UIL Reports Second Quarter 2013 Earnings and Reaffirms 2013 Earnings Guidance

UIL Reports Second Quarter 2013 Earnings and Reaffirms 2013 Earnings Guidance

NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, UIL Holdings Corporation (NYS: UIL) reported consolidated net income of $17.9 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2013, an increase of $5.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to the same period in 2012. For the first six months of 2013, UIL's consolidated net income was $69.7 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, an increase of $10.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to the same period in 2012.

"All subsidiaries reported improved financial performance for the quarter and year-to-date," said James P. Torgerson, UIL's president and chief executive officer. "The increased earnings in 2013 were due to the return to near normal weather, an increased transmission rate base and the impacts of natural gas conversions. Our conversions of 7,749 for the first half of the year are 70% ahead of 2012 levels and represent 64% of this year's goal of 12,200 conversions."

"On the regulatory front, last week, PURA issued a draft decision relating to UI's electric distribution rate case. Today, we filed written exceptions that addressed aspects of the draft that are contrary to the record, law, ratemaking principles and commission precedent. The final decision is expected in mid-August," added Torgerson. "And, in early July, Connecticut Natural Gas filed an application with PURA to increase its gas delivery rate."

UIL Holdings Corporation's results for the second quarter and first six months of 2013, compared to the same periods in 2012, are presented in the table below:

United Illuminating

United Illuminating (UI) earnings increased by $2.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share and $3.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share for the second quarter and the first six months of 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012, respectively. Details of the increase follow.

Electric distribution, CTA & other

The increase in earnings for the second quarter and first six months of 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 was due to the absence of after-tax earnings sharing that was recorded in 2012. Due to an increased rate base, no earnings sharing has been recorded in 2013.

In the second quarter and first six months of 2013, pre-tax earnings from the equity investment in GenConn were $3.8 million and $7.7 million, respectively, compared to $3.9 million and $8.4 million for the same periods in 2012. The decrease in pre-tax earnings year over year was primarily due to non-recurring adjustments recorded in the first quarter of 2012.

Electric transmission

The increase in earnings for the second quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 was primarily attributable to an increase in rate base.

The increase in earnings for the first six months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 was primarily attributable to increases in rate base and allowance for funds used during construction.

Gas distribution

The improved results for the second quarter of 2013 compared to the second quarter 2012 was due to the impact of colder weather, increased normalized usage per customer and customer growth. (See chart below) This was partially offset by increased O&M expenses.

The increase in earnings for the first six months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 was due to the impact of colder weather, increased normalized usage per customer and customer growth. (See chart below) This was partially offset by increased O&M expenses and the absence of $3.5 million, pre-tax, of weather insurance proceeds that were recorded in the first quarter of 2012.

The earnings impacts from weather, normalized usage per customer and customer growth are presented in the table below:

*Colder temperatures in the second quarter and first six months of 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 resulted in a 34.0% and 23.9% increase in heating degree days, respectively.

Corporate

The decrease in costs for the second quarter and the first six months of 2013 compared to the same periods in 2012 was primarily due to tax benefits associated with unitary filing requirements for Massachusetts state income taxes.

Looking Forward

UIL reaffirms its consolidated earnings guidance for 2013 of $2.05-$2.25 per diluted share. Forecasted earnings for 2013, excluding potential impacts from PURA's decision in UI's electric distribution rate case, are detailed in the table below.

Second quarter 2013 conference call

UIL Holdings will conduct a webcast conference call with financial analysts on Wednesday, August 7, 2013, beginning at 10:00 a.m. eastern time. UIL Holdings' executive management will present an overview of the financial results followed by a question and answer session. Interested parties, including analysts, investors and the media, may listen live via the internet by logging onto the Investors section of UIL's website at http://www.uil.com. Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson Street Events (www.streetevents.com), a password-protected event management site.

Headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, UIL Holdings Corporation (NYS: UIL) is a diversified energy delivery company serving a total of approximately 700,000 electric and natural gas utility customers in 66 communities across two states, with combined total assets of over $4 billion.

UIL Holdings is the parent company for The United Illuminating Company (UI), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire), each more than 100 years old. UI provides for the transmission and delivery of electricity and other energy related services for Connecticut's Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas. SCG and CNG are natural gas distribution companies that serve customers in Connecticut, while Berkshire serves natural gas customers in western Massachusetts. UIL Holdings employs more than 1,850 people in the New England region. For more information on UIL Holdings, visit http://www.uil.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

UIL Holdings believes that a breakdown presented on a net income and per share basis is useful in understanding the change in the consolidated results of operations for UIL Holdings from one reporting period to another. UIL Holdings presents such per share amounts by taking the pretax amounts determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and applying UIL Holdings' combined effective statutory federal and state tax rate and then dividing the results by the average number diluted of shares of UIL Holdings common stock outstanding for the periods presented. Any such amounts provided are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be used to calculate "Pro-forma" amounts.

UIL Holdings also believes earnings per share (EPS) information by line of business, including as presented above in the net income discussion and in the earnings guidance section is useful in understanding and evaluating actual and projected financial performance and contribution of UIL's businesses.EPS by business is calculated by taking the pretax amounts determined in accordance with GAAP of each line of business, and applying the effective statutory federal and state tax rate and then dividing the results by the average number of diluted shares of UIL common stock outstanding for the periods presented. Total consolidated EPS is a GAAP-basis presentation.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein, regarding matters that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These include statements regarding management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or forecasts for the future. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and involve risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory changes, changes in demand for electricity, gas and other products and services, unanticipated weather conditions, changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines, and other economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products and services of UIL Holdings' subsidiaries, The United Illuminating Company, The Southern Connecticut Gas Company, Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation and The Berkshire Gas Company. The foregoing and other factors are discussed and should be reviewed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.

The following are summaries of UIL Holdings' unaudited consolidated financial information for the second quarter and first six months of 2012 and 2013: