Exhibit 99
| Media Contact: | | Tom Robinson |
| | | 816-556-2902 |
| | | |
| Investor Contact: | | Todd Allen |
| | | 816-556-2083 |
GREAT PLAINS ENERGY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS
Core Earnings Stronger Than Last Year
Kansas City, MO, May 3, 2006 - Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE:GXP) today announced core earnings, which exclude net mark-to-market gains and losses on energy contracts and a workforce realignment at Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), were $24.4 million or $0.33 per share in the first quarter of 2006, compared to $16.9 million or $0.23 per share in the first quarter of 2005. Reported earnings, which include $21.1 million of net mark-to-market losses on energy contracts at Strategic Energy and a $5.8 million impact of the workforce realignment, were a loss of $2.5 million or $0.03 per share, compared to first quarter 2005 earnings of $19.8 million or $0.27 per share. Reported earnings are reconciled to core earnings in attachment B.
Higher core earnings in the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same quarter last year were driven primarily by KCP&L’s results, as higher wholesale prices, lower purchased power expense and the absence of 2005 ice storm costs more than offset the effects of higher fuel prices and lower wholesale volumes. Strategic Energy core earnings in the first quarter of 2006 were slightly higher than last year, with higher gross margins more than offsetting lower delivered volumes.
“In the first quarter, we continued to have strong financial performance while executing on our Strategic Intent,” said Chairman Michael Chesser. “We broke ground on our wind turbine project, took initial steps on environmental upgrades on our coal fleet, continued securing the long lead time items for our new coal plant and filed our first rate cases in nearly 20 years. We also made progress on our plan for workforce realignment at KCP&L designed to help improve our skill sets to deliver on our Strategic Intent. Strategic Energy also demonstrated continuing improvement, growing backlog 23% through increased sales and longer contract durations during the quarter.”
Kansas City Power & Light
KCP&L core earnings, which exclude a $5.8 million impact of severance and related costs associated with the workforce realignment, were $17.8 million or $0.24 per share, compared to $10.8 million or $0.15 per share last year. Reported earnings were $12.0 million or $0.16 per share, compared to first quarter 2005 earnings of $10.8 million or $0.15 per share.
Revenues for the first quarter of 2006 were $240 million compared to $233 million for the first quarter of 2005. Retail revenues were essentially flat at $189 million. Wholesale revenues were $48 million, up from $39 million in the first quarter of 2005 due to higher prices. Average wholesale electricity prices for the first quarter of 2006 were up 45% over the same period last year.
Fuel costs in the first quarter of 2006, which were up 14% compared to last year due to higher commodity and transportation prices, were largely offset by a 55% decrease in purchased power expense. The absence of ice storm costs experienced in the first quarter of 2005 also benefited KCP&L earnings compared to last year.
During the first quarter, KCP&L began securing long lead-time items for its Comprehensive Energy Plan. Although contracting is not complete, developing market conditions have resulted in potential increases in the estimated overall cost for the Plan in the range of 10%-20%. The primary drivers are increases in material and labor costs and some scope additions. The Company anticipates completing its definitive estimates by August and is confident that project costs will be competitive with other similar projects.
Strategic Energy
Strategic Energy core earnings, which exclude net mark-to-market gains and losses on energy contracts, were $10.2 million or $0.13 per share, compared to $9.9 million or $0.13 per share in the same period last year. Reported earnings were a loss of $10.9 million or $0.15 per share, compared to earnings of $12.8 million or $0.17 per share in the first quarter of 2005.
Total backlog at Strategic Energy grew 23% in the first quarter as new sales volume more than doubled to 7.3 million MWhs in the first quarter of 2006 compared to 3.0 million MWhs in the same period in 2005. The company’s improved marketing approach, a favorable sales environment in several states, lower energy prices and changing customer perceptions about the longer-term price of electricity, led to increased sales and longer duration for new contracts. Average contract lengths increased to 18 months in the first quarter of 2006, compared to 10 months in the same quarter last year. Delivered volume during the quarter combined with 2006 backlog totaled 13.8 million MWhs at the end of the first quarter, compared to 2006 backlog of 10.4 million MWhs at the end of 2005.
