Exelon Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results and Initiates 2018 Financial Outlook
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Exelon reported GAAP Net Income of $1.94 per share and $3.97 per share
for the fourth quarter and full year 2017, respectively, and Adjusted
(non-GAAP) Operating Earnings of $0.55 per share and $2.60 per share
for the fourth quarter and full year 2017, respectively. -
Exelon introduces a 2018 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings
guidance range of $2.90 – $3.20 per share, reflecting growth in
Utilities, full year recognition of both Illinois and New York ZEC
revenue and the impact of tax reform. -
Exelon's Board of Directors increased the annual dividend growth rate
to 5 percent from 2.5 percent, effective in the first quarter of 2018. -
Exelon Utilities project capital expenditures of $21 billion over the
next 4 years to improve service and benefit customers, supporting over
7 percent annual rate base growth. -
Exelon Generation projects free cash flow before growth capex of $7.6
billion over the next 4 years, supporting Exelon's priorities of
Utility reinvestment and debt reduction. -
Quad Cities Units 1 & 2 and Clinton Unit 1 were winning bidders in
Illinois ZEC procurement.
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#earnings–Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) today reported its financial results for
the fourth quarter and full year 2017.
"Exelon had a strong 2017, with our utilities turning in first-quartile
and in several cases best-ever performance in reliability and customer
service, and our nuclear generation fleet producing the most power on
record, all thanks to the great work of our people, who also set company
records for volunteerism and charitable giving,” said Christopher M.
Crane, Exelon’s president and CEO. “We will build on this momentum in
2018 with our new dividend growth rate of 5 percent annually over the
next three years, tax reform that will benefit utility customers and
reduce tax expenses at Generation, and movement on needed power price
formation changes in PJM and broader resiliency reviews at FERC.”
“In 2017, Exelon delivered solid financial performance with $2.60 of
Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings, which is within our range,” said
Jonathan W. Thayer, Exelon’s Senior Executive Vice President and CFO.
“We are introducing 2018 operating earnings guidance of $2.90 – $3.20
per share which incorporates the benefits of U.S. tax reform, strong
utility growth, a full-year of ZEC programs in New York and Illinois,
and recognition of Illinois ZEC revenue from 2017.”
Fourth Quarter 2017
Exelon's GAAP Net Income for the fourth quarter 2017 increased to $1.94
per share from $0.22 per share in the fourth quarter of 2016; Adjusted
(non-GAAP) Operating Earnings increased to $0.55 per share in the fourth
quarter of 2017 from $0.44 per share in the fourth quarter of 2016. For
the reconciliations of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating
Earnings, refer to the tables beginning on page 9.
Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2017
reflect higher utility earnings due to regulatory rate increases and
weather, partially offset by a 2017 impairment of certain
transmission-related income tax regulatory assets; and, at Generation,
New York ZEC revenue and higher capacity prices, partially offset by
lower realized energy prices.
Full Year 2017
For the full year 2017, Exelon's GAAP Net Income increased to $3.97 per
share from $1.22 per share in 2016. Exelon's Adjusted (non-GAAP)
Operating Earnings for 2017 decreased to $2.60 per share from $2.68 per
share in 2016.
Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the full year 2017 reflect
higher utility earnings due to regulatory rate increases, partially
offset by weather and a 2017 impairment of certain transmission-related
income tax regulatory assets; and, at Generation, lower realized energy
prices, the impacts of lower load volumes delivered due to mild weather
in the third quarter 2017, the conclusion of the Ginna RSSA and the
impact of declining natural gas prices on Generation's natural gas
portfolio, partially offset by New York ZEC revenue and higher capacity
prices.
Operating Company Results1
ComEd2
ComEd's fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $120 million compared
with $80 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. ComEd’s Adjusted
(non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter 2017 were $123
million compared with $81 million in the fourth quarter of 2016,
primarily reflecting higher electric distribution and transmission
formula rate revenues.
PECO
PECO’s fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $107 million compared
with $92 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. PECO’s fourth quarter
2017 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings of $95 million remained
relatively consistent with fourth quarter 2016 Adjusted (non-GAAP)
Operating Earnings of $94 million.
