Unitil Corp (UTL) Q4 2020 Earnings Call Transcript

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Unitil Corp (UTL 1.22%)
Q4 2020 Earnings Call
Feb 2, 2021, 2:00 p.m. ET

Contents:

• Prepared Remarks
• Questions and Answers
• Call Participants

Prepared Remarks:

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by and welcome to the Q4 2020 Unitil Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to introduce your host for this conference call, Mr. Todd Diggins. You may begin, sir.

Todd Diggins -- Investor Relations

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us to discuss Unitil Corporation's fourth quarter 2020 financial results. Speaking on the call today will be Tom Meissner, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer; and Bob Hevert, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. We will discuss financial and other information on this call. As we mentioned in the press release announcing the call, we have posted that information including a presentation to the investor section of our website at www.unitil.com. We will refer to that information during this call. On slide 2, the comments made today about future operating results or future events are forward-looking statements under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those predicted. Statements made on this call should be considered together with cautionary statements and other information contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents we have filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of today. We assume no duty to update them. This presentation contains non-GAAP measures. The accompanying supplemental information more fully describes these non-GAAP measures and includes a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measures. The company believes these non-GAAP measures are useful in evaluating its performance.

And with that, I will now turn the call over to Chairman, President and CEO, Tom Meissner.

Tom Meissner -- President, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Todd. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm going to begin on slide 4 where today, we announced net income of $13.6 million, or $0.90 per share for the fourth quarter of 2020. This represents an increase of $2.2 million, or $0.13 per share compared to 2019. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, net income was $32.2 million, or $2.15 per share. By any measure, 2020 proved to be a challenging year for our company, our customers, and our shareholders. The year began with historically warm winter weather, which negatively impacted sales margins and earnings. The weather -- the winter was then followed by the worst worldwide health emergency in over a century. The COVID-19 pandemic led to both financial and operational headwinds for the remainder of 2020.

However, faced with these challenges we stayed true to our mission and continue to provide safe and reliable service for our customers and communities. Over the course of the year, we successfully responded to several storm events and achieved record results for safety and customer satisfaction, all while executing on our strategic priorities. In addition, we effectively executed on our investment plan, moved forward with grid modernization and advanced our ESG profile. We also carried out our regulatory strategy as we finalized rate cases for our natural gas division in Maine, both gas and electric divisions in Massachusetts, as well as Granite State, our FERC-regulated gas transmission company. As we head into 2021, Unitil is well-positioned to move forward stronger than ever.

With that, I will now pass it over to Bob to provide further detail on our 2020 results.

Robert Hevert -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Thank you, Tom, and good afternoon, everyone. I will begin on slide 5. As Tom noted, we announced fourth quarter earnings per share of $0.90 and fiscal year 2020 earnings per share of $2.15. As a reminder, in the first quarter of 2019, Unitil recognized a one-time net gain of $9.8 million or $0.66 per share on the divestiture of Usource, which had provided non-regulated energy services. Adjusting for the divestiture gain, net income for the year is down $2.2 million or $0.16 per share compared to 2019. That decrease primarily was due to warmer than normal winter weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. Turning to slide 6, I will discuss our sales margin. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, electric gross margin was $92.9 million, an increase of $1 million compared to 2019.

The increase in electric margin reflected higher rates of $1.4 million together with customer growth and warmer summer weather of about $0.4 million. Those gains were partially offset by $0.8 million reflecting the combined net effect of lower commercial and industrial sales and higher residential sales associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Total kilowatt hour sales were unchanged relative to 2019. Residential sales increased to 6.5% primarily reflecting the COVID environment and warmer summer weather. C&I sales decreased 4.5% reflecting lower usage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving to slide 7, for the fiscal year ended December 2020, gas growth margin -- excuse me, gross margin was $122.6 million, an increase of $0.4 million year-over-year.

