sjiform10q033109.htm
     
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 March 31, 2009

OR

[  ]
 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ________________ to __________________

Commission File Number 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 [   ]

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
[   ]
Non-accelerated filer
[   ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company
[   ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [   ]  No [X]

As of May 4, 2009, there were 29,796,232 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

 
 

 







 
 
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.  Financial Statements - See Pages 3 through 22

 

SJI - 2



 
 
             
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
 
(In Thousands Except for Per Share Data)
 
             
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
             
Operating Revenues:
           
  Utility
  $ 240,109     $ 236,412  
  Nonutility
    122,067       111,635  
                 
      Total Operating Revenues
    362,176       348,047  
                 
Operating Expenses:
               
  Cost of Sales - (Excluding depreciation)
               
                    - Utility
    162,973       161,425  
                    - Nonutility
    102,535       105,331  
  Operations
    22,913       19,994  
  Maintenance
    2,155       1,852  
  Depreciation
    7,660       7,187  
  Energy and Other Taxes
    5,167       4,866  
                 
      Total Operating Expenses
    303,403       300,655  
                 
Operating Income
    58,773       47,392  
                 
Other Income and Expense
    461       280  
                 
Interest Charges
    (4,893 )     (6,014 )
                 
Income Before Income Taxes
    54,341       41,658  
                 
Income Taxes
    (20,218 )     (17,164 )
                 
Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies
    (2,435 )     217  
                 
Income from Continuing Operations
    31,688       24,711  
                 
Loss from Discontinued Operations - (Net of tax benefit)
    (19 )     (24 )
                 
      Net Income
    31,669       24,687  
                 
Less: Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries
    (66 )     1  
                 
      Net Income - Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc.
  $ 31,603     $ 24,688  
                 
Amounts Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders
               
  Income from Continuing Operations
  $ 31,622     $ 24,712  
  Loss from Discontinued Operations - (Net of tax benefit)
    (19 )     (24 )
                 
      Net Income
  $ 31,603     $ 24,688  
                 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders:
               
  Continuing Operations
  $ 1.063     $ 0.834  
  Discontinued Operations
    (0.001 )     (0.001 )
                 
      Basic Earnings Per Common Share
  $ 1.062     $ 0.833  
                 
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Basic
    29,752       29,640  
                 
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders:
               
  Continuing Operations
  $ 1.059     $ 0.830  
  Discontinued Operations
    (0.000 )     (0.001 )
                 
      Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
  $ 1.059     $ 0.829  
                 
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted
    29,851       29,764  
                 
Dividends Declared per Common Share
  $ 0.298     $ 0.270  
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
         
                 


 
SJI - 3

 



 
             
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
 
(In Thousands)
 
             
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
             
             
             
Net Income
  $ 31,669     $ 24,687  
                 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax:*
               
                 
  Unrealized Loss on Available-for-Sale Securities
    (170 )     (238 )
  Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives - Other
    373       (779 )
  Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Affiliated Companies
    1,323       (1,931 )
                 
     Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Net of Tax*
    1,526       (2,948 )
                 
Comprehensive Income
    33,195       21,739  
                 
  Less: Comprehensive (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries
    (66 )     1  
                 
Comprehensive Income Attributable to South Jersey Industries, Inc.
  $ 33,129     $ 21,740  
                 
                 
* Determined using a combined statutory tax rate of 41.08%.
               
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
         
                 


 
SJI - 4

 



 
             
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
 
(In Thousands)
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
  $ 119,845     $ 102,149  
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
               
   Capital Expenditures
    (17,115 )     (15,352 )
   Net Purchase of Restricted Investments in Margin Account
    (3,572 )     -  
   Purchase of Restricted Investments with Escrowed Loan Proceeds
    -       (37 )
   Investment in Long-Term Receivables
    (2,044 )     (1,166 )
   Proceeds from Long-Term Receivables
    2,869       928  
   Investment in Affiliate
    (1,781 )     (411 )
   Advances on Notes Receivable - Affiliate
    (650 )     -  
   Repayment of Notes Receivable - Affiliate
    1,100       -  
   Other
    175       -  
                 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
    (21,018 )     (16,038 )
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
               
   Net Repayments of Lines of Credit
    (97,875 )     (86,490 )
   Other
    (37 )     614  
                 
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
    (97,912 )     (85,876 )
                 
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    915       235  
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
    5,775       11,678  
                 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
  $ 6,690     $ 11,913  
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
               
                 


 
SJI - 5

 



             
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
             
             
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
             
Assets
           
             
Property, Plant and Equipment:
           
  Utility Plant, at original cost
  $ 1,184,032     $ 1,172,014  
    Accumulated Depreciation
    (299,095 )     (295,432 )
  Nonutility Property and Equipment, at cost
    123,192       121,658  
    Accumulated Depreciation
    (16,462 )     (15,632 )
                 
        Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
    991,667       982,608  
                 
Investments:
               
  Available-for-Sale Securities
    4,533       4,859  
  Restricted
    34,670       31,098  
  Investment in Affiliates
    2,139       1,966  
                 
        Total Investments
    41,342       37,923  
                 
Current Assets:
               
  Cash and Cash Equivalents
    6,690       5,775  
  Accounts Receivable
    188,067       121,683  
  Unbilled Revenues
    34,551       52,907  
  Provision for Uncollectibles
    (6,265 )     (5,757 )
  Natural Gas in Storage, average cost
    61,848       162,387  
  Materials and Supplies, average cost
    13,544       12,778  
  Prepaid Taxes
    28       14,604  
  Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
    61,937       63,201  
  Other Prepayments and Current Assets
    6,172       7,506  
                 
        Total Current Assets
    366,572       435,084  
                 
Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets:
               
  Regulatory Assets
    254,090       270,434  
  Derivatives - Energy Related Assets
    18,767       19,712  
  Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
    7,027       7,166  
  Notes Receivables-Affiliates
    7,007       7,457  
  Contract Receivables
    11,928       13,565  
  Other
    20,428       19,478  
                 
        Total Regulatory and Other Noncurrent Assets
    319,247       337,812  
                 
              Total Assets
  $ 1,718,828     $ 1,793,427  
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
         
                 
 
 
 
SJI - 6

 
 
                 
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands)
                 
                 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
                 
                 
Capitalization and Liabilities
               
                 
Common Equity:
               
  Common Stock
  $ 37,245     $ 37,161  
  Premium on Common Stock
    252,818       252,495  
  Treasury Stock (at par)
    (180 )     (176 )
  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
    (22,673 )     (24,199 )
  Retained Earnings
    272,712       249,973  
                 
        Total South Jersey Industries, Inc. Shareholders' Equity
    539,922       515,254  
                 
  Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries
    1,260       1,194  
                 
        Total Equity
    541,182       516,448  
                 
Long-Term Debt
    332,747       332,784  
                 
        Total Capitalization
    873,929       849,232  
                 
Current Liabilities:
               
  Notes Payable
    114,675       212,550  
  Current Portion of Long-Term Debt
    25,112       25,112  
  Accounts Payable
    96,143       120,162  
  Customer Deposits and Credit Balances
    14,965       14,449  
  Environmental Remediation Costs
    9,300       13,670  
  Taxes Accrued
    26,990       5,510  
  Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
    55,262       50,925  
  Deferred Income Taxes - Net
    18,228       25,009  
  Deferred Contract Revenues
    4,820       5,840  
  Dividends Payable
    8,864       -  
  Interest Accrued
    4,922       6,519  
  Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
    1,031       1,031  
  Other Current Liabilities
    15,590       19,130  
                 
        Total Current Liabilities
    395,902       499,907  
                 
Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities:
               
  Deferred Income Taxes - Net
    189,766       184,294  
  Investment Tax Credits
    1,753       1,832  
  Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
    83,350       80,835  
  Environmental Remediation Costs
    52,839       54,495  
  Asset Retirement Obligations
    22,711       22,553  
  Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities
    14,805       15,699  
  Derivatives - Other
    11,651       14,088  
  Regulatory Liabilities
    52,481       50,447  
  Other
    19,641       20,045  
                 
        Total Deferred Credits
               
          and Other Noncurrent Liabilities
    448,997       444,288  
                 
Commitments and Contingencies  (Note 12)
               
                 
              Total Capitalization and Liabilities
  $ 1,718,828     $ 1,793,427  
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
         
                 

  

 
SJI - 7

 
 

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 and southern states.

