Middlesex Water Company - 10-Q quarterly report FY

OR

For the transition period from _________________ to______________________

Commission File Number     0-422

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Indicate by check mark whether the 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 the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    

Yesþ                      No¨

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes ¨No þ

The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of August 1, 2007: Common Stock, No Par Value: 13,203,379 shares outstanding.

INDEX

Organization – Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) is the parent company and sole shareholder of Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI), Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), and Utility Service Affiliates  (Perth Amboy) Inc. (USA-PA). Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tidewater. The financial statements for Middlesex and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the Company) are reported on a consolidated basis.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The consolidated notes within the 2006 Form 10-K are applicable to these financial statements and, in the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary (including normal recurring accruals) to present fairly the financial position as of June 30, 2007, the results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, and cash flows for the six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. Information included in the Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006, has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements to conform with the current period presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements–  In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48) “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”, to clarify certain aspects of accounting for uncertain tax positions, including recognition and measurement of those tax positions. This interpretation was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 (January 1, 2007 for the Company). The adoption of this interpretation had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In September 2006, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-5, “Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance – Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance” (“EITF 06-5”). EITF 06-5 provides clarification for determining the amounts that could be realized by policyholders in accounting for life insurance contracts.  EITF 06-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 (January 1, 2007 for the Company).  Adoption of EITF 06-5 had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Note 2 – Rate Matters

Middlesex filed for an $8.9 million or 16.5% base rate increase with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on April 18, 2007.  The requested increase is intended to recover increased costs of operations,

maintenance, labor and benefits, purchased power, purchased water and taxes, as well as capital investment of approximately $23.0 million since June 2005.  We cannot predict whether the BPU will ultimately approve, deny, or reduce the amount of our request.  We do not expect a decision on this matter until the first quarter of 2008.

In accordance with the tariff established for Southern Shores, an annual rate increase of 3% was implemented on January 1, 2007. The increase cannot exceed the lesser of the regional Consumer Price Index or 3%. The contracted rate schedule is set to expire on December 31, 2007. The Company is in the process of renegotiating the rate schedule.

Common Stock–During the six months ended June 30, 2007, there were 31,680, common shares (approximately $0.6 million) issued under the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan (DRP). Middlesex received approval from the BPU in June 2007 to increase the number of shares authorized under the DRP from 1.7 million to 2.3 million shares.

In May 2007, the Company received shareholders approval to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 20 million shares to 40 million shares.

Long-term Debt– Middlesex received approval from the BPU to issue up to $4.0 million of first mortgage bonds through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust under the New Jersey State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. The Company expects to complete the transaction in November 2007.  Proceeds from this financing will be used for the ongoing main cleaning and lining project in 2008.

Basic earnings per share (EPS) are computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period presented.  Diluted EPS assumes the conversion of both the Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series and the Convertible Preferred Stock $8.00 Series.

The Company has identified two reportable segments. One is the regulated business of collecting, treating and distributing water on a retail and wholesale basis to residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection customers in parts of New Jersey and Delaware. This segment also includes regulated wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware.  The Company is subject to regulations as to its rates, services and other matters by the States of New Jersey and Delaware with respect to utility services within these States. The other segment is primarily comprised of non-regulated contract services for the operation and maintenance of municipal and private water and wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware.  Inter-segment transactions relating to operational costs are treated as pass-through expenses. Finance charges on inter-segment loan activities are based on interest rates that are below what would normally be charged by a third party lender.

As of June 30, 2007, the Company has established lines of credit aggregating $40.0 million. At June 30, 2007, the outstanding borrowings under these credit lines were $0.8 million at a weighted average interest rate of 6.62%.

The weighted average daily amounts of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s credit lines and the weighted average interest rates on those amounts were $0.2 million and $9.2 million at 6.62% and 5.91% for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The weighted average daily amounts of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s credit lines and the weighted average interest rates on those amounts were $0.1 million and $7.6 million at 6.62% and 5.82% for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Interest rates for short-term borrowings under the lines of credit are below the prime rate with no requirement for compensating balances.

Guarantees - USA-PA operates the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey (Perth Amboy) water and wastewater systems under contract through June 30, 2018. The agreement was effected under New Jersey’s Water Supply Public/Private Contracting Act and the New Jersey Wastewater Public/Private Contracting Act. Under the agreement, USA-PA receives a fixed fee and in addition, a variable fee based on increased system billing. Scheduled fixed fee payments for 2007 are $7.8 million. The fixed fees will increase over the term of the contract to $10.2 million per year.

In connection with the agreement, Perth Amboy, through the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, issued approximately $68.0 million in three series of bonds. Middlesex guaranteed one of those series of bonds, designated the Series C Serial Bonds, in the principal amount of approximately $26.3 million. Perth Amboy guaranteed the two other series of bonds. The Series C Serial Bonds have various maturity dates with the final maturity date on September 1, 2015. As of June 30, 2007, approximately $23.4 million of the Series C Serial Bonds remained outstanding.