The increase was driven principally by higher rates of $5.1 million and customer growth of $1.8 million. These increases were partially offset by warmer winter weather of $4.4 million and an estimated effect of $2.1 million due to lower commercial and industrial usage associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Relative to 2019, natural gas therm sales decreased by 7.5%. The decrease again was attributed to the historically warm winter weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimate weather normalized gas therm sales excluding decoupled sales were down 1.6% year-over-year. Lastly, despite the challenges brought in 2020, the number of gas customers served increased by 2%. On slide 8, we summarize the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to closely monitor the situation and any potential effect on the company's financial health.

Slide 8 provides the pandemic's effect on various income statement categories. We estimate that the pandemic unfavorably affected earnings per share by $0.05 in the fourth quarter, bringing the annual effect to $0.09 per share. The principal effect was lower gas margins somewhat offset by lower operating expenses and the recognition of an employee retention credit under the CARES Act. Moving to slide 9, we provide an earnings bridge analysis comparing 2020 results to 2019 for the fiscal year ending December 31st each year. As shown in the past, this layout is slightly different than the Form 10-K as we isolate the effect of the Usource divestiture and accompanying revenues and expenses. In the supplemental materials to this presentation, we have provided a reconciliation to the statement of earnings provided in the Form 10-K.

As noted earlier, 2020 gross margin was higher than 2019 by $1.4 million driven by rates and customer growth largely offset by warmer winter weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. Core operation and maintenance expenses decreased $1.1 million compared to the same period in 2019. That decrease primarily was due to lower employee benefit costs partially offset by higher professional fees and pandemic-related costs. Depreciation and amortization was higher by $2.5 million reflecting higher levels of utility plant and service. Taxes other than income taxes increased by $1.2 million reflecting property taxes associated with higher levels of net plant and service and a non-recurring tax abatement of $0.6 million realized in 2019.

As noted earlier, the increase was partially offset by $0.6 million of payroll credits recognized under the CARES Act. Interest expense increased by $0.1 million reflecting higher long-term debt levels partially offset by lower interest rates on short-term debt. Other expense increased by $0.4 million primarily due to higher retirement benefit costs. Next, we've isolated the full Usource effect of $10.3 million, which was realized in 2019. This includes the after-tax gain on the divestiture of $9.8 million and $0.5 million, which reflects the net of revenues and expenses realized through 2019. Lastly, income taxes were flat year-over-year. Turning now to slide 10; as we've done in the past, slide 10 provides our projected five-year investment plan, which now totals about $725 million.

Our planned investments will ensure the safety and reliability of our existing distribution system, enable system growth, advance our grid modernization initiatives and enhance customer experience. There remains potential upside to this projection for electric vehicle infrastructure, additional grid modernization, and supply side projects. We anticipate long-run annual rate based growth in the range of 6.5% to 8.5%, largely in line with our historical growth. Slide 11 provides the five-year financing plan supporting our capital investment portfolio. We expect roughly two-thirds of our capital investments will be funded by cash flow from operations less dividends. The remainder will be funded through a combination of debt and equity.

We continue to target a dividend payout ratio range of 55% to 65%, enabling us to reinvest earnings and reduce external financing requirements. Lastly, the company has ample liquidity through our credit facility, which has a limit of $120 million and the option to request an increase to our borrowing capacity by $50 million. And turning to slide 12, our regulatory outlook for 2021 and beyond remains active and includes planned base rate filings in New Hampshire for both Unitil Energy Systems, our electric distribution utility, and Northern Utilities New Hampshire division, our natural gas utility.

New Hampshire regulators typically allow for the collection of a portion of the revenue deficiency filed in the rate case to begin prior to receiving a final order. We expect such temporary rates to become effective in 2021 for both companies. Temporary rates are fully reconciled to the final rate decision. We also plan to file proposals for full decoupling structures in both cases. As you know, decoupling removes the effect of weather and changing customer usage patterns from revenue. If those mechanisms are approved in New Hampshire, 82% of our meters will be served under decoupled rates, a significant increase from the 24% of meters currently served under decoupling structures.

