Document


 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10‑Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2016
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM             TO             
 
Commission file number 001‑08359
 
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
New Jersey
 
22‑2376465
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
 
1415 Wyckoff Road, Wall, New Jersey 07719
 
732‑938‑1480
(Address of principal
executive offices)
 
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)
 
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
Common Stock ‑ $2.50 Par Value
 
New York Stock Exchange
(Title of each class)
 
(Name of each exchange on which registered)

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.
Yes: x            No: o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes: x            No: o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer: x
Accelerated filer: o
Non-accelerated filer: o
Smaller reporting company: o
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes: o            No: x

The number of shares outstanding of $2.50 par value Common Stock as of August 1, 2016 was 86,150,280.

 


New Jersey Resources Corporation

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
ITEM 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 2.
 
ITEM 3.
 
ITEM 4.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
ITEM 1.
 
ITEM 1A.
 
ITEM 2.
 
ITEM 6.
 
 




GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS                                                                                                                                                        
AFUDC
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction
ASC
Accounting Standards Codification
ASU
Accounting Standards Update
Bcf
Billion Cubic Feet
BGSS
Basic Gas Supply Service
BPU
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
CIP
Conservation Incentive Program
CME
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
CR&R
Commercial Realty & Resources Corp.
DM
Dominion Midstream Partners, L.P., a master limited partnership
DM Common Units
Common units representing limited partnership interests in DM
Dodd-Frank Act
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
DRP
NJR Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan
dths
Dekatherms
FASB
Financial Accounting Standards Board
FCM
Futures Commission Merchant
FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Financial margin
A non-GAAP financial measure, which represents revenues earned from the sale of natural gas less costs of natural gas sold including any transportation and storage costs, and excludes any accounting impact from the change in the fair value of certain derivative instruments
FMB
First Mortgage Bonds
FRM
Financial Risk Management
GAAP
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of the United States
Home Services and Other
Home Services and Other Operations (formerly Retail and Other Operations)
ICE
Intercontinental Exchange
Iroquois
Iroquois Gas Transmission L.P.
ISDA
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association
ITC
Federal Investment Tax Credit
LNG
Liquefied Natural Gas
MGP
Manufactured Gas Plant
Moody's
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
Mortgage Indenture
The Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement between NJNG and U.S. Bank National Association dated as of September 1, 2014
MW
Megawatts
MWh
Megawatt Hour
NAESB
The North American Energy Standards Board
NFE
Net Financial Earnings
NGV
Natural Gas Vehicles
NJ RISE
New Jersey Reinvestment in System Enhancement
NJCEP
New Jersey's Clean Energy Program
NJDEP
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
NJNG
New Jersey Natural Gas Company
NJNG Credit Facility
NJNG's $250 million unsecured committed credit facility expiring in May 2019
NJR Credit Facility
NJR's $425 million unsecured committed credit facility expiring in September 2020
NJR Energy
NJR Energy Corporation
NJR or The Company
New Jersey Resources Corporation

1


GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS (cont.)                                                                                                                                           
 
 
NJRCEV
NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation
NJRES
NJR Energy Services Company
NJRHS
NJR Home Services Company
Non-GAAP
Not in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of the United States
NPNS
Normal Purchase/Normal Sale
NYMEX
New York Mercantile Exchange
O&M
Operation and Maintenance
OCI
Other Comprehensive Income
OPEB
Other Postemployment Benefit Plans
PennEast
PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC
PIM
Pipeline Integrity Management
PPA
Power Purchase Agreement
PTC
Federal Production Tax Credit
RA
Remediation Adjustment
REC
Renewable Energy Certificate
S&P
Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC
SAFE
Safety Acceleration and Facility Enhancement
SAVEGREEN
The SAVEGREEN Project®
SBC
Societal Benefits Charge
SREC
Solar Renewable Energy Certificate
SRL
Southern Reliability Link
Steckman Ridge
Collectively, Steckman Ridge GP, LLC and Steckman Ridge, LP
Superstorm Sandy
Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy
Tetco
Texas Eastern Transmission
The Exchange Act
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Trustee
U.S. Bank National Association
U.S.
The United States of America
USF
Universal Service Fund


2

New Jersey Resources Corporation

INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS                                                                           

Certain statements contained in this report, including, without limitation, statements as to management expectations and beliefs presented in Part I, Item 2. “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” Part I, Item 3. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” Part II, Item I. “Legal Proceedings” and in the notes to the financial statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “may,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “will” “plan,” “should,” or “continue” or comparable terminology and are made based upon management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs as of this date concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with management's expectations, assumptions or beliefs, or that the effect of future developments on us will be those anticipated by management.

We caution readers that the expectations, assumptions and beliefs that form the basis for forward-looking statements regarding customer growth, customer usage, qualifications for ITCs, PTCs and SRECs, our base rate case, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements, future capital expenditures, market risk, effective tax rate and other matters for fiscal 2016 and thereafter include many factors that are beyond our ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market conditions, the behavior of other market participants and changes in the debt and equity capital markets. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, assumptions and beliefs include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, as well as the following:

weather and economic conditions;
demographic changes in the NJNG service territory and their effect on NJNG's customer growth;
volatility of natural gas and other commodity prices and their impact on NJNG customer usage, NJNG's BGSS incentive programs, NJRES operations and on our risk management efforts;
changes in rating agency requirements and/or credit ratings and their effect on availability and cost of capital to our Company;
the impact of volatility in the credit markets on our access to capital;
the ability to comply with debt covenants;
the impact to the asset values and resulting higher costs and funding obligations of our pension and postemployment benefit plans as a result of potential downturns in the financial markets, lower discount rates, revised actuarial assumptions or impacts associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act;
risks associated with hedging activities and use of derivatives contracts;
commercial and wholesale credit risks, including the availability of creditworthy customers and counterparties, and liquidity in the wholesale energy trading market;
regulatory approval of NJNG's planned infrastructure programs;
the ability to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals, land-use rights, electric grid connection (in the case of distributed power projects) and/or financing for the construction, development and operation of our unregulated energy investments and NJNG's infrastructure projects in a timely manner;
risks associated with the management of our joint ventures and partnerships;
risks associated with our investments in distributed power projects, including the availability of regulatory and tax incentives, the availability of viable projects, our eligibility for ITCs and PTCs, the future market for SRECs and electricity prices, and operational risks related to projects in service;
timing of qualifying for ITCs and PTCs due to delays or failures to complete planned solar and wind energy projects and the resulting effect on our effective tax rate and earnings;
the level and rate at which NJNG's costs are incurred and the extent to which they are allowed to be recovered from customers through the regulatory process;
access to adequate supplies of natural gas and dependence on third-party storage and transportation facilities for natural gas supply;
operating risks incidental to handling, storing, transporting and providing customers with natural gas;
risks related to our employee workforce;
the regulatory and pricing policies of federal and state regulatory agencies;
the costs of compliance with present and future environmental laws, including potential climate change-related legislation;
risks related to changes in accounting standards;
the impact of a disallowance of recovery of environmental-related expenditures and other regulatory changes;
environmental-related and other litigation and other uncertainties;
risks related to cyber-attack or failure of information technology systems; and
the impact of natural disasters, terrorist activities and other extreme events.

While we periodically reassess material trends and uncertainties affecting our results of operations and financial condition in connection with the preparation of management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition contained in our Quarterly and Annual Reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, respectively, we do not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement referenced herein in light of future events.

3

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I


ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS                                                                                                                                          

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands, except per share data)
2016
 
2015
2016

2015
OPERATING REVENUES
 
 
 
 
 
 
Utility
$
119,206

 
$
116,307

$
513,348

 
$
699,737

Nonutility
274,007

 
342,160

898,316

 
1,595,944

Total operating revenues
393,213

 
458,467

1,411,664

 
2,295,681

OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gas purchases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Utility
45,700

 
41,562

174,739

 
255,106

Nonutility
288,510

 
342,105

830,481

 
1,477,649

Related parties
2,108

 
3,102

6,259

 
9,490

Operation and maintenance
51,467

 
48,598

150,825

 
146,135

Regulatory rider expenses
6,360

 
8,516

37,203

 
72,671

Depreciation and amortization
18,671

 
15,574

52,897

 
45,164

Energy and other taxes
8,726

 
8,319

34,205

 
47,272

Total operating expenses
421,542

 
467,776

1,286,609

 
2,053,487

OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME
(28,329
)
 
(9,309
)
125,055

 
242,194

Other income, net
2,306

 
1,491

6,432

 
2,518

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest
7,787

 
7,327

21,933

 
21,005

(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES
(33,810
)
 
(15,145
)
109,554

 
223,707

Income tax (benefit) provision
(14,190
)
 
(4,318
)
10,347

 
56,693

Equity in earnings of affiliates
2,257

 
3,367

7,065

 
9,749

NET (LOSS) INCOME
$
(17,363
)
 
$
(7,460
)
$
106,272

 
$
176,763

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(LOSS) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$(.20)
 
$(.09)
$1.24
 
$2.08
Diluted
$(.20)
 
$(.09)
$1.23
 
$2.05
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
$.24
 
$.23
$.72
 
$.68
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
85,960

 
85,449

85,823

 
85,110

Diluted
85,960

 
85,449

86,691

 
86,128


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
 
2015
2016
 
2015
Net (loss) income
$
(17,363
)
 
$
(7,460
)
$
106,272

 
$
176,763

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale securities, net of tax of $3,754, $394, $(2,014) and $319, respectively
$
(5,313
)
 
$
(570
)
2,888

 
(461
)
Net unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives, net of tax of $2, $(6), $0 and $(56) respectively
(5
)
 
6


 
93

Adjustment to postemployment benefit obligation, net of tax of $(174), $(169), $(523), and $(506) respectively
256

 
246

769

 
732

Other comprehensive (loss) income
$
(5,062
)
 
$
(318
)
3,657

 
364

Comprehensive (loss) income
$
(22,425
)
 
$
(7,778
)
$
109,929

 
$
177,127


See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


4

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
 
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                                                                                                      

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
 
2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
$
106,272

 
$
176,763

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments
57,910

 
(19,010
)
Depreciation and amortization
52,897

 
45,164

Allowance for equity used during construction
(3,959
)
 
(3,371
)
Allowance for bad debt expense
1,170

 
2,143

Deferred income taxes
21,655

 
36,764

Manufactured gas plant remediation costs
(5,070
)
 
(4,745
)
Equity in earnings of equity investees, net of distributions received
3,420

 
3,909

Cost of removal - asset retirement obligations
(99
)
 
(467
)
Contributions to postemployment benefit plans
(32,325
)
 
(2,466
)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation
1,701

 
838

Changes in:
 
 
 
Components of working capital
(93,014
)
 
88,290

Other noncurrent assets
(23,615
)
 
22,572

Other noncurrent liabilities
9,656

 
36,350

Cash flows from operating activities
96,599

 
382,734

CASH FLOWS (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Expenditures for:
 
 
 
Utility plant
(111,751
)
 
(96,626
)
Solar and wind equipment
(115,736
)
 
(111,588
)
Real estate properties and other
(1,466
)
 
(90
)
Cost of removal
(21,342
)
 
(19,114
)
Investments in equity investees
(8,689
)
 
(2,313
)
Distribution from equity investees in excess of equity in earnings
1,915

 
2,269

Withdrawal from (payment to) restricted cash construction fund
989

 
(1,484
)
Proceeds from sale of property
748

 

Cash flows (used in) investing activities
(255,332
)
 
(228,946
)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Net proceeds from (payments of) short-term debt
178,275

 
(301,000
)
Proceeds from long-term debt
125,000

 
250,000

Payments of long-term debt
(7,800
)
 
(7,227
)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction
7,107

 
7,216

Payments of common stock dividends
(61,775
)
 
(57,226
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
12,173

 
33,659

Purchases of treasury stock
(1,008
)
 
(9,045
)
Tax withholding payments related to net settled stock compensation
(3,359
)
 
(2,136
)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
248,613

 
(85,759
)
Change in cash and cash equivalents
89,880

 
68,029

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
4,928

 
2,151

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
94,808

 
$
70,180

CHANGES IN COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL
 
 
 
Receivables
$
9,846

 
$
(8,566
)
Inventories
1,569

 
160,809

Recovery of gas costs
(9,377
)
 
18,109

Gas purchases payable
(27,663
)
 
(47,371
)
Gas purchases payable - related parties
(410
)
 
50

Prepaid and accrued taxes
(1,422
)
 
(5,063
)
Accounts payable and other
(23,961
)
 
(26,829
)
Restricted broker margin accounts
(48,715
)
 
3,466

Customers' credit balances and deposits
2,534

 
(5,784
)
Other current assets
4,585

 
(531
)
Total
$
(93,014
)
 
$
88,290

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION
 
 
 
Cash paid for:
 
 
 
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)
$
21,492

 
$
14,324

Income taxes
$
923

 
$
22,818

Accrued capital expenditures
$
22,105

 
$
30,038

 
See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

5

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
 
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                                                                                                      

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

ASSETS
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
 
Utility plant, at cost
$
2,084,003

$
1,908,024

Construction work in progress
87,206

155,553

Solar and wind equipment, real estate properties and other, at cost
610,364

481,003

Construction work in progress
62,956

77,705

Total property, plant and equipment
2,844,529

2,622,285

Accumulated depreciation and amortization, utility plant
(465,839
)
(437,097
)
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, solar and wind equipment, real estate properties and other
(74,666
)
(56,927
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
2,304,024

2,128,261

CURRENT ASSETS
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
94,808

4,928

Customer accounts receivable
 
 
Billed
144,077

155,273

Unbilled revenues
6,300

6,372

Allowance for doubtful accounts
(4,937
)
(5,189
)
Regulatory assets
25,122

24,258

Gas in storage, at average cost
159,073

163,905

Materials and supplies, at average cost
10,401

7,138

Prepaid and accrued taxes
37,719

36,810

Derivatives, at fair value
40,147

40,743

Restricted broker margin accounts
57,606

12,990

Other
34,402

40,987

Total current assets
604,718

488,215

NONCURRENT ASSETS
 
 
Investments in equity method investees
138,998

132,002

Regulatory assets
447,226

410,155

Derivatives, at fair value
3,649

4,334

Available for sale securities
64,377

59,475

Other
69,798

61,915

Total noncurrent assets
724,048

667,881

Total assets
$
3,632,790

$
3,284,357


See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
 
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                                                                                                      

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
CAPITALIZATION
 
 
Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares;
outstanding June 30, 2016 — 86,076,322; September 30, 2015
 85,531,423
$
221,642

$
220,838

Premium on common stock
215,590

209,931

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss), net of tax
(5,737
)
(9,394
)
Treasury stock at cost and other;
shares June 30, 2016
 2,580,520; September 30, 2015  2,804,847
(82,745
)
(92,164
)
Retained earnings
822,132

777,745

Common stock equity
1,170,882

1,106,956

Long-term debt
967,802

843,595

Total capitalization
2,138,684

1,950,551

CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
11,362

11,138

Short-term debt
244,625

66,350

Gas purchases payable
123,752

151,375

Gas purchases payable to related parties
1,151

1,601

Accounts payable and other
70,408

99,651

Dividends payable
20,658

20,528

Accrued taxes
813

1,326

Regulatory liabilities
6,572

12,154

New Jersey clean energy program
16,507

14,293

Derivatives, at fair value
82,300

32,791

Broker margin accounts

4,103

Customers' credit balances and deposits
23,324

20,790

Total current liabilities
601,472

436,100

NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
 
 
Deferred income taxes
469,119

444,935

Deferred investment tax credits
4,698

4,940

Deferred gain
28,722

29,334

Derivatives, at fair value
24,567

5,529

Manufactured gas plant remediation
175,310

180,400

Postemployment employee benefit liability
108,655

137,414

Regulatory liabilities
50,664

67,533

Asset retirement obligation
21,676

19,145

Other
9,223

8,476

Total noncurrent liabilities
892,634

897,706

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 12)



Total capitalization and liabilities
$
3,632,790

$
3,284,357


See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


7

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS                                              

1.
NATURE OF THE BUSINESS

New Jersey Resources Corporation provides regulated gas distribution services and operates certain unregulated businesses primarily through the following subsidiaries:

New Jersey Natural Gas Company provides natural gas utility service to approximately 519,800 retail customers in central and northern New Jersey and is subject to rate regulation by the BPU. NJNG comprises the Natural Gas Distribution segment;

NJR Energy Services Company comprises the Energy Services segment that maintains and transacts around a portfolio of natural gas storage and transportation capacity contracts and provides physical wholesale energy and energy management services;

NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation, the Company's distributed power subsidiary, comprises the Clean Energy Ventures segment and consists of the Company's capital investments in distributed power projects, including commercial and residential solar projects and onshore wind investments;

NJR Midstream Holdings Corporation invests in energy-related ventures through its subsidiaries, NJR Steckman Ridge Storage Company, which holds the Company's 50 percent combined interest in Steckman Ridge, and NJR Pipeline Company, which holds the Company's 20 percent ownership interest in PennEast and NJNR Pipeline Company, which holds the Company's 1.84 million Common Units of Dominion Midstream Partners, L.P. The investments in Steckman Ridge, PennEast and DM comprise the Midstream segment; and

NJR Retail Holdings Corporation has two principal subsidiaries, NJR Home Services Company, which provides heating, central air conditioning, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey, and Commercial Realty & Resources Corporation, which owns commercial real estate. NJR Retail Holdings Corporation and NJR Energy Corporation are included in Home Services and Other operations.

2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by NJR in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Accounting Standards Generally Accepted in the United States of America. The September 30, 2015 Balance Sheet data is derived from the audited financial statements of the Company. These Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in NJR's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of NJR and its subsidiaries. In the opinion of management, the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. Because of the seasonal nature of NJR's utility and wholesale energy services operations, in addition to other factors, the financial results for the interim periods presented are not indicative of the results that are to be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

Gas in Storage

The following table summarizes gas in storage, at average cost by company as of:
 
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
($ in thousands)
Gas in Storage
 
Bcf
Gas in Storage
 
Bcf
NJRES
 
$
110,782

64.0

 
$
93,696

44.6

NJNG
 
48,291

16.0

 
70,209

21.4

Total
 
$
159,073

80.0

 
$
163,905

66.0


Sales Tax Accounting

Sales tax that is collected from customers and presented in both operating revenues and operating expenses on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations was $27.2 million and $40.1 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

8

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Available for Sale Securities

Included in available for sale securities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are investments in two publicly traded energy companies. Total unrealized gains associated with these investments are included as a part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of common stock equity. Reclassifications of realized gains out of other comprehensive income into income are determined based on average cost.

The Company's available for sale securities had a fair value of $64.4 million and $59.5 million as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively. Total unrealized gains associated with these equity securities were $15.7 million, $9.3 million after tax, and $10.8 million, $6.4 million after tax, as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.

Customer Accounts Receivable

Customer accounts receivable include outstanding billings from the following subsidiaries as of:
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2015
NJRES
$
90,643

63
%
 
$
107,461

69
%
NJNG (1)
46,885

33

 
41,130

26

NJRCEV
1,714

1

 
1,084

1

NJRHS and other
4,835

3

 
5,598

4

Total
$
144,077

100
%
 
$
155,273

100
%
(1)
Does not include unbilled revenues of $6.3 million and $6.4 million as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.

Loans Receivable

NJNG provides loans, with terms ranging from two to 10 years, to customers that elect to purchase and install certain energy efficient equipment in accordance with its BPU-approved SAVEGREEN program. The loans are recognized at net present value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has recorded $7.6 million and $6.2 million in other current assets and $39.4 million and $36.2 million in other noncurrent assets as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, related to the loans.

NJNG's policy is to establish an allowance for doubtful accounts when loan balances are in arrears for more than 60 days. As of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, there was no allowance for doubtful accounts established for the SAVEGREEN loans.

