UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended
Commission
Registrant; State of Incorporation
IRS Employer
File Number
Address; and Telephone Number
Identification No.
001-09057
WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION
39-1391525
(A Wisconsin Corporation)
231 West Michigan Street
P.O. Box 1331
Milwaukee, WI 53201
(414) 221-2345
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer [X] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [ ].
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date (June 30, 2006):
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value,
116,978,883 shares outstanding.
FORM 10-Q REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item
Page
Introduction
3
Part I -- Financial Information
1.
Financial Statements
Consolidated Condensed Income Statements
4
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
5
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
6
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
7
2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
17
3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
38
4.
Controls and Procedures
39
Part II -- Other Information
Legal Proceedings
1A.
Risk Factors
41
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
[and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities]
42
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
5.
Other Information
43
6.
Exhibits
44
Signatures
45
INTRODUCTION
Wisconsin Energy Corporation is a diversified holding company which conducts its operations primarily in two operating segments: a utility energy segment and a non-utility energy segment. Unless qualified by their context when used in this document, the terms Wisconsin Energy, the Company, our, us or we refer to the holding company and all of its subsidiaries. Our primary subsidiaries are Wisconsin Electric Power Company (Wisconsin Electric), Wisconsin Gas LLC (Wisconsin Gas) and W.E. Power, LLC (We Power).
Utility Energy Segment: Our utility energy segment consists of: Wisconsin Electric, which serves electric customers in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, gas customers in Wisconsin and steam customers in metro Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Gas, which serves gas customers in Wisconsin and water customers in suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Edison Sault Electric Company (Edison Sault), which serves electric customers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas operate under the trade name of "We Energies."
Non-Utility Energy Segment: Our non-utility energy segment primarily consists of We Power. We Power was formed in 2001 to construct, own and lease to Wisconsin Electric the new generating capacity included in our Power the Future strategy, which is described further in this report.
Other: Other includes all other non-utility activities, primarily non-utility real estate investment and development by Wispark LLC (Wispark). As of June 30, 2006, Wispark had $89.5 million of assets.
Discontinued Operations: Effective May 31, 2005, we sold our Calumet Energy (Calumet) facility, which was part of our non-utility energy segment. In August 2005, we announced our intent to sell Minergy Neenah, LLC (Minergy Neenah). For further information, see Note 3 -- Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale in the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in this report.
We have prepared the unaudited interim financial statements presented in this Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We have condensed or omitted some information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles pursuant to these rules and regulations. This Form 10-Q, including the financial statements contained herein, should be read in conjunction with our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements and notes therein.
PART I -- FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED INCOME STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended June 30
Six Months Ended June 30
2006
2005
(Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)
Operating Revenues
$814.4
$788.5
$2,061.4
$1,883.2
Operating Expenses
Fuel and purchased power
184.8
186.4
354.0
344.4
Cost of gas sold
129.6
142.0
610.0
552.7
Other operation and maintenance
290.1
268.5
588.0
522.9
Depreciation, decommissioning
and amortization
78.8
79.0
161.4
160.8
Property and revenue taxes
24.0
22.7
49.3
45.7
Total Operating Expenses
707.3
698.6
1,762.7
1,626.5
Operating Income
107.1
89.9
298.7
256.7
Other Income, Net
27.7
16.6
48.6
34.3
Interest Expense
42.6
41.5
87.8
83.9
Income From Continuing
Operations Before Income Taxes
92.2
65.0
259.5
207.1
Income Taxes
32.5
8.2
95.4
60.3
Income from Continuing Operations
59.7
56.8
164.1
146.8
Income from Discontinued
Operations, Net of Tax (Note 3)
3.2
5.2
4.5
5.1
Net Income
$62.9
$62.0
$168.6
$151.9
Earnings Per Share (Basic)
Continuing operations
$0.51
$0.49
$1.40
$1.26
Discontinued operations
0.03
0.04
Total Earnings Per Share (Basic)
$0.54
$0.53
$1.44
$1.30
Earnings Per Share (Diluted)
$0.50
$0.48
$1.38
$1.24
Total Earnings Per Share (Diluted)
$0.52
$1.42
$1.28
Weighted Average Common
Shares Outstanding (Millions)
Basic
117.0
Diluted
118.4
118.3
Dividends Per Share of Common Stock
$0.23
$0.22
$0.46
$0.44
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements are an integral part
of these financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
June 30, 2006
December 31, 2005
(Millions of Dollars)
Assets
Property, Plant and Equipment
In service
$8,959.8
$8,849.6
Accumulated depreciation
(3,373.3)
(3,288.5)
5,586.5
5,561.1
Construction work in progress
887.8
596.6
Leased facilities, net
90.4
93.2
Nuclear fuel, net
113.2
112.0
Net Property, Plant and Equipment
6,677.9
6,362.9
Investments
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund
802.6
782.1
Equity investment in transmission affiliate
219.9
205.8
Other
46.5
92.1
Total Investments
1,069.0
1,080.0
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
18.1
73.2
Accounts receivable
341.5
441.8
Accrued revenues
143.6
262.9
Materials, supplies and inventories
342.9
451.6
Prepayments and Other
126.1
130.1
Assets held for sale
16.0
17.4
Total Current Assets
988.2
1,377.0
Deferred Charges and Other Assets
Regulatory assets
1,038.7
1,025.6
Goodwill, net
441.9
184.7
174.6
Total Deferred Charges and Other Assets
1,665.3
1,642.1
Total Assets
$10,400.4
$10,462.0
Capitalization and Liabilities
Capitalization
Common equity
$2,796.4
$2,680.1
Preferred stock of subsidiary
30.4
Long-term debt
3,025.4
3,031.0
Total Capitalization
5,852.2
5,741.5
Current Liabilities
Long-term debt due currently
224.9
496.0
Short-term debt
557.3
456.3
Accounts payable
277.7
418.1
Accrued liabilities
181.3
134.4
155.4
Total Current Liabilities
1,396.6
1,646.8
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
Regulatory liabilities
1,387.6
1,373.2
Asset retirement obligations
364.0
355.5
Deferred income taxes - long-term
569.4
593.7
830.6
751.3
Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities
3,151.6
3,073.7
Total Capitalization and Liabilities
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements are an
integral part of these financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Operating Activities
Net income
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
(4.5)
(5.1)
Reconciliation to cash
Depreciation, decommissioning and amortization
166.0
173.4
Nuclear fuel expense amortization
14.7
10.1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
(22.9)
(16.9)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates
14.9
12.9
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net
(25.5)
Change in -
Accounts receivable and accrued revenues
219.6
82.2
Inventories
108.7
86.5
Other current assets
(22.4)
6.7
(156.7)
(8.1)
Accrued income taxes, net
82.6
(58.4)
Deferred costs, net
(13.1)
(50.1)
Other current liabilities
7.0
20.2
43.6
12.3
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
580.6
435.0
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures
(420.9)
(321.8)
Proceeds from asset sales, net
54.7
Nuclear fuel
(16.0)
(12.5)
Nuclear decommissioning funding
(8.8)
Proceeds from investments within nuclear decommissioning trust
301.7
195.9
Purchases of investments within nuclear decommissioning trust
(301.7)
(195.9)
2.7
Cash Used in Investing Activities
(401.5)
(285.2)
Financing Activities
Exercise of stock options
7.6
37.7
Purchase of common stock
(59.9)
Dividends paid on common stock
(53.8)
(51.5)
Retirement of long-term debt
(277.3)
(3.0)
Change in short-term debt
101.0
(88.1)
Other, net
1.4
-
Cash Used in Financing Activities
(234.2)
(164.8)
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents from Continuing Operations
(55.1)
(15.0)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
35.6
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
$18.1
$20.6
Supplemental Information - Cash Paid For
Interest (net of amount capitalized)
$110.8
$98.8
Income taxes (net of refunds)
$46.3
$100.3
WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATIONNOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Unaudited)
1 -- GENERAL INFORMATION
Our accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, we have included all adjustments, normal and recurring in nature, necessary to a fair presentation of the results of operations, cash flows and financial position in the accompanying income statements, statements of cash flows and balance sheets. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results which may be expected for the entire fiscal year 2006 because of seasonal and other factors.
Modifications to Prior Statements: We have modified certain income statement and cash flows presentations. Prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to their current year presentation. These reporting changes had no impact on total earnings per share or cash provided, or used in, operating, investing or financing activities.
The most significant reclassifications relate to the reporting of discontinued operations pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. Previously, these were included as components of continuing operations. Prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to their current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on total earnings per share.
We have changed the presentation of the investing activities within our nuclear decommissioning trusts on the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows to present proceeds from investments within the nuclear decommissioning trusts and purchases of investments within the nuclear decommissioning trusts. Previously, these items were excluded from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as the nuclear decommissioning trusts are considered restricted investments. This reporting change had no impact on net cash provided by, or used in, operating, investing or financing activities.
Interim Accounting for Electric Fuel Revenues: For 2006, Wisconsin Electric will have to refund to customers any electric fuel revenues that it receives that are in excess of fuel and purchased power costs that it incurs, as defined by the Wisconsin fuel rules. We do not recognize revenue for any amounts that are currently billable if it is probable that we will refund those amounts to customers.
