TAMPA, Fla., Aug 04, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

TECO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:TE) today reported second quarter net income of $77.5 million, or $0.36 per share, compared to $75.5 million, or $0.35 per share, in the second quarter of 2010. There were no charges or gains in the second quarter of 2011. Results in the second quarter of 2010 were reduced by a $4.1 million charge related to early debt retirement.

Year-to-date net income and earnings per share were $129.2 million, or $0.60 per share, in 2011, compared to $131.3 million, or $0.61 per share, in the same period in 2010. There were no charges or gains in the 2011 year-to-date period. Year-to-date results in 2010 were reduced by charges of $21.2 million, primarily for early debt retirement. These are discussed in the non-GAAP results section below and the Results Reconciliation table later in this release.

TECO Energy President and Chief Executive Officer John Ramil said, "We are pleased with our results this quarter, which position us to deliver the strong results we are expecting this year. Our second quarter results reflect the benefits of lower interest expense from our debt retirement actions. The Florida utilities are benefiting from continued modest improvement in the state and local economies and moderate customer growth. TECO Coal is experiencing better prices for its specialty coals and it is actively engaged in a program to identify additional specialty coal reserves on properties it controls."

Non-GAAP Results

The table below compares the TECO Energy GAAP net income to the non-GAAP results used in this release. Non-GAAP results exclude the charges and gains described following the table. See the Non-GAAP Presentation section and Results Reconciliation table later in this release for a reconciliation to GAAP results and a discussion regarding this presentation of non-GAAP results and management's use of this information.

All amounts included in the non-GAAP discussion below are after tax, unless otherwise noted.

There were no non-GAAP adjustments in the second quarter or year-to-date periods of 2011. Second quarter 2010 non-GAAP results excluded $4.1 million of early debt retirement charges that represented premiums and costs associated with the early retirement of $100 million of TECO Energy notes due in 2011. In addition to the second quarter charge, year-to-date 2010 non-GAAP results also excluded $16.2 million of early debt retirement charges and the final $0.9 million of 2009-related restructuring charges recorded in the first quarter of 2010. The $16.2 million charge represents premiums and costs associated with the early retirement of TECO Energy and TECO Finance notes. (See the Results Reconciliation table.)

Segment Reporting

The table below includes TECO Energy segment information on a GAAP basis, which includes all charges and gains for the periods shown.

Operating Company Results:

All amounts included in the operating company and Parent & other results discussions below are after tax, unless otherwise noted.

Due to an accounting rule change related to variable interest entities, effective Jan. 1, 2010, the San José and Alborada power stations at TECO Guatemala were consolidated in the financial statements of TECO Energy. Prior periods have not been restated to reflect this change, which did not affect net income.

Tampa Electric

Tampa Electric reported net income for the second quarter of $58.4 million, compared with $56.8 million for the same period in 2010. Results for the quarter reflected a 0.7% higher average number of customers, higher earnings on nitrogen oxide (NOx) control projects, and lower operations and maintenance expenses.

Total degree days in Tampa Electric's service area were 12% above normal, but essentially in line with the second quarter of 2010. Total net energy for load, which is a calendar measurement of retail energy sales rather than a billing cycle measurement, decreased 2.3% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. The quarterly energy sales shown on the statistical summary that accompanies this earnings release reflect the energy sales based on the timing of billing cycles, which can vary period to period. Lower retail energy sales were driven primarily by lower sales to industrial-phosphate customers due to increased self-generation capacity, and the operation of a generating unit in 2011 by an industrial-phosphate customer in 2011, who had experienced an outage in 2010.

Operations and maintenance expense, excluding all Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC)-approved cost recovery clauses, decreased $5.3 million, reflecting higher generating system maintenance expenses, which were more than offset by lower accruals for performance-based incentive compensation for all employees. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.0 million due to additions to facilities to serve customers.

Year-to-date net income was $90.0 million, compared with $104.9 million in the 2010 period, driven primarily by lower energy sales due to milder winter weather than the record cold 2010 winter season, partially offset by 0.7% higher average number of customers, lower operations and maintenance expenses, and higher earnings on NOx control projects.

Total degree days in Tampa Electric's service area were 9% above normal, but 9% below the prior year-to-date period. Pretax base revenue was $25 to $30 million lower than in 2010, primarily reflecting the milder weather and the voluntary conservation that typically occurs during periods without extreme weather.

In the 2011 year-to-date period, total net energy for load declined 6.5% compared to the same period in 2010. The year-to-date energy sales shown on the statistical summary that accompanies this earnings release reflect the higher sales associated with the late December 2010 cold weather that are included in 2011 billed sales. Lower retail energy sales were driven primarily by milder winter weather and lower sales to industrial-phosphate customers, due to the factors described above. Sales to commercial and industrial-other customers reflect the modest improvements in the Florida economy experienced by certain customers, primarily medical facilities and certain manufacturers.

Operations and maintenance expense, excluding all FPSC-approved cost recovery clauses, decreased $7.7 million. Higher spending on generating unit maintenance was more than offset by lower accruals of performance-based incentive compensation for all employees.

Compared to the 2010 year-to-date period, depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.2 million, reflecting the additions to facilities to serve customers discussed above.

Peoples Gas

Peoples Gas reported net income of $5.9 million for the second quarter, compared to $5.1 million in the same period in 2010. Quarterly results reflect a 0.6% higher average number of customers, lower sales to residential customers due to mild spring weather and increased sales volumes to interruptible industrial customers due to the operation of several higher-usage customers that were idle in the 2010 period. Non-fuel operations and maintenance expense decreased slightly due to lower accruals of performance-based incentive compensation for all employees, partially offset by $2.1 million of expenses related to the defense of environmental contamination claims. Results in the 2010 quarter included a $2.4 million provision related to potential earnings above the top of the allowed return on equity (ROE) range as a result of the unprecedented cold winter weather in 2010, and Peoples Gas expectation that it would earn above the top of its allowed ROE range of 9.75% to 11.75%. Results also reflect increased depreciation expense due to routine plant additions.

Peoples Gas reported net income of $20.6 million for the year-to-date period, compared to $23.0 million in the same period in 2010. Results reflect a 0.7% higher average number of customers, but lower usage by residential and commercial customers due to milder weather in the first quarter compared to the unusually cold winter weather in 2010. Increased sales volumes to industrial customers reflect the operation of several higher-usage customers that were idle in the 2010 period. Gas transported for power generation customers increased over the 2010 year-to-date period due to lower natural gas prices that made it more economical to use natural gas for power generation. Non-fuel operations and maintenance expense was essentially unchanged from the 2010 period, driven primarily by the same factors as in the second quarter.

TECO Coal

TECO Coal achieved second quarter net income of $15.8 million on sales of 2.1 million tons, compared to $20.7 million on sales of 2.4 million tons in the same period in 2010. Results in 2010 included a $2.0 million benefit from the settlement of state income tax issues recorded in prior years.

In 2011, results reflect an average net per-ton selling price, excluding transportation allowances, of slightly more than $89 per ton, almost 16% higher than in 2010, and above prior guidance due to a sales mix that was more heavily weighted to metallurgical and PCI coal. In the second quarter of 2011, the all-in total per-ton cost of production increased to $79 per ton, which is above the cost guidance range previously provided. Cost of production in the second quarter was driven by higher contract miner costs, higher costs of all supplies that are oil- related such as conveyor belts and tires, and lower productivity due to adverse weather. TECO Coal's effective income tax rate in the second quarter of 2011 was 24%, the same as the 2010 period.

TECO Coal recorded year-to-date net income of $24.0 million on sales of 4.1 million tons in 2011, compared to $37.5 million on sales of 4.6 million tons in the 2010 period. In 2010, year-to-date net income included a $5.3 million benefit from the settlement of state income tax issues recorded in prior years. The year-to-date sales mix was driven by the same factors as in the second quarter. The 2011 year-to-date average net per-ton selling price was $85 per ton and the all-in total per-ton cost of production was approximately $78 per ton. TECO Coal's effective income tax rate was 22%, compared to 23%, excluding the effect of the state income tax settlements discussed above, in the 2010 year-to-date period.

TECO Coal's year-to-date cost of production includes $0.35 per ton of costs associated with core drilling and exploration activities in an ongoing program to identify additional specialty coal (metallurgical and PCI) reserves on properties already under its control. These activities to identify incremental specialty coal reserves are in support of TECO Coal's efforts to grow specialty coal sales to 50% of the sales mix within two years.

TECO Guatemala

TECO Guatemala reported second quarter net income of $5.6 million in 2011, compared to $10.6 million in the 2010 period. Year-to-date 2011 net income was $11.9 million, compared to $21.0 million in the 2010 period. Results in the 2011 quarter reflect no earnings from DECA II (sold in October 2010), which were $4.8 million and $8.0 million in the 2010 quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively, and $1.7 million and $3.5 million lower capacity payments in the 2010 quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively, related to the Alborada Power Station contract extension, which became effective September 2010. Results at the San José Power Station also reflect normal capacity payments compared to 2010 when the payments were reduced for a portion of the quarter due to unplanned outages in 2009, higher prices for spot energy sales, and lower interest expense due to lower rates on the non-recourse debt.

Parent & other

The cost for Parent & other in the second quarter of 2011 was $8.2 million, compared to a cost of $17.7 million in the same period in 2010. There were no non-GAAP adjustments in 2011. Results in 2011 reflect $3.5 million lower interest expense as a result of the 2011 debt retirements and the 2010 debt restructuring and retirement actions. In 2010, the non-GAAP cost for Parent & other was $13.6 million, excluding the $4.1 million charge for parent debt retirement. Results in 2010 also included a $0.7 million negative valuation adjustment to foreign tax credits based on estimated foreign source income and projected timing of the utilization of the net operating loss (NOL) carry forwards.

The year-to-date Parent & other cost was $17.3 million in 2011, compared to $55.1 million in the 2010 period. There were no non-GAAP adjustments in 2011. Results in 2011 reflect $7.3 million lower interest expense as a result of the 2011 debt retirements and the 2010 debt restructuring and retirement actions. The 2010 year-to-date non-GAAP cost was $33.9 million, which excluded $20.3 million of debt retirement charges and $0.9 million of final restructuring charges. In 2010, the year-to-date cost for Parent & other also included negative valuation adjustments to foreign tax credits totaling $5.9 million, and a $1.1 million charge to adjust deferred tax balances related to the Medicare Part D subsidies as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted in the first quarter. (See the Results Reconciliation table.)

Cash and Liquidity

The table below sets forth the June 30, 2011, consolidated liquidity and cash balances, the cash balances at the operating companies and TECO Energy parent, and amounts available under the TECO Energy/Finance and Tampa Electric Company credit facilities.

2011 Guidance and Business Drivers Update

Based on strong year-to-date actual results and expectations for the remainder of the year consistent with prior guidance, TECO Energy is maintaining its 2011 earnings per share guidance range of $1.25 to $1.40, excluding charges and gains, and is updating its business drivers as discussed below.

Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas expect to earn their respective allowed returns on equity authorized in their 2009 base rate proceedings. Tampa Electric expects customer growth to continue to be in line with the trends experienced in 2010; however, due to the unusual weather experienced in 2010, it expects lower energy sales in 2011 assuming normal weather. In 2010, weather added between $30 and $40 million to pretax base revenue at Tampa Electric. Also in 2010, Tampa Electric reduced base revenue $24 million as a one-time item under its regulatory agreement approved by the FPSC.

TECO Coal now expects 2011 sales of between 8.2 and 8.5 million tons at an average selling price across all products of more than $88 per ton, which is $1 per ton higher than at the time guidance was originally provided, due to a higher percentage of specialty coal sales. The lower coal sales are driven by the year-to-date delays in mine plan approvals by regulatory authorities and the availability of contract miners. All of the expected 2011 sales are under contract. The selling price will average more than $90 per ton over the remainder of the year due to the completion of shipments of tons to European customers under contracts signed in 2010 in the first quarter. The 2011 product mix is expected to be about 45% specialty coal, which includes stoker, metallurgical and PCI coals, and the remainder utility steam coal. The cost of production is now expected to be at the high end of the previously provided cost range of $74 and $78 per ton, due to higher contract miner costs, higher safety related costs, higher royalties and severance costs, which are a function of selling price, and higher surface mining cost, primarily due to longer hauling distances as a result of delays in the issuance of permits. TECO Coal's effective income tax rate is expected to be about 25% for the full year.