Recently Adopted Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification

Income Taxes

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, an amendment to ASC 740, Income Taxes, to simplify the balance sheet presentation of deferred income taxes. The update requires entities to present all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. The Company elected to early adopt the amended guidance effective October 1, 2015, and applied the new provisions retrospectively. Accordingly, the following amounts on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, as of September 30, 2015, have been adjusted:
(Thousands)
As Previously Reported
 
Effect of Change
 
As Adjusted
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred taxes (current)
$
56,296

 
$
(56,296
)
 
$

Total current assets
$
544,511

 
$
(56,296
)
 
$
488,215

Other noncurrent assets
$
60,300

 
$
1,615

 
$
61,915

Total noncurrent assets
$
666,266

 
$
1,615

 
$
667,881

Total assets
$
3,339,038

 
$
(54,681
)
 
$
3,284,357

Capitalization and Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred income taxes
$
499,616

 
$
(54,681
)
 
$
444,935

Total noncurrent liabilities
$
952,387

 
$
(54,681
)
 
$
897,706

Total capitalization and liabilities
$
3,339,038

 
$
(54,681
)
 
$
3,284,357


There was no additional impact to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

9

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Stock Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, an amendment to ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based compensation, including the accounting for income taxes and forfeitures. The new guidance also increased the threshold for tax withholding to the maximum statutory rate, as applicable, to maintain equity classification and amended the classification of certain tax transactions within the statement of cash flows.

The Company elected to early adopt the amended guidance during the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and applied the new provisions as of the beginning of the year of adoption on a retrospective or prospective basis depending on each amendment’s transition requirements. As such, effective October 1, 2015, NJR is recognizing forfeitures as they occur and is recognizing excess tax benefits (deficiencies) as a component of income tax (benefit) provision in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations on a prospective basis. Accordingly, upon adoption the Company recognized $41,000 and $1.7 million in excess tax benefits during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, and quarterly amounts will be adjusted retrospectively. In addition, the following amounts on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have been adjusted retrospectively, as of June 30, 2015:
(Thousands)
As Previously Reported
 
Effect of Change
 
As Adjusted
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
Tax benefit from stock based compensation
$

 
$
838

 
$
838

Other noncurrent liabilities
$
34,214

 
$
2,136

 
$
36,350

Net cash flows provided from operating activities
$
379,760

 
$
2,974

 
$
382,734

Cash flows (used in) financing activities
 
 
 
 
 
Tax benefit from stock options exercised
$
838

 
$
(838
)
 
$

Tax withholding payments related to net settled stock compensation
$

 
$
(2,136
)
 
$
(2,136
)
Cash flows (used in) financing activities
$
(82,785
)
 
$
(2,974
)
 
$
(85,759
)

There was no impact to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets upon adoption of the new guidance.

Other Recent Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification

Revenue

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, and added Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to the ASC. ASC 606 supersedes ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, as well as most industry-specific guidance, and prescribes a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model designed to improve financial reporting comparability across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the implementation of the new guidance for one year. The new guidance will become effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is continuing to evaluate the provisions of ASC 606, however, based on the review of customer contracts to date, it is not anticipating a material impact to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption. Accordingly, the Company expects to transition to the new guidance using the modified retrospective approach.

Stock Compensation

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, an amendment to ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which clarifies the accounting for performance awards when the terms of the award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period. The new guidance will become effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company does not expect this standard to have any impact to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Consolidation

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, an amendment to ASC 810, Consolidation, which changes the consolidation analysis required under GAAP and reevaluates whether limited partnerships and similar entities must be consolidated. The new guidance will become effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis. The Company is

10

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


currently evaluating the provisions of ASU No. 2015-02 to understand the impact, if any, on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.

Interest

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, an amendment to ASC 835, Interest - Imputation of Interest, which simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs by requiring them to be presented on the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the liability. The amendments do not affect the recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, which clarified that the amendments contained within ASU No. 2015-03 do not require companies to modify their accounting for costs incurred in obtaining revolving credit facilities. The amended guidance becomes effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company does not expect this standard to have a material impact to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Intangibles

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, an amendment to ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software, which clarifies the accounting for fees in a cloud computing arrangement. The amendments provide guidance on how an entity should evaluate the accounting for fees paid in a cloud computing arrangement to determine whether an arrangement includes the sale or license of software. The amended guidance becomes effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Upon adoption, the amendment can be applied on a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company plans to adopt the guidance on a prospective basis and does not expect this standard to have a material impact to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Inventory

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, an amendment to ASC 330, Inventory, which requires entities to measure most inventory “at the lower of cost and net realizable value,” thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Upon adoption, the amendments will be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the amendment to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-1, an amendment to ASC 825, Financial Instruments, to address certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The standard affects investments in equity securities that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without a readily determinable fair value by requiring a qualitative assessment. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Upon adoption, the amendments will be applied on a modified-retrospective basis. The Company has evaluated the amendments and noted that, upon adoption, subsequent changes to the fair value of the Company’s available for sale securities will be recorded in the statement of operations as opposed to other comprehensive income. The Company does not expect any other material impacts to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, an amendment to ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which changes the impairment model for certain financial assets that have a contractual right to receive cash, including trade and loan receivables. The new model requires recognition based upon an estimation of expected credit losses rather than recognition of losses when it is probable that they have been incurred. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the amendments to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption and will apply the new guidance to its trade and loan receivables on a modified retrospective basis.

11

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, an amendment to ASC 842, Leases, which provides for a comprehensive overhaul of the lease accounting model and changes the definition of a lease within the accounting literature. Under the new standard, all leases with a term greater than one year will be recorded on the balance sheet. Amortization of the related asset will be accounted for using one of two approaches prescribed by the guidance. Additional disclosures will be required to allow the user to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leasing activities. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at the time of adoption. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the amendments to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.

3.
REGULATION

NJNG is subject to cost-based regulation and, as a result, it is permitted to recover authorized operating expenses and earn a reasonable return on its utility investment based on the BPU's approval. The impact of the ratemaking process and decisions authorized by the BPU allows NJNG to capitalize or defer certain costs that are expected to be recovered from its customers as regulatory assets and to recognize certain obligations representing amounts that are probable future expenditures as regulatory liabilities in accordance with accounting guidance applicable to regulated operations.

NJNG's recovery of costs is facilitated through its base tariff rates, BGSS and other regulatory tariff riders. As recovery of regulatory assets is subject to BPU approval, if there are any changes in regulatory positions that indicate recovery is not probable, the related cost would be charged to income in the period of such determination.

Regulatory assets and liabilities included on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are comprised of the following:
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
Regulatory assets-current
 
 
Conservation Incentive Program
$
3,795

$

New Jersey Clean Energy Program
16,507

14,293

Derivatives at fair value, net
4,820

9,965

Total current regulatory assets
$
25,122

$
24,258

Regulatory assets-noncurrent
 
 
Environmental remediation costs
 
 
Expended, net of recoveries
$
18,543

$
18,886

Liability for future expenditures
175,310

180,400

Deferred income taxes
19,635

17,460

Derivatives at fair value, net
22,632

5,153

SAVEGREEN
24,108

26,882

Postemployment and other benefit costs
134,202

140,636

Deferred Superstorm Sandy costs
15,201

15,201

Conservation Incentive Program
30,018


Other noncurrent regulatory assets
7,577

5,537

Total noncurrent regulatory assets
$
447,226

$
410,155

Regulatory liability-current
 
 
Conservation Incentive Program
$

$
5,167

Overrecovered gas costs
6,572

6,987

Total current regulatory liabilities
$
6,572

$
12,154

Regulatory liabilities-noncurrent
 
 
Cost of removal obligation
$
38,179

$
54,880

Derivatives at fair value, net
293


New Jersey Clean Energy Program
12,020

11,956

Other noncurrent regulatory liabilities
172

697

Total noncurrent regulatory liabilities
$
50,664

$
67,533



12

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Regulatory filings and/or actions that occurred during the current fiscal year include the following:

Base Rate Case

On November 13, 2015, NJNG filed a base rate petition with the BPU to increase its base tariff rates in the amount of $147.6 million, including an extension of the SAFE Program for an additional five years with an estimated cost of approximately $200 million, excluding AFUDC. On July 20, 2016, an update was filed to include twelve months of actual financial information, which revised the requested base tariff rates increase to $112.9 million. NJNG is currently in discussions with the BPU and new base rates are expected to be effective in early fiscal 2017.

On May 4, 2016, NJNG supplemented its base rate case testimony supporting its November 2015 petition, which amended the accounting treatment and noted that the SRL project would not be completed by December 31, 2016. In addition, the Company sought to modify the rate treatment to include the September 30, 2016 balance of SRL project spending and rate adjustments on a quarterly basis until the project is complete, which was included in its May 20, 2016 base rate case update.

On May 20, 2016, NJNG included a proposal in its base rate case to recover certain capital costs and incremental operation and maintenance costs related to a March 2016 BPU Order regarding new cyber security requirements. This proposal was updated on July 20, 2016.

BGSS/CIP

On October 15, 2015, the BPU issued an order approving the continuation of the BGSS Incentive Programs with modification to the storage incentive program, beginning with the 2015 storage injection period, and termination of the FRM Program, effective November 1, 2015.

On October 27, 2015, NJNG notified the BPU that bill credits to residential and small commercial customers would be issued from November 2015 through February 2016. A total of $61.6 million in bill credits were issued during that period.

On February 24, 2016, the BPU approved on a final basis NJNG's June 2015 BGSS/CIP filing which continues its existing BGSS rate and adjusted its CIP rates resulting in a .08 percent increase to the average residential heat customer's bill effective October 1, 2015.

On June 1, 2016, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU to increase its CIP rates resulting in an 8.2 percent increase to the average residential heat customer’s bill and to decrease its BGSS rate for residential and small commercial customers resulting in a 5.5 percent decrease to the average residential heat customer’s bill, effective October 1, 2016. This petition included proposed bill credits to residential and small commercial customers during the months of November 2016 through February 2017, as a result of a decline in the wholesale price of natural gas. The amount of the bill credits will be determined during fiscal 2017.

Other

On October 15, 2015, the BPU approved a base rate increase related to NJ RISE allowing NJNG to recover costs through July 31, 2015, resulting in a .07 percent increase to the average residential heat customer's bill, effective November 1, 2015.

On December 24, 2015, NJNG filed an SBC petition with the BPU to increase the RA factor, to decrease the NJCEP factor and to request approval of its remediation expenses incurred through June 30, 2015, resulting in an overall decrease of .8 percent to the average residential heat customer's bill. On June 29, 2016, the BPU approved the Company’s request to modify its rates as proposed, effective July 9, 2016.

On January 27, 2016, the BPU approved NJNG’s July 2015 petition to maintain its existing SAVEGREEN recovery rate. On April 15, 2016, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU to extend its current program, which was set to expire on July 31, 2017, to December 31, 2018, which was approved by the BPU on June 29, 2016. On May 26, 2016, NJNG submitted its 2016 SAVEGREEN rate recovery filing to maintain its existing SAVEGREEN recovery rate.

13

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


On January 27, 2016, the BPU approved NJNG's proposed SRL pipeline installation, operation and route selection, as modified by NJNG, including specific requirements regarding permitting, safety and integrity assessment. On March 18, 2016, the BPU approved the application for the SRL to be exempt from municipal land use ordinances.

On June 23, 2016, NJNG submitted its annual USF compliance filing proposing to increase the statewide USF rate, resulting in a .2 percent increase to the average residential heat customer’s bill, effective October 1, 2016.

4.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company is subject to commodity price risk due to fluctuations in the market price of natural gas, SRECs and electricity. To manage this risk, the Company enters into a variety of derivative instruments including, but not limited to, futures contracts, physical forward contracts, financial options and swaps to economically hedge the commodity price risk associated with its existing and anticipated commitments to purchase and sell natural gas, SRECs and electricity. In addition, the Company may utilize foreign currency derivatives to hedge Canadian dollar denominated gas purchases and/or sales. Therefore, the Company's primary underlying risks include commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency. These contracts, with a few exceptions as described below, are accounted for as derivatives. Accordingly, all of the financial and certain of the Company's physical derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For a more detailed discussion of the Company's fair value measurement policies and level disclosures associated with NJR's derivative instruments, see Note 5. Fair Value.

NJRES

Since NJRES chooses not to designate its financial commodity and physical forward commodity derivatives as accounting hedges or to elect NPNS, changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recorded as a component of gas purchases or operating revenues, as appropriate for NJRES, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as unrealized gains or (losses). For NJRES at settlement, realized gains and (losses) on all financial derivative instruments are recognized as a component of gas purchases and realized gains and (losses) on all physical derivatives follow the presentation of the related unrealized gains and (losses) as a component of either gas purchases or operating revenues.

NJRES also enters into natural gas transactions in Canada and, consequently, is exposed to fluctuations in the value of Canadian currency relative to the U.S. dollar. NJRES may utilize foreign currency derivatives to lock in the currency translation rate associated with natural gas transactions denominated in Canadian currency. The derivatives may include currency forwards, futures, or swaps and are accounted for as derivatives. These derivatives may be used to hedge future forecasted cash payments associated with transportation and storage contracts along with purchases of natural gas. For transactions occurring on or before December 31, 2015, NJRES designates its foreign exchange contracts as cash flow hedges, and the effective portion of the hedges are recorded in OCI. Effective January 1, 2016, on a prospective basis, the Company has elected not to designate its foreign currency derivatives as accounting hedges. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of foreign exchange contracts entered into from January 1, 2016 on, are recognized in gas purchases on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

As a result of NJRES entering into transactions to borrow gas, commonly referred to as “park and loans,” an embedded derivative is created relating to differences between the fair value of the amount borrowed and the fair value of the amount that will ultimately be repaid, based on changes in the forward price for natural gas prices at the borrowed location over the contract term. This embedded derivative is accounted for as a forward sale in the month in which the repayment of the borrowed gas is expected to occur, and is considered a derivative transaction that is recorded at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in value recognized in current period earnings.

Expected production of SRECs is hedged through forward and futures contracts. The contracts require the Company to physically deliver the SRECs upon settlement. For transactions occurring on or before December 31, 2015, the Company elected NPNS accounting treatment on SREC forward and futures contracts. Effective January 1, 2016, on a prospective basis, NJRES no longer elects NPNS accounting treatment on SREC contracts and recognizes changes in the fair value of these derivatives as a component of operating revenues. Upon settlement of the contract, the related revenue is recognized when the SREC certificate is transferred to the counterparty. NPNS is a contract-by-contract election and, where it makes sense to do so, we can and may elect certain contracts to be normal.


14

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


NJNG

Changes in fair value of NJNG's financial commodity derivatives are recorded as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company elects NPNS accounting treatment on all physical commodity contracts that NJNG entered into on or before December 31, 2015, and accounts for these contracts on an accrual basis. Accordingly, physical natural gas purchases are recognized in regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets when the contract settles and the natural gas is delivered. The average cost of natural gas is amortized in current period earnings based on the current BPU BGSS factor and therm sales. Effective January 1, 2016, on a prospective basis, NJNG no longer elects NPNS accounting treatment on all of its physical commodity contracts. However, since NPNS is a contract-by-contract election, where it makes sense to do so, we can and may elect certain contracts to be normal. Because NJNG recovers these amounts through future BGSS rates as increases or decreases to the cost of natural gas in NJNG’s tariff for gas service, the changes in fair value of these contracts are deferred as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In an April 2014 BPU Order, NJNG received regulatory approval to enter into interest rate risk management transactions related to long-term debt securities. On June 1, 2015, NJNG entered into a treasury lock transaction to fix a benchmark treasury rate of 3.26 percent associated with a forecasted $125 million debt issuance expected in May 2018. This forecasted debt issuance coincides with the maturity of NJNG's existing $125 million, 5.6 percent notes due May 15, 2018. The change in fair value of NJNG's treasury lock agreement is recorded as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets since NJNG believes that the market value upon settlement will be reflected in future rates. Upon settlement, any gain or loss will be amortized into earnings over the life of the future debt issuance.

Fair Value of Derivatives

The following table reflects the fair value of NJR's derivative assets and liabilities recognized on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of:
 
 
 
Fair Value
 
 
June 30, 2016
 
September 30, 2015
(Thousands)
Balance Sheet Location
Asset
Derivatives
Liability
Derivatives
Asset
Derivatives
Liability
Derivatives
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NJNG:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
Derivatives - current
 
$
130

 
$
307

 
$

 
$

Financial commodity contracts
Derivatives - current
 
1,271

 
5,909

 
207

 
10,163

 
Derivatives - noncurrent
 
358

 
65

 

 
925

Interest rate contracts
Derivatives - noncurrent
 

 
22,632

 

 
4,228

NJRES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
Derivatives - current
 
5,735

 
9,450

 
4,854

 
9,281

 
Derivatives - noncurrent
 
2,725

 
500

 
1,718

 

Financial commodity contracts
Derivatives - current
 
33,011

 
66,634

 
35,682

 
13,347

 
Derivatives - noncurrent
 
566

 
1,370

 
2,626

 
386

Fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
$
43,796

 
$
106,867

 
$
45,087

 
$
38,330

Total fair value of derivatives
 
 
$
43,796

 
$
106,867

 
$
45,087

 
$
38,330


15

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Offsetting of Derivatives

NJR transacts under master netting arrangements or equivalent agreements that allow it to offset derivative assets and liabilities with the same counterparty. However, NJR's policy is to present its derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table summarizes the reported gross amounts, the amounts that NJR has the right to offset but elects not to, financial collateral, as well as the net amounts NJR could present on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets but elects not to.
(Thousands)
Amounts Presented in Balance Sheets (1)
Offsetting Derivative Instruments (2)
Financial Collateral Received/Pledged (3)
Net Amounts (4)
As of June 30, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NJRES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$
8,460

 
$
(3,431
)
 
$

 
$
5,029

Financial commodity contracts
 
33,577

 
(31,848
)
 

 
1,729

Total NJRES
 
$
42,037

 
$
(35,279
)
 
$

 
$
6,758

NJNG
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$
130

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$
128

Financial commodity contracts
 
1,629

 
(1,629
)
 

 

Total NJNG
 
$
1,759

 
$
(1,631
)
 
$

 
$
128

Derivative liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NJRES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$
9,950

 
$
(3,432
)
 
$

 
$
6,518

Financial commodity contracts
 
68,004

 
(31,848
)
 
(36,156
)
 

Total NJRES
 
$
77,954

 
$
(35,280
)
 
$
(36,156
)
 
$
6,518

NJNG
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$
307

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$
305

Financial commodity contracts
 
5,974

 
(1,629
)
 
(4,345
)
 

Interest rate contracts
 
22,632

 

 

 
22,632

Total NJNG
 
$
28,913

 
$
(1,631
)
 
$
(4,345
)
 
$
22,937

As of September 30, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NJRES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$
6,562

 
$
(1,326
)
 
$

 
$
5,236

Financial commodity contracts
 
38,308

 
(13,734
)
 
3,841

 
28,415

Total NJRES
 
$
44,870

 
$
(15,060
)
 
$
3,841

 
$
33,651

NJNG
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial commodity contracts
 
$
207

 
$
(207
)
 
$

 
$

Derivative liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NJRES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$
9,271

 
$
(1,326
)
 
$
(1,200
)
 
$
6,745

Financial commodity contracts
 
13,733

 
(13,733
)
 

 

Total NJRES
 
$
23,004

 
$
(15,059
)
 
$
(1,200
)
 
$
6,745

NJNG
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial commodity contracts
 
$
11,088

 
$
(207
)
 
$
(10,881
)
 
$

Interest rate contracts
 
4,228

 

 

 
4,228

Total NJNG
 
$
15,316

 
$
(207
)
 
$
(10,881
)
 
$
4,228

(1)
Derivative assets and liabilities are presented on a gross basis in the balance sheet as the Company does not elect balance sheet offsetting under ASC 210-20.
(2)
Offsetting derivative instruments include: transactions with NAESB netting election, transactions held by FCM's with net margining and transactions with ISDA netting.
(3)
Financial collateral includes cash balances at FCMs as well as cash received from or pledged to other counterparties.
(4)
Net amounts represent presentation of derivative assets and liabilities if the Company were to elect balance sheet offsetting under ASC 210-20.

