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NU Reports First Quarter Results

BERLIN, Conn., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) today reported first quarter 2009 earnings of $97.7 million, or $0.60 per share, compared with earnings of $58.4 million, or $0.38 per share, in the first quarter of 2008. Results for 2008 included an after-tax charge of $29.8 million, or $0.19 per share, associated with the settlement of prior litigation. Excluding that charge, NU's first quarter 2008 earnings were $88.2 million, or $0.57 per share(1).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060728/NORTHEASTUTILOGO )

Charles W. Shivery, NU chairman, president and chief executive officer, attributed the improved operating results to the company's continued investment in its regulated transmission and distribution infrastructure. Shivery also said NU completed a number of significant financings since the beginning of 2009. On March 20, NU closed on the sale of nearly 19 million shares of common equity, raising approximately $383 million. On February 13, The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) closed on the sale of $250 million of 10-year first mortgage bonds carrying a coupon of 5.5 percent. On April 2, CL&P also completed the remarketing of $62 million of pollution control revenue bonds carrying a coupon of 5.25 percent.

"These financings, which were completed successfully in a difficult market, will help provide us with the capital that is required as we continue to upgrade the energy infrastructure of New England," Shivery said.

In the first three months of 2009, NU's capital expenditures totaled $183 million. NU continues to project capital expenditures of $921 million for the full year of 2009.

2009 earnings guidance

NU today affirmed its 2009 consolidated earnings guidance of between $1.80 per share and $2.00 per share, and said it will likely earn toward the lower end of that range primarily due to the earlier timing and greater than anticipated size of its equity issuance.

Regulated company results

NU's transmission earnings were $35.4 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with $32.5 million in the first quarter of 2008. Shivery said the improved results primarily reflected an increased level of transmission investment in service in the first quarter of 2009. Transmission segment earnings in the first quarter of 2008 included a $3.5 million gain associated with the March 2008 modification of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decision concerning the authorized returns on equity for New England transmission owners.

CL&P's distribution earnings were $21.6 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with $18.9 million in the first quarter of 2008. Distribution rate increases effective February 1, 2008, and February 1, 2009, more than offset higher pension, depreciation and interest expenses in 2009.

Public Service Company of New Hampshire's distribution and generation earnings were $13.5 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with $11.5 million in the first quarter of 2008. PSNH benefited from higher residential electric sales and a higher generation rate base.

Western Massachusetts Electric Company's distribution earnings were $4.8 million in the first quarters of both 2009 and 2008.

Yankee Gas Services Company earned $19.3 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with $18.6 million in the first quarter of 2008. The improved results were primarily due to sales increases, partially offset by higher operation expense. As a result of colder weather, customer conversions to natural gas, and increased use of natural gas for distributed electric generation, firm gas sales rose 12.8 percent in the first quarter of 2009, compared with the same period of 2008.

Overall electric sales were down 1.5 percent in the first quarter of 2009, compared with the same three months of 2008, and were 3.0 percent lower on a weather adjusted basis. However, residential sales, which accounted for nearly 50 percent of total retail sales, increased in the first quarter of 2009 by 4.1 percent over the same period of last year.

Competitive businesses

NU's remaining competitive energy businesses earned $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2008. Results in 2008 included a net after-tax charge of $3.0 million related to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, which affected the valuation of the competitive businesses' remaining wholesale power obligations that are marked to market.

Parent and other companies

NU parent and other companies recorded net expenses of $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with net expenses of $29.8 million in the first quarter of 2008. The 2008 expenses were due to the payment NU made to settle prior litigation.

The following table reconciles 2009 and 2008 first-quarter results:

                                                            First Quarter

       2008   Reported EPS                                      $0.38
              Litigation settlement charge in 2008              $0.19
              Reported EPS before litigation charge in 2008     $0.57
              Higher transmission earnings in 2009              $0.01
              Higher regulated distribution and generation
               earnings in 2009                                 $0.01
              Lower Parent results in 2009, ex. impact of
               2008 litigation charge                          ($0.02)
              Higher competitive business earnings in 2009      $0.03
       2009   Reported EPS                                      $0.60


Financial results for the first quarter of 2009 and 2008 for NU's regulated and competitive segments and parent and other companies are noted below:

    Three months ended:
    (in millions, except EPS)
                                     March 31,  March 31,  Increase  2009
                                       2009      2008     (Decrease) EPS(1)


    CL&P Distribution                  $21.6     $18.9      $2.7     $0.13
    PSNH Distribution/Generation       $13.5     $11.5      $2.0     $0.08
    WMECO Distribution                  $4.8      $4.8       ---     $0.03
    Yankee Gas                         $19.3     $18.6      $0.7     $0.12
    Total--Distribution/Generation     $59.2     $53.8      $5.4     $0.36
    CL&P Transmission                  $30.1     $25.8      $4.3     $0.19
    PSNH Transmission                   $4.0      $5.2     ($1.2)    $0.02
    WMECO Transmission                  $1.3      $1.5     ($0.2)    $0.01
    Total-Transmission                 $35.4     $32.5      $2.9     $0.22
    Total-Competitive                   $5.8      $1.9      $3.9     $0.04
    NU Parent and Other Companies,
     ex. litigation charge             ($2.7)       --     ($2.7)   ($0.02)
    Total-ex. litigation charge        $97.7     $88.2      $9.5     $0.60
    Litigation charge                    ---    ($29.8)    $29.8       N/A
       Reported Earnings               $97.7     $58.4     $39.3     $0.60


    Retail sales data:
                                                                   % Change
    Gwh for three months ended        March 31, March 31, % Change  Weather
                                        2009      2008      Actual    Norm.


    CL&P                               5,880     5,972     (1.5%)    (3.2%)
    PSNH                               2,040     2,055     (0.7%)    (1.8%)
    WMECO                                972     1,004     (3.2%)    (4.4%)
    Total NU                           8,888     9,026     (1.5%)    (3.0%)
    Yankee Gas firm volumes in mmcf
     for three months ended           17,034    15,101     12.8%      7.2%

Including the March 2009 issuance of nearly 19 million shares, NU has approximately 175 million common shares outstanding. It operates New England's largest energy delivery system, serving more than 2 million customers in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

This news release includes statements concerning NU's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions of future events, future financial performance or growth and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, readers can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as "estimate", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "project," "believe", "forecast", "should", "could", and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, estimates, assumptions or projections of management and are not guarantees of future performance. These expectations, estimates, assumptions or projections may vary materially from actual results. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, actions or inaction by local, state and federal regulatory bodies; changes in business and economic conditions, including their impact on interest rates, bad debt expense and demand for our products and services; changes in weather patterns; changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policy; changes in levels and timing of capital expenditures; disruptions of the capital markets or other events that make our access to necessary capital more difficult or costly; developments in legal or public policy doctrines; technological developments; changes in accounting standards and financial reporting regulations; fluctuations in the value of our remaining competitive electricity positions; actions of rating agencies; and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in our reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update the information contained in any forward-looking statements to reflect developments or circumstances occurring after the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

(1) All per share amounts in this news release are reported on a fully diluted basis. The only common equity securities that are publicly traded are common shares of NU. The earnings and EPS of each segment do not represent a direct legal interest in the assets and liabilities allocated to any one segment but rather represent a direct interest in NU's assets and liabilities as a whole. EPS by segment is a non-GAAP (not determined using generally accepted accounting principles) measure that is calculated by dividing the net income or loss attributable to controlling interests of each segment by the average fully diluted NU common shares outstanding for the period. Management uses this measure to provide actual and projected earnings by segment and believes that this measurement is useful to investors to evaluate the actual and projected financial performance and contribution of NU's business segments. This release also references our 2008 earnings and EPS excluding a significant charge associated with a litigation settlement payment made to Consolidated Edison, which are non-GAAP measures. Due to the nature and significance of the litigation charge, management believes that this non-GAAP presentation is more representative of our performance and provides additional and useful information to investors in analyzing historical and future performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered alternatives to NU consolidated net income attributable to controlling interests and EPS determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of NU's operating performance.

Note: NU will webcast a discussion concerning its first quarter 2009

results tomorrow, April 30, 2009, at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The webcast can be accessed through NU's website at www.nu.com.

    NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited)
                                                      March 31,   December 31,
    (Thousands of Dollars)                              2009         2008
    ------------------------                            ----         ----

    ASSETS
    ------

    Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                        $416,828      $89,816
      Receivables, less provision for
       uncollectible accounts of $51,054
       in 2009 and $43,275 in 2008                      695,599      698,755
      Unbilled revenues                                 198,109      218,440
      Fuel, materials and supplies                      235,717      300,049
      Marketable securities - current                    76,789       78,452
      Derivative assets - current                         8,734       31,373
      Prepayments and other                             115,392       88,679
                                                        -------       ------
                                                      1,747,168    1,505,564
                                                      ---------    ---------

    Property, Plant and Equipment:
      Electric utility                                9,324,237    9,219,351
      Gas utility                                     1,051,271    1,043,687
      Other                                             294,296      290,156
                                                        -------      -------
                                                     10,669,804   10,553,194
        Less: Accumulated depreciation:
              $2,652,256 for electric And
              gas utility and $158,977 for
              other in 2009; $2,610,479 for
              electric and gas utility and
              $159,639 for other in 2008              2,811,233    2,770,118
                                                      ---------    ---------
                                                      7,858,571    7,783,076
      Construction work in progress                     454,965      424,800
                                                        -------      -------
                                                      8,313,536    8,207,876
                                                      ---------    ---------

    Deferred Debits and Other Assets:
      Regulatory assets                               3,437,996    3,502,606
      Goodwill                                          287,591      287,591
      Marketable securities - long-term                  29,841       30,757
      Derivative assets - long-term                     229,265      241,814
      Other                                             228,189      212,272
                                                        -------      -------
                                                      4,212,882    4,275,040
                                                      ---------    ---------


    Total Assets                                    $14,273,586  $13,988,480
                                                    ===========  ===========


    The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This
    report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information to
    present shareholders about Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries and is not
    a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with any
    purchase or sale of securities.
    NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited)

                                             March 31,   December 31,
    (Thousands of Dollars)                     2009         2008
    ------------------------                   ----         ----

    LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION
    ------------------------------

    Current Liabilities:
      Notes payable to banks                 $493,988      $618,897
      Long-term debt - current portion         54,286        54,286
      Accounts payable                        466,286       678,614
      Accrued taxes                            51,405        12,527
      Accrued interest                         74,682        69,818
      Derivative liabilities - current        107,147       100,919
      Other                                   133,452       168,401
                                              -------       -------
                                            1,381,246     1,703,462
                                            ---------     ---------

    Rate Reduction Bonds                      624,060       686,511
                                              -------       -------

    Deferred Credits and Other
     Liabilities:
      Accumulated deferred income taxes     1,257,974     1,223,461
      Accumulated deferred
       investment tax credits                  24,658        25,371
      Deferred contractual obligations        185,601       193,016
      Regulatory liabilities                  555,519       592,540
      Derivative liabilities - long-term      897,939       912,426
      Accrued pension                         743,298       740,930
      Accrued postretirement benefits         236,031       240,371
      Other                                   441,808       430,718
                                              -------       -------
                                            4,342,828     4,358,833
                                            ---------     ---------

    Capitalization:
      Long-Term Debt                        4,353,180     4,103,162
                                            ---------     ---------

      Noncontrolling interest in
       consolidated subsidiary -
       Preferred stock - non-redeemable       116,200       116,200
                                              -------       -------

      Common Shareholders' Equity:
        Common shares, $5 par value -
          authorized 225,000,000 shares;
          195,344,140 shares issued
          and 175,098,530 shares outstanding
          in 2009 and 176,212,275 shares
          issued and 155,834,361 shares
          outstanding in 2008                 976,721       881,061
        Capital surplus, paid in            1,751,499     1,475,006
        Deferred contribution plan -
         employee stock ownership plan        (12,418)      (15,481)
        Retained earnings                   1,138,969     1,078,594
        Accumulated other
         comprehensive loss                   (37,096)      (37,265)
        Treasury stock, 19,708,136 shares
         in 2009 and 2008                    (361,603)     (361,603)
                                             --------      --------
      Common Shareholders' Equity           3,456,072     3,020,312
                                            ---------     ---------
    Total Capitalization                    7,925,452     7,239,674
                                            ---------     ---------


    Total Liabilities and Capitalization  $14,273,586   $13,988,480
                                          ===========   ===========


    The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This
    report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information
    to present shareholders about Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries and is
    not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with
    any purchase or sale of securities.



    NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Unaudited)


                                                    Three Months Ended
    (Thousands of Dollars, except                       March 31,
     share information)                             2009        2008
    -----------------------------                   ----        ----


    Operating Revenues                           $1,593,483  $1,519,967
                                                 ----------  ----------

    Operating Expenses:
      Operation -
         Fuel, purchased and net
          interchange power                         838,920     823,317
         Other                                      247,445     285,881
      Maintenance                                    48,836      56,709
      Depreciation                                   76,983      67,754
      Amortization of regulatory assets, net         21,691      28,855
      Amortization of rate reduction bonds           55,897      53,350
      Taxes other than income taxes                  86,429      71,829
                                                     ------      ------
           Total operating expenses               1,376,201   1,387,695
                                                  ---------   ---------
    Operating Income                                217,282     132,272

    Interest Expense:
      Interest on long-term debt                     55,684      42,773
      Interest on rate reduction bonds               10,625      13,716
      Other interest                                  4,668       6,152
                                                      -----       -----
           Interest expense, net                     70,977      62,641
                                                     ------      ------
    Other Income, Net                                 4,182      13,558
                                                      -----      ------
    Income Before Income Tax Expense                150,487      83,189
    Income Tax Expense                               51,423      23,406
                                                     ------      ------
    Net Income                                       99,064      59,783
    Net Income Attributable to
     Noncontrolling Interests                         1,390       1,390
                                                      -----       -----
    Net Income Attributable to
     Controlling Interests                          $97,674     $58,393
                                                    =======     =======

    Basic and Fully Diluted Earnings
     Per Common Share                                 $0.60       $0.38
                                                      =====       =====

    Basic Common Shares Outstanding
     (weighted average)                         162,340,475 155,286,111
                                                =========== ===========

    Fully Diluted Common Shares Outstanding
     (weighted average)                         162,925,167 155,721,610
                                                =========== ===========



    The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This
    report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information
    to present shareholders about Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries and is
    not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with
    any purchase or sale of securities.



    NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (Unaudited)
                                                        Three Months
                                                       Ended March 31,
     (Thousands of Dollars)                            2009      2008
    -----------------------                            ----      ----

    Operating Activities:
      Net income                                     $99,064   $59,783
      Adjustments to reconcile to net
       cash flows provided by operating activities:
        Bad debt expense                               9,507     6,542
        Depreciation                                  76,983    67,754
        Deferred income taxes                         17,178    29,009
        Pension and PBOP expense/
         (income), net of capitalized
         portion, and contributions                    6,703    (2,401)
        Other-than-temporary impairments of
         marketable securities                         3,462     3,186
        Regulatory refunds and underrecoveries       (29,939)  (84,348)
        Amortization/(deferral) of recoverable
         energy costs                                 15,245    (2,772)
        Amortization of regulatory assets, net        21,691    28,855
        Amortization of rate reduction bonds          55,897    53,350
        Deferred contractual obligations              (8,666)   (8,620)
        Derivative assets and liabilities            (14,769)  (17,208)
        Other                                         (6,912)   (5,948)
      Changes in current assets and liabilities:
        Receivables and unbilled revenues, net        10,483   (32,510)
        Investments in securitizable assets                -    33,316
        Fuel, materials and supplies                  51,171    55,163
        Other current assets                          (1,541)   (4,646)
        Accounts payable                            (174,497)  (17,912)
        Margin special deposits                      (10,582)    7,157
        Taxes receivable/accrued                      43,270   (28,122)
        Other current liabilities                    (23,795)  (41,902)
                                                     -------   -------
    Net cash flows provided by operating
     activities                                      139,953    97,726
                                                     -------    ------

    Investing Activities:
      Investments in property and plant             (208,896) (288,135)
      Proceeds from sales of marketable
       securities                                     52,933    67,509
      Purchases of marketable securities             (54,557)  (68,564)
      Rate reduction bond escrow and other
       deposits                                       (1,480)    9,394
      Other investing activities                       2,853     1,840
                                                       -----     -----
    Net cash flows used in investing
     activities                                     (209,147) (277,956)
                                                    --------  --------

    Financing Activities:
      Issuance of common shares                      387,350     4,041
      Cash dividends on common shares                (37,207)  (31,283)
      Cash dividends on preferred stock of
       subsidiary                                     (1,390)   (1,390)
      (Decrease)/increase in short-term debt        (124,909)  279,000
      Issuance of long-term debt                     250,000         -
      Retirements of rate reduction bonds            (62,451)  (61,136)
      Financing fees                                 (15,205)        -
      Other financing activities                          18       868
                                                          --       ---
    Net cash flows provided by financing
     activities                                      396,206   190,100
                                                     -------   -------
    Net increase in cash and cash
     equivalents                                     327,012     9,870
    Cash and cash equivalents - beginning
     of period                                        89,816    15,104
                                                      ------    ------
    Cash and cash equivalents - end
     of period                                      $416,828   $24,974
                                                    ========   =======

    The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This
    report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information
    to present shareholders about Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries and is
    not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with
    any purchase or sale of securities.



SOURCE Northeast Utilities