NW Natural Holdings Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

Northwest Natural Holding Company, NWN (NW Natural Holdings), reported financial results and highlights including:

• First quarter 2021 earnings of $1.94 per share, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $1.58 per share for the same period in 2020
• Results primarily reflected new rates in Oregon for NW Natural, customer growth, and asset management benefits during the February weather event, partially offset by the financial effects of COVID-19
• Added over 11,000 natural gas meters in the last 12 months with a growth rate of 1.4%
• Continued executing our water and wastewater acquisition and investment strategy, acquiring companies near our existing service territories and providing clean, reliable water and wastewater service to approximately 63,000 people through 26,000 connections
• Reaffirmed 2021 earnings guidance in the range of $2.40 to $2.60 per share

"This quarter reflects the resiliency and growth of our utilities," said David H. Anderson, president and CEO of NW Natural Holdings. "I'm pleased with how our systems performed during the weather event in February and provided reliable service to customers. We navigated a difficult natural gas commodity market well for our customers and shareholders. Our local economy has also shown strength with continued customer growth."

For the first quarter of 2021, net income increased $11.2 million to $59.5 million (or $1.94 per share), compared to net income from continuing operations of $48.3 million (or $1.58 per share) for the same period in 2020. Results reflect new rates in Oregon for our natural gas utility and customer growth partially offset by higher depreciation and general tax expenses as we continued to invest in our gas utility system, higher operations and maintenance expenses, and the financial effects of COVID-19. In addition, net income from our other activities increased primarily due to higher asset management revenues and lower holding company expenses.

KEY EVENTS AND INITIATIVES

Winter Weather Event

In February 2021, NW Natural experienced a severe winter storm in its service territory. This event coincided with the weather event that affected much of the mid-continent of the United States and resulted in elevated gas prices across the country. Overall NW Natural's natural gas system performed well during the event, and we were able to serve firm customers. To meet expected demand, we purchased additional natural gas supplies at higher than anticipated prices. However, our third-party marketer provided incremental asset management revenues, which more than offset the cost of the incremental gas purchases. The effect of these transactions was a $6.5 million benefit for customers, which was deferred to a regulatory liability, as part of a regulatory incentive sharing mechanism related to revenues earned from Mist gas storage and asset management activities. In addition, the transactions also resulted in a net benefit to shareholders of $2.8 million (after-tax) from the combined effect of asset management revenues reflected in NW Natural's other segment offset by lower utility margin from a loss on the Oregon gas cost incentive sharing mechanism.

NW Natural Water's utility systems also performed well during the winter weather event. Water and wastewater customers in the Pacific Northwest did not experience service disruptions related to the event. In Texas, where nearly 4,000 water connections are located, about half of our systems experienced power outages resulting in suspended water service, but we were able to restore water service quickly once power was restored.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

NW Natural Holdings continues to operate with a focus on the safety of our employees and customers, while providing essential services without interruption. We continue to follow CDC, OSHA, and state specific requirements.

We also continue to benefit from our resilient business model with nearly 90% of our natural gas utility margin coming from the residential and commercial sectors and a majority of our utility margin decoupled and weather normalized. Customer growth from residential construction and conversions remained strong. The number of commercial customers was stable through the first quarter of 2021. As a result, the customer growth rate was 1.4% for the 12 months ended March 31, 2021.

For the first quarter of 2021, we estimate the total financial effects of COVID-19 to be $1.5 million (after-tax). We deferred $0.1 million (after-tax) to a regulatory asset as these costs are recoverable for our utilities. We expect to recognize $0.4 million (after-tax) of revenue in a future period related to forgone late fee revenue. The remaining $1.0 million (after-tax) will not be recovered through rates as it primarily relates to lower natural gas distribution margin from customers that stopped natural gas service and lower usage from customers that are not covered under decoupled rate schedules.

Water Utilities and Acquisitions

NW Natural Water Company, LLC (NW Natural Water) continues to acquire water and wastewater utilities and provide clean, reliable service to its customers. The Company continues to acquire smaller systems around its existing footprint, including closing a transaction near its Idaho Falls utility and signing agreements for three more acquisitions. When all the acquisitions close, NW Natural Water will serve approximately 65,000 people through about 27,000 connections and have invested approximately $111 million in the water sector.

FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

The following financial comparisons are for the first quarter of 2021 and 2020 with individual year-over-year drivers below presented on an after-tax basis using a statutory tax rate of 26.5% unless otherwise noted.

NW Natural Holdings' first quarter results are summarized by business segment in the table below:

Natural Gas Distribution Segment

Natural Gas Distribution segment net income increased $6.0 million (or $0.19 per share) primarily reflecting new rates in Oregon as a result of a general rate case with new rates effective Nov. 1, 2020.

Margin increased $13.6 million reflecting new rates in Oregon and customer growth, which collectively contributed $15.7 million. This was partially offset by a $2.1 million increase in loss from the gas cost incentive sharing mechanism as a result of purchasing higher priced gas during a February cold weather event than what was forecasted for the year.

Operations and maintenance expense increased $2.1 million as a result of higher expenses mainly from increased compensation costs and non-payroll expenses. Depreciation expense and general taxes increased $3.3 million related to higher property, plant, and equipment.

Interest expense increased $0.7 million as a result of higher long-term debt balances to support our capital expenditure growth.

