PG&E Corporation Reports Strong Third-Quarter Results; Strengthens 2024 Guidance; Initiates 2025 Guidance; Grows 5-Year Capital Plan
OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is on track to deliver solid financial results in 2024 and beyond:
GAAP earnings were $0.27 per share for the third quarter of 2024, compared to earnings of $0.16 for the same period in 2023.
GAAP earnings were $0.85 per share for the first nine months of 2024, compared to earnings of $0.62 per share for the same period in 2023.
Non-GAAP core earnings were $0.37 per share for the third quarter of 2024, compared to earnings of $0.24 per share for the same period in 2023.
Non-GAAP core earnings were $1.06 per share for the first nine months of 2024, compared to earnings of $0.76 per share for the same period in 2023.
Updating 2024 EPS GAAP guidance to a range of $1.09 to $1.14 per share and narrowing 2024 non-GAAP core EPS guidance to a range of $1.34 to $1.37 per share.
Adding $1 billion to 2024-2028 capital plan in response to growing customer demand; financing already in place through issuance of junior subordinated notes.
Reaffirming no equity needs in 2024 and 2025-2028 equity needs of $3 billion.
Initiating 2025 EPS guidance for GAAP earnings in the range of $1.30 to $1.36 and non-GAAP core earnings in the range of $1.47 to $1.51 per share.
On October 28, 2024, the state Wildfire Fund made its second monthly payment to the Utility for Dixie fire claims in the amount of $34 million.
Operational progress during the third quarter of 2024 continues to focus on physical safety and delivery of affordable and resilient energy:
Constructed 58 miles of underground powerlines and 66 miles of covered powerlines with stronger poles in the highest fire-risk areas, for a total of 120 miles and 113 miles, respectively, in the first nine months of 2024.
Installed 14 new AI-enabled high-definition cameras for wildfire detection for a total of more than 630 across the system.
Connected 2,889 new residential and business customers to our electric system, for a total of 8,073 in the first nine months of 2024.
Installed more than 320 electric vehicle charging ports for a total of about 1,040 new ports installed during the first nine months of 2024.
Supported the opening of California's largest landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG) plant. The facility is designed to produce about 1 billion cubic feet of RNG and reduce 62,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.
Ranked No. 1 overall on the 2024 U.S. Utilities Decarbonization Index, compiled by the National Public Utilities Council. The report highlights the Utility's clean electricity and emissions reduction progress toward a net-zero energy system in 2040.
"We continue to deliver for our hometowns through a foundation of safety for our customers. We're building infrastructure for purpose—a clean, climate-resilient energy system that meets our state's growing electric demand and is affordable for all," said PG&E Corporation CEO, Patti Poppe.
2024 Guidance
PG&E Corporation is updating 2024 GAAP earnings guidance in the range of $1.09 to $1.14 per share (previously $1.11 to $1.17 per share). Factors driving GAAP earnings include costs related to unrecoverable interest expense of $285 million to $365 million after tax and other earnings factors, including allowance for funds used during construction equity, incentive revenues, tax benefits, and cost savings, net of below-the-line costs. Additional factors include the amortization of the Wildfire Fund asset and accretion of the related Wildfire Fund liability, costs related to PG&E Corporation's and Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (Utility) reorganization cases under Chapter 11, wildfire-related costs, and investigation remedies, partially offset by prior period net regulatory impact.
The guidance range for projected 2024 non-GAAP core earnings is narrowed to $1.34 to $1.37 per share (previously $1.33 to $1.37 per share). The guidance range for non-core items, which management does not consider representative of ongoing earnings, is $500 million to $540 million after tax.
Guidance is based on various assumptions and forecasts, including those relating to authorized revenues, future expenses, capital expenditures, rate base, equity issuances, and certain other factors.
2025 Guidance
PG&E Corporation is initiating 2025 GAAP earnings guidance in the range of $1.30 to $1.36 per share. Factors driving GAAP earnings include costs related to unrecoverable interest expense of $350 million to $400 million after tax and other earnings factors, including allowance for funds used during construction equity, incentive revenues, tax benefits, and cost savings, net of below-the-line costs. Additional factors include the amortization of the Wildfire Fund asset and accretion of the related Wildfire Fund liability, costs related to PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's reorganization cases under Chapter 11, wildfire-related costs, and investigation remedies, partially offset by prior period net regulatory impact.
The guidance range for projected 2025 non-GAAP core earnings is initiated at $1.47 to $1.51 per share. The guidance range for non-core items, which management does not consider representative of ongoing earnings, is $340 million to $380 million after tax.
Guidance is based on various assumptions and forecasts, including those relating to authorized revenues, future expenses, capital expenditures, rate base, equity issuances, and certain other factors.
Capital Plan
PG&E Corporation is increasing its 5-year capital investment plan by $1 billion for a total of $63 billion for 2024 through 2028. The incremental capital is driven by growing customer demand and has already been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission through Decision 24-07-008. The incremental capital has also already been financed through the recent issuance of junior subordinated notes and PG&E Corporation is reaffirming its 2025 to 2028 equity issuance guidance of $3 billion.
Financial Results
PG&E Corporation recorded third-quarter 2024 income available for common shareholders of $576 million, or $0.27 per share, as reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This compares with income available for common shareholders of $348 million, or $0.16 per share, for the third quarter of 2023.
The increase in GAAP results is primarily driven by an increase in customer capital investment, as approved in the 2023 General Rate Case final decision and which earns an equity return as approved in the cost of capital adjustment mechanism advice letter filing. Other drivers include non-fuel operating and maintenance savings achieved for various programs such as process improvements for inspections, as well as lower contract spend through strategic sourcing. Operating and maintenance savings are reinvested back into the business for various programs that support risk mitigation such as inspections and corrosion maintenance.
GAAP results were also impacted by a pre-tax charge of $75 million related to the 2019 Kincade fire for the three months ended September 30, 2024. PG&E Corporation and the Utility also recorded a pre-tax charge of $275 million related to the 2021 Dixie fire. This charge did not impact GAAP results as it was fully offset by probable recoveries from the Wildfire Fund.
PG&E Corporation uses "non-GAAP core earnings," which is a non-GAAP financial measure, in order to provide a measure that allows investors to compare the underlying financial performance of the business from one period to another, exclusive of non-core items. See the accompanying tables for a reconciliation of non-GAAP core earnings to consolidated earnings available for common shareholders.
Non-GAAP Core Earnings
PG&E Corporation's non-GAAP core earnings, which exclude non-core items, were $791 million, or $0.37 per share, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to earnings of $513 million, or $0.24 per share, during the same period in 2023.
The increase in quarter-over-quarter non-GAAP core earnings per share is primarily driven by similar factors to the GAAP results, including customer capital investment, and non-fuel operating and maintenance savings, net of amounts reinvested back into the business.
Non-core items, which management does not consider representative of ongoing earnings, totaled $215 million after tax, or $0.10 per share, in the third quarter of 2024, compared with $165 million after tax, or $0.08 per share, during the same period in 2023.
Supplemental Financial Information
In addition to the financial information accompanying this release, presentation slides have been furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and are available on PG&E Corporation's website at: http://investor.pgecorp.com/financials/quarterly-earnings-reports/default.aspx.
Earnings Conference Call
PG&E Corporation will also hold a conference call on November 7, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific Time) to discuss its third quarter 2024 results. The public can access the conference call through a simultaneous webcast. The link is provided below and will also be available from the PG&E Corporation website.
What: Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Call
When: Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Where: http://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/events-and-presentations/default.aspx
A replay of the conference call will be archived at http://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/events-and-presentations/default.aspx.
Alternatively, a toll-free replay of the conference call may be accessed shortly after the live call through November 14th, 2024, by dialing (800) 770-2030. The confirmation code 92587 will be required to access the replay.
Public Dissemination of Certain Information
PG&E Corporation and the Utility routinely provide links to the Utility's principal regulatory proceedings with the California Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at http://investor.pgecorp.com, under the "Regulatory Filings" tab, so that such filings are available to investors upon filing with the relevant agency. PG&E Corporation and the Utility also routinely post, or provide direct links to, presentations, documents, and other information that may be of interest to investors at http://investor.pgecorp.com, under the "Wildfire and Safety Updates" and "News & Events: Events & Presentations" tabs, respectively, in order to publicly disseminate such information. It is possible that any of these filings or information included therein could be deemed to be material information.
About PG&E Corporation
PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is a holding company headquartered in Oakland, California. It is the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, an energy company that serves 16 million Californians across a 70,000-square-mile service area in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pgecorp.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs, expectations, estimates, future plans, and strategies of PG&E Corporation and the Utility, including regarding earnings, operating cost savings, capital investments, and financings. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, which management believes are reasonable, and on information currently available to management, but are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties. In addition to the risk that these assumptions prove to be inaccurate, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include factors disclosed in PG&E Corporation's and the Utility's joint Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, their most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and other reports filed with the SEC, which are available on PG&E Corporation's website at www.pgecorp.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. PG&E Corporation and the Utility undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.
PG&E CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Operating Revenues
Electric
$ 4,538
$ 4,507
$ 13,048
$ 12,478
Natural gas
1,403
1,381
4,740
4,909
Total operating revenues
5,941
5,888
17,788
17,387
Operating Expenses
Cost of electricity
835
846
1,919
2,040
Cost of natural gas
89
158
822
1,348
Operating and maintenance
2,683
3,139
8,076
8,252
SB 901 securitization charges, net
33
346
33
908
Wildfire-related claims, net of recoveries
74
(32)
70
(35)
Wildfire Fund expense
139
219
295
453
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning
1,059
811
3,134
2,885
Total operating expenses
4,912
5,487
14,349
15,851
Operating Income
1,029
401
3,439
1,536
Interest income
156
154
495
409
Interest expense
(795)
(682)
(2,322)
(1,924)
Other income, net
83
62
241
213
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
473
(65)
1,853
234
Income tax provision (benefit)
(106)
(416)
15
(1,099)
Net Income
579
351
1,838
1,333
Preferred stock dividend requirement of subsidiary
3
3
10
10
Income Available for Common Shareholders
$ 576
$ 348
$ 1,828
$ 1,323
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding, Basic
2,137
2,111
2,136
2,041
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding, Diluted
2,143
2,140
2,142
2,138
Net Income Per Common Share, Basic
$ 0.27
$ 0.16
$ 0.86
$ 0.65
Net Income Per Common Share, Diluted
$ 0.27
$ 0.16
$ 0.85
$ 0.62
