SAN DIEGO, May 2, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Sempra Energy today reported first-quarter 2006 net income of $255 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, up 14 percent over first-quarter 2005 net income of $223 million, or $0.92 per diluted share. First-quarter 2005 results included $59 million in net income related to the favorable resolution of federal and state income-tax issues from prior years.
Revenues in the first quarter 2006 were $3.3 billion, compared with $2.7 billion in the year-ago period.
"Our Commodities group drove our strong first-quarter results," said Donald E. Felsinger, chairman and chief executive officer of Sempra Energy. "We are pleased with our 52-percent increase in operating income during the quarter and are off to a solid start to meet our previously announced guidance for the year of $3.40 to $3.60 per share."
Sempra Generation recently announced the sale of its two coal-fired power plants in Texas, the jointly owned, 632-megawatt (MW) Coleto Creek Power facility and 305-MW Twin Oaks plant. Coleto Creek Power is being sold for $1.14 billion -- the highest price paid for a U.S. coal-fired power plant in more than a decade -- to International Power plc. Sempra Generation and its partner, Riverstone Holdings, acquired Coleto Creek for $430 million in July 2004. Last month, Sempra Generation completed the sale of Twin Oaks to PNM Resources, Inc., for $480 million in cash. The plant was acquired by Sempra Generation in November 2002 for $120 million. During the first quarter 2006, Sempra Generation also entered into agreements to sell its businesses in energy-facilities management and energy-performance contracting.
"Our strategy is focused on developing natural gas infrastructure, primarily in our non-utility businesses, and expanding the energy-delivery capabilities of our California utilities," Felsinger said. "We are repositioning our portfolio, divesting some assets that are not core to this strategy. Through these asset sales, we expect to generate more than $1 billion in pre-tax proceeds to help fund our ongoing investments."
SUBSIDIARY OPERATING RESULTS
Sempra Utilities
First-quarter net income for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) was $47 million in 2006, compared with $59 million in 2005, due primarily to the favorable resolution of tax issues in the prior-year's quarter.
Net income for Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) in the first quarter 2006 was $49 million, compared with $69 million in the year-ago period. In the first quarter 2005, SoCalGas benefited from favorable adjustments related to a California Public Utilities Commission ratemaking decision and favorable resolution of tax issues.
At the end of the first quarter 2006, SDG&E assumed ownership and operation of the 550-MW Palomar Energy Center in Escondido, Calif., the first major power plant built in San Diego County in more than 30 years.
Sempra Commodities
Sempra Commodities recorded $116 million in net income during the first quarter 2006, a 300-percent increase over first-quarter 2005 net income of $29 million. The sharp increase was due primarily to stronger natural gas and power marketing in North America.
"In the first quarter, Sempra Commodities continued a performance trend over the past nine months of outstanding results," Felsinger said.
Sempra Generation
First-quarter net income for Sempra Generation was $43 million in 2006, compared with $45 million in 2005, due primarily to a $15 million after-tax charge taken for an arbitration decision related to Sempra Generation's electricity-supply contract with the California Department of Water Resources. The charge was offset by gains related to the transfer of Palomar Energy to SDG&E during the quarter.
Sempra Pipelines & Storage
Sempra Pipelines & Storage had net income of $11 million in the first quarter 2006, compared with $13 million in the same quarter a year ago.
During the most recent quarter, Sempra Pipelines & Storage and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners announced that they have secured binding commitments from natural gas shippers for the entire capacity of the Rockies Express Pipeline project. The $4.4 billion, 1,323-mile pipeline will connect natural gas supply basins in the Rocky Mountain region to the eastern United States, transporting 1.8 billion cubic feet of gas per day when the project is completed in 2009. Sempra Pipelines & Storage currently owns one-third of the project.
Sempra LNG
Sempra LNG recorded a net loss of $5 million during the first quarter 2006, unchanged from the previous year.
In the first quarter 2006, Sempra LNG announced an open season to gauge market interest in an expansion of Energia Costa Azul, the company's liquefied natural gas (LNG) receipt terminal under construction in Baja California, Mexico. The terminal is more than 30-percent complete and, when operational in early 2008, it will be the first LNG receipt facility on the west coast of North America.
INTERNET BROADCAST
Sempra Energy will broadcast a live discussion of its earnings results over the Internet today at 1 p.m. Eastern Time with senior management of the company. Access is available by logging onto the Web site at www.sempra.com. For those unable to log onto the live webcast, the teleconference will be available on replay a few hours after its conclusion by dialing (706) 645-9291 and entering passcode 7944055.
Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2005 revenues of $11.7 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 14,000 employees serve more than 29 million consumers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and Asia.
Income-statement information by business unit is available on Sempra Energy's Web site at http://www.sempra.com/downloads/1Q2006_Table_All.pdf.
This press release contains statements that are not historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When the company uses words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "may," "would," "should" or similar expressions, or when the company discusses its strategy or plans, the company is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including, among others: local, regional, national and international economic, competitive, political, legislative and regulatory conditions and developments; actions by the California Public Utilities Commission, the California State Legislature, the California Department of Water Resources, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other regulatory bodies in the United States and other countries; capital markets conditions, inflation rates, interest rates and exchange rates; energy and trading markets, including the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices; the availability of natural gas; weather conditions and conservation efforts; war and terrorist attacks; business, regulatory, environmental, and legal decisions and requirements; the status of deregulation of retail natural gas and electricity delivery; the timing and success of business development efforts; the resolution of litigation; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the company. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are available through the EDGAR system without charge at its Web site, www.sec.gov and on the company's Web site, www.sempra.com.
Sempra LNG and Sempra Pipelines & Storage are not the same companies as the utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, and are not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. Sempra Energy Trading, doing business as Sempra Commodities, and Sempra Generation are not the same companies as the utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, and the California Public Utilities Commission does not regulate the terms of their products and services.
SEMPRA ENERGY Table A STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME Three months ended March 31, (Dollars in millions, ------------------------ except per share amounts) 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) Operating revenues California utilities $ 2,128 $ 1,827 Sempra Global and parent 1,221 828 --------- --------- Total operating revenues 3,349 2,655 --------- --------- Operating expenses California utilities: Cost of natural gas 1,130 913 Cost of electric fuel and purchased power 210 145 Other cost of sales 679 560 Litigation expense 33 8 Other operating expenses 643 528 Depreciation and amortization 159 158 Franchise fees and other taxes 77 68 Impairment losses 2 1 --------- --------- Total operating expenses 2,933 2,381 --------- --------- Operating income 416 274 Other income, net 4 10 Interest income 14 10 Interest expense (96) (74) Preferred dividends of subsidiaries (2) (2) --------- --------- Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries 336 218 Income tax expense 110 7 Equity in earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries 10 10 --------- --------- Income from continuing operations 236 221 Discontinued operations, net of income tax 19 2 --------- --------- Net income $ 255 $ 223 ========= ========= Basic earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.93 $ 0.95 Discontinued operations, net of tax 0.07 0.01 --------- --------- Net income $ 1.00 $ 0.96 ========= ========= Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (thousands) 254,257 232,939 ========= ========= Diluted earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.91 $ 0.91 Discontinued operations, net of tax 0.07 0.01 --------- --------- Net income $ 0.98 $ 0.92 ========= ========= Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (thousands) 259,251 241,105 ========= ========= Dividends declared per share of common stock $ 0.30 $ 0.29 ========= ========= The statements above reflect the decision in the first quarter of 2006 to dispose of the Twin Oaks power plant and the Energy Services and Facilities Management businesses within Sempra Generation. SEMPRA ENERGY Table B CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS March 31, December 31, (Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 650 $ 770 Short-term investments 4 12 Accounts receivable 1,091 1,143 Due from unconsolidated affiliates 8 3 Deferred income taxes 173 134 Interest receivable 32 29 Trading-related receivables and deposits, net 2,809 3,370 Derivative trading instruments 4,265 4,502 Commodities owned 2,106 2,498 Regulatory assets 249 255 Inventories 98 206 Other 212 285 ------- ------- Current assets of continuing operations 11,697 13,207 Current assets of discontinued operations 