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Long-Term Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Long-Term Debt
Long-Term Debt
 
Registrant’s long-term debt consists primarily of Notes and Debentures of GSWC. Registrant summarizes its long-term debt in the Statements of Capitalization. GSWC does not currently have any outstanding mortgages or other encumbrances on its properties. GSWC’s leases and other similar financial arrangements are not material.
 
As of December 31, 2014, GSWC had $100.0 million available for issuance of debt securities under a Registration Statement filed with the SEC.  This Registration Statement expires in August 2015.
 
Private placement notes issued by GSWC in the amount of $28 million contain restrictions on the payment of dividends, minimum interest coverage requirements, a maximum debt to capitalization ratio and a negative pledge. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, GSWC must maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio of two times interest expense.  As of December 31, 2014, GSWC had an interest coverage ratio of over four times interest expense. 

On July 15, 2014, GSWC redeemed its $5,000,000, 6.87% Medium-Term Notes Series A due 2023, and $10,000,000, 7.00% Medium-Term Notes Series A, also due 2023. The notes were redeemed at a price of 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the notes, plus interest. In December 2014, GSWC replaced these notes with lower interest rate debt and issued $15,000,000 in 3.45% Senior Notes due December 23, 2029. Pursuant to the terms of these notes, GSWC must maintain a total indebtedness to capitalization ratio (as defined) of less than 0.6667 to 1 and a total indebtedness to earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of less than 8 to 1. As of December 31, 2014, GSWC had a total indebtedness to capitalization ratio of 0.4367 to 1 and a total indebtedness to EBITDA of 2.4 to 1.

Certain long-term debt issues outstanding as of December 31, 2014 can be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of GSWC subject to redemption schedules embedded in the agreements particular to each redeemable issue. With the exception of the 9.56% Notes and Senior Notes issued to Co-Bank, the redemption premiums in effect for 2014 range up to 0.383% of par value. The 9.56% Notes are subject to a make-whole premium based on 55 basis points above the applicable Treasury Yield if redeemed prior to 2021. After 2021, the maximum redemption premium is 3% of par value. The Senior Notes with Co-Bank are subject to a make-whole premium based on the difference between Co-Bank’s cost of funds on the date of purchase and Co-Bank’s cost of funds on the date of redemption, plus 0.5%. The $15,000,000, 3.45% Senior Notes due December 23, 2029 have similar redemption premiums.
 
In October 2009, GSWC entered into an agreement with the California Department of Health (“CDPH”) whereby CDPH agreed to provide funds to GSWC of up to $9.0 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Proceeds from the funds received were used to reimburse GSWC for capital costs incurred to install water meters to convert customers in GSWC’s Arden-Cordova district from non-metered service to metered service.  GSWC received a total of $8.6 million in reimbursements from the CDPH, half of which was recorded as a contribution in aid of construction and the other half as long-term debt in accordance with the terms of the agreement.  The loan portion bears interest at a rate of 2.5% and is payable over 20 years beginning in 2013.  A surcharge to recover from customers the debt service cost on this loan was approved by the CPUC and implemented in 2013.  Pursuant to the agreement, GSWC also issued letters of credit to CDPH equal to 80% of the amount loaned to GSWC. As of December 31, 2014, GSWC has a total of $6.7 million in letters of credit issued to CDPH.
 
Annual maturities of all long-term debt, including capitalized leases, are as follows for each fiscal year through December 31, 2019 and thereafter (in thousands):
 
Maturity as of
December 31,
2015
$
292

2016
311

2017
328

2018
322

2019
40,319

Thereafter
284,518

Total
$
326,090