California Water Service Group Announces First Quarter 2013 Results

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - May 1, 2013) - California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) today announced a net loss of $1.1 million or a $0.03 net loss per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2013, compared to net income of $1.1 million or $0.03 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2012.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2013 was $111.4 million, compared to revenue of $116.8 million in first quarter 2012. The primary reason for the reduction in revenue was a net benefit of $8.9 million in revenue from the reversal of the 2011 deferred Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (WRAM) account balance recorded during the first quarter of 2012. In addition, revenue during the quarter was reduced by a $3.0 million decrease in accrued unbilled revenue which is not included in the WRAM balance and driven by lower consumption. 

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2013 decreased $4.5 million, or 4.1%, to $105.7 million. Reduced expenses in several categories were partially offset by increases in purchased water costs and expenses for wages & benefits, and uninsured losses. 

Maintenance expense decreased $1.6 million, or 28.3%, to $4.1 million, while depreciation expense increased $0.7 million, or 4.9%, to $14.6 million due to 2012 capital additions. 

Other income, net of income taxes, decreased $0.6 million to $0.7 million, due to lower unrealized gains related to the Company's non-qualified retirement plans. Interest expense increased $0.8 million, or 11.3%, to $7.5 million due to completion of plant and increases in short-term rates.

On March 26, 2013, the Company received $105.8 million in net proceeds from the sale of 5,750,000 shares of common stock. The Company plans to use the proceeds to pay down its revolving lines of credit and fund operations, capital projects, and general operations. 

"Results for the first quarter were in line with the Company's expectations due to the seasonality of our business," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson. "Cost controls were effective during the first quarter of 2013, and we will continue to focus on managing expenses as we pursue fair and timely rate relief," he said. 

All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the first quarter 2013 conference call on May 2, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT), by dialing 1-888-438-5491 or 1-719-325-2361 and keying in ID# 3539432. A replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. EDT on May 2, 2013, through June 30, 2013, at 1-888-203-1112 or 1-719-457-0820, ID# 3539432. The call, which will be hosted by President and Chief Operating Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Thomas F. Smegal, will also be webcast under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com.

California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to approximately 2 million people in more than 100 California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii communities. Group's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CWT." 

Additional information is available at our Web site at www.calwatergroup.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management's judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to: governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers' prices and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies; the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of weather on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph, as well as the annual 10-K, Quarterly 10-Q, and other reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)			March 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
ASSETS
Utility plant:
	Utility plant		$	2,123,935		$	2,096,363
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(655,345	)		(639,307	)
		Net utility plant		1,468,590			1,457,056
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			127,677			38,790
	Receivables
		Customers		29,204			29,958
		Regulatory balancing accounts		29,607			34,020
		Other		11,577			11,943
	Unbilled revenue			15,551			15,394
	Materials and supplies at weighted average cost			5,687			5,874
	Taxes, prepaid expenses, and other assets			12,393			10,585
		Total current assets		231,696			146,564
Other assets:
	Regulatory assets			353,606			344,419
	Goodwill			2,615			2,615
	Other assets			47,848			45,270
		Total other assets		404,069			392,304
			$	2,104,355		$	1,995,924
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
	Common stock, $.01 par value		$	477		$	419
	Additional paid-in capital			327,178			221,013
	Retained earnings			244,502			252,280
		Total common stockholders' equity		572,157			473,712
	Long-term debt, less current maturities			434,153			434,467
		Total capitalization		1,006,310			908,179
Current liabilities:
	Current maturities of long-term debt			46,743			46,783
	Short-term borrowings			93,275			89,475
	Accounts payable			44,293			47,199
	Regulatory balancing accounts			6,132			5,018
	Accrued interest			11,003			4,705
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities			55,308			49,887
		Total current liabilities		256,754			243,067
Unamortized investment tax credits				2,180			2,180
Deferred income taxes, net				158,037			158,846
Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions				248,385			244,901
Regulatory and other liabilities				88,476			92,593
Advances for construction				186,242			187,584
Contributions in aid of construction				157,971			158,574
			$	2,104,355		$	1,995,924

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Three-Months ended:
			March 31,				March 31,
			2013				2012
Operating revenue			$	111,444			$	116,749
Operating expenses:
	Operations:
		Water production costs		41,697				38,952
		Administrative and general		25,281				23,018
		Other operations		15,645				23,826
	Maintenance			4,133				5,760
	Depreciation and amortization			14,629				13,951
	Income tax (benefit) expense			(1,146	)			28
	Property and other taxes			5,435				4,607
		Total operating expenses		105,674				110,142
		Net operating income		5,770				6,607
Other income and expenses:
	Non-regulated revenue			3,522				4,136
	Non-regulated expenses, net			(2,417	)			(2,099	)
	Income tax (expense) on other income and expense			(451	)			(823	)
		Net other income		654				1,214
Interest expense:
	Interest expense			8,037				7,639
	Less: capitalized interest			(540	)			(903	)
		Net interest expense		7,497				6,736
Net (loss) income			$	(1,073	)		$	1,085
(Loss) Earnings per share
	Basic		$	(0.03	)		$	0.03
	Diluted		$	(0.03	)		$	0.03
Weighted average shares outstanding
	Basic			42,248				41,842
	Diluted			42,248				41,842
Dividends declared per share of common stock			$	0.1600			$	0.1575

1720 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95112-4598