BUTTE, Mont. and SIOUX FALLS, S.D., July 28, 2020
/PRNewswire/ -- NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern
Energy (NYSE: NWE) reported financial results for the three months
ended June 30, 2020. Net income
for the period was $21.5 million, or
$0.43 per diluted share, as compared
with net income of $47.7 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, for the same period in
2019. This decrease was primarily due to an income tax benefit in
2019, lower gross margin due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in
the second quarter of 2020, and higher depreciation expense, offset
in part by a decrease in operating, general and administrative
expenses.
"In this extraordinary time, our employees demonstrated their
deep commitment to their communities, to our customers and to one
another. We cannot take for granted that they kept energy
flowing for the critical services on which we all depend.
While working in new ways under challenging circumstances, they
stayed on track with the ongoing work to maintain and improve our
infrastructure. They volunteered time and donated resources to
support our communities. They went the extra mile to help customers
dealing with COVID-19, the economy, weather, and life's ongoing
challenges. They looked out for one another's health, and for their
safety. In fact, last week we celebrated a remarkable
milestone - 365 days without a lost time incident within our
operations group," said Bob
Rowe, President and Chief Executive Officer. "On the
earnings front, second quarter last year had a few items that
significantly benefited earnings. While this quarter's earnings are
behind last year, they were right in line with our updated
COVID-impacted expectations. Additionally, we were able to deliver
a significant portion of our planned annual expense reduction
during the quarter, with the remainder expected to follow in the
last half of the year, and we remain on track for our $400 million capital program."
Additional information regarding this release can be found in
the earnings presentation found at
www.northwesternenergy.com/our-company/investor-relations/presentations-and-webcasts.
|
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
|
|
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
|
(in thousands,
except per share amounts)
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Revenues
|
$
|
269,360
|
|
|
$
|
270,719
|
|
|
$
|
604,615
|
|
|
$
|
654,939
|
|
Cost of
sales
|
61,043
|
|
|
55,744
|
|
|
152,315
|
|
|
171,479
|
|
Gross Margin
(1)
|
208,317
|
|
|
214,975
|
|
|
452,300
|
|
|
483,460
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating,
general and administrative
expense
|
71,715
|
|
|
80,826
|
|
|
150,720
|
|
|
161,918
|
|
Property and
other taxes
|
46,981
|
|
|
44,310
|
|
|
91,480
|
|
|
89,099
|
|
Depreciation
and depletion
|
44,782
|
|
|
41,016
|
|
|
90,047
|
|
|
86,600
|
|
Total Operating
Expenses (excl. Cost of
sales)
|
163,478
|
|
|
166,152
|
|
|
332,247
|
|
|
337,617
|
|
Operating
income
|
44,839
|
|
|
48,823
|
|
|
120,053
|
|
|
145,843
|
|
Interest expense,
net
|
(24,287)
|
|
|
(23,511)
|
|
|
(48,621)
|
|
|
(47,301)
|
|
Other income
(expense), net
|
224
|
|
|
124
|
|
|
(1,758)
|
|
|
1,273
|
|
Income before income
taxes
|
20,776
|
|
|
25,436
|
|
|
69,674
|
|
|
99,815
|
|
Income tax
benefit
|
718
|
|
|
22,226
|
|
|
2,524
|
|
|
20,653
|
|
Net
Income
|
21,494
|
|
|
47,662
|
|
|
72,198
|
|
|
120,468
|
|
Basic Shares
Outstanding
|
50,570
|
|
|
50,441
|
|
|
50,538
|
|
|
50,441
|
|
Earnings per Share -
Basic
|
$
|
0.43
|
|
|
$
|
0.94
|
|
|
$
|
1.43
|
|
|
$
|
2.39
|
|
Diluted Shares
Outstanding
|
50,639
|
|
|
50,775
|
|
|
50,613
|
|
|
50,744
|
|
Earnings per Share -
Diluted
|
$
|
0.43
|
|
|
$
|
0.94
|
|
|
$
|
1.43
|
|
|
$
|
2.38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends Declared
per Common Share
|
$
|
0.60
|
|
|
$
|
0.575
|
|
|
$
|
1.20
|
|
|
$
|
1.15
|
|
|
(1) Gross Margin,
defined as Revenues less Cost of Sales, is a non-GAAP financial
measure.
See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"
section below for more information.
|
Significant Items
COVID-19 Pandemic
We are one of many companies
providing essential services during the national emergency related
to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our level of service to our 734,800
customers remains uninterrupted. We implemented a comprehensive set
of actions to help our customers, communities, and employees, while
maintaining our commitments to provide reliable service and to
continue to monitor and adapt our financial business plan for the
evolving COVID-19 pandemic challenges. In March we voluntarily
informed both our retail customers and state regulators that
disconnections for non-payment would be temporarily suspended, and
we have provided an incremental $400,000 in charitable contributions and aid to
assist the communities we serve. Our CEO made an official
declaration of emergency in accordance with our continuity of
operations plan and emergency standard operating procedures,
implementing an incident command structure that remains in effect.
We have taken extra precautions for our employees who work in the
field and for employees who continue to work in our facilities.
This includes implementation of work from home policies,
social-distancing protocols, face-covering directives, and travel
restrictions where appropriate. Currently, we do not anticipate any
employee layoffs and are continuing to hire for critical positions
to maintain our high level of reliability and customer service. We
continue to implement strong physical and cyber-security measures
to enable our systems to remain functional to serve our operational
needs with a remote workforce and to keep our company running to
provide high quality service to our customers. We may resume
disconnects for non-payment in the third quarter of 2020, depending
on federal and state directives.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Donald Trump signed into law the CARES Act on
March 27, 2020. The CARES Act
provides numerous tax provisions and other stimulus measures,
including temporary changes regarding the prior and future
utilization of net operating losses, temporary changes to the prior
and future limitations on interest deductions, temporary suspension
of certain payment requirements for the employer portion of Social
Security taxes, technical corrections from prior tax legislation
for tax depreciation of certain qualified improvement property, and
the creation of certain refundable employee retention credits. We
evaluated the provisions of the CARES Act and do not anticipate the
associated impacts, if any, will have a material effect on our
financial position or liquidity.
2020 Outlook - During the second quarter of 2020, we
experienced a decline in gross margin of approximately $3-$4 million
related to the COVID-19 pandemic driven by a reduction in our
commercial and industrial revenue, offset in part by an increase in
usage by residential customers. We also experienced an increase in
certain operating expenses including an increase in uncollectible
accounts of approximately $3.1
million and interest expense of approximately $0.7 million. These were offset in part by cost
control and reductions of approximately $2.8
million in medical costs, labor related to in home customer
work limitations, and travel and training.
As a result of these impacts, we submitted accounting order
requests in Montana and
South Dakota to allow for the
deferral in a regulatory asset of uncollectible accounts expense in
excess of amounts currently recovered from customers. We expect the
respective commissions to rule on these requests in 2020. If the
accounting order requests are granted, approximately $2
million of uncollectible accounts expense as of June 30, 2020, would be deferred as a regulatory
asset for future recovery.
COVID-19 continues to be an evolving situation and we expect to
continue to experience impacts to our financial results going
forward. In our service territories, 'shelter in place' or 'stay at
home' orders and travel restrictions have been lifted. However,
business curtailments continue and restrictions may be imposed
again. There may also be material delays in scheduling proceedings
and hearings, and in obtaining orders from federal and state courts
and regulatory agencies; these delays could negatively affect us
financially.
In addition, while we have not experienced significant supply
chain challenges, so far, we continue to closely manage and monitor
developments in our supply chain. We remain on track for our
approximately $400 million capital
investment as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2019.
However, the continued progression of and global response to the
COVID-19 pandemic increases the risk of delays in construction
activities and equipment deliveries related to our capital
projects, including potential delays in obtaining permits from
government agencies, resulting in a potential deferral of capital
expenditures.
Given the rapid and evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic,
the extent of any such impacts is uncertain. Further extension of
the slowdown of the United States'
economic growth, demand for commodities and/or material changes in
governmental policy may continue to result in lower economic growth
with lower demand for electricity and natural gas, as well as the
ability of various customers, contractors, suppliers and other
business partners to fulfill their obligations. These impacts could
have a material adverse effect on our results of operations,
financial condition and prospects.
Liquidity - We continue to maintain adequate liquidity to
operate our business and fund our ongoing capital program. As of
June 30, 2020, our total net
liquidity was approximately $368.5
million, including $7.5
million of cash and $361.0
million of revolving credit facility availability. Our
$400 million revolving credit
facility, which expires December 12,
2021, contains an accordion feature that allows us to
increase our liquidity another $25
million under certain conditions. We also have a
$25 million credit facility that
provides swing-line borrowing capability, which expires
March 27, 2022.
During the second quarter of 2020, as a precautionary measure to
increase our cash position and preserve financial flexibility in
light of uncertainty in the markets, we accessed the capital
markets in two transactions:
- On April 3, 2020, we entered into
a $100 million 364-Day Term Loan
Credit Agreement (Term Loan), with two of our relationship banks,
and borrowed the full amount under the Term Loan. Borrowings from
this facility allow us to meet our temporarily increased targeted
minimum liquidity threshold of $200
million, up from our long-standing $100 million level; and
- On May 15, 2020, we issued
$150 million principal amount
10-year, 3.21% first mortgage bonds.
As previously disclosed, we are contemplating an equity issuance
in late 2020 or early 2021 to maintain and protect our current
credit ratings in balance with our current capital expenditure
plans. Potential business disruptions and deterioration of the
capital markets stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic could delay our
contemplated equity issuance into 2021.
Proposed Colstrip Unit 4 Capacity Acquisition
In
February 2020, we filed an
application with the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) for
pre-approval to acquire Puget Sound Energy's (Puget) 25% interest,
185 MW of generation, in Colstrip Unit 4 for one dollar. As part of the application, we sought
approval to sell 90 MW of energy to Puget through a Power Purchase
Agreement (PPA) for roughly five years at a price indexed to hourly
prices at the Mid-Columbia power hub, with a price floor reflecting
the recovery of fixed operating and maintenance costs and variable
generation costs. Our application includes zero net effect on
customer bills and proposes to establish a reserve fund with
benefits from the PPA and market purchase savings. If approved, the
reserve fund will be used to address environmental compliance,
remediation and decommissioning costs associated with our existing
222 MW ownership interest in Colstrip Unit 4. Puget remains
responsible for its presale 25% ownership share of all costs for
remediation of existing environmental conditions and
decommissioning regardless of the proposed acquisition or when
Colstrip Unit 4 is retired.
Under the Ownership and Operation Agreement to which each of the
Colstrip Units 3 and 4 co-owners are a party, each co-owner has a
right of first refusal to purchase Puget's interest. In
April 2020, Talen provided notices of
its exercise of its right of first refusal to acquire a
proportionate share of Puget's interest in Colstrip Unit 4, which
would reduce our proposed transaction to 92.5 MW, and the
associated five-year PPA to Puget to 45 MW. We supplemented our
application with the MPSC to reflect this development, but have not
completed negotiations with Puget and Talen to revise the purchase
and sale agreement. On July 14, 2020,
the MPSC suspended the procedural order in the docket until a
revised purchase and sale agreement is provided reflecting Talen's
exercise of its right of first refusal. After the updated agreement
is provided, the parties and the MPSC will reestablish a procedural
schedule.
Should the MPSC decline to grant our application in all material
respects, then we have the right, under the purchase and sale
agreement with Puget, to terminate the transaction.
Colstrip Transmission System - We also entered into a
separate agreement with Puget to acquire an additional 95 MW
interest in the 500 kilovolt (kV) Colstrip Transmission System for
net book value at the time of the sale. The net book value is
expected to range between $2.5
million to $3.8 million. After
the roughly 5-year power purchase agreement with Puget, we will
have the option to acquire another 90 MW interest in the 500 kV
Colstrip Transmission System for net book value at that time. These
transmission acquisitions are conditioned upon approval and closing
of the Colstrip Unit 4 acquisition. Talen, while not a co-owner of
the Colstrip Transmission System, has claimed that its right of
first refusal as to the Colstrip Unit 4 transaction extends to the
separate transmission transaction and initiated arbitration under
the Ownership and Operation Agreement. We disagree with Talen's
claim in this regard and will oppose Talen's efforts to obtain an
interest in the Colstrip Transmission System.
Electric Resource Planning - Montana
We are currently 630 MW short
of our peak needs in Montana,
which we procure in the market. We forecast that our portfolio will
be 725 MW short by 2025, considering expiring contracts and a
modest increase in customer demand. We issued an all-source
competitive solicitation request in February
2020 for up to 280 MWs of peaking and flexible capacity to
be available for commercial operation in early 2023. We expect the
process will be repeated in subsequent years to provide a
resource-adequate energy and capacity portfolio by 2025.
Initial bids from the February
2020, 280 MW competitive solicitation were submitted in
July 2020. The bids will be evaluated
by an independent party in the coming months, and we expect the
successful project(s) to be selected and announced by the first
quarter of 2021.
If the transaction with Puget and Talen for additional capacity,
discussed above, is approved and we acquire 92.5 MW from Puget, we
expect the transaction to reduce our need for capacity in future
competitive solicitations by 85 MW based on resource adequacy
requirements.
Significant Earnings Drivers
Revenues
Consolidated operating revenues for
the three months ended June 30, 2020
were $269.3 million as compared with
$270.8 million for the same period in
2019.
Consolidated operating revenues for the six months ended
June 30, 2020 were $604.6 million as compared with $654.9 million for the same period in 2019.
Gross Margin
Consolidated gross margin for the
three months ended June 30, 2020 was
$208.3 million compared with
$215.0 million for the same period in
2019. This $6.7 million
decrease was a result of a $8.2
million decrease to items that have an impact on net income
and $1.5 million increase to items
that are offset in operating expenses, property tax expense and
income tax expense with no impact to net income.
Consolidated gross margin for items impacting net income
decreased $8.2 million, due to the
following:
- $4.4 million reduction in the
prior period of Montana electric
supply costs due to changes in the associated statute;
- $3.3 million lower due to a less
favorable adjustment of our electric QF liability (unrecoverable
costs associated with PURPA contracts as a part of a 2002
stipulation with the MPSC and other parties) as compared with the
same period in 2019 due to the combination of:
-
- A net $1.1 million lower
favorable adjustment due to actual price escalation, which was less
than estimated ($2.2 million in the
current period as compared with $3.3
million in the prior period); and
- Higher costs of approximately $2.2
million, due to a $0.9 million
reduction in costs for the adjustment to actual output and pricing
for the current contract year as compared with a $3.1 million reduction in costs in the prior
period.