2 -- POWER THE FUTURE
In July 2005, the first unit at Port Washington Generating Station (PWGS) was placed in service. This asset has a cost of approximately $364.3 million which includes approximately $31.1 million of capitalized interest. The asset is being depreciated over its estimated useful life of approximately 37 years. The cost of the plant, plus a return, is expected to be recovered through Wisconsin Electric's rates over a 25 year period at an annual amount of approximately $48 million.
We capitalize interest expense during the construction of our Power the Future power plants. For the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, we capitalized $7.3 million and $7.9 million of interest costs at an average rate of 6.4% for each period. For the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, we capitalized $13.3 million and $14.9 million of interest costs at an average rate of 6.5% for each period.
Under the lease agreements associated with our Power the Future plants, we are able to recover from utility customers the carrying costs associated with the construction of these power plants. We defer these carrying costs on our balance sheet and they will be amortized to revenue over the individual lease term. For the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, we deferred $17.2 million and $17.7 million of carrying costs at an average rate of 14% for each period. For the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, we deferred $31.0 million and $33.7 million of carrying costs at an average rate of 14% for each period.
3 -- DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS HELD FOR SALE
The earnings of the assets identified below are reflected in discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Income Statements. The combined operating revenues for these operations were approximately $5.6 million and $5.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, and approximately $10.7 million and $11.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.
Minergy Neenah: In August 2005, we announced our intent to sell Minergy Neenah. In July 2006, Minergy Corp. signed a purchase agreement with Thermagen Power Group, LLC for the sale of 100% of the membership interests in Minergy Neenah. We expect to complete the sale of Minergy Neenah in the third quarter of 2006. The sale of Minergy Neenah is subject to regulatory approval and satisfaction of other conditions.
The primary assets of Minergy Neenah are the Glass Aggregate Plant and related operating contracts. The plant recycles paper sludge from paper mills into electricity, steam and a glass aggregate product. The largest source of revenue for Minergy Neenah is from a long-term steam contract with a nearby paper mill owned by P.H. Glatfelter Company (Glatfelter). Glatfelter permanently closed the mill as of June 30, 2006. Minergy Neenah is owed a termination fee due to the mill closing. We expect that the net effect of the sale of the plant and the termination fee from Glatfelter will be insignificant. We do not expect that the sale of our plant will have a material financial impact on Wisconsin Energy as we have previously recorded impairment charges on this asset to reflect an expected realizable value.
Wisvest - Calumet: Effective May 31, 2005, we sold our Calumet facility for approximately $37.0 million in cash to Tenaska Power Fund, L.P. (Tenaska). The primary assets of Calumet were a 308-megawatt natural gas-fired peaking power facility in Chicago, Illinois and related operating contracts. This transaction generated a gain on sale of approximately $4.7 million and approximately $32.0 million in cash tax benefits.
4 -- COMMON EQUITY
Comprehensive Income: Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by and distributions to owners. We recorded the following total comprehensive income during the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005:
Comprehensive Income
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Hedging
0.2
(0.3)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Total Comprehensive Income
$168.8
$151.6
Share-Based Compensation Plans:
We utilize the straight-line attribution method for recognizing stock-based compensation expense under SFAS 123R. We recorded compensation expense, net of tax, for stock option awards made to our employees and directors of $1.2 million ($0.01 per share) and $2.3 million ($0.02 per share) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006. Tax benefits associated with our stock-based compensation arrangements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 were $0.4 million and $2.2 million.
Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 have not been restated. Had compensation expense for employee stock options been determined based on fair value at the grant date consistent with SFAS 123R, our net income and earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below.
Three MonthsEnded June 30, 2005
Six MonthsEnded June 30, 2005
As reported
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects
0.5
0.9
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
1.0
2.0
Pro forma
$61.5
$150.8
Basic Earnings Per Common Share
$1.29
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
$1.27
In the first six months of 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted 1,292,275 options that had an estimated weighted average grant date fair value of $7.55 per share using a binomial option-pricing model. In the first six months of 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted 1,328,966 options that had an estimated grant date fair value of $8.32 per share using the Black-Scholes model. The following assumptions were used to value the options in the indicated grant year:
Grants
Risk free interest rate
4.3% - 4.4%
4.4%
Dividend yield
2.4%
2.5%
Expected volatility
17% - 20%
19%
Expected life (years)
6.31
10
The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury interest rate whose term is consistent with the expected life of the stock options. Dividend yield, expected volatility and expected life assumptions, for 2006, are based on our historical experience.
Our 1993 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (OSIP), as approved by stockholders, enables us to provide a long-term incentive through equity interests in Wisconsin Energy, to outside directors, selected officers and key employees of the Company. The OSIP provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and performance shares. Awards may be paid in common stock, cash or a combination thereof.
The exercise price of a stock option under the OSIP is to be no less than 100% of the common stock's fair market value on the grant date and options may not be exercised within six months of the grant date except in the event of a change in control. In December 2004, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the acceleration of vesting of all unvested options awarded to executive officers and other key employees in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Options granted subsequent to December 31, 2004 are non-qualified stock options which vest on a cliff-basis after a three year period. Generally, options expire no later than ten years from the date of grant.
The following is a summary of our stock option activity through the three and six months ended June 30, 2006.
Stock Options
Number ofOptions
Weighted-AverageExercisePrice
WeightedAverageRemainingContractualLife (years)
Outstanding at April 1, 2006
8,611,108
$29.97
Granted
$ -
Exercised
(73,777)
$26.21
Forfeited
Outstanding at June 30, 2006
8,537,331
$30.01
6.9
Outstanding at January 1, 2006
7,569,619
$28.10
1,292,275
$39.48
(324,563)
$23.22
The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 was approximately $1.1 million and $5.6 million.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at June 30, 2006:
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices
Number
Weighted -AverageExercisePrice
Life(years)
$10.86 to $19.97
338,983
$18.60
3.4
$20.39 to $23.05
1,454,203
$22.00
$25.31 to $27.65
1,858,279
$25.73
5.9
1,849,394
$29.13 to $39.48
4,885,866
$34.81
8.1
2,273,141
$32.51
5,915,721
$27.01
6.0
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (Millions)
$87.9
$78.6
The following table summarizes the status of our non-vested options:
Non-Vested Stock Options
NumberofOptions
Weighted-AverageFairValue
Non-vested at April 1, 2006
2,633,279
$7.94
Vested
(11,669)
$6.83
Non-vested at June 30, 2006
2,621,610
Non-vested at January 1, 2006
1,360,153
$8.30
$7.55
(30,818)
$7.18
The total fair value of options vesting during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 was approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million. As of June 30, 2006, total compensation cost related to non-vested stock options not yet recognized was approximately $12.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over the next 25 months on a weighted average basis.
The Compensation Committee has also approved restricted stock grants to certain key employees and directors. The following restricted stock activity occurred during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006:
Restricted Shares
NumberofShares
Weighted-AverageMarketPrice
210,980
829
$39.19
Released / Forfeited
(9,468)
$31.30
202,341
193,657
18,152
$39.97
Recipients of the restricted shares, who have the right to vote the shares and to receive dividends, are not required to provide consideration to us other than rendering service. Forfeiture provisions on the restricted stock generally expire 10 years after award grant, subject to an accelerated expiration schedule based on the achievement of certain financial performance goals.
We record the market value of the restricted stock awards on the date of grant and then we charge their value to expense over the vesting period of the awards. We also adjust expense for acceleration of vesting due to achievement of performance goals.
In January 2004, the Compensation Committee granted 159,159 performance shares to officers and other key employees. In January 2006 and 2005 the Compensation Committee granted 150,281 and 101,834 performance units to officers and other key employees under the Wisconsin Energy Performance Unit Plan. Under the grants, the ultimate number of units which will be awarded is dependent upon the achievement of certain financial performance of our stock over a three year period. Under the terms of the award, participants may earn between 0% and 175% of the base performance award. We are accruing compensation costs over the three year period based on our estimate of the final expected value of the award. The 2004 grant will be settled in common stock or cash. The 2005 and 2006 grants will be settled in cash.
Common Stock Activity: No new shares of common stock were issued during the six months ended June 30, 2006. During the first six months of 2006, we received proceeds of $7.6 million related to the exercise of stock options, compared with $37.7 million during the same period in 2005. We instructed our plan agent to purchase common stock in the open market at a cost of $13.1 million to fulfill the exercised stock options in the first six months of 2006, compared with $59.9 million during the same period in 2005. This cost is included in purchase of common stock on our Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows.
5 -- ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
Our asset retirement obligations under SFAS 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, primarily relate to the future decommissioning costs for our Point Beach Nuclear Plant (Point Beach) and to asbestos related removal costs associated with other power plants. Our asset retirement obligations at June 30, 2006 were $364.0 million.
We adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation 47 (FIN 47), Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, an interpretation of SFAS 143, effective December 31, 2005. FIN 47 defines a conditional asset retirement obligation as a legal obligation to perform an asset
If we had adopted interpretation FIN 47 at the beginning of fiscal 2005, we would have reported the following asset retirement obligations on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets in "Asset Retirement Obligations:"
Asset Retirement Obligations
December 31, 2004
Reported
$364.0
$355.5
$762.2
$798.4
The most significant asset retirement obligation is for Point Beach. The liability decreased significantly from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2005 due to an updated Decommissioning Cost Study that had lower estimated costs to decommission the plant than the previous study. For further information regarding the change in the asset retirement obligation between December 31, 2005 and 2004 see Note F -- Asset Retirement Obligations and Note I -- Nuclear Operations in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
6 -- DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
We follow SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended by SFAS 149, an amendment of SFAS 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which requires that every derivative instrument be recorded on the balance sheet as an asset or liability measured at its fair value and that changes in the derivative's fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. For most energy related physical and financial contracts in our regulated operations that qualify as derivatives under SFAS 133, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) allows the effects of the fair market value accounting to be offset to regulatory assets and liabilities.