16

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


NJRES utilizes financial derivatives to economically hedge the gross margin associated with the purchase of physical gas for injection into storage and the subsequent sale of physical gas at a later date. The gains or (losses) on the financial transactions that are economic hedges of the cost of the purchased gas are recognized prior to the gains or (losses) on the physical transaction, which are recognized in earnings when the natural gas is sold. Therefore, mismatches between the timing of the recognition of realized gains or (losses) on the financial derivative instruments and gains or (losses) associated with the actual sale of the natural gas that is being economically hedged along with fair value changes in derivative instruments creates volatility in the results of NJRES, although the Company's intended economic results relating to the entire transaction are unaffected.

The following table reflects the effect of derivative instruments on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as of:
(Thousands)
Location of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives
Amount of gain (loss) recognized
in income on derivatives
 
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
 
June 30,
June 30,
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
2016
 
2015
2016
 
2015
NJRES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
Operating revenues
$
3,997

 
$
6,183

$
24,999

 
$
21,130

Physical commodity contracts
Gas purchases
(2,463
)
 
(11,988
)
(29,283
)
 
(21,781
)
Financial commodity contracts
Gas purchases
(39,653
)
 
2,264

23,443

 
92,781

Total unrealized and realized (losses) gains
$
(38,119
)
 
$
(3,541
)
$
19,159

 
$
92,130


NJRES previously designated its foreign exchange contracts as cash flow hedges and, as a result, changes in fair value of the effective portion of the hedges are recorded in OCI and, upon settlement of the contracts, realized gains and (losses) are reclassified from OCI to gas purchases on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following table reflects the effect of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges on OCI as of June 30:
(Thousands)
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized on Derivative (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
 
Three Months Ended
Three Months Ended
Three Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
June 30,
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships:
2016
2015
2016
2015
2016
2015
Foreign currency contracts
$
8

$
3

$
(15
)
$
15

$

$

 
Nine Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
June 30,
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships:
2016
2015
2016
2015
2016
2015
Foreign currency contracts
$
(27
)
$
(402
)
$
27

$
557

$

$


NJNG’s derivative contracts are part of the Company's risk management activities that relate to its natural gas purchases, BGSS incentive programs and debt financing. These transactions are entered into pursuant to regulatory approval and, at settlement, the resulting gains and/or losses are payable to or recoverable from customers. Any changes in the value of NJNG's financial derivatives are deferred in regulatory assets or liabilities resulting in no impact to earnings.

The following table reflects the (losses) gains associated with NJNG's derivative instruments as of:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
 
2015
2016
 
2015
NJNG:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
$
(236
)
 
$

$
(14,764
)
 
$

Financial commodity contracts
4,937

 
(199
)
(5,849
)
 
(24,676
)
Interest rate contracts
(9,700
)
 
2,905

(18,405
)
 
2,905

Total unrealized and realized (losses) gains
$
(4,999
)
 
$
2,706

$
(39,018
)
 
$
(21,771
)

17

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


NJNG and NJRES had the following outstanding long (short) derivatives as of:
 
 
 
Volume (Bcf)
 
 
 
June 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2015
NJNG
Futures
 
14.6

 
25.8

 
Physical
 
3.5

 

NJRES
Futures
 
(97.6
)
 
(91.1
)
 
Options
 
5.7

 
1.2

 
Physical
 
123.7

 
48.2

    
Not included in the table above are NJNG’s treasury lock agreement as previously discussed and 142,500 SRECs at NJRES that are open as of June 30, 2016.

Broker Margin

Generally, exchange-traded futures contracts require posted collateral, referred to as margin, usually in the form of cash. The amount of margin required is comprised of a fixed initial amount based on exchange requirements and a variable amount based on a daily mark-to-market. The Company maintains separate broker margin accounts for NJNG and NJRES. The balances by company, are as follows:
(Thousands)
Balance Sheet Location
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
NJNG
Broker margin - Current assets
$
6,701

$
12,990

NJRES
Broker margin - Current assets
$
50,905

$

 
Broker margin - Current (liabilities)
$

$
(4,103
)

Wholesale Credit Risk

NJNG, NJRES and NJRCEV are exposed to credit risk as a result of their sales/wholesale marketing activities. As a result of the inherent volatility in the prices of natural gas commodities, derivatives, SRECs, electricity and RECs, the market value of contractual positions with individual counterparties could exceed established credit limits or collateral provided by those counterparties. If a counterparty failed to perform the obligations under its contract (e.g., failed to deliver or pay for natural gas, SRECs, electricity or RECs), then the Company could sustain a loss.

NJR monitors and manages the credit risk of its wholesale marketing operations through credit policies and procedures that management believes reduce overall credit risk. These policies include a review and evaluation of current and prospective counterparties' financial statements and/or credit ratings, daily monitoring of counterparties' credit limits and exposure, daily communication with traders regarding credit status and the use of credit mitigation measures, such as collateral requirements and netting agreements. Examples of collateral include letters of credit and cash received for either prepayment or margin deposit. Collateral may be requested due to NJR's election not to extend credit or because exposure exceeds defined thresholds. Most of NJR's wholesale marketing contracts contain standard netting provisions. These contracts include those governed by ISDA and the NAESB. The netting provisions refer to payment netting, whereby receivables and payables with the same counterparty are offset and the resulting net amount is paid to the party to which it is due.

Internally-rated exposure applies to counterparties that are not rated by S&P or Moody's. In these cases, the counterparty's or guarantor's financial statements are reviewed, and similar methodologies and ratios used by S&P and/or Moody's are applied to arrive at a substitute rating. Gross credit exposure is defined as the unrealized fair value of physical and financial derivative commodity contracts, plus any outstanding wholesale receivable for the value of natural gas delivered and/or financial derivative commodity contract that has settled for which payment has not yet been received.


18

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


The following is a summary of gross credit exposures grouped by investment and noninvestment grade counterparties, as of June 30, 2016. The amounts presented below have not been reduced by any collateral received or netting and exclude accounts receivable for NJNG retail natural gas sales and services and NJRCEV residential solar installations.
(Thousands)
Gross Credit Exposure
Investment grade
 
$
91,603

 
Noninvestment grade
 
12,590

 
Internally rated investment grade
 
9,433

 
Internally rated noninvestment grade
 
23,271

 
Total
 
$
136,897

 

Conversely, certain of NJNG's and NJRES' derivative instruments are linked to agreements containing provisions that would require cash collateral payments from the Company if certain events occur. These provisions vary based upon the terms in individual counterparty agreements and can result in cash payments if NJNG's credit rating were to fall below its current level. NJNG's credit rating, with respect to S&P, reflects the overall corporate credit profile of NJR. Specifically, most, but not all, of these additional payments will be triggered if NJNG's debt is downgraded by the major credit agencies, regardless of investment grade status. In addition, some of these agreements include threshold amounts that would result in additional collateral payments if the values of derivative liabilities were to exceed the maximum values provided for in relevant counterparty agreements. Other provisions include payment features that are not specifically linked to ratings, but are based on certain financial metrics.

Collateral amounts associated with any of these conditions are determined based on a sliding scale and are contingent upon the degree to which the Company's credit rating and/or financial metrics deteriorate, and the extent to which liability amounts exceed applicable threshold limits. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a liability position on June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, was $22.7 million and $4.2 million, respectively, for which the Company had not posted collateral. If all thresholds related to the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements had been invoked on June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, the Company would have been required to post an additional $22.7 million and $4.2 million, respectively, to its counterparties. These amounts differ from the respective net derivative liabilities reflected on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets because the agreements also include clauses, commonly known as “Rights of Offset,” that would permit the Company to offset its derivative assets against its derivative liabilities for determining additional collateral to be posted, as previously discussed.

5.
FAIR VALUE

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

The fair value of cash and temporary investments, accounts receivable, current loan receivables, accounts payable, commercial paper and borrowings under revolving credit facilities are estimated to equal their carrying amounts due to the short maturity of those instruments. Non-current loan receivables are recorded based on what the Company expects to receive, which approximates fair value. The Company regularly evaluates the credit quality and collection profile of its customers to approximate fair value.

The estimated fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities and excluding capital leases is as follows:
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
Carrying value (1)
$
932,845

$
807,845

Fair market value
$
971,841

$
817,319

(1)
Excludes capital leases of $46.3 million and $46.9 million as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.

NJR utilizes a discounted cash flow method to determine the fair value of its debt. Inputs include observable municipal and corporate yields, as appropriate for the maturity of the specific issue and the Company's credit rating. As of June 30, 2016, NJR discloses its debt within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.


19

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Fair Value Hierarchy

NJR applies fair value measurement guidance to its financial assets and liabilities, as appropriate, which include financial derivatives and physical commodity contracts qualifying as derivatives, available for sale securities and other financial assets and liabilities. In addition, authoritative accounting literature prescribes the use of a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value based on the source of the data used to develop the price inputs. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to inputs that are based on unobservable market data and include the following:

Level 1
Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. NJR's Level 1 assets and liabilities include exchange traded natural gas futures and options contracts, listed equities and money market funds. Exchange traded futures and options contracts include all energy contracts traded on the NYMEX/CME and ICE that NJR refers internally to as basis swaps, fixed swaps, futures and financial options that are cleared through a FCM.

Level 2
Other significant observable inputs such as interest rates or price data, including both commodity and basis pricing that is observed either directly or indirectly from publications or pricing services. NJR's Level 2 assets and liabilities include over-the-counter physical forward commodity contracts and swap contracts, SREC forward sales or derivatives that are initially valued using observable quotes and are subsequently adjusted to include time value, credit risk or estimated transport pricing components for which no basis price is available. Level 2 financial derivatives consist of transactions with non-FCM counterparties (basis swaps, fixed swaps and/or options). NJNG's treasury lock is also considered Level 2 as valuation is based on quoted market interest and swap rates as inputs to the valuation model. Inputs are verifiable and do not require significant management judgment. For some physical commodity contracts the Company utilizes transportation tariff rates that are publicly available and that it considers to be observable inputs that are equivalent to market data received from an independent source. There are no significant judgments or adjustments applied to the transportation tariff inputs and no market perspective is required. Even if the transportation tariff input were considered to be a “model,” it would still be considered to be a Level 2 input as the data is:

widely accepted and public;

non-proprietary and sourced from an independent third party; and

observable and published.

These additional adjustments are generally not considered to be significant to the ultimate recognized values.

Level 3
Inputs derived from a significant amount of unobservable market data. These include NJR's best estimate of fair value and are derived primarily through the use of internal valuation methodologies.

20

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized as follows:
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
Significant Other Observable Inputs
Significant Unobservable Inputs
 
(Thousands)
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Total
As of June 30, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$

 
 
$
8,590

 
 
$

 
$
8,590

Financial commodity contracts
 
35,206

 
 

 
 

 
35,206

Available for sale equity securities - energy industry
 
64,377

 
 

 
 

 
64,377

Other (1)
 
1,567

 
 

 
 

 
1,567

Total assets at fair value
 
$
101,150

 
 
$
8,590

 
 
$

 
$
109,740

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$

 
 
$
10,257

 
 
$

 
$
10,257

Financial commodity contracts
 
73,978

 
 

 
 

 
73,978

Interest rate contracts
 

 
 
22,632

 
 

 
22,632

Total liabilities at fair value
 
$
73,978

 
 
$
32,889

 
 
$

 
$
106,867

As of September 30, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$

 
 
$
6,572

 
 
$

 
$
6,572

Financial commodity contracts
 
38,515

 
 

 
 

 
38,515

Available for sale equity securities - energy industry
 
59,475

 
 

 
 

 
59,475

Other (1)
 
1,572

 
 

 
 

 
1,572

Total assets at fair value
 
$
99,562

 
 
$
6,572

 
 
$

 
$
106,134

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical commodity contracts
 
$

 
 
$
9,281

 
 
$

 
$
9,281

Financial commodity contracts
 
24,821

 
 

 
 

 
24,821

Interest rate contracts
 

 
 
4,228

 
 

 
4,228

Total liabilities at fair value
 
$
24,821

 
 
$
13,509

 
 
$

 
$
38,330

(1)
Includes various money market funds.

6.
INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY METHOD INVESTEES

NJR's investments in equity method investees includes the following as of:
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
Steckman Ridge (1)
$
123,626

$
125,649

PennEast
15,372

6,353

Total
$
138,998

$
132,002

(1)
Includes loans with a total outstanding principal balance of $70.4 million for both June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015. The loans accrue interest at a variable rate that resets quarterly and are due October 1, 2023.

NJR, through a subsidiary, NJR Pipeline Company, formed PennEast with five other investors, and plans to construct and operate a 118-mile pipeline that will extend from northeast Pennsylvania to western New Jersey.

NJRES and NJNG have entered into storage and park and loan agreements with Steckman Ridge. In addition, NJNG has entered into a precedent capacity agreement with PennEast, which is estimated to be in service during the last quarter of fiscal

21

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


2018 or the first quarter of fiscal 2019. See Note 14. Related Party Transactions for more information on these intercompany transactions.

7.
EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table presents the calculation of the Company's basic and diluted earnings per share for:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands, except per share amounts)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Net (loss) income, as reported
$
(17,363
)
$
(7,460
)
$
106,272

$
176,763

Basic earnings per share
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding-basic
85,960

85,449

85,823

85,110

Basic (loss) earnings per common share
$(.20)
$(.09)
$1.24
$2.08
Diluted earnings per share
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding-basic
85,960

85,449

85,823

85,110

Incremental shares (1)


868

1,018

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding-diluted
85,960

85,449

86,691

86,128

Diluted (loss) earnings per common share (2)
$(.20)
$(.09)
$1.23
$2.05
(1)
Incremental shares consist primarily of unvested stock awards and performance shares.
(2)
Since there was a net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, incremental shares of 897 and 1,018, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted loss per common share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.There were no anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

8.
COMMON STOCK EQUITY

Changes in common stock equity during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, were as follows:
(Thousands)
Number of Shares
Common Stock
Premium on Common Stock
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Treasury Stock And Other
Retained Earnings
Total
Balance at September 30, 2015
85,531

$
220,838

$
209,931

 
$
(9,394
)
 
$
(92,164
)
$
777,745

$
1,106,956

Net income



 

 

106,272

106,272

Other comprehensive income



 
3,657

 


3,657

Common stock issued:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Incentive plan
321

804

8,457

 

 



9,261

Dividend reinvestment plan
368


(2,743
)
 

 
14,829


12,086

Cash dividend declared ($.72 per share)



 

 

(61,885
)
(61,885
)
Treasury stock and other
(144
)

(55
)
 

 
(5,410
)

(5,465
)
Balance at June 30, 2016
86,076

$
221,642

$
215,590

 
$
(5,737
)
 
$
(82,745
)
$
822,132

$
1,170,882


NJR satisfies its external common equity requirements, if any, through issuances of its common stock, including the proceeds from stock issuances under its DRP. The DRP allows NJR, at its option, to use treasury shares or newly issued shares to raise capital. On December 14, 2015, NJR registered 5 million shares of NJR common stock for issuance under the DRP. NJR raised $12.2 million and $13.1 million of equity through the DRP, by issuing approximately 368,000 and 457,000 shares of treasury stock, during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. NJR also raised approximately $19.8 million of equity by issuing approximately 688,000 new shares through the waiver discount feature of the DRP during the nine months ended June 30, 2015. NJR issued no new shares through the waiver discount feature of the DRP during the nine months ended June 30, 2016.


22

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table presents the changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of related tax effects:
(Thousands)
Available for Sale Securities
Cash Flow Hedges
Postemployment Benefit Obligation
Total
Balance at September 30, 2015
$
6,385

 
$

 
$
(15,779
)
 
$
(9,394
)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax of $(2,014), $10, $0, $(2,004)
2,888

 
(17
)
 

 
2,871

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax of $0, $(10), $(523), $(533)

 
17

(1) 
769

(2) 
786

Net current-period other comprehensive income, net of tax of ($2,014), $0, $(523), $(2,537)
2,888

 

 
769

 
3,657

Balance at June 30, 2016
$
9,273

 
$

 
$
(15,010
)
 
$
(5,737
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2014
$
4,782

 
$
(93
)
 
$
(10,283
)
 
$
(5,594
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax of $319, $146, $0, $465
(461
)
 
(256
)
 

 
(717
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax of $0, $(202), $(506), $(708)

 
349

(1) 
732

(2) 
1,081

Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax of $319, $(56), $(506), $(243)
(461
)
 
93

 
732

 
364

Balance as of June 30, 2015
$
4,321

 
$

 
$
(9,551
)
 
$
(5,230
)
(1)
Consists of realized losses related to foreign currency derivatives, which are reclassified to gas purchases on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(2)
Included in the computation of net periodic pension cost, a component of operations and maintenance expense on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

9.
DEBT

NJR and NJNG finance working capital requirements and capital expenditures through various short-term debt and long-term financing arrangements, including a commercial paper program, committed unsecured credit facilities and private placement debt shelf facilities.

Credit Facilities

A summary of NJR's credit facility and NJNG's commercial paper program and credit facility are as follows:
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2015
 
Expiration Dates
NJR
 
 
 
 
 
Bank revolving credit facilities (1)
$
425,000

 
$
425,000

 
September 2020
Notes outstanding at end of period
$
244,625

 
$
39,350

 
 
Weighted average interest rate at end of period
1.36
%
 
1.17
%
 
 
Amount available at end of period (2)
$
168,977

 
$
369,176

 
 
Bank revolving credit facilities (3)
$

 
$
100,000

 
October 2015
Amount available at end of period
$

 
$
100,000

 
 
NJNG
 
 
 
 
 
Bank revolving credit facilities (1)
$
250,000

 
$
250,000

 
May 2019
Commercial paper outstanding at end of period
$

 
$
27,000

 
 
Weighted average interest rate at end of period
%
 
.20
%
 
 
Amount available at end of period (4)
$
249,269

 
$
222,269

 
 
(1)
Committed credit facilities, which require commitment fees on the unused amounts.
(2)
Letters of credit outstanding total $11.4 million and $16.5 million as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively, which reduces amount available by the same amount.
(3)
Uncommitted credit facilities, which require no commitment fees.
(4)
Letters of credit outstanding total $731,000 as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, which reduces the amount available by the same amount.

23

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


On October 24, 2014, NJR entered into a $100 million uncommitted line of credit agreement, with Santander Bank, N.A., which expired on October 24, 2015.

Amounts available under credit facilities are reduced by bank or commercial paper borrowings, as applicable, and any outstanding letters of credit. Neither NJNG nor the results of its operations are obligated or pledged to support the NJR credit or debt shelf facilities.

Long-term Debt

NJR
On March 22, 2016, NJR entered into a Note Purchase Agreement, under which the Company has agreed to issue, on August 18, 2016, $50 million of the Company’s 3.2 percent senior notes due August 18, 2023, and $100 million of the Company’s 3.54 percent senior notes due August 18, 2026. The notes will be guaranteed by certain unregulated subsidiaries of the Company. The notes will be unsecured. The proceeds of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures.

NJNG

On June 21, 2016, NJNG entered into a Note Purchase Agreement, under which NJNG issued $125 million of its 3.63 percent senior notes due June 21, 2046. The notes are secured by an equal principal amount of NJNG's FMB (series UU) issued under NJNG's Mortgage Indenture. The proceeds of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, refinancing or retiring short-term debt and funding capital expenditures.

NJNG received $7.1 million and $7.2 million in December 2015 and 2014, respectively, in connection with the sale-leaseback of its natural gas meters. NJNG records a capital lease obligation that is paid over the term of the lease and has the option to purchase the meters back at fair value upon expiration of the lease.

10.
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Pension and Other Postemployment Benefit Plans

The components of the net periodic cost for pension benefits, including the Company's Pension Equalization Plan, and OPEB costs (principally health care and life insurance) for employees and covered dependents were as follows:
 
Pension
OPEB
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
2016
2015
2016
2015
Service cost
$
1,897

$
1,872

$
5,693

$
5,614

$
1,130

$
1,063

$
3,391

$
3,190

Interest cost
2,836

2,549

8,507

7,649

1,564

1,434

4,692

4,304

Expected return on plan assets
(5,029
)
(4,272
)
(15,088
)
(12,817
)
(1,211
)
(1,245
)
(3,633
)
(3,733
)
Recognized actuarial loss
1,820

1,747

5,461

5,239

819

737

2,456

2,208

Prior service cost amortization
28

28

83

83

(91
)
(91
)
(273
)
(273
)
Net periodic benefit cost
$
1,552

$
1,924

$
4,656

$
5,768

$
2,211

$
1,898

$
6,633

$
5,696


The Company made a discretionary contribution of $30 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, to improve the funded status of the pension plans based on current actuarial assumptions, which includes the most recent mortality table change. The Company does not expect to be required to make additional contributions to fund the pension plans over the next two fiscal years based on current actuarial assumptions; however, funding requirements are uncertain and can depend significantly on changes in actuarial assumptions, returns on plan assets, interest rates and changes in the demographics of eligible employees and covered dependents. In addition, as in the past, the Company may elect to make contributions in excess of the minimum required amount to the plans. There were no discretionary contributions made during the nine months ended June 30, 2015.

24

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


11.
INCOME TAXES

NJR evaluates its tax positions to determine the appropriate accounting and recognition of potential future obligations associated with uncertain tax positions. During the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, based on its analysis, the Company determined there was no need to recognize any liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions.

To calculate the estimated annual effective tax rate, NJR considers forecasted pre-tax book income and estimated permanent book versus tax differences, as well as tax credits associated with solar and wind projects. For investment tax credits the estimate is based on solar projects that are probable of being completed and placed in service during the current fiscal year based on the best information available at each reporting period. For production tax credits the estimate is based on the forecast of electricity produced during the current fiscal year based on the best information available at each reporting period. Adjustments to the effective tax rate and management's estimates will occur as information and assumptions change.

The forecasted effective tax rates for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, were 10.3 percent and 24.3 percent, respectively. The decreased effective tax rate is due primarily to a decrease in forecasted pre-tax income along with an increase in forecasted tax credits for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, compared with the prior fiscal year. Forecasted tax credits, net of deferred taxes, were $27.7 million and $24.9 million for fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively.

To the extent there are discrete tax items that are not included in the forecasted effective tax rate, the actual effective tax rate will differ from the estimated annual effective tax rate. Effective October 1, 2015, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09, an amendment to ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, see Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. As a result of the adoption, the Company has recognized $1.7 million in excess tax benefits associated with the vesting of share-based awards as a component of income tax (benefit) provision in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Since the tax effects of the awards are treated as a discrete item NJR’s actual effective tax rate, as of June 30, 2016, is 8.9 percent.

As of June 30, 2016, the Company has total state income tax net operating losses of approximately $224.2 million, which generally have a life of 20 years. The Company has recorded a deferred state tax asset of approximately $13.1 million on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, reflecting the tax benefit associated with the loss carryforwards. In addition, as of June 30, 2016, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $267,000 because it believes that it is more likely than not that the state net operating losses related to CR&R will expire unused. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had total state income tax net operating losses of approximately $218.1 million, a deferred state tax asset of approximately $12.8 million and a valuation allowance of $176,000.

In addition, as of September 30, 2015, the Company had an ITC carryforward of approximately $22.1 million, all of which were generated in fiscal year 2015, and has a life of 20 years. The Company expects to utilize this entire carryforward.

In December 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act extended the 30 percent ITC for solar property that is under construction on or before December 31, 2019. The credit will decline to 26 percent for property under construction as of and during 2020 and to 22 percent for property under construction as of and during 2021. For any property that is under construction before 2022, but not placed in service before 2024 the ITC will be reduced to 10 percent. In addition, the Consolidated Appropriations Act retroactively extended the PTC for five years through December 31, 2019, with a gradual three year phase out for any project for which construction of the facility begins after December 31, 2016.

12.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Cash Commitments

NJNG has entered into long-term contracts, expiring at various dates through October 2033, for the supply, storage and transportation of natural gas. These contracts include annual fixed charges of approximately $17.6 million at current contract rates and volumes, which are recoverable through BGSS.

For the purpose of securing storage and pipeline capacity, NJRES enters into storage and pipeline capacity contracts, which require the payment of certain demand charges by NJRES to maintain the ability to access such natural gas storage or pipeline capacity, during a fixed time period, which generally ranges from one to 10 years. Demand charges are established by interstate storage and pipeline operators and are regulated by the FERC. These demand charges represent commitments to pay storage providers or pipeline companies for the right to store and/or transport natural gas utilizing their respective assets.

25

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


Commitments as of June 30, 2016, for natural gas purchases and future demand fees for the next five fiscal year periods are as follows:
(Thousands)
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Thereafter
NJRES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas purchases
$
139,097

$
193,138

$
104,064

$
57,868

$

$

Storage demand fees
11,303

32,816

14,582

8,104

6,258

7,308

Pipeline demand fees
27,867

60,009

23,660

5,699

2,923

3,815

Sub-total NJRES
$
178,267

$
285,963

$
142,306

$
71,671

$
9,181

$
11,123

NJNG:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas purchases
$
19,170

$
80,193

$
39,226

$
41,658

$
43,611

$
104,378

Storage demand fees
7,255

29,131

22,255

12,834

5,776


Pipeline demand fees
10,351

66,104

71,048

88,130

89,925

818,407

Sub-total NJNG
$
36,776

$
175,428

$
132,529

$
142,622

$
139,312

$
922,785

Total (1)
$
215,043

$
461,391

$
274,835

$
214,293

$
148,493

$
933,908

(1)
Does not include amounts related to intercompany asset management agreements between NJRES and NJNG.

Legal Proceedings

Manufactured Gas Plant Remediation

NJNG is responsible for the remedial cleanup of five MGP sites, dating back to gas operations in the late 1800s and early 1900s, which contain contaminated residues from former gas manufacturing operations. NJNG is currently involved in administrative proceedings with the NJDEP, and participating in various studies and investigations by outside consultants, to determine the nature and extent of any such contaminated residues and to develop appropriate programs of remedial action, where warranted, under Administrative Consent Orders or Memoranda of Agreement with the NJDEP.

NJNG may recover its remediation expenditures, including carrying costs, over rolling seven-year periods pursuant to a RA approved by the BPU. In May 2015, the BPU approved NJNG's MGP expenditures incurred through June 2014 and to recover $8.5 million annually related to the SBC RA factor, with rates effective June 1, 2015. On December 24, 2015, NJNG requested approval of its MGP expenditures incurred through June 30, 2015, which was approved on June 29, 2016, effective July 9, 2016. As of June 30, 2016, $18.5 million of previously incurred remediation costs, net of recoveries from customers and insurance proceeds, are included in regulatory assets on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

NJNG periodically, and at least annually, performs an environmental review of the MGP sites, including a review of potential liability for investigation and remedial action. NJNG estimated at the time of the most recent review that total future expenditures to remediate and monitor the five MGP sites for which it is responsible, including potential liabilities for Natural Resource Damages that might be brought by the NJDEP for alleged injury to groundwater or other natural resources concerning these sites, will range from approximately $150.9 million to $242.1 million. NJNG's estimate of these liabilities is based upon known facts, existing technology and enacted laws and regulations in place when the review was completed. Where it is probable that costs will be incurred, and the information is sufficient to establish a range of possible liability, NJNG accrues the most likely amount in the range. If no point within the range is more likely than the other, it is NJNG's policy to accrue the lower end of the range. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2016, NJNG recorded an MGP remediation liability and a corresponding regulatory asset of $175.3 million on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, based on the most likely amount. The actual costs to be incurred by NJNG are dependent upon several factors, including final determination of remedial action, changing technologies and governmental regulations, the ultimate ability of other responsible parties to pay and any insurance recoveries.

NJNG will continue to seek recovery of MGP-related costs through the RA. If any future regulatory position indicates that the recovery of such costs is not probable, the related non-recoverable costs would be charged to income in the period of such determination.

General

The Company is party to various other claims, legal actions and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. In the Company's opinion, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

26

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


13.
BUSINESS SEGMENT AND OTHER OPERATIONS DATA

NJR organizes its businesses based on a combination of factors, including its products and its regulatory environment. As a result, the Company manages its businesses through the following reportable segments and other operations: the Natural Gas Distribution segment consists of regulated energy and off-system, capacity and storage management operations; the Energy Services segment consists of unregulated wholesale energy operations; the Clean Energy Ventures segment consists of capital investments in distributed power projects; the Midstream segment consists of NJR's investments in natural gas transportation and storage facilities; the Home Services and Other operations consist of heating, cooling and water appliance sales, installations and services, commercial real estate development, other investments and general corporate activities.

Information related to the Company's various business segments and other operations is detailed below:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Operating revenues
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
 
 
 
 
External customers
$
119,206

$
116,307

$
513,348

$
699,737

Energy Services
 
 
 
 
External customers (1)
247,633

320,221

840,518

1,546,890

Intercompany
2,674

1,554

8,440

60,777

Clean Energy Ventures
 
 
 
 
External customers
12,703

7,861

28,159

18,164

Subtotal
382,216

445,943

1,390,465

2,325,568

Home Services and Other
 
 
 
 
External customers
13,671

14,078

29,639

30,890

Intercompany
737

514

2,273

1,300

Eliminations
(3,411
)
(2,068
)
(10,713
)
(62,077
)
Total
$
393,213

$
458,467

$
1,411,664

$
2,295,681

Depreciation and amortization
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
12,297

$
10,810

$
35,133

$
32,002

Energy Services
23

23

69

68

Clean Energy Ventures
6,070

4,504

17,056

12,392

Midstream
1

1

4

4

Subtotal
18,391

15,338

52,262

44,466

Home Services and Other
249

238

713

714

Eliminations
31

(2
)
(78
)
(16
)
Total
$
18,671

$
15,574

$
52,897

$
45,164

Interest income (2)
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
62

$
(25
)
$
190

$
75

Energy Services
16

250

88

263

Clean Energy Ventures



22

Midstream
395

246

1,109

727

Subtotal
473

471

1,387

1,087

Home Services and Other
97

13

257

214

Eliminations
(505
)
(509
)
(1,456
)
(990
)
Total
$
65

$
(25
)
$
188

$
311

(1)
Includes sales to Canada, which accounted for 2.4 and 3.6 percent of total operating revenues during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.
(2)
Included in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

27

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
4,935

$
5,005

$
14,213

$
14,002

Energy Services
263

209

639

1,010

Clean Energy Ventures
2,666

2,078

7,271

5,556

Midstream
56

163

228

623

Subtotal
7,920

7,455

22,351

21,191

Home Services and Other
65

134

170

76

Eliminations
(198
)
(262
)
(588
)
(262
)
Total
$
7,787

$
7,327

$
21,933

$
21,005

Income tax provision (benefit)
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
2,015

$
3,754

$
38,232

$
41,698

Energy Services
(16,678
)
(9,958
)
(3,968
)
39,842

Clean Energy Ventures
(2,784
)
(423
)
(28,433
)
(29,186
)
Midstream
1,501

1,737

4,671

5,048

Subtotal
(15,946
)
(4,890
)
10,502

57,402

Home Services and Other
1,556

720

(1,055
)
(704
)
Eliminations
200

(148
)
900

(5
)
Total
$
(14,190
)
$
(4,318
)
$
10,347

$
56,693

Equity in earnings of affiliates
 
 
 
 
Midstream
$
3,359

$
4,266

$
10,412

$
12,622

Eliminations
(1,102
)
(899
)
(3,347
)
(2,873
)
Total
$
2,257

$
3,367

$
7,065

$
9,749

Net financial earnings (loss)
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
3,607

$
7,172

$
83,494

$
83,952

Energy Services
276

(5,270
)
27,585

47,482

Clean Energy Ventures
2,440

(3,792
)
21,898

18,226

Midstream
2,338

2,487

6,910

7,211

Subtotal
8,661

597

139,887

156,871

Home Services and Other
2,418

1,909

662

(42
)
Eliminations
(107
)
(29
)
(405
)
(100
)
Total
$
10,972

$
2,477

$
140,144

$
156,729

Capital expenditures
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
36,687

$
45,749

$
133,093

$
115,740

Clean Energy Ventures
44,854

23,218

115,736

111,588

Subtotal
81,541

68,967

248,829

227,328

Home Services and Other
397

29

1,466

90

Total
$
81,938

$
68,996

$
250,295

$
227,418

Investments in equity investees
 
 
 
 
Midstream
$
2,741

$
1,049

$
8,689

$
2,313

Total
$
2,741

$
1,049

$
8,689

$
2,313


28

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


The Chief Executive Officer, who uses NFE as a measure of profit or loss in measuring the results of the Company's segments and operations, is the chief operating decision maker of the Company. A reconciliation of consolidated NFE to consolidated net income is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Net financial earnings
$
10,972

$
2,477

$
140,144

$
156,729

Less:
 
 
 
 
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments and related transactions
55,875

1,188

57,910

(19,010
)
Tax effect
(20,282
)
(294
)
(21,021
)
7,132

Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory
(11,380
)
16,464

(8,621
)
(15,751
)
Tax effect
4,130

(5,937
)
3,129

5,908

Net income to NFE tax adjustment
(8
)
(1,484
)
2,475

1,687

Net (loss) income
$
(17,363
)
$
(7,460
)
$
106,272

$
176,763


The Company uses derivative instruments as economic hedges of purchases and sales of physical gas inventory. For GAAP purposes, these derivatives are recorded at fair value and related changes in fair value are included in reported earnings. Revenues and cost of gas related to physical gas flow is recognized when the gas is delivered to customers. Consequently, there is a mismatch in the timing of earnings recognition between the economic hedges and physical gas flows. Timing differences occur in two ways:

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives are recognized in reported earnings in periods prior to physical gas inventory flows; and

Unrealized gains and losses of prior periods are reclassified as realized gains and losses when derivatives are settled in the same period as physical gas inventory movements occur.

NFE is a measure of the earnings based on eliminating these timing differences, to effectively match the earnings effects of the economic hedges with the physical sale of gas, SRECs and foreign currency contracts. Consequently, to reconcile between GAAP and NFE, current period unrealized gains and losses on the derivatives are excluded from NFE as a reconciling item. Additionally, realized derivative gains and losses are also included in current period net income. However, NFE includes only realized gains and losses related to natural gas sold out of inventory, effectively matching the full earnings effects of the derivatives with realized margins on physical gas flows. NJR also calculates a quarterly tax adjustment based on an estimated annual effective tax rate for NFE purposes.

The Company's assets for the various business segments and business operations are detailed below:
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
Assets at end of period:
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
2,485,738

$
2,305,293

Energy Services
325,681

260,021

Clean Energy Ventures
611,644

504,885

Midstream
191,416

182,007

Subtotal
3,614,479

3,252,206

Home Services and Other
106,351

88,880

Intercompany assets (1)
(88,040
)
(56,729
)
Total
$
3,632,790

$
3,284,357

(1)
Consists of transactions between subsidiaries that are eliminated and reclassified in consolidation.


29

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)                                               


14.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

NJRES may periodically enter into storage or park and loan agreements with its affiliated FERC-regulated natural gas storage facility, Steckman Ridge. As of June 30, 2016, NJRES has entered into storage and park and loan transactions with Steckman Ridge for varying terms, all of which will expire by October 2020. NJRES had demand fees, net of eliminations, associated with Steckman Ridge of $2.1 million and $1.3 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and demand fees payable of $376,000 and $375,000 as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.

In January 2010, NJNG entered into a 10-year agreement effective April 1, 2010, for 3 Bcf of firm storage capacity with Steckman Ridge. Under the terms of the agreement, NJNG incurs demand fees, at market rates, of approximately $9.3 million annually, a portion of which is eliminated in consolidation. These fees are recoverable through NJNG's BGSS mechanism and are included in regulatory assets. During the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, NJNG had demand fees, net of eliminations, associated with Steckman Ridge of $4.2 million and $4.3 million, respectively, and demand fees payable of $775,000 as of June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015.

NJNG and NJRES have entered into various asset management agreements. Under the terms of these agreements, NJNG releases certain transportation and storage contracts to NJRES. NJNG retains the right to purchase market priced gas or fixed price storage gas from NJRES. As of June 30, 2016, NJNG and NJRES had three asset management agreements with expiration dates ranging from October 2016 through March 2018.

NJNG has entered into a 15 year transportation precedent agreement for committed capacity of 180,000 dths per day with PennEast, which is estimated to be in service during the last quarter of fiscal 2018 or the first quarter of fiscal 2019.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS                                                                                                                                                                                   

Critical Accounting Policies

A summary of our critical accounting policies is included in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2015. Our critical accounting policies have not changed from those reported in the 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for discussion of recently issued accounting standards.

Management's Overview

Consolidated

NJR is an energy services holding company providing retail natural gas service in New Jersey and wholesale natural gas and related energy services to customers in the United States and Canada, through its subsidiaries NJNG and NJRES. In addition, we invest in distributed power projects, midstream assets and provide various repair, sales and installations services. A more detailed description of our organizational structure can be found in Item 1. Business of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


30

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Business Segments

We have four primary business segments as presented in the chart below:


In addition to the four business segments, we have non-utility operations that either provide corporate support services or do not meet management's criteria to be treated as a separate business segment. These operations, which comprise Home Services and Other, include: appliance repair services, sales and installations at NJRHS; energy-related ventures at NJR Energy and commercial real estate holdings at CR&R.

Net income (loss) by business segment and operations are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
3,607

(21
)%
 
$
7,172

(96
)%
 
$
83,494

79
 %
 
$
83,952

48
%
Energy Services
(28,473
)
164

 
(16,439
)
220

 
(5,499
)
(5
)
 
69,191

39

Clean Energy Ventures
2,448

(14
)
 
(2,308
)
31

 
19,423

18

 
16,539

9

Midstream
2,338

(13
)
 
2,487

(33
)
 
6,910

6

 
7,211

4

Home Services and Other
2,418

(14
)
 
1,909

(26
)
 
662

1

 
(42
)

Eliminations (1)
299

(2
)
 
(281
)
4

 
1,282

1

 
(88
)

Total
$
(17,363
)
100
 %
 
$
(7,460
)
100
 %
 
$
106,272

100
 %
 
$
176,763

100
%
(1)
Consists of transactions between subsidiaries that are eliminated in consolidation.

The increase in net loss during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, was driven by decreases at NJRES due primarily to changes in the value of derivative instruments and at NJNG due primarily to increased depreciation and O&M, partially offset by an increase at NJRCEV due primarily to an increase in operating revenue and tax credits recognized. The decrease in net income during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, was driven primarily by lower gross margin at NJRES due primarily to record warmth across the eastern United States, as well as changes in the value of derivative instruments, partially offset by decreased income tax expense. The primary drivers of the changes noted above are described in more detail in the individual segment discussions.

31

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Assets by business segment and operations are as follows:
(Thousands)
June 30,
2016
 
September 30,
2015
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
2,485,738

68
 %
 
$
2,305,293

70
 %
Energy Services
325,681

9

 
260,021

8

Clean Energy Ventures
611,644

17

 
504,885

15

Midstream
191,416

5

 
182,007

6

Home Services and Other
106,351

3

 
88,880

3

Intercompany assets (1)
(88,040
)
(2
)
 
(56,729
)
(2
)
Total
$
3,632,790

100
 %
 
$
3,284,357

100
 %
(1)
Consists of transactions between subsidiaries that are eliminated in consolidation.

