NorthWestern Reports 2009 Financial Results
Reports improvement in earnings per share of 14.0% over 2008
Increase primarily related to reduction to income tax expense
Increased the quarterly dividend 1.5% to 34 cents per share
Provides guidance for 2010 of $1.95 - $2.10 per fully diluted share
SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) reported financial results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009.
Highlights for the year include:
- Net income improved to $73.4 million, or $2.02 per fully diluted share, for 2009 compared with $67.6 million, or $1.77 per fully diluted share, in 2008;
- Improvement in net income of approximately $5.8 million as compared with 2008, due primarily to
- obtaining Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approval of a tax accounting method change to deduct repairs that would have previously been capitalized, resulting in an income tax benefit of $16.6 million during 2009;
- the transfer of Colstrip Unit 4 to utility rate base, resulting in improved gross margin of $13.8 million;
- Partially offset by a reduction in insurance recoveries and litigation settlements, reduced wholesale electric revenues in South Dakota, reduced transmission revenues in Montana and increased insurance reserves;
- Accessed the capital markets to refinance existing debt and to finance the Mill Creek Generating Station project and capital expenditures
- Issuance of $250 million, 6.34% Montana First Mortgage Bonds with a 10-year term
- Issuance of $55 million, 5.71% Montana First Mortgage Bonds with a 30-year term.
- Amended our revolving credit facility to increase the availability to $250 million from $200 million and extended the maturity date to June 30, 2012;
- Received approval from the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) to construct the 150 megawatt Mill Creek Generating Station project with a 50% debt and 50% equity capital structure, return on equity at 10.25% and debt at 6.5%; and
- Received upgrades of the Company's senior secured and unsecured credit ratings by both Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings.
"While our 2009 net income improved compared with 2008, we recognize that our operating income decreased due primarily to an increase in operating costs related to a reduction in insurance recoveries and litigation settlements, increased insurance reserves and increased labor costs," said Bob Rowe, President and CEO. "In addition, we also experienced a decrease in our Montana electric transmission revenues and South Dakota wholesale electric revenues."
"We no longer expect significant insurance recoveries and litigation settlements going forward and are actively controlling costs across the business while maintaining service quality," added Rowe. "In addition, we expect a slight recovery in Montana transmission revenue as we expect Colstrip Unit 4 to be online for the entire year and anticipate that South Dakota wholesale volumes will increase due primarily to lower planned maintenance."
Annual Financial Results
Consolidated net income was $73.4 million, or $2.02 per diluted share for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, an 8.6% increase compared with consolidated net income of $67.6 million, or $1.77 per diluted share for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008.
Three Months Ended Year Ended
------------------ ----------
December 31, December 31,
------------ ------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
OPERATING
REVENUES $302,408 $326,068 $1,141,910 $1,260,793
COST OF SALES 153,653 189,799 573,686 698,740
------- ------- ------- -------
GROSS MARGIN 148,755 136,269 568,224 562,053
------- ------- ------- -------
OPERATING
EXPENSES
Operating,
general and
administrative 61,408 48,816 245,618 226,164
Property and
other taxes 16,181 14,704 79,582 80,602
Depreciation 22,080 21,463 89,039 85,071
------ ------ ------ ------
TOTAL
OPERATING
EXPENSES 99,669 84,983 414,239 391,837
------ ------ ------- -------
OPERATING
INCOME 49,086 51,286 153,985 170,216
------ ------ ------- -------
Interest
Expense (17,357) (16,474) (67,760) (63,952)
Other Income 1,307 (82) 2,499 1,558
----- --- ----- -----
Income before
tax 33,036 34,730 88,724 107,822
Income Tax
Expense (7,427) (13,462) (15,304) (40,221)
------ ------- ------- -------
Net Income $25,609 $21,268 $73,420 $67,601
======= ======= ======= =======
Average Common
Shares
Outstanding 36,142 35,921 36,091 37,976
Basic Earnings
per Average
Common Share $0.70 $0.59 $2.03 $1.78
Diluted
Earnings per
Average
Common Share $0.70 $0.59 $2.02 $1.77
Dividends
Declared per
Average
Common Share $0.335 $0.33 $1.34 $1.32
The following table reconciles the primary changes in 2009 results from 2008:
Fully
($millions, except EPS) Diluted
Pre-tax Net Income EPS
------- ---------- -------
2008 reported $107.8 $67.6 $1.77
Deduct Insurance recoveries and
settlements (10.9) (6.7) (0.18)
Deduct Increase in insurance reserves (6.3) (3.9) (0.10)
Deduct Regulated electric wholesale (4.6) (2.8) (0.07)
Deduct Labor (4.4) (2.7) (0.07)
Deduct Jointly owned plant operations (4.4) (2.7) (0.07)
Deduct Increased operating expenses
recovered in supply tracker (see
below) (4.0) (2.5) (0.06)
Deduct Depreciation (3.9) (2.4) (0.06)
Deduct Increase in interest expense (3.8) (2.3) (0.06)
Deduct Regulated electric transmission
capacity (3.3) (2.0) (0.05)
Deduct Post retirement health care (2.8) (1.7) (0.04)
Deduct QF supply costs (2.6) (1.6) (0.04)
Deduct Loss on capacity contract (1.5) (0.9) (0.02)
Add Lower share count 0.10
Add Income tax adjustment 16.6 0.43
Add Transfer of Colstrip Unit 4 to
regulated electric 13.8 8.5 0.22
Add Legal & professional fees 6.8 4.2 0.11
Add Supply tracker recovery of
increased operating expenses (see
above) 4.0 2.5 0.06
Add Montana property tax tracker 2.9 1.8 0.05
Add Fleet & materials expense 2.9 1.8 0.05
Add Stock based compensation 1.4 0.9 0.02
Add Property taxes 1.0 0.6 0.01
Add Other income (primarily AFUDC) 0.9 0.6 0.01
Add Bad debt expense 0.9 0.6 0.01
Add All other, net (1.2) 0.2 --
---- --- ---
Subtotal 0.25
----
2009 reported $88.7 $73.4 $2.02
===== ===== =====
For more information, see www.northwesternenergy.com/documents/investor/Q409.pdf.
Consolidated gross margin for 2009 was $568.2 million compared with $562.1 million for 2008. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to placing our interest in Colstrip Unit 4 into regulated electric rate base. Consolidated gross margin also increased due to higher revenues for operating, general and administrative expenses, and property taxes related to our supply function, which are recovered from customers through the supply trackers, and therefore, have no impact on operating income. These increases in margin were offset in part by lower wholesale pricing and volumes, lower transmission capacity revenues due to decreased demand, higher qualifying facility related supply costs based on actual qualifying facility pricing and output, and a loss on a capacity contract included in our "other" segment.
Consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses were $245.6 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, as compared with $226.1 million during 2008. The increase in operating, general and administrative expenses of $19.5 million was primarily due to the following:
- Lower insurance recoveries and litigation settlements as compared with 2008. During 2009, we received approximately $5.6 million of insurance recoveries related primarily to previously incurred Montana generation-related environmental remediation costs. During 2008, we received $16.5 million of insurance reimbursements and litigation settlement proceeds related to costs incurred in prior years;
- Increased insurance reserves due to general liability and workers compensation matters;
- Increased plant operations costs due to scheduled maintenance and an unplanned outage at Colstrip Unit 4 for a rotor repair;
- Increased labor costs due primarily to compensation increases and severance costs;
- Higher operating, general and administrative costs expenses primarily related to costs incurred for customer efficiency programs, which are recovered from customers through supply trackers, and therefore, have no impact on operating income; and
- Increased postretirement health care costs due to plan asset market losses in 2008 and changes in actuarial assumptions. Postretirement healthcare costs totaled approximately $5.7 million during 2009 as compared with $2.9 million during 2008. We amended our postretirement healthcare plan during the fourth quarter of 2009 and we anticipate 2010 costs will decrease to approximately $1.0 million.
- These increases were partially offset by:
- Decreased legal and professional fees as 2008 included costs related to a proposed Colstrip Unit 4 transaction and other matters where we received insurance reimbursements or settlement proceeds;
- Decreased fleet and material expense primarily due to lower average fuel costs;
- Lower stock-based compensation due to the timing of equity grants and vesting criteria; and
- Lower bad debt expense based on lower average customer receivable balances and less days outstanding.