7 -- BENEFITS
The components of our net periodic pension and other post-retirement benefit costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:
Pension Benefits
Other Post-retirementBenefits
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost
$7.9
$7.7
$2.8
$4.1
Interest cost
17.5
17.1
4.4
5.8
Expected return on plan assets
(20.8)
(3.8)
(5.8)
Amortization of:
Transition obligation
0.1
0.8
Prior service cost (credit)
1.3
(3.4)
Actuarial loss
5.6
6.1
1.6
$11.6
$9.9
$2.2
$6.7
$17.0
$16.6
$6.2
$6.9
34.9
34.8
9.0
11.0
(41.0)
(43.8)
(7.5)
(7.7)
2.6
(6.8)
0.3
11.7
10.4
3.6
$25.3
$5.5
$14.9
Employee Benefit Plans and Post-retirement Benefits:
8 -- GUARANTEES
We enter into various guarantees to provide financial and performance assurance to third parties on behalf of affiliates. As of June 30, 2006, we had the following guarantees:
Maximum PotentialFuturePayments
Outstanding atJune 30, 2006
Liability Recorded atJune 30, 2006
Wisconsin Energy
Non-Utility Energy
Wisconsin Electric
235.2
Subsidiary
10.8
10.5
Total
$253.0
$17.6
A Non-Utility Energy segment guarantee in support of Wisvest-Connecticut, which we sold in December 2002 to PSEG, provides financial assurance for potential obligations relating to environmental remediation under the original purchase agreement for Wisvest-Connecticut with United Illuminating. The potential obligations for environmental remediation, which are unlimited, are reimbursable by PSEG under the terms of the sale agreement in the event that we are required to perform under the guarantee.
Other guarantees support obligations of our affiliates to third parties under loan agreements and surety bonds. In the event our affiliates fail to perform, we would be responsible for the obligations.
Wisconsin Electric guarantees the potential retrospective premiums that could be assessed under Wisconsin Electric's nuclear insurance program.
Subsidiary guarantees support loan obligations and surety bonds between our affiliates and third parties. In the event our affiliates fail to perform, our subsidiary would be responsible for the obligations.
Postemployment benefits: Postemployment benefits provided to former or inactive employees are recognized when an event occurs. The estimated liability, excluding severance benefits, for such benefits was $19.7 million as of June 30, 2006 and $17.3 million as of December 31, 2005.
9 -- SEGMENT INFORMATION
Summarized financial information concerning our reportable operating segments for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 is shown in the following table.
Reportable Operating Segments
Corporate & Other (a) & ReconcilingItems
Total Consolidated
Wisconsin Energy Corporation
Utility
Non-Utility
Three Months Ended
Operating Revenues (b)
$812.3
$20.2
($18.1)
Operating Income (Loss)
$98.6
$11.5
($3.0)
$107.1
$26.5
$3.6
$12.5
$42.6
Income Tax Expense
$35.6
$3.7
($6.8)
$32.5
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net
$3.2
$58.0
$4.6
$0.3
Capital Expenditures
$97.7
$108.7
$206.4
June 30, 2005
$785.1
$4.2
($0.8)
$90.1
($0.5)
$89.9
$27.3
$3.0
$11.2
$41.5
$29.9
($0.6)
($21.1)
$8.2
$5.0
$0.2
$5.2
$48.9
$3.9
$9.2
$111.4
$38.0
$3.8
$153.2
Six Months Ended
$2,059.5
$34.4
($32.5)
$284.1
($6.0)
$298.7
$54.6
$87.8
$103.0
$5.8
($13.4)
$95.4
$4.5
Net Income (Loss)
$169.2
$7.2
($7.8)
$213.1
$207.8
$420.9
Total Assets (c)
$9,415.2
$992.2
($7.0)
$1,879.0
($1.3)
$260.7
($3.4)
$256.7
$55.2
$6.0
$22.7
$83.9
$89.5
($1.9)
($27.3)
$60.3
$0.1
$5.1
$146.3
$1.3
$4.3
$208.4
$108.1
$5.3
$321.8
$8,554.7
$572.5
$493.5
$9,620.7
(a)
Other includes all other non-utility activities, primarily non-utility real estate investment and development by Wispark, non-utility investment in renewable energy and recycling technology by Minergy Corp., the elimination of the PWGS Unit 1 capital lease and the settlement of liabilities related to discontinued operations, as well as interest on corporate debt.
(b)
An elimination for intersegment revenues is included in Operating Revenues of $18.6 million and $3.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and in the amounts of $33.1 million and $5.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
(c)
Effective, July 2005, an elimination for intersegment assets is included in Other for the elimination of property under capital lease for PWGS Unit 1. Wisconsin Electric leases PWGS Unit 1 from We Power. For further information see Note 2.
10 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Environmental Matters: We periodically review our exposure for remediation costs as evidence becomes available indicating that our remediation liability has changed. Based on current information, we believe that future costs in excess of the amounts accrued and/or disclosed on all presently known and quantifiable environmental contingencies will not be material to our financial position or results of operations.
WICOR Manufacturing: Effective July 31, 2004, we sold our manufacturing business. Pursuant to the terms of the sale agreement, Wisconsin Energy agreed to customary indemnification provisions related to certain environmental, asbestos and product liability matters associated with the manufacturing business. In addition, the amount of cash taxes and future deferred income tax benefits are subject to a number of factors including appraisals and applicable tax laws. We have established reserves related to the indemnification and tax matters.
Wisvest - Calumet: Pursuant to the terms of the sale agreement, Wisvest has agreed to customary indemnification provisions related to environmental conditions and other matters. Except for retention of the full exposure to indemnify Tenaska for environmental claims related to certain property that was no longer leased or owned by Wisvest or any of its subsidiaries at the time of sale, Wisvest's maximum aggregate exposure under the indemnification provisions is $35 million. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we have guaranteed post-closing obligations under the agreement, including indemnity obligations.
11 -- INCOME TAXES
As disclosed in Note H -- Income Taxes in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, we had established valuation allowances related to tax benefits associated with state net operating losses. As of December 31, 2004, we had concluded that it was more likely than not that we would not ultimately
12 -- NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
FASB Staff Position FIN 46R - 6 (FSP FIN 46R - 6): In April 2006, the FASB issued FSP FIN 46R - 6, Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46R. FSP FIN 46R - 6 addresses the requirement to determine the variability to be considered in applying FASB Interpretation No. 46 based on an analysis of the design of the entity. Specifically, the FSP requires (1) an analysis of the nature of the risks in the entity and (2) a determination of the purpose(s) for which the entity was created and determination of the variability (created by the risks identified in Step 1) the entity is designed to create and pass along to its interest holders. As required, we adopted FSP FIN 46R - 6 effective July 1, 2006 for any new arrangements entered into after the effective date. Although we do not expect the adoption of FSP FIN 46 R - 6 to have a material financial impact, we currently are unable to determine the potential impact in future periods.
FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48): In July 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No.109. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the enterprise's financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We are currently evaluating the provisions of FIN 48 and we expect to adopt FIN 48 on January 1, 2007.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Cautionary Factors Regarding Forward - Looking Statements: Certain statements contained herein are "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Statements include, among other things, statements regarding management's expectations and projections regarding completion of construction projects, regulatory matters, fuel costs, sources of electric energy supply, coal and gas deliveries, remediation costs, environmental and other capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources and other matters. Also, Forward-Looking Statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "may," "objectives," "plans," "possible," "potential," "projects" or similar terms or variations of these terms. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in Forward-Look ing Statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part II of this report and under the heading "Cautionary Factors" in this Item 2, other matters described under the heading "Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources" in this Item 2, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC or otherwise described throughout this document.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS -- THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2006
CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS
The following table compares our net income during the second quarter of 2006 with similar information during the second quarter of 2005 including favorable (better (B)) or unfavorable (worse (W)) variances.
B (W)
Utility Energy Segment
$8.5
Non-Utility Energy Segment
11.5
11.2
Corporate and Other
(2.5)
(0.5)
Total Operating Income
17.2
11.1
(1.1)
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes
27.2
(24.3)
Income From Continuing Operations
2.9
Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax
(2.0)
$0.9
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Continuing Operations
$0.02
Discontinued Operations
$0.03
($0.01)
$0.04
Total Diluted Earnings Per Share
$0.01
UTILITY ENERGY SEGMENT CONTRIBUTION TO OPERATING INCOME
Our utility energy segment contributed $98.6 million of operating income during the second quarter of 2006, an increase of $8.5 million or 9.4% compared with the second quarter of 2005. The following table summarizes the operating income of this segment between the comparative quarters.
Electric
$601.9
$27.6
$574.3
Gas
204.1
(1.7)
6.3
5.0
Total Operating Revenues
812.3
785.1
Fuel and Purchased Power
185.8
187.4
Cost of Gas Sold
12.4
Gross Margin
496.9
41.2
455.7
Other Operating Expenses
Other Operation and Maintenance
298.8
(34.6)
264.2
Depreciation, Decommissioning
and Amortization
75.7
78.9
Property and Revenue Taxes
23.8
(1.3)
22.5
The following table compares electric utility operating revenues and megawatt-hour sales by customer class during the second quarter of 2006 with similar information for the second quarter of 2005.
Electric Revenues
Megawatt-Hour Sales
(Thousands)
Customer Class
Residential
$192.4
$199.2
1,845.9
(190.7)
2,036.6
Small Commercial/Industrial
193.7
8.8
184.9
2,215.4
(0.8)
2,216.2
Large Commercial/Industrial
161.9
158.3
2,828.4
(132.5)
2,960.9
Other-Retail/Municipal
21.4
25.9
543.9
(101.0)
644.9
Resale-Utilities
22.8
19.7
3.1
502.6
442.2
60.4
Other Operating Revenues
9.7
6.8
7,936.2
7,919.0
Weather -- Degree Days (a)
Cooling (183 Normal)
143
(94)
237
As measured at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Normal degree days are based upon a twenty-year moving average.
Our electric utility operating revenues increased by $27.6 million, or 4.8%, when compared to the second quarter of 2005. We estimate that our second quarter 2006 revenues were $29.6 million higher than the second quarter of 2005 due to pricing increases that we received in January 2006 and during 2005. The most significant pricing increases authorized by the PSCW were to recover higher fuel and purchased power costs, capital costs associated with the new plants under our Power the Future plan, and increased transmission costs. For more information on the pricing increases, see Utility Rates and Regulatory Matters in Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources below.
Our electric sales volumes increased by approximately 0.2% between the comparative periods. Excluding sales volumes to other utilities, total electric sales volumes decreased 5.4% between comparative periods. The increase in sale volumes to other utilities is attributed to the availability of Unit 1 at PWGS, which provided additional generation capacity. PWGS Unit 1 was not operational until the third quarter of 2005. Under the Wisconsin fuel rules, sales to other utilities reduce fuel costs charged to customers. Residential sales volumes decreased due to cooler weather in the second quarter of 2006. As measured by cooling degree days, the second quarter of 2006 was 39.7% cooler than the same period in 2005, decreasing cooling load sales to residential customers who are more weather sensitive and contribute higher margins than other customer classes. Based on cooling degree days, the second quarter of 2005 was the eighth warmest on record in the past seventy-four years. We estimate that the weather had an unfavorable impact on operating revenues of approximately $17.1 million. Total sales volumes to commercial/industrial customers decreased 2.6% between comparative periods. Sales volumes to commercial/industrial customers, excluding our largest customers, two iron ore mines, decreased 0.6%.
Our fuel and purchased power expenses decreased by $1.6 million, or approximately 1.0%, when compared to the second quarter of 2005. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in the average cost per megawatt-hour. Our cost of fuel and purchased power decreased from $23.67 per megawatt-hour for the three months ended June 30, 2005 to $23.42 per megawatt-hour for the three months ended
Gas Utility Revenues, Gross Margin and Therm Deliveries
A comparison follows of gas utility operating revenues, gross margin and gas deliveries during the second quarter of 2006 with similar information for the second quarter of 2005. We believe gross margin is a better performance indicator than revenues because changes in the cost of gas sold flow through to revenue under gas cost recovery mechanisms. Between the comparative periods, total gas margins increased by $10.7 million or 16.8%.
Gas Operating Revenues
$204.1
($1.7)
$205.8
$74.5
$10.7
$63.8
The following table compares gas utility gross margin and natural gas therm deliveries by customer class during the second quarter of 2006 with similar information for the second quarter of 2005.
Therm Deliveries
(Millions)
$46.2
$39.3
104.4
103.4
Commercial/Industrial
14.3
2.8
61.9
62.2
Interruptible
0.4
4.0
4.3
Total Retail Gas Sales
60.9
51.2
170.3
169.9
Transported Gas
11.3
187.0
(16.6)
203.6
2.3
2.1
357.3
(16.2)
373.5
Heating (951 Normal)
771
(120)
891
The increase in gross margin is due, in part, to pricing increases that were granted by the PSCW and implemented in January 2006. The gas pricing increases were primarily granted to recover higher operating costs, including bad debt expenses. Our gross margin increased between the comparative periods by approximately $11.1 million due to these pricing increases.
Between comparative periods, we experienced an increase in customer growth, but our volumes decreased due to warmer weather and decreased use per customer or dial down, slightly offsetting the pricing increases. As measured by heating degree days, the second quarter of 2006 was approximately 13.5% warmer than the second quarter of 2005. The decrease in volume of transport gas sales was due to
Other Operation and Maintenance Expenses
Our other operation and maintenance expenses increased by $34.6 million, or 13.1%, when compared to the second quarter of 2005. As discussed above, we received pricing increases in January 2006 and during 2005 to cover increased costs. Our increases in other operation and maintenance expenses that relate to the pricing increases include increased Power the Future lease costs of $25.4 million, increased transmission expenses of $17.6 million and increased bad debt expenses of $3.1 million. In addition, other operation and maintenance expenses increased approximately $6.7 million due to PWGS Unit 1 operating costs and the timing of scheduled outages and maintenance projects at our coal plants. In the second quarter of 2006, we did not have a scheduled nuclear refueling outage as was experienced in the second quarter of 2005, which resulted in approximately a $9.8 million decrease in nuclear operation and maintenance expenses between the comparative periods. In addition, effective March 31, 2006, we no longer incur seams elimination charges, a transmission charge, which resulted in reduced costs of approximately $4.0 million for the second quarter of 2006. For further information on seams elimination charges, see Electric Transmission in Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources below.
Depreciation, Decommissioning and Amortization
Depreciation, Decommissioning and Amortization expenses decreased by $3.2 million or 4.1% when compared to the second quarter of 2005. In January 2006, we implemented new depreciation rates approved by the PSCW which reduced annual depreciation expenses. The decline was partially offset by increased depreciation expenses on plant additions.
NON-UTILITY ENERGY SEGMENT CONTRIBUTION TO OPERATING INCOME
The most significant subsidiary in this segment is We Power. This segment includes the revenues billed to Wisconsin Electric for PWGS Unit 1 and it also includes the depreciation expense related to Unit 1.
Our non-utility energy segment contributed $11.5 million of operating income for the second quarter of 2006 compared to operating income of $0.3 million for the second quarter of 2005. This increase in operating income primarily reflects a full quarter of operating income from PWGS Unit 1, which was placed in service in July 2005. There were no earnings associated with this unit in the second quarter of 2005.
CORPORATE AND OTHER CONTRIBUTION TO OPERATING INCOME
Corporate and other affiliates had an operating loss of $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2006 compared with an operating loss of $0.5 million in the same period in 2005. The increase in operating loss is attributable to lower operating earnings at Wispark.
CONSOLIDATED OTHER INCOME, NET
Other income, net increased by $11.1 million or 66.9% when compared to the second quarter of 2005. The largest increases relate to increased interest in the earnings of unconsolidated affiliates of $4.0 million, increased equity Allowance for Funds used During Construction (AFUDC) and capitalized carrying costs of $3.2 million, and the pre-tax gain on the sale of our investment in the Guardian Pipeline
CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense increased by $1.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2006 when compared with the same period in 2005. The increase was due to higher debt levels and higher short-term interest rates. In addition, in the three months ended June 30, 2005, we expensed approximately $3.0 million related to the amortization of costs associated with prior debt redemptions. These costs were fully amortized as of July 2005; therefore, there was no similar expense in the second quarter of 2006.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME TAXES
For the second quarter of 2006, our effective tax rate applicable to continuing operations was 35.2% compared to 12.6% for the second quarter of 2005. The lower effective tax rate in the second quarter of 2005 was due to the June 2005 reversal of $16.6 million of valuation allowances associated with state tax net operating losses that have been carried forward. In connection with the favorable decision by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in June 2005 to uphold the CPCN granted by the PSCW for the construction of the Oak Creek expansion, we concluded that it is more likely than not that we will be able to utilize certain tax benefits associated with state net operating losses of the Parent that have been carried forward from prior years. For additional information, see Note H -- Income Taxes in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We expect our 2006 annual effective tax rate to be between 37.5% and 38.5%.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Income from discontinued operations for the second quarter of 2006 was $3.2 million compared to $5.2 million in the second quarter of 2005. In the second quarter of 2006, we had income of approximately $2.2 million related to the favorable resolution of tax liabilities. Income from discontinued operations for the second quarter of 2005 includes an after-tax gain on the sale of Calumet of $4.7 million. The operations of Calumet were sold effective May 31, 2005.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS -- SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2006
The following table compares our net income during the first six months of 2006 with similar information during the first six months of 2005 including favorable (better (B)) or unfavorable (worse (W)) variances.
$23.4
20.6
21.2
(0.6)
(6.0)
(2.6)
42.0
(3.9)
52.4
(35.1)
17.3
$16.7
$0.14
Our utility energy segment contributed $284.1 million of operating income during the first six months of 2006, an increase of $23.4 million or 9.0% compared with the first six months of 2005. The following table summarizes the operating income of this segment between the comparative periods.
$1,211.8
$113.4
$1,098.4
832.0
66.2
765.8
15.7
14.8
2,059.5
180.5
1,879.0
356.1
(9.6)
346.5
(57.3)
1,093.4
113.6
979.8
605.3
(90.6)
514.7
155.1
159.1
48.9
(3.6)
45.3
Electric Utility Revenues and Sales
The following table compares electric utility operating revenues and megawatt-hour sales by customer class during the first six months of 2006 with similar information for the first six months of 2005.
$408.3
$19.4
$388.9
3,907.2
(192.3)
4,099.5
387.7
36.5
351.2
4,433.3
4.7
4,428.6
315.7
25.3
290.4
5,570.7
(142.3)
5,713.0
46.1
(6.1)
52.2
1,124.9
(222.8)
1,347.7
35.8
31.2
4.6
796.7
691.4
105.3
18.2
7.1
15,832.8
138.7
15,694.1
Heating (4,202 Normal)
3,706
(473)
4,179
Cooling (184 Normal)
Our electric utility operating revenues increased by $113.4 million, or 10.3%, when compared to the first six months of 2005. We estimate that revenues in the first six months of 2006 were $102.1 million higher than the same period in 2005 due to pricing increases that we received in January 2006 and during 2005. The most significant pricing increases authorized by the PSCW were to recover higher fuel and purchased power costs, capital costs associated with the new plants under our Power the Future plan, and increased transmission costs. For more information on the pricing increases, see Utility Rates and Regulatory Matters in Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources below.
Our electric sales volumes increased by 0.9% as compared to the same period last year. Excluding sales volumes to other utilities, total electric sales volumes decreased 3.5% between the comparative periods. The increase in sale volumes to other utilities is attributed to the availability of Unit 1 at PWGS, which provided additional generation capacity. PWGS Unit 1 was not operational until the third quarter of 2005. Under the Wisconsin fuel rules, sales to other utilities reduce fuel costs charged to customers. Residential sales volumes decreased 4.7% due largely to weather. In the first six months of 2006, heating degree days decreased approximately 11.3% compared to the same period in 2005 and cooling degree days decreased approximately 39.7%. Based on cooling degree days, the second quarter of 2005 was the eighth warmest on record in the past seventy-four years. We estimate that the weather had an unfavorable impact on operating revenues of approximately $27.2 million. Total sa les volumes to commercial/industrial customers decreased 1.4% between the comparative periods. Sales volumes to commercial/industrial customers, excluding our largest customers, two iron ore mines, decreased 0.4%.
Our fuel and purchased power expenses increased by $9.6 million, or approximately 2.8%, when compared to the first six months of 2005. Our cost of fuel and purchased power increased from $22.08 per megawatt-hour for the six months ended June 30, 2005 to $22.49 per megawatt-hour for the six months ended June 30, 2006 or 1.9% between the comparative periods. The largest factors for the higher cost per megawatt-hour were (1) the 27.8% increase in the per megawatt-hour cost of coal-fired generation, which includes coal and related transportation costs, between the comparative periods and (2) an increase in the average costs of purchased power and natural gas-fired units of approximately 1.6% between the comparative periods. Partially offsetting the higher costs was the increased generation from our nuclear units, which have the lowest fuel costs of our fleet. In the second quarter of 2005, one of our
A comparison follows of gas utility operating revenues, gross margin and gas deliveries during the first six months of 2006 with similar information for the first six months of 2005. We believe gross margin is a better performance indicator than revenues because changes in the cost of gas sold flow through to revenue under gas cost recovery mechanisms. Between the comparative periods, total gas margins increased by $8.9 million or 4.2%.
$832.0
$66.2
$765.8
$222.0
$8.9
The following table compares gas utility gross margin and natural gas therm deliveries by customer class during the first six months of 2006 with similar information for the first six months of 2005.
$141.5
$1.8
$139.7
428.3
(58.0)
486.3
48.0
42.4
255.6
(22.3)
277.9
10.9
(0.4)
190.5
7.5
183.0
694.8
(80.7)
775.5
26.6
25.8
429.4
(25.1)
454.5
4.9
0.6
1,124.2
(105.8)
1,230.0
The increase in gross margin is due, in part, to pricing increases that were granted by the PSCW and implemented in January 2006. The gas pricing increases were primarily granted to recover higher operating costs, including bad debt expenses. Our gross margin increased between the comparative periods by approximately $26.1 million due to these pricing increases. We anticipate that the 2006 annual impact of the rate increase on our gas margins would be approximately $53.5 million under normal customer usage; however, we believe that the actual amount may be lower due to reduced customer usage.
The pricing increases were offset by a decline in gas sales volumes that was driven by mild winter weather and by lower customer usage. Temperatures (as measured by heating degree days) were approximately 11.3% warmer than the first six months of 2005. The mild winter weather reduced customer demand for heating. We estimate that the weather decreased our gross margin by approximately $13.9 million between the comparative periods. With the increase in natural gas prices, we have experienced a reduction in the normalized use of gas per customer. We estimate that the lower
Our other operation and maintenance expenses increased by $90.6 million, or 17.6%, when compared to the first six months of 2005. As discussed above, we received pricing increases in January 2006 and during 2005 to cover increased costs. Our increases in other operation and maintenance expenses that relate to the pricing increases include increased Power the Future lease costs of $50.5 million, increased transmission expenses of $30.6 million and increased bad debt expenses of $6.9 million. In addition, other operation and maintenance expenses increased approximately $12.0 million due to PWGS Unit 1 operating costs and the timing of scheduled outages and maintenance projects at our coal plants. In the first six months of 2006, we did not have a scheduled nuclear refueling outage as was experienced in the second quarter of 2005, which resulted in approximately an $11.1 million decrease in nuclear operation and maintenance expenses between the compa rative periods. In addition, effective March 31, 2006, we no longer incur seams elimination charges, a transmission charge, which resulted in reduced costs of approximately $4.0 million for the first six months of 2006. For further information on seams elimination charges, see Electric Transmission in Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources below.
Depreciation, Decommissioning and Amortization expenses decreased by $4.0 million or 2.5% when compared to the first six months of 2005. In January 2006, we implemented new depreciation rates approved by the PSCW which reduced annual depreciation expenses. The decline was partially offset by increased depreciation expenses on plant additions.
Our non-utility energy segment contributed $20.6 million of operating income for the first six months of 2006 compared to an operating loss of $0.6 million for the first six months of 2005. This increase in operating income primarily reflects six months of operating income in 2006 from PWGS Unit 1, which was placed in service in July 2005. There were no earnings associated with this unit in the first six months of 2005.
Corporate and other affiliates had an operating loss of $6.0 million in the first six months of 2006 compared with an operating loss of $3.4 million in the same period in 2005. The increase in operating loss is attributable to lower operating earnings at Wispark.
Other income, net increased by $14.3 million when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005. The largest increases relate to increased equity AFUDC and capitalized carrying costs of $7.3 million, increased interest in the earnings of unconsolidated affiliates of $6.0 million, and the pre-tax gain on the
Interest expense increased by $3.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2006 when compared with the same period in 2005. This increase reflects higher debt levels and higher short-term interest rates. In addition, in the six months ended June 30, 2005, we expensed approximately $6.0 million related to the amortization of costs associated with prior debt redemptions. These costs were fully amortized as of July 2005; therefore, we did not have similar expenses in the first six months of 2006.
For the first six months of 2006, our effective tax rate applicable to continuing operations was 36.8% compared to 29.1% for the first six months of 2005. The lower effective tax rate in 2005 was due to the June 2005 reversal of $16.6 million of valuation allowances associated with state tax net operating losses that have been carried forward. For additional information, see Note H -- Income Taxes in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Income from discontinued operations for the first six months of 2006 was $4.5 million compared to $5.1 million in the first six months of 2005. In the first six months of 2006, we had income of approximately $2.2 million related to the favorable resolution of tax liabilities. Income from discontinued operations for the first six months of 2005 includes an after tax gain on the sale of Calumet of $4.7 million. The operations of Calumet were sold effective May 31, 2005.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
CASH FLOWS
The following summarizes our cash flows from continuing operations during the first six months of 2006 and 2005:
Cash Provided by (Used in)
$580.6
$435.0
($401.5)
($285.2)
($234.2)
($164.8)
Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2006 totaled $580.6 million, which is a $145.6 million increase over the same period last year. This increase was driven by higher
Cash used in investing activities for the first six months ended June 30, 2006 totaled $401.5 million, which is a $116.3 million increase over the same period last year. This increase is primarily associated with the increased capital expenditures related to our new generation plants. During 2006, we had capital expenditures related to the Oak Creek expansion and the second Port Washington natural gas-fired unit. During the first six months of 2005, we had insignificant capital expenditures related to the Oak Creek expansion.
During the six months ended June 30, 2006, we used $234.2 million for financing activities compared with using $164.8 million for financing activities during the first six months of 2005. Wisconsin Energy retired at the scheduled maturity date $250.0 million of 5.875% Notes due April 1, 2006. In addition, in the first six months of 2006 and 2005 we used cash to pay dividends on common stock.
In the first six months of 2006, we received proceeds of $7.6 million related to the exercise of stock options, compared with $37.7 million in the first six months of 2005. Instead of issuing new shares for these stock options, we instructed our plan agent to purchase common stock in the open market at a cost of $13.1 million, compared with $59.9 million in the first six months of 2005. This cost is included in Purchase of common stock on our Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND REQUIREMENTS
Capital Resources
We anticipate meeting our capital requirements during the remaining six months of 2006 primarily through internally generated funds and short-term borrowings, supplemented by the issuance of intermediate or long-term debt securities depending on market conditions and other factors. Beyond 2006, we anticipate meeting our capital requirements through internally generated funds supplemented, when required, by the issuance of debt securities.
