NU Reports Third Quarter Results

BOSTON & HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) today reported earnings of $207.6 million, or $0.66 per share, in the third quarter of 2012, compared with earnings of $90 million, or $0.51 per share, in the same period of 2011. Third quarter 2012 results included approximately $12.9 million, or $0.04 per share, of after-tax charges related to the April 2012 closing of the merger between NU and NSTAR. Excluding merger and related settlement costs, NU earned $220.5 million¹, or $0.70 per share¹, in the third quarter of 2012, compared with earnings of $90.6 million¹, or $0.51 per share¹, in the third quarter of 2011.

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, NU earned $351.2 million, or $1.32 per share, compared with earnings of $281.4 million, or $1.58 per share, for the same period of 2011. Excluding merger and related settlement costs of $105.5 million, or $0.40 per share, NU earned $456.7 million¹, or $1.72 per share¹, in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, compared with earnings of $291.5 million¹, or $1.64 per share¹, in the same period of 2011. NSTAR’s results are included in NU’s results, effective as of April 2012.

Thomas J. May, NU president and chief executive officer, said, “These financial results are in-line with our recently announced 2012 recurring earnings guidance of between $2.25 and $2.30 per share¹ and speak well of our efforts to create a high performing, successful, customer-focused company.”

May said he was extremely proud with the company’s response to Hurricane Sandy. “Our 9,000 employees, supported by thousands of additional contract employees from throughout the country, continue to perform heroically, working around the clock to restore power to customers in three states who depend on us for a critical service. We deeply appreciate the patience and support our customers have shown this week, and, with what we’ve seen this week, we are even more confident that our merger will provide them and their communities with significant long-term benefits. This storm recovery illustrates one of the most visible benefits of the merger. As we complete work in some of the less impacted areas, we are able to redeploy hundreds of line and tree workers to the most damaged areas with the greatest number of power outages.”

Dividend Declaration

NU also announced today that its Board of Trustees has declared a regular common dividend of $0.343 per share, payable December 31, 2012, to shareholders of record as of November 30, 2012.

Electric Transmission

NU’s transmission segment earned $71.1 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $181.1 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, compared with $41.5 million for the third quarter of 2011 and $128.4 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011. The earnings improvement primarily reflects continued investment in NU’s transmission system, including the $718 million Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP), as well as the addition of NSTAR Electric Company transmission results as of April 2012.

Electric Distribution and Generation

NU’s electric distribution and generation segment earned $150.7 million in the third quarter of 2012 and $263.1 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, compared with $58 million for the third quarter of 2011 and $152.8 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011. The 2012 results exclude $0.2 million of third-quarter and $51 million of year-to-date after-tax merger and related settlement costs.

The distribution and generation segment results benefited in the third quarter and the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012 from the addition of NSTAR Electric distribution results effective in April 2012, as well as higher retail sales. These impacts were partially offset by higher costs related to pension and health care benefits and higher depreciation and property taxes.

Earnings of Electric Utility Subsidiaries

The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) earned $73.5 million for the third quarter of 2012. It earned $170.1 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, excluding $38.4 million of year-to-date merger and related settlement costs. That compares with earnings of $65.1 million in the third quarter of 2011 and $179.4 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011. The improved third quarter results were due primarily to higher transmission earnings. For the year-to-date period, results were lower due primarily to higher pension, tree trimming and system maintenance costs.

NSTAR Electric earned $106.5 million in the third quarter of 2012. It earned a total of $162 million in the second and third quarters of 2012, excluding $10.8 million of after-tax merger and settlement related charges.

CL&P and NSTAR Electric’s earnings are net of preferred dividends.

Public Service Company of New Hampshire earned $27.2 million for the third quarter of 2012 and $69.8 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, compared with earnings of $25.7 million in the third quarter of 2011 and $74.7 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011. The improved third quarter results were due primarily to higher transmission earnings, while year-to-date results for 2012 were lower due primarily to higher depreciation, property tax and income tax expense.

Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) earned $14.1 million in the third quarter of 2012. It earned $41.2 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, excluding $1.8 million of year-to-date merger and related settlement costs, compared with earnings of $8.4 million in the third quarter of 2011 and $26.6 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011. WMECO’s results in 2012 improved largely as a result of higher transmission earnings, which were primarily related to GSRP. The project is being built primarily in the WMECO service territory and was approximately 85 percent complete as of September 30, 2012.

