SJI-9.30.11-10Q
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, 2011
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 1-6364

SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey
 
22-1901645
(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)
 
Common Stock
 
 
($1.25 par value per share)
 
New York Stock Exchange
(Title of each class)
 
(Name of exchange on which registered)
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   x
 
Accelerated filer      o
Non-accelerated filer     o (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, 2011 there were 30,140,819 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
PageNo.
 
 
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
 
 
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 6.
 
 
 

Table of Contents

Item 1. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands Except for Per Share Data)
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
Operating Revenues:
 
 
 
Utility
$
58,208

 
$
56,839

Nonutility
79,413

 
103,828

Total Operating Revenues
137,621

 
160,667

Operating Expenses:
 

 
 

Cost of Sales - (Excluding depreciation)
 

 
 

 - Utility
27,242

 
28,534

 - Nonutility
79,413

 
96,279

Operations
24,002

 
21,977

Maintenance
3,414

 
2,847

Depreciation
9,023

 
8,851

Energy and Other Taxes
1,673

 
1,642

Total Operating Expenses
144,767

 
160,130

Operating (Loss) Income
(7,146
)
 
537

 
 
 
 
Other Income and Expense
2,586

 
648

Interest Charges
(6,242
)
 
(6,276
)
Loss Before Income Taxes
(10,802
)
 
(5,091
)
Income Taxes
6,034

 
7,427

Equity in Loss of Affiliated Companies
(435
)
 
(895
)
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations
(5,203
)
 
1,441

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations - (Net of tax expense or benefit)
65

 
(133
)
Net (Loss) Income
$
(5,138
)
 
$
1,308

 
 
 
 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
 

 
 

Continuing Operations
$
(0.173
)
 
$
0.048

Discontinued Operations
0.002

 
(0.004
)
Basic Earnings Per Common Share
$
(0.171
)
 
$
0.044

 
 
 
 
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Basic
30,029

 
29,873

 
 
 
 
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
 

 
 

Continuing Operations
$
(0.173
)
 
$
0.048

Discontinued Operations
0.002

 
(0.004
)
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
$
(0.171
)
 
$
0.044

 
 
 
 
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted
30,029

 
30,000

 
 
 
 
Dividends Declared per Common Share (See Note 4)
$
0.365

 
0.000

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

1

Table of Contents

SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands Except for Per Share Data)
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
Operating Revenues:
 
 
 
Utility
$
297,567

 
$
314,081

Nonutility
332,453

 
327,517

Total Operating Revenues
630,020

 
641,598

Operating Expenses:
 

 
 

Cost of Sales - (Excluding depreciation)
 

 
 

 - Utility
137,924

 
168,531

 - Nonutility
294,309

 
287,974

Operations
74,187

 
68,013

Maintenance
9,638

 
8,448

Depreciation
26,528

 
25,585

Energy and Other Taxes
9,094

 
8,462

Total Operating Expenses
551,680

 
567,013

Operating Income
78,340

 
74,585

 
 
 
 
Other Income and Expense
12,963

 
2,150

Interest Charges
(18,457
)
 
(16,906
)
Income Before Income Taxes
72,846

 
59,829

Income Taxes
(19,480
)
 
(14,809
)
Equity in Loss of Affiliated Companies
(493
)
 
(3,470
)
Income from Continuing Operations
52,873

 
41,550

Loss from Discontinued Operations - (Net of tax benefit)
(484
)
 
(263
)
Net Income
$
52,389

 
$
41,287

 
 
 
 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
 

 
 

Continuing Operations
$
1.765

 
$
1.392

Discontinued Operations
(0.016
)
 
(0.009
)
Basic Earnings Per Common Share
$
1.749

 
$
1.383

 
 
 
 
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Basic
29,961

 
29,857

 
 
 
 
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
 

 
 

Continuing Operations
$
1.760

 
$
1.387

Discontinued Operations
(0.016
)
 
(0.009
)
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
$
1.744

 
$
1.378

 
 
 
 
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted
30,045

 
29,962

 
 
 
 
Dividends Declared per Common Share (See Note 4)
$
1.095

 
$
0.990

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


2

Table of Contents

SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
Net (Loss) Income
$
(5,138
)
 
$
1,308

 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax:*
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Unrealized (Loss) Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities
(478
)
 
283

Unrealized Loss on Derivatives - Other
(814
)
 
(367
)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Affiliated Companies
666

 
(54
)
 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive Loss - Net of Tax*
(626
)
 
(138
)
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
$
(5,764
)
 
$
1,170

 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
Net Income
$
52,389

 
$
41,287

 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax:*
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Unrealized (Loss) Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities
(581
)
 
162

Unrealized Loss on Derivatives - Other
(757
)
 
(633
)
Other Comprehensive Loss of Affiliated Companies
(167
)
 
(190
)
 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive Loss - Net of Tax*
(1,505
)
 
(661
)
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive Income
$
50,884

 
$
40,626

 
* Determined using a combined statutory tax rate of 41%.

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

3

Table of Contents

SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
$
135,569

 
$
120,840

 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 

 
 

Capital Expenditures
(113,993
)
 
(101,564
)
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment
3,500

 

Net Proceeds from Sale (Purchase) of Restricted Investments in Margin Account
743

 
(21,793
)
Investment in Long-Term Receivables
(3,780
)
 
(2,009
)
Proceeds from Long-Term Receivables
4,297

 
1,213

Purchase of Company Owned Life Insurance
(4,352
)
 
(4,276
)
Investment in Affiliate
(23,034
)
 
(2,700
)
Return of Investment in Affiliate
1,902

 

Advances on Notes Receivable - Affiliate
(28,827
)
 
(61,783
)
Repayment of Notes Receivable - Affiliate
39,977

 
3,566

Other
(5,847
)
 

 
 
 
 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(129,414
)
 
(189,346
)
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 

 
 

Net Borrowings from Short-Term Credit Facilities
12,150

 
27,600

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt

 
60,000

Payments for Issuance of Long-Term Debt
(32
)
 
(1,016
)
Principal Repayments of Long-Term Debt
(25,000
)
 

Dividends on Common Stock
(21,866
)
 
(19,716
)
Proceeds from Sale of Common Stock
5,359

 

Proceeds from Finance Obligation
23,482

 

 
 
 
 
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities
(5,907
)
 
66,868

 
 
 
 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
248

 
(1,638
)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
2,363

 
3,823

 
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
$
2,611

 
$
2,185


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

4

Table of Contents

SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Assets
 
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment:
 
 
 
Utility Plant, at original cost
$
1,472,488

 
$
1,384,797

Accumulated Depreciation
(351,436
)
 
(337,993
)
Nonutility Property and Equipment, at cost
185,634

 
169,770

Accumulated Depreciation
(25,268
)
 
(23,319
)
 
 
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
1,281,418

 
1,193,255

 
 
 
 
Investments:
 

 
 

Available-for-Sale Securities
6,297

 
6,720

Restricted
7,647

 
8,389

Investment in Affiliates
31,877

 
8,005

 
 
 
 
Total Investments
45,821

 
23,114

 
 
 
 
Current Assets:
 

 
 

Cash and Cash Equivalents
2,611

 
2,363

Accounts Receivable
144,853

 
200,773

Unbilled Revenues
18,909

 
72,457

Provision for Uncollectibles
(6,936
)
 
(8,071
)
Notes Receivable - Affiliate
8,728

 
1,183

Natural Gas in Storage, average cost
71,338

 
69,725

Materials and Supplies, average cost
3,656

 
3,796

Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes
4,776

 

Prepaid Taxes
32,327

 
31,384

Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
29,572

 
39,513

Other Prepayments and Current Assets
17,128

 
10,714

 
 
 
 
Total Current Assets
326,962

 
423,837

 
 
 
 
Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets:
 

 
 

Regulatory Assets
257,632

 
248,413

Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
7,319

 
11,556

Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
7,129

 
7,583

Notes Receivables-Affiliate
101,849

 
126,727

Contract Receivables
12,546

 
12,486

Other
42,350

 
29,644

 
 
 
 
Total Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets
428,825

 
436,409

 
 
 
 
Total Assets
$
2,083,026

 
$
2,076,615

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

5

Table of Contents

SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
 
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Capitalization and Liabilities
 
 
 
Equity:
 
 
 
Common Stock
$
37,575

 
$
37,341

Premium on Common Stock
264,374

 
257,274

Treasury Stock (at par)
(184
)
 
(179
)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
(23,317
)
 
(21,812
)
Retained Earnings
317,025

 
297,473

 
 
 
 
Total South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders' Equity
595,473

 
570,097

 
 
 
 
Long-Term Debt
424,213

 
340,000

 
 
 
 
Total Capitalization
1,019,686

 
910,097

 
 
 
 
Current Liabilities:
 

 
 

Notes Payable
262,837

 
250,687

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt
2,187

 
111,400

Accounts Payable
131,361

 
165,197

Customer Deposits and Credit Balances
23,507

 
10,917

Environmental Remediation Costs
21,797

 
27,074

Taxes Accrued
2,896

 
6,709

Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
32,570

 
42,297

Deferred Income Taxes - Net

 
3,282

Deferred Contract Revenues
2,319

 
5,442

Dividends Payable
10,972

 

Interest Accrued
5,066

 
7,259

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
1,212

 
1,217

Other Current Liabilities
5,125

 
9,043

 
 
 
 
Total Current Liabilities
501,849

 
640,524

 
 
 
 
Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities:
 

 
 

Deferred Income Taxes - Net
280,440

 
258,402

Investment Tax Credits
981

 
1,207

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
77,598

 
71,675

Environmental Remediation Costs
63,899

 
64,759

Asset Retirement Obligations
28,594

 
27,965

Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
7,318

 
8,641

Derivatives - Other
13,783

 
7,404

Regulatory Liabilities
49,637

 
69,248

Finance Obligation
23,482

 

Other
15,759

 
16,693

 
 
 
 
Total Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities
561,491

 
525,994

 
 
 
 
Commitments and Contingencies  (Note 11)


 


 
 
 
 
Total Capitalization and Liabilities
$
2,083,026

 
$
2,076,615

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

6

Table of Contents

 Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

GENERAL - South Jersey Industries, Inc. (SJI or the Company) currently provides a variety of energy related products and services primarily through the following subsidiaries:

South Jersey Gas Company (SJG) is a regulated natural gas utility. SJG distributes natural gas in the seven southernmost counties of New Jersey.

South Jersey Resources Group, LLC (SJRG) markets wholesale natural gas storage, commodity and transportation in the mid-Atlantic, Appalachian and southern states, and owns oil, gas and mineral rights in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania.

Marina Energy, LLC (Marina) develops and operates on-site energy-related projects.

South Jersey Energy Company (SJE) acquires and markets natural gas and electricity to retail end users and provides total energy management services to commercial and industrial customers.

South Jersey Energy Service Plus, LLC (SJESP) installs residential and small commercial HVAC systems, provides plumbing services and services appliances under warranty via a subcontractor arrangement.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION — The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SJI, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest. We eliminate all significant intercompany accounts and transactions. In management’s opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments needed to fairly present SJI’s financial position,operating results and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented. SJI’s businesses are 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 (SEC), the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain certain condensed financial information and exclude certain footnote disclosures normally included in annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with SJI’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of the Company’s accounting policies and certain other information.

REVENUE BASED TAXES — SJI collects certain revenue-based energy taxes from customers. Such taxes include New Jersey State Sales Tax, Transitional Energy Facility Assessment (TEFA) and Public Utilities Assessment (PUA). 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 utility revenue and cost of sales and totaled $0.9 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and $5.9 million and $5.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
GAS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT - The Company capitalizes all costs associated with gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities under the full cost method of accounting. Capitalized costs include costs related to unproved properties, which are not amortized until proved reserves are found or it is determined that the unproved properties are impaired. All costs related to unproved properties are reviewed quarterly to determine if impairment has occurred. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, $8.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively, related to interests in proved and unproved properties in Pennsylvania, net of amortization, is included with Nonutility Property and Equipment and Other Noncurrent Assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
TREASURY STOCK – SJI uses the par value method of accounting for treasury stock. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, SJI held 147,467 and 143,546 shares of treasury stock, respectively. These shares are related to deferred compensation arrangements where the amounts earned are held in the stock of SJI.

