* Commodities Unit Drives Record Earnings * Company Raises 2007 Earnings-Per-Share Guidance to Range of $3.75 to $3.95
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) today reported 2006 net income of $1.4 billion, or $5.38 per diluted share, an increase of 53 percent over $920 million, or $3.65 per diluted share, in 2005.
Included in 2006 results was $315 million in after-tax income from discontinued operations related to asset sales. In 2005, Sempra Energy incurred $311 million after-tax in litigation expense related to the Western U.S. energy crisis of 2000-01.
For the full-year 2006, income from continuing operations -- excluding a $204 million gain on the sale of the jointly owned Texas power plants and a $221 million write-down on the company's Argentine investments -- was $1.1 billion, or $4.24 per diluted share, up 21 percent from $913 million, or $3.62 per diluted share in 2005.
Sempra Energy's fourth-quarter net income was $125 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, in 2006, compared with $355 million, or $1.38 per diluted share, in 2005.
Fourth-quarter results included the charge related to the Argentine utilities. In the year-earlier quarter, the company recorded an after-tax charge of $116 million for energy-crisis litigation costs.
"This was our eighth consecutive year of record earnings," said Donald E. Felsinger, chairman and chief executive officer of Sempra Energy. "We are benefiting from a focused strategy. Building natural gas infrastructure in North America and expanding our California utilities remain our top priorities."
Sempra Energy's board of directors last week increased the dividend on common shares on an annualized basis to $1.24 per share from $1.20 per share.
Revenues for Sempra Energy in 2006 were $11.8 billion, compared with $11.5 billion in 2005. Fourth-quarter 2006 revenues were $3.2 billion, compared with $3.9 billion in the prior year's quarter, due primarily to reduced commodity prices.
SUBSIDIARY OPERATING RESULTS
Sempra Utilities
Net income for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) was $237 million in 2006, compared with $262 million in 2005. SDG&E's fourth-quarter 2006 net income was $55 million, compared with net income of $72 million in the fourth quarter 2005. The change in net income for the quarter and full year was due primarily to the positive effect in 2005 of demand-side-management incentives and favorable resolution of prior-years' tax and regulatory issues, offset by higher net income from electric generation in 2006, including the addition of the new Palomar generating facility.
Net income for Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) was $223 million in 2006, compared with $211 million in the prior year. The improvement from the prior year was due primarily to energy-crisis litigation expense in 2005, offset by the favorable resolution of tax and regulatory issues. SoCalGas' fourth-quarter net income was $55 million in 2006, up from $48 million in the previous year.
Sempra Commodities
Sempra Commodities' 2006 net income rose to $504 million from $460 million in 2005, due to improved results in the natural gas and base metals businesses. Fourth-quarter net income for Sempra Commodities was $214 million in 2006, compared with $244 million in the prior-year quarter, due to reduced margins in petroleum and power marketing.
"Energy markets remain volatile and we do not see this volatility moderating in the near future," said Felsinger. "Sempra Commodities continues to excel in this environment, offering customers help in managing their commodity risks."
Sempra Generation
Sempra Generation's net income in 2006 was $375 million, compared with 2005 net income of $149 million. The company's 2006 net income included $204 million from the sale of its jointly owned Texas power plants. Fourth-quarter 2006 net income for Sempra Generation was $53 million, compared with $58 million in 2005.
In 2006, Sempra Generation completed the sale of several assets that were recorded as discontinued operations, including the Twin Oaks power plant, its oil and gas production unit, and its energy-services and facilities-management operations.
Sempra Pipelines & Storage
Sempra Pipelines & Storage recorded a net loss of $165 million in 2006, compared with net income of $64 million in 2005. In the fourth quarter 2006, Sempra Pipelines & Storage recorded a net loss of $223 million, compared with $16 million in net income during the same quarter in 2005. Both the quarter and full-year results for Sempra Pipelines & Storage were impacted by the company's write-down on its Argentine investments.
