10-Q 1 sjg-93013x10q.htm 10-Q SJG-9.30.13-10Q

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 September 30, 2013

OR

o
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 o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x      No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No x
  
As of November 1, 2013 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.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page No.
 
 
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
 
 
  

2




SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
Operating Revenues
$
59,674

 
$
54,251

 
 
 
 
Operating Expenses:
 

 
 

Cost of Sales (Excluding depreciation)
24,717

 
21,053

Operations
18,613

 
17,536

Maintenance
3,353

 
3,570

Depreciation
8,654

 
7,975

Energy and Other Taxes
1,052

 
1,167

 
 
 
 
Total Operating Expenses
56,389

 
51,301

 
 
 
 
Operating Income
3,285

 
2,950

 
 
 
 
Other Income and Expense
764

 
1,703

 
 
 
 
Interest Charges
(2,629
)
 
(3,872
)
 
 
 
 
Income Before Income Taxes
1,420

 
781

 
 
 
 
Income Taxes
(471
)
 
(258
)
 
 
 
 
Net Income
$
949

 
$
523

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.




 

3


 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
Operating Revenues
$
300,308

 
$
292,864

 


 
 
Operating Expenses:
 

 
 

Cost of Sales (Excluding depreciation)
128,427

 
127,959

Operations
62,132

 
56,677

Maintenance
10,140

 
10,133

Depreciation
25,128

 
23,010

Energy and Other Taxes
5,332

 
5,815

 
 
 
 
Total Operating Expenses
231,159

 
223,594

 
 
 
 
Operating Income
69,149

 
69,270

 
 
 
 
Other Income and Expense
3,024

 
4,482

 
 
 
 
Interest Charges
(8,379
)
 
(11,832
)
 
 
 
 
Income Before Income Taxes
63,794

 
61,920

 
 
 
 
Income Taxes
(23,511
)
 
(23,122
)
 
 
 
 
Net Income
$
40,283

 
$
38,798

 



4


SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
Net Income
$
949

 
$
523

 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive Gain - Net of Tax: *
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Unrealized Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities
221

 
205

Unrealized Gain on Derivatives - Other
7

 
7

 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive Gain - Net of Tax *
228

 
212

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive Income
$
1,177

 
$
735

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
Net Income
$
40,283

 
$
38,798

 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Gain   - Net of Tax: *
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized (Loss) Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities
(76
)
 
420

Unrealized Gain on Derivatives - Other
21

 
21

 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Gain  - Net of Tax *
(55
)
 
441

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive Income
$
40,228

 
$
39,239

 
 
 
 
* Determined using a combined statutory tax rate of 41% .
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

5


SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
$
109,974

 
$
51,006

 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 

 
 

Capital Expenditures
(118,383
)
 
(114,886
)
Net (Purchase) Sale of Restricted Investments in Margin Accounts
(809
)
 
641

Investment in Long-Term Receivables
(5,012
)
 
(4,178
)
Proceeds from Long-Term Receivables
5,376

 
5,217

 
 
 
 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(118,828
)
 
(113,206
)
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 

 
 

Net Borrowing from Short-Term Credit Facilities
7,900

 
11,300

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt

 
85,000

Principal Repayments of Long-Term Debt
(25,000
)
 
(35,000
)
Premium for Early Retirement of Debt

 
(700
)
Payments for Issuance of Long-Term Debt
(30
)
 
(936
)
Additional Investment by Shareholder
25,000

 

 
 
 
 
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
7,870

 
59,664

 
 
 
 
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents
(984
)
 
(2,536
)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
2,678

 
3,504

 
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
$
1,694

 
$
968

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

6


SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
 
September 30,
2013
 
December 31,
2012
Assets
 
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment:
 
 
 
Utility Plant, at original cost
$
1,776,502

 
$
1,658,790

Accumulated Depreciation
(388,511
)
 
(373,199
)
 
 
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
1,387,991

 
1,285,591

 
 
 
 
Investments:
 

 
 

Available-for-Sale Securities
8,237

 
7,520

Restricted Investments
2,077

 
1,268

 
 
 
 
Total Investments
10,314

 
8,788

 
 
 
 
Current Assets:
 

 
 

Cash and Cash Equivalents
1,694

 
2,678

Accounts Receivable
50,137

 
49,071

Accounts Receivable - Related Parties
1,316

 
961

Unbilled Revenues
7,464

 
35,351

Provision for Uncollectibles
(5,618
)
 
(3,985
)
Natural Gas in Storage, average cost
27,753

 
13,896

Materials and Supplies, average cost
1,682

 
1,560

Deferred Income Taxes - Net
9,759

 

Prepaid Taxes
14,108

 
17,046

Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
239

 
464

Other Prepayments and Current Assets
4,644

 
3,343

 
 
 
 
Total Current Assets
113,178

 
120,385

 
 
 
 
Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets:
 

 
 

Regulatory Assets
326,727

 
352,656

Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
6,282

 
6,663

Long-Term Receivables
9,458

 
9,336

Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
67

 
302

Other
3,170

 
2,738

 
 
 
 
Total Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets
345,704

 
371,695

 
 
 
 
Total Assets
$
1,857,187

 
$
1,786,459

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

7


SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
September 30,
2013
 
December 31,
2012
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
226,050

 
201,050

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
(13,340
)
 
(13,285
)
Retained Earnings
368,065

 
327,782

 
 
 
 
Total Common Equity
586,623

 
521,395

 
 
 
 
Long-Term Debt
404,000

 
425,000

 
 
 
 
Total Capitalization
990,623

 
946,395

 
 
 
 
Current Liabilities:
 

 
 

Notes Payable
110,000

 
102,100

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt
21,000

 
25,000

Accounts Payable - Commodity
11,682

 
14,926

Accounts Payable - Other
31,279

 
25,498

Accounts Payable - Related Parties
5,506

 
5,872

Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
1,606

 
2,615

Deferred Income Taxes - Net

 
10,432

Customer Deposits and Credit Balances
20,482

 
17,450

Environmental Remediation Costs
25,662

 
19,203

Taxes Accrued
1,470

 
1,674

Pension Benefits
1,236

 
1,236

Interest Accrued
4,248

 
6,277

Other Current Liabilities
3,331

 
6,492

 
 
 
 
Total Current Liabilities
237,502

 
238,775

 
 
 
 
Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Liabilities:
 

 
 

Regulatory Liabilities
52,219

 
56,517

Deferred Income Taxes - Net
352,845

 
310,357

Environmental Remediation Costs
82,574

 
88,207

Asset Retirement Obligations
39,645

 
38,892

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
86,431

 
89,193

Investment Tax Credits
424

 
618

Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
179

 
80

Derivatives - Other
4,569

 
7,761

Other
10,176

 
9,664

 
 
 
 
Total Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Liabilities
629,062

 
601,289

 
 
 
 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)


 


 
 
 
 
Total Capitalization and Liabilities
$
1,857,187

 
$
1,786,459

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed financial statements.

8


NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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), a regulated natural gas utility. SJG distributes natural gas in the seven southern most counties of New Jersey. In our opinion, the condensed 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. SJG’s 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. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the accompanying condensed financial statements contain certain condensed financial information and exclude certain note disclosures normally included in annual audited financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with SJG’s 2012 Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of our accounting policies and certain other information.

REVENUE AND THROUGHPUT - BASED TAXES - SJG collects certain revenue-based energy taxes from its customers. Such taxes include New Jersey State Sales Tax and Public Utilities Assessment (PUA). SJG also collects a throughput-based energy tax from customers in the form of a Transitional Energy Facility Assessment (TEFA). State sales tax is recorded as a liability when billed to customers and is not included in revenue or operating expenses. TEFA and PUA are included in both revenues and cost of sales, and totaled $0.5 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, and $3.4 million and $4.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The TEFA is subject to a planned phase-out which decreased the assessment in increments of 25% in 2012 and 2013 and is eliminated after December 31, 2013.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — Other than as described below, no new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during 2012 and 2013 had, or is expected to have, a material impact on the condensed financial statements.

