EX-99.4 5 a13-5523_1ex99d4.htm EX-99.4

Exhibit 99.4

 

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation

Earnings Variance Explanations

 

For the Three-Month and Twelve-Month Periods Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011

 

The following discussion includes the earnings variance explanations for Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (“Pinnacle West”) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.  We suggest that this discussion be read in connection with the Pinnacle West/APS Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.  Additional operating and financial statistics and a glossary of terms are available on our website (www.pinnaclewest.com).

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Pinnacle West’s reportable business segment is our regulated electricity segment, which consists of traditional regulated retail and wholesale electricity businesses (primarily electricity service to Native Load customers) and related activities and includes electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

 

APSES’s and SunCor’s operations have been classified as discontinued operations.  Pinnacle West sold its investment in APSES in August 2011.  In February 2012, SunCor filed for protection under the United States Bankruptcy Code to complete an orderly liquidation of its business (see Note 21).

 

Operating Results — Three-month period ended December 31, 2012 compared with three-month period ended December 31, 2011

 

Our consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended December 31, 2012 was $23 million, compared with net income of $13 million for the comparable prior-year period.  The results reflect an increase of approximately $11 million for the regulated electricity segment primarily due to increases related to the retail regulatory settlement effective July 1, 2012 (see Note 3), higher retail transmission revenues, lower net interest charges due to lower debt balances and lower interest rates in the current period, and lower depreciation and amortization due to 20-year Palo Verde license extensions received in 2011.  These positive factors were partially offset by an increase in operations and maintenance expenses and the effects of milder weather as compared with the prior-year period.

 

The following table presents net income attributable to common shareholders by business segment compared with the prior-year period:

 

1



 

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net Change

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Regulated Electricity Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses

 

$

476

 

$

451

 

$

25

 

Operations and maintenance

 

(237

)

(229

)

(8

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

(103

)

(108

)

5

 

Taxes other than income taxes

 

(39

)

(35

)

(4

)

Other income (expenses), net

 

(1

)

3

 

(4

)

Interest charges, net of allowance for borrowed funds used during construction

 

(48

)

(55

)

7

 

Income taxes

 

(16

)

(7

)

(9

)

Less income related to noncontrolling interests (Note 20)

 

(8

)

(7

)

(1

)

Regulated electricity segment net income

 

24

 

13

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other

 

3

 

 

3

 

Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Common Shareholders

 

27

 

13

 

14

 

Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Common Shareholders (a)

 

(4

)

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders

 

$

23

 

$

13

 

$

10

 

 


(a)                                 Includes activities related to APSES and SunCor.

 

Operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses  Regulated electricity segment operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses were $25 million higher for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior-year period.  The following table summarizes the major components of this change:

 

2



 

 

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

Operating
revenues

 

Fuel and
purchased
power
expenses

 

Net change

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impacts of retail regulatory settlement effective July 1, 2012

 

$

26

 

$

1

 

$

25

 

Higher retail transmission revenues

 

11

 

 

11

 

Higher customer usage

 

13

 

2

 

11

 

Effects of weather

 

(10

)

(4

)

(6

)

Higher fuel and purchased power costs, net of related deferrals and off-system sales

 

(10

)

(5

)

(5

)

Lower demand-side management, renewable energy and similar regulatory surcharges

 

(6

)

3

 

(9

)

Miscellaneous items, net

 

(4

)

(2

)

(2

)

Total

 

$

20

 

$

(5

)

$

25

 

 

Operations and maintenance  Operations and maintenance expenses increased $8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior-year period primarily because of:

 

·                                          An increase of $6 million in information technology costs primarily related to higher software maintenance;

 

·                                          An increase of $5 million related to amortization of pension and other postretirement benefit costs in 2012 compared with deferral of such costs in 2011;

 

·                                          An increase of $3 million related to employee benefit costs;

 

·                                          A decrease of $4 million in fossil generation costs as a result of less planned maintenance being completed in the current year quarter than in the same quarter a year ago;

 

·                                          A decrease of $6 million related to costs for demand-side management, renewable energy and similar regulatory programs; and

 

·                                          An increase of $4 million due to other miscellaneous factors.

 

Depreciation and amortization  Depreciation and amortization expenses were $5 million lower for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior-year period primarily due to impacts of the Palo Verde operating license extensions, partially offset by increased plant in service.

 

Interest charges, net of allowance for borrowed funds used during construction  Interest charges, net of allowance for borrowed funds used during construction, decreased $7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior-year period primarily because of lower debt balances and lower interest rates in the current period.

 

3



 

Income taxes  Income taxes were $9 million higher for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior-year period primarily due to higher pretax income in the current period.

 

Operating Results — 2012 compared with 2011

 

Our consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $382 million, compared with net income of $339 million for the prior year.  The results reflect an increase of approximately $59 million for the regulated electricity segment primarily due to increases related to the retail regulatory settlement effective July 1, 2012 (see Note 3), higher retail transmission revenues, lower depreciation and amortization due to 20-year Palo Verde license extensions received in 2011, and lower net interest charges due to lower debt balances and lower interest rates in the current year.

 

The $17 million decrease in discontinued operations is primarily related to a contribution Pinnacle West expects to make to SunCor’s estate as part of a negotiated resolution to the bankruptcy (see Note 21) and absence of the 2011 gain on sale of our investment in APSES.

 

The following table presents net income attributable to common shareholders by business segment compared with the prior year:

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net Change

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Regulated Electricity Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses (a)

 

$

2,299

 

$

2,228

 

$

71

 

Operations and maintenance (a)

 

(885

)

(904

)

19

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

(404

)

(427

)

23

 

Taxes other than income taxes

 

(159

)

(148

)

(11

)

Other income (expenses), net

 

6

 

16

 

(10

)

Interest charges, net of allowance for borrowed funds used during construction

 

(200

)

(224

)

24

 

Income taxes

 

(237

)

(184

)

(53

)

Less income related to noncontrolling interests (Note 20)

 

(32

)

(28

)

(4

)

Regulated electricity segment net income

 

388

 

329

 

59

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other

 

 

(1

)

1

 

Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Common Shareholders

 

388

 

328

 

60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Common Shareholders (b)

 

(6

)

11

 

(17

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders

 

$

382

 

$

339

 

$

43

 

 

4



 


(a)                                 Includes effects of 2011 settlement of certain transmission right-of-way costs, which did not affect net income, but increased both electric operating revenues and operations and maintenance expenses by $28 million.  Costs related to the settlement were offset by related revenues from SCE, which leases the related transmission line from APS.

(b)                                 Includes activities related to APSES and SunCor.

 

Operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses  Regulated electricity segment operating revenues less fuel and purchased power expenses were $71 million higher for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior year.  The following table summarizes the major components of this change:

 

 

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

Operating
revenues

 

Fuel and
purchased
power
expenses

 

Net change

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impacts of retail regulatory settlement effective July 1, 2012

 

$

64

 

$

1

 

$

63

 

Higher retail transmission revenues

 

41

 

 

41

 

Lower fuel and purchased power costs, net of related deferrals and off-system sales

 

(11

)

(14

)

3

 

Lower demand-side management, renewable energy and similar regulatory surcharges

 

(3

)

4

 

(7

)

Settlement in 2011 of certain prior-period transmission right-of-way revenues

 

(28

)

 

(28

)

Miscellaneous items, net

 

(7

)

(6

)

(1

)

Total

 

$

56

 

$

(15

)

$

71

 

 

Operations and maintenance  Operations and maintenance expenses decreased $19 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior year primarily because of:

 

·                                          A decrease of $28 million related to settlement in 2011 of certain transmission right-of-way costs, which was offset in operating revenues;

 

·                                          A decrease of $22 million related to costs for demand-side management, renewable energy and similar regulatory programs;

 

·                                          A decrease of $15 million in generation costs, primarily related to lower nuclear generation costs;

 

·                                          An increase of $21 million related to employee benefit costs, including approximately $12 million of pension and other postretirement costs;

 

·                                          An increase of $9 million related to higher stock compensation costs resulting from an improved company stock price and estimated performance results;

 

5



 

·                                          An increase of $7 million in information technology costs, primarily related to higher software maintenance; and

 

·                                          An increase of $9 million due to other miscellaneous factors.

 

Depreciation and amortization  Depreciation and amortization expenses were $23 million lower for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior year primarily due to the impacts of Palo Verde operating license extensions, partially offset by increased plant in service.

 

Taxes other than income taxes  Taxes other than income taxes increased $11 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior year primarily because of higher property tax rates in the current year.

 

Other income (expenses), net  Other income (expenses), net, decreased $10 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior year primarily because of higher investment losses of approximately $2 million and other non-operating expenses of approximately $8 million in the current year.

 

Interest charges, net of allowance for borrowed funds used during construction  Interest charges, net of allowance for borrowed funds used during construction, decreased $24 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior year primarily because of lower debt balances and lower interest rates in the current year.

 

Income taxes  Income taxes were $53 million higher for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared with the prior year primarily due to higher pre-tax income in the current year and a lower effective tax rate in 2011.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

Results from discontinued operations decreased $17 million primarily due to a contribution Pinnacle West expects to make to SunCor’s estate as part of a negotiated resolution to the bankruptcy (see Note 21) and absence of a gain related to the sale of our investment in APSES in 2011.

