FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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 June 30, 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 0-296

 

 

El Paso Electric Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Texas   74-0607870

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Stanton Tower, 100 North Stanton, El Paso, Texas   79901
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(915) 543-5711

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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 submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES  ¨    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 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   ¨    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 July 31, 2009, there were 44,968,985 shares of the Company’s no par value common stock outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

     Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Financial Statements   

Consolidated Balance Sheets – June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008

   1

Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three Months, Six Months and Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   3

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Operations – Three Months, Six Months and Twelve Months Ended June  30, 2009 and 2008

   5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   7

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   33

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   34

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   53

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   53
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   54

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   54

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   54

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   54

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   55

 

(i)


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

      June 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

(In thousands)

    

Utility plant:

    

Electric plant in service

   $ 2,331,614      $ 2,223,066   

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (945,718     (919,053
                

Net plant in service

     1,385,896        1,304,013   

Construction work in progress

     190,947        205,748   

Nuclear fuel; includes fuel in process of $61,220 and $51,352, respectively

     127,790        115,749   

Less accumulated amortization

     (31,711     (29,904
                

Net nuclear fuel

     96,079        85,845   
                

Net utility plant

     1,672,922        1,595,606   
                

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

     83,709        91,642   

Accounts receivable, principally trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,644 and $3,123, respectively

     93,008        96,507   

Accumulated deferred income taxes

     15,375        —     

Inventories, at cost

     38,140        40,153   

Undercollection of fuel revenues

     1,218        41,034   

Prepayments and other

     16,138        16,292   
                

Total current assets

     247,588        285,628   
                

Deferred charges and other assets:

    

Decommissioning trust funds

     119,149        111,306   

Undercollection of fuel revenues, non current

     —          5,823   

Regulatory assets

     52,444        48,616   

Investments in debt securities

     2,425        2,264   

Other

     20,574        19,840   
                

Total deferred charges and other assets

     194,592        187,849   
                

Total assets

   $ 2,115,102      $ 2,069,083   
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

 

     June 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 
     (Unaudited)        

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

(In thousands except for share data)

    

Capitalization:

    

Common stock, stated value $1 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 64,654,847 and 64,604,852 shares issued, and 160,360 and 127,800 restricted shares, respectively

   $ 64,815      $ 64,733   

Capital in excess of stated value

     296,328        295,346   

Retained earnings

     668,362        643,322   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

     (23,522     (29,364
                
     1,005,983        974,037   

Treasury stock, 19,848,900 shares, at cost

     (279,808     (279,808
                

Common stock equity

     726,175        694,229   

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     739,674        739,652   

Financing obligations, net of current portion

     69,464        70,066   
                

Total capitalization

     1,535,313        1,503,947   
                

Current liabilities:

    

Current portion of long-term debt and financing obligations

     34,029        23,587   

Accounts payable, principally trade

     42,861        61,550   

Accumulated deferred income taxes

     —          4,209   

Taxes accrued

     24,072        23,798   

Interest accrued

     9,671        7,519   

Overcollection of fuel revenues

     5,979        —     

Other

     24,299        24,146   
                

Total current liabilities

     140,911        144,809   
                

Deferred credits and other liabilities:

    

Accumulated deferred income taxes

     195,033        175,816   

Accrued postretirement benefit liability

     87,995        85,797   

Asset retirement obligation

     81,696        78,037   

Accrued pension liability

     36,833        39,101   

Regulatory liabilities

     13,874        14,469   

Other

     23,447        27,107   
                

Total deferred credits and other liabilities

     438,878        420,327   
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Total capitalization and liabilities

   $ 2,115,102      $ 2,069,083   
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands except for share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Operating revenues

   $ 203,649      $ 284,405      $ 394,085      $ 524,645   
                                

Energy expenses:

        

Fuel

     43,883        86,804        86,176        147,735   

Purchased and interchanged power

     28,295        61,218        57,693        116,576   
                                
     72,178        148,022        143,869        264,311   
                                

Operating revenues net of energy expenses

     131,471        136,383        250,216        260,334   
                                

Other operating expenses:

        

Other operations

     50,634        49,905        99,938        96,739   

Maintenance

     16,404        20,574        29,775        38,070   

Depreciation and amortization

     18,706        18,774        36,385        37,391   

Taxes other than income taxes

     12,511        12,321        25,028        24,099   
                                
     98,255        101,574        191,126        196,299   
                                

Operating income

     33,216        34,809        59,090        64,035   
                                

Other income (deductions):

        

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     2,623        1,852        5,212        3,658   

Investment and interest income, net

     (1,150     1,406        (1,636     2,035   

Miscellaneous non-operating income

     549        145        761        351   

Miscellaneous non-operating deductions

     (726     (249     (2,041     (2,226
                                
     1,296        3,154        2,296        3,818   
                                

Interest charges (credits):

        

Interest on long-term debt and financing obligations

     12,196        10,577        26,120        20,682   

Other interest

     82        345        252        557   

Capitalized interest

     (246     (833     (496     (2,128

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction

     (1,691     (888     (3,373     (1,750
                                
     10,341        9,201        22,503        17,361   
                                

Income before income taxes

     24,171        28,762        38,883        50,492   

Income tax expense

     8,740        9,528        13,843        16,770   
                                

Net income

   $ 15,431      $ 19,234      $ 25,040      $ 33,722   
                                

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.34      $ 0.43      $ 0.56      $ 0.75   
                                

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.34      $ 0.43      $ 0.56      $ 0.75   
                                

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     44,782,749        44,686,103        44,769,843        44,823,527   
                                

Weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding

     44,792,345        44,836,274        44,791,380        45,013,668   
                                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands except for share data)

 

     Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Operating revenues

   $ 908,370      $ 994,364   
                

Energy expenses:

    

Fuel

     228,257        284,277   

Purchased and interchanged power

     151,600        181,411   
                
     379,857        465,688   
                

Operating revenues net of energy expenses

     528,513        528,676   
                

Other operating expenses:

    

Other operations

     203,607        199,461   

Maintenance

     58,815        66,378   

Depreciation and amortization

     74,565        72,654   

Taxes other than income taxes

     50,735        49,187   
                
     387,722        387,680   
                

Operating income

     140,791        140,996   
                

Other income (deductions):

    

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     9,833        7,178   

Investment and interest income, net

     127        7,767   

Miscellaneous non-operating income

     2,887        1,375   

Miscellaneous non-operating deductions

     (3,434     (4,287
                
     9,413        12,033   
                

Interest charges (credits):

    

Interest on long-term debt and financing obligations

     53,043        39,492   

Other interest

     903        1,013   

Capitalized interest

     (1,988     (4,035

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction

     (5,596     (3,570
                
     46,362        32,900   
                

Income before income taxes

     103,842        120,129   

Income tax expense

     34,903        36,372   
                

Net income

   $ 68,939      $ 83,757   
                

Basic earnings per share

   $ 1.54      $ 1.85   
                

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 1.53      $ 1.84   
                

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     44,751,020        45,070,647   
                

Weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding

     44,819,062        45,305,418   
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net income

   $ 15,431      $ 19,234      $ 25,040      $ 33,722      $ 68,939      $ 83,757   

Other comprehensive income (loss):

            

Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs:

            

Net gain (loss) arising during period

     —          —          —          —          (30,587     40,625   

Reclassification adjustments included in net income for amortization of:

            

Prior service benefit

     (677     (677     (1,377     (1,377     (2,754     (2,755

Net (gain) loss

     412        (100     812        (75     735        1,602   

Net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:

            

Net holding gains (losses) arising during period

     7,749        (1,209     2,358        (8,023     (19,398     (5,744

Reclassification adjustments for net (gains) losses included in net income

     2,798        481        5,271        675        7,472        (831

Net losses on cash flow hedges:

            

Reclassification adjustment for interest expense included in net income

     79        73        156        146        307        287   
                                                

Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes

     10,361        (1,432     7,220        (8,654     (44,225     33,184   
                                                

Income tax benefit (expense) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss):

            

Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs

     96        168        205        412        11,715        (17,518

Net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities

     (2,110     145        (1,526     1,469        2,386        1,315   

Losses on cash flow hedges

     (29     (26     (57     (53     (112     (106
                                                

Total income tax benefit (expense)

     (2,043     287        (1,378     1,828        13,989        (16,309
                                                

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     8,318        (1,145     5,842        (6,826     (30,236     16,875   
                                                

Comprehensive income

   $ 23,749      $ 18,089      $ 30,882      $ 26,896      $ 38,703      $ 100,632   
                                                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 25,040      $ 33,722   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization of electric plant in service

     36,385        37,391   

Amortization of nuclear fuel

     11,001        9,379   

Deferred income taxes, net

     (4,186     15,160   

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     (5,212     (3,658

Other amortization and accretion

     7,247        6,992   

Unrealized (gain) loss on investment in debt securities

     (161     971   

Other operating activities

     3,760        1,823   

Change in:

    

Accounts receivable

     3,499        (21,442

Inventories

     1,764        (1,878

Net overcollection (undercollection) of fuel revenues

     51,618        (38,635

Prepayments and other

     (2,947     3,763   

Accounts payable

     (13,687     15,949   

Taxes accrued

     2,344        (6,001

Interest accrued

     2,152        1,018   

Other current liabilities

     153        (221

Deferred charges and credits

     (7,459     (5,511
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     111,311        48,822   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Cash additions to utility property, plant and equipment

     (99,795     (94,725

Cash additions to nuclear fuel

     (20,199     (18,958

Proceeds from sale of assets

     466        144   

Capitalized interest and AFUDC:

    

Utility property, plant and equipment

     (8,585     (5,408

Nuclear fuel

     (496     (2,128

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     5,212        3,658   

Decommissioning trust funds:

    

Purchases, including funding of $3.9 and $3.6 million, respectively

     (24,715     (22,375

Sales and maturities

     20,812        16,813   

Proceeds from sale of investment in debt securities

     —          16,000   

Other investing activities

     (2     (2,938
                

Net cash used for investing activities

     (127,302     (109,917
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     —          1,004   

Repurchases of common stock

     —          (9,892

Proceeds from issuance of long-term notes

     —          148,719   

Financing obligations:

    

Proceeds

     171,305        64,843   

Payments

     (161,465     (52,762

Excess tax benefits from long-term incentive plans

     —          373   

Other financing activities

     (1,782     (2,141
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     8,058        150,144   
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (7,933     89,049   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     91,642        4,976   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 83,709      $ 94,025   
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

A. Principles of Preparation

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Annual Report of El Paso Electric Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “2008 Form 10-K”). Capitalized terms used in this report and not defined herein have the meaning ascribed for such terms in the 2008 Form 10-K. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008; the results of its operations and comprehensive operations for the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008; and its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. The results of operations and comprehensive operations and the cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full calendar year.

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain financial information has been condensed and certain footnote disclosures have been omitted. Such information and disclosures are normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

Investments in Debt Securities. The Company invested excess cash in auction rate securities with contract maturity dates that extended beyond three months. These securities are classified as trading securities by the Company. These investments pay interest and are reported at fair value in deferred charges and other assets. See Note K.

Investments. The Company’s marketable securities, including those in decommissioning trust funds on the balance sheets, are reported at fair value and consist of cash, equity securities and municipal, federal and corporate bonds in trust funds established for decommissioning of its interest in Palo Verde. Such marketable securities are classified as “available-for-sale” securities and, as such, unrealized gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of common stock equity. However, if declines in fair value of marketable securities below original cost basis are determined to be other than temporary, then the declines are reported as losses in the consolidated statement of operations and a new cost basis is established for the affected securities at fair value. Gains and losses are determined using the cost of the security based on the specific identification basis. See Note K.

Revenues. Accounts receivable include accrued unbilled revenues of $22.2 million and $18.6 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. The Company presents sales net of sales taxes in its consolidated statements of operations.

Stock-Based Compensation. The Company has a stock-based long-term incentive plan. SFAS No. 123 (revised) “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with some limited exceptions). Such costs are recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award (the “requisite

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

service period”) which typically is the vesting period. Compensation cost is not recognized for anticipated forfeitures prior to vesting of equity instruments. See Note E.

New Accounting Standards. Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the FASB Staff Position EITF 03-6-1 “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities,” (“FSP EITF 03-6-1”) which requires a public entity to include share-based compensation awards that qualify as participating securities in both basic and diluted earnings per share. A share-based compensation award is considered a participating security if it receives non-forfeitable dividends or may participate in undistributed earnings with common stock. The Company awards unvested restricted stock which qualifies as participating securities, and has reflected the effects of FSP EITF 03-6-1 in its basic and diluted earnings per share for all periods presented. See Note E.

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” The statement defines fair value, outlines a framework for measuring fair value, and details the required disclosures about fair value measurements. On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 157-4 (“FSP 157-4”). FSP 157-4 provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 157, when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. FSP 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and shall be applied prospectively. FSP 157-4 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note K.

Effective April 1, 2009, the Company adopted the FASB Staff Position 107-1 and Accounting Principles Board Opinion 28-1 (“FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1”). FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 amend SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” and APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting.” FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements. FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 did not impact amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements but resulted in additional footnote disclosure. See Note K.

Effective April 1, 2009, the Company adopted the FASB Staff Position 115-2 and 124-2 (“FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2”). FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 amend 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. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 did not have a significant impact on amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note K.

Effective April 1, 2009, the Company adopted the SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events.” SFAS No. 165 establishes general standards of accounting for disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued. The Company evaluated subsequent events for recording and disclosure through August 6, 2009.

 

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In December 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 132(R)-1 (“FSP 132(R)-1”), which amends FASB No. 132(R), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits,” to provide guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plan. FSP 132(R)-1 requires additional disclosure on investment policies and strategies, categories and fair value measurements of plan assets, and significant concentrations of risk. FSP 132(R)-1 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. FSP 132(R)-1 requires additional disclosure on pensions and other postretirement benefits but does not impact the consolidated financial results.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162.” SFAS No. 168 states that the FASB Accounting Standard Codification™ (the “Codification”) will become the source of authoritative U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Following SFAS No. 168, the FASB will not issue new standards in the form of Statements, FASB Staff Positions, or Emerging Issues Task Force Abstracts. Instead, it will issue Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”). SFAS No. 168 applies to financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. SFAS No. 168 is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. SFAS No. 168 should not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements although references to GAAP will change to Codification references.

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures (in thousands)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008

Cash paid for:

     

Interest on long-term debt and financing obligations

   $ 23,522    $ 18,393

Other interest

     4      192

Income taxes paid

     12,938      1,417

Non-cash financing activities:

     

Grants of restricted shares of common stock

     1,230      2,273

B. Regulation

General

The rates and services of the Company are regulated by incorporated municipalities in Texas, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (the “PUCT”), the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (the “NMPRC”), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the “FERC”). The PUCT and the NMPRC have jurisdiction to review municipal orders, ordinances, and utility agreements regarding rates and services within their respective states and over certain other activities of the Company. The FERC

 

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has jurisdiction over the Company’s wholesale transactions. The decisions of the PUCT, NMPRC and the FERC are subject to judicial review.

Texas Regulatory Matters

Texas Freeze Period. The Company has entered into agreements (“Texas Rate Agreements”) with El Paso, PUCT Staff and other parties in Texas that provide for most retail base rates to remain at their current level through June 30, 2010. During the rate freeze period, if the Company’s return on equity falls below the bottom of a defined range, the Company has the right to initiate a rate case and seek an adjustment to base rates. If the Company’s return on equity exceeds the top of the range, the Company will refund an amount equal to 50% of the Texas jurisdictional pretax return in excess of the ceiling. The range is based upon a risk premium analysis used in rate proceedings to establish a utility’s return on equity, and as of June 30, 2009, the range would be approximately 9.8% to 13.8%. The Company’s return on equity fell within the then prevailing range during the latest calendar year reporting period. Also pursuant to the Texas Rate Agreements, the Company agreed to share with its Texas customers 25% of off-system sales margins and wheeling revenues increasing to 90% of off-system sales margins after June 30, 2010 through June 30, 2015.

Fuel and Purchased Power Costs. Although the Company’s base rates are frozen pursuant to the Texas Rate Agreements, the Company’s actual fuel costs, including purchased power energy costs, are recoverable from its customers. The PUCT has adopted a rule establishing the recovery of fuel costs (“Texas Fuel Rule”) that allows the Company to seek adjustments to its fixed fuel factor three times per year in February, June and October. The Texas Fuel Rule provides for the fixed fuel factor to be based upon projected fuel and purchased power costs and projected kilowatt-hour sales for a twelve-month period. The Texas Fuel Rule also allows for the Company to request a formula to determine its fuel factor. Once a formula is approved, the Company could seek to revise its fixed fuel factor based upon the approved formula at least four months after its last revision except in the month of December. The Texas Fuel Rule requires the Company to request to refund fuel costs in any month when the over-recovery balance exceeds a threshold material amount and it expects to continue to be materially over-recovered. The Texas Fuel Rule also permits the Company to seek to surcharge fuel under-recoveries in any month the balance exceeds a threshold material amount and it expects to continue to be materially under-recovered. Fuel over and under recoveries are considered material when they exceed 4% of the previous twelve months fuel costs. All such fuel revenue and expense activities are subject to periodic final review by the PUCT in fuel reconciliation proceedings.

On January 8, 2008, the Company filed a request with the PUCT in PUC Docket No. 35204 to surcharge approximately $30.1 million, including interest, of under-recovered fuel and purchased power costs to be collected over a twelve-month period. The fuel under-recoveries were incurred during the period December 2005 through November 2007. On April 11, 2008, the PUCT issued a final order approving the fuel surcharge to be collected over a twelve-month period beginning in May 2008.

On July 8, 2008, the Company filed a petition in PUC Docket No. 35856 with the PUCT to increase its fixed fuel factors and to surcharge $39.5 million of under-recovered fuel and purchased power costs including interest, beginning in 2008. The surcharge was based upon actual under-

 

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recoveries for the period December 2007 through May 2008 and expected under-recoveries for June and July 2008. On September 25, 2008, the PUCT issued a final order approving an increase in the Company’s Texas jurisdictional fixed fuel factors of $38.8 million or 21.5% annually beginning with customer bills rendered in October 2008. In addition, the PUCT approved the recovery of $39.5 million in fuel under-recoveries over an 18-month period beginning in October 2008.

On April 1, 2009, the Company filed with the PUCT to terminate the interim fuel surcharge authorized in Docket No. 35856. This request was assigned Docket No. 36864. The Company’s request was a result of the over-recovery of fuel costs under the Company’s fixed fuel factor effective in October 2008 which largely offset the remaining balance of the fuel surcharge. The fuel over-recoveries were the result of the significant drop in natural gas prices since the fixed fuel factor went into effect in October 2008. On April 23, 2009, the Company received approval from the PUCT to terminate the fuel surcharge effective for customer bills rendered in May 2009 and thereafter.

On June 5, 2009, the Company filed a petition with the PUCT to decrease its fixed fuel factors by 13.1%, or $27.9 million, beginning with bills rendered in September 2009 or August 2009, if feasible. This petition was assigned PUCT Docket No. 37086. On July 30, 2009, the PUCT approved a stipulation which provided for approval of the new factors effective for customer bills rendered beginning in August 2009.

New Mexico Regulatory Matters

2007 New Mexico Stipulation. In July 2007, the NMPRC issued a final order approving a stipulation (“2007 New Mexico Stipulation”) addressing all issues in the 2006 rate filing in Case No. 06-00258-UT. The 2007 New Mexico Stipulation provided for a $5.8 million non-fuel base rate increase, established the amount of fuel and purchased power included in base rates at $0.04288 per kWh, and modified the Company’s Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Adjustment Clause (the “FPPCAC”). Any difference between actual fuel and purchased power costs and the amount included in base rates is recovered or refunded through the FPPCAC. Rates will continue in effect until changed by the NMPRC following the Company’s pending rate case.

The 2007 New Mexico Stipulation provides for recovery through the FPPCAC of the cost of capacity and energy provided to New Mexico retail customers from the deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3. The amount to be recovered is based upon the monthly contract cost of capacity and energy for power purchased under the existing Southwestern Public Service Company (“SPS”) purchased power contract. In February and March 2009, the volumes delivered to the Company over the transmission tie used to import SPS power were materially lower than normal due to operational constraints. This reduction in volume resulted in contract formula prices for Palo Verde Unit 3 power that were significantly higher than what were foreseen by the 2007 New Mexico Stipulation. The Company addressed this price spike due to operational constraints by proposing to adjust the proxy price in February 2009 to $54.27 per MWh (January 2009 monthly calculated price) and in March 2009 to $64.38 per MWh (12 months ending January 2009 average price) which is approximately 28% and 55% of the price calculated utilizing the formula from the 2007 New Mexico Stipulation. Because the operational constraints limiting the SPS purchases are expected to continue during 2009, the Company on April 24, 2009

 

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requested approval of an unopposed variance to the calculation of the Palo Verde Unit 3 proxy price to be the lower of the monthly cost of capacity and energy under the SPS purchased power contract or the average cost of capacity and energy under the SPS purchased power contract for the twelve months ended January 2009 of $64.38 per MWh. The variance is based on language in the 2007 New Mexico Stipulation governing repricing should the SPS contract be modified or terminated.

The 2007 New Mexico Stipulation also requires 25% of jurisdictional off-system sales margins to be credited to customers through the FPPCAC until July 2010 when 90% of jurisdictional off-system sales margins will be credited to customers.

On May 29, 2009, the Company filed with the NMPRC a new and pending rate case (Case No. 09-00171-UT) to increase non-fuel and purchased power base rates by $12.7 million annually. The filing reflects a projected reduction of $21.3 million in fuel related revenues (based upon the difference in test year period ended December 31, 2008 and the Forecast Period of forecasted fuel and purchased power costs for the twelve month period beginning July 1, 2010 when new rates would be expected to become effective under full statutory rate suspension periods) for a projected net decrease in New Mexico jurisdictional fuel and purchased power revenues of $8.6 million. The filing complied with the requirement in the NMPRC’s Final Order in Case No. 06-00258-UT to file a general rate case by May 30, 2009 using a test year period ended December 31, 2008.

On June 10, 2009, the NMPRC issued an order suspending the effective date of new rates for nine months from July 1, 2009, designating a hearing examiner and mediator and establishing an initial mediation conference on July 28, 2009. A procedural schedule has been adopted that provides for a hearing in the case to begin on November 2, 2009.

FPPCAC Rulemaking and Workshops. The NMPRC has docketed workshops (Case No. 07-00389-UT) to review consistency and potential changes to the FPPCAC rule in New Mexico. Comments have been filed by parties and workshops have been held for discussion and consideration of any changes to the existing FPPCAC rule that could be included in a new rulemaking proceeding.

Pollution Control Bond Refunding. On March 20, 2008, the Company filed an application with the NMPRC requesting authority for long-term securities transactions necessary to refund and reissue certain Pollution Control Refunding Revenue Bonds (the “PCBs”). On April 22, 2008, the NMPRC issued a final order granting the Company the authority to enter into the securities transactions necessary to refund and reissue the Company’s Series B and Series C PCBs. On March 26, 2009, the Company completed a refunding transaction related to an aggregate principal amount of $100.6 million in pollution control indebtedness. See Note F.

Notice of Investigation of Rates. On August 3, 2007, the Company received a “Notice of Investigation of Rates of El Paso Electric Company” from the NMPRC in Case No. 07-00317-UT. On August 21, 2007, the NMPRC requested that the Company file a response to the issues, including the reasonableness of fuel and purchased power costs. On September 7, 2007, the Company filed its response and requested that the NMPRC suspend its investigation and close the docket. No further

 

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action has been taken by the NMPRC. The Company is unable at this time to predict the ultimate outcome of this docket.

New Mexico Investigation into Executive Compensation. In December 2007, the NMPRC initiated an investigation into executive compensation of investor-owned gas and electric public utilities. In its order initiating the investigation, the NMPRC required each utility to provide information on compensation of executive officers and directors for the period 1977-2006. The Company provided the requested information. No further action has been taken by the NMPRC.

2009 New Mexico Integrated Resource Plan Filing. On July 16, 2009, the Company submitted its initial Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”) pursuant to the requirements of NMPRC Rule, 17.7.3. The filing identifies the Company’s four-year action plan to meet resource needs based upon a twenty-year resource plan. The four-year action plan includes the addition of a natural gas fired combustion turbine in 2012; a competitive-bid request for proposals to add a combined cycle plant in three phases in 2013, 2014, and 2016; evaluation of a direct load control project for possible integration in the resource plan; and a competitive-bid request for proposals to acquire additional wind and biomass renewable resources in 2013 and 2015 to comply with the New Mexico Renewable Portfolio Standard Requirements. The NMPRC may accept the proposed IRP as compliant with its rules without a hearing or may conduct a hearing on the plan. Protests must be filed before August 16, 2009. If there are no protests, a final resolution is expected in the third quarter.

2009 New Mexico Annual Renewable Procurement Plan Filing. On July 1, 2009, the Company filed its 2009 Annual Renewable Procurement Plan in compliance with the New Mexico Renewable Energy Act. The Company’s 2009 plan is designed to meet the full renewable portfolio standard (“RPS”) of 6 percent of New Mexico jurisdictional retail energy sales for 2010 and 10 percent beginning in 2011. The Company requested approval by the NMPRC of the following proposals: 1) to increase the solar resources used for RPS compliance pursuant to the long-term contract with New Mexico SunTower, LLC; 2) to pay an additional $0.015 per kWh for renewable energy credits (“RECs”) obtained from a biomass energy facility; and 3) to modify and expand the Company’s existing REC purchase program for customer-installed qualifying facilities up to 10 kW and to add a program for customer-installed qualifying facilities of 10 kW to 100 kW. Hearings are scheduled to begin October 1, 2009 and a final order is expected in December 2009.

Federal Regulatory Matters

Transmission Dispute with Tucson Electric Power Company (“TEP”). In January 2006, the Company filed a complaint with the FERC to interpret the terms of a Power Exchange and Transmission Agreement (the “Transmission Agreement”) entered into with TEP in 1982. TEP filed a complaint with the FERC one day later raising virtually identical issues. TEP claimed that, under the Transmission Agreement, it was entitled to up to 400 MW of firm transmission rights on the Company’s transmission system that would enable it to transmit power from a generating station (the Luna Energy Facility (“LEF”) located near Deming, New Mexico) to Springerville or Greenlee in Arizona. The Company asserted that TEP’s rights under the Transmission Agreement do not include transmission rights

 

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necessary to transmit such power as contemplated by TEP and that TEP must acquire any such rights in the open market from the Company at applicable tariff rates or from other transmission providers. On April 24, 2006, the FERC ruled in the Company’s favor, finding that TEP does not have the transmission rights under the Transmission Agreement to transmit power from the LEF to Arizona. The ruling was based on written evidence presented and without an evidentiary hearing. TEP’s request for a rehearing of the FERC’s decision was granted in part and denied in part in an order issued October 4, 2006, and hearings on the disputed issues were held before an administrative law judge. In the initial decision dated September 6, 2007, the administrative law judge found that the Transmission Agreement allows TEP to transmit power from the LEF to Arizona but limits that transmission to 200 MW on any segment of the circuit and to non-firm service on the segment from Luna to Greenlee. The Company and TEP filed exceptions to the initial decision.

On November 13, 2008, the FERC issued an order on the initial decision finding that the transmission rights given to TEP in the Transmission Agreement are firm and are not restricted for transmission of power from Springerville as the receipt point to Greenlee as the delivery point. Therefore, pursuant to the order, TEP can use its transmission rights granted under the Transmission Agreement to transmit power from the LEF to either Springerville or Greenlee so long as it transmits no more than 200 MW over all segments at any one time. The FERC also ordered that the Company refund to TEP all sums with interest that TEP had paid it for transmission under the applicable transmission service agreements since February 2006 for service relating to the LEF. On December 3, 2008 the Company refunded $9.7 million to TEP. The Company had established a reserve for rate refund of approximately $7.2 million as of September 30, 2008, resulting in a pre-tax charge to earnings of approximately $2.5 million in 2008. The Company also paid TEP interest on the refunded balance of approximately $0.9 million which was also charged to earnings in 2008. If the order is not reversed, the Company will lose the opportunity to receive compensation from TEP for such transmission service in the future. The Company filed a request for rehearing of the FERC’s decision on December 15, 2008, seeking reversal of the order on the merits and a return of any refunds made in the interim, as well as compensation for all service that the Company may provide to TEP from the LEF over the Company’s transmission system on a going forward basis. The FERC suspended the period for ruling on the motion for rehearing on January 14, 2009. If the FERC denies the Company’s request for rehearing or again finds against the Company on rehearing, the Company will have the right to seek judicial review of the order. The Company cannot predict the outcome of such potential future proceedings.

