ONCOR REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS
Oncor Electric Delivery Company reported a net income of $225 million for the first quarter of 2024, a $122 million increase from the same period in 2023. This growth was driven by higher revenues due to various factors, including updated rates, customer growth, and investments in system resiliency. The company filed a System Resiliency Plan (SRP) for approval with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, outlining investments of $2.9 billion in capital and $520 million in operation and maintenance expenses over three years. The SRP focuses on enhancing transmission and distribution system resiliency, cybersecurity, vegetation management, and wildfire mitigation. Operational highlights include a focus on safety, reliability, and continued growth in Texas. Oncor's available liquidity stands at $2.1 billion as of May 6, 2024.
Oncor reported a significant increase in net income for the first quarter of 2024, reaching $225 million, compared to $103 million in the same period in 2023.
The company's System Resiliency Plan (SRP) filing seeks approval for $2.9 billion in capital investment and $520 million in operation and maintenance expenses over a three-year period to enhance system resiliency.
Oncor's focus on safety, reliability, and growth in Texas is evident through operational highlights, including investments in vegetation management, cybersecurity, and wildfire mitigation.
Oncor's higher costs associated with increases in invested capital, borrowing costs, and depreciation, as well as higher operation and maintenance expenses, could impact the company's profitability in the long term.
The company's pending SRP approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas could face uncertainties, and the outcome of the proceeding is unpredictable, potentially affecting Oncor's future plans.
Insights
Reviewing the financial results of Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC, one can observe a notable increase in net income from
The increase in operating revenue from
It's essential to dissect the company's System Resiliency Plan (SRP), which represents a substantial capital injection into the grid's reliability and modernization. The SRP addresses key resiliency measures like advanced cybersecurity and wildfire mitigation. From a market perspective, these enhancements not only aim to reduce outage minutes but also satisfy increasing customer demands for robust and intelligent energy systems. The SRP's focus on innovation, such as the deployment of fire safe devices and advanced risk modeling, is particularly salient when considering the competitive energy landscape in Texas.
Oncor's position within the growing Texas energy market, with an impressive 40% share of ERCOT's 2030 load under study, is noteworthy. Their operational activity supports this growth narrative, demonstrated by an increasing premise count and substantial investments in transmission projects. As Texas continues to evolve into a hub for industries with massive energy footprints, such as data centers, Oncor appears strategically positioned to capitalize on this trend. However, the actual realization of these benefits hinges on regulatory approvals and successful implementation of the infrastructure projects.
Oncor’s performance is closely tied to the regulatory environment, particularly the proceedings with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The outcome of PUCT's review of the SRP is a pivotal factor for investors to watch, as it will dictate the trajectory of Oncor's significant infrastructure investments. A favorable ruling could provide additional revenues through cost recovery mechanisms, while an adverse decision might challenge the implementation timeline and financial planning. The strategic focus on diversified energy sources in their generation POI requests pool, with a strong emphasis on solar and storage, aligns with current industry trends towards renewable energy and grid stability.
Investor confidence may also be buoyed by Oncor's proactive management of potential wildfire liabilities, a substantial risk factor for utility companies. Securing
"We are proud to announce Oncor's solid financial performance in the first quarter of 2024. Our continued focus on operational excellence is evident in our strong safety and reliability metrics during the quarter," said Oncor CEO Allen Nye. "Our team worked hard to prepare our System Resiliency Plan filing. This strategic initiative, with almost
System Resiliency Plan ("SRP") Filed
Yesterday, Oncor filed its first SRP for Public Utility Commission of
- Overhead and Underground Resiliency and Modernization – Approximately
in proposed spend to modernize and harden legacy overhead system (poles, crossarms, lightning protection and capacity) and underground system with injection/replacement and switchgear automation;$1.83 0 billion - Continued Optimization of Distribution Automation – Approximately
in proposed spend to enable, expand and optimize distribution automation through new ties, capacity and intelligent switches;$510 million - Expanded Vegetation Management ("VM") – Approximately
in proposed spend to expand VM along laterals and leverage remote-sensing capabilities such as satellite and laser imaging, detection and ranging, commonly known as LiDAR;$285 million - Enhanced Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation – Approximately
in proposed spend to enhance cybersecurity risk mitigation, enhance and secure Oncor's digital backbone infrastructure and other measures;$525 million - Improved Physical Security – Approximately
in proposed spend to improve physical security, including video and event correlation systems and asset protection; and$80 million - Enhanced Wildfire Mitigation – Oncor estimates that approximately
of the total proposed spend under the SRP will enhance its wildfire mitigation efforts, consisting of$900 million in specific wildfire mitigation measures as well as the implementation of the overhead and underground resiliency and modernization and expanded distribution automation measures described above in areas at the highest risk for wildfires. The SRP offers Oncor an opportunity to advance and accelerate its wildfire mitigation strategies through additional investments in fire safe device deployment, advanced wildfire risk modeling, and strengthening, modernization and protection of assets in wildfire mitigation zones.$182 million
Oncor further believes these measures will provide a substantial reduction in outage minutes for customers, while also expanding and accelerating Oncor's efforts around wildfire risk mitigation, the security of the grid, vegetation management and the expanded deployment of smart grid technologies. These investments, if approved, are expected to enable Oncor's transmission and distribution system to better withstand and more quickly recover from the wide range of extreme weather conditions and other risks Oncor experiences across its diverse service area.
