Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
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SIGNATURE
Dated: November 12, 2002
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CERTIFICATIONS
I, Floyd E. Wicks, Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, certify that:
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I, McClellan Harris III, Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, certify that:
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