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8-K - 8-K - DOMINION ENERGY SOUTH CAROLINA, INC.a10-3519_18k.htm
EX-99.2 - EX-99.2 - DOMINION ENERGY SOUTH CAROLINA, INC.a10-3519_1ex99d2.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

 

Media Contact:

Investor Contacts:

 

 

Eric Boomhower

Bryan Hatchell

Betty Best

 

(803) 217-7701

(803) 217-7458

(803) 217-7587

 

eboomhower@scana.com

bhatchell@scana.com

bbest@scana.com

 

SCANA Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009, Announces Preliminary 2010 Guidance

 

Cayce, SC, February 11, 2010...SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009.

 

FULL YEAR RESULTS

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009, SCANA reported earnings of $348 million or $2.85 per share, compared to $346 million, or $2.95 per share, in 2008.

 

“Reflective of a very weak economy, 2009 has been a challenging year for our Company,” said Jimmy Addison, senior vice president and chief financial officer. “However, our employees have maintained our focus on safety and reliability while providing high quality service to our customers. Our 2009 financial results of $2.85 per share were in line with our earnings guidance.

 

“I am extremely proud of our cost control during this recession. These efforts have been significant in mitigating our margin erosion and we believe are largely sustainable going forward in a weak economy.”

 

FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

 

SCANA’s reported earnings in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $76 million, or 62 cents per share, compared to $86 million, or 73 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2008.

 

“We were able to reduce our operating and maintenance expenses by $15 million in the fourth quarter,” said Addison. “However, stringent cost control measures were not enough to offset the electric margin erosion, dilution and reduced other income from asset sales in 2008.”

 



 

FINANCIAL RESULTS BY MAJOR LINES OF BUSINESS

 

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company

 

Reported earnings for 2009 at South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G), SCANA’s principal subsidiary, were $279 million, or $2.29 per share compared to $275 million, or $2.34 per share, in 2008. For the fourth quarter of 2009, SCE&G reported earnings of $49 million, or 39 cents per share, compared to $54 million, or 46 cents per share, in the same quarter of 2008.  The decrease was due to lower electric margins driven by reduced customer consumption which more than offset lower operating and maintenance expenses, positive customer growth and rate increases associated with SCE&G’s new nuclear construction activities under the Base Load Review Act (BLRA). At year-end 2009, SCE&G was serving approximately 655,000 electric customers and approximately 310,000 natural gas customers, up 0.8 and 0.9 percent, respectively, over 2008.

 

PSNC Energy

 

PSNC Energy, the Company’s North Carolina-based retail natural gas distribution subsidiary, reported 2009 earnings of $46 million, or 38 cents per share, compared to $42 million, or 36 cents per share, in 2008.  Reported earnings in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $20 million, or 17 cents per share, compared to $19 million, or 17 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2008. Lower operating and maintenance expense and continued customer growth contributed to that improvement. At year end, PSNC Energy was serving approximately 473,000 customers, an increase of 1.1 percent over the previous year.

 

SCANA Energy — Georgia

 

SCANA Energy, the Company’s retail natural gas marketing business in Georgia, reported 2009 earnings of $24 million, or 20 cents per share, compared to $33 million, or 28 cents per share, in 2008. Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $9 million, or 7 cents per share, compared to $12 million, or 10 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2008. The decrease is attributable to more customers opting for fixed-rate plans, which more than offset lower operations and maintenance and bad debt expenses.  At December 31, 2009, SCANA Energy was serving approximately 450,000 customers and continues to maintain its position as the second largest natural gas marketer in Georgia.

 

Carolina Gas Transmission

 

Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation (CGTC) reported earnings of $10 million, or 8 cents per share, in 2009, compared to $8 million, or 7 cents per share, in 2008. For the fourth quarter of 2009, CGTC reported earnings of $2 million, or 2 cents per share, compared to $2 million, or 1 cent per share in the fourth quarter of 2008. The increase in earnings is due to lower operating and maintenance expenses and higher revenues as a result of an additional long-term contract.

