EXHIBIT 99.1
 | Cleco Corporation |
| 2030 Donahue Ferry Road |
| PO Box 5000 |
| Pineville, LA 71361-5000 |
| Tel 318 484-7400 |
| www.cleco.com |
| |
NEWS RELEASE |
| Investor Contacts: | | |
| Cleco Corporation | Analyst Inquiries: | Media Contact: |
| Keith Crump | Dresner Corporate Services | Cleco Corporation: |
| (318) 484-7719 | Kristine Walczak | Michael Burns |
Ryan Gunter (318) 484-7724 Shareholder Services Rodney Hamilton | (312) 780-7205 | (318) 484-7663 |
| (318) 484-7593 | | |
For Immediate Release
Cleco Corp. Posts Second-Quarter Net Income of $22.8 Million
Maintains earnings target for 2006
PINEVILLE, La., Aug. 3, 2006 - Cleco Corp. (NYSE: CNL) today reported second-quarter net income of $22.8 million, up from the $20.2 million recorded in the second quarter of 2005.
Earnings were $0.44 per diluted share for the second quarter, $0.04 per share higher than the $0.40 per diluted share reported in the second quarter of 2005.
One of the primary reasons for the increase was the impact from the recognition of the remaining $12.2 million that was available to be drawn on a $15.0 million letter of credit from Calpine Corp., partly offset by the absence of tolling agreement payments from Calpine Energy Services L.P. (CES). CES and Calpine filed for bankruptcy in December 2005. Another positive factor in the second-quarter performance is lower corporate net interest expense.
For the six months ended June 30, 2006, net income was $34.5 million, up $5.3 million from what was reported in the same period of 2005.
For the first half of 2006, Cleco earned $0.68 per share, $0.10 per share higher than the $0.58 per share recorded in the first two quarters of 2005. Higher earnings at Cleco Power and lower corporate net interest expense helped offset lower earnings at Midstream.
“Cleco has enjoyed a successful first half of 2006 with construction now under way on our new $1 billion solid-fuel unit at Rodemacher Power Station,” Cleco President and CEO Michael Madison said. “However, we still have a lot of work ahead to meet our goals.
“We have to ensure our utility continues to produce stable financial results while keeping a sharp focus on managing the construction of the 600-megawatt unit. As for our unregulated generation business, we are continuing efforts to resolve the Calpine bankruptcy-related issues involving the Acadia plant,” Madison said.
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Consolidated Diluted Earnings Per Share Allocated to Subsidiaries | |
| | | Diluted EPS | |
| | | Three Months Ended June 30, | |
| | | | | | | | |
Subsidiary | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | |
| Cleco Power LLC | | $ | 0.33 | | $ | 0.34 | |
| Cleco Midstream Resources LLC | | | 0.09 | | | 0.07 | |
Corporate and Other1 | | | 0.02 | | | (0.01 | ) |
Earnings applicable to common stock | | $ | 0.44 | | $ 0.40 |
| | |
| | | Diluted EPS | |
| | | Six Months Ended June 30, | |
| | | | | | |
Subsidiary | | 2006 | | 2005 | |
| Cleco Power LLC | | $ | 0.61 | | $ | 0.50 | |
| Cleco Midstream Resources LLC | | | 0.03 | | | 0.13 | |
Corporate and Other1 | | | 0.04 | | | (0.04 | ) |
Earnings from continuing operations | | $ | 0.68 | | $ | 0.59 | |
| Cleco Energy LLC discontinued operations | | | -- | | $ | (0.01 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Earnings applicable to common stock | | $ | 0.68 | | $ | 0.58 | |
Major Reconciling Items for Second-Quarter EPS 2006 vs. 2005:
$ 0.40 | 2005 Second-Quarter Diluted EPS |
| | |
| 0.11 | Higher Cleco Power nonfuel revenue |
| (0.15) | Higher Cleco Power nonfuel expenses |
| 0.03 | Lower Cleco Power income taxes |
| 0.03 | Higher contribution from Acadia project |
| (0.04) | Lower contribution from Evangeline plant |
| 0.01 | Lower Midstream administrative expenses |
| 0.02 | Higher contribution from Perryville transmission subsidiary |
| 0.03 | Lower corporate expenses |
| | |
$ 0.44 | 2006 Second-Quarter Diluted EPS |
| | |
_______________________
1 Includes dividends on preferred stock
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Cleco Power LLC
Cleco Power recorded second-quarter results of $0.33 per diluted share, $0.01 per share lower than what it earned in the same period of 2005.