Natural Gas Distribution

NU’s natural gas distribution segment, which now includes both Yankee Gas Services Company and NSTAR Gas Company, lost $4.4 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared with a loss of $3 million in the third quarter of 2011 when it included only Yankee Gas. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012, NU’s natural gas distribution segment earned $10.4 million, excluding $2.1 million of merger and related settlement costs at NSTAR Gas, compared with earnings of $20.7 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011. The lower year-to-date results in 2012 largely reflect the impact of mild temperatures in the first quarter of 2012, which significantly reduced the heating demand of Yankee Gas customers, compared with the first quarter of 2011 when temperatures were colder than normal.

NU parent and other businesses

Excluding $12.7 million of after-tax merger and related settlement costs in the third quarter of 2012 and $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2011, NU parent and other businesses had net earnings of $3.1 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared with net expenses of $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2011. Excluding $52.4 million of merger and related settlement costs in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012 and $10.1 million in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, NU parent and other businesses had net earnings of $2.1 million in 2012, compared with net expenses of $10.4 million in the first nine months of 2011. The improvement was driven by a number of factors, including the addition of earnings from NSTAR Communications, Inc., and lower interest expense. The following table reconciles earnings per share for the third-quarter and the nine-month period ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

						Third Quarter			First Nine Months
2011			Reported EPS			$0.51			$1.58
			2011 merger-related charges			$0.00			$0.06
			2011 EPS before merger-related charges			$0.51			$1.64
			NSTAR earnings contribution in 2012			$0.33			$0.61
			Higher transmission earnings in 2012			$0.08			$0.13
			Higher/(lower) electric sales in 2012			$0.03			($0.03)
			Higher/(lower) firm natural gas sales in 2012			$0.01			($0.03)
			Higher O&M, including untracked pension and health care costs in 2012			($0.03)			($0.04)
			Other, primarily lower income tax expense			$0.05			($0.01)
			Higher outstanding common shares			($0.28)			($0.55)
			2012 EPS before merger-related settlements and other merger-related charges			$0.70			$1.72
			2012 merger and related settlement charges			($0.04)			($0.40)
2012			Reported EPS			$0.66			$1.32

Financial results for the third quarter and nine-month period ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are noted below:

Three months ended:
(in millions, except EPS)			September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011			Increase/ (Decrease)			2012 EPS1
Electric Distribution/Generation			$150.7			$58.0			$92.7			$0.48
Natural Gas Distribution			($4.4)			($3.0)			($1.4)			($0.02)
Electric Transmission			$71.1			$41.5			$29.6			$0.23
NU Parent and Other Companies, ex. merger expenses			$3.1			($5.9)			$9.0			$0.01
Earnings, ex. merger impacts			$220.5			$90.6			$129.9			$0.70
Merger impacts			($12.9)			($0.6)			($12.3)			($0.04)
Reported Earnings			$207.6			$90.0			$117.6			$0.66

Nine months ended:
(in millions, except EPS)			September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011			Increase/ (Decrease)			2012 EPS1
Electric Distribution/Generation, ex. rate credits, storm cost write-down			$263.1			$152.8			$110.3			$0.99
Natural Gas Distribution, ex. rate Credits			$10.4			$20.7			($10.3)			$0.04
Electric Transmission			$181.1			$128.4			$52.7			$0.68
NU Parent and Other Companies, ex. merger settlement, expenses			$2.1			($10.4)			$12.5			$0.01
Earnings, ex. merger impacts			$456.7			$291.5			$165.2			$1.72
Merger impacts			($105.5)			($10.1)			($95.4)			($0.40)
Reported Earnings			$351.2			$281.4			$69.8			$1.32

* Prior year sales data for NSTAR Electric are included for illustrative purposes.
** Prior year sales data for NSTAR Gas are included for illustrative purposes.

NU has approximately 314 million common shares outstanding. It operates New England’s largest energy delivery system, serving approximately 3.5 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Note: NU will webcast a presentation from the 2012 EEI Financial Conference on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, beginning at 9:45 a.m. Mountain Time and 11:45 a.m. Eastern Time. The webcast can be accessed through NU’s website at www.nu.com.

¹ All per share amounts in this news release are reported on a diluted basis. The only common equity securities that are publicly traded are common shares of NU parent. The earnings and EPS of each business do not represent a direct legal interest in the assets and liabilities allocated to such business, but rather represent a direct interest in NU's assets and liabilities as a whole. EPS by business is a non-GAAP (not determined using generally accepted accounting principles) measure that is calculated by dividing the net income or loss attributable to controlling interests of each business by the weighted average diluted NU parent common shares outstanding for the period. In addition, the third quarter and first nine month 2012 earnings and EPS excluding certain charges related to the April 10, 2012 closing of the merger between NU and NSTAR are non-GAAP financial measures. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate earnings results and to provide details of earnings results by business and to more fully compare and explain our third quarter and first nine month 2012 and 2011 results without including the impact of the non-recurring merger and related settlement costs. Management believes that this measurement is useful to investors to evaluate the actual and projected financial performance and contribution of NU’s businesses. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to NU consolidated net income attributable to controlling interests or EPS determined in accordance with GAAP as indicators of NU’s operating performance.

This news release includes statements concerning NU’s expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions of future events, future financial performance or growth and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, readers can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as “estimate, “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “believe,” “forecast,” “should,” “could,” and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, actions or inaction of local, state and federal regulatory and taxing bodies; changes in business and economic conditions, including their impact on interest rates, bad debt expense and demand for NU’s products and services; changes in weather patterns; changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policy; changes in levels or timing of capital expenditures; disruptions in the capital markets or other events that make NU’s access to necessary capital more difficult or costly; developments in legal or public policy doctrines; technological developments; changes in accounting standards and financial reporting regulations; fluctuations in the value of our remaining competitive contracts; actions of rating agencies; the possibility that expected merger synergies will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in NU’s and NSTAR’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and NU undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in any forward-looking statements to reflect developments or circumstances occurring after the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Retail sales data:
			September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011			% Change Actual			% Change Weather Norm.
Electric distribution
Gwh for three months ended*			15,502			15,302			1.3			1.1
Gwh for nine months ended*			41,697			42,356			(1.6)			(0.3)
Natural Gas Distribution
Firm volumes in mmcf for three months ended**			10,696			10,688			0.1			0.0
Firm volumes in mmcf for nine months ended**			60,035			67,408			(10.9)			2.9

NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Thousands of Dollars)	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	73,449	$	6,559
Receivables, Net	773,415	488,002
Unbilled Revenues	182,643	175,207
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	267,281	248,958
Regulatory Assets	647,615	255,144
Marketable Securities	81,618	70,970
Prepayments and Other Current Assets		112,965		112,632
Total Current Assets		2,138,986		1,357,472
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		16,303,805		10,403,065
Deferred Debits and Other Assets:
Regulatory Assets	5,008,034	3,267,710
Goodwill	3,518,454	287,591
Marketable Securities	394,207	60,311
Derivative Assets	93,256	98,357
Other Long-Term Assets		300,820		172,560
Total Deferred Debits and Other Assets		9,314,771		3,886,529
Total Assets	$	27,757,562	$	15,647,066

The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information to present shareholders about Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries and is not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with any purchase or sale of securities.

NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Thousands of Dollars)			September 30, 2012					December 31, 2011
LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION
Current Liabilities:
Notes Payable	$	1,359,250	$	317,000
Long-Term Debt - Current Portion	879,746	331,582
Accounts Payable	542,691	633,282
Regulatory Liabilities	226,606	167,844
Derivative Liabilities	113,907	107,558
Other Current Liabilities		678,523			390,416
Total Current Liabilities		3,800,723			1,947,682
Rate Reduction Bonds		101,347			112,260
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes	3,429,538	1,868,316
Regulatory Liabilities	561,555	266,145
Derivative Liabilities	912,352	959,876
Accrued Pension, SERP and PBOP	2,015,649	1,326,037
Other Long-Term Liabilities		871,428			420,011
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities		7,790,522			4,840,385
Capitalization:
Long-Term Debt		6,732,536			4,614,913
Noncontrolling Interest - Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries		155,568			116,200
Equity:
Common Shareholders' Equity:
Common Shares	1,662,358	980,264
Capital Surplus, Paid In	6,183,715	1,797,884
Retained Earnings	1,735,690	1,651,875
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	(64,209	)	(70,686	)
Treasury Stock		(340,688	)		(346,667	)
Common Shareholders' Equity	9,176,866	4,012,670
Noncontrolling Interests		-			2,956
Total Equity		9,176,866			4,015,626
Total Capitalization		16,064,970			8,746,739
Total Liabilities and Capitalization	$	27,757,562		$	15,647,066

The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information to present shareholders about Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries and is not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with any purchase or sale of securities.

NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Share Information)			2012				2011				2012				2011
Operating Revenues	$	1,861,529	$	1,114,892	$	4,589,835	$	3,397,624
Operating Expenses:
Purchased Power, Fuel and Transmission	602,751	406,237	1,540,110	1,285,483
Operations and Maintenance	395,531	255,551	1,187,471	788,875
Depreciation	144,475	75,196	369,798	222,784
Amortization of Regulatory Assets, Net	43,835	36,163	74,851	86,653
Amortization of Rate Reduction Bonds	43,044	17,680	102,144	52,047
Energy Efficiency Programs	98,326	35,255	209,089	99,658
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes		120,662		84,994		319,559		252,817
Total Operating Expenses		1,448,624		911,076		3,803,022		2,788,317
Operating Income	412,905	203,816	786,813	609,307
Interest Expense:
Interest on Long-Term Debt	86,459	57,461	233,352	171,905
Interest on Rate Reduction Bonds	1,681	2,018	5,168	6,889
Other Interest		2,221		4,453		7,336		5,922
Interest Expense	90,361	63,932	245,856	184,716
Other Income, Net		4,324		1,430		14,904		19,077
Income Before Income Tax Expense	326,868	141,314	555,861	443,668
Income Tax Expense		117,360		49,883		199,379		157,934
Net Income	209,508	91,431	356,482	285,734
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		1,880		1,470		5,253		4,340
Net Income Attributable to Controlling Interest	$	207,628	$	89,961	$	351,229	$	281,394
Basic Earnings Per Common Share	$	0.66	$	0.51	$	1.33	$	1.59
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	$	0.66	$	0.51	$	1.32	$	1.58
Dividends Declared Per Common Share	$	0.34	$	0.28	$	0.97	$	0.83
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic		314,806,441		177,497,862		264,636,636		177,344,481
Diluted		315,805,796		177,835,348		265,353,377		177,647,694

The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information to present shareholders about Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries and is not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with any purchase or sale of securities.

NORTHEAST UTILITIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Thousands of Dollars)			2012				2011
Operating Activities:
Net Income	$	356,482	$	285,734
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows
Provided by Operating Activities:
Bad Debt Expense	24,249	12,435
Depreciation	369,798	222,784
Deferred Income Taxes	186,181	133,528
Pension, SERP and PBOP Expense	160,209	103,106
Pension and PBOP Contributions	(237,123)	(159,220)
Regulatory Underrecoveries, Net	(26,236)	(24,245)
Amortization of Regulatory Assets, Net	74,851	86,653
Amortization of Rate Reduction Bonds	102,144	52,047
Derivative Assets and Liabilities	(7,907)	(33,767)
Other	(9,702)	(14,802)
Changes in Current Assets and Liabilities:
Receivables and Unbilled Revenues, Net	(27,677)	61,657
Fuel, Materials and Supplies	32,887	(4,072)
Taxes Receivable/Accrued, Net	26,302	109,410
Accounts Payable	(208,308)	66,618
Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net		(20,145)		(9,419)
Net Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities		796,005		888,447
Investing Activities:
Investments in Property, Plant and Equipment	(1,081,750)	(749,060)
Proceeds from Sales of Marketable Securities	232,911	116,463
Purchases of Marketable Securities	(252,762)	(118,251)
Proceeds from Sale of Assets	-	46,841
Other Investing Activities		40,265		(5,849)
Net Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities		(1,061,336)		(709,856)
Financing Activities:
Cash Dividends on Common Shares	(267,356)	(145,865)
Cash Dividends on Preferred Stock	(5,149)	(4,169)
Increase/(Decrease) in Short-Term Debt	654,250	(237,000)
Issuance of Long-Term Debt	300,000	382,000
Retirements of Long-Term Debt	(267,561)	(124,086)
Retirements of Rate Reduction Bonds	(95,225)	(51,198)
Other Financing Activities		13,262		(4,947)
Net Cash Flows Provided by/(Used in) Financing Activities		332,221		(185,265)
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	66,890	(6,674)
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Period		6,559		23,395
Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period	$	73,449	$	16,721

The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information to present shareholders about Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries and is not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with any purchase or sale of securities.

Northeast Utilities
Jeffrey R. Kotkin, 860-728-4650

Source: Northeast Utilities