Presentation and Complete Earnings Exhibits
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—PG&E Corporation's (NYSE: PCG) second-quarter 2013 net income after dividends on preferred stock (also called "income available for common shareholders") reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) was $328 million, or $0.74 per share. This compares with $235 million, or $0.55 per share, for the second quarter of 2012, when Pacific Gas and Electric Company took a substantial charge for third-party claims related to the San Bruno natural gas pipeline accident and incurred higher costs to validate pipeline records and operating pressures. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding items that management does not consider part of normal, ongoing operations, results were $348 million, or $0.79 per share, compared to $343 million, or $0.81 per share for the second quarter of 2012.
"During the quarter, we continued to make good progress on our gas-related commitments as well as our goals for electric system safety and reliability," said Tony Earley, Chairman, CEO, and President of PG&E Corporation. "However, a timely and balanced resolution of the penalties related to the San Bruno accident will be important to our ability to continue providing safe, reliable, and affordable service to our customers in the years ahead."
The total cost to shareholders for natural gas pipeline safety-related work incurred since the San Bruno accident or committed over the next several years exceeds $2.2 billion.
2013 Earnings Guidance
PG&E Corporation is maintaining its previously issued 2013 guidance range for non-GAAP earnings from operations of $2.55 to $2.75 per share. On a GAAP basis, the range for projected earnings is $1.71 to $2.27 per share.
Guidance is based on various assumptions, including a lower authorized return on equity and additional equity issuances. Guidance also reflects assumptions regarding unrecovered shareholder costs to improve the safety of the gas pipeline system and a $200 million fine that was accrued in 2011.
These and other assumptions are provided in an appendix to the presentation accompanying the earnings release, available on PG&E Corporation's website at: http://www.pgecorp.com/news/press_releases/Release_Archive2013/130731press_release.shtml.
PG&E Corporation discloses historical financial results and provides guidance based on "earnings from operations" in order to provide a measure that allows investors to compare the underlying financial performance of the business from one period to another, exclusive of items that management believes do not reflect the normal course of operations. Earnings from operations are not a substitute or alternative for consolidated income available for common shareholders presented in accordance with GAAP. See the accompanying exhibits for a reconciliation of the differences between results and guidance based on earnings from operations and results and guidance based on consolidated income available for common shareholders.
Supplemental Financial Information
In addition to the financial information accompanying this release, presentation slides for today's conference call with the financial community have been furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available on PG&E Corporation's website cited above.
Conference Call with the Financial Community to Discuss Financial Results
Today's call at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, is open to the public on a listen-only basis via webcast. Please visit http://www.pgecorp.com/investors/investor_info/conference/ for more information and instructions for accessing the webcast. The call will be archived on the website. Alternatively, a toll-free replay of the conference call may be accessed shortly after the live call until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, August 14, 2013, by dialing (866) 415-9493. International callers may dial (205) 289-3247. For both domestic and international callers, the pin number 23955# will be required to access the replay.
Management's statements regarding guidance for PG&E Corporation's future financial results and earnings from operations per common share and the underlying assumptions constitute forward-looking statements that are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements reflect management's judgment and opinions which are based on current expectations and various forecasts, estimates, and projections, the realization or resolution of which may be outside of management's control. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include:
- the outcome of the CPUC's pending investigations related to the Utility's natural gas operating practices and the San Bruno accident, including the ultimate amount of fines payable to the State General Fund and the extent to which the Utility's past and future unrecovered and unrecoverable costs to perform work associated with its natural gas system are considered in reaching the final outcome;
- the ultimate amount of third-party liability incurred in connection with the San Bruno accident and the timing and amount of related insurance recoveries;
- the outcome of the pending criminal investigation related to the San Bruno accident, including the ultimate amount of fines that may be imposed and the impact of remedial measures such as the appointment of an independent monitor;
- whether PG&E Corporation and the Utility are able to repair the reputational harm that they have suffered, and may suffer in the future, due to the negative publicity surrounding the San Bruno accident, the related civil litigation, and the pending investigations, including any charge or finding of criminal liability;
- the ultimate amount of costs the Utility incurs in the future that are not recovered through rates, including costs to perform incremental work to improve the safety and reliability of electric and natural gas operations;
- the outcomes of ratemaking proceedings, such as the 2014 General Rate Case, the electric transmission owner rate cases, and the 2015 Gas Transmission and Storage rate case;
- the amount and timing of additional common stock issuances by PG&E Corporation the proceeds of which are contributed as equity to maintain the Utility's authorized capital structure as it incurs charges and costs, including costs and fines associated with natural gas matters, that are not recoverable through rates or insurance; and changes in the availability and cost of borrowing and debt financing;
- the impact of environmental remediation laws, regulations, and orders; the extent to which the Utility is able to recover environmental remediation costs in rates or from other sources; and the ultimate amount of environmental remediation costs the Utility incurs but does not recover, such as the remediation costs associated with the Utility's natural gas compressor station site located near Hinkley, California;
- the impact of new legislation, regulations, recommendations, policies, decisions, or orders relating to the operations, seismic design, security, safety, or decommissioning of nuclear generation facilities, the storage of spent nuclear fuel or cooling water intake;
- the occurrence of events, including cyber-attacks, that can cause unplanned outages, reduce generating output, disrupt the Utility's service to customers, or damage or disrupt the facilities, operations, or information technology and systems owned by the Utility, its customers, or third parties on which the Utility relies; and whether the occurrence of such events subject the Utility to third-party liability for property damage or personal injury, or result in the imposition of civil, criminal, or regulatory penalties on the Utility; and
- the other factors and risks discussed in PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.