Edgar Filing: PUGET SOUND ENERGY INC

1st Quarter Earnings Release

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 28, 2005

	Exact name of registrant as specified	I.R.S.
	in its charter, state of incorporation,	Employer
Commission	address of principal executive offices,	Identification
File Number	Telephone	Number

1-16305	PUGET ENERGY, INC.	91-1969407
	A Washington Corporation.
	10885 - N.E. 4th Street, Suite 1200
	Bellevue, Washington 98004-5591
	(425) 454-6363

1-4393	PUGET SOUND ENERGY, INC.	91-0374630
	A Washington Corporation
	10885 - N.E. 4th Street, Suite 1200
	Bellevue, Washington 98004-5591
	(425) 454-6363

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8−K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a−12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a−12)
o	Pre−commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d−2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d−2(b))
o	Pre−commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e−4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e−4(c))

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On April 28, 2005 the Company issued the following press release.

Puget Energy reports first quarter 2005 earnings

Company’s financial results on target

Bellevue, Wash. (April 28, 2005) —Puget Energy (NYSE: PSD) today reported first quarter 2005 net income of $71.1 million, or 71 cents per diluted share, compared with $66.4 million, or 67 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2004. Puget Energy’s regulated electric and gas utility subsidiary, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), reported first quarter 2005 net income of $72.2 million or 72 cents per share. Puget Energy reported a net loss of $1.0 million or 1 cent per share for its construction services subsidiary, InfrastruX Group (InfrastruX), which has been reflected as discontinued operations.

“Our first quarter performance met our expectations despite warmer than average weather during the quarter,” said Steve Reynolds, President and CEO of Puget Energy.

“The first quarter is a very important quarter for us from a service and earnings standpoint,” added Reynolds. “The quarter drives a significant portion of our annual earnings as well as our weather related operating challenges. A reduction in storm related outage expenses largely offset warmer than normal temperatures in the region. We reiterate our calendar year earnings guidance provided on March 10, 2005 of $1.30 to $1.40 per share from continuing operations.”

Summary

(in millions except per share data)	First Quarter ended March 31,
	2005			2004
Revenues	$	741.7		$	668.7
Operating Income		110.5			108.7
Income from Continuing Operations		72.1			66.7
Loss from Discontinued Operations		(1.0	)		(0.4	)
Net Income	$	71.1		$	66.4
Earnings per share (diluted)	$	0.71		$	0.67

First Quarter 2005 Summary for Puget Sound Energy (PSE)

During the first quarter 2005, PSE’s net income was $72.2 million or 72 cents per share, an increase of $5.3 million or 5 cents per share from $66.9 million or 67 cents per share for the first quarter 2004.

PSE's financial performance improved in the first quarter 2005 over the first quarter 2004 in spite of a decline in natural gas therm sales resulting from warmer temperatures and higher costs incurred to provide electric and natural gas service to PSE's growing customer base. The improvement in PSE's first quarter 2005 financial performance reflects the partial recovery of a previously reported PSE regulatory disallowance, resolution of PSE's general rate case, lower storm related restoration costs and lower interest expense.

Summarized below are items that impacted PSE’s first quarter 2005 results as compared with 2004. All items discussed are pre-tax unless otherwise noted and all share amounts are presented on a diluted basis.

·	As of March 31, 2005, PSE provided service to approximately 1,007,000 electric customers and 679,000 natural gas customers, representing a 2 percent and 3 percent increase, respectively, from March 31, 2004.

·	Effective March 4, 2005 the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) granted PSE a general rate increase for electric customers of $57.7 million or 4.1 percent and $26.3 million or 3.5 percent, for natural gas customers, on an annualized basis.

·	The number of heating degree-days in the first quarter of 2005 as measured at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport was 93 percent of normal due to warmer temperatures compared with 96 percent of normal in the first quarter of 2004.

Month Ending	Heating Degree Days		Heating Degree Days
	2005	Normal	2005	2004
January	702	747	702	757
February	622	613	622	589
March	487	582	487	530
First Quarter	1,811	1,942	1,811	1,876

Warmer than normal temperatures in PSE's service territory resulted in fewer heating-degree days during the first quarter 2005 compared with the first quarter 2004. Consequently, PSE's natural-gas sales volumes declined 3.5 percent in the first quarter 2005. The adverse impact of warmer temperatures on natural-gas sales volumes was partially offset by an increase in customer rates effective March 4, 2005.

PSE’s electric margin increased by $7.4 million in the first quarter of 2005 as compared with the same period in 2004. Of the $7.4 million increase in electric margin, $6.0 million was the result of a WUTC order issued on February 23, 2005, establishing a final disallowance amount related to the Tenaska gas supply regulatory asset. This one-time, $6.0 million increase to electric margin was partially offset by the Tenaska disallowance for the first quarter of 2005 of $2.8 million already reflected in rates. PSE recovered power costs incurred in both the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 through its Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism (PCA).

