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8-K - 8-K - DOMINION ENERGY SOUTH CAROLINA, INC.a10-19912_18k.htm
EX-99.2 - EX-99.2 - DOMINION ENERGY SOUTH CAROLINA, INC.a10-19912_1ex99d2.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

 

 

 

Media Contact:

Investor Contact:

 

Eric Boomhower

Byron Hinson

 

(803) 217-7701

(803) 217-5352

 

eboomhower@scana.com

bhinson@scana.com

 

SCANA Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter and Year-to-Date 2010,

Reaffirms 2010 Earnings Guidance

 

Cayce, SC, October 27, 2010...SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG) today announced financial results for the period ended September 30, 2010 and reaffirmed 2010 guidance of $2.90 to $3.05 per share.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2010, SCANA reported basic earnings per share of 80 cents, or $101 million, compared to 84 cents per share, or $103 million for the same earnings period in 2009.

 

“The decline in third quarter results was due primarily to resolution of a state income tax issue in 2009, which contributed 11 cents per share,” said Jimmy Addison, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “The earnings drivers for the third quarter were improved electric margins resulting from electric base rate increases under the Base Load Review Act and the retail electric rate case, which offset higher interest expense, higher property taxes, slightly higher operations and maintenance expenses and dilution during this quarter.”

 

Addison also noted that this was the first quarter that included the new electric weather normalization adjustment mechanism (WNA). “On a prospective basis, with WNA in effect in our regulated operations at SCE&G and the Customer Utilization Tracker at PSNC Energy, about 90% of our earnings are more predictable for our shareholders and the effects of abnormal weather on customer’s bills are mitigated.”

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, SCANA reported basic earnings of $2.25 per share, or $281 million, compared to $2.23 per share, or $272 million, for the same period in 2009.

 

The year-to-date increase in earnings was driven primarily by improved electric and gas margins due to regulatory outcomes and customer growth.  These improvements were offset by higher interest expense, higher property taxes, slightly higher operation and maintenance expenses and dilution, as well as the effect of the resolution of the state income tax issue in 2009,” said Addison.

 



 

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS BY MAJOR LINES OF BUSINESS

 

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company

 

Reported earnings in the third quarter of 2010 at South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) were $111 million, or 87 cents per share (basic), compared to $109 million, or 89 cents per share, in the same quarter of 2009.  The decrease was due to the resolution in 2009 of the state tax issue related to State of South Carolina Economic Impact Zone (EIZ) Tax Credits, higher interest expense, higher property taxes, higher operations and maintenance expenses and dilution, which more than offset higher electric and gas margins. At September 30, 2010, SCE&G was serving approximately 660,000 electric customers and approximately 309,000 natural gas customers, both up approximately 1 percent over a year earlier.

 

PSNC Energy

 

PSNC Energy, the Company’s North Carolina-based retail natural gas distribution subsidiary, reported a seasonal loss of $5 million, or 4 cents per share, in the third quarter of 2010, unchanged compared to the third quarter of 2009. At September 30, 2010, PSNC Energy was serving approximately 468,000 customers, an increase of 1.6 percent over a year earlier.

 

SCANA Energy — Georgia

 

SCANA Energy, the Company’s retail natural gas marketing business in Georgia, reported a loss of $3 million, or 2 cents per share, in the third quarter of 2010, unchanged compared to the third quarter of 2009. At September 30, 2010, SCANA Energy was serving more than 445,000 customers, an increase of approximately 1 percent over a year earlier.

 

Corporate and Other, Net

 

SCANA’s corporate and other businesses, which include Carolina Gas Transmission, SCANA Communications, ServiceCare, SCANA Energy Marketing and the holding company, reported a loss in the third quarter of 2010 of $2 million, or 1 cent per share, compared to earnings of $1 million, or 1 cent per share in the same quarter last year.  The results for 2010 reflect slightly higher interest expense and income taxes than the same period in 2009.