INCOME TAXES — Deferred income taxes are provided for all significant temporary differences between the book and taxable bases of assets and liabilities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 740 - “Income Taxes”.  A valuation allowance is established when it is determined that it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Investment tax credits related to renewable energy facilities of the non-regulated entities are recognized on the flow through method, which may result in variations in the customary relationship between income taxes and pre-tax income for interim periods.


7

Table of Contents

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — Other than as described below, no new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during 2010 and 2011 had, or is expected to have, a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS. This ASU amends ASC Topic 820 to include a consistent definition of the term “fair value” and set forth common requirements for measuring fair value and disclosing information about fair value measurements in financial statements. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Management is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  This ASU allows an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income.  ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.  The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  Management is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

2.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN:

Under the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock-Based Compensation Plan, no more than 2,000,000 shares in the aggregate may be issued to SJI’s officers (Officers), non-employee directors (Directors) and other key employees. The plan will terminate on January 26, 2015, unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors. No options were granted or outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.   No stock appreciation rights have been issued under the plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, SJI granted 40,711 and 52,940 restricted shares to Officers and other key employees, respectively.   These restricted shares vest over a three-year period and are subject to SJI achieving certain market-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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, SJI granted 12,220 and 16,700 restricted shares to Directors, respectively.  Shares issued to Directors vest over a three-year service period and contain no performance conditions. As a result, 100% of the shares granted generally vest.

See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010 for the related accounting policy.

The following table summarizes the nonvested restricted stock awards outstanding at September 30, 2011 and the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the awards:

 
Grant Date
 
Shares Outstanding
 
Fair Value Per Share
 
Expected Volatility
 
Risk-Free InterestRate
Officers & Key Employees -
Jan. 2009
 
37,748

 
$
39.350


28.6
%

1.20
%
 
Jan. 2010
 
52,940

 
$
39.020


29.0
%

1.65
%
 
Jan. 2011
 
40,711

 
$
50.940


27.5
%

1.01
%
 

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors -
Jan. 2009
 
6,952

 
$
40.265





 
Jan. 2010
 
13,360

 
$
37.825





 
Jan. 2011
 
8,554

 
$
52.940





 
Jun. 2011
 
1,222

 
$
53.170






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 Officers’ and other key employees’ restricted shares. As notional dividend equivalents are credited to the holders, during the three-year service period, no reduction to the fair value of the award is required. As the Directors’ restricted stock awards contain no performance conditions and dividends are paid or credited to the holder during the three-year service period, the fair value of these awards are equal to the market value of the shares on the date of grant.

8

Table of Contents


The following table summarizes the total stock-based compensation cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Officers & Key Employees
$
467

 
$
407

 
$
1,399

 
$
1,221

Directors
110

 
97

 
567

 
319

Total Cost
577

 
504

 
1,966

 
1,540

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capitalized
(55
)
 
(50
)
 
(165
)
 
(151
)
Net Expense
$
522

 
$
454

 
$
1,801

 
$
1,389


As of September 30, 2011, there was $3.2 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, 2011, excluding accrued dividend equivalents:

 
Officers &Other Key Employees
 
Directors
 
Weighted
Average
Fair Value
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, January 1, 2011
90,688


25,390


$
39.049

Granted
40,711


12,220


$
51.407

Vested


(7,522
)

$
43.300

Nonvested Shares Outstanding, September 30, 2011
131,399


30,088


$
42.901


During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, SJI awarded 69,271 shares to its Officers and other key employees, which had vested at December 31, 2010, at a market value of $3.7 million, and 59,893 shares, which had vested at December 31, 2009, at a market value of $2.3 million, respectively. Also, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, SJI awarded 12,220 and 16,700 shares to its Directors at a market value of $0.6 million for each period. The Company has a policy of issuing new shares to satisfy its obligations under these plans; therefore, there are no cash payment requirements resulting from the normal operation of this plan. However, a change in control could result in such shares becoming nonforfeitable or immediately payable in cash.  At the discretion of the Officers, Directors and other key employees, the receipt of vested shares can be deferred until future periods.  These deferred shares are included in Treasury Stock on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

3.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND AFFILATIONS:

Discontinued Operations consist of the environmental remediation activities related to the properties of South Jersey Fuel, Inc. (SJF) and the product liability litigation and environmental remediation activities related to the prior business of The Morie Company, Inc. (Morie). SJF is a subsidiary of Energy & Minerals, Inc. (EMI), an SJI subsidiary, which previously operated a fuel oil business. Morie is the former sand mining and processing subsidiary of EMI. EMI sold the common stock of Morie in 1996.

SJI conducts tests annually to estimate the environmental remediation costs for these properties.

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Table of Contents


Summarized operating results of the discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, were (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sand Mining
$
126

 
$
(89
)
 
$
(225
)
 
$
(63
)
Fuel Oil
(25
)
 
(116
)
 
(519
)
 
(342
)
Income Tax (Expense) Benefits
(36
)
 
72

 
260

 
142

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations — Net
$
65

 
$
(133
)
 
$
(484
)
 
$
(263
)
Earnings Per Common Share from
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Discontinued Operations — Net:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Basic
$
0.002

 
$
(0.004
)
 
$
(0.016
)
 
$
(0.009
)
Diluted
$
0.002

 
$
(0.004
)
 
$
(0.016
)
 
$
(0.009
)

AFFILIATIONS — The following affiliated entities are accounted for under the equity method:

SJI and Conectiv Solutions, LLC formed Millennium Account Services, LLC in which SJI has a 50% equity interest, to provide meter reading services in southern New Jersey.

Marina and a joint venture partner formed the following entities in which Marina has a 50% equity interest:

LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE), which has entered into a contract to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Energenic – US, LLC (Energenic), which develops and operates on-site, self-contained, energy-related projects.

During the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, the Company made investments in, and provided net advances to, unconsolidated affiliates of $10.0 million and $60.9 million, respectively. The purpose of these investments and advances was to cover certain project related costs of LVE (See Note 11), to provide working capital for a retail marketing operation, and to develop several landfill gas-fired electric production facilities, solar and thermal energy projects.  As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the outstanding balance on these Notes Receivable – Affiliate was $110.6 million and $127.9 million, respectively. Approximately $54.5 million of these notes are secured by property, plant and equipment of the affiliates, accrue interest at 7.5% and are to be repaid through 2025. The remaining $56.1 million of these notes are unsecured, and are either non-interest bearing or accrue interest at variable rates and are to be repaid when the affiliate secures permanent financing.

SJI holds significant variable interests in these entities but is not the primary beneficiary. Consequently, these entities are accounted for under the equity method because SJI does not have both a) the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had a net asset of approximately $30.0 million included in Investment in Affiliates and Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to Millennium, LVE and Energenic, in addition to Notes Receivable – Affiliate as discussed above. SJI’s maximum exposure to loss from these entities as of September 30, 2011 is limited to its combined equity contributions and the Notes Receivable-Affiliate in the amount of $143.6 million.

SJRG and a joint venture partner formed Potato Creek, LLC (Potato Creek) in which SJRG has a 30% equity interest.  Potato Creek owns and manages the oil, gas and mineral rights of certain real estate in Pennsylvania. During the third quarter of 2011, Potato Creek entered into agreements to sell certain natural gas production assets in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania. Potato Creek will retain its interest in the oil, gas and minerals and will continue to earn royalties on production, consistent with an existing lease agreement. Total cash proceeds to the Company from the sale are expected to be approximately $9.0 million. The sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011.



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Table of Contents

4.
COMMON STOCK:

The following shares were issued and outstanding at September 30:

 
2011
Beginning Balance, January 1
29,872,825

New Issues During Period:
 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan
105,524

Stock-Based Compensation Plan
81,491

Ending Balance, September 30
30,059,840


The par value ($1.25 per share) of stock issued was recorded in Common Stock and the net excess over par value of approximately $7.1 million was recorded in Premium on Common Stock.

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (EPS) — Basic EPS is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.  The incremental shares required for inclusion in the denominator for the diluted EPS calculation were 127,064 for the three months ended September 30, 2010, and 84,072 and 105,056 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, incremental shares of 76,257 were not included in the denominator for the diluted EPS calculation because they would have an antidilutive effect on EPS. These shares relate to SJI’s restricted stock as discussed in Note 2.

DIVIDENDS DECLARED – During the first six months of 2011 and the first six months of 2010, SJI declared quarterly dividends to its common shareholders that were payable in April and July of each year.  In June 2010, SJI also declared its normal quarterly dividend that was payable in October 2010.  During 2011, SJI did not declare its October dividend until July 2011.  Consequently, Dividends Declared per Common Share on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 does not include the impact of the October 2010 dividend declaration, causing it to be lower than those declared for the three months ended September 30, 2011.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (DRP) —The Company offers a DRP which allows participating shareholders to purchase shares of SJI common stock by the automatic reinvestment of dividends or optional purchases. From April 2008 through April 2011, shares of common stock offered by the DRP have been purchased in open market transactions.  Beginning in May 2011, shares of common stock offered by the DRP have been issued directly by SJI from its authorized but unissued shares of common stock.

5.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS — In accordance with the terms of the Marina and certain SJG loan agreements, unused proceeds are required to be escrowed pending approval of construction expenditures. As of both September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the escrowed proceeds, including interest earned, totaled $1.3 million.

The Company maintains margin accounts with selected counterparties to support its risk management activities. The balances required to be held in these margin accounts increase as the net value of the outstanding energy related contracts with the respective counterparties decrease. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the balances in these accounts totaled $6.3 million and $7.1 million, respectively. The carrying amounts of the Restricted Investments approximate their fair values at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

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 $10.9 million and $10.4 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The current portion of these receivables is reflected in Accounts Receivable and the non-current portion is reflected in Contract Receivables on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The carrying amounts noted above are net of unamortized discounts resulting from imputed interest in the amount of $1.2 million as of both September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  The annual amortization to interest is not material to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.   The carrying amounts of these receivables approximate their fair value at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

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CREDIT RISK - As of September 30, 2011, approximately $10.8 million, or 29.3%, of the current and noncurrent Derivatives – Energy Related Assets are with a single retail counterparty. This counterparty has contracts with a large number of diverse customers which minimizes the concentration of this risk. A portion of these contracts may be assigned to SJI in the event of a default by the counterparty.

FINANCE OBLIGATION - During 2010, ACB Energy Partners LLC (ACB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, completed construction of a combined heat and power generating facility that will serve, under an energy services agreement, a thermal plant owned by Marina. Construction period financing was provided by Marina. Due to the continuing involvement in the facility, Marina is considered the owner of the facility for accounting purposes. As a result, the Company has included $23.5 million and $20.2 million of costs to construct the facility within Nonutility Property and Equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. In addition, the Company recorded $23.5 million of repayments from ACB to Marina on the construction loan, within the Finance Obligation on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011. Marina does not have a fixed payment obligation to ACB; as a result, the Finance Obligation is classified as a noncurrent liability. The costs to construct the facility and the repayments of the construction loan will be amortized over the term of the energy services agreement. The impact on the condensed consolidated statements of income is not significant.

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS – The carrying amounts of SJI’s other financial instruments approximate their fair values at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

6.
SEGMENTS OF BUSINESS:

SJI operates in several different reportable operating segments which reflect the financial information regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker. Gas Utility Operations (SJG) consists primarily of natural gas distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Wholesale Energy Operations include SJRG’s activities. SJE is involved in both retail gas and retail electric activities. Retail Gas and Other Operations include natural gas acquisition and transportation service business lines. Retail Electric Operations consist of electricity acquisition and transportation to commercial and industrial customers. On-Site Energy Production consists of Marina’s thermal energy facility and other energy-related projects. Appliance Service Operations includes SJESP’s servicing of appliances under warranty via a subcontractor arrangement as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems.  The Retail Energy Operations caption includes Retail Gas and Other, Retail Electric, On-Site Energy Production and Appliance Service Operations. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.  Intersegment sales and transfers are treated as if the sales or transfers were to third parties at current market prices.

