Commerce Energy Reports Results For 2007 First Fiscal Quarter.-- Gross profit advances 22% over first quarter 2006; net income increases 75% -- Customer accounts up 20% over previous year -- Company reaffirms annual earnings guidance of $0.02 - $0.07 per share COSTA MESA Costa Mesa (kŏs`tə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 96,357), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific south of Santa Ana; inc. 1953. It is a transportation, residential, and light industrial center. , Calif. -- Commerce Energy Group, Inc. (AMEX AMEX See: American Stock Exchange : EGR EGR Engineering EGR Exhaust Gas Recirculation EGR Engineer EGR Early Growth Response EGR Extra Grace Required EGR Enhanced Gas Recovery EGR Embedded GPS Receiver EGR Emergency Generator Room ), a leading U.S. electricity and natural gas marketing company, today reported improved operating results for the first quarter ended October 31, 2006. Net income increased to $384,000, or $0.01 per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2007, from $220,000, or $0.01 per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Net revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 rose 10% to $70.5 million from $64.4 million from the same period in fiscal 2006, driven primarily by higher natural gas revenues from the acquisition of the approximately 300 commercial and industrial natural gas customers from Houston Energy The Houston Energy are a football team in the Women's Professional Football League. They play just south of Houston, Texas at The Rig, the football stadium for the Pearland, Texas High School Oilers. Services Company (HESCO HESCO Hartford Equity Sales Company, Inc. HESCO Hyderabad Electric Supply Corporation (Pakistan) ) in September 2006. "Continued growth in our customer base contributed to a strong first quarter," said Steven S Ste´ven n. 1. Voice; speech; language. Ye have as merry a steven As any angel hath that is in heaven. - Chaucer. 2. An outcry; a loud call; a clamor. To set steven to make an appointment. . Boss, chief executive officer. "We added 31,000 new customers during the quarter, representing a 48% increase over the preceding fourth quarter. These results confirm the success of our sales and marketing programs and customer acquisition initiatives implemented during the past year." Gross profit increased 22% to $10.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 from $8.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Gross profit from electricity increased 18% to $8.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the same period in fiscal 2006, reflecting the impact of customer growth in the Texas and Maryland markets. Gross profit from natural gas increased 44% to $1.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the same period in fiscal 2006, reflecting the impact of customer growth in Ohio and contribution from the HESCO acquisition. Selling and marketing expenses for the three months ended October 31, 2006 increased $1.5 million over the comparable quarter last year, reflecting higher telemarketing telemarketing, the practice of selling goods or services to customers by means of the telephone or of surveying consumer preferences in telephone conversations. , advertising and personnel costs related to increased customer acquisition initiatives. General and administrative expenses increased $240,000 from the comparable quarter of fiscal 2006 due largely to increased customer service costs, higher expenses associated with the company's credit facility and depreciation and amortization, partly offset by lower legal expenses. Liquidity At October 31, 2006, the company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $8.1 million and no debt. As of October 31, 2006, the company had $16.8 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents, comprised of $10.0 million deposited with one of its lenders pursuant to the terms of its three-year credit facility and $6.8 million to secure letters of credit, and deposits of $2.4 million, pledged as collateral principally in connection with regulatory operating requirements. Credit terms Credit Terms The conditions under which credit will be extended to a customer. The components of credit terms are: cash discount, credit period, net period. from energy suppliers often require the company to post collateral against its forward energy supply purchases. Such collateral obligations are funded with available cash and availability under the company's credit facility. 2007 Earnings Outlook As previously reported, Commerce expects to achieve net income for fiscal 2007 in the range of $600,000 to $2.1 million, or $0.02 to $0.07 per share, with an estimated 50% increase in year-over-year customer accounts. "We are pleased that our company and its employees have accomplished a positive start to fiscal 2007. We expect a year of continued progress and remain confident in achieving our earnings and customer growth objectives," said Boss. Conference Call and Webcast Commerce will hold a conference call to discuss financial results today at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). The call will be available to all interested parties through a live audio webcast at www.CommerceEnergy.com and www.earnings.com. Please go to the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the conference call will be archived and available at www.CommerceEnergy.com for one year. A telephonic replay will be available through December 19, 2006, and can be accessed by dialing 888-286-8010 (domestic) or 617-801-6888 (international) and using the playback Passcode 34729443. About Commerce Energy Group, Inc. Commerce Energy Group, Inc. is a leading independent U.S. electricity and natural gas marketing company, operating through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Commerce Energy, Inc. and Skipping Stone Inc. Commerce is publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange American Stock Exchange (AMEX) Stock exchange in the U.S. Originally known as “the Curb,” it began as an outdoor marketplace in New York City c. 1850. It moved indoors to its present location in the Wall Street area in 1921. (AMEX) under the symbol: EGR. Commerce Energy, Inc. is licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the United States federal agency with jurisdiction over electricity sales, wholesale electric rates, hydroelectric licensing, natural gas pricing, and oil pipeline rates. and by state regulatory agencies state regulatory agency A state body responsible for establishing professional standards, and for certifying professionals or organizations through appropriate documentation as an unregulated Adj. 1. unregulated - not regulated; not subject to rule or discipline; "unregulated off-shore fishing" regulated - controlled or governed according to rule or principle or law; "well regulated industries"; "houses with regulated temperature" 2. retail marketer of natural gas and electricity to homeowners, commercial and industrial consumers and institutional customers. Headquartered in Orange County, California Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States. Its county seat is Santa Ana. According to the 2000 Census, its population was 2,846,289, making it the second most populous county in the state of California, and the fifth most populous in the United States. , the company also has an office in Dallas, Texas “Dallas” redirects here. For other uses, see Dallas (disambiguation). The City of Dallas (pronounced [ˈdæl.əs] or [ˈdæl. , as well as several area offices located around the U.S. For nearly a decade, customers have relied on Commerce to deliver competitive pricing, innovative product offerings and personalized per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. customer care in addition to quality gas and electric services. For more information, visit www.CommerceEnergy.com. Forward Looking Statements Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release, including those of Mr. Boss, may constitute forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. regarding the company's assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events. Words or phrases such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "targets," "will likely result," "will continue," "may," "could" or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed. Commerce Energy Group, Inc. cautions that while such statements in this new release, whether express or implied, are made in good faith and the company believes such statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in records, and other data available from third parties, the company cannot assure that its projections will be achieved. In addition to other factors and matters discussed from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, some important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes for Commerce Energy Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries to differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements include: higher than expected attrition Attrition The reduction in staff and employees in a company through normal means, such as retirement and resignation. This is natural in any business and industry. Notes: of, and/or unforeseen operating difficulties relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc , the acquired customer accounts, the volatility of the energy market, competition, operating hazards, uninsured risks, failure of performance by suppliers and transmitters, changes in general economic conditions, seasonal weather or force majeure [French, A superior or irresistible power.] An event that is a result of the elements of nature, as opposed to one caused by human behavior. The term force majeure events that adversely effect electricity or natural gas supply or infrastructure, decisions by our energy suppliers requiring us to post additional collateral for our energy purchases, increased or unexpected competition, adverse state or federal legislation or regulation or adverse determinations by regulators, including failure to obtain regulatory approvals. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, Commerce Energy Group, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors.
[TABLE OMITTED]
Volume and Customer Count Data >
>
Three Months Ended October 31, >
2006 >
2005
Electric - Megawatt hour (MWh) 458,000 >
551,000
Natural Gas - Dekatherms (DTH) 2,130,000 >
715,000
Customer Count 161,000 >
134,000
[TABLE OMITTED]
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