Middlesex is obligated to perform under the guarantee in the event notice is received from the Series C Serial Bonds trustee of an impending debt service deficiency. If Middlesex funds any debt service obligations as

guarantor, Perth Amboy is required to reimburse the Company. There are other provisions in the agreement that make it unlikely that we would be required to perform under the guarantee, such as scheduled annual rate increases for water and wastewater services as well as rate increases that may be implemented at anytime by Perth Amboy. In the event revenues from customers could not satisfy the reimbursement requirements, Perth Amboy has Ad Valorem taxing powers, which could be used to raise the needed amount.

Water Supply - Middlesex has an agreement with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA) for the purchase of untreated water through November 30, 2023, which provides for an average purchase of 27 million gallons per day (mgd). Pricing is set annually by the NJWSA through a public rate making process. The agreement has provisions for additional pricing in the event Middlesex overdrafts or exceeds certain monthly and annual thresholds.

Middlesex also has an agreement with a non-affiliated regulated water utility for the purchase of treated water. This agreement, which expires February 27, 2011, provides for the minimum purchase of 3 mgd of treated water with provisions for additional purchases.

Purchased water costs are shown below:

Construction – The Company expects to spend approximately $32.1 million on its construction program in 2007.

Litigation – In July 2005, Tidewater received a notice of violation and request for corrective action issued by the Delaware State Fire Marshal regarding the alleged failure of one of the community water systems operated by Tidewater to meet Delaware fire protection requirements.  Tidewater appealed the Fire Marshal’s decision with the Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission (the “SFPC”) and, in November 2005, the SFPC denied Tidewater’s appeal.  In December 2005, Tidewater filed an appeal of the SFPC’s decision with the Sussex County Superior Court in Delaware, which is still pending.  There are approximately 67 of our other systems that may not meet the Delaware Fire Marshal’s recent interpretation of the fire protection requirements.  If the Delaware Fire Marshal’s interpretation of the regulations is upheld upon appeal, we may be required to make corrections to the system at issue and the Delaware Fire Marshal could issue notices of violation and requests for corrective action for some or all of the approximately 67 other community systems.  At this time, we cannot predict how many community water systems would ultimately require corrective action if our appeal is unsuccessful nor can we predict the timing and the cost of any required corrective actions. We will apply to the PSC to increase base rates to recover the costs of any such corrective actions.  However, if corrective actions need to be taken at several community water systems, our costs could be significant, and to the extent the PSC does not approve rate increases to offset these costs, or if there is a significant delay in receiving approval for such rate increases, such costs could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

The Court action is currently on hold while the parties, with the assistance of a mediator, have met in an attempt to resolve as many open issues as possible.  If any significant issues remain open after these discussions, they will be referred back to the Court for ultimate decision.

The Company is a defendant in lawsuits in the normal course of business. We believe the resolution of pending claims and legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Change in Control Agreements – The Company has Change in Control Agreements with certain of its Officers that provide compensation and benefits in the event of termination of employment in connection with a change in control of the Company.

Pension – The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, which covers all employees with more than 1,000 hours of service. The Company contributed $1.5 million of cash to the plan on August 3, 2007. The Company also maintains an unfunded supplemental retirement benefit plan for certain active and retired company officers and currently pays $0.3 million in annual benefits to the retired participants.

Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions– The Company maintains a postretirement benefit plan other than pensions for substantially all of its retired employees. Coverage includes healthcare and life insurance. Retiree contributions are dependent on credited years of service. The Company expects to make cash contributions to the plan of approximately $1.6 million beginning in the third quarter of 2007.

The following table sets forth information relating to the Company’s periodic costs for its retirement plans.

The Company maintains a Restricted Stock Plan, under which 63,837 shares of the Company's common stock are held in escrow by the Company as of June 30, 2007 for key employees. Such stock is subject to forfeiture by the employee in the event of termination of employment within five years of the award other than as a result of retirement, death, disability or change in control. The maximum number of shares authorized for grant under this plan is 240,000 shares. There were no grants, vesting or forfeitures of restricted stock during the six months ended June 30, 2007.

The Company recognizes compensation expense at fair value for its restricted stock awards in accordance with SFAS 123(R), “Share Based Payment”.  Compensation expense is determined by the market value of the stock on the date of the award and is being amortized over a five-year period. Compensation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 was $0.1 million.  Total unearned compensation related to restricted stock was $0.7 million at June 30, 2007.

Comprehensive income was as follows:

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company included elsewhere herein and with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

 

Certain statements contained in this annual report and in the documents incorporated by reference constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. The Company intends that these statements be covered by the safe harbors created under those laws.  These statements include, but are not limited to:

 

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results and outcomes include, but are not limited to:

 

 

Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which only speak to the Company’s understanding as of the date of this report. The Company does not undertake any obligation to

 

release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

 

For an additional discussion of factors that may affect the Company’s business and results of operations, see Item 1A. - Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

 

The Company has operated as a water utility in New Jersey since 1897, and in Delaware, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tidewater, since 1992. We are in the business of collecting, treating, distributing and selling water for residential, irrigation, commercial, municipal, industrial and fire protection purposes. We also operate a New Jersey municipal water and wastewater system under contract and provide wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware through our subsidiaries. Our utility companies are regulated as to rates charged to customers for water and wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware, as to the quality of service provided and as to certain other matters. Our USA, USA-PA and White Marsh subsidiaries are not regulated utilities.

Our New Jersey water utility system (the Middlesex System) provides water services to approximately 59,300 retail, commercial and fire service customers, primarily in central New Jersey. The Middlesex System also provides water service under contract to municipalities in central New Jersey with a total population of approximately 303,000. Through our subsidiary, USA-PA, we operate the water supply system and wastewater collection system for the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater provide water and wastewater services to residents in Southampton Township, New Jersey.

Tidewater and Southern Shores provide water services to approximately 31,000 retail customers in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, Delaware. Our TESI subsidiary provides regulated wastewater service to approximately 190 residential retail customers. White Marsh serves approximately 5,400 customers under unregulated operating contracts with various owners of small water and wastewater systems in Kent and Sussex Counties.

USA provides customers both inside and outside of our service territories a service line maintenance program called LineCare^SM. In the first quarter of 2007 we introduced a similar program for wastewater customers called LineCare+^SM.

The majority of our revenue is generated from regulated water services to customers in our franchise areas. We record water service revenue as such service is rendered and include estimates for amounts unbilled at the end of the period for services provided since the end of the last billing cycle. Fixed service charges are billed in advance by our subsidiary, Tidewater, and are recognized in revenue as the service is provided.

 

Our ability to increase operating income and net income is based significantly on four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate relief, effective cost management, and customer growth. These factors are evident in the discussions below which compare our results of operations with prior periods.

Middlesex filed for an $8.9 million, or 16.5% base rate increase with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on April 18, 2007. The requested increase is intended to recover increased costs of operations, maintenance, labor and benefits, purchased power, purchased water and taxes, as well as capital investment of approximately $23.0 million since rates were last established in 2005. We cannot predict whether the BPU will ultimately approve, deny, or reduce the amount of our request.  We do not expect a decision on this matter until the first quarter of 2008.

In accordance with the tariff established for Southern Shores, an annual rate increase of 3% was implemented on January 1, 2007.  The increase cannot exceed the lesser of the regional Consumer Price Index or 3%. The contracted rate schedule is set to expire on December 31, 2007.  The Company is in the process of renegotiating the rate schedule.

The Company has two operating segments, Regulated and Non-Regulated. Our Regulated segment contributed 91% of total revenues and 95% of net income for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 88% of total revenues and 92% of net income for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The discussion of the Company’s results of operations is on a consolidated basis, and includes significant factors by subsidiary. The segments in the tables included below consist of the following companies: Regulated-Middlesex, Tidewater, Pinelands, Southern Shores, and TESI; Non-Regulated- USA, USA-PA, and White Marsh.

Operating revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2007 increased $0.7 million, or 3.4%, from the same period in 2006 due to customer growth and rate relief in our Delaware service territories. The implementation of a 15% interim rate increase in June 2006 and the additional 12% final increase on February 28, 2007 provided an additional $1.0 million of revenues. Customer growth and higher consumption contributed $0.3 million of revenues.  Fees charged to new customers for initial connection to our Delaware water systems were lower by $0.4 million as new residential and commercial development has slowed in our Delaware service territories. Consumption revenues in our Middlesex system were lower by $0.1 million. USA-PA’s fees for managing the Perth Amboy water and wastewater systems were $0.3 million lower than the same period in 2006 due to lower

pass-through charges.  There was an equal and offsetting amount of lower expenses connected with this management contract.

While we anticipate continued organic customer and consumption growth, particularly in our Delaware systems, such growth and increased consumption cannot be guaranteed. Revenues from our water systems are highly dependent on the effects of weather, which may adversely impact future consumption despite customer growth. Customer growth in both the regulated water and wastewater businesses are dependent upon economic conditions surrounding new housing as well as developer construction timetables. Since early 2007, we have experienced a slow down in the rate of customer growth in Delaware.  Appreciable organic customer and consumption growth is less likely in our New Jersey systems due to the extent to which our service territory is developed.

Operation and maintenance expenses increased $0.4 million or 3.5%. Labor costs were $0.2 million higher due wage increases and increased headcount to meet the needs of the growing Delaware customer base.  Water production costs were $0.2 million higher due to increased sales in Delaware and higher unit costs for water, electric power and treatment costs in New Jersey.

Depreciation expense increased $0.2 million, or 9.5%, primarily as a result of a higher level of utility plant in service since June 30, 2006.  The $0.2 million increase in other income resulted from the sale of non-utility property.  Interest expense decreased by $0.1 million commensurate with lower short-term borrowings compared to the prior year period.

Income taxes increased $0.2 million as a result of increased operating income as compared to the prior year.

Net income increased by 11.7% from $3.0 million to $3.3 million. However, due to a higher number of shares outstanding, basic earnings per share were $0.25 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $0.25 for the same period in 2006.  Diluted earnings per share were $0.24 and $0.25 for three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. Middlesex sold and issued 1.5 million shares of its common stock in November 2006.