PSE's operations and maintenance expenses for the first quarter of 2005 totaled $75.5 million, an increase of $1.7 million as compared with the same period a year ago. Operations and maintenance expenses in the first quarter 2005 include storm damage restoration costs of $1.1 million as compared with $6.2 million in the first quarter 2004.

·	PSE’s financial results in the first quarter 2005 benefited from a decrease in interest expense of $2.5 million or 2 cents per share compared with the same period in 2004. The decrease in interest expense was primarily the result of initiatives to reduce debt and refinance higher cost securities.

PSE’s depreciation and amortization expense increased by $2.2 million or 2 cents per share, as a result of energy delivery infrastructure additions. This trend is likely to accelerate in 2005 and beyond as PSE invests in its energy delivery and generation infrastructure to support service territory growth.

·	On March 24, 2005, PSE amended and restated its $350 million Credit Agreement. The amended and restated credit agreement provides for borrowings of up to $500 million and extends the expiration date from June 15, 2007 to April 2, 2010.

Table 1 below summarizes the items that impacted first quarter 2005 results for PSE.

Table 1

	Fully Diluted Per Share
PSE Q1 2004 Reported Earnings	$	0.67
Increase in Electric Margin		0.05
Increase in Depreciation and Amortization Expense		(0.02)
Decrease in Interest Expense		0.02
PSE Q1 2005 Reported Earnings	$	0.72

InfrastruX Group (InfrastruX)

Puget Energy reported a net loss of $1.0 million or 1 cent per share for its construction services subsidiary, InfrastruX, in the first quarter of 2005 compared with a loss of $0.4 million (less than 1 cent per share), in the first quarter of 2004.

As previously announced, Puget Energy intends to monetize its interest in InfrastruX through a sale in 2005 and to invest the proceeds in its regulated utility subsidiary, PSE. Puget Energy’s net investment in InfrastruX at March 31, 2005 was $34.3 million.

Puget Energy has presented the financial results of InfrastruX as discontinued operations on a net of tax basis on Puget Energy’s financial statements beginning in the first quarter of 2005, as well as for the first quarter of 2004.

2005 Outlook

Puget Energy anticipates its 2005 financial results from continuing operations to be within the range of $1.30 to $1.40 per share, which is unchanged from previous earnings guidance provided on March 10, 2005.

PSE is affected by various seasonal weather patterns throughout the year. Utility revenues and associated expenses are not generated evenly during the year. Variations in energy usage by customers occur from season to season and from month to month within a season, primarily as a result of weather conditions. PSE normally experiences its highest retail energy sales in the first and fourth quarters of the year.

PSE expects its 2005 earnings to be minimally impacted if variable power costs incurred to provide electricity fall outside the baseline level established in the electric tariff rate charged to customers. Under the PCA mechanism, any further increases in variable power costs through June 2006 would be apportioned 99 percent to customers and 1 percent to PSE.

First Quarter 2004 Earnings Analyst Teleconference

A conference call for analysts to discuss with management the first quarter results and the outlook for future performance is scheduled at 10 a.m. EDT (7 a.m. PDT) Friday, April 29, 2005. The conference call will be broadcast live through a Web cast at www.pse.com by accessing the Investors section of the Web site. The Web cast will be archived and available for replay following the live conference call. A recorded replay of the conference call also will be available two hours after completion on April 29 through midnight (EDT) Friday, May 13, 2005. To access the recording, dial 1-888-286-8010, and enter the conference I.D. number 23350088.

Puget Energy is an energy services holding company that conducts all of its operations through its subsidiaries, PSE and InfrastruX Group. PSE is a regulated utility company that generates, purchases and sells electricity; and purchases, transports and sells natural gas. The service territory of PSE covers approximately 6,000 square miles, principally in the Puget Sound region of Washington state. InfrastruX specializes in contracting services to other gas and electric utilities primarily in the Midwest, Texas, and the south-central and eastern United States regions.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, among which include Puget Energy’s plans with respect to InfrastruX and any proceeds from its possible sale or monetization, Puget Energy's anticipated 2005 financial results, including its earnings guidance, and PSE's expectations regarding the impact on its 2005 earnings of variable power costs. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual results include, among others, governmental policies and regulatory actions, including those of the WUTC, and weather conditions. More information about these and other factors that potentially could affect the company’s financial results is included in Puget Energy's and PSE's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in their other public filings filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Puget Energy and PSE undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

PUGET ENERGY -- SUMMARY INCOME STATEMENT
(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
	Unaudited
	Three months ended 3/31¹
	2005			2004

Operating revenues
Electric	$	420,090		$	392,495
Gas		321,129			275,692
Other		434			527
Total operating revenues		741,653			668,714
Operating expenses
Purchased electricity		208,178			196,367
Electric generation fuel		20,448			13,988
Residential exchange		(55,046	)		(54,423	)
Purchased gas		201,744			162,407
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments		509			(87	)
Utility operations & maintenance		75,522			73,855
Other operations & maintenance		741			484
Depreciation & amortization		58,077			55,870
Conservation amortization		5,162			8,190
Taxes other than income taxes		69,700			64,224
Income taxes		46,084			39,097
Total operating expenses		631,119			559,972
Operating income		110,534			108,742
Other income (deductions):
Other income		1,164			68
Interest Charges:
AFUDC		1,462			1,078
Interest expense		(41,044	)		(43,121	)
Mandatorily redeemable securities interest expense		(23	)		(23	)
Income from continuing operations		72,093			66,744
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(1,018	)		(379	)
Net Income	$	71,075		$	66,365

Common shares outstanding		99,953			99,169
Diluted shares outstanding		100,446			99,637
Basic and diluted earnings per common share from
continuing operations	$	0.72		$	0.67
Basic and diluted earnings from discontinued operations		(0.01	)		--
Basic and diluted earnings per common share²	$	0.71		$	0.67

¹ Partial-year results may not accurately predict full-year performance, as earnings are significantly affected by weather.

² Diluted earnings per common share include the dilutive effect of securities related to employee compensation plans.

PUGET SOUND ENERGY -- UTILITY OPERATING DATA
	Three months ended 3/31
	2005			2004
*Energy sales revenues* ($ in thousands; unaudited)
Electricity
Residential	$	211,840		$	204,398
Commercial		157,892			153,607
Industrial		22,079			22,374
Other retail sales, including change in unbilled		(4,767	)		(12,881	)
Subtotal, retail sales		387,044			367,498
Transportation, including change in unbilled		2,668			2,253
Sales to other utilities & marketers		16,321			11,487
Other¹		14,057			11,257
Total electricity sales		420,090			392,495
Gas
Residential		208,656			180,761
Commercial		91,248			77,463
Industrial		12,993			11,126
Subtotal, retail sales		312,897			269,350
Transportation		3,397			3,432
Other		4,835			2,910
Total gas sales		321,129			275,692
Total energy sales revenues	$	741,219		$	668,187
*Energy sales volumes* (Unaudited)
Electricity (in mWh)
Residential		3,280,893			3,289,191
Commercial		2,181,608			2,195,290
Industrial		324,169			328,025
Other, including change in unbilled		(156,343	)		(210,510	)
Subtotal, retail sales		5,630,327			5,601,996
Transportation, including change in unbilled		522,026			483,702
Sales to other utilities & marketers		345,784			269,610
Total mWh		6,498,137			6,355,308
Gas (in 000's of therms)
Residential		199,051			203,749
Commercial		95,241			99,740
Industrial		13,911			14,849
Transportation		53,126			56,182
Total gas volumes		361,329			374,520
*Margins²($ in thousands; unaudited)*
Electric	$	201,519		$	194,134
Gas		87,617			87,124
*Customers served³(Unaudited)*
Electricity
Residential		887,964			871,410
Commercial		110,807			108,103
Industrial		3,927			4,023
Other		2,342			2,117
Transportation		17			17
Total electricity customers		1,005,057			985,670
Gas
Residential		623,748			603,703
Commercial		50,442			49,327
Industrial		2,706			2,741
Transportation		129			129
Total gas customers		677,025			655,900
*Weather* (Unaudited)
Actual heating degree days		1,811			1,876
Normal heating degree days⁴		1,942			1,963

Includes sales of non-core gas supplies.

Electric margin is electric sales to retail and transportation customers less the cost of generating and purchasing electric energy sold to customers, including transmission costs, to bring electric energy to PSE's service territory. Gas margin is gas sales to retail and transportation customers less the cost of gas purchased, including gas transportation costs, to bring gas to PSE's service territory.

Customers represents average served during the period.

⁴

Seattle-Tacoma Airport statistics reported by NOAA which are based on a 30-year average, 1971-2000. Heating degree days measure how far the daily average temperature falls below 65 degrees. Heating degree days in 2004 are adjusted for leap year by adding the February 28th heating degree day amount.

SIGNATURE

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

PUGET ENERGY, INC.

	/s/ James W. Eldredge
	James W. Eldredge
	Corporate Secretary and
	Chief Accounting Officer

	Date: April 28, 2005