NorthWestern Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.  Net income was $32.0 million, or $.88 per fully diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared with net income of $32.6 million, or $.89 per fully diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  Gross margin declined $5.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared with the first quarter of 2011, due primarily to mild winter weather that caused an approximately $8.2 million reduction in gross margin but this was largely offset by increased Dave Gates Generating Station ("DGGS") related revenues of $4.5 million, including approximately $2.7 million that had been deferred in prior periods pending outcome of allocation uncertainty in Montana.  This was based on a March 2012 decision by the Montana Public Service Commission ("MPSC") approving total project costs and establishing final rates for DGGS.  In addition, operating expenses and interest expense were lower than the same period in 2011.

"Despite the significantly milder heating season, we provided stable earnings in the first quarter of 2012," said Bob Rowe, President and CEO. "In addition, we made progress in advancing electric supply investments by beginning construction on both the Spion Kop 40 MW wind project in Montana and the 60 MW natural gas peaking facility near Aberdeen, SD." 

Summary Financial Results

The following table reconciles the primary changes from the first quarter 2012 results compared with the same period in 2011:

 For more information see www.northwesternenergy.com/documents/investor/Q112.pdf

Significant Drivers

Gross Margin

Consolidated gross margin for the first quarter of 2012 was $170.7 million compared with $176.2 million for same period of 2011.  The decrease in gross margin was due primarily to a decrease in electric and natural gas volumes caused by warmer winter weather, a decrease in the Montana property taxes included in a tracker compared with the same period of 2011, a decrease in production margin from lower market prices and a reduction in revenues of operating expenses recovered in monthly supply trackers.  These reductions to margin were offset by an increase in DGGS related revenues, including approximately $2.7 million that the Company had deferred in previous periods, pending the outcome of allocation uncertainty in Montana, and an increase in South Dakota natural gas rates.

Operating, General and Administrative Expenses

Consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses were $65.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 as compared with $67.4 million during the same period of 2011.  The decrease in operating, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to the timing of line maintenance compared with the same period of 2011, which we expect to be higher for the remainder of the year.

Property and Other Taxes

Consolidated property and other taxes were $23.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 as compared with $25.4 million during the same period of 2011.  This decrease was due primarily to lower actual 2011 property taxes than our initial estimate based on assessed property valuations and mill levy increases in Montana, offset in part by plant additions.  We estimate property taxes throughout each year and update to the actual expense when we receive our Montana property tax bills in November.

Interest Expense

Consolidated interest expense was $16.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 as compared with $17.1 million during the same period of 2011.  The decrease was primarily due to lower interest rates on debt outstanding.

Income Tax Expense

Consolidated income tax expense in the first quarter of 2012 was $8.0 million as compared with $9.2 million in same period of 2011.  The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was 20% as compared with 22% for the same period of 2011.  The reduction in income tax expense was primarily due to lower taxable income and higher repairs tax deductions.  The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory tax rate of 35% primarily due to repairs and state tax bonus depreciation deductions.

The following table summarizes the significant differences from the Federal statutory rate, which result in reduced income tax expense:

Regulated Operations

In the regulated operations, electric net income improved $0.4 million, due primarily to an increase in DGGS related revenues, including approximately $2.7 million that the Company had previously deferred pending the outcome of allocation uncertainty in Montana, and lower income taxes, offset by a decrease in gross margin caused by warmer winter weather in our service territories.  Natural gas net income declined $0.7 million, due primarily to a decrease in gross margins caused by warmer winter weather in our service territories, offset in part by a reduction in operating expenses, property taxes, interest expenses and income tax expense. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2012, cash and cash equivalents were $7.8 million compared with $5.9 million at Dec. 31, 2011.  The Company had $177.0 million available from its revolving credit facility at March 31, 2012, compared with $130.1 million at Dec. 31, 2011. 

Dividend Declaration

NorthWestern's Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of 37 cents per share, payable on June 30, 2012, to common shareholders of record as of June 15, 2012. 

Update on DGGS Outage

DGGS was shut down on January 31, 2012 after problems were discovered in the power turbines of two of the generation units. Similar problems were subsequently found in the third unit. We expect two of the three units to be returned to service by April 30, 2012 using either the original turbines after servicing by their supplier Pratt & Whitney Power Systems (PWPS) or turbines on loan from PWPS.  We expect the turbine repair costs to be covered under the manufacturer's warranty; however, we are also incurring incremental costs for contracts with third parties for replacement regulation service.  During the first quarter of 2012, our incremental costs for replacement regulation service totaled approximately $0.5 million.  We have been actively managing our contracted service in an effort to reduce these costs as much as possible as DGGS is brought back into service.  We believe the incremental contracted costs for regulation service are recoverable from customers through our normal course of business; however, there can be no assurance that the MPSC and/or FERC will allow us full recovery of such costs.

Highlights for first quarter of 2012

• Received a final order from the MPSC approving total project costs and establishing final rates for DGGS;
• Received approval from the MPSC for the Spion Kop wind project in Montana; and
• Submitted an application with the MPSC to place our majority interest in the Battle Creek Field natural gas production fields and gathering system acquired into regulated natural gas rate base in Montana;

2012 Earnings Outlook

NorthWestern reaffirms its earnings for 2012 to be $2.35 - $2.50 per fully diluted share. 

Basic assumptions include the following expectations:

• A consolidated income tax rate of approximately 18% - 20% of pre-tax income;
• No scheduled maintenance at Colstrip Unit 4 and Big Stone Plants;
• DGGS outage costs fully recovered;
• Fully diluted average shares outstanding of 37.0 million; and
• Normal weather in the Company's electric and natural gas service territories for the remainder of 2012.

Company Hosting Investor Conference Call

NorthWestern will host an investor conference call today at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (3:00 p.m. Central Time) to review its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

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 6:00 p.m. ET on April 25, 2012, through May 25, 2012, at (800) 723-0498.

Annual Meeting

The Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be today, Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time at Montana Tech Student Union Building, 1300 W. Park Street, Butte, Montana.

The annual stockholders meeting 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.

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 668,300 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 "2012 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 effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
• we have capitalized approximately $22.3 million in preliminary survey and investigative costs related to our proposed Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI) transmission project.  If our efforts to complete MSTI are not successful, we may have to write-off all or a portion these costs, which could have a material effect on our results of operations;
• 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.

SOURCE NorthWestern Corporation