UTILICORP <UCU> SEES HIGHER 1987 FIRST QUARTER Utilicorp United Corp said it expects to report 1987 first quarter earnings of about 12 mln dlrs or about 1.12 dlrs a share and revenues of about 190 mln dlrs. In the comparable quarter a year ago, Utilicorp earned 8.5 mln dlrs or 87 cts on revenues of 203 mln dlrs. There are 9.6 mln shares outstanding this year, up from the 8.5 mln shares in 1986, Utilicorp's president Richard Green told financial analysts here. First quarter 1987 results include one month contribution of West Virginia Power, which became a division on March 1, 1987, Green said in remarks prepared for delivery to analysts. Higher earnings for the period reflected reduced operating and maintenenace expenses and about 10 mln dlrs in rate increases in Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas and Colorado, he said. However, Utilicorp's Missouri Public Service division is experiencing the effect of a 5.9 pct rate reduction authorized in September 1986, he noted. Of Utilicorp's total revenues expected for the 1987 first quarter, about 43 mln dlrs will be derived from electric operations and about 147 mln dlrs will come from gas operations, he said. Operating income derived from electric operations in the first three months of 1987 is estimated to be eight mln dlrs, while the contribution from gas operations will be about 10 mln dlrs, Green said. Green told analysts that Utilicorp received regulatory approval from various states and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reincorporate in Delaware, effective April one. Utilicorp signed an agreement with Cominco Ltd of Vancouver to extend the deadline to May 31, 1987, for completion of the company's purchase of West Kootenay Power and Light of British Columbia, due to a longer than expected regulatory approval process, he said. Hearings were completed in February and a decision by the British Columbia Utilities Commission on the 60 mln dlrs purchase by Utilicorp is pending, he said.