Pinnacle West Reports Lower 2022 Second-Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW) reported a consolidated net income of $164.3 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, for Q2 2022, down from $215.7 million, or $1.91 per share, in Q2 2021. The decline was attributed to unfavorable outcomes from a recent rate case, higher expenses, and lower revenue. However, customer growth of 2% and sales growth of 3.2% were noted as positives. The company maintains its 2022 earnings guidance of $3.90 to $4.10 per share, supported by continued customer and sales growth.

Positive

• Customer growth of 2% year-over-year.
• Sales growth of 3.2% year-over-year.
• 2022 earnings guidance maintained at $3.90 to $4.10 per share.

Negative

• Net income decreased by $51.4 million compared to Q2 2021.
• Higher depreciation and amortization expenses.
• Lower revenue due to accounting changes on lost fixed cost recovery.

• Quarterly results consistent with expectations; full-year 2022 earnings guidance maintained
• Customer and sales growth continue to bolster the company’s underlying fundamentals
• EPA recognizes APS as 2022 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW) today reported consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders of $164.3 million, or $1.45 per diluted share of common stock, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. This result compares with earnings of $215.7 million, or $1.91 per share, in the same 2021 period.

As with the 2022 first quarter, the company’s second-quarter results reflect the unfavorable outcome of the company’s recent general rate case, which was implemented on Dec. 1, 2021. As a result of that rate decision, the Company is no longer deferring costs related to the Four Corners selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and Ocotillo modernization projects to a regulatory asset. These costs are now reflected in the income statement and result in a reduction in net income. Other factors negatively affecting the 2022 second-quarter results were higher depreciation and amortization expense due to increased plant assets and updated depreciation rates; lower revenue driven by the inability to continue using alternative revenue accounting treatment for the lost fixed cost recovery (LFCR) mechanism; and higher operations and maintenance expense. These negative factors were partially offset by customer growth and lower income taxes.

“Second-quarter results were in line with our expectations, and we remain well-positioned to meet our financial commitments for the full year,” said Pinnacle West Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Guldner, citing strong year-over-year second-quarter sales growth of 3.2%, robust customer growth of 2%, superior reliability and operating performance by employees, and continued cost management.

EPA Recognizes Company’s Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Programs

For the second consecutive year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Arizona Public Service with the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for excellence in customer energy efficiency programs. These offerings include the APS Marketplace, a one-stop online shop that offers customers smart energy products at competitive prices, and the company’s Cool Rewards program. In the last year alone, these and other APS energy efficiency programs have helped the company manage energy demand and reduce lifetime carbon dioxide emissions by 2.3 billion pounds – the equivalent of removing 224,791 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from Arizona roadways.

“In its fourth year of operation, our Cool Rewards demand response program essentially operates as a virtual power plant where our customers provide nearly 100 megawatts of flexible, clean capacity,” said Guldner. “The program connects nearly 66,000 APS customers with smart thermostat technology that helps them save money, while also playing an integral role in conserving energy when the demand on the electric grid is at its highest. This partnership helps us ensure reliable, uninterrupted service to our customers on the hottest Arizona days, while also assisting us on our journey to 100% clean and carbon-free electricity by 2050.”

APS Helping Customers Manage Their Energy Use, Bills, Heat

In addition to its award-winning energy efficiency programs, APS provides a variety of resources and money-saving tips to help customers stay comfortable and manage their electric bills through summer’s scorching temperatures.

The APS mobile app and aps.com let customers check their energy use, access energy-saving tips customized to their service plan, and monitor and report outages.

Additionally, in the face of extreme temperatures and prolonged heat, APS has expanded its heat-relief initiatives, including partnering with local community organizations to aid the state’s most vulnerable populations. This includes support for The Salvation Army’s network of 18 cooling and hydration stations across Arizona; a collaboration with the Foundation for Senior Living offering emergency repair or replacement of AC systems during the scorching summer months; and an emergency shelter and eviction-protection program in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul.

The company also offers a variety of assistance programs for those who are struggling with their bill. These offerings include the Energy Support programs, which provide limited-income customers with a monthly discount on their bill; Crisis Bill Assistance, providing up to $800 annually to qualified limited-income customers who experience unexpected financial hardship; and Project SHARE, a Salvation Army-administered service providing up to $300 annually in emergency energy bill assistance.

APS customers needing aid are encouraged to visit aps.com/support for a full list of assistance programs, including up-to-date details on year-round financial resources and support.

Financial Outlook

For 2022, the company continues to expect its consolidated earnings guidance will be in the range of $3.90 to $4.10 per diluted share on a weather-normalized basis. Key factors and assumptions underlying the 2022 outlook can be found in the second-quarter 2022 earnings presentation slides at pinnaclewest.com/investors.

Conference Call and Webcast

Pinnacle West invites interested parties to listen to the live webcast of management’s conference call to discuss the company’s 2022 second-quarter results, as well as recent developments, at noon ET (9 a.m. Arizona time) today, August 3. Join the live webcast at www.pinnaclewest.com/presentations for audio of the call and slides, or dial (888) 506-0062 or (973) 528-0011 for international callers and enter participant access code 507998. A replay of the webcast can be accessed for 30 days at pinnaclewest.com/presentations. A replay of the call also will be available until 11:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, by calling (877) 481-4010 in the U.S. and Canada or (919) 882-2331 internationally and entering replay passcode 45856.

General Information

Pinnacle West Capital Corp., an energy holding company based in Phoenix, has consolidated assets of approximately $23 billion, about 6,300 megawatts of generating capacity and nearly 5,900 employees in Arizona and New Mexico. Through its principal subsidiary, Arizona Public Service, the company provides retail electricity service to more than 1.3 million Arizona homes and businesses. For more information about Pinnacle West, visit the company’s website at pinnaclewest.com.

Dollar amounts in this news release are after income taxes. Earnings per share amounts are based on average diluted common shares outstanding. For more information on Pinnacle West’s operating statistics and earnings, please visit pinnaclewest.com/investors.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "estimate," "predict," "may," "believe," "plan," "expect," "require," "intend," "assume," "project," "anticipate," "goal," "seek," "strategy," "likely," "should," "will," "could," and similar words. Because actual results may differ materially from expectations, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements. Several factors could cause future results to differ materially from historical results, or from outcomes currently expected or sought by Pinnacle West or APS. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• the potential effects of the continued COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, demand for energy, economic growth, our employees and contractors, vaccine mandates, supply chain, expenses, inflation, capital markets, capital projects, operations and maintenance activities, uncollectable accounts, liquidity, cash flows or other unpredictable events;
• our ability to manage capital expenditures and operations and maintenance costs while maintaining reliability and customer service levels;
• variations in demand for electricity, including those due to weather, seasonality (including large increases in ambient temperatures), the general economy or social conditions, customers and sales growth (or decline), the effects of energy conservation measures and distributed generation, and technological advancements;
• the potential effects of climate change on our electric system, including as a result of weather extremes such as prolonged drought and feverish temperature variations in the area where APS conducts its business;
• power plant and transmission system performance and outages;
• competition in retail and wholesale power markets;
• regulatory and judicial decisions, developments and proceedings;
• new legislation, ballot initiatives and regulation or interpretations of existing legislation or regulations, including those relating to environmental requirements, regulatory and energy policy, nuclear plant operations and potential deregulation of retail electric markets;
• fuel and water supply availability;
• our ability to achieve timely and adequate rate recovery of our costs through our rates and adjustor recovery mechanisms, including returns on and of debt and equity capital investment;
• our ability to meet renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates and recover related costs;
• the ability of APS to achieve its clean energy goals (including a goal by 2050 of 100% clean, carbon-free electricity) and, if these goals are achieved, the impact of such achievement on APS, its customers, and its business, financial condition and results of operations;
• risks inherent in the operation of nuclear facilities, including spent fuel disposal uncertainty;
• current and future economic conditions in Arizona, including in real estate markets;
• the direct or indirect effect on our facilities or business from cybersecurity threats or intrusions, data security breaches, terrorist attack, war, acts of war, international sanctions, physical attack, severe storms, or other catastrophic events, such as fires, explosions, pandemic health events, or similar occurrences;
• the development of new technologies which may affect electric sales or delivery;
• the cost of debt and equity capital and the ability to access capital markets when required;
• general economic conditions, including inflation rates, monetary fluctuations, and supply chain constraints;
• environmental, economic and other concerns surrounding coal-fired generation, including regulation of greenhouse gas emissions;
• volatile fuel and purchased power costs;
• the investment performance of the assets of our nuclear decommissioning trust, pension, and other postretirement benefit plans and the resulting impact on future funding requirements;
• the liquidity of wholesale power markets and the use of derivative contracts in our business;
• potential shortfalls in insurance coverage;
• new accounting requirements or new interpretations of existing requirements;
• generation, transmission and distribution facility and system conditions and operating costs;
• the ability to meet the anticipated future need for additional generation and associated transmission facilities in our region;
• the willingness or ability of our counterparties, power plant participants and power plant landowners to meet contractual or other obligations or extend the rights for continued power plant operations; and
• restrictions on dividends or other provisions in our credit agreements and Arizona Corporation Commission orders.