 
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 via the sale of  appliance service programs.

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. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In management’s opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments needed to fairly present SJI’s financial position and operating results 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, 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 2008 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 $4.1 million and $3.8 million in the three month periods ended  March 31, 2009 and 2008,  respectively.

CAPITALIZED INTEREST — SJG capitalizes interest on construction at the rate of return on rate base utilized by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to set rates in its last base rate proceeding. Marina capitalizes interest on construction projects in progress based on the actual cost of borrowed funds. SJG’s amounts are included in Utility Plant and Marina’s amounts are included in Nonutility Property and Equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Interest Charges are presented net of capitalized interest on the condensed consolidated statements of income. The amount of interest capitalized by SJI for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was not significant.

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 other 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 March 31, 2009, the Company had outstanding derivative contracts intended to limit the exposure to market risk on 35.8 MMdts of expected future purchases of natural gas, 26.1 MMdts of expected future sales of natural gas and 2.7 MMmwh of expected future purchases of electricity. These contracts, which have not been designated as hedging instruments under FAS 133, 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.

 
SJI - 8

 
 

As part of its gas purchasing strategy, SJG uses financial contracts through SJRG to hedge against forward price risk. The costs or benefits of these short-term contracts are recoverable through SJG’s Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) clause, subject to BPU approval. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, SJG had $31.5 million and $29.0 million of unrealized losses, respectively, included in its BGSS related to open financial contracts.

The Company has also entered into interest rate derivatives to hedge exposure to increasing interest rates and the impact of those rates on cash flows of variable-rate debt. These interest rate derivatives, some of which have been designated as hedging instruments under FAS 133, are measured at fair value and recorded in Derivatives-Other on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair value represents the amount SJI would have to pay the counterparty to terminate these contracts as of those dates. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s active interest rate swaps since December 31, 2008 which are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.

The interest rate derivatives that have been designated as cash flow hedges have been determined to be highly effective.  Therefore, the changes in fair value of the effective portion of these swaps along with the cumulative unamortized costs, net of taxes, have been recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. These unrealized gains and losses will be reclassified into earnings when the forecasted cash flows of the related variable-rate debt occurs, or when it is probable that it will not occur. The ineffective portion of these swaps have been included in Interest Charges.

The unrealized gains and losses on the interest rate derivatives that have not been designated as cash flow hedges have also been included in Interest Charges. However, for selected interest rate derivatives at SJG, management believes that, subject to BPU approval, the market value upon termination can be recovered in rates and therefore these unrealized losses have been included in Other Regulatory Assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets in accordance with FAS 71 “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.”

The fair values of all derivative instruments, as reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
                 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
                 
 
March 31, 2009
 
December 31, 2008
 
                 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
 
                     
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under Statement 133
                   
                     
Energy related commodity contracts
 
Derivatives - Energy Related Assets-Current
  $ 61,937  
Derivatives - Energy Related Assets-Current
  $ 63,201  
                     
 
Noncurrent
    18,767  
Noncurrent
    19,712  
                     
Total asset derivatives
    $ 80,704       $ 82,913  
                     

  Liability Derivatives  
         
 
March 31, 2009
 
December 31, 2008
 
                 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
 
                 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under Statement 133                
                 
 Interest rate contracts
Derivatives - Other
  $ 2,928  
Derivatives - Other
  $ 3,551  
                     
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under Statement 133                    
                     
 Energy related commodity contracts
 
Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities-Current
    55,262  
Derivatives - Energy Related Liabilities-Current
    50,925  
                     
 
Noncurrent
    14,805  
Noncurrent
    15,699  
                     
 Interest rate contracts
Derivatives - Other
    8,723  
Derivatives - Other
    10,537  
                     
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under Statement 133       78,790         77,161  
                     
Total liability derivatives     $ 81,718       $ 80,712  



 
SJI - 9

 
 

The effect of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 are as follows (in thousands):
 
 Derivatives in Statement 133 Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)
 
Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified From Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
 
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
 
Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
 
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
 
Three Months Ended
     
Three Months Ended
     
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
     
March 31,
     
March 31,
 
2009
2008
     
2009
2008
     
2009
2008
 
                                         
Interest rate contracts
  $ 373     $ (779 )
Interest Charges
  $ (172 )   $ (112 )
Interest Charges
  $ -     $ -  
                                                     
 
 Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under Statement 133
 
   
Location of Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivative
 
Amount of Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivative
 
     
Three Months Ended
 
     
March 31,
 
     
2009
   
2008
 
               
Energy related commodity contracts
Operating Revenues - Nonutility
  $ (16,279 )   $ (26,400 )
                   
Interest rate contracts
Interest Charges
    203       -  
                   
Total
    $ (16,076 )   $ (26,400 )
                   

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 March 31, 2009, is $31.3 million.   If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on March 31, 2009, the Company would have been required to settle the intstruments immediately or post collateral to its counterparties of approximately $25.4 million after offsetting asset positions with the same counterparties under master netting arrangements.

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 March 31, 2009, $3.5 million related to the acquisition of interests in proved and unproved properties in Pennsylvania is included with Nonutility Property and Equipment on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

TREASURY STOCK – SJI uses the par value method of accounting for treasury stock. As of March 31, 2009, SJI held 143,962 shares of treasury stock. These shares are related to deferred compensation arrangements where the amounts earned are held in the stock of SJI.

 
SJI - 10

 
 


NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active,” to provide clarification of the application of FAS 157 in a market that is not active and to provide an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset in such a non-active market. This statement was effective in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a nonrecurring basis, FAS 157 was effective in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.  The adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), “Business Combinations.” The statement requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize all (and only) the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction; establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; and requires the acquirer to disclose to investors and other users all of the information they need to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effect of the business combination. This statement is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements.” The statement requires all entities to report noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the same way—as equity in the consolidated financial statements. Moreover, Statement No. 160 eliminates the diversity that currently exists in accounting for transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests by requiring they be treated as equity transactions. This statement was effective for the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2008.   As a result of adopting this statement, we have disclosed on the face of our financial statements the portion of equity and net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries. Additionally, we reclassified $1.2 million of noncontrolling interests from Minority Interest to Equity on the December 31, 2008 condensed consolidated balance sheet. The amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2008 that was reclassed from Other Income and Expense to Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries was not material. The adoption of this statement modified our financial statement presentation, but did not have an impact on our financial statement results.

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 (FAS 161), “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - an amendment of SFAS No. 133”. This statement requires disclosures of how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. FAS 161 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.  See disclosures in Note 1.