The increase in assets during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, was due primarily to additional utility plant expenditures at NJNG and additional wind expenditures at NJRCEV, as well as increased broker margin at NJRES.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management of the Company uses NFE, a non-GAAP financial measure, when evaluating the operating results of the Company. NJRES economically hedges its natural gas inventory with financial derivative instruments. NFE is a measure of the earnings based on eliminating timing differences surrounding the recognition of certain gains or losses, to effectively match the earnings effects of the economic hedges with the physical sale of gas and, therefore, eliminates the impact of volatility to GAAP earnings associated with the derivative instruments.

GAAP requires us, during the interim periods, to estimate our annual effective tax rate and use this rate to calculate the year-to-date tax provision. We also determine an annual estimated effective tax rate for NFE purposes and calculate a quarterly tax adjustment based on the differences between our forecasted net income and our forecasted NFE for the fiscal year. Since the annual estimated effective tax rate is based on certain forecasted assumptions, including estimates surrounding completion of NJRCEV projects, the rate and resulting NFE are subject to change. Since this adjustment is made to reflect the forecasted tax rate, no adjustment is needed at year end.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or a replacement of, the comparable GAAP measure and should be read in conjunction with those GAAP results. The following is a reconciliation of consolidated net (loss) income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to NFE:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
($ in Thousands)
2016
2015
 
2016
2015
Net (loss) income
$
(17,363
)
$
(7,460
)
 
$
106,272

$
176,763

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments and related transactions
55,875

1,188

 
57,910

(19,010
)
Tax effect
(20,282
)
(294
)
 
(21,021
)
7,132

Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory
(11,380
)
16,464

 
(8,621
)
(15,751
)
Tax effect
4,130

(5,937
)
 
3,129

5,908

NFE tax adjustment
(8
)
(1,484
)
 
2,475

1,687

Net financial earnings
$
10,972

$
2,477

 
$
140,144

$
156,729

Basic (loss) earnings per share
$
(.20
)
$
(.09
)
 
$
1.24

$
2.08

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments and related transactions
.65

.02

 
.67

(.22
)
Tax effect
(.24
)

 
(.25
)
.08

Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory
(.13
)
.19

 
(.10
)
(.19
)
Tax effect
.05

(.07
)
 
.04

.07

NFE tax adjustment

(.02
)
 
.03

.02

Basic net financial earnings per share
$
.13

$
.03

 
$
1.63

$
1.84

(1)
Effects of hedging natural gas inventory transactions where the economic impact is realized in a future period.

32

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

NFE by business segment and other operations, discussed in more detail within the operating results sections of each segment, is summarized as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
($ in Thousands)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net Financial Earnings (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural Gas Distribution
$
3,607

33
 %
 
$
7,172

290
 %
 
$
83,494

60
%
 
$
83,952

53
%
Energy Services
276

3

 
(5,270
)
(213
)
 
27,585

20

 
47,482

30

Clean Energy Ventures
2,440

22

 
(3,792
)
(153
)
 
21,898

16

 
18,226

12

Midstream
2,338

21

 
2,487

100

 
6,910

4

 
7,211

5

Home Services and Other
2,418

22

 
1,909

77

 
662


 
(42
)

Eliminations (1)
(107
)
(1
)
 
(29
)
(1
)
 
(405
)

 
(100
)

Total
$
10,972

100
 %
 
$
2,477

100
 %
 
$
140,144

100
%
 
$
156,729

100
%
(1)
Consists of transactions between subsidiaries that are eliminated in consolidation.

The increase in NFE during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015 was due primarily to increased net income at NJRCEV as previously discussed and increased financial margin at NJRES due primarily to higher levels of storage injections on natural gas purchases.

The decrease in NFE during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015 was due primarily to decreased financial margin at NJRES due primarily to lower volatility and narrower price spreads resulting from the record warmth across the eastern United States, partially offset by decreased income tax expense.

Natural Gas Distribution Segment

Overview

Our Natural Gas Distribution segment is comprised of NJNG, a natural gas utility that provides regulated retail natural gas service in central and northern New Jersey to approximately 519,800 residential and commercial customers in its service territory and also participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets. The business is subject to various risks, which can negatively impact customer growth, operating and financing costs, fluctuations in commodity prices and customer conservation efforts. These risks include, but are not limited to, adverse economic conditions, customer usage, certain regulatory actions, environmental remediation and severe weather conditions. It is often difficult to predict the impact of events or trends associated with these risks.

In addition, NJNG's business is seasonal by nature, as weather conditions directly influence the volume of natural gas delivered. Specifically, customer demand substantially increases during the winter months when natural gas is used for heating purposes. As a result, NJNG receives most of its gas distribution revenues during the first and second fiscal quarters and is subject to variations in earnings and working capital during the year.

As a regulated company, NJNG is required to recognize the impact of regulatory decisions on its financial statements. See Note 3. Regulation in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion on regulatory actions, including filings related to programs and associated expenditures, as well as rate requests related to recovery of costs.

NJNG's operations are managed with the goal of providing safe and reliable service, growing its customer base, diversifying its gross margin, promoting clean energy programs and mitigating the risks discussed above through several key initiatives, including:

earning a reasonable rate of return on the investments in its natural gas distribution and transmission businesses, as well as timely recovery of all prudently incurred costs in order to provide safe and reliable service throughout NJNG's territory:

-    NJNG filed a base rate case petition with the BPU on November 13, 2015, requesting an increase in base tariff rates in the amount of $147.6 million, which was revised on July 20, 2016, to $112.9 million. NJNG is currently in discussions with the BPU and new base rates are expected to be effective in early fiscal 2017;

33

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

continuing to invest in the safety and integrity of its infrastructure;

managing its customer growth rate, which NJNG expects will be approximately 1.6 percent annually through fiscal 2018;

maintaining a collaborative relationship with the BPU on regulatory initiatives, including:

-    planning and authorization of infrastructure investments;

-    pursuing rate and regulatory strategies to stabilize and decouple margin, including CIP;

-    utilizing BGSS incentive programs through BPU-approved mechanisms to reduce gas costs and generate margin; and

-    administering and promoting NJNG's BPU-approved SAVEGREEN Project;

managing the volatility of wholesale natural gas prices through a hedging program designed to keep customers' BGSS rates as stable as possible; and

working to manage its financial obligations related to remediation activities associated with its former MGP sites.

Infrastructure projects

NJNG has significant annual capital expenditures associated with the management of its natural gas distribution and transmission system, including new utility plant associated with customer growth and its associated PIM and infrastructure programs.

Below is a summary of actual capital expenditures for the nine months ended June 30, 2016, and estimates for fiscal 2016 and 2017:
Estimated capital expenditures are reviewed on a regular basis and may vary based on the ongoing effects of regulatory oversight, environmental regulations, unforeseen events and the ability to access capital.

SAFE and NJ RISE

NJNG has implemented BPU-approved infrastructure projects that are designed to enhance the reliability of NJNG's gas distribution system.


34

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

NJNG has implemented its SAFE program whereby NJNG has approval to invest up to $130 million, exclusive of AFUDC, to replace portions of its gas distribution infrastructure, consisting of unprotected steel and cast iron, over a four-year period. As of December 31, 2015, NJNG completed the removal of cast iron mains throughout its entire service territory. The SAFE program was authorized by the BPU to earn an overall weighted average cost of capital of 6.9 percent, with a return on equity of 9.75 percent. NJNG has included its SAFE infrastructure investments for recovery in its base rate case petition filed on November 13, 2015. In addition, NJNG has requested, in the November 13, 2015 base rate case, to extend the SAFE Program for an additional five years to eliminate the remaining unprotected steel mains and services from its system. The estimated cost for the SAFE extension is approximately $200 million, excluding AFUDC.

On July 23, 2014, the BPU approved a Stipulation of Settlement related to the recovery of NJNG's NJ RISE capital infrastructure program, which consists of six capital investment projects estimated to cost $102.5 million, excluding AFUDC, for gas distribution storm hardening and mitigation projects, along with associated depreciation expense. These system enhancements are intended to minimize service impacts during extreme weather events to customers that live in the most storm prone areas of NJNG's service territory. The submission was made in response to a March 2013 BPU order, initiating a proceeding to investigate prudent, cost efficient and effective opportunities to protect New Jersey's utility infrastructure from future major storm events. In the filing, NJNG proposed the recovery of its capital costs associated with NJ RISE through an annual adjustment to its base rates. On May 29, 2015, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU requesting approval to recover costs through July 31, 2015. On October 15, 2015, the BPU approved a base rate increase resulting in a .07 percent increase to the average residential heat customer's bill, effective November 1, 2015. Investments through July 31, 2015, will earn a weighted average cost of capital of 6.74 percent, including a return on equity of 9.75 percent. Estimated capital expenditures through December 31, 2016, have been included for recovery in NJNG’s base rate case petition filed with the BPU on November 13, 2015.

NGV Advantage

The BPU approved a pilot program for NJNG to invest up to $10 million to build NGV refueling stations. In addition, the BPU approved a deferred accounting methodology related to the NGV investment costs consistent with NJNG's SAFE Program. The NGV program was authorized by the BPU to earn an overall weighted average cost of capital of 7.1 percent, including a return on equity of 10.3 percent. A portion of the proceeds from the utilization of the compressed natural gas equipment, along with any available federal and state incentives, will be credited back to customers to help offset the cost of this investment. NJNG has opened all three of its NGV stations to the public and has included its NGV investments for recovery in its base rate case petition filed with the BPU on November 13, 2015.

Liquefaction/LNG

NJNG’s Liquefaction project is operational as of June 30, 2016, and allows NJNG to convert natural gas into LNG to fill NJNG's existing LNG storage tanks. NJNG's base rate case petition filed with the BPU on November 13, 2015, includes capital cost recovery for the project. NJNG estimates that the total costs for this project along with other plant upgrades will be $35.7 million.

Southern Reliability Link

The SRL is an approximate 30-mile, 30-inch transmission main designed to support improved system integrity and reliability in the southern portion of NJNG's service territory, estimated to cost between $175 million and $180 million. In April 2015, NJNG filed two petitions with the BPU to construct, operate and finalize the route for the SRL. In June 2015, NJNG filed two petitions with the BPU to amend the previously proposed route. The capital investment associated with the SRL was initially included for recovery in NJNG’s base rate case petition, filed with the BPU on November 13, 2015. On January 27, 2016, the BPU issued an order approving NJNG's proposed SRL pipeline installation, operation and route selection, as modified by NJNG, including specific requirements regarding permitting, safety and integrity assessment. On March 18, 2016, the BPU issued an order designating the SRL route and exempting the SRL from municipal land use ordinances, regulations, permits and license requirements. The two BPU orders have been appealed by third parties. We believe that they will be upheld on appeal. On May 4, 2016, NJNG supplemented its base rate case testimony supporting its November 2015 petition, which amended the accounting treatment and noted that the project would not be completed by December 31, 2016. In addition, we seek to modify the rate treatment to include the September 30, 2016 balance of SRL project spending and rate adjustments on a quarterly basis until the project is complete. Updates were filed to include ten months of actual and two months of forecasted financial information on May 20, 2016, and twelve months of actual financial information on July 20, 2016.

35

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Customer growth

In conducting NJNG's business, management focuses on factors it believes may have significant influence on its future financial results. NJNG's policy is to work with all stakeholders, including customers, regulators and policymakers, to achieve favorable results. These factors include the rate of NJNG's customer growth in its service territory, which can be influenced by political and regulatory policies, the delivered cost of natural gas compared with competing fuels, interest rates and general economic and business conditions.

During the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, NJNG added 5,289 and 5,750 new customers and converted 545 and 567 existing customers to natural gas heat and other services. The current customer growth represents an estimated increase of approximately $3.9 million annually to utility gross margin. In addition, NJNG currently expects to add approximately 24,000 to 28,000 new customers during the three-year period of fiscal 2016 to 2018. Based on information from municipalities and developers, as well as external industry analysts and management's experience, NJNG estimates that approximately 50 percent of the growth will come from new construction markets and another 50 percent from customer conversions to natural gas from other fuel sources. This new customer and conversion growth would increase utility gross margin under NJNG's base rates by approximately $4.4 million annually, as calculated under NJNG's CIP tariff. See the Natural Gas Distribution Results of Operations section of Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a definition and further discussion of utility gross margin.

SAVEGREEN

SAVEGREEN conducts home energy audits and provides various grants, incentives and financing alternatives, that are designed to encourage the installation of high efficiency heating and cooling equipment and other energy efficiency upgrades. Depending on the specific incentive or approval, NJNG recovers costs associated with the programs over a two to 10-year period through a tariff rider mechanism. On July 22, 2015, the BPU approved NJNG's petition filed in December 2014, allowing the extension of SAVEGREEN through July 31, 2017, with an additional $75.2 million in investments and a weighted average cost of capital of 6.69 percent.

On April 15, 2016, NJNG filed a petition requesting an extension through December 31, 2018, which the BPU approved on June 29, 2016. On May 26, 2016, NJNG submitted its 2016 SAVEGREEN rate recovery filing to maintain its existing SAVEGREEN recovery rate.

Since inception, the BPU has approved total SAVEGREEN investments of approximately $219.3 million, of which $133.7 million in grants, rebates and loans has been provided to customers, with a total annual recovery of approximately $20 million. On January 27, 2016, the BPU approved NJNG’s July 2015 petition to maintain its existing SAVEGREEN recovery rate. The recovery includes a weighted average cost of capital that ranges from 6.69 percent, with a return on equity of 9.75 percent, to 7.76 percent, with a return on equity of 10.3 percent.

Conservation Incentive Program

The CIP facilitates normalizing NJNG's utility gross margin for variances not only due to weather but also for other factors affecting customer usage, such as conservation and energy efficiency. Recovery of utility gross margin for the non-weather variance through the CIP is limited to the amount of certain gas supply cost savings achieved and is subject to an annual earnings test. An annual review of the CIP must be filed by June 1, coincident with NJNG's annual BGSS filing, during which NJNG can request rate changes to the CIP. In May 2014, the BPU approved the continuation of the CIP program with no expiration date; however, it is subject to review in the 2017 tariff rate filing. On April 15, 2015, the BPU approved, on a final basis, a reduction to NJNG's CIP rates, which were provisionally approved effective October 1, 2014, and resulted in a 4.3 percent reduction to the average residential heat customer's bill. On June 1, 2015, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU to adjust its CIP rates resulting in a .08 percent increase to the average residential heat customer's bill, which was provisionally approved to be effective October 1, 2015. The BPU approved these rates, on a final basis, on February 24, 2016. On June 1, 2016, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU to increase its CIP rates effective October 1, 2016, resulting in an 8.2 percent increase to the average residential heat customer’s bill.


36

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

NJNG's total utility firm gross margin includes the following adjustments related to the CIP mechanism:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Weather (1)
$
(46
)
$
4,367

$
27,547

$
(9,268
)
Usage
1,378

(398
)
7,476

1,140

Total
$
1,332

$
3,969

$
35,023

$
(8,128
)
(1)
Compared with the CIP 20-year average, weather was 8.4 percent colder and 21.5 percent warmer-than-normal during the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and 17.3 percent warmer and 9 percent colder-than-normal during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

As of June 30, 2016, NJNG has $33.8 million in regulatory assets to be collected from customers in future periods on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to CIP. As of September 30, 2015, NJNG had $5.2 million in regulatory liabilities, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to CIP to be returned to customers in future periods.

Commodity prices

Our Natural Gas Distribution segment is affected by the price of natural gas, which can have a significant impact on our cash flows, short-term financing costs, the price of natural gas charged to our customers through the BGSS clause, our ability to collect accounts receivable, which impacts our bad debt expense, and our ability to maintain a competitive advantage over other fuel sources. Natural gas commodity prices may experience high volatility as shown in the graph below for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, which illustrates the daily natural gas prices(1) in the Northeast market region, also known as Tetco M-3:
(1) Data source from Platts, a division of McGraw Hill Financial.

The maximum daily price at Tetco M-3 was $4.74 and $21.09 for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and the minimum daily price was $0.74 and $1.15 for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. A more detailed discussion of the impacts of the price of natural gas on operating revenues, gas purchases and cash flows can be found in the Results of Operations and Cash Flow sections of Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.


37

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

BGSS

Recovery of natural gas costs

NJNG's cost of natural gas is passed through to our customers, without markup, by applying NJNG's authorized BGSS tariff rate to actual therms delivered. There is no utility gross margin associated with BGSS costs; therefore, changes in such costs do not impact NJNG's earnings. NJNG monitors its actual gas costs in comparison to its tariff rates to manage its cash flows associated with its allowed recovery of natural gas costs, which is facilitated through BPU-approved deferred accounting and the BGSS pricing mechanism. Accordingly, NJNG occasionally adjusts its periodic BGSS tariff rates or can issue credits or refunds, as appropriate, for its residential and small commercial customers when the commodity cost varies from the existing BGSS tariff rate. BGSS tariff rates for its large commercial customers are adjusted monthly based on NYMEX prices.

On June 1, 2015, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU to continue its existing BGSS rate for residential and small commercial customers, which was provisionally approved by the BPU on September 11, 2015. NJNG’s petition included a notification to provide estimated bill credits to NJNG's residential and small commercial customers during the months of November 2015 through February 2016, as a result of the decline in the wholesale price of natural gas. On October 27, 2015, NJNG notified the BPU that the estimated bill credits will be approximately $76 million and will result in an approximate 17 percent decrease to the average residential heat customer's bill. Due to weather being approximately 25 percent warmer than normal during the months of November 2015 through February 2016, a total of $61.6 million in bill credits were issued during that period. Refer to Note 3. Regulation in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, for a discussion of BGSS rate actions.

On June 1, 2016, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU to decrease its BGSS rate for residential and small commercial customers effective October 1, 2016, resulting in a 5.5 percent decrease to the average residential heat customer’s bill. When combined with the proposed CIP increase, the impact of these rate changes would result in an approximate 2.7 percent increase to the average residential heat customer's bill. This petition included proposed bill credits to residential and small commercial customers during the months of November 2016 through February 2017, as a result of a decline in the wholesale price of natural gas. The amount of the bill credits will be determined during fiscal 2017, but NJNG estimates a reduction of approximately 12.2 percent to the average residential heat customer's bill.

BGSS Incentive Programs

NJNG is eligible to receive financial incentives for reducing BGSS costs through a series of utility gross margin-sharing programs that include off-system sales, capacity release and storage incentive programs, and through October 31, 2015, the FRM program. These programs are designed to encourage better utilization and hedging of its natural gas supply, transportation and storage assets. Depending on the program, NJNG shares 80 or 85 percent of utility gross margin generated by these programs with firm customers. Should performance of the existing incentives or market conditions warrant, NJNG is permitted to propose a process to re-evaluate and discuss alternative incentive programs annually. On October 15, 2015, the BPU issued an order approving NJNG's request to continue the BGSS Incentive Programs with modification to the storage incentive program beginning with the 2015 storage injection period and termination of the FRM Program, effective November 1, 2015.

Utility gross margin from incentive programs was $11.7 million and $13.1 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. A more detailed discussion of the impacts to utility gross margin can be found in the Results of Operations section of Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Hedging

In order to provide relative price stability to its natural gas supply portfolio, NJNG employs a hedging strategy with the goal of having at least 75 percent of the Company's projected winter periodic BGSS gas sales volumes hedged by each November 1 and at least 25 percent of the projected BGSS gas sales hedged for the following April through March period. This is accomplished with the use of various financial instruments including futures, swaps and options used in conjunction with commodity and/or weather-related hedging activity.


38

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Due to the capital-intensive nature of NJNG's operations and the seasonal nature of its working capital requirements, significant changes in interest rates can impact NJNG's results. In an April 2014 BPU Order, NJNG received regulatory approval to enter into interest rate risk management transactions related to long-term debt securities. On June 1, 2015, NJNG entered into a treasury lock transaction to fix a benchmark treasury rate of 3.26 percent associated with the forecasted-year, $125 million debt issuance expected in May 2018. This forecasted debt issuance coincides with the maturity of NJNG's existing $125 million, 5.6 percent notes on May 15, 2018. The fair value of NJNG's treasury lock agreement is recorded as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets since the Company believes that the market value upon settlement will be reflected in future rates. Upon settlement, any gain or loss will be amortized in earnings over the life of the future debt issuance.

