Ongoing business review
Robert M. Blue, Dominion Energy chair, president, and chief executive officer, continued:
“Today’s announcement further highlights Dominion Energy’s premier state-regulated, electric utilities that operate in some of the most attractive regions in the country. Data center expansion, bolstered by artificial intelligence (AI), along with electrification, and general economic activity are driving the most significant demand growth in our company’s history and shows no signs of abating. This unrivaled demand growth will drive very significant regulated capital investment to ensure reliable energy for our nearly 3.5 million electric utility customers.
“In addition, the thoughtful approach taken by Virginia legislators and regulators to develop a framework for our regulated offshore wind project is delivering exceptional results for customers and local economies. It enabled us to take a differentiated approach to project development, securing agreements early with offshore wind suppliers for material and services while giving them confidence in our project’s completion. This allows our vendors to maintain focus on delivering their equipment and services on time. Not only is our project on budget and on schedule, but it is also estimated to deliver electricity at a levelized cost that competes very favorably with the nation’s unregulated offshore wind projects while creating hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars of local economic benefit.
“The transactions announcement also represents another significant step in our business review, which is focused on repositioning the company to create maximum long-term value for shareholders, employees, customers, and other stakeholders. However, our work is not complete.
“Consistent with prior communications, we are focused on strengthening the company’s credit position within its existing consolidated rating categories of Baa2 (Moody’s issuer rating), BBB+ (S&P issuer rating) and BBB+ (Fitch issuer rating). We want to emerge from the review with a sustainable credit foundation that, over time, will consistently meet and exceed our current downgrade thresholds even during temporary periods of cost or regulatory pressure.
“Therefore, as part of the ongoing business review we continue to evaluate efficient sources of capital to solidly position our balance sheet for the long-term while seeking to minimize any amount of external equity financing need. In combination with the sale of our remaining interest in Cove Point and today’s announced sales of our natural gas distribution companies, additional capital sourcing would be driven by: (1) de-risking of our regulated offshore wind project through the assumption of a noncontrolling equity financing partner as provided for in recent Virginia legislation; (2) the impact of the $350 million customer rate reduction at Dominion Energy Virginia, which became effective July 1; (3) the potential impact of a prolonged period of elevated interest rates; and (4) funding of our industry-leading regulated investment opportunity driven by unrivaled demand growth.”
Business review investor event
Dominion Energy expects to host an investor event during the fourth quarter to discuss the company’s repositioned strategic and financial outlook. The event is expected to follow the completion of Dominion Energy’s ongoing business review. During the investor event, management will review Dominion Energy’s overall strategy, provide comprehensive and multi-year financial and capital investment guidance, and participate in Q&A.
Additional information
The assets included in the transactions will be reclassified as discontinued operations for GAAP reporting and excluded from operating earnings for the third-quarter and full-year 2023. We expect a decrease of $0.05 to $0.06 per share from the previously announced third-quarter operating earnings guidance range of $0.72 to $0.87 per share for the removal of such assets, which excludes any potential impact from the use of sales proceeds. Given the pending business review, the company has not provided full-year 2023 earnings guidance.
Legal and financial advisors
McGuireWoods LLP served as legal counsel to Dominion Energy. Citi and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as co-financial advisors for the transaction.