Avista Corp. Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017
For the fourth quarter of 2017, net income attributable to
"Our performance during 2017 was strong. Our earnings benefited from lower resource costs, primarily from higher than normal hydroelectric generation and lower natural gas prices, which improved our earnings by approximately
"During the fourth quarter, new federal tax laws were enacted. As a result, we revalued our deferred tax assets and liabilities and a
"With regards to the
"Recently, new rates from our general rate case filings went into effect on
"
Summary Results: Avista Corp.’s results for the fourth quarter of 2017 and the year ended
Fourth Quarter | Full Year | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) by Business Segment: | |||||||||||||||
Avista Utilities | $ | 29,093 | $ | 38,059 | $ | 114,716 | $ | 132,490 | |||||||
AEL&P | 3,093 | 3,083 | 9,054 | 7,968 | |||||||||||
Other | (4,608 | ) | (1,051 | ) | (7,854 | ) | (3,230 | ) | |||||||
Total net income attributable to Avista Corp. shareholders | $ | 27,578 | $ | 40,091 | $ | 115,916 | $ | 137,228 | |||||||
Earnings (Loss) per diluted share by Business Segment: | |||||||||||||||
Avista Utilities | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 1.77 | $ | 2.07 | |||||||
AEL&P | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.14 | 0.13 | |||||||||||
Other | (0.07 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.05 | ) | |||||||
Total earnings per diluted share attributable to Avista Corp. Shareholders | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 1.79 | $ | 2.15 |
The table below presents the change in net income attributable to
Fourth Quarter | Full Year | |||||||||||||||
Net Income (a) | Earnings per Share | Net Income (a) | Earnings per Share | |||||||||||||
2016 consolidated earnings | $ | 40,091 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 137,228 | $ | 2.15 | ||||||||
Changes in net income and diluted earnings per share: | ||||||||||||||||
Avista Utilities | ||||||||||||||||
Electric gross margin (including intracompany) (b) | 2,650 | 0.04 | 8,083 | 0.13 | ||||||||||||
Natural gas gross margin (including intracompany) (c) | 2,833 | 0.04 | 8,320 | 0.12 | ||||||||||||
Other operating expenses (d) | 1,089 | 0.02 | (404 | ) | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Acquisition costs (e) | (4,369 | ) | (0.07 | ) | (11,866 | ) | (0.19 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization (f) | (1,388 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (6,531 | ) | (0.10 | ) | ||||||||
Interest expense (g) | (1,241 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (5,665 | ) | (0.09 | ) | ||||||||
Other (h) | (1,265 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (3,609 | ) | (0.04 | ) | ||||||||
Federal income tax law changes (i) | (7,446 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (7,446 | ) | (0.12 | ) | ||||||||
Effective income tax rate (j) | 171 | — | 1,344 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||
Dilution on earnings | n/a | (0.01 | ) | n/a | (0.02 | ) | ||||||||||
Total Avista Utilities | (8,966 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (17,774 | ) | (0.30 | ) | ||||||||
AEL&P earnings (k) | 10 | — | 1,086 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||
Other businesses earnings (l) | (3,557 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (4,624 | ) | (0.07 | ) | ||||||||
2017 consolidated earnings | $ | 27,578 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 115,916 | $ | 1.79 |
Analysis of 2017 Consolidated Earnings
(a) | The tax impact of each line item was calculated using Avista Corp.'s statutory tax rate (federal and state combined) of 36.69 percent. | ||||
(b) | Electric gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs) increased for both the fourth quarter and full year primarily due to the following: | ||||
• | An increase in retail electric rates due to a general rate increase in Idaho; | ||||
• | An increase in retail electric revenues compared to the prior year resulting from customer growth and an increase in non-decoupled electric revenues; | ||||
• | Recognition of decoupling revenue from prior years that had not met revenue recognition criteria until the current year; and | ||||
• | A decrease in electric resource costs primarily due to a decrease in purchased power and fuel for generation, which resulted from a decrease in thermal generation (due in part to increased hydroelectric generation) as well as a decrease in fuel prices. For the fourth quarter of 2017, we had a $1.0 million pre-tax benefit under the ERM in Washington, compared to a $2.4 million pre-tax benefit for the fourth quarter of 2016. For the full year 2017, we recognized a pre-tax benefit of $4.6 million under the ERM compared to a benefit of $5.1 million for the full year 2016. | ||||
(c) | Natural gas gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs) increased for both the fourth quarter and full year primarily due to the following: | ||||
• | General rate increase in Oregon; | ||||
• | An increase in retail natural gas revenues compared to the prior year resulting from customer growth and an increase in non-decoupled natural gas revenues; and | ||||
• | Recognition of decoupling revenue from prior years that had not met revenue recognition criteria until the current year. | ||||
(d) | Other operating expenses decreased for the fourth quarter 2017, but increased slightly for the full year 2017. For the fourth quarter 2017, there were decreases in pension, other postretirement benefit and medical expenses. These were partially offset by increases in generation, transmission and distribution operating costs. For the full year 2017, there were increases in generation and distribution maintenance costs and transmission operating costs. The increases were partially offset by decreases in pension, other postretirement benefit and medical expenses. | ||||
(e) | Acquisition costs were $6.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 and $14.6 million for the full year 2017 pre-tax, which are not being passed through to customers. However, a significant portion of the acquisition costs, which reduce income before income taxes, are not deductible for tax purposes and thus do not reduce income tax expense. | ||||
(f) | Depreciation and amortization increased for the fourth quarter and full year 2017 due to additions to utility plant. | ||||
(g) | Interest expense increased for the fourth quarter and full year 2017 due to additional outstanding debt during 2017 as compared to 2016 and partially due to an increase in the overall interest rate. | ||||
(h) | Other for the full year 2017 increased primarily due to an increase in revenue-related taxes and property taxes. | ||||
(i) | During the fourth quarter of 2017, federal income tax law changes were enacted and required the revaluation of our deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Because we have deferred income tax assets and liabilities related to our unregulated subsidiaries and certain utility expenses which are not passed through to our customers, the impact of the revaluation of our deferred income tax assets and liabilities was recorded as a $10.2 million adjustment to income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017. Of this income tax expense amount, $7.5 million related to Avista Utilities and $2.7 million related to our other businesses reflected in (l) below. | ||||
(j) | During the fourth quarter of 2017, our effective tax rate was 53.1 percent compared to 36.9 percent for the fourth quarter of 2016 and it was 41.7 percent for the full year 2017 compared to 36.3 percent for 2016. The effective tax rate increased due to federal income tax law changes and acquisition costs. The positive effect included in this line is primarily due to the utilization of a section 199 manufacturing deduction and other federal tax credits. | ||||
(k) | AEL&P earnings increased for the fourth quarter and full year 2017 due to an increase in revenue from a rate increase, higher electric loads and a slight increase in residential and commercial customers. The increases were partially offset by a customer refund recorded related to a settlement agreement reached in AEL&P's electric general rate case. There was also an increase in operating expenses for both the fourth quarter and full year 2017. | ||||
(l) | Losses at our other businesses for both the fourth quarter and full year 2017 were mostly related to the federal income tax law change, which resulted in an increase in income tax expense recorded during the fourth quarter ($2.7 million or $0.04 per diluted share). Also, there were renovation expenses and increased compliance costs at one of our subsidiaries, the recognition of our portion of net losses from our equity investments and impairment charges associated with two of our equity investments. |
Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Non-GAAP) Financial Measures
The tables above and below include electric gross margin and natural gas gross margin, two financial measures 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 excludes (or includes) amounts that are included (or excluded) in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The presentation of electric gross margin and natural gas gross margin for
The following table presents our operating revenues, resource costs and resulting gross margin (pre-tax and after-tax) for the fourth quarter and the year ended
Operating Revenues | Resource Costs | Gross Margin (Pre-Tax) | Income Taxes (a) | Gross Margin (Net of Tax) | |||||||||||||||
For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2017: | |||||||||||||||||||
Electric | $ | 254,695 | $ | 91,354 | $ | 163,341 | $ | 59,930 | $ | 103,411 | |||||||||
Natural Gas | 144,069 | 74,528 | 69,541 | 25,515 | 44,026 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Intracompany | (21,309 | ) | (21,309 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 377,455 | $ | 144,573 | $ | 232,882 | $ | 85,445 | $ | 147,437 | |||||||||
For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2016: | |||||||||||||||||||
Electric | $ | 261,598 | $ | 102,444 | $ | 159,154 | $ | 58,393 | $ | 100,761 | |||||||||
Natural Gas | 151,194 | 86,130 | 65,064 | 23,871 | 41,193 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Intracompany | (30,135 | ) | (30,135 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 382,657 | $ | 158,439 | $ | 224,218 | $ | 82,264 | $ | 141,954 | |||||||||
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2017: | |||||||||||||||||||
Electric | $ | 980,390 | $ | 331,254 | $ | 649,136 | $ | 238,168 | $ | 410,968 | |||||||||
Natural Gas | 474,649 | 264,589 | 210,060 | 77,071 | 132,989 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Intracompany | (84,680 | ) | (84,680 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,370,359 | $ | 511,163 | $ | 859,196 | $ | 315,239 | $ | 543,957 | |||||||||
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2016: | |||||||||||||||||||
Electric | $ | 996,959 | $ | 360,591 | $ | 636,368 | $ | 233,483 | $ | 402,885 | |||||||||
Natural Gas | 470,894 | 273,976 | 196,918 | 72,249 | 124,669 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Intracompany | (95,215 | ) | (95,215 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,372,638 | $ | 539,352 | $ | 833,286 | $ | 305,732 | $ | 527,554 |
(a) Income taxes were calculated using
Liquidity and Capital Resources
2017 Liquidity Transactions
We have a
In 2017, we issued 1.3 million shares of common stock for total net proceeds of
In addition, during the fourth quarter of 2017, we received an income tax refund of approximately
2018 Liquidity Expectations
In 2018, we expect to issue approximately
2018 and Forward Operating Cash Flows
Due to federal income tax law changes, we expect our operating cash flows will be negatively impacted going forward primarily due to the loss of the bonus depreciation tax deduction and from the timing of the return of excess deferred taxes to customers. As a result, we may need to raise additional capital.
Capital Expenditures
2018 Earnings Guidance and Outlook
With respect to 2018 earnings guidance, we expect a decision in our
NOTE: We will host a conference call with financial analysts and investors on
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our current expectations for future financial performance and cash flows, capital expenditures, financing plans, our current plans or objectives for future operations and other factors, which may affect the company in the future. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, most of which are beyond our control and many of which could have a significant impact on our operations, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
The following are among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: weather conditions (temperatures, precipitation levels and wind patterns), which affect both energy demand and electric generating capability, including the effect of precipitation and temperature on hydroelectric resources, the effect of wind patterns on wind-generated power, weather-sensitive customer demand, and similar effects on supply and demand in the wholesale energy markets; our ability to obtain financing through the issuance of debt and/or equity securities, which can be affected by various factors including our credit ratings, interest rates and other capital market conditions and the global economy; changes in interest rates that affect borrowing costs, our ability to effectively hedge interest rates for anticipated debt issuances, variable interest rate borrowing and the extent to which we recover interest costs through retail rates collected from customers; changes in actuarial assumptions, interest rates and the actual return on plan assets for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans, which can affect future funding obligations, pension and other postretirement benefit expense and the related liabilities; deterioration in the creditworthiness of our customers; the outcome of legal proceedings and other contingencies; economic conditions in our service areas, including the economy's effects on customer demand for utility services; declining energy demand related to customer energy efficiency and/or conservation measures; changes in long-term climates, both globally and within our utilities' service areas, which can affect, among other things, customer demand patterns and the volume and timing of streamflows to our hydroelectric resources; state and federal regulatory decisions or related judicial decisions that affect our ability to recover costs and earn a reasonable return including, but not limited to, disallowance or delay in the recovery of capital investments, operating costs, commodity costs, interest rate swap derivatives and discretion over allowed return on investment; possibility that our integrated resource plans for electric and natural gas will not be acknowledged by the state commissions, which could result in future resource acquisitions based on the integrated resource plans that are later deemed imprudent; volatility and illiquidity in wholesale energy markets, including the availability of willing buyers and sellers, changes in wholesale energy prices that can affect operating income, cash requirements to purchase electricity and natural gas, value received for wholesale sales, collateral required of us by counterparties in wholesale energy transactions and credit risk to us from such transactions, and the market value of derivative assets and liabilities; default or nonperformance on the part of any parties from whom we purchase and/or sell capacity or energy; potential environmental regulations affecting our ability to utilize or resulting in the obsolescence of our power supply resources; severe weather or natural disasters, including, but not limited to, avalanches, wind storms, wildfires, earthquakes, snow and ice storms, that can disrupt energy generation, transmission and distribution, as well as the availability and costs of materials, equipment, supplies and support services; explosions, fires, accidents, mechanical breakdowns or other incidents that may impair assets and may disrupt operations of any of our generation facilities, transmission, and electric and natural gas distribution systems or other operations and may require us to purchase replacement power; explosions, fires, accidents or other incidents arising from or allegedly arising from our operations that may cause wildfires, injuries to the public or property damage; blackouts or disruptions of interconnected transmission systems (the regional power grid); terrorist attacks, cyber attacks or other malicious acts that may disrupt or cause damage to our utility assets or to the national or regional economy in general, including any effects of terrorism, cyber attacks or vandalism that damage or disrupt information technology systems; work force issues, including changes in collective bargaining unit agreements, strikes, work stoppages, the loss of key executives, availability of workers in a variety of skill areas, and our ability to recruit and retain employees; increasing costs of insurance, more restrictive coverage terms and our ability to obtain insurance; delays or changes in construction costs, and/or our ability to obtain required permits and materials for present or prospective facilities; increasing health care costs and cost of health insurance provided to our employees and retirees; third party construction of buildings, billboard signs, towers or other structures within our rights of way, or placement of fuel receptacles within close proximity to our transformers or other equipment, including overbuild atop natural gas distribution lines; the loss of key suppliers for materials or services or disruptions to the supply chain; adverse impacts to our
For a further discussion of these factors and other important factors, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
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Issued by:
AVISTA CORPORATION | |||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) | |||||||||||||||
(Dollars in Thousands except Per Share Amounts) | |||||||||||||||
Fourth Quarter | Full Year | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||
Operating revenues | $ | 397,862 | $ | 402,123 | $ | 1,445,929 | $ | 1,442,483 | |||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Utility resource costs | 147,661 | 161,095 | 524,566 | 551,366 | |||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 90,641 | 92,829 | 343,463 | 341,296 | |||||||||||
Acquisition costs | 6,614 | — | 14,618 | — | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 43,943 | 41,600 | 172,021 | 161,283 | |||||||||||
Utility taxes other than income taxes | 27,019 | 24,066 | 106,752 | 98,735 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 315,878 | 319,590 | 1,161,420 | 1,152,680 | |||||||||||
Income from operations | 81,984 | 82,533 | 284,509 | 289,803 | |||||||||||
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest | 23,624 | 22,058 | 92,882 | 84,479 | |||||||||||
Other income - net | (465 | ) | (3,053 | ) | (7,063 | ) | (10,078 | ) | |||||||
Income before income taxes | 58,825 | 63,528 | 198,690 | 215,402 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | 31,210 | 23,425 | 82,758 | 78,086 | |||||||||||
Net income | 27,615 | 40,103 | 115,932 | 137,316 | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (37 | ) | (12 | ) | (16 | ) | (88 | ) | |||||||
Net income attributable to Avista Corp. shareholders | $ | 27,578 | $ | 40,091 | $ | 115,916 | $ | 137,228 | |||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), basic | 64,809 | 64,185 | 64,496 | 63,508 | |||||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), diluted | 65,308 | 64,620 | 64,806 | 63,920 | |||||||||||
Earnings per common share attributable to Avista Corp. shareholders: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 1.80 | $ | 2.16 | |||||||
Diluted | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 1.79 | $ | 2.15 | |||||||
Dividends declared per common share | $ | 0.3575 | $ | 0.3425 | $ | 1.43 | $ | 1.37 | |||||||
Issued Feb. 21, 2018 |
AVISTA CORPORATION | |||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) | |||||||
(Dollars in Thousands) | |||||||
December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
2017 | 2016 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 16,172 | $ | 8,507 | |||
Accounts and notes receivable | 185,664 | 180,265 | |||||
Other current assets | 135,698 | 162,569 | |||||
Total net utility property | 4,398,810 | 4,147,500 | |||||
Other non-current assets | 153,131 | 141,443 | |||||
Regulatory assets for deferred income tax | 90,315 | 109,853 | |||||
Regulatory assets for pensions and other postretirement benefits | 209,115 | 240,114 | |||||
Regulatory asset for interest rate swaps | 169,704 | 161,508 | |||||
Other regulatory assets | 146,295 | 152,670 | |||||
Other deferred charges | 9,828 | 5,326 | |||||
Total Assets | $ | 5,514,732 | $ | 5,309,755 | |||
Liabilities and Equity | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 107,289 | $ | 115,545 | |||
Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases | 277,438 | 3,287 | |||||
Short-term borrowings | 105,398 | 120,000 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 207,377 | 168,696 | |||||
Long-term debt and capital leases | 1,491,799 | 1,678,717 | |||||
Long-term debt to affiliated trusts | 51,547 | 51,547 | |||||
Regulatory liability for utility plant retirement costs | 285,786 | 273,983 | |||||
Pensions and other postretirement benefits | 203,566 | 226,552 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 466,630 | 840,928 | |||||
Regulatory liability for excess deferred income taxes | 442,319 | — | |||||
Non-current interest rate swap derivative liabilities | 1,522 | 28,705 | |||||
Other non-current liabilities, regulatory liabilities and deferred credits | 143,577 | 153,319 | |||||
Total Liabilities | 3,784,248 | 3,661,279 | |||||
Equity | |||||||
Avista Corporation Shareholders' Equity: | |||||||
Common stock (65,494,333 and 64,187,934 outstanding shares) | 1,133,448 | 1,075,281 | |||||
Retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive loss | 596,380 | 573,446 | |||||
Total Avista Corporation Shareholders' Equity | 1,729,828 | 1,648,727 | |||||
Noncontrolling interests | 656 | (251 | ) | ||||
Total Equity | 1,730,484 | 1,648,476 | |||||
Total Liabilities and Equity | $ | 5,514,732 | $ | 5,309,755 | |||
Issued Feb. 21, 2018 |
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Source: Avista Corporation