____________________ | |
1 |
Exelon’s five business units include ComEd, which consists of electricity transmission and distribution operations in northern Illinois; PECO, which consists of electricity transmission and distribution operations and retail natural gas distribution operations in southeastern Pennsylvania; BGE, which consists of electricity transmission and distribution operations and retail natural gas distribution operations in central Maryland; PHI, which consists of electricity transmission and distribution operations in the District of Columbia and portions of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey and retail natural gas distribution operations in northern Delaware; and Generation, which consists of owned and contracted electric generating facilities and wholesale and retail customer supply of electric and natural gas products and services, including renewable energy products and risk management services. |
2 |
For BGE, Pepco and DPL Maryland and beginning in 2017 for ComEd, customer rates are adjusted to eliminate the impacts of weather and customer usage on distribution volumes. |
Heating degree days were up 6.1 percent relative to the same period in
2016 and were 7.2 percent below normal. Total retail electric deliveries
were up 3.4 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. Natural
gas deliveries (including both retail and transportation segments) in
the fourth quarter of 2017 were up 9.0 percent compared with the same
period in 2016.
BGE2
BGE’s fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $76 million compared with
$103 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. BGE’s Adjusted (non-GAAP)
Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter 2017 were $82 million compared
with $105 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, primarily due to a
favorable 2016 settlement of a Baltimore City conduit fee dispute and a
2017 impairment of certain transmission-related income tax regulatory
assets.
PHI2
PHI’s fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $4 million compared with
$30 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. PHI’s Adjusted (non-GAAP)
Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter 2017 were $48 million compared
with $42 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, primarily due to
regulatory rate increases, partially offset by a 2017 impairment of
certain transmission-related income tax regulatory assets.
Generation
Generation's fourth quarter 2017 GAAP Net Income was $2,215 million
compared with a GAAP Net Loss of $41 million in the fourth quarter of
2016. Generation’s Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for the fourth
quarter 2017 were $252 million compared with $162 million in the fourth
quarter of 2016, primarily reflecting New York ZEC revenue and higher
capacity prices, partially offset by lower realized energy prices.
The proportion of expected generation hedged as of Dec. 31, 2017, was
85.0 percent to 88.0 percent for 2018, 55.0 percent to 58.0 percent for
2019 and 26.0 percent to 29.0 percent for 2020.
___________________ | |
2 |
For BGE, Pepco and DPL Maryland and beginning in 2017 for ComEd, customer rates are adjusted to eliminate the impacts of weather and customer usage on distribution volumes. |
Initiates Annual Guidance for 2018
Exelon introduced a guidance range for 2018 Adjusted (non-GAAP)
Operating Earnings of $2.90 to $3.20 per share. Adjusted (non-GAAP)
Operating Earnings guidance is based on the assumption of normal
weather, which is determined based on historical average heating and
cooling degree days for a 30-year period in the respective utilities'
service territories, except at PHI, where a 20-year period is used. The
outlook for 2018 Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings for Exelon and
its subsidiaries excludes the following items:
- Mark-to-market adjustments from economic hedging activities;
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Unrealized gains and losses from NDT fund investments to the extent
not offset by contractual accounting as described in the notes to the
consolidated financial statements; -
Non-cash amortization of intangible assets, net related to commodity
contracts recorded at the date of the acquisition of ConEdison
Solutions in 2016 and FitzPatrick in 2017; - Certain costs incurred related to the PHI and FitzPatrick acquisitions;
- Certain costs incurred related to plant retirements;
- Certain costs incurred to achieve cost management program savings;
- Other unusual items;
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Generation's noncontrolling interest related to CENG exclusion items;
and - One-time impacts of adopting new accounting standards.