In January 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-11, Enhanced Disclosure Requirements Concerning Offsetting of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This ASU amends ASC 210-20 to add disclosure requirements in respect of the offsetting of financial assets and financial liabilities. In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01 Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which amends and clarifies the scope of the balance sheet offsetting disclosures required through ASU 2011-11. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The adoption of this guidance modified the disclosures around derivative instruments, but did not have an impact on the Company's financial statement results.

In February 2013, in response to ASU 2011-12 discussed above, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU expands the disclosure requirements in ASC 220 and requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective lines in net income. The ASU requires an entity to present information about significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component either on the face of the statement where net income is presented, or as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this guidance modified the disclosures around accumulated other comprehensive income, but did not have an impact on the Company's financial statement results.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Balance Sheet Presentation of an Unrecognized Income Tax Benefit for a Net Operating Loss or Tax Credit Carryforward. This ASU provides that a liability related to an unrecognized tax benefit should be offset against a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Management does not anticipate that the adoption of this guidance will have an impact on the Company's financial statement results.



9


2.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS:

Officers and other key employees of SJG participate in the Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Rights and Restricted Stock Award Plan ("Plan") of SJI. Restricted shares issued under this plan vest over a three-year period and are subject to SJI achieving certain market or earnings-based performance targets as compared to a peer group average, which can cause the actual amount of shares that ultimately vest to range from between 0% to 150% of the original share units granted. Grants containing market-based
performance targets have been issued in each of the last three years and use SJI's total shareholder return (TSR) relative to a peer group to measure performance. Beginning with 2012, grants containing earnings-based targets have also been issued. These new grants are based on SJI's earnings per share (EPS) growth rate relative to a peer group to measure performance.

See Note 2 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012 for the related accounting policy.

The following table summarizes the SJI nonvested restricted stock awards pertaining to SJG outstanding at September 30, 2013, and the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the awards:

Grant Date
 
Shares
Outstanding
 
Fair Value
Per Share
 
Expected
Volatility
 
Risk-Free
Interest Rate
Jan. 2011 - TSR
 
7,116

 
$
50.94

 
27.5
%
 
1.01
%
Jan. 2012 - TSR
 
3,533

 
$
51.23

 
22.5
%
 
0.43
%
Jan. 2012 - EPS
 
3,533

 
$
56.93

 
n/a

 
n/a

Jan. 2013 - TSR
 
4,001

 
$
44.38

 
21.1
%
 
0.40
%
Jan. 2013 - EPS
 
4,001

 
$
51.18

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
Expected volatility is based on the actual volatility of SJI’s share price over the preceding three 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 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.

The cost for restricted stock awards during 2013 and 2012 is approximately $0.1 million per quarter.

As of September 30, 2013, there was $0.5 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 1.8 years.

The following table summarizes information regarding restricted stock award activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, excluding accrued dividend equivalents:

 
Shares
 
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, January 1, 2013
15,108

 
$
52.55

 
 
 
 
Granted
9,324

 
$
47.78

 
 
 
 
  Canceled / Forfeited
(2,248
)
 
$
50.02

 
 
 
 
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, September 30, 2013
22,184

 
$
50.80






10


During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, SJI awarded 12,901 shares that had vested at December 31, 2012, to SJG's officers and other key employees at a market value of $0.6 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, SJI awarded 7,098 shares at a market value of $0.4 million to SJG's officers and other key employees. SJG has a policy of making cash payments to SJI to satisfy its obligations under this plan. Cash payments to SJI during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were approximately $0.4 million relating to stock awards. Additionally, a change in control could result in the nonvested shares becoming nonforfeitable or immediately payable in cash.


3.
RATES AND REGULATORY ACTIONS:

SJG is subject to the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU). In January 2013, SJG credited the accounts of our periodic Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) customers with refunds totaling $9.4 million due to gas costs that were lower than projected.

In January 2013, the BPU approved an extension of the Company's Energy Efficiency Program (“EEP”) to June 30, 2013 and approved additional investments of up to $2.5 million. In June 2013, the BPU approved a further extension of SJG's EEP through June 2015 and authorized incremental investments totaling $24.0 million . The costs and returns associated with the EEP program investments will continue to be recovered through the Company's Energy Efficiency Tracker (“EET”).

In June 2013, SJG filed its annual EET petition requesting additional revenues to recover the costs of, and its allowed return on, prior investments associated with the EEP programs. This petition is currently pending.

In July 2012, SJG filed a petition with the BPU to implement a five-year, $250.0 million Accelerated Infrastructure Replacement Program (“AIRP”). The Company proposed spending an incremental $50.0 million per year on the accelerated replacement of its cast iron and bare steel main and service infrastructure and was seeking a return on program investments as it had under prior Capital Investment Recovery Tracker ("CIRT") programs. SJG's CIRT III program expired on December 31, 2012. In February 2013, the parties executed a Stipulation agreeing to $35.3 million per year of incremental capital spending for four years, totaling $141.2 million under the AIRP. The BPU approved the Stipulation in February 2013.

In March 2013, SJG filed a joint petition with another utility requesting modifications to, and the continuation of, the Conservation Incentive Plan (“CIP”) program. This petition is currently pending.

In May 2013, SJG made its annual BGSS and CIP filing requesting a $17.9 million decrease in annual revenues. Provisional rates were approved by the BPU in September 2013 and effective October 1, 2013.
In June 2013, SJG filed a petition requesting deferral of incremental operating and maintenance expenses incurred due to Superstorm Sandy. These costs totaled $0.7 million and are expected to be recovered in SJG's next base rate case. This petition is currently pending.

In October 2012, SJG filed a petition requesting a $13.2 million increase in annual revenues by rolling $110.6 million of CIRT I, II and III investments into base rates. In May 2013, SJG filed a supplemental petition requesting to roll an additional $6.9 million of CIRT III investments into base rates, for a total annual revenue increase of $15.5 million related to $117.5 million of CIRT investments made since our last base rate case in 2010. The BPU approved the petition in September 2013 with rates effective October 1, 2013.

In September 2013, SJG filed a petition requesting a Storm Hardening and Reliability Program (SHARP), pursuant to which SJG is proposing to invest approximately $280 million over seven years to replace low pressure distribution mains and services with high pressure distribution mains and services in coastal areas that are susceptible to flooding during major storm events. This petition is currently pending.

There have been no other significant regulatory actions or changes to SJG's rate structure since December 31, 2012. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG's Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012.

 

11


4.
REGULATORY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES:

There have been no significant changes to the nature of SJG’s regulatory assets and liabilities since December 31, 2012, which are described in Notes 3 and 4 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012.

Regulatory Assets consisted of the following items (in thousands):
 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
Environmental Remediation Costs:
 
 
 
Expended - Net
$
30,189

 
$
37,892

Liability for Future Expenditures
108,236

 
107,410

Deferred Asset Retirement Obligation Costs
30,607

 
30,199

Deferred Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Costs
95,897

 
95,897

Conservation Incentive Program Receivable
12,573

 
31,686

Societal Benefit Costs Receivable
12,816

 
12,801

Premium for Early Retirement of Debt
976

 
1,075

Deferred Interest Rate Contracts (Note 11)
4,569

 
7,761

Energy Efficiency Tracker
12,263

 
12,306

Pipeline Supplier Service Charges
7,522

 
8,771

Other Regulatory Assets
11,079

 
6,858

 
 
 
 
Total Regulatory Assets
$
326,727

 
$
352,656


CONSERVATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM (CIP) RECEIVABLE – The decrease in this receivable is primarily the result of colder weather experienced in the region during the first half of 2013. The CIP tracking mechanism adjusts earnings when actual usage per customer experienced during the period varies from an established baseline usage per customer. 



Regulatory Liabilities consisted of the following items (in thousands):

 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
Excess Plant Removal Costs
$
41,128

 
$
45,593

Deferred Revenues-Net
8,352

 
10,924

Other Regulatory Liabilities
2,739

 

 


 


Total Regulatory Liabilities
$
52,219

 
$
56,517


DEFERED REVENUES - NET - Over/under collections of gas costs are monitored through SJG's 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 natural gas purchases are also included in the BGSS, subject to BPU approval.



12


5.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

There have been no significant changes in the nature of SJG’s related party transactions since December 31, 2012. See Note 5 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012 for a detailed description of such transactions.

A summary of related party transactions, excluding pass-through items, included in Operating Revenues were as follows, (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Operating Revenues/Affiliates:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SJRG
$
344

 
$
211

 
$
1,194


$
483

Other
335

 
312

 
974


499

Total Operating Revenue/Affiliates
$
679

 
$
523

 
$
2,168

 
$
982


Related party transactions, excluding pass-through items, included in Operating Expenses were as follows, (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Costs of Sales/Affiliates (Excluding depreciation):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SJRG
$
5,436

 
$
2,683

 
$
11,105

 
$
8,445

Energy-Related Derivative (Gains) / Losses *
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SJRG
$
389

 
$
3,011

 
$
568

 
$
13,666


* Contracts used to hedge natural gas purchases. Included in Cost of Sales on the Condensed Statement of Income.

Operations Expense/Affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SJI
$
2,737

 
$
2,237

 
$
8,613

 
$
7,400

SJIS
1,330

 
1,240

 
4,264

 
3,833

Millennium
665

 
796

 
2,014

 
2,379

Other
(103
)
 
(99
)
 
(336
)
 
(377
)
Total Operations Expense/Affiliates
$
4,629

 
$
4,174

 
$
14,555

 
$
13,235



6.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS - In accordance with the terms of our tax-exempt first mortgage bonds, unused proceeds are required to be escrowed pending approved construction expenditures. As of both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the escrowed proceeds, including interest earned, totaled $0.1 million. SJG established a margin account with SJRG in conjunction with SJG's risk management activities as detailed in Note 11. The funds provided by SJG will increase or decrease as the number and value of outstanding energy-related contracts held with SJRG changes. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the balance held with SJRG totaled $0.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively. During March 2013, SJG established a margin account with a counterparty in conjunction with SJG's risk management activities as detailed in Note 11. The funds provided by SJG will increase or decrease as the number and value of outstanding energy-related contracts held with this counterparty changes. As of September 30, 2013 the balance held with this counterparty totaled $1.0 million. The carrying amounts of the Restricted Investments approximate their fair value at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, which would be included in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. (See Note 10 - Fair Value of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities).





13


LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES – SJG provides financing to customers for the purpose of attracting conversions to natural gas heating systems from competing fuel sources.  The terms of these loans call for customers to make monthly payments over a period of up to five years with no interest.  The carrying amounts of such loans were $14.0 million and $13.6 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.  The current portion of these receivables is reflected in Accounts Receivable and the non-current portion is reflected in Long-Term Receivables on the condensed balance sheets.  The carrying amounts noted above are net of unamortized discounts resulting from imputed interest in the amount of $1.3 million as of both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.  The annual amortization to interest is not material to SJG’s financial statements.  The carrying amounts of these receivables approximate their fair value at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, which would be included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. (See Note 10 - Fair Value of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities).
 
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS NOT CARRIED AT FAIR VALUE - The fair value of a financial instrument is the market price to sell an asset or transfer a liability at the measurement date. The carrying amounts of SJG's financial instruments approximate their fair values at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, except as noted below.
For Long-Term Debt, in estimating the fair value, we use the present value of remaining cash flows at the balance sheet date. We based the estimates on interest rates available to SJG at the end of each period for debt with similar terms and maturities (Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 10 - Fair Value of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities). The estimated fair values of SJG's long-term debt, including current maturities, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, were $446.2 million and $502.0 million, respectively.  The carrying amount of SJG's long-term debt, including current maturities, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $425.0 million and $450.0 million respectively.

7.
UNUSED LINES OF CREDIT:

Credit facilities and available liquidity as of September 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Total Facility
 
Usage
 
Available Liquidity
 
Expiration Date
Commercial Paper Program/ Revolving Credit Facility
$
200,000

 
$
110,000

 
$
90,000

 
May 2018
Uncommitted Bank Lines
10,000

 

 
10,000

 
August 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
210,000

 
$
110,000

 
$
100,000

 
 


The SJG facility is provided by a syndicate of banks and contains one financial covenant limiting the ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization (as defined in the credit agreement) to not more than 0.65 to 1 measured at the end of each fiscal quarter.  SJG was in compliance with this covenant as of September 30, 2013.

SJG manages a commercial paper program under which SJG may issue short-term, unsecured promissory notes to qualified investors up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $200.0 million.  The notes  have fixed maturities which vary by note, but may not exceed 270 days from the date of issue. Proceeds from the notes are used for general corporate purposes.  SJG uses the commercial paper program in tandem with the $200.0 million revolving credit facility and does not expect the principal amount of borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program and the credit facility at any time to exceed an aggregate of $200.0 million.

Average borrowings outstanding under these credit facilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were $90.5 million and $146.3 million, respectively.  The maximum amount outstanding under these credit facilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were $119.9 million and $180.5 million, respectively.

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. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates.  The weighted average interest rate on these borrowings, which changes daily, was 0.34% and 0.47% at September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.


14


8.
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS:

For the three and nine months ended  September 30, 2013 and 2012, net periodic benefit cost related to the employee and officer pension and other postretirement benefit plans consisted of the following components (in thousands):
 
Pension Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Service Cost
$
1,040

 
$
873

 
$
3,120

 
$
2,619

Interest Cost
1,811

 
1,853

 
5,434

 
5,559

Expected Return on Plan Assets
(2,286
)
 
(1,991
)
 
(6,859
)
 
(5,974
)
Amortizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior Service Cost
48

 
48

 
144

 
145

Actuarial Loss
1,729

 
1,469

 
5,185

 
4,407

Net Periodic Benefit Cost
2,342

 
2,252

 
7,024

 
6,756

Capitalized Benefit Costs
(1,218
)
 
(1,306
)
 
(3,653
)
 
(3,513
)
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense
$
1,124

 
$
946

 
$
3,371

 
$
3,243

 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Service Cost
$
212

 
$
198

 
$
637

 
$
594

Interest Cost
509

 
573

 
1,526

 
1,719

Expected Return on Plan Assets
(443
)
 
(402
)
 
(1,329
)
 
(1,206
)
Amortizations:

 


 

 

Prior Service Credits
(53
)
 
(54
)
 
(159
)
 
(162
)
Actuarial Loss
324

 
329

 
972

 
988

Net Periodic Benefit Cost
549

 
644

 
1,647

 
1,933

Capitalized Benefit Costs
(285
)
 
(374
)
 
(856
)
 
(1,005
)
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense
$
264

 
$
270

 
$
791

 
$
928


Capitalized benefit costs reflected in the table above relate to our construction program.

SJG contributed $9.1 million and $19.8 million to the pension plans in January 2013 and 2012, respectively. No additional contributions are expected to be made to the pension plans during 2013. Payments related to the unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) are expected to approximate $1.2 million in 2013. We also have a regulatory obligation to contribute approximately $3.6 million annually to the other postretirement benefit plans’ trusts, less direct costs incurred.

See Note 11 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012 for additional information related to SJG’s pension and other postretirement benefits.

9.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT -    SJG provided a $25.2 million letter of credit under a separate facility outside of the revolving credit facility to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system. 

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS - SJG incurred and recorded costs for environmental cleanup of 12 sites where SJG or its predecessors operated gas manufacturing plants. SJG stopped manufacturing gas in the 1950s. There have been no significant changes to the status of SJG’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2012, as described in Note 12 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012.


15


GAS SUPPLY RELATED 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 date at which any of the primary terms of these contracts expire is October 2014. The transportation and storage agreements entered into between us and each of our interstate pipeline service providers were done so in accordance with their respective FERC approved tariff. Our cumulative obligation for gas supply related demand charges and reservation fees paid for these services averages approximately $4.3 million per month and is 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 reasonably estimate the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs or other charges for these claims. The Company has accrued approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million related to all claims in the aggregate, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that there will be a material change in the Company's estimated liability in the near term and does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims that would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS - Unionized personnel represent approximately 60% of our workforce at September 30, 2013. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with two unions who represent these employees: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) operates under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 28, 2017, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) operates under a collective bargaining agreement that expires in August 2014.


10.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:

GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes fair value measurements based on the types of inputs used for the various valuation techniques.  The levels of the hierarchy are described below:

Level 1:  Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:  Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; these include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

Level 3:  Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

Assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of financial assets and financial liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.

For financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, information about the fair value measurements for each major category is as follows (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-Sale Securities (A)
$
8,237

 
$
8,237

 
$

 
$

Derivatives – Energy Related Assets (B)
306

 
306

 

 

 
$
8,543

 
$
8,543

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities -
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives – Energy Related Liabilities (B)
$
1,785

 
$
1,466

 
$

 
$
319

Derivatives – Other (C)
4,569

 

 
4,569

 

 
$
6,354

 
$
1,466

 
$
4,569

 
$
319



16


As of December 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-Sale Securities (A)
$
7,520

 
$
769

 
$
6,751

 
$

Derivatives - Energy Related Assets (B)
766

 
447

 
319

 

 
$
8,286

 
$
1,216

 
$
7,070

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities (B)
$
2,695

 
$
2,694

 
$
1

 
$

Derivatives - Other (C)
7,761

 

 
7,761

 

 
$
10,456

 
$
2,694

 
$
7,762

 
$


(A)  Available-for-Sale Securities include securities that are traded in active markets and securities that are not traded publicly.  The securities traded in active markets are valued using the quoted principal market close prices that are provided by the trustees and are categorized in Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.  The remaining securities consisted of funds that are not publicly traded.  These funds, which consisted of stocks and bonds that are traded individually in active markets, are valued using quoted prices for similar assets and are categorized in Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

(B)  Derivatives – Energy Related Assets and Liabilities are traded in both exchange-based and non-exchange-based markets. Exchange-based contracts are valued using unadjusted quoted market sources in active markets and are categorized in Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Certain non-exchange-based contracts are valued using indicative price quotations available through brokers or over-the-counter, on-line exchanges and are categorized in Level 2. These price quotations reflect the average of the bid-ask mid-point prices and are obtained from sources that management believes provide the most liquid market. Management reviews and corroborates the price quotations to ensure the prices are observable which includes consideration of actual transaction volumes, market delivery points, bid-ask spreads and contract duration. In instances where observable data is unavailable, management considers the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. This includes assumptions about market risks such as liquidity, volatility and contract duration. Such instruments are categorized in Level 3 as the model inputs generally are not observable. Level 3 valuation methods for natural gas derivative contracts include utilizing another location in close proximity adjusted for certain pipeline charges to derive a basis value.

Significant Unobservable Inputs - Management uses the discounted cash flow model to value Level 3 physical forwards, which calculates mark-to-market valuations based on forward prices, original transaction prices, volumes, risk-free rate of return and credit spreads. Inputs to the valuation model are reviewed and revised as needed, based on historical information, updated market data, market liquidity and relationships, and changes in third party pricing sources. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of certain natural gas contracts are forward prices developed based on industry standard methodologies. Significant increases (decreases) in these forward prices for purchases of natural gas would result in a directionally similar impact to the fair value measurement and for sales of natural gas would result in a directionally opposite impact to the fair value measurement. The validity of the mark-to-market valuations and changes in mark-to-market valuations from period to period are examined and qualified against historical expectations by the risk management function. If any discrepancies are identified during this process, the mark-to-market valuations or the market pricing information is evaluated further and adjusted, if necessary.

(C)  Derivatives – Other, include interest rate swaps that are valued using quoted prices on commonly quoted intervals, which are interpolated for periods different than the quoted intervals, as inputs to a market valuation model.  Market inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment.

The following table provides quantitative information regarding significant unobservable inputs in Level 3 fair value measurements (in thousands):

Type
Fair Value at September 30, 2013
Valuation Technique
Significant Unobservable Input
Range [Weighted Average]
 
Assets
Liabilities
 
 
 
Forward Contract - Natural Gas
$—
$319
Discounted Cash Flow
Forward price (per dt)

$(1.75) - $(1.75) [$(1.75)]


17




The changes in fair value measurements of Derivatives – Energy Related Assets and Liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), are as follows (in thousands):

 
Three Months
Ended
September 30, 2013
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013
Balance at beginning of period
$
(243
)
 
$

Total losses unrealized in Regulatory Liabilities (see note 4)
(76
)
 
(319
)
Settlements

 

 
(76
)
 
(319
)
Balance at September 30
$
(319
)
 
$
(319
)



11.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS:

SJG is involved in buying, selling, transporting and storing natural gas and is subject to market risk on expected future purchases and sales due to commodity price fluctuations. The Company, through its affiliate South Jersey Resources Group (SJRG) and another counterparty, uses a variety of derivative instruments to limit this exposure to market risk in accordance with strict corporate guidelines. These derivative instruments include forward contracts, futures contracts, swap agreements and options contracts. As of September 30, 2013, SJG had outstanding derivative contracts intended to limit the exposure to market risk on 6.5 MMdts of expected future purchases of natural gas. These contracts, which do not qualify for the normal purchase and sale exemption and have not been designated as hedging instruments under GAAP, are measured at fair value and recorded in Derivatives —Energy Related Assets or Derivatives — Energy Related Liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. The costs or benefits of these short-term contracts are recoverable through SJG’s Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) clause, subject to BPU approval. As a result, the net unrealized pre-tax gains and losses for these energy related commodity contracts are included with realized gains and losses in Regulatory Assets or Regulatory Liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, SJG had $1.5 million and $1.9 million of unrealized losses, respectively, included in its BGSS related to open financial contracts.

The Company has also entered into interest rate derivatives to hedge exposure to increasing interest rates and the impact of those rates on cash flows of variable-rate debt. These interest rate derivatives, which have not been designated as hedging instruments under GAAP, are measured at fair value and recorded in Derivatives-Other on the condensed balance sheets. The fair value represents the amount SJG would have to pay the counterparty to terminate these contracts as of those dates. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s active interest rate swaps since December 31, 2012 which are described in Note 1 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012. Subject to BPU approval, the market value upon termination of these interest rate derivatives can be recovered in rates and, therefore, these unrealized losses have been included in Regulatory Assets on the condensed balance sheets.

We previously used derivative transactions known as “Treasury Locks” to hedge against the impact on our cash flows of possible interest rate increases on debt issued in September 2005.  The initial $1.4 million cost of the Treasury Locks has been included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and is being amortized over the 30 year life of the associated debt issue.  As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the unamortized balance was approximately $1.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

18



The fair values of all derivative instruments, as reflected in the condensed balance sheets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, are as follows (in thousands):

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
Energy related commodity contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives – Energy Related – Current
 
$
239

 
$
1,606

 
$
464

 
$
2,615

Derivatives – Energy Related – Non-Current
 
67

 
179

 
302

 
80

Interest rate contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives – Other
 

 
4,569

 

 
7,761

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
 
306

 
6,354

 
766

 
10,456

Total Derivatives
 
$
306

 
$
6,354

 
$
766

 
$
10,456

 

For derivative instruments disclosed in the table above, information as to the presentation on the condensed balance sheets is as follows (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description
 
Gross amounts of recognized assets/liabilities
 
Gross amount offset in the balance sheet
 
Net amounts of assets/liabilities in balance sheet
 
Gross amounts not offset in the balance sheet
 
Net amount
 
 
 
 
Financial Instruments
 
Cash Collateral Posted
 
Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
 
$
306

 
$

 
$
306

 
$
(306
)
(A)
$

 
$

Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
 
(1,785
)
 

 
(1,785
)
 
306

(B)
1,160

 
(319
)
Derivatives - Other
 
(4,569
)
 

 
(4,569
)
 

 

 
(4,569
)

As of December 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description
 
Gross amounts of recognized assets/liabilities
 
Gross amount offset in the balance sheet
 
Net amounts of assets/liabilities in balance sheet
 
Gross amounts not offset in the balance sheet
 
Net amount
 
 
 
 
Financial Instruments
 
Cash Collateral Posted
 
Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
 
$
766

 
$

 
$
766

 
$
(447
)
(A)
$

 
$
319

Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
 
(2,695
)
 

 
(2,695
)
 
447

(B)
1,136

 
(1,112
)
Derivatives - Other
 
(7,761
)
 

 
(7,761
)
 

 

 
(7,761
)

(A) The balances at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were related to derivative liabilities which can be net settled against derivative assets.


19


(B) The balances at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were related to derivative assets which can be net settled against derivative liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the condensed statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Interest Rate Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses reclassified from accumulated OCL into income (a)
 
$
(12
)
 
$
(12
)
 
$
(36
)
 
$
(36
)
(a) Included in Interest Charges

Net realized losses of $0.4 million and $3.0 million associated with SJG's energy related financial commodity contracts for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and losses of $0.6 million and $13.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are not included in the above table.  These contracts are part of SJG’s regulated risk management activities that serve to mitigate BGSS costs passed on to its customers. As these transactions are entered into pursuant to, and recoverable through, regulatory riders, any changes in the value of SJG’s energy related financial commodity contracts are deferred in Regulatory Assets or Liabilities and there is no impact to earnings.


12.
LONG-TERM DEBT:

In February 2012, SJG called its $35.0 million, 7.70% Medium Term Notes (MTN's) due April 2027 at par, plus a 2.0% premium. The early redemption occurred concurrently with the issuance in April 2012 of $35.0 million, 3.74% Series D MTN due April 2032.

During the third quarter of 2013, SJG redeemed at par $10.5 million of 4.46% MTN's issued in July 2003 and $14.5 million of 5.027% MTN's issued in September 2003.

In September 2013, SJG agreed in principle to issue $80.0 million of MTN's under a private placement. SJG expects to issue $50.0 million of 4.01% MTN's in November 2013, due November 2030, and $30.0 million of 4.23% MTN's in January 2014, due January 2030.

We retire debt when it is cost effective as permitted by the debt agreements.  Our long-term debt agreements contain no financial covenants.

The Company did not issue any long-term debt during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.




20


13.    ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:

The changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (AOCL) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):
 
Postretirement Liability Adjustment
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives-Other
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Total
Balance at July 1, 2013 (a)
$
(12,958
)
 
$
(607
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(13,568
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

 

 
221

 
221

   Amounts reclassified from AOCL (b)

 
7

 

 
7

Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)

 
7

 
221

 
228

Balance at September 30, 2013 (a)
$
(12,958
)
 
$
(600
)
 
$
218

 
$
(13,340
)

 
Postretirement Liability Adjustment
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives-Other
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2013 (a)
$
(12,958
)
 
$
(621
)
 
$
294

 
$
(13,285
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

 

 
413

 
413

   Amounts reclassified from AOCL (b)

 
21

 
(489
)
 
(468
)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)

 
21

 
(76
)
 
(55
)
Balance at September 30, 2013 (a)
$
(12,958
)
 
$
(600
)
 
$
218

 
$
(13,340
)

(a) Determined using a combined statutory tax rate of 41%.
(b) See table below.

The reclassifications out of AOCL and into earnings during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):
Components of AOCL
Amounts Reclassified from AOCL (in thousands)
 
Affected Line Item in the Condensed Statements of Income
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
Unrealized Loss on Derivatives-Other - Interest Rate Contracts designated as cash flow hedges
$
12

 
$
36

 
Interest Charges
Unrealized Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities

 
(828
)
 
Other Income & Expense
 
12

 
(792
)
 
Loss (Income) Before Income Taxes
Income Taxes (a)
(5
)
 
324

 
Income Taxes (a)
Losses (Gains) from reclassifications for the period net of tax
$
7

 
$
(468
)
 
 

(a) Determined using a combined statutory tax rate of 41%.

21


14.     EQUITY CONTRIBUTION:

We received an equity infusion of $25.0 million from SJI during September 2013. Contributions of capital are credited to Other Paid-In Capital and Premium on Common Stock. Further equity contributions will occur on an as needed basis.


15.    SUBSEQUENT EVENT:

In October 2013, SJG filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to issue up to $200.0 million of long term debt securities in various forms including Medium Term Notes and unsecured debt, with maturities of more than 12 months, over the next three years. This petition is currently pending.


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

OVERVIEW:

Organization - We are an operating public utility company engaged in the purchase, transmission and sale of natural gas for residential, commercial and industrial use. 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 to their customers. We served 359,273 customers at September 30, 2013 compared with 354,468 customers at September 30, 2012.

Forward-Looking Statements and 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 by the Company 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 SJG’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 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 SJG believes 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, SJG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
Critical Accounting Policies - Estimates and Assumptions - Management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed financial statements and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Five types of transactions presented in our condensed financial statements require a significant amount of judgment and estimation.
These relate to regulatory accounting, derivatives, environmental remediation costs, pension and other postretirement benefit costs, and revenue recognition. A discussion of these estimates and assumptions may be found in SJG’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

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


22


Regulatory Actions – SJG has made the appropriate notice to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities of our intent to file a rate case by the end of November 2013. Other than the changes discussed in Note 3 to the condensed financial statements, there have been no significant regulatory actions since December 31, 2012. See detailed discussions concerning Regulatory Actions in Note 3 to the Financial Statements in item 8 of SJG’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Environmental Remediation –There have been no significant changes to the status of SJG’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2012. See detailed discussion concerning Environmental Remediation in Note 12 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Competition - See detailed discussion concerning competition in SJG’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Customer Choice Legislation - All residential natural gas customers in New Jersey can choose their natural gas commodity supplier under the terms of the “Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act of 1999.” This bill created the framework and necessary time schedules for the restructuring of the state’s electric and natural gas utilities. The Act established unbundling, under which redesigned utility rate structures allow natural gas and electric consumers to choose their energy supplier. Customers purchasing natural gas from a provider other than the local utility (marketer) are charged for the gas costs by the marketer and charged for the transportation costs by the utility. The number of customers purchasing their natural gas from marketers was 47,494 and 41,857 at September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

The following table summarizes the composition of selected gas utility data for the three and nine months ended September 30, (in thousands, except for degree day data):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Utility Throughput – dt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Firm Sales -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
1,290

 
1,327

 
15,165

 
12,216

Commercial
507

 
585

 
3,694

 
3,202

Industrial
21

 
18

 
204

 
180

Cogeneration & Electric Generation
781

 
834

 
1,346

 
1,328

Firm Transportation -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
200

 
171

 
2,275

 
1,411

Commercial
621

 
552

 
4,685

 
3,717

Industrial
2,983

 
3,051

 
9,711

 
9,545

Cogeneration & Electric Generation
2,392

 
3,400

 
6,166

 
7,465

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Firm Throughput
8,795

 
9,938

 
43,246

 
39,064

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interruptible Sales

 

 
14

 
2

Interruptible Transportation
275

 
264

 
1,014

 
1,005

Off-System
2,931

 
1,176

 
6,098

 
6,727

Capacity Release
8,554

 
16,488

 
29,515

 
50,474

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Throughput - Utility
20,555

 
27,866

 
79,887

 
97,272


23


 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Utility Operating Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Firm Sales -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
$
22,477

 
$
25,618

 
$
164,399

 
$
172,271

Commercial
7,404

 
7,571

 
38,806

 
36,862

Industrial
312

 
327

 
2,469

 
1,961

Cogeneration & Electric Generation
3,759

 
3,298

 
6,922

 
5,226

Firm Transportation -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
2,343

 
1,864

 
14,707

 
9,945

Commercial
3,401

 
2,802

 
18,763

 
15,851

Industrial
5,765

 
5,239

 
17,083

 
15,847

Cogeneration & Electric Generation
1,581

 
2,170

 
5,186

 
5,412

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Firm Revenues
47,042

 
48,889

 
268,335

 
263,375

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interruptible Sales

 

 
339

 
50

Interruptible Transportation
360

 
278

 
1,275

 
1,094

Off-System
10,728

 
4,051

 
23,983

 
22,934

Capacity Release
1,291

 
786

 
5,665

 
4,632

Other
253

 
247

 
711

 
779

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Utility Operating Revenues
59,674

 
54,251

 
300,308

 
292,864

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cost of Sales (Excluding depreciation)
24,717

 
21,053

 
128,427

 
127,959

Conservation Recoveries*
2,374

 
1,259

 
10,446

 
6,101

RAC Recoveries*
2,178

 
1,912

 
6,533

 
5,735

EET Recoveries*
1,245

 
797

 
3,436

 
2,352

Revenue and Throughput Taxes
478

 
650

 
3,417

 
4,025

Utility Margin
$
28,682

 
$
28,580

 
$
148,049

 
$
146,692

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Margin:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential
$
14,513

 
$
14,484

 
$
95,649

 
$
80,100

Commercial and Industrial
8,143

 
8,385

 
39,067

 
35,865

Cogeneration and Electric Generation
1,390

 
1,620

 
3,828

 
3,749

Interruptible
11

 
12

 
91

 
64

Off-system & Capacity Release
352

 
213

 
1,269

 
1,309

Other Revenues
518

 
409

 
1,283

 
1,181

Margin Before Weather Normalization & Decoupling
24,927

 
25,123

 
141,187

 
122,268

CIRT Mechanism
728

 
756

 
2,204

 
2,286

CIP Mechanism
2,901

 
2,586

 
4,278

 
21,819

EET Mechanism
126

 
115

 
380

 
319

Utility Margin
$
28,682

 
$
28,580

 
$
148,049

 
$
146,692

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Degree Days:
68

 
26

 
3,020

 
2,323

 
*Represents expenses for which there is a corresponding credit in operating revenues.  Therefore, such recoveries have no impact on our financial results.


24


Throughput Total gas throughput decreased 7.3 MMdts, or 26.2%, for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same period in 2012.  This decrease was realized primarily in Capacity Release activity which decreased 7.9 MMdts during the three months ended September 30, 2013, as compared with the same period in 2012. In 2013, SJG entered into a new asset management agreement (AMA) with a third party that allocated a significant amount of capacity for a fixed fee. Volumes released under AMA's are not included in the throughput table above. This transfer of capacity rights left less available for SJG's normal release activity. In addition, SJG was releasing capacity in smaller segments ("segmenting") in 2012 based on the demand in the market at that time. While segmenting has little impact on total revenue generated from such activity, it does increase the throughput significantly. Firm throughput decreased 1.1 MMdts, or 11.5%, during the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the same period in 2012.  This primarily occurred in the electric generation market where throughput decreased 1.1 MMdts, or 25.1%. The third quarter of 2012 was one of the warmest on record in the region, which drove the demand for greater natural gas consumption by the region's electric producers. These decreases were partially offset by higher Off-System Sales (OSS) which increased by 1.8 MMdts as more profitable market opportunities presented themselves in the third quarter versus the same period last year.

Total gas throughput decreased 17.4 MMdts, or 17.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same period in 2012. This decrease was realized primarily in the Capacity Release market which decreased 21.0 MMdts during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared with the same period in 2012. Contributing to the decrease in Capacity Release throughput was the new AMA and less segmenting of capacity release in 2013, discussed above as part of the three month results. Due to colder weather experienced in the region during the first quarter of 2013, SJG also experienced an increased demand by its firm customers, thereby creating fewer opportunities for Capacity Release during the winter months. Firm throughput increased 4.2 MMdts, or 10.7%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to the same period in 2012. This is most apparent in the heat sensitive residential and commercial markets whose throughput increased as a result of weather that was 29.7% colder for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared with the same period last year. Also contributing to higher firm throughput was the addition of 4,805 customers over the last twelve months, representing 1.4% customer growth.

 Operating RevenuesRevenues increased $5.4 million, or 10.0%, during the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same period in the prior year. Higher OSS volume, coupled with higher per unit sales prices, resulted in a $6.7 million increase in OSS revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same period last year. As reflected in the Margin table above, the impact of changes in OSS and capacity release activity do not have a material impact on the earnings of SJG, as SJG is required to share 85% of the profits of such activity with our ratepayers. Total firm revenue decreased $1.8 million, or 3.8%, during the third quarter of 2013 versus the same period in 2012. As stated under "Throughput," weather that was not as warm as last year led to decreased firm sales volume from the electric generation market and lower firm revenue. Lower gas costs being passed through to residential and small commercial customers also led to lower firm revenue, as SJG reduced its BGSS rate by 18% in October 2012. While changes in gas costs and BGSS recoveries/refunds may fluctuate from period to period, SJG does not profit from the sale of the commodity.  Therefore, corresponding fluctuations in Operating Revenue or Cost of Sales have no impact on Company profitability, as further discussed below under the caption “Margin.”

Revenues increased $7.4 million, or 2.5%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same period in the prior year. Total firm revenue increased $5.0 million, or 1.9%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 versus the same period in 2012. As stated under "Throughput," colder weather increased firm sales volume significantly compared with prior year; however, associated firm revenue did not increase proportionately. This is the result of lower gas costs being passed through to those customers, as SJG reduced its BGSS rate by 18% in October 2012. In addition, SJG gave a refund of $9.4 million to its periodic BGSS customers in January 2013, which further reduced revenue. As previously stated, SJG does not profit from the sale of the commodity. Therefore, corresponding fluctuations in Operating Revenue or Cost of Sales have no impact on Company profitability, as further discussed below under the caption "Margin." Higher OSS and capacity release unit prices resulted in a $2.1 million increase in revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same period last year. As previously stated, the impact of changes in OSS and capacity release activity do not have a material impact on the earnings of SJG, as SJG is required to share 85% of the profits of such activity with our ratepayers.


