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PG&E Corporation Reports First Quarter Financial Results

05/13/2003
Utility Operating Statistics
PG&E NEG Operating Statistics
  • PG&E Corporation reported a total net loss of $0.93 per share for the first quarter of 2003, compared with total net income of $1.71 per share for the same quarter last year. (All "per share" amounts in this release are presented on a diluted basis.)
  • Earnings from operations for PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company combined were $0.45 per share, compared with $0.50 per share for the same quarter last year.
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company's earnings from operations, without headroom, were $0.45 per share, compared with $0.44 per share for the same quarter last year.
  • PG&E National Energy Group (PG&E NEG) reported a loss of $0.69 per share compared with net income of $0.10 per share for the same quarter last year.
  • (San Francisco) - PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) reported a total net loss of $354 million, or $0.93 per share, for the first quarter of 2003, compared with total net income of $631 million, or $1.71 per share, for the first quarter of 2002. Reported results for the first quarter primarily reflect ongoing restructuring measures at PG&E National Energy Group (PG&E NEG), and headroom at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which appears as a charge because generation-related costs were greater than generation-related revenues for the quarter. Reported results also include incremental interest costs and bankruptcy costs associated with the California energy crisis.

    Earnings from operations for PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company on a consolidated basis were $172 million, or $0.45 per share, for the first quarter, compared with $183 million, or $0.50 per share for the same quarter last year.

    Earnings from operations are presented for PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company only, and exclude certain income and expenses that are included in results based on generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Earnings from operations exclude headroom at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and various non-operating items at the utility and the Corporation which are reflected on the attachment as "Items Impacting Comparability."

    At the utility, charges for generation-related costs in excess of generation-related revenues were $181 million, or $0.47 per share, compared with income due to generation-related revenues in excess of generation-related costs of $176 million, or $0.48 per share, in the first quarter of 2002. (Headroom, the difference between generation-related revenues and generation-related costs, is lowest in the first quarter historically, and is forecast to be positive for the full year 2003.)

    The utility's first quarter generation-related costs were higher due to DWR bond charges, a change in the methodology for calculating remittances to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the need to purchase more power from outside sources while maintenance was conducted at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Generation-related revenues were lower as a result of lower demand stemming from mild weather and seasonal rates, which are lower in winter.

    Items impacting comparability at the Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company also include incremental interest costs of $71 million, or $0.19 per share, and Chapter 11 costs of $21 million, or $0.05 per share, generally consisting of external legal and financial advisory fees. These costs were partially offset by a net gain of $8 million, or $0.02 per share, reflecting the reversal of previously reserved costs for involuntary terminations of gas transportation hedges at Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

    The Corporation's quarterly report on Form 10-Q, to be filed today, also discloses the earnings impact of accounting for stock options if the company were to record them as an expense. For the first quarter of 2003, accounting for stock options as an expense would have reduced earnings by $0.01 per share.

    PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY

    Not including headroom, the Corporation's California utility business, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, contributed $171 million, or $0.45 per share, to earnings from operations for the quarter, compared with $160 million, or $0.44 per share, for the same quarter last year.

    Operational performance in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's businesses remained solid, as the utility team continued to deliver safe, reliable electric and gas service. Additionally, during the first quarter the utility continued to operate with the lowest system-wide average electric rates among the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities.

    Among the utility's accomplishments last quarter was the establishment of a new suite of services, known as the Safety Net program, designed to help customers prepare for and recover from power outages caused by storms and other natural and man-made disasters.

    Pacific Gas and Electric Company also recently received several awards for environmental accomplishments, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Protection Award for leadership and achievements in reducing greenhouse gases, two National Hydropower Association Awards for Outstanding Stewardship of America’s Rivers, and its ninth consecutive Tree Line USA Award for stewardship of urban forests and tree trimming practices.