Recent Developments
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Dividend Policy Update: On Jan. 30, 2018, the Board of
Directors of Exelon announced an updated dividend policy targeting 5
percent annual dividend growth for the period covering 2018 through
2020. Since the last dividend policy of 2.5 percent annual growth was
implemented in 2016, Exelon’s business position has continued to
strengthen. The company has generated more earnings from regulated
utilities following the PHI acquisition, recognized greater stability
for its generation fleet with the Illinois and New York ZEC programs,
and continued to focus on cost management and prudent balance sheet
oversight. As a result of the strengthened outlook on earnings, Exelon
is sharing the financial success with its shareholders through this
updated dividend policy. -
Utility Capex and Rate Base Update: Exelon Utilities plan to
invest nearly $21 billion of capital to ensure reliable, more
resilient and more efficient transmission and distribution of
electricity and gas for our customers. The increased capital
investments and impacts of tax reform are expected to drive annual
rate base growth of 7.4 percent through 2021, exceeding the 6.5
percent growth expectations for 2017-2020 projected a year ago. -
Generation and Free Cash Flow Outlook: Cumulatively from
2018 through 2021, Generation projects $7.6 billion of free cash flow
before growth capex, which is $0.8 billion higher than the prior
4-year outlook from 2017 through 2020. This financial outlook accounts
for the latest power price forwards, updated gross margins at
Constellation, continued efforts to reduce O&M cost and capital
expenditures, the planned closure of Three Mile Island and Oyster
Creek, and the impact of tax reform. -
Exelon Nuclear Plants Selected in Illinois ZEC Procurement Event: On
Jan. 25, 2018, the ICC announced that Clinton Unit 1 and Quad Cities
Units 1 & 2 were winning bidders through the Illinois Power Agency's
ZEC procurement event, which entitles them to compensation for the
sale of ZECs. Generation executed the ZEC procurement contracts with
Illinois utilities, including ComEd, effective January 26, 2018, and
will begin recognizing revenue. In addition to recognizing ZEC revenue
generated in the first quarter of 2018, Generation will also recognize
ZEC revenue retroactive to June 1, 2017, which will contribute
approximately $0.11 to Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings. The
$0.11 contribution to Adjusted (non-GAAP) Operating Earnings is higher
than the $0.09 originally expected in 2017 due to the lower tax rate
in 2018 at Generation as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). -
Early Retirement of Oyster Creek Nuclear Facility: On Feb. 2,
2018, Generation announced that it will permanently cease generation
operations at Oyster Creek Generating Station (Oyster Creek) at the
end of its current operating cycle in October 2018. In 2010,
Generation announced that Oyster Creek would retire by the end of 2019
as part of an agreement with the State of New Jersey to avoid
significant costs associated with the construction of cooling towers
to meet the State’s then new environmental regulations. Since then,
like other nuclear sites, Oyster Creek has continued to face rising
operating costs amid a historically low wholesale power price
environment. The decision to retire Oyster Creek in 2018 at the end of
its current operating cycle involved consideration of several factors,
including economics and operating efficiencies, and avoids a refueling
outage scheduled for the fall of 2018 that would have required
advanced purchasing of fuel fabrication and materials beginning in
late February 2018. Because of the decision to retire Oyster Creek in
2018, Generation will recognize certain one-time charges in the first
quarter of 2018 ranging from an estimated $25 million to $35 million
(pre-tax) related to a materials and supplies inventory reserve
adjustment, employee-related costs, and construction work-in-progress
impairment, among other items. The aforementioned one-time charges
will be excluded from GAAP Net Income to arrive at Adjusted (non-GAAP)
Operating Earnings in the first quarter 2018. -
DOE Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: On Aug. 23, 2017, the United
States Department of Energy (DOE) released its report on the
reliability of the electric grid. One aspect of the wide-ranging
report is the DOE’s recognition that the electricity markets do not
currently value the resiliency provided by baseload generation, such
as nuclear plants. On Sept. 28, 2017, the DOE issued a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) that would entitle certain eligible
resilient generating units (i.e., those located in organized markets,
with a 90-day supply of fuel on site, not already subject to state
cost of service regulation and satisfying certain other requirements)
to recover fully allocated costs and earn a fair return on equity on
their investment. On Jan. 8, 2018, the FERC issued an order
terminating the rulemaking docket that was initiated to address the
proposed rule in the DOE NOPR, concluding the proposed rule did not
sufficiently demonstrate there is a resiliency issue and that it
proposed a remedy that did not appear to be just, reasonable and
nondiscriminatory as required under the Federal Power Act. At the same
time, the FERC initiated a new proceeding to consider resiliency
challenges to the bulk power system and evaluate whether additional
FERC action to address resiliency would be appropriate. Exelon has
been and will continue to be an active participant in these
proceedings, but cannot predict the final outcome or its potential
impact, if any, on Exelon or Generation.