The guidance assumes normal operations for the Alborada and San José power stations in Guatemala. TECO Guatemala extended the power sales contract for the Alborada Power Station for five years at rates approximately 55%, or $7.0 million after tax on an annual basis, below the previous contract level effective Sept. 14, 2010. TECO Guatemala's results will reflect the absence of earnings from DECA II, which was sold in October 2010. Prior to the sale, DECA II contributed $13.1 million to 2010 net income at TECO Guatemala.

Parent & other interest cost in 2011 will reflect the December 2010 early retirement of $236 million of TECO Energy and TECO Finance notes due in 2012, and the repayment of $64 million of notes at maturity on May 1, 2011.

This guidance is provided in the form of a range to allow for varying outcomes with respect to important variables, such as the strength of the economic and housing market recovery in Florida, weather and customer usage at the Florida utilities, and margins at TECO Coal.

Non-GAAP Presentation

Management believes it is helpful to present a non-GAAP measure of performance that reflects the ongoing operations of TECO Energy's businesses and which allows investors to better understand and evaluate the business as it is expected to operate in future periods.

Management and the Board of Directors use non-GAAP measures as a yardstick for measuring the company's performance, for making decisions that are dependent upon the profitability of the company's various operating units, and for determining levels of incentive compensation.

The non-GAAP measures of financial performance used by the company are not measures of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should not be considered an alternative to net income or other GAAP figures as an indicator of the company's financial performance or liquidity. TECO Energy's non-GAAP presentation of net income may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The Results Reconciliation table below presents non-GAAP financial results after elimination of the effects of certain identified charges and gains. This provides investors additional information to assess the company's results and future earnings potential.

(1) A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure that includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Webcast

As previously announced, TECO Energy will host a Webcast with the investment community to discuss its second quarter results and outlook for the remainder of 2011 at 9:00 am Eastern time, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011. The Webcast will be accessible through the link on TECO Energy's website: www.tecoenergy.com. The Webcast and accompanying slides will be available for replay for 30 days through the Website, beginning approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event.

TECO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: TE) is an energy-related holding company. Its principal subsidiary, Tampa Electric Company, is a regulated utility in Florida with both electric and gas divisions (Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System). Other subsidiaries include TECO Coal, which owns and operates coal production facilities in Kentucky and Virginia, and TECO Guatemala, which is engaged in electric power generation and energy-related businesses in Guatemala.

Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Actual results may differ materially from those forecasted. The forecasted results are based on the company's current expectations and assumptions, and the company does not undertake to update that information or any other information contained in this press release, except as may be required by law. Factors that could impact actual results include: regulatory actions by federal, state or local authorities; unexpected capital needs or unanticipated reductions in cash flow that affect liquidity; the ability to access the capital and credit markets when required; the availability of adequate rail transportation capacity for the shipment of TECO Coal's production; general economic conditions affecting energy sales at the utility companies; economic conditions, both national and international, affecting the Florida economy and demand for TECO Coal 's production; weather variations and changes in customer energy usage patterns affecting sales and operating costs at Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas; the effect of extreme weather conditions or hurricanes; operating conditions, commodity prices, operating cost and environmental or safety rule changes affecting the production levels and margins at TECO Coal; conditions affecting TECO Coal's ability to identify and develop additional specialty coal reserves and /or increase specialty coal sales; fuel cost recoveries and related cash at Tampa Electric; natural gas demand at Peoples Gas; the ability of TECO Energy's subsidiaries to operate equipment without undue accidents, breakdowns or failures; and changes in the U.S. federal tax code on earnings from foreign investments that could reduce earnings. Additional information is contained under "Risk Factors" in TECO Energy, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended Dec. 31, 2010.

JUNE 2011

Figures appearing in these statements are presented as general information and not in connection with any sale or offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor are they intended as a representation by the company of the value of its securities. All figures reported are subject to adjustments as the annual audit by independent accountants may determine to be necessary and to the explanatory notes affecting income and balance sheet accounts contained in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. Reference should also be made to information contained in that and other reports filed by TECO Energy, Inc. and Tampa Electric Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The attached financial statements include the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for two power generation projects in Guatemala, previously reflected as unconsolidated affiliates, that were reconsolidated effective January 1, 2010 in accordance with new accounting guidance.

SOURCE: TECO Energy, Inc.

TECO Energy, Inc.
News Media:
Cherie Jacobs, 813-228-4945
or
Investor Relations:
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Internet: http://www.tecoenergy.com