The statute provides that the PUCT will review and approve, modify or deny a filed plan within 180 days. Oncor cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding. To the extent Oncor's SRP is approved by the PUCT, Oncor intends to recover distribution-related costs through its interim distribution cost recovery factor adjustments, with the unrecovered distribution-related O&M expenses, depreciation expenses and return on the capital to be recognized as a regulatory asset.
The amount of capital expenditures ultimately approved as part of Oncor's SRP program, would be incremental to Oncor's
Operational Highlights and Growth
Throughout its operations, reliability and safety remain a primary focus at Oncor. For the industry's primary benchmark for reliability, System Average Interruption Duration Index (non-storm), Oncor's customers continued to see a decrease in the average minutes of outage in the twelve months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the twelve months ended March 31, 2023. On the safety front, Oncor's Days Away, Restricted and Transferred Rate and Preventable Vehicle Accident Rate decreased
Ongoing growth within
At March 31, 2024, Oncor had 781 active generation and large commercial and industrial ("LC&I" and also known as retail) transmission point of interconnection ("POI") requests in queue, representing a
In order to address the increased growth in
Oncor anticipates that approximately
As part of its annual renewal process, Oncor recently secured excess liability policies that maintain
Liquidity
As of May 6, 2024, Oncor's available liquidity, consisting of cash on hand and available borrowing capacity under its existing credit facilities, commercial paper program and accounts receivable facility ("AR Facility"), totaled
Sempra Internet Broadcast Today
Sempra (NYSE: SRE) (BMV: SRE) will broadcast a live discussion of its earnings results over the Internet today at 12 p.m. ET, which will include discussion of first quarter 2024 results and other information relating to Oncor. Oncor Chief Executive Allen Nye will also participate in the broadcast. Access to the broadcast is available by logging onto the Investors section of Sempra's website, sempra.com/investors. Prior to the conference call, an accompanying slide presentation will be posted on sempra.com/investors. For those unable to participate in the live webcast, it will be available on replay a few hours after its conclusion at sempra.com/investors.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
Oncor's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 will be filed with the
Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC | ||||||
Table A – Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income (Unaudited) | ||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 | ||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||
(dollars in millions) | ||||||
Operating revenues | $ | 1,458 | $ | 1,292 | ||
Operating expenses: | ||||||
Wholesale transmission service | 351 | 321 | ||||
Operation and maintenance | 299 | 263 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 257 | 240 | ||||
Provision in lieu of income taxes | 47 | 27 | ||||
Taxes other than amounts related to income taxes | 144 | 145 | ||||
Write-off of rate base disallowances | - | 55 | ||||
Total operating expenses | 1,098 | 1,051 | ||||
Operating income | 360 | 241 | ||||
Other (income) and deductions – net | (14) | 7 | ||||
Non-operating benefit in lieu of income taxes | (1) | (6) | ||||
Interest expense and related charges | 150 | 123 | ||||
Write-off of non-operating rate base disallowances | - | 14 | ||||
Net income | $ | 225 | $ | 103 |
Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC | |||||||
Table B – Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows (Unaudited) | |||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 | |||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | ||||||
(dollars in millions) | |||||||
Cash flows – operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 225 | $ | 103 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization, including regulatory amortization | 299 | 260 | |||||
Write-off of rate base disallowances | - | 69 | |||||
Provision in lieu of deferred income taxes – net | 20 | - | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | 6 | 70 | |||||
Inventories | (14) | (18) | |||||
Accounts payable – trade | (6) | 32 | |||||
Regulatory assets – deferred revenues | (6) | (38) | |||||
Regulatory assets – self-insurance reserve | (11) | (104) | |||||
Other assets and liabilities | (49) | (113) | |||||
Cash provided by operating activities | 464 | 261 | |||||
Cash flows – financing activities: | |||||||
Issuances of senior secured notes | - | 352 | |||||
Borrowings under term loans | - | 775 | |||||
Repayments under term loans | - | (100) | |||||
Borrowings under AR Facility | 300 | - | |||||
Borrowings under | 500 | - | |||||
Net change in short-term borrowings | (282) | (198) | |||||
Contributions from members | 240 | 106 | |||||
Distributions to members | (125) | (106) | |||||
Debt discount, financing and reacquisition costs – net | (2) | (3) | |||||
Cash provided by financing activities | 631 | 826 | |||||
Cash flows – investing activities: | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (1,109) | (977) | |||||
Sales tax audit settlement refund | 56 | - | |||||
Other – net | 11 | 12 | |||||
Cash used in investing activities | (1,042) | (965) | |||||
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 53 | 122 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash – beginning balance | 151 | 98 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash – ending balance | $ | 204 | $ | 220 | |||
Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC | ||||||
Table C – Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) | ||||||
At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 | ||||||
At March 31, | At December 31, | |||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||
(dollars in millions) | ||||||
ASSETS | ||||||
Current assets: | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 53 | $ | 19 | ||
Restricted cash, current | 34 | 24 | ||||
Accounts receivable – net | 945 | 944 | ||||
Amounts receivable from members related to income taxes | - | 4 | ||||
Materials and supplies inventories – at average cost | 355 | 341 | ||||
Prepayments and other current assets | 127 | 101 | ||||
Total current assets | 1,514 | 1,433 | ||||
Restricted cash, noncurrent | 117 | 108 | ||||
Investments and other property | 167 | 158 | ||||
Property, plant and equipment – net | 28,837 | 28,057 | ||||
Goodwill | 4,740 | 4,740 | ||||
Regulatory assets | 1,518 | 1,556 | ||||
Right-of-use operating lease and other assets | 146 | 142 | ||||
Total assets | $ | 37,039 | $ | 36,194 | ||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
| ||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||
Short-term borrowings | $ | - | $ | 282 | ||
Long-term debt, current | 317 | - | ||||
Accounts payable – trade | 605 | 600 | ||||
Amounts payable to members related to income taxes | 51 | 27 | ||||
Accrued taxes other than amounts related to income | 99 | 261 | ||||
Accrued interest | 184 | 117 | ||||
Operating lease and other current liabilities | 330 | 338 | ||||
Total current liabilities | 1,586 | 1,625 | ||||
Long-term debt, noncurrent | 13,782 | 13,294 | ||||
Liability in lieu of deferred income taxes | 2,360 | 2,320 | ||||
Regulatory liabilities | 2,982 | 3,000 | ||||
Employee benefit plan obligations | 1,435 | 1,442 | ||||
Operating lease and other obligations | 345 | 305 | ||||
Total liabilities | 22,490 | 21,986 | ||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||
Membership interests: | ||||||
Capital account – number of units outstanding 2024 and 2023 – 635,000,000 | 14,728 | 14,388 | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (179) | (180) | ||||
Total membership interests | 14,549 | 14,208 | ||||
Total liabilities and membership interests | $ | 37,039 | $ | 36,194 |
Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC | ||||||||||||||||
Table D – Operating Revenues and Statistics | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (unless otherwise noted); mixed measures | ||||||||||||||||
Twelve Months Ended March 31, | % | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | Change | ||||||||||||||
Reliability statistics (a): | ||||||||||||||||
System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) (non-storm) | 71.0 | 71.9 | (1.3) | |||||||||||||
System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) (non-storm) | 1.0 | 1.1 | (9.1) | |||||||||||||
Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) (non-storm) | 71.0 | 63.7 | 11.5 | |||||||||||||
Electricity points of delivery (end of period and in thousands): | ||||||||||||||||
Electricity distribution points of delivery (based on number of active meters) | 3,988 | 3,912 | 1.9 | |||||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, | Increase | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||
Residential system weighted weather data (b): | ||||||||||||||||
Cooling degree days | 25 | 31 | (6) | |||||||||||||
Heating degree days | 453 | 376 | 77 | |||||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, | % | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | Change | ||||||||||||||
Operating statistics: | ||||||||||||||||
Electric energy volumes (gigawatt-hours) | ||||||||||||||||
Residential | 10,465 | 9,685 | 8.1 | |||||||||||||
Commercial, industrial, small business and other | 26,848 | 25,094 | 7.0 | |||||||||||||
Total electric energy volumes | 37,313 | 34,779 | 7.3 | |||||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||
Operating revenues ($ millions) | ||||||
Revenues contributing to earnings: | ||||||
Distribution base revenues | ||||||
Residential (c) | $ | 329 | $ | 243 | ||
Large commercial & industrial (d) | 305 | 270 | ||||
Other (e) | 29 | 38 | ||||
Total distribution base revenues (f) | 663 | 551 | ||||
Transmission base revenues (TCOS revenues) | ||||||
Billed to third-party wholesale customers | 262 | 250 | ||||
Billed to REPs serving Oncor distribution customers, through TCRF | 144 | 141 | ||||
Total TCOS revenues | 406 | 391 | ||||
Other miscellaneous revenues | 24 | 17 | ||||
Total revenues contributing to earnings | 1,093 | 959 | ||||
Revenues collected for pass-through expenses: | ||||||
TCRF – third-party wholesale transmission service | 351 | 321 | ||||
EECRF and other revenues | 14 | 12 | ||||
Total revenues collected for pass-through expenses | 365 | 333 | ||||
Total operating revenues | $ | 1,458 | $ | 1,292 |
______________ | |
(a) | SAIDI is the average number of minutes electric service is interrupted per consumer in a twelve-month period. SAIFI is the average number of electric service interruptions per consumer in a twelve-month period. CAIDI is the average duration in minutes per electric service interruption in a twelve-month period. In each case, Oncor's non-storm reliability performance reflects electric service interruptions of one minute or more per customer. Each of these results excludes outages during significant storm events. |