Sempra LNG
Sempra LNG recorded a net loss of $42 million in 2006, compared with a net loss of $25 million in the prior year, due to a $13 million mark-to-market loss related to a natural gas marketing agreement with Sempra Commodities and higher development costs. For the fourth quarter, Sempra LNG's 2006 net loss was $7 million, compared with a net loss of $10 million in 2005.
2007 Earnings Outlook
Sempra Energy today updated its 2007 earnings-per-share guidance to a range of $3.75 to $3.95 from previous guidance of $3.50 to $3.70.
Internet Broadcast
Sempra Energy will broadcast a live discussion of its earnings results over the Internet today at 1 p.m. EST 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 (888) 203-1112 and entering the passcode, 8288064.
Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2006 revenues of nearly $12 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/4Q2006.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 environmental and 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 and liquefied 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 (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) Three months ended Years ended December 31, December 31, ----------------- ----------------- 2006 2005 2006 2005 ------------------------------------------------- ----------------- (Unaudited) Operating revenues Sempra Utilities $ 1,709 $ 2,259 $ 6,899 $ 7,042 Sempra Global and parent 1,536 1,673 4,862 4,470 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total operating revenues 3,245 3,932 11,761 11,512 ------- ------- ------- ------- Operating expenses Sempra Utilities: Cost of natural gas 679 1,172 2,756 3,232 Cost of electric fuel and purchased power 155 187 721 624 Other cost of sales 753 792 2,689 2,588 Litigation expense 13 210 56 551 Other operating expenses 838 839 2,814 2,583 Depreciation and amortization 166 160 657 626 Franchise fees and other taxes 67 65 275 246 Gains on sale of assets, net (2) (8) (1) (112) Impairment losses 6 71 9 85 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total operating expenses 2,675 3,488 9,976 10,423 ------- ------- ------- ------- Operating income 570 444 1,785 1,089 Other income, net 6 27 381 51 Interest income 36 22 109 72 Interest expense (78) (90) (351) (310) Preferred dividends of subsidiaries (3) (3) (10) (10) ------- ------- ------- ------- Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries 531 400 1,914 892 Income tax expense 180 56 641 34 Equity in earnings (losses) of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries (222) 13 (182) 55 ------- ------- ------- ------- Income from continuing operations 129 357 1,091 913 Discontinued operations, net of income tax (4) (2) 315 7 ------- ------- ------- ------- Net income $ 125 $ 355 $ 1,406 $ 920 ======= ======= ======= ======= Basic earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.50 $ 1.41 $ 4.25 $ 3.71 Discontinued operations, net of income tax (0.02) (0.01) 1.23 0.03 ------- ------- ------- ------- Net income $ 0.48 $ 1.40 $ 5.48 $ 3.74 ======= ======= ======= ======= Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (thousands) 258,385 253,516 256,477 245,906 ======= ======= ======= ======= Diluted earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.49 $ 1.39 $ 4.17 $ 3.62 Discontinued operations, net of income tax (0.02) (0.01) 1.21 0.03 ------- ------- ------- ------- Net income $ 0.47 $ 1.38 $ 5.38 $ 3.65 ======= ======= ======= ======= Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (thousands) 263,429 257,845 261,368 252,088 ======= ======= ======= ======= Dividends declared per share of common stock $ 0.30 $ 0.29 $ 1.20 $ 1.16 ======= ======= ======= ======= As a result of the decisions in 2006 to dispose of the Twin Oaks power plant, Sempra Energy Production Company, and the Energy Services and Facilities Management businesses, all within Sempra Generation, and Bangor Gas and Frontier Energy, both within Sempra Pipelines & Storage, these operations have been reflected above as discontinued operations in all periods presented. SEMPRA ENERGY Table B CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in millions) December 31, 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 920 $ 769 Restricted cash 4 12 Accounts receivable 1,035 1,145 Deferred income taxes 270 134 Interest receivable 40 29 Trading-related receivables and deposits, net 3,047 3,370 Derivative trading instruments 4,068 4,502 Commodities owned 1,845 2,498 Inventories 215 205 Regulatory assets 193 255 Other 317 297 ------- ------- Current assets of continuing operations 11,954 13,216 Current assets of discontinued operations 62 611 ------- ------- Total current assets 12,016 13,827 ------- ------- Investments and other assets: Due from unconsolidated affiliates -- 21 Regulatory assets arising from fixed-price contracts and other derivatives 353 398 Regulatory assets arising from pension and other postretirement benefit obligations 356 213 Other regulatory assets 472 500 Nuclear decommissioning trusts 702 638 Investments 1,086 1,091 Sundry 789 802 ------- ------- Total investments and other assets 3,758 3,663 ------- ------- Property, plant and equipment, net 13,175 11,756 ------- ------- Total assets $28,949 $29,246 ======= ======= Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Short-term debt $ 252 $ 1,043 Accounts payable 1,587 1,394 Income taxes payable 9 86 Trading-related payables 3,211 4,127 Derivative trading instruments 2,304 3,246 Commodities sold with agreement to repurchase 537 634 Dividends and interest payable 145 140 Regulatory balancing accounts, net 332 192 Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives 87 130 Current portion of long-term debt 681 98 Other 1,197 1,012 ------- ------- Current liabilities of continuing operations 10,342 12,102 Current liabilities of discontinued operations 7 151 ------- ------- Total current liabilities 10,349 12,253 ------- ------- Long-term debt 4,525 4,815 ------- ------- Deferred credits and other liabilities: Due to unconsolidated affiliate 162 162 Customer advances for construction 126 110 Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, net of plan assets 609 391 Deferred income taxes 412 214 Deferred investment tax credits 67 73 Regulatory liabilities arising from removal obligations 2,330 2,313 Asset retirement obligations 1,128 958 Other regulatory liabilities 221 200 Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives 358 400 Deferred credits and other 972 1,018 ------- ------- Total deferred credits and other liabilities 6,385 5,839 ------- ------- Preferred stock of subsidiaries 179 179 ------- ------- Shareholders' equity 7,511 6,160 ------- ------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $28,949 $29,246 ======= ======= As a result of the decisions in 2006 to dispose of the Twin Oaks power plant, Sempra Energy Production Company, and the Energy Services and Facilities Management businesses, all within Sempra Generation, and Bangor Gas and Frontier Energy, both within Sempra Pipelines & Storage, these operations have been reflected above as discontinued operations in all periods presented. SEMPRA ENERGY Table C CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (Dollars in millions) Years ended December 31, ---------------------- 2006 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Income from continuing operations $ 1,091 $ 913 Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 657 626 Gains on sale of assets, net (1) (112) Impairment losses 9 85 Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits 77 (298) Non-cash rate reduction bond expense 60 68 Equity in income of unconsolidated subsidiaries (156) (66) Other 38 (6) Quasi-reorganization resolution 12 -- Net changes in other working capital components (183) (1,196) Changes in other assets 20 21 Changes in other liabilities 42 458 ------- ------- Net cash provided by continuing operations 1,666 493 Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations (37) 31 ------- ------- Net cash provided by operating activities 1,629 524 ------- ------- Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (1,907) (1,377) Proceeds from sale of assets from continuing operations 40 277 Expenditures for investments and acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired (257) (86) Distribution from investment 104 -- Purchases of nuclear decommissioning and other trust assets (546) (299) Proceeds from sales by nuclear decommissioning and other trusts 503 262 Dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates 431 73 Other (27) (12) ------- ------- Net cash used in continuing operations (1,659) (1,162) Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations 793 (25) ------- ------- Net cash used in investing activities (866) (1,187) ------- ------- Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Common dividends paid (283) (268) Issuances of common stock 97 694 Repurchases of common stock (37) (95) Issuances of