In December 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets,” which amends Statement 132(R) to require more detailed disclosures about employers’ plan assets, including employers’ investment strategies, major categories of plan assets, concentrations of risk within plan assets, and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets. The provisions of this FSP are effective for reporting periods ending after December 15, 2009. Management is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this position will have on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In December 2008, the Emerging Issue Task Force issued EITF Issue No. 08-5, “Issuer’s Accounting for Liabilities Measured at Fair Value With a Third-Party Credit Enhancement”.  The Task Force reached a consensus that an issuer of a liability with a third-party credit enhancement that is inseparable from the liability must treat the liability and the credit enhancement as two units of accounting. Under the consensus, the fair value measurement of the liability does not include the effect of the third-party credit enhancement; therefore, changes in the issuer’s credit standing without the support of the credit enhancement affect the fair value measurement of the issuer’s liability. Entities will need to disclose the existence of any third-party credit enhancements related to their liabilities that are within the scope of this Issue (i.e., that are measured at fair value). The consensus is effective in the first reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this consensus did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
SJI - 11

 
 


In December 2008, the Emerging Issue Task Force issued EITF Issue No. 08-6, “Equity Method Investment Accounting Considerations”. In this Issue, the Task Force considered the effects of the issuances of Statements 141(R) and 160 on an entity’s application of the equity method under Opinion 18. Statements 141(R) and 160, which are effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, amend the accounting for consolidated subsidiaries. Questions have arisen regarding the application of equity method accounting guidance because of the significant changes to the guidance on business combinations and subsidiary equity transactions and the increased use of fair value measurements as a result of these Statements.The Task Force reached a consensus clarifying the application of equity method accounting. The consensus is effective for transactions occurring in fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this consensus did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1— “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” This FSP amends FASB Statement No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”, to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements. This FSP also amends APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require those disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods. This FSP shall be effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. Management is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this FSP will have on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2— “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments.” This FSP amends the other-than-temporary impairment guidance in U.S. GAAP for debt securities to make the guidance more operational and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities in the financial statements. This FSP does not amend existing recognition and measurement guidance related to other-than-temporary impairments of equity securities. The FSP shall be effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. Management is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this FSP will have on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4— “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly.” This FSP provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. This FSP also includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. This FSP shall be effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, and shall be applied prospectively. Management is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this FSP will have on the Company’s condensed 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 three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. No stock appreciation rights have been issued under the plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, SJI granted 41,437 and 45,241 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 three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, SJI granted 9,559 and 8,667 restricted shares to Directors, respectively.  Shares issued to Directors vest over a three-year service period but contain no performance conditions. As a result, 100% of the shares granted generally vest.

See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008 for the related accounting policy.

 
SJI - 12

 
 


The following table summarizes the nonvested restricted stock awards outstanding at March 31, 2009 and the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the awards:

 
Grant
 
Shares
 
Fair Value
 
Expected
 
Risk-Free
 
Date
 
Outstanding
 
Per Share
 
Volatility
 
Interest Rate
                     
 Officers & Key Employees -
Jan. 2007
 
38,624
 
$
29.210
 
18.5%
 
4.9%
 
Jan. 2008
 
44,479
 
$
34.030
 
21.7%
 
2.9%
 
Jan. 2009
 
41,437
 
$
39.350
 
28.6%
 
1.2%
                     
 Directors -
Dec. 2006
 
9,261
 
$
34.020
 
-
 
-
 
Jan. 2008
 
8,667
 
$
36.355
 
-
 
-
 
Jan. 2009
 
9,559
 
$
40.265
 
-
 
-

Expected volatility is based on the actual daily 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, which are reinvested 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 market value of these awards on the date of grant approximates the fair value.
 
 The following table summarizes the total compensation cost for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Officers & Key Employees
 
$
335
   
$
301
 
Directors
   
82
     
67
 
Total Cost
   
417
     
368
 
                 
Capitalized
   
(43
)
   
(37
)
Net Expense
 
$
374
   
$
331
 

As of March 31, 2009, there was $3.1 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 2.2 years.

The following table summarizes information regarding restricted stock award activity during the three months ended March 31, 2009 excluding accrued dividend equivalents:

   
Officers & Other
Key Employees
   
Directors
   
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
                 
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, January 1, 2009
   
83,103
   
17,928
   
$
32.386
Granted
   
41,437
   
9,559
     
39.522
Nonvested Shares Outstanding, March 31, 2009
   
124,540
   
27,487
   
$
34.779
                     
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, SJI awarded 57,976 shares, which had vested at December 31, 2008, at a market value of $2.3 million, and 51,838 shares, which had vested at December 31, 2007, at a market value of $1.9 million, respectively. 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 nonforefeitable 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.

 
SJI - 13

 
 


3.           DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

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.

Summarized operating results of the discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, were (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2009
   
2008
 
Loss before Income Taxes:
         
Sand Mining
$
(27
)
 
$
(27
)
Fuel Oil
 
(2
)
   
(11
)
Income Tax Benefits
 
10
     
14
 
Loss from Discontinued Operations — Net
$
(19
)
 
$
(24
)
Earnings Per Common Share from
             
Discontinued Operations — Net:
             
Basic
$
(.001
)
 
$
(.001
)
Diluted
$
(.000
)
 
$
(.001
)

 4.           COMMON STOCK:

The following shares were issued and outstanding at March 31:

   
2009
 
Beginning Balance, January 1
   
29,728,697
 
New Issues During Period:
       
Stock-Based Compensation Plan
   
67,535
 
Ending Balance, March 31
   
29,796,232
 

The par value ($1.25 per share) of stock issued was recorded in Common Stock and the net excess over par value of approximately $0.3 million, was recorded in Premium on Common Stock.
 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE — Basic EPS is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. EPS is presented in accordance with FASB Statement No. 128, “Earnings Per Share,” which establishes standards for computing and presenting basic and diluted EPS.    The incremental shares required for inclusion in the denominator for the diluted EPS calculation were 98,416 and 123,585 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. These shares relate to SJI’s restricted stock as discussed in Note 2.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (DRP) — Through April 2008, shares of common stock offered through the DRP were issued directly by SJI. Beginning in April 2008, shares of common stock offered by the DRP have been purchased in open market transactions. 

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 approved construction expenditures. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the escrowed proceeds, including interest earned, totaled $1.4 million.

 
SJI - 14

 
 


SJRG maintains a margin account with a national investment firm to support its risk management activities. The balance required to be held in this margin account increases as the net value of the outstanding energy related financial contracts with this investment firm decreases.  As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the balance in this account was $33.3 million and $29.7 million, respectively.

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 $10.7 million and $10.1 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, 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 amounts of $1.4 million and $1.2 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.  The annual amortization to interest is not material to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. 

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK - As of March 31, 2009, approximately 44.3% of the current and noncurrent Derivatives – Energy Related Assets or $35.8 million 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.

6.
SEGMENTS OF BUSINESS:

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 Gas 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 via the sale of appliance service programs as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems.  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
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Operating Revenues:
           
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
243,113
     
237,904
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
63,868
     
26,264
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
38,040
     
57,377
 
Retail Electric Operations
   
8,268
     
16,259
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
10,013
     
10,763
 
Appliance Service Operations
   
5,003
     
4,970
 
Corporate & Services
   
4,900
     
4,468
 
Subtotal
   
373,205
     
358,005
 
Intersegment Sales
   
(11,029
)
   
(9,958
)
Total Operating Revenues
 
$
362,176
     
348,047
 
                 
Operating Income:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
46,367
     
47,348
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
10,400
     
(6,007
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
661
     
1,882
 
Retail Electric Operations
   
(1,620
)
   
461
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
2,059
     
2,434
 
Appliance Service Operations
   
704
     
996
 
Corporate and Services
   
202
     
278
 
Total Operating Income
 
$
58,773
     
47,392
 


 
SJI - 15

 
 


                 
Depreciation and Amortization:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
8,453
     
7,717
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
(87
)
   
16
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
5
     
4
 
Appliance Services Operations
   
71
     
77
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
883
     
752
 
Corporate and Services
   
118
     
97
 
Total Depreciation and Amortization
 
$
9,443
     
8,663
 
  `
               
Interest Charges:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
4,097
     
4,975
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
200
     
144
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
-
     
76
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
525
     
831
 
Corporate and Services
   
262
     
381
 
               Subtotal
   
5,084
     
6,407
 
Intersegment Borrowings
   
(191
)
   
(393
)
Total Interest Charges
 
$
4,893
     
6,014
 
                 
Income Taxes:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
17,615
     
17,530
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
4,323
     
(2,430
)
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
278
     
759
 
Retail Electric Operations
   
(666
)
   
181
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
(1,765
)
   
568
 
Appliance Service Operations
   
296
     
430
 
Corporate and Services
   
137
     
126
 
Total Income Taxes
 
$
20,218
     
17,164
 
                 
Property Additions:
               
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
14,822
     
11,135
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
3
     
3,338
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
5
     
-
 
Appliance Service Operations
   
325
     
2
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
1,264
     
229
 
Corporate and Services
   
61
     
366
 
Total Property Additions
 
$
16,480
     
15,070
 

   
March 31,
 2009
   
December 31,
2008
 
             
Identifiable Assets:
           
