NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE CO
10-Q, 1995-05-11
ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED
Previous: NEW YORK TIMES CO, 10-Q, 1995-05-11
Next: OKLAHOMA GAS & ELECTRIC CO, 10-Q, 1995-05-11



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 March 31, 1995

  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 No. 0-692


NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
A Delaware Corporation
IRS Employer Identification No. 46-0172280
33 Third Street SE
Huron, South Dakota  57350-1318
Telephone - 605-352-8411


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.   [ X ]  Yes    [    ]  No  

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's 
classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

Common Stock, Par Value $3.50
7,677,232 shares outstanding at May 5, 1995

<PAGE>

INDEX



                                                           Page
Part I.  Financial Information

         Consolidated Balance Sheet -
            March 31, 1995 and December 31, 1994              1

         Consolidated Statement of Income -
            Three months ended March 31, 1995 and 1994        2

         Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
            Three months ended March 31, 1995 and 1994        3

         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements           4

         Management's Discussion of Financial Condition
            and Results of Operations                         5


Part II. Other Information                                    8


Signatures                                                    9



<PAGE>
     NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

                                             March 31          December 31,
                                             1995              1994
ASSETS                                          (unaudited)
                                             --------------    --------------
PROPERTY:
   Electric                                  $  323,769,010    $  321,153,724
   Gas                                           68,905,372        67,213,487
   Manufacturing                                  1,719,527         1,558,484
                                             --------------    --------------
                                                394,393,909       389,925,695
   Less-Accumulated depreciation                141,588,220       139,381,075
                                             --------------    --------------
                                                252,805,689       250,544,620
                                             --------------    --------------
CURRENT ASSETS:
   Cash and cash equivalents                      3,338,174         2,552,612
   Accounts receivable, net                      13,889,822        12,255,483
   Fuel, at average cost                          3,507,435         4,886,572
   Inventories, materials and supplies            4,777,051         4,686,771
   Manufacturing inventories                      5,047,417         5,064,859
   Deferred gas costs                             2,514,811         3,029,688
   Other                                          3,249,849         3,694,912
                                             --------------    --------------
                                                 36,324,559        36,170,897
                                             --------------    --------------
OTHER ASSETS:
   Investments                                   48,543,904        46,237,912
   Deferred charges and other                    25,757,645        26,112,211
                                             --------------    --------------
                                                 74,301,549        72,350,123
                                             --------------    --------------
                                             $  363,431,797    $  359,065,640
                                             ==============    ==============
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

CAPITALIZATION:
   Common stock equity-
      Common stock                           $   26,870,312    $   26,870,312
      Additional paid-in capital                 29,922,847        29,922,847
      Retained earnings                          59,183,147        55,373,112
      Unrealized gain on investments, net         3,180,913         2,538,669
                                             --------------    --------------
                                                119,157,219       114,704,940
   Cumulative preferred stock-
      Nonredeemable                               2,600,000         2,600,000
      Redeemable                                     40,000            40,000
   Long-term debt                               129,317,500       127,052,500
                                             --------------    --------------
                                                251,114,719       244,397,440
                                             --------------    --------------
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
   Commercial paper                               6,000,000         9,800,000
   Long-term debt due within one year               570,000           570,000
   Accounts payable                              10,112,085        13,139,557
   Accrued taxes                                 11,485,628         6,740,035
   Accrued interest                               1,666,323         2,915,084
   Other                                          6,435,179         6,039,430
                                             --------------    --------------
                                                 36,269,215        39,204,106
                                             --------------    --------------
DEFERRED CREDITS:
   Accumulated deferred income taxes             37,741,793        37,328,539
   Unamortized investment tax credits            10,443,530        10,584,830
   Other                                         27,862,540        27,550,725
                                             --------------    --------------
                                                 76,047,863        75,464,094
                                             --------------    --------------
                                             $  363,431,797    $  359,065,640
                                             ==============    ==============
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are 
  an integral part of these balance sheets.
<PAGE>
 NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
             (unaudited)


                                     Three Months Ended
                                     March 31
                                     1995            1994
                                     -------------   -------------
OPERATING REVENUES:
   Electric                          $  18,583,549   $  19,264,108
   Gas                                  26,464,219      30,310,820
   Manufacturing                         5,706,647       5,888,771
                                     -------------   -------------
                                        50,754,415      55,463,699
                                     -------------   -------------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
   Fuel for electric generation          3,743,425       3,898,895
   Purchased power                          55,915         345,667
   Purchased gas sold                   17,222,018      20,085,469
   Other operating expenses              5,502,060       5,748,218
   Manufacturing costs                   5,163,010       5,285,229
   Maintenance                           1,302,560       1,405,291
   Depreciation                          3,209,529       2,991,328
   Property and other taxes              1,673,642       1,599,997
                                     -------------   -------------
                                        37,872,159      41,360,094
                                     -------------   -------------
OPERATING INCOME:
   Electric                              6,675,533       6,792,647
   Gas                                   5,744,698       6,707,416
   Manufacturing                           462,025         603,542
                                     -------------   -------------
                                        12,882,256      14,103,605