I'll now turn it back to Tom.

Tom Meissner -- President, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

Great. Thanks Bob. Turning now to slide 13, despite the challenges facing Unitil in 2020, we continue to demonstrate the company's strength in day-to-day operations. In particular, we were able to provide mutual aid support to other utilities a record eight times in 2020. After Tropical Storm Isaias, we restored power to all of our customers within a 24-hour period, an example of our efficient restoration practices. As a result of these efforts, we again received the EEI Mutual Assistance Award, our third time accepting this award in the last four years. Moving on to slide 14, in addition to electric and gas operational excellence, our customer service targets were exceeded. I am pleased to share that our customer satisfaction is at an all-time high with 93% of our customers satisfied with the service we provide.

In terms of customer satisfaction, we were the number one rated utility in the Northeast and the second rated utility in the entire Eastern United States. Our employee pride and engagement are also at an all-time high with 90% of employees reporting that they are proud to work for Unitil. We believe these excellent results go hand-in-hand and reflect our commitment to our central values of respect, integrity, stewardship and excellence. On slide 15 we are also pleased with our gas emergency response as well as our safety metrics in 2020. Once again, Unitil was selected as a leading practice company by the American Gas Association recognizing our superior emergency response and preparedness. In 2020, we ensured public safety by responding to emergencies faster on average than in 2019.

And in fact, 2020 was our best response time in company history. Also supporting the safety of our gas system is continued infrastructure replacement and modernization, which is now over 94% complete. Turning to slide 16, sustainability is central to our mission and vision. And we recognize our responsibility to evolve the energy landscape. Our vision is to transform the way people meet their changing energy needs to create a clean and sustainable future. As I mentioned last quarter, in October, we published our second corporate sustainability report that included key metrics and statistics included in various industry-specific reporting templates. In addition to publishing our second sustainability report, we now have staff devoted entirely to advancing our sustainability initiatives.

The company will continue to invest in electric grid modernization to accommodate evolving customer needs, new technologies and the clean renewable energy resources being distributed across the energy delivery system. These initiatives will likely include advanced metering, grid intelligence, distributed energy, enhanced customer services and innovative rate design. We continue to identify sources of existing or planned renewable natural gas resources and are actively investigating the potential of adding Pipeline-Quality RNG to our supply portfolio. In New Hampshire, we have established a working group to explore issues and opportunities surrounding renewable natural gas as part of a collaborative settlement approving our most recent integrated resource plan.

Lastly, as I have mentioned before, our goal is to be the most technologically advanced utility in the region, and we will continue to provide updates as we advance our ESG profile. Now, wrapping up on slide 17, this year will be remembered for its historic challenges but we look to the future with optimism. The foundation of our business remains strong. Unitil generates steady and predictable cash flows with continued support from strong customer growth and robust investment opportunities. As Bob already highlighted, we expect long-run rate based growth in the range of 6.5% to 8.5%, which will support long-term earnings growth in the range of 5% to 7%. In the near-term, we expect EPS growth to be somewhat above the upper end of this range relative to our 2020 earnings of $2.15 as our earnings recover from both weather impacts and the ongoing pandemic.

With that, I'll turn it back to Todd.

Todd Diggins -- Investor Relations

Great. Thanks, Tom. Thank you for attending today's call. I will now turn the call back over to the operator for any questions.

Questions and Answers:

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from Michael Gaugler with Janney Montgomery.

Michael Gaugler -- Janney Montgomery Scott LLC -- Analyst

Good afternoon, everyone.

Tom Meissner -- President, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

Hi, Mike.

Michael Gaugler -- Janney Montgomery Scott LLC -- Analyst

Bob, have two quick questions. First, you stated on COVID the negative impacts there are $0.09 for the year. Just wondering if that's what you're expecting for 2021?

Robert Hevert -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Hey, this is Bob Hevert. As we look forward into 2021, we look at COVID in the context of how we are projecting use going forward. We think there will be a continuing COVID effect, although we expect that effect to moderate over time. As with most people, we see the likelihood of vaccinations taking hold to be meaningful. So, we do consider a continuing effect of COVID through 2021, although we don't think it will be as pervasive, as long lasting as it had been in 2020.

Michael Gaugler -- Janney Montgomery Scott LLC -- Analyst

Okay. And then on I'll check on the other item that you called out in terms of having a negative impact on the results and that's the weather. Just wondering how that's tracking thus far in Q1 versus your expectations?

Robert Hevert -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

It's Bob Hevert again. So far, through January, we know the first half of January was somewhat warmer than normal. We have considered that, although the last week, the temperature turned in our favor a little bit. So, we'll have to see how January shakes out. But for the balance of the year, we're generally looking toward normal weather.

Michael Gaugler -- Janney Montgomery Scott LLC -- Analyst

And it looks like some cold weather coming in. So, it should give you a little bit of a benefit here real soon. That's all I have.

Tom Meissner -- President, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

Cold and snowy.

Robert Hevert -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Yeah. That's right. We're all for that.

Michael Gaugler -- Janney Montgomery Scott LLC -- Analyst

Thank you much.

Robert Hevert -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Thank you.

Tom Meissner -- President, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

Thank you.

Operator

Our next question comes from Shelby Tucker with RBC Capital Markets.

Shelby Tucker -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

Thank you. Good afternoon. A quick question on the competitive position of natural gas versus fuel oil. Have you done any analysis as to what impact natural gas blending would have on your position comparing to fuel oil?

Robert Hevert -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

So, this is Bob Hevert again. Let me take that from the perspective of how we're looking at sort of renewable natural gas in our supply portfolio. Is that where you're heading?

Shelby Tucker -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

Yeah.

Robert Hevert -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Okay. Sure. So, as Tom mentioned, we do have a collaborative process going on right now in New Hampshire looking at how we might integrate renewable sources of natural gas in the supply portfolio from a least cost integrated resource planning perspective. You may recall that last quarter we noted that we had issued a request for expressions of interest as well for different sources of renewable natural gas. The purpose of that was to help us understand what might be available and how we might think through the cost and availability of those supplies. So, we are looking at that issue really throughout all our jurisdictions.

We are considering both legislative and regulatory strategies in each of our jurisdictions as well. Now, you mentioned Maine. As you probably know, Maine and New Hampshire have the highest saturation of oil heating in the country. So we're very keen on being sure that we can maintain our advantage. We think that natural gas is very helpful from an environmental perspective simply due to the high saturation of oil in those two states. But it will become even more environmentally attractive as we're able to blend in, as we learn more about how we might be able to blend in lower-carbon sources of renewable natural gas.

Shelby Tucker -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

Great. Thanks Bob. And then just -- and a follow-up there, do you know if the fuel oil industry is facing its own headwinds, regulatory or legislative headwinds? Any additional costs that are being put on, on that industry?

Tom Meissner -- President, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

I think -- this is Tom, Shelby. I think what we're seeing is that the fuel oil companies are coming up with their own strategies to use biofuels in response to many of the same pressures that the natural gas utilities are facing. But I think the real question is how much of that is really available and feasible and what the cost impact will be on their supply? But they are responding in much the same way, trying to develop strategies to head to greener supplies for oil similar to what we are pursuing.

Shelby Tucker -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

Got it. Great. Thanks, Tom. Have a good day.

Operator

[Operator Closing Remarks]

Duration: 23 minutes

Call participants:

Todd Diggins -- Investor Relations

Tom Meissner -- President, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer

Robert Hevert -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Michael Gaugler -- Janney Montgomery Scott LLC -- Analyst

Shelby Tucker -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst

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