 

6



 

PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 31,

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

693,122

 

$

667,892

 

$

25,230

 

3.8

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel and purchased power

 

210,864

 

215,512

 

(4,648

)

2.2

%

B

 

Operations and maintenance

 

237,141

 

228,632

 

8,509

 

3.7

%

W

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

103,268

 

107,504

 

(4,236

)

3.9

%

B

 

Taxes other than income taxes

 

39,052

 

35,406

 

3,646

 

10.3

%

W

 

Other expenses

 

1,508

 

2,123

 

(615

)

29.0

%

B

 

Total

 

591,833

 

589,177

 

2,656

 

0.5

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

101,289

 

78,715

 

22,574

 

28.7

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Deductions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

 

6,797

 

5,010

 

1,787

 

35.7

%

B

 

Other income

 

249

 

565

 

(316

)

55.9

%

W

 

Other expense

 

(7,409

)

(2,614

)

(4,795

)

183.4

%

W

 

Total

 

(363

)

2,961

 

(3,324

)

112.3

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest charges

 

52,407

 

58,744

 

(6,337

)

10.8

%

B

 

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction

 

(4,543

)

(3,987

)

(556

)

13.9

%

B

 

Total

 

47,864

 

54,757

 

(6,893

)

12.6

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

 

53,062

 

26,919

 

26,143

 

97.1

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Taxes

 

18,157

 

7,375

 

10,782

 

146.2

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income From Continuing Operations

 

34,905

 

19,544

 

15,361

 

78.6

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net of Income Taxes

 

(4,234

)

446

 

(4,680

)

1049.3

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

30,671

 

19,990

 

10,681

 

53.4

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

8,040

 

7,426

 

614

 

8.3

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Attributable To Common Shareholders

 

$

22,631

 

$

12,564

 

$

10,067

 

80.1

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding - Basic

 

109,693

 

109,202

 

491

 

0.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted

 

110,776

 

110,077

 

699

 

0.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Weighted-Average Common Share Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders - basic

 

$

0.24

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.13

 

118.2

%

B

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders - basic

 

$

0.21

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.09

 

75.0

%

B

 

Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders - diluted

 

$

0.24

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.13

 

118.2

%

B

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders - diluted

 

$

0.20

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.09

 

81.8

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Attributable To Common Shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

 

$

26,865

 

$

12,109

 

$

14,756

 

121.9

%

B

 

Discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(4,234

)

455

 

(4,689

)

1030.5

%

W

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders

 

$

22,631

 

$

12,564

 

$

10,067

 

80.1

%

B

 

 

B — Better

W — Worse

 

7



 

PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(unaudited)

(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 31,

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Amount

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

3,301,804

 

$

3,241,379

 

$

60,425

 

1.9

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel and purchased power

 

994,790

 

1,009,464

 

(14,674

)

1.5

%

B

 

Operations and maintenance

 

884,769

 

904,286

 

(19,517

)

2.2

%

B

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

404,336

 

427,054

 

(22,718

)

5.3

%

B

 

Taxes other than income taxes

 

159,323

 

147,408

 

11,915

 

8.1

%

W

 

Other expenses

 

6,831

 

6,659

 

172

 

2.6

%

W

 

Total

 

2,450,049

 

2,494,871

 

(44,822

)

1.8

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

851,755

 

746,508

 

105,247

 

14.1

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Deductions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

 

22,436

 

23,707

 

(1,271

)

5.4

%

W

 

Other income

 

1,606

 

3,111

 

(1,505

)

48.4

%

W

 

Other expense

 

(19,842

)

(10,451

)

(9,391

)

89.9

%

W

 

Total

 

4,200

 

16,367

 

(12,167

)

74.3

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest charges

 

214,616

 

241,995

 

(27,379

)

11.3

%

B

 

Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction

 

(14,971

)

(18,358

)

3,387

 

18.4

%

W

 

Total

 

199,645

 

223,637

 

(23,992

)

10.7

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

 

656,310

 

539,238

 

117,072

 

21.7

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Taxes

 

237,317

 

183,604

 

53,713

 

29.3

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income From Continuing Operations

 

418,993

 

355,634

 

63,359

 

17.8

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) From Discontinued Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net of Income Taxes

 

(5,829

)

11,306

 

(17,135

)

151.6

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

413,164

 

366,940

 

46,224

 

12.6

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

31,622

 

27,467

 

4,155

 

15.1

%

W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Attributable To Common Shareholders

 

$

381,542

 

$

339,473

 

$

42,069

 

12.4

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding - Basic

 

109,510

 

109,053

 

457

 

0.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted

 

110,527

 

109,864

 

663

 

0.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Weighted-Average Common Share Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders - basic

 

$

3.54

 

$

3.01

 

$

0.53

 

17.6

%

B

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders - basic

 

$

3.48

 

$

3.11

 

$

0.37

 

11.9

%

B

 

Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders - diluted

 

$

3.50

 

$

2.99

 

$

0.51

 

17.1

%

B

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders - diluted

 

$

3.45

 

$

3.09

 

$

0.36

 

11.7

%

B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Attributable To Common Shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

 

$

387,380

 

$

328,110

 

$

59,270

 

18.1

%

B

 

Discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(5,838

)

11,363

 

(17,201

)

151.4

%

W

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders

 

$

381,542

 

$

339,473

 

$

42,069

 

12.4

%

B

 

 

B — Better

W — Worse

 

8