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PPL Corporation Reports Second-Quarter Earnings

Posted : Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:00:35 GMT
Author : PPL Corporation
Category : Press Release
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-- Quarterly earnings decline versus a year ago, when PPL recorded a gain on the sale of a Latin American business -- Company lowers ongoing earnings forecast for balance of year due to higher fuel costs and lower expected results from marketing and trading operations
ALLENTOWN, Pa., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) on Friday (8/1) reported declines in both second-quarter and first-half earnings for 2008, compared with the same periods of 2007.
PPL's reported earnings in the most recent quarter were $0.50 per share, compared with $0.88 per share a year ago. For the first six months of 2008, PPL reported earnings of $1.19 per share, compared with $1.41 per share a year ago.
Contributing to the declines in earnings versus 2007 were: the divestitures of PPL's electricity delivery businesses in Latin America, including the loss of operating earnings; a 2007 U.S. tax benefit that did not recur in 2008; rising fuel costs; and the loss of synfuel-related earnings. Partially offsetting these negative factors were improved margins from energy marketing and trading activities.
Second-quarter earnings from ongoing operations also declined, to $0.50 per share, compared with $0.63 per share a year ago. For the first six months of 2008, earnings from ongoing operations were $1.11 per share, compared with $1.28 per share a year ago.
"As we stated last quarter, we expect stronger second-half margins in our supply business segment, compared with first-half margins," said James H. Miller, PPL's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "However, on top of the previously announced loss of several key 2007 earnings contributors, the continued increase in coal commodity and transportation costs, combined with lower than planned results from our marketing and trading activities, prompts us to lower our 2008 ongoing earnings forecast today."
PPL lowered its 2008 forecast of earnings from ongoing operations to $2.25 to $2.35 per share from $2.35 to $2.45 per share. The company's 2008 forecast of reported earnings is $2.33 to $2.43 per share, reflecting special items recorded through June 30, 2008. This forecast does not reflect the previously announced potential impairment of certain emission allowances as a result of a recent federal court decision invalidating the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Interstate Rule. Any impairment of allowances as a result of the court's decision would be a special item charge.
"As we look ahead to initiating our 2009 earnings forecast later this year, we anticipate that rising delivered fuel prices and the completion of our scrubber construction program, coupled with the fall in sulfur dioxide allowance prices, will create challenges for us in 2009 compared with our expected results in 2008," Miller said. "While we will clearly continue to explore ways to mitigate these cost pressures, we expect that our 2009 earnings will be lower than what we expect to achieve in 2008. Our ability to recover these fuel price increases is constrained by the fixed-price, provider-of-last-resort contract that expires at the end of 2009."
Beyond 2009, however, Miller said the company is seeing upside earnings potential.
"We are more optimistic about our earnings outlook for 2010 than we were a year ago, when we established our current forecast range of $4.00 to $4.60 per share," Miller said. "Based on what we have been able to achieve through our rigorous hedging program and the prices that we currently see in the marketplace, we anticipate that -- for 2010 and beyond -- our generating portfolio and marketing expertise will allow us to continue to increase value for shareowners even in the face of higher fuel and other commodity costs."
Second-Quarter 2008 Earnings Details
PPL's reported earnings in the second quarter of 2008 reflected a special item credit of $0.01 per share related to mark-to-market impacts of energy-related, non-trading economic hedges, and a special item charge of $0.01 for impairments of securities in PPL's nuclear decommissioning trust funds. The second quarter of 2007 reflected net special item credits of $0.25 per share, primarily from the sale of PPL's electricity delivery business in El Salvador.
Reported earnings are calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Earnings from ongoing operations is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes special items. Special items include charges or credits that are unusual or nonrecurring. Special items also include the mark-to-market impact of energy-related, non-trading economic hedges and impairments of securities in PPL's nuclear decommissioning trust funds.


(Dollars in millions, except for per share amounts)

 2nd Quarter
 2008   2007% Change
Reported Earnings$190   $345-45 %
Reported Earnings per Share $0.50  $0.88-43 %
Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations  $190   $248-23 %
Per Share Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations $0.50  $0.63-21 %

(See the tables at the end of the news release for details as to the reconciliation of reported earnings versus earnings from ongoing operations.)


   First-Half and Second-Quarter 2008 Earnings by Business Segment
The following chart shows PPL's earnings by business segment for the second quarter and first half of 2008, compared with the same periods of 2007.
 2nd Quarter   Year to Date
   2008  20072008   2007

Per share earnings from ongoing
 operations

Supply$0.26  $0.30   $0.45 $0.62
Pennsylvania Delivery  0.08   0.070.24  0.23
International Delivery 0.16   0.260.42  0.43
Total $0.50  $0.63   $1.11 $1.28

Special Items

Supply   $-  $0.04   $0.08 $0.02
Pennsylvania Delivery -  -   - -
International Delivery-   0.21   -  0.11
Total$-  $0.25   $0.08 $0.13

Reported earnings

Supply$0.26  $0.34   $0.53 $0.64
Pennsylvania Delivery  0.08   0.070.24  0.23
International Delivery 0.16   0.470.42  0.54
Total $0.50  $0.88   $1.19 $1.41

(For more details and a breakout of special items by segment, see the reconciliation tables at the end of this news release.)

   Key Factors Impacting Business Segment Earnings from Ongoing Operations
Supply Segment
PPL's supply business segment primarily consists of the domestic energy generation and marketing operations of PPL Energy Supply.
Earnings from ongoing operations for PPL's supply business segment decreased in the second quarter of 2008 by $0.04 per share, or 13 percent, compared with a year ago. This decline resulted primarily from the following factors: a $0.02 per share loss in synfuel-related earnings as a result of the expiration of federal synfuel tax credits at the end of 2007; higher average fuel prices and lower base load generation; and higher operating expenses. Partially offsetting these negative factors were improved margins from energy marketing and trading activities in the East and West.
Earnings from ongoing operations for PPL's supply business segment during the first six months of 2008 decreased by $0.17 per share, or 27 percent, compared with a year ago. This decline resulted primarily from the same factors that drove second-quarter 2008 results, including $0.10 per share related to synfuels.
Pennsylvania Delivery Segment
PPL's Pennsylvania delivery business segment includes the regulated electric and gas delivery operations of PPL Electric Utilities and PPL Gas Utilities.
Earnings from ongoing operations for PPL's Pennsylvania delivery business segment increased in the second quarter of 2008 by $0.01 per share, or 14 percent, compared with a year ago. This increase resulted primarily from the higher electricity revenues as a result of load growth and PPL Electric Utilities' base rate increase effective Jan. 1, 2008. These positive earnings factors were partially offset by higher operation and maintenance expenses.
Earnings from ongoing operations for PPL's Pennsylvania delivery business segment increased during the first six months of 2008 by $0.01 per share, or 4 percent, compared with a year ago. This increase resulted primarily from the net impact of the same factors that drove second-quarter 2008 results.
International Delivery Segment
PPL's international delivery business segment primarily includes investments in the regulated electric distribution companies in the United Kingdom and included the operating results of the Latin American electricity distribution businesses prior to their divestiture in 2007.
Earnings from ongoing operations for PPL's international delivery business segment decreased in the second quarter of 2008 by $0.10 per share, or 38 percent, compared with a year ago. This decline resulted primarily from a 2007 U.S. tax benefit of $0.08 per share related to the U.K. businesses and the loss in earnings of $0.03 per share from PPL's Latin American businesses following their divestitures throughout 2007. Partially offsetting these decreases were higher U.K. delivery revenues, due to higher rates from the annual regulatory adjustment for inflation, and lower operating expenses.
Earnings from ongoing operations for PPL's international delivery business segment decreased during the first six months of 2008 by $0.01 per share, or 2 percent, compared with a year ago. This decline resulted primarily from the net impact of the same factors that drove second-quarter 2008 results.
  2008 Earnings from Ongoing Operations Forecast by Business Segment

Earnings 2008   2007
(per share)   (forecast)  (actual)
   Midpoint

Supply   $1.16 $1.42
Pennsylvania Delivery 0.45  0.40
International Delivery0.69  0.78
Total$2.30 $2.60

Supply Segment
PPL projects lower earnings from ongoing operations in its supply business segment in 2008 compared with 2007 as a result of the loss of synfuel-related benefits and higher depreciation and operating expenses for scrubbers that have been or will be installed during 2008 at its Montour and Brunner Island coal-fired power plants, both in Pennsylvania.
PPL now expects its energy margins to be flat in 2008 compared with 2007. During the second half of 2008, increased margins as a result of higher-valued wholesale energy contracts and higher expected base load generation are expected to be offset by higher coal commodity and transportation costs and lower expected margins from PPL's marketing and trading activities as a result of reduced liquidity in certain energy markets.
Pennsylvania Delivery Segment
PPL projects higher earnings from ongoing operations for its Pennsylvania delivery business segment, driven by higher revenues as a result of PPL Electric Utilities' new distribution rates, partially offset by higher operating expenses.
International Delivery Segment
PPL projects the earnings from ongoing operations of its international delivery business segment will decline in 2008 compared with 2007. This decline is a result of the 2007 divestiture of PPL's Latin American businesses and higher U.S. income taxes primarily driven by certain U.S. income tax benefits realized in 2007. Partially offsetting the impact of these negative earnings drivers are lower U.K. pension expense and lower financing costs.
2010 Earnings Forecast
PPL also reaffirmed its 2010 earnings forecast range of $4.00 to $4.60 per share. This forecast is driven primarily by higher energy margins based on higher wholesale electricity and capacity prices, higher expected generation output, and increased earnings from marketing and trading activities.
At the end of 2009, the full-requirements supply contract between PPL EnergyPlus and PPL Electric Utilities will expire. As a result of higher forward energy prices in the competitive marketplace and the 2010 capacity prices set in PJM Interconnection's auctions, PPL expects a significant improvement in energy margins in 2010.
This forecast does not include the effect of any new assets being added to the company's portfolio and assumes PPL Electric Utilities' ability to fully recover its market-based energy costs as provided under Pennsylvania law.
PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls more than 11,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to more than 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom. More information is available at www.pplweb.com.
(Note: All references to earnings per share in the text and tables of this news release are stated in terms of diluted earnings per share.)
Conference Call and Webcast
PPL invites interested parties to listen to the live webcast of management's teleconference with financial analysts about second-quarter 2008 financial results at 9 a.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 1. The meeting is available online live, in audio format, along with slides of the presentation, on PPL's Web site: www.pplweb.com. The webcast will be available for replay on the PPL Web site for 30 days. Interested individuals also can access the live conference call via telephone at 702-696-4769 (ID# 54797054).


   PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (a)

   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
(Millions of Dollars)


June 30, 2008  Dec. 31, 2007

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents$466   $430
Price risk management assets - current  2,431319
Assets held for sale  315318
Other current assets2,474  2,101
Investments   594608
Property, plant and equipment
   Electric plant  20,391 20,109
   Gas and oil plant   67 66
   Other property 193202
   20,651 20,377
   Less: accumulated depreciation   7,812  7,772
   12,839 12,605
Recoverable transition costs  430574
Goodwill and other intangibles  1,515  1,326
Price risk management assets - noncurrent   1,697587
Other noncurrent assets 1,140  1,104
   Total assets   $23,901$19,972

Liabilities and Equity
Short-term debt (including current portion
 of long-term debt)$1,162   $770
Price risk management liabilities - current 2,312423
Liabilities held for sale  46 68
Other current liabilities   1,942  1,621
Long-term debt (less current portion)   7,019  6,890
Deferred income taxes and investment tax
 credits1,735  2,192
Price risk management liabilities -
 noncurrent 2,943916
Other noncurrent liabilities1,239  1,216
Minority interest  19 19
Preferred securities of a subsidiary  301301
Earnings reinvested 3,647  3,448
Common stock and capital in excess of par
 value  2,184  2,176
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (648)   (68)
   Total liabilities and equity   $23,901$19,972

(a) The Financial Statements in this news release have been condensed and summarized for purposes of this presentation. Please refer to PPL Corporation's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for full financial statements, including note disclosure.


 Condensed Consolidated Income Statement (Unaudited)
 (Millions of Dollars, Except per Share Data)


 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
June 30 June 30
2008(a) 2007(a)(b) 2008(a)  2007(a)(b)


Operating Revenues
 Utility $981  $977$2,101 $2,058
 Unregulated retail electric and
  gas  332367 45
 Wholesale energy marketing (c)
   Realized   443   371   881727
   Unrealized economic activity  (616)8  (796)   (99)
 Net energy trading margins52 950 18
 Energy-related businesses131   185   247370
1,024 1,573 2,550  3,119

Operating Expenses
 Fuel 208   202   451435
 Energy purchases (c)
   Realized   309   207   626449
   Unrealized economic activity  (623)  (14) (885)  (134)
 Other operation and maintenance  360   347   737672
 Amortization of recoverable
  transition costs 6870   144151
 Depreciation 118   110   230226
 Taxes, other than income  7272   147150
 Energy-related businesses119   201   227403
  631 1,195 1,677  2,352
Operating Income  393   378   873767
Other Income - net  82116 48
Interest Expense  110   120   218240

Income from Continuing
 Operations Before Income
 Taxes, Minority Interest and
 Dividends on Preferred
 Securities of a Subsidiary   291   279   671575
Income Taxes   9731   226100
Minority Interest   1   1  1
Dividends on Preferred
 Securities of a Subsidiary 4 4 9  9

Income from Continuing
 Operations   189   244   435465
  Income from Discontinued
   Operations (net of income
   taxes)   1   10115 83

Net Income   $190  $345  $450   $548

Earnings per share of common
 stock - basic
  Earnings from ongoing operations  $0.51 $0.64 $1.13  $1.30
  Special items -  0.25  0.08   0.12

  Net Income$0.51 $0.89 $1.21  $1.42

Earnings per share of common
 stock - diluted
  Earnings from ongoing operations  $0.50 $0.63 $1.11  $1.28
  Special items -  0.25  0.08   0.13

  Net Income$0.50 $0.88 $1.19  $1.41

Average shares outstanding
 (thousands)
  Basic   373,158   385,300   373,009385,053
  Diluted 376,507   390,109   376,593389,645

(a) Earnings in the 2008 and 2007 periods were impacted by several special items, as described in the text and tables of this news release. Earnings from ongoing operations excludes the impact of these special items.
(b) Certain amounts from 2007 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. This includes the reclassification of PPL Gas Utilities Corporation accounts to Discontinued Operations.
(c) PPL enters into certain non-trading energy or energy-related contracts to hedge future cash flows that are not eligible for hedge accounting, or where hedge accounting is not elected. Consistent with the treatment of the hedged item, unrealized and realized gains and losses on these transactions are reflected in "Wholesale energy marketing" or "Energy purchases."


 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(Millions of Dollars)

 6 Months Ended
 June 30,
  2008 2007

Cash Flows from Operating Activities
  Net income $450   $548
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
   provided by operating activities:
  Depreciation230236
  Amortization-recoverable transition costs and other 178209
  Pre-tax gain from the sale of a Latin American
   business  (94)
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits(38)   (38)
  Impairment of assets held for sale1 70
  Unrealized gain on derivatives and other hedging
   activities (84)   (35)
  Changes in working capital  164   (235)
  Other32(42)
Net cash provided by operating activities 933619

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
  Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (661)  (687)
  Proceeds from the sale of a Latin American business180
  Net (expenditures for) sales of intangible assets  (249)26
  Net (purchases) sales of other investments  (14) 9
  Net increase in restricted cash and cash equivalents   (281)   (72)
  Other investing activities  (11) 2
Net cash used in investing activities  (1,216)  (542)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities
  Net issuances (retirements) of long-term debt   182(63)
  Repurchase of common stock  (38)   (77)
  Payment of common stock dividends  (239)  (225)
  Net increase in short-term debt 400 61
  Other financing activities   18 13
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   323   (291)

Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash
 Equivalents   (2) 1

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents   38   (213)
  Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period430794
  Cash and cash equivalents included in assets held
   for sale(2)   (14)
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $466   $567



 Key Indicators

Financial

 12 Months 12 Months
   Ended Ended
 June 30,  June 30,
   2008  2007

Dividends declared per share   $1.28  $1.16
Book value per share (a)  $13.84 $13.95
Market price per share (a)$52.27 $46.79
Dividend yield (a)   2.4 %  2.5 %
Dividend payout ratio (b) 41 %   47 %
Dividend payout ratio - earnings from ongoing
 operations (b)(c)53 %   50 %
Price/earnings ratio (a)(b) 16.6   19.1
Price/earnings ratio - earnings from ongoing
 operations (a)(b)(c)   21.6   20.2
Return on average common equity22.16 %18.52 %
Return on average common equity - earnings from
 ongoing operations (c)17.81 %17.49 %


(a) End of period.
(b) Based on diluted earnings per share.
(c) Calculated using earnings from ongoing operations, which excludes the impact of special items, as described in the text and tables of this news release.



Reconciliation of Business Segment Earnings from Ongoing Operations and
Reported Earnings (Diluted)


2nd Quarter 2008
(millions of dollars)
PA Int'l
  Supply DeliveryDelivery   Total

Earnings from Ongoing Operations$96$32 $62  $190
 Special Items
   MTM adj's from
energy-related, non-trading
economic hedges   44
   Impairment of nuclear
decom. trust
investments  (4)  (4)
   Off-site remediation of ash
basin leak11
   Impairment of gas and
propane businesses  (1)   (1)
 Total special items  1 (1)
Reported Earnings   $97$31 $62  $190


Year-to-Date June 30, 2008
(millions of dollars)
PA Int'l
  Supply DeliveryDelivery   Total

Earnings from Ongoing Operations   $166$92$160  $418
 Special Items
   MTM adj's from
energy-related, non-trading
economic hedges  54   54
   Impairment of nuclear
decom. trust
investments (Q2, '08)(4)  (4)
   Off-site remediation of ash
basin leak
(Q2, '08) 11
   Impairment of gas and
propane businesses
(Q2, '08)   (1)   (1)
   Colstrip groundwater
litigation (Q1, '08;
Q2, '08) (5)  (5)
   Synfuel tax adjustment (Q1,
'08)(13) (13)
 Total special items 33 (1)   32
Reported Earnings  $199$91$160  $450


12 Months Ended June 30, 2008
(millions of dollars)
PA Int'l
  Supply DeliveryDelivery   Total

Earnings from Ongoing Operations   $466   $159$293  $918
 Special Items
   MTM adj's from
energy-related, non-trading
economic hedges  60   60
   Impairment of nuclear
decom. trust
investments (Q2, '08)(4)  (4)
   Off-site remediation of ash
basin leak
(Q2, '08) 11
   Impairment of gas and
propane businesses
(Q2, '08)   (1)   (1)
   Colstrip groundwater
litigation (Q1, '08;
Q2, '08) (5)  (5)
   Synfuel tax adjustment (Q1,
'08)(13) (13)
   Workforce reduction (Q4,
'07) (4)(1) (4)   (9)
   Sale of Latin American
businesses (Q3, '07;
Q4, '07)   216   216
   Sale of domestic
telecommunication
operations (Q3, '07; Q4,
'07) (3)  (3)
   Sale of gas and propane
businesses (Q3, '07;
Q4, '07)   (44)  (44)
   Settlement of Wallingford
cost-based rates
(Q3, '07)33   33
   Impairment of certain
transmission rights
(Q3, '07; Q4, '07)  (13) (13)
   Change in U.K. tax rate
(Q3, '07; Q4, '07)  5454
 Total special items 52(46)266   272
Reported Earnings  $518   $113$559$1,190


Reconciliation of Business Segment Earnings from Ongoing Operations and
Reported Earnings (Diluted)


2nd Quarter 2008
(per share)
PA Int'l
  Supply  DeliveryDeliveryTotal


Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations   $0.26   $0.08   $0.16$0.50
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related,
   non-trading
   economic hedges 0.01 0.01
  Impairment of nuclear
   decom. trust
   investments(0.01)   (0.01)
  Off-site remediation of
   ash basin leak
  Impairment of gas and
   propane businesses
Total special items
Reported Earnings $0.26   $0.08   $0.16$0.50


Year-to-Date June 30, 2008
(per share)
   PA Int'l
  Supply DeliveryDelivery Total

Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations   $0.45   $0.24  $0.42 $1.11
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related,
   non-trading
   economic hedges 0.14 0.14
  Impairment of nuclear
   decom. trust
   investments (Q2, '08)  (0.01)   (0.01)
  Off-site remediation of
   ash basin leak
   (Q2, '08)
  Impairment of gas and
   propane businesses
   (Q2, '08)
  Colstrip groundwater
   litigation (Q1, '08;
   Q2, '08)   (0.01)   (0.01)
  Synfuel tax adjustment
   (Q1, '08)  (0.04)   (0.04)
Total special items0.08 0.08
Reported Earnings $0.53   $0.24  $0.42 $1.19


12 Months Ended June 30, 2008
(per share)
PA Int'l
  Supply DeliveryDelivery Total


Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations   $1.23   $0.42   $0.77$2.42
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related,
   non-trading
   economic hedges 0.17 0.17
  Impairment of nuclear
   decom. trust
   investments (Q2, '08)  (0.01)   (0.01)
  Off-site remediation of
   ash basin leak
   (Q2, '08)
  Impairment of gas and
   propane businesses
   (Q2, '08)
  Colstrip groundwater
   litigation (Q1, '08;
   Q2, '08)   (0.01)   (0.01)
  Synfuel tax adjustment
   (Q1, '08)  (0.04)   (0.04)
  Workforce reduction (Q4,
   '07)   (0.01)  (0.01)   (0.02)
  Sale of Latin American
   businesses (Q3, '07;
   Q4, '07)0.57 0.57
  Sale of domestic
   telecommunication
   operations (Q3, '07; Q4,
   '07)   (0.01)   (0.01)
  Sale of gas and propane
   businesses (Q3, '07;
   Q4, '07)   (0.12)   (0.12)
  Settlement of
   Wallingford cost-based
   rates
   (Q3, '07)   0.09 0.09
  Impairment of certain
   transmission rights
   (Q3, '07; Q4, '07) (0.04)   (0.04)
  Change in U.K. tax rate
   (Q3, '07; Q4, '07)  0.14 0.14
Total special items0.14   (0.12)  0 .70 0.72
Reported Earnings $1.37   $0.30   $1.47$3.14



Reconciliation of Business Segment Earnings from Ongoing Operations and
Reported Earnings (Diluted)

2nd Quarter 2007
 (millions of dollars)
  PA  Int'l
   SupplyDelivery Delivery  Total

Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations$118$30  $100$248
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related, non-
   trading economic
   hedges16   16
  Sale of Latin
   American businesses83  83
  Sale of domestic
   telecommunication
   operations(2)  (2)
Total special items  14   83  97
Reported Earnings  $132$30  $183$345


Year-to-Date June 30, 2007
 (millions of dollars)
   PA  Int'l
   SupplyDelivery Delivery  Total

Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations$244$88  $168$500
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related, non-
   trading economic
   hedges26   26
  Sale of Latin
   American businesses
   (Q1,'07; Q2, '07)  43  43
  Sale of domestic
   telecommunication
   operations (Q1, '07;
   Q2, '07) (20) (20)
  PJM billing dispute
   (Q1, '07) (1)  (1)
Total special items   5   43  48
Reported Earnings  $249$88  $211$548


12 Months Ended June 30, 2007
 (millions of dollars)
   PA  Int'l
   SupplyDelivery Delivery  Total

Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations$476   $150 $276 $902
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related, non-
   trading economic
   hedges15   15
  Sale of Latin
   American businesses
   (Q1,'07; Q2, '07) 43   43
  Sale of domestic
   telecommunication
   operations (Q1, '07;
   Q2, '07) (20) (20)
  PJM billing dispute
   (Q4, '06; Q1, '07)   (18)20 2
  Sale of interest in
   Griffith (Q4, '06) 11
  Workforce reduction
   (Q4, '06) (3)  (3)
  Impairment of
   nuclear decom. trust
   investments (Q4,
   '06)  (3)  (3)
  Reversal of cost
   recovery - Hurricane
   Isabel (Q3, '06) (6)   (6)
  Realization of
   benefits related to
   Black Lung
   Trust assets
   (Q3, '06)2121
Total special items (28)35   43   50
Reported Earnings  $448   $185 $319 $952


Reconciliation of Business Segment Earnings from Ongoing Operations and
Reported Earnings (Diluted)

2nd Quarter 2007
(per share)
  PA  Int'l
   Supply   Delivery Delivery   Total


Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations   $0.30  $0.07$0.26$0.63
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related, non-
   trading economic
   hedges  0.04 0.04
  Sale of Latin
   American businesses 0.21 0.21
  Sale of domestic
   telecommunication
   operations
Total special items0.040.21 0.25
Reported Earnings $0.34  $0.07$0.47$0.88


Year-to-Date June 30, 2007
(per share)
  PA  Int'l
   Supply   Delivery Delivery   Total

Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations   $0.62  $0.23$0.43$1.28
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related, non-
   trading economic
   hedges  0.07 0.07
  Sale of Latin
   American businesses
   (Q1, '07;
   Q2, '07)0.11 0.11
  Sale of domestic
   telecommunication
   operations (Q1, '07;
   Q2, '07)   (0.05)   (0.05)
  PJM billing dispute
   (Q1, '07)
Total special items0.020.11 0.13
Reported Earnings $0.64  $0.23$0.54$1.41


12 Months Ended June 30, 2007
(per share)
  PA  Int'l
   Supply   Delivery Delivery   Total


Earnings from Ongoing
 Operations   $1.22  $0.39$0.71$2.32
 Special Items
  MTM adj's from
   energy-related, non-
   trading economic
   hedges  0.04 0.04
  Sale of Latin
   American businesses
   (Q1, '07;
   Q2, '07)0.11 0.11
  Sale of domestic
   telecommunication
   operations (Q1, '07;
   Q2, '07)   (0.05)   (0.05)
  PJM billing dispute
   (Q4, '06; Q1, '07) (0.04)  0.05  0.01
  Sale of interest in
   Griffith (Q4, '06)
  Workforce reduction
   (Q4, '06)  (0.01)   (0.01)
  Impairment of
   nuclear decom. trust
   investments (Q4,
   '06)   (0.01)   (0.01)
  Reversal of cost
   recovery - Hurricane
   Isabel (Q3, '06)  (0.02)(0.02)
  Realization of
   benefits related to
   Black Lung
   Trust assets
   (Q3, '06)  0.06  0.06
Total special items   (0.07)  0.09 0.11 0.13
Reported Earnings $1.15  $0.48$0.82$2.45



   Operating - Domestic and International Electricity Sales

(millions of kwh)

  3 Months Ended June 30 6 Months Ended June 30
  PercentPercent
   20082007Change   20082007  Change
Domestic Retail
  Delivered (a)   8,832   8,872(0.5%)   19,401   19,180 1.2 %
  Supplied9,404   9,395 0.1 %   20,526   20,236 1.4 %

International
 Delivered
  United Kingdom  6,949   6,840 1.6 %   14,703   14,565 0.9 %

Domestic Wholesale
  East6,535   4,56343.2 %   12,4638,81141.4 %
  West
NorthWestern Energy 669 836   (20.0%)1,2361,669   (25.9%)
Other West3,109   2,59020.0 %6,6395,32024.8 %

(a) Electricity delivered to retail customers represents the kwh delivered to customers within PPL Electric Utilities Corporation's service territory.
"Earnings from ongoing operations" excludes the impact of special items. Special items include charges, credits or gains that are unusual or nonrecurring. Special items also include the mark-to-market impact of energy- related, non-trading economic hedges and impairments of securities in PPL's nuclear decommissioning trust funds. The mark-to-market impact of these hedges is economically neutral to the company because the mark-to-market gains or losses on the energy hedges will reverse as the hedging contracts settle in the future. Earnings from ongoing operations should not be considered as an alternative to reported earnings, or net income, which is an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). PPL believes that earnings from ongoing operations, although a non-GAAP measure, is also useful and meaningful to investors because it provides them with PPL's underlying earnings performance as another criterion in making their investment decisions. PPL's management also uses earnings from ongoing operations in measuring certain corporate performance goals. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.
Statements contained in this news release, including statements with respect to future earnings, energy prices, margins and sales, growth, revenues, expenses and pension costs, marketing performance, regulation, corporate strategy, and generating capacity and performance, are "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although PPL Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the statements. The following are among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: market demand and prices for energy, capacity and fuel; weather conditions affecting customer energy usage and operating costs; competition in power markets; the effect of any business or industry restructuring; the profitability and liquidity of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; new accounting requirements or new interpretations or applications of existing requirements; operating performance of plants and other facilities; environmental conditions and requirements and the related costs of compliance, including environmental capital expenditures and emission allowance and other expenses; system conditions and operating costs; development of new projects, markets and technologies; performance of new ventures; asset acquisitions and dispositions; any impact of hurricanes or other severe weather on our business, including any impact on fuel prices; receipt of necessary government permits, approvals and rate relief; capital market conditions and decisions regarding capital structure; the impact of state, federal or foreign investigations applicable to PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; the outcome of litigation against PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; stock price performance; the market prices of equity securities and the impact on pension income and resultant cash funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans; the securities and credit ratings of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; political, regulatory or economic conditions in states, regions or countries where PPL Corporation or its subsidiaries conduct business, including any potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism or war or other hostilities; foreign exchange rates; new state, federal or foreign legislation, including new tax legislation; and the commitments and liabilities of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in light of such important
factors and in conjunction with PPL Corporation's Form 10-K and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE PPL Corporation

Copyright © 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.




Article : PPL Corporation Reports Second-Quarter Earnings
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