We have access to the capital markets and have been able to generate funds internally and externally to meet our capital requirements. Our ability to attract the necessary financial capital at reasonable terms is critical to our overall strategic plan. We believe that we have adequate capacity to fund our operations for the foreseeable future through our borrowing arrangements and internally generated cash.
We are currently evaluating the possible issuance of environmental trust bonds in the fourth quarter of 2006 or the first quarter of 2007. Environmental trust bonds give utilities the ability to securitize the portion of customer bills that recovers the cost of certain investments intended to improve the environment. The measure is expected to result in a lower cost to customers when compared to traditional financing and ratemaking. In October 2004, the PSCW approved an order authorizing Wisconsin Electric to issue environmental trust bonds to finance the recovery of up to $425 million of
Wisconsin Electric anticipates issuing up to $300 million of debentures during the third or fourth quarter of 2006 off an existing $665 million shelf registration statement filed with the SEC, subject to market conditions and other factors.
Wisconsin Energy, Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas credit agreements provide liquidity support for each company's obligations with respect to commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.
As of June 30, 2006, we had approximately $1.7 billion of available unused lines of bank back-up credit facilities on a consolidated basis and approximately $557.3 million of total consolidated short-term debt outstanding.
We review our bank back-up credit facility needs on an ongoing basis and expect to be able to maintain adequate credit facilities to support our operations. The following table summarizes such facilities at June 30, 2006:
Company
Total Facility
Letters ofCredit
Credit Available
FacilityExpiration
FacilityTerm
$900.0
$898.2
April 2011
5 year
$500.0
$2.1
$497.9
March 2011
Wisconsin Gas
$300.0
On April 6, 2006, Wisconsin Energy entered into an unsecured five year $900 million bank back-up
The following table shows our consolidated capitalization structure at June 30, 2006 and at December 31, 2005:
Capitalization Structure
Common Equity
42.1%
40.0%
Preferred Stock of Subsidiary
0.5%
Long-Term Debt (including
current maturities)
3,250.3
49.0%
3,527.0
52.7%
Short-Term Debt
8.4%
6.8%
$6,634.4
100.0%
$6,693.8
Ratio of Debt to Total Capital
57.4%
59.5%
Access to capital markets at a reasonable cost is determined in large part by credit quality. The following table summarizes the ratings of our debt securities and the debt securities and preferred stock of our subsidiaries by Standard & Poors Corporation (S&P), Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) and Fitch Ratings (Fitch) as of June 30, 2006.
S&P
Moody's
Fitch
Commercial Paper
A-2
P-2
F2
Unsecured Senior Debt
BBB+
A3
A-
P-1
F1
Secured Senior Debt
Aa3
AA-
Unsecured Debt
A1
A+
Preferred Stock
BBB
A
Wisconsin Energy Capital Corporation
On June 15, 2006, Fitch affirmed the security ratings of Wisconsin Energy, Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Gas and Wisconsin Energy Capital Corporation and changed the security ratings outlook for Wisconsin Energy and Wisconsin Energy Capital Corporation from stable to negative. The security ratings outlooks assigned by Fitch for Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas are stable.
On June 8, 2006, S&P affirmed the security ratings and ratings outlook of Wisconsin Energy, Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas. The security ratings outlooks assigned by S&P for Wisconsin Energy, Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Gas and Wisconsin Energy Capital Corporation are negative.
The security ratings outlooks assigned by Moody's for Wisconsin Energy, Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Gas and Wisconsin Energy Capital Corporation are stable.
We believe these security ratings should provide a significant degree of flexibility in obtaining funds on competitive terms. However, these security ratings reflect the views of the rating agencies only. An explanation of the significance of these ratings may be obtained from each rating agency. Such ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, but rather an indication of creditworthiness. Any rating can be revised upward or downward or withdrawn at any time by a rating agency if it decides that the circumstances warrant the change. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
Capital Requirements
Capital requirements during the remainder of 2006 are expected to be principally for construction expenditures, long-term debt maturities and nuclear fuel. Our 2006 annual consolidated capital expenditure budget, excluding the purchase of nuclear fuel, is approximately $1,020.0 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements: We are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk as a part of our normal course of business, including financial guarantees and letters of credit which support construction projects, commodity contracts and other payment obligations. We continue to believe that these agreements do not have, and are not reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to our investors. For further information, see Note 8 -- Guarantees in the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in this report.
Contractual Obligations/Commercial Commitments: Our total contractual obligations and other commercial commitments decreased to approximately $9.1 billion as of June 30, 2006 compared with $9.6 billion as of December 31, 2005. This decrease was due primarily to the scheduled maturity of $250.0 million of Wisconsin Energy 5.875% Notes due April 1, 2006 and periodic payments made in the ordinary course of business during the six months ended June 30, 2006. Purchase obligations under new coal supply contracts partially offset the above mentioned decreases.
FACTORS AFFECTING RESULTS, LIQUDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The following is a discussion of certain factors that may affect our results of operations, liquidity and capital resources. The following discussion should be read together with the information under the heading "Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Item 7 of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which provides a more complete discussion of factors affecting us, including market risks and other significant risks, our Power the Future strategy, utility rates and regulatory matters, electric system reliability, environmental matters, legal matters, nuclear operations, industry restructuring and competition and other matters.
MARKET RISKS AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT RISKS
Credit Rating Risk: We do not have any credit agreements that would require material changes in payment schedules or terminations as a result of a credit rating downgrade. We do have certain agreements in the form of commodity and energy services contracts and employee benefit plans that could require, in the event of a credit ratings change to below investment grade, a termination payment if collateral is not provided or an accelerated payment. At June 30, 2006, we estimate that the potential payments under these agreements that could result from credit rating downgrades totaled approximately $71.0 million.
POWER THE FUTURE
Under our Power the Future strategy, we expect to meet a significant portion of our future generation needs through the construction of the PWGS and the Oak Creek expansion by We Power. The new plants will be leased by We Power to Wisconsin Electric under long-term leases, and we expect Wisconsin Electric to recover the lease payments in its electric rates. See Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Power the Future in Item 7 of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on Power the Future.
Port Washington: In July 2005, the first gas-fired unit at PWGS became operational. Construction of the second gas-fired unit is well underway. Site preparation, including removal of the old coal units at the site, was completed early this year, and all of the major components have been procured for the second unit at PWGS. The unit is expected to begin commercial operation in time for the peak summer season in 2008.
The CPCN granted for the construction of the Oak Creek expansion was the subject of a number of legal challenges by third parties; these legal challenges were resolved in June 2005. We have received all permits necessary to commence construction. Certain of these permits continue to be contested, but remain in effect unless and until overturned by a reviewing court or administrative law judge.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Chapter 30 permit for wetlands and waterways alterations and construction on the bed of Lake Michigan for the construction of the Oak Creek expansion was the subject of legal challenges. The permit was issued following a contested case proceeding and was subsequently appealed to the Circuit Court for Dane County. The circuit court dismissed the challenge on procedural grounds. In February 2006, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's decision dismissing the case. The period for appeal of that decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court has expired.
A contested case hearing for the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit was held in March 2006. The administrative law judge upheld the issuance of the permit in a decision issued in July 2006. Opponents may appeal the decision.
UTILITY RATES AND REGULATORY MATTERS
In January 2006, the PSCW issued an order that increased our electric, gas and steam rates effective January 26, 2006. We anticipate that these base rates will remain in effect through December 2007. A discussion of this order follows.
Electric Rates: In July 2005, Wisconsin Electric filed a limited rate proceeding whereby it requested an increase in electric revenues to recover certain specific costs which totaled approximately $143.6 million. In October 2005, Wisconsin Electric amended its original application to include fuel and purchased power costs. The January 2006 order authorized an annual increase to our electric revenues of $222.0 million. This increase covered specific costs associated with fuel and purchased power, costs associated with our continued investments in our Power the Future strategy, increased transmission costs and costs associated with additional sources of renewable energy. The January 2006 order also addressed Wisconsin Electric's recovery of fuel and purchased power costs in its electric rates. For 2006, Wisconsin Electric agreed to refund to customers any fuel revenues that it receives that are in excess of fuel and purchased power cos ts that it incurs, as defined by the Wisconsin fuel rules. Any refund would also include interest at short-term rates. For 2007, Wisconsin Electric will operate under a fuel cost adjustment clause in the Wisconsin retail jurisdiction whereby fuel revenues may be adjusted prospectively if fuel and purchased power costs fall outside a plus or minus 2% band. The January 2006 order authorized a return on equity of 11.2% for Wisconsin Electric operations.
Gas Rates: The gas operations of Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas went through a traditional rate proceeding whereby the revenues were set to recover projected costs and to provide a return on rate base.
Steam Rates: The steam rate proceeding was a traditional rate proceeding. The January 2006 order provided for an increase in steam rates of $7.8 million to be phased in over a two year period beginning in 2006. The rate increase was based on an authorized return on equity of 11.2%.
2005 Fuel Recovery Filing: In 2005, Wisconsin Electric received a rate increase of $122.6 million (6.2%) for the increased costs of fuel and purchased power as a result of customer growth and the increase in the reliance upon natural gas as a fuel source. In December 2005, two parties filed suit against the PSCW in Dane County Circuit Court challenging the PSCW's decision to allow fuel cost recovery, while allowing us to keep the savings that resulted from the WICOR acquisition. As a condition of the PSCW approval of the WICOR acquisition, Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas were restricted from increasing Wisconsin rates for a five year period ending December 31, 2005, with certain limited exceptions, but we were allowed to keep the savings generated from the merger. In July 2006, the Dane County Circuit Court affirmed the PSCW's decision. The opponents have 45 days to appeal this decision.
Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.'s (MISO) bid-based energy market (MISO Midwest Market): In March 2005, we submitted a joint proposal to the PSCW with other utilities requesting escrow accounting treatment for the MISO Midwest Market costs until each utility's first rate case following April 1, 2008. The purpose of the March 2005 request for escrow accounting was to provide clarification on costs not included in the previous approval for deferral accounting treatment. The PSCW approved deferral treatment for these costs in June 2006.
Wholesale Electric Rates: On August 1, 2006, Wisconsin Electric filed a wholesale rate case with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The filing requests an annual increase in rates of approximately $16.7 million applicable to four of Wisconsin Electric's existing wholesale electric customers.
See Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Utility Rates and Regulatory Matters in Item 7 of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our utility rates, the MISO Midwest Market and other regulatory matters.
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 (PUHCA 2005)
Wisconsin Energy and Wisconsin Electric were exempt holding companies under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA 1935), and, accordingly, were exempt from that law's provisions other than with respect to certain acquisitions of securities of a public utility. However, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 repealed PUHCA 1935 and enacted PUHCA 2005, transferring jurisdiction over holding companies from the SEC to the FERC. In March 2006, each of Wisconsin Energy and Wisconsin Electric filed with the FERC notification of its status as a holding company as required under the FERC regulations implementing PUCHA 2005 and request for exempt status similar to that held under PUHCA 1935. In June 2006, Wisconsin Energy and Wisconsin Electric received notice from the FERC confirming their status as holding companies as required under the FERC regulations implementing PUCHA 2005 and granting exempt status similar to that held under PUHCA 1935.
Renewables, Efficiency and Conservation
In March 2006, Wisconsin enacted new public benefits legislation, 2005 Wisconsin Act 141 (Act), that changes the renewable energy requirements for utilities. The Act establishes a statewide mandate for energy required from renewable sources of no less than 5% by 2010 and 10% by 2015 of total retail energy delivered. We must obtain approximately 210 megawatts of additional renewable capacity by 332010 and another approximately 610 megawatts of additional renewable capacity by 2015 to meet the retail energy delivered requirements. We have already started development of additional sources of renewable energy to comply with commitments made as part of our Power the Future initiative which will assist us in complying with the Act. See Wind Generation discussion below.
The Act allows the PSCW to delay implementation of the renewable portfolio standard if it finds that achieving the renewable requirement would be too expensive or would lessen reliability, or that new renewable projects could not be permitted on a timely basis or could not be served by adequate transmission facilities. The previous law did not include similar provisions. The Act provides that if a utility is in compliance with the renewable energy and energy efficiency requirements as determined by the PSCW, then the utility is considered in compliance with the Energy Priority Law. Prior to this Act, there had been no agreement on how to determine compliance with the Energy Priority Law.
We are evaluating the requirements of the Act. Additionally, the details of the new requirements are subject to administrative rulemaking that could take up to a year to complete.
The Act also redirects the administration of energy efficiency, conservation and renewable programs from the State Department of Administration back to the utilities and/or contracted third parties. In addition, the law requires that 1.2% of utilities' operating revenues be set aside for these programs. We do not expect the impact of this action to be material as the 1.2% approximates the amounts currently in our rates for these matters. The effective date of this action is July 1, 2007. The PSCW is expected to develop implementation plans over the upcoming months.
Wind Generation
In June 2005, we purchased the development rights to two wind farm projects (Blue Sky Green Field) from Navitas Energy Inc. We plan to develop the wind sites and construct wind turbines with a combined generating capacity of between approximately 130 to 200-megawatts. We filed for approval of a CPCN with the PSCW in March 2006 and are awaiting a "Completeness" determination from the PSCW, which initiates the formal regulatory review process. We anticipate the review process will take approximately six months, with a final decision anticipated in the first quarter of 2007. In addition to the CPCN approval, we are working to secure any additional permits necessary to commence construction. Recently, the United States Congress directed the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to investigate possible conflicts between military radar and wind turbine installations. We have not been informed that Blue Sky Green Field poses such a conflict, but we are working with the Fed eral Aviation Administration and the United States Air Force to confirm that there are no conflicts.
We estimate that the capital cost of the project, excluding AFUDC, will be up to $360 million. The demand for wind turbine equipment has been strong, pushing off equipment deliveries to dates later than originally anticipated. We currently expect the turbines to be placed in service between 2008 and 2009, dependent upon the availability of wind turbines and the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals.
NUCLEAR OPERATIONS
Wisconsin Electric owns two 518-megawatt electric generating units (Unit 1 and Unit 2) at Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The Plant is operated by Nuclear Management Company, LLC (NMC), a joint venture of the Company and affiliates of other unaffiliated utilities. In February 2006, we announced that we were undertaking a formal review regarding our options for the ownership and operation of Point Beach. The options that we are evaluating include: (1) continued operation by NMC, (2) continued operation by a third party operator other than NMC, (3) a return to in-house operation of the Plant by Wisconsin Electric and (4) the sale of the Point Beach facility. As part of our continuing review, we invited qualified third parties to tour Point Beach and review the data necessary to submit a
Each Unit at the Plant has a scheduled refueling outage approximately every 18 months. During 2006, we have one scheduled refueling outage at Unit 2 which is expected to occur during the fourth quarter. In 2005 we had two scheduled outages. In 2005, the Unit 2 outage was over the second and third quarters and the Unit 1 outage was over the third and fourth quarters. During the 2005 scheduled refueling outages we replaced the reactor vessel heads in each Unit. This work, along with other planned maintenance, resulted in longer than normal outages. During scheduled refueling outages, we incur significant operations and maintenance costs for work performed during the outages and we incur costs associated with replacement power.
See Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Nuclear Operations in Item 7 of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our nuclear operations.
ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION
Effective April 1, 2005, Wisconsin Electric and Edison Sault began participating in the MISO Midwest Market which changed how our generating units are dispatched and how we buy and sell power.
In MISO, base transmission costs are currently being paid by load serving entities (LSEs) located in the service territories of each MISO transmission owner. FERC also ordered a seams elimination charge to be paid by MISO LSEs from December 1, 2004 until March 31, 2006, to compensate transmission owners for the loss of revenues resulting from the joining of a Regional Transmission Organization and/or FERC's elimination of through and out transmission charges between the MISO and PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. The details of the seams elimination charge and the quantification of the existing transaction charge are the subject of a hearing process initiated by FERC in a February 2005 order. In January 2006, Wisconsin Electric along with certain other parties to the proceeding, submitted an offer of settlement to the presiding administrative law judge that resolved all issues set for hearing that impact Wisconsin Electric with regard to the continued payment of th rough and out transmission charges as well as the seams elimination charge. The administrative law judge certified the settlement to the FERC, and the FERC approved the settlement on April 13, 2006.
As part of the MISO, a market-based platform was developed for valuing transmission congestion premised upon the locational marginal price (LMP) system that has been implemented in certain northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. The LMP system includes the ability to mitigate or eliminate congestion costs through the use of Financial Transmission Rights (FTRs). FTRs are allocated to market participants by MISO. A new allocation of FTRs was completed for the period of June 1, 2006 through May 31, 2007. Wisconsin Electric and Edison Sault were granted substantially all of the FTRs that they were permitted to request during the allocation process. As previously disclosed in our 2005 Form 10-K, our unhedged congestion costs had not been material; however, due to certain changes in the units that MISO is dispatching, our unhedged congestion costs have increased in 2006. These incremental congestion charges are deferred as approved by the PSCW, and we expect to recover these costs in future rates, subject to review and approval by the PSCW.
See Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Industry Restructuring and Competition -- Electric Transmission and Energy Markets -- in Item 7 of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding MISO.
Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR): The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final CAIR regulation in March 2005 to facilitate the states in meeting the 8-hour ozone and PM 2.5 standards by addressing the regional transport of SO2 and NOx. CAIR requires NOx and SO2 emission reductions in two phases from electric generating units located in a 28-state region within the eastern United States. Wisconsin and Michigan are affected states under CAIR. The phase 1 compliance deadline is January 1, 2009 for NOx and January 1, 2010 for SO2, and the phase 2 compliance deadline is January 1, 2015 for both NOx and SO2. Overall, the CAIR is expected to result in a 70% reduction in SO2 emissions and a 65% reduction in NOx emissions from 2002 emission levels. The states are required to develop and submit implementation plans b y no later than March 2007, and until those plans are in place, it is not possible to estimate the impact of the CAIR. We believe that compliance with the NOx and SO2 emission reductions requirements under the agreements with the WDNR and EPA will substantially mitigate costs to comply with the CAIR rule.
OTHER MATTERS
Guardian Pipeline: In April 2006, Wisconsin Energy sold its one-third interest in Guardian to an affiliate of Northern Border Partners, L.P. for approximately $38.5 million. The sale generated an after-tax gain of approximately $1.7 million. Guardian owns an interstate natural gas pipeline from the Joliet, Illinois market hub to southeastern Wisconsin that is designed to serve the growing demand for natural gas in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Guardian pipeline began commercial operation in early December 2002. We have committed to purchase 650,000 dekatherms (approximately 87% of the pipeline's total capacity) per day of capacity on the pipeline over a long-term contract that expires in December 2012.
ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS
New Pronouncements: In July 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the enterprise's financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We are currently evaluating the provisions of FIN 48 and we expect to adopt FIN 48 on January 1, 2007.
CAUTIONARY FACTORS
This report and other documents or oral presentations contain or may contain forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Wisconsin Energy. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. When used in written documents or oral presentations, the terms "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "may," "objectives," "plans," "possible," "potential," "projects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition to the assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with these statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements or otherwise affect our future results of operations and fin ancial condition include, among others, the following:
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
*****
For certain other information which may impact our future financial condition or results of operations, see Item 1. Financial Statements -- Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, in Part I of this report as well as Item 1. Legal Proceedings and Item 1A. Risk Factors, in Part II of this report.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
For information concerning market risk exposures at Wisconsin Energy Corporation, see Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Market Risks and Other Significant Risks
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures: Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The following should be read in conjunction with Item 3. Legal Proceedings in Part I of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Item 1. Legal Proceedings in Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2006.
In addition to those legal proceedings discussed in our reports to the SEC, we are currently, and from time to time, subject to claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business. Although the results of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
See Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Utility Rates and Regulatory Matters in Part I of this report for information concerning rate matters in the jurisdictions where Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Gas and Edison Sault do business.
Power the Future: See Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Power the Future in Part I of this report for information concerning our Power the Future strategy.
Stray Voltage: In recent years, several actions by dairy farmers have been commenced or claims made against Wisconsin Electric for loss of milk production and other damages to livestock allegedly caused by stray voltage resulting from the operation of its electrical system.
On February 26, 2004, a Wisconsin jury awarded $850,000 to a dairy farmer who alleged that Wisconsin Electric's distribution system caused damages to his livestock. Wisconsin Electric appealed this decision. In April 2006, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed the jury's verdict against Wisconsin Electric awarding $1.3 million, including interest and costs, to the plaintiffs in this suit.
In May 2005, a stray voltage lawsuit was filed against Wisconsin Electric. We do not believe the lawsuit has merit and we will vigorously defend the case. The trial for this matter is scheduled to begin in April 2007. This claim against Wisconsin Electric is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Even though any claims which may be made against Wisconsin Electric with respect to stray voltage and ground currents are not expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, we continue to evaluate various options and strategies to mitigate this risk.
Arbitration Proceedings: Our largest electric customer owns two mines that operate in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The mines represent approximately 7% of our annual electric sales; however, the earnings are insignificant to us. The mines have special negotiated contracts that expire in December 2007. The contracts have price caps for approximately 80% of the energy sales. We do not recognize revenue on amounts billed that exceed the price caps.
The incremental power costs in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are now determined by MISO. In April 2005, we began to bill the mines the incremental power costs as quantified by the MISO Midwest Market. The mines have notified us that they are disputing these billings and a portion of these disputed amounts have been deposited in escrow. In September 2005, the mines notified us that they filed for formal arbitration related to the contracts. We have notified the mines that we believe that they have failed to comply with certain notification provisions related to annual production as specified within the contracts. The arbitration hearings are scheduled for October 2006 and we anticipate a decision by the end of 2006. As of June 30, 2006, the mines have placed $29.3 million in escrow. As of December 31, 2005, the mines had placed $70.6 million in escrow. The decrease in the escrow balance relates to amounts that we refunded without interest for the amounts billed in 20 05 that exceeded the price caps. At this time, we are unable to predict the outcome of the formal arbitration process, but we believe that it will not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Milwaukee Solvay Coke and Gas Site: Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas responded to an EPA request for information pursuant to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 104(e) for the Solvay Coke and Gas Site located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All potentially responsive records and corporate legal files have been reviewed and responsive information was provided in October 2004. A predecessor company of Wisconsin Electric owned a parcel of property that is within the property boundaries of the site. A predecessor company of Wisconsin Gas had a customer and corporate relationship with the entity that owned and operated the site, Milwaukee Solvay Coke Company. In July 2005, Wisconsin Gas received a general notice letter from the EPA identifying Wisconsin Gas as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA. We responded to the EPA in July 2005, stating that Wisconsin Gas will participate in negotiations regarding the sit e, but that Wisconsin Gas does not admit to any liability for the site. In April 2006, we received a special notice letter from the EPA identifying both Wisconsin Gas and Wisconsin Electric as potentially responsible parties and commencing a negotiation period with the EPA and other parties regarding the conduct of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) and reimbursement of the EPA's past
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Restructuring in the regulated energy industry could have a negative impact on our business.
The regulated energy industry continues to experience significant structural changes. Increased competition in the retail and wholesale markets, which may result from restructuring efforts, could have a significant adverse financial impact on us. The timeline for restructuring and retail access continues to be stretched out, and it is uncertain when retail access will happen in Wisconsin; however, Michigan has adopted retail choice which potentially affects our Michigan operations. Under retail access legislation, customers are permitted to choose their own electric generation supplier. All Michigan electric customers were able to choose their electric generation supplier beginning in January 2002. Although competition and customer switching to alternative suppliers in our service territories in Michigan has been limited, the additional competitive pressures resulting from retail access could lead to a loss of customers and our incurring stranded costs.
The FERC continues to support the existing Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) which affect the structure of the wholesale market within those RTOs. In connection with its status as a FERC approved RTO, MISO implemented the MISO Midwest Market on April 1, 2005. The MISO Midwest Market rules require that all market participants submit day-ahead and/or real-time bids and offers for energy at locations across the MISO region. MISO then calculates the most efficient solution for all of the bids and offers made into the market that day and establishes a LMP which reflects the market price for energy. As a participant in the new MISO Midwest Market, we are required to follow MISO's instructions when dispatching generating units to support MISO's responsibility for maintaining stability of the transmission system.
Additionally, the MISO Midwest Market subjects us to additional costs primarily associated with constraints in the transmission system. MISO implemented the LMP system, a market-based platform for valuing transmission congestion. The LMP system includes the ability to mitigate or eliminate congestion charges through the use of FTRs. FTRs are allocated to market participants by MISO. A new allocation of FTRs was completed for the period of June 1, 2006 through May 31, 2007. Wisconsin Electric and Edison Sault were granted substantially all of the FTRs that they were permitted to request during the allocation process. There can be no assurance that we will be granted an adequate level of FTRs in the future. As allowed by the PSCW, unhedged congestion charges have been deferred and we expect to recover these costs in future rates, subject to review and approval by the PSCW.
See Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of additional risk factors applicable to us.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Total Number of Shares Purchased (a)
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Maximum Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
April 1-April 30
1,892
$38.34
May 1- May 31
June 1- June 30
This table does not include shares purchased by independent agents to satisfy obligations under our employee benefit plans and stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan.
These shares were surrendered in April by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon vesting of restricted stock.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
At Wisconsin Energy's 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 4, 2006, stockholders voted on the following items with the following results:
Item 1 -- Election of Nine Directors for Terms Expiring in 2007: The Board of Directors' nominees named below were elected as directors by the indicated votes and percentages cast for each nominee. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote. Any shares not voted, whether by withheld authority, broker non-votes or otherwise, have no effect in the election of directors. There was no solicitation in opposition to the nominees proposed in our Proxy Statement.
Nominee
Shares For
Shares Withheld
John F. Ahearne
101,079,909
98.45%
1,595,828
1.55%
John F. Bergstrom
100,927,420
98.30%
1,748,317
1.70%
Barbara L. Bowles
101,544,465
98.90%
1,131,272
1.10%
Robert A. Cornog
101,201,181
98.56%
1,474,556
1.44%
Curt S. Culver
101,666,894
99.02%
1,008,843
0.98%
Thomas J. Fischer
101,586,834
98.94%
1,088,903
1.06%
Gale E. Klappa
101,129,848
98.49%
1,545,889
1.51%
Ulice Payne, Jr.
101,441,581
98.80%
1,234,156
1.20%
Frederick P. Stratton, Jr.
100,975,470
98.34%
1,700,267
1.66%
Item 2 --
Shares Voted For
Percentage of Shares For
Shares Voted Against
Percentage of Shares Against
SharesAbstain
Percentage of Shares Abstain
100,834,183
98.20%
817,070
0.80%
1,024,484
1.00%
Of 116,980,775 voting shares outstanding as of the February 24, 2006 record date for the annual meeting, 102,675,737 shares (approximately 87.77% of the shares outstanding) were represented at the meeting.
Further information concerning these matters is contained in our Proxy Statement dated March 16, 2006 with respect to the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
On July 27, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Wisconsin Energy Board of Directors amended the terms of the performance shares awarded in 2004 to executive officers and other key employees under the 1993 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. Instead of the performance shares being settled only in shares of our common stock, the Compensation Committee amended the terms of the award to allow for recipients to select to have settlement in either shares of our common stock or cash. The other terms and conditions of the performance shares, all of which have been previously reported, remain the same.
Exhibit No.
Material Contracts
Credit Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006, among Wisconsin Energy Corporation, as Borrower, the Lenders identified therein, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Fronting Bank. (Exhibit 10.1 to Wisconsin Energy Corporation's 03/31/06 Form 10-Q.)
31
Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certifications
31.1
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32
Section 1350 Certifications
32.1
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
SIGNATURES
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 thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant)
/s/STEPHEN P. DICKSON
Date: August 2, 2006
Stephen P. Dickson, Vice President and Controller, Principal Accounting Officer and duly authorized officer