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8-K - WEC ENERGY Q12017 EARNINGS RELEASE 8-K - WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.wecenergygroupq12017earnin.htm
Exhibit 99

wecenergylogoa05.jpg
From:    Brian Manthey (news media)
414-221-4444
brian.manthey@we-energies.com

Beth Straka (investment community)
414-221-4639
beth.straka@wecenergygroup.com

May 2, 2017                

WEC Energy Group posts first-quarter results

MILWAUKEE - WEC Energy Group Inc. (NYSE: WEC) recorded net income of $356.6 million, or $1.12 per share, for the first quarter of 2017 - up from $346.2 million, or $1.09 per share, for the first quarter of 2016.

Consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2017 totaled $2.3 billion, compared to $2.2 billion for the first quarter of 2016.

“Our continued focus on financial discipline and operating efficiencies contributed to a solid first quarter," said Allen Leverett, chief executive officer.

At the end of March, WEC Energy Group's utilities were serving approximately 8,000 more electric and 23,000 more natural gas customers than they did the same time a year ago. 

Retail deliveries of electricity for the Wisconsin and Michigan utilities - excluding the iron ore mines in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula - decreased 1.1 percent from last year's first quarter. Residential use of electricity was down 2.1 percent. Consumption of electricity by small commercial and industrial customers was flat quarter over quarter.

Electricity use by large commercial and industrial customers - excluding the iron ore mines - decreased 1.2 percent.

On a weather-normal basis, retail deliveries of electricity - excluding the iron ore mines - increased 0.6 percent, quarter over quarter.

Earnings per share listed in this news release are on a fully diluted basis.



1

Exhibit 99

Conference call

A conference call is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, May 2. The call will review 2017 first-quarter earnings and will discuss the company's outlook for the future.

All interested parties, including stockholders, news media and general public, are invited to listen. Access the call at 844-840-1623 up to 15 minutes before it begins. The number for international callers is 631-625-3204. The conference ID is 99414469.

Conference call access also is available at wecenergygroup.com. Select ‘First Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call’ and then select ‘Webcast.’ In conjunction with this earnings announcement, WEC Energy Group will post on its website a package of detailed financial information on its first-quarter performance. The materials will be available at 6:30 a.m. Central time on Tuesday, May 2.

Replay

A replay will be available on the website and by phone after the call. Access to the webcast replay will be available on the website about two hours after the call. Access to a phone replay also will be available approximately two hours after the call and remain accessible through May 15, 2017. Domestic callers should dial 855-859-2056. International callers should dial 404-537-3406. The replay conference ID is 99414469.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation’s premier energy companies, serving 4.4 million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.

The company’s principal utilities are We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, Michigan Gas Utilities, Minnesota Energy Resources and Upper Michigan Energy Resources. The company's other major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants.

WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com), a component of the S&P 500, has approximately $30 billion of assets, 8,000 employees and 55,000 stockholders of record.

Tables follow


2

Exhibit 99

WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31
(in millions, except per share amounts)
 
2017
 
2016
Operating revenues
 
$
2,304.5

 
$
2,194.8

 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
941.1

 
838.9

Other operation and maintenance
 
501.9

 
531.5

Depreciation and amortization
 
194.6

 
187.9

Property and revenue taxes
 
49.6

 
47.2

Total operating expenses
 
1,687.2

 
1,605.5

 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
617.3

 
589.3

 
 
 
 
 
Equity in earnings of transmission affiliate
 
41.9

 
38.5

Other income, net
 
15.7

 
32.7

Interest expense
 
104.7

 
100.9

Other expense
 
(47.1
)
 
(29.7
)
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
 
570.2

 
559.6

Income tax expense
 
213.3

 
213.1

Net income
 
356.9

 
346.5

 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock dividends of subsidiary
 
0.3

 
0.3

Net income attributed to common shareholders
 
$
356.6

 
$
346.2

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
1.13

 
$
1.10

Diluted
 
$
1.12

 
$
1.09

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
315.6

 
315.7

Diluted
 
317.2

 
317.1

 
 
 
 
