PSEG ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

$1.06 PER SHARE NET INCOME

$1.31 PER SHARE NON-GAAP OPERATING EARNINGS

Reaffirms 2024 Non-GAAP Operating Earnings Guidance of $3.60 - $3.70 Per Share

NEWARK, N.J., April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG) reported the following results for the first quarter of 2024:

"We are off to a solid start in 2024, with PSEG's first-quarter results consistent with our expectations to deliver full-year 2024 non-GAAP Operating Earnings guidance of $3.60 to $3.70 per share.  As expected, continued rate base growth from investments focused on infrastructure replacement are being offset by higher investment-related expense that will build over the balance of 2024 as we await resolution of our pending distribution rate case later this year.  In addition, the nuclear production tax credit went into effect on January 1, 2024, which is expected to provide our nuclear fleet with downside price protection through 2032.  We also anticipate realizing most of the increase in PSEG Power's gross margin for 2024 during the second half of the year," said Ralph LaRossa, PSEG's chair, president and CEO.

LaRossa added, "On the operations side, PSE&G met the challenge of quickly restoring service to tens of thousands of customers following a severe rain and windstorm early in the year and maintained reliable service through the wettest first quarter to occur in New Jersey in the last decade.  PSEG Nuclear also operated well during the quarter, posting a capacity factor of 96.8% and supplying New Jersey and the region with 8.2 TWh of reliable, carbon-free baseload energy.

"We continue to execute on our long-term strategy to grow PSEG's non-GAAP Operating Earnings in the range of 5% to 7% annually through 2028 by investing in energy infrastructure to support greater electrification of transportation, homes and workplaces, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping customers lower their bills through our award-winning energy efficiency programs.

"Our nuclear fleet continues to provide the business with the flexibility to fund its regulated investments, as it also pursues multiple growth paths such as thermal uprates, license extension, hydrogen pilots, and data center power sales, all of which would be incremental to our long-term, forecasted growth rate guidance.  PSEG is also continuing to pursue competitive transmission opportunities in the PJM region, including opportunities to support New Jersey's offshore wind efforts by developing pre-build infrastructure.

"PSEG will continue to prioritize a solid balance sheet, which enables us to fund our five-year regulated capital investment plan totaling $18 billion to $21 billion without the need to issue new equity or sell assets, and to consistently grow our annual shareholder dividend.  PSEG recently declared its first quarter dividend of $0.60 per share, representing an indicative annualized increase of $0.12 per share for 2024."   

PSEG Results by Segment

PSE&G's first quarter results benefited from growth in investments with current rate recovery in Transmission, which were offset by higher depreciation and interest expense associated with Electric and Gas distribution investments awaiting rate recovery in our pending rate case, as well as higher O&M costs and the cessation of OPEB related credits, compared with the first quarter of 2023.  PSE&G invested approximately $0.8 billion during the first quarter and is on track with its planned 2024 regulated capital investment program of approximately $3.4 billion, with a focus on infrastructure modernization and decarbonization initiatives. 

A procedural schedule is available that outlines the milestone dates in the pending PSE&G base electric and gas distribution rate case, which is expected to be resolved later in 2024. 

PSEG Power & Other results for the quarter primarily reflect the impact of the scheduled refueling outage at our 100%-owned Hope Creek nuclear plant, as well as higher taxes, the impact of which is timing that will reverse by year end.  In addition, the quarter also reflected the positive impact of the federal nuclear production tax credit, effective January 1, 2024.    We also anticipate realizing most of the increase in the 2024 gross margin over 2023's gross margin during the second half of the year based upon the shape of our underlying hedges.  This will differ from 2023, when most of the step-up in the average hedged price was realized in the first quarter. 

PSEG will host a conference call to review its first quarter 2024 results, earnings guidance, and other matters with the financial community at 11:00 a.m. ET today.  Please register to access this event by visiting:

https://investor.pseg.com/investor-news-and-events.

About PSEG

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG) is a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future. Guided by its Powering Progress vision, PSEG aims to power a future where people use less energy, and it's cleaner, safer and delivered more reliably than ever. With a continued focus on sustainability, PSEG has appeared on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for 16 consecutive years. PSEG is included on the 2023-2024 list of U.S. News' Best Companies to Work For. PSEG's businesses include Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), PSEG Power and PSEG Long Island (https://corporate.pseg.com).

