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August 4, 2005
Telephone: 609-561-9000
Investor Relations Contact: Stephen Clark x4260
Public Relations Contact: Joanne Brigandi x424
SJI Nearly Doubles Earnings for Second Quarter
Six Month Earnings Per Share Up 17%
Folsom, NJ
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“We are very pleased to again deliver record net income and earnings per share to our shareholders,” stated SJI CEO Edward J. Graham. “This exceptional earnings performance is a direct reflection of the efforts and dedication that our employees have applied to executing SJI’s strategic plan. I expect that the many opportunities that lie ahead for our utility and non-utility businesses will continue to support SJI’s growth well into the future.”
Second Quarter 2005 Business and Financial Highlights:
SJI’s non-utility businesses continued to deliver strong profit growth in 2005. Non-utility activities contributed $4.2 million of net income for the quarter, compared with $3.1 million for the second quarter of 2004. Key contributing factors were:
Our appliance service and HVAC installation business contributed $650,000 to SJI’s bottom line for the quarter, compared with just $4,000 for the same period last year. Results for the second quarter of 2004 only reflected the start-up of the HVAC business. A contribution of $270,000 to net income from the applianceservice business was included in utility results for the second quarter of 2004.The performance improvement for the business line was due to higher levels of appliance service contracts, price increases implemented in the fall of 2004, an expanding installation business, and productivity initiatives.
For the quarter, Marina contributed $750,000 to SJI’s net income, up from $700,000 over the same period last year. Performance at our landfill gas energy project in Atlantic County, NJ, coupled with profits from the energy project that we are constructing for Seneca Gaming in Niagara, NY, supported the earnings improvement, despite reduced chilled water demand at our Atlantic City, NJ, thermal plant resulting from cooler than normal spring temperatures. Conversely, we anticipate strong results in July from our thermal plant due to high levels of heat and humidity experienced during the month.
SJI’s retail and wholesale commodity marketing business contributed $2.7 million to net income for the quarter, up from $2.2 million for the same period in 2004. SJI’s retail gas marketing operations contributed an additional $600,000 of net income for the quarter, as natural gas portfolio management efforts benefited from the impact of volatility in natural gas prices.
Utility Operations – Income Contribution Increases Significantly
For the quarter, South Jersey Gas contributed $3.4 million to SJI’s bottom line, up from $820,000 for the second quarter of 2004. The performance improvement was driven primarily by customer growth and the impact of the July 2004 rate case decision. Highlights include:
SJG’s 3.1% customer growth rate maintains our position as one of the fastest growing natural gas utilities in the country. SJG added nearly 9,500 customers since June 2004, bringing total customers to 316,426 as of June 30, 2005. The additional customers contributed $310,000 to net income for the second quarter, even with minimal heating needs.
Rates restructured in the July 2004 base rate case settlement with the New Jersey BPU added $2.5 million to income for the second quarter of 2005. While base rates increased as a result of the settlement, overall customer rates actually declined as certain cost recovery clauses were revised or eliminated to reflect conditions at the time of settlement. The elimination or reduction of those clauses did not impact our net income.
Reduced pension and benefit costs contributed $340,000 to SJG’s net income for the quarter. New labor contracts that were executed last year provided for caps on company paid post-retirement healthcare premiums and were the main driver for the improvement. Company contributions to the pension plan and an early retirement program enacted at the end of 2004 also contributed to the improvement. These actions offset the impact of a lower discount rate applied to the pension and post-retirement healthcare plans as a result of a decline in long-term interest rates. We’ve also made progress with programs to control bad debt expense, which was down $300,000 for the quarter compared to last year.
SJI’s balance sheet remained strong, as measured by the ratio of total equity to total capitalization (inclusive of short-term debt) of 49.5 % at June 30, 2005. This ratio was unchanged from the same point in 2004 despite an increased need to finance inventory and receivables during 2005 due to higher commodity prices. We also have taken action to protect against the potential for rising interest rates by locking in all of our long-term debt at fixed rates. A strong balance sheet will enable SJI to take advantage of future growth opportunities while remaining the safe, strong, dependable investment that our shareholders expect. Consequently, our target is to maintain SJI’s balance sheet at approximately 50% equity and 50% debt.
Webcast and Conference Call Details
South Jersey Industries President and CEO, Edward Graham, will host an open conference call and webcast to discuss the company’s second quarter 2005 earnings on Thursday, August 4, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-800-435-1261 approximately 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled time and provide the passcode of 34802602.
To listen to a live webcast, simply visit the South Jersey Industries website at http://www.sjindustries.com, click Investors and then click the webcast icon. A recorded version of the webcast will be available at SJI’s website following the call. A rebroadcast of the conference call will also be available by calling 1-888-286-8010 and entering the code: 74665211. SJI encourages shareholders, media and members of the financial community to attend the conference call and/or listen to the webcast.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements. While these statements represent our current judgment on what the future may hold, and we believe these judgments are
South Jersey Industries (NYSE:SJI) is an energy services holding company for South Jersey Gas, South Jersey Energy, South Jersey Resources Group, South Jersey Energy Service Plus and Marina Energy. Visit http://www.sjindustries.com for more information about SJI and its subsidiaries.
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