Property and other tax expenses were $79.6 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, compared with $80.6 million during 2008.
Depreciation expense was $89.0 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, compared with $85.1 million during 2008. The increase in depreciation expense was related primarily to plant additions.
Interest expense was $67.8 million for the year ended Dec. 31 2009, compared with $64.0 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, primarily related to an increase in debt outstanding. We expect interest expense for 2010 to be consistent with 2009 due to an increase in the amounts capitalized for the debt portion of the allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) related to the Mill Creek Generating Station, offsetting an increase in debt outstanding.
Consolidated other income in 2009 was $2.5 million, an increase of $.9 million compared with 2008. This increase was primarily due to capitalizing approximately $1.4 million of costs for the equity portion of AFUDC on the Mill Creek generation project. The Company expects to capitalize approximately $8.1 million of AFUDC costs related to Mill Creek during 2010.
Consolidated income tax expense in 2009 was $15.3 million as compared with $40.2 million in 2008. In December 2008, we filed a request with the IRS to change our accounting method related to costs to repair and maintain utility assets. The IRS approved our request in September 2009, which allows us to take a current tax deduction for a significant amount of repair costs that were previously capitalized for tax purposes. For regulatory purposes, we flow these current tax deductions through to our customers. Due to this regulatory treatment, we recorded an income tax benefit of approximately $16.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2009, to reflect this change in tax accounting method, of which approximately $8.7 million and $7.9 million related to the 2009 and 2008 tax years, respectively. The effective tax rate in 2009 was 17.2% as compared with 37.3% for the same period of 2008. The effective tax rate in 2009 was significantly impacted by a change in tax accounting method related to repair costs as discussed above. The forecasted income tax rate for 2010 is expected to be approximately 30%.
Fourth Quarter Financial Results
Consolidated net income for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, was $25.6 million, or $.70/share, an increase of $4.3 million over $21.3 million, or $.59/share for the fourth quarter in 2008. The increase was nearly entirely due to a decrease in income tax expense mentioned above.
Consolidated gross margin increased in the fourth quarter primarily due to placing our interest in Colstrip Unit 4 into regulated electric rate base and colder winter weather in our service territories compared with the fourth quarter of 2008.
These increases in margin were offset by an increase in consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses primarily caused by lower insurance recoveries and litigation settlements, increased postretirement health care costs due to plan asset market losses and changes in actuarial assumptions, and increased insurance reserves due to general liability and workers compensation matters.
Results from Regulated Operations
Regulated electric gross margin for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, was $425.6 million, up 17.0%, compared with $363.8 million for 2008. The transfer of Colstrip Unit 4 to the regulated utility contributed approximately $68.0 million to regulated electric gross margin. The absence of Colstrip Unit 4 from our unregulated electric segment reduced gross margin by approximately $54.2 million as compared with 2008.
This increase in gross margin was offset in part by lower South Dakota wholesale margin due to lower sales at lower average prices, lower Montana transmission capacity revenues with less demand to transmit energy for others across our lines, and higher qualifying facility related supply costs based on actual qualifying facility pricing and output.
Regulated retail electric volumes for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, totaled 9,958,000 megawatt hours compared with 10,164,000 megawatt hours for the year ended 2008. The decrease was due to milder summer weather in our service territories compared with 2008.
Wholesale electric volumes were 859,000 megawatt hours for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, an increase from 265,000 megawatt hours for 2008. Regulated wholesale electric volumes increased due to the 2009 transfer of Colstrip Unit 4 to the regulated utility discussed above. This increase in regulated wholesale electric volumes was offset in part by a decrease in South Dakota wholesale volumes from lower plant availability related to scheduled maintenance. We estimate our South Dakota wholesale volumes will increase by approximately 53 megawatt hours and margin will increase by approximately $1.8 million in 2010 due primarily to lower planned maintenance.
Regulated electric gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $104.4 million as compared with $83.7 million for the same period in 2008.
Regulated retail electric volumes for the fourth quarter of 2008 totaled 2,510,000 megawatt hours as compared with 2,534,000 megawatt hours in the same period in 2008. Regulated wholesale electric volumes for the fourth quarter of 2009 were 272,000 megawatt hours, an increase from 63,000 megawatt hours in the same period in 2008, due to the 2009 transfer of Colstrip Unit 4 to the regulated utility.
Regulated natural gas gross margin was $144.5 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, compared with $145.0 million during 2008. The decline in margin is primarily due to a decreased return on working gas due to lower average prices on gas in storage.
Regulated retail natural gas volumes were 32,124,000 dekatherms for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, compared with 32,263,000 dekatherms for the same period in 2008.
Regulated natural gas gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $44.3 million compared with $41.2 million for the same period in 2008.
Regulated retail natural gas volumes were 10,674,000 dekatherms for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with 9,692,000 dekatherms for the same period in 2008, primarily due to colder winter weather in our service territories.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of Dec. 31, 2009, cash and cash equivalents were $4.3 million compared with $11.3 million at Dec. 31, 2008. The Company had $180.9 million available from its revolving credit facility at Dec. 31, 2009, compared with $74.9 million at Dec. 31, 2008. The increase in revolving credit facility availability is due to an amendment during 2009 to increase the aggregate principal amount available under the facility by $50 million and extend the term to June 30, 2012, and debt issuances.
Cash provided by operating activities totaled $116.8 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, as compared with $198.3 million during 2008. This decrease in operating cash flows is primarily related to pension funding of $92.9 million, which was an increase of approximately $60.2 million as compared with 2008, payment of the Ammondson verdict in the fourth quarter of 2009 of approximately $26.7 million and a $10.8 million prepayment of a power purchase agreement, offset by lower commodity prices reflected in the change in accounts receivable, as well as decreased cash outflows for natural gas storage injections.
Cash used in investing activities totaled $189.1 million during the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, as compared with $124.4 million during 2008. During 2009, the Company invested $189.4 million in property, plant and equipment additions, including approximately $83.4 million related to Mill Creek Generating Station, as compared with $124.6 million in property, plant and equipment additions during 2008.
Cash provided by financing activities totaled $65.3 million during 2009, as compared with cash used in financing activities of $75.4 million during 2008. During 2009, the Company received net proceeds from the issuance of debt of $304.8 million, made net debt repayments of $179.8 million, paid deferred financing costs of $10.8 million and paid dividends on common stock of $48.2 million. During 2008, cash used to repurchase shares under a then previously announced plan was approximately $77.7 million. The Company had net borrowings on its revolving credit facility of $96.0 million, and debt repayments of $41.4 million. Dividends paid on common stock during 2008 were approximately $49.8 million.
Dividend Declaration
NorthWestern's Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of 34 cents per share, payable on Mar. 31, 2010, to common shareholders of record as of Mar. 15, 2010, an increase of a 1/2 cent per share from Dec. 31, 2009.
2010 Earnings Outlook
NorthWestern expects its earnings for 2010 to be $1.95 - $2.10 per fully diluted share.
A bridge from the 2009 earnings to the expected 2010 GAAP earnings is as follows:
2009 Earnings $2.02 $2.02
Increased AFUDC (Mill Creek) 0.08 to 0.10
Increasing loads - economy and weather 0.05 to 0.07
Montana transmission recovery 0.03 to 0.05
Colstrip Unit 4 rotor repair cost in '09 0.03 to 0.03
SD wholesale revenues recovery 0.02 to 0.03
Reduction in insurance claims damages 0.02 to 0.04
Pension, benefits and labor adjustments 0.01 to 0.02
Increase in property taxes (0.04) to (0.02)
Increase in depreciation (0.02) to (0.01)
Other cost increases (0.02) to (0.01)
Tax accounting change related to pre-'09 (0.23) to (0.22)
----- --- -----
Estimated income drivers $(0.07) to $0.08
------ --- -----
2010 Estimated Earnings Range $1.95 $2.10
Basic assumptions include the following expectations:
- Excludes any impact from requested rate increase in Montana;
- A consolidated income tax rate of approximately 30% of pre-tax income;
- Fully diluted average shares outstanding of 36.5 million; and
- Normal weather in the Company's electric and natural gas service territories for 2010.
Company Hosting Investor Conference Call
NorthWestern will host an investor conference call today at 3:30 pm Eastern Time (2:30 p.m. Central Time) to review its financial results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009.
The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet at http://www.northwesternenergy.com under the "Investor Information" heading. To listen, please go to the site at least 10 minutes in advance of the call to register. An archived webcast will be available shortly after the call.
A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 13, 2009, through March 13, 2009, at 800-475-6701, access code 144451.
Annual Meeting
The Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2010, in Huron, South Dakota. The record date for the annual meeting is February 22, 2010. The annual meeting notice, proxy statement, annual report to stockholders and voting instructions will be provided approximately 40 days prior to the meeting date to stockholders as of the record date.
About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 661,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD—LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, the information under "2010 Earnings Outlook". Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," or "will." These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual future business and financial performance may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to:
- potential adverse federal, state, or local legislation or regulation or adverse determinations by regulators could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
- changes in availability of trade credit, creditworthiness of counterparties, usage, commodity prices, fuel supply costs or availability due to higher demand, shortages, weather conditions, transportation problems or other developments, may reduce revenues or may increase operating costs, each of which could adversely affect our liquidity and results of operations;
- unscheduled generation outages or forced reductions in output, maintenance or repairs, which may reduce revenues and increase cost of sales or may require additional capital expenditures or other increased operating costs; and
- adverse changes in general economic and competitive conditions in the U.S. financial markets and in our service territories.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------
2009 2008
---- ----
ASSETS
Current Assets $264,827 $313,417
Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net 1,964,121 1,839,699
Goodwill 355,128 355,128
Regulatory Assets 182,382 233,102
Other Noncurrent Assets 28,674 20,691
------ ------
Total Assets $2,795,132 $2,762,037
========== ==========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Maturities of Long-
term Debt and Capital Leases $7,320 $229,238
Current Liabilities 287,672 359,339
Long-term Capital Leases 35,570 36,798
Long-term Debt 981,296 634,011
Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities 238,332 222,969
Deferred Income Taxes 161,188 114,707
Other Noncurrent Liabilities 296,730 401,442
------- -------
Total Liabilities 2,008,108 1,998,504
--------- ---------
Total Shareholders' Equity 787,024 763,533
------- -------
Total Liabilities and
Shareholders' Equity $2,795,132 $2,762,037
========== ==========
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------
2009 2008 2007
---- ---- ----
Net income $73,420 $67,601 $53,191
Non-cash items 137,448 132,335 113,083
Changes in operating
assets and liabilities (94,065) (1,610) 35,690
------- ------ ------
Cash Provided by
Operating Activities 116,804 198,326 201,964
Cash Used in Investing
Activities (189,034) (124,363) (256,499)
Cash Provided by (Used in)
Financing Activities 65,282 (75,444) 65,378
Net (Decrease) Increase
in Cash and Cash
Equivalents $(6,948) $(1,481) $10,843
------- ------- -------
Cash and Cash
Equivalents, beginning
of period $11,292 $12,773 $1,930
------- ------- ------
Cash and Cash
Equivalents, end of
period $4,344 $11,292 $12,773
====== ======= =======
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2008 SEGMENT RESULTS