Gas Utility Operations
 
$
1,337,172
   
$
1,354,015
 
Wholesale Gas Operations
   
199,343
     
196,487
 
Retail Gas and Other Operations
   
46,663
     
42,939
 
Retail Electric Operations
   
4,038
     
5,594
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
123,293
     
123,913
 
Appliance Service Operations
   
16,761
     
17,704
 
Discontinued Operations
   
1,204
     
1,409
 
Corporate and Services
   
25,348
     
91,641
 
Subtotal
   
1,753,822
     
1,833,702
 
Intersegment Assets
   
(34,994
)
   
(40,275
)
Total Identifiable Assets
 
$
1,718,828
   
$
1,793,427
 

7.
RATES AND REGULATORY ACTIONS:

In January 2009 SJG filed a petition with the BPU for approval of an accelerated infrastructure investment program and an associated rate tracker, which would allow the Company to accelerate $103.0 million of capital spending into 2009 and 2010.  The petition requested the Company earn a return of, and return on, investment at the time the investment is made.  The petition was approved by the BPU in April 2009.  SJG also agreed to file a full base rate case with the NJBPU no later than April 2011 as part of the infrastructure program.  Also in January 2009, SJG filed a petition requesting approval of an energy efficiency program to invest $17.0 million over 2 years in energy efficiency programs for residential, commercial and industrial customers.

 
SJI - 16

 
 


There have been no other significant regulatory actions or changes to SJG’s rate structure since December 31, 2008. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.

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, 2008 which are described in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.

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

   
March 31,
2009
   
December 31,
2008
 
Environmental Remediation Costs:
           
Expended - Net 
 
$
47,756
   
$
48,143
 
Liability for Future Expenditures
   
58,086
     
64,093
 
Income Taxes-Flowthrough Depreciation
   
2,485
     
2,729
 
Deferred Asset Retirement Obligation Costs
   
22,033
     
21,901
 
Deferred Gas Costs - Net
   
17,202
     
18,406
 
Deferred Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Costs
   
80,067
     
80,162
 
Conservation Incentive Program Receivable
   
16,287
     
22,048
 
Societal Benefit Costs Receivable
   
622
     
1,753
 
Premium for Early Retirement of Debt
   
1,167
     
1,208
 
Other Regulatory Assets
   
8,385
     
9,991
 
                 
            Total Regulatory Assets
 
$
254,090
   
$
270,434
 

Regulatory Liabilities consisted of the following items (in thousands):
 
   
March 31,
2009
   
December 31,
2008
 
Excess Plant Removal Costs
 
$
48,854
   
$
48,820
 
Other Regulatory Liabilities
   
3,627
     
1,627
 
                 
Total Regulatory Liabilities
 
$
52,481
   
$
50,447
 
 
9.           PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS:

For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, 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
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Service Cost
 
$
878
   
$
838
   
$
268
   
$
265
 
Interest Cost
   
2,165
     
1,991
     
763
     
737
 
Expected Return on Plan Assets
   
(1,913
)
   
(2,512
)
   
(388
)
   
(538
)
Amortizations:
                               
Prior Service Cost
   
70
     
72
     
(88
   
(86
Actuarial Loss
   
1,367
     
398
     
453
     
184
 
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
   
2,567
     
787
     
1,008
     
562
 
Capitalized Benefit Costs
   
(992
)
   
(256
)
   
(388
)
   
(209
)
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense
 
$
1,575
   
$
531
   
$
620
   
$
353
 
                                 

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

 
SJI - 17

 
 


During the three months ended March 31, 2008 SJI contributed $5.9 million to its pension plans.  No contribution was made during the three months ended March 31, 2009.  However, SJI expects to make a contribution during the 2nd quarter in order to improve the funded status of the plans and partially offset the increase in expense in 2009 caused by the amortization of unprecedented losses realized on plan assets during 2008.

See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008, for additional information related to SJI’s pension and other postretirement benefits.

10.
RETAINED EARNINGS:

SJG is restricted as to the amount of cash dividends or other distributions that may be paid on its common stock by an order issued by the BPU in July 2004 that granted SJG an increase in base rates. Per the order, SJG is required to maintain total common equity of no less than $289.2 million. SJG’s total common equity balance was $424.1 million at March 31, 2009.

Various loan agreements also contain potential restrictions regarding the amount of cash dividends or other distributions that SJG may pay on its common stock. As of March 31, 2009, these loan restrictions did not affect the amount that may be distributed from either SJG’s or SJI’s retained earnings.

11.           UNUSED LINES OF CREDIT:

Credit facilities and available liquidity as of March 31, 2009 were as follows:

Company
 
Total Facility
   
Usage (A)
   
Available Liquidity
 
Expiration Date
                     
SJG: 
                   
                           
Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
100,000
   
$
50,000
   
$
50,000
 
August 2011
Line of Credit
   
40,000
     
     
40,000
 
December 2009
Line of Credit 
   
10,000
     
10,000
     
 
August 2009
Uncommitted Bank Lines
   
53,000
     
21,575
     
31,425
 
Various
                           
Total SJG
   
203,000
     
81,575
     
121,425
   
                           
SJI:
                         
                           
Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
200,000
   
$
102,575
   
$
97,425
 
August 2011
Uncommitted Bank Lines
   
40,000
     
13,135
     
26,865
 
Various
                           
Total SJI
   
240,000
     
115,710
     
124,290
   
                           
Total
 
$
443,000
   
$
197,285
   
$
245,715
   

(A)
Includes letters of credit in the amount of $82.6 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 regarding the ratio of total debt to total capitalization, measured on a quarterly basis. SJI and SJG were in compliance with this covenant as of March 31, 2009. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted average borrowing cost, which changes daily, was 1.09% and 3.30% at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 
SJI - 18

 
 

 
12.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

GUARANTEES —   The Company has recorded a liability of $2.0 million in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2009 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 services 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 has indicated that they are considering different strategies to move the project forward, including opening the project in phases and obtaining a partner, but that it was unlikely construction would resume during 2009.

The district energy system and central energy center are being financed by LVE with debt that is non-recourse to SJI. LVE is currently in discussions with the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address defaults under the financing agreements. These LVE defaults have been caused by the resort developer’s construction delay and the termination of an energy services agreement by a hotel operator associated with the project. Those discussions include revising the timetable and funding schedule for the completion of construction of the energy facilities to reflect the suspension by the resort developer, and the potential contribution of additional equity. SJI, through its subsidiary Marina, is obligated to invest at least $30.4 million of equity during the construction period as discussed below and may contribute additional funds in the project to cover the incremental debt service and other related costs to be incurred during the suspension period resulting from the delay. However, we are unable to definitively quantify our incremental costs at this time, if any, as negotiations over the new terms are ongoing. LVE has proposed a new construction schedule in the form of a work around plan.  LVE and the resort developer will discuss the work around plan which must then be acted upon by an independent engineer.  The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer  includes a payment obligation by the resort developer of certain fixed payments to be made to LVE until the project begins commercial operations. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed by the parent of the resort developer.  As of March 31, 2009, the Company had a net liability of approximately $10.2 million included in Other Current and Noncurrent Liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets related to this project and unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $3.5 million due from LVE. SJI's risk of loss is limited to its equity contribution, contribution obligations and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $35.4 million. During the first quarter of 2009, SJI and the partner in this joint venture each provided support to LVE of approximately $1.6 million to cover project related costs. It is expected that the notes receivable will represent a portion of the total incremental contribution described previously.

SJI issued a performance guaranty for up to $180.0 million to the resort developer to ensure that certain construction milestones relating to the development of the thermal facility are met. As a result of achieving certain milestones, the guaranty has been reduced to $94.0 million as of March 31, 2009. Concurrently, SJI is the beneficiary of a surety bond purchased by the project’s general contractor that provides SJI with assurance that construction of the thermal facility will meet those same milestones. Those milestones are currently being revised due to delays announced by the resort developer. In addition, SJI has guaranteed the obligations of LVE under certain insurance policies during the construction period.  The maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that LVE does not have sufficient resources to make deductible payments on future claims under these insurance policies, is approximately $6.0 million.  SJI has also guaranteed certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort, up to $20.0 million each year for the term of the agreement, commencing with the first year of operations.  SJI and the 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 these guarantees.  

 
SJI - 19

 
 


 
·
In August 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest. BCLE has entered into a 20-year agreement with a county government to lease and operate a facility that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas. The facility went online in the fourth quarter of 2007. Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that BCLE does not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or is unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.0 million each year.  SJI and the 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 these guarantees.  
   
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OBLIGATION - In December 2007, Marina and its joint venture partner agreed to each contribute approximately $30.4 million of equity to LVE as part of its construction period financing. The equity contribution is expected to be made in 2009, and is secured by an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent 56% of our workforce at March 31, 2009.   The Company has collective bargaining agreements with two unions that represent these employees: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (“IAM”).  SJG and SJESP employees represented by the IBEW operate under a new collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 2013.   The IAM is asserting that the labor agreement which the Company believes expired on January 14, 2009 is evergreen for one year from that expiration date.  The Company disagrees and has filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board for a determination on the matter.

STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — As of March 31, 2009, SJI provided $82.6 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. The additional outstanding letters of credit total $20.3 million, and were posted to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided two additional letters of credit under separate facilities outside of the revolving credit facility. Those letters of credit consist of a $25.3 million letter of credit provided by SJG to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the NJEDA to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system; and a $30.7 million letter of credit provided by Marina to support a capital contribution obligation as discussed above. These letters of credit expire in August 2009 and November 2010, respectively.

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 accrued 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, 2008 as described in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.   However, the lower end of the range of expected remediation costs, which is recorded as a liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, has decreased $6.0 million since December 31, 2008.  This decrease is the result of expenditures of $3.3 million during 2009 and revised forecasts of expected remediation costs for all sites as additional information has become available.

13.            FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:
 
 FAS 157 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.

 
SJI - 20

 
 


For financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, information about the fair value measurements for each major category as of March 31, 2009 is as follows (in thousands):

   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Assets
                       
Available-for-Sale Securities (A)
 
$
4,533
   
$
4,533
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Derivatives – Energy Related Assets (B)
   
80,704
     
61,293
     
18,010
     
1,401
 
   
$
85,237
   
$
65,826
   
$
18,010
   
$
1,401
 
                                 
Liabilities
                               
                                 
Derivatives – Energy Related Liabilities (B)
 
$
70,067
   
$
65,657
   
$
551
   
$
3,859
 
Derivatives – Other (C)
   
11,651
     
-
     
11,651
     
-
 
   
$
81,718
   
$
65,657
   
$
12,202
   
$
3,859
 
                                 

(A) Available-for-Sale Securities are valued using the quoted principal market close prices that are provided by the trustees of these securities.

(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.

The changes in fair value measurements of Derivatives – Energy Related Assets and Liabilities at March 31, 2009 using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) are as follows (in thousands):

Balance at January 1, 2009
 
$
101
 
Total losses (realized/unrealized) included in earnings
   
(2,273
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3, net
   
-
 
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net
   
(286
)
Balance at March 31, 2009
 
(2,458

 Total losses for 2009 included in earnings that are attributable to the change in unrealized losses relating to those assets and liabilities still held as of March 31, 2009, is $2.3 million.  These losses are included in Operating Revenues-Nonutility on the condensed consolidated statements of income.

 
SJI - 21

 
 

14.
AVAILABLE–FOR–SALE SECURITIES:

The Company's portfolio of investments consists of five highly diversified funds which are not used for working capital purposes. These funds are in an unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2009. Due to the nature of the underlying securities, these funds as a whole are susceptible to changes in the economy and have been adversely affected by the economic slowdown, particularly during the fourth quarter of 2008 when the Company's investments became impaired. The Company has evaluated the near-term prospects of the overall funds in relation to the severity and duration of the impairment. Based on that evaluation, the Company recorded an insignificant impairment loss during the fourth quarter of 2008. Due to the Company's ability and intent to hold the remaining funds for a reasonable period of time sufficient for a forecasted recovery of fair value, the Company does not consider these remaining investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2009.

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value of the Company's Available-for-Sale Securities with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired (in thousands), aggregated by length of time that the individual funds have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2009.

   
Less than 12 Months
   
Greater Than 12 Months
   
Total
 
                                     
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized Losses
 
Marketable Equity Securities
 
$
2,054
   
$
632
   
$
1,284
   
$
875
   
$
3,338
   
$
1,507
 
 

 
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, 2008 and in other filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and they are made only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or in any document incorporated by reference, at the date of such document. While SJI 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, 2008.

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

 
SJI - 22

 
 


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, 2008. See detailed discussion concerning Regulatory Actions in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.

Environmental Remediation Other than the changes discussed in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, there have been no significant changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2008. See detailed discussion concerning Environmental Remediation in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.
 
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 Gas 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 via the sale of appliance service programs as well as on a time and materials basis, and the installation of residential and small commercial HVAC systems.
 
A significant portion of the volatility in operating results is due to the impact of the accounting methods associated with SJRG’s storage activities. 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 prices 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 the 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.
 
 Net Income attributable to SJI for the three months ended March 31, 2009 increased $6.9 million, or 28% to net income of $31.6 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. This increase is primarily due to the change in unrealized losses on derivatives used by SJRG to mitigate commodity price risk, as discussed above.  These changes are also discussed in more detail below.
 
The following tables summarize the composition of selected SJG data for the three months ended  March 31 (in thousands, except for degree day data):

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Utility Throughput – dth:
           
Firm Sales -
           
Residential
   
11,517
     
10,183
 
Commercial
   
2,877
     
2,584
 
Industrial
   
149
     
75
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
14
     
16
 
Firm Transportation -
               
Residential
   
1,007
     
952
 
Commercial
   
2,571
     
2,460
 
Industrial
   
3,052
     
3,280
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
433
     
352
 
                 
Total Firm Throughput
   
21,620
     
19,902
 
                 
Interruptible Sales
   
2
     
2
 
Interruptible Transportation
   
636
     
912
 
Off-System
   
2,694
     
4,239
 
Capacity Release
   
8,499
     
11,230
 
                 
Total Throughput - Utility
   
33,451
     
36,292
 


 
SJI - 23

 
 


       
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Utility Operating Revenues:
           
Firm Sales -
           
Residential
 
$
168,638
   
$
143,468
 
Commercial
   
36,526
     
31,186
 
Industrial
   
1,811
     
3,555
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
273
     
327
 
Firm Transportation -
               
Residential
   
4,695
     
4,469
 
Commercial
   
7,914
     
7,653
 
Industrial
   
3,587
     
3,192
 
Cogeneration & Electric Generation
   
459
     
322
 
                 
Total Firm Revenues
   
223,903
     
194,172
 
                 
Interruptible Sales
   
40
     
125
 
Interruptible Transportation
   
557
     
596
 
Off-System
   
16,902
     
39,990
 
Capacity Release
   
1,440
     
2,800
 
Other
   
271
     
221
 
     
243,113
     
237,904
 
Less: Intercompany Sales
   
3,004
     
1,492
 
Total Utility Operating Revenues
   
240,109
     
236,412
 
                 
Less:
               
Cost of Sales
 
$
162,973
   
$
161,425
 
Conservation Recoveries*
   
3,265
     
3,065
 
RAC Recoveries*
   
1,209
     
695
 
Revenue Taxes
   
4,071
     
3,790
 
Utility Margin
 
$
68,591
   
$
67,437
 
                 
Margin:
               
Residential
 
$
45,590
   
$
40,982
 
Commercial and Industrial
   
15,429
     
14,318
 
Cogeneration and Electric Generation
   
340
     
289
 
Interruptible
   
46
     
65
 
Off-system & Capacity Release
   
702
     
1,081
 
Other Revenues
   
270
     
220
 
Margin Before Weather Normalization & Decoupling
   
62,377
     
56,955
 
CIP Mechanism
   
6,214
     
10,482
 
Utility Margin
 
$
68,591
   
$
67,437
 
                 
 Degree Days:
   
2,518
     
2,264
 

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

Throughput - Total gas throughput decreased 2.8 MMdts, or 7.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared with the same period in 2008. Off-System sales (OSS) and capacity release volume decreased substantially as SJG’s portfolio of assets available for such activities has been reduced under the Conservation Incentive Program, as discussed under “Rates and Regulation” in Item 7 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008.  First quarter firm throughput increased in both the residential and commercial markets as a result of 11.2% colder weather, as reflected by the degree day data in the table above, and the addition of 4,441 customers during the 12-month period ended March 31, 2009. 

