-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Djnd572PfXGTmRbHpsT4+1QxByBDtVLaRNim3MtTYci6hJdIjdu0NzrO/7PTV4tq iLQZPG3ca8+MV7GUIrrCsA== 0000922224-04-000066.txt : 20040728 0000922224-04-000066.hdr.sgml : 20040728 20040728082600 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000922224-04-000066 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20040728 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20040728 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PPL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000922224 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 232758192 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11459 FILM NUMBER: 04934539 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO N NINTH ST CITY: ALLENTOWN STATE: PA ZIP: 181011179 BUSINESS PHONE: 6107745151 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO N NINTH ST CITY: ALLENTOWN STATE: PA ZIP: 18101-1179 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PP&L RESOURCES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19941123 8-K 1 ppl8k7-28.htm 8K JULY 28, 2004 PPL Form 8K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 28, 2004

Commission File
Number

Registrant; State of Incorporation;
Address and Telephone Number

IRS Employer
Identification No.

1-11459

PPL Corporation
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
(Pennsylvania)
Two North Ninth Street
Allentown, PA 18101-1179
(610) 774-5151

23-2758192



Item 12. Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

        On July 28, 2004, PPL Corporation issued a press release announcing its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 and affirming its 2004 earnings forecast. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(c)

Exhibits

 

   

99.1 -

Press Release, dated July 28, 2004, announcing PPL Corporation's results for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 and affirming its 2004 earnings forecast.

 



SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

PPL CORPORATION

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark D. Woods                          
Mark D. Woods
Controller

Dated:  July 28, 2004

EX-99 2 ppl8k7-28exhibit99_1.htm NEWS RELEASE Exhibit 99

Exhibit 99.1
Contacts: For news media - Dan McCarthy, 610-774-5758
  For financial analysts - Tim Paukovits, 610-774-4124

 

PPL's Second-Quarter Earnings Increase over Prior-Year Period;
Company Affirms 2004 Earnings Forecast

     ALLENTOWN, Pa. (July 28, 2004) - PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) today announced increases in earnings per share for both reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations for the second quarter of 2004 compared to a year ago. Reported earnings per share for the quarter increased by about 21 percent compared to the second quarter of 2003, while earnings per share from ongoing operations, which exclude unusual items, rose by about 7 percent over the same period.
     "Our solid second-quarter results reflect sustained strong performance of the company's business lines and the continuing benefit of our disciplined approach to commodity markets," said William F. Hecht, PPL's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We are on track to achieve 2004 reported earnings of $3.50 to $3.80 per share and $3.45 to $3.75 per share in earnings from ongoing operations."
     PPL reported net income, or earnings, of $148 million, or $0.81 per share, for the second quarter of 2004 compared to $116 million, or $0.67 per share, a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations were $132 million, or $0.72 per share, in the second quarter of 2004 compared to $116 million, or $0.67 per share, a year ago. PPL's reported earnings for the second quarter of 2004 included a net credit of $0.09 per share in unusual items, primarily due to the sale of its electricity distribution company in Brazil.
     On a per share basis, both reported and ongoing earnings were higher for the second quarter of this year compared to a year ago despite the impact of 12 million more shares of common stock outstanding at June 30, 2004, than at June 30, 2003. Earnings per share from ongoing operations increased by about 7 percent from the second quarter of 2003, while total earnings from ongoing operations grew by nearly 14 percent from the same period.
     The reported earnings measure is calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Earnings from ongoing operations is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes unusual items.
     For the first half of 2004, PPL announced reported earnings of $325 million, or $1.80 per share, compared to $355 million, or $2.09 per share, for the same period last year. Earnings from ongoing operations for the first six months of 2004 were $317 million, or $1.75 per share, compared to $292 million, or $1.72 per share, for the same period last year. Earnings per share from ongoing operations increased by about 2 percent from the first half of 2003, while total earnings from ongoing operations grew by nearly 9 percent from the same period.

Second-Quarter and Six-Month Earnings Factors

     Compared to the second quarter of 2003, positive earnings drivers for PPL in the second quarter of 2004 were:

  • Favorable performance at PPL's electricity distribution companies in Latin America and also in the United Kingdom, due primarily to positive currency exchange rates.
  • Lower operation and maintenance costs due primarily to the timing of expenses for the maintenance outage at the Susquehanna nuclear plant.
  • Higher electricity delivery sales in Pennsylvania.
  • Slightly higher energy margins in the eastern U.S.

