10.30.09
Energy Future Holdings Reports Third Quarter 2009 ResultsDALLAS -
Energy Future Holdings Corp. (EFH) today reported consolidated financial results for the third quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2009 in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“We had a solid operational performance for the quarter and continue to make good progress, even in the face of depressed commodity prices and economic conditions that remain challenging,” said Energy Future Holdings President and CEO John Young.
Third Quarter GAAP Results
For the third quarter 2009, EFH reported a consolidated net loss attributable to EFH Corp. (in accordance with GAAP) of $80 million compared to reported net income of $3.617 billion for the third quarter 2008. The third quarter 2009 reported net loss included $90 million (after tax) in unrealized mark-to-market net losses on interest rate swaps entered into to hedge variable interest rate expense and $2 million (after tax) in unrealized mark-to-market net gains related to commodity positions.
The third quarter 2008 reported net income included $3.955 billion in unrealized mark-to-market net gains largely related to the long-term hedging program (discussed further below) and $23 million in unrealized mark-to-market net gains on interest rate swaps, partially offset by a $322 million charge associated with the impairment of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions allowances (all after tax).
Third Quarter Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Operating Results
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating results for the third quarter 2009 totaled net earnings of $10 million compared to a net loss of $21 million for the third quarter 2008. For a reconciliation of reported GAAP results to adjusted (non-GAAP) operating results for the third quarter 2009 and 2008, see Tables A1 and A2.
Results from the competitive business improved $48 million (after tax). The results reflected an $81 million improvement in contribution margin driven by favorable results from asset management and retail activities, lower purchased power costs during plant outages, higher output from the nuclear-fueled generation units and the 2008 effect on the retail business of Hurricane Ike. Offsetting factors included a $12 million increase in retail bad debt expense due to customer losses, new system conversion and general economic conditions, and $14 million in higher net interest expense driven by increased amortization of interest rate hedge losses. (All amounts are after tax.)
Results from the regulated business declined $17 million (after tax), driven by the net income attributable to the Oncor minority owner, which totaled $26 million, as a result of the sale of the 20 percent interest in Oncor in the fourth quarter 2008. Excluding the effect of the noncontrolling interests, the $9 million increase in earnings of the regulated business was driven by a lower effective income tax rate, which reflected favorable resolution of uncertain tax positions. Higher operating costs, driven by increased transmission fees, and higher depreciation and amortization were offset by higher revenues from rate increases.
Year-To-Date GAAP Results
For the nine months ended (year-to-date) September 30, 2009, EFH reported consolidated net income attributable to EFH Corp. (in accordance with GAAP) of $207 million compared to a reported net loss of $983 million for year-to-date 2008. Year-to-date 2009 reported net income included $459 million (after tax) in unrealized commodity-related mark-to-market net gains that reflected the impact of lower forward natural gas prices on the value of positions in EFH's long-term hedging program (discussed further below) and $342 million (after tax) in unrealized mark-to-market net gains on interest rate swaps entered into to hedge variable interest rate expense. These items were partially offset by a noncash impairment charge of $90 million resulting from the completion in the first quarter of the fair value calculation supporting the goodwill impairment charge that was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Year-to-date 2008 reported net loss included a $323 million charge associated with the impairment of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions allowances and $142 million in unrealized mark-to-market net losses largely related to the long-term hedging program, partially offset by $23 million in unrealized mark-to-market net gains on interest rate swaps (all after tax).
Year-To-Date Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Operating Results
Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating results for year-to-date 2009 totaled a net loss of $502 million compared to a net loss of $510 million for year-to-date 2008. For a reconciliation of reported GAAP results to adjusted (non-GAAP) operating results for year-to-date 2009 and 2008, see Tables A3 and A4.
Results from the competitive business improved $84 million (after tax). The results reflected a $200 million improvement in contribution margin driven by favorable results from asset management and retail activities, lower purchased power costs during plant outages, higher output from the nuclear-fueled generation units, lower amortization of intangible assets arising from purchase accounting and the 2008 effect on the retail business of Hurricane Ike. Offsetting factors included $55 million in higher net interest expense driven by increased amortization of interest rate hedge losses, a $34 million increase in costs related to the transition of outsourced services and the new retail customer care system, $19 million in higher retail bad debt expense due to customer losses, new system conversion and general economic conditions and $19 million in higher amortization of intangible assets arising from purchase accounting reported in depreciation and amortization. (All amounts are after tax.)
Results from the regulated business declined $76 million (after tax), driven by $54 million in net income attributable to the Oncor minority owner. Excluding the effect of the noncontrolling interests, the $22 million decrease in earnings of the regulated business reflected higher interest expense due to borrowings to support growth and higher rates due to the refinancing of short-term borrowings with long-term debt in September 2008. Also contributing to the decline was lower electricity consumption due to milder weather and general economic conditions that was partially offset by growth in points of delivery. Higher operating costs, driven by increased transmission fees, and depreciation and amortization were largely offset by higher revenues from rate increases. A lower effective income tax rate mitigated the earnings decline.
Based on the size of the long-term hedging program as of September 30, 2009, a $1.00/MMBtu change in natural gas prices across the five-year hedged period would result in the recognition by EFH of up to approximately $1.7 billion in pretax unrealized mark-to-market gains or losses. The effects of changes in forward natural gas prices on the values of positions in the program are reflected in net income (GAAP) as discussed above. Reported unrealized mark-to-market net gains and losses (pretax) associated with the long-term hedging program totaled a net loss of $106 million for third quarter 2009 and a net gain of $559 million for year-to-date 2009, reflecting declines in forward natural gas prices. Given the volatility of natural gas prices, it is not possible to predict future reported unrealized mark-to-market net gains or losses and the actual net gains or losses that will ultimately be realized upon settlement of the hedge positions in future years. If natural gas prices at settlement are lower than the prices of the hedge positions, the hedges are expected to mitigate the otherwise negative effect on earnings of lower wholesale electricity prices. However, if natural gas prices at settlement are higher than the prices of the hedge positions, the hedges are expected to dampen the otherwise positive effect on earnings of higher wholesale electricity prices and will in this context be viewed as having resulted in an opportunity cost. The cumulative unrealized mark-to-market net gains (pretax) related to positions in the long-term hedging program totaled $1.4 billion, $1.5 billion and $871 million at September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
Additional Information
Additional information, including the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, one of the key metrics used for purposes of certain covenants contained in the EFH Senior Notes bond indenture, is available in the EFH Form 10-Q on the EFH website at http://www.energyfutureholdings.com/.
Investor Call
EFH will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2009 results with its investors on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Central (11:00 a.m. Eastern). The telephone number to participate in the conference call is (888) 825-4458 in the United States and Canada and (706) 643-0245 internationally, with conference code 33735303. The teleconference also will be webcast live in the Investor Relations section on EFH's website.
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About Energy Future Holdings
Energy Future Holdings Corp. is a Dallas-based energy holding company, with a portfolio of competitive and regulated energy subsidiaries, primarily in Texas, including TXU Energy, Luminant and Oncor. TXU Energy is a competitive retailer that provides electricity and related services to more than 2 million electricity customers in Texas. Luminant is a competitive power generation business, including mining, wholesale marketing and trading, construction and development operations. Luminant has over 16,100 MW of generation in Texas, including 2,300 MW of nuclear and 5,800 MW of coal-fueled generation capacity, and is building an additional 2,200 MW of coal-fueled generation capacity. Luminant is also the largest purchaser of wind-generated electricity in Texas and fifth largest in the United States. Oncor is a regulated electric distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, providing power to three million electric delivery points over more than 102,000 miles of distribution and 14,000 miles of transmission lines. While Oncor is a subsidiary of EFH, Oncor reports to a separate and independent board. Visit http://www.energyfutureholdings.com/ for more information.
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's current projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is contained in EFH's filings with the SEC. In addition to the risks and uncertainties set forth in EFH's SEC filings, the forward-looking statements in this release regarding the company's long-term hedging program could be affected by, among other things: any change in the ERCOT electricity market, including a regulatory or legislative change, that results in wholesale electricity prices not being largely driven by natural gas prices, any decrease in market heat rates as EFH's long-term hedging program generally does not mitigate exposure to changes in market heat rates, the unwillingness or failure of any hedge counterparty or the lender under the company's collateral revolving credit facility to perform its obligations under a long-term hedge agreement or the collateral revolving credit facility, as applicable, or any other unforeseen event that results in the inability to continue to use a first lien to secure a substantial portion of the hedges under EFH's long-term hedging program.
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