long-term debt 552 762 Payments on long-term debt (263) (529) Redemption of mandatorily redeemable preferred securities -- (200) Increase (decrease) in short-term debt, net (791) 659 Financing transaction related to Sempra Financial 83 -- Other 28 (6) ------- ------- Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations (614) 1,017 Net cash provided by discontinued operations 2 -- ------- ------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (612) 1,017 ------- ------- Increase in cash and cash equivalents 151 354 Cash and cash equivalents, January 1 769 415 ------- ------- Cash and cash equivalents, December 31 $ 920 $ 769 ======= ======= As a result of the decisions in 2006 to dispose of the Twin Oaks power plant, Sempra Energy Production Company, and the Energy Services and Facilities Management businesses, all within Sempra Generation, and Bangor Gas and Frontier Energy, both within Sempra Pipelines & Storage, these operations have been reflected above as discontinued operations in all periods presented. SEMPRA ENERGY Table D BUSINESS UNIT EARNINGS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES & INVESTMENTS (Dollars in millions) Three months ended Years ended December 31, December 31, ----------------- ----------------- 2006 2005 2006 2005 ------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Net Income (unaudited) Sempra Utilities: San Diego Gas & Electric $ 55 $ 72 $ 237 $ 262 Southern California Gas 55 48 223 211 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Sempra Utilities 110 120 460 473 Sempra Global: Sempra Commodities 214 244 504 460 Sempra Generation* 53 58 375 149 Sempra Pipelines & Storage* (223) 16 (165) 64 Sempra LNG (7) (10) (42) (25) ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Sempra Global 37 308 672 648 Parent & Other (18) (71) (41) (208) ------- ------- ------- ------- Continuing Operations 129 357 1,091 913 Discontinued Operations, Net of Income Tax (4) (2) 315 7 ------- ------- ------- ------- Consolidated Net Income $ 125 $ 355 $ 1,406 $ 920 ======= ======= ======= ======= * Excludes amounts now classified as discontinued operations. Three months ended Years ended December 31, December 31, --------------- ----------------- (Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital Expenditures and Investments (unaudited) Sempra Utilities: San Diego Gas & Electric $ 190 $ 122 $ 1,070 $ 464 Southern California Gas 129 116 413 361 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Sempra Utilities 319 238 1,483 825 ------- ------- ------- ------- Sempra Global: Sempra Commodities 10 11 53 72 Sempra Generation 3 36 40 229 Sempra Pipelines & Storage 202 8 414 18 Sempra LNG 153 137 619 293 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Sempra Global 368 192 1,126 612 ------- ------- ------- ------- Parent & Other (includes transfer of Palomar) 10 13 (445) 26 ------- ------- ------- ------- Consolidated Capital Expenditures and Investments $ 697 $ 443 $ 2,164 $ 1,463 ======= ======= ======= ======= As a result of the decisions in 2006 to dispose of the Twin Oaks power plant, Sempra Energy Production Company, and the Energy Services and Facilities Management businesses, all within Sempra Generation, and Bangor Gas and Frontier Energy, both within Sempra Pipelines & Storage, these operations have been reflected above as discontinued operations in all periods presented. SEMPRA ENERGY Table E OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS (Unaudited) Three months ended Years ended December 31, December 31, ------------------------------------- SEMPRA UTILITIES 2006 2005 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues (Dollars in millions) SDG&E (excludes intercompany sales) $ 692 $ 746 $ 2,770 $ 2,493 SoCalGas (excludes intercompany sales) $ 1,017 $ 1,513 $ 4,129 $ 4,549 Gas Sales (bcf) 110 105 402 395 Transportation and Exchange (bcf) 127 113 546 494 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Deliveries (bcf) 237 218 948 889 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Gas Customers (Thousands) -- -- 6,468 6,383 Electric Sales (Millions of kWhs) 3,939 4,002 16,836 15,990 Direct Access (Millions of kWhs) 821 720 3,390 3,213 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Deliveries (Millions of kWhs) 4,760 4,722 20,226 19,203 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Electric Customers (Thousands) -- -- 1,355 1,338 SEMPRA GENERATION ------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Power Sold (Millions of kWhs) 5,706 4,932(a) 19,760 17,063(a) (a) Revised to exclude the Twin Oaks, Coleto Creek and Topaz power plants. SEMPRA PIPELINES & STORAGE (Represents 100% of these subsidiaries, although only the Mexican subsidiaries are 100% owned by Sempra Energy.