 
Dividends per share of common stock
 
$
0.5200

 
$
0.4950



3

Exhibit 99

WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(in millions, except share and per share amounts)
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
45.7

 
$
37.5

Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net of reserves of $123.1 and $108.0, respectively
 
1,191.4

 
1,241.7

Materials, supplies, and inventories
 
417.1

 
587.6

Prepayments
 
161.8

 
204.4

Other
 
39.3

 
97.5

Current assets
 
1,855.3

 
2,168.7

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term assets
 
 
 
 
Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $8,312.8 and $8,214.6, respectively
 
19,990.2

 
19,915.5

Regulatory assets
 
3,084.1

 
3,087.9

Equity investment in transmission affiliate
 
1,513.3

 
1,443.9

Goodwill
 
3,046.2

 
3,046.2

Other
 
527.5

 
461.0

Long-term assets
 
28,161.3

 
27,954.5

Total assets
 
$
30,016.6

 
$
30,123.2

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
Short-term debt
 
$
670.4

 
$
860.2

Current portion of long-term debt
 
158.0

 
157.2

Accounts payable
 
582.3

 
861.5

Accrued payroll and benefits
 
107.5

 
163.8

Accrued interest
 
115.1

 
67.0

Other
 
421.3

 
321.9

Current liabilities
 
2,054.6

 
2,431.6

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term liabilities
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
9,143.6

 
9,158.2

Deferred income taxes
 
5,287.4

 
5,146.6

Deferred revenue, net
 
561.0

 
566.2

Regulatory liabilities
 
1,563.4

 
1,563.8

Environmental remediation liabilities
 
630.7

 
633.6

Pension and OPEB obligations
 
458.9

 
498.6

Other
 
1,161.0

 
1,164.4

Long-term liabilities
 
18,806.0

 
18,731.4

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common shareholders' equity
 
 
 
 
Common stock – $.01 par value; 325,000,000 shares authorized; 315,579,222 and 315,614,941 shares outstanding, respectively
 
3.2

 
3.2

Additional paid in capital
 
4,297.7

 
4,309.8

Retained earnings
 
4,822.0

 
4,613.9

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
2.7

 
2.9

Common shareholders' equity
 
9,125.6

 
8,929.8

 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock of subsidiary
 
30.4

 
30.4

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
30,016.6

 
$
30,123.2



4

Exhibit 99

WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31
(in millions)
 
2017
 
2016
Operating Activities
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
356.9

 
$
346.5

Reconciliation to cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
194.6

 
191.9

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net
 
150.2

 
214.6

Contributions and payments related to pension and OPEB plans
 
(106.0
)
 
(15.1
)
Equity income in transmission affiliate, net of distributions
 
(6.7
)
 
(23.4
)
Change in –
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues
 
55.0

 
(48.6
)
Materials, supplies, and inventories
 
170.5

 
217.2

Other current assets
 
41.2

 
(63.7
)
Accounts payable
 
(212.7
)
 
(123.7
)
Other current liabilities
 
90.8

 
56.7

Other, net
 
(19.2
)
 
(56.5
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
714.6

 
695.9

 
 
 
 
 
Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(329.7
)
 
(312.0
)
Capital contributions to transmission affiliate
 
(27.6
)
 
(9.0
)
Proceeds from the sale of assets and businesses
 
13.1

 
106.5

Withdrawal of restricted cash from Rabbi trust for qualifying payments
 
16.1

 
21.0

Other, net
 
2.5

 
5.1

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(325.6
)
 
(188.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
Exercise of stock options
 
5.9

 
21.4

Purchase of common stock
 
(20.2
)
 
(59.6
)
Dividends paid on common stock
 
(164.1
)
 
(156.2
)
Retirement of long-term debt
 
(12.0
)
 
(139.4
)
Change in short-term debt
 
(189.8
)
 
(198.6
)
Other, net
 
(0.6
)
 
9.8

Net cash used in financing activities
 
(380.8
)
 
(522.6
)
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
 
8.2

 
(15.1
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
37.5

 
49.8

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
45.7

 
$
34.7



5