El Paso Electric Announces First Quarter 2016 Financial Results

EL PASO, Texas--()--El Paso Electric Company (NYSE:EE):

Overview

  • For the first quarter of 2016, El Paso Electric Company ("EE" or the "Company") reported a net loss of $5.8 million, or $0.14 basic and diluted earnings per share. Net income for the first quarter of 2015 was $3.5 million, or $0.09 basic and diluted earnings per share.

“As anticipated, regulatory lag had a negative impact on first quarter earnings,” said Mary Kipp, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “These results clearly illustrate the importance of obtaining final orders in our on-going rate cases so that we can recover the significant investments we have made to meet our customers' energy needs. That said, we see these results as growing pains. We are fortunate to live and work in a region that continues to grow and develop. We look forward to continuing to provide safe, clean, affordable and reliable power to our customers."

Summary Results

The table and explanations below present the major factors affecting first quarter 2016 net loss relative to first quarter 2015 net income (in thousands except per share data):

   
Quarter Ended

Pre-Tax
Effect

   

After-Tax
Effect

   

Basic
EPS

March 31, 2015 $ 3,458 $ 0.09
Changes in:
Allowance for funds used during construction $ (2,902 ) (2,564 ) (0.06 )
O&M at fossil-fuel generating plants (3,172 ) (2,062 ) (0.05 )
Investment and interest income (2,325 ) (1,865 ) (0.05 )
Depreciation and amortization (1,728 ) (1,123 ) (0.03 )
Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 (961 ) (624 ) (0.02 )
Retail non-fuel base revenues 959 624 0.02
Other (3,282 ) (1,652 ) (0.04 )
March 31, 2016 $ (5,808 ) $ (0.14 )
 

Regulatory Lag

The completion of Montana Power Station ("MPS") Units 1 & 2 (including common plant, transmission lines and substation) and the Eastside Operations Center ("EOC") continues to have a negative impact on the Company's financial results due to regulatory lag associated with the placement in service of these assets without a corresponding increase in revenues. The placement in service of Unit 3 in May 2016 and the anticipated completion of Unit 4 in September 2016 will continue the negative impact of regulatory lag until new and higher rates become effective. The primary impact from these assets being placed in service include a reduction in amounts capitalized for allowance for funds used during construction ("AFUDC"), and increases in depreciation, operations and maintenance ("O&M") expense, property taxes and interest cost.

First Quarter 2016

Income (loss) for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2015, was negatively affected by:

  • Decreased AFUDC due to lower balances of construction work in progress (“CWIP”), primarily due to MPS Units 1 & 2 and the EOC being placed in service in March 2015 and a reduction in the AFUDC rate effective January 2016, partially offset by AFUDC earned on construction costs related to MPS Units 3 and 4.
  • Increased O&M expenses related to our fossil-fuel generating plants due to (i) maintenance outages on Four Corners Unit 5 and Rio Grande Unit 7 compared to a reduced level of maintenance outage costs during 2015 and (ii) O&M expenses at MPS in first quarter 2016 compared to first quarter 2015.
  • Decreased investment and interest income due to lower realized gains on securities sold from the Company’s Palo Verde decommissioning trust in first quarter 2016 compared to first quarter 2015.
  • Increased depreciation and amortization related to an increase in depreciable plant, primarily due to MPS Units 1 & 2 and the EOC being placed in service in March 2015, partially offset by a change in the estimated useful life of certain intangible software assets.
  • Decreased deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues, primarily due to a 16.9% decrease in proxy market prices reflecting a decline in the price of natural gas.
  • Other includes items each of which have no greater effect than $0.01 on basic earnings per share. Such items include increases in (i) administrative and general expenses, (ii) taxes other than income taxes, and (iii) Palo Verde O&M expenses.

Income (loss) for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2015, was positively affected by:

  • Increased retail non-fuel base revenues, primarily due to increased revenues from residential customers reflecting a 1.3% increase in kWh sales and a 1.5% increase in the average number of customers.

Retail Non-fuel Base Revenues

Retail non-fuel base revenues increased $1.0 million, pre-tax, or 0.9%, in the first quarter of 2016, compared to the first quarter of 2015. This increase includes an $0.8 million increase in revenues from residential customers and a $0.2 million increase in revenues from small commercial and industrial customers reflecting increases of 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively, in the average number of customers served. KWh sales to residential customers and small commercial and industrial customers increased by 1.3% and 2.1%, respectively. Retail non-fuel base revenues from large commercial and industrial customers and sales to public authorities combined were comparable to the first quarter of 2015. Non-fuel base revenues and kWh sales are provided by customer class on page 10 of this release.

2015 Rate Cases

On May 11, 2015, the Company filed with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission ("NMPRC") in Case No. 15-00127-UT, for an annual increase in non-fuel base rates of approximately $8.6 million or 7.1%. The filing also requests an annual reduction of $15.4 million, or 21.5%, for fuel and purchased power costs recovered in base rates. Subsequently, the Company reduced its requested increase in non-fuel base rates to approximately $6.4 million. On February 16, 2016, the Hearing Examiner issued a Recommended Decision to the NMPRC proposing an annual increase in non-fuel base rates of approximately $640 thousand. The Company filed exceptions to the Recommended Decision to be considered by the NMPRC. The NMPRC has until June 10, 2016 to issue a final order authorizing new rates to go into effect. Approximately 24% of the Company's customers are in New Mexico. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the rate case at this time.

On August 10, 2015, the Company filed with the City of El Paso, other municipalities incorporated in its Texas service territory and the Public Utility Commission of Texas ("PUCT") in Docket No. 44941, a request for an annual increase in non-fuel base revenues of approximately $71.5 million. On January 15, 2016, the Company filed its rebuttal testimony modifying the requested increase to $63.3 million. The Company has invoked its statutory right to have its new rates relate back for consumption on and after January 12, 2016, which is the 155th day after the filing. The difference in rates that would have been billed will be surcharged or refunded to customers beginning after the PUCT's final order in Docket No. 44941. The PUCT has the authority to require the Company to surcharge or refund such difference over a period not to exceed 18 months. On January 21, 2016, the Company, the City of El Paso, the PUCT Staff, the Office of Public Utility Counsel and Texas Industrial Energy Consumers filed a joint motion to abate the procedural schedule to facilitate settlement talks. This motion was granted.

On March 29, 2016, the majority of parties to PUCT Docket No. 44941 filed a non-unanimous Stipulation and Agreement ("Settlement Agreement"), together with a motion to implement it. The Settlement Agreement would resolve all issues in this rate case except for one revenue requirement issue involving the Company’s interest in Units 4 and 5 of the Four Corners power plant ("Four Corners"). The Settlement Agreement includes, among other things: (i) an annual non-fuel base rate increase of $37 million; (ii) the potential for an additional base rate increase of $8 million related to Four Corners costs after a hearing and decision; (iii) a change in estimated asset lives which would lower annual depreciation expense by approximately $8.5 million; (iv) a return on equity of 9.7% for AFUDC purposes; and (v) a determination that substantially all new plant in service was reasonable and necessary and therefore would be recoverable in rate base. Approximately 76% of the Company's customers are in Texas.

The Administrative Law Judges ("ALJs") hearing the case approved interim rates for the $37 million annual increase outlined in the Settlement Agreement on March 30, 2016. The interim rates are effective as of April 1, 2016 and are subject to refund or surcharge pending resolution by the PUCT. Four parties have indicated that they oppose the Settlement Agreement, and they are entitled to a hearing on the Settlement Agreement. On April 22, 2016, the ALJs issued an Order Setting a Procedural Schedule, which among other things, calls for a hearing on June 21-22, 2016 on the merits of the proposed settlement of the rate case, not including the Four Corners issue. The Company cannot predict the timing and outcome of the rate case at this time.

Given the uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of this rate case, the Company did not record any impacts of the Settlement Agreement in the first quarter of 2016. As discussed above, upon resolution of this rate case, the Company expects to record revenues under the new rate structure for consumption on or after January 12, 2016.

Commercial Operation of Montana Power Station Unit 3 and Construction of Unit 4

On May 3, 2016, the Company placed into commercial operation the third generating unit at the MPS and the related common facilities and transmission systems at a cost of approximately $82.4 million. The state-of-the-art 88-MW simple cycle aero-derivative combustion turbine is powered by natural gas and has quick start capabilities which allows the unit to go from off-line to full output in less than 10 minutes, thus increasing overall power grid stability, and work in concert with the Company's renewable energy sources. This unit will generate enough energy to power more than 40,000 homes in the Company's growing service territory. MPS Unit 4, identical to the other three MPS units, is expected to reach commercial operation September 2016.

Capital and Liquidity

In March 2016, we issued $150 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Senior Notes due December 1, 2044 to repay outstanding short-term borrowings on our Revolving Credit Facility ("RCF") used for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include funding capital expenditures. We continue to maintain a strong capital structure in which common stock equity represented 42.3% of our capitalization (common stock equity, long-term debt, current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings under the RCF). At March 31, 2016, we had a balance of $41.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. Based on current projections, we believe that we will have adequate liquidity through the issuance of long-term debt, our current cash balances, cash from operations and available borrowings under our RCF to meet all of our anticipated cash requirements for the next 12 months.

Cash flows from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were $13.9 million, compared to $26.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The primary factors affecting the decrease in cash flows from operations were reductions in (i) earnings arising from regulatory lag, (ii) deferred income taxes, and (iii) the over-collection of fuel revenues. The difference between fuel revenues collected and fuel expense incurred is deferred to be either refunded (over-recoveries) or surcharged (under-recoveries) to customers in the future. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company had a fuel over-recovery of $4.1 million compared to an over-recovery of fuel costs of $15.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. At March 31, 2016, we had a net fuel over-recovery balance of $8.1 million, including an over-recovery of $5.2 million in Texas, $2.8 million in the New Mexico and $0.1 million in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") jurisdiction.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, our primary capital requirements were for the construction and purchase of electric utility plant, payment of common stock dividends, and purchases of nuclear fuel. Capital requirements for new electric utility plant were $52.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $73.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Capital expenditures for 2016 are expected to be $231.1 million. Capital requirements for purchases of nuclear fuel were $11.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, and $10.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

On March 31, 2016, we paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.295 per share, or $11.9 million, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2016. We expect to continue paying quarterly cash dividends. We expect to review the dividend policy in the second quarter of 2016.

No shares of common stock were repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2016, a total of 393,816 shares remain available for repurchase under the Company's currently authorized stock repurchase program. The Company may in the future make purchases of its common stock in open market transactions at prevailing prices and may engage in private transactions where appropriate.

We maintain the RCF for working capital and general corporate purposes and financing of nuclear fuel through the Rio Grande Resources Trust (the "RGRT"). The RGRT, the trust through which we finance our portion of nuclear fuel for Palo Verde, is consolidated in the Company's financial statements. The RCF has a term ending January 14, 2019. The maximum aggregate unsecured borrowing currently available under the RCF is $300 million. We may increase the RCF by up to $100 million (up to a total of $400 million) during the term of the agreement, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, more fully set forth in the agreement, including obtaining commitments from lenders or third party financial institutions. The total amount borrowed for nuclear fuel by the RGRT, excluding debt issuance costs, was $132.1 million at March 31, 2016, of which $37.1 million had been borrowed under the RCF, and $95.0 million was borrowed through the issuance of senior notes. Borrowings by the RGRT for nuclear fuel, excluding debt issuance costs, were $127.3 million as of March 31, 2015, of which $17.3 million had been borrowed under the RCF and $110.0 million was borrowed through the issuance of senior notes. Interest costs on borrowings to finance nuclear fuel are accumulated by the RGRT and charged to us as fuel is consumed and recovered through fuel recovery charges. At March 31, 2016, $50.0 million was outstanding under the RCF for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include funding capital expenditures. At March 31, 2015, $41.0 million was outstanding under the RCF for working capital and general corporate purposes. Total aggregate borrowings under the RCF at March 31, 2016 were $87.1 million with an additional $212.4 million available to borrow.

We received approval from the NMPRC on October 7, 2015, and from the FERC on October 19, 2015, to issue up to $310 million in new long-term debt and to guarantee the issuance of up to $65 million of new debt by the RGRT to finance future purchases of nuclear fuel and to refinance existing nuclear fuel debt obligations. We also requested approval from the FERC to continue to utilize our existing RCF without change from the FERC’s previously approved authorization. The FERC authorization is effective from November 15, 2015 through November 15, 2017. The approvals granted in these cases supersede prior approvals. Under this authorization, on March 24, 2016, the Company issued $150 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Senior Notes due December 1, 2044. The proceeds from the issuance of these senior notes, after deducting the underwriters' commission, were $158.1 million. These proceeds include accrued interest of $2.4 million and a $7.1 million premium before expenses. The estimated effective interest rate is expected to be 4.78%. The net proceeds from the sale of these senior notes were used to repay outstanding short-term borrowings under the RCF. These senior notes constitute an additional issuance of the Company’s 5.00% Senior Notes due 2044, of which $150 million was previously issued on December 1, 2014, for a total principal amount outstanding of $300 million.

2016 Earnings Guidance

On May 11, 2015 and August 10, 2015, the Company filed rate cases in New Mexico and Texas, respectively, as discussed above. The outcome of these cases are expected to have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations in 2016. Since we cannot predict the outcome of these rate cases, the Company has decided not to provide earnings guidance at this time. However, we will continue to provide management's outlook on key earnings drivers on the Company's May 4, 2016 conference call.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the first quarter 2016 financial results is scheduled for 10:30 A.M. Eastern Time, on May 4, 2016. The dial-in number is 888-471-3843 with a conference ID number of 1483838. The international dial-in number is 719-325-2495. The conference leader will be Lisa Budtke, Director Treasury Services and Investor Relations. A replay will run through May 18, 2016 with a dial-in number of 888-203-1112 and a conference ID number of 1483838. The replay international dial-in number is 719-457-0820. The conference call and presentation slides will be webcast live on the Company's website found at http://www.epelectric.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call.

Safe Harbor

This news release includes statements that are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements is contained in EE's most recently filed periodic reports and in other filings made by EE with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and include, but is not limited to: (i) increased prices for fuel and purchased power and the possibility that regulators may not permit EE to pass through all such increased costs to customers or to recover previously incurred fuel costs in rates; (ii) full and timely recovery of capital investments and operating costs through rates in Texas and New Mexico; (iii) uncertainties and instability in the general economy and the resulting impact on EE's sales and profitability; (iv) changes in customers' demand for electricity as a result of energy efficiency initiatives and emerging competing services and technologies, including distributed generation; (v) unanticipated increased costs associated with scheduled and unscheduled outages of generating plant; (vi) the size of our construction program and our ability to complete construction on budget and on time; (vii) potential delays in our construction schedule due to legal challenges or other reasons; (viii) costs at Palo Verde; (ix) deregulation and competition in the electric utility industry; (x) possible increased costs of compliance with environmental or other laws, regulations and policies; (xi) possible income tax and interest payments as a result of audit adjustments proposed by the IRS or state taxing authorities; (xii) uncertainties and instability in the financial markets and the resulting impact on EE's ability to access the capital and credit markets; (xiii) possible physical or cyber attacks, intrusions or other catastrophic events; and (xiv) other factors of which we are currently unaware or deem immaterial. EE's filings are available from the SEC or may be obtained through EE's website, http://www.epelectric.com. Any such forward-looking statement is qualified by reference to these risks and factors. EE cautions that these risks and factors are not exclusive. Management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or prior earnings levels. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release, and EE does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement contained herein.

 
El Paso Electric Company
Statements of Operations
Quarter Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015
(In thousands except for per share data)
(Unaudited)
           
2016 2015 Variance
 
Operating revenues, net of energy expenses:
Base revenues $ 105,745 $ 104,857 $ 888 (a)
Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues 2,166 3,127 (961 )
Other 5,933   6,858   (925 )
Operating Revenues Net of Energy Expenses 113,844 114,842 (998 )
 
Other operating expenses:
Other operations and maintenance 53,559 49,311 4,248
Palo Verde operations and maintenance 22,343 21,848 495
Taxes other than income taxes 14,812 14,158 654
Other income 3,119   4,943   (1,824 )
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization 26,249 34,468 (8,219 ) (b)
 
Depreciation and amortization 23,293 21,565 1,728
Interest on long-term debt 16,599 16,483 116
AFUDC and capitalized interest 5,236 8,185 (2,949 )
Other interest expense 562   163   399  
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes (8,969 ) 4,442 (13,411 )
 
Income tax expense (benefit) (3,161 ) 984   (4,145 )
 
Net Income (Loss) $ (5,808 ) $ 3,458   $ (9,266 )
 
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share $ (0.14 ) $ 0.09   $ (0.23 )
 
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share $ (0.14 ) $ 0.09   $ (0.23 )
 
Dividends declared per share of common stock $ 0.295   $ 0.280   $ 0.015  
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding 40,325   40,243   82  
 

Weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding

40,325   40,267   58  
 

(a) Base revenues exclude fuel recovered through New Mexico base rates of $16.2 million and $16.1 million, respectively.

 

(b) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") is a non-generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") financial measure and is not a substitute for net income or other measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP.

 
 
El Paso Electric Company
Cash Flow Summary
Quarter Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015
(In thousands and Unaudited)
       
2016 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ (5,808 ) $ 3,458
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization of electric plant in service 23,293 21,565
Amortization of nuclear fuel 11,800 11,392
Deferred income taxes, net (3,632 ) 6,255
Net gains on sale of decommissioning trust funds (1,388 ) (3,745 )
Other 1,493 356
Change in:
Accounts receivable 8,296 5,828
Net over-collection of fuel revenues 4,104 15,687
Accounts payable (21,827 ) (24,230 )
Other (2,396 ) (10,114 )
Net cash provided by operating activities 13,935   26,452  
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash additions to utility property, plant and equipment (52,675 ) (73,865 )
Cash additions to nuclear fuel (11,220 ) (10,183 )
Decommissioning trust funds (2,466 ) (2,319 )
Other (3,054 ) (4,140 )
Net cash used for investing activities (69,415 ) (90,507 )
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid (11,928 ) (11,303 )
Borrowings under the revolving credit facility, net (54,688 ) 43,813
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes 157,052
Other (1,793 ) (985 )
Net cash provided by financing activities 88,643   31,525  
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 33,163 (32,530 )
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 8,149   40,504  
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 41,312   $ 7,974  
 
 
El Paso Electric Company
Quarter Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015
Sales and Revenues Statistics
               
Increase (Decrease)
2016 2015 Amount Percentage

kWh sales (in thousands):

Retail:
Residential 569,085 561,653 7,432 1.3 %
Commercial and industrial, small 500,226 490,066 10,160 2.1 %
Commercial and industrial, large 244,926 253,120 (8,194 ) (3.2 )%
Public authorities 346,235   343,093   3,142   0.9 %
Total retail sales 1,660,472   1,647,932   12,540   0.8 %
Wholesale:
Sales for resale 11,841 11,945 (104 ) (0.9 )%
Off-system sales 578,673   683,529   (104,856 ) (15.3 )%
Total wholesale sales 590,514   695,474   (104,960 ) (15.1 )%
Total kWh sales 2,250,986   2,343,406   (92,420 ) (3.9 )%

Operating revenues (in thousands):

Non-fuel base revenues:
Retail:
Residential $ 47,743 $ 46,940 $ 803 1.7 %
Commercial and industrial, small 32,140 31,970 170 0.5 %
Commercial and industrial, large 8,093 8,249 (156 ) (1.9 )%
Public authorities 17,400   17,258   142   0.8 %
Total retail non-fuel base revenues 105,376 104,417 959 0.9 %
Wholesale:
Sales for resale 369   440   (71 ) (16.1 )%
Total non-fuel base revenues 105,745   104,857   888   0.8 %
 
Fuel revenues:
Recovered from customers during the period 22,534 34,422 (11,888 ) (34.5 )%
Over collection of fuel (a) (4,103 ) (15,687 ) 11,584 73.8 %
New Mexico fuel in base rates 16,226   16,113   113   0.7 %
Total fuel revenues (b) 34,657   34,848   (191 ) (0.5 )%
 
Off-system sales:
Fuel cost 8,492 12,865 (4,373 ) (34.0 )%
Shared margins 2,555 3,936 (1,381 ) (35.1 )%
Retained margins 360   356   4   1.1 %
Total off-system sales 11,407 17,157 (5,750 ) (33.5 )%
Other (c) 6,000   6,884   (884 ) (12.8 )%
Total operating revenues $ 157,809   $ 163,746   $ (5,937 ) (3.6 )%
 

(a) Includes Department of Energy refunds related to spent fuel storage of $1.6 million and $5.8 million, respectively.

 

(b) Includes deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues for the New Mexico jurisdiction of $2.2 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

 

(c) Represents revenues with no related kWh sales.

 
 
El Paso Electric Company
Quarter Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015
Other Statistical Data
           
Increase (Decrease)
2016 2015 Amount     Percentage
 

Average number of retail customers: (a)

Residential 360,048 354,758 5,290 1.5 %
Commercial and industrial, small 40,537 40,040 497 1.2 %
Commercial and industrial, large 49 49
Public authorities 5,372   5,216   156   3.0 %
Total 406,006   400,063   5,943   1.5 %
 

Number of retail customers (end of period): (a)

Residential 360,676 355,563 5,113 1.4 %
Commercial and industrial, small 40,767 40,052 715 1.8 %
Commercial and industrial, large 49 49
Public authorities 5,331   5,209   122   2.3 %
Total 406,823   400,873   5,950   1.5 %
 

Weather statistics: (b)

10-Year
Average

Heating degree days 1,054 1,153 1,183
Cooling degree days 23 34 30
 

Generation and purchased power (kWh, in thousands):

Increase (Decrease)
2016 2015 Amount Percentage
 
Palo Verde 1,380,497 1,362,194 18,303 1.3 %
Four Corners 81,006 137,218 (56,212 ) (41.0 )%
Gas plants 637,430   668,575   (31,145 ) (4.7 )%
Total generation 2,098,933 2,167,987 (69,054 ) (3.2 )%
Purchased power:
Photovoltaic 67,764 59,059 8,705 14.7 %
Other 205,157   241,713   (36,556 ) (15.1 )%
Total purchased power 272,921   300,772   (27,851 ) (9.3 )%
Total available energy 2,371,854 2,468,759 (96,905 ) (3.9 )%
Line losses and Company use 120,868   125,353   (4,485 ) (3.6 )%
Total kWh sold 2,250,986   2,343,406   (92,420 ) (3.9 )%

Palo Verde capacity factor

101.7

%

101.4

%

0.3

%

 

(a) The number of retail customers presented is based on the number of service locations.

 

(b) A degree day is recorded for each degree that the average outdoor temperature varies from a standard of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

 
 
El Paso Electric Company
Financial Statistics
At March 31, 2016 and 2015
(In thousands, except number of shares, book value per common share, and ratios)
       
Balance Sheet 2016 2015
 
Cash and cash equivalents $ 41,312   $ 7,974  
 
Common stock equity $ 999,741 $ 975,265
Long-term debt (a) 1,278,449   1,122,064  
Total capitalization $ 2,278,190   $ 2,097,329  
 
Current maturities of long-term debt $   $ 15,000  
 
Short-term borrowings under the revolving credit facility $ 87,050   $ 58,345  
 
Number of shares - end of period 40,484,815   40,392,608  
 
Book value per common share $ 24.69   $ 24.14  
 
Common equity ratio (b) 42.3 % 44.9 %
Debt ratio 57.7 % 55.1 %
 

(a) In accordance with ASU 2015-03 (Subtopic 835-30), Interest- Imputation of Interest, debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The Company implemented ASU 2015-03 in the first quarter of 2016, and retrospectively to all periods presented.

 

(b) The capitalization component includes common stock equity, long-term debt and the current maturities of long-term debt, and short-term borrowings under the RCF.

Contacts

El Paso Electric Company
Media Contacts
Eddie Gutierrez, 915-543-5763
eduardo.gutierrez@epelectric.com
or
Investor Relations
Lisa Budtke, 915-543-5947
lisa.budtke@epelectric.com

Release Summary

El Paso Electric Announces First Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Contacts

El Paso Electric Company
Media Contacts
Eddie Gutierrez, 915-543-5763
eduardo.gutierrez@epelectric.com
or
Investor Relations
Lisa Budtke, 915-543-5947
lisa.budtke@epelectric.com