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NiSource reports first-quarter earnings and progress on growth strategy
Company on track with 2006 business plan
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced net operating earnings (non-GAAP) of $203.6 million, or 75 cents per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2006, compared with $202.4 million, or 75 cents per share, for the first quarter of 2005 (all per-share amounts are basic). Operating earnings were $416.1 million for the first three months of 2006, compared with $427.7 million in 2005.
On a GAAP basis, taking into account the effect of record-setting warm winter weather conditions that were 15 percent warmer than a year ago, income from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2006 was $171.8 million, or 63 cents per share, compared with $208.7 million, or 77 cents per share, for the year-ago period. For a reconciliation of net operating earnings (non-GAAP) to income from continuing operations (GAAP), see Schedule 1 of this news release.
Net operating earnings, compared with the year-ago period, were positively affected by successful sales of shorter-term transportation and storage services in NiSource's gas transmission and storage business; growth in the electric distribution business; and an $8.2 million decrease in interest expense for the quarter due to the refinancing of $2.4 billion in long-term debt at lower rates during 2005.
These positive impacts were offset by a continuing decline in usage by natural gas utility customers. Also, as anticipated, losses at Whiting Clean Energy increased compared with the year-ago period due to planned maintenance.
"Despite significant external challenges, NiSource delivered solid first-quarter results that are on the mark with our 2006 net operating earnings outlook. Additionally, we continued to make progress on every component of our four-part growth plan," said President and Chief Executive Officer Robert C. Skaggs, Jr. "Like every company in the North American gas utility industry, we've had to deal with unprecedented weather and high gas prices that, among other dislocations, have continued to weaken residential customers' usage of natural gas and make for a more challenging regulatory-political environment."
In meeting these challenges, Skaggs said, our continuing focus on NiSource's core assets and capabilities was evident. These include: strong opportunities for marketing short-term services in the Gas Transmission and Storage business; capacity and supply optimization opportunities in Gas Distribution Operations; robust market interest for expansion capacity on NiSource's extensive natural gas storage and transmission network; steady growth in NiSource's electric business; and across-the-board continued cost control.
"These fundamentals, plus our ongoing focus on all aspects of our four-point business plan, have NiSource on track to deliver net operating earnings for the full year consistent with the range of $1.45 to $1.55 per share that we provided in late January, assuming no further material usage deterioration," Skaggs stated. A reconciliation of non-GAAP earnings guidance to GAAP guidance is provided later in this release.
Skaggs noted that NiSource's balanced four-point plan centers on its portfolio of low-risk, regulated assets: commercial growth and expansion of the gas transmission and storage business; commercial and regulatory initiatives; management of the balance sheet; and expense management.
Overview of first-quarter operating earnings (non-GAAP) performance by business segment Gas Distribution Operations
Operating earnings for NiSource's Gas Distribution Operations were down by $15 million, to $251.3 million for the first quarter of 2006. The reduction was due primarily to continued declines in residential customer usage.
Skaggs noted that weather-normalized residential usage declined by 7 MMDth, or 5 percent, due in part to historically high gas prices.
"These residential volume declines decreased operating earnings for the segment by approximately $11 million. Partly offsetting that reduction were increased revenues from residential customer additions of approximately $2 million," Skaggs said. "Although we continue to see residential customer growth in our gas distribution markets, we remain focused on customer usage, and we continue to work on all fronts to fashion appropriate mechanisms to better address usage and conservation."
During the first quarter, the Gas Distribution segment was able to capitalize on short-term market opportunities and used its extensive supply and storage portfolio to increase revenues. These revenues are shared with customers under various regulatory mechanisms.
In addition, the segment reported the first full quarter of benefit from the new rates at Bay State Gas Company.
Employees continue to hold the line on costs as well, Skaggs noted. Excluding expenses that are recovered through regulatory trackers, operation and maintenance expenses for the Gas Distribution segment were down slightly for the quarter compared with the year-ago period.
Gas Transmission and Storage Operations
The Gas Transmission and Storage segment reported operating earnings of $111.7 million for the first quarter, an increase of $2.2 million over the year-ago period. The increase resulted from higher net revenues due to increased subscriptions for demand services and shorter-term transportation and storage optimization initiatives. A 16.5 percent year-over-year increase in mainline throughput on Columbia Gulf Transmission was directly related to the company's optimization initiatives.
"Our Houston-based commercial team has capitalized on near-term market opportunities to optimize the value of our extensive network of pipeline and storage assets," Skaggs said. "The earnings growth in this business is consistent with our expectations and should be sustainable going forward. Our commercial team has signed new agreements that we expect to result in more than $25 million in revenue for 2006, with about $3.4 million recorded during the first quarter, as compared to full-year 2005 revenues of $4.1 million."
In addition, Skaggs said, this segment continues to make progress on significant asset expansion projects that are driven by both the market and producers. Most notably, construction of the Hardy Storage project in West Virginia began in the first quarter, and the first phase of the project is on target to be in service in the second quarter of 2007. "We have executed binding customer agreements for Columbia Gas Transmission's Eastern Market Expansion, which, like Hardy Storage, is a combined storage and transportation project designed to meet core market growth in the Mid-Atlantic region," Skaggs added.
Skaggs also noted that this business segment is currently evaluating the very strong market response it has received to a number of recently completed open seasons on Columbia Gas Transmission and Columbia Gulf Transmission.
Meanwhile, the Millennium Pipeline, as well as companion upstream and downstream projects, are proceeding with the regulatory approval process. As previously reported, Millennium is anchored by long-term agreements with Consolidated Edison and KeySpan. During the first quarter, the redistribution of equity among the Millennium partners was completed, with Columbia Gas Transmission now holding a 47.5 percent equity stake.
Electric Operations
NiSource's electric business reported operating earnings of $71.2 million for the quarter, compared with $66.6 million during the first quarter a year ago. Increases in net revenues from lower revenue credits, improved industrial usage, increased customer growth and trackers associated with ongoing expenses and capital investments, were partially offset by unrecoverable costs associated with the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO).
As previously reported, as of Aug. 1, 2006, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) expects to defer MISO costs for future recovery.
"The electric segment had a strong first quarter," Skaggs said. "O&M expenses were down by about $2 million. In addition to revenue increases attributable to our environmental tracker, we continue to see steady growth in our electric residential market and a solid expansion of margins in our large industrial market.
"We also continue to work with other MISO members to control cost levels and on cost recovery issues."
Other Operations
The Other Operations segment reported an operating earnings loss of $11.7 million for the first quarter of 2006, compared with an operating earnings loss of $7.8 million for the year-ago period.
The increased operating earnings loss primarily resulted from increased losses at Whiting Clean Energy, which were factored into the company's 2006 operating earnings outlook. The increased losses at Whiting Clean Energy during the 2006 period resulted primarily from costs associated with scheduled maintenance.
Business plan remains on track
"Overall, our first-quarter performance was solid, and meeting our 2006 objectives clearly remains a priority," Skaggs said. "We continue to partner with IBM to transform the way we operate our business process and support services through the outsourcing agreement we entered into last year; and we are realizing the expected savings in interest expense from the refinancing of our balance sheet completed during 2005. These and other elements of our four-part business plan will keep us on track to building a platform for long-term, sustainable growth. Having said that, as noted in my recent annual letter to stockholders published in our Annual Report, we believe that NiSource is currently undervalued, we are committed to unlocking the long-term value of our assets, and we will report on the progress of our efforts in future communications."
Definition of non-GAAP measures and reconciliation of earnings guidance to GAAP NiSource focuses on net operating earnings and operating earnings, which are both non-GAAP measures, because management believes these measures better represent the fundamental earnings strength and performance of the company. NiSource uses these measures internally for budgeting, for reporting to the board of directors, and for purposes of determining the payout under NiSource's annual incentive compensation plan for its employees.
Net operating earnings are a non-GAAP financial measure that NiSource defines as income from continuing operations determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) adjusted for certain items. Operating earnings are operating income determined in accordance with GAAP adjusted for certain items. Adjustments reflected in these measures are primarily weather, transition costs related to the outsourcing contract with IBM, gains and losses on the sale of assets, certain reserve adjustments and other items. See Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of this news release for the reconciliations of net operating earnings and operating earnings, respectively, to GAAP.
On a GAAP basis, NiSource's current 2006 guidance for income for continuing operations is $1.33 to $1.43 basic earnings per share. The weather impact from the first quarter of approximately 9 cents per share and transition costs associated with the outsourcing initiative with IBM of approximately 3 cents per share comprise the difference between guidance for net operating earnings (non-GAAP) and income from continuing operations.
Conference call to be held this morning (May 3)
NiSource will host an analyst conference call at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, to further discuss the company's first-quarter 2006 results. All interested parties may hear the conference call live by logging on to the NiSource Web site at www.nisource.com.
First-Quarter 2006 Operating Earnings – Segment Results (non-GAAP) NiSource's consolidated first-quarter 2006 operating earnings (non-GAAP) were $416.1 million, compared to $427.7 million for the same period in 2005. Refer to Schedule 2 for the items included in 2006 and 2005 GAAP operating income but excluded from operating earnings.
Operating earnings for NiSource's business segments for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 are discussed below.
Gas Distribution Operations reported operating earnings of $251.3 million versus operating earnings of $266.3 million in the first quarter of 2005. The decrease in operating earnings was primarily due to continued declines in customer usage, which is more apparent after excluding the effect of regulatory trackers, as discussed below. Residential volume declines of approximately 7 MMDth reduced operating earnings by approximately $11 million. Partially offsetting the usage decline were customer additions that contributed approximately $2.0 million of incremental net revenues.
Operating expenses, excluding the impact of regulatory trackers discussed below, were essentially flat with the comparable period last year.
Comparability of Gas Distribution Operations line item operating results was impacted by regulatory trackers that allow for the recovery in rates of certain costs such as bad debt expenses. Increases in the expenses that are the subject of trackers result in a corresponding increase in net revenues and have essentially no impact on total operating earnings results. Approximately $23.2 million of the increase in operation and maintenance expenses was offset by a corresponding increase to net revenues reflecting recovery of certain costs.
Gas Transmission and Storage Operations reported operating earnings of $111.7 million versus operating earnings of $109.5 million in the first quarter of 2005. The increase resulted from higher net revenues due to increased subscriptions for demand services and sales of shorter-term transportation and storage services. Seasonal price fluctuations in the national energy market created opportunities for customers to utilize existing short-term tariff services. Operating expenses were essentially flat with the comparable period last year.
Electric Operations reported operating earnings of $71.2 million versus operating earnings of $66.6 million from the comparable period last year. Increases in net revenues from environmental trackers, customer growth, industrial usage, and lower revenue credits were partially offset by unrecoverable MISO costs, which began in April 2005. Operating expenses were $1.0 million lower than a year ago due primarily to lower employee and administrative expenses.
Other Operations reported an operating earnings loss of $11.7 million in the first quarter of 2006, versus an operating earnings loss of $7.8 million in the first quarter of 2005. The $3.9 million increase in the operating earnings loss primarily resulted from costs associated with scheduled maintenance at the Whiting Clean Energy facility partially offset by lower uncollectible accounts due to the settlement of Enron bankruptcy claims.
Corporate reported an operating earnings loss of $6.4 million versus an operating earnings loss of $6.9 million in the comparable 2005 period. The decreased loss was primarily the result of lower employee and administrative expenses.
Other Items
Interest expense decreased by $8.2 million due to refinancing of $2.4 billion in long-term debt at lower rates during 2005. Other, net expense of $3.4 million increased from the other net expense of $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2005 due primarily to increased costs associated with factoring of accounts receivable. Higher fees, due to higher interest rates, and increased levels of accounts receivable balances resulted in the higher expenses.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), based in Merrillville, Ind., is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to 3.8 million customers located within the high-demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at www.nisource.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of NiSource and its management. Although NiSource believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its goals will be achieved. Readers are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this presentation are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and that actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: weather; fluctuations in supply and demand for energy commodities; growth opportunities for NiSource's businesses; increased competition in deregulated energy markets; the success of regulatory and commercial initiatives; dealings with third parties over whom NiSource has no control; the effectiveness of NiSource's outsourcing initiative; actual operating experience of NiSource assets; the regulatory process; regulatory and legislative changes; changes in general economic, capital and commodity market conditions; and counter-party credit risk.
Media
Kris Falzone
Vice President, Corporate Communications
(219) 647-5581
klfalzone@nisource.com
Carol Churchill
Director, Corporate Communications
(888) 696-0481
cchurchill@nisource.com
Investors
Randy Hulen
Director, Investor Relations
(219) 647-5688
rghulen@nisource.com
Rae Kozlowski
Manager, Investor Relations
(219) 647-6083
ekozlowski@nisource.com