- $0.5 million reduction resulting
from lower demand to transmit energy across our transmission lines
due to market conditions and pricing, including the closure of
Colstrip units 1 and 2;
- $0.2 million lower due to a net
decrease in electric retail volumes and commercial and industrial
demand resulting from a decline of approximately $3-4 million related to the COVID-19 pandemic
driven by a reduction in our commercial and industrial demand,
offset in part by an increase in usage by residential customers. In
addition, we had favorable customer growth and weather;
- $0.1 million decrease resulting
from lower Montana natural gas
rates associated with the annual step down for our Montana gas production assets; and
- $0.1 million decrease in other
miscellaneous margin items.
These decreases were partly offset by a $0.4 million increase in Montana natural gas residential loads as a
result of cooler spring weather and customer growth, offset in part
by decreases in natural gas loads for our South Dakota and Nebraska jurisdictions as a result of warmer
spring weather.
The change in consolidated gross margin for items that had no
impact on net income represented a $1.5
million increase primarily due to the following:
- $2.1 million increase in revenues
for property taxes included in trackers, offset by increased
property tax expense;
- $0.5 million increase in revenues
for operating costs included in trackers, offset by an increase in
associated operating expense; and
- $1.1 million decrease in revenue
due to the increase in production tax credit benefits passed
through to customers in our tracker mechanisms, which are offset by
decreased income tax expense.
Consolidated gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $452.3
million compared with $483.4
million for the same period in 2019. This $31.1 million decrease was a result of a
$30.3 million decrease to items that
have an impact on net income and $0.8
million decrease to items that are offset in operating
expenses and income tax expense with no impact to net income.
Operating, General and Administrative
Expenses
Consolidated operating, general and
administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were $71.7
million compared with $80.8
million for the same period in 2019. This $9.1 million decrease was a result of a
$9.7 million decrease to items that
have an impact on net income and $0.6
million increase to items that are offset in gross margin
and other income (expense) with no impact to net income.
Consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses for
items impacting net income decreased $9.7
million, including:
- $3.7 million lower employee
benefit costs primarily due to a decrease in medical expense and
employee incentive compensation expense. Medical savings includes
approximately $0.9 million of
reductions due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- $2.6 million lower maintenance
costs at our electric generation facilities;
- $1.8 million decreased labor
costs including approximately $0.7
million of in home customer work limited due to the COVID-19
pandemic and more time being spent by employees on capital projects
than maintenance projects (which are expensed);
- $1.2 million lower hazard tree
line clearance costs. As previously disclosed, we finalized our
plan to address hazard tree clearance in 2018 and accelerated the
program in 2019. We expect costs in 2020 to reflect a normal level,
which is lower than 2019;
- $1.2 million reduction in travel
and training costs due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic;
and
- $2.3 million in other
miscellaneous expense savings.
These decreases were partly offset by an increase in
uncollectible accounts. In March
2020, we voluntarily suspended service disconnections for
non-payment, to help customers who may be financially impacted by
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The change in consolidated operating, general and administrative
expenses for items that had no impact on net income decreased
$0.6 million primarily due to the
following:
- $1.5 million increase due to the
regulatory treatment of the non-service cost components of pension
and postretirement benefit expense, which is offset in other
income;
- $0.5 million due to increased
operating expenses included in trackers recovered through revenue;
and
- $1.4 million lower due to the
reduction in value of non-employee directors deferred compensation
due to a decline in our stock price, offset in other income.
Consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses for
the six months ended June 30, 2020
were $150.7 million compared with
$161.9 million for the same period in
2019. This $11.2 million
decrease was a result of a $7.9
million decrease to items that have an impact on net income
and $3.3 million decrease to items
that are offset in gross margin and other income (expense) with no
impact to net income.
Property and Other Taxes
Property and other
taxes were $47.0 million for the
three months ended June 30, 2020, as
compared with $44.3 million in the
same period of 2019. This increase was due primarily to an increase
in Montana state and local taxes
offset in part by lower MPSC tax and invasive species tax. We
estimate property taxes throughout each year, and update those
estimates based on valuation reports received from the Montana
Department of Revenue. Under Montana law, we are allowed to track the
increases in the actual level of state and local taxes and fees and
adjust our rates to recover the increase between rate cases less
the amount allocated to FERC-jurisdictional customers and net of
the associated income tax benefit.
Property and other taxes were $91.5
million for the six months ended June
30, 2020, as compared with $89.1
million in the same period of 2019.
Depreciation and Depletion Expense
Depreciation
and depletion expense was $44.8
million for the three months ended June 30, 2020, as compared with $41.0 million in the same period of 2019.
This increase was primarily due to a reduction in depreciation
expense in the second quarter of 2019 as a result of our
Montana electric rate case
settlement, and to a lesser extent plant additions.
Depreciation and depletion expense was $90.0 million for the six months ended
June 30, 2020, as compared with
$86.6 million in the same period of
2019.
Operating Income
Consolidated operating income
for the three months ended June 30,
2020 was $44.8 million as
compared with $48.8 million in the
same period of 2019. This decrease was primarily due to the
decrease in gross margin and higher property tax and depreciation
expense, offset in part by lower operating expenses, as discussed
above.
Consolidated operating income for the six months ended
June 30, 2020 was $120.1 million as compared with $145.8 million in the same period of 2019.
Interest Expense
Consolidated interest expense
for the three months ended June 30,
2020 was $24.3 million, as
compared with $23.5 million in the
same period of 2019, including approximately $0.7 million as a result of higher borrowings, in
part as a precautionary measure in order to increase our cash
position and preserve financial flexibility in light of the
uncertainty in the markets.
Consolidated interest expense for the six months ended
June 30, 2020 was $48.6 million, as compared with $47.3 million in the same period of 2019.
Other Income
Consolidated other income was
$0.2 million for the three months
ended June 30, 2020 as compared to
$0.1 million during the same period
of 2019. This change includes a decrease in other pension expense
of $1.5 million, partially offset by
a $1.4 million decrease in the value
of deferred shares held in trust for non-employee directors
deferred compensation, both of which are offset in operating,
general, and administrative expense with no impact to net
income.
Consolidated other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020, was $1.8
million, as compared with consolidated other income of
$1.3 million in the same period of
2019.
Income Tax
Consolidated income tax benefit for
the three months ended June 30, 2020
was $0.7 million as compared with
income tax benefit of $22.2 million
in the same period of 2019. Our effective tax rate for the three
months ended June 30, 2020 was (3.5)%
as compared with (87.4)% for the same period of 2019. We currently
estimate effective tax rate to range between (5)% to 0% in
2020.
The following table summarizes the differences between our
effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate for the
periods:
(in
millions)
|
|
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Income Before
Income
Taxes
|
|
$
|
20.8
|
|
|
|
$
|
25.4
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
69.7
|
|
|
|
$
|
99.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax calculated
at
federal statutory rate
|
|
4.4
|
|
21.0
|
%
|
|
5.3
|
|
21.0
|
%
|
|
|
14.6
|
|
21.0
|
%
|
|
21.0
|
|
21.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Permanent or
flow-through
adjustments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State income tax, net
of
federal provisions
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
|
0.2
|
|
0.9
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
1.2
|
|
1.2
|
%
|
Flow-through
repairs
deductions
|
|
(3.2)
|
|
(15.4)
|
%
|
|
(2.1)
|
|
(8.5)
|
%
|
|
|
(10.6)
|
|
(15.3)
|
%
|
|
(10.1)
|
|
(10.1)
|
%
|
Production tax
credits
|
|
(1.7)
|
|
(8.5)
|
%
|
|
(1.4)
|
|
(5.5)
|
%
|
|
|
(5.3)
|
|
(7.7)
|
%
|
|
(5.9)
|
|
(5.8)
|
%
|
Share-based
compensation
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
|
|
(0.6)
|
|
(0.9)
|
%
|
|
0.2
|
|
0.2
|
%
|
Amortization of
excess
deferred income tax
|
|
(0.2)
|
|
(0.7)
|
%
|
|
(0.2)
|
|
(0.7)
|
%
|
|
|
(0.5)
|
|
(0.7)
|
%
|
|
(1.6)
|
|
(1.6)
|
%
|
Plant and
depreciation flow
through items
|
|
0.1
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
|
(0.6)
|
|
(2.6)
|
%
|
|
|
0.2
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
|
(2.2)
|
|
(2.2)
|
%
|
Recognition of
unrecognized tax benefit
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
|
(23.2)
|
|
(91.2)
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
%
|
|
(22.8)
|
|
(22.9)
|
%
|
Other, net
|
|
—
|
|
(0.2)
|
%
|
|
(0.2)
|
|
(0.8)
|
%
|
|
|
(0.3)
|
|
(0.4)
|
%
|
|
(0.5)
|
|
(0.5)
|
%
|
Subtotal
|
|
(5.1)
|
|
(24.5)
|
%
|
|
(27.5)
|
|
(108.4)
|
%
|
|
|
(17.1)
|
|
(24.6)
|
%
|
|
(41.7)
|
|
(41.7)
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income Tax
Expense
|
|
$
|
(0.7)
|
|
(3.5)
|
%
|
|
$
|
(22.2)
|
|
(87.4)
|
%
|
|
|
$
|
(2.5)
|
|
(3.6)
|
%
|
|
$
|
(20.7)
|
|
(20.7)
|
%
|
We compute income tax expense for each quarter based on the
estimated annual effective tax rate for the year, adjusted for
certain discrete items. Our effective tax rate typically differs
from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to the regulatory
impact of flowing through federal and state tax benefits of repairs
deductions, state tax benefit of accelerated tax depreciation
deductions (including bonus depreciation when applicable) and
production tax credits.
Net Income
Consolidated net income for the
three months ended June 30, 2020 was
$21.5 million as compared with
$47.7 million for the same period in
2019.
Consolidated net income for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $72.2
million as compared with $120.5
million for the same period in 2019.
Reconciliation of Primary Changes from 2019 to
2020
|
|
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
|
|
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
|
|
($millions, except
EPS)
|
Pretax
Income
|
Net
(1)
Income
|
Diluted
EPS
|
|
Pretax
Income
|
Net
(1)
Income
|
Diluted
EPS
|
|
2019
reported
|
$25.4
|
|
$47.7
|
|
$0.94
|
|
|
$99.8
|
|
$120.5
|
|
$2.38
|
|
Gross
Margin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Montana electric
supply cost recovery
|
(4.4)
|
|
(3.3)
|
|
(0.07)
|
|
|
(2.7)
|
|
(2.0)
|
|
(0.03)
|
|
|
Electric QF
liability
|
(3.3)
|
|
(2.5)
|
|
(0.05)
|
|
|
(3.3)
|
|
(2.5)
|
|
(0.05)
|
|
|
Electric
transmission
|
(0.5)
|
|
(0.4)
|
|
(0.01)
|
|
|
(1.5)
|
|
(1.1)
|
|
(0.02)
|
|
|
Electric retail
volumes and demand
|
(0.2)
|
|
(0.1)
|
|
—
|
|
|
(8.9)
|
|
(6.6)
|
|
(0.13)
|
|
|
Montana natural gas
rates
|
(0.1)
|
|
(0.1)
|
|
—
|
|
|
(0.7)
|
|
(0.5)
|
|
(0.01)
|
|
|
Natural gas retail
volumes
|
0.4
|
|
0.3
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
(8.0)
|
|
(6.0)
|
|
(0.12)
|
|
|
Montana electric
rates
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
1.6
|
|
1.2
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
Other
|
(0.1)
|
|
(0.1)
|
|
—
|
|
|
(6.8)
|
|
(5.1)
|
|
(0.10)
|
|
|
Subtotal: Items
impacting net income
|
(8.2)
|
|
(6.2)
|
|
(0.12)
|
|
|
(30.3)
|
|
(22.6)
|
|
(0.44)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property taxes
recovered in trackers
|
2.1
|
|
1.6
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
2.4
|
|
1.8
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
Operating expenses
recovered in trackers
|
0.5
|
|
0.4
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
(0.2)
|
|
(0.1)
|
|
—
|
|
|
Production tax
credits flowed-through trackers
|
(1.1)
|
|
(0.8)
|
|
(0.02)
|
|
|
(3.0)
|
|
(2.2)
|
|
(0.04)
|
|
|
Subtotal: Items
not impacting net income
|
1.5
|
|
1.2
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
(0.8)
|
|
(0.5)
|
|
(0.01)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Gross
Margin
|
(6.7)
|
|
(5.0)
|
|
(0.10)
|
|
|
(31.1)
|
|
(23.1)
|
|
(0.45)
|
|
OG&A
Expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee
benefits
|
3.7
|
|
2.8
|
|
0.06
|
|
|
3.7
|
|
2.8
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
General
maintenance
|
2.6
|
|
1.9
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
0.9
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
Labor
|
1.8
|
|
1.3
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
1.8
|
|
1.3
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
Hazard
trees
|
1.2
|
|
0.9
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
0.9
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
Travel and
training
|
1.2
|
|
0.9
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
0.9
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
Uncollectable
accounts
|
(3.1)
|
|
(2.3)
|
|
(0.05)
|
|
|
(3.1)
|
|
(2.3)
|
|
(0.05)
|
|
|
Other miscellaneous
expense
|
2.3
|
|
1.7
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
1.9
|
|
1.4
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
Subtotal: Items
impacting net income
|
9.7
|
|
7.2
|
|
0.15
|
|
|
7.9
|
|
5.9
|
|
0.12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension and other
postretirement benefits
|
(1.5)
|
|
(1.1)
|
|
(0.02)
|
|
|
(3.2)
|
|
(2.4)
|
|
(0.05)
|
|
|
Operating expenses
recovered in trackers
|
(0.5)
|
|
(0.4)
|
|
—
|
|
|
0.2
|
|
0.1
|
|
—
|
|
|
Non-employee
directors deferred compensation
|
1.4
|
|
1.0
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
6.3
|
|
4.7
|
|
0.09
|
|
|
Subtotal: Items
not impacting net income
|
(0.6)
|
|
(0.5)
|
|
—
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
2.4
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total OG&A
Expense
|
9.1
|
|
6.7
|
|
0.15
|
|
|
11.2
|
|
8.3
|
|
0.16
|
|
Other
items
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and other
taxes
|
(2.7)
|
|
(2.0)
|
|
(0.04)
|
|
|
(2.4)
|
|
(1.8)
|
|
(0.04)
|
|
|
Depreciation and
depletion expense
|
(3.8)
|
|
(2.8)
|
|
(0.06)
|
|
|
(3.4)
|
|
(2.5)
|
|
(0.05)
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
(0.8)
|
|
(0.6)
|
|
(0.01)
|
|
|
(1.3)
|
|
(1.0)
|
|
(0.02)
|
|
|
Other income &
expense, net
|
0.2
|
|
0.1
|
|
—
|
|
|
(3.1)
|
|
(2.3)
|
|
(0.05)
|
|
|
Permanent &
flow-through adjustments
|
|
(22.6)
|
|
(0.45)
|
|
|
|
(25.9)
|
|
(0.51)
|
|
|
Impact of higher
share count & other
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
Total Other
items
|
(7.1)
|
|
(27.9)
|
|
(0.56)
|
|
|
(10.2)
|
|
(33.5)
|
|
(0.66)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total impact of
above items
|
(4.6)
|
|
(26.2)
|
|
(0.51)
|
|
|
(30.1)
|
|
(48.3)
|
|
(0.95)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020
reported
|
$20.8
|
|
$21.5
|
|
$0.43
|
|
|
$69.7
|
|
$72.2
|
|
$1.43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Income Tax
Benefit (Expense) calculation on reconciling items assumes blended
federal plus state effective tax rate of 25.3%.
|
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of
June 30, 2020, our total net liquidity was approximately
$368.5 million, including
$7.5 million of cash and $361.0 million of revolving credit facility
availability. This compares to total net liquidity one year ago at
June 30, 2019 of $110.0
million. Availability under our revolving credit
facilities was $358 million as of
July 24, 2020.
Dividend Declared
NorthWestern's Board of
Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of
$0.60 per share payable September 30, 2020 to common shareholders of
record as of September 15, 2020.
2020 Revised Earnings Guidance
Affirmed
NorthWestern affirms its previously revised
2020 earnings guidance range of $3.30
- $3.45 per diluted share based upon,
but not limited to, the following major assumptions and
expectations:
- COVID-19 related business slowdowns and closures in our
service territory continue to ease during the third quarter and
nearly fully recovered in the fourth quarter 2020;
- regulatory recovery of COVID-19 related uncollectable
account expense;
- Normal weather for the remainder of the year in our electric
and natural gas service territories;
- A consolidated income tax rate of approximately (5%) to 0% of
pre-tax income; and
- Diluted shares outstanding of approximately 50.9 million.
Continued investment in our system to serve our customers and
communities is expected to provide a targeted long-term 6%-9% total
return to our investors through a combination of earnings growth
and dividend yield.
Significant Items Not Contemplated in
Guidance
A reconciliation of items not factored into our
revised non-GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance of
$3.30 - $3.45 for 2020 and final non-GAAP diluted
earnings per share of $3.42 for 2019
are summarized below. The amount below represents a non-GAAP
measure that may provide users of this data with additional
meaningful information regarding the impact of certain items on our
expected earnings. More information on this measure can be found in
the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below.
(in millions, except
EPS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-tax
Income
|
Net(1) Income
|
Diluted
EPS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020 Reported
GAAP
|
20.8
|
|
21.5
|
|
0.43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-GAAP
Adjustments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remove impact of
favorable weather
|
(0.5)
|
|
(0.4)
|
|
(0.01)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020 Adj.
Non-GAAP
|
$
|
20.3
|
|
$
|
21.1
|
|
$
|
0.42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPS Range to Meet
Guidance
|
Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2020
|
|
Q3 - Q4
2020
|
|
Full Year
2020
|
|
Pre-tax
Income
|
Net(1) Income
|
Diluted
EPS
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
2020 Reported
GAAP
|
$69.7
|
|
$72.2
|
|
$1.43
|
|
|
$1.82
|
|
to
|
$1.97
|
|
|
$3.25
|
|
to
|
$3.40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-GAAP
Adjustments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remove impact of
unfavorable weather
|
3.5
|
|
2.6
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020 Adj.
Non-GAAP
|
$73.2
|
|
$74.8
|
|
$1.48
|
|
|
$1.82
|
|
to
|
$1.97
|
|
|
$3.30
|
|
to
|
$3.45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2019
|
|
Q3 - Q4
2019
|
|
Full Year
2019
|
|
Pre-tax
Income
|
Net(1) Income
|
Diluted
EPS
|
|
Pre-tax
Income
|
Net(1) Income
|
Diluted
EPS
|
|
Pre-tax
Income
|
Net(1) Income
|
Diluted
EPS
|
2019 Reported
GAAP
|
$99.8
|
|
$120.5
|
|
$
|
2.38
|
|
|
$82.4
|
|
$81.6
|
|
$1.60
|
|
|
$182.2
|
|
$202.1
|
|
$3.98
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-GAAP
Adjustments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remove impact of
(favorable) unfavorable weather
|
(13.7)
|
|
(10.2)
|
|
(0.20)
|
|
|
6.4
|
|
4.7
|
|
0.09
|
|
|
(7.3)
|
|
(5.5)
|
|
(0.11)
|
|
Remove impact of
unrecognized income tax benefit
|
—
|
|
(22.8)
|
|
(0.45)
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
(22.8)
|
|
(0.45)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019 Adj.
Non-GAAP
|
$86.1
|
|
$87.5
|
|
$1.73
|
|
|
$88.8
|
|
$86.3
|
|
$1.69
|
|
|
$174.9
|
|
$173.8
|
|
$3.42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Income Tax
Benefit (Expense) calculation on reconciling items assumes blended
federal plus state effective tax rate of 25.3%.
|
Company Hosting Investor Conference
Call
NorthWestern will host an investor conference call
and webcast on Wednesday, July 29,
2020, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time to review its financial
results for the second quarter 2020.
The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet at
www.northwesternenergy.com under the "Our Company / Investor
Relations / Presentations and Webcasts" heading or by visiting
https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1050/35626. To
participate, please go to the site at least 10 minutes in
advance of the webcast to register. An archived webcast will
be available shortly after the call and remain active for one
year.
About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Corporation,
doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides electricity and /
or natural gas to approximately 734,800 customers in Montana, South
Dakota and Nebraska. We
have generated and distributed electricity in South Dakota and distributed natural gas in
South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and have generated and
distributed electricity and distributed natural gas in Montana since 2002. More information on
NorthWestern Energy is available on the company's Web site at
www.northwesternenergy.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release
includes financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, as
well as other financial measures, such as Gross Margin, Adjusted
Non-GAAP Pre-Tax Income, Adjusted Non-GAAP Net Income and Adjusted
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS, that are considered "non-GAAP financial
measures." Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical
measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or
cash flows that exclude (or include) amounts that are included in
(or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated
and presented in accordance with GAAP.
We define Gross Margin as Revenues less Cost of Sales as
presented in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Management believes that Gross Margin (revenues less cost of sales)
provides a useful measure for investors and other financial
statement users to analyze our financial performance in that it
excludes the effect on total revenues caused by volatility in
energy costs and associated regulatory mechanisms. This information
is intended to enhance an investor's overall understanding of
results. Under our various state regulatory mechanisms, as detailed
below, our supply costs are generally collected from customers. In
addition, Gross Margin is used by us to determine whether we are
collecting the appropriate amount of energy costs from customers to
allow for recovery of operating costs, as well as to analyze how
changes in loads (due to weather, economic or other conditions),
rates and other factors impact our results of operations. Our Gross
Margin measure may not be comparable to that of other companies'
presentations or more useful than the GAAP information provided
elsewhere in this report.
Management also believes the presentation of Adjusted Non-GAAP
pre-tax income, net income and Diluted EPS is more representative
of normal earnings than GAAP pre-tax income, net income and EPS due
to the exclusion (or inclusion) of certain impacts that are not
reflective of ongoing earnings. The presentation of these non-GAAP
measures is intended to supplement investors' understanding of our
financial performance and not to replace other GAAP measures as an
indicator of actual operating performance. Our measures
may not be comparable to other companies' similarly titled
measures.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without
limitation, the information under "Significant Items Not
Contemplated in Earnings". Forward-looking statements often address
our expected future business and financial performance, and often
contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends,"
"plans," "believes," "seeks," or
"will." These statements are based upon our current
expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our
actual future business and financial performance may differ
materially and adversely from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to:
- adverse determinations by regulators, as well as potential
adverse federal, state, or local legislation or regulation,
including costs of compliance with existing and future
environmental requirements, could have a material effect on our
liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
- the direct or indirect effects resulting from the recent
outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on our
revenue, our operations and our ability to complete construction
projects;
- changes in availability of trade credit, creditworthiness of
counterparties, usage, commodity prices, fuel supply costs or
availability due to higher demand, shortages, weather conditions,
transportation problems or other developments, may reduce revenues
or may increase operating costs, each of which could adversely
affect our liquidity and results of operations;
- unscheduled generation outages or forced reductions in output,
maintenance or repairs, which may reduce revenues and increase cost
of sales or may require additional capital expenditures or other
increased operating costs; and
- adverse changes in general economic and competitive conditions
in the U.S. financial markets and in our service territories.
Our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K and other Securities and
Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk
factors that may affect our business, results of operations and
financial condition. We undertake no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/northwestern-reports-second-quarter-2020-financial-results-301101571.html
SOURCE NorthWestern Energy