 
SJI - 24

 
 


Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) - The effects of the CIP on SJG’s net income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 and the associated weather comparisons were as follows ($’s in millions):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net Income Benefit: 
           
CIP – Weather Related
 
$
(0.6
 
$
1.6
 
CIP – Usage Related
   
4.3
     
4.6
 
Total Net Income Benefit
 
$
3.7
   
$
6.2
 
                 
  Weather Compared to 20-Year Average
 
3.7% colder
   
6.8% warmer
 
  Weather Compared to Prior Year
 
11.2% colder
   
6.4% warmer
 

Operating Revenues – Utility - Revenues increased $3.7 million, or 1.6%, during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year.  Firm sales revenue increased $29.7 million, or 15.3%.  This increase was driven by several factors including 11.2% colder weather, the addition of 4,441 customers over the last twelve months, and a higher Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) rate.  During the first quarter of 2009, the BGSS rate was 11.1% higher than the rate in effect during the same time last year.  This increase was necessary to fully recover higher gas costs incurred through most of 2008.  However, as the Company does not profit from the sale of the commodity, the BGSS rate increase did not have an impact on Company profitability.  Partially offsetting the increase in firm sales was a substantial decrease in off-system sales (OSS) and capacity release revenue, which decreased by $23.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively, before eliminating intercompany transactions.  These decreases were primarily related to a reduction of SJG’s portfolio of assets available for such activities under the provisions of the CIP, as noted above under “Throughput.”  Further, for those OSS transacted during the first quarter of 2009, the average cost per unit sold had dropped considerably, thus resulting in an additional decline in revenues during the period.

Operating Revenues — Nonutility — Combined revenues for SJI’s nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, increased by $10.4 million, or 9.3% in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008.

SJE’s revenues from retail gas, net of intercompany transactions, decreased by $18.6 million or 33.3% in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 due mainly to a 39.1% decrease in the average monthly NYMEX settle price during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. The majority of SJE’s natural gas customer contracts are market-priced. In addition, as of March 31, 2009, SJE was serving 9,891 residential customers compared with 12,754 as of March 31, 2008. Market conditions continue to make it difficult to be competitive in this market. SJE’s commercial customer count also declined from 1,361 as of March 31, 2008 to 1,039 as of March 31, 2009, driven mainly by the expiration of a large municipal bid early in the fourth quarter of 2008. 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, decreased $7.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared with the same period in 2008. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized losses recorded on forward financial contracts of $2.0 million due to price volatility, SJE’s revenues from retail electricity decreased $5.7 million or 41.4% due mainly to a 67% decrease in the average monthly Locational Marginal Price (LMP) per megawatt hour in the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Essentially all of SJE’s retail electric customer contracts are market-priced.

 
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SJRG’s revenues, net of intercompany transactions, increased $37.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts of $(12.2) million due to price volatility, SJRG’s revenues increased $25.3 million. A summary of SJRG’s revenue for the three months ended March 31 is as follows (in millions):

   
2009
   
2008
   
Change
 
                   
SJRG Revenue
 
$
63.6
   
$
26.1
   
$
37.5
 
                         
Add: Unrealized losses
   
14.2
     
26.4
     
(12.2
                         
SJRG Revenue,  Excluding unrealized losses
 
$
77.8
   
$
52.5
   
$
25.3
 
                         

This increase in revenues is mainly attributable to a 32.8% increase in sales of storage volumes in the first three months of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. 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, 2008, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.

Revenues for Marina decreased $0.8 million or 7.0% in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 due mainly to lower rates on chilled and hot water. Lower rates were driven by lower underlying commodity prices. Volumetric hot water production increased 13.2% and chilled water production decreased 5.3% in the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, respectively. Additional production was mainly attributable to the opening of Borgata’s new Water Club tower in June 2008 and offset by lower demand at Borgata’s other facilities mainly driven by the impact of current economic conditions on resort occupancy.

Revenues for SJESP remained relatively unchanged in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. However, SJESP did recognize revenues from a large commercial HVAC job that for the most part offset a decline in revenues from time and materials (T&M) and installation jobs. T&M and installation revenues were negatively impacted by current depressed economic conditions.

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

Total margin increased $1.2 million, or 1.7%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 due to customer additions as noted above.   Partially offsetting these increases were lower margins from OSS and capacity release resulting from decreased volumes as discussed above under “Throughput” and “Operating Revenues - Utility”.  The CIP protected $6.2 million of pre-tax margin in the first three months of 2009 that would have been lost due to lower customer usage, compared to $10.5 million in the same period last year.  Of these amounts, $(1.1) million and $2.7 million were related to weather variations and $7.3 million and $7.8 million were related to other customer usage variations in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

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 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008, revenues and expenses related to the energy trading activities of SJRG are presented on a net basis in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.

 
SJI - 26

 
 

For the three months ended March 31, 2009 combined gross margins for the nonutility businesses, net of intercompany transactions, increased $13.2 million to $19.5 million compared with the same period in 2008. This increase is primarily due to the following:

 
·
Gross margin for SJRG increased $16.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Excluding the impact of the net change in unrealized gains and losses recorded on forward financial contracts as discussed above, gross margin for SJRG increased $4.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Operationally, margins increased significantly in 2009 due primarily to favorable seasonal time spreads on storage and transportation asset positions that were locked in and/or improved upon. 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. Similar to storage, transportation assets allow us to lock in the differential of transporting natural gas from one delivery point to another. Future margins could fluctuate significantly due to the volatile nature of wholesale gas prices.

 
·
Gross margin for Marina decreased $0.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues increased 3.0 percentage points in the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 due mainly to the lower rates on low-margin electric sales to Borgata.

 
·
Gross margin from SJE’s retail gas sales decreased $1.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues did not change significantly for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. However, two main factors essentially offset each other. First, during the first quarter of 2008, SJE partially recovered losses from a full requirements customer in the commercial market that were recognized in 2006. Second, the 2009 margin reflects the impact of our efforts to reduce our exposure to changes in customer usage patterns.

 
·
Gross margin from SJE’s retail electricity sales decreased $2.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Excluding the impact of a $2.0 million increase in unrealized losses recorded on forward financial contracts, gross margin decreased $0.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues increased 2.5 percentage points in the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 as the LMP rate is a pass through to our customers while our margin is based on volumetric and transmission components of the customer contracts.

 
·
Gross margin for SJESP did not change significantly in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008.  Gross margin as a percentage of Operating Revenues also did not change significantly for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Commercial margins essentially offset T&M and installation margins as discussed in Operating Revenues – Nonutility.

Operations Expense — A summary of net changes in operations expense, for the three months ended March 31, follows (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009 vs. 2008
 
       
Utility
 
$
2,235
 
Nonutility:
       
              Wholesale Gas
   
45
 
Retail Gas and Other
   
149
 
Retail Electricity
   
11
 
On-Site Energy Production
   
155
 
Appliance Service
   
281
 
Total Nonutility
   
641
 
Intercompany Eliminations and Other
   
43
 
Total Operations
 
$
2,919
 


 
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Utility operations expense increased $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, as compared with the same period in 2008.  The increase is primarily due to the cost of providing pension and other postretirement benefit plans which increased by $1.0 million as a result of significant losses in the assets of those plans during 2008. The company also experienced moderate increases in governance, compliance, employee compensation costs and expenses associated with uncollectible customer accounts as a result of normal fluctuations in customer account receivable balances due to colder weather in 2009.

