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8-K - FORM 8-K - EL PASO ELECTRIC CO /TX/d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.01

 

El Paso Electric   LOGO

NEWS RELEASE

 

 

For Immediate Release    Contact:       Investor
Date: May 3, 2011    Media       Relations:
   Teresa Souza       Steve Busser
   915/543-5823       915/543-5983
         Rachelle Williams
         915/543-2257
        

 

El Paso Electric Announces First Quarter Financial Results

Overview

For the first quarter of 2011, EE reported net income of $6.8 million, or $0.16 basic and diluted earnings per share. In the first quarter of 2010, EE reported net income of $11.4 million, or $0.26 basic and diluted earnings per share.

“The financial results for the quarter reflect a reduction in earnings due to the new seasonal rates that are lower in the winter months of November through April and the increased sharing of off-system margins with our customers as provided for in our last Texas rate case” said David W. Stevens, Chief Executive Officer. “From an operations perspective, we were pleased with both the approval of a 20 year license extension for all three Palo Verde units on April 21, 2011 and the completion and commercial operation of Newman Unit 5 Phase II on April 30, 2011. These resources will assist us in ensuring future low cost energy supplies for our customers.”

 

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El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O. Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960


Earnings Summary

The table and explanations below present the major factors affecting 2011 net income relative to 2010 net income.

 

     Quarter Ended  
     Pre-Tax
Effect
    After-
Tax
Net
Income
    Basic
EPS
 

March 31, 2010

     $ 11,449      $ 0.26   

Changes in:

      

Elimination of Medicare Part D tax benefit

   $ -          4,787        0.11   

Fossil fuel plant O&M

     1,492        940        0.02   

AFUDC

     793        689        0.02   

Retail non-fuel base revenue

     (6,151     (3,875     (0.09

Retained off-system sales margin

     (4,443     (2,800     (0.07

Depreciation and amortization

     (1,652     (1,041     (0.02

Taxes other than income taxes

     (1,384     (872     (0.02

Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues

     (1,141     (719     (0.02

Other

       (1,783     (0.04
                  

March 31, 2011

     $ 6,775        0.15   
            

Change in weighted average number of shares

         0.01   
            

March 31, 2011

       $ 0.16   
            

First Quarter 2010

Income for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 when compared to the same period last year was positively affected by:

 

   

Income tax expense in 2010 to recognize a change in tax law enacted in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to eliminate the tax benefit related to the Medicare Part D subsidies with no comparable tax expense in 2011.

   

Decreased fossil fuel plant O&M expense due to the timing of planned maintenance. In 2010 we had a major overhaul at Four Corners Unit 4 and a major turbine and generator inspection at Newman Unit 4. These decreases were partially offset by additional costs we incurred in 2011 associated with equipment damaged during the extraordinary winter freeze in February 2011 which had the coldest winter weather in nearly 50 years.

   

Increased AFUDC in 2011 due to higher balances of construction work in progress subject to AFUDC, which was largely related to Newman Unit 5 Phase II. Newman Unit 5 Phase II was completed and placed in service effective April 30, 2011.

Income for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 when compared to the same period last year was negatively affected by:

 

   

Decreased retail non-fuel base revenues in 2011 primarily due to new lower winter non-fuel base rates in Texas for small commercial and industrial customers and a 1.2% decrease in kWh sales to retail customers primarily due to milder winter weather in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010.

   

Decreased off-system sales margins due to an increase in sharing of off-system sales margins with customers from 25% to 90% effective in July 2010 and, to a lesser extent, lower average market prices for power and a 9.5% decrease in MWh sales.

 

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El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O. Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960


   

Increased depreciation and amortization expense due to increased depreciable plant balances and higher depreciation rates effective in July 2010.

   

Increased taxes other than income taxes due to revenue-related taxes and increased property taxes.

   

Decreased revenues from retail sales of deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 power reflecting lower proxy prices and a 6% decrease in generation at Palo Verde Unit 3 in 2011.

Retail Non-fuel Base Revenues

Retail non-fuel base revenues decreased by $6.2 million, pre-tax, or 5.6% in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 primarily due to a $6.0 million decrease in revenues from small commercial and industrial customers due to new seasonal non-fuel base rates in Texas. The seasonal rates are lower in the winter months of November to April and higher in the summer months of May to October. Retail non-fuel base revenues received from large commercial and industrial customers decreased $0.4 million due to a 3.1% decrease in kWh sales. Non-fuel base revenues and kilowatt-hour sales are provided by customer class on page 8 of the Release.