Pollution Control Bond Refunding. On April 4, 2008, the Company filed an application with the FERC requesting authority for long-term securities transactions necessary to refund and reissue the Company’s Series B and Series C PCBs. The FERC issued an order on May 1, 2008 granting authority for the securities transactions. On March 26, 2009, the Company completed a refunding transaction related to an aggregate principal amount of $100.6 million in pollution control indebtedness. See Note F.

 

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C. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s operations are regulated by the PUCT, the NMPRC and the FERC. The provisions of SFAS No. 71 are applied to its regulated operations. Regulatory assets represent probable future recovery of previously incurred costs, which will be collected from customers through the ratemaking process. Regulatory liabilities represent probable future reductions in revenues associated with amounts that are to be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Regulatory assets and liabilities reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are presented below (in thousands):

 

     Amortization
Period Ends
  June 30,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Regulatory assets

       

New Mexico procurement plan costs

   (a)   $ 503    $ 464

New Mexico and FERC loss on reacquired debt (b)

   May 2030     5,479      5,585

New Mexico renewable energy credits

   (a)     2,617      2,278

New Mexico 2006 rate case costs (b)

   June 2010     186      294

New Mexico 2009 rate case costs

   (c)     450      —  

New Mexico Palo Verde deferred depreciation (b)

   (d)     2,333      1,713

New Mexico energy efficiency

   (e)     261      231

New Mexico transition costs (b)

   June 2010     287      575

Unrecovered issuance costs due to reissuance of PCBs

   April 2040     635      —  

Texas energy efficiency

   (f)     2,005      986

Regulatory assets pursuant to SFAS No. 109 (g)

   (d)     26,214      24,326

Final coal reclamation (g)

   July 2016     9,532      9,682

Nuclear fuel postload daily financing charge

   (e)     1,942      2,482
               

Total regulatory assets

     $ 52,444    $ 48,616
               

Regulatory liabilities

       

Regulatory liabilities pursuant to SFAS No. 109 (g)

   (d)   $ 8,424    $ 8,839

Accumulated deferred investment tax credit (h)

   (d)     5,450      5,630
               

Total regulatory liabilities

     $ 13,874    $ 14,469
               

 

(a) A two year amortization period was requested in the New Mexico general rate case filed in May 2009.
(b) This item is included in rate base which earns a return on investment.
(c) A one year amortization period was requested in the New Mexico general rate case filed in May 2009.
(d) The amortization period for this asset is based upon the life of the associated assets.
(e) This asset will be recovered through a recovery factor after expenses are incurred.
(f) Amortization period will be established in next general rate case.
(g) No specific return on investment is required since related assets and liabilities, including accumulated deferred income taxes and reclamation liability, offset.
(h) This item is excluded from rate base.

 

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D. Palo Verde

NRC. The NRC regulates the operation of all commercial nuclear power reactors in the United States, including Palo Verde. The NRC periodically conducts inspections of nuclear facilities and monitors performance indicators to enable the agency to arrive at objective conclusions about a licensee’s safety performance. Based on this assessment information and using a cornerstone evaluation system, the NRC determines the appropriate level of agency response and oversight, including supplemental inspections and pertinent regulatory actions as necessary. The NRC had placed Palo Verde Unit 3 in the “multiple/repetitive degraded cornerstone” column of the NRC’s action matrix for which corrective actions resulted in increased operating costs at the plant. On March 24, 2009, the NRC announced that it is removing Palo Verde Unit 3 from the “multiple/repetitive degraded cornerstone” column of the NRC’s action matrix and returning all three units of the plant to routine inspection and oversight. This notification follows the NRC’s completion of its inspections of the corrective actions taken by Palo Verde to address performance deficiencies. The NRC has closed the confirmatory action letter that outlined the performance deficiencies and associated corrective actions.

E. Common Stock

Long-Term Incentive Plan

On May 2, 2007, the Company’s shareholders approved a stock-based long-term incentive plan and authorized the issuance of up to one million shares of common stock for the benefit of directors and employees. Under the plan, common stock may be issued through the award or grant of non-statutory stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, bonus stock, performance stock, cash-based awards and other stock-based awards. The Company may issue new shares, purchase shares on the open market, or issue shares from shares the Company has repurchased to meet the share requirements of these plans. As discussed in Note A, the Company accounts for its stock-based long-term incentive plan under SFAS No. 123 (revised).

Stock Options. Stock options have been granted at exercise prices equal to or greater than the market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant. No options were exercised during the first six months of 2009. The Company received $1.0 million in cash for the 88,000 stock options exercised in the first six months of 2008. All of the 465,888 options outstanding at June 30, 2009 have vested. Stock options have not been granted since 2003. For a full discussion of stock options, see Note F of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2008 Form 10-K.

Restricted Stock. The Company has awarded restricted stock under its long-term incentive plans. Restrictions from resale generally lapse and awards vest over periods of one to three years. The market value of the unvested restricted stock at the date of grant is amortized to expense over the restriction period net of anticipated forfeitures. The Company awarded 93,605 shares of unvested restricted stock with a grant date fair value of $1.3 million to its directors and officers during the six months ended June 30, 2009. The Company awarded 74,095 shares of unvested restricted stock with a grant date fair value of $1.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2008. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, 49,995 restricted shares vested and 11,050 shares were forfeited. As of June 30, 2009, there are 160,360 unvested shares of restricted stock with a grant date fair value of $1.7 million remaining to be

 

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expensed. For a full discussion of restricted stock, see Note F of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2008 Form 10-K.

Performance Shares. The Company has granted performance share awards to certain officers under the Company’s existing long-term incentive plans, which provide for issuance of Company stock based on the achievement of certain performance criteria over a three-year period. The payout varies between 0% and 200% of performance share awards. Performance shares vesting on January 1, 2009 did not meet the minimum payout threshold and no shares were issued. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company granted 131,500 performance shares to its officers with a grant date fair value of $1.6 million which is being expensed over the three-year vesting period. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, 36,350 performance shares were forfeited. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company granted 63,500 performance shares with a grant date fair value of $1.1 million which is expensed over the three-year vesting period. As of June 30, 2009, there were 197,900 outstanding performance shares with a grant date fair value of $1.5 million remaining to be expensed. For a full discussion of performance shares, see Note F of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2008 Form 10-K.

The Company recorded total compensation expense for all stock-based incentive plans of approximately $0.3 million, $1.1 million and $2.3 million for the three, six and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2009. For the three, six and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2008, the Company recorded total compensation expense of $0.5 million, $0.9 million and $2.5 million for all stock-based incentive plans which included the cumulative adjustment for Mr. Redd’s forfeiture discussed below.

Separation Agreement with Ershel Redd

On February 12, 2008, the Company entered into an employment separation agreement with Ershel Redd, the Company’s former chief executive officer. In satisfaction of any and all obligations resulting from Mr. Redd’s service to the Company, he received a $1.65 million lump sum payment, in addition to two years of Company-paid medical benefits. All of Mr. Redd’s unvested restricted shares and performance shares awarded were forfeited in accordance with the Company’s long-term incentive plan which resulted in a net cumulative adjustment of $0.2 million recorded as a reduction of compensation costs in the first quarter of 2008.

Common Stock Repurchase Program

In November 2007, the Board authorized the repurchase of up to 2 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “2007 Plan”). No shares remain available under previous plans. No shares were repurchased during the first six months of 2009. As of June 30, 2009, the Company had 1,521,366 shares authorized for repurchase under the 2007 Plan. Since the inception of the stock repurchase program in 1999, the Company has repurchased a total of approximately 19.8 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $279.3 million, including commissions. The Company may in the future make purchases of its common stock pursuant to the 2007 Plan in open market transactions at prevailing prices and may engage in private transactions where appropriate. The repurchased shares will be available for issuance under employee benefit and stock incentive plans, or may be retired.

 

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Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the FSP EITF 03-6-1 which requires a public entity to include share-based compensation awards that qualify as participating securities in both basic and diluted earnings per share to the extent they are dilutive. A share-based compensation award is considered a participating security if it receives non-forfeitable dividends or may participate in undistributed earnings with common stock. The Company awards unvested restricted stock which qualifies as participating securities. The basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 were unchanged after adopting FSP EITF 03-6-1. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended June 30, 2008 decreased by $0.01. The basic and diluted earnings per share including the effects of adopting FSP EITF 03-6-1 are presented below:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,  
     2009     2008  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

    

Basic number of common shares outstanding

     44,782,749        44,686,103   

Dilutive effect of unvested performance awards

     —          —     

Dilutive effect of stock options

     9,596        150,171   
                

Diluted number of common shares outstanding

     44,792,345        44,836,274   
                

Basic net income per common share:

    

Net income

   $ 15,431      $ 19,234   

Income allocated to participating restricted stock

     (58     (45
                

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 15,373      $ 19,189   
                

Diluted net income per common share:

    

Net income

   $ 15,431      $ 19,234   

Income reallocated to participating restricted stock

     (58     (45
                

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 15,373      $ 19,189   
                

Basic net income per common share

   $ 0.34      $ 0.43   
                

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.34      $ 0.43   
                

The calculation of the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, excludes 44,363 and 30,873 shares, respectively, of restricted stock awards because their effect was antidilutive.

Performance shares of 222,267 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended June 30, 2009 as no payouts would be required based upon current performance. These amounts assume a 100% performance level payout. Performance shares of 138,344 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended June 30, 2008.

Stock options of 214,440 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended June 30, 2009 as the exercise price was greater than the average stock price for these periods. No options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share in 2008.

 

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     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2009     2008  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

    

Basic number of common shares outstanding

     44,769,843        44,823,527   

Dilutive effect of unvested performance awards

     —          25,281   

Dilutive effect of stock options

     21,537        164,860   
                

Diluted number of common shares outstanding

     44,791,380        45,013,668   
                

Basic net income per common share:

    

Net income

   $ 25,040      $ 33,722   

Income allocated to participating restricted stock

     (88     (82
                

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 24,952      $ 33,640   
                

Diluted net income per common share:

    

Net income

   $ 25,040      $ 33,722   

Income reallocated to participating restricted stock

     (88     (82
                

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 24,952      $ 33,640   
                

Basic net income per common share

   $ 0.56      $ 0.75   
                

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.56      $ 0.75   
                

The calculation of the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, excludes 62,365 and 51,770 shares, respectively, of restricted stock awards because their effect was antidilutive.

Performance shares of 224,734 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2009 as no payouts would be required based upon current performance. These amounts assume a 100% performance level payout. Performance shares of 122,619 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

Stock options of 107,220 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2009 as the exercise price was greater than the average stock price for these periods. No options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share in 2008.

 

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     Twelve Months Ended June 30,  
     2009     2008  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

    

Basic number of common shares outstanding

     44,751,020        45,070,647   

Dilutive effect of unvested performance awards

     3,180        47,097   

Dilutive effect of stock options

     64,862        187,674   
                

Diluted number of common shares outstanding

     44,819,062        45,305,418   
                

Basic net income per common share:

    

Net income

   $ 68,939      $ 83,757   

Income allocated to participating restricted stock

     (205     (220
                

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 68,734      $ 83,537   
                

Diluted net income per common share:

    

Net income

   $ 68,939      $ 83,757   

Income reallocated to participating restricted stock

     (205     (219
                

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 68,734      $ 83,538   
                

Basic net income per common share

   $ 1.54      $ 1.85   
                

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 1.53      $ 1.84   
                

The calculation of the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, excludes 56,045 and 53,533 shares, respectively, of restricted stock awards because their effect was antidilutive.

Performance shares of 153,039 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 as no payouts would be required based upon current performance. These amounts assume a 100% performance level payout. Performance shares of 72,158 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended June 30, 2008.

Stock options of 53,160 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 as the exercise price was greater than the average stock price for these periods. No options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share in 2008.

F. Long-Term Debt

Pollution Control Bonds (“PCBs”)

On March 26, 2009, the Company completed a refunding transaction whereby the 2005 Series B $63.5 million bonds and the 2005 Series C $37.1 million bonds were refunded and replaced by 2009 Series A bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $63.5 million (the “2009 Series A Bonds”) and 2009 Series B bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $37.1 million (the “2009 Series B Bonds”). The 2009 Series A Bonds and the 2009 Series B Bonds were issued as unsecured obligations and both have a fixed interest rate of 7.25%. The 2009 Series A Bonds will mature on February 1, 2040. The 2009 Series B Bonds will mature on April 1, 2040. The 2005 Series B $63.5 million and the 2005 Series C $37.1 million bonds, which were to mature in 2040, had variable interest rates that were

 

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repriced weekly. The Company experienced increased yields and resulting interest expense for the auction rate PCBs as a consequence of the turbulent condition of the financial markets.

G. Income Taxes

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in the states of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The Company is no longer subject to tax examination by the taxing authorities in the federal jurisdiction for years prior to 2005 and in the state jurisdictions for years prior to 1998. The Company’s federal tax returns are currently under audit for 2005 and 2006. A deficiency notice relating to the Company’s 1998 through 2003 income tax returns in Arizona contests a pollution control credit and apportionment factors. The Company is contesting these adjustments.

For the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company’s consolidated effective tax rate from continuing operations was 36.16% and 33.13%, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company’s consolidated effective tax rate from continuing operations was 35.60% and 33.21%, respectively, and for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 the Company’s consolidated effective tax rate from continuing operations was 33.61% and 30.28%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rates differ from the federal statutory tax rate of 35% primarily due to state income taxes, the allowance for equity funds used during construction, the tax rate on qualified decommissioning trust investment and permanent tax differences.

FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” (“FIN 48”) prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. A reconciliation of the June 30, 2009 and 2008 amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in millions):

 

     2009    2008  

Balance at January 1

   $ 0.5    $ 8.5   

Reductions for tax positions related to the current year

     —        (0.7

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     —        2.6   

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —        (0.3
               

Balance at June 30

   $ 0.5    $ 10.1   
               

The amount of unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2008 includes $7.9 million of tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. Because of the impact of deferred tax accounting, the disallowance of the shorter deductibility period for these issues does not change the amount of tax expense other than associated interest and penalties. However, the timing of cash payments to the federal taxing authority would be affected. The Company recognized income tax expense for an unrecognized tax position of $0.1 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2008, associated with state income taxes.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The Company recognizes in tax expense interest and penalties related to tax benefits that have not been recognized. During the three, six and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2009, the Company recognized approximately $0.1 million in interest. The Company had approximately $0.5 million for the payment of interest and penalties accrued at June 30, 2009.

H. Commitments, Contingencies and Uncertainties

For a full discussion of commitments and contingencies, see Note J of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2008 Form l0-K. In addition, see Note B above and Notes B and D of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2008 Form 10-K regarding matters related to wholesale power sales contracts and transmission contracts subject to regulation and Palo Verde, including decommissioning, spent fuel storage, disposal of low-level radioactive waste, reactor vessel heads and liability and insurance matters. See Note G for a discussion of tax contingencies and uncertainties.

Power Purchase and Sale Contracts

The Company entered into a contract on April 18, 2007 (as amended on August 29, 2008, March 31, 2009 and May 8, 2009) to sell up to 100 MW of firm energy and 50 MW of contingent energy to Imperial Irrigation District (“IID”), which began May 1, 2007 and continues through October 31, 2009. The contract also provides for the Company to sell up to 100 MW of firm energy and 40 MW of contingent energy beginning November 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010. To ensure that power is available to meet the IID contract demand, the Company entered into a contract effective May 1, 2007 (as amended and restated on September 3, 2008 and March 30, 2009) to purchase up to 100 MW of firm energy from Credit Suisse Energy, LLC. This contract provides for up to 100 MW of firm energy to be delivered at Palo Verde through April 30, 2010 and 50 MW of energy delivered at Four Corners in the months of July through September in 2007 and May through September for the years 2008 through 2010.

In addition to the contracts disclosed in the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K, the Company has entered into several agreements with various counterparties for forward firm purchases and sales of electricity:

 

Type of Contract

  

Quantity

  

Term

Purchase Off-Peak Energy

   50 MW    April through October 2009

Purchase Off-Peak Energy

   25 MW    November 2009 through April 2010

Purchase On-Peak Energy

   Up to 40 MW    June 2009 through December 2009

Sale On-Peak Energy

   Up to 40 MW    June 2009 through December 2009

To supplement its own generation and operating reserves, the Company engages in firm and non-firm power purchase arrangements which may vary in duration and amount based on evaluation of the Company’s resource needs and the economics of the transactions. In 2004, the Company entered into a 20-year contract, beginning in 2006, for the purchase of up to 133 MW of capacity and associated energy from SPS. The Company received notice from SPS in late 2006 that SPS had been subject to

 

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adverse regulatory action by the PUCT regarding transactions under the contract and that SPS wished to exercise its right to terminate the contract early. As a result, on January 29, 2008, the Company and SPS entered into an amendment to the contract and the contract will terminate on September 30, 2009.

The Company entered into an agreement to purchase capacity and energy from Shell Energy North America (“Shell”). Under the agreement, the Company provides natural gas to Pyramid Unit No. 4 where Shell has the right to convert natural gas to electric energy. The Company may schedule up to 100% of Pyramid Unit No. 4’s output, approximately 40 MW, from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.

The Company entered into a 20-year contract with New Mexico SunTower, LLC (“eSolar”) on October 17, 2008. The contract is a power purchase agreement for the full capacity of a 92 MW concentrated solar plant to be built in Southern New Mexico. The plant is expected to be operational by the summer of 2011.

Environmental Matters

The Company is subject to regulation with respect to air, soil and water quality, solid waste disposal and other environmental matters by federal, state, tribal and local authorities. Those authorities govern current facility operations and have continuing jurisdiction over facility modifications. Failure to comply with these environmental regulatory requirements can result in actions by regulatory agencies or other authorities that might seek to impose on the Company administrative, civil and/or criminal penalties. In addition, unauthorized releases of pollutants or contaminants into the environment can result in costly cleanup obligations that are subject to enforcement by regulatory agencies. These laws and regulations are subject to change and, as a result of those changes, the Company may face additional capital and operating costs to comply.

Another way in which environmental matters may impact the Company’s operations and business is the implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) Clean Air Interstate Rule (“CAIR”) which, as applied to the Company, may result in a requirement that it substantially reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from its power plants in Texas and/or purchase allowances representing other parties’ emissions reductions starting in 2009. These requirements become more stringent in 2015, and are anticipated to require even further emissions reductions or additional allowance purchases. On July 11, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated CAIR in its entirety. On December 23, 2008 the DC Circuit Panel granted rehearing and remanded CAIR without vacating the original statute. As a result, the Company must comply with CAIR as written until the EPA rewrites the CAIR as required by the court’s earlier opinion.

The Company takes its environmental compliance seriously and is monitoring these issues so that the Company is best able to effectively adapt to any changes. While the Company strives to prepare for and implement actions necessary to comply with changing environmental regulations, substantial expenditures may be required for the Company to comply with such regulations in the future and, in

 

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some instances, those expenditures may be material. The Company believes it is impossible at present to meaningfully quantify the costs of these potential impacts.

The Company analyzes the costs of its obligations arising from environmental matters on an ongoing basis and believes it has made adequate provision in its financial statements to meet such obligations. As a result of this analysis, the Company has a provision for environmental remediation obligations of approximately $0.9 million as of June 30, 2009, related to compliance with federal and state environmental standards. However, unforeseen expenses associated with environmental compliance or remediation may occur and could have a material adverse effect on the future operations and financial condition of the Company.

The Company incurred the following expenditures during the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 to comply with federal environmental statutes (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
   Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008    2009    2008    2009    2008

Clean Air Act (1)

   $ 243    $ 131    $ 593    $ 255    $ 922    $ 1,258

Clean Water Act (2)

     72      318      131      821      553      1,230

 

(1) Includes $0.3 million related to excess emissions at the Rio Grande generating station discussed below for the six and twelve months ended June 30, 2009.
(2) Excludes a $0.6 million adjustment reducing estimated remediation costs for a property previously owned by the Company for the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2009. Includes a $0.2 million reserve for remediation costs for the Gila River Boundary Site discussed below for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2008 a $0.5 million adjustment was recorded reducing the estimated costs of remediation at the Rio Grande and Copper generating stations.

Along with many other companies, the Company received from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) a request for information in 2003 in connection with environmental conditions at a facility in San Angelo, Texas that was operated by the San Angelo Electric Service Company (“SESCO”). In November 2005, TCEQ proposed the SESCO site for listing on the registry of Texas state superfund sites and mailed notice to more than five hundred entities, including the Company, indicating that TCEQ considers each of them to be a “potentially responsible party” at the SESCO site. The Company received from the SESCO working group of potentially responsible parties a settlement offer in May 2006 for remediation and other expenses expected to be incurred in connection with the SESCO site. The Company’s position is that any liability it may have related to the SESCO site was discharged in the Company’s bankruptcy. At this time, the Company has not agreed to a settlement or to otherwise participate in the cleanup of the SESCO site and is unable to predict the outcome of this matter. While the Company has no reason at present to believe that it will incur material liabilities in connection with the SESCO site, it has accrued $0.3 million for potential costs related to this matter.

 

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(Unaudited)

 

The EPA has investigated control releases or potential releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants at the Gila River Boundary Site, on the Gila River Indian Community (“GRIC”) reservation in Arizona and designated it as a Superfund Site. The Company currently owns 16.29% of the site and will share in the cost of cleanup of this site. Negotiations with the EPA are ongoing and the Company has accrued $0.2 million for potential costs related to this matter.

On September 30, 2008, the State of New Mexico, acting on behalf of the New Mexico Environment Department (“NMED”), filed a complaint in New Mexico district court alleging that, on approximately 650 occasions between May 2000 and September 2005, the Company’s Rio Grande Generating Station, located in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, emitted sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxide in excess of its permitted emission rates, and failed to properly report these allegedly excess emissions. These allegations were previously made by the NMED in a previously disclosed compliance order, which the NMED withdrew on September 30, 2008. On October 27, 2008, the State of New Mexico amended its complaint to allege approximately 300 additional exceedances of permitted nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide emission rates and associated reporting failures between October 2005 and July 2007. The amended complaint seeks civil penalties in the amount of $15,000 per day for each alleged violation. On July 30, 2009, the Company and NMED entered into a consent decree resolving all issues in this suit. In the consent decree, the Company denied any violations of air emissions standards but agree to pay a civil penalty $0.3 million to avoid further defense costs in this matter. In addition, the Company agreed to complete a supplemental environmental project at the Rio Grande Generation Station at a cost not to exceed $0.3 million. The New Mexico district court approved the consent decree and dismissed the lawsuit on July 31, 2009.

In 2006, the Company experienced an oil discharge at the Rio Grande Generating Station. The Company remediated the site by removing the contaminated soil and installing monitoring wells to monitor for the presence of hydrocarbons in the ground water. Recently, a monitoring well showed signs of contamination at levels exceeding New Mexico ground water standards. The Company notified the NMED of its findings and submitted an abatement plan to the NMED addressing the soil and ground water impacts. Upon approval of the abatement plan by the NMED, the Company will begin a detailed assessment of the site and perform further remediation of the site as appropriate. The Company believes this matter will not have a material effect on the future operations and financial condition of the Company.

On April 4, 2007, the Company submitted its application for a New Source Review Air Quality Permit/Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) permit to the TCEQ for Newman Unit 5. The Company received approval of its PSD application on May 22, 2008. Additional environmental permits other than the PSD were not required to begin construction of Newman Unit 5 because it is being constructed at an existing plant site, and other permits are currently in place which will encompass the operation of Newman Unit 5.

In May 2007, the EPA finalized a new federal implementation plan which addresses emissions at the Four Corners Station in northwestern New Mexico of which the Company owns a 7% interest in Units 4 and 5. APS, the Four Corners operating agent, has filed suit against the EPA relating to this new federal implementation plan in order to resolve issues involving operating flexibility for emission opacity standards. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the suit filed against the EPA or whether compliance with the new requirements could have an adverse effect on its capital and operating costs.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

In December 2008, the Company was notified by El Paso that a property purchased from the Company in May 2005, (Santa Fe Facility), has revealed past contamination consistent with the Company’s past practices conducted at this site. The Company cooperated with El Paso to address and undertake partial disposal of certain subsurface contaminated materials. On April 7, 2009, El Paso was notified by the TCEQ that the remediation of the site met pre-spill conditions, and no further action was required. The Company’s remediation expenses were less than the reserve previously established by the Company and the Company recorded a reduction in environmental expense of $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2009.

Except as described herein, the Company is not aware of any other active investigation of its compliance with environmental requirements by the EPA, the TCEQ or the NMED which is expected to result in any material liability. Furthermore, except as described herein, the Company is not aware of any unresolved, potentially material liability it would face pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Liability Act of 1980, also known as the Superfund law.

I. Litigation

The Company is a party to various legal actions. In many of these matters, the Company has excess casualty liability insurance that covers the various claims, actions and complaints. Based upon a review of these claims and applicable insurance coverage, to the extent that the Company has been able to reach a conclusion as to its ultimate liability, it believes that none of these claims will have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

See Note B for discussion of the effects of government legislation and regulation on the Company.

J. Employee Benefits

Retirement Plans

The net periodic benefit cost recognized for the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 is made up of the components listed below as determined using the projected unit credit actuarial cost method (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

            

Service cost

   $ 1,367      $ 1,213      $ 2,767      $ 2,538      $ 5,304      $ 5,355   

Interest cost

     3,317        3,125        6,592        6,300        12,892        12,329   

Expected return on plan assets

     (3,845     (3,563     (7,720     (7,138     (14,815     (13,407

Amortization of:

            

Net loss

     412        287        812        587        1,398        2,296   

Prior service cost

     33        33        58        58        115        115   
                                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 1,284      $ 1,095      $ 2,509      $ 2,345      $ 4,894      $ 6,688   
                                                

During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company contributed $3.9 million of its projected $6.3 million 2009 annual contribution to its retirement plans.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Other Postretirement Benefits

The net periodic benefit cost recognized for the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 is made up of the components listed below (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

            

Service cost

   $ 773      $ 780      $ 1,698      $ 1,580      $ 3,278      $ 3,200   

Interest cost

     1,596        1,525        3,246        3,100        6,345        5,740   

Expected return on plan assets

     (375     (477     (750     (927     (1,676     (1,774

Amortization of:

            

Prior service benefit

     (710     (710     (1,435     (1,435     (2,869     (2,869

Net gain

     —          (387     —          (662     (663     (694
                                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 1,284      $ 731      $ 2,759      $ 1,656      $ 4,415      $ 3,603   
                                                

During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company contributed $2.0 million of its projected $3.4 million 2009 annual contribution to its postretirement plan.

K. Financial Instruments and Investments

SFAS No. 107, “Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” requires the Company to disclose estimated fair values for its financial instruments. The Company has determined that cash and temporary investments, investment in debt securities, accounts receivable, decommissioning trust funds, long-term debt and financing obligations, accounts payable and customer deposits meet the definition of financial instruments. The carrying amounts of cash and temporary investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and customer deposits approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these items. Investments in debt securities and decommissioning trust funds are carried at fair value.