Nonutility operations expense increased $0.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 due mainly to increases in governance, compliance and employee compensation costs.
 
Other changes in operations expense during 2009 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 months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, were not significant.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliated Companies  - Pre-tax earnings from subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method has decreased by approximately $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. This decrease is primarily attributable to debt service costs incurred by LVE Energy Partners, LLC. A significant portion of these costs were previously being capitalized to the cost of the project during the construction period. As discussed further under “Commitments and Contingencies”, LVE has suspended its construction activities and as a result, all current period debt service costs have been recognized in earnings.

Interest Charges – Interest charges decreased by $1.1 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, due primarily to significantly lower interest rates on short-term debt during 2009.

Discontinued Operations— The losses 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 Basic Gas Supply Service 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 $119.8 million and $102.1 million in the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, 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. Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2009 compared favorably to the same period in 2008 as the price of natural gas in storage at the end of 2008 was much higher than at the prior year end. Those higher prices were reflected in prices charged to customers. The withdrawal of that gas from inventory, coupled with higher weather related customer demand, significantly increased cash inflows in the 2009 quarter. The higher weather related demand also increased collections from customers under regulatory clauses. The first quarter of 2008 was also impacted by a $5.9 million pension contribution that was not duplicated in the first quarter of 2009. The company also incurred lower environmental remediation costs in 2009 compared to 2008. SJI also ends each calendar year in a prepaid tax position due to mandatory prepayment requirements on all state taxes. Such prepayments are credited against amounts otherwise due during the first quarter of the subsequent year; improving first quarter liquidity.

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 quarter of 2009 and 2008 amounted to $17.1 million and $15.4 million, respectively. We estimate the net cash outflows for construction projects for fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011 to be approximately $140.3 million, $95.4 million and $58.5 million, respectively.

 
SJI - 28

 
 


In support of its risk management activities, SJRG is required to maintain a margin account with a national investment firm as collateral for its forward contracts, swap agreements, options contracts and futures contracts. This margin account is included in Restricted Investments or Margin Account Liability, depending upon the value of the related financial 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 SJRG increased by $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with the first quarter of 2008 when the Margin Account Liability was reduced by $1.2 million.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities —   Short-term borrowings under 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.  In June 2008, SJG repurchased $25.0 million of its auction-rate securities at par by drawing under its lines of credit.  That action resulted in a $25.0 million reduction in long-term debt on SJG’s balance sheet.  SJG converted these auction-rate securities to variable rate demand bonds and remarketed them to the public during the third quarter of 2008. No other long-term debt was issued during 2008.

Credit facilities and available liquidity as of March 31, 2009 were as follows:

Company
 
Total Facility
   
Usage (A)
   
Available Liquidity
 
Expiration Date
                     
SJG: 
                   
                           
Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
100,000
   
$
50,000
   
$
50,000
 
August 2011
Line of Credit
   
40,000
     
     
40,000
 
December 2009
Line of Credit 
   
10,000
     
10,000
     
 
August 2009
Uncommitted Bank Lines
   
53,000
     
21,575
     
31,425
 
Various
                           
Total SJG
   
203,000
     
81,575
     
121,425
   
                           
SJI:
                         
                           
Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
200,000
   
$
102,575
   
$
97,425
 
August 2011
Uncommitted Bank Lines
   
40,000
     
13,135
     
26,865
 
Various
                           
Total SJI
   
240,000
     
115,710
     
124,290
   
                           
Total
 
$
443,000
   
$
197,285
   
$
245,715
   

(A) Includes letters of credit in the amount of $82.6 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 regarding the ratio of total debt to total capitalization, measured on a quarterly basis. SJI and SJG were in compliance with this covenant as of March 31, 2009. Borrowings under these credit facilities are at market rates. The weighted average borrowing cost, which changes daily, was 1.09% and 3.30% at March 31, 2009 and 2008, 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.

SJI supplements its operating cash flow and credit lines with both debt and equity capital.  Over the years, SJG has used long-term debt, primarily in the form of First Mortgage Bonds and Medium Term Notes (MTN), secured by the same pool of utility assets, to finance its long-term borrowing needs.  These needs are primarily capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment.

 
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SJI raised equity capital in the past three years through its Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP). Historically, participants in SJI's DRP received newly issued shares. Through the end of March 2008, we offered a 2% discount on DRP investments as it was the most cost-effective way to raise equity capital in the quantities we were seeking. Due to our continued strong equity position, beginning in April 2008,  DRP participants began receiving shares purchased in the open market.  In such open market purchases, the 2% discount is not available to participants.  SJI raised $0.6 million of equity capital through the DRP in the first quarter of 2008. No equity capital was raised through the DRP in the first quarter of 2009. In September 2008, we announced our intent to establish a stock repurchase program for SJI that could result in the repurchase of up to 1.5 million shares of SJI common stock at any time prior to October 2012.  No purchases have been made to date.

SJI’s capital structure was as follows:
 
   
As of
March 31, 2009
   
As of
December 31, 2008
 
             
Common Equity
   
53.4
%
   
47.4
%
Long-Term Debt
   
35.3
     
33.0
 
Short-Term Debt
   
11.3
     
19.6
 
Total
   
100.0
%
   
100.0
%

SJG’s long-term, senior secured debt is rated “A” and “A3” by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investor Services, respectively. These ratings had not changed in at least the past five years until Moody’s Investor Services raised SJG’s senior secured debt rating to “A3” from “Baal” in February of 2009.

In the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, SJI declared quarterly dividends to its common shareholders. SJI has paid dividends on its common stock for 57 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%. 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.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

SJI has a continuing need for cash resources and capital, primarily to invest in new and replacement facilities and equipment, working capital, and for environmental remediation costs. Net cash outflows for capital expenditures and remediation projects for the first three months of 2009 amounted to $17.1 and $1.0 million, respectively. Management estimates net cash outflows for construction projects for 2009, 2010 and 2011, to be approximately $140.3 million, $95.4 million and $58.5 million, respectively. Total cash outflows for remediation projects are expected to be $7.0 million, $18.5 million and $11.4 million for 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.  As discussed in Notes 9 and 14 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s 10-K as of December 31, 2008, certain environmental costs are subject to recovery from insurance carriers and ratepayers.

As of March 31, 2009, SJI provided $82.6 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. The additional outstanding letters of credit total $20.3 million, and were posted to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided two additional letters of credit under separate facilities outside of the revolving credit facility. Those letters of credit consist of a $25.3 million letter of credit provided by SJG to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the NJEDA to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system; and a $30.7 million letter of credit provided by Marina to support a capital contribution obligation as discussed below. These letters of credit expire in August 2009 and November 2010, respectively.

There were no significant changes to the Company’s contractual obligations described in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008, except for commodity supply purchase obligations which increased by approximately $90.7 million in total since December 31, 2008, due to the origination of new contracts during the first quarter.

Off-Balance Sheet ArrangementsAn 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.

 
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The Company has recorded a liability of $2.0 million in Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2009 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 services 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 has indicated that they are considering different strategies to move the project forward, including opening the project in phases and obtaining a partner, but that it was unlikely construction would resume during 2009.

The district energy system and central energy center are being financed by LVE with debt that is non-recourse to SJI. LVE is currently in discussions with the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address defaults under the financing agreements. These LVE defaults have been caused by the resort developer’s construction delay and the termination of an energy services agreement by a hotel operator associated with the project. Those discussions include revising the timetable and funding schedule for the completion of construction of the energy facilities to reflect the suspension by the resort developer, and the potential contribution of additional equity. SJI, through its subsidiary Marina, is obligated to invest at least $30.4 million of equity during the construction period as discussed below and may contribute additional funds in the project to cover the incremental debt service and other related costs to be incurred during the suspension period resulting from the delay. However, we are unable to definitively quantify our incremental costs at this time, if any, as negotiations over the new terms are ongoing. LVE has proposed a new construction schedule in the form of a work around plan.  LVE and the resort developer will discuss the work around plan which must then be acted upon by an independent engineer.  The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer  includes a payment obligation by the resort developer of certain fixed payments to be made to LVE until the project begins commercial operations. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed by the parent of the resort developer.  As of March 31, 2009, the Company had a net liability of approximately $10.2 million included in Other Current and Noncurrent Liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets related to this project and unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $3.5 million due from LVE. SJI's risk of loss is limited to its equity contribution, contribution obligations and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $35.4 million. During the first quarter of 2009, SJI and the partner in this joint venture each provided support to LVE of approximately $1.6 million to cover project related costs. It is expected that the notes receivable will represent a portion of the total incremental contribution described previously.
 
SJI issued a performance guaranty for up to $180.0 million to the resort developer to ensure that certain construction milestones relating to the development of the thermal facility are met. As a result of achieving certain milestones, the guaranty has been reduced to $94.0 million as of March 31, 2009. Concurrently, SJI is the beneficiary of a surety bond purchased by the project’s general contractor that provides SJI with assurance that construction of the thermal facility will meet those same milestones. Those milestones are currently being revised due to delays announced by the resort developer. In addition, SJI has guaranteed the obligations of LVE under certain insurance policies during the construction period.  The maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that LVE does not have sufficient resources to make deductible payments on future claims under these insurance policies, is approximately $6.0 million.  SJI has also guaranteed certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort, up to $20.0 million each year for the term of the agreement, commencing with the first year of operations.  SJI and the 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 these guarantees. 

 
SJI - 31

 
 


 
·
SJI has also guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest.  BCLE has entered into a 20-year agreement with a county government to lease and operate a facility that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas.  The facility went online in the fourth quarter of 2007.  Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that BCLE does not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or is unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.0 million each year.  SJI and the 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 these guarantees.  SJI holds a variable interest in BCLE but is not the primary beneficiary.

Capital Contribution Obligation -.  In December 2007, Marina and its joint venture partner agreed to each contribute approximately $30.4 million of equity to LVE as part of its construction period financing.  Marina’s obligation is secured by an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank.  The equity contribution is expected to be made in 2009.

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 determine the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs. 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 nonregulated 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.

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 the net unrealized pre-tax loss of $16.3 million and $26.4 million in earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively,  which are included with realized gains and losses in Operating Revenues — Nonutility.  The fair value and maturity of these energy-trading contracts determined under the mark-to-market method as of March 31, 2009 is as follows (in thousands):

Assets
             
Maturity
       
 Source of
Fair Value
 
Maturity
< 1 Year
   
Maturity
1 - 3 Years
   
Beyond
3 Years
   
Total
 
                         
Prices actively quoted
 
$
47,471
   
$
13,581
   
$
241
   
$
61,293
 
                                 
Prices provided by other external sources
   
13,478
     
4,532
     
-
     
18,010
 
                                 
Prices based on internal models or other valuation methods
   
988
     
413
     
-
     
1,401
 
                                 
Total
 
$
61,937
   
$
18,526
   
$
241
   
$
80,704
 


 
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 Liabilities
             
Maturity
       
Source of
 
Maturity
   
Maturity
   
Beyond
       
Fair Value 
 
< 1 Year
   
1 - 3 Years
   
3 Years
   
Total
 
                         
Prices actively quoted
 
$
52,088
   
$
13,493
   
$
76
   
$
65,657
 
                                 
Prices provided by other external sources
   
988
     
(550
   
113
     
551
 
                                 
Prices based on internal models or other valuation methods
   
2,186
     
1,302
     
371
     
3,859
 
                                 
Total
 
$
55,262
   
$
14,245
   
$
560
   
$
70,067
 

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 7.8 million decatherms (dts) with a weighted-average settlement price of $6.98 per dt.  Contracted volumes of our basis contracts are 20.1 million dts with a weighted average settlement price of $0.56 per dt.  Contracted volumes of electric are 2.7 million mwh with a weighted average settlement price of $66 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, 2009
 
$
16,289
 
 Contracts Settled During Three Months Ended March 31, 2009, Net
   
(23,450
)
 Other Changes in Fair Value from Continuing and New Contracts, Net
   
17,798
 
         
Net Derivatives — Energy Related Assets  March 31, 2009
 
$
10,637
 
 
Interest Rate Risk — Our exposure to interest-rate risk relates primarily to short-term, variable-rate borrowings. Short-term, variable-rate debt outstanding at March 31, 2009 was $114.7 million and averaged $176.5 million during the first three months of 2009. A hypothetical 100 basis point (1%) increase in interest rates on our average variable-rate debt outstanding would result in a $1.0 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: 2008 - 397 b.p. decrease; 2007 – 45 b.p. decrease; 2006 — 67 b.p. increase; 2005 — 194 b.p. increase; and 2004 — 115 b.p. decrease.  For March 2009, our average interest rate on variable-rate debt was 1.10%.

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 March 31, 2009, 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. However, due to market conditions during 2008, the demand for auction-rate securities was disrupted resulting in increased interest rate volatility for tax-exempt auction-rate debt.   As a result, the $25.0 million of tax-exempt auction-rate debt issued by the Company (and repurchased in June 2008) was exposed to changes in interest rates that were not completely mitigated by the related interest rate derivatives. The auction rate debt was converted to another form of variable rate debt and resold in the public market in August 2008. In addition, during the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, as a result of unusual market conditions, the interest rate derivatives on Marina’s variable rate demand bonds were not completely effective in mitigating the risks resulting from changes in interest rates. Consequently, the Company incurred approximately $0.2 million of additional interest income and $2.2 million of additional interest expense related to the ineffective portion of these interest rate derivatives during the first quarter of 2009 and the fourth quarter of 2008, respectively.  All of these interest rate derivatives remain in place and are expected to substantially offset future changes in interest rates on the respective securities.

 
SJI - 33

 
 


As of March 31, 2009, SJI’s active interest rate swaps were as follows:
 
Amount
 
Fixed
Interest Rate
 
Start Date
 
Maturity
 
Type
 
Obligor
$
3,900,000
   
4.795 %
 
12/01/2004
 
12/01/2014
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
8,000,000
   
4.775 %
 
11/12/2004
 
11/12/2014
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
20,000,000
   
4.080 %
 
11/19/2001
 
12/01/2011
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
14,500,000
   
3.905 %
 
03/17/2006
 
01/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
500,000
   
3.905 %
 
03/17/2006
 
01/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
330,000
   
3.905 %
 
03/17/2006
 
01/15/2026
 
Tax-exempt
 
Marina
$
7,100,000
   
4.895 %
 
02/01/2006
 
02/01/2016
 
Taxable
 
Marina
$
12,500,000
   
3.430 %
 
12/01/2006
 
02/01/2036
 
Tax-exempt
 
SJG
$
12,500,000
   
3.430 %
 
12/01/2006
 
02/01/2036
 
Tax-exempt
 
SJG

Concentration of Credit Risk - As of March 31, 2009, approximately 44.3% of the current and noncurrent Derivatives – Energy Related Assets or $35.8 million 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.

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 March 31, 2009. 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 March 31, 2009 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 32.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table presents information about purchases by SJI of its own common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2009:

Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased1
   
Average Price
Paid Per Share1
   
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or Programs2
   
Maximum
Number of Shares that
May Yet be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs2
 
January 2009
   
4,062
   
$
37.87
     
-
     
-
 
February 2009
   
3,219
   
$
36.44
     
-
     
-
 
March 2009
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Total
   
7,281
             
-
     
-
 


1The total number of shares purchased and the average price paid per share represent shares purchased in open market transactions under the South Jersey Industries Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “DRP”) by the administrator of the DRP.

                    2On 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 March 31, 2009, no shares have been purchased under this program.

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).


 
SJI - 35

 
 


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: May 11,  2009
 
By: /s/ Edward J. Graham                                        
 
      Edward J. Graham
 
      Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
   
   
   
Dated: May  11,  2009
By: /s/ David A. Kindlick                                      
 
      David A. Kindlick
 
      Vice President & Chief Financial Officer


 
SJI - 36