Off-system Sales

We make off-system sales in the wholesale power markets when competitively priced excess power is available from our generating plants and purchased power contracts. The Company shared 25% of off-system sales margins with customers and retained 75% of off-system sales margins through June 30, 2010 pursuant to rate agreements in prior years. Effective July 1, 2010, we share 90% of off-system sales margins with customers and retain 10% of off-system sales margins. Off-system sales margins were negatively impacted by power purchases required for system reliability during extremely cold weather in February 2011. As a result, retained margins from off-system sales decreased approximately $4.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 compared to the corresponding period in 2010. The table below shows off-system sales in MWh and the pre-tax margins realized and retained by us from sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Quarter Ended
March 31,
 
     2011      2010  

MWh sales

     767,620         847,738   

Total margins (in thousands)

   $ 1,103       $ 5,841   

Retained margins (in thousands)

   $ (61)       $ 4,382   

Capital and Liquidity

We continue to maintain a strong capital structure to ensure access to capital markets at reasonable rates. At March 31, 2011, common stock equity represented 48.2% of our capitalization (common stock equity, long-term debt and the current portion of long-term debt, and financing obligations). At March 31, 2011, we had a balance of $26.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, most of which was in funds invested in United States Treasury securities. We believe that we will have adequate liquidity through our current cash balances, cash from operations, and our revolving credit facility to meet all of our anticipated cash requirements through 2011 based on current projections.

Cash flows from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 were $22.4 million compared to $25.5 million in the corresponding period in 2010. The primary factor affecting the decreased cash flow were payments of $14.7 million in the first quarter of 2011 to fund our pension and other post-retirement employee benefit plans for the entire year of 2011compared to $2.7 million in funding in the first quarter of 2010, partially offset by an increase in net cash payments from operations.

 

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El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O. Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960


During the three months ended March 31, 2011, our primary capital requirements were for the construction and purchase of electric utility plant, purchases of nuclear fuel, and the repurchase of common stock. Capital requirements for new electric plant were $45.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $47.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

During the first quarter of 2011, we repurchased 586,911 shares of common stock in the open market at an aggregate cost of $16.7 million as authorized under our 2010 Plan. On March 21, 2011, the Board of Directors authorized additional repurchases of up to 2.5 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “2011 Plan”). As of March 31, 2011, 2,589,360 shares remain available for repurchase under our stock repurchase program. The Company currently expects to continue to repurchase shares in the open market from time to time.

We maintain a $200 million revolving credit facility for interim financing of construction and operations including the financing of nuclear fuel through the Rio Grande Resources Trust (“RGRT”). RGRT is the trust through which we finance our portion of nuclear fuel for Palo Verde and is consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. The revolving credit facility has a term ending September 2014, and EE may request that the facility be increased up to $300 million during the term of the facility subject to the lenders agreement. The terms of the agreement provide that amounts we borrow under the facility may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The total amount borrowed for nuclear fuel by RGRT was $123.0 million at March 31, 2011 of which $13.0 million had been borrowed under the revolving credit facility and $110 million was borrowed through senior notes. Borrowings by RGRT for nuclear fuel were $118.1 million as of March 31, 2010, including accrued interest and fees, all of which was borrowed under the revolving credit facility then in effect. Interest costs on borrowings to finance nuclear fuel are accumulated by RGRT and charged to EE as fuel is consumed and recovered through fuel recovery charges. No borrowings were outstanding under the revolving credit facility at March 31, 2011 for working capital or general corporate purposes.

On April 28, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share payable on June 30, 2011 to shareholders of record on June 15, 2011. We expect to pay quarterly cash dividends of approximately $27 million during 2011.

Palo Verde License Extension

On April 21, 2011, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted extensions in the operating licenses for all three units at Palo Verde. The operating licenses for the nuclear power plants will now expire on June 1, 2045 for Unit 1, April 24, 2046 for Unit 2, and November 25, 2047 for Unit 3.

2011 Earnings Guidance

We are providing updated earnings guidance for 2011 of a range of $2.10 to $2.50 per basic share. The increase to the earnings guidance range from the previously disclosed range of $2.00 to $2.40 per basic share is primarily due to a settlement in our transmission dispute with Tucson Electric Power, which is subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The settlement provides for a one-time payment related to prior periods which will increase 2011 earnings by $0.07 per share. Additionally, we will receive on-going transmission revenues of approximately $0.9 million annually.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss first quarter 2011 earnings is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, May 3, 2011. The dial-in number is 866-261-3182 with a conference ID of 1524392. The conference leader will be Steven P. Busser, Vice President – Treasurer of EE. A replay will run through May 17, 2011 with a dial-in number of 866-837-8032 and a conference ID of 1524392. The conference call and presentation slides will be webcast live on EE’s website found at http://www.epelectric.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call.

 

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El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O. Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960


Safe Harbor

This news release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) increased prices for fuel and purchased power and the possibility that regulators may not permit EE to pass through all such increased costs to customers or to recover previously incurred fuel costs in rates; (ii) recovery of capital investments and operating costs through rates in Texas and New Mexico; (iii) uncertainties and instability in the general economy and the resulting impact on EE’s sales and profitability; (iv) unanticipated increased costs associated with scheduled and unscheduled outages; (v) the size of our construction program and our ability to complete construction on budget and on time; (vi) costs at Palo Verde; (vii) deregulation and competition in the electric utility industry; (viii) possible increased costs of compliance with environmental or other laws, regulations and policies; (ix) possible income tax and interest payments as a result of audit adjustments proposed by the IRS; (x) uncertainties and instability in the financial markets and the resulting impact on EE’s ability to access the capital and credit markets; and (xi) other factors detailed by EE in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. EE’s filings are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission or may be obtained through EE’s website, http://www.epelectric.com. Any such forward-looking statement is qualified by reference to these risks and factors. EE cautions that these risks and factors are not exclusive. EE does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of EE except as required by law.

 

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El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O. Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960


El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Quarter Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

(In thousands except for per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     2011     2010      Variance  

Operating revenues, net of energy expenses:

       

Base revenues

   $   104,562      $   110,470       $ (5,908 ) (a) 

Off-system sales margins, net of sharing

     (61     4,382         (4,443

Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 proxy market pricing

     3,940        5,081         (1,141

Other

     6,438        6,295         143   
                         

Operating Revenues Net of Energy Expenses

     114,879        126,228         (11,349

Other operating expenses:

       

Other operations and maintenance

     43,754        42,191         1,563   

Palo Verde operations and maintenance

     22,589        22,407         182   

Taxes other than income taxes

     13,127        11,743         1,384   

Other income (deductions)

     1,940        741         1,199   
                         

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization

     37,349        50,628         (13,279 ) (b) 

Depreciation and amortization

     20,936        19,284         1,652   

Interest on long-term debt

     13,498        12,201         1,297   

AFUDC and capitalized interest

     6,156        4,335         1,821   

Other interest expense

     297        40         257   
                         

Income Before Income Taxes

     8,774        23,438         (14,664

Income tax expense (c)

     1,999        11,989         (9,990
                         

Net Income

   $ 6,775      $ 11,449       $ (4,674
                         

Basic Earnings per Share

   $ 0.16      $ 0.26       $ (0.10
                         

Diluted Earnings per Share

   $ 0.16      $ 0.26       $ (0.10
                         

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     42,308        43,739         (1,431
                         

Weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding

     42,617        43,864         (1,247
                         

 

(a) Base revenues exclude fuel recovered through New Mexico base rates of $16.4 million and $15.8 million, respectively.
(b) EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not a substitute for net income or other measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP.
(c) Income tax expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 includes a charge of $4,787 related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which required the elimination of the tax benefit associated with the Medicare Part D subsidies beginning in 2013.

 

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El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary

Cash Flow Summary

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

(In thousands and Unaudited)

 

     2011     2010  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 6,775      $ 11,449   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:

    

Depreciation and amortization of electric plant in service

     20,936        19,284   

Deferred income taxes, net

     12,291        11,059   

Other

     13,465        8,178   

Change in:

    

Net recovery (deferral) of fuel revenues

     (1,193     (6,000

Other (a)

     (29,916     (18,435
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     22,358        25,535   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Cash additions to utility property, plant and equipment

     (45,388     (47,145

Cash additions to nuclear fuel

     (14,228     (15,739

Decommissioning trust funds

     (3,235     (2,850

Other

     (3,058     (2,173
                

Net cash used for investing activities

     (65,909     (67,907
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Repurchase of common stock

     (16,675     (4,089

Financing obligations

     8,248        11,114   

Other

     (301     (78
                

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

     (8,728     6,947   
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (52,279     (35,425

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     79,184        91,790   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 26,905      $ 56,365   
                

 

 

(a) 2011 includes funding of $14.7 million to EE’s pension and other post-retirement employee benefit plans for the entire year of 2011 compared to $2.7 million in funding in the first quarter of 2010.