These and other factors are discussed in Risk Factors described in Part 1, Item 1A of the Pinnacle West/APS Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2021, and in Part II, Item 1A in of the Pinnacle West/APS Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022, and June 30, 2022, which readers should review carefully before placing any reliance on our financial statements or disclosures. Neither Pinnacle West nor APS assumes any obligation to update these statements, even if our internal estimates change, except as required by law.

PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
		THREE MONTHS ENDED								SIX MONTHS ENDED
		JUNE 30,								JUNE 30,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Operating Revenues		$	1,061,669			$	1,000,249			$	1,845,200			$	1,696,724
Operating Expenses
Fuel and purchased power			352,187				269,835				617,456				468,062
Operations and maintenance			245,387				229,690				463,729				459,745
Depreciation and amortization			186,497				158,750				373,102				316,570
Taxes other than income taxes			54,118				59,495				112,116				118,978
Other expenses			385				4,093				1,210				7,449
Total			838,574				721,863				1,567,613				1,370,804
Operating Income			223,095				278,386				277,587				325,920
Other Income (Deductions)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction			12,086				9,990				21,833				19,197
Pension and other postretirement non-service credits - net			25,257				28,175				49,066				55,966
Other income			1,682				12,207				3,386				24,636
Other expense			(4,584	)			(5,184	)			(8,006	)			(9,037	)
Total			34,441				45,188				66,279				90,762
Interest Expense
Interest charges			68,103				62,777				133,492				124,715
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction			(5,873	)			(5,199	)			(10,355	)			(10,193	)
Total			62,230				57,578				123,137				114,522
Income Before Income Taxes			195,306				265,996				220,729				302,160
Income Taxes			26,688				46,560				30,849				42,210
Net Income			168,618				219,436				189,880				259,950
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			4,306				3,739				8,612				8,612
Net Income Attributable To Common Shareholders		$	164,312			$	215,697			$	181,268			$	251,338
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding - Basic			113,172				112,882				113,137				112,855
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted			113,369				113,223				113,332				113,158
Earnings Per Weighted-Average Common Share Outstanding
Net income attributable to common shareholders - basic		$	1.45			$	1.91			$	1.60			$	2.23
Net income attributable to common shareholders - diluted		$	1.45			$	1.91			$	1.60			$	2.22

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220803005044/en/

Media Contact: Alan Bunnell (602) 250-3376

Analyst Contact: Amanda Ho (602) 250-3334

Website:pinnaclewest.com

Source: Pinnacle West Capital Corp.

FAQ

What were Pinnacle West Capital Corp.'s earnings for Q2 2022?

Pinnacle West reported a net income of $164.3 million, or $1.45 per diluted share for Q2 2022.

How does the Q2 2022 earnings compare to Q2 2021 for PNW?

In Q2 2021, Pinnacle West reported a net income of $215.7 million, or $1.91 per share, showing a decline in 2022.

What is Pinnacle West's earnings guidance for 2022?

The company maintains its earnings guidance for 2022 at $3.90 to $4.10 per diluted share.

What factors impacted Pinnacle West's Q2 2022 results?

Unfavorable outcomes from a recent rate case, increased expenses, and lower revenue affected the Q2 results.