Fourth Quarter Highlights
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Corporate Tax Reform: On Dec. 22, 2017, President Trump signed
into law the TCJA. The Registrants remeasured their existing deferred
income tax balances as of Dec. 31, 2017, to reflect the decrease in
the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, which
resulted in a material decrease to their net deferred income tax
liability balances. At Generation, this reduction in net deferred
income tax liabilities resulted in a one-time credit to income tax
expense of approximately $1.9 billion. The Utility Registrants offset
virtually all similar reductions, totaling $7.3 billion, with net
regulatory liabilities (rather than through earnings), given that
changes in income taxes are generally passed through customer rates.
The amount and timing of potential refunds of the established net
regulatory liabilities will be determined by the Utility Registrants’
respective rate regulators, subject to certain IRS "normalization"
rules.
Pursuant to TCJA, beginning in 2018, Generation is
expected to have higher operating cash flows over the next five years
reflecting the reduction in the corporate federal income tax rate and
full expensing of capital investments. The TCJA is generally expected
to result in lower operating cash flows for the Utility Registrants as
a result of the elimination of bonus depreciation and lower customer
rates. Increased operating cash flows for the Utility Registrants from
lower corporate federal income tax rates is expected to be more than
offset over time by lower customer rates resulting from lower income
tax expense and the settlement of deferred income tax net regulatory
liabilities established pursuant to TCJA, partially offset by the
impacts of higher rate base. The Utility Registrants expect to fund
any required incremental operating cash outflows using third party
debt financings and equity funding from Exelon in combinations
generally consistent with existing capitalization ratio structures. To
fund any additional equity contributions to the Utility Registrants,
Exelon would have available to it its typical sources, including, but
not limited to, the increased operating cash flows at Generation
referenced above, which over time are expected to exceed the
incremental equity needs at the Utility Registrants.
The
Utility Registrants continue to work with their state regulatory
commissions to determine the amount and timing of the passing back of
TCJA income tax savings benefits to customers; with filings either
made, or expected to be made, at Pepco, DPL and ACE, and approved
filings at ComEd and BGE. The amounts being passed back or proposed to
be passed back to customers reflect the benefit of lower income tax
expense beginning January 1, 2018 (Feb. 1, 2018 for DPL Delaware), and
the settlement of a portion of deferred income tax regulatory
liabilities established upon enactment of the TCJA. To date, neither
the PAPUC nor FERC has yet issued guidance on how and when to reflect
the impacts of the TCJA in customer rates.
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EGTP Bankruptcy: On Nov. 7, 2017, EGTP and all of its
wholly-owned subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under
Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code in the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. As a result, Exelon and
Generation deconsolidated EGTP’s net liabilities, which included the
previously impaired assets and related debt, from their consolidated
financial statements, resulting in a $213 million pre-tax gain.
