EX-99.1 2 ex99-1dtd021406.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 NEWS/EARNINGS RELEASE DATED 02/14/06 Exhibit 99.1 News/Earnings Release Dated 02/14/06

Exhibit 99.1
 
 
One Ameren Plaza
1901 Chouteau Avenue
St. Louis, MO  63103
Ameren News Release
  Contacts:
Media
Analysts
Investors
Tim Fox
Bruce Steinke
Investor Services
(314) 554-3120
(314) 554-2574
(800) 255-2237
tfox2@ameren.com
bsteinke@ameren.com
invest@ameren.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
 
AMEREN ANNOUNCES 2005 EARNINGS
Reaffirms 2006 Earnings Guidance
 
ST. LOUIS, MO., Feb. 14, 2006—Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) today announced 2005 net income, including a charge for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, of $606 million, or $3.02 per share, compared to net income of $530 million, or $2.84 per share, in 2004. Ameren recorded net income, including a charge for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, of $20 million, or 10 cents per share, for the fourth quarter of 2005, compared to $83 million, or 42 cents per share, for the fourth quarter of 2004.
 
Ameren’s net income for 2005 includes an after-tax cumulative effect charge of approximately $22 million, or 11 cents per share, related to its non-rate-regulated operations, associated with the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.” Excluding this item, adjusted (non-GAAP) income was $628 million or $3.13 per share, for the full year of 2005, and $42 million, or 21 cents per share, for the fourth quarter of 2005.
 
“Improved operating earnings in 2005 resulted from the successful integration of Illinois Power Company and greater availability of our low-cost coal-fired power plants. This availability allowed us to enhance operating margins as we supplied increased native load demand resulting from warmer summer weather and took advantage of higher power prices on short-term energy sales,” said Gary L. Rainwater, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Ameren Corporation. “In addition, operating earnings benefited from organic growth in our service territory and from the sale of certain assets from our leveraged lease portfolio. These benefits more than offset increased fuel and purchased power expenses, including higher costs of operating in the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) Day Two energy market.”
 
Revenues in 2005 increased $1.6 billion to $6.8 billion compared to 2004. The Sept. 30, 2004, acquisition of Illinois Power Company added revenues of $1.3 billion in 2005. In addition, warm
 
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Add One
 
summer weather increased residential and commercial electric sales, and industrial electric sales benefited from the addition of Noranda Aluminum, Inc., the largest energy user in the state of Missouri, as a customer beginning June 1, 2005.
 
Cooling degree days in 2005 were approximately 37 percent above a mild 2004, according to the National Weather Service. Excluding the effect of the Illinois Power Company acquisition, weather-sensitive residential electric megawatthour sales increased 10 percent, and commercial electric megawatthour sales increased 3 percent, in 2005 compared to 2004. It is estimated that weather benefited 2005 earnings by 26 cents per share as compared to 2004.
 
Interchange revenues rose 19 percent in 2005 compared to 2004, due to higher power prices and access to the MISO Day Two energy market. In 2005, interchange revenues averaged $44 per megawatthour versus $30 per megawatthour in 2004. These factors more than offset the 19 percent decrease in year-over-year interchange sales in 2005. Interchange sales were lower in 2005 due largely to less excess power being available for sale as a result of the addition of Noranda Aluminum as a customer, increased residential and commercial native load demand, due principally to warmer weather, and coal conservation efforts required as a result of disruptions in coal deliveries.
 
Fuel and purchased power costs increased in 2005 over 2004, due to the addition of Illinois Power Company, increased sales, higher coal and related transportation costs and the incremental costs of operating in the MISO Day Two energy market. Incremental MISO costs reduced 2005 earnings by an estimated 29 cents per share compared to 2004.
 
Illinois Power Company contributed incremental net income of $68 million to Ameren’s earnings in 2005. Accretion from this acquisition and dilution from common shares issued by Ameren in advance of the September 2004 completion of the Illinois Power Company acquisition resulted in an estimated 23 cent increase in 2005 earnings per share. 
 
“A highlight of 2005 was the successful completion of the refueling and maintenance outage at our Callaway nuclear plant - the most extensive in Callaway’s history,” added Rainwater. “During the outage, which was one of the most efficient and effective outages in the plant’s history, we refueled the plant and replaced the steam generators and turbine rotors in 63 ½ days, positioning the plant very well for the future. “
 
Fourth quarter 2005 net income was reduced by 14 cents per share due to the Callaway outage. The 2004 refueling and maintenance outage was performed in the second quarter. Net
 
- more -
 
 

 
Add Two
 
income in the fourth quarter of 2005 was also negatively impacted by MISO-related expenses of 12 cents per share and a 10 cent per share reduction in native load and interchange margins, due to coal conservation measures and increased coal and related transportation costs. Sales of leveraged leases benefited fourth quarter 2005 net income by 11 cents per share compared to the year-ago period.
 
Ameren also announced today that it is reaffirming its 2006 earnings guidance. The company continues to expect 2006 earnings to range between $2.95 and $3.25 per share. Ameren’s guidance assumes normal weather for the full year and is subject to, among other things, plant operations, energy market and economic conditions, unusual or otherwise unexpected gains or losses and other risks and uncertainties outlined in Ameren’s Forward-looking Statements.
 
Ameren will conduct a conference call for financial analysts at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time) on Tuesday, Feb. 14, to discuss 2005 earnings and other matters related to the company. Investors, the news media and the public may listen to a live Internet broadcast of the Ameren analyst call at www.ameren.com by clicking on "Q4 2005 Ameren Corporation Earnings Conference Call," then the appropriate audio link. A slide presentation will also be available on Ameren’s Web site that reconciles 2005 earnings per share to 2004 earnings per share and 2006 earnings per share guidance to 2005 earnings per share. This presentation will be posted in the “Investors” section of the Web site under “Presentations.” The analyst call will also be available for replay on the Internet for one year. Telephone playback of the conference call will also be available beginning at 11:30 a.m. noon (Central Time), from Feb. 14 through Feb. 21, by dialing, U.S. (800) 405-2236; international (303) 590-3000 and entering the number: 11052965#.
 
With assets of more than $18 billion, Ameren serves approximately 2.3 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000 square mile area of Missouri and Illinois. Ameren owns a diverse mix of electric generating plants strategically located in its Midwest market with a generating capacity of more than 15,200 megawatts.
 
Regulation G Statement

Ameren has presented certain information in this presentation on a diluted cents per share basis. These diluted per share amounts reflect certain factors that directly impact Ameren’s total earnings per share. In addition, Ameren has provided information before and after a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. Ameren believes this information is useful because it enables readers to better understand the impact of these factors on Ameren’s earnings per share.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this report not based on historical facts are considered “forward-looking” and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. These statements include (without limitation)
 
 

 
 
statements as to future expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, events, conditions, and financial performance. In connection with the “safe harbor” provi-sions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The following factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this release and in our filings with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking statements:

·  
regulatory actions, including changes in regulatory policies and ratemaking determinations;
·  
the impact of changes to the joint dispatch agreement among Union Electric Company, Ameren Energy Generating Company and Central Illinois Public Service Company ordered by, or resulting from actions of, regulators;
·  
changes in laws and other governmental actions, including monetary and fiscal policies;
·  
the effects of increased competition in the future due to, among other things, deregulation of certain aspects of our business at both the state and federal levels, and the implementation of deregulation, such as when the current electric rate freeze and current power supply contracts expire in Illinois in 2006;
·  
the effects of participation in the MISO;
·  
the availability of fuel for the production of electricity, such as coal and natural gas, and purchased power and natural gas for distribution, and the level and volatility of future market prices for such commodities, including the ability to recover any increased costs;
·  
the effectiveness of our risk management strategies and the use of financial and derivative instruments;
·  
prices for power in the Midwest;
·  
business and economic conditions, including their impact on interest rates;
·  
disruptions of the capital markets or other events that make access to necessary capital more difficult or costly;
·  
the impact of the adoption of new accounting standards and the application of appropriate technical accounting rules and guidance;
·  
actions of credit ratings agencies and the effects of such actions;
·  
weather conditions and other natural phenomena;
·  
generation plant construction, installation, availability and performance, including costs associated with the Taum Sauk pumped-storage hydro-electric plant incident and its future use;
·  
operation of UE’s nuclear power facility, including planned and unplanned outages, and decommissioning costs;
·  
the effects of strategic initiatives, including acquisitions and divestitures;
·  
the impact of current environmental regulations on utilities and power generating companies and the expectation that more stringent requirements will be introduced over time, which could have a negative financial effect;
·  
labor disputes, future wages and employee benefits costs, including changes in returns on benefit plan assets;
·  
changes in the energy markets, environmental laws or regulations, interest rates, or other factors that could adversely affect assumptions in connection with the CILCORP Inc. and Illinois Power Company acquisitions;
·  
the impact of conditions imposed by regulators in connection with their approval of Ameren’s acquisition of Illinois Power Company;
·  
the inability of our counterparties to meet their obligations with respect to our contracts and financial instruments;
·  
the cost and availability of transmission capacity for the energy generated by Ameren generating facilities or required to satisfy energy sales;
·  
legal and administrative proceedings; and
·  
acts of sabotage, war or terrorist activities.

Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events, or otherwise.

# # #
 
 


 
AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING STATISTICS
                   
     
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended
     
December 31,
 
December 31,
     
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
Electric Sales - KWH (in millions):
               
 
Residential
 
5,691
 
5,192
 
25,570
 
19,121
 
Commercial
 
5,953
 
5,812
 
24,969
 
20,863
 
Industrial
 
6,176
 
5,605
 
23,880
 
19,971
 
Wholesale
 
2,322
 
2,245
 
9,684
 
9,388
 
Other
 
191
 
185
 
732
 
421
 
Native
 
20,333
 
19,039
 
84,835
 
69,764
 
Interchange sales
 
2,191
 
4,218
 
11,224
 
13,801
 
Total
 
22,524
 
23,257
 
96,059
 
83,565
                   
Electric Revenues - (in millions):
               
 
Residential
 
$ 344
 
$ 317
 
$ 1,805
 
$ 1,323
 
Commercial
 
327
 
314
 
1,565
 
1,239
 
Industrial
 
239
 
214
 
1,019
 
815
 
Wholesale
 
79
 
79
 
339
 
335
 
Other
 
12
 
13
 
52
 
33
 
Native
 
1,001
 
937
 
4,780
 
3,745
 
Interchange sales
 
141
 
138
 
499
 
420
 
Other
 
32
 
33
 
152
 
98
 
Total
 
$ 1,174
 
$ 1,108
 
$ 5,431
 
$ 4,263
                   
Power Supply (%):
               
 
Fossil
 
67.4
 
63.0
 
67.9
 
76.5
 
Nuclear
 
5.1
 
12.4
 
8.1
 
9.3
 
Hydro
 
0.8
 
1.9
 
1.3
 
1.7
 
Purchased
 
26.7
 
22.7
 
22.7
 
12.5
                   
Fuel Cost per KWH (cents)
 
1.168
 
1.073
 
1.196
 
1.096
Gas Sales - MMBTU (in thousands)
 
38,489
 
33,970
 
114,182
 
87,787
                   
     
December 31,
 
December 31,
       
     
2005
 
2004
       
Common Stock:
               
 
Shares outstanding (in millions)
 
204.2
 
195.2
       
 
Book value per share
 
$31.09
 
$29.71
       
                   
Capitalization Ratios:
               
 
Common equity
 
52.5%
 
49.1%
       
 
Preferred stock
 
1.6%
 
1.7%
       
 
Debt, net of cash
 
45.9%
 
49.2%
       
 
 
 

 
 

AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Unaudited, in millions)
           
 
   
December 31, 
   
December 31,
 
     
2005
   
2004
 
               
ASSETS
             
Current Assets:
             
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
96
 
$
69
 
Accounts receivable - trade
   
552
   
442
 
Unbilled revenue
   
382
   
336
 
Miscellaneous accounts and notes receivable
   
31
   
38
 
Materials and supplies, at average cost
   
814
   
623
 
Other current assets
   
185
   
74
 
Total current assets
   
2,060
   
1,582
 
Property and Plant, Net
   
13,572
   
13,297
 
Investments and Other Assets:
             
Investments in leveraged leases
   
50
   
140
 
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund
   
250
   
235
 
Goodwill and other intangibles, net
   
980
   
940
 
Other assets
   
419
   
411
 
Regulatory assets
   
831
   
829
 
Total investments and other assets
   
2,530
   
2,555
 
               
TOTAL ASSETS
 
$
18,162
 
$
17,434
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Current Liabilities:
             
Current maturities of long-term debt
 
$
96
 
$
423
 
Short-term debt
   
193
   
417
 
Accounts and wages payable
   
706
   
567
 
Taxes accrued
   
131
   
26
 
Other current liabilities
   
361
   
374
 
Total current liabilities
   
1,487
   
1,807
 
Long-term Debt, Net
   
5,354
   
5,021
 
Preferred Stock of Subsidiary Subject to Mandatory Redemption
   
19
   
20
 
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
             
Accumulated deferred income taxes, net
   
1,969
   
1,886
 
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits
   
129
   
139
 
Regulatory liabilities
   
1,132
   
1,042
 
Asset retirement obligations
   
518
   
439
 
Accrued pension and other postretirement benefits
   
760
   
756
 
Other deferred credits and liabilities
   
218
   
315
 
Total deferred credits and other liabilities
   
4,726
   
4,577
 
Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries Not Subject to Mandatory Redemption
   
195
   
195
 
Minority Interest in Consolidated Subsidiaries
   
17
   
14
 
Stockholders' Equity:
             