Nonfuel revenue increased $0.11 per share in the quarter-to-quarter comparison with 2005.
Higher retail and wholesale kilowatt-hour sales contributed $0.06 per share to the increase. Included in that increase was $0.02 per share tied to a fixed-price contract with a municipality that began in January, partially offset by a $0.01 per share drop in sales to two other municipal customers.
Second quarter 2006 retail and wholesale kilowatt-hour sales were up nearly 6 percent over the same period a year ago, largely due to warmer weather. Cooling degree-days were 20 percent higher than normal and 11 percent higher than in the second quarter of 2005.
(Million kWh) | For the three months ended June 30, |
| | 2006 | 2005 | Change |
Electric Sales | | | |
Residential | 820 | 751 | 9.19 % |
Commercial | 471 | 437 | 7.78 % |
Industrial | 725 | 705 | 2.84 % |
Other retail | 147 | 143 | 2.80 % |
Unbilled | 223 | 224 | (0.45)% |
Total retail | 2,386 | 2,260 | 5.58 % |
Sales for resale | 284 | 264 | 7.58 % |
Total retail and wholesale customer sales | 2,670 | 2,524 | 5.78 % |
Another $0.05 per share of the increase was due to the collection of a storm surcharge, which started in May 2006. The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved an interim plan in February 2006 authorizing Cleco Power to begin collecting approximately $161 million in storm restoration costs from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The LPSC will determine the final amount to be collected after it evaluates and verifies costs during a second phase that should conclude by early 2007.
Cleco Power nonfuel expenses were $0.15 per share higher than in the second quarter of 2005.
Operations and maintenance expenses were up $0.07 per share. Of that amount, $0.05 per share was associated primarily with higher professional fees and employee benefits and another $0.04 per share was due to storm amortization expenses. Partially offsetting the increases was a $0.02 per share reduction due to the absence of a major inspection at Rodemacher Power Station in the second quarter of 2006.
Other expenses were $0.07 per share higher primarily due to $0.04 per share of increased interest expense and the absence of $0.03 per share of proceeds from the 2005 sale of distribution assets.
Nonrecoverable fuel expenses were $0.01 per share higher compared to the same period of 2005 mainly due to the $0.03 per share impact of the fixed-price municipal contract that went into effect in January, partly offset by a $0.02 per share reduction of capacity costs.
Finally, income tax expense was down $0.03 per share compared to the same period of 2005 due to the positive resolution of federal and state tax audits.
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Cleco Midstream Resources LLC
Cleco Midstream’s results of operations increased by $0.02 per share compared to the second quarter of 2005.
Acadia’s contribution was $0.03 per share higher in the quarter-to-quarter comparison. A primary factor in Acadia’s performance was the $0.15 per share effect from the recognition of the remaining $12.2 million of a $15.0 million letter of credit from Calpine. A previous $2.8 million draw on the letter of credit was made in February 2006 and recorded in the first quarter. The $12.2 million draw on the remaining balance of the letter of credit was made Aug. 2 and recorded in second-quarter results.
Partly offsetting the impact of the letter of credit draw was $0.12 per share of lower results from operations at Acadia when compared to the second quarter of 2005. Second quarter 2006 operating results included proceeds from an insurance claim and revenue from energy sales through a new energy-management contract with a third-party marketer. By comparison, the higher second quarter 2005 results from operations included revenue from the CES tolling agreements.
Evangeline was down $0.04 per share from the second quarter of 2005 largely due to increased turbine maintenance expense caused by higher plant run times and an adjustment of 2003 state income taxes.
Perryville contributed $0.02 per share to earnings primarily due to insurance proceeds from a 2005 transformer failure. Cleco sold the Perryville power plant to Entergy in 2005 but retained ownership of Perryville’s transmission assets. Also affecting Midstream’s results was a $0.01 per share reduction in administrative expenses.
