PG&E Corporation Reports Third-Quarter 2016 Financial Results
▪ | Net income was $0.77 per share on a GAAP basis, up from $0.63 per share in Q3 last year |
▪ | Non-GAAP earnings from operations were $0.94 per share, up from $0.84 per share in Q3 last year |
▪ | PG&E is adjusting previously issued guidance range for projected 2016 GAAP earnings to $2.79 to $3.05 per share and maintaining previously issued guidance of $3.65 to $3.85 per share for projected non-GAAP earnings from operations |
▪ | Guidance for 2017 is being initiated at $3.51 to $3.80 per share for projected GAAP earnings and $3.55 to $3.75 per share for projected non-GAAP earnings from operations |
San Francisco, Calif. — PG&E Corporation's (NYSE: PCG) third-quarter 2016 net income after dividends on preferred stock (also called "income available for common shareholders") was $388 million, or $0.77 per share, as reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). GAAP earnings for the same period in 2015 were $307 million, or $0.63 per share.
GAAP results include items that management does not consider part of normal, ongoing operations (items impacting comparability), totaling $137 million pre-tax, or $0.17 per share, in the third quarter of 2016. This includes $59 million pre-tax for safety-related expenditures disallowed as part of the San Bruno penalty, $31 million pre-tax for work to clear pipeline rights-of-way, $23 million pre-tax for legal and regulatory costs related to natural gas matters and regulatory communications, $16 million pre-tax for expenses related to the Butte fire, $4 million pre-tax for fines associated with the federal criminal trial and the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) gas distribution record-keeping investigation, and $4 million pre-tax for disallowances imposed by the CPUC in connection with prohibited ex-parte communications.
"Results for the third quarter reflect PG&E's solid operating performance and strong capital investment program. Looking ahead, we continue to see significant growth and investment opportunities in support of our commitment to deliver safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy for customers," said PG&E Corporation Chairman and CEO Tony Earley.
Among the company's operational highlights from the third quarter, PG&E:
▪ | Became the nation's first energy provider to earn the American Chemistry Council's RC14001® management system standard for process safety. |
▪ | Replaced more than 100 poles and over 10 miles of conductor to restore power to customers impacted by the Clayton wildfire, which destroyed hundreds of structures in Lake County. |
▪ | Completed PG&E's largest liquefied natural gas/compressed natural gas project to date in support of pipeline safety upgrades and strength testing in California's North Valley. |
▪ | Announced the launch of new technology demonstration projects with General Electric, Solar City and others to advance integration of distributed energy resources, such as solar and battery storage. |
▪ | Inspected its one millionth gas line using the highly advanced Picarro methane detection technology. |
Earnings from Operations
On a non-GAAP basis, excluding items impacting comparability, PG&E Corporation's earnings from operations for the third quarter of 2016 were $471 million, or $0.94 per share, compared with $412 million, or $0.84 per share, during the same period in 2015. The difference in quarter-over-quarter earnings from operations reflected additional authorized revenue collected through rates as a result of the final phase one decision in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's 2015 Gas Transmission and Storage (GT&S) rate case and higher rate base earnings. These increases were partially offset by certain timing-related tax expenses.
Earnings Guidance
PG&E Corporation is adjusting its previously issued guidance for projected 2016 GAAP earnings to the range of $2.79 to $3.05 per share and is maintaining previously issued guidance for projected non-GAAP earnings from operations in the range of $3.65 to $3.85 per share.
PG&E Corporation is providing 2017 guidance for projected GAAP earnings in the range of $3.51 to $3.80 per share, which includes forecasts for the revenue true-up authorized in the 2015 GT&S rate case, pipeline-related costs, legal and regulatory expenses, penalties imposed by the CPUC, as well as other items. On a non-GAAP basis, the guidance range for projected 2017 earnings from operations is $3.55 to $3.75 per share.
Guidance is based on various assumptions and forecasts, including those relating to authorized revenues, future expenses, capital expenditures, rate base, equity issuances, and certain other factors. PG&E Corporation discloses historical financial results and provides guidance based on "earnings from operations" in order to provide a measure that allows investors to compare the underlying financial performance of the business from one period to another, exclusive of items impacting comparability. See the accompanying tables for a reconciliation of earnings from operations to consolidated income available for common shareholders for the third quarter of 2016 and for 2016 and 2017 earnings guidance.
