Portland General Electric Co POR

• Reached constructive global settlement stipulation in 2024 GRC, including updates to the power cost recovery framework
• Third quarter results reflect challenging weather, power market volatility, and continued investment to support grid resiliency, customer growth and decarbonization
• Narrowing 2023 adjusted earnings guidance from $2.60 to $2.75 to $2.60 to $2.65 per diluted share to reflect the impact of third quarter power cost results

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) today reported net income based on generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) of $47 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023. This compares with GAAP net income of $58 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2022.

"While challenging power market conditions impacted our results in the quarter, we made important progress to reduce risk and reinforce our long-term growth trajectory," said Maria Pope, PGE President and CEO. "In particular, we were pleased to reach a constructive settlement in our General Rate Case, which improved power cost risk management. We also received exciting news that the Department of Energy awarded three grants that reinforce the work we are doing to advance the clean energy transition in collaboration with regional partners."

Third Quarter 2023 Compared to Third Quarter 2022

Total revenues increased due to higher demand from digital customers and increased recovery of power costs, partially offset by lower residential and commercial usage. Purchased power and fuel expense increased primarily due to less favorable power market conditions resulting from periods of extreme summer heat. Operating and administrative expenses increased due to higher grid maintenance and resiliency costs and higher generation maintenance costs. Depreciation and amortization expense and interest expense increased due to ongoing capital investment. Other income decreased due to a prior year settlement gain from the buyout of a portion of PGE's post-retirement medical plan that did not recur.

Company Updates

2024 General Rate Case Global Settlement Stipulation

On October 6, 2023, PGE and stakeholders reached a settlement that resolves remaining issues in PGE's general rate case. Terms of the agreement and the resulting stipulation were submitted to the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) in Docket UE 416. After adjusting for the effects of settled items, PGE's adjusted annual revenue requirement increase is $391 million.

Key issues resolved include a provision allowing recovery of certain costs during Reliability Contingency Events (as defined in the settlement) at an 80/20 sharing ratio, inclusions of incremental Net Variable Power Costs (NVPC) for additional capacity contracts, the establishment of a balancing account for the recovery of routine vegetation management expenses, a tariff filing for residential and small commercial customers weather-normalized decoupling, withdrawal of the proposal for associated storage from the Renewable Adjustment Clause, and updates to PGE's Income Qualified Bill Discount program.

The stipulations remain subject to OPUC approval, with new customer prices effective January 1, 2024.

Wildfire Mitigation Automatic Adjustment Clause

On October 18, 2023, the OPUC adopted a stipulation agreed to by PGE and certain parties that allows PGE to begin amortizing $27 million of deferred wildfire mitigation costs, comprised of $23 million related to the September 30, 2023 deferred operating expense balance of $31 million and $4 million for capital related revenue requirement. The $27 million will be amortized over a one-year period beginning October 20, 2023. PGE will recover the remaining deferred expense balance in future periods to be determined in a later proceeding. In January 2024, PGE will begin collecting forecasted wildfire mitigation costs under the wildfire mitigation automatic adjustment clause.

U.S. Department of Energy Awards

In October 2023, PGE and partner organizations were awarded the following:

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub—The U.S DOE selected the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association's PNWH2 Hub for award negotiations as one of the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs. PGE and partner organizations' project concept proposed as part of the PNWH2 Hub would utilize the site of the former Boardman Coal Plant to locate a potential new facility to produce green hydrogen to generate clean electricity. DOE and the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association will negotiate the final funding and scope for the hub beginning this fall as part of a multi-year process.
• U.S. DOE Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line Upgrade—The U.S. DOE selected the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS), in partnership with PGE, for a $250 million grant to upgrade the existing 230 kV Bethel-Round Butte Transmission line to 500 kV. The added capacity will increase resiliency of the transmission system and enable new carbon-free generation in Central Oregon.
• U.S. DOE Smart Grid Chip—The U.S. DOE selected a PGE led consortium for a $50 million grant for the Smart Grid Chip project. The project will enable real-time information at each meter to improve the visibility of the electrical system and enhance reliability and grid management.

PGE continues to pursue multiple areas under federal legislative programs for potential grant funding of projects.

Voluntary Renewable Energy Program

For the 14th year, PGE's voluntary renewable energy program, Green Future, was ranked number one by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the largest participation of business and residential customers in a renewables program of any electric utility in the U.S.

Quarterly Dividend

As previously announced, on October 20, 2023, the board of directors of Portland General Electric Company approved a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.475 per share. The quarterly dividend is payable on or before January 15, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 26, 2023.

2023 Earnings Guidance

PGE is narrowing its estimate for full-year 2023 adjusted earnings guidance from $2.60 to $2.75 to $2.60 to $2.65 per diluted share based on the following assumptions:

• An increase in energy deliveries of 2%, weather adjusted;
• Normal temperatures in its utility service territory;
• Hydro conditions for the year that reflect current estimates;
• Wind generation based on five years of historical levels or forecast studies when historical data is not available;
• Normal thermal plant operations;
• Operating and maintenance expense between $695 million and $715 million which includes approximately $40 million of storm, wildfire and related deferral and other expenses that are offset in revenue and other income statement lines;
• Depreciation and amortization expense between $445 million and $465 million;
• Effective tax rate of 15% to 20%;
• Cash from operations of $500 to $550 million;
• Capital expenditures of $1,475 million; and
• Average construction work in progress balance of $540 million.

Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Call and Webcast — October 27, 2023

PGE will host a conference call with financial analysts and investors on Friday, October 27, 2023, at 11 a.m. ET. The conference call will be webcast live on the PGE website at investors.portlandgeneral.com. A webcast replay will also be available on PGE's investor website "Events & Presentations" page beginning at 2 p.m. ET on October 27, 2023.

Maria Pope, President and CEO and Joe Trpik, Senior Vice President of Finance and CFO, will participate in the call. Management will respond to questions following formal comments.

The attached unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, balance sheets and statements of cash flows, as well as the supplemental operating statistics, are an integral part of this earnings release.

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 900,000 customers in 51 cities across the state of Oregon. For more than 130 years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has powered the advancement of society, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean energy. To deliver on its strategy and meet state targets, PGE and its approximately 3,000 employees are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to achieve at least an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from power served to customers by 2030 and 100% reduction by 2040. PGE customers set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. Additionally, for the fifth year in a row, PGE was recognized by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index which highlights companies committed to creating a more equal and inclusive workplace. As a reflection of the company's commitment to the community it serves, in 2022, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated nearly $5.5 million and volunteered more than 18,000 hours with more than 400 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release that relate to future plans, objectives, expectations, performance, events and the like may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions as of the date of this report. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other factors.

Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's full-year earnings guidance (including expectations regarding annual retail deliveries, hydro conditions, wind generation, normal thermal plant operations, operating and maintenance expense and depreciation and amortization expense) as well as other statements containing words such as "anticipates," "based on," "believes," "conditioned upon," "considers," "could," "estimates," "expects," "expected," "forecast," "goals," "intends," "needs," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "promises," "seeks," "should," "subject to," "targets," "will likely result", "will continue," or similar expressions.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: the timing or outcome of various legal and regulatory actions; changing customer expectations and choices that may reduce demand for electricity; the sale of excess energy during periods of low demand or low wholesale market prices; operational risks relating to the Company's generation and battery storage facilities, including hydro conditions, wind conditions, disruption of transmission and distribution, disruption of fuel supply, and unscheduled plant outages, which may result in unanticipated operating, maintenance and repair costs, as well as replacement power costs; delays in the supply chain and increased supply costs (including application of tariffs impacting solar module imports), failure to complete capital projects on schedule or within budget, inability to complete negotiations on contracts for capital projects, failure of counterparties to perform under agreement, or the abandonment of capital projects, which could result in the Company's inability to recover project costs, or impact our competitive position, market share, revenues and project margins in material ways; default or nonperformance of counterparties from whom PGE purchases capacity or energy, which require the purchase of replacement power and renewable attributes at increased costs; complications arising from PGE's jointly-owned plant, including ownership changes, regulatory outcomes or operational failures; the costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations, including those that govern emissions from thermal power plants; changes in weather, hydroelectric and energy market conditions, which could affect the availability and cost of purchased power and fuel; the development of alternative technologies; changes in capital and credit market conditions, including volatility of equity markets, reductions in demand for investment-grade commercial paper or interest rates, which could affect the access to and availability or cost of capital and result in delay or cancellation of capital projects or execution of the Company's strategic plan as currently envisioned; general economic and financial market conditions, including inflation; the effects of climate change, whether global or local in nature; unseasonable or severe weather conditions, wildfires, and other natural phenomena and natural disasters that could result in operational disruptions, unanticipated restoration costs, third party liability or that may affect energy costs or consumption; the effectiveness of PGE's risk management policies and procedures; PGE's ability to effectively implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and de-energize its system in the event of heightened wildfire risk; cyber security attacks, data security breaches, physical attacks and security breaches, or other malicious acts, which could disrupt operations, require significant expenditures, or result in claims against the Company; employee workforce factors, including potential strikes, work stoppages, transitions in senior management, and the ability to recruit and retain key employees and other talent and turnover due to macroeconomic trends; PGE business activities are concentrated in one region and future performance may be affected by events and factors unique to Oregon; widespread health emergencies or outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, which may affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows; failure to achieve the Company's greenhouse gas emission goals or being perceived to have either failed to act responsibly with respect to the environment or effectively responded to legislative requirements concerning greenhouse gas emission reductions; social attitudes regarding the electric utility and power industries; political and economic conditions; acts of war or terrorism; and risks and uncertainties related to All-Source RFP projects, including regulatory processes, transmission capabilities, system interconnections, permitting and construction delays, legislative uncertainty, inflationary impacts, supply costs and supply chain constraints. As a result, actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties to which the Company are subject are further discussed in the reports that the Company has filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov and on the Company's website, investors.portlandgeneral.com. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table indicates the number of heating and cooling degree-days for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, along with 15-year averages based on weather data provided by the National Weather Service, as measured at Portland International Airport: 

 

 

Source: Portland General Company

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SOURCE Portland General Company