Progress Energy Announces 2010 Second-Quarter Results; Updates Full-Year 2010 Earnings Guidance

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) announced second-quarter GAAP earnings of $180 million, or $0.62 per share, compared with GAAP earnings of $174 million, or $0.62 per share, for the same period last year. Second-quarter ongoing earnings were $181 million, or $0.63 per share, compared to $181 million, or $0.64 per share, for the same period last year. The significant drivers in ongoing earnings per share were favorable weather, the impact of the repowered Bartow Plant and higher clause recovery, offset by increased interest expense and O&M and unfavorable AFUDC equity. (See the discussion later in this release for a reconciliation of ongoing earnings per share to GAAP earnings per share.)

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"We achieved solid financial results in the second quarter and through the first half of the year, and we successfully met high customer demand during one of the hottest Junes on record," said Bill Johnson, chairman, president and CEO. "We continue to see signs of economic recovery in the Carolinas and Florida, and we remain focused on controlling costs and continuously improving operations. Due primarily to the impact of favorable weather, the company is narrowing its 2010 ongoing earnings guidance range to $2.95 to $3.05 per share, which is the higher end of our previously announced guidance."

The ongoing earnings guidance excludes the impact, if any, from discontinued operations and the effects of certain identified gains and charges. (See the discussion later in this release for a reconciliation of ongoing earnings per share to reported GAAP earnings per share.) Progress Energy is not able to provide a corresponding GAAP equivalent for the 2010 earnings guidance due to the uncertain nature and amount of these adjustments.

Progress Energy will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. ET today to review second-quarter 2010 financial performance, as well as provide an overall business update.  Additional details are provided at the end of this earnings release.

See below for detailed second-quarter and year-to-date 2010 earnings variance analyses for Progress Energy Carolinas (PEC), Progress Energy Florida (PEF) and Corporate and Other Businesses segments.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Financial and Regulatory

• Received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) of PEF's rate settlement agreement that will keep customers' base rates stable until the end of 2012.  The settlement also provides PEF the flexibility to reduce its depreciation expense and accelerate the amortization of certain regulatory assets and accelerate storm cost recovery, while earning a return on equity within a specified range of 9.5 percent to 11.5 percent.
• Completed root cause determination of the delamination event at Crystal River Unit 3 (CR3) detected in 2009. After a comprehensive analysis, PEF has determined that the concrete delamination was caused by redistribution of stresses on the containment wall that occurred when we created an opening to accommodate the replacement of the unit's steam generators. PEF is pursuing a detailed repair plan that would achieve the unit's return to service during the fourth quarter of 2010.  The actual return to service date will be determined by a number of factors, including regulatory reviews by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other agencies as appropriate, emergent work, final engineering designs and testing, weather and other developments.
• Filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) to decrease the fuel component of customer rates and adjust the components of energy-efficiency programs and renewable energy resources, resulting in a net reduction in customer bills.  If approved, rates would be effective December 1, 2010.
• Received approval from the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to decrease customer bills by nearly 2 percent, with new rates effective July 1, 2010.  The net decrease includes a reduction of fuel costs, partially offset by a slight increase in costs related to energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs.

State-of-the-Art Power Plants

• Completed clean air project at PEF's Crystal River Energy Complex, placing in-service a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and flue-gas desulfurization unit (scrubber) on Unit 4 in May 2010.  The utility's first clean air scrubber began operating in December and the first SCR in June 2009, both on Unit 5.  
• Received approval from the NCUC to build a new, 620-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle natural gas plant near Wilmington, N.C., to replace the 600-MW coal-fired Sutton Plant.  The project represents a total investment of approximately $600 million and will substantially reduce emissions beginning in early 2014.
• Announced contract with Siemens Energy to supply five state-of-the-art gas turbine-generator packages for PEC's planned 950-MW Lee and 620-MW Sutton combined cycle plants.

Alternative Energy & Energy Efficiency

• Announced the Plug-In 2011 electric vehicle conference will be held in Raleigh, N.C., marking the first occasion the conference will be held outside of California. Progress Energy will co-organize this national conference with the Electric Power Research Institute and Duke Energy.
• Tampa Bay, Orlando/Central Florida and Raleigh are three of the 11 metropolitan areas in the U.S. developing electric vehicle "plug-in ready" communities as part of  Project Get Ready, a collaborative initiative that includes local governments, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and utility leaders.
• Announced partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Department of Marine Sciences on a three-year research study to fully map and model North Carolina's viable offshore wind resources.
• Joined Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative to work toward a modernized electric power system that is consumer safe and consumer friendly.
• Surpassed 1 million energy-saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs sold since January under the company's Residential Lighting Program, which provides discounts through local retailers across the Carolinas, with estimated energy savings of more than 51 million kilowatt-hours per year.
• Launched Appliance Recycling Program in the Carolinas to recycle and remove less efficient refrigerators and freezers from service.

Awards, Honors & Recognitions

• PEC received top-quartile ranking in the latest residential customer satisfaction survey from J.D. Power & Associates.

Press releases regarding various announcements are available on the company's website at www.progress-energy.com/aboutus/news.

SECOND-QUARTER 2010 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

Below are the second-quarter and year-to-date 2010 earnings variance analyses for the company's segments. See the reconciliation tables below and on pages S-1 and S-2 of the supplemental data for a reconciliation of ongoing earnings per share to GAAP earnings per share. Also see the attached supplemental data schedules for additional information on PEC and PEF electric revenues, energy sales, energy supply, weather impacts and other topics.

QUARTER-OVER-QUARTER ONGOING EPS VARIANCE ANALYSIS

Progress Energy Carolinas

• Reported second-quarter ongoing earnings per share of $0.39, compared with $0.33 for the same period last year; GAAP earnings per share of $0.38, compared with $0.33 for the same period last year.
• Reported primary quarter-over-quarter ongoing earnings per share favorability of:
  • $0.04 weather primarily due to cooling degree days 22 percent higher than 2009 and 44 percent higher than normal
  • $0.03 AFUDC equity primarily due to increased eligible construction project costs
  • $0.01 retail growth and usage
  • $0.01 clauses, wholesale and other margin
  • $0.01 income taxes
• Reported primary quarter-over-quarter ongoing earnings per share unfavorability of:
  • $(0.03) O&M primarily due to higher nuclear plant outage and maintenance costs driven by the larger scope of outages and more emergent work in 2010 compared to 2009
  • $(0.01) share dilution
• 11,000 net increase in the average number of customers for the three months ended
  June 30, 2010, compared to the same period in 2009

Progress Energy Florida

• Reported second-quarter ongoing earnings per share of $0.41, compared with $0.43 for the same period last year; GAAP earnings per share of $0.41, compared with $0.42 for the same period last year.
• Reported primary quarter-over-quarter ongoing earnings per share favorability of:
  • $0.06 retail rates primarily due to the impact of the increase in base rates for the repowered Bartow Plant
  • $0.03 clauses, wholesale and other margin primarily due to the impact from nuclear and environmental cost recovery, partially offset by lower wholesale revenues related to an amended contract and estimated CR3 joint owner replacement power costs
  • $0.02 weather primarily due to cooling degree days 9 percent higher than 2009 and 15 percent higher than normal
  • $0.02 depreciation and amortization primarily due to the reduction in the cost of removal component of the depreciation reserve in accordance with the base rate settlement agreement
• Reported primary quarter-over-quarter ongoing earnings per share unfavorability of:
  • $(0.07) AFUDC equity primarily due to placing CAIR assets and the repowered Bartow Plant in service
  • $(0.03) interest expense primarily due to higher average debt outstanding and unfavorable AFUDC debt resulting from placing CAIR assets and the repowered Bartow Plant in service
  • $(0.02) O&M primarily due to the prior-year pension deferral in accordance with a FPSC order
  • $(0.01) retail growth and usage
  • $(0.01) other
  • $(0.01) share dilution
• 4,000 net increase in the average number of customers for the three months ended
  June 30, 2010, compared to the same period in 2009

Corporate and Other Businesses (includes primarily Holding Company debt)

• Reported second-quarter ongoing after-tax expenses of $0.17 per share compared with after-tax expenses of $0.12 per share for the same period last year; GAAP after-tax expenses of $0.17 per share, compared with after-tax expenses of $0.13 per share for the same period last year.
• Reported primary quarter-over-quarter ongoing after-tax expenses per share favorability of:
  • $0.01 share dilution
• Reported primary quarter-over-quarter ongoing after-tax expenses per share unfavorability of:
  • $(0.03) interest expense primarily due to higher average debt outstanding at the Parent
  • $(0.03) income taxes primarily due to changes in tax estimates, the tax impact of certain employee benefit trusts and lower deductions for domestic production activities

YEAR-OVER-YEAR ONGOING EPS VARIANCE ANALYSIS

Progress Energy Carolinas

• Reported year-to-date ongoing earnings per share of $0.90, compared with $0.80 for the same period last year; GAAP earnings per share of $0.86, compared with $0.80 for the same period last year.
• Reported primary year-over-year ongoing earnings per share favorability of:
  • $0.10 weather primarily due to 19 percent higher cooling degree days and 15 percent higher heating degree days than 2009. Additionally, cooling degree days were 41 percent higher than normal and heating degree days were 12 percent higher than normal
  • $0.04 AFUDC equity primarily due to increased eligible construction project costs
  • $0.03 clauses, wholesale and other margin primarily due to higher miscellaneous revenues largely resulting from higher transmission rates
  • $0.02 retail growth and usage
  • $0.02 interest expense primarily due to lower average debt outstanding
• Reported primary year-over-year ongoing earnings per share unfavorability of:
  • $(0.07) O&M primarily due to higher nuclear plant outage and maintenance costs driven by the larger scope of outages and more emergent work in 2010 compared to 2009
  • $(0.01) depreciation and amortization
  • $(0.03) share dilution
• 12,000 net increase in the average number of customers for the six months ended
  June 30, 2010, compared to the same period in 2009

Progress Energy Florida

• Reported year-to-date ongoing earnings per share of $0.81, compared with $0.76 for the same period last year; GAAP earnings per share of $0.77, compared with $0.74 for the same period last year.
• Reported primary year-over-year ongoing earnings per share favorability of:
  • $0.13 retail rates primarily due to the increase in base rates for the repowered Bartow Plant
  • $0.10 weather primarily due to heating degree days 74 percent higher than 2009 and 128 percent higher than normal
  • $0.07 clauses, wholesale and other margin primarily due to the impact from nuclear and environmental cost recovery and higher transmission revenues, partially offset by lower wholesale revenues related to amended and expired contracts and estimated CR3 joint owner replacement power costs
  • $0.01 retail growth and usage
  • $0.01 depreciation and amortization
• Reported primary year-over-year ongoing earnings per share unfavorability of:
  • $(0.15) AFUDC equity primarily due to placing CAIR assets and the repowered Bartow Plant in service
  • $(0.03) O&M primarily due to the prior-year pension deferral in accordance with a FPSC order
  • $(0.03) interest expense primarily due to higher average debt outstanding and unfavorable AFUDC debt resulting from placing CAIR assets and the repowered Bartow Plant in service
  • $(0.03) income taxes primarily due to the prior-year deduction related to nuclear decommissioning trust funds
  • $(0.01) other
  • $(0.02) share dilution
• 1,000 net increase in the average number of customers for the six months ended
  June 30, 2010, compared to the same period in 2009

Corporate and Other Businesses (includes primarily Holding Company debt)

• Reported year-to-date ongoing after-tax expenses of $0.34 per share compared with after-tax expenses of $0.26 per share for the same period last year; GAAP after-tax expenses of $0.34 per share, compared with after-tax expenses of $0.26 per share for the same period last year.
• Reported primary year-over-year ongoing after-tax expenses per share favorability of:
  • $0.01 share dilution
• Reported primary year-over-year ongoing after-tax expenses per share unfavorability of:
  • $(0.07) interest expense primarily due to higher average debt outstanding at the Parent
  • $(0.01) other
  • $(0.01) income taxes

ONGOING EARNINGS ADJUSTMENTS

Progress Energy's management uses ongoing earnings per share to evaluate the operations of the company and to establish goals for management and employees. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is appropriate for understanding the business and assessing our potential future performance, because excluded items are limited to those that we believe are not representative of our fundamental core earnings.  Ongoing earnings as presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of ongoing earnings per share to reported GAAP earnings per share.