 

Corporate and Other

 

SCANA’s corporate and other businesses, which include SCANA Communications, ServiceCare, SCANA Energy Marketing and the holding company, reported a loss of $11 million, or 10 cents per share in 2009, compared to a loss of $12 million, or 10 cents per share in 2008. For the fourth quarter of 2009, these businesses reported a loss of $4 million, or 3 cents per share, compared to a loss of $2 million, or 1 cent per share in the fourth quarter of 2008.  The difference in earnings is due primarily to the sale of minor communications assets in 2008 which did not occur in 2009.

 

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EARNINGS OUTLOOK

 

For 2010, the Company’s preliminary estimate is that earnings will be in the range of $2.85 to $3.05 per share.  This estimate includes normal weather in the Company’s electric and natural gas service areas and excludes any potential impacts from changes in accounting principles and gains or losses from certain investing activities, litigation, and sales of assets. Other factors and risks that could impact future earnings are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and below under the Safe Harbor Statement. The Company continues to target an average annual earnings growth rate of 4 to 6 percent over the next 3-5 years.

 

CONFERENCE CALL NOTICE

 

SCANA will host its quarterly conference call for security analysts at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time today. The call-in numbers for the conference call are 1-866-713-8565 (US/Canada) and 1-617-597-5324 (International). The passcode is 10953493. Participants should call in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately 2 hours after conclusion of the call through February 25, 2010. The telephone replay numbers are 1-888-286-8010 (US/Canada) and 1-617-801-6888 (International). The passcode for the telephone replay is 60688621.

 

All interested persons, including investors, media and the general public, may listen to a live web cast of the conference call at the Company’s web site at www.scana.com.  Participants should go to the web site at least 5 to 10 minutes prior to the call start time and follow the instructions. A replay of the web cast and a transcript of the call will be available on the Company’s web site approximately 2 hours after conclusion of the call through February 25, 2010.

 

Additionally, our Form 10-K is expected to be filed with the SEC on March 1, 2010. Once filed, you may access this form on the Company’s web site at www.scana.com. Shareholders may obtain a copy of our audited financial statements free of charge, upon request.

 

PROFILE

 

SCANA Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Cayce, SC, is an energy-based holding company principally engaged, through subsidiaries, in electric and natural gas utility operations and other energy-related businesses. The Company serves approximately 655,000 electric customers in South Carolina and more than 1.2 million natural gas customers in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Information about SCANA and its businesses is available on the Company’s web site at www.scana.com.

 

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

 

Statements included in this press release which are not statements of historical fact are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, “forward-looking statements” for purposes of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning key earnings drivers, customer growth, environmental regulations and expenditures, leverage ratio, projections for pension fund contributions, financing activities, access to sources of capital, impacts of

 

3



 

the adoption of new accounting rules, estimated construction and other expenditures. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar terminology. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and that actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the information is of a preliminary nature and may be subject to further and/or continuing review and adjustment; (2)  regulatory actions, particularly changes in rate regulation, regulations governing electric grid reliability and environmental regulations; (3) current and future litigation; (4) changes in the economy, especially in areas served by subsidiaries of SCANA Corporation (SCANA); (5) the impact of competition from other energy suppliers, including competition from alternate fuels in industrial interruptible markets; (6) growth opportunities for SCANA’s regulated and diversified subsidiaries; (7) the results of short- and long-term financing efforts, including future prospects for obtaining access to capital markets and other sources of liquidity; (8) changes in SCANA’s or its subsidiaries’ accounting rules and accounting policies; (9) the effects of weather, including drought, especially in areas where the Company’s generation and transmission facilities are located and in areas served by SCANA’s subsidiaries; (10) payment by counterparties as and when due; (11) the results of efforts to license, site and construct facilities for baseload electric generation; (12) the availability of fuels such as coal, natural gas and enriched uranium used to produce electricity; the availability of purchased power and natural gas for distribution; the level and volatility of future market prices for such fuels and purchased power; and the ability to recover the costs for such fuels and purchased power; (13) the availability of skilled and experienced human resources to properly manage, operate, and grow the Company’s businesses; (14) labor disputes; (15) performance of SCANA’s pension plan assets; (16) higher taxes; (17) inflation; (18) compliance with regulations; and (19) the other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the periodic reports filed by SCANA or South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

###

 

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FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended
December 31,

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric (1)

 

$

508

 

$

501

 

$

2,141

 

$

2,236

 

Gas-Regulated

 

283

 

375

 

958

 

1,247

 

Gas-Nonregulated

 

303

 

425

 

1,138

 

1,836

 

Total Operating Revenues

 

1,094

 

1,301

 

4,237

 

5,319

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel Used in Electric Generation

 

223

 

192

 

818

 

864

 

Purchased Power

 

6

 

8

 

17

 

36

 

Gas Purchased for Resale

 

424

 

635

 

1,570

 

2,547

 

Other Operation and Maintenance

 

155

 

170

 

640

 

675

 

Depreciation and Amortization (1)

 

68

 

78

 

316

 

319

 

Other Taxes

 

42

 

41

 

177

 

168

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

918

 

1,124

 

3,538

 

4,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

176

 

177

 

699

 

710

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income

 

14

 

25

 

65

 

79

 

Other Expenses

 

(9

)

(10

)

(37

)

(42

)

Interest Charges, Net of Allowance for Borrowed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funds Used During Construction of $6, $5,$23 and $16

 

(62

)

(63

)

(233

)

(227

)

Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction

 

5

 

6

 

28

 

14

 

Total Other Expense

 

(52

)

(42

)

(177

)

(176

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Income Tax Expense and Earnings from Equity Method Investments

 

124

 

135

 

522

 

534

 

Income Tax Expense

 

45

 

48

 

167

 

189

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Earnings from Equity Method Investments

 

79

 

87

 

355

 

345

 

Earnings from Equity Method Investments

 

1

 

1

 

2

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

80

 

$

88

 

$

357

 

$

353

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Dividends of Subsidiary

 

(4

)

(2

)

(9

)

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Available to Common Shareholders of SCANA Corporation

 

$

76

 

$

86

 

$

348

 

$

346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic & Diluted Reported Earnings Per Share

 

$

.62

 

$

.73

 

$

2.85

 

$

2.95

 

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Millions)

 

123.2

 

117.6

 

122.1

 

117.0

 

 


Note (1):  In January 2010, the South Carolina Public Service Commission approved SCE&G’s retroactive adoption of updated, lower depreciation rates for its electric operations as of an effective date of January 1, 2009.  The Commission also approved SCE&G’s request that the credit to 2009’s depreciation expense resulting from the adoption of these rates be applied to reduce 2009’s recovery of fuel costs (electric revenue).  As such, the Company decreased both depreciation expense and electric revenue by $14 million in the quarter and year end December 31, 2009.  These offsetting decreases had no impact on net income.

 

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Millions) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Utility Plant, Net

 

$

8,862

 

$

8,305

 

Nonutility Property and Investments, Net

 

442

 

316

 

Total Current Assets

 

1,522

 

1,836

 

Total Regulatory Assets and Deferred Debits

 

1,131

 

1,045

 

Total

 

$

11,957

 

$

11,502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalization:

 

 

 

 

 

Common Equity

 

$

3,408

 

$

3,045

 

Preferred Stock

 

 

113

 

Long-Term Debt, Net

 

4,483

 

4,361

 

Total Capitalization

 

7,891

 

7,519

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Borrowings

 

335

 

80

 

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

 

28

 

144

 

Other

 

894

 

931

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

1,257

 

1,155

 

Total Regulatory Liabilities and Deferred Credits

 

2,809

 

2,828

 

Total

 

$

11,957

 

$

11,502

 

 

Earnings (Loss) per Share by Company

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended
December 31,

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

SC Electric & Gas

 

$

.39

 

$

.46

 

$

2.29

 

$

2.34

 

PSNC Energy

 

.17

 

.17

 

.38

 

.36

 

SCANA Energy-Georgia

 

.07

 

.10

 

.20

 

.28

 

Carolina Gas Transmission

 

.02

 

.01

 

.08

 

.07

 

Corporate and Other

 

(.03

)

(.01

)

(.10

)

(.10

)

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

 

$

.62

 

$

.73

 

$

2.85

 

$

2.95

 

 

Variances in Earnings per Share (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended
December 31,

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

2008 Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

 

$

.73

 

$

2.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variances:

 

 

 

 

 

Electric Margin (2)

 

(.05

)

(.09

)

Natural Gas Margin

 

(.01

)

(.05

)

Operation & Maintenance Expense

 

.08

 

.18

 

Interest Expense (Net of AFUDC)

 

.01

 

(.03

)

Property Taxes

 

(.01

)

(.05

)

Depreciation (2)

 

(.02

)

(.05

)

Dilution

 

(.03

)

(.12

)

EIZ State Income Tax Benefit (including Interest)

 

 

.11

 

Asset Sales

 

(.04

)

(.05

)

Equity AFC

 

 

.12

 

Redemption of Preferred Stock

 

(.02

)

(.02

)

Other, Net

 

(.02

)

(.05

)

Variances in Earnings per Share

 

(.11

)

(.10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009 Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

$

.62

 

$

2.85

 

 

6



 

 


Note (2):  This variance analysis reflects earnings per share (EPS) components on an after-tax basis, net of the effect of adjustments applied pursuant to the South Carolina Public Service Commission’s approval of SCE&G’s adoption of updated, lower depreciation rates for its electric operations.  See also Note (1) to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

Consolidated Operating Statistics

 

 

 

Quarter Ended December 31,

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

% Change

 

2009

 

2008

 

% Change

 

Electric Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales (Million KWH):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

1,740

 

1,794

 

(3.0

)

7,893

 

7,828

 

0.8

 

Commercial

 

1,675

 

1,694

 

(1.2

)

7,351

 

7,450

 

(1.3

)

Industrial

 

1,310

 

1,387

 

(5.6

)

5,324

 

6,152

 

(13.5

)

Other

 

132

 

133

 

(0.4

)

561

 

569

 

(1.3

)

Total Retail Sales

 

4,857

 

5,008

 

(3.0

)

21,129

 

21,999

 

(4.0

)

Wholesale

 

388

 

471

 

(17.7

)

1,975

 

2,285

 

(13.6

)

Total Sales

 

5,245

 

5,479

 

(4.3

)

23,104

 

24,284

 

(4.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customers (Period-End, Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

655

 

650

 

0.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales (Thousand Dekatherms):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

 

23,114

 

23,217

 

(0.4

)

67,329

 

66,890

 

0.7

 

Commercial

 

12,501

 

12,276

 

1.8

 

39,745

 

39,313

 

1.1

 

Industrial

 

39,546

 

33,552

 

17.9

 

159,084

 

154,119

 

3.2

 

Total Retail Sales

 

75,161

 

69,045

 

8.9

 

266,158

 

260,322

 

2.2

 

Sales for Resale

 

2,926

 

3,247

 

(9.9

)

10,369

 

9,586

 

8.2

 

Transportation Volumes

 

39,122

 

32,358

 

20.9

 

138,810

 

136,667

 

1.6

 

Total Sales

 

117,209

 

104,650

 

12.0

 

415,337

 

406,575

 

2.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customers (Period-End, Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,238

 

1,235

 

0.3

 

 

Security Credit Ratings (as of 02/11/10):

 

 

 

Moody’s

 

Standard & Poor’s

 

Fitch

SCANA Corporation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Unsecured

 

Baa2

 

BBB

 

BBB+

Junior Subordinated Debt

 

Baa3

 

BBB-

 

BBB-

Outlook

 

Negative

 

Stable

 

Stable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Secured

 

A3

 

A-

 

A

Senior Unsecured

 

Baa1

 

BBB+

 

A-

Commercial Paper

 

P-2

 

A-2

 

F-2

Outlook

 

Negative

 

Stable

 

Stable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSNC Energy:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Unsecured

 

A3

 

BBB+

 

A-

Commercial Paper

 

P-2

 

A-2

 

F-2

Outlook

 

Negative

 

Stable

 

Stable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Carolina Fuel Company:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial Paper

 

P-2

 

A-2

 

F-2

 

7