391 454 ------- ------- Total current assets 12,088 13,661 ------- ------- Investments and other assets: Due from unconsolidated affiliates 21 21 Regulatory assets arising from fixed-price contracts and other derivatives 389 398 Other regulatory assets 711 713 Nuclear decommissioning trusts 654 638 Investments 1,201 1,102 Sundry 817 802 ------- ------- Total investments and other assets 3,793 3,674 ------- ------- Property, plant and equipment, net 12,169 11,881 ------- ------- Total assets $28,050 $29,216 ======= ======= Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Short-term debt $ 673 $ 1,043 Accounts payable 989 1,396 Income taxes payable 195 69 Trading-related payables 3,297 4,127 Derivative trading instruments 3,210 3,246 Commodities sold with agreement to repurchase 432 634 Dividends and interest payable 151 140 Regulatory balancing accounts, net 406 192 Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives 126 130 Current portion of long-term debt 89 98 Other 1,005 1,012 ------- ------- Current liabilities of continuing operations 10,573 12,087 Current liabilities of discontinued operations 143 131 ------- ------- Total current liabilities 10,716 12,218 ------- ------- Long-term debt 4,778 4,815 ------- ------- Deferred credits and other liabilities: Due to unconsolidated affiliate 162 162 Customer advances for construction 116 110 Postretirement benefits other than pensions 119 121 Deferred income taxes 223 219 Deferred investment tax credits 71 73 Regulatory liabilities arising from removal obligations 2,343 2,313 Asset retirement obligations 972 958 Other regulatory liabilities 206 200 Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives 398 400 Deferred credits and other 1,284 1,288 ------- ------- Total deferred credits and other liabilities 5,894 5,844 ------- ------- Preferred stock of subsidiaries 179 179 ------- ------- Shareholders' equity 6,483 6,160 ------- ------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $28,050 $29,216 ======= ======= The statements above reflect the decision in the first quarter of 2006 to dispose of the Twin Oaks power plant and the Energy Services and Facilities Management businesses within Sempra Generation. SEMPRA ENERGY Table C CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS Three months ended March 31, ------------------ (Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net income $ 255 $ 223 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 159 161 Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (43) (68) Accretion of interest 7 -- Other 23 3 Net changes in other working capital components 384 394 Changes in other assets 64 2 Changes in other liabilities 6 (3) ----- ----- Net cash provided by operating activities 855 712 ----- ----- Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (420) (269) Proceeds from sale of assets 24 11 Investments in subsidiaries (103) (1) Purchases of nuclear decommissioning and other trust assets (122) (84) Proceeds from sales by nuclear decommissioning and other trusts 116 88 Dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates -- 2 Other (1) 14 ----- ----- Net cash used in investing activities (506) (239) ----- ----- Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Common dividends paid (65) (50) Issuances of common stock 17 90 Repurchases of common stock (12) (6) Redemption of mandatorily redeemable preferred securities -- (200) Payments on long-term debt (45) (50) Decrease in short-term debt, net (366) (64) Other 2 (3) ----- ----- Net cash used in financing activities (469) (283) ----- ----- Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (120) 190 Cash and cash equivalents, January 1 770 416 ----- ----- Cash and cash equivalents, March 31 $ 650 $ 606 ===== ===== SEMPRA ENERGY Table D BUSINESS UNIT EARNINGS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES & INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, -------------------- (Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income California Utilities: San Diego Gas & Electric $ 47 $ 59 Southern California Gas 49 69 ----- ----- Total California Utilities 96 128 ----- ----- Sempra Global: Sempra Commodities 116 29 Sempra Generation 43 45 Sempra Pipelines & Storage 11 13 Sempra LNG (5) (5) ----- ----- Total Sempra Global 165 82 ----- ----- Sempra Financial 5 4 Parent & Other (30) 7 ----- ----- Continuing Operations 236 221 Discontinued Operations 19 2 ----- ----- Consolidated Net Income $ 255 $ 223 ===== ===== The statements above reflect the decision in the first quarter of 2006 to dispose of the Twin Oaks power plant and the Energy Services and Facilities Management businesses within Sempra Generation. Three months ended March 31, ------------------ (Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital Expenditures and Investments California Utilities: San Diego Gas & Electric $ 583 $ 94 Southern California Gas 97 63 ----- ----- Total California Utilities 680 157 ----- ----- Sempra Global: Sempra Generation 34 49 Sempra Commodities 20 13 Sempra Pipelines & Storage 105 4 Sempra LNG 152 45 ----- ----- Total Sempra Global 311 111 ----- ----- Parent & Other (468)(a) 2 ----- ----- Consolidated Capital Expenditures and Investments $ 523 $ 270 ===== ===== (a) Reflects the transfer of the Palomar plant to SDG&E from Sempra Generation. SEMPRA ENERGY Table E OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, --------------------- CALIFORNIA UTILITIES 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues (Dollars in millions) SDG&E (excludes intercompany sales) $ 718 $ 616 SoCalGas (excludes intercompany sales) $1,410 $1,211 Gas Sales (Bcf) 141 137 Transportation and Exchange (Bcf) 122 122 ------ ------ Total Deliveries (Bcf) 263 259 ------ ------ Total Gas Customers (Thousands) 6,406 6,316 Electric Sales (Millions of kWhs) 4,043 3,906 Direct Access (Millions of kWhs) 898 820 ------ ------ Total Deliveries (Millions of kWhs) 4,941 4,726 ------ ------ Total Electric Customers (Thousands) 1,342 1,323 SEMPRA GENERATION --------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Sold (Millions of kWhs) 5,750 4,989(a) (a) Revised to exclude the Twin Oaks power plant as a discontinued operation. SEMPRA PIPELINES & STORAGE (Represents 100% of these subsidiaries, although only the Mexican subsidiaries are 100% owned by Sempra Energy). --------------------------------------------------------------------- Natural Gas Sales (Bcf) Argentina 52 51 Mexico 10 10 Chile 1 1 Natural Gas Customers (Thousands) Argentina 1,511 1,459 Mexico 99 97 Chile 38 38 Electric Sales (Millions of kWhs) Peru 1,165 1,052 Chile 614 733 Electric Customers (Thousands) Peru 772 753 Chile 525 512 ------ ------ SEMPRA ENERGY Table E (Continued) SEMPRA COMMODITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31, ------------------------ Margin (a) (Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Geographical: North America $359 $125 Europe/Asia 6 29 ------------------------ Total $365 $154 ------------------------ Product Line: Gas $179 $(15) Power 101 42 Oil - Crude & Products 53 80 Metals 27 14 Other 5 33 ------------------------ Total $365 $154 ------------------------ (a) Margin consists of net revenues less related costs (primarily brokerage, transportation and storage) plus or minus net interest expense/income, and is used by management in evaluating its geographical and product line performance. Three months ended March 31, ------------------------ Effect of EITF 02-03 (Dollars in 2006 2005 millions) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark-to-Market Earnings (b) $160 $ 52 Effect of EITF 02-03 (c) (44) (23) ------------------------ GAAP Net Income $116 $ 29 ------------------------ (b) Represents the fair market value of all commodities transactions. This metric is a useful measurement of profitability because it simultaneously recognizes changes in the various components of transactions and reflects how the business is managed. (c) Consists of the income statement effect of not recognizing changes in the fair market value of certain physical inventories and capacity contracts for transportation and storage. Net Unrealized Revenue (Dollars in millions) Fair Market Value Scheduled Maturity (in months) March 31, ------------------------------ 2006 0-12 13-24 25-36 More Than 36 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sources of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Fair Value: Prices actively quoted $ 978 $ 185 $ 316 $ 397 $ 80 Prices provided by other external sources 51 (1) 1 (1) 52 Prices based on models and other valuation methods (9) -- -- -- (9) --------------------------------------- Total OTC Fair Value (d) 1,020 184 317 396 123 --------------------------------------- Maturity of OTC Fair Value - Cumulative Percentages 18.0% 49.1% 87.9% 100.0% --------------------------------------- Exchange Contracts (e) 223 501 (112) (145) (21) --------------------------------------- Total Net Unrealized Revenue at March 31, 2006 $1,243 $ 685 $ 205 $ 251 $ 102 --------------------------------------- Net Unrealized Revenue - Cumulative Percentages 55.1% 71.6% 91.8% 100.0% --------------------------------------- (d) The present value of unrealized revenue to be received or (paid) from outstanding OTC contracts (e) Cash received or (paid) associated with open Exchange Contracts Credit Quality of Unrealized March 31, December 31, Trading Assets (net of margin) 2006 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity Exchanges 5% 2% Investment Grade 69% 75% Below Investment Grade 26% 23% Three months ended March 31, Risk Adjusted Performance Indicators (Mark-to-Market Basis) 2006 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------- VaR at 95% (Dollars in millions) (f) $ 22.0 $ 8.5 VaR at 99% (Dollars in millions) (g) $ 31.1 $ 11.9 Risk Adjusted Return on Capital (RAROC) (h) 37% 38% (f) Average Daily Value-at-Risk for the period using a 95% confidence level (g) Average Daily Value-at-Risk for the period using a 99% confidence level (h) Average Daily Trading Margin/Average Daily VaR at 95% confidence level Physical Statistics -------------------------------------------------------------------- Natural Gas (BCF/Day) 12.6 12.2 Electric (Billions of kWhs) 114.9 107.8 Oil & Liquid Products (Millions Bbls/Day) 0.7 0.9