Reconciling adjustments from ongoing earnings to GAAP earnings are as follows:

Tax Levelization

Generally accepted accounting principles require companies to apply an effective tax rate to interim periods that is consistent with a company's estimated annual tax rate. The company projects the effective tax rate for the year and then, based upon projected operating income for each quarter, increases or decreases the tax expense recorded in that quarter to reflect the projected tax rate. The resulting tax adjustment had no impact for the quarter and decreased earnings per share by $0.02 for the same period last year, but has no impact on the company's annual earnings. Because this adjustment varies by quarter but has no impact on annual earnings, management believes this adjustment is not representative of the company's ongoing quarterly earnings.

Contingent Value Obligation (CVO) Mark-to-Market

In connection with the acquisition of Florida Progress Corporation, Progress Energy issued 98.6 million CVOs. Each CVO represents the right of the holder to receive contingent payments based on net after-tax cash flows above certain levels of four synthetic fuels facilities purchased by subsidiaries of Florida Progress Corporation in October 1999. The CVO liability is valued at fair value, and unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair value are recognized in earnings each quarter. The CVO mark-to-market had no impact for the quarter and increased earnings per share by $0.01 for the same period last year. Progress Energy is unable to predict the changes in the fair value of the CVOs, and management does not consider the adjustment to be a component of ongoing earnings.

Impairment

During the quarter, the company recorded impairments of certain miscellaneous investments which decreased earnings per share by $0.01 for the quarter and for the same period last year. Management believes this adjustment is not representative of the company's ongoing quarterly earnings.

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Progress Energy's conference call with the investment community will be held August 6, 2010, at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT). Investors, media and the public may listen to the conference call by dialing (913) 312-1240, confirmation code 3503446. If you encounter problems, please contact Investor Relations at (919) 546-6057. A playback of the call will be available from 1 p.m. ET August 6 through midnight August 20. To listen to the recorded call, dial (719) 457-0820 and enter confirmation code 3503446.

A webcast of the live conference call will be available at www.progress-energy.com/webcast. The webcast will be archived on the site for at least 30 days following the call for those unable to listen in real time. The webcast will include audio of the conference call and a slide presentation referred to by management during the call. The slide presentation will be available for download beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET today at www.progress-energy.com/webcast.

Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 22,000 megawatts of generation capacity and approximately $10 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system.  Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company's website at www.progress-energy.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The matters discussed in this document involve estimates, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.

Examples of factors that you should consider with respect to any forward-looking statements made throughout this document include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of fluid and complex laws and regulations, including those relating to the environment and energy policy; our ability to recover eligible costs and earn an adequate return on investment through the regulatory process; the ability to successfully operate electric generating facilities and deliver electricity to customers; the impact on our facilities and businesses from a terrorist attack; the ability to meet the anticipated future need for additional baseload generation and associated transmission facilities in our regulated service territories and the accompanying regulatory and financial risks; our ability to meet current and future renewable energy requirements; the inherent risks associated with the operation and potential construction of nuclear facilities, including environmental, health, safety, regulatory and financial risks; the financial resources and capital needed to comply with environmental laws and regulations; risks associated with climate change; weather and drought conditions that directly influence the production, delivery and demand for electricity; recurring seasonal fluctuations in demand for electricity; the ability to recover in a timely manner, if at all, costs associated with future significant weather events through the regulatory process; fluctuations in the price of energy commodities and purchased power and our ability to recover such costs through the regulatory process; our ability to control costs, including operations and maintenance expense (O&M) and large construction projects; the ability of our subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends or distributions to Progress Energy; current economic conditions; the ability to successfully access capital markets on favorable terms; the stability of commercial credit markets and our access to short- and long-term credit; the impact that increases in leverage or reductions in cash flow may have on us; our ability to maintain our current credit ratings and the impacts in the event our credit ratings are downgraded; the investment performance of our nuclear decommissioning trust (NDT) funds; the investment performance of the assets of our pension and benefit plans and resulting impact on future funding requirements; the impact of potential goodwill impairments; our ability to fully utilize tax credits generated from the previous production and sale of qualifying synthetic fuels under Internal Revenue Code Section 29/45K (Section 29/45K); and the outcome of any ongoing or future litigation or similar disputes and the impact of any such outcome or related settlements. Many of these risks similarly impact our nonreporting subsidiaries. These and other risk factors are detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. All such factors are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and may be beyond our control.

Any forward-looking statement is based on information current as of the date of this document and speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

SOURCE Progress Energy