INVESTMENT INCOME AND OTHER                564,912         645,191

INTEREST EXPENSE, net                   (2,590,280)     (2,389,808)
                                     -------------   -------------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES              10,856,888      12,358,988

INCOME TAXES                            (3,754,254)     (4,341,998)
                                     -------------   -------------
NET INCOME                               7,102,634       8,016,990

DIVIDENDS ON CUMULATIVE 
  PREFERRED STOCK                          (29,775)        (30,168)
                                     -------------   -------------
EARNINGS ON COMMON STOCK             $   7,072,859   $   7,986,822
                                     =============   =============
EARNINGS PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE
   based on 7,677,232 shares         $        0.92   $        1.04
                                     =============   =============

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK  $       0.425   $       0.415
                                     =============   =============

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are
an integral part of these statements.

<PAGE>
       NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                   (unaudited)


                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                 March 31
                                                 1995            1994
                                                 -------------   -------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
   Net income                                    $   7,102,634   $   8,016,990
   Items not requiring cash:
      Depreciation                                   3,209,529       2,991,328
      Deferred income taxes                             67,430          74,562
      Investment tax credit                           (141,300)       (142,200)
      Changes in current assets and liabilities:
         Accounts receivable                        (1,634,339)     (2,697,439)
         Inventories                                 1,306,299         613,285
         Other current assets                          959,940       1,565,578
         Accounts payable                           (3,027,472)        (27,315)
         Accrued taxes                               4,745,593       4,868,224
         Accrued interest                           (1,248,761)     (1,291,497)
         Other current liabilities                     395,749          98,923
      Other, net                                     1,160,896        (968,381)
                                                 -------------   -------------
      Cash flows from operating activities          12,896,198      13,102,058
                                                 -------------   -------------

INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES:
   Property additions                               (4,977,045)     (3,180,784)
   Purchase of noncurrent investments, net          (2,305,992)     (2,300,696)
                                                 -------------   -------------
      Cash flows for investment activities          (7,283,037)     (5,481,480)
                                                 -------------   -------------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
   Common and preferred stock dividends paid        (3,292,599)     (3,216,219)
   Issuance of long-term debt                        2,265,000         400,000
   Commercial paper repayments                      (3,800,000)            -  
                                                 -------------   -------------
      Cash flows for financing activities           (4,827,599)     (2,816,219)
                                                 -------------   -------------

INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                  785,562       4,804,359
Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period       2,552,612       3,099,093
                                                 -------------   -------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period         $   3,338,174   $   7,903,452
                                                 =============   =============
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
   Cash paid during the period for:
      Income taxes                               $         300   $     316,000
      Interest                                       3,394,827       3,472,989

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are
      an integral part of these statements.



<PAGE>

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Reference is made to Notes to Financial Statements
included in the Company's Annual Report)



(1)  Management's Statement -

     The financial statements included herein have been prepared by the
Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  In the opinion of the Company, all
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations
for the interim periods have been included.  It is suggested that these
financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements
and the notes thereto included in the Company's latest annual report to
stockholders.

(2)  Subsidiaries and Principles of Consolidation -

     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all
wholly owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions have
been eliminated.

(3)  Allowance for Funds Used During Construction -

     The allowance for funds used during construction includes the costs of
equity and borrowed funds used to finance construction which are
capitalized in accordance with rules prescribed by the FERC.  For the
quarters ended March 31, 1995 and 1994, allowance for equity funds was
$20,256 and $2,378.  Allowance for borrowed funds for 1995 and 1994 was
$54,767 and $5,550.


(4)  Reclassifications -

     Certain 1994 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 1995
presentation.  Such reclassifications had no impact on net income and
common stock equity as previously reported.
<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


FINANCIAL CONDITION:

Liquidity and Capital Resources -

     The Company has a high degree of long-term liquidity through the
generation of operating cash flows, the availability of substantial cash
reserves, and a sound capital structure.  In addition, the Company has
adequate capacity for additional financing and has maintained its liquidity
position through favorable bond and commercial paper ratings.

     The Company has generated significant operating cash flows while
continuing to maintain substantial cash reserves in the form of marketable
securities.  Cash flows from operating activities during the three months
ended March 31, 1995 and 1994 were $12.9 million and $13.1 million.  Cash
equivalents and investment securities totaled $41.4 million and $45.6
million at March 31, 1995 and 1994.

     Working capital and other financial resources are also provided by
lines of credit, which are generally used to support commercial paper
borrowings, a primary source of short-term financing.  At March 31, 1995,
unused short-term lines of credit totaled $12 million.

Capital Requirements -

     The Company's primary capital requirements include the funding of its
utility construction and expansion programs, the funding of debt and
preferred stock retirements and sinking fund requirements, and the funding
of its corporate development and investment activities.