The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt and financing obligations, including the current portion thereof, are based on estimated market prices for similar issues and are presented below (in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2009
     Carrying
Amount
   Estimated
Fair
Value

Pollution Control Bonds

   $ 193,135    $ 184,713

Senior Notes

     546,539      465,038

Nuclear Fuel Financing (1)

     103,493      103,493
             

Total

   $ 843,167    $ 753,244
             

 

(1) The interest rate on the Company’s financing for nuclear fuel purchases is reset every quarter to reflect current market rates. Consequently, the carrying value approximates fair value.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Marketable Securities. The Company’s marketable securities, included in decommissioning trust funds in the balance sheets, are reported at fair value which was $119.1 million at June 30, 2009 and $111.3 million at December 31, 2008. These securities are classified as available for sale under SFAS No. 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” and are valued using prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The reported fair values include gross unrealized losses on marketable securities whose impairment the Company has deemed to be temporary. The tables below present the gross unrealized losses and the fair value of these securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at June 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2009  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer     Total  
     Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
 

Description of Securities (1):

               

U.S. Government Debt Securities

   $ 5,358    $ (183   $ —      $ —        $ 5,358    $ (183

Federal Agency Mortgage Backed Securities

     2,014      (8     48      (2     2,062      (10

Municipal Obligations

     3,016      (17     10,528      (308     13,544      (325

Corporate Obligations

     132      (38     1,473      (94     1,605      (132
                                             

Total debt securities

     10,520      (246     12,049      (404     22,569      (650
                                             

Common stock

     26,699      (4,148     1,188      (324     27,887      (4,472

Mutual Fund

     8,375      —          —        —          8,375      —     
                                             

Total equity securities

     35,074      (4,148     1,188      (324     36,262      (4,472
                                             

Total temporarily impaired securities

   $ 45,594    $ (4,394   $ 13,237    $ (728   $ 58,831    $ (5,122
                                             

 

(1) Includes approximately 154 securities.

The Company monitors the length of time a security trades below its cost basis along with the amount and percentage of the unrealized loss in determining if a decline in fair value below cost is considered to be other than temporary. In addition, the Company will research the future prospects of individual securities as necessary. As a result of these factors, as well as the Company’s intent and ability to hold these securities until their market price recovers, these securities are considered temporarily impaired. The Company will not have a requirement to expend monies held in trust before 2024 or a later period when the Company begins to decommission Palo Verde.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The reported fair values also include gross unrealized gains on marketable securities which have not been recognized in the Company’s net income. The table below presents the unrecognized gross unrealized gains and the fair value of these securities, aggregated by investment category at June 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2009
     Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Gains

Description of Securities:

     

Federal Agency Mortgage Backed Securities

   $ 13,412    $ 515

U.S. Government Debt Securities

     2,125      101

Municipal Obligations

     17,411      558

Corporate Obligations

     2,735      112
             

Total debt securities

     35,683      1,286
             

Common Stock

     22,998      3,883
             

Total equity securities

     22,998      3,883
             

Temporary investments

     1,637      —  
             

Total

   $ 60,318    $ 5,169
             

The Company’s marketable securities include investments in municipal debt obligations and corporate debt obligations. The contractual year for maturity of these available-for-sale securities as of June 30, 2009 is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Total    2010    2011
through
2014
   2015
through
2019
   2020
and
Beyond

Municipal Debt Obligations

   $ 30,955    $ 3,800    $ 11,233    $ 9,635    $ 6,287

Corporate Debt Obligations

     4,340      529      1,718      1,739      354

U.S. Government Debt Securities and Federal Agency Mortgage Backed Securities

     22,957      1,185      3,072      3,112      15,588

The Company has recognized impairment losses on certain of its securities deemed to be other than temporary and, in accordance with SFAS No. 115, these impairment losses have been recognized in net income and a lower cost basis has been established for these securities. For the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2009, $2.6 million, $5.2 million and $11.6 million of gross impairments deemed to be other than temporary were recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. For the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2008, $0.6 million, $1.3 million and $1.3 million of gross impairments were deemed to be other than temporary and recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The Company’s marketable securities in its decommissioning trust funds are sold from time to time and the Company uses the specific identification basis to determine the amount of gain or loss. Gains or losses previously recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified into net income. The proceeds from the sale of these securities during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, and the related effects of realized and unrealized gains and losses on pre-tax income are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three
Months
Ended
    Six
Months
Ended
 

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities

   $ 8,396      $ 20,812   
                

Gross realized gains included in pre-tax income

   $ 87      $ 289   

Gross realized losses included in pre-tax income

     (503     (1,871

Net unrealized losses included in pre-tax income

     (2,382     (3,689
                

Net losses in pre-tax income

   $ (2,798   $ (5,271
                

Net unrealized holding gains included in accumulated other comprehensive income

   $ 7,749      $ 2,358   

Net losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income

     2,798        5,271   
                

Net gains in other comprehensive income

   $ 10,547      $ 7,629   
                

Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”) requires the Company to provide expanded quantitative disclosures for financial assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Financial assets carried at fair value include the Company’s decommissioning trust investments and investments in debt securities. The Company has no liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. This standard establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets. Financial assets utilizing Level 1 inputs include the nuclear decommissioning trust investments in active exchange-traded equity securities and U.S. treasury securities that are in a highly liquid and transparent market.

 

   

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted market prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly. Financial assets utilizing Level 2 inputs include the nuclear decommissioning trust investments in other fixed income securities. The fair value of these financial instruments is based on evaluated prices that reflect observable market information, such as actual trade information of similar securities, adjusted for observable differences.

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs using data that is not corroborated by market data and primarily based on internal Company analysis using models and various other analyses. Financial assets utilizing Level 3 inputs include the Company’s investments in debt securities.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

As of June 30, 2009, the Company had $4.0 million invested in debt securities which consisted of two $2.0 million investments in auction rate securities maturing in 2042 and 2044. The Company classifies these securities as trading securities. These auction rate securities are collateralized with student loans which are re-insured by the Department of Education as part of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”) and have credit ratings of “A” by Standard & Poors and “A2” by Moody’s. The principal on the securities can be realized at maturity, sold in a successful auction, or sold in the secondary market. Interest rates on the auction rate securities are reset every 28 days. At June 30, 2009 upon a failed auction, the maximum interest rates would be based upon the interest paid on the student loan portfolio, less service costs and one month LIBOR plus 2.5%. At June 30, 2009, the interest rates were 0.675% to 2.821%.

The auction process historically provided a liquid market to sell the securities to meet cash requirements. These auction rate securities had successful auctions through January 2008. However, since February 2008, auctions for these securities have not been successful, resulting in the inability to liquidate these investments. The Company’s valuation as of June 30, 2009 is based upon the average of a discounted cash flow model valuation and a market comparables method.

The discounted cash flow model valuation is based on expected cash flows using the maximum expected interest rates discounted by an expected yield reflecting illiquidity and credit risk. In order to more accurately forecast cash flows, treasury and LIBOR yields curves were created using swap rates, data provided on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website and the British Banker’s Association website. After thorough analysis, future cash flows were projected based on interest rate models over a term, which was based on an estimate of the weighted average life of the student loan portfolio within the issuing trusts. The applied discount yield was based on the applicable forward LIBOR rate and a yield spread of 600 basis points based on the securities’ (i) credit risk, (ii) illiquidity, (iii) subordinated status, (iv) interest rate limitations, and (v) FFELP guarantees.

The market comparables method is based upon sales and purchases of auction rate securities in secondary market transactions. The secondary market discounts of 39% to 41% are based on discounts indicated in secondary market transactions involving comparable Student Loan Auction Rate Securities. The average of the values provided by the discounted cash flow calculation and the market comparables method are used to arrive at the concluded value of the securities.

The securities in the Company’s decommissioning trust funds are valued using prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. SFAS No. 157 identifies this valuation technique as the “market approach” with observable inputs. The Company analyzes available for sale securities to determine if losses are other than temporary.

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The fair value of the Company’s decommissioning trust funds and investments in debt securities, at June 30, 2009, and the level within the three levels of the fair value hierarchy defined by SFAS No. 157 are presented in the table below (in thousands):

 

Description of Securities

   Fair Value as of
June 30, 2009
   Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

Trading Securities:

           

Investments in Debt Securities

   $ 2,425    $ —      $ —      $ 2,425
                           

Available for Sale Securities:

           

Decommissioning Trust Funds:

           

U.S. Government Debt Securities

     10,147      10,147      —        —  

Federal Agency Mortgage Backed Securities

     12,811      —        12,811      —  

Municipal Bonds

     30,955      —        30,955      —  

Corporate Asset Backed Obligations

     4,340      —        4,340      —  
                           

Total Debt Securities

     58,253      10,147      48,106      —  
                           

Common Stock

     50,884      50,884      —        —  

Mutual Fund

     8,375      8,375      —        —  
                           

Total Equity Securities

     59,259      59,259      —        —  
                           

Cash and Cash Equivalents

     1,637      1,637      —        —  
                           

Total Decommissioning Trust Funds

   $ 119,149    $ 71,043    $ 48,106    $ —  
                           

The change in the fair value of the investments in debt securities resulted in a credit to income of $0.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and a charge to income of $0.6 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009. For the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2008, the decline in the fair value of the investments in debt securities resulted in a charge to income of $0.4 million, $1.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively. These amounts are reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations as an adjustment to investment and interest income. Below is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the investments in debt securities (in thousands):

 

     2009     2008  

Balance at January 1

   $ 2,264      $ —     

Transfers into Level 3 (1)

     —          4,000   

Unrealized gain (loss) in fair value recognized in income

     (52     (529
                

Balance at March 31

     2,212        3,471   

Transfers into Level 3 (1)

     —          —     

Unrealized gain (loss) in fair value recognized in income

     213        (442
                

Balance at June 30

   $ 2,425      $ 3,029   
                

 

(1)    Amounts presented as being transferred in are based on the fair value at the beginning of the period.

    

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

El Paso Electric Company:

We have reviewed the consolidated balance sheet of El Paso Electric Company and subsidiary as of June 30, 2009, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive operations for the three-month, six-month and twelve-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of E1 Paso Electric Company and subsidiary as of December 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive operations, changes in common stock equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 25, 2009, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Houston, Texas

August 5, 2009

 

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

The information contained in this Item 2 updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the information set forth in Part II, Item 7 of our 2008 Form 10-K.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain matters discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q other than statements of historical information are “forward-looking statements.” The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 has established that these statements qualify for safe harbors from liability. Forward-looking statements may include words like we “believe”, “anticipate”, “target”, “expect”, “pro forma”, “estimate”, “intend” and words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe our future plans, objectives, expectations or goals. Such statements address future events and conditions concerning and include, but are not limited to such things as:

 

   

capital expenditures,

 

   

earnings,

 

   

liquidity and capital resources,

 

   

litigation,

 

   

accounting matters,

 

   

possible corporate restructurings, acquisitions and dispositions,

 

   

compliance with debt and other restrictive covenants,

 

   

interest rates and dividends,

 

   

environmental matters,

 

   

nuclear operations, and

 

   

the overall economy of our service area.

These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, such things as:

 

   

our rates in Texas following the five-year moratorium on rate increases which ends June 30, 2010,

 

   

our rates in New Mexico pending the final order by the NMPRC on the rate case filed on May 29, 2009,

 

   

any changes in our New Mexico fuel and purchased power adjustment clause after the 2009 continuation filing,

 

   

loss of margins on off-system sales due to changes in wholesale power prices or availability of competitive generation resources,

 

   

ability of our operating partners to maintain plant operations and manage operation and maintenance costs at the Palo Verde and Four Corners Plants,

 

   

reductions in output at generation plants operated by the Company,

 

   

unscheduled outages including outages at Palo Verde,

 

   

the size of our construction program and our ability to complete construction on budget and on a timely basis,

 

   

electric utility deregulation or re-regulation,

 

   

regulated and competitive markets,

 

   

ongoing municipal, state and federal activities,

 

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economic and capital market conditions,

 

   

changes in accounting requirements and other accounting matters,

 

   

changing weather trends,

 

   

rates, cost recoveries and other regulatory matters including the ability to recover fuel costs on a timely basis,

 

   

changes in environmental regulations,

 

   

political, legislative, judicial and regulatory developments,

 

   

the impact of lawsuits filed against us,

 

   

the impact of changes in interest rates,

 

   

changes in, and the assumptions used for, pension and other post-retirement and post-employment benefit liability calculations, as well as actual and assumed investment returns on pension plan assets,

 

   

the impact of changing cost escalation and other assumptions on our nuclear decommissioning liability for Palo Verde,

 

   

Texas, New Mexico and electric industry utility service reliability standards,

 

   

homeland security considerations,

 

   

coal, uranium, natural gas, oil and wholesale electricity prices and availability, and

 

   

other circumstances affecting anticipated operations, sales and costs.

These lists are not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors. A discussion of some of these factors is included in this document under the headings “Risk Factors” and in the 2008 Form 10-K under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” “-Summary of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” and “-Liquidity and Capital Resources.” This report should be read in its entirety. No one section of this report deals with all aspects of the subject matter. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement was made, and we are not obligated to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made except as required by applicable laws or regulations.

Summary of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the periods presented and actual results could differ in future periods from those estimates. Critical accounting policies and estimates are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require complex, subjective judgments and are more fully described in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2008 Form 10-K.