     In addition to these second-quarter items, higher energy margins in the eastern and western U.S. during the first quarter of 2004 contributed to PPL's improved results during the first half of 2004.

     Partially offsetting the positive earnings drivers in the second quarter of 2004 compared to 2003 were the following factors:

  • Dilution to per share earnings, as a result of more shares of common stock outstanding.
  • Higher interest expense, primarily due to transaction costs associated with the buyout of power plant leases in Arizona and Illinois.
  • Lower energy margins in the western U.S., primarily due to lower hydroelectric generation and higher coal prices resulting from an arbitration decision on a contract with a coal supplier.
  • Higher depreciation expense, primarily due to an accounting change at the end of 2003 that required PPL to consolidate on its balance sheet certain power plants financed through operating leases.

     In addition to the factors noted in the second quarter, higher operation and maintenance expenses adversely affected the company's first-half financial results in 2004. The increased expenses were primarily due to higher costs for the maintenance outage at PPL's Susquehanna nuclear plant in the first quarter of 2004, as well as lower pension income.

Unusual Items

     PPL recorded an unusual non-cash credit of $0.13 per share in the second quarter of 2004 for the sale of its electricity distribution company in Brazil. Other unusual items recorded by PPL in the second quarter of this year were charges of $0.03 per share for an impairment associated with an investment in a technology supplier and $0.01 per share for a previously discontinued telecommunications operation in El Salvador, which was sold in the second quarter of 2004. The only unusual item in the first quarter of 2004 was a charge of $0.04 per share for the sale of PPL's minority interest in CGE, a Chilean energy company. PPL received $123 million in cash from the proceeds of the CGE sale.

     There were no unusual items in the second quarter of 2003. In the first quarter of 2003, PPL benefited from an unusual credit of $0.37 due to the adoption of a new accounting standard related to asset retirement obligations.

12-month Earnings Results

     For the 12-month period ended June 30, 2004, PPL's net income was $704 million, or $3.93 per share, compared to $594 million, or $3.63 per share, for the period ended June 30, 2003. The company recorded several unusual items during these periods. (See the table entitled "Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations and Reported Earnings.") Earnings from ongoing operations for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2004, were $667 million, or $3.72 per share, compared to $572 million, or $3.50 per share, for the period ended June 30, 2003.

Improving Cash Flow and Credit Positions

     Hecht said the successful execution of PPL's business strategy not only continues to provide growth in earnings but also improves the company's cash flow and credit positions. "Our steady earnings growth has allowed us to absorb the dilution from the additional 41 million shares of common stock issued since the beginning of September 2002," he said. "Our ability to generate free cash flow, combined with the issuance of the additional common stock, has allowed us to establish a very strong liquidity position while strengthening our balance sheet."
     For 2004, PPL forecasts approximately $1.33 billion in cash flow from operations. Net of capital expenditures of $690 million, common and preferred dividends of $300 million and repayment of $260 million of transition bonds, and excluding $123 million in proceeds from the sale of its interest in CGE, the company expects to have positive free cash flow of about $80 million in 2004. PPL expects cash on hand at the end of 2004 to be approximately $400 million.
     PPL's equity to total capitalization ratio as of June 30, 2004, was 35 percent, compared to 28 percent at Dec. 31, 2003, using debt and equity as presented on PPL's balance sheet. PPL's equity to total capitalization ratio as of June 30, 2004, as adjusted, was about 50 percent, compared to about 48 percent at Dec. 31, 2003. The adjusted ratio of 50 percent excludes $1.28 billion of transition bonds and $2.3 billion of debt of international affiliates that is non-recourse to PPL. For the adjusted calculations at December 31, 2003, the ratio of 48 percent excludes $1.42 billion of transition bonds and $2.3 billion of debt of international affiliates that is non-recourse to PPL and treats $575 million of Premium Equity Participating Security (PEPSSM) units as equity because those securities were converted to common stock in May 2004.

Long-term Outlook

     Hecht said the company believes its business strategy will result in a compound annual growth rate of about 3 percent to 5 percent over the longer term without adding any new assets to its portfolio.
     
