Sempra Energy Reports Higher First-Quarter 2014 Earnings
- Company Reaffirms 2014 Earnings-per-Share Guidance of $4.25 to $4.55
- Cameron LNG Export Project Completes Federal Environmental Review

SAN DIEGO, May 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) today reported first-quarter 2014 earnings of $247 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, compared with first-quarter 2013 earnings of $178 million, or $0.72 per diluted share.

Excluding a $9 million after-tax charge related to the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), Sempra Energy's adjusted earnings were $256 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2014. 

"We are seeing year-over-year earnings growth consistent with our expectations," said Debra L. Reed, chairman and CEO of Sempra Energy.  "We are on track to meet our 2014 earnings guidance.  Our Cameron LNG liquefaction-export project continues to make strong progress toward the start of construction later this year and we have several large projects in Mexico and Peru coming online in the second half of 2014." 

Earlier this week, Cameron LNG received notice that it had completed the environmental review process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Also, in March, Cameron LNG awarded a construction contract to a joint venture between CB&I and Chiyoda International Corp.  Construction on the project is expected to begin later this year, with commercial operations slated to start in 2018.

CALIFORNIA UTILITIES

Southern California Gas Co.

Earnings for Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) increased to $78 million in the first quarter 2014 from $46 million in last year's first quarter, due primarily to higher California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) base operating margin. 

The CPUC General Rate Case decision was delayed until the second quarter last year, so neither SoCalGas nor San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) recorded revenue from that decision in the first quarter 2013.

San Diego Gas & Electric

First-quarter earnings for SDG&E were $99 million in 2014, compared with $91 million in 2013, due to improved CPUC base operating margin and the delay in the General Rate Case decision, offset by the $9 million SONGS charge.

On March 27, SDG&E and Southern California Edison announced that they reached a settlement agreement with key parties on the closure of SONGS.  If approved by the CPUC, the agreement resolves all outstanding cost issues related to the plant closure and allows for recovery of replacement power costs, operating and maintenance expenses, and the companies' non-steam generator replacement investment.

SEMPRA INTERNATIONAL

Sempra South American Utilities

Sempra South American Utilities had earnings of $35 million in the first quarter 2014, compared with $37 million in the first quarter 2013.       

Sempra Mexico

Sempra Mexico's earnings increased to $42 million in the first quarter 2014 from $31 million in last year's first quarter, due primarily to regulatory earnings for pipeline projects under construction and lower income-tax expense. 

On April 21, Sempra Energy's Mexican subsidiary IEnova announced that it has finalized an agreement to sell InterGen 50 percent of the 155-megawatt Energía Sierra Juarez wind-generation project.  The project, which has a 20-year power-purchase agreement with SDG&E, is expected to begin commercial operations in 2015.

SEMPRA U.S. GAS & POWER

Sempra Renewables

Sempra Renewables had first-quarter 2014 earnings of $28 million, compared with $4 million in the first quarter 2013, due primarily to the sale of a 50-percent equity interest in the Copper Mountain Solar 3 project.

Sempra Natural Gas

Earnings for Sempra Natural Gas were $9 million in the first quarter 2014, compared with $53 million in the first quarter 2013.  In last year's first quarter, Sempra Natural Gas recorded a $44 million gain related to the sale of half of the Mesquite Power natural gas-fired power plant. 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted first-quarter 2014 earnings and earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures.  Additional information regarding these non-GAAP financial measures is in the appendix on Table A of the first-quarter financial tables.

INTERNET BROADCAST

Sempra Energy will broadcast a live discussion of its earnings results over the Internet today at 1 p.m. EDT with senior management of the company.  Access is available by logging onto the website 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 passcode 2722529.


Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2013 revenues of more than $10.5 billion.  The Sempra Energy companies' 17,000 employees serve more than 31 million consumers worldwide.

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.  These statements can be identified by words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates,"  "projects," "forecasts," "contemplates," "intends," "depends," "should," "could," "would," "will," "may," "potential," "target," "pursue," "goals," "outlook," "maintain" or similar expressions, or discussions of guidance, strategies, plans, goals, opportunities, projections, initiatives, objectives or intentions.  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 and the timing of actions, including issuances of permits to construct and licenses for operation, by the California Public Utilities Commission, California State Legislature, U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board, and other regulatory, governmental and environmental bodies in the United States and other countries in which we operate; capital markets conditions, including the availability of credit and the liquidity of our investments; the timing and success of business development efforts and construction, maintenance and capital projects, including risks in obtaining permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations on a timely basis and risks in obtaining adequate and competitive financing for such projects; inflation, interest and exchange rates; the impact of benchmark interest rates, generally Moody's A-rated utility bond yields, on our California utilities' cost of capital; energy markets, including the timing and extent of changes and volatility in commodity prices; the availability of electric power, natural gas and liquefied natural gas, including disruptions caused by failures in the North American transmission grid, pipeline explosions and equipment failures and the decommissioning of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS); weather conditions, natural disasters, catastrophic accidents, and conservation efforts; risks inherent with nuclear power facilities and radioactive materials storage, including the catastrophic release of such materials, the disallowance of the recovery of the investment in, or operating costs of, the nuclear facility due to an extended outage and facility closure, and increased regulatory oversight; risks that partners or counterparties will be unable or unwilling to fulfill their contractual commitments; risks posed by decisions and actions of third parties who control the operations of investments in which we do not have a controlling interest; wars, terrorist attacks that threaten system operations and critical infrastructure, and cybersecurity threats to the energy grid and the confidentiality of proprietary information and the personal information of customers;  business, regulatory, environmental and legal decisions and requirements; expropriation of assets by foreign governments and title and other property disputes; the impact on reliability of San Diego Gas & Electric Company's electric transmission and distribution system due to increased amount and variability of power supply from renewable energy sources; the impact on competitive customer rates of the growth in distributed and local power generation and the corresponding decrease in demand for power delivered through San Diego Gas & Electric Company's electric transmission and distribution system; the inability or determination not to enter into long-term supply and sales agreements or long-term firm capacity agreements; 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 reports that Sempra Energy has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and on the company's website at www.sempra.com.

Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forecasts or projections or other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Sempra International, LLC, and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, LLC, are not the same companies as the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) or Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), and Sempra International, LLC, and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, LLC, are not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. Sempra International's underlying entities include Sempra Mexico and Sempra South American Utilities. Sempra U.S. Gas & Power's underlying entities include Sempra Renewables and Sempra Natural Gas.

 

SEMPRA ENERGY

Table A









CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS








Three months ended March 31,

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

2014


2013



REVENUES




Utilities

$  2,485


$  2,334

Energy-related businesses

310


316

    Total revenues

2,795


2,650

EXPENSES AND OTHER INCOME




Utilities:




    Cost of natural gas

(620)


(556)

    Cost of electric fuel and purchased power

(510)


(447)

Energy-related businesses:




    Cost of natural gas, electric fuel and purchased power

(138)


(111)

    Other cost of sales

(38)


(48)

Operation and maintenance

(676)


(724)

Depreciation and amortization

(286)


(295)

Franchise fees and other taxes

(105)


(106)

Gain on sale of equity interest and assets

27


74

Adjustment to loss from plant closure

13


-

Equity earnings, before income tax

17


10

Other income, net

40


37

Interest income

4


6

Interest expense

(136)


(138)

Income before income taxes and equity earnings of certain unconsolidated subsidiaries

387


352

Income tax expense

(127)


(178)

Equity earnings, net of income tax

6


4

Net income

266


178

(Earnings) losses attributable to noncontrolling interests

(19)


2

Preferred dividends of subsidiaries

-


(2)

Earnings

$     247


$     178





Basic earnings per common share

$    1.01


$    0.73

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic (thousands)

245,277


243,294





Diluted earnings per common share

$    0.99


$    0.72

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, diluted (thousands)

249,669


247,534





Dividends declared per share of common stock

$    0.66


$    0.63

 

 


SEMPRA ENERGY

Table A (Continued)


Sempra Energy Consolidated


RECONCILIATION OF SEMPRA ENERGY GAAP EARNINGS TO SEMPRA ENERGY ADJUSTED EARNINGS

EXCLUDING 2014 ADJUSTMENT TO LOSS FROM 2013 PLANT CLOSURE (Unaudited)


In the first quarter of 2014, Sempra Energy Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share exclude a $9 million charge ($0.04 per diluted share) to adjust the loss from plant closure (in addition to the amount recorded in the second quarter of 2013) associated with the investment in the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) based upon a proposed settlement agreement filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in April 2014. These are non-GAAP financial measures (GAAP represents accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America). Because of the significance and nature of the excluded charge, management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide a more meaningful comparison of the performance of Sempra Energy's business operations from 2014 to 2013 and to future periods, and also as a base for projection of future compounded annual growth rate. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplementary information that should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The table below reconciles for historical periods these non-GAAP financial measures to Sempra Energy Earnings and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, which we consider to be the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.










Three months ended March 31,




(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

2014


2013




Sempra Energy GAAP Earnings

$      247


$      178




Add: 2014 adjustment to loss from 2013 plant closure

9


-




Sempra Energy Adjusted Earnings

$      256


$      178











Diluted earnings per common share:







Sempra Energy GAAP Earnings

$     0.99


$     0.72




Sempra Energy Adjusted Earnings

$     1.03


$     0.72




Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, diluted (thousands)

249,669


247,534


















San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) 














RECONCILIATION OF SDG&E GAAP EARNINGS TO ADJUSTED EARNINGS 

EXCLUDING 2014 ADJUSTMENT TO LOSS FROM 2013 PLANT CLOSURE (Unaudited)








SDG&E Adjusted Earnings excluding a $9 million charge in the first quarter of 2014 to adjust the loss from plant closure (in addition to the amount recorded in the second quarter of 2013) associated with SDG&E's investment in SONGS based upon a proposed settlement agreement filed with the CPUC in April 2014 is a non-GAAP financial measure. Because of the significance and nature of this item, management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides a more meaningful comparison of the performance of SDG&E's business operations from 2014 to 2013 and to future periods. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplementary information that should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The table below reconciles for historical periods this non-GAAP financial measure to SDG&E Earnings, which we consider to be the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP.






Three months ended March 31,



(Dollars in millions)

2014


2013




SDG&E GAAP Earnings

$        99


$        91




Add: 2014 adjustment to loss from 2013 plant closure

9


-




SDG&E Adjusted Earnings

$      108


$        91




 

 

SEMPRA ENERGY

Table B








CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS












March 31,


December 31,

(Dollars in millions)

2014


2013(1)





(unaudited)



Assets




Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents

$       844


$           904


Restricted cash

26


24


Accounts receivable, net

1,405


1,522


Due from unconsolidated affiliates

2


4


Income taxes receivable

88


85


Deferred income taxes

375


301


Inventories

197


287


Regulatory balancing accounts – undercollected

665


556


Other regulatory assets 

35


38


Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives

114


106


Asset held for sale, power plant

293


-


Other

180


170




Total current assets

4,224


3,997








Investments and other assets:





Restricted cash

27


25


Due from unconsolidated affiliate

31


14


Regulatory assets arising from pension and other postretirement 





    benefit obligations

454


435


Other regulatory assets

2,039


2,113


Nuclear decommissioning trusts

1,055


1,034


Investments

1,634


1,575


Goodwill 

999


1,024


Other intangible assets

423


426


Sundry

1,146


1,141




Total investments and other assets

7,808


7,787

Property, plant and equipment, net

25,452


25,460

Total assets

$   37,484


$       37,244








Liabilities and Equity




Current liabilities:





Short-term debt

$    1,084


$           545


Accounts payable

1,200


1,215


Dividends and interest payable

322


271


Accrued compensation and benefits

260


376


Regulatory balancing accounts – overcollected

88


91


Current portion of long-term debt

97


1,147


Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives

54


55


Customer deposits

155


154


Other

615


515




Total current liabilities

3,875


4,369

Long-term debt

11,700


11,253








Deferred credits and other liabilities:





Customer advances for construction

158


155


Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, net of plan assets

679


667


Deferred income taxes

2,958


2,804


Deferred investment tax credits

41


42


Regulatory liabilities arising from removal obligations

2,624


2,623


Asset retirement obligations

2,127


2,084


Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives

238


228


Deferred credits and other 

1,195


1,169




Total deferred credits and other liabilities

10,020


9,772

Equity:





Total Sempra Energy shareholders' equity

11,040


11,008


Preferred stock of subsidiary

20


20


Other noncontrolling interests

829


822




Total equity

11,889


11,850

Total liabilities and equity

$   37,484


$       37,244








(1)

Derived from audited financial statements.

 

 

SEMPRA ENERGY

Table C







CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 










Three months ended March 31,

(Dollars in millions)


2014


2013




(unaudited)

Cash Flows from Operating Activities





Net income

$

266

$

178

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:






Depreciation and amortization


286


295


Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits


95


252


Gain on sale of equity interest and assets


(27)


(74)


Adjustment to loss from plant closure


(13)


      ―


Equity earnings


(23)


(14)


Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives


(3)


17


Other


(24)


6

Net change in other working capital components


234


149

Changes in other assets


94


17

Changes in other liabilities


19


9


Net cash provided by operating activities


904


835







Cash Flows from Investing Activities





Expenditures for property, plant and equipment


(801)


(531)

Expenditures for investments


(12)


(5)

Proceeds from sale of equity interest and assets, net of cash sold


66


371

Distributions from investments


3


15

Purchases of nuclear decommissioning and other trust assets


(198)


(136)

Proceeds from sales by nuclear decommissioning and other trusts


195


134

Decrease in restricted cash


23


52

Increase in restricted cash


(27)


(60)

Advances to unconsolidated affiliates


(17)


      ―

Other


(2)


(2)


Net cash used in investing activities


(770)


(162)







Cash Flows from Financing Activities





Common dividends paid


(154)


(145)

Preferred dividends paid by subsidiaries


       ―


(2)

Issuances of common stock


11


15

Repurchases of common stock


(37)


(45)

Issuances of debt (maturities greater than 90 days)


1,188


608

Payments on debt (maturities greater than 90 days)


(1,138)


(645)

Proceeds from sale of noncontrolling interests, net of $25 in offering costs


       ―


574

Decrease in short-term debt, net


(69)


(43)

Other 


6


3


Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities


(193)


320







Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents


(1)


3







(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents


(60)


996

Cash and cash equivalents, January 1


904


475

Cash and cash equivalents, March 31

$

844

$

1,471

 

 

SEMPRA ENERGY

Table D

















SEGMENT EARNINGS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES & INVESTMENTS 


















Three months ended March 31,



(Dollars in millions)

2014


2013






    (unaudited)



Earnings (Losses) 






California Utilities:






San Diego Gas & Electric

$  99


$  91



Southern California Gas

78


46



Sempra International:






Sempra South American Utilities

35


37



Sempra Mexico

42


31



Sempra U.S. Gas & Power:






Sempra Renewables

28


4



Sempra Natural Gas

9


53



Parent and other

(44)


(84)



Earnings

$247


$178




















Three months ended March 31,



(Dollars in millions)

2014


2013






    (unaudited)



Capital Expenditures and Investments






California Utilities:






San Diego Gas & Electric

$294


$237



Southern California Gas

260


179



Sempra International:






Sempra South American Utilities

32


22



Sempra Mexico

75


61



Sempra U.S. Gas & Power:






Sempra Renewables

111


11



Sempra Natural Gas

40


26



Parent and other

1


-



Consolidated Capital Expenditures and Investments

$813


$536



 

 

SEMPRA ENERGY

Table E















OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS (Unaudited)









Three months ended March 31,

UTILITIES


2014


2013






California Utilities - SDG&E and SoCalGas





Gas Sales (bcf)(1)


112


140

Transportation (bcf)(1)


162


168

Total Deliveries (bcf)(1)


274


308

Total Gas Customers (Thousands)


6,714


6,685








Electric Sales (Millions of kWhs)(1)


3,897


4,024

Direct Access (Millions of kWhs)


888


835

Total Deliveries (Millions of kWhs)(1)


4,785


4,859

Total Electric Customers (Thousands)


1,410


1,403








Other Utilities





Natural Gas Sales (bcf)






Mexico


6


6


Mobile Gas(2)


11


11


Willmut Gas


1


1

Natural Gas Customers (Thousands) 






Mexico


101


94


Mobile Gas


88


89


Willmut Gas


20


20

Electric Sales (Millions of kWhs)






Peru


1,851


1,746


Chile


788


761

Electric Customers (Thousands)






Peru


1,005


968


Chile


644


628








ENERGY-RELATED BUSINESSES












Sempra International





Power Sold (Millions of kWhs)






Sempra Mexico


1,102


1,099








Sempra U.S. Gas & Power





Power Sold (Millions of kWhs)






Sempra Renewables(3)


638


698


Sempra Natural Gas(4)


1,252


1,132








(1)

Includes intercompany sales.

(2)

Includes transportation.

(3)

Includes 50% of total power sold related to wind projects in which Sempra Energy has a 50% ownership. These subsidiaries are not consolidated within Sempra Energy and the related investments are accounted for under the equity method.

(4)

Sempra Natural Gas sold one 625-megawatt (MW) block of its 1,250-MW Mesquite Power natural gas-fired power plant in February 2013.

 

 


         SEMPRA ENERGY


           Table F (Unaudited)




















Statement of Operations Data by Segment



























Three Months Ended March 31, 2014



























(Dollars in millions)


SDG&E


SoCalGas


Sempra South American Utilities


Sempra Mexico


Sempra Renewables


Sempra Natural Gas


Consolidating Adjustments, Parent & Other



Total




















Revenues


$   987


$   1,085


$            378


$  201


$            6


$        260


$            (122)



$2,795




















Cost of sales and other expenses


(649)


(851)


(301)


(135)


(12)


(243)


104



(2,087)




















Depreciation and amortization


(130)


(105)


(14)


(16)


(1)


(17)


(3)



(286)




















Gain on sale of equity interest


-


-


-


-


27


-


-



27




















Adjustment to loss from plant closure


13

(1)

-


-


-


-


-


-



13




















Equity earnings, before income tax


-


-


-


-


2


15


-



17




















Other income, net


13


4


1


10


-


1


11



40




















Income (loss) before interest and tax (2)


234


133


64


60


22


16


(10)



519




















Net interest expense (3)


(50)


(17)


(5)


(4)


-


(1)


(55)



(132)




















Income tax (expense) benefit


(83)


(38)


(15)


(12)


6


(6)


21



(127)




















Equity (losses) earnings, net of income tax


-


-


(2)


8


-


-


-



6




















Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests


(2)


-


(7)


(10)


-


-


-



(19)




















Earnings (losses)


$    99


$        78


$              35


$    42


$          28


$            9


$              (44)



$   247







































Three Months Ended March 31, 2013





























(Dollars in millions)


SDG&E


SoCalGas


Sempra South American Utilities


Sempra Mexico


Sempra Renewables


Sempra Natural Gas


Consolidating Adjustments, Parent & Other



Total




















Revenues


$   939


$      983


$            384


$  168


$          21


$        253


$              (98)



$2,650




















Cost of sales and other expenses


(637)


(800)


(301)


(113)


(13)


(220)


92



(1,992)




















Depreciation and amortization


(134)


(100)


(15)


(16)


(8)


(20)


(2)



(295)




















Gain on sale of assets


-


-


-


-


-


74


-



74




















Equity earnings, before income tax


-


-


-


-


1


9


-



10




















Other income, net


11


4


3


9


-


2


8



37




















Income before interest and tax (2)


179


87


71


48


1


98


-



484




















Net interest expense (3)


(48)


(17)


(2)


(1)


(5)


(12)


(49)



(134)




















Income tax (expense) benefit


(51)


(24)


(17)


(26)


8


(33)


(35)

(4)


(178)




















Equity (losses) earnings, net of income tax


-


-


(7)


11


-


-


-



4




















Losses (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests


11


-


(8)


(1)


-


-


-



2




















Earnings (losses)


$    91


$        46


$              37


$    31


$            4


$          53


$              (84)



$   178




















(1)

After taxes, including a $17 million charge to reduce certain tax regulatory assets attributed to SONGS, the adjustment to loss from plant closure is a $9 million charge to earnings.




















(2)

Management believes Income (Loss) Before Interest and Tax is a useful measurement of our segments' performance because it can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of our operations exclusive of interest and income tax, neither of which is directly relevant to the efficiency of those operations.




















(3)

Net Interest Expense includes interest income, interest expense and preferred dividends of subsidiaries.























(4)

Includes $63 million income tax expense resulting from a corporate reorganization in connection with the IEnova stock offerings.




 

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For further information: Media Contact: Doug Kline, Sempra Energy, (877) 340-8875, dkline@sempra.com, www.sempra.com; or Financial Contact: Kendall Helm, Sempra Energy, (877) 736-7727, investor@sempra.com