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management uses non-GAAP Operating Earnings in its internal analysis, and in communications with investors and analysts, as a consistent measure for comparing PSEG's financial performance to previous financial results. Non-GAAP Operating Earnings exclude the impact of gains (losses) associated with the Nuclear Decommissioning Trust (NDT), Mark-to-Market (MTM) accounting and other material infrequent items.

See Attachments 7 and 8 for a complete list of items excluded from Net Income in the determination of non-GAAP Operating Earnings. The presentation of non-GAAP Operating Earnings is intended to complement and should not be considered an alternative to the presentation of Net Income, which is an indicator of financial performance determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, non-GAAP Operating Earnings as presented in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Due to the forward-looking nature of non-GAAP Operating Earnings guidance, PSEG is unable to reconcile this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure because comparable GAAP measures are not reasonably accessible or reliable due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying measures that would be required for such reconciliation. Namely, we are not able to reliably project without unreasonable effort MTM and NDT gains (losses), for future periods due to market volatility. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and may have a material impact on our future GAAP results.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the matters discussed in this report about our and our subsidiaries' future performance, including, without limitation, future revenues, earnings, strategies, prospects, consequences, and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements are based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "expect," "plan," "should," "hypothetical," "potential," "forecast," "project," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by us herein are discussed in filings we make with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• any inability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, or construct transmission and distribution, and our nuclear generation projects;
• the physical, financial and transition risks related to climate change, including risks relating to potentially increased legislative and regulatory burdens, changing customer preferences and lawsuits;
• any equipment failures, accidents, critical operating technology or business system failures, natural disasters, severe weather events, acts of war, terrorism or other acts of violence, sabotage, physical attacks or security breaches, cyberattacks or other incidents that may impact our ability to provide safe and reliable service to our customers;
• any inability to recover the carrying amount of our long-lived assets;
• disruptions or cost increases in our supply chain, including labor shortages;
• any inability to maintain sufficient liquidity or access sufficient capital on commercially reasonable terms;
• the impact of cybersecurity attacks or intrusions or other disruptions to our information technology, operational or other systems;
• a material shift away from natural gas toward increased electrification and a reduction in the use of natural gas;
• failure to attract and retain a qualified workforce;
• increases in the costs of equipment, materials, fuel, services and labor;
• the impact of our covenants in our debt instruments and credit agreements on our business;
• adverse performance of our defined benefit plan trust funds and Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund and increases in funding requirements and pension costs;
• any inability to extend certain significant contracts on terms acceptable to us;
• development, adoption and use of Artificial Intelligence by us and our third-party vendors;
• fluctuations in, or third-party default risk in wholesale power and natural gas markets, including the potential impacts on the economic viability of our generation units;
• our ability to obtain adequate nuclear fuel supply;
• changes in technology related to energy generation, distribution and consumption and changes in customer usage patterns;
• third-party credit risk relating to our sale of nuclear generation output and purchase of nuclear fuel;
• any inability to meet our commitments under forward sale obligations and Regional Transmission Organization rules;
• the impact of changes in state and federal legislation and regulations on our business, including PSE&G's ability to recover costs and earn returns on authorized investments;
• PSE&G's proposed investment projects or programs may not be fully approved by regulators and its capital investment may be lower than planned;
• our ability to receive sufficient financial support for our New Jersey nuclear plants from the markets, production tax credit and/or zero emission certificates program;
• adverse changes in and non-compliance with energy industry laws, policies, regulations and standards, including market structures and transmission planning and transmission returns;
• risks associated with our ownership and operation of nuclear facilities, including increased nuclear fuel storage costs, regulatory risks, such as compliance with the Atomic Energy Act and trade control, environmental and other regulations, as well as operational, financial, environmental and health and safety risks;
• changes in federal and state environmental laws and regulations and enforcement;
• delays in receipt of, or an inability to receive, necessary licenses and permits and siting approvals; and
• changes in tax laws and regulations.

All of the forward-looking statements made in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the results or developments anticipated by management will be realized or even if realized, will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in making any investment decision. Forward-looking statements made in this report apply only as of the date of this report. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even in light of new information or future events, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws.

The forward-looking statements contained in this report are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE PSEG