El Paso Electric Announces First Quarter Financial Results
El Paso Electric Company (NYSE:EE):
Overview
For the first quarter 2008, EE reported net income of $14.5 million, or $0.32 basic and diluted earnings per share, respectively. In the first quarter of 2007, EE had net income of $15.1 million, or $0.33 basic and diluted earnings per share.
“The first quarter of 2008 was another good quarter for El Paso Electric Company,” said J. Frank Bates, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. “Improved retail-related and off-system revenues more than offset increases in non-fuel operation and maintenance costs at Palo Verde and our gas-fired generating plants. Adjusted for an executive severance payment and unrealized losses recognized on debt and equity investments, earnings in the first quarter of 2008 were $0.36 per share compared to $0.33 per share in the first quarter of 2007.”
Earnings Summary
The table and explanations below present the major factors affecting 2008 net income relative to 2007 net income.
Pre-tax
After-tax
Effect
Net Income
Basic EPS
March 31, 2007
$
15,119
$
0.33
Changes in:
Retained margins on off-system sales
$
2,904
1,829
0.04
Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 proxy market pricing
2,884
1,817
0.04
AFUDC and capitalized interest
1,705
1,350
0.03
Retail base revenue
1,822
1,148
0.03
Palo Verde O&M
(4,416
)
(2,782
)
(0.06
)
Fossil fuel plant O&M
(2,625
)
(1,654
)
(0.03
)
Executive severance costs
(1,404
)
(885
)
(0.02
)
Investment income
(1,388
)
(875
)
(0.02
)
Interest on long-term debt
(1,159
)
(730
)
(0.02
)
Other
151
—
March 31, 2008
$
14,488
$
0.32
First Quarter 2008
Earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 when compared to the same period last year were positively affected by:
Increased retained margins on off-system sales in 2008 due to increased MWh sales partially offset by lower margins per MWh.
Higher proxy market prices for deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 power sold to retail customers.
Increased AFUDC (allowance for funds used during construction) and capitalized interest due to increased construction work in progress subject to AFUDC and nuclear fuel inventory subject to capitalized interest in 2008.
Higher retail base revenues in 2008 primarily due to increased kWh sales to small commercial and industrial and public authority customers. KWh sales to small commercial and industrial and public authority customers increased 4.1% and 7.0%, respectively.
Earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 when compared to the same period last year were negatively affected by:
Increased Palo Verde non-fuel operations and maintenance expenses in 2008 due to the timing of maintenance at Palo Verde Unit 2 and increased operating costs at all three units. The Palo Verde spring 2008 refueling outage for Unit 2 began in March 2008, while the corresponding spring 2007 refueling outage for Unit 1 did not begin until May 2007.
Increased O&M costs at our gas-fired generating plants due to the timing of planned maintenance.
Executive severance costs net of forfeited restricted stock in the first quarter of 2008 with no comparable costs in the first quarter of 2007.
Decreased investment and interest income due to a decrease in the fair value of our investments in auction rate debt securities and impairments of equity investments in our decommissioning trust funds.
Increased interest expense related to our pollution control bonds. The interest rate on two series of our pollution control bonds are reset through weekly auctions which, due to well publicized problems in the auction rate market, has resulted in substantially higher interest rates in the first quarter of 2008.
Key Earnings Drivers
Historically, our earnings are largely influenced by base revenues from retail electric customers, operations at Palo Verde, and off-systems sales margins.
Retail Non-fuel Base Revenues
Retail non-fuel base revenues increased by $1.8 million, pretax, or 1.8% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Non-fuel base revenues from small commercial and industrial customers increased by $2.0 million, or 5.5%, in 2008 due primarily to a 4.1% increase in kWh sales in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. The increase in kWh sales resulted from a 6.9% increase in the average number of customers served. Other public authority revenues increased $0.9 million, or 5.6%, in 2008 due to a 7.0% increase in kWh sales reflecting increased sales to military bases, to colleges and universities, and for municipal water pumping. These increases were partially offset by decreased residential base revenues of $0.3 million, or 0.8%, in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 as a result of a 0.8% decrease in kWh sales. The decrease in residential kWh sales was due to milder winter weather in 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007 which was colder than normal. Heating degree days in the first quarter of 2008 were 7.5% below the first quarter of 2007 and 0.8% below the 10-year average. Large commercial and industrial revenues decreased $0.7 million, or 7.3%, due to the loss of several large commercial and industrial customers and the transfer of customers to the small commercial and industrial class.
Palo Verde Operations
We own approximately 633 MW (undivided interest) of generating capacity in the three generating units at the Palo Verde nuclear power station. The operation of Palo Verde not only affects our ability to make off-system sales, but also impacts fuel costs to native load customers and represents a significant portion of our non-fuel operating expenses. Total Palo Verde MWh generation increased 1.1% in the first quarter of 2008 as a result of an increase in the net generating capability at Palo Verde Unit 3 due to the replacement of the steam generators and an extra day of output in February 2008.
Palo Verde operation and maintenance expenses increased $4.4 million, pre-tax, in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007 primarily due to increased maintenance costs incurred during an ongoing refueling outage at Unit 2 and increased operating costs at all three units in response to an enhanced inspection regimen by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC placed Palo Verde Unit 3 in the “multiple/repetitive degraded cornerstone” column of the NRC’s action matrix in February 2007 which has resulted in an enhanced NRC inspection regimen for the entire plant. This enhanced inspection regimen and associated corrective actions has resulted in increased operating costs at the plant.
Off-System Sales
We continue to make off-system sales in the wholesale power markets when competitively priced excess power is available from our generating plants and purchased power contracts. The table below shows off-system sales MWh and the pretax margins realized and retained by us from sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:
2008
2007
MWh sales
1,112,686
675,011
Total margins (in thousands)
$14,983
$10,341
Retained margins (in thousands)
$11,263
$8,359
For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, retained margins from off-system sales increased approximately $2.9 million, pretax, over the corresponding period in 2007. The increase in off-system sales margins was primarily the result of an arbitrage sale transaction. Arbitrage transactions are sales in which we purchase power and resell it at a higher price. In May 2007, the Company began selling 100 MW of firm energy and 50 MW of contingent energy to the Imperial Irrigation District. The firm portion of this sale is made through a 100 MW purchase of firm energy from Credit Suisse, LLC and the contingent portion is generally from our generating plants. During the first quarter of 2008, the net margin from this transaction resulted in $5.6 million in gross off-system sales margins with no comparable margins in the first quarter of 2007. In July 2007 pursuant to the 2007 New Mexico Stipulation, we began sharing 25% of off-system sales margins with customers in New Mexico which reduced retained margins by $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007. The table below shows on a per MWh basis, revenues, costs and margins from off-system sales for the first quarter of 2008 and 2007:
Average Cost of
Average Revenue
Energy Per
Average Margin
Quarter Ended
Per MWh
MWh
Per MWh
March 31, 2007
$54.24
$38.92
$15.32
March 31, 2008
$66.07
$52.60
$13.47
Capital and Liquidity
At March 31, 2008, common stock equity comprised 49.2% of our permanent capitalization (common stock, long-term debt and the current portion of long-term debt and financing obligations).
Cash flows from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 decreased to $42.5 million from $61.2 million in the corresponding period in 2007. The primary factors affecting the change in cash flow were reduced collections of deferred fuel revenues in Texas, partially offset by a reversal of deferred taxes in 2008 and increased accounts receivable associated with off-system sales. In the first quarter of 2007, we had net collections of deferred fuel revenues of $16.4 million including $8.8 million of deferred fuel revenues collected under fuel surcharges and $7.6 million of over-recovered fuel revenues (fuel revenues in excess of fuel costs). In the first quarter of 2008, we had an under-recovery of fuel revenues of $2.0 million (fuel costs in excess of fuel revenues) and had no cash flow from fuel surcharges. As a result, collections of deferred fuel revenues were $18.4 million lower in the first quarter of 2008 than in the first quarter of 2007.
