10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2013

CMS ENERGY CORP Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2013

Filed July 25, 2013For Securities:CMSCMS-PCCMSACMSCCMSD

Summary

CMS Energy Corporation (CMS) and its primary subsidiary, Consumers Energy Company, reported improved financial performance for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to the same period in 2012. Net income available to common stockholders increased significantly, driven by higher gas deliveries and the absence of a significant charge recorded in the prior year related to Consumers' electric revenue decoupling mechanism. The company highlighted its strategic focus on safe and excellent operations, customer value through cost-reduction initiatives, and strategic utility investments, including significant capital expenditures planned over the next five years. Regulatory matters remain a key focus, with Consumers Energy navigating electric and gas rate cases and continuing to adapt to evolving environmental regulations. Despite these regulatory challenges and ongoing assessments of environmental compliance costs, the company expressed confidence in its ability to fund its investment plans and maintain sufficient liquidity. Management anticipates continued modest growth in electric sales and stable gas sales, supported by improving economic conditions in Michigan.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$1.41B
Operating Expenses$1.17B
Operating Income$232.00M
Interest Expense$102.00M
Net Income$81.00M
EPS (Basic)$0.30
EPS (Diluted)$0.29
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)272.20M

Key Highlights

  • 1Net income available to common stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2013, increased to $224 million from $167 million in the prior year, primarily due to increased gas deliveries and the absence of a write-off related to an electric revenue decoupling mechanism.
  • 2Consumers Energy plans significant capital investments of approximately $7 billion from 2013 through 2017, focusing on electric and gas utility projects, environmental compliance, renewable energy, and the Smart Energy program.
  • 3The company is advancing plans for a new 700-MW gas-fueled electric generating plant, with construction contingent on regulatory approvals and an estimated cost of $750 million, expected to be operational in 2017.
  • 4CMS Energy and Consumers are actively managing regulatory proceedings, including an electric rate case where an $89 million annual rate increase was approved and a gas rate case that was suspended.
  • 5Environmental regulations, particularly those related to emissions from coal-fueled power plants (MATS, greenhouse gases), are a significant area of focus, with ongoing assessments of compliance costs and strategies.
  • 6The company reported strong operating cash flows, with net cash provided by operating activities increasing to $1.1 billion for CMS Energy and $1.09 billion for Consumers for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to the prior year.
  • 7CMS Energy and Consumers maintained sufficient liquidity, with significant available credit facilities and robust cash and cash equivalents balances at June 30, 2013.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary drivers for the improved net income were increased gas deliveries and the absence of a write-off of Consumers Energy's electric revenue decoupling mechanism regulatory asset, which impacted the prior year's results. These factors, combined with rate adjustments, contributed to a stronger financial performance compared to the first six months of 2012.

Consumers Energy plans to invest approximately $7 billion from 2013 through 2017. Key areas of investment include enhancing electric and gas utility infrastructure for reliability and capacity, environmental compliance projects, renewable energy development, and the ongoing Smart Energy program, which involves the deployment of advanced metering infrastructure.

CMS Energy and Consumers Energy are actively monitoring and assessing the impact of new environmental regulations, such as the EPA's MACT standards (MATS) for electric generating units and proposed rules for greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies include installing emission control equipment, evaluating fuel mix changes, and potentially modifying or retiring certain generating units. Extensions for compliance deadlines have been secured for some coal-fueled units.

Consumers Energy has undertaken significant cost-reduction initiatives, including voluntary separation plans, pension funding adjustments, and productivity improvements. The company aims to avoid increasing electric and gas base rates through 2014, contingent on MPSC approval of future applications. However, this expectation could be revised based on changes in economic conditions or other factors.