    In the utility's Chapter 11 case, Pacific Gas and Electric Company currently is participating in a judicially supervised settlement conference. The settlement conference began in March, and the Bankruptcy Court issued an order staying nearly all proceedings in the confirmation trial until May 12, 2003. On April 23, 2003, the Bankruptcy Court extended this stay for an additional 30 days. A status conference for the confirmation trial is scheduled for June 16, 2003.

    PG&E NATIONAL ENERGY GROUP

    PG&E Corporation's national wholesale energy business, PG&E National Energy Group, reported a net loss of $261 million, or $0.69 per share, for the first quarter of this year, compared with net income of $37 million, or $0.10 per share, for the same quarter last year.

    PG&E NEG completed additional restructuring steps during the first quarter, as well. Specifically, it sold its Energy Trading Canada operation, reached agreement with lenders to extend the transfer date of the GenHoldings facilities until June 30, and reached an agreement now being documented with the Shaw Group to resolve all pending disputes among Shaw and PG&E NEG and various of its subsidiaries regarding the Harquahala and Covert power plants. PG&E NEG also continued reducing its energy trading operations.

    PG&E NEG continued to work with lenders and bondholders during the first quarter to explore options for restructuring that business. However, no agreement has been reached yet, and there can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached.

    While PG&E NEG and its creditors continue efforts to reach an agreement, PG&E NEG has determined that any restructuring of PG&E NEG would be implemented through a Chapter 11 proceeding, whether or not the restructuring is the result of an agreement between the company and creditors, and whether or not PG&E Corporation would retain ownership of PG&E NEG.

    2003 GUIDANCE

    PG&E Corporation is reaffirming its earnings guidance for 2003. Estimated 2003 earnings from operations for PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company remain at $1.90 - $2.00 per share, not including headroom.

    PG&E Corporation presents results and guidance on an "earnings from operations" basis in order to provide investors with a measure that reflects the underlying financial performance of the business and offers investors a basis on which to compare performance from one period to another, exclusive of items that, in management's judgement, are not reflective of the normal course of operations. Earnings from operations is not a substitute or alternative for total net income presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

    The estimated range for total reported earnings for 2003 for PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company combined - which includes the estimated range for total headroom and estimates for items impacting comparability - is $1.40-$1.85 per share. Guidance estimates do not include PG&E National Energy Group. The attachment to this news release reconciles estimated earnings from operations with total reported earnings.

    A conference call with the financial community will be held today at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time to discuss the Corporation's results for the quarter. The call will be open to the public on a listen-only basis via webcast. Please visit our website www.pgecorp.com for more information and instructions for accessing the webcast. A replay of the conference call will be available toll-free by calling 877- 470-0867, and also will be available on our website. International callers will be able to access the replay by dialing 402-220-0642.

    This press release and the attachment contain forward-looking statements regarding estimated earnings for 2003 with and without headroom and other items impacting comparability, that are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions which management believes are reasonable and on information currently available to management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including:

    • whether the Utility is able to recover its under collected power procurement and transition costs;
    • whether the Utility is required to refund amounts previously collected;
    • the outcome of the Utility's bankruptcy case and any negotiations with the Utility's creditors regarding the allowance or disallowance of claims;
    • future regulatory actions regarding the Utility's procurement of power for its retail customers and the extent to which the Utility is able to timely recover in full its costs of service including its procurement costs;
    • the extent to which the Utility is required to purchase power to meet its customers' needs that are not supplied by Utility-owned generation or other contractual arrangements;
    • future sales levels;
    • changes in the Utility's authorized revenue requirements or in the amount required to be remitted by the Utility to the DWR;
    • changes in federal or state legislation or regulation;
    • the outcome of regulatory proceedings and investigations;
    • the growth of competition;
    • the effect of compliance with existing and future environmental laws, regulations, and policies, the cost of which could be significant;
    • whether the Utility incurs costs in connection with its nuclear facilities that exceed the Utility's insurance coverage and other amounts set aside for decommissioning and other potential liabilities;
    • changes in accounting rules, critical accounting estimates or in the assumptions underlying critical accounting estimates;
    • and other risk factors discussed in PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's SEC reports.
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