-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Kk9GL2jrR0tfIjS3E6niyuSNQPUiyeZYKEAJWlpbSh4ILSJw+qC2dXjyVAV1aras IbtGao3SLOmhWTG0tJIAjQ== 0000091928-06-000051.txt : 20060809 0000091928-06-000051.hdr.sgml : 20060809 20060809163831 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000091928-06-000051 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20060809 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060809 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SOUTH JERSEY GAS CO/NEW CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001035216 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION [4923] IRS NUMBER: 210398330 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NJ FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-22211 FILM NUMBER: 061018119 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: NUMBER ONE SOUTH JERSEY PLAZA STREET 2: ROUTE 54 CITY: FOLSOM STATE: NJ ZIP: 08037 BUSINESS PHONE: 6095619000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: NUMBER ONE SOUTH JERSEY PLAZA STREET 2: ROUTE 54 CITY: FOLSOM STATE: NJ ZIP: 08037 10-Q 1 sjg10q063006.htm SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY FORM 10-Q FOR JUNE 30, 2006 South Jersey Gas Company Form 10-Q for June 30, 2006
 


 
  
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006

OR

[   ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

Commission File Number 000-22211

SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Jersey
21-0398330 
 (State of incorporation)
(IRS employer identification no.)

1 South Jersey Plaza, Folsom, NJ 08037
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(609) 561-9000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer [ ] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [X]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ]   No  [X]
 
 As of May 1, 2006 there were 2,339,139 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding. All common shares are owned by South Jersey Industries, Inc., the parent company of South Jersey Gas Company.
 
 


 
 
 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION



Item 1. Financial Statements — See Pages 2 through 21



 
SJG -1

 

SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
         
           
STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
         
(In Thousands)
         
           
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
           
           
Operating Revenues
 
$
105,006
 
$
86,083
 
               
Operating Expenses:
             
    Cost of Sales
   
76,040
   
55,111
 
    Operations
   
10,520
   
11,939
 
    Maintenance
   
1,365
   
1,511
 
    Depreciation
   
5,848
   
5,437
 
    Energy and Other Taxes
   
1,673
   
1,952
 
               
        Total Operating Expenses
   
95,446
   
75,950
 
               
Operating Income
   
9,560
   
10,133
 
               
Other Income and Expense
   
158
   
(9
)
               
Interest Charges
   
(5,181
)
 
(4,193
)
               
Income Before Income Taxes
   
4,537
   
5,931
 
               
Income Taxes
   
(1,938
)
 
(2,577
)
               
Net Income
 
$
2,599
 
$
3,354
 
               
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
             
               
 
 
SJG -2

 
               
               
SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
             
               
STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
             
(In Thousands)
             
               
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
     
2006
 
 
2005
 
               
               
Operating Revenues
 
$
382,087
 
$
300,620
 
               
Operating Expenses:
             
    Cost of Sales
   
284,661
   
199,455
 
    Operations
   
24,351
   
27,228
 
    Maintenance
   
2,770
   
3,004
 
    Depreciation
   
11,606
   
10,795
 
    Energy and Other Taxes
   
5,959
   
6,846
 
               
        Total Operating Expenses
   
329,347
   
247,328
 
               
Operating Income
   
52,740
   
53,292
 
               
Other Income and Expense
   
138
   
(38
)
               
Interest Charges
   
(10,333
)
 
(8,633
)
               
Income Before Income Taxes
   
42,545
   
44,621
 
               
Income Taxes
   
(17,468
)
 
(18,702
)
               
Net Income
 
$
25,077
 
$
25,919
 
               
               
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
             
 
 
SJG -3


SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
         
           
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
         
(In Thousands)
         
           
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
           
           
           
Net Income
 
$
2,599
 
$
3,354
 
               
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax:
             
               
    Change in Fair Value of Investments
   
(67
)
 
121
 
    Change in Fair Value of Derivatives
   
396
   
(615
)
               
        Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Net of Tax
   
329
   
(494
)
               
Comprehensive Income
 
$
2,928
 
$
2,860
 
               
               
               
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
     
2006
 
 
2005
 
               
               
               
Net Income
 
$
25,077
 
$
25,919
 
               
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax:
             
               
    Change in Fair Value of Investments
   
90
   
78
 
    Change in Fair Value of Derivatives
   
953
   
(718
)
               
        Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Net of Tax
   
1,043
   
(640
)
               
Comprehensive Income
 
$
26,120
 
$
25,279
 
               
               
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
             
 
 
SJG -4



SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
         
           
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
         
(In Thousands)
         
           
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
           
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
             
    Net Income
 
$
25,077
 
$
25,919
 
    Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash
             
        Provided by Operating Activities:
             
           Depreciation and Amortization
   
12,524
   
12,238
 
           Provision for Losses on Accounts Receivable
   
251
   
838
 
           Revenues and Fuel Costs Deferred - Net
   
5,204
   
(4,943
)
           Deferred and Noncurrent Income Taxes and Credits - Net
   
(2,012
)
 
5,526
 
           Environmental Remediation Costs - Net
   
(3,510
)
 
(797
)
           Gas Plant Cost of Removal
   
(670
)
 
(443
)
           Changes in:
             
            Accounts Receivable
   
29,414
   
16,512
 
            Inventories
   
22,053
   
16,049
 
            Other Prepayments and Current Assets
   
(550
)
 
(1,678
)
            Prepaid and Accrued Taxes - Net
   
(4,234
)
 
(2,233
)
            Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities
   
(54,542
)
 
(6,673
)
            Other Assets
   
806
   
5,808
 
            Other Liabilities
   
208
   
(1,586
)
               
                Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
   
30,019
   
64,537
 
               
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
             
    Capital Expenditures
   
(34,062
)
 
(29,512
)
    Purchase of Restricted Investments
   
(14,316
)
 
-
 
               
                Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
   
(48,378
)
 
(29,512
)
               
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
             
    Net Borrowings from (Repayments of) Lines of Credit
   
3,900
   
(15,500
)
    Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt
   
25,000
   
-
 
    Principal Repayments of Long-Term Debt
   
(2,288
)
 
(12,773
)
    Redemption of Preferred Stock
   
-
   
(1,690
)
    Dividends on Common Stock
   
(4,975
)
 
(5,626
)
    Payments for Issuance of Long-Term Debt
   
(956
)
 
(100
)
    Premium for Early Retirement of Debt
   
-
   
(184
)
               
                Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
   
20,681
   
(35,873
)
               
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
   
2,322
   
(848
)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
   
2,551
   
3,310
 
               
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
   
4,873
   
2,462
 
               
Supplemental Disclosures of Noncash Investing Activities:
             
    Capital property and equipment acquired on account but
             
       not paid as of June 30
 
$
4,178
 
$
5,314
 
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
             
 
SJG -5


SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
         
           
BALANCE SHEETS
         
(In Thousands)
         
   
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2006
 
2005
 
Assets
         
           
Property, Plant and Equipment:
             
    Utility Plant, at original cost
 
$
1,055,207
 
$
1,030,029
 
      Accumulated Depreciation
   
(248,236
)
 
(241,242
)
 
             
        Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
   
806,971
   
788,787
 
               
Investments:
             
    Available-for-Sale Securities
   
5,803
   
5,628
 
    Restricted Investments
   
14,316
   
-
 
               
        Total Investments
   
20,119
   
5,628
 
               
Current Assets:
             
    Cash and Cash Equivalents
   
4,873
   
2,551
 
    Accounts Receivable
   
55,115
   
42,043
 
    Accounts Receivable - Related Parties
   
16,003
   
3,186
 
    Unbilled Revenues
   
10,599
   
53,648
 
    Provision for Uncollectibles
   
(2,902
)
 
(3,461
)
    Natural Gas in Storage, average cost
   
69,767
   
89,957
 
    Materials and Supplies, average cost
   
2,003
   
3,866
 
    Prepaid Taxes
   
17,553
   
12,972
 
    Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
   
2,999
   
6,496
 
    Other Prepayments and Current Assets
   
3,408
   
2,858
 
               
        Total Current Assets
   
179,418
   
214,116
 
               
Regulatory Assets:
             
    Environmental Remediation Costs:
             
       Expended - Net
   
12,860
   
9,350
 
       Liability for Future Expenditures
   
52,863
   
56,717
 
    Income Taxes - Flowthrough Depreciation
   
5,174
   
5,663
 
    Deferred Asset Retirement Obligation Costs
   
20,498
   
19,986
 
    Deferred Fuel Costs - Net
   
18,562
   
21,237
 
    Deferred Postretirement Benefit Costs
   
2,457
   
2,646
 
    Societal Benefit Costs
   
4,000
   
2,691
 
    Premium for Early Retirement of Debt
   
1,613
   
1,694
 
    Other Regulatory Assets
   
1,356
   
1,499
 
               
        Total Regulatory Assets
   
119,383
   
121,483
 
               
Other Noncurrent Assets:
             
    Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
   
6,980
   
6,251
 
    Prepaid Pension
   
23,861
   
26,202
 
    Accounts Receivable - Merchandise
   
5,919
   
6,472
 
    Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
   
74
   
271
 
    Derivatives - Other
   
1,282
   
-
 
    Other
   
1,885
   
1,765
 
               
        Total Other Noncurrent Assets
   
40,001
   
40,961
 
               
            Total Assets
 
$
1,165,892
 
$
1,170,975
 
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
             
               
 
 
SJG -6

 
               
SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
             
               
BALANCE SHEETS
             
(In Thousands, except per share amounts)
             
(Unaudited)
             
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
     
2006
 
 
2005
 
               
Capitalization and Liabilities
             
               
Common Equity:
             
    Common Stock, Par Value $2.50 per share:
             
       Authorized - 4,000,000 shares
             
       Outstanding - 2,339,139 shares
 
$
5,848
 
$
5,848
 
    Other Paid-In Capital and Premium on Common Stock
   
200,317
   
200,317
 
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
   
(3,294
)
 
(4,337
)
    Retained Earnings
   
157,866
   
142,740
 
 
             
        Total Common Equity
   
360,737
   
344,568
 
               
Long-Term Debt
   
294,950
   
272,235
 
               
        Total Capitalization
   
655,687
   
616,803
 
               
Current Liabilities:
             
    Notes Payable
   
90,900
   
87,000
 
    Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt
   
2,270
   
2,273
 
    Accounts Payable - Commodity
   
23,691
   
83,957
 
    Accounts Payable - Other
   
11,383
   
17,236
 
    Accounts Payable - Related Parties
   
10,366
   
7,879
 
    Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
   
18,293
   
6,197
 
    Deferred Income Taxes - Net
   
3,045
   
2,295
 
    Customer Deposits and Credit Balances
   
19,464
   
12,145
 
    Environmental Remediation Costs
   
24,140
   
17,873
 
    Taxes Accrued
   
2,509
   
2,162
 
    Dividends Payable
   
4,975
   
-
 
    Interest Accrued
   
5,961
   
6,032
 
    Other Current Liabilities
   
3,076
   
6,045
 
               
        Total Current Liabilities
   
220,073
   
251,094
 
               
Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities:
             
    Deferred Income Taxes - Net
   
160,065
   
162,542
 
    Environmental Remediation Costs
   
28,723
   
38,844
 
    Regulatory Liabilities
   
55,159
   
54,002
 
    Asset Retirement Obligations
   
23,140
   
22,505
 
    Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
   
15,249
   
16,633
 
    Investment Tax Credits
   
2,633
   
2,795
 
    Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
   
1,154
   
84
 
    Derivatives - Other
   
-
   
306
 
    Other
   
4,009
   
5,367
 
               
        Total Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities
   
290,132
   
303,078
 
               
    Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)
             
               
            Total Capitalization and Liabilities
 
$
1,165,892
 
$
1,170,975
 
               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
             
 
 
SJG -7

 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)


1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

The Entity - South Jersey Industries, Inc. (SJI) owns all of the outstanding common stock of South Jersey Gas Company (SJG). In our opinion, the financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments needed to fairly present our financial position and operating results at the dates and for the periods presented. Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations and, accordingly, this interim financial information should not be the basis for estimating the full year’s operating results. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2005 Form 10-K.
 
Equity Investments - We classify marketable equity investments purchased as long-term investments as Available-for-Sale Securities on our balance sheets and carry them at their fair value. Any unrealized gains or losses are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.

Estimates and Assumptions - We prepare our financial statements to conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and related disclosures. Therefore, actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include amounts related to regulatory accounting, energy derivatives, environmental remediation costs, pension and other postretirement benefit costs, and revenue recognition.

Regulation - We are subject to the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU). We maintain our accounts according to the BPU’s prescribed Uniform System of Accounts. We follow the accounting for regulated enterprises prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.” In general, Statement No. 71 allows deferral of certain costs and creation of certain obligations when it is probable that such items will be recovered from or refunded to customers in future periods.

Operating Revenues - Gas revenues are recognized in the period the commodity is delivered and customers are billed monthly. For retail customers not billed at the end of each month, we record an estimate to recognize unbilled revenues for gas delivered from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the month.

The BPU allows us to recover all prudently incurred gas costs through the Basic Gas Supply Service clause (BGSS). We collect these costs on a forecasted basis upon BPU order. We defer over/under-recoveries of gas costs and include them in the following year's BGSS. We pay interest on the net overcollected BGSS balances at the rate of return on rate base utilized by the BPU to set rates in our last base rate proceeding.

Our tariff also includes a Temperature Adjustment Clause (TAC) and a Societal Benefits Clause (SBC). Within the SBC are a Remediation Adjustment Clause (RAC), a New Jersey Clean Energy Program (NJCEP), a Universal Service Fund (USF) program, and a Consumer Education Program (CEP), which was terminated in April 2006. The TAC provides stability to our earnings and our customers’ bills by normalizing the impact of extreme winter temperatures. The RAC recovers environmental remediation costs of former gas manufacturing plants and the NJCEP recovers costs associated with our energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The USF is a statewide customer assistance program that utilizes utilities as a collection agent. The CEP recovered costs associated with providing education to the public concerning customer choice. TAC adjustments affect revenue, earnings and cash flows since colder-than-normal weather can generate credits to customers, while warmer-than-normal weather can result in additional billings.  RAC adjustments affect revenue and cash flows but do not directly affect earnings because we defer and recover related costs through rates over 7-year amortization periods. NJCEP, CEP and USF adjustments also affect revenue and cash flows but do not directly affect earnings, as related costs are deferred and customer credits are recovered through rates on an ongoing basis.

SJG -8



Accounts Receivable and Provision for Uncollectible Accounts - Accounts receivable are carried at the amount owed by customers. A provision for uncollectible accounts is established based on our collection experience and an assessment of the collectibility of specific accounts.

Property, Plant & Equipment - For regulatory purposes, utility plant is stated at original cost, which may be different than our cost if the assets were acquired from another regulated entity. The cost of adding, replacing and renewing property is charged to the appropriate plant account.

Depreciation - We depreciate utility plant on a straight-line basis over the estimated remaining lives of the various property classes. These estimates are periodically reviewed and adjusted as required after BPU approval. The composite annual rate for all depreciable utility property was approximately 2.4% in 2005 and 2.3% for the first six months of 2006. Except for retirements outside of the normal course of business, accumulated depreciation is charged with the cost of depreciable utility property retired, less salvage.

Capitalized Interest - We capitalize interest on construction at the rate of return on rate base utilized by the BPU to set rates in our last base rate proceeding. Capitalized interest is included in Utility Plant on the balance sheets. Interest Charges are presented net of capitalized interest on the statements of income. As of June 30, we capitalized interest as follows (in thousands):

 
 
June 30,
2006
 
June 30,
2005
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended
 
$
109
 
$
253
Six Months Ended
 
 
208
 
 
543


Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - We review the carrying amount of long-lived assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such amounts may not be recoverable. For the six months ended June 30, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2005, no significant impairments were identified.
 
Derivative Instruments - We account for derivative instruments in accordance with FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended. We record all derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, on the balance sheets at fair value unless the derivative contracts qualify for the normal purchase and sale exemption. In general, if the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, we recognize the changes in the fair value of the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk in earnings. We currently have no fair value hedges. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, we record the effective portion of the hedge in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and recognize it in the income statement when the hedged item affects earnings. However, due to the application of regulatory accounting principles under FASB Statement No. 71, derivatives related to gas purchases are recorded through our BGSS rather than Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). We recognize ineffective portions of cash flow hedges immediately in earnings.

As part of our gas purchasing strategy, we use financial contracts to hedge against forward price risk. South Jersey Resources Group, LLC (SJRG), an affiliate by common ownership, enters into these contracts on our behalf. The costs or benefits of these contracts are included in our BGSS, subject to BPU approval. As of June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 we had $18.3 million and $(0.5) million of costs (benefits), respectively, included in our BGSS related to open financial contracts (See Regulatory Assets & Liabilities).

The vast majority of our contracts relate to physical transactions that qualify for the normal purchase and sale exception. Therefore, we are not required to mark these contracts to market.

SJG -9



From time to time we enter into interest rate derivatives and similar agreements to hedge exposure to increasing interest rates with respect to our variable-rate debt. On October 21, 2005, we entered into two long-term forward-starting interest rate swaps which effectively fixed the interest rate at 3.43%, commencing December 1, 2006 through January 2036, on $25 million of variable-rate, tax-exempt debt which was issued in April 2006. We have designated and account for these interest rate derivatives as cash flow hedges. Beginning December 1, 2006, the differential to be paid or received as a result of these swap agreements will be accrued as interest rates change and will be recognized as an adjustment to interest expense.

As of June 30, 2006, the market value of these agreements was $1.3 million and is included on the balance sheet under the caption Other Noncurrent Assets - Derivatives - Other. The recorded balance as of June 30, 2006 represents the amount we would have received from the counterparties if the contracts had been terminated on that date. As of December 31, 2005, the market value of these agreements was $(0.3) million and is included on the balance sheet under the caption Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities - Derivatives - Other. The recorded balance as of December 31, 2005 represents the amount we would have had to pay to the counterparties if the contracts had been terminated on that date. As of June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, we calculated the swaps to be highly effective; therefore, we recorded the change in fair value of the swaps along with the cumulative unamortized costs, net of taxes, in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.

We determined the fair value of derivative instruments by reference to quoted market prices of listed contracts, published quotations or quotations from unrelated third parties.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans - On January 1, 2006, SJI adopted FASB Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, which revised FASB Statement No. 123, and superseded Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”. Since officers of SJG participate in the Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Rights and Restricted Stock Award Plan (“Plan”) of SJI, changes in accounting for share-based payments also impact SJG. Statement No. 123(R) requires SJI to measure and recognize stock-based compensation expense in its financial statements based on the fair value at the date of grant for its share-based awards, which currently include restricted stock awards containing market and service conditions. In accordance with Statement No. 123(R), SJI is recognizing compensation expense over the requisite service period for: (i) awards granted on, or after, January 1, 2006 and (ii) unvested awards previously granted and outstanding as of January 1, 2006. In addition, SJI is estimating forfeitures over the requisite service period when recognizing compensation expense. These estimates can be adjusted to the extent to which actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to materially differ, from such estimates.

As permitted by Statement No. 123(R), SJI chose the modified prospective method of adoption; accordingly, financial results for the prior period presented were not retroactively adjusted to reflect the effects of this Statement. Under the modified prospective application, this Statement applies to new awards and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled after the required effective date. Compensation costs for the portion of awards for which the requisite service has not been rendered that are outstanding as of the required effective date shall be recognized as the requisite service is rendered based on the grant-date fair value.

SJG purchases shares of common stock from SJI to satisfy its obligations under this Plan. This cash payment is equal to the amounts accrued as compensation cost during the service period. For shares granted on, or after, January 1, 2006, the accrued liability and payment shall be based on the grant date fair value of the restricted stock award earned by the employee at the date of vesting. As a result of this policy, SJG accrues a liability and records compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite three-year service period based on the grant date fair value. For unvested awards previously granted and outstanding as of January 1, 2006, the payment shall be based on the sum of (i) amounts previously accrued as liabilities for such awards as of December 31, 2005, and (ii) the grant date fair value of the remaining services as of January 1, 2006 on such awards, as determined on a basis consistent with those awards granted on, or after, January 1, 2006. Since the inception of the Plan, SJG’s expense recognition policy has been consistent with the expense recognition policy at SJI. Further, compensation expense is recognized for awards that ultimately vest, and is not adjusted based on the actual achievement of performance goals. The fair value of officers’ restricted stock awards on the date of grant is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

SJG -10


   
 The following table summarizes the nonvested officers’ restricted stock awards outstanding at June 30, 2006 and the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the awards (adjusted for a June 2005 two-for-one stock split):

 
Grant
 
Shares
 
 Fair Value
 
Expected
 
Risk-Free
 
Date
 
Outstanding
 
 Per Share
 
Volatility
 
Interest Rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jan. 2004
 
10,352
 
     $ 20.105
 
16.4%
 
2.4%
 
Jan. 2005
 
8,342
 
     $ 25.155
 
15.5%
 
3.4%
 
Jan. 2006
 
8,044
 
     $ 27.950
 
16.9%
 
4.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Expected volatility is based on the actual daily volatility of SJI’s share price over the preceding 3-year period as of the valuation date. The risk-free interest rate is based on the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Bond, with a term equal to the three-year term of the officers’ restricted shares. As notional dividend equivalents are credited to the holders, which are reinvested during the three-year service period, no reduction to the fair value of the award is required.
      
For the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the cost of officers’ restricted stock awards was $99,650 and $685,200, respectively. Of these costs, $57,000 and $241,000, respectively, were capitalized to Utility Plant.

As of June 30, 2006, there was $0.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards granted under the restricted stock plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

Prior to the adoption of Statement No. 123 (R), SJI applied Statement No. 123, as amended, which permitted the application of APB No. 25. In accordance with APB No. 25, SJI and SJG recorded compensation expense over the requisite service period for restricted stock based on the probable number of shares expected to be issued and the market value of SJI’s common stock at the end of each reporting period. As a result of this previous accounting treatment, there have been no excess tax benefits recognized since the inception of the Plan.

The adoption of Statement No. 123(R) resulted in a reduction in stock-based compensation expense of $25,954 for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease in expense would have had an immaterial impact on our cash flows for the period presented.

The following table summarizes information regarding restricted stock award activity during the six months ended June 30, 2006:
 
 
Officers *
 
 
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, January 1, 2006
49,816
   
Granted
10,991
Vested**
(27,924)
Cancelled/Forfeited
(6,145)
 
 
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, June 30, 2006
26,738
 
 
*   excludes accrued dividend equivalents.
 
   
** actual shares awarded upon vesting, including dividend equivalents and adjustments for performance measures, totaled 44,575 shares.


SJG -11



During the six months ended June 30, 2006, SJG awarded 44,575 shares to its officers at a market value of $1.3 million. As a result of an SJI corporate restructuring, SJG was also obligated to settle a liability for services previously rendered by officers that are currently employed by affiliates totaling $1.0 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2005, SJG awarded 62,058 shares at a market value of $1.6 million. As discussed earlier, SJG has a policy of purchasing shares from SJI to satisfy its obligations under these plans. Cash payments for shares of SJI common stock during the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 were approximately $2.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively. There were no awards granted during the three month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. Additionally, a change in control could result in the nonvested shares becoming nonforefeitable or immediately payable in cash.

New Accounting Pronouncement - In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 “Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48). This Interpretation provides guidance on the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions in the financial statements. The effective date of FIN 48 is January 1, 2007; however, we do not anticipate its adoption to materially affect our financial statements.

Regulatory Assets & Liabilities - All significant regulatory assets are separately identified on the balance sheets. Each item that is separately identified is being recovered through utility rate charges. We are currently permitted to recover interest on our Environmental Remediation Costs and Societal Benefit Costs while the other assets are being recovered without a return on investment over the following periods:

 
 
           Years Remaining
 
Regulatory Asset
 
          As of June 30, 2006
 
 
 
 
 
Environmental Remediation Costs: 
 
 
 
 
Expended - Net
 
 
Various
 
Liability for Future Expenditures
 
 
Not Applicable
 
Income Taxes - Flowthrough Depreciation
 
 
5
 
Deferred Asset Retirement Obligation Costs
 
 
Not Applicable
 
Deferred Fuel Costs - Net
 
 
Various
 
Deferred Postretirement Benefit Costs
 
 
7
 
Societal Benefit Costs
 
 
Various
 
Premium for Early Retirement of Debt
 
 
Various
 
 

Some of the assets reflected under the caption Other Regulatory Assets are currently being recovered from ratepayers as approved by the BPU. Management believes the remaining deferred costs are probable of recovery from ratepayers through future utility rates.

Over/under collections of gas costs are monitored through our BGSS mechanism. Net undercollected gas costs are classified as a Regulatory Asset and net overcollected gas costs are classified as a Regulatory Liability. Derivative contracts used to hedge our natural gas purchases are included in the BGSS, subject to BPU approval. The offset to the change in fair value of these contracts is recorded as a component of the regulatory asset, Deferred Fuel Costs - Net, if we are in a net undercollected position, or as a component of the regulatory liability, Deferred Gas Revenues - Net, if we are in a net overcollected position. As of June 30, 2006, costs related to derivative contracts increased Deferred Fuel Costs - Net by $18.3 million. As of December 31, 2005, benefits related to derivative contracts reduced Deferred Fuel Costs - Net by $0.5 million.

SJG -12



Regulatory Liabilities at June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 consisted of the following items (in thousands):

 
 
June 30,
2006  
 
  
 December 31,
2005
    
Excess Plant Removal Costs
 
$
48,271
   
$
48,071
 
Overcollected State Taxes
   
4,111
     
4,025
 
Other
   
2,777
     
1,906
 
 
             
Total Regulatory Liabilities
 
$
55,159
   
$
54,002
 

Excess Plant Removal Costs represent amounts accrued in excess of actual utility plant removal costs incurred to date, which we have an obligation to either expend or return to ratepayers in future periods. All other regulatory liabilities are subject to being returned to ratepayers in future rate proceedings.

Cash and Cash Equivalents - For purposes of reporting cash flows, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered cash equivalents.

Reclassifications - We determined that certain customer accounts receivable were in a credit position and accordingly, reclassified $2.8 million included in Accounts Receivable as of December 31, 2005 to Customer Deposits and Credit Balances in the Current Liability section of our balance sheet. We also determined that certain acquisitions of property and equipment made on account were reflected as cash capital expenditures in the statement of cash flows, and have reduced cash flows used in investing activities with a corresponding reduction in cash provided by operating activities of approximately $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005. These amounts are considered immaterial to the overall presentation of our financial statements.

2.     REGULATORY ACTIONS:

Base Rates - On July 7, 2004, the BPU granted us a base rate increase of $20.0 million effective July 8, 2004, which was predicated in part upon a 7.97% rate of return on rate base that included a 10.0% return on common equity. We were also permitted to recover regulatory assets contained in our petition and reduce our composite depreciation rate from 2.9% to 2.4%.

Pending Audits - In 2004, the BPU commenced a competitive services audit and a management audit that included a focused review of our gas supply and purchasing practices. The BPU is mandated by statute to conduct such audits at predetermined intervals. In February 2006, the audit reports were released by the BPU for comments. The recommendations contained in these audits have no material effect on our financial statements.
 
Other Regulatory Matters - In December 2004, the BPU approved the statewide funding of the NJCEP of $745.0 million for the years 2005 through 2008. Of this amount, we will be responsible for approximately $25.4 million over the 4-year period. Amounts not yet expended have been included in our Contractual Cash Obligations table included in Note 9.

In February 2005, we filed notice with the BPU to provide for an $11.4 million bill credit to customers. The bill credit was implemented in March 2005. In June 2005, we made our annual BGSS filing with the BPU requesting a $17.1 million, or 6.3% increase in gas cost recoveries in response to increasing wholesale gas costs. In August 2005, the BPU approved our requested increase, effective September 1, 2005, on an interim basis.

SJG -13



In October 2005, we, filed a petition with the BPU to implement a Pipeline Integrity Management Tracker (Tracker), along with the three other natural gas distribution companies in New Jersey. The purpose of the Tracker is to recover costs to be incurred by us as a result of new federal regulations, which are aimed at enhancing public safety and reliability. The regulations require that utilities use a comprehensive analysis to assess, evaluate, repair and validate the integrity of certain transmission lines . The New Jersey utilities are requesting approval of the Tracker since the new regulations will result in ongoing incremental costs. We anticipate that a large portion of the incremental cost is dependent upon overall assessment results, and therefore cannot be specifically predicted at this time.

In November 2005, we made our annual SBC filing, requesting a $6.1 million reduction in annual recoveries.

In November 2005, we filed a BGSS Motion for Emergent Rate Relief in conjunction with the other natural gas utilities in New Jersey. This filing was necessary due to substantial increases in wholesale natural gas prices across the country. In December 2005, the BPU approved an $85.7 million increase to our rates, effective December 15, 2005, on an interim basis.

In November 2005, we made our annual TAC filing, requesting a $1.0 million increase in annual revenues. The increase will recover the cash related to the net TAC deficiency resulting from warmer-than-normal weather for the 2003-2004 winter, partially offset by colder-than-normal weather for the 2004-2005 winter. The 2003-2004 TAC was resolved as part of the global settlement, which was approved by the BPU in March 2006.

In December 2005, we made a filing proposing to implement a Conservation and Usage Adjustment (CUA) Clause, on a 5-year pilot basis. The primary purpose of the CUA is to promote conservation and to base our profit margin on the number of customers rather than the amount of natural gas distributed to customers. This structure will allow us to aggressively promote conservation programs without negatively impacting our financial stability. The proposed CUA would replace our existing TAC, but would continue to protect customers and the Company from significant temperature variations from normal. 

In March 2006, the BPU approved a global settlement, effective April 1, 2006, fully resolving our September 2004 SBC filing, 2003-2004 TAC, 2004-2005 BGSS filing and certain issues in the 2005-2006 BGSS filing. The net impact is a $4.4 million reduction to annual revenues; however, this reduction has no impact on net income as there will be a dollar-for-dollar reduction in expense. In addition, a pilot storage incentive program was approved. This program began during the second quarter of 2006 and will continue for three summer injection periods, through 2008. It is designed to provide us with the opportunity to achieve BGSS price reductions and additional price stability. It will also provide us with an opportunity to share in the storage-related gains and losses, with 20% being retained by the Company, and 80% being credited to customers.

In June 2006, we made our annual BGSS filing with the BPU requesting a $19.7 million, or 4.6%, decrease in gas cost recoveries in response to decreasing wholesale gas costs and an $11.5 million benefit derived from the release of a storage facility and the liquidation of its low-cost base gas made available during the second quarter. This represents a 4.6% rate reduction and is pending BPU approval for implementation on October 1, 2006.

In July 2006, we made our annual USF filing, along with the state’s other electric and gas utilities, proposing to increase annual statewide gas revenues to $115.3 million, an increase of $68.5 million. Under the proposal, SJG’s annual USF revenues will increase to $13.0 million, which represents a $7.7 million increase in annual USF revenues.

Filings and petitions described above are still pending unless otherwise indicated.

SJG -14



3.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

We conducted business with our parent, SJI, and several other related parties. A description of each of these affiliates and related transactions is as follows:

SJI Services, LLC (SJIS) - a wholly owned subsidiary of SJI established on January 1, 2006, that provides services to SJI and its other subsidiaries, including SJG, such as information technology, human resources, government relations, corporate communications, materials purchasing, fleet management and insurance.

South Jersey Energy Solutions, LLC (SJES) - a wholly owned subsidiary of SJI that serves as a holding company for all of SJI’s nonutility businesses:

 
·
South Jersey Energy Company (SJE) - a wholly owned subsidiary of SJI and a third party energy marketer supplying natural gas to customers within our territory. We sell natural gas for resale to SJE and also provide them with billing services. For SJE’s residential customers, for which we perform billing services, we purchase the related accounts receivable at book value less a factor for potential uncollectible accounts and assume all risk associated with collection.

 
·
South Jersey Resources Group (SJRG) - a wholly owned subsidiary of SJI and a wholesale gas and risk management business that supplies natural gas to retail marketers, utility businesses and electricity generators in the mid-Atlantic and southern regions. We sell natural gas for resale and capacity release to SJRG and also meet some of our gas purchasing requirements by purchasing natural gas from SJRG. Additionally, SJRG manages our market risk associated with price fluctuations in the cost of natural gas, by entering into financial derivative contracts on our behalf. The gain or loss associated with these derivative contracts is included in our BGSS and in the SJRG receivable and payable amounts shown below. In addition to our normal gas purchases and sales with SJRG, during the second quarter of 2006, we sold 1,710,903 decatherms of gas to SJRG for $13.1 million. This sale was conducted in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements. The proceeds from the sale were credited to the BGSS clause and did not impact earnings during the quarter. The amount due from SJRG for this transaction is to be paid to us during the third and fourth quarters of 2006.

 
·
Marina Energy LLC (Marina) - a wholly owned subsidiary of SJI and an owner and operator of on-site energy production facilities for the commercial and industrial markets. We provide natural gas transportation services to Marina under BPU approved tariffs.

 
·
South Jersey Energy Service Plus (SJESP) - a wholly owned subsidiary of SJI and an appliance service and installation of heating and cooling systems company. We lease vehicles and also provide billing services to SJESP.

Millennium Account Services, LLC (Millennium) - a partnership between SJI and Conectiv Solutions, LLC. Millennium reads our utility customers’ meters on a monthly basis for a fee.

Measurement Solutions International - Northeast LLC (MSI) - a metering and measurement services company in which SJI holds a minority interest. MSI provides us with meter services including procurement, warehousing and maintenance.

Sales of gas to SJRG and SJE comply with Section 284.02 of the Regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

In addition to the above, we provide various administrative and professional services to SJI, SJE, SJRG, SJESP and Marina. Likewise, SJI provides substantial administrative services on our behalf. Beginning in January 2006, SJIS began to provide a majority of the aforementioned administrative services to SJI and its subsidiaries; therefore, administrative support from us to affiliates will generally decrease from 2005 to 2006. For certain types of transactions, we served as central processing agents for the related parties discussed above. Amounts due to and due from these related parties for pass-through items are not considered material to the financial statements as a whole.

SJG -15


A summary of these related party transactions, excluding pass-through items, were as follows (in thousands):

   
Three Months
Ended June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
Sales and Services Provided to:
             
     
2006
 
 
2005
 
 
2006
 
 
2005
 
                           
SJIS
 
$
91
 
$
-
 
$
181
 
$
-
 
SJI
   
88
   
172
   
634
   
739
 
SJE Solutions
   
27
   
-
   
50
   
1
 
SJE
   
36
   
194
   
91
   
396
 
SJRG
   
22,926
   
1,303
   
29,991
   
3,622
 
Marina
   
46
   
54
   
120
   
151
 
SJESP
   
89
   
109
   
214
   
225
 
                           
                           
                           
Sales and Services Received from:
                 
SJRG
 
$
10,853
 
$
1,101
 
$
29,027
 
$
2,727
 
SJI
   
1,353
   
2,527
   
4,679
   
3,428
 
SJIS
   
1,261
   
-
   
2,719
   
-
 
Millenium
   
683
   
668
   
1,356
   
1,296
 
                           
                           

As of June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, amounts due to and from related parties, including pass-through items, were as follows (in thousands):
 
   
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
Amounts due to:
       
$
-
 
SJIS
 
$
562
       
SJI
   
1,077
   
1,470
 
SJE
   
2,429
   
1,691
 
SJRG
   
4,528
   
3,242
 
SJESP
   
1,102
   
993
 
Millenium
   
231
   
220
 
MSI
   
437
   
263
 
   
$
10,366
 
$
7,879
 
               
Amounts due from:
             
SJIS
 
$
172
 
$
-
 
SJI
   
138
   
631
 
SJE Solutions
   
44
   
-
 
SJE
   
20
   
35
 
SJRG
   
15,371
   
2,184
 
SJESP
   
186
   
242
 
Marina
   
4
   
20
 
Millenium
   
68
   
74
 
   
$
16,003
 
$
3,186
 
 
SJG -16



4.  LONG-TERM DEBT:  

In April 20, 2006, we issued $25.0 million of secured tax-exempt, auction-rate debt through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). The auction rate, which resets weekly, was set at 3.79% as of June 30, 2006. Of the proceeds from the issue, $14.3 million was invested in interest-bearing securities pending the incurrence of capital costs that qualify for tax-exempt financing. In anticipation of this transaction, we previously entered into forward-starting interest rate swap agreements that effectively fixed the interest rate on this debt at 3.43%, commencing December 1, 2006 through January 2036. The debt was issued under our medium-term note program. An additional $115.0 million of medium-term notes remains available for issuance under that program.

5.  RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS:

In accordance with the terms of the NJEDA loan agreements, we were required to escrow unused proceeds pending approved construction expenditures. As of June 30, 2006, the escrowed proceeds totaled $14.3 million and is presented as Restricted Investments on the balance sheet.

6.  UNUSED LINES OF CREDIT:

Bank credit available to us totaled $176.0 million at June 30, 2006, of which $90.9 million was used. Those bank facilities consist of a $100.0 million credit facility that expires in August 2006, and $76.0 million of uncommitted bank lines. On August 3, 2006, we replaced the expiring revolving credit with a new $100.0 million facility that expires in August 2011. The revolving credit facilities contain certain financial covenants measured on a quarterly basis. We were in compliance with these covenants as of June 30, 2006. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted-average borrowing cost, which changes daily, was 5.90% and 3.72% at June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. We maintain demand deposits with lending banks on an informal basis and they do not constitute compensating balances.

7.   RETAINED EARNINGS:

We are restricted as to the amount of cash dividends or other distributions that may be paid on our common stock by an order issued by the BPU in July 2004, that granted us an increase in base rates. Per the order, we are required to maintain total common equity of no less than $289.2 million. Our total common equity balance was $360.7 million at June 30, 2006.

Various loan agreements also contain potential restrictions regarding the amount of cash dividends or other distributions that we may pay on our common stock. As of June 30, 2006, these restrictions did not affect the amount that may be distributed from our retained earnings.

We received an equity infusion of $30.0 million from SJI during 2005. There was no equity infusion during the first half of 2006. Contributions of capital are credited to Other Paid-In Capital and Premium on Common Stock. Future equity contributions will occur on an as needed basis.

8.   PENSIONS & OTHER POSTRETIRMENT BENEFIT PLANS:

We participate in the defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans of SJI. The pension plans provide annuity payments to the majority of full-time, regular employees upon retirement. Newly hired employees do not qualify for participation in the defined benefit pension plans. New hires are eligible to receive an enhanced version of a defined contribution plan. Certain officers of SJG also participate in the non-funded supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) of SJI, a non-qualified defined benefit pension plan. The other postretirement benefit plans provide health care and life insurance benefits to some retirees.

SJG -17



The BPU authorized us to recover costs related to postretirement benefits other than pensions under the accrual method of accounting consistent with FASB Statement No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions." We deferred amounts accrued prior to that authorization and are amortizing them as allowed by the BPU. The unamortized balance of $2.5 million at June 30, 2006 is recoverable in rates. We are amortizing this amount over 15 years, which started January 1998.
 
Net periodic benefit cost for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 related to the employee and officer pension and other postretirement benefit plans consisted of the following components (in thousands):
 
   
Pension Benefits
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
     
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
       
   
2006
 
2005
     
2006
 
2005
 
Service Cost
 
$
471
 
$
748
       
$
1,149
 
$
1,426
 
Interest Cost
   
1,524
   
1,517
         
2,940
   
2,933
 
Expected Return on Plan Assets
   
(1,964
)
 
(1,944
)
       
(3,759
)
 
(3,739
)
Amortization of Loss and Other
   
523
   
661
         
1,152
   
1,290
 
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
   
554
   
982
         
1,482
   
1,910
 
Capitalized Benefit Costs
   
(238
)
 
(230
)
       
(637
)
 
(629
)
Net Periodic Benefit Expense
 
$
316
 
$
752
       
$
845
 
$
1,281
 
                                 

   
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
     
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
       
   
2006
 
2005
     
2006
 
2005
 
Service Cost
 
$
129
 
$
19
       
$
258
 
$
366
 
Interest Cost
   
307
   
385
         
614
   
982
 
Expected Return on Plan Assets
   
(228
)
 
(394
)
       
(456
)
 
(741
)
Amortization of Loss and Other
   
20
   
71
         
40
   
104
 
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
   
228
   
81
         
456
   
711
 
Capitalized Benefit Costs
   
(98
)
 
(28
)
       
(196
)
 
(249
)
Net Periodic Benefit Expense
 
$
130
 
$
53
       
$
260
 
$
462
 
                                 

 The reduction in service costs during 2006, in the tables above were the result of the transfer of employees from SJG to SJI Services, effective January 1, 2006. Capitalized benefit costs reflected in the table above relate to our construction program.

Future Benefit Payments - The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid during the following years (in thousands):

 
 
 
 
Other
 
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Benefits
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
2006
     
$
5,436
     
$
2,147
 
2007
     
5,503
     
2,361
 
2008
     
5,561
     
2,474
 
2009
     
5,635
     
2,549
 
2010
     
5,707
     
2,688
 
2011-2015
     
31,384
     
13,318
 


SJG -18



Contributions - We expect to make no contributions to our pension plan in 2006; however, changes in future investment performance and discount rates may ultimately result in a contribution. We also have a regulatory obligation to contribute approximately $3.6 million annually to our other postretirement benefit plans’ trusts, less costs incurred directly by us.

9.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

The following table summarizes our contractual cash obligations and their applicable payment due dates as of June 30, 2006 (in thousands):

 
 
 
 
Up to
 
Years
 
Years
 
More than
 
Contractual Cash Obligations
 
Total
 
1 Year
 
2 & 3
 
4 & 5
 
5 Years
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-Term Debt    $ 297,220     $ 2,270     $    $ 10,000     $ 284,950   
Interest on Long-Term Debt
   
244,114
   
17,191
   
34,003
   
33,697
   
159,223
 
Operating Leases
   
281
   
91
   
149
   
41
   
-
 
Construction Obligations
   
106,842
   
37,013
   
69,829
   
-
   
-
 
Commodity Supply Purchase Obligations
   
223,610
   
24,987
   
87,176
   
45,231
   
66,216
 
New Jersey Clean Energy Program
   
16,770
   
5,270
   
11,500
   
-
   
-
 
Other Purchase Obligations
   
17,580
   
8,487
   
8,193
   
900
   
-
 
 
                               
Total Contractual
                               
Cash Obligations
 
$
906,417
 
$
95,309
 
$
210,850
 
$
89,869
 
$
510,389
 

Expected environmental remediation costs and asset retirement obligations are not included in the table above due to the subjective nature of such costs and timing of anticipated payments. As a result, the total obligation cannot be calculated. Additionally, future pension contributions are not included in the table as contributions vary from year-to-year based on investment performance and discount rates. Our regulatory obligation to contribute to our postretirement benefit plans’ trust, as discussed in Note 8, is also not included as its duration is indefinite.

Gas Supply Contracts - In the normal course of conducting business, we have entered into long-term contracts for natural gas supplies, firm transportation and gas storage service. The earliest that any of these contracts expires is October 2007. The transportation and storage service agreements between us and our interstate pipeline suppliers were made under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved tariffs. Our cumulative obligation for demand charges and reservation fees paid to suppliers for these services is approximately $4.7 million per month which are recovered on a current basis through the BGSS.

Pending Litigation - We are subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. We accrue liabilities related to these claims when we can determine the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs. Management does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Union Contract - Unionized personnel represent 70% of our workforce at June 30, 2006 and are operating under agreements that run through at least January 2008.

Environmental Remediation Costs - We incurred and recorded costs for environmental cleanup of 12 sites where we or our predecessors operated manufactured gas plants. We stopped manufacturing gas in the 1950s.

SJG -19



We successfully entered into settlements with all of our historic comprehensive general liability carriers regarding the environmental remediation expenditures at our sites. Also, we have purchased a Cleanup Cost Cap Insurance Policy limiting the amount of remediation expenditures that we will be required to make at 11 of our sites. This Policy will be in force until 2024 at 10 sites and until 2029 at one site. The future cost estimates discussed hereafter are not reduced by projected insurance recoveries from the Cleanup Cost Cap Insurance Policy. The policy is limited to an aggregate payment amount of $50.0 million, of which we have received $8.2 million through June 30, 2006.

Since the early 1980s, we accrued environmental remediation costs of $155.2 million, of which $102.3 million has been spent as of June 30, 2006. With the assistance of consulting firms, we estimate that undiscounted future costs to clean up our sites will range from $52.9 million to $200.4 million. Four of our sites comprise a significant portion of these estimates, ranging from a low of $32.7 million and a high of $124.2 million. We recorded the lower end of this range, $52.9 million, as a liability because a single reliable estimation point is not feasible due to the amount of uncertainty involved in the nature of projected remediation efforts and the long period over which remediation efforts will continue. Recorded amounts include estimated costs based on projected investigation and remediation work plans using existing technologies. Actual costs could differ from the estimates due to the long-term nature of the projects, changing technology, government regulations and site-specific requirements. Significant risks surrounding these estimates include unforeseen market price increases for remedial services, property owner acceptance of remedy selection, regulatory approval of selected remedy and remedial investigative findings.

The following table details the amounts expended and accrued for environmental remediation
(in thousands):
 
   
Six Months Ended
 
Year Ended
 
 
 
June 30, 2006
 
December 31, 2005
 
           
Beginning Balance
 
$
56,717
 
$
51,046
 
 Accruals and Adjustments
   
1,359
   
11,710
 
 Expenditures
   
(4,524
)
 
(6,039
)
 Insurance Recoveries
   
(689
)
 
-
 
               
Ending Balance
 
$
52,863
 
$
56,717
 

 The balances are segregated between current and non-current on the balance sheets under the captions Current Liabilities and Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities.

The remediation efforts at our four most significant sites include the following:

Site 1 - The remedial selection process is underway for this site. Once complete, a remedial action work plan will be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for approval. Remaining steps to remediate include remedy selection, regulatory approval and remedy implementation for impacted soil, groundwater, and river sediments as well as acceptance of the selected remedy by affected property owners.