Common stock
   
2
   
2
 
Other paid-in capital, principally premium on common stock
   
4,399
   
3,949
 
Retained earnings
   
1,999
   
1,904
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(24
)
 
(45
)
Other
   
(12
)
 
(10
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
6,364
   
5,800
 
               
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
18,162
 
$
17,434
 
 
 
 

 
 

AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)
                   
                   
                   
   
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
                   
Operating Revenues:
                         
Electric
 
$
1,174
 
$
1,108
 
$
5,431
 
$
4,263
 
Gas
   
526
   
368
   
1,345
   
866
 
Other
   
1
   
1
   
4
   
6
 
Total operating revenues
   
1,701
   
1,477
   
6,780
   
5,135
 
                           
Operating Expenses:
                         
Fuel and purchased power
   
531
   
390
   
2,055
   
1,253
 
Gas purchased for resale
   
407
   
263
   
957
   
598
 
Other operations and maintenance
   
378
   
381
   
1,487
   
1,337
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
160
   
159
   
632
   
557
 
Taxes other than income taxes
   
81
   
81
   
365
   
312
 
Total operating expenses
   
1,557
   
1,274
   
5,496
   
4,057
 
Operating Income
   
144
   
203
   
1,284
   
1,078
 
                           
Other Income and Expenses:
                         
Miscellaneous income
   
10
   
12
   
29
   
32
 
Miscellaneous expense
   
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
(15
)
 
(9
)
Total other income
   
7
   
9
   
14
   
23
 
                           
Interest Charges and Preferred Dividends:
                         
Interest
   
80
   
86
   
301
   
278
 
Preferred dividends of subsidiaries
   
3
   
3
   
13
   
11
 
Net interest charges and preferred dividends
   
83
   
89
   
314
   
289
 
                           
Income Before Income Taxes and Cumulative Effect of Change
in Accounting Principle
   
68
   
123
   
984
   
812
 
                           
Income Taxes
   
26
   
40
   
356
   
282
 
                           
Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle
 
$
42
 
$
83
 
$
628
 
$
530
 
                           
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Income Taxes
   
(22
)
 
-
   
(22
)
 
-
 
                           
Net Income
 
$
20
 
$
83
 
$
606
 
$
530
 
                           
Earnings per Common Share - Basic and Diluted:
                         
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
 
$
0.21
 
$
0.42
 
$
3.13
 
$
2.84
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income taxes
   
(0.11
)
 
-
   
(0.11
)
 
-
 
Earnings per Common Share - Basic and Diluted:
 
$
0.10
 
$
0.42
 
$
3.02
 
$
2.84
 
                           
                           
Average Common Shares Outstanding
   
204.3
   
194.8
   
200.8
   
186.4
 
 
 
 

 
 

AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, in millions)
           
           
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
           
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
         
Net income
 
$
606
 
$
530
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
             
provided by operating activities:
             
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
   
22
   
-
 
Gain on sale of leveraged lease companies
   
(22
)
 
-
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
588
   
557
 
Amortization of nuclear fuel
   
28
   
31
 
Amortization of debt issuance costs and premium/discounts
   
15
   
13
 
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net
   
59
   
339
 
Coal contract settlement
   
-
   
36
 
Other
   
2
   
(44
)
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of the acquisition:
             
Receivables, net
   
(160
)
 
(18
)
Materials and supplies
   
(108
)
 
(25
)
Accounts and wages payable
   
129
   
29
 
Taxes accrued
   
107
   
(67
)
Assets, other
   
(80
)
 
(62
)
Liabilities, other
   
(37
)
 
(3
)
Pension and other postretirement obligations, net
   
22
   
(187
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
1,171
   
1,129
 
               
               
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
             
Capital expenditures
   
(947
)
 
(806
)
Proceeds from sale of leveraged lease companies
   
54
   
-
 
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
   
12
   
(443
)
Nuclear fuel expenditures
   
(17
)
 
(42
)
Other
   
17
   
25
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(881
)
 
(1,266
)
               
               
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
             
Dividends on common stock
   
(511
)
 
(479
)
Capital issuance costs
   
(6
)
 
(40
)
Short-term debt, net
   
(224
)
 
256
 
Redemptions, Repurchases and Maturities:
             
Nuclear fuel lease
   
-
   
(67
)
Long-term debt
   
(618
)
 
(1,465
)
Preferred stock
   
(1
)
 
(1
)
Issuances:
             
Common stock
   
454
   
1,441
 
Long-term debt
   
643
   
458
 
Other
   
-
   
(8
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
(263
)
 
95
 
               
Net Change In Cash and Cash Equivalents
   
27
   
(42
)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year
   
69
   
111
 
               
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year
 
$
96
 
$
69