American States Water Company Announces Proposed Decision Adopting Settlement Agreement In Its Electric Utility General Rate Case
December 18 2024 - 3:30PM
Business Wire
American States Water Company (NYSE:AWR) announced that on
December 12, 2024, its regulated electric utility subsidiary, Bear
Valley Electric Service, Inc. (“BVES”), received a proposed
decision from the assigned administrative law judge at the
California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) in connection with
the pending general rate case proceeding that will determine new
electric rates for the years 2023 – 2026. The proposed decision is
scheduled to be voted on by the CPUC on January 16, 2025. When a
final decision is issued by the CPUC, the new rates will be
effective and retroactive to January 1, 2023. As a result, the
impact from retroactive rates for the full year of 2023 and from
the second-year rate increases through the nine months ended
September 30, 2024 are expected at this time to be reflected in the
2024 fourth quarter results. We are in the process of reviewing the
proposed decision to finalize all of the impact that may be
reported in our 2024 fourth quarter earnings release and included
in the 2024 Form 10-K that will be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
On November 1, 2024, BVES, the Public Advocates Office at the
CPUC and the other intervenor in the proceeding filed a joint
motion to adopt a settlement agreement between the parties
resolving all issues in connection with the general rate case
proceeding. The proposed decision approves and adopts the
settlement agreement in its entirety. Among other things, the
settlement agreement (i) adopts the revenue requirements for each
of the four years 2023 through 2026, (ii) authorizes BVES to invest
approximately $75.6 million in capital infrastructure over the
four-year rate cycle, which includes $23.1 million of projects
(plus an allowance for funds used during construction or AFUDC) to
be filed for revenue recovery through advice letters when the
projects are completed, (iii) adopts a 10.0% return on equity, a
5.51% cost of debt and a capital structure of 57% equity and 43%
debt, and (iv) approves for recovery the requested capital
expenditures and other incremental operating costs already incurred
in connection with BVES’s wildfire mitigation plans that are
currently not included in customer rates.
“We are pleased to have received a proposed decision in our
electric general rate case,” said Robert J. Sprowls, President and
CEO of American States Water Company. “The settlement agreement
reached with the Public Advocates Office at the CPUC and the other
intervenor that is approved in the proposed decision allows BVES to
continue investing in the utility infrastructure all of which is
dedicated to improving the system safety and reliability for the
community we serve, and is consistent with BVES’s wildfire
mitigation plans.”
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words
such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,”
“should” and similar phrases and expressions, and variations or
negatives of these words. They are not guarantees or assurances of
any outcomes, financial results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
upon them. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number
of estimates and assumptions, and known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors, including those described in
greater detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC, particularly
those described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are encouraged to review
the Company’s filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion
of risks and other factors that could affect any forward looking
statements. The statements made herein speak only as of the date of
this press release and except as required by law, the Company does
not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement.
About American States Water Company
American States Water Company is the parent of Golden State
Water Company, Bear Valley Electric Service, Inc. and American
States Utility Services, Inc., serving over one million people in
ten states. Through its water utility subsidiary, Golden State
Water Company, the company provides water service to approximately
264,600 customer connections located within more than 80
communities in Northern, Coastal and Southern California. Through
its electric utility subsidiary, Bear Valley Electric Service,
Inc., the company distributes electricity to approximately 24,800
customer connections in the City of Big Bear Lake and surrounding
areas in San Bernardino County, California. Through its contracted
services subsidiary, American States Utility Services, Inc., the
company provides operations, maintenance and construction
management services for water distribution, wastewater collection,
and treatment facilities located on twelve military bases
throughout the country under 50-year privatization contracts with
the U.S. government and one military base under a 15-year
contract.
AWR has paid common dividends every year since 1931, and has
increased the dividends received by shareholders each calendar year
for 70 consecutive years, which places it in an exclusive group of
companies on the New York Stock Exchange that have achieved that
result. The company has grown its quarterly dividend rate at a
compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of 8.8% over the last five
years through 2024 and is on pace to achieve a 10-year CAGR of 8.0%
in its calendar year dividend payments through 2024. AWR's current
policy is to achieve a CAGR in the dividend of more than 7% over
the long-term.
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Eva G. Tang Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial
Officer, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer Telephone: (909)
394-3600, ext. 707
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