"As a key component of our business strategy, we have entered into energy sales contracts in 2004 and beyond for a significant portion of our power plants' anticipated output," Hecht said. "We also have negotiated our fuel supply contracts for an extended period of time. In this way, we have mitigated our exposure to fluctuations in cash flow and earnings and can focus on one of the things we do best, which is the efficient operation of our low-cost power plants."
     
Hecht said the following elements of PPL's business strategy provide identifiable long-term growth:

  • Annual increases in the generation prices under the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission-approved contract between PPL Electric Utilities and PPL EnergyPlus for customers who choose not to shop for an energy supplier.
  • Increases in the volume of sales from PPL EnergyPlus to PPL Electric Utilities reflecting the projected growth in customer use.
  • Planned incremental capacity increases of about 200 megawatts at several existing generating facilities.

     In addition, PPL has distribution rate proceedings pending in Pennsylvania and in the United Kingdom.
     
In Pennsylvania, PPL Electric Utilities has filed a proposal with the PUC to increase distribution rates and has notified the commission that it plans to pass through to customers transmission charges that PPL Electric Utilities pays for transmission service. The combination of the distribution rate increase, as filed, and the transmission charge pass-through would result in an 8.1 percent increase over PPL Electric Utilities' present rates and would take effect on Jan. 1, 2005.
     
In the United Kingdom, PPL's affiliate, Western Power Distribution, has its revenues reviewed every five years. WPD's review is expected to be completed late this year, with new prices going into effect in April 2005. As previously reported, the initial price proposal from the U.K. regulator released in June acknowledged WPD's leading quality-of-service and reliability performance.
     
PPL is unable to predict the outcome of either rate proceeding, in Pennsylvania or the United Kingdom.

Earnings by Business Segment

     The following chart shows ongoing earnings contributions per share from PPL's business segments for the second quarter and the first six months of 2004 compared to the same periods of 2003.

Earnings from Ongoing Operations by Business Segment

(per share)

2nd Quarter

YTD

 

2004

2003

2004

2003

         

Supply

$0.47

$0.52

$0.97

$1.05

Pennsylvania Delivery

  0.01

  0.00

  0.23

  0.22

International

  0.24

  0.15

  0.55

  0.45

 

$0.72

$0.67

$1.75

$1.72

(See table entitled "Reconciliation of Business Segment Earnings from Ongoing Operations and Reported Earnings.")

Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations and Reported Earnings
(Millions of dollars)

 

Current Year - 2004

Last Year - 2003

 

2nd Qtr

June
YTD

12 Mos.-
June

2nd Qtr

June
YTD

12 Mos.-
June

Earnings from Ongoing Operations

$132

$317

$667

$116

$292

$572

  Unusual Items (net of tax):

           

    Impairment of investment in technology
       supplier

(6)

(6)

(6)

     

    Sale of CGE

1

(7)

(7)

     

    Asset retirement obligation

       

63

63

    Consolidation of variable interest entities

   

(27)

     

    Sale of CEMAR

23

23

23

     

    Discontinued operations

(2)

(2)

(22)

     

    CEMAR-related net tax benefit

   

81

     

    Workforce reduction

   

(5)

     

    CEMAR operating losses

         

(23)

    Tax benefit - Teesside write-down

         

8

    Write-down of generation equipment

         

(26)

  Total Unusual Items

16

8

37

0

63

22

Earnings - Reported

$148

$325

$704

$116

$355

$594

 

Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations and Reported Earnings per Share (Diluted)

 

Current Year - 2004

Last Year - 2003

 

2nd Qtr

June
YTD

12 Mos.-
June

2nd Qtr

June
YTD

12 Mos. -
June

Earnings from Ongoing Operations

$0.72

$1.75

$3.72

$0.67

$1.72

$3.50

  Unusual Items (net of tax):

           

    Impairment of investment in technology
       supplier

(0.03)

(0.03)

(0.04)

     

    Sale of CGE

 

(0.04)

(0.04)

     

    Asset retirement obligation

       

0.37

0.38

    Consolidation of variable interest entities

   

(0.15)

     

    Sale of CEMAR

0.13

0.13

0.13

     

    Discontinued operations

(0.01)

(0.01)

(0.12)

     

    CEMAR-related net tax benefit

   

0.46

     

    Workforce reduction

   

(0.03)

     

    CEMAR operating losses

         

(0.14)

    Tax benefit - Teesside write-down

         

0.05

    Write-down of generation equipment

         

(0.16)

  Total Unusual Items

0.09

0.05

0.21

0.00

0.37

0.13

Earnings - Reported

$0.81

$1.80

$3.93

$0.67

$2.09

$3.63

     PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls more than 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to nearly 5 million customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America. More information is available at www.pplweb.com.

# # #

     (Note: All references to earnings per share in the text and tables of this news release are stated in terms of diluted earnings per share.)

PPL invites interested parties to listen to the live Internet webcast of management's teleconference with financial analysts about second-quarter 2004 financial results at 9 a.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, July 28. The teleconference is available online live, in audio format, on PPL's Internet Web site: www.pplweb.com. The webcast will be available for replay on the PPL Web site for 30 days. Interested individuals also can access the live conference call via telephone at 913-981-5571.

 

PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Millions of Dollars)

June 30, 2004

Dec. 31, 2003 (a)

Assets

Cash

$

358

$

476

Other current assets

1,627

1,544

Investments

595

742

Property, plant and equipment - net

   Electric plant

10,367

10,011

   Gas and oil plant

209

205

   Other property

213

221

10,789

10,437

Recoverable transition costs

1,559

1,687

Goodwill and other intangibles

1,324

1,311

Regulatory and other assets

982

926

   Total assets

$

17,234

$

17,123

Liabilities and Equity

Short-term debt (including current portion of long-term debt)

$

1,004

$

451

Other current liabilities

1,341

1,318

Long-term debt (less current portion)

6,671

8,145

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits

2,286

2,205

Other noncurrent liabilities

1,772

1,640

Minority interest

53

54

Preferred stock

51

51

Earnings reinvested

1,653

1,478

Other common equity

3,514

2,915

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(274

)

(297

)

Treasury stock

(837

)

(837

)

   Total liabilities and equity

$

17,234

$

17,123

(a)    Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement
(Millions of Dollars, Except per Share Data)

 

3 Months Ended
June 30,

6 Months Ended
June 30,

12 Months Ended
June 30,

             
 

2004 (a)

2003 (b)

2004 (a)

2003 (a)(b)

2004 (a)

2003 (a)(b)

Operating Revenues

           

  Utility

$907

$862

$1,992

$1,881

$3,821

$3,719

  Unregulated retail electric and gas

29

33

60

84

128

175

  Wholesale energy marketing

294

303

572

601

1,185

1,223

  Net energy trading margins

5

12

12

5

19

8

  Energy-related businesses

    127

    129

   246

    256

    489

    531

 

 

  1,362

  1,339

 2,882

  2,827

  5,642

  5,656

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

           

  Fuel and purchased power

389

386

862

885

1,624

1,699

  Other operation and maintenance

320

324

636

601

1,239

1,199

  Amortization of recoverable transition costs

57

56

128

127

261

250

  Depreciation

102

92

201

188

393

378

  Energy-related businesses

132

135

270

256

505

520

  Taxes, other than income

64

60

121

125

252

238

  Other charges

           

    Write-down of international energy projects

0

0

0

0

0

13

    Workforce reduction

0

0

0

0

9

1

    Write-down of generation projects

       0

        0

        0

        0

        0

      44

 

 

1,064

 1,053

 2,218

2,182

4,283

4,342

 

Operating Income

298

286

664

645

1,359

1,314

Other Income - net

19

23

31

31

60

50

Interest Expense (c)

   140

   128

   265

   236

   504

   535

 

Income from Continuing Operations Before
   Income Taxes, Minority Interest and
   Distributions on Preferred Securities

177

181

430

440

915

829

Income Taxes

26

49

98

118

150

213

Minority Interest

2

1

4

2

9

24

Distributions on Preferred Securities (c)

    0

   14

    1

   27

     3

  58

 

Income from Continuing Operations

149

117

327

293

753

534

Loss from Discontinued Operations (net of

           

   income taxes)

     1

    1

    2

    1

    21

   3

 

             

Income Before Cumulative Effects of
   Changes in Accounting Principles

148

116

325

292

732

531

Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting

           

   Principles (net of income taxes)

       0

        0

       0

     63

   (28)

    63

 

 

 

Net Income

$148

$116

$325

$355

$704

$594

 

 

             

Earnings per share of common stock - basic

           

  Ongoing Earnings

$0.72

$0.68

$1.75

$1.73

$3.73

$3.51

  Unusual items

  0.09

       0

  0.05

   0.37

   0.21

   0.13

 

  Net Income

$0.81

$0.68

$1.80

$2.10

$3.94

$3.64

 

 

 

 

             

Earnings per share of common stock - diluted

           

  Ongoing Earnings

$0.72

$0.67

$1.75

$1.72

$3.72

$3.50

  Unusual items

  0.09

      0

   0.05

  0.37

  0.21

  0.13

 

 

 

 

  Net Income

$0.81

$0.67

$1.80

$2.09

$3.93

$3.63

 

 

 

 

 Average shares outstanding (thousands)            

   Basic

 182,962
 171,892
 180,437
 169,482
 178,642
 162,910

   Diluted

183,524

172,541

181,022

170,061

179,241

163,455

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

 

Earnings in the 2004 and 2003 periods were impacted by several unusual items, as described in the text and tables of this news release. Earnings from ongoing operations excludes the impact of these unusual items.

(b)

 

Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

(c)

 

Impacted by the adoption in mid-2003 of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity." This required the reclassification of company-obligated, mandatorily redeemable preferred securities to long-term debt.

 

Key Indicators

Financial

12 Months Ended
June 30, 2004

12 Months Ended
June 30, 2003

Dividends declared per share

$1.59

$1.49

Book value per share (a)

$21.48

$16.30

Market price per share (a)

$45.90

$43.00

Dividend yield (a)

3.5%

3.5%

Dividend payout ratio (b)

40%

41%

Dividend payout ratio - earnings from ongoing operations (b)(c)

43%

43%

Price/earnings ratio (a)(b)

11.7

11.8

Price/earnings ratio - earnings from ongoing operations (a)(b)(c)

12.3

12.3

Return on average common equity

21.35%

25.14%

Return on average common equity - earnings from ongoing
operations (c)

20.47%

20.47%

(a)   End of period.
(b)   Based on diluted earnings per share.
(c)   Calculated using earnings from ongoing operations, which excludes the impact of unusual items,
        as described in the text and tables of this news release.

 

Reconciliation of Business Segment Earnings from Ongoing Operations and Reported Earnings

 
   

Current Year - 2004

   

Last Year - 2003

 

   

Supply

   

International

   

Delivery

   

Total

   

Supply

   

International

   

Delivery

   

Total

 

(millions of dollars)

                                               
                                                 

Earnings from ongoing operations
- 2nd Qtr

 

$86

   

$44

   

$2

   

$132

   

$90

   

$26

   

$(0)

   

$116

 

       Unusual Items

 

(6)

   

22

         

16

                         

Earnings - reported

 

$80

   

$66

   

$2

   

$148

   

$90

   

$26

   

$(0)

   

$116

 

Earnings from ongoing operations
- YTD

 

$175

   

$100

   

$42

   

$317

   

$178

   

$77

   

$37

   

$292

 

       Unusual Items

 

(6)

   

14

         

8

   

63

               

63

 

Earnings - reported

 

$169

   

$114

   

$42

   

$325

   

$241

   

$77

   

$37

   

$355

 

                                                 

(per share)

                                               
                                                 

Earnings from ongoing operations - 2nd Qtr

 

$0.47

   

$0.24

   

$0.01

   

$0.72

   

$0.52

   

$0.15

   

$(0.00)

   

$0.67

 

       Unusual Items

 

(0.03)

   

0.12

         

0.09

                         

Earnings - reported

 

$0.44

   

$0.36

   

$0.01

   

$0.81

   

$0.52

   

$0.15

   

$(0.00)

   

$0.67

 

Earnings from ongoing operations - YTD

 

$0.97

   

$0.55

   

$0.23

   

$1.75

   

$1.05

   

$0.45

   

$0.22

   

$1.72

 

       Unusual Items

 

(0.03)

   

0.08

         

0.05

   

0.37

               

0.37

 

Earnings - reported

 

$0.94

   

$0.63

   

$0.23

   

$1.80

   

$1.42

   

$0.45

   

$0.22

   

$2.09

 

 

Operating - Domestic Electricity Sales

 

3 Months Ended
June 30,

6 Months Ended
June 30,

12 Months Ended
June 30,

                   

(millions of kwh)

2004

2003

Percent
Change

2004

2003

Percent
Change

2004

2003

Percent
Change

Retail

                 

