AEP Reports 2009 second quarter earnings

American Electric Power Corp. issued the following news release:

American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) today reported 2009 second-quarter earnings, prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), of $316 million, or $0.67 per share, compared with $281 million, or $0.70 per share, for second-quarter 2008.

Ongoing earnings (earnings excluding special items) for second-quarter 2009 were $321 million, or $0.68 per share, compared with $280 million, or $0.70 per share, for second-quarter 2008.

The second-quarter 2009 per-share results reflect the dilutive effect of additional shares outstanding, which reduced ongoing earnings by $0.12 per share when compared to the prior year.

GAAP earnings were lower than ongoing earnings by $5 million for the quarter, primarily because of the reapplication of cost-of-service regulation for the generation portion of electric utility service for the Texas jurisdiction of AEP's Southwestern Electric Power Co. utility.
A full reconciliation of GAAP earnings to ongoing earnings for the quarter and year to date is included in tables at the end of this news release.

"We're pleased with our results for the quarter in light of the continued weak economy," said Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our ongoing earnings for the quarter increased from the same period last year, and earnings per share were comparable to last year's even with a greater number of shares issued. The increase is attributed to improved rate structures in a number of our states and to our successful efforts to control costs.

"But the effects of the weak economy are obvious," Morris said. "Electricity sold to industrial customers decreased from the same period last year. Off-system sales - electricity sold into the wholesale market - were down significantly from last year."


EARNINGS GUIDANCE

AEP reaffirmed its ongoing earnings guidance range for 2009 of between $2.75 and $3.05 per share. In providing ongoing earnings guidance, there could be differences between ongoing earnings and GAAP earnings for matters such as, but not limited to, divestitures or changes in accounting principles. AEP management is not able to estimate the impact, if any, on GAAP earnings of these items. Therefore, AEP is not able to provide a corresponding GAAP equivalent for earnings guidance.


SUMMARY ONGOING RESULTS BY SEGMENT

For details click here: (http://www.aep.com/newsroom/newsreleases/?id=1557)

Ongoing earnings from Utility Operations increased by $63 million in second-quarter 2009 when compared with the same period last year, primarily because of increased rates in AEP's utilities in Virginia, Indiana and Oklahoma; the implementation of the Electric Security Plan (ESP) approved by regulators in Ohio, including the activation of a fuel clause; and lower operation and maintenance expenses.

These favorable items were somewhat offset by a reduction in both sales to industrial customers and off-system sales and the growth in capital-driven other expenses, such as depreciation and interest expenses, from the prior period.

AEP River Operations' ongoing earnings were lower than in the same period last year because of reduced imports, which reduce barge freight demand, pressure spot market freight rates and increase the costs of relocating empty barges.

Ongoing earnings for Generation and Marketing decreased $22 million during second-quarter 2009 from the same period last year primarily because of lower gross margins from marketing activities, lower power prices in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and an extended planned outage at the Oklaunion Power Station. Earnings from wind farms were lower as a result of decreased wind generation and increased curtailments. Generation and Marketing includes AEP's non-regulated generating, marketing and risk management activities, primarily in the ERCOT area.

All Other, which includes the parent company and other investments, was favorable in second-quarter 2009 when compared with the same period last year.

ONGOING RESULTS FROM UTILITY OPERATIONS

For details click here: (http://www.aep.com/newsroom/newsreleases/?id=1557)

Retail Sales - Results for second-quarter 2009 were improved from the same period last year primarily because of the impact of rate changes in Virginia, Indiana and Oklahoma and the implementation of the Ohio ESP, which includes the activation of a fuel clause at the Ohio Companies. The positive impact of the rate changes was somewhat offset by lower sales to industrial customers. Favorable weather, primarily in AEP's eastern service areas, improved margins in the quarter. Heating degree-days in second-quarter 2009 were 9 percent below normal but 15 percent above the total for the same period in 2008. Cooling degree-days in second-quarter 2009 were 5 percent above normal and 8 percent above the prior period. In AEP's western service areas, cooling-degree days for second-quarter 2009 were 2 percent above normal but 1 percent below the prior period.

Off-System Sales - Gross margins from Off-System Sales for second-quarter 2009 were $155 million lower than those in the same period last year. Volumes and prices were depressed by continued weak market demand.

Transmission Revenues - Revenues from transmission increased $8 million in second-quarter 2009 from the prior period, primarily from AEP's transmission in the ERCOT and Southwest Power Pool regions.

Other Operating Revenue - The increase in Other Operating Revenue from second-quarter 2009 is because of a variety of non-tariff revenues, including the receipt of accidental outage insurance payments related to the September 2008 turbine vibration and subsequent fire at the Cook Nuclear Plant.

Operations & Maintenance Expense - Operations & Maintenance Expense for the quarter decreased $35 million from the same period last year, primarily because of lower plant outage expenses than in the prior period.

Depreciation & Amortization - The increase in Depreciation & Amortization from second-quarter 2008 is primarily attributed to an increase in plant balances and a higher depreciation rate at Ohio Power.

Interest Expense & Preferred Dividends - The increase in Interest Expense for second-quarter 2009 is primarily because of increased long-term debt and higher interest rates.

Other Income & Deductions - Other Income & Deductions decreased in second-quarter 2009, primarily because of interest income related to a claim for a federal tax refund in 2008 and lower carrying-cost income.

WEBCAST

American Electric Power's quarterly conference call with financial analysts will be broadcast live over the Internet at 9 a.m. EDT today at http://www.aep.com/go/webcasts. The webcast will include audio of the conference call and visuals of charts and graphics referred to by AEP management during the call. The charts and graphics will be available for download at http://www.aep.com/go/webcasts .

The call will be archived on http://www.aep.com/go/webcasts for those unable to listen during the live webcast. Archived calls also are available as podcasts.

Minimum requirements to listen to broadcast: The Windows Media Player software, free from http://www.aep.com/go/webcasts, and at least a 56Kbps connection to the Internet.

AEP's earnings are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and represent the company's earnings as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

AEP's management believes that the company's ongoing earnings, or GAAP earnings adjusted for certain items as described in the news release and charts, provide a more meaningful representation of the company's performance. AEP uses ongoing earnings as the primary performance measurement when communicating with analysts and investors regarding its earnings outlook and results.

The company also uses ongoing earnings data internally to measure performance against budget and to report to AEP's board of directors.

-Full news release and supplemental tables (http://www.aep.com/newsroom/resources/earnings/2009-07/2ndqtr09earnings.pdf)

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 August 2009 )