UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 5, 2011
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Commission | Registrant; State of Incorporation | I.R.S. Employer |
File Number | Address; and Telephone Number | Identification No. |
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1-5324 | NORTHEAST UTILITIES | 04-2147929 |
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| (a Massachusetts voluntary association) |
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| One Federal Street, Building 111-4 |
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| Springfield, Massachusetts 01105 |
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| Telephone: (413) 785-5871 |
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0-00404 | THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY | 06-0303850 |
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| (a Connecticut corporation) |
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| 107 Selden Street |
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| Berlin, Connecticut 06037-1616 |
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| Telephone: (860) 665-5000 |
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1-6392 | PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE | 02-0181050 |
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| (a New Hampshire corporation) |
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| Energy Park |
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| 780 North Commercial Street |
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| Manchester, New Hampshire 03101-1134 |
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| Telephone: (603) 669-4000 |
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0-7624 | WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY | 04-1961130 |
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| (a Massachusetts corporation) |
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| One Federal Street, Building 111-4 |
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| Springfield, Massachusetts 01105 |
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| Telephone: (413) 785-5871 |
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Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Section 2 Financial Information
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On May 5, 2011, Northeast Utilities issued a news release announcing the unaudited results of operations for the first quarter of 2011 and related financial information for certain of its subsidiaries for the same period. A copy of the news release and the related financial reports are attached as Exhibit 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
The information contained in this Item 2.02, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, shall not be deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission nor incorporated by reference in any registration statement filed by Northeast Utilities, The Connecticut Light and Power Company, Public Service Company of New Hampshire or Western Massachusetts Electric Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended unless specified otherwise.
Section 9 Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
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Exhibit Number | Description |
Exhibit 99.1 | News Release issued by Northeast Utilities on May 5, 2011 |
Exhibit 99.2 | Financial Report (Income and Cash Flow Statements) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011 |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| NORTHEAST UTILITIES THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY (Registrants) |
| By: /S/ JAY S. BUTH Name: Jay S. Buth Title: Vice President-Accounting and Controller |
Date: May 5, 2011
Exhibit 99.1
P. O. Box 270 Hartford, CT 06141-0270 56 Prospect Street Hartford, CT 06103 (860)-665-5000 www.nu.com |
News Release
CONTACT:
Jeffrey R. Kotkin
OFFICE:
(860) 728-4650
NU REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
HARTFORD, Connecticut, May 5, 2011 Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) today reported first quarter 2011 earnings of $114.2 million, or $0.64 per share, compared with earnings of $86.2 million, or $0.49 per share, in the first quarter of 2010. Those results include an after-tax charge of $8.3 million, or $0.05 per share, in 2011 related to NUs pending merger with NSTAR. Excluding that charge, NU earned $122.5 million, or $0.69 per share, in the first quarter of 2011. First quarter results in 2010 included a $3 million after-tax charge related to the passage of national health legislation.
Charles W. Shivery, NU chairman, president, and chief executive officer, attributed the improved results to much colder weather in the first quarter of 2011, compared with the first quarter of 2010, a continued focus on cost control, progress building the infrastructure needed to serve New Englands energy customers, and the effect of electric distribution rate decisions received over the past 12 months.
2011 earnings guidance
NU also today affirmed its 2011 stand-alone consolidated earnings guidance of between $2.25 per share and $2.40 per share, excluding projected after-tax expenses related to the NSTAR merger of approximately $0.20 per share. Including the merger expenses, NU now projects earnings of between $2.05 per share and $2.20 per share. That estimate includes distribution and generation segment earnings of between $1.25 per share and $1.35 per share1 and transmission segment earnings of between $1.05 per share and $1.10 per share1. It also reflects parent and other company net expenses of $0.05 per share1, excluding merger expenses.
Transmission results
NUs transmission earnings in the first quarter of 2011 were $44.7 million, or $0.25 per share1, compared with earnings of $40.1 million, or $0.23 per share1, in the first quarter of 2010. The improved results primarily reflected a higher level of transmission investment.
Distribution and generation results
The Connecticut Light and Power Companys (CL&P) distribution earnings were $28.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared with $14.3 million in the first quarter of 2010. Improved results reflect the impact of a distribution rate decision effective in mid-2010, a 3.3 percent increase in retail sales, and lower uncollectible expense, partially offset by higher pension, health care and other operating costs.
Public Service Company of New Hampshires (PSNH) distribution and generation earnings were $21.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared with $11.1 million in the first quarter of 2010. PSNHs results benefited from a distribution rate decision that took effect in mid-2010 and higher retail sales due primarily to colder weather, partially offset by higher pension and health care costs.
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Western Massachusetts Electric Companys (WMECO) distribution and generation earnings were $5.7 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared with $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2010. WMECOs results benefited from higher retail sales and a distribution rate decision that took effect February 1, 2011, partially offset by higher operating expense.
Overall, NUs retail electric sales were up 3.0 percent in the first quarter of 2011, compared with the first quarter of 2010. They were down 0.2 percent on a weather-adjusted basis.
Yankee Gas Services Company earned $22.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared with $19.6 million in the first quarter of 2010. Higher sales were partially offset by higher pension, health care and other operating expenses. First quarter firm natural gas sales were up 16.9 percent in 2011, compared with the first quarter of 2010. They rose 3.2 percent on a weather-adjusted basis.
Parent and other affiliates
NU parent and other companies recorded a loss of $8.7 million, including the $8.3 million of after-tax merger-related expenses, in the first quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2010, NU parent and other companies, including NUs competitive businesses, recorded a loss of $1.8 million.
The following table reconciles 2011 and 2010 first-quarter results:
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| First Quarter |
2010 | Reported EPS | $0.49 |
| Higher transmission earnings in 2011 | $0.02 |
| Higher distribution and generation earnings in 2011 | $0.17 |
| Lower parent and other company expenses in 2011, excluding impact of merger | $0.01 |
| Expenses related to merger with NSTAR | ($0.05) |
2011 | Reported EPS | $0.64 |
Financial results for the first quarters of 2011 and 2010 for NUs business segments and parent and other companies are noted below:
Three months ended:
(in millions, except EPS) | March 31, 2011 | March 31, 2010 | Increase (Decrease) | 2011 EPS1 |
CL&P Distribution | $28.5 | $14.3 | $14.2 | $0.16 |
PSNH Distribution/Generation | $21.5 | $11.1 | $10.4 | $0.12 |
WMECO Distribution | $5.7 | $2.9 | $2.8 | $0.03 |
Yankee Gas | $22.5 | $19.6 | $2.9 | $0.13 |
Total--Distribution/Generation | $78.2 | $47.9 | $30.3 | $0.44 |
CL&P Transmission | $34.4 | $32.7 | $1.7 | $0.20 |
PSNH Transmission | $6.0 | $4.7 | $1.3 | $0.03 |
WMECO Transmission | $4.2 | $2.7 | $1.5 | $0.02 |
NU Transmission Ventures | $0.1 | --- | $0.1 | --- |
TotalTransmission | $44.7 | $40.1 | $4.6 | $0.25 |
NU Parent and Other Companies, excluding merger expenses | ($0.4) | ($1.8) | $1.4 | --- |
Merger expenses | ($8.3) | --- | ($8.3) | ($0.05) |
Reported Earnings | $114.2 | $86.2 | $28.0 | $0.64 |
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Retail sales data:
Gwh for three months ended | March 31, 2011 | March 31, 2010 | % Change Actual | % Change Weather Norm. |
CL&P | 5,776 | 5,591 | 3.3 | (0.4) |
PSNH | 1,984 | 1,932 | 2.7 | 0.4 |
WMECO | 948 | 930 | 2.0 | (0.6) |
Total NU | 8,705 | 8,448 | 3.0 | (0.2) |
Yankee Gas firm volumes in mmcf for three months ended | 19,384 | 16,589 | 16.9 | 3.2 |
NU has approximately 177 million common shares outstanding. It operates New Englands largest energy delivery system, serving more than 2 million customers in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
1 All per share amounts in this news release are reported on a fully diluted basis. The only common equity securities that are publicly traded are common shares of NU parent. The earnings and EPS of each business do not represent a direct legal interest in the assets and liabilities allocated to such business, but rather represent a direct interest in NU's assets and liabilities as a whole. EPS by business is a non-GAAP (not determined using generally accepted accounting principles) measure that is calculated by dividing the net income or loss attributable to controlling interests of each business by the weighted average fully diluted NU parent common shares outstanding for the period. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to evaluate earnings results and to provide details of earnings results and guidance by business. Management believes that this measurement is useful to investors to evaluate the actual and projected financial performance and contribution of NUs businesses. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to NU consolidated net income attributable to controlling interests or EPS determined in accordance with GAAP as indicators of NUs operating performance.
This news release includes statements concerning NUs expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions of future events, future financial performance or growth and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, readers can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as estimate, expect, anticipate, intend, plan, project, believe, forecast, should, could, and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, actions or inaction of local, state and federal regulatory and taxing bodies; changes in business and economic conditions, including their impact on interest rates, bad debt expense and demand for NUs products and services; changes in weather patterns; changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policy; changes in levels or timing of capital expenditures; disruptions in the capital markets or other events that make NUs access to necessary capital more difficult or costly; developments in legal or public policy doctrines; technological developments; changes in accounting standards and financial reporting regulations; fluctuations in the value of our remaining competitive contracts; actions of rating agencies; the effects and outcome of our pending merger with NSTAR, and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in NUs reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and NU undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in any forward-looking statements to reflect developments or circumstances occurring after the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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Note: NU will webcast a discussion concerning its first quarter 2011 results tomorrow, May 6, 2011, at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The webcast can be accessed through NUs website at www.nu.com. |
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Exhibit 99.2