Excluding the implications of higher pre-tax income, tax expense increased $1.7 million related to the net effect of the Oregon Corporate Activity Tax and ongoing amortization of tax benefits from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This impact is largely a timing matter and over the year this is expected to be offset by higher margin with no significant resulting effect on net income.

Other

Other net income increased $5.3 million (or $0.17 per share) reflecting $5.0 million of higher net income from NW Natural's other activities and $0.3 million from NW Natural Holdings' other activities. For NW Natural other, the increase was primarily higher asset management revenues from the aforementioned February 2021 weather event. NW Natural Holding's other activities posted improved earnings primarily from lower expenses at the holding company and additional revenues related to water and wastewater businesses acquired since last year.

BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOWS

During the first three months of 2021, the Company generated $137.1 million in operating cash flows or an increase of $32.4 million compared to the same period in 2020 due to higher net income and lower net working capital requirements. The Company used $63.9 million in investing activities during the first three months of 2021 primarily for natural gas utility capital expenditures, compared to $101.4 million used in investing activities during the same period in 2020 for utility capital expenditures and the acquisition of several water and wastewater utilities. Net cash used in financing activities was $83.1 million for the first three months of 2021 or a change of $543.1 million compared to the same period in 2020 primarily due to several financings undertaken in March 2020 that strengthened our liquidity position as a precaution as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. As of March 31, 2021, NW Natural Holdings held cash of $17.9 million.

2021 GUIDANCE

NW Natural Holdings reaffirmed 2021 earnings guidance in the range of $2.40 to $2.60 per share. This guidance assumes continued customer growth, average weather conditions, and no significant changes in prevailing regulatory policies, mechanisms, or outcomes, or significant local, state or federal laws, legislation or regulations.

DIVIDEND DECLARED

In 2021, the Board of Directors of NW Natural Holdings declared a quarterly dividend of $0.48 cents per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend is payable on May 14, 2021 to shareholders of record on April 30, 2021, reflecting an annual indicated dividend rate of $1.92 per share. Future dividends are subject to Board of Director discretion and approval.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

As previously announced, NW Natural Holdings will host a conference call and webcast today to discuss its first quarter 2021 financial and operating results.

The call will also be webcast in a listen-only format for the media and general public and can be accessed at ir.nwnaturalholdings.com. A replay of the conference call will be available on our website and by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S.), 1-855-669-9658 (Canada), and 1-412-317-0088 (international). The replay access code is 10154315.

ABOUT NW NATURAL HOLDINGS

Northwest Natural Holding Company, NWN (NW Natural Holdings), is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and has been doing business for over 160 years in the Pacific Northwest. It owns NW Natural Gas Company (NW Natural), NW Natural Water Company (NW Natural Water), and other business interests.

NW Natural is a local distribution company that currently provides natural gas service to approximately 2.5 million people in more than 140 communities through more than 770,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. NW Natural consistently leads the industry with high J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction scores. NW Natural owns and operates 20 Bcf of underground gas storage capacity in Oregon.

NW Natural Water provides water distribution and wastewater services to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and Texas. NW Natural Water currently serves approximately 63,000 people through about 26,000 connections. Learn more about our water business at nwnaturalwater.com.

Additional information is available at nwnaturalholdings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report, and other presentations made by NW Holdings from time to time, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "assumes," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following: plans, objectives, assumptions, estimates, expectations, timing, goals, strategies, commitments, future events, investments, capital expenditures, targeted capital structure, risks, risk profile, stability, acquisitions and timing, completion and integration thereof, the likelihood and success associated with any transaction, utility system and infrastructure investments, system modernization, reliability and resiliency, global, national and local economies, customer and business growth, customer satisfaction ratings, weather, performance and service during weather events, customer rates or rate recovery and the timing and magnitude of potential rate changes, environmental remediation cost recoveries, environmental initiatives, decarbonization and the role of natural gas and the gas delivery system, including use of renewable sources, renewable hydrogen projects or investments and timing, magnitude and completion thereof, strategic goals and visions, the water and wastewater acquisition and investment strategy and financial effects of water and wastewater acquisitions, operating plans of third parties, financial results, including estimated income, availability and sources of liquidity, expenses, positions, revenues, returns, cost of capital, timing, and earnings and earnings guidance, dividends, commodity costs and sourcing asset management activities, performance, timing, outcome, or effects of regulatory proceedings or mechanisms or approvals, regulatory prudence reviews, anticipated regulatory actions or filings, accounting treatment of future events, effects of legislation or changes in laws or regulations, effects, extent, severity and duration of COVID-19 and resulting economic disruption, the impact of mitigating factors and other efforts to mitigate risks posed by its spread, ability of our workforce, customers or suppliers to operate or conduct business, COVID-19 financial impact, expenses, cost savings measures and cost recovery including through regulatory deferrals and the timing and magnitude thereof, impact on capital projects, governmental actions and timing thereof, including actions to reopen the economy, and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions regarding its business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. You are therefore cautioned against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future operational, economic or financial performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed by reference to the factors described in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors", and Part II, Item 7 and Item 7A "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk" in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Part I, Items 2 and 3 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk", and Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors", in the quarterly reports filed thereafter.

All forward-looking statements made in this report and all subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of NW Holdings or NW Natural, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and NW Holdings and NW Natural undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict all such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

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