Information about SJI’s operations in different reportable operating segments is presented below (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011

2010

2011

2010
Operating Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gas Utility Operations
$
58,482

 
$
57,140

 
$
303,992

 
$
315,200

Wholesale Energy Operations
(5,274
)
 
21,792

 
49,472

 
71,460

Retail Energy Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
20,582

 
24,160

 
80,866

 
85,775

Retail Electric Operations
51,305

 
45,762

 
165,458

 
136,580

On-Site Energy Production
11,049

 
11,003

 
30,700

 
29,533

Appliance Service Operations
3,720

 
5,148

 
12,308

 
14,440

Subtotal Retail Energy Operations
86,656

 
86,073

 
289,332

 
266,328

Corporate & Services
5,788

 
5,130

 
17,822

 
16,041

Subtotal
145,652

 
170,135

 
660,618

 
669,029

Intersegment Sales
(8,031
)
 
(9,468
)
 
(30,598
)
 
(27,431
)
Total Operating Revenues
$
137,621

 
$
160,667

 
$
630,020

 
$
641,598



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Table of Contents

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Operating Income (Loss):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gas Utility Operations
$
2,860

 
$
1,335

 
$
68,418

 
$
58,350

Wholesale Energy Operations
(9,379
)
 
4,790

 
1,716

 
15,440

Retail Energy Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
(150
)
 
241

 
564

 
887

Retail Electric Operations
(888
)
 
(8,301
)
 
5,953

 
(5,871
)
On-Site Energy Production
578

 
1,962

 
2,945

 
4,517

Appliance Service Operations
(321
)
 
371

 
(1,143
)
 
373

Subtotal Retail Energy Operations
(781
)
 
(5,727
)
 
8,319

 
(94
)
Corporate and Services
154

 
139

 
(113
)
 
889

Total Operating Income (Loss)
$
(7,146
)
 
$
537

 
$
78,340

 
$
74,585


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and Amortization:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gas Utility Operations
$
10,463

 
$
10,137

 
$
31,141

 
$
29,362

Wholesale Energy Operations
64

 
63

 
198

 
200

Retail Energy Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
8

 
8

 
25

 
26

On-Site Energy Production
1,185

 
981

 
3,288

 
2,937

Appliance Service Operations
86

 
86

 
235

 
262

Subtotal Retail Energy Operations
1,279

 
1,075

 
3,548

 
3,225

Corporate and Services
159

 
150

 
498

 
488

Total Depreciation and Amortization
$
11,965

 
$
11,425

 
$
35,385

 
$
33,275


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Charges:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gas Utility Operations
$
4,539

 
$
4,775

 
$
14,463

 
$
12,953

Wholesale Energy Operations
4

 
54

 
26

 
81

Retail Energy Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
46

 
66

 
157

 
123

On-Site Energy Production
1,799

 
1,292

 
4,325

 
3,694

Subtotal Retail Energy Operations
1,845

 
1,358

 
4,482

 
3,817

Corporate and Services
777

 
372

 
1,961

 
689

Subtotal
7,165

 
6,559

 
20,932

 
17,540

Intersegment Borrowings
(923
)
 
(283
)
 
(2,475
)
 
(634
)
Total Interest Charges
$
6,242

 
$
6,276

 
$
18,457

 
$
16,906


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income Taxes:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gas Utility Operations
$
(699
)
 
$
(2,132
)
 
$
22,412

 
$
18,132

Wholesale Energy Operations
(3,547
)
 
2,145

 
1,473

 
6,794

Retail Energy Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
(59
)
 
144

 
479

 
634

Retail Electric Operations
(363
)
 
(3,375
)
 
2,432

 
(2,377
)
On-Site Energy Production
(1,621
)
 
(4,457
)
 
(9,278
)
 
(8,812
)
Appliance Service Operations
163

 
157

 
1,796

 
169

Subtotal Retail Energy Operations
(1,880
)
 
(7,531
)
 
(4,571
)
 
(10,386
)
Corporate and Services
92

 
91

 
166

 
269

Total Income Taxes
$
(6,034
)
 
$
(7,427
)
 
$
19,480

 
$
14,809



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Table of Contents

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Property Additions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gas Utility Operations
$
38,792

 
$
22,855

 
$
97,868

 
$
81,388

Wholesale Energy Operations
53

 
14

 
83

 
20

Retail Energy Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
3

 
15

 
18

 
29

On-Site Energy Production
5,510

 
13,958

 
20,807

 
16,122

Appliance Service Operations
111

 
50

 
244

 
124

Subtotal Retail Energy Operations
5,624

 
14,023

 
21,069

 
16,275

Corporate and Services
24

 
462

 
406

 
963

Total Property Additions
$
44,493

 
$
37,354

 
$
119,426

 
$
98,646


 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
Identifiable Assets:
 
 
 
Gas Utility Operations
$
1,516,458

 
$
1,468,635

Wholesale Energy Operations
210,449

 
237,978

Retail Energy Operations:
 
 
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
20,814

 
21,532

Retail Electric Operations
32,217

 
37,383

On-Site Energy Production
182,256

 
147,064

Appliance Service Operations
18,228

 
18,528

Subtotal Retail Energy Operations
253,515

 
224,507

Discontinued Operations
217

 
890

Corporate and Services
117,560

 
168,788

Intersegment Assets
(15,173
)
 
(24,183
)
Total Identifiable Assets
$
2,083,026

 
$
2,076,615


7.
RATES AND REGULATORY ACTIONS:

SJG is subject to the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The BPU approved an extension of the Capital Investment Recovery Tracker (CIRT II) program in March 2011, allowing SJG to accelerate an additional $60.3 million of capital spending into 2011 and 2012.  Under CIRT II, SJG capitalizes the return on CIRT II investments until they are recovered in rate base as utility plant in service.  In June 2011, SJG filed a petition with the BPU requesting recovery of CIRT II investments through a 0.5% increase in base rates.  This petition is currently pending.

On October 4, 2011, SJG filed a petition with the BPU requesting an additional extension of the CIRT II program allowing SJG to accelerate $40.0 million of capital spending into 2012 and $50.0 million of spending into 2013. The petition also requests recovery of the additional $40.0 million investment in 2012 through a 0.91% increase in base rates effective January 1, 2013. This petition is also currently pending.

In March 2011, SJG credited the accounts of its Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) customers with refunds totaling $21.1 million due to actual gas costs being lower than projected.   

In September 2011, the BPU approved, on a provisional basis, SJG's request to reduce its BGSS rates by 2.9% and its Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) rates by 2.5%, effective October 1, 2011.

In June 2011, SJG filed its annual Energy Efficiency Tracker (EET) petition, requesting a 0.5% increase.  This petition is currently pending.


14

Table of Contents

There have been no other significant regulatory actions or changes to SJG’s rate structure since December 31, 2010.  See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010.

8.
REGULATORY ASSETS & REGULATORY LIABILITIES:

There have been no significant changes to the nature of the Company’s regulatory assets and liabilities since December 31, 2010 which are described in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010.

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

 
September 30,
2011

December 31,
2010
Environmental Remediation Costs:
 

 
Expended - Net
$
48,199

 
$
39,056

Liability for Future Expenditures
81,357

 
87,393

Income Taxes - Flowthrough Depreciation
40

 
774

Deferred Asset Retirement Obligation Costs
24,781

 
24,247

Deferred Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Costs
68,733

 
69,017

Deferred Gas Costs - Net
4,750

 

Conservation Incentive Program Receivable
4,805

 
12,291

Societal Benefit Costs Receivable
6,919

 
4,216

Premium for Early Retirement of Debt
578

 
699

Deferred Interest Rate Contracts
7,825

 
3,150

Other Regulatory Assets
9,645

 
7,570


 
 
 
Total Regulatory Assets
$
257,632

 
$
248,413


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

 
September 30,
2011

December 31,
2010
Excess Plant Removal Costs
$
47,498

 
$
48,409

Deferred Revenues - Net

 
20,179

Other Regulatory Liabilities
2,139

 
660


 
 
 
Total Regulatory Liabilities
$
49,637

 
$
69,248


DEFERRED GAS COSTS AND DEFERRED REVENUES – NET – Over/under collections of gas costs are monitored through SJG’s BGSS clause.  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.  The BGSS decreased from a $20.2 million regulatory liability at December 31, 2010 to a $4.8 million regulatory asset at September 30, 2011 primarily due to the BGSS refund to customers discussed above in Note 7.



15

Table of Contents

9.
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS:

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, 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
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011

2010

2011

2010
Service Cost
$
979

 
$
856

 
$
2,938

 
$
2,569

Interest Cost
2,381

 
2,299

 
7,143

 
6,898

Expected Return on Plan Assets
(2,342
)
 
(2,100
)
 
(7,026
)
 
(6,301
)
Amortizations:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Prior Service Cost
67

 
70

 
200

 
210

Actuarial Loss
1,360

 
1,188

 
4,080

 
3,563

Net Periodic Benefit Cost
2,445

 
2,313

 
7,335

 
6,939

ERIP Costs

 

 
102

 

Capitalized Benefit Costs
(906
)
 
(878
)
 
(2,718
)
 
(2,632
)
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense
$
1,539

 
$
1,435

 
$
4,719

 
$
4,307


 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011

2010

2011

2010
Service Cost
$
249

 
$
230

 
$
747

 
$
690

Interest Cost
800

 
816

 
2,400

 
2,450

Expected Return on Plan Assets
(562
)
 
(484
)
 
(1,686
)
 
(1,453
)
Amortizations:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Prior Service Credits
(89
)
 
(89
)
 
(266
)
 
(266
)
Actuarial Loss
414

 
374

 
1,241

 
1,121

Net Periodic Benefit Cost
812

 
847

 
2,436

 
2,542

Capitalized Benefit Costs
(302
)
 
(330
)
 
(907
)
 
(989
)
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense
$
510

 
$
517

 
$
1,529

 
$
1,553


Capitalized benefit costs reflected in the table above relate to SJG’s construction program.

The ERIP costs reflected in the table above relate to an early retirement plan offered during 2011 to one of our business segments.

No contributions were made to the pension plans during the nine month period ended September 30, 2011.  During May 2010, SJI contributed $8.0 million to its pension plans.  We do not expect to make any contributions to our pension plans in 2011; however, changes in future investment performance and discount rates may ultimately result in a contribution. We also have a regulatory obligation to contribute approximately $3.6 million annually to our other postretirement benefit plans’ trusts, less costs incurred directly by us.

See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010, for additional information related to SJI’s pension and other postretirement benefits.



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Table of Contents

10.
UNUSED LINES OF CREDIT:
 
Credit facilities and available liquidity as of September 30, 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

Company

Total Facility

Usage

Available Liquidity

Expiration Date
SJG:

 

 

 

 
Commercial Paper Program/Revolving Credit Facility

$
200,000


$
106,500


$
93,500


May 2015
Uncommitted Bank Lines

20,000




20,000


Various












Total SJG

220,000


106,500


113,500


 












SJI:

 

 

 

 









Revolving Credit Facility

$
300,000


$
208,908


$
91,092


April 2015 (A)
Term Line of Credit

30,437


30,437




November 2013












Total SJI

330,437


239,345


91,092


 












Total
 
$
550,437

 
$
345,845

 
$
204,592

 
 


(A) Includes letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $83.0 million.

The SJG facilities are restricted as to use and availability specifically to SJG; however, if necessary, the SJI facilities can also be used to support SJG’s liquidity needs. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted average interest rate on these borrowings, which changes daily, was 1.08% and 0.79% at September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Average borrowings outstanding under these credit facilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were $209.2 million and $179.6 million, respectively. The maximum amounts outstanding under these credit facilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were $271.4 million and $264.2 million, respectively.

New revolving credit facilities were established by SJI and SJG in April 2011 and May 2011, respectively. The SJI facility is a $300.0 million four-year facility provided by a syndicate of banks. The SJG facility is a $200.0 million, four-year facility, provided by the same syndicate of banks. Each facility contains one financial covenant limiting the ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization (as defined in the respective credit agreements) to not more than 0.65 to 1, measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. SJI and SJG were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2011. These facilities replaced SJI’s $200.0 million revolving credit facility and SJG’s $100.0 million revolving credit facility and $40.0 million committed line of credit, all of which would otherwise have expired in August of 2011. The letters of credit that provide liquidity support for the variable-rate revenue bonds issued by Marina are now issued under SJI’s new revolving credit facility that expires in 2015. Consequently, these bonds, which were included in the current portion of long-term debt as of December 31, 2010, are now included in long-term debt as of September 30, 2011.