 

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Table of Contents

Summary

The following is an overview of our results of operations for the three, six and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. Income for the three, six and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 is shown below:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
   Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008    2009    2008    2009    2008

Net income (in thousands)

   $ 15,431    $ 19,234    $ 25,040    $ 33,722    $ 68,939    $ 83,757

Basic earnings per share

     0.34      0.43      0.56      0.75      1.54      1.85

The following table and accompanying explanations show the primary factors affecting the after-tax change in income between the 2009 and 2008 periods presented (in thousands):

 

    Three Months
Ended
    Six Months
Ended
    Twelve Months
Ended
 

June 30, 2008 net income

  $ 19,234      $ 33,722      $ 83,757   

Change in (net of tax):

     

Decreased operations and maintenance at coal and gas-fired generating plants (a)

    841        1,593        943   

Increased AFUDC and capitalized interest (b)

    907        1,549        2,642   

Increased (decreased) retail non-fuel base revenues (c)

    458        (658     (5,551

Decreased (increased) Palo Verde operations and maintenance expense (d)

    455        710        (1,558

Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues (e)

    (3,253     (2,409     4,246   

Impairments and losses on equity securities in nuclear decommissioning trusts

    (1,853     (3,677     (6,643

Increased interest on long-term debt (f)

    (1,020     (3,426     (8,537

Decreased off-system sales margins retained (g)

    (495     (4,414     (1,223

Other

    157        2,050        863   
                       

June 30, 2009 net income

  $ 15,431      $ 25,040      $ 68,939   
                       

 

(a) Operation and maintenance costs decreased at our fossil-fueled generating plants as more planned major maintenance was performed in 2008 periods (Newman Unit 3 and Four Corners Unit 5 generating units) than was performed in 2009 periods (Newman Unit 4 and Rio Grande Unit 8 generating units). In 2007 no major maintenance was performed at our fossil-fueled generating units.
(b) AFUDC (allowance for funds used during construction) and capitalized interest increased for all periods in 2009 due to increased construction work in progress subject to AFUDC partially offset by lower capitalized interest on nuclear fuel due to lower interest rates.
(c) Non-fuel retail base revenues increased for the three month period ending June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to a 4.4% increase in kWh sales to residential customers partially offset by a decline in sales to commercial and industrial customers. Non-fuel retail base revenues decreased for the six and twelve month periods ending June 30, 2009 compared to the same periods last year primarily due to a 17.4% and a 16.2% decrease in kWh sales to large commercial and industrial customers, respectively. Non-fuel retail base revenues exclude fuel recovered through New Mexico base rates.
(d) Palo Verde non-fuel operations and maintenance expenses decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same periods last year due to lower maintenance costs during the Spring 2009 refueling outage for Unit 3 compared to the Spring 2008 refueling outage for Unit 2. Palo Verde non-fuel operations and maintenance expenses increased for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the twelve months ended June 30, 2008 due to increased operating costs at all three units partially offset by lower maintenance costs associated with the refueling outage in the Spring of 2009.

 

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(e) Revenues from retail sales of deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 power decreased for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same periods last year as the unit did not operate for most of April and May 2009 due to a refueling outage and a lower proxy market price in June 2009. Increased revenues from sales of deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 power for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 reflects increased Unit 3 power sold to retail customers.
(f) Interest expense on long-term debt increased for all periods in 2009 due to the issuance of $150 million of 7.5% Senior Notes in June 2008 and to a smaller extent higher interest rates on auction rate pollution control bonds. The auction rate pollution control bonds were refunded and reissued at a fixed interest rate of 7.25% on March 26, 2009.
(g) Off-system sales margins retained decreased as a result of reduced margins per MWh due to lower market prices for all periods. These decreases were partially offset by increases in MWh sales.

Historical Results of Operations

The following discussion includes descriptions of factors affecting individual line items in the results of operations. The amounts presented below are presented on a pre-tax basis.

Operating revenues

We realize revenue from the sale of electricity to retail customers at regulated rates and the sale of energy in the wholesale power market generally at market based prices. Sales for resale (which are wholesale sales within our service territory) accounted for less than 1% of revenues. Off-system sales are wholesale sales into markets outside our service territory. Off-system sales are primarily made in off-peak periods when we have competitive generation capacity available after meeting our regulated service obligations. Under the terms of our rate agreements in Texas and New Mexico, we share 25% of our off-system sales margins with our customers in Texas and New Mexico. We are also sharing 25% of our off-system sales margins with our sales for resale customer under the terms of a contract which was effective April 1, 2008. In July 2010, off-system sales margins shared with customers increases to 90%.

Revenues from the sale of electricity include fuel costs that are recovered from our customers through fuel adjustment mechanisms. A significant portion of fuel costs are also recovered through base rates in New Mexico. We record deferred fuel revenues for the difference between actual fuel costs and recoverable fuel revenues until such amounts are collected from or refunded to customers. “Non-fuel base revenues” refers to our revenues from the sale of electricity excluding such fuel costs.

Retail non-fuel base revenue percentages by customer class are presented below:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Residential

   39   37   39   39   40   39

Commercial and industrial, small

   37      38      37      37      37      37   

Commercial and industrial, large

   7      8      7      8      7      8   

Sales to public authorities

   17      17      17      16      16      16   
                                    

Total retail non-fuel base revenues

   100   100   100   100   100   100
                                    

No retail customer accounted for more than 2% of our base revenues during such periods. As shown in the table above, residential and small commercial customers comprise more than 75% of our revenues. While this customer base is more stable, it is also more sensitive to changes in weather conditions. As a result, our business is seasonal, with higher kWh sales and revenues during the summer cooling season.

 

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Weather significantly impacts our residential, small commercial and industrial customers, and to a lesser extent, our sales to public authorities. Heating and cooling degree days can be used to evaluate the effect of weather on energy use. For each degree the average outdoor temperature varies from a standard of 65 degrees Fahrenheit a degree day is recorded. The table below shows heating and cooling degree days compared to a 10-year average.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   10-Year    Six Months Ended
June 30,
   10-Year    Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
   10-Year
     2009    2008    Average    2009    2008    Average    2009    2008    Average*

Heating degree days

   82    83    66    1,112    1,274    1,265    2,026    2,185    2,295

Cooling degree days

   1,013    1,008    995    1,050    1,032    1,012    2,290    2,687    2,502

 

* Calendar year basis.

Customer growth is a primary driver of the growth of retail sales. The average number of retail customers grew 1.6% for the three and six month periods in 2009 and 1.7% for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 when compared to the same period last year. See the tables presented on pages 41, 42 and 43 which provide detail on the average number of retail customers and the related revenues and kWh sales.

Retail non-fuel base revenues. Retail non-fuel base revenues increased by $0.7 million or 0.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2009 when compared to the same period last year primarily reflecting a 4.4% increase in kWh sales to residential customers. Kilowatt-hour sales to residential customers in the second quarter of 2009 reflect a 1.7% increase in the average number of customers served compared to the second quarter of 2008. Non-fuel base revenues from residential customers increased $2.2 million, or 4.8%. This increase in revenues was partially offset by recession-related declines in revenues from small commercial and industrial customers of $0.7 million or 1.5% and large commercial and industrial customers of $0.9 million or 9.5%. Kilowatt-hour sales to small commercial and industrial customers and large commercial and industrial customers in the second quarter of 2009 decreased approximately 2% and 17%, respectively, compared to the same quarter in 2008, reflecting the impact of the recession on our service territory economy. Non-fuel base revenues from public authorities increased $0.1 million or 0.6%.

For the six months ended June 30, 2009, retail non-fuel base revenues decreased by $1.0 million, or 0.5% primarily reflecting a recession-related decline in sales to large commercial and industrial customers and to a lesser extent, small commercial and industrial customers. Kilowatt-hour sales to large commercial and industrial customers decreased 17.4% in the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 and kWh sales to small commercial and industrial customers decreased 1.5%. Non-fuel base revenues from large commercial and industrial customers decreased $1.8 million, or 9.7%, while non-fuel base revenues from small commercial and industrial customers decreased $0.6 million, or 0.7%. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in revenues of $1.3 million, or 1.5%, to residential customers. The increase in revenues from residential customers reflected a 1.7% increase in the average number of customers served in the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

 

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Retail non-fuel base revenues for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 decreased by $8.8 million, or 1.8%, compared to the same period in 2008. Non-fuel base revenues from large commercial and industrial customers decreased $3.5 million or 9.3% due to a 16.2% decrease in kWh sales, reflecting the impact of the recession in our service territory. Residential non-fuel base revenues decreased $2.1 million, or 1.1% reflecting the warmer than normal winter weather in the first quarter of 2009 and the cooler than normal summer weather in the third quarter of 2008 offset in part by a 1.7% increase in the average number of customers served. During the twelve months ended June 30, 2009, cooling degree days were 14.8% lower and heating degree days were 7.2% lower than in the twelve months ended June 30, 2008. As a result, retail kWh sales from residential customers and small commercial and industrial customers were negatively impacted. Non-fuel base rate revenues for public authority customers decreased $2.1 million, or 2.7% due to lower rates to a large customer in the 2009 period when compared to the 2008 period, offset in part by a 1.5% increase in the average number of customers served.

Fuel revenues. Fuel revenues consist of: (i) revenues collected from customers under fuel recovery mechanisms approved by the state commissions and FERC, (ii) deferred fuel revenues which are comprised of the difference between fuel costs and fuel revenues collected from customers and (iii) fuel costs recovered in base rates in New Mexico. In New Mexico and with our sales for resale customer, the fuel adjustment clause allows us to recover under-recoveries or refund over-recoveries of current fuel costs above the amount recovered in base rates with a two-month lag. In Texas, fuel costs are recovered through a fixed fuel factor that may be adjusted up to three times per year. In addition, if we materially over-recover fuel costs, we must seek to refund the over-recovery, and if we materially under-recover fuel costs, we may seek a surcharge to recover those costs.

Natural gas prices have decreased significantly since August 2008 resulting in decreases in fuel costs including purchased power costs. In Texas our current fixed fuel factor, implemented in October 2008, is resulting in the over-recovery of fuel costs. As a result, we over-collected fuel costs for all three jurisdictions by $13.3 million, $36.6 million, and $36.6 million in the three, six, and twelve month periods ending June 30, 2009 compared to under-recoveries of fuel costs during the same periods last year of $40.7 million, $42.8 million, and $50.2 million. In 2008, we implemented two fuel surcharges in Texas to collect under-recovered fuel costs. We have seen a significant decline in our deferred fuel under-recovery balances due to the fuel cost over-recoveries since October 2008 and as a result of the two fuel surcharges we implemented in 2008. In April 2009, we received approval from the PUCT to terminate the remaining fuel surcharge in Texas effective in May 2009. Fuel over-recoveries in the first six months of 2009 offset the remaining balance of the fuel surcharge. In addition, on July 30, 2009, we received approval from the PUCT to reduce our fixed fuel factor in Texas effective in August 2009. At June 30, 2009, we had a fuel over-recovery balance of $4.8 million, including a $5.8 million over-recovery in Texas, a $1.2 million under-recovery in New Mexico, and a $0.2 million over-recovery from our FERC customer.

 

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Off-system sales. Off-system sales are primarily made in off-peak periods when we have competitive generation capacity available after meeting our regulated service obligations. Typically, we realize a significant portion of our off-system sales margins in the first quarter of each calendar year when our native load is lower than at other times of the year allowing for the sale in the wholesale market of relatively larger amounts of off-system energy generated from lower cost generating resources. Palo Verde’s availability is an important factor in realizing these off-system sales margins. The table below shows the MWhs, sales revenue, fuel costs, total margins, and retained margins made on off-system sales for the three, six, and twelve month periods (in thousands except for MWhs).

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
   Twelve Months Ended
June 30,
     2009    2008    2009    2008    2009    2008

MWh sales

     634,078      564,119      1,692,481      1,676,805      3,522,446      2,704,093

Sales revenues

   $ 22,464    $ 50,082    $ 61,081    $ 123,599    $ 169,982    $ 183,252

Fuel cost

   $ 21,321    $ 47,890    $ 53,216    $ 106,423    $ 149,813    $ 160,536

Total margin

   $ 1,143    $ 2,192    $ 7,865    $ 17,175    $ 20,169    $ 22,716

Retained margin

   $ 857    $ 1,644    $ 5,900    $ 12,907    $ 15,130    $ 17,072

Off-system sales revenues decreased in the three, six, and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2009 when compared to the same periods last year as a result of lower average market prices for power. Customers are credited 25% of the off-system sales margins through fuel recovery mechanisms pursuant to rate agreements in each jurisdiction. Prior to April 1, 2008, we retained 100% of off-system sales margins allocated to our sales for resale customer.

 

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Comparisons of kWh sales and operating revenues are shown below (in thousands):

 

                Increase (Decrease)  

Quarter Ended June 30:

   2009     2008    Amount     Percent  

kWh sales:

         

Retail:

         

Residential

     569,004        544,942      24,062      4.4

Commercial and industrial, small

     585,678        597,315      (11,637   (1.9

Commercial and industrial, large

     255,178        305,688      (50,510   (16.5

Sales to public authorities

     392,328        389,213      3,115      0.8   
                         

Total retail sales

     1,802,188        1,837,158      (34,970   (1.9
                         

Wholesale:

         

Sales for resale

     18,564        15,874      2,690      16.9   

Off-system sales

     634,078        564,119      69,959      12.4   
                         

Total wholesale sales

     652,642        579,993      72,649      12.5   
                         

Total kWh sales

     2,454,830        2,417,151      37,679      1.6   
                         

Operating revenues:

         

Non-fuel base revenues:

         

Retail:

         

Residential

   $ 48,073      $ 45,862    $ 2,211      4.8

Commercial and industrial, small

     45,888        46,569      (681   (1.5

Commercial and industrial, large

     8,762        9,678      (916   (9.5

Sales to public authorities

     20,741        20,627      114      0.6   
                         

Total retail non-fuel base revenues

     123,464        122,736      728      0.6   
                         

Wholesale:

         

Sales for resale

     575        501      74      14.8   
                         

Total non-fuel base revenues

     124,039        123,237      802      0.7   
                         

Fuel revenues:

         

Recovered from customers during the period

     47,447        47,015      432      0.9 (1) 

Under (over) collection of fuel

     (13,285     40,737      (54,022     

New Mexico fuel in base rates

     16,444        16,631      (187   (1.1
                         

Total fuel revenues

     50,606        104,383      (53,777   (51.5

Off-system sales

     22,464        50,082      (27,618   (55.1

Other

     6,540        6,703      (163   (2.4 )(2) 
                         

Total operating revenues

   $ 203,649      $ 284,405    $ (80,756   (28.4
                         

Average number of retail customers:

         

Residential

     325,302        319,766      5,536      1.7

Commercial and industrial, small

     35,892        35,843      49      0.1   

Commercial and industrial, large

     49        53      (4   (7.5

Sales to public authorities

     4,929        4,864      65      1.3   
                         

Total

     366,172        360,526      5,646      1.6   
                         

 

(1) Excludes $4.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively, of prior periods deferred fuel revenues recovered through Texas fuel surcharges.
(2) Represents revenues with no related kWh sales.

 

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                Increase (Decrease)  

Six Months Ended June 30:

   2009     2008    Amount     Percent  

kWh sales:

         

Retail:

         

Residential

     1,058,633        1,050,390      8,243      0.8

Commercial and industrial, small

     1,058,965        1,075,574      (16,609   (1.5

Commercial and industrial, large

     478,175        579,094      (100,919   (17.4

Sales to public authorities

     707,377        703,687      3,690      0.5   
                         

Total retail sales

     3,303,150        3,408,745      (105,595   (3.1
                         

Wholesale:

         

Sales for resale

     28,958        25,753      3,205      12.4

Off-system sales

     1,692,481        1,676,805      15,676      0.9   
                         

Total wholesale sales

     1,721,439        1,702,558      18,881      1.1   
                         

Total kWh sales

     5,024,589        5,111,303      (86,714   (1.7
                         

Operating revenues:

         

Non-fuel base revenues:

         

Retail:

         

Residential

   $ 88,264      $ 86,972    $ 1,292      1.5

Commercial and industrial, small

     83,552        84,173      (621   (0.7

Commercial and industrial, large

     16,568        18,347      (1,779   (9.7

Sales to public authorities

     37,118        37,055      63      0.2   
                         

Total retail non-fuel base revenues

     225,502        226,547      (1,045   (0.5
                         

Wholesale:

         

Sales for resale

     882        895      (13   (1.5
                         

Total non-fuel base revenues

     226,384        227,442      (1,058   (0.5
                         

Fuel revenues:

         

Recovered from customers during the period

     97,908        85,629      12,279      14.3 (1) 

Under (over) collection of fuel

     (36,641     42,772      (79,413   —     

New Mexico fuel in base rates

     31,804        32,725      (921   (2.8
                         

Total fuel revenues

     93,071        161,126      (68,055   (42.2

Off-system sales

     61,081        123,599      (62,518   (50.6

Other

     13,549        12,478      1,071      8.6 (2) 
                         

Total operating revenues

   $ 394,085      $ 524,645    $ (130,560   (24.9
                         

Average number of retail customers:

         

Residential

     324,542        319,062      5,480      1.7

Commercial and industrial, small

     35,839        35,616      223      0.6   

Commercial and industrial, large

     49        53      (4   (7.5

Sales to public authorities

     4,934        4,864      70      1.4   
                         

Total

     365,364        359,595      5,769      1.6   
                         

 

(1) Excludes $16.3 million and $4.9 million, respectively, of prior periods deferred fuel revenues recovered through Texas fuel surcharges.
(2) Represents revenues with no related kWh sales.

 

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                Increase (Decrease)  

Twelve Months Ended June 30:

   2009     2008    Amount     Percent  

kWh sales:

         

Retail:

         

Residential

     2,236,081        2,274,320      (38,239   (1.7 )% 

Commercial and industrial, small

     2,238,976        2,270,646      (31,670   (1.4

Commercial and industrial, large

     1,001,358        1,195,066      (193,708   (16.2

Sales to public authorities

     1,452,344        1,440,982      11,362      0.8   
                         

Total retail sales

     6,928,759        7,181,014      (252,255   (3.5
                         

Wholesale:

         

Sales for resale

     53,353        49,942      3,411      6.8   

Off-system sales

     3,522,446        2,704,093      818,353      30.3   
                         

Total wholesale sales

     3,575,799        2,754,035      821,764      29.8   
                         

Total kWh sales

     10,504,558        9,935,049      569,509      5.7   
                         

Operating revenues:

         

Non-fuel base revenues:

         

Retail:

         

Residential

   $ 186,092      $ 188,160    $ (2,068   (1.1 )% 

Commercial and industrial, small

     173,972        175,123      (1,151   (0.7

Commercial and industrial, large

     34,539        38,077      (3,538   (9.3

Sales to public authorities

     74,490        76,543      (2,053   (2.7
                         

Total retail non-fuel base revenues

     469,093        477,903      (8,810   (1.8
                         

Wholesale:

         

Sales for resale

     1,633        1,854      (221   (11.9
                         

Total non-fuel base revenues

     470,726        479,757      (9,031   (1.9
                         

Fuel revenues:

         

Recovered from customers during the period

     210,571        187,939      22,632      12.0 (1) 

Under (over) collection of fuel

     (36,661     50,218      (86,879   —     

New Mexico fuel in base rates

     67,710        69,837      (2,127   (3.0
                         

Total fuel revenues

     241,620        307,994      (66,374   (21.6
                         

Off-system sales

     169,982        183,252      (13,270   (7.2

Other

     26,042        23,361      2,681      11.5 (2) 
                         

Total operating revenues

   $ 908,370      $ 994,364    $ (85,994   (8.6
                         

Average number of retail customers:

         

Residential

     323,062        317,641      5,421      1.7

Commercial and industrial, small

     35,878        35,270      608      1.7   

Commercial and industrial, large

     49        54      (5   (9.3

Sales to public authorities

     4,927        4,853      74      1.5   
                         

Total

     363,916        357,818      6,098      1.7   
                         

 

(1) Excludes $37.4 million and $12.8 million of deferred fuel revenues recovered through Texas fuel surcharges, respectively.
(2) Represents revenues with no related kWh sales.

 

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Energy expenses

Our sources of energy include electricity generated from our nuclear, natural gas and coal generating plants and purchased power. Palo Verde represents approximately 42% of our available net generating capacity and approximately 59%, 64% and 60% of our Company generated energy for the three, six and twelve months ended June 30, 2009, respectively. Recent decreases in the price of natural gas which also influences the price of purchased power have had a significant impact on our cost of energy in each of the three, six, and twelve month periods ended June 30, 2009.

Our energy expenses decreased $75.8 million or 51% for the three months ended June 30, 2009 when compared to 2008 primarily due to (i) decreased natural gas costs of $43.9 million due to a 46% decrease in the average price of natural gas and a 19% decrease in MWhs generated with natural gas, and (ii) decreased costs of purchased power of $32.9 million due to a 54% decrease in market prices for power. Increased MWhs generated from our less expensive coal and nuclear plants allowed us to reduce MWhs generated from our more expensive gas-fired plants. The table below details the sources and costs of energy for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,
     2009    2008

Fuel Type

   Cost    MWh    Cost per
MWh
   Cost    MWh    Cost per
MWh
     (in thousands)              (in thousands)          

Natural gas

   $ 34,275    582,427    $ 58.85    $ 78,210    717,202    $ 109.05

Coal

     2,853    186,566      15.29      3,104    132,529      23.42

Nuclear

     6,755    1,093,069      6.18      5,490    1,003,759      5.47
                             

Total

     43,883    1,862,062      23.57      86,804    1,853,490      46.83

Purchased power

     28,295    729,839      38.77      61,218    722,243      84.76
                             

Total energy

   $ 72,178    2,591,901      27.85    $ 148,022    2,575,733      57.47
                             

Our energy expenses decreased $120.4 million or 46% for the six months ended June 30, 2009 when compared to 2008 primarily due to (i) decreased natural gas costs of $64.3 million due to a 36% decrease in the average price of natural gas and a 21% decrease in MWhs generated with natural gas, and (ii) decreased costs of purchased power of $58.9 million due to a 46% decrease in market prices for power and an 8% decrease in the MWhs purchased. Increased MWhs generated from our less expensive coal and nuclear plants allowed us to reduce MWhs generated from our more expensive gas-fired plants. The table below details the sources and costs of energy for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,
     2009    2008

Fuel Type

   Cost    MWh    Cost per
MWh
   Cost    MWh    Cost per
MWh
     (in thousands)              (in thousands)          

Natural gas

   $ 64,991    1,013,951    $ 64.10    $ 129,322    1,290,278    $ 100.23

Coal

     6,879    385,956      17.82      6,006    284,512      21.11

Nuclear

     14,306    2,446,153      5.85      12,407    2,265,287      5.48
                             

Total

     86,176    3,846,060      22.41      147,735    3,840,077      38.47

Purchased power

     57,693    1,442,013      40.01      116,576    1,570,626      74.22
                             

Total energy

   $ 143,869    5,288,073      27.21    $ 264,311    5,410,703      48.85
                             

 

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Our energy expenses decreased $88.5 million or 19% for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 when compared to 2008 primarily due to (i) decreased natural gas costs of $65.5 million due to an 11% decrease in the average price of natural gas and a 17% decrease in MWhs generated with natural gas, and (ii) decreased costs of purchased power of $29.8 million due to a 26% decrease in market prices for power partially offset by a 12% increase in the MWhs purchased. Increased MWhs generated from our less expensive coal and nuclear plants allowed us to reduce MWhs generated from our more expensive gas-fired plants. The table below details the sources and costs of energy for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.

 

     Twelve Months Ended June 30,
      2009    2008

Fuel Type

   Cost    MWh    Cost per
MWh
   Cost     MWh    Cost per
MWh
     (in thousands)              (in thousands)           

Natural gas

   $ 186,036    2,403,357    $ 77.41    $ 251,503 (a)    2,897,933    $ 86.79

Coal

     14,393    822,395      17.50      11,912      697,835      17.07

Nuclear

     27,828    4,803,706      5.79      23,574      4,245,132      5.55
                              

Total

     228,257    8,029,458      28.43      286,989      7,840,900      36.60

Purchased power

     151,600    3,023,783      50.14      181,411      2,691,533      67.40
                              

Total energy

   $ 379,857    11,053,241      34.37    $ 468,400      10,532,433      44.47
                              

 

(a) Excludes a refund of $2.7 million of gas transmission reservation costs recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Other operations expense

Other operations expense increased $0.7 million, or 1.5%, for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to increased Palo Verde operations expense of $0.6 million.

Other operations expense increased $3.2 million, or 3.3%, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to (i) increased Palo Verde operations expense of $1.9 million, (ii) increased operations expense at our fossil-fueled generating plants of $0.7 million and (iii) increased transmission operations expense of $0.7 million.

Other operations expense increased $4.1 million, or 2.1%, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to (i) increased Palo Verde operations expense of $5.5 million, (ii) increased operations expense at our fossil-fueled generating plants of $1.4 million and (iii) increased distribution operations expense of $1.1 million. These increases were partially offset by (i) decreased administrative and general expenses of $3.0 million primarily due to lower pension and other post-retirement benefits expenses reflecting an increase in the discount rate for the associated liabilities in 2008 and executive severance costs; and (ii) decreased customer accounts operations expense of $0.8 million primarily due to decreased payroll costs.

Maintenance expense

Maintenance expense decreased $4.2 million, or 20.3%, for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to (i) decreased Palo Verde maintenance expense of $1.4 million due to decreased maintenance expenses associated with the Spring refueling

 

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outages in 2009 compared to the Spring refueling in 2008, (ii) decreased maintenance expense at our fossil-fueled generating plants of $1.3 million as a result of the timing of planned maintenance, and (iii) decreased distribution maintenance expense of $0.5 million.

Maintenance expense decreased $8.3 million, or 21.8%, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to (i) decreased maintenance expense at our fossil-fueled generating plants of $3.2 million as a result of the timing of planned maintenance, (ii) decreased Palo Verde maintenance expense of $3.0 million due to decreased maintenance expenses associated with the Spring refueling outage in 2009 compared to the Spring refueling outage in 2008, (iii) decreased administrative and general maintenance expense of $1.0 million primarily due to the reversal of a reserve for environmental remediation costs and (iv) decreased distribution maintenance expense of $1.0 million.

Maintenance expense decreased $7.6 million, or 11.4%, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to (i) decreased Palo Verde maintenance expense of $3.1 million due to decreased maintenance expenses associated with the Spring refueling outages in 2009 compared to 2008, (ii) decreased maintenance expense at our fossil-fueled generating plants of $2.9 million as a result of the timing of planned maintenance and (iii) decreased distribution maintenance expense of $1.7 million.

Depreciation and amortization expense

Depreciation and amortization expense remained relatively unchanged for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $1.0 million, or 2.7%, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to completing the amortization of certain fair value adjustments in December 2008. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.9 million, or 2.6%, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year due to increases in depreciable plant balances partially offset by the completion of the amortization of certain fair value adjustments in December 2008.

Taxes other than income taxes

Taxes other than income taxes remained relatively unchanged for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year. Taxes other than income taxes increased $0.9 million, or 3.9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to higher revenue-related taxes in Texas resulting from a higher fixed fuel factor and the collection of fuel surcharges. Taxes other than income taxes increased $1.5 million, or 3.1%, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to higher revenue related taxes in Texas.

Other income (deductions)

Other income (deductions) decreased $1.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year due to a $2.3 million decrease in income from our decommissioning trust funds as a result of losses and impairments in equity investments when compared to the same period last year. These decreases were partially offset by increased allowance for equity

 

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funds used during construction (“AEFUDC”) of $0.8 million due to higher balances of construction work in progress in 2009.

Other income (deductions) decreased $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year due to a $4.6 million decrease in income from our decommissioning trust funds as a result of losses and impairments in equity investments when compared to the same period last year. These decreases were partially offset by (i) increased AEFUDC of $1.6 million due to higher balances of construction work in progress in 2009, and (ii) the decrease in fair value of our investments in auction rate securities of $1.0 million in 2008 with no comparable activity in 2009.

Other income (deductions) decreased $2.6 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year due to an $8.2 million decrease in income from our decommissioning trust funds as a result of losses and impairments in equity investments when compared to the same period last year. These decreases were partially offset by (i) increased AEFUDC of $2.7 million due to higher balances of construction work in progress in 2009, (ii) a $2.1 million increase in interest income included in the surcharge recovery of under-collection of deferred fuel, and (iii) an increase in miscellaneous non-operating income of $1.5 million primarily related to an increase in the cash surrender value of key-man life insurance policies from a 10-year interest rate adjustment and the settlement of a death benefit in the last quarter of 2008.

Interest charges (credits)

Interest charges (credits) increased $1.1 million, or 12.4%, for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to (i) a $1.9 million increase in interest related to the issuance of our 7.5% Senior Notes in June 2008, (ii) a $0.3 million increase in interest on our auction rate pollution control bonds. The increase in interest charges (credits) was partially offset by a $0.8 million increase in allowance for funds used during construction (“AFUDC”) as a result of increased construction work in progress subject to AFUDC.