In Texas, fuel costs including purchased power energy costs are recovered through a fixed fuel factor which may be adjusted twice a year. We record deferred fuel revenues for the under-recovery of fuel costs until they can be recovered from Texas customers. In January 2007 and September 2007, we completed the recovery of two fuel surcharges to collect under-recovered fuel costs through November 2005. In New Mexico, we collect under-recoveries of fuel costs and refund over-recoveries of fuel costs through a fuel and purchased power adjustment clause with a two month lag. At March 31, 2008, we had a total company fuel under-recovery balance of $29.7 million including a fuel under-recovery balance of $28.8 million in Texas and $0.9 million in New Mexico. In April 2008, the Texas Commission approved a fuel surcharge to recover approximately $30.1 million of under-recovered fuel costs through November 2007, including interest, over a twelve-month period beginning in May 2008.
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, our primary capital requirements were for construction of electric utility plant, purchases of nuclear fuel, and the repurchase of common stock. Capital requirements for new electric plant were $44.0 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 compared to $25.3 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, we repurchased $9.9 million of common stock compared to common stock repurchases of $14.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. We financed over 75% of our capital requirements for electric plant and common stock repurchases with cash flows from operations. In addition, during the first quarter of 2008, we liquidated $16.0 million of temporary investments and drew $13.0 million from our $200 million credit facility to finance our capital requirements. At March 31, 2008, we had a balance of $11.7 million in cash and cash equivalents.
Our capital requirements for nuclear fuel increased substantially in 2007 and 2008 as a result of increases in prices for uranium concentrates and an increase in our inventory of nuclear fuel feedstock. We finance our nuclear fuel inventory through a trust that borrows under our $200 million credit facility to acquire and process the nuclear fuel. Borrowings under the credit facility for nuclear fuel were $95.6 million as of March 31, 2008 and $52.0 million as of March 31, 2007. The balance of the credit facility available for nuclear fuel and capital requirements is $91.4 million.
During the first quarter of 2008, we repurchased 478,634 shares of common stock in the open market at an aggregate cost of $9.9 million. As of March 31, 2008, approximately 1,521,000 shares remain available for repurchase under the currently authorized program.
2008 Earnings Guidance
We are reiterating our earnings guidance for 2008 of $1.50 to $1.90 per basic share.
Conference Call
A conference call to discuss first quarter 2008 earnings is scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern Time, May 6, 2008. The dial-in number is 800-857-6553 with a passcode of 2008. The conference leader will be Scott Wilson, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of EE. A replay will run through May 21, 2008. The dial-in number is 800-839-2325 and a passcode is not required for the replay. The conference call and presentation slides will be webcast live on EE’s website found at http://www.epelectric.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call.
Safe Harbor
This news release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) increased prices for fuel and purchased power and the possibility that regulators may not permit EE to pass through all such increased costs to customers; (ii) determinations by regulators that may adversely affect EE’s ability to recover previously incurred fuel costs in rates; (iii) fluctuations in off-system sales margins due to uncertainty in the economy power market and the availability of generating units; (iv) unanticipated increased costs associated with scheduled and unscheduled outages; (v) costs at Palo Verde, including additional costs relating to an enhanced NRC oversight and inspection regimen; (vi) the costs of legal defense and possible judgments which may accrue as the result of ongoing litigation or any regulatory proceeding; (vii) deregulation of the electric utility industry; (viii) reduced wholesale margins; (ix) possible increased costs of compliance with environmental or other laws, regulations and policies; (x) possible income tax and interest payments as a result of audit adjustments proposed by the IRS; (xi) possible warranty obligations attributable to MiraSol Energy Services, a subsidiary of EE; and (xii) other factors detailed by EE in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. EE’s filings are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission or may be obtained through EE’s website, http://www.epelectric.com. Any such forward-looking statement is qualified by reference to these risks and factors. EE cautions that these risks and factors are not exclusive. EE does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of EE except as required by law.
El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Quarter Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
(In thousands except for per share data)
(Unaudited)
2008
2007
Variance
Operating revenues, net of energy expenses:
Base revenues
$
104,205
$
102,364
$
1,841
(a)
Off-system sales margins, net of sharing
11,263
8,359
2,904
Other
8,483
3,571
4,912
(b)
Operating Revenues Net of Energy Expenses
123,951
114,294
9,657
Other operating expenses:
Other operations and maintenance
42,176
37,530
4,646
Palo Verde operations and maintenance
22,154
17,738
4,416
Taxes other than income taxes
11,778
12,066
(288
)
Other income (loss)
(1,142
)
651
(1,793
)
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization
46,701
47,611
(910
)
(c)
Depreciation and amortization
18,617
17,051
1,566
Interest on long-term debt
10,105
8,946
1,159
AFUDC and capitalized interest
3,963
2,258
1,705
Other interest expense
212
155
57
Income Before Income Taxes
21,730
23,717
(1,987
)
Income tax expense
7,242
8,598
(1,356
)
Net Income
$
14,488
$
15,119
$
(631
)
Basic Earnings per Share
$
0.32
$
0.33
$
(0.01
)
Diluted Earnings per Share
$
0.32
$
0.33
$
(0.01
)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
44,961
45,937
(976
)
Weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding
45,264
46,374
(1,110
)
(a)
Base revenues exclude fuel recovered through New Mexico base rates of $16.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively.
(b)
Other revenues in 2008 reflect higher market prices for Palo Verde Unit 3 power sold to retail customers resulting in a $2.9 million increase in revenues.
(c)
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not a substitute for net income or other measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP.
El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary
Cash Flow Summary
Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
(In thousands and Unaudited)
2008
2007
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$
14,488
$
15,119
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization of electric plant in service
18,617
17,051
Deferred income taxes, net
4,281
(12,946
)
Other
8,413
7,673
Change in working capital items:
Net recovery (deferral) of fuel revenues
(2,035
)
16,332
Other
(1,248
)
17,959
Net cash provided by operating activities
42,516
61,188
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash additions to utility property, plant and equipment
(43,966
)
(25,273
)
Cash additions to nuclear fuel
(15,048
)
(9,373
)
Proceeds from sale of debt securities
16,000
–
Decommissioning trust funds
(3,139
)
(2,708
)
Other
(5,177
)
(861
)
Net cash used for investing activities
(51,330
)
(38,215
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
238
3,408
Repurchase of treasury stock
(9,892
)
(14,033
)
Nuclear fuel financing obligation
12,582
5,715
Proceeds from credit facility
13,000
–
Other
(365
)
805
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
15,563
(4,105
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
6,749
18,868
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
4,976
40,101
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
11,725
$
58,969
Cash interest payments
$
3,839
$
2,929
El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary
Quarter Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
Sales and Revenues Statistics
Increase (Decrease)
2008
2007
Amount
Percentage
MWh sales:
Retail:
Residential
505,448
509,679
(4,231
)
(0.8%)
Commercial and industrial, small
478,259
459,396
18,863
4.1%
Commercial and industrial, large
273,406
274,422
(1,016
)
(0.4%)
Public authorities
314,474
293,854
20,620
7.0%
Total retail sales
1,571,587
1,537,351
34,236
2.2%
Wholesale:
Sales for resale
9,879
9,402
477
5.1%
Off-system sales
1,112,686
675,011
437,675
64.8%
Total wholesale sales
1,122,565
684,413
438,152
64.0%
Total MWh sales
2,694,152
2,221,764
472,388
21.3%
Operating revenues (in thousands):
Non-fuel base revenues:
Retail:
Residential
$
41,110
$
41,438
$
(328
)
(0.8%)
Commercial and industrial, small
37,604
35,642
1,962
5.5%
Commercial and industrial, large
8,669
9,348
(679
)
(7.3%)
Public authorities
16,428
15,561
867
5.6%
Total retail non-fuel base revenues
103,811
101,989
1,822
1.8%
Wholesale:
Sales for resale
394
375
19
5.1%
Total non-fuel base revenues
104,205
102,364
1,841
1.8%
Fuel revenues:
Recovered from customers during the period (a)
38,614
46,337
(7,723
)
(16.7%)
Under (over) collection of fuel
2,035
(7,559
)
9,594
–
New Mexico fuel in base rates
16,094
6,981
9,113
–
Total fuel revenues
56,743
45,759
10,984
24.0%
Off-system sales
73,517
36,616
36,901
–
Other
5,775
3,678
2,097
57.0%
Total operating revenues
$
240,240
$
188,417
$
51,823
27.5%
Off-system sales (in thousands):
Gross margins
$
14,983
$
10,341
$
4,642
44.9%
Retained margins
11,263
8,359
2,904
34.7%
Average number of retail customers:
Residential
318,358
313,430
4,928
1.6%
Commercial and industrial, small
35,390
33,108
2,282
6.9%
Commercial and industrial, large
53
58
(5
)
(8.6%)
Public authorities
4,864
4,808
56
1.2%
Total
358,665
351,404
7,261
2.1%
Number of retail customers (end of period):
Residential
319,014
314,096
4,918
1.6%
Commercial and industrial, small
35,594
33,224
2,370
7.1%
Commercial and industrial, large
53
57
(4
)
(7.0%)
Public authorities
4,876
4,818
58
1.2%
Total
359,537
352,195
7,342
2.1%
Weather statistics
10 Yr Average
Heating degree days
1,191
1,288
1,201
Cooling degree days
24
33
14
(a)
Excludes $8.8 million for 2007 of prior periods deferred fuel revenues recovered through Texas fuel surcharges.
El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary
Quarter Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
Generation and Purchased Power Statistics
Increase (Decrease)
2008
2007
Amount
Percentage
Generation and purchased power (MWh):
Palo Verde
1,261,528
1,248,156
13,372
1.1%
Four Corners
151,983
179,539
(27,556
)
(15.3%)
Gas plants
573,090
450,393
122,697
27.2%
Total generation
1,986,601
1,878,088
108,513
5.8%
Purchased power
848,383
487,180
361,203
74.1%
Total available energy
2,834,984
2,365,268
469,716
19.9%
Line losses and Company use
140,832
143,504
(2,672
)
(1.9%)
Total MWh sold
2,694,152
2,221,764
472,388
21.3%
Palo Verde capacity factor (a)
91.3%
92.9%
(1.6%
)
Four Corners capacity factor
66.9%
79.9%
(13.0%
)
(a)
Net generating capability for Palo Verde increased to 633 MW in 2008 from 622 MW in 2007 due to the replacement of steam generators at Palo Verde Unit 3. The first quarter of 2008 also reflects 29 days of generating capability in February 2008.
El Paso Electric Company and Subsidiary
Financial Statistics
At March 31, 2008 and 2007
(In thousands, except number of shares, book value per share, and ratios)
Balance Sheet
2008
2007
Cash and cash equivalents
$
11,725
$
58,969
Common stock equity
$
665,716
$
585,322
Long-term debt, net of current portion
590,901
590,872
Financing obligations, net of current portion
76,372
32,077
Total capitalization
$
1,332,989
$
1,208,271
Current portion of long-term debt and financing obligations
$
19,225
$
19,877
Number of shares – end of period
44,718,653
45,737,359
Book value per common share
$
14.89
$
12.80
Common equity ratio
49.23%
47.66%
Debt ratio
50.77%
52.34%