Retail gross margin per MWh in the first quarter of 2006 was ($2.12). However, excluding net mark-to-market losses on energy contracts, retail gross margin per MWh was strong at $7.67. This compares to an average retail gross margin per MWh, excluding net mark-to-market gains on energy contracts, of $6.08 last year. Retail gross margin per MWh in the first quarter reflects the positive impacts of portfolio optimization, a gain from the early termination of a power contract, and a favorable product mix during the quarter. Retail gross margin on new sales during the first quarter of 2006 was $3.24, which is exclusive of potential portfolio optimization benefits. Strategic Energy’s delivered volume decreased to 3.7 million MWhs during the first quarter from 4.6 million MWhs last year, which is in-line with lower overall delivered volume guidance for the year.
KLT Investments and “Other”
First quarter 2006 earnings and core earnings from KLT Investments were $0.7 million or $0.01 per share, compared to $3.0 million or $0.04 per share in the first quarter of 2005. The lower earnings in the first quarter of 2006 are due to the timing of reductions of affordable housing investments and a decline in available tax credits from the investments.
In the first quarter of 2006 the “other” category loss was $4.3 million compared to a loss of $6.8 million in the same period last year. The loss per share was
$0.05 in the first quarter of 2006 versus $0.09 in the first quarter of 2005.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Great Plains Energy provides in its earnings releases descriptions of “core earnings” in addition to earnings calculated in accordance with GAAP. Great Plains Energy also provides its earnings guidance in terms of core earnings. Core earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure that differs from GAAP earnings because it excludes the effects of discontinued operations, certain unusual items and mark-to-market gains and losses on energy contracts. Core earnings for historical periods are reconciled to GAAP earnings in Attachment B.
The Company believes core earnings provide to investors a meaningful indicator of its results that is comparable among periods because it excludes the effects of discontinued operations, certain unusual items and mark-to-market gains and losses on energy contracts. These items are excluded from core earnings because they may not be indicative of Great Plains Energy’s prospective earnings potential. Investors should note that this non-GAAP measure involves judgments by management, including whether an item is classified as an unusual item. Core earnings is used internally to measure performance against budget and in reports for management and the Board of Directors. Great Plains Energy’s definition of core earnings may differ from similar terms used by other companies.
Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE:GXP) headquartered in Kansas City, MO, is the holding company for Kansas City Power & Light Company, a leading regulated provider of electricity in the Midwest, and Strategic Energy L.L.C., a competitive electricity supplier. The Company's web site is www.greatplainsenergy.com.
CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION -- Statements made in this release that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding projected delivered volumes and margins, the outcome of regulatory proceedings, cost estimates of the comprehensive energy plan and other matters affecting future operations. In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is providing a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the provided forward-looking information. These important factors include: future economic conditions in the regional, national and international markets, including but not limited to regional and national wholesale electricity markets; market perception of the energy industry and Great Plains Energy; changes in business strategy, operations or development plans; effects of current or proposed state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments, including, but not limited to, deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry; decisions of regulators regarding rates KCP&L can charge for electricity; adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to, air and water quality; financial market conditions and performance including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on pension plan assets and costs; credit ratings; inflation rates; effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments; impact of terrorist acts; increased competition including, but not limited to, retail choice in the electric utility industry and the entry of new competitors; ability to carry out marketing and sales plans; weather conditions including weather-related damage; cost, availability, quality and deliverability of fuel; ability to achieve generation planning goals and the occurrence and duration of unplanned generation outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates and cost increases of additional generating capacity; nuclear operations; ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities in non-regulated businesses and the effects of competition; application of critical accounting policies, including, but not limited to, those related to derivatives and pension liabilities; workforce risks including compensation and benefits costs; performance of projects undertaken by non-regulated businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities and other risks and uncertainties. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in the Company’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors.
Attachment A