Interest charges (credits) increased $5.1 million, or 29.6%, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year primarily due to (i) a $4.8 million increase in interest related to the issuance of our 7.5% Senior Notes in June 2008 and (ii) a $2.0 million increase in interest on our auction rate pollution control bonds. The interest rates bid in the weekly auctions of our pollution control bonds increased substantially in 2008. These auction rate pollution control bonds were refunded and reissued at a fixed interest rate of 7.25% on March 26, 2009. The increase in interest charges (credits) was partially offset by a $1.6 million increase in AFUDC as a result of increased construction work in progress subject to AFUDC.

Interest charges (credits) for the twelve month period ended June 30, 2009 increased $13.5 million, or 40.9%, compared to the same period last year primarily due to (i) a $10.4 million increase in interest related to the issuance of our 7.5% Senior Notes in June 2008; and (ii) a $5.1 million increase in interest related to our auction rate pollution control bonds discussed above. The increase in interest charges (credits) was partially offset by a $2.0 million increase in AFUDC as a result of increased construction work in progress subject to AFUDC.

 

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Income tax expense

Income tax expense decreased by $0.8 million, or 8.3%, in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter of 2008 primarily as a result of decreased pre-tax income and a lower tax rate on decommissioning trust losses in 2009. Income tax expense decreased by $2.9 million, or 17.5%, in the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008 due to decreased pre-tax income offset by a lower tax rate on decommissioning trust losses in 2009. Income tax expense decreased $1.5 million, or 4.0%, in the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year as a result of decreased pre-tax income and a lower tax rate on decommissioning trust losses in the 2009 period. In addition, income taxes for the twelve-months ended June 30, 2008 were reduced for adjustments to income tax accruals related to prior years including an adjustment to deferred income taxes associated with the accrual of other post-retirement benefits.

New Accounting Standards

Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted the FASB Staff Position EITF 03-6-1 “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities,” (“FSP EITF 03-6-1”) which requires a public entity to include share-based compensation awards that qualify as participating securities in both basic and diluted earnings per share. A share-based compensation award is considered a participating security if it receives non-forfeitable dividends or may participate in undistributed earnings with common stock. We award unvested restricted stock which qualifies as participating securities, and have reflected the effects of FSP EITF 03-6-1 to our basic and diluted earnings per share for all periods presented. See Note E of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” The statement defines fair value, outlines a framework for measuring fair value, and details the required disclosures about fair value measurements. On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 157-4 (“FSP 157-4”). FSP 157-4 provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 157, when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. FSP 157-4 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and shall be applied prospectively. FSP 157-4 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note K of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Effective April 1, 2009, we adopted the FASB Staff Position 107-1 and Accounting Principles Board Opinion 28-1 (“FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1”). FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 amend SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” and APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting.” FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements. FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 did not impact amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements but resulted in additional footnote disclosure. See Note K of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Effective April 1, 2009, we adopted the FASB Staff Position 115-2 and 124-2 (“FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2”). FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 amend 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. FSP 115-2 and FSP 124-2 did not have a significant impact on amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements. See Note K of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Effective April 1, 2009, we adopted the SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events.” SFAS No. 165 establishes general standards of accounting for disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued. We have evaluated subsequent events for recording and disclosure through August 6, 2009.

In December 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 132(R)-1 (“FSP 132(R)-1”), which amends FASB No. 132(R), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits,” to provide guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plan. FSP 132(R)-1 requires additional disclosure on investment policies and strategies, categories and fair value measurements of plan assets, and significant concentrations of risk. FSP 132(R)-1 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. FSP 132(R)-1 requires additional disclosure on pensions and other postretirement benefits but does not impact our consolidated financial results.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162.” SFAS No. 168 states that the FASB Accounting Standard Codification™ (the “Codification”) will become the source of authoritative U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Following SFAS No. 168, the FASB will not issue new standards in the form of Statements, FASB Staff Positions, or Emerging Issues Task Force Abstracts. Instead, it will issue Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”). SFAS No. 168 applies to financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. SFAS No. 168 is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. SFAS No. 168 should not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements although references to GAAP will change to Codification references.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We continue to maintain a strong capital structure which allows us the ability to access financing from the capital markets at a reasonable cost. At June 30, 2009, our capital structure, including common stock, long-term debt, the current portion of long-term debt and financing obligations, consisted of 46.3% common stock equity and 53.7% debt. In June 2008, we issued $150 million of 7.5% Senior Notes to meet current and future cash requirements. The net proceeds from the 7.5% Senior Notes were used to pay down working capital borrowings under our credit facility and the remaining proceeds are expected to fund our construction program through most of 2009. We believe that we will have adequate liquidity through our current cash balances, cash from operations, and our credit facility to meet all of our anticipated cash requirements through 2009. At June 30, 2009, we had a balance of $83.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. Substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents are currently held in federally insured accounts.

Our principal liquidity requirements in the near-term are expected to consist of capital expenditures to expand and support electric service obligations, expenditures for nuclear fuel inventory, interest payments on our indebtedness and operating expenses including fuel costs, non-fuel operation and maintenance costs and taxes. In addition, we may repurchase common stock in the future.

Capital requirements and resources have been impacted by the timing of the recovery of fuel costs through fuel recovery mechanisms in Texas and New Mexico and our sales for resale customer. We recover actual fuel costs from customers through fuel adjustment mechanisms in Texas, New Mexico, and from our sales for resale customer. We record deferred fuel revenues for the under-recovery or over-recovery of fuel costs until they can be recovered from or refunded to customers. In Texas, fuel costs are recovered through a fixed fuel factor which may be adjusted three times a year. In the six months ending June 30, 2009 we over recovered our current fuel costs by $36.6 million due to a decline in natural gas prices since the current Texas fixed fuel factor was implemented in October 2008. We also collected $16.3 million of deferred fuel revenues, including interest, in the first six months of 2009 through two fuel surcharges implemented in 2008. At June 30, 2009, we had a fuel over-recovery balance of $4.8 million including a $5.8 million over-recovery in Texas, $1.2 million under-recovery in New Mexico, and $0.2 million over-recovery from our FERC customer.

At current gas prices, we expect to continue to over-recover fuel costs in Texas until the fixed fuel factor is revised. Our first fuel surcharge was completed in April 2009, and the PUCT issued an order on April 23, 2009, terminating our second fuel surcharge effective in May 2009. Fuel over-recoveries have resulted in the recovery of the remaining balance of the second fuel surcharge. In addition, on July 30, 2009, we received approval from the PUCT to reduce our fixed fuel factor in August 2009. If fuel over-recoveries in Texas become material ($7.4 million) we will file to refund such over-recoveries.

Capital Requirements. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, our cash requirements primarily consisted of capital expenditures and operations and maintenance costs. Projected utility construction expenditures will consist primarily of expanding and updating our transmission and distribution systems, adding new generation, and making capital improvements and replacements at Palo Verde and other generating facilities. We are constructing Newman Unit 5, a 288 MW gas-fired combined cycle combustion turbine generating unit, which will be completed in two phases at an estimated cost of approximately $245 million. The first phase of Newman Unit 5 was completed in May 2009 and the second phase is currently expected to be completed before the summer of 2011. As of

 

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June 30, 2009, we had expended $118.6 million on Newman Unit 5. See Part I, Item 1, “Business –Construction Program” in our 2008 Form 10-K. Capital expenditures were $99.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to $94.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2008.

Our capital requirements for nuclear fuel are financed through a trust that borrows under our $200 million credit facility to acquire and process the nuclear fuel. Borrowings under the credit facility for nuclear fuel were $103.5 million as of June 30, 2009 and $95.1 million as of June 30, 2008. Up to $120 million of the credit facility may be used to finance nuclear fuel. Amounts not drawn for nuclear fuel are available for general corporate purposes. No borrowings were outstanding at June 30, 2009 for general corporate purposes.

The Company does not pay dividends on common stock. Since 1999, we have repurchased approximately 19.8 million shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $279.3 million, including commissions. No shares were repurchased during the first six months of 2009. As of June 30, 2009, 1,521,366 shares remain available for repurchase under the currently authorized program. We may make purchases of our stock in the future pursuant to our stock repurchase plan at open market prices and may engage in private transactions, where appropriate. The repurchased shares will be available for issuance under employee benefit and stock incentive plans, or may be retired.

Our cash requirements for federal and state income taxes are impacted by changes in net income as well as when revenues are reflected in taxable income and expenses are deducted from taxable income. Since deferred fuel revenues are not taxable until collected from customers, the collection of fuel under-recoveries have increased income taxes payable in 2009.

We continually evaluate our funding requirements related to our retirement plans, other postretirement benefit plans, and decommissioning trust funds. We contributed $3.9 million of the projected $6.3 million 2009 annual contribution to our retirement plans during the six months ended June 30, 2009. In the six months ended June 30, 2009, we contributed $2.0 million of the projected $3.4 million 2009 annual contribution to our other postretirement benefit plan, and $3.9 million of the projected $7.9 million 2009 annual contribution to our decommissioning trust funds. We are in compliance with the funding requirements of the federal government for our benefit plans and decommissioning trust. We will continue to review our funding for these plans in order to meet our future obligations.

Capital Resources. Cash flow from operations funded our capital requirements during the first six months of 2009. Cash generated from operations increased $62.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 primarily due to the collection of deferred fuel revenues in 2009 net of related tax impacts. We expect that a significant portion of our construction expenditures will continue to be financed with internal sources of funds.

We issued $150 million of 7.5% Senior Notes in June 2008 to meet our current and future cash requirements. The net proceeds of $148.7 million from the 7.5% Senior Notes were used to repay $44.0 million of working capital borrowings under our credit facility. The remaining proceeds are expected to help fund our construction program through most of 2009. Our Senior Notes are rated “Baa2” by Moody’s and “BBB” by Standard & Poors. We continue to maintain a $200 million credit facility to provide funds for the purchase of nuclear fuel and to provide liquidity to meet our capital requirements before they can be financed with long-term capital sources. At June 30, 2009, we had an outstanding balance of $103.5 million on our credit facility, all of which pertained to our purchases of

 

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nuclear fuel. We anticipate the need for additional external funds to finance capital requirements in 2010. We could seek to issue additional long-term debt or obtain funds through an additional credit facility to finance capital requirements in addition to funds from operations and our existing credit facility.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk due to changes in interest rates, equity prices and commodity prices. See our 2008 Form 10-K, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” for a complete discussion of the market risks we face and our market risk sensitive assets and liabilities. As of June 30, 2009, there have been no material changes in the market risks we faced or the fair values of assets and liabilities disclosed in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in our 2008 Form 10-K.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and our principal financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. These controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the company and its subsidiaries is communicated to the chief executive officer and the principal financial officer by others within those entities. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2009, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the chief executive officer and the principal financial officer, and recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15, that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2009, that materially affected, or that were reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We hereby incorporate by reference the information set forth in Part I of this report under Notes B and I of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our 2008 Form 10-K includes a detailed discussion of our risk factors.

 

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

 

  (c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

In November 2007, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program permitting the repurchase of up to 2.0 million additional shares of its outstanding common stock. Approximately 1.5 million shares remain authorized to be repurchased under the program. No shares were repurchased during the second quarter of 2009.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Our annual meeting of shareholders was held on May 7, 2009. As of the record date on March 10, 2009, the total number of common shares outstanding and entitled to vote at this annual meeting was 44,923,710, of which 42,490,104 shares were represented in person or by proxy. The purpose of the annual meeting was to give shareholders the opportunity to vote on two matters: (i) the election of Class III directors; and (ii) the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009. The shareholders approved the Class III directors and ratified KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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Election of Class III Directors

The following Class III directors were elected to hold office for a three-year term expiring at our annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2012:

 

Director

  

Votes For

  

Votes Withheld

James W. Harris

   41,544,429    945,675

David W. Stevens

   41,745,468    744,636

Stephen N. Wertheimer

   41,545,435    944,669

Charles A. Yamarone

   41,538,382    951,722

In addition to the individuals set forth above, the following individuals continued as directors following the meeting: George W. Edwards, Jr., James W. Cicconi, Patricia Z. Holland-Branch, Kenneth R. Heitz, Michael K. Parks and Eric B. Siegel.

Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

At the annual meeting, our shareholders ratified the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009 by the following vote:

 

Description

  

Number of Votes

FOR

   41,763,513

AGAINST

   715,101

ABSTAIN

   11,490

 

Item 6. Exhibits

See Index to Exhibits incorporated herein by reference.

 

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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.

 

  EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY
By:  

/s/ DAVID G. CARPENTER

  David G. Carpenter
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

Dated: August 6, 2009

 

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EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit

  †10.05    Form of Directors’ Restricted Stock Award Agreement between the Company and certain directors of the Company. (Identical in all material respects to Exhibit 10.07 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999)
    10.06    Amended Confirmation of Power Sales Transaction, dated May 8, 2009, between the Company and Imperial Irrigation District. Amendment to Exhibit 10.45 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
††10.07    Solar Energy Purchase Power Agreement, dated October 17, 2008, between the Company and New Mexico SunTower, LLC.
    15    Letter re Unaudited Interim Financial Information
    31.01    Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    32.01    Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

In lieu of non-employee director cash compensation, three agreements, dated as of July 1, 2009, substantially identical in all material respects to this Exhibit, have been entered into with Catherine A. Allen; Kenneth R. Heitz; and Patricia Z. Holland-Branch; directors of the Company.

 

   In lieu of non-employee director cash compensation, twelve agreements, dated as of May 7, 2009, substantially identical in all material respects to this Exhibit, were entered into with Catherine A. Allen; J. Robert Brown; James W. Cicconi; George W. Edwards, Jr.; James W. Harris; Kenneth R. Heitz; Patricia Z. Holland-Branch; Michael K. Parks; Eric B. Siegel; Stephen N. Wertheimer; and Charles A. Yamarone; directors of the Company.
†† Confidential treatment has been requested for the redacted portions of this Exhibit. The copy filed omits the information subject to the confidentiality request. Omissions are designated as “****”. A complete version of this Exhibit has been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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