Site 2 - Various remedial investigation and action activities, such as completed and approved interim remedial measures and conceptual remedy selection, are ongoing at this site. Remaining steps to remediate include remedy selection, regulatory approval, and implementation for the remaining impacted soil, groundwater, and stream sediments.

SJG -20


Site 3 - Remedial investigative activities are ongoing at this site. Remaining steps to remediate include completing the remedial investigation of impacted soil and groundwater in preparation for selecting the appropriate action and implementation gaining regulatory and property owner approval of the selected remedy.

Site 4 - The NJDEP has approved the selected remedy to address impacted soil and groundwater at this site. Remaining steps to remediate include bidding, implementation, and ongoing operation and maintenance of the selected remedy.

We have two regulatory assets associated with environmental costs. The first asset, Environmental Remediation Cost: Expended - Net, represents what was actually spent to clean up former gas manufacturing plant sites. These costs meet the requirements of FASB Statement No. 71. The BPU allows us to recover expenditures through the RAC. The other asset, Environmental Remediation Cost: Liability for Future Expenditures, relates to estimated future expenditures determined under the guidance of FASB Statement No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies." We recorded this amount, which relates to former manufactured gas plant sites, as a regulatory asset under Statement No. 71 with the corresponding amounts reflected on the balance sheets under the captions Current Liabilities and Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities. The BPU's intent, evidenced by current practice, is to allow us to recover the deferred costs over 7-year periods after they are spent.

As of June 30, 2006, we reflected the unamortized expended remediation costs of $12.9 million on the balance sheet under Regulatory Assets. Since implementing the RAC in 1992, we have recovered $45.8 million through rates.
  
 



SJG -21




Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations (Unaudited)


Overview

South Jersey Gas Company (SJG) is a regulated natural gas utility, wholly owned by South Jersey Industries, Inc. (SJI). We distributed natural gas in the seven southernmost counties of New Jersey to 325,169 customers at June 30, 2006, compared with 316,426 customers at June 30, 2005. We also:

§  
sell natural gas and pipeline transportation capacity (off-system sales) on a wholesale basis to various customers on the interstate pipeline system; and
§  
transport natural gas purchased directly from producers or suppliers for our own sales and for some of our customers.

Forward-Looking Statement & Risk Factors

Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report may qualify as “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report should be considered forward-looking statements made in good faith and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “goal”, “intend”, “objective”, “plan”, “project”, “seek”, “strategy” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions on an international, national, state and local level; weather conditions in our marketing areas; changes in commodity costs; changes in the availability of natural gas; "non-routine" or "extraordinary" disruptions in our distribution system; regulatory, legislative and court decisions; competition; the availability and cost of capital; costs and effects of legal proceedings and environmental liabilities; the failure of customers or suppliers to fulfill their contractual obligations; and changes in business strategies.

A discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties may be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and in other filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and they are made only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or in any document incorporated by reference, at the date of such document. While we believe these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. Further, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Critical Accounting Policies

Estimates and Assumptions - As described in the notes to our financial statements, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Five types of transactions presented in our financial statements require a significant amount of judgment and estimation. These relate to regulatory accounting, energy derivatives, environmental remediation costs, pension and other postretirement employee benefit costs, and revenue recognition. A discussion of these estimates and assumptions may be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

SJG -22



New Accounting Pronouncements - See detailed discussions concerning New Accounting Pronouncements and their impact in Note 1 to the financial statements.

Temperature Adjustment Clause -The BPU-approved Temperature Adjustment Clause (TAC) is designed to mitigate the effect of variations in heating season temperatures from historical norms. While we record the revenue and earnings impacts of TAC adjustments as incurred, cash inflows or outflows directly attributable to TAC adjustments generally do not begin until the next clause year. Each TAC year begins October 1 and ends May 31 of the subsequent year. The TAC increased (decreased) our net income by $1.3 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended and $4.9 million and $(0.1) million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Weather during the second quarter of 2006 was 31.6% warmer than the same period last year, and 27.0% warmer than the 20-year TAC average. Weather during the six months ended June 30, 2006 was 18.8% warmer than the same period last year, and 13.9% warmer than the 20-year TAC average. Due to significantly warmer weather during the 2005-2006 winter season, the deferred amount due from ratepayers as of June 30, 2006 for TAC adjustments was $9.1 million as compared to $1.1 million as of June 30, 2005.

Regulatory Actions - See detailed discussions concerning Regulatory Actions in Note 2 to the financial statements.

Environmental Remediation - See detailed discussion concerning Environmental Remediation in Note 9 to the financial statements.

Customer Choice Legislation - All residential natural gas customers in New Jersey can choose their gas supplier under the terms of the “Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act of 1999.” As of June 30, 2006, approximately 16,500 of our residential customers chose a natural gas commodity supplier other than us. The number of such customers fell from approximately 82,800 at June 30, 2005, as marketers were unable to offer natural gas at prices competitive with those available under regulated utility tariffs during the later part of 2005, due to unfavorable market conditions. However, during the first quarter of 2006, marketers began adding customers through new offers. Customers purchasing natural gas from providers other than us are charged for gas costs by the marketer. While customer choice can significantly affect utility revenues and gas costs, it does not affect our earnings or financial condition (See Results of Operations). The BPU continues to allow for full recovery of prudently incurred natural gas costs through the Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) Clause as well as other costs of service, including deferred costs, through tariffs.

Results of Operations

Operating Revenues:

Revenues increased $18.9 million and $81.5 million for the three and six months periods ended June 30, 2006, respectively, compared with the same periods last year primarily due to four factors. First, we added 8,743 customers during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2006, which represents a 2.8% increase in total customers. Second, 80% of the residential customers and 20% of the commercial customers purchasing their gas from sources other than us migrated back to utility sales service during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2006. The total number of transportation customers decreased from 82,829 at June 30, 2005, to only 16,475 at June 30, 2006, as third party marketers found it difficult to compete with our BGSS rates under current market conditions. The migration of customers from transportation service back to sales service has a direct impact on utility revenues as charges for gas costs are included in sales revenues and not in transportation revenues. However, since gas costs are passed on directly to customers without any profit margin added by us, the change in customer utilization of gas marketers did not impact our earnings.

SJG -23


Third, we were granted two BGSS rate increases as a result of substantial increases in wholesale natural gas prices across the country. The first increase in September 2005, resulted in a 4.4% increase in the average residential customer’s bill and 5.0% in the average commercial/industrial customer’s bill. The second was effective in December 2005, and resulted in a 24.3% increase in the average residential customer’s bill and 28.4% in the average commercial/industrial customer’s bill. However, as previously stated, since gas costs are passed on directly to customers without any profit margin added by us, the BGSS rate increases did not impact our profitability. Fourth, we experienced an increase in revenues from Off-System Sales (OSS) as a result of higher sales volume in the second quarter of 2006 as compared with the same period in 2005. The increase in volume was due primarily to market conditions which favored off-system sales as opposed to capacity release. An off-system sale requires the purchase and sale of natural gas, whereas a capacity release does not included the cost of the natural gas. As a result, off-system sales creates higher revenue than does capacity release.
 
Partially offsetting the positive factors noted above were lower customer utilization rates experienced during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, compared with the same periods in 2005, primarily due to the impact of higher natural gas prices on customer usage.

Total gas throughput decreased 16.5% to 29.2 billion cubic feet (Bcf) for the three months ended June 30, 2006, compared with the same period in 2005. Total gas throughput decreased 17.2% to 67.9 Bcf for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared with the same period in 2005. The lower throughput was primarily due to significantly warmer weather experienced during 2006, as previously discussed under the TAC.

The following table is a comparison of operating revenue and throughput for the three and six months ended June 30:

   
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
Operating Revenues (thousands):
                         
Firm Sales
                       
Residential
 
$
46,948
 
$
29,943
 
$
213,384
 
$
127,114
 
Commercial
   
12,844
   
10,234
   
64,253
   
45,438
 
Industrial
   
948
   
566
   
2,962
   
2,144
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
2,303
   
3,813
   
3,360
   
5,139
 
Firm Transportation
                         
Residential
   
781
   
5,440
   
2,143
   
20,926
 
Commercial
   
2,252
   
2,514
   
6,473
   
8,421
 
Industrial
   
2,992
   
3,245
   
6,262
   
6,564
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
11
   
60
   
11
   
105
 
                           
Total Firm Revenues
   
69,079
   
55,815
   
298,848
   
215,851
 
                           
Interruptible
   
370
   
424
   
769
   
839
 
Interruptible Transportation
   
358
   
516
   
992
   
1,115
 
Off-System
   
33,101
   
26,334
   
74,744
   
75,239
 
Capacity Release & Storage
   
1,699
   
2,414
   
6,001
   
6,606
 
Other
   
399
   
580
   
733
   
970
 
                           
Total Operating Revenues
 
$
105,006
 
$
86,083
 
$
382,087
 
$
300,620
 


SJG -24


 
Throughput (MMcf):
                 
Firm Sales -
                 
Residential
   
2,439
   
2,287
   
12,213
   
10,591
 
Commercial
   
903
   
907
   
4,182
   
4,260
 
Industrial
   
28
   
26
   
128
   
126
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
215
   
422
   
244
   
487
 
Firm Transportation -
                         
Residential
   
135
   
1,035
   
447
   
4,839
 
Commercial
   
745
   
888
   
2,339
   
3,167
 
Industrial
   
3,269
   
3,912
   
6,629
   
8,051
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
10
   
85
   
12
   
96
 
                           
Total Firm Throughput
   
7,744
   
9,562
   
26,194
   
31,617
 
                           
Interruptible
   
33
   
41
   
64
   
79
 
Interruptible Transportation
   
812
   
741
   
1,784
   
1,596
 
Off-System
   
4,518
   
3,467
   
8,636
   
10,130
 
Capacity Release & Storage
   
16,090
   
21,150
   
31,195
   
38,504
 
                           
Total Throughput
   
29,197
   
34,961
   
67,873
   
81,926
 

Cost of Sales:

Cost of sales increased $20.9 million and $85.2 million for the three and six months periods ended June 30, 2006, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2005. This increase resulted from growth in our total customer base, the impact of the migration of customers from transportation service back to sales service and increased gas costs now being recovered through rates. Changes in the unit cost of gas sold to utility ratepayers do not always directly affect cost of sales. We defer fluctuations in gas costs to ratepayers not reflected in current rates to future periods under a BPU-approved Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) price structure. As a result of the two BGSS rate increases in 2005, discussed under Operating Revenues, we were able to recover and recognize some of the increase in gas costs experienced during the later part of 2005 and the first quarter of 2006.