(Unaudited)
Regulated
--------------------
December 31, 2009 Electric Gas Other Eliminations Total
-------- --- ----- ------------ -----
Operating revenues $782,318 $354,470 $6,747 $(1,625) $1,141,910
Cost of sales 356,722 210,016 6,948 - 573,686
------- ------- ----- --- -------
Gross margin 425,596 144,454 (201) (1,625) 568,224
Operating, general
and administrative 170,656 76,730 (143) (1,625) 245,618
Property and other
taxes 58,488 20,953 141 - 79,582
Depreciation 71,968 17,038 33 - 89,039
------ ------ --- --- ------
Operating income
(loss) 124,484 29,733 (232) - 153,985
------- ------ --- --- -------
Interest expense (51,193) (12,858) (3,709) - (66,912)
Other income 2,125 261 113 - 3,313
Income tax (expense)
benefit (13,493) (2,457) 646 - (15,943)
------ ----- --- --- ------
Net income (loss) $61,932 $14,679 $(3,182) $- $74,443
------ ------ ----- --- ------
Regulated
--------------
December 31, Unregulated
2008 Electric Gas Electric Other Eliminations Total
-------- --- -------- ----- ------------ -----
Operating
revenues $774,229 $416,675 $77,680 $30,039 $(37,830) $1,260,793
Cost of sales 410,471 271,690 23,463 29,141 (36,025) 698,740
------- ------- ------ ------ ------ -------
Gross margin 363,758 144,985 54,217 898 (1,805) 562,053
------- ------- ------ --- ----- -------
Operating,
general
and
administrative 149,913 68,912 15,928 (6,784) (1,805) 226,164
Property and
other taxes 56,310 21,381 2,898 13 - 80,602
Depreciation 61,734 15,980 7,324 33 - 85,071
------ ------ ----- --- --- ------
Operating
income 95,801 38,712 28,067 7,636 - 170,216
------ ------ ------ ----- --- -------
Interest
expense (36,757) (12,637) (10,911) (3,647) - (63,952)
Other income 547 1,001 154 (144) - 1,558
Income tax
expense (20,219) (10,027) (6,971) (3,004) - (40,221)
------ ------ ----- ----- --- ------
Net income $39,372 $17,049 $10,339 $841 $- $67,601
------ ------ ------ --- --- ------
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
REGULATED ELECTRIC SEGMENT
(Unaudited)
Results
-------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 Change % Change
---- ---- ------ --------
(in millions)
Retail revenue $660.7 $709.7 $(49.0) (6.9)%
Transmission 45.5 48.7 (3.2) (6.6)
Wholesale 43.9 10.4 33.5 322.1
Regulatory
Amortization
and Other 32.2 5.4 26.8 496.3
---- --- ---- -----
Total Revenues 782.3 774.2 8.1 1.0
Total Cost of
Sales 356.7 410.4 (53.7) (13.1)
----- ----- ----- -----
Gross Margin $425.6 $363.8 $61.8 17.0%
------ ------ ----- ----
Avg.
Customer
Revenues Megawatt Hours (MWH) Counts
-------- -------------------- ------
2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(in thousands)
Retail Electric
Montana $222,610 $236,921 2,317 2,285 268,492 266,100
South Dakota 43,971 45,199 523 513 48,258 47,967
------ ------ --- --- ------ ------
Residential 266,581 282,120 2,840 2,798 316,750 314,067
------- ------- ----- ----- ------- -------
Montana 270,558 289,209 3,161 3,190 60,445 59,595
South Dakota 63,004 65,608 877 872 11,659 11,492
------ ------ --- --- ------ ------
Commercial 333,562 354,817 4,038 4,062 72,104 71,087
------- ------- ----- ----- ------ ------
Industrial 35,902 46,504 2,899 3,122 71 71
Other 24,697 26,221 181 182 5,943 5,823
------ ------ --- --- ----- -----
Total Retail
Electric $660,742 $709,662 9,958 10,164 394,868 391,048
======== ======== ===== ====== ======= =======
Wholesale Electric
Montana $38,263 $- 642 - N/A N/A
South Dakota 5,653 10,370 217 265 N/A N/A
----- ------ --- --- --- ---
Total Wholesale
Electric $43,916 $10,370 859 265 N/A N/A
======= ======= === === === ===
2009 as compared with:
----------------------
Cooling Degree- Historic
Days 2008 Average
--------------- ---- --------
Montana 6% colder 4% warmer
South Dakota 25% colder 37% colder
Prior to the transfer of Colstrip Unit 4 in 2009, results from the sales
of the output of this plant were reflected in our unregulated electric
segment through December 31, 2008, which impacts the comparability of the
results of our regulated electric segment. See prior page for financial
results of the segments.
