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EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - ALLETE INCFinancial_Report.xls
EX-32 - EXHIBIT - ALLETE INCale9-30x2014exx32.htm
EX-4 - EXHIBIT - ALLETE INCale9-30x2014exx4.htm
EX-31.B - EXHIBIT - ALLETE INCale9-30x2014exx31b.htm
EX-95 - EXHIBIT - ALLETE INCale9-30x2014exx95.htm
10-Q - 10-Q - ALLETE INCale9-30x201410xq.htm
EX-31.A - EXHIBIT - ALLETE INCale9-30x2014exx31a.htm


 
Exhibit 99
For Release:
November 3, 2014
Investor Contact:
Tim Thorp
 
218-723-3953
 
tthorp@allete.com
 
 
NEWS
 
 

ALLETE, Inc. reports third quarter earnings of 97 cents per share
Company projects year-end earnings to be in the upper end of its guidance range

DULUTH, Minn. - ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE:ALE) today reported third quarter 2014 earnings of 97 cents per share on net income of $41.6 million and revenue of $288.9 million, compared to earnings of 63 cents, net income of $25.2 million and revenue of $251 million in the third quarter a year ago.

Compared with a year ago, earnings increased due to cost recovery revenue related to a major wind energy expansion and an environmental retrofit to Minnesota Power’s largest electric generating unit, and also because of a change in the quarterly timing of a conservation improvement incentive. An $8.7 million state Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) financial incentive recorded in the third quarter increased from $7.1 million in 2013, when the incentive was booked in the fourth quarter.

“These strong financial results are a direct result of our capital investments in renewable energy, environmental improvements and conservation,” said ALLETE Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Alan R. Hodnik. “Our Bison Wind Energy expansion in North Dakota and the Boswell Energy Center retrofit now underway make up a significant share of an annual capital expenditure budget that’s the largest in our company’s history.”

Quarterly revenue for the Regulated Operations segment rose by $29.4 million due to higher cost recovery revenue, the CIP incentive, and higher electricity sales. Electric sales increased almost five percent in the quarter compared to last year, with sales to industrial customers increasing by about one percent. Sales to other power suppliers increased over 37 percent compared to last year, reflecting Minnesota Power selling a portion of its output from the Square Butte plant to Minnkota Power. Partially offsetting the higher revenue were higher operating expenses. Net income for the segment increased $16.6 million from the same period in 2013.

The Investments and Other segment includes solid financial performance from ALLETE Clean Energy, which acquired three wind farms earlier this year. The third quarter of 2013 included gains on sales of securities.
Quarterly earnings were diluted by seven cents per share due to the increased issuance of common shares needed to fund major capital improvements.

Hodnik said the company now expects its year-end 2014 earnings to be in the upper end of its stated guidance range of $2.75 to $2.95. He noted that the earnings guidance excludes 3 cents per share of costs recorded in the first quarter related to the ALLETE Clean Energy acquisition, and a second quarter non-recurring 6 cents per share charge associated with an EPA settlement.

ALLETE will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. Eastern Time this morning to discuss details of its quarterly financial performance. Interested parties may listen live by calling (877) 303-5852, or by accessing the webcast at www.allete.com. A replay of the call will be available through November 5, 2014 by calling
(855) 859-2056, pass code 16959429.

ALLETE is an energy company headquartered in Duluth, Minn. In addition to its electric utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power of Wisconsin, ALLETE owns BNI Coal in Center, N.D., ALLETE Clean Energy, based in Duluth, and has an eight percent equity interest in the American Transmission Co. More information about ALLETE is available at www.allete.com.

The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.






ALLETE's press releases and other communications may include certain non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is defined as a numerical measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the company's financial statements

Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company include presentations of earnings (loss) per share. ALLETE's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors by removing the effect of variances in GAAP reported results of operations that are not indicative of changes in the fundamental earnings power of the Company's operations. Management believes that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is appropriate and enables investors and analysts to more accurately compare the company's ongoing financial performance over the periods presented.