     The emphasis of the Company's construction activities is to undertake
those projects that most efficiently serve the expanding needs of its
customer base, enhance energy delivery capabilities, expand its current
customer base, and provide for the reliability of energy supply.
Expenditures for construction activities during the three months ended
March 31, 1995 and 1994 were $5.0 million and $3.2 million.  Construction
expenditures for 1995 are estimated to be $19.3 million with a large
portion of expenditures to be spent on enhancements of the electric and gas
distribution systems and completion of the operations center. Construction
expenditures for the years 1995 through 1999 are estimated to be $69
million.

     Capital requirements for the mandatory retirement of long-term debt
and mandatory preferred stock sinking fund redemptions totaled $600,000
during the year ended March 31, 1995, and it is expected that such
mandatory retirements will be $1,080,000 in 1996, $570,000 in 1997, $20.6
million in 1998, and $13.5 million in 1999.

     The Company anticipates that future capital requirements will be met
by both internally generated cash flows and available external financing.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

Earnings Comparisons -

     Earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 1995 were $.92
compared to $1.04 for the quarter ended March 31, 1994.  The decrease in
earnings was primarily due to less favorable weather patterns which
decreased electric and gas revenues, higher interest expense, and a smaller
contribution from nonregulated operations.  As measured by degree days,
weather in South Dakota was 14% warmer in the first quarter of 1995
compared to the same period in 1994.


Operating Revenues -

     The following tables summarize the factors affecting the variations in
electric and gas revenues between years:

                                   Variation from
                                     Prior Year
                                    Three Months
                                   Ended March 31
                                -------       -------
                                 1995          1994
                                -------       -------
Electric Revenue:

Variation in kwh sales          $  (531)      $1,002
Changes in rates, fuel cost
recovery, and other                (150)          (5)
                                -------       ------
                                $  (681)      $  997
                                =======       ======

Gas Revenue:

Variation in mmbtu sales        $(3,221)      $  401
Changes in rates, gas cost
recovery, and other                (626)         903
                                -------       ------
                                $(3,847)      $1,304
                                =======       ======

Operating Expenses -

     The unfavorable weather impact on revenues in 1995 resulted in
comparable decreases in electric fuel-related costs and purchased gas
costs.  Other operating expenses decreased as a result of less gas
production costs due to the mild winter and less need to supplement
purchased gas costs with internal peaking sources.  Maintenance expense
decreased due to less maintenance at the Company's jointly owned steam
generating plants and less electric distribution expense.  Depreciation
increases can be attributed to an increase in utility plant, while interest
expense increased due to higher levels of commercial paper outstanding.

NONREGULATED OPERATIONS:

     In addition to the Company's investment portfolio of preferred stock
investments, the Company holds interest in two nonregulated businesses.  At
March 31, 1995, Northwestern Networks, Inc. (NNI), one of the Company's
wholly owned subsidiaries, held 1.1 million shares of LodgeNet
Entertainment Corporation (LEC) common stock (which trades on the NASDAQ
national market).

     Northwestern Systems, Inc. (NSI), one of the Company's wholly owned
subsidiaries, owns Lucht, Inc., a firm that develops, manufactures, and
markets multi-image photographic printers and other related equipment.
Manufacturing revenues decreased $182,000 for the quarter ended March 31,
1995 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 1994.  Manufacturing
operating income decreased $142,000 representing primarily lower sales.

<PAGE>
                                     
                                  PART II
                                     
                                     
                                     
ITEM 1.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     The Company is not currently involved in any pending major litigation.

ITEM 2.   CHANGES IN SECURITIES

     None

ITEM 3.   DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

     None

ITEM 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     The election of three Directors to Class I of the Board of Directors
was submitted to stockholders in the Company's proxy statement.  At the
annual meeting of stockholders held on May 3, 1995, the three nominees were
elected, receiving the following votes:  Herman Lerdal, 6,353,374; Raymond
M. Schutz, 6,381,291; and Bruce I. Smith, 6,384,277.

ITEM 5.   OTHER INFORMATION

     None

ITEM 6.   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)  Exhibits

     Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule UT

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

     None
<PAGE>
                                     
                                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.

                                   NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
                                   -----------------------------------
                                             (Registrant)


Date:     May 5, 1995              /s/ R. A. Thaden
                                   ------------------------------------
                                   Treasurer



Date:     May 5, 1995              /s/ A. D. Dietrich
                                   -----------------------------------
                                   Vice President-Corporate Services
                                   and Corporate Secretary




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                  252,805,689
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                 48,543,904
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                      36,324,559
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                    25,757,645
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             363,431,797
<COMMON>                                    26,870,312
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                   29,922,847
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         59,183,147
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>             119,157,219
                                0
                                  2,640,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                       129,317,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               6,000,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  570,000
                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>             105,747,078
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>              363,431,797
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   50,754,415
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         3,754,254
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  37,872,159
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  41,626,413
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      9,128,002
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             564,912
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               9,692,914
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     2,590,280
<NET-INCOME>                                 7,102,634
                     29,775
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                7,072,859
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     3,262,824
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    2,211,119
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                      12,896,198
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission