EX-99 2 exhibit_99.htm PRESS RELEASE


NEWS RELEASE



      

800 Cabin Hill Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601-1650

 

Media contact:

Investor contact:

 

David Neurohr

Max Kuniansky

 

Manager, External Communications

Executive Director, Investor Relations

Phone: (724) 838-6020

and Corporate Communications

 

Media Hotline: 1-888-233-3583

Phone: (724) 838-6895

 

E-mail:  dneuroh@alleghenyenergy.com

E-mail:  mkunian@alleghenyenergy.com

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Allegheny Energy Reports First Quarter 2007 Results

 

GREENSBURG, Pa., April 26, 2007 -- Allegheny Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AYE) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2007.

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

 

 

                     $ millions

 

                     Per Share

 

2007

2006

 

2007

2006

Consolidated net income-GAAP

$109.7

$113.4

 

$0.65

$0.67

Adjusted net income

109.7

114.2

 

0.65

0.68

 

Allegheny also reported adjusted financial results for the first quarter of 2006 by excluding a $0.8 million loss from discontinued operations. There were no adjustments to net income for the first quarter of 2007.

 

“We had solid operating performance in the first quarter,” said Paul J. Evanson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Allegheny Energy. “But despite a 5 percent increase in retail sales and power plant performance in line with our expectations, earnings decreased due to lower market prices for power and increased coal costs.

 

“We made progress in key areas during the quarter, obtaining approval of our Maryland rate transition plan, completing the Fort Martin scrubber financing, and filing for state approval of our Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line transmission project. Recently announced plans for further transmission investments strengthen our confidence in Allegheny’s long-term growth prospects.”

 

First Quarter Consolidated Results

 

Net income for the first quarter of 2007 decreased by $4.5 million compared with adjusted net income for the same period in 2006. Key factors contributing to the results include:

 

Operating revenues increased $2.0 million compared to the first quarter of 2006, reflecting higher generation rates in Pennsylvania and increased sales due to colder weather, partially offset by lower market prices for power, including hedges and market-based contracts, and the expiration of a power purchase agreement with the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC).

 

 

Fuel expense increased by $13.5 million due to higher coal costs and increased coal usage.

 

 

Purchased power and transmission expense decreased by $8.0 million, reflecting reduced purchases from OVEC.

 

 

In the first quarter of 2006, Allegheny recorded a $5.0 million (pre-tax) gain on the 2004 sale of a portion of its interest in OVEC.

 

 

Operations and maintenance expense increased by $4.2 million, largely due to a benefit related to the Hunlock Creek transactions in the first quarter of 2006.

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $4.1 million, reflecting higher plant in service.

 

 

Interest expense decreased by $8.2 million due to lower debt levels.

 

 

Income taxes decreased by $1.1 million as a result of lower pre-tax income.

 

EBITDA for the first quarter of 2007 was $312.6 million, a decrease of $9.5 million compared to adjusted EBITDA for the same quarter of the prior year. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. Details on the calculation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income are attached to this release.

 

First Quarter Segment Results

 

Three Months Ended March 31
($ millions)

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

Generation and Marketing:

 

 

 

Net income – GAAP

$64.3

 

$67.0

Adjusted net income

45.4

 

46.4

 

 

 

 

Delivery and Services:

 

 

 

Net income – GAAP

$45.4

 

$46.4

Adjusted net income

45.4

 

46.4

 

There were no adjustments in either segment for the first quarter of 2007. Adjusted net income in the Generation and Marketing segment for the first quarter of 2006 excludes results of discontinued operations.

 

Generation and Marketing: Net income for the quarter decreased by $3.5 million compared to adjusted net income for the same period a year earlier. Key factors contributing to the decrease in earnings were lower market prices for power, including hedges and market-based contracts, higher coal costs and the previously mentioned OVEC gain and Hunlock Creek transactions recorded in the first quarter of 2006. Segment results benefited from a 1 percent increase in kilowatt-hours generated, higher generation rates in Pennsylvania and reduced interest expense.

 

Delivery and Services: Net income for the quarter decreased by $1.0 million compared to the same quarter of the prior year. Retail sales increased by 5 percent due to colder weather and customer growth, but the related increase in revenues was more than offset by higher costs of purchasing power, including costs to serve higher demand and the effect of a generation ownership exchange in West Virginia, and a higher effective tax rate.

