UNITED STATES
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): February 22, 2006
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CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-13883 77-0448994
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
1720 North First Street, San Jose, CA. 95112
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 1-408-367-8200
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Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c ) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c ))
Item 5.02 Appointment of Principal Officers
On February 22, 2006, the registrant issued the press release attached to
this report as Exhibit 99.1, which announces the appointment of a new Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
(Registrant)
Date: February 22, 2006 By: /s/ Dan L. Stockton
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Dan L. Stockton
Corporate Secretary
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Exhibit Index
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Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Press release of the registrant dated February 22, 2006,
which announces the selection of a new Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer.
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED] NEWS RELEASE
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP [OBJECT OMITTED]
1720 North First Street February 22, 2006
San Jose, CA 95112-4598
Contact: Shannon Dean (310) 257-1435
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP NAMES NEW
VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND TREASURER
SAN JOSE, CA - California Water Service Group today announced the selection
of Martin A. Kropelnicki as its Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer, effective March 13, 2006. He will succeed John S. Tootle, who will
resume responsibilities as in-house corporate counsel after filling the position
on an interim basis since October 2005.
"Marty has a great deal of expertise and experience, and he is eminently
qualified for the position. He has had a distinguished career and I am confident
that he will fill this important role capably and be a great asset to our
Company," said President and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson.
Kropelnicki, who is 39 years-old, comes to California Water Service Group
from Berkeley, California-based PowerLight Corporation, a leading global
provider and installer of large-scale solar electric systems and energy
efficiency services. As Chief Financial Officer of PowerLight, his
responsibilities include finance and accounting, human resources, information
technology, and facilities.
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Prior to joining PowerLight, Kropelnicki served as Chief Financial
Officer-Executive Vice President of Corporate Services and Corporate Secretary
for Hall Kinion & Associates, a multi-national staffing and consulting company.
During his seven-year tenure at Hall Kinion, his responsibilities included
finance and accounting, compliance, investor relations, mergers & acquisitions,
legal and human resources. In addition, Kropelnicki successfully managed the
initial public offering and secondary offering. Hall Kinion was successfully
acquired by KFORCE Inc. in June 2005.
Earlier in his career, Kropelnicki held executive- and management-level
positions at Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group and Pacific Gas and Electric
Company. He began his professional career as an Accountant at Hewlett Packard in
Palo Alto California.
Kropelnicki holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master of Arts Degree in
Business Economics from San Jose State University. He currently teaches
investment management as a part-time faculty member at his alma mater.
California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water
Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service
Company, and CWS Utility Services. The subsidiaries provide regulated and
non-regulated water service to more than 2 million people in 100 communities.
The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "CWT". Additional information is available at the Company's web site at
www.calwatergroup.com.
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This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"). The
forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the
federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the Act.
Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information,
expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management's judgment
about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions.
Such words as expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes,
anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are
subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary
materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that
may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include: governmental
and regulatory commissions' decisions, including decisions on proper disposition
of property; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the
timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief; new
legislation; changes in accounting valuations and estimates; the ability to
satisfy requirements related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulations on
internal controls; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers' prices
and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in
interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality
requirements; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired
companies; the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in
customer water use patterns; the impact of weather on water sales and operating
results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil disturbances
or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future
occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or
other hostilities; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on
our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our
ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and
unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep
in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph. The Company
assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.
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