A more detailed discussion of NJNG's debt can be found in the Liquidity and Capital Resources and Cash Flow sections of Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Societal Benefits Charge

USF

On June 23, 2016, NJNG submitted its annual USF compliance filing proposing to increase the statewide USF rate, resulting in a .2 percent increase to the average residential heat customer’s bill effective October 1, 2016.

Environmental Remediation

NJNG is responsible for the environmental remediation of five MGP sites, which contain contaminated residues from former gas manufacturing operations that ceased operating at these sites by the mid-1950s and, in some cases, had been discontinued many years earlier. Actual MGP remediation costs may vary from management's estimates due to the developing nature of remediation requirements, regulatory decisions by the NJDEP and related litigation. NJNG reviews these costs at the end of each fiscal year and adjusts its liability and corresponding regulatory asset as necessary to reflect its expected future remediation obligation. Accordingly, NJNG recognized a regulatory asset and an obligation of $175.3 million as of June 30, 2016, a decrease of $1.7 million, compared with the prior fiscal period. NJNG is currently authorized to recover remediation costs of approximately $8.5 million annually, which is based on expenditures incurred through June 30, 2014. On December 24, 2015, NJNG filed an SBC petition with the BPU to increase the RA factor, to decrease the NJCEP factor and to request approval of its remediation expenses incurred through June 30, 2015, resulting in an overall decrease of .8 percent to the average residential heat customer's bill. On June 29, 2016, the BPU approved the Company’s request to modify its rates as proposed, effective July 9, 2016.

Other

On May 20, 2016, NJNG included a proposal in its base rate case to recover certain capital costs and incremental operation and maintenance costs related to a March 2016 BPU Order regarding new cyber security requirements. This proposal was updated on July 20, 2016.

Other regulatory filings and a more detailed discussion of the filings in this section can be found in Note 3. Regulation in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


39

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Operating Results

NJNG's operating results are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Operating revenues
$
119,206

$
116,307

$
513,348

$
699,737

Less:
 
 
 
 
Gas purchases (1)
51,337

45,190

182,846

323,320

Energy and other taxes
7,216

6,901

29,874

42,723

Regulatory rider expense
6,360

8,516

37,203

72,671

Operation and maintenance
32,612

30,323

96,122

92,941

Depreciation and amortization
12,297

10,810

35,133

32,002

Operating income
9,384

14,567

132,170

136,080

Other income, net
1,173

1,364

3,769

3,572

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest
4,935

5,005

14,213

14,002

Income tax provision
2,015

3,754

38,232

41,698

Net income
$
3,607

$
7,172

$
83,494

$
83,952

(1)
Includes related party transactions of approximately $5.6 million and $3.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $8.1 million and $68.2 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a portion of which are eliminated in consolidation.

Operating Revenues and Gas Purchases

Operating revenues increased by 2.5 percent and gas purchases increased 13.6 percent during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015. Operating revenues decreased by 26.6 percent and gas purchases decreased 43.4 percent during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015.

The factors contributing to the increases (decreases) in operating revenues and gas purchases are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2016 v. 2015
 
2016 v. 2015
(Millions)
Operating
revenues
Gas
purchases
 
Operating
revenues
Gas
purchases
Firm sales
$
8.2

$
4.1

 
$
(113.9
)
$
(50.0
)
Bill credits (1)


 
(61.6
)
(57.6
)
Off-system sales
(2.9
)
(2.7
)
 
(32.3
)
(32.2
)
Average BGSS rates (1)
1.7

1.6

 
(2.9
)
(2.7
)
CIP adjustments
(2.6
)

 
43.1


Other
(1.5
)
3.1

 
(18.8
)
2.0

Total increase (decrease)
$
2.9

$
6.1

 
$
(186.4
)
$
(140.5
)
(1)
Operating revenues include changes in sales tax of $100,000 and $(4.2) million during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, respectively.

The increase in operating revenues and gas purchases during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, was due primarily to:

increased firm sales due primarily to higher usage related to weather being 37.7 percent colder; partially offset by

lower off-system sales due primarily to a 8.4 percent decrease in the average price of gas sold, as well as a 5.8 percent reduction in volumes; and

an decrease in CIP adjustments of $4.4 million related to weather, partially offset by an increase of $1.8 million related to usage.


40

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

The decrease in operating revenues and gas purchases during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, was due primarily to:

decreased firm sales due primarily to lower usage related to weather being 23.2 percent warmer;

bill credits issued to residential and small commercial customers effective November 1, 2015, that were not issued during fiscal 2015;

lower off-system sales due primarily to a 45.8 percent decrease in the average price of gas sold, partially offset by a 24.5 percent increase in volumes; and

a decrease in rider revenues, categorized in other, due primarily to a 36.4 percent decrease in rates and a 19.6 percent decrease in usage; partially offset by

an increase in CIP adjustments of $36.8 million related to weather and $6.3 million related to usage.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management uses utility gross margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, when evaluating the operating results of NJNG. NJNG's utility gross margin is defined as natural gas revenues less natural gas purchases, sales tax, and regulatory rider expenses, and may not be comparable to the definition of gross margin used by others in the natural gas distribution business and other industries. Management believes that utility gross margin provides a meaningful basis than revenue for evaluating utility operations since natural gas costs, sales tax and regulatory rider expenses are included in operating revenue and passed through to customers and, therefore, have no effect on utility gross margin. Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the comparable GAAP measure.

Utility Gross Margin

A reconciliation of operating revenues, the closest GAAP financial measure, to NJNG's utility gross margin is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Operating revenues
$
119,206

$
116,307

$
513,348

$
699,737

Less:
 
 
 
 
Gas purchases
51,337

45,190

182,846

323,320

Energy and other taxes
6,112

5,754

26,266

39,207

Regulatory rider expense
6,360

8,516

37,203

72,671

Utility gross margin
$
55,397

$
56,847

$
267,033

$
264,539


Utility gross margin consists of three components:

utility firm gross margin generated from only the delivery component of either a sales tariff or a transportation tariff from residential and commercial customers who receive natural gas service from NJNG;

BGSS incentive programs, where revenues generated or savings achieved from BPU-approved off-system sales, capacity release, FRM or storage incentive programs are shared between customers and NJNG; and

utility gross margin generated from off-tariff customers, as well as interruptible customers.


41

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

The following provides more information on the components of utility gross margin and associated throughput (Bcf) of natural gas delivered to customers:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
2016
 
2015
($ in thousands)
Margin
Bcf
 
Margin
Bcf
Margin
Bcf
 
Margin
Bcf
Utility gross margin/throughput
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
$
31,742

6.1

 
$
30,787

5.3

$
165,491

34.3

 
$
160,540

43.1

Commercial, industrial and other
8,522

1.3

 
8,476

1.1

40,039

6.7

 
40,539

9.0

Firm transportation
10,573

2.8

 
10,453

2.4

46,104

12.4

 
46,985

14.4

Total utility firm gross margin/throughput
50,837

10.2

 
49,716

8.8

251,634

53.4

 
248,064

66.5

BGSS incentive programs
3,433

50.6

 
5,810

55.7

11,716

162.3

 
13,080

164.8

Interruptible/off-tariff agreements
1,127

14.0

 
1,321

14.0

3,683

42.5

 
3,395

28.4

Total utility gross margin/throughput
$
55,397

74.8

 
$
56,847

78.5

$
267,033

258.2

 
$
264,539

259.7


Utility Firm Gross Margin

The factors contributing to the increases in utility firm gross margin are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016 v. 2015
2016 v. 2015
Customer growth
 
$
937

 
 
$
2,792

 
SAVEGREEN
 
184

 
 
778

 
Total increase
 
$
1,121

 
 
$
3,570

 

NJNG's total customers include the following:
 
June 30,
2016
June 30,
2015
Firm customers
 
 
Residential
446,081

436,395

Commercial, industrial & other
26,668

26,204

Residential transport
36,796

39,202

Commercial transport
10,245

10,155

Total firm customers
519,790

511,956

Other
59

66

Total customers
519,849

512,022


NJNG added 5,289 and 5,750 new customers and converted 545 and 567 existing customers to natural gas heat and other services during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. This customer growth represents an estimated annual increase of approximately .7 Bcf in sales to firm customers, assuming normal weather and usage, which would contribute approximately $3.9 million annually to utility gross margin. Transfers of residential and commercial customers between firm and firm transport has no net impact on NJNG's total utility firm gross margin because distribution tariff rates are the same for these customer classes.



42

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

BGSS Incentive Programs

The factors contributing to the decreases in utility gross margin generated by BGSS incentive programs are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016 v. 2015
2016 v. 2015
Storage
 
$
(1,850
)
 
 
$
(242
)
 
FRM
 
(10
)
 
 
(509
)
 
Capacity release
 
(286
)
 
 
(492
)
 
Off-system sales
 
(231
)
 
 
(121
)
 
Total decrease
 
$
(2,377
)
 
 
$
(1,364
)
 

The decrease during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, was due primarily to decreased margins in the storage incentive program due primarily to timing of storage injections and higher cost at injection point, as well as a decrease in the value of capacity. The FRM Program was terminated effective November 1, 2015.

Operation and Maintenance Expense

A summary and description of the factors contributing to the increases (decreases) in O&M expense is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016 v. 2015
2016 v. 2015
Shared corporate costs
 
$
1,635

 
 
$
3,460

 
Donations
 

 
 
446

 
Compensation and benefits
 
35

 
 
277

 
Bad debt
 
(162
)
 
 
(1,017
)
 
Consulting
 
205

 
 
(202
)
 
Other
 
576

 
 
217

 
Total increase
 
$
2,289

 
 
$
3,181

 

The increase in O&M expense during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, was due primarily to increased shared corporate costs resulting primarily from increased head count, as well as increased temporary staffing and consulting services.

The increase in O&M expense during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, was due primarily to:

shared corporate costs resulting primarily from increased head count, as well as increased temporary staffing and consulting services;

increased compensation costs due primarily to increased head count, partially offset by reduced pension expense due to an increase in the expected return on assets in the pension plan related to the $30 million discretionary contribution made in November 2015; partially offset by

lower bad debt expense due primarily to a decrease in write-offs of customer receivables; and

lower consulting costs due primarily to reduced tax audit expenses.

Depreciation Expense

Depreciation expense increased $1.5 million and $3.1 million during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, as a result of additional utility plant being placed into service.


43

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Operating Income

Operating income decreased $5.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to the increases in O&M and depreciation, as well as the decrease in utility gross margin of $1.5 million as discussed above.

Operating income decreased $3.9 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to the increases in O&M and depreciation, partially offset by the increase in total utility gross margin of $2.5 million as previously discussed.

Net Income

Net income decreased $3.6 million, or 49.7 percent, during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, and decreased $458,000, or 1 percent, during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015. The decreases were due primarily to the following:

a decrease in operating income as discussed above; and

an increase in interest expense associated with higher long-term debt outstanding; partially offset by

a decrease in the income tax provision due primarily to the decrease in pre-tax income, increased tax benefits related to AFUDC, and an increased cost of retiring assets placed in service before 1981; and

an increase in other income related to AFUDC interest earned on infrastructure projects.

Energy Services Segment

Overview

NJRES markets and sells natural gas to wholesale customers and manages natural gas storage and transportation assets throughout major market areas across North America.

NJRES maintains a strategic portfolio of natural gas storage and transportation contracts that it utilizes in conjunction with its market expertise to provide service and value to its customers. Availability of these storage and transportation contracts from a time and location perspective allows NJRES to generate market opportunities by capturing price differentials over specific time horizons and between geographic market locations.

NJRES also provides management of storage and transportation assets for natural gas producers and regulated utilities. These management transactions typically involve the release of producer/utility owned storage and/or transportation capacity in combination with either an obligation to purchase and/or deliver physical natural gas. In addition to the contractual purchase and/or sale of physical natural gas embedded in these agreements, NJRES generates fee-based margin and may provide the producer and/or utility with additional margin based on actual results.

In conjunction with the active management of these contracts, NJRES generates financial margin by identifying market opportunities and simultaneously entering into natural gas purchase/sale, storage or transportation contracts and financial derivative contracts. In cases where storage is utilized to fulfill these contracts, these forecast sales and/or purchases are economically hedged through the use of financial derivative contracts. The financial derivative contracts consist primarily of exchange-traded futures, options, and swap contracts, and are frequently used to lock in anticipated transactional cash flows and to help manage volatility in natural gas market prices. Generally, when its storage and transportation contracts are exposed to periods of increased market volatility, NJRES is able to implement strategies that allow them to capture margin by improving the respective time or geographic spreads on a forward basis.

NJRES accounts for its physical commodity contracts and its financial derivative instruments at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the fair value of physical commodity contracts and financial derivative instruments are included in earnings as a component of operating revenue and/or gas purchases, and gas purchases, respectively, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Volatility in reported net income at NJRES can occur over periods of time due to changes in the fair value of derivatives as well as timing differences related to certain transactions. Unrealized gains and losses can fluctuate as a result of changes in the price of natural gas, SRECs and foreign currency from the original transaction price compared with the market price of natural gas at each reporting date. Volatility in earnings can also occur as a

44

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

result of timing differences between the settlement of financial derivatives and the sale of the underlying physical commodity. For example, when a financial instrument settles and the physical natural gas is injected into inventory, the realized gains and losses associated with the financial instrument are recognized in earnings. However, the gains and losses associated with the physical natural gas are not recognized in earnings until the natural gas inventory is withdrawn, at which time NJRES realizes the entire margin on the transaction.

Operating Results

NJRES' financial results are summarized as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Operating revenues
$
250,307

$
321,775

$
848,958

$
1,607,667

Gas purchases (including demand charges (1)(2))
289,703

343,883

843,936

1,483,325

Gross margin
(39,396
)
(22,108
)
5,022

124,342

Operation and maintenance
5,232

4,104

13,163

13,435

Depreciation and amortization
23

23

69

68

Other taxes
253

203

706

1,060

Operating (loss) income
(44,904
)
(26,438
)
(8,916
)
109,779

Other income
16

250

88

264

Interest expense, net
263

209

639

1,010

Income tax (benefit) provision
(16,678
)
(9,958
)
(3,968
)
39,842

Net (loss) income
$
(28,473
)
$
(16,439
)
$
(5,499
)
$
69,191

(1)
Costs associated with pipeline and storage capacity that are expensed over the term of the related contracts, which generally varies from less than one year to ten years.
(2)
Includes related party transactions of approximately $1.2 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $13.5 million and $5.7 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a portion of which are eliminated in consolidation.

NJRES' portfolio of financial derivative instruments are composed of:
 
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
(in Bcf)
2016
2015
Net short futures contracts
97.6

57.4

Net long options
5.7

1.2


Operating Revenues and Gas Purchases

Operating revenues decreased $71.5 million and gas purchases decreased $54.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to an approximate 26.1 percent decrease in average gas prices as well as a 4.2 percent decrease in sales volumes. Operating revenues decreased $758.7 million and gas purchases decreased $639.4 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to an approximate 34.6 percent decrease in average gas prices as well as a 16.5 percent decrease in sales volumes. The price decreases were due primarily to warmer temperatures across the eastern United States, during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015. Future results at NJRES are contingent upon natural market price volatility driven by variations in both the supply and demand balances caused by weather. As a result, variations in weather patterns in the key market areas served may affect earnings during the fiscal year. Changes in market fundamentals such as an increase in supply and decrease in demand due to milder temperatures, and reduced volatility can negatively impact NJRES' earnings. See Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis - Natural Gas Distribution Segment for Tetco M-3 Daily Prices, which illustrates the daily natural gas prices in the Northeast market region.

Gross Margin

Gross margin was lower by approximately $17.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to an increase of $55.7 million in unrealized losses on derivative instruments, partially offset by an increase of $27.8 million related to changes in the value of natural gas in storage. Gross margin was lower

45

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

by approximately $119.3 million, during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to a decrease of $79.5 million in unrealized gains on derivative instruments and a decrease of $7.1 million related to changes in the value of natural gas in storage.

Operation and Maintenance Expense

O&M expense increased $1.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to increased incentive compensation and increased headcount. O&M expense remained relatively flat during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015.

Net (Loss) Income

Net (loss) increased $12 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015. Net (loss) was $5.5 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with net income of $69.2 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2015. The decreases were due primarily to lower gross margin, partially offset by related decrease in income tax expense.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management uses financial margin and NFE, non-GAAP financial measures, when evaluating the operating results of NJRES. Financial margin and NFE are measures of margin and earnings based on eliminating timing differences associated with certain derivative instruments, as discussed above. Management views these measures as representative of the overall expected economic result and uses these measures to compare NJRES' results against established benchmarks and earnings targets as these measures eliminate the impact of volatility on GAAP earnings as a result of timing differences associated with the settlement of derivative instruments. To the extent that there are unanticipated impacts from price and volume changes in the markets related to the effectiveness of economic hedges, NJRES' actual non-GAAP results can differ from the results anticipated at the outset of the transaction. Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the comparable GAAP measure.

When NJRES reconciles the most directly comparable GAAP measure to both financial margin and NFE, the current period unrealized gains and losses on the derivatives are excluded as a reconciling item. Financial margin and NFE also exclude the effects of economic hedging of the value of our natural gas in storage and, therefore, only include realized gains and losses related to natural gas withdrawn from storage, effectively matching the full earnings effects of the derivatives with realized margins on the related physical gas flows.

Financial Margin

The following table is a computation of NJRES' financial margin:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Operating revenues
$
250,307

$
321,775

$
848,958

$
1,607,667

Less: Gas purchases
289,703

343,883

843,936

1,483,325

Add:
 
 
 
 
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments and related transactions (1)
56,513

793

60,558

(18,988
)
Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory (2)
(11,380
)
16,464

(8,621
)
(15,751
)
Financial margin
$
5,737

$
(4,851
)
$
56,959

$
89,603

(1)
Includes unrealized (gains) related to an intercompany transaction between NJNG and NJRES that have been eliminated in consolidation of approximately $(638,000) and $252,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, respectively, and $(2.6) million and $(13,000) for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
(2)
Effects of hedging natural gas inventory transactions where the economic impact is realized in a future period.

46

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

A reconciliation of operating income, the closest GAAP financial measure, to NJRES' financial margin is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Operating (loss) income
$
(44,904
)
$
(26,438
)
$
(8,916
)
$
109,779

Add:
 
 
 
 
Operation and maintenance
5,232

4,104

13,163

13,435

Depreciation and amortization
23

23

69

68

Other taxes
253

203

706

1,060

Subtotal - Gross margin
(39,396
)
(22,108
)
5,022

124,342

Add:
 
 
 
 
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments and related transactions
56,513

793

60,558

(18,988
)
Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory
(11,380
)
16,464

(8,621
)
(15,751
)
Financial margin
$
5,737

$
(4,851
)
$
56,959

$
89,603


Financial margin increased $10.6 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to higher levels of storage injections on natural gas purchases. Financial margin decreased $32.6 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to lower volatility and narrower price spreads resulting from the warmer temperatures as previously discussed.

Net Financial Earnings

A reconciliation of NJRES' net (loss) income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to NFE is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Net (loss) income
$
(28,473
)
$
(16,439
)
$
(5,499
)
$
69,191

Add:
 
 
 
 
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments and related transactions
56,513

793

60,558

(18,988
)
Tax effect (1)
(20,514
)
(151
)
(21,982
)
7,122

Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory
(11,380
)
16,464

(8,621
)
(15,751
)
Tax effect
4,130

(5,937
)
3,129

5,908

Net financial earnings (loss)
$
276

$
(5,270
)
$
27,585

$
47,482

(1)
Includes taxes related to an intercompany transaction between NJNG and NJRES that have been eliminated in consolidation of approximately $232,000 and $(143,000) for the three months ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, respectively, and $961,000 and $10,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

NFE increased $5.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to higher financial margin, partially offset by higher O&M and higher taxes, as previously discussed.