 

UPDATE ON ANNUAL BLRA RATE PROCEEDING

 

On September 30, 2010 the South Carolina Public Service Commission approved SCE&G’s annual Revised Rate Adjustment request for the annual recovery of financing costs related to its new nuclear construction. This rate adjustment was based upon the incremental project construction work in progress incurred from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 and the updated capital structure with the return on equity set at 11 percent.  The approved increase of $47.3 million, or 2.3 percent, will be effective for bills rendered on or after October 30th of this year.

 

EARNINGS OUTLOOK

 

The Company reaffirmed its guidance for 2010 basic earnings per share of $2.90 to $3.05. These estimates exclude any potential impacts from changes in accounting principles and gains or losses

 

2



 

from certain investing activities, litigation and sales of assets. Other factors and risks that could impact future earnings are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and below under the Safe Harbor Statement. The Company continues to target an average annual earnings growth rate of 4 to 6 percent over the next 3 to 5 years.

 

CONFERENCE CALL NOTICE

 

SCANA will host its quarterly conference call for security analysts at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, October 27, 2010. The call-in numbers for the conference call are 1-866-713-8565 (US/Canada) and 1-617-597-5324 (International). The passcode is 67889312. Participants should call in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately 2 hours after conclusion of the call through November 10, 2010. The telephone replay numbers are 1-888-286-8010 (US/Canada) and 1-617-801-6888 (International). The passcode for the telephone replay is 71189982.

 

All interested persons, including investors, media and the general public, may listen to a live listen-only web cast of the conference call at the Company’s website at www.scana.com.  Participants should go to the website at least 5 to 10 minutes prior to the call start time and follow the instructions. A replay of the web cast and a transcript of the call will be available on the Company’s website approximately 2 hours after conclusion of the call through November 10, 2010.

 

PROFILE

 

SCANA Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Cayce, SC, is an energy-based holding company principally engaged, through subsidiaries, in electric and natural gas utility operations and other energy-related businesses. The Company serves approximately 660,000 electric customers in South Carolina and more than 1.2 million natural gas customers in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Information about SCANA and its businesses is available on the Company’s website at www.scana.com.

 

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

 

Statements included in this press release which are not statements of historical fact are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, “forward-looking statements” for purposes of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning key earnings drivers, customer growth, environmental regulations and expenditures, leverage ratio, projections for pension fund contributions, financing activities, access to sources of capital, impacts of the adoption of new accounting rules and estimated construction and other expenditures. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar terminology. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and that actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the information is of a preliminary nature and may be subject to further and/or continuing review and adjustment; (2)  regulatory actions, particularly changes in rate regulation, regulations governing electric grid reliability and environmental regulations; (3) current and future litigation; (4) changes in the economy, especially in areas served by subsidiaries of SCANA Corporation (SCANA); (5) the impact of competition from other energy suppliers, including competition from alternate fuels in industrial interruptible markets; (6) growth opportunities for

 

3



 

SCANA’s regulated and diversified subsidiaries; (7) the results of short- and  long-term financing efforts, including future prospects for obtaining access to capital markets and other sources of liquidity; (8) changes in SCANA’s or its subsidiaries’ accounting rules and accounting policies; (9) the effects of weather, including drought, especially in areas where the Company’s generation and transmission facilities are located and in areas served by SCANA’s subsidiaries; (10) payment by counterparties as and when due; (11) the results of efforts to license, site, construct and finance facilities for baseload electric generation; (12) the availability of fuels such as coal, natural gas and enriched uranium used to produce electricity; the availability of purchased power and natural gas for distribution; the level and volatility of future market prices for such fuels and purchased power; and the ability to recover the costs for such fuels and purchased power; (13) the availability of skilled and experienced human resources to properly manage, operate, and grow the Company’s businesses; (14) labor disputes; (15) performance of SCANA’s pension plan assets; (16) higher taxes; (17) inflation; (18) compliance with regulations; and (19) the other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the periodic reports filed by SCANA or SCE&G with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

###

 

4



 

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended 
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended 
September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric (1)

 

$

705

 

$

615

 

$

1,820

 

$

1,633

 

Gas-Regulated

 

120

 

117

 

687

 

675

 

Gas-Nonregulated

 

263

 

189

 

948

 

835

 

Total Operating Revenues

 

1,088

 

921

 

3,455

 

3,143

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel Used in Electric Generation

 

280

 

220

 

736

 

595

 

Purchased Power

 

7

 

3

 

12

 

11

 

Gas Purchased for Resale

 

307

 

233

 

1,243

 

1,146

 

Other Operation and Maintenance

 

164

 

163

 

503

 

485

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

85

 

83

 

251

 

248

 

Other Taxes

 

49

 

44

 

147

 

135

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

892

 

746

 

2,892

 

2,620

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

196

 

175

 

563

 

523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income

 

13

 

27

 

38

 

51

 

Other Expenses

 

(10

)

(10

)

(29

)

(30

)

Interest Charges, Net

 

(67

)

(59

)

(198

)

(172

)

Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction

 

6

 

9

 

17

 

23

 

Total Other Expense

 

(58

)

(33

)

(172

)

(128

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Income Tax Expense and Earnings from Equity Method Investments

 

138

 

142

 

391

 

395

 

Income Tax Expense (1)

 

38

 

40

 

112

 

122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Earnings from Equity Method Investments

 

100

 

102

 

279

 

273

 

Earnings from Equity Method Investments

 

1

 

2

 

2

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

101

 

104

 

281

 

277

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less Preferred Dividends of Subsidiary

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Available to Common Shareholders of SCANA Corporation

 

$

101

 

$

103

 

$

281

 

$

272

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock

 

$

.80

 

$

.84

 

$

2.25

 

$

2.23

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock(2)

 

$

.79

 

$

.84

 

$

2.24

 

$

2.23

 

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

126.6

 

122.5

 

125.2

 

121.8

 

Diluted(2)

 

127.5

 

122.6

 

125.6

 

121.8

 

Dividends Declared Per Share of Common Stock

 

$

.475

 

$

.47

 

$

1.425

 

$

1.41

 

 


Note (1): In the first quarter of 2010, pursuant to authorization by the Public Service Commission of South Carolina in connection with its annual review of fuel cost and rates, the Company accelerated the recognition of previously deferred state income tax credits in the amount of $17 million (thereby lowering income tax expense), and recorded an offsetting reduction of 2010’s recovery of fuel costs (electric revenue).  These offsetting decreases had no effect on income available to common shareholders.

 

Note (2): In May 2010, SCANA entered into an equity forward sales agreement.  During periods when the average market price of SCANA’s common stock is above the per share adjusted forward sales price, the Company computes diluted earnings per share giving effect to this dilutive potential common stock utilizing the treasury stock method.

 

5



 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Millions) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Utility Plant, Net

 

$

9,461

 

$

9,009

 

Nonutility Property and Investments, Net

 

447

 

431

 

Total Current Assets

 

1,476

 

1,521

 

Total Regulatory Assets and Deferred Debits

 

1,218

 

1,133

 

Total

 

$

12,602

 

$

12,094

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalization:

 

 

 

 

 

Common Equity

 

$

3,584

 

$

3,408

 

Long-Term Debt, Net

 

3,865

 

4,483

 

Total Capitalization

 

7,449

 

7,891

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Borrowings

 

335

 

335

 

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

 

631

 

28

 

Other

 

1,002

 

893

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

1,968

 

1,256

 

Total Regulatory Liabilities and Deferred Credits

 

3,185

 

2,947

 

Total

 

$

12,602

 

$

12,094

 

 

Earnings (Loss) per Share by Company

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended 
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended 
September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

SC Electric & Gas

 

$

.87

 

$

.89

 

$

1.89

 

$

1.89

 

PSNC Energy

 

(.04

)

(.04

)

.20

 

.22

 

SCANA Energy-Georgia

 

(.02

)

(.02

)

.17

 

.13

 

Corporate and Other

 

(.01

)

.01

 

(.01

)

(.01

)

Basic Earnings per Share

 

$

.80

 

$

.84

 

$

2.25

 

$

2.23

 

Diluted Earnings per Share

 

$

.79

 

$

.84

 

$

2.24

 

$

2.23

 

 

Variances in Earnings per Share:

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended 
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

2009 Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

 

$

.84

 

$

2.23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variances:

 

 

 

 

 

Electric Margin (1)

 

.14

 

.32

 

Natural Gas Margin

 

.01

 

.14

 

Operation & Maintenance Expense

 

(.01

)

(.09

)

Interest Expense (Net of AFUDC)

 

(.03

)

(.09

)

Property Taxes

 

(.02

)

(.06

)

Depreciation

 

(.01

)

(.02

)

Impact of Changes in Shares Outstanding

 

(.03

)

(.06

)

EIZ State Income Tax Benefit (including Interest)

 

(.11

)

(.11

)

Income Taxes (other than EIZ)

 

.04

 

.00

 

Other, Net

 

(.02

)

(.01

)

Variances in Earnings per Share

 

(.04

)

.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 Basic Earnings per Share

 

.80

 

2.25

 

Additional dilution re: potential common stock(2)

 

(.01

)

(.01

)

2010 Diluted Earnings per Share

 

$

.79

 

$

2.24

 

 

6



 

Consolidated Operating Statistics

 

 

 

Quarter Ended September  30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

% Change

 

2010

 

2009

 

% Change

 

Electric Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales (Million KWH):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

2,603

 

2,350

 

10.8

 

6,883

 

6,153

 

11.9

 

Commercial

 

2,236

 

2,112

 

5.9

 

5,921

 

5,676

 

4.3

 

Industrial

 

1,568

 

1,447

 

8.4

 

4,414

 

4,014

 

10.0

 

Other

 

167

 

158

 

5.7

 

440

 

429

 

2.6

 

Total Retail Sales

 

6,574

 

6,067

 

8.4

 

17,658

 

16,272

 

8.5

 

Wholesale

 

583

 

586

 

(0.5

)

1,484

 

1,587

 

(6.5

)

Total Sales

 

7,157

 

6,653

 

7.6

 

19,142

 

17,859

 

7.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customers (Period-End, Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

660

 

654

 

0.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales (Thousand Dekatherms):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

3,962

 

4,293

 

(7.7

)

50,922

 

44,215

 

15.2

 

Commercial

 

5,352

 

5,622

 

(4.8

)

28,412

 

27,244

 

4.3

 

Industrial

 

53,353

 

41,318

 

29.1

 

134,585

 

119,539

 

12.6

 

Total Retail Sales

 

62,667

 

51,233

 

22.3

 

213,919

 

190,998

 

12.0

 

Sales for Resale

 

1,289

 

1,808

 

(28.7

)

5,561

 

7,443

 

(25.3

)

Total Sales

 

63,956

 

53,041

 

20.6

 

219,480

 

198,441

 

10.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation Volumes

 

36,006

 

31,779

 

13.3

 

111,217

 

99,688

 

11.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customers (Period-End, Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,222

 

1,208

 

1.2

 

 

Security Credit Ratings (as of 10/27/10):

 

 

 

Moody’s

 

Standard & Poor’s

 

Fitch

 

SCANA Corporation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Unsecured

 

Baa2

 

BBB

 

BBB+

 

Junior Subordinated Debt

 

Baa3

 

BBB-

 

BBB-

 

Commercial Paper

 

P-2

 

A-2

 

F-2

 

Outlook

 

Negative

 

Stable

 

Stable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Secured

 

A3

 

A

 

A

 

Senior Unsecured

 

Baa1

 

BBB+

 

A-

 

Commercial Paper

 

P-2

 

A-2

 

F-2

 

Outlook

 

Negative

 

Stable

 

Stable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSNC Energy:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Unsecured

 

A3

 

BBB+

 

A-

 

Commercial Paper

 

P-2

 

A-2

 

F-2

 

Outlook

 

Negative

 

Stable

 

Stable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Carolina Fuel Company:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial Paper

 

P-2

 

A-2

 

F-2

 

 

7