25


Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) - The effects of the CIP on our net income and the associated weather comparisons were as follows ($’s in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Net Income Benefit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CIP – Weather Related
$

 
$

 
$
(0.7
)
 
$
7.6

CIP – Usage Related
1.7

 
1.5

 
3.2

 
5.3

Total Net Income Benefit
$
1.7

 
$
1.5

 
$
2.5

 
$
12.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weather Compared to 20-Year Average
n/a
 
n/a
 
1.8% colder
 
23.4% warmer
Weather Compared to Prior Year
n/a
 
n/a
 
29.7% colder
 
19.7% warmer


Margin (pre-tax) - SJG’s margin is defined as natural gas revenues less natural gas costs, regulatory rider expenses and related volumetric and revenue based energy taxes. SJG believes that margin provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating utility operations than revenues since natural gas costs, regulatory rider expenses and related energy expenses are passed through to customers and, therefore, have no effect on margin. Natural gas costs are charged to operating expenses on the basis of therm sales at the prices approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) through SJG’s BGSS clause.

Total utility margin did not change significantly in the three months ended September 30, 2013 as compared with the same period in 2012.

Total margin increased $1.4 million, or 0.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same period in 2012, primarily due to customer additions.  SJG added 4,805 customers over the 12-month period ended September 30, 2013, representing growth of 1.4% over the prior year and a corresponding increase in margin.

As reflected in the margin table and the CIP table above, the CIP protected $4.3 million, or $2.5 million after taxes, in the first nine months of 2013 that would have been lost due to lower customer usage, compared with $21.8 million, or $12.9 million after taxes, during the same period last year.

Operating Expenses - A summary of changes in operating expenses (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
2013 vs. 2012
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2013 vs. 2012
Operations
$
1,077

 
$
5,455

Maintenance
$
(217
)
 
$
7

Depreciation
$
679

 
$
2,118

Energy and Other Taxes
$
(115
)
 
$
(483
)

Operations  – Operations expense increased $1.1 million and $5.5 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, as compared with the same periods in 2012, respectively.  The increase is primarily due to the spending under the New Jersey Clean Energy Program and Energy Efficiency Programs which increased $1.6 million and $5.4 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, as compared to 2012, respectively. Such costs are recovered on a dollar-for-dollar basis; therefore, SJG experienced an offsetting increase in revenues during the period.

Maintenance -   Changes in maintenance expense for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same periods in 2012, were not significant.

Depreciation - Depreciation expense increased $0.7 million and $2.1 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same periods in 2012, respectively, due mainly to our continuing investment in property, plant & equipment.

26



Energy and Other Taxes - Energy and Other Taxes decreased $0.1 million and $0.5 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same periods in 2012, respectively. This was primarily due to a 25% decrease in the Company's primary energy tax, the Transitional Energy Facilities Assessment, effective January 1, 2013, partially offset by higher year-to-date taxable firm throughput in 2013 resulting from significantly colder weather during 2013.  Additional weather information can be found above under the caption “Conservation Incentive Program (CIP).”

Other Income and Expense - Other Income and Expense decreased $0.9 million and $1.5 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same periods in 2012. With the approval of the Company's Accelerated Infrastructure Replacement Program (AIRP) in February 2013, equity-related returns on all ongoing accelerated capital programs were reduced. However, there was a corresponding BPU-approved increase in the Company's capitalization of interest costs, as noted below.

Interest Charges –  Interest Charges decreased $1.2 million and $3.5 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, compared with the same periods in 2012, respectively, due to higher capitalization of interest costs on construction during 2013 as a result of the approval of the Company's AIRP program in February 2013, as discussed above. Also contributing to the decrease is the impact of retiring $35.0 million of higher priced long-term debt during 2012. The decrease is partially offset by the issuance of $85.0 million of Medium Term Notes during the second half of 2012.
 
Income Taxes  Income tax expense generally fluctuates as income before income taxes changes. Minor variations will occur period to period as a result of effective tax rate adjustments.

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.
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities - Liquidity needs are first met with net cash provided by operating activities.  Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $110.0 million and $51.0 million in the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, 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, customer usage factors related to conversion efforts and the price of the natural gas commodity, inventory utilization, and gas cost recoveries.  Net cash provided by operations was positively impacted by higher collections under regulatory clauses during the first nine months of 2013 that were under-recovered as a result of warmer-than-normal weather in 2012. Lower pension contributions also improved cash flows for the first nine months of 2013 as discussed on Note 8 to the condensed financial statements.  The Company strives to keep its pension plans fully funded.  When factors such as lesser than expected asset performance and/or declining discount rates negatively impact the funding status of the plans, the Company increases its contributions to supplant that funding shortfall.  While discount rates continued to decline, greater than expected asset performance during 2012 added significantly to improving the Company's funding status, which resulted in a decrease in the pension contribution during 2013.The Company contributed $9.1 million and $19.8 million to its pension plan in January 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities - SJG has a continuing need for cash resources for capital purchases, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment. Cash used for capital purchases was $118.4 million and $114.9 million during the first nine months of 2013 and 2012, respectively.   We estimate the net cash outflows for construction projects for fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015 to be approximately $183.3 million $248.7 million and $185.0 million, respectively.  For capital expenditures, including those under the CIRT and AIRP, SJG expects to use short-term borrowings to finance capital expenditures as incurred.  From time to time, the Company may refinance the short-term debt incurred to support capital expenditures with long-term debt.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities - SJG uses short-term borrowings under lines of credit from commercial banks, or under its commercial paper program discussed below, to supplement cash from operations, to support working capital needs and to finance capital expenditures as incurred. From time to time, the Company refinances short-term debt incurred to finance capital expenditures with long-term debt. 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. In September 2013, SJG received an equity infusion of $25.0 million from SJI.


27


Credit facilities and available liquidity as of September 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):
 
Total
Facility
 
Usage
 
Available
 Liquidity
 
Expiration Date
Commercial Paper/Revolving Credit Facilities
$
200,000

 
$
110,000

 
$
90,000

 
May 2018
Uncommitted Bank Lines
10,000

 

 
10,000

 
August 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
210,000

 
$
110,000

 
$
100,000

 
 

SJG renewed the uncommitted bank lines of credit during the third quarter 2013. SJG amended and extended its revolving credit facility during the third quarter; as a result, the maturity date was extended from May 2015 to May 2018.

The SJG facility is provided by a syndicate of banks and contains one financial covenant limiting the ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization (as defined in the credit agreement) to not more than 0.65 to 1, measured at the end of each fiscal quarter.  SJG was in compliance with this covenant as of September 30, 2013.

SJG manages a commercial paper program under which SJG may issue short-term, unsecured promissory notes to qualified investors up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $200.0 million.  The notes will have fixed maturities which will vary by note, but may not exceed 270 days from the date of issue. Proceeds from the notes will be used for general corporate purposes.  SJG intends to use the commercial paper program in tandem with its $200.0 million revolving credit facility and does not expect the principal amount of borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program and the credit facility at any time to exceed an aggregate of $200.0 million.

Average borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper program/revolving credit facility during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were $90.5 million and $146.3 million, respectively.  The maximum amount outstanding under these credit facilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were $119.9 million and $180.5 million, respectively.

Based upon the existing credit facilities and a regular dialogue with our banks, we believe there will continue to be sufficient credit available to meet our future liquidity needs.

SJG supplements its operating cash flow and credit lines with both debt and equity capital. Over the years, SJG has 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.

During the third quarter of 2013, SJG redeemed at par $10.5 million of 4.46% MTN's issued in July 2003 and $14.5 million of 5.027% MTN's issued in September 2003.