   Delivered (a)

8,352

8,058

3.6%

18,272

18,055

1.2%

35,623

35,711

(0.2%)

   Supplied

8,811

8,376

5.2%

19,179

18,629

3.0%

37,322

37,057

0.7%

                   

Wholesale

                 

   East

6,001

5,912

1.5%

11,690

11,666

0.2%

25,463

25,398

0.3%

   West

                 

      NorthWestern Energy/

                 

          Montana Power (b)

827

838

(1.3%)

1,662

1,665

(0.2%)

3,345

3,358

(0.4%)

      Other Montana

1,729

1,752

(1.3%)

3,937

3,807

3.4%

7,782

7,191

8.2%

      PPL EnergyPlus

287

332

(13.6%)

480

468

2.6%

1,415

1,502

(5.8%)

 

(a)

 

Electricity delivered to retail customers represents the kwh delivered to customers within PPL Electric Utilities Corporation's service territory.

(b)

 

NorthWestern Corporation purchased The Montana Power Company's electric delivery business in February 2002, including Montana Power's rights under a power supply agreement with PPL Montana that expired on June 30, 2002. In July 2002, PPL EnergyPlus, on behalf of PPL Montana, began selling energy to NorthWestern Corporation under a new five-year agreement.

"Earnings from ongoing operations" excludes the impact of unusual items. Earnings from ongoing operations should not be considered as an alternative to net income, which is an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). PPL believes that earnings from ongoing operations, although a non-GAAP measure, is also useful and meaningful to investors because it provides them with PPL's underlying earnings performance as another criterion in making their investment decisions. PPL's management also uses earnings from ongoing operations in measuring certain corporate performance goals. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.

"Free cash flow" is derived by deducting the following from cash flow from operations: capital expenditures (net of disposals, but adjusted to include lease financing), dividend payments and repayment of transition bonds. Free cash flow should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operations, which is determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes free cash flow is an important measure to both management and investors since it is an indicator of the company's ability to sustain operations and growth without additional outside financing beyond the requirement to fund maturing debt obligations. Other companies may calculate free cash flow in a different manner.

"Equity to total capitalization ratio" includes as equity minority interest and preferred stock as well as all of the components of common equity as presented on the balance sheet. Total capitalization is calculated as equity plus short-term debt plus long-term debt as presented on the balance sheet.

"Adjusted equity to total capitalization ratio" excludes transition bonds issued by PPL Transition Bond Company, LLC, under the Pennsylvania Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act, excludes debt of international affiliates which is non-recourse to PPL, and for the 2003 calculation treats Premium Equity Participating Security (PEPSSM) units as equity (since those securities converted to common stock in May 2004). The adjusted equity to total capitalization ratio should not be considered as an alternative to an equity to total capitalization ratio using debt and equity balances as reflected on the balance sheet. PPL believes that this adjusted equity ratio is useful to investors because it provides them with another indicator of credit quality. The adjusted equity to total capitalization ratio focuses primarily on debt that is recourse to PPL, whether the debt is on or off the balance sheet. It also treats the PEPS securities in a manner consistent with how PPL believes the rating agencies view them. Other companies may present adjusted equity ratios in a different manner.

Statements contained in this news release, including statements with respect to future earnings, energy prices and sales, growth, cash flows, cash on hand, credit profile, electric rates, corporate strategy and generating capacity, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although PPL Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the statements. The following are among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: market demand and prices for energy, capacity and fuel; weather variations affecting customer energy usage; competition in retail and wholesale power markets; the effect of any business or industry restructuring; the profitability and liquidity of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; new accounting requirements or new interpretations or applications of existing requirements; operating performance of plants and other facilities; environmental conditions and requirements; system conditions and operating costs; development of new projects, markets and technologies; performance of new ventures; asset acquisitions and dispositions; political, regulatory or economic conditions in states, regions and countries where PPL Corporation or its subsidiaries conduct business; receipt of necessary governmental permits, approvals and rate relief; the outcome of litigation against PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; capital market conditions; stock price performance; the securities and credit ratings of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; foreign exchange rates; and the commitments and liabilities of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in light of such factors and in conjunction with PPL Corporation's Form 10-K and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

# # #

Note to Editors: Visit PPL's media Web site at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about the corporation and its subsidiaries.

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