Gas supply sources include contract and open-market purchases. We secure and maintain our own gas supplies to serve our sales customers. We do not anticipate any difficulty renewing or replacing expiring contracts under acceptable terms and conditions.
 
Operating Expenses:

A summary of changes in other operating expenses for the three and six months ended June 30 is as follows (in thousands):

   
Three Months
Ended June 30,
 
Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
   
2006 vs. 2005
 
2006 vs. 2005
 
           
Operations
 
$
(1,419
)
$
(2,877
)
Maintenance
   
(146
)
 
(234
)
Depreciation
   
411
   
811
 
Energy and Other Taxes
   
(279
)
 
(888
)


SJG -25



Operations expense decreased $1.4 million during the second quarter of 2006 and $2.9 million during the first half of 2006, compared with the same periods in 2005, primarily as a result of five factors. First, we experienced a $0.4 million reduction in our bad debt expense during the second quarter corresponding with a decrease in our accounts receivable as a result of warmer weather. Second, there were $0.3 million and $1.3 million decreases for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006, respectively, in our costs under the New Jersey Clean Energy Programs (NJCEP). Such costs are recovered on a dollar-for-dollar basis; therefore, SJG experienced offsetting decreases in revenues during the periods. The BPU-approved NJCEP allows for full recovery of costs, including carrying costs when applicable. As a result, the decrease in expense had no impact on our net income. Third, our regulatory expenses decreased $0.3 million in the first half of 2006 primarily as a result of amortizations of previously deferred expense related to our 2004 base rate proceeding with the BPU. Such costs were fully amortized as of December 31, 2005. The amount previously amortized in 2005 was $128,000 per quarter. Fourth, insurance expense was offset by $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2006 due to a refund approved by our insurance carrier. Lastly, we also experienced lower pension and other postretirement benefit costs during 2006 as detailed in Note 8 to the financial statements. Such reductions were the result of earnings on additional contributions to both plans, the transfer of employees to SJI Services, LLC effective January 1, 2006, and savings resulting from the early retirement plan offered in 2004 and 2005.

Depreciation expense increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, compared with the same periods last year due mainly to our continuing investment in utility plant.

Energy and Other Taxes decreased for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006, compared with the same periods in 2005, primarily due to lower energy-related taxes based on the decreased sales volumes in 2006. This was partially offset by a slight increase in SJG’s revenue-based taxes resulting from higher revenues, as discussed in detail under Operating Revenues.

Interest Charges:

Interest charges increased by $1.0 million and $1.7 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2005, due primarily to higher levels of short-term debt and higher interest rates on short-term debt. Short-term debt levels rose to support our capital expenditures, which were not financed with long-term debt until April 2006, and to support higher gas costs incurred during the 2006 summer injection period. A steep rise in short-term interest rates was driven by a series of interest rate hikes enacted by the Federal Reserve Bank over the periods covered by this Report. Debt is incurred primarily to expand and upgrade our gas transmission and distribution system and to support seasonal working capital needs related to inventories and customer receivables.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity needs are driven by factors that include natural gas commodity prices; the impact of weather on customer bills; lags in fully collecting gas costs from customers under the Basic Gas Supply Service charge; the timing of construction and remediation expenditures and related permanent financings; mandated tax payment dates; both discretionary and required repayments of long-term debt; and the amounts and timing of dividend payments.

Liquidity needs are first met with net cash provided by operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $30.0 million and $64.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities varies from year-to-year primarily due to the impact of weather on customer demand and related gas purchases, inventory utilization and gas cost recoveries. Net cash provided by operating activities for the first half of 2006 was impacted by higher gas costs and warmer weather than experienced during the same period of 2005. The larger than normal change in Accounts Payable was the primary cause of the decrease in operating cash flow. High gas costs boosted payable levels at the end of 2005 and warm weather and lower customer utilization rates experienced during 2006 resulted in higher than normal levels of natural gas in storage that had been paid for as of June 30, 2006. Typically, we would be buying more gas during the second quarter to inject into storages that had been depleted during the winter season, causing payables to rise.

SJG -26



We use short-term borrowings under lines of credit from commercial banks to supplement cash from operations, to support working capital needs and to finance capital expenditures as incurred. From time to time, we refinance short-term debt incurred to finance capital expenditures with long-term debt.

Our operations are also subject to seasonal fluctuations. Significant changes in the balances of Current Assets and Current Liabilities can occur from the end of one reporting period to another, as evidenced by the changes on the balance sheets. The high level of gas inventory maintained as of June 30, 2006 is expected to result in reduced cash outflows during the next quarter. Additionally, during the next two quarters, we will collect $13.1 million from our affiliate, South Jersey Resources Group, LLC, for a gas sale that occurred in the second quarter.

Bank credit available to us totaled $176.0 million at June 30, 2006, of which $90.9 million was used. Those bank facilities consist of a $100.0 million revolving credit facility and $76.0 million of uncommitted bank lines. On August 3, 2006, we replaced the existing revolving credit with a new $100.0 million facility that expires August 2011. The revolving credit facilities contain certain financial covenants measured on a quarterly basis. We were in compliance with these covenants as of June 30, 2006. Based upon the existing credit facilities and a regular dialogue with our banks, we believe that there will continue to be sufficient credit available to meet our business’ future liquidity needs.

We supplement our operating cash flow and credit lines with both debt and equity capital. Over the years, we have used long-term debt, primarily in the form of First Mortgage Bonds and Medium Term Notes (MTN), secured by the same pool of utility assets, to finance our long-term borrowing needs. These needs are primarily capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. In September 2005, we established a new $150.0 million MTN program. On April 20, 2006, we issued $25.0 million of secured tax-exempt, auction-rate debt through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The auction rate, which resets weekly, was 3.79% as of June 30, 2006. In anticipation of this transaction, we previously entered into forward-starting interest rate swap agreements that effectively fixed the interest rate on this debt at 3.43%, commencing December 1, 2006 through January 2036. The debt was issued under our medium-term note program. An additional $115.0 million of MTN’s remains available for issuance under that program.

SJI contributed $30.0 million of capital to SJG during 2005. There were no capital contributions during the first half of 2006. Contributions of capital are credited to Other Paid-in Capital and Premium on Common Stock.

Our capital structure was as follows:
 
   
As of
 
As of
 
   
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 2006
 
 2005
 
 
             
Common Equity
   
48.3%
 
 
49.0%
 
Long-Term Debt
   
39.5%
 
38.7%
 
Short-Term Debt
   
12.2%
 
12.4%
 
               
Total
   
           100.0%
 
 
           100.0%
 

 
Our long-term, senior secured debt is rated “A” and “Baa1” by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investor Services, respectively. These ratings have not changed in the past five years.

We are restricted as to the amount of cash dividends or other distributions that may be paid on our common stock by an order issued by the BPU in July 2004, that granted us an increase in base rates. Per the order, we are required to maintain total common equity of no less than $289.2 million. Our total common equity balance was $360.7 million at June 30, 2006.

SJG -27



Capital Expenditures, Commitments and Contingencies

Capital Expenditures:

We have a continuing need for cash resources and capital, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment and for environmental remediation costs. Net cash outflows for construction and remediation projects for the six months ended June 30, 2006 amounted to $34.1 million and $3.5million, respectively. We estimate net cash outflows for construction and remediation projects for 2006, 2007 and 2008, to be approximately $50.7 million, $43.8 million and $44.2 million, respectively. Included in the 2006 estimate is $8.9 million in capital costs accrued but not paid as of December 31, 2005, primarily related to two large special projects totaling $12.1 million for pipeline installation.

Commitments and Contingencies:

We have certain commitments for both pipeline capacity and gas supply for which we pay fees regardless of usage. Those commitments as of June 30, 2006, average $49.8 million annually and total $223.6 million over the contracts’ lives. Approximately 54% of the financial commitment under these contracts expires during the next five years. We expect to renew each of these contracts under renewal provisions as provided in each contract. We recover all prudently incurred costs through rates via the Basic Gas Supply Service clause.

The following table summarizes our contractual cash obligations and their applicable payment due dates as of June 30, 2006 (in thousands):

 
 
 
 
Up to
 
Years
 
Years
 
More than
 
Contractual Cash Obligations
 
Total
 
1 Year
 
2 & 3
 
4 & 5
 
5 Years
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-Term Debt
 
$
297,220
 
$
2,270
 
$
-
 
$
10,000
 
$
284,950
 
Interest on Long-Term Debt
   
244,114
   
17,191
   
34,003
   
33,697
   
159,223
 
Operating Leases
   
281
   
91
   
149
   
41
   
-
 
Construction Obligations
   
106,842
   
37,013
   
69,829
   
-
   
-
 
Commodity Supply Purchase Obligations
   
223,610
   
24,987
   
87,176
   
45,231
   
66,216
 
New Jersey Clean Energy Program
   
16,770
   
5,270
   
11,500
   
-
   
-
 
Other Purchase Obligations
   
17,580
   
8,487
   
8,193
   
900
   
-
 
 
                               
Total Contractual
                               
Cash Obligations
 
$
906,417
 
$
95,309
 
$
210,850
 
$
89,869
 
$
510,389
 

Expected environmental remediation costs and asset retirement obligations are not included in the table above due to the subjective nature of these costs and timing of anticipated payments. As a result, the total obligation cannot be calculated. Additionally, future pension contributions are not included in the table as contributions vary from year-to-year based on investment performance and discount rates. Our regulatory obligation to contribute to our postretirement benefit plans’ trust, as discussed in Note 8, is also not included as its duration is indefinite.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements:

We have no off-balance sheet financing arrangements.

Pending Litigation:

We are subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. We accrue liabilities related to claims when we can determine the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs. Management does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

SJG -28



Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

Twelve Months
Ended June 30,
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2006
 
2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.7x
 
4.0x
 
3.9x
 
3.3x
 
2.9x
 
2.6x
 

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges represents, on a pre-tax basis, the number of times earnings covers fixed charges. Earnings consist of net income, to which has been added fixed charges and taxes based on income before discontinued operations. Fixed charges consist of interest charges and preferred securities dividend requirements and an interest factor in rentals.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks
 
Market Risks

Commodity Market Risks:

We are involved in buying, selling, transporting and storing natural gas and are subject to market risk due to price fluctuations. To hedge against this risk, we enter into a variety of physical and financial transactions including forward contracts, futures and options agreements. To manage these transactions, we have a well-defined risk management policy approved by our Board of Directors that includes volumetric and monetary limits. Management reviews reports detailing activity daily. Generally, the derivative activities described above are entered into for risk management purposes.

We transact commodities on a physical basis and typically do not enter into financial derivative positions directly. South Jersey Resources Group, LLC, an affiliate by common ownership, manages our risk by entering into the types of transactions noted above. As part of our gas purchasing strategy, we use financial contracts to hedge against forward price risk. These contracts are recoverable through our BGSS, subject to BPU approval. It is management’s policy, to the extent practical, within predetermined risk management policy guidelines, to have limited unmatched positions on a deal or portfolio basis while conducting these activities. The majority of our contracts are typically less than 12-months long. The fair value and maturity of all these energy trading and hedging contracts determined using mark-to-market accounting as of June 30, 2006 is as follows (in thousands):

Assets
 
 
 
Maturity
 
Maturity
 
 
 
 
 
Source of Fair Value
 
<1 Year
 
1 - 3 Years
 
Total
 
 
                     
Prices Actively Quoted
   
NYMEX
 
$
2,315
 
$
74
 
$
2,389
 
Other External Sources
   
Basis
   
684
   
-
   
684
 
 
                 
Total
       
$
2,999
 
$
74
 
$
3,073
 
 
                         
Liabilities
         
Maturity
   
Maturity
       
 
   
Source of Fair Value
   
<1 Year
   
1 - 3 Years
   
Total
 
 
                         
Prices Actively Quoted
   
NYMEX
 
$
17,817
 
$
1,154
 
$
18,971
 
Other External Sources
   
Basis
   
476
   
-
   
476
 
 
                 
Total
       
$
18,293
 
$
1,154
 
$
19,447
 
 
 
SJG -29

 
NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) is the primary national commodities exchange on which natural gas is traded. Basis represents the price of a NYMEX natural gas futures contract adjusted for the difference in price for delivering the gas at another location. Contracted volumes of our NYMEX contracts are 2.6 million decatherms with a weighted average settlement price of $8.25 per decatherm.

A reconciliation of our estimated net fair value of energy-related derivatives, including energy trading and hedging contracts, follows (in thousands):

Net Derivatives — Energy Related Asset, January 1, 2006
 
$
486
 
Contracts Settled During The Six Months Ended June 30, 2006, Net
   
13,898
 
Other Changes in Fair Value from Continuing and New Contracts, Net
   
(33,831
)
 
     
Net Derivatives — Energy Related Liability, June 30, 2006
 
$
(19,447
)

Interest Rate Risk:

Our exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to short-term, variable-rate borrowings. Short-term, variable-rate debt outstanding at June 30, 2006 was $90.9 million and averaged $70.3 million during the first half of 2006. A hypothetical 100 basis point (1%) increase in interest rates on our average variable-rate debt outstanding would result in a $415,000 increase in our annual interest expense, net of tax. The 100 basis point increase was chosen for illustrative purposes, as it provides a simple basis for calculating the impact of interest rate changes under a variety of interest rate scenarios. Over the past five years, the change in basis points (b.p.) of our average monthly interest rates from the beginning to end of each year was as follows: 2005 - 191 b.p. increase; 2004 - 115 b.p. increase; 2003 - 31 b.p. decrease; 2002 - 74 b.p. decrease; and 2001 - 383 b.p. decrease. For June 2006, our weighted-average borrowing cost, which changes daily, was 5.68%.

We issue long-term debt either at fixed rates or use interest rate derivatives to fix interest rates on variable-rate, long-term debt. Consequently, interest expense on existing long-term debt is not significantly impacted by changes in market interest rates. In October 2005, in anticipation of issuing long-term, variable-rate, tax-exempt debt during 2006 under the MTN Program, we executed $25.0 million of forward-starting interest rate swaps that will result in an effective fixed rate of 3.43% for 30 years, commencing December 1, 2006. The debt, which was issued in April 2006, is being used to provide long-term financing for capital improvements to our gas transmission and distribution system serving Atlantic and Cape May Counties in southern New Jersey.
  
Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Management has established controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to SJG is made known to the officers who certify its financial reports and to other members of senior management and the Board of Directors.

Based upon their evaluation as of the end of the period of this report, the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of SJG have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) employed at SJG are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by SJG in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.

No change in SJG’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during SJG’s second fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

SJG -30




PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item l. Legal Proceedings

Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to Part I, Item 1, Note 9, beginning on page 19.
 
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors 
 
 
        The following paragraph should be read in conjunction with the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005: 
 
        Non-routine or extraordinary disruptions to SJG’s natural gas distribution system could significantly affect its results of operations and financial position.
 
        Utility distribution systems are routinely disrupted for a variety of reasons that include leak repair, system upgrades and contractor damage. These disruptions are typically localized and result in relatively brief service disruptions that do not have a material impact on SJG’s financial condition. However, accidental or intentional damage to multiple key portions of our distribution system, particularly if that damage occurred at the same time and depending on the type of damage, could result in an extended disruption in gas deliveries.
 

Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits
 
 
 
Exhibit No.
Description
   
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
 
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code).
 
 
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code).



SJG -31






SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY
(Registrant)



Dated: August 9, 2006
By:         /s/ Edward J. Graham                          
 
Edward J. Graham
 
President & Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
Dated: August 9, 2006
By:          /s/ David A. Kindlick                         
 
David A. Kindlick
 
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer



SJG -32




 


 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 




EX-31.1 2 sjgexhibit311.htm SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY EXHIBIT 31.1 DATED AUGUST 9, 2006 South Jersey Gas Company Exhibit 31.1 dated August 9, 2006
Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION


I, Edward J. Graham, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2006, of South Jersey Gas Company;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15 d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



Date: August 9, 2006                                                              By:  /s/ Edward J. Graham   
                   Edward J. Graham
                   President & Chief Executive Officer
EX-31.2 3 sjgexhibit312.htm SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY EXHIBIT 31.2 DATED AUGUST 9, 2006 South Jersey Gas Company Exhibit 31.2 Dated August 9, 2006
Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION


I, David A. Kindlick, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2006, of South Jersey Gas Company;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15 d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



Date: August 9, 2006                                          By:  /s/ David A. Kindlick   
              David A. Kindlick
                      Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
EX-32.1 4 sjgexhibit321.htm SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY EXHIBIT 32.1 DATED AUGUST 9, 2006 South Jersey Gas Company Exhibit 32.1 Dated August 9, 2006
 
Exhibit 32.1


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF
THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the filing of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of South Jersey Gas Company (the “Company”) for the period ended June 30, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Edward J. Graham, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


/s/ Edward J. Graham
-----------------------------------------------------
Name: Edward J. Graham
Title: Chief Executive Officer
August 9, 2006

EX-32.2 5 sjgexhibit322.htm SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY EXHIBIT 32.2 DATED AUGUST 9, 2006 South Jersey Gas Company Exhibit 32.2 Dated August 9, 2006


Exhibit 32.2



CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF
THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the filing of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of South Jersey Gas Company (the “Company”) for the period ended June 30, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David A. Kindlick, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


/s/ David A. Kindlick
-------------------------------------------------------
Name: David A. Kindlick
Title: Chief Financial Officer
August 9, 2006

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