 

 

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El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary

Quarter Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

Sales and Revenues Statistics

 

                 

Increase (Decrease)

 
     

2011

   

2010

   

Amount

   

Percentage

 

MWh sales:

        

Retail:

        

Residential

     541,282        556,280        (14,998     (2.7%)   

Commercial and industrial, small

     478,521        484,282        (5,761     (1.2%)   

Commercial and industrial, large

     229,232        236,613        (7,381     (3.1%)   

Public authorities

     334,969        325,557        9,412        2.9%   
                          

Total retail sales

     1,584,004        1,602,732        (18,728     (1.2%)   
                          

Wholesale:

        

Sales for resale

     11,653        9,180        2,473        26.9%   

Off-system sales

     767,620        847,738        (80,118     (9.5%)   
                          

Total wholesale sales

     779,273        856,918        (77,645     (9.1%)   
                          

Total MWh sales

     2,363,277        2,459,650        (96,373     (3.9%)   
                          

Operating revenues (in thousands):

        

Non-fuel base revenues:

        

Retail:

        

Residential

   $ 44,977      $ 44,835      $ 142        0.3%   

Commercial and industrial, small

     33,214        39,199        (5,985     (15.3%)   

Commercial and industrial, large

     8,801        9,213        (412     (4.5%)   

Public authorities

     17,020        16,916        104        0.6%   
                          

Total retail non-fuel base revenues

     104,012        110,163        (6,151     (5.6%)   

Wholesale:

        

Sales for resale

     550        307        243        79.2%   
                          

Total non-fuel base revenues

     104,562        110,470        (5,908     (5.3%)   

Fuel revenues:

        

Recovered from customers during the period (a)

     25,863        38,033        (12,170     (32.0%)   

Under (over) collection of fuel

     1,038        (5,690     6,728        -     

New Mexico fuel in base rates

     16,369        15,829        540        3.4%   
                          

Total fuel revenues

     43,270        48,172        (4,902     (10.2%)   

Off-system sales

     21,366        38,703        (17,337     (44.8%)   

Other

     6,914        6,823        91        1.3%   
                          

Total operating revenues

   $ 176,112      $ 204,168      $ (28,056     (13.7%)   
                          

Off-system sales (in thousands):

        

Gross margins

   $ 1,103      $ 5,841      $ (4,738     (81.1%)   

Retained margins

     (61     4,382        (4,443     -     

Average number of retail customers:

        

Residential

     334,832        329,734        5,098        1.5%   

Commercial and industrial, small

     37,064        36,547        517        1.4%   

Commercial and industrial, large

     50        48        2        4.2%   

Public authorities

     4,536        4,965        (429     (8.6%)   
                          

Total

     376,482        371,294        5,188        1.4%   
                          

Number of retail customers (end of period):

        

Residential

     335,756        330,374        5,382        1.6%   

Commercial and industrial, small

     37,363        36,697        666        1.8%   

Commercial and industrial, large

     50        48        2        4.2%   

Public authorities

     4,897        4,961        (64     (1.3%)   
                          

Total

     378,066        372,080        5,986        1.6%   
                          

Weather statistics

         10 Yr Average     

Heating degree days

     1,265        1,396        1,224     

Cooling degree days

     41        9        22     

 

(a) Excludes $11.8 million of refunds in 2010 related to Texas deferred fuel revenues for prior periods.

 

Page 8 of 10


El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary

Quarter Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

Generation and Purchased Power Statistics

 

                 Increase (Decrease)  
     2011     2010         Amount     Percentage  

Generation and purchased power (MWh):

        

Palo Verde

     1,329,807        1,280,312                49,495        3.9%   

Four Corners

     166,971        120,409        46,562        38.7%   

Gas plants (a)

     467,994        552,802        (84,808     (15.3%)   
                          

Total generation

     1,964,772        1,953,523        11,249        0.6%   

Purchased power

     561,928        610,023        (48,095     (7.9%)   
                          

Total available energy

     2,526,700        2,563,546        (36,846     (1.4%)   

Line losses and Company use (a)

     163,423        103,896        59,527        57.3%   
                          

Total MWh sold

         2,363,277            2,459,650        (96,373     (3.9%)   
                          

Palo Verde capacity factor

     98.9     95.6     3.3  

Four Corners capacity factor

     84.2     54.8     29.4  

 

(a) 2011 gas plant generation excludes 149,340 MWhs related to pre-commercial testing of Newman Unit 5 Phase II. Newman Unit 5 Phase II began commercial operation on April 30, 2011.

 

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El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary

Financial Statistics

At March 31, 2011 and 2010

(In thousands, except number of shares, book value per share, and ratios)

 

Balance Sheet

   2011      2010  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 26,905       $ 56,365   
                 

Common stock equity

   $ 802,738       $ 732,578   

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     849,758         739,709   

Financing obligations, net of current portion

     -           78,001   
                 

Total capitalization

   $ 1,652,496       $ 1,550,288   
                 

Current portion of long-term debt and financing obligations

   $ 12,951       $ 40,111   
                 

Number of shares - end of period

     42,106,995         43,760,031   
                 

Book value per common share

   $ 19.06       $ 16.74   
                 

Common equity ratio

     48.2%         46.1%   

Debt ratio

     51.8%         53.9%   

 

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