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Natural Gas Sales (bcf) Argentina 70 62 278 272 Mexico 10 9 44 42 Chile -- 1 2 3 Natural Gas Customers (Thousands) Argentina -- -- 1,542 1,495 Mexico -- -- 101 98 Chile -- -- 39 38 Electric Sales (Millions of kWhs) Peru 1,620 1,113 5,108 4,298 Chile 762 537 2,324 2,289 Electric Customers (Thousands) Peru -- -- 788 767 Chile -- -- 534 521 SEMPRA COMMODITIES -------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended Years ended December 31, December 31, Margin* ----------------- ----------------- (Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 2006 2005 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------- Geographical: North America $ 474 $ 543 $1,313 $1,091 Europe/Asia 173 142 325 255 ----------------- ----------------- Total $ 647 $ 685 $1,638 $1,346 ----------------- ----------------- Product Line: Gas $ 362 $ 317 $ 792 $ 439 Power 104 209 431 443 Oil - Crude & Products 85 132 198 292 Metals 60 12 138 54 Other 36 15 79 118 ----------------- ----------------- Total $ 647 $ 685 $1,638 $1,346 ----------------- ----------------- * 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 Years ended December 31, December 31, Effect of EITF 02-03 ----------------- ----------------- (Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 2006 2005 ---------------------------------------------- ----------------- Mark-to-Market Earnings** $ 158 $ 209 $ 487 $ 491 Effect of EITF 02-03*** 56 35 17 (31) ----------------- ----------------- GAAP Net Income $ 214 $ 244 $ 504 $ 460 ----------------- ----------------- ** Represents earnings from 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. *** Consists of the income statement effect of not recognizing changes in the fair market value of certain physical inventories, capacity contracts for transportation and storage and derivative hedging activities related to Section 29 tax credits. Fair Scheduled Maturity Net Unrealized Market Value (in months) Revenue December 31, ----------------------------- (Dollars in millions) 2006 0-12 13-24 25-36 gt. 36 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sources of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Fair Value: Prices actively quoted $1,746 $959 $575 $ 47 $165 Prices provided by other external sources 28 (6) -- 2 32 Prices based on models and other valuation methods (16) -- -- -- (16) ---------------------------------------- Total OTC Fair Value(a) 1,758 953 575 49 181 ----------------------------- Maturity of OTC Fair Value - Cumulative Percentages 54.2% 86.9% 89.7% 100.0% ----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Exchange Contracts (b) 155 412 (188) 55 (124) ---------------------------------------- Total Net Unrealized Revenue at December 31, 2006 $1,913 $1,365 $387 $104 $ 57 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Net Unrealized Revenue - Cumulative Percentages 71.4% 91.6% 97.0% 100.0% ------------------------------- (a) The present value of unrealized revenue to be received or (paid) from outstanding OTC contracts (b) Cash received or (paid) associated with open Exchange Contracts December 31, Credit Quality of Unrealized ---------------------------- Trading Assets (net of margin) 2006 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity Exchanges 13% 2% Investment Grade 57% 75% Below Investment Grade 30% 23% Three months ended Years ended Risk Adjusted Performance December 31, December 31, Indicators --------------- --------------- (Mark-to-Market Basis) 2006 2005 2006 2005 ------------------------------------------------- --------------- VaR at 95% (Dollars in millions)(a) $17.3 $14.2 $16.2 $11.3 VaR at 99% (Dollars in millions)(b) $24.3 $20.0 $22.8 $15.9 Risk Adjusted Return on Capital (RAROC)(c) 37% 61% 34% 44% (a) Average Daily Value-at-Risk for the period using a 95% confidence level (b) Average Daily Value-at-Risk for the period using a 99% confidence level (c) Average Daily Trading Margin/Average Daily VaR at 95% confidence level Physical Statistics ------------------------------------------------- --------------- Natural Gas (bcf/Day) 12.2 12.1 12.0 11.7 Electric (Billions of kWhs) 125.5 112.4 475.5 413.2 Oil & Liquid Products (Millions Bbls/Day) 0.7 1.4 0.7 1.0