NFE decreased $19.9 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to lower financial margin, partially offset by lower taxes and O&M, as previously discussed.

Future results are subject to NJRES' ability to expand its wholesale sales and service activities and are contingent upon many other factors, including an adequate number of appropriate and credit qualified counterparties in an active and liquid natural marketplace, volatility in the natural gas market due to weather or other fundamental market factors impacting supply and/or demand, transportation, storage and/or other market arbitrage opportunities, sufficient liquidity in the overall energy trading market, and continued access to liquidity in the capital markets.

47

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Clean Energy Ventures Segment

Overview

Our Clean Energy Ventures segment actively pursues opportunities in the clean energy markets, including solar and onshore wind. Clean Energy Ventures has entered into various agreements to install solar net-metered systems for residential and commercial customers, as well as large commercial grid-connected projects. In addition, Clean Energy Ventures has entered into various long-term agreements, including PPAs, to supply energy from wind and solar projects.

Solar

Solar projects placed in service and related ITC eligible expenditures are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
June 30,
($ in Thousands)
2016
2015
Placed in service
Projects
MW
Costs(1)
Projects
MW
Costs(1)
Grid-connected
3

10.9

$
26,378

 
1

3.9

$
9,336

 
Net-metered:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial



 
1

0.4

1,367

 
Residential
323

3.0

8,680

 
196

1.9

6,936

 
Total placed in service
326

13.9

$
35,058

 
198

6.2

$
17,639

 
(1)
Represents the portion of capital expenditures eligible for ITCs.

 
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
($ in Thousands)
2016
2015
Placed in service
Projects
MW
Costs(1)
Projects
MW
Costs(1)
Grid-connected
3

10.9

$
26,222

 
3

20.1

$
50,963

 
Net-metered:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial


3

 
1

0.4

1,367

 
Residential
614

5.5

16,025

 
468

4.5

14,570

 
Total placed in service
617

16.4

$
42,250

 
472

25.0

$
66,900

 
(1)
Represents the portion of capital expenditures eligible for ITCs.

Since its inception, Clean Energy Ventures has placed a total of 134.1 MW of solar capacity into service and as of June 30, 2016, had 13 MW under construction. We estimate total solar-related capital expenditures for projects to be placed in service during fiscal 2016 to be between $72 million and $99 million.

As part of its solar investment portfolio, NJRCEV operates a residential solar program, The Sunlight Advantage®, that provides qualifying homeowners the opportunity to have a solar system installed at their home with no installation or maintenance expenses. NJRCEV owns, operates and maintains the system over the life of the contract in exchange for monthly lease payments.

Once a solar installation commences operations and is properly registered, each MWh of electricity produced creates an SREC that represents the renewable energy attribute of the solar-electricity generated that can be sold to third parties, predominantly load-serving entities that are required to comply with the solar requirements under New Jersey's renewable portfolio standard. In addition, under the recently updated federal tax guidelines, projects that are placed in service through December 31, 2019, qualify for a 30 percent federal ITC.


48

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

SREC activity consisted of the following:
 
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
2016
2015
Beginning balance as of October 1,
33,203

29,970

SRECs generated
100,998

79,910

SRECs delivered
(76,369
)
(65,583
)
Ending balance as of June 30,
57,832

44,297


NJRCEV hedges a portion of its expected SREC production through the use of forward sales contracts. The following table reflects the hedged percentage of SREC inventory and projected SREC production related to its in-service commercial and residential assets:
Fiscal Year
Percent of SRECs Hedged
2016
98%
2017
94%
2018
79%

Onshore Wind

Clean Energy Ventures invests in small to mid-size onshore wind projects that fit its investment profile, including the following as of June 30, 2016:

a $20.3 million, 9.7 MW project in Two Dot, Montana that was completed in June 2014;

a $42.1 million, 20 MW project in Carroll County, Iowa that was completed in January 2015;

an $84.9 million, 50.7 MW project in Rush County, Kansas that was completed in December 2015; and

an $84 million, 39.9 MW project in Somerset County, Pennsylvania that is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

The wind projects are eligible for PTCs for a 10-year period following commencement of operations and have power purchase agreements of various terms in place, which govern the sale of energy, capacity and renewable energy credits.

Clean Energy Ventures' investments are subject to a variety of factors, such as timing of construction schedules, permitting and regulatory processes, volatility of energy prices, the ability to secure PPAs, delays related to electric grid interconnection, which can affect our ability to commence operations on a timely basis or, at all, economic trends, the ability to access capital or allocation of capital to other investments or business opportunities and other unforeseen events. Solar projects not placed in service, as originally planned prior to the end of a reporting period, may result in a failure to qualify for ITCs and changes in prices on the unhedged portion of SREC production could have a significant adverse impact on earnings. Wind projects for which construction of a facility begins after December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2019, will be subject to reduced PTCs, and could have a significant adverse impact on 10 years of forward earnings. In addition, since the primary contributors toward the value of qualifying power projects are tax incentives and SRECs, changes in the federal statutes related to the ITC or PTC or in the marketplace and/or relevant legislation surrounding renewable energy credits, could also significantly affect earnings.


49

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Operating Results

The financial results of NJRCEV are summarized as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Operating revenues
$
12,703

$
7,861

$
28,159

$
18,164

Operation and maintenance
4,665

3,863

13,297

10,814

Depreciation and amortization
6,070

4,504

17,056

12,392

Other taxes
234

203

690

535

Operating income (loss)
1,734

(709
)
(2,884
)
(5,577
)
Other income (expense), net
596

56

1,145

(1,514
)
Interest expense, net
2,666

2,078

7,271

5,556

Income tax (benefit)
(2,784
)
(423
)
(28,433
)
(29,186
)
Net income (loss)
$
2,448

$
(2,308
)
$
19,423

$
16,539


Operating Revenues

Operating revenues consist of the following:
The average SREC sales price was $208 and $171 during the three months ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, respectively, and $210 and $172 during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

There are no direct costs associated with the production of SRECs/RECs by our solar and wind assets. All related costs are included as a component of O&M expenses on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, including such expenses as facility maintenance and various fees.


50

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Operation and Maintenance Expense

O&M expense increased $802,000 and $2.5 million during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to additional maintenance and lease costs associated with wind and solar projects placed in service and higher shared services costs due primarily to increased compensation costs.

Depreciation Expense

Depreciation expense increased $1.6 million and $4.7 million during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, as a result of increases in solar and wind capital additions.

Income Tax (Benefit)

Our effective tax rate is significantly impacted by the amount of tax credits forecast to be earned during the fiscal year. GAAP requires us to estimate our annual effective tax rate and use this rate to calculate its year-to-date tax provision. Based on NJRCEV’s forecast of solar projects to be completed and wind production during the fiscal year, our estimated annual effective tax rate for fiscal 2016 is 10.3 percent and $2.6 million and $24.5 million related to tax credits, net of deferred taxes, were recognized during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. The annual effective tax rate as of June 30, 2015, was 24.3 percent and $(700,000) and $24 million related to tax credits, net of deferred taxes, were recognized during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, respectively.

Net Income

Net income increased $4.8 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to:

an increase in operating revenues as described above;

an increase in tax benefits recognized due primarily to a lower estimated annual effective tax rate, as well as lower quarterly consolidated income; partially offset by

increased costs related to depreciation and O&M as discussed above; and

an increase in interest expense due to higher debt associated with capital expenditures.

Net income increased $2.9 million, during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to:

an increase in operating revenues as described above; partially offset by

increased costs related to depreciation and O&M as discussed above; and

an increase in interest expense due to higher debt associated with capital expenditures.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management of the Company uses NFE, a non-GAAP financial measure, when evaluating the operating results of Clean Energy Ventures. GAAP requires us, during the interim periods, to estimate our annual effective tax rate and use this rate to calculate the year-to-date tax provision. We also determine an annual estimated effective tax rate for NFE purposes and calculate a quarterly tax adjustment based on the differences between our forecasted net income and our forecasted NFE for the fiscal year. This adjustment is applied to NJRCEV, as such adjustment is primarily related to tax credits generated by NJRCEV. Since this adjustment is made to reflect the forecasted tax rate, no adjustment is needed at year end.

Accordingly, for NFE purposes, the annual estimated effective tax rate for fiscal 2016 is 16.6 percent and $8.2 million and $32.7 million of tax credits, net of deferred taxes, were recognized during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, the annual estimated effective tax rate for fiscal 2015 was 21.1 percent and $(2.2) million and $25.7 million of tax credits, net of deferred taxes, were recognized during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, respectively.


51

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Since the annual estimated effective tax rate is based on certain forecasted assumptions, including estimates surrounding completion of projects, the rate and resulting NFE are subject to change. The details of such tax adjustments can be found in the table below. Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to GAAP, and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measure.

A reconciliation of NJRCEV's net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to NFE is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Net income (loss)
$
2,448

$
(2,308
)
$
19,423

$
16,539

Add:
 
 
 
 
Net income to NFE tax adjustment
(8
)
(1,484
)
2,475

1,687

Net financial earnings (loss)
$
2,440

$
(3,792
)
$
21,898

$
18,226


Midstream Segment

Overview

Our Midstream segment invests in natural gas assets, such as natural gas transportation and storage facilities. We believe that acquiring, owning and developing these midstream assets, which operate under a tariff structure that has either regulated or market-based rates, can provide a growth opportunity for us. To that end, we have a 50 percent ownership interest in Steckman Ridge, a storage facility that operates under market-based rates and a 20 percent ownership interest in PennEast, a natural gas pipeline, which we estimate will be completed and operational during the last quarter of fiscal 2018 or the first quarter of fiscal 2019. As of June 30, 2016, our net investments in Steckman Ridge and PennEast were $123.6 million and $15.4 million, respectively.

During fiscal 2015, NJR Midstream Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiary, NJNR Pipeline Company, also held a 5.53 percent ownership interest in Iroquois. On September 29, 2015, NJNR Pipeline Company exchanged its ownership interest in Iroquois with Dominion Midstream Partners, L.P. for 1.84 million DM Common Units.

Operating Results

The financial results of Midstream are summarized as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Equity in earnings of affiliates
$
3,359

$
4,266

$
10,412

$
12,622

Operation and maintenance
$
238

$
153

$
847

$
486

Other income
$
807

$
246

$
2,282

$
727

Interest expense, net
$
56

$
163

$
228

$
623

Income tax provision
$
1,501

$
1,738

$
4,671

$
5,048

Net income
$
2,338

$
2,487

$
6,910

$
7,211


Equity in earnings, which is driven primarily by storage revenues generated by Steckman Ridge and transportation revenues generated by Iroquois, is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Steckman Ridge
$
3,416

$
3,188

$
10,485

$
8,681

Iroquois(1)

1,078


3,941

PennEast
(57
)

(73
)

Total equity in earnings
$
3,359

$
4,266

$
10,412

$
12,622

(1)
Transportation revenues generated by Iroquois ended September 29, 2015.


52

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Equity in earnings of affiliates decreased $907,000 and $2.2 million during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to the exchange of our ownership interest in Iroquois during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, partially offset by increases in storage service revenue and demand for hub services at Steckman Ridge.

Other income increased $561,000 and $1.6 million for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, due to dividend income from the DM Common Units.

Home Services and Other Operations

Overview

The financial results of Home Services and Other consist primarily of the operating results of NJRHS, CR&R, and NJR Energy. NJRHS provides service, sales and installation of appliances to approximately 114,000 service contract customers and has been focused on growing its installation business and expanding its service contract customer base. CR&R seeks additional opportunities to enhance the value of its building and undeveloped land. NJR Energy invests in other energy-related ventures. Home Services and Other also includes organizational expenses incurred at NJR.

Operating Results

The consolidated financial results of Home Services and Other are summarized as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(Thousands)
2016
2015
2016
2015
Operating revenues
$
14,408

$
14,592

$
31,912

$
32,190

Operation and maintenance
$
9,348

$
10,632

$
29,124

$
29,627

Energy and other taxes
$
991

$
1,041

$
2,901

$
2,977

Income tax provision (benefit)
$
1,556

$
720

$
(1,055
)
$
(704
)
Net income (loss)
$
2,418

$
1,909

$
662

$
(42
)

Operating revenue remained relatively flat during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015.

O&M expense decreased $1.3 million and $503,000 three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to an increase in costs allocated out from NJR to its subsidiaries.

The income tax provision increased $836,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the three months ended June 30, 2015, and the income tax benefit increased $351,000 during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to an overall decrease in the pre-tax loss related to the decrease in O&M as previously discussed. The change during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, also included an excess tax benefit of $908,000 related to vested stock compensation.

Net income increased $509,000 and $704,000 during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared with the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015, due primarily to the decrease in O&M and the excess tax benefit as discussed above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our objective is to maintain an efficient consolidated capital structure that reflects the different characteristics of each business segment and business operations and provides adequate financial flexibility for accessing capital markets as required.


53

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Our consolidated capital structure was as follows:
 
June 30,
2016
September 30,
2015
Common stock equity
49
%
54
%
Long-term debt
40

42

Short-term debt
11

4

Total
100
%
100
%

Common Stock Equity

We satisfy our external common equity requirements, if any, through issuances of our common stock, including the proceeds from stock issuances under our DRP. The DRP allows us, at our option, to use treasury shares or newly issued shares to raise capital. On December 14, 2015, we registered an additional 5 million shares of our common stock for issuance under the DRP. We raised $12.2 million and $13.1 million of equity through the DRP, by issuing approximately 368,000 and 457,000 shares of treasury stock, during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We also raised approximately $19.8 million of equity by issuing approximately 688,000 new shares through the waiver discount feature of the DRP during the nine months ended June 30, 2015. We issued no new shares through the waiver discount feature of the DRP during the nine months ended June 30, 2016.

In 1996, the Board of Directors authorized us to implement a share repurchase program, which was expanded seven times since the inception of the program. As of June 30, 2016, we have repurchased a total of approximately 16.9 million of those shares and may repurchase an additional 2.6 million shares under the approved program. There were 34,700 and 108,400 shares repurchased during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Debt

NJR and its unregulated subsidiaries generally rely on cash flows generated from operating activities and the utilization of committed credit facilities to provide liquidity to meet working capital and short-term debt financing requirements. NJNG also relies on the issuance of commercial paper for short-term funding. NJR and NJNG periodically access the capital markets to fund long-life assets through the issuance of long-term debt securities.

We believe that our existing borrowing availability and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to satisfy our and our subsidiaries' working capital, capital expenditures and dividend requirements for the next 12 months. NJR, NJNG, NJRCEV and NJRES currently anticipate that each of their financing requirements for the next 12 months will be met primarily through the issuance of short and long-term debt, meter sale-leasebacks and proceeds from our DRP.

We believe that as of June 30, 2016, NJR and NJNG were, and currently are, in compliance with all existing debt covenants, both financial and non-financial.

Short-Term Debt

We use our short-term borrowings primarily to finance our share repurchases, NJRES' short-term liquidity needs and, on an initial basis, NJRCEV's investments and our Midstream segment's PennEast contributions. NJRES' use of high volume storage facilities and anticipated pipeline park-and-loan arrangements, combined with related economic hedging activities in the volatile wholesale natural gas market, create significant short-term cash requirements.

As of June 30, 2016, NJR had a revolving credit facility totaling $425 million, as described below, with $169 million available under the facility.

NJNG satisfies its debt needs by issuing short- and long-term debt based on its financial profile. The seasonal nature of NJNG's operations creates large short-term cash requirements, primarily to finance natural gas purchases and customer accounts receivable. NJNG obtains working capital for these requirements, and for the temporary financing of construction and MGP remediation expenditures and energy tax payments, based on its financial profile, through the issuance of commercial paper supported by the NJNG Credit Facility or through short-term bank loans under the NJNG Credit Facility.

54

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

NJNG’s commercial paper is sold through several commercial banks under an issuing and paying agency agreement and is supported by the $250 million NJNG Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2016, the unused amount available under the NJNG Credit Facility, including amounts allocated to the backstop under the commercial paper program and the issuance of letters of credit, was $249.3 million.

Due to the seasonal nature of natural gas prices and demand and because inventory levels are built up during its natural gas injection season (April through October), NJR and NJNG's short-term borrowings tend to peak in November and December.

Short-term borrowings were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
(Thousands)
June 30, 2016
NJR
 
 
 
Notes Payable to banks:
 
 
 
Balance at end of period
$
244,625

 
$
244,625

Weighted average interest rate at end of period
1.36
%
 
1.36
%
Average balance for the period
$
181,169

 
$
134,979

Weighted average interest rate for average balance
1.37
%
 
1.29
%
Month end maximum for the period
$
244,625

 
$
244,625

NJNG
 
 
 
Commercial Paper and Notes Payable to banks:
 
 
 
Balance at end of period
$

 
$

Weighted average interest rate at end of period
%
 
%
Average balance for the period
$
28,884

 
$
56,251

Weighted average interest rate for average balance
.45
%
 
.37
%
Month end maximum for the period
$
35,000

 
$
96,000


NJR

As noted above, based on its average borrowings during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, NJR's average interest rate was 1.29 percent, resulting in interest expense of $1.3 million.

As of June 30, 2016, NJR had six letters of credit outstanding totaling $11.4 million, which reduced the amount available under the NJR Credit Facility by the same amount. NJR does not anticipate that these letters of credit will be drawn upon by the counterparties.

NJR's $100 million uncommitted Line of Credit Agreement with Santander Bank, N.A. expired on October 24, 2015, and was not renewed.

Neither NJNG nor its assets are obligated or pledged to support the NJR Credit Facility.

NJNG

As noted above, NJNG's weighted average interest rate on outstanding commercial paper was .37 percent during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, resulting in interest expense of $152,100.

As of June 30, 2016, NJNG had two letters of credit outstanding for $731,000, which reduced the amount available under NJNG's committed credit facility by the same amount. NJNG does not anticipate that these letters of credit will be drawn upon by the counterparties.

Short-Term Debt Covenants

Borrowings under the NJR Credit Facility and NJNG Credit Facility are conditioned upon compliance with a maximum leverage ratio (consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated total capitalization as defined in the applicable agreements), of not more than .65 to 1.00 at any time. These revolving credit facilities contain customary representations and warranties for transactions

55

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

of this type. They also contain customary events of default and certain covenants that will limit NJR's or NJNG's ability, beyond agreed upon thresholds, to, among other things:

incur additional debt;

incur liens and encumbrances;

make dispositions of assets;

enter into transactions with affiliates; and

merge, consolidate, transfer, sell or lease all or substantially all of the borrower's or guarantors' assets.

These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications set forth in the applicable agreements.

Default Provisions

The agreements governing our long-term and short-term debt obligations include provisions that, if not complied with, could require early payment or similar actions. Default events include, but are not limited to, the following:

defaults for non-payment;

defaults for breach of representations and warranties;

defaults for insolvency;

defaults for non-performance of covenants;

cross-defaults to other debt obligations of the borrower; and

guarantor defaults.

The occurrence of an event of default under these agreements could result in all loans and other obligations of the borrower becoming immediately due and payable and the termination of the credit facilities or term loan.

Long-Term Debt

NJR

NJR has outstanding $50 million of 6.05 percent senior unsecured notes due September 2017, $25 million of 2.51 percent senior notes due September 2018, $50 million of 3.25 percent senior notes due September 2022 and $100 million of 3.48 percent senior notes due November 2024, which were issued under private placement debt shelf facilities. NJR has an unsecured, uncommitted $100 million private placement shelf note agreement that expires September 26, 2016. As of June 30, 2016, $100 million remains available for borrowing on that shelf facility.