Other
Corporate net interest expense was $0.03 per share lower than in the second quarter of 2005 primarily due to the June 2005 repayment of $100 million of senior notes at maturity.
Major Reconciling Items for Six Months ended June 30 EPS 2006 vs. 2005:
| | $ 0.58 | | 2005 Six Months ended June 30 Diluted EPS |
| | | | |
| | 0.15 | | Higher Cleco Power nonfuel revenue |
| | (0.09) | | Higher Cleco Power nonfuel expenses |
| | 0.05 | | Lower income taxes |
| | (0.08) | | Lower contribution from Acadia project |
| | (0.02) | | Lower contribution from other Midstream operations |
| | 0.08 | | Lower corporate expenses |
| | 0.01 | | Absence of Cleco Energy discontinued operations |
| | | | |
| | $ 0.68 | | 2006 Six Months ended June 30 Diluted EPS |
Cleco Power LLC
For the first six months of 2006, Cleco Power earnings were up $0.11 per share compared to the same period of 2005.
Nonfuel revenue was up $0.15 per share versus the first six months of 2005.
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Sales to residential and commercial customers were $0.03 per share higher than in the first half of 2005. Kilowatt-hour sales were up more than 5 percent compared to the first half of 2005 largely due to warm weather. Cooling degree-days were 22 percent higher than normal and 12 percent higher than the first six months of 2005.
(Million kWh) | For the six months ended June 30, |
| | 2006 | 2005 | Change |
Electric Sales | | | |
Residential | 1,570 | 1,541 | 1.88% |
Commercial | 878 | 843 | 4.15% |
Industrial | 1,417 | 1,386 | 2.24% |
Other retail | 279 | 279 | -- % |
Unbilled | 141 | 131 | 7.63% |
Total retail | 4,285 | 4,180 | 2.51% |
Sales for resale | 519 | 385 | 34.81% |
Total retail and wholesale customer sales | 4,804 | 4,565 | 5.24% |
Factors adding to revenue in the year-to-date comparison included $0.05 per share due to the recovery of storm restoration costs from customers and $0.03 per share in higher customer fees and miscellaneous revenue.
A $0.04 per share increase in revenue from the fixed-price municipal contract was balanced out by a $0.04 per share loss on energy-hedging positions tied to the same contract.
The reversal of customer refund accruals for the years 2002-2006 added $0.07 per share to utility results compared to a year ago. It was partially offset by $0.03 per share from the absence of a 2005 fuel surcharge adjustment, as well as the impact of other fuel surcharge adjustments.
Cleco Power’s nonfuel expenses increased $0.09 per share in the first half of 2006 compared to the same period a year ago.
Operations and maintenance expenses were $0.03 per share lower in the year-to-date comparison. The primary drivers of the reduced O&M expenses were $0.08 per share attributable to the establishment of a regulatory asset -- consisting of previously recorded storm expenses -- as a result of the LPSC’s interim approval of storm cost recovery, and $0.02 per share tied to the absence of a major inspection at the Rodemacher plant. Offsetting factors included a $0.04 per share increase in storm amortization costs and $0.03 per share rise in professional fees and other miscellaneous expenses.
Nonrecoverable fuel expenses increased $0.03 per share compared to the same period of 2005 largely due to $0.05 per share associated with the fixed-price municipal contract, partly offset by $0.02 per share of lower capacity costs.
Other expenses rose $0.09 per share compared to the first half of 2005. Of that increase, $0.02 per share was due to higher net interest expense, $0.03 per share was due to the absence of proceeds from the 2005 sale of distribution assets, and $0.04 per share was due to depreciation, other taxes and miscellaneous expenses.
Finally, income tax expense was down $0.05 per share compared to the first half of 2005 stemming from the positive resolution of federal and state tax audits.
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Cleco Midstream Resources LLC
Cleco Midstream’s results of operations were down $0.10 per share compared to the first half of 2005.
One of the main drivers of Midstream’s results was an $0.08 per share decrease in contributions from Acadia compared to the first six months of 2005.
The primary factors affecting Acadia included $0.26 in lower results from operations at Acadia compared to the same period of 2005, partially offset by $0.18 per share from the draw of the $15.0 million letter of credit from Calpine. Operating results during the first half of 2006 included revenue from energy sales through an energy-management contract with a third-party marketer and proceeds from insurance claims, while higher 2005 results for the same period included revenue under the tolling agreements with CES. Higher interest expense also lowered the subsidiary’s earnings for the first six months of 2006 compared to the same 2005 period.
Evangeline’s contribution to earnings was $0.06 per share lower compared to same period of 2005. Reasons for the drop in results included increased turbine maintenance expense caused by higher plant run times as well as an adjustment of 2003 state income taxes.
Partially offsetting the lower results was Perryville’s $0.02 per share that included proceeds of an insurance claim. In addition, Midstream’s administrative expenses were down $0.02 per share compared to the same period of 2005.
Other
Earnings contributions from Corporate and other were up $0.08 per share in the first half of 2006 primarily due to lower interest expense from the June 2005 repayment of $100 million of senior notes at maturity. Also affecting results was the absence of a $0.01 per share loss from Cleco Energy discontinued operations recorded in 2005.
Rodemacher Unit 3
“Although it’s still in the early stages of construction, we are confident in our ability to successfully manage what is the largest project in our company’s history,” Madison said. “As I’ve said before, our intent is to finance this project in a balanced fashion that protects our credit rating. We began collecting from customers an amount equivalent to 75 percent of our carrying costs of capital during construction, which should help us achieve that overall goal.
“Along with that revenue, we intend to fund construction through the use of cash on hand, funds available under our credit facilities, and issuance of long-term debt and equity,” Madison said.
Rate Stabilization Plan
“Another major step for us was the LPSC’s July 12 approval of an extension of our rate stabilization plan from Oct. 1, 2006, through the start of commercial operations of the Rodemacher unit. Commissioners approved an effective maximum allowed regulated return on equity of 11.65 percent. Our customers and our shareholders now have a measure of certainty about our rate structure. We anticipate filing a rate case about a year before completion of the Rodemacher project,” Madison said.
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Financing Activity
In early June, Cleco Corp. and Cleco Power extended their existing credit facilities for another year to 2011. In addition, Cleco Power expanded its credit line from $125 million to a total of $275 million. The company now has a maximum capacity of $425 million in credit facilities.
“The revised credit facilities give us additional liquidity as we move forward with construction of the new Rodemacher unit,” Madison said.
Evangeline Credit Rating
On June 12, Moody’s completed its review of Evangeline’s senior secured bonds and upgraded the rating to Ba2 from B1. Moody’s decision was prompted by its review for upgrade of The Williams Companies Inc., which was announced April 5. A Williams subsidiary is the counterparty to the tolling agreement for the output of the 775-megawatt Evangeline plant.
Earnings Targets
“Results for the first half of the year were in line with our expectations; therefore we are maintaining our earnings guidance of $1.25 to $1.35 per share for 2006,” Madison said. The target range assumes normal weather patterns, continuation of the current rate plan through September, the start of the recently approved rate stabilization plan in October, and the continued performance of the Evangeline tolling agreement. The earnings guidance also includes management’s assumptions about Acadia’s ability to sell power and capacity into the merchant power market. In addition, the target range assumes $200 million of expenditures for the Rodemacher project this year.
Cleco management will discuss the company’s 2006 second-quarter results during a conference call scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT (10 a.m. CDT) Friday, Aug. 4, 2006. The call will be broadcast live on the Internet, and replays will be available for 12 months. Investors may access the webcast through the company's Web site at www.cleco.com by selecting “For Investors” and then “2nd Quarter 2006 Earnings Conference Call.”
Cleco’s businesses referred to in this news release are:
| | Cleco Power LLC |
| | Cleco Midstream Resources LLC Perryville Energy Partners, L.L.C.; Perryville Energy Holdings LLC Acadia Power Holdings LLC |
| | Other (Cleco Corporation; Cleco Support Group LLC, Cleco Innovations LLC; CLE Resources, Inc.) |
Cleco Corp. is a regional energy provider headquartered in Pineville, La. It operates a regulated electric utility that serves 267,000 customers across Louisiana. Cleco also operates a wholesale energy business that has approximately 1,350 megawatts of capacity. For more information about Cleco, visit www.cleco.com.
Financial tables follow:
