PSEG Strategy Continues to Produce Results

NEWARK, N.J., April 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Service Enterprise Group's (PSEG) success in adjusting to changing market dynamics and customer demands has produced strong financial results, PSEG Chairman, President and CEO Ralph Izzo told shareholders at the company's annual meeting, held today in Newark.

Izzo outlined the company's $15 billion, five-year capital spending program, which will upgrade the company's energy infrastructure. This program includes spending $4.7 billion during 2017 to improve the efficiency and reliability of the company's utility, Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G), and its wholesale generator, PSEG Power. This capital expenditure represents a record amount for PSEG to invest in any one year.

Izzo said these investments are being made as the utility industry is evolving due to the low cost of natural gas, the continued growth of renewables and changing customer demands.

"In response, we have increased investment in our utility and regulated assets, increasing PSE&G's percentage of our 2016 earnings," Izzo said. "Today, the utility represents more than 60 percent of earnings, and its share is forecast to continue to grow this year."

Izzo told shareholders that the company's strategy and the strength of its financial position successfully delivered double-digit growth in rate base and earnings in 2016 at PSE&G.

"Our results once again reflect the strength and stability of our business model," he said. "We are executing well on our capital investments, to the benefit of customers, shareholders and New Jersey's economy." 

Strong financial performance has also allowed PSEG to steadily increase its dividend. In February, the company raised its indicative annual dividend to $1.72 per share for 2017, from $1.64 per share in 2016. PSEG has now paid dividends for 110 consecutive years – putting it among a select group of companies.

Significant utility investments include the Gas System Modernization Program, which replaces  aging cast-iron and steel gas mains, and the Energy Strong program implemented after Superstorm Sandy, which fortifies PSE&G's electric and gas distribution systems against the next damaging storm. In October, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved an $80 million extension to PSE&G's Solar 4 All program, allowing an additional 33 megawatts of solar development on landfills and brownfields. Utility investments account for more than 80 percent of PSEG's planned capital expenditures over the next five years. The utility's investment program is expected to yield 7% - 9% growth in rate base through the end of the decade.

Growth of the utility is offsetting the challenges to PSEG Power, which are primarily due to falling electricity prices, Izzo added. The company is monitoring the impact lower wholesale electricity prices, resulting from persistently low-priced natural gas, are having on the finances of the company's nuclear facilities.

"Our management team is committed to the continued implementation of disciplined cost control at these facilities and advocates for policies that recognize nuclear power as a source of safe, clean energy and an essential piece of a diverse, reliable energy portfolio," Izzo said.

To read the speech in its entirety, please click here.

About PSE&G

Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG) is a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of $9.1 billion. Its operating subsidiaries are: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), PSEG Power, and PSEG Long Island.

From time to time, PSEG, PSE&G and PSEG Power release important information via postings on their corporate website at http://investor.pseg.com. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to visit the corporate website to review new postings. The "Email Alerts" link at http://investor.pseg.com may be used to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and/or Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings.

Forward Looking Statements
The statements contained in this communication about our and our subsidiaries' future performance, including, without limitation, future revenues, earnings, strategies, prospects, consequences and all other statements that are not purely historical, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.  Such statements are based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management.  When used herein, the words "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "expect," "plan," "should," "hypothetical," "potential," "forecast," "project," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by us herein are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and available on our website: http://investor.pseg.com/sec-filings.  All of the forward-looking statements made in this communication are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the results or developments anticipated by management will be realized or even if realized, will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in making any investment decision. Forward-looking statements made in this communication apply only as of the date hereof.  While we may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even in light of new information or future events, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG)