Eversource Energy Reports Second Quarter Results

HARTFORD, Conn. & BOSTON--()--Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES) today reported earnings of $31.5 million, or $0.10 per share, in the second quarter of 2019, compared with earnings of $242.8 million, or $0.76 per share, in the second quarter of 2018. In the first half of 2019, Eversource Energy earned $340.1 million, or $1.07 per share, compared with earnings of $512.3 million, or $1.61 per share, in the first half of 2018. Results for the second quarter and first half of 2019 include an after-tax impairment charge of $204.4 million, or $0.64 per share, related to Eversource Energy’s investment in the Northern Pass Transmission (NPT) project. Excluding that impairment, Eversource Energy earned $235.9 million1, or $0.74 per share, in the second quarter of 2019 and $544.5 million1, or $1.71 per share, in the first half of 2019.

Eversource Energy also today reaffirmed its 2019 earnings per share (EPS) projection of $3.401 to $3.501 per share, excluding the NPT impairment charge noted above, and its long-term EPS growth rate of 5 to 7 percent.

The Northern Pass impairment was a difficult step for us to take given the economic and environmental benefits the project could have brought to New England, but it does not take away from the fact that 2019 has been very positive for Eversource,” said Jim Judge, Eversource Energy chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Our operational, safety, customer service and ongoing financial results are all ahead of plan, and we have had extremely strong investor interest in both our equity and long-term debt issuances, providing benefits to both our customers and shareholders.”

Electric Transmission

Excluding the NPT impairment, Eversource Energy’s transmission segment earned $117 million1 in the second quarter of 2019 and $235.3 million1 in the first half of 2019, compared with earnings of $112.7 million in the second quarter of 2018 and $220.1 million in the first half of 2018. The impairment charge resulted from a New Hampshire Supreme Court decision on July 19, 2019, upholding a 2018 decision by the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee rejecting a key permit for NPT. Aside from the NPT impairment charge, transmission segment results improved due to a higher level of investment in Eversource’s electric transmission system.

Electric Distribution

Eversource Energy’s electric distribution segment earned $105.4 million in the second quarter of 2019 and $225.4 million in the first half of 2019, compared with earnings of $101.3 million in the second quarter of 2018 and $205.5 million in the first half of 2018. Improved second quarter and year-to-date results were due primarily to higher distribution revenues, partially offset by higher operations and maintenance (O&M) and depreciation expense, as well as the absence of New Hampshire generation earnings in 2019.

Natural Gas Distribution

Eversource Energy’s natural gas distribution segment lost $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2019 and earned $74.7 million in the first half of 2019, compared with earnings of $5 million in the second quarter of 2018 and $62.8 million in the first half of 2018. Lower second quarter results were due to higher O&M and the timing of distribution revenues which, as disclosed previously, will be lower than in past years in non-heating months. Improved year-to-date results were primarily due to the new decoupled rate structure at Yankee Gas and higher earnings from capital tracking mechanisms on higher levels of investment.

Water Distribution

Eversource’s Aquarion Water Company subsidiary earned $8 million in the second quarter of 2019 and $8.8 million in the first half of 2019, compared with earnings of $7.2 million in the second quarter of 2018 and $8.7 million in the first half of 2018. Improved results were primarily due to continued investment in the Aquarion systems and the outcome of last year’s rate review in Massachusetts.

Eversource Parent and Other Companies

Eversource Energy parent and other companies earned $7.3 million in the second quarter of 2019 and $0.3 million in the first half of 2019, compared with earnings of $16.6 million in the second quarter of 2018 and $15.2 million in the first half of 2018. Lower 2019 results were due in part to higher interest expense.

The following table reconciles 2019 and 2018 second quarter and first half earnings per share:

 

 

Second Quarter

First Six Months

2018

Reported EPS

$0.76

$1.61

 

Higher electric distribution revenues in 2019

0.05

0.09

 

Higher level of electric and natural gas distribution investment mechanisms in 2019

0.03

0.05

 

Higher electric transmission earnings in 2019, excluding NPT impairment

0.02

0.05

 

Lower/higher natural gas revenues in 2019

(0.01)

0.04

 

Higher depreciation and property tax expense in 2019

(0.04)

(0.07)

 

Higher non-tracked O&M in 2019

(0.03)

(0.01)

 

Higher interest expense in 2019

(0.01)

(0.03)

 

Absence of New Hampshire generation earnings

(0.01)

(0.02)

 

Other, including higher share count

(0.02)

0.00

 

NPT impairment charge

(0.64)

(0.64)

2019

Reported EPS

$0.10

$1.07

Financial results by segment for the second quarter and first six months of 2019 and 2018 are noted below:

Three months ended:

 

(in millions, except EPS)

 

June 30, 2019

 

June 30, 2018

Increase/
(Decrease)

 

2019 EPS1

Electric Transmission, ex. NPT charge1

$117.0

 

$112.7

$4.3

 

$0.37

 

Electric Distribution

105.4

 

101.3

4.1

 

0.33

 

Natural Gas Distribution

(1.8

)

5.0

(6.8

)

-

 

Water Distribution

8.0

 

7.2

0.8

 

0.02

 

Eversource Parent and Other Companies

7.3

 

16.6

(9.3

)

0.02

 

NPT impairment charge

(204.4

)

---

(204.4

)

(0.64

)

Reported Earnings

$31.5

 

$242.8

($211.3

)

$0.10

 

Six months ended:

 

(in millions, except EPS)

 

June 30, 2019

 

June 30, 2018

Increase/
(Decrease)

 

2019 EPS1

Electric Transmission, ex. NPT charge1

$235.3

 

$220.1

$15.2

 

$0.74

 

Electric Distribution

225.4

 

205.5

19.9

 

0.71

 

Natural Gas Distribution

74.7

 

62.8

11.9

 

0.23

 

Water Distribution

8.8

 

8.7

0.1

 

0.03

 

Eversource Parent and Other Companies

0.3

 

15.2

(14.9

)

-

 

NPT impairment charge

(204.4

)

---

(204.4

)

(0.64

)

Reported Earnings

$340.1

 

$512.3

($172.2

)

$1.07

 

Retail sales data:

Three months ended:

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2018

% Change

Electric Distribution (Gwh)

 

 

 

Traditional

1,757

1,803

(2.6)%

Decoupled

9,853

10,330

(4.6)%

Total Electric Distribution

11,610

12,133

(4.3)%

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas Distribution (mmcf)

 

 

 

All Decoupled

18,191

18,932

(3.9)%

Six months ended:

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2018

% Change

Electric Distribution (Gwh)

 

 

 

Traditional

3,724

3,775

(1.4)%

Decoupled

21,037

21,579

(2.5)%

Total Electric Distribution

24,761

25,354

(2.3)%

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas Distribution (mmcf)

 

 

 

All Decoupled

63,358

61,983

2.2%

Eversource Energy has approximately 324 million common shares outstanding and operates New England’s largest energy delivery system. It serves nearly 4 million electric, natural gas and water customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Note: Eversource Energy will webcast a conference call with senior management on August 1, 2019, beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. The webcast and associated slides can be accessed through Eversource Energy’s website at www.eversource.com.

1All per-share amounts in this news release are reported on a diluted basis. The only common equity securities that are publicly traded are common shares of Eversource Energy. The earnings and EPS of each business do not represent a direct legal interest in the assets and liabilities allocated to such business, but rather represent a direct interest in Eversource Energy's assets and liabilities as a whole. EPS by business is a non-GAAP (not determined using generally accepted accounting principles) measure that is calculated by dividing the net income or loss attributable to common shareholders of each business by the weighted average diluted Eversource Energy common shares outstanding for the period. Earnings discussions also include a non-GAAP financial measure referencing 2019 earnings and EPS excluding the impairment charge for the NPT project.

Eversource Energy uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate and provide details of earnings results by business and to more fully compare and explain 2019 results without including the impact of the NPT impairment charge. Management believes the NPT impairment charge is not indicative of Eversource Energy’s ongoing performance. Due to the nature and significance of the impairment charge on net income attributable to common shareholders, management believes that the non-GAAP presentation is a more meaningful representation of Eversource Energy’s financial performance and provides additional and useful information to readers in analyzing historical and future performance of the business. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to Eversource Energy’s consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders or EPS determined in accordance with GAAP as indicators of Eversource Energy’s operating performance.

This news release includes statements concerning Eversource Energy’s expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions of future events, future financial performance or growth and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, readers can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “believe,” “forecast,” “should,” “could” and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: cyberattacks or breaches, including those resulting in the compromise of the confidentiality of our proprietary information and the personal information of our customers; acts of war or terrorism, physical attacks or grid disturbances that may damage and disrupt our transmission and distribution systems; ability or inability to commence and complete our major strategic development projects and opportunities; actions or inaction of local, state and federal regulatory, public policy and taxing bodies; substandard performance of third-party suppliers and service providers; fluctuations in weather patterns, including extreme weather due to climate change; changes in business conditions, which could include disruptive technology related to our current or future business model; increased conservation measures of customers and development of alternative energy sources; contamination of, or disruption in, our water supplies; changes in economic conditions, including impact on interest rates, tax policies, and customer demand and payment ability; changes in levels or timing of capital expenditures; disruptions in the capital markets or other events that make our access to necessary capital more difficult or costly; changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policy, including compliance with environmental laws and regulations; changes in accounting standards and financial reporting regulations; actions of rating agencies; and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors.

Other risk factors are detailed in Eversource Energy’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and updated as necessary, and are available on Eversource Energy’s website at www.eversource.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All such factors are difficult to predict and contain uncertainties that may materially affect Eversource Energy’s actual results, many of which are beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements; each speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, except as required by federal securities laws, and Eversource Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

EVERSOURCE ENERGY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Thousands of Dollars)

As of June 30, 2019

 

As of December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

Cash

$

20,578

 

 

$

108,068

 

Receivables, Net

964,314

 

 

994,055

 

Unbilled Revenues

154,920

 

 

176,285

 

Fuel, Materials, Supplies and Inventory

174,124

 

 

238,042

 

Regulatory Assets

515,265

 

 

514,779

 

Prepayments and Other Current Assets

302,496

 

 

260,995

 

Total Current Assets

2,131,697

 

 

2,292,224

 

 

 

 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

26,304,446

 

 

25,610,428

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Debits and Other Assets:

 

 

 

Regulatory Assets

4,404,176

 

 

4,631,137

 

Goodwill

4,427,266

 

 

4,427,266

 

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

748,705

 

 

464,286

 

Marketable Securities

401,231

 

 

417,508

 

Other Long-Term Assets

578,385

 

 

398,407

 

Total Deferred Debits and Other Assets

10,559,763

 

 

10,338,604

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

$

38,995,906

 

 

$

38,241,256

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

Notes Payable

$

729,000

 

 

$

910,000

 

Long-Term Debt – Current Portion

779,289

 

 

837,319

 

Rate Reduction Bonds – Current Portion

43,210

 

 

52,332

 

Accounts Payable

903,431

 

 

1,119,995

 

Regulatory Liabilities

379,850

 

 

370,230

 

Other Current Liabilities

677,341

 

 

823,006

 

Total Current Liabilities

3,512,121

 

 

4,112,882

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:

 

 

 

Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes

3,549,922

 

 

3,506,030

 

Regulatory Liabilities

3,639,792

 

 

3,609,475

 

Derivative Liabilities

363,848

 

 

379,562

 

Accrued Pension, SERP and PBOP

955,092

 

 

962,510

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities

1,264,061

 

 

1,196,336

 

Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

9,772,715

 

 

9,653,913

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt

13,039,180

 

 

12,248,743

 

 

 

 

 

Rate Reduction Bonds

561,727

 

 

583,331

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest – Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries

155,570

 

 

155,570

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shareholders' Equity:

 

 

 

Common Shares

1,699,292

 

 

1,669,392

 

Capital Surplus, Paid In

6,659,009

 

 

6,241,222

 

Retained Earnings

3,954,492

 

 

3,953,974

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

(53,641

)

 

(60,000

)

Treasury Stock

(304,559

)

 

(317,771

)

Common Shareholders' Equity

11,954,593

 

 

11,486,817

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Capitalization

$

38,995,906

 

 

$

38,241,256

 

The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information to shareholders about Eversource Energy and Subsidiaries and is not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with any purchase or sale of securities.

EVERSOURCE ENERGY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

(Thousands of Dollars, Except Share Information)

2019

 

2018

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$

1,884,495

 

 

$

1,853,856

 

 

$

4,300,287

 

 

$

4,141,818

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased Power, Fuel and Transmission

620,904

 

 

653,915

 

 

1,595,786

 

 

1,600,662

 

Operations and Maintenance

328,010

 

 

293,858

 

 

663,606

 

 

626,406

 

Depreciation

219,084

 

 

199,140

 

 

434,032

 

 

403,406

 

Amortization

38,945

 

 

36,203

 

 

109,906

 

 

81,397

 

Energy Efficiency Programs

105,837

 

 

101,955

 

 

245,953

 

 

236,196

 

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes

181,083

 

 

177,431

 

 

365,672

 

 

359,865

 

Impairment of Northern Pass Transmission

239,644

 

 

 

 

239,644

 

 

 

Total Operating Expenses

1,733,507

 

 

1,462,502

 

 

3,654,599

 

 

3,307,932

 

Operating Income

150,988

 

 

391,354

 

 

645,688

 

 

833,886

 

Interest Expense

132,705

 

 

126,404

 

 

264,438

 

 

247,533

 

Other Income, Net

45,866

 

 

50,149

 

 

76,850

 

 

83,938

 

Income Before Income Tax Expense

64,149

 

 

315,099

 

 

458,100

 

 

670,291

 

Income Tax Expense

30,815

 

 

70,452

 

 

114,209

 

 

154,219

 

Net Income

33,334

 

 

244,647

 

 

343,891

 

 

516,072

 

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

1,880

 

 

1,880

 

 

3,759

 

 

3,759

 

Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders

$

31,454

 

 

$

242,767

 

 

$

340,132

 

 

$

512,313

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.76

 

 

$

1.07

 

 

$

1.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

319,664,998

 

 

317,344,596

 

 

318,644,796

 

 

317,370,825

 

Diluted

320,388,490

 

 

317,885,187

 

 

319,352,287

 

 

317,939,094

 

The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information to shareholders about Eversource Energy and Subsidiaries and is not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with any purchase or sale of securities.

Contacts

Jeffrey R. Kotkin
(860) 665-5154

Release Summary

Eversource reported earnings of $31.5 million in the second quarter, including a $204.4 million first half charge related to Northern Pass.

Contacts

Jeffrey R. Kotkin
(860) 665-5154