ALLETE, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Income
Millions Except Per Share Amounts - Unaudited
 
Quarter Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
September 30,
 
2014
2013
2014
2013
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Revenue
$288.9
$251.0
$846.1
$750.4
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
Fuel and Purchased Power
88.9
80.5
268.7
245.7
Operating and Maintenance
105.7
102.7
340.6
311.2
Depreciation
33.5
29.4
99.5
86.3
Total Operating Expenses
228.1
212.6
708.8
643.2
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Income
60.8
38.4
137.3
107.2
 
 
 
 
 
Other Income (Expense)
 
 
 
 
Interest Expense
(13.2
)
(12.7
)
(39.5
)
(37.8
)
Equity Earnings in ATC
5.3
4.9
15.6
15.1
Other
2.1
3.3
6.0
7.5
Total Other Expense
(5.8
)
(4.5
)
(17.9
)
(15.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
Income Before Non-Controlling Interest and Income Taxes
55.0
33.9
119.4
92.0
Income Tax Expense
13.4
8.7
27.1
20.3
Net Income
41.6
25.2
92.3
71.7
Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries


0.4


Net Income Attributable to ALLETE
$41.6
$25.2
$91.9
$71.7
 
 
 
 
 
Average Shares of Common Stock
 
 
 
 
Basic
42.9

39.8

42.1

39.4

Diluted
42.9

39.9

42.3

39.5

 
 
 
 
 
Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
$0.97
$0.63
$2.18
$1.82
Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
$0.97
$0.63
$2.17
$1.81
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends Per Share of Common Stock
$0.49
$0.475
$1.47
$1.425



Consolidated Balance Sheet
Millions - Unaudited
 
Sept. 30,
Dec. 31,
 
 
Sept. 30,
Dec. 31,
 
2014
2013
 
 
2014
2013
Assets
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
$150.5
$97.3
 
Current Liabilities
$286.8
$230.2
Other Current Assets
207.3
209.7
 
Long-Term Debt
1,289.2
1,083.0
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net
3,121.5
2,576.5
 
Deferred Income Taxes
509.7
479.1
Regulatory Assets
277.1
263.8
 
Regulatory Liabilities
103.1
81.0
Investment in ATC
120.7
114.6
 
Defined Benefit Pension & Other
    Postretirement Benefit Plans
116.8
133.4
Other Investments
116.4
146.3
 
Other Non-Current Liabilities
231.6
127.2
Other Non-Current Assets
74.4
68.6
 
Shareholders’ Equity
1,530.7
1,342.9
Total Assets
$4,067.9
$3,476.8
 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
$4,067.9
$3,476.8



 
Quarter Ended
Nine Months Ended
ALLETE, Inc.
September 30,
September 30,
Income (Loss)
2014
2013
2014
2013
Millions
 
 
 
 
Regulated Operations
$41.2
$24.6
$92.6
$73.0
Investments and Other
0.4
0.6

(0.7
)
(1.3
)
Net Income Attributable to ALLETE
$41.6
$25.2
$91.9
$71.7
Diluted Earnings Per Share
$0.97
$0.63
$2.17
$1.81

Statistical Data
 
 
 
 
Corporate
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
High
$51.56
$54.14
$52.73
$54.14
Low
$44.39
$45.78
$44.39
$41.39
Close
$44.39
$48.30
$44.39
$48.30
Book Value
$34.37
$31.60
$34.37
$31.60

Kilowatt-hours Sold
 
 
 
 
Millions
 
 
 
 
Regulated Utility
 
 
 
 
Retail and Municipals
 
 
 
 
Residential
244
259
891
864
Commercial
369
379
1,097
1,091
Municipals
203
242
643
741
Industrial
1,911
1,894
5,515
5,508
Total Retail and Municipal
2,727
2,774
8,146
8,204
Other Power Suppliers
751
547
2,082
1,748
Total Regulated Utility
3,478
3,321
10,228
9,952
Non-regulated Energy Operations
28
26
92
90
Total Kilowatt-hours Sold
3,506
3,347
10,320
10,042

Regulated Utility Revenue
 
 
 
 
Millions
 
 
 
 
Regulated Utility Revenue
 
 
 
 
Retail and Municipals
 
 
 
 
Residential
$26.4
$26.1
$92.4
$86.0
Commercial
34.9
33.4
100.8
95.9
Municipals
14.6
17.7
45.6
50.0
Industrial
117.8
107.8
337.7
317.9
Total Retail and Municipals
193.7
185.0
576.5
549.8
Other Power Suppliers
31.2
21.1
84.9
65.8
Other
30.9
20.3
88.2
68.0
Total Regulated Utility Revenue
$255.8
$226.4
$749.6
$683.6



This exhibit has been furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.