SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 7, 2002 CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-11001 06-0619596 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 3 High Ridge Park Stamford, Connecticut 06905 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (203) 614-5600 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) No Change Since Last Report ---------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Item 7. Financial Statements, Exhibits (c) Exhibits 99.1 Press Release of Citizens Communications Company released March 7, 2002 announcing earnings for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2001. SIGNATURE --------- Pursuant to the requirements 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. CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY ------------------------------- (Registrant) By: /s/ Robert J. Larson ----------------------- Robert J. Larson Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer Date: March 7, 2002 Citizens Communications 3 High Ridge Park Stamford, CT 06905 203.614.5600 Web site: www.czn.net FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brigid M. Smith Assistant Vice President Corporate Communications 203.614.5042 bsmith@czn.com Citizens Communications Reports 2001 Year-End and Fourth-Quarter Financial Results Stamford, Conn., March 7, 2002 -- Citizens Communications (NYSE:CZN, CZB) today reported financial results for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2001. The following information should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and footnotes contained in our Form 10-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consolidated revenue for 2001 was $2.46 billion, up 36 percent from $1.80 billion in 2000. Consolidated fourth-quarter revenue was $665.8 million, an increase of 38 percent above 2000 fourth-quarter consolidated revenue of $482.3 million. Operating income from continuing operations was $233.0 million for 2001, an increase of $111.2 million or 91 percent above 2000 operating income of $121.8 million. Fourth-quarter 2001 operating income was $26.4 million, 296 percent above 2000 fourth-quarter operating income of $6.7 million. Operating income reflects the impact of the write down of Global Crossing receivables, assimilation and restructuring expenses and the acceleration of depreciation of certain assets related to restructuring which are described below. EBITDA from continuing operations was $865.4 million for 2001, an increase of 70 percent above 2000 EBITDA of $509.4 million. Fourth-quarter 2001 EBITDA was $245.0 million, 112 percent above 2000 fourth-quarter EBITDA of $115.8 million. EBITDA is operating income plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance nor is it an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Consolidated net loss for 2001 was $89.7 million, and net loss per share was 38 cents, compared to last year's consolidated net loss of $28.4 million and 11 cents per share. Net loss for 2001 included: the pre-tax gain of $139.3 million from the sale of gas operations in Louisiana; the write down of Global Crossing receivables of $21.2 million as a result of Global Crossing filing for bankruptcy; the recognition of a $79.0 million loss resulting from the decline in value of the company's investment in Adelphia Communications; extraordinary after tax expense of $43.6 million related to discontinuation of the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 71 (FAS 71); restructuring expenses of $19.3 million related to the company's plans to close its Sacramento call center by the end of this month and its operations support center in Plano, Texas by April 2002 and restructuring expenses at Electric Lightwave, Inc.; and acquisition assimilation expense of $21.4 million related to the completed acquisitions, representing incremental costs incurred in advance of the respective acquisitions which are solely related to the preparation for businesses to be acquired. Fourth-quarter 2001 net loss was $108.3 million or 39 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $40.2 million or 15 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2000. Telecommunications - Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier Segment ("ILEC Segment") 2001 revenue from the company's ILEC Segment was $1.59 billion, up 65 percent from $963.7 million for 2000. Acquisitions of approximately 334,500 telephone access lines completed at various times during the second half of 2000 and the acquisition on June 29, 2001 of Frontier Corp.'s approximately 1.1 million lines accounted for $569.8 million of the increase. The remainder is the result of internal growth. Excluding acquisitions, 2001 ILEC Segment revenue grew by 6 percent. Fourth-quarter 2001 revenue from this segment was $510.7 million, up 94 percent from $263.3 million for the 2000 fourth quarter. Acquisitions accounted for $219.5 million of this increase. On a GAAP reporting basis, ILEC Segment operating income for 2001 was $221.0 million, up 40 percent from $157.9 million for 2000 and EBITDA for 2001 was $766.2 million, up 76 percent from $434.1 million for 2000. However, one-time nonrecurring charges impacting both operating income and EBITDA totaled $57.7 million for 2001 and $39.9 million for 2000. These charges consisted of the write down of Global Crossing receivables in 2001 and assimilation and restructuring expenses in both years. Operating income also reflected accelerated depreciation of $22.0 million in 2001 related to the change in useful lives of certain assets resulting from our restructuring. On a GAAP reporting basis, ILEC Segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2001 was $33.0 million and EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2001 was $230.6 million, up 89 percent from $122.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2000. However, one-time nonrecurring charges impacting operating income and EBITDA totaled $27.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2001 and $15.8 million for the 2000 quarter. Operating income also reflected accelerated depreciation of $13.2 million in 2001 related to the change in useful lives of certain assets resulting from our restructuring. On a sequential quarter basis, fourth quarter 2001 revenue increased 0.7 percent from $507.2 million to $510.7 million; access lines decreased 0.4 percent or 9,100 lines to 2,481,400, principally due to the soft business environment in Rochester as well as normal seasonality of winter migration. Average monthly revenue per access line increased 1.2 percent to $68.48. Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Segment; Electric Lightwave, Inc. (NASDAQ:ELIX) ("ELI-CLEC") 2001 revenue from ELI-CLEC totaled $226.6 million compared to $244.0 million for 2000, a decrease of 7 percent. Fourth-quarter revenue for 2001 was $50.3 million compared to $63.0 million in the prior year's fourth quarter, a decrease of 20 percent. ELI-CLEC operating loss for 2001 was $73.2 million, a $13.3 million increase from the $59.9 million operating loss for 2000. ELI-CLEC EBITDA for 2001 was $5.8 million, a $4.0 million increase over $1.8 million EBITDA for 2000. ELI-CLEC operating income and EBITDA for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2001 was affected by workforce reductions, restructuring related to exiting certain long-haul markets with an associated expense of $4.2 million and lower-than-anticipated revenue primarily due to a downturn in economic conditions that affected carriers, Internet service providers and related e-businesses; a decline in data services due to the expiration of a material contract; and a decrease in reciprocal compensation. ELI-CLEC fourth-quarter operating loss for 2001 was $19.8 million, a $7.0 million increase from the $12.8 million operating loss for 2000. ELI-CLEC fourth-quarter 2001 EBITDA was $.6 million, a $4.5 million decrease from $5.1 million EBITDA for the 2000 fourth quarter. ELI-CLEC's Class A Common Stock is currently traded on the Nasdaq National Market System, but the stock does not meet minimum bid price and market value of public float requirements for continued listing. If the stock is unable to regain compliance by May 15, 2002, the stock could be subject to delisting at that time. Public Services Segment The gas and electric segments accounted for $639.5 million of 2001 consolidated revenue, compared to $597.8 million in 2000. The year-end results include $83.3 million in operating income from the company's Public Services operations, compared to $23.5 million for the same period in 2000. The year-end results include $90.3 million in EBITDA from the company's Public Services operations, compared to $71.4 million for the same period in 2000. In the fourth-quarter of 2001, the gas and electric segments accounted for $105.0 million of consolidated revenue, compared to $157.2 million in 2000. The decrease is primarily due to the sale of Louisiana Gas, the largest of Citizens' four gas divisions, on July 2, 2001, for $363.4 million, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $139.3 million. Fourth-quarter 2001 operating income includes $12.4 million in operating income from the company's Public Services operations, compared to a 2000 fourth-quarter operating loss for Public Services of $21.7 million. Fourth-quarter 2001 EBITDA includes $12.9 million in EBITDA from the company's Public Services operations, compared to a 2000 fourth-quarter EBITDA loss for Public Services of $12.8 million. Discussion Citizens is monitoring the bankruptcy proceedings of Global Crossing Ltd. and its affiliates to determine the effect on Citizens' operations and financial position. Citizens purchased its Frontier local exchange telephone business from Global Crossing in June 2001 for $3.37 billion, subject to final purchase price adjustment. Citizens is integrating the Frontier telephone business with Citizens' other telecommunications operations and has ongoing commercial relationships with Global Crossing affiliates. Citizens will reserve approximately $30 million to reflect its best estimate of the net realizable value of receivables incurred from these commercial relationships during 2001 and up to the date of the bankruptcy filing in 2002. Citizens recorded a write down of such receivables in the amount of $21.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2001, with the remainder recorded in the first quarter of 2002 for receivables generated after December 31, 2001 and prior to the Global Crossing bankruptcy filing on January 28, 2002. On February 13, 2002, Citizens Communications announced that it would recognize a $79 million write down in its year ended December 31, 2001, financial statements on its holdings of 3,059,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of Adelphia Communications Corp. This non-cash charge does not impact the carrying value of these securities, which were stated at current market values on prior balance sheets. This charge reflects a decline in current trading values that have persisted for more than a six-month period. Citizens has previously reported this decline as an item of comprehensive loss in the equity section of its balance sheets. Citizens continues to hold the Adelphia shares. Beginning in the third quarter of 2001, Citizens' ILEC Segment operations no longer met the criteria for application of FAS No. 71. We recorded a non-cash extraordinary charge of $43.6 million net of tax in our income statement to write off regulatory assets and liabilities recorded on our balance sheet in the past. As previously announced, we completed the sale of our water and wastewater treatment operations on January 15, 2002, for $855.7 million in cash and $123.8 million in assumed debt and other liabilities. The pre-tax gain on this disposition, which will be reflected in the results of operations for the first quarter of 2002, is estimated to be $303.6 million. On November 11, 2001, Citizens Communications completed the sale of its Colorado gas division to Kinder Morgan for $8.9 million in cash. Citizens continues to pursue the disposition of its remaining utility assets. Restructuring expense for the ILEC Segment for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2001 is $15.1 million and $2.1 million, respectively. This expense relates to Citizens' previously announced plans to close its operations support center in Plano, Texas and its Sacramento call center. The expense primarily consists of severance, benefits, retention, early lease termination costs and other planning and communication costs. We expect to incur additional costs of approximately $1.4 million through the second quarter of 2002. Guidance Guidance for 2002 for the company's ILEC Segment and ELI-CLEC Segment is reaffirmed as follows: Guidance for the ILEC Segment is revenue of $2.1 billion; adjusted EBITDA (operating income plus depreciation and amortization), before restructuring expenses of $1.09 billion; capital expenditures of $437.5 million; interest expense of $420.0 million; and free cash flow of $232.5 million, excluding purchase of leased assets. About Citizens Communications Citizens Communications serves 2.5 million access lines in 24 states. Citizens owns 85 percent of Electric Lightwave, Inc. (NASDAQ:ELIX), a facilities-based, integrated communications provider that offers a broad range of services to telecommunications-intensive businesses throughout the United States. This document contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. These and all forward-looking statements (including oral representations) are only predictions or statements of current plans that are constantly under review by the company. All forward-looking statements may differ from actual results because of, but not limited to, changes in the local and overall economy, changes in market conditions for debt and equity securities, the nature and pace of technological changes, the number and effectiveness of competitors in the company's markets, success in overall strategy, changes in legal or regulatory policy, changes in legislation, the company's ability to identify future markets and successfully expand existing ones, the mix of products and services offered in the company's target markets, the effects of acquisitions and dispositions and the ability to effectively integrate businesses acquired. These important factors should be considered in evaluating any statement contained herein and/or made by the company or on its behalf. The foregoing information should be read in conjunction with the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. The company does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances. TABLES TO FOLLOW Citizens Communications Company Consolidated Financial Data (unaudited) For the quarter ended For the year ended December 31, December 31, --------------------- ------------------------ % % (Amounts in thousands - except per-share amounts) 2001 2000 Change 2001 2000 Change ----------------------------- -------------------------------- Income Statement Data Continuing operations (1) Revenue $ 665,849 $ 482,339 38% $ 2,456,993 $ 1,802,358 36% Cost of services 122,271 142,834 -14% 599,378 481,673 24% Depreciation and amortization 218,602 109,124 100% 632,336 387,607 63% Other operating expenses 267,358 208,570 28% 930,330 771,997 21% Restructuring expenses (2) 6,325 (649) - 19,327 (649) - Write-down of Global Crossing receivables (2) 21,200 - 100% 21,200 - 100% Acquisition assimilation expenses 3,715 15,799 -76% 21,380 39,929 -46% Operating income 26,378 6,661 296% 233,042 121,801 91% Investment and other income (loss), net (3) (82,036) (11,563) - (65,541) 15,572 - Gain on sale of assets - - - 139,304 - 100% Interest expense 121,293 58,467 107% 379,326 187,366 102% Income tax expense (benefit) (63,988) (21,228) -201% (14,805) (16,132) 8% Convertible preferred dividends 1,552 1,552 - 6,210 6,210 - Income (loss) from continuing operations (114,515) (43,693) -162% (63,926) (40,071) -60% Income from discontinued operations, net of tax 6,200 3,495 77% 17,875 11,677 53% Extraordinary expense - discontinuation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, net of tax - - - 43,631 - 100% Net income (loss) (108,315) (40,198) -169% (89,682) (28,394) -216% Carrying costs of equity forward contracts - - - (13,650) - 100% Available to common shareholders (108,315) (40,198) -169% (103,332) (28,394) -264% EBITDA and Capital Expenditure Data (4) EBITDA from continuing operations $ 244,980 $ 115,785 112% $ 865,378 $ 509,408 70% Capital expenditures from continuing operations 164,009 105,834 55% 463,870 455,700 2% Capital expenditures from assets held for sale 16,225 21,464 -24% 66,844 80,939 -17% Total cash capital expenditures 180,234 127,298 42% 530,714 536,639 -1% Cash Flow Data Cash flow - operating activities $ 116,936 $ 36,541 220% $ 520,379 $ 299,503 74% Cash flow - investing activities (191,829) (268,546) 29% (3,650,250) (1,273,711) -187% Cash flow - financing activities 49,736 245,622 -80% 3,141,389 1,017,434 209% Cash flow - discontinued operations 43,902 (28,541) 254% 14,926 (49,328) 130% Balance Sheet Data Cash and investments $ 357,077 $ 284,445 26% Total assets 10,553,600 6,955,006 52% Net plant (continuing operations) 4,512,038 3,520,712 28% Assets held for sale 1,107,937 1,282,152 -14% Assets of discontinued operations 746,791 717,602 4% Long-term debt (continuing operations) 5,994,906 3,062,289 96% Less: Equity units 460,000 - 100% Less: Cash and short-term investments 215,869 70,086 208% ------------------------ Net debt 5,319,037 2,992,203 78% ======================== Equity 1,946,142 1,720,001 13% Shares of common stock outstanding 281,289 262,661 7% Weighted average shares outstanding 279,675 261,295 7% 273,721 260,767 5% Per-Share Data (5) Available to common shareholders from continuing operations per common share $ (0.41) $ (0.17) -141% $ (0.28) $ (0.15) -87% Available to common shareholders per common share (0.39) (0.15) -160% (0.38) (0.11) -245% Book value per share 7.11 6.60 8% Other Financial Data Long-term debt to long-term debt and equity 75% 64% Common equity market capitalization (in billions) $ 3.00 $ 3.45 Equity market capitalization (in billions) $ 3.18 $ 3.66 Market capitalization (in billions) (6) $ 9.21 $ 6.48 (1) Includes our Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC), Electric Lightwave, Inc. (ELI), (our Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) and our natural gas and electric businesses. The natural gas and electric businesses are presented in continuing operations in the selected income statement data and as assets held for sale in the balance sheet data. We report our water and wastewater businesses as discontinued operations. Continuing operations reflect the elimination of intercompany transactions (see segment footnote in the SEC Form 10-K). (2) Represents the write-down of the net realizable value of Global Crossing receivables as a result of Global's filing for bankruptcy. See footnote 21 in the SEC Form 10-K. See footnote 14 in the SEC 10-K Form for an explanation of restructuring expenses. (3) Includes $12,222 of minority interest for the year ended 12/31/2000. (4) EBITDA is operating income plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance. It is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of performance nor an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies (see segment footnote in the SEC Form 10-K). (5) Calculated based on weighted average shares outstanding. (6) Equity market capitalization plus long-term debt. Citizens Communications Company Financial and Operating Data by Service For the quarter ended For the year ended December 31, December 31, -------------------------- -------------------------- % % (Dollars in thousands, except operating data) 2001 2000 Change 2001 2000 Change ----------------------------------- --------------------------------- ILEC Select Income Statement Data Revenue Network access services $ 193,092 $ 121,384 59% $ 654,641 $ 451,402 45% Local network services 191,860 95,321 101% 582,662 326,878 78% Long distance and data services 73,130 31,258 134% 208,274 106,662 95% Directory services 25,433 10,125 151% 72,375 37,424 93% Other 27,203 5,180 425% 76,101 41,377 84% Total revenue 510,718 263,268 94% 1,594,053 963,743 65% Network access expense 48,414 15,688 209% 129,408 67,060 93% Depreciation and amortization 197,570 80,623 145% 545,273 276,250 97% Other operating expenses 204,674 110,732 85% 640,688 423,616 51% Restructuring expenses (1) 2,146 (1,008) 313% 15,148 (1,008) 1603% Write-down of Global Crossing receivables (2) 21,200 - 100% 21,200 - 100% Acquisition assimilation expenses (3) 3,715 15,799 -76% 21,380 39,929 -46% Total expense 477,719 221,834 115% 1,373,097 805,847 70% Operating income 32,999 41,434 -20% 220,956 157,896 40% EBITDA and Capital Expenditure Data EBITDA (4) $ 230,569 $ 122,057 89% $ 766,229 $ 434,146 76% EBITDA margin (5) 45% 46% - 48% 45% - Cash capital expenditures 152,509 85,106 79% 408,464 345,395 18% Balance Sheet Data Total assets $ 7,072,288 $3,558,562 99% Net plant 3,633,967 2,593,746 40% Operating Data Access lines: Embedded properties excluding acquisitions 1,386,400 1,371,200 1% Acquired properties 1,095,000 - 100% Total access lines 2,481,400 1,371,200 81% Switched access minutes of use (in millions) (6) Excluding acquisitions 1,877 1,598 17% 7,501 5,755 30% Acquisitions 1,206 - 100% 2,436 - 100% Total MOU 3,083 1,598 93% 9,937 5,755 73% Employees 7,920 4,212 88% (1) Represents expenses associated with our plan to close our operations support center in Plano, Texas by April 2002. See footnote 14 in the SEC 10-K Form for an explanation of restructuring expenses. (2) Represents the write-down of the net realizable value of Global Crossing receivables as a result of Global's filing for bankruptcy. See footnote 21 in the SEC 10-K Form for an explanation. (3) Represents expenses associated with the completed and pending acquisitions. (4) EBITDA is operating income plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance. It is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of performance nor an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies (see segment footnote in the SEC Form 10-K). (5) EBITDA divided by total revenue. (6) Acquisitions represent minutes of use from entities acquired after December 31, 2000. Citizens Communications Company Financial and Operating Data by Service For the quarter ended For the year ended December 31, December 31, ------------------------- --------------------------- % % (Dollars in thousands, except operating data) 2001 2000 Change 2001 2000 Change --------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Electric Lightwave, Inc. Select Income Statement Data Revenue Network services $ 23,372 $ 22,633 3% $ 101,338 $ 77,437 31% Local telephone services 15,177 23,231 -35% 73,291 98,643 -26% Long distance services 2,980 3,728 -20% 12,294 16,318 -25% Data services 8,790 13,377 -34% 39,717 51,579 -23% Total revenue 50,319 62,969 -20% 226,640 243,977 -7% Network access expense 16,596 17,294 -4% 67,610 74,105 -9% Restructuring expense 4,179 359 1064% 4,179 359 1064% Gross margin 29,544 45,316 -35% 154,851 169,513 -9% Depreciation and amortization 20,375 17,882 14% 79,022 61,663 28% Other operating expenses 28,949 40,203 -28% 149,022 167,726 -11% Total expense 70,099 75,738 -7% 299,833 303,853 -1% Operating loss (19,780) (12,769) -55% (73,193) (59,876) -22% EBITDA and Capital Expenditure Data EBITDA (1) $ 595 $ 5,113 -88% $ 5,829 $ 1,787 226% Cash capital expenditures (2) 10,683 15,817 -32% 54,589 108,909 -50% Balance Sheet Data Total assets $ 902,348 $ 949,774 -5% Gross plant 1,037,349 978,327 6% Operating Data Access Line Equivalents 148,787 200,231 -26% Route miles 6,754 5,924 14% Fiber miles 354,083 297,284 19% Customers 2,243 2,246 0% Buildings connected 859 851 1% Employees 823 1,161 -29% Revenue per employee $ 61,141 $ 54,237 13% $ 275,383 $ 210,144 31% (1) EBITDA is operating income plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance. It is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of performance nor an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies (see segment footnote in the SEC Form 10-K). (2) Excludes capitalized leases. Citizens Communications Company Financial and Operating Data by Service For the quarter ended For the year ended December 31, December 31, ------------------------ ------------------------- % % (Dollars in thousands, except operating data) 2001 2000 Change 2001 2000 Change ------------------------------------------------------------------ Gas Sector (1) Select Income Statement Data Revenue Residential distribution $ 19,762 $ 44,391 -55% $ 195,620 $ 161,925 21% Commercial distribution 24,038 27,810 -14% 137,310 121,890 13% Industrial distribution 5,674 21,106 -73% 65,914 63,060 5% Total distribution 49,474 93,307 -47% 398,844 346,875 15% Other 1,673 10,692 -84% 12,690 27,876 -54% Total revenue 51,147 103,999 -51% 411,534 374,751 10% Gas purchased 29,996 81,300 -63% 282,061 229,538 23% Gross margin 21,151 22,699 -7% 129,473 145,213 -11% Depreciation and amortization (2) 152 153 -1% 609 19,228 -97% Other operating expenses 15,296 38,438 -60% 80,948 117,717 -31% Total expense 45,444 119,891 -62% 363,618 366,483 -1% Operating income 5,703 (15,892) - 47,916 8,268 480% EBITDA and Capital Expenditure Data EBITDA (3) $ 5,855 $ (15,739) - $ 48,525 $ 27,496 76% Cash capital expenditures 7,949 15,413 -48% 34,138 51,457 -34% Balance Sheet Data Assets held for sale $ 441,654 $ 667,651 -34% Net plant 354,991 531,885 -33% Operating Data Customers 188,800 473,527 -60% Employees 492 1,021 -52% Customers per employee 384 464 -17% Gross margin (net revenue) per employee $ 42,990 $ 22,232 93% $ 263,157 $ 142,226 85% Billion Cubic Feet of gas throughput (BCF) 5.4 22.8 -76% 46.1 73.7 -37% (1) Our Louisiana and Colorado gas operations were disposed of by sale on July 2, 2001 and November 30, 2001, respectively. The sale of these operations affects comparability of data presented. (2) Our gas operations are reported as "held for sale". Accordingly, we ceased to record depreciation expense effective October 1, 2000. (3) EBITDA is operating income plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance. It is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of performance nor an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies (see segment footnote in the SEC Form 10-K). Citizens Communications Company Financial and Operating Data by Service For the quarter ended For the year ended December 31, December 31, ------------------------- ------------------------- % % (Dollars in thousands, except operating data) 2001 2000 Change 2001 2000 Change ---------------------------------- --------------------------------- Electric Sector Select Income Statement Data Revenue Residential distribution $ 22,533 $ 21,037 7% $ 96,888 $ 106,842 -9% Commercial distribution 15,563 17,316 -10% 65,688 62,521 5% Industrial distribution 7,112 14,512 -51% 45,054 47,269 -5% Total distribution 45,208 52,865 -14% 207,630 216,632 -4% Other 8,693 327 2558% 20,385 6,440 217% Total revenue 53,901 53,192 1% 228,015 223,072 2% Electric energy and fuel oil purchased 27,419 29,450 -7% 123,223 113,965 8% Gross margin 26,482 23,742 12% 104,792 109,107 -4% Depreciation and amortization (1) 299 8,822 -97% 6,434 28,629 -78% Other operating expenses 19,455 20,767 -6% 63,023 65,252 -3% Total expense 47,173 59,039 -20% 192,680 207,846 -7% Operating income 6,728 (5,847) - 35,335 15,226 132% EBITDA and Capital Expenditure Data EBITDA (2) $ 7,027 $ 2,975 136% $ 41,769 $ 43,855 -5% Cash capital expenditures 8,276 6,051 37% 32,706 29,482 11% Balance Sheet Data Assets held for sale $ 666,283 $ 544,656 22% Net plant 450,662 421,443 7% Operating Data Customers 128,432 123,562 4% Employees 337 332 2% Customers per employee 381 372 2% Gross margin (net revenue) per employee $ 78,582 $ 71,512 10% $ 310,955 $ 328,636 -5% Megawatt hours sold 468,487 466,396 0% 1,988,732 1,943,370 2% Megawatt hours generated 99,920 95,062 5% 415,690 391,216 6% Megawatt hours purchased 391,096 391,342 0% 1,725,884 1,719,308 0% (1) Our electric operations are reported as "held for sale". Accordingly, we ceased to record depreciation expense effective January 1, 2001. (2) EBITDA is operating income plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance. It is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of performance nor an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies (see segment footnote in the SEC form 10-K).