10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2004

DOMINION ENERGY, INC Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2004

Filed August 4, 2004For Securities:D

Summary

Dominion Energy, Inc. (D) reported solid financial results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, demonstrating resilience across its diverse operating segments. The company achieved net income of $251 million for the quarter, translating to $0.76 per diluted share, and $688 million for the six-month period, or $2.10 per diluted share. These results reflect strong performance in regulated electric and gas distribution, as well as exploration and production, which helped offset pressures in other areas. Key financial movements include an increase in operating revenue driven by higher regulated electric and nonregulated gas sales, partially offset by the impact of regulatory changes and market conditions in certain segments. The company maintained a healthy liquidity position with a substantial credit facility in place, although it also engaged in significant debt repayment and issuance during the period. Investors will find Dominion's proactive management of market risks through derivative instruments and its commitment to dividend growth particularly noteworthy.

Key Highlights

  • 1Net income for the second quarter of 2004 was $251 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, an increase from the prior year's quarter.
  • 2For the six months ended June 30, 2004, net income was $688 million, or $2.10 per diluted share, a decrease compared to the prior year period primarily due to a lower contribution from primary operating segments.
  • 3Operating revenue increased across regulated electric and gas sales, as well as non-regulated gas sales, driven by factors like warmer weather, customer growth, and higher prices.
  • 4Dominion Generation's net income contribution decreased, impacted by a planned refueling outage at Millstone and regulatory changes in Virginia affecting fuel cost recovery.
  • 5Dominion Energy experienced a significant decrease in net income contribution, largely due to challenges in energy trading and marketing activities.
  • 6Dominion Delivery showed increased net income due to favorable weather and growth in non-regulated retail operations.
  • 7Dominion Exploration & Production reported higher net income, driven by revenue from Volumetric Production Payments (VPP) transactions and favorable changes in oil options.
  • 8The company has a strong liquidity position with $3.25 billion in committed credit facilities, though it utilized $610 million in commercial paper and $1.178 billion in letters of credit as of June 30, 2004.

Frequently Asked Questions

Revenue growth was primarily driven by increases in regulated electric sales, attributed to warmer weather, a higher fuel rate following a settlement, and customer growth. Non-regulated gas sales also saw a significant increase due to higher prices and volumes from producer services operations, as well as sales by exploration and production operations. Gas transportation and storage revenue benefited from the reactivation of the Cove Point LNG facility.

Amendments to the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act extended capped base rates until December 31, 2010, and modified fuel factor provisions. In the second quarter of 2004, Dominion recognized a $23 million after-tax charge related to 2004 fuel expenses no longer recoverable under the new law, and faced higher fuel expenses in regulated utility operations due to the elimination of fuel deferral accounting, which reduced the contribution from Dominion Generation.

Dominion's E&P segment demonstrated strong performance, with net income contribution increasing due to revenue from Volumetric Production Payment (VPP) transactions and favorable changes in oil options impacting operations and maintenance expenses. Higher oil production from the deepwater Gulf of Mexico Devils Tower project also contributed. However, lower gas production was noted, partly due to the sale of mineral rights under the VPP agreements.

Dominion actively manages its exposure to market fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates, and foreign currency exchange rates through the use of derivative instruments. These include futures, forwards, swaps, and options. The company utilizes these instruments for both trading purposes and to hedge its non-trading activities, aiming to mitigate financial losses and stabilize earnings.