During the third quarter of 2011, SJG began 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 new $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.


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11.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

GUARANTEES — The Company has recorded a liability of $1.9 million which is included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011 for the fair value of the following guarantees:

In April 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE) an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest.  LVE entered into a 25-year contract with a resort developer to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.  LVE began construction of the facility in 2007 and expected to provide full energy service in 2010 when the resort was originally scheduled to be completed.  LVE suspended construction of the district energy system and central energy center in January 2009 after the resort developer’s August 2008 announcement that it was delaying the completion of construction of the resort due to the difficult environment in the capital markets and weak economic conditions.  The resort developer had indicated that it was considering different strategies to move its project forward, including opening its project in phases and obtaining a partner, but that it was unlikely construction would resume during 2009.  In August 2011, the resort developer, repeating previous disclosures, indicated again that it does not expect to resume construction on the project for three to five years.  The resort developer stated that it remains committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a long-term growth strategy and continues to view this site as a major strategic asset.

The district energy system and central energy center are being financed by LVE with debt that is non-recourse to SJI. The outstanding balance of LVE’s bank debt is approximately $193.2 million as of September 30, 2011.  As a result of the construction delay, the district energy system and central energy center were not completed by the end of 2010 as originally expected. Consequently, the full amount of LVE’s debt became due and payable in December 2010. LVE intends to seek additional financing to complete the facility once construction of the resort resumes, however, as of December 31, 2010, LVE was in default under the financing agreements with the banks.  The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer includes a payment obligation by the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed to LVE’s lenders by the parent of the resort developer.

In March 2011, LVE reached agreements with (a) the resort developer, that specified the payments to be made by the developer to LVE during the suspension period and provided the developer and its corporate parent with an option to purchase the assets of LVE, and (b) the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address the existing default under the financing agreements. The terms of the March 2011 agreement require the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE on a monthly basis beginning in March 2011 until construction of the resort resumes or until the resort developer has exercised its option to purchase the energy facilities from LVE. The monthly payments that are being paid to LVE by the resort developer are expected to be sufficient to reimburse LVE for costs to maintain the energy facilities and to cover debt service costs over time. The resort developer has provided LVE with a $6.0 million letter of credit to support its monthly payment obligation.

The banks that are financing the energy facilities have agreed not to exercise their rights under the financing agreements resulting from the event of default discussed above through December 2013, provided that no additional events of default occur. SJI and its joint venture partner have provided a total of $10.0 million in letters of credit to the banks to support LVE’s obligations, which can be drawn upon by the banks at the end of the existing agreement in December 2013 or upon the occurrence of an event of default by LVE prior to December 2013.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had a net liability of approximately $1.6 million included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project, in addition to unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $56.1 million due from LVE. As of September 30, 2011, SJI’s capital at risk is limited to its equity contributions, letters of credit and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $70.4 million. During 2011, SJI provided support to LVE of approximately $5.4 million to cover interest and other project related costs.

As a result of the construction delay, management has evaluated the investment in LVE and concluded that the fair value of this investment continues to be in excess of the carrying value as of September 30, 2011.

SJI has guaranteed certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort developer, up to $20.0 million each year for the term of the agreement, commencing with the first year of operations.  SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on this guarantee.



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SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE) and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE), unconsolidated joint ventures in which Marina has a 50% equity interest through Energenic. BCLE and WCLE have entered into agreements ranging from 15-20 years with the respective county governments to lease and operate facilities that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas.  Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that BCLE and WCLE do not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or are unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.2 million each year.  SJI and its partner in these joint ventures have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees.  SJI holds variable interests in BCLE and WCLE but is not the primary beneficiary.

As of September 30, 2011, SJI had issued $4.9 million of parental guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable our subsidiary to market retail natural gas.

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OBLIGATION -  In February 2011, ACR Energy Partners, LLC (ACR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 20 year contract with a developer to build, own and operate a central energy center and energy distribution system for a planned hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. ACR is currently providing construction energy to the complex and will provide full energy services when the complex is completed in 2012. Marina and its joint venture partner will make capital contributions to ACR that will enable ACR to a) repay $42.0 million of construction advances made by the developer and b) deposit $2.8 million in a debt service reserve fund, provided, in each case, that the developer has met certain conditions. These conditions include, among others, substantial completion of the complex and demonstration of adequate financial resources to operate the complex. Marina and its joint venture partner have also agreed to provide a $5.0 million letter of credit in 2012 to support certain operating performance obligations of ACR under the operating agreements between ACR and the developer, provided the developer has met the conditions just outlined. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI to or on behalf of ACR.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 49.0% of our workforce at September 30, 2011. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with two unions that represent these employees: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1293 and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 76.  SJG and SJESP employees represented by the IBEW operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 2013, with the option to extend until February 2014 at the union’s election. The remaining unionized employees represented by the IAM operate under a collective bargaining agreement that expires in August 2014.

STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — SJI provided $83.0 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility. Letters of credit in the amount of $62.3 million support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance Marina’s initial thermal plant project and $20.7 million were posted to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided an additional $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.  As of December 31, 2010, these bonds were included in the current portion of long-term debt because this letter of credit expired during 2011.  The replacement letter of credit expires in August 2015, and as a result, the related bonds are now included in long-term debt as of September 30, 2011.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS — SJI 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. SJI and some of its nonutility subsidiaries also recorded costs for environmental cleanup of sites where SJF previously operated a fuel oil business and Morie maintained equipment, fueling stations and storage. There have been no changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2010 as described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010.


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12.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS:

Certain SJI subsidiaries are involved in buying, selling, transporting and storing natural gas and buying and selling retail electricity for their own accounts as well as managing these activities for third parties. These subsidiaries are subject to market risk on expected future purchases and sales due to commodity price fluctuations. The Company 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, swap agreements, options contracts and futures contracts. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had outstanding derivative contracts intended to limit the exposure to market risk on 17.0 MMdts (1 MMdts = one million decatherms) of expected future purchases of natural gas, 16.7 MMdts of expected future sales of natural gas, 1.3 MMmwh (1 MMmwh = one million megawatt hours) of expected future purchases of electricity and 0.1 MMmwh of expected future sales of electricity.  These contracts, which 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 consolidated balance sheets. The net unrealized pre-tax gains and losses for these energy related commodity contracts are included with realized gains and losses in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.

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. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s active interest rate swaps since December 31, 2010 which are described in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010.

The fair values of all derivative instruments, as reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, are as follows (in thousands):

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
Energy related commodity contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives – Energy Related – Current
 
$
29,572

 
$
32,570

 
$
39,513

 
$
42,297

Derivatives – Energy Related – Non-Current
 
7,319

 
7,318

 
11,556

 
8,641

Interest rate contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Derivatives - Other
 

 
10,513

 

 
5,539

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
 
36,891

 
50,401

 
51,069

 
56,477

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Derivatives - Other
 

 
3,270

 

 
1,865

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments under GAAP
 

 
3,270

 

 
1,865

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Derivatives
 
$
36,891

 
$
53,671

 
$
51,069

 
$
58,342



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The effect of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows (in thousands):

 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Interest Rate Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses recognized in OCI on effective portion
 
$
(1,765
)
 
$
(391
)
 
$
(2,407
)
 
$
(705
)
Losses reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (a)
 
$
(385
)
 
$
(237
)
 
$
(1,122
)
 
$
(705
)
Gains or (losses) recognized in income on ineffective portion (a)
 

 

 

 


(a) Included in Interest Charges

 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under GAAP
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Losses on energy related commodity contracts (a)
 
$
(8,543
)
 
$
(1,173
)
 
$
(2,411
)
 
$
(19,090
)
Losses on interest rate contracts (b)
 
(309
)
 
(412
)
 
(298
)
 
(1,250
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
(8,852
)
 
$
(1,585
)
 
$
(2,709
)
 
$
(20,340
)

(a)  Included in Operating Revenues - Non Utility
(b)  Included in Interest Charges

Net realized losses associated with SJG’s energy-related financial commodity contracts of $2.4 million and $5.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $9.5 million and $17.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, 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.

Certain of the Company’s derivative instruments contain provisions that require immediate payment or demand immediate and ongoing collateralization on derivative instruments in net liability positions in the event of a material adverse change in the credit standing of the Company. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a liability position on September 30, 2011, is $11.2 million.   If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on September 30, 2011, the Company would have been required to settle the instruments immediately or post collateral to its counterparties of approximately $8.1 million after offsetting asset positions with the same counterparties under master netting arrangements.

13.
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.

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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, 2011
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-Sale Securities (A)
$
6,297

 
$
19

 
$
6,278

 
$

Derivatives – Energy Related Assets (B)
36,891

 
14,513

 
19,156

 
3,222

 
$
43,188

 
$
14,532

 
$
25,434

 
$
3,222

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives – Energy Related Liabilities (B)
$
39,888

 
$
11,384

 
$
24,868

 
$
3,636

Derivatives – Other (C)
13,783

 

 
13,783

 

 
$
53,671

 
$
11,384

 
$
38,651

 
$
3,636


As of December 31, 2010
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-Sale Securities (A)
$
6,720

 
$
6,720

 
$

 
$

Derivatives – Energy Related Assets (B)
51,069

 
21,204

 
24,878

 
4,987

 
$
57,789

 
$
27,924

 
$
24,878

 
$
4,987

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives – Energy Related Liabilities (B)
$
50,938

 
$
19,513

 
$
23,275

 
$
8,150

Derivatives – Other (C)
7,404

 

 
7,404

 

 
$
58,342

 
$
19,513

 
$
30,679

 
$
8,150


(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 consist of funds that are not publicly traded.  These funds, which consist 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. For non-exchange-based derivatives that trade in less liquid markets with limited pricing information, model inputs generally would include both observable and unobservable inputs. 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. 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.

(C) Derivatives – Other 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.




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Transfers between different levels of the fair value hierarchy may occur based on the level of observable inputs used to value the instruments from period to period.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, there were no transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy, including no transfers in or out of Level 3.

The changes in fair value measurements of Derivatives – Energy Related Assets and Liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), are as follows (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
Balance at beginning of period
$
1,762

 
$
(3,163
)
Total gains and (losses) realized/unrealized included in earnings
(1,999
)
 
(2,585
)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3, net

 

Settlements
(177
)
 
5,334

 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2011
$
(414
)
 
$
(414
)

Total losses for 2011 included in earnings that are attributable to the change in unrealized losses relating to those assets and liabilities still held as of September 30, 2011, is $2.6 million.  These losses are included in Operating Revenues-Nonutility on the condensed consolidated statements of income.

14.
LONG-TERM DEBT:

During the first nine months of 2010, SJG issued $60.0 million aggregate principal amount of its Medium Term Notes in private placements due 2026.  In September 2011, SJG entered into an arrangement to issue Medium Term Notes under a private placement in an aggregate principal amount of $35.0 million. SJG expects to issue this debt in April 2012. In the third quarter 2011, SJG repaid $25.0 million of First Mortgage Bonds. As of September 30, 2011 the $150.0 million Medium Term Note program that was approved by the BPU in September 2009 expired. In September 2011, SJG filed a petition with the BPU to establish a new $200.0 million MTN program.

The estimated fair values of SJI’s long-term debt, including current maturities, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, were $530.9 million and $517.0 million, respectively.  The carrying amounts of SJI’s long-term debt, including current maturities, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, were $426.4 million and 451.4 million, respectively.  We based the estimates on interest rates available to SJI at the end of each period for debt with similar terms and maturities.  The carrying amounts of SJI’s other financial instruments approximate their fair values at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.


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

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 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, suppliers or business partners to fulfill their contractual obligations; and changes in business strategies.

A discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties may be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and in other filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 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 South Jersey Industries, Inc. (SJI or the Company) 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, SJI 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 consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Five types of transactions presented in our condensed consolidated financial statements require a significant amount of judgment and estimation. These relate to regulatory accounting, derivatives, environmental remediation costs, pension and other postretirement employee benefit costs, and revenue recognition. A discussion of these estimates and assumptions may be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

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

Regulatory Actions —Other than the changes discussed in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, there have been no significant regulatory actions since December 31, 2010. See detailed discussion concerning Regulatory Actions in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010.

Environmental Remediation —There have been no significant changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2010. See detailed discussion concerning Environmental Remediation in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

SJI operates in several different reportable operating segments. Gas Utility Operations (SJG) consists primarily of natural gas distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Wholesale Energy Operations include the activities of South Jersey Resources Group, LLC (SJRG). South Jersey Energy Company (SJE) is involved in both retail gas and retail electric activities. Retail Gas and Other Operations include natural gas acquisition and transportation service business lines. Retail Electric Operations consist of electricity acquisition and transportation to commercial and industrial customers. On-Site Energy Production consists of Marina’s thermal energy facility and other energy-related projects. Appliance Service Operations includes South Jersey Energy Service Plus, LLC (SJESP’s) servicing of appliances under warranty via a subcontractor arrangement as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems.  The Retail Energy Operations caption includes Retail Gas and Other, Retail Electric, On-Site Energy Production and Appliance Service Operations.


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Net Income attributable to SJI for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $6.4 million to a net loss of $5.1 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010 primarily as a result of the following:

The income contribution from SJRG for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $8.1 million to a net loss of $5.2 million due primarily to the change in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives used by SJRG to mitigate natural gas commodity price risk as discussed under Operating Revenues – Nonutility below.

The income contribution from Marina for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $4.3 million to net income of $0.6 million due primarily to the timing of the investment tax credit available on renewable energy facilities as compared to the prior year.

The income contribution from SJE for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $4.1 million to a net loss of $0.6 million due primarily to the change in unrealized gains and losses on forward financial contracts used to mitigate price risk on electric as discussed under Operating Revenues – Nonutility below.

The income contribution from SJG for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $1.6 million to a net loss of $0.3 million due primarily to the settlement of the base rate case in September 2010.

Net Income attributable to SJI for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $11.1 million, or 26.9% to $52.4 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily as a result of the following:

The income contribution from SJE for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $6.8 million to $4.2 million due primarily to the change in unrealized gains and losses on forward financial contracts used to mitigate price risk on electric as discussed under Operating Revenues – Nonutility below.

The income contribution from SJG for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $6.5 million to $33.6 million due primarily to the settlement of the base rate case in September 2010.

The income contribution from Marina for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $3.2 million to $10.2 million due primarily to the impact of the investment tax credit available on renewable energy facilities.

The income contribution from SJESP for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $2.4 million to $2.6 million due to proceeds received from a provider of homeowner assistance services, in accordance with an agreement with the Company that gives them the exclusive right to renew the home appliance repair contracts at SJESP.

The income contribution from SJRG for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $7.4 million to $2.0 million due mainly to tighter spreads attained on our storage and transportation assets as discussed in Gross Margin - Nonutility below.

A significant portion of the volatility in operating results is due to the impact of the accounting methods associated with SJI’s derivative activities. The Company uses derivatives to limit its exposure to market risk on transactions to buy, sell, transport and store natural gas and to buy and sell retail electricity. The Company also uses derivatives to limit its exposure to increasing interest rates on variable-rate debt.
 
The types of transactions that cause the most significant volatility in operating results are as follows:

SJRG purchases and holds natural gas in storage to earn a profit margin from its ultimate sale in the future. SJRG uses derivatives to mitigate commodity price risk in order to substantially lock-in the profit margin that will ultimately be realized. However, gas stored in inventory is accounted for at the lower of average cost or market; the derivatives used to reduce the risk associated with a change in the value of the inventory are accounted for at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in operating results in the period of change. As a result, earnings are subject to volatility as the market price of derivatives change, even when the underlying hedged value of the inventory is unchanged. This volatility can be significant from period to period. Over time, gains or losses on sale of gas in storage will be offset by losses or gains on the derivatives, resulting in the realization of the profit margin expected when the transactions were initiated.

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Table of Contents


SJE uses forward contracts to mitigate commodity price risk on fixed price electric contracts with customers. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), the forward contracts are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings in the period of change. The related customer contracts are not considered derivatives and therefore are not recorded in earnings until the electricity is delivered. As a result, earnings are subject to volatility as the market price of the forward contracts change, even when the underlying hedged value of the customer contract is unchanged. Over time, gains or losses on the sale of the fixed price electric under contract will be offset by losses or gains on the forward contracts, resulting in the realization of the profit margin expected when the transactions were initiated.

As a result, management also uses the non-generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) financial measures of Economic Earnings, Economic Earnings per share, Non-Utility Economic Earnings, Wholesale Energy Economic Earnings and Retail Energy Economic Earnings when evaluating the results of operations for its nonutility operations. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures, such as net income, operating income, earnings per share from continuing operations or any other GAAP measure of liquidity or financial performance.

We define Economic Earnings as: Income from continuing operations, (1) less the change in unrealized gains and plus the change in unrealized losses, as applicable and in each case after tax, on all commodity derivative transactions and the ineffective portion of interest rate derivative transactions that we are marking to market, and (2) adjusting for realized gains and losses, as applicable and in each case after tax, on all hedges attributed to inventory transactions to align them with the related cost of inventory in the period of withdrawal.

Economic Earnings is a significant performance metric used by our management to indicate the amount and timing of income from continuing operations that we expect to earn after taking into account the impact of derivative instruments on the related transactions. Specifically, we believe that this financial measure indicates to investors the profitability of the entire derivative related transaction and not just the portion that is subject to mark-to-market valuation under GAAP. Considering only the change in market value on the derivative side of the transaction can produce a false sense as to the ultimate profitability of the total transaction as no change in value is reflected for the non-derivative portion of the transaction.

Economic Earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $2.6 million, or 85.9%, to $0.4 million compared with the same period in 2010, primarily as a result of the following:

The income contribution from Marina for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $4.5 million to $1.2 million due primarily to the timing of the investment tax credit available on renewable energy facilities as compared to the prior year.

The income contribution from SJG for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $1.6 million to a net loss of $0.3 million due primarily to the settlement of the base rate case in September 2010.
.
Economic Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $0.4 million, or 0.7%, to $55.2 million compared with the same period in 2010, primarily as a result of the following:

The income contribution from SJG for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $6.5 million to $33.6 million due primarily to the settlement of the base rate case in September.

The income contribution from SJESP for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $2.4 million to $2.6 million due to proceeds received from a provider of homeowner assistance services, in accordance with an agreement with the Company that gives them the exclusive right to renew the home appliance repair contracts at SJESP.

The income contribution from Marina for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $1.3 million to $11.0 million due primarily to the timing of the investment tax credit available on renewable energy facilities as compared to the prior year.

The income contribution from SJRG for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $9.8 million to $4.9 million due mainly to tighter spreads attained on our storage and transportation assets as discussed in Gross Margin - Nonutility below.


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The following table presents a reconciliation of our income from continuing operations and earnings per share from continuing operations to Economic Earnings and Economic Earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30 (in thousands except per share data):

 
Three months ended
 September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations
$
(5,203
)
 
$
1,441

 
$
52,873

 
$
41,550

Minus/Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives and Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges
5,627

 
1,571

 
2,330

 
13,283

Economic Earnings
$
424

 
$
3,012

 
$
55,203

 
$
54,833

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations
$
(0.17
)
 
$
0.05

 
$
1.76

 
$
1.39

Minus/Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives and Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges
$
0.18

 
0.05

 
0.08

 
0.44

Economic Earnings per Share
$
0.01

 
$
0.10

 
$
1.84

 
$
1.83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Utility Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations
$
(4,873
)
 
$
3,413

 
$
19,287

 
$
14,524

Minus/Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives and Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges
5,627

 
1,571

 
2,330

 
13,283

Non-Utility Economic Earnings
$
754

 
$
4,984

 
$
21,617

 
$
27,807

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wholesale Energy Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations
$
(5,233
)
 
$
2,862

 
$
2,036

 
$
9,464

Minus/Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives and Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges
3,370

 
(4,368
)
 
2,816

 
5,212

Wholesale Energy Economic Earnings
$
(1,863
)
 
$
(1,506
)
 
$
4,852

 
$
14,676

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail Energy Income from Continuing Operations
$
360

 
$
551

 
$
17,251

 
$
5,060

Minus/Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized Mark-to-Market (Gains)/Losses on Derivatives and Realized (Gains)/Losses on Inventory Injection Hedges
2,257

 
5,940

 
(486
)
 
8,071

Retail Energy Economic Earnings
$
2,617

 
$
6,491

 
$
16,765

 
$
13,131



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Table of Contents

The following tables summarize the composition of selected SJG 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,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Utility Throughput – dt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Firm Sales -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
1,226

 
1,506

 
14,981

 
15,246

Commercial
516

 
627

 
3,950

 
3,955

Industrial
24

 
28

 
206

 
200

Cogeneration & Electric Generation
1,014

 
701

 
1,568

 
1,101

Firm Transportation -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
162

 
136

 
1,732

 
1,325

Commercial
538

 
617

 
4,174

 
4,067

Industrial
2,976

 
3,036

 
9,612

 
9,379

Cogeneration & Electric Generation
1,584

 
1,638

 
5,110

 
4,634

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Firm Throughput
8,040

 
8,289

 
41,333

 
39,907

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interruptible Sales
1

 
8

 
13

 
51

Interruptible Transportation
307

 
402

 
1,371

 
1,256

Off-System
1,455

 
969

 
4,910

 
4,006

Capacity Release
18,220

 
12,337

 
45,879

 
31,729

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Throughput - Utility
28,023

 
22,005

 
93,506

 
76,949



 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Utility Operating Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Firm Sales -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
$
25,906

 
$
28,745

 
$
174,794

 
$
198,105

Commercial
8,153

 
8,743

 
42,694

 
45,228

Industrial
582

 
435

 
2,876

 
2,436

Cogeneration & Electric Generation
5,450

 
4,480

 
8,951

 
7,164

Firm Transportation -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
1,862

 
1,212

 
10,725

 
7,168

Commercial
2,804

 
2,662

 
15,991

 
14,505

Industrial
4,710

 
4,155

 
13,375

 
12,806

Cogeneration & Electric Generation
379

 
1,098

 
2,866

 
3,816

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Firm Revenues
49,846

 
51,530

 
272,272

 
291,228

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Table of Contents

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Interruptible Sales
14

 
118

 
229

 
756

Interruptible Transportation
282

 
410

 
1,244

 
1,308

Off-System
6,727

 
4,525

 
24,175

 
20,071

Capacity Release
1,345

 
358

 
5,244

 
1,088

Other
268

 
199

 
828

 
749

 
58,482

 
57,140

 
303,992

 
315,200

Less: Intercompany Sales
(274
)
 
(301
)
 
(6,425
)
 
(1,119
)
Total Utility Operating Revenues
58,208

 
56,839

 
297,567

 
314,081

Less:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Cost of Sales
27,242

 
28,534

 
137,924

 
168,531

Conservation Recoveries*
691

 
1,025

 
5,393

 
5,398

RAC Recoveries*
1,590

 
1,741

 
4,773

 
5,222

EET Recoveries*
604

 
426

 
1,748

 
964

Revenue Taxes
832

 
862

 
5,861

 
5,709

Utility Margin
$
27,249

 
$
24,251

 
$
141,868

 
$
128,257

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Margin:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Residential
$
13,839

 
$
12,806

 
$
92,314

 
$
72,889

Commercial and Industrial
7,984

 
6,673

 
38,550

 
28,395

Cogeneration and Electric Generation
973

 
916

 
2,513

 
2,304

Interruptible
21

 
25

 
108

 
139

Off-system & Capacity Release
241

 
85

 
1,169

 
462

Other Revenues
412

 
467

 
1,054

 
1,458

Margin Before Weather Normalization & Decoupling
23,470

 
20,972

 
135,708

 
105,647

CIRT Mechanism
719

 
2,505

 
1,911

 
7,067

CIP Mechanism
2,961

 
733

 
3,975

 
15,425

EET Mechanism
99

 
41

 
274

 
118

Utility Margin
$
27,249

 
$
24,251

 
$
141,868

 
$
128,257

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Degree Days:
21

 
3

 
2,892

 
2,782


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

Throughput - Utility - Total gas throughput increased  6.0 MMdts, or 27.3%, and 16.6 MMdts, or 21.5%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared with the same periods in 2010, respectively.  These increases were realized primarily in the Capacity Release markets.   Capacity Release increased 5.9 MMdts and 14.2 MMdts during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same periods in 2010, respectively, as a result of increased opportunity for such sales.  Additional capacity became available during the latter part of 2010 as capacity previously transferred out of SJG under the provisions of the Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) was returned to the utility. Firm throughput decreased slightly during the third quarter but increased 1.4 MMdts, or 3.6%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period in 2010.  This was primarily the result of weather that was 4.0% colder for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared with the same period last year.  In addition, SJG added 3,860 customers over the twelve month period ended September 30, 2011, which represents a growth rate of 1.1%.


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Table of Contents

Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) - Utility - The effects of the CIP on SJG’s net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and the associated weather comparisons were as follows ($’s in millions):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Net Income Benefit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CIP – Weather Related*
$

 
$

 
$
1.3

 
$
2.3

CIP – Usage Related
1.8

 
0.4

 
1.1

 
6.8

Total Net Income Benefit
$
1.8

 
$
0.4

 
$
2.4

 
$
9.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weather Compared to 20-Year Average*

 

 
4.6% warmer

 
8.1% warmer

Weather Compared to Prior Year*

 

 
4.0% colder

 
8.3% warmer


* Weather variations do not have a material impact on third quarter residential and commercial usage.

Operating Revenues  - Utility -   SJG’s revenues increased $1.4 million, or 2.4%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same period in the prior year, after eliminating intercompany transactions.  OSS revenue and capacity release revenue increased $2.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively, during the third quarter of 2011 versus the same period in 2010, as both sales and capacity release volume increased. As previously stated under "Throughput-Utility," this was made possible when additional capacity became available during the latter part of 2010, as capacity previously transferred out of SJG under the CIP was returned to SJG. As reflected in the Margin table above, the impact of the higher OSS and capacity release activity did not have a material impact on the earnings of SJG, as SJG is required to share 85.0% of the profits of such activity with the ratepayers.

Firm sales revenue decreased $1.7 million, or 3.3%, during the third quarter of 2011 versus the same period in 2010, as the result of lower firm throughput, as reflected in the Throughput table above.

SJG’s revenues decreased $16.5 million, or 5.3%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same period in the prior year, after eliminating intercompany transactions.  Firm sales revenue decreased $19.0 million, or 6.5%, during the first nine months of 2011 versus the same period in 2010, as the result of lower natural gas costs which precipitated the return of $21.1 million in the form of a customer refund in March 2011.  The average cost of natural gas purchased during the first nine months of 2011 was $6.19 per dt, representing a 8.6% decrease relative to the average cost of $6.77 per dt during the same period in 2010.

While changes in gas costs and Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) recoveries 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 under “Margin-Utility.”

Partially offsetting the negative impact of lower natural gas costs on firm sales revenues was the impact of adding approximately 3,900 customers over the last twelve months, and weather that was 4.0% colder during the first nine months of 2011, as compared with the same period in 2010.

OSS revenue and capacity release revenue increased $4.1 million and $4.2 million, respectively, during the first nine months of 2011 versus the same period in 2010, as both sales volume and capacity release unit prices increased. As previously stated under “Throughput-Utility,” this was made possible when additional capacity became available during the latter part of 2010, as capacity previously transferred out of SJG under the CIP was returned to SJG. As reflected in the Margin table above, the impact of the higher OSS and capacity release activity during 2011 did not have a material impact on the earnings of SJG, as SJG is required to share 85% of the profits of such activity with the ratepayers.

Operating Revenues — Nonutility -  Combined revenues for SJI’s nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, decreased by $24.4 million, or 23.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and increased $4.9 million, or 1.5%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same periods in 2010.

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SJE’s revenues from retail gas, net of intercompany transactions, decreased by $3.4 million and $3.9 million, or 14.1% and 4.6%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010. The decrease in revenues for the comparative periods was mainly due to the loss of one large volume customer under contract in 2010 with a higher fixed price which was replaced in 2011 with several lower priced market customers. Also contributing to the decrease in revenues was a 4.25% and 8.38% decrease in the average monthly New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) settle price, which was partially offset by a 2.5% and 7.8% increase in sales volumes for the comparative three and nine month periods, respectively.  As of September 30, SJE was serving the following number of retail gas customers:

 
2011
 
2010
Residential
5,731

 
7,649

Commercial & Large Volume
1,632

 
970


Sales volumes for the comparative periods were as follows (in dekatherms):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Residential
31,207

 
42,057

 
378,479

 
473,792

Commercial & Large Volume
4,099,763

 
3,986,300

 
14,065,291

 
12,920,992


Market conditions continue to make it difficult to be competitive in the residential and small commercial markets. We continue to focus our marketing efforts on the pursuit of non-heat-sensitive commercial customers in an effort to mitigate price volatility and weather risk.

SJE’s revenues from retail electricity, net of intercompany transactions, increased $7.0 million and $32.1 million, or 16.7% and 25.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts due to price volatility of $(6.1) million and $(11.8) million, revenues increased $0.9 million and $20.3 million, or 1.7% and 14.8%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010.

A summary of SJE’s revenues from retail electricity is as follows (in millions):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
Change
 
2011
 
2010
 
Change
SJE Retail Electric Revenue
$
49.1

 
$
42.1

 
$
7.0

 
$
159.9

 
$
127.8

 
$
32.1

Add: Unrealized Losses (Subtract: Unrealized Gains)
2.8

 
8.9

 
(6.1
)
 
(2.5
)
 
9.3

 
(11.8
)
SJE Retail Electric Revenue, Excluding Unrealized Losses (Gains)
$
51.9

 
$
51.0

 
$
0.9

 
$
157.4

 
$
137.1

 
$
20.3


The three month comparative period increase was mainly due to a 16.5% increase in volumes mostly offset by a 16.3% decrease in the average monthly Locational Marginal Price (LMP) per megawatt hour. The nine month comparative period increase was mainly due to a 14.5% increase in volumes and a 3.6% increase in the average monthly LMP rate.  SJE uses forward financial contracts to mitigate commodity price risk on fixed price electric contracts. In accordance with GAAP, the forward financial contracts are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings in the period of change. The related customer contracts are not considered derivatives and therefore are not recorded in earnings until the electricity is delivered. As a result, earnings are subject to volatility as the market price of the forward financial contracts change, even when the underlying hedged value of the customer contract is unchanged. Over time, gains or losses on the sale of the fixed price electric under contract will be offset by losses or gains on the forward financial contracts, resulting in the realization of the profit margin expected when the transactions were initiated. SJE serves both fixed and market-priced customers.


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SJRG’s revenues, net of intercompany transactions, decreased $27.0 million and $22.0 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts of $13.2 million and $(5.4) million, respectively, due to price volatility and adjusting for the change in realized gains and losses on all hedges attributed to inventory transactions of $(0.2) million and $1.3 million, respectively, to align them with the related cost of inventory in the period of withdrawal, SJRG’s revenues decreased $14.0 million and $26.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010.

A summary of SJRG’s revenue for the three and nine months ended  September 30 is as follows (in millions):

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
Change
 
2011
 
2010
 
Change
SJRG Revenue
$
(5.3
)
 
$
21.7

 
$
(27.0
)
 
$
49.2

 
$
71.2

 
$
(22.0
)
Add: Unrealized Losses (Subtract: Unrealized Gains)
5.8

 
(7.4
)
 
13.2

 
4.6

 
10.0

 
(5.4
)
Add:  Realized Losses (Subtract: Realized Gains) on Inventory Injection Hedges
(0.1
)
 
0.1

 
(0.2
)
 
0.2

 
(1.1
)
 
1.3

SJRG Revenue, Excluding Unrealized Losses (Gains) and  Realized Losses (Gains) on Inventory Injection Hedges
$
0.4

 
$
14.4

 
$
(14.0
)
 
$
54.0

 
$
80.1

 
$
(26.1
)

The decrease in revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same periods in 2010 was due mainly to an 84.0% and 12.1% decrease in storage volumes sold and a 4.3% and 8.4% decrease in the average monthly NYMEX settle price for the comparative quarters. Also contributing to the decrease in revenues was the impact of significantly higher margins from storage and transportation assets recognized in 2010 and the take-away constraints throughout the Marcellus region discussed below under Gross Margin - Nonutility.  As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.

Revenues for Marina were relatively flat for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. Revenues increased $1.2 million, or 4.0%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same period in 2010 due mainly to an increase in hot water volumetric production and slightly higher chilled and hot water rates at the thermal plant and a new solar project that came on line in 2011.

Revenues for SJESP decreased $1.4 million or 27.7%, and $2.1 million, or 14.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010 due mainly to a decrease in customer warranty contract and residential HVAC installation sales. Customer warranty contract revenues were down as SJESP previously sold the rights to renew the home appliance repair contracts to a provider of homeowner assistance services under an agreement that took effect in the third quarter of 2011.

Margin – Utility — 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 taxes are passed through to customers, and therefore, they 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 margin increased $3.0 million, or 12.4%, for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared with the same period in 2010 primarily due to the base rate increase granted by the BPU in September 2010. This was partially offset by lower margin from the Capital Investment Recovery Tracker (CIRT).  The CIRT was approved by the BPU in April 2009 and allows SJG to accelerate certain capital spending and also earn a return of, and a return on, investment at the time the investment is made. A significant portion of revenues previously recovered through the CIRT was rolled into base rates in September 2010 resulting in decreased recoveries under the CIRT program in 2011. The CIRT added $0.7 million of pre-tax margin in the third quarter of 2011, compared with $2.5 million in the same period of 2010.


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As discussed in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, the BPU approved a CIRT II program in March 2011. Under this program, earnings on, and recoveries of, SJG’s investments are not included in margin. However, they are reflected in both Other Income and as a reduction to interest expense until the BPU approves these earnings and recoveries being included in base rates.

Total margin increased $13.6 million, or 10.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same period in 2010 primarily due to the base rate increase granted in September 2010, higher margins from OSS and capacity release and customer additions.  The CIRT added $1.9 million of pre-tax margin in the first nine months of 2011, compared with $7.1 million in the same period last year. As noted above, certain revenues previously recovered through the CIRT were rolled into base rates in September 2010 resulting in decreased recoveries under this program in 2011.

The CIP protected $4.0 million of pre-tax margin in the first nine months of 2011 that would have been lost due to lower customer usage, compared with $15.4 million in the same period last year.  Of these amounts, $2.2 million and $3.9 million were related to weather variations and $1.8 million and $11.5 million were related to other customer usage variations in 2011 and 2010, respectively. As noted above, certain revenues previously recovered through the CIP were rolled into base rates resulting in decreased recoveries under this program in 2011.

Gross Margin — Nonutility —  Gross margin for the nonutility businesses is defined as revenue less all costs that are directly related to the production, selling and delivery of the Company’s products and services. These costs primarily include natural gas and electric commodity costs as well as certain payroll and related benefits. On the statements of condensed consolidated income, revenue is reflected in Operating Revenues - Nonutility and the costs are reflected in Cost of Sales - Nonutility. As discussed in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues - Nonutility.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, combined gross margins for the nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, decreased $7.5 million and $1.4 million to $0.0 million and $38.1 million, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010. This decrease is primarily due to the following:

Gross margin for SJRG decreased $13.7 million and $12.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts of $13.2 million and $(5.4) million, respectively, due to price volatility and adjusting for the change in realized gains and losses on all hedges attributed to inventory transactions of $(0.2) million and $1.3 million, respectively, to align them with the related cost of inventory in the period of withdrawal as discussed above, gross margin for SJRG decreased $0.7 million and $16.5 million for the three and nine month comparative periods. For the three month comparative period, the change in gross margin was due in part to the withdrawal of 2.5 bcf of storage during 2010 which reduced gross margin by approximately $4.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010. Offsetting the comparative impact of the storage withdrawal in 2010 which did not recur in 2011, gross margin was negatively impacted by approximately $3.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011 as a result of increased production of natural gas in the Marcellus region where SJRG has committed to purchase minimum volumes at index based prices. This increased production has caused temporary take-away constraints throughout the region which has resulted in a decrease in market prices. Market prices are expected to improve as additional capacity is brought on line beginning in November of this year. The remaining $1.8 million decrease in gross margin during the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the the same period in 2010 was due mainly to tighter spreads attained on our storage and transportation assets. For the nine month comparative period, the decrease in gross margin was also due primarily to the tighter spreads attained on our storage and transportation assets. Storage assets allow SJRG to lock in the differential between purchasing natural gas at low current prices and selling equivalent quantities at higher future prices. Gross margin is generated via seasonal pricing differentials. While this margin will be attained over the transaction cycle, the timing of physical injections and withdraws and related hedge settlements can cause earnings fluctuations for accounting purposes due to the volatile nature of wholesale gas prices. Overall, SJRG's contribution to margin from storage and transportation assets has decreased due to market conditions and we have begun to shed some of these assets. However, we expect to continue to add incremental margin from marketing and related opportunities in the Marcellus region, capitalizing on our established presence in the area. Future margins could fluctuate significantly due to the volatile nature of wholesale gas prices.


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Storage and transportation assets under contract as of September 30 are as follows:

 
2011
 
2010
Storage (Bcf)
8.6

 
12.5

 
 
 
 
Transportation (dts/day)
104,000

 
94,000

 
Gross Margin for Marina decreased $0.4 million and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods of 2010. Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues decreased 3.5 percentage points and 2.2 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010 due mainly to the cancellation of a higher margin customer contract, partially offset with an increase in low-margin electric sales from Marina’s thermal plant.

Gross margin from SJE’s retail gas sales was essentially unchanged for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same periods in 2010 after excluding the change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts. Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues decreased 0.2 percentage points and 1.8 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010 as we replaced several high-margin customers with lower margin load.

Gross margin from SJE’s retail electricity sales increased $7.7 million and $13.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods of 2010. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts as discussed above, gross margin increased $1.6 million and $1.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods of 2010.  Excluding the impact of the unrealized gains/losses, gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues increased 3.0 percentage points and 4.7 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods of 2010. The increases were due mainly to lower capacity and network services costs and the cost differential of incremental summer load. The incremental summer load impact is due to the third quarter usage of the large number of schools that are part of a bid won in April 2009. This is a fixed-price full requirements contract. At the time we entered into this contract, we purchased a fixed price supply contract based on historical usage information contained in the bid. During the third quarter of 2010, the schools used significantly more electricity than forecast and we were required to purchase those incremental volumes at market prices that were higher than the original purchase price, causing us to recognize significantly lower margins. In the third quarter of 2011, the schools consumption was only slightly higher than forecast, and we purchased those incremental volumes at market prices that were much closer to the original purchase price.

Gross margin for SJESP decreased $1.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2010 due mainly to the lower customer warranty contract sales as mentioned in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.  Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues decreased 14.5 percentage points and 5.5 percentage points for the three and nine month comparative periods, respectively, due to the significant decline of high-margin warranty contracts and residential installation jobs.


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Operations Expense — A summary of net changes in operations expense, for the three and nine months ended September 30, follows (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
2011 vs. 2010
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2011 vs. 2010
Gas Utility Operations
$
622

 
$
2,006

Nonutility:
 
 
 
Wholesale Energy Operations
230

 
980

Retail Gas and Other Operations
(19
)
 
(4
)
Retail Electric Operations
286

 
1,144

On-Site Energy Production
810

 
1,139

Appliance Service Operations
(468
)
 
65

Total Nonutility
839

 
3,324

Intercompany Eliminations and Other
564

 
844

Total Operations Expense
$
2,025

 
$
6,174


Gas Utility operations expense increased $0.6 million and $2.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared with the same periods in 2010.  This increase is due primarily to increased spending under the New Jersey Clean Energy Program and Energy Efficiency Programs. Such costs are recovered on a dollar-for-dollar basis; therefore, SJG experienced an offsetting increase in revenues during the period. Also contributing to the increase were corporate support, governance and compliance costs.

Nonutility operations expense increased $0.8 million and $3.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared with the same periods in 2010. The increase is primarily due to additional personnel, governance and compliance costs incurred to support continued growth.

Other changes in operations expense during 2011 were not significant.

Other Operating Expenses — Changes in other consolidated operating expenses which consist of Maintenance, Depreciation, and Energy and Other Taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared with the same periods in 2010, were not significant.

Other Income and Expense - Other income and expense increased $1.9 million and $10.8 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared with the same periods in 2010, primarily due to a) interest income charged on notes receivable from affiliates, and b) proceeds received from a provider of homeowner assistance services, in accordance with an agreement with the Company, that gives them the exclusive right to renew the home appliance repair contracts at SJESP.

Interest Charges – Interest charges were flat for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2010 as higher aggregate debt levels and interest rates were offset by higher levels of capitalized interest associated with increased spending under the CIRT programs at SJG. Interest charges increased $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared with the same period in 2010, due primarily to higher short-term borrowing levels and interest rates at our non-utility businesses in support of increased project development activity, and higher levels of long-term fixed rate debt at our utility in support of increased levels of infrastructure investment.

Income Taxes  Income tax benefit decreased by $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in the prior year. This decrease in the income tax benefit is primarily the result of a lower effective tax rate in the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, partially offset by an increase in the loss before income taxes in 2011. Income tax expense increased by $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in the prior year.  This increase in income tax expense is primarily the result of an increase in income before income taxes, partially offset by a lower effective tax rate in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The changes in the effective tax rates are due to the projected increase in the investment tax credits available on renewable energy facilities at Marina in 2011, as compared to 2010.



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Table of Contents

Equity in Loss of Affiliated Companies Equity in loss of affiliated companies decreased by $0.5 million and $3.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010. This decrease in equity in loss of affiliated companies is primarily due to a decrease in unrealized losses on interest rate swaps at LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE) that were recognized in 2010.

Discontinued Operations — The results are primarily comprised of environmental remediation and product liability litigation associated with previously disposed of businesses.

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 BGSS charge; working capital needs of our energy trading and marketing activities; the timing of construction and remediation expenditures and related permanent financings; the timing of equity contributions to unconsolidated affiliates; 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 $135.6 million and $120.8 million in the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, 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 conservation efforts and the price of the natural gas commodity, inventory utilization, and gas cost recoveries.  Operating activities in the first nine months of 2011 produced more net cash than the same period in 2010, primarily due to higher cash collections of customer accounts receivable balances and a reduction in required tax payments during 2011, despite a $21.1 million credit given to utility customers in late March 2011 and higher spending on environmental remediation at the utility.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities — SJI has a continuing need for cash resources and capital, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment. Net cash outflows for capital expenditures, which are primarily construction projects, for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010 amounted to $114.0 million and $101.6 million, respectively. We estimate the net cash outflows for SJI for construction projects for fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013 at SJI and its unconsolidated affiliates to be approximately $154.0 million, $184.6 million and $68.0 million, respectively.  For capital expenditures, including those under SJG’s CIRT, the Company will use short-term borrowings to finance capital expenditures as incurred. From time to time, the Company will refinance the short-term debt incurred to support capital expenditures with long-term debt.

In support of its risk management activities, the Company is required to maintain margin accounts with selected counterparties as collateral for its forward contracts, swap agreements, options contracts and futures contracts. These margin accounts are included in Restricted Investments or Margin Account Liability, depending upon the value of the related contracts (the change in the Margin Account Liability is reflected in cash flows from Operating Activities) on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The required amount of restricted investments changes on a daily basis due to fluctuations in the market value of the related outstanding contracts and are difficult to predict. Margin posted by the Company decreased by $0.7 million in the first nine months of 2011, compared with an increase of $21.8 million in the same period of 2010.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company made investments in, and provided net advances to unconsolidated affiliates of $10.0 million and $60.9 million, respectively. The purpose of these investments and advances was to cover certain project related costs of LVE (See Commitments and Contingencies), to provide working capital for a retail marketing operation, and to develop several landfill gas-fired electric production facilities, solar and thermal energy projects.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities — Short-term borrowings from the commercial paper program and lines of credit from commercial banks are used to supplement cash flows from operations, to support working capital needs and to finance capital expenditures as incurred. From time to time, short-term debt incurred to finance capital expenditures is refinanced with long-term debt.


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Credit facilities and available liquidity as of September 30, 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

Company

Total Facility

Usage

Available Liquidity

Expiration Date
SJG:

 

 

 

 
Commercial Paper Program/Revolving Credit Facility

$
200,000


$
106,500


$
93,500


May 2015
Uncommitted Bank Lines

20,000




20,000


Various












Total SJG

220,000


106,500


113,500


 









SJI:

 

 

 

 












Revolving Credit Facility

300,000


208,908


91,092


April 2015 (A)
Term Line of Credit

30,437


30,437




November 2013












Total SJI

$
330,437


$
239,345


$
91,092


 












Total
 
$
550,437

 
$
345,845

 
$
204,592

 
 

(A) Includes letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $83.0 million.

The SJG facilities are restricted as to use and availability specifically to SJG; however, if necessary the SJI facilities can also be used to support SJG’s liquidity needs. All committed facilities contain one financial covenant limiting the ratio of indebtedness to total capitalization (as defined in the respective credit agreements), measured on a quarterly basis. SJI and SJG were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2011. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted average borrowing cost, which changes daily, was 1.08% and 0.79% at September 30, 2011 and 2010, 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 business’ future liquidity needs.

During the third quarter of 2011, SJG began 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 new $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.

SJI supplements its operating cash flow, commercial paper program 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 its long-term borrowing needs. These needs are primarily capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. In March and June 2010, SJG issued $15.0 million and $45.0 million aggregate principal amounts, respectively, of its MTNs under private placements. No other long-term debt was issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.  During the third quarter of 2011, SJG entered into an arrangement to issue $35.0 million aggregate principal amount of its MTN's under a private placement to occur in April 2012 and repaid $25.0 million of First Mortgage Bonds.

SJG's existing $150.0 million MTN program expired September 30, 2011. In September 2011, SJG filed a petition with the NJBPU to establish a new $200.0 million MTN program.


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Table of Contents

SJI’s capital structure was as follows:

 
As of
September 30, 2011
 
As of
December 31, 2010
Equity
46.4
%
 
44.8
%
Long-Term Debt
33.2

 
35.5

Short-Term Debt
20.4

 
19.7

Total
100.0
%
 
100.0
%

SJI has paid dividends on its common stock for 59 consecutive years and has increased that dividend each year for the last ten years.  The Company currently looks to grow that dividend by at least 6% to 7% per year and has a targeted payout ratio of between 50% and 60% of Economic Earnings.  In setting the dividend rate, the Board of Directors of SJI considers future earnings expectations, payout ratio, and dividend yield relative to those at peer companies, as well as returns available on other income-oriented investments.  However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to increase the dividend, meet the targeted payout ratio or pay a dividend at all in the future.

During the first six months of 2011 and the first six months of 2010, SJI declared quarterly dividends to its common shareholders that were payable in April and July of each year.  In June 2010, SJI also declared its normal quarterly dividend that was payable in October 2010.  During 2011, SJI did not declare its October dividend until July 2011.  Consequently, Dividends Declared per Common Share on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 does not include the impact of the October 2010 dividend declaration, causing it to be lower than those declared for the three months ended September 30, 2011.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company received $23.5 million of repayments from ACB Energy Partners, LLC (ACB) to Marina on a construction loan provided by Marina as discussed in Note 5 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

SJI has a continuing need for cash resources and capital, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment, and for environmental remediation costs. Cash outflows for capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010 amounted to $114.0 million and $101.6 million, respectively. Management estimates the net cash outflows for SJI for construction projects for 2011, 2012 and 2013 at SJI and its unconsolidated affiliates to be approximately $154.0 million, $184.6 million and $68.0 million, respectively. Costs for remediation projects, net of insurance reimbursements, for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010 amounted to net cash outflows of $14.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively. Total cash outflows for remediation projects are expected to be $20.3 million, $15.7 million and $11.2 million for 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.  As discussed in Notes 10 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s 10-K as of December 31, 2010, certain environmental costs are subject to recovery from insurance carriers and ratepayers.

SJI provided $83.0 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility. Letters of credit in the amount of $62.3 million support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance Marina’s initial thermal plant project and $20.7 million were posted to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided an additional $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.  As of December 31, 2010, these bonds were included in the current portion of long-term debt because this letter of credit expired during 2011.  The replacement letter of credit expires in August 2015, and as a result, the related bonds are now included in long-term debt as of September 30, 2011.