Concurrently with the Chapter 11 filings, Generation entered into an
asset purchase agreement to acquire one of EGTP’s generating plants,
the Handley Generating Station, for approximately $60 million, subject
to a potential adjustment for fuel oil and assumption of certain
liabilities. The acquisition was approved by the Bankruptcy Court in
January 2018 and the transaction is expected to be completed in the
first half of 2018. -
Proposed Remedy for West Lake Landfill: On Feb. 1, 2018, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed remediation
plan for the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgeton, Missouri,
for which Generation is one of the potentially responsible parties
(PRPs). The proposed remediation plan includes a partial excavation of
the site and an enhanced landfill cover and will be open for public
comment through March 22, 2018, with the expectation that a Record of
Decision will be issued during the third quarter of 2018. Thereafter,
the EPA will seek to enter into a Consent Decree with the PRPs to
effectuate the remedy, which Generation currently expects will occur
in late 2018 or early 2019. The estimated total cost to fully execute
the EPA’s proposed remedy is approximately $340 million, including
cost escalation on an undiscounted basis, which will be allocated
among the final group of PRPs. Generation increased its previous
liability to reflect management’s best estimate of Generation’s
allocable share of the cost of the proposed remedy among the PRPs,
which could materially change in the future. The aforementioned 2017
charge has been excluded from GAAP Net Income to arrive at Adjusted
(non-GAAP) Operating Earnings. -
ComEd Electric Distribution Rate Case: On Dec. 6, 2017, the ICC
issued its final order approving ComEd’s 2017 annual distribution
formula rate update. The final order resulted in an increase to the
revenue requirement of $96 million, reflecting an increase of $78
million for the initial revenue requirement for 2017 and an increase
of $18 million related to the annual reconciliation for 2016. The
increase was set using an allowed return on rate base of 6.47 percent
for the initial revenue requirement and 6.45 percent for the annual
reconciliation (inclusive of an allowed ROE of 8.40 percent for 2017
less a reliability performance metric penalty of 6 basis points for
the 2016 reconciliation). The rates took effect in January 2018. -
Pepco District of Columbia Electric Distribution Rate Case: On
Dec. 19, 2017, Pepco filed an application with the DCPSC to increase
its annual electric distribution base rates by $66 million, reflecting
a requested ROE of 10.1 percent. By mid-February, Pepco will update
its current distribution rate case to reflect the TCJA impacts. Pepco
expects a decision in the matter in the fourth quarter of 2018, but
cannot predict how much of the requested increase the DCPSC will
approve. -
Pepco Maryland Electric Distribution Rate Case: On Jan. 2,
2018, Pepco filed an application with the MDPSC to increase its annual
electric distribution base rates by $41 million, reflecting a
requested ROE of 10.1 percent. On Feb. 5, 2018, Pepco filed with the
MDPSC an update to its current distribution rate case to reflect
approximately $31 million in TCJA tax savings, thereby reducing the
requested annual base rate increase to $11 million. Pepco expects a
decision in the matter in the third quarter of 2018, but cannot
predict how much of the requested increase the MDPSC will approve. -
DPL Maryland Electric Distribution Rate Case: On July 14, 2017,
DPL filed an application with the MDPSC to increase its annual
electric distribution base rates by $27 million, which was updated to
$19 million on Nov. 16, 2017, reflecting a requested ROE of 10.1
percent. On Dec. 18, 2017, DPL, the MDPSC Staff and Maryland’s Office
of People’s Counsel filed a settlement agreement with the MDPSC that
would provide DPL a rate increase of $13 million, and a ROE of 9.5
percent solely for purposes of calculating AFUDC and regulatory asset
carrying costs. By mid-February, DPL is planning to file with the
MDPSC seeking approval to pass back to customers beginning in 2018
approximately $13 million in annual tax savings resulting from the
enactment of the TCJA through a reduction in electric distribution
rates. DPL expects a decision in the matter in the first quarter of
2018, but cannot predict whether the MDPSC will approve the settlement
agreement as filed or how much of the requested increase will be
approved. -
FERC Transmission-Related Regulatory Asset Order: On Nov. 16,
2017, FERC issued an order rejecting BGE’s proposed revisions to its
transmission formula rate to recover certain transmission-related
income tax regulatory assets. ComEd, Pepco, DPL and ACE have similar
transmission-related income tax regulatory assets also requiring FERC
approval separate from their transmission formula rate mechanisms.
Pursuant to the FERC order, management of each company concluded that
the portion of the total transmission-related income tax regulatory
assets that would have been previously amortized and recovered through
rates had the transmission formula rate provided for such recovery was
no longer probable of recovery; and recorded impairment charges to
Income tax expense of $35 million, $3 million, $5 million, $27
million, $14 million, $6 million and $7 million at Exelon, ComEd, BGE,
PHI, Pepco, DPL and ACE, respectively.
Contacts
Exelon Corporation
Dan Eggers
Investor Relations
312-394-2345
or
Paul
Adams
Corporate Communications
410-470-4167