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8-K - WEC EARNINGS 8K - WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.wecq12011earningsrelease8k.htm
 

Exhibit 99
 
 
 
 
From: Brian Manthey (media)
414-221-4444
brian.manthey@we-energies.com
 
Colleen F. Henderson, CFA (analysts)
414-221-2592
colleen.henderson@wisconsinenergy.com
 
May 3, 2011
 
Wisconsin Energy posts first quarter earnings;
reaffirms earnings guidance for 2011
 
MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin Energy (NYSE: WEC) today reported net income from continuing operations of $171 million or 72 cents per share for the first quarter of 2011. This compares with earnings of $129 million or 55 cents per share from continuing operations in last year's first quarter.
 
First quarter 2011 revenue from continuing operations was $1.33 billion compared with $1.25 billion in the first quarter of 2010.
 
The company's results for the first three months of this year were helped by additional income from the company's Power the Future plan and colder winter temperatures that drove strong customer demand for natural gas.
 
"Commercial operation of the second expansion unit at Oak Creek - which took place in January of this year - was a milestone event for the company's Power the Future plan. The plan required more than $3 billion of investment in energy infrastructure that will provide reliable power for our customers for many years to come,” said Gale Klappa, Wisconsin Energy's chairman, president and chief executive officer.
 
Total retail sales of electricity rose by 1.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2010. Consumption of electricity by residential customers increased by 1.4 percent - the result of a colder winter as compared to last year.
 
Electricity use by large commercial and industrial customers was up 0.4 percent compared with last year's first quarter. The increase was driven primarily by improving economic activity in three sectors of the economy - iron ore mining, specialty steel and paper production. Usage by small commercial and industrial customers grew by 2.4 percent.
 

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"Our earnings guidance for 2011 remains in the range of $2.05 to $2.10 per share. We're continuing to see a modest recovery in the economy, and we're continuing to keep strong expense controls in place," Klappa said.
 
At the end of March, the company was serving 1,900 more electric customers and 3,200 more natural gas customers than a year ago.
 
Earnings per share listed in this news release are on a fully diluted basis. Prior year earnings per share were restated to reflect the two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 1, 2011.
 
 
Conference Call
A conference call is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The presentation will review 2011 first quarter earnings and will discuss the company's outlook for the future.
 
All interested parties, including stockholders, the news media and the general public, are invited to listen to the presentation. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 866-439-9410 up to 15 minutes before the call begins. International callers may dial 706-643-5658. The confirmation code is 57824500. Access also may be gained through the company's website (www.wisconsinenergy.com). Click on the icon for the "First Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call" and select "webcast audio." In conjunction with this earnings announcement, Wisconsin Energy will post on its website a package of detailed financial information on its first quarter performance. The materials will be available at 6 a.m. Central time on May 3. An archive of the presentation will be available on the website after the call. A replay of the audio portion of the presentation will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the presentation and will be accessible through May 17, 2011. Domestic callers should dial 800-642-1687. International callers should dial 706-645-9291. The replay confirmation code is 57824500.
 
Wisconsin Energy Corporation (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation's premier energy companies, serving more than 1.1 million electric customers
in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula and more than 1 million natural gas customers in Wisconsin. The company's principal utility subsidiary is We Energies. The company's other major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants.
 
Wisconsin Energy Corporation (www.wisconsinenergy.com), a component of the S&P 500, has more than $13 billion of assets, approximately 4,600 employees and 44,700 stockholders of record.
 
# # #
 
Forward-looking Statements
 
Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the

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Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management's expectations and projections regarding earnings and other matters. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "guidance," "intends," "may," "objectives," "plans," "possible," "potential," "projects," "should" or similar terms or variations of these terms.
 
Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements. In addition to the assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with these statements, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: unusual weather conditions; catastrophic weather-related or terrorism-related damage; availability of electric generating facilities; changes in purchased power costs; changes in coal or natural gas prices and supply and transportation availability; the ability to recover fuel and purchased power costs; nonperformance by purchased power or natural gas suppliers under existing contracts; environmental incidents; key personnel changes; inflation rates; the economic climate in the company's service territories; customer growth and declines; customer business conditions, including demand for their products and services; energy conservation efforts; timing, resolution and impact of pending and future rate cases and other regulatory decisions; construction risks; changes in the interpretation or enforcement of permit conditions by permitting agencies; restrictions imposed by financing arrangements and regulatory requirements on the ability of the company's subsidiaries to transfer funds to it in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances; current and future litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries, including the pending lawsuit against the Wisconsin Energy Corporation Retirement Account Plan, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission matters, and Internal Revenue Service audits and other tax matters; the impact of recent and future federal, state and local legislative and regulatory changes; equity and bond market fluctuations and events in the global credit markets that may affect the availability and cost of capital; the investment performance of the company's pension and other post-retirement benefit trusts; the financial performance of the American Transmission Company; foreign, governmental, economic, political and currency risks; and other factors described under the heading “Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and under the headings “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” and “Risk Factors” contained in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010 and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
The company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
# # #
 
Tables Follow

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WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED INCOME STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2011
 
2010
 
(Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)
Operating Revenues
$
1,328.7
 
 
$
1,248.6
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Expenses
 
 
 
Fuel and purchased power
267.6
 
 
277.4
 
Cost of gas sold
342.4
 
 
355.8
 
Other operation and maintenance
313.5
 
 
335.4
 
Depreciation and amortization
81.3
 
 
74.4
 
Property and revenue taxes
28.3
 
 
26.6
 
Total Operating Expenses
1,033.1
 
 
1,069.6
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of Gain
 
 
49.4
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Income
295.6
 
 
228.4
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in Earnings of Transmission Affiliate
15.5
 
 
15.2
 
Other Income, net
12.5
 
 
6.2
 
Interest Expense, net
63.4
 
 
49.4
 
 
 
 
 
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes
260.2
 
 
200.4
 
 
 
 
 
Income Taxes
89.3
 
 
71.4
 
 
 
 
 
Income from Continuing Operations
170.9
 
 
129.0
 
 
 
 
 
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax
 
 
0.7
 
Net Income
$
170.9
 
 
$
129.7
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings Per Share (Basic)
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.73
 
 
$
0.55
 
Discontinued operations
 
 
 
Total Earnings Per Share (Basic)
$
0.73
 
 
$
0.55
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings Per Share (Diluted)
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.72
 
 
$
0.55
 
Discontinued operations
 
 
 
Total Earnings Per Share (Diluted)
$
0.72
 
 
$
0.55
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding (Millions)
 
 
 
Basic
233.7
 
 
233.8
 
Diluted
236.6
 
 
236.7
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends Per Share of Common Stock
$
0.26
 
 
$
0.20
 
 
 

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WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
(Millions of Dollars)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
$
9,639.0
 
 
$
9,601.5
 
 
 
 
 
Investments
 
 
 
Equity investment in transmission affiliate
336.1
 
 
330.5
 
Other
38.7
 
 
45.8
 
Total Investments
374.8
 
 
376.3
 
 
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
236.0
 
 
24.5
 
Restricted cash
45.5
 
 
8.3
 
Accounts receivable
425.2
 
 
344.6
 
Accrued revenues
224.9
 
 
280.3
 
Materials, supplies and inventories
284.4
 
 
379.1
 
Regulatory assets
53.7
 
 
54.4
 
Prepayments and other
190.1
 
 
239.9
 
Total Current Assets
1,459.8
 
 
1,331.1
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred Charges and Other Assets
 
 
 
Regulatory assets
1,057.7
 
 
1,090.1
 
Goodwill, net
441.9
 
 
441.9
 
Other
215.4
 
 
218.9
 
Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets
1,715.0
 
 
1,750.9
 
 
 
 
 
Total Assets
$
13,188.6
 
 
$
13,059.8
 
 
 
 
 
Capitalization and Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capitalization
 
 
 
Common equity
$
3,904.7
 
 
$
3,802.1
 
Preferred stock of subsidiary
30.4
 
 
30.4
 
Long-term debt
4,339.1
 
 
3,932.0
 
Total Capitalization
8,274.2
 
 
7,764.5
 
 
 
 
 
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
Long-term debt due currently
479.8
 
 
473.4
 
Short-term debt
281.5
 
 
657.9
 
Accounts payable
269.1
 
 
315.4
 
Regulatory liabilities
15.3
 
 
15.3
 
Other
294.6
 
 
259.1
 
Total Current Liabilities
1,340.3
 
 
1,721.1
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
 
 
 
Regulatory liabilities
924.5
 
 
883.8
 
Deferred income taxes - long-term
1,267.9
 
 
1,154.8
 
Deferred revenue, net
795.0
 
 
805.5
 
Pension and other benefit obligations
227.4
 
 
353.2
 
Other
359.3
 
 
376.9
 
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
3,574.1
 
 
3,574.2
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capitalization and Liabilities
$
13,188.6
 
 
$
13,059.8
 
 
 
 
 

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WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31
 
2011
 
2010
 
(Millions of Dollars)
Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
170.9
 
 
$
129.7
 
Reconciliation to cash
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
84.2
 
 
71.9
 
Contributions to qualified benefit plans
(122.4
)
 
 
Working capital and other
258.3
 
 
102.1
 
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
391.0
 
 
303.7
 
 
 
 
 
Investing Activities
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(135.5
)
 
(194.6
)
Proceeds from asset sales
38.3
 
 
0.2
 
Change in restricted cash
(37.2
)
 
43.5
 
Other investing activities, net
(10.0
)
 
(20.2
)
Cash Used in Investing Activities
(144.4
)
 
(171.1
)
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities
 
 
 
Common stock issued (repurchased), net
(11.9
)
 
(11.9
)
Dividends paid on common stock
(60.8
)
 
(46.8
)
Change in debt, net
38.6
 
 
(78.8
)
Other financing activities, net
(1.0
)
 
(3.2
)
Cash Used in Financing Activities
(35.1
)
 
(140.7
)
 
 
 
 
Change in Cash
211.5
 
 
(8.1
)
 
 
 
 
Cash at Beginning of Period
24.5
 
 
20.9
 
 
 
 
 
Cash at End of Period
$
236.0
 
 
$
12.8
 
 
 
 
 
 

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