CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORPORATION REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2022 RESULTS

DOVER, Del., Aug. 3, 2022

For the first half of 2022, net income was $54.0 million compared to $48.3 million for the same period in 2021. EPS for the first half of 2022 was $3.04 per share compared to $2.75 per share reported in the same prior-year period, representing growth of 10.5 percent. Included in these results, was a  one-time gain of $1.9 million associated with a property sale.

The Company's net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was $17.1 million, compared to $13.8 million reported in the same quarter of 2021. Diluted EPS in the quarter was $0.96, a 23.1 percent increase compared to $0.78 reported in the same prior-year period. Included in these results, was the  one-time gain of $1.9 million referenced above.

Higher second quarter earnings were driven by contributions from natural gas transmission pipeline expansions, improved profitability in the Company's propane distribution business, regulated infrastructure programs, organic growth in the Company's natural gas distribution businesses, increased customer consumption and increased performance in the Company's other unregulated businesses. These increases were partially offset by higher interest expense resulting from interest rate increases impacting the Company's short-term borrowings. 

On a year-to-date basis, earnings were primarily driven by the factors noted above as well as the 2021 acquisitions of Diversified Energy Company ("Diversified Energy") and the natural gas metering station located in Escambia County, Florida (the "Escambia Meter Station").

"Chesapeake Utilities delivered strong financial results during the second quarter and through the first half of the year," commented Jeff Householder, president and CEO. "Our businesses continue to organically add new natural gas customers across our service territories at levels well above the national average. Annual residential customer growth for the second quarter was 5.7% and 4.1% in Delmarva and Florida, respectively. While the housing and lending markets have shifted as of late, our home building partners see continued demand in the communities we serve.

"Additionally, our teams have done an outstanding job given the inflationary environment and supply chain constraints that have delayed certain projects. Through planning, certain discretionary expense mitigation efforts and continued real estate rationalization, our teams drove earnings growth in the quarter that served to offset inflationary pressure in the quarter. Looking forward, we'll continue with these efforts to minimize the cost impact, recognizing there will be significant challenges ahead, especially in the short-term. Despite these headwinds, we remain committed to growing our stable utility operations and investing in complementary businesses, including renewable natural gas and other energy delivery solutions that position the Company for long-term sustainable success."