NEW YORK, NY — (Marketwire) — 01/19/12 — Consolidated Edison, Inc. (Con Edison) (NYSE: ED) today reported 2011 net income for common stock of $1,051 million or $3.59 a share compared with $992 million or $3.49 a share in 2010. Earnings from ongoing operations, which exclude the net mark-to-market effects of the competitive energy businesses, were $1,064 million or $3.64 a share in 2011 compared with $981 million or $3.45 a share in 2010.
For the fourth quarter of 2011, net income for common stock was $190 million or $0.65 a share compared with $233 million or $0.81 a share in the fourth quarter of 2010. Earnings from ongoing operations for the fourth quarter of 2011, which exclude the net mark-to-market effects of the competitive energy businesses, were $219 million or $0.74 a share compared with $201 million or $0.69 a share in the fourth quarter of 2010.
“Our regulated utilities and competitive energy businesses continued to perform well in 2011,” said Kevin Burke, Con Edison–s chairman, president, and CEO. “We met the challenges of a sustained heat wave, Hurricane Irene and a late fall snowstorm. Our employees performed admirably and safely, and the company won a national award for reliability for the second consecutive year. We also continued deployment of Smart Grid technologies and energy efficiency programs, saving money for customers and investing wisely on behalf of shareholders.”
The company also today declared a quarterly dividend of 60 1/2 cents a share on its common stock, payable March 15, 2012 to shareholders of record as of February 15, 2012, an annualized increase of 2 cents over the previous annualized dividend of $2.40 a share. “The increase in the dividend, the 38th consecutive annual increase, reflects our continued emphasis on providing a return to our investors while meeting the needs of our customers,” said Robert Hoglund, senior vice president and chief financial officer.
The following table is a reconciliation of Con Edison–s reported earnings per share to earnings per share from ongoing operations and reported net income to earnings from ongoing operations for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.
The company expects its earnings from ongoing operations for the year 2012 to be in the range of $3.65 to $3.85 per share. Earnings per share from ongoing operations exclude the net mark-to-market effects of the competitive energy businesses. The forecast reflects capital investments of $2,200 million, substantially all of which will be spent at the company–s regulated utilities. The company expects to meet its 2012 external financing requirements, including for maturing securities, through the issuance of up to $750 million of long-term debt. The company does not expect to need to issue additional common equity in 2012.
The results of operations for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011, as compared with the 2010 period, reflect changes in the rate plans of Con Edison–s utility subsidiaries. The rate plans provide for additional revenues to cover expected increases in certain operations and maintenance expenses, and depreciation and property taxes. The results of operations include the operating results of the competitive energy businesses, including net mark-to-market effects.
Operations and maintenance expenses were higher for the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared with the 2010 period reflecting primarily higher costs for pension and other postretirement benefits and employee health insurance. Depreciation and property taxes were higher in the 2011 periods reflecting primarily higher utility plant balances.
The following table presents the estimated effect on earnings per share and net income for common stock for the 2011 period compared with the 2010 period, resulting from these and other major factors:
The earnings per share variations shown above include the dilutive effects ($0.01 per share and $0.10 per share, respectively, exclusive of offsetting benefits of avoided interest expense) of a higher weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the three months and year ended December 31, 2011. The weighted average number of common shares was 293 million shares and 289 million shares for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and 293 million shares and 284 million shares for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
The changes in the energy delivered by the company–s utility subsidiaries, both for actual amounts and as adjusted for variations in weather and billing days, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011, as compared with the 2010 period were as follows (expressed as a percentage of 2010 amounts):
Refer to the attachment to this press release for the consolidated income statements for 2011 and 2010. Additional information related to utility sales and revenues is available at (select “Shareholder Services” and then select “Press Releases”).
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect expectations and not facts. Actual results may differ materially from those expectations because of factors such as those identified in reports the company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This press release also contains a financial measure, earnings from ongoing operations. This non-GAAP measure should not be considered as an alternative to net income, which is an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. Management uses this non-GAAP measure to facilitate the analysis of the company–s ongoing performance as compared to its internal budgets and previously reported financial results. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure also is useful and meaningful to investors.
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the nation–s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $13 billion in annual revenues and $37 billion in assets. The company provides a wide range of energy-related products and services to its customers through the following subsidiaries: Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., a regulated utility providing electric, gas, and steam service in New York City and Westchester County, New York; Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., a regulated utility serving customers in a 1,350 square mile area in southeastern New York state and adjacent sections of northern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania; Consolidated Edison Solutions, Inc., a retail energy supply and services company; Consolidated Edison Energy, Inc., a wholesale energy supply company; and Consolidated Edison Development, Inc., a company that participates in infrastructure projects.
Robert McGee
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