In September 2013, SJG agreed in principle to issue $80.0 million of MTN's under a private placement. SJG expects to issue $50.0 million of 4.01% MTN's in November 2013, due November 2030, and $30.0 million of 4.23% MTN's in January 2014, due January 2030.

In October 2013, SJG filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to issue up to $200.0 million of long term debt securities in various forms including Medium Term Notes and unsecured debt, with maturities of more than 12 months, over the next three years. This petition is currently pending.

SJG’s capital structure was as follows:

 
As of
September 30,
 2013
 
As of
December 31,
2012
Common Equity
52
%
 
49
%
Long-Term Debt
38

 
42

Short-Term Debt
10

 
9

 
 
 
 
Total
100
%
 
100
%

28


COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

SJG has a continuing need for cash resources and capital, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment, working capital, and for environmental remediation costs. Cash outflows for capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012 amounted to $118.4 million and $114.9 million, respectively. Management estimates net cash outflows for construction projects for 2013, 2014 and 2015, to be approximately $183.3 million $248.7 million and $185.0 million respectively.  Costs for remediation projects, net of insurance reimbursements, for the first nine months of 2013 and 2012 amounted to net cash inflows of $1.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively.  Total cash outflows for remediation projects are expected to be $10.8 million, $24.5 million and $24.2 million for 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively.  As discussed in Notes 4 and 12 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s 10-K as of December 31, 2012, environmental remediation costs are subject to recovery from ratepayers.

SJG provided a $25.2 million letter of credit under a separate facility, outside of the revolving credit facility, to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the NJEDA to finance the expansion of SJG's natural gas distribution system.  

SJG has certain commitments for interstate pipeline capacity, storage services, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and LNG transportation services, which carry demand type charges for which it pays fees regardless of usage. Those commitments as of September 30, 2013, average $51.5 million annually and total $233.7 million over the contracts’ lives.  Approximately 39% of the financial commitments under these contracts expire during the next five years. SJG expects to renew each of these contracts under renewal provisions as provided in each contract. SJG recovers all prudently incurred fees through rates via the BGSS.

Contractual Cash Obligations –   Details concerning contractual cash obligations may be found in SJG’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.  There were no significant changes to SJG's contractual cash obligations from December 31, 2012 except for long term debt, which decreased by $25.0 million due to scheduled redemptions during the third quarter of 2013.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements - We have no off-balance sheet 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 reasonably estimate the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs or other charges for these claims. The Company has accrued approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million related to all claims in the aggregate, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that there will be a material change in the Company's estimated liability in the near term and does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims that would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 

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 September 30,
 
Year Ended December 31,
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
5.0x
 
5.5x
 
5.3x
 
5.1x
 
4.9x
 
4.4x

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. Fixed charges consist of interest charges (rentals are not material).

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.




29


We transact commodities on a physical and financial basis. South Jersey Resources Group, LLC (SJRG), an affiliate by common ownership, manages some of our risk by entering into the types of transactions noted above. As part of our gas purchasing strategy, we use financial contracts through SJRG and another counterparty to hedge against forward price risk. These contracts are recoverable through our BGSS, subject to BPU approval. The majority of our contracts are typically less than 12-months long. The fair value and maturity of these energy trading and hedging contracts determined using mark-to-market accounting as of September 30, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Source of Fair Value
 
Maturity
< 1 Year
 
Maturity
1 - 3 Years
 
Total
Prices Actively Quoted (NYMEX)
 
$
239

 
$
67

 
$
306

Prices Provided by Other External Sources (Basis)
 

 

 

Prices based on internal models or other valuable methods
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
239

 
$
67

 
$
306


Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maturity
 
Maturity
 
 
Source of Fair Value
 
< 1 Year
 
1 - 3 Years
 
Total
Prices Actively Quoted (NYMEX)
 
$
1,287

 
$
179

 
$
1,466

Prices Provided by Other External Sources (Basis)
 

 
$

 

Prices based on internal models or other valuable methods
 
319

 

 
319

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
1,606

 
$
179

 
$
1,785


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 6.5 MMdt with a weighted-average settlement price of $3.97 per dt.  Contracted volumes of our Basis contracts are 0.0 MMdt with a weighted average settlement price of $(1.02) per dt.

A reconciliation of our estimated net fair value of energy-related derivatives follows (in thousands):

Net Derivatives — Energy Related Liability, January 1, 2013
$
(1,929
)
Contracts Settled During the Nine Months ended September 30, 2013, Net
2,142

Other Changes in Fair Value from Continuing and New Contracts, Net
(1,692
)
Net Derivatives — Energy Related Liability, September 30, 2013
$
(1,479
)

Interest Rate Risk - Our exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to short-term, variable-rate borrowings. Short-term, variable-rate debt outstanding at September 30, 2013, was $110.0 million and averaged $90.5 million during the first nine months of 2013. A hypothetical 100 basis point (1%) increase in interest rates on our average variable-rate debt outstanding would result in a $0.5 million 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: 2012 - 1 b.p. decrease; 2011 - 14 b.p. decrease; 2010 – 5 b.p. increase; 2009 – 29 b.p. decrease; and 2008 - 317 b.p. decrease.  As of September 30, 2013, our average interest rate on variable-rate debt was 0.34%.

We issue long-term debt either at fixed rates or use interest rate derivatives to limit our exposure to changes in interest rates on variable-rate, long-term debt. As of September 30, 2013, the interest costs on all of our long-term debt was either at a fixed-rate or hedged via an interest rate derivative.  Consequently, interest expense on existing long-term debt is not significantly impacted by changes in market interest rates.



30


As of September 30, 2013, SJG’s active interest rate swaps were as follows:

Amount
 
Fixed
Interest Rate
 
Start Date
 
Maturity
 
Type
$
12,500,000

 
3.43
%
 
12/1/2006
 
2/1/2036
 
Tax-exempt
$
12,500,000

 
3.43
%
 
12/1/2006
 
2/1/2036
 
Tax-exempt
 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

SJG’s management, with the participation of its president (principal executive officer) and treasurer (principal financial officer), evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of SJG’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2013. Based on that evaluation, SJG’s president and treasurer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures employed at SJG are effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has not been any change in SJG’s internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, SJG’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item l. Legal Proceedings

Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to Part I, Item 2, Pending Litigation, beginning on page 29.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following should be read in conjunction with the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A of SJG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Failures in the security of our computer systems through cyberattacks, hackers or other sources, could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.  SJG uses computer systems and services that involve the storage of confidential information on our employees, customers and vendors. In addition, certain computer systems monitor and control our distribution process.  Experienced hackers may be able to develop and deploy viruses that exploit the security of our computer systems and thus obtain confidential information and/or disrupt significant business processes.  Unauthorized access to confidential information or disruptions to significant business processes could damage our reputation and negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition.



31


Item 6. Exhibits

(a)           Exhibits
 
Exhibit
No.
 
Description
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certification of Principal 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 Principal 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).
 
 
 
101
 
The following financial statements from South Jersey Gas’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 2013 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Statements of Income; (ii) the Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows; (iv) the Condensed Balance Sheets and (v) the Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
 

32


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:
November 12, 2013
By:
/s/ Jeffrey E. DuBois
 
 
 
Jeffrey E. DuBois
 
 
 
President
 
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 12, 2013
By:
/s/ Stephen H. Clark
 
 
 
Stephen H. Clark
 
 
 
Senior Vice President - Regulatory Affairs and Treasurer
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 12, 2013
By:
/s/ Thomas S. Kavanaugh
 
 
 
Thomas S. Kavanaugh
 
 
 
Controller

33