(b) | Degree days are measures of how warm or cold it is throughout Oncor's service territory. A degree day compares the average of the hourly outdoor temperatures during each day to a 65° Fahrenheit standard temperature. The more extreme the outside temperature, the higher the number of degree days. A high number of degree days generally results in higher levels of energy use for space cooling or heating. |
(c) | Distribution base revenues from residential customers are generally based on actual monthly consumption (kWh). On a weather-normalized basis, distribution base revenues from residential customers increased |
(d) | Depending on size and annual load factor, distribution revenues from LC&I customers are based either on actual monthly demand (kilowatts) or the greater of actual monthly demand (kilowatts) or |
(e) | Includes distribution base revenues from small business customers whose billing is generally based on actual monthly consumption (kWh), lighting sites and other miscellaneous distribution base revenues. |
(f) | The |
Headquartered in
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to Oncor within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that are included in this news release, as well as statements made in presentations, in response to questions or otherwise, that address activities, events or developments that Oncor expects or anticipates to occur in the future, including such matters as projections, capital allocation, future capital expenditures, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, future acquisitions or dispositions, development or operation of facilities, market and industry developments and the growth of Oncor's business and operations (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "intends," "plans," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "forecast," "should," "projection," "target," "goal," "objective" and "outlook"), are forward-looking statements. Although Oncor believes that in making any such forward-looking statement its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any such forward-looking statement involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Factors that could cause Oncor's actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements include: legislation, governmental policies and orders, and regulatory actions; legal and administrative proceedings and settlements, including the exercise of equitable powers by courts; weather conditions and other natural phenomena, including any weather impacts due to climate change; acts of sabotage, wars, terrorist activities, cybersecurity attacks, wildfires, fires, explosions, hazards customary to the industry, or other emergency events and the possibility that Oncor may not have adequate insurance to cover losses or third-party liabilities related to any such event; actions by credit rating agencies; health epidemics and pandemics, including their impact on Oncor's business and the economy in general; interrupted or degraded service on key technology platforms, facilities failures, or equipment interruptions; economic conditions, including the impact of a recessionary environment, inflation, supply chain disruptions, competition for goods and services, service provider availability, and labor availability and cost; unanticipated population growth or decline, or changes in market demand and demographic patterns, particularly in the ERCOT region; ERCOT grid needs and ERCOT market conditions, including insufficient electric capacity within ERCOT or disruptions at power generation facilities that supply power within ERCOT; changes in business strategy, development plans or vendor relationships; changes in interest rates or rates of inflation; significant changes in operating expenses, liquidity needs and/or capital expenditures; inability of various counterparties to meet their financial and other obligations to Oncor, including failure of counterparties to timely perform under agreements; general industry and ERCOT trends; significant decreases in demand or consumption of electricity delivered by Oncor, including as a result of increased consumer use of third-party distributed energy resources or other technologies; changes in technology used by and services offered by Oncor; significant changes in Oncor's relationship with its employees, including the availability of qualified personnel, and the potential adverse effects if labor disputes or grievances were to occur; changes in assumptions used to estimate costs of providing employee benefits, including pension and retiree benefits, and future funding requirements related thereto; significant changes in accounting policies or critical accounting estimates material to Oncor; commercial bank and financial market conditions, macroeconomic conditions, access to capital, the cost of such capital, and the results of financing and refinancing efforts, including availability of funds and the potential impact of any disruptions in
Further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's current projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is contained in filings made by Oncor with the
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SOURCE Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC
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