 

Discontinued Operations: Discontinued operations had no impact on results for the first quarter of 2007, compared to a $0.8 million loss for the same period of the prior year. The 2006 results relate solely to the Gleason generating facility, which Allegheny sold in the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

This news release and the attached table include non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation G. Where noted, we present financial information on an adjusted basis to exclude the effect of certain items as described herein. By presenting adjusted results, management intends to provide investors with a more complete understanding of the core results and underlying trends from which to consider past performance and prospects for the future. We also present EBITDA as an additional measure of our operating performance.

 

Users of this financial information should consider the types of events and transactions for which adjustments have been made. Neither the adjusted information nor EBITDA should be considered in isolation or viewed as substitutes for or superior to net income or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP as measures of our operating performance or liquidity. In addition, neither the adjusted information nor EBITDA is necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures provided by other companies.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, we have attached tables that reconcile non-GAAP financial measures, including those presented in this release, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

 

Investor Conference Call

 

Allegheny Energy will discuss these results in a live Internet broadcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, April 27, 2007. To listen to the broadcast, visit www.alleghenyenergy.com. A taped replay will be available after the live broadcast.

 

Allegheny Energy

 

Headquartered in Greensburg, Pa., Allegheny Energy is an investor-owned electric utility with total annual revenues of over $3 billion and more than 4,000 employees. The company owns and operates generating facilities and delivers low-cost, reliable electric service to over 1.5 million customers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. For more information, visit our Web site at www.alleghenyenergy.com.

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

In addition to historical information, this release may contain a number of "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as anticipate, expect, project, intend, plan, believe, and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify forward-looking statements. These include statements with respect to: rate regulation and the status of retail generation service supply competition in states served by Allegheny Energy’s distribution business, Allegheny Power; financing plans; demand for energy and the cost and availability of raw materials, including coal; provider-of-last-resort and power supply contracts; results of litigation; results of operations; internal controls and procedures; capital expenditures; status and condition of plants and equipment; capacity purchase commitments; and regulatory matters. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations and projections and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that actual results will not materially differ from expectations. Actual results have varied materially and unpredictably from past expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, the following: plant performance and unplanned outages; changes in the price of power and fuel for electric generation; general economic and business conditions; changes in access to capital markets and actions of rating agencies; complications or other factors that render it difficult or impossible to obtain necessary lender consents or regulatory authorizations on a timely basis; environmental regulations; the results of regulatory proceedings, including proceedings related to rates; changes in industry capacity, development and other activities by Allegheny Energy’s competitors; changes in the weather and other natural phenomena; changes in customer switching behavior and their resulting effects on existing and future load requirements; changes in the underlying inputs and assumptions, including market conditions used to estimate the fair values of commodity contracts; changes in laws and regulations applicable to Allegheny Energy, its markets or its activities; the loss of any significant customers or suppliers; dependence on other electric transmission and gas transportation systems and their constraints or availability; inflationary and interest rate trends changes in market rules, including changes to PJM participant rules and tariffs; the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies and accounting issues facing our organization; and the continuing effects of global instability, terrorism and war. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in Allegheny Energy’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

-###-

 


ALLEGHENY ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2007

 

2006

 

Operating revenues

$847,625

$845,646

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

Fuel

232,225

218,689

Purchased power and transmission

93,266

101,232

Gain on sale of OVEC power agreement and shares

(5,000)

Deferred energy costs, net

(1,455)

4,993

Operations and maintenance

160,544

156,381

Depreciation and amortization

71,981

67,842

Taxes other than income taxes

55,890

53,667

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

612,451

597,804

 

 

 

Operating income

235,174

247,842

 

 

 

Other income and expenses, net

5,862

7,671

 

 

 

Interest expense and preferred dividends:

 

 

Interest expense

59,236

67,388

Preferred dividend of subsidiary

293

293

 

 

 

Total interest expense and preferred dividends

59,529

67,681

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

181,507

187,832

 

 

 

Income tax expense

71,378

72,504

 

 

 

Minority interest in net income of subsidiaries

387

1,178

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

109,742

114,150

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

(766)

 

 

 

Net income

$109,742

$113,384

 

 

 

Common share data:

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

Basic

165,494

163,080

Diluted

169,181

168,504

 

 

 

Basic income per common share:

 

 

Income from continuing operations

$0.66

$0.70

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

 

Net income per common share

$0.66

$0.70

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per common share:

 

 

Income from continuing operations

$0.65

$0.68

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

(0.01)

 

 

 

Net income per common share

$0.65

$0.67

 

 

 


ALLEGHENY ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

March 31,

2007

 

December 31,

2006

 

ASSETS

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$68,642

$114,138

Accounts receivable:

 

 

Customer

220,788

167,792

Unbilled utility revenue

97,553

117,977

Wholesale and other

72,948

63,894

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

(13,758)

(14,591)

Materials and supplies

98,661

96,117

Fuel

71,556

74,951

Deferred income taxes

129,636

127,531

Prepaid taxes

79,145

44,603

Collateral deposits

47,264

39,399

Commodity contracts

34

1,430

Restricted funds

11,601

12,923

Regulatory assets

40,784

39,128

Other

14,766

24,130

 

 

 

Total current assets

939,620

909,422

 

 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net:

 

 

Generation

5,831,687

5,820,278

Transmission

1,061,692

1,056,759

Distribution

3,632,429

3,597,405

Other

448,625

412,894

Accumulated depreciation

(4,706,362)

(4,636,972)

 

 

 

Subtotal

6,268,071

6,250,364

Construction work in progress

308,708

262,529

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

6,576,779

6,512,893

 

 

 

Investments and Other Assets:

 

 

Goodwill

367,287

367,287

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

28,114

28,259

Other

28,714

27,932

 

 

 

Total investments and other assets

424,115

423,478

 

 

 

Deferred Charges:

 

 

Regulatory assets

657,746

674,095

Other

36,020

32,558

 

 

 

Total deferred charges

693,766

706,653

 

 

 

Total Assets

$8,634,280

$8,552,446

 

 

 


ALLEGHENY ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

(In thousands, except share data)

 

March 31,

2007

 

December 31,

2006

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

Long-term debt due within one year

$187,136

$201,189

Accounts payable

243,002

236,706

Accrued taxes

100,590

136,216

Commodity contracts

10,272

5,984

Accrued interest

108,043

99,854

Other

130,019

140,830

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

779,062

820,779

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term Debt

3,363,668

3,383,986

 

 

 

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:

 

 

Commodity contracts

15,324

17,982

Taxes payable

42,880

Investment tax credit

72,042

72,938

Deferred income taxes

1,000,120

936,911

Obligations under capital leases

26,962

26,007

Regulatory liabilities

443,211

464,092

Adverse power purchase commitment

162,653

166,937

Other

516,229

547,706

 

 

 

Total deferred credits and other liabilities

2,279,421

2,232,573

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

Minority Interest

11,120

10,713

 

 

 

Preferred Stock of Subsidiary

24,000

24,000

 

 

 

Common Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

Common stock, $1.25 par value, 260 million shares authorized and 165,654,590 and 165,409,908 shares issued at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively

207,068

206,762

Other paid-in capital

1,913,920

1,907,879

Retained earnings

166,718

74,698

Treasury stock at cost; 49,493 shares

(1,756)

(1,756)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(108,941)

(107,188)

 

 

 

Total common stockholders’ equity

2,177,009

2,080,395

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

$8,634,280

$8,552,446

 

 

 


ALLEGHENY ENERGY, INC.—CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Income Summary

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2007

 

 

(In millions)

Delivery

and

Services

Generation

and

Marketing

Eliminations

Total

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

$757.9

$524.5

$(434.8)

$847.6

Fuel

232.2

232.2

Purchased power and transmission

500.8

24.2

(431.7)

93.3

Deferred energy costs, net

(1.5)

(1.5)

Operations and maintenance

86.3

77.3

(3.1)

160.5

Depreciation and amortization

40.2

31.8

72.0

Taxes other than income taxes

35.5

20.4

55.9

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

661.3

385.9

(434.8)

612.4

Operating income

96.6

138.6

235.2

Other income and expenses, net

3.0

4.1

(1.2)

5.9

Interest expense and preferred dividends

18.7

42.1

(1.2)

59.6

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

80.9

100.6

181.5

Income tax expense

35.5

35.9

71.4

Minority interest in net income of subsidiaries

0.4

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$45.4

$64.3

$—

$109.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2006

 

 

(In millions)

Delivery

and

Services

Generation

and

Marketing

Eliminations

Total

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

$702.6

$507.1

$(364.1)

$845.6

Fuel

218.7

218.7

Purchased power and transmission

447.7

15.7

(362.2)

101.2

Gain on sale of OVEC power agreement and shares

(5.0)

(5.0)

Deferred energy costs, net

5.0

5.0

Operations and maintenance

86.8

71.5

(1.9)

156.4

Depreciation and amortization

37.7

30.1

67.8

Taxes other than income taxes

33.3

20.4

53.7

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

610.5

351.4

(364.1)

597.8

Operating income

92.1

155.7

247.8

Other income and expenses, net

4.3

3.8

(0.4)

7.7

Interest expense and preferred dividends

19.9

48.2

(0.4)

67.7

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

76.5

111.3

187.8

Income tax expense

30.1

42.3

72.4

Minority interest in net income of subsidiaries

1.2

1.2

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

46.4

67.8

114.2

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

(0.8)

(0.8)

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$46.4

$67.0

$—

$113.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

CONSOLIDATED DATA FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007 AND 2006

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST

NET INCOME

 

DILUTED

INCOME
PER SHARE

Calculation of Adjusted Income:

 

 

 

Income - GAAP basis

$181.5

$109.7

$0.65

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

--

--

 

Adjusted Income

$181.5

$109.7

$0.65

 

 

 

 

Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

Net Income - GAAP basis

 

$109.7

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

--

 

Interest expense and preferred dividends

 

59.5

 

Income tax expense

 

71.4

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

72.0

 

EBITDA from continuing operations

 

312.6

 

No adjustments

 

--

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

 

$312.6

 

 

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST

NET INCOME

 

DILUTED

INCOME
PER SHARE

Calculation of Adjusted Income:

 

 

 

Income - GAAP basis

$187.8

$113.4

$0.67

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

--

0.8

 

Adjusted Income

$187.8

$114.2

$0.68

 

 

 

 

Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

Net Income - GAAP basis

 

$113.4

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

0.8

 

Interest expense and preferred dividends

 

67.7

 

Income tax expense

 

72.4

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

67.8

 

EBITDA from continuing operations

 

322.1

 

No adjustments

 

--

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

 

$322.1

 




RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
SEGMENT DATA FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007 AND 2006
(in millions)
(unaudited)

 

 

DELIVERY AND SERVICES

GENERATION AND MARKETING


THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2007

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST

NET INCOME

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST

NET

INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

Calculation of Adjusted Income:

 

 

 

 

Income - GAAP Basis

$80.9

$45.4

$100.6

$64.3

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

--

--

--

--

Adjusted Income

$80.9

$45.4

$100.6

$64.3

 

 

DELIVERY AND SERVICES

GENERATION AND MARKETING


THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2006

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST

NET INCOME

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST

NET

INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

Calculation of Adjusted Income:

 

 

 

 

Income - GAAP Basis

$76.5

$46.4

$111.3

$67.0

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

--

--

--

0.8

Adjusted Income

$76.5

$46.4

$111.3

$67.8

 


Allegheny Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
OPERATING STATISTICS

(unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Change

Delivery and Services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail electricity sales (million KWH)

 

11,711

 

11,182

 

4.7%

Usage per customer (KWH):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

3,739

 

3,472

 

7.7%

Commercial

 

15,106

 

14,637

 

3.2%

Industrial

 

146,134

 

147,028

 

-0.6%

Generation and Marketing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total generation (million KWH):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supercritical coal

 

10,748

 

10,550

 

1.9%

Other coal

 

1,753

 

1,559

 

12.4%

Gas

 

91

 

77

 

18.2%

Hydro and other

 

500

 

831

 

-39.8%

Total

 

13,092

 

13,017

 

0.6%

Net capacity factor:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supercritical coal

 

82%

 

80%

 

2%

All coal

 

77%

 

75%

 

2%

Equivalent availability factor:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supercritical coal

 

90%

 

91%

 

-1%

All coal

 

89%

 

91%

 

-2%

Degree Days:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heating

 

2,776

 

2,426

 

14.4%

Cooling

 

2

 

0

 

N/A