CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/26/13

Canadian Utilities Limited (TSX:CU) (TSX:CU.X)

Canadian Utilities today reported higher Adjusted Earnings in the first quarter of 2013 as the company continues to invest in utility infrastructure to support Alberta growth.

Adjusted Earnings were $180 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 compared to $174 million in the same period of 2012. Earnings attributable to equity owners were $183 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 compared to $190 million in the same period of 2012. Adjusted Earnings will differ from earnings attributable to equity owners because of the timing of recoveries from or refunds to customers of amounts that are deferred by the Utilities for regulatory purposes; however, over time there is no difference.

Growth in the rate base continues to have a positive impact on ATCO Electric. The Hanna Region Transmission Development Project, which will provide major transmission reinforcement in southeast Alberta, is nearing completion, and is expected to be in-service by the end of the second quarter of 2013. Construction commenced on the Eastern Alberta Transmission Line following receipt of project approval in late 2012. The project will provide additional transmission capacity to Alberta's existing electricity transmission system. Together, ATCO Electric, ATCO Gas, and ATCO Pipelines invested $511 million in utility infrastructure in the first quarter of 2013 to support Alberta growth.

Adjusted Earnings for the quarter were partially offset by lower realized prices on short-term forward power sales contracts for ATCO Power's Alberta generating plants and an unfavourable arbitration decision that reduced earnings for the Sheerness plant.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

--  Canadian Utilities declared a second quarter dividend for 2013 of 48.5
    cents per Class A non-voting and Class B common share. Canadian
    Utilities' annual dividend per share has increased for 41 consecutive
    years. 
    
--  Canadian Utilities Limited issued $175 million of 4.5% Cumulative
    Redeemable Second Preferred shares at a price of $25.00 per share. 
    
--  Canadian Utilities Limited announced on February 21, 2013, that it
    intends to split its Class A non-voting shares and Class B common shares
    on a two-for-one basis by way of a share dividend in 2013. Canadian
    Utilities Limited's parent, ATCO Ltd., also announced on the same day
    its intention to split its shares by way of a share dividend in 2013.
    The share splits of both companies are expected to occur concurrently at
    a date to be determined following the Canadian Utilities and ATCO annual
    general meetings, which are scheduled for May 8, 2013 and May 16, 2013,
    respectively.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY AND RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EARNINGS

A financial summary and reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings to earnings attributable to equity owners is provided below:

                                                        For the Quarter    
                                                        Ended March 31     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
($ Millions except per share data)                        2013      2012(4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           
Adjusted Earnings (1)                                      180         174 
Adjustments for Rate Regulated Activities (2)               (5)          7 
Dividends on Equity Preferred Shares                         8           9 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings Attributable to Equity Owners                     183         190 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues                                                   876         811 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds Generated By Operations (3)                          411         411 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Adjusted Earnings are earnings attributable to equity owners after      
    adjusting for the timing of revenues and expenses associated with rate  
    regulated activities and dividends on equity preferred shares of        
    Canadian Utilities. Adjusted Earnings also exclude one-time gains and   
    losses and items that are not in the normal course of business or day-  
    to-day operations. Adjusted Earnings present earnings on the same basis 
    as was used prior to adopting International Financial Reporting         
    Standards (IFRS) - that basis being the U.S. accounting principles for  
    rate regulated entities - and they are a key measure used to assess     
    segment performance, to reflect the economics of rate regulation and to 
    facilitate comparability of Canadian Utilities' earnings with other     
    Canadian rate regulated companies.                                      
(2) Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for            
    descriptions of the adjustments for rate regulated activities and the   
    timing of their recovery from or refund to customers.                   
(3) This measure is cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash    
    working capital. It does not have standardized meaning under IFRS and   
    may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.      
(4) 2012 financial information has been restated as a result of adopting new
    and amended IFRS accounting standards that became effective in 2013.    

The $65 million increase in revenues was due primarily to increased rate base in the utilities, colder weather in the first quarter of 2013, and increased flow-through natural gas sales in ATCO Energy Solutions' natural gas liquids extraction operations.

Canadian Utilities' consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2013, will be available on the Canadian Utilities website (www.canadianutilities.com), via SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or can be requested from the Corporation.

Canadian Utilities Limited, an ATCO company, with more than 7,100 employees and assets of approximately $14 billion, delivers service excellence and innovative business solutions worldwide with leading companies engaged in utilities (pipelines, natural gas and electricity transmission and distribution), energy (power generation, natural gas gathering, processing, storage and liquids extraction) and technologies (business systems solutions). More information can be found at www.canadianutilities.com.

Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon.

Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Corporation's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

Contacts:
Canadian Utilities Limited
B.R. (Brian) Bale
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(403) 292-7502
www.canadianutilities.com