Supplemental Financial Information
In addition to the financial information accompanying this release, presentation slides for today's conference call with the financial community have been furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available on PG&E Corporation's website at: http://investor.pgecorp.com/financials/quarterly-earnings-reports/default.aspx.
Conference Call with the Financial Community to Discuss Financial Results
Today's call at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, is open to the public on a listen-only basis via webcast. Please visit http://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/events-and-presentations/default.aspx for more information and instructions for accessing the webcast. The webcast call and the related materials will be available for replay through the website for at least one year. Alternatively, a toll-free replay of the conference call may be accessed shortly after the live call through November 18, 2016, by dialing (866) 415-9493. International callers may dial (205) 289-3247. For both domestic and international callers, the confirmation code 1659# will be required to access the replay.
About PG&E Corporation
PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is a Fortune 200 energy-based holding company, headquartered in San Francisco. It is the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, an energy company that serves 16 million Californians across a 70,000 square-mile service area in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pgecorp.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Management's statements providing guidance for PG&E Corporation's 2016 and 2017 financial results and the assumptions and forecasts underlying such guidance constitute forward-looking statements that reflect management's judgments and opinions. These statements and assumptions are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties, the realization or resolution of which may be outside management's control. Actual results may differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to:
· | the timing and outcomes of the final phase two CPUC decision in the 2015 GT&S rate case, the 2017 GRC, the TO rate cases, and other ratemaking and regulatory proceedings; |
· | the timing and outcomes of the debarment proceeding and potential remedial and other measures that may be imposed on the Utility as a result of the debarment proceeding and the jury's verdict in the federal criminal trial of the Utility (including a potential appointment of one or more independent third-party monitor(s)), the Utility's motion for judgment of acquittal, the SED's unresolved enforcement matters relating to the Utility's compliance with natural gas-related laws and regulations, and other investigations that have been or may be commenced relating to the Utility's compliance with natural gas-related laws and regulations; |
· | the timing and outcomes of (i) the CPUC's investigation of communications between the Utility and the CPUC that may have violated the CPUC's rules regarding ex parte communications or are otherwise alleged to be improper, and (ii) the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco and the California Attorney General's office investigations in connection with communications between the Utility's personnel and CPUC officials, and whether such matters negatively affect the final decisions to be issued in phase two of the 2015 GT&S rate case and other ratemaking proceedings; |
· | the timing and outcomes of the Butte fire litigation, whether the Utility's insurance is sufficient to cover the Utility's liability resulting therefrom and otherwise available, and whether additional investigations and proceedings in connection with Butte fire will be opened; |
· | the Utility's ability to control its costs within the authorized levels of spending and the extent to which the Utility incurs unrecoverable costs that are higher than the forecasts of such costs; |
· | changes in cost forecasts or the scope and timing of planned work resulting from changes in customer demand for electricity and natural gas or other reasons; |
· | the outcomes of the SED's investigations of potential violations identified though audits, investigations, or self-reports; |
· | the impact that reductions in customer demand for electricity and natural gas have on the Utility's ability to make and recover its investments through rates and earn its authorized return on equity, and whether the Utility is successful in addressing the impact of growing distributed and renewable generation resources and changing customer demand for natural gas and electric services; |
· | the amount and timing of charges reflecting probable liabilities for third-party claims, the extent to which costs incurred in connection with third-party claims or litigation can be recovered through insurance, rates, or from other third parties, and whether the Utility can continue to obtain insurance and whether insurance coverage is adequate for future losses or claims, especially following a major event that causes widespread third-party losses; |
· | the ability of PG&E Corporation and the Utility to access capital markets and other sources of debt and equity financing in a timely manner on acceptable terms, and the amount and timing of additional common stock and debt issuances by PG&E Corporation; |
· | changes in estimated environmental remediation costs, including costs associated with the Utility's natural gas compressor sites; |
· | the outcome of federal or state tax audits and the impact of any changes in federal or state tax laws, policies, regulations, or their interpretation; |
· | the impact of changes in GAAP, standards, rules, or policies, including those related to regulatory accounting, and the impact of changes in their interpretation or application; and |
· | the other factors disclosed in PG&E Corporation and the Utility's joint Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2016. |
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