Contractual Obligations - There were no significant changes to the Company’s contractual obligations described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010, except for commodity supply purchase obligations which decreased by approximately $120.2 million in total since December 31, 2010, due to payments made during the first nine months of 2011 on commitments at SJE and SJRG.

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Table of Contents

In addition, in the normal course of business, SJG and SJRG have entered into long-term contracts for natural gas supplies.  SJRG has committed to purchase a minimum of 274,500 dts/d and up to 700,000 dts/d of natural gas, from various suppliers, for terms ranging from three to ten years at index-based prices.  SJG has committed to purchase a minimum of 6,250 dts/d and up to 25,000 dts/d of natural gas, from one supplier, for a term of eight years at index-based prices. The obligations for these purchases has not been included in the Company's contractual obligations discussed above because the actual volumes and prices are not fixed.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements An off-balance sheet arrangement is any contractual arrangement involving an unconsolidated entity under which the company has either made guarantees, or has certain other interests or obligations.

The Company has recorded a liability of $1.9 million which is included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011 for the fair value of the following guarantees:

In April 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE) an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest.  LVE entered into a 25-year contract with a resort developer to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.  LVE began construction of the facility in 2007 and expected to provide full energy service in 2010 when the resort was originally scheduled to be completed.  LVE suspended construction of the district energy system and central energy center in January 2009 after the resort developer’s August 2008 announcement that it was delaying the completion of construction of the resort due to the difficult environment in the capital markets and weak economic conditions.  The resort developer had indicated that it was considering different strategies to move its project forward, including opening its project in phases and obtaining a partner, but that it was unlikely construction would resume during 2009.  In August 2011, the resort developer, repeating previous disclosures, indicated again that it does not expect to resume construction on the project for three to five years.  The resort developer stated that it remains committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a long-term growth strategy and continues to view this site as a major strategic asset.

The district energy system and central energy center are being financed by LVE with debt that is non-recourse to SJI. The outstanding balance of LVE’s bank debt is approximately $193.2 million as of September 30, 2011.  As a result of the construction delay, the district energy system and central energy center were not completed by the end of 2010 as originally expected. Consequently, the full amount of LVE’s debt became due and payable in December 2010. LVE intends to seek additional financing to complete the facility once construction of the resort resumes, however, as of December 31, 2010, LVE was in default under the financing agreements with the banks.  The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer includes a payment obligation by the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed to LVE’s lenders by the parent of the resort developer.

In March 2011, LVE reached agreements with (a) the resort developer, that specified the payments to be made by the developer to LVE during the suspension period and provided the developer and its corporate parent with an option to purchase the assets of LVE, and (b) the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address the existing default under the financing agreements. The terms of the March 2011 agreement require the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE on a monthly basis beginning in March 2011 until construction of the resort resumes or until the resort developer has exercised its option to purchase the energy facilities from LVE. The monthly payments that are being paid to LVE by the resort developer are expected to be sufficient to reimburse LVE for costs to maintain the energy facilities and to cover debt service costs over-time. The resort developer has provided LVE with a $6.0 million letter of credit to support its monthly payment obligation.

The banks that are financing the energy facilities have agreed not to exercise their rights under the financing agreements resulting from the event of default discussed above through December 2013, provided that no additional events of default occur. SJI and its joint venture partner have provided a total of $10.0 million in letters of credit to the banks to support LVE’s obligations, which can be drawn upon by the banks at the end of the existing agreement in December 2013 or upon the occurrence of an event of default by LVE prior to December 2013.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had a net liability of approximately $1.6 million included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project, in addition to unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $56.1 million due from LVE. As of September 30, 2011, SJI’s capital at risk is limited to its equity contributions, letters of credit and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $70.4 million. During 2011, SJI provided support to LVE of approximately $5.4 million to cover interest and other project related costs.

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Table of Contents


As a result of the construction delay, management has evaluated the investment in LVE and concluded that the fair value of this investment continues to be in excess of the carrying value as of September 30, 2011.

SJI has guaranteed certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort developer, up to $20.0 million each year for the term of the agreement, commencing with the first year of operations.  SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on this guarantee.

SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE) and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE), unconsolidated joint ventures in which Marina has a 50% equity interest through Energenic. BCLE and WCLE have entered into agreements ranging from 15-20 years with the respective county governments to lease and operate facilities that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas.  Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that BCLE and WCLE do not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or are unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.2 million each year.  SJI and its partner in these joint ventures have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees.  SJI holds variable interests in BCLE and WCLE but is not the primary beneficiary.

As of September 30, 2011, SJI had issued $4.9 million of parental guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable our subsidiary to market retail natural gas.

Capital Contribution Obligation - In February 2011, ACR Energy Partners, LLC (ACR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 20 year contract with a developer to build, own and operate a central energy center and energy distribution system for a planned hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. ACR is currently providing construction energy to the complex and will provide full energy services when the complex is completed in 2012. Marina and its joint venture partner will make capital contributions to ACR that will enable ACR to a) repay $42.0 million of construction advances made by the developer and b) deposit $2.8 million in a debt service reserve fund, provided, in each case, that the developer has met certain conditions. These conditions include, among others, substantial completion of the complex and demonstration of adequate financial resources to operate the complex. Marina and its joint venture partner have also agreed to provide a $5.0 million letter of credit in 2012 to support certain operating performance obligations of ACR under the operating agreements between ACR and the developer, provided the developer has met the conditions just outlined. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI to or on behalf of ACR.

Pending Litigation — SJI is 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. SJI has been named in, among other actions, certain product liability claims related to our former sand mining subsidiary. Management does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims to have a material adverse effect on SJI’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Commodity Market Risks — Certain regulated and non-regulated SJI subsidiaries are involved in buying, selling, transporting and storing natural gas and buying and selling retail electricity for their own accounts as well as managing these activities for other third parties. These subsidiaries 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, swaps, futures and options agreements. To manage these transactions, SJI has 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.

SJG and SJE transact commodities on a physical basis and typically do not enter into financial derivative positions directly. SJRG manages risk in the natural gas markets for these entities as well as for its own portfolio by entering into the types of transactions noted above. As part of its gas purchasing strategy, SJG uses financial contracts through SJRG to hedge against forward price risk. These contracts are recoverable through SJG’s BGSS, subject to BPU approval. It is management’s policy, to the extent practical, within predetermined risk management policy guidelines, to have limited unmatched positions on a deal or portfolio basis while conducting these activities. As a result of holding open positions to a minimal level, the economic impact of changes in value of a particular transaction is substantially offset by an opposite change in the related hedge transaction.

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Table of Contents


SJI has entered into certain contracts to buy, sell, and transport natural gas and to buy and sell retail electricity. For those derivatives not designated as hedges, we recorded net unrealized pre-tax losses of $8.5 million and $1.2 million in earnings during the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and the net unrealized pre-tax gain of $2.4 million and the net unrealized pre-tax loss of $19.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, which are included with realized gains and losses in Operating Revenues — Nonutility.  The fair value and maturity of these energy-related contracts determined under the mark-to-market method as of September 30, 2011 is as follows (in thousands):

Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Source of Fair Value
Maturity
 < 1 Year
 
Maturity
 1 -3 Years
 
Maturity
Beyond 3 Years
 
Total
Prices actively quoted
$
12,404

 
$
2,081

 
$
28

 
$
14,513

Prices provided by other external sources
14,792

 
4,279

 
85

 
19,156

Prices based on internal models or other valuable methods
2,376

 
846

 

 
3,222

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
29,572

 
$
7,206

 
$
113

 
$
36,891

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Source of Fair Value
Maturity
 <1 Year
 
Maturity
1 -3 Years
 
Maturity
Beyond 3Years
 
Total
Prices actively quoted
$
9,837

 
$
1,522

 
$
25

 
$
11,384

Prices provided by other external sources
19,852

 
5,005

 
11

 
24,868

Prices based on internal models or other valuable methods
2,881

 
755

 

 
3,636

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
32,570

 
$
7,282

 
$
36

 
$
39,888


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 1.6 million decatherms (dts) with a weighted-average settlement price of $4.97 per dt.  Contracted volumes of our basis contracts are 2.8 million dts with a weighted average settlement price of $0.54 per dt.  Contracted volumes of electric are 1.2 million mwh with a weighted average settlement price of $54.84 per mwh.

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

Net Derivatives — Energy Related Assets,  January 1, 2011
$
131

Contracts Settled During Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011, Net
5,391

Other Changes in Fair Value from Continuing and New Contracts, Net
(8,519
)
 
 
Net Derivatives — Energy Related Liabilities September 30, 2011
$
(2,997
)

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, 2011 was $262.8 million and averaged $209.2 million during the first nine months of 2011. A hypothetical 100 basis point (1%) increase in interest rates on our average variable-rate debt outstanding would result in a $1.3 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: 2010 – 13 b.p. increase; 2009 – 29 b.p. decrease; 2008 – 397 b.p. decrease; 2007 – 45 b.p. decrease; and 2006 – 67 b.p. increase.  For September 2011, our average interest rate on variable-rate debt was 1.08%.


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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, 2011, the interest costs on all but $ 7.1 million 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.

As of September 30, 2011, SJI’s active interest rate swaps were as follows:

Amount
 
Fixed Interest Rate
 
Start Date
 
Maturity
 
Type
 
Obligor
$
3,900,000

 
4.795%
 
12/1/2004
 
12/1/2014
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
8,000,000

 
4.775%
 
11/12/2004
 
11/12/2014
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
20,000,000

 
4.080%
 
11/19/2001
 
12/1/2011
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
14,500,000

 
3.905%
 
3/17/2006
 
1/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
500,000

 
3.905%
 
3/17/2006
 
1/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
330,000

 
3.905%
 
3/17/2006
 
1/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
7,100,000

 
4.895%
 
2/1/2006
 
2/1/2016
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
12,500,000

 
3.430%
 
12/1/2006
 
2/1/2036
 
Tax-exempt
 
SJG
$
12,500,000

 
3.430%
 
12/1/2006
 
2/1/2036
 
Tax-exempt
 
SJG

Credit Risk - As of September 30, 2011, approximately $10.8 million, or 29.3%, of the current and noncurrent Derivatives – Energy Related Assets are with a single retail counterparty. This counterparty has contracts with a large number of diverse customers which minimizes the concentration of this risk. A portion of these contracts may be assignable to SJI in the event of a default by the counterparty.

As of September 30, 2011, SJRG had $62.1 million of Accounts Receivable under sales contracts. Of that total, 82.2% were with regulated utilities or companies rated investment-grade or guaranteed by an investment-grade-rated parent or were with companies where we have a collateral arrangement or insurance coverage. The remainder of the Accounts Receivable were within approved credit limits.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2011. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures employed at the Company are effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has not been any change in the Company’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, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’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 40. 

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Table of Contents


Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following paragraph should be read in conjunction with the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
The delay in construction of available pipeline transportation capacity, particularly in the Marcellus Shale producing region, may negatively impact SJI's financial performance.  Increased natural gas production from the Marcellus region, where SJI has natural gas receipt requirements, may cause temporary take-away constraints resulting in higher transportation costs and the sale of shale gas at a loss.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

As presented in the following table, there were no purchases by SJI of its own common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2011:

  Period
 
Total
Number of Shares
Purchased
 
Average
Price Paid Per
Share
 
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs1
 
Maximum Number of
Shares
that May Yet be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs1
July 2011
 

 
$

 

 

August 2011
 

 
$

 

 

September 2011
 

 
$

 

 

Total
 

 
 
 

 



1  On September 22, 2008, SJI publicly announced a share repurchase program under which the Company can purchase up to 5% of its currently outstanding common stock over the next four years.  As of September 30, 2011, no shares have been purchased under this program.



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Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits
(a)  Exhibits

Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code).
 
 
 
32.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code).
 
 
 
101
 
The following financial statements from South Jersey Industries’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2011, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Table of Contents

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 INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 8, 2011
By:
/s/ Edward J. Graham
 
 
 
Edward J. Graham
 
 
 
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 8, 2011
By:
/s/ David A. Kindlick
 
 
 
David A. Kindlick
 
 
 
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

45