Middlesex Water Company Reports First Quarter 2015 Financial Results


First Quarter Highlights

  • Consolidated Operating Revenues Increase 5.9% over Q1 2014
  • Net Income Rises 14.7%
  • Earnings Per Share Up 10.0%

ISELIN, N.J., May 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Middlesex Water Company (the "Company" or "Middlesex"), (Nasdaq:MSEX), a provider of water and wastewater and related services primarily in New Jersey and Delaware, today announced operating revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

First Quarter Operating Results

Consolidated operating revenues for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 increased $1.6 million to $28.8 million, up from $27.2 million, for the same period in 2014. Net income climbed to $3.6 million, an increase from $3.1 million in 2014. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.22 for the three months ended March 31, 2015, up from $0.20 for the same period in 2014.

Revenues in the Company's Middlesex System in New Jersey increased $0.6 million from the same period in 2014, primarily due to the rate increase approved by the New Jersey Board of Public utilities ("NJBPU") and implemented in July 2014. Revenues in our Delaware System, Tidewater Utilities, Inc. increased $0.7 million primarily due to higher customer demand. Revenues from contract operations increased $0.4 million, primarily due to higher supplemental services revenues earned under our contract to operate the Borough of Avalon, New Jersey's water utility, sewer utility and storm water system as well as increases in scheduled fixed fees under our contract with the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

Operation and maintenance expenses for the first quarter increased $0.7 million from the same period in 2014. Employee benefit expenses increased $0.7 million due to higher retirement plan costs resulting from a lower discount rate than in the prior year and the adoption of new mortality tables, reflecting longer life expectancies, both used in the calculation of the 2015 net periodic plan costs. Variable water production costs decreased $0.1 million, due to lower customer demand in our Middlesex System. Decreased cold weather main break activity, as compared to 2014, resulted in $0.3 million of lower labor overtime and non-labor costs in our Middlesex System. Contract operations expenses increased $0.5 million due to higher contractor expenditures under our contracts to serve Avalon and Perth Amboy.

Middlesex Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis W. Doll said, "Our first quarter results were positively impacted by the favorable outcome of our New Jersey rate case. However, our capital spending needs to ensure reliability, quality and performance of our drinking water infrastructure continue to grow. To that end, on April 1st Middlesex filed for a 13.5% increase in rates in New Jersey to recover costs for repairs and maintenance to our drinking water infrastructure and to cover costs of increases in treatment supplies, fuel, electricity, wages and benefits, technology and other factors impacting utility operating income."

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The Company will host its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at its corporate headquarters at 1500 Ronson Road in Iselin, NJ.

About Middlesex Water Company

Middlesex Water Company, organized in 1897, is an investor-owned water and wastewater utility, serving customers in central and southern New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. For additional information regarding Middlesex Water Company, visit the Company's Web site at www.middlesexwater.com or call (732) 634-1500.

This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our acquisition program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current and projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our environmental compliance. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share amounts)
     
  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2015 2014
     
Operating Revenues  $ 28,780  $ 27,173
     
Operating Expenses:    
Operations and Maintenance 16,087 15,437
Depreciation 2,947 2,815
Other Taxes 3,061 2,954
     
Total Operating Expenses 22,095 21,206
     
Operating Income 6,685 5,967
     
Other Income (Expense):    
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction 82 67
Other Income 39 11
Other Expense (66) (20)
     
Total Other Income, net 55 58
     
Interest Charges 1,058 1,103
     
Income before Income Taxes 5,682 4,922
     
Income Taxes 2,046 1,753
     
Net Income 3,636 3,169
     
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements 36 43
     
Earnings Applicable to Common Stock  $ 3,600  $ 3,126
     
Earnings per share of Common Stock:    
Basic  $ 0.22  $ 0.20
Diluted  $ 0.22  $ 0.20
     
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:    
Basic 16,132 15,974
Diluted 16,288 16,178
Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share $0.1925 $0.1900
 
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share amounts)
         
  Three Months Ended March 31, $ %
  2015 2014 Change Change
         
Operating Revenues  $ 28,780  $ 27,173  $ 1,607 5.9%
         
Operating Expenses:        
Operations and Maintenance 16,087 15,437 650 4.2%
Depreciation 2,947 2,815 132 4.7%
Other Taxes 3,061 2,954 107 3.6%
         
Total Operating Expenses 22,095 21,206 889 4.2%
         
Operating Income 6,685 5,967 718 12.0%
         
Other Income (Expense):        
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction 82 67 15 22.4%
Other Income 39 11 28 254.5%
Other Expense (66) (20) (46) 230.0%
         
Total Other Income, net 55 58 (3) -5.2%
         
Interest Charges 1,058 1,103 (45) -4.1%
         
Income before Income Taxes 5,682 4,922 760 15.4%
         
Income Taxes 2,046 1,753 293 16.7%
         
Net Income 3,636 3,169 467 14.7%
         
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements 36 43 (7) -16.3%
         
Earnings Applicable to Common Stock  $ 3,600  $ 3,126  $ 474 15.2%
         
Earnings per share of Common Stock:        
Basic  $ 0.22  $ 0.20  $ 0.02 10.0%
Diluted  $ 0.22  $ 0.20  $ 0.02 10.0%
         
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:        
Basic 16,132 15,974 158 1.0%
Diluted 16,288 16,178 110 0.7%
         
Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share $0.1925 $0.1900 $0.0025 1.3%


            

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