On March 22, 2016, NJR entered into a Note Purchase Agreement, under which we agreed to issue, on August 18, 2016, $50 million of the Company’s 3.2 percent senior notes due August 18, 2023, and $100 million of the Company’s 3.54 percent senior notes due August 18, 2026. The notes will be guaranteed by certain unregulated subsidiaries of the Company. The notes will be unsecured. The proceeds of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures.

Neither NJNG nor its assets are obligated or pledged to support NJR's long-term debt.

NJNG

As of June 30, 2016, NJNG's long-term debt consisted of $610.8 million in fixed-rate debt issuances secured by the Mortgage Indenture, with maturities ranging from 2018 to 2046, $97 million in secured variable rate debt with maturities ranging from 2027 to 2041 and $35 million in capital leases with various maturities ranging from 2017 to 2022.

56

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

On June 21, 2016, NJNG entered into a Note Purchase Agreement, under which NJNG has agreed to issue $125 million of its 3.63 percent senior notes due June 21, 2046. The notes are secured by an equal principal amount of NJNG's FMB (series UU)issued under NJNG's Mortgage Indenture. The proceeds of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, refinancing or retiring short-term debt and funding capital expenditures. The notes are subject to required prepayments upon the occurrence of certain events and NJNG may prepay all or any part of, the notes, in amounts not less than $1 million in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding at 100 percent of the aggregate principal amount, plus accrued interest and a make-whole amount, if applicable.

NJR is not obligated directly or contingently with respect to the NJNG notes or the FMB.

Long-Term Debt Covenants and Default Provisions

The NJR and NJNG long-term debt instruments contain customary representations and warranties for transactions of their type. They also contain customary events of default and certain covenants that will limit NJR or NJNG's ability beyond agreed upon thresholds to, among other things:

incur additional debt (including a covenant that limits the amount of consolidated total debt of the borrower at the end of a fiscal quarter to 65 percent of the consolidated total capitalization of the borrower, as those terms are defined in the applicable agreements, and a covenant limiting priority debt to 20 percent of the borrower's consolidated total capitalization, as those terms are defined in the applicable agreements);

incur liens and encumbrances;

make loans and investments;

make dispositions of assets;

make dividends or restricted payments;

enter into transactions with affiliates; and

merge, consolidate, transfer, sell or lease substantially all of the borrower's assets.

The aforementioned covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications set forth in the applicable note purchase agreements.

In addition, the FMB issued by NJNG under the Mortgage Indenture are subject to certain default provisions. Events of Default, as defined in the Mortgage Indenture, consist mainly of:

failure for 30 days to pay interest when due;

failure to pay principal or premium when due and payable;

failure to make sinking fund payments when due;

failure to comply with any other covenants of the Mortgage Indenture after 30 days' written notice from the Trustee;

failure to pay or provide for judgments in excess of $30 million in aggregate amount within 60 days of the entry thereof; or

certain events that are or could be the basis of a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or receivership proceeding.

Upon the occurrence and continuance of such an Event of Default, the Mortgage Indenture, subject to any provisions of law applicable thereto, provides that the Trustee may take possession and conduct the business of NJNG, may sell the trust estate, or proceed to foreclose the lien of the Mortgage Indenture. The interest rate on defaulted principal and interest, to the extent permitted by law, on the FMB issued under the Mortgage Indenture is the rate stated in the applicable supplement or, if no such rate is stated, six percent per annum.


57

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Sale-Leaseback

NJNG received $7.1 million and $7.2 million in December 2015 and 2014, respectively, in connection with the sale-leaseback of its natural gas meters. NJNG continues to evaluate this sale-leaseback program based on current market conditions.

Contractual Obligations

NJNG's total capital expenditures are projected to be $203.4 million and $318.2 million, in fiscal 2016 and 2017, respectively. Total capital expenditures spent or accrued during the nine months ended June 30, 2016 were $133.4 million.

NJNG expects to fund its obligations with a combination of cash flow from operations, cash on hand, issuance of commercial paper, available capacity under its revolving credit facility and the issuance of long-term debt.

As of June 30, 2016, NJNG's future MGP expenditures are estimated to be $175.3 million. For a more detailed description of MGP see Note 12. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Estimated capital expenditures are reviewed on a regular basis and may vary based on the ongoing effects of regulatory constraints, environmental regulations, unforeseen events, and the ability to access capital.

NJRCEV's expenditures include distributed power projects that support our goal to promote clean energy. Accordingly, NJRCEV enters into agreements to install solar equipment involving both residential and commercial projects. During the nine months ended June 30, 2016, capital expenditures spent related to the purchase and installation of solar equipment were $61 million. An additional $27.3 million has been committed or accrued for solar projects to be placed into service during fiscal 2016 and beyond. We estimate solar-related capital expenditures placed in service in fiscal 2016 will be between $72 million and $99 million.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2016, NJRCEV commenced construction of an $84 million, 39.9 MW onshore wind project in Somerset County, Pennsylvania which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

As of June 30, 2016, a total of $54.7 million has been spent and an additional $61.8 million has been committed or accrued for wind projects. In fiscal 2016, NJRCEV estimates that its wind-related capital expenditures will range between $75 million and $100 million.

Capital expenditures related to distributed power projects are subject to change due to a variety of factors that may affect our ability to commence operations at these projects on a timely basis or, at all, including logistics associated with the start-up of residential and commercial solar projects, such as timing of construction schedules, the permitting and regulatory process, any delays related to electric grid interconnection, economic trends, unforeseen events and the ability to access capital or allocation of capital to other investments or business opportunities.

We expect our expenditures related to our investment in the PennEast pipeline project to total between $10 million and $15 million in fiscal 2016.

NJRES does not currently anticipate any significant capital expenditures in fiscal 2016 and 2017.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

Our off-balance-sheet arrangements consist of guarantees covering approximately $294.3 million of natural gas purchases, SREC sales and demand fee commitments and outstanding letters of credit totaling $12.1 million, as noted above.


58

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

Cash Flow

Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, totaled $96.6 million compared with $382.7 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2015. Operating cash flows are primarily affected by variations in working capital, which can be impacted by several factors, including:

seasonality of our business;

fluctuations in wholesale natural gas prices and other energy prices, including changes in derivative asset and liability values;

timing of storage injections and withdrawals;

the deferral and recovery of gas costs;

changes in contractual assets utilized to optimize margins related to natural gas transactions;

broker margin requirements;

timing of the collections of receivables and payments of current liabilities;

volumes of natural gas purchased and sold; and

timing of SREC deliveries.

The decrease of $286.1 million in operating cash flows during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, was impacted by:

lower commodity prices, as well as decrease in market volatility, which resulted in a reduction in sales volumes and contributed to a decrease in profitability and working capital at NJRES;

lower usage at NJNG related to warmer winter weather, coupled with bill credits of $61.6 million issued to NJNG's customers during fiscal 2016 for overrecovered gas costs; and

a discretionary contribution of $30 million to our pension plan during fiscal 2016.

Investing Activities

Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $255.3 million during nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with $228.9 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2015. The increase of $26.4 million was due primarily to an increase in utility plant expenditures of $17.4 million and an increase in capital expenditures at NJRCEV of $4.1 million related primarily to solar projects. NJR also contributed an additional $6.4 million for its investment in PennEast during nine months ended June 30, 2016.

Financing Activities

Financing cash flows generally are seasonal in nature and are impacted by the volatility in pricing in the natural gas and other energy markets. NJNG's inventory levels are built up during its natural gas injection season (April through October) and reduced during withdrawal season (November through March) in response to the supply requirements of its customers. Changes in financing cash flows can also be impacted by gas management and marketing activities at NJRES and distributed power investments at NJRCEV.

Cash flows used in financing activities totaled $248.6 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with $85.8 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2015. The increase of $334.4 million is due primarily to increased short-term borrowings at NJR. This was partially offset by the issuance of $100 million in long-term debt for NJR during the nine months

59

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)                                                                                                                                                             

ended June 30, 2015, along with a decrease of $25 million in long-term debt at NJNG, which issued $125 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2016, compared with $150 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2015. There was also a decrease in proceeds from the issuance of common stock when compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015, during which 688,000 new shares were issued through the waiver discount feature of the DRP.

Credit Ratings

On January 30, 2014, Moody's upgraded NJNG's senior secured rating from Aa3 to Aa2, while maintaining a stable outlook. The rating upgrade was driven primarily by the overall credit supportiveness of the regulatory environment under which NJNG operates. In its review of NJNG's credit rating, Moody's considered the BPU's continued support of NJNG's rate mechanisms, which allows for timely recovery of costs, including those associated with NJNG's BGSS and CIP. In addition, the favorable recovery of investments related to NJNG's infrastructure and energy efficiency programs factored into the rating upgrade.

The table below summarizes NJNG's current credit ratings issued by two rating entities, S&P and Moody's
 
Standard and Poor's
Moody's
Corporate Rating
A
N/A
Commercial Paper
A-1
P-1
Senior Secured
A+
Aa2
Ratings Outlook
Stable
Stable

These ratings were re-affirmed by each agency respectively prior to December 31, 2015. NJNG's S&P and Moody's ratings are investment-grade ratings. NJR is not a rated entity.

Although NJNG is not party to any lending agreements that would accelerate the maturity date of any obligation caused by a failure to maintain any specific credit rating, if such ratings are downgraded below investment grade, borrowing costs could increase, as would the costs of maintaining certain contractual relationships and future financing and our access to capital markets would be reduced. Even if ratings are downgraded without falling below investment grade, NJR and NJNG could face increased borrowing costs under their credit facilities. A rating set forth above is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold NJR's or NJNG's securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. Each rating set forth above should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

The timing and mix of any external financings will target a common equity ratio that is consistent with maintaining NJNG's current short-term and long-term credit ratings.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK                                              

Financial Risk Management

Commodity Market Risks

Natural gas is a nationally traded commodity. Its prices are determined effectively by the NYMEX, ICE and over-the-counter markets. The prices on the NYMEX/CME, ICE and over-the-counter markets generally reflect the national balance of natural gas supply and demand, but are also significantly influenced from time to time by other events.

Our regulated and deregulated businesses are subject to market risk due to fluctuations in the price of natural gas. To economically hedge against such fluctuations, we have entered into forwards, futures, options and swap agreements. To manage these derivative instruments, we have well-defined risk management policies and procedures that include daily monitoring of volumetric limits and monetary guidelines. Our natural gas businesses are conducted through three of our operating subsidiaries. NJNG is a regulated utility that uses futures, options and swaps to economically hedge against price fluctuations, and its recovery of natural gas costs is governed by the BPU. NJRES uses futures, options, swaps and physical contracts to economically hedge purchases and sales of natural gas. Financial derivatives have historically been transacted on an exchange and cleared through an FCM, thus requiring daily cash margining for a majority of NJRES' and NJNG's positions. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, certain NJRES and NJNG transactions that were previously executed in the over-the-counter markets are now cleared through an

60

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK (Continued)                         

FCM, resulting in increased margin requirements. The related cash flow impact from the increased requirements is expected to be minimal. Non-financial (i.e., physical) derivatives utilized by us have received statutory exclusion from similar Dodd-Frank provisions due to the element of physical settlement.

The following table reflects the changes in the fair market value of financial derivatives related to natural gas purchases and sales from September 30, 2015 to June 30, 2016:
 
Balance
Increase
Less
Balance
(Thousands)
September 30, 2015
(Decrease) in Fair
Market Value
Amounts
Settled
June 30,
2016
NJNG
 
$
(10,881
)
 
$
(7,041
)
 
$
(13,577
)
 
$
(4,345
)
NJRES
 
24,575

 
30,154

 
89,156

 
(34,427
)
Total
 
$
13,694

 
$
23,113

 
$
75,579

 
$
(38,772
)

There were no changes in methods of valuations during the nine months ended June 30, 2016.

The following is a summary of fair market value of financial derivatives at June 30, 2016, excluding foreign exchange contracts discussed below, by method of valuation and by maturity for each fiscal year period:
(Thousands)
2016
2017
2018 - 2020
After 2020
Total
Fair Value
Price based on NYMEX/CME
$
355

$
(21,937
)
 
$
74

 
$

 
$
(21,508
)
Price based on ICE
(8
)
(17,173
)
 
(83
)
 

 
(17,264
)
Total
$
347

$
(39,110
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$

 
$
(38,772
)

The following is a summary of financial derivatives by type as of June 30, 2016:
 
 
Volume Bcf
Price per MMBtu(1)
Amounts included in Derivatives (Thousands)
NJNG
Futures
14.6

$1.89 - $3.16
 
$
(4,345
)
NJRES
Futures
(97.6
)
$1.72 - $4.45
 
(34,867
)
 
Options
5.7

$0.02 - $0.24
 
440

Total
 
 
 
 
$
(38,772
)
(1)
Million British thermal unit

The following table reflects the changes in the fair market value of physical commodity contracts from September 30, 2015 to June 30, 2016:
 
Balance
Increase
Less
Balance
(Thousands)
September 30, 2015
(Decrease) in Fair
Market Value
Amounts
Settled
June 30,
2016
NJNG - Prices based on other external data
 
$

 
(7,559
)
 
(7,382
)
 
$
(177
)
NJRES - Prices based on other external data
 
(2,709
)
 
(14,895
)
 
(16,114
)
 
(1,490
)
Total
 
$
(2,709
)
 
(22,454
)
 
(23,496
)
 
$
(1,667
)

The following table reflects the changes in the fair market value of interest rate contracts from September 30, 2015 to June 30, 2016:
 
Balance
Increase
Less
Balance
(Thousands)
September 30, 2015
(Decrease) in Fair
Market Value
Amounts
Settled
June 30,
2016
NJNG - Prices based on other external data
 
$
(4,228
)
 
(18,404
)
 

 
$
(22,632
)


61

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK (Continued)                         

Our market price risk is predominately related to changes in the price of natural gas at Henry Hub, which is the delivery point for the NYMEX natural gas futures contracts. As the fair value of futures and fixed price swaps is derived from this location, the price sensitivity analysis has been prepared for all open Henry Hub natural gas futures and fixed swap positions. Based on this, an illustrative 10 percent movement in Henry Hub natural gas futures contract prices, for example, increases (decreases) the reported derivative fair value of all open, unadjusted Henry Hub natural gas futures and fixed swap positions by approximately $21.7 million. This analysis does not include potential changes to reported credit adjustments embedded in the $(36.1) million reported fair value.

Derivative Fair Value Sensitivity Analysis
 
(Thousands)
Henry Hub Futures and Fixed Price Swaps
Percent increase in NYMEX natural gas futures prices
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
Estimated change in derivative fair value
$

$
(10,856
)
$
(21,711
)
$
(32,567
)
$
(43,422
)
Ending derivative fair value
$
(36,077
)
$
(46,933
)
$
(57,788
)
$
(68,644
)
$
(79,499
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percent decrease in NYMEX natural gas futures prices
0%
(5)%
(10)%
(15)%
(20)%
Estimated change in derivative fair value
$

$
10,856

$
21,711

$
32,567

$
43,422

Ending derivative fair value
$
(36,077
)
$
(25,221
)
$
(14,366
)
$
(3,510
)
$
7,345


Wholesale Credit Risk

The following is a summary of gross and net credit exposures, grouped by investment and non-investment grade counterparties, as of June 30, 2016. Gross credit exposure is defined as the unrealized fair value of derivative and energy trading contracts plus any outstanding wholesale receivable for the value of natural gas or power delivered and/or financial derivative commodity contract that has settled for which payment has not yet been received. Net credit exposure is defined as gross credit exposure reduced by collateral received from counterparties and/or payables, where netting agreements exist. The amounts presented below exclude accounts receivable for NJNG retail natural gas sales and services.

NJRES' & NJRCEV's counterparty credit exposure as of June 30, 2016, is as follows:
(Thousands)
Gross Credit Exposure
Net Credit Exposure
Investment grade
 
$
88,381

 
$
68,823

Noninvestment grade
 
10,944

 
417

Internally rated investment grade
 
9,401

 
5,427

Internally rated noninvestment grade
 
5,900

 
292

Total
 
$
114,626

 
$
74,959


NJNG's counterparty credit exposure as of June 30, 2016, is as follows:
(Thousands)
Gross Credit Exposure
Net Credit Exposure
Investment grade
 
$
3,222

 
$
2,886

Noninvestment grade
 
1,646

 
87

Internally rated investment grade
 
32

 

Internally rated noninvestment grade
 
17,371

 
10,302

Total
 
$
22,271

 
$
13,275


Due to the inherent volatility in the prices of natural gas commodities and derivatives, the market value of contractual positions with individual counterparties could exceed established credit limits or collateral provided by those counterparties. If a counterparty failed to perform the obligations under its contract (for example, failed to deliver or pay for natural gas), we could sustain a loss. This loss would comprise the loss on natural gas delivered but not paid for and/or the cost of replacing natural gas not delivered or received at a price that is unfavorable to the price in the original contract. Any such loss could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.


62

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK (Continued)                         

Information regarding NJR's interest rate risk can be found in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks and the Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt section of Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2015.

Effects of Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Rate Fluctuations

We are also exposed to changes in interest rates on our debt hedges, variable rate debt and changes in foreign currency rates for our business conducted in Canada using Canadian dollars. We do not believe an immediate 10 percent increase or decrease in interest rates or foreign currency rates would have a material effect on our operating results or cash flows.

Effects of Inflation

Although inflation rates have been relatively low to moderate in recent years, including the three most recent fiscal years, any change in price levels has an effect on operating results due to the capital-intensive and regulated nature of our utility subsidiary. We attempt to minimize the effects of inflation through cost control, productivity improvements and regulatory actions, when appropriate.


ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES                                                                                                                             

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2016, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

63

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part II


ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS                                                                                                                                                

Information regarding reportable legal proceedings is contained in Part I, “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015, and is set forth in Part I, Item 1, Note 12. Commitment and Contingent Liabilities-Legal Proceedings on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. No legal proceedings became reportable during the quarter ended June 30, 2016, and there have been no material developments during such quarter regarding any previously reported legal proceedings, which have not been previously disclosed.


ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS                                                                                                                                                             

While we attempt to identify, manage and mitigate risks and uncertainties associated with our business to the extent practical, under the circumstances, some level of risk and uncertainty will always be present. Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K includes a detailed discussion of our risk factors. Those risks and uncertainties have the potential to materially affect our financial condition and results of operations. There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS                                                  

The following table sets forth our repurchase activity for the quarter ended June 30, 2016:
Period
Total Number of Shares
(or Units) Purchased
Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
4/01/16 - 4/30/16

$


 
2,627,953
 
5/01/16 - 5/31/16

$


 
2,627,953
 
6/01/16 - 6/30/16

$


 
2,627,953
 
Total

$


 
2,627,953
 

The stock repurchase plan, which was authorized by our Board of Directors, became effective in September 1996 and as of June 30, 2016, included 19.5 million shares of common stock for repurchase, of which, approximately 2.6 million shares remained available for repurchase. The stock repurchase plan will expire when we have repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder, unless the repurchase plan is earlier terminated by action of our Board of Directors or further shares are authorized for repurchase.


64

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part II

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS                                                                                                                                                                         

Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
4.1
$125,000,000 Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 21, 2016, by and among New Jersey Natural Gas Company and the Purchasers party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed on June 22, 2016)
 
 
4.2
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 1, 2016, by and between New Jersey Natural Gas Company and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed on June 22, 2016)
 
 
10.1+
Form of Amendment of Deferred Stock Retention Award Agreement
 
 
31.1+
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
31.2+
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
32.1+ †
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
32.2+ †
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
101+
Interactive Data File (Form 10-Q, for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2016, furnished in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)).
_______________________________

+
Filed herewith.
†    This certificate accompanies this report pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed filed by NJR for purposes of Section 18 or any other provision of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


65

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part II

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 
 
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
 
 
(Registrant)
Date:
August 3, 2016
 
 
 
By:/s/ Patrick Migliaccio
 
 
Patrick Migliaccio
 
 
Senior Vice President and
 
 
Chief Financial Officer


66