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
REGULATED NATURAL GAS SEGMENT
(Unaudited)
Results
-------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 Change % Change
---- ---- ------ --------
(in millions)
Retail revenue $310.1 $374.8 $(64.7) (17.3)%
Wholesale and
other 44.4 41.9 2.5 6.0
---- ---- --- ---
Total Revenues 354.5 416.7 (62.2) (14.9)
Total Cost of
Sales 210.0 271.7 (61.7) (22.7)
----- ----- ----- -----
Gross Margin $144.5 $145.0 $(0.5) (0.3)%
------ ------ ----- ----
Customer
Revenues Dekatherms (Dkt) Counts
-------- ---------------- ------
2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(in thousands)
Retail Gas
Montana $132,586 $161,393 13,291 13,426 156,714 155,409
South Dakota 32,462 37,057 2,925 2,975 36,815 36,620
Nebraska 28,531 33,164 2,674 2,717 36,458 36,466
------ ------ ----- ----- ------ ------
Residential 193,579 231,614 18,890 19,118 229,987 228,495
------- ------- ------ ------ ------- -------
Montana 66,516 81,262 6,733 6,754 21,929 21,703
South Dakota 26,567 31,318 3,315 3,104 5,837 5,780
Nebraska 20,760 26,910 2,903 2,962 4,504 4,532
------ ------ ----- ----- ----- -----
Commercial 113,843 139,490 12,951 12,820 32,270 32,015
------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------
Industrial 1,650 2,406 170 207 295 303
Other 1,003 1,261 113 118 142 140
----- ----- --- --- --- ---
Total Retail Gas $310,075 $374,771 32,124 32,263 262,694 260,953
======== ======== ====== ====== ======= =======
2009 as compared with:
----------------------
Heating Degree- Historic
Days 2008 Average
--------------- ---- --------
Montana 1% warmer Remained flat
South Dakota Remained flat 3% colder
Nebraska 2% warmer 1% colder
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
FOURTH QUARTER SEGMENT RESULTS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended December 31, 2009
Regulated
--------------------
Electric Gas Other Eliminations Total
-------- --- ----- ------------ -----
Operating revenues $202,179 $100,132 $498 $(401) $302,408
Cost of sales 97,758 55,911 (16) - 153,653
----- ------ --- --- -------
Gross margin 104,421 44,221 514 (401) 148,755
------- ------ --- --- -------
Operating, general
and administrative 42,081 17,923 1,805 (401) 61,408
Property and other
taxes 12,054 4,097 30 - 16,181
Depreciation 17,856 4,216 8 - 22,080
------ ----- --- --- ------
Operating income
(loss) 32,430 17,985 (1,329) - 49,086
------ ------ ----- --- ------
Interest expense (13,230) (3,229) (898) - (17,357)
Other income 1,341 (61) 27 - 1,307
Income tax expense (1,426) (4,029) (1,972) - (7,427)
----- ----- ----- --- -----
Net income (loss) $19,115 $10,666 $(4,172) $- $25,609
------ ------ ----- --- ------
Three Months Ended December 31, 2008
Regulated
--------------
Unregulated
Electric Gas Electric Other Eliminations Total
-------- --- -------- ----- ------------ -----
Operating
revenues $190,623 $118,850 $20,616 $5,575 $(9,596) $326,068
Cost of sales 106,921 77,694 8,991 5,371 (9,178) 189,799
------- ------ ----- ----- ----- -------
Gross margin 83,702 41,156 11,625 204 (418) 136,269
------ ------ ------ --- --- -------
Operating,
general and
administrative 34,159 15,195 5,468 (5,588) (418) 48,816
Property and
other taxes 10,163 4,026 512 3 - 14,704
Depreciation 15,531 4,055 1,869 8 - 21,463
------ ----- ----- --- --- ------
Operating
income 23,849 17,880 3,776 5,781 - 51,286
------ ------ ----- ----- --- ------
Interest expense (8,619) (2,762) (2,554) (2,539) - (16,474)
Other income (344) 144 21 97 - (82)
Income tax
expense (4,409) (5,615) (513) (2,925) - (13,462)
----- ----- --- ----- --- ------
Net Income $10,477 $9,647 $730 $414